Wylie Jewell Collier- 22 weeks

How far along: 22 weeks

Food comparison: Papaya (10.5 to 12.7 inches long, 12.7 to 20.8 ounces)

Weight gain: 9 pounds

Sleep: it's not bad but not normal either. That body pillow is a must for sure!

Best moment of the week: celebrating my birthday and Christmas with all of our families!

 Movement: I feel her a lot.  So reassuring.  Caleb has even felt her kick now!

Food cravings/aversions:  Baked potatoes and ice cream/yogurt

What I miss: my back not hurting at the end of the day & being able to comfortably flex forward and tie my shoes

Workouts: ha, sometimes just being on my feet all day at work and working at home is workout enough for a pregnant gal.  Between the holiday hustle, cleaning, decorating, un-decorating, work being so busy, laundry, etc I'm literally pooped at the end of the day! I will do better on Jan 2nd! :)

Stretch marks: none- I am slathering on cocoa butter lotion daily hoping to prevent them.

Maternity clothes: yes. I 'm not sure if I will ever remember to button and zip pants again when I can wear normal clothes again!

Belly button: in but it's close to not being in much longer.

Gender: my sweet Wylie girl

Symptoms: Feet and back ache daily after the work day and it's frustrating because I can't stretch into flexion because she is in my way; heartburn, stuffy nose, increased heart rate and shortness of breath with one flight of stairs, heartbeat in my left ear (ANNOYING)

Rings: on

Mood: just depends on the day.  Some days I'm really tired but need to get so much done but I can't be the energizer bunny like I used to, so I wind up getting frustrated.  Poor Caleb has been trying to help me as much as he can.  I don't know what I would do without my Johnny Homemaker!

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: New Year's, Caleb's birthday (Jan 1st-- football all day) and Jan 10th is my glucose test (yuck)

Her new monogram from her grandmothers & the crib from my mom! Blankets from my Aunt Kim and SIL Sarah

Just a small part of her Christmas presents she got!

21 week view

Love my wonderful parents

Cheesecake Factory for my birthday

My birthday presents from Caleb! Love my diaper bag & our matching infinity scarves

We loved you before we knew you, even when there was just hope for you, we loved you.

Wylie Jewell Collier- 20 weeks

Um when did I get huge?

How far along: 20 weeks

Food comparison: Mango (6.5 inches long, 13 ounces)

Weight gain: 6 pounds

Sleep: sleeping great with the body pillow until Caleb steals it when I get up to go to the bathroom around 3am

Best moment of the week: seeing her on the anatomy ultrasound and hearing confirmation that everything is going perfectly well! Heart beat was 161! God is so so good!!

Movement: I can feel her tapping a lot more.  I can't wait until Caleb can feel her kick!

Food cravings/aversions:  Hungry, but get full really fast. Loving cream sodas and red velvet Christmas tree cakes.  And i want seafood and lots of it.  Too bad I can't indulge like I want to!

What I miss: seafood apparently

Workouts: zumba, pilates, cleaning the house, putting baby furniture together

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: yes.

Belly button: in but really hard

Gender: Confirmation again that she is a SHE for sure!

Symptoms: Face clearing up,  round ligament stretching/pain, tired, heartburn

Rings: on

Mood: ecstatic!

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: Christmas parties, my birthday next week (Cheesecake Factory, yum!), Christmas celebrations.

Everyone knows I am the furthest thing from a procrastinator so I am very pleased of how much I have gotten done at the halfway point even with the holidays! Furniture is almost ready, shopping for a glider this weekend, registries are done (BRU, Target and PBK), and closet organization has begun!

Below are some pictures of some of the furniture and building processes as well as some ultrasound pics and things I've been given or purchased so far!

Manning supervising

My furniture we refinished. It's 28+ years old

Dolly got some supervising time in too

Sucking her little thumb

messy closet

before and after paint job on my old baby furniture

Manning supervising with his eyes closed

4 weeks left, 20 weeks right

I LOVE POLAR BEARS! I could NOT resist this!

My sweet friend Megan Swanger sent me this adorable box she covered as well as Wylie's first headbands!

What's in a name?

What's in a name?
 
Well, everything. My name being April, I still get asked to this day if I was born in April. That would make sense, but I'm not. I was born six days prior to Christmas. My dad thinks April is the prettiest month of the year because the flowers and trees start blooming after a grey winter. Therefore, he wanted his daughter to be named after his favorite month of the year. I always enjoy telling that story. Caleb means faithful or whole hearted in Hebrew. I have also seen where it means dog lover which fits so well. "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. (Numbers 14:24 NIV)" He was also named after his grandpa and father (Robert Caleb) Manning is named after my favorite football family and Dolly is after Dolly Parton because she has big... Ears. Dolly Parton was also my Papaw Roberts' favorite singer.
 
So when considering our name for our baby girl, it was never taken lightly. Caleb is a teacher so he has tons of kids that share the same trendy name or sometimes associates names with an unruly child. A name for our child has been no easy feat and has been discussed since our honeymoon. I have gently vetoed names like Rango and John Wayne that were suggested while we dined on the beach in Mexico.  Others opinions and suggestions for names were politely tossed to the wayside. This name needed to mean something to us even if it only means "I can't believe they are calling her that" to the general public. This name won't be found in the top 10 names of 2013 or probably any year for that matter.  Not even the top 100 and we like it that way.
 
Some of you from back home knew my Nana and Papa Agee who owned the only motel in Pikeville. The only one still to this day. Some of you may remember fishing stories about my Papa or got a card every year on your birthday, anniversary or Christmas from my Nana. Some of you just may know I admired my Nana in so many ways and miss her terribly. We were extremely close. I stayed with her every summer watching the Price is Right, CMT and the Walton's. She picked me up from school everyday. She made me every type of sodium nitrate meat they make (spam, Vienna sausages, hot dogs...she didn't know any better) and scrambled eggs in the microwave. She took me to every Sunday school and church service. When I was old enough to drive and she no longer did, I took her instead. She spoiled me rotten as I was her only grandchild for 11 years. When my cousin Samantha came along, I was very hesitant to "share" my Nana. When she smiled she wrinkled up her nose at the same time if it was a very excited smile. Her eyes even sparkled.  I do the same thing sometimes and my aunt Kim caught it via camera on my wedding day. I wore her pearls that day as well. I wish she could have been there. I do not however have this many memories of my Papa as he passed away when I was 4. I have heard stories from my mom, uncle, dad and Nana and wish had known/remembered him better. I have seen pictures of him feeding me chocolate pudding with a fork when I was a baby, making a huge mess. I know he was a trusting man who used to pick up hitchhikers and let them drive so he could sleep on road trips. I know he was very patient as fishing was his favorite pastime. My Nana was also very patient and never uttered a complaint or unkind word about anyone. Yep that's my Nana and Papa, Wiley and Jewell Agee. Two fine folks. Two memorable folks. Two very missed folks. Two gone too soon folks. I want their memory and goodness to live on in this generation. I want my daughter to ask about them and let me tell her where her name came from. And be proud of it. Caleb's great grandpa's full name (that he was named after) was Robert Wiley Hale so this name covers both of mine and Caleb's heritages. 

This precious little girl will be called Wylie Jewell Collier.
 

Wylie means resolute protection or well watered meadow. 
"The Lord will guide you always, he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11 (thanks Heidi for the verse)

There are not many versions of this name out there, with this spelling particularly and especially not many girls with this name. We think Wylie Jewell Collier would make a great name for a country music singer.
 
Jewell means obviously a precious gem or "delight."  "She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. "(Proverbs 3:15 ESV)
 
There may be times she doesn't like her name because it's different than her friends but once she realizes it's importance and value she will have no reason not to love it. Her name is full of consideration, heritage and meaningfulness to us. Wylie Jewell Collier is loved so much by so many already and I can't wait to meet her.
 
 

Baby girl Collier- 18 weeks

 How far along: 18 weeks

Food comparison: Sweet potato (5.6 inches long)

Weight gain: 7 pounds

Sleep: sleeping great with the body pillow,  Very worn out and tired still.

Best moment of the week: Thanksgiving celebrations with family, feeling her move several times a day.

Movement: I can feel her tapping a lot more.  I can't wait until Caleb can feel her kick!

Food cravings/aversions:  Hungry, but get full really fast.

What I miss: nothing

Workouts: I did 30 minutes of P90x yoga and was sore for 2 days. Sheesh. It's been too cold to walk Manning this week.  Maybe this weekend we can bundle up and go!

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: yes.

Belly button: in but really hard

Gender:  Sweet baby girl.  I've been given so many nice things this week already: cute clothes, blankets, baby dolls from family, friends and patients! This girl is loved already!

Symptoms: Face and neck still breaking out, round ligament stretching/pain, tired, heartburn

Rings: on

Mood: ecstatic!

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: Getting nursery furniture soon.  Re-finishing my bookcase and toy chest from when I was a baby.  I can't wait to organize all the clothes we've gotten so far.  20 week anatomy scan and another gender confirmation Dec 10th!

Chandler's a GIRL! (Baby Collier- 17 weeks)

Anyone who knows me knows I love Friends.  The past month the general public (friends, relatives, patients, strangers) have convinced me I was having a boy.  The only reason I thought it could be a girl was the fact I was breaking out like a high school senior on prom night.  So today, when we had our gender scan the first thing I see is the butt and NOTHING between the legs.  So like on the show when the last triplet to be named Chandler turned out to be a girl therefore going through my head today was "CHANDLER'S a GIRL!"  You can watch the clip here if you are confused: Friends clip Most everything in life can be applied to Friends. My sister in law Sarah can vouch for that.  And NO, the name is not going to be Chandler.  Caleb would think that's way to feminine (for the boy I thought we were having) and trendy.  Hence, we may not have a name for years.  Ah, teachers.  This name will for sure be: unique, meaningful, southern and NOT trendy.  Count on that.

 How far along: 17 weeks

Food comparison: Onion (5.1 inches long)

Weight gain: 7 pounds

Sleep: sleeping great with the body pillow.  Actually slept all night without an early morning bathroom break one night!

Best moment of the week: seeing baby again on ultrasound (had been 9 weeks) and how much SHE has grown! God's work is truly amazing.  She was quite upset we disturbed her nap and kept putting her hands in front of her face, had her feet crossed and playing with the cord.  Cutest thing ever.  I made the ultrasound lady convince me scientifically several times in several views that it was a girl and not a boy. I really expected to see a penis today. Ha-ha.

Movement: oh yeah.  It's so cool.  and weird. 

Food cravings/aversions:  Somewhat normal again.  Definitely hungry.

What I miss: nothing

Workouts: Zumba and walking my Manning

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: pants and shirts. I have mostly outgrown my shirts but I'm swimming in maternity clothes.  I look like a hobo. 

Belly button: in but really hard

Gender:  GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL!!!

our announcement

first pink item

Symptoms: Face and neck still breaking out, round ligament stretching/pain, sore abs, sore aching feet.

Rings: on

Mood: ecstatic!

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: Thanksgiving.  20 week anatomy scan and another gender confirmation Dec 10th!

Baby Collier 16 weeks!

How far along: 16 weeks

Fruit comparison: Avocado (yum!!) (4.6 inches long)

Weight gain: 5 pounds

Sleep: tossing and turning more.  Getting up at least once to go to the bathroom at 2:30 am precisely, but I did that pre-pregnancy sometimes it's just more consistent now.  On my way to Target right now to invest in a body pillow.

Best moment of the week: hearing baby's heart beat again today (149 bpm), crib shopping last week with my sweet mom.  The crib set should be ready next weekend.  I also discovered that my old book shelf and toy chest were in my closet back home, so I cannot wait to paint them and spruce them up for baby C!

Movement: flutters for sure

Food cravings/aversions:  No major cravings lately and I'm slowly getting back to eating my normal food again.  I was able to eat Mexican food again including grilled chicken fajitas.  Progress!  I'm ALWAYS hungry.

What I miss: wearing all my regular pants

Workouts: Zumba and walking my Manning

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: pants and shirts. Leggings and dresses on the weekends. There is no hiding the bump at all. My patients are starting to notice and I can tell when I am stretching shoulders how much further it sticks out now!

Belly button: in but really hard

Gender:  We find out FRIDAY!! I simply cannot wait!  The planning and registering can really begin then.  I have started a registry at Target and Babies R Us, but nothing gender specific yet. 

Symptoms: Face and neck still breaking out, round ligament stretching/pain, more energy than in 1st trimester but I can't go like I used to.  I am still falling asleep by 9pm on the couch.

Rings: on

Mood: just completely blessed.

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: gender scan on the 22, then Thanksgiving at Caleb's Mamaw's with all the Ohio peeps and some mighty good food and fun/games! I will be doing a gender post next week and may start doing weekly updates if I can find the time!

So go ahead and make your guess about the gender.  According to the Chinese calendar, it's a boy.  Others have told me I'm carrying low and all up front which also means boy.  The heart rate decreased to 149 this time.  Rachell Farmer's fool proof necklace wrist test also indicated boy.  So my guess is a sweet little boy!

Hopefully baby will cooperate during the gender scan and we will know by Friday afternoon! I'm so excited to find out and get a name for this baby!

Baby Collier- 14 weeks!

How far along: 14 weeks (officially by ALL medical opinions and baby apps in the 2nd trimester!)

Fruit comparison: Lemon (3.4 inches long)

Weight gain: actually lost 2 since I've been more consistent with Zumba and eating better.  So total is 3 lbs!

Sleep: oh so good.  Prone is not happening much anymore though.

Best moment of the week: not baby related but the Bucs winning their 6th District title against undefeated Silverdale (their rivals who have never beaten Boyd in football, ever) in overtime going for a 2 point conversion.  I'm sure this baby wonders what in the world all the commotion was about during that game. 

Movement: sometimes I feel my stomach turning flip flops at night.  Maybe not baby but I'm not sure!

Food cravings/aversions:  Craving: meatball subs (wish Subway had turkey meatballs) and strawberry cake.  Caleb got me my favorite strawberry patch cake from the Acropolis and totally surprised me! The church pot luck was the best I've eaten in 10 weeks.  There was so much to choose from so I could just get what I wanted that instant! There have been a couple occasions when I have not been able to eat what I ordered (Mexican and Italian).  Caleb thinks I'm crazy but it's HIS child doing this to me! haha Aversions are getting better but grilled chicken still is a big turn off.

What I miss: nothing! I am loving this 2nd trimester!

Workouts: Zumba and shaking a milk jug full of rocks for 60 minutes is a great tricep workout at the game!

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: pants are a must for comfort. 

Belly button: in but it does feel funny

Gender:  We find out in 20 days!!!! Just in time for black Friday! (not that I shop, but others do!  I may shop online for the first gender specific item!)

Symptoms: Energy is returning.  Still super tired by 9:30 and sleep like a rock! (Guess I should now while I still can)

Rings: on

Mood: excited, happy, loving to show off this baby bump that is looking less like a beer belly now

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: Mom's birthday, Christmas and crib shopping. Next apt Nov 15th for bloodwork and another heartbeat listen.  I scheduled a gender scan at Cloud 9 at 17 weeks on Nov. 22nd! The reveal tentatively depends on playoffs but we will announce that day somehow! :)




I don't have any sad songs to post this time.  Just glory, praise and honor to the Creator for allowing me to get through the first trimester.  My nerves are more at ease now but I still pray for this baby daily.  I hope you still will too as we want he or she to be 100% healthy as can be!


This past Sunday, our minister quoted the verse we loved the day we got our first ultrasound- Psalms 27:13,
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  But that day of our first appt it was the "verse of the day" in my Bible app so I didn't see the next verse, Psalms 27:14 stating "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Life is a waiting game.  It's all about His timing.  There is no need to rush or force things as it will happen when it's supposed to, as it's supposed to. That concept was very hard for me to grasp for the past 28 years of my life.  We waited for Him to grant us this pregnancy and now we are waiting for our little one to perfectly develop and grow before it's arrival this spring.  The goodness of the Lord will be seen in the land of the living, if you are patient enough to wait for it.  It's a true test of one's faith and trust in the Lord.  I'm so thankful for this.  I've never been a very patient person but it's getting better every day and I know I will be a better wife, mother, friend and Christian because of it. 

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.

Baby Collier- 12 weeks!

How far along: 12 weeks

Fruit comparison: Plum (2.1 inches long)

Weight gain: 5 pounds

Sleep: other than waking up at 4:30 am to go to the bathroom, its great!

Best moment of the week: hearing the heartbeat!  159 bpm.  My mom and Caleb got to go with me and of course I recorded it. 

Movement: maybe a flutter or two?

Food cravings/aversions: Arby's roast beef sandwiches (I haven't eaten red meat in 2.5 years.  This craving was out of no where.)  Still not liking the smell of any meat cooking.  Strawberry fruitare popsicles!

What I miss: my normal clothes

Workouts: Back into Zumba, walking Manning, hiking 3 miles at Cloudland Canyon (talk about some sore calves after all those stairs!)

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: belly band, got my first pair of maternity skinny jeans (super thankful these exist) 

Belly button: in

Gender: Chinese, Mayan's, necklace test say boy.  Face breaking out, sweet cravings and wedding band wrist test say girl!

Symptoms: just tired mostly now; occasional nausea at night still and indecisive on what sounds good to eat

Rings: on

Mood: excited

Labor signs: no

Upcoming appts/events: Mom's birthday, Christmas and crib shopping. Next apt at 16 weeks.  Anatomy scan won't be until mid December to determine sex.  Testing my patience :)

I apparently will have to stop listening to country music at work.  This song by King George came on the other day and I almost lost it in front of all my patients. Yes, I've heard it many times before, but never was I pregnant when I heard it.  I see God every time I look down at this baby bump!

 "I Saw God Today"

[VERSE 1:]
Just walked down the street to the coffee shop,
Had to take a break,
I've been by her side for eighteen hours straight,
saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk,
pushing up through the concrete,
Like it was planted right there for me to see,

The flashing lights,
The honking horns,
All seem to fade away,
but in the shadow of the hospital,
at 508,
I saw God today,

[CHORUS:]
I've been to church,
I've read the book,
I know He's there,
But I don't look,
near as often as I should,

His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just look down and stop and stare,
open my eyes and then I swear,
I Saw God Today,

[VERSE 2:]
Saw a couple walking by,
they were holding hands,
and she had that glow,
Ya, I couldn't help,
but I noticed that she was starting to show,
stood there for a minute,
taking in the sky,
lost in that sunset,
a splashing down from mounting in shades of red,

[CHORUS:]
I've been to church,
I've read the book,
I know He's there,
but I don't look,
near as often as I should,

His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just look down and stop and stare,
open my eye and then I swear,
I Saw God Today,

[VERSE 3:]
Got my face pushed up against the nursery glass,
she's sleeping like a rock,
my name on her wrist,
wearing tiny pink socks,
she's got my nose,
she's got her Mama's eyes,
my bran new baby girl,
she's a miracle,
I Saw God Today

Baby Collier 10 weeks

 I want to remember everything about my first pregnancy so while I know reading my updates are not for everyone, this is mostly for my future reference and to show our little John Wayne (Caleb's nickname for baby) one day. Don't read if you don't wanna know!

How far along: 10 weeks, 3 or 6 days depending on which date you use (measured April 29, lmp says may 2)

Fruit comparison: Prune 1.2 inches

Weight gain:3-4 pounds

Sleep: I love going to bed at 9:30! Sleep amazing! Prone is getting uncomfortable due to sore breasts

Best moment of the week: seeing my belly pooching out!

Movement: unless you count gas, nada

Food cravings/aversions: crab legs were amazing. Oreo blizzards. Mexican food was not appealing at all Sunday (what is wrong with me?)

What I miss: eating normal stuff (veggies, not all carbs)

Workouts: I've been doing well making it to Zumba until the past week.  With such an early bed time from being so exhausted, I haven't done the night classes lately.  This nice weather has been perfect for walks with Manning and Frisbee in the backyard.  I hope to get some energy back soon and attend Zumba 3x/week and walking Manning daily 1-2 miles.

Stretch marks: none

Maternity clothes: I do enjoy my belly band as things are getting snug in my dress pants. My MIL has been finding lots of clothes for me at the Will.

Belly button: in

Gender: I think boy. Top priority is a healthy baby!

Symptoms: queasy at night, sore boobs, gas, heightened smells, cooking meat is still awful, indecisive over food, breaking out like a 8th grader at their first dance

Rings: on

Mood: excited

Labor signs: no thanks. Not time!

Upcoming appts/events: next Friday oct 18 is the 12 week appt! Caleb and my mom get to come. Fall break is that weekend too so looking forward to sleep, new hair, and shopping!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV)

4 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 10 weeks 2 days ish

Living By Faith

You've heard the old church hymnal-

 Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

Since my last blog post, I have truly done this.  Rich Froning (3 time Crossfit champ and friend of Caleb's) tweeted just this past week:

 "True faith doesn't just celebrate after the miracle has happened, true faith celebrates before, because you know that God will deliver..."

And do we ever have lots to celebrate.

Let's rewind.  My last blog on August 14th, focused on me writing in a journal my book marked bible verses to pass time when I would worry about things beyond my control.  Things I was "hoping" for.  It worked.  I knew God would answer our prayers and He did just that beyond my expectations and timelines.  

On Wednesday August 21st, I was feeling different.  I was feeling confident.  I was feeling fearless. I was feeling God's love shining from within me and all around me.  My bible verses that day were these:

 Already that previous weekend I had noticed Manning was being ultra cuddly. Like would not get his head out of my lap for anything cuddly.  He knew before I did.  Talk about a smart dog. I had read animals could be intuitive about these things.  I should have known.

That evening, Caleb got home before me and we made dinner together (we never get to sit down together during the week during football season, so it's special) and took the dogs on a nice long walk.  I had an intuition that I should take a pregnancy test.  Being frugal, I used one of the cheap Equate brands because I didn't think it would be positive.  I did my thing and took a shower that was filled with anticipation to get out.  Low and behold, I stare at this faint blue line and scream silently to myself.  "Is that line really there? I'm seeing things.  This test is cheap.  It's inaccurate."  I go back downstairs and Caleb is watching ESPN and I simply keep to myself.  "I will take the digital one in the morning and be sure one way or the other.  Oh wait, Caleb will already be gone to work out so I can't wait until then."  So at 10pm, I took the real test.  And with trembling hands and a racing heart, read the word "Pregnant" clear as day.  Again, I screamed silently.  Having nothing planned, I go into the bedroom and ask Caleb if he would like to see something cool.  He thinks I am going to show him something on my phone, but I move my phone so he can see the test.  His eyes widened and said "Is that ours?"

The shock kept us both up the majority of the night.  Don't get me wrong, we were elated.  But I had heard so many times it would take some couples 6-12 months or longer and then have to have help.  I never dreamed it would happen so fast! I couldn't sleep, so I signed up on all the expecting apps to figure out my due date.  May 2nd, 2014.  I tried to avoid sleeping prone because you aren't supposed to when you're pregnant.  (The big belly reason didn't occur to me until morning.)  Dead tired, I drag myself to work. 

I knew I would not lose my anxiety and sleeplessness until we told our parents. But I had to tell them in person.  The plan was to go home that Saturday after our color run, tell my parents, then head to the mountain for Sarah's big birthday party and tell them.  Well, rain and storms rained out the Friday night football game, moving it ever so conveniently to Saturday.  Being the planner that I am, this was not going well.  But again, I trusted in God's timing. We went ahead and told Caleb's family that night and at midnight decided to skip the color run and drive straight over to my parents in the morning to surprise them and tell them.  (We told his family by discussing the side effects of Zija, by showing a picture of the + test at my MIL.  Maybe that's why it happened so fast.  More on that later.)  Another sleepless night.  Another lie to my co-workers on why we could not attend the race. We pulled up in the driveway and my mom was confused but thought we had decided to come over to hang out pre-birthday party before Caleb had to get things ready for the game.  My dad was on the roof replacing skylights so I desperately needed him to come down before I exploded.  I handed them both bags.  Dad opens his first, containing a bib that says "I love cruising" with a car from Disney's Cars on it and my mother begins to squeal like a school child at recess.  She had not even opened hers yet.  I gave her a "Nana" frame with a picture of my "pregnant" test in it.    Dads reaction was, and I quote, "I knew all this rain and floods had to be good for something."  Finally, I can sleep again.

Over the next few days, I told people on a "need to know" basis and certain close friends/family because I was having to make things up all the time and felt guilty for lying.  I have never lied so much to so many people in my life this past month! (If I lied to you, I'm sorry.  I wanted to shout it out to everyone!)

September 10th.  Another blessing occurs.  Another thing "hoped" for.  We have a mandatory staff meeting after work.  In a nutshell, Obamacare is changing many things so our owners took a course of action to protect our small business by partnering with a larger company out of Chicago.  An acquisition is the proper term.  While this means new overhead and EMR (electronic medial records- a hassle by definition) and lots of changes at work on top of my changing body, mind and emotions it also meant something even better.  Better benefits. North River has always been my second home and family.  I loved that it was a small company and if I needed to talk to the "big guys in charge" I could walk in their office or text them and it was no issue.  But that also meant we had small business benefits.  Now with ATI, who has over 3,000 employees, we have GREAT benefits.  We are going from a high deductible insurance plan, to a lower deductible and co-pay plan for basically what I was already paying in a monthly premium.  I have free short and long term disability and life insurance.  I have PTO to take and can build up sick days.  And I get to keep my Aflac I already had in place prior so I can have two checks during maternity leave.  God knew.  He knew one of the biggest things stopping us from starting a family was our insurance being so high.  We trusted Him and decided to start a family anyway and He provided not only that blessing of expanding our family, but the blessing of better insurance for that family.  When I tell you He is amazing and faithful I mean it more than ever before.

     I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living. Psalms 27:13

 This was the verse of the day in my Bible app, the day I have long awaited for our first check-up.  Baby Collier's very first (of many) pictures.  Showing 9 weeks, 1 day here, 3 days ahead of the due date based on my last period.  Baby was moving around having a great time with his beating heart.  I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

So today, we are announcing about our little miracle and display of God's faith, love, goodness, and perfect timing.  Some may say it's too early and it's too risky.  I've waited long enough and it was the hardest secret to keep in my entire life.  I am celebrating and showing the world just how GOOD He is.  I am showing my faith and celebrating before, because I know God will DELIVER, just as He already has time and time again.  I do not mind that everything is out of my control, because ever since I've let God be in control, things have worked out much better and I've been more at peace. 

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;    his greatness no one can fathom. Psalms 145:3

I love this picture, because Dolly looks like we just told her the news.  So precious.

Thank you all for reading and we would appreciate your prayers for a happy, healthy baby in early May! Celebrate the faithfulness of God with us and give Him your concerns and cares.  He will deliver!

Opening my eyes to see

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.- Hebrews 11:1

We do not see God.  We may not see Him immediately intervening in our lives.  We may not have full blown faith and hope in Him doing the things we pray for him to intercede with.  At the time anyway.  We may think He isn't listening or there.  Oh but He is. 

Looking back through my timeline on Facebook, it's evident of very small and big events throughout my life.  It's evident God was in my life even though I did not give Him as much glory for that as He well deserves.

After high school, I wanted to go to UTC but I didn't score high enough on the ACT to get the "big" scholarship.  I went anyway and my sophomore year landed an awesome scholarship that even allowed me to have a "refund" to live off of.  

I wanted to get into PT school.  I worked my tail off and my dream came true.

I wanted to survive PT school.  I did.

I wanted to pass boards.  I did.

Around the time I finished, I was desperate for a job.  I was afraid I would have to move in order just to get one.  I got a job right out of school in Chattanooga just in time before my savings ran out. 

Around this time in my life I felt I was wandering aimlessly.  I had my dream career, but not the dream "life" I was hoping for.  I needed a person to journey through life with.  I dated the wrong guy.  I knew he was not "the one".  I began to notice in my timeline on FB, that I would quote scripture to help me along the way, like I was searching for something, anything to find my path.  This was not like anything I ever used to do.  As I continued to float along, Caleb and I saw each other again at a wedding in April 2010 and went to the movies that evening.  Next thing I know, I'm head over heels in love with the right guy.  

2 months passed and Caleb had to accept a job in Oneida, TN.  Needless to say, we were both devastated.  We cried for a while but both agreed we saw a future in our relationship and promised to make it work somehow.  I was working at the hospital, which included several weekend shifts.  That was not going to make it easy on us.  A month later, North River called me with a job offer (no weekends anymore) and I gladly accepted.  I had not prayed directly for God to give me another job, but I had been praying for Him to find a way for us.  He did. 

Caleb lived in Oneida during football season, so I made the trip up there most every weekend.  God kept me safe during those 2.5 hour one way trips through random towns and curvy roads. It was stressful and hard, but our time together brought us closer and closer as leaving on Sundays was the hardest thing I've ever done.  By the grace of God, Caleb was offered a job at Boyd Buchanan in early December and moved back home.  2 weeks later, he proposed. 

The day of our wedding it was pouring rain.   You could have said I was a little upset.  There were storms all around us, but nothing ever hit the wedding site enough to cause any damage.  2 hours before our ceremony was to start, it stopped raining.  Around the time I was to walk down the aisle, the sun came out.  Although the table cloths and seats were wet, our wedding was perfectly beautiful and we had the most amazing sunset.  Now every time I see a gorgeous sunrise or sunset, it just reminds me of His goodness.  

Caleb's job at Boyd has led us to new friendships that I have needed my whole life, to be around those with the same beliefs/morals as me.  Boyd also led us to Clear Creek Church of Christ which is part of our family now.  God is amazing for He sent people I need in my life to encourage and uplift me, not that just are convenient.   He has encouraged me to no longer follow the crowd, but be myself while seeking Him, proving He will send people in my pathway, not that I have to chase or conform with.

There are times now in my life where I think we won't be able to handle our finances or schedule or the stress from work, yet day to day, week to week and month to month, it's always okay.  God always takes care of us.

Now, don't get me wrong, I was praying and thanking God throughout all this time, but it wasn't until now I see how significant and intricate his plan and timing really was. When I think back to before all the above happened (circa 2003 and forward) I could have told you I hoped to go to college, be a PT, get a job and get married.  But I didn't know the how or when or who.  I could not see that.  Now I know that God saw it the whole time.  

In Hebrews chapter 1, it has a discussion of faith in things we hope for but do not yet see.  I do not see God but I have faith, belief and knowledge that He exists.  I do not see our future, but I have faith, hope and belief that God will provide just as He did in the past even when my faith was minimal.   

As I was going through all these events, I was very happy and excited to make these accomplishments and find my husband.  It's not until looking back now that my eyes were not open enough to "see" that everything going on were those "unseen" things I had hoped for.  God knew my heart and what I needed at the right time.  I have every faith that He will continue to do this and it's making my faith grow more and more each day.

I vowed to myself just this week that when I began to have anxiety and worry over things very beyond my control right now, to avoid obsessing over it like I have in the past and instead draw nearer to Him.  I love my Bible app on my phone, but probably have 200+ verses book marked.  This week, I have spent countless hours writing them in a journal and memorizing some of them.  It's working much better than I had ever hoped for.  


But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently- Romans 8:25


So I will continue to hope for what I do not yet have, what I cannot yet see.  But this time, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God sees it already and I need not worry.  

I hope you can all reflect and look back on your life and see how God was there the whole time.  Feed your faith and it will grow.

Happy Wednesday!