12 Week Check-up and Roof Update

We got to go to the doctor today to make sure things are progressing properly with the pregnancy.  Everything is looking great.  My measurements are right on track and the baby had a strong heartbeat, 160 bpm.  The doctor was concerned about a few issues I was having earlier in the pregnancy and wants me to get another ultrasound.  It hasn't been scheduled it yet, and I am not worried about it, God is in control and our last ultrasound showed a healthy baby.  The baby's heartbeat is strong and I am feeling very pregnant.  Hopefully the hospital will be able to work me in for one next week, I am awaiting their call back.  

We keep talking to Moriah about being a big sister.  She is so great about loving on her stuffed animals but I am not sure how that will translate to an actual baby.  Her favorite word right now is "no," so when we ask her if she is going to be a good big sister she proudly says, "Oh, no!"  It is too cute.  I am sure she will be a wonderful helper.  

Roof update: 

There was no inspection and we are back to square one.  They say they are taking bids on a new roof contract and then after the roof is replaced they will come in our home, while we are still living here, and rip off our ceiling to check for mold and replace the damage.  This is exactly the same thing they said they would do in July and here we are two months later.  We feel like we are just spinning in circles and getting no where.  I cried after I got off the phone with the guy in charge of our situation.  I don't think it helped that I had been cooped up all day with Moriah waiting for the inspector to come and he never came...

Ahh, what is God trying to teach me that I am not getting?  I will rest in Him and trust that our health will be protected during all the "remodeling" and mold checking.  My heart longs for our own home where we can make the rules and fix our own problems.  Is God using this to speak to us about getting out of the military?  Hum, I guess we shall see what the Lord reveals.

Zack is going to the housing office tomorrow to see about who we give our letter requesting a transfer to.  Thanks again all of you who are praying for us.  We can sure use it.

House Inspection

So, our home is being inspected tomorrow to determine if it is livable or not. We are having our leak looked at and some other safety issues we have. I am just praying that the leak will be fixed! After four leaks, mold is my biggest worry, as well as damaging the things in our linen closet( the leak is right above the closet). Having a baby and being pregnant in a leaky home where we could be breathing in mold is a major concern. We are also filing a letter for permission to be transferred to a different home, even if this one is "livable." We are praying for favor to granted to us and that it will all go smoothly. I will continue to keep posting updates, thank you for those who are joining us in prayer.

Fun with Alisha and Shaun

We spent this Labor Day weekend as tour guides. It was so fun! We went to Annapolis, Baltimore, DC, Larriland Farms (yummy peaches and raspberries!) and shopping at the mall. It was a packed weekend where we spent much time laughing. It was so great to hang out with my best friend for four days straight! Moriah had a blast with Alisha and Shaun too. She was full of giggles all weekend.

Arg! and Yay!

Today has been one of those days.  

I woke up not feeling the best (arg!) and started the day cleaning and preparing for my friend Nicole's birthday lunch (yay!).  Moriah took a wonderful morning nap and I actually had to wake her to go to the party.  It was so fun (and crazy, there were 8 kids there!) to spend time with the girls.

It has been drizzling all morning, which actually was nice, it totally suits my mood.  Kind of yucky but refreshing outside seemed like the perfect weather for today.  When I got home from the party I went upstairs and low and behold, our roof was leaking AGAIN!  This is the fourth time in the same place.  ARG!!!  So this afternoon when Moriah wakes up from her nap we are going to have to go to the housing office and see what they think they can do about it now.  Please pray for Zack and I as we want to be a witness of Christ to the people working there but need to be firm about the potential health hazards of such a problem.   

Yay!  I am 12 weeks along today and for the most part I have been feeling great, minus today.  I have my first official doctor's appointment on Wednesday and will keep you posted on how things are going.  I am officially in maternity clothes for the most part but that's ok with me.  I haven't gained any weight yet, just shifted stuff around and lost control of my tummy muscles.  Regular pants can still be buttoned on me but the pressure they put on my tummy really hurts so I choose not to wear them.  I am almost out of my first trimester, yippy!

Yay!  My best friend Alisha is coming tonight!  Her husband Shaun is coming too, and I can't wait to spend the weekend with them.  We have tons of sightseeing planned so I will be busy, busy, busy.  I probably wont be blogging again till they leave on Monday.

I hope you have a great Labor Day weekend.  I know we will enjoy ours! 

Trip to FL

I don't even know where to start! Moriah and I's trip to O-town was so refreshing. It was so nice to relax at my parent's house and see friends and family. We actually got stuck in FL for two extra days thanks to Tropical Storm Fay. A few highlights:

Moriah started walking! She took one step to Zack right before we left but while we were gone in FL she took 3 and 4 steps. It was so fun to see her get so excited and proud of herself.

We went to the Brevard County Zoo. This may not seem like a huge big deal but it was so cool. This zoo is very hands on. We were able to feed some birds nectar, well sort of. My mom had a bird land on her head and my niece Hannah wanted to hold the nectar so naturally the bird flew to her head. She flipped out and threw the nectar. I couldn't stop laughing, until a bird landed on me and I was ready to leave. Moriah just took it all in with a facial expression of, what in the world? We also got to feed giraffes! They came right up to us and were so close we could touch them, it was amazing.

Moriah has always been a climber and we knew we were going to be in trouble when she got old enough to climb on things. She climbed up onto a chair while at my parent's house. I was shocked. She not only climbed on it but climbed up the back of it, which made me very nervous. It is a rocking chair so as she climbed it tilted further and further. I was almost worried it would fall backwards, but thankfully I got her off before that happened.

The best part of the trip was the precious time Moriah spent with my family. My mom and dad get to see her often but my brothers, sister-in-law and niece have only seen her a few times. They were so good with her. Moriah and her cousin Hannah are still in love with eachother and so sweet. My younger brothers totally impressed me with how great they are with her. They are going to be such wonderful dads. Eric and Vicki are super with Hannah and so naturally were super with Moriah. She loved on all of them, snuggling whenever she could. It was just a sweet time.

Sorry I don't have time to upload pictures, I hear a baby stirring from her nap, mother duties call. Click here and here to see the pictures I posted on Facebook from our trip.

To Stay or Not to Stay

As I mentioned in my last post we have a few "options" to consider as we await the arrival of our baby.  As of right now, Zack is set to get out of the military March 3rd and the baby is due March 13th.  Our plan up until about a month ago, was to move to FL in February and live with my parents till Zack got settled into a job and we found a house.  This plan was just perfect for me because it is my dream to own my own home.  If you have been reading my blog you know that my heart longs for a place to call my own, no more rent or third parties to deal with.  The problem with this plan is that we will lack insurance for the birth of the baby.  Zack's new job will not have insurance kick in for 90 days.  I am also not sure on how far along I can be before travel is forbidden, so that also means Moriah and I would have to move to FL before Zack, a thought that does not sound great but is doable.  We have the option, so I am told, to purchase our current insurance beyond our separation from the military.  I am not sure how much that costs or how that works but it is an option we can look into.

Another option is to just stay in the military.  In my heart I do not want this.  I long to be in FL with family but there are many benefits that stem from making the choice to stay in.  We can have all our babies for free, Zack can finish school for free (he has about 1 1/2 years left), and there are certain monetary incentives for reenlisting.  The down fall would be that we would with almost certainty move back to Korea.  That thought isn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  We still have many missionary and contractor friends who are still there.  

Our third and final option is to ask to extend and stay in the military two extra months.  As of right now, the Air Force is not accepting requests to extend unless it is in conjunction with a deployment.  If we were to some how get approved we could stay in the military till the baby is born and then move with a 1 month old and a 19 month old to FL.  This is basically our first plan, just set back by 2 months.

Ultimately we want to do what God would have us to do.  He is the one who will open and close doors as he sees fit.  We would love you to join us in praying over this situation.  I know that no matter what is the outcome we will be fine.  If we move to FL very pregnant and have to pay for the birth, God will provide the money and a job for Zack.  If we stay in the military, God will grant me grace to accept not living near family for a few more years.  If we are granted favor and allowed to extend for two months, God will make a way for us to move with two babies and provide a job for Zack.  No matter what happens we will be cared for because we have a God who hears us and feeds even the sparrows.  How much more will he provide for us?  It is my nature to worry, and facing the unknown has me worried.  I am specifically praying for wisdom on Zack's behalf, as he feels the weight of this decision far more than I do.  I am also praying for myself that I will not put pressure on him to just make a decision so I can start planning!  God's timing is not my own and we may not know what option we will be going with till December or January.  

So, there is my honesty and my feelings about our "options."  Thank you to those who will be joining us in prayer.  I will keep you posted on what God reveals to us as we trust him in this time of uncertainty.  

Side note, I leave for FL tomorrow!  Moriah and I are going to be gone for a week.  I can't wait to spend time with the family, but we will really miss Zack.  He is staying behind to work and continue providing for our family.  So this will be my last post until I get back.  Have a great week!    

We are expecting!

We found out on July 4th that we are going to be having another baby! We are so excited and are praying that Moriah and the baby will be fast friends, since they will only be 18 months apart. My due date is March 13. This causes some concern for us because we are currently set to be getting out of the military March 3rd. Hmm, I wonder what God is going to do to work this one out...I will post another time on our "options."

For now I just want to relish in the joy that I am carrying another precious little one. Moriah has been such a joy that I love being her mom. I can't wait to meet this baby and be a mother of two precious babies.

We had a scare this morning, and thought I might be loosing the baby. We were able to get in for an ultrasound and all is fine. The baby even did a little bean hop and wiggle for us. The baby is measuring right at 9 weeks and had a heart rate of 140 BMP, perfect! We are so thankful for a healthy baby so far and continue to pray for the baby and my health

Me at 8 weeks.  I feel like my body has said, "Oh, we know how tis goes, let loose the stomach muscles!"  I have lost the ability to suck it in much earlier in this pregnancy than I did with Moriah.

Our little Bean at 9 weeks.  SO CUTE!!


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