Beautiful Baby….what???

Back and forth, back and forth.  If you have been following along you will know that I have been trying to guess the sex of this little bundle that I am carrying.  My gut instinct has been that we were having a boy.  I have guessed all but one child correctly.  Testing the heart rate has always worked for me.  Even the one I guessed wrong had been confirmed via ultrasound.  Only when I was told the heart rate later did I tell the doc that it could not be what I had been told.  The heart rate actually did win over the original ultrasound.  So I am convinced that for me heart rates can tell you the sex of the baby.

This baby has had me a bit confused.  The heart rate was high, then borderline, then high again.  All over the board.  My gut was saying it was a boy but I just couldn’t believe that it would be so.  After all, we have so many girls and my boys are now 19 and 14.  The odds are against us and the heart rate was not something that had been very consistent.

I went in for my ultrasound last week.  The heart rate was at 138.  I began to get a little excited thinking that just maybe my gut feeling was right after all.  The tech asked if I wanted to know the sex it was all I could do to keep from saying, “Heck yah, why do you think I’m here!?”  But instead, I very politely said, “Yes, I would love to know.”

He scanned over my belly and before he even said a word, I KNEW!  I responded before he could even tell me himself what we were having!  If you know much about pregnancy ultrasounds you will understand this….

There were no three little lines!  There was a turtle  instead!  Yes, indeed, my gut was correct!  We are having a little boy!!!!! Oh boy, A BOY!!  And isn’t he the cutest little guy ever?

The Last Acceptable Prejudice

A friend shared this article and I thought it was definitely worth the read.  It is written by a Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.  Here are a few excepts.

A funny thing happened to me the other day when my wife and I had, thank God, another baby (a boy). Many of my friends didn’t seem all that happy for me. Sure, they went through the motions of smiles and congratulations. But it was evident that many thought me insane. Why would a young man and his wife ruin their lives with eight children?
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Indeed, the contempt shown to parents of many children is the last acceptable prejudice in our society.
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How strange to live in a world where loving children casts one in infamy. Having a family with many children implies a backwardness and primitivism that is deemed unbecoming in the developed countries of the West. Large families, it is thought, exist only among religious weirdoes or the teeming hovels of the Third World.

Rich countries, by contrast, prefer to increase their standard of living rather than the number of the living.
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I am often asked by women dating men how to tell whether they are marriage material. I tell them, “See if he enjoys children.” A man who loves children is playful. He will spend his life joking with his wife because he loves to see her laugh, and will flirt with her because he loves to see her smile.

Take a moment to go and read the entire article then pop back over here and let me know your thoughts. Those with large families, have you felt this prejudice? Those without larger families, have you ever found yourself displaying this type of prejudice? Please, just share with me.

I forgot to put the link!  I guess that would be helpful!  So, here it is…

The Contempt Shown to Parents of Large Families.

Boy or Girl??

Many think it is just an old wives tale but I am convinced.  The speed of a baby’s heartbeat can tell you the sex of your baby.  It has worked for me every single time.  In fact, one time we were told by our doctor that we were having a boy via ultrasound.  In my 8th month he told me the heart rate and I said, “I can’t be having a boy!”  We discussed this and I swore to him it was not a boy and I would bet money on it.  He even took me into the ultrasound room to prove me wrong.  Then to his surprise said, “Yep, that is definitely a girl!”

The heart rate has never been wrong for us.  The faster the rate a girl, the slower, a boy.  Now of course you have to check each month and find the most consistent rate.  The heart rate also tends to slow down a bit the further along you are.

I am not completely sure as of yet but I thought I would put the info out there and get your thoughts on it.   I have a suspicion though. I just am not convinced enough to say it out loud.  I have an ultrasound scheduled in four weeks.  We shall see if my suspicion is confirmed or not.

Ok, on to the stats…..

My girls have always been 145-160.   My boys 120-130.  Last month I was at about 150-155 (do not remember exactly).

I am at 16 1/2 weeks currently.  Heart rate today was 140.

So, here are my questions to you…

1. Do YOU trust the whole heart rate thing or still think it is just an old wives tale?

2. Do you think it is too early to make an assumption based on heart rate?

3. Boy or girl?  What do you think?

How the Belly Grows!

I am about to do something that I swore I would NEVER do!  I am actually going to share some belly shots with you!  There is no guarantee how many times I will do this.  After all, I already feel like a whale and am only 12 weeks along.  By time 20, 30, almost 40 weeks roll around I may not have the nerve to post any more.  But for now, I will share an 8 week shot and then a 12 week shot.

With number ten…..that belly sure seems to pop out faster than I would like!   8 weeks, kinda cute but by 12 weeks, not so much! UGH!

Children, An Open Door to Share the Gospel

Yesterday, I spent five hours at the hospital.  Between an OB appointment, an occupational therapy appointment for my injured thumb, scheduling, the lab, lunch, and the pharmacy it was a really long day.  Of course having two different doctor appointments I received the, “How many children do you have?” question more than once.  It tends to be a generic conversation starter.  Of course my answer always brings a strong reaction.  Sometimes I am blessed with someone who even though shocked is happy and excited for us.  Sometimes I get a not so happy response.  Often times though, once they get past the shock and have determined through questioning if I am really serious, they ask other questions.  “So, how many are you going to have?” or “Is this the last one?” or “Are you done now?”  or even “How old are you?”

My answer is always, “Whatever the Lord blesses us with we will be happy to receive.”  But, I often wonder what gives people the idea that it is acceptable to question me on that front. They would likely be offended if one questioned them in such a manner.  I do realize though that our family is not the accepted norm in our country and that most are truly interested.  Sometimes in shock, tact can go out the window.  I acknowledge that and try to be gracious in my answers even if I may be a little annoyed.

When I spoke with my hubby yesterday, he said he an interesting encounter on this same issue.  He had an Afghan, who is working as an interpreter where hubby is, approach him.  He mentioned that he had heard that we were expecting our 10th child.  The man was amazed.  He was really in shock.  He said, “That is normal here but not  in America.”  My hubby assured him that we were not the only ones but that he was correct and that it was not normal in America.  The man proceeded to ask him if it was because of our religion.  My hubby told him that yes, in a way, it was.  That children are a gift and blessing of the Lord and who was he to reject that gift.  Hubby said the man just stared at him in amazement for several moments.  He could not believe he was hearing those words from an American!  It has also opened the doors for my hubby to share the gospel of Christ with the man.

The blessing of our children has opened doors even in Afghanistan.  Pray for those that my hubby encounters, no matter the nationality(there are a lot of Americans that need the Gospel too), that the Gospel of Christ will be advanced.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of children and for the opportunities to give witness, praise, honor, and glory to your name.

Ten is a Beautiful Number

OK, I can’t keep quiet any longer!

I have known for a whole week!   The news has leaked out here in Alaska but now we are going public.  I found out two days AFTER my hubby left.  It would have been nice to celebrate together. I would have known sooner but just misread the physical symptoms as pre-deployment stress.   Obviously, that was not the case.  I can now literally say my I have my hands full.

Baby number ten is on the way.

I am feeling pretty good so far considering how sick I usually am.  I am nauseous, sleepy, having a few migraines, and I can no longer stand the taste of my regular diet coke, but thankfully that is all.  Of course, that is ALWAYS open to change!  I would love not to have months of the usual vomiting and dry heaving though!

We already have a boy’s name and have narrowed our girl name down to three.  Due date as of now is November 23.  We will be having a very thankful Thanksgiving!

Psalm 127:1a Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them.

Praise the Lord with us! And please pray for our family.