I have successfully spent time with God each morning since Wednesday. I know it doesn't seem like a long time, but for me it is. I have decided to get up at 5:40 am, take care of personal needs, then make my way downstairs and pray, read my Bible, and pray. I also do an extra study on women of the Bible. I have found it to be interesting. As I started reading Matthew, I have found some things I didn't realize or forgot about.

Today my little family went shopping. Well, all we did was go to one store, a fruit vegetable and flower stand. We bought our weekly produce and some impatiens and dusty miller. Although we are moving we wanted some color in our flower bed.

After we got home I set to work planting. It looks very nice. Hopefully the rabbits won't find my plants. My husband likes to call our flower bed the local free buffet. I do have alyssum coming up from last year. The rabbits stay usually leave that alone. We like the alyssum because it drapes nicely over our rock border.

I am vacillating between using an OB/GYN and using a midwife. I thought I'd like a midwife, but than there weren't any in my area, hence I didn't even call them. So, I made appointments with the OB/GYN that I went to with my first pregnancy. Today was my appointment with the maternity nurse. Tonight I received some pregnancy magazines, one containing an article about midwives. After reading it, I'd like to at least call and talk with a midwife. Now, I am unsure again.

I have cute things to write about my daughter, but every time I sit down to write, they fly right out of my head. Maybe tomorrow.

I did not have to go shopping today. No, I am now on the two week shopping cycle. My husband gets paid every two weeks now with his new job, so I am shopping every two weeks. I still need to buy milk and produce weekly, but that's not bad. My goal is shopping once a month for the nonperishable items, but I have to wait until we move for that, since my current house can not handle that much food storage.

I made a phone call list for today. I have three more calls to make, though the one to the movers depends on the answer from Kohls. I am trying to save on buying boxes by getting some leftovers from Kohls.

I vacuumed, dusted, and mopped today. My daughter helped me by dusting too. It was very precious. When I finished with the feather duster, I gave it to her to dust. She dusts very well. She made her way around the room dusting. In fact she even picked up a photo to dust underneath it, and I guess she felt she didn't get all the dust, so she picked it up and dusted underneath it again. She also remembered to dust the TV, which I forgot. She is a great little helper. Other household chores with which she enjoys helping is unloading the dishwasher, putting clothes in the washer (though she doesn't help as often with that, because I have to lift her up), putting clothes in the dryer, taking clothes out of the dryer, and turning the dryer on. One thing she could help with less often is unfolding the clothes I have just folded.

I have contacted a few places where I would like to volunteer. I have not heard back. I guess they don't want help. I still need to contact some places that have asked for volunteers.

I would like to do some volunteer work. I have to be somewhat selective, because I will be taking my daughter with me. Some places won't allow that. I contacted and interviewed with a local pregnancy crisis place, but no one ever got back to me. I guess they really don't need someone to wash and organize donated clothes. I called several places in regard to volunteer work, and no one got back to me. I was successful in contacting and getting information to volunteer at the local hospital, but they have a required amount of hours, which is impossible for me to meet, since I can't have my daughter with me. Meals-on-wheels needs people to pack meals and people to deliver them. I thought that I could try contacting them. I haven't yet, because I keep getting rejected to volunteer.

Something seems wrong with not being able to help people. All I want to do is help those in need and teach my daughter that helping others is important, and I am wholefully unsuccessful.

We heard our child's heartbeat again today. This time we recorded it on a digital recorder. Interestingly it sounds quite different than our daughter's heartbeat at about the same gestational age. We also saw our baby wiggle around. He is such a miracle. (We thought we'd root for a boy since we have a girl.) He is only a little over an inch long, but he was wiggling and moving his arms and legs. It was very awesome to see him, even though I can't feel him yet.

We are done at Abington, so we went out to lunch at Macaroni Grill. I now go to see my regular OB/GYN, the one who will deliver our baby. I was contemplating using a midwife, but I think I am going to go with the doctor I used last time. I had a good experience, and I fully enjoyed my hospital stay. The two midwives in my area are not associated with any hospitals in my area. I would have to go quite a distance to deliver at a hospital. I could deliver at home, but I don't want to that.

I am trying to eat better now that I am pregnant. I am also trying to drink more water. I have succeeded a little. I don't like many vegetables, so it's a challenge for me to eat the suggested number of servings. I have no problem with the dairy and grains, and I am usually fine with the fruit. But the vegetables give me trouble. I guess I am going to eat a lot of carrots and green beans.

With this pregnancy, I have felt a little more sick than with my last one. It isn't often and just short periods of time. I usually feel better if I am laying down on my left side. I have also noticed that some tastes linger far too long. Another oddity is toothpaste. I had to change toothpaste. Our regular kind made me gag and I didn't even want to think about brushing my teeth. Lucky for my teeth, I found a brand with which my stomach is alright. The smell of my daughter's toothpaste has also turned my stomach a time or two.

Saltine crackers have been quite tasty for me and my upset stomach. And helpfully water is also a help. I need to drink more of it anyway.

I am so frustrated with my inability to do things I want to do. I want to spend time writing here at least every other day. I usually end up writing three or four posts at once and post them as if I have written them on different days. I want to spend each day reading my Bible and learning what God wants me to learn. I usually end up doing my devotions only maybe three times a week and doing my devotion book all at once. I'd like to not go to bed so late every night and wake up as though I hadn't even slept.

What is my problem? What is in my life that is coming between God and me? Why is time such an enemy? Am I not finding the true problem, therefore not able to see the answer?

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Seek Him, and you shall find Him!

This morning I drove my sister to the airport. The poor thing was on her way to the Florida Keys. It is her spring break, and she is visiting our cousin. She plans to rest and relax, pamper herself and go snorkeling. She will be flying back on Thursday.

This afternoon, we relaxed and watched the Phillies. They had a double header, the first they won, the second they lost. We didn't see get to see the whole second game, because we had to eat dinner. And for dinner we went to my husband's mother's house. It was nice not to cook. We had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. Dessert was applesauce and peanutbutter-chocolate chip cookies.

It was a pretty good day.

I spent this rainy morning at a Creative Memories Get Together. I want to buy all this stuff now to make fun memories with our photos. They have this nifty cutter to trim photos. A punch rounds corners. Cutters that cut photos in ovals, circles, and other fun shapes. They have a rather pricey starter kit that I would like to get. Of course there are no funds for such things.

I am having my own get together at my house. I am even considering being a consultant myself. I have to give it some thought and prayer, though. I want to earn some money, but I still am unsure of how.

And on Saturday night, we went to a game night with our Sunday school class. We had fun. We played Apples to Apples, a game we had never played. I also played Dutch Blitz. Gary didn't care for that game, though.

My parents also came. My dad is in the same Sunday school class. It was nice for them to get out, for they rarely do. My dad's work schedule always changes.

I had the scare of my life yesterday. I am 8 weeks pregnant, and yesterday I started to bleed. In my book, that means miscarriage. But thankfully, my book isn't written correctly. After I calmed down and my sobbing was minimal, I called my doctor. The nurse I spoke with (the nurses seems to know more than the doctors) said that bleeding is not abnormal in the first trimester. My only symptom was bleeding, not cramping and other things associated with miscarriage. She said to take it easy for the rest of the day. I had to wait over an hour to call my husband to tell him, because I knew I would start crying again talking about it.

I put my daughter down for her nap and laid on the couch for the afternoon. I watched a family movie, did my devotions, thought about napping but didn't. My sister came over to help out. She bought us dinner at Boston Market. It was a scrumptious meal of roasted chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables (they were tolerable) and applesauce. My sister and my husband cleaned up, and I laid on the couch, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Today, no bleeding. Praising God for that. My mother took my daughter shopping with her. So, I had the morning to myself. I enjoyed that also. I watched another movie. I was suppose to iron, but I have trouble motivating myself to do that. I need an intervention.

My husband finally didn't have to work this week. But yet, he did. Instead of trying to get a job finished, he had meetings to go to. I know he would rather be home with his family than out at meetings. He is very tired of not being home.

My husband's old and new bosses finally signed papers. My husband now has new employers. He now has a better salary. We are very relieved to have this finally happen. It was suppose to happen at the end of 2005. Than it was the end of January, than February, than March. Well, his boss finally signed last Friday. I won't miss my husband working for him.

I am still blowing my nose way too many times for being on an antibiotic. I am thankful that my throat hasn't hurt for awhile. I am thankful for the many boxes of tissues around the house. I am thankful that I can breath through one side of my nose at night.

I did go to choir tonight and stayed for the entire practice. Perhaps there is slight progress with this ridiculous cold?

I continually think of the things about my daughter I wish to write here. I continually forget to do it. Alas, I did not forget tonight.

Cute thing #1: My husband was reminding our daughter of something she was suppose to do or not do, and her reaction was to hit him, than immediately hug him. Although cute it was, she still got a timeout.

Cute thing #2: She likes to get into things. Once while I was vacuuming, I had to change the bag. I opened the vacuum, took out the bag and threw it out. When I came back to the vacuum with a fresh bag, my daughter had squeezed herself into the spot the bag sits in. I ran for the camera and captured the moment.

Cute thing #3: My daughter reacts to situations usually in one of two ways: to throw or hit. She chose throwing this time and was told to go pick up what she threw or she would get a time out. Her choice was to go sit in the time out chair.

Cute thing #4: During her bedtime routine, my husband was rocking our daughter. He told her one more song, than it was time to go to bed. Her response was to lay her head on his shoulder and put her hands over her ears. I guess if you can't hear it, the song doesn't play?

Cute thing #5: Also during bed or nap time routine, while we rock our daughter, she has a tendency to squirm. We will tell her if she doesn't hold still, she'll be put in her crib. She will continue to squirm, but as soon as we go to stand she plunks her head on our shoulder and stills herself. Sometimes this pattern repeats itself a few times, ending in a crying child in her crib by herself.

I could go on, but that would take 20 months.

You know what's nice about having a pending sale on your house? You don't have to do any more work on it.

Today, we just relaxed. No house projects. We spent the day as a family.

We tossed around the idea of starting to empty out the attic. We tossed it maybe twice, than let it fall. We weren't motivated to do it. We do have until June. And besides, where is all that stuff going to go anyway? We certainly don't have space anywhere else. My parents offered space in their garage. But you haven't seen their garage. It needs to be cleaned out before we would put anything in.

We think we are going to hire movers to move us. It will just be easier to have men who are used to moving to get the timing right. I am still not sure how we are doing it. Both closings are on the same day.

My husband and I had an evening out. We went to a presentation of Answers in Genesis. A fellow talked about the flaws in the Big Bang Theory and how distant starlight is not a problem for a young earth.

The speaker had a PhD, but didn't look old enough to be out of college. I caught up on some sleep during his talks.

We had a good time out, while our daughter spent a fun evening with her grandmother.

Yes, my mucus membranes are still in overdrive. I have not had a free breathing day in over two weeks. I feel that is too long.

We had a good day today. My husband came home from work early. He had been working overtime trying to get a project dome by this morning. Once the plans were plotted and taken to the township office, he came home. He was home around 1:00. Our daughter was down for her nap, so we took a nap, too. My husband hadn't had much sleep the past week. He needed the nap.

We had pizza for dinner. I used my bread machine and made the dough. It never is as good as buying it out, but it was rather tasty.

After our daughter was in bed for the night, we enjoyed just sitting for the evening. We watched Friday night TV.

I did it again. Even though I am sick, I stay up way past when I should go to bed. I stayed up until midnight losing scrabble to my friend. I did manage to squeak out a win on a 3 minute game. She won the other three. I think losing stinks.

I have a sinking suspicion that my clogged sinuses are not a bacterial infection. Nothing seems to have changed since starting the antibiotic. Viral infections are the pits. You'd think scientists could come with something by now to eradicate them. Some sort of nuclear bomb for viruses. Of course it doesn't help that viruses keep changing strains. My cough has wizened up, since I got the cough syrup with codeine I haven't been coughing as much. I've used it both nights.

Tomorrow will be too weeks, (TWO WEEKS!) since I first got this stupid cold.

Last night, I coughed so much my husband and I were wondering if we'd ever get to sleep. We would dose off, but then I would have a coughing spell, waking us up. I'd reposition, we'd settle in and fall asleep, then another coughing spell. This happened maybe three or four times over a 45 minute period of time. I finally tried my left side and made it through the night.

If you can believe it, I am still very stuffy and feeling poorly today, though my coughing has been better. I went back to the doctor and after waiting half an hour with a rammy 20 month old, I left armed with an antibiotic and codeine. I better be better soon.

I did it again. I came home from choir practice early. But unlike last Wednesday, I am going to bed early tonight. I think not getting enough sleep has been my downfall with this stupid cold. Did I mention my daughter is sick, now? My husband is still germ free. Is it only a matter of time for him?

We got to see our second child for the first time, today. He or she is just a little dot on the screen, with it's little heart beating. It is such a miracle. I am only 6 weeks pregnant, but that little heart is going strong. We even have pictures. I go back next week for another ultrasound.

My daughter and finished our shopping today. She got a new hat, new sandals, and new onesies. She is a growing girl. Guess what color everything is. PINK! All things for little girls come in a rainbow of pinks.

I think this summer my daughter will voluntarily wear her hat. Last year it was a fight. She enjoyed her new hat today and her old hat yesterday. The smallness of her old hat made her ears stick out. I got a picture of her when she put it on sideways. Very cute!

I look forward to more sunshiny days outside with my daughter.

It was a nice day today. My daughter and I played outside. She enjoys trotting around the grass with her ball. She has great fun walking up the small hill near our house. At the top she turns and throws or kicks her ball down the hill, than she runs down after it. I catch her, swing her into the air and put her down. She hurries to do it all over again.

We also took a walk to the playground. She didn't want to slide today. She has enjoyed that before. She did swing with me on the regular swing. Since she liked that, I thought I might try the toddler swings. The last time we put her in one, she objected greatly. Probably because she didn't really fit, the swing was too big. However, this time, she had a fabulous time. So much so, that she didn't want to get out. In fact she got a time out, because she hit me when I took her out to go home for lunch.

Still sick.
Still stuffy and coughing.
Been to the doctor.
No medicine, except Tylenol products.
Still tired and not getting to bed early enough.
Need to get stock in Kleenex.
Got my daughter sick.
Husband is still germ free.

Will it ever end?

We had to vacate our house while the buyer had a house inspector come look the place over. We went to Costco with my mom. We tried really hard to find a reason to eat dinner at Houlihan's, but in the end we knew their wasn't any.
We had leftovers.