Checking in and turning off!

The baby is coming in the room with me in a few minutes with some monitors. I had to sign a waiver so that he can room with me overnight tonight. Most women in Peru don't want that. Anyway, he is doing great still. All tests, so far, look good. They are running a complete metabolic screening to test for metabolic issues or diseases. I am confident that will be fine. The dr. thinks this episode was a rare, freak thing and is likely to NOT happen again. We are scheduled to go home tomorrow a.m. unless a problem arises. Thanks for your prayers! Turning the computer off for the day. I need to get some rest and focus on Miles now that he will be here with me constantly (YEAH!!!). Love and hugs to you ALL!!! Your prayers have made all the difference.

One VERY tired Momma of 5 and daugther of The King - Jess!

So far, so good!

I just love this baby! He is so precious and I can't help but just want to spend every second doing nothing but looking at him. UGH! He is amazing in every way.

Okay...so tests results of the heart were completely normal. The brain results were mostly normal, but showed something called "shine" (not sure about the translation of that) in his ventricals. The doctor said that could potentially be something, but we need to have a repeat ultrasound in about a month or so with a neurologist.

They are going to run some kind of metabolic test tomorrow to rule out one more thing. I didn't understand "what" they are looking for since it was Spanish medical lingo. He will be observed for one more day, but can actually stay in the room with me tomorrow and tomorrow night. They said if everything continues to go well and there are no more episodes and a good blood test result then we can go home on Thursday morning; just in time for Jenn to arrive!

Thank you for your prayers. I can't wait to have him in the room with me tomorrow.

Update

Miles is still in the NICU, but seems to be stable. He is not in an incubator or on oxygen anymore. He is on a monitor for his oxygen levels and heart rate. His oxygen does dip at times. He is a GIANT in the NICU compared to the other babies. We are still waiting on his tests to be performed. They are doing an ultrasound of the head and heart. The nurses have done a great job of calling me to nurse and hold him when he is hungry or fussy. The nurses here are very, very kind. Please keep praying. I really am just filled with hope that this will all turn out to show no abnormalities. I just posted pictures on Facebook if you want to see them. Thank you all for your concern, love, prayers and friendship!

Miles

They are taking Miles out of the incubator, but keeping him in the NICU under observation for at least 2 more days. His oxygen goes a little low at times, but he seems to be doing fine the majority of time. They are going to do a head and heart ultrasound. They think the heart enlargement is just from the x-ray and not an issue. The dr. feels confident that he is and will be okay. Nothing in his blood has come back with infection. For now...we just wait and see!

He is eating well and dirtying diapers. His color looks perfect. He has a little blueishness around the nose, but not nearly as much as yesterday prior to the episode.

Pray for Baby Miles

At Mile's routine visit this afternoon he turned a very dark purple all over his body for several minutes and appeared to not be breathing correctly. He is now in the NICU getting constant care and at times his oxygen is lower than what it should be. When he is on oxygen, his levels return to normal. We are awaiting the results of many tests. A chest x-ray showed a possible enlarged heart, but sometimes x-rays aren't the clearest of pictures. He will have more advanced heart tests done tomorrow.

The episode happened as we went to weigh him and the nurse immediately called for the doctors. I praise God for the 2 wonderful doctors that did not waste anytime at all taking care off him. We should know A LOT more tomorrow. The doctor assured me that it didn't matter "where" he was born that this was going to happen either way.

I have been admitted into the hospital as well so that I can feed him every 3 hours. I am still in a lot of labor pain and am exhausted so I am thankful for a quiet place to rest.

Please pray for baby Miles and that everything will be just fine!

BTW - He weighed 8 lbs. 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. He brings me so much joy already.

Miles Anderson Pham made his Grand Entrance (and boy was it grand) at 7:05 a.m. Peruvian time, 8:05 a.m. Florida time this morning. More details to come later.

HE IS COMING!!!!!!!!

It is 1:30 a.m. and Jessica's water broke about half an hour ago! A first for her. We are getting things ready here at home waiting for some contractions. They are slowly starting. More Later!

Serious Smile

Serious Smile, by Michael Pearl (nogreaterjoy.org)

"If you look at the quality of your trust, your smile may vanish, but if you look to the success of Him whom you trust, there will always be more than enough motivation to smile.

Life is very serious, and so it must be handled with a very serious smile. And it’s best to bring it with you, for quite often circumstances will not provide you with provocation. I am not telling you to “look within”. Sometimes the only smile you can find there is that of a court jester or a cynic. Nor am I suggesting that you somehow transcend reality with some blind spiritual ecstasy. That is an escape reserved for concentration camps and extreme suffering.

The creative mind finds it difficult to smile in the midst of drudgery. The difference between a smile and a gripe is not the circumstance, but the point of view. To the rancher it’s a useless place to raise cattle; to the oil man it’s a treasure trove. To the tired mother, repeating the same chores day after day, struggling to keep peace with the children, aware of her fading youth and her failure to have achieved the self-expression she expected, wishing for romance that died too quickly, today is just another burden to be borne; whereas to the mother with a vision for eternity, today is an opportunity to be God’s nanny, teaching His kids to honor Him. She doesn’t carry the burden of personal ambition.

Borrowed worries can leave us pulling God’s load, probably in a direction He would never take it. My Daddy used to say that he found life difficult until he resigned as chairman of the universe. The common laborer smiles while his boss pulls his hair out. If you’re not running the company, but assuming the responsibility anyway, you may never find rest. The song says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” If you look at the quality of your trust, your smile may vanish, but if you look to the success of Him whom you trust, there will always be more than enough motivation to smile. "

THE sandbox

Here is the sandbox wide open. The sand was a bit dark because it was still a little wet from the store.

Avery is in sand heaven! She will play out there for hours and hours - even alone! Every family needs a sandbox!

Pictures

This is the sandbox that John made. The blue tarp has an easy drawstring that pulls up the cover and underneath is a great bed of sand. I couldn't get the other picture, with the tarp up, to actually upload. The sandbox has a bottom too, so it is not sitting directly on the concrete. He did a great job with it. It was economical and cost much less, and is much bigger, than a Lil' Tikes sandbox. The kids are very happy, but the house helper doesn't like all the sand in the clothes and the house!

I'm not vain (okay, well maybe a little)! LOL! But these pictures are for my girlfriends. There is one in particular who likes to see these pictures (you know who you are). :)

39 weeks and waiting. He HAS to be at least 9 lbs. by now.

Holding my baby!!!!

Are you calling to tell me I'm in labor?

This morning, at 7:27, our phone rang. My thoughts went like this:

"It's Saturday."

"Who is calling at 7:30 a.m.?"

"I bet it's the doctor."

"He's not busy today."

"I bet he's calling to tell me I am going to have the baby today. I can't wait to answer it"

"Wow, it's Saturday. What a great day to have the baby."

"I hope it's him."

Answer the phone.....Disappointment!!

And of course those are ridiculous thoughts. Who calls to tell you that you are going to have a baby? But I thought it was quite funny that I actually associated the ringing with phone with someone telling me I was in labor. I wish it was that easy. :)

It was just the phone company here in Peru. We haven't been able to get them to call us for 4 weeks and then they decide to finally call us on a Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. when all the kids were sleeping. Love it!

And yes, it is a great day to have a baby, but all is quiet in the womb!

Happy Birthday Daddy

My dad doesn't even read my blog very often (well, maybe if my step-mom makes him) LOL! But I just want to say happy 55th birthday to the wonderful man who raised me, taught me to fish, swim, water-ski, bait a hook with worms and live shrimp, outrun boys, jump off bridges into rivers, do front flips, drive a stick-shift, check a pool for it's ph balance, climb trees, exercise like a crazy person and make bondfires. I definitely didn't have your typical upbringing being raised by a man, but it certainly was adventurous and full of good times.

Dad, I love you with all of my heart and am so thankful for your presence and guiding hand in my life. I am glad God gave you to us and that you have been here for 55 years despite a nasty fight with lung cancer that you fought and won. I pray for at least 35 more years with you!

Happy 55th Birthday Dean Edward Greer!!!!!

I got to thinking today and I started wondering if the Dr. was offering a homebirth for ONLY last night. So I thought I should call to clarify that. He said, "No, we can definitely try it at home as long as there are no problems." I then told him that even once his partner gets back (whom I DO adore) that I would like to stay with him no matter what because I don't want to change doctors AGAIN! Plus, we have been through a lot with him these past few weeks and he is completely on the same page as we are. That is super important. SO....IT IS ON!! The homebirth is in the works again and I just can't believe (although I should) how God is working it out for me to have an intimate AND safe birthing experience here in Peru despite the odds.

Peace

Today everything is as quiet as could possibly be in the womb. I am surprisingly not as discouraged as you might expect. Starting labor and stopping labor is definitely not fun, but I have this amazing peace about the situation. I know that IT is definitely from the Lord Himself. Typically, I am anxious and impatient, but the Word does tell us that God gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding. I definitely HAVE IT!! :)

What happened with the doctor?????

Last night I went to the hospital and they said I was 2 cm. The contractions were off their little chart thingy coming every 4 minutes. They sent me home to wait it out and make some more progress. Once I got home, the doctor called and asked me to come to his office which is less than a mile from here. Upon arriving, he checked and said I was definitely 3 (maybe a bit more) and had thinned out considerably from the day before. I was vomitting with the contractions and my BP went high again. He was like, "You are definitely starting labor." He then said he had been thinking about it and he knew how much I had wanted a homebirth and that he felt very comfortable just coming to MY HOUSE to deliver the baby since I lived so very close (you can walk there in 5 minutes) to the hospital. The baby's hand moved off of his head. He told us what we need to deliver at home and sent us to the pharmacy to get an injection for Group Beta Strep! Can you believe that he, on his own accord, has agreed to give me a homebirth? Now this is the chief OBGYN at the leading medical school in Peru. This is THE BEST doctor I have ever seen in my entire life. And I have to think that it is ONLY from the leading of God that he has decided to do this. If there is anyone's hands that I feel safe in (besides the Lord of course) it is his. And...he is BEST FRIENDS with my pediatrician. He feels very good with the Ped. we have chosen and we would see him the next day, after the birth.

So, in the midst of labor stopping, I still have this awesome news. Now that's not to say it will actually happen, but it is in the works to happen. I am really excited about it.

The doctor called this morning while I was sleeping and spoke with John. John told him the contractions had disappeared and that I was disappointed, but resting. He said he completely understands, but that this is a completely normal part of the labor process. So, I guess I will be in touch with him again when things pick up again. Could be today, tomorrow or even late as next week. I'm not going to give anymore labor updates probably until AFTER the baby comes or until I am like 6 or 7 and there is NO turning back! No need for you to be on this roller coaster with me. Unless, of course, you are enjoying it! :) LOL!!!

It's 5:30 a.m. and the contractions competely stopped in the middle of the night. No baby yet!

At 6:30 p.m. the dr. checked Jess in his office. She had progressed to 3 and was thinning out. She is vomitting quite a bit from the contractions.

Dr. decided that he could and wants to safely give her a homebirth although he is a hospital doctor. Contractions are farther apart now, but strong still. Just waiting on God's timing. The sheets and towels and injection for Group B strep are ready.

contractions every 3-5 minutes lasting about a minute and they seem intense. No cervical change so we came home to wait, labor and rest. They will either stop or a baby will come. Pray for Jess!

John

I believe Jess is in labor! Going to the hospital! more later....John

Ministry does exist! Promise!

In case you are wondering....Yep, we're still missionaries here to do God's work and we are still working. :)

John is still discipling and training a national leader to take over the still forming church in Oasis. The man's name is Alberto and he is super in love with God. He still needs a lot of direction (don't we all?). John meets with him twice a week. Alberto has taken it upon himself to start 2 more Bible studies in Oasis on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I don't think there is a huge turn out, but about 5-7 regulars show up and join him in studying God's word.

John is still preaching on Sundays (he is mostly storying the Bible) at the church service in Oasis. Alberto leads the service. A man named David leads the worship and John does the investing in people and teaching the word. Like I mentioned before, we can't go out there as a family much b/c the flea situation has gotten so bad. John took Ally with him last week for 1/2 day to help a mission team and now she is suffering like crazy with over 50 bites all over her body.

Once a week, John leads a Bible study in another area called Santa Rosa. This Bible Study is going exceptionally well. They are studying a 20 week discipleship program called "Toward The Goal." He averages between 13-18 people each week. And I think if he could expand it, it would certainly grow.

Also, John is praying about starting another Bible Study on Sunday nights in another area of Oasis. The study would be from 6:30 - 8 p.m., which means he would be in a dangerous area at a dangerous time! I struggle between faith and fear on this issue. Please pray! We know all about being wise as serpents and innocent as doves, but this is the VERY best time to reach the men of that area. John feels God is asking him to do this and I am just saying, "Please Lord, keep him safe."

And John also is developing relationships with national churches here. He has 2 or 3 local pastors that he has partnered with for various reasons. In fact, he is meeting with 2 today.

And my ministry, as always is the family. I am holding down the fort while John invests in the people. I go with him as much as I can (which hasn't been much lately).

I am building some good relationships with my neighbors. One neighbor really opened up to me about her life the other day. She knows we are Christians and she asks questions. I am hoping to continue to be Salt and Light to her. I am very content knowing that my primary place of service, at this season of life, is right here with our 5 (almost) kids!

Thanks for your prayers for the ministry God has called us too. Please keep praying for the people here.

Always and adventure with this baby!

These updates are for my close friends (and of course anyone else) who wants to know how the end of the pregnancy is progressing. Sorry if this is super boring! :)

Well, tonight I had my 38 1/2 appt. The baby's heart rate was at the max. that it should be. The dr. was concerned and had me wait 1/2 an hour to see if it went down. It did! :)

Then, my blood pressure went high again. So I had to wait to see if it went down. It did! :)

Then, I had the dreaded internal exam. 2 centimeters (still), but now I am 40% effaced, where last week I was less than 20%.

During the exam, the doctor found something. He says to me, "I have some potentially bad news."

The baby's hand is on top of his head; smack dab on top of his skull. It is common to deliver a baby with a hand on the face, but I guess (from what he said, I haven't researched it yet) it is dangerous to deliver a baby with his hand coming out before his head. I can see, on many levels, why that wouldn't be a good idea. ;) He said I just need to be "prepared" that if he starts to come out "hand" first that I will not have a normal labor. We all know what that means....the dreaded C word!!! It sounds like that once labor starts the doctor will be able to easily check to see if the hand is first.

Anyway, the good news is that he very well could move that hand just as quickly as he put it up there. Remember, I posted how he had switched sides, well I was right. He went from the right to the left, from the left to the right, back to the right again! The doctor was surprised, but said it is okay. So I knew I wasn't losing my mind with everything just feeling weird. He also commented on how "big" he is getting and how much he has grown just since last week.

I'm not in the least bit worried or stressed about the hand. It will be how it is suppose to be. I have complete trust in God and His plan. I just praise God for such an awesome doctor who checks for these type of things.

In case your checking in on me....Yep, still pregnant! :) I have a lot of peace that he is not coming until the end of next week, right around my due date. I guess we'll all have to wait patiently until this wonderful little guy makes his GRAND ENTRANCE! I REALLY want him to come before my other doctor comes back, next Friday (whom I do love, but I really want his partner to deliver for us) and also once Jenn gets here next Thursday. Her flight comes in at 1:30 p.m., so anytime after that would be perfect.

Please pray for me as I have come down with a nasty bladder infection.

Something cool - John is building a really nice wooden sandbox that fits 5 kids. Everyone is really excited about it!!!

Anyone wanna try to guess when you think he'll come and how much he'll weigh? The closest person will get the first PHONE CALL when I actually am in labor! :)

The kids are all very quiet in their rooms this morning so I thought I would take 4 or 5 minutes (yes, I type VERY fast) to blog. Not that I really have anything blog-worthy to say. It is kind of an outlet for me. I am sure you are tired of hearing about pregancy. Imagine how I feel!!! LOL!!! :)

Today we are going to church again at that sweet lil' church I told you about. We made it 2 weeks in a row and couldn't go last week. The pastor's wife texted us (don't you love technology) to tell us that we were missed. :) I thought that was so sweet. Only problem is that John and I don't know how to text back. Yep, the incredible technologically advanced Phams CANNOT text! We both giggle at that. But to be honest, we have zero desire to learn. Anyway, we are going back this morning and are looking forward to it.

We are LOVING Saturdays here as a family now that we have a BBQ grill, yard, neighborhood kids and college football. Need I say more. How about them Gators?

And of course, a blog wouldn't be a blog unless I ended on a pregnancy note. Yesterday morning I kept telling John that either the baby was super, duper big or that he had moved in a way that was hurting me a lot. I seriously felt like I had been punched in the stomache. The sensation would come and go. Last night, I figured out that the baby has flipped over to my right side. For the past 10 weeks (at least) he has been head down with his abdomen on my left while he is all curled up and his bum-bum is on my right. Last night, he would move and I just want to scream b/c it hurt to so bad. Well, his head is still down, but for some reason after almost 3 months he decided to flip over to my right side and honestly I think he is now spine to spine with me. All the kicks from his arms and legs are coming straight out now and every move he makes is hurting (even in my sleep). My only 2 concerns (and yes, I am 100% positive his position has changed, his hiccups confirmed this) is 1., the umbilical cord. It was already wrapped once around his neck. Flipping like that can cause it to wrap again and 2., That when labor does start, that he will be spine to spine with me (OUCH!!). I believe I might have had that once, with Jaxson, and it makes labor a lot worse.

But alas, no reason to think or worry about what I can't control. God's already God it under his care! But you can pray he will not be spine to spine and no cord around his neck and that if he would kindly flip back over to the left side so I wouldn't be in pain, that would be great.

It's time to start this wonderful, glorious Lord's day. I hope that your's is blessed too!

13 or less days to go. At the end of a pregnancy that can seem like an eternity, but then I look at that little ticker that says I've already made it 266 days. I CAN DO IT!! :) Little Miles doesn't feel so little anymore. Every movement he makes feels BIG! We are enjoying our last few days or weeks as a "small" family. LOL!! All is well over here!

My normal OBGYN is still out of town so if I have the baby before Oct. 2nd it will be with his wonderful partner, Dr. Levano who doesn't speak much English (I think he can, he just doesn't feel confident). I've learned A LOT of new labor terms lately. Either way, I will be in some of the best OB hands in Peru!

BTW- GO GATORS!

X7

It is so hard to believe that in 2 weeks or less we will be holding little Miles Anderson Pham. The anticipation of his arrival is more exciting than Christmas. It feels like a honeymoon everyday! The kids have become VERY familiar with the term contraction. In fact, if I even whince for a second, they will come over, rub my belly, pray for me and ask if I am having a contraction. What sweety pies! Everyday they ask if TODAY IS THE DAY!!?!! Only God knows!

But for now, we are content enjoying every moment as a phamilyof6. I just look at these kids and am overwhelmed with love for them. And soon we will be overflowing in love X7!

We have REALLY had to switch gears the past few days. Planning for a homebirth is completely different than planning for a hospital birth. Everything is now ready for the baby to come and the bags are packed (well, at least his is). The childcare for the kids is set. My wonderful neighbor is set to care for the kids. We have become fast friends and she is absolutely a precious gift from God. She is ready, eager and willing to help at a moment's notice. I have had to get my birthing plan together as well as having to prepare myself that I will have to "fight" for my desires in the hospital here, which is why I will labor at home until it is time for the baby to come. We only live less than a 3/4 of a mile from the hospital so we can get there very quickly. I have lined up a translator (a fellow missionary friend) to come to the hospital so that she can clearly communicate what I cannot when I am in extreme pain. She knows my birth plan and is already working on getting it translated so that she can ensure my needs and desires are being met. She has spoken Spanish for over 20 years, so for her it will be effortless. It takes a lot of pressure off of John and I to know we can focus on relaxing and getting the baby out while she is advocating and translating. We are still hoping to be able to come home within 6-7 hours after the birth so that alleviates having to pack bags for the kids and ship them somewhere overnight.

I am surprisingly NOT grieving the homebirth decision at ALL! I feel extremely confident that God will work out every detail in the hospital and that we are with the right doctors and are receiving the BEST care possible here! I am actually looking forward to the birthing experience MUCH more now that it will be with this doctor than I was with the midwife. I think that is a good confirmation. And having my friend translate is like the icing on the cake. Now if he'll just stay in until Jenn gets here on Oct. 1st, then everything will be PERFECT!

On another note, Monday is Parker's 9th b-day. If you would like to call or send him an e-mail, he would LOVE that. We did this last year and I think now he might be expecting it again. He mentioned how much he loves the calls and letters and can't wait for them. Our number is 321-766-4043. It makes him feel REALLY special!

Jessica Update from John

Jessica was released from the hospital. They stabilized her Blood Pressure and got the headache under control. She tested negative for Pre-eclampsia. They sent her home with a blood pressure monitor to help ensure it doesn't skyrocket again. Baby can stay in unless the BP gets too high again. The Dr. believes that she had migraine (from pregnancy and/or stress) and this caused her BP to rise. She is stable and resting. She can resume her normal activities based around her headaches or BP. Thank you for your prayers.

We have opted to not have a homebirth for many reasons. The main one being that the midwife we chose did not inform us that she is prohibited from working in the hospital that would deliver the baby if a problem arose. We were informed that due to previous complications, she is restricted from working there. That is now 3 separate doctors who have told us stories of complications gone array with her, on top of Jessica's feelings of uneasiness and lack of confidence in her. Thus, she will labor at home and we will go to the hospital when things are getting close. And then we can come home shortly after that if there are no problems.

John

update

The headache is under control. The blood pressure has gone down to a normal level now. Dr. is waiting to receive the protein results from my urine. If there is no protein then I can go home. We are hoping there is none. If there is protein then I definitely have Pre-eclampsia and will have a baby today. However, the dr. thinks my headache is from the pregnancy/stress and that made my BP go so high. He is sending me home with an electrical BP monitor so that I can measure my own BP many times a day and make sure it doesn't get so high again. He said if I don't have pre-eclampsia then I am good to go to have the baby at home. But he gave me some new information today that I need to pray about in regards to the midwife I have chosen. I will receive the results of the protein test in about an hour or so. If I go home, I can resume my normal activities based on my headaches and blood pressure. Thanks for all your prayers! I'll let you know what I find out.

BTW-ALL of my communication with the doctor was in Spanish. That felt good to know that I CAN do it!

Not My Will but Yours be Done!

Went to my 37 week check up (36.6 days at midnight) not feeling well still with a terrible headache. I have all the classic symptoms of pre-eclampsia. 5 lbs. in 10 days. Lots of swelling. Horrible headache for 24 hours that will not subside, and high blood pressure. The doctor is very concerned and is admitting me tonight to try to get the blood pressure under control as well as the headache. He wants to do some testing for pre-eclampsia as well. The baby is fine. His fluid is good. I am dialated already about 2 centimeters so that is good in case we have to take him tomorrow. The ultrasound showed he is very big already and measuring around 7 lbs. 12 ounces. The doctor was shocked at his size. None of this is part of my perfect plan, but I am in no way forgetting God's sovereignty, protection and hand of guidance and love. Please pray for everything to work out safely and smoothly. The doctor said if I have pre-eclampsia that he has to come out now. He will induce me naturally without pitocin and do everything he can to get things going so I can have a drug-free labor. He is the top Chief OBGYN at the leading medical hospital in Peru. I feel completely safe under his care. Maybe I'll be home tomorrow and can wait this out 3 weeks or maybe I'll be home in a few days with a baby. Only God knows and I am trying to be very open to His Will and not mine. You know how much I have wanted a natural homebirth. Please pray for God's perfect, divine plan and also for the baby's safety as well as mine! Pre-eclampsia can be very dangerous, so I just praise God this doctor is on top of things. More when I can!

Check back in this evening and I will have a good update for you. Lots going on here and it's been a crazy 2 days. I have my 37 week OBGYN appt. at 5 p.m. It was suppose to be tomorrow, but the doctor has a conference. The midwife is coming to the house on Saturday to tell us what we need to do to get ready for the birth. More later....

Priorities

I stumbled upon this yesterday on a blog of someone who reads (or at least use to read my blog) http://7wagners.blogspot.com/ ! WOW! It really put things in perspective and I wanted to share it with you. I DID NOT write this, but I think it will bless you as well....

"PRIORITIES
If I can look at my primary job as that of:

1. Helping and meeting the needs of my husband and
2. Training my children in righteousness,

then all the other stuff (homeschool, housework, to-do lists, etc.) will be what fills in my extra time.
I won't be upset when those things are interrupted by my husband's needs or the need to train my children because the "other stuff" is actually an interruption to my primary job."

woes of a 9 month pregnant woman. Yes, I guess I'm complaining a little!

Not much to write. I just feel yucky! Really yucky! I'm not sick. All I want to do is sleep, have zero desire to do anything. I am taking 2 naps a day again and am generally fatigued. I'm out of breath constantly and doing even little things takes most of my available energy. It makes me frustrated that I have no energy to do my daily chores, much less excerise. I've missed 4 days of exercise and I know it is so good for me, but the thought of expending energy I don't have just doesn't appeal. I felt fine up until Saturday evening around 5 p.m. and since then, crash and burn. If I didn't detest caffeine so much (I haven't really drank it in almost a year), then I would be loading up. But I know that's not a good idea. Anyway, wah, wah, wah...woe is me! I'm sure I'm fine, but I did think of dragging myself to the doctor because I really think my iron is just bottoming out. But I don't have the energy or desire to deal with it. So for now, I will just allow hubby and the kids to pamper me. They'll be plenty of time to be a crazy, productive, go-getter in my next stage of life.

Bitter Sweet

So sad...we had to tell our empleada (house helper) today that we will no longer be needing her services. She has been with us our entire first year here 1 day a week deep cleaning the apartment and folding laundry. Due to the size of our house, needing help more than one day a week, and the rate increase she gave us (we were already paying her 10-15 soles more than most maids make in a day) we had to find someone else. It's really kind of sad because we loved her a lot, but I think the new arrangement will be better for our family. Please pray for our old empleada (God knows her name) and that God will provide her another job very quickly.

Our new empleada, which we have known for about 9 months, started on Friday and she worked from 9:30 - 4:30 p.m. and did ALL the laundry (sorting, washing, drying, folding and putting away) as well as dusting, mopping, floors, bathrooms, the kitchen, etc...). We came home to a sparkling house. Her rate is 22 soles ($7.50) cheaper per day and I do not have to provide her a meal (although I will if we have it) and she will do windows as well as the laundry from start to finish. We did tell her we would pay for her bus fair. She is so happy to have the job because she will make in 2 full days at our house, what she was making working 6, 6 hour days at another job. So it helps both of us. She is an extremely strong Christian believer and knows the Word very well. She is also good with kids as she has 4 of her own. She is also a type A personality like John and I so she works fast and thorough. And honestly, at this point I don't even care about thorough. I'm just happy to have the help and not be sweeping ALL day, everyday. You can't understand the dirtiness of this city until you live here. Now we live next to some dirt mountains so the dust is exponentially worse. And on top of that, we have 4 cute kids running in and out all day tracking in more dirt. Anyway, it's kind of bitter-sweet saying good-bye to one and hello to another.

But thank God for the blessing of such affordable help here in this city. I told John I want to treat her like a queen so she'll never want to leave!

Miles or Miguel!

Because the house is in order and we are settled and the baby shower is complete (more details about that later) and the baby's room is ready, I feel like I should have a baby TODAY! Seriously! TODAY! Pretty impossible, but now it feels like a long wait since everything is done. Good thing I can keep myself busy with 4 kids, homeschooling and ministry. I hope everyday doesn't feel like a week these next few weeks. I am having ZERO contractions! ZERO (which is a praise God because it would be a week too soon to comfortably have a baby)!! No action, nothing! LOL! I had much more action at 30 weeks. :) I definitely think he will be staying in for the full 40!

We have decided that Miles Anderson Pham will be Miguel Anderson Pham in Spanish. The direct translation for Miles is "thousands" in Spanish. So that is not a good name for him in Spanish. And they don't have a long "I" sound like we do so when we tell people his name they usually can't say it or remember it since it is odd for them. Miguel is so similar to Miles that the kids will be able to remember it and it should not be too confusing for Miles to know that in English his name is Miles and in Spanish Miguel. :)

So thankful

The workers are GONE!! Today was our first day without anyone fixing, pounding, painting or tracking dirt through the house. Not that we minded because it was worth EVERY second. All 3 bathrooms are officially done and every room is painted to look like new. As soon as I finish this blog, I am going to unpack the VERY last box in our bathroom and we will officially be completely moved in 2 weeks later. Not bad! I am 36 weeks on Saturday (29 days left tomorrow - woohooo) and we were expecting to be moving in when I was 36 weeks, so I am so thankful that the Lord worked it out so we could get in and get settled even sooner.

I had my OBGYN check-up yesterday. I gained 1.5 lbs. in 5 days. LOL! The docs first comment to me was, "Good morning. I see you've been eating A LOT!" :) I told the doctor I thought it was the pizza I ate the night before and the heavy jeans that I usually DON'T wear to the appointments. Normally, I wear really light clothes, but they were dirty so I opted for heavy jeans, knowing that it would tip the scale. Oh well! The doctor was leaving yesterday for Europe until October 1st. He only saw 2 patients yesterday and I was one of them. He just wanted to see me one last time before he left even though he is not going to be delivering the baby. Isn't that sweet? My iron is still VERY low and at an anemic level. He nows wants me to take 2 iron pills every other day, on top of my daily iron pill and pre-natal. Good grief! Let's hope it raises soon! Anyway, he is still putting A LOT of pressure on me to have a hospital birth. I told him there is nothing like good ol' fashioned peer pressure. He chuckled and said he hoped it was working. I'll miss him this month, but not the pressure! I will see his partner while he is gone as well as the midwife.

We finished our first week of school (we do 4 day weeks because Fridays we have AWANAS at a local missionary, Christian school). It was GREAT! Like I said, being in the house and having an AWESOME homeschooling room and wonderfully organized curriculum has helped EVERYONE'S attitudes. I am even having MUCH more consistent quiet times because there is actually a place, besides the shower, to have a quiet time. I'm LOVING it and feeling very refreshed and encouraged in the Lord.

I am exercising in my new exercise room which is quite the blessing too. How cool to just shut the door, pop in a video and get it done. And then I usually walk briskly for about 15-20 minutes, after the video, while the kids jog next to me or ride their bikes. It's so fun! I am only doing 45ish minutes, every OTHER day. That's about all I can muster up these days, but I think that is sufficient for being nine months along (on Saturday).

Well, God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams with this house. Words cannot describe it. I am so thankful!!! And now we are just keeping busy until the next blessing comes very soon. Isn't it crazy to think that in 1 week, the baby could come ANY day after that? I doubt he will, but it is fun to wait, hope and think about the possibilities of "any day now."

Pregnancies in Comparison

This is me at 35 weeks and 3 days with Miles Anderson Pham, baby #5.


And this is me at exactly 40 weeks (I was in labor) with baby #3, Avery Brooke.

Avery weighed 8.4 so it looks like Miles has a little ways to catch up with her. Do you think he can do it?

Good news

Great news! My Group Beta Strep test is NEGATIVE!!!! WOOHOOO!! I will still be treated for it during labor though. Lets pray it doesn't come on in the next 4 weeks. I don't think it will. Usually if I have it, I have it by 20 weeks. I'm praising God for this. I think this is one of the reasons I haven't had as many bladder or kidney problems this pregnancy. I am really happy to get these great results after suffering so with it in many previous pregnancies.

Day 2 of homeschooling completed in the new house. WOW! So much easier to homeschool here than in the apartment. My complete state of mind is better in this house. Just goes to show that your environment can truly affect your mood or emotional status.

P.S. Can someone give me a lesson on affect vs. effect? I'm like 33 and still can't use them right.