Doctor Day!

Today I went to the doctor being very optimistic, since last Wednesday he said not to be such a pessimist. Anyway, I even put my bags in the car, hoping being optimistic that he would say lets just go over to the hospital and get this show on the road. I even had my mom get her bag, just in case being very opimistic.

Well guess what, I'm blogging from my favorite spot in my living room. The love seat! I just got out of a very very cool bath, soaking up the A/C and having a rather large glass of ice water. Enjoying the heat of the summer.

Come back next week he says. Ahh! I'm only at a 1 1/2, ahh, I just knew (being optimistic and all) that I was at least at a 3. See why I would rather be pessimistic instead, and not get my hopes up. But I will put a smile on my face and just say, "Well Collin needs another week to grow."

I said a prayer before the doctor came in the room that His will would be done, so be it. Lord, I hear ya.

I'm exhausted and hot! I don't think I see myself working a full day from here on out, but we will see. I did get to rest at my mom's when we returned from El Dorado and Anna went home with Nonna, so I'm enjoying and resting here in my favorite spot.

I've had several REAL contractions, but none in any kind of sequence. My blood pressure is great and I'm not really swelling, like I did with Anna and with that I am thankful. I guess I should also be thankful to have this opportunity to have carried him thus far. There are so many women and babies that never get to experience this opportunity. So Thank you Lord for this blessing. I'm just getting excited and ready to see his little face.

So many people have suggestions to get the ball rolling so to speak. Eat lots and lots of HOT Salsa, walk 2 miles, do other things that are too embarrassing to blog about. I'll just wait until, nature takes place.

So staying cool, resting, and staying cool is my plan for the next 7 days until I return to the doctor. If something happens before then, I will try to get Chad to post, if not I will send something out next week regarding the doctor.

Blessing to All!
India

Swimming Lessons should be 2 weeks long, please!

Wow! It is hard to believe it has been almost a month since my last post. Either we lead very dull lives or we have been too busy to sit and post about what is going on in our lives. I'll will bet on the latter of the two. This past week Anna started her second year of swimming lessons from Mrs. Sonya. (actually the week before, it's taking me a week to post about it) Boy, did she love it. Everyday she would ask, "Go to Mrs. Sonya and swim." She did so well and by Sunday at Nonna's house she was swimming under water, "doing the bullfrog", and jumping off the sides. Kelli said, "Don't you wish swimming lessons were two weeks long." I'm positive we will take again next year to perfect our technique and maybe the year after that for diving lessons. We will see! Monday of course, everyone was a little nervous. Not sure what to expect, anxious on how your child will preform, proud when they do something you weren't sure they would want to do, thankful no tears today or if there were tears they soon were over it. Anna got to be the leader because she took last year and sorta remembered what the bullfrog was and the bob and how to blow bubbles. She had just turned 2 last year when she took so I'm surprised she remembered any of that. Kenli had been reminding her when they would swim how to do each of those.

The bob & the bull frog!







Bubbles!



Tuesday, seemed to be a bit more relaxed. There were 7 kids in this class so Mrs. Sonya put them in alphabetical order. Anna, Emma, Ian, Kaylee, Lilly, Lyndi, and Madalyn. Anna of course was super excited because she got to go first, but then her patients grew thin because she had to wait. I could hear her saying Anna's turn, Anna's turn. Bless her heart, she is the only one not in school and the other kids were older and either attended daycare, pre-k, or had older siblings and knew what it meant to "wait your turn". It was a good lesson for her and she survived.





Wednesday, hump day and oh my gosh I wish I could get in the water day. It was so hot! The kids jumped off the diving board today. Anna wasn't so sure, so she had help off the board. I tossed her in the first time and then realized how a large 9 month pregnant woman had NO BUSINESS throwing her first born in the deep in. I let Amy (Ian's mom) and Sonja (Lyndi's mom) take over from there. I did not force Anna to jump and was really shocked when she kept going back down there. We got in the car and she said, "People threw Anna in, I'm okay, I'm okay." I started laughing.





Ian! Thanks Amy!



Thursday, lead to some tears from me, Anna, and Kaylee. Like I said before, Anna is the youngest of the class and she can't touch the bottom of the shallow end either. Mrs. Sonya had just got finished putting the kids on her back and swimming out to the deep end. All the kids by now are more relaxed in the pool and have ventured out along the sides and off of the steps. Well, Anna thought she could do the same, then realized she couldn't touch. She grabbed poor Kaylee by the neck and hopped on her back. Well they both went under and Anna did not let go. Sherri (Kaylee's mom) was a little closer than I was and she jumped in and then I got in to the steps to get Anna. It scared me so bad that I just started crying my eyes out. Kaylee cried from being scared and Anna cried because me and Kaylee were crying. I didn't know really how to handle the situation. Anna didn't know she was "hurting" her, in fact she told me that she just wanted to ride the girl's back. I knew I had to tell her that it was wrong, but I wasn't sure what to do. I took her over to Kaylee to tell her she was sorry, even though I'm not sure if she understood why? I just sat there the rest of the lessons, wiping tears from my checks, while my little swim fish carried on. Sherri even told a mutual friend that I was more upset than she was. Post one up for the hormones. Ahh!



Friday here at last! Kelli and my mom came to swimming lessons with us. Chad had to work and couldn't come. Anna was doing so well, she was going under water and swimming to the steps. Getting out in the deep with a noodle and Mrs. Sonya of course an then pushing the noodle away and swimming under it. Amazing!!! The kids enjoyed pizza and a Dr. Peppers afterward then Anna went back in again. We had to bribe her to get out of the water with a present for Collin, that Emma's mom brought.





She did so well! In fact she did GREAT! I'm so proud of Anna!



Thank you, Mrs. Sonya! See you next summer! Here are some videos of swimming throughout the week.

The Best Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Ever

I bet you all were thinking you were going to find out baby brother's name! I just wanted to share this cookie recipe. It is SOOOO good! I think it has something to do with the special ingredient.

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup all purpose flout
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
The secret ingredient (See Below)

Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degrees

Step 2
Beat butter, sugar and peanut butter until creamy



Add egg and vanilla, beat well


Stir together flour, baking soda, & Salt in a separate bowl



Add to butter mixture very slowly
Beat until well blended

Step 3
Add secret ingredient



So there you have it! Collin Brooks Weatherly will be the name of our son, just as soon as he gets here. Come on soon!!!!



Miss Anna would like to know what you think about her baby brother's name and to tell you this is the best part of making cookies!

SWAHA Lake Greeson, Arkansas

We celebrated Chad's 33rd birthday this past weekend at Lake Greeson. It was so nice. We rented a cabin at the SWAHA lodge & marina. It was very relaxing and we all had a great time. We met Brian & Misti Eudy there and Kelli, GG, Michael, Kenli, & Destiny all came along with us. The cabin was just the right size. It was 3 bedroom with 2 full bathrooms and an open kitchen, dining, and living area. The couch let out to a sofa bed and we brought an air mattress as well. There was a huge wrap around porch and since the water level was SO high, we had a view of the lake as well. As most of you know, the weatherman once again predicted glorious rain for the entire weekend. Bummer, but we went out like troppers anyway. We arrived Friday evening and enjoyed grilled hamburgers and chips on the deck. After getting everyone settled in, we all turned in for the night. Brian & Misti in one room, GG & Michael, in one room, me and Chad in the other room, and Kelli had the living room with all the girls. I think all the adults were awaken by hail hitting the roof at 4:30 that morning. Ahh! Looks like the weatherman was right again. Good thing we brought card games and the wii. However, we never could get the wii hooked up to the tv.

But luck was in our favor. Kelli & I fixed breakfast and by 10:30 the skies had cleared and we were in the water. Well we were on the boat. Crazy as it may sound we were pratcially the only ones on the lake. Let me show you why.

This is the Big Dam, from the lake view...



and this is the Big Dam from the road.



Here are some trees. If we got close enough I think we could have touched the tops.



High waters or low there was still no stopping Miss Anna from swimming. Misti knew for sure that as soon as she got in the water she would not want to stay there. NOT ANNA! She has been dreaming of this day ever since we put the boat "night night" last year. Day after day she would ask, "Anna go swimming in the lake?, Anna go in the boat?" and we would reply, "Not yet you will freeze your butt off."

READY?



SET?



GO?


So I ask, "Anna are you cold?" she replied, "I freeze my butt off!" "Do you want out?, she replied, "No, I'm swimming!" So in and out she went. Each time a little further from the ladder. Chad put his wet suit on and got in to play with her.



He said it was too cold. We let her play a little longer then she got out and did a little dance for us.

Sorry it is sideways, I thought I could flip it.



Kelli, Kenli, Anna, and I went back to the cabin around 3 and we drove into Murfreesboro to meet Mimi and Paw. They were in the area and we wanted them to see the cabin, so hopefully after Baby Brother arrives we can go back and "camp". Misti & Brian boiled shrimp and crab legs for us. Yummy! Thanks Eudy's! We had a wonderful sunshine day and we enjoyed the company of our friends and family.

Sunday morning we awoke to a very very chilly morning, even for a 32 week pregnant woman. We ate breakfast, loaded the car, and we headed home. Anna and Chad were exhausted, but it was a nice exhaustion. They took a nap and I got caught up on Grey's Anatonmy and gave myself a much needed pedicure.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend!











As for a baby brother update, well...
I went to the doctor Wednesday, May 20. He said things looked great. Great blood pressure, good heart beat, come back in two weeks. I said, hey, but I'm having some pains. Good he said that is suppose to happen. Ahh! So I go back in two weeks.

But........ WE DO HAVE A NAME!!!!! YEAH!!!! SO BE SURE TO CHECK THE BLOG IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, IT WILL BE REVEALED.

PS Those of you who are Kris Allen fans. Go to http://www.kellyskornerblog.com Go to her Friday's post, entitled American Idol, May 22. Watch the video and read what she found out below. I have to agree with her 100%. Thanks Kelly for sharing!

Rolling Down the River

Well for those who don't live in South Arkansas, here is a glimpse of what we have encountered the past few weeks. THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING!!!!! Oh how I am sick and tired of this rain. Day in and day out it seems. The thunder seems to be the loudest I have heard in all my 32 years of life. Sometime it feels as if the whole house is shaking.

In the "Baby Brother Post" I mentioned how terrible the driving conditions were that day. Well Sunday was not as bad, but it was not good either. Here are two pictures from the inside of my car as I attempted succeeded to make it to the paved road.

Chad went down and checked the end of the driveway before Anna & I left for Sunday School. He said to take it easy. I did, but what he doesn't know is it was A LOT higher than that on Wednesday.

This is our driveway!





I'm sure in a few months we will all be wishing for a little rain. Say a Prayer for us, as the weather plays a huge part in our business, both my job and our family business as well.

The Weatherly's River House!

Chad's dad takes great pride in his river house aka camp. We all love it and it is a great way to "get away" without really having to leave. It is located on the banks of the Ouachita River, close to the Sparkman area. We all hang out there a lot. It is very peaceful. Usually, you could walk to the middle of the river, but lately that is not the case. Chad & I actually lived there the first 3 or 4 months after we got married, while our house was being built.

Chad and Russell went down to the "camp" on Friday afternoon. They boated down of course and this is what they found when they arrived.



As of Friday, the river was about 4 foot in the bottom, which technically is not a bad thing, but it is still not a good thing either. The water tanks are down there and a few odds and ends. If you look closely, we thought by putting stuff on the picnic table that it would be okay. I'm sure by now it's a good chance it is "Rolling down the River".



Here are pictures of the camps that surround ours. There is blue ford ranger that Joe put up on a what he thought was a high spot. Sorry Joe! Joe is what we like to call a "River Rat". He lives down there and the river is his source of living. I'm sure he knows the high and low spots of that area. He also knows the river like the back of his hand.



This is the view from the road if you got to drive to the camp.




This is a view from the upper level of the camp. See the night light.



The Sorrell's Camp! (at the main entrance)



Joe's house (at the main entrance)



Front view of our camp



Burris's camp (behind ours)




This is a view from the upper level, looking back to the main entrance.
See the picnic table!




The Abbott's camp (to the right of ours if inside) See Joe's truck!



Chad said last night that his dad had went back to the camp and the water had gone down, but guess what, we are expecting MORE RAIN. KARK did a news special on the Ouachita River last night as well. The city park is completely under water and the Sheriff's office said they had not seen the water at flood stage like this since 1990.

Here Fishy Fishy!

Before the rain THUNDERSTORMS came AGAIN (Saturday May 2), we had a chance to go to Mimi & Paw's for a fishing adventure. Anna and I were outside waiting for daddy to come home from work, when Anna spotted her Paw. She had to run over there and tell him that there was a big old squirrel on the bird feeder and he needed to get a "pow" and shoot it. She is not happy with this squirrel by no means. He eats all the food plus he is mean to our blue birds. We have had about 10 blue birds at our feeder. They are beautiful. Anyway back to the fishing trip. Mimi and Paw have a huge pond that is stocked with Georgia Giant Brim and Catfish plus a few bass here and there. Anna loves to go out there and feed the fish. Well Saturday was her lucky day because not only did she feed the fish, but she got to watch Mimi and Paw catch little brim right and left. They would let her hold them then throw them back. She loved it. Of course we had to leave because the rain was coming. It rained so much at our house. Oh what a long and boring Saturday. All I could think of was the nursery rhyme song, "it's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring." Well not at our house. It thunder so much and little t had to let us know about it. My nerves were petty shot by the time the evening finally arrived. Here are a few picture of the Here Fishy Fishy Day, plus a short video of course. I am loving my little digital camera/recorder.

Baby Brother Update

Here is a quick update about Baby Brother (AKA) still has no name. I headed back to the doctor today, May 6. The visit prior to this was was my sugar test visit plus routine visit. He then put me on every two weeks.

Wow! Kinda puts things in perspective huh! The weeks are counting down and he will be here before we know it. Soon I'll be posting about the days are counting down. I'm feeling great. Getting a little tired in the afternoons, but since my mom and dad live so close, I go over there at lunch to take TRY to take a nap.

Anna thinks she needs to give me kisses and cover me up about every 30 seconds or so. So sweet.

My sugar test came back perfect and I am so relieved. I've had a few pains here and there, but nothing major to speak of. No swelling yet, just a small HUGE issue with HEAT. I told Chad he better just dress in thermal under ware, but DON'T TOUCH THE THERMOSTAT.

I continue to drink water like a camel. I also make very frequent trips to the potty room. So far, I'm resting pretty good at night. Chad says I snore like a man. I've tried the breathe right nasal strips. They work pretty good, then I bought the cheap ones and they are not so good. I've also offered him with the bed upstairs and the sofa. Love you babe. :) Why do we snore more when we are with child? Hmm!

Dr. Ratcliff says things look and sound great, so I guess I will be checking in with him in another two weeks.

Each day we prepare a little more for his arrival. I think we are getting closer on a name. Yeah! I can't wait to post that. He is so active. He is turning flips in there. I bought a coming home outfit today. What do you think?



Anna decided to take a picture of me. This is my kind of picture.


She loves the camera. She stayed with Mimi today while I was gone and she is running low on fuel.



She refuses to sleep for Mimi. We all have been up since around 4 this morning. It has rained so hard here. I liked to have not got out of our driveway. I wish I would have grabbed the camera when I left. I thought about it but walked right out without it. It was horrible horrible driving conditions today. But with the grace of God looking over us we made it to and from safely.

My friend Karla at worked shared this recipe with us a few weeks ago. Yummy! Let me tell you it is amazing what you can do with a cake mix. I'm sure mine will not taste like hers, but I attempted it off the top of my head. Here it is, if the chocolate monster attacks.



1 butter cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c oil
1 pkg chocolate chips

Mix together, put on greased cookie sheet. Bake. Now I had to bake mine for 16 minutes at 350, but you may want to just watch yours.

More post to come with changes to our house and of course the answer to the question we hear daily....Do you have a name yet?