The final days

So we have 19 days left, although I think she won't make it through the weekend. I feel her VERY VERY low and my contractions are getting very hard...like to the point where I am crying most of the time. I can't sleep and when I move I feel like she is going to fall out...YUCK!!! Horrible feeling!! I am going this Friday so we will see what he says. As of this past Wednesday, I was 50% efface and 1 cent dialated. I lost my mucus plug Saturday night, so it can't be too long right?? RIGHT???

I don't know that I will post again until she is here in this world with us!!

It has been quite the journey!

In the home stretch

I went to the Dr. today and he has now put me on a once a week appointments...this is it!! YEAH!!!

Update on Baby Lilly

Well, I am now 33 weeks and have been told that my OB won't stop me if I go into labor at 36 weeks. I am considering trying to throw myself into labor at 37 weeks if she isn't here...I am miserable. I started swelling this morning in my feel and ankles. Feeling a little pressure in my wrists when I move them. I know that all of this is normal, but this has been a hard pregnancy on my body. Will I even know what it feels like not to hurt when I walk or when I sleep. I almost cry every night when I have to roll over because of all of the pain. Will I remember what it feels like to not hurt? I hope to shout I do.

My husband has been wonderful. He isn't expecting much from me, but I am still waiting for that BOOST of energy. I really need it. Today and tomorrow I will do about 15 loads of laundry. I went out and got all 4 kids some clothes, so all of that needs washed which will be about 4 loads...they are all growing soooooooooooo fast.

I have my next appt on the 16th and then one more two weeks after that and then start the once a week appts. I am excited!!! I can't believe that she is almost here!! YEAH!!!

Nothing really new

I have such a boring life, I know. Let's see...I had a check up today and he said that Lily sounds good...heart rate is 153 and that she sounds good and she has been moving around ALOT!!! He told me that we could deliver in 10-14 weeks. I can't believe that!! There are days that feels like I have been pregnant FOREVER and then I hear that and it has gone so fast.

Hunter and the girls are doing well. Rich's job is going great!! He is super busy!! If anyone doesn't know...the Newsboys are coming to town on October 18th and Michael Tate from DC Talk is the new lead singer. I am super stocked to see them and to meet them. The perks of being the spouse of the VP!! YEAH!!!

Well, I don't really know what else is new, so I will do my best to keep you all updated!!

Labor Day Party

Hunter and Joel sleeping together on the floor

Uncle Ric had to jump in fully clothed to get Jordan...AGAIN!! HA HA HA

Carter jumping off the board

Cutie Patutie

Claire's backdive

Hunter finally being brave enough to jump off the board!!! WHAT A BIG BOY!

Hunter's first day of school

Introducing...Lillian Elizabeth

Isn't that precious

So, today I went to the chiropractor for my hip and I took Hunter along with me. He was such a good boy. Found out the reason for all of my hip pain, but the best thing was when Dr. Gafken put me in the therapy room and layed me on the massage table to massage out my hips...it hurt ALOT!!! Hunter was sitting next to me and could tell that I was in alot of pain and got off of his chair and came over to me and rubbed my forehead and kissed my hand and held it in his and said to me...and I quote..."Mommy, just breathe. You are doing good. It is almost over and then your hip will feel better!" I just looked at him and told him thank you and how sweet he was at that moment. Where is that child most of the time with me?


Just wanted to share!

Change of date

So, I have been telling everyone for a long time that the baby is due on Christmas day and now it is due on December 26th. I pray to God that it doesn't change again...Megan is due on the same day, but she will have her's first, Miss I'm always 3 weeks early!! LUCKY DOG!!!

Nothing new

Sorry to disappoint you all, there is nothing new going on here. Went to the OB today and he didn't do an ultrasound since the last one looked so perfect that we have to wait another 6 weeks for one and at that one...we can know the sex of the baby...YEAH!!! Been feeling the baby move a little...he said that it will get stronger soon and I can't wait for that...

Ok, so here is our 12 week ultrasound. Sorry that it turned the wrong way. We are hoping to find out in 4 weeks what we are having. I will be almost 19 weeks when we have the next. The baby is perfect. We had some concern at 8 weeks, but today the Dr. said that everything is perfect!! YEAH GOD!!!

Ok...Ok...

I am having an ultrasound on Monday, so I will post a blog after that...

First look at "Baby" Cummins

Here is our first ultrasound of "baby" Cummins...hope it doesn't look like a blog of goo to you...I know what I am looking at and will explain if you want to know...

here's the news today

I AM STARVING ALL THE TIME AND TIRED ALL THE TIME!!! IS THAT NORMAL???

Some new news!!

Well, Hunter got discharged from the hospital on Saturday at around 1:00 and Tuesday I gave him an enima and he pooped. This morning, I took the girls to school and Rich called me and told me that he had a VERY FULL diaper. He pooped by himself...yeah hunter!!


Next set of business, Rich and I found out yesterday that we are pregnant. It was a total surprise. Needless to say we are both really excited. Tara and Brian found out this exact day two years ago that they were pregnant with Joel and then had him on Christmas eve!! I am going to the Dr. today for the blood test, but 3 positive tests is probably sufficient for my knowledge...ha ha ha!! Just wanted everyone to know about the newest addition to the Cummins Clan!!


MUAH!!!

Today's update

So, this morning the nurse told me that Hunter needed to get up out of bed and walk around...WELL he wasn't having that, so we put him in a wagon and rolled him around the unit about 3 times and then he decided that he wanted to go in the play room, so I let him go in the playroom and he walked around in there. He was then ready to leave the playroom, and I told him the only way that I was going to let him go back to his room is if he walked around the unit...BY HIMSELF...so he did it...3 TIMES!!! I was so proud of him.

He is doing VERY well. I think that he is going to get to eat tomorrow, so that is a very good thing. It makes us one day closer to getting to come home. YEAH!!!


Thanks again for your prayers!!

Final update for the day

Hunter came through his surgery with flying colors...like usual! Dr. Smith initially had said that we would be home in 7-10 days and today he said that he would be surprised if we didn't come home in 3 days, and that makes momma VERY HAPPY!! My wonderful hubby was here for the surgery and spent some time with us before hand...and mom called a few times to check up...so we feel very supported. Nothing really big to report other than what I have just told you!! I know that it is because of all the prayers that he recovered so quickly. Thank you all for praying!!


Rich, Danielle, Claire, Chloe, and Hunter

Hunter update

Well, right now, he is in surgery...nothing really to report. He was in good spirits...kind-of when we left him...I told him that he has no reason to be afraid cuz Jesus is always with him and he said that he was scared, "But I know mommy...I can go swimming when I am all done"!! How cute is that??? More to come later!

Hunter update

Well, right now, he is in surgery...nothing really to report. He was in good spirits...kind-of when we left him...I told him that he has no reason to be afraid cuz Jesus is always with him and he said that he was scared, "But I know mommy...I can go swimming when I am all done"!! How cute is that??? More to come later!

Hunter's surgery

I will be posting pretty much everyday starting Wednesday...stay tuned to post-op news!!

Hunter's next adventure

So, we went to see Dr. Smith on Monday and we went ahead and scheduled his surgery to reverse his colostomy. It will be April 15th with an admit on the 14th at Lutheran. I don't know how long he is going to be in the hospital for this surgery but I am not anticipation shorter than 5 days. He is super excited for this surgery because he knows that after his bag is gone...he can go swimming and he is soooooooo looking forward to that. Please pray with his that this will be his last surgery. He has been through so much and I would love to have a reprieve from all of this for a couple of years.

I will be working with mom and dad three days a week starting Monday and then going back after Hunter has recovered, so we are going to meet with a daycare in Bryan today...so I am praying that my Spirit is at ease to do this. It is hard for me to leave my child with some that isn't a member of the family...so please pray with me. I know that it is something pretty small, but to me it is pretty big. I will be right across the street if something happens, but...I don't know...nevermind.

Ok, I guess that is it for right now!

L8r t8r

Please pray

Rich's grandfather passed away yesterday morning. He was 94 years old and lived a very long life. Please pray for his wife Thelma. She is 98 and has lived 2\3 of her life with Andy...this is going to be very hard on her.

Please pray

We got a couple of emails from Rich's aunts yesterday and his Great-Grandpa Mueller is not doing very well at all. He is days away from going home with God. He is 94 and has lived a very long happy life. He had a very hard childhood and young adult life, but then he met Thelma and that is all she wrote. They have been married for 2\3 of their lives and they are still madly in love. They hold hands and kiss and still tell each other that they love each other. They have been married for 63+ years. What a fulfilling life.

Please pray that God takes him quickly. He is on morphine as needed now to help with the pain and with the breathing. Rich talked to Grandma Mueller and Grandma Cummins this morning and they are all ready for him to go...not that he won't be missed, but you know what I mean. He is ready to go and we are now confident that we will see him in Heaven.

You will be more than missed Grandpa Mueller, but we rejoice that soon you will be in no more pain and that your hearing will be restored. You will soon get to make some gorgeous woodworking with God at your side!! WE LOVE YOU!!

The best time of my life...so far!!

The Afters

Toby Mac

Francesca Battistelli

So these pics are from Winter Jam this past weekend. I got to meet possibly the best new singer in the UNIVERSE!!! Francesca Battistelli!! She is amazing! If you haven't ever heard her...go to http://www.francescamusic.com/ SHE IS GREAT!!! I love her and am so excited that I got to meet her. She is a good person as well!! We also got to meet, Toby Mac, who by the way puts on a GREAT show and I can't believe how old he is...45!!! WHAT??? We also got to meet The Afters, and NewSong!! It was a great night. It is awesome having a husband who gets to meet all these great people.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Ok, so today I went and worked again at the pledge drive for Star 88.3 today. I got up at 4:45 to be there at 6. They are really struggling, so if there is anything that anyone can do, I will be eternally grateful!!

After my shift was over, I went to Kroger. Now this is where I get really excited! I had put a few coupons on my Kroger card, but had a TON of regular coupons. Well, I did all of my shopping and went to check out...I almost freaked out...then I realized that she hadn't taken the coupons off yet. (DRUMROLL PLEASE) I saved... ... ... ... is the suspense killing you yet?



















Well, I saved $102.00!! I almost flipped a lid!! The lady announced it when she printed my coupon and the other ladies that were in my lane...clapped and just kept saying WOW!!

I was very proud of me and I couldn't wait to tell my hubby, who was TOTALLY stoked!!!
Let me know your amazing stories when you have them...see if you can beat me!!

I can't wait to share this...

So, Rich and I went to a marriage pep-rally this past weekend and it was awesome!! go to http://www.themarriageplaybook.com/ and you can see everything that we saw. It was amazing!! I never knew that I could be as in love with my husband as I am, but every time that we do something as a couple...I fall more in love with him.

The couples name that run the marriage playbook are Ace and Bethany McKay. They are awesome. Ace works with Rich and Bethany is a stay at home mom...being a stay at home mom, I learned some very valuable things about grocery shopping. For those of you that are "Ms. Thrifty" with your money...she gave me some awesome websites to go to for coupons...and they are as follows:

http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.afullcup.com/
http://www.smartsource.com/
http://www.kroger.com/ for those of you that shop at Kroger, you can download coupons straight to your Kroger Plus card and when the cashier scans your card and you buy the product...it automatically takes it off for you.
http://www.couponbug.com/

I went to all of them this morning and I have signed up for all of them. She saves a ton of money and she will be doing a class at the DuPont YMCA sometime and I will let you know when it is going to be...cuz I will be there. Her system is really confusing for me to explain so you would be better to hear it from her...

So, that's about it...hope you all are having a good day!


Danielle

New Recipe

Rich opened a new jar of peanut butter and it had a recipe in it that I wanted to share with all of you. I just made it for Hunter and it is awesome. It is for a PB&J shake. You take 1T of any seedless jelly, 1T of PB and 1 cup of your favorite ice cream and 1T of milk is optional...I used it to make it a little smoother and thinner.

Put it in the blender until it is all smooth and a milk shake consistency and then pour in your favorite cup and enjoy!! IT IS AMAZING!!! Try it and let me know what you think...

More pics

Here are pictures of our night with Mandisa at the Grand Wayne Center. Enjoy!! The pic with the four of us are Ace McKay, Melissa Montana, Rich, and myself. We had a great time!!!

PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES

Hunter and Amina

On the Honeymoon

The house we stayed in

on our Honeymoon

Valentines Pic

Rich and Jace

I don't really have anything to update on...found my camera cord and wanted to put up some pics. Some are older than others, but I have now posted some pics...

The long awaited Post

So this time I do have a lot to blog about...I know that you are all dying to hear what is going on in the Cummins house...HA HA HA HA

Where to start...well I had blogged in the last one that we had decided that I would apply for school and I did at IPFW and got my acceptance letter last week. I was totally stoked. I just finished filling out my FAFSA so I will wait to hear from the school about the financial aid. So, I am pretty excited about that. Rich also got accepted into Liberty University which he would do online to get his Masters in Theology or Divinity. He was excited about that as well. I have felt since Hunter was born that I need to go to nursing school, and I believe this is why God has been shutting all the doors on me getting a job. I did have an interview last week and will find out this week whether or not I got the job. Here is my fear though...I will get the job and is it God telling me to take it or a distraction from what I am actually supposed to be doing? Being a wife, a mother, a home care taker...I will have alot to take care of this summer anyway...the girls, the house, the yard, the flowers, help with the pool, laundry. I am just afraid that if I get this job it is a distraction from my calling right now. Plus, if I get it, I will have to be gone for training for a little over a week in Indy, so I wouldn't get to be home and that adds alot of pressure to everyone else in the family...I DON'T KNOW! I don't even know if I am going to get the job or not...

Hunter is doing well. We have been having some issues with the actual bag, but we don't have to do it very much longer. I am not sure if I talked about what would happen in May or not, so I am going to do it again. The surgery that he had a couple of weeks before the wedding...Dr. Smith took out 10 inches of his colon that was slow anyways and gave him a colostomy bag which he has had ever since. We go in on May 5th to schedule the surgery to reverse his colostomy and allow him to try and poop like normal. Dr. Smith is very confident that since he took out the part that was causing the blockages before, that this time it will work. I am praying to God that it will. We have never gotten to change an actual poopy diaper, so in a very weird way, I am looking forward to that. Other than that, he is a typical almost 4 year old boy. He has his moments when he can be so sweat and just wants to cuddle and tells me that he loves me sooooooooo much, but then he turns into Mr. Hyde and acts like a crazy person. His speech is much more developed than it was even a month ago and he is understanding bigger words. At times he can make me laugh, angry, cry, and be lividly furious all in one day. I guess that is the way that God feels about us sometime huh? He so desperately wants our attention, but we say to him what I say to Hunter at times...Hunter, mommy is busy. I can't be with you right now. When I am done, I will give you some time. How often do we do that to God...me included!

The girls are good. Claire is getting so big and has an almost insatiable appetite. She eats as much if not more than Rich does. She is 11 going on 27 I'll tell you what. She is smarter than me in certain area. I love her to death though. Chloe is also good. They both go to a Catholic school in Fort Wayne and she had her first Reconciliation a couple of weeks ago and she was so excited. She has her first communion on May 22nd and she is even more excited about that. They are both doing very well.

6 days ago, Rich and I started a new diet from Isagenix. All the women at his work have done it so we thought that we would try it...ummmmmm...yeah it's kind of like a concentration camp diet. The first day was a pre-cleanse day which consisted on a protein shake, a 300-600 calorie meal, followed by another protein shake. Every hour and a have you can have 2 dry roasted unsalted almonds and a chocolate tablet that tastes like crap. Then you have 2 cleanse days which is not eating at all and drinking this disgusting drink all day for two days and eating the almond and chocolate crap every 2 hours. Then it is make to the shake meal shake stuff for the rest of the time. The last day of the diet is a cleanse day. Now, this diet isn't for everyone, so I wouldn't recommend it to any of the skinny people. I have lost about 9 pounds and Rich has lost about the same. So, we are happy with that, but are ready to eat actual food again.

I can't think of anything else to tell you all about right now, so I hope this is enough for you to read...let me know if there is anything that I am missing.

OMGosh...I'm so excited

So, Rich and I have been talking about alot of stuff lately...I can't seem to get a job...I feel like I do nothing, but take care of the house...not getting any of these jobs has really hurt my self-esteem and I shouldn't let it do that to me, but it has. So, we have decided that I am going to start the process to go to nursing school at IPFW. I just finished filling out the application and have to wait on some forms to do the financial aid stuff, but I am pretty stoked. Hunter is going to be having another surgery hopefully, late May to close the colostomy and try and let him poop naturally since all of the dead colon has been removed. Dr. Smith seems pretty excited that it is going to work this time. I want to make sure that everything is good with him before I start in at school. I am really excited about this. I have wanted to go back to school for a long time, but have made excuses why I couldn't for a few years, but now I have the backing of my wonderful parents and the love of my life.

Also, I found a free Pre-K in Butler...HOLY COW!! It will be at Butler Elementary Monday though Thursday from 9:15-12:45 and they give them breakfast and lunch. I talked to Hunter about it yesterday and he said that he can't wait to go to school. If they are able to get him on the route, he will get picked up by the bus and brought home on the bus. I am so excited for him. I called the lady this morning...Rich and I would like to meet with her Monday evening to fill out the application and talk about the program some more. YEAH HUNTER!!!

I don't really have anything more to talk about. I am pretty excited for the Super Bowl...we are going to Rich's buddy Tim's house with his fiance Julie and there son Zidon. They are a blast and Hunter really likes Zidon.


So, is anyone going to join Rich and I for the Mandisa concert on Valentines Day???

Fine, Whatever!

Since it appears that I am being "hated on" by everyone that I know. I am just going to come out and be the first to say it..."I AM RETARD AT THIS STUFF!" I know that is very shocking for all of you to hear, but I am! I don't know what happened to my camera cord, but something happened to it and I don't know how to just go to Walmart and put everything on a disc. I have taken some very good pics and have stuff on there from our honeymoon (good pics of Gettysburg), but can't dump them off my camera, cuz I'm and ID!!! I'm sorry for not being as well versed in these things as the rest of you...Please acctept my humble apologies. I will try and find the cord. We really don't do much though...


So, today I got a Wii Fit and I am totally STOKED!!! It has Yoga, strength excersies, balance training, and a couple of other things. I LOVE IT!! We decided that it is something that I could do at home while Hunter is napping and don't have to waste gas money driving to DuPont where we have our family gym membership unless I am already in Fort Wayne. The only thing that I don't like about it is that it tells you your weight...BMI and a couple of other things and I wish that I didn't know those things. I thought I had gained some weight, but I didn't know that it was as much as this is telling me. It takes your weight, BMI and your actual age and tells you what age you are weighting at. Want to know what I am...(drumroll please) 32!!!! I am 2 1/2 years heaver than I should be!! WHAT THE CRAP!!! I am not eating anymore junk...EVER!!! If any of you would like to come check what you are, by all means come stop over and check it!! Other than that, I am loving the excerises!! It really is cool!!

So my girlfriend Karla tagged me with a challenge today. Go to the folder where I keep all of my pics, go to the 4th one, and pick the 4th pic in that folder and explain it, so here it goes...

This picture was taken at my Aunt Jo's house after my grandm Yarger passed away June 1st of 2007. The guy in the white shirt is my dad's counsin Sam and that is his wife Diana and their son whom I don't remember his name.

I challenge Beth, Mandy H., Manda, and Tara to this tag...

I don't really know...

So, I don't post very often any more because I don't really have anything to blog about. I stay at home and clean and take care of the boy...which really is nice. I have applied and been interviewed at 3 different banks, but to no avail. I have been denied by all three places, which for me is very hard. I have never had a hard time getting a job. We are beginning to think that God wants me to stay at home and worry about taking care of my family, but who am I to tell God what is right and what is wrong.

So, I was reading on a girlfriends blog the other day that her daughter, Delancey waits for her brother Bennett to get off the bus from school everyday and it reminded me of something funny. Every since Rich and I have been married and Hunter has realized that daddy will be coming to our house everynite, I started telling him when Rich pulled in the drive way and he runs to the kitchen window to make sure that I am telling him the truth and then runs to the front door, slams open the door and presses his face against the glass door and yells at the top of his lungs, (like Rich can hear it in the garage) "Welcome home Daddy" or "HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Rich". There have been a couple of times that I have been working on dinner or something and didn't tell him that daddy was home until after Rich was in the house and Hunter got so mad at me. He looks at me and says, "MOMMY!! You are supposed to tell me when daddy is home!" Dang, didn't know that it was that big of a deal, but to both of them it is...so now I do it everyday!! As soon as I see Rich's car come over hill at my parents house, I tell Hunter that his daddy is almost here and in he comes running...now, I don't mean that he trots into the kitchen...I mean rips though like the house is on fire running!! It is so cute and as he gets older, we both know that that will stop, but Rich loves it and Hunter loves greeting his daddy when he walks in the door.

The girls are doing good. No big complaints. We have great children...now, they are getting older and with getting older comes a little bit more attitude which is something that we are having to deal with right now, but I will take the attitude over..."YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!" anyday. Claire did just get glasses and looks awesome! She is nearsighted, so she is supposed to wear them all the time at school, but we are trying to get her in the habit of wearing them all the time even out of school. Chloe is doing well...no problems with her. Hunter is an almost 4 year old boy with a ton of energy...you know how that goes.

Rich and I are doing good. We are on day 27 of "The Love Dare" and we are loving it. We can tell when we haven't done it for a couple of days...we get crabby with each other and don't really click or get along. It is a wonderful thing for us and would recommend it to anyone even if you aren't having problems in your marriage.

I guess that is all for now.

On with the search

Well, I received an email sometime last week that I didn't get the job at chase and I was very upset. I don't understand why I didn't get the job, but God has His reasons. I have an interview today at 4 with Tower bank for a full time position downtown...we will see. Maybe there is a reason I can't seem to get a job...I don't know. I am trying not to give up hope and I know that the economy sucks and nobody is really hiring right now...I am truly leaving it in God's hands.

Please pray for something... we have a couple in our small group that is struggling very badly right now and have asked Rich and I to be their accountability partners. They are going through the same crap that we went through in our relationship and we both feel that God put us in their lives over a year ago for such a time as this...just please pray!! It is hard, but we know that God is bigger than this!