Cravings

So this past weekend I went to a bridal shower. And while we were all sitting around the table eating mints and nuts, we started to discuss what our pregnancy cravings were and/or are (there were two preggos at the table). There were some interesting ones to discuss. I heard peanut butter, jalapeno peppers (God bless her!), and ice cream.

Both with this pregnancy and the one with Caleb, I could not get enough of orange juice. I mean, I seriously could gulp it all day if you let me. Thank goodness I haven't been a target of heartburn because of this - as one would surely think I would given the acidity. Maybe I'm lacking vitamin C or something, but I just love it. Doesn't matter what form - straight OJ, smoothies, whatever.

And on top of that, I found something that is just a notch better than drinking oj. If you haven't heard of this stuff or have never tried it, it's phenomenal!!! I personally love the Mighty Mango juice.

And so, donations are being accepted at any time. I might even consider sharing a glass with you...well maybe...you'd have to be really nice to me because I really love this stuff!

Loud Neighbor

Dear Loud Neighbor,
While I can appreciate anyone's taste in music, I do not appreciate the level in which you listen to yours. We moved away from apartment living, not for this reason alone, but it certainly tops the list for me. Oh how I wish you were a young teenager so that I could go over to your house and tell you to turn it down.


But alas, you are much older than me and I just don't feel okay about correcting my elders. Meanwhile, I am still trying to understand how it is humanly possible for me to even hear your music given that we have your wall, a yard and our own wall in the way. Perhaps it is because of our ancient windows that the sound is seeping in. I really must say, I am beside myself over this problem. But I must digress...I should probably count myself lucky that it isn't spring yet and the windows aren't open.
Sincerely,
Your ear-plugged neighbors

Blizzard 2011

I know that everyone got a little something different from the Blizzard that hit the Midwest. Here is what ours looked like. It took Gabe almost 3 hours to clear out our very small driveway. It was crazy! We probably had about 12 inches and up to 20 inches where it drifted. We didn't have any ice like they did in Southern IL, which I'm glad of. And then we headed over to some neighbors to help them clear out their driveways. School was cancelled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so we enjoyed 3 snow days with Gabe home. I think we'll be staring at this snow for a very, very long time. I hope that Groundhog is right and we get an early spring. I am so over winter.

It drifted so high on our back deck it would have covered half of Caleb if he had been standing in it.

Before we scooped. It was impressive!

My parents gave us a yard stick as sort of a gag gift at Christmas this year. Mostly because we didn't have one and they thought it was essential. Amy and Andy got one too. We've agreed that this snow came because my parents bought us the yardstick, just so we could measure it. You can see it barely sticking out of the top of the snow drift next to "the wall".

"The wall" has almost disappeared from the drifting.

A one-lane walkway

My belly bump is getting bigger (JennY, I'm not arching my back too much, am I?)

Caleb, after a visit to see Woody, the barber. He styled it for him and Caleb loved it! Woody is also pretty awesome because he gives out suckers and cookies - who wouldn't want to go to Woody?!

My little "moose" after story hour at the library. Our public library does a 40 minute story hour with 3, 4 and 5 year olds. It's great, because they go into this little room, but there are one-sided mirrors on the outside, so as parents you can spy on how your little one's are doing. It's a great social experiment to see how your child reacts to being on his own. Our moose is shy at first, but is starting to get brave as each session goes by.

Playing Catch-up

Santa and Mrs. Claus were a bigger hit this year than they've been in the past. It's a miracle he's even sitting on his lap. It helps that Santa bribes the kids with gifts.

Getting ready for Christmas!

Did you know that reindeer like carrots? That was a crazy notion in Caleb's brain this year. But he loved putting out the milk and cookies.

Mommy and Caleb

Must have been a great gift! We got a Wii for Christmas!

Sledding at Grandpa and Grandma's house after we opened Christmas gifts. The red sled goes really fast! Andy almost ended up in the creek a couple of times much to the dismay of Grandma!

Superstar Christmas at Chateau Blanc (aka the White House).

Julie, Gus and Jen

Janeice, me, Angie, Emily and Anna

The two baby bumps of the year. Angie is due May 21st with a baby girl and I'm due June 25th with baby boy #2.

Wrapping up the Year

Well, we're about 7 hours away and counting until 2011. I, for one, am looking forward to a new year. I felt like I needed to wrap up 2010. Maybe just to give it some good old-fashioned closure. 2010 was a rough year for the Myers family. And yet, here we are, still blessed beyond any great measure.
We took two trips to the ER. One in March - after a very disorienting telephone call from the Normal Police, I quickly met Gabe at the ER after he had been hit by a drunk driver going 74mph in a 35mph. While this could have changed our world dramatically, the Lord was watching over Gabe and the other driver. If not for the ridiculous headache from being strapped to that board in the ambulance for 2 hours, he felt great. We did have to say goodbye to our trusty Buick. No worries though, there's another sitting in our driveway as I write this.
The second trip to the ER came in June. This one slightly more eventful. After finally deciding to spend the money and go on a short trip for our 5 year anniversary, we ended it with a good round of golf - one of our favorite activities. About an hour later, I started feeling bad and by midnight, there we sat in the middle of THE smallest ER/hospital known to man. I'll spare the details, as most of you know them. However, after 7 hours at the Benton hospital, an excurciating 40 minute ambulance ride to Carbondale, more tests and surgery, we finally got to leave and go home 2 days later. This may have been the toughest test for me in my miniscule little lifetime. After learning that we lost the baby, we knew it would be hard. Then losing a part of me that may very well keep us growing our family - well, that was a whole other thing. And yet, the Lord was there. I see Him in the love of my family, in the timing of illness, in the fact that the surgery could have been worse and they could have taken more, in the way my husband cared for me and Caleb in those weeks following. Even at my worst, I see His very best.
Final blow of the year came in August. Yes, it seems we would see another baby come and go. It was hard. It was emotional. After this point, I began doing some searching online for some support on what I was feeling. I found an amazing blog that helped me through that time. There was a mother that had written in about her 9 miscarriages. I cannot even fathom her strength to go through that. She wrote that she is one to serve God, and for all she knows, God needed those little babies in heaven with Him. Isn't it such a great thought that God might call us to be servants in this way? Hard, yes. But the ultimate outcome is amazing. It's the most positive way I can think about this situation, so I'm choosing to put my faith in it.
And now, as we approach 2011, I can say with great joy that my belly is getting larger. We will have baby #2 in June and couldn't be happier. Has it been a tough year? Yes, it has. Will we have more tough years? Yes, we will. But I know the Lord is with us every step of the way, blessing our lives in countless ways, even when we don't realize it. I look forward to 2011 and all that could be for the Myers family....and that includes 0 trips to the ER. :)

Pictures bringing you up to speed

I've absolutely been terrible about keeping up with my blog. I think I went practically 2 months without posting anything. I apologize. I just couldn't stay motivated to download the pictures that inevitably people want to see. So here is what's been happening in our lives during the last 2 months:

The real reason I've been unmotivated....we're expecting #2! I've felt pretty awful through the first trimester, so it's kept me on the couch during any free moment I have. But we're excited!

Caleb was a TRex for Halloween. He really enjoyed going "trip or treating". :)



And of course, Caleb turned 3. He was a little cranky the day we had his party, so I have no picture that shows him blowing out his candle. He didn't want to do it. So he laid on the couch sulking while the whole family sang "Happy Birthday" to him. I will surely tease him about this when he is older.

Other than that, life with Hearts has been super busy! We've just finished rebranding - new logo, new tagline, new colors...the whole shebang! We're looking pretty swanky! Thanks to my lovely friend Leslie who knows how to make us look so good. You'll have to check us out: www.heartsathome.org!

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

Caleb, you are 3 years old today! It's funny how quickly time can pass within a blink of the eye. You're the most amazing little boy that I could have ever imagined God could give us. You're smart, funny, curious, calculating and so many other things that I can't wait to find out about you.

We had a busy day today. We started our day with some breakfast waffles (a breakfast of champions!) and then headed out to the Discovery Museum for fun with Gracie. We spent some time there and then headed to the Golden Arches to pick up lunch to take to Daddy at Grove. You always love to go to Grove, because Daddy's music room is the best place to play. We both got a nap after lunch and then headed back to the museum for more fun to round out the day.

Daddy and I think you are incredible! Thanks for the all of the jokes, funny stories and made-up words. You are quite the ham, and I love how your little brain works! You love reading books and then making up your own version of the story. You love playing with every toy in the room...but not for very long. You love CARS. May God bless the next year of your life - I'm looking forward to all of our new adventures!