24 Weeks

Our sweet baby girl will be named
Jaylie Rebecca Willingham 
I have had that name picked out for almost 10 years. We are so thankful we are actually going to get to use it.
Now, I know that the first thing people will say  is that is a long name. And those people are right- it is long
That is all her Daddy can talk about. " She will be 10 years old before she can spell it. " My retort is, " Why couldn't you have a short last name? Willingham is the problem- 10 letters. Come on."
Truly, I get exhausted when I am signing my name. By the time I sign Will, I'm over it.

But back to baby girl......

How Far Along:  24 Weeks

Weight Gain: -4 lbs. I had been down 6 but I gained 2 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Some. I can still wear all my pants and shirts. My belly is definitely showing now and I look pregnant. Some of my clothes don't look right but I am still wearing all my regular work pants.

Stretch Marks:  No new ones- that is a plus.

Morning Sickness: Thank goodness this has calmed down. I am sick every once in a while but I have horrible heartburn. We ate at a  fish place called the The Ark last week. It was really good. But I was up from 10 until 2- sitting up in the recliner, eating TUMS and begging our sweet Lord and Jaylie to not be sick. I wasn't sick but I think it would have been better if I was.

Sleep:  I am no longer sleeping all night. I am awake every hour it seems like. I am still exhausted though. I love sleeping on the the couch- every afternoon. :) And sometimes I stay there all night too.

Baby Movement: She is moving. It took me a while to realize that she was moving because it is a strange feeling. Jay really hasn't felt her yet. I can tell she is going to be a night owl like her Mom because she is very active at night. This past Saturday night, I actually saw my belly move when I felt her. It was funny and I ran in there to show Jay but she didn't do it again.:(

Food Cravings:  I, still, really don't crave 1 particular thing. Cornflakes and milk are so good to me now. I have a bowl almost everyday. One day, last week I went to Walmart after school. I was hungry of course, so everything looked good. Then I saw it. A fruit tray. I could literally taste it in my mouth. Apples, grapes, canteloupe, and cream cheese dip. So, I spent 10 dollars and bought it. It was all I could think about for days. Everyday when I got home, that is what I had.
By the way, I was craving some cheesecake and I stopped by Chick-Fil-A. Jaylie Rebecca and Chick-Fil-A don't get along. Apparently, she doesn't like their chicken. But I thought we both could eat some cheesecake. Well, guess what? They don't sell it anymore. The drive through lady could tell I was really disappointed.  All I could say was, " Really? Well, I guess I'll just take a coke zero." Then I drove my sad self home.

What I Miss:  Maybe sleeping comfortably. But it is all worth it so I am not complaining.:)
However, this week I have a cold or something for the first time since being pregnant. It has not been fun. I miss being able to take something to just knock it out. No, I haven't been to the doctor because I am trying to wait it out. I am not a fan of taking medicine while pregnant. I realize now that children make you crazy because I am scared to take anything. I really have only taken 1 Zofran and 1 tylenol since June.
But I broke down and have taken Robitussin. I am praying it will pass soon. Hot mess does not even describe how I look now. Oh and to top it off, now I have a fever blister on my FACE because I have been running low grade fevers. It is a beautiful sight.

Looking forward To: Please, for the love of all that's good, let me make a decision between pink and gray and pink and brown or pink and green. I mean, folks, it is getting ridiculous. I sent a text to Jay saying that I guess Jaylie is not going to have anywhere to sleep or to sleep on.
The only thing I know is that I am going to distress some dressers for her room- creamy white with a distressed look. I am going to use Annie Sloan chalk paint- I think. It will the easiest.
So again, pray that I can make a decision. Or make fun of me for being ridiculous.

Registering is next on the list. I can't wait to do that.

18 Week Update

Jaylie is about the length of a bell pepper.

How Far Along:  18 Weeks

 

Weight Gain:  -5 lbs. Yes, I have lost weight but Jaylie is fine.

Maternity Clothes:  Some. I can still wear all my pants and shirts. I wear some maternity clothes now because they are just more comfortable.

Stretch Marks:  Oh yes. They make me sick. But I have always had stretch marks on my legs. Now I am acquiring them on my belly. I put cocoa butter on them 2 times a day but it doesn't help.

 

Morning Sickness: When I was first pregnant, I was just nauseous. It graduated to nauseous and then sick. I have been really sick the last few weeks- 14-18. This is just for documentation:

I have been sick on the side of the road at least 10 times, got sick in my car while I was driving and had to leave school because I was so, so sick and then I cried about leaving school.Everyone was nice to the sick pregnant girl.
  The worst sick I have been was after eating Zaxby'a chicken fingers. I was so sick from those. Jay had to pull over on our way home and  I got sick everywhere- all over me and then I cried about it.  Dr. Ballard gave me Zofran but it gives me a massive headache. I am hoping maybe that my sick(er) days are behind me.

Sleep:  I sleep ok. I have been so tired the entire pregnancy. Now, just this week I can stay up past 8 pm without needing a nap in the afternoon.I don't really get up during the night. Every once in a while I will have to wake up to go the restroom but usually I am fine to sleep until about 5 and then go lay on the couch until about 6.

Baby Movement:  No, I still cannot feel her. I can't wait until I do.

Food Cravings:  I crave NOTHING. Food doesn't taste the same to me. Things I think I want,I can't eat. Things I don't think I want seem to be ok. I eat less now than I ever have. Jay thinks it is the weirdest thing. And I do too! I thought it would be the opposite. But I am kind of glad, I'm not eating everything in sight.
Last week when I was so sick, I made Jay go order me some mashed potatoes and gravy from Jacks and a small chocolate milkshake. He thought it was weird and so did I- but I ate all those taters. Only half of the shake- which tells me that I have been taken over because I would have sucked that baby down usually!

What I Miss:  I miss nothing right now. I waited so long that I am enjoying it all. Even the sickness reminds me that I am carrying a true blessing and I should be thankful. Now, as the weeks have rolled on and I have still been sick- I am still thankful  but beg not to be sick everyday :)

Looking forward To: Deciding on baby furniture and bedding. Please, for the love of all that's good, let me make a decision. I just cannot decide. Which is another reason I know I have been taken over because if it is going in my house, I make a decision and I am happy about it.All the furniture we have, I picked out and I have never regretted it. However, now I cannot decide to save my life on furniture that my baby may or may not sleep in for the first years of her life....I slept with my parents until I was...way...way... to old. I expect Jaylie might be the same but we shall see.....

Milestones: Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are connected between the brain and muscles and cartilage is turning to bone which means baby has control of limb movements. So Jaylie should be moving soon.

So if any of you Mommies out there can recommend baby bedding or someone to make it or a crib that you love or hate, Jaylie sure would appreciate it. I can tell she is getting nervous about it.

It's a girl!

I am so behind on blogging but I have one and only one excuse; Momma has been tired! So tired that I have slept most of November and December. I finally feel like I am coming out of a fog.

On December 26th, about 9:00, Jay and I found out we were having a sweet baby girl. And in true Ollie fashion- I cried the entire time. I am not sure why I cried. As soon as she said it was a girl, I stopped crying for a minute- I was so happy.
Deep down I really didn't care if it was a boy or a girl but for so long I have dreamed about a little girl with olive skin and dark hair. I have literally dreamed about her for years.
Jaylie is a combination of Jay and the last three letters of my name. I created that about 10 years ago sitting on the couch during Christmas.  I have always said her middle name would be Jaylie Rebecca but now I might want to do Jaylie Ann. If I say it all together, Jaylie Rebecca Willingham flows much better than Jaylie Ann Willingham. I dare you to say Jaylie Ann Willingham and not think it sounds like a rap song or lyric. So I don't know. Please share your pick. It may come down to a vote!

Jaylie did not want to cooperate and we had a hard time seeing what she was. She was in a ball and was not moving those legs. The sonogram technician kept bouncing my belly trying to get her to move. Finally after about 15 or 20  minutes, she saw the 3 lines that say she is a girl. I cried until she said it was a girl and then I stopped long enough to walk out of the room.
I was very emotional. So much so, that my hubby told me that afternoon that if I did not stop crying, he was going to give me something to cry about. He is a parent in the making!

After leaving  the dr, we went to the Tractor Supply where Jay got a surprise and we ate at McDonalds. Then we headed to Walmart to get food for the gender reveal.

Jay baked a cake. A strawberry cake- two layers with rainbow icing. It was so good. He also made the chili and Subway made the sandwiches. We were very excited to tell everyone.

I called my parents to ask them a question and my Daddy wanted to know what it was. Ummm, no. That would ruin the surprise. Later that night, he says that was a test and I was very chipper on the phone so he knew it was a girl.

Here is the video of the big reveal. Jaylie, I love you to be showing this video of myself talking.
Right now, blogger will not not upload any of my pictures or video so I will add that later on. The one day I have enough energy to get it done and it will not work.

So when blogger decides to work- I will post some pictures on here.....eventually!

Believe in Miracles

2.5 years ago we made plans to have a baby. God had other plans.

2.5 years we waited, cried and begged for a a sweet baby to call our own.

In 2.5 years, we have learned that God's time is not our own and we do not deserve anything- everything is a gift.

Life does not always go the way it is planned and sometimes you have to wait on HIS perfect timing.......

WE ARE PREGNANT!!

Baby Willingham is due June 12, 2013.

I cannot tell you how excited, thankful, grateful and just plain estactic that we are having a baby.

We are just blessed!!

 

 

Before I tell the story I want to share a few things. From these years of waiting, I learned many life lessons but here are the ones I am most thankful.

I got tired of praying for a baby that seemed to never come so I would pray that this month- if it wasn't the month- that it would not hurt so bad. Every month seemed like a death to me. I would grieve every month. It hurt. Alot. I have heard people say that about trying for a child but I did not believe it until it happened to me. It just consumes you. 

I would say those were the darkest days for me and I wanted God to take that away. He did.

It is funny how your prayers will change from wanting a baby so bad, to - just don't let it hurt so bad God. Take it away. He did.

For the last three months, it got a little easier. I wouldn't cry when someone else was pregnant or if I  wasn't. It was a blessing. A blessing to not have tears.

Because I can say through all of this- I am definitely tired of crying.

Our family- parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles who were just there for us when they knew we needed someone. We love you and thank you for all you have done for us and especially praying for us through all of this. Thank you for the cards Mom and Dad. I was just reading one the other day and it was from October 2011 almost 1 year ago- how ironic- where you told me to keep going- that Jay and I would have a sweet baby to hold one day and you were right.

My friends- friends who laughed, cried and prayed for me while all of this was going on. They are truly special to me and I know it was hard for them to see me change into someone else because trust me, I changed. Things like this change you.
Brandi, Allison, Larae, Krystal, Elena, Kelli - thank you for being by my side and understanding. I will be forever grateful. You are all so special to me and I love you all and your precious babies! Anna Kate- thank you for praying for me and Uncle Jay every night! You are a precious girl !!

Josh and Keri Lynn- thank you for being here for us always. Your friendship is a true blessing and we love ya'll!!

Working was hard sometimes. Trying to be happy at school was very hard somedays and there were days ,I was just devastated because we had been to the Dr. with yet again bad news. I would not have made it without my team at school. They listened to me, let me cry, prayed for me and made me smile on days I didn't know if I could go on. Marci, Kelli, Laura and Tasha- you all are the best!! Some people never find a family at work but I can truly say that you are my family. Everyone at work( if I forget your name don't be offended- I forget alot these days)Heather, Shirley, Jessica, Liz, Erin, Krista, Paula, Pam, who prayed for me or encouraged me in the hallway-thank you so much!! I appreciate you all!!!Love you!!

 

I could write for days but I will save that for another post!

 

On to the story:

At the beginning of October, it was almost time to see if we were pregnant or not. I took a pregnancy test 5 days early and it was negative.
So, I was prepared for the worst. My back was killing me- killing me. But I didn't think anything about it.
October 3rd, I was officially two days late but I just knew that I was not pregnant. I decided that morning that I would take a test when I got home from school.

I had to go to the dreaded Walmart and buy groceries. I stayed at school late so by the time I got home, it was after 5:30.

Scruff had to go outside and that takes at least 10 minutes of my life- for him to go on every leaf in the yard.. Then I ran back inside and decided to go ahead and take a test.

 
I wanted to get it over with. I took it and just left it in the restroom- didn't look at it. Went to the kitchen and put up a few bags and then ran back in there to look.....

It said pregnant....
I could not believe it. I laughed and laughed. ( I did an infertility bible study called Sarah's Laughter. It talks about when Sarah and Abraham were told they would have a baby in their old age- she laughed.) I thought that was ironic. I just knew I would cry for sure but, I laughed.

1 minute later I heard Jay pulling up and going in the back yard. I had to think fast.

I quickly wrote on the chalkboard in our kitchen, " Guess who is going to be a big brother."

And I got the video camera. I wanted to set it up but there was no time.

Jay comes in the door. I call for him to come to the kitchen and tell him to read the chalkboard. HE IS A SLOW READER. At first he was like what? Then I said, "I'm pregnant". We hugged, laughed - all of this while I am holding a video camera. It is probably the worst video in history but I am glad I documented it.

We immediately start taking pictures with the chalkboard.

The above is my sad attempt to get Scruff in the picture. He looks possessed!!!

 

It was just a great day. After all the sadness we've had, it was wonderful to have something to be happy about.

We celebrated by eating at Los Mexicanos.And started planning how we were going to tell our families. I wanted to tell immediately but Jay made me wait.

It was the best day, feeling, moment and we are just so blessed. God did not have to let us be pregnant but he did and we are so thankful.On October 19th, we got to see Baby W for the first time and hear the heartbeat!!!

 

 

One day, we will tell Jaylie or Jase:

You were wanted. We cried, begged and did everything we could to have you in our life. We wanted you more than anything else in the world!

Six facts

1.       I AM SO BEYOND READY FOR SPRING BREAK…….

Dear Sweet Lord in Heaven, if I can make until Friday at 3:00 without losing my sanity, I will be forever grateful. I love my job but I need a break- from it all.

2.       Scruff MaGruff got me up at 6:30 today…

Saturday morning let me remind you. He doesn’t understand please let me sleep, please, for the love of all that is good please let me sleep. No, he comes and sits on me staring me in the face and makes this raspy, low, breathing sound. It is the most annoying sound, I’m pretty sure, in the world and there is nothing like hearing it in the morning.

3.       J cannot seem to take Scruff outside when he is sleeping in the bed.

He claims to love this baby boy as much as I do but he can just block it out when he is whining. But I can tell you that I am not quiet as I pull myself out of bed to take Scruff out. Oh no, don’t you worry. I talk as loud as possible, make the door close as loud as possible and that is J’s punishment.

4.       There was a wasp in my classroom Thursday and Friday.

It became our class pet. My kiddos flipped out that it was in there. It got stuck between the blind and window and wouldn’t leave even we opened the window. Every class I had: the first 5 minutes was devoted to looking at the wasp, deciding if it should be killed and some children claiming they had phobia of being scared of bees. I kept saying this is not a bee- it’s a wasp- who has not bothered a soul.

Our class pet, sadly, lost his life to a clipboard and was stomped to death by a student. Trust me, he was ready to go after hearing all the complaining and whining the kids did when they remembered he was behind the blind.

5.       I bought a new black dress from GAP last week and wore it school. It was very comfortable and I loved it. The kids and other teachers all day kept telling me how cute I looked and one girl said I was beautiful. Clearly…….. I must look really bad- everyday.

6.       I love all my students. Even though they can drive me crazy, I love it when they say funny things.

This week one of my girls was telling a story of when she was in Florida and she said,” Mrs. Willingham, we were in Florida and my Aunt called us and told us a tornado is coming. It was so big and coming so fast like you know 5 miles an hour. It was so fast. “

It was so funny- I never corrected her just let her keep talking about the huge 5 mile an hour tornado!!!

6 facts for the 6 days until Spring Break where I plan to do.. nothing. But sometimes nothing sounds good!!

A little accident..

This weekend the girls and their little girls came to the house. We had a great time. I think all the babes would say that the puffs were the best part of their day!!

Scruff MaGruff did not get to attend the party. I was afraid he would be so excited that he would bother the kids. He is very, very protective of kids. He does not like it when adults pick up a baby and they start crying- he will run over there and check it out and act like he is going to attack the parents if they do not put the baby down. It is very funny!

Scruff went to stay at his GanDaddy and GanMama's house. He loves staying there. Friday night, they were in Oxford and he went home with them and stayed until we picked him up Sunday afternoon.
When Scruff does not want to leave, he hides when I pack up his toys and say, "Let's go." Sunday, Scruff ran to the car so he was ready to go.

When we got home Sunday night, I worked on lesson plans and graded papers until about 10:35. I know, I know, hold your applause. I was so behind that it had to be done.
Scruff, for some reason, does not like when I work at the computer so of course he was whining and wanted to play fetch. I would get aggravated and throw it and he would bring it right back.

About 11, I am ready to go to bed and I say to Scruff, " Ready to go to bed?" He takes off running to our bedroom. I get ready to lay down and I see it.
Scruff had peed all over J's side of the bed- bad but funny that he did not do it on my side.
Why oh why did he do that?
I was so mad.He immediately hides and I scream for him to go get in his little house- his cage. He runs in there.

I take the cage and put in the laundry room- he is in serious trouble. I plan on him staying the night in there.
I scrub and spray and clean the bed. Notice the word I...hmm.
Well, J and I decide that there is no way we can sleep in the bed so we will have to sleep on the guest bed.
We lay down and we could not get comfortable.

The quote of the night was this:
J: I don't what happened to this bed but we don't fit anymore. Somebody grew.
O: Well if you are implying that someone is me, you can leave and sleep in the pee bed.
J: Oh, I'm not I promise....
O: Whateva
(No comments needed here because we both know we both grew :) )

As we were laying there, J kept saying, " Scruff MaGruff is going to be mad at his mom. He's going to love his dad and hate his mom. Are you going to get him out of the laundry room or not?"

Every 5 minutes he would say this. I kep saying no, he has to learn his lesson. But then I started thinking- What if he chokes on something and dies because I am not in there? What if this and what if that?

So about 12:30 I get Scruff out of prison and he is so excited.

If God allows J and I to ever have kids, I can already tell that discplining my children is going to hurt my heart and I will be a softie.

We had a restless night that night- tossing and turning. You know how sometimes you sleep but you are awake every 30 minutes and it never feels like you really relax- that was me.

I . was. exhausted.

The next day, I tell his GanDaddy and GanMama that he did this and you know what GanDaddy said?
Well, Ollie if you would take him out every once in a while he wouldn't have done that.

I just wanted to sew....

Let me preface this story by saying...the Horn's can get into a mess.
And this is a long story but one I wanted to remember....
Picture it...
My house, the Thursday after Christmas. Mom, Dad, Josh and Stephie Lou had come up to do some exchanging and Mom was going to give me a sewing lesson. Jay was gone hauling gas with his Dad.
I should have known the day would be crazy because....
When they get to my house, Josh comes in first and tells me that Dad got a speeding ticket. My Dad has never had a ticket in his 60+ years until that day. He was so mad but it was kind of funny because he is always the one to tell you to watch for " the law".  His famous words, " Slow down.. I saw 10 cops here earlier." He has never been right about where the law is.

We eat and then Mom and I sit down to start our lesson. Daddy says, " I want to do something outside( he was mad). Can I cut grass- to cut up your leaves?"  Sure, have at it.
I thread the machine with the help of Mom and am getting ready to sew and she says, " Don't let that thing that bobs up and down hit your finger!!"
My foot got excited on the foot pedal and the first thing I did was hit my finger. I screamed and so did everyone else in the house.

Things are going pretty good- we are sewing away. Then Dad comes in about 35 minutes later and sits down with us. He is looking around and says, " I wish you had a pickup." I was confused. " We do Dad, but Jay is in it." 
" No, I wish there was one here." "Why?"
Dad, still sitting there nonchanantly, " I slid the lawnmower into the ditch on its side and it is stuck."
WHAT??????
Now, this lawnmower costs more money than I will ever admit to anyone- I jump up and run outside.
It is sideways in the ditch. Stuck in mud....

Dad, Mom and Josh are so afraid that Jay will be mad. I said, " No, but we are getting it out before he gets home."
Josh and I dug and pulled and pushed but it was not coming out.
I knew I would have to get the towing strap from Jay's truck to pull it out.
Off Mom and I go to the gas company to get the strap out of his truck. Men are everywhere. Looking at me like I am crazy and thinking I am stealing something. I didn't care.
We get back and I am trying to tell Dad and Josh how to hook it up. Well, we couldn't hook it up to Mom's car because Daddy said there was no metal on it. I still don't believe it but whateva.

So, I had to make the call...call Jay...dun dun duuunnnnnn.
Here is our conversation:
 Hey. I need your truck. Can I go pick it up?
Sure. Whatcha need it for?
Something..
Something for me.
Yep. It is a surprise.
Ok sounds good.
Ok, I didn't lie- it was his and it was a surprise.

I go back and get the truck. When I get back to the house, I pull it up with the front facing the lawnmower because the truck has " towing hooks". Daddy said, " You can't pull it that way. Let me turn it around."
By this point, I am mad because I know those are metal towing hooks- meant to pull something out but whateva.( By the way, whateva is my new word :))
He gets in the truck and starts to back up and the truck starts spinning. Mud is flying and the precious grass is turning into rutted out mud.
At this point, it is comical.
He finally backs it up, we hook it up and start to pull and the strap came apart.
Thankfully we fixed it and tried again.
Finally, it comes out, tearing up the yard along the way.

Immediately, we all wash the lawnmower and truck to cover up evidence.
Josh and Stephanie are raking leaves into the yard to cover up the tracks. It was a little scary how fast we covered up the scene of the crime but you know we have always have a mess to clean up.

You want to guess where Tiny Tim aka Mom was? Inside sewing herself a Santa Clause. She was..... lots of help during Operation Lawnmower Removal.

I called Jay when it was all over because the lawnmower was not injured and told him the story. He was offended that we all thought he would be mad.

Needless to say, I only got to sew for 35 minutes and the rest was Operation Lawnmower Removal!!

Like I said, we can get into a mess.