CHICAGO!!

 I am sitting here at my computer, FEET UP, trying to get caught up on my blogging.  More on my recent health issues later....

Sunday afternoon I got home after a WONDERFUL long weekend in Chicago with 2 of my best girls!  We had a BALL!  I adore these girls and their friendship means the world to me...but having a full weekend to play in Chicago was just the best.

We arrived in Chicago on Thursday morning at 8:30.  Yes, that meant our flight out of San Antonio was at 6:00 am.  We were too pumped to be tired.  Once we got there we hit the town running.  We stayed a block off of the Magnificent Mile in the prime shopping location.  Thursday we spent the day shopping, eating Chicago pizza, sprinkles cupcakes, and just living it up in Chi-Town.  It was great....not to mention the high 60's weather we were welcomed with.

Friday was a picture perfect day.  We arranged to have a Segway tour of Chicago that morning and BOY was it EVER the HIGHLIGHT of our trip.  We had a BLAST.  It was all of our first Segway tour and we became total pros.  I loved it.  It was just so beautiful there and seeing the sights on a Segway was just perfect.  I told Matt that from now on wherever we travel to, if a Segway tour is offered...we are doing it.

Afterwards we grabbed a Chicago Dog and then headed to the Willis Tower, formally known as the Sears Tower, and headed up to the top to see Chicago.  It was beautiful.  The Plexiglas boxes are a wild way to see Chicago from ALL angles.  We loved it!

Segway PROS!

Buckingham Fountain behind me.

I LOVE CHICAGO!!  I can't wait to go back NOT PREGNANT!

The WORLD FAMOUS BEAN!  -A few of my ACU readers will get that.

Here we are!!!

Talk about make your stomach drop!

The view from the TOP!

Saturday was the best day of ALL.  It was the reason for our trip in the first place.  We headed bright and early to the Rosemont Theater to see BETH MOORE.  It was FANTASTIC, LIFE-CHANGING, a moment in my life that will stand out forever.  I am currently on my 5th Beth Moore study, and have attended a few of her live simulcasts, but I have never actually SEEN her in PERSON.  I felt like such a groupie because when she came on stage I just burst into tears.  I truly love her.  So many of her Bible studies have changed my life.  We were FIRST in line and had amazing seats.  We were right in front in the mosh pit area. The worship alone, led by Travis Cottrell, was the best I have ever experienced in my life.  That alone fed my soul.  Afterwards we headed to a fancy schmancy restaurant called, Gibson's, for dinner.  It was fantastic, and the perfect ending to a perfect day and a perfect vacation!  One I'll never forget!

I have said it before, but my man is a ROCK STAR of a husband.  He gladly watches the kids so I can do these fun things, and what makes him the best in my eyes is that he LOVES doing it.  He loves having one on one time with the kids and that is just so dear to my heart.  They always have a blast while mommy is away...I think most rules are broken, but that's ok!  :)  I adore him and I am so thankful for his outward kindness and love for me.  I absolutely think he is the greatest thing there ever was.

Sitting by the doors bright and early FIRST IN LINE!
Allison, Brianna, and Jennifer

Waiting for Beth.

HERE SHE IS!!!

Man oh Man does this guy have a gift!

She is so animated, so passionate, so humble, and a true light in this world.

 So health news....Saturday evening after Beth I was SWOLLEN.  I'm not talking puffy, I am talking borderline grotesque SWOLLEN.  So I went to bed with my feet elevated only to wake up Sunday morning with no change and the swelling had joined my hands and eyes.  I am not going to lie, I was nervous and felt like something was wrong.  I knew we had had very LONG days of going, going, going...but I was nervous.

So once we got all settled at the airport I called my dr just to see what she thought I should do.  I was told to get my blood pressure taken once I got home and to call back if I was in or above this certain range.  So I did and I was ABOVE the range she told me.  I was told to go straight to bed and come in Monday morning.

Sunday night I slept with my feet highly elevated and drank soo much water.  I woke up Monday to no swelling at all.  I still went in to the dr on Monday and was told my BP was still high and I needed to go on bed rest the rest of Monday/Tuesday and come back on Tuesday afternoon.  (and mind you I have felt just FINE through all of this....No symptoms whatsoever).  Tuesday afternoon I go back to find my BP STILL HIGH and was told to be on bed rest and come back Thursday.  They had me go get my blood work done-which made me a little uneasy.  By this point I was starting to get nervous because I am only 23 wks and typical blood pressure issues don't start until the end of your pregnancy.  I have never had BP issues with my other pregnancies, so this is all new to me.

Our precious, precious friends here have gone FAR and BEYOND for us.  We are so blessed.  They have been taking the kids to and from school so I can rest, bring us meals, take the kids on play dates, and just giving me plenty of time to rest.  It has been really hard to do this because I do feel fine.  So going to bed when you feel like you can still do it all was very hard for me.  BUT I obeyed the dr's orders and stayed in bed Tues, Wed, and Thurs.

Yesterday was my apt and sonogram.  Matt took off so he could join me and we had 'pretty good' news.  I am off of bed rest- sort of-.  I HAVE to take it easy the remainder of this pregnancy.  About 3 and 1/2 more months.  She flat out told me that 'if I do not follow her instructions that she can guarantee that I will be hospitalized the remainder of my pregnancy'.  She also said that if my BP get's to a certain range that their only option is to take the baby.  Needless to say I believe her, and I get that high blood pressure is a serious thing.  No traveling for us (by plane or car), only allowed 1 errand a day, no cleaning, hosting, volunteering...pretty much nothing that can cause me to get stressed out or exhausted.  The best news was that we have a healthy and growing baby boy who was just a delight to see on that screen.  Oh how we love him so....but we sure don't want to meet him until January.

So rest is what I'll do.  My number 1 priority is this baby boy and my health.  I plan on obeying the dr's orders and taking it easy.  She scared me enough to see that this is a big deal.  My oh my how each pregnancy is different.  This really threw me for a loop.  I am thankful for the news we received yesterday and our prayers are for a healthy, full term baby boy.

Please add Holton and I, as well as my sweet family, to your prayers over these next couple of months.  It'll be different for us, but that is ok.  I am confident that we'll make it to January with flying colors.

Thank you in advance for your prayers.  They mean the world to me.