pregnancy update: Week 18

how far along:  18 weeks

baby size: sweet potato, 5.5 inches (crown to rump)

maternity clothes: yes and I actually put together a few super cute outfits this week that I'm excited to wear more! I bought some jean shorts which I'm looking forward to wearing this summer. The swimsuit? Not so much.

sleep: normal, much better now that Joshua's not waking up several times at night

best moment of the week: People are starting to notice I'm pregnant, and I love talking about it since I dreamed about being able to for so long. I'm so grateful I've been blessed to experience pregnancy twice!

movement: more and more, she's definitely more active than Maverick was

food cravings: nothing really, I need to start eating more protein... I've been a horrible patient this time around (another reason I know it's a girl!)

what I miss: motorcycle rides with husband and feeling sexy in my clothes

what I'm looking forward to: counting the days to finding out the gender in May!

pregnancy symptoms: nothing new!

stretch marks: none, but probably should start using lotion =)

belly button: innie

pregnancy update: Week 17

how far along:  17 weeks

baby size: turnip, 5 inches (crown to rump)

maternity clothes: when I want to look pregnant... yes!

sleep: normal

best moment of the week: hearing her sweet heartbeat! My midwife says she's down pretty low which means the placenta might be up high which is great! I made them check for twins but we didn't hear an extra heartbeat. #thankyouJesus

movement: still only when I'm laying down and paying attention to it

food cravings: I FINALLY got my fried fish! Hubby took us to lunch at Razzoo's yesterday and we had fried gator, crawfish, shrimp, and catfish... YUMMMM!

what I miss: motorcycle rides with husband and feeling sexy in my clothes

what I'm looking forward to: finding out the gender in May

pregnancy symptoms: a little lower back pain, sometimes round ligament, very sore chest... not too much!

stretch marks: none

belly button: innie

old habits die hard

Joshua's had this fever since Saturday night. It fluctuates between 100-103. He complains of a stomach ache off and on, but nothing else. No vomiting. No diarrhea. No constipation. But he's also had no appetite, very unlike him. And has been pretty lethargic, also very unlike him.

My instinct (which I learned from being raised with this mindset) is to think worst case scenario with symptoms I'm not familiar with or have not experienced myself.  In my experience, fever has always been accompanied by something... pain, aches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.  But I've also been told a low grade fever is GOOD as it fights off infection.  I've been warned about being too quick to reduce it.

But after 36 hours of fever!?!?  I've been racking my brain, scouring the internet, texting friends, trying to figure out what this could be.

I'd ask Joshua questions, but our conversations go like this:

me: What's wrong?
J: My tummy hurts.
me: Where?
J: I don't know.
me: What else is wrong? Do you hurt anywhere else?
J:  Yes.
me: Where?  (becoming extremely frustrated)
J: I don't know.
me: Does your forehead hurt?
J: Yes.
me: Does your throat hurt?
J: Yes.
me: Does your leg hurt?  (wondering if he knows what he's saying)
J:  Yes.

It's so difficult to "diagnose" a patient that doesn't clearly communicate what ails them.

Fearing the worst, thinking this has gone on long enough, knowing doctors must have a way to treat patients that can't communicate, I asked Kenny if I could call the pediatrician and take Joshua in.

Kenny's response: He's fine!

Immediately, my mind started to race with fears of Joshua having a ruptured appendix, an infection that spread rapidly throughout his body, or even dying!

I began pleading with Kenny to make him see my point of view and agree that Joshua should see the doctor. My volume level quickly escalated to a yell, and I was holding Maverick.  Kenny shut down and left the house.

I texted Lindsay to hear her thoughts. As a mom of four, who RARELY takes her kids to the doctor, and who treats them naturally, I knew she'd point me in the right direction.

Her response: He's fine!

REALLY!?!?!?

But it was quickly followed by a phone call. (Thank You Lord!)  She explained her thought process: Fever fights off infection. He had a stomach bug on Thursday/Friday, got the fever on Saturday night. His body was learning to heal itself.  (This little boy was constantly on antibiotics and in and out of the hospital from birth to age two. His body didn't do anything on its own until we adopted him.) Joshua's recovery from the stomach bug was going to look different than mine and Kenny's.  I needed to continue to boost his immune system and give him plenty of water. It would just take time. After a week, I might have reason to be concerned.

Her explanation made perfect sense. Healing naturally always takes more time, but it strengthens our immune system! Joshua's little body is starting from scratch, learning how to heal and fight infection without antibiotics. I felt like Kenny's response was simply because he didn't want to waste $80 on a doctor visit and not because he truly believed that Joshua was okay.

I'm so thankful for Lindsay's patience and willingness to help me think logically and not let my fears force me to go against Kenny's will by taking Joshua in. A lot of people tell me to trust my mommy instincts, and because of that I was tempted to just make an appointment and go in. But I want to be careful that my "mommy instincts" are not coming from a place of fear and doubt but from a heart that's sought the Lord, prayed for His will, and thought logically about what's best for our family.

The phrase "old habits die hard" came to mind today as I've realized I'm really going to have to work at not thinking worst case scenario whenever our kids get sick.  I want Kenny to respect me and my instincts regarding their health, especially since I'm with them all day. But that will never happen when I'm acting from a place of fear.

Thankfully, I have the Holy Spirit's guidance, strength, and help in changing my thought process. "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Lord, help me seek You first whenever our children get sick. You are the Healer, You created our bodies to heal themselves, and gave us natural medicines to help the process and strengthen our bodies. Help me to think rationally before letting fear rule my decisions. Amen.

when Murphy's Law tries to win

Murphy's Law states that: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

The stomach bug hit our home this last week.  Mav had it first, but it was quite spread out. He threw up Sunday night and had a little diarrhea on Tuesday afternoon.  Then Kenny was up all night Tuesday doing both... and unfortunately it continued into Wednesday.  It finally struck Joshua and me on Thursday night, but not near as bad as what Kenny had. By Saturday morning we were all feeling back to normal and looking forward to a peaceful day at home.

On his way out for donuts (a Saturday ritual for us) Kenny noticed water bubbling from the ground in a puddle.

Murphy's Law: 1  Wrights: 0

Not good. Especially in HV where water is... not cheap.  So he turned the water off (unbeknownst to me) and went to get donuts.  Meanwhile, I was making eggs and preparing the stacks of laundry that needed to be done and making a mental list of chores to complete. I turned the kitchen sink on to start the dishes and of course, there was no water. Awesome.

Murphy's Law: 2  Wrights: 0

Kenny returned and immediately started digging holes around the front yard to try and find the problem.  Realizing I couldn't do laundry or dishes, I headed out to the grocery store (an errand I had been trying to run since Tuesday).  I returned home to this:

Murphy's Law 3:  Wrights: 0

Kenny could see where the water was coming out but couldn't find the pipe. The Merriman's, friends of ours that live down the street, came over to help and of course the boys saw it as a little piece of heaven. MUD!

Joshua found a snake! He loves them... I do not!

Murphy's Law: 3  Wrights: 1

Melissa kept me company on the porch as I watched my front yard being torn up hole by hole.  After hours of digging, Kenny decided to rent an excavator. A WHAT!?!?  Again, our water is turned off, the boys are caked in mud, and it's nap time. 

Murphy's Law: 4  Wrights: 1

Thankfully, Melissa let us bathe at her house... which turned into more playtime.  The only reason I left was to teach a make-up piano lesson (that was cancelled thanks to stomach bug). 

Murphy's Law: 4  Wrights: 2

I returned home a few hours later to this:

Murphy's Law: 5  Wrights: 2

Yes... the excavator dug across the ENTIRE front yard.  I sat on the swing in a daze. I didn't even know where to start. Water still off, it's now well past nap time, I couldn't let the boys play in the mud because we had no water, I had no idea where Kenny is and couldn't bother him with questions about dinner... so we sat.  I noticed Joshua, who had been enjoying the mud all day, was sitting next to me. Ears beet red and cheeks rosy.  Fever.

Murphy's Law: 6  Wrights: 2

Melissa texted a few minutes later saying she was bring pizza and the boys were at Lowe's getting parts to fix the leak.

Success at last!! THANK YOU JESUS!!

A day that could've been a disaster, created an attitude of discontentment and anger in me turned into a day of heaven for my boys and good fellowship for me, all while watching daddy fix the leak.  All I could think about was the numerous blessings Jesus bestowed on us:

1. This happened on a Saturday, we were all well, and had no plans.

2. The older boys had fun swimming, digging, and watching the excavator dig up our yard... how many kids get to see that?

3. Kenny knew how to fix the problem instead of paying for a plumber to dig around for hours not knowing where the problem was.

4. The Merriman's just happened to ride by and were able to play all day.

5. My soul was refreshed and encouraged from chatting with Melissa. She is so hang loose and easy going. I know I would've been a terrible wife with a terrible attitude had she not been there.

6. Despite not getting a nap, Mav had a blast crawling around, pushing his car, playing in the rain, and eating bugs (yes, I found a bug leg on his mouth!)

7. Doug was supposed to volunteer at church at 6, but was able to find a replacement so he could stay and help Kenny longer.

8. The forecasted rain held off (until 6:30 when Kenny and Doug were almost done). It was truly a gorgeous day!

9.  The water was turned back on by bedtime so I could bathe the boys and myself, finish the dishes, start the dishwasher and wash our sheets.

10. Though Joshua's fever reached 103, I had Tylenol on hand and he never threw up. We had a peaceful night's sleep.

The Lord completely destroyed any plans the enemy (aka Murphy's Law) had to ruin our day.  I'm reminded of Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..."

Thank You Lord for watching over us and being present even in the little frustrations and happenings of our everyday lives.

So the final score - 

Murphy's Law: 0  Wrights: immeasurable joy

Pregnancy Update: Week 16

how far along:  16 weeks

baby size:  avocado, 4.5 inches (crown to rump)

maternity clothes:  If I'm not wearing exercise pants/shorts, definitely!  I've hated anything tight from the day I found out I was pregnant.

sleep:  Other than being extremely hot, sleeping great!

best moment of the week:  feeling her move

movement:  little flutters in the morning when I first wake up and am very still

food cravings:  anything that's mentioned, I crave until I get it; I'm having a hard time eating, especially cooking meals at home.  I've been eating out a lot but I'm praying that will change as it only adds to my weight gain and can't be good for baby.

what I miss: nothing!

what I'm looking forward to:  My 16 week appointment tomorrow!! I love hearing her heartbeat, it never gets old.

pregnancy symptoms: random moments of nausea or vomiting; lower back pain; the dreaded yeast infections; sore chest =)

stretch marks: none

belly button: innie


*We find out in May if we're having a boy or a girl.  Because of what the Lord told me a few years ago, and the major differences in this pregnancy, I'm certain it's a girl... so that's why I'm using "she/her."

annihilating Facebook

I just deleted my Facebook account.

After much delay and procrastination and whining and excuses and pleading with the Lord to keep it.

I've been pondering His request for two weeks.

Yet my mind has been continually flooded with all the reasons to delete it.

1. It's a major waste of time.

2. It breeds discontentment in my life.

3. It doesn't stir my affections for the Lord.

4. It's not a form of worship.

5. It causes me to focus on all the things I don't have and creates unhealthy desires for materialistic things.

6. I think I "need" it to keep up with all the "friends" in my life. But reality is, I regularly see/text/talk to my true friends and don't "need" Facebook to keep up with them.

7. It's worldly... of this world and not of God.


I've started going through Priscilla Shirer's Bible Study on Gideon.  She talked about how God told the Israelites to completely destroy (devoting EVERYTHING to destruction) the Amalekites. But they disobeyed, sparing the king and best of the livestock.  They only devoted what was worthless/useless to destruction.

She then asked "Is there anything God is leading you to completely 'annihilate' in your life that may once have been healthy but is now unhealthy?"  Facebook immediately entered my mind, along with the few reasons why I wanted to keep it.  I'm part of the Stone Soup Group (a group of like-minded women who delivered babies with Donnellyn), and Against the Grain Co-op, and R Group (our Gateway life group)!!  I feared losing my resources to ask questions about raising kids, ordering food from the co-op, and hearing about prayer requests or events from our life group.  Of course the enemy would love for me to think giving up Facebook means losing all social connections.  But it's such a lie!

God has placed good, close friends in my life that I respect and can ask parenting questions.  I can always do my own research and ask the Lord to show me how He would have me raise our kids or treat them when they're sick. I'm friends with the owner of the food co-op and could easily text her if the need ever arose. And we attend our life group weekly where I hear the prayer requests and upcoming events.

My fears were all unsubstantial.

I found this verse on fear:

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  John 14:27

Stepping out in faith and completely "annihilating" Facebook was an act of obedience.  And in return, the Lord has given me His peace... His beautiful, perfect peace.  The "peace" I thought I had from friends or groups on Facebook pales in comparison to the peace that only comes from the Living God.

Knowing how good and faithful He is, I'm eager to see all the blessings that come from this simple act of obedience.


**PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME:  Facebook in and of itself is not the enemy. But the enemy has used it my life for destruction. Deleting my account is what God asked me to do. I'm not saying it's what everyone else should do. I just encourage you to seek the Lord's will if you feel it could be robbing you of His joy and peace.

because I need to start blogging again

I've been convicted this week about how I spend my time.  I'm ashamed to say I watch too much TV at night when kids are asleep and let's not even mention how much I spend on Facebook.

So I've decided to start reading Bonhoeffer.  All 624 pages. I'll let you know how that goes.

I also want to start blogging again. Hopefully it will be bi-weekly. But we'll see where this stage of life takes me. I'm 15 weeks pregnant with baby number 3.  While we're thrilled about the new little one, I'm terrified that we're officially outnumbered.  But I'm also eager to see where God takes us in this new season as a family of FIVE! And what a beautiful blessing it is that I can say family and mean daddy, mommy, and three miracles. There was a day when "miracles" were a longing... a hope... but an unknown.

To kickstart this whole shindig, here are some recent happenings from the Wright household.

On April 1,  Joshua started a Kid's Day Out program at First Baptist Church Corinth. He loves it! When I first inquired about their openings they were full.  They suggested putting Joshua in the four year old class. But by this time most of the four year olds have turned five and Joshua was barely four. I knew that would not be a good fit but wanted to tour the school for next year. On the way, we prayed God wouldn't open up a spot for Joshua. As we were touring, the director saw Joshua's enthusiasm and said we could start ASAP.  I told her after much thought and consideration I did not feel like Joshua would be a good fit in the four's class.  She responded saying they had a student from the THREE year old class leave the previous week, so a spot had suddenly opened up! PRAISE THE LORD and HALLELUJAH!! Not only for opening a spot, but for answering our prayers in a concrete way that my four year old son could understand.

We walked in the first day and saw two families we knew from a previous homegroup.  All of our kids will be in the same class next year! God is faithful to the utmost!  I am humbled by how He's orchestrated these events.  So currently Joshua is going two days a week and next year Maverick will join him one day a week so mommy can run errands with *just* the newborn. =)

For Joshua's fourth birthday we painted kites! It was a super windy but beautiful day.  We taped the kites and paint down and the kids had a blast painting!

When we tried flying kites, we realized it was gusty but not windy. Just as the kites went up they came crashing down as the wind suddenly died.  Thankfully we had a bounce house and trampoline and everyone still had a great time. I can't believe how time has flown... that the little boy who entered our lives just before his second birthday is now FOUR!  It's been a year of ups and downs as we've all adjusted, but the joy and sweet spirit I see in Joshua is priceless.  I know God has a mighty calling on his life and I'm eager to see it unfold.  We love you Joshua!!

This little punkins is 16.5 months old and LOVES being outside!  He loves brooms and dustpans, water, food, and his daddy!  He plays hard and sleeps hard just like his big brother.  He keeps us laughing with his facial expressions and easy going personality.  He is trying so hard to walk!! But I've been amazed how he's developed on his own timeframe just as God designed.  I'm learning to let go of my desire to control and my timeline and just let them be.

Kenny's work is going well and keeping him SUPER busy.  We are grateful for the provision since we have seen seasons where work is incredibly hard to come by.  We miss our daddy every second he's gone but make use of the time he's home.

I don't know exactly what this next season holds in store for the Wrights.  But my goal is to worship God in everything I do, right where I'm at... as a stay-at-home mom.  God knows I've prayed and prayed and prayed for this day for so many years.  Even though it's hard and sometimes ugly, it is a beautiful blessing and I don't want to wish it all away.  My prayer is that in keeping up with this blog I can see the Lord's hand on EVERYthing in our lives... the big AND the little.  He is so so good.

"For everything there is a season..." Ecclesiastes 3:1