Grayson's Nursery Mural Ideas Needed

This weekend I am having a artist coming to our home to work in Grayson's nursery.  My two ideas are doing an accent wall and having Grayson's name or his initials put above his crib.  

A few questions I have for all of you are:

~  Should I put Grayson's full name or just his initials above his crib?  

~  Do I add details around his name/initials or just leave it simple? 

~  What ideas do you have for the accent wall? 

~  Any other ideas are welcomed or websites that I might check out!

Thanks in advance!

I am not artistic at all so I really could use HELP!

Here is Grayson's bedding for your reference! 

Week 27

This week I feel as if my belly has popped and I have a basketball inside. 

But I am loving every second!

Today I am 27 Weeks and 1 day pregnant with Grayson!

Grayson weighs almost 2 pounds, like a head of cauliflower and he is 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  27 weeks and 1 day

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  7 pounds, I am sure I have gained more weight as I now have a basketball inside of me :)

Maternity Clothes:  None Yet

Best Moment this week:  Every moment of feeling Grayson move in my belly is the best moment!

Gender:  It's A Boy - Grayson Konnor!

Movement:  Yes it is AMAZING!

Food Craving:  Honey Nut Cheerios, Dark Chocolate, and Chocolate Muffins from a local bakery in Bentonville. They are so Yummy! New Craving: Cinnamon Bears

What I miss:  Sleeping on my belly!

Sleep:  I am sleeping much better now that I am not having so many aches in pains in my back and hips. Working out and going to Yoga have been a blessing!

What I am looking forward to:  3D/4D Ultrasound  and the mural artist is coming on Saturday.  I hope my bedding gets here before Friday. 

Belly Button:  In for now :)

Symptoms:  Heartburn in the late afternoon.  I don't like it at all!  As well as my sciatic nerve is always bothering me. 

Chad's Home and FIL Update

I am glad to have my husband home.  I missed him!  He arrived home last night and is doing okay.  Friday was a tough day for him as he said his goodbye to his dad.  This past Wednesday they put a trache in his throat to help him breathe as his tongue continues to swell due to the cancer.  His doctor cannot do much more for Chad's dad and it is in God's hands.  Chad told me last night that his dad is at peace and has talked to God and knows his time is almost up.  He just wants a few more moments with his family.  Chad is at peace (for the most part) that his dad won't live much longer, but he knows that he will be with God and in no pain.  Chad's dad was able to leave the hospital yesterday afternoon and is at home resting and is as comfortable as he can be.  He went home with the trache, a feeding tube, and pain medicine.  Hospice will be caring for him and I pray that he continues to be as comfortable as he can and that when the time comes he goes to heaven peacefully.  Before Chad left his dad told him that he saw Grayson at their pond when he was 2 years old and he has blonde hair and big blue eyes.  We are blessed that he shared this with us and hope that just maybe he can live until Grayson is born.  It is our hope, but it is in God's hands!

Today is my FIL's Birthday!  Happy Birthday Millard!  I hope he has a wonderful and blessed day. 

Thank you all for your prayers and checking on Chad over the past few days.  You are all a true blessing!

Happy Saturday!!!

Show Us Your Ministry - Infertility

This week Kelly @ Kelly's Korner is doing Show Us Your Ministry.  Although I don't have a ministry I do have a story to share with you.  If you have followed my blog for some time you know that my husband and I struggled for 2 years to get pregnant.  It was a tough two years, but we are finally expecting our first miracle in May 2010 and we feel so blessed. 

You can go here to read our complete story! 

Chad and I did all fertility treatments possible to get pregnant in 2008-2009 before we decided that enough was enough and we took a break during the summer of 2009.  We decided during the break that we would try to focus on our relationship with one another and with God.  Our relationship grew with God and we left it up to him to show us what to do next.  I still remember those tough months of TTC on our own and then "Aunt Flo" would show up.  It was frustrating, but I continued to pray to God to heal me and help me understand all that was going on.  Back in early September 2009 I was at church and I remember going down to the alter to pray and I just broke down in tears, but I felt God with me telling me it would be okay and I just need to believe.  After that day I just gave it all to God and said you can have my worries and troubles I can't handle it anymore.  I was done! 

Then in late September 2009 I took a home pregnancy test and it was positive!  It was amazing!  In fact I had a hard time believing I was pregnant so all week before my doctor's appointment I took a test just to make sure.  Today I am 26 weeks and 4 days pregnant.  It is a miracle and a true blessing from God.  My relationship with God is strong and he is the center of our family.  I know God is holding my hand every day and will take care of me.  It might not be when I would like for things to happen, but God has a plan for me and I just have to sit and be patient.  God and our church family has changed my life over the past year and I feel blessed for everything that I have and look forward to the many more blessings and the trials that come with them. 

Now that I have briefly shared with you my ministry or story I would like to leave all couples with a few things that helped me through infertility.  First as I have mentioned in this post God was a huge support for me.  Second my blog and being open and honest about infertility.  I have received so much positive and encouraging words on my blog that on those low days I didn't feel alone...I had all of you.  Lastly reaching out to other infertility couples that could understand the feelings and struggles was so helpful as they knew what I was feeling without saying a word.  So if you would like to share your story with me and need encouragement just leave me a comment or email me and I would love to be there for you as so many people were for me. 

Please have faith and believe that it will happen to you!

Don't forget to stop by Kelly's Korner!

Being Real

Real Moments Are Unforgettable

Like when your husband comes home three weeks ago to tell you that there is a chance that he is going to lose his position at Walmart after 21 years with the company

Or

When it does happen, yes it did happen after 21 years with Walmart Chad has been displaced from his position and is actively looking for a job within the company

Don't worry we are blessed that Chad has been given the opportunity to look for a job while still getting paid until April 2010.  But... 

It is real!

Then being faced with the fact that Chad's dad is very sick and currently in the hospital

It is real!

Facing the fact that he could lose his father in a matter of days

It is real!

Seeing your husband cry over the entire situation

It is real!

Sitting at home while your husband is dealing with sadness and stress, but not physically being with him

It is real!

Life Moments are real and are a true test of faith...but I am holding onto faith that these life moments will all work out and I will be a stronger person after all these trials.

It is real!

God is real!

Having faith and believing is all I can do!

Chad's dad will be in surgery at 5PM today to have his surgery please keep him in your prayers!

Chad if you read this I love you!

Week 26

Today I am 26 weeks and 1 day pregnant!

Grayson length is 9-9.25 inches and weighs 2 pounds

Grayson is the size of an eggplanet!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  26 weeks and 1 day

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  7 pounds

Maternity Clothes:  None Yet

Best Moment this week:  Valentine's Day with my hubby!

Gender:  It's A Boy - Grayson Konnor!

Movement:  Yes it is AMAZING!

Food Craving:  Honey Nut Cheerios, Dark Chocolate, and Chocolate Muffins from a local bakery in Bentonville. They are so Yummy!  New Craving:  Cinnamon Bears

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly!

Sleep:  I am sleeping much better now that I am not having so many aches in pains in my back and hips.  Working out and going to Yoga have been a blessing!

What I am looking forward to:  Getting Grayson's Bedding soon!

Belly Button:  In for now :)

Symptoms:  None

We need prayers:  Last week I shared with all of you that Chad's dad my FIL is very ill.  Well he is still not getting better and Chad is driving to Paducah, KY in the morning.  His dad will be hospitalized tomorrow for the next few days as they are putting in a breathing tube as his tongue continues to swell and is causing troubles for him.  He will no longer under go any further radiation or chemotherapy as of this Friday.  I wish I could go with him, but Grayson and I can't be around him during his treatments and the drive is too long.  I hate that my hubby is going through so many tough days.  The stress is killing me and I know it is tough on him as well.  I know I am not prepared if something were to happen to my parents.  I would be a mess if it did.  Chad is so strong and at peace with the situation, but I know he is hurting.  It has been an emotional day at our house to say the least.  So please keep Chad and our family in your prayers.  I hope for peace for my FIL and the pain to be gone.  My god be with us and be small enough to hear our prayers.

Bella, Grayson, and I will miss you daddy!

My Funny Valentine

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Weekend.  Our weekend didn't go as planned, but when does anything always go as planned.  Saturday I cleaned house and got everything prepared for our date night at home.  I had planned on making Chad a Red Velvet Cake, however he surprised me with a cake from Rick's Bakery.  It was beautiful, but I am really not into cake at the moment.  The only dessert I really like at the moment is dark chocolate.  I did have half a piece of cake and as always Rick's Bakery doesn't disappoint. 

Chad and I spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying each other's company without stress or worries.  That was until I decided to laundry...mistake #1 I should have just waited until Sunday or even today to do laundry.  Well our washer decided to give us some trouble on Saturday night.  We have the Samsung front loader set and it had an "nd" error, which means that the washer is not draining properly.  So Chad got to work on it and long story short he ended up creating a huge mess with all the water and cut his wrist.  After cleaning up all the water we decided that we couldn't do anything to fix it and we would just wait until the morning to see if it still was not working.  Well guess what... Sunday morning the washer is working GREAT.  All that mess and trouble for nothing.  I did learn during the process that we do not have proper first aid items in our house.  I had to search for a band-aid and Chad was not too happy about it.  So next trip to Walmart note to self purchase a first aid kit!  The rest Saturday evening we spent eating homemade Thai Chicken Pizza and watching The Time Traveler's Wife.  It was a great movie I was not disappointed at all!  In fact I could watch it again! 

Gift from Bella!

Sunday Valentine's Day we started out the day by exchanging gifts.  I first opened my card from Chad and I loved every word on the front of the card it was too sweet, however when I finished reading the inside of the card instead of it saying Happy Valentine's Day to said Happy Birthday.  Opps!  Has this happened to any of you?  We just laughed and moved onto the gifts.  Bella got me flowers and a card that was too cute.  Grayson got me a heart shaped necklace and Chad got me a necklace and ring from Perfect Choice.  I also got a gift card for a massage at a local salon.  It will be perfect to use just before Grayson arrives.  I got Chad a Valentine's Card and a new iPod Nano.  He loved it!  He is preparing for a half marathon in March and this will come in handy.  I also presented him with the Great Date Experiment and he is fully on board and excited to do the series of dates.  We then got ready for Church and BOY was it COLD outside.  We had planned to go to Ruth's Chris that night, but I changed the plans as I was not in the mood for steak.  Instead we stayed home and had chicken noodle soup and caught up on DVR'd shows.  Our last Valentine's as a family of 2 and we spent it at home.  Oh well I guess that is what happens when you are pregnant.  Chad was totally fine with staying at home.  We played three rounds of Phase 10 and I won 2 out of the three.  We didn't get a chance to do Date 1 of the Great Date Experiment, but I am hoping that we get a chance to do it tonight.  We are going to a movie and maybe dinner.  It just depends on how Chad's day goes.  Chad is waiting to hear some news from work today and I am hoping and praying that it is good news.

 I hope everyone had a great Valentine's. 

Was it a Funny Valentine for you too?