Oh the Reading

These are my newest slew of books to read. I'm very excited to get started on them because amongst the seven books you see there, there are actually eight. Just to put my sis-in-law at ease....I will begin with The Lovely Bones for two reasons:
1) it was a gift from her and Jeff back in September for my b-day
2) I need to read it before the movie comes out on the 15th-January 15th!

Michelle, I hope you are pleased. I have a week to get it done and you may question me daily on how it is coming along. After that, probably onto Belly Laughs-I'll definitely need some good humor after such an intense read.

Adorable Baby Nostalgia

This past week Donny and I have been given some adorable baby items for Branson. They include: a crochet knit blanket, 2 receiving blankets, some adorable/fancy burp cloths, and Donny's christening outfit and other christening items. We have received so much from family and friends and want to thank all of you for everything you have given us in support and love. It means so much that everyone is as excited about his arrival as we are. Here are some pictures of the cute items....sorry there isn't pictures of everything he has received thus far-there's just too much!

Refelecting on Christmas

Ahhh....the vision of Christmas! Yes, that is Santa in a cowboy hat and holding a lasso. We weren't good about taking ANY pics this year, so this will have to do.

Now that the season is truly over and we're still avoiding taking down any Christmas decor, I thought I would reflect on what a great Christmas it really was.

As most of you know I have worked for Anchor Blue since I was 19 (now 26), and have always taken on multiple tasks besides working there: full time school, teaching dance for 3 separate locations, and sharing in household duties. It's more than enough to drive a person crazy. It was always the worst time of year because I would more than over work myself, causing something to be neglected or forgotten.

Not being able to work has truly made me enjoy the season/holiday so much more. I do not feel as though I left the season disappointing any family or friends, even though I was quite limited by my pregnancy, and loved every minute of it. I appreciate everyone who made accommodations for me or helped me out whether it was making me a little bed on the couch for me to lay on, coming over to do my laundry because I should not be walking, or filling up a glass of water for me-even though I was four feet away from the sink. So thanks to everyone who has helped and continues to help!!! I love you so much!

Enough mushy stuff.....you all go have a great day!

Meeting Wyatt

So here he is: Mr. Wyatt Adam Lehman. Our newest addition to the Schumacher side of the family to my sister and brother-in-law. He truly is an easy baby. Most of our time spent with little Wyatt was either holding him and making him smile, or gathered around his play mat while he "talked" to all of the toys that dangled above his face. So much fun!! Now, not that I don't know how to deal with babies-I'm the second oldest cousin in the family AND have other nieces and nephews-but it really made me feel less scared to take care of our little one when he arrives. I can't wait for Branson to get here now!

So Sad...

Head hanging in shame, voluntarily sitting in her kennel (her safe spot/ time-out spot) Vista waits for me to say it's alright for her to come out. I was trying to sit peacefully and work on the computer, yet with every little noise from outside came a "terror" bark as if Vista was scared of something. I continually scolded her and told her to lay down, but it wasn't working until I yelled, "Vista! Hush up!" and gave her the look. She ran into her kennel and stayed their for 45 minutes. Is this how parenting is going to be??? Wait....don't answer that ;)

Momma and the Baby

As of yesterday I am officially 27 weeks along and feeling good. This has been a fantastic pregnancy as far as I am feeling (that's the operative word). It wasn't until mid-November did any worries arise. It all started because I went to the hospital with excruciating back pain. I was checked over in the maternity ward, then sent to the ER because nothing was wrong with me baby-wise. Thank goodness! After a long day in the ER the doctor said I might have kidney stones and I would hopefully pass them...super.....I left the hospital with no defining answers.

When I went back in for my next OB appointment my doctor said she was concerned with the ultrasound done on me as far as the length of my cervix was and the estimated weight of the baby-as well as an in-office test she had performed where my cervix was feeling soft. All three things were not good. So she prescribed weekly ultrasounds to monitor my cervix and the baby and to begin visiting her every 2 weeks, along with taking more breaks at work so I'm not on my feet for eight hours.

I followed up with my first official ultrasound appointment and was told I needed to go to the hospital and get checked over. I, of course, began sobbing thinking the absolute worst. I wasn't given any info except I needed to wait 24 hours because I was going to have an FFN done. I called my doctor from the ultrasound clinic to explain what was going on and she said that my cervix was short enough to possibly go into labor and the FFN would help determine if I was. I did as I was told and went to the hospital. By the next day my cervix had already improved and the FFN came out negative (a good thing), but I was ordered to go on modified bed rest for the next two weeks. What????!!!!

After those two weeks were up I went back to be examined by my doctor, have another ultrasound, and another FFN. The stats: my cervix had not changed and was still soft and the FFN was once again negative. On the plus side the baby is still small, but gaining weight at a faster rate. My doctor concluded by saying that I would need to stay on modified bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy.

So that's where we are at this point. I went from working like crazy to not working at all. My mom says it's God's way of telling me there are things more precious in life than trying to make an extra buck, and that the rewards in the end will be much greater than I have ever expected. I do believe this is true. Anything I can do to make a perfect home for our baby is what I will do-it's a sacrifice that is definitely worth making. Just another 13 weeks of hanging in there is what we have to do. Keep us in your prayers and hope that he comes out healthy and chubby.

Me at 25 weeks

Baby at 24 weeks

Donny's Elk Hunt

Over Thanksgiving Donny and Mike had a chance to go elk hunting. It started off a rough expedition, then.....bam! They got one. If you want a story you'll definitely have to ask them, because I don't re-tell it well at all. It was a joint effort in taking this guy down and they had almost given up. They might tell you it was pure luck they even encountered this buck, but they're thrilled to say they got him.