To Undiscovered Territory!

Everybody do a little happy dance with me! From here on out I'm going into days of pregnancy I've never seen before! I lost Andrew about yesterday in gestation age, so it's all new from here. Although, the last two months have been pretty new because I haven't had 3 trips to the hospital or any huge complications...BUT this is a milestone! Yeah!

faith REALLY DOES precede the miracles

We went in for the follow-up ultrasound and a consult with the paranatologist today. Our little guy's kidney had shrunk a little which was evidence that it is not blocked up. Plus it wasn't showing any signs of being 'engorged' so that was good. They oohd and aaahd at his beautiful heart and the perfect form of his aortic artery and the one that goes up the neck. They laughed about how much little boys like to pee...everywhere. And how he's NOT shy about showing off his goods. Everything looked okay and they don't have to look at him again until 32 weeks - November. It was SO good for Ian and I to hear that good news and not have to worry much anymore. Thank you Heavenly Father and all you wonderful people that have prayed for us and given us blessings!

He was adorable today. I wish I had the video, but all I have are fuzzy pictures. She also commented about how focused on his face he was and how it would eventually move south! On the screen he was brushing his face with his hands. All the white blobs in front of his face are his hand in various positions.

She thought he looked like he was picking his nose!

Oh! You caught me!

Hmmm, thinking....

Time

Feeling better today, despite being up till 1am with Ian in the ER for chest pain. They think he has a virus that inflames the joint of the sternum and ribs. How bizarre.

I talked to several moms today who had similar reports prenatal and their kids turned out fine, so I feel better. Two friends from church came over and gave us blessings tonight. Now I just need sleep to make up for last night and NOT being ready for kids to return to school tomorrow. I was in meetings all day! Not enough time to prepare!

Love you all, thanks for your thoughts and prayers. They work.

It's a Boy

For all of you dying to know, we're definitely having a boy. No doubts... busy moving and kicking, too. He's got all his parts and has a pretty cute profile that is very hard to catch a clear picture of in a still picture off an ultrasound. We were feeling pretty good until this afternoon when the genetics department called to inform me that one of his kidneys/ureters is 3mm larger than normal. This might/might not be an indicator of down syndrome or blockage AND it might/might not resolve itself. They are going to pull me in for monthly ultrasounds to monitor it, hoping it goes away. Starting next Tuesday. (Dejavu -last year I had my 1st ultrasound Tuesday before school started and was in OR the next Tuesday for the D&C. No D&C this time but a problem Dr. visit)

AM I EVER GOING TO HAVE A NORMAL PREGNANCY? We are pretty depressed tonight. This shouldn't keep him from being born or anything, but it's still a problem to worry about. And it doesn't matter how many times anyone tells me not to worry or look on the bright side, it still sucks. Try my shoes on. The paranatologist informed me after losing Andrew that I would never rest easy during a pregnancy again. I've been watching to see if I could relax this time and it WAS going pretty well. Now that's out the door.

And what's with getting bad baby news the day before school starts, huh? I've had enough of that. I'm pretty sure that my pregnancy emotions are full swing right now. I almost cried last week when my distiller didn't flow correctly and have water for me in the morning. I want to cry right now, hoping it would let off some of my steam. We'll see if that happens. Maybe I'll feel better about this in a few days. Sorry to depress anyone who reads this.

And - a new life insurance health examiner is coming tomorrow to try again at drawing my blood. I swear, if it doesn't work this time I'm going to cry. I'm certainly not going to allow this one to dig around for 3 minutes!

The Lord Giveth and He Taketh Away

Wow, what a week. Painful dental cleaning; painful failed attempts at blood draws by the quiet health insurance examiner; last days of relaxation; a full day in the classroom prepping for the new year; my first drive through Nevada to Idaho...

We found out Sunday about Justin's tragic death and were just sick for his wife and five kids. The funeral was on Friday in Boise and we decided that we needed to go, not just to honor him but support the awesome family he left behind. We were planning to play in San Francisco for our 5th anniversary(finally, we usually don't do anything on our ann.), but this was more important. Justin is the cousin Ian grew up playing with on every trip to Idaho, multiple times a year. There were so many people there, more than some stake conferences! The family itself almost took up the chapel. That man lived a FULL life and touched a lot of people along the way. I can't even describe the mix of emotions as his loved ones shared that they know Heavenly Father took him now for his own purposes, but it is so hard to cope with the loss. They feel the Lord's arms around them and all the prayers in their behalf. The messages shared were so inspiring, I am SO GRATEFUL for the gospel. Recognizing blessings at a time such as this is so imperative. Uncle Cortland and Aunt Sue, we love you! When all the men from one side of the family got up to sing a combination of primary songs our baby was kicking and moving around throughout the whole song! It must love primary music!

I also love all you wonderful family and friends that enrich my life everyday. You are a blessing to me. I am so glad we got to see you Mom & Dad, Laura, Christina & Benson, Aunt Tina & Kirk.

A couple months ago Bishop Gubler challenged the ward to read the Book of Mormon in 6 months, like Pres. Hinckley did a number of years ago. We were really slow to get started and are way behind. However we are doing it and the blessings in our lives, marriage and spirituality are incalculable. I've always known it makes a difference, but when I get out of the habit it's really hard to get started again. THANK YOU Bishop Gubler! We're so into it that I brought my scriptures along for our drive to read to Ian in the car. The book of Mosiah is amazing! I think it's my favorite book. It's so rich with doctrine and miracles! I love the gospel!

My sister also got me started on a series by Gerald Lund, The Kingdom and the Crown. It's a fictional account of a family in Galilee at the time of Christ and their conversion. I LOVE books that portray living around and interacting with Christ (Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites was awesome, too). I read the end to Ian on one of our drives to WA and a friend loaned me the 2nd book last week so I started it with Ian on this drive after reading the scriptures. There were times we were both choking back tears, so faith inspiring. It is fun and amazing to image what it would have been like to be there at His time and to have been able to witness the experiences related in the bible. I highly recommend it!

Sacrament was wonderful today, too. The speakers really shared from the Spirit about service and joy. Wonderful. Our choir sang a version of As I Have Loved You. I love the Savior. Then the missionaries shared a spiritual message after dinner tonight. Life is good.

Baby is doing fine so far, busy. We find out what it is on Tuesday! The shots go on.

Prayer

A cousin that Ian grew up with and was closest to (of the cousins) died in a plane crash yesterday. Please say a prayer for his young wife and children he left behind. Having lost a member of my immediate family I'm just sick for them tonight. I pray that the Lord watches over them and wraps his arms around them. I hurt for them.