I had my third child yesterday, December 27th, at about 12:30. He weighs 6 pounds, 12 ounces and is just about 20 inches long. We tried for a VBAC (as I had successfully done with Munchkin) but that was not the Lord’s will for this birth and I had a c-section under general anesthesia. I am definitely sore today, but my husband and I are very grateful that both Baby and I are doing well.

And here’s a picture to get you started…

Thanks for praying for us!!!!

My cell phone was missing for over a week. I last had it when picking up my husband from the airport on Saturday, the 13th.

The first couple of days, I just figured I’d left it on the counter somewhere.

Then I was coughing too much to go anywhere so looking for it got tabled.

By the end of the week, I was starting to wonder what on earth I had done with it because I clearly remembered the following:

1. I was talking to Hubby on it when I picked him up at the airport. (yeah for hands free!)

2. When we got home, I unplugged the ear bud from the phone, left the ear bud in the car, and pocketed my cell phone to charge upstairs.

So, last Friday, I began turning our home upside down in earnest to find it. I looked everywhere. Yesterday (Monday) I bit the bullet and looked all the last places.

Nothing.

GRRRRR.

I was not a happy camper. (And unfortunately my countenance showed it. Blech.)

So Hubby was looking.

He looked all the places I had looked to no avail.

I was ready to cry. Did I mention that this phone is only about two months old and that it was replacing a three year old piece of junk that pretended to be a phone? Definitely not a cool situation.

Then Hubby walks in and shows me my phone.

“What in the the world, folks?” (To quote Dr. Plew.)

He found it in my fleece jacket pocket.

All of a sudden, it made sense. My memory wasn’t failing me and I’m not going crazy. I DID put the phone in my pocket… I just didn’t remember that I stopped wearing MY fleece jacket this week and started borrowing HUBBY’S fleece jacket because “the Belly” was getting too big for mine. (Maybe the problem is thinking that Hubby’s jacket IS mine for the last few weeks of pregnancy?)

So my phone is back in commission and not a moment too soon.

YIPPEE!!!!

Hands down, these past few days have made up one of the best weekends in recent memory! Okay, well, minus the end of pregnancy discomforts (I’m 38 weeks today) but everything else was wonderful!

On Saturday, my parents watched Munchkin for the afternoon so Hubby and I could go on a DATE! We went to the GCC Christmas concert and then had dinner at a favorite Italian place.

Blessing #1: I have been married to a wonderful man for almost 5 years.

Blessing #2: We are to live in a country where we are free to worship our Lord PUBLICLY and without fear of persecution!

On Sunday (yesterday) we got to go to church as a family for the first time in almost two months! I was struck by the immense privilege it is to be able to take our daughter to the assembly of believers where, while she’s still not quite old enough to understand what is going on, she does understand this is a special place where she/we are loved by the church family. Hubby and I have been taking turns going (he in the morning and me in the evening) but Munchkin hasn’t been in so long… but she remembered and she had a WONDERFUL time passing our smiles and giggles to anyone who would look her way.

Blessing #3: We are free to teach our children about the Lord (and take them to church!) without fear they will be taken away from us.

Blessing #4: We have a wonderful church family that loves on, and invests in the lives of, our youngest members.

Last night our church had our annual carol sing. They put all the chairs in a circle (three deep) around the piano and sing our favorites. Any song in the advent section of the hymn book is fair game. If you don’t know it, sight read it to the best of your ability but you have to sing!

Blessing #5: Music that exalts our Lord.

**Contented Sigh** My heart is overflowing as I consider how blessed I am.

You can register to here to get into Disney for free on your birthday in 2009! I think we will use it on either Hubby’s or my birthday for Munchkin and Bean’s first trip to Disneyland!

Start your birthday off right with the most magical birthday present of all: free admission on your birthday during 2009 to one of the Theme Parks of Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® Resort*! It’s our gift to you and it all begins right here.

To get this wonderful birthday gift for yourself, your children or others in your household, follow these simple steps:

• Register your birthday—and other household members’ birthdays too, if you want.
• Print the confirmation message you receive after registering your birthday.
• You will also receive an email reminder two weeks prior to your birthday, which you can also use to redeem your free admission on your birthday.
• Bring proper ID and your confirmation message to the gate at one of the Theme Parks at the Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort on your birthday in 2009.
• If you are a Passholder or already have a Multi-Day ticket you will use on your birthday, go ahead and register and bring the free admission on Your Birthday confirmation and proper ID to the designated Will Call windows so you can choose from one of our other exciting birthday gifts instead.

http://babyrabies.com/cloth-diaper-giveaway/

This blog is hosting a giveaway, for over $200 worth of cloth diapers and accessories. You don’t even have to pay for shipping! All you have to do to enter to win is enter a valid email address.

Even though it looks legit, I did use one of my screen names and my “spam e-mail address” just in case… –Ladybug

As most of you know, our daughter has a condition called tuberous sclerosis. This causes her to have benign (non-cancerous) tumors in her brain and on her skin; the ones in her brain are the underlying cause of her infantile spasms (seizures).

One of the resources that our family is blessed to have is the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TS Alliance) – the only national voluntary health organization for this genetic disorder. I am very thankful for their e-mail list which sends me updates about things that are “coming down the pipe” in terms of new treatments, new research findings, and other things that could affect Munchkin’s care plan. (It’s always nerve racking to a mother when the doctors tell you that the condition your child has is rare and “if you hear anything that might be worth trying, please let us know.”)

All that to say, I got this e-mail in my box this morning. TSC is going to be on national television this month! WOOHOO!

THE DOCTORS
On Friday, December 19, The Doctors will air a story on TSC featuring the Rolfes family, Dr. Howard Weiner of NYU, and the Hammerquist family.  Besides discussing TSC, the segment will focus on the Hammerquist family’s son’s recent epilepsy surgery.  This new show appears at various times across the country, so click here to search local listings.  In addition, we’re told this will be the show’s “holiday giving” episode.

Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood will run a feature story, currently set to air December 30, about Julianne Moore and the TS Alliance.  On December 10, Julianne participated in ICAP’s 16th Annual Charity Day, which raised $16.3 million worldwide for more than 100 charities, including the TS Alliance.  Access Hollywood sent along a camera crew to cover the events.   ICAP is the world’s premier interdealer broker.

“I was thrilled to be involved in ICAP’s Charity Day,” explained Julianne.  “They were so generous and excited to be helping so many.  It was really wonderful, in a year where there has been so much economic distress, to be with a group that focused on giving so whole heartedly.  Every one of us at the TS Alliance is truly thankful to be involved in their tremendous generosity.  Thank you, thank you ICAP!”

ICAP CEO Michael Spencer said, “To raise more than $16 million in one day is an incredible achievement, particularly in the current environment.  It is the efforts of our customers, staff and supporters that made Charity Day 2008 such a fantastic success.”

“The TS Alliance, as always, truly appreciates the support of Julianne Moore and is excited to team up with ICAP for this very special fundraising event,” said TS Alliance President & CEO Kari Luther Carlson.  “We are thankful for the money raised, and I also want to praise Tom and Peggy Lindsey who attended the event and made our participation possible.”

You can win six bum-genius one-size pocket diapers over at Money Saving Mom! (Ends December 9th)

Challice is giving away a cute gardening set! (Ends December 12th)

Mrs. MoBunny is giving away Christmas aprons! (Ends December 9th)

Another Willow Contest! (Ends Christmas Eve)

$5 dinners is giving away a Macaroni Grill dinner kit and other pasta goodies! (Ends December 10th)

Did you have a baby in 2008? You could win a $5000 savings bond! See the details over at Keeping the Kingdom First! (Ends December 10th)

Win Stocking Stuffers at Life with MommyMc! (Ends December 14th!)

Wow! When I started this post, I thought I only had a few, but I guess I had a longer list than I remember. (Lists are essential when you’re in your last month of pregnancy!)

This is an amusing clipping that got posted on Hearthkeepers tonight. You can click on the image to make it bigger and easier to read. Enjoy! –Ladybug

I’m finally getting my act together on this…. Needless to say, between pregnancy and Munchkin being grounded from enclosed spaces, I’m very, VERY thankful for the internet!!!!!