We no longer own a Honda Element, my favorite car (sniff…sniff).  We now own a boat.  I mean a V-A-N.  A family vehicle, much safer and much more practical.  My husband has wanted a Honda Odyssey for years now.  I just couldn’t do it.  I know everyone looks at a minivan and immediately thinks that you have kids.  I just couldn’t drive a vehicle with nothing to put in it (no family).

One of the first things my husband said when he found out I was pregnant was, “We can get an Odyssey now”.  Go figure.  He did get his wish.  Last Friday we picked up our new “family” vehicle.  We got a 2006 Honda Odyssey Touring.  It has any bell and whistle you can imagine.  I swear if I asked it to make me breakfast, it would.  We got a great deal on it, talked several new things into the deal, and upped the price they were giving for our Element.  All and all, we got a steal and I think they were the ones that got gipped!  I think getting a new vehicle (well, new to us) is such a fun game.  We walked away from the deal twice and they came crawling back.  I love the game!

What’s funny is that we weren’t even going to start looking at the Odyssey’s until September (when newer models were coming out, making the used models a bit cheaper too).  I had never heard of a Touring model before, probably because no one buys them, they’re outrageous if purchased brand new.  So, to go to a dealership (just for fun) and to find the perfect Odyssey sitting there right in front of us, well taken care of, one owner, and a color we could handle, we figured we’d see if we could get a deal.  What a way to make a deal (when there’s no pressure at all and you don’t need it).  God worked that one out for us too.  We see His hand in much more lately.  He truly does have control of all.

I wanted so badly to tell everyone right away, but the truth is since I’ve never been pregnant before, I had no clue if my body could even withstand a pregnancy.  To be safe, we waited until I hit my second trimester, which was this week.  We are now sharing it with family, friends, and I’m obviously posting it on my blog.

I’ve had my idea to tell family since before we even started trying to conceive.  I never thought I would be able to use my idea.  I remember buying frames years ago and preparing for the day we would tell our parents and sisters.  That day never came…..until now.  The frames are long gone (used for something else or given away as a gift), but new frames were purchased and we’re back on track.

I took my ultrasound picture and cropped and sized it to fit the frame.  I wrote on it, “Photo available on or around November 3, 2009″ (my due date).  I then took small pieces of blue and pink ribbon and attached them to the picture, then framed it and put them in the mail.  A subtle statement of our news was now broadcast to our families.  I think they were in just as much shock as we were when we found out (at 5 weeks).

I think we’ve now made our rounds to anyone we could possibly think of that might want to know our news and can hopefully catch all others through this blog.

I have to say that finding out you’re pregnant after eight years really is a shock.  For the past two years, we had completely moved on with our lives and were trying to still accept the fact that we weren’t going to have children.  To know now that I’m pregnant makes me almost feel lost.  I’m no longer part of the infertility group that has been such a huge part of my life and who I have been over the past several years, but to be part of a “mommy” group feels weird too, maybe because I never thought I’d be part of it, but partly because I don’t feel like they have an inkling of the journey I’ve gone through to get where I am.  Where getting pregnant seems to just happen to most people, trying for eight years is such an extreme difference.

Reality certainly started to set in when we had our first ultrasound (at 7 weeks).  To see the baby (which totally looks like a baby seahorse this early on) and to hear the heartbeat was truly the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced.  There is really a living being inside of me.  I am going to be a Mom!  The thought is so exciting, yet scary.  God is SO good and His timing truly is the best timing, even if it isn’t the timing we had in mind.

So, after eight long years of trying to conceive, two years full of tests and infertility treatments and the past two years moving on with our lives and concentrating on the amazing marriage God has given us, instead of dwelling on something we didn’t have (a child), we are so excited to announce that…..we’re expecting!

With all of the diagnosis stacked against us, our chances of ever conceiving were pretty much none.  God is definitely still in the business of doing miracles.  We thought we’d let you in on our little secret (due November 3, 2009).

Yesterday, I received a package in the mail.  It was addressed to me, but upon opening it, the contents were definitely not mine and the packing slip was for someone who lives in ID.  How in the world did I get her items?  Items worth $140.

I immediately called Amazon to let them know of their mistake and to find out how I could get these items shipped back to them.  Their answer was to keep them or dispose of them.  $140 worth.  Are they serious?  Why can’t they just send me an RMA return packing slip to mail these items back to them?  Their reason why was because the item was not on my order to begin with, so they can’t print me an RMA packing slip.   I think that’s a stupid answer.

Ok, so yes, I’m complaining about receiving items worth $140 and being told I can keep them.  I just think that’s such a waste for Amazon.  That’s a $140 loss for them.  Are they insane?  It’s obviously generous of them to just give them to me.  I can’t use them (computer items that don’t match up with any of our computers….go figure).  I guess I’ll be selling them on eBay and making a little money, but that certainly doesn’t feel right.  Maybe I should list them on the church classifieds and give them away to someone who can use them.  That sounds like a good idea.

I just wanted to share.  I still think it’s very strange that they can’t send me an RMA packing slip to send them back, but I tried.  End of story.  *sigh*

In another couple of weeks I have some big news to share and unfortunately it doesn’t have to do with a huge amount of weight loss for me.  A lot has been going on lately in our lives.  It’s been a crazy past few months for us, but we see God in it all and trusting the process.  More details to come, so stay tuned…

I’ve been in my office all day today with my sewing machine.  I have to say, I love my sewing machine.  I have no clue how to really sew, but it’s so peaceful.  I have such a great set up to use it, so it makes it all the more easier.

Today I created a custom fabric three ring journal for a fellow Etsian.  I just got it listed for her and hope she likes what she’s chosen.  I took a picture of all the fabrics I currently have on hand and let her choose the one of her choice.  She requested the binder rings and requested no paper to be included on the inside as she’ll include her own papers.  I can’t wait to hear what she chooses to use hers for.

I also created a notebook cover (my first one).  I’ve been wanting to make one for some time now, but just haven’t had the time.  Since I had a custom order to make and the sewing machine would already be out, it seemed like the perfect time to give it a try.  This fabric covered notebook is specifically for me.  I’ve been wanting to journal a few things going on in my life right now, but always put things off because I don’t have something “pretty” to use.  No more excuses, I’ve got my own fabric covered notebook to use.  I’ll have to get started journaling tonight.