Adventures with Heather

Thursday, December 31, 2009

A New Year, A New Start.

As I reflect on this past year, it feels like a blur.. So much has happened! So many changes, challenges, lessons, lots of crying from past wounds, lots of healing, Letdowns, New Love, Blessings, Triumphs...

Here are some Highlights...

-Got a job as a Court Runner at a Law Office downtown
-Got a job as High School Intern at Vineyard Columbus
-Spoke & Co-Led Worship at High School Summer Camp
-Started a High School Small Group called: The Justice League!

-My Niece Chloe was born

-My Nephew Dylan was born

-Made a Music Video to raise awareness about Human trafficking

-Played lots of music and worship

-Wrote lots of music
-Recorded "Awaken Me" with Rick May
-Won an award on Ourstage.com for being in the Top 10 in the Indie Rock Category for "Battle Scars"
-Went to Nashville for GMA's Immerse Conference for musicians
-Got Prego - spent most of that time on Bed Rest



-Grew friendships
-Got an Electric Guitar
-Fell more in love with my husband

-Made cool crafts and Paintings..


I am hopeful that 2010 could be the best yet! A New Year, A New Start. I'm looking forward to: Less sickness, Our new babe will enter the world, We will be moving into a BIGGER and less expensive home (thanks to Brett's dad), The Priceless Music Video will be released and will be playing Priceless at a Human Trafficking event on OSU's Campus in April.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Owls & Trees For Baby's room!



I spent 2 and a half hours cutting out handmade shapes of owls, owl eyes, owl beaks, and trees while watching Penelope today! I was feeling creative after receiving sooo many cool painting supplies for Christmas from my parents, and I decided to make something for my baby's room! :) All the Colors used in my picture, are the same colors used in my baby's bedding (we got bedding for our last baby that we lost, and decided to keep it and use it again.) and I am soo excited to see what it all turns out like! I had soo much fun creating again!

Since I've been so sick, it's been hard to do ANYTHING. It was so refreshing and fun to do something I love doing again. :)

By the way... today I am 15 weeks Pregnant!! My belly continues to grow and change everyday. It seems like everyday I wake up it is a little bigger, and it is neat! I am finally getting excited about continuing this process of pregnancy.

Here is a pic of me at 14 weeks!!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

14 week appointment and all is well pretty amazing!

I had my 14 week Check in with the doc today, and it went really well!

The nurse looked at me and said, "You look like you are feeling better!" and I said, "Yes! Finally!" I stepped on the scale and let out a "Horraaayy!" when I saw that I gained 3 pounds and the nurse said "good job!". I told her it probably has something to do with the Lasagna kick I've been on these past couple days! :)

We heard our baby's heartbeat again and that was neat! Just to know everything is continuing as normal, even though my situation hasn't exactly been normal, is REALLY comforting. I told Dr. Parker I've been able to eat a lot more (lots of lasagna) and haven't been as nauseated as before, especially since I've been taking the benadryl. He told me it was really good to see me putting on weight. He also told me since I am feeling better, he wants to start weaning me off the zofran medicine pump!! And I said "YAY!"

How exciting is that??!! No more needles, syringes, wires, band aids, bruises, pain and knots! I can finally feel like a normal pregnant person, and not like a sicko outcast. Not saying anyone ever said anything to me, but it is awkward when people stare at the tubes coming out of you and the medicine pump.. it just makes you want to hide! It will be so nice to not have to deal with all of that soon. :)

After the doctors appointment me and Brett made a stop at Taco Bell. Mmmmm, double decker taco's are inspirational! Another happy moment of being able to EAT and not feel sick.. I never thought it would be possible!

Let me just tell you.. this week has been a good one! It's the little things you know? Like Hanging out with Alicia and Brett for a Lord of the Rings and Eggs Benedict morning, Cassie coming to cut my hair and chat (the hair cut has given me some much needed confidence!), Going to starbucks to hang out with the Youth Ministry peeps to celebrate Chris Traut's term as Youth Pastor, reading blogs written by friends like Jenny Sigler and getting pumped up to be a mom :) and talking to my best buddy Emily for an hour about life! ALSO! Beth and Nick Fancher had their baby Jack yesterday, and I was just happy all day! I am so glad I am feeling better for Christmas too! Even though I am not 100% I feel like I will be able to enjoy it much better than I would have 2 weeks ago even!

In other random news, I got my first maternity pants from Gap Maternity (with a gift card) and they are fabulous!

Plus, only 1 more appointment until I find out if it is a Boy or a Girl!

Possible Boy name (thought of by Brett): TRUST - (cuz we've had to Trust God a lot!)
Possible Girl name (also thought of by Brett): IVY -(our fave character in the Village, the blind girl with red curly hair, she is amazing!)

Basically I suck at picking out names, but it's okay because Brett is really creative and good at it! :)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Hope in a bottle..

I wrote this after our miscarriage of Lily, our daughter..

"I'll put hope in a bottle
and throw it out to sea, to sea
and maybe one day it
will come back to me, to me"

The poem is about the hope of having a child, and trusting that we would have the opportunity again. And sure enough here we are 13 WEEKS pregnant with great hope. Isn't it interesting how God redeems?

Death stings to the core, but there is such JOY in new life.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

12 week Baby Appointment!

Lots of people are asking me how my appointment went yesterday (thank you for asking it makes me happy!), so I thought I'd write it here! :)

I was feeling really sick by the time we got in to see the doctor (which was actually good so I could tell him how I was feeling) because it was beginning to be afternoon. Afternoon is when my body decides it doesn't like being pregnant and makes me super sick! I was eating animal crackers when the doctor came in. he-he.

We talked about how I was feeling and he said that we should wait until I feel a little bit better before I'm weaned off the meds. (thank the Lord) He also said to take Benadryl because it has something in it that helps nausea/motion sickness. (I looked it up online and it is legit) It seems to help take the edge off for sure. He also took me off of Progesterone supplements and said that may help me feel better too.

He also did the little sound monitor to hear the heartbeat, and sure enough as soon as he put it on my belly the heartbeat was just beating away! That was the first time we've actually HEARD the heartbeat and I got quite emotional! It was soo neat!

I am going back again in 2 weeks just to make sure everything is still going well. They just want to stay on top of everything.

Brett drove me to our appointment while he went to work, but before that he got me some goodies at Giant Eagle. I was all worked up and excited and sick after our appointment that I was gagging in the Giant Eagle parking lot! I ate some pretzels, and listened to some Phil Wickham. Ahhhh... Peace. I listened to the song "Beautiful" and had STREAMS of tears running down my face! Tears of joy and thankfulness. It made all of my worries disappear. That no matter what I go through I can do it with Gods help. :)

My amazing conversation with Alicia from the morning also came flooding back and it was a great time of reflection and praise. I was reminded how BLESSED I am. How people like Alicia have encouraged me to keep going and have loved me despite my constant moaning! :)

I still need help/prayer, but I am keeping my eyes on the prize!!! My baby!!! I can't wait to meet my little sweetie. So we wait!

p.s. My mom is still in the hospital and does have infection from the appendix being removed. She has a fever, but they are watching her closely. She might come home today if her fever goes down! Keep praying for her!

BEAUTIFUL- Phil Wickham
"I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful"

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Beauty in the Breakdown

"So, let go, let go
Jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?
It's all right
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown
So, let go, let go
Just get in
Oh, it's so amazing here
It's all right
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown" Frou Frou

Yesterday started out like a normal day.

Me and mom were chatting it up about cool things happening at the youth group, and brainstorming about the future. You see she's been filling in for me as intern while I've been sick. Just another reason why she is Super-Mom.

She started not feeling so good after eating some smelly turkey and I teased her that that was why she was feeling sick. She kept getting worse as the minutes ticked on. Her abdomen started hurting really bad and I said "dad, should you take mom to the ER to get her checked out?" and he said "Yeah I think we are going to go now." and turned to my mom and said, "What about Berger?" Thinking my dad was asking if she wanted a cheese burger, she daid "No! I don't want a Burger!" In all reality dad was talking about the hospital in Circleville, Berger Hospital! ha!

My dad kept me up to date with Texts. She got a CAT scan and they determined the pain was coming from her halfway removed appendix. She had gotten in removed in 7th grade when surgical proceedures weren't as up to date as they are now and they didn't get all of it. I guess it had swollen up to be the size of an actual appendix my dad said.

They did emergency surgery that night and I was just a mess not being able to be there. I talked to my sister Amy and texted some people to pray. I was feeling REALLY sick too. The more worked up I got the sicker I felt. I ended up throwing up at one point and I haven't thrown up in a while.

I was kneeling by my bed while throwing up, so I took the opportunity to talk to God. I prayed "God be by my mom's bedside tonight. Be with the doctors." It was all I had, but I knew God understood. :)

It feels like I am in the "Breakdown" mode right now. I have been numb for so long just dealing with sickness from day to day but when something like this happens, it knocks the wind out of you. I am looking for the beauty in all of this today. My 12 week appointment is at 10:50 so I'm sure I'll find some there. :)

In the Meantime, Pray for my mom and for my family today. We all need it. We all are feeling a little beat up and broken down.