May Day

Reporting from the hospital again today. Still on bed rest but only a few days left until my scheduled c-section at the end of the week. It has been such a roller coaster of emotions the past few days. Not being with my family. Knowing that I will never again get to spend the night in our sweet home as a Mom to only three. Fear and worry about all that is to come and how we are ever going to pay for this long stay with surgeries and possible NICU visit...I have such a new and deep empathy for women who must stay on their back for long periods of pregnancy in the hospital. It so deeply exhausting being poked and prodded at all hours of the day and night and pumped with meds every time contractions start to increase. (praying for Diana Stone all of the time)

But I am so very thankful too. I know this is truly all for the best and that I am in the safest spot possible if something really bad should happen. The risks of this pregnancy to my health and the baby are pretty significant while he/she is in my uterus. Once the baby is born and we can begin the recovery process I know I will be so relieved.

Today a sweet woman came in from Knit for Life to offer me some supplies to keep my hands busy. It was a wonderful gift and reminder that God has designed this time for me to be still, to reflect on what is to come and to stir excitement and joy as I eagerly anticipate all that is about to unfold.

I made a few crochet flowers with my stash and smiled at the pretty bouquets around my room this afternoon trying to soak in the spring, new life and the little blessings I can find.

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, your the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3

Happy May Day!

a room with a view

I have had so much fun reading all of your baby name suggestions and watching the little gender poll ticker these past few days. On Wednesday as luck would have it I showed up for my regular OB appointment and because of some complications and tests was not allowed to leave. I have been admitted into the hospital now for monitored bed rest until this little one makes his/her debut. Hopefully not until the end of next week so that we can clear the 35 week mark and get us a healthy little preemie to take home.

So I am laying in bed, in my new room with a view. I have been ridiculously blessed by my family and friends rallying around us sending well wishes and treats and lots of prayers. And my kids are in the safest care possible with my Mom and Dad in law at the moment taking a huge load off of this Mommies mind!

I wanted to check in and let you know that I will do my best to update my blog here and there if I can but the way these things can go can be so up and down. Feel free to follow me on twitter (@orange_poppy) or instagram (@rebagough) for more frequent updates.

And if your the praying type I do have a specific prayer request for sleep while staying here in the hospital for what could be weeks - you would think it would be so easy to finally get to take a long nap after five years of being a tired Mom to so many kids but it is proving a bit harder than I thought.

Now back to reading the Hunger Games I am halfway through the first book and just started this morning. The nurse keeps telling me to go slow I still have a lot of time to kill. :)

Happy Friday everyone I hope you all have a blessed weekend!

what is your guess??

I know I haven't been the most frequent blogger as of late. The demands as a Mom of three on this increasingly tired pregnant body has found me with less time for almost everything that is not essential. But I am still here and still hoping to post several more times before our fourth little bundle arrives.

We have successfully been able to keep this little ones gender a big surprise although I always seem to manage to convince myself one way or the other about what it's going to be I don't actually know and as the delivery fast approaches it is one of those things keeping me going with anticipation and excitement!

I have mentioned it before, we plan to deliver our little one about four weeks early to avoid some complications so that means that we have about two and a half weeks before we officially get to meet this little mister or little miss. So I am curious, what do you guys think it's going to be? I have added a little poll to the sidebar over on the left if you want to cast your vote...and for the record we haven't officially decided on names either so feel free to share your favorite girl and boy names in the comment section I would love some help!!

Hope you are having a great day I will be back soon!

{all the clothes are old navy}

cherry lime soda

Today I drank cherry lime soda like it was going out of style.

I am not quite sure what the deal was maybe the surprise sunshine attack that we got here in Seattle caused it? Or it could have been the very active baby in my belly who is lying transverse and posterior...this equals a lot of legs and arms constantly pushing out. I have developed this painful hernia because of the four pregnancies in five years thing and my poor abdominal muscles never making their way back to where they belong and those little limbs they are pushing on it. Oy. The things our bodies can do it's crazy and amazing but I feel like I am crawling to the finish line on this one not going to lie.

Simon is really starting to feel better after his tonsillectomy though praise the Lord. It has been a weary few weeks around here not a ton of sleep for Mommy and Daddy so I think I needed the sodas...

And when Simon got home from School this afternoon he seemed tired too and he really wanted a chocolate milk for his healing throat so I obliged him with a yummy one. Lots of syrup and ice cubes just the way he likes it in his new special cup with the big lid and straw that I bought him after his surgery to keep him hydrated. I don't really drink milk but it look good and his eyes were so bright when I handed it to him.

Folks the boy somehow accidentally knocked the entire 16 ounce cup of milk over into a drawer full of all of our DVDs...this is proof that he is my son because that takes skills and that is some kind of crazy move I would have pulled as a kid but oh.mah.gosh I needed more soda after it happened to keep me from saying what was actually going through my mind. I might have had to excuse myself to the locked bathroom for a bit too...a drawer FULL of chocolate milk and movies was not really how I wanted to spend my afternoon. Oy is right.

So many times as a Mom lately I find myself grumbling about how exhausting it is. How painful this season of sleepless nights and tantrums and third trimester miseries can be and I shake my little fist at God. Asking Him to come and relieve me. In fact one night recently one of the boys was up really sick with the flu and I am on my hands and knees literally in tears that it's three in the morning and I am scrubbing the floor and washing sheets and I asked God to please take this exhaustion from me. He reminded me ever so tenderly that He loves me but He is far less concerned with my comfort level than my character and that He promises to never give me more than my weary body can handle.

It doesn't make it easier at all but I hear God speaking to my heart and I do feel His strength when I get to the end of mine. This is kingdom work and it's hard work and it's rewarding work and so I won't feel super guilty about the number of cherry lime sodas I drink. It's all worth it because He is shaping my character and that to me can only be good.

So I am raising my glass to another week, a sunny Monday around these parts. I will take it, the good the hard and the drawers full of milk it's what God has for me and I know there is always more there than I can see.

Cherry Lime Soda

Sparkling Water

A Splash of Grenadine

Fresh Lime Juice

(extra yummy with a splash of soy creamer or cream)

*PS. Emily Peck from Peck Life you won the $25 gift certificate from Oh My Crafts!!! Congrats girl I will get you all hooked up with your prize! Check out Emily's blog if you get a chance it's adorable!

my little patient

My sweet little Simon had his tonsils out last week. It went well but I feel so bad for him with his big crocodile tears constantly asking me if the pain will ever go away. I remember my sister and I having ours out years ago, it was the worst but the best thing in the long run and at least I feel lots of empathy for him. Chris and I are pretty wiped out I didn't really consider how we would be needing to get up throughout the night to administer meds, bring him water and bites of food and lots of hugs and snuggles....needless to say this pregnant Mama needs a nap!

I have some things to share this week though I promise. A few silly Easter crafts and a recipe too. I know it has been extra quite around here lately. I suppose that is to be expected as my energy wanes and we prepare to welcome our new baby. I will be around as much as I can though! Hope you had a wonderful weekend I am off to catch a tiny bit of sleep before this little cutie needs me! xo

dear baby

Time is really flying these days, I am actually closer to 29 weeks at this point but these photos were taken closer to 28. I can hardly believe we will be holding you in our arms in less that eight weeks because of Mommy's funny womb. Not to worry we are watching you like a little hawk making sure you'll be just perfect before you come out into this great big world!

I still don't know for sure what your gender will be but I have my feelings about it all and just know that God has purposefully chosen you for our family so whether you are a girl or a boy you will fit more perfectly into our family than we ever could have imagined!

Mommy is more and more uncomfortable these days, lots of heartburn and leg cramping and practice contractions. But it will all be worth it and the amount of kicks and punches you give me during the day to let me know your in my tummy is so funny and crazy...you are a busy little bee aren't you!

I have my nerves about being a Mommy to four little ones and am pretty exhausted caring for your brothers and sister these days while searching for energy to do most anything but I know this season will end so soon and I will look back one day and feel so nostalgic and blessed by the years of child bearing that God allowed me to experience. What an incredible experience it has been.

I love you little one and can't wait to kiss your sweet cheeks so soon!

Love,
Mommy

These are a few images taken by my dear friend Stacy Bostrom in Southern California a few weeks ago. I am wearing a vintage 1970's Nordstrom dress that belong to my Mother before I was born. You can see more from the collection HERE and if you have yet to feast your eyes on the talent that she possess please take a look at her gorgeous and inspiring photography HERE!

soaking it up

I am off having a wonderful time with Stacy this week in southern California soaking up a bit of sunshine and working on some fun projects around her home.

She posted a tiny sneak peek this evening on her blog from the maternity shoot we did yesterday...she took me to a gorgeous secluded field and the sun popped out at just the right time - kind of like my 27 week baby belly. I swear to you there was a mouse following us in the tall grass though. :)

I am over on Beautifully Rooted again this week as well with a tiny tutorial for this pinwheel headband I made for Josie recently the full tutorial HERE.

Hope your having a great week friends,

xo Rebekah

His hands

Oh I had such fun plans for some Christmas posts to share here this week I really did but on Tuesday night as luck would have it our son Levi took a pretty major fall here at home and for about thirty minutes or so my heart about stopped.

I won't go into any sort of gory details but it truly was a moment as a Mother that I will never forget. The sound of terror and the look on my four year old's face as my husband calmly but very strongly agreed that I needed to call 911...

Luckily Levi is going to be completely fine after a long night in the ER and a wonderful plastic surgeon who sewed his sweet and beautiful nose back into place. I am told guys think scars are cool...but wow!

Thank you Lord once again for protecting our family, providing for us and allowing a deep sense of peace and hope that no matter what happens. HE is in control and we can rest in His amazing love for us.

As I sit here just a few days before the close of 2011 I am feeling pretty reflective on all that has taken place for our family. On the surface there has been much hardship and loss. It would be wrong to not admit and grieve over some of the major things that have been taken away. But I am also completely undone by the love God has poured out on our home. We have seen this through loved ones, family and many of you rallying around us, and being the hands and feet of Christ to our family.

And not twelve hours after leaving the ER after one of the most traumatic nights of our life we went downtown Seattle and had the amazing joy and honor of watching our fourth baby on an ultrasound screen thriving perfectly in my womb. I have been told countless times that my body should never be able to carry a child and yet God has chosen to use something imperfect to create something so precious to Him. A new life.

I am clinging to the hope of new life for 2012. I have no idea what is in store and in someways that brings me comfort. I am learning this year that always thinking I know what is in store can really make unforeseen changes difficult. We are so joyful and excited for what is coming next, and we've decided to keep the gender of our "bonus baby" a surprise. It feels like the right thing knowing that the plans are safe in the hands of the one that we call King.

I will be back in the new year my friends. Thank you all for the countless ways you bless me and my family!

Happy New Year!

Love,
Rebekah

Josie is 13 months...Mommy is 13 weeks

You could say we got a little SURPRISE!

I am not sure if I can count this as a make something monday post but I have been dying to share some news with you...I am pregnant. :)

And surprised is right. It was more like shock and aw and wonder at how this could even be possible. This really should not be possible.

Having my fourth baby in five years wasn't exactly on my list of things to do in 2012 but you know sometimes God has much different plans than we do. (duh like our entire life for the past year maybe I should get a clue :))

 

So if it has seemed like I have been a tiny bit MIA the past month and a half it's honestly because I have felt a little bit like this:

...I said I was being honest.

But we are feeling truly blessed and gearing up for our sweet new addition to join us in early May (36 weeks to avoid some personal complications)! And now that I have hit the second trimester I am praying for less nausea and more energy...baby number four here we come!