My foot's pretty much all better!! YAY!! What a week this has been!! LOL :) I ended up going to Dr. Frank by myself (!!WOOHOO!!), and Steve stayed home with both the girls, and it sounds like he had a great time!! Well, all except for Abbey's nap time, but I digress...

Dr. said that my foot looked great (and I did end up taking a shower that day, with a Wal-Mart bag over my foot...the bandage got a little wet, but...wah, I was stinky!!LOL), everything's healing nicely, and there's no infection, so that's awesome. I'm allowed to walk, now, too!! :)

What a weird week. I didn't share, either, that my parents are gone this week on their cruise...I'm sure they're having a great time, but it's been weird all the things that've gone wrong this week without them...

Besides my foot (which they couldn't really do anything about anyway, but, they missed the drama), Steve just happened to be at their house eating his lunch today (and he gets their mail & stuff, too) when the phone rang (he let the machine answer), and it was their renters...their furnace went out!! So, Steve felt obligated (absolutely, this is NOT the weekend for a furnace to go out, ya know?!?! They're forcasting 0's this weekend overnight) to take care of it for Dad. Well, he called the furnace people & they got it rigged to work, but it definately needs to be replaced soon...we just hope it lasts thru the weekend so we don't have to deal with it!! LOL Matt (my bil) said, "They should just leave some blank checks for emergencies when they go on a vacation"...inevitably something goes wrong, or someone dies, it's kinda weird...

I've just booked Abbey's Birthday party!! We're only doing a girl party this year...we might do another big family party when she turns 5 or something, but for now, I think she'll like just having her girls to celebrate with. We're hosting a "Build-A-Bear" party for her, then pizza & cake at Ci-Ci's Pizza (besides Fazoli's, that's her absolute favorite place to eat!! LOL) So, I'm excited. I think she'll like it, and I think the other girls will, too!! :) It's cool, too, because it's actually ON her Birthday this year...We might take her to Chuck E. Cheese's another night because she likes it so much, but her actual party's at Build-A-Bear...Since we're not having a big party, we can afford to get a little more for each child, too, ya know?

Anyways...that's done, and the invitations are bought (yeah, right, I've mailed them!! LOL), and cake plates & napkins, and a few party bag things...I always love looking at all that stuff!! :) So much cool stuff...

Okay, better go...I need to get Princess Abbey ready for bed...She's been pretty good today, except for a couple of time out's...She's really testing me, I think...Okay, she's testing everybody, right now...

Talk to ya'll later!! :) Love ya!! :)

So, last week I broke one of our glasses. I picked it up, swiffer vacked the area, and thought that was the end of it...

Until Monday...

What happened Monday, you ask? I found the last tiny piece of glass that the swiffer missed...with the left heel of my foot!! I had Katie, Monday, too, and Abbey had been walking around barefoot, so, I was VERY RELIEVED that it was me, and not one of the girls...But, it gets worse...

I tried to work on it all Monday afternoon, even called Steve to come home & help with the girls because the only place I could get anywhere to a good look at it was sitting on my bed (remember, I'm 22 weeks pregnant this week, and baby's get big!!LOL)...Anyways, he comes home, looks at it, and says, "You're gonna have to get someone to get that out for you." I scoffed at him, "Nope, almost got it..." well, okay maybe a stretch...LOL :) There wasn't anything sticking out that I could grab hold of to pull it out, ya know?

So, finally, around 5p.m. (Katie had been picked up, and Steve & Abbey had taken a nap, and I was getting worried about missing Bible study) I decided that this was, actually, a time I could use some medical attention...so off to Urgent Care I went...

By the time I got there (around 6p.m.ish), I decided I should just give up on Bible study because there wasn't any way I was getting there on time, and who knows what they would end up doing to my foot...

SO!! I was right, I wasn't even called back until 6:30/45ish, they took my blood pressure (and the nurse was a weirdo, I think, and didn't have the cuff on the right place because it has never hurt THAT bad taking my blood pressure, and so the sky-high reading she got, I pretty much dismissed because it wasn't anywhere near that the next day...but I'm getting ahead of myself...) took my temp, then I waited a few minutes for the dr. He looked at it, and said he wouldn't dig around too much, if he couldn't get it out he would refer me to podiatry. This, of course, freaked me out a little, because I've always thought of podiatrists, especially in relation to taking things out of a foot, as painful...So, Dr. Urgent Care, or as I like to refer to him now, Dr. Foot Torture, started working on my foot. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced, and I've given birth, people!!

So, he did numb my foot, but not good enough because I still felt almost everything. Because I'm pregnant, I couldn't lay down on the gurney, so it was an awkward angle, etc...I left Urgent Care with a big honken bandage on my foot (and Monday night it was snowing & a little on the slick side, if you locals remember), glass still in there, a prescription for some antibiotics, and a "promise" that they would call me the next day with an appointment time to see a podiatrist. Oh, I was also told to take some Tylenol when I got home, too.

So, Steve came home early (with Abbey...he had dropped her off at Chelle's because that was our original plan for Bible study), I was bawling like a baby, because, daggone, my foot hurt!! and I was hungry, and I could only limp around on my tiptoes, plus being pregnant, so graceful I am not!! LOL So, Steve came home & brought me Subway (bless his heart!!), and some gummy bears (one of my favorites!!), some Tylenol (yes, we were out!!LOL), and my baby girl looked so scared for Mommy, she kept trying to feed me cookies and stuff. I had a fitful night of sleep that night, and was anticipating more torture at the podiatrist the next day...

So, yesterday (I didn't have Katie), Steve went to work (which I had issues with, because he knew I couldn't get up & around much...very awkward, and I was supposed to stay off of my foot as much as possible...but whatever...), and I waited & waited on a phone call from Urgent Care, so by noon I called them...

This is where I got pretty upset with them. I called the front desk & got sent to a nurse, where the nurse told me that I could make my own podiatry apt. Yes, I said, but my paper said that I would get a call from you all with an appointment time. The nurse said, "Oh, yes, I see that now, but really with a podiatry apt. you can call and make your own." Um, that wasn't the point. The point is, my directions said that you all would make it for me, and that you would call me!! That is seriously, ver batim, what my instructional paper said. Is it me, or was that a bad business deal? HELLO?!?! Because I was waiting on you all honken day, I DIDN'T make an apt!! So stupid...and very frustrating...

So, I called the podiatrist (who Steve has seen in the last few weeks, well, a dr. from the same practice, anyway), and they fit me in at 3p.m. yesterday.

Now, I have to tell you, my previous perception of podiatrists has been totally blown out of the water, because Dr. Frank was very gentle, and looked surprised that the guy at Urgent Care caused me so much pain. Yes, the initial numbing shot hurt, but he knew how to do it, girls. I didn't feel a thing!! And, without working for so honken long as the Urgent Care guy did, he got it out!! They didn't make me feel like a freak & inconvenience, either, for being pregnant (the guy at UC did, btw), and his whole staff was very friendly & very funny. I left there feeling no pain, and I slept a lot better last night. Now, granted, I knew the glass was out, but still...I can't relay to you the night & day difference of the podiatrist...

So, I'm taking it easy today...Steve stayed home a little later this morning, and went in to work late (he also works at H&R tonight, so I won't see him until 9p.m. or after). But I go back to see Dr. Frank tomorrow afternoon (and Steve's coming, because I'll have Katie tomorrow, too!!). Oh, but I'm not supposed to get this foot wet (I've got a HUGE banage on it), and I'm not supposed to walk overly much...

But, anyways, that's been my story the last few days...Drama drama drama!! LOL

Love you all!! Hope your week was foot-glass-free!! :)

First of all, Kelley, I remember the name of that birthday catalog & their website!! :) It's www.birthdayexpress.com Anyways, it's been bugging me that I didn't have the exact website for you the other day!! LOL :)

Well, nothing much changing around here, except that I vaccumed yesterday, and it looks like I didn't...FOR REAL!! Let me explain...I have this housecoat I wear, especially when I'm sick or just feeling cozy, and when I was sick I stuck tissues inside my housecoat pocket. Anyway, without remembering, I washed the said housecoat...and didn't take the tissues out...WHAT A MESS!! Evidently, there was more tissues in there than I realized, even, because I'm still finding them all over the house (the washed tissues). I have no idea how they're getting around the whole house, that's still a mystery to me!!

I didn't share with you all last time (mainly because I was catching you up on 3 months missed!! LOL), but we started a new women's bible study this week (this past Monday!!). I've been dreading it because of the people I knew would be there. I've been trying to avoid these specific people because ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN & WHINE & SPREAD A BAD ATTITUDE, but on the other hand, there are some very dear friends there, and of course I want to be there to lift them up, and so we can suffer through the bad attitudes together!! LOL What really got me out of the house, though, was that it's a Beth Moore bible study & I've only heard good things about her studies from very trusted sources. This one's her latest called "Stepping Up" and it's focus is on the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120 through 134) (doesn't that make me sound like a Bible Scholar?!?! LOL). Anyways, it's already VERY fascinating, and I've felt positive that this is where God would like me right now, annoying people or not!! LOL :) I believe He's got a reason for us all to be at these studies, and it will be awesome to see what He does with this...

Anyways...Steve's back at H&R, plus taking 2 classes a week...On the bright side, though, he should graduate this fall!! YAY!! He's officially a Senior, and only has 4 more quarters to go!! :) Let me tell ya how nice it is to see light at the end of the tunnel!! He's already put in for some new jobs (he's put in some just to see if he would be considered, like, one that contacted him was in Alabama...we are NOT moving to AL!!) Anyways, it's nice to know it's getting close to the end...

Yet, knowing that there's an end in sight does not make it easier day-to-day when he's gone here or there (he's usually working or at class Tues-Fri, and weekends he's usually working...) SO, I'm a tax-time widow...I tend to get a little bored & introverted this time of year because I don't have much going on outside of home...and very limited, too, because I've got Abbey to consider, too...

Sorry, wasn't I just complaining about complaining & whining?!?! LOL :) I would like to call on my sister to watch Abbey every now & then, though, so I can scrapbook some, and Mom takes Abbey every now & then for a sleepover (usually NOT in February, though...that's H&R's 'peak'). But, I would like to get some projects done, and started before Baby Boy gets here...

Oh, speaking of Baby Boy...We haven't decided on a name, yet. I think we've got it narrowed down to Eli or Ethan (I like Ethan, but I don't know how much I like it with our last name), and Eli...I like it, but I'm not 100% sure, yet...We'll be thinking some more, maybe coming up with some different options. I think we have a middle name, though. Steve's Dad's Dad's middle name was Joseph (his first name was Francis...uh...NO!!). So, we'll see what we decide. We had a girl's name all picked out, though!! :) LOL I knew that was a sure sign it was a boy!! LOL :)

I'd better go...the native is awfully quiet...that usually means trouble!! LOL :)

Lov you all!! :)

Okay, so I'm back after 3 months of silence, eh? LOL!! :) It's just been one thing after another, and I was doing good to check my email every couple of days...

And, in case you don't re-read other people's comments...I have some more news!! :)

WE'RE HAVING A BOY!! :)

I can hardly believe that!! I was telling my sister yesterday that I'm still in kindof a shock, because I've never really pictured myself as a mommy to a boy!! LOL :) Especially after having lived in an all-princess world for almost 4 years!! But, as I think back to my daycare days, I was reminded that the 2 kiddos it was harder for me to leave were 2 little boys I'd had since they were 18/24mos. (they were well over 3 years when I left & had Abbey...oh my goodness, that means they're around 6 or 7 years old, now...I can't imagine!!). Anyways, Stephen was 18 mos. when he started daycare, and that was around the time I had just started back, and I was his first teacher, he didn't move up from the baby room, so we bonded. I'll never forget him looking at me one day and saying, "I love you, Manny." My heart just melted & of course I teared up!! Okay, a lot...

Then, there was Jayden. He was really very attached to me. He was a rough-housing little boy who had issues at home, but then after being rough with another kiddo or something, he would turn around & be the sweetest loving boy you'll ever meet.

I can't believe that they're in Kindergarten or 1st grade by now!! TIME FLIES!!

Anyways, Steve was, of course, overjoyed!! LOL Once the technichian left the room, he finally wiped his eyes a little bit!! LOL :) I promised to tell everyone that he handled it very much like a tough man, though!! LOL :) So, that's our secret!! LOL

My Dad is in shock!! Mom bought me a little outfit for the little guy & he said he couldn't even get out how cute it was!! He's just beside himself!! He told me after we told him it was a boy that he was fully expecting this baby to be another girl. He said he'd given up on boys!! LOL :) So, I am SO happy to have made him so proud & excited over a little boy...

Um...Abbey's first reaction was very honest &, um, blunt...after the technician told us, she said, "What do you think about having a little brother?" and Abbey immediately answered, "I don't WANT a baby brother!!" She's kindof recovered since then, though, and is getting excited, I think, about a baby in general. We're trying to get her involved on naming baby boy, and I think we're getting close to a decision...but that's for another day!! :)

Christmas was wonderful!! Missy already shared about Christmas Eve, so I won't go all into that again, but I will share about the Rose Petal Cottage & a pig...That's what Abbey asked Santa for!! A Rose Petal Cottage...and a pig...(one of those FurReal pigs.) So, she was very excited to wake up to all that on Christmas morning...and, of course, she got so many other toys I don't think I can list them all...Another sweet Christmas morning moment!! :)

My Santa didn't do too bad, either!! Steve surprised me with some really good presents this year!! Not that any present he's ever given me has been bad!! I don't mean that!! LOL We usually don't go all out for each other on Christmas, especially since Abbey was born, but this year, I got a beautiful "circle" necklace, a perfume set I love (Philosophy's Amazing Grace!! One of the BIG sets!!), and a total surprise, a black leather scrapbooking tote on wheels (it's lined with black w/ white polka dots inside...totally cute!! LOL)!! :) He did REALLY good!! :)

He got tools (a set he's wanted for a couple years, now), and the Dale: The Movie collection. Doesn't sound like he got as much as me, but his tools weren't cheap!! LOL :)

Okay, that's all I've got time for for now...We've gotta figure something out for dinner...Talk to ya'll later!! :) Love ya!! :)

Blah....That's how I've been feeling lately...I'm really trying NOT to complain...but yesterday was really bad. I felt REALLY awful all day...but today woke up raring to go!! Well, sorta!! LOL :) At least I got a shower & I feel like cleaning the house (well, as much as anyone, excluding Missy & Kelley, can WANT to clean the house!! LOL just teasing, girlies :) )

Anyways, enough of that, now. Really, I'm not complaining. I'm just not used to feeling THAT out of commission...With all my other pregnancies, I've never felt that bad, even in the beginning, and even though yesterday I never actually got sick, I definately felt like I could at any moment...

Other than feeling sick this week, it's been a pretty "hoppin'" one. Monday...um, well, I guess Monday wasn't hoppin'...I watched Katie, and Steve had the day off. We were GOING to put out our fall display, but that didn't happen...Maybe he'll put out the bail of straw we've got today...Anyways, Tuesday I watched Katie again, but only for 1/2 the time I did on Monday. We had eyebrow appointments, and that was good. We went to Logan's afterwards, and did you know that on Monday & Tuesdays they have a 2 can dine for 12.99 deal? Full-size meals, 2 sides & everything, plus their rolls & stuff...So, since the boys weren't with us (Dad met us there, though) Chelle & I shared a check so we could pay pretty much half price for our meals. Oh, and kids meals are only $2!! But, Mom & Dad paid for the girls :) I thought that was nice :)

Wednesday I didn't feel wonderful, but I had a Women's Retreat meeting, so forced myself to get ready. It was a great meeting, and I did end up feeling a little better. Abbey & I ate KFC for dinner, and they were out of chicken breasts!! That's what I ordered, the one piece chicken breast dinner, and they didn't tell me they were out of chicken breasts until AFTER I paid...that ticked me off a little, and they offered to give me other cuts of chicken, but I don't really like other cuts of chicken...I like the white meat of chicken breasts!! LOL Anyways, they said it'd be about 15 minutes before the new batch of chicken would be ready, and I said I'd wait, but could I get the rest of my meal & my daughter's meal, please? So, they did. Oh, I forgot to mention that they were out of biscuits, too, but she told me that before I paid, and said I could substitute the biscuit for a side if I wanted. That was OK with me, so I had 3 sides & was waiting on my chicken. Abbey was eating her hotdog & mac & cheese, so all was right with the world. Then, they really impressed me. The girl who took my order brought out my chicken breast (original, btw!! LOL) and brought me a biscuit complete with butter & honey for my trouble. Then, the manager said, "Oh, here, give her this chicken breast while you're out there Jenny." (I don't know what that girl's name was, so we'll call her Jenny.) Anyway, Jenny said, "I just gave her the chicken & a biscuit, and the manager says, "Oh, well, give this to her anyway." I thought that was really nice!! :) I am a firm believer in it's no big deal when a restaraunt messes up, but it's HOW THEY HANDLE THE MESS-UP that's the most important.

So, after that dining experience at KFC, we picked Steve up & went to Wed. night church. Those have been going VERY well!! We used to have Awana on Wed. nights, but this year we've postponed Awana until next year, because of the lack of volunteers we've had. I've got issues, not with Awana being postponed, but with the attitude of the Awana leadership...Long story, and there's LOTS of issues there, but I won't go into them here...ANYWAYS, even while Awana was running, and way before Awana ever started, instead of what I would call a traditional Wednesday night service, we've always had what's called "Wednesday Night Uplift." (now referred to as WNU). It's a much smaller, more intimate service, mainly because there's not nearly as many people there on Wed. that are there on Sunday mornings.

Let me back up a little bit. I haven't really gone into it here, but we've had some deep issues at church for over the past year. It's had to do, mainly, with a certain family in our church, and THEIR issues, and the sins of the Grandfather (yes, you're probably thinking the right thing). Anyways, this sin has effected the whole church, not because of unforgiveness, although, it's obvious that there are some who are still harboring unforgiveness towards him, but it's all about trusting him. He's been removed from his home, and is not allowed to be on the same premisis as his grandchildren (he & his wife have/had custody of their grandchildren). Anyways, this has pretty much split the church, not as equal as you might think, but it's split it, nonetheless, and even though not a lot of people have actually left, yet, there has been this terrible evil spirit in our midst. It's not pleasant, and it's very frustrating. We've only had one business meeting about this, and it was even after this grandfather withdrew his church membership, but people were able to air out their questions, concerns, etc...It became evident to me, though, that the majority of the "split" was between the older, forgive-and-forget set, and the younger, not-about-forgiveness-we-can't-trust-him-with-our-young-children set. That is not exclusive to the actual "drawn lines" but my very-generalized categories. Now, there are other issues within our church, too, and this whole issue with this family has just stirred everyone's emotions & stuff, but we've other issues...financial for one, and the leadership is actually looking at selling our building & starting over that way, until we can actually work up the money BEFORE building a new building (which is NOT how the founding members & leaders did it). Anyways, there's lots going on at our church. There have been many Sundays and other occasions where I have NOT wanted to go anywhere near our church. I'm still thinking that in the next couple of weeks I want to go to church with Mom & Dad (they go to the Vineyard in Kettering). Chelle's been going with them, too, and I just am longing to go to a place of worship where I can be filled & not expected to DO anything!! LOL :) I need a church vacation. I don't feel the Spirit telling us to leave COTC, so I'm not saying a permanent leave of absence, just a vacation Sunday.

So, back to Wednesday night uplift...The numbers on Wed. have ALWAYS been low...There's never been more than 10 in the last 2 years, and, yes, mainly because everyone was working Awana, but even before that, there was never a huge crowd.

Then, this past summer, the Elders happened upon a book called "Simple Church." It's not a church model book, or "you need this many programs to have a successful church," it's more...um, simple than that!! LOL It talks about having a CLEAR PROCESS of MAKING DISCIPLES. That makes sense, right, and you're thinking, duh, isn't that what churches are supposed to be doing? The hard reality is that there aren't very many churches who are...Stagnant growth, or NO growth, is the norm for most churches, because we make things too complicated. This isn't even about having too many church programs or services!! This is about the PROCESS of MAKING DISCIPLES. We have lost our focus, and tend to FOCUS on the PROGRAM instead of the PEOPLE, instead of the PROCESS of MAKING DISCIPLES. So, I'm not saying that small groups, Awana, Sunday School, VBS are bad things, but if not used right in the PROCESS can become ineffective because we're focusing on offering a program, instead of WHY we're offering the program. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! :) And, that's what our Wed. nights are about. How do we make disciples? What does Jesus say? Truth is, Jesus is the author of simple.

Okay, so, all of that to say, Wednesday nights are very good, and we're headed for change in our church. I can feel it, and I know that things HAVE to change, or we won't have a church family anymore...

Anyways, things have been slowly, but surely, getting better...We've simplified a few things already. For instance, we have PT on Thursday nights, and have changed them to Wednesday nights before WNU. This cuts down on the number of nights everyone has to commit to per week (we have some people from Fairborn & surrounding towns like that who have to drive all the way to Huber anywhere from 2-4 nights a week!! How insane is that?!?!) Anyways, as a team, we decided, that since we were mostly all there for WNU anyway, to go ahead & meet about an hour beforehand & practice. That is one step towards simplicity, with more to follow. We've also decided to postpone A Night in Bethlehem until next year, too. With the way I've been feeling lately, I'm just unpredictable, plus we as a church family just need more time to heal & recouperate after this tumultuous year & 1/2. I just can't tell you how drained everyone is, and it's not just being "overcommitted." It's this evilness that's attacked our church family with a vengence. I'm a little disappointed about A Night in Bethlehem, but I'd rather wait a year & do it to the best of our ability, than to do a half-shod job of it now, ya know? It's a very important family/community outreach event, and I (and the rest of the people I've spoken to about it) have agreed that we, as a church family, aren't at the place in our healing to support (financially & staff-wise) a program like that this year.

Okay, enough church stuff...I told you a few weeks ago that there's been stuff like that weighing heavily on my mind, and that's why I was sharing so much...Anyways...blah blah blah...can't wait for American Idol to come back!! LOL :)

I have been pretty excited about "The Office" this year. I don't know if any of you watch it or not, but it's about the only show I tune in to watch until Idol. I like "Earl," too, but Steve likes that one, too, and we've DVR'd them, and haven't had time to watch 'em all, yet...But, Office has been VERY good!! LOL :)

Better go...if you've read it all, then you get a gold star & a big "THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE!" :) LOL Love you all :)