Playing Hookie!

Yes...I'm playing hookie...from work:). I'm in North Carolina with my in-laws, Jeff and the baseball team. They are participating in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament here in Forest City! I'm so proud of them and all the hard work from the coaches and players!!! We ate with the team lastnight at Outback (mmmm...still makes my mouth water) and today we plan on cheering them on against Wingate! Cathy (Jeff's mom) made chocolate chip cookies for the team and coaches...I might have to snatch a few when we get back to the house :). Say a little prayer for the team this weekend (coaches and players)!

On another note, pray that I don't get another speeding ticket on my way home:(. Yes...I got my first speeding ticket, which I knew would eventually happen. I do drive too fast and I guess God is trying to tell me to slow down...especially before Baby S gets here! The funny thing was, I dreaded telling Jeff, but he actually took it really well. My parents on the other hand did not. When I talked to them lastnight they scolded me...I felt 18 again! Oh well...I've learned my lesson!

BTW...less than 6 days until we find out if Baby S is a prince or princess!!! Everyone is getting so excited!

Me, Cathy (Grandma Cathy), and Lillian (Great-Grandma Lil)

Railsplitters during the anthem

Thursday against Wingate (LMU won 10-9)

(I'm blogging from my iPhone so if there are any misspelled words, just look over them!)

Warmest,

Baby Boy or Baby Girl?

In less than 8 days, Jeff and I, hopefully, will be able to find out if we will be parents of a handsome baby boy or a little princess...(that is, if, Baby S cooperates :) So, being the planner that I am...I've been looking for bedding for the nursery. Here is what Jeff and I have come up with...

For a "little man"

Above: Baby girl's room (not that crazy about the bedskirt)

Below: Baby girl...we would have to have a chandelier! I also really like the bed, but in Espresso.

Below: Baby Boy


Below: One of my top favorites for a girl's room

Below: Another one of my top favorites!

Below: This is my favorite bedding of all! I would love to do this for a boy's room! I think I could also make it work for a little girl...maybe change the fabric on the bedskirt. I would also do the crib sheet in a different color.

Decisions...decisions...decisions!!! Which is your favorite?

Warmest,

WOW...34 YEARS!!!

I love these two people because...

they have always been there for my brother and I...

they have showed us how to love by loving us and each other...

they have never missed an important, or not so important event in my life...

...and they have always thought of others before themselves.

Happy 34th Anniversary
Mom and Dad!

Warmest,

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (17 weeks)

Happy Wednesday!

Warmest,

Last Monday's Appointment and Poppy!

Going into last Monday's appointment, our nurse told us that we would not have another u/s until we were able to tell the gender, which was going to be around week 19 or 20. Even though I desperately wanted to see the little one, I was content with just being able to hear his/her heartbeat. So, before we arrived to the doctor's office I did a little research about the fetal dopplers and mentioned to Jeff that I had read that using a Doppler to find a baby's heartbeat was a lot harder than finding it on the u/s and that after several times of trying they will do an u/s to make sure everything is fine. Boy...am I glad I prepared him for that!

Our CNP (Nurse Practitioner) brought in a nurse with her to listen to the baby as she filled out my chart for 2nd trimester screening. I could tell the nurse was concerned after several minutes of trying and no heartbeat. Stephanie (our CNP) came over and gave the nurse some directions and told us that sometimes a 16 week baby's heartbeat was hard to find on a Doppler. I saw the look of panic on Jeff's face and I, myself tried to remain calm. I just kept thinking that "it" had to be there and this could not be happening to us. Then...thump...thump...thump...there it was...the sweetest, most perfect sound I have ever heard. Shewww...what a relief! We finished up the appointment with bloodwork for our second trimester screening and when I got the results a couple of days ago and everything with the baby was great. I, on the other hand, am still slightly anemic and my thyroid is just a little overactive (which causes you to have a harder time gaining weight). The doctor says that both are commonly seen during pregnancy and not to worry because my thyroid was tested a couple of months before I got pregnant and everything was fine. I'm not required to take any medication for my thyroid, but I am having to take an iron supplement once a day. My doctor said that I needed to eat more meat since I was anemic and also because I have yet to gain any weight. I'm sure the weight will come with time :)

Since our slight scare, we have since decided to rent a fetal monitor doppler from a website that a friend shared with me called Tiny Heartbeats. They will let mother's who have suffered from a miscarriage, fetal demise, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, loss of a child to complications from pregnancy, or even women in high risk pregnancies rent the Doppler's free of charge. If you would like to rent one or want to know more about it, you can check out their website at www.tinyheartbeats.org . My rented doppler should be here any day and I will blog about it once I learn to use it.

I just wanted to leave you with a few pictures from when Jeff and I told my Dad that we were pregnant. They are pretty special because I love my Dad so much. There is just something about Daddy's and their little girls :) He has been everything a father could be and so much more. I know Baby S will love their "Poppy". I can't wait to see him and my mom with their first grandson or granddaughter. I get teary eyed just thinking about it.

We gave Dad a handkerchief that read "Grandpa"

This is CLASSIC!!! He was upset because I had spent the day at his and Mom's house and I didn't tell him the good news when I saw him earlier...I just told Mom cause I knew he couldn't keep it secret!

Awww...I can't wait til he/she gets here!!!
(I was pretty proud of myself because I made this on my sewing/embroidering machine that Dad and Mom bought me for Christmas :)

Warmest,

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (Easter Weekend)

Jeff and I Easter 2010

(Left to right: Jeff, me, Mom, Dad and my brother, Corey)

Easter 2010 (15 weeks and 4 days pregnant)

My cousin Jacob and his red-tipped mohawk

Cousin Brody and his momma, Kim after hunting eggs

Newest member of our family Keagan, little sister to Brody

"The guys" playing basketball after Easter Sunday dinner (look who has the ball :)

Aunt Peggy riding the motorcycle for our entertainment (Yes, I rode the motorcycle too!)

Warmest,

Other Past Appointment Updates

So, I thought I would continue with our appointments leading up to our appointment yesterday... starting back in February. (I'm doing this to keep family and friends updated and also to help me remember my past appointments and other details...so bare with me.)

February 8, 2010 (8 weeks)-This was our first appointment with our "baby doctor". Our appointment went great and we met our nurse practitioner, Stephanie, and one of our doctors, Dr. BH (for privacy reasons, I won't be posting our doctors' names, but I should say that it is odd that our fertility doctor, and both baby doctors names start with H's so I will be including their first initial or else it would be Dr. H1, Dr. H2 and Dr. H3...too confusing for me!) I really liked Dr. BH and expected him to be older, however he is in his early 40's. Oh well...as long as he knows what he is doing and takes care of us...I don't mind :) This appointment was also pretty cool because we were able to actually hear the heartbeat (160 bpm) for the first time and we had another u/s done and got to see Baby S as a little bean. The u/s pic was a little clearer than the one we had with our fertility doctor...so, I could actually make out what part was Baby S :) After the u/s we went over our family history and our genetic testing we had done last pregnancy and that was followed by more bloodwork...which BTW...I am pretty used to doing. I've been giving myself shots in the stomach 2x a day ever since I was about 4 weeks pregnant. I was suspected of having a blood clotting disorder...which is a long story, but I've been tested 3 times and the test came back positive with the first pregnancy, negative when I wasn't pregnant, and positive again this pregnancy. So, who knows? Everything is going great and the blood thinning shots are helping me to not have a blood clot. Besides, I'm putting my trust in the ultimate doctor :)

February 22, 2010 (10 weeks)-The purpose of this appointment was just to ease my mind...so the appointment didn't last very long. My doctors and I agreed that I would come back two weeks after our first appointment since we had a previous miscarriage just to make sure everything was progressing accordingly. I greatly appreciated that and was very relieved to see Baby S and hear his/her heartbeat again. Baby S actually looked like a little baby this time, however, we didn't get any pictures :(

March 15, 2010 (13 weeks)-Jeff was out of town this week and was unable to go to the doctor with me so my mother went with me, and of course, we did a little shopping afterwards! Jeff and I both hated that he had to miss the appointment but it was nice to see my mom's reaction to the little one for the first time. This appointment's u/s lasted longer because it was time for our first trimester screening and the the tech had to check the heart, spine and other things. Thankfully, everything was great on the u/s and the bloodwork came back normal also. Overall, it was pretty amazing. Baby S jumped around, showed us his/her backside and raised their arm...plus...we heard the heartbeat again (144 bpm) . It was pretty cool to watch Baby S move around and turn away from us...I think we were disturbing his/her nap time:) The u/s tech said that the baby moving around a lot was a good sign and was exactly what she was wanting to see. Once again, I was so thankful that everything was great. "Thank you God!"

Below is a video of Baby S's heartbeat that I recorded since Jeff could not be there. Listen for the change in the heartbeat. The tech said that was when the baby was moving...cool!

Warmest,

Easter Weekend and 15 Weeks

Wasn't today the most beautiful day? As soon as I got home from work today I put on my shorts, tank and flip flops and Baby S and I enjoyed some time outside basking in the sun. My goal was to give Baby S some vitamin D :) and maybe to turn this pale, pasty outer layer into something more of a golden brown color. Lord knows one thing about being pregnant that I miss is the tanning bed...and well, probably the thing I miss the most is sweet tea! Lately, my drink of choice has been Kool-Aid...OMG! I love the stuff! I drink a lot of water at work, but sometimes Kool-Aid and caffeine free Dr. Pepper are my little treats when I get home. I think Baby S really likes it :) For those of you who are reading this and thinking that the Kool-Aid is going to eventually catch up with me...weight wise...don't worry...my cravings come and go. Plus, I've actually started walking on our treadmill and elliptical. Today, I got out around the neighborhood and walked a mile. My aunt keeps telling me that as long as I stay active it will help with labor...we'll see if she's right in about 6 months.

So yesterday was our 15 week mark...YAY!!! Baby S is starting to make his/her appearance known. Not everyone can tell that I'm pregnant but those close to me say that they are starting to see a little belly :) It's kinda weird because the other day at work a female co-worker rubbed my belly...I guess I will get used to it! My clothes are starting to get a little tighter but that's okay...it gives me an excuse to go shopping! Also, I think I'm already nesting...is that even normal this early in the pregnancy? I cleaned my storage room out at work and I've actually been cleaning the house. I know it may sound strange, but I have always enjoyed cleaning, however, since being pregnant, I've been so tired that cleaning is last on my priority list. The weird thing is now I suddenly have the "urge." I just hope I still have the "urge" once Baby S gets here :) From what my friends tell me, I doubt it!

I can't believe Easter is already here! I've always loved Easter. Mom and Dad made it a big deal for Corey and I growing up. We always attended church regularly, but Easter Sunday was special because people who had once attended our church always came back for Easter. Plus, we had an Easter egg hunt with a prize for the person who found the "prize egg." But most of all because it was when Jesus died on the cross so that we might be saved and a time that was always spent with family. Even today, these Easter traditions still continue for us. I mean...some of them...Corey and I don't actually hunt for the "prize egg" anymore;) Awww...I can't wait for Easter next year when Baby S gets to attend my home church, gets his/her first Easter basket, and spends the day with people who loves him/her so very much. Knowing whats to come, makes this Easter extra special :)

Our plans for this weekend are a little hectic but will be fun! I just hope I can make it through the weekend because I don't think I'll have time for any afternoon naps! We are travelling to North Carolina for Jeff's games and while there we will be spending time with Jeff's side of the family, and I get to see my niece, Avery, who I haven't seen since Christmas! Then Sunday will be spent with my entire family at my home church and then Easter Sunday dinner at my aunt and uncle's house with some pretty awesome food! Can you say..."Yummy in my tummy!"

I hope you and yours have a blessed weekend and remember to give God the glory for great things he has done! Happy Easter!


Warmest,