Catching Up

These pictures were taken during the month of June when I was flat on my back.  The girls did a ton of dressing up!  It's definitely one of their favorite things to do!

Zeb had to work the weekend of Father's Day, so Miriam came over and helped with the girls.  I found a picture of these cute brownie cupcakes in a Family Fun magazine.  I'm so glad that Miriam likes to do projects like this!

I think they look just like food on the grill!

Speaking of the grill....Zeb is getting pretty good!  At the beginning of May I was told I shouldn't go grocery shopping (any shopping) or cook.  This left it up to Zeb and our sweet family and friends who brought us dinner!  I know Zeb will be glad when I can take back all my "duties"!  (I will be too!)

Of course, Zeb has been able to grill for years-but that has always been the extent of his cooking!  This summer, however, he has learned a lot!  In May he asked me how to pop bagged popcorn---now he can do this!

It's a flank steak with roasted pepper and feta stuffing--and he roasted the peppers and did it all by himself!  It was delicious!!!!!!! And to say the least, I was impressed!  

He has also been inventing his own recipes...when you see him ask him about his bbq tomatoes--thankfully they are real spicy so I don't have to eat them!  He loves them!   I keep telling him if this doctoring thing doesn't work out, he can try out for the Next Food Network Star!

In all seriousness, I am so thankful to Zeb.  He has had a lot on his plate taking care of the girls, the house, and me and I have never  once heard him complain or sigh!  As a mentor friend of mine tells me, "Anna, you married a real prince" and I did and I know it!  Thank you Zeb.

We have also been in awe of the Lord and his timing during all of this.  We were told shortly after we had Leigh that if we wanted another child we should go ahead and have one.  It took about 15 months and either four or five months of clomid.  Honestly, I had given up and was training my heart and mind that we were going to have two beautiful little girls!  Of course, we had no idea that this pregnancy would be even harder than the other two.  Zeb was finishing his chief year in May so when I was put on limited activity starting before 20 weeks and gradually progressing to strict bedrest he was able to be home more than normal.  In June, he was off most of the month and was able to take care of everything. We had a planned c-section for July 12th which would be right before I was 37 weeks.  Sam wasn't going to wait that long.  I had him at 35 weeks on July 2nd.  Zeb started his official job July 1st, but the 1st and 2nd were just orientation.  With the 5th being a holiday and the day I came home, Zeb ended up not missing a day of work.  His schedule was light enough so that he could come home around 3 to head up to the NICU twice every night and still be home to eat with the girls and put them to bed.  In this circumstance, God has allowed us to see part of his plan and see that his timing is good just as he promises over and over in the Bible.  There is so much more to this story than I can ever right down. The day Sam was born I woke up throwing up and feeling worse than normal.  I went to the doctor (mine was on vacation) and everything with me was about the same as it had been.  As we were leaving, she said she wanted to run a test on the baby called a biophysical profile.  I had this test done the day before and the baby was great, but this time he was not breathing like he should.  The doctor told me I was just going to the hospital for a couple of hours for some IV fluids and to monitor the baby. She thought the fluids would help me and the baby.   When I got to Woman's the fluids weren't helping the baby and we found out I was in labor--I just thought the baby was moving funny since I had been throwing up and that was also why my back was hurting! ha!  Another doctor came in and said it was time to have the baby!  I kept telling them they couldn't take me back until I got a camera!  Thankfully my dad walked in just as I was headed back so we were able to get pictures!  Again, we were able to see God's timing is good!  We are so very thankful!