Little Hickman Creek Series, Or Tagged Again!

Last Friday I was tagged by my buddy Shauna over at The Coffee Stop to share about a favorite but rather lesser-known book. (If you haven't visited Shauna's blog before, it's time well spent. She has three of the funniest boys you'll ever find!) From Shauna's post last Friday:

"Patti Abbot launched this great idea. Here's her original explanation:

This is the first of what I optimistically hope will become Friday recommendations of books we love but might have forgotten over the years. I have asked several people to help me by also remembering a favorite book. Their blog sites are listed below. I also asked each of them to tag someone to recommend a book for next Friday. I'm worried great books of the recent past are sliding out of print and out of our consciousness. Not the first-tier classics we all can name, but the books that come next."

So in keeping with Friday book recommendations (yes, I know I'm posting a bit early!), I am taking some liberties with this and recommending not just one book, but a 3-book series by Sharlene MacLaren. It's her Little Hickman Creek Series, and consists of three of my all-time favorite historical romances. I'm including the synopsis from each book.

When I started this blog last year, one of my first posts was about my favorite authors. Sharlene MacLaren, who is on that list, is a new-ish author with whom I have absolutely fallen in love! Every book of hers that I have read has been one that I've read at least twice, if not more. Each book is better than the one before. And not only are her books wonderful, Shar herself is such a fun gal that you will absolutely love her. She's been so generous with me with email notes that I feel like I've known her for years. Check her out at her blog or her website. You will enjoy getting to know her better. Till then, let me encourage you--STRONGLY encourage you!!!--to read her Little Hickman Creek series.

The first book in Shar's Little Hickman Creek Series is "Loving Liza Jane":




A Divine Leading: When Liza Jane Merriwether rode into the town of Little Hickman Creek, her first thought was, "Oh Lord, what have I done?" Kentucky was much different than what she was used to back East, but she knew God had led her here for a reason. Will she discover His plan for her life?

The Handsome Widower: Soon, the petite schoolteacher is beloved by all...including Benjamin Broughton, a handsome widower struggling to raise two young children. Will he overlook the perfect wife that God has practically dropped in his lap for a mail-order bride?

A Destined Love: Liza Jane's teaching contract implicitly states that she is to have "no improper contact with the opposite sex." Will she discover that with God, all things are possible?


Sounds good, doesn't it???? I can assure it, IT WAS!!!

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The second book in the series is "Sarah, My Beloved".

A Divine Mix-up: A beautiful redhead has traveled from Boston to Kentucky by stagecoach to be a mail order bride. But when Sarah Woodward arrives in Little Hickman Creek, she is greeted by her prospective husband, who tells her he has fallen in love with another woman. Disappointed but determined, Sarah refuses to leave until she finds out the reason why God led her here.

A Hardened Heart: A tall, dark and ruggedly handsome man, Rocky Callahan meets the fiery Sarah. He has tragically lost his wife, his only child, and his sister. Faced with raising his sister's two children alone, he suggests a "marriage in name only" to Sarah.

Healing the Past: Will Rocky let go of the pain in his past and trust God's plan for his life? Will Sarah leave him for a past beau, who has followed her to Kentucky to bring her home? Or will Sarah and Rocky find true love from the hand of the ultimate Matchmaker?


I love a good "marriage of convenience" story...and this one is JUST THAT!!! A REALLY GOOD ONE!!!

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The third and final book in the series, just recently released and what I think to be Shar's best work to date, is "Courting Emma":




A Divine Plan: Twenty-eight-year-old Emma Browning has built a barricade around her heart to survive the pain of growing up with her alcoholic father, Ezra. As she runs Emma's Boardinghouse, she plays host to an array of unkempt, earthy characters while trying to maintain a protective emotional distance from people. No one has succeeded in getting to know the beautiful yet steely edged proprietress. That is, not until Little Hickman Creek's handsome new pastor, Jonathan Atkins, takes up residence in the boardinghouse and begins to dismantle her carefully controlled world...

A Struggle to Forgive: Clinging desperately to her stubborn ways and unable to forgive her father, Emma begins receiving letters from a mysterious sender who somehow knows about her and has secret information about Ezra's past. Amidst all this, she is surprised--and unsettled--by the attentions of both Jonathan and Billy, the smooth-talking traveling showman.

A Miraculous Love: When the town of Little Hickman Creek is stunned by an unexpected turn of events, will Emma risk removing her protective shell to accept the love of God--and the love of a man?


As good as the other two are, this one is without a doubt my favorite. Well worth the wait!!!

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I love a good book, but even more I love a good series. A series gives me another book to anticipate. I also love when characters from one book show up in subsequent books. It's like visiting with old friends whom I haven't seen in a while. (Yes, I know I need to get out more!!!) Shar's "Little Hickman Creek" series has all those things, and then some. You can read these book summaries and probably guess how each book will end, but I can promise you that NONE of Shar's books are predictable. Her writing has quality and depth, and she tells a wonderful love story with a happily-ever-after ending that always leaves you sighing and wanting more. Check her out! You will be so glad you did!

And finally, to finish off my Friday book recommendation, I now tag Deb over at The Daily B. I noticed you have "Loving Liza Jane" on your Shelfari list, Deb! So next Friday is yours!!!

Mystery Revealed

First I will start with my most recent belly pic. Here I am:




Not whale status yet, although that will come about soon enough. Here I am at 19 weeks, 4 days, and everything is progressing beautifully and as it should be progressing. Today I had my monthly check-up AND my 5-month sonogram. This is the time when the sonogram tech checks to see that the baby's development is correct: fingers, toes, bone structure, vital organs, etc. (if there is any etc.). This is also when parents find out if they are having a boy or girl.

First let me say that everything looked great. All the vital organs were developing as they should, 10 fingers, 10 toes, the spine looked perfect...everything was normal and as it should be. So for that we say THANK YOU, LORD! Your handiwork is amazing!

Next we found out what we are having. If you recall, I was absolutely certain we were having a boy. (For that post, click here.) The HOFFER, however, was convinced it was a girl. Little Bit didn't really know but really hoped for a girl. She was being told by friends and classmates that little brothers were Satan's direct attack on big sisters and were to be avoided at all costs. Either way, whether boy or girl, it didn't matter to me. I was just grateful for the privilege of being a mommy again.

I went in for my appointment this morning all alone. The HOFFER had a regrettable scheduling conflict that really couldn't be avoided, so it was just me. I was actually okay with that...as long as he's there when the baby arrives!!!! I walked in with a VCR tape and an envelope for keeping the news a secret till we could get together as a family. As I said before, the appointment went very well...all is normal, and normal is good. My sonogram tech took a picture of the baby's privates, made sure it said either boy or girl, slipped it in the envelope, and sealed it.

After I came home, I let Chester the Wonderdog out for a bathroom break, then brought him back in so the two of us could take a nap together. I was running on about 4 hours of sleep and was really ready for some rest. Ten minutes into our nap Wonderdog let me know in no uncertain terms that he needed to go back outside for another potty break. I reluctantly got up and took him back outside. After all, it beat having pee or poop on my bed. Unfortunately for me, a short section of our fence is missing and in the process of being repaired, so he ran to one of his favorite places to potty: our next-door neighbor's yard. As if that weren't bad enough, he hasn't mastered the art of coming when called and COMPLETELY ignored my desperate pleas to come back to our yard. Right as he squats for a poop break, my neighbor walks out of her back door. Oh, how embarrassing!!!! I cringe. "I am so sorry! I will clean this up...I PROMISE!" She told me that she was only coming out because she saw me and wanted to find out what we were having. (She really is a sweet neighbor.) I explained the situation, that I didn't know and that results were in a sealed envelope, but that I would be glad to let her peek inside. (I felt a bit obligated since Wonderdog had soiled her lovely lawn!) So I cleaned up the poop while she checked the envelope. She made one comment that made me think it was a girl, then said something else that made me think boy. She was nice enough to keep the secret.

We went to dinner with some close family friends to share our big news. After ordering our meal, we handed the envelope to Little Bit to let her reveal the Big Secret. It took her a minute to figure the picture, but then finally found the answer to our question:

"GIRL!"

Her name is Sarah Grace.

Baby News...Again

As you can see from my counter at the top of my blog, I'm at 19 weeks, and all is well. Nothing much new so far. My last appointment (that I CLEARLY neglected to blog about!) went smoothly...heard the baby's heartbeat, which is WAY COOL!!! This week I go and find out if we're having a boy or a girl, and I promise to post a belly shot before the end of the week. I am rather rotund these days!

A funny story about the sonogram scheduling: The HOFFER was leaving his office last week and was half-way out the door when he stopped to check with his lovely assistant (who will now be referred to as the Lovely Assistant) about his upcoming appointments. An older woman was on her way past him to the dentist's office next door when he asked his Lovely Assistant, "When is our sex-thing scheduled?" It was at that point that The HOFFER realized someone had overheard his question. The Lovely Assistant just laughed as he sped out the door and ran right into the elevator to be alone with his humiliation.

Okay, so that's all I have for now. I'll have more after Thursday!

My Own Personal Presidential Candidate

I never really considered myself First Lady material. After all, I'm waaaaaay too casual to dress in a suit every day. If I was First Lady, jeans and flip-flops would be the new business suit, and I see that going over about as well as a pregnant polevaulter! Additionally, I'm not terribly interested in politics. I get way too irritated and angry because some of the people in office say and do some of the stupidest, most ignorant things ever imagined and there's not one thing I can do about any of it, except to cast my vote to get them out of office. But The HOFFER has made a post on his blog that, pretty much, gives his candidacy speech. I don't know exactly how serious he is about all this, but there are his thoughts on how this great nation of ours should be run in black and white. It's okay to disagree...I'm not going to refuse to speak with someone just because we don't believe the same way. (If we all believed the exact same thing, one of us wouldn't be necessary.) So go over and read what The HOFFER has to say about being President of the United States of America. Little Bit will love you forever if you vote for him...she's already making plans to move to D.C., remodel the White House and call it the Rainbow House. I don't know how I would feel about it all...guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. :-)

I AM STUNNED

Are you an American Idol devotee? Did you see Thursday night's show? If you did, are you as shocked as I am? I am absolutely REELING! What is up with this???? What is going on???

Last season, after their Idol Gives Back show, they decided that every contestant was safe that week, but that two contestants would be eliminated the following week. This year, they decided to not do it again that way, and who was eliminated? Michael Johns.

What is up with this??? This just goes to show that ANYONE, regardless of how amazingly talented they are, can be kicked off the show! I was absolutely certain beyond any shadow of a doubt that Michael would end up one of the final two contestants (with David Cook as the other). Did you SEE his performance of Bohemian Rapsody during Hollywood Week? Did you SEE him sing Light My Fire better than Jim Morrison ever thought of singing it? Have you ever heard ANYONE else even ATTEMPT to sing ANYTHING by Queen and do it justice? Michael Johns not only did We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions justice, HE KICKED IT IN THE (fill in the blank)!!!! This is so weird. So much so that I think Idol has something up its proverbial sleeve. I won't be terribly surprised if they somehow manage to bring him back next week. If they don't, well, they're just morons. I am certain that, whether or not he's really off the show or Idol's just messing with us, Michael Johns will come out with a CD some time over the next year. And I will be standing in line to buy it. Rock on, Michael!!!

Another Video--This One's REALLY GOOD!!!

I had hoped to do more posting over the weekend, but we had a friend in from Wisconsin as well as a shin-dig in his honor, and I am still pretty much a worn out cookie. So for your listening and viewing pleasure, and until I get back to posting more stuff, here is a video of our friend Jessica. She is a senior in high school and is performing here at her school's version of American Idol. Not only is she lovely inside and out, she has a beautiful voice. As if that's not cool enough, she also races BMX with us and is rated #3 in the nation. She's the whole package. I think you'll enjoy hearing her sing, even with Grandma's cell phone going off in the middle of her song!

More stuff--baby, Chester and otherwise--to come soon. Oh, before I pass you on to the video, I have to tell you about what The Hoffer did today. He left for Augusta, Georgia this afternoon. Those of you who are golf fans have a pretty good idea of what I'm about to tell you: YES HE'S GOING TO THE MASTERS!!!! Tuesday only, but WHO CARES???? If you're not a golf/sports fan, The Masters is the most prestigious PGA tournament of the year, as well as the most sought-after and difficult ticket to get in ALL of sports. I can assure you he will be driving up Magnolia Lane in tears Tuesday morning. I'll be in tears with him. He made a short post about it on his blog, so check out Cash Flows when you get a minute.

One final thing: if you are in the mood for some good romance, check out the blog site for Christian romance writer Kristy Dykes. I must embarrassingly confess I have never read Kristy's books, but after reading her blog about her and her husband, WHO NEEDS TO???? (No offense, Kristy!!! I promise to read your books, but are they half as romantic as you and Milton???) These two are the sweetest couple I have ever seen. Kristy was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, and you should read some of the posts her husband Milton has written. Even before her diagnosis, these two are just sick in love with each other. I have been lurking around her blog for a good while, posting only on occasion, but since her diagnosis all I can do is watch and pray. Their absolute devotion to each other is a beautiful thing to see. Please check it out, and keep them on your prayer list.

Alright, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, performing Misty, I give you the lovely and talented Jessica.

Roadrunner Users, Beware!

This really isn't what I wanted to post after a nice long Easter weekend, but I felt it important to pass the word along. I received the following email yesterday (thankfully in my junk mail box) and after some follow-up with Roadrunner, found it to be a false email. Check this out:


"Dear valued customer,

We are currently performing maintenance for our
Digital Webmail Customers. We intend upgrading
our Digital Webmail Security Server for better online
services.

In order to ensure you do not experience service
interruption, Please you must reply to this email
immediately and enter your password here (********)
and Check out your new  features and enhancements with
your new and improved roadrunner account,to enable
us upgrade your Account for better online services
please reply to this email.

Thank You for Using RoadRunner. "


The first thing that clued me in that something strange was afoot
at the Circle K (a "Bill & Ted" reference, in case you're wondering)
is the fact that they asked for my password.  The next thing that
caused me concern was the way it was written.  I'm a grammar/
spelling nut so the capitalizations in the middle of a sentence
--one big, long, run-on sentence at that!!!-- as well as "to enable
us upgrade" said to me that this was probably not sent out by
Roadrunner.

I called and spoke with Mike with Roadrunner Tech Support
about the email, and it struck him as odd that the email
service was referred to as "digital webmail".  Email is indeed
digital, but it's never referred to as such.  He also reminded
me that Roadrunner will NEVER ask for my password.
Finally, he asked about some things in the email header
(which, being a techno moron, took me a minute to find),
and we found that even though this was "sent" from
"support@roadrunner.com", the reply-to email address
was a Yahoo address.  So I copied and pasted the email
and sent it to the abuse centers at both Roadrunner and
Yahoo.  I have not heard back from Yahoo, but here is
what Roadrunner had to say:

"This message did not originate from RoadRunner
and is actively being dealt with by the Security
team. Please do not provide your account
information to these sites. If you have, contact
your local office to reset your account information. 
 
For additional general security information, please
visit Help and Member Services, Security and Abuse Help. 
 
RoadRunner also has a security software package
available called CA Internet Security Suite, which
\contains an Antivirus, Firewall with pop-up blocker,
Anti-Spam, and Anti-Spyware. This can be accessed
on the RoadRunner homepage, by selecting the RR
Benefits link on the menu at the left-hand side.
You can then follow the steps for downloading and
installing the software. 
 
Note: If your credit card information is
compromised while using the Internet, contact
your credit card company immediately. Each
company has specific policies regarding online
theft and fraud. Please contact them directly
for more information. 
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to contact
Road Runner. 
 
- Road Runner Abuse [CL]"


So there you have it, sports fans.  If you have Roadrunner and
get this email (or one similar), don't answer it.  Get in touch
with the abuse center (security@rr.com) so they can put a
stop to the deviants who do this kind of thing.

**************************************************

On a lighter note, I just finished book #3 from Sharlene MacLaren's
Little Hickman Creek series.  FABULOUS!!!!!!  It was so good it
inspired me to write a little bit of poetry for Shar.  I will share
it with you now:

An Ode for Shar
(with apologies to Clement C. Moore)

'Twas the weekend of Easter
And all through our home,
Only our cat stirred,
Being left all alone
(but in the good care of a neighbor!).

We had packed our car full
And headed four hours south
To Port Aransas, Texas
To hook something with a large mouth.

Our friends Dan and Cheryl
Had come in from Big D.
We fished, we sunned,
And we laughed heartily.

Upon our return,
On my porch what I saw
Was a package delivered
And meant just for MOI!

OH GOODIE! I thought
As I picked up the box.
It’s the books that I ordered,
And all were in stock!

With scissors I carefully
Cut open the tape.
I slowly opened the box,
My mouth all agape.

A light from inside
Of the box did glow.
Angels from heaven sang “AAAHHHH!”
As they looked on below.

IT’S THE BOOK I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
I thought with delight.
“Courting Emma”, its name,
And I started that night.

A few days and interruptions later
I finished with a sigh.
Another happy ending!
Oh my my my my!!!!

She’s done it again,
I thought about Shar.
Yet another fabulous story,
Her best one so far.

And at the end another teaser!
“Hannah Grace” is its title.
A very busy author,
Hardly ever idle.

But another long wait?
2009????
Back to “Emma”, I guess,
It was, after all, SO DIVINE! 

I plan to give more details about the whole Little Hickman
series later, but if you get the chance to read these books, jump
at it!!! Sharlene gets better and better with each book she writes.
Great romance and ALWAYS a happy ending!

More soon! Hope you all are doing well.

Early Easter Greetings

Hi everyone! This has been a really busy week, and I can't wait to tell you about helping out with the Seder Feast my daughter's third grade class (actually, the entire grade) participated in. It was beautiful. Alas, I must leave you all behind for a few days--and EVEN CHESTER!!! WAAAAAH!!!--to head down to the Texas coast to spend Easter with a high school buddy of mine. So here's my wishes for a blessed Easter for you all. As we say when Christmas comes around, remember that Jesus is the Reason for the season. Seems to fit with Easter as well. :-)

New Baby Picture

Thanks, everyone, for indulging me in my continuous baby conversation. I hope to give you a bit of a break soon and talk about some books I've been reading since Christmas, but first I have to show you a new baby picture.







Isn't he an absolute LOVE?????

The HOFFER and Little Bit have been begging to get a dog for months, but I have had some pretty strong reservations. First, I'm allergic to dogs; on a scale of 1-4, I'm a 3. It's usually a delayed reaction, but nevertheless, I am allergic to dogs. Second, most of the dogs we have previously owned weren't a good match for me. Bunker was awesome...he was an older white lab that was just about as sweet as they come. Sandy was a jealous mixed-breed that was so strong, had she been human, could've played in the NFL. She was always butting in between us and Bunker, and poor Bunker rarely got any attention. Eddie was a hoot. He was a toy fox terrier with a personality that wouldn't quit. He was so fast and spastic that he could out-run Emmitt Smith. (Not that Emmitt Smith is spastic...just fast.) But he was a bit much for me. Buddy was a stray that ate everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--in our garage. The other dogs didn't like him, so we didn't keep him long. All that to say that dogs and I haven't had the greatest history. I'm actually a cat person, but The HOFFER is SEVERELY allergic to cats, so no cats. And finally, with the baby coming in September, I had to figure out the right time to get a dog.

That was when The HOFFER found Arthur.

He's a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He's hypoallergenic, doesn't shed much, is very low-key, very sweet, and will be no bigger than about 12 pounds. How perfect can a dog get???? Arthur is the name the breeder gave him, but we are probably going to change that.

So we went to pick him up today, and he has made himself right at home in our laps and our hearts. I knew God would bring us just the right dog. Didn't He do a fabulous job???

HOLY COW, I'M PREGNANT!!!

You might be wondering, at this point, exactly where I've been these past 12ish weeks. Yes, I know I'm pregnant. I was the first one to know and spread the big news. And yet, in spite of the fact that I took four pregnancy tests, have seen two sonograms, have all the symptoms, and am quickly outgrowing my normal clothes, there was still something a little surreal about me being pregnant. There was just something that didn't click for me, and for The HOFFER as well. I don't know that I can explain it any other way, or explain why we felt that way, but we did.

All that changed yesterday.

We went in for a nuchal translucency screening yesterday, which is medical-speak for some genetic testing. This particular test is a sonogram that checks for the possibility of Downs Syndrome. There is a tiny little sac of fluid right behind the baby's neck. It should measure no more than 1-2 mm; 3 or higher doesn't guarantee the baby has DS, but it is cause for concern. Conversely, a normal measurement isn't a guarantee either, but is a good sign.

We got a good sign.

As a matter of fact, we got more than just a good measurement (1mm), we saw our baby again, but this time, however, we got action!

When I was pregnant with Little Bit, we went for a sonogram at about 5 months to find out gender and whatever else they check for at that time. She was so funny...lying back, hands behind her head, ankles crossed, just chillin'. I am not kidding. She still hangs out that way. Baby Bit, on the other hand, well, let's just say I expect to get pretty skinny chasing after this little one. He (and that's a generic he...he's not developed enough at this stage to find out gender) was wiggling, squirming, playing, kicking his feet up over his head...and that's what did it. He became very real and very alive to us at that point. That is when we realized that we are really going to have a baby. That so ROCKS!!!

The HOFFER said that he would imagine his mother is probably laughing her tail off up in heaven right now, knowing that he's probably going to get exactly what he dished out to her. My worry is that I don't think I did anything to deserve THAT!!!! We'll just have to wait and see how this Baby Bit turns out.

Maybe I'll get a baseball player after all.

I Think It's A...

I have been asked if I'm going to find out the sex of my child. I can't believe this is even a question, but some people don't want to know. Some people want that "IT'S A BOY!" or "IT'S A GIRL!" moment. I've known others that have found out what but keep the name a secret so there will still be some element of surprise. Okay, that's fine. NUTS, in my opinion, but fine. I don't need surprises. I want certainty. I want to know what it is so I can concentrate on how to decorate, what kind of clothes to buy, and what kind of names to focus on. It's so easy to find girl names that we love. but good boy names, for some reason, are hard for us to find. We're still looking. For a girl we like Sarah Grace. The HOFFER loves the name Grace, probably because we have been given so very much of it; and Sarah, because Sarah in the Bible was 90 when she had her first child. And I thought I was old.

A side note, speaking of being an older mom: one of the boys in Little Bit's class told me recently that I am past child-bearing years. (His mom is an ER doctor, so I guess he should know.) Isn't that a hoot, especially coming from a 3rd grader????

I am happy with whatever God has decided to give us. It is a blessing beyond my wildest dreams. But I think this one will be a boy. Based on my family's reproductive history, this one is surely going to be a boy. Check this out:

Grandmother: girl first, boy second
Mom: girl first, boy second
Sister: girl first, boy second
Niece: girl first, boy second
Me: girl first, ? second

Are you seeing a pattern here? Here's more:

Mom: 7 kids; girl, 3 boys, girl, boy, girl
Sister: 5 kids; girl, 3 boys, girl

I'm thinking this one will be a boy. We find out for sure in April.

TAG! You're It!!!

I took a peek this morning at one of Michelle Sutton's recent posts. If you don't know who Michelle is, she is the Edgy Inspirational Author, and she writes and reviews a lot--A LOT!!!!-of Christian fiction. If you don't believe me when I say "A LOT!!!", take a look at her "What I'm Reading..." list. I don't know how she does it.

Anyhoo, the particular post I read was from last week--February 23rd, to be exact--and it sounded so fun I'm going to start the tag here. Here's how it works (although I'm changing it up just a bit):

1. Grab the book you are currently reading and turn to p. 123
2. Go to the 5th sentence
3. Post the next 3 sentences
4. Tell the name of the book and author
5. Tag 5 others

Michelle's tag said to grab the nearest book, but I want to know what you're currently reading whether it's nearby or not.

Okay, here's mine:

"I'm afraid I must, Miss Coleson." Katie firmly withdrew her hand from Blanche's grasp.


"You must call me Blanche." She took one step backward.


Catching Katie, by Robin Lee Hatcher


Well, I must say that I was hoping for something a little different than that. Maybe I should've gone to p. 124. Taken out of context, this sounds as if something fishy is going on between these two ladies! I've read the book before, so I assure you Robin, who is one of my absolute favorite authors, has not written anything inappropriate!!! This book, in fact, is one of the reasons I love Robin. It's quite dreamy.

Alrighty then! So I am tagging Jenster, Becky, Deb, Shauna, and Angela! Tag, ladies, you are IT!

Pregnancy Progress--11 Weeks

I went to see my new OB yesterday--Dr. P--who was the doctor that delivered Little Bit when my water broke and my OB was on vacation. See how God works these things out??? I like him because he is practical and matter-of-fact. He is also a did a FABULOUS emergency C-section and is a Christian, which is just the icing on the cake.

It was a great visit. The good news is that I am further along than originally thought, so my due date has been moved up from September 18th to the 14th. Since being pregnant is not the most pleasant time for me, sooner is always gooder. The REALLY good news is that Little Bug is doing just fine and progressing along as he/she should. Heartbeat was where it should be, development is right on schedule. I go back again on March 25th, but I will be getting a nuchal translucency screening in the next 2-3 weeks to determine if Little Bug has Downs Syndrome. Downs Syndrome is one of those higher risk issues for women who are 40+ and pregnant. Basically the screening is a sonogram where they measure the thickness of the back of the baby's neck. It's very accurate and non-invasive, which makes it much safer than an amniocentesis. Dr. P also said it would be a great time for Little Bit to come "see" the baby. The sonogram is shown on a big screen TV at the foot of the bed, so we may take her with us.

Little Bit is a lot like her dad in many ways. One in particular is that both of them worry...A LOT. So much so that I never need to...they have it covered. She had a fever yesterday and couldn't go to school. Finding a sitter that quickly and during school hours is next to impossible, so The HOFFER got her dressed, gave her some Motrin, packed her up and took her to his office to play. Fridays are pretty quiet up there, and his FABULOUS assistant, whom I DEARLY LOVE, kept an eye on her while we went to the doctor. On the way to the office, my sweet girl confessed to her daddy that she was afraid for Mommy. She was afraid that, since both she and The HOFFER had fallen down the stairs and each hurt a foot, then surely I must be heading to Heaven soon since I was going to the doctor. (I don't see the connection either, but in her sweet 8-year-old mind it made complete sense.) So The HOFFER asked Dr. P to write a note to Little Bit assuring her that all was well and that I am completely safe...which, of course, he did. I talked to her later and explained that my doctor visits would be to make sure everything was all right, not because something was wrong. Both the note and our talk seemed to settle that nagging worry of hers.

So I promised a belly picture--clothes on!--and here it is:





While I promised clothes, I didn't promise make-up, so you're going to have to suffer with that. (I'll remember to close that door next time.) Just a bitty bulge, but that too will change soon enough.

Not much else to tell, so I think I'll grab Little Bit and take a nap. We both could use it!!!

YOU LIKE ME! YOU REALLY LIKE ME!!!

Are you kidding me? The Every Day Kindness Award? CLEARLY these people don't know me very well, but I am touched and humbled! My book & blog buddies, Jenster at Jenster's Musings and Shauna at The Coffee Stop BOTH nominated me for this very sweet award. I am moved to tears. Okay, not quite, but I am touched. Truly!!!

Now, since I was doubly-blessed, I want to doubly-bless as well. I would like to pass this on to my sweet friend Flowerpot over at Made New . Her most recent post will show you just what an absolute LOVE she is.

My other nominee is none other than the HOFFER himself. Check him out at Cash Flows. He has said some pretty swell stuff about yours truly. Does that count for Everyday Kindness?

There you have it, friends. Thanks again to my B&B buddies Jenster and Shauna. I feel so loved!!!

I'm Sooooo Tired...

Given that I am still in my first trimester, I shouldn't be all that surprised. But NEVER in my entire LIFE--not even when I was pregnant with Little Bit--have I EVER been this tired! I am taking 2, sometimes 3 pretty hefty naps EVERY DAY. I can't get ANYTHING done. I have some precious neighbors who have been helping me get Little Bit to and from school every day, as well as friends who have offered to take her home for a playdate. For that I am ever so grateful. I hope that will at least partly explain why my posts have been so sparse lately.

So given the sleep theme, I'm taking you over to my friend Misty's blog. If you haven't visited her blog before, you will enjoy it. She is one of the sweetest humans to ever grace Planet Earth, and has been a huge encouragement to me during the years of our friendship. She has a condition called Periodic Paralysis where she regularly goes in and out of these little "mini comas", and yet I have never heard her complain. You should get to know her. She's awesome.

The post on her blog that I'm taking you to is about her new mattress. I think you will get a good giggle out of it, and maybe even get some good information. Click here to check it out. If that link doesn't work, copy and paste this: http://made-new.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-mattress.html.

Blanket Statement

My mom is nearly 87 years old. After raising 7 kids, she is currently a widow and has 18 (almost 19!) grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She loves to listen to books on tape and knit or crochet baby blankets. She keeps so busy with them and makes so many that most of them get given away to a local crisis pregnancy center, although on occasion I will ask her to make one for a friend who's having a baby. That was how I broke the BIG NEWS to her. I kept dropping hints that I needed another baby blanket, that I didn't know if it was a boy or girl, that I didn't have any idea what the colors were, that baby's mom and dad attended college at UNT and OU, respectively, when she suggested collegiate colors. It didn't even occur to her that it might be MOI who was pregnant. In her defense, I wouldn't have guessed me in a million years, either. It was pretty funny.

That being said, here are some pictures of Little Bit showing off some of Granny Bob's handiwork with detail shots of some of them. Yes, we really do call her Granny Bob; no, we're not complete rednecks; her given name is Betty Bob, so my dad suggested "Granny Bob" when grandbaby #1 was on her way.











This is one from Little Bit's private Granny Bob collection. She has about eight of them...I think. It's her current favorite and was actually one my mom was making for a friend of mine who did some sewing for her. It's in University of Texas colors, much to our chagrin. We're hoping she grows out of those colors.





Aren't these blankets beautiful? Here's the amazing part: My mom went completely blind two years ago and can't see at all what she is doing. She does it completely by feel.

Baby News

I had my first doctor appointment this past Monday, and it went well. The OB/GYN I've been seeing for the past 15 or so years is only a GYN these days, but he agreed to do the first appointment for me. He and his assistant, by the way, laughed when I told them I was pregnant. I didn't see much humor in it...at the time.

With my history or irregular cycles and infertility, I've never really kept track of when my cycle starts and finishes each month (except when I'm going in for my annual exam and I know they're going to ask that question!). So when Dr. K asked when my last cycle was, I had no clue. Thankfully the HOFFER is good at remembering dates--even for THAT--but he could only guess the first half of the month. Well, he remembered better than I did. All that to say Dr. K estimated I'm about 6-1/2 to 7 weeks along. My due date is September 18th. And given my age, he said, that date needed to be a firm date, meaning I wouldn't be allowed to go a moment past that day. WOO HOO!!! There ARE advantages to being older!!!!

We saw the heartbeat (which put me in complete and utter awe), and Little Bug measured about 6 mm from head to butt. Dr. K did say there are additional risks to my pregnancy--higher instances of multiples, miscarriage and Downs Syndrome in women who are pregnant in their 40s. This particular issue has been the only concern I have had, and it has been a bit of a worry for me. I know this is a God-thing, and I know that whatever happens, however this baby turns out, this is such a gift from Him. It's completely out of our hands and totally in His alone. That should bring total comfort and keep me from worrying, right? WRONG. I didn't realize how much it was bothering me until the night before our doctor appointment. Right before bed I lost it. I had been assuring The HOFFER that this was real and that everything was going to be all right, but this time it was his turn to be a comfort to me. So the HOFFER and I prayed about it, and I felt a peace come over me...almost like someone (Someone!) was pouring it out of a pitcher over my head. It was amazing.

Yaaaaawwwwnnn....ooops, sorry. Guess it's time for a nap! I'm working on posting the sonogram picture and will do so as soon as I can.

The Other Shoe Has Just Dropped, Part Duuuuhhhh....

Several of you have asked for more details. I don't have a lot to offer, but I'll give you what I have.

First, you might remember my "Walking Wounded" post where I mentioned how Little Bit and The HOFFER both fell down the stairs and hurt a foot, and how I was just waiting for my turn. Well, I think this is my turn, hence the title of this post.

So you want details? Not many details to be told...we JUST found out Wednesday morning. And YES, I KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS. We weren't trying at all, didn't even think it COULD happen, to be quite honest with you. Considering my history with infertility--it took us 5-1/2 years to get Little Bit--I assumed it was a non-issue. But my cycle never showed up, so The HOFFER jokingly suggested we might be pregnant. I did a pregnancy test early Wednesday morning, which gave me a positive result. I thought that SURELY I had done something wrong and CLEARLY it was a false positive. So a few hours later I did another test...and got another positive. My doctor said they are extremely accurate these days. So after slowly coming out of a complete state of shock and disbelief, I made a doctor appointment. I go on the 28th for a sonogram to check heartbeat and get a crash reminder course on what comes next. The HOFFER has been a bit numb for a couple of days, but seems to have taken it well otherwise. Little Bit wasn't happy at first--her exact words when we told her were "I'm doomed". But she has had time to ponder and think about it, and now she is excited about it too. If our calculations are correct, Little Bug (his official-for-now name...thanks, Annski!) should be making his first appearance some time in September or October. My biggest concern is that, by the time Little Bug arrives, I'll be just short of 45. (Ouch...did I just admit that???) I am just having to trust that God knows what He's doing by giving Little Bug to us. So we'll see what He has in store for us.

That's about all the news I have! I'll keep you posted as things progress. Sorry to keep you in suspense!

Cute Shirt for Little Bit, or The Other Shoe Has Dropped

Okay, perhaps I'm obsessing just a bit. It is, after all, just a T-shirt. But you have GOT to check this out on her! Doesn't she look awesome?







And just in case you can't quite see what is says, here's a close up:






Details to follow...!

The Walking Wounded and Other Miscellany

Please forgive the length of this post. I really do try to keep my posts relatively short (CLEARLY I have failed in that endeavor!!!), but I've had a lot on my mind and a lot going on! So here we go!


My home, of late, has been THE place to be for the physically afflicted. First of all, both The HOFFER and Little Bit have really bad allergies anyway, but this allergy season has been horrific for them. I have never seen them suffer like this. One of Little Bit's teachers recommended a pediatric allergy doctor to us, and we had our first visit today. He agreed that Little Bit needed to be tested to see exactly what she's allergic to, but tests can't be run until all Claritin and Benedryl are completely out of her system. It only takes one week to get completely off Benedryl, but 3 WEEKS to get completely off Claritin. Poor girl. She's going to be fairly miserable for a while. That means her parents are going to be fairly miserable as well! He did give us a few other medications to help her get through till her testing.

As if that weren't enough, Little Bit tripped coming down our staircase yesterday and hurt her foot. Oh my goodness, you should have heard those screams! Miraculously, nothing is broken or even torn. Not even really sure what's hurt or what happened to it. We gave her some Motrin and kept her foot elevated all day Sunday, and there wasn't much, if any, swelling. Today she was able to get her shoe on for school, although it was quite painful. By the end of the day, she was walking on it pretty well. Still hurts, but she's doing really well in spite of it all.

Okay, want to hear something spooky? The HOFFER was walking down the stairs about a week ago, took one step too many, slipped and landed wrong on HIS FOOT! Is that bizarre or what? The really scary thing about it was that shortly after I got to him, he very quickly turned white as a sheet, started sweating profusely, then promptly passed out. I was worried he was having a heart attack and couldn't breath. He had slumped over forward, then he fell back against the wall with his chin touching his chest. I had never seen anything like it and was TERRIFIED. He was out for about a minute (although it seemed like an eternity!), then he came to and slowly regained his color, stopped sweating and was okay. He didn't remember passing out and was understandably nervous about going to sleep for the night, so I stayed up to read for a while and kept an eye on him. He slept for about 45 minutes when he woke up again. I told him I thought he was okay for the night since his color was back and his breathing was good and steady. So he slept, albeit a bit fitfully, for the rest of the night (only about 3-4 hours). Needless to say, what little sleep I got was also full of fit. After getting up and getting Little Bit off to school the next morning, I came back and joined The HOFFER in getting a bit more sleep. We slept till noon, but we needed it. Here are the God-parts: as with Little Bit's foot, nothing was broken or torn...it just hurt like the dickens. Lots of Advil, Vitamin C (my mother's cure-all) and rest helped it heal pretty quickly. He was putting weight on it in just a couple of days. AND--The HOFFER already had a doctor appointment scheduled a couple of days later! He was able to talk to his doctor about what happened, and he reassured us that everything looked just fine. The passing out was even a normal occurrence.

With all that has happened to The HOFFER and Little Bit...I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen to me!!!

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As I mentioned in my last post, Little Bit and I went to see the new Veggie Tales movie on Friday after school. I had invited several friends from school and church, and we had a great turnout! Even better, the movie was HILARIOUS! Even if you don't have any little kids to take with you, GO SEE IT! You won't be sorry! The only thing I didn't like was audience-related. Apparently, a man sitting in the row in front of us didn't think the people at Big Idea had done a good enough job, because he kept adding his own sound effects! At least his kids enjoyed it...!

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Have you ever had to put a pet to sleep? We had to do just that on New Year's Eve. We were adopted by a mama cat and her three kittens when we first moved to Austin. That was in 1992. Mama Cat passed away about four years ago. Birdie disappeared right after Thanksgiving and we haven't seen her since. We wouldn't see Mulligan for days, then he would reappear just fine. Well, this last time he reappeared he wasn't so fine, so Little Bit and I took him to the emergency animal clinic right away. Given that he was around 15 years old and any kidney treatments weren't guaranteed to set him right (renal failure is very common in elderly cats), I made the decision to let him go. It was really difficult for Little Bit to understand, and she took it very hard. They gave us a few minutes to say goodbye to our sweet kitty. They also gave us his paw print in clay for us to have as a keepsake. It was a lousy day.

At least we still have one kitty left.

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I believe I have previously discussed the fact that my favorite sports are, in order, baseball and football. Notice there is no mention of basketball? Would you care to guess what sport Little Bit is drawn to? Of COURSE it's not baseball or football...it's BASKETBALL. No offense to you basketball fans out there...basketball just never "clicked" with me. Austin has a minor-league basketball team, and we had been talking about taking her to a game when one of The HOFFER'S business associates gave him four tickets--and very nice ones, at that!--to Saturday's San Antonio Spurs game! Is that cool or what? We picked the worst possible night to go. San Antonio has a HUGE military presence, and Saturday night was Military Appreciation Night at the Spurs' game. Don't get me wrong...our military is ridiculously under-appreciated. I think our military deserves far more thank you's than they get. We civilians have no clue about what these soldiers AND THEIR FAMILIES have to put up with. It humbles me and I get really emotional when I hear about the sacrifices made by these people, the incredible feats of heroism, and the fact that these men and women see it as just doing their job. There were at least a couple of guys from a nearby burn unit at that game...others with missing limbs or other wounds. They honored as many soldiers as they could. There was a Purple Heart ceremony at halftime. Standing ovations throughout the game to say thank you. It just wasn't enough.

I spent nearly the entire game crying my eyes out.

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And last but not least (hey, what's all that cheering about???), I finished two books from my "Big Christmas Box O' Books". One was really good and one was GREAT! But I will save that for my next post. Until then, here's hoping I continue making it down the stairs safely!!! Thanks for making it through to the end with me!!!