the Feeling is Electric!

Pregnancy is CRAZY. I have many praises about my baby growing process; realities of the past 8 months that make my pregnancy easy compared to others. I also could write a full page report about the changes of my body, and the abnormality of my little parasite child dwelling with-in, that would frighten most women from procreating in the first place. The reality is that pregnancy is just crazy.

My newest bizarre experience, that is occurring quite frequently, can only be described as electric. I don't know what is causing it, I just know it's weird. My hip/groin area will suddenly surge with a volt of pain for a couple seconds, and then be done or leave a reminant of a mild cramp. I'm not sure if everything is just repositioning and stretching out for D-day, or if the baby has grown and/or dropped causing too much to be going on in too little of an area. Either way, I dont enjoy it.

Onto some happier notes:

• After a difficult struggle to find both genders of baby names, we finally found one boy/one girl and haven't wavered.
  
• My headache of three weeks, left after a 10 minute professional massage.
  
• Joel still likes me even though I flop around continuously most nights, and cry a little more frequently and a little less rationally.
• Although time isn't exactly flying by, its going at a pretty great speed.
  
• It seems as though my stretch marks are waiting to arrive untill after the baby arrives. This is good because then, the baby will be here and I wont care. :)
• Although being tired is annoying, I'm jobless, sort of childless, and have little responsibility in life. I'll count my blessings instead of sheep. :)

I get hesitant asking for opinions or suggestions, because then, should I disagree, it is much more confrontational. But with that said, here are topics that I'm attempting to research and would love feedback on. We may not agree, but that doesn't mean the insight isn't appreciated...

• vaccinnes
• timing of circumcision
• sugar water for babies at the hospital
• epidurals
• feeding/sleeping schedule...when and if to start
• diapers, cloth vs disposible

Well, I hope you all have a happy April. I hope you all have a phenominal Easter, and enjoy the slighly warmer temperatures. Happy Spring!

Spring has Sprung

Happy Spring to All! Its early Sunday morning and I have already been up far longer than I care to admit. I do my fair share of snoring, but this morning, my uncomfortableness + Joels snoring volume didn't make for ideal sleeping conditions! The birds are also loud this morning, but are a much more welcomed sound!

I can't complain about the snoring. Only two nights ago I was complaining because He was in Florida. I'll take snoring over long distance any day! They made it back Friday afternoon, tired, on the verge of sick, with LOTS of laundry! The trip seemed to have been such a blessing, to the ministry there in Jacksonville, as well as to our students. I'm able to hear more and more about it, as the sleep deprivation slowly wears off.

Friday, I also had my 34 week apt. Joel wasn't back quite yet, so my mom was able to go with me. The baby is measuring perfect and has a heart rate between 130 and 140. I get braxton hicks a lot when I'm out, walking, shopping, raking...etc, but that seems to be the only activity. I feel great for the most part. My complaints are pretty mild and barely deserve recognition, but for the record...I cant sleep well. Firday night I took a tylenol PM and that was heavenly. (first nurse said it was ok, Mom.) The other "issue" is my neck. It has been so sore for a week now. I have no other signs of preclampsia(sp?), so it isn't anything to worry about, just annoying. I dont like taking drugs , but end up braking down at some point most days. Joel was great last night and massaged it for a while. I might be seeing professional assistance (a massage) soon!

The rest of spring should be busy and anticipatory! Between loving on my new nephew Reuben, my sisters shower's and wedding, a college event with Joel's students, and the arrival of Lil'Lewicki, boredom won't be a reality for a while. We wish you all a happy spring!

Apologies

So I read my blog from yesterday and it made me depressed. I cant say it sounded worse than it was, because it was a pretty awful day, but I woke up this morning, and life is grand again.

Joel is having a great trip and I think they are coming back with some pretty great stories of how God is using them. My nephew is absolutely beautiful, and perfectly healthy. I get to see my family a lot this week. And I've started only peeing once a night instead of three times!

So, we are done with the Tori pitty party. I'm off to have a happy day. you do the same!

REUBEN THOMAS VOS

The Vos family welcomed a new member to their family on Monday early in the afternoon. Reuben Thomas Vos weighed 7 lbs 11 oz, and was 19? inches long.

I went to the Vos house on Sunday for lunch with the rest of my family, and spent the night there also. Tara woke me up around 4:30 and let me know they were going to the hospital. I wont get the details of the story/labor correct, so I wont attempt to share all of them. A simple version is as follows: She went in for bad nausea with her contractions, they medicated the neasea, and when that slowed down labor she convinced them to not send her home. They broke her wather 8:30ish and after slow developments all morning and a good nap, they woke her up and told her to push. 20 minutes later Reuben arrived. I'm highly jealous of the simplicity of her story...My fingers are crossed, that it runs in the family.

Being Joel-less has been much different than I planned. I''m pretty busy and I thought that would be a good thing. But if it is helping, I'm scared to think of what I would be like otherwise. I cry A LOT, miss having someone with driving directional abilities, wish someone was here to listen to my ramblings, and overall am crazy ready for Joel to be home. This morning I had a slight break down. I changed three times, made an emergency hair apt, went shopping, and cried a lot. Directional driving difficulties were icing on the cake. It was a rough couple of hours

I think Joel's trip to Florida is going great. He's tired, he's slightly sun-burnt, doesn't have the best sleeping conditions, but is having some GREAT opportunities. I'm so glad God is using him, and so glad that he comes home Friday! I feel highly selfish and needy, because I would love more phone time, or emails, and can get moppey sometimes, but I'm going to blame it all on hormones(I have to use the pregnancy excuse while I can!) Its so great how God is using his team, and I cant wait till Joel is able to tell me all about it!

Well, I hope you are all having a great spring break week!
Enjoy the weather!

shop till I drop

Joel is officially off to Florida. He and a few other leaders are taking about 35 college students to Jacksonville, Fl for a week long missions trip. After a horrible night of sleep, and seeing Joel off between 4am and 5:30am, I finally got some sleep late this morning. I then woke up and knew I needed to get busy; I knew my hormones might get the best of me. Its a lot harder to be lonely and mopey when your busy, so after a bowl of cereal, my day got started!

I checked my email and found out that my baby's sheets had been delivered. I found them on the porch, and quickly dove inside the bag. They are solid, chocolate brown and super simple. They are PERFECT!

I scooted out the door before 11 and made it to the bank. Then it was off to Lowes to get some paint! I had used Diamond Vogel paint last spring, and wasn't super impressed. I wanted to color match the purple I had used in one of the bathrooms. It took longer than expected, but I wasn't in a hurry and Lowe's seemed to be full of people I knew!

Next on the list was K-mart. I'm always on the lookout for a white rocker and also was price checking changing pads.

Walmart came next and I felt like my grandma Earp! Virginia could wander around wal-mart for hours and not even buy much of anything...and that is precisely what I did. I got some goodies for my Bunco club that I'm hosting on Monday and a few other odds and ends. Last but not least was Target and there I had incredible self control. There were more temptations than the previous stores, and I found some great fitted crib sheet protectors that I did get. By then it was 2:30 and my baby was reminding me that I hadn't fed us lunch yet!

I got home, ate some lunch and not long afterwards my friend Jess called. She had some stuff she needed at Wal-mart, and for the sake of socialization I met her there. I ended up coming home with a changing table pad (I had been price checking all morning.) So about 3 hrs of my day was indeed spent at Wal-mart, but I price checked all my purchases and am proud of getting some pretty great deals. Who knew what you can do when you actually aren't in a hurry!

My baby is crazy spastic, and I get soooo many braxton hicks when I'm walking, and that's what happened all morning! I'd really love to splurge and get a pedicure while Joel is gone, but I don't think that may be the best decision. I know certain pressure points in massage can induce labor, and I dont really want to have my baby 7 weeks early, especially with Joel 24 driving hrs away! I guess that will be a treat that waits till April!

Well, I'm laying low this evening and hopefully getting some reading done. My sister-in-law gave me this book, "grace based parenting," and hopefully I can catch up on a few chapters of reading. My baby's feet are insisting on being under my ribs so I'm going to go do something that doesn't involve sitting! Have a great week!

7 1/2 weeks to go!

As I type I'm watching lil'Lewicki insist that some limb be about an inch outside of the oversized home my stomach is making. My stomach is so ridiculously large. Joel and I just stared at it and laughed last night. Pregnancy is incredibly fun right now. This baby is so big. Even though I'm not good at naming limbs, I know they are there and pretty strong. I like to show off Jr's strength to people, but lil'Lewicki gets a little shy when others approach.

I took about a month off from being hungry all the time. I'm back, and better than ever now. Baby is growing about a 1/2 lb a week, and I'm having trouble keeping up. I no longer crave certain foods, I just really want them all. Body recovery in time for Auburn's wedding is looking less and less likely. Oh well, i guess!

The baby room is well on its way. I found brown sheets at sheetworld.com. I get pretty scared ordering things from new places on line. They should come at the end of the week, so we'll see if I regret my insistence on solid brown sheets! There are very few things that I/the baby "needs" yet. We were so blessed at the showers, and I've had fun shopping for other wants and needs. I'm still looking for brown storage boxes. I may just have to spend the $7 a box and get less of them for now. I'm just convinced that they should be $5, but the ones at that price are different colored or wicker...I'm being picky, and stubborn but I'm convinced I will find them.

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of a second nephew on my side of the family. Tara is ready to go any day now, and I cant wait! Jonah and Audrey are also excited for their baby brother. Audrey doesn't have much of a clue whats really about to happen, but Jonah was asking me all about my baby last week, assuring me that "his baby" wasn't done growing yet. With a Vos baby, Lewicki baby, and Auburn and Colin getting married I feel like my mom's christmas letter is going to be book-sized, at minimum, next year, and we aren't even 1/2 way through the year!

On the Lewicki side of the family we'll have three new babies added to the mix in a year also. I can't believe how fast Lora's baby is growing. Its incredible. Tommy is such a good big brother and loves watching Henry when mom or grandma leave the room. My baby will be 6 months younger and then Anna will bring an addition to the family 6 months after that! Babies Babies Babies!

Joel leaves Saturday for Florida. He's taking a group of college students for a week long missions project. I'm not too worried about him leaving. As ready as I am to put my baby in the baby room, I dont think 7 weeks early will or should happen. He's been such a big help with stuff around the house, and we've had a ton of fun lately, so I might get lonely, but between painting projects and the new Vos baby, I'm not planning on having too much free time.

Well, I hope you are all having an incredible spring. The weather has been the same as every other year I can remember. Nasty winter, spring teaser, reminder of winter's awfullness and hopefully soon to be followed with the real deal. (I've put away my turtle necks and only dress in springish clothes now) Happy March!