My pregnancy so far...

Hello again!
I thought I would take a few minutes to write about my pregnancy thus far. As of today, I am 16 weeks, and 2 days pregnant. My waistline is starting to grow, and thanks to maternity pants (greatest invention ever!) getting dressed for the day is comfortable again.

We found out we were pregnant on the morning of New Years Eve. I had suspected I might be pregnant, and took a pregnancy test first thing that morning. It only took 30 seconds or so to turn positive, and the first thing that popped into my head was 1 Samuel 1:27, which is "For this child I prayed, and the Lord grated me my petition that I asked of him." We had been praying for a little one since our honeymoon, and this scripture always gave me comfort during the years, and months of waiting. In a matter of a few seconds it took to thank Heavenly Father, I screamed "JAKE" from the bathroom. Waking him up from a NyQuil induced sleep (he had been sick), and alarming him to the point where he thought someone had broken into the house. I ran into our bedroom, and told him the good news, practically knocking him over with my hug, and waving the pregnancy test around like a loon.

The weeks that followed were textbook 1st trimester. I experienced all the "normal" symptoms...exhaustion...nausea...vomiting...food aversion. You name it. I discovered very quickly, that I couldn't eat some of my favorite foods, including bananas, scrambled eggs, and shrimp. And I have a very nice list of all the random places I've puked. But I'll spare you the gory details.

Everything was progressing nicely, until the beginning of week 12. I was at work, and experienced an episode of bleeding that scared the living daylights out of me. Thankfully, I work at a hospital, so I went and found a good friend I was working with, and she walked with me to the ER. I wasn't having any abdominal pain, or cramping, so the PA was optimistic that I wasn't miscarrying.  I was still so scared, and we prayed that by some miracle the baby would be okay. When the ultrasound machine rolled into the room, Jake and I took a collective deep breath, knowing this would tell us how our baby was. The  minute it took the tech to find the baby, was probably one of the longest minutes of my life. But, when we saw that sweet little peanut moving his/her arms and legs around, I can't begin to express the relief that washed over me. We got a good report on all sides from the ER, and was discharged home, with instructions to follow up with my doctor the next day. Nobody could explain the bleeding, but knowing our baby was okay was all that mattered.  As the week progressed, I had two more intense, and unexplainable episodes of bleeding. Each time, I followed up at my doctor's office, where they would listen to the baby's heartbeat, ask me a few questions, then send me home to rest. It wasn't until the end of that week, after two visits to the office, that they finally decided to do a full exam, and make sure nothing was wrong with my cervix. And it was then that we discovered what was causing the bleeding...what appeared to be a varicose vein on my cervix. My doctor immediately scheduled me for a colposcopy, which is where they use a microscope to have a closer look at your cervix. (Usually, they do a biopsy, but because I'm pregnant they didn't biopsy anything.)

During the colposcopy, I was able to see exactly what the doctors saw, and it does indeed look like a weird purple vein. My doctor told me that in 20 years of practicing, he's never seen or heard of anything like this. We have almost entirely ruled out cervical cancer, or a pre-cancerous lesion, because this wasn't present in January for my first appt, and all my tests came back perfect. BUT- because nobody can give me any answers about what this is, or why it's suddenly present, I'm scheduled to follow up with a women's hematologist/oncologist next week at the University of Kentucky. I'm praying that this doctor will be able to give us an overview of what the next 6 months are going to entail, and answer a few of the hundreds of questions I have. 

Like any normal person, I googled "cervical varices," and came up with some interesting case study reports. Miraculously, the baby isn't affected by any this. He or she is progressing perfectly, and getting bigger daily. As for me, I'm home. I can't work, because the pressure of sitting at a desk for 12 hours, causes the dreaded bleeding. I've joked that it's like being on house arrest, because for the next 6 months, I'm taking it easy, and staying off my feet. The bleeding can happen at anytime, without any warning, and is always in the back of my mind. I'm slowly learning how to deal with this added stress, and lots of prayer has left me with an indescribable peace. Knowing my Heavenly Father is in control, gives me a feeling of stability, in a situation that I have zero control over. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a "go and do" kind of person, but right now I have to focus on the tiny growing person inside me, and being as healthy as possible.

I want to thank all my dear family, and friends for all the love, support, and prayer they have given us over the last month! It's an incredible feeling to know that you are being lifted up in prayer. I thank God daily for this little blessing, and I'll do whatever it takes to bring this blessing into the world. I already feel fortunate that God has chosen Jake and I to be this sweet child's parents.

Hopefully, the next time I have a pregnancy update, I'll have some answers to important questions. In the meantime, I'll be sitting on the couch knitting, or hand sewing if you need me! :D

Love,
Kristen

We have a very special announcement!

We are beyond excited!

Breaking the silence....

Hello all.

I decided that I wanted to dust some of the cobwebs off this blog, and start actually using it to document our lives. I fear that in the blink of an eye, years will flash before us, and I'll forget all the fun little details of our lives.

We are currently in the middle of one of the coldest, and snowiest winters I've experienced since I was a kid. The average temps have been in the teens (or lower some weeks), with wind chill making the temperature feel even more frigid. I've heard a lot of people complain about snow, and road conditions, but honestly I'm thankful for it. Winter is supposed to be cold, and snowy. We will have less pests in our garden, and hopefully less ticks to deal with this summer. (I swear, those things could survive an atomic bomb!) I'm enjoying the cold, and I know it will make me even more appreciative of the deliciously warm spring, and the beautiful awaking of nature. Today in Walmart, I got a little more excited than I should looking at all the seed starting stuff.

Well, I'm going to end this post with a little tidbit I found on pinterest that I thought was awesome. God really does hear our prayers...we just have to be patient! :D

Good night!
Kristen

Rainbow sandals review...

Hello all. 

Many of you will remember my post about buying a pair of Rainbow sandals while on vacation in Myrtle Beach. 

Well, I thought it would be fun to post a little review about these amazing sandals now that I've had a month or so to break them in. 

First off, I waited over a year before I actually purchased a pair. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a weird internal calculator that keeps purchases in check. So paying $50 ish dollars for a pair of flip flops seemed unreasonable. But after a year of reading review after review about how incredible they were, I broke down and bought a pair. And honestly, I've never looked back!

Here are my sandals after about a month of wear. I also wore the sandals almost everyday during our trip to Gettysburg, Pa, where we did all sorts of walking through museums, and battlefields. Did I have blisters? Yes. Very small ones on my 2nd toe where the strap goes in. between your toes. But, the blisters weren't bad at all, and I continued to wear them everyday. Now, they have molded to my foot, and are super comfortable. Beyond anything I've ever worn before! They have superior arch support, which is something I've struggled with while wearing most sandals. 

I'm sold on these babies. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality sandal. They also look nice, and are made of very durable leather. They are definitely worth $50, seeing as they will last for multiple summers. :) (Or that's the common theme on the reviews.) I will update if I have any further comments or problems. But, I'm seriously not anticipating it! Haha. :)

Myrtle Beach 2013

My family made their annual trek to Myrtle Beach the last week in June. Thankfully, I was able to fly down for most of the week to spend some time with my family. Because Jake and I were going to Gettysburg the week after I returned, he was unable to go with me.

I flew out of Huntington, WV, and because Jake is terrified of the thought of flying I took tons of pictures to show him when I returned...

After I landed in Myrtle Beach, Mom and Gram Keller were there to greet me. Gram is the tiny dot wearing the green shirt. :D

As soon as I landed, my brother Josh and his wife Keshia, Mom and Brent, and I walked to one of our favorite restuarants at the beach - The Pier! It was a great way to kick off a relaxing week.  We also went putt-putt golfing, where everyone scored a hole in one, except for Brent who won the entire game. And Gram Keller actually had 2 hole in ones!

We also went on the Sky Wheel. Which is a huge farris wheel right on the boardwalk. You sit on benches in glass "bubbles", complete with air conditioning, and doors. I was impressed with how comfortable it was. And we were able to fit 6 people into our bubble.

 View from the top

Because Jake is scared of heights, I took this one for him. :P

During a little shopping spree, I finally decided to purchase a pair of Rainbow sandals. I read about Rainbows last summer and how comfortable, durable, and long lasting they are. So, I thought that it would be a good investment...

In retro-spec, I should have purchased them last year. They are really the best sandal I've ever owned. More than worth the initial investment.

All in all, it was a fabulous week with my family. I'm so thankful I was able to go, and make countless memories in one of our favorite places. In closing, I'll leave you with some pictures of the beach. Up next is Gettysburg!

Natural Strawberry Jam...

Making strawberry jam is a May tradition in my family. Last year, I made my first batches of freezer jam with much success. Unfortunately, my only problem was that I didn't make enough jam. My husband, and Father-n-law could knock out a pint or so of jam in one or two sittings, so I was determined to can enough jam this year to last us through most of the winter. :D

The Mennonite's in London started selling fresh strawberries over the weekend, so I was determined to buy as many as I could process on my day's off. I ended up with 3 gallons, which equates to 12 quarts. Plenty for jam, and fresh strawberry pie. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to try canning without pectin, after doing some research about preserving food the way it was done 100 years ago.

First start by wearing a very cute apron (for all the ladies out there...)

I started with 5 or 6 apples (I used fuji), and a lemon. Let me plug the importance of organic produce, because you leave the peels on both. First, you cut the apples into small pieces, leaving the everything but the stem, and the opposite side that has the little leaf.

Sorry about the orientation of the picture. I have it saved correctly, but blogger is being weird.

You also do the same thing to the lemon. Then you combine them in a pot, with enough water to keep them from sticking. (I filled it about half way.) Cook the apple/lemon mixture for about 20 minutes, or until soft.

Then strain off the excess water, and push through a sieve. I didn't have a sieve, so I used a fine wire strainer, and used a wooden spoon. The end product is a puree, and you need about 2 cups. I was leery that this would produce enough pectin, but it worked so well.

Add the 2 cups of puree to 8 cups of quartered strawberries, then add 4.5 cups of sugar. I used organic sugar, because it's what I've been buying lately. I'm not sure if regular white sugar would change the taste. Either way, I'm sure it's going to be great.

You can see the puree in the turquoise bowl, and the strawberry tops I cut off. Please ignore the puree slopped all over the counter.

Make sure you use a deep cooker to combine everything in, after you add it to the stove top, it will bubble up like a strawberry volcano if you don't watch it. I caught mine before it got to high, but man alive that would be a mess! The trick is to heat it up, and to get the right temperature (around 220 degrees. A candy thermometer comes in handy.) So, I had my stove-top on high heat, and I put the lid half on the top to retain some of the heat when I wasn't stirring. Oh, and another word to the wise, once it starts boiling, wear an oven mitt to protect your hand as you stir. I have a lovely burn on my hand from jam bubbling up.

Once everything starts to boil, set your timer for 20 minutes. After you get to 20 minutes, take a spoonful of it, and place it on a saucer in the freezer for 5 minutes. I know, it sounds strange, but after 5 minutes, if you run your finger through it and it "wrinkles" up, your jam is finished. But if it doesn't, it needs a few more minutes boiling. It's a neat little trick that really does work!

As the mixture thickened, the amount on my spoon also thickened!

After your jam is ready, pull your jars out of the dishwasher (that's what I use to sterilize them), and pour jam into jars, leaving about 1/4 inch head space. Quickly, I must mention the cool jars I bought today...

The middle jar is a vintage jar, and the smaller quart jars are new. Ball is celebrating 100 years of jar's with this limited edition blue collection. I was beyond thrilled with them. It's hard to resist the impulse to buy some every time I see them.

Anyway, after placing the seals and rings on the jars, place them in a hot water boiler for 10 minutes, then let cool down for about 5 minutes in the water, then remove and let sit on a towel on the counter until you hear that glorious "pop" sound. My jam was very thick. I think I might have boiled it a tad too long, but it still tastes very good! Here's an example of how it set up...

Happy canning! 

Love,
Kristen


Natural Strawberry Jam Recipe

5 or 6 organic apples
1 organic lemon
2 quarts of strawberries (or 8 cups quartered)
4.5 cups of sugar (more or less depending on your preference)
4 quart jars or 8 pint jars

Cut apples, and lemon into small pieces, and boil until all pieces are soft. Strain, then sieve to create a puree. Add 2 cups puree to the strawberries, and sugar. Boil mixture around 20 minutes, then add to warm jars. Wipe off, and place seals, and rings. Then add to a hot water canner with about 1 inch of water on top. Boil for 10 minutes, then let cool down before removing. Listen for "pop" sound, or check tops to see if they sealed. Enjoy yummy strawberry jam!

Halloween 2012

Hello all.

Yes, I know...I'm seriously lagging behind in blogging.

Last night was Halloween, and we had a blast just hanging out at home, and waiting to hand out candy to neighborhood kiddos.

We started our night with a yummy dinner of spaghetti and cheese bread. (Sorry for lack of picture.)

Then it was a mad dash sprint through the house to find some sort of costume to dress up in. I ended up dressing up as a Pittsburgh Steeler, and Jake was a zombie hunter. (Really I think it was just an excuse to play around with his gun, and wear camo. :D)

What can I say...we are just plain cool. 

Madison even dressed up for the occassion...

(For the record she's a squirrel.)

We ended the night with Halloween cookies, and mugs of hot apple cider. And snuggled in to watch Hocus Pocus. My idea of a perfect night. :P

Love,

Kristen