Many Changes

There are so many changes going on in the Pattengill's lives this year.  Many have been hard but for the best.  This year Cooper started 3rd grade at Cooper Elementary in the Bentonville School District.  This transition has not been smooth by any stretch of the imagination.  Not knowing the school and how things work has been challenging.  Just getting him signed up to ride the bus to school was a week long process.  We all three attended back to school night and were very impressed.  Cooper has two teachers...Mrs. Hallwachs teaches Literacy and Social Studies while Mr. Stinespring teaches Math and Science.  Cooper really likes both his teachers.  Making friends and adjusting to the changes has been difficult for him.  The first week was miserable.  Probably more for me than him.  I did not realize how much I would miss him.  I've had him with me for 3 years.  I would sometimes catch myself talking to him in the car on the way to or from school and then realizing he wasn't there.  He seems to be doing much better now.  He's been in school for over 2 weeks and is making friends.  He goes to the Boys and Girls Club after school everyday.  Some days are good, some are not so good.  Everyday is a new day with him which is one thing I love about his personality.  He is brave and positive in almost all situations.  And he loves school. 

Our summer was pretty low key this year.  We did a lot of family things on the weekends.  Willie worked for APAC as an intern for his second summer.  They kept him pretty busy on top of a summer course he took.  He's such a wonderful husband and father.  He works so hard for his family.  It was nice to stay home and relax through the month of July and beginning of August.  This pregnancy has not been the easiest but it will be worth it in the end.  I'm thankful my job allows me to have a portion of the summer off.  It couldn't have come at a better time.

 In this picture I am 27 weeks pregnant.  I feel HUGE!  The worst part is when someone asks when I'm due and I tell them November 15th.  Many people's reactions have been "wow" or my favorite..."bless your heart."  We all know what that means.  He's definately a Pattengill.  He has really started to move around a lot but I think the biggest change is that he's getting so big that he's running out of room.  You can see my belly move now which is fun but sometimes painful.  I've been feeling much better and I'm really enjoying this last trimester.  I think getting my anemia under control has really made a difference.  I just wish I could sleep for longer than 2 hours at a time every night.  The acid reflux has been a pain too.  As I'm sitting here typing right now, he has the hiccups,  which feels like a heartbeat in your stomach.  It's kind of weird but good.  It's amazing how much you forget in 8 years. 
  

Razorback football has officially begun.  Anyone who knows us knows our fall Saturdays revolve around soccer and the HOGS!  We love having friends over for the games.  We eat, laugh, and yell at the television.  Coop got a new jersey this year and was extremely pumped about wearing it for the first game.  We still can't get him to play football, but at least he roots for the Razorbacks now.

Our family is growing and so are we.  While there have been many tears...mostly hormone induced...I wouldn't change anything for the world.  This past weekend we registered at a few stores for Finnley.  It was challenging because I feel like we're starting all over again.  So much has changed in 8 years.  Willie has begun his last semester of college and will be a college graduate as on December of this year.  I'm so excited for him!  He's worked so hard and is ready for the rewards.  In addition, he's coaching Cooper's soccer team this year.  Cooper is super excited about having his Dad by his side.  I know this experience will be awesome for all of us.  Willie is amazing with kids and I can't wait to see him on the field with the boys.

My Heart, My Hormones

There is a Japanese Proverb that states: Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.  You would think after nine years of marriage, being a mom for eight years, and teaching for four years, I wouldn't fear having another baby.  But that is the reality of my thoughts right now.  With hormones raging and too much time to "think," I find myself wondering...how will I do it all?  Will I be able to work and raise this child at the same time?  Will I be able to still be a good teacher, wife, and mom to Cooper?  

Then, I read this blog post... http://mosaicofmoms.com/?p=1633 .  This post is simple and addresses how God is in control and knows what's best for you.  I've always been a pretty patient person and have lived by the saying..."it's all in God's timing."  I connected to this post in a different way.  The author, Kerri Young, uses this scripture,  “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.  It was at that moment I realized that this is what the Lord wants for me and as long as I lean on him, everything will be fine.  

This pregnancy has not been an easy one.  As of right now, I'm 22 weeks and 4 days along.  My first 14 weeks were filled with every pregnancy symptom you could imagine: acne, stomach pains, morning, noon, and night sickness, fatigue, dizziness, and the list goes on.  During my 15th week I started bleeding.  This scare was beyond words.  We had an ultrasound and the doctor determined I probably had a tear and it eventually healed on its own.  During weeks 20-21 I had bronchitis.  I do not wish this on anyone.  It was viral so I had to let it take it's course.  It lasted for over 2 weeks.  I also found out I'm anemic so iron pills were prescribed.  What do I have to show for all this physical pain...a BABY!  That's the best part!  I will get to hold my precious miracle sometime in November.  This makes it all worth it!

If you look closely, you can see the heartbeat:)     

Life is so strange.  For so many years we have longed for another child but have always been happy with our little family.  Now God has blessed us with another miracle.  While life has changed in many ways for us already...some expected, some unexpected...we remain faithful that God is in control.  The biggest change I've seen is in my miracle #1, Cooper.  My eight year old boy has embraced his new brother and the many changes that have occurred.  For years he has asked for a little brother or sister and we've assured him that someday his dream would come true.  He has become a better student in school.  His teacher told me she has seen such a positive change in him and that he works really hard to make good choices now.  He helps me with everything: cleaning, lifting, grocery shopping, etc.  Sometimes I find him doing things around the house without being told.  We were at an auction the other day and a woman told Willie she wished all boys were as well behaved and respectful as him.  This made Mom and Dad really proud.

   

Cooper got to feel Finn kick last Friday night.  He giggled and laughed and it was such a joy to hear and feel my boys bonding.  Cooper often kisses and hugs Finn, or should I say Finny as Cooper calls him.  He talks to him and likes to wake him up.  I never could have imagined this process would be so fun and emotional. 

Cooper was so excited about getting his room ready for Finn.  Within weeks of getting Finn's furniture, Cooper was ready to move him in.  We were so blessed to find this changing table, crib, and mattress at a garage sale for only $75.  Can you believe it!?!

I knew I had to have a glider just like I did with Cooper.  Willie and I have been scouting out estate sales and auctions looking for a good one.  When we came across this one at an auction I told Willie I had to have it.  We ended up paying $50 for it!  Thank you honey:)

Soon I will have three boys to love.  No matter how I feel, these boys are always there to make me smile and laugh.  God has given me such an amazing family already. 

Come on Finn!  Hurry up and get here so we can play with you!

Mr. Smarty Pants

Willie passed his FE Exam...as if any of us doubted him.

Congrats Honey!!!!!

Our Miracle #2

Wow...we've been on an exciting ride for the last few months.

On March 6th, I decided to use my last pregnancy test in the cabinet.  Willie and I had been trying since around November but knew our little miracle would come in God's timing.  Funny Story: So I took the pregnancy test in the wee hours of the morning while Willie was getting ready to walk out the door.  (Sidenote: My sister had just moved in with us.)  When the digital screen read "Pregnant" my mouth dropped.  I couldn't believe it.  I took it into the kitchen where Willie was and held it in front of his face.  He was speechless.  (I know...he's never speechless.)  Then the words, "What do you want me to do?" came out of his mouth.  In my mind I was thinking "what?"  Then he realized it was ME that was pregnant and not my sister.  For some reason he thought I found the test in the trashcan and found out my sister was pregnant.  SO FUNNY!!!!!  Anyways, we took another test a few days later and yes...I was still pregnant.  On March 19th, we went to the doctor's office and confirmed it.

Willie wanted to shout it from the rooftops (which he did) and I wanted to remain quiet.  Recently I've become aware of how heartbreaking miscarriages can be and I did not want that to happen to me with so many people knowing.  I tend to be a very private person in some cases and this happens to be one of them.  I told Willie I didn't want anyone other than family and close friends to know until we heard the heartbeat.  Cooper was so excited however, it was not unusual for him to ask every other day, "Mom, are you really pregnant?"  despite my growing belly so early in pregnancy. 

The "Heartbeat Day" came so slowly.  Longest 8 weeks of my life!  But it did come.  I pulled Cooper out of school to go to the doctor's appointment with us.  This was very difficult for him because he had perfect attendance for the whole year, but hey....you only get to hear the heartbeat for the first time once:)  When the heartbeat (160 beats per minute) popped up smiles spread across the room.  However, I don't think anyone's smile was as big as Coop's.  It became very real to him...and to Mommy.

Now for the next question...Boy or Girl?

Well, I think it's easy to say that we want a healthy baby boy or girl. If I could chose...a girl. Even Coop wants a baby sister. So we'll see...

If I were to compare this pregnancy to Coop...totally different! Coop was a breeze. No morning sickness or anything. This time around...morning sickness all day but mostly in the evening, nauseousness all the time, indigestion, acid reflux, stomach aches, exhaustion, and the list goes on. It's been a tough few months but around 12-13 weeks it mostly subsided.

I call my babies miracles because that is what I truly believe they are.  I was told at the age of 20 it would be very difficult for me to ever get pregnant.  With female problems like PCOS, Endometriosis, and hormonal problems...the odds have always been stacked against me.  Except for the fact that with God...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  God has blessed us once again with an amazing miracle in our lives that we could never thank him enough for.