I am heading to Ohio on the 3rd of December. Things were not working out on the Doctor front here in Midland, so I'll be having my baby in Ohio with Dr. Stalkamp. (The same Doctor who delivered Janessa, brother-in-law to the Doctor who delivered Brandon... and my family Doctor's brother...)

Hopefully Zion will be able to make it in time for the birth, but if for some reason he doesn't, he'll be there within a day or so. I think he'll make it though. One of the kiosks is scheduled to close on Jan. 4th, and I'm not due until the 17th, and Dad will be here to close the 2nd kiosk on the 19th. Things are crazy, but I believe everything is going to work out okay.

I have been feeling really sick again for the past couple days, I don't know if it's from stress, just being pregnant, or eating too much food court food... but I've been having a very upset stomach and alot of heartburn since Thanksgiving day. I'm hoping that when I get to Ohio I'll be able to relax a bit and my stomach will calm down. (Fingers crossed!!)

Zion's business venture seems to be working about like they projected, which is a relief. There are of course some additional expenses that were a bit higher than we expected, but our hotel is cheaper than we planned so it might all even out. We had to hire more labor to get everything set up than we anticipated, but I am optimistic that everything will still work in our favor when all is said and done.

Dad's here!! He got here about an hour after the mall opened and helped me out the whole day. I was able to show him all the ropes about the calendar kiosk and teach him to use the register so tomorrow I don't think I'm going to go in until later and then I probably won't even stay that long. (Thank goodness because I really don't think my body could take much more. My shoes hardly even go on my feet anymore and the other day I had a couple/few contractions. Nothing too serious, most likely just Braxton Hicks, but still. It's probably a good thing I'll be able to take it a little slower for a while. I'd rather keep the baby inside until he/she has the opporunity to grow a bit more.)

We're here!! Yesterday Zion and I drove to Midland, Texas. (Actually we drove to Odessa and got up this morning and came the rest of the way.) We stopped at about 1 A.M. Texas time (Midnight Tucson time... or 2 Ohio time.) We were both exhausted and stopped at a Motel 6 because there were no Holiday Inn's around and the Motel 6 had the right price. The place was gross, kinda creepy and smelled horrible of smoke. It's only one night though.

Today we got to Midland early and started filling out some of the tax papers and stuff like that that we had to get going to start the businesses, then this afternoon we went to the Midland Park Mall to see our locations and meet the managers. It's all a big undertaking. I don't know how we'll get it all done, but God is in control and He didn't bring us this far to leave us.

We were getting kinda worried about accommodations because when we were looking online we couldn't find anything decent for less than $72 a night, and when we called the rate had gone up to $99 per night. (Scary when we were figuring on the $72 to be our maximum and we're talking 2 months!!) We decided to pull over and pray about it and about 20-30 minutes later Zion was looking online and he said, "Why don't you call this one?" I was like, "Okay, but I already checked the rate online for that one when we were still in Tucson and they were like $109 a night or something like that...." I called the number and asked about the rate, and it was only $50 per night for a week long stay! Praise the Lord!!!!

We asked if we could go ahead and come to the hotel and SEE a room before making our decision, the girl said that was fine and we came on over. The place looks pretty good and there is a fridge, microwave, stove, kitchen sink and it's a pretty nice size room with a comfy king size bed. Plus, when we were actually checking in, we were talking to the girl at the front desk and she decided to take an additional $5 off per night for us... so now the rate is only $45 plus tax per night!!! Now we have a nice place to stay for at least a week and if we like it, we can extend our stay for the duration of our time in Texas, for less than the cost we were planning on!! God is so good!!!


Thank you all for your prayers for us during this crazy transition time and please keep them coming!!!! We still have much craziness ahead of us in the next couple months (especially the next few days while we set up two kiosk stores!) and we can really feel the prayers of our friends holding us up at this time! (Seriously, I only got 6 hours of sleep last night and my eyes are still somewhat opened!!!) God bless you all and we will keep you posted as much as time allows!!!

Now we know where Israel gets his Political views...

Olga gave Zion a very special t-shirt for his birthday. It is bright red and says "D-Backs" on the front (no doubt for the Arizona Diamondbacks...) and on the back it says Brett Clerc DDS!! Zion just googled Brett Clerc to see if he was a player... or an ex-player... or anyone having anything to do with the Diamondbacks.... he's not. He is in fact a dentist in Benson, Arizona. Why Zion has his shirt... we're not sure. But it sure is funny!!

Zion and I both about died laughing!! Zion's going to see if he can get an autograph at the next dentist convention. LOL

I wish I knew someone who had an RV that we could borrow/rent for 12 weeks.... it would really make life so much simpler. =) Unfortunately, the only people I know with an RV are in Ohio... so it doesn't do me any good!

I can't believe we are going to Texas even for 12 weeks. Who would have thought when I took that poll on where my baby would be born that we would ALL be wrong?! They didn't give me the option of entering 50+ answers to the poll, there were only 4, I thought for sure one of them would be correct. (I was hoping for Ohio, but really thought it would be Arizona... oh well! Guess we all live and learn!) =)

I am working today... my last day at the Holiday Inn (at least for now...??). I'll be going back to retail for a while anyhow, do that should be fun. Things were getting pretty dull around here without Jariah, Becca and the boys, so I am ready for a new adventure!!! (No, I'm not changing my blog to dragged2tx.blogspot.com; although, that would be pretty funny!)

Please keep us in your prayers as we have a couple very hectic days ahead of us getting ready to leave and driving to Midland probably on Saturday morning. Please also pray that this opportunity actually pans out like it looks like it should. (I just keep singing one of my favorite songs "He didn't bring us this far to leave us..." , it's a real confidence booster!) I'm honestly pretty cool with the whole thing (surprisingly) I feel pretty at ease (for now) and like it's all going to work out.

I don't know how much time I'll have for blogging in the next few days, but I'll be sure to send my greetings from Midland if I don't get back on before then!! Thanks for the prayers! Catch ya on the flip side!!! ;)

Houston, we have a problem!

Looks like we are moving Midland, Texas for the next 10-12 weeks!! Zion has an opportunity to run a couple retail stores in Texas so we are headed there on Saturday. Life is so nuts and always an adventure!! =)

A gallon of water a day is alot for one person to drink. That is all.

A very happy Joanna with a not-quite-so happy Eliya...

Some very proud big brothers.... Nobody better mess with this little girl!!!

Isn't she a doll??

Already opening her eyes.... right before her Daddy blinded her with the flash!!! hehe

*UPDATE*

Danny and Joanna welcomed a beautiful baby girl at 1:39 this afternoon. Both Joanna and little Eliya Joy (pronounced Uh-lee-ah) are doing well. They both look great!! Eliya was 10 pounds 1 ounce and she has blonde hair! She's not as fair as Isaiah or as dark as Mathias... she's got more like Danny Joe's coloring. Her eyes are blue and Joanna thinks they will be the same color as Isaiah's. (I will post pictures as soon as I can... with parental permission!!)


Joanna went to the hospital early this morning to be induced. She was already half way through the labor before she left, so it shouldn't be too much longer and we'll have a new little niece!!!

Zion is going back to Tucson this afternoon with Vernon (the guys who's training him) for a meeting, and then they will be back late tonight. He spent a couple hours last night going over some strategies and Vernon is very optimistic that Zion will be successful enough that he might not have to have a "job". He told Zion that not everyone has "it", but he thinks Zion does. That's pretty cool coming from someone who was chilling with Donald Trump just a couple weeks ago. =)

This is exciting, Joanna is having her baby on Election day, and my baby could be born on Inauguration day. (Little Liberty born on Inauguration day... how cute!!! We still don't have a boys name that we both love and agree on completely.)

Zion and I are in Phoenix this week, he's getting trained in his new business by the top recruiter in the country, so hopefully he'll pick up some useful tips that will start providing us an income. =)

Joanna is going to have her baby either today or tomorrow. She's going to be induced this evening or tomorrow, depending on how busy the hospital is today. =) I'll keep you posted.