The Ups and Downs of Our Week

I thought I would give everyone an update of the ups and downs of our week. Thankfully there have been far more Ups than Downs.

We'll start with the Ups:

Our favorite part of the week was getting to see our sweet our little baby and the amazing growth!! With about 7 months to go I find myself incredibly anxious to be have our sweet baby in my arms! Kyle and I just sit on the couch at night and say to eachother "can you belive in 7 months were going to have a baby" I'm also anxious to begin showing : the anticipation of a growing belly and the tanagble proof that really is a baby in there! (Not just gas and indegestation) :)

Another favorite part of the week was beginning our baby book :) It's amazing anticpating what our baby will look like, their characteristics, etc. I also really enjoyed looking back over the past several weeks and seeing how not only the baby has grown but how God has grown kyle and I! Speeking of baby growth: looking back at our ultrasound pictures I am truly understanding the Psalmist when he talks about how God knit us together in our mothers womb, and his eyes see our unformed body... Psalm 139: 13,15 God has shown me through countless ultrasounds how He is knitting this precious baby together.

I have also enjoyed the fellowship with my husband. It's amzing to see his gentleness with me despite my at times lunetic demener :) We have enjoyed several sweet moments over anxieties and excitements ! I am so thankful He is who God has provided for me!

Another very sweet part of our week has been the service of our familys! We are so thankful we have such amazing families who are willing to step in at a moments notice to serve us! And the prayers of our immediate family and church family have been wonderful! Kyle and I can truly see God working through the prayers of His people and that is a wonderful testimony!

Now for some of the downs : mind you most of them have been spent huddled down by the toilet. I am experiencing morning sickness (well all day sickness) on a whole new level. At any given notice with no warning I find myself hurrying to the bathroom or searching for a bag while Kyle stands by in horror! The worst one being a cupple mornings ago when I went to the fridge to get water and a bagel and I stept in a disgusting little somthing left by our dogs. I rushed to the bathroom thinking if I just washed my foot off I would be okay. But now my gag refelexs kicked in high gear and I spent a good deal of time over the toilet. (I'll spear you the rest of the details) I spend a good deal time nauesus : some of the things that are the worst are : water (it seems nearly impossible to drink 8 glasses, when I get sick with just 1), my pre-natal vitamins, anything that has a weird or undesirable smell, and a lot of foods. I must say in a weird kind of gross way I enjoy the all day sickness because it is proof of our little peanut.

Another down has been the aches of my body. You would think, aww bed all day, how comfortable. Well I can testify it is far from So comfortable. My back hurts, and my calf muscles get incredibly sore. With a nauseus stomach it's almost impossible to get comfortable in any position. Not to mention my unrealistic fears that each ache brings.

The other downer has been the t.v. Well there are severl shows I thorouly enjoy, it's the commercials I find incredibly irritating! Two in particular: the first one being a KFC commercial where the cook gleefly says 'there is one of us in every kitchen' I know for a fact there are no cooks in any KFC that are that excited and joyful about their job! The other commercial that I want to just throw the socks at is a commercial for Car Facts or something like that about selling cars online, not only is the commercial annyoying but it always repeats itself!! Are you kidding me?

Okay well I guess this is enough venting.... Thank you for you faithful prayers throughout the week and we will keep you updated!

Music to My Soul

Yesterday Kyle and I had another ultrasound to check up on baby and see how the blood clot was/is progressing. We started off with the ultrasound - my heart always sinks until we see the baby. At last we got to see the baby, and my first thought was "man that looks like a little hampster in my uterus" You could distniguish between the head and body, and although the ultrasound tech said she couldnt get a good view of the arms or legs yet, kyle and I know we saw them :) She than showed us the heart beat - 176 beats/min. My eyes smiled and my heart rejoiced. I know the tech sees this reaction becasue she always says "lets lissten to that little heart again" Second time 185 beats/min. The sound filled the room. It amazes me as I see God knitting together this sweet little baby inside me :) What an amzing sense of responisbility and awe with our creator that He can sustain such a fragile life, and that He would bless Kyle and I wih this mighty respnisiblity! Our baby is now the size of an olive :) Kyle and I are also convinced it's going to be a girl :) (Not that we belive in signs, but as the ultrasound tech was typing in head on the picture she accidently typed her)

Next we met with the dr. He told me that bed rest will last at least 2 more weeks! But that he was encouraged becasue while the blod clot has no decreased in size, it isn't getting any bigger!! But the baby is continuing to grow strong!! He continues to hope that as the baby grows it will push against the blod clot and much like how pressure on a cut on your leg would casue the bleeding to cease, he hopes the presure of the baby will make the blood clot cease.

While I'm not thrilled about 2 more weeks on bed rest, I am greatly encouraged that what I am doing is allowing the blod clot to not grow bigger. And I continue, althought at times through grited teath and tight fists, to trust in God that He will bring this baby to a full healthy birth. That God is graciously giving me this time in bed to prepare me for the immense resposiblity of leading this precious baby to know Him. That I mighgt grow in my faith and knowledge and thus be better equipped in the training of this sweet girl. Although this is easier said than done at times, especially with the temptaion and easy out of the tv, I continue to strive to seek Gods strength and power in this time of waiting. And kyle and I think you for your prayers as we wait on the Lord and behold His greatness!!!!

Baby News!!!! (well lots of news)

January 20th: I took a a home pregnancy test (PREGNANT) I secremed and got kyle and we took 3 more (all PREGNANT)



I called the doctor and did a blood test (NEGATIVE) and we were bummed



January 28th: I called the Dr. again, I knew something was up, so we did another blood test and.. (POSITIVE)



Kyle's first question: When can we find out if it's a boy or girl



.............and began the waiting and praying to see if the baby was where it should be



Febuary 5th: We had our first ultrasound and got to see our sweet baby! We were thrilled!!! Acctually beyond thrilled!!!



Febuary 12th: Yet another ultrasound, (we were learning to expect the un-expected) Kyle couldnt come to this visit so my mom came : We got to hear baby's heart beat 129/min. It was so strong and filled the room. Such a sweet sound to my ears. I was beyond thankful and amazed at this little life God had given me!!!



Febuary 13th: Our first pre-natal visit. Things are really starting to sink in for kyle and I



Febuary 14th: Valentines day!! celebrated in the ER. Unexpected bleeding. God to keep us dependant on Him!!



Febuary 15th: Another trip to the ER. More bleeding. This time they do an ultrasound and we see our little peanut. God continues to preserve this sweet life!

Febuary 16th: We have a check up with our doctor. They do another ultrasound and we get to the heartbeat - 150/min. It was so good for my heart to hear!!!! Our little Tigar is a fighter!!! The doctor tells us I have a subchorionic bleed. In other words there is a blod clot right above our baby. He puts me on bed rest in hopes that as baby grows he/she will push against the blood clot and it will disolve itself. We leave the doctors relieved and really trusting in His plan!

........And so begins the resting. Alot of fears, and a lot of trusting. Learning how Big our God is, and how amazing it is to be surrounded by the prayers of SOO many believers!!! I'm incredibly thankful for all the prayers, the helping of our family, and the love and patience of my sweet husband, as we contiue to wait on God and to see this incredible baby come to life before oure eyes!!