Connecting the Dots and Coming Up With Two Lines
Aha!
So that's why I was so weepy and edgy on Mother's Day! That explains why I fearlessly chopped off half my hair the next day! Like usual, Jay knew it before I did.
We've got another baby on the way!
Four (yes, four!) pregnancy tests and I was convinced it was true. We think the baby is due in late January. Maybe I'll be late enough that we'll have our first February baby. It doesn't matter. We just feel so blessed.
The very moment I saw the result of the first test (taken on May 15th) I went cold turkey with several things:
No more coffee or caffeine, not even decaf.
No more ice cream.
No more desserts of any kind.
As little refined sugar as possible (I'm not going to get crazy about a tiny amount of sugar in a recipe).
No more of my favorite sugary Big Red gum.
No more CHOCOLATE in ANY form. (This is the biggie! Very radical!)
I've got to do this for the next 35-ish or so weeks. In the past I've consumed more sugar than you would believe (but the pictures are there to prove it) and it's been entirely by God's mercy that I have not come down with Gestational Diabetes.
Last pregnancy (Jalena), I fasted from ice cream and I knew that if the Lord blessed us with another child I would have to take the "sugar fast" to a much deeper level. I love a challenge and by God's grace (!), so far so good.
In the meantime, I'm taking my prenatal and B-complex vitamins and I'm doing my best to get as much done before the big fatigue, typical hormonal blues and yucko stuff hits. Perhaps with the dietary changes and the added B-complex (something I'm doing for the first time) those things won't be as intense this time.
Thank you, Lord, for this new child!
So that's why I was so weepy and edgy on Mother's Day! That explains why I fearlessly chopped off half my hair the next day! Like usual, Jay knew it before I did.
We've got another baby on the way!
Four (yes, four!) pregnancy tests and I was convinced it was true. We think the baby is due in late January. Maybe I'll be late enough that we'll have our first February baby. It doesn't matter. We just feel so blessed.
The very moment I saw the result of the first test (taken on May 15th) I went cold turkey with several things:
No more coffee or caffeine, not even decaf.
No more ice cream.
No more desserts of any kind.
As little refined sugar as possible (I'm not going to get crazy about a tiny amount of sugar in a recipe).
No more of my favorite sugary Big Red gum.
No more CHOCOLATE in ANY form. (This is the biggie! Very radical!)
I've got to do this for the next 35-ish or so weeks. In the past I've consumed more sugar than you would believe (but the pictures are there to prove it) and it's been entirely by God's mercy that I have not come down with Gestational Diabetes.
Last pregnancy (Jalena), I fasted from ice cream and I knew that if the Lord blessed us with another child I would have to take the "sugar fast" to a much deeper level. I love a challenge and by God's grace (!), so far so good.
In the meantime, I'm taking my prenatal and B-complex vitamins and I'm doing my best to get as much done before the big fatigue, typical hormonal blues and yucko stuff hits. Perhaps with the dietary changes and the added B-complex (something I'm doing for the first time) those things won't be as intense this time.
Thank you, Lord, for this new child!
Praise the Lord! Congrats Ruthanne and Jay and family! Yipee :-)
Posted by
Janet |
5/28/2006 12:13:00 AM
Good news!! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by
deb |
5/28/2006 05:14:00 PM
Congratulations! I remember reading about your little Jalena's birth right about the time I first was introduced to the blog-world. What a blessing, and your hair looks very cute...I can't believe you can do that yourself.
Posted by
Roberta |
5/28/2006 09:42:00 PM
Praise the Lord! He is so good! what an incredible blessing! okay we really have to get together before the yucky stuff or after the yucky stuff! Congradulations! May God be working in this new life even now!
blessings,
jen
Posted by
Anonymous |
5/29/2006 02:48:00 PM
Congratulations. I found your blog a while ago then lost it. I have now refound it in time to hear this wonderful news! Blessings
Posted by
Mrs. Darling |
5/29/2006 05:29:00 PM
Congratulations! This is wonderful - even though no chocolate ;).
I am so happy for you!
Posted by
Jeannine |
5/30/2006 04:56:00 AM
Please accept my hardy congratulations, too. Children are indeed a blessing.
My very-early-on pregnancy clue was falling asleep in the afternoon. I nap only when sick or pregnant.
Posted by
Dana |
5/30/2006 05:56:00 AM
God bless the new life within you, and the new life you are creating for yourself to nurture that baby along! You are a wise woman.
I decided to check in on your blog because it has been a while, and I was thinking Jalena was nearly a year old, and wondering if . . .
I think a new hairstyle is a great way to symbolize a change. And I think most women identify with cutting it, growing it out, cutting it, growing it out, you get the picture!
Posted by
Elizabeth |
5/30/2006 09:07:00 PM
Thank you, everyone, for being happy along with us. :)
Janet ~ Isn't it funny that I found out the news only two or three weeks after I told Kendra on Carmon's blog that I wasn't actually pregnant??
Deb ~ Nice to hear from you!
Roberta ~ Thank you for the kind hello. :)
Jen ~ Yes, we really need to do that!
Mrs. Darling ~ Glad you found us again. Thank you for the blessings.
Jeannine ~ Wow, an overseas lurker! Thank you for stopping in! Feel free to say hi anytime.
Dana ~ Yes, of course I knew I was pregnant, and I must seem like a crazy woman to have taken four tests. But you see, the first two were from Dollar Tree and as much as I love Dollar Tree for certain items, I wasn't sure if I could trust the tests' reliability, especially since the lines were sooooooo very faint and I wasn't feeling tired yet. Then I took a third test and the result at first came out a bit strange. Finally, the fourth test was loud and clear...POSITIVE, no doubt about it!
The afternoon sleepies are definitely hitting me now!
Elizabeth ~ Elizabeth! It's always so nice to hear from you. I hope you and your family are doing well. :)
Thanks again, everyone, for the kind words!
Posted by
Ruthanne |
5/30/2006 09:49:00 PM
Ruthanne, I meant to leave you a comment the other night. In fact, I remember writing it, then a diaper needed to be changed, so I left the computer... and who knows what happened then! Anyway, I don't think I've ever left a comment here before, but I've been reading your blog since you were pregnant with Jalena. Prior to that, you and I wrote back and forth a few through the MOMYS list about what a blessing Vision Forum has been to our families. I just wanted to give you a heartfelt congratulations on your newest blessing! You have such a beautiful family, and it is evident that the Lord is blessing you for your faithfulness. I'll be praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby!
Posted by
Laura in KY |
5/31/2006 02:50:00 PM
Wow! I don't check in for a bit and you've gone and gotten pregnant, chickens, and a new haircut!!
My heartiest congratulations to your family...and blessings abundant!
~Karen
Posted by
MamaK |
6/01/2006 12:16:00 AM
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow Ruthanne!!! Boy, just when you think nothing's going on in someone's life cause she hasn't posted in a while. Excuse me while I eat those words! Congratulations galore to you and Jay and all the clan. And you look beautiful with the new haircut.
Heaps of blessings to you!
Posted by
Meredith |
6/03/2006 12:02:00 AM
Thank you, Meredith and Karen, for rejoicing with us! :)
Laura in KY ~ Laura, thank you so much for taking the time to write. I LOVE it when quiet readers stop in to say hello. I had no idea you read our blog. :)
So we knew each other on the MOMYS? I wrote often to the MOMYS about Vision Forum. The people of VF hold a very special place in my heart and Vision Forum is all about the things that are dear to me.
Laura, please feel free to drop in any time. I loved hearing from you.
God bless!
Posted by
Ruthanne |
6/03/2006 11:26:00 PM
Yes, Ruthanne, your blog gives me sweet dreams at night. Your family is living the life that my family hopes to live in the future. We are limited right now by finances and by having foster children. Once they are adopted, then we will be able to move. It's so neat to read about your projects and adventures! What a fulfilling life y'all lead. Anyway, there is many a night when I tell my dh "Ruthanne's family did so and so... we should do that sometime!" Whenever I feel like a bump-on-the-log mama, I can count on getting some inspiration here!
Blessings,
Laura
Posted by
Laura in KY |
6/04/2006 04:21:00 PM
Oh Laura, your thoughts bring tears to my eyes. In all honesty it's hard to believe we are an inspiration to anyone because we are an extremely normal family dealing with sin, disappointments and struggles just like everyone else. (Not that you thought otherwise, of course!)
And let me gently encourage you that ADOPTION of a child and even more -- *multiple* children -- is no small feat! God's doing a huge thing in your family right now with this process. I can imagine it must seem some days like the dream will never come to fruition. I haven't been in your situation but in ways I'll bet it feels sometimes like life won't really start until you are all an "official" family. Continue to be patient, though, and keep doing what you can to create little, inexpensive adventures and build family memories now.
I'm excited to see the neat things God's got in store for your growing family. I certainly hope I haven't come across preachy. My prayer is that you will remember you are right in the middle of seeing a family vision come true. What a wonderful accomplishment that will be, Lord-willing and by God's grace, when you can call those little ones your very own. :)
Posted by
Ruthanne |
6/04/2006 05:19:00 PM
RUTHANNE! I can't believe I am just seeing this post!!
So, when are you due? Could we be due around the same time?
:) :) :)
Congratulations!!
Posted by
Kristen |
6/05/2006 09:41:00 AM
I haven't been to a doctor yet and don't know an official due date. We're just guessing late January. Kristen, I am THRILLED that you're a mommy! :)
Posted by
Ruthanne |
6/05/2006 09:24:00 PM