The Flu and bumps on the head

My Favorite of our recent family pics....right around the time of my morning sickness starting.....
Why is it that when you just get over morning sickness and being very used to throwing up, that you have to turn around and greet the flu. I am home today, and did not get much sleep last night due to throwing up 3 times. Seriously, I appreciate the help in not gaining weight but I'd like to be able to enjoy my food for once.
On a better note, we are leaving for St. Louis tomorrow (or maybe tonight...Justin is very anxious to get there) to spend Thanksgiving with the Williams' side of the family. I'm very excited for all of us to get to be together...it's been a few years. To mark the occasion, this weekend we put up our Christmas tree and all our decorations. We put up our lovely stockings with their stocking holders and just as we were discussing whether or not we should leave them there, Joel pulled one down on his head. We spent Saturday morning in Urgent Care, where they were wonderful by the way. They gave him some liquid stitches (Dermabond) and sent us on our way. He was fine the rest of the day, running around like normal. I'm afraid that isn't going to be the last of our trips to Urgent Care...oh, he is all boy!
So I'm hoping that my trip to the doctor today for this flu or whatever will be the last of my excitement for a while.

Sad Day

Today was a very sad day. It started out with some of my coworkers and I going to our Title 1 Teacher Janine's boyfriend's funeral in Lawrence. He was 30 years old and just died Saturday without warning....the day after he and Janine had decided exactly when and how they were going to get married. She is my age (29) and we were both at K-State at the same time, so although I have only known her since I started working at Ridgeview, I feel a bond with her. She and her boyfriend had been living together for 2 years but since they weren't married there are no legal ties now. His family has not been great to her either and that has made things even harder. The funeral was very nice, though and Janine did an amazing job of sharing about her love for Craig. I sobbed.
So then I went back to school where the counselor had decided to tell the 6th grade students and was having them making cards for Janine. I took a minute to check my e-mail and noticed one from Justin that said that one of his co-workers who was due about 3 weeks before us had miscarried and that they were at the hospital. Again, my heart sunk. She was 17-18 weeks pregnant and would have been able to find out what she was having in just a week.
My heart is just so sad. It is these times when I truly long for heaven, where there will be no more pain or heartbreak or worry. When we truly can exchange our ashes for beauty.......

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD's Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ^[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

New Baby!

This week I finally hit 12 weeks so I have been telling all of our friends and coworkers the good news that we are pregnant again! It's so funny the difference in the 2nd time around. First of all, all that hard work in getting down below pre-pregnancy weight seems to go away when you pop out at like 8 weeks! Seriously, I am having to wear some pregnancy things already. Last week, I was having to be pretty creative to hide my bump and luckily the weather cooperated and it was cold so I could layer. Secondly, it is really hard to get attached to the idea of a baby, when I already have such a wonderful baby here in the flesh. Not that I'm not excited....I am thrilled...it's just that I can't imagine loving anything more than Joel. And I know that when that baby gets here I will, but right now, it's still hard to imagine. I can't wait to find out whether it is a boy or girl and to know it's own personality the way I know Joel's. The best thing though is to be able to give Joel something that I can never provide for him....a friend. I have always felt so lucky that Ben, Michelle, and I were so close in age and that we always had someone to do things with. I can't wait to have that for Joel.
Halloween was fun. Joel was a dinosaur and almost tuckered out while he was trick or treating. He was so tired. Seems that candy affects him the way it affects his mom. I'll post pictures of that soon. He was the cutest little dinosaur!