Out of range!

So, in the morning I will be heading to Louisville, KY by way of Cincinatti to meet my father in law so he can take the kids. I am headed to a conference for the business and am really excited about the weekend full of motivation, fellowship with some awesome people (one being my dad! Yeah) and adult time! We may just have to do an early V Day dinner or something too! The kids will be spending the 4 days with Nana and Papa (James' folks) and are very excited about it! I was referring to the kids, but I think that Nana and Papa are a little excited too! So everyone have a great end of your week and weekend!

Hopefully we will all be watching the Giants at least giving the Patriots a run for their money. Who knows, maybe they can even win!

Pictures by request

Here is our upside down little baby! The head starts at the bottom right corner and positioned diagonally towards the upper left corner.
This is a picture of the strong heart beat. Don't judge too early about the gender due to the high heart beat of 162 bpm. Gavin had a high heart rate too!

I DID NOT overhear the woman talking to my dr on the phone telling her that everything looked good! She told me that I didn't hear it and I am sticking to that story!

***This is an update since some of you didn't understand what I meant by that last comment. I said that I DID NOT overhear the woman (radiologist) talking to my dr because she wasn't allowed to tell me anything. However, she made the phone call as I was coming out of the bathroom and told me You didn't hear that, Okay? I said, Hear what? So anyway, that is what I meant...sorry it wasn't clear!

Also, James' gramma thinks that the pics of the baby look like Peyton! hahaha So for what that is worth, there you go!

Weekly update!

My pregnancy: 10 weeks

Here is how the baby's growing:Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

***Personal note, I have an ultra sound in the morning to check and make sure that everything is okay. After the complications with Gavin, they are just wanting to make sure that everything is a go from the start! We will not be finding out the sex of the baby tomorrow, as it is too early to tell. This is just for medical reasons, but it will still be nice to get a glimpse of the little thing! Hahaha Please continue to pray for us!

Ridiculously long survey...but informative!

1. Do you wear a name tag at work?
Yes, just not literally on my shirt. It say Mommy, I want...



2. What kind of car do you drive?
01 Oldsmobile Silhouette Van and I love it. I don't know what I would do without all that room!.



3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell?
Usually just 2 beef soft taco supremes, unless I am really hungry then I get the Mexican pizza meal!


4. Have you ever had a garage sale?
Unfortunately, yes...way too many. It is always such a GREAT idea in the beginning and then when you are up all night the night before, you remember that the last time you said "I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!" After counting up the money after it is over, you are reminded yet again.


5. What color is your iPod?
I don't have one. James bought me a cute, silver MP3 player last year, but it is broken. I have petitioned a certain someone to let me buy her Shuffle, we'll see how that goes!



6. What kind of dog do you have?
Harley is a 4 yr old Mutt (Lab/Shephard/Collie) and Phoebe is a 3 1/2 yr old Keeshan/Husky.



7. What's for dinner tonight?
hmmm...still working on that one!



8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?
It has been a while, and will be a while longer since I am pregnant again, but it was some Regae wine. Really fruity and sweet!



9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Let Peyton play with it when she was 10 mos old and she slobbered all in the battery area and I had to buy another one...at full price! I at least talked them down to the refurbished one for $90. It hurt!



10. Last time you were sick?
Thankfully, it has been a while. Probably September when I was in New Orleans and got a really bad stomach bug. I even puked on the plane ride home. That was awful! (the thankfully part was because I am pregnant and usually I have the worst morning sickness! This time, not so much so I will enjoy it while the calm lasts!)



11. How long is your hair?
Longer than it has EVER been. It is a couple of inches past my shoulders.



12. Are you happy right now?
Honestly, I am happy but frazzled. Gavin has bronchitis, double ear infections, and is constipated to boot so needless to say he is incredibly cranky!



13. What did you say last?
"Peyton it is late. Please pick out your jammies so you can go to bed, or mommy will pick them out for you!"

14. Who came over last?
Gramma. and God love her soul, she folded my laundry for me YET again!

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
I don't think so, but my dad always did! Hahahaha

17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
My Excel card. Does that count? I don't have any keychains anymore!

18. What was the last movie you watched at home?
Game Plan with The Rock and it was really cute!

19. What is in your pocket?
a receipt

20. Who introduced you to your crush?
I actually met James through his mom! hahaha I was chaperoning a youth rally and he came up to see them for the day (his dad was the director that weekend and I worked with his mom at ACS)

21. Where do you hurt?
Right now, nowhere! Not even a headache and that is awesome.

22. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear?
No, but I have taken my little sister and brother tehre.

23. What DVD is in your DVD player?
Thomas the Train

24. What's something fun you did today?
Visited with James' gramma while she helped entertain the kids and fold my laundry! ;)

25. Who was the principal of your high school?
Mr Brown

26. Has your house ever been TPd?
No, but I have Tp-ed another house.

27. What do you think of when you hear the word 'meow'?
weird question...cats or how cute Gavin is when he says it!

28. What are you listening to right now?
Peyton making up a song while reading a book before she goes to bed.

29. Drinkin?
nothing, but I should be drinking water, getting ready for the 32 oz that I have to have before I go to the hospital for my ultrasound first thing in the morning.

30. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?
The clearance aisle of course! At our Walmart, they have 2 aisles just dedicated to clearance. It is between the home repairs and the outdoor/seasonal stuff. we always make a run down that aisle.

31. When is your birthday?
July 4th

32. What's the area code for your cell phone?
Those that know me, know that!

33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now?
I think Wal-Mart. Just a simple green t-shirt!

34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
Peyton's necklace and my MOPS name badge.

35. How many states in the US have you been to?
11 or 12

37. What are you going to do after this?
hopefully get some quiet time before James gets home.

38. Who was the last person you went shopping with?
The kids.

40. What about your favorite dessert?
If I have to pick one, I would say cheesecake. The no bake kind (not the Jell-O no bake, but the cream cheese mixture in the graham cracker crust! You can put strawberries or cherries on top and that would also be fine!

41. What is something you need to go shopping for?
I desperately need to go grocery shopping, but we are trying to hold off since we are leaving in 3 days for a 4 day weekend!

42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives?
No

43. What kind of car do your siblings drive?
Currently only one of my siblings drive and that is my sister and she has a cute little black Saturn coupe! Very NON-children friendly, but cute none-the-less!

44. Do you like pickles?
Yes, but I tried pickling green tomatoes after season this year and they are awful!

45. What about olives?
I love them, James hates them! My kids like to put them on their fingers.

47. What is your favorite kind of juice?
White Grape peach juice, they have it at Aldi's for $.99!

48. Do you have any tan lines?
Not a one!

49. What hospital were you born in?
Somewhere in Tulsa, OK

50. Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher?
Yes I do! It was Mr Gill in Conway, AR. I had a HUGE crush on him!

I tag, all of the lurkers, and please leave a comment if you do it on your page.

(where are 15, 36, 39, 46?)

So, I have subscribed yet again to babycenter.com for weekly updates on my pregnancy. It is almost like an addiction. I thought I might share this week's "insight" as I find them very humorous! I also think it is funny how it keeps alternating every week from "she" and "he". Here is your laugh for the day!

How your baby's growing:Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Money saving tip

Here is a money saving tip for those Old Navy shoppers. I went in yesterday just to look and see what they had for maternity clothes on clearance and what I found was astonishing! ALL of their clearance items were and additional 50% off. I got a maternity coat for $8 (James had just said yesterday that the coat I was wearing wasn't much of a coat and it wasn't. It was a thin, black dress coat but my other option was my Columbia coat that once I get it zipped, I can't move! it is that tight!). I got a cute off white, long sleeved shirt for Peyton for $2.25, pair of socks for $.25 and 2 things for my little brother for $5 each!

So have fun!

***Edited Monday night after recieving info that addition off clearance was only through today. So sorry for anyone that I got your hopes up!

Reunion...of sorts

So, today I went to a Bridal shower for my dear friend from high school, Jenica. I hadn't seen her in almost 3 years. She came by after I had Peyton and we haven't seen each other since. She is a very busy nurse, works 3rd shift, boyfriend lives in Columbus and I just let my busy-ness of mommy hood get in the way of making time to see her. So today was a mix of emotions. I was very excited to see Jenica again, especially at this happy time in her life! She is really happy and from the little that I know of Josh, he is great for her!

I was also a little scared, maybe intimidated. I didn't know who all was going to be there. I hadn't seen her family in about 6 yrs and hadn't seen any of the people that I though might be there from high school in 7 1/2 years! I was very nervous! I have changed a lot since high school;spiritually, maturity, and physically. When I finished high school I weighed 117 lbs. Now, I way a whopping...nevermind. The point is that I don't look the same. HOWEVER, I do have the excuse of being pregnant and my sister in law found some maternity clothes yesterday on clearance at Target, so I gave in and wore the incredibly cute maternity clothes to the shower so that I wouldn't look fat...just pregnant! hahaha

I was really happy that I went. The only people that I knew was Lindsay from high school and Jenica's mom, sister and gma. It was really nice catching up with all of them. I feel that I have changed so much and they all look the same (well except for her little sister, Jenae). They are all as beautiful as they have always been and Jenae is a gorgeous woman! She was only like 14 or 15 the last time I saw her!

We also had the shower at Lindsay's dad's house in Pendleton. It was gorgeous! It could have been in one of those Real Simple or Home magazines. Everything was perfect.

It was really great getting to see Jenica again and also to see her in her element. There were several girls there that she works with at the hospital so I kind of got to see what her life is like now! I will have to wait until the wedding next month to meet Josh.

Wednesday favorites

Okay, so I know that these are supposed to be Tuesday Favorites but we were out of town yesterday and I am just dying to post this ridiculous favorite of mine that I had forgotten about until today!

Most of you know that we remodeled my bathroom and along with that came a new toilet! We got a white toilet and at the time, we thought that was a great idea, due to the "look of clean" factor. However, we didn't think of the fact that we had the WORST water in Anderson. Not only is it well water, it is VERY hard water. We have a water softener, but we started having rust streaks in the toilet already!!! I tried Lime Away and a couple of other toilet cleaners and nothing was working. I went to Wal Mart and bought my trusty "The Works" for $1.17, brought it home, squirted it in and viola!!!! White as new!!! I couldn't believe it. So this is my lame, budget minded, stay at home mom's version of Tuesday Favorites posted on Wednesday!

Monday's Battle Scars

So, Gavin has a scrape under his eye, will probably turn into a black eye by tomorrow and Peyton bit her tongue...with her top AND bottom teeth!

When are my kids going to be able to stay up on their feet? (if they follow their mother, unfortunately that answer is never!)

Don't rush to conclusions...

I just had to share a HUGE event that happened with Gavin today. Now, if you have toddlers that you are having difficulty potty training, do not read any further. Also, please note that I realize this isn't a post about Gavin already being potty trained or anything. It is only suggesting that he might be on the beginning stages of playing with the idea! Everyone knows that I have been fighting the potty training monster with Peyton for the past year, so I know how long of a process this is and how long the road ahead is. With all of that said, here is my story!

Gavin (20 mos old) has been waking up the last several weeks every morning with 2 words to me. They used to be "Goo Mornin Mommy" but now are "I poo poo". Well, although we have gotten a kick out of this, they aren't accurate words since his diaper is usually completely saturated with pee, but rarely any poop. Well, today he woke up from his nap and said "Poo poo in the Potty". I was excited, although I already smelled the evidence in his diaper and we went down the hall together. I asked him if he wanted to sit on the potty and he said "yes" (another one of his favorite words that he emphasises a lot). Well, we passed the bathroom in order to get the wipes and he started whining "potty, potty". After getting the wipes we went to the bathroom, took off his diaper, cleaned his bum and then he started PEEING ON MY FLOOR. I quickly picked him up and put him on the potty and he finished there! So Gavin actually pee pee-ed in the potty today! I know it was a little manipulated, but he thought he was big stuff!!!

So, I want to emphasize again that I know this isn't a huge break through or anything, however it was a bit of encouragement to me that there is a chance that Gavin will begin the stages of potty training before the new baby comes! ;) I think I will get out the little potty chair and just have it in the bathroom just in case!

Fun day with Peyton

This year, I have become a part of the MOPS (moms of preschoolers) group here in Anderson and I love it! Today was very special. The normal caregivers for the children are mostly Anderson University students and since they don't start back to class until next week, we didn't have them today. Instead we did a Mommy and Me day WITH our kids...imagine that! hahaha Although it is always wonderful to have that 2 hrs of adult time with other moms talking about organizing, bulk cooking or doing crafts; it was really nice to have an activity to do with Peyton that I didn't have to organize today! They did have caregivers for the younger ones, so that is where Gavin went and Peyton and I had an hour and a half to ourselves (among all of the other moms with their children as well of course)! It was great.

We started off with story time from one of the ladies from the public library. She read us lots of stories, did movement songs and gave us more ideas for stories on our own. We then did a snack with the kids and later moved on to create a book together called "All about me". There were different stations set up for the kids to test out their different senses with pages in the book to correlate with them. One of the stations had different textured things to touch, another had a mirror so that the kids could see what color their eyes and hair were and color the box accordingly, another height and weight, another was a taste table where they could taste 3 sweets (M&M's) and 2 salty (pretzels), another was movement and also a sound one. We ended it with taking a Polaroid picture of the 2 of us and taping it to the back of the book! It was so cool and pretty well organized! It was nice to have that time with just her. In one of the rooms, she was able to pick out 4 prizes for her "loot bag" and she chose to pick a pink yo-yo for herself and a blue one for Gavin! How sweet is that! She even got something for her brother!

What a great day!

Update on David Plummer

I have had a couple of requests for an update on David, so here you go. David is doing much better. He is still in a lot of pain, however they have began basic therapy with him. That therapy consists only of helping him sit up on the side of the bed. He will be in a wheel chair for at least 3 months, with 1-2 yrs of recovery ahead of him. The femur bone in both of his legs were broken along with many other breaks throught the lower legs. He was finally moved to his own room from the progressive care unit today. The progressive care unit had 4 beds in it with a nurse's station actually in the middle of the room. This is what I guess they use for the patients that need close observation. He was given a lot of blood, due to how much he lost during the surgery. He has A LOT of "hardware" (pins, screws, nails...yes nails and rods) in his legs. He is in great spirits though, asking that anyone who is wanting to buy him flowers or anything just to donate the money to the church! How amazing is that! He is still up at Methodist Hospital and probably will stay there until he is released to go home. They don't plan on transferring him to the hospital in Anderson. They are looking at sometime next week.

I still feel that David is lucky to be alive and I know that the family feels the same way. We all thank you so much for your prayers at this time! If you would like to send a card or an e mail, contact me at robinabels@gmail.com and I can give you their address or e mail address.

Here are a couple more pictures from the accident and of the firefighters actually pulling him from the engine.

Please pray

Below is a news posting about a train accident that occured early this morning that David Plummer was involved in. I have referred to David Plummer in a previous post about how his family has meant so much to mine. He is my friend Tami's father. He is the one that they are referring to when they talked about having to pull one guy from the engine who had been there for about an hour. (He works for the railroad as an engineer driving the trains.)

He went through a pretty gruesome surgery today to fix both of his broken legs which involved a rod in one of his legs from his hip to his knee, several pins/nails, a plate in his ankle, and opening of his knee cap (it had split and twisted). He will probably be in a wheel chair for 2-3 months. Please keep this family in your prayers, as his wife Sharon is still recovering from the stroke that she had a year ago today as well.

2 Injured, Thousands Of Gallons Spilled In Train Collision
Neighbors Awakened By Noise From Wreck
POSTED: 3:33 pm EST January 6, 2008
UPDATED: 3:39 pm EST January 6, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS -- A freight train accident involving a 100-car CSX train derailed 35 cars and injured two people on Indianapolis' west side early Sunday morning.
Wayne Township fire Capt. Troy Wymer said the accident happened at about 3:30 a.m. between High School Road and Girls School Road when 112 cars were released accidentally from the CSX yard in Avon. They then headed east on the tracks and collided with the 100-car train, which was bound for Avon from Buffalo, N.Y.

Wymer said rescue workers had to pull a CSX employee from the wreckage of the Avon-bound train. That man was trapped for about an hour.

"I heard some sawing and then I heard this young gentleman screaming at the top of his lungs back there, and I watched them pull him out," said Barbara Graham.

Medics rushed that employee and another person to Methodist Hospital in serious condition.

There was no update on their conditions Sunday afternoon.

About 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel and 2,000 gallons of soybean oil were spilled. No residents were in danger.

Numerous train cars were left crumpled together in the wake of the collision.

"I could see … things going up in the air and it sounded like the train derailed," said Doug Resendez, who called 911 right after the collision happened. "I could see all the cars piling up."

The train wreck awakened residents who live near the tracks.

"My house was shaking. You could feel that something was going on," said Anita Cook.

"We heard this loud noise and immediately said, 'Yeah, I'm sure it's the train tracks,'" said Peggy Ticen.

Fire officials said that cleaning up the mess could take several days.

Birthday madness

While we were in Branson, we celebrated 3 birthdays as well. Jazmin turned 4 on Nov 26th, Jack turned 55 ;) on Dec 28th and Ethan turned 3 on Dec 31st. Jared's family doesn't get to participate in many of the birthday celebrations, so we decided to have those 3 birthdays together while we were down there. Jared and Cristy brought a pinata that the kids decorated and Cristy made this awesome chocolate bar dessert thing! It was really nice and a lot of fun watching all of the kids hitting the pinata, especially the little kids!


Here are some pictures

Ready for the surprise?

Most of you that read my blog have already heard, but for those who haven't...

I'm pregnant.

• Yes, we are excited!


• Yes, we are going to have our hands full!


• Yes, we were really shocked!

Although we were shocked, I didn't cry this time! There are a lot of things that are different now than before.

• Peyton is almost 3, not 8 mos!


• We are debt free!


• I am a stay at home mom!


• I am involved in a great support system in my MOPS group (moms of preschoolers).


• I have great friends that are going to let me borrow maternity clothes! ;)


• We have a great support system with our church as well, God has really blessed us this past year.

So, when the new baby gets here, Peyton will be 3 1/2 (agghh), Gavin will be a little over 2 and I will be 26!

I think it is a little comical that James wanted to have A child by the time he turned 30, which happened (only by 2 1/2 mos) and now he is going to have 3 kids at 33! hahaha

So, anyway...we are asking that everyone join us in a couple of prayers. We are praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy. We had some pretty scary complications when I was pregnant with Gavin. I had placenta abruption. I know that God will take care of us, no matter what happens. I also know, thought that it will be very difficult taking care of 2 toddlers if I am on restrictions again.

So, although I wanted to resolve this New Year to lose that 30 lbs before we had another baby, I am still resolving to eat healthy and continue exercising. If anyone has any awesome tips for prego workouts, let me know!

Christmas in Branson

This year, we did something very different. We met up with James' family in Branson, MO. James' brother and family live in Texas, his parents live in Ohio, while his sister's family, grandparents on Abels' side and us lives in here in Indiana. An uncle from Oklahoma even came up to join us! It was a nice central place for all of us to get together and it the facilities we were staying in were VERY nice! We had 3 two bedroom units with fully stocked kitchens with a dishwasher, spacious living rooms and even a washer and dryer. One of the bedrooms in each unit was a room with 2 double beds, and the other room had a king size bed and a jacuzzi tub! The first 2 nights, we stay in the room with the double beds, giving Peyton her own bed and putting Gavin in the pack n play in the closet! Yeah, the closet was so big that his bed fit just fine!
We ate incredibly well, the kids all had a great time playing together (8 of them ages 10 and under), the adults played cards games, shuffle board and did a lot of visiting! There was even a pool that the kids had a blast in! James and I even got to go on a date with his brother and sister in law while his mom and dad watched the kids! It was really nice!
I will split the pictures up into 3 different posts because there are so many! They will be Christmas, Family fun, Birthday celebration! Here are the Christmas ones!


Christmas morning, opening stockings. Peyton really likes this candy. It is called Lightening Bugs. It is little, plastic tweezers that light up and when you pick up the gummy worms, they light up!

Gavin kept reaching deeper!

Peyton and her cousin Ethan, mesmerized by another show!

Christmas morning chaos!

Our new uncle Jim! He is a favorite of all of the cousins!

Our little cousin Jonathon, 3 months younger than Gavin!

Every year, James' mom makes all of the grandkids matching nightgowns. This year, the boys got pajama bottoms and little Hensley thermals with the bear from the pant material appliqued on!

Another picture, make sure and click on both of these pics to enlarge them for better view!