Mama Notes: For Pregnant Mamas: Body DURING Baby

Mama Notes: For Pregnant Mamas: Body DURING Baby
Today marks the beginning of week 17. I am feeling great, but I must admit that I am nervous for my blood pressure recheck this morning. I have been monitoring it at home since my appointment on Monday and my sentence of house arrest (aka bed rest). For the most part, my bp stays within the normal range, as long as I am sitting and relaxing. However, last night I fixed dinner and then went to church. When I got home my b/p was 155/109. Not good. Not good at all. It took a good fifteen minutes of laying quietly to get it down to a normal number.
This morning I was reminded by my precious niece of Psalm 61:2. I will cling to that verse today as I head back to the doctor's office at 11:00.

Mmmmmm . . . Cinnamon Rolls!

As a teen, my mom spoiled my family with hoomemade sourdough bread. This bread is lightly sweet, and it makes wonderful cinnamon rolls. After I got married, I followed my mom's tradition and made her sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls. I received many rave reviews, and never imagined a better recipe. That is, until I came across this recipe.

Pioneer Woman's.

They are out of this world, and the dough works really well as dinner rolls as well.
Make some Saturday afternoon to have for breakfast on Sunday.
That is, if they last that long!

House Arrest

Well, it appears that I am on house arrest until Thursday.

Not a good sign when I am only 16 weeks along!

My blood pressure was 144/102 at the doctor's office yesterday. (YIKES!) The good news is that it went down right away (within ten minutes of laying on my left side it was down to 133/84). The bad news is that this is the second time that my blood pressure has skyrocketed at the doctor's office (last time it was 180/80, but then went down right away to 132/74).

I have been monitoring my blood pressure at home regularly, and while I do have periodic high spikes (around 150/90), most of the time it is within the normal range that they want.

So, until Thursday at 11:00 I am on "limited bed rest" (which feels more like house arrest to me). We will see what my doctor says then.

In the meantime, I am trying to look on the positive side and do all of the things I can do while laying down. (Who knew a person can fold laundry while laying on her left side?!?!)

To help me stay on the bright side of things, here are my goals for the next few days:
Hopefully I can get caught up with our church's Bible reading plan!
I can finish the book I started a week ago!
I can organize my recipes! (Something I have been meaning to do in the last three months!)

Those are my lofty goals. We will see if I can accomplish them!




:-)

Sewing Update

Well, the skirt is cut out, but I had more pressing matters to work on first (as in VBS deadline and a pair of pants that fit my belly).
I did manage to remake my jeans that were on the way to the thrift shop.
I started following a tutorial I found online, but quickly deviated to my own idea. I really like having jeans that fit my ever growing tummy and yet still feel like "my jeans."

 

 

So, these are the finished products. They are really low, which I like because then I have no crazy high rise pant waist covering my belly. They also do not fall or slide.
Now, after I finish my skirt, I might take a look at a few of my pairs of capris. Maybe I can remake them into maternity pants . . .

Future Sewing Projects

Once I get my machine back from her annual cleaning, I hope to begin my long list of sewing projects. Here are just a few of the things I am planning to make in the near future:

Cute, cute maternity skirt

Nursing cover


Baby sling

Yes, I hope to be able to finish these and a whole list of other fun projects before this little one arrives, Lord willing around September 7.

Christmas Reflections

The following is our Christmas Letter for 2009, for anyone who is interested! HOPEFULLY my cards will be in the mail on Monday!

Once again, the hustle and bustle of the holidays is upon us. And, in the midst of baking gooey cinnamon rolls and sipping warm, strong coffee, I am reminded of the importance of taking the time to gratefully reflect on this past year.

God has blessed our family in many ways. Nat and I continue to be amazed at God’s grace and faithfulness in our lives. In Him we find our hope and joy, and we are humbled that God chooses to teach us and use us together as a couple in His service.

Nat is serving as the associate pastor of Germantown Hills Baptist Church. We both enjoy ministering in this area, and we couldn’t ask for a better, more loving church family. We are honored to serve with them.

I am enjoying my role as a stay-at-home mommy. It is a blessing to be able to devote my time to my boys and to Nat and his ministries. In my spare time (ha, ha!) I am teaching piano lessons, occasionally freelancing for Crossway books, writing, and sewing. I enjoy these opportunities greatly, and I appreciate my husband’s household help in the busy times!

Jack is now seven and absolutely loves first grade at Germantown Hills Elementary School. He is thriving in his class, and his love for reading and learning is starting to spill over at home. He is one of my piano students and is doing well, though he would rather “create” his own songs instead of practicing from his lesson books.

Andrew is now four, and his main goal in life seems to be to keep us all on our toes. He has an active imagination, and he is learning (sometimes ever so slowly) to curb his temper and to obey with a happy heart. He loves to sing and play, and he still seems to be a die-hard Cubs fan. (Yes, the rest of this Kealen household prays that he will come around to the Cardinal side of life!)

Well, that is about it for the Kealen family. To see pictures of us and our crazy lives, visit our family blog, erinlk.blogspot.com.

We love you all!

Nat, Erin, Jack, and Andrew

Test for our Christmas Drama

Okay,
So I wrote another play for our Christmas Dessert Theatre, and there is a short scene on the play where the kids are visiting the blog of a missionary who works with an orphanage in Africa. Baptist Children's Home has graciously allowed us to use some of their images for this quasi blog, so this is a test to see if it will look okay onscreen at our church.

Here it goes!

Vacation, Part One

We spent a long weekend with some friends at Lake Michigan.

The boys loved the icy water.

The sunsets were breathtaking.

We had a wonderful and relaxing visit. The only downside was that Jack developed Strep throat while we were there. Poor Peanut was sooo sick! We did get a few pictures of him at the water, but he spent most of his time enjoying the view from the sunroom in the cabin.

Vacation, Part Two!

Jack and Andrew on the beach.

The view from the steps of our friends' cabin.

Lake Point Sable Lighthouse, about a mile from the cabin.

Sneak Peek. . .

I hope to finish this today (most likely tomorrow), then I will post details and the finished product soon!

On to First Grade!

Congratulations, Jack! You have now finished kindergarten!
You have done so well this past year; mommy and daddy are so proud of you!

Thank you so much, Mrs. Ringenberg! You were a great teacher, but more importantly, you were a godly influence in Jack's life.

First grade, here we come!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom,
Happy Mother's Day!

We love you and miss you very much!

Love,
Nat, Erin, Jack, and Andrew

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

Lauren,
I wish, I wish, I WISH we could be there this evening to have a cupcake with you on your birthday!
I hope you have a very special birthday today! We love you, Lauren, and are looking forward to you visiting us this summer during VBS!

Easter Photos, Take One!

"Okay, Jack first! Good job smiling, Jack!"


"Now it's Andrew's turn! Andrew, put your shirt down!"

"Andrew, stand up straight, please!"
(oh brother!)
"Okay, let's try one of you two together."

"Jack, please don't touch your brother. Andrew, can we try to get just one picture!??!?!?!"

"Just one?!?!?!"

(sigh.)
I hope Jennifer had better luck with her camera!

Fun with Family

Uncle Bob, Aunt Debbie, and Jennifer stayed with us over Easter weekend. We spent Saturday at camp.

Jennifer brought her camera, and thankfully she got some great photos of the boys. However, until I can get my grubby paws on her amazing work, you will have to settle for my feeble attempts at capturing the moments of the day.

Aunt Debbie is so much fun! After helping me bake all morning, she still had energy to help Andrew with his plane.

I don't think Andrew's plane took flight, but he sure had fun running around with it!








Jack quickly got the hang of his little glider. He was able to get it in the air quite a bit that afternoon.













Ah, another missed opportunity for a good picture of Andrew. As soon as he spotted me lifting the camera, the cute little grin turned into the growl and laughter that soon followed!







Here is Andrew with Uncle Bob. Poor uncle Bob had to sleep in our tiny guest room on our full mattress.
Next time you come, Uncle Bob, I will try to stretch the mattress another 3 or 4 feet! :-)

Feedin' the Horses

Nat needed some "horse byproduct" for our flower beds, so we made a trip to feed the horses with Camp Grandpa.


The boys and Daddy took a break to check out the minnows and tadpoles in the creek.

We are so blessed to live by Camp Manitoumi. The boys have so much fun "working" with Grandpa.

Eggciting Events!

We had so much fun decorating Easter eggs with Great Grandma and Grandpa Kealen!

Andrew with his never-natural-looking camera pose!


Jack with another not-natural smile.


Grandpa, lookin' all spiffy with his egg.


Doesn't Grandma seem proud of her creativity?!?!

Easter dresses

I had sew much fun working on these dresses for my nieces!
This is Emma's dress.

The skirt has netting sewn to the lining. What a chore, but the results are really cute!

I have never sewn a zipper in a lined dress before, so that was a new experience for me.

Now, I can't wait to get some pictures of them in their dresses on Easter Sunday!

Happy Birthday, Mary!

There are some people in this world whose very presence make the world a bit cheerier, whose smile warms the coldest of days, and whose sweet spirit makes everyone around them a better person.
When I think of such a person, I think of my big sister, Mary.
And whenever I think of her, I remember how she used to sing to me.
I remember how she used to make me tapes when we lived so far apart.
I remember how much I missed her, and how I would sit by the tape recorder and make her tapes. And when I couldn't think of anything to say, I would pat the tape recorder and say, "I love you, Mary."
I remember going to visit her in her little trailer in Rossville, Georgia.
I remember crying every time I had to say goodbye to her.
I remember her patience as she taught me to sew.
I remember all her godly counsel and Bible verses set to cheery songs, like "Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage!"

And always, always, always, I remember her smile.

And when I remember, I smile and thank the Lord for giving me such a godly example in my life.

I love you, Mary!