Humorous... really :)

This goes along with the "Big" post from a few days ago.

This morning I was at my client's site heating up a few pieces of turkey bacon in the cafeteria. A lady came in and said "Wow, you really do breakfast. Do you make eggs too?"

I replied, "No, I was just trying to get some exta protein at breakfast."

She then remarked, "Oh cool, you must be on one of those low-carb diets!"

I smiled and said, "Nope, I am pregnant and I feel better when I get some extra protein in in the mornings."

So funny! really, I took no offense, it just made me laugh. I can be almost 25 weeks pregnant and it still looks like I just need to go on a diet. :) Maybe this is a commentary on how few pregnant women there are in the Southern CA region, or how many fad dieters there are.

Great Lectures

Last weekend, I drove up to see my side of the family. They live in Northern CA. Nathan had to work, so I drove alone. Knowing I would have a lot of time on my hands, I downloaded some lectures before I left from Dr. Peter Kreeft. I have listened to these lectures about 3-4 times each over the past few years. They are so profound and so packed with information that each time I listen, I learn something new. My favorite lectures are ones on books by CS Lewis, espeically the lecture on Till We Have Faces. There are also good practical lectures for conservative Christians that defend Tradition, the male priesthood, and Pro-Life.

Here is the link:

www.peterkreeft.com

Cliick on audio.

Big

Throughout the pregnancy, I have been slowly getting bigger. Duuring this past month, however, I have really noticed a difference. Sometimes I feel like I am going through puberty again, with my body changing all the time. No wonder a pregnant person gets emotional!

Some fun instances of "Big:"

Yesterday, I was clearing some dessert plates, and accidentally got a little bit of chocolate on my shirt. Someone had to point it out to me because it was on my shirt just below my belly and I could not see it. We laughed and I remarked that at least I can still see my feet. :)

One evening, when feeling especially large, I whined to Nathan, "I feel so big right now." He smiled and said, "No, you are big-and-beautiful." He knows how to handle his insecure pregnant lady.

Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life!

I love this sermon. Christianity in its essence and the foundation for our joy.

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?

Let them now receive their wages.

If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.

He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.

The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;

rich and poor, rejoice together!

Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,

rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.

Let no one go away hungry.

Partake, all, of the cup of faith.

Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,

for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death,

for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,

"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.

It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.

It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.

It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;

for Christ having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

The Resolution

I am so grateful for good medical and dental care. Doctors and dentists have so much power. They see you usually when you are weakest and most vulnerable. A bad dentist can scar you for a long time. My first SoCal dentist was like that. Now I can't even drive down the street that she is on without feeling a little sick. My new dentist does not take advantage of me. She spent a lot of time with me, told me the options that I had, and didn't even charge me for my check-up today. She has done that before also.

Anyways, the results of today's visit were good. She looked everything over and said that I have no major issues right now. (Whew- big sigh of relief) Just to keep using a mouth rinse and rinsing with salt water in addition to my usual brush/floss routine. She also said that it was good that I came in because she needs to know if I think there is a problem. That helped me psychologically. Yesterday, I spent too much time on WebMD reading about how my pregnancy gingivitis can lead to teeth loss and other very unpleasant things, so I was ready to have her level the boom on me today. (a rarity in commercialized medicine)

I have learned a lot of hard lessons through my teeth experience.

1. Humility- Baring your mouth is kind of like baring your soul to a small degree. You have to do it to expose what is there and begin to take care of it.
2. Courage- Going to the dentist for a procedure that is going to hurt and change your moth forever is hard, but necessary for healing.
3. Trust- Putting a piece of you into the hands of someone else.
4. A good physician is necessary- Along with trust above, having a trustworthy physician is key. Thank goodness we have a good Lord who does not take advantage of us, who loves us, who has sacrificed for us.

Prayer Request

Well, as I am sure that many of you know, I have had some serious teeth problems over the past year and a half, and a lot of work done. Unfortunately, this has transferred to gum problems with the pregnancy. This is not uncommon. The dentists have named it "pregnancy gingivitis," and it stems from the changes in hormones and increased blod flow that occurs during pregnancy. My gums are sore pretty much all the time. I have been doing a lot to keep them healthy, extra brushings, flossings, salt water rinses, etc..., but I seem to be losing the battle.

At the moment, I am pretty depressed about it and worried. I don't want it to hurt the baby, or to do permanent damage to my mouth. Most of all though, I don't want to get so worried about it that I cause extra stress to the baby. This seems to be my Achilles heel when it comes to worrying. I can handle a lot of things, but I fall hard when it comes to this.

Please keep me and baby in your prayers.

5 Months

Some pictures at 5 months.

I had a good 5 month visit with my midwife. When she tried to get the heartbeat with the doppler tool, LJ (we'll call him this for short "little Jonesie"), kept moving so that it took a while to get a good heartbeat. She was surprised at how much he moved. :)

My mom sometimes relates a story about me when I was about 5 years old. I was singing with the kids choir at church one Sunday while my mom and a friend were listening. When her friend asked which child belonged to her, she pointed at me, saying "the wiggly one on the end." So, now I have a wiggly one of my own, "the wiggly one in my belly."