Amelia 31wks and 5dys.

Amelia cooperated for just a few short seconds to take a 3D.  We are happy to announce she's at the 50th percentile at 4 lbs 4 oz and so far everything looks beautiful!  Thanks to the inversion method exercise I was able to help her move positions from breech to transverse with spine up and head down facing the left side.  This means that she is possibly turning soon.  I'm SO happy I tried this method that was suggested to me on spinningbabies.com .  Hopefully she'll stay in this position and smoothly move to ready herself in position for delivery.  It feels pretty good that she turned with me having a heart shaped uterus.  I'm told many of these babies don't have room to turn later on and c-sections are inevitable.  Here in the U.S., they pretty much do c-sections for EVERYTHING.  We have a high rate of sections here in New York State.

While I'm not apposed to c-section if in fact Amelia needs it, I would like a normal vaginal birth if we can.  There are so many benefits to vaginal delivery. One being that it takes less time to recover.  I'm all for that. In the longrun though, It doesn't matter how she gets here, just that she gets here safely!  I'm at peace and trusting in the Lord.

She looks a whole lot like her brother Jackson.  They are certainly daddy's kids.  His family traits with the nose and mouth.  I have this feeling she'll have a tall torso like her brother and daddy as well.  What a blessing to finally see this little girl of ours! My cup runneth over.

To think we'll see her in less than 2 months is BEYOND joy to my heart and I only have God to thank for His lovingkindness and of course many of my dear friends who've been here praying for us.  Tis a gift from God for sure!

Love to you all.

A New Car for Us And A Few Updates...

So here's our new minivan!  We got a great deal with low interest. By the grace of God our first choice didn't work out. They wouldn't work with our ideal interest and budget.  It had 47k miles for a 2009.  THEN I kept praying that God would either close the door or open a new one.

In this case, the first choice didn't work out but God had a better one for us. We got this 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan loaded with only 27k miles on it for much less than the other vehicle, the interest is beyond EXCELLENT and fits our budget.  The best part is it's a 7 passenger seating which fold down into the floors for more room.  The seats feel like they're hugging us and the air conditioning. Lets just say when it's been REALLY hot here we've been taking country drives to cool off.

Amelia will fit safely in the van, the dogs love it and we will be able to fit everything in for a future vacation next year.  THAT my dear friends is a joy and one that I'm praising God for.  Just to have a safer vehicle than our Santa Fe that kept having different things break on us.  It's a comfort and God knew what we needed, when we needed it.

In other news.... Amelia is 30wks 5 days today and she's rambunctious!  She's been moving around and using my bladder like a soccer ball while her weight is weighing heavily on my lower back.

I've been able to get out of bed rest with moderation in movement but I keep seeming to overdo this new freedom.  I landed in the Dr.'s office this week to check for contractions.  No contractions thank goodness but I'm getting back pain REALLY bad!  Amelia passed one of her stress tests.

If you will, a prayer request we have these days is that she'll turn from her breech position.  While it's still early at 30wks I just found out from research that babies in a heart-shaped uterus such as mine tend to have trouble moving into the birthing position. Usually it's best to try to move them between second trimester and 30wks which Is almost over for me. ((Sigh)) This "could" mean c-section if she continues to stay breech and I would LOVE to have a natural vaginal birth if at all possible.  Please pray that by Gods hand, our little Amelia will turn before she gets too big so we can enjoy the gift of delivering her and having the time to bond with her right away.  Whatever means she's born we'll be content and know that we did all we could and God provided HIS way as the way.

Next week if Amelia cooperates, we may have a 3D picture to show.  She hasn't been very cooperative thus far so please don't get too excited!  My hope is she'll cooperate enough to get some good photo's as keepsakes for her in the future.  I'd LOVE to start a "hope chest" for her and place that in there as her very first item.

Love and hugs to you all!

Positive News In the Health Front

He has made everything beautiful in it's time...Ecclesiastes 3:11

Friday's sonogram came back with some positive news.  While Amelia STILL wasn't cooperating with getting a good sonogram pic, we were able to see many things.  She's weighing in at 2.5 lbs and measuring on target.  Amniotic fluid is abundant and while I'm still slightly funneling above the stitch, my cervical length is 2.5 cm's.  A half centimeter longer than when I had the stitch placed at week 19.

Amelia is in breech position with her bum up and head down.  We're told her feet are to her head which is kind of silly but each time we've had a sono, she's seemed to like this position and  refuses to move for anyone!  In fact, when the sonographer tapped on my belly to get her to move a little...Amelia kicked her right back! Silly girl.

I have been given permission to move around a bit more within reason.  More rides and I'll actually be able to get to my cousins wedding.  Two weeks after that will be my shower.  The fun part begins.

While we're waiting on Amelia's pediatric cardiologist appointment the end of this month to confirm she has no hole in her heart or VSD, we're leaning on God and asking that He put a bubble of protection around her to keep her safe from harm.  I am encouraged that He has helped us both through so much and He has his hand in both our health concerns.

12 wks to go to term and only 8 more of 17P injections to keep from having preterm labor.  Stitch also comes out the same week.  It will be very interesting to see when Amelia will be born.  I'm praying at 29wks the first week in October.

We're going to try to get a 3D picture out of the deal in 4wks IF our little girl cooperates. Our pictures to this point have been fuzzy which is why we haven't posted too many.  Friday's came out somewhat better than the rest so we'll post it today.

Praise God for good news and answered prayers.  May He continue to hold us both and keep Amelia safe and healthy until her due date in October.

Amazing Love

That's what we felt today when Amelia started kicking HARD for the first time and we could finally feel her kicks on my belly.  To see Dougs face was AMAZING!

We celebrated with dinner at Carrabba's for Italian. We also went searching for a minvan to fit our growing family which also includes the two dogs and storage.  Nothing yet, but I DO hope we find something before winter.

Today we also bought the area rug for Amelia's room and placed it on the floor. It's such a good feeling to finally fill the room.  In two weeks we'll have her nursery furniture with exception to a small side table and the rocker.

I'm looking forward to sharing with you in the next several weeks.  Only 90 days left.  I can't even believe it.  By the grace of God we're all doing well.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Very Exciting Appointments Coming...

Hi there!

Been out of sorts not only with the infections but had a reaction to one of the meds so I've been itching my way to healing. The good news is that I'm starting to feel better.

This pregnancy has kept me on my toes.  Very DIFFERENT from my last pregnancy.  With Jackson's pregnancy I felt my best was at my lowest weight and it was just lovely.  With our Amelia though...I've been sick with infections, nausea, migraines, had a stitch put in, weekly injections, several hospital visits and weekly Dr.'s visits.  It's been a roller coaster of events, but I wouldn't take it back for the world!  As long as our sweet darlin is safe and healthy, all the illness and setbacks were worth it. Not to mention it's a gift from God that not only we have her, but that He's gotten us through each trying event.  To God be the glory!

This week, I'm having fun!  I've been Dr. shopping and finally narrowed it down to 3 Dr.'s. One Ped's multi-practice, one Ped's single practice and one GP Dr. with a more natural approach and is pro parent decision as well as okay with an alternative vax scheduling.

I could NOT believe the difference in Vax's since I've been a kid.  Adding new ones and some can be pretty harsh on our little ones systems not to mention the ones that haven't been studied for long periods of time.  Obviously the ones I support are for Amelia's general health and well being. The others though, it will be a matter of weighing the pro's and con's.  Some of which are better if she actually catches the issues and it's dealt with meds THEN versus the side effects of some of the Vax's later.  For the most part though, I think I'm looking at an alternative Vax schedule and NOT having too many at once performed on Amelia.

The other appointment scheduled is the consult with NICU.  IF Amelia does need them, we want to know who they are and be on the same page with what their intentions are.  So I think meeting them ahead of time will help me relax and just allow God to work with whatever needs to be done.

The furniture also comes off layaway at the end of the month.  So exciting!

As I stay here on bed rest, I look forward week by week to holding this little kiddo.  I love her very much already. I can't IMAGINE how much more I'll love her when I see her.  Already it's FUN to feel her kicks.  Just an AMAZING part of this beautiful experience and I thank God for answered prayers.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Bacteria! Oh how you mock me.

Well, I think the title says it all.  I've had Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) in my first trimester.  Shortly after I ended up with a bad case of c-diff which put me in the hospital on leads for awhile.  Last week I was diagnosed with BV again and just yesterday my nurse called me to tell me that not only do I have BV, but I have an odd bacteria in my urinary tract. So I am now on flagyl and macrobid which are both antibiotics.

I seem to have a severe case of overpopulation of bad bacteria.  Oh, I'm an eater of yogurt. I also take probiotics but my body just can't seem to compensate for the overpopulation of the bad bacteria.  Obviously the meds are needed as both can put me in labor. So it's a matter of weighing whats more important.

NOW, since I'm taking so many antibiotics to get rid of each bacterial infection I am now succeptable to c-diff once again.  ONE issue I NEVER want again because I thought I was literally going to die from 9 hours of vomiting and the trotts all at once.  I was dehydrated, lacked potassium so I needed an IV for that, needed MORE antibiotics through IV, Saline and some other type of hydration to keep my body going when I couldn't eat.  It was a circus! Haha

I also received my weekly 17P Injection to keep me from going into preterm labor.  One injection weekly on the fourth quadrant of the butt cheek and you switch cheeks every other week.  Honestly it's a good thing because it would be downright TORCHER to have the injection in the same butt cheek each week.

Let me explain that 17P is a THICK gel-like substance that takes a pretty thick needle to transfer the medicine into the needle.  We then put a somewhat smaller needle on (but not too small because the gel wouldn't go through).  Doug as an RN knows how to numb the area before injecting so the site won't sting.  For anyone interested it's rubbing the area for 30 seconds with an alcohol pad which numbs the nerve endings and the patient doesn't feel the injection stinging.

NOW, when I heard the injections hurt I got a bit cocky because I don't feel the initial sting as Doug knows how to inject properly.  HOWEVER, what Dr.'s lacked to tell me was that the darn gel can pill in your muscles leaving you with a round rock on your butt cheek a week later.  It hurts!  In fact, the very first injection I was bed ridden because I was in so much pain.  Couple weeks after that I was trying to figure out how to turn over on either side without pain.  I have since learned that if you rub the area around REALLY hard, your less likely to pill. Also, concerning the pain...If you roll PAST the injection site onto your actual hip bone, you'll be able to sleep again. Haha

Today's injection was interesting as when Doug took the needle out, there was a surprising spurt of blood ALL OVER.  That issue hasn't happened before.  It did sting going in this time so that could be an issue too.  all in all though, I got my dose and that's all that matters.

On a more news worthy note, Amelia has started to kick MUCH harder today and more frequent too!  I find myself jumping and my eyes get bigger.  It's really an odd feeling.  Kinda makes me jump for some reason.  She's becoming quite the Karate kicker!

Well, that's all for today.  I pray you all have a lovely weekend!

Designing The Nursery

Okay, THIS is my forte!  I'm passing the time on bed rest by trying to figure out how I'm going to decorate Amelia's room.  I never imagined it'd be so much fun planning a little girls nursery.  With Jackson's it was SO easy.  No frills little boys room, but Amelia's room.  Oh goodness this will be all out girl! Haha

Now, with that being said, I'm VERY picky about colors!  I have had it with the cutesie same ol, same ol around here.  I can barely find anything NOT pink or white with frills.  Don't get me wrong. I like pink and all, but In looking for gender neutral things it's hard to find primary colors and when they are, they usually have either frills so a boy can't use them OR something boyish so a girl couldn't wear them.  So with that issue I have been picketing the pinks and pastels of the baby world.

I have some lightly used hand me downs with pink she'll wear because they ARE cute but for the most part, I want primary colors and fun kidsy colors for her to wear.  Good luck right?!

Well back to the Nursery planning.  It's taken me awhile but I've finally put something together that I think will work.

First, we put new nursery furniture on layaway.  We did it because it would come off in July and that would be my 28 wk milestone.  I absolutely NEEDED to pass wk 22 (which I have) and wk 24 (which I am now on my way to doing) before I brought home ANY furniture.  My thought is that I did not want to have to take down or put away anything if something were to happen.  I just couldn't bare the thought.  So to get the excitement going, we looked at furniture and then put it on layaway.  We came up with a crib and dresser in dark cherry:

Then we'll add a beige throw rug (almost the size of the room because I'm not a fan of the floors that were stained).

I FINALLY think I found the colors I want for Amelia's bedding. They will be done custom by BirdsHaveFlowers.  The fabrics to choose from are as follows:

I was thinking the middle top fabric with the bird will be the inner bumper, the yellow toil will be the outer bumper fabric.  The pink rose fabric on the bottom right will be the crib fitted sheet and the striped color fabric second from the top of the picture on the top right will be the dust ruffle.

This MAY change as I DO like the blue rose on the bottom left corner for sheets as well. 

Another combination would be to do the bird fabric  for the inner bumper and yellow toil for the outer bumper fabric THEN using the pink toil for the sheets and the butterfly fabric for the dust ruffle. MAYBE even using both the striped multicolor for the first half of the ruffle and the butterflies for the second half.

 I also have an idea for custom window panels but that will come MUCH later as this I'm sure will cost a pretty penny. Oh the choices I have!

Then comes the corner where there will be a small table with the lamp I bought when I found out I was pregnant:

I haven't gotten the table yet and will look for that at an antique store.  Where next to the table will be a glider to rock my little girl to sleep as she nurses:

I also found some wall decals that would fit perfectly in the room custom made by Gorgeous Wall Art:

Above the crib will be wooden letter's with Amelia's name, The two corner walls that come together on the opposite side of the room will have HUGE photographs of Amelia from infancy, to toddler and then   first day of school milestone so that when someone walks in the room they see those beautiful miraculous milestones.  I will be comforted reading her stories under those beautiful pictures that will remind me each day the gift we've been given. It'll never be taken for granted that's for sure!

Again, things can ALWAYS change, but this is what I've dreamt up so far.  Dreaming is fun!