26 Weeks!

Week and day: 26 weeks and 1 day

Belly Button in or out: Still in. :)

Wedding rings on or off: Still on. Seems they're a bit tight early in the morning but not to the point that they're cutting off my circulation! I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

Food cravings: None specific. Still loving chocolate milk and sweet tea.

Food aversions: None, other than the foods/beverages that seem to cause heartburn. Ugh.

Nausea: None!

Energy level: Same ol', same ol'. Nothing new to report here.

Weight gain: Do I have to be honest on this one? I'm afraid I'm looking at about 18 pounds already... ((sigh))

Mood: Excited! I know God has a perfect plan for our son, and we are totally committed to Him and are trusting in Him every step of the way!

Maternity clothes: 24/7.

Size of baby: He's just under 2 pounds and is about 14 inches long.

Baby's changes: The network of nerves in his ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both my voice and hubs' as we chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs.

Next appointment:August 19th for our regular OB appointment. August 18th for our next appointment with the fetal-maternal medicine specialist, Dr. Greig. We'll also have an appointment at MUSC in Charleston, SC, around 32 weeks, which will be in early September.

What I've been up to:We celebrated LO's 2nd birthday over the weekend. It was such an awesome day and I think she really had a wonderful time with the celebration. I'm also planning a baby shower for one of my best-est friends EVER (she's due 4 weeks before me) and am trying to line up some rental properties in Charleston for us to see when we head down there next month. Also looking forward to a fun gathering with hubs' family in Cincinnati in a few weeks.

Here's my 26 week pic...

Happy 2nd Birthday, LO!!!

Everyone said time would fly.
Everyone said to enjoy her because she'd grow up before our eyes.
Everyone said we'd blink and she'd be a teenager.

Well... they were right.



Luckily, we're far from the teenage years. However, it's still so hard to believe it's been two years since we welcomed our precious little one into this world and into our lives. We never could have anticipated exactly how our lives would change once she arrived. Every day has been an adventure -- full of ups and downs -- but an adventure nonetheless. We are so blessed to call this sweet girl our daughter! God has truly given us an unspeakable joy and the truest form of love in our precious daughter.

It really is like watching your heart walk around outside your body. I never knew I could love someone the way I love my little one!

Happy 2nd Birthday,
My Sweet, Precious Girl!

Appointment Update

We met with Dr. Horne, our Pediatric Cardiologist this afternoon. My prayer list for the appointment was as follows:

1. Complete healing for our boy!
2. If not complete healing, then at least some kind of an improvement in his diagnosis.
3. If not complete healing nor an improvement, then at least no new "bad" news or any additional issues to be discovered.

I am pleased and so incredibly blessed to say that although God did not choose my Option 1 (and that's okay by me!), He did answer my other two prayers! We didn't spend a lot of time on the ultrasound, and there really wasn't anything significantly different than what we discussed at our previous appointment last month, but he did say something I found to be incredibly encouraging. He said something along the lines of Chase having sort of "a ventricle and a half," which basically sounded to me like his left ventricle isn't so small that it will be completely unable to do what it was intended to do. This doesn't change the outlook on the 3 surgeries we'll need, but it did make me feel encouraged. And I was also happy to hear that Chase's aorta isn't the smallest he's seen. In fact, he's had some babies without heart conditions that are born with smaller aorta's than Chase's is right now at just 25 weeks of development! I'm so very pleased that Dr. Horne didn't find any other unusual issues or problems. It appears we have a relatively "textbook case" of HLHS, which I'm actually thankful for! Our situation could be MUCH worse!

I was also encouraged by a conversation I had with Dr. Horne after hubs had to leave the room to take care of an extremely whiny LO. I mentioned an underlying fear in my mind about how I try not to think about the long-term prognosis for our son. I asked that if Chase made it successfully through all 3 surgeries (God willing), is it a guarantee that he'd require a heart transplant as a teenager or young adult? He indicated that was NOT the case at all. His oldest HLHS patients are only around 15, simply because these surgical treatments have not been happening for much more than 15 years. But he doesn't see any indication in his older patients that a heart transplant would be necessary. In fact, he further calmed my worries when he mentioned that he has non-HLHS patients who have had the 2nd and 3rd surgeries (basically the Fontan procedure) for a different type of heart problem, and those patients are in their 40s. So God definitely used this appointment to set my mind at ease about the one looming concern in my heart. He is SO GOOD!

We are so grateful and blessed to have the wonderful support and prayers of our family and friends. It is so evident that people are praying and that God is giving us the strength we need to handle this situation. I keep reminding myself of something my dear Uncle Darryl shared with me when I spoke with him the day after we received Chase's diagnosis. He told me that God chose us. He selected us to be our son's parents because He trusts us and knows we would be the best parents possible for this sweet child. I couldn't agree more. With God in control, we are confident we can make it through whatever comes our way!

Laminin

If you need a little reminder that you're not alone and that God is in control, take a look at this quick video. If you're praying for healing for yourself or a loved one, take a look at this quick video. If you are desperate for assurance from God that He is with you every moment of every day, take a look at this quick video.

I cannot tell you what an inspiration it was to hear the words of this video in my Sunday School class a few weeks ago. The speaker's name is Louie Giglio and he speaks God's truth in ways "normal people" (like myself) can understand. It has been so encouraging me to listen to this over and over and over again and to remind myself that God IS in control of every single detail of my life. He is the Ultimate Healer and my son's precious life is in His healing hands.

Again, I want to ask for your prayers this afternoon as we head to our appointment with the pediatric cardiologist. I pray for complete healing for my son, but I know that may not be God's will for his little life. So I also pray for some kind of improvement for his condition. I'm also asking God to keep him safe and prevent the doctor from finding any additional issues or problems with our sweet boy. Please be thinking of us and say a prayer for baby Chase!

Half of an Angel's Heart

I found this story on another HLHS blog. It brought tears to my eyes but also warmed my heart as we look forward to Chase's arrival in 3 short months.

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born.

One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you".

He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that she is just going for a visit. She is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down, and says, "How about if you leave half of your heart here with me and take the other half with you, will that be okay?"

The angel smiles and says, "I guess that will work". But the little angel is still a little scared. She asks, "Will I be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies, "Of course you will, I have other angels there that will help out, and you will be fine."

Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says, "When you are born, your mommy will be scared, so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart. Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh everyday. And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves."

-Author Unknown

On another note, please pray for us tomorrow afternoon as we have our second appointment with the Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Horne. My hope and prayer is that Chase's situation has improved in some way or another since it's been about 5 weeks since we saw Dr. Horne for the first time. We trust that God is in control and our faith is resting totally and completely in Him!

Monday Inspiration

"Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, "My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise...God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him...Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God's will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. 'Ask, and it will be given to you...' (Matthew 7:7)"

~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Good Morning!

Monday was a fun day. Hubs and I (okay, really it was all me) decided it was time to phase out the pacifier ("paci") with LO now that she'll be TWO a week from Saturday. She's only ever used it at nap time and night time, so I knew it shouldn't be too painful. However, she really does love her paci and her teddy bear when it's time for sleep. I dunno. We thought we'd give it a go anyway and see what happens.

A good friend of mine told me she had read that you can cut off the tip of the paci, causing it to lose it's suction ability. Then you just cut off a little bit every 2 or 3 days until there's not much left of it. Usually by that time the child has already given up on it.

So starting at Monday's nap time, I gave LO two pacis, both of which had been "snipped." I closed the door and before I even got to the living room, she was standing at her door, wailing. It only lasted about 12 minutes before she tired herself out and went to sleep. That night, it was pretty much the same.

She's done very well at both nap time and bed time, although the first several minutes are a struggle. Quite frankly, she's more irritated at her paci than anything else. She doesn't even bother with it, but that doesn't stop her from being mad about the situation (understandably).

We've noticed she's not sleeping as "heavy" or as much as she had been previously, but we figure that's just how it's gonna be from now on. Case in point? This morning, she woke up around 7AM (normally it's not until 8:30-ish) but I refused to get my lazy self out of bed. After all, she has an entire toy box in her room that could occupy her for hours (ha-ha). However, this morning, she apparently found a better use for her time:



Isn't that just lovely? One entire drawer emptied, another half-emptied, clothes taken off hangers in her closet AND "Pat the Bunny?" Another casualty of her boredom. You can see it all ripped up on the glider chair.

Oh, and that toy box FULL of toys?? Not even touched.

Good times.

My Daily Prayer

I recently received this prayer via email from a very good friend of mine. As I read through it, I truly felt this to be the prayer of my heart as well. It is such a comfort and encouragement to be know that we are not alone. God loves each and every one of us and desires to have a relationship with us. But it's our choice. He's waiting patiently for us to choose Him. He's ready and willing to help us in our times of desperation. He will be there for us no matter what comes our way. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father is in control of my circumstances and that He will see me through whatever comes my way.

---

Dear Lord,

I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

---

LO's Birthday Invitation

I mailed LO's birthday invitations last week -- only about 2-1/2 weeks before her party (versus the 6 weeks prior I sent them out last year! LOL!). I thought I'd share them with you guys. I have to totally, absolutely LOVED Vistaprint for printing my invitations (and other stuff, too!). You can download templates for Photoshop, InDesign, etc., create your invitation, and upload it for printing. I used them last year, too, and haven't been disappointed. The prices are VERY reasonable and with every order I've ever placed, they send me some kind of discount (up to 25% off) your next purchase. VERY NICE!

Anyway, here is LO's party invite. Of course I changed some of the original information to make it blog-safe. :)

24 Weeks!

Week and day: 24 weeks and 1 day

Belly Button in or out: Still in. :)

Wedding rings on or off: SO still on. And I finally took the time to have them cleaned by our jeweler. You would not BELIEVE how much these babies sparkle after a good professional cleaning! Woot!

Food cravings: Nothing specific, really. I have been living off of chocolate milk these past few weeks, though.

Food aversions: None.

Nausea: None! No other major pregnancy-related ailments, which I'm VERY grateful for! :)

Energy level: Same ol', same ol'. Nothing new to report here.

Weight gain: I'd guess somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 pounds, although with the way I'm feeling at this moment, it feels like 40 pounds!

Mood: Excited! I know God has a perfect plan for our son, and we are totally committed to Him and our trusting in Him every step of the way!

Maternity clothes: 24/7.

Size of baby: I swear it feels like he's quadrupled in size over the past 4 days, but he's just now over a pound and is almost 12 inches long.

Baby's changes: His body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Next appointment: July 15th for our regular OB appointment. July 22nd for our next appointment with the pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Horne. We'll also have an appointment at MUSC in Charleston, SC, around 32 weeks, which will be in September.

What I've been up to: LO's birthday is just under 2 weeks away, so I've been spending time getting ready for her party, figuring out what presents to buy her, etc. I'll post her party invitation on here tomorrow so you guys can see how cute (I think) it turned out. The other thing that has been consuming my time has been searching for properties in Charleston while we're at MUSC. I've been focusing on vacation properties since they are furnished and should have all of the basic amenities we'll need. But gracious! Has it ever been an arduous process! Finding a place that meets our needs, is in the right location (as close as possible to MUSC) and is in our budget is proving to be quite the task! But we know God is faithful and He will open the right doors and lead us to the place He already has in mind for us.

Here's my 24 week pic. Does it not look like my "baby bump" had at least doubled in size since week 22? Seriously. I'm feeling huge, and this baby still has a lot of growing to do!!!

That's Our Boy!

We are approaching 24 weeks! Isn't that exciting?! In some instances, it seems like this pregnancy is flying by. But at other times, it seems like we have a lifetime until we get to meet our son. Isn't he the cutest? :)


Hubs and I have been talking, and we decided it'd be so much easier for our friends and family to be praying for our son if they knew his name. So, although I've kept mine, hubs, LO and TO's names "secret" on this blog (for safety and security purposes), I do want to share our son's name so those of you who are reading this can be praying for him by name. So for future reference, our son--the adorable little guy in the picture above sucking his thumb--is named Chase.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

~Psalm 139:13-14

LO's Birthday Wishlist... (Not)

LO and I had some time to kill this morning, so we headed over to Toys R Us. For a little over an hour, I let her run around like a crazy-child and check out all the toys. She was in heaven! Around almost every corner, you'd hear an "Oh, my goodness! A BIG (fill-in-the-blank)." Whether it was a puppy, a Mickey Mouse somethin-or-other, Yo Gabba Gabba toy or Thomas the Train (she has varied interests, people!), it was always an "Oh, my goodness!" Too cute!

You should have SEEN her when she hit the jackpot aisle. All of those motorized cars? Gracious. It was nothing short of hilarious. She went from car to car, climbing into the driver's seat, pressing buttons, then moving on to the next one. She's so crazy! Granted, she won't be seeing one of these anytime soon, but it sure was fun to watch her act a fool!

Elmo Cake

Okay, so for LO's birthday, I've pretty much decided I AM going to make her cake. See, I love to bake and decorate cakes, and I'm all about putting in the effort required (and there is a LOT required) to make something spectacular for a big event like my daughter's birthday. Now, I'm ready for some inspiration.

I've been looking online for a great idea that I can duplicate myself. But, whoa is me! You would not believe the cakes I've found out there! Check these out...

People, there is nothing that says, "A professional did NOT make this cake" like using (and writing on) foil as the base. I'm pretty sure there's a cookie sheet under there.


I don't have words for this one. It's like someone skinned Elmo and this is what was left. No fur for you!!


This close-up is just too close for my taste. Such an interesting texture for this Elmo, yes? At least he's a bit more proportioned than our skinned Elmo friend above with his big ol' orange nose. But again, with the foil?? Come on.

This one probably scares me the most. The blue tint used to outline Elmo? Why? And the writing leaves a bit to be desired. I know I specifically requested there NOT be cursive writing on my daughter's 1st birthday cake. Not that she could read it any better than printing, but I guess it was just principle.

So I guess I'm back to the drawing board. I want to make a cake that includes Elmo on it, but isn't made 100% of nasty red icing. I also wouldn't mind incorporating some elements from "Elmo's World" (like crayons, Dorothy the fish, etc.) since that's where LO's love of Elmo began. I'll continue to scour the Internet for inspiration and will be sure to share any other disasters I may come across for your viewing enjoyment.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe and happy holiday celebration!

 

13 Months of Blogging!

So I missed my blog's 1-year anniversary last month! How lame is that? I guess you can say I've been a bit preoccupied lately. Anywho, I figure I'll just celebrate today as my 13 month blog anniversary instead! Woot!

I clearly remember the circumstances that prompted my very first blog post. It was the worst dining out experience hubs, LO and I have had to date, and for those of you who know us personally, that is saying a LOT! Take a gander at that post and relive the wonderful memories.

On a semi-related note, I was just asked what must absolutely be the dumbest question I've ever heard in my life. I was ordering some take-out from a local Mexican restaurant, Anita's, and this is how it went down:

Me: "Yes, I'd like to place an order for take-out, please?"
Them: "Okay. What would you like?"
Me: "I'd like one chicken soft taco."
Them: "One chicken soft taco. Okay..."
Me: "One beef soft taco."
Them: "Beef as in cow??"
Me: (dumbfounded) "Excuse me?!"
Them: "Beef as in cow??"
Me: (still very perplexed) "Um, yes...?"
Them: "Okay. One beef soft taco."

I finished the rest of my order, and was told it would be 15-20 minutes. No problem.

I hung up the phone and told hubs he would NOT believe the question I was just asked. He was just as speechless as I was.

Seriously, is there such a thing as beef as in something other than cow??

Thoughts

It's been 16 days since hubs and I received our precious son's shocking diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). It's strange to feel as if life has returned to normal, albeit a "new" normal. Hubs and I have remained extremely positive about our son's future, regardless of the many hurdles we know we'll be facing in a matter of months. It's still so scary to read about the experiences others have had who have been in the same situation as us. There are so many variables to take into account--several of which we don't even know about yet! It's still so early in our pregnancy (23 weeks! what?!) that we've only met with the Pediatric Cardiologist once and we have yet to meet the OB and surgical teams that will deliver and operate on our boy (that will happen around 32 weeks when we visit MUSC). We've started talking and thinking about the various housing options that will be available once we relocate to Charleston for the baby's birth and surgery in October. Our best guess is that we'll live there for a good 2 months -- through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I'm hopeful we can find a furnished rental somewhat close to the hospital for a decent price -- we need to make wherever we are our "home" so life can be as normal for LO as possible. Wow. There's just so much to be thinking about and planning for, and we haven't even had a chance to ask all of our questions yet or get a good "scoop" on things from the staff at MUSC! I know God is with us through this journey and He already has worked out the details. He has a perfect plan for our little boy and we're just along for the ride! I guess there's really no point to these random thoughts... I'm just unloading some of the stuff swirling around in my head.

While there is a lot to be thinking about regarding the joyous event of bringing our son into this world and ensuring his health, I am trying to stay somewhat focused on planning LO's birthday party! She'll be TWO in just over 3 weeks! I have her invitations and will be sending them out next week (not 6 weeks early like last time!). I've already purchased all of her gifts (can't WAIT to see her reaction to one in particular). All that's left is confirming with myself that I'm up to the task of making her cake and also figuring out what the lunch menu will be. I still have time though, right??

Sorry for the randomness of this post, folks. I'll try to do better next time!

Chocolatey Goodness

Okay, I can't explain it. I've been drinking chocolate milk like it's going out of style lately. I guess I can consider it a pregnancy craving. But it can't be that pre-made chocolate milk, or that nasty Yoo-Hoo junk. I have to make it myself each time, using 1% milk and Hershey's chocolate syrup. I'm telling you, I'm drinking two LARGE glasses with dinner each night, a big ol' glass at breakfast, and even more during the day as a "snack" of sorts. I guess the baby is craving some serious calcium, but only if it's chocolate.

Yum!

Shake it, Dancing Queen!

I couldn't help but share this little (tiny, actually) video of LO from our neighborhood's pool party Saturday night. They were playing "The Cupid Shuffle" (a song I've never heard of before -- when did I get so out of the loop?!) and all of the kids jumped out of the pool to get their dance on.

Well, of course, you KNOW my little one wouldn't want to be left out of the dancing spot light! She busted her own little moves and I captured them on my totally lame cell phone. Obviously next year I'm going to need to bring our mini-DV video camera so I can capture footage worthy of her amazing skills!

Seriously, I'm not even sure you can see her in this video... she's the tiny little person in the greenish-colored suit. And yes, that's mommy telling her to "shake it!" Enjoy!

For the Locals

For all of my local readers, I wanted to invite you to join my church as our choir and orchestra present a Night of Worship on Saturday, July 11th at 6:30 PM. As you all may or may not know, I play the piano for my church, and we have been working hard to put together an evening of praise and worship music that will minister to each and every person who is able to attend. We will be doing a variety of classics as well as some new soon-to-be favorites.

If you live in the area, please consider joining us for this exciting event! You won't want to miss it!

New Look!

I hope you guys like the new look of my blog! I was ready for something "fresh" and "clean" (read: I was tired of looking at the same old thing everyday).

I figure I'll be spending LOTS of time out here as I journal our progress through having another baby -- a baby who also happens to have HLHS. I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about and wanted to change things up a bit.

If you like it, lemme know! If you don't like it, lemme know! :)

22 Weeks!

Wow. A lot has changed since my last pregnancy update post at 20 weeks. As you already know, our precious baby boy has been diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). It was a real shock to hubs and I and certainly not something I had ever read about in my "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book. But I will say that God has been faithful to us and has given us the strength we've needed to process and accept the diagnosis and begin planning for the tough journey ahead of us.

As I think I mentioned earlier, we are treating this pregnancy the same was we did with LO. I'm looking forward to the joys ahead of us. I've already felt a LOT of movement from our little guy on a daily basis, and it's getting to where hubs can feel it, too. I think it's only a matter of time before we can get LO to feel it as well. I can't even imagine what her reaction will be!

Enough rambling... here we go!

Week and day: 22 weeks

Belly Button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: SO still on. Random note to self: I really need to get them cleaned by our jeweler. They sparkle so pretty when he cleans them!

Food cravings: Meat. Ya, pretty much any kind of meat these days. I've eaten chicken, steak, sausage -- even hot dogs! ((GASP!!)) I also get random cravings for water -- and drink it like I've been stuck on a deserted island for 3 weeks! Weird.

Food aversions: None. Still no sweet tooth, though.

Nausea: None! Woot!!! But, let's talk about this heartburn stuff. It is NOT fun. I never had heartburn until I was pregnant with LO. And I really haven't had any this time around until the past 2 weeks or so. Everything seems to give me heartburn: pizza, chicken -- even water! Ugh. I got me some Tums all up over the house.

Energy level: It's about the same as usual. Always wish I had more of it! I had a REALLY rough day last Thursday. It was almost an out-of-body experience. It was all I could do to BREATHE -- and even that wore me out. It was really strange having breathing problems and weird chest pains that I've never experienced before. But ultimately I think it was just my body saying "PLEASE give me a break!! Just a few hours! PLEASE?! I need some "time off" from the craziness to recoup and recover from a difficult 2 weeks!" The next evening, when hubs came home, I reintroduced myself to him as his wife since the person I was all day Thursday was NOT the real me. I'm guessing I need to do a better job of taking care of myself. We've got a long and difficult journey ahead of us!

Weight gain: Right now I'm sitting at 9 pounds. Not too bad for 22 weeks, but I'm sure I'll start packing it on big time sooner rather than later!

Mood:Anxious. I'm looking forward to meeting our son in about 18 weeks, but I am very anxious about the journey we will begin once he's here. I'm leaving it all in God's hands, but, being the planner that I am, it's so hard to not have any idea what lies around the corner. God is faithful -- He will see us through whatever comes our way!

Maternity clothes: A necessity at this point (see pic below if further clarification is needed).

Size of baby: About 11 inches in length and weighs almost a full pound! He's getting so big!

Baby's changes: His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Next appointment: July 15th for our regular OB appointment. We'll also have another appointment with the Pediatric Cardiologist next month, but that one hasn't been scheduled yet. We'll also have an appointment at MUSC in Charleston, SC, around 32 weeks, which will be in September.

Here it is... my 22 week pic. Yes, I'm wearing lounge clothes again, and yes, it appears that I'm in the same pants as my 20 week pic. Did I mention I like my lounge clothes? Oh, and HOW HUGE AM I!? I'm just over halfway there, and I feel like a COW!

Shopaholic

I've been going CRAZY with online shopping lately. Most of it has been for LO's birthday, but a lot of it was just 'cause I had a coupon or there was a sale or some other semi-legitimate reason for me to spend money. Check out some of my latest purchases:

A birthday gift for LO. She's really into "hiding" lately and we just know she'll love having this to play with.Another birthday gift. The cute little pink preschool backpack from Pottery Barn with her name embroidered on it. She will be starting 2-day, morning-only preschool in the Fall.


A few indulgences (all on sale!) for LO:





And not to leave mommy out of the shopping spree:

Did I mention I also scored more loot during a trip to Old Navy Friday morning? More fun stuff for LO and a couple of maternity tanks for mommy. Good times!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Please pardon the randomness of this post. I have a variety of things going through my head right now and felt like I should give you all the joy of taking a peek inside my head (you're welcome!).

• LO's 2nd birthday party is a mere FOUR WEEKS away! I'm so excited for her but at the same time am trying to grasp the fact that my teeny, tiny baby girl is already a toddler -- well on her way to being a big girl! Ack! When did that happen!? Planning for this party is already SO much different than planning her 1st birthday. I guess that's probably normal, right? Last year, I sent her invitations out SIX WEEKS before her party! Whaa? Ya, seriously. I spent months planning every single detail of her party, choosing the perfect presents and finding just the right "1st Birthday Princess" hat for her to wear. This time around, I'm going way low-key. I did create her Elmo party invitations myself (I'll share them here after they're sent out so you can see how cute they were!), and I'm planning to make her Elmo cake myself (that one should be interesting). But for the most part, it'll be a laid-back party, focusing on the last year of our precious daughter's wonderful life, and the extraordinary impact she's had on those who love her.


• I feel like hubs and I have settled into the news about our baby boy's diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. It was such a HUGE SHOCK the first few hours, days -- really, since we've heard the news. I wasn't sure "life" was going to return to any semblance of "normal" after that bombshell, but I'm happy to say hubs and I are dealing with it the best we can, and we certainly know God is with us and helping us through it. We're grateful we found out when we did so we can make all the necessary arrangements for the baby's delivery and first surgery. I won't lie, though -- it has taken away some of the joy and excitement I was feeling about this pregnancy before we heard the news. But I don't plan to do anything differently. I hope to have as similar a pregnancy with our son as I did with LO. We know God will give us the strength we need to handle each and every step on this journey.


• What is it with people who don't respond to emails? I mean, seriously, I understand people are busy with work, life, family, etc. But when you email someone essentially an invitation to a certain event, and they don't even respond with a "yes", "no", or "I got your email but don't know for sure if I can make it or not" response, really, what's up with that!? I have to say that is a HUGE pet peeve of mine and it's been happening a LOT lately with both close friends and some of my family. It is so simple and easy to hit "Reply" and type a few words to indicate whether or not you'll be joining the festivities. I'm not looking for a dissertation on why you can or can't attend -- just the simple human decency of a response. Really, is that too much to ask?


• I was totally bummed (although not surprised) to hear the "big announcement" Monday night about Jon & Kate getting divorced. I know, people are tired of hearing about all their drama, but any time I hear about a family going through divorce -- especially one with children involved -- it really breaks my heart. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for a lifetime. I see no reason why (if they truly love their children) they wouldn't do EVERY SINGLE THING in their power to work out their differences. Sorry to get so personal on my views here, but hey, it IS my blog so I can share my opinion any ol' time I want to!


• The June recipe on my Betty Crocker calendar is Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies. YUM!! I'm planning to make them tomorrow for a family pot-luck we're having on Sunday afternoon. I'll have to let you all know how wonderful they turn out, but until then, here's a pic:

• I am totally stoked that Big Brother starts on July 7th. This is one of those reality shows I get sucked into every year. I'm ready for some random distraction I can count on each week. Bring on the crazies!

Smile!

This picture brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. It doesn't matter what I'm thinking or feeling, or in what circumstances I find myself in. Just a quick glance at this photo (currently my desktop wallpaper) helps me to know that everything is going to be okay.

The Diagnosis

This is the hardest blog post I've ever had to write. It's been almost a week that hubs and I have been reeling with the information that was provided to us, and I'm writing about it here in a genuine and sincere attempt to ask for your prayers as we head into the difficult journey that lies ahead.

On Monday, June 15th, hubs, LO and I headed to my 20-week ultrasound appointment with the anticipation of seeing images of our little boy. The ultrasound seemed relatively normal, measuring this and that, listening to the heartbeat, watching our son squirm around in his safe little home.

We waited what seemed like forever for the doctor to come in for the quick "any questions?" discussion, where we would say no, we're good to go.

Unfortunately, the doctor said something to us about not having very clear images of the baby's heart, and that she wanted us to visit a specialist who had more advanced equipment that could capture the pictures of the heart that were needed. She told us not to worry, that 9 times out of 10 it's nothing, don't be concerned, etc.

Miraculously I was able to heed her advice and not worry about the appointment that had been scheduled for us on Thursday, a good 3 days later. I was surprised to get a call not long after we left the 20-week appointment to tell us there was availability for us to come Tuesday, the very next day, for the appointment with the specialist. We jumped on it, just so we could hurry up and get our peace of mind back.

On Tuesday, June 16th, hubs and I left LO with Mona and met at the specialist's office for our ultrasound appointment. We were taken back and the technician started the ultrasound. She did some of the same measurements they had done the day before, and I patiently waited for her to give us an "all clear."

To my utter shock and horror, I vividly remember her muttering the phrase "I won't pretend that every is okay..." as she was trying to coerce the baby to move into the right positions so she could get a look at exactly what was going on. She left the room and brought the specialist, Dr. Greig, back in with her, and had him continue with the ultrasound. He was focusing on our son's heart, although all we could see was the black and white image surrounded with red and blue blotches that apparently indicated blood flow.

The doctor then dropped a completely unexpected bomb on us which we were not prepared to handle. He told us that it appeared our son had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). We were in utter disbelief. We had never heard of either of these conditions and immediately wanted to know what the impact would be for our unborn son.

We left the ultrasound room and waited for the specialist in a tiny little room where he would come in and explain a bit more about these conditions. It felt like an eternity in that little room, our minds racing and buzzing with all of the "what ifs" and "how did this happen" etc.

The doctor finally came in and explained to us that HLHS is one of the most complex and rare congenital heart conditions in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped. With HLHS, the left side of the heart can't effectively pump blood to the body, so the right side of the heart must pump blood both to the lungs and to the rest of the body. Without treatment, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is FATAL, usually within the first few days of life.

The doctor attempted to provide 4 options to us, the first of which was termination of the pregnancy. I wouldn't even let him get the words out of his mouth before interrupting to tell him that wasn't an option. The next option was called "comfort care" where the baby is born and you do basically nothing but hold and love him until he passes, within the first few days of his life. Again, NOT an option. The third option was a heart transplant, in which case it would be very unlikely to find a new heart for our son within the first few days of his life. The final option was the ONLY option for us. It involves a three-step surgical procedure designed to create normal blood flow in and out of the heart, allowing the body to receive the oxygen-rich blood it needs. It is by no means a permanent "fix" to the problem, but rather a way to surgically reconstruct the heart to make it more likely to perform the functions of a regular heart.

As you might imagine, we were completely devastated at the diagnosis, and for the next 24-48 hours, we were totally numb as we both attempted to digest the information and wrap our minds around what was in store for us. We felt totally deflated, and the joy and anticipation of the pregnancy and of expecting a new baby were completely lost.

We struggled through the first week, telling only immediate family and a few close friends about our situation. It was a very difficult and trying time, most of which I spent researching HLHS on the Internet, finding both uplifting, positive information as well as deflating, disappointing, heart wrenching information.

So finally today arrives, Monday, June 22nd. We had our appointment with a Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Horne. While we weren't expecting the diagnosis to change, we were hopeful that he wouldn't find any additional problems with the baby or his heart. Dr. Horne did confirm the diagnosis of HLHS and confirmed the baby would need the 3 surgeries in order to live.

While we are still reeling with the information and are devastated to learn that our baby has a serious and rare heart defect, we are trusting in God for His hand of healing and protection on our son. We know He is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine, and will continue to trust in Him throughout this journey.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers as we face an uncertain future. I will update the blog as often as possible/necessary throughout this process. I don't have another appointment scheduled until July 15th, so there hopefully won't be much of anything to share about the baby and his heart problem, but I will also continue to post about the fun and random things that happen to us and our precious LO. Can you believe she'll be TWO in just over a month? I'll be working on party details soon, so you can look forward to hearing more about that, too!

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Random Moments of Joy

Hubs and I have had a rough couple of days. And it's only the beginning. But I thought it would be a good idea to share some joy and focus on the positive things in life. Right now the most positive thing in our lives is our precious LO. Here are some random moments with her that have brought us joy.

She was supposed to be eating her breakfast, but was distracted by something on the TV. I know this picture isn't great, but she was literally frozen in place for several moments with her arms up in tiny fists. Her concentration was hilarious:


Earlier this week we rode to work with daddy so he could pick up some things he needed. LO and I waited for him in the car, where she found the way-too-oversized sunglasses I had bought for her a few weeks ago. Here she is being her darling little self:



Thursday night, we decided LO needed a "time out for fun" and we headed to a local indoor fun park. It started with dinner at Johnny Rockets (YUM! Smoke House Single for mommy: Cheddar cheese, thick bacon, crispy onion rings & "Smoke House" barbecue-ranch sauce. Delish!), then it was time to play! LO enjoyed the little carousel most of all. She's been talking about the horses all day!



At the end of the fun park experience, LO got to choose some cheesy toys with her whopping 89 tickets. We ended up with a star flapper thingy, a red plastic maraca, a stuffed "Cars" toy and a bracelet. Here she is showing off her "loot" before we left:

We are so very blessed to have LO in our lives. God is so good!

 

Update

Hello, friends. I know it's been several days since I've posted, and I'm sorry for that. Unfortunately, hubs and I received some devastating news earlier this week and are reeling with the reality of it all. So much information to process, so overwhelming, feelings of helplessness and fear.

I will share our news with you dear readers once I am able to. In the meantime, I cannot help but ask for your prayers as hubs and I face an uncertain future.

Eyelid Laceration

My poor child. We spent Sunday afternoon at the Emergency Room after LO had a bit of an accident that morning. Hubs and I were "volunteering" in the Toddler Nursery at our church during the morning worship service. There was one particular child that was all up in LO's business the entire morning--wanting every toy she was playing with, all but sitting on her lap during snack time, wandering into the way while LO was on the swings, etc. She eventually "gently urged" (read: pushed) LO into a table because she wanted the mat LO was standing on. LO hit the table -- head first -- and ricocheted onto the floor, bumping her head a second time. I picked up the offender and moved her out of the way while hubs rushed to LO's rescue. Immediately he noticed the bleeding gash over her right eye. We put a cold wet paper towel on it, grabbed a baggy of ice and headed out.

I called my mom, who happens to be a NICU nurse at a nearby hospital. She said to keep the ice on it to help prevent swelling and that it probably wouldn't need stitches. We stopped by the hospital where she works so she could see it for herself, and because LO was asking to see her Mona.

My mom looked at it and decided it might actually need a stitch or two, and recommended we take LO downtown to another hospital that is equipped with a pediatric emergency unit. We loaded LO up and were on our way. I kept trying to apply the ice for a minute or two at a time even though LO had a fit each time. I hated doing it but I knew it was in her best interest.

We arrived at the ER, checked in, and waited about 10 minutes before we were moved to the Pediatric ER waiting area. We were the only ones in there. Whew! I figured it couldn't be that busy on Sunday morning! A few minutes later, we were taken back to a small room with a crib, were given a tiny little gown for LO, and were seen by a nurse. It was a good 30 minutes before the doctor made his appearance.

He looked it over, we discussed the options, and we decided to let them put some numbing stuff on her eye for 20 minutes so the doctor could get a better look at the laceration, and possibly, if needed, put a few stitches in. After 20 minutes, hubs went looking for the nurse. She said the stuff needed to stay on 30 minutes.

Okay. Fine.

We waited another 30 minutes (keep in mind LO had 2 band-aids over her eye holding this numbing stuff in place, and had to do our best to keep it from oozing into her eye, causing who-knows-what kind of damage if it were to get into her eye) before the doctor and his team of 3 or 4 nurses came in to help hold my precious baby girl down while the doctor took a look at her injury. I was there to hold her hand and whisper in her ear (over her ear-piercing cries) that everything was gonna be okay.

The doctor ultimately decided the laceration was relatively superficial and wouldn't require any stitches. His diagnosis required us to simply put some Neosporin on the gash twice a day for the next 3-4 days.

Sweet.

We will end up paying in the neighborhood of $1,000 for a 3-hour trip to the Emergency Room so a doctor could prescribe Neosporin for our daughter's laceration.

Ultimately, our peace of mind is well worth it. I would've hated myself if we had just taken her home only to find out 2 days later that the wound was infected, needed stitches, and she'd need a round of antibiotics to clear it up.

Here's a pic of our precious girl at the hospital:

20 Weeks!

We're half-way there! It's still so hard to believe how quickly this pregnancy has progressed! Although, I'm pretty sure these last 20 weeks -- especially the last 8 or so -- will most definitely drag out like crazy! Ack!

Week and day: 20 weeks

Belly Button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: SO still on.

Food cravings: Chicken and cheeseburgers! So much for my old vegetarian lifestyle!

Food aversions: None. I still don't have a big sweet tooth, which is so totally strange for me.

Nausea: None! Woot!!!

Energy level: It's about the same as usual. Always wish I had more of it!

Weight gain: I'm guessing about 1o pounds, but I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

Mood: Really, really excited!

Maternity clothes: I'm in 'em. Pants, capris, shorts, bathing suits, etc. Still wearing some regular tops since I don't have any reason not to!

Size of baby: He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now and is around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana!

Baby's changes: He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

Next appointment: June 15th - tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing some new pics of our little guy!

Here it is... my 20 week pic. Sorry for the lounge clothes... I was too lazy to dress up for the photo! Ha!

Jackpot!

Last weekend, hubs, LO and I headed over to the baby furniture store to see about getting the baby's furniture. Since our original order could not be officially placed (unfortunately the awesome store is going out of business), we were able to select a set from the floor displays. It worked out in our benefit because we were able to get several items we need for the baby's room at about a 30% discount!

We ended up with the Munire Urban lifetime crib and 5-drawer dresser, a mattress and a new glider/rocker combo with ottoman. While the sales associate was writing up our order, I happened to notice -- SO at the almost last minute! -- they DID have the Jungle Tales crib bedding on display as well! I was SO surprised! I was able to get the 6-piece set, lamp AND mobile! I was totally stoked! So the only items we still want as far as room decor goes is the 3-piece wall hanging and the night light! What a deal!

I'm sort of at a standstill right now because I can't put the baby's room together yet. Hubs and I have been in discussions to have the carpet replaced throughout the house. It's gonna run us about $1,500 (did I mention hubs is in the process of building a deck, too!?) and ultimately, I'm just not sure it'll be worth it. I'm gonna look into the idea of having all of the carpets super-cleaned, removing all the furniture from all the rooms, etc., having them spot treated, etc. so that they're basically like-new. I'm guessing this will run us about $500. I think this is a decent compromise that requires slightly less effort (and money)! Once the carpets are either cleaned or replaced, I can start setting up the room. The walls are already painted a lovely cream color, I already purchased the window treatments, and we've just about got the room emptied out of miscellaneous junk.

It's hard to believe we'll be 20 weeks next Sunday! This pregnancy is flying by -- perhaps more so than the first one because this time I have LO around to keep me busy and entertained!

Bummed Out!

I just found out that the retail store where we purchased the baby's bedroom furniture is going out of business. I hate this because it's a really great store, with awesome, well-priced merchandise and is owned by a wonderful Christian family. I'm further bummed because the bedroom furniture we ordered a mere two weeks ago apparently cannot and will not be "officially" ordered. So unless we find another store that sells this line of furniture, I may need to choose new stuff instead of the lovely Bonavita Metro collection in Licorice (a black finish) we ordered. Here it is again, just to look at and sigh...

On the bright side, I may have found another option. It's the Urban collection by Munire. Check it:


It's very similar to the Metro line, but it unfortunately doesn't come in the dark black finish. This pic is Espresso, which still looks a lot like Cherry to me.

Oh, well. We should know more by this weekend about what our options are and what we decide to do.

Surprise!

Wow! You guys really surprised me! I set you guys up and almost all of you agreed you liked the SAME bedding set I already fell in love with! It's the Jungle Tales set:

I will admit that this photo makes the nursery out to be VERY busy, which ours will not at all be. We'll have the crib bedding stuff, a valence, a lamp, a night-light, a mobile and the three little wall hangings. But we ain't goin' crazy with all those dots everywhere! No diaper stacker (in my experience those things are useless!) nor a hamper (again, useless) nor the wall border. No monkey rug, either, since the baby's room is carpeted -- although I do think it is a cute rug!

Probably because I think the monkey rug is so cute, I've decided on which Angel Dear blankie I'll have for the baby. LO is hooked on the brown teddy bears, and this little guy is gonna get monkeys!


Is it wrong that I'm already working on a baby registry at only 18 weeks? I'm such a planner, and I can't help that I'm so stinkin' excited about adding a baby boy to our family mix. Plus, I love shopping for stuff that I (hopefully) won't end up paying for! I already told hubs our baby registry will be lean and mean this time around. A couple of towels, a blue blanket and some diapers is about all we're in need of! Should be fun!

Jungle Fever

Out of sheer joy and excitement, I have already started looking for the perfect nursery ensemble for our son's room. For some reason, I'm not in a "slap-a-crap-load-of-blue-up-all-over-the-place" kind of mood. For LO's room, we went with the Clothes Line bedding by Kidsline. It was simple, not too "pink-y" and was just perfect for our precious girl. So for this boy, I'm not planning to go overboard with a butt-load of BLUE everywhere. For some reason, I think I've got jungle fever! I like the idea of animals as a theme for our little boy's room.

So, I've found three options that I'm considering. Now, I haven't spent a TON of time researching the available options out there, so I'm sure I'll probably come across other ideas I like as we get closer to my due date. But for now, I thought I'd present these three options and allow my blog reader(s?) to voice their thoughts/opinions. Of course I do have my favorite of these three, but I'll wait until after you weigh in to share!

Option 1: Jungle 123 by Kidsline


Option 2: Jungle Tales by Nojo


Option 3: Jackson by Cocalo


Thoughts? Comments? This inquiring mind wants to know!

18 Weeks!

Okay, honestly, it just doesn't seem like there are big enough changes from week to week to justify posting a weekly pregnancy update. So, I think I'm gonna just stick to the even weeks and provide these updates every other week instead!

Week and day: 18 weeks and 1 day

Belly Button in or out: Totally still IN. I don't expect it to pop out--ever.

Wedding rings on or off: SO on. Starting to get a little bit tight first thing in the morning but then not so bad the rest of the day. I have noticed a little rash on my finger under the rings so I'm guessing they're rubbing a lot more during the day. I really don't look forward to having to take them off because LO was close to 4 months old before I was able to put them back on!!

Food cravings: Still craving chicken--especially BBQ and Buffalo-style--but now I've added a bit of a sweet tooth. Hubs, LO and I went out for dinner with some great friends and their little 2-1/2 year old son Saturday night, and we stopped at Marble Slab Creamery afterward. Hubs, LO and I split a Swiss Chocolate ice cream with mini chocolate chips mixed in. It was DIVINE! We're planning to run by there again tonight for more, and will probably end up with a quart or two to bring home! Yum!

Food aversions: None, really. I haven't had big issues with foods, smells or anything specific with this pregnancy, which has been really nice!

Nausea: Pretty much over it completely (knock on wood!). I did have a nasty stomach bug or food poisoning last Thursday and was MISERABLE the entire day. I was puking and stuff and it was awful! So glad it was temporary!

Energy level: Haven't been able to find it since I was 14 years old!

Weight gain: At last check, I've gained a total of 6 pounds so far. I'm sure this will start increasing all too soon!

Mood: Really excited!

Maternity clothes: I'm desperate. I've been wearing some of the maternity clothes I bought when I was pregnant with LO, but now I'm either sick of some of them or they don't fit. I'm planning to hit up Gap and Old Navy tomorrow when I can save an extra 10% with my Gap Silver card! Thank goodness for the 1st Tuesday of every month! :)

Size of baby: Right now, he's about 5 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 7 ounces.

Baby's changes: He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that I've already begun feeling! I can't wait for hubs and LO to be able to feel this little guy moving around!

Next appointment: June 15th - the big 20 week ultrasound appointment! Should have some more pics of our little guy to share after this appointment!

Other: We DID purchase the Bonavita Metro crib and tall dresser in the Licorice (black) finish last weekend. The baby's room is painting and ALMOST all of the junk in his room has found a new place to stay or has been donated. Hubs is pushing along on the deck -- he plans to be done by the end of the month. Also, we're really looking forward to a beach trip next week with some of our dear friends! Life is good and we are so thankful to be so blessed!

Okay, so here's the 18 week photo... Sorry to be so lame by taking the pic with my cell phone instead of my awesome Nikon D60.