Hardships

I came across this the other day and it really struck a cord with me.  As our story is getting out, people have emailed, sent texts and Facebook messages, and stopped me randomly to tell me how much our story has touched them.  I am saying this with humility because it is still extremely bizarre to me that this miracle is actually happening to me.  The is really MY life.  I am a very ordinary girl from a small town in Iowa.  I grew up with the "All-American" family - two parents who love each other and a younger sister.  I graduated from high school, went to college, and found my dream job.  I fell in love with an incredible man and we got married.  My story is no different than yours.  I am one person.  Yet, God is using my story in big ways in other people's lives.  And for that, I am eternally thankful.

When I saw this quote, it really spoke to me because I feel like I am finally in a place where I can see the hardship we faced for the blessing it truly was and still is.  Had we not gone through the past 3 years of infertility trials and heartbreak, the beautiful story of generosity and compassion that I'm living because of Julie & Dan wouldn't be - and in turn, the people our story has touched and inspired to perform intentional acts of kindness for others might never have occurred.  When I stop and think about the ripple effect of people who have been touched by the hardships Kevin & I have gone through, I get tears in my eyes.  Although I would've never chosen this journey for myself, I am living proof that God's plans for our lives are often far more than we could've ever dreamed for ourselves.

I'm challenging each of you to view the hardships you're facing today as an opportunity to bless and inspire others.  You never know where the ripple effect of you sharing your story will end.

Lots of Love,

Monday Morning Musings

Regular Blogging again friends!  :)  Now that the week that never ends has finally ended - I feel like I have my life back!  Ready for a brain dump?  Let's roll.

This weekend was just what I needed to refresh and recharge.  Although it went by quickly, I feel like if this week could continue to go by quickly and Thursday could go ahead and hurry on up so I can find out if we're having a son or a daughter, that would be excellent!

Friday was a sad night for my Spartans.  They lost in the quarter-finals of the State Playoffs.  It was an amazing season and we had a great time cheering them on anyway.

Saturday was fun because I had the chance to see my cousin, Sara, who lives in Virginia Beach.  For living so far away, we are fortunate to see her many times in the year.  We share a love of dance, but most of all - she is ridiculously funny and we always have a wonderful time together.  After we worked at the studio, we enjoyed a nice dinner with these monkeys:

After church yesterday, we just had a pretty low key day around here.  Kevin is very slowly beginning to feel a little bit normal again and is hoping to begin working a bit this week.  We did get the chance to go see our niece, Kristina bowl for her college team who was in town this weekend.  In an effort to not be an obnoxious aunt, I didn't take any pictures - but I had a really fun time watching her.  While we were there, I was texting my sister-in-law (Kristina's mom) and she asked how the team was doing.  My response?  "I think they're doing awesome.  Anything above a two digit score is amazeballs in my opinion."  :)

Went to the store over the weekend - can't lie, seeing this caught me a little off guard.  I love Christmas just as much as the next gal, but could we at least pretend that we want to enjoy Thanksgiving?  Or at least get to the week of Thanksgiving?

Was going through my Facebook "Thankful Thanksgiving" posts from last year - just taking a trip down memory lane when I stumbled upon this:

A little over a year from the day we found each other on Facebook, she offered to carry our baby.  We can always tell Baby K that they were born thanks to Facebook.  CRAZY.  :)

So, I was thinking - wouldn't it be awesome if I had one place that would show me all of my favorite blogs and when they're updated?  *cue angels singing* Over the weekend I discovered BlogLovin.  Yes, I realize I'm multiple years late to the party - but better late than never, right?  Here's the deal, I can follow all of my favorite blogs and it is my one stop to catch up on all my favorites.  Love it.  So, if you want to be notified of all the updates on this blog - you can follow me here on BlogLovin.  Want even better news?!  You can download the app from the app store for both iPhone and other smartphones!  I am just so excited about this!!  :)

And last but certainly not least: Today, although my school district will be in session, I think it's important that we stop and truly think about the sacrifices made to defend this country.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I think about the countless lives that have been lost so that I can enjoy the freedoms we have.  During 5th grade, my students learn about American history.  From the explorers all the way through modern day.  It's my favorite subject to teach because I want them to always understand the beautiful stories of bravery and hardship that were faced by generations and generations of people before them.  I want them to be thankful for the men and women who fought to defend the freedoms they enjoy.  And above all, I want them to know that we live in the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

Happy Monday,

16 Weeks

{The amount of people who have sweetly stopped me to tell me how much they look forward to Thursday mornings because they religiously log in to check my blog for the BUMPdate absolutely warm my heart.  I am so honored and humbled that you all have found joy in our story - we are honored that you care about us so much - so THANK YOU!}

16 Week Belly Pic: 11/6/13 -

And the side-by-side from last week:

The baby is getting ready for a huge growth spurt - lucky for Julie!  :)  In the next few weeks it's going to double it's weight and add lots of inches!  It's 4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces.  It's eyes have moved closer to the front of it's face and it's ears are nearing their final destination.  It's scalp is starting to pattern, but it doesn't have hair quite yet.  And it's growing toenails!  :)  It's little heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day and that amount will continue to grow until it's born.  It's about the size of an avocado this week:

In other news, one week from today we get to find out the gender of this little boo!  I am beside myself.  Like cannot wait beside myself.  Sooooo - you will have one more BUMPdate before you get to know the gender - I'm hoping to get a gender update up Friday morning.  We obviously want to let our family know before going public to our blog family.  :)

Personally, this week has been crazy with conferences and getting Kevin home and comfortable.  He is recovering well - thank you all for your prayers and checking in on us.  Since the beginning of the year, I've said "if I can just make it through fall conferences - this year is going to fly".  I've said that because after this week we're quickly approaching the holidays and then the spring semester always goes by so quickly and then this baby will be here before we know it.  So, I am about 24 hours from making it to my marker to the year flying!!

I hope you're all having a wonderful week -

Finally Friday: Halloween Style

Welp, regular blogging these days has consisted of my Thursday morning BUMPdates - and while I am proud of myself for at least being on time with those, I am missing blogging about my regular life - so here we go.

I sat on my couch last night in a quiet house because Kevin is still in the hospital.  He had quite a bit of his colon resected on Monday morning to *hopefully* take care of his diverticulitis, which has been flaring up numerous times this year.  He has been in a great deal of pain, but we just keep praying that each day gets easier and he will be back to normal in no time.

I am beyond exhausted today because Halloween in an elementary school will do a real number on the adults in said school.  My sweet fifth-sters were more than a little "off" yesterday and while that makes me exhausted, I try really hard to remember what it's like to be 10...so I try to be patient.  As exhausting as yesterday was, the sad reality is that today is going to be worse.  I will work hard to enjoy my Friday with them.  :)

After work yesterday, I stopped at my sister and brother-in-law's to see these two pumpkins:

It was a cold and dreary day, but that didn't stop these trick-or-treaters.  They came back with a bag of candy and big smiles!  :)  I was just glad that I got a chance to see them - I never get tired of it.  Ever.

My sister texted me today to give me a little sneak peak of what arrived at her door yesterday:

Yippee for baby bedding!  Any of my readers who know me in real life will be SO proud of me.  This bedding is based on the alphabet and has an elephant on it - I swore I would never do this, but I just am in love with this adorable bedding, so with a little coaxing from my mother, sister, best friend Jamie and my 5 year-old niece calmly explaining to me that I could just cover up the elephant if I was scared...I've decided I can move past this minor detail and move forward with this bedding set.

Evidently God is playing tricks with me because the next day I was going through the little welcome bag from my Target baby registry and look at the little toy included

Yep, real funny.  I get it, I'm going to try to move past my phobia - but let's not push our limits, shall we?

And lastly, I got this last night

{melt.my.heart}

So, HAPPY HALLOWEEN {a day late}

from our BOO to YOU.

Have an awesome weekend, Friends -

15 Weeks

Happy Halloween, Friends!  :)

15 Week Belly Pic: 10/30/13 -

And the side-by-side from last week:

Our little pumpkin is the size of an apple this week

It weighs about 2 1/2 ounces and is around 4 inches long.  It's lungs have very primitive air sacks which are beginning to develop.  It's legs are growing longer than it's arms and all of it's joints are able to move at this point.  Although it's eyes are still fused shut, it can sense light - if Julie flashed a flashlight against her belly, it would likely move away from the beam.  Although there really isn't anything to taste in there, it's tastebuds are beginning to form.

In other news, thank you to all of our Facebook friends for praying for and thinking about us this week as Kevin had surgery on his colon this week.  He is still in the hospital - but making progress each day and we are hopeful he will be home very soon.  It was a fairly routine procedure that was scheduled, so it certainly wasn't an emergency - but scary none the less.

We are nearing the day to find out the gender of this baby - simply CAN NOT WAIT.  November 14th can hurry up any time now!  :)

171 days until the due date!

Happy Thursday -

14 Weeks

Here is the 14 week belly picture - 10/23/13:

And the comparison from last week:

The baby is the size of a lemon this week:

It's not about 3 1/2 inches long and weights 1 1/2 ounces.  New developments this week are it's ability to squint, frown or grimace.  It's kidneys are now producing urine - if I'm being honest, the thought of them inhaling that makes me want to barf...don't do it, baby...that's icky!  It can also suck it's thumb (although, please don't baby...that's a bad habit and mommy doesn't want to break that when you come out!)  In other news, it's arms are proportionate to it's body finally, it's neck is more pronounced, and it's body is growing more rapidly than it's head for the first time.

As I have been doing baby registry things, filling out mailers for free stuff, and discussing baby shower dates - things have slowly been becoming more real to me.  I find myself allowing my mind to dream a little bit more.  Things like "next year at this time we'll have a baby..." or "this will be our last Christmas as a family of 3" or "this Christmas will be our last major holiday without this baby" - things that I have closed my mind to for the past few years.  I am finally letting myself become cautiously excited - and it feels good.

Thank you for all the love and prayers - you mean the world to us!

Love,

13 Weeks

Here is the 13 week belly picture - 10/16/13:

And the side-by-side from last week:

I don't feel like it looks that much bigger - but I just fall more in love with that belly every single day :)

The baby is the size of a pea pod this week

Fingerprints have formed on it's tiny finger tips, veins and organs are visible through it's thin skin, and it's body is starting to catch up with it's head - thank goodness!  :)  It's nearly 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce.

Kevin and I went and registered for baby items this week at both Babies R Us and Target - once I got past the overwhelming feeling, it was really fun - it's quite entertaining to watch my poor husband in the baby aisles...but he was an amazing sport through it all, bless his heart.  :)

184 days, friends!  :)