Mike and I have been having so much fun this last week just knowing I'm growing a boy inside of me! It's been great looking at nursery ideas, colors and even name books knowing that we only need to look at boy things. Even though I'm even more out numbered now with Mike, Gunner, Trigger and sweet little K, I couldn't be happier :) I love all my boys so much! This weekend Mike & I are heading down to Tulsa to register for all things baby. We've been researching everything totally feeling like first time parents :) It's crazy to think how quickly our interests have taken a shift lately. We have been glued to the Internet watching stroller videos and reading review after review. This weekend should be fun :)

 I've been battling a cold the last couple days which has taken a toll on me and just don't really care for being cruddy. It's been hot again so I'm trying to stay cool with my legs elevated. I've always had some varicose veins on my leg but lately they have been getting darker (Dr. Craig is fully aware of this) so my support stockings have been being worn at work and legs are kicked up when I'm home. Other than that and being tired, life has been good. This sweet boy of ours is for sure his fathers child as he is always moving in my belly, always! I love his little movements! I'm beginning to think he's going to give us a run for our money as soon as he makes his debut :) Mike came to the hospital this last weekend and I hooked myself up to the ultrasound machine. At one point sweet little man had both of his hands above his head as he pounded on my belly! He's 100% boy! Below is my 21 week picture. I wish I could start looking half way put together in these pics, however, it's just so hot out to even get ready!

Also Meghan is busy with soccer as she made her soccer debut today. She started at her very first college soccer game :) Great job Liz!

Boy crazy!

Little K is a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have a son!!! :) Whoohoo!! He looked picture perfect on the ultrasound today, growing exactly to par! The ultrasound due date is January 4 and the actual due date is January 6th so it all matches up. He is just so perfect :) I'm attaching a picture, it's not the greatest because it's me taking a pic of the ultrasound picture but it's a great shot of his perfect, sweet little head. We took a video also if only we can figure out how to put it into the blog ;)

His head is on the right if that helps :)

It's a great job :)

I just needed to brag a bit about my job :) I love, love, love it! Not only because of what I'm learning and being around mamma's, but of because how I spent a break of mine today. Another nurse and I went back to a labor room, hooked up the ultrasound machine and watched Little K wave to us along with listening to the greatest sound ever.....sweet little one's heart beat. I got to see little ones fingers, arms, head (even it's suture lines!) How I continue to be amazed at what the Lord continues to mold together. I keep singing, "We will praise you together, for now and forever, how awesome is the Lord most high!" Today marks 20 weeks!! Little K is the length of a banana and weighs 10.5 oz! We'll know in 6 days (Wednesday) if we will be adding a son or a daughter to our family :) What are your guesses?

Since paradise.....

Not even 20 minutes after we returned from Kauai we were greeted by my brother, and sisters! Adam and Meghan are down for college. This will be Adam's 3rd year and Meghan's first year. So we gladly hosted our home to 3 family members and a friend of Adam's! It was a whirlwind of fun :) We moved Adam into the dorms that next day and then Meghan the next. We love having them down here!!! So little to say come last Sunday night, we had a very messy and quiet home!

Monday brought both of us going back to work, Wednesday night we had an event for the incoming 6th graders and then today getting caught up on laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping. I think it's safe to say we are all caught up!

Little K is growing like crazy. I can feel the baby moving all over, sadly Mike hasn't felt it yet. My appetite is almost back to normal. I had two salads this week (they used to make me puke) and a frappachino today! Today marks week 19! I think it's safe to say a little baby bump has taken place :) We have a doctor appointment in a week and a half that we should be finding out if little K is a girl or boy! :)

Also....Bartlesville has become the next Los Angeles I guess!!! Ben Afflect, Jennifer Garner and baby have been spending the week here! They will be shooting a movie here in the fall! We can't believe it either! Yesterday Meghan and I tried to find them but everywhere we went, they had just left. They will be visiting the college sometime this week, so Meghan is on official watch! Word has it that Chrisian Bail will be back in town (he was here about a year ago) along with Rachel McAdams here soon! Maybe our days of stardom have just begun :)

Your beauty Lord, I know it captures me.....

Finally, following is a small preview of our Kauai vacation! We loved every second of this trip. It was a much needed time of getting away together to relax be able to experience more of the Lord's beauty on this earth. A song we listened to often while sitting on the beach was Jeremy Camps "Capture Me". This song encompasses exactly how we would describe our trip:

Your beauty Lord, I know it captures me

Your sweet embrace, it brings me to my knees

Oh, the love You show it pours over me

You opened up my heart and made a home in me

You lifted up the weight the wold has placed on me

Oh, You capture me, oh Lord, You capture me

Enjoy :)

This was our view from our room. We loved waking up and listening to our Bible on the I-pod watching as the waves came in.

Hitting the Napali Coast Trail. We spent 2 nights and 3 days. We should have done 22 miles but made 15. At 7.5 miles in, I no longer felt safe taking Little K any further, so we turned around.

The views from this trail were the most beautiful sites our eye's have EVER seen!

Night 2 this was our campsite, right on the beach! Even better we were 2 of 6 people on this beach!

This was our spot as we watched the sun set and see the new day come.

Yes, this trail kicked our butts, but it was worth every view we saw.

We went to a Luau and ate like royalty!

Mike would easily say this was the best meal he has ever had in his life! :) He went back for 3rds even! I almost needed to roll him out.

We found a great local farmer's market taking place. We bought a coconut and drank the milk. Mike didn't mind it, but I just wasn't a fan. We got lots of fresh pineapple, mangos, and passion fruit to make fresh smoothies at our cottage!

This was my highlight of the trip, an afternoon bike ride along the coast.

This dessert is an absolute favorite of some friends of ours, so we were excited to try it! Hula Pie at Dukes, so good!!!! Chocolate cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, macadamia nuts, whipped cream and an ocean of hot fudge! We came back later in the week to experience it again :)

We loved exploring the different beaches, and letting the Hawaiian sun bake our skin!

Behind us is a waterfall we kayaked and hiked to! Getting to swim in the water was very refreshing!

You can't end the day without a evening sunset stroll on the beach

Our last night, the resort offered smores on the beach. It was a perfect ending to a great vacation!

Here is Mike's prized souvenir, a real machete! We found this backpacking and he was determined to get it home. For safety, Mike spent a morning widdling a bamboo stick to place on the blade. I was terrified going through security at the airport thinking we were going to be arrested. But it was tucked into the checked baggage and it arrived with us back in the 'ville.

We had a 5 hour layover in LA on the way home from 5:00am to 10:00am. Our sweet friend, Heather, woke up at 3:30 to pick us up at the airport and had breakfast with us till we needed to leave. It was so great to see her! :)

So that was a glimpse into our Hawaiian paradise vacation!!! We can't wait to go back again, and we really think that everyone needs to go!!

New furniture :)

Little K's room is now beginning to look like a babies room! After over a week of organizing and gutting little one's room, we have made our first purchaes! Our babies room now consists of a crib, changing table and a glider rocker! Yes, I know sweet little one won't make his/her apperance for another 5 months, but my sweet husband just couldn't wait to set everything up (he is such a proud dad!). Now let the decorating begin :)

Our sweet pups havn't made the blog lately so I though I would include them in the picture. They too are excited about the new room. It's an adjustment for Trig because this used to be his room, but his first night in his new room went very well :)

Packing has begun! Yep that is right, after over a year of planning our trip to Kaui, we leave on Monday! The only part I'm not looking forward to is saying goodbye to Gunner & Trigger. This will be the longest we've ever been apart. I know they are going to have so much fun at their friend's house, I just wish they could come with us. The itinerary for the week is:

Night one: In a hotel

Night 3&4: Backpacking the Napali Coast

Nights 5-11: Lounging in our cottage

I can't think of a better way to celebrate 5 years of being married, a thank you to Mike for loving me through nursing school & a last horrah before Little K comes! Below is a picture of one of our camp sites on the Napali Coast!

15 weeks & 5 days

We got to hear a sweet little sound today that has quickly become mine & Mike's most favorite noises.....Little K's heartbeat! We had our 15 week appointment and sweet little K (even though may be giving us a run for our money) is healthy and perfect as can be, praise the Lord! I say giving us a run for our money because for a good minute maybe (probably only for a couple seconds but it felt like forever!) Dr. Craig couldn't find the heartbeat. As the seconds passed I began to go into a silent panic. The problem here is me knowing too much about what is going on because Mike hadn't put any of the situation together. Dr. then said in a very calm way, "Well I think we will get an ultrasound on you." Mike was thinking "great, I love seeing my baby," as tears began coming down my eye's I guess I gave Mike a total look of horror then he put it all together. Finally though, Little K came out of hiding and gave us a long, strong 160 beats/minute heart rate! At that moment I may have learned one of my first of many parenting moments, I have to place this little one in the hands of the Lord. I have to just simply trust Him and continue to have complete faith in Him knowing that Little K is ultimately His and also He will sustain us through any situation. We do have such a great and powerful Father who is so quick to take us in His arms, speak some wisdom into us and then continue to  pour His love out onto us! Thank you Lord!

Second trimester seems a lot more enjoyable than the first trimester. I'm beginning to slowly eat foods that a few weeks ago have made me sick, I have a bit more energy and eating as a whole has taken on a whole new meaning. I feel we may need to take out a loan for food solely for me because I keep eating! In fact, two weeks ago during nursing orientation another nurse thought I was a diabetic the first half of the day because of all that I consumed, nope it's just a baby I told her :)

I'll leave you with a 15 week pic of me. You still have to look very closely to see anything, but I promise Little K is alive and well in this belly of mine :)

my famous saying as of lately :)

Every week Mike & I get updates on sweet Little K's growth & development. At the end is always a funny cartoon picture. This weeks cracks me up because I have to admit I say it at least 3 times a day (mostly to Mike). I did find myself doing this daily when we went to Iowa with my family 4 weeks ago which would put me at 10 weeks along! But really, I stand in front of Mike with my shirt up pointing out what I think to be this huge bowling ball in my tummy. He very lovingly smiles and says, "Yes, I seem, but don't be disappointed if others don't." Oh my dear husband :)

Today Little K is 14 weeks old and the size of a lemon (3.5' long!)! Little one is making facial expressions and kidneys are producing urine (maybe not so good for the mom who already goes to the bathroom every 20 minutes!) Oh how we love this baby of ours!! And little side note...so far at our church Little K will be in the nursery with 6 other babies all whom are born within about 4 weeks of each other! A set of triplets, set of twins, a single and then ours! So...if your in the 'Ville anytime soon...stay away from the water! This pregnancy thing is spreading ;)

Lately...

We survived youth camp with only a few cuts, welts and scars (all Mike of course, not only was I being careful but all 150 other campers that were around me thought I was fragile). I think we have almost caught up on our sleep. It was a great week and the Lord just continues to do some great and awesome things in the hearts of our teens! We love watching them figure out who they are as teenagers and who they are in the Lord. I love our job!

My first official day as an RN has been completed! I wish I had some heroic story to share, but well.....my day was boring! Hospital orientation is never real fun. We watched lots of videos (yes, I said videos not DVD's. I haven't seen a video tape for years!) This will go on through Friday then I begin on my labor & delivery floor next week! The most exciting thing that happened today was getting my new name badge! I love looking at it and thought you might enjoy it also :)



And per some requests here is a pic of my 13 week belly. I'm continuing to feel better & better. I've started to notice if I'm going to feel icky during the day it's usually going to hit around evening time. My belly grew 1/2 an inch last week also! Crazy! I just have no clue where this baby is going to fit. I can already notice my insides morphing together and there is just no room in there. So...it shall be interesting........

Another exciting week

At youth camp this week! I have officially decided that Little K will not have a boring first summer next year :)

Let our lives begin.....

Our lives were kinda on hold the last two years while I was finishing school, but now let them continue :) Mike has already commented on how different I seem.

 So yes, thank you for your prayers Tuesday as I took my boards. I was nervous but not as nervous as I thought I would be. I ended up taking 103 questions before the computer shut off. From that moment till when I found out my results I was a walking zombie. I had myself convinced that I didn't pass (it was a hard test!) I kept looking up questions that I could remember. I'm never a patient person, but goodness the waiting was horrible!!! I knew that my results would be posted at 3:00 am Thursday. So we tried to sleep. Mike had all intentions of staying up but ended up falling asleep about 1:30. I woke up at 3:25 am and slowly got out of bed. As I opened my laptop my hands were shaking so badly it was very hard to type, I've never been so nervous before! Finally, I saw my name listed under active registered nurses in Oklahoma and begin crying and sprinting back to our room to wake Mike up! What a great feeling!!!! I just feel like my life it beginning because I'm finally living my dream, I'm finally doing exactly what God has created me to do! Becoming an RN has been a lifelong dream and I'm glad to finally say......CHECK! Thank you Lord! I start work July 6. Just in time for 3 weeks and then.....Hawaii!!!!!

So, with my added free time to my life I have been......SLEEPING! I'm not sure it it's my body has just crashed because it's been under so much stress these last few years or sweet little K is growing a ton, but I can't get enough sleep! 12 hours last night and a 2 hour nap today, life is good :) I did accomplish a large task of cleaning out the refrigerator today. I feel like it's a new fridge, it looks so good.

Sweet baby K is now 12 weeks old! He/she is the size of a lime (a little over 2 inches long). It's little fingers are beginning to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements! I promise to post pictures as soon as you can tell there is a hump. There is hump but the my shirt often hides it. How we can't wait to meet our little one!!!!!!