On Saturday, Momma, Daddy, and I all rode in the car down from Gainesville to Lithia to visit the family. Daddy was very excited to be finished with school for a couple of weeks, and Momma is very excited to be about done being pregnant, and I'm just excited.

We spent a few nights with Granna and Granddaddy, where I danced to lots of bluegrass music and watched a bunch of Westerns with Granddaddy. Granna isn't doing very well, so we didn't get to play much, but I gave her some hugs so that she would feel better.

Today though, we met all my cousins down at Lithia Springs to go swimming. It was very exciting because it had been a long time since most everyone had been and us kiddos had never been.

The water was really cold there, and I didn't really like it. After alot of coaxing I walked out almost waist high with Momma, and then I went under with Daddy. It wasn't nice and warm like the pool though. Since I was so cold Memaw took pity on me and carried me back over to the one little bit of the beach that wasn't under the water. There was a nice little girl there that let us all play with her toys. She got to play with Lilli's duck so it was a fair trade.

Afterward we all came back to Memaw and Mister's house (where we are going to spend the night a few nights) and me, and Lilli, and Brystal, and Julia all ate McDonald's kid's meals since today they were on sale. Then we took long naps... well I took a long nap. It was a busy morning after all.

Well today makes for 36 weeks with Ruth. Only 4 weeks to go. From here on out weight and length are a guess, but she is probably averaging around 19 inches and nearly 6 pounds. She's taking up enough space that I can't eat a full meal, but at the same time I feel like I'm starving every few hours. The good news is while she continues to gain weight in fat until she gets here I might not gain much if any more. A pound a week tops.

She has been able to suck on her thumb for a little while now, but she's finally able to nurse now, since her gums have become hard and ridged in the last week. In fact, the only thing that isn't fully mature yet is her lungs. Though, it's mature enough to function if she were to be born today. By next week she they will be completely matured. Our midwife, Lauren told us today that if she were to be born this week, that there would most likely be no complications, but that they would want us to stay 48 hrs just in case, whereas next week if we had her then we could leave after 12 hours if we really wanted to.

The placenta is taking more and more of a backseat these days. It doesn't produce that many hormones now that your Ruth's system is doing most of that without help now. One really neat thing about this week is that she is getting more and more antibodies through the umblicial cord from me; they can protect her from whooping cough, mumps, measles, and even mundane coughs and flu. She's stocking up on these immunities, since her own immune system won't be fully functional till around 3 months.

Most babies drop this week into the birth canal, I'm pretty sure that Ruth has since I'm not feeling her under my ribs as much now as I was. She's measuring in at station -3, meaning that she's now engaged in my pelvis, but not down so low that I'm waddling. The exciting news is that I'm 40% effaced and dialated to a 2. Lauren doesn't think that Ruth will arrive this week, but said at this rate next week is looking good. I've told Gary one more week I can do, four more weeks I'm not so sure about.

The midwife told us to plan on taking it very easy this week, in fact her words were to do as little as possible (score for me, Gary says boo), since we've been having some regular (those short and spaced out) contractions in the last week. So we plan to lay around the house, go to the beach on Sunday with some friends, and generally enjoy this next week.

I like to dance. I dance to all sorts of music - country, classical, easy listening. I especially like any song with a fiddle in it. I can pick out fiddles from a mile away. I don't just bounce now, I step and sway and twist. I think I have some pretty spectacular dance moves, if I say so myself...

Britt,

You are now 18 months old. You will have your check up next Wednesday, but according to the scale at Publix you are weighing in at 25 1/2 lbs, and you are now taller than Lilli. You are a bundle of energy 24/7. You have far more energy than your Momma does these days. Outside is still your favorite place to be, but due to the heat we don't go out every day. The pool is quickly becoming our favorite hang out place. You love it when Daddy dunks you, and you like to kick/swim around with a little help from me of course. You are getting pretty good at climbing up and down the stairs, though you still don't like to go down them by yourself. It's about the only thing that you show any reservation.

You are talking more, trying to mimic lots of words, and picking out more and more words in songs to repeat. For the most part they still aren't recognizable to anyone but me and Daddy. "Thplags" or flags are one of your favorite things to pick out as we drive around town. You point out lots of different things to us, but still don't have real words for most of them yet. You would still have us read to you all day if we would. I'm so glad that you enjoy reading, but gosh I get tired of reading the same books over and over. You especially like your "Winnie the Pooh: Opposites" book. Your favorite page has Eeyore on it and on one side he is sad and on the other side he is happy. You love to grin and shout happy at the top of your lungs. We listen to music alot each day, and you love to dance and make sing-song noises. Your favorite cd is probably "Return to the House at Pooh Corner" and you ask to listen to "Pooh." You repeat several of the words in it and get excited once it's over asking me to start it again.

You get frustrated so easily when you can't seem to make something work the way you think it should, hopefully some of that will get better when you can ask for help instead of just sobbing as if the world is ending. I see alot of my impatience in you these days, each morning if you don't think we are up soon enough, you stand in your bed and call "Dada" over and over at the top of your lungs. Then grin and run away to the other side of the bed like the stinker you are when he goes in to get you.

The only other note is that I think you are about ready to start potty training. That is one part of babyhood that I won't regret to see go in the least. You are interested in what everyone is doing in there and aren't satisfied until you look inside the toilet and flush it for us. You also come to me tugging on your diaper when it's wet and you are in need of a new one, so maybe you are about ready. I'm hoping to start that in a few months after the newness of a baby in the house wears off for you a little bit.

You will always be my first, and even though you really aren't a baby anymore, you will always be my baby. I hope you always know how much your Daddy and I love you.


Love,
Momma

Just a couple of updates today...

Granna had another trip to the hospital Tuesday night. She was very lethargic again, and they wanted to rule out a stroke. They believe that she is over medicated again, and are taking her back to the pain doctor, to try to regulate her meds some more. When she gets like this she can't hold a conversation and just wants to sleep all the time. Hopefully they can get all of these straightened out quickly.

Nathan Ferrell has had some great doctor's appointments in the past week. He say the GI specialist and the neurologist. At the GI appointment they discovered that he has gained about 2 lbs since his last visit in April. For the first time in a long time he is back on the charts and looking really well. Things went well with the Neurologist as well, in fact Amber got the exciting news, that they are opening a Mito clinic here in Gainesville through Shands. This is something they have been hoping and working toward for sometime, it's very encouraging to see that it's going to go through.

After our annual meeting at Little Union (weekend before last), I got to hang out a few extra days with Mister and Memaw. Momma and Daddy went home to do school work and rest, and I got to play fun games with my cousins. One of the best days was Monday. That day we all played in the yard and on the slip and slide. Memaw got this wagon that we can all sit in, and for some silly reason Brystal and Lilli just wanted to pull it around. That was alright with me though, because that meant I didn't have to walk anywhere. I rode in style with Julia. Anyway, Memaw had bought a slip and slide for all of us to play on. I'm not sure why it's called that, I just walked around and played in the water, no one didn't any sliding as there is no big slide like at the park, but it was alot of fun to run in the water with everyone else. They are crazy when the water comes out.

Well, we are back after a week without a power cord for the computer. I had lots of great ideas for post last week, such as one on the weekend meetings we attended and Ruth's 34 week post. Britt says he was going to blog about dancing and hanging out with Memaw and Mister. But I'm not sure about posting all of those things now.

I got on today and discovered that our old background was deleted, so I decided to go ahead and change over the blogspot, to some stuff I had picked out for after Ruth arrives. Eventually the header will have some real pictures, but I don't have any yet, so for now you will have to admire our stick person, personas.

Today makes 35 weeks for Ruth. She should be over 5 lbs now around the weight of a honey dew melon. According to the midwives, from now on I'll be considered full term. I think that's earlier than what the doctor's office told me with Britt, but it's good to know that if she does come early that everything should be just fine from here on out. That's because surfactant is beginning to line her lungs making it possible for her lungs to stay open with each breath. At our last doctor's appointment last week, Lauren told me that she is pretty sure that Ruth is head down, and she agreed with me that Ruth is a long child, since she found a foot partially under a rib. She is beginning to shed her lanugo and thicken up her vernix instead, aka she's shedding the light hair all over her body that kept her warm all this time for the waxy like substance that will help her slide out easier.

In between my refills of phenagren last week I had the nasty surprise that yes, I do still have morning sickness. Thankfully, I got that phenagren refilled. I'm exhausted alot now, more so than before and sleep alot. I go to bed when Britt does some nights and I'm taking naps with him about half the time too now. Some of that I'm sure is that I'm not sleeping more than a few hours at a time at night now, and some of it is just being in that home stretch. The sleep deprivation after Britt was born was the worst part of the whole new baby period, but right now that would be an improvement from the lack of sleep I'm getting right now. Let's just say that Britt gets lots more freedom of behavior lately and we watch alot of movies and put lots of music cds in the dvd player right now.

As requested, here is a little tour of our new place...

Ashley Ruth is 33 weeks today. She has pushing the 4 1/2 lb mark and weighs roughly as much as a pineapple (ummm, might need to send Gary to Publix after class for some of that now). Her skeleton is hardening this week. As she continues to put on weight she is losing the wrinkled look and her skin is looking fuller. While she continues to get oxygen from her umbilical cord until birth, she is practicing breathing in a steady, rhythmic pattern now. She breathes the amniotic fluid which is at it's highest right now, it will decrease as we get closer to her birth day. She is storing up iron in her liver, since she won't be getting much until around 6 to 9 months old. The big thing that she will do from now till her birth is continue to add synapses between her brain cells. Brain growth primarily occurs in the last month and a half before birth.

As for me, I am patiently... or not so much waiting. I'm ready to be done with the being sick, exhausted, and just plain sore all the time. I'm trying to enjoy some one on one time with everyone's favorite stinker, but he just wears a body out. I think he could outlast the Energizer Bunny. Pregnancy with Britt had it's own challenges, but they are nothing compared to this one. Speaking of Britt, he has progressed from kissing Ruth to tackling me around the waist when asked about Ruth. He still pats her and loves on her (rather vigerously I might add), but his hugs now need a running start. I look forward to seeing the two of them together despite all the horror stories, we heard on Sunday about second children. Things are progressing pretty normally however.

Momma and Daddy decided that it was time for us to move to Gainesville so they started packing. I wanted to help Momma with the packing so I was going through some boxes to make sure she was packing everything in the right way. Momma was sure that they could handle the packing okay so I got to spend a couple of weeks with Ahna and Grumps all to myself! The first thing we did on vacation was stop at this big beautiful flower garden. There were more flowers than I could ever hope to count. Grumps called it a Rest Area on I-40 in Arkansas, but I don’t really know what a “Rest Area” is, or a “I-40” is, or what a “Arkansas” is. But I know a flower when I see it, and this was a big beautiful flower garden. I wanted to touch every single flower, but Grumps said we didn’t have a year. Ahna let me touch some flowers before Grumps put me back in my car seat. Even today, I’m still trying to figure out what a year is, but I haven’t really lost any sleep over it. The next day Grumps and Ahna took me to a good Old Baptist church out in the country. The people there were so friendly. I really enjoyed being there. After church I spotted a clock and told everyone where it was just in case any of them didn’t know. We ate lunch there and visited with them. Did I say they were friendly? I really liked them, and I think they liked me, too. Soon, we were back in the car heading for something called “Branson Missouri”. Grumps drove up, down, and around hills. I don’t know why he couldn’t just drive in a straight line. Ahna and I played the game “Up and Down” where I raise the arm rest on my car seat up and then down over and over again. Ahna and I had a lot of fun playing “Up and Down”, “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”, and “Where is Thumbkin”. When we finally got to Branson, Ahna and I got to sit out on a balcony. We saw a furry little animal. Ahna said it was a groundhog. It was nice out there. After supper, Ahna and Grumps took me into this shop that had clocks, clocks, and more clocks! I have never seen so many clocks in one place. Sometimes, I think Grumps just enjoys torturing me – I mean really – he takes me into a shop full of clocks and won’t let me touch a single one! The day after we got to Missouri, Ahna and Grumps took me to something called a “Little House on the Prairie”. The house belonged to somebody named Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband. They weren’t home that day, but some other people showed us around. I got to see her pa’s fiddle, but Grumps wouldn’t let me touch it no matter how much I told him that I wanted to. All I wanted to do was just touch it! I think Grumps needs to work on being a little bit nicer to me. Instead Grumps let me have a stick. As much as I like sticks, I’m still wondering if that was a fair trade. They told us that she wrote a lot of books – I like books. The next night we went to “Dixie Stampede”. There were so many pretty horses in their stalls. A sign said not to touch the horses because they bite. Even so, I was a little bit mad at Grumps since he wouldn’t let me get close enough to touch a horse. See what I mean about Grumps needing to work on being nicer to me? But we sure did have a lot of fun once we got inside. Grumps and Ahna bought me a new stuffed horse to go with my other horse. Then we got to see this real funny guy throw a bunch of stuff up in the air without dropping any of it. He threw tennis rackets, some big knives, rings, scarves, and plates. He did all this while saying some very funny things. I laughed real loud and clapped a lot. He was so much fun to watch. It looks like it was a lot of fun so one of these days I may show Momma how to throw plates. After watching him, we got to go into this big room. They gave us some food to eat – the soup was very tasty! But the best part was that they kept bringing horses, cows, and flags out for me to see. Horses, cows, and flags – somebody must have told them what my 3 most favorite things are! How else could they have known? The next day we rode a while in the car to somewhere called Oklahoma and Kansas. We saw something called “Route 66” which Grumps said is supposed to mean something from history, but it just looked like an old road to me. Back at the condo I stacked blocks for Ahna and Grumps. They cheered and clapped so I cheered and clapped. They were having so much fun watching me that I just had to keep stacking blocks higher and higher. I can’t really count yet, so I’m not sure how many blocks I had stacked. Grumps said ten, but I don’t know what ten is. Grumps seems to know a lot about numbers. Then Ahna read several books to me - I love it when Ahna reads to me. She knows so many things that are in the books. She ought to be a teacher because I think she would be a really good one. The drive back to Ahna and Grumps took most of a day. Grumps set up a TV just for me on the back of his car seat. Ahna let me watch “The Fox and the Hound”, “Aristocrats”, and “Mary Poppins”. Sometimes Ahna would lay her seat down so that she could watch with me. The best one was “Allison Krauss and Union Station” in concert – I had to watch it twice! I liked to bounce my head and foot and hand with the music. Of course, every time I saw Miss Krauss’s fiddle, it would make me think about Grumps not letting me touch the fiddle at Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house so I would tell Grumps and Ahna about her fiddle. Grumps really needs to work on being nicer to me about that fiddle! Somebody said that I had Grumps and Ahna wrapped around my little finger. I mean really … just look at how much bigger they are than my little finger! Maybe I misunderstood what they said. I had so much fun on vacation with Ahna and Grumps, but I am glad to be back home with Momma and Daddy. I was a little concerned about Momma and Daddy being able to move without me, but they said that they had some very good help. All my toys, my bed, and Mara are here so it looks like they were right. Grumps said that in less than a year (I am still having trouble with understanding what that year thing is) I will forget the vacation since he doesn’t remember anything from when he was as small as me – I don’t see how I could forget since we had so much fun. Anyway, it was a great vacation, but I am glad to be home with Momma and Daddy.

Last week, it was hot here. Not as hot as it's been, but hot nevertheless. As a result, we spent some quality time in the water on Thursday and Friday.

Wednesday night, Mom, Dad, and Brystal came up to spend the night, and on Thursday we all went down to Ichetucknee Springs. We all got tubes and headed up to the North entrance, Dad and Gary dropped the rest of us off and took the cars downstream. Britt and Brystal went and put their feet in the water, and hated it. The water there is very, very cold. Even after 2 and 1/2 hours in the water, I didn't get use to it. When Dad and Gary got back we headed down to the water. Brystal and Britt had their life jackets and a little inflatable boat to ride in, and all of us shoved off. It was really beautiful floating down river. We saw lots of birds and turtles and some fish. Britt fell asleep about 10 mins in and woke up about 15 mins before we got out. He had a GREAT nap. Brystal thought the water was too cold, and ended up riding in Dad's lap most of the way. They have trips between 30 mins and 3 and 1/2 hrs, next time we thinks we might go down a different part of the river. Gary and I really enjoyed it. We are hoping lots of people decide that they want to come, so that we can go again. Next time we really have to bring a water proof camera though, so that we can get pictures.

Granna has been back in and out of the hospital this week. They took her in because she was pretty exhausted and unresponsive. They believe the culprit was over medication. They seem to have better regulated her medicine now. She is still pretty weak and coughing up blood.

I have some exciting news for those who haven't heard. Bro. Jim has found a new job and seems to like it. I've been meaning to update all week with the news, but haven't found time. He started on Tuesday as the Operations Manager. He had done some cabinet work for the sales manager and worked with him in the past. This position is one very similar to one that he had previously. However, he has his work cut out for him since the last guy had a system that no one understands. He is working alot of hours but it's good work and he has Saturdays and Sundays off. Jim and Kelly are very happy and relieved. Thank everyone for their prayers for this special family.

As for us, Gary is busy working on his schooling, and we seem to be pretty settled in here in Gainesville. The traffic is horrible (and it's not even fall yet), but no matter where you go, you get stellar service. Everyone has been super nice. Several people have asked for a video tour of the new place, so maybe we'll do that this week. I guess we'll see if there is a day that I have the house clean enough, haha.

Yesterday made 32 weeks for little Ruth. She now weighs in around 4 lbs. I should be gaining around a lb a week from here on out, half of which will be Ruth putting on weight. If that is the case, I will still weigh under what I did with Britt when she gets here. The Phenagran has done wonders for my morning sickness. I still have one or two rough days a week, but I'm throwing up almost none now. I wear out faster now than before, but I think alot of that has to do with the Phenagran. I can function with only half of one, but it still leaves me sleepy. She also has fully developed fingernails and toenails now.


Yesterday we had our check up with the midwife. She says that everything is looking normal. We go back in another 2 weeks.


Sometime between week 32 and 36 she will begin to dream while she sleeps. I wonder how they have figured that out. I really wonder what she has to dream about, having seen none of the world. My dreams are plenty active though, mostly full of parnoia about going into labor when I head back south while Gary is still in Gainesville, and having her before he gets to Tampa. It's a bit silly to worry about, especially given the fact that there's nothing I can do about it, if it even happens. I suppose I will pack my labor bag this coming week, and just in case we are less than a mile from North Florida Regional Hospital.

My Dearest Gary Britt,


Today makes 3 years of marriage for us. In some ways I can't believe that we have only been married for 3 years, I tell you all the time and it's still true, it just seems so right the two of us that it seems like we've always been together. I really cannot picture life without you. You are the calm factor in the house, while I am freaking out and running around like a chicken with its head cut off. You are the one that reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little moments when the house is a mess and supper is running way late. You are by far the level headed one.


Life is changing yet again for us, though I suppose that life is always changing. We have gotten moved and semi-settled in Gainesville. You are getting into the swing of classes, and we are starting to get some symbalance of routine back in our lives after so long of no work and no direction. Only to throw it all up in the air again in two short months when the next child arrives. Who needs routines anyway, we like things exciting and unpredictable right?

There aren't enough words to tell you just how much I love you, and how I've come to depend on you. Not only are you calm underfire, but you are the world's best cook, Britt's biggest playmate, and the most enthusiastic song leader - all while taking care of us. You are sweet, gentle, and incredibly patient with me. I love you for many reasons, not just because you are such a devoted father and husband, but because of who you make me. You make me want to try harder, do more, and be better. You help me remain calm... well calm-ish, you remind me that things don't have to look perfect in the house, and you ALMOST make me interested in cooking. Haha.

I know this next year will have a new set of challenges for us. Perhaps the biggest one will be balancing time for us together with school, a new baby, and the millions of things we always have to do. But I know that we will make it through and it'll make for some good stories, just like the ones from this past year. I know that because, you always too much importance on me and Britt, and things of the Lord to let this family fall through the cracks. You are the strong and steady one, and I love you for that. All I can say, is that all those other women who passed you by, really missed out on a wonderful man and I hope we get tons more years together. I love you!

~Your dani~

Today, I just have a very short post for you. Momma and Daddy have gotten unpacked and settled in, here in Gainesville, but I have yet to thoroughly examine everything, so I have a busy day today. Grumps has also promised to help me blog about my very exciting trip to Branson with him and Ahna. He understand everything I tell him, and since Momma didn't go along, I don't figure she'll be much help. Today though I have this video of some of the fun things Grumps has taught me while I've been in Alabama.

Yesterday was a nice calm day around the house. We got up and went to church like usual on Sunday morning, then came home and all took afternoon naps. Since we were new to the area and didn't really know what was going on for the Fourth, we opted to just hang out here at the apartment. Besides, I don't think any of the four of us really felt like getting out. In the evening we decided to sit out on our little back patio, and see how Britt liked his "new yard." He most enjoyed throwing his ball down the hill, and then bringing it back. That is until some of the neighbors started shooting off screamers, whistlers, and firecrackers. The little boy would duck down, scrunch up his shoulders and run like he was in the middle of a mine field. He would nearly get to the ball and some more would go off, and he would turn around without the ball and run back up the hill, saying "Pop, pop." We got a real kick out of it, and even though the video is a bit out of focus, maybe you will too.

Well I can safely say, that I'm not any clumbsier than I was before. I do tire out much more quickly than before, and boy have I taken more naps in the last week what with all the work of moving. We are getting settled in here in Gainesville, starting to get some sort of a routine to life, though I'm sure that will all be rearranged when Britt gets back this weekend. It's nice to be able to sleep in a little, and snuggle on the couch and watch a movie with Gary in the evening. We are even thinking about trying to catch Eclipse tomorrow afternoon while we are still childless.

Ruth is around 3.3 lbs now, the size of 4 navel oranges (yummo). She is moving tons now, and you can see my stomache jumping around from across the room when she decided to readjust and roll over. I'm feeling more and more braxton hicks contractions, particularly when I've been up and working too much, without drinking plenty of water. There's just so much to do, that sometimes I forget to pace myself and may go all day without drinking water. My feet are killing me this week, I'm sure that has more to do with the concrete floor than being pregnant, but that and lower back pain are telling me that we are in the home streach now.

My weekly email tells me that it's time to back a bag for the hospital, but we're going to put that off a little while longer. I don't want to think about it yet, besides I'm still not unpacked from the move, why would I want to pack anything else. haha.

My favorite song that we did last year at singing school was He Leadeth Me. We learn to sing alot of more complicated songs in an effort to work our voices and abilities, which is always alot of fun. But to me, I really enjoy singing some of the more simple, yet beautiful harmonies.

I think in congregational singing it's far more appropriate to learn to sing well, blending together from the heart. Far too often the more showy pieces detract from the services because it's far too easy to pay attention to the fancy singing and forget about the meaning. And after all it's far more important to sing from the heart than whether we sing it right or not.

This song gave us a chance to work on blending our voices, and the words are very beautiful in their simplicity. I have to admit I really enjoyed splitting up the verses one for the women and one for the men. Hearing just the men sing was so very beautiful.

We do have alot of fun on Friday night, we get to dress up and show our parents and friends what we've been working on all week. We get to see what the other classes have been up to. We also get to do alot of congregational singing. Even better than Friday night though, are the afternoons were we just get together and call out songs that have special meaning to us.

One of my favorite songs is Child of Grace. It so perfectly describes our experience here and how we long to be home. I like to hear it lead a little slower, to really dwell on the meaning of the words, too often we rush it and miss out on the depth of the song. I called it out Friday afternoon, and I truely felt the Lord's presence with us.

Ruth is now as long as she will be at birth, from here on out she only be packing on the pounds. Right now she is weighing in around 3 lbs. Her eyes are starting to get color, though they won't be their final color until after they are exposed to sunlight, and the color can still change up to about 6 months old. She is starting to grow hair, and is beginning to lose the lanugo covering her body.

According to parents.com, I should be at the height of clumbsiness by now... guess I'll have to report on that post move. haha.

Yesterday, Momma and Daddy headed home to pack up all of our things so that we can move to Gainesville. However, I don't have to do any work, I get to stay with Ahna and Grumps. We are going to have a great time together playing and hanging out, then I get to go on a trip with them to Branson, Missouri, and then finally 4th of July weekend they will carry me to meet Momma and Daddy in our new place in Gainesville. I'm very excited about having Grumps and Ahna all to myself, even if Momma isn't wild about how long we will be apart. So, unless Grumps helps me out, don't expect me to be posting next week.

It has rained here in Alabama alot this past week, infact Daddy didn't get much of what he wanted done on the house, and Momma didn't get much done in the flowerbeds. When it's not raining is really hot, and super humid. Sunday afternoon I finally got to get in the little pool that Ahna sent Grumps to town after. I had alot of fun - mostly getting in and out of it, but also splashing around with a rubber ducky.

We are a little sad to not be making it to singing school this year. We always enjoy the week of good fellowship, away from the world, learning to sing better. Things just didn't work out this year though. Since we are busy packing and moving this week, I'll leave you a few post from some special songs from last year.

Today's video is of a song from last year that we never get tired of hearing or singing. This song is extra special because Bro. Bryce wrote it a few weeks before singing school with us in mind. The message of our liberty due to the work of Christ is a very comforting thought. No matter how bad things may get in this life, no matter what trials we face, no matter what persecution we suffer at the hands of the world, we are free from the eternal consequences of sin. Christ has given us the greatest of liberty, and for that reason we desire to serve Him regardless of the personal cost.

Hey Britt,

Ruth is approximately 15 cm long and 2 1/2 lbs, about the size of a butternut squash. Don't you love how they keep comparing tiny tiny babies to various fruits and vegetables, it makes me look at the produce section in the grocery store a little differently. She has enough cute baby fat to have dimples on her elbows and knees now. She's also starting to get a little crowded, she'll start bowing her head down between her knees the larger she gets, and her kicks are getting stronger. I feel her more and more often these days, and she currently seems to enjoy propping her feet up on the inside and to the left of my ribcage. I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to have bruised ribs by the time she's ready to move out of there.

We are still enjoying the pleasures of morning sickness, though last Wednesday at my doctor's appointment we got some phenegran. I like phenegran. They gave me that stuff with Britt and I slept 22 hrs a day, it was GREAT! We have hesitated taking it this time around for that very reason. However, with the zofran doing nothing for me, we got some this time. As long as I take the zofran in the day, and half of a phenegran in the evening, I'm not as sick. Additional bonus is that I'm sleeping way better at night too.

We are so very excited to see our Ruth, though at times it still doesn't seem quiet real. Something tells me that the summer will be flying by, what with us moving, Gary taking classes, and more doctor's appointments. Lots to do before she arrives in another 2 1/2 months.

I like blocks. I especially like knocking down blocks. Uncle Nicholas, Grumps, and Grandmother will stack them up over and over for me to knock down. If you haven't tried it, you should. Today, I even helped Uncle Nicholas stack them a time or two, but that wasn't as fun. Sometimes he would ask me to wait, and it was very exciting, but I couldn't always wait for him to get them really high, after all it's just too much fun to knock them down.

Delilah was so big, but I like to pat and brush her. She was very soft, especially her nose, but I didn't like it at all when she blew on me. It's almost as bad as when dogs lick on you.

Granna's latest procedure seems to have taken better than the last several. The doctors are still concerned that they might need to do something more, but right now she is doing better.

Megan had her baby girl, last Thursday on June 3rd at 3:46 pm. She has named her Mollie Alyse. She weighs 6 lbs. and 12 oz. and is 20 and ½ inches long. Both are doing well, and we hope to see them soon!

Gary and I went up to Gainesville on Thursday and Friday and have narrowed down our apartment search, we are excited to report that he will be starting on his Master's June 28th. Please pray for us, as we take this exciting next step.

Our little Ruth is about 14 and 1/2 inches long and around 2 lbs, the size of a head of califlower, as she begins her 27th week. If we could see her now, her skin would look less translucent and more pinkish, as her blood vessels are near the skin and as she gains little fat deposits. Also, her placenta is nearly fully formed.

Yesterday, we got to take our very nasty glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. We will find out how that went when we go back to the doctor next Wednesday. That stuff is so horrible tasting, I was very happy that I didn't get sick with it, after all if you throw up, you have to do it all over again.

It was exciting to read that if she were born today she would have a 90% survival rate. This makes me feel much better given the fact that we might be about to move 2 or so hours North of here. We are currently planning to keep the same midwives (I really like them so much, and hate the idea of looking for another one this late in the game), and the last week or two coming back here to stay with somebody just to be on the safe side. With everything else up in the air, each week that I see a higher and higher survival rate makes me feel that much better.

Last time we were at home, they told me that I needed to teach Britt to squeeze and grunt. When we were small and were taught to give hugs, you were suppose to put your arms around Grandmother and Granddaddy's neck and squeeze and give good tight hugs. According to Mother and Daddy, Benji was such a pro at it that he could squeeze and grunt over the phone. However, that's nothing to what Britt has been doing all week when you ask him for a hug...

He is just too funny. He squeezes those shoulders up, gets all stiff, and strains to give the most long distance hugs I've ever seen. With everyone asking him to give hugs and laughing, he'll never learn to do it right...

Britt loves animals, however, he doesn't like it when they lick him. That's probably why he prefers cats to dogs. Today, after Church we all went over to Nicholas's house to visit with him. Nicholas has a 1 year old beagle, that has tons of energy. She is especially excited to meet new people. After Lexi finally calmed down and chewed on her bone awhile, she discovered that Britt could be a great playmate who also had endless amounts of energy. Britt quickly discovered that playing chase with her was just as fun. By the time we thought to pull out the camera they had been at it a while and Britt was getting short of breath but he was still laughing. It was alot of fun watching them go...

One final prayer request, Granna (Gary's mother's mother) hasn't been doing well for several months now. She has been coughing up fresh blood from the remaining portion of her lung for awhile. It has increased over the last two weeks to the point that they have been carrying her up to the hospital to have the blood vessels catterized. This evening it was as bad as ever and they carried her back around 5 to have it done again. They aren't sure what the next step needs to be. They are really heistating to do surgery because she only has about half of one lung now, and they are concerned about it. Please keep her in prayer and as the doctor's make a decision I will update.

Bro. Charles Carlton is continuing to improve. This past Sunday he was able to get around with his walker some instead of the wheelchair. He is getting stronger and stronger. He has one final surgery coming up to finish repairing his trach.

Bro. Jim is still looking for work.

I haven't heard a recent update on how Hailey or James are doing. Though from the pictures I see of them both on Facebook they seem to be healthy, happy, growing children.

Nathan Ferrel has had some great labs lately. He could afford to gain some more weight, but for the first time in a while (last fall I believe) he is back on the charts. The other concern as we come into the hot Florida summer time, is that he overheats and tires out so very quickly. Keep the sweet boy in your prayers.

Gary's cousin Megan is due with her little girl the end of the month. She is really hoping for a May baby rather than one in June so she just has a few more days. Keep them in mind.

Parker Allen continues to struggle. Sometimes it 's hard for the family to see him struggle so, but they continue to pray that the Lord would intervene in the situation.

As for us, many of you may have heard that Gary will most likely be starting on his Masters June 28th. Going back for his Master's has been something that we have talked about off and on for a few months now, and after the last job came back and said that Gary would be a much stronger candidate if he had his Masters in Agribusiness, Soil Science, Resource Management, or some other agricultural field, we revisisted the idea again. After 9 months out of work, we felt like we had to do something different, so Gary asked me to fill out a FASFA to determine whether or not we might qualify for any aide in going back to school. We did. Then we looked into a few different ag programs. There were two very good fits at the University of Florida. After talking to a professor last week, he thought Gary was a perfect fit for the program and even though all the deadlines for it had been back in April, he told Gary to plan to start for that program at the end of June. We cannot help but feel that the Lord must be in this situation, because everything has come together so smoothly and quickly, even when it seemed unlikely. From my experiences with trying to get into a grad school, it's not an easy process, which makes this even more of a blessing. We are suppose to be getting all of our official paperwork within the next week or so, and will be heading to Gainesville next Thursday to meet some professors and look for housing. Please keep us in prayers as we take this next step on faith.

Ruth has made it to week 26. Her inner ear is developed enough that she can hear just about anyone in the room with me now. She's also practicing breathing her amniotic fluid now. She weighs around 1 and 2/3 lbs and is measuring in at 14 inches or the size of a hot-house cucumber. And believe me! I can tell she's that long, because I can feel her all over now. She is currently on a nerve in my back, and has been for just over a week now, I can't recall Britt ever sitting so low. If she were born to day she has made the benchmark week of 80% survival. We are hoping that she plans to wait a while longer though.

We are looking at cribs and bedding now, and probably will have to buy something in another month or so. For now I'm enjoying window shopping, and I would have picked up the prettiest green frilly dress the other day, but Gary said it was entirely too soon to start buying baby clothes. Things are going along right on track.

They say that you can't choose your family, that you are just stuck with what you get. While that is true I can say that I would still have chosen this miserable lot of brothers (of course if I still had to live with them I might not say that...)

Today Ruth begins her 25th week. She is approximately 13 1/2 inches long now and around 1 1/2 lbs. The nerves around her mouth are becoming more developed. As early as 25 to 26 weeks she might begin practicing to nurse by sucking her thumb. She is starting to grow hair and if we could see it we would know if she if is a red-head (something her Daddy doesn't really want) or a brunette (like I picture). Of course there's no guarentee that it would stay that color...

Morning sickness has gotten worse again in the last week. They gave us some new ideas to try at our last doctor's appointments which seem to help a little, but at the same time we think I may have gotten use to the zofran, because it doesn't seem to be doing me any good. We are beginning our third and final trimester (YEAH! only 3 months, or so, left of morning sickness). I'm finding that I wear out fastern and when chasing Britt I'm more short of breath. They say my lifting limit is 35 lbs, and even though Britt isn't there yet, he is just about too heavy to haul around for long.

Today Daddy and I had a good time playing at the park after lunch before my nap. Momma took pictures.

Thursday was my 25th birthday. Apparently turning 25 is a really big deal. I really thought it was just one more day/year/birthday whatever. I don't mind having birthdays. I see no reason to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of turning 24 or anything like that. God has blessed me to live another year, and I'm happy to be whatever age I am 25, 30, 50, 0r even 80 one of these days.

It reminds me of the year Daddy turned 40. Benjamin was sad all week and went on and on about how he didn't want Daddy to turn 40 on Friday. Finally, Daddy looked and him and said, "Benjamin, what happens if I don't turn 40 on Friday?" Benjamin got very serious and thought a minute, and said "Daddy I hope you turn 40 on Friday." See the alternative to getting older is being dead. You can't stay one age forever.

But apparently being 25 is a big deal. Some people told me every chance they got that I was now a quarter of a century old (which is apparently suppose to make you feel old). Others just flat out told me that I was getting old. Apparently 25 is a big enough deal that some of my younger friends thought I needed a surprise birthday party. They surprised me back on first Sunday (because second Sunday is Mother's Day). We had pizza, chips, and banana splits, oh was it good. A bunch of us got together at the Church that evening and we had a great time, talking laughing, and dancing (well I watched the dancing - and laughed the whole time). We then watched a really good chick flick "The Young Victoria"

For my birthday, Gary and Britt made me a cake. Oh I wish they had taken pictures. I was banished from the kitchen, but all the noise and commentary coming out of there was hysterical. I had a rather delicious strawberry shortcake. Then that evening the Hulls kept Britt so that we could go out and eat at the steakhouse (they give you a free $24 steak for your b'day). It was a wonderful evening.

Gary asked if there was anything I wanted for my birthday, and I told him I would like to see the new Robin Hood movie, but since it came out on Friday we left Britt with Mom during the day, and we caught the afternoon show. It was a really great movie and we had a good time just the two of us. All in all it's been a marvelous week, and I don't mind turning 25 one bit to get to have this much fun.

Today we had another check up. We have met 3 different midwives so far, and today's was our favorite so far. She had lots of good news for us, in that everything is looking normal. Oddly enough, from her ultrasound and all of our measurements she appears to be measuring to her due date exactly. We got some advice on trying something a little new to deal with morning sickness, and a script to get our gestational diabetes test here in town before going back in another month.

Our Ruth has reached a big milestone this week. She has put on another 4 oz this week and is about the size of an ear of corn. She recognizes the voices that she hears most now, and after she gets here she will prefer and turn toward those voices. She likes to play with her surroundings, in addition to walking around her main amusement, her only toy really, is to play with her umbilical cord.

If I could I would spend all day every day outside. There are so many sticks, pine cones, and leaves to examine. There are plenty of places that need digging, I'm sure there are all sorts of buried treasures in the backyard, I've just yet to find them. I like to follow the chickens and cat around they do all sorts of interesting things. Sometimes we feed grapefruit to the cows, and just yesterday Momma let me eat some of our cherries off our cherry tree. I didn't care for it though.

Unfortunately, Momma won't let me stay out there all day. Mainly cause she says it's just too hot. I don't think so but I guess Ruth makes her feel hot. She says it's also cause I get too dirty, and that she isn't interested in giving me half a dozen baths a day. So right now we go out about 6ish and stay out until either Daddy gets home from Census work or until the love bugs and mosquitoes run us back inside. Then I get my bath and we have supper. There's usually just enough time then to play a little and read before bed.

I would like to welcome two friends to the blogging world, that I think you might enjoy...

Borrowed Poppa aka Bro. Sonny has been popping in from time to time for about 2 years now leaving comments both funny and instructional. We have often said you need a blog of your own. Well now he has decided to give it a whirl... he's not started posting yet, but you will be able to find him here.

Also our wonderful, banjo playing, young Old Baptist friend Isaac has just started a delightful blog. He really is a very funny guy, you should check him out over here.

Another week has come and gone, and I think time is speeding up on me. I'm not quite ready to go through Britt's scary closet and dresser to make room for more little clothes. I'm not ready to think about buying another crib and bedding. I'm definately not ready to debate whether the kiddos should go to our room (so that we can keep the guest bed in the house) and us move into the smaller bedroom.

There are so many small projects piling up around the house - bathroom and kitchen haven't been cleaned since... well let's just not talk about that one, I'm not quiet caught up on our photo albums and Britt's scrapbook (been working on that one all week to complete), I outta finish up Sis. Kerry's baby blanket (since the baby is due any day), oh and I still haven't finished Julia's and she'll be 1 in a month, and I really need to finish piecing Rebecca's quilt so that it is done before Ruth arrives. I would like to finish a few sewing projects and give this one a whirl that Kelly got me interested in. With all of this left to work on why in the world is time speeding up on me?

At 23 weeks, Ruth is now the size of a large mango (yummo). She can now open her eyes, though she won't do it much for another month or so. Her skin which has been see through until now, is starting to make pigment - lets hope for a nice dark complexed child. Maybe she could even get Grandmother's beautiful olive complextion and brown eyes. Her lips are starting to plump up and she continues to put on weight. And finally if something were to go wrong, she is developed enough that with alot of help she can breath outside the womb. From here on out her major development is in strengthening those lung muscles and rapid brain growth. This week, she is practicing walking, by rolling her feet, and using them to "walk" around my uterus. Believe me I can tell it too, she's strong enough that we can sit and watch her move, through my shirt without any doubts as to whether or not she's moving. Many babies at this point love to swing to music, and when Britt and I dance and act silly during the day, I like to think that she is dancing right along with us.

Britt,

This past weekend Gary, Britt, and I all travelled over to Vero Beach to attended Antioch's Annual Meeting. They invited in Elder Michael Gowens. We were blessed beyond measure, not only in the preaching, but in the good fellowship with friends that we don't see often enough. Friday night the crowd was a little small (and in my opinion that might have been the best sermon that I heard), but Saturday morning we had a great crowd.

Friday night Bro. Michael preached on Elijah and Elisha. He compared the ministry of each of these Old Testament prophets and illustrated how today's preachers need to have some of both in each of their sermons. He talked at length about how Elijah was given a harder message to preach. One of how the Lord was dealing harshly with his people for their stiff necked, hardhearted, and rebellious ways. He talked about how it is often hard to stand for the truth, particularly when it is not what people want to hear and even more so when we stand alone.

He used many examples throughout Elijah's ministry, but he most particularly drew from Elijah's experience standing against the prophets of Ba'al. He stood against the corrupt King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and several hundred prophets of Ba'al. From 9 till 3 the prophets of Ba'al called upon him to accept their sacrifice, and Elijah taunted them a bit suggesting, that perhaps Ba'al had better things to do, was talking to someone else, had taken a vacation, was sleeping, etc. Then after a 3 year drought, Elijah took his sacrifice, and dosed it in water to the point that the sacrifice, wood, and alter were soaked and they even filled a trench around about it with water. He prayed and immediately fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice and licked up all the water. Elijah stood alone, and showed great courage. In many ways we are to be like Elijah. (I Kings 18)

He then talked about Elisha ministry, that his was one of compassion. In each of the acts of Elisha his miracles toward others is born out of compassion. Elisha's message was "Yes, the Lord has punished us for our ways, but he has not utterly cast us off." He continually spoke of the goodness and mercy of God. If we honor Him and turn to Him that He is there. He told us while we must never bend on truth, and we must remind ourselves that there are grave consequence for our actions, yet God still remains faithful, he never says that he's had enough, we remain His children.

Friday night we stayed with the Gervasoni's. We visited and talked until 1 am, when we just had to hit the bed. They are such a gracious couple allowing us to stay with them and we talked about all sorts of things. They had several very unique fans that of course fascinated Britt.

On Saturday, Bro. Michael took Zechariah 3 as his text and painted the most amazing picture of God's judgement and mercy. In this chapter Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest (the best of the best) standing before God to represent and plead for all of Israel (God's children), and Satan stands by as the prosecutor to accuse him. Joshua in the best his has to offer stands before the Lord in filthy rags. Bro. Michael talked at length about how we have nothing beautiful or of worth to offer to God, how even the best of our best is undesirable to say the least. He asked us to imagine a court here in the US, how if we were accused we would do our best to act and look good and respectful to make others think that we were such things. But here Joshua has nothing but filth to present to the Lord. Everything that Satan can say is true that we are a brand plucked from the fire, that we were worth nothing, dirty, and were in a position of hell; but God in His infinite mercy didn't leave us there. He throws Satan out of court, and commands that Joshua be given the best clothing, and because of all that God does for him Joshua desires to walk after God and live the way he instructs. God tells him that if he will do these things, Joshua will receive even more blessings. Joshua did nothing to receive the pardon, but if he follows the Lord he will be given even greater blessings here. He then talked about just like Joshua we were set free, we were Barabbas, and Jesus paid the price, justice was fulfilled yet we didn't have to pay. It was a very moving picture.

Afterward, at lunch we all sat around visiting for a long while. Amber Ferrel and family were there and while all the kiddos ran around in the Church and played. We all sat around and visited and swapped stories, and just laughed and laughed. We don't make it over to Vero as often as we would like, but we sure are glad this was a meeting that we didn't miss.

I've been meaning to post now for over a week, but this week has had alot of good news to go on the list so I guess it works out after all.

Brother Charles Carlton was able to attend Church for the first time in 11 months last Sunday. He was there again this Sunday, and looks wonderful. It will still be sometime before he is back to his old self, but by all appearances he is out of danger. It has truely been the Lord's work in healing this brother. There were so many times where the doctors said he wouldn't be here much longer, and so many times where infection just kept coming back making him weak, but we were overjoyed to see him with enough strength to start attending Church again.

Sister Gayle Smith is doing really well. She is no longer on chemo and she looks well after having the emergency surgery. Hopefully they can get back to normal life now.

Sister Sarah Griffin had her little girl on Tuesday, April 27, a little after 3:30 pm. Harlow Karen weighed 7 lbs 4 oz, and was 20 inches long. We've not been able to go over and see her yet, but she has a THICK headful of beautiful, long black hair. Looks like a little china doll. Momma, daddy, and baby are all doing well.

Sister Kerry threw us all for a loop last Friday. She is one of that very small percentage of women who has had all of her children on their due date (without being induced). She went into labor on Friday, but the doctor's sent her home saying that she wasn't far enough, or progressing enough to keep. She's hoping this new little one will make his or her appearance any day now.

Megan is doing well. Her little girl is right up in her ribs, and driving her crazy. She's hoping for a May birth, and has been talking with the doctor about all her labor plans, and looking for a pediatrician.

We had a great time over at Vero Beach this weekend for Antioch Church's annual meeting. We saw Nathan Ferrel while we were there. Oh, Britt just loved following him around the Church. Joshua is the only other little boy that Britt has to play with and I think he loved seeing someone other than all the usual girls. Nate looks great right now, and is pretty stable medically. They still want him to gain weight, though.