5 Months Pregnant!

Hiking at Spruce Flat Falls

How far along?: 23 weeks

Total weight gain?: 13 lbs
Symptoms?: Charlie Horse leg cramps while I'm sleeping!
How big is baby?: 8 inches (crown-to-rump) and 1 pound  3 ounces
                              *size of a small doll
Gender?: Girl!
Name?: Josey Hope
             *Josey means "God increases"
              Hope means "expectation or belief"
Maternity clothes?: Yes!
Stretch marks?: No-very blessed to not have any at all!
Belly Button?: In right now....barely! It popped out with Katy and Parker!
Sleep?: I sleep very sound (until I get leg cramps!)
Energy?: Finally have my energy back, especially in the morning, and have been "nesting!"
Exercise?: Does taking care of 4 kids count? :)
Movement?: Most movement is in the late evening when I am finally still and during worship time at FBC Powell (She loves the music!)
Food cravings?: slushies, Salt and Vinegar Pringles, chocolate and red meat.
What I'm looking forward to?: Holding my baby girl!
Preparations?: We completely cleaned and emptied out Lily and Maddy's closet (including shelves!) and Jonathan gave it a fresh coat of paint.  We've moved all of Katy's closet in with Lily and Maddy's closet.  We're getting excited about having the three girls all together in one room!
Labor Signs?: None.
Best Moment this week?: I had an ultrasound yesterday (June 27) and received wonderful news!  The two vessel umbilical cord is still present, but Josey had a great weight gain.  In 4 weeks she went from ~9 oz. to now 1 lb. and 3 oz.!  They checked all of her major organs, especially her heart, and they couldn't find anything wrong with her!  Praise the LORD! 

We got some great pictures of her yesterday. 
Here is her sweet profile:

She was acting like such a Drama Queen yesterday!  The ultrasound technician was trying to get her to turn over so she could get a good look at the heart and Josey kept putting her arm on her forehead in distress!  :)

 Here she is trying to play with her toes!

We got a good 3D pic too!  She's still got her arm on her forehead!  But I love her nose and lips-so sweet!

Thank you all so very much for praying for our baby girl!  The Doctor and Nurses were so pleased with my appointment yesterday and I am praising God for wonderful news!  My next appointment is in 4 weeks and we'll again be checking her growth, kidneys, and heart.  Please continue to pray for our Josey Hope and that the LORD will continue to knit her perfectly together just as He imagined her to be!

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8

So You Think You Can Dance!

Angela Floyd Schools offered a Dance Workshop yesterday that was taught by three guest instructors from one of our very favorite TV shows, "So You Think You Can Dance!"

Lily had the best time!  She took 3 classes, one from each instructor:  Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop.  After a fun day of dancing, the girls were able to ask the instructors questions. 

Then they were able to get pictures and autographs!

Here is Lily and Russell Ferguson, who was the winner from Season 6!

Here is Lily and Noelle Marsh, who was in the Top 10 from Season 6!

Here is Lily with Ashley Galvan, who was in the Top 10 from Season 7!

Lily and her friend, Grace:

Lily, Grace, Leia, and Gracie:

Thank you Angela Floyd Schools for a most memorable day of dancing! 

Let them praise his name with dancing...

Psalm 149:3a

Buhl Academy 2011-2012

July 18th was our first day of school at Buhl Academy!  I know it's about a month early but we decided to start earlier because our baby girl is due November 22nd, and we will want to take an extra long break when she arrives.  (Not to mention that I am also a strong advocate for year round school!)
I'm really excited about the curriculum that we've chosen this year, and I thought I would share with you what we're using. 

Here is Lily, age 7 years old, who is a 3rd Grader!

Bible:  Adventures in My Father's World and Grapevine Studies Stick Figuring through the Bible "Old Testament Overview"
History/Geography:  Adventures in My Father's World
Science:  Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Math:  A Beka 3
Reading:  A Beka 3 & 4 and chapter books from book list at http://www.amblesideonline.com/ 
Language Arts/Grammar:  A Beka 3 & 4
Spelling:  A Beka 3 & 4 and http://www.spellingcity.com/ 
Music:  My Father's World "Introduction to the Orchestra" and "Introduction to Classical Music"
Foreign Language:  Spanish
Art:  Still searching for a good curriculum that's not just crafts...please share if you have any suggestions!
P.E.  Ballet, Jazz, and Dance Company at Angela Floyd Schools and Gym class at FBC Powell Life Center

 Here is Maddy, age 6 years old, who is a 1st Grader!

Bible: Adventures in My Father's World and Grapevine Studies Stick Figuring through the Bible "Old Testament Overview"
History/Geography: Adventures in My Father's World
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Math: A Beka 1
Reading: A Beka 1
Language Arts/Grammar: A Beka 1
Spelling: A Beka 1 and www.spellingcity.com
Music: Piano Lessons with Mrs. Thomas and My Father's World "Introduction to the Orchestra" and "Introduction to Classical Music"
Foreign Language: Spanish
Art: Still searching for a good curriculum that's not just crafts...please share if you have any suggestions!
P.E.: Gymnastics at Premier Athletics nd Gym class at FBC Powell Life Center

Here is Katy, age 4 years old, who is Pre-K!

We are using the Kindergarten Curriculum "My Father's World From A to Z" and Letters and Sounds Workbook from A Beka K4.  Katy is also going to be taking Ballet and Tap at Angela Floyd Schools starting in August.

Here is Parker, age 3 years old, who is Pre-School!

We are using Heart of Dakota "Little Hands to Heaven" curriculum.

We've added 2 class pets to our school.  They are two little dwarf frogs and we have named them Leap and Frogilina:

Buhl Academy is off to a great start and the kids are enjoying being Homeschooled again.  We love learning together and the flexibility that we have.  We've completed our 1st week and even took our first Field Trip thanks to Jonathan!  We spent today hiking and exploring in the Smoky Mountains at Spruce Flat Falls.  

We are using First Baptist Academy as our umbrella school again and are very pleased with everything they have to offer for Homeschoolers. 

Please pray for all of us and that we will have a great school year of learning and growing closer to the LORD!

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Tummy Troubles

Our little Katybug has had tummy troubles since the first night she was born.  I suspected reflux and possible food allergy, and finally switched pediatricians when she turned 4 months old because we weren't getting the help we needed.  She was put on Prevacid and became a brand new baby!  We took her off around a year old, but ended up putting her back on around age 3.  Last year she started having severe constipation issues that would lead to her vomiting, so we went back to our pediatrician for advice and he sent us on to a GI specialist.  After the GI specialist examined her and did lots of bloodwork, he recommended that we do an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy.  Wow!  Such big tests for our little girl!  We originally had the scopes set for December, but with my miscarriage and D & C falling at the exact time of her testing, we had to cancel.  The GI specialist suggested that we cut out dairy and substitute with soy so that we could get her tummy feeling better.  We were hoping and praying that would work, but after not having success with that approach, we scheduled her for outpatient testing.  On Wednesday, July 13th, I spent the entire day prepping Katy for her colonoscopy.  Bless her little heart!  But she's such a tough girl and she not once complained!  We had to be at Children's Hospital on Thursday, July 14th at 7:45 am.  I had to take pictures with my phone so they're a little blurry.  Here's our Katybug in her hospital gown:

She was excited to be lying in bed watching movies with her favorite Ruby:

The nurses gave her some "happy juice" to help her relax before putting her under anesthesia:

Katybug did very well during the procedure, and only had a little trouble coming off the medicine.  She was grumpy and wanting the IV out of the top of her hand!  When the testing was done, the GI specialist explained that from what she could tell, her colon appeared normal-Praise God!  But, that even with all of the bowel prep she was only half-way cleaned out.  My poor Katybug!  The upper scope showed reflux and gastritis and they also took two tissue samples to biopsy that will provide information on possible food allergies.  We will find out these results on July 28th. 
Katybug got to ride a wheelchair out to the van:

She was still feeling pretty "happy" on the ride home!

And she was so excited to come home to the cutest balloons from her sweet friend, Rachel!

Please continue to pray for Katybug, our family, and the Doctors that we are working with and that we will be able to help Katybug's tummy feel better.  We don't understand why she is suffering, but the LORD does and we are trusting in Him and His plans for our little girl.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

A Happy Camper!

On July 11th, Lily left for her first time away from home to go to Camp Ba Yo Ca for the week! 

Jonathan went to Camp Ba Yo Ca for the first time when he was 7 years old, so he was very excited that Lily was old enough to attend this summer.  Camp Ba Yo Ca is located at the foothill of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and has been around for over 50 years.  The primary purpose of Camp Ba Yo Ca is: to lead campers to accept Christ as their personal Savior, to make disciples for Jesus Christ and to provide training and opportunities for Christian service. This purpose is achieved through the summer camping program by providing the best in Christian teaching and atmosphere, and also by giving campers the best camping experience possible.

When Jonathan mentioned Lily going away to camp this summer, I was a little hesitant about sending my Lily away for 5 days and 4 nights. I had been praying about it and the LORD is so sweet to answer our prayers in His own perfect way!  A very dear friend of mine approached me in April and out of nowhere asked if Lily would be her daughter's roommate for the week at Camp Ba Yo Ca.  I couldn't have picked a sweeter child for Lily to spend the week with!  God is so good!  Here are Lily and Kaitlyn Strunk before they left for camp:

We had to drop the girls off at the Knox County Association of Baptists Office on Monday morning at 8am so they could ride the bus to camp.  Jonathan wanted to drop Lily off since he was so excited about her going!  It was a huge help to me, because I knew I would be very emotional with saying good-bye to Lily for the week with NO communication til Friday!  Lily's good friend, Grace Sullivan, was also attending camp that week too: 

Jonathan was so sweet to take pictures for me!  He got one of Lily waving good-bye as she was getting on the bus!

I don't have any pictures of Lily during her stay at camp, but she has shared so many stories with us and had the very best time!  One of her favorite activities was learning how to canoe!  When I picked her up on Friday, she and I hugged and cried so hard!  We missed her so much, but are thankful she had a great time away.  She was exhausted and filthy (only took one shower all week!), but very happy! 

Camp Ba Yo Ca was such a wonderful experience for Lily and she is asking to go back next year!  I am praying that we will be able to send both her and Maddy together next summer.  When you have time, take a look at their website and read more about their camp:  www.campbayoca.com.  I would highly recommend it for your child ages 7-17! 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:19

A Star Spangled Birthday!

Parker celebrated his 3rd Birthday this year on July 4th!

He was so excited to finally be "fwee!"  (3)

It is not too often that all of the Buhl cousins are together.  What a special present for Parker that they were all here to help us celebrate!  I love his huge smile in this picture!  He loved being sung to!

Our sweet boy!

Blowing out candles...one...

two...

and three!

Yummy chocolate cake!

Parker went for his 3 year well check today at the Doctor and he had a growth spurt since last year!  He weighed 33.5 lb (74%) and was 39.5 in. tall (80%).  He checked out perfectly healthy today-Praise God!  

We love you Parker and are praying that you continue to grow physically and spiritually in the upcoming year! 

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Living in America

Our Lily danced with the Angela Floyd Dance Company (AFDC) in the Farragut July 4th Parade this year.  Lily made sure to tell us that they would be the only ones in the parade not wearing red, white, and blue!  They wore cute, hot pink, sparkly dresses.  She looked so grown up!:

 Lily and her sweet friend, Grace (love how they are holding hands!):

 Parker, Maddy, and Katy...oh and Barbie too...waiting for their Sissy:

 Our nephew Alex was visiting from Minnesota.  We were so excited that he came to see Lily!

 Here comes the AFDC!

 They danced to the song, "Living in America."

 Lily was so happy to see us! 

 The company only had 3 classes to practice their dance and get ready for the parade.  They did great!

It was so incredibly hot, and the parade route was 1.5 miles, but Lily was letting her light shine!  

 Love their feathers!

I had to run ahead and snap some more pictures.  Lily was so excited to keep seeing me and she waved and smiled every time!

 Maddy was excited to see her Sissy dancing:

 Lily was hot and sweaty when her Daddy picked her up at the end, but she was still smiling!

We are so proud of Lily and the AFDC!  Looking forward to a great year of dancing!

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
Acts 17:28