20 Weeks

Wow... What a busy last few days it has been. We had a wonderful Christmas. We Got Tyler off on the plane last Saturday and then went Vicky's mom's for our Christmas visit there. On Sunday we left Greenwood and stopped in Jackson to visit Aunt Gwen and see the new baby Milie. She was precious and oh so tiny! I forgot to take in my camera!! We finally delivered the quilts. Kim loved the one for Milie.

Here they are:












Then we were off to my mom's house. We had Christmas Eve dinner At my sister's house. Then our journey home so I could rest before working on Christmas Day.

Here is our niece and nephew - Oh so excited to receive gifts!!




Vicky finished cleaning out the baby's room while I was at work. She seems very eager lately to get things done! I guess it was see the baby on the ultrasound. She had been really worried that something wasn't right or she wasn't doing the right things. After seeing the baby on the ultrasound, her fears seemed to have lessened a bit. So we picked out the nursery color and design. And so it is full steam ahead. Sanding, pulling up carpet, buying paint and hardwood floors. Oh and I installed a dimmer switch and a new light fixture today!! Every nursery needs a dimmer switch!

Well off to bed as it has been a long day and I have to work this weekend. Hope everyone is doing well!

Until next time...dreaming of baby toes!!

Halfway

Today marks the day of the halfway point of this incredible journey. I often sit back and think - this time next year in addition to getting us packed up and ready to go and see our Mom's for Christmas that we will be packing for our new little one. What incredible changes we are about to encounter over the next several months.

I am thankful and feel blessed to be able to raise a child with a women that I love, adore and admire. I am ready for the challenges that await us as parents of a newborn and a daughter of two moms. We have already had a taste of raising a child in a untraditional family. We pride ourselves in raising Tyler as an open minded young man. The joy you feel when his friends talk or ask about his moms and his reply is "Which one? I have two!" He is very open about our family dynamics to all of his friends and their families. What is priceless is the look on Vicky's face when he calls her Mom. I love these two people in my life more than anything else in the world. They both make me proud.

I am also thankful that both mine and Vicky's families have shown nothing but support and love for our relationship from the beginning. It is truly a blessing to know that your family loves you unconditionally without hesitation. Their confidence in us only strengthens our relationship.

Well I better stop for now because I am sure to win the Vel.veeta cheese award for the day! ~grin~ I need to go a wake my Angel so that we can get on the road.

Until next time...

19 weeks...

Taking a break from wrapping presents...

Trying to get everything done before we start to head out on Saturday morning. Presents to finish wrapping. Packing Tyler for his Cali vacation in the snow. Packing us for our round trip to see our mothers. Need to load the mommy van with everything so that we are set to go Saturday morning. Tyler is heading out on the 7:00 am flight and then we'll be on the road for the next 3 days. Lots to do - so little time.

Finally got the quilt finished for Ree.ce - my cousin's newborn that arrived in October. It'll be just a few months late. Better late than never right?? It turned out great. Fire engines and police cars. Primary colors. Satin binding. Have to post a pic. My other cousin also had her baby on December 5th. A beautiful baby girl named Milie Grace. She will also be receiving her quilt this Christmas that I made for her - pastel pinks and greens with bunny rabbits. Sometimes I wonder if they really appreciate all of the hard work that went into it to make. We'll see.

We had another OB appt this week. Our baby girl is doing great. The doctor told us she should have a growth spurt this month. She is up to 126. So she is finally gaining some weight and keeping it on. Genetic testing came back with good results. No signs of down's or spinal cord defects.

Time to get back to the presents.... Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!

Until next time...

The Awesome Reveal....

Vicky and I went and had the ultrasound done this morning. It was amazing!! Got some great pictures and a DVD of the entire visit.

The butter bean is beautiful with two arms, two legs, a gorgeous heart, nice spine and no tally whacker!!! So yes, it is definitely a girl. We are so excited. Heart rate was good at 148 and she weighed 8 ounces.



More later as we try to absorb the news and after I catch up on my sleep. I will post some pics and try to get a short clip of the ultrasound up.

Until next time....

17 weeks...

All through the house, Christmas decorations are being placed. The tree is decorated and the lights are twinkling today. The stockings are hung by the chimney knowing there will an extra one to be placed and filled next year. Presents are slowly being placed under the tree for shaking and guessing - What could it be??? Christmas plans are being hashed out as I have to work and our teenager will be snowboarding in California. When and where will we go to enjoy the holidays with our families?

Great anticipation is had by all in the family as we eagerly await the upcoming ultrasound next week. A girl? A boy? Only the little one knows at this point. We have been looking and searching for the right furniture for the baby's room. We are down to 2 cribs. Both are beautiful and would be a great addition to our home decor. We have found a rocker/glider that we both love and have given a test drive at the store. So that will be a must have! Strollers, carseats, travel systems, swings... how do you choose? Which is the best? Which is more practical and easy to use?? We are holding off on any major purchases until after the holidays and after the great reveal next week in hopes that the divine revelation will steer us in the right direction of colors and themes.

Vicky is doing very well. No more nausea. Just heartburn if the butter bean decides that is not what he/she wanted for dinner. Her appetite has increased and swears that she is STARVING all of the time. Her belly is growing nice and round especially more in the last few days. She can't bend straight over any more. She is still having quite a bit of back pain as things are starting to stretch and move around. When I give her a well deserved hug there is a definite BUMP between us to let us know that a very special person is on the way.

Well - back to the decorating and the cleaning of the house.

Until next time...

A special congrats to Meg and Kris for a Christmas present they will never forget! Welcome to the nine month wait!!!

16 Weeks

Dear Butter Bean,

It's holiday time here in the outside world. Your Mommy and I have been very busy for the last week or so.

Mommy took you to see the doctor last Wednesday. She has only gained one pound. Thank goodness you are letting up on the reject button so that she can start eating well and both of you can gain some weight. Your heart rate was nice and strong and beating about 154 beats per minute. The doctor says you are growing right on track. We get to see you in 2 weeks. We are so excited. We get to see if you are a boy or a girl. Then we can start buying you lots of Christmas presents!

Mommy took you and Tyler to see Grammy and Aunt Katie for Thanksgiving while I was working. You got to have lots of turkey and stuffing. Aunt Katie still doesn't think you are really in Mommy's tummy. So start growing really big so Aunt Katie can really know you are in there! We'll also get some more pictures of you in a couple of weeks to show her too!

We went to Grandma's on Friday. We had a great time. We got to visit with the whole family. They are very excited that you are on the way. But I think the most excited is your Auntie Anna and Carla. They are picking out baby furniture for their house so that you can come and stay with them any time you want.

You are surely having an effect on your Mommy. When she sneezes, she holds you tight so that you don't jiggle that much. You make her belly feel like it's jiggling when she walks. When she lays on her back on the floor, she can't get up like she used to. She has to roll over and use her arms to get up. I think she is secretly showing you how to roll over so you'll be a pro when it's your turn to learn how. You are making her belly look round. She's afraid you are going to push her belly button out. Mommy used to love to sleep on her stomach but you like her to sleep on her back. You also like to stand and wiggle on Mommy's sciatic nerve and send shooting pains down her leg. She loves that! ~Grin~ But I fixed her a nice hot pack last night to help soothe you both to sleep.

We are slowly getting your room ready for you. We are going through lots of old memories and packing them away so that we have lots of room to make new memories with you. Your mommy is really slow at packing things away. I keep telling her that we need to get things done but she keeps telling me we have plenty of time. She keeps telling me that we have seven months left but I have to remind her that we only have five. I keep telling here you'll be here sooner than she thinks. So to help her remember how soon you'll be here - we wrote it on the calendar.

Well I need to go get some things done - pick up your big brother Tyler from soccer practice and start dinner for you, your Mommy and Tyler. We love you very much. Stay nice and safe inside Mommy.

Love,

Mom

P.S. If you need anything - just give Mommy a good swift kick or nudge like you did last week.

Way off Topic - Balloons!!!!

The winds are picking up. The leaves are dancing off the trees. One of our favorite things to do is to go to the hot air balloon festival. This is where Vicky and I first met - although we didn't know at that time we were destined to be together.

In 2001, I was new to Nat.chez. They had this festival every year with hot air balloons. I had never experienced anything like it before. You get up very early in the morning. Freeze to death waiting for the pilots to receive their instructions and the wind conditions. This was a competition. So as soon as they said go - you went. Imagine hundreds of people piling into trucks and cars and vans with balloon baskets on the back. Let the race begin. We followed the pilot disobeying every traffic rule ever made. Once the pilot saw the perfect place to launch - everyone piles out of the vehicles and begins to unload the balloon. Our balloon crew had about 10 people there.


They let the basket down and tipped it over. They brought out this BIG and HEAVY bag. They started to unpack it and out came this trail of multicolored balloon. I received instructions as this was my first time "crewing". They begin to blow it up with the fan. The crew slowly starts pulling out the balloon as airs fills it. Then the magic of the hot air starts to fill it. The strongest of the crew is at the very top of the balloon (which is on its side at the moment) holding the tether line so that it doesn't start to float upwards and burn the bottom of the balloon.


As the air completely fills the balloon, the balloon is slowly guided to the upright position. All hands on basket to hold it down. Now the exciting part - who gets to ride??? I was new in 2001 - so I got to ride the first morning flight with our pilot. It was the best experience ever. Like you were floating in the air.

After the balloon has lifted, the crew "chases" the balloon. They follow and watch it from their cars while dodging traffic. They stay as close to the balloon as possible. When it is time to land - the crew runs to the balloon in an attempt to catch the basket so that it is not a rough landing.


This is one of the most amazing sights you will ever see. Every time I see the balloons blowing up and lifting off, I get all giddy and excited just like a kid on Christmas Day. I love to see the amazement in Tyler's eyes as he gets to see them. Tyler, Vicky and I have all been up in a balloon several times. We highly recommend it!

A little off the beaten path.... but an experience worth sharing!

13 Weeks down - 26 Weeks to Go...

Pregnancy. Cardiac Arrhythmias. Secret Sororities. Homecoming. Save the Cheerleader! Save the world! These are just some of the things we have been up to this week.

Vicky is doing well. Her belly seems to be expanding nicely. She only has one or two more pair of "Big Girl" jeans that she can fit into - otherwise she is dressed in nice elastic or drawstring pants/scrubs. Still trying to pin her down for another belly shot. She always gets in the bed before I can take it! Vomiting and nausea is steadily decreasing but is still present on a daily basis. The butter bean is loving hot roast beef sandwiches right now. She not having any real cravings but I did have to stop at Wally World to pick up a package of Vienn.a Fin.ger cookies for the butter bean.

The visit from Grammy and Katie went well. I finally got "the room" cleaned out so that it is livable again. Katie was very appreciative. Vicky's Mom was the first person that we told of the pregnancy. Vicky's mom told her that she would have to tell Katie for herself. Hmmm.... How to tell Katie. A little background information. Vicky is the middle child of three girls. Beth (the oldest) lives in Florida with her family. Katie (the youngest) is autistic. She is high functioning and lives in a group home close to Vicky's mom. She is functioning at the level of a 12-13 year old. So Vicky is concerned that Katie will ask HOW she got pregnant. So what does she do??? Tells me that I get to tell Katie!! LOL!!! Her rationale - "You're a nurse. So if she has any questions you can answer them." Great!! (grin) There's no telling how Katie will process this information!

So here I go: (setting - we are at dinner in a nice restaurant with all in attendance including Tyler)

Tyler (to Vicky): Does she know?
Vicky: No.
All eyes turn to me. Except for Katie - who is oblivious of the conversational undertones and is much more interested in eating all of the garlic bread and double dipping before any one else can have any.
Me: So Katie.... Vicky's got some news.
Katie glazes over her glasses towards Vicky like she has done something bad.
Me: Well, you know William (Beth's son) is going to have a cousin soon.
Katie: What do you mean?
Me: Vicky is going to have a baby.
Katie: No she's not!!!
Me: Yes - she is.
She looks at Vicky then her Mom then me then Vicky. Tyler is cracking up behind the wine list.
Katie: No you're not.
Vicky: I am. I have pictures on the refrigerator at home.
I am still waiting for the inevitable question of HOW so that I can explain in my best nursing lingo that I impregnated her.
Katie: Whatever. She goes back to the bread and double-dipping. Subject closed as far as Katie is concerned.

So we'll see if she has any questions during Thanksgiving.

I got to spend the most of my week in a classroom brushing up on cardiac arrhythmias. I had a headache all week from staring at little squares and trying to find p waves that were hidden in t waves. Needless to say, there was a test at the end of the course. I studied. I stressed. I got a 100%. Woo Hoo!!! I asked my manager if I get a raise now? Not a chance in he**! Great! So I guess I am back to being an "official" cardiac nurse again. While surfing the net today, I found this little jewel of a video. It's about one of the arrhythmias. The humor of the medical field..... LOL!! And these are future doctors!

OK - So it's Homecoming weekend at the good old "W". So Vicky is off fraternizing with the secret sorority sisters. I don't know what there doing but they are having a good time. It's like the Ya*-Ya sisterhood or something. When they get together and start talking in front of us "outsiders" they use code words and such. So hush-hush! She has a really good group of girls or ladies I should say that she keeps in touch with from college. Everyone I have met has been individually unique. My favorite though has to be the redhead from Virginia! Gotta love her!

Save the cheerleader! Save the World! Yes- we rented and watched the marathon Season 1 of Heroes. Gotta love it! It's one of our new favorites.

So that's about it for us on the homefront. Officially in the Second Trimester.

Until next time....

12 weeks

Let the pre-nesting begin.

In pregnancy, the pregnant mother goes through a phase of "nesting". The books and everyone tells you that this usually happends within the third trimester. The pregnant mother has a surge of energy and begins to build the nest for the baby bird that is soon to come. This is just a natural process that occurs.

The books left out a section. Pre-nesting. In order for the pregnant mother to be able to "nest" - the unpregnant mother (that's me) has to pre-nest the roost. That essentially means, the unpregnant one gets to clean out all of the stuff in the third bedroom that is being used as a storage room so that is can magically be transformed into a haven of babymania!!!

The baby's room is usually used as the "catch-all" room. If we can't find a place for it to go - it goes in this room. In this room you can find anything you can possibly imagine from a complete computer workstation, stereo, bed for Katie (Vicky's sister), bookshelves with all of different kinds of books, movies, music, music and more music. Exercise bike (that's where that went after Christmas!), crafts, school stuff, etc., etc., It just keeps on going. Usually, this room gets cleaned out at least every 4-6 weeks when Grammy (Vicky's mom) and Katie come to visit. We clean it out so Katie can get to her bed. Well, this time it hasn't been cleaned since the end of July when Tyler came home from California. Grammy and Katie had come to visit that weekend so it's usual monthly cleaning. As soon as they leave - stuff gets sucked right back in there. I don't know how it happens. It just does.

I have been mentally trying to prepare myself that this room is going to need to be overhauled for the baby. And at this point - time is not standing still. Well on Tuesday night, Vicky added some fuel to my mental schedule. She lets me know that Grammy and Katie are coming for the weekend. OK. That means I have to get a move on and start cleaning out the room so Katie can at least walk to the bed. So, I have been pre-nesting the baby's room today. Going through stuff that we haven't seen in at least two months, trying to decide if we need to keep it or throw it away. Moving and storing things in the proper location. Singing at the top of my lungs with various artists!!

I sat there today in the middle of the floor thinking of where the furniture would go when we got it. Thinking that we still had to move out all of the other furniture that was in there after Grammy and Katie's visit. But when do you actually start the transformation? When do you stop saying it's Katie's room for when she comes to visit and start saying it's the baby's room? Where is Katie going to sleep? Oh my gosh, we are really having a baby!!!

The Eleventh Week

Fall is officially on the way. It's time to start pulling out the much beloved sweatshirts and flannel PJ's. Oh, I love the fall - the cooler temperatures, the leaves changing, fires in the fireplace and big fluffy blankets on the bed!

We had a great time this past weekend at the soccer tournament. The boys did well. I think they had lost all of their energy by Sunday as they didn't really seem to have the get up and go to win their last game. But that's ok. That meant we got home around 9 PM Sunday night instead of 2 or 3 in the morning on Monday. The boys wanted to go the Har.d Ro.ck Cafe on Saturday night in New Orleans. We hadn't been to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. We of course took the new causeway which put us on the wrong side of town from where we wanted to be. We stopped and asked for directions for the Quarter and a local told us to get of on the Loyola exit. Well I have news for him. There is NO Loyola exit from I-10. So we turn around and Elysian Fields. Take a right. WRONG!! The devastation of Katrina is still very evident in the streets of New Orleans. We finally got turned in the right direction and made it to the Quarter. We had a great dinner at the Har.d Ro.ck. Tyler's friend Hunter had never been to one - so it was exciting to see it through his eyes. We strolled up to Cafe Du.Monde and made a loop around Jefferson Square. Saw a few of the great characters that make up New Orleans - like the man with the Glass Harmonica and the many tarot readers and the homeless settling in the for the night. Oh and we got a little alcohol education in for the boys. We got to show them what alcohol does for your equilibrium while trying to walk. We were following this couple back to the parking lot and Tyler noticed that the man was walking king of funny. He asked what was wrong with him as the man bumped into the store fronts and weaved his way down the side walk. I explained that this is what alcohol does to your brain. It makes you think that you are walking just fine when in reality you look like a drunken fool in the Quarter. The boys were slightly amused at the site and swore they would never drink. So we'll see if that happens. LOL.

Back to the usual grind on Monday and Tuesday. Vicky still having ups and downs with the all day sickness. We had scheduled our OB appt for this Wednesday because I was off work. Well when I went in to work on Monday, I looked at the new schedule that was posted as our Specialty Coordinator had been making some changes. We just merged floors with the Telemetry staff so some changes had to be made in the staffing arena. I noticed that I was scheduled for Wednesday - told the Coordinator that I was glad I looked or otherwise I wouldn't have been there. Well when I got home reposting my schedule for the family - it was then that I realized - the OB appointment. What was I to do? So all day Tuesday I tried to get another nurse to switch with me. She left me hanging all day and promised she would call me Tuesday night if she wanted to work. She didn't call. So I got to go to work on Wednesday while Vicky went to the appointment alone. I was so disappointed because we were supposed to hear the heartbeat for the first time on this visit.

Vicky went to the OB. Had a great appointment. She lost the two pounds that she had gained. So the doctor gave her another prescription for the phenergan to help try to keep the morning sickness at bay. They did the doppler. Vicky called me soon after the appointment and told me "I heard your baby today". She filled me in on all of the details. I kept asking her what the heart rate was - she kept holding out on me. Ugh!! For the past week or so I have been trying to guess the sex of the baby based on old wives tales and her symptoms. (another thing to obsess about after the two week wait! LOL!!) Finally, she told me... The heart rate was 160. She said it was nice and strong and the best sound that she ever heard. So now she wants to go out and get a doppler so we can hear it at home. So based on all of her symptoms and the facts - I am strongly leaning towards a pink pregnancy!!! I am so excited.

One more week until the Second Trimester. I can't believe we are this far already!

Until next time....

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!

Well we are off to Mande.ville, LA this weekend to watch Tyler play in the Midnight Mad.ness Soccer Tournament! I am quickly trying to get everything ready before evereyone comes home. Wishing luck to Tyler and the team for a victorious tournament this weekend. Go Heat!!!!


Tyler waiting for the ball!!


Hunter gets a Header!!

P.S. Definitely have to go shopping this weekend for Mommy! She can't fit into ANY of her pants!! Gotta love it!!

10 weeks

All is well in the baby world. The Phenergan gel seems to be working well for Vicky. She is able to eat and keep things down. Her waistline seems to be growing. She came home from work today telling me that she needed to go buy some new clothes because she was unable to zip her pants or button the snap. Yeah!!! Any excuse for me to go shopping!!

Vicky had her appointment with the oral surgeon yesterday. He told her that he wouldn't take out the tooth unless it became infected. He said they don't usually do any procedures during the first or third trimester unless it is absolutely necessary. He told her if it bothers her during the second trimester, he could extract it at that time but otherwise would wait until after she delivers. He assured her everthing looks good at this point and not to worry.

We have our next OB appointment next week on Wednesday to hear the heartbeat. I swear I thought the appointment was for today. So we wait for another week to hear the precious liitle angel.

To our online friends - Tammy: The plan for this month sounds great! We are wishing you nothing but success this month. Amy and Sharon: Hoping to find out if your miracle is coming to you soon. Wishing the both of you the best. Sorry I can't follow along your journey - seemed not to have been invited back to your blog - but that's ok. We are still rooting for you and Sharon through your updates on the board. Michelle - hoping you and Nick are doing well and all of your plans go through seamlessly. Meg: Hoping everything is going right on track for you and Kris. Cindy: Thanks for the tulip pics. They were great! Sending much love and support your way for you and Mary. Hope you and family have a blast at Disney. Shannon: Sending the box to you soon! Filled with lots of goodies. Hope you had a great trip. Now it's time to get down to business!!

Angie - Hope you and the girls are doing ok. Don't work to hard and take care of yourself. Miss ya'll. Sending our love your way!

Until next time....

Top Ten...First Trimester

I am usually one of those people that learn from their mistakes the first time. But here lately, I keep making the same ones over and over. So here's my list to remind me of my past mistakes:

Top Ten Things to Make your Pregnant Wife HAPPY:

1. Stand clear of the bathroom as she walks in from the ride home from work.

2. Always have dinner ready when she walks in from work. Don't make her wait!! She's hungry and has two to feed!

3. If you get home from work after she does, bring dinner home with you!

4. Don't cook any type of hamburger meat. Not in spaghetti, tacos or even a patty!

5. Pull back the covers on the bed so that she can go from the bathroom straight to the bed for her after work nap that may last from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

6. Always keep the toilet clean! Tell the teenager he must clean his daily too - as we do not know when or where morning sickness will strike.

7. Never let the box of Fruit Loo.ps become empty.

8. Always answer with "Yes dear" or "Right away dear".

9. Never tell her she is starting to look "pudgy"!!!!!!

10. When she is down and low from a day long bout with morning sickness - rub her head and hold the two of them close so they can feel your love.

I'm sure I will have more to add but these are some that are right off the top of my head that make me giggle when I think about them!!

An Apple A Day....

As the morning sickness heightens, Vicky is beginning to feel it's toll. She hit an all time low this past weekend. Her two favorite places were the bed and the bathroom. She couldn't keep anything down and just couldn't shake the nausea this weekend. By the time I got home from work on Sunday evening, she looked withered and frail. She had a massive headache and had also pulled a muscle in her neck from the dry heaves. Something has got to give. She not getting enough fluids or nutrients that she needs at this crucial time. I don't want this to turn into hyperemesis gravidarum. It was time to call the doctor.

Vicky called the OB Monday morning and got a prescription for some phenergan. Vicky went to the pharmacy and picked up the prescription. As she looked in the bag - she noticed it was not pills but syringes. She promptly went back to the pharmacist and asked, " What is this and where does it go?" The pharmacist explained to her that it was phenergan gel and it was to be applied to the wrist. She was a little skeptical. I arrived home after work and she pointed to the bag. "It's not pills," she said. So I opened the bag and saw the syringes. I explained to her it was gel and that you put the gel on your wrist and it absorbs through the skin. I then told her at least the doctor didn't prescribe suppositories. She would never take those!!! So we put the gel on her wrists and she rubbed it in. It seemed to help and hopefully she would get a good night's rest.

During the melee of the morning sickness trials on Monday, Vicky started to eat her apple that she eats every morning. It is one of the only things that she can keep down at the present time other than Fruit Loops. So her apple of the day for Monday resulted in a broken wisdom tooth. Great!!! So she calls the dentist and sets up an appointment for Tuesday morning. The secretary tells her the dentist is going to want to take an xray. Vicky explains that she is pregnant and that would not be possible. She asks if the dentist could just smooth the edges until she can get it fixed after the baby is born. The dentist wants to see how bad the break is. So armed and ready with the Phenergan gel applied so that she doesn't get sick while he is poking in her mouth - she heads off to the dentist Tuesday morning. So I call and check on her around 10:00. The break is pretty bad. The dentist wants her to go to an oral surgeon and have it extracted. He doesn't wanted the tooth to become infected and spread infection all over her body. He gives her a referral to the oral surgeon and advises her to call the OB prior to making the appointment. So another call to the OB to see what type of meds are ok for the procedure. OB stated that she could have a local anesthetic and mild pain pills like Tylenol #3 for after the procedure. She assured Vicky that this would cause no harm to the baby. So Vicky went ahead and made the appointment with the oral surgeon for October 16th. Our dentist gave her the recent xrays that he had done (she recently had a lot of dental work done prior to getting pregnant) for the oral surgeon so he wouldn't have take any more. So we'll see what happens at that appointment. An apple a day surely does not keep the doctors away!!! LOL!!!

The Butter Bean

OK - I know I promised pictures of the bean. Our scanner decided it doesn't like to work. So I had to got to Mom's yesterday and I scanned them there. Here's the pics....



We have been busy this week getting ready for my cousins Baby Shower. Two cousins at one time - pregnant. So they get a two for one shower!!! Amy will have a C-section on October 17th to bring to the world Ree.ce Wes.ley. Kim is due in December and she will be having Emil.y Gr.ace. This is the first baby for the both of them. I have just finished Emily's quilt and have yet to start Reece's quilt. I'll take pictures and post those so you can see how torn I am about giving them away. Emily's turned out beautiful and I just can't seem to part with it. But I guess I can always make another one.

On our Bean's front - Vicky has had worsening morning (all day) sickness. She has trouble keeping anything down (especially all of those pills - she says they are the worst). We are having a real hard time trying to find her different things to drink. Our OB told us that she could have small amounts of caffiene but no carbonation. Juices seem to be to sweet. She can't drink milk. We have tried Gator.ade but she only takes a sip or two at a time because it is too sweet. So we always end up back to water. How boring.

We told the rest of the family and friends of our upcoming arrival. Everyone seems pretty excited about the news. We told my sister and she told our niece Ash.ley who is eight years old.

Sis: Aunt Vicky is having a baby!

Ash.ley: How????

Hmm... How do you explain that one??? The stork came by for a visit???

Tyler is doing great. They placed second in the Turf.burner Classic Soccer Tournament this past weekend. I will post some pics of the boys. Tyler was so excited - He scored his first GOAL!!!!!

We're off to soccer practice - that's all for now!

A Glimpse of New Life

Vicky had her first ultrasound done today. We saw our first glimpse of our new little bean! The baby had a strong heartbeat - although there was no sound so we don't know how fast it was going. The doctor said the size was right on track measuring at 1 cm and aged at 7 weeks and one day. She gave us a date of May 12, 2008 for arrival. We are so excited and have pictures that I need to scan and post.

On the symptoms page - morning sickness (or all day sickness) has definitely kicked in. She stays nauseated all day but reaches it height in the evenings especially at bedtime. She also has her own built in furnace!! She has gained two pounds so far. Next appointment is October 24.

Peace be with you...

As I read the boards and the blogs of the great women on the NW site, I fall deeper into sadness. The harsh reality of women's health is brought to life by their words. The long and desperate road is evil at times. The pain and suffering and loss these women deal with on a daily basis is unbearable.

One has to ask "Why"? Why for some and not for others?
There seems to be no answers.

Infertility, menopause, low sperm counts, PCOS, endometriosis, timing and many more. Just words on a page to an average onlooker. But to the women on the NW boards - deep rooted feelings are associated with these terms. Feelings of loss, anger, rage, despair, depression, fear and inadequacy come to mind. Feelings that no human should have to endure especially over and over again.

To the women on the board - please know that we follow each of your journeys and feel your sorrow and pain and joys and happiness alongside you. I wish that this road was not as grueling as it is for any of you. If it were not for your support, we would not be where we are today.

May God bless you and keep you.
Peace be with each and every one of you.

Circle of Life

Life is ironic at times. It feels as if it is always a give and take situation.

As Vicky and I slowy prepare and nuture for our upcoming arrival, we begin to slowly grieve for the soon to come passing of Vicky's Aunt Gracie. She has been ill and in ICU since the beginning of August. There have been a few times that it was very touch and go. She is only 52 years old and has two beautiful daughters (one who has cerebral palsy) and a very loving husband. Two days ago she took a turn for the worse and she is not expected to make it. The doctors and nurses are just trying to keep her comfortable. It has been real hard on the family especially since they can only see her for fifteen minutes at a time every two hours.

As the grieving begins for the family, it is greatly impacted as it was just last September 29th that we lost Vicky's dad unexpectedly. Two siblings within a year. One never knows the true path in life. Where it will lead us. What it will give us and what it will take from us. We continue to support, love and pray for Uncle Michael, Sarah and Amanda as they prepare for the loss of their mother and wife.

Update - Gracie peacefully left us last night.

Our Journey Begins...

We are pregnant. Still trying to let it sink in but it seems so surreal. Our journey began back in January of this year when we started trying. After three rounds of AI at home that resulted in BFN's, we decided to take a break from the TTC world. Vicky had eye surgery in May. Tyler jetted off to California for the summer with his dad. We took a long break over the summer and traveled to Virginia to visit with Angie, Sandy and Sonja. We had a great trip. We fell in love with Virginia and decided that when Tyler is done with high school and settled in college (hopefully) - that we were going to move to there.

Back to the month of August - everyone settled back into the routine. Tyler back to school, Vicky taking a college class and I was at the hospital. We started temping again when AF arrived on August 6. Ordered our swimmers. Started reading the boards again to catch up on all of the ladies on the NW board. We AI'd on the 17th and 18th. Our OPK's were never truly positive. The closest positive we received was on the 16th about 10:00 pm. We also used the salive strips - got a favorable result on the morning of the 17th. Vicky called me about 4pm and said that it was time. So she came home and inseminated about 6:00 pm. In the midst of all of this going on - I had to take the child to the football game. We were a little rushed!!! We inseminated again about 6 am on the 18th. About 3 hours after, Vicky had some low back pain. Then we were off to visit all of the family - her aunt in ICU, my mother, my sister and her aunt. Lots of hours in the car that day.

Her temps were so not normal that month. Due to the temp pattern - we SOOO thought we were not pregnant. On 10 dpo, she poas just for the fun of it. BFN. 11 dpo - I think a faint second line - Vicky doesn't see it (but she's got bad eyes). 12 dpo - faint something appears where line should be... hmmm.... Now Vick is at work and I am at home obsessing over the faint line. No more HPT's in the house. So off to Wally world I go... bought three different kinds. Used one as soon as I got home from the saved FMU. Faint line appears again. Hmm... They always said a line is a line - right??? So I patiently waited for Angel to come home. ..........Another stick - darker line. She can see the line this time! :) The next morning - the digital is positive.

We make an appointment with a new OB/GYN as our OB has recently relocated to Chicago. We meet with the DR on Tuesday. She seems very hesitant at first - How do you know your pregnant?? It is too early to know. She at one point even looked at me and asked "And who are you and what do you do?" I was a little offended. So as the appointment continued she slowly started to come around. We discussed the risks and benefits of having a pregnancy with galactosemia and how it would affect the baby. The doctor referred us to a nutritionist (which we saw today) and said she was going to speak with the perinatologist regarding the pregnancy. Lots of lab work and probing later - she made us an appt for an ultrasound on Sept. 25. She never did tell us if we were pregnant or not which put a little damper on the situation.

Vicky received the call yesterday from the nurse who officially told her "congratulations". She told her all lab work looks good.

Rambling a little too long..... Have to head out - Off to soccer practice with Tyler. (Yes, we're soccer mom's too!!) Will update on the nutrition visit later.... and other musings from the other mother.