Half Way There (20 weeks)

Boy or Girl??? That is the question. I can hardly wait to find out....and on Tuesday, November 24th we will know. My intuition tells me that it is a girl and Mark is thinking a boy...either way we will be happy. My mom is going to come to the ultrasound that will be fun. I would love the kids to be there but they don't allow children under 12 years old in the ultrasound room. Plus I can't imagine trying to keep them behaving while having the ultrasound.

I can't believe I half-way through. It seems like yesterday I found out. I am feeling the baby move around at times. And people defiantly notice that I am pregnant now. Certain things are getting more and more difficult for me to accomplish. This is truly a walk of faith. The baby within is a miracle (all babies are) but I was told that this baby would not come to be by a well respected and knowledgeable doctor. Fortunately...God is in control...not man.

As we enter this holiday season, I am so blessed by the gift God has given me. My heart is so full that no material gift could compare with His gift to us.

Family Vacation

We took our vacation this last week. Mark and I got away for a night to Skamania lodge. I love the lodge it is always so peaceful. We really had a nice time together. We then took the kids to the beach. They had a great time discovering the beach for the first time. We hunted for seashells, played games, shopped and ate out. They really enjoyed themselves.

Tomorrow is back to school and work for me.

It's Been Awhile....

I have been a horrible blogger lately. Life has been so busy. I had a doctor's appointment about 3 weeks ago and everything was perfect. Mark and I decided to have the quad-screen testing done on the baby for Downs Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and spina bifida. Everything came back normal.

The kids are doing well. Luke is reading very well and busy. Grace loves to sing and now we are hearing all the songs for their Christmas party. They had a great Halloween. We went to the Harvest Party at church and then trick-or-treating at Mimi and Papa's house. They both ended up with so much candy!

Out with the old...In with the new...

Today I parted with my double stroller...silly I know. But in some ways it is parting with my old life. The life of foster care and babies coming and going. I can remember seeing Gracie and Sophie riding around the zoo and mall and all sorts of places in that stroller. I can remember Zackary screaming at me in Home Depot because he hated the stroller if he wasn't eating. We put more Target popcorn in those cup holders than any other snack.

But...today I said goodbye. Because my life is changing...my body is changing...my heart is changing...our lives our changing. Today I said goodbye to the double stroller and hello to the single stroller. You see, when the babe arrives, Grace will be 5 years old...and if you know anything about Grace... you know how independent she is. She would rather walk everywhere, and touch everything than be confined to the stroller or shopping cart. We don't need the double stroller anymore. No use keeping it for memory's sake (even though I loved that stroller). So, I did what any good mommy would do...bid goodbye to the double (sold it) and bought the single in the same make and brand as the double.

I was going to register for the single, but I needed the one that would fit my infant seat, and they were clearancing out the red one (I love the color red) so I made my first purchase for the baby. A single "red" stroller. I practiced pushing it around the house wondering what adventures the baby and I would have while the two older ones will be in school. Probably trips to the doctors, strolls around the mall and of course trips with the big kids, to the zoo, the fair...Disneyland. I am trying hard not to hurry things along, but the truth is I can't wait to meet this little person within.

16 weeks

Difficult to believe that I am 16 weeks along. I am feeling pretty well these days except for being exhausted. I have also developed the "pregnancy brain" where I repeat myself and forget basic things (like the names of my students). I am really starting to show now and also ache in my hips and sides (all of which I have been told is normal). I am wearing mainly maternity clothes as they are more comfortable (especially the pants).

We signed up for childbirth classes. It is a 6 week class beginning November 30 - January 4. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real to me that I am going through this. I keep waiting to feel the baby move, but nothing yet. After much deliberation, we have decided to put Grace and Luke in the bigger bedroom in bunk beds and make a nursery for the babe. We won't begin these projects until after the holidays. There is just going to be a five year age difference between Grace and the baby. Luke and Grace are very attached to each other and run on the same schedule. I am sure it will be an adjustment but we will adjust them before the baby arrives.

Speaking of baby arriving...I am a little upset that neither of my children will be allowed to come to the hospital to visit their new baby because of the "lock down" of people allowed in the family birth center because of H1N1. No person under 18 is allowed in the doors. Thankfully Mark and Mother will be allowed to come in. But they have now limited support people from 4 to 2. I know it is for a good reason, but I am hoping they lift the ban in April.

The kids are excited about Halloween coming up. Luke is going to be Darth Vader (a lot of irony there) and Grace is going to Belle (thanks in part to Uncle D and Auntie Katie that sent her a gorgeous Belle costume for her birthday). It will be double the candy and parties because their school is doing a Harvest Festival next Friday and then we always go Trick-or-treating with Mimi on Halloween night, while Papa stays home and hands out candy to the little people that come by. Fun is always had by all.

It is difficult to believe that the holidays are right around the corner. Where does the time go?

14 weeks

Well...I am here. It has been a crazy couple of weeks and much to report. Last week I met with my doctor here in Vancouver for the first time. I had the usual 1st OB visit with all the "fun" tests. Everything came back normal, so I can cross all that off my list of worries. I ended up getting another ultrasound (#5 but who's counting). Baby looked great. Next appointment is in 4 weeks (well 3 weeks now) next ultrasound at 20 weeks. I cannot wait until we can find out what this little one is. Mark would like another boy, but has admitted he would love another little girl too. I told him that was good because I think the baby is a girl. Luke is dead set on a boy. He won't even consider the possibility that it might be a girl. Grace says boy because that is what Luke has convinced her it is. Only a few more weeks until we find out. I think I am starting to show (at least that is what people are telling me). I have been sick this past week with a bad cold. It has been miserable, especially not being able to take any good medication. I am not a particular fan of Tylenol.

We ended up putting Luke in 1st grade at Mountain View Christian School. I just couldn't keep up on everything and feel like I was doing a really quality job with Luke's school. If I wasn't pregnant or working it would have been great. He couldn't be more thrilled. He loves his friends and is doing some exceptional work. I am very proud!!!! He also lost another tooth, and we almost had a panic because he swallowed it and how would he get his money! Luckily, I suggested a note to the tooth fairy would do the trick.

Gracie is fun and full of it. She will tell anyone and everyone about the "baby in mommy's tummy". She is even drawing pictures of her and the baby. And let me tell you...she is quite the artist. She is also into singing...especially the song "John, Jacob, Jinglehemer, Schmidt" very loudly whenever the mood strikes her. She is still in preschool and loves every minute of it.

Mark is busy busy. He is doing and exceptional job helping me whenever I need it. Like today...he deep cleaned the kids bathroom for me. He picks things up that I need and always asks me what he can do. He is very involved in the pregnancy and doctor's appointments. He also has lots of questions for the doctor. I couldn't do this without him.

Let's see...I am trying to think if there is anything else that I haven't covered yet. Oh..Monday is flu shot day and dentist day. We like to just do everything fun in one day. The kids are going to love me!

Ultrasound #4

Today we had our 4th ultrasound. It was absolutely amazing!!! The baby was moving all around and we could see the head, arms, legs and body. She measured the heartbeat and it was 158 bpm. Busy baby. We even got ultrasound pictures. I am a little farther along than I thought 11weeks and 5days. Almost to 12 weeks...unbelievable. The baby measured approx. 2 inches in length. Mark went with my to the appointment and was just as amazed as me. The only bummer was having to have go to the bathroom so badly. Luckily the tech had mercy on my soul and let me go potty after she got some photos first. I really thought I was going to pee my pants. Which Mark thought was absolutely hysterical :)

My next appointment is next Wednesday with the doctor. I will have another ultrasound at 20 weeks and we will find out if it is a boy or a girl. Very exciting. Just had to share our good news.

Preschool

At the last minute we decided to enroll Grace in preschool at MVCS. We felt that she needed something that special just for her. She is going 2 half-days a week and of course loves school. She asks me every morning if it is a school day. Luke is being home schooled this year and attending Home Choice Academy though our school district.

Tooth Fairy

Well...it finally happened. Luke lost his first tooth!!!!!!! He was/is so excited about it. He has only been waiting a year. I think he was the only kindergartner last year not to loose a tooth. The dentist says that boys just lose their teeth later than girls. We thought Grace might start losing teeth before Luke. He was so proud of his tooth, he didn't want the tooth fairy to come because he wanted to keep his tooth. I suggested that he write a note to the tooth fairy and ask if he can keep his first special tooth. She of course agreed, and left him $5 dollars. (I know, it might be a little much, but he worked so hard to lose that first tooth).

10 week Little Bean Update

Difficult for me to believe that I have made it to 10 weeks. It has been a rough road in some parts. Not because anything has gone wrong, but when you live through 3 miscarriages, worry, fear and doubt creep into your mind. I am also at the point where I have now carried the farthest of any of my pregnancies, so now I am uncharted territory.

The last couple of days I have been feeling pretty good. The intense nausea and fear to be far from a bathroom has gone. The heartburn has been a little better too. I hope the trend continues. I was able to have a wonderful Saturday with my mom. She invited me to have a pedicure with her, and then we had lunch at Beaches outside on the river. Finally we went down to the farmer's market and collected all sorts of fruits and veggies. It is the most I have done in the last 10 weeks. I told her a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't have done any of that.

Food is starting to taste good again. I am able to eat a wider variety of things instead of just toast and crackers. Water is tasting better too. It is amazing what our bodies to for the little bean with in.

I was able to hear the heartbeat tonight for the first time. It was 156 beats per minute. Mark and I rented a fetal Doppler. I have had it for a week or so. We thought we were hearing the heartbeat before, but it turned out to be uterine blood flow and my heartbeat. Finally, after realizing the mistake we found the little bean's heartbeat. It sounds like a galloping horse or a train. There is no mistaking it when you find it. I will also begin weaning myself off another medication. Yippee. We still appreciate all your prayers for this baby and my health. From the beginning of this pregnancy I have claimed a "text book" pregnancy. So far God has granted me what I asked including morning sickness and all. I also have my first doctor's appointment this week (well it is only with the nurse) and more blood work.

Almost 9 weeks

There is not much to tell these days. I still feel very icky...(which my mom thinks is the greatest thing ever). We have had fun talking about pregnancy. I have an old baby book from 1969 that my mom used when she was pregnant with me. Now that book was 10 years old when my mom was pregnant with me. Now it is 40 years old. It is quite hysterical. They have a nausea diet (which seriously requires you to eat two pieces of toast every two hours). That translates to a loaf a bread a day. I also love their advice on how to set up the babies room. Too funny. Although I will tell you I will be using their suggestions for telling children where babies come from. I already know that this conversation is coming with Luke. Up until now, babies have come from downtown Vancouver (CPS office). Grace wants to know why the baby isn't crying. And they both will tell you "my mom's baby is going to pop out around Easter." That is such a nice conversational starter with the cashier at Target. Out of the mouth of babes.