My Story

I have been writing blogs for a while now. Some about my husband and my faith, but mostly about my little angel, Calleigh Elizabeth. But most of you don't know what a struggle it was for me to have her. So here is my story.

As most of you know, Andrew and I met at college and got married in 2005. We had been together for about 3.5 years at this point. We knew that we wanted to be parents someday, but we wanted to wait a little bit. We wanted to have us time for just a while longer. Then, come January 2006 we decided that we would not prevent a pregnancy. Not precautions were taken any longer. Our philosophy was if it happens then it happens. We keep this going on until October. We had moved into our house in April, we were settled in, and now we wanted to start a family. No longer would it be just us and Roo. We had not told anyone about our little secret, we just kept trying. That Christmas, my mom bought a little bath robe and gave it to us for Christmas. She did not know for sure that we were trying, but she had a good idea. We opened it up and my heart broke. I wanted so badly to tell everyone our good news, but every month I though "this is it", took the test, and was disappointed for days.

We continued to try and try. I had shared my frustrations with my mom and questioned whether or not I was going to ever be someones mommy. In March my mom contacted one of her friends to see who her daughter's OBGYN was. I called and talked to Jody myself and she told me about Dr. Beckman. She told me how comfortable she was with him and how he was compassionate and very caring. She told me that maybe there was an issue and I should go and see him. I had been going to another doctor, and after sharing my concerns with her she told me to wait it out. She was not very encouraging at all and I knew it was time to make a change. I called and scheduled an appointment. When I called they asked what I needed any appointment for and I told them my problems.

I sat in the office and was so nervous. How do I go in this office and tell this man that I do not know at all what is going on with me. They called my name, Andrew went with me, and here we sat in the room. In silence. Waiting. The door opens, in walks Dr. Beckman and his wonderful Nurse Cathy. He ask why were are there, we tell him, and he in such a caring way her tells us what steps we need to take. I have to get some test run, as does Andrew, and then we will go from there. Andrew does his test and all comes back wonderful, NO PROBLEMS!!! Then it's my turn. And we find the problem. It's me.

I had a disease called cervitatis, which is a inflammation of the cervix. It is a constant bleed. This was causing me to not get pregnant. This little internal bleed that I did not know was even there. Dr. Beckman is so relieved that it was something that we could fix, rather quickly! I was relieved. He handed me a calendar, told me how it worked and how to use it to predict the days I would ovulate, and told us he would see us at the end of the summer. Ha, the end of the summer, who was he kidding?

May, June, and July go by. Here comes the end of the summer and I still am not pregnant. I knew he was wrong. Then come Vacation Bible School. I was a teacher. It began Sunday night, and I was sicker then ever on Monday. I worked all day, went home, called into Angie and told her I did not feel well and I would not be a VBS. This was rare for me since I am not sick often. Andrew went and bought me some vegetable soup, and the sickness set in. Just once, it was over. Andrew told me that very second "I bet you're pregnant!" I told him no way, it was just a bug. I came back to work the next day and all was well. Two weeks later, I had a runny nose. I was going to take some meds, but the box said to not take if you might be pregnant. Since I was just 2 days from finding out, I grabbed a test before taking the meds. I came back to work, went to the bathroom, and almost hit the floor when the test made a plus sign. I grabbed the box, read it again just to make sure. Oh my goodness, I AM PREGNANT! I called Andrew several times and he did not answer, so I called my mom, crying hysterically(with excitement) and told her! Andrew called me right back, and I did not even have to say the words!

The funny thing was, earlier in that week I told Andrew God had big plans for us. While I was mowing the yard listening to my IPod, God told me to keep playing the song "Days of Elijah". I did. God was getting me ready. I just had to wait until it was his time. He knew when the right time was. That Friday, I did not have to work, so I went to celebrate with my friend Brynn. On my way home, I was stopped at a light talking to another friend on the phone. All of the sudden I feel a little jolt, I look in my rear view mirror, and saw a semi truck coming at me full speed. I freaked out, there was nothing I could do, so I closed my eyes and prayed for God to take care of me and my baby. I semi ended up side-swiping me. God had done the unthinkable. He saved my life and the new little life inside of me. No one was hurt in the wreck, not the lady whose car was shoved into my car from the back, not the semi driver, and not the precious little life inside me. I called Andrew, told him what had happened and he was very nervous. As I sat on the side of the road waiting for the cops to show up my preacher came walking up to me. God sent him to take care of me in my time of need. I was all alone, on the side of the road with people I did not know, pregnant, and he was there.

God does amazing things in our life and I wanted to share my story. This is the story of how God answered prayers and protected me when the worst could have happened.

How has God taken care of you?

The love between a mother and her child

After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take
another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said,
'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would
Love to spend some time with you.'
* * *
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my
MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years, but the
Demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
* * *
That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked?
* * *
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late
Night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with
You,' I responded, 'just the two of us.'
She thought about it for a moment, and then said,
'I would like that very much.'
* * *
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up
I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I
noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date.
She waited in the door. She had curled her hair and was
Wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last
Birthday on November 19th.
* * *
She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an
Angel’s. 'I told my friends that I was going
to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she
said, as she got into that new white van. 'They can't
wait to hear about our date'.
* * *
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant,
was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she
were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu.
Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the
entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there
staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was
I who used to have to read the menu when you were
small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and
let me return the favor,' I responded.
* * *
During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation-
-nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent
events of each other's life. We talked so much that we
missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said,
'I'll go out with you again, but only if you
let me invite you.' I agreed.
* * *
'How was your dinner date ?' asked my wife
when I got home. 'Very nice. Much more so than I could
have imagined,' I answered.
* * *
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack.
It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a
chance to do anything for her.
Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of
a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I
had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in
advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but
nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and
the other for your wife. You will never know what that
night meant for me.. I love you, son.'
* * *
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved ones
the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve,
because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'
* * *
Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby...somebody
doesn't know that once you're a mother,’ normal' is history. Somebody said you learn
how to be a mother by instinct...somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.
* * *
Somebody said being a mother is boring...somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's
permit. Somebody said if you're a’ good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'...somebody
thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a
mother...somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.
* * *
Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first...somebody doesn't have two
children. Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery...somebody never watched her
'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten...or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'
* * *
Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...somebody doesn't know that marriage
adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. Somebody said a mother's job is
Done when her last child leaves home...somebody never had grandchildren.
* * *
Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...somebody isn't a mother.
Share this with all the 'mothers' in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just
about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your life while you have them...no matter who that person is.

Before I was a mom....

Before I was a Mom I never learned the words to a lullaby. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Drooled on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple little grin. I never sat up for hours watching a baby sleep. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. I had never known the warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Let's talk about Ferberizing......

.....let's just say it did not work for us at all. We did all of the things you are supposed to do. We fed her, played with her, waited until she was tired, took her to her room, laid her in her bed. The first 8 minutes were glorious, not a peep from her room. Then came minute 9 and so did the noise. She began to whine, then to cry. After 2 minutes, I went in to reassure her that she was fine, gave her a paci, and was out the door. As soon as the door was shut she cried and cried. We waited 5 minutes, Andrew reassured her, and before he could shut the door the tears were flowing again. We let her go for 10 minutes, I reassured her, then 10 more minutes, Andrew reassured her, and 5 minutes and we thought she was going to pass out, so Andrew told me to go and get her or he was going to. So I went and got her and by the time I walked from her room to the living room she was asleep in my arms. So now I am trying to figure out how to do this and make it work. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know, any assistance would be appreciated!

The next day, Calleigh was so tired that she fell asleep sitting up on the couch. We could not get her to wake up, and we had to take a picture of her.


My blogging friend, Kelly, had beautiful Harper, and she is needing our prayers as she is going thought some rough times right now. We need to lift up Kelly, Scott and Harper. We need to pray for continued faith for Kelly and Scott and a speedy recovery for little Harper! Here is a picture that I stole from her blog of Kelly and Harper!

Keep them in your prayers!

Pretty Dresses and Headbands

So, I made an appointment for Calleigh's 1st birthday pictures, can you believe that it is so close? We are having them taken at a local photography studio, here is their blog website, check them out; Rowe Portrait Studio!



I know a few shots they are planning involve cake and balloons. When I talked with Adrienne about what we wanted, she asked me what color for the cake and balloons, I said pink! Imagine that! So, I decided that even though Calleigh will be in bloomers only, she could still have a cute headband on! So, after doing a little searching I found the perfect one!



I love pink and brown together, and I can just imagine how cute she will be with this on her head and cake on her face!

They are also going to do some other shots of her and of us as a family. For the ones for her I saved a little money by buying her a dress that she can use for pictures but also for Andrew's cousin, Lindsay's wedding in May! I got this dress for just $15, what a steal!



It is so sweet! And I am so excited! What else can I say, my girl is getting so big!

Here is a little shout out to a fellow blogger, Kelly! I wish you the best with little Harper, you will be in our prayers as her arrival is getting nearer!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changing

Things are changing drastically at my house, I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

My little baby isn't gonna be little forever. In the past week she has learned how to clap her hands, get herself to sit up, crawl, babble a lot, pull up, and soon she will be walking. Mommy is nervous. Yesterday Andrew and I were playing Uno and she grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled herself up, then let go and stood for about 3 seconds and fell on her butt. She was not scared or nervous and she was steady. She was not wobbling or anything.

Our next adventure is to teach her to fall asleep all on her own. The reason behind this is due to the fact that since she is pulling herself up we have had to lower her bed. Since I am short and can not reach to lay her down without a stool, She is going to have to learn to put herself to sleep. So, beginning Friday night we are going to try "The Ferber Method". This involves feeding her, bathing her, getting her all ready for bed. We will let her eat and get her room ready, have a story or two and lay her down when she is drowsy. Give her a kiss, reassure her that all is ok, and walk out. Then, we pray she goes to sleep. More than likely she won't, so we will put this plan into action: After 2 minutes of crying, we will go in a reassure here that everything is fine. Walk out, and do the same pattern 5 minutes later, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes until she falls asleep. I am a big sucker and can't stand to hear here cry, so pray the God gives me strength!

For those of you who do not know, I am looking for another job that pays a little more. Not because I have any problems here, because I love it here, but because my family needs me. This is my responsibility. Something I have to do. I have applied for another job, so pray that things work out and that this is the job for me. It is another job through my office, so it would be great!

This is all I will babble on about, until next time!

Calleigh's First Snow, clapping her hands, and a date

So, today it finally snowed! The meteorologist have been saying it will snow for a while now and every time is seems to go right over us. But, we woke up this morning to some snow, not a whole lot, but some. Here are some pics of Calleigh and I in her first snow. She got to wear her snowsuit, which thrilled me!







She has recently learned how to clap her hands when you ask her too, and she can wave, when she wants to. I took a little snip it of video of her clapping and me trying to get her to wave at me! Enjoy!



Tonight, Andrew is going to an IU basketball game so Calleigh and I are going to have a girls night to ourselves! But, he owes me big time for this! He promised me that he would take me to a game the next time he goes, and the next time he is going is tonight! So, as payback I am making him take me to see the movie


(which he is dreading, by the way!) and out to eat at



I am pumped!

What has been going on with our life

So, I am back at work after a 2 week break. Our first week off was very busy with doctor appointments, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Wedding Rehearsal and the Wedding itself, traveling 3 hours, moving Katie and Kevin into their new apartments. We then spent the next week relaxing, taking down Christmas decorations, spending time with friends and as a family, cleaning the house and getting ready for the new year. Here we are, in 2009, and things seem to be going well so far. If you want to see slide shows from out First Christmas as a family and Katie's wedding they are below.(Here are two family pics from the big events!)










Calliegh has been spitting up a lot the past month, so we have been in and out of the doctors office. We think that we finally have it all figured out, we know what the problem is, and it is being fixed. Please pray that this takes care of her problems.

My favorite tv show, The Bachelor started last night and it was nice to sit with Calleigh and Andrew, eating supper and watching it.



Have you noticed my new blog design? It looks great, and now that I have access to a computer I can write more and get the designer the credit(and the money) she deserves! Thanks so much!

The Holiday left us with some very exciting news and then some bad news.

A few of my friends at church, Angie and Deb told us they are pregnant! These are blessing in disguise, totally unexpected gifts from God! Andrew and I have a set of friends, Ashley and Jarrod, who got engaged in the fall, and they just found out they are expecting twins! Another blessing, but a total shock at the same time! Jarrod told us he did not know weather to laugh or cry! But, they are VERY excited! A Wedding in March and not a baby, but 2 babies in July! They are going to have their hands full!

Now for the bad news. I ask that you keep all of these people in your prayers as they are going through hard time in their lives. A very close friend of mine told me a few months ago that she has been to see her OBGYN and they sent her elsewhere for some testing. They saw something that did not look good and wanted her to follow up on it. Upon her following up, we have been praying with her that God knows the plans her has in store for her, and that he do his will in her life. She found out that she has Stage 3 cervical cancer and a large tumor. She just began Chemo on Tuesday. She is also having some trouble in her marriage, which just happened in October, so please keep her and her family in your prayers. She is such a strong, loving, optimistic person and she is taking this as a challenge, she told me that she does not believe that God is done with her here. I love you, know that I am here for you no matter what!

Also, we have some deaths that have occurred in our lives. Another friend of mine was told once that she would never have children. Here we are, 4 years later and she has 2 little angel boys! She told us she was pregnant again, and when she went in for her first appt., they found a large mass on her uterus. On Christmas Eve, she began to bleed and she has had a miscarriage. She knows that she is blessed to have her boys and praises the Lord for them, but she is still very upset and hurt over the loss of this little one. Please keep her in your prayers.

It seems like with the good always comes the bad, and I just pray that God touches each and every one of these people and that they find comfort in him.

When I was looking back over this past year, I realized how blessed I really am. Over this year,I have had 3 major life events happen:
1)I have been blessed to be a mom for the first time


2)celebrate a 25th birthday-YEAH!!!

3)and celebrate 3 wonderful years of marriage with my husband!


Those are the best gifts I could ever ask for.


This morning as I was dropping Calleigh off at my mom's house I slipped with her in my arms and fell down their sidewalk. She was ok, thank goodness, and I have a bruised bottom and some dirty clothes, but otherwise, we are fine! Then on the way to work, I ran over a chipmunk, which broke my heart, and then got stopped by a train which made me late for work. Luckily, I have a wonderful boss who understands and just laughed at me! I hope everyone else is having a better day than me! Take care and God bless!

Jon and Katie's Wedding

Here is a slide show from Andrew's sister, Katie's wedding! Congrats to Katie and our new brother-in-law, Jon!

Calleigh's First Christmas

Here is a slideshow of Calleigh's First Christmas, Enjoy! Hope everyone had a blessed Holiday Season!