Spring is sprouting

Okay, so I haven't kept my promise to post every week with weekly updates...but you must understand how busy I am. :) Hee! Hee! Anyway, for some updates...in the last couple weeks we have celebrated 2 birthdays, Kayle's 2nd and Brody's 7th. So we have eaten lots of cake in the last couple weeks. Kayle's grandma and grandpa from Colorado came to visit to help us celebrate for her birthday the last weekend in March. The birthday theme was cake and circus. All Kayle wanted was "cake" for her birthday, but she also got to spend lots of time with her grandparents and went to the circus two times and saw the "lions...rooaarrr!" and "elephants sit." She thought she was a big cheese and appeared to feel very special on her birthday weekend. All the excitement wore her out and she needed a few days to recover and take long naps afterward. We also celebrated Brody's 7th birthday yesterday. It was a Lego theme and he played lots of legos and Creationary with the family all day long. Grace decorated his carrot cake and did a wonderful job. It was delicious. And he wanted Grandpa's mini English muffin pizzas for his special dinner. My weekly visits with the doctor have been good the last two weeks. My amniotic fluid levels dropped due to the contraction meds I am taking. So my meds were reduced, and the next week my fluid levels doubled. So that was good news. We have had great news each time we go to the doctor. I am even getting up and sitting outside more with the warm weather, still eating all meals with the family at the table, changing a few diapers when Kayle brings me the diaper and wipes, etc. So I have sort of pushed my bedrest limits a little, but the bedrest is paying off as shown by the good doctor reports. My original goal was to be able to stay at home at least until May, but I'm starting to think that maybe I can stay at home and not have to go into the hospital until this little girl arrives. How great would that be!?!?! It has been so much easier on bedrest at home than in the hospital. Kayle continues to keep me entertained everyday, along with my nieces and nephew. There is never a dull moment around here. The only other thing I have been dealing with is an ear infection. I have taken two rounds of antibiotics, yet it is still lingering. So I will need to follow-up with my family doctor next week to see what we can do next. Allergies seem to be effecting a lot of us. We all seem to be walking around with runny noses and/or congested sinuses. Kayle also has the ongoing runny, stuffy nose. But this too shall pass. :) I'm looking forward to this weekend as the weather forcasts for 80 to 90 degree temperatures. The pool was opened this week and even though we won't be swimming for another month, it is nice to look at and see open. Spring is here and summer is coming...so is this baby girl. :) 27 weeks gestation...85 days on bedrest thus far.

Week at glance continued...

So as I started to share last posting...Kayle has kept us entertained this week. Her comments and behaviors surprise us and amaze us. She is growing up so fast. Her birthday is this Friday and her G'ma and G'pa from Colorado are coming to visit to help us celebrate her 2nd birthday. She will be going to the circus and swimming at the hotel for her birthday. And of course, she has told us several times that she wants "white cake, pink fosting."
As far as an update on me...I got another good report from my doctor this week. Baby and fluid levels are doing well. Bedrest and contraction meds continue to work. I have added anti-biotics though for an ear infection that has been bothering me. They can be so painful. But otherwise, I'm doing well.
The big news here is Kayle's weekend and G'parents visiting her this weekend. My next doctor visit is next Monday again.

Kayle's Funny Week

This week has been hectic and humorous, and it's only Tuesday. Kayle has been a good sport going with the flow and supplied us with lots of laughs. On Monday G'ma took Kayle to the library for her toddler time. Kayle met two little friends and said," See next time!" Also said thank you to Ms. Laura for reading books. Then, G'ma went to the grocery. They rushed home, ate lunch, and headed back to the car so we could go to my doctor appointment in Nashville. G'ma and Kayle have been taking me to the doctor for the last month since Brett's schedule has changed. The three of us have our Monday routine down. Kayle knows how to be quiet in the lobby, where I have to get checked by the nurse. We wait in chairs in the hallway until we go into the ultra sound room. She tells everyone she's there to see her quote "Baby sister mommy tummy." Yesterday while waiting for the ultra sound in the hallway, Kayle had quite audible wind on her tummy. G'ma and I could not help ourselves from laughing, as she continued to share her noisy wind! Today Kayle put a rasberry Crystal Light packet in G'pa's ground coffee mix. Now he's going to have rasberry flavored coffee. We'll finish later!

Weekly update

Sorry that I have not posted for quite a while, since January 2011. I have been so busy...NOT! :) But we have been adjusting to me being on bedrest. I have been on bedrest since January 14, 2011. What is that...62 days already!? The good news is that I have been able to be on bedrest at home this whole time. And I am so thankful for that. My mom and family has been taking wonderful care of me. Kayle has been entertaining me, along with my nieces and nephew. It is rare for a dull moment around here. :) Kayle keeps me entertained by dancing for me, watching movies with me, reading books with me, coloring/drawing with me, cuddling with me, and just being her silly, bossy, confident self. It has been such a blessing to be able to be home with her this winter/spring. I would have never had that opportunity otherwise. And she has adjusted very well to me being in bed and not able to get up with her or carry her. She has learned how to crawl up into my bed, crawl all over me, and get her own snacks/treats if she needs it. :) She is currently working on potty training herself too. :) Of course, my mom, dad, and family all help with her 24/7. But she is an independent little one.
As for how I am doing, I continue to take it one day at a time. I am almost at 24 weeks along. Contractions started for me 2 weeks ago, and doctors put me on a medication to help lessen the contractions. The medication and bedrest continue to work so far. I am visiting the doctor weekly in Nashville for check-ups. And we know that hospitalization is very much probable, but we take it one day/week at a time. My goal is to be able to stay at home until the end of April or May. And my goal for carrying this baby is at least until May (32 weeks gestation). But, like Kayle, this little girl may not want to join us until June or July which would be wonderful. We are prepared for whatever happens.
My ultrasound this week estimated that she already weighs 1 lb, 6 oz. and is at the 68th percentile. So baby is developing just as she should. Kayle has gotten to go to the doctor with me the last couple of times to "see baby sister, mommy tummy." During the ultrasound when the tech was measuring the baby's abdomen, Kayle said "circle head." And when the baby was hiding from us on the ultrasound, Kayle says "baby hiding, BOO!" So she is already playing hide n' seek with her baby sister. Kayle is going to be a great big sister. She already is hugging baby sister in mommy's tummy, talking to baby, and giving her kisses. It is so cute. She brings tears to my eyes often.
That is about all for now. I will try to be better about posting at least weekly. Thank you friends and family that have been thinking of us and praying for us!
Love,
Shawna

A New Marathon

Well friends and family, we have some more news. I am expecting again and not due until July 9, 2011. And already, as of Jan. 11th, I am on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy. I went in for our scheduled cerclage and was already dilating...hence, bedrest. Doctor is still hopeful we can carry this baby full term if I take care of myself and stay in bed. So now we start our countdown to get through the winter and spring.

Fortunately, we are still living with my mom and dad, so we have lots of help with Kayle, etc. I have lots of entertainment between Kayle and my nieces and nephew running by or hanging in my new bedroom downstairs. Mom put up a bed in the dining room right off the kitchen, so I can be in the middle of all the action. And all are pulling together to help us out. It's a family adventure for sure this time as well. :)

We should find out if this baby is a boy or girl in the next couple weeks. Last week when I was having an ultrasound, Brett thought for sure he saw a penis...but it was just the ambilical cord. Either a boy or a girl will make us happy. We just pray the baby is given the time to develop enough before we have to deliver.

Until next time...

Tantrums already!?!?!

Well, Kayle is definitely getting spoiled already. This week she started throwing tantrums where she would scream and arch her back and kick until we picked her up. If we weren't paying attention and looking right at her when she was babbling she'd tantrum. We had to laugh! Robin told me that if anybody deserves a child that tantrums, it is me...because I use to embarrass her when I was little and tantrumed. Mom would tell her "just ignore her Robin" and walk away from me at the store or park. Too funny.
Kayle has also found her feet this week and is very intrigued by them. She is in a routine going to her sitters each day. I drop her off in the morning and she smiles as soon as she sees Melody. That is an unbelievable feeling to know that your child is so well taken care of and happy during the day. Kayle also is eating very well right now. Not sure if she is having a growth spurt or what, but she is definitely changing every day.
Brett is in a routine and getting use to his new job. It is a physical job, yet very good for him. And we have added benefits of cheap fruits and veggies each week too. Saving money always makes me feel good. :)
I'm back in the swing of things with my work as well. So we are all in our routines and doing well.

Best sound ever....

Tonight I was playing with Kayle and blowing raspberries on her belly and she let out several loud giggles!!! That was the best sound I have ever heard. Full blown, care-free GIGGLES!! Loved it!! :)