Lately

Just wanted all my faithfuls to know I am still around. Believe or not, I've been hard at work n the NICU post in the last few days. It takes me forever but In the end it's worth it because I have a permanent record to look back on. I couldn't count the number of times I have looked up specfics from my infertility treatments for friends. It is really handy.

Anyway, it has been really busy. We were in Nashville a few weeks ago and then my mom had surgery and I spent a lot of time at her house helping out. We still have a couple more busy weekends ahead. My dad and I spent quite a bit of time last weekend working on my pool. Talk about a job! We basically gutted it and statrednfrom scratch. The water was green so we drained it and sucked up the remainder of the algae with a shop vac. Then I cleaned the floor with a squeegee and then a towel. We began refillng which totally finished early this morning (after stopping it for awhile). We also had to clean the sand filter totally out and put new sand in. I will add chemicals next. We have decided to go with Baquacil and we have heard great things about it. Still have some cleanup atone the deck but it's getting there.

School is now out and I am looking forward to spending time with my Zoey girl. I can't wait for her first trip to the beach. She will love it. I've got all her stuff bought up but I haven't even started on myself. Haha

Miss Zoey has had a busy week as well including meeting all my coworkers for the first time. That was alot of fun and interesting. She has travlled a lot with me this week as I have attempted to run errands.

Up next is the NICU post and Zoey's five month post. Hopefully I'll post those this week. Until then.... Have a great weekend!

Baby Shower and Update 26.5 weeks

So... I know most of my blogger friends live states and states away.... but I still wanted to extend an invite to my Baby Shower this coming Monday at 3:30pm at my school. If any of you are in the neighborhood and want to stop by just let me know and I can give you more details! I am excited and nervous. I know it's crazy but I hate having all the attention focused on me.... can you believe that? haha But I am excited to get all kinds of baby stuff and to get to start working on Zoey's nursery again the coming weeks.

In other news... WE HAVE MOVED! WOW! Let me just say that I am completely exhausted and I had forgotten just how much work it is to move. I have to collect a few more cleaning supplies from my apartment ( we overhauled it on Tuesday evening so that it would be nice when we moved out) and then I will turn in our keys tomorrow or Saturday morning. It is bittersweet to me. I loved my apartment. It was very nice and very big (like 1,400 square feet). We have had a lot of good memories there including coming home from work as a newly pregnant woman who was completely in shock. haha : ) But, we have outgrown our apartment and we definitely are loving our new home and all the extra square footage plus the garage and the huge yard we have. I will be loving the pool this summer as well : ) God has truly blessed us!

I haven't posted in almost a month! I usually try to update at least every 2 weeks so you can tell I've been busy. My doctor's appointment at 24.5 weeks consisted of a cervical length check (3.5cm) and a Fetal fibronectin test. This test detects fetal fibronectin, which is a glue like substance that begins to be discharged when you are within weeks of going into labor. If you get a positive reading, this means you could go into labor in the next 2 weeks. If you get a negative reading, there is a 99% chance that you will not go into labor in the next 2 weeks. The negative test is much more reliable than the positive. My test that week came back negative. That was great news because I wanted baby Zoey to keep growing and I wanted to continue to stay off bed rest so that I could enjoy my baby shower in the coming weeks. I didn't get to see Zoey at that appointment and I was disappointed but I was told I'd see her every time after that. I did have my second glucose screening and it actually came back better than the first. My level was 115 which was well within normal range. I was so glad! My thyroid came back fine as well.

Yesterday was my 26.5 week appointment. I again had the fetal fibronectin test and it came back negative again. Thank the Lord! My cervix measured 3.34 which is a bit shorter than before but I did have a different ultrasound tech (my favorite one is moving back to her hometown :( ) and they weren't concerned as long as it stays about 3 we are in good shape. I did get to see Zoey and I have 2 pictures of her (her spine mainly because she wouldn't roll over for good pictures. She now weighs 2lbs and was sleeping on her belly with one foot all the way up to her butt. So cute! Her heartbeat was 138 yesterday and I think 142 last time.

At 26.5 weeks she is moving around a lot. She as been for about 5 weeks or so now. I love feeling her. I also love just listening to her heartbeat. I even went out to the car during my planning period the other day to listen to her because I hadn't heard her heart in a few days due to all the moving and unpacking. She apparently still doesn't like the doppler and loves to kick it when I start trying to listen. It's quite funny. You can hear the thud on the machine and see my belly move. She's been doing that since the first time I listened to her with it. I thank God for these little moments that she and I share! I also thank God that my mom was able to feel her move today and to actually see my belly move. It just tickled her too death. She is so in love with this little girl already as are we all. Thank You Heavenly Father for this tiny, 2lb blessing growing inside me as we speak!

I have purchased her stroller, car seat, and high chair. I got all 3 at Kmart at a really great price. They are brown and green because I want to be able to reuse them if I am blessed with another child down the road. I didn't really want to put a possible, future baby boy in a pink stroller haha The print is called African Safari and I really like the brown and green together. Her room is BRIGHT PINK. My dear friend Tina is suppose to come paint a Care Bear mural on the wall if we can ever get my hubby's stuff out of there and we still have to hang the Care Bear border as well as get the furniture from my SIL. Still a lot to do.

I feel ok. I am staying really, really sore down low like where my torso meets my legs...I guess the groin area. I am also feeling more pressure down low. My feet and legs are swelling some at the end of the day but nothing that is too major. I am still grouchy a lot haha I also have hormonal episodes and speak my mind a lot more than I use to (sorta like I did when I was young). But I'm not too awful haha. The heartburn is getting worse... that's the one symptom that's followed me pretty much through the whole thing.

I guess I will head out. It's after midnight and I'm still going. I actually had a nap today. I never take naps anymore.... just never have time. All I do is work, unpack, sleep and repeat haha. God bless each of you and know that I am still Praying for you! Remember if you are near here Monday let me know!

Ps. I will add the new ultrasound pictures as soon as we hook our printer/scanner up...it may be a few weeks!

20 weeks 3 day Apt. Update + Back 2 Work & New House

<sup>1 Peter 5: 6-8

6</sup>Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

What awesome verses in the midst of our infertility and pregnancy woes! So true that God has His perfect time and He waits for that perfect time because He cares for us! So true also that satan is always waiting in the wings to rip us apart. We need to make sure we keep our eyes on our Savior for our strength and our help against this foe.

So on Wednesday I went back to my OB for my 20.5 week apt. Things were looking a lot better for Baby Zoey. The membrane sac was apparently attached because the ultrasound tech couldn't see any place in the ultrasound that showed that it was unattached. There was still a small amount of blood but not enough to bother anything. The ARNP said that it may just be reabsorbing into my body. My cervix was about 3.4 cm. That was good. Shorter than last time but I read that it can go back and forth a bit and that anything above 3 is good. I was taken off modified bed rest and given the OK to head back to work. Here are the pictures that the tech printed after I reminded her. The first shows that Zoey is a girl (though it isn't as clear as the other views of this we have seen in previous weeks) and the second shows Zoey laying on her side.


My mom and I also spoke with the doctors about the Swine flu pandemic. They were concerned as well. They explained the precautions to take because I work in a school and that makes it easier for me to be exposed. My ARNP is actually putting off getting pregnant now until the first of the year so that she can take the H1N1 vaccine without having to be in her first trimester. I think this is all a bigger deal than most folks think. I keep hearing that it is all hype but I'm pretty sure that it's bigger than what most people think.

They also discussed me being exposed to Fifth's disease. I had heard of this before because my niece had it last year. Kindergartners pass it left and right (also other small kids at daycare, etc.). They ran a test on me to see if I had had it as a child. If so, I would be ok but if not I have to be aware of that also because it can cause problems for the baby. I asked if I would have known and she told me that probably not because a lot of times it goes unnoticed because sometimes there aren't any symptoms.

So, we had a good visit. I am shaken up with the Swine flu and Fifth's disease discussions but I am just Praying that God will keep me and my baby safe. Please join me in Prayer for the same thing.

I did go back to work on Thursday and I am adjusting ok. My feet and legs are swelling some from being up all day and I have to get use to doing that again. But all in all things are going good. I am teaching 4th, 5th, and Kindergarten music, a 3rd grade reading, and various grade levels for a tutoring class (it changes daily).

In other news... I have waited to share this until it's closer but WE ARE BUYING OUR FIRST HOUSE! We have gotten to the point before where we agreed on an offer so this time when we did I was afraid to mention it because it seems like something always falls through. Well this time, we have had an accepted offer on the same house that we were buying a couple of months ago but with a better price this time and with better loan options. It was a blessing that it didn't work out the first time. We have had the home inspection, the survey on the land (1.4 acre lot) and now we are awaiting the FHA appraisal. I have been packing (don't worry ... just sitting and sorting with my momma's help, while my brother and hubby lift boxes and things). We have a whole lot finished. We worked the Friday that we found out and the following Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We took a break on my birthday (Aug. 21) and started again this past Monday and Tuesday. A lot was accomplished in 6 days.... but it was in Creation time with God, too wasn't it? haha

Just continue to bathe us in your Prayers as we do the same for you! Much love to each of you!