It's Happening Again

I'm losing my behind. It happened with Cora, too. Lots of throw up, less junk to fill the trunk. My jeans are kind of sad.

PS: I watched Julie and Julia for the first time tonight. I loved it. Mmm, Butter.

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Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

Okay, I hardly ever read forward emails, but I read this one, and I'm so glad I did. Glad enough to skip over in-boxes allover and post it directly on my blog. Muah-haha. Thanks, Teri.

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. . . although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. Not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the president complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sends out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family? Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other
charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

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On Being Pregnant

Today marks 12 weeks and 1 day. Yippee! It would be even more exciting if the throw up part was over. I felt better at 16 weeks with Cora. 4 more weeks of this? I'm prepared, sort of. In the beginning of all of this, I told Jake I couldn't wait to adopt the rest of our children.

I had an appointment with my OB yesterday, my fourth one, I feel so spoiled. It was mostly to make sure she was comfortable with my weight. We got to listen to Indee's heartbeat, and it was terrific. Much longer than last time. Every time I go in, she (my OB) says I'm having a boy. Maybe it's a natural reaction. One girl must mean one boy is on the way. I still want to call him* a he.

I haven't really had any cravings. I buy some things, and then open them and want nothing to do with them. Nothing ever sounds good. Except for a meatball sub a few weeks ago. I can't wait to have an appetite again. And to like milk again. Oh how I've missed cereal, even though the very thought of it does something funny to my tummy. Life without cereal is weird. Gum is a lifesaver. I chew it all the time to keep a nice even flavor in my mouth.

My dreams have been vivid and crazy. Two nights ago, I dreamed I was in jail and they were about to confiscate my Peppermint Extra. It was a nightmare. The worst part (worse than no gum?) was that I could only talk to Jake and Cora through the glass and phone thing. Not being able to touch my babies. I think there were real, non-dream, tears involved. Last night I dreamed about some monsters, a boy and girl, er, man and woman monster. The girl monster lived in a cottage on a hill. The boy monster was in love with her, and he went that night to kiss her, which would break the monster spell. Some villagers were making their way up the hill, and the girl monster went to go stop them, they didn't know boy monster was at the cottage, nor that he could break the spell and end the oppression they'd inflicted upon girl monster. He hid in the cottage, and turned all the lights out. He couldn't get one of the lights out...it was attached to her alarm clock. He hid it under the covers, where he was hiding too. It was hot with the light under the covers. I was even breaking a sweat. All of the sudden girl monster burst through the door, you could hear the villagers behind her. She came in and planted a kiss on boy monster. Then I woke up, so I didn't get to see how fabulous they became and how they put the villagers in their place...which I'm sure is what happened.

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A Name.

After my last post, I received several suggestions on what I should temporarily name this little fetus o' mine. There was one that extra grabbed my attention. It was presented by my lovely friend, Emily. We met in high school, and she has always been one of the nicest people I know. When my too-long boyfriend and I broke up my junior year, she let her then-boyfriend, Michael (also my friend), take me out on a friendly dinner movie date. All went well until we got to the movie and I saw my no-longer boyfriend's car in the parking lot. I was certain he was there with a girl. The girl (who I love) he started dating before we were officially over...who he was taking out on a date the night he dropped off a break up letter on my doorstep (she was in the car AND my mom was out of town).

Anyway, I saw his car, parked mine, got out, and threw up in the lot. I felt horrible as I'd just had a great dinner on my friend's token, and there he was patting me on the back as I tossed it all. It seems so silly now, and I got over him relatively quickly (though I was still in high school and he liked to date my friends so drama persisted with him all my days at Apache Junction High)...but the thought of being replaceable before I was ever really out of the picture...that is one of the worst feelings.

That was a tangent, but a little back story and example to help give a little glimpse of how important Emily has been to me.

Now to the part you've all been waiting for. She suggested Indi because of how much I would like for him/her to be born on Independence Day. I think it needs an e, so from this point until whenever we find out if he/she is a boy or girl, I will call him/her Indee. Write it down, make it happen. Right?

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Dear Little In-Utero Baby

I hope you'll like broccoli. I had some for dinner tonight. I like it, but the way I felt while eating it makes me think otherwise of your opinion. Cora, your big sister, loves broccoli. And apples. She could eat them all day if I let her, but I don't let her because she needs fat too. Fat is an essential part of any diet. But beware: There are good fats and bad fats. You'll discover this with most things in life.

As half of you knows, I'm not sure which half any more, but the part that started out as an egg, from my ovary, I've always wanted to have a baby on the Fourth of July. It's my favorite holiday. And I think one of the coolest things I could give you would be guaranteed fireworks every year on your birthday. Stick with me, literally, and we can make it happen. You're due in the window of June 30-July 5. I'm getting shots in about a month and a half to help make sure you stay in as long as possible. Hopefully we won't have a single set of regular contractions before the big day. Let alone regular ones for weeks. Hey! And maybe you won't be breech either. Turn early. That's my advice for you. Turn early.

I'm sorry I don't have a ridiculously clever name for you. The first time I was pregnant, I named him/her Quackers, technically your papa did that. I named Cora Jelly Bean. I've been going over and over various names. The hard part is that it has to be gender neutral. It's just a name to get you through until I know for sure if you're a boy or girl. I like the funny kind. I hope you do too. I think you're a boy so far. And if you're a girl, I apologize for the boy vibes circulating around me. You can override them, I give you permission. I want you to be healthy and happy, and I am already in love with you.

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Christmas Challenge

A friend from Oklahoma presented a Christmas Challenge. I thought it was a good one. The challenge is to start reading Luke on December 1 and read a chapter a day finishing on December 24. It's a nice way to remember the true spirit of the season. I wasn't going to do it at first because I just finished reading Luke not long ago, and had moved on to 3 Nephi, also about Christ's life from a different perspective. As I was reading last night, I couldn't help thinking about the challenge and found my way wandering back to Luke. I read Chapter 3 for December 3, and wanted to share a little bit of what stood out to me.

Luke 3 is where Jesus is baptized by John the baptist. The two verses I loved come from what John the Baptist is telling the people about baptism. The people had just asked him how to avoid the devastation of sin.

Verse 11 says: He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Verse 14: And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

I loved these tidbits of advice for how to live and thought that these verses went beautifully together. In BrieAnn's sum it up world: Always be willing to give to others, treat all fairly, and be content with what you have. I really like the last part of 14. That is SO HARD sometimes.

This challenge will be fun. I didn't start on time, I just jumped in on the chapter of the day I started, and if I'm feeling super human (that's a stretch), I'll go back and make up for what I missed.

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Ode to Joy...or the cause of joy.

I don't know where to begin. This post is inspired by how great I feel. I feel great because of a little drug called zofran. I'm taking zofran because I am with child. Yes, you heard it here first, maybe?

I have been a barf bag for the last several weeks, 4 or 5, I'm beginning to lose track. I do know what every little crevice of our toilet looks like. I'm 10 weeks-ish. Zofran is the third thing I've tried to help quell the nausea and vomiting, and while I would normally be crashed in bed right now, as Cora is asleep in hers, I just couldn't do it. I feel too good to sleep.

We heard our little baby's heart beat for approximately 2 seconds yesterday, and it was amazing. Just a reassurance, and reason enough to finally spill the beans. I'm ever so cautious now, after our first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 12 weeks. I think I told everyone, perfect strangers, and it was hard when people, even months later, asked how the pregnancy was going.

I'm leaning towards a boy. It would be so much easier to have a girl because of all the girl stuff we already have, but we shall see, and I will be in-love either way. So if we have a girl, her name will be Magnolia Jane McInnes, and if we have a boy his name will be Atticus Zebedee....even though I've been dreaming of Henry. We shall see again. And in my heart of hearts, I keep wanting more than one. Not because I want two babies at once as much as I don't want to be pregnant as many times. Two friends found out they're having twins. So cool!

And lastly, my OB is really great, I've already been to her three times. On my first visit, she told me about progesterone shots as a way to prevent preterm labor. The research is fairly new, but I'm excited to have a plan to try and prevent going into labor at 32 weeks and having a baby at 35 weeks. So somewhere between 16 and 20 weeks, I'll start getting a weekly shot of progesterone. Wish me luck on that one! I'll have to give them to myself if I start before 20 weeks when I'm in Texas and Oklahoma in January and early February.

I am so happy to be pregnant, and especially happy that I'm not bogged down in an overwhelming state of nausea today. LOVE!

PS: It's snowing in Chicago.

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