Oh, Happy Day!

Our sweet baby is doing so well!!!! Thank you over and over for all of the well wishes and prayers you have sent our way. The baby is measuring 7 weeks 4 days, which is just right and the precious heartbeat has gotten so fast and strong!!! It was 164 today!!!

My doctor is a dream come true. He is so very wonderful. We were at his satellite office today, which as it turns out, is not that far away and quite near Travis's office. Since the office is soooo small (as compared to the big city main office), the doctor did the ultrasound HIMSELF! Which meant I could SEE the screen and he could talk us through it. And we could snag a video with our camera. (see below)

Since I went in for an early appointment today, I managed to snag one extra week with Dr. Wonderful before I head off to a regular OB. And I will definitely go to his little office again! He is so caring and understanding and never makes me feel silly or crazy when I get worried -- or when he has to squeeze me in between appointments on a Friday.

He also said the spotting does not appear to be baby-related, but probably just irritation from the progesterone, etc. He said I do not have to take it easy -- so Emma and I are so headed to Target this afternoon. I've hardly left the house all week!

On the way home we grabbed a quick bite to eat--and I really celebrated with a cup of Sprite! haha. Oh yeah, it was a big day.

Here is a video of our little baby. (Pause the music at the bottom of my blog so you can hear the video.) At the beginning of the video, the doc is joking about how he only lets you hear the heartbeat twice, since I was asking for a third time. Then you can hear a wonderful, strong heartbeat for a bit. It comes and goes a little, but as he explains that is only because of my breathing and slight movements of the ultrasound. At the end he starts talking about my uterus..haha...so if you don't want to hear that -- beware! But I don't know how to edit the clip. ;)

We also came home with some cute little pictures. I saw baby feet today, y'all!

This is the milestone we so hoped for when I was pregnant over the summer. There aren't really words to express how joyfully happy I am right now.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Ephesians 3:20,21

Friday @ 10:15

My next ultrasound was scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon. I called the nurse this morning to ask her about my continued (and a tiny bit worse) spotting. She still assured me that it is totally, totally normal and common, and to wait for my Wednesday appointment. But when I told her that last time I was pregnant, I spent 4 weeks being "pregnant" without a baby growing inside, she squeezed me in for tomorrow.

So, tomorrow at 10:15 I get to check on the baby!! And nurse Maria is my new best friend. The appointment is at my doctor's second office, so I might have to pack an overnight back because it is so far away. (Not really, but it's far!)

I hope and pray for an almost 8 week baby tomorrow with a stronger, faster heartbeat. <3

It's easy to worry....

I think we could all agree that it is easy for me to worry after 2 miscarriages. Right? But deep, deep down I know that God has a plan for us. He knows how long we will have this baby with us and His plan is the best plan. And this baby has been part of God's plan from the very beginning.

God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. Eph 3:20

But when the spotting starts back up again - I worry. Even though the doctor says it is totally normal and not to worry. And even though, that too, is part of the plan. Because, once apon a time in February 2008, the spotting got worse and it was all over.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. Psalms 37: 3-5

And when it is time for the Lovenox and I sit, ready with needle in hand, unable to do it for minutes on end, I worry. Am I doing the right thing? Do I need this? Is there any way for this medicine to hurt the baby? And I know it is going to hurt.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4: 18 – 22

It is so hard for me to take all of these medicines. I will do anything and everything to keep this baby growing inside of me. But I don't want to do too much. And I don't want to do anything that will risk the baby's health. But I need to trust my doctor who tells me that all of these things won't hurt the baby. It's just that there are so many things.....

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:13

Will you say a prayer for this baby and for me?

Welcome back, veggies.

Look what I found!!! V8 makes SOUP! Two full servings of veggies in every box and no preservatives!!! I'm so happy.......
PS. Alida, I am going to saute up some veggies tonight! Thanks for the tip. :)

Please never pass the chicken.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I was never queasy or anything like that. I always said that if I got "morning sickness" I'd be happy because it would be a symptom!!! Well, I guess what I have is more of an afternoon sickness! And it really does make me happy! haha. I spend much of the afternoon with a little yucky feeling and I am VERY hard to please when it comes to dinner. :)

On Valentine's Day we were eating fajitas, and I could almost swear that I saw the piece of chicken like as a real chicken, wings, feathers, and all. No more chicken for me, please. I was SO grossed out. ;) However, today at Chickfila, I discovered that if the chicken is fried, and delightfully camouflaged in a crispy covering, I am okay with it. Like it is wearing a costume...and maybe not really chicken. But straight chicken? No thanks. :)

When we were trying to get pregnant, I was a vegetable eating maniac! But now, I have to really force myself to eat my veggies. I have gotten so picky!!! V8 Juice here I come.....!

Enjoying every minute...even the queasy ones.

Update

We got a heartbeat today!

It was one of those ultrasounds where the mama can't see the screen. Torture!!! But afterwards we got to see the doc, he gave us a cute little picture booklet that said "Baby's First Picture" on it and said everything looks good!

The baby's size and heart rate were consistent with my being 6 weeks. And by my cycle I am almost 7. BUT, here's a little TMI for you, my ovulation sticks didn't turn positive by day 17 so we quit testing. Apparently, I must have ovulated later on, which explains why the pregnancy tests didn't turn positive til day 31. It all makes sense now!!! (At least to me....)

I go back for another ultrasound in 2 weeks, at which point I will say goodbye to my new favorite doctor and head over to a regular OB-GYN. He is affiliated with a huge practice and I asked him to choose the best one for me. He said he had one picked out! haha.

Along with my baby aspirin, folic acid pill, vitamins, and progesterone, (that is a LOT of stuff for a girl who won't even take a Tylenol for a headache!!!) I am now on a low dose of Lovenox, which basically thins my blood even more than the aspirin. I will take this for about 4-6 weeks until the baby has developed larger pathways to get blood, thus making a blood clot less likely. So, I had to learn how to inject MYSELF with a needle today. Whoa. It was actually *kinda* fun.

We are SO excited and thankful and blessed. Thank you for thinking about us and praying for our little baby. This has been a great day!!! Keep praying -- we have a long way to go!!!

Monday

Monday is a big day. :) We are looking forward to Monday, because that'll be our first look at our little baby and we'll hopefully see the heartbeat! And then I'll have an appointment with the doc.

I have been feeling very peaceful lately, which I can only attribute to all the wonderful people praying for us and to the peace that only God can give. I can tell you that last time around I was much, much more anxious ...

That said, it is very easy to be anxious about Monday. I don't want to be anxious. But it is easy. When I was pregnant over the summer, we had eight ultrasounds. Eight. And I was only ever 10 weeks pregnant. Needless to say, I rested on those ultrasound tables eight different times aching to hear a heartbeat. And we never did.

So on Monday, at 2pm - Texas time, I ask for your prayers. Mostly and obviously, I hope and pray for a healthy little baby with a beating heart. But also, I pray for peace for us as I once again get ready for an ultrasound and pray for a heartbeat.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

This is a pretty fun site to visit with prizes...and a cutest kiddo contest.....!

The Best Gift

January 31st was a day I was dreading. It was the day I'd have to have empty arms instead of a baby. It was my due date. The due date for the little baby that joined our second baby, already in Heaven.

But when January 31st rolled around, while I was sad for a little bit and remembered the sweet baby that I'll meet someday, I was distracted. God knows what He's doing. He surprised us.

Because I'm pregnant!

It's the best possible gift I can think of to celebrate as January 31st came and went.

Thank you, God!!!

We have a long (and exciting) road of ahead of us. You can read below some of what we've been through in the past year and it's been very hard. We'd love it if you would join us in praying for this little baby. I know God has great plans and He's much bigger than anything that could go wrong.

God brought us our daughter against (as we found out later) the odds and I have great faith that He can do the same with this baby growing inside of me!