I'm a planner. I admit it! I like to have a list, I like to have a plan, I like to know what is going to happen, and when it's going to happen. I wasn't always like this. In high school and then before I got married I was very flexible, I went with the flow. I didn't keep a planner for school, and I never wrote down when my games were or when events were going to happen. I could always handle deadlines without even really trying. I had a pretty busy life in high school between playing sports, working full-time, taking college classes and staying involved in church ministries.
But since having kids, and then having more and more kids, I have gotten a lot less flexible and a lot more structured! I guess it just comes with the job, but sometimes I really have to control my planning beast!
We didn't do any school in February. The beginning of the month was busy with the snowstorms, living with Caleb's parents, and waiting day by day for baby Elsa to come. And then the second half of the month was busy with a newborn, appointments, and lots things happening.
So my goal was to start March with a bang! and get serious about school. I planned the first two weeks of March and changed things up a little bit to start fresh, and then I sabotaged my own plan! Caleb was planning on going to Anthony, KS Thursday night through Saturday afternoon and I was joking with him that he should take the laundry and do it while he's working at the church, since the church installed a washer and dryer for us while we were there. He flippantly said "Or you could come and do the laundry while I work!" He was joking but I thought it was an awesome idea!
So I finagled and convinced him of his wisdom and forethought, and here I sit in Anthony, KS! We dropped the 4 kids off at Andrea and Matt's house and Elsa and I rode along with Caleb to Anthony. Honestly, driving into Anthony it felt like we were home. Probably because we've spent most of the past year here and it doesn't take long for a small town to feel like home. Thursday night they were having a Church Work Night and it was so great to show off my new baby to everyone.
I guess this means that I'm a little more flexible than I give myself credit for. Although I was freaking out just a little bit about how I was going to catch the kids up in their school. One week into school and we're already behind. Oh boy! But it will work out. I hope.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
It's been an exciting week at our home since the baby was born! Elsa is doing great, eating well, sleeping well, and already growing. She's adjusted into our little family just fine and the kids all love her. We were worried about how Anna would react to having another baby in the house but she seems to be doing fine. She wants to be held a little bit more than she did before but that's probably normal! She loves baby "Delsda" and likes to play with her long toes.
When we were in Anthony last we got backed into in the McDonald's parking lot and we were finally able to get the van into the shop to be fixed. We were given a fancy 2011 Dodge Caravan to drive around for the week and I think we've been spoiled! It has all of the bells and whistles, except a DVD player for which Noah was upset. But it has automatic sliding doors, a rear bumper camera, satellite radio, and lots of other cool things we didn't get to explore yet. It's been fun driving it around.
As most of you probably know, Anna walks pigeon-toed and after months of waiting we finally got her into an orthopedic doctor. He said her tibias (bone between the knee and ankle) are twisted and that's what is causing it. He said that there's nothing we can do, just wait for them to straighten out on their own. So that was good news that they don't want to do surgery or put braces on her, but a little frustrating that there's nothing we can do! We just have to pray that they straighten out quickly.
Starting Monday we all started feeling pretty sick; Kayla first, then Anna, then Caleb and me, then Noah and Lela, then Anna again, and now Caleb again. Hopefully we can get rid of this thing! Because I got so sick I'm having a few post-partum issues but nothing too serious, I just need to rest for extra time. We are all thankful for the nutrition supplements that we take, we really believe that they help us not stay sick for as long as other people. They're not miracle pills and we still get sick, but it's never as bad as it's supposed to be and we usually only get one or two of the symptoms, not all of it!
Thursday morning Caleb went to Anthony, KS planning on working for a few days and coming home on Saturday. But because I started having issues and had to make a trip to the ER, he decided to come home and try to go next week. We will more than likely be going back to Anthony in April to help finish up the church and get them in their new building. It will be nice to be back, we fell in love with the people and the little town!
Those are just a few of the exciting things that have happened in the last 10 days! Life sure can be exciting sometimes.
When we were in Anthony last we got backed into in the McDonald's parking lot and we were finally able to get the van into the shop to be fixed. We were given a fancy 2011 Dodge Caravan to drive around for the week and I think we've been spoiled! It has all of the bells and whistles, except a DVD player for which Noah was upset. But it has automatic sliding doors, a rear bumper camera, satellite radio, and lots of other cool things we didn't get to explore yet. It's been fun driving it around.
As most of you probably know, Anna walks pigeon-toed and after months of waiting we finally got her into an orthopedic doctor. He said her tibias (bone between the knee and ankle) are twisted and that's what is causing it. He said that there's nothing we can do, just wait for them to straighten out on their own. So that was good news that they don't want to do surgery or put braces on her, but a little frustrating that there's nothing we can do! We just have to pray that they straighten out quickly.
Starting Monday we all started feeling pretty sick; Kayla first, then Anna, then Caleb and me, then Noah and Lela, then Anna again, and now Caleb again. Hopefully we can get rid of this thing! Because I got so sick I'm having a few post-partum issues but nothing too serious, I just need to rest for extra time. We are all thankful for the nutrition supplements that we take, we really believe that they help us not stay sick for as long as other people. They're not miracle pills and we still get sick, but it's never as bad as it's supposed to be and we usually only get one or two of the symptoms, not all of it!
Thursday morning Caleb went to Anthony, KS planning on working for a few days and coming home on Saturday. But because I started having issues and had to make a trip to the ER, he decided to come home and try to go next week. We will more than likely be going back to Anthony in April to help finish up the church and get them in their new building. It will be nice to be back, we fell in love with the people and the little town!
Those are just a few of the exciting things that have happened in the last 10 days! Life sure can be exciting sometimes.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
She's Here!
Our sweet little girl came into the world on February 15th! Elsa Dawn was born early afternoon weighing 8lbs 3oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She's a really good baby, she likes to sleep! We haven't been able to get her to open her eyes fully yet. Thank you for all of the prayers, mom and baby are both doing well and the kids love her! Anna says she's "my baby".
Saturday, February 12, 2011
We have been inundated with snow here in Oklahoma! The first of February brought a blizzard-like snow (being from Nebraska I can't bring myself to call it a blizzard, but it was windy!). We were doing fine in our trailer keeping warm, but our water pump froze because the heater we had in the undercarriage stopped working. So we stayed at Caleb's parents house to wait out the storm. Then we got another storm the next week! Thankfully that one wasn't as bad and we were able to come back to our trailer on the 10th.
My mom is visiting us for the weekend. She hasn't been able to visit in a few years because of us travelling and her work schedule. So we are very happy to have her here for a few days! There's nothing like having your mom around, no matter how old you get and how many kids you have yourself!
I wish I would've had a new granddaughter to share with her, but this little baby is being pretty stubborn and biding her time! My due date is the 14th and if I don't have her then I will be induced on the 15th, very early in the morning. So either way, I will have a baby soon! My mom is supposed to be leaving that day but she just has to make it to Wichita that evening, so hopefully she'll be able to see and hold the new baby before she has to leave.
Caleb has been busy helping members of the church do small repairs, fix leaks and help out however he can. He feels that since the church provides so much for us, that when we're home he tries to do as much as possible. Sometimes people pay him, or give us food, but he doesn't do it to make a profit, he just wants to help out the people who faithfully support us month after month! We have an amazing supporting church, we are so thankful for everyone!
I will post as soon as I can when I have the baby!
My mom is visiting us for the weekend. She hasn't been able to visit in a few years because of us travelling and her work schedule. So we are very happy to have her here for a few days! There's nothing like having your mom around, no matter how old you get and how many kids you have yourself!
I wish I would've had a new granddaughter to share with her, but this little baby is being pretty stubborn and biding her time! My due date is the 14th and if I don't have her then I will be induced on the 15th, very early in the morning. So either way, I will have a baby soon! My mom is supposed to be leaving that day but she just has to make it to Wichita that evening, so hopefully she'll be able to see and hold the new baby before she has to leave.
Caleb has been busy helping members of the church do small repairs, fix leaks and help out however he can. He feels that since the church provides so much for us, that when we're home he tries to do as much as possible. Sometimes people pay him, or give us food, but he doesn't do it to make a profit, he just wants to help out the people who faithfully support us month after month! We have an amazing supporting church, we are so thankful for everyone!
I will post as soon as I can when I have the baby!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Well there's not much to update this week. I had my doctor's appointment on Friday and it went well, the Doctor said I could go at any time, so we're just waiting! The baby is abou 5 1/2 lbs so she's still little. I wouldn't mind waiting until the beginning on February to have her, give her a few more days to bake.
We toured the hospital where I'm set to deliver and it's really nice! St. Anthony recently updated their Labor and Delivery section and it's really classy. Almost looks like a hotel! Caleb and I were very impressed and relieved that it's such a nice facility. Since I got a new doctor for this pregnancy, I also got a new hospital!
We were able to pick up our Master CD that we recorded at the end of November. There are a few issues we need to work out but it sounds so good! I know it will be a blessing to people. I was nervous to listen because I knew I would hear all of my mistakes, even if I made them or not. But it wasn't bad. There are 12 songs; 7 that Caleb sing and 5 that the Quartet sings.
Caleb has been very busy since we've gotten back. Last time we were here the empty trailer in the lot next to us burned to the ground. The owner said that Caleb and Josh could take as much metal from it that they wanted, so they were able to take most of the frame to the junkyard and make a small profit. He has also been busy building a shelf/crib that I designed. It's starting to look really nice and just like I imagined! It will fit in our bedroom in the corner. The top (crib) will be removeable so that when she's old enough to not need to be in our room, we can put it on one/half of Anna's bed and she'll still be in a "crib" so she won't roll off or climb out, but Anna won't be restricted.
It's been good to be back but for some reason we always forget how busy a church our size is! And then you add to that doctor appointments and things you need to do when you're home, and we've been busy. But busy is good!
We toured the hospital where I'm set to deliver and it's really nice! St. Anthony recently updated their Labor and Delivery section and it's really classy. Almost looks like a hotel! Caleb and I were very impressed and relieved that it's such a nice facility. Since I got a new doctor for this pregnancy, I also got a new hospital!
We were able to pick up our Master CD that we recorded at the end of November. There are a few issues we need to work out but it sounds so good! I know it will be a blessing to people. I was nervous to listen because I knew I would hear all of my mistakes, even if I made them or not. But it wasn't bad. There are 12 songs; 7 that Caleb sing and 5 that the Quartet sings.
Caleb has been very busy since we've gotten back. Last time we were here the empty trailer in the lot next to us burned to the ground. The owner said that Caleb and Josh could take as much metal from it that they wanted, so they were able to take most of the frame to the junkyard and make a small profit. He has also been busy building a shelf/crib that I designed. It's starting to look really nice and just like I imagined! It will fit in our bedroom in the corner. The top (crib) will be removeable so that when she's old enough to not need to be in our room, we can put it on one/half of Anna's bed and she'll still be in a "crib" so she won't roll off or climb out, but Anna won't be restricted.
It's been good to be back but for some reason we always forget how busy a church our size is! And then you add to that doctor appointments and things you need to do when you're home, and we've been busy. But busy is good!
Friday, January 21, 2011
What song is that?
A funny conversation I had to share:
Caleb: (singing a song about "You're not alone")
Laura: (correcting pretty much every other phrase or word with the correct phrase/word)
Caleb: Your Savior
Laura: labor
Caleb: Your witness, Your Faith
Laura: pain
Caleb: You're not Aloneeee!
Laura: It's not in vain!
Caleb: I'm not singing "It's not in vain", I'm singing "You're not alone"
Laura: Why are you singing it to the tune of "It's not in vain"?
Caleb: (pause) Is that why I kept getting all of the words wrong?
Laura: Um....probably....
Caleb: How does "You're not alone" go?
Laura: I don't know, all I can think of is "It's not in vain"
Caleb: (starts singing "It's not in vain")
Laura: *sigh*
Caleb: (singing a song about "You're not alone")
Laura: (correcting pretty much every other phrase or word with the correct phrase/word)
Caleb: Your Savior
Laura: labor
Caleb: Your witness, Your Faith
Laura: pain
Caleb: You're not Aloneeee!
Laura: It's not in vain!
Caleb: I'm not singing "It's not in vain", I'm singing "You're not alone"
Laura: Why are you singing it to the tune of "It's not in vain"?
Caleb: (pause) Is that why I kept getting all of the words wrong?
Laura: Um....probably....
Caleb: How does "You're not alone" go?
Laura: I don't know, all I can think of is "It's not in vain"
Caleb: (starts singing "It's not in vain")
Laura: *sigh*
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Getting ready for baby!
We made it back to Mustang, Oklahoma safely on Monday. We were going to come back Tuesday but decided that since the baby has dropped, and my contractions are still going, that it would be better to come back earlier, even if it was just one day!
This week we're busy with doctor appointments and church activities but we're also trying to get the trailer cleaned out so we can bring in baby stuff. Babies are small, but they require a lot of stuff! Caleb is making a crib that will fit in the corner of our bedroom. It will have two shelves on the bottom and the crib part will be removeable. That way when she is old enough to sleep in the room with the kids, we can put the crib part on Anna's bed and she will be contained, but Anna won't be restricted. It was an ingenious plan created by me, designed by both of us, and built by Caleb! I will post pictures when he's done. We were able to find some really cute baskets on sale to put on the shelves so that when we travel everything doesn't fall everywhere and have to be refolded.
When we left Anthony, the bathrooms had been tiled but still needed to be grouted. The foyer tile was starting to be laid and they were able to even out most of the ground. Caleb will be going back for a few days a week to help out, probably starting next week depending on what the baby decides!
My 36 week appointment is Thursday so we will see what the doctor says about how far away she thinks I am from delivering. I don't think baby will wait more than two more weeks, I think she's ready to come out! We will keep everyone updated.
I was able to send out our prayer letters after problems with ink cartidges! Long story. So look for them in the mail. If you don't receive our prayer letter and you would like to, please email your church's name and address to me at carterntcp@yahoo.com. I have also made a facebook page for our ministry, where I will post updates and pictures. If you are on facebook you can follow us by going to this page and clicking the "Follow" button. You can also suggest our page to other friends that might be interested in hearing about our ministry!
This week we're busy with doctor appointments and church activities but we're also trying to get the trailer cleaned out so we can bring in baby stuff. Babies are small, but they require a lot of stuff! Caleb is making a crib that will fit in the corner of our bedroom. It will have two shelves on the bottom and the crib part will be removeable. That way when she is old enough to sleep in the room with the kids, we can put the crib part on Anna's bed and she will be contained, but Anna won't be restricted. It was an ingenious plan created by me, designed by both of us, and built by Caleb! I will post pictures when he's done. We were able to find some really cute baskets on sale to put on the shelves so that when we travel everything doesn't fall everywhere and have to be refolded.
When we left Anthony, the bathrooms had been tiled but still needed to be grouted. The foyer tile was starting to be laid and they were able to even out most of the ground. Caleb will be going back for a few days a week to help out, probably starting next week depending on what the baby decides!
My 36 week appointment is Thursday so we will see what the doctor says about how far away she thinks I am from delivering. I don't think baby will wait more than two more weeks, I think she's ready to come out! We will keep everyone updated.
I was able to send out our prayer letters after problems with ink cartidges! Long story. So look for them in the mail. If you don't receive our prayer letter and you would like to, please email your church's name and address to me at carterntcp@yahoo.com. I have also made a facebook page for our ministry, where I will post updates and pictures. If you are on facebook you can follow us by going to this page and clicking the "Follow" button. You can also suggest our page to other friends that might be interested in hearing about our ministry!
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