Walking

This week I got back on track with my diet. I stayed good on it when I found out I was pregnant, but then when I lost the baby I sorta veered off track. I mean I seriously needed some chocolate. Like everyday last week. Anyway, I'm back on track again! We have been walking 1.5 miles plus doing our 30-day shred video this week. I just wanted to share some pictures of Kailey enjoying the stroller. Casey got this stroller for $6 at a garage sale. It is not in the best condition, and doesn't have a swivel wheel, but it does the job for now! We think its been great to "test drive" this double jogging stroller, so that now we know we definitely want one whenever/ if ever we have our baby number two! (And if not, as you can see, Addie enjoys riding along after she has walked for a bit on her own in this humidity!)

How I'm Doing

This week has been a much better week than last week. I haven't cried in several days, which I feel is a great accomplishment! I have really been trying this week to focus on my blessings, instead of what I have lost. God has definitely blessed us immensely, and I want to focus on that! Here are just a few of our MANY blessings!

1. Each other (as in Casey and I)

2. Our beautiful, wonderful, princess of a daugher. I could not ask for a better baby. She is such a blessing!

3. Our house

4. Our cars

5. Our jobs

6. Our family

7. Our Friends

8. Our Savior

9. Our Freedom

10. Living in the U.S.A.

11. The fact that I lost the baby at 6 weeks instead of like, 22 weeks.

Like I said, we have MANY more, but these are a few things I have been focusing on to get me through the tough thoughts. (These are obviously not in order of importance!)

Overall though, I am doing better. Thanks for your prayers. They have really helped me through this tough time!

Emily's Graduation

On May 15, my sister Emily (Third King sister, 4 years younger than me), graduated from Baylor University with an Interior Design degree. We enjoyed watching her graduate a couple of weeks ago.

(This post is a bit delayed, because on that very same weekend is when I lost the baby! But, I still enjoyed the day, and wanted you to see a few family pics from the event!)

Kailey watching the graduation (With a face that she loves to make!)



The proud graduate!



The whole King clan



Kailey with Aunt Lala (my youngest sister)



Kailey after the graduation, with juice cup in tow!

TAKS Results

Well, we finally got our "official" TAKS results in today. I am very proud of my students! As you know from previous blogs, this has been a pretty tough school year for me. My team always gets the "lowest of the low" kids put on our team. Basically it's because we usually have the patience for them and work well with them compared to some of the other teachers who prefer to work with the GT kids, etc. We are totally fine with this, except for when our scored are compared with the other teachers scores, in which case, I get pretty aggrivated. ANYWAY, all that to say, I am very pleased with our accomplishments this year!

On the very first round of benchmarks we took in October, Only 39 % of my students passed the test! This time, on the real TAKS test, 89% of the students passed! This means that I had 11 students fail, but considering 2 of my students can't read above a 2nd grade reading level, and 2 of them cannot read and comprehend English, that isn't too bad!

The part that made me really proud is that I had 28 students make a commended score of 90% or above! That is about 30 % of my total number of students.

I also had 10 more students that were only 1 question away from making commended!

So, YAY!

I'm glad that's over, and we only have 5 more full days of school and 2 half days! Woo hoo!!!

A Painting

My sister Allison made this painting for the baby. She says she hates it, but I think its perfect, because it has one of the best scriptures on it ever. She highlighted the verses in green that made her think of the baby.



It is just such a sweet reminder that this baby was "fearfully and wonderfully made". God did "weave it together" and know its "unformed body". Its days were "written in His book, even before one of them came to be". Even though none of them on this earth ever did come to be. Praise God! I am so thankful that I have a God who has provided me with encouragement through His Word for pretty much anything I am experiencing in this life.

Your Prayers

I just wanted to write a quick note and thank you for your prayers. I was really having an emotional morning this morning, and I "tweeted" that I needed prayers and know that some of you saw it and were praying for me. How do I know? Well, I could feel it. I could feel God's peace today as I was at school. So thank you, your prayers really do matter, and God truly does hear them.

For Ashley

My8s (sorry if this is a tad depressing; caught me on a bad week! :)
8 things I am looking forward to
1. Memorial Day Weekend
2. Going out to dinner with Matt and Erin and Marcus on Friday.
3. Summer!
4. Seeing Doctor Fothergill on June 3rd.
5. Being pregnant again soon (hopefully)
6. My surprise trip for Casey in August
7. Bonding with Kailey over the next few months at home
8. Eating my Peanut M&M's that are in my purse as we speak

8 things I did yesterday
1. Cried
2. Found out I officially had a miscarriage
3. Cried
4. Ate whatever I wanted
5. Drank a big diet coke, twice
6. Spent time with my husband getting yogurt and going to Barnes and Noble
7. Spent time with my Kailey-bug before putting her to bed
8. Felt sad

8 things I wish I could do
1. Bring the baby back
2. Shop as much as I want to
3. Make the school year only last 2 months and summer the rest of the time
4. Be a super mom
5. Make my husband have a paycheck big enough to where I can stay home with kailey
6. Eat whatever I want and lose the 20 pounds I still need to lose
7. Go on fabulous trips all the time
8. Have as much energy as Casey to clean the house

8 shows I watch
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Private Practice
3. American Idol
4. Survivor
5. The Hills
6. The Biggest Loser
7. The Amazing Race
8. Big Brother

8 people I tag
Erin
Jenn
Kelly
Melissa
Michelle
Casey
Eric
Matt

The day after

Well, we had to go today to make sure that when I lost the baby that I actually lost everything, so that I wouldn't have to have a D&C or DNC or however you spell that. It was very hard, because I think we both held out hope that I was just ridiculous and really didn't know what I was talking about when I said I lost the baby. I think it would have been an ok experience, except that the two "doctors" in labor and delivery made things less than wonderful. The first one I don't really blame, it wasn't her fault.

She came in the room and said: "well, I see that you were here on Saturday experiencing a little bit of bleeding. But it says right here that they did an ultrasound and you were having a healthy pregnancy, so what brings you in today?"

Seriously?

I knew they weren't necessarily taking me seriously on Saturday but Seriously? That's what you wrote on my chart?

So I looked at her and said "The reason I came in Saturday was because I was having severe contraction pain and a lot of blood loss, and yesterday I lost the baby".

The poor girl looked like she was about to cry. But then of course she says "How do you know?"

So I had to explain how I knew. Then she leaves.

Then the bubbliest doctor in the entire world comes into my room and says "So, I understand you think you've lost the baby, can you tell me why you think so?"

I'm thinking "Sure. I just love retelling this story over and over again"

So when I finally convince them, that they should probably do an ultrasound they do.

The doctor turns the machine around and says "Ok. Here is your uterus, and here is where the baby should be. I am finding no evidence whatsoever of a pregnancy in here".

Great bedside manner! I mean, I knew that I had lost the baby, but that isn't exactly the nicest way to confirm it, right?

So needless to say, it was a rough afternoon.

Overall though, everyone is being very considerate and supportive. I appreciate all the facebook comments, messages, and blog comments you have all sent our way. Just keep us in your prayers as we process all of this.

We know God is in control, even thought we may not understand why it has happened the way it has.

Or not..

Unfortunately the week following Mother's Day, has not been so great! I started having some spotting on Friday afternoon, and some very severe contraction pain yesterday evening. I have been to labor and delivery area of the emergency room twice, and as of this morning I had miscarried our precious baby number two. We are very sad, and it has not really sunk in yet. Please just keep us in your prayers. Here is a song that always helps me through tough times, because I know God is still in control and He knows what is best for us.

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Mother's Day 2009

This Mother's Day was wonderful! Casey did a fabulous job of making me feel very loved. He got me a gift certificate to get a manicure and pedicure, he got me the mother's heart ring from James Avery, and he even got me milk duds, which you will find out the significance of momentarily. Here is a little comparison of Mother's day 2008 and Mother's Day 2009. Excuse the weird angle of my body this year.



2008



2009

So anyway, the milk duds. I LOVE milk duds, but I especially craved milk duds the entire time I was pregnant with Kailey. Not sure if that is because I LOVE milk duds, or because it was a true pregnancy craving. Anyway, so Casey got me milk duds for mother's day....because I'm pregnant with baby number two! How far along you say? About 5 minutes...I mean 5 weeks. So I am due probably around January 11 or so. I won't know for awhile. It takes like the entire first trimester to get into the doctor around here. But, I have taken 2 tests at home and one at the doctor. Now I just have to jump through 2 more hoops before I can see the doctor.

So keep us in your prayers! I am thrilled to be pregnant, but as you know, it is very nervewracking. I'm just always worried something will happen and all that jazz, so just pray for us! Kailey will be just over 2 years old when this new one is born...sounds like reason for more prayers to me! haha Oh..here is how Kailey told her grandparents the good news!