Sam and I did a little shopping for baby last night. These are the very first items we bought. Raffe is baby's first toy from his mama and daddy.

Junior Crane Operator- perfect for when Sam takes baby to Blue Star!

Raffee!

We're Having a...
Well, you decide! Look at the third picture and you can tell what we're having! We had our second OB appointment today and we were thrilled when we saw what we're having! The ultrasound tech said they can't really tell the sex until I'm 20 weeks along but off the record the ultrasound showed us what we're going to be blessed with in late March! I'm 11 weeks 1 day today and I can't believe how fast the baby has grown since our first ultrasound at 6 weeks 5 days. I had to have an ultrasound so early because of complications from antibiotics called C-Diff (google it to find out what it is- but my advice is to stay away from antibiotics). I've been very ill since early July but after this round of "good" antibiotics I hope to be well very soon! Thanks for praying for me!
I was a nervous wreck before the appointment thinking that something might not be right with the baby since I've been on a very strong antibiotic for the past three weeks. But when we saw the baby- the ultrasound tech said baby was healthy and developing wonderfully- this was music to our ears. Sam really enjoyed seeing the baby- he was grinning from ear to ear the whole time and couldn't stop commenting on all of baby's little tiny features. The Lord has truly had a hand of protection over the baby- its been a fighter since its mama's been so sick- proving it to be 100% LEVINER!

"Life's most precious moments begin...

When a baby captures your heart.

For all the wonder now and

the wondrous days to come".

Telling Mom We're Expecting

Today we had mama's surprise 60th birthday party! She was in for a real treat becuase this was also the day that Sam and I told her that we were expecting. Weeks ago I ordered special books for each member of my family- for my mom and stepdad we chose "Grandma, Grandpa, and Me" by Mercer Mayer, for my sisters and their husbands we chose "What Aunts Do Best/What Uncles Do Best" by Laura Numeroff (this book is two in one!), for my two oldest nieces we chose "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant. We are going to tell Sam's family on Wednesday, August 13th using the same aunt/uncle books for his sister and brother, but for his mom we chose "Just Grandma and Me" by Mercer Mayer and for his dad we chose "Just Grandpa and Me" by Mercer Mayer.
Before mom's party began we handed her a gift bag with the book inside. She opened the gift and stared at the book wondering why in the world would Sam and I give her a children's book! With her puzzled expression we told her to keep thinking about why we would be giving her a "CHILDREN'S" book. Still puzzled I yelled, "We're having a baby!" She and my stepdad were very surprised but very excited about having a new grandbaby! This day was very special for all of us! Happy 60th Birthday, Mom!

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5.

Today, Monday August 4, 2008 I had my first OB appointment! I am already 6 weeks 5 days pregnant! I haven't been feeling great lately. Some tests were done this day and later I found out the reason why I felt so puney- I had antibiotic related illness known as C Diff. I had taken two rounds of antibiotics in early July (didn't know at the time I was pregnant because it was too early to test) and later I found out that I didn't need them after all. So instead of killing the bad bacteria in my belly the antibiotics attacked my good belly bacteria and I wound up with C Diff- a horrible stomach superbug. Anyways, I was very excited however to get to see our baby for the first time even if it looked like a bean sprout! The ultrasound tech told us that the baby looked great and that the heartbeat was 112 beats per minute- I looked at Sam at that moment and told him that we were having a boy. I know I know going by the heartrate in determining a baby's gender is an old wives tale, but it was fun to see our baby on the monitor and thinking we already knew what it was.

Ansleigh Marie Creel's First Birthday!

Yummy! I love cake!

You mean I get to dig in it!

Having my cake and eating it too!

Yoo-hoo Ansleigh where are you?

It's all gone mommy!

I am one happy baby!

Me with mommy and daddy!

Just me and mamma!

Melissa and Michelle!

We're Expecting!

This was a very exciting day for both me and Sam! We found out today that we're going to be a mommy and a daddy! In anticipation I wanted to know right away when I'd become pregnant. So I starting testing and took my first pregnancy test on July 9th! I told Sam to not be disappointed if it were negative because a lot of couples don't become pregnant on their first time of trying. So after taking the test and waiting the desired 3 minutes for the results it read negative. So a couple of days later, still hopeful that I could be pregnant, I took yet another test and it was also negative. Oh well, I said to myself it'll be when its meant to be! On July 13th I decided to take a third test. I took the test gave it a glance and thought surely if I were 10 days along it'd be positive. After glancing at it and seeing one very dark line I thought okay we'll try again next month and laid the test on bar in our bathroom. Little did I know that on the 14th I'd be in for a happy surprise. On this day I woke up and happened to walk over to where I placed the test and took a double take! To my surprise there was a very dark line and a very faint 2nd one. YEAH! I immediately called Sam at work and told him that there was for sure a second line. He was so excited and said, " Phew, I've got to sit down". I told him that I'd take another test to be sure. I called my sister, Rhonda, next and she said that she already knew that I was pregnant (apparently I described some symptoms to her earlier in the week). So, to be sure, I went out and bought two more tests all of which returned negative. I was a little disappointed because one test showed pregnant and these were telling me that I wasn't. But I still had hope becuause I know there are more false negatives than false positives!!
So today, July 19th, after an all day make up session with my oldest sister Rhonda in Spartanburg, Rhonda, Kelsey, and I drove to Myrtle Beach where we'd be meeting Sam. After being three days late I couldn't wait to take yet another test. I had a cheap one with me so I took it and saw another more revealing second faint line. I told Sam that he had to get me to Walgreens to get me a real one- the digital kind that say "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". In excitment I put the other test in my pocket and we were off to Walgreens to buy the "real test". The pregnancy tests were locked in a glass case at the particular Walgreens that we were at so as the girl was unlocking the case I showed her the test in my pocket. She said, "looks positive to me"! We came back to our condo, I took the test and within a minute we saw that I was defintely pregnant! Sam started jumping around saying "we're going to have a baby". It was such a sweet moment for the two of us! We can't wait to see what the next nine months are going to bring for us!!

Melissa and Sam enjoying the ride!

Melissa and Heather!

Sam!!

Mommy and Daddy to be!

Raven and Koto!

Melissa and Sam

Supper Club- 7.11.08
Last night was a blast! We had supper club hosted by the Callahans, who are expecting their very first baby December 3rd! This was going to be a very special supper club occasion! Heather and Travis found out on July 9th what they were having and they were going to reveal the sex of their baby to us last night when the "supper club" arrived at their house. In a very special presentation they told Raven, Koto, Sam, and I that they're having a baby girl and her name would be Morgan Kate (well we knew the names they picked out for either a boy or girl baby but we didn't know what the baby would just yet be)!! Raven and I assumed it would be a baby girl according to the ultrasound picture Heather posted on her blog on Thursday! We were just thrilled and happy at the same time and screamed in excitment when the baby's sex was revealed! Then for supper club the Callahans took us on Lake Murray in their boat to eat at the Rusty Anchor! It was so much fun and very delicious!

Rhonda's hot and smiling!

Mom, Homer, Kelsey, PC, and Woody!

Dylan and Blake eating and loving the ice cream cake!

M and M!

Scottie, Candi, Collin, and Maddie!

Daniel, Kayla, Kelsey, Blake, Dylan, and Adam!

Kelsey, Melinda, and Keith!

On Saturday, for July 4th weekend we went to my parents house in Chester! It was many celebrations into one! We celebrated Independence Day, my sister Rhonda's birthday, my niece Kelsey's birthday, and my stepsister Tracey's birthday! We cooked out burgers and hotdogs (yum, yum) on the new grill on my parent's new deck and ate lots of desserts. We had icecream cake made by mom and other treats including snow cones made especially for the children. My parents had all but two of their grandchildren present. It was so much fun eating, relaxing, and catching up with everybody. We even had some animals in our midst- ants, flies, spiders- the usual, but mom and PC have quite a few animals that you like to have around including Homer- the dog and Woody their horse! We had such a good time and I was glad that we were all able to come together and celebrate the many special occasions in this month!

Church Camp! I love church camp! Every summer I most look forward to going to Batesburg, SC to the Nazarene Church Camp! This year was unlike no other! We had two wonderful camp speakers- Dr. Dwight Gunter and Dr. Chic Shaver. This year like last I was surrounded by Leviners of all kinds- baby Franklin (who loves to laugh and laugh), 3 year old Silas (who loves to use his imagination to tell make-believe stories), 4 year olds -Christian and Jeffrey (who are always up to something fun), a kindergartener- Anna (who loves to sort all kinds of things), 1st Grader- Samantha- who loves to make sure everyone's doing what she is), 9 year old Ainsley (who loves giving hugs and telling people that she loves them), sister-in-laws Angela and Missi, mother and father-in-laws (Harry and Anna), brother-in-law and preacher Jason, and my wonderful sweet husband Sam. Church camp would not be the same without all these different and fun personalities- all meshed into a tiny cabin where love is shown and given and the Lord is praised. My favorite place in this very special place is the Leviner front porch. We have the perfect view, I think, in all the campground! This is about the only outside place where I don't mind sitting for any length of time in the heat of the day or night and knowing mosquitos, ants, and spiders are lurking someplace nearby while at the same time enjoying the company of family and friends. It's an amazing place and I'm thankful for all the fun memories I have of this very special place on earth!

June 24, 2008

Its my second anniversary and my sister's 16th! Darren, Rhonda, Sam, and I celebrated our anniversaries in our favorite SC city- Charleston. We headed down to Charleston on Friday, June 20th! I couldn't wait to go to the Market and eat at Tommy Condons! We couldn't get out of Orangeburg fast enough but Darren said he just had to stop at the Honda Motorcycle shop- he really needs a motorcycle! This was fun and I saw all kinda of things that would be fun to have recreational wise but I don't do that much stuff outside so oh well!
We got to Charleston and checked into our downtown hotel- Lodge Alley Inn. When I walked into our room I just knew that the upcoming weekend was going to be fun and relaxing- most of all- I got to spend the whole weekend with my BIG sister! This was a first in a long time!!
We unloaded the van put our stuff in our rooms and strolled to the market. We shopped and walked around and then shopped some more. We were getting sorta hungry so we went right onto - you got it- Tommy Condons for some shrimp and grits. We weren't there very long before it started to pour down rain and thunder and lightning. We ended up staying there a very long time because it rained and rained and rained. It did stop; however the streets of the Market were flooded! My brother in law decided it'd be cool to walk in the water with it being up to his knees but shortly after he was in the middle of the road in knee deep water did someone yell "you're standing in sewage". EW, Gross! He didn't care very much- he was already wet and enjoyed having his picture taken by his bride of 16 years so he their two wonderful children could see the fun their daddy was having!! This was pretty adventuresome for one day! We headed to the hotel and took showers then headed back downtown for some shopping and icecream. We found a neat little place for icecream and we won't forget how the lady in the store yelled to passersby "Get your Pralines", "PRALINES", "Get Your Hot Pralines". Of course we went in and tried these awesome HOT PRALINES!
Day 2: Darren and Sam decided that we could conquer bicycling over the the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. We rented bicycles for this excurison and first headed to the battery and then back to the Market to eat at my favorite Deli the Market Street Deli. After filling our tummies we bicycled to the bridge. By this time- Rhonda and I were very hot. Once we got to the bridge she decided that she'd walk her bike for a while. Well I thought that I would do the same. Sam and Darren headed off thinking that crossing this 2.5 mile bridge would be a breeze. They were trying to show off in front of us girls! Well, Rhonda and I did make it- but only to the middle of the bridge. Sam and Darren however made it all the way across- Wohoo for them! As they were coming back across the bridge they found us waiting for them in the middle- oh well, I'll try to make it all the way across next time, next year of course. It was such an experience! We took pictures that somehow looked like Rhonda and I made it all the way across! Afterwards, we went back to the Market and shopped- then it started to pour down rain again- and yes it flooded once more. This was not such a thrill this time and we had to stay in the Market shops for hours- the streets were flooded and we couldn't go anywhere. We did however enjoy the sweet treats at one of the shops! When it finally stopped raining we went back to the Lodge to take showers and then out once again on the town. We ate dinner at Aw, Shucks and then headed to a scrapbook store in Mt. Pleasant- we also found a Dollar Tree- my new favorite store and then of course went to Walmart- funny how you always have to go to Walmart on vacation- even if everyone you go to isn't like the one back home. We eventually traveled back to Charleston and walked around some more! We found the "Parline" store and went in to try all the tasty treats. We stolled on down to the the swings and sat and laughed!

This is Rhonda's point of view about our anniversary trip "Just checking to make sure that you got your pockiebook and earbobs? Don't forget Sam's appt with the physikian on Tues? And when you tell people about our trip tell them "See what had happened was Sam and Darren rode their bikes ahead of us and went 11 miles on the Ravenel bridge and me and you only went 9 miles"!!! --This needs no explanation but it was too funny! After all of this we walked back to the Lodge and called it a night - some of us were still probably pondering the thought of earbobs and pockibooks! On Sunday, we headed back to our homes with tons of fun memories! I can't wait until next year!

Darren and Rhonda!

Melissa and Sam!

Darren in the Market Street Flood- EW Gross!

The Battery!

Darren and Rhonda at The Battery!

Sam- You're so silly!

We made it (well some us)- Arthur Ravenel Bridge!

Are we there yet?

See What had happen was....

Super Star!

Vroom Vroom!

Playing our favorite game- Buzz Word!

So, its summer and the Leviners and Dukes are headed off for a fun week in Gatlinburg, TN! We all pack our duds and are off, but not so much with a great send off.
As we're in tow to Spartanburg- going to meet up with the Dukes, my oldest niece, Courtney, calls to tell me that her dog, Roxie, has died. This was very sad for my nieces as well as my sister, but with Roxie buried we're finally ready for a fun filled week!
After dropping Sterling aka as Sterlie at his brother's house we leave Spartanburg- dog free, somewhat relaxed, and very excited for what's to come!
Most of us were pretty comfortable with our seating arragnements-(well for some of us) Rhonda in the driver's seat (Darren was on a canoeing trip with 8 high school friends and would be joining us in TN a day later), me in the passenger seat, C and K in the middle seats, and Sam- well he volunteered to sit in the very back (with hanging clothes, luggages, coolers, etc. knowing that with the wrong turn (you have to know Rhonda as a driver)- all this "stuff" could end up in his lap (this happened only once)! As soon as we pulled out of the driveway we hear a "Are we there yet", from Kelsey in the back, as she begins to sing the infamous song "99 bottles of pop on the wall"! "No, not quite" we laugh back.
So finally we're off- like most long distance trips you plan an amount of time for your arrival destination. Ours was going to take 2.5 hours of driving but we ended up in TN 6 hours later. We made it to Asheville and Rhonda thought it'd be a good idea to eat at none other then Cracker Barrel! Afterwards, I noticed that there was a Target nearby so we went there. In the Target C and K noticed a Starbucks so we went there and got a double chocolate something. Finally after two hours we're back in the car- we're only in NC mind you!
Now somewhere along this drive we became way to silly or maybe even delirious. Someone found a Mab Lib book and we played way too many in the car- we even strained our eyes to read the stories after all the parts of speech were inserted. We got a lot of laughs and even more so when C read the exit, or which I thought, and assumed the exit number was the price of gas 443. Then as we traveled I got the name of Tacklebait (I still need to ask my sweet husband about this one).
Eventually we arrive in Gatlinburg and our chalet is roomy and nice!
On Sunday we went into the city and even into the next, Pigeon Forge. We went to the aquarium in Gatlinburg and saw lots of funny as well as interesting things! We ate at Hard Rock Cafe (the first for me) and then headed out for some shopping. It was hot and we soon saw an ice cream parlor where we all got our favorite ice cream flavors. Somehow I got hooked on Pineapple Coconut icecream- RHONDA! Later we all walked down to the pool and C, K, and Sam went swimming- the pool looked very dirty to me and Rhonda so we didn't get in. We later found out the pool was converted to a salt water pool- very interesting. Rhonda was too disturbed to swim because this resort hosted fake flowers on the pool's balcony and she was wanting to get this straight right away.
Now, I'm going to "back the truck up" a little. On our arrival Rhonda found a binder in our chalet that listed all the "fun" and "happening" events! She came across a very interesting attraction, "synchronized firefiles", and a "camera" class! Well some of us were wanting to take the camera class while Rhonda wanted all of us to see these never seen before by human eyes fireflies. So from Saturday-Monday we were reminded about these amazing fireflies and how we've never seen fireflies "like this" in our entire lives. However, I do remember as a child collecting them in mason jars at my gradmother's house but okay- these must be some fireflies.
So on Monday, Rhonda wakes up with a lump in her throat and thinks now that she has some plague or even some various type of cancer. I diagnosed her with having a pill dissolve in her throat as she was swallowing it the night before. We tell her she's okay and even I remind her of this when she asks me again about the cancer thing. After playing another round of Mad Libs we go shopping, find a scrapbook store- spend lots of money, shop, venture on over to wal-mart (amazing how you always have to go to walmart on vacation as if there wasn't one from the town in which you came). Then we go eat at this nice restaurant, the Old Mill. It was very nice and tasty and I remember eating way too much food. We left the restaurant and headed on over to the restaurant store. Now I don't know about you, but everytime I go out of town I see somebody from back home. This trip was not any different. As soon as we get into the restaurant store- we see a member of Sam's family and its not a Leviner surprisingly. It's Sam's cousin, Carrol.We chat with Carrol, find some things we want to buy and then we're off to see- you got it- those famous synchronized fireflies. By this time we're all hyped up about these fireflies- thinking we're going to see what no other human being as ever seen before. But really it was an attraction site. We each paid one dollar to ride this trolley which took up deep into the woods. We rode for 15 miles, got off, and walked to where we heard someone say would be the best view to see these, did I tell you, famous fireflies. As we're waiting for it to get dark we began taking pictures of each other as to mark a spot for this adventure in our scrapbooks. We're still waiting for it to get dark when we heard this lady scream "Ian you almost stepped on it". I don't know about you but my instinct tells me theres a snake somewhere close by and famous or not I could do without seeing world famous fireflies in the mountains of TN. Upon hearing these words the men in our group decide to run to the top of where we were to check out this snake- a copperhead in fact. Kelsey and I didn't want any part of it so we ran or maybe flew would be a better word to the nearest trolley. When we reached the beginnings of the woods we were told by park rangers that we could still see the famous fireflies from right where we were. As we tried to view some type of fireflies, our party that wasn't too scared of the snake decided to come find us and join us. As it got darker we did begin to see the fireflies and yes afterall, it was amazing. They would flicker- hundreds of them at once, then stop for six to seven seconds. Then one would begin again and then the rest would join in and then it would start all over again. It was something to see!
On Tuesday, Rhonda still has the lump in her throat and by now she wants to go to the lobby so she can diagnose her problem on the computer. Anyways, we didn't take her to the lobby but instead headed for Pigeon Forge so Sam, Darren, C and K could ride go carts, etc. This was a fun day and we ended it by grilling out ribs, playing Buzz Word, and watching the newly released movie- The Bucket List. The movie was hilarious by the way. We did go to the hotel lobby to get a disgnosis for Rhonda but never google anything- it just gets too compliated and scary.
On Wednesday we went to Dollywood where we rode one thing, did some walking around, ate lunch, and then got rained out. I'm sure we played Buzz Word again- we love this game!
On Thursday night we went to Dixie Stampede, went shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall, and came home to play the now addicted game of Buzz Word. Rhonda now has no lump feeling in her throat so she dissipates the diagnosis of having cancer of the throat.
Friday, was just as fun!
Saturday, we head back to our homes with the warm and fun memories of the week (not before stopping to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel, mind you). Sam and I liked how we laughed so much and how much fun we had being with family. It reminded me of this quote by:
Emma Bombeck
"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."

Our Two Year Anniversary Portraits!