*Happy Holidays*

Christmas is coming and we made it official by setting up our tree & lights. We've been able to keep Rilie out of the tree mostly. Alvin & Paul keep saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone. They are so sweet and in the holiday spirit. They still don't understand the radio though. We are listening to the Christmas station, and the boys don't understand why I can't just play the songs they ask for. I've explained there is a DJ out there picking the songs on his computer and they come into our car in waves, and I can only choose which DJ I listen to. It hasn't settled in. I'll have to make a Christmas mix of their favorite songs.

This Thursday, I will be 10 weeks along. We're meeting with our OB next week. I'm excited. The boys really want to come and listen to the heartbeat. I'm torn, if there is bad news... I don't want them there. If it's good news, I do want them there. The logical thing to do is to keep them home, but they have their hearts set on it. We'll see what we decide.

Work is going well for Nick. They are very happy with him. He's been a great help at home, which has been heavenly. It's fun watching him play with the boys. We've had plenty of cabin fever this winter. Typically, I take them sledding, swimming, or ice skating after school. Right now, it's all I can do to get off the couch to meet them at the mail box. Nick enjoys playing different games with them, light saber battles, etc. Hopefully, my next trimester will be full of energy and the desire to work on projects.

We wish you all a happy holiday!

Goin' on up...

Things continue to go well for us.

Alvin's homeschool curriculum is beginning to appear at our door. I hope to have all his curriculum by Thanksgiving. It's amazing how quickly he is learning. We've gone from not knowing how to write, to writing a paragraph (fairly independently) in 2 weeks. It's amazing.

Baby is still growing. My progesterone began to fall, so they've increased my dose. Baby has a strong heart beat. We haven't heard it yet, but we got to see it on the ultrasound. I am still very tired, although we found out that is a side-effect of the medicine I am on. So, I've got a double whammy!

Nick's work is going well. His team is finishing up a project right now, so he'll be working late nights. I'll miss the yummy dinners he's been making. Time to pull out the crock pot :)

Paul is loving school and really opening up at home. I think he enjoys having school be a special thing only he goes to. We're having more snuggle time when he gets home, which is very nice!

Surprise! Surprise!

Well, by now most of the world knows we're expecting! It is so weird and cool.

We were filling out adoption papers again, so it was quite the surprise. I know people think adoption gets people pregnant, and I don't wish to argue with others' personal experiences, but for me... we're pregnant, because we're meant to be. We adopted, because we were meant to adopt. I don't feel like adoption is a fertility program, nor should it ever be seen as such. The children who are adopted, deserve better than that. As for now, I'm enjoying being pregnant, but don't think we are done with adoption. I still feel like there are a few more spirits we are meant to bring to our home through adoption.

We are including our boys as much as possible! We found a short clip for a baby growing from week 1 - 9, and my boys LOVE it! We get out objects that represent its size. Last week, it was the size of a sesame seed; this week, it's the size of a lentil. I don't know about you, but that is some major growth! In two weeks, it will be the size of a grape with fingers, toes, and most of its face formed. Our baby will actually begin looking like a little baby. We are very excited!

I am so grateful for all of my miracles, because all of my children are miracles! Each way they came to us was miraculous and guided by the hand of God. I am so grateful to be their mother, and I am grateful they are all my own. If you ask me which ones are mine, don't be surprised if I say all of them, because they are ALL MINE!