We're going to the Lakers vs. Kings game tonight at Arco Arena!  John and I are going with John's sister, Sandy, and his dad, Ron (who's a hard core Lakers fan).  We got the tickets awhile ago for Ron's Christmas present and thought it would be cool to go too.  Now the tickets are over $800!  Crazy!  Dad's mom is watching the kids - yay!  I can't wait - it's going to be so cool!  If you see it on tv tonight, you could look for us :)!  We're probably in the nose-bleed seats though.

Okay, so I never write in here, but I think part of it's because I don't feel I have time to update it well.  Oh well, if you're reading this, then I'm surprised and delighted that you're taking the time :). 

The kids are napping early today, mainly because they got up too early.  I just did a little workout on tv, which was really good, but boy am I out of shape!  I have the itching to go running now and exercise like crazy (which always happens once I start working out), but I don't think it would be good to leave the kids sleeping, even if it was to run around the culdesac! 

I have Christmas/New Year's letters & bills to work on today and go to the grocery store for milk and other things.  It'll be interesting to see what gets done.  I always get a little stressed out trying to think of how I'm going to go to the grocery store with a toddler in one hand and the 7 month old in the cart, but I just need to be flexible and think of it as an adventure (happy me) and go after good naps (happy kids).  We'll see how it goes.

Hope your Christmas was wonderful and your New Year's will be fun. 

What are you doing for New Year's Eve?

Here are a couple of pics from Christmas :).  Read on to hear about a cool Praise report.

Here's Hannah w/our very own Christmas tree and ornaments!  God spared all of our Christmas decorations and items from the fire!  We had just put them away in the garage the day before the first fire incident.  Amazingly, it wasn't affected by the fire or smoke!  What a cool thing for God to save at least those memories for us, free of smoke or fire damage...Hannah's first ornaments, one's we made, etc. :)!

Currently Reading From Conception to Birth : A Life Unfolds By Alexander Tsiaras see related

I'm supposed to be working on taxes while Hannah naps.  But I wanted to write something before I have this baby.  (No name yet, but we keep talking about it and doing our research on Family names to pass on and research on the meanings!)  I have to get these taxes done tonight and hopefully it will be done before midnight tonight for our appt tomorrow morning!

I'm at 37 1/2 weeks now, and have the go ahead from the doctor to go into labor.  Of course, you know he'll probably want to stay in till the due date - April 23rd - even though I had pre-term contractions at 30 weeks, and he made me have to be on modified bedrest for over 2 months! 

Pregnancy in it's last month is so taking it's toll on me.  I wake up often in the middle of the night b/c of my numb, hurting, swollen hands/wrists from carpel tunnel, to go to the bathroom or just to turn over!  Can't wait till he's here to see his little teeny tiny face and body.  We're pretty much ready...all clothes and blankets washed and organized, cradle made, car seat & boppy ready, bags packed for me and baby, list of friends and family who can help with Hannah printed, cell phone minutes a-plenty, and me! 

We've had so many gifts and donations from friends, family and total strangers that we feel overwhelmed with thankfulness for God's provision and support through His Body.  Thank you to all of those who have been and continue to be part of that love, support and prayers that we need so much right now. 

We have the best family and friends anyone could ever ask for!  We are blessed beyond what we could imagine!

I just want to thank everyone for all your love and support over the last month.  We are so grateful for the friends and family we have.  Each day is a struggle in different ways--tons of repeated phone calls to get anything done, waiting on hold on my cell minutes b/c our homeline is not up yet, playing with Hannah and her new toys, thinking of a month ago and how different life was.  Sometimes I just have to not think about what's happened so I don't spiral downhill into a crying mess.  Most of the time I have enough things to do to keep my mind occupied and off of details of what was.  Your prayers are carrying us everyday and we are eternally thankful each day for what is and what we do have-each other.

Thank you for everything.  And please keep praying for finances and physical, emotional & spiritual strength each day.  We all are suffering from colds, and Hannah has other health things going on as well.  My throat has been really bad, and not getting better.  Can things just get better?  I know they will in my heart and soul, but it's hard to see.  We believe with all we are, yet we can't see how.  I know God is good and faithful and He is the One who will carry us through and make everything better.  He's already done so much, and I am so grateful.  I just need to continue to remember all He has done and continues to do. 

Thanks for "listening."

So I'm really bad at this blog thing.  I can never keep up with everyone's blogs that I want to read and I barely have time to check my emails.  If I get to be on the computer during Hannah's nap it's usually just to get work done.  If she's awake, I kind of go insane keeping her out of things -  just NOT worth it!  At night when Hannah's down, I usually have to do kitchen stuff or just want to spend time with my amazingly hard-working husband.  But here I go trying again.

I have some BIG NEWS to share...we had our ultrasound on Monday and found out we're having baby BOY!!!  YAY!  We're very excited and can't wait...well we kind of could wait just b/c he doesn't have a room yet, but otherwise, it'll be so cool to see what he looks like, and his personality.  He has a different profile than Hannah had, so maybe he'll look more like John.  Who knows - wait and see.  Now we need to think of boy names!  I'm so bad at that.  I love Hannah's name so much and am not good at coming up with boy names. 

He's due around April 23rd.  And I don't know what to think about that.  My birthday is April 20th and the ultrasound said maybe April 19.  I want to celebrate my birthday without being in pain, but either waiting to go into labor, being in labor, or in recovery - I don't think I'll be too comfortable in any of these situations for my birthday.  An exciting time none the less.  And I'm very glad to not be pregnant in the summer this time!