I have some updates and great giveaways coming soon (once I get a handle on this YUCK), but for now I wanted to share that I’ve been nominated (THANKS!) for the top 25 pregnancy journals in Circle Of Moms.

Will you vote for me, please?

I'd love it if you stalked me (subscribe to my RSS feed). Thanks for visiting!

The numbers are back:

Last week, at 4w 3d my hcg levels were at 90 and my progesterone was at 18.

Today, I received the above numbers and was asked to come in for another blood draw.  The hcg levels were “normal range” but still kind of low.  (Progesterone above “10″ is considered good at this point.)

Anyhow, they put a rush on today’s bloodwork and my new hcg number at 4w6d was either 411.40 or 414.40 (the phone woke me up from a nap).  Either way, those numbers are good! 

It’s still a bit of a waiting game, and my ultrasound to try and see the yolk sac has been canceled for this week.  Instead, I’m going next week and I scheduled it as late in the week as possible in hopes to maybe see a heartbeat on the screen (it’d put me at… 6w2d).  Once I see a heartbeat, maybe I can slow my own down a bit, eh?

I’m back to wearing my Skechers again!

It only took going back to my “old shoes” to see a difference in how it made my knees and ankles feel.  And, considering I don’t generally have trouble with those areas, that was an interesting find for me.  (I’m wondering what it would do for those who do have those as their problem areas).

After a little bit of research, I realized I was walking in my Skechers wrong.  Well, not wrong, but I wasn’t making the most use out of them.  So, with a little modification of how I stepped forward, I was definitely feeling the burn.  With. Each. Step.

I’m loving the versatility of these shoes.  Depending on how I move my feet, my workout intensity changes and I’m not really doing anything extra!  I really like being able to mix things up!

Also, according to my husband, my calves, thighs and bottom are being toned too.  That’s always a plus, right?  He’s actually SEEING a difference.

Kinda cool, check it.

Go to JoinTheColony.com for more!

With the help of Random.org, I drew a RANDOM number:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

27

Timestamp: 2010-06-01 18:25:39 UTC

Comment number 27 was Sandy.  Congratulations!  You should be receiving an email from us soon!

I used to be of the mindset that truth was a simple thing – that truth was not only always the best policy, but that sugarcoating it was for wussies. –That, if you couldn’t handle the blunt, raw truth…that it was YOUR problem. I believed that if everyone was just THAT honest, we’d all be a happier, simpler world.

Since then, I’ve learned differently.

Since then, I’ve learned that we all see truth in our own ways. What I believe to be true and what you believe to be true could be totally different. We experience things differently, and while certain things will remain consistent, there will be others that change depending on who you ask.

I’ve also learned that truth is much like water – it can heal or it can destroy, depending upon how it is delivered.

A cup of water gently delivered to someone tired and thirsty? Healing.
Water sprayed in their face? Not so much.

Water sprinkled on parched soil? Healing.
Water blasted by a firehose on fertile farmland? Not so much.

A warm bath to soak tired muscles? Healing.
Boiling water poured over same body…Not so much.

Truth, like water, can heal or it can destroy.

Delivered GENTLY and with love, it can heal. Sprayed in someone’s face and/or with anger, it can destroy.

There’s a time for honesty and there’s a time to simply listen. And, while I don’t advocate lies – I believe that in order to follow Jesus, our lives have to be “sugarcoated” in the Holy Spirit – in compassion, in love.

Your so called “honesty” is sometimes nothing more than a concealed deadly dagger perched and ready to pierce a soul.

Today, I hope you disarm yourself and take the time to “sugarcoat” your lives lest you learn this lesson the hard way. Like I have.

*EDIT:  Coating things in kindness is something I believe we should all aspire to, however I do not believe you should look to me as your model.  That’s not what this post is about.  I, too, am imperfect and strive daily (and mess up just as much) to seek God’s face.

*EDIT:  This post was NOT a response or post geared to any one person (or people).  However, this blog is not a fictional one, and I did write about a TOPIC that has affected me and that I feel strongly about.