Are We Having A Baby Today????

So this morning I got up with an agenda!! I've only slept about 3 hours the past 2 nights. When I did wake this morning, I decided it was time. Wesley was going to be home in the morning, so I took to walking. And I walked hard in our neighborhood!! When I returned back home, sure enough I was having contractions. Very strong contractions. So I decided to keep pushing and start getting ready. My contractions have not stopped all day. They've not always been extremely intense (although much of the time they have been), and they are not extremely predictable. But, I'm still having them and they are getting closer together. So here's my dilemma. If I were to stop moving and lay down and rest, would they stop? It's totally possible. But, I don't want them to stop. I've talked to the my doctor who has given me the green light to come on in to the hospital anytime I get ready. I just don't want to have any regrets. I don't want to look back and feel that I manipulated the situation too much. If I get to the hospital and everything completely stops, it's still very likely that my doctor would won't to go ahead and keep me. So I'm taking a minute to sit down and evaluate the situation. I'm praying that God will make clear to me that this is the right time.

On another note, my countdown prayer request for today is actually not for me or Elizabeth. Today I am praying and asking you to join me in praying for all the people we know for whom childbirth can be bittersweet. There are many in my circle of family and friends who rejoice over a new birth while inwardly suffering from the pain of a loss, miscarriage, or from infertility. You know who you are, please know that I love each of you and I'm praying for you today!! I've been the one who genuinely looked lovingly on a new mother and a newborn baby with great joy while my heart felt like it was breaking into with my own grief over losing my baby. I love you, Dear Friends!! No matter what your situation, God knows. He loves you. And He has a good and perfect plan for you!!

Additional as mentioned before pray for wisdom for me this day!

More to come...

Still Counting, Prayer, and Pictures

If money were no object, I would so totally have professional maternity pictures made. Since money is an object, I'm so glad that I have other options! These are my maternity pictures. Taken today at home in my back yard by amazing amateur photographers. Yes, "photographer-s" as in plural. That's because, Luke took some of these pictures, and then Grace wanted to take some more. Like I said, amazing photographers!! My mother bought Luke, Grace, and Mary Ruth nice real digital cameras for Christmas 2008. I'm so glad that she trusted me when I said they were ready and could accept the responsibility. Giving a kid a delicate adult item like that was a risk, but I felt like we could teach them to use them carefully. It has been one of their favorite gifts ever. They've gotten so much use out of them, and as you can tell they've gotten pretty good at using them. We considered the nearly break proof kid cameras, but I thought they were overpriced and the quality of the pictures was just so very bad. So I suggested getting real cameras at a great price off Ebay. She actually got them for less money than the kids cameras. Like I said earlier it was a risk, but if somehow one got broke tomorrow I would feel like we got our money out of them. (Thanks, Mom! You're the best!!!) OK, sorry for that serious derailment! I love these pictures!! I can't decide which is my favorite!!!





OH, BABY!!! This one makes me remember my prayer about Elizabeth not being too big! My belly looks HUGE!!! Maybe it's the angle?!?!!!


My 2 favorite guys on Earth! Aren't they so handsome!!


A boy and his dog


Now it was Grace's turn. So pretty! We didn't get any pictures with Mary Ruth and Bella Peace. She should have, but they were really enjoying the swing set.


We all enjoyed an awesome morning of worship together as a family at church. It will be my last Sunday for a few weeks. We keep new babies at home for the first several weeks of life for my recovery, to bond, to adjust to nursing, and to avoid germs. I will miss being in church with the family, but I'm looking forward to my time with Elizabeth. Fortunately we can take in sermons on TV. Our church is on TV. The sermon is always one week behind, but that's OK.

Today's sermon was based on Revelation 2 and was about returning to our first love. A very brief summary is, "remember how it was when you first came to know Christ, remember your joy, your zeal, your passion, repent of those things that have come in and distracted you, and return to the Lord." As always it was a very good sermon! I hope to get in a habit of recapping each sermon here on my blog as a way to remind myself and help seal it in my head. You know the idea of hear it, read it, write it, see it, and repeat it. One other thing that I loved about today's sermon tied into a song that we heard by the choir called, "Not Guilty". It had a line that said something like, "I know you. I love you. I died for you." Verse 2 of text today starts with, "I know thy works, and thy labor (there we go again!)..." I love being reminded of the fact that "He knows" and He loves me so much anyway!!! Awesome!

OK, so my countdown prayer today is not very spiritual. It's just a desire of my heart. Please join me in praying that God would allow me to go into labor on my own before I am admitted Wednesday night. I'm not scared or worry and have no reason for this request other than it's just a preference. I want to go in on my own. I'll be perfectly content if that's not what God has planned, but it sure would be "peachy" if we let me have my way on this!!! As always, thanks for praying! I can't wait to introduce Elizabeth on here!!!

Countdown Prayer, 5 Days or Less!!

Tonight will be short. Here's my countdown prayer:

I'm praying tonight for "EASY". I'm praying for safe, fast, and easy delivery in the hospital. I'm praying that Elizabeth will be an easy baby (like I mentioned last night - calm spirit). I'm praying that nursing will go well and be easy. I'm praying for Elizabeth to be a good eater, sleeper, and yes even "pooper" (may sound strange, but it's hard on babies when they struggle with constipation some of you understand this all too well). And I'm asking for the transition to be easy on all fronts - easy for our family especially the other children to adjust to having a new member and easy to resume school/work/life soon after Elizabeth comes home.

OH, I just can't wait for her to get here!!! Thanks again for checking in and for praying with us!

7 Days of Prayer

I began this day with only 7 days or less until I get to meet my sweet baby girl. Folks, I can't tell you how excited I am. There just aren't words. I know I've been down this road a few times, but each time seems to just get sweeter and sweeter. Maybe after the loss of three babies I have also gained a greater appreciation for the miracle of child birth, the miracle of life. I'm not naive anymore. I lost. I've grieved with friends who have lost. I know things can go wrong. Full term healthy babies can die during childbirth. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or morbid. I just know that it can and does happen. I'm also not living in deep fear, worry, or dread. I have "faith" that God has a good and perfect plan for me, Elizabeth, and our family. And, I'm praying. Praying a lot. In light of this, I'm going to post a specific prayer request each day until Elizabeth is born. I should have started this weeks ago. 7 days is hardly enough!! Please take a second as you read this and join me in praying.

Here's today's prayer:

I'm asking the Lord to protect me and Elizabeth throughout the next few days and during childbirth. I'm asking Him to let Elizabeth be born in perfect health. I'm praying that she will not need any medical assistance or intervention of any kind. I don't want to have to share her with the NICU at all for any reason. Have I mentioned I want her in my arms!!

Thanks for praying with me, my dear sweet Friends!!

Pictures

Here's a couple recent pictures. These of me are not so great, but you know I try to keep it real.

This is my 39 week picture from today. My eyes are have shut. That's probably because I can't seem to sleep at night.


I tried for a good picture on Sunday, but between me napping in my clothes and Bella Peace napping on top of me this is what I got. Bella Peace is quite a ham and insisted in being in the picture with me. I look so totally bare foot and pregnant in these. Ahhh, the life of a mommy! Would not trade it for anything!!



Here's some other random cuteness!




Very, very soon I will be posting more cuteness all swaddled up tightly!!

39 Weeks, 8 Days, and "Prime"!!!

I'm sooooo very excited right now!!! I just got home from my doctor's appointment, and today's appointment was much more encouraging than last weeks. So here's the scoop:

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow! And we've moved up the day that I will be induced if I don't go on my on!! 8 DAYS, my Friends!!! I will FINALLY get to meet, hold, smell, hug, cuddle, and kiss my sweet baby girl in 8 days or less!!!! AND less is totally possible, because I've progressed a little bit more and Dr. C says I'm "prime" to go on my own!!! Of course that doesn't mean that it will happen, but last week we were hardly even considering the notion!

Today I'm 2 cm dilated and about 50-60% effaced. That may not sound like much to some, but for me it's really good. I usually go late, and don't really show much if any progress until at or after my due date!! In fact I do remember that with Bella Peace I was pretty much nothing at my 39 week appointment. Also, you must know that Dr. C is EXTREMELY conservative in every way, including with these kind of numbers. He and I have quite a history. He's checked me before immediately behind a nurse and given me much lower numbers. So, his 2 could really be a 4!! I LOVE this about him though! He's the best doctor, and I would ask for anything to be any different.

Again today, everything looked perfect in every way! Ultrasound is projecting Elizabeth to be around 8 lbs. That's really big for my babies! I'm praying that if that number is true, she's not going to get much bigger in the next 8 days!!!

I'm always concerned when I get this close about whether or not induction is best. I've prayed about this decision with each child. I've also asked the Lord to make the decision clear. I feel really good and at peace with the idea of inducing next week should we get there. First, I feel this is best in light of my concerns about Elizabeth getting too big. After all, I do have gestational diabetes. Secondly, I am still waiting until my due date. Dr. C was willing to go a little earlier if I wanted to. Thirdly, Dr. C will be taking some days off as of next Friday, September 17th. I really desire to be delivered by him especially with my history and circumstances. Based on this, we are going to induce on the last day possible. I would totally love to go on my own and not be induced and will pray about that happening, but I will also walk in with confidence should that not be the case.

So I will be admitted next Wednesday night around 10 PM on Sept 15th and we will start preparing for a delivery on my due date, September 16, 2010!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!

I've got so much I want to share but no time left!! Hopefully more later!

September 3rd...

...came and went. And I did not have a baby. Oh well, guess my intuitions were wrong this time. I did however get several things done on my "get ready for baby list". I'm hoping to get even more done tomorrow. At the very moment, I'm feeling good about the fact that apparently I have more time to complete that list! :)

38 Weeks, NO, and 19 Days

OK, so tomorrow I'm 38 weeks. The answer to yesterday's question according to my doc is, "NO" labor is most likely not eminent! :( And if I don't go into labor on my own, I will be induced in 19 days on September 20th. My due date is September 16th.

I had an appointment this morning. All is well according to an ultrasound and a non stress test. Elizabeth is looking and measuring great! Great heartbeat, averaging in around 150 bpm. Great movement. Fluid is at a great level. My blood pressure is great. We are praising the Lord for this great report!!

The ultrasound indicates that Elizabeth is head down as she should be. It estimates her weight at 7 lbs 10 ozs. If I do have to wait 19 more days, I'm hoping that number is a little high, and that she doesn't get too big in there while we wait!!

According to my exam, I am just starting to dilate and am less than 1 cm. I'm about 30% effaced, and baby is at about - 3 station. So unless my water breaks, I'm probably not going to have this baby in the very near future. I wish I could remember exactly how this stacks up to my other babies, but I don't remember exact specifics on everyone. I have journaled some with all the kiddos, but I looked last night and I didn't record exam details for everyone. I'm glad that I'm blogging this time, because I will always have these details.

Well if I'm going to be waiting a bit longer, at least I'm feeling great! I did have a period of time yesterday that I did not feel so good, but that was really the first day that I had not felt OK. For the most part I do feel very good. I'm not especially uncomfortable or tired. I have trouble sleeping, but miraculously I manage well on little sleep. I do remember that with some of the other babies, I was feeling pretty miserable at this point.

I'm still holding out hope that we might go a little early. I'm so excited and ready to meet this new little one, but I must remember that a healthy baby and mommy are what matter most!!

Here are a couple of my verses that I like to remember for this time:

Wait of the Lord: be or good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

and this one:

My times are in thy hand: deliver me... Psalm 31:15

The rest of that verse speaks of being delivered from enemies and persecution, but I like to think of it in terms of childbirth. But even thinking of it as deliverance from my enemies can apply. I need to be delivered from enemies such as discontentment, impatience, my desire to control things, my unbelief and lack of trust in His perfect timing, etc.

Well that's all for now. I forgot to get a picture earlier today, but I'm going to try to remember to get one later on this afternoon. If I get it, I will add it to this post!

Is Labor Eminent?

At almost 38 weeks, I'm thinking that just maybe labor is eminent. I can't wait for tomorrow's appointment. I feel really yucky, and it seems like "stuff" is happening. Oh, I can't wait!!! I've thought for a while now that September 3rd seemed significant. We are just a few days away from that date. I would love to meet sweet baby Elizabeth later this week!! So what's your guess? Will we have a baby this week? What do you think? Cast your votes in my comments. :)

Church

Wesley was feeling well enough to actually go to church this morning!!! Praise the Lord!! It was incredible to all be together as a family. The service, music, sermon, seeing friends, and hugging necks, everything was awesome. Hopefully others were encouraged as well. There are several families in our church who are hurting right now. We didn't realize it, but a lot has happened this past week. Now it's our turn to be in prayer for several other families. I'm wondering if our entire family will be together at church next week or not? I have this feeling that maybe we will meet Elizabeth in person by next Sunday. We will see...

35 Weeks and Updates

Well tomorrow I'm 35 weeks!! I was suppose to go to the doctor tomorrow, but things changed (long story but all is well), and I went today. I had an ultrasound and Elizabeth looks great! They estimate her at about 5 1/2 pounds. She has dropped and is head down getting into position. My doctor said she is really far down. I knew I could feel a change. She has previously been under my ribs, and she's not anymore. My fluid levels where within a healthy range, however they were on the low end. Her heartbeat averaged in the 150s. I've actually lost another pound, but as long as she's growing I'm told that's OK. It's probably just all this healthy eating that I'm doing on the diabetic diet. As of today, I'm scheduled for an appointment every Wednesday until she comes. We will do all the regular stuff they do at appointments, plus I will spend time on monitors so that me can make sure she is moving well and her heartbeat stays at an acceptable rate. After monitoring each week for about 30 minutes or so, I will have an ultrasound to chart her growth and my fluid levels. So long as everything looks good, I will just keep going until she comes. If anything causes concern we will induce and deliver. I still have that feeling that she is coming early!!!

I plan to take a 35 week picture tomorrow, but it will be a few days before I'm back on the computer. The kiddos and I are going to visit some family for a couple days. Wesley will be working and at home while we are gone. A few people have called or emailed asking for the latest in his work situation. I've not updated, because there's not much I can say right now. Things are still up in the air. Negotiations are taking place. He isn't sure right now what's going to happen. He hopes to know something by this Friday.

It's been a busy week. I've got several things I want to blog about, but once again no time. I'm still couponing and LOVING it!! I've gotten so many good deals. We ended our July budget recently, and we came in right at budget on groceries/household stuff. BUT, our budget was set some lower than normal, my new diet actually cost us more, we had out of town company visit us for the 4th of July, I didn't start couponing until mid-July, and I have stock piles of stuff!!! So I feel like month 1 was a huge success!!

That's it for tonight. I'll post more when I return and will add some pictures next time too!

34 Week Doctor's Appt

Well there will be no 34 week picture of me with my new wheels, at least not today anyway. There are no new wheels, and I'm not feeling the picture today.

First let me say that I had a doctor's appointment today with my OB. Baby is measuring great. Great movement. Great blood pressure. Sugar levels are considered "diet controlled". The only negative is that with this diet I've lost a couple pounds and haven't gained it back. The total weight gain for this entire pregnancy is still only 11 pounds. Now personally I don't have a problem with that, and my doctor says it's probably OK. However, one thing we will be watching very closely from here on out is how the baby is growing and gaining. Toward the end of my pregnancy with Bella Peace, my amniotic fluid became low and it appear as though the placenta may not have functioning properly and may have failed to provide Bella Peace with the nutrients she needed. She was a healthy weight, but our smallest baby. So, we just want to make sure that this baby continues to grow healthy and gain weight as she should. If it looks like there's any trouble, we won't take any chances. We will deliver early. I've got 6 weeks to go as of today. I would appreciate all 6 of them, however more importantly we just want a healthy baby. I may have said this before. I don't know if it's fear or intuition, but I have a feeling she's coming early. None of my other babies have been born early, so it's probably nothing. But, September 3 stands out in my mind as a possible birthday. We shall see!

As for the wheels, it's a very long story and I will try to post it tonight. I'm emotionally drained right now!

Catching Up

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I've really had an opportunity to blog. My biggest hindrance has been that our computer crashed, and I haven't had an opportunity. But that is resolved now. It's a great story. I've got so many great stories to share. I've been keeping track on paper. It's doubtful that I will get to fully catch up here on the blog, but I will surely try. Life is good. Amazing good lately. But, also challenging and up and down. Oh, how I wish I could really share all the details of how God is at work in our lives, but I'm sure that time will limit me. And truth is, I'm sure I can't even see all the ways he's at work. It's getting late, but here's a super quick little update on everyone.

All is well. We are all healthy and good. Wesley is amazing and wonderful as usual. Luke is all boy, growing like a weed, and now has teeth that look way too big for his head. He's a big eater, and his reading has so taken off. He's doing so great. I'm so proud of my big, big boy. He's such a Daddy's boy, and a great help to his Daddy.




Grace's surgery went really well. She now has an innie belly button. She was Little Miss Personality the day of her surgery, and I think made quite a lasting impression on everyone who met her that day at the hospital. Everyone's so excited about Elizabeth, but I think Grace may be the most excited. She's so maternal. Also her birthday garden is doing so very well. I haven't really posted about that, but plan to.




Mary Ruth is such a great combination of girly girl and tom boy. She's always saying something so cute. I have no idea where she comes up with some of the cute things she does and says. She is a great big sister to Bella Peace who really, really looks up to her "May-Me". That's what Bella Peace calls Mary Ruth.



And speaking of Bella Peace. She's so not a baby anymore. Such a big girl. So independent. Want's to do everything her big brother and sisters do and wants to do it all by her self all the time. She's also obsessed with shoes. She's in to everything and quite a mess but so very cute.



And finally, Elizabeth. She's doing excellent! Still consistently measures great. Moving great. She seems to have made her nest on my right side, and she's always there right under by ribs. She's an active little girl. If the 4-D ultrasound is accurate, she looks just like Mary Ruth. We can't wait to meet her, but I so not ready for her arrival. I've got about 9 weeks, and I need every minute of it. I don't know if it's fear or intuition, but I have a feeling she's going to come early. None of my other children have come early except Bella Peace who was induced a week early because of possible complications, so we shall see.

As for me...well I failed the short sugar test. Took the long one. There was an error so I had to take the long one again. Failed it also. Today I attended a class for women with gestational diabetes and learned so much. I don't necessarily have it, because my numbers were just above the acceptable range, but I'm at least right on the edge and have several risk factors. The class was great and very informative. As of today, I will be testing my blood glucose 4 times a day with a diabetes monitoring kit. It's really not so bad. I'm also on an new diet. I'm feeling OK about it all. The diet is a good diet for anybody and is going to be a healthier new start for us all. My sugar levels were all over the place today, but I'm just getting started on the new diet so I'm expecting to see lots of improvement.

Well there's an update, not so sure it was quick or little, but nevertheless an update. More really soon!

28 Weeks, Birthdays, and Surgery

28 Weeks Today



Also today we celebrated my niece and nephew's birthdays. Glory and Oak who are sister and brother both had birthday's today. Glory turned 3. Oak turned 1. On Wesley's side of the family, we now have a 1 yr old (Oak), a 2 yr old (Bella Peace), a 3 yr old (Glory), a 4 yr old (Mary Ruth), missing a 5 yr old, then a 6 yr old (Grace), and finally a 7 yr old (Luke). So 1,2,3,4,6,and 7. How cute is that!! All we need now it a 5 year old! I've got plenty of pictures from today's party, BUT they are on a card that is not compatible with the computer I'm using. Maybe I can get them up soon.

Finally, tomorrow Grace has surgery on her belly button. She's always had an outie belly button, and we just love it! BUT, her outie belly button is more than just a cute button. It's actually an umbilical hernia, so surgery is necessary. She's scheduled for 7 AM. It's suppose to be a quick and easy thing with an easy recovery. I'll post about it later, but if anyone happens to read this before I update, please pray that all goes well.

The Sugar Test

So, I failed the sugar test for the first time ever (the glucose tolerance test that they give you at about 28 weeks to test for gestational diabetes). Such-A-BUMMER!!! I know that most likely it doesn't mean anything. BUT, now I have to have the dreaded long test!! I know it is probably my own fault, because I have eaten way to many sweets lately. Ugh! I guess I will either have to find a sitter for my other kiddos or take them with me to hang out at the doctor's office for 4 long hours. Also, my dear sweet husband will surely put me on a low/no sweet diet regardless of the results of the long test just because he loves me like that. How sweet, right? :) Oh, well. I really have so much to be thankful for with this pregnancy. I know that I should not be complaining. The bright side is that maybe I will finish a book I've been working on while I wait at the doctor's office. Now that doesn't sound too bad at all!! Pray that all is well.

She's Got a Name

So if you haven't already heard, we've named our sweet baby girl!! We actually named her about a month ago, immediately after learning she was indeed a girl. I've just not had the time/made the time to write about it. So without further ado, here name is:

"Elizabeth Faith Minor"

I'm sure that it would be loads of fun to not find out what our baby was until the delivery room, but it's loads of fun to find out also!! We were set on not finding out Joshua's gender, but since Joshua and the concern that our losses have been gender related, finding out is what we feel is best. Our doctor agrees.

For me the bond just seems to grow more beautiful and stronger once we find out and even more so once we have a name. We call our girl by name, refer to her by name, and even pray of her by name.

I cannot begin to express the love I feel for Elizabeth. I just love, love, love her so much already. I dream of seeing her for the first time in person, touching her, cuddling her, smelling her. Oh, I can't wait!!!

So Wesley has a friend from whose wife is expecting their first baby. He recently ask Wesley how in the world we come up with our baby names, because they are having a very hard time deciding. We do have a little method to our madness. I have so enjoyed naming our babies!! For the record, as I know you know, we've come up with 8 thus far:

Luke Wesley
Grace Marie
Mary Ruth (double name)
Samuel Thomas
Isaiah Ray
Bella Peace (double name)
Elizabeth Faith

Do you notice any trends?

Part of each child's name is some how taken from the Bible. The other part has been a family name until Elizabeth. We just really love this name combo, and it's getting a little hard to stick with the formula. Maybe some time I will tell the complete story behind each name. Each one is so special too me. For now, I will just share the story behind Elizabeth's name.

We've liked the name Joy Elizabeth for a long time. But, we also have a rule that our child must be called by their first name or double name. We prefer not to use their middle name as the name they go by. Just a personal preference. We also decided that we didn't want to use another double name right now. So that meant that "Joy Elizabeth" would be called "Joy". While we love the name Joy, we know several and just didn't feel like that was the right name for us this time. But, we still both really, really loved the name Elizabeth. We not only loved the name, but also loved what we knew of Elizabeth in the Bible. In Luke 1:6, scripture says that Elizabeth and her husband "...were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." What else could we ever hope or dream for our daughter but that she and her husband would be described this way. Elizabeth was considered a deeply spiritual woman. She fully trusted God and believed that what He said would happen, would indeed happen. She trusted in His time table. So there it was. Elizabeth. Her first name.

Now for a middle name. We considered a couple different middle names, trying to find a family name that worked. Then my good friend and next door neighbor reminded me of a name we had considered in the past, Faith. Almost immediately, I knew that had to be the name. The past couple years, especially the past year has been such a journey of faith for me, for us. From a deepened faith to a crisis of faith, hopefully to a even deeper faith again. How could we not go with this name. Plus, Elizabeth in the Bible demonstrated great faith in the Lord. Once again, what a great dream/hope for our daughter. I text Wesley the name put together, "Elizabeth Faith". He replied, "Great Potential"! By the end of the day, we both confidently knew that the daughter we already loved now had a name we loved as well!!

I don't think I've posted my officially due date. Very early on, I said September 18th. Later my doctor gave me September 16th as Elizabeth's official "EDD" (medically speaking the approximate expected date of delivery). We are almost half way. We CAN NOT WAIT TO MEET HER! Our Elizabeth!

19 Weeks

Not too much to report at 19 weeks. I was actually 19 weeks yesterday. I'm going to the doctor every other week now, and this is not my week to go. I'm just barely feeling occasional twitches. I'll be so glad to feel more regular movement. Most people do by this point, I guess I don't because I have a long torso. That's my guess anyway. One thing we know is that she is quite a mover! I'm sure when I do start feeling her all the time, it's going to be quite fun!!

There have been times in the past couple days that I've had to work hard no taking my fears/worries/concerns captive. Feeling some occasional movement, but not consistent everyday movement makes me a little crazy. I start thinking well it's been a very long time since I felt movement, does that mean something is wrong? It also seems like my growing belly has stalled out. I'm sure all is well, it's just hard for me with my past not to start to worry. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to seeing our sweet girl on ultrasound next Thursday at 20 weeks, the half way point!! Whoo Hoo!!

18 Weeks

18 weeks tomorrow. Today's appointment was great! Ultrasound was amazing!! Healthy baby girl!! More details and maybe (if I can do it without having major computer issues) pictures later tonight!!

Doc Appt Today

18 weeks tomorrow, doctor's appointment today in a couple hours. Excited!! Update to follow! :)

Wow Moments

I've had a few wow moments in the past few days. Some big and heavy, some not so much. I wanted to share just a couple of the not so big ones right, because at the moment that's all I have time for. The big and heavy wow moments mostly stem from a Mom's retreat that I went on this past weekend. I'm working on a post about that for later. But for today, here's my not so big/heavy wow moments:

I promise not to post a picture every week when Luke cuts grass, but it really does make me think WOW.



Also recently I somehow got confused about how old I am. Somehow I've had in my mind that I was close to turning 34. Last night, I realized that I will not be turning 34 but 35 on my birthday in a few months. WOW!! I'm going to be 35!!!!! WOW, how do you forget how old you are? Oh, boy it must be that I really am getting old!!!!

And for my final WOW moment, today my OBGYN called me just to check on me. Dr. Conrad is an amazing doctor. He called and just said that I had been on his mind, and he wanted to check on me and see how I was doing. He asked if I had any cramping, spotting, usually symptoms, concerns, fears, etc. He said he really wanted to know how I was feeling at this stage on the pregnancy, and that he puts a lot of stock into a women's intuition. I told him that I really feel good. I feel like everything is on track and me and baby are progressing healthy and normally. I also told him I feel peaceful and hopefully about things right now. I ask him if he was calling because something had given him concern or had him worried. He said no just that he wanted to check in on me since it was a longer time in between my appointments, and since we are still in a critical time for me right now based on my history. Isn't that amazing that he would call me? WOW, what a great doctor! I'm so glad he cares. He's also told me in the past that he prays for me and this baby as well as for other patients.

Ok, so this was more than a couple, sorry! Did any of these WOW you too? Ha, ha!!