Thankful For Joy

I'm not talking just about my dog Joy, although she is truly a joy. Today I am reflecting on little joys that God has blessed me with lately and some things were from unexpected situations. I took this picture the other day while I had Justice out in our front yard. I just love watching him discover things. He just crawled around in the grass, picked up sticks, and pulled weeds (good for us especially). As the weather has cooled down I expect to do a lot more of this.
Yesterday, I was feeling the most rotten I have felt in a long time. After I put Justice down to bed all I could do was lay on the couch. My dear husband brought me a blanket, water, and at one point picked me up and took me to the bathroom to get ready for bed. He was so sweet doing these things for me! So, in a very yucky situation I received a blessing.
Today has been wonderful as well. Finally after over a month my friends and I had a playgroup together. It was so great to see their children, they are really growing up and becoming so active. I could not believe it. We also had some great adult conversations I miss having all day. It is such a blessing to have these friends who help me out and we all help each other out with our different parenting and relationship issues we have in our lives. It is a lot of fun just hanging out and fellowshipping together.
I am stressed out a lot over our finances as I have shared in past posts. I get so frustrated at rising bills and grocery budgets. I am anxious and worried how we get from month to month from time to time. The other night as I was sitting praying and reading my Bible I was journaling my prayer over our finances and I really felt the Lord in my prayer and the words came to me to know what to pray. Often times in situations where we are down or frustrated it can be hard to put into words what we need to pray for. This night the words came to me and I knew what I needed to pray. It was so comforting lifting up the Lord what I was really feeling and knowing the right words that would express the desire of my heart for our family's finances. It was truly a great God moment touching my life.

My Great Find of the Day

This is the double stroller of my dreams! I am so jazzed about finding it. My mother placed an order for it today off Amazon.com. Although the birth is still quite a few months away, I hadn't seen anything that fit what I wanted in a double stroller. I almost bought one at our consignment sale last night, but lost out when I stepped away for a moment, but after finding this one I realize that it was a sign that the perfect one was still out there. This is the Jeep Wagoneer Tandem stroller by Kolcraft, stadium seating, cup holders for mommy and babies, rear seat accomodates my car seat, a huge bottom compartment for baby bag, purse, etc., and a steering wheel with horn for the front seat. If you can't tell, I am very excited. God is just bringing to me all the things I have felt would be great for baby #2. He is truly blessing me. Last night I got an amazing deal on a top of the line swing--Fisher Price Nature's Touch swing, regularly $190.00 at Babies R' Us for $75.00! Yay! It is the best swing playing music, multiple speeds, cushy chair that reclines so you can use it from birth, I am in Heaven. A couple of weeks ago when I went to Birmingham I bought a Sling Carrier by Infantino that is so comfortable and I even tried it out with my two month old nephew. It is great! So, I am only 15 weeks pg, but am pretty much done with shopping for baby #2, other than clothes if I am having a girl.

This Just In--Good News to Follow

Justice just had his doc. appmnt. and his rash was the result of the same virus that had given him diarrhea on our trip. What a relief! Doc. said that it would clear up in a few days and that he was no longer contagious, but that this was the tail end of the virus. Also, I don't think I have a cold. I think allergies were the culprit of my sneezy, throat itchiness yesterday. I am much better today. Things are looking up! I am excited in an hour and a half a big consignment sale is happening in our town. Since I contributed I get to go to the preview sale tonight. I have big plans to shop tonight. Hopefully I can find what I am looking for. I am all about the bargains! With health back in our home and shopping to look forward to I am smiling today! God is good. On another note, I am really enjoying watching Rachel Ray's talk show. She has the best ideas! I learn a lot about homemaking and cooking ideas. Good stuff! My house is also staying clean this week. I have a new system in place. I have set up a routine for myself where I block out time to do one room at a time to focus on. So far so good. I just have to stick to my routine now. I really do function so much better when I know what I need to do at certain times of the day. We have four more weeks until the big ultrasound! I can't wait! Well, I guess that is all for now. Blessings and health to all!

Somebody Give Me a Break!!!!

Okay, I am going to go a little venty on this post. I have been greatly challenged the past few weeks. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the issues Justice has been having with a cold and the chicken pox. Well, the saga continues. Ron and I took a trip to Myrtle Beach area with Justice last week to see Ron's sister and brother. I knew it was going to be a challenge as it was on paper a 7 hour plus car ride. We left on Wednesday of last week and it took us 9 1/2 hours of traveling to get there with stops. The day before Justice's stools had been runny and a little diaper rash had developed. Well, it kicked into gear on our trip. He had full on diarrhea by Thursday and a nasty diaper rash. By Friday afternoon it was clear Justice was struggling with these issues. I was having to change him every hour to two hours and his bottom just got worse and worse. Praise the Lord though, Sunday his diarrhea ended, the diaper rash still there, but now it would have time to heal. Praise the Lord also I had prescription cream for the diaper rash since it had turned into a yeast infection. So, we made the car ride back with little incident and some of it was actually pleasant. Tuesday rolled around and Justice's nose started to run and had congestion. He woke up okay today, but by the afternoon it was clear he had a cold and so did I. Also, on Tuesday night a mysterious rash appeared on his stomach and chest, similar, but different from the chicken pox one. It had not spread this morning, but by afternoon it had pretty much covered his stomach, spread to his neck and back and was a little on his face. I will be taking him to the doctor tomorrow. Boy, I am exhausted! I asked my Bible Study group to pray that Justice wouldn't have anymore sickness. We are due for a break from the issues we have been having. It makes me wonder about taking him the nursery as I fear this is where he has gotten some of his things. But, I cannot keep him sheltered the rest of his life and we cannot stop living our lives. It is a frustrating situation, but there just can't be much done for it.

Never Forget 2,996; A 9/11 Tribute

2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11. I am joining in with thousands of bloggers paying tribute to each one of the victims of this tragic day in our nation's history. This day will live in infamy as Roosevelt said of Pearl Harbor. My post today will not dwell on the tragedy or pass political statements. In this post I will honor and celebrate the life of a strong and passionate woman who died this fateful day.
My honoree is Judith Camilla “Judy” Frankel Larocque. Judy was from Framingham, Mass. She was the founder and chief executive officer of Market Perspectives Inc., a Framington-based market research company catering to the technology industry. This day five years ago, she was traveling to California for business when American Airlines flight 11 was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She, along with 92 others on board, were killed instantly.
Framingham was home to Judy. Although born in Boston, she grew up in Framingham where she graduated from Framingham High School. She received her sociology degree from Boston University in 1973 and went on to attend graduate school at Clark University in Worchester, Mass.
Judy was a pioneer in business. She worked for many technology firms building up experience. She was the principal of Emergent Marketing, an executive marketing consulting firm before going on to start her own venture in business. She founded and maintained the CEO position of Market Perspectives, a research firm that offers online and on-site surveys.
Judy loved to walk her beloved dog, often referred to as her third child, Naboo. She lived near Lake Cochituate and was often taking time to canoe and swim. She was also keeping healthy and young by doing yoga and gardening in her front yard. In May prior to her death she walked 60 miles for breast cancer awareness.
She is survived by two daughters, Danielle Lemack of Chicago and Carie Lemack, 26, of Cambridge, Mass.; and a sister, Diane Marshall. Her daughter Carie has kept her mother’s voice alive by becoming the co-founder and vice president of the Families of September 11th Organization. She has appeared on various news outlets and has spoken before the 9/11 commission. She was also a part of the victims’ families who spoke out during the Zacarias Moussaoui trial.
Friends and family members have given these words to describe this special lady: warm, confident, caring, intelligent and vibrant.
Rest in peace dear soul. Let us never forget the day that claimed your life and so many others. Let us carry your memory as citizens of the great country and cherish the freedoms we hold. God Bless America.

My Crazy Week

Last week was crazy! Actually I think with a baby these types of weeks come with the territory. Last Saturday Justice ended up getting really sick with a cold that ended up being the worst cold he has ever had as I had posted last week. On Monday, I came down with the cold. Thankfully by Wednesday I was feeling much better. Then, I was taking with my friend Ashley on Wednesday and she was telling me about a friend of hers has a son with chicken pox and had had the vaccine and everything. On Wednesday night I was undressing Justice for his bath and discovered a rash on his chest I would later find out was chicken pox. Most likely he actually got it from the vaccine. I was very grateful that he never itched, had a fever, or felt bad from the chicken pox. It was just a pain because I had to cancel outings with friends because I just didn't want to chance there children getting it although the nurse said he wasn't contagious. The tail end of our week last week Ron got the cold as well. My stepdad also came down with the cold. It just got passed around our family unfortunately. But, on a postive note our weekend was a blast. My mom kept Justice so that Ron and I could go to the Auburn vs. WA State game Sat. night. We had such a good time seeing Auburn romp the competition. There were fireworks on and off the field, literally--at the halftime show and at the end of the game there were actual fireworks. The rest of the weekend we again spent at the lake swimming and having fun. Tomorrow I am traveling to Birmingham to finally get to see my nephew who was born on June 30th. I will report on that trip when I return, until then, blessings!