Look who came for a visit :) Thanks Nana and Grandpa for bringing my boy up to see me and love on me!  And this girl has a wee bit of jaundice, so she's going to be lit up like a glow worm for a little while. 

34 weeks gestation on Sunday.  I should be posting about my weekly things.  Instead, I'm introducing you to our Ella Hope.  The nurse said she was born at 3:32am.  I was told she's 5 pounds, 17 1/2 inches long and has dark, thick hair.  I wouldn't know.  I was completely under.  I missed her first cry.  I didn't get to hold her, touch her, see her. No skin-to-skin or breast feeding.   None of my wishes for this birth came to pass.  Ella's birth story The last anyone knew, I was going to be sent home Sunday afternoon having been contraction-free all day Saturday. Sunday morning around midnight I woke in discomfort and needing to urinate. I asked The Husband to help me up and told him I thought I was having a contraction. We got settled back in our sleeping arrangements, but I continued to hurt. From midnight until 2:30 I laid in agonizing pain thinking she was trying to turn since no contractions we...

I'm tired.  I didn't sleep but maybe an hour last night what with the IV and fetal monitor cords and  the cathadar tubes  twisting every time I moved, the blood pressure cuff tightening every time I started to doze, and the mattress not allowing my hips any relief.  Exhaustion, hunger for something more substantial than a cup of broth, the magnesium causing extreme dizziness, plus lots of anxiety caused a wee bit of a sobbing meltdown and contractions this morning.  I've tried to rest today, but have not gotten much sleep.  I finally saw my doctor this afternoon. He won't consider releasing me until tomorrow at the earliest. He wants me maintaining status quo.  And once I'm released, I'm on bed rest because of (TMI ALERT) my cervix being short and soft--two things that indicate labor isn't far off--and the strong contractions I was having all day yesterday.  I'm disappointed. I had such HIGH hopes of getting our home ready. For us to live in. For...

Jumble of thoughts. So many emotions.  I'm currently being monitored at the hospital for preterm labor. I'm 33 weeks 5 days. She currently only weighs a little over 4 lbs. I went in for my twice weekly non-stress test, and I had significant contractions the entire time.  The baby is still breech. I'm 70% effaced. If she comes, I have to have surgery. I'm freaking out. Freaking out. I'm so sad. And scared. And worried about bills. The Husband hasn't been at his job long enough to have any paid vacation leave, so any work he misses we lose pay. I'm beyond stressed about the house not being anywhere ready to live in. I'm frustrated that I haven't been able to unpack most of the stuff we have.  Please pray.  Please pray that she will stay put. That she will turn. That she will gain weight. That my house will miraculously get unpacked and repaired in the meantime. That I will be able to live in my new house before my baby is born.  That Ja...

Oh, Friends, Some of you know that the 23rd has special meaning to The Husband and me. We started officially dating on January 23rd. We got married a year and a half later on July 23rd (our three-year anniversary is coming up next month!). Hadley's due date was on August 23rd. And, today, this 23rd day of June, has now been added to that list of memories. We closed on a new-to-us house!  We are homeowners. We fell in love with it and wanted to make it our home the moment we took a look inside a little over a month ago, and it's been an up and down journey since then.  God answered prayer after prayer (in His timing, of course), and we were forced to be patient and to not lose hope.  Neither of us were awesome at those things, but our God was faithful and surprised us last Wednesday when we got the call that we were going to be able to close this afternoon. This house, our home, has so many things that the two of us always wanted in a house but never though...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  33 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Girl weighs as much as a honeydew melon (around 4 1/4 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  So far I've gained a whopping 23 pounds.  I hate being weighed now. Maternity clothes:   I do try to put on clothes other than my pajamas, but some days that doesn't happen until well into the afternoon just so I can go for a walk and be somewhat presentable. Gender:  A stubborn, breech baby girl ;) Movement :  She stays curled up on my right side, butt out, and periodically bounces ...

Thanks to my sister, I have a few awesome pictures to remember this day :) Let me start out by saying that I really didn't have high expectations for how Jack would react given that he's been so clingy lately and wanting nothing to do with other people.   Instead, however, he proved me wrong!  There were a few breakdowns, but overall, he was sweet and flirty and was only overwhelmed a little bit.  The party went so well, despite his shortened nap and the intense heat/humidity.   With the help of my in-laws, who arrived in town early, the food was prepared and set out in the kitchen.  We fixed some of his favorite foods (fruit kebabs, turkey and cheese roll-ups, and carrots) for our guests to munch on, and I also baked up some angel food cupcakes with cream cheese icing and blueberries.   The guests began to arrive, and we all visited out in the screen room and on the patio munching on the snacks. When I figured he had had about eno...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  32 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Girl weighs as much as a head of lettuce Total weight gain/loss :  So far, I'm up 22 pounds total this pregnancy. Maternity clothes:   Anything that still fits Gender:   a very breech baby girl Movement :  Kicking/moving when I'm holding Jack or lying down Sleep :  Sleep has become a fleeting thing. What I miss :  Sleeping through the night and giving full-on hugs Cravings :  chocolate chip ice cream Symptoms : acid reflux and a full bladder ...

Sweet Jack,  You are officially one year old today! This first year with you has taken our breaths away.  You are a delight and a joy and a wonder of a boy.  You giggle and grin and blow kisses and melt our hearts.  You speedily crawl from one adventure to the next and only stop to smile or lay your head on our legs or shoulders for a quick breather.   You are sweet and funny and charming and full of spunk.  You love to be loved and to love on us in return.   You are a great eater with your almost 6 teeth--almost because you have 4 teeth all the way in and two halfway there. Your toothy smiles are pretty contagious.  You have turned our lives upside down in only the best ways, and we can't remember what life was like before we met you.  Daddy and I love you to the moon and back, Monkey, and we thank God daily that He has allowed us to be your parents!  ...

1.  Tomorrow this boy is turning one!!! This time last year, I was wishing and praying and hoping he'd hurry up, haha!  Whoo, that was a longggg labor . After reliving that day through words, I am not looking forward to doing that again in a few months, but I am definitely looking forward to meeting our girl :)   This moment was sure worth the....well, worth it all!  And, I just re-read the comments at the bottom and got teary-eyed.  Bestie, you better be there for this little one's birth, too! 2.  We're having a little gathering to celebrate his birthday next weekend, and I'm hoping he doesn't freak out with all of the people there.  Since being sick a few weeks ago, my social boy has become a clingy mess around people other than me, The Husband, and my parents.  He will smile and blow kisses and wave "hi" all day long to others, but the minute they get close enough to touch him, or heaven forbid, pick him up?  The frantic looks ...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  31 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Girl weighs as much as a head of lettuce (about 3.1 pounds)-- I'm not sure about length Total weight gain/loss :  I'm up 21 1/2 pounds. Maternity clothes:   The last pair of non-maternity shorts I could fit into, now threaten to cut off circulation in my hips, so I have put them away :(   Gender:   A sweet girl Movement :  She's mostly active during the times I'm holding Jack (I guess she's irritated with him encroaching on her space.) and at night when I'm in bed. S...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  30 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Girl is around 17 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a butternut squash (about 3 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  So far, I'm up a lot.  A lot.  20 pounds at least. Maternity clothes:   Anything that still fits over my belly and my behind. Gender:   A sweet baby girl Movement :  Not as much movement during the day, but during my NSTs I feel her a lot.  She has been "stuck" on my right side, head up for a longggggg time.  I'm REALLY hoping she tur...