Today is D Day

I can vividly remember sitting at our home in Eldorado IL on December 31st 2006 and having an in depth conversation with my husband about a stirring in his heart. That was the first conversation we had really had about church planting. I knew that night that God had called my husband to something bigger than us and something amazing. From that night I have never doubted the call that God has placed on our lives to reach a city, though at the time we weren't for sure where that city would be. From then we have walked probably one of the toughest roads we could have ever imagined. We have moved from the only thing we ever knew as a married couple, from a church that loved and supported us to a world we were completely foreign to. We faced loosing jobs, working anywhere we could to make ends meet, 4 moves in 4 years, living with parents, loosing a parent, struggling to have the children we so desperately wanted. This road has not been easy but the point of this post is not to glorify the hardship but to glorify the Lord who has walked with us and guided us through it all.

Tonight at 6pm August Gate Church launches in Soulard. I am so excited for this night but I am even more proud of my husband. I have watched God transform him into an amazing preacher, leader, teacher, and pastor. I have seen the awesome man of God he is first hand and I am utterly amazed. Noah I am so proud of you. I am proud to call you my husband, my pastor, my lover, and my best friend. May you never loose sight of the call that the Lord has placed on our lives. I couldn't be more excited to be walking this path with you. May God be glorified in it all! Now lets go transform this city with the gospel.

35 Week Update

So yesterday was another doc appointment. We have passed the 35 week mark and now have less than 5 weeks till our due date. This is totally crazy to me. I know so many women get to this point and they are just ready to have the baby... don't get me wrong I am ready to have this baby but I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Seriously these last 8+ months have been a total blur and I am left feeling like there is so much to still be done before she can come. So I guess I am not at that desperation stage saying someone get this baby out of me just yet. I have hit the uncomfortable stage. Sleeping has become a total nightmare and my lower back hurts pretty much 24/7 but it is all TOTALLY worth it.

At our appointment it was pretty routine. Another NST..totally normal and everything else looks great. He said baby is "in position" but there is no progress towards dilation at this point. I had been assuming that she had dropped a little bit as I am feeling some intense pressure in my pelvic bones and when I squat I feel like she might fall out. Sorry if that is TMI :) So all in all a good day and we will visit Dr. P next Thursday for our next appointment...

34 Week update and I am so behind

Last thursday was our 34 week appointment. We had another non stress test and Dr. Pignotti noted that he has never had anyone complete NST's faster than us. That is right my little girl already scoring through the roof on tests. This is a good thing considering her daddy would expect nothing less :). The fact of the matter is Allie moves A LOT! So as soon as they hook that heart monitor up to me I am constantly pushing that little button to say she is moving. According to Pignotti a baby that moves a lot is a good sign of a healthy baby... however, I wonder what this means when she is outside the womb... I am sure this is something we are unable to prepare for. Oh world are you ready for Alethia Grace Oldham? I doubt it. In other news my doctor said that my cervix is getting soft which is right on target for where we need to be right now. We have another appointment this thursday and I will try to post sooner.

In other news, I have pics from Florida and my Sheridan Hills shower that I will try to post either later this evening or tomorrow. I am really trying to get caught up...bear with me :)

33 Week Update and Happy Birthday Betsy!

Today I went back for my 33 week appointment. This time Dr. Pignotti was much more positive. He did have a non stress test done and plans to do one weekly from now on. He says she moves a lot which is GREAT and that things could not be more perfect. He said my blood pressure is perfect, weight gain is perfect and the results of the non stress test were perfect. So I am a happy girl. Apparently Allie is just going to be a little girl and as long as she is totally healthy I am ok with that. Till next Thursday we will go back from another non stress test and appointment. I will keep you posted :)

Also, I want to say Happy Birthday to my amazing sister in law- Betsy. Check out her blog at nateandbetsyoldham.blogspot.com. I am so thankful to have such an awesome sister in law. I love you girl and hope that you have an AMAZING day with your family.

32 Week Update

On Monday of this past week I had my 32 week appointment which included an ultrasound. They said that all of Allie's organs look good and she is head down... so lets pray she stays that way. They also said that she is 3lbs. 10 oz. after speaking with the doctor he said this is on the smaller side for a baby at 32 weeks. Apparently it is in the lower 25%. Dr. Pignotti did not seem too worried about this but has decided to start weekly non stress tests to make sure she is getting enough oxygen and growing properly. Needless to say this makes me slightly nervous. I know that God is totally in control and deep down I know that she is going to be ok, but I am fighting that slight anxiety that is sitting in my stomach everytime I think about it. So be praying that Allie gains her 1/2 lb per week for the remaining 8 weeks and we will have a healthy 7lb 10oz baby. Also pray that I keep my sanity. I am so ready to see her and hold her where I know she is healthy.

Allie's Room Updated

This past week my mom has been in STL to help me get Allie's room ready for her upcoming arrival. I wanted to post a few pics since everyone is so anxious to see the masterpiece we created.


My mom actually made the curtains to match the crib bedding as well as the other bed. They are SO cute.
Dresser/ Changing table and crib... love that furniture :)
Here is the other bed that she will eventually grow into.
This is as you enter the room
I had to take a picture of this girls closet. She seriously has more clothes that I do, she also has more shoes that I do. WOW! I am set on clothes from newborn to 24 months and she isn't even here yet.

Not only did we organize the nursery and the bathroom we also made a blanket, a dress, and 2 skirts for Allie belle. I don't have pics of the dress yet (I forgot to take one and I am now in FL) but I will post pics of the other stuff when I get home.

Showers and More

So I know it has been forever since I updated this blog. I have been getting all kinds of emails and questions about when I will update with pics from my showers and pics of Allie's room. I want you all to know I am working on it and I plan to have all the pics you could ever want in the next few days. The truth is last weekend was a crazy weekend and this whole past week has been jam packed from morning till evening with all sorts of activities. My mom has been in town since last friday (the 24th) so we have been doing lots to get ready for the arrival of Allie belle. The room is now complete, I have started washing the smaller clothes, bibs, receiving blankets, sheets, towels, etc. I want to say thank you to everyone who came or played a role in my showers. I enjoyed seeing everyone who I hadn't seen in a long time. Here are a few pics from my Illinois shower... enjoy :)

Here is Brooke playing one of the games... she was a trooper!
Me and my mom with Laura Winkleman and Brooke. It had been so long since we had seen Laura we were so excited she could come and we could catch up.
HK was my helper for the day. She handed me presents and she did a great job of not trying to help me open them. (I wouldn't have minded the help but mommy said no, so she did a great job of obeying)
Krystal, Me and Brooke. Miss you girls
Me with Noah's Grandma

Betsy, Me, Beka, and Rachel... love you girls :)
My mom, Me, Brooke, and her mom Beth. We enjoyed getting to spend some quality time with them. It has been WAY too long.

Betsy thank you so much for throwing an amazing shower. I appreciate every little detail that went in to making it such a success. I am so thankful to have you as a sister in law. I couldn't ask for a better one.
Me with my niece HK or Hallie Kate. She is always the life of the party. She is smiling sweet because mommy asked her to. I love you HK can't wait for you to meet and be able to play with Allie.

I also had a shower that my mom's side of my family threw for me here in the St Louis area. Thank you Aunt Janet, Katie, and Andrea for all of your hard work! This shower was more intimate but equally as fun. Some how I let the entire day get away from me without taking any pictures of anything! Not sure what I was thinking. As most of you already know my mom's side of the family gave me my beautiful crib so I can't wait to post pictures of the completed room. Soon and very soon!

Thank you to all for showering Allie and me. I appreciate your love and support. Now it is time to meet this little girl :) only 8 weeks to go.