Brenda and Marvin Henry

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-13T17:33:00.002-05:00

Instead of sending out a Christmas letter to everyone we decided to do it on our blog... saving paper and money. =)
We have had an amazing year. It was our first year in Florida as a family.
We decided to try for another baby when Shepherd turned 1 in January 2011. We got pregnant the first try! We were blessed with our daughter on October 25th 2011. She is 7 weeks old and just the sweetest thing. She is starting to coo and talk a lot. We've seen her smile several times. She is very active and alert. She nurses all the time and is gaining weight. She is so beautiful! She looks just like my sister Renee!
Shepherd is growing up so fast. He still doesn't talk much. He mostly talks at home around the family. That's probably because we are the only ones who understand him! =) He signs a lot too. The main thing is he is communicating and telling us what he wants. He understands us and is getting better everyday at following instructions.
We haven't tried potty training yet. He hasn't showed any interest and I really don't want to have to chase after him with a newborn. =) We might give it a try after he turns 2 in January. It's all up to him. We won't force him.
He loves playing outside more then anything else. My parents got him a big swingset with a fort on it. He would play on that all day long if we let him. =)
He loves Disney movies. His favorites... Up!, Meet the Robinsons, Toy Story, Cars, Cars 2, Monsters Inc. He still loves watching the Wiggles, but it's nice for the grown-ups to have different options.
Sheppy took swimming lessons at the beginning of summer. He did well, but we'll have to take them again next summer to build on the skills he already learned. Shep goes to gymnastics once a week. He has a great time and is improving every week. I love that he is learning to socialize, discipline, waiting his turn. It's great exercise for me too. =)
Abby is such a wonderful addition to our little family. Shepherd lights up like a firefly when he sees her. He wants to sit next to me when I nurse her. Shep is always giving her kisses on her head and just snuggling up next to her. It's so precious!
Marvin is working hard! He works full-time and fulfills all his church callings. Marvin was able to find an wonderful job right away when we moved here, with Manatron (now Thomson Reuters). He loves what he's doing and who he works with. He never ceases to amaze me with his willingness to serve others. He is an amazing husband and father. He takes such good care of us. Marvin is the best protector and provider I could have every wished for.
As for me... I'm loving life. Being married to my best friend, having 2 great kids, family close by. I know none of this would be possible without my loving Heavenly Father. Also, without my savior Jesus Christ I would be no where. I want my kids to know the true meaning of Christmas... the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
We love you all!

Few pictures of our little family! =)

2011-11-03T08:37:00.000-04:00

Abigail is almost here!

2011-10-15T07:41:00.000-04:00

I am not a very good person to keep the blog up to date. We are just a week away from welcoming our little girl to the world. My c-section is scheduled for October 25th, 2011. We are all ready for it! I have our bags packed and ready to go. I went to the doctor yesterday and Abby is doing great! She is weighing about 7 pounds and is super active. We had an ultrasound and a NST (nonstress test- where they monitor her heartbeat and movement for about 15 minutes) and an internal exam. The doctor said I am only 1 cm dialated, but I am 80% effaced (cervix thinned out). Yikes! So I am taking it easy. Trying not to walk around too much. A lot of mom's would start walking like crazy to get their baby out, but we want her to wait unitl the 25th. She is ready to come out! Very different from Shepherd. He was super high and did not want to come out. Abigail is super low and pushing against my cervix all day long. We know that whatever happens it will be fine. We are ready either way. Marvin is not very nervous. He is only nervous about the actual c-section and my recovery. But I recovered very quickly last time. I had a lot of pain, but nothing I can't handle. =) I haven't been as good about pictures this pregnancy, but I guess that happens with every parent when the 2nd child comes. We will try to take as many pictures as we can of Abigail and Shepherd. We like everything to be even. =) So we are about to become parents again. Can't wait to see what adventures will unfold. Stay tuned! I will try to keep this blog up to date.

Baby Abigail 27 weeks 4 days!

2011-08-04T14:12:00.000-04:00

It's a girl!!!!!! Abigail Renee Henry!

2011-06-14T10:41:00.002-04:00

Shepherd 16 months old

2011-06-02T08:49:00.002-04:00

Shepherd 15 months old

2011-06-02T08:49:00.001-04:00

Baby Ultrasound photos

2011-06-01T15:07:00.005-04:00

8.4 weeks

11.4 weeks

15.4 weeks

Baby bump pictures so far...

2011-06-01T15:06:00.003-04:00

12 Weeks

14 weeks

14 Weeks

16 Weeks

Sheppy visiting with family & the Henry's go camping!

2011-04-11T11:19:00.000-04:00

Shepherd 13- 14 months old

2011-04-03T09:12:00.001-04:00

Baby Henry at 8 weeks 4 days. Due October 30th! We are so excited!

2011-03-24T12:53:00.000-04:00

Stay tuned for lots of pictures of Shepherd. I'll try to upload them this weekend. In the meantime enjoy these sweet little pictures of our bun in the oven! =)

Lots and lots of pictures of Shepherd 11 & 12 months old

2011-01-31T20:43:00.001-05:00

Marvin's Graduation party

2010-12-15T18:12:00.001-05:00

More 10 months old & Marvin's graduation!

2010-12-14T15:39:00.001-05:00

10 Months old! Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-12-09T20:49:00.001-05:00

9 months... busy month of wedding stuff, Halloween, and tons of fun! =)

2010-11-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

Shepherd 8 months old

2010-10-12T12:13:00.001-04:00

Shepherd 6-7 months old

2010-09-14T14:07:00.001-04:00

Shepherd 5 months old =)

2010-07-10T20:08:00.000-04:00

Shepherd 18 weeks old

2010-06-05T16:41:00.001-04:00

Shepherd 16 and 17 weeks old

2010-06-01T20:06:00.002-04:00

Shepherd 15 Weeks Old

2010-05-18T18:41:00.001-04:00

Shepherd 12-14 weeks old

2010-05-08T18:14:00.002-04:00

Shepherd 8-11 Weeks Old

2010-04-15T14:38:00.001-04:00

Shepherd 7 Weeks Old

2010-03-21T18:50:00.001-04:00

Last weight check!

2010-03-18T13:03:00.003-04:00

Shepherd and I went to his doctor this morning. He did great! He weighs 8 pounds and 13 ounces. He is in the 10th percentile for weight. Last time I think he was in the 4th. So we are doing good. Doctor told us to keep it up. Our next appointment is April 12th. It'll be for his 2 month well check. It's a couple weeks late because Shep and I will be in Florida for 2 weeks. Marvin is coming to visit on Easter weekend and Shep and I will be there the week before and after Easter. My family can't wait for a good long visit with Shepherd... oh and me. =)

Shepherd 6 weeks old

2010-03-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

Shepherd 5 weeks old

2010-03-09T10:47:00.001-05:00

Weight check part 3

2010-03-08T12:09:00.003-05:00

At Shep's last doctor visit on Thursday he was 7 pounds 6 ounces. The nurse wants him to gain more weight, but we made good progress. He needs to gain one ounce a day. We have to go back in 2 weeks for another check. She said he is perfect, just needs some more meat on his bones. Now we have to give him 2 ounces of formula after every breastfeeding (he breastfeeds for an hour at a time). My milk is plentiful, he's just super hungry... he's trying to catch up.
My Mom and Dad were here this weekend. They came for Shepherd's blessing. My Mom was so sad to leave. She was sobbing. She kept trying to get me to go home with them until Easter. I would miss Marvin too much. I told her we would find a time when Shep and I could come down for a week and have a nice long visit.
I have lots of pictures to post. I'll put them up later. I need to rest while Shep does.

Shepherd 4 weeks old

2010-02-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

Shepherd 3 weeks old

2010-02-24T15:39:00.001-05:00

Shepherd weight check part 2

2010-02-24T13:04:00.003-05:00

We went to the doctor yesterday. He weighs 7 pounds 1 ounce! Hooray! We go back next week for his 1 month check up. Hopefully after that we won't have to go back until his 2 month appointment. We have great photos to share, but I'll have to wait for Marvin to get the photos in a slideshow. I can't figure out to do it. Stay tuned for adorable pictures. =)

Weight check

2010-02-16T12:54:00.002-05:00

We went to see the pediatrician this morning. Shepherd gained 5 ounces in 5 days. Now his weight is at 6 pounds and 8 ounces. Hooray! He has been eating like crazy these last few days. I think he's finally getting the hang of eating. We are still doing 1 ounce of formula after every other breast feeding. I'm so glad my milk is coming strong, he's going to be such a big boy. I don't mind sitting on the couch all day breast feeding him. It's all worth it! I would do anything for our sweet boy. We go back to the doctor next Tuesday for one more weight check and then we should be good.
Today was the first time I went out with Shepherd alone. I was a little nervous, but we did great. The next test it to go to the store with him. One day at a time! =)

Shepherd 2 Weeks Old

2010-02-14T19:34:00.001-05:00

Shepherd well check

2010-02-08T13:33:00.002-05:00

We had our well check this morning. Shepherd hasn't gained any weight. He didn't lose any either. The nurse lactation consultant had me stay and give him a feeding. After I was done they weighed him and he gained an ounce. So we have a new plan for feeding him. Instead of switching sides during a feeding I will feed only on one side for 40 minutes. Then switch sides on the next feeding. 4 times a day I will pump after his feeding for 10 minutes on each side. 1 time a day I will pump for 30 minutes to and hour. This will help my supply to increase so Shepherd can gain weight.

He is absolutely perfect in every other way. He is longer so his newborn clothes don't fit him anymore. The nurse remarked at how strong he is and that he will be an early roller. We had that feeling. She mentioned that is looks to her that he was born a couple weeks early. Maybe my dates were off. That is probably why he is such a sleepy baby. So whenever I nurse him I need a wet clothe to wipe his head with to help him wake up and eat.

His circumcision is perfect.

We have to go back on Friday to check his weight. I know we'll have the hang of it by then.

We love this little guy so much! =)

Shepherd 1 Week Old

2010-02-07T16:03:00.002-05:00

Here he is 1 week old...I'm surprised we didn't take more pictures than this. We did get some video though. Enjoy!

Birth Story of Shepherd

2010-02-03T08:05:00.003-05:00

We checked into the hospital on Thursday (Jan. 28th) evening at 6pm. I was soooo nervous and anxious about what was going to happen. After I changed and we got settled the doctor came in. He checked me and then inserted the cervadil inside of me. Ouch! It hurts so bad. It felt like sandpaper. After it was inserted it felt much better. After that we had to wait 12 hours for it to take its full effect. The next morning the doctor checked me and I had not changed. Argh! So they started me on my first round of pitocin. I was worried because I was still thinking I could go natural. It was difficult because I was hooked up to so many monitors and IVs I couldn't walk around easily. We managed to try a few positions right by my bed. I did well though. So around noon my doctor came in to check me. I changed a little, I was 2 cm. Not much of a change. She broke my water and said she'd check back with me in a few hours. The sensation of my water breaking was so bizarre. It kept coming before every contraction. Every 15 minutes the nurse would come in to increase the dose of pitocin. So now I had my water broken and pitocin flowing strong. About an hour after my water broke I was still doing ok with the contractions. Breathing and focusing on other things trying not to think about the pain. After that hour, the contractions came so heavy and very fast. The doctor checked me and I was unchanged! I told Marvin and my Mom, I can't do this. If I had changed some I might think I could, but still... nothing! I made the decision to get the epidural. I felt a little sad I couldn't go natural, but I know I did the right thing. My poor Mom, she had to leave the room when I had bad contractions or when the doctor checked me. She couldn't stand to see me in so much pain. Anyway... they ordered the epidural and we had to wait. It seemed like forever, especially since the contractions were even stronger. I had to focus on Marvin's face and breathe. Wow! I really admire women that have done this naturally. The doctor came in and got the epidural going. It took a while to feel it's effect, so I got to have many more contractions until then. I finally started to relax and feel less. So every 15 minutes they increased the pitocin. We watched the monitor anxiously to see how strong the contractions were. After we hit the top dosage of pitocin the doctor checked me. I was inbetween a 2 and a 3. ARGH! After all of that.... Ok so we had to make a choice. We could stop the pitocin for several hours and start again or go for the c-section. We talked and decided to try another round of pitocin. If that didn't work we were out of options because they had already broke my water and had 18 hours to get him out. So... they restarted the pitocin 3 hours later and increased the dosage every 15 minutes. We we topped out in the early hours of the morning on Saturday. The doctor checked me and.... no change! We put the c-section into motion. It happen very quickly. The nurse got me ready and Marvin put his scrubs on (he looked so handsome!). They were wheeling me out of the room and I was ready to go around 6am. Oh! The night before my sister-in-law Mandy came and she stayed with us the whole night. She was such a HUGE help. Anyway... They got me on the table and prepped me for the c-section. I had that drape in front of me so all I could do is listen. The surgical people were so funny. They made the experience so much better with their good humor and great bed side manner. They brought Marvin in and they got to work. Marvin stood to watch what was going on. After they got to the baby and pulled him out Marvin got a little weak in the knees. They noticed it and told him to sit down. As soon as Shepherd hit the outside he screamed his head off. What a glorious sound!!!! I was sobbing. Marvin was in awe. They showed me the baby over the drape and I squeaked out, "He's not that big!" They all had a good laugh. After they cleaned him they brought the baby to Marvin. He was such a proud Papa. I just kept crying and crying. The baby stopped crying as soon as he was in Marvin's arms. I got so worked up that I had a hard time breathing. The doctor came over and helped me to calm down. Marvin went with Shepherd back to our room (I told him to stay with the baby). The doctors finished closing me up and wheeled me back to the room. Marvin brought me the baby. What an amazing feeling to hold your child the first time. After a few minutes the nurse (a good friend of ours from church. I was so happy to see her there) said she needed to do a few more things with Shepherd. She brought him back a few minutes later and we attempted to breastfeed the first time. It was very awkward. I was still very numb and doped up. But we gave it a good try. The nurse hooked me up to a morphine drip for the pain. I took used the morphine for the first hours but I hated it. I felt sooooo out of it. Shepherd and I were trying to learn how to nurse and I could barely keep my eyes open from the drugs. I decided to stop taking it right then. No more morphine! So I went the rest of the hospital stay without any pain meds. I did have some ibuprofen and that helped enough. When we came home I was given a prescription for pain and I still haven't taken it (I have it just on case). I'm using ibuprofen. I just couldn't stand the way I felt with the meds. Anyway... since we've been home we have gotten to be pros at nursing. We fall in love with Shepherd more and more everyday. My Mom is dreading going home on Sunday. She adores this little guy. So do we!
Well it's been 4 days since we've had our sweet miracle baby. Looking back on the 36 hours of labor and then having the c-section. All the pain and discomfort we went through is long forgotten. I would go through all this again, in a heartbeat, to have Shepherd.

Shepherd's Birth Photos

2010-02-01T18:18:00.004-05:00

Check out our photos of Baby Shepherd. We are home now and so happy. Brenda is still recovering and Shepherd is doing a great job nursing. We will post more info later after Brenda is feeling better. Enjoy the photos. =)

We are having a baby!

2010-01-27T17:01:00.003-05:00

Just got home from my last OB appointment. It was wonderful! I have the best doctors. Shepherd is nice and low. My cervix is still facing the wrong way, but it is softening and he could feel the baby's head on the other side. So my OB was very happy about that. He scheduled me to check in the hospital tomorrow evening (Thursday) at 6pm. He will start me on cervidil and let that sit overnight. At 6am Friday morning he will start me on pitocin. He said the cervidil might start the contractions too. We'll have to see how my body reacts to it. We will have our laptop with us so we will keep our blog up to date.

Also, I have lost 9 pounds total from my pre-pregnancy weight. Can't wait to see how much I lose after he is born and we start nursing.=)

My Mom is driving up here tomorrow and she will be here around 1pm. I am so glad she will be a part of this with Marvin and I.

39 weeks!

2010-01-23T14:47:00.003-05:00

Here is the whole Henry family at 39 weeks. Only 5 or 6 more days until Shepherd arrives. We will keep everyone posted when we are at the hospital! Ah!!!!!! We are beyond excited!

38 weeks and 4 day appointment

2010-01-20T15:58:00.002-05:00

Just got home from my OB appointment. I haven't changed at all. That's to be expected with a first baby. I asked the OB if he would have to induce me before my due date. He said yes. My next OB appointment is next Wednesday and he will decide then if I will go in to be induced on Thursday or Friday morning. That is unless I go into labor between now and then??? I don't think I will. My body is perfectly happy keeping him in for 8 or 9 more days. I think Shepherd is happy too. He is already a Mommy's boy. Until he gets older then he'll be Daddy's helper. The OB said, after my exam, that "we have a good size baby here." Yikes! Maybe he will tip the scales at 9 pounds? We'll see... Anyone have a guess?

I asked the OB if I need to continue checking my blood sugar after baby is born. He said I've done so well the whole pregnancy that it should go away right after the baby is born. He said they will probably give me another glucose check 12 weeks postpartum to make sure it's all gone. If I continue with this diet I will have good milk for Shepherd and good health for me. =) I like that! =)

Trip to the hospital

2010-01-17T14:20:00.002-05:00

We went for a little trip to the hospital this morning. I woke up not feeling Shepherd moving around like he usually does. I ate some yogurt, laid on my side, and counted kicks. After an hour I had only counted 3. So we called the doctor (why does this always happen on a Sunday morning) and she said I'm probably fine, but come in and let's check anyway. So we were excited to have trial run to the hospital. Marvin stood there and said, "What do I do? What do I put on?' He is so cute. I kept telling him this probably isn't the real thing, I'm not feeling enough real contractions.... just braxton hicks. Just in case we brought the rest of our hospital bags and left them in the car. I love being prepared. We got into the triage room in the maternity ward. They hooked me up to the heart monitor and contraction monitor. Of course... Shepherd is moving around like a maniac by then. My blood pressure was perfect and my pulse. I felt so dumb for coming in and wasting everyone's time. The nurses were super sweet telling me it's better to be safe then sorry. We were there about 3 hours. I was so uncomfortable not being able to move around. My braxton hicks were getting stronger. My OB came in and checked out the monitor and said everything is fine and we could go home. She said we'll just see each other at my regular Wednesday appointment.

When we got home my back was on fire and I was aching from the braxton hicks. I could not imagine sitting at church for 3 hours. I would have been miserable. So Marvin and I stayed home and he's taking great care of me. We watched some conference talks and I took a long nap. Shepherd is getting too big for the space in my body... hopefully he will come out soon. =)

I asked the OB if we could be induced this Friday. I'm super worried about him being too big for me to push out. She said the soonest they could induce me would be Monday. But there is an increased risk for a c-section. As long as we are ok with that? Marvin doesn't want to do that. I think we are just going to wait it out. But if Shepherd doesn't come soon they will have to induce me on the 29th. They won't let me go over my due date.

Oh the drama! I feel better after my long nap. I'm still aching with braxton hicks, but now I can sit on my exercise ball and walk around to relieve the pain.

Only 13 more days! =)

38 weeks!

2010-01-15T11:54:00.002-05:00

Here is our 38 week photo. We are praying hard that Shepherd will come early. He might be 8 pounds right now and I am scared of him growing for 2 more weeks.... AH! He might be a 9 pounder! We know that the Lord has His hand in all things and we will be happy with His will.

It doesn't hurt to pray for an early delivery. We would like Shepherd to come on the 22nd. That way my Mom can stay a few extra days to help us. Otherwise we will probably be induced on the 29th. They won't let us go past the due date (30th). I've been having braxton hicks. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they were pretty strong. Yesterday and today I have only felt really weak ones. I'm sitting on my exercise ball alot to help my body prepare for labor and I am walking on the treadmill to help Shepherd get further down in my pelvis.

I am not scared of labor. I am very excited. I am ready for the pain, because we will receive the best reward ever... Shepherd Lee Henry. =)

37 weeks and 4 days

2010-01-13T13:50:00.003-05:00

We had a great OB appointment today. Shepherd is wonderful! He's still kicking and poking me all the time. I'm still feeling aching and crampy, but I don't mind! =) My cervix is in a good position. I'm still dilated to 1 and baby's head is pushing down into the birth canal. Hopefully, this next week I will dilate more. My blood sugar levels are perfect.

My Mom really wants us to have Shepherd on the 22nd that way she spend a few more days with us. That's what we are praying for. =) We can't wait for the big day!

Last Ultrasound Pictures

2010-01-05T07:01:00.003-05:00

Here's our little man! Well he's not so little anymore. Julie, the ultrasound tech, said he is measuring 7 pounds 1 ounce. Wow! I wonder if they will have to induce me early? I'll find out today at my OB appointment

. Look at his chubby little cheeks and his sweet little nose. He is so cute! =)

He wouldn't take his hand off of his face. In this one it's his profile and he has his hand right over his face. Look how long his fingers are! Just like his Aunt Renee.

This one is kind of hard to make out. It's his profile and he has that hand in his face again. But you can see his chubby cheeks and his small double chin.

We are so grateful for all the time and attention the doctors have given us. We have had 9 ultrasounds. 7 of them were given by the same wonderful lady, Julie. She has been so kind, patient, and gentle during every exam. We will miss seeing her once a month, but we know we will stay in contact with her.
Thank you Julie! =)

36 weeks (tomorrow)

2010-01-01T14:00:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it! We only have 29 days until Shepherd's due date. I think he dropped a little. I feel him a lot lower now. I don't' think he has totally dropped, but he's working his way down the correct pathway. =) I'm feeling great. He is moving a lot still and he has the hiccups a couple times a day. So cute! I love this little baby so much. I am looking forward to our last ultrasound on Monday. Hopefully, the tech can get a good look at his little face.
Happy New Year! =)

OB appointment 35 weeks and 3 days

2009-12-29T19:47:00.003-05:00

I had my OB appointment this morning. I like going once a week. It makes time go so fast. I had my first internal exam. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was thinking it would be like a pap smear. It wasn't like a pap... I barely felt it. They did a strep B culture too. The doctor said I'm almost 1 centimeter and the cervix is softening a little, but not too much. We still have time. My Mom said she was 2 cm the last month of her pregnancy with my sister, Renee.
Doctor said I probably lost some or all of my plug, but unless there is blood there is no need to worry. He told me to make sure I count kicks once a day. Right now I feel Shepherd non-stop all day long, but he said the baby will slow down as he gets bigger and that's when I need to count. Shepherd is the perfect size. I still didn't gain any weight (down 14 pounds pre-pregnancy weight), but my tummy measures 1 cm bigger then last week. Doctor said that is perfect! I have an appointment on Monday for my last ultrasound (this makes #9). I can't wait to have one more look at Shepherd's sweet face before he makes his debut. I guess my weekly appointments will be every Tuesday now.

My Mom bought us a lovely camcorder. We will be filming parts of me in labor and the other stuff going on. We will make sure to edit it before we post it on our blog. I plan on going natural and I have no idea how I will act under that much pain. I may decide to not film when we are in the moment. But I do want to try to film some of it for posterity. =) We'll see how everything comes to pass. I really want to film Shepherd when he is first placed on my tummy after birth and Marvin cutting the cord. I know we have to remain flexible.

Next week at our birthing class we will go over natural childbirth techniques. Can't wait! =)

Video tour of our baby room...

2009-12-24T14:40:00.003-05:00

We wanted to make a video of the baby's room for our friends and family to see. We can't wait until Shepherd gets here! =)

34 weeks and 1 Day

2009-12-20T12:59:00.003-05:00

Here we are at 34 weeks and 1 day! We only have 41 days left!

Birthing class

2009-12-17T09:03:00.002-05:00

We had our first birthing class Monday night. It was very interesting. I had a long list of questions to ask. I didn't ask them all, because I wanted to see if they would be answer through the course of the class. Marvin felt comfortable enough to ask some questions and make comments. It seems like it's becoming more real to him. We only have 44 days left. =) Marvin asked me later if I was scared of the pain of labor. I said, no. I am very curious about how I will handle myself.

Don't laugh at me, but I want to TRY to go natural. I will be more then willing to use an epidural if I can't handle it, but what does it hurt to TRY. The class will go over breathing techniques to help us through contractions. I really want to see and feel what labor is. Ok, now you can laugh at me. =)

We found out that we can take pictures and video of the birth. I'm still cautious about it, especially if I go natural. I can't imagine what kind of faces I will make and the things I'll say. I would really like a video of when Shepherd first comes out and is laid on my chest and when Marvin cuts the cord. That will be a very special memory. I definitely don't want any pictures from the feet up. All pictures and video will be taken from my head level. =)

Next Monday the teacher is going to show us a video of a real birth. I am so excited! Marvin said he is taking it one day at a time. He wanted to be a doctor or nurse when he was younger, so I don't think it'll gross him out too much. We'll see. =)

I guess it's all becoming more real to me too. I have been re-reading books I read in the beginning of my pregnancy about schedules and nursing. I want it all to be fresh in my mind.

I'm feeling really good. When I wake up in the morning I feel relaxed. As the day goes on, little Shepherd stretches me out. I feel achy and like I have no more room left. I'm curious to see how much more my body will stretch. I've slowed down a lot. If I go to the store with Marvin I trail behind him. I can't keep up! =) It's a beautiful part of pregnancy.

My next OB appointment is Dec. 21st. I'll get one more ultrasound the first week of January.

I am so excited! Next month I'll be a Mommy and Marvin will be a Daddy. Wow!

Hiccups!

2009-12-11T10:05:00.002-05:00

I just felt Shepherd have the hiccups for the first time. I had to call my Mom right away to make sure it wasn't bad. She said it sounds like hiccups. They stopped after a couple of minutes. My Mom reminded me that I had hiccups all the time when she was pregnant with me. I can't wait to hold Shepherd in my arms! We are getting so close... 50 more days to my due date. Monday we start our birthing classes. I've made a list of questions for the teacher. I'll probably think of more through the weekend. =) Woo Hoo!

32 weeks pregnant... 56 days to go! Oh my goodness!

2009-12-05T19:22:00.003-05:00

8 months pregnant! We are so excited to have this baby boy... next month. Can you believe it? I have been getting more and more uncomfortable in pants. My Mom said she spent a lot of her pregnancy in dresses too. I bought a few dresses and I was given a few. When I'm at home I put on a dress. It's kind of fun, because it's so feminine. I look ginormous in this photo, but I guess that's bound to happen as this little guy gets bigger. =) This week my appetite has increased. We start birthing classes at the hospital on December 14th. I can't wait to learn all about pain management and the ins and outs of labor. There is only so much you can learn on TLC. =)

31 weeks and 3 days photos

2009-12-01T13:11:00.000-05:00

Here is Shepherd's profile. You can see his cheeks are getting chubby. He was snuggled up to my placenta the whole time too. I guess it makes a nice pillow?

He kept his arm over his face most of the time. You can see his sweet smile. Tech said he has a lot of dark hair (just like Marvin).

Here's another look at his smile. He opened his eyes at one point, but it was only for a second and the tech could not get a picture of it. We'll have to wait until he's out to see his eyes.

Another big grin. He was smiling the whole time and he kept opening his mouth and drinking the fluid. I had breakfast one hour before so he was probably tasting the oatmeal I had eaten.

2 year Anniversary!

2009-11-24T20:15:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, we made it to our 2 year anniversary. It just keeps getting better and better. I love this guy of mine.

He got me a web cam for our anniversary. That way I can be connected to my family in Florida, especially during their huge Thanksgiving day and Christmas day bashes. I can't wait until he sets it up! I will probably cry on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it will help to be able to see everyone. And I will think of Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2010. We'll be in Florida with our little baby boy, Shepherd. =)

I am so grateful for a wonderful husband. He works so hard for me and our growing family. I'm glad I waited for him.

He was reading some old emails we wrote to each other before we met. I had so many memories come back to me. It's funny how Heavenly Father has everything planned so perfectly for us. I have to remind myself of that when things aren't quite going the way I want them to. I remember how he blessed me with a marvelous husband and a healthy baby boy.

Much love to you all. I love my family and friends. I love and adore my husband, Marvin. =)

30 weeks!

2009-11-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

30 weeks along! I can't believe we only have 10 weeks left (70 days). Wow! Still not gaining much weight. I'm down 11 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm feeling great. Shepherd is moving and getting bigger. He loves to kick me when I'm laying down and sitting and especially in the evening. I love every poke and jab. We can hear his heartbeat with our prenatal listening device. It's very comforting.

Marvin is doing well too. I think it's really sinking in that he will be a Daddy very soon. He talks about all the fun things he wants to do with Shepherd. I can't wait to see my two guys together.

I have my next OB appointment this Wednesday. My Mom is coming up for a visit this Friday. Can't wait! =)

7 months pregnant and Marvin's Birthday!

2009-11-07T13:06:00.000-05:00

Here we are 7 months pregnant! I love how my baby belly keeps growing and I still haven't gained any weight. I didn't lose anymore. I'm still down 13 pounds. I should start gaining soon, because now until he is born Shepherd will fatten up.

Today is Marvin's 35th birthday too. What a special day! =)

Please excuse the clutter in the crib. We have so many wonderful things for our Shepherd (gifts from all our fabulous family and friends), but no dresser to put them in. That will be our project this week... find a good dresser. Only 84 more days left. We better get crackin'! =)

Another Ultrasound =)!

2009-11-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

After our growth ultrasound on Monday...

My OB called me about an hour after my ultrasound. It scared the life out of me to hear her voice on the phone. She was the doctor who called me when our first baby had died. Ahhhhh! She told me that everything is great. Relief! But the radiologist saw a spot on his heart. He wasn't sure what it was. So they want me to have an fetal echo cardiogram. An ultrasound of his heart. OK... I asked what was wrong. She said, nothing is wrong. It might be a calcification. So I asked if it is what will happen to him. She said he will be born completely healthy, but might need some follow up treatment after he's born. I wasn't too worried, because I had just seen his heart pumping strong and him being super active. The doctor said it is probably nothing. He is so active it might have been an unclear picture of the heart. So I have to go to a bigger town with better equipment. So we can have the special heart ultrasound. I go for the heart ultrasound this Wednesday. Thank goodness we don't have to wait too long. I would hate it if we had to wait until next week or longer.
So we went today for the level II ultrasound. They measured everything. I thought it was just going to be his heart, but they looked at every body part. Shepherd was not cooperating. He was laying on his belly and looking towards my back. I had a turkey sandwich for lunch so maybe that wore him out. =) He would not turn over for the tech to see all the angles of his heart. Finally she got what she needed. The doctor came in right after. He is a high risk pregnancy doctor. He said Shepherd is fine. Thank goodness! He does have a small bright spot on his heart, but it's not a big deal. It happens often. They wanted me to have this more in depth ultrasound to rule out other things that might be wrong. Like down's syndrome, spina bifida, and other things I've never heard of. I asked the doctor, "So he's totally fine?" He said yes! There was nothing to worry about the spot and he saw absolutely no other signs of trouble.

THANK GOODNESS! I was worried I was going to have to be a high risk pregnancy, but he said nope! What a relief!!!

We are so happy our little man is good to go! I don't need anymore ultrasounds until the beginning of December. I'm sure Shepherd will appreciate that. I think he's tired of being poked at. =) We are so grateful for modern technology. They gave me a DVD with him rolling around inside of me. If I can figure it out, I'll post it on our blog. I'll probably need Marvin to help me.

Next Thursday is my regular OB appointment. I get to hear his heartbeat again! Wow! So cool!!! =)

Ultrasound photos 27 weeks 2 days!

2009-11-02T16:09:00.001-05:00

Looks like he's snuggling up to the placenta!

He's so cute!

I think he looks like Marvin!

I think I see dark hair line.

He's sucking on his finger!

Gain weight?

2009-10-29T13:02:00.000-04:00

I just got home from my OB appointment. Baby is grrrrrreat! I will have an ultrasound once a month from now until the baby is born... to make sure he's not getting too big (Monday is my next one). I have lost 13 pounds. The doctor told me I'm not allowed to lose anymore weight. I've never been told that before =). I told him I'm not trying to lose weight, I just don't have an appetite. I'm starting to get heartburn so I really don't want to eat. I have to gain 1 pound a week until the baby is born. I'll try! My blood sugar is below 90 in the morning and below 100 during the day. He said to eat more. My numbers can be higher during the day. I'll have to experiment.
He gave me a long lecture about getting the H1N1 vaccine. I told him I don't want to get it. I probably will have to listen to a lecture every 2 weeks, but I'm not going to budge. =) I'm not taking a chance with my son. =)

26 weeks... 6 1/2 months!

2009-10-24T15:09:00.000-04:00

Here we are at 26 weeks. Sorry I don't have any makeup on. I didn't think we had grown so much in just 2 weeks, but little Shepherd is getting bigger... and so am I. =) Marvin wanted to make sure you could see the mobile in the background. It was a gift from our dear friend Hera. It has cars and planes on it. He is so cute! Also, you can see the bedding set my Aunt Suzie got for us. So neat! I kind of match it. =) I have my OB appointment this Thursday. I start seeing them every 2 weeks from here on out. Pretty cool! =) 14 more weeks to go.

No flu shots for me... Sunshine instead!

2009-10-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you all about the benefits of sunshine. I was talking with a friend of mine, who has 2 kids. I ask everyone if they are getting the flu shot or H1N1 vaccine. She said, "Don't you dare take it!" She sent me these articles about the benefits of vitamin D. I'm not sure if the supplements are safe during pregnancy I'll ask my OB, but I've chosen a safer route... Sunshine.

She told me to sit in the sunshine everyday for like 30 minutes, or until your skin gets pink. And that will be your daily dose of vitamin D. It's been chilly here lately, but as soon as I sit for a few minutes I warm up. I slowly expose my skin, making sure I'm warm enough. Not too much, I've got neighbors and I like to be modest at all times. Just as much of my legs as possible, my arms, my tummy, my face and neck. She did that during both of her pregnancies and did not get sick. I even feel better after sunbathing.
Read the articles. They are very interesting. I want to do whatever I can naturally to fight off illnesses. I don't want to turn to vaccines or drugs. I don't trust an untested vaccine the government keeps pushing.

http://lewrockwell.com/miller/miller27.html

http://vitamindcouncil.org/

We have to make the best decision for ourselves, but I want to be super educated. I will not get the vaccines, regular flu shot or the H1N1. But that is my choice.

Bring on the sunshine. =)

OB appointment 24 weeks 4 days

2009-10-15T07:25:00.000-04:00

My appointment was wonderful! My doctor told me my numbers are amazing. He said they are better then a regular person who doesn't have GD or regular diabetes. Woo hoo! The baby is great too! He is now laying head down (hopefully he'll stay that way) and his heartbeat is super strong.

My doctor did recommend getting the H1N1 vaccine and the flu shot. I want to find out what the other 2 doctors think. I have taken the flu shot only once in my life and I have never gotten the flu. I feel very uncomfortable taking the "rushed" H1N1 vaccine. I don't want myself or my son to be a test subject. I've decided not to take it, but to isolate myself at the end of October until the baby is born. I'll stay home from church (there are so many kids and high schoolers that might be carrying the flu) and Marvin will have to do the grocery shopping. Marvin had the regular flu shot (he gets one every year) but I don't want him to take the H1N1 either. He hasn't decided yet.

I am a very strong person. I worked in preschool for 3 years and have had anything you can think of. I'm very good about washing my hands often and not touching my face. Whenever Marvin gets home from school or work he immediately puts his clothes in the washing machine and washed his hands and face really good... or takes a shower. It means more laundry for me, but I don't mind. =) Since we've been married (almost 2 years) Marvin has not been sick once.

We have a plan to keep ourselves healthy. I'm really not worried. The only thing that worries me is taking the H1N1 vaccine.

6 months pregnant...

2009-10-08T12:40:00.000-04:00

Here I am 2 days before I'm 6 months pregnant (24 weeks.) Close enough! I want to be better about taking pictures of my baby belly. So far I've lost 10 pounds. My next appointment is Wednesday the 14th, so we'll see if I've gained weight.

We took this in front of the crib. You can see the adorable quilt a lovely lady in our ward made for us (Thank you Carol).

What an adventure!

23 weeks...

2009-10-03T19:31:00.000-04:00

Awesome! I can't believe how fast time is going by. In 2 weeks is my baby shower... I get to see my Mom and sister, Renee, and party with all my girlfriends. I am so excited! Today Marvin and I watched General Conference on the Internet. The next General Conference in April 2010 we will have a 9 week old baby to watch it with. So bizarre! I am so grateful for all that Heavenly Father has given to me. I thank Him everyday for all the blessings He has brought into my life. I won't get sappy, I'm just on a high from listening to Conference... and it's probably hormones too. Next week I'll be 6 months along! WOW!!!

Kicking! Felt on the outside!

2009-09-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling fluttering and movements inside of me since week 14. They were sporadic and not too strong. Lately I feel him moving inside of me more and more. This morning, after I ate breakfast, I leaned back to stretch my back a little and I felt 4 kicks on the outside. They were all in a row, I think he was repositioning himself. I wish Marvin was here so he could finally feel what I've been feeling. I know this is just the beginning and Shepherd will soon be kicking and shoving me all the time. I hope it remains this cute. =) It's all about your perspective... think positive. =) Woo Hoo!

22 weeks! Wow!

2009-09-26T15:38:00.000-04:00

I can't believe we only have 4 1/2 more months left. My friend Kaytee said, "it goes really fast from here." She wasn't kidding. Now that we know we are having a boy, we registered for baby things. I want to buy everything myself, but Renee keeps telling me to wait until I have my shower. Everything is so cute, it's hard to resist. I will be strong! =)

It's a boy! Sonogram Photos...

2009-09-23T12:24:00.001-04:00

It's a boy... You can see his boy parts (arrow is pointing at it) and his leg is folded up next to it. We didn't think we would get any shots of him, but right before we finished he showed us his stuff. =)

This is a 4-D shot she did to help see the face details better. It was clearer on the live screen, but you can see his face looking at us. He's on the right side. I like the other pictures better. This was hard for me to see.

Here is his little face. His forehead is on the left and his chin is on the right. You can see the shape of his nose and eyes. His right arm is tucked up under his face. So cute!

Another face shot... I think. I'm no expert. His head is on the left and his tummy on the right.

He is a very active little boy. Everyday I feel him more and more. I can't wait to see him in January! =)

Need name suggestions...

2009-09-23T08:10:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about the name... Shepherd Lee Henry. My Dad's Mom thought it was a little strange. It might be a little too much. Renee helped me remember what a pain it was to spell our last name and how much it does sound like a dogs name or a confederate soldier's name. So we are now considering different names. We are taking any and all suggestions... I would love to get some ideas from you all. Email me or leave it in the comment section. =)

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

2009-09-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

We are so excited to welcome our son on January 30th, 2010. We had our ultrasound this morning and the tech showed us about 4 different angles of the "boy parts" so she was very sure. The baby is doing really well and the tech and I felt a few nice hard kicks.

Marvin is excited. He didn't want to get his hopes up before, but now he's daydreaming of all the things he can do with his son. Working on cars, fishing, going to the auto parts store, helping him prepare for his mission. We would have loved a girl (especially me) but we are so happy our son is healthy and very... very active. We have four pictures from the ultrasound. I'll post them later.

His name will be Shepherd Lee Henry. Renee doesn't like it. But that's ok, we know not everyone will like our choice. "Shepherd" is my maiden name, a tribute to my Dad, and "Lee" is after the many relatives on both sides with the middle name Lee (including me and Marvin).

I better go. I can register for boy things now at Target and Baby's r us. =) Woo Hoo!

20 weeks and 5 days... OB appointment.

2009-09-17T12:36:00.000-04:00

I went to the OB this morning. Baby is doing great (so am I)! My blood sugar is excellent. They can't get over how well I'm doing. I asked about the baby's weight, and Dr. said it's perfect! I worry that it might get too big because of GD, but as long as my sugar levels stay they way they are... there should be no problems. I lost another pound (9 pounds down from where I started). I thought I had gained at least 5 pounds, but it's just the baby pushing my tummy out. My bellybutton is getting closer to the edge. I have another ultrasound on Tuesday at 8am. Hopefully they can get the measurements they couldn't get the last time... and confirmation that it's for sure a boy. If not it'll be great to see the baby moving around again. Can't wait until Tuesday! =)

After our sealing! Suprise baby shower and Temple photos!

2009-09-14T09:26:00.003-04:00

My parents and sister, Renee, threw us a lovely surprise shower after our sealing. We had no clue! It was so nice to see everyone!!!! =)

My Eternal Companion!

Abe and Jeff were special helpers that day. Marvin looks sleepy... Wake up!

Kari came down from Georgia to be there for our sealing.

Abe, Jenny (she came up from Bradenton, FL), Marvin, Me, Annie, and Justin.

I really didn't want to take too many pictures because I felt so blah, but Justin and Annie really encouraged me to take them. They even scouted locations. I'm so grateful they did! I had another really good friend (Dyanne) tell me to take tons of pictures.... not matter how bad you think you look. These are precious memories of our first full term pregnancy. I love you guys!

20 weeks... Woo Hoo!

2009-09-12T11:14:00.000-04:00

The baby's little hand.

Not sure what this is. The Tech didn't label it. =)

The baby's foot.

Profile of the baby. Head's on the right.

20 weeks today! Had our ultrasound yesterday. My Mom started crying the second she saw her first grandbaby. Baby is super cute and very active (I was so excited to see him moving and grooving. I guess I have been feeling the baby all this time)... we still don't know what it is. He wouldn't stay still long enough for the tech to see. She did say it looks like a boy (and she had another tech come in and give her opinion), but she couldn't say 100%. I have a OB appointment on Thursday. I'll find out if I can have another ultrasound soon. So maybe we will be welcoming our first son? Stay tuned! =)

Gestational Diabetes...

2009-09-10T11:35:00.000-04:00

I guess it's time to come clean. I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I had to take my 1 hour glucose test early, because I have PCOS. I failed it by 1 point. Argh! So I had to take the 3 hour glucose test. I failed it by 1 point. Double Argh! I'm glad they tested me early. If they would have waited until 28 weeks I might have already had a 8 pound baby. I have been testing my blood 4 times a day for about 5 weeks. It's been going really, really well. My numbers are perfect. The nurse said I might have been misdiagnosed, but we'd rather play it safe.

Every doctor visit I bring in my chart and food diary. The doctor is very impressed with how well I've been doing. It's really helped me watch what I'm eating and keep my weight gain under control. So far I have lost 8 pounds, we'll see if anything has changed at my next appointment on the 17th. I don't want a 12 pound baby, so I will do whatever it takes to stay healthy. I also want it to go away after the baby is born, which it should.

How did it happen? The nurse explained it to me, but I found a good definition on webmd...

"Gestational diabetes is the result of some changes that occur in all women during pregnancy. Increased levels of certain hormones (including cortisol, estrogen, and human placental lactogen) interfere with the ability of insulin to manage blood sugar. This condition is called "insulin resistance." Usually your pancreas (the organ that produces insulin) is able to compensate for this insulin resistance by increasing insulin production (to about three times the normal amount). If your pancreas cannot sufficiently increase insulin production to overcome the effect of the increased hormones, your blood sugar levels will rise — that means you have gestational diabetes."

I'm not depressed or bummed. I like a challenge. I like impressing the doctor with my excellent numbers. I like keeping track of everything that I'm eating. So far everything is going perfectly. I really don't want to have to take insulin shots (it's hard enough pricking my finger 4xs a day) and I don't want to have to take medicine. I have faith that I can continue to keep this under control with diet and exercise. I can still have a sweet treat once in a while, I just have to eat things balanced and in moderation (which is what we all should be doing). I didn't tell many people until now, because I was a little embarrassed to find out so early. But like I said before I'm glad they found out early, I don't want a 12 pound baby. =) If you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask me. I have learned a lot! If any of you have had to deal with this or know someone that has... I'd love to share.

Tomorrow is the big day! We will find out what we're having!!!!! =)

19 weeks and 2 days!

2009-09-07T19:11:00.000-04:00

Marvin and I spent a wonderful weekend in Florida. We went to the Temple and were sealed as husband and wife for time and all eternity. What a great blessing to receive before the baby is born. We had several good friends there to celebrate with us... Abe, Jeff, Kari, JoAnn, Bishop Jackson and his wife, Jenny, Annie, and Justin. It was awesome!

After the sealing I went maternity clothes shopping with my sister Renee and my good friend Kari (who came all the way from Georgia to be there for us). We were supposed to meet my parents at a restaurant for lunch. Marvin had invited those that came to our sealing too. Anyway... we walk in the restaurant and I heard a bunch of people yell "SURPRISE!" I realized that my Mom and sister had planned a surprise baby shower for me and Marvin. I looked at my sister and Kari and my eyes welled up with tears. I was so shocked! I really had no clue. Marvin came a little bit after that and our friends and family got to yell surprise again. A lot of my Florida friends and family were there. It was so nice to be able to party with them, since they won't be able to come up here for my Georgia baby shower. What a wonderful day!

I'm feeling good. We just got home from Florida. My left foot is swollen from the drive and from doing a lot this weekend. But it was all worth it. My Mom and Dad are driving up on Friday. They are making a special trip to be here for the big sonogram. Of course we will tell the world how it goes.

It feels great to know I will be with Marvin and our children forever! =)

18 weeks!

2009-08-29T09:37:00.000-04:00

We are all doing fine. Baby is growing. Marvin is working and going to school. I'm taking care of him and the house.

Since Tuesday I've not been feeling well. I had a tiny fever, sneezing, stuffy/runny nose. I'm pretty sure it's my allergies. Here it is, Saturday, and I'm still sneezy and stuffy (no more fever). A lady at church told me she was congested her whole pregnancy. I finally broke down and took some sudafed last night ( I was determined to not take medication). I had a hard time sleeping. Marvin had me get up and take a hot shower to loosen everything up. It did! Not totally, but enough for me to go back to sleep for a few hours. He's been waiting on me all morning. He's so sweet! Hopefully I can get another foot rub! =)

We leave on Friday to go to Florida to be sealed. I'm so excited. My good friend Kari is coming down too. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. I miss them like crazy!

Two more weeks until we know what we're having!!!! I can't wait!

17 weeks! Woo Hoo!

2009-08-22T07:44:00.000-04:00

Time is really passing quickly. Yikes! I'm feeling great. I still don't have much of an appetite and I'm tired out easily. Thankfully I don't have to work so I can rest whenever I need to. =) 3 more weeks and we find out what we are having. We have already decided on a girl's name, but we are having the hardest time figuring out a boy's name we agree on. Probably because I'm so certain it's a girl I won't even consider a boy's name... We'll see! =)

Renee, my sister, wants me to have a baby shower in October. I thought that was too early (6 months), but she said it would be hard for her to come up in Nov. or Dec. to have it then. So October it is!

We are getting ready to go to Florida Labor day weekend to be sealed in the Temple. what a neat thing to have that taken care of before the baby is born. =) Marvin wants to take pictures to mark the event. Yuck! I don't feel very pretty, just pregnant. But I told him we'll take a few... then come back after the baby is born and take more.

Marvin had his first week of classes. He said they are kind of boring. He's been working in the computer programming field for a while now. So, they are teaching him things he already knows. Oh well! He's got to do it to get his degree.

That's it for this week!

We are getting sealed!

2009-08-20T11:54:00.000-04:00

September 5th, 2009 at 9:00 am, we are going to be sealed in the Orlando Florida Temple! Woo hoo! I will be with my sweet Marvin for time and all eternity. What a great blessing! I hope our friends and family can come too. We know it's on a holiday weekend and it's early in the morning... so we understand if no one can come. As long as Marvin and I are there... we're good! Can't wait!

Went to the doctor today too. Baby's great! Heartbeat is strong. 3 more weeks to find out if we need pink clothes or blue ones. =)

4 months! 16 weeks!

2009-08-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Baby is definitely growing everyday. I can feel things in my uterus... stretching and fluttering. I'm pretty sure it's the baby moving. I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks when that's all I'll feel. =) I'm feeling those flutters right now as I'm writing this. Hmmm? Very cool!

Marvin is doing great. He starts school this week. He and I went out yesterday most of the day to find a used minivan. He really wanted to get one. We searched on "craigslist" and found several we wanted to look at. Marvin did not want to buy a new one or a used one from a car lot. He felt very comfortable getting it through "craigslist." We ended up getting the 2nd one we looked at. We only looked at 3, because I felt so strongly about the second one. After the 3rd one I didn't want to look anymore.

The guy that sold us the minivan was a very nice man. I felt like I could trust him. We got a 2002 Ford Windstar for $1940. It has 150K miles on it, but for the price that we paid we wouldn't mind if we had to put a little work in on it. The man kept it in very good condition. And before we left he gave us a little photo album for baby pictures. He works for the company that makes them. So sweet! We feel good about it.

Saturday evening we went to a ward pool party. I helped take care of 2 kids (their single Mom had to work). They wore me out! This morning when we got up to get ready for church I decided to stay home. I could barely keep my eyes open when I was ironing Marvin's shirt. After Marvin left I went back to bed and slept off and on until he came home. I'm feeling better now.

I have a doctors appointment on Thursday. Can't wait to hear the little ones heartbeat again!

15 weeks!

2009-08-08T08:07:00.001-04:00

I can't believe we made it this far. Next week I'll be 4 months pregnant. Wow! I'm feeling a lot better. I still have nausea, but it is so much better. I'm still pretty tired and I have to take a nap everyday (or I'm cranky). Marvin took me out on a date last night and the hostess that seated us was pregnant. I told Marvin how grateful I am that I don't have to work while I'm pregnant. I know I could do it if I had too, but I'm glad I don't.

We're looking forward to my parents coming for a visit on September 11th. They are going with us to our ultrasound appointment when we find out what we are having. What a special memory!

Marvin finished his summer semester with all As! He worked so hard for them. Next week he starts his fall semester. He's taking 3 classes, 2 online and 1 not. =)

That's it for this week.

2nd Trimester! 14 weeks!!! =)

2009-08-01T10:41:00.001-04:00

We've officially made it to the 2nd trimester! Woo Hoo!

Not much has changed. Still tired and nauseous. The nausea is getting better, but I still have to take a nap at around 2 or 3 everyday. Whenever I miss it I get kind of cranky. =) My next appointment is August 20th. We already made the sonogram appointment to find out what we are having. That will be on September 11th (I'll be 19 weeks and 6 days). My parents and maybe my sister Renee are driving up to be there for that wonderful announcement. It'll be so nice to have everyone in the sonogram room to see the baby and find out what the sex is. One step at a time. Of course we are going to tell everyone what we're having. We are so excited! =)

Worried about the Swine flu.

2009-07-29T19:52:00.000-04:00

We have 2 people in our church that have the swine flu. Yikes! The swine flu is especially dangerous to pregnant women. So... I think I'll be missing church until they are clear of the flu. My Mom really is worried about me. She thinks it's best for me to stay away from group activities and crowded places.

Basically... she wants me to stay in a bubble. =) I don't mind. I will do anything for this baby! Now when people come to our house they have to leave their shoes outside and wash their hands. The more dangerous part is that my 3rd trimester will be in the heart of Flu season... yikes! I'm not worried or freaking out or losing sleep over this. I am just taking precautions to keep my baby safe. Marvin is being great about all this. Is anyone else concerned?

13 Weeks!

2009-07-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

What a great feeling! Everyday that goes by the more relaxed I become. I'm still feeling the nausea, but I can tell it's getting better. The fatigue is still kicking my butt. If I don't take a nap in the middle of the day I get cranky very easily. Poor Marvin! He's a champ though, he knows it's those pregnancy hormones. I really am blessed with an amazing husband!

Last night Marvin, his brothers, and their Dad went camping. So me, the wives, and our good friend Kari got together here at our house and had a sleepover. We watched a chick flick and talked until 2:30am! That's going to mess up my nap schedule =). It was great to spend time with my sisters and for the boys to have some time together.

Not much going on this week. Marvin has his summer finals and a couple weeks of a break before the fall term begins. He works so hard and never complains! I love this guy of mine!

12 weeks and 5 days! I heard the heartbeat!

2009-07-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

I just got back from the OB. I heard the heartbeat! I was so nervous. I guess it's all psychological. I associate the OB's office with my miscarriage in February. I get so nervous and tense that my blood pressure goes up (it's usually around 100/70.) The doctor put the doppler on my tummy and right away we could hear the heartbeat! Woo Hoo! I feel so much more relaxed now. He didn't tell me the rate of the heartbeat. He was using a doppler that didn't have the numbers on it. Mental note... make sure they have one with numbers next time. He said it sounded very good and very strong. Good enough for me. =) Next appointment is August 20th. Can't wait! =)

12 weeks today!

2009-07-18T08:37:00.000-04:00

We'll so far we've made it to 12 weeks. We are very excited. Next Saturday we will officially be in the 2nd trimester. I hope the next 6 months fly by. I can't wait to be a Mommy!

I'm still tired and nauseous. It is better, but if any food is very fragrant I make a face. The nausea is much more manageable then it was before. I hope as the next weeks go by that the fatigue and nausea will slowly disappear. Like I always say... it's totally worth it!

Marvin got me a prenatal baby heart monitor for my birthday. It says you can start hearing your baby move and hear the heartbeat at 21 weeks. Of course we opened it up and tried it right away. We heard some noises, but we weren't sure what they were. I'll pay attention at my next appointment so I will know what the heartbeat sounds like.

My next appointment is this Thursday. We will be able to hear the heartbeat! =)

10 weeks and 4 days today!

2009-07-08T09:50:00.001-04:00

I'm feeling pretty good. Still nauseous all day, but it varies from mild- severe. I'm still super tired too. I feel my uterus getting bigger. I have my next appointment on the 23rd. They will listen to the heartbeat and measure my tummy. I can't wait to hear that heartbeat again! I hope my all day sickness will slowly disappear as I move into the 2nd trimester. I miss cooking and having energy. =) But it's all worth it for a healthy baby! =)

9 weeks today! Transformers 2?

2009-06-27T11:10:00.000-04:00

3 more weeks and I'll be in my second trimester. I can relax a little bit more. Hopefully I'll get my energy back and be able to eat without gagging. I've had a few moments the last few days were I've felt semi-normal. I hope that's my body getting used to the hormones and preparation for 2nd trimester. We'll see!
In other news... Marvin and I went to see Transformers 2 with his brothers and another couple. We were all looking forward to it. We were all very impressed with the amazing special effects.... Unfortunately we were all turned off to the vulgar humor and smutty language. What a shame! It is definetly not a family movie. We will not be adding it to our DVD collection. I should have researched this movie before seeing it. I use a website called plugged in. They give an overview on, positive elements, spiritual elements, sexual content, and profanity. If you haven't seen Transformers 2 yet, please research it before you make a decision to go or not. Here's a link to the site I use... http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004696.cfm

January 30th, 2010!!!!!

2009-06-25T10:38:00.000-04:00

I just got home from my 1st OB visit. He put my official due date at January 30th, 2010 (you got your wish Alana). I'm so excited!
I told him that my eyesight has been getting kind of blurry when I read subtitles on the TV. He said it's only going to get worse. =) He told me to get a new prescription 6 months after the baby is born.
I asked him if I needed another ultrasound. He said everything looks really good. I won't need one for now.
I go back on July 23rd. I'll be 12 weeks then. He said we should be able to hear the heartbeat then, but don't freak out if we don't. He'll get an ultrasound if we don't hear it. But he's pretty sure we'll hear it.
They took a bunch of blood for the regular blood tests and that was it.
I'm still super sick and tired. Everything is still looking really good.

5 minutes at a time....

2009-06-22T19:36:00.000-04:00

I am taking it 5 minutes at a time. I find it very hard to get things done lately. I'm so sick all day long and SOOOOOO tired. I have huge dark circles under my eyes, they look like black eyes. Yuck! But it is all worth it!
I haven't had the desire or the stomach to cook anything. Before the all day sickness I would cook a nice fresh healthy meal 4 times a week. Now... maybe once. I went to the store today and bought a lot of frozen meals. I wanted to make sure I had something to give Marvin when I'm having a tough time.
I try to eat at least one huge salad everyday. With like 5 serving of veggies... huge! It totally turns my stomach, but I eat it for my health and the baby's. I wash all the veggies when I first get them, that way all I have to do is quickly throw everything in a bowl and eat it before I can gag.
I sleep like 10 hours a night. A lot of nights I've been tossing and turning, so it's not a sound sleep. Marvin said I've recently started to talk in my sleep. It might have to do with the extremely strange things I've been dreaming about. My dreams are so bizarre. They aren't scary or related to babies in any way... just very peculiar. I should try to write them down when I first wake up. I always forget. I'll try tomorrow morning.
I'm so grateful Marvin works so hard so I can stay home. I know I would be fine if I had to work while I was pregnant, but I'm glad I can rest. Many women have told me, rest all you can, because the next pregnancy you won't be able to rest at all.
My Mom gave me great advice. She told me to take situations 5 minutes at a time. Like unloading the dishwasher or getting some laundry done. It works.
Speaking of laundry, I better get the whites out of the dryer. 5 minutes....... I can do it! =)

We are pregnant again! =)

2009-06-18T17:47:00.001-04:00

We are pregnant again! This is an ultrasound we had 2 weeks ago (when I was 5w 6d). You can see the baby on the right side of the gestational sac. I saw and heard the heartbeat. It was amazing! We feel better about this pregnancy... mostly because I have been so sick! Much more sick then the last one. My hcg levels are super high and we've already heard the heartbeat. We are being very positive, but still cautious. So far so good. We will keep our blog updated on my progress. We have a feeling this one is going to stick around, and we still are praying very diligently that the Lord's will be done. =) We are due January 31st, 2010, unless they change the due date. I'll be 8 weeks on Saturday. I'll be a little more relaxed in 4 weeks. Here's to a Healthy and Happy pregnancy! 7 more months to go! =)

Fun times!

2009-04-22T09:11:00.001-04:00

We had Mandy and Emery and my good friend Kari and her kids over for dinner after church. Mandy, Kari and I got in some much needed girl talk. While we were talking and laughing... Emery and Marvin kept the kids busy. I gave them some stickers to play with. Noah got very creative with placing stickers all over Marvin. He was such a good sport. Marvin is going to be a great Daddy!

He has a Tractor now.... sort of. =)

2009-04-08T08:09:00.000-04:00

We've been looking for a good used riding lawnmower before the summer heat hits us. We have 1 acre that we have to maintain. When it's hot, it's very difficult to do with a push mower. So we went to a few yard sales and a gentlemen at one of them said that his Grandma has a mower that she doesn't use anymore. It turned out to be a John Deere 1968 gem. It is in great condition. Marvin has always wanted a tractor... this is sort of a tractor. Anyway... he loves it.

Doing good!

2009-02-25T08:04:00.000-05:00

We have been doing much better this week. On Sunday, we actually made it into church! In fact, we were asked to give the opening and closing prayer. What a great way to come back after 3 weeks! I was so happy at the end of the 3 hour block. We even stayed for choir practice. WOW! It's like after that hurdle things are getting easier. I still have my emotional roller coaster ride. But it's getting easier to handle. I am planning on getting back to my volunteering this week too. =)

On Monday I went for my follow-up exam. It went well. The doctor said everything look great! I have to wait 3 cycles and then we can start trying again. I asked her if I should take clomid on that 3rd cycle. She said that would be great. I got pregnant right away on my first try in November. My sister-in-law Mandy suggested I try that first month on my own.... Hmmmm? I've been thinking about that. But we have around 3 months to decide. We will definitely pray and fast about it.

So, I've been slowly getting back to a normal routine. I'm fulfilling my calling in church. I'm enjoying my duties as a domestic goddess. I've been trying a lot of new recipes. I even got out the sewing machine and made some curtains out of some spare material I had in the basement. Also, I've been making homemade bread for 3 weeks. It's so great to make fresh healthy bread and to save money! =) I've gotten back into exercising too. I want to take full advantage of our 3 month wait to get in better shape for our next pregnancy.

Marvin's doing great. He's working super hard with his school work, his full-time job, and his church calling (EQ Secretary).

That's all for now! We love you all! =)

The healing begins...

2009-02-12T07:18:00.000-05:00

I had my D&E on Monday at 12:30pm. It went very well and I woke up soon after it was done. My Mom was with me at the hospital. When we got home I laid down and rested. I was pretty alert so I was awake for a while. The doctor did a great job... I didn't feel much pain. Same thing on Tuesday... not much pain at all. Then on Wednesday... WOW... it hurt bad! It felt like really, really bad cramps. I have been taking my pain meds. but they aren't taking all the pain away. So far today it's better then yesterday.

I'm taking it one day at a time! Now... I can begin to heal. My Mom is probably going to leave tomorrow or Saturday. I'll miss her like crazy! I know I'll be fine... I'll put my trust in the Lord. I'll write more in a few days. I'm still not totally with it. We love you all and look forward to getting back into the swing of things. Thank you again for all your prayers. =)

Update...

2009-02-04T18:01:00.000-05:00

I went to the OB today to sign papers for my procedure. I will be having my D&E on Monday morning. It is possible between now and then I might miscarry on my own. Hopefully, I can hold off to have it done on Monday by the doctor. After 2 weeks I'll see her again to see how I've healed, then we have to wait 3 months to start trying again. I'll do whatever the doctor says!

Marvin has been AMAZING through this. I've been having a hard time being alone, which is understandable, and he's been there for me whenever I needed him (thankfully he's been working from home). Mandy, my sister-in-law, has been there for me too. Offering advice, comforting me, getting me to laugh. I haven't wanted to talk to anyone yet. It's still hard to talk about. I know after I have the procedure done and healed for a few days... I'll feel like talking.

We are so grateful for all the love and support from our friends and family. We have felt the power of your prayers! Sorry I haven't returned calls or emails... I just need a little more time. Know that I have received them and I am so grateful for your friendship and love!

We hope that you will think of us on Monday when I have my procedure done. I will put another update on our blog a few days after the procedure. I know it will go well. I have a wonderful doctor!

My loving Mommy is driving up here this Friday and staying all week to help me recover. It's times like these you realize how close your family is and how wonderful your friends are. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do for us! In a few weeks I'll be back to my old self again. I hope that's a good thing! =)

BAD NEWS!

2009-02-02T11:21:00.000-05:00

I'm heading for a miscarriage. I knew something was wrong when my OB called me personally. She said it doesn't look good and that I'm probably going to miscarry. She said I was probably 10 weeks along, but the baby stopped growing at 4 1/2 weeks. So, she wants to wait a week to see if I can pass it naturally and then if it doesn't she will do a D&E (get it out herself).
I'm sad and so embarrassed, but she said we are not defeated! We know that I can get pregnant! I'm just focusing on the positives.
If you call me I can't promise that I will answer. I need a few days to go through this. Marvin is wonderful! So supportive and loving! I know everything will be fine... I just need some time to grieve and to miscarry. I will keep the blog updated on my progress.

2nd ultrasound...

2009-01-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

I had a second ultrasound today. My OB wanted to do it again, since I was much earlier then they thought last week. Baby is still growing, but we couldn't see the heartbeat yet (still too early). So I have to go for another one next Monday. The tech told me I have a tilted uterus, so it makes it more difficult to see everything. I love being difficult, just ask my family =).

I didn't get a picture because it basically looked the same as the last one, just a little bigger.

For now... my due date is still September 24th, but it could change very soon =). I'll keep you all up-to-date!

Little Girl and Little Boy...

2009-01-24T09:02:00.000-05:00

Little Boy, he was cold.

Little Boy

Little Girl, snuggling up on our bed.

Little Boy and Little Girl =) This is where they sleep. Right next to our bed. What a life!

These are the 2 dogs we are taking care of right now, Little Boy and Little Girl. Kyra went back to her family before Christmas. Of course, I cried my eyes out.

When we got back from spending Christmas in Florida we took in Marvin's brother, Daniel, and his wife's (Leah) dogs. They are brother and sister (the dogs... not Daniel and Leah =)) from the same litter and hard to tell apart. Very quickly they have won a place in our hearts, as you can see from the pictures.

They will stay with us until Daniel and Leah move into a house that allows dogs. We'll love and spoil them every second they are here.

Our date was off... Oops! =)

2009-01-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

We found out today that I am 4 weeks and 4 days along. Oops! =) This is our first ultrasound. It's a very normal 4 week 4 day old baby.

We figured that my periods have been longer and ovulation has been happening at weird times, because of the PCOS and being on Clomid. So we must have become pregnant right before my next period was going to happen. That was 4 weeks and 4 days ago.

Hmmmm... I feel kind of dumb letting the cat out of the bag so soon. I didn't want to tell everyone until we were 2 months along. Oh well! We can't turn the clock back...

The baby's new due date is September 24th, 2009.

Ah... pregnancy =)

2009-01-16T08:09:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, I will hit the 2 month mark in this pregnancy. So far things are going great. The symptoms I feel aren't too severe (sorry Sarah Serene =)).

Tired

Nauseous

Aches and Pains

All of that is kept in control because of a healthy diet, exercise everyday (except Sunday), and lots of water. On the days I don't do all of these things... I feel worse. So I'm going to try and keep it up the whole pregnancy. =)

By the way, I'm due August 29th. Unless they change the date at my first ultrasound. I'll keep you posted!