Madame Zaritska

According to Madame Zaritska... The day you deliver, outside will be bright. Your baby will arrive in the early afternoon. After a labor lasting approximately 18 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and will be 19,19-1/2 inches long. This child will have light hazel eyes and some blonde hair.

Of course I know this is all in fun, but
1) I would love to have a girl (but healthy, live baby is the main goal)
2) I was in labor for 17 hours w/Chase, so 18 would not surprise me
3) Chase was 6 lbs 1 oz, 19 1/2 inches long
4) I have hazel (green to brown eyes)
5) I was a blonde baby....

Does make me wonder ;o)

Here is our ultrasound of Pumpkin at 10w5d. Head is on the left, one hand above the body and the other by the bottom off the face. I guess legs are curled?

Looks pretty darn cute to me and I'm fairly certain she has Jeff's head. ;o)




**I am grateful for
1) no more shots!!!!
2) today was early release.... I "heart" those days
3) a evening w/nothing pressing to do
4) less than 50 days of school left... sweet!
5) did I mention no more shots??!?!!!

Mental Sticky

~ You are all boy and I love it! You think "power-poots" are hilarious and love to run around in your underpants. You are even happier if Daddy will join you and run around in his too.

~ Yesterday you and Duchess were going to play air hockey. You got the most serious look on your face and promptly informed her, "I will destroy you!" Then you laughed an evil laugh each time you scored. It was hilarious. I'm thinking you might be a tad bit competitive.

~ You love your BB (blanket) and ask for it the moment you are upset or tired. I'm wondering if we'll be sending it to high school with you?

~ You help give me my "shot" every evening by holding my hand and telling me, "It's OK Mommy... does it hurt?" It's very sweet. Then you almost immediately ask if you can see it bleeding. That may not be quite as sweet.

~ You got your four year shots last Friday and it was pretty awful. Daddy took you and said it was horrible to see you go through it because you were so upset. It took three people to hold you down and when the nurse offered you candy when it was over you told her, "You brought your own candy." I think you were basically telling her to bug off in your own little way.

~ You love the Wii, especially bowling. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that you have beaten me on more than one occasion which can be a tad frustrating since you spin circles before throwing the ball and I actually try. Perhaps I should spin a circle or two.

~ We have not told you that there's a baby in my tummy, but lots of people have come up to you
and asked if you are going to have a baby brother or sister (even after we tell them that we have NOT told you about it... drives me nuts). Daddy also freaks if you get to rough around my belly. You are pretty smart though and I think you have figured it out. When you said, "my mommy is having a baby for me" to our neighbor is was a dead give-away.

Boy do we love you!!!

Mommy

***I am grateful for
1) nausea meds, life saver during the day!
2) had an ultrasound today, Pumpkin looks great, measuring right on track, 174 bpm
3) in-service today, nice day w/o the kids
4) tonight is my last shot for IVF!!!!!
5) Stellan had a better day

Our Pumpkin is a Prune

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.) (www.thebump.com)

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches. (www.babycenter.com)




**I am grateful for
1) 10 weeks!
2) TGIF
3) my comfy bed, I am soooo tired!
4) ice cold water... love it
5) rain, good sleeping weather (see #3)

I've been kicked out

Today I graduated from my RE's care. I cried. Literally folks, I sat on the edge of the table with huge tears filling my eyes. I am so comforted by going in there and almost feel like a lost lamb now that I've graduated. It's bittersweet. Graduating is a good thing. I'm going into the "normal" pregnant world, things are going smoothly, I'm right where I should be. But OMG, no more weekly ultrasounds and visits????? No more weekly blood tests?? What will I do? I have stopped my estrogen pills and patches and will start taking my PIO shots every other day, having next Tuesday be my last shot. Then, I'm officially done. I will admit that my hips will be oh-so-glad to be done with the shots! I've been on shots since January 12th. Sometimes more than one shot a day. I think it's safe to say that at this point I'm well over 100 pokes between shots and blood draws.

As I was getting the phone call that I'm being released (I was hoping for one more appointment) to regular OB care by my RE, I was sitting in the OB's room. They even squeezed me in for an ultrasound and I will say that there machine was way better than the one at the RE's office. It actually looked like a baby, wiggling around, and kicking up a storm. The heartbeat was 184 bpm, always amazes me how fast it is! Everything looked good, but my OB got called to a delivery (actually two at two different hospitals!) so having HBP I get monitored very closely and will actually go back in next Monday for an ultrasound and appointment w/him.

Tomorrow I'll be 10 weeks, I can't wait for these next three weeks to fly by so I'll be in the second trimester. Then maybe I can relax.... yeah, I doubt it!




**I am grateful for
1) a great ultrasound today
2) I'm released from my RE, so bittersweet!
3) lots of prayers going up for Stellan
4) tomorrow is Hump Day!
5) almost done with shots!

Pray for Stellan

I'm at work and can't really post, but please pray for Stellan! click on his name to read more

I'm going to see Rod!

Turns out Rod Ste.wart is coming to our neck of the woods on July 24th and I'm going to get to see him!!!! I am beyond excited! First, I haven't been to a concert in years (not counting The Doodle.bops or kiddie bands) and second I'm going with my mom!!!! I love Rod and can't wait, it is going to be awesome! My birthday is July 13th, so this is one heck of a present. :o) We have really good seats too, like row 33 or something like that. I know it's not front row, but it's great to me! Did I mention that I'm very excited?!??!?!?






**I'm grateful for
1) July 24th, it's gonna be soooo much fun!
2) 10 weeks on Wed, I'm still having a really hard time enjoying this, I'm so scared we'll lose this baby. Trust in the Lord Kahla, trust in the Lord!
3) next RE appointment on Tuesday and I should get to start weaning off my shots!
4) First OB appointment on Tuesday too!
5) Duchess and her pure awesomeness!

Our Pumpkin is an Olive!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!
(www.thebump.com)

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.
(www.babycenter.com)

___________________________

With Chase I don't remember having very much morning sickness, however it looks as if things are going to be different this time around. I am pretty much nauseous all day long and totally drained. At least there's not vomiting I suppose (is that technically tmi?)! My RE did go ahead a write a prescription out for me since last time I could focus on myself and rest, while this time I'm busy chasing an active toddler around! Hopefully that will help some.

We had our 9 week ultrasound/bloodwork yesterday and Pumpkin was all curled up, making it difficult to measure but they got close enough. Heartbeat was 184 bpm, which they said is nice and strong. I'm also starting on one baby aspirin a day (81 mg) to help w/bloodflow, apparently a preventative and very common. I don't go back until next Tuesday and hopefully we'll get to start weaning off shots. I was thinking and I've been on daily shots since January 14th! We did get two days off somewhere in there, but man that's a long time!!! I also go to my first OB visit next Tuesday, looks like it's going to be a busy day!

We are off to the rodeo in a bit (pictures coming soon, I promise)! Hope ya'll are having a great week!




**I am grateful for
1) a great appointment yesterday
2) nausea (is it a sad that it's reassuring in it's own little way?)
3) a fun week spent w/Chase
4) Daddy is off early so we can go to the rodeo
5) tax refund is in... too bad it's already gone, but at least bills are paid!

The Joys of Boys

We have not really discussed the fact that there is a baby in Mommy's tummy with Chase. To be honest, him knowing terrifies me because I simply could not handle us telling him and then something happening to this baby. I know that both our parents are eager for us to tell him only because that means that they could then discuss this phenomenon with him. However, the actual telling will just have to wait.

Now we have discussed that one day he will have a baby brother or sister and which would he like? Basically he doesn't care as long as the baby is happy and laughs. He does not want a crying baby, those are no fun. So last night we were all upstairs when we asked Chase what we would name a baby if he were to have a baby sister? He promptly informed me that girls are princesses so she would be named, "Cinderella." Stifling my giggles I asked what we would name a baby brother and he said that boys are knights so he would be named, "Baby Knight." I have a feeling we are seriously going to have to work on names before this new baby arrives!




**I am grateful for
1) the joys of having a boy!
2) indoor plumbing (yep, I'm grateful for it!)
3) electricity (pretty darn grateful for that too)
4) a nice weekend
5) Spring Break has arrived (and only 51 days of school left when we go back!)

Our Pumpkin is a Raspberry (8 weeks)

Week 8: Raspberry
Average size: .63 in, .04 oz

Your baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.
(www.thebump.com)

How your baby's growing:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.
(www.babycenter.com)




**I am grateful for
1) 8 weeks!
2) evening, I am so tired
3) two days and Spring Break is here!
4) did I mention evening, I am so tired!
5) a quiet weekend ahead

A boy named Chase, his bestfriend, and his new truck!

Chase and Molly love the new Ford F150 that Duchess gave Chase for his birthday... we just can't figure out who likes it more!

Those two are rotten!




***I am grateful for
1) that beautiful heartbeat we heard today! 160 bpm!!!
2) a really fun birthday weekend
3) 1st grade play is over!
4) tomorrow is hump day!
5) next week is Spring Break!

Four awesome years. Four awesome, unbelievable years.

Today the love of my life (sorry Jeff) turned four. I have known this day was coming for quite some time now, but part of me truly believed that there was no way it would ever happen. When we began trying for a child it took us four years for our miracle to arrive. Those four years felt like an eternity. These four years have felt like the blink of an eye.

I knew love before Chase was born. I loved my family, I loved my friends, I loved my husband. However, the day Chase was born I discovered a new kind of love. A love that made me so protective that I felt like a mother lion willing to do anything to protect her cub. A love that was so strong, I would go through hell and back a million times over just to ensure that that little boy was safe, happy, and well taken care of. A love that makes me feel like nothing else in the world ever could. A love like no other.

We celebrated with friends and family. The celebration of something so very wonderful. We took pictures (the professional ones are coming soon, trust me), we sang Happy Birthday, we ate cake, we played games.



Today the love of my life turned four and I know that this is just the beginning of so many wonderful things to come.




**I am grateful for
1) Four awesome, unbelievable years
2) God chose me to be Chase's Mommy
3) so many family and friends to celebrate with
4) how blessed I truly am
5) a quite evening after a busy day


*** more pics coming soon***

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My Sweetest Chase,

Today you turned four. You have gone from my tiny Doodlebug to my most awesome Big Boy. I'm not sure how this milestone snuck up on me, but it did!! Every day you make me want to be a better person. Every day you make me smile and laugh and think of how lucky I am that God chose me to be your Mom. You are my sunshine on cloudy days and the marshmallows that make my hot chocolate "just right."

When I found out you were growing in my tummy I imagined just how wonderful our lives together would be. Turns out what I imagined could never compare to the real thing. Your Daddy and I love you so much and would do anything and everything for you. We knew we were some lucky people, but every single day we realize just how lucky we are even more. Each day with you is a blessing and I pray that I never take one single second for granted.

You bring so many people in this world joy and all of them are so thankful to have you in their life. You were the answer to years of prayers. You make us so proud and have grown into such a good boy. I know we have our moments, but you are so polite and caring. We get lots of comments about how well behaved you are and what a good boy you are. I know I'm your mommy and this will sound awful, but you really are!!!

I'm constantly amazed by the things you can do and the things you know. You always exceed my expectations and are so smart. There is definitely no tricking you anymore, which I have to admit drives me crazy at times. I think I still expect you to be a baby, but the simple answer to that is... you're not anymore. You've grown and even though I miss that baby, I sure love this big boy.

Please never forget how much I love you and how much you mean to me. Always remember that no matter what happens, because I know things will, Mommy and Daddy are always here for you. Don't ever give up on your dreams and know that if you put your mind to it, trust in God, be determined, and stay focused that you can do anything you want. Don't ever let anyone tell you different. You are an amazing person. I can't imagine that the next four years could possibly be any better than the last, but I have a feeling that the best is still yet to come.

Happy Birthday Doodlebug!!!

Love,
Mommy

Whee with the Wii!

Last night my grandparents (Chase's great), my cousin, and her daughter all arrived for the big birthday party on Saturday. Turns out that my 85 year old grandfather loves playing on the Wii. Duchess had us go and purchase a Wii so that he could play while he was staying with us and besides... she wanted one. I had never played a Wii and to be honest I don't even think I had ever seen one up close. We set it up last night and boy did my grandfather get into it, it was actually pretty cute. Turns out Duchess went and bought another Wii for her house so now this one will be residing w/the Larsons. We picked up a Cars game for Chase and he is eager to learn. The man at the store said it was too advanced for a 4 year old, obviously he doesn't know MY four year old! ;o)




**I am grateful for
1) family has arrived safe and sound
2) My Doodlebug will be FOUR tomorrow!
3) cake is in the process of being done
4) goody bags are stuffed
5) Whee on the Wii!

This day in time.

Today was a fantastic day for my family. Today Jeff got to see Pumpkin's heartbeat for the very first time. It never ceases to amaze me that something so tiny can bring so much comfort. I remember thinking the exact same thing when I would see Chase's tiny heartbeat on that screen. Blood work looks great, pains are gone (had to be a cyst that ended up rupturing), Pumpkin measuring right on track. We have even been moved from two appointments a week to one appointment a week. Scary, but good. Pumpkin by him/herself is enough to make it a great day, but then we found out that Aunt Candy (who happens to be pretty close to Jeff) is fine despite the fact that she got some not-so-good test results about heart blockage. Turns out the test was a false positive. So between those two things, it was a pretty fantastic day.

I am still almost in denial that on Saturday my sweet, sweet Doodlebug will be four. It just seems so impossible. Every part of baby within him is gone, he is all big boy now. Thank God he still has those cheeks, even if they aren't quite as chubby as they were back in the day. I sure love that kid. He is so excited about his party and can't wait for it to get here. We went and picked up the supplies for the cake (well most of them) and I'm hoping it turns out well. We are going without an example this year, so wish me luck! Fortunately I'll have some back up since Nana (my grandmother), Randi (my cousin), and Duchess will all be around to help!!! Thank God for a cake decorating family! ;o)

Today I am 6w6d pregnant. I miscarried our twins at 6w6d. Does that make today a milestone? I also realized that my due date with the twins is exactly one month away. Four short weeks. By now we would have had the nursery done, the car seats ready, diapers stocked, life would be so different than what it is. I wouldn't be anxiously awaiting to get through the first trimester, I would have been patiently waiting for my babies to arrive. I thank God for Chase and Pumpkin every day, but it makes my heart so sad to know that in one month the due date will come and go for the babies that we will never get to hold, kiss, smell... It will be like they never existed, their time will have passed. So much joy, and underneath there is still that place of my heart that will be forever broken.




**I am grateful for
1) Those cheeks, how can you not fall in love w/'em when you look at that picture?!?!
2) Tomorrow Rhonda will deliver her precious baby girl, so very awesome
3) Aunt Candy had GREAT test results
4) even though time moves on, I will never forget our twins
5) Pumpkin is doing awesome!