Welcome to my weekly life update where I share about my pregnancy & give you a peek into our life this past week. If you want to follow a lot more behind-the-scenes and real-time updates every week, be sure to follow my stories and posts on Instagram.
15 weeks and I’m not going to be able to camouflage this bump much longer. 😉
HIGHLIGHTS
I had another doctor’s appointment. It was super routine, but my doctor was so encouraging about how healthy I am, how healthy the baby is, and how well I am doing. That was such a blessing! In 5 weeks, I go back for my big 20-week anatomy scan!
NOTABLE
I had one really rough day this past week but other than that I had a few hours of most days where I felt so good that I sort of forgot I was pregnant! I started sitting on the exercise ball this past week because I can tell that these hips are starting to feel the usual aches and pains of pregnancy.
I discovered the power of sitting a few hours per day on an exercise ball and how much relief it provided for my tailbone/hip pain, so I’m trying to be proactive and start this early this time — especially since my hips are 11 years older than they were last time I was pregnant! 😉
CRAVINGS
This week, it was all about meat and carbs. Seriously, I craved roast, chicken, and noodles. And I’m still totally into cheese and cottage cheese!
WEIGHT GAIN: 7 pounds
Our Big Foster Care News!
After months and months of classes, homework, meetings, paperwork and more paperwork, doctor’s visits, TB testing, home visits, interviews, and hours and hours spent getting our home all set up and childproofed, we found out this past week that we our home is officially licensed as a foster home in TN!!
We have no idea what the future holds for us when it comes to foster care, but we are excited to continue on in this step of faith and obedience. We’ve been praying for the children who will be placed in our home and trusting God that He’s got a beautiful plan that we can’t really dream or imagine right now.
Obviously, there’s a lot I won’t be able to share about this journey in order to protect other family’s and kids’ privacy, but I will definitely share what I can while protecting the kids/families first and foremost (as that is one of our number one priorities as a foster home: to provide a safe place for kids and to pave the way for reunification).
We know this is going to be stretching and we have no idea what to expect, but we are looking forward to seeing what God has for us in this and how He’s going to use it to grow our family and change our lives.
Heather S says
Super exciting news about your pregnancy! I read all your blog way back when you just started blogging, when I had my babies. Now they are teens…but we just had a baby, so my older hips felt it too!! Ha! You got this! We laugh everyday about our life with two teens and a baby!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, congratulations and thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!
April says
Thank you for promoting reunification with immediate or extended family. That’s God’s heart.
I could write a whole book on this topic. In fact, I have. 🙂
https://nashville.safe-families.org
Crystal Paine says
Safe families is such a great organization and we know people involved in it. We decided to go through the state instead of Safe Families for a variety of reasons, but I’m often telling people about it as another great alternative! And yes, reunification is something that many of our classes were on and I loved our class instructor’s heart to encourage families to not only make that their number one goal but also to go beyond that and look for ways to walk alongside these families for the long haul, when that would be appropriate.
Julie says
I’m SO excited about you doing foster care!! More people need to do it! Not just because there is a need, but because it is a wonderful thing to do! Our family has been blessed by the kiddos we have brought in our home and I’m so glad we jumped in. Yes, as rude as it sounds, you can be very selective on the kid(s) you foster – but you want it to be a good fit for you and the kiddo! Buckle up, it’s going to be a fun/crazy journey!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Charlotte says
Hi, Crystal,
Just a little bit of advice from a former foster care parent. Some children when they enter into foster care have multiple medical needs. With one child, I ended up going to nonstop doctor appointments for 2 months straight. Most children will come with some kind of medical need or that was my experience. My first set of kids to come to my house was a sibling group and all of them had medical needs and I was overwhelmed. I would ask up front the kind of needs the child may have so that you are aware and to make sure you can handle those needs.
I’ll be praying for you!!
Crystal Paine says
Yes, thank you for mentioning this. We’re only licensed as a level one household which means we won’t be getting any kids with more severe medical needs. We can qualify to be a level 2/level 3, etc. house eventually, but not until we’ve fostered for awhile. TN does it this way so as not to overwhelm new foster parents with too much and to also make sure that those who take kids with medical needs have a lot more experience and training.
Kelli says
Congratulations on becoming a foster home. Yall are special people and I hope there are more like you in the world for children that need homes like yours! And you look awesome, congrats on baby news as well!!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you so much for your encouragement!
Katie says
Such an exciting time for your family. I will be praying for smooth transitions all around. Thank you for sharing what you can about your journey!
Debra Coody says
Just think of all the blessings that you are going to be able to give your fosters. I think people who are able to be foster parents are special people. Not only for you and your family’s growth but for the foster child Prayers for all of you.
Charlotte says
Sorry, I should have said, God places the children in your home that he wants you to have. We prayed diligently for each child that came to our house and for wisdom. You’ll be amazed at how adorable they are.
Carole says
Hi
So please you are feeling better with the morning sickness.
I live in New Zealand and just love following you cannot get your deals in shops but do love seeing all your bargains.
However some of the books you real or journals about being grateful is there any you know of that Imcan buy from NZ please
Have a great day
Carole
Meegan Brownley says
What about using Book Depository…. it wouldn’t have everything, but it has a lot! https://www.bookdepository.com/