Guess where I am?

Please keep Ally, myself & our sweet family in your prayers over the next 3 weeks. I'm here in the hospital until delivery of our precious girl. I am 35 weeks tomorrow and my Dr would really like to keep me pregnant until I turn 38 weeks. I am stable stuck in my hospital bed and realize this is the best place to be for right now, but this is so very hard. I want to be home and cry everytime my girls & Josh leave or basically anytime I think about them. I am so in love with my baby girl in my belly though and sweet pea is so worth it. We need prayers though, all of us. Thank you!

We look like Mommy!

Kathryn doesn't remember much from when I was pregnant with Lauren, since she was 3 1/2, BUT there was one fun thing she remembered...looking pregnant like Mommy! For a fun flash back, click  here! So here we are 4 years later getting to have the fun again! Kathryn of course loved it and Lauren was a little emberassed. Kathryn kept her baby (ball) in her dress for a while & kept bumping into things & would say 'this belly sure gets in the way'...ha! You have no idea dear!

10 years!!!

Yesterday was our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

What a joy it is to be married to Josh Chambers! He is my better half! He is my best friend!

He completes me! He makes me a better person! He is a great Daddy! I sure do love that guy & I am so thankful he chose me to be his wife & partner in life!  

Life is always full of surprises always & although we had big 10 year plans, our plans had to change just a tad! We had big dreams to renew our vows this year on the beach, then we had thrown out the idea to go back to NYC like we did for our honeymoon or just sneak away anywhere for a long weekend. When we got our BIG surprise of baby #3, all those plans quickly got changed. We knew I would be 34 weeks pregnant and since my previous pregnancies generally turned out to high risk, we knew we shouldn't plan any long trip away. I am sure glad we decided to let go of those ideas, who would have known I would be confined to my bed. Well, really no surprise to either of us! So for our low key anniversary weekend, we had arranged for the girls to be gone overnight and go to a wonderful dinner at Ruth Chris. My Dr gave me the ok & we were super siked! I love a good steak, but right now that is all I can think of, I want steak all the time! Those plans were quickly changed when Lauren got the flu :(. Just in case you forgot, she got the flu last year too...argh!!! She got the flu shot both years and yet she has still ended up with it yet again. I could have just cried, in fact I'm surprised I didn't. When I heard that she had the flu, my mind just went into panic mode. I really try to remain calm, but I just fear illness! Especially those that might possibly include vomit, (I do not handle vomit well) and those that spread quickly and you have no way of knowing when it might happen. God sure knew what he was doing when he paired Josh and I together. He stays calm, cool and collected and I just flip out! He took Thursday & Friday off and said 'I got it, don't worry'. Not only was I scared of the what ifs, but I am pretty useless right now and that too just killed me. He got her a tamiflu prescription and I called my Dr and he wanted me to start on it asap too just as a preventative. Lauren's body just couldn't handle the tamiflu this year. She started vomiting pretty much as soon as it entered her. Her fever was 103.5 and her little body was just so weak. It was absolutely heartbreaking! She got super sick super quick. I will spare you with the awful details, because now 48 hours later, things are looking good! Yesterday actually turned out to be a nice family day. We kept Kathryn home from school and just laid around watching movies all day. Instead of dwelling on the negative, I switched my mind to the positive. We were celebrating our 10 year anniversary and we are so blessed. We are so extremely blessed! To have 2 beautiful, smart, healthy, thriving daughters, 1 more precious girl almost here, how in the world could I be upset with the way the day had gone? Our life is full of excitement, it's often loud, a little dramatic and has its share of surprises...but it is a great life!!!

So for our anniversary dinner, Josh piled us all in the van & we went and picked up Outback curbside for us & happy meals for the girls! It was delicious & it was really nice to get out of the house for a drive. We rolled the windows down, cranked the music up & had a great evening. We had said earlier, we would just celebrate at a later date, and that might still happen, but I am happy with the way our day turned out! Even happier Lauren is doing better & everyone else is still healthy! Praise God, He is so good to us!!!

Preggo Update

I am feeling VERY pregnant!

Things are going great! Minus the fact I am incredibly uncomfortable & still on bedrest, I can't complain...ha! Josh might say otherwise. We had a sono Tuesday & Allyson is doing great! She is still measuring a week ahead & weighed a whopping 5lbs 3oz. My Dr said she is a porker. She is tranverse & it is SO uncomfortable!!! She was practicing breathing & it was great to see. She has hair, which was no surprise. I have heartburn so bad & did with her sisters & they had heads full of hair. I have no great sono pics. She was in no mood to show off for us. We even had the great 4d sonogram room, little stinker! As long as everything continues to go like it is & I don't go into labor first, I will be induced the week of April 23rd. Just 1 more month! I am so excited to meet her, hold her in my arms, have 3 daughters & be a family of 5. Thank you for your continued prayers!

photo a day - take 2

Day 11 - Someone You Talked To Today

My sweet hub, my girls & our pup! They were walking out the door to meet & hand off the girls for spring break with Granny & Papa and I snapped this real quick!

 Day 12 - Fork

Yes, we have a giant fork, spoon & knife hanging in our kitchen like 'Everybody loves Raymond' & I love them!



 Day 13 - A Sign

My fav sign in our house. It's above our back door & says 'There's no place like home.' ~Dorothy

I love to be home more than anywhere else!

 Day 14 - Clouds

Since I am stuck in doors in bed, Josh took care of this pic a day for me. He & the girls were at the park soaking up the beautiful weather!

 Day 15 - Car

I am a mini-van driving & love every bit of this vehicle Mom :)!

 Day 16 - Sunglasses

This girl cracks me up!

 Day 17 - Green

Lauren loves her green leappad!

This was the closest to anything green we got to on St. Patty's day.

 Day 18 - A Corner Of Your Home

This is my favorite corner of our home right now. This is the corner I see while lying on my left side in my bed. TV+DVR+Wii for Netflix = FABULOUS setup!

 Day 19 - Funny

Lauren comes strolling in my room with the snap & go. She's got a bear, a roll of toilet paper, a package of pacifiers & 3 pairs of shoes in it. She says don't worry Mom, I might run into something, but it's ok. It was VERY funny!!!

 Day 20 - Before/After

Self explanatory :)

photo a day

So I've had alot of free time lately :) for web surfing and have started reading a bunch of blogs. I honestly couldn't believe how many mom blogs there are, like serious top 10 blogs in the world that are done by moms. It is so cool to see how talented these mommas are. I have really enjoyed checking them out. It's not just about their kids, but recipes, decorating and just cool writing by them. So anywho, one of the ones I really like & love one of her challenges is...

http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/2012/02/thank-you-march-photo-day-starts.html.

It's not only inspired me to take a pic of something everyday, which I have been really slacking in that department, but also got some cool photo apps for my iphone. Fellow bloggers, try it, it's been fun! So here are my first 10 days! Stay tuned for the rest later!

Day 1 - Up

The view up from my bed, fan always blasting high!

Day 2 - Fruit

My sweet girls were washing their hungry mom some strawberries!

Day 3 - Your Neighborhood

I looked out front & saw this! There are always kids outside in our neighborhood.

Day 4 - Bedside

Don't laugh at my humidifier penguin, he helps this pregnant momma breathe better!

Day 5 - Smile

Love this girl & her sweet smile! She was snuggled up in bed with me.

Day 6 - 5pm

Don't judge! Yes, I sent Josh to get this for me at 5pm! Pregnant me loves double doozies!

Day 7 - Something you wore

I love my slippers and wear them everyday and all day!

Day 8 - Window

This is the window view when I lay on the couch up front while the girls play.

Day 9 - Red

I got my sweet Ally's diaper bag & I love the red pop of cherries on it!

Day 10 - Loud

We love this song and play it as loud as possible! Heard this on Ellen, love her!

this & that on us

I shall start with me & my little love in my belly...

*I am 31 wks 4 days pregnant (not that I'm counting super close or anything!) I have 6-7 weeks left till I will be induced! Yippee! We will officially plan it at my 36 wk appt as long as everything stays pretty calm with me. I seriously can't wait to meet this little girl!
*She is getting big & moves constantly and it hurts me! I don't remember the girls hurting me, but oh wowzers she does! You can totally tell where her little bum or leg is in my tummy. At my last sono at 29 wks, she measured 3 lbs 6 oz (measuring a week ahead). I have another sono in 2 weeks and can't wait to see her growth! Last time she was licking her leg for us. The girls enjoyed her little show!
*I go to the bathroom just about every 5 seconds! We get our toilet paper from Costco, so tons, and it is gone in a week. No joke!
*I am hot! Everyone in my house is freezing and I am just HOT! Kathryn tells people that come in, 'welcome to our world' ha! The house temp stays at 70, plus a ceiling fan, plus a fan blowing right on me in bed. Josh is constantly wearing a pullover :)!
*I was in the hospital again last Friday. I don't really tell anyone anymore, because it seems to just be a norm. I don't stress or panic, just call Josh, he gets me, we go, yada yada yada. I do feel like a ticking time bomb everytime I go in or go to a Dr's appt that this will be it and he will say 'your in the hospital for the long haul'. I really, really don't want that to happen.
*My blood pressure is remaining pretty good, well that is when I do what I am supposed to be doing, which is nothing but laying down. It's getting old people!!! I must admit I've been snuck out to Target, Babies R Us and maybe the mall? I do cruise around either in an electric scooter or my wheelchair. My favorite is Target and backing up in that bad boy and the LOUD beep, beep that comes with it. Josh & I just laugh so hard! We went to different dept's Sunday night & he texts me & says 'please reverse so I can find you'. I just have to laugh!
*I still contract about 3-4 days out of the week. I've yet to meet the 6 over an hour criteria yet, thank goodness. I just get my water, lay down, potty, drink more water, potty, drink more water, potty...you get the jist.
*We are totally ready for her! We have everything we need for her. I've been quite the busy online shopper and making lists out the whazoo for Josh. I feel so good & ready though!
*Please continue to keep me & Allyson in your prayers for a little longer. I truly appreciate the love and support everyone has shown us! We have still be so blessed with so much food and help. I'm not sure how to properly thank people. It is overwhelming! Calls, texts, emails mean so much to me too. So thank you to all those that just call to talk. It lifts up my day!

The Big girls...

*They are fun, so funny. The keep me laughing. They also keep me frustrated sometimes too. These emotions, oh my word. Where do they come from? It's like 0-60 so quickly. Is this girls? Is this their ages? Is this their way of dealing with what's going on with me? I really think to myself sometimes, how are we going to raise 3 girls? Through prayer, patience & laughter is my guess!
*Lauren.is.a.mess! She is 4. Did you know that? She likes to remind us all the time! She loves school and wants to go home with her bff Anna Mae every day. She loves to point out the letters in her name everywhere. It is really cute. She is obsessed with the Nook and Netflix. If she could watch Netflix everyday she would be a happy girl. She is such a sweet girl though & I love soaking in her as a 4 year old.
*Kathryn has gotten awesome at getting up all on her own in the morning. She gets herself breakfast and eats while she watches Cyberchase. The girl loves math, so this show is right up her alley. She knows what time she needs to get dressed and does it. Then comes to me to get her hair done. She really is maturing and growing up. It's a joy to see. I'm not saying she still doesn't have her moments, but she really is such a compliant, mature sweetheart 85% of the time!
*They are spending their spring break with Granny & Papa. I am so thankful they get to have fun instead of being stuck here with me. I just wish I got to have fun with them too. They are going to Brenham, New Braunfels & San Antonio for the week. They are most excited about staying in different hotels and going to Sea World. I'm going to miss them like crazy, but I can't wait to hear all about their fun week!

Josh...

*He is a rockstar!
*He's got to be exhausted, but somehow he is still going and going strong! He goes into work everyday at 4am so he can be Mr.Mom and pick up the girls from school every day.
*He's going to birthday parties, dance class, the grocery store, etc.
*He's dealing with my daily wishes, wants, complains, etc. Enough.said!
*He never complains. I can't even imagine! I think if the tables were turned, I couldn't do it all like he is. I think I would whine & cry!
*He's a great guy and I am so thankful for him!!!
*I can't wait to be up and going again right along with them and give him a little break!