Update On An Update

Today I had my follow up appointment from the one on Friday. They went ahead and did my glucose test since I was there and I passed *yay* So glad that I do not have to have the 3 hour test. The drink was bad enough the first time and I almost did not keep it down. My cervix is still closed, Bug's heartbeat is strong and healthy and all is well. He is chalking the contraction like pains up to the scar tissue that I mentioned in a previous post. I also got some even better news as well.... Dr says that we are definitely going to try for a vaginal delivery over a c-section! This has been a concern due to the 3 surgeries I had last year and all the scar tissue. Also, I am high risk and so they were going to go whatever route was best for the baby. At this point though he thinks that we can definitely plan for a vaginal with the c-section reserved for an emergency or backup as it should be. Also, filled out my pre-registration paperwork today for the hospital. So , all is good so far!! Thanks for all of your prayers!

Today

Here are some pictures from today. Kevin and I went to my mom's house after church and visited with my mom, step dad, niece & nephew. My mom took some pictures of me and Julia and some of Kevin, Robert, Me & Julia. Julia is completely in love with Cody and anytime that she sees me she has to touch my belly, kiss my belly & talk to Cody. Today she even tried to "hear" Cody. She knows that she feels him when he moves and kicks but wanted to know if she could hear him when he moves,lol. Enjoy the pictures. I sure do love those 2 kids! Robert isn't that into his cousin yet, however Julia is obsessed with him.

Some Of Cody's Things

Here is a picture of some of Cody's things. The sign on his bedroom door, His name on the wall and his bassinet. His room is not finished yet of course. We have been using his room as the storage room so we have been busy going through everything and keeping what we want/need. Then boxing it and putting it in the play room walk in closet which is our new storage area. I need a bookcase desperately as I have thousands of books that I need to unbox and put on a shelf. We put Cody's bassinet up and it has a lot of my books around it right now. We haven't put a bassinet sheet on it yet or anything. He will spend the first year of his life in our bedroom. He will be in the bassinet in our room until he is too big for it,then I will move his crib into our room until he is at least a year old. Once he is a year old, we will move him into his room. I am hoping it will be a smooth transition for him. Once I get his room finished I will add more pictures. I will also add pictures of the play room as soon as Kevin gets all of his junk out of it. Yes, Cody's room is in Care Bears as his mommy loves them,lol.

25 Lovely Weeks

Today I am 25 Beautiful, Fantastic & Wonderful weeks pregnant. I know I always say this, but time is just flying! 6 months and 1 week my bug and I have been together now. I am blessed beyond words. I have a beautiful baby boy growing inside my body, I have a wonderful husband, I have a great family and I have fantastic friends. I have my pets, a roof over my head, food to eat and health insurance. There isn't much else that I could ask for. Our Heavenly Father has made sure that I have all I need.

My niece is so cute. She feels my belly waiting for Cody to kick or move. She also kisses my belly every time she sees me. I hope that my mom will get a picture of that one of these days. I would love to post it :O)

Happy 25 weeks Bug, Mommy and Daddy love you very much!!

This morning I had an emergency visit with my OB. I was having contraction like pains that were coming every few minutes and were going from my abdomen to my back. At first I thought they were just the worst gas pains I had ever experienced in my life. However, I do know what contractions feel like and that is what they felt like. So, I went to my OB's office and he checked my cervix and cervix is still closed and tight. I wore a fetal monitor for quite a while and Bug's heartbeat was great and strong and the machine didn't really register any contractions. However, Dr did say that at 25 wks, sometimes the monitor will not pick them up. So, we had an ultrasound and all looks good. Bug weighs 1 lb 11 oz and is growing right on target. Lengthwise he is about a week ahead (normal for him) So, I am pretty much put on bed rest this weekend. He thinks that my pains may be from my uterus "catching" on all the scar tissue from the 3 surgeries I had last year. However, I had a choice of resting at home or at the hospital and I chose home. So, please keep my little bug in your prayers. He is active as usual and all looks good, so I am hoping it is just the scar tissue and not anything else. So, the u/s pic is from today. It is his face looking towards the u/s wand.

*Do not know why this is showing as Thursday being that today is Friday, but I am 25 weeks on Friday 3/27*

Background

Do you like my new background? Amanda made it for me. You can visit her graphics blog at http://amandasgraphics.blogspot.com/ she does it for fun and does not charge a set price but for donations for her adoption. I asked her to make me a background with bugs on it since I call Cody my little "bug" I absolutely adore this background!! So, if you are in the market for a new background, or any of kind of decoration for your blog- please visit her website and get something neat and new!

Love

Love is a very hard thing to explain. You grow up and know that you love your parents, siblings, family and friends. You love your pets and your teachers. You fall in love and have your heart broken at least once. You love a movie, you love everything at one time or another. All the while you grow up "loving Jesus" if you are lucky, you are taught to love Jesus at a young age and you grow up with him in your life. You know that you have to pray and ask forgiveness for your sins. You are taught this by many different people, or maybe no one. As an adult, you really learn what love is. You learn to love a beautiful day, a child's smile, a child's laugh, your spouse's caress, your parent's kind words, the words of a stranger, the laugh of a friend, the love and devotion of your pets. I try each day to find love in my life. I have to say it is easier when you have a child or are pregnant because you have a little one reminding you all the time what love is about. I love my Bug, I love his movements, his kicks, his stretches, I just love him. He is a ray of sunshine every day. I love my pets, each and every one of them. They bring me joy daily. I love my house and property. I love my husband, without him my life would not be the same. I am very blessed to have the love of my family and I love them in return. So, be thankful the the love in your life, unfortunately there are many who do not know love at all.

**YAY**

I entered the raffle for the ergobaby carrier (www.joneseeadoption.blogspot.com) and won!!!! Now, I can carry my bug hands free! I am such a worry wart and also do not care for germs- so this makes my life so much easier! I do not have to worry about germy shopping carts now, lol.

Thanks Amanda & Collin!! The carrier will be put to excellent use

(Once Cody is born I will have to get a pic of him and his mama wearing it)

Faith Walk

My mom sent this to me, thought I would put it here for all to see.

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: FaithWalk
Scripture Reference: Mark 15:26-47 Deuteronomy 32-34
They Spoke Better Than They KnewDeuteronomy 32-34, Mark 15:26-47
Key Verses: Mark 15:31-32 It's an odd thing that we can say one thing and mean another. Sometimes people speak better than they know. In their mockery, the religious leaders spoke better than they knew when they challenged Jesus to save Himself from the cross (vv. 31-32). They said the right thing. If Jesus were to fulfill His messianic mission, He could not save Himself. His death was necessary for man's redemption. But their words carried the wrong meaning. In their minds, Jesus was powerless to save. They knew He had healed others, but now since He was staying on the cross, they said that He could not save Himself. These were the right words, but with the wrong meaning. Jesus is not powerless to save, nor is He unwilling. The nails did not hold Him fast to the cross. It was love-a love as hard as nails. Had He saved Himself from death, He could not have saved others from something more deadly than storms or illnesses. By His suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus taught us to "take up" the cross, not to come down from one. Many people say the right words about Jesus but do not grasp the real meaning. Do you? Do you truly understand that Jesus had to stay on the cross? If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, pray to do so now. If you have, thank Him for staying on that cross until His work on our behalf was finished.

Very Proud Of This Teenager

I have been following a blog for quite some time. It is a blog that is written by a teenage girl with Down Syndrome and her mother. I stand in awe of all that this girl has accomplished in life. She has Down Syndrome and other medical conditions. After the disrespectful comment that President Obama made on the Jay Leno show the other night, she wrote a very great letter that I hope he somehow sees. You can see her blog at www.sarahely8989.blogspot.com

I invite you to read the top 2 posts, the top one is a very special man who loves bowling and the second is Sarah's letter to our President.

It hurts me that our President feels it is okay to make fun of the Special Olympics and the people who participate. The special people who participate in these events try very hard to compete. I am not ashamed to admit that the participants could beat me any day of the week in any of the sports.

I know that everyone makes mistakes and our leaders are not immune to this. However, I still think it is in bad taste to compare ones self in a joking matter to people who have to work very hard to do even the most simple of tasks.

I think the Special Olympics is a absolutely wonderful sporting event and when Kevin and I become the proud parents of a child with Down Syndrome, I pray with all my might that our child may one day participate in this event.

24 Most Perfect Weeks Today

Today I am 24 weeks pregnant. *WOW* My little bug and I have been growing together for 6 months! 24 weeks ago today God blessed Kevin and I with our little miracle baby and we feel completely blessed and humbled by the Lord's Gift to us. Words cannot explain our feelings for this child. My little Bug kicks and moves all the time and today he is kicking a little stronger. Maybe he knows it is his "anniversary" and it having a small party :o) I will have Kevin take a 24 Week picture tonight when we get home and will post it then.

Christy & Bug

Dr Appointment Today

Had a OB appt this morning. Nothing big, just a checkup. Cody's heartbeat is great, cervix is still closed & my uterus is measuring a little ahead of schedule but Cody has been measuring ahead the whole time, so per my ob that is to be expected. I have gained 1 more pound, so I am up 2 pounds from my 1st OB appt in December. Cody was very active at the appointment. He wanted to be sure the Dr knew he was in there :o) I am so in love with this little boy!! Hard to believe I am almost 6 months pregnant (will be on Friday) Kevin is so sweet he always rubs my belly and talks to Cody and then kisses him good night and good bye in the morning. Kevin is going to be such a great dad :o)

Christy

Baby Registry & More

Yesterday I went and registered at Walmart and Target. Wasn't really planning on it, but my mom's co-workers and my family and friends are always asking what we need and I just do not know what to tell them. I have friends that have kept telling me to go and do it as well but with the economy the way it is I feel kind of bad about "asking" for things for Cody. So, I picked lots of inexpensive things that we definitely need and some not so inexpensive things that he will need as well. I didn't put anything on the list that Kevin and I will not purchase if it isn't purchased for my baby shower. I have family out of state who will just shop online and have it sent to me. I would love to see them, but airfare is so expensive that they cannot afford to come in for the baby shower. My mom is going to organize it and I have to make a list of people to invite. Easier said than done. I have to think of the wording for the invitation and put where we are registered but want the people we invite not to think that they have to buy anything. That is not what my get together is going to be about. Of course any gift for my child that he needs will be greatly appreciated but not expected. So, any ideas on wording? I also have to admit that I didn't realize just how much that I still need for him. *WOW* We are going to be using "fuzzi bunz" cloth diapers but will not use them until he is about 3 months old. So, I did put some newborn disposables on the registry. Diapers sure have gone up since I last purchased them. Anyway, while we were out yesterday (me, Kevin & my mom) My mom saw the bibs above and just had to buy them for Cody. Aren't they cute?! The horse is the one that my mom ordered for Cody that was a surprise that I didn't know was coming. It is a huge stuffed "riding" horse that he will be able to get on and "ride" when he is able. It is so cute, soft and sturdy. Kevin is always telling Cody about the big horse his Me Maw bought for him. Cody has been very active lately and last night I felt my uterus stretching and looked down and one side of my abdomen was up about 3 inches higher than anywhere else and it was perfectly round. I think it was his little head. I rubbed his little head and was talking to him at the same time. He stayed like that for about 3 minutes then moved and started kicking. It was nice that he sat there that long letting mommy rub his little head. It brought tears to my eyes. I love him so much and June/July cannot come fast enough. I love being pregnant but want to hold him in my arms so bad. I know that any mother has those feelings/thoughts but it is hard to explain that he is my heart and after all my losses and then never believing we would get another chance that he will be here in a few short months. I am so in love with him and I know that he is a true gift from God. Anyway, hope you are having a good day and be sure to check out the fundraisers going on for 2 families in the process of adopting. One is on the top right of my blog and the other is down below a few posts ago for handmade bibs, scarfs, headbands & washcloths. These are being made by a teenage girl who is helping to bring her newest sibling home.

Christy

23 Incredible Weeks

Wow, today I am 23 weeks pregnant! Time is just flying by :o) My little bug is growing more every day and is strong enough so that I feel him all day long and he still amazes us every night before bed. A friend of mine had a little boy in December and I went to visit her at her house Tuesday night and was just sitting there holding her little boy. He is absolutely adorable and very active. He smiles all the time and gets fussy very little. The cutest thing is that he has a bouncer that has a little mirror above it and he looks at it constantly, she says that he thinks he has found a friend. He just looks at it and smiles, such a happy little boy. While I was holding him I was wondering what my little bug will look like at 3 months? The miracle of life is absolutely amazing. Such an adventure! So, today my bug and I celebrate 23 weeks of being together. I hope you have a wonderful day!
(The top picture is one that Kevin took of me this evening)

Christy & Bug

How is the baby coming out?

This was the question that was asked by my 7 year old nephew the other day. Of course my niece Julia was there as well and wanted to know how Cody was coming out. Robert (my nephew) wanted to know if he was coming out of my belly button. My mom started laughing and said "yeah Aunt Christy, tell them how the baby is coming out" So, I completely side stepped that question and started talking about why the belly button is there and what it's function is. I got them looking at their belly buttons and then Robert asked me if it was black because his mom and and dad kept his and it is black. I told him that it turned black as it fell off but that before then it was what carried blood, oxygen & food to him when he was in his mommy's belly. So, I am hoping that he never remembers to ask me that question again. I think my sil told them that is how the baby comes out because when Julia was born, Robert was 3 1/2 yrs old and was very interested in how his sister came into the world. Anyway, one question avoided- dreading to hear the next....

Christy

Funny Stuff

Last night my sister in law called me and said "you know who wants to talk to you" So, she puts my niece Julia on the phone. The first words out of Julia's mouth is this "has the baby come out yet?" To which I replied, "not yet, remember he comes out in 4 more months" She repeats this information 3 times to her mom and brother. Then, because I know she, being 3 does not really have concept of time I tell her "you have to be 4 yrs old before Cody comes" she then turns and repeats this to her mom and brother. "I have to be 4 yrs old before Cody comes out, then after I turn 4 yrs old, it will be 2 more months before he comes out" From there we just talked about anything and everything and before we got off the phone she made sure that I remembered that when he is born that she gets to hold him and help change him. So, she hands the phone to my sister in law (after advising me one more time that she gets to hold and help change him when he is born) My sister in law then tells me that Julia has been putting a baby doll under her shirt and saying "mommy, look, I have a baby in my belly" to which my sister in law replies "you do sissy?" then Julia answers "yes, mommy... look mommy the baby came out" then my sister in law says "he did, is the baby a boy or girl?" Then Julia answers "he is a boy mommy and his name is Cody" LOL... That kid is something else!! She is so excited about her little cousin! I have to wonder if I will be able to hold Cody at all in the hospital when she is around :o) I am very happy that she is so excited because up to this point it has just been her and her brother and of course, she is the baby. Then tonight I went by my mom's house to pick up my heparin (my step dad picked it up for me because it wasn't ready this morning and I couldn't get to the pharmacy before they closed) She wanted to feel Cody- at first he was asleep but he woke up pretty quickly and gave his Me Maw quite a few kicks to let her know he was there! He is so funny, that was the first time that she has ever felt him move- other times I have gone by her house he is asleep and doesn't feel like putting on a show :o)

Our little bug sure is loved by his family!!

Just To Clarify

Someone I know and respect greatly sent me a private email letting me know they had some concerns. The concern was that I refer to Cody as "perfect". She is concerned that since I refused all genetic testing that I may be somehow disappointed if Cody was not born a "typical" child. I want to say that I know she just worries about me and doesn't want me to be hurt again. So, please do not think badly of her I am only putting this on here in case someone else comes across this blog and thinks the same thing. I have refused all prenatal testing and I will continue to do so. There is nothing that will make me feel any differently towards my child regardless of a "diagnosis" If Cody is born with Down Syndrome, CP, Spina bifida or whatever it will NOT change my love for my child. I say Cody is perfect because in my eyes any child that is given by God is perfect. If Cody is born with a diagnosis then I will continue to think he is perfect. He is perfect in God's eyes so why would he not be in mine? I just feel blessed that God has blessed me with Cody and trusts in my care of him. So what if he has a diagnosis? If Cody is born with a diagnosis then I will still be crying tears of happiness & joy that he is ALIVE and that I am the lucky one to be his mother. There is NOTHING that he can be born with or without that would make me love and cherish him any less. So, I will continue to refer to him as my perfect angel. I know that there are people who, when their child is born with an unexpected diagnosis may not feel this way. That is okay, they either learn to love the child with the diagnosis or they do not. If they do not, or just feel unprepared to parent their child with whatever diagnosis then they make an adoption plan and that child will be adopted by a wonderful family that sees the child and not the diagnosis. I have a cousin with Spina Bifida and she is perfect in my eyes. Kevin has a cousin with Down Syndrome and he is perfect in my eyes as well. We are still going to adopt a child with Down Syndrome and they will also be perfect in my eyes. ANY child or animal that God puts on this earth is here for a reason and they were made by God. God does not make mistakes! So, I hope this clarifies things for anyone who was worried about me saying Cody is Perfect. Speaking of Perfect children and families who are adopting them, please go to my post below about the fundraiser to help bring home a child with special needs. You can order handmade baby bibs, scarfs, washcloths & headbands to help out a great family. Also, on the top right there is a button for 2 children that another family is adopting and they always have fundraisers and have a really great one right now for an ergo carrier.

Christy with her perfect little bug Cody

22 Absolutely Beautiful, Fantastic Weeks!!

Today I am 22 weeks pregnant! My perfect little miracle baby has been nestled comfortably inside me that long already. It is hard to believe that we have been together this long. It seems that time is just flying by :o) I know that must sound funny to some, but it is going by very fast for me! My niece Julia is really cute- she tells everyone "Cody will come out in 4 months, just 4 more months" Apparently she tells that to anyone who will listen. She is so excited about her cousin and tells everyone that she is going to hold him and help change him when he is born.

We have decided to name him Cody Joe. Cody is the name that we picked years ago to be the name of our first son. Which is why we were going to name Vlad that as well. Joe is Kevin's dad's middle name and he wants to name him after his father who passed away when he was 13 yrs old. I told Kevin to pick the middle name and that is what he came up with. So, Cody Joe F. it is. CJ will probably be used every so often, but I think we will call him Cody most of the time.

Happy 22 wks Little Bug- We Love You!!

Plans

I plan on getting Kevin to take a new picture of me to post tonight. I am still not very big (well at least my stomach isn't) but I am a little bigger than before. My little bug is very active every day and loves to explore his surroundings. He kicks and moves all the time and Kevin and I still love watching him at night when he is having fun. He really responds to his Daddy. When Kevin talks right at my stomach and rubs it, little bug will follow his daddy with his little feet. Kevin is so in love with our little bug and tells him every day how much his daddy loves him. He tells him about our pets, our family, his room and his big stuffed riding horse that his Me maw bought him. I know he doesn't really have a clue what daddy is saying to him but he sure does react to his daddy's voice. I have found that drinking Orange juice really gets him cranked up as well. Just a few minutes after drinking OJ he gets even more active. So, when he isn't moving as much and I start to get worried I always drink a glass of orange juice and he puts on a show. I was happy to hear from my friend Kristy yesterday. She told me that John Paul and Dasha are doing great and getting into a routine which is great because it gives her more time to get other things done around the house. I plan on going to visit her once my little bug is a few months old so that I can see them all. I can't wait to see the kids again- I haven't "seen" them since last April. I am still cleaning the baby's room closet out-I have used it for storage so long that it sure is a lot of work to get the stuff out of there and moved to the play room closet. Well, that is about it for now. Will try to post a more recent picture tonight once Kevin gets home.
(Kevin took the picture, but he is not good with taking pictures so it is a bit blurry)

My Appointment Yesterday

I saw my OB yesterday to check on my cervix and baby's growth. I am so tired of hearing everybody tell me that when they were this far along they were out to "here" yada, yada, yada. I have never really been a big round belly person when pregnant. So, my Ob checked my cervix and said it was fine and measured my uterus and said it is perfect for how far along I am and not to worry about what everybody else says. He said that some people carry large, some small but that my little boy is perfectly healthy and not to worry about anything. His heartbeat was great and he was moving around great. So, that is about it... have a great day and remember to read about the fundraisers below.

Christy

Adoption Fundraiser

There is a lovely family that has adopted numerous children (some with special needs) They are once again adopting and their daughter Julia is making bibs, washcloths,scarfs & headbands to sell in order to help fund her part of the trip. I have ordered 2 bibs and 3 washcloths so far and hope to order more. The bibs, washcloths and scarfs can be made in whichever color(s) you prefer. You can order by sending an email to thereed8@yahoo.com Bibs are $8.00 each, Washcloths are $6.00 each,Headbands are $5.00 each and Scarfs are $15.00 each. Below are some that she has made. You can specify which color or colors you would like your item to be. I am adding 2 scarfs and a few headbands to my order.