Food Poisoning

It was supposed to be a romantic evening for two. John and I were so excited to have a night out to dinner while Aunt Sara babysat Julia. Little did we know that in the next 6 hours we would be on the worst stomach roller coaster ride of our lives! John wined and dined me in Middleton at Nicholas, one of the best restaurants in the state of NJ. We arrived at 6 and left at 830. We had a 5 course meal. It was so delicious and the service was amazing.

We bid Sara goodbye and John stayed up to do some seminary work. I cleaned up and relaxed on the couch. Sometime around 1 am I heard poor John in the bathroom vomitting. Poor guy, I thought, he has such a weak stomach, I guess something didn't agree with him. Little did I know that in an hour I'd be in a different bathroom, being 6 months pregnant, and lying on the bathroom floor praying that the pain would just go away.

For the next 5 hours we both had a combination of vomitting and diahreah (now that I'm a mom I am very blunt about bodily functions). We tried desperately to sip water or drink gatorade and every time it would come right back up. At 6 am I called out of work (I was due to sub for 3rd grade). At 7am John called his parents to help us with Julia. Thank God for my in-laws they were amazing. We called my doctor and he wanted me to see if I could drink anything and keep it down by 12. At 1130 I was still vomitting, so my father in law drove me to the hospital where finally I was able to get some liquids in me by IV. I was checked in by 1, and by 4:30 my dr. visited me and my blood work came back justifying that I did not have a stomach virus (normal white blood count) but indeed a nasty food poisoning.

By 5:30 I was home to find my daughter Julia very unhappy. Little did I know her stomach virus that she was battling with a few weeks ago, came back! HELP!!

Monday night we all settled into our routine, John stayed home from work, Julia went to bed at 745 and we were all able to sleep peacefully throught the night. Thank goodness for good doctors, family to help, and IV's!!

I LOVE naps!

Today was such a blessing. First, Julia and I got to go to Ladies Bible Study from 9:30-11:30. Julia played in the nursery with the Haines' and 3 children. She must've had a blast b/c after we went food shopping she was sound asleep in the car. Then we got home around 12pm and John had lunch waiting for us! He is so great! I then took Julia outside to play, she's been loving these sunny days and it isn't too cold. Then she took a nap from 1:30-4:10!!! I was so surprised. I think it also may have something to do with the fact that I woke her up after only taking a quick 30 min. morning nap, but we would've been late for bible study.

I was able to nap, read my book, The Shack, make a spinach quiche, fold laundry, write some letters and check my email!!! I never get to do all of that. I even had time to write out a few checks. Thank you Lord for nap time! I LOVE naps!

Seminary...the Pastor's Wife

Julia is taking her morning nap and after I shower and clean up the breakfast table it is so quiet and peaceful in the house. John is quietly reading one of his many books for seminary this semester. Poor guy has to read sooooooo much material and write weekly papers. I am his biggest fan though. I know that whatever God has in store for us as long as we continue to seek Him it will be amazing. I can't imagine being a pastor's wife, although growing up I secretly always wanted to be one. I even tried learning how to play the piano. But when you try to learn the piano when you are in your 20's and are working full time and don't practice then you aren't going to be too successful. I'll never forget when John came to my recital at the church, a three year old played this Mozart or Bach piece flawlessly and he looks at me after I played "When the Saints come Marching in", and says, "Wow, babe that 3 year old played way better than you did!" I really don't remember if that's what he said, but I remember thinking after that recital that there was no way I was going to keep trying to do something I just wasn't meant to do. LOL I think I could still be a good pastor's wife someday.

John and I would always say that he and Bill Weaver could start a new church somewhere in PA. I would love that idea. It is so peaceful there, not rush rush rush like here in NJ. I love visiting the Weavers and going to their church. Just being with them is amazing.

Well, I better start some laundry.

Exhaustion

Oh boy, this pregnancy is taking EVERYTHING out of me. I can barely carry Julia (22lbs) up the steps w/o huffing and puffing. I feel like I am a million pounds and yet I have only gained like 10lbs. I just feel so pregnant and so ready for this baby to be out...and yet I know once this baby is here my life is going to take on a whole new dimension that I am a little apprehensive about.

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And right now I need a lot of strength. I am so lucky to have such a great baby who is so easy going and eats great and sleeps well. I can only pray number 2 is similar to her.

Family of God

Today was such a blessing to me. I was talking to Michelle Wells a woman who used to attend SWBC (my church) and she said, "Kristi, I am so happy you are pregnant again...I have some things for you..." Next thing I know I have a double stroller, an extra booster seat and more clothes 2T and 3T for Miss Julia!!!!

I keep asking the Lord, how are we going to make it on one salary, shouldn't I go back to work, and time and time again, John's business does super well, and people are always giving us things for our kids. A woman at Taekwondo just offered her Bellisimo crib and changing table for baby #2.

We are super blessed in the family of God. He is always providing for us!!!!

God's Blessing

You did it again Lord! Thank you for allowing 581 competitors to be at John's tournament yesterday! This economy is a little scary these days and yet God just continues to bless us and our business. Thank you for such a huge success.

He is so faithful and remains to show us His loving kindness! As I pulled into the arena parking lot and saw all the cars and the fact that I had nowhere to park, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks because once again God provided!

Proud of Daddy

John's big tournament is today. He left early this morning to put up signs near Brookdale College so people would know where to go. I am so proud of how hard he works for his school and how much he loves his students. He has really become a wonderful example to all of us. When I think of how much he puts into his job, his schoolwork (seminary:MDIV major/Apologetics), and us I can honestly say that the Lord will say the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the house of the Lord."

Before he left today he must've been reading my Bible because it was on the hallway table open. I love that he cannot go a day without being in God's Word. I know he's been praying for this tournament that it is a success, especially with the economy being so rundown right now. But he is also praying that many of his students see Jesus in him and come to know Christ as their Savior.

Exhausted Fridays

One of my biggest fears of being a mother of two is that I will have no down time. At least now with Julia and even at the start with Julia she does and did really good naps. She has always been a good sleeper for me. Since 8 months she's been doing 11-12 hours at night and she still does 2 naps a day ranging from 1 hour to sometimes 3 hours per nap. Usually the morning nap is a quickie, but her afternoon naps are great because I can clean up for 30 minutes, and then read and do my devotions for 30 minutes and take a nap myself. What about when baby 2 comes? How will I ever find that time to just be still and quiet?

That's something I loved about teaching. I gave 100% frin 8:25 am til 3:05 pm, but once the last group of kids was walked over to aftercare it was totally quiet and I could get so much done. I could enter my grades, plan the next day, do lesson plans, clean my classroom, sit in my chair...I really miss teaching sometimes...on days when Julia and I have Mops or Ladies Bible study or our Library Mommy and Me class I feel totally fulfilled and so happy that I get to spend these moments with her, but on days when we are in the house all day long, it makes me wonder how moms did it long ago when they had no cars, or parks, or malls. My house would make me crazy if I had to stay put all day.

Even going grocery shopping is something proactive to do, although, I like grocery shopping as a family better. John always makes everything so fun. Anyway, I am just so tired today, and we are about to have company for dinner. John is actually coming home early today for our special guests. It will be very nice.

February 5, 2009

I love being a mom. This doesn't mean it is always easy. This doesn't mean that I love changing poopy diapers. But, overall, I love watching Julia grow. Seeing her smile is the best part of my day. When she makes a connection to something we've taught her it means the world to us as parents. I can't believe how quickly she learns and how earnestly she seeks our approval. All she has to do is walk her little chubby legs into a room and our hearts melt. We are so blessed to be her parents. To think that God has allowed me to take care of this amazing person and help her to become a woman is just to awesome to consider.

I want to be the wife and mother found in the book of Proverbs 31 (Christy Weaver read this passage at our wedding). My favorite verses in this chapter are vs.10-12 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Vs 20 She extends her hand to the poor. Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. Vs 28-30 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Whoa...talk about high expectations, but I love the challenge! God did not put me on this earth to be mediocore and I know (Phillippians 4:13) that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Each day I am trying to do what pleases Him and therefore He takes care of the rest!