37 Weeks!!

This is getting a little redundant, eh?? God sure does have a sense of humor! I spend the last 17 weeks on bed rest, trying to keep from delivering and now it can't come fast enough to suit any of us! :) Our newest game is trying to guess which day the baby will come. Landon is on thin ice with me because he said the 11th! Actually, that would be true to form for my babies because I am scheduled for a c-section on the 12th. Landon was a week overdue and they had told me no matter what they would have to induce me on the 7th...and my water broke on the 6th! With Tanner, they had encouraged me to have a scheduled section but I was fighting to try a VBAC and finally convinced them to schedule the C-section after my due date so I could at least have a chance at labor (what was I thinking?) and so my water broke on the 26th, the day before my scheduled section date! Landon first had suggested that the baby would come on the 4th, which would be next Thursday...next Thursday?! I just cannot believe it is that close! I cannot wrap my brain around not being stuck in the bed 24/7 anymore!

Sleep is sketchy at best these days...not just because I am up 4-10 time a night, but I find myself very anxious lately. It is so strange...during the "darkest" days of not knowing whether or not we would be able to carry the baby to viability I felt peaceful and confident that God was working His plan and it would be fine...now we are at a point where theoretically, the baby is term and would be fine and I am having more trouble with anxiety. What the heck is that?! I am exhausted and so over being confined to the bed. Yesterday we had some friends and their son come to watch the GA game (what a waste of a trip downstairs...not the friends, that was fun, but the game was pitiful!). Anywhoo, I stayed downstairs after they left and parked myself on the living room couch so I could watch Greg, Landon and Tanner decorate the tree. It was pretty comical because Tanner put almost every ornament I handed him on about 4 limbs all together...but he was so proud to be helping. At first he would say "I can't do it", but Greg showed him how to make it work and then every time he would hang one he would say "I did it". It was so cute! Cuter still was Landon saying "Good job brother...you are a big boy!" It made me so proud. I also got a little frustrated and sad that this was yet another thing that I was watching and not really getting to participate in with them...Landon was worried and asked me what was the matter and the only way I could explain it was with time out..."Do you know when you make a bad choice and have to sit and think about what you should have done? And everyone you were playing with is still playing, but you just have to watch until you can calm down and explain what your bad choice was? That is how mommy feels. I feel like I have been in time out for the last 4 months, just watching you and Daddy and brother having fun and making memories and I didn't even make a bad choice. So it is frustrating for me." And just like that, my little 4 year old got it...and it became clear to me...this has been my time out. God has been showing me that I don't always have to be in control. I don't have to be the only one there for my boys. I have a totally competent and loving husband who is an amazing father. It is okay for me to take a little time every now and again for me (maybe not 17 weeks, but...). And lastly, I need to learn to be content, wherever God has me. As frustrating as it is...God's timing is not my timing...but it is perfect. I need to trust that whatever the reason for the bed rest and now the waiting...it will become clear, or if not clear, it will just be worth it when I hold this latest gift. God is good...and I am thankful...despite my impatience!

Make it a great week...and feel free to suggest what day you think we'll meet this little one...might as well try to make the waiting fun! :)

So thankful!

Hello all!! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for this year!

We had an amazing day with family yesterday - even if it was not typical. Greg and the boys and I arrived at my parents house around noon...and with my mother still not feeling well, my sister, yes the one who has a 3 month old and three other children, basically did the entire dinner by herself! My father helped with his famous mashed potatoes and the turkey, but by and large, Lisa totally outdid herself! Everything was delicious and we were all pleasantly stuffed! Mom felt well enough to make a couple appearances during the day, and after we finally talked her into taking one of the pain pills was able to stay out and visit for a little while. We all missed her but managed to have a fun family day...and we look forward to making up for lost time just after Christmas when we will again celebrate with the whole family, including my brother, his wife and their 2 girls!

One of the best moments of the day was when Scott Patrick and Noah (Lisa's 7 year old twins, and my boys' heroes), Mary Claire, Landon and Tanner went out in the back yard to get decorations for the dining room table. They wanted to surprise us and so we stayed out of the room while they decorated and when we walked in were greeted with a table covered with pine cones and pine straw...it was really so funny...and they were so very proud of their handiwork!

We still are patiently awaiting P3's arrival, well...maybe not patiently, but waiting just the same. It is so hard to believe that our scheduled date is just two short weeks from today!! We are in the final countdown and so excited to finally meet this little one! Just one more reason we are so thankful this year! Hope you all had a wonderful day too! God bless!

Love, The Powells

Home for the Holiday

Hello all! Thank you for all of your calls and emails to check on the doctor's appointment yesterday and I'm sorry that I have been so slow to fill you in. The morning was crazy from the get go...My mother usually keeps the boys on Tuesdays but when she arrived it was obvious that she felt terrible...so we sent her on home so she could get to feeling better. I then called Andrea, one of the HRP nurses that sometimes helps us on her days off. Thankfully, she had been called off but was still on call, so she tentatively could help us until being called in...if that even happened. She even went as far as to meet Greg and me at the doctor's office so she could drive me home in her car and he could stay down at the office. It worked out rather nicely...and when I told Greg I would run into Babies R Us to use the ladies room, he ran over to Chickfila for his lunch. I got a phone call a few minutes later letting me know he was parked outside the door...and where was I?? Well, I guess the new found freedom got to my head and I came out with a bag full of stuff! (Man, it was nice to be out and about...even if it was painful!). I bought a few new nursing shirts and pajamas and a couple pairs of maternity jeans. Yes, I know that I only have 2 weeks left, but if you had watched the spectacle that was me trying to find a pair of pants that fit to wear to the doctor, you would understand!! My dear friends have been so generous to share what they have...unfortunately, most never got as big as I am now and for those precious few pairs that were big enough in width, they were also about a foot and a half too long!! So Greg very kindly said nothing of my shopping spree (he DID witness the spectacle and I think was stuck somewhere between pity and pain from holding back gales of laughter! It WAS pretty funny, by the time we left, I was dripping sweat from the effort and begging for the AC in the car...and it was 38 degrees out!). I paid the price for my little rebellious outing and spent the rest of the day lamenting that I had cheated! It felt as though someone very large had taken a sledgehammer to my lower back and I am pretty sure that I will be a lot more conservative from now on!!

Anywhoo, the doctor's appointment went well...I am still pregnant and still home, which is wonderful for the baby, but I must say, I feel like I am ready to pop and admit to being the slightest bit hopeful that he would suggest sending me to deliver yesterday. He didn't. And, he said they wouldn't consider delivering me before the 12th without doing an amnio to determine the lung development. Well, there is no way I am doing an amnio, so we will continue to twiddle our thumbs and laugh at how big I have gotten! It is insane!

Great news is that the doctor agreed that I could handle driving over to my parents house for Thanksgiving. We are going to head over late morning so that I have time to lie down for a while before dinner, but he said that I could even sit up at the table and eat with the family if I was feeling up to it! I am so excited! Landon and Tanner are beside themselves...they haven't seen their big boy cousins since Bennett was born 2 1/2 months ago and they miss them so much! It will be fun to be all together! The last time we were all together was back for Mary Claire's birthday party on August 10th...the day before I was admitted to the hospital!

Well, that's all the news that's fit to print. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and are overwhelmed, as we are, with the many blessings in your life! We are so appreciative of you, your support and your prayers and we know that we have seen our great God at work through you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

36 Weeks!!

We've made it!! 36 weeks!! It is a miracle and we are so thrilled! Although, technically, 37 weeks is considered term, we are on some fairly sturdy ground at 36 weeks and there is a great possibility that the baby would be born healthy and be able to come home with us. Praise God!

Thank you for your prayers thus far, and we ask that you continue to pray for our little P3. That the delivery goes well and that he/she will be able to come home with us when it is time to leave the hospital. Please also pray for the boys and their transition to having a little one in the house (though they talk about the baby constantly and seem so excited!). Please also pray that they will be fine during the time that I am in the hospital...oh, and that we can decide on a name! :)

Stay tuned...I've been having more contractions lately and though they are more frequent, they don't feel strong enough to make me think it is "real" yet. Truth be told, I am getting a little nervous about the actual delivery and recovery...not to mention having a newborn and no strength due to 4 months of inactivity. And of course I am wondering how I will be able to balance the needs of my boys and the new baby and the need to allow my body to recover. So selfishly, I am also asking for prayers for me to be able to fully rely on God to continue this good work He has started...and to trust that everything will be not just fine, but wonderful! He is able and faithful...and we are so thankful!

We love you...The Powells

35 Weeks!!!

God is so good!!

Fourteen weeks ago Greg and I were dealt a huge blow when we were told there was a chance that this baby might never make it to viability...let alone term. Now, here we are...just over three weeks from our scheduled delivery date and anxiously awaiting meeting this blessed gift from God!

The past 3.5 months haven't been easy, but they have been so very valuable. We have learned that God is able, and He is good and He is faithful! We have so enjoyed watching our boys learn how to pray with fervency for their sibling and for my body to do a good job! And we have been humbled and so very blessed by the outpouring of love, support, encouragement and help from our families, dear friends and even new acquaintances that just heard of our situation and were moved to help. From the initial shock and sometimes hopelessness of those first few days, we have been overwhelmed by a peace that could only have come from our Heavenly Father. He placed the right people in our path for the boys' care and made loved ones available to help the boys with the transition of not having mommy home.

I could go on and on about the seemingly little things that all fit together to make these past weeks not just possible, but even easier to handle than we ever could have imagined! The care our neighbors have taken of Greg and the boys with their meals and offers for care has been so incredible. My only concerns are that 1. The guys have gotten pretty fond of home cooked meals and 2. That I will never be able to match all the dishes, Pyrex and Tupperware back to their original owners. We have accumulated quite a collection and are trying to figure out what goes where...but if you are still missing something, please don't take offense, and please shoot us an email with what it is so we can get it back to you.

So really, the only reason for this entry was to reiterate how important you all have been during this journey to P3...and to sincerely thank you ...as if that could ever be enough! We have been so blessed and are so thankful for the opportunity to see God's church the way He originally intended. We are looking forward to the opportunity to "pay it forward" and are thankful for all of your selfless, thoughtful and supportive examples of how to love on people!

May God richly bless you and your loved ones, and may we all remember that God is in control of everything...and life is so much easier when we stop worrying, get out of His way and trust Him to work all things for good!

Love, Greg, Kristen, Landon, Tanner and P3

PS...We had a fun day on Sunday! While Daddy and Mr. Jess went to the Falcons' game, Rebecca and Jake brought yummy food and spent the day playing with the boys...for adorable photos, check Jake David's blog to the right! Now there are some handsome boys! :)

Boys' day out

Ah, Saturdays in the fall! Football, foliage, and yesterday for Greg and the boys, Furman's campus! Greg decided that he and the boys needed one more football game before the season ends (or before P3 decides to show) and headed up to Greenville yesterday morning. He debated about whether or not to go because of the recent rain and because of the chilly weather left behind...but with some encouragement from Landon, they decided to chance it! They headed out around 9:30 so they would have plenty of time to play before the game and just as they got there the sun came out full force and warmed things up enough to make it comfy. Greg said they got pretty chilly in the stands once the sun started getting low, but he was prepared with a blanket and one leg each for the boys to sit on so only Greg's fanny got really cold! What a good daddy! :)
I, on the other hand, had a very quiet day here at the house...well, except during the GA/Auburn game. My sister called to be sure that I wasn't going into labor (I guess she is taking up where the nurses left off) and we lamented over the lack of fire we saw in Georgia. We both, and I think all of Bulldog nation, expected it to be an easy win...which it wasn't. That's two games in a row against sub-Georgia teams where it came down to the final minutes...not fun!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend...just wanted to post so that you could see these cute photos of my handsome boys...and the beautiful trees on Furman's campus...amazing! Oh, and so that I wouldn't be reprimanded for not having a post between weekly updates! :) Have a great week! We love you!

34 Weeks...

...and still at home! Yes, I'm late with the update again..,guess things really are getting back to normal! :) Sunday marked 34 weeks which was a goal that even the doctors were hesitant to expect in the beginning. We are so thankful and relieved! I am huge...but I love it...I am so proud of this "ginormous" (as Landon says) belly that God has gifted me with! My sister shared her Doppler so every night the boys get to listen to "baby haaht" (that is how my little yankee Tanner says heart). It is really fun. They think it is hysterical when the baby kicks and has the hiccups and they are always ready to kiss the belly! So sweet! I'm trying to store all these things up in my heart...and some on video!

I went to the doctor yesterday and surprisingly didn't have a cervical scan. The doctor feels that at this point I will automatically start shortening anyway just due to the size of the baby (I am guessing we are well over 5.5lbs by now). And, even more surprising was that they didn't want to see me for another 2 weeks. 2 weeks!! Wow...I almost feel like I've been dumped...ha ha! I guess it is encouraging though! I was stunned by how much weight I have gained overall...already more than with both the boys and I still have 4 weeks to go! I guess that's what bed rest does! Everything else looked good, measured right on 34 weeks, blood pressure was good and I even got to have Steak n Shake on the way home (oh wait...maybe that's how I have gained so much weight)... oh well...a happy day! At this point, unless or until either my water breaks or I start having serious contractions, we just continue as is. Wow...sounds like what you might do with a normal pregnancy...go figure!

Things continue to be a mad house at home! I feel like someone sneaks in everyday to shoot my kids up with adrenaline! Or maybe I just forgot how loud and crazy two little boys can be! :) I love it...music to my ears. And I like to think of it this way...if the baby can learn to nap with all the commotion that Landon and Tanner make...we'll have one heck of a sleeper!

So, last bit of news...as is evidenced by the poll...most of you are guessing that we are going to have some pink in the house. We have had fun watching the numbers but have realized that it would be even more fun to know who thinks what...so if you want official bragging rights, be sure to leave a comment and don't forget to suggest a name! We have so loved sharing this journey with all of you! The support and encouragement have been downright humbling and we are so appreciative! We can't wait to see and show the finished product of 4 months of prayers, patience, love and help from the best friends and families that we could have ever hoped for. Thank you and God Bless!

What'll ya have?

Hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying yet another beautiful fall weekend!! The weather here has been just amazing and is starting to go from Indian summer to true fall breezes and chill in the early morning! Greg and the boys have been really enjoying playing football in the yard and riding bikes...yes, even the peanut's little legs can finally reach the pedals on the trike and he is having fun trying to chase down brother! After the scare of my report on Tuesday, I decided to hang out upstairs all week and finally ventured downstairs today to watch the GA/KY game with the guys. Greg made some of his famous chili (yum...now THAT's fall football food!) and I even got to sit out on the back deck and watch them play in the yard for a while...it was blissful!

Well, this Powell baby is following in it's brother's footsteps and taking it's sweet time...Of course, we are still hoping to make it to December, but we have had a rash of friends that were supposed to be due in December with us go ahead and deliver! Congrats to Maria (hall mate on HRP) who welcomed Oliver, Stacey (friend from church) who welcomed Justin, Shea (the one I told you about weeks ago who was due the same week I was) who delivered Kara at 32 weeks, and Kelly (one of our helpers while I was in the hospital) who delivered a baby girl just yesterday (haven't even gotten the name yet!). Also, our friends who were adopting got news that their new daughter was delivered via emergency c-section at 33 weeks. They high-tailed it up to KY to be with her and to support her birth mother who was having a tough recovery...the baby seems to be in great health, but please keep Janie and her health in your prayers. Actually, please keep all these little ones and their families in your prayers! God is so good, His love for us is evident every time another baby joins us!

So, we were talking about the fact that it has been pretty even when it comes to boys/girls being born...and thought it would be fun to take a poll to see what ya'll think about this little P3! I know several HRP nurses and techs that will be really surprised (and maybe a little perturbed) if this isn't a girl, but we're still not sure and won't be till we meet him/her! Please check the right side of the page and vote if you think the Powells' new theme song will be "Pretty in Pink" or "My Three Sons". Should be interesting! Also, we are fairly certain on a girl name (Uh, have been since we were pregnant with Landon!) but are still perplexed on a boy name...so if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments! (And no D, we will NOT be using Nebuchadnezzar and calling him Nebby!)

Take good care! We love you!

Incredible!

Hello all...just a quick post...a few of you may have noticed my blog list to the right. Most of these are friends of mine through church, play groups, etc. One was sent to me by my neighbor. I have never met Stephanie Vest, though I feel like I know her and her family through their blog. I encourage you to take a break out of your day, start back at the beginning, and read this amazing story of love, faith and trust. I am praying for Stephanie and her family daily and hope you will join me! Remember to live each day to the fullest...whatever that means for your life...and make sure to tell those you love that you love them! You will forever be changed by their story! God bless you!

33 Weeks!!

Actually, I am a couple days late and I am really 33 weeks and 2 days as of right now...3 days in about an hour! I got so tickled because on my Facebook status I always list my weeks and this week wrote "Kristen is 33 weeks...but who's counting?" To which one of my friends commented "Who isn't counting?" ha ha! Thanks to all of you that are counting the weeks and even days with us...keeping P3 in your prayers! We are certain that is a huge part of the reason we are at this point and we really appreciate you! And yes...to those of you that I used to make fun of b/c you have a Facebook page, I sincerely apologize...the Scrabble on Facebook has kept me sane, not to mention humble, during the past 3 months! And I learned early on that just because I have insomnia doesn't mean that friends and loved ones do and the Scrabble is a sure way to pass sleepless nights! :)

So now that I am no longer in the hospital, my weekly scans are done...or not. I had my first check up since coming home today and was ready to hear my standard report "holding steady, looking good, let us know if you feel any changes or start contracting on a regular basis". Let me back up...Tuesdays and Thursdays are our "challenging" days of the week. With the boys in school in the am, we really only need help during the afternoon. And for some reason we have always had a time finding help for those days. While I was in the hospital, the boys and I spent a good bit of time with the nurses and techs (obviously). There were a few that the boys really took to and one even offered to help out on her days off. So, today the boys were very excited when Ms. Andrea, one of my nurses, showed up to play! They had a ball (and I think she may have too)! My mother came over in the am to visit, run some laundry, do a grocery run and then drive me to my appointment. A dear friend shared her wheelchair with me so that I could do my civic duty and vote on the way to the doctor's (Thank you Kim! and thank you Abbie for showing Mom how to assemble it). Apparently, the shower this am, voting (even though I didn't wait and only stood for about 3 minutes), the 30 minute drive to the doctor and the 40 minute wait at the doctor was a little too much for my slacker cervix. By the time I was seen by the doctor I was feeling quite a few contractions...OR it could have been brought on by him charging into my exam room wearing his Florida jersey, his Florida flag as a cape around his shoulders and playing that awful Florida fight song on a tacky pen...not entirely sure. Anywhoo, he suggested we do a scan just to be sure so off I went. On the way, I ran into Dr. Wooten (the doctor who delivered Tanner) who said he would be looking forward to seeing if I had been compliant with doctors' orders...uh oh. So, initially my scan looked good...still averaging 30-34mm, but when I asked what the measurement was from the stitch to the baby, she said there wasn't one. (back info...the numbers I give weekly are a total measurement. But as important to that total is the amount of length between the baby end of the cervix and the stitch, as if and when I start to shorten or dilate, this will be where the change is readily apparent). Needless to say, this was not an expected, or welcome answer. Of course, my initial fear was that once again, I would go into the doctors' office and not get to go home...but be put right back in the hospital. Believe me...I have been being good! Maybe not hospital good (keep in mind that our house is a little bigger than my 15x12 hospital room and has stairs), but good just the same. It is incredibly hard to be here and not be able to be me, but I also know that I need to do what I can to stay at home while still keeping P3 toasty a little while longer! So, to be sure that I wasn't in active labor, I was put on the toco monitor (to detect contractions) for 30 minutes...and only had 1 contraction - PTL! Both doctors agreed the scan was most likely a result of being up (sitting or standing from 1pm when we left the house until about 4pm) and that this was my warning and that I needed to be even more diligent about staying down or next week I would be moving back into HRP across the street! So there you have it! Enough with complaining about the state of the house and what I need to do to be ready for the baby or whatever...I am down for the duration! If you will, please pray for my boys and for Greg that they can stick it out a little while longer and please pray that P3 can too!

Well this has ended up to be one of 'those posts' and I apologize for being so long winded...I do sincerely appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement! Here's to another 5 weeks and 2 days of nothing! :)

We love you!!
The Powells

Don't tell my doctors...

but today I got to go see Landon's final baseball game of the season!! It was so fun and I was so proud of my big boy...especially when he kept saying "hi Mommy" and waving at various times during the game! :) He hit the first pitch each of his 3 times at bat and ran so hard! He even made two great stops and throws to first...which is a huge improvement since the beginning of the season when he only wanted to hit...not play in the field! It was great to meet some of the other coaches and parents and finally put faces with names and stories! Thanks to Amy for these great photos!!









When we got home, we were looking forward to continuing our great day with a Georgia win, but alas, Georgia forgot to show up today! Wouldn't you know it...my check up on Tuesday is with the only doctor in my group that went to Florida! I know he will be totally obnoxious...do you think it is too late to change the appointment?! We ended up having a great day with our neighbors, including a nice steak on the grill (now THAT's what I'm talking about!) and some great outside time for the kids! The boys were still wiped out from the late night Friday and Landon didn't have a nap today due to baseball, so they hit the sack early...let's hope that daylight saving doesn't find them up at 5 am!!

Happy Halloween!

What a fun Halloween we had! Greg got home early and got the boys all dressed up, got my chair set up on the front porch with a huge bowl of candy and I put the finishing touches on all my boys' makeup! Landon and Tanner were Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Cat in the Hat and Greg was, of course, the Cat in the Hat! A dear friend shared the costumes which was a huge help, considering that Landon changed his mind about 30 times since I first asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween! They looked adorable and had a wonderful time! Before they had even left the house, their buckets were full...Tanner kept taking handful after handful out of the bowl and putting them in his pumpkin! Landon's buddy Eli from school and his daddy Brian joined Greg and the boys trick or treating, while Eli's mommy (and Landon and Tanner's school driver and all around life-saver) Lisa and their little girl Hayden stayed and kept me company on the porch. It was a fun night and they really seemed to enjoy themselves! Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween too!

Love, the Powells

First week home

Well, if the doctors wanted me to have a quiet first week home, maybe they should have kept me a few more days! Just kidding...but it has been quite and adjustment for all of us! I remember laughing at a friend from boredom busters when she told me I would need to rest the first time I tried to go up our stairs...who's laughing now?! It is incredible how tiring it is just to walk up the stairs! When I got home on Monday, I spent the afternoon on the sofa and headed up when it was time for the boys to go to bed. The next time I even attempted the stairs was not until Thursday morning! I felt a lot like a 97 year old...correction...a 97 year old that had been riding a horse for 47 years! Talk about sore and tired...unbelievable!! Thankfully, we have amazing help with the boys and I haven't had to do much of anything but rest. But I now understand why the doctors held me as long as they did...it is hard to be home and not be able to be myself! For the love of peete...I haven't cleaned my house in 3 months! I mean, the house has been cleaned, but I haven't cleaned it...do you know what I mean?!

Greg has had a horrific week at work, with budgets for 09 due along with all of his regular tasks, he has been getting up and going in at 3 and staying until late. We had another dear friend from Northpoint pinch hit for us and relieve Cory when she had to go to work. She stayed until 11 one night and 7 two other nights! Thankfully, it looks like the end is in sight. Most of his deadlines are Monday and then I think he can actually sleep for more than 4 hours in a night! He has been such a trooper...I don't know how he has managed! And, add a bedridden, slacker wife to his list of responsibilites and well, I think you can see why he is up for husband and father of the year! :)

It has been wonderful to have the boys come in from school and share what they have learned and listen to their play and laughter just downstairs instead of over the phone line! We have had many naps together and had a wonderful "family snuggle" this morning! I am so in love with my family...I have been so blessed!

Thanks to all of you who have called and stopped by to welcome me home! I truly appreciate you all! And have I mentioned how nice it is to actually get to taste the wonderful meals being delivered instead of just listening to Greg brag about how yummy they are over the phone?! :)
These past few months would not have worked had it not been for the help, support and prayers from you all! We are forever thankful...and have a new understanding of how God intended His church to act and interact! You have been that example to us and we are so grateful! May God richly bless you and your families the way He has blessed us through you!