21 Week Appointment

January 29th was my 21 week appointment (20 weeks 4 days). Although there was no sonogram, it was still a really exciting appointment!

While I was waiting in the lobby to be seen, a fellow pregnant friend of mine (a coworker) walked in so we were able to visit the entire wait which was nice!

When I was called back, I talked with the most caring nurse who began by saying she couldn't imagine my paranoia after looking at my chart. She shared with me that she had experienced loss as well and she was just so kind! She set me up with my upcoming lab work and then put me in a room to speak with Dr. Sundstrom.

I didn't have to wait long, and once he came in it was all business. First, he asked how I am feeling which I am thrilled to share is great! This is the best I have felt at this stage of pregnancy and I am so thankful for that! He also mentioned that I was still able to call anytime I was feeling nervous about the pregnancy to check for Luke's heartbeat. I assured him that I hadn't needed to because all this little guy does all day is kick and turn and tumble! I love the reassurance :)

He measured my stomach and then took out the heartbeat monitor. Once he found the heartbeat, he literally laughed as he traveled across my stomach to keep up with the little guy. He wouldn't keep still! The doctor then said he understood why I haven't needed to come in for reassurance. Luke is so active!

After everything checked out great, we discussed the C-section. He looked ahead and asked if Monday June 8th was a good day for us. He was surprised when I emphatically said no. I explained that June 8th was already a special day and I didn't want my little guys to have to share a birthday! So, we will schedule it for sometime that week :)

So, in summary, everything looks great and little Luke is coming right along :)

Playing Outside!

It has been pretty chilly here for the last 6ish weeks and our playtime outdoors has been limited. This has been especially painful for Bean as Santa brought him a really cool sports car that he hasn't been able to play with much. Every day when we get home and walk through the garage, he points to it and pleadingly asks to play. It is heart wrenching!

So you can imagine our elation when it started warming back up mid-January! We spent an entire weekend playing outside and most notably, driving his new car around the street :)

Helping Daddy!

Putting up the leaf blower!

Recent Videos :)

He is the silliest little guy :)

Luke's 5 Month Appointment

Whew!  That month went fast!

On Monday, January 19th, (19 weeks 1 day) Beanie and I were both of out school for MLK day. I knew this in advance so I scheduled my next appointment with the neonatal specialist for this day. This was actually supposed to be "gender reveal" day, however, as you all know, we went to a sonographer early to see what we were having. Unfortunately, I had a case of "pregnant brain" when I scheduled the appointment and scheduled it for a time that Dustin could not attend. I told him not to worry about coming as everything felt good, the baby was moving, and I knew I would get good news.

When we arrived at Dr. Hume's office, we were seen immediately. I was asked to sit on a table and the sonographer went right to work. Xavier sat in the chair next to me quietly the entire time. The lady kept mentioning how well behaved he was. He makes me so proud :)

She looked at Luke for nearly 30 minutes. It was great! She measured his little bones and his tummy. We saw everything and she pointed each perfect little piece of him out to us. Dr. Hume was in the room looking at all of the snapshots and as he saw he picture, he assured me that our little guy is perfect. Xavier kept saying "that's Mommy's Luke" and he was interested in the process. Of course, he spent the remainder of the day at home snuggling with me and acting like a baby. He insisted he was Mommy's baby and not a big boy all day. He is in for a rude awakening!!

We got some good pictures of our little guy and everything looked great. His heartbeat was 152 and he is estimated to weigh 10-11 oz at this time. The average baby at this gestation weighs 8oz so he is following in his big brothers footsteps :) Also, he is definitely a boy. She saw that the second she started the process.

We did have to schedule our sixth sonogram for February as they couldn't locate one of the valves leading to Luke's heart. She said that she is sure it is there and not to worry but because of his positioning (he is deep in my back), she wasn't able to get a good glimpse of it and therefore is required to have me back in.

Overall, it was a great appointment. Our little Luke is doing great and we are so thankful for him! Just over 4 more months to go!

Another "boy" shot

Luke 

Upside down in a somersault!

Here you can see his little face: eyes, mouth, nose and all!

Another "boy" shot!

Xavier acting like a baby :) haha

18 weeks, 18 weeks, 18 weeks

Today, January 22, I am 19 weeks 4 days pregnant with Luke. When I was 18w2d with Penelope, I found out she was gone. We have officially made it past the "scary" period…not that it makes the next 20 weeks any less scary! Also, because little Luke is arriving via C-section, I will deliver him between 38-39 weeks which means we are more than half way there :)

So far, everything looks perfect. I can feel the little guy more and more every day. Please continue to pray that our little Luke arrives in May/June perfectly healthy :)

Can't wait to meet you, Luke :)

Luke's 4 Month Appointment

On January 2, also known as 16 weeks 5 days pregnant, I went for a quick check up. All they did was check Luke's heart beat and my vitals. His HB was 142. Everything sounded great and we were on our way :)

Waiting to Check on Baby Luke!

Our Year in Review

Here is a video that Google+ put together...such a cool feature! Click the link below :)

Our 2014 :)

Happy New Year!

Another Trip to the ER

On January 9th, we put Beanie to bed like any other night. He was in perfect health and fell asleep around 9 PM. Dustin and I spent the remainder of the evening together and headed to bed around 11.

At 12:51, I immediately shot up out of bed after hearing Xavier struggling for breath. I don't know why or how I heard him but I did and frantically ran to his bedroom while screaming for Dustin to wake up. It sounded like X was choking but when I got to his room, I could tell that it was something more. His breath was labored and quick and he was having a coughing spell that sounded like his airways were blocked. We tried calming him down so that he could focus on breathing but he became upset when we turned the lights on and only got worse. After giving him a sip of juice to see if it would clear out his throat, he violently vomited allover himself and Dustin. We decided in that moment to rush to hospital. 

As we got in the car, his breathing seemed to slow and he kept assuring me that he was ok. "Mommy, I ok" he kept saying over and over :)

When we arrived at the hospital, his cough was still "bark" like but his breathing sounded much better. The ER was bare, thank goodness, so he was seen immediately. Within 5 minutes we had a diagnosis: croup. This is the second time he has had croup but this time it seemed to hit much more quickly and violently. I was a terrified wreck. 

They gave him the steroids and watched him for 30 minutes. 90 minutes and $250 later, we were given the all clear and we headed home.

Xavier slept with me that night and he did beautifully. He didn't so much as cough one time. I was so relieved :) There is nothing scarier than watching your baby struggle for breath!!

He woke up the next morning as happy as can be. He was already back to his normal self! Thank God for modern medicine!

Thinking of Her

Though our holiday season was mostly full of cheer, the loss of our baby is always weighing heavily on my heart. I couldn't help but be sad thinking that this should have been Dot's first Christmas. I was feeling sorry for myself one morning while surfing the internet at my parents and came across a beautiful article written by a young woman battling and feeling the same feelings as me. I cried as I read her "should have been" post knowing all to well how she was mourning. At the end of the post, however, she posted this amazing picture and it immediately gave me peace. Our Angel is at peace.

Miss you little girl. Can't wait to hold you again.

Back to Florida We Go!

Wednesday morning around 5 AM, we began the journey to Florida. My mom hates saying good bye after Christmas so to avoid that this year, she decided that they would come back to Tallahassee with us for a few days. We got home around 6 PM New Year's Eve- just in time to see Daddy :)

We spent the next 4 days shopping, playing and hanging with Mimi and Papa. When they left on Saturday morning, it was HARD! Beanie had spent 2 full weeks with them and knew that when they said bye, it was bye for a long time.  He has since asked for them every day, along with his cousins and their dogs haha. We appreciate our families so very much and though we don't get to spend near the amount of time with them that we would like, we are thankful that the time we do spend is so meaningful :)

Getting Ready to Leave IN

On the road again...

Daddy!!!!

Thanks Grandma NENE!!!

New "Meow" at Cracker Barrel

Our new tree!! Can't wait for next year :)

Daddy putting the train table together!

CUTIE

Outback with Mimi and Papa

Still workin...

Almost done!

AMAZING! Thanks Mimi and Papa!

Sleeping at Roadhouse!

"Papa, will you buy me a boat?!"

Fishin' Kit :)

Spoiled

After the eventful month this kid has had, he is going to think Christmas is a season rather than a day...

We had a wonderful Holiday Season. We can't wait for Luke's First Christmas next year :)

2014 Christmas in Indiana: Part 4

The next morning, Dust had to head back to Florida due to work. Xavier and I stayed in Indiana with family until Wednesday morning, however. We spent the rest of the week eating out, playing with cousins, and being spoiled:)

Tuesday evening, we all ate dinner together and said goodbye. Wednesday morning, we got up early, and my parents took us home:)