tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25896142409650520022024-03-05T17:53:32.832-08:00This is my journeyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-79737805191150240462015-08-10T07:11:00.006-07:002015-08-10T07:11:47.033-07:00Shane UpdateIt has been awhile since I have given an update on Shane. I kept thinking that when there was a lull in doctor appointments that I would give an update. But truthfully, there will never be a lull in doctor appointments. Since it has been awhile, I apologize if this update is long.<br />
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So about 5 weeks ago, Shane had another sedated MRI. His neurosurgeon had ordered the MRI since Shane was still significantly delayed. As you may remember, Shane has been diagnosed with Chiari (<b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Arnold–Chiari malformation type 1) </b>and Hydrocephalus. His concern was that maybe one of these conditions had worsened and was contributing to him being delayed. While he was sedated, they pulled some blood to check for certain genetic disorders.<br />
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http://www.conquerchiari.org/pediatric/pediatric-index.html (more info on Chiari here)<br />
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His MRI looked good and no changes were seen from his previous MRIs. So once again, no surgery for Shane! He still has a mild case of Hydrocephalus and he will have CHiari for life. There is no cure for Chiari so it is something that will continue to be monitored.<br />
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Shane has been having sleeping issues for the past couple of months. Some nights it is very hard to get him to sleep and most nights he wakes up during the middle of the night.When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he is not upset and does not need anything. He just wakes up and is wide awake. We only know he is awake because we can hear him talking and playing in his room. He is currently on melatonin but even that sometimes does not help. Sometimes I just have lay with him until he falls back asleep. As you can imagine it is very frustrating to come from work at midnight and see him standing in the window waving at me. Momma needs sleep! Since insomnia and sleep apnea are very common with Chiari, Shane had another sleep study done about 1 week ago. You may remember that he had one done about 2 years ago and that one was normal. I have to say that this sleep study went better than last time but there was still very little sleep. He didn't go to sleep till about 9:30pm and woke up around 2am which is his usually time to wake in the middle of the night. I gave him a dose of melatonin and went back to sleep. At 6am they wake you and send you on your way. Those results take about 6 weeks so when we see the pulmonologist in about 5 weeks we will get those results.<br />
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Friday I got a call from the genetic consular about Shane's genetic blood work. Shane has Gorlin Syndrome. What is that you ask? Well, go google it cause that is what I did. I'll wait .............................................................................................................................Did you look it up? Well, now you know as much as I do. So here is what I know from my research of different sites and from talking about it with people on the Gorlin support group. Gorlin syndrome is also known as Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome or NBCCS. It is a genetic condition which means he probably got it from one of us though it is possible to have a spontaneous mutation. 90% of people who have this condition have basal cell cancers and jaw cysts. there is a 5% chance of children with this condition to develop a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. So what does this all mean for Shane????? Well, we are meeting with the genetic consular later this month to talk about that. We will need to be very proactive with protecting his skin so he needs sunscreen when he goes outside. He will need yearly dental x-rays done to check for jaw cysts starting at the age of 8 and yearly exams to check for basal cell skin cancer. Since this is a genetic condition he has up to a 50% chance of having children with this condition. This condition is considered rare, about 1 in 40,000 people have NBCCS. As you can imagine, getting this news was hard. <br />
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But there is a bright side to this. We know what he has and what to keep an eye on for the future. We are better prepared!God has a special plan for him. Everyone who is near him just adores him. Wherever we go, people are drawn to him. They come up to him at the grocery store. His smile is contagious! I took him to my women's group with me and the women fell in love with him. Its amazing to watch how people respond to him. I know that no matter what, God is with us and He has a special plan for Shane. Even with all these issues and doctor appointments, I am honored to be his mom. I am honored that God chose me to be Shane's mom. This diagnosis was not what we had wanted to hear but we will continue to fight and learn. Each day is a new day and we will never give up. God has been faithful to us and He will continue to be faithful. With God by our side and your support, there is nothing that cant be accomplished! I just want to thank you all for your support and prayers. It means the world to me. As I learn more, I will share as well. This condition is new to us and foreign. I have more questions than answers, But I know we can get through this. With God anything is possible!<br />
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Thanks again!<br />
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P.S. I wrote this at 1am so I apologize for any grammar mistakes. I wrote this after I got home from work. Its the only time I have quiet time to myself :)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Prov. 3:5&6</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 28.7999992370605px;"><span style="line-height: 23.25px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11</b></span></span></span></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-69629643212635002772014-01-10T11:14:00.000-08:002014-01-10T11:21:13.826-08:00How I Earn $25-$50 in Amazon Gift Cards from Swagbucks Every Month<div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am happy to say that I was able to pay for most of my three children’s Christmas presents this year by using Swagbucks. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is Swagbucks doesn’t make you start at zero. The site automatically gives you 30 Swagbucks just for creating an account. Once you’ve set up your account, you can start earning more Swagbucks in a variety of ways</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I usually spend about an hour each morning while I eat my breakfast and drink coffee to work on Swagbucks while I do others things (like e-mail, Facebook) and I now earn about about $25-$50 in Amazon giftcards per month. Here’s how:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. Using the Facebook page:</strong> People post whether they are on “dubs” or “trips”, which means that they have gotten 2 or 3 search wins. If I know that other people have gotten 2 wins, then I continue to search after my first win until I do, too. (If everyone is only on singles, then I don’t waste my time searching more.) <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">15-30 points per day</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. Swagbucks TV mobile:</strong> I start SBTV mobile every morning on myKindle and only have to monitor it to make sure it hasn’t frozen on any commercial. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">50 points per day</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. Radium One Offers:</strong> The Swagbucks Facebook page usually has people that comment about which offers are crediting and don’t require spending any money. I use this info to quickly find the offers, sign up, and get points. They also usually have offers for printing coupons or watching videos. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">10-20 points per day</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. Encrave:</strong> Right now, after getting a search win or doing the NOSO, you can click on a page with lots and lots of offers that simply require you to click on links to get points. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">30-50 points per day</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. Jun videos:</strong> These all earn 2 points and can usually be found on the homepage or ledger. They are not always there, but when they are, can net between 10-50 points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">6. Surveys:</strong> I don’t spend much time on these, but if I see a survey that takes less than 10 minutes, I do it. I usually get about one per week. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">50 points per week</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">7. Making my goal:</strong> By doing all the above steps, I make my points goal every day. This gives me a bonus of about 500 points every month!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8. <b>Search:</b> <span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Rather than using your regular search engine, log into Swagbucks and enter your search in the search bar. As you perform online searches you’ll occasionally be rewarded Swagbucks in varying amounts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you do win Swagbucks during a particular search, a small screen will appear telling you how many you’ve won. You’ll have to enter a security/captcha code to confirm you’re a human and not a robot, then the Swagbucks get added to your account.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">9. <b>Search on Friday</b>: </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Friday is known as Mega Swagbucks day to Swaggernauts (aka Swagbucks users). All day, every Friday you have a better chance to win higher denominations of Swagbucks for your searches. For instance, where you may normally only win 8 Swagbucks in a typical search on Friday you could earn 30.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">10. <b>Daily Poll</b>: </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Earn 1 Swagbuck for every day you answer a simple daily poll. You can access the poll through the toolbar or the Swagbucks home page. Think of it this way – one daily poll multiplied by 30 days in a month equals 30 Swagbucks. Do know, however, that you will only earn a Swagbuck for the current day’s poll, not previous polls.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">11. <b>Shop</b>: </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Earn Swagbucks the next time you shop online. Much like you can earn cash back when you shop through sites like Ebates and Cashbaq and Shop at Home, you can earn points when you shop most major online retailers through Swagbucks portal. Instead of earning cash back, like you do on many other sites, you earn a certain number of Swagbucks for every dollar you spend online.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I love that I have been able to get my three kids presents for their birthdays without having to go into our savings or use the credit card. <span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">The Swagbuck store offers many prizes to choose from including gift cards to popular retailers such as Starbucks, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Once you’ve earned the number of Swagbucks needed for the prize of your choice, you can redeem them. M</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">y favorite rewards are Amazon gift cards.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Your turn:</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> How have you earned the most Swagbucks? What tips do you have for newbie Swaggernauts?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Click <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" target="_blank">here</a> to check it out: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_422167228">www.</a></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette">swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You wont be disappointed </span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-45387447240123670622013-11-22T13:09:00.002-08:002013-11-22T13:09:43.682-08:00Fair Trade Certified™ coffee from Green Mountain CoffeeWho is Green Mounting Coffee?<br />
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Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) is focused on creating
positive and sustainable change for people and ecosystems in the places
where they do business through focused sustainability endeavors. They are
committed to social and environmental responsibility and continue to
evolve their company’s corporate citizenship and community outreach
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business, their support for their employees, and their commitment to their local
and global communities are inseparable; each supports the others in a
powerful synergy that drives their success.<br />
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I'm a BzzAgent, and I received a product sample to review Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee.<br />
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I received my Green Mountain Fair Trade Certified Coffee. We brewed up a
bunch, and man, it is rich and flavorful. We love it here, and also,
being activist types, we were really excited that this coffee actually
is certified Free Trade, so everyone involved in this product received a
fair wage for a great cup of coffee! Love it, and loved to be a part
of making sure others get decent pay for the great morning they provided
me with. Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-78827435666634834782013-10-30T17:45:00.003-07:002013-10-30T17:45:38.951-07:00Curél® Intensive Healing Cream for extra dry or sensitive skin.<i><b>With all this cold weather my hands & skin tends to be dry , irritated & sensitive to any scented cream or lotion.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>I have tried many lotions but most of them have failed to cure the dryness & sensitivity that I had.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>BzzAgent gave me the chance to try Curél<sup>®</sup> Intensive Healing Cream in exchange for my review & honest opinion</b></i><br />
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<i><b>I have been using the product for awhile and I really like it’s thick ,rich & creamy formula .</b></i><br />
<i><b>It is not greasy at all ,doesn’t take any effort in rubbing it over the skin,& is absorbed quickly.</b></i><br />
<i><b>I have</b><b> been using it on my hands & ashy dry heels , now i find my skin looks & feels softer & smoother.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>The product is fragrance free & hypoallergenic , long lasting , provides immediate hydration & heeling relief.</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you suffer from dry sensitive skin , i recommend trying Curél<sup>®</sup> Intensive Healing Cream.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Disclosure: i got the product free from BzzAgent for testing purposes</b></i><br />
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<i><b><img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/curel.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=9837235127&Campaign=3266738375&Uid=1420243&token=ab086a5dbbd92ba0d94760187682927a" alt=""/> </b></i>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-33740154834484789452013-10-30T17:23:00.002-07:002013-10-30T17:25:02.089-07:00Vanilla Flavored orange Halloween TruMoo–Enter now to win!As a BzzAgent, I received coupons in the mail for the new vanilla and
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https://img.bzzagent.com/image/truMoo.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=8657869689&Campaign=2847543547&Uid=1420243&token=6e7f974caffe91edf784f6900cd8232f" alt=""/> Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-63993226926337033572013-06-05T12:39:00.004-07:002013-06-05T12:39:32.722-07:00MRI and Sleep Study Update<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have so much to be thankful for! Shane had his repeat MRI done a couple of weeks ago. I was so happy that he didn't have to be sedated for it. They did a "quick scan" which means that they just took 2 pictures of his brain and each picture took about 2 minutes. He was back in my arms before I could remember how to access the Internet off the tv! While I was waiting, I overheard some of the doctors doing their rounds and once again I was reminded that there are others who have it much worse and that I have much to be thankful for.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our appointment with the neurologist was the same day so we didn't have to wait that long for the result. While waiting in the room, the nurse came in and told us that the doctor was in the NICU so our appointment would be delayed. Another reminder that we are so incredibly blessed! I think I stopped breathing when the doctor came into the room. I didn't want to miss anything he had to say. He told us that the MRI looked exactly the same as it had before, which is good and bad news. He still has hydrocephalus but it is not bad enough to treat at this time. No surgery is needed! He was very happy to hear that Shane was not having any issues eating and that even though he is still behind physically, he is improving. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because hydrocephalus can injure the brain, thought and behavior may be adversely affected. So even</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> though I am thrilled that he does not require surgery right now, I know that this is going to be a life long issue that we will </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">have to keep an eye on. We go back for a check up in 3 months and possibly another MRI in 6 months. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMpeXImPES9KUHoomNqEyrk_ZIDbl9nX7TyzLp9S2pyrVr_AfTaHE8eu19fZdhMxKFPlaxqeqL_VHnMkge1PauxQbRAI_Y4czijH20gsPiHW0PRXzlBqob1qpoQwCiTtw2lCQf6oR6C8/s1600/shane+sleep+study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMpeXImPES9KUHoomNqEyrk_ZIDbl9nX7TyzLp9S2pyrVr_AfTaHE8eu19fZdhMxKFPlaxqeqL_VHnMkge1PauxQbRAI_Y4czijH20gsPiHW0PRXzlBqob1qpoQwCiTtw2lCQf6oR6C8/s320/shane+sleep+study.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Last Friday, Shane had his sleep study done. A sleep study measures quantity, quality, and breathing during sleep. Calling it a sleep study is very misleading since there was very little sleep involved. You have to arrive by 7:30pm and he usually goes to bed around 7pm. Strike 1. By the time we got ready him with all the wires, fed and changed it was almost 8:30pm. Strike 2. Sensors and belts were attached to his head, nose, mouth, chest, abdomen, fingers and legs. So pretty much, they were everywhere! The worst part was the nasal cannula. He did not like having it in his nose and every time he moved, it had to be repositioned which was about every 30-60 minutes. Then is would a little bit to get him to settle down and go back to sleep. It was exhausting! The study was over at 6am and it is something I hope to never do again. It will take about 3-4 weeks to get the results.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">We have been through a lot this year and I am eternally grateful for all your prayers. Every night as I put him down for bed, I kiss his head and thank God for His faithfulness and mercy. I am so blessed to be this little boy's mommy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippians 4:13</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-48407468372498729502013-05-20T12:54:00.003-07:002013-05-20T13:30:47.201-07:0011 Months<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't believe that the twins are 11 months already. Boy does time fly by! Joy is crawling everywhere and loves to get into everything. She is standing and sometimes stands all by herself. I have no doubt that she will be walking soon. Joy is a perfect name for her, always smiling and laughing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shane is doing great with his physical therapy and is getting stronger every week. He is rolling over but still hates tummy time. He can sit by himself for a minute or so before falling over. I am so proud of his progress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month Shane saw the ENT doctor because of his increased breathing noise. They took some xrays and found that he had a marked narrowing of his trachea. The narrowing looked floppy so they believe that he will outgrow it but if he needs to be sedated again we need to let the doctors know so they can use a smaller tube.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Shane had his MRI done a few months ago, they also found that he has a Chiari malformation of the br<span style="line-height: 30.71875px;">ain which means </span><span style="background-color: white;">which parts of his brain protrudes</span><span style="background-color: white;"> through the opening in the base of the skull into the spinal column.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/chiari.html#">http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/chiari.html#</a> is a good site to learn more</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some signs of Chiari malformation in babies include:</span></div>
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<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">irritability when being fed</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">excessive drooling</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">weak cry</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">trouble gaining weight</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">arm weakness</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">developmental delays</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35em;">sleep apnea </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.59375px;">Now since we already know he has a narrow trachea and that he is at risk for having sleep apnea, we are doing a sleep study later this month. At his 10 month check up we found that his head had grown a lot, going from the 65th percentile to the 95th percentile. Because of this, he is having a repeat MRI done tomorrow to see if he needs a shunt so please keep us in your prayers. Luckily he is not being sedated for this MRI. They are doing a "quick scan" so it should only take about 10-15 minutes to do. The other good thing is that we have an appt with the neurosurgeon later that morning so we know right away what they found in the MRI. no waiting. I just want to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thank you all for your prayers as we continue on this journey. It has been a long road and we continue to see God's faithfulness in every step!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-21150816688499213542013-03-26T13:41:00.001-07:002013-03-26T13:41:07.661-07:00Family Update<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past couple years have been such a roller coaster ride. 3 ectopic pregnancies. 2 failed fertility treatments. Get pregnant with twins. Put on bed for about 2 months in hospital. Delivered twins early at exactly 33 weeks. 3 weeks in the NICU. You would think that after all this, things would settle down. I know that is what I thought. But boy was I wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Shane was born, he was on oxygen for a couple of hours and because of that we need to have his eyes checked. His eyes were asymmetrical and had major flat spots. Because of this, he had a head ultrasound and saw that his ventricles were enlarged and asymmetrical as well. One day in the NICU, one of the nurses heard a murmur so they performed an echo and found that the hole in the heart that is supposed to close after birth did not close. Because he had all these issues, the doctors recommend that we see a genetics doctor to rule out any syndromes that he may have that would have caused some of his problems. Whew! I think that sums up our time in the NICU.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Since then we have seen a Genetics doctor and all his blood work came back normal. They checked for any additions or deletions of his chromosomes. That is awesome news but doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have anything either. They can't test for every single syndrome so we have to wait and see if any new symptoms appear that would lead us to a specific syndrome. But so far none of the doctors think he has anything besides back luck.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he was about 6 months old we had a repeat echo done and the hole in his heart is tiny. No need for any more follow up care! It could still close completely but even if it doesn't, his heart is perfectly fine. Whoo Hoo! Praise the Lord!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />When a baby is on prolonged oxygen and premature the doctors worry about ROP. ROP or Retinopathy Of Prematurity is when there is improper growth of the blood vessels on the retina which can cause </span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">damage to the retina. He shows no signs of this however he is extremely far-sighted and requires glasses. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since his ventricles were enlarged he saw a neurosurgeon and got a MRI done which he had to be sedated for. The MRI showed his ventricles were enlarged. On a scare of 1 to 5 where 1 was normal, he measured a 2. So he was enlarged but only slightly. However, when we was measured at his 9 month appointment his head measured in the 95th percentile when he was in the 65th percentile. The neurosurgeon measured his head as well and we have another MRI scheduled for May 21st. They call it a quick scan because he will not be sedated for it. If his ventricles are more enlarged he may need a shunt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Let's see, what else. Since he had major flat spots on his head we saw a plastic surgeon to see if he needed a helmet. His head shape is great now so he doesn't require a helmet. He does have a dermoid on his nose. What is a dermoid you ask? It is a </span><span style="background-color: white;">skin-like benign growth. Apparently it is fairly common. It will need to be removed since it will continue to get bigger and bigger. They will wait until he is older about 2-3 yrs old to remove it since it will be easier to remove without leaving a noticeable scar. If he needs to be sedated for any procedure they would remove it then.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also saw an ENT doctor (Ear, Nose and Throat) because of his increased upper airway noise. We have barium x-rays scheduled for next week to rule out an obstruction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His muscle tone is poor so he receives weekly physical therapy. He is doing great with it and improves all the time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please continue to pray for him! It can be over whelming at times keeping all of his doctor appointments in order but when he smiles it is all worth it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joy is doing great and has no issues at all. She is crawling and sitting on her own. Her favorite thing to do is to crawl over to Shane and take whatever toy he is playing with. She also has taken his binkie right out of his mouth and popped it into hers! Who knew they would be fighting over toys already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that is it. I tried to keep it short and simple. I hope I have succeeded in doing that. I have wanted to post an update for a long time but it was hard to know where to start.. I pray our next update has nothing but good news to report. I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. </span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-59085790974373152002012-11-14T07:20:00.000-08:002012-11-14T07:20:03.331-08:0050 Things You Need To Give Up <br />
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to be perfect.</strong> – The real world does not reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up comparing yourself to others.</strong> – The only person you are competing against is yourself.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up dwelling on the past or worrying too much about the future.</strong> – Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Don’t miss it.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up complaining.</strong> – Do something about it.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up holding grudges.</strong> – Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up waiting.</strong> – What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow. Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up lying.</strong> – In the long-run the truth always reveals itself. Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to avoid mistakes.</strong> – The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up saying, “I can’t.”</strong> – As Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to be everything to everyone. </strong>– Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. Start small. Start now.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up thinking you’re not ready.</strong> – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up setting small goals for yourself. </strong>– Many people set small goals because they’re afraid to fail. Ironically, setting these small goals is what makes them fail.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to do everything by yourself.</strong> – You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with. If you work together, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up buying things you don’t need.</strong> – Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you. Do not spend to impress others. Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up blaming others for your troubles.</strong> – The extent to which you can live your dream life depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up making mountains out of molehills.</strong> – One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years? If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to live up to the expectations of others.</strong> – Work on it for real and exceed your own expectations. Everything else will fall into place.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up the ‘easy street’ mentality.</strong> – There is too much emphasis on finding a ‘quick fix’ in today’s society. For example taking diet pills to lose weight instead of exercising and eating well. No amount of magic fairy dust replaces diligent, focused, hard work.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up making promises you can’t keep.</strong> – Don’t over-promise. Over-deliver on everything you do.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up letting your thoughts and feelings bottle up inside.</strong> – People are not mind readers. They will never know how you feel unless you tell them.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up beating around the bush.</strong> – Say what you mean and mean what you say. Communicate effectively.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up avoiding change.</strong> – However good or bad a situation is now, it will change. That’s the one thing you can count on. So embrace change and realize that change happens for a reason. It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up your sense of entitlement.</strong> – Nobody is entitled to anything in this world. We are all equal. We breathe the same air. We get what we give. We get what we earn.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up waiting until the last minute.</strong> – Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up being dramatic.</strong> – Stay out of other people’s drama and don’t needlessly create your own.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up being anti-athletic.</strong> – Get your body moving! Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up junk food.</strong> – You are what you eat.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up eating as a means of entertainment.</strong> – Don’t eat when you’re bored. Eat when you’re hungry.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up foolish habits that you know are foolish.</strong> – Don’t text and drive. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t smoke. Etc.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up relationships with people who bring you down.</strong> – Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities. Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up being shy.</strong> – Network with people. Meet new people. Ask questions. Introduce yourself.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up worrying about what others think of you.</strong> – Unless you’re trying to make a great first impression (job interview, first date, etc.), don’t let the opinions of others stand in your way. What they think and say about you isn’t important. What is important is how you feel about yourself.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to control everything.</strong> – Life is an unpredictable phenomenon. No matter how good or bad things seem right now, we can never be 100% certain what will happen next. So do you best with what’s in front of you and leave the rest to the powers above you.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up doing the same thing over and over again.</strong> – In order to grow, you must expand your horizons and break free of your comfort zone. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up following the path of least resistance.</strong> – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t find the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up persistent multi-tasking.</strong> – Do one thing at a time and do it right.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up thinking others are luckier than you.</strong> – The harder you work, the luckier you will become.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up filling every waking moment with commitments and activities.</strong> – It’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to do nothing sometimes. Think. Relax. Breathe. Be.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up making emotional decisions.</strong> – Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up doing the wrong things just because you can get away with it.</strong> – Just because you can get away with something doesn’t mean you should do it. Think bigger. Keep the end in mind. Do what you know in your heart is right.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up focusing on what you don’t want to happen.</strong> – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up taking yourself so seriously.</strong> – Few others do anyway. So enjoy yourself and have a little fun while you can.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up spending your life working in a career field you</strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">’re not </strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">passionate about.</strong> – Life is too short for such nonsense. The right career choice is based on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing. So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re on to something big. Because hard work isn't hard when you concentrate on your passions. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up thinking about the things you don’t have.</strong> – Appreciate everything you do have. Many people aren’t so lucky.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up doubting others.</strong> – People who are determined do remarkable things. Remember, the one who says it can’t be done should never interrupt the one doing it.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up fussing with every beauty product on the market.</strong> – Good looks attracts the eyes. Personality attracts the heart. Be proud to be you. That’s when you’re beautiful.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to fit in.</strong> – Don’t mold yourself into someone you’re not. Be yourself. Oftentimes, the only reason they want you to fit in is that once you do they can ignore you and go about their business.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to be different for the sake of being different.</strong> – Nonconformity for the sake of nonconformity is conformity. When people try too hard to be different, they usually end up being just like everyone else who is trying to be different. Once again, be yourself.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up trying to avoid risk.</strong> – There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’ Everything you do or don’t do has an inherent risk.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Give up putting your own needs on the back burner.</strong> – Yes, help others, but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.</li>
</ol>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-68034000248446777352012-06-17T08:27:00.002-07:002012-06-17T08:27:58.801-07:00Update on BabiesThe past couple of weeks have been quite a roller coaster ride. It all started in my 29th week when I had a routine doctor's appointment and they told me I was dilated 2cm already. That was my first trip to the hospital. I was having contractions even though I felt nothing. They got the contractions under control so after a couple of days I was allowed to go home on bed rest. I wasn't home for long though. I went for a non-stress test when I was 31 weeks. They hooked me up to the monitor and guess what they saw? Contractions. So I was admitted into the hospital once again. Once everything was under control I was sent home with medications to stop the contractions from coming back. On the 13th (Wednesday) I went to my regular doctors appointment and when the doctor checked me I was dilated 3-4 cm. So off to the hospital I went. I wasn't having that many contractions but the doctor said I would be on bed rest in the hospital until the babies come. I was doing great. No pain. No contractions. <br />
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Until early Friday morning. My nurse came in at about 2am and asked me if I was feeling any of the contractions that I was having. I wasn't at that point. Within the hour I started to feel the contractions so they gave me a bolus of fluids to see if that would help. It didn't and that is when my doctor told me to start making some phone calls. We didnt' have many options at that point. Either the contractions would stop, my water would break or I would dilated more. If you dilate to 5cm they consider you to be in labor. When the doctor came in to check me later I was a good 4cm dilated, almost 5cm. So the decision was made. C-section time!<br />
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At 6:02am Shane Edward Stroup was born weighing 5lbs 15 oz. Joy Lynn Stroup came shortly after at 6:03am weighing 4lbs 12 oz. Shane was having some trouble breathing so he went on oxygen but that only lasted an hour or so. Since then they have been doing great.<br />
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As of right now, no oxygen is needed and they only require minimal heat support.. Joy pulled out her IV catheter last night but since she has been tolerating her feedings so well they did not replace it. She is currently being tube feed. She seems interested in the bottle and will take a couple of sucks but then usually falls asleep. Shane has had his last 2 feeding via the bottle and is doing great! I will be discharged on Tuesday and hopefully at least one of them will come home with me. It's a waiting game now.<br />
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Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. Praise God for He is Faithful and He is good. God has blessed us with 2 healthy babies!<br />
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<br />Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-39580282369469693162012-04-16T06:24:00.000-07:002012-04-16T06:24:33.782-07:00Earn Money From Home with Swagbucks<span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ve likely heard me talk about this thing called </span><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette">Swagbucks</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">. And some of you are probably scratching your head wondering what it’s all about. So I thought it was high time I did an in-depth tutorial complete with 14 simple ways to earn more <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette">Swagbucks</a>.</span> <br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #554c3b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 1.267em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What Is Swagbucks?</strong></h3><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks</a> is a search engine which rewards you with Swagbucks for searching. You can use it just like Google (though I still like Google better) for searching and you will be randomly awarded <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks</a> for searching, usually around five to 10 Swagbucks once or twice each day.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">These Swagbucks can then be redeemed for a variety of different free items, such as Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and much more.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">While Swagbucks started out as solely a search engine, over the past few years, they’ve morphed into much more. In fact, they now offer many different ways to earn more Swagbucks making it much easier to earn enough Swagbucks to cash in on their prizes.</div><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #554c3b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 1.267em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How Do I Sign Up For Swagbucks?</h3><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s very simple. Just fill out the <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" target="_blank">form here</a> and you’re all set.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does It Really Work?</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Resoundingly yes! I’ve earned many gift cards plus some electronics from them since I’ve been using them for the last few years. In fact, we were able to lavishly bless our families with Christmas gifts this year thanks, in large part, to the gift cards I’d accumulated through Swagbucks.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And I’m not alone. I know dozens of friends who’ve also had great success with Swagbucks — earning at least a gift card or two every month and sometimes much more than that.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I average about $25 a month in Amazon.com gift cards. That really adds up fast and is helpful for birthday and Christmas presents. :) </div><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Install the Swagbucks Toolbar</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can conduct internet searches directly on the <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks homepage</a>. Or, you can make it much easier on yourself and just <a href="http://swagbucks.com/g/toolbars-and-plugins" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">install the Swagbucks toolbar</a>. Then, when you want to search for something, you can just go to the Swagbucks toolbar and search without having to open up the Swagbucks homepage.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In addition, you’ll sometimes receive notifications of free Swagbucks codes in the toolbar which you can enter on the homepage of your Swagbucks account in order to add free bonus points to your account.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. Follow the Swagbucks Blog</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you’re not following the <a href="http://blog.swagbucks.com/" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks blog</a>, you’re missing out on many opportunities to snag free Swagbucks codes. They have been releasing at least one free code almost every day. Plus, you’ll be in the know about giveaways they are running and everything that’s new at Swagbucks.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. Print <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/coupons" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Coupons</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Did you know that you can now <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/coupons" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">earn 10 Swagbucks for every coupon you print</a>and use from Swagbucks? Just click on the “Earn” tab at the top of the<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks homepage</a> and then click on “Coupons”. You’ll earn 10 Swagbucks for every coupon you print and redeem at your local store.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Please note that <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">you’ll only receive Swagbucks for coupons you actually use. </strong>Just printing them won’t earn you anything, so make sure to only print those you know you’ll use.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In addition, it takes up to 12 weeks for the points to post to your account. However, I’ve received reports from many different people that this has worked without a hitch. You just have to have a bit of patience!</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. Watch <a href="http://video.swagbucks.com/food" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks TV</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Click on the “Swagbucks TV” on the dropdown menu under the “Earn” tab to pull up the <a href="http://video.swagbucks.com/techreviews" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks TV page</a>. You have to watch 10 different videos (they range in length from one minute to five minutes) and then you’ll earn three Swagbucks.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I usually turn these on while I’m working on the computer and it’s a simple way to slowly rack up some points. You can earn up to 25 three-point rewards in a 24-hour period (a total of 75 points), so it’s definitely a great way to multi-task while on the computer. I also sometimes just leave the videos running while I’m working on a task nearby (laundry, cleaning, etc.).</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. Take the <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/polls" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daily Poll</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Every day, Swagbucks offers <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/polls" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">one simple poll</a>. Just click on the “Poll” on the dropdown menu under the “Earn” tab to pull up the page. Choose your answer and you’ll earn one Swagbuck. It’s simple and takes all of about 15 seconds to do.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. Perform <a href="http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=gn-tasks" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Tasks</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Swagbucks has a list of <a href="http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=gn-tasks" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">different tasks</a> you can complete online and earn anywhere from 16 to 40 Swagbucks. Just click on the “Tasks” on the dropdown menu under the “Earn” tab to pull up the page.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each tasks is different. They will tell you at the beginning how many minutes the task will typically take.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I will say, that I wouldn’t recommend this way of earning Swagbucks unless you have a lot of time on your hands and love doing online research. For the time involved in doing these tasks, you’re only earning the equivalent of pennies.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. Complete Special Offers</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Right now, you can earn nine Swagbucks when you sign up to get Dilbert comics or the Free Sites email newsletter. You can earn 61 Swagbucks when you sign up for Mint.com and add one financial institution to your profile. You can get 21 Swagbucks when you sign up for the Sweet Daily Deals email newsletter.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There are many, many more such offers which require no credit card or payment to earn <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" target="_blank">Swagbucks</a>. Click on the “Special Offers” on the dropdown menu under the “Earn” tab to pull up the page which lists the various offers you can complete to earn Swagbucks. Unless you were already planning to sign up for one of the free trials which require a credit card, I would not suggest signing up for them as it’s possible you could forget to cancel and get billed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. Take <a href="http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=px-survey" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Trusted Surveys</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Swagbucks offers similar survey opportunities to paid survey opportunities, only you earn Swagbucks instead of cash.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There are mixed reviews on the survey opportunities, similar to what the paid survey opportunities usually are like. Some people do really well with them, some people spend a lot of time filling out pre-survey questionnaires only to find out they don’t qualify.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you enjoy filling out surveys, I’d say it’s worth a shot to try doing some of the Trusted Surveys through Swagbucks. However, if you find you’re rarely qualifying for surveys, I’d skip the surveys and focus on some of the other more reliable earning opportunities.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9. Play <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/games" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks Games</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I tried my hand at the <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/games" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks games</a> and was less than enthused. However, I’m one of those people who basically finds computer games incredibly boring. If you’re unlike me and you enjoy computer games, this might be a great way to earn Swagbucks.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10. Go Through the <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/special-offers" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">No Obligation Special Offers</a></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Every day, you can go to the <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/special-offers" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">No Obligation Special Offers section</a> and skip through all the offers (sign up if something interests you, but skip those which don’t interest you). At the end, you just have to type in a simple phrase and you’ll earn two Swagbucks. From start to finish, this will take you no more than 20 seconds and you can do it every single day!</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">11. Purchase Groupons Through Swagbucks</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you’re going to purchase a Groupon deal, always head to the <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/daily-deals" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daily Deals page</a> on Swagbucks and click through there to purchase it. In many cases, you’ll earn 150 to 300 Swagbucks for your purchase — which can make the Groupon deal even sweeter!</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">12. Trade-In</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you have old cell phones, MP3 players, games, consoles or books you want to get rid of, <a href="http://swagbucks.com/p/trade-in-go-green-home" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">check out how many Swagbucks you can earn by trading them in</a>. After looking up your item, you can print out a pre-paid shipping label and receipt, stick it in the mail and you’ll be awarded your Swagbucks after your trade-in is processed.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">13. Follow Swagbucks on Twitter</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you <a href="http://twitter.com/swagbucks" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">follow Swagbucks on Twitter</a>, you’ll be the first to know about Twitter-only codes available. Plus, multiple times per week, they randomly award Twitter followers with 100 free Swagbucks for tweeting using the hastag #Swagbucks.</div><h3 style="color: #554c3b; font-size: 1.267em; margin-bottom: 0.579em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.737em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">14. Follow Swagbucks on Facebook</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/swagbucks" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks Facebook Page</a> is the place to find out about the latest Swagcodes and discuss all things related to Swagbucks. Since there are so many members and everyone is allowed to post on the wall, sometimes the discussions or comments get a little out of hand.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.467em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Also, I’ve found that the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/swagbucks" style="color: #77851a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Swagbucks Facebook Page</a> is a goldmine for finding the best phrases to search. I never seem to have great success when searching on my own, but when I search the phrases people suggest on there, I almost always win double digit Swagbucks. I have no idea what’s up with that, but you should try it, too!</div><br />
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</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-73397919153055782012012-03-30T04:32:00.000-07:002012-03-30T04:32:02.371-07:00Another Shoe Box UpdateWell, I finally got an e-mail saying where my boxes went. They went to Ghana, the Dominican Republic and to Colombia. Oh how I wish I could be there to see the kids open their boxes! I have been asked many times if I am going to do that many boxes again next year. I don't know how many boxes I will do. But I will tell you that next year I want to get the whole church involved with packing boxes. It's amazing how a simple gift can have such an imapct on someone's life. There is nothing better than knowing that you helped share God's love with a child that you will probably never meet.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-7667899258357542452011-11-11T06:30:00.000-08:002011-11-11T06:31:55.361-08:00Shoe Box Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the begining of the year I told you that I was going to do some shoe boxes for Samaritains Purse Operation Christmas Child. And by some, I meant 50. Now I know some of you thought I was crazy. I could see it in your eyes when I told you why I was doing 50. But that didn't stop me. And this is what my nursery looks like today.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaXXwaRXVpjjX2qJWuSYNlzFg4iMCqg3-lrF3P6hb_ussDWHQ_Osk-YlCSwco_P1NbdPMPylCIIQu8W0kkSIIZNEh__rHTlQzL8z-1Sgg1BPQbfRmQPuPsX_Yr7VdOlGuHU9ACzCjF2E/s1600/IMG-20111103-00180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaXXwaRXVpjjX2qJWuSYNlzFg4iMCqg3-lrF3P6hb_ussDWHQ_Osk-YlCSwco_P1NbdPMPylCIIQu8W0kkSIIZNEh__rHTlQzL8z-1Sgg1BPQbfRmQPuPsX_Yr7VdOlGuHU9ACzCjF2E/s320/IMG-20111103-00180.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have 60 boxes packed and labeled ready to be dropped off next week. I can't believe I did it. And to be honest with you, I have no idea how I did it. How did I get enough stuff to fill 60 boxes?!?!?!?! And you know the truely amazing part? I had stuff left over!!!! I went through all the boxes a second time stuffing in as much as I could. How did I end up with extra things?!?!?!?!?! Everytime I look at all those boxes, I wonder how it all came together. I have been so blessed by doing this. I have learned a very valuable lesson. If God tells you to do something, He will not let you fail. I wish I could be sitting across from you right now because I don't want you to miss the point I am trying to make. I love my job but I will never be rich doing it. And considering everything else that is going on in my life, I have no extra money. I barely have the money I need to pay my bills. So how did I pay for all the stuff that is in the shoe boxes?!?!?!?! God took care on me. He told me to do something and I obeyed. He took care of the rest. I pray that you are getting this. God will take care of everything if you just trust Him and follow Him. Looking at those shoe boxes is a daily reminder that miracles can happen because to me the fact that I did so many shoe boxes is a miracle. There is no way that I can explain how it all came together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Mat 19:26 RSV) But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, <b>but with God all things are possible</b>." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><h3 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; left: 0px; position: relative; width: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">James 2:18</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">But someone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.</span></span></h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be a little sad to see the boxes go. It's a daily reminder that God is with me and that through Him I can do anything. Plus it turned my sad empty nursery into my work space. By not having a child in the nursery I was able to impact the lives of 60 children! God's perfect plan! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there is another amazing thing that has come out of this.( I know, there's more!) By asking for shoe boxes, I was able to share what the shoe boxes were for and many people decided to do there own shoe boxes as well! So who knows just how many shoe boxes were packed because of all this! It is just so awesome how everything fell into place. I am blown away by how this has all turned out and I pray that you understand what I am saying and that you get it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a big "THANK YOU" to all who helped me. This couldn't have been done without your help. Some gave me shoe boxes, while others gave me some things to put in them or donated money towards the shipping cost. Thank you so much. You didn't just help me fill a shoe box with things, you helped me fill the shoe boxes with love and hope. Thank you!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever hear that song "Trust and Obey"? I think it goes well with this post so here it is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,<br />
What a glory He sheds on our way!<br />
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,<br />
And with all who will trust and obey.</i></span></div><div class="chorus" style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="chorus" style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Trust and obey, for there’s no other way<br />
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,<br />
But His smile quickly drives it away;<br />
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,<br />
Can abide while we trust and obey.</i></span></div><div class="chorus" style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,<br />
But our toil He doth richly repay;<br />
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,<br />
But is blessed if we trust and obey.</i></span></div><div class="chorus" style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>But we never can prove the delights of His love<br />
Until all on the altar we lay;<br />
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,<br />
Are for them who will trust and obey.</i></span></div><div class="chorus" style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.<br />
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.<br />
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;<br />
Never fear, only trust and obey.</i></span></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-59832248499663222082011-11-02T13:30:00.000-07:002011-11-02T13:31:48.617-07:00Here we go againSo I have been trying to write this since Sat but with the storm that came through it has been hard. The power keeps going off and on and I lose our Internet connection constantly. So hopefully I can get it done today. Saturday I had my initial ultrasound and I am currently on my oral medications and my injectable medication. I conveniently forgot how much the injections burned! So here we go again! This will be our third and last chance at IVF. The first time we only had one egg to put back in and it didn't take hold. The second time we ended up with 3 eggs going in, one taking hold but then it miscarried. Hopefully third time's a charm!<br />
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When we first started this journey, I had no idea what a roller coaster ride it would be. I knew it would be hard mentally and physically but I had no idea just how hard it would be. Plus I really thought that we would be successful on our first try. I mean I have no trouble getting pregnant, it's just the eggs pick a very bad location to set up their home. I can't believe that I thought it would be easy. And now here we are on our last try. I have mixed emotions knowing that this is it. I won't have to take dozens of pills every day or give myself painful injections. But if this doesn't work, we don't have another try. That's it. No more. That is not the end of the story if that is what happens. We will go towards adoption. We already have an agency picked out and have started the paper work. We just aren't allowed to hand it in until all fertillity treatments are done.<br />
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The hardest part for me is the guilt. What's the point of being a woman if I can't have kids? Now I am not saying every woman needs to have kids to be fulfilled. This is just how I feel. But what's the point of having the equipment if I can't use it??????? Sometimes I feel as if I have failed as a woman . But not only that, I have failed as a wife and a mother. I want my daughter to know the joys of having a sibling(oh I know it would be all rainbows and sunshine!). I want my husband to have a son to teach how to be a man. I want all these things for them but I cannot give them. I have these thoughts on my low days. I quickly tell myself to be quiet and think about all the things I DO have. I have so much! I think about all the other people in my life and their hardships. I can't imagine what it's like to have a child with cancer. My family has their health. I can't imagine what it's like to be a single mom. My family is united. I can't imagine what it's like to have the whole house unemployed. My husband and I both have jobs.<br />
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We all have hardships. They are just all different. I often get told how surprised people are by how open I am about everything. This is my life. This is my story. If by sharing my story one person get encouraged, then it's all worth it. I know that no matter what, I will get through this. If this doesn't work, will I fall to my knees and cry? Oh yes that will be me. But I as soon as I can see past my tears, I will get up and keep moving forward. Nothing in life is easy and some things are worth fighting for. Now, if these cycle works will I be singing and dancing? YES!<br />
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This is not the path that I wanted to take. This is the path that God has put me on. I know that where I am today is exactly where I am supossed to be. And that is all that matters. Saturday I go for my next ultrasound and that should tell us when they are going to harvest my eggs. I don't know what the future holds but no matter what I will trust the only one who does know.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5eyoOgZb3A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-28037933700117550072011-09-12T10:09:00.000-07:002011-09-12T10:09:53.645-07:00BreakfastThis is my breakfast. The breakfast of champions! Well, not really. It's the breakfast of a person on fertility meds. ( I also eat some food with this too! )<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHwrMVHC_nZSWNQlgf7-lT2iDh0MDLJeWnFCAIFKzZC8qdoZHyBA4SYcL-2VK2BvIvtbVm5tFWwp83NSbvRTLSzSon0KtkCHuC1_XFfLdK8EVk4joc-BInKj7FA4rL6-jJ96QM3qdM1g/s1600/pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHwrMVHC_nZSWNQlgf7-lT2iDh0MDLJeWnFCAIFKzZC8qdoZHyBA4SYcL-2VK2BvIvtbVm5tFWwp83NSbvRTLSzSon0KtkCHuC1_XFfLdK8EVk4joc-BInKj7FA4rL6-jJ96QM3qdM1g/s1600/pills.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm not sure when our next and final cycle will be. I stopped taking my pills after the miscarriage so I could give my body a break from everything. So now it will take a little while to get my levels back up.<br />
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We have also started the process of finding an adoption agency. There are so many out there! It makes it hard to chose one but one agency has been recommended by almost everyone I have talked to. And I'm amazed to find out how many people in my circle know someone who was adopted or was adopted.<br />
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I have to admit, I'm very excited. I have no idea how this is all gonna turn out or when or where. Ok, I know nothing. But I have learned to enjoy this journey even though at times it is extremely painful. You can have joy and pain at the same time. I take one day at a time and remind myself daily of all the things that I DO have instead of focusing on what I don't have. A friend of mine recently completed a list of 1,000 things to be thankful for. I thought that was awesome but also thought that it would be hard. She said it wasn't and her list continues to grow. So I'm gonna start my own list and I urge you to do the same. We have so much to be thankful for and I think it is time for all us to say "Thank You" to the One who deserves it.<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><i>"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever</i></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><i>believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (Jn.3:16)</i></span></div><div align="center"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-81745473335967945432011-08-22T07:36:00.000-07:002011-08-22T09:35:45.234-07:00Infertility and the Bible<span style="color: black;">Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth<br />
Just to name a few...<br />
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There are many stories of women in the Bible who<span style="color: black;"> struggle with<span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook0w0" style="color: darkgreen; font-color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">infertility</span></span> and the</span> pain of not having children.<br />
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The Bible not only shares the stories of <span style="color: black;">these "barren <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook1w0" style="color: darkgreen; font-color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">women</span></span>" but also offers</span> hope and comfort during these times.<br />
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God indeed is the creator of life and the God of comfort and peace!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEdpgFVmue07pZX6_q0ODtvIREzdrWGw_wu6JHIaxY-tUoSj_70-SouIuVETaUX7HrChDUAYNVzAeueZvZ0rT23I8BIJuWepV8nXdMOP2fero99kr20qIfk7XGK0jZvB8NXH1Rj_Pkpg/s1600/angel+kneeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEdpgFVmue07pZX6_q0ODtvIREzdrWGw_wu6JHIaxY-tUoSj_70-SouIuVETaUX7HrChDUAYNVzAeueZvZ0rT23I8BIJuWepV8nXdMOP2fero99kr20qIfk7XGK0jZvB8NXH1Rj_Pkpg/s1600/angel+kneeling.jpg" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><span style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Here are some of their stories from the Bible and some verses that offer hope to those who may also consider themselves "barren" today.<br />
<br />
But more important than finding out about the stories of these women is the possibility of finding our own hope in this journey; to be encouraged in whatever stage of our journey we are at.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="color: black;">Sarah's Story - The Wife of Abraham</span></u></strong><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><div class="write_module"><a href="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11511240photo_1223640383rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" class="write_image" id="moduleImage11511240" src="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11511240photo_1223640383rainbow.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: black;">Sarah was married to Abraham. She was unable to conceive,even though she was married for many years. Eventually she was beyond childbearing years. </span></div><div class="write_module" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Ironically she is married to Abraham who has been promised descendants that will number like the stars in the sky and the sand on a beach. A great promise and yet for Abraham and Sarah, the fulfilment seems beyond all reach.<br />
<br />
It is at this point that The Lord comes to Abraham.<br />
<br />
"Then the LORD said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook3w0" style="color: darkgreen; font-color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">wife</span></span> will have a son. Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.<br />
<br />
11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.<br />
<br />
12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought,<br />
After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?<br />
<br />
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'<br />
<br />
14 <b>Is anything too hard for the LORD?</b> I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."<br />
<br />
Not long after this Sarah and Abraham's son Isaac is born, one of the great patriarchs of the Jewish people!</span></div><div align="center" class="break"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Luke 1:37</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">"For nothing is impossible with God"</span> </strong></span></div><div class="write_module" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: black;"></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="module11872186"></a><div class=" module textmodule " id="module11872186"><h2 class="module_title "><span style="color: black;"> <u><span style="font-size: small;">What does the story of Sarah teach us?</span></u></span></h2><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;">God is faithful to his promises. He was faithful in fulfilling his promise to Abraham and Sarah. God does not make this exact same promise to each of us but we can learn something else from Sarah's story: God is the giver of life and He can bring about miracles. We do not know what God may be doing in our lives - even when it seems like he is not doing anything at all.<br />
God can surprise us!</span></div><div class="write_module"></div><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><strong><u>Hannah's Story</u></strong> </span><br />
<div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><b>Hannah is perhaps best known for her struggle with infertility.</b><br />
The book of 1 Samuel begins with the verses<br />
<i>"1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none."</i> (1 Samuel 1:1-2)<br />
<br />
I always reflect on what could be worse than feeling you have disappointed your husband by not being able to get pregnant? To be one of your husbands two wives, always being compared to her and her abundance of children. Not only was her husbands other wife extremely fertile; it was not a <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook4w0" style="color: darkgreen; font-color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">healthy</span> relationship...<br />
<br />
<i>"6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"</i> (1 Samuel 1:6-8)<br />
<br />
Yet one thing I love about the image we have of Hannah in the Bible is of her honesty and of her pouring out her pain and heartbreak to God. Rather than become bitter and turn from God she reaches out to him at her time of need and calls on him to answer her prayer.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>"10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."<br />
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."<br />
15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."</i> (1 Samuel 1:10-16)<br />
<br />
And God answers her prayer. And this answer is Samuel, who becomes a famous priest of God.</span></div><h2 class="module_title "><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u> What does the story of Hannah teach us?</u></span> </span></h2><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;">God wants us to turn to him. We don't have to pretend that we are not in pain, but we can give this to God and know that he can answer our prayers.<br />
<br />
"In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD."<br />
In Hannah's words - "I am a <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook5w0" style="color: black; font-color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">woman</span> who is deeply troubled... pouring out my soul to the LORD... out of my great anguish and grief." (1 Samuel 1:10-16)<br />
<br />
She is not pretending that she is not hurting, not blindly trusting God but really wrestling with the pain of infertility.<br />
<br />
I know that I too can take my pain to the creator of the universe and pour out my soul to him.</span></div><div class="write_module"></div><h2 align="center" class="write_module"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Psalm 27:14</span></h2><div align="center" class="important_thing_content"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>Wait for the LORD;<br />
be strong and take heart<br />
and wait for the LORD.</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="important_thing_content"></div><div align="center" class="important_thing_content"></div><div align="left" class="important_thing_content"><span style="color: black;">We do not walk alone... </span><br />
<div class="write_module"><a href="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11525183photo_1222603767Celtic-Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" class="write_image" id="moduleImage11525183" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11525183photo_1222603767Celtic-Cross.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: black;">Most importantly the Bible tells us that Jesus calls us to himself. We do not walk alone but God himself walks with us in our pain.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><b>Jesus says:<br />
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)</b><br />
<br />
One way of doing this is by praying and sharing our pain with Jesus.</span></div><div class="write_module"></div><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><strong><u>Does the Bible have any words for us today?</u></strong> </span><br />
<div class="write_module"><a href="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11546170photo_1223640430jesus_and_sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" class="write_image" id="moduleImage11546170" src="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11546170photo_1223640430jesus_and_sheep.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: black;">Often we think that the Bible has nothing to say to us regarding issues such as infertility...<br />
<br />
Even worse is the impression we do get: God opens the womb of the barren woman (and our question becomes, "then why not me too!") and the focus on the family that we often receive in Christian churches.<br />
<br />
Often infertility can make us feel we just don't fit. Everyone else has kids and as much as we want to fit with these expectations it is beyond our control.<br />
<br />
I was reminded recently that one of the prayers we can pray at these times is to call out to God with the frustration and pain that this is not how it was meant to be. This is not how God created the world to be. This is not how parenthood was to start.<br />
<br />
And by asking God to change this reality and to heal us, to give us children, is not a selfish request but a calling for God to restore his creation, our world, and to bring all things under Christ and to bring peace to this place, beginning in our life.<br />
<br />
God does not offer easy solutions and instant answers to prayer. What we do find in the Bible is words of encouragement. We are reminded of who God is, what he can do, that he does care and that we matter to him.<br />
<br />
Below are some verses that I have found comfort in. I hope they are helpful for you too.</span><br />
<div class="break"></div><div style="clear: both;"><span style="color: black;"></span></div></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="module11525184"></a><br />
<div class=" module textmodule " id="module11525184"><h2 class="module_title "><a href="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11525184photo_1223640498sunflower_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" class="write_image" id="moduleImage11525184" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11525184photo_1223640498sunflower_2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"> Some verses of hope from the Bible </span></h2><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><b>Isaiah 30:18</b><br />
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;<br />
He rises to show you compassion.<br />
For the LORD is a God of justice.<br />
Blessed are all who wait for him!<br />
<br />
<b>Deuteronomy 31:8</b><br />
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."<br />
<br />
<b>Isaiah 40:26-29,31</b><br />
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:<br />
Who created all these?<br />
He who brings out the starry host one by one,<br />
and calls them each by name.<br />
Because of his great power and mighty strength,<br />
not one of them is missing.<br />
<br />
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,<br />
and complain, O Israel,<br />
"My way is hidden from the LORD;<br />
my cause is disregarded by my God"?<br />
<br />
28 Do you not know?<br />
Have you not heard?<br />
The LORD is the everlasting God,<br />
the Creator of the ends of the earth.<br />
He will not grow tired or weary,<br />
and his understanding no one can fathom.<br />
<br />
29 He gives strength to the weary<br />
and increases the power of the weak.<br />
<br />
31 but those who hope in the LORD<br />
will renew their strength.<br />
They will soar on wings like eagles;<br />
they will run and not grow weary,<br />
they will walk and not be faint.<br />
<br />
<i><b>These verses remind me of who God is (creator of all things ) and his character (faithful, compassionate). They remind me I may not always understand why God does or does not do things, but I can know I am not alone; that the God of the universe walks with me, he has not forgotten nor forsaken me and my hope is in him.</b></i></span><br />
<div class="break"></div><div style="clear: both;"><span style="color: black;"></span></div></div></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="module11738189"></a><br />
<div class=" module textmodule " id="module11738189"><h2 class="module_title "><span style="color: black;"> New Testament verses </span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11738189photo_1223640545sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" class="write_image" id="moduleImage11738189" src="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2174051module11738189photo_1223640545sunflower.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><b>Matthew 6:27</b><br />
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?<br />
<br />
<b>1 John 3:1</b><br />
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!<br />
<br />
<b>Romans 8:35 & 37</b><br />
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?<br />
<br />
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br />
<br />
<b>Phillipians 3:7-11</b><br />
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What is it that is important? - Knowing Christ. It can be all too easy to get so caught up with how I am feeling that I forget the joy of knowing Christ - it is easy to lose this focus!</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>Phillipians 4:4-7</b><br />
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.<br />
<br />
<b><i>In a situation where we may feel completely powerless, God offers us an option - we can bring this anxiety, worry and heartache to him in prayer. We are told to present our requests to him.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>Colossions 2:6-7</b><br />
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.<br />
<br />
<b>2 Thessalonians 2:16-17</b><br />
16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.<br />
<br />
<b>Ephesians 3:14-21</b><br />
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.<br />
<br />
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.</span></div><div class="write_module"></div><div class="write_module"></div><div class="write_module"><span style="color: black;"><strong><u>What does God want you to hear today?</u></strong> </span><br />
<div class="module_description"><span style="color: black;">As I reflect on God and who he is, I have been pondering what he would want to say to me as I struggle with infertility and my unanswered prayers. What might God be saying to me or to you today???</span></div><ol class="textlist_ol"><li><span style="color: black;"> I love you. You are my beloved child. You are mine </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"> You do not walk alone - I am with you always. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"> I hear your prayers and I cry with you. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"> Trust in me, know that I too want what is best for you. </span></li>
</ol></div></div></div></div></div><div class="write_module"></div></div></span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-65731886006212272332011-08-12T06:12:00.000-07:002011-08-12T06:12:48.946-07:00It's checkup time! I hate going to the doctors. But I am due for a check up so I broke down and made an appointment. They always check my blood pressure. The last time I went, they told me, “You know, your blood pressure is a little high.” I told them it was high because I knew they were going to take it!<br />
So I told my doctor, “It's your fault. You walk into the room, and my blood pressure goes up.” We kind of joke back and forth a little. But we know it is a check up. He asks a lot of questions: Are there any lumps? Are there any growths? Are there any things out of the ordinary? It is an exam to determine my physical state.<br />
<br />
<br />
There is a spiritual exam as well. The Bible says, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (<strong><em>2 Corinthians 13:5</em></strong>).<br />
<br />
In other words, are you really a Christian? Or are you just pretending? You are really a Christian when you have put your faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone to save you, and you are trusting in Him and walking with Him. It will show itself in the way that you live. Just like you do spring cleaning to get rid of excesses and organize yourself and your life, we are encouraged in the scriptures to frequently examine ourselves, taking inventory of the motives and desires from which we take action, so that we may find ourselves glorifying God and not anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Sometimes when people go through hardship, they say that event or tragedy has shaken their life; it has shaken their faith. In fact, they say they have lost their faith. But the faith that can’t be shaken is the faith that has been shaken. If it is genuine faith, then it will stand up to the test.<br />
<br />
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-23635926560327113222011-08-05T05:05:00.000-07:002011-08-05T05:05:08.014-07:00Are you catnapping or are you alert?Cats sleep more than any other pet on the planet. The average cats sleeps away 2/3 to 3/4 of its life. Still, cats have been favorites throughout history even though all they do is asleep. Four thousand years ago in Egypt, the penalty for killing a cat was death! Some cats were mummified after death, just like the pharaohs, and placed in tombs with saucers of milk.<br />
<br />
Even though cats sleep a lot, they only fall into a deep sleep for 3 to 4 hours a day. The rest of the day, cats enjoy catnaps.<br />
<br />
A catnap is a state of light sleep. While napping, a cat can still hear the slightest sound and be ready to pounce at a second's notice. Cats have a third eyelid underneath the regular eyelid and keep it rolled up and out of the way while napping. He is staying tuned in to the world around him even while sleeping.<br />
<br />
Nobody can think about God every second of every day, right? Ordinary things like work, school, dinner or talking with family- they all require our attention too.<br />
<br />
But even when life gets busy, you can still stay tuned to God. You can keep your soul's "third eyelid" open and ready to respond. Don't let yourself sink into spiritual deep sleep times, when you wouldn't hear God if the earth shook and your name flashed in neon lights. Instead, be easy to wake up, prepared to give God your full attention.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned to God, sensitive to his whispers.<br />
<br />
<em>I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.</em> PSALM 119:148<br />
<br />
Think about 3 things you will be doing today that will require a lot of thought ( taking a test, playing a sport, reading, cooking, grocery shopping, work). Make it a point to check in with God during those busy activities.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-65769609427178879742011-07-27T13:09:00.000-07:002011-07-27T13:09:06.359-07:00Dansko Shoes Discount – Up to 70% Off<div style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 3px;"> <center><!-- NetSeer Ad Tag script for Tag "Buck - Top (id: 10593)" Created on: 6/23/11 --> <script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
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<br />
I was given the opportunity to review the <strong>Stride Rite Alicia Sneaker</strong> for my 5.5 year old and we love it! It is not only cute, but super easy to put on.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/stride-rite-sneaker-review.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27243" height="132" src="http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/stride-rite-sneaker-review.png" title="stride rite sneaker review" width="187" /></a>She’ll be tearing up the playground at her new school in a short time – WOW did 5 years go by fast!<br />
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Learn more about the <strong><a href="http://www.striderite.com/store/SiteController/striderite/home?CID=2011SP-PR-BloggerHP" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2361a1;">Stride Rite B1G1 50% Off sale and browse their awesome selection for both boys and girls here</span></a></strong>. You can also <strong><a href="http://www.striderite.com/store/SiteController/striderite/storelocator?CID=2011SP-PR-BloggerSL" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2361a1;">find a Stride Rite store near you here.</span></a></strong>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-79341728114635613222011-07-23T09:57:00.000-07:002011-07-23T09:57:22.491-07:00What if your blessings come through raindropsYesterday, a former employee of where I work came in to visit everyone and she brought her 8 month old son with her. Everyone started talking about babies ands asking questions about what he was doing. I'm not sure why this affected me so much but it did. I couldn't stay in ICU where they were because I could feel the tears coming. I went back into the wards and cried out to God. "Why does this have to hurt so much?" "Why do some get it so easily and I have to work so hard"? " If a bigger family is not in Your plan then please let this not hurt so much"! "Please take this pain away!" I wanted to fall on my knees and cry but couldn't. I can't start crying at work. As I was praying this song popped in my head.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perfect timing. It was what I needed to pick myself up and get my work done. It didn't take the pain away but it made it possible for me to keep going. I'm not sure what the future holds. But I do know that HE is listening even if it feels like He is not. I have to remind myself that His plan is better than anything I could ever dream up. I just have to wait to see how it all unfolds. The problem is that I HATE waiting! I feel like I have waited long enough! But why do I question God? Why do I feel like I am entitled to some answers? God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Why should I (someone who is not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways? I can't. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of this has been a lesson in trust. Oh its so easy to trust when things are going great. but to trust when things are falling apart is hard. Everyone has those moments where it seems really hard to trust God. Where you feel completely alone and abandoned, where it feels almost impossible that anything good could come from what you’re going through. Where “God has a plan” just rings hollow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the bottom line is that trust isn’t about feelings. It’s a choice. An act of will. It’s a decision to hold onto faith, even when everything around you seems to be falling apart. I believe that’s the kind of faith that God finds most pleasing, and rewards accordingly. And this is what I have been learning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the first song that came on when I turned my car on to leave work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-78989278085340575312011-05-24T11:59:00.000-07:002011-05-24T12:05:21.255-07:00Things I have learned during our fertility journey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things that I have learned during my fertility journey. Some are funny and some are sad, but they are all true.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.) Saliva kills sperm</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.) My follicles are lazy! I have 2 that are pulling their weight and the rest are lounging on the sofa!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.) There are a lot of people in this world struggling with trying to build and expand their families.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That deep down inside, I can be a very jealous person.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"> </span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That simply relaxing will NOT get you pregnant.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"> NEVER say this to someone!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">6.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That a pregnancy doesn't always equal a baby.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">7.) Tha</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">t it does not get easier, each cycle is just as hard as the last.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">8.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That there is nothing to aid conception in the water at work, despite what some may say.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">9.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That a simple blood test costs $648!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">10.) T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">hat some people around me would become more insensitive as time goes on. "It is so hard having a new baby." or "Be happy you only have one."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11.) I'm not alone</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMrMyNVvWi56BZ-OAiI1w-MFAIyNKIJamm0bA0qavavUPIG9uEpqw70m7rMhy-PiqfllkgXCuLidNd60i03fILJ_6KYTbK21eiS3IpJkucxIt-R2cTAnM2NAXqlAf0SG1-FUQAMW8Tgs/s1600/sperm_egg_3is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMrMyNVvWi56BZ-OAiI1w-MFAIyNKIJamm0bA0qavavUPIG9uEpqw70m7rMhy-PiqfllkgXCuLidNd60i03fILJ_6KYTbK21eiS3IpJkucxIt-R2cTAnM2NAXqlAf0SG1-FUQAMW8Tgs/s1600/sperm_egg_3is.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12.) That despite the losses that my family and I have experienced, that we are very blessed and lucky.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13.) I have learned that taking risks is important and worthwhile, even when we don't always reach the goals we have in mind or get the outcomes we are hoping for.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14.) During difficult and uncertain times in our lives we make the best decisions we can with the information we have at the time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15.) We need to do our best to be kind to ourselves and not spend too much time reflecting on what we could have done differently.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16.) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">That infertility is not as rare as I was led to believe.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">17.) </span>Every day, a healthy adult male can produce around 70 to 150 million sperm, while an average teaspoon-sized 'serving' contains between 200 and 500 million of the lil' guys.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18.) Sperm are produced in the testes, where it takes about 10 weeks for a single soldier to reach maturity</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19.) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">An egg lives for about 12-24 hours after you ovulate, and sperm can live for five to seven days.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">20.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Fertilization process occurs near the middle of the fallopian tube, not in the uterus. And that is where my eggs like to stay. LOL</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21.) Most of all, I have learned that joy really can be found in the journey.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My journey is not over, so I may add more over time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">The brook that flows over stones makes the sweetest music. If you remove the rocks, the brook will lose its song. ... You will never be the person God wants you to be, if afflictions, trials, and disciplines are taken out of your life. </span></span></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-45245334117380579332011-05-23T11:53:00.000-07:002011-05-23T11:53:28.888-07:00A week of Swag Buck Excitement!<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">First of all, Swag Bucks is rolling out an all-new series of collector's bills, which they are calling the "Score Four and Twenty Swag Bucks" challenge, because there are four Memorial Day-themed collectible Swag Bucks bills, and if you can collect them all before Thursday, you'll get a 20 Swag Buck bonus applied to <nobr>your account</nobr> (that bonus will be applied later that following week). Also, they are going to have a new area of the Swagbucks Ledger where you can track the Collector's Bills as you get them, share your wins on Facebook/Twitter, and keep them after the promotion is over as a kind of trophy case.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Also, they are going to have a BIG Swag Code Extravaganza Thursday, where they will give out over 40 Swag Bucks in codes through the day. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Swagbucks, the best place to get free stuff from searching and more is celebrating Memorial Day next week - they'll have 4 special Limited Edition collector's bills available!</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-80900516881120811192011-05-06T05:16:00.000-07:002011-08-12T05:24:21.584-07:00Swag Bucks : Happy Mega Swag Bucks Day<div style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">If you haven't joined Swag Bucks yet, today is a good day to join.</div><br />
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<a href="http://couponcravings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/amazon-gift-card.jpg" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-24385" height="104" src="http://couponcravings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/amazon-gift-card.jpg" style="clear: both; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto 1.57em; padding: 0px;" title="amazon gift card" width="165" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Mega Swag Bucks Day! Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, which means you can earn <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a> in increments of 50, 100, 200 or even 1000 just by doing routine web searches. I LOVE Swag Bucks!</span></div><div style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re new to <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a>, it’s a free rewards program that lets you earn points for online shopping, web searches, taking polls and more. Just a few searches a day can help you earn points quickly. Then trade them in for prizes like Amazon gift cards, iPods, DVDs, video games and more. And who couldn’t use some Amazon gift cards!</span></div><div style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ll earn 30 <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a> just for signing up for the free rewards program<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></strong>. As a bonus, you’ll also earn an extra <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">50 Swag Bucks</strong> on your birthday!</span></div><div style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re new to <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a>, or even if you signed up some time ago, here are five tips to help you earn Swag Bucks quickly.</span></div><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Search Regularly at SwagBucks.com.</strong> Most recently I’ve been able to win Swag Bucks when I search for items that are popular in the news, but not too popular. I haven’t had any luck searching for terms that everyone is gabbing about. It may take a few minutes, but it’s always a rush when you win Swag Bucks!</span></li>
</ul><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Once you Win, Come Back in a Few Hours.</strong> Once you win<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a> doing web searches, come back again in a few hours. It does happen, but it’s rare to win back-to-back. I generally doing searches in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening.</span></li>
</ul><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Download the Swag Bucks Toolbar. </strong>I love having the toolbar because not only does it update me on how many Swag Bucks I have, but when I have my web browser open, I always wake up to a few<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a> that are waiting for me when I first hop on my computer.</span></li>
</ul><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Check out Swag Bucks Outside of SwagBucks.com. </strong>Visit Swag Bucks on <a href="http://twitter.com/swagbucks" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/swagbucks" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Facebook</a> and on the <a href="http://blog.swagbucks.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Swag Bucks Blog</a> to get codes that you redeem for more Swag Bucks!</span></li>
</ul><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.57em 1.57em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Tell Your Friends.</strong> Once you sign up for <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/beckyvette" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Swag Bucks</a> you have the opportunity to grab a referral link that you can send to your friends to encourage them to sign up. You’ll earn a Swag Buck for every one each one of your friends earns (up to 1,000 Swag Bucks). So add your referral link to your email signature, your Facebook page, your Twitter page and more. </span></li>
</ul>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2589614240965052002.post-33245369846557748072011-04-09T17:30:00.000-07:002011-04-09T17:33:23.128-07:00The Moments That Really MatterThis past week has been crazy busy! Have you ever had a week where everyday you had multiple things planned? Well, that was this past week. And with all that busyness, I had the most perfect quiet moment with my daughter.<br />
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</div><div>One morning she woke up at around 5:30-6am crying. I went into her room to see what was wrong and all she wanted was "Ellie" which is her elephant lovey. Once I found it, she was fine. I was about to leave when I turned and asked her if she wanted to come into mommy's bed and cuddle. She said yes and soon after we were curled up next to each other in bed. All I was hoping for was at least 20-30 minutes of quiet but before I knew it she was fast asleep. About an hour or so later she started tossing and turning. Out of nowhere she asked, "Mommy?" </div><div><br />
</div><div>me: Yes honey?</div><div><br />
</div><div>daughter: I love you</div><div><br />
</div><div>me: I love you too honey.</div><div><br />
</div><div>She then went back to sleep. This is when I started to tear up. To say that my heart was overflowing with love is an understatement. I tried to soak in that moment completely. I kissed her head and took a deep breath of her freshly shampooed hair. I wanted to remember everything that this moment had to offer. That moment was so perfect. It's these moments that make everything worth it. I will always remember this moment and I pray that she will too.</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118717391186154137noreply@blogger.com0