Blog Update

I have been having some issues with my laptop. It hasn't wanted to download ANY pix. And if you're a blogger you know what kind of stress and aggrivation this would cause a girl! So instead of just writing, I've put it off.

So I've got all kinds of great stuff to share!

The pix above is a test pix of Ava and her Bopper or Dopper, which ever name she prefers to call him that day.

I am 37 weeks pregnant. Things have balanced out a little, so my dr. is "allowing" me to continue on for a little while. Wow, what a thoughtful physician I have, right! He he he, I've had a baby "not quite ready" in the NICU and I fully appreciate the waiting for safety sake.

We have settled into our new house just lovely. We've all become very comfortable and happy in our new environment. And it has inspired me to get back into the game and refurbish some old furniture. After the baby comes, of course. I want everyone to come visit and see my new precious baby and home VERY SOON! Consider this an invitation.

Ammorae made Jr. High cheerleader and has made pretty good grades this year. Just getting ready for final exams and can't wait to have her home over the summer. She always teaches her sisters so much and helps me a lot. We will be having friends over often, I have a feeling. Mostly to swim in our pool. Oh yeah, the two of us entered in the Mother/daughter Chocolate Festival at church and we won 3rd place with Chocolate Kahula Truffles!

Aydan has had a more than wonderful year in prek and is ahead of the game. She is so creative and makes me more proud each day. She is my official personal assistant. She wants to be "incharge" of everything that has to do with her soon to be baby sister.

Addy is finally potty trained! Hallelujah! She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She is encouraging and so loving to her sisters. She walkes around randomly and gives each one of them kisses. She is very concerned about God and Jesus and what they are expecting of each one of us daily. It makes our daily lessons fun and interesting.

Ava is almost 2 and has really broadened her horizons the last two weeks. She is talking up a storm and repeating everything. Her facial expressions are priceless. She follows her big sisters around and does everything they do. It's so sweet to see them automatically involve her in all their adventures. Out of the blue she has decided that she no longer needs to be shy. This is going to be interesting!


Jeff has worked so hard to move us and get things comfortable before the baby comes. He has spoiled and showered us with surprises and thoughtful gifts. He's bent on working in the yard and just being a great dad. We are so blessed to have this big geek as our dad and husband.

I also might add that he is the BEST partner to have during labor. As scary and tiring of a situation as this can be, he is the most soothing, thoughtful, and strong person. Something just clicks with him and he completely takes over and makes me feel so comfortable and relaxed. He is more comfortable with a new born than any person, let alone man that I've ever seen. It's so bizarre. Around this time of my pregnancies, I am so happy to KNOW that he will be by my side! Thank you GOD!

I welcome summer and can't wait update you with all that's gone on in the Bryan house for the last couple of weeks, and what's going to come with a new addition to our family.

Size Matters

I'm really gonna lay myself out there today. Although I'm bombarded with some really BIG issues, something is laying HEAVY on me.

I think that I'm fretting and worrying more about my weight issue and a healthier lifestyle than I am about going into labor, having a new baby, moving into a new house, finances, a busy summer, and all the things that are on my plate.

This IS the last baby that we are physically having. The last five years have been filled with reasons and excuses of how and why I've gained weight, and this will now determine if I still have any control or diligence.

I know that the weighty person and the people outside looking in have completely different views about all of this. BUT I've been on both sides of this issue and I will tell you POSITIVELY that most of you don't think that you are stereotypical or judgemental, but YOU ARE! I've had people REFUSE to get to know me or celebrate my talents and personality, because they can't look past my looks- and then I've lost weight and have been able to sport my own personal style (which you can not very successfully do when you are bigger) and they've LOVED me. Hmmmm, not very uplifting or loving!!!

Since I've come to know this information I have a large amount of compassion for people battling this issue. I try so hard not to judge and get to know people for who they are and not what they look like. I have a great amount of patience and compassion, a gift blessed from God! I know ALL different KINDS of people and am so happy to have these life experiences to help me through life. I especially have been blessed, because I get to teach ALL of my daughters these IMPORTANT life lessons. Let's be real, girls are the worst and meanest at this, especially in school. God's had a plan this whole time!

All that aside, although it's very important for people to learn and practice better friendship skills, being healthy is the real issue here.

I want to be healthier, and have a healthier family. I don't want to be part of the overweight/obese society. It does take an awareness and work to prepare yourself and endurance to see it through.

So yes, I am having a baby SOON, and have a lot of responsibilities right now; but this summer and this year are going to be VERY life changing. I need all of your prayers, advice, love, and friendship to make it a true success. I am going to lose baby weight and laziness fat and become a healthier woman!!!!

Moving and having a baby

The move is complete, not to say that things aren't still a mess though. Right now I am being tested for preeclampsia. Uggg! I know! This last baby is going to try it all, isn't she. She is measuring big and we've speculated that we'll be deliverying around 36 wks. (I am 34 wks today)

This new home has been a blessing in just a short amount of time. I have been thanking God for such a hard working husband. He moved the entire house on his own and worked until every little thing was done. Well the truth be known, Aydan helped him a lot. She insisted on helping him unload everything, even when it was pitch dark outside. She didn't give up until her daddy was ready to be finished each night. It was so inspiring and sweet. I got lots of video footage and pix.

Our new house is comfortable and cozy, it still needs accessorized and tweaked. It is so close to EVERYTHING. The neighborhood is so beautiful! I can't wait to have some company. I hope everyone will come and swim this summer, the pool has been cleaned and treated.

I will admit that there is still a lot to do. The downstairs family room is piled with odds and ends and Ammorae's room isn't up to par yet.

I'm trying to keep my head afloat, not be so emotional, get the house into shape w/o overdoing it, and attend to the end of the year stuff with the girls at school and church. Thank heavens for a heavenly Father who loves me and continues to walk with me daily.

Natural Spring

We relished the SHORT one day trip that we had as a family. We used to travel a lot, but Jeff's new job is very time consuming and he hasn't had any vacation time, until the end of this month. HOORAY!

We had so much fun visiting, singing, eating, and joking on the five hour trip back to Kansas last week.

On our way home we make a few pit stops, mostly to ease the pain of a long bumpy ride for me. One of the stops was really close to home. In Oklahoma there is a natural spring that we've visited since I was a kid. It has started producing bottled water for sale. DiVine, is it's professional name.

Here are some pix of my silly girls and their daddy. (oh yeah, the reason we stopped is because it's in the middle of nowhere and Aydan was about to potty her pants. We had to do an old fashioned country girl stop along side the road)

Where I Come From...

...a small town in Kansas. I lived in this small town for 18 or 19 years. My parents have lived there longer and Jeff's family has lived there for generations that started during the Oklahoma Land Rush back in 1893, to which they've donated a Bronze statue to dipict the event.

We were able to run home for a day to get the rest of our things out of storage and I felt very compelled to snap some pix so that I forever had a stationary memory.

When you live somewhere so long and are such a part of the background it's hard to leave and it's hard not be there during certain seasons and celebrations.

(Thurman's Harvesting - looks like the John Deere Imp)
It's still the same ol place, but I did notice that they are freshening up in a few spots too. There is such a comfort in a small town, even the crass grouchy old lady that you know is going to harrass you about something you did 10 years ago, every time you see her. It's been 10 months that I've been gone and I was correct about the business hours and same specials at the restaurants while we were there. On Sunday I had to rush to the grocery store after church, because it closes at 4pm and there is only one restaurant open that night.

(A part of our Farm Store)
Something else that is exciting to me is to see my peers stepping up to the plate and doing their part. Many of my classmates and friends are on the hospital board, city counsel, business owners, voluteering for emergency and community efforts, teachers, Sunday school teachers, and more.

(Plum Thickett Inn - I was a cook & waitress here for many years)
I attended 8 years of school there and then came back and had children and ran and owned a couple of businesses and serve in the community a lot, I was the Chamber President for a couple of years.

(Dan Ray's Semi, that we've rhode many a time in)
How many of you have a similar story? It definately made a difference in who I am today. Small towns are great. Next week I'll post how it devastated and scarred me for life too!

New Baby

I went to the Dr. yesterday. We did an ultrasound and found out that our baby girl is growing like a weed! She is 5# and measuring considerably larger than expected. We are going to keep a close eye on her each week and go from there.

It looks like we'll try to keep her in utero for another four weeks and deliver at 36 wks. WOW!

I hope to START moving this weekend, but Jeff only has Sunday after church to work on it. I hope and pray she will sit tight until we get settled.

We can't wait to see you baby girl, but grow healthy!

We are still leaning towards the name Abigail, and Addy keeps saying Agabale! So sweet!

Her nursery is yellow. She will be sharing a room with her big sister Ava. The colors are yellow, red, and a light green. It's more of an old fashioned theme. I did register at Target for a few odds n ends things that have worn out and that we need. There are a few large ticket items too, but I am also looking for a good deal, if you know of anyone who is selling something or wanting to get rid of it - please let me know. It's all a bit shocking, but very exciting!

CRAZY doesn't even describe it!!!

I haven't been able to blog lately, because I've been crazy busy! I've missed it and I miss all my communications with YOU!

The pix are of random silliness with the girls this week!

I don't know where to start? I am 31 1/2 weeks pregnant, but measuring 33 weeks. I will be having an ultrasound next week to see how much she weighs and check the amount of amniotic fluid.

We are moving to a new home. We've painted two bedrooms in a week and still need to deep clean it. We need to get a move on and actually get moved. Besides the time issue with the baby, it's also a busy car season already and Jeff is working many long hours. We've worried and stressed about how and when. Much to our amazement, great friends have offered to help us and it's been greatly generous and more than we've ever expected.

This weekend we were invited home to go the Shrine Circus with Papa, he's a Shriner and truly the ONLY way to ever visit the circus is to go with him. Jeff is a Shriner too and my older brother was a Shrine kid. It's a very sentimental thing. More than all the fun that Papa treats everyone to is being apart and watching him bless kids with a beautiful day of fun and treats. He passes out free tix to ride the animals and do all the special things that most of their parents can't afford, because all of their time and money is invested in caring for their health. We've been on the other side and it's such a blessing.

Jeff can NEVER be gone on Saturday's but he can be gone Sun. and Mon. and we need to go back to KS to get moving supplies and things out of storage. So MOMMY gets to make the decision, take four little girls to the circus with Papa, or wait for daddy to get off of work Sat. (after the circus)and drive five hours one way to load and unload stuff to move. It's just not fair! Oh yeah, did I mention that both of my sisters and two of my brothers and all their kids are going with Papa? Yeah, nice hu!

We had a 7:30am mtg. this morning with a teacher about getting some extra help with a slinking grade. (got EVERYONE up at 6am)

Made time to work at Loving Choices yesterday. Extremely busy there! God sent many woman in crisis situations our way and graciously had the PERFECT volunteers there to assist and minister to each one. What a blessing!

Add at least 15 meals, at least 10 loads of laundry, bible study, choir, kids choir, youth group, 3 trips to the grocery store, 2 trips to the gas station, potty training, recycling center trip, trips to the phone store and bank, started a new accounting and budgeting system for the home, had a surprise party for a teacher, and the normal everyday schedules to this week and it spells CRAZY! (and unfortunately one bad arguement with the husband)

PHEW!!!! I know that I am probably no busier than you, but it's my story and perogative and this week has been a whirlwind. AND it being the time of the year that it is, it doesn't look like it's going to slow down! As a matter of a fact Ammorae was invited to stay the night with a friend and she also announced that she is trying out for Jr. High Cheerleader, which promises to be a busy next two weeks. Only 7 weeks of school left and finals looming.

God, we'll definately be in touch and very personal in the upcoming weeks. I praise you for a life of excitement and the freedom to have choices to make! Thank you for all the busy blessings you've given me, especially the ones with pigtails!

P.S. while I was typing this, Ava (my 1 1/2 yr old) completely sucked down the frappacino that I splurged on when I dropped Ammmorae off at school. It'll be another exciting day!