Random updates

At almost 2 years old Elyse knows the alphabet and can recognize any letter in books, on signs, on t-shirts, etc.  She knows her numbers and can count.....to I think 20, and knows all of her shapes.  She's having difficulty with colors but we're working on those as well.  The amount of words she uses in sentences averages at about 10 so she is definitely doing well in those categories.  Those were the things I worked with her on, the "educational", school type things.  I knew they were important, resources are everywhere, and it's an easy subject to build on.  I wasn't even thinking of scripture.  Elyse has nearly memorized all of Psalm 23  and can recite Psalm 118:24 (this video was taken last Sunday and she has learned much more of it since).  I didn't realize she was even capable at her age/ability level but after reading Psalm 23 to her from a library book, we noticed she was able to complete the sentences.  I tried to build on that and now we just recite it together.  I'm sure I should have more of a "plan" than that and some sort of structure or routine to teaching her scripture and that time should be set aside for it, etc, but for now I'm just thankful it's being hidden in her heart.

I'm going to take a second to whine now, so if that bothers you just skip this paragraph.  My back hurts something fierce this pregnancy.  I had significant back pain with Elyse nearly the entire pregnancy but I was able to nurse it a little more than I am this time since I have her to care for.  Lifting her in and out of her crib, the car seat, her high chair, the bath tub, when she needs to be held, on and off the potty, it's endless.  When I don't need to be lifting her, it's groceries, laundry, mopping, scrubbing bathrooms, or vacuuming.  When it isn't that, it's still the task of carrying around a pregnancy at 7 months.  After a particularly busy day this week even the heating pad didn't offer relief and when I went to bed that night I was up nearly hourly with back spasms.  By morning I could barely walk but I had committed to meeting friends at the zoo with the kids and if there is one thing I can't stand doing it's breaking commitments, so off we went.  The walking actually helped but I did contact my midwife about it. 

I'm so thankful to be going to a birthing center and using a midwife this time.  My complaints or concerns are not disregarded or brushed off, but they are also met with a much more holistic approach versus the pharmacological or "just deal with it, you're pregnant" approach.  She recommended some supplements and herbal remedies which have almost always worked for me with past issues, but I did get a prescription........for massages!!!!  How awesome is that!  I just have to pay a co-pay!  I was so excited I almost couldn't stand it!  Later that day a friend from the Pregnancy Center gave me a snoogle pillow to see if that would help at night as well.  I had a different pillow I was using that I had with Elyse but the stuffing really flattened so it hasn't quite been supportive enough and the snoogle seems to do the trick.

Holistic remedies, a new pillow and a prescription for massages, those things alone nearly made my week.  I had been hesitant to pray about my back pain because I felt it came with the territory and there were more pressing things that I needed to talk to God about.  Once the pain became so significant I did decide to pray about it and I was humbled and amazed by how quickly and specifically He provided solutions.  He really does care about the small stuff, my comfort, and the intimate details of my life.  It was a reminder of James 4:2, I did not have because I did not ask.  If He knows the number of hairs on my head, why did I doubt He would comfort the sting in my back?