11.6.17

I haven't posted in over a year. More like a year and a half. That's a long time. Obviously a lot has happened between here and there. I have a 2 and 3/4 year old. AJ is the joy of joys.
And as we speak I am timing contractions in expectation of Phoebe coming any time now. She seems to be fairly determined to come before her November 29th due date. We can't wait to meet you, too Phoebe-girl.

Princess Lauren got married this weekend, and AJ was honored to be the flower girl. She was too cute. And I think she may have known she was too cute. She twirled and danced and pranced and demanded cookies and cake. I have been on semi-bed rest since I was in the hospital a week or two ago with pre-term labor. It's not TRUE bed rest, but basically I sit or lay whenever feasible trying to prevent gravity from expediting Phoebe's arrival. So at the wedding, I sat the whole time. Other people stepped up all weekend and helped watch and care for AJ. Charlie (obviously), Mimi, Coco, Nic, Fox, Risi, Olivia... everyone.

It's really been that way since I was in the hospital. Charlie is shouldering an unbelievable load right now. He is essentially doing EVERYTHING at home. Cooking. Cleaning, Dishes. Laundry. AJ's Baths. Playing with AJ. Feeding her. Everything.  (Also, why are pets 100x's worse when everything else is crazy? If any of them are inside, they are going to throw up or make some other disgusting mess for Charlie to clean.)

On top of some difficult weeks. 

-A few weeks ago we got 10-12'' of rain. It pounded his farm. He lost crops. So he's working double time to make sure he has veggies for his CSA members. 

-That same weekend, we had a power surge that blew out our internet modem/router and dishwasher. So when I say Charlie is doing all the dishes, I mean he is DOING all of the dishes. 

-Extra Hospital bills came in.

-One of the tires on the truck HAD to be replaced before we went to NOLA.

-I dilated and effaced more--so we were stressed trying to figure out what to do. We didn't want to miss the wedding or any of the wedding festivities, but it didn't seem like the best thing for me and Phoebe to go for the whole weekend. We couldn't figure out what to do. 

-And then on our way to New Orleans, the truck started alarming and said to pull over immediately. Something about the oil pressure. Apparently, our truck model has a glitch where the sensor goes out even though there's no problem--but it had Charlie on edge the entire trip there and back. And gave him an extra fun project to fix this week!  Because he doesn't have enough going on. 

-Saturday night before the wedding I honestly thought I was going into labor again. I was having consistent contractions and I just felt so yucky. But I went to bed at 8 and stayed in bed until around 10 the next morning. And I really felt so much better on Sunday for the wedding. It was such an answer to prayer.

I know there's more. It's just been a whole lot these last few weeks.

Our biological and Church families have been surrounding us with love and support. Mimi cleaned our house while we were in the hospital. The Dauzats kept AJ. Mrs. Suzie even slept on the couch in the living room with AJ to make sure she was comfortable since she hasn't spent the night away from Charlie and me except for maybe 1-2 times..? People have brought us food. Sent texts. Phone calls. PRAYED. Lots of people praying. 

It's been a difficult few weeks, but I feel like everyone is helping me shoulder the load. I've been able to focus on Phoebe and keeping her (and myself) healthy. It's humbling. It really is. 

The difference between this pregnancy and my pregnancy with AJ is kind of unreal. In every way. My anxiety level to start with :) 

It's going to be so fun to start shaping our little 4-person family. 2 daughters :) I'm a blessed mama.