I am currently 37 weeks, 2 days pregnant with my 4th baby. I was taken out of work at 35 weeks due to elevated blood pressure and swelling. The doctor called it bedrest but said I really just needed to be off work and take it easy.
Friday, my BP was higher. I was sent to the labor and delivery floor for lab work and monitoring. My blood work came back good and after 2 hrs of monitoring my blood pressure, I was sent home on "real bedrest".
This is a first for me. My other pregnancies have been fairly uncomplicated other than elevated BP at the very end 38-39 weeks.
I've been reading and taking naps. I've checked Facebook a gazillion times. I've watched movies with Josh and the kids. But mostly, I've analyzed every feeling- maybe this is the start of labor, maybe the contractions are getting more regular, maybe he will come today? I feel like I'm sitting here waiting for something to happen and wondering if it really will.
I know he will be here soon and I'm so ready! Praying for a healthy, strong baby and an uncomplicated delivery.
#comeonbabyAbel #mamaisreadywhenyouare
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way- a Swatts family update
2017 is in full swing and we've got lots going on!
Addie is in the middle of second grade and about to start spring soccer. She is a member of the STEM club at school and loving all things STEM. She also recently got braces! And she is rocking them!
Addie is in the middle of second grade and about to start spring soccer. She is a member of the STEM club at school and loving all things STEM. She also recently got braces! And she is rocking them!
Asher is in the middle of kindergarten. He is learning lots! He has just finished up a season of Upward basketball with our church and has started tball practice. He wasn't super excited about basketball but seems to be enjoying tball (here's hoping baseball is his sport!).
Asa Joe is staying with Nana every day of the week. He enjoys his time with her and his new friend Makennah (Nana is becoming a small daycare 😂). He is trying to get the hang of potty training but his mama needs to be a little more consistent too. He found out in December that he is going to be a BIG BROTHER! (Yes, this crazy, busy, beautiful life is only getting crazier, busier, and more beautiful).
I've always wanted 4 kids. Around March of last year, I began praying for baby #4. Was it God's will for us to have another? After much convincing, Josh agreed to try for 1 more. The trying took several months and I wondered if maybe our family was complete. Then, the day before Thanksgiving, I had a positive pregnancy test. We told our families about a week before Christmas. Addie and I prayed hard for a girl (Addie actually prayed for triplets- 3- girls!). A few weeks ago, we went to a place called Sneak a Peek ultrasounds and had a gender ultrasound. It was lots of fun and the kids came along too. Immediately, we discovered that baby #4 is a.....BOY! Uh-oh! We are excited but Addie of course was a little disappointed. That evening we had a gender reveal party and the kids told our families the news by squirting Josh and me with blue silly string. It was a surprise to everyone! But we are so excited that God has a sweet, healthy baby boy for us to love on. We trust that He knows best and we wouldn't have it any other way.
I am loving my precious growing family even through the crazy and busy of our beautiful life! We are so so blessed!
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
A home for FOREVER!
Josh and I have been married for almost 9 years. Shortly before we married, Josh's grandmother passed away and left his parents with her house. We decided to buy it and make it our first home. We knew it wouldn't be our forever- it was an older home and kind of boxy. Not super great for entertaining and our growing family would eventually need more space. For a few years, Josh looked at house plans and we dreamed.
Finally, the time has come. In October 2015, we broke ground for our forever home. The process wasn't too bad but due to tons of rain delays our progress seemed slow at times. On April 16, 2016, we got to move in!!!
Our new home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, beautiful vaulted ceilings and beautiful windows. We have an indoor and an outdoor fire place! We have a master bath with a shower AND a soaker tub. We have a laundry room! And double ovens!
This is definitely an exciting time for the Swatts family. But as I sit here and enjoy this beautiful house, I think of my dreams and goals for our new forever home.
My prayer for our house is that everyone who enters feels the presence of Jesus.
That my kids make lots of happy memories.
That this is the place where my kids and their friends want to hang out.
That we have lots of fun family and friends gatherings here.
I pray that we would use this house (a blessing from God) to bless our family and others.
I am so excited to see the plans God has for our family in our forever (while we are here on this earth) home! !
Finally, the time has come. In October 2015, we broke ground for our forever home. The process wasn't too bad but due to tons of rain delays our progress seemed slow at times. On April 16, 2016, we got to move in!!!
Our new home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, beautiful vaulted ceilings and beautiful windows. We have an indoor and an outdoor fire place! We have a master bath with a shower AND a soaker tub. We have a laundry room! And double ovens!
This is definitely an exciting time for the Swatts family. But as I sit here and enjoy this beautiful house, I think of my dreams and goals for our new forever home.
My prayer for our house is that everyone who enters feels the presence of Jesus.
That my kids make lots of happy memories.
That this is the place where my kids and their friends want to hang out.
That we have lots of fun family and friends gatherings here.
I pray that we would use this house (a blessing from God) to bless our family and others.
I am so excited to see the plans God has for our family in our forever (while we are here on this earth) home! !
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
The Other Side of the Hospital Bed
I've been a nurse for almost 9 years. Ive done MedSurg, hospital pediatrics, office pediatrics, home pediatrics, and home hospice. Now, I am a family nurse practitioner.
I've always been on the professional side of the hospital bed (aside from 3 routine labor/delivery /postpartum visits). But today, I'm writing this from the other side of the hospital bed.
As I lay in the hospital bed holding my 21 month old boy, I'm experiencing a much different side of medicine. This sweet boy in my arms (who just fell asleep while watching Elmo) has had a rough few days. A wound on his head turned into an abscess and treatment at home was not cutting it. He was admitted yesterday for IV antibiotics and was taken to the OR for an I&D (incision and drainage) of his abscess. He is doing great, really! Handling it like a champ. Of course he has his moments. He doesn't like being held down and the large dressing on his arm (where they are hiding the IV) annoys him at times. He is tired and in a strange place and people keep poking and proding but overall he's great.
The nurses and doctors have been wonderful- very concerned and attentive and professional. It's hard, though, being on this side. My medical knowledge (for the most part) has been thrown aside and I am just a concerned mommy. Worried. Sad. Skeptical. Concerned. This is my baby. My whole heart.
May we in the medical field never forget about this other side of the hospital bed! I pride myself in being a caring and compassionate nurse/NP. We all have bad days and busy days but may we always remember that we are caring for someone's most valuable treasures- whether it's their baby, their mama, their spouse. Whether the family or patient has medical knowledge or not. Remember that this is a scary time, an unfamiliar time, an uncertain time. I think usually nurses are good at this....but it never hurts to be reminded. I guess this experience is a good reminder for me!
I've always been on the professional side of the hospital bed (aside from 3 routine labor/delivery /postpartum visits). But today, I'm writing this from the other side of the hospital bed.
As I lay in the hospital bed holding my 21 month old boy, I'm experiencing a much different side of medicine. This sweet boy in my arms (who just fell asleep while watching Elmo) has had a rough few days. A wound on his head turned into an abscess and treatment at home was not cutting it. He was admitted yesterday for IV antibiotics and was taken to the OR for an I&D (incision and drainage) of his abscess. He is doing great, really! Handling it like a champ. Of course he has his moments. He doesn't like being held down and the large dressing on his arm (where they are hiding the IV) annoys him at times. He is tired and in a strange place and people keep poking and proding but overall he's great.
The nurses and doctors have been wonderful- very concerned and attentive and professional. It's hard, though, being on this side. My medical knowledge (for the most part) has been thrown aside and I am just a concerned mommy. Worried. Sad. Skeptical. Concerned. This is my baby. My whole heart.
May we in the medical field never forget about this other side of the hospital bed! I pride myself in being a caring and compassionate nurse/NP. We all have bad days and busy days but may we always remember that we are caring for someone's most valuable treasures- whether it's their baby, their mama, their spouse. Whether the family or patient has medical knowledge or not. Remember that this is a scary time, an unfamiliar time, an uncertain time. I think usually nurses are good at this....but it never hurts to be reminded. I guess this experience is a good reminder for me!
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Saying Yes to God = Soul Sisters
So this is my story of saying yes.....
It was December 2012 and I felt a tugging at my heart. I needed something more. I needed more Jesus and someone to encourage me to be the woman of God that I needed to be.
Our Sunday school class was doing a study on Jonah and obeying God's call. All the while, God was calling me.
At the time, I was a busy mom of 2 and about to start my last semester of NP school. Our family went to Sunday school and church on Sunday but that was about it. We were in survival mode most if the time. Josh worked a crazy job that left me feeling like a single mom most nights. So why me? Why now? I was sure it was because of what I needed. I needed more Bible study. I needed some girl time. I needed deeper friendships. God must've known that I needed to start a Bible study for me. But I'm so shy! And I didn't have any in depth Spiritual knowledge.
So, I sent a Facebook message to the ladies in my Sunday school class. I explained my heart and offered my home. They were very responsive and excited! We decided on Thursday nights and just every other week.
And in January 2013, Soul Sisters began. We were born out of the Soul Purpose Sunday School class so Soul Sisters was a fitting name. We used a Bible study book and we got together and studied, prayed, ate snacks, and encouraged each other. There were 9 of us.
During that first year, we had Bible study while our kids played (rather loudly at times) in my kids' bedrooms. And after I added baby #3 in 2014, it became a little much for me and harder to manage Bible study with all the kids in tow.
We decided (after much prayer and some hesitation) to move our Bible study to our church on Wednesday nights. There was already stuff going on for our kids so we would no longer have to try to study with so many little interruptions. And we decided that if we were going to have it at church, we should open it up to other women in the church.
Boy was I surprised at the response! Women told us that this was just what they were needing....just what they had been praying for. And our little group began to grow.
We have now gone from a group of 9 women to having (at last count) 86 women on our Facebook page! We now average around 20-25 on a given Wednesday night.
It still amazes me that what I thought was just for me was actually not. Little did I know God was preparing me for something big! I am humbled by the thought that God would choose me to lead.
And so, saying yes in December 2012 led to the Soul Sisters Bible study that we enjoy today.
I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of encouraging women!
It was December 2012 and I felt a tugging at my heart. I needed something more. I needed more Jesus and someone to encourage me to be the woman of God that I needed to be.
Our Sunday school class was doing a study on Jonah and obeying God's call. All the while, God was calling me.
At the time, I was a busy mom of 2 and about to start my last semester of NP school. Our family went to Sunday school and church on Sunday but that was about it. We were in survival mode most if the time. Josh worked a crazy job that left me feeling like a single mom most nights. So why me? Why now? I was sure it was because of what I needed. I needed more Bible study. I needed some girl time. I needed deeper friendships. God must've known that I needed to start a Bible study for me. But I'm so shy! And I didn't have any in depth Spiritual knowledge.
So, I sent a Facebook message to the ladies in my Sunday school class. I explained my heart and offered my home. They were very responsive and excited! We decided on Thursday nights and just every other week.
And in January 2013, Soul Sisters began. We were born out of the Soul Purpose Sunday School class so Soul Sisters was a fitting name. We used a Bible study book and we got together and studied, prayed, ate snacks, and encouraged each other. There were 9 of us.
During that first year, we had Bible study while our kids played (rather loudly at times) in my kids' bedrooms. And after I added baby #3 in 2014, it became a little much for me and harder to manage Bible study with all the kids in tow.
We decided (after much prayer and some hesitation) to move our Bible study to our church on Wednesday nights. There was already stuff going on for our kids so we would no longer have to try to study with so many little interruptions. And we decided that if we were going to have it at church, we should open it up to other women in the church.
Boy was I surprised at the response! Women told us that this was just what they were needing....just what they had been praying for. And our little group began to grow.
We have now gone from a group of 9 women to having (at last count) 86 women on our Facebook page! We now average around 20-25 on a given Wednesday night.
It still amazes me that what I thought was just for me was actually not. Little did I know God was preparing me for something big! I am humbled by the thought that God would choose me to lead.
And so, saying yes in December 2012 led to the Soul Sisters Bible study that we enjoy today.
I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of encouraging women!
Monday, December 28, 2015
The Story of Us...15 years and counting
Josh and I met around age 12 when my family began attending the same church that Josh and his family attended. We were in the same Sunday school class and then the same youth group. I'm not sure about Josh, but I quickly developed a crush! I was super shy so I tried to admire him quietly but I'm afraid it was probably pretty obvious. I loved any opportunity to sit beside him and memorized things he would say to me ( I know I know. ..how lame #younglove). The youth would sit on the back pew during Sunday morning services and occasionally the preacher would instruct the congregation to hold hands during prayer. Oh how excited I was when I was sitting next to him and we had to hold hands!
I remember daydreaming about him falling in love with me and marrying me. I even remember praying for my future husband and all the while thinking of him.
In December 2000, things started to change. We were chosen to play Joseph and Mary in the live nativity at church. He seemed kind of flirty that night. Then on December 29, 2000, we went to a youth conference with our youth group. I noticed that everywhere I turned that day, he was right there. ..at the breakout sessions. ...recreation....lunch...and the concert/conference. That night during the concert, everyone else went down to be close to the stage. Josh made some excuse to stay in his seat...and I came up with an excuse to stay with him. The next thing I knew, we were holding hands!
Holding hands led to long telephone conversations. We did all the classic "you hang up...no, you hang up" "I love you." "I love you more. I win!" Since we were only 15 and not old enough to officially "date", he and his mom would pick me up to go to his house to watch a movie or he would come home with me for Sunday lunch. Our first official date after getting our drivers licenses was Taco Bell, a movie, and putt putt.
We spent our high school years and college years together...dating 7 years before we were able to finally get married.
He is still my very best friend and the love of my life. We have been through our share of ups and downs and are stronger for it. We learned so much together about life and love.
I am so thankful that God made him for me! I am so thankful that I started dating my husband when we were just 15. I'm blessed to have already spent half of my life with him and I look forward to what God has for our future.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
My Heart this Christmas
I LOVE Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. People are excited and generous. There are lights everywhere and tons of fun stuff to do with my family.
As Christmas quickly approaches, I've been enjoying Christmas music on the radio and have read several Christmas devotions using my You version Bible app. All this has got me really thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I've always known that Christmas is about Jesus and the Virgin birth and the star and the manger and the shepherds. But do you know that it is so much more than that?!
Think for a moment about life before Jesus. The world was a dark place. There was no hope. People didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to lead and guide their lives. They didn't have Jesus as the mediator between them and God. They had to rely on a priest to intercede on their behalf and rely on sacrificial livestock to atone for the wrongs they committed. They didn't have a "personal relationship" with their Heavenly Father.
But Christmas changed all this! ! Hallelujah! !!
God sent His Son into this desperate place. He sent Light into our darkness. He sent Hope and Peace.
Jesus is....the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer. Christmas is Jesus! The turning point in history when hope was born.
I am so thankful that I live in a world after Christmas. Even though the world we live in seems as desperate if not more than the world before Christmas, we have hope. We know Jesus is the answer. There is a Light in the darkness....and this Light can give us peace, hope and joy!!!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and pray that you celebrate Jesus!
As Christmas quickly approaches, I've been enjoying Christmas music on the radio and have read several Christmas devotions using my You version Bible app. All this has got me really thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I've always known that Christmas is about Jesus and the Virgin birth and the star and the manger and the shepherds. But do you know that it is so much more than that?!
Think for a moment about life before Jesus. The world was a dark place. There was no hope. People didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to lead and guide their lives. They didn't have Jesus as the mediator between them and God. They had to rely on a priest to intercede on their behalf and rely on sacrificial livestock to atone for the wrongs they committed. They didn't have a "personal relationship" with their Heavenly Father.
But Christmas changed all this! ! Hallelujah! !!
God sent His Son into this desperate place. He sent Light into our darkness. He sent Hope and Peace.
Jesus is....the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer. Christmas is Jesus! The turning point in history when hope was born.
I am so thankful that I live in a world after Christmas. Even though the world we live in seems as desperate if not more than the world before Christmas, we have hope. We know Jesus is the answer. There is a Light in the darkness....and this Light can give us peace, hope and joy!!!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and pray that you celebrate Jesus!
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