College Graduate, again.

Three Years (Guest Post by Martin)

Today we marked the third anniversary of Joshua's birth.  This year we remembered Joshua a little differently than we did the past two years.  It being a week day, we just kept our remembrance to our family.  The big kids had the day off of school for Thanksgiving Break so first they and Heather and Levi bought a new flower arrangement for Joshua's grave and blue and orange balloons to release.  Heather kept it together even though half the balloons didn't make it the grave and the big kids fought over which color they wanted.  They all met me at the grave during my lunch hour and we had a short time of remembrance there and then went out to eat at Chili's before I returned to work.

As you may know, Joshua's grave has Psalm 71:19-21 on it:

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
    you who have done great things.
    Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.

These verses have been our prayer for the past three years.  Like the psalmist, we take comfort in knowing that despite our pain, the Lord will restore us and lift us up from sadness.  We saw this fulfilled in part with Levi’s birth.  We rejoice in his life and the delight he is.  This was best shown when one night, a tearful Heather exclaimed, “It is so good to just hold a baby again!”

But Levi’s birth does not wash all the sadness of Joshua’s death away.  For many, there will be no story of another child.  For us, Levi’s birth does not help when we are confronted with the fact that our whole family will never be together in this world.  The picture on our Christmas card will always be absent a family member.  The simple question, “How many children do you have?” will continue present a dilemma: do we say we have three children which feelings dishonoring to Joshua or do say four and be have to tell someone of Joshua’s death?  It brings us pain when others do not acknowledge Joshua; or even worse, forget him.

And so the troubles, many and bitter, in this world continue.  But this passage, along with the rest of Scripture allows us to grieve, but not as those who have no hope.  At the church retreat in August, Rev. Paul Jeon reminded us that we are living in both the already and the not yet.  Christ’s kingdom has come in the person of Jesus and so we have forgiveness of sins and we live by the spirit.  But the fullness of that kingdom will not be complete until His second coming when He will put an end to all of the brokenness of this world.  We look forward to those promise where Jesus will make all things new and He will wipe away every tear; and there shall be no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Dylan Update, 8 Years

As I was reading last year's update I thought at first that not much has changed for Dylan in his 8th year of life compared to his 7th.  He is still really much into baseball - he played Single A in the spring and is just finishing up his first fall ball season in Single A.  Dylan is still playing piano and doing very well at it but still not liking that much.  And he is still very much into his Wii, especially Skylanders.  But then I got to the part in last year's update about Dylan learning to read and the books he had gone through that summer before he turned 7, and that's when I realized how much he has grown over the past year - in his reading.  Dylan is now downing chapter books and wanting to read in his bed at night by himself.  He now listening attentively to Martin reading him Harry Potter.  He amazes us at the big words he can read, particularly when we ask him to read a bible passage and he doesn't even hesitate on words like "righteousness" or "reconciliation."

Second grade has been a bit of an adjustment in that, at least at our school, I think the teachers expect much more from the kids compared to first grade.  He has homework every night and spelling words and he's expected to actually do things that he didn't already know how to do.  It's been good for him though.

The fish that Dylan got for his birthday last year unfortunately didn't make it to this birthday.  Dylan Jr. didn't last very long, but he wasn't very strong to begin with.  Delta made it 11 months but Mommy didn't get to cleaning his tank very much since Levi was born so....

Dylan has been a great big brother to Levi.  He is helpful in entertaining Levi while I brush my teeth or some other thing I used to take for granted when there wasn't a baby that needed to be held.  He loves to hold Levi and we have to remind him that he's not allowed to carry Levi around the house as much as Dylan would like to.

I guess I hadn't realized this earlier but after reading his last update I see that Dylan hasn't lost any teeth in the last year.  He lost the first 8 before he was 7 and then no more.

Dylan gained 6 lbs. and almost 2 inches since last December.  At his recent end of season party for baseball, the coach said he would remember Dylan because of his big attitude and heart that out measured his size.  He said Dylan was like "Small? Who's small?"  That sums up a lot for Dylan.

Levi Update, 3 months

Development:

It seems like Levi has been holding his head up and lifting it up as soon as he left the womb.  I can't tell you how many people commented on his head control.

Levi rolled over from his belly to his back at 3 weeks which seems really early.  There are some other babies his age that did the same thing so maybe that's normal.  He doesn't seem near rolling over the other way.  

At 5 weeks Levi started smiling.  We can already tell that he is generally a happy and content kid because he smiles a lot.  I think God knew we needed a happy kid.  Levi helps the rest of us smile more.

At his 2 month doctors' appointment, Levi was 24 inches long and weighed 13 lbs - the same amount Dylan weighed at 6 months.

Sleep:

Up to 6 weeks, Levi really didn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time.  So glad it was the lazy days of summer at that point.  At 6 weeks, right when school started, he got up to 4-6 hours stretches at night.  At 10 weeks he had some 8 hour stretches but now at 3 months is back to mostly 4-6 hour stretches.

Likes:

Sheep, watching his brother and sister

Events:

We had Levi's baptism on October 12th.  We had actually scheduled it before he was born because the slots were filling up quickly and the baptism outfit that we use (my brother's) was size 0-3 months.  Also wanted to have it before the snowy weather hit.  It was great - my brother and his girlfriend and my aunt were all able to be there (they weren't able to come for any of the other baptisms).  Our friend Paul Brooks was the elder who prayed for Levi.  We had a small family gathering at our house after church.  My friend Lisa made the cake.

(3 of the 4 "boys" who have worn that baptism outfit - the 4th was my nephew)

Levi Andrew

We named our son Levi Andrew, after two of Jesus’ disciples.  Levi, better known as Matthew, is a sinner and tax collector who responded to Jesus’ call to “Follow me” and brings a lot of his friends to hear Jesus.  Levi is also the third son of Jacob and the progenitor of the Levite tribe and priestly order of the nation of Israel.  Andrew, a fisherman and brother of Peter, follows Jesus immediately at his call.  He is also the disciple who brings the boy with the fish and bread to Jesus which Jesus used to feed 5,000.  (It was a delight to hear Pastor James preach on this story with a focus on Andrew the first time Levi came to church).  It has been our prayer that Levi would live up to his namesakes – to respond to Jesus’ call to follow him and bring others to witness the works of Christ.

Andrew is also my great-grandfather's name and there's a Levi on Martin's side a few generation ago so we wanted to have some family connection.  

Levi goes with Dylan and Lydia because they all have Ls in their names and with Martin because they have same number of syllables in their first, middle, and last names and with my middle name (Leigh).  

Levi's birth story

Levi was born less than 30 hours after his due date but you would have thought that he was two weeks late for how impatient I was getting about this birth.  As I mentioned in my 40 week update, the longer it went on, the more it seemed like it wasn't going to happen.  At my appointment on my due date, the doctor stripped my membranes in order to induce labor, but said that if it didn't work in 24 hours it wasn't going to help.  So by Thursday evening we were preparing to wait out the weekend and then go in on Monday for the checks to see if the placenta was good enough for them to let me "stay pregnant" as they called it or induce me.  But praise God we didn't have to wait much longer.  

The contractions started at 12:30am and I tried to ignore them thinking they might not be the real thing.  I actually fell back to sleep for a while but then the contractions became more intense and frequent, and I woke Martin up around 2am.  I called my mom, who, ever ready for the call, answered on the second ring. As Martin said, "Out of all the frequent calls between Heather and her mother, this was by far the shortest they ever had."  Here’s a transcription:

• Mom: Hello?
• Heather: I’m having contractions.
• Mom: We are on our way. (Hangs up)

I'm only slightly exaggerating.  My parents had to make the four-hour drive from Pittsburgh, so our neighbor Krystal was able to come over to be with Dylan and Lydia until they could get here.  We left for the hospital around 3am.

After checking in, the nurses decided to skip the triage (I think it was just a slow night) and put us in the same Labor & Delivery room that Lydia was born in.  We remembered watching the sun rise out that same window when I was in labor with Lydia.  This was just one of the many ways that God put me at ease by recalling Lydia's birth rather than Joshua's at the time.  I normally don't want to shy away from remembering all I can about Joshua's short time on earth but in this case, remembering Lydia's birth instead was a way push back any fear that could be creeping into my mind.  

The contractions continued to grow in intensity.  I was anxious to receive the epidural (after laboring naturally with Dylan, I knew I wanted one this time), but the nurses did not see the urgency and asked a long list of questions.  After nearly an hour and a half, I finally received the epidural.

After the C-section with Joshua, I really hoped to have VBAC because it should lead to a quicker recovery. Fortunately, my OB/GYN had declared me a good candidate, and the rest of the labor proceeded without issue.  Both Martin and I noticed that this delivery seemed much more relaxed than in the past. With Dylan and Lydia we remember what seem like a rush when it was time to push and flurry of activity around the room.  With Joshua, his dropping heart rate meant the C-section was quite rushed.  But with Levi, I got to 9.5 cm and Doctor Pereira asked me if I would like to push or wait, like oh, it's up to you...whatever you want.  I definitely wanted to push - I had waited long enough!  Even when there was a break between contractions all the nurses seemed to be just waiting.

Levi took a lot more pushing, so we could tell he was going to be a bigger baby.  I had to push through three contractions (as opposed to one with both Dylan and Lydia) and out he came at 5:24am.  My first memory of seeing Levi was the nurses holding him over me and him peeing on me.  (Dylan and Lydia find this hilarious.)  They asked me if I wanted to hold him first thing and I said no, that's fine, you can clean him up first. But they also wanted to check him out right away because he came out with meconium, meaning that he had defecated in the womb.  Because of the meconium, the pediatrician had to perform gastric suctioning to remove it from his mouth and stomach.  Although not enough to warrant any antibiotics, Levi did sound weezy at first and we suspect that he failed his hearing test in his right ear twice because of all the fluid.    

Levi weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz, measured 21.5 inches long.  He was much bigger than either Dylan (6 lbs 8 oz) or Lydia (6 lbs 5 oz).

Levi spent the first 45 minutes very alert, keeping his eyes open.  It was something that surprised us.  Because of the suctioning, I had to wait a little while before I could try nursing him. We got a good bit of time to relax and enjoy Levi and were then moved to the maternity ward. 

My parents picked up Dylan and Lydia and brought them to meet Levi for the first time.  They were both beaming with excitement.  Dylan and Lydia kept taking turns carefully holding him and giving him gentle kisses on the head.  Lydia was a little apprehensive at first, as I think she was afraid of dropping him but she did get up the courage and held him that first visit.  Then they went off to Vacation Bible School and were proud to tell their friends and teachers about their new little brother.

We stayed at the hospital from that Friday morning until Sunday afternoon.  I recovered pretty quickly.  The hospital stay was okay, room was kinda small and then of course there's the incessant stream of people coming in, but I always enjoy the food and this time even watched two movies.  We we very excited that our pediatrician was doing rounds that weekend and so he got to be the one to examine Levi and then discharge him.  When Dylan and Lydia were born he didn't have rights at our hospital.  He switched practices in 2011 and we have been looking forward since then to seeing him in the hospital.  And I was so pleased that the doctor that did Dylan circ did Levi's.  It was also good to have Dr. Pereira deliver Levi.  She delivered Joshua and was more vested in our family story.  (Oh, and Levi came at the perfect time - if he would have waited any longer, the shifts would have changed and my least favorite doctor was on next.)

God answered my prayers (see week 40 update) about the doctors and nurses (and the big kids not missing their activities).    

On Sunday, we had my parents bring the big kids to the hospital so we could all ride home together and sing our family theme song - HOME!  We got home to find balloons, welcome home signs, and friends from our Home Fellowship Group who brought lunch!    

A Gift from Above

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”   -  James 1:17

Introducing Levi Andrew Etner, born Friday, July 18th, 2014 at 5:24am after about 5 hours of labor.  He weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and measured 21 and 3/4 inches long.  We are all doing well aside from the lack of sleep.

We picked this verse for Levi after hearing our pastor preach on it a few weeks ago.  Then at my baby shower we got a number of cards with the verse in it.  Levi is such a blessing and a good and perfect (for us) gift from our never-changing, faithful God.  

Week 40 update

Having never made it to 39 weeks, I never thought I'd be drafting a 40-week update.  But here we are.  Last week I was 2 cm, 75% effaced, and -2 station.  Same this week.  I thought I was progressing more but I guess not.  I've had some contractions but they always go away if I rest.  Baby's heartbeat was in the 130s.  

I know I'm only at my due date but with the other kids coming early this wasn't the expectation so it's just hard to be patient.  BUT, huge praise that I got all my business and classwork done.  I took my final exam on Friday and have been free of schoolwork since then for the first time since quitting work.  I almost don't know what to do with myself especially since the kids are at VBS every morning this week.

I also got more baby prep things done - installed the car seat, washed the swing and bouncy seat covers, finished organizing the nursery - I have never been so ready for a baby.

After the appointment today, Martin and I got to go out for lunch - Indian buffet, of course.  So there are some perks about all this waiting.  We've also watched some movies and I started to get a jump on some of my required volunteer hours at the kids' school.

I guess the hardest part of waiting though is that the longer I wait the less real it seems that I'm actually going to get to take a baby home from the hospital.  After so many "not yet"s I'm having a hard time believing this is really going to happen.  I just seems like it will be like last time.  No reason to think that just my anxious heart I guess.  I do realize though that I keep adding on to prayer request about the timing of his birth.  First it was after I get my classwork done, now it's that I want the right doctor and nurses to be there and that Dylan and Lydia won't have to miss their activities.  So if God wants to answer all of those I guess it takes time...:)

Week 38 Update

UPDATED BELOW.

Here we are at week 38.  I've never made it to week 39 so this could be my last pregnancy update.  As you can see I got my haircut yesterday.  Short, easy to dry, won't get in the way of nursing - total Mommy do.  I got through all the dates I had to get through - baby wasn't born on my birthday or my nephew's, made it to July so I don't have to return the birthstone charm that my friends got me for my Pandora necklace, got my last meeting in with my client on Monday, and Lydia and I had our hair appointments yesterday.  Now there are just some things that I have do before baby.  Since last week, my schedule has really slowed down so I have been able to get a bunch done.  The rest could wait but I would love to have them done to be able to be more in the moment with our son.  Or maybe that's my thing that I need to just rely on God for.  I try to handle everything on my own and one thing I keep failing at is appreciating the time with my family instead of thinking of all the stuff I need to do, even now that I'm not working.  So whatever God's timing, whether he removes my "thorn" of not having things to worry about doing or if he just gives me the grace to not worry, I will be blessed.  Preaching to myself here....

I go to the doctors in about 2 hours.  We'll see what he says as far as how things are progressing but I think I am starting to feel something.  It's like a low level constant discomfort rather than distinct contractions.  Been feeling it since last night (went away while I was sleeping though) so I think I'm convinced it's something other than a gastrointestinal issue.

On Saturday we got the pack-n-play up in our room and rearranged the furniture and cleaned in there.  So nice to have that done and to have gotten rid of all the dust bunnies behind our bed.  Also got the snap and go stroller down from the attic.  My bag is mostly packed, still using some things that need to go in it.

I'll update this post after I get back from the doctors.

Back from the doctors.  Nothing happening.  He said the cramp-like discomfort is just normal at this point and since it goes away when I lie down it's nothing.  He only estimated I was 1cm dilated but that the cervix is softening and opening so things are progressing but not fast.  I made my 39 week appointment for next Wed morning but I've never made it that far.  So we're still hanging in there for a while.  More time to finish my work and class.  Baby's heartbeat going between 125 and 145 (145 when he moved which is a good thing).  I haven't gained any weight in about a month but the doctors aren't concerned.  My body just can't go to 200 and I'm fine with that.

Week 37 Update

Wow, the last four weeks really got away from me, sorry for no updates.  I'm still pregnant and we're still marching along trying to get ready for the baby and finishing up classes and projects.  Our camera broke while we were on vacation (got sand in the retractable lens) so we had to get a new one and I was without a camera for a few days so I could update then.  I didn't even bother trying to get the camera fixed since we could get a new and better one for about $200.  The other one was over 5 years old so I guess it was time but I did have that slight panic that one gets after spending a ton of money (on vacation and then the camera and lots of eating out and getting our big trees cut in our yard).  But I think I'm over that now.

My 35-week appointment went well.  Baby's heartbeat was in the 140s, head was still down, and I got the paper with the phone numbers to call if I go into labor.

If there is such a thing as "dropping" I think the baby did it.  I felt like I was starting to carry lower while we were on vacation a week and a half ago.  I think I heard that that means I have about two weeks go from that day which would be be this weekend.  Still hoping to make it to July at least though.  Tomorrow will be how far along I made it with Joshua - 37 weeks, 1 day.  

My 37-week appointment was this morning.  All went well - baby's heartbeat was 154, I didn't gain any weight over the two weeks (okay that's good in my eyes), and the big kids were well behaved.  She said I was 2 cm dilated but with this being my fourth that's pretty much my normal state.  She said the baby's head was still fairly high (pointed down but not moving down the birth canal so maybe he didn't drop).  So no signs of eminent birth but that's what we heard at my 38 week appointment with Lydia and she came 2 days later.  Not saying I'm expecting to go into labor soon, just saying that I don't see anything in the tea leaves that would indicate a baby this week.  We'll see!

I've passed a lot of dates I needed to "get through" without having the baby so much so that I should consider any more days (like my birthday and my hair appointment on Tuesday) as just icing on the cake.  First there was Dylan's last day of school and then we left on vacation to Berkley Springs, WV the next day for 3 nights.   We had a great relaxing time and got to see some sites.  We stopped at Dinosaurland in Winchester on the way and then spent some time at Cacapon State Park, Berkley Springs State Park, and the Paw Paw tunnel on the C&O tow path which I hadn't been to since my bike trip in 1992.  There was some hiking/walking involved but I made it.  There was a little lake at Cacapon which is where the sand beach was that spelled the end of our camera.  Cacapon also has a great nature center and program for the kids.  It would be a nice weekend get away that we could do even with a baby so we'll consider going back.

The next big "get through" day was Lydia's dance recital on Saturday.  She did such a great job and Grandma and Grandpap were here to see her - my shy one has no stage fright.  Then we headed to my sister's for a combined birthday party for my nephews.  Lastly, yesterday we went downtown to the WWII memorial to greet my 91 and a half year old great uncle who came to DC on an honor flight from MI.  It was great to see him and we totally surprised him.  We were also surprised as his grandson (my 2nd cousin) also showed up and we got to see him.

Monday was clean the nursery day and van day.  My parents did all the work and I just directed (well I guess I folded some cloth diapers...) and I feel so much better that we can now bring a baby home in a clean car to a clean nursery.  I still have some things to do to get ready (rearrange our bedroom to fit the pack and play in, pack my bag for the hospital, install the car seat, wash the seat on the swing and bouncy seat) but I feel like we are well on our way to being go-ready.

As far as my class and business goes, I feel like I'm caught up for now but I'm going to get behind next week.  I think I'm going to try do as much as I can for the class and take an incomplete and try to finish it later in July assuming NOVA accepts my excuse as a good one.  If the last two chapters I have to read weren't 90 and 79 pages I could probably do it but that's just too much reading to do at this point.  For a while I was feeling fearful of not getting things done and I realized the root of those feelings were 1) fear that I wasn't going to enjoy the baby because I had things hanging over my head (but when do I ever not have things hanging over my head - I just need to learn to enjoy and be in the moment more) and 2) worry over what people think of me which is something I need to get over too.  Thanks in part to the prayers of my bible study ladies, I'm feeling a lot more peaceful about God's timing.  God wants to give me the best even if I don't realize it is the best at the time.  And he will give me grace for the moment.        

Week 33 Update

I feel like I'm getting really big now.  And the little one feels like he's trying to kick or punch his way out.  I had a doctor's appointment last week and the baby's heartbeat was 145 and I was measuring right on track.  The doctor said the baby's head was down but he had a hard time finding his head.  The doctor was able to identify the baby's spine and feet though.  The next doctor's appointment is at 35 weeks and I do the group B strep test.

Starting to get really uncomfortable.  Not because of the heat.  Just really hard to bend over, roll over, get up from sitting after a while, etc.  Some days are better than others with the sciatic nerve and hips.  I had my prenatal massage last week.  It was really good.  The lady was a reflexologist too and she did something with my feet that was supposed to help those problems.  I'm tempted to get another one, especially if I make it until July because then she said she could do something to help labor along.  But then I still have to finish my class and my work so I kinda want the baby to come early but then again I kinda don't.  We are anxious to meet our little guy though.

Since my last update friends threw me a shower.  It was a ton of fun and very special.  Fun because of the crazy games (see pictures below) and very special because of the handmade blankets I got and the charm that my friends from church got me.  Before Joshua was born these friends took me out to dinner and gave me a Pandora necklace with the kids' birthstones on it.  They purposely got me something that could be added to.  So now they added to it and got me a July birthstone that matches the other charms.  Martin and I recently picked out a bible verse for the baby and I got two cards with that verse in it.  

Also since the last update, Martin and I went on our babymoon.  This time it was only one night (we dropped the kids at my sister's) but it seemed like we had all the time in the world.  It was a sweet 26 hours.  We went to Solomon's Island, MD and stayed at a B&B.  Walked around the town, had a nice dinner, went out for dessert and ran into some friends from church (crazy!), hiked the next day, went to a museum, and went on a boat ride.  It was great time.    

Week 30 update

Wow, made it to week 30!  I'm starting to feel pretty big.  This baby is now most likely bigger than Joshua ever was and I'm bigger than I was when I was pregnant with Joshua so it's been a long time since I've been "this pregnant."  :)

This kid moves A LOT.  And it's not just a little kick here and a little kick there.  It's all out pushing and shoving and turning and moving.  Martin was even shocked at how much he could feel him moving when he put his hand on my belly.  At one point it even felt like rapid punches.  The baby moves a lot when I sit or lay down after being up for a while.  He moves a lot when I'm trying to go to sleep.  He moves a lot when I'm sitting with my legs together and leaning forward a little as if I weren't giving him enough room.  He seems to twitch a lot too.  Not butterfly flutters either.  You can see my belly moving and shaking when he moves.  Sometime he knocks my hands off of my belly.  It's really crazy.  Even Dylan didn't move like this.  Maybe he is bigger.  They do say the kids get bigger as you go along in birth order, right?

I started to get the baby's room together.  Barely.  Got rid of all the infant, 0-3, and 3-6 girl clothes except for a few special outfits.  But that just made room in the bins for Lydia's 2T and 3T clothes that have been accumulating in a "too small" pile in the nursery.  Still got to figure out where to put the bins so we can move the boy clothes in.  My shower is next week so I gotta make some more progress.

I finished my two spring semester classes!  So now just my one summer class.  And my work for my one client that will be due shortly after June 30th.  Dylan and Lydia will be out of school soon so I guess I'll be setting up some playdates so I can have study/work time.

Week 28 Update

I did my glucose test this morning and heard the baby's heartbeat - 156.  I gain a bunch of weight (6 lbs in the last month). I gave myself an allowance for this pregnancy and I only have 8 more pounds to go.  The doctor said I was measuring big and asked me how big my largest child was...um, 6 lbs 8 oz.  I think she was mistaken on the measurement.  I doubt I'll have a child bigger than 7 lbs.  I had to sign a paper saying I wanted to try a VBAC and was aware of the risk. I'm in the low risk category for a uterine tear but they still wanted to make sure I know the risk. I'm low risk because I've had 2 vaginal births, I have small babies, I didn't have a fever or infection after my c-section, I have a history of going into labor early (I won't need to be induced), and my incision is good.  I did have a placenta abruption with Joshua but the placenta is not near incision so that's good.  I have another appointment in a month and then I go every two weeks...already!  I got the labor and delivery handout this time so the doctor's number will go up on the bulletin board.

Also got a call today that we won't be able to donate this baby's cord blood because we had a adverse prenatal diagnosis (i.e., Joshua's trisomy 18) before.  I'm kinda bummed but mostly because I don't get why.  They really didn't give an explanation but the lady kept saying "not at this time."  And I really wish they would have said something on their website before I filled out the 20 page application.  But they don't take donations for babies born on Saturdays and this baby is going to be born on Saturday July 5th so it wouldn't have worked out anyway...:)

The survived the trip to FL although I've been quite stiff after sitting in the car all day on Monday. The 5K walk for Assist Pregnancy Center is this Saturday so I'll be up and moving by then.

I've actually outgrew some of my maternity clothes.  I really don't think I'm that much bigger than I was with Dylan or Lydia - I think the summer maternity clothes are just more fitting and I never wore them this far along with Dylan or Lydia.

Week 26 Update

So do I look anymore pregnant?  Updates, let's see I can finally wear more of my maternity clothes since it's getting warmer (finally!).  I got the support belt and I think it's helping.  I think mostly I just need to not sit for long periods of time (did I mention we're driving to FL next week?).  I swam another two times and I felt good after I did both times.  Had a stomach bug so was out of commission on Sunday (are these little bugs hitting me harder because I'm pregnant?).  I took Imodium but I think the pendulum swung a little too far the other way if you know what I mean.

Met with my client yesterday.  Didn't tell her I'm pregnant and I wore a shirt that was conspicuous enough.  It shouldn't affect my work.  Signed up for a summer class that ends 4 days before my due date and a week after I think this baby will come.  It's a continuation of a class I'm taking now so I'm going to start early (in the week between spring and summer session) and try to work ahead so I'm done in 6 or 7 weeks instead of 8.  Better than doubling up in fall.  I've barely been able to keep up with 2 classes this semester.

Shower invitations went out so I'm getting excited about that.  Going to try to go through baby clothes this weekend.  Oh, and I turned in the cord blood donation forms this week.

Week 24 update

Not much to update just plugging along.  Doctors appointment went well today.  Baby's heartbeat was 150.  I talked to the doctor about my sciatic nerve pain and she gave me the name of a chiropractor and a flyer on a support belt.  I think I may try the belt and do some stretches I found on youtube for sciatic nerve pain before doing the PT or chiropractic route.  I decided to talk to her about it since I was getting so stiff at night and the sharp pain was getting worse and more frequent.  And it was worse after the days I exercised which I thought was supposed to help.  I walked 2 miles on Saturday and then swam on Monday (50 lengths of the pool) - both probably took me 45 minutes to do.  Monday night was the worst.  Today was better.  When I swam, it was amazing though - all the pain was gone.  I could move without pain!  Made me realize how much I was just putting up with and what it felt like to be pain-free.  I think the buoyancy of the water released the pressure on my hips.  So hopefully the belt will do the same for when I'm not in the water.  

Week 22 update

Not much to report this week just a new picture.  Did some walking and a Leslie Sansone walk and yoga video a couple times.  Still stiff after sitting.  Staying up too late studying and watching TV.  Need to get my rest!  Had a couple warm days but this winter is going on forever and I'm still freezing even on the "warmer" days.

Baby's moving a lot.  I can especially feel him when I sit or lay a certain way.  

Week 20 update

First pregnancy picture.  I never think I look pregnant enough to pose for a picture until about this point and even now I had to shape my shirt around my belly to make it look right.  Half way through!

The big news this update is that the sonogram went really well and everything looks good.  We saw *very* clearly that we are indeed having a boy and his heart, spine, legs, feet, head, and all look good.  Lydia ended up coming with us to the sonogram and so she got to see her little brother. We're all getting more excited but it does seem like a long way to go.

Two weeks ago I was getting a little nervous because I wasn't feeling the baby move that much.  I had felt him move here and there but I felt by this point I should be getting a daily reminder that he's there.  I actually prayed to feel him move more.  God answers abundantly!   I've been feeling the baby move pretty much at least 3 times a day ever since I prayed that.  Thank you God!  It's great to get to that point now.

Of course it's also the point where I'm starting to feel more uncomfortable.  Sciatic nerve pain and stiffness after sitting is the worst of it so it's not too bad.  The doctor said "walking is your friend" so I need to keep moving more.

I think I've lost that 2nd trimester energy burst that I had felt the past few weeks.  Staying up late at the women's retreat didn't help and so maybe I'm just catching up from that but I've been having to go to bed early the last few nights.  Unfortunately that cuts into my study time so I'm hoping I can catch up soon.

Made the facebook announcement so I think everyone knows now.    

Week 18 Update

I've felt really good the last two weeks.  I even cleaned a bathroom yesterday!  That says a lot.  I finally feel like I have some energy.  Not too much to post this week.  I got a new prenatal vitamin (after insurance it's free!) and it's a lot easier to swallow than my last one.  It's a mail order thing that comes automatically until I cancel so it's super convenient too.

Feeling the little guy move here and there.  Looking forward to seeing him via ultrasound in two weeks!

First hike of 2014 (also Hiking with a pregnant lady part IV)

Many long-time readers of my blog know that I used to post pictures of us hiking all the time, especially back when I was pregnant with Dylan and when he was a baby.  Martin would also post them on his old blog and call them hiking with a pregnant lady.  We still hike fairly frequently but blogging about it started to seem trite.  This hike, however, was pretty remarkable.  This was the first time that we hiked when there was snow still on the ground.  This has been an unusual winter here in DC in that it stayed cold for a long enough time period for snow and ice to stick around.  Usually we have a cold spell and then a couple 50+ degrees days here and there to give us a break and to melt any snow.  I've been lamenting the lack of break this January but it gave us this unique opportunity to go on a truly winter hike.  Today was the first day it got above 40 degrees and we were all ready to get outside.  It still took a shirt, a fleece, gloves, and a ski jacket for me to be comfortable in 40 degree weather but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  We went to Fountainhead Regional Park to hike the beginning of the Bull Run Occoquan Trail (BROT).  We have done other portions of this trail before but this was by far my favorite.  The trail was clean, far enough removed, and there were lots of picturesque water views.  We made it almost to the 2 mile marker (which meant an almost 4 mile hike) so the kids impressed us with their endurance.  We did have a little bit of a rough start because Lydia had a "I'm not going, my legs are tired" mini-tantrum at the beginning when she found out we forgot the lunch and snacks that we packed (we started hiking at 11am).  But we got her going and she was happy for the rest of the way.  Although Martin did have to carry her on his shoulders for a spell or two on the way back.  It was fun hiking on the snow and ice especially since we had our hiking sticks/ski poles, but on the way back it got kinda muddy so we were glad we started when we did.  You can see from the pictures below the beauty of the frozen creek and the leaf-covered forest ground.  And you can see how frozen the water was that Martin and the kids could stand on it!  Anyway, we had a really great time and hope you all enjoy the pictures - especially you snow birds in FL!

Lydia-isms

One reason for the blog is to remember fun things that the kids do.  I haven't kept up with that as well as I should and I use facebook for that too but since I'm on a break from facebook (so that I'm diligent about my studies) and we've had a couple good laughs over some things Lydia has said lately, I'm going to post them here now.

Two days ago I was taking Lydia to sign up for t-ball.  We're in the car and and out of the blue she says, "Mommy, I have a lot of dreams about being a super dog."  Where do you go with that?

Then today at dinner the kids were being kinda loud and Lydia starts yelling "Bock" really loudly.  She did that a couple times and then through the giggles she says "erupting chicken!"  Now you have to know that Lydia often likes to take jokes and substitutes different animals in the place of the ones in the jokes.  So we figured she meant interrupting chicken as in interrupting cow in the knock knock joke.  But erupting chicken was so much more appropriate.  You had to be there!

Yes there is a theme here with animals.  She loves stuff animals much more than dolls too.

There are other times when Lydia will just tell me something out of the blue that she likes, like "I like when Daddy uses his wrench" or "remember when we went to that park."

We have Lydia's last preschool parent-teacher conference on Monday.  Can't wait to hear what else her teacher tells us.  

Week 16 update

The "practice" sonogram (I got to be a model for the first time in my life! - and probably last) went really well.  Everything looks good and our little guy was moving around a lot.  It was fun to just watch while the nurses were practicing on me.  Baby is still measuring right on and maybe a little ahead of schedule (at least according to head size but my children have big heads).  Heartbeat at the sonogram was 160.  My appointment today went well too.  Heartbeat was 153 and my blood work was good.  Full sonogram is scheduled for February 26th.

I'm finally just now feeling better.  That cold that I had put me in bed for over 2 days and I had a lingering cough for about a week and then a headache from all the coughing for a couple days.  So I'm just starting to feel the second trimester energy.

I haven't had an real cravings this pregnancy, unless you count carbs and junk food.  If I had to pick something, I'd say tomato sauce and pizza.  Every time I see a commercial on tv, I've wanted to order pizza.

Not much to "get ready" for this time around, other than the lack of sleep.  The biggest thing is picking a name.  We have a few names that we both agree on so there's progress.  Working on thinking of some middle names now.  We have most everything we need but I did start an amazon wish list.  The biggest thing there is a car seat.  Going to try to stick with the cloth diapers to keep costs down and for environmental reasons so we'll see how that goes.  That's about all for this week.

Week 14 update

Big praise since last update - we received the results of the free cell genetic blood test - no chromosome problems and we're having a boy!  We found out at my appointment on the 3rd.  Dylan is very excited and after a few initial tears, Lydia is excited too.  I was in an emotional stupor for a few days after getting the results because I was getting nervous about the results.  We had the blood drawn on December 19th and even with the holidays I would have thought we would have heard something by then so I assumed that there was bad news and they wanted to tell us in person.  Turns out the doctor hadn't gotten the test results in the mail so they called the company and had them faxed over while I got my exam.  The doctor read the results to us in the hallway so I knew then it was good.  But yeah, the normal oh my goodness something is wrong feeling that a lot of women get right before an appointment was super magnified for me at that appointment.  After a day or so of emotional release I was able to thank God and start telling more people about the pregnancy.  Since then we've told most people at our church and the kids' school.  We'll probably put something in the church bulletin soon but we'll wait until after the ultrasound to do the facebook announcement.  Next week I have a "practice" sonogram at Metro Women's Health - a pregnancy center that is just getting its ultrasound services up and running so I volunteered to be a guinea pig for the sonographer training.  Then I have another appointment on the 29th.

My morning sickness has pretty much subsided as of this week but then I got really tired and then I got a cold.  So just trying to rest (well, "trying" depends on what there is to do - laundry, then I rest well; out with friends, I don't do so well at trying, although I did skip a babysitting co-op meeting and bible study this week so mostly I'm resting well in the evenings - probably because I did a bad job of resting during the day).  The time to rest has been good to get a head start on my classes that started this week.  I know I won't be able to keep up for long.  I'm going to have to spend most every second that the kids are both in school with my head in the book to keep up.  So I probably won't be on FB much.  Martin is still doing the cooking since I'm so sick and tired.  Waiting for the second trimester energy boost to kick in.

While announcing that we are pregnant to folks at church I found out that there are 7 more women who are pregnant and due (I think) in June or July.  Then there are another 3 I know at church who are due before that.  Looks like another baby boom.  I'm exciting to be pregnant with these women and to have children in the same class.  Oh and one of our neighbors is pregnant and due in June with a girl.

Someone mentioned to me oh, it will be good to have a baby in the summer so you can get out of the house and take the baby for a stroll.  I wonder what that will look like with Dylan and Lydia.  Let me see....Dylan running up ahead around the corner so I can't see him and Lydia trying to climb on the stroller to get a ride.  Time to think of ground rules....  maybe we'll stick to the parks and playgrounds instead of walking in the neighborhood unless Daddy is around.  Our double stroller converts into a sit and stand so that may be the solution for Lydia but how do you solve a problem like the D-man?  Regardless, getting exciting for the new adventure...just gotta get through all this school work!      

Catching up....

To catch up with what's been going on in our family, go back the sixth of november (literally) and read forward....

I can't believe she's 5!

Lydia is 5 today!  She can't be this old!  For some reason 5 didn't hit me as much as with Dylan as it is with Lydia.  Maybe because she is the younger one and it's hard to believe she's growing up too.

Milestones this year:  her first haircut in March, singing in the choir for the first time (and, as shown in the picture, wearing a skirt for the first time in 3 years) starting to read (three letter words), hiking without having to be carried in a backpack, writing her name with a capital and the rest lower case letters, counting to 100, and moving into a booster seat in the car.

Lydia is in the Boa class in preschool and goes on MWFs.  She also takes dance lessons for an hour a week - half ballet, half tap.  She loves dancing in front of the mirrors.  Lydia is also doing great at her swimming lessons and is able to put her face in and is hoping to swim underwater before summer.  I've signed her up for t-ball for the spring so we'll see how that goes.

Highlights of this last year were keeping up with Dylan, spending time with Mommy at home starting in the fall (when I quit work), going to the pumpkin patch, having many playdates at the preschool playground, going to Pine Springs Camp with Mommy, Dylan, and Pennsylvania Grandma, and going to Great Wolf Lodge on vacation.

Lydia still loves to be held and read to and still sucks her thumb.  We tried giving her an incentive to quit (if you don't suck your thumb for 10 days, we'll buy you the stuffed animal you wanted) but that didn't work.  This year we may be taking a harder line approach.  She doesn't do it at school so I'm not too concerned but I guess it's more of a dental thing at this point.  Lydia is still a great helper, especially in the kitchen, at Dylan's school, and at the grocery store.

I can only think of one word she cutely incorrectly pronounces (vitium for vitamin) but there may be more.  Lydia's favorite foods are mac and cheese, cheese quesadillas, grilled cheese, pizza, and yogurt (do you notice a theme here?).  Her favorite toys are stuffed animals and recently she has become infatuated with penguins.  She also knows most of the names of the Skylanders that Dylan plays with.

Lydia is doing better on her shyness.  It's just with adults who she doesn't know very well.  She talks to all kids she knows.  If some overly outgoing kid comes up to her at the playground and says "Hi, I'm so and so, wanna play?" she would probably run the other way but once she knows the kid she plays talks and plays a lot.

Lydia is content with so many things.  Even just little things.  She is happy just sitting on my lap or just going for a walk.  We've had some really special times, particularly on Tuesday mornings this fall when we don't have to go anywhere, and she is just a joy to be around.  She's up for most anything and is always happy to be with her family.

Week 12 update

The big news this week is that we told our families and the kids.  Needless to say everyone is super excited.  The kids keep talking about the baby and asking all kinds of questions - how is the baby eating? how does the baby go to the bathroom? etc.  I'm actually getting hugs from Dylan again because he wants to hug the baby.  Dylan hopes that it's a boy and Lydia is hoping that it's a girl.  We should find out by the end of the week!  Dylan is now counting the number of siblings that he is older than and Lydia is interested in all the things we'll need for the baby.  When we were praying last night I said we should pray for the baby and Dylan says, yeah, we gotta pray that the baby won't die.

I've been feeling better but that might have to do with the fact that we were traveling all week and that's kept my mind off of being sick.