Six Months Today

Today we are exactly 24 weeks.

That is 6 Months.

Which means, we have 4 more months to go.

Yes. For those of you who don't know, or never realized- Pregnancy is 10 months. 10. Not 9. But 10.

40 weeks. Not 36 weeks.

..and I'm in week 24.

So I have roughly 15 weeks to go. ~~This is based on my C-Section being scheduled in my 39th week of gestation.

105 days left until -

We come face to face with our second creation.

Our little girl.

Our baby.

Our Savannah Lisa.

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Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound.

Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up.

Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world.

Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Doctor Update

Today was my 6 month check.

Blood pressure - Perfect

Weight Gain - With him its great. I have another opinion!

Gestational Diabetes - Passed it with flying colors.

I am measuring 3 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule. Which means instead of measuring at 23 weeks, I am measuring at 26 1/2 weeks.

Next visit he is going to check her actual growth to see if the two match. From that point it will be determined if I will be having her sooner than expected.

I am going to share a couple of things with you. My appt. was Tuesday, and I have hesitated writing about my visit because I wasn't sure if I wanted to include the following details.

I have decided to because I think its really important to be honest, and include all of those I love through this experience. Good and bad.

After my doctor did the typical check- this,- check that, he asked for me to come to his office. He has never done that.

Since we had already gone over my diabetes results, I was a bit concerned as to what he was going to say.

I sat down, and he began going through my last couple of lab results. One of them being from 3 months ago, and the second being from only a week ago.

Let me back up a bit.

Three months ago, I did some blood work. My white blood cell count came back a bit high. My doctor called and informed me of this, and asked if I had a cold or infection. Turns out I had a sore throat, so he requested I do the test again. Nothing alarming.

So, here we are, three months later.

I have no infection. No sore throat.

A typical, healthy white blood cell count should be no higher than a 10.

Three months ago, mine came back at a 18.2

The last test, it came back at a 22.2

So it has continued to climb.

He said that it was in the "leukemic range. " - People who have leukemia have a count that high.
He then began to explain he had already contacted a hematologist, and they both agreed that the results are alarming, and that another test should be done in three weeks.

Of course I had a million questions, a million concerns..

My doctor made sure to keep everything very simple, very relaxed, and very " we will cross that bridge when we get to it."

So now we wait. We wait, and we pray.

Another reason I have decided to include you in this process is to ask you for your prayer, your faith, and your well wishes.

I have every reason and much faith to believe that everything is fine. That my results in three weeks will be perfect. That God has a plan, and His plan is greater then my own.

Please join me in that.

Celebrating MiMi Turning 50

Today Tara, who the grandbabies call "MiMi " turned 50 years old.

We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner, yummy fondue, and great family time as we celebrated this important mark in her life.



Tara,

Thank You for being you! We are so blessed to have you apart of our lives. Our love and respect grows stronger with each passing day and memory. We look forward to spending your next 50 years with you!!

23 Weeks

Nothing has really changed in how I feel since my little venting moment a few postings ago.

I still feel like crap.

Total crap.

Since a little bit of summer has crept up on us early this year ( just my luck ) I am swelling like a balloon. Literally.
I am up to 21 pounds.
Yuk.

So in only 3 weeks I have gained 8 pounds.
Big time Yuk.

On a good note, her movements are very strong. Strong enough that you can see her through any blouse or shirt I wear. In my opinion this is the greatest thing about pregnancy.

I took my glucose test ( which was horrible ) so we should know the results in the near future. I assume that if I do have gestational diabetes I will be hearing from my doctor no later then Monday. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers - it will be negative and I wont hear or see him until Thursday for my appt.

On another good note, great one actually, we just learned that my sister-in-law and one of my best friends is expecting. They are both due a day apart and currently are 7 weeks along. ( We are so happy for you both! ) So, I am not carrying solo any longer.. which makes it nice for social events =)

I hate to admit this, but it makes me feel a little bit better everytime I think
" Gosh, I have 3 1/2 more months... well, they have all the way until NOVEMBER. Whewww, I'm ok! )
haha. Sorry ladies.


Here is the latest update on her approximate growth.

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Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance.

And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes.

Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world.

Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Cole's Big Boy Room

We have officially started the process of preparing for our baby girl's arrival.

First things first. Moving Cole into what has been a guest room, storage room, and a play room - is now officially and will remain Cole's room. Solely.

New paint.
New blinds.
New carpet.

With the help of Grandpa and Uncle Jon, we moved and arranged all of Cole's furniture. ( Thank you guys for your patience! )

He has comfortably slept in there consecutively for 2 weeks now. The first couple of nights were rough, but he soon settled in.

Next - Savannah's nursery.

Heat Wave

This last week has been HOT.

Very hot.

So we decided it was pool time. Yes, pool time in March. Its wonderful living in sunny southern California!


Through the day, Grandma and Cole decided to make a cake, together!!

and of course Cole enjoyed every part of the outcome.

Touching

Here is a video I came across from a blog I have followed for sometime now.

Paul and I went through a period that we were told there was a strong possibility we would not be able to conceive after having Cole. Lots of tears, prayers, unanswered questions, faith, and a miscarriage later - we are now pregnant with our daughter.

There have been too many days I've complained and felt miserable from just simply pregnant.

After watching this video - it brought me back to reality. There are so many women who struggle and " would die" to experience morning sickness, constipation, and every yucky feeling pregnancy brings. I am only blessed to be able to feel all of the above.

I hope this video touches you as much as it has touched my heart.

** If you play it, scroll to the end of our blog and hit the stop button on our music **

Ben's First Hair Cut

In preparation for his very big, very important, and very special First Birthday party, Shay and Orlando decided it was time to make the cut.

Ben's hair cut that is!

We were oh so lucky to be invited! Poor Ben cried the entire time, but the outcome was worth the inconvenience.

Ben Turns 1

At 5:19pm today, a year ago Ben entered this world.

I can't tell you how much he has blessed our lives. He has brought so much joy and pride into our hearts, and we are proud to call him our nephew and our god-son.

Dearest Benjamin Matthew,

Watching you grow, learn, and explore these last twelve months has brought us so much happiness. I never imagined my baby sister would have created such a beautiful human being. We are so proud of you, and can't wait to see what you learn next.
We love you little man. Happy First Birthday.
Tia

Hey there nausea. I knew you'd return

I think I spoke too soon when I have said that " there are days I don't even feel pregnant."

Not lately.

Besides our episode on Sunday, I have felt 'very' pregnant.

Tired, yucky, stretchy, grumpy, short tempered, no patience, wanting to vomit all the time, first trimester pregnant.

::Boo!::

With Cole I was known to be very, well, there are no words to describe how I was day to day. Besides, excuse my language, but -
bitchy.

There was one night I made Shay, Samantha, and Tiffany all cry- in one night. I'm not proud to admit this, nor remind myself, but I have to say - feeling like you are going to vomit at every turn and on every second is NOT FUN.

No excuse for being vulgar, blunt, or rude. I pray everyday that I am a vessel that displays God's love and compassion.

Not lately.

So I ask for forgiveness.
Yes, forgive me if I have hurt your feelings. Forgive me if I snap. Forgive me if I seem short or inattentive. Forgive me if I don't respond to your text messages because sometimes my nausea is so bad I can't make out each individual word, and trying to makes me feel even more sick. Forgive me if I don't return your phone call because I hate saying " hold on" as I fight to not throw up. Forgive me if I stand before you and shove four pieces of gum dramatically into my mouth. Forgive me if you say something that you think isn't bad, and you see me dry heaving because I have a photographic memory and tend to picture every single detail of what is said. Forgive me if I make you cry. Forgive me if I seem uninterested in what you saying - because I am listening, and I am interested. I'm just trying to talk myself through not vomiting and making a ass of myself. Oh, and speaking of language. Forgive me if you hear me use every bad word in the book - because to be honest, sometimes it just makes me feel better.
-Since we are talking about being honest. Forgive me if I come off as opinionated, and my opinion is not one you'd like to hear.

Forgive me.



I hope this covers me for a couple of months.

and I hope that YOU nausea - that you go away. That I never see your ugly face again.

Restricted

I had lunch today with my sisters. As we rose to leave, I realized my pants were damp. A little too damp for comfort.

I didn't pee myself.

Nor did I tinkle. Not even a little bit.

I chose to ignore it and went to the grocery store to get the necessities for the week. As I got out of the car I mentioned to Sammy that I felt like I was leaking.

As soon as we walked into the store, my first stop was the bathroom. Soon after I realized the leaking was more then normal, and it had a slight odor.

'Oh God! Not yet. Not now. Its too soon. Please God.'

I left the bathroom and quickly called my mother-in-law.

We dropped Cole off, picked Shay up and went straight to the hospital.

Exactly 23 minutes later I was laying in Labor Room A, with two monitors laying on my tummy.

Heartbeat - Strong. Very strong. -- Thank you Lord.

Contractions - Some, but nothing alarming.

Test- Negative. My water bag is still in tact. But -

Savannah is low. Very low.

So, I now have some restrictions. The only one I will share - for your sake!! Moderate bed rest.

This should be interesting.

Miss Savannah - we have a ways to go, so please cooperate with Mommy and mother nature. I know you have a mind of your own, and I am sure you are just as stubborn, hard headed, and strong willed as your father, brother, and myself. But now is not the time to show off your place in this family. I promise, your time will come. So for now,- grow, thrive, and relax. I will try to do the same. Your brother may have a different opinion, but don't worry about that. Your daddy will fill in when he can!
We are patient.

Feeling You

Savannah Lisa,

As I laid awake in bed this morning, feeling you move inside of me - I thanked God for your health and continuous growth.

Just then, I felt a movement strong enough that I knew I would be able to see.

I pulled the blankets back, lifted up my shirt, and waited.

:: Kick :: Punch :: Kick

THREE! I saw three whole movements. All from you. My beautiful, precious, healthy daughter.

Your daddy went to the bank, in fact, he is still there. ( I couldn't wait to write about it. ) I am hoping that as the day goes - you will show off your strength again for him to witness.

Keep growing baby.

Love you forever,
Mommy