Postpartum & Big News

Well hello there!!! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! I did! We enjoyed our trip to California! It wasn't too bad flying with all 3 kids, just a lot of work.

POSTPARTUM:

Reece: He is doing great! Breastfeeding wasn't easy this time either. I have come to realize that I will always get sore at first with each baby. Not just a little sore, but VERY very sore. A lactation consultant said my fair skin makes me prone to getting sore.
Finally after 3 weeks Reece is nursing well. I still get a little sore when he cluster feeds but besides that it's great.
At his 2 weeks check up he was 7lbs 13oz! The doctor was very happy with this since most babies are up to their birth weight by 2 weeks, and Reece was up 8oz. His jaundice is better although it might be there a slight bit.
It's so amazing to see him change everyday. He is 24 days old today. He has been very alert when awake, he's getting chubby, he stares at me, and I can tell he is going to smile soon. :)
I am so blessed to have him. He is a good baby. He doesn't fuss too much, he's easy to please with a clean diaper and a full tummy.
I am a little worried about him today because he is a little stuffy. I'm praying he didn't get sick on the plane.

Me:
Physically, my bleeding has pretty much stopped. I have lost 16 pounds since the birth, and have 19 more to get to pre-pregnancy weight. I gained a total of 35 pounds. Not too bad.
I was able to get a couple short walks in while in California, and they weren't easy! I've been really tired since traveling and the time changes, and I too have been fighting a cold. Besides that I really feel good.
Emotionally:
I really didn't have the baby blues this time! Yay!! Maybe because I've been so busy....which is another reason I have not been on to update a post!
Which brings me to the BIG NEWS.......

About 3 weeks before the baby was born, we were unfortunately laid off. We were totally and completely shocked by this and had NO idea this was coming. Being laid off right before the birth of our 3rd baby and right before Christmas was extremely hard. My husband especially is very heartbroken by this. He loved his job so much. It was his dream job! It wasn't even a job to him, it was a privilege. The reason I haven't been able to talk about it is because the ranch boys still don't know. They will find out this Saturday. They are going to heartbroken over it, especially a few boys that are really close to us.
This trial has been very difficult. I have been depressed, but not because of baby blues, this time it's situational. I'm mostly depressed for my husband. Also, that I had just gotten use to living in Tennessee and I felt at home here. I spent so much time on the baby's room, and now we have to move. I couldn't fathom starting all over in a new city, house and church.
We live in a ranch house on the ranch property, which is owned by the ministry. So of course we have to move. Our Pastor here has been so gracious and was giving us some time to move, but we do have to move by the first week into the new year. YUP. We are moving next week. Where you might ask?? We. Don't. Know.
The deal was once Reece was born my husband wouldn't have to work anymore so he could help and pack our house. Our whole house is in boxes and has been for a few weeks now. It's very depressing to have everything in a box, a rental truck booked, but not know where we are driving it to.
We have a house lined up in Lancaster California. The city we lived before we moved here. Seemed God was lining everything up for us to move back. The church asked my husband if he'd be interested in working on staff at our church there. Of course we said yes! But after reviewing finances ect. they told us there aren't any openings right now. But God still had a house for us, a couple leaving the church to move to El Salvador to be missionaries needed someone to take over their lease. No deposit, 3 bed 2 bath house for $900 a month. It's ours and we are scheduled to move in the 9th of January.
Once my husband found out he wouldn't be able to work on staff at the church in Lancaster he was even more worried, and wasn't sure what to do. He has been praying and he was able to speak with a few Pastor's about positions at their churches. None of which are in California, so as of right now, we are waiting on the Lord to show us His will. I suppose if we don't hear from them with in a few days we will be moving back to Lancaster.
It's very scary to not know where you will be in 2 weeks. But we trust the Lord, and we know He is doing this for a reason, and that all things work together for good!! Romans 8:28

Davey was perfect for this ministry. We loved it so much, and the ranch boys love us. We were able to see change in them. See them mature and grow even in the short 10 months we've been here. Their attitudes have changed dramatically. They were learning from my husband how to be men, how to work, love the Lord, and be faithful all while having fun and enjoying life. Yes, to us it seemed like the perfect fit. But for reasons we don't know God has other plans. We are so grateful for the 10 months we've had here and what we've learned. We have grown so much closer as a family, we have learned a lot about teenage boys, and that we love the ministry.

Please pray for us that God will provide a job and a place for us!

God sees the things we can't see. He knows what's best for us and we trust Him. Doesn't make us any less sad about leaving but we are comforted by His word and knowing He is in control.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Porch Swings Part 2

First thing off my chest: how much I need to work out. I have not sweat since my long run on Monday, and it's Friday! I have an uncontrollable desire to just RUN out my front door, and keep going until I feel less stressed. I won't though, because I think my boys would freak out when they eventually realized their Mom wasn't in the house.

My eating is, well, not being tracked. Sometimes I don't eat, sometimes I just throw food in my mouth. Right now I am eating 2 low fat Waffles with a tiny bit of lite cool whip and peaches on top. Too bad right before this I scarfed a handful of tortilla chips because all I've had all day is a cup of coffee. I can feel and see myself getting fatter. Confession- weighed today at 192. Up a total of 5 pounds!! I could just close the lap top and ball my eyes out right now.
I feel bloated all the time. I feel yucky and hate the food I am eating. I miss my healthy, scheduled life. LIFE is busy right now, and my healthy habits are not prevailing. I haven't been on track since before we left for TN. It's been way too long. And it must S T O P. Here's what's going on.........

Tuesday we announced that we got and accepted the job in Tennessee! We are officially moving at the end of this month. We have been busy packing and preparing. We are having a garage sale tomorrow to sell all the stuff we are not bringing with us. We've also had issues with our house, such as, dishwasher spewing out bubbles all over the kitchen floor, oh and a tree root problem with our pipes which ended up with waste overflowing into our bath tub. Yup. Can you imagine the clean up. Not fun.

Back to the exciting and happy news! We are so thankful for this opportunity from God. You all know we've been praying and seeking for God's will, and for a ministry to serve in for a very long time......long before my husband graduated from bible college which was almost a year ago.
We look back now and can see why we had to wait. It's such an amazing feeling to know where God wants you and to have complete P E A C E about it.

Oh how I am going to miss.... California [the sunny beautiful state of which I was born and raised], the Pacific Ocean, my favorite city: Santa Monica, Disneyland [Shane too. He has been praying for Jesus to provide one more trip so he can shoot the bad guys on the Buzz ride]. THE BEACH, Hollywood, MY MOM. Being only 5 hours from family. My church, my pastor, all my friends, my home, my beloved 24 Hour Super Sport gym, being 3 minuets from Walmart. Just knowing that if I wanted to...I could put my boys in auditions for Gap commercials. Diversity, crazies like this, that you see in Venice......
Having neighbors, having a backyard fence, having a Burger King, Del Taco, and an In & Out Burger right behind my house [literally right behind my house. I am looking at the Burger King sign now...] JUST KIDDING about missing these ;) got ya.
Hearing sirens at night [yes, this lets me know there are people out there], hearing the train go by, everything being close together, no curvy roads that make me car sick, not having to worry about snakes in my yard, the ability to see miles and miles away because it's F L A T. And.. of course.... all the wonderful and accessible, huge races California has to offer [obviously won't be able to do all the races on my race schedule]. There are tons more things I am going to miss. I know it, and am preparing myself for this huge transition.

BOTTOM LINE. God won't lead us where we shouldn't go, and when we do His will, He provides sufficient grace to get through it.

Sure there is going to be tons of things I am going to miss and I will cry over them I am sure, but nothing is more precious than serving God and knowing that what we will be doing, will be counted for Eternity!! Matthew 6:20-21 " ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I am SO thankful!! I am thankful that, God didn't allow us to move to Morgan Hill a couple months ago like we were planning, because then we wouldn't be moving to TN, to do God's will. I am thankful for PS 37:4, He gives us the desires of our hearts. I am so thankful, that we will still be in the USA, and in a wonderful, beautiful state! I am so thankful for the 100 acres we get to live on, and for the 6 bedroom 2,700 sq ft ranch house that we get to call home. I am so thankful that we get to have a big garden, chickens, goats, horses, and cattle if we want to.

I am thankful that my boys will learn to work hard on a ranch and not sit inside and play XBox their whole teenage years [oh..if you didn't know...I HATE video games. I am thinking about maybe letting Davey and the boys get a Wii. But my kids will not be allowed to play video games where they so vividly kill people, steal cars and see women dressed like hookers. Okay, that was just a side note.] I am so thankful that we get to invest in 13 young men, and many more in the future, and to see them grow into, hopefully, great men of God, and to know that we had a part in that. I am so thankful that my husband will now get to come home every night, and most of the time be working right outside our home. I am thankful for the Internet and phones so we can easily keep in touch with our family and friends. I am thankful, that God has a predestined plan for our lives, and all His children (Romans 8:29). I AM SO THANKFUL FOR GOD'S GRACE, HIS LOVE, AND HIS PEACE. God is so good.

I am hoping and praying to get my act together with my eating and making time to work out these next few weeks. I know driving 2500 miles across the country won't be the best way to maintain my weight, so I need to get a hold of it now. As soon as hubby is home today... I am off to the gym. Must sweat.. need to run...

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Mania

These last few days have been very emotional, stressful, frustrating, and confusing days ever. Of course, it has to do with moving. We got the house in Morgan Hill, but through a series of unfortunate events, we no longer have the finances to pay first months rent and deposit. Heartbroken, I called and left them a message today saying we want the house, but need a week to figure out our finances and everything. They will most likely rent it out to someone else.

Then, the fact that we were possibly moving home brought up the fact that we were no longer pursuing the ministry as fervently as we once were. We began to pray and discuss what we thought God wanted, and we got counsel from our pastor, parents, and friends. Which led to us making a few calls to different pastor's hiring. Now we suddenly have a few options, [maybe]. What was a simple discussion to move home so I can be near family when Davey travels, brought on a real soul searching for our future. I still really want to move home and specifically into that house, but I HAVE TO TRUST GOD.

We prayed for God's will and that He would provide for us if He wanted us to move. He didn't provide, at least not yet. It's put on hold for right now, and seems God is working and I am an anxious mess.

Davey says I have these manias. When I want something, I find a way to get it. I just do. Ok fine, just say it, I'm a brat. I figure a logical way to get it. Take my bike for example. I wanted it, didn't care about getting fitted, it said it was the right size, so I got it. I thanked God for it, but when I realized it was the wrong size I was upset. I prayed for the bike but didn't listen to Him.

I have trouble being patient. I just can't wait. It's horrible. I am now aware of these manias and I really didn't think this Morgan Hill thing was one. I thought God was really in it, and maybe He is. I just need to depend on Him and not always rush and make things happen on my own and in my own timing.

I've been crying and frustrated for a few days now. I really had hoped to live close to my Mom and other family for a little while before we moved and got hired by a ministry. BUT I know, I want HIS WILL. He is all knowing. He holds the best future for us, one He picked perfect, specifically for us. And all the trials and heart aches are in His master plan.

I am hopeful, that He is working and we will be where He wants us very soon. Even if that's right here. Paul said in Philippians 4:11 "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Wow. What a convicting verse that is for me.

Tuesday I was so stressed and busy I didn't work out. Horrible. I know. Yesterday I was a mess, I went to the gym and really, took it out on the treadmill. I ran 7 miles. I was angry so I ran fast and hard and sweat buckets. I took relaxing walk breaks once in a while and breathed deep. It was a fun, and a great stress reliever.

Today I did Yoga and Cycle. Thankful that through all the stress I've managed to stay on track with my calories. I peaked on the scale and I am 189.6 [lowest by .2] and hoping for a little lower on Saturday. Thanks for reading all my complaints. ....... Again.

Love,
The Maniac

Amazing Reactions.

It's good to be home. We went to Morgan Hill for a few days.

I have been receiving amazing reactions about my progress! Sunday we were at our church here in Lancaster, and people were acting like they haven't seen me in months! "Wow! Look at you! You've lost so much weight! What are you doing?" I honestly don't like a lot of attention, even though it's so nice to know you can see my progress, it felt really strange.

My favorite comment I got was, "So if I go run 10 miles like you I'll look as good as you?" Ha! It was really cute, especially since it came from a grandpa ;)

Then we surprised my in-laws Monday night because Davey was told he wouldn't have work this week. And the Lord worked it out perfect, we ended up selling our last puppy to a family in Morgan Hill so that gave us a good reason to go. [God is so good].

My husbands family kept commenting on how much weight I had lost and how skinny I looked. I was really surprised because I don't feel much thiner and I don't weigh much less than I did in November. Maybe inches? It was so cute.. both my brother in laws told me I looked skinny. When we first got there my husbands youngest brother said, "Whoa! You look so skinny. Your throat is skinny." Nice, that's exactly where I want to look really skinny. [wink]. Then my husbands other brother said, " Adrienne, your getting really skinny again." Many friends at church in Morgan Hill, my Mom and really everyone I saw noticed. It was amazing. I kept wondering... why now after a year and a half and 55 pounds do people notice? I don't know.. but I'm so glad my work is paying off.

I am not even going to talk about how bad I ate this week though. I feel yuck, and do NOT want to face the scale tomorrow. I am terrified of seeing 190's again. But I will weigh and take my consequences. I did work out twice while away. A 5 mile bike ride with my sister in law and mother in law, than a 3 mile run with the husband.

Let's talk about the interesting stuff now. I have been looking on Craigslist for a house to rent in Morgan Hill because Davey works far away during the week and I am here with no family. I have good friends, and a fantastic church family. But I would love to be close to my Mom and in-laws and really ALL of our family. But here's the thing. We have a perfect size adorable house here with a huge back yard and a garage for $950 a month. Morgan Hill: $950 is a 300 sqft studio. Really. So it's been a huge challenge to find something. I found a teeny..tiny...microscopic size house in Morgan Hill for $1,100.
When I say teeny tiny... I mean it. 800 sq ft. Two bedroom. No living room. [Seriously]. 5 cupboards in the kitchen. No dishwasher. Washer dryer hook up is outside, no garage. And I don't remember seeing a linen closet.
I would have to get rid of half of our stuff. Maybe more. We would also have to struggle to find a place to store our baby things, Christmas stuff, bikes, jogger, ect.

The good things: it's super cute, in the country (sort of), right next to a beautiful bike path, has a yard with a orange tree, surrounded by green fields, it's cozy, we can have our dogs! (this is also hard to find a place ok with), she said the landlord would probably be okay with me painting the interior, and it's the cheapest house for rent in Morgan Hill, yet it's well maintained and clean. It's so small I couldn't lose the boys in it. And less places for a bad guy to hide. [But Davey says less places for us to hide from a bad guy. Hmm.] It's on a big piece of green land with 3 other homes just like it on it (ours would be the smallest).
We applied for it. We may not even get it. We pray God will work everything out. We want HIS will.
Davey really wants me to look in Los Banos for a house. I told him I will not live in a city that's name is translated "The Bathrooms" in English. But I'll be a submissive wife and look into it. Truth is we could rent a good size home there or in Hollister for a reasonable price. We would be further away from town than I'd like... but you count your costs.

Here is the house in Morgan Hill.



I also am thinking.. can I leave my gym?? I have the BEST 24 Hour Fitness. The Y in Morgan Hill has 2 cycle classes a week.. and no, they are not hiring for more teachers. I asked. It would be a big challenge to my training. I love our home here, I love my church, and I love my gym!

What would you do?? Please tell me. Move to a tiny home close to family, or stay where you are? Or move to The Bathrooms?

Love, The Curvy Housewife