As We Celebrate Our Country's Independence.....

Tomorrow is Independence Day! The other night we had a community chorus sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and once again I marvelled at these words that are still sung across our country today:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on."

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Written by Julia Ward Howe in November 1861.

Stats from 12ish Week Checkup

I had my 12 week checkup this morning with my midwife, Pam. Can I say how much I love seeing a midwife? With my other 3 children, it was with doctors, wonderful doctors I might add, but this is so different, so relaxed, so personal. Also, the practice I'm with, and the hospital I'll deliver in, are Catholic, so there is a strong belief in the sanctity of life :)

Not much to report this early in the game, but I've lost 5 lbs :) . Now, before anyone gets concerned, I think my weigh-in at my 8 week checkup was really REALLY off. If that one was correct, I gained 11 lbs from my annual checkup in March!!!!! My scale at home didn't show that, and this time everything is where I think it should be (and no, I'm not going to share that number with you ;). We were not able to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler today, but I am not concerned, nor surprised as I was never able to hear the heartbeat unless by ultrasound until the 16 week checkup. Pam was not concerned either. Edited to Add: From my ultrasound, my official due date is January 11, 2009. My dates are a little off because my last period was different, and I wasn't sure when my LMP was. That is why I titled this post "12ish Week Checkup." :)

Like with my other children, I am not doing the alpha-protein (or whatever its called) test. Honestly, it wouldn't change anything for us (except add more worry than I already have for the next 6 months). When I was under doctors' care with my other 3 pregnancies, when I refused the test, they read all this information from a brochure to me, and I had to sign a consent, saying I knew what I was denying. So today, Pam said so casually, "oh, yeah, did you want the (whatever its called) test?" I sheepishly said, "well I didn't with these three (I had them with me today :) ), and I don't think I want it now either." I was preparing to have to defend myself. I asked, "what do you think?" She said with the kindest smile, "personally, I don't like it. We just have to mention that it is available." Phew! Finally, no convincing, no making me feel like I'm making a bad decision! Believe me, I understand, and support a woman who wants it, but for me I don't want it. She confirmed everything I've read that its not uncommon to get a false positive, and then it would mean amnio and further testing and more worry. Anyway, I was so thankful for the support of my decision :)

I did a search on the Internet of pictures of babies at 12 weeks in utero. Right now, my baby is about 1.5-2.5 inches long (rump to top of head). How precious! Also, I just read that his vocal chords are now completely formed. Amazing! Here are some of the pictures I found :

Edited to Add: A cute little comment my son C made as we were leaving: "Hey, wait! We didn't get our baby today!" I guess he thought we were going to have the baby today. Poor little guy can't comprehend how long we have to wait! Even telling him that the baby won't be coming until after his birthday and after Christmas doesn't help him understand!

Enjoy your day :)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love this age. My son C is 3 1/2. He's always asking questions "what is our house made out of", "what is my body made out of", you get the idea. Well, he's been simply fascinated about the baby I am carrying. For a few weeks, he was convinced he too had a baby in him (although his was in his throat/chest area :) ). His baby was a boy.

Up until last night, his questions of who is pregnant have remained within private conversations at home. Last week he had this conversation with Daddy when he got home:

C: "Does O have a baby in him?"

Daddy: "No."

C: "Does M have a baby in her?"

Daddy: "No. O and M are too little. The Bible says you need to be married first then have babies."

C: "Do you have a baby in you Daddy?"

Daddy: "My baby is in Mommy."

Me: Silently gulping wondering what conversations this would bring up with my almost 6 year old who was listening on. But the conversation seemed to end there.

Fast forward to last night, when my Mom was over for a visit.

C: "Grammy, do you have a baby in your tummy?"

Grammy, chuckling: "No."

Me: "C, do you have a baby in your tummy?"

C: "No."

Grammy: "Who has a baby in their tummy?"
C: "Mommy."

Grammy (who by the way doesn't even know of our conversation last week): "Does O have a baby in his tummy?"

C: "No."

Grammy: "Does M have a baby in her tummy?"

C: "No."

Grammy: "Does Daddy have a baby in his tummy?"

C: "No. He put his baby in Mommy's tummy!"

I just about spit my iced tea all over the table! What a little character my C is! You just can't beat the precious things these kids say!