24 weeks

4/15/15

Oh baby boy, how much of a joy it is to feel your movements.  Your daddy got to feel you move for the first time a week or so ago which is really fun.  I feel you move sooooo much more than I remember feeling Reese at this point.  This pregnancy has been a lot different than it was with Reese, harder in some ways, but holding my belly and just knowing you are growing in there is so special.  After quite a long road, it sure makes me very thankful.

My belly has grown SO quick this time, I mean, I swear its as big as it was around 30 weeks with Reese already.  Which leads to me feeling constant pressure on my bladder and other aches and pains I don't remember feeling so intensely this early with Reese.  But, I would say my biggest complaint has been my hormones.  Ugh, I'm so tired of them ruining good weekends or occasions with Corey.  Also, I find myself longing for this baby boy to be here constantly.  I just have to remind myself to be thankful that I am even pregnant with him and that he is growing healthy in there when the fears and jealousy creep in.

This weekend we celebrated my 30th birthday and it was so special!  My bible study girls surprised me with some of my favorite treats at our play date Thursday.  Corey took off work Friday and let me sleep in while him and Reese went to get us breakfast for us.  Then he planned for me to have a massage and pedicure that afternoon where he had my mom and sister surprise me and join me for the pedicure.  It was so much fun.  That evening we had dinner at Public Greens and dessert at Cake Bake, both were so great.  Saturday morning we woke up and headed to Chicago for the night.  We did lots of walking around and sightseeing and lots of good eating.  It was the perfect way to celebrate.  He really made me feel special. 

18 weeks 1 day

21 weeks 1 day

17 Weeks

2/25/15

Wow 17 weeks, its pretty incredible!  This pregnancy is still flying by and I'm just so excited to meet this little one.  I have been paying close attention because I remembered this is around when I felt movement last time and I have definitely noticed some in the past week.  Just every once in a while, but it feels so special.  I had my appointment last week and got to hear baby's heartbeat which was in the 150s and my weight gain was 11 pounds.  It was a breath of fresh air to find out baby is healthy.

Our doctor told us about a new blood test this time where we were able to find out the sex as early as 9 weeks.  So we opted to do it and Corey's sister Laura offered to throw us a gender reveal party with our families.  It was just so much fun and I'm so grateful she did it.  It was so sweet to find out with everyone and just made it feel a lot more special.  SO.........we are having a BOY!!!!!  We are pretty dang excited.  We were so completely shocked.  We were both convinced it was another girl and I guess its just hard to imagine having a boy when you are used to a girl - but now, I can't wait and just feel so blessed.

I am feeling great, just have been struggling with the pregnancy hormones.  I just really need to get a handle on them and not let them rule my mood.  Not really having too many symptoms yet, just noticing how quickly my belly is growing this time.  I'm thinking I look around 24 weeks with Reese.  Having tiny bits of back pain and starting to feel the weight of the belly at times, guess things just happen quicker with number two.

17 weeks

11 weeks

1/14/15

Well here we are 4 weeks later for another update, I figured it would go this way for baby number 2.  Its crazy how much faster this one is flying by, I guess it just has to do with being distracted with Reese.  But I welcome every new week that comes with such joy.  Can't believe we are almost clear of the first trimester!

So far we have been blessed to be able to see baby 3 times on an ultrasound.  Once at 6 weeks, you couldn't even tell what was the head/body.  Second at 9 weeks, baby's heartbeat was 181, same as Reese's (another girl? that's what we're thinking!), baby was moving a little, you could now see little nubs for arms/legs and we saw baby's spine from behind.  Third was yesterday at 11 weeks, heartbeat was 168, and baby was moving like crazy!  It was incredible to see the development from 2 weeks prior.  Baby had fingers and toes and fully develpoed legs, its all amazing. 

I am feeling wonderful lately!  I would say the morning sickness lasted for a week to week and a half then I was hit with digestive pains in my stomach.  It was no fun feeling pains and bloating all the time, no matter what I ate/didn't eat.  But thankfully, once again that cleared up by probably 9 - 9 1/2 weeks.  I am one lucky pregnant lady, that's for sure.  Now I am just feeling back to normal, except for fatigue that hits after lunch time usually for the rest of the day, but I can definitely handle that.

The biggest difference this time is within the past week or so, my belly has officially pooched out.  Corey noticed it the other day and it made me realize it is for sure real.  I'm thinking maybe what I looked like at 16-17 weeks last time.  Its a little scary, but not really.  I'm just happy its a sign of a healthy baby being in there and I've heard that tends to happen earlier in subsequent pregnancies.


10 weeks 6 days

8 weeks, 6 days



 

Peanut #2 (7 Weeks along)

12/17/14

Well here we are once again!  I won't get all sappy on this post, just want to record how we found out and how I've been feeling so far.

We took a trip to Charleston right before we found out and it was the perfect little get away.  We were on our second cycle of Clomid and were hoping we had a pretty good shot this month.  We saw there were two mature follicles (eggs) on the ultrasound around day 14 and I got the "trigger" shot to make me ovulate within the next 24 hours.  We were told to test on day 30 (16 days after our ultrasound and hcg shot), but there is no way I could wait that long.  I had planned to test Monday or Tuesday when we returned from our trip, but was too excited and tested late Sunday night (12 days after ov) when we got home -- and it was POSITIVE!!

But, when testing early with the hcg trigger shot there is always a risk that the hcg showing up as positive on the test is just remaining hcg from the shot.  So we waited and continued to test Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning and thankfully the line kept getting darker.  Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) I called my doc and they let me come in for a blood draw.  My hcg level was around 70, then around 150 on Friday.  We felt confident after the Wednesday test and told our family on Thanksgiving.

We got to go in for an early ultrasound this time (thanks to our doc) at 6 weeks, Dec 11th and saw there was a tiny baby in there with a heartbeat (118)!  They pretty much just look like a little blob that early but it was so nice to know that this was a real pregnancy.  We go back in at 9 weeks, on Dec 30th.

This pregnancy has felt different than my first.  I have been a lot more nauseous this time, but honestly I sort of welcome it knowing it means our baby is growing in there.  Whew, it makes me feel for those who have really severe morning sickness though, because it is brutal.  If I'm not feeling like I'm going to be sick, I have no appetite and nothing usually sounds good to eat, and a whole lot of things sound so unappealing, ha.  I have no desire to make dinner, poor Corey.  I would say the tiredness hit pretty hard early, but the sickness wasn't until 6 weeks and I've felt less tired maybe because all I can focus on is feeling sick or maybe because I have been napping every day! 

6 weeks 1 day - baby is that tiny thing at bottom left of circle, can't even distinguish head and body at this point!

Pregnancy after Loss

written in October 2014


I just wanted to share a little bit about our journey and God's faithfulness through all of this.  It has been very helpful for me to be very open through the process.  It makes me feel comforted to talk about it with others and know that others care and have been praying for us.  And I really wanted to write it down because it was an incredibly shaping season of my life and maybe it will encourage someone else in a similar situation.

To be completely honest, I am writing this portion before I am even pregnant.  But I have so much faith that it will happen soon!  Don't get me wrong, there are sooooo many days where I feel so defeated and that it will never happen.  But I know my God says to have faith in him and I know he will provide through his plan however that may happen/look.  I am currently in my first cycle using clomid and have an ultrasound in a few days to find out whether my follicle(s) are fully mature (which means there is a possibility I could get pregnant this month).  This has been a long road.

A couple weeks after Reese turned one, we went on a vacation just the two of us.  It was wonderful and we decided we were ready to start trying for baby #2 when my period returned.  I had just weaned Reese before the trip and it ended up taking about 6 weeks for my first cycle to start.  We tried for 5 long cycles and finally got pregnant!  It was so wonderful and we were so ecstatic.  Then we went in for our first appointment and ultrasound around 7/8 weeks and found out there was no baby.  I had had what my doctor called a blighted ovum.  In my limited understanding, it basically means your body thinks your pregnant, but no baby ever develops.  We were going on vacation less than a week later, so after discussing with my doctor (and having multiple more tests and ultrasounds to confirm), we decided the best option was to go forward with a D&C procedure to end the pregnancy and move on to trying again after a couple cycles.

This hit me so so so hard.  It was hardest to be honest just accepting and realizing the fact that I wasn't pregnant anymore.  It was so shocking and devastating.  I had two good friends who were a week or two apart from me and it was really hard thinking about how I wouldn't be having a baby or celebrating any pregnancy milestones along with them.  It still hurts my heart thinking that November is right around the corner and knowing I probably would have been due somewhere around Thanksgiving.  I know it will heal tremendously once I do become pregnant (hopefully that is soon).

We waited a couple cycles, due to the doctor's orders, then were able to try again.  I quickly got pregnant again the second cycle we were allowed to try and once again was over the moon, but very hesitant this time to believe it was the real deal.  My doctor did more blood work this time to check my levels.  About a week and a half in, my hcg level went down to a 3 and I got the phone call saying I would probably miscarry in the next few days/week (I did the next morning).  My doctor was so sweet and called me from home that night to discuss everything with me and make sure we were doing ok.  She said it was most likely just a chemical pregnancy and the baby was unable to implant due to my lining not being thick enough so soon after the D&C.  It was heartbreaking, but at the same time much better than the last loss.  We were so hesitant to believe it was real this time and finding out so quickly was much better.  I was so comforted to know that its not uncommon after that procedure and that it didn't mean I'll never be able to carry another baby (the scary thoughts that run through your head!).

We did the same thing and waited a couple cycles and decided to try naturally for a couple more cycles just in case.  My doctor suggested clomid on the phone call, but I was scared of increased chances of multiples and just wanted to try a little longer on our own.  No luck, so now we are onto our first cycle.  From how my doctor has explained it, it will help me ovulate a mature egg (not something I probably do every month on my own) and increase our chances of having a successful pregnancy.  I've taken clomid days 3-7, estrogen days 8-12 and will go in on day 15 for an ultrasound to look at the follicle(s).  If it looks able to be fertilized, I will receive a shot that will make me ovulate in the next 24 hours, then will take progesterone through the end of my cycle or all the way through the first trimester if it happens this month.  Clomid also helps your body have a regular/predictable cycle.  I can't describe how excited I am for this and to know when I will actually ovulate!  My cycle ranges from 30 days to 50-some and even though I use those ovulation kits, they can be very hard to read.


All this to say, I am finally thankful for this season.  It has been a season of waiting and trust and just incredible growth for me.  Its been incredible to walk through it with Corey and grown us so much closer.  But it has brought me to a new place of faith.  I've never felt closer to God.  I've never felt so held by him.  You know through this journey so many people have said to us, just trust in God because he has a plan, and so on.  My response in my head (and in discussion with Cor) has always been, trust me I know!  He has been the only thing keeping my head above water!!!  And I just want to say I am not writing this to say oh my life is so hard, I know there are so many people who have walked through much worse/harder seasons.  But I do think its ok for me to have been deeply sad during parts of our walk.  And I want to share it because I want to share how He carried me through.

This season has been so much about growth for me.  Its been about learning to trust and learning to love others and not be angry or jealous and to be thankful for this moment right now and all that we have in this life and so many other lessons.  And I can't even begin to describe how special its been with sweet Reese.  I am truly so thankful for this season of just the three of us, even though this is not what we planned or how we would have picked it to go, God knew what was best and how special this time would be.  He is all sovereign, and for that I am thankful.

Two Years Old

More like 2 years and a couple months, but who's counting at this point!  You are just so big... I look at you daily and think, how did she get so big?  And so much fun.  I mean, I loved the baby stage, but really I just love you now so much.  You are too much fun and have so much personality and say the funniest things.

At 18 months your language really started exploding.  You were saying too many words to count and repeating anything I would say soon after that.  Now at two years old you talk in sentences.  You love asking questions, "What's that guy doing" "Mommy where'd -blank- go? so on and so on.  You also went through a fun phase of repeating after me.  "Reese, what color is this?  and then you would just repeat my question rather than answering it. 

You know all your body parts, can count close to 20 (but mix up a few toward the end occasionally), know your shapes and are learning some of your colors.  I would say this has been a ton slower than I would have imagined.  With how quickly you pick up other things, I figured colors would be the same, but I'm sure they'll come. 

You love love reading and singing.  You have a lot of your books memorized (or at least the jist of them) and a lot of your favorite songs too.  You love dancing and jumping or any sort of playing. 

You are definitely starting to express your independence.  We have many melt downs these days, just like the next toddler.  Mommy is learning patience and discipline all at once.  Again, how did it all happen so fast!!??  I say my share of "do you want to go to time out?" and "Reese, no we don't do that!" but there are SO many more sweet moments that make it all worth it! 

You are also fighting taking your nap many days.  We took away the "night-night" (pacifier) which I think probably had something to do with it.  We're just sticking with the schedule though and hoping you get back on track.  I couldn't believe how easily you got rid of that thing though.  It must have definitely been time.  One day your paci in the car had a hole and you told me it was broken and we needed to throw it away, so we did and there was no turning back.  We kept your nighttime one so we could take it on vacation a few weeks later.  After we got home, same thing, it ended up being broken and tossed as well.  I can not believe how much it changed your behavior getting rid of it.  For so long before, it felt like it just made you whinier!  Anytime any thing happened, you got hurt, or just felt like whining, you would cry for your paci.  Even if we were at a play date with friends and it just drove me crazy.  Once we got rid of it, that all stopped, it was amazing!

You go to school one day a week this year and are just loving it.  Its so fun to see you in that environment and see you learning so much.  You also go to church with me still on Thursday mornings and are loving that this year.

I can't describe how much of a joy you are love bug.  I'm constantly reminded how incredibly vast God's love must be for me if he loves us one ounce of how much I love you.  I mean there is just nothing sweeter on this earth than your hugs or your precious face.  I am so so thankful that he blessed mommy and daddy with you!

Fifteen Months

Whoo!  I am really really behind.  Thankfully I wrote this post back around 15 months but never posted since I was waiting to upload pictures.  But I'm going to go ahead and get this posted now along w/ a 2 year update!



All I can say is big, big girl!  Its amazing to think about the difference between now and your first birthday!  You have grown and changed and learned so much.  You are now running through the house, saying about 7-10 words, and imitating so mank things we do.

It is so amazing to watch you learn and pick up new things out of no where.  You will imitate something I do and I think to myself, do I do that?  Its crazy how much you pick up on.  Its also pretty fun to watch you starting to play "pretend" with some things.

You love blowing kisses, giving kisses, waving hi (when you are not being shy), pointing out (and saying a couple) body parts when we ask you where they are, dancing, "jumping," banging (anything when asked), shaking, saying hi and "talking" on you play phone, shaking your head no, getting buster treats, etc. etc. etc.  You love playing pretend with so many things.  You'll walk around "feeding" buster, me, stuffed animals with a bowl and spoon.  You are in love with any stuffed animals and blankets and will carry them all around the house.  Its amazing to me now how much you understand.  You understand so many things I say now and will do a lot of things when I ask you, like 'grab your bear,' 'brush your teeth,' 'where is buster?,' 'time to go bye bye,' 'did you go potty?'  Its fun to be really communicating with you these days!

You are just our favorite girl in the world!  You are such a joy miss Reese.  I can't describe how fun it is to watch you learn new things and just play with you and hear your sweet little giggle.  My heart literally feels like it might burst when I look at you, peanut.

Your 15 mo apt you weighed 20 lbs 1 oz, up to the 11th percentile, whoo hoo!  You are working on getting your molars and I've seen at least one of them is almost in.  Luckily this hasn't disrupted your sleep though!  You just wanted to be held by mommy a lot more than normal.  You are sleeping amazing.  Seriously we put you in bed and you don't make a peep at naptime or bed time.  You switched to one nap a few weeks ago because you were rarely taking both naps and it has been awesome.  Some days you'll only do an hour and 15, but most days so far its been about 2 hours.  Hopefully this will stay and get even longer maybe once you get used to the schedule!  You are eating great lately and seem to want to eat all day long.  Some favorites are broccoli, bananas, pears, cheese cheese cheese, sausage/hamburger, beans, eggs, breads, etc.