Catching My Breath

Wow... time flies when you're having fun!  errrr... working and playing in the sunshine that we've prayed to see for so many months!

I had a lot of questions on why we were so lucky to find out baby T was a precious little hunk.  Even Nick encouraged me to write about the last few weeks, but I wanted to take my time to word my words right.  I have learned a lot of lessons in the last couple of weeks.

FIRST of all... Our little bean is perfect and is growing beautifully!  

At week 15, I got a stomach dropping call that a test had come back not so favorably and I needed further testing.  Of course, because it's 2014, I googled right away to figure out what was happening!

Being a first time mom, I say yes to any test my doctor recommends because I am naive and know no better. I took what's called a Quad Screen which tests for Trisomy 13, 18, 21 (Downs Syndrome), and Spina Bifida.  When I say it tests for, I should be more clear, it screens your likelyhood for any of those "complications".  I am a type "A" personality and I like to be prepared, so in my mind of course I'd like to test and of course it would come back all clear because I'm 25 and in amazing health.

Lesson 1: Do not take the test if you are not prepared for "we need to do further testing" convo with your doctor.

Our doctor called to let us know that the Trisomy 21 screen had come back with a alarming result (1:9 chance or that I have a placenta of a 48 year old) and I needed to be seen at a High Risk OB to check further.  That was it.  All of the information I was given.

Lesson 2:  Sometimes googling is ok.. as long as you stay level headed.  Stick with the facts and don't get involved with the over-emotional crazies that are not understanding the facts, the internet is dangerous people!

I was able to come up with a few more questions and also some research that 90% of the time, women my age have false screens... can I get an AMEN!  I ended up taking a more in depth blood test called Maternt21 which tests the baby's blood for chromosomal abnormalities, ten days later we got the ALL CLEAR and It's a BOY :)  

Now, onto the reason I wanted to wait to get my thoughts together before spreading the good news to the world.  During those ten days, I had a lot of time to think, pray, and research.  The conclusion that I had come to before hearing that baby bean is all sorts of healthy, is that I would be proud to be a mom of a baby with Downs Syndrome.  

Lesson 3:  God chose Nick and I to be the best parents to a baby, I am blessed and who am I to say that something is "wrong" with a baby with Downs Syndrome because that is simply not the case.  These children grow up to be caring, smart, beautiful, sweet human beings; what more could I ask for?

Armed with knowledge and the negative results, Nick and I were excited for our next appointment for our Ultrasound... because of the previous tests, my doctor still wanted a very in-depth ultrasound to make sure all is good in the neighborhood.   We got to look at baby bean for almost an hour as we went over every little inch.

BAM!! Handsome Boy - 21 Weeks,  1lb and 12in long and I feel him roll around and have a dance party EVERYDAY!

Our doctor is still very concerned on why my screen levels were so high so I still need to be monitored and will still be considered "high risk".  But, I'm ok with that because they will keep close watch.  I will most likely deliver little man early to keep him from stressing my weak old young placenta... WEIRD!  I am following directly in my moms footsteps.. she just didn't know she had pre-eclampsia and my brother turned out fine.. well at least kinda fine.  KIDDING, I love you Dew.

ON TO THE EVEN BETTER THINGS that are hap hap happenin.

1.  Lilly got her cone off... two weeks later :/  Sorry girlfriend!

2.  My mom and dad visited and we started the babies room, which is adorable already!

We have a game plan... I bought this adorable rug and light last weekend!  

I am going with Sherwin Williams "Repose Grey" with an amazing stencil in "Naval"

And we'll round it out with this crib, rocker and of course TEEPEE

It's A....

In a strange turn of events, we were blessed to find out what our little healthy nugget is two weeks ahead of time...

I'll give you a guess, it rhymes with FOY!!

We're having a sweet sweet little boy and we are so excited.  I hope and dream he is a little blonde, curly haired version of Nick!  I can't wait to meet him and watch him grow up with Lilly, running around playing in the back yard!  So many good things to look forward to.

I'll check back in later this week with nursery ideas because I've got to start pinning on Pinterest right away!

I'll leave you with a less enthused big sister who has a paw sore she won't leave alone... I promise, she'll be excited too!

Week 15 and 16

Why do the weeks seem to fly by.. I always say I'm going to catch up and then BAM, another week goes by!  Anyway, I have a lot to catch you up on so this one is rather lengthy (a.k.a, that is your get out now if you don't want to see a million pics warning).

I had a very sweet conversation with my Grannie early last week and she was so happy that she can now reconnect to my new life in Indiana but insists on more pics of what's going on in my life.. so this is for you Grannie!

Three weeks ago, I was successful in painting the entire half of the bedroom.  I got a little wild and picked a super dark calming blue to go with grey accent walls.. but then I got sick and only finished the blue.  But, I love it so far.  My goal next week is to finish the other half, find some adorable curtains, spin the bed around, get some appropriate lighting (because I never know what I am wearing in the morning), some night stands and call it done!

In other news.. My parents finally made it last weekend and better yet, they came bearing FOOD!  I gained a couple frozen meals, cheeseburger soup, and crock pot turkey roast that day, YUM!  I appreciate my mom so much!  My dad scraped all of the snow off our roof while the neighbors looked on wondering what the sweet snow rake in his hand was :)  I also enjoyed some olympics updates.

16 weeks

Lilly prefers to reflect on her day on her snow mound

THEN... they brought in this baby for the baby!

Lilly approves!

Of course I was shaking at the knees, excited!  But with excitement comes the cleaning... we needed to clean out our storage room for a nursery.  Thank god for my mom.  Usually I am the person running in telling people to make decisions of what stays, what goes.. but she's even better at than I am.  So in a matter of an hour the room went from tragic to hopeful.

Before annnnnd after :)

Now we wait to find out what the little bean is and GET TO WORK!

The most exciting part of week 16 is seeing it end because my best friend's baby, Evelyn, graced us with her 7lb 10 oz presence this morning.  She is beautiful and momma did such a good job!  I miss them already!

Welcome Evelyn Mae Watson

Week 13 and 14

As I say goodbye to week 13 and 14, I say goodbye to all of my nicely fitting clothes.  The lump bump has arrived people.  I promise I will put up a picture.  I spent 5-7 days of week 14 with the flu, so I spent today sanitizing the house.

My parents were supposed to visit this weekend (and last) but old man winter had different plans, again!  Hopefully they'll make it next weekend.  I am pumped for several reasons.. a. I miss them, b. My mom is a way awesome shopping buddy, and c. They are bringing my first piece of baby furniture with them!

The countdown is on to meet Baby Evelyn, I am crossing my fingers she pics a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.  Selfish I know, but an auntie can dream!

Happy Birthday to my girl Gabrielle by the way!  She's one stylish beautiful baby girl, and I love you!


The good and the mehhhh of the week...

Motivated to finally COOK.. I made yummy salads for the week and dinner every mostly every night this week!  I can see the color slowly coming back to my poor husbands malnourished face.

Meijer was out of bananas again.. Palm to FOREHEAD! And as the fore mentioned flu visited, nothing got accomplished.

Looking forward to next week and yet another snow storm!  Bad winter to not be able to ski, WE ALL HAVE CABIN FEVER.

12 Weeks

Another week has come and gone like a whirlwind!

I am FOREVER grateful for the nausea medicine I was given.  I am finally able to function at night and Nick actually had clean clothes this week. Now, that's what I call a win!

I did have a bit of a revelation with a girlfriend this week who is also pregnant.  We were chatting about all of the glamorous details everyone forgets to tell you about the first trimester!  Seriously, I wish I was a little more prepared on EVERYTHING.  The best part of the revelation was how we both agreed only summer pregnant women reap the benefits... 

1.) That glow everyone talks about comes from the SUN, I am sure of it!  It is not coming from the cute little blueberry making me throw up!  I also believe that's where the amazing skin comes from.. because it ain't happening for me!

2.)  NO PANTS are required in the summer...this would make every morning 20x easier.  Shorts and Dresses are where it's at!

3.)  All the good foods are plentiful during the summer.  Meijer was OUT of strawberries, blackberries and bananas last week.. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!

Don't get me wrong.. I am very very excited and I do get to hide my awkwardly changing body in big sweaters in January, but I am excited for sun, no pants, and the fruit :)  I vow to you now that I will not complain about the heat mid-July!  

In other news... I am getting serious about finishing the paint job in this house!  Finally decided on our bedroom paint color!  Very excited!  I'll put some pictures up later this week.

Laura's baby shower went off without a hitch...  Great food and Great friends.  Makes me miss Michigan so much.

This weeks stats...

Dream of the week... I had a guardian alien that would morph from an alien to a black cat, until it decided it didn't want to be my guardian anymore and would hold my hand and take over my mind so I couldn't move or talk... literally frozen.

I wake up very often shaking my head wondering where I get these dreams.  

How much weight am I packing on...  Up 2 lbs

What's good this week...  So many good things

1.)  I finally heard the heartbeat at the doctors office... 158 bpm (magical)

2.)  I have been able to re-introduce milk into my diet and cereal tastes oh so good!

3.)  Spending time with my girlfriends all weekend

4.)  Getting my energy back!  Nick appreciates a clean house and laundry.

11 Weeks

How you feeling in there little plum?   I hope you are very cozy, cause you are making mom very woooooozy!  

As I mentioned last week, I thought I had seen the dim light in my tunnel of sickness.  Little did I know, our little bean was just playing a joke.  It's been a rough week, but a quick trip to the Doc today may have saved day month!

So now I wait for the dream tablets to work so I can get packing for my trip home tomorrow to see all of my favorite girlfriends and celebrate baby Evelyn at her shower!  I really can't wait to welcome another little girl to our already loud and proud group.  We have decided that it already takes a village to raise our 4 year-old diva Gabrielle, and I expect nothing different for Evelyn.

Gabrielle Hunt - Seriously, it takes a village and we LOVE it that way!

My girlfriends and I have been friends since, well, kindergarten.  We are sisters... we fight, we talk behind each others back (and only we can do that), we make up, we laugh, we drink and love each other... and then someone has a baby and it's GREAT!

Laura Lee is still the WORST Driver

Obviously we had it goin on.. 

I should probably let you know that we have matured into beautiful, stable adults!

Love my girls, and I can't wait until my girls love on my little peanut!  This is going to be one loved baby with all of his/her UNCLES, AUNTS, and GRANDPARENTS!  

10 Weeks

It's officially OFFICIAL, we've got a 10 week 4 day old jumping bean on our hands.  My moment of glory was last Tuesday when the doctors office called and said, "You're results are normal."  HA, I guess that means, "Hey, you were right... you're nice and pregnant!"  I guess I expected something a little more celebratory but then I remembered that these people do it everyday so I'm just another pregnant lady in line.

The best part of this week was getting to see the little bean on Monday and boy, was he/she jumping and jiving!  Can't wait to see this little person in July!

I've been asked already several times what I think it is... my intuition is saying boy, but still holding hope for a girl.  Nick has been calling it a HE since day 1 :)  We will see at the end of February!

Another fantastic part of this week was Christmas and telling the rest of our families and being surrounded by all of the excitement and support!  We are blessed!

In dream world... I was trapped in my bedroom the other night and the only way out was the trap door behind the chair.  The only problem was when I moved the chair, the door moved.  So after a little bit of redecorating, I finally woke up, shook my head and went back to bed and moved all of the furniture back in the morning.  Nick had fallen asleep while watching the hawks game in the man-cave or he would have thoroughly enjoyed this little episode.

What am I wearing?  I have officially moved into only leggings.. getting dressed for work in the morning is so enjoyable!

How much weight am I packing?  I have not gained any weight, but things are certainly shifting!  The only pro is the boobs I never had :) Sorry mom!

What's good and what's mehh??  Still eating pretty bland things and no milk!  I do feel a turn of events on the horizon as I am finally getting more energy!  We'll being saying Hola to the 2nd trimester very soon and hopefully hasta la vista to the sick nights!