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August 31, 2007

34 weeks

i am now 34 weeks into the pregnancy and trying to imagine holding this new infant in my arms for the first time. feelings of joy and excitement coupled with fear of delivery and hoping for a healthy baby fill my thoughts as we near the end of the pregnancy.

the last several months have been incredibly difficult for our whole family, but we are eager to meet this little boy. since my last update i have continued to struggle through unexplained pain, fatigue, and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. my blood pressure also seems to be up, which could be an indicator of toxemia. after meeting with a high risk doctor and dietitian, i have been able to regulate my blood sugar and hope to keep my blood pressure in check so that the baby will not have to be delivered early. i am unsure why there have been so many obstacles during these months and am eager to feel better. however, i am incredibly grateful that our baby boy has remained healthy and is developing well.

the boys continue to be thrilled about the pregnancy and often talk about coming to see the baby in the hospital for the first time. this moment would have to be the one that i look forward to the most. having all three boys old enough to really understand what is happening and having them be so excited is a new and wonderful experience. please pray for our family as i attempt to balance school and soccer schedules, homework, caring for three young children, preparing for the baby, and maintaining the house while coping with daily pain and fatigue.

Posted by cooleys at 09:17 AM | TrackBack

August 23, 2007

...and he's off

oliver started mother's day out this morning. i would love to say that he was as thrilled about school as his brothers; but, sadly, i left him clinging to one of his teachers. i do know that he has friends in his class and will be loved and nurtured until i come to pick him up in a few hours. this little guy just really likes to put on a show for his mom.

i love the picture above where he is twirling his hair. this spot of hair is usually sticking straight up since he twists it tightly around his finger and pulls at it for comfort throughout the day. he started doing this as an infant. he would often twist my hair and yank while nursing. obviously, i was thankful when he got a little older and grew some hair of his own to pull.

...and this shot was taken on tuesday as we celebrated mark's 29th birthday! the boys were adamant that dad needed a skateboard, so that is what he got (along with some needed clothes from me). we enjoyed a nice evening of dinner and fellowship with friends as the boys worked on their skating moves.

Posted by cooleys at 10:27 AM | TrackBack

August 20, 2007

abel

abel catchin' a few moments with dad and his scooter before mark was off to the hill on wheels scooter ralley. i think that his reflection in the scooter is great!

Posted by cooleys at 10:05 AM | TrackBack

the passage

the past few friday nights have been spent together at the passage, a trail of tears memorial located downtown next to the aquarium. the boys love playing in the water running over the steps as mark and i talk and enjoy the atmosphere downtown. some friends showed aidan and abel how to block the flow of water in a narrow area of the steps creating a small dam. when they decide to stand up, a gush of collected water flows thrilling the children watching.

Posted by cooleys at 09:25 AM | TrackBack

August 16, 2007

yellow

After this past weekend our bedroom is no longer yellow. We've been brainstorming since we moved about what art to hang above our headboard. I wanted something gigantic to fill the space, but Amber liked a simpler approach. The solution: wood panels showcasing our own design. I liked the idea of a tree branch breaking the frame and extending on another panel. Then came the birds...

While in Nashville, we recruited the help of both of our fathers and made the panels in an afternoon. When the saws weren't running, the sound of the boys digging through a huge container of legos was heard.

Now the design is applied and the panels are placed. The room finally feels a bit more personalized and relaxing.

Posted by cooleys at 12:10 AM | TrackBack

August 13, 2007

first day

it begins. today marks abel's first day of kindergarten, aidan enters first grade, and fall soccer starts. our family does seem to operate best with a set schedule for the kids, and they are each thrilled with the school and soccer related activities. however, i am left feeling a bit empty this morning. i still have ollie at home to fill the house with a little noise, but i am missing the boys. thankfully, they all woke up on time this morning eager for the day ahead and so proud to put on their school uniform and new matching shoes. i wish that we could have captured the eagerness in abel's face and how bright his eyes appeared. i just have to trust that we make the best decisions available for our children and allow them to be cared for by those trained to do so.

our last afternoon of the summer was spent together at the pool. many days have been spent in a similar way since the water alleviates the pain i feel while thoroughly entertaining the kids. all three have become much better swimmers and seem to enjoy the water equally. mark has been great at coming up with games for he and the kids to play together while allowing me that time just to relax. the remainder of the evening was spent riding through sprinklers as i tackled the mound of laundry in the living room and mark completed painting our once yellow bedroom. i am sure that he will post pictures of the project as we put the room back together.

so, today we stumble through the newness of this day and enjoy all of the activities and experiences that it brings...

Posted by cooleys at 09:23 AM | TrackBack