The move is complete!!!!

Find us at our new home:

www.lifeunfabled.blogspot.com

I quit

I'm quiting. Giving up. Not really. I am taking a break though from blogging. I no longer have a real computer I can get on and blogging from my phone is simply too frustrating. Bummer. I wanted to give cute preggo updates on this sweet baby boy who is now rolling and bumping and kicking all the time but aparently the world of microchips and monitors has it out for me. I may be able to get my computer into the computer doctor next month sometime, but I'm fully expecting it to be a VERY expensive repair. Plus I need my husband home long enough to lug it over there since I'm not exactly in the lifting computer business right now. So there you go. A summer good bye. For now!

Mudbug

This is mudbug. I love this picture because even though he refused to
look at the camera he still wanted to snuggle.

New Blog

www.lifeunfabled.blogspot.com


be sure to click "follow" so you can keep up with us as we move and so I know when people are checking the new blog!

Boy mom

today was my 18 week ultrasound. Much anticipated, Lucas had the day sceduled as off for himself. Unfortunately a job last weekend went bad so he had to work. It turned into a blessing though because I was forced to find a sitter for Ayden. I asked my friend Kelly otherwise known as critter playdate mom. She prayed for me before hand and helped settle some of my fears. I think with each pregnancy I have grown in experience and wisdom. I know now so much more than that first time. Sadly now I know how
many things can go wrong. I know too many people people who have had devastating developmental problems with their babies. Good people who have lost infants. I trust my God. I believe he has good things for this baby health or not. That being said the ultrasound went well. The sonographer was happy the whole time and chatty leaving me to believe she saw nothing unordinary. Our baby weighs about 11 oz and is definitely a BOY. Yup baby boy number three. He was stretched out all the way and snuggled up into the placenta. He was calm and his heartrate was lower than the bigger boys typically was. (138). He likes his hands up by his face and his head pushed into my bladder ( explains why I'm awake at 11,1,3 and 6 ) . We are not broadcasting his name yet because I'm not ready too :-). We were given a DVD of the exam. Ayden says he could watch it forever and balin thinks I have yucky fish in my belly. I think it made this real for Ayden tonight because he wanted to say goodnight to his brother by name. This is all becoming very real. Maternity pants are a must. My sciatic nerve hurts like the dickens and my ribs feel like there's , well a baby inside :-). We are excited and feel blessed that God trusts us with the raising of three little men. Boys who will grow up to hopefully lead Godly families. May he find us faithful!

Aydens gift

I've missed you old friend

it has been months since I woke up and felt like having a cup of coffee. Months since morning was anything other than miserable. The past few weeks have been improving and I've even made a couple runs to the coffee shop. Yesterday though after having my drink remade twice and still not walking away with what I ordered I realized I needed to be reaquainted with an old friend. I know it's just a coffee maker. But this companion has seen me through some tough moments. It encourages me helps me stay calm and often helps me turn to the Lord. A coffee maker? Haven't I made an idol? There's been lots of talk in my life group at church lately about how to go deeper with our walk. For me a big key into that is habit. I love curling up. In the morning with a cup of coffee and my bible in a favorite spot. In LA that was on our tiny patio in my chair. I haven't had that here yet and I've struggled. Now I know that being dependent on coffee for my quiet times is s bad thing. But my quiet times have struggled for many more reasons than a cup of coffee. Today we started the routine again and it feels nice. My friend and I. Nice to see you again.

Somethings on it's way.....

Stowaway

Yesterday we went to our weekly after school play date at a friends house. They found a lizard. (Last week it was a pink and brown catapillar). Aydens friend was given a jar and they took their new friend "Tim" inside to play.
When it was time to go we found our friend with a frantic look on his face and his arm reaching into the couch. The lizard was no where to be found. I took our cue and gathered children carrying balin to the car. We drove home in heavy traffic and stopped for gas where we had to wait in line. 30 minutes later we finally got home. Lucas was sitting on the couch so I joined him and was telling him about the lizard lost in the couch. Balin was standing in front of me and raised his arm up. That's when I saw it. I really really wanted it to be a string. Carefully I started to lift his shirt to pull the string off. But couldn't out of fear and knowing.  I fled. Lucas looked a little closer and immediately took balin to the front porch. Gently pulling his shirt off he revealed in full reptile glory Tim. Safe and sound. A stowaway in the armpit of a two year old. Balin took a moment to process and then realized there was a lizard in his shirt. At this point he started screaming "I don't like it!"and tried to tear the front door down to get back inside. I found him in his room demanding a new shirt. Eventually he calmed down and we all went to free kids night at the local burrito place to chill. Because that's what you do when lizards take a ride on your baby. You chill.

Week 11

Here are some late pictures from the snow day we had a couple of weeks ago. The boys loved it.
The medicine I've been put on for morning sickness is really helping with the nausea, and as a side effect has taken away all of my heartburn too!The only problem is that it makes me really sleepy... like nyquil sleepy when I take it in the morning. Imay be asking to try soomething new when I go back in on the 23rd. I have a new friend who has been posting pictures of her "bump" and the corresponding fruit/vegetable that matches the size of the baby. My bump is def. there, but after two other babies not so exciting to show:-). I'll save those for later. The baby is about the size of a plum now though which is quite exciting. We are gearing up for a little mini vacation this weekend. Aydenw ill be spending spring break with his Colorado parents in Arizona! they are coming to Fredericksburg for a wedding and so we are going to meet them Saturday morning with our bundle, drop him off and then spend the day exploring the area before heading to Bastrop to spend the night. Why Bastrop? because its not here! Actually Lucas drives through it all the time when he goes to work in Laredo and says it is beautiful and I will love it. I will love sleeping in a hotel and not having to prepare/clean up meals for an entire 24 hours. We found a girl (and her mom) who is 12 who will be dog sitting for us. she is raising money for church camp, so we are happy to help sponsor her!

Introducing Baby Tilsen number three: Sprout

Here is the reason I have not been blogging much at all over the last couple of months. As usual, and even more this time I'm very sick with this pregnancy.Yuck. I'm not sure if the nausea or fatigue is worse. I could do with neither of them. I have been trying sea bands and they seem to help me feel a little less queasy which in turn allows me to eat and havemore energy. My Dr. gave me a prescription for nausea but it makes me feel pretty foggy so the verdict on that is still out. We are excited though.I hear from family that there are great hopes for this to be a baby girl.I'm not putting any money on it.We have names picked out, but I wont be sharing:-). I have found it really depressing when people pick on your name choices, and annoying to hear everyone who is alive offer their opinions.So we've got names and you'll find thgem out in September:-). i'll gve you this much though, both names are in the bible and both have five letters. The ultrasound was fun even though this little being is barely over an inch long. Icould see sprout moving their head back and forth and wiggling a bit. You could see the brain is starting to divide into two hemispheres and the heart beating away in there. We have been amazed though at the blessings we have seen allready in this pregnancy. Our life group at church is really helping us. A sweet college girl is helping me out during the week. She came over Thursday to watch B while I went to my appointment and when I got back the boys room was CLEAN and she had VACUMED! Awesome. another friend brought us the yummiest corn chowder... with BACON. yum. Other Tilsen updates: Ayden starts Baseball soon... and actual baseball, not t-ball. Balin is becoming my little nurturer,carrying around a baby doll and helping mommy. This morning he put a band-aid on my face "because mommy is sick" (i was coughing). Lucas is working his tail off and getting better all the time at his job.We will be officially made members of the church we are attending within the next few weeks too. I will try to post more soon, but for now...I'm busy growing a baby.

Its been a while but

THIS is super important!! I've posted a link here before, but this time theres a very REAL need for you to help. My sweet Friends Mark and Becky are choosing to adopt their first child from Ethiopia. They see the need for love for the lost children of this world and they are choosing to respond. I'm so proud of them. Go HERE and buy a bag, or ten. Help bring their baby home! Sure you can buy reuseable shopping bags at the checkout counter for a dollar.. but these have meaning. And so. much. value. Plus, if you post a link on your own blog you are entered in a chance to win a bag or five for yourself! So shop, post, link, and help. 143 million minus one.

New blog rising

I'm working on a new blog to be unveiled shortly. I'm torn on how to handle this one. i dont want to delete it, maybe someone will be uber generous and slurp it for me. I'm planning on taking our family a little more private. All the updates, all the pictures,just less on the names and locations part. To be here soon....

Recipe time!

I've been lurking this adoption blog for a while now and loved this post and had to share. I love lots of her posts, but this one is so very useful for those of us with growing families! Enjoy! I'm headed for the white Chicken chili first!

Photo op day

Friday was a day of lounging and loving and cuddling. These times dont always happen so when they do...take a picture!!


Balin was "scared"watching a movie so he snuggled up next to Ayden.Ayden reciprocated the snuggle and Mama was happy. Joyfully blissfully happy to see her boys actually loving on each other voluntarily.Spontaneously. It lasted about ten minutes.
Sometimes life is so good you just gotta let your belly hang out.

As pleasing as it was to see the boys snuggling. Seeing the girls contentedly lie in the floor together was equally grand. It lasted about seven minutes.

My fighter

We found out this week that indeed, Balin will need another surgery for another hernia/hydrocele.Yup,this is the same exact procedure he had done last year. I have no idea yet when the surgery will take place. We meet with a surgeon on Tuesday next week. Lucas will be in Laredo. Our hope is that we can schedule the surgery in March, maybe around Spring break so we can not worry about Ayden and school and if Lucas is out of town then I can get more help. If the Dr thinks we need to take care of it sooner than we will continue trusting that god will take care of the details. We are so grateful to have insurance, even if it is more expensive than it was before and even if the deductible is higher at least we know that we wont have bills that will be completely in crazy ville. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and almost feel guilty that my biggest fears right now are for the comfort of my family, and the annoyance of a surgery when in reality Balin is very healthy. We have access to health care, clean water,safe homes. He will have an outpatient surgery. go home with good medication where he will be held and cushioned and set up with movied and blankets and love and peace.I'm burdened with the images of orphans in Haiti tonight. Children who have no parents and must face this disaster with no one to to worry about them or hold them or tell them its okay. No one to rock them to sleep. No one to make them a blanket nest and rub their forehead until they fall asleep How many children will die alone and afraid? How many more children will survive this only to be alone in the aftermath? Who will fight for the orphans?

A Parental list of Rules to live by

Courtesy John Piper

Let there be much spontaneous celebration verbally of every hopeful sign of life and goodness in our children.
Let us forgive them often and be longsuffering.
Let us serve them and not use them.
Let us lavish them with joyful participation in their interests.
Let us model for them the joy of knowing and submitting to the Lord Jesus.
Let us apologize often when we fall short of our own Father’s requirements.
Let us pray for them without ceasing.
Let us saturate them with the word of God from the moment they are in the womb (the uterus is not sound proof).
Let us involve them in happy ministry experiences and show them it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Let them see us sing to the King.
Let us teach them relentlessly the meaning of the gospel in the hope that God will open their eyes and make them alive. It happens through the gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25).

Again

We finally,officially, got the news from Balins doctor that yes indeed he needs to have ANOTHER hernia/hydrocele surgery. This time he is not a new walker that I could keep still, he is a thriving jumping running two year old who wrestles and gets into trouble CONSTANTLY. This time my husband works even longer hours and possible will be south Texas. This timemy soft and cuddly cloth diapers no longer fit. Arg. i'mnot worried about his health. I trust that he will be in good hands. I worry that this again wont finish the job. I'm wearied by the thought of trying to keep my 30month old STILL for TWO weeks. On a good not though his ear ubes have fallen out on their own and so we dont have to remove them by another surgery.

Superdude

 

One of the faces Picassa people finder found often in my photo albums. I had a feeling he was part of our family.

New Years Hats

 

We started the tradiion last year to make silly hats for new years. Last year we made them out of construction paper and Balin fell asleep before we could finish. This year we used my new Cri#c#t machine machine that my parents blessed me with. I think they turned out pretty cute. Mine says "happy anniversary." We even made one for lucy, but dont have pictures of it. The pictures are what you can expect when taking photos of your chilren at ten at night! The boys were troppers though.We lit sparklers and watched G-Force (which they LOVED.. Balin has been yelling "G-Force!!" ever since).We ate chinese food for dinner and chocolate fondue for dessert and rang in 2010 by watching the ball drop. May this year bring joy and challenges alike that will help us grow together and closer to our Lord!