Pregnancy Update

So, I am still pregnant!! My due date is actually tomorrow 8/29/08. I have made some progression though. My contractions are very irregular and not what you would consider normal real labor contractions. They are uncomfortable but not painful.

I had a Dr's appointment Tuesday and everything looks good. I did have to schedule a repeat c-section but I knew that was coming. I scheduled it for Wednesday, 9/3. I prayed and prayed about that situation and when I left I just felt a peace about it. I know that God is in control. And after I made the c/s decision, I knew that if I was going to go into labor on my own it was because God wanted me to. I've known that all along but after Tuesday's appointment God just gave me clear assurance and peace that it was all in His hands. It's one thing to know that.. and it's another to feel it. And I'm so thankful for His answering my prayers!

So, the crazy thing was that Wednesday morning I woke up with some obvious progression! I was quite surprised because it's something that I've never experienced. With Luke my water broke 3 days before his due date with no warning. I never felt the first contraction until I got to the hospital and was hooked up on induction meds. So, this is all very new to me even though I've given birth before. And now it's just a waiting game! I'm thankful that my body seems to be working on it's own to do what it's suppose to do. That has been one of my prayers...

And I am still fully aware that I could continue to progress, get to the hospital and still end up with a c-section. I'm just thankful that it looks like I'm going to be able to try for my VBAC. I've been praying Scripture for several days now. Here are a few that I've been praying:

Phil. 4:6-7 ~ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 56:3 ~ Whenever I am afraid; I will trust in You.

Psalm 34:4 ~ I sought the Lord and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Isaiah 12:2a ~ Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.

Phil 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ~ Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

And these will be going with me to the hospital! Whatever day I end up going! :)

Cookie Memories... and something exciting (no I'm not in labor!!)

I made these today. And they were soo good. I had 5 of them.. no more for me today though. I am maxed out for today on chocolate and sugar! I seriously have been having chocolate cravings... and evidently oatmeal too! I made some chocolate oatmeal cookies last week as well! My mom mentioned these this weekend though and I've been thinking about them ever since. We use to make them a lot growing up and I can't tell you the last time I've had one! These turned out perfect too.. not too gooey or runny... and they set up perfectly. I took a recommendation to boil the mixture for two minutes instead of one. Someone commented that this would help them set up better. Who knows if it works all the time but it did today! I love making things that remind me of the past. And I might as well enjoy it now because I know in a few weeks I'm going to be attempting to avoid sweets so that I can get this weight off. Nothing helps the impatient pregnant lady more than a batch of cookies (or brownies, or a bowl of ice cream)... :)

One more exciting thing to share is that I won my first bloggy give-a-way! I have entered many before but never won! Today I got an email from Stacy, who also participates in Menu Plan Monday, letting me know I won! She had a giveaway last week for a cookbook and a 10$ Starbucks gift card.. and lucky me won it! I am so excited! I love cookbooks of any kind and the Hubs will be THRILLED for the gift card!

Yay me!

BTW, I have a Dr's apt in the morning at 8:15am. If anyone happens to read this before then please say a prayer for me! I'm really anxious about everything because I know I will probably have to make a decision about a repeat csection. And although I'm still very much aware that God is in control, I also know that my Dr has some limitations. I can't just pop in at any time to have a baby by C/S if it does come down to that! Thanks so much!

Menu Plan Monday ~ 8/25/08

Remember when I had just found out I was pregnant and going through morning sickness? My menus were few and far between.. well, I can tell you that this is probably going to be one of the last menus for a few weeks. I'm definitely not giving it up! I have to stay on budget and I will keep cooking. I just know it's going to take us a few weeks to adjust after Eli gets here.. and he WILL be here in less than 2 weeks! :) We've already been grocery shopping for the week. In an effort to save money we are going to condense our trips. Instead of going to the bank on Thursday or Friday and then grocery shopping on Monday evenings we'll be grocery shopping and going to the bank on Friday mornings. Considering we have to drive 20 miles one way to the grocery store and/or bank, this will help us save on gas. Plus, I'm sure I'm going to need the Hubs to help me out in the coming weeks on grocery days... so it will all work out since his off day is Friday. So, here is our EASY menu:

Pork Chops, Pinto Beans, and Vidalia Corn Muffins (left over from last week)

Honey Garlic Chicken Legs, Green Beans, Wild Rice (Ok, so the recipe is called 'Candied' but I don't like to think I'm eating candied chicken! I've made something similar to this before so I may tweak it a bit but the last time I did drumsticks in the oven they turned out pretty good.)

Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup

Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Toast and Fruit

Pizza (FROZEN)!!!!!! :-)


I'm so ready for Eli to get here! I'm hoping I can just throw this menu out the window!

Visit orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas!

Recipe- Easy Pasta Sauce with Sausage & Recipe Link (Cookie)

Well, I made the pasta sauce that I mentioned in MPM, Tuesday afternoon. It turned out really good! I made double the recipe so that I could freeze half of the sauce. That will make an easy dinner for us after Eli gets here. I originally intended to make it ahead Tuesday to freeze and eat Wed night for supper because I had plans for Tuesday night. My feet and back had other plans, though. My mom and dad did end up coming over because we've been having car issues (praying that we'll be able to buy a new vehicle sometime around the first of the year!!) for the past month and the Hubs needed some help working on it! Anyway, they stayed for dinner, since I just happened to have a huge pot of pasta sauce on the stove! Everyone really seemed to like it... well, everyone but Luke. He didn't even attempt to taste it!! He did, however, eat tons of grape tomatoes, that I had for the salad. That was a first, so there was progress!

So, here is the recipe, doubled:

Easy Pasta Sauce w/ Sausage
(I would guess it serves 10-12, it can easily be halved though!)

1.5 lbs ground sausage (I used mild Italian and it wasn't quite 1.5 lbs)
2 cans (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 1/2 c mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 bay leafs
2 T sugar
Salt and pepper (although I don't think I had to add any salt)

Brown sausage until no longer pink. Drain, set aside. In a little olive oil, saute onions and mushrooms until onions are soft, add garlic the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. In a large pot mix tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sausage, onion/mushroom mixture, sugar and spices. Bring pot to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer, covered, for 45 min to an hour. Serve over your favorite pasta.

*If you've never added sugar to a pasta sauce, try it. It doesn't make the sauce sweet at all (remember this is a doubled recipe) but it cuts the acidity of the tomatoes (doesn't that sound like I know what I'm talking about! Haha!).

And I just wanted to share that I love using pre-minced garlic. I use garlic quite a bit but not really enough to buy fresh bulbs. I've read that pre-minced garlic isn't as pungent (that is a word I learned from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network, she says it A LOT!) but that's OK with me. I'm not sure I want really PUNGENT garlic.

I also mentioned making cookies last week. Well, I really wanted something chocolate so I made these, last Thursday: Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

I followed the recipe almost exactly, except I did use half whole wheat flour, real butter, and only 3/4 c sugar total. They turned out really good and satisfied my chocolate craving!

Time to go get some things done. I've got pregnancy on my brain too so I'm sure I'll be back to give an update and share some feelings... I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow!