Cherished: A Book Review

I was given the book “Cherished” by Kim Cash Tate to review.  This book brings to life two characters, with seemingly nothing in common, and brings them together in a very unexpected way.  Now, to be very honest, I started reading this book and really was not enjoying it.  I was about three chapters into it and not really sure I wanted to keep going.  However, the description on the back of the book sounded so good I determined to forge head.  By chapter six, I was unable to put the book down.  While it starts off slow, it rapidly picks up steam and leaves you breathlessly turning the pages to see what happens next.  In retrospect, the reason the first few chapters feel slow is because they are laying important ground work for the rest of the novel.  The two main characters are Kelly; a wannabe song writer with a secret, shame-inducing past and Heather; a woman who slept with a married man and followed it with a one night stand with yet another Christian man.  I cannot say how these two come to know each other because I feel it gives too much away.  However, this book leaves you wanting book 2.  I am not sure if the author is planning a sequel, but if she does, I will snatch it up.  Hidden in the page of this fictional book is an example of pure, true love so amazing it inspires you to forgive and live your life differently. 

Grades

So...just gotta brag for a minute here.
Mid-terms came home today:
The Hippie got ALL G's (which means good) and very positive comments from her teacher!
The Genius:
Writing - 100
Reading - 98
Spelling - 103
Math - 98
Social Studies - 93
Science - 97

We felt they deserved a little treat so we picked up McDonald's for dinner.  We are so proud of the girls!

Overtaken

If you have ever eaten breakfast at my house, then you are probably aware that I typically do not buy sugary cereals.  On hand I will usually have Mini Wheats, Bran Flakes, Cheerios, Life and maybe Raisin Bran.  Usually that is it.  However, with this pregnancy I have really wanted Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  My husband bought me a box  few weeks ago (I kept refusing due to the price).  He came home with it and I ate two entire bowls and just loved it.  Today I was doing our grocery shopping for the week.  If you know my typical shopping method, I usually do not buy things that were not on my list.  But today.....cereal was on sale.  Like a really good sale.  But you had to buy 10 boxes.  I think baby #4 overtook my body because I went to check out and I had 10 boxes of cereal.  5 of them were Cinnamon Toast Crunch, 3 were Cookie Crisp and 2 were Multigrain Cheerios.  What??? I was honestly shocked to see it.  LOL!  I got so tickled I think the cashier thought I had lost my marbles (maybe I did)!  We came home and my husband was like, "Is there something you want to tell me?  I mean, in 10+ years you have never bought Cookie Crisp and did I see FIVE boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch??"  To make it worse, he does not like a single cereal that I bought. 
Any guesses what we had for dinner tonight?
Baby #4 and I are very happy.

#4

I had my three month check up today.  It was a great appointment.  They did an ultrasound because at my very first appointment my due date and the size of #4 was off by a little over a week.  So today was to confirm the due date.  The baby was measuring right on target!  I got to hear the heartbeat!  I am still claiming that this baby is a girl and according to my history...we had a girl heart rate of 156 bpm!  I got to spend a few minutes gazing at our sweet baby.  The doctor happens to be pregnant with her first baby, so she really took her time and let me just watch the baby.  She pointed out the arms, legs, facial structure, heart, pudgy little belly....  The baby is already adorable, you can just tell.  #4 was kicking and waving up a storm!  Thank you Lord for a sweet, healthy baby!

On Display

The Hippie's latest painting is now FOR SALE at a local coffee shop!!! We are so excited! 6 years old and already has her art work for sale! We are amazed!  We priced the painting at $20 and we will see if anyone wants to buy it.

A Wonderful Appointment

Yesterday I had my appointment for lab work.  If you have been pregnant, you know the one I mean.  Lots of tubes of blood.  Not a very fun appointment.  However, yesterday was different.  I had a nurse who really listened to me.  I am at that phase in pregnancy where I am feeling good, energy is coming back, no more ickies BUT too early to feel those movements or to hear the heartbeat at home on our monitor.  So, you worry.  I told her that so she takes me into a room and tries to listen for the heartbeat.  We could not hear it (which is normal) so she took me to another room and gave me an ultrasound!  I saw a tiny little foot and saw the heartbeat flashing on the screen!  Now I can rest easy again knowing that our baby is safe and healthy!  I was so appreciative of her listening to me and taking the time to make me feel comfortable.  It is just amazing every time you see an ultrasound and see the development.  Already the baby is looking less bean-like and much more baby-like! 

Quick Pic

He is growing up so quickly!!! It's hard to believe that this time next year he will be 2 years old and officially a big brother.  Time flies! I am enjoying the moments here at home with him and loving being an at-home mama!

What they don't tell you about boys....

At 14 months old the Professor can climb onto tables, climb up on his cars and "surf" and climb onto other verry dangerous items.  But he cannot speak sentences or string two words together.  At 14 months the girls were talking and talking and talking but were happy just to be walking and running.  Being pregnant and keeping the Professor out of trouble is exhausting! LOL!  He is so cute though and I think that is keeping him out of trouble.
In other news....things have worked out for me to continue working at the coffee shop but just 8 hours a week, no weekends and no early hours.  I am so happy to stay on and have such an easy schedule.  I love when things work out so great like this.
Happy Wednesday!

Our Day Off

Our day also included tons of rain EXCEPT for the time we needed to be outside, a freak nosebleed that meant we had to stop and buy a new shirt, a trip to my favorite store IKEA (and bonus...I had a $50 gift card!) and a trip to the girls favorite place for lunch.  The only thing we had to pay for was the lunch.  It was a wonderful day! I did feel very guilty not being at church and missing but it was a wonderful day as a family.

It's always something...

The girls started school this past week.  So far the school year is off to a great start, but I am excited about (hopefully) home-schooling them again next year. 
We are now a little over 8 weeks pregnant with baby 4 and I am so ready to go in for my lab work.  I know that sounds crazy, but I cannot feel the baby move yet and just getting confirmation that the baby is safe and healthy is always wonderful.  I am definitely feeling the first trimester yuckies and tiredness.  But I am so blessed to have such minimal discomfort. 
Tomorrow we are being horribly naughty and skipping church.  We try to never do this, but we got some free tickets to an event and have to use them or lose them.  So we are celebrating the Hippie's birthday early and having some FUN family time tomorrow.
I, sadly, had to turn in my notice at the coffee shop.  It was a tough decision, but me working, being pregnant and having a husband traveling was just a little too much.  Plus I was really struggling with the day care issue...both actually leaving the Professor and paying for the daycare when I made so little money to begin with.
My husband is still working AND working on his MBA so we really do not see much of him right now.  We are just praying that this job will turn into something permanent.
 Other than that, noting much is new.
How are all my friends in the blogosphere?