Nope I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...just got swept up in holiday everything....



I hope everyone had a great time with family and friends. We sure did! We went to T's family christmas gathering last week. Everyone was so excited to meet little man. T's cousin and his wife who lost their son at 34 weeks last October were there. They are expecting a second son in January. She has been on bed rest for a few weeks already because of BP issues. (Please keep them and their new little one in your prayers!) I was kind of dreading the trip there and back but it was a great way to start out our celebration. YaYa got to open presents from Mamaw and Poppi and we all got to hang out together.

Best of all T's grandmother got to meet little man for the first time. She was so sweet - she told YaYa how much she thought that she and little man looked alike. That made YaYa just beam with pride. She has been feeling very self concious lately about having brown skin when the rest of her family has pink skin. She understands that it doesn't make a difference and that we are still family no matter what we look like - but it is still hard for her sometimes. So T's grandma telling her that was really an awesome boost for her.

The best snowman ever!

Need I say more???

Out of the loop...

I guess I've been a little out of it lately... who knew a baby could take up every second of every day??? I've been reading other blogs - but haven't really found the time to update my own story...

It's been a hard couple of weeks (not quite two) for us to get adjusted but I think we are all getting the hang of having little man around. Breast feeding has been the most difficult thing for me. Isn't that supposed to be the most natural thing in the world to do? Not so much for me. But yesterday seemed like we finally got all the kinks worked out. Yaya was 10 months old when we got to bring her home so having a newborn is completely new to us. T is still a little unsure about the whole tiny baby thing but he's learning that little man is sturdier than he looks. Yaya is in love and can't keep her hands off of him. I think it's great that she's so into having a baby brother. He totally responds to her voice too. And me - I just can't get enough of him. I can sit and stare at him sleeping forever.

My mom was here for the week after little man was born. It was nice having her around. When she's not here it is easy to forget how much I miss spending time with her and my sisters. Not sure if it was hormones or what - but I had a total breakdown the day she left. It was also my first time to be totally alone with little man. I put on a lullaby imix that I had made for YaYa right after Ellie was born. Music seems to catch his attention and really helps sooth him. I had forgotten that this mix included all of the songs that I think of as Ellie's songs. It just felt so sureal to be sitting there holding little man while my heart was aching for her. He sat in my lap just looking around with his eyes wide open while I cried.

Coming Home!

After 4days away from YaYa - I was so excited to see her!!! But not as excited as she was to meet her brother!! YaYa and Grandma spent all afternoon getting ready for our arrival. They decorated with balloons and made signs. It was really wonderful.



Amelia was so happy to get to hold her baby brother. She was grinning from ear to ear!



We had to change his clothes and wrap him up with his bili-blanket as soon as we got home.


This oen is from before we left the hospital. The picture is deceptive - he looks so much bigger than he actually is.

This is his little Christmas coming home outfit...

Introducing...

Mr. Eli - born December 6th at 8:27pm weighing 6lbs 4oz.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day... The last few days have been a flurry of activity but constant waiting too. There was always the feeling that something was about to happen but we weren't quite ready for it yet. I don't know if I am ready still... but it's time.

This pregnancy hasn't been all fun and games (but then again if you are reading this - yours probably wasn't / hasn't been great either) but some part of me does hate to see it end. I am so thankful to have been given a mostly uneventful pregnancy. Now that it is almost over I feel like I spent so much time focused on what might go wrong I missed how wonderful it really was until now.

I miss my daughter more than I ever thought would be possible. But at the same time I am overcome with the joy and anticipation of this new little one. At our house this year christmas eve has come early.

Thank you all so much for the love and support you have shared with me during this pregnancy.

And the winner is...

Forever Elliot's Mommy!!!!

If you e-mail me with your scarf choice and your address and I will get this out to you as soon as possible!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone for visiting and leaving a comment! You were all so sweet and kind. I can't wait to check out all your blogs in the next few days and weeks.

And I can't wait to check out the rest of the giveaways!!!

Today's giveaway is hosted by Franchesca at Handprints form Heaven.

25 days of Giveaways...

I wasn't really sure what hand made item to offer up as my give away for today so I'm posting several pictures... If you are the winner for today's giveaway you get to choose any of the items pictured!!!

I have spent most of the last year rediscovering my love of knitting. I started out slow - mostly scarves and hats and baby blankets to donate... but I've completely enjoyed my knitting therapy sessions and I love the idea that someone else can enjoy one of these great items!

Leave me a comment and tomorrow I will post the winner!

If you are the winner - please e-mail me as quickly as possible - I really want to get this out to you before our new addition arrives.

Happy Adoption Day!!!

Here we are 4 years ago today after all of our government paperwork was finalized.

YaYa is such an amazing and special little girl!!! We are thel uckiest parents ever.

Wecelebrated this morning with presents and pancakes in bed! We were all to sleepy to get the camera out but we will take some this evening with cake and balloons!

2nd post for today...

I've been having trouble sleeping lately - so here I sit... reading blogs. I love to read your blogs. My heart breaks for many of you and I cry more times than I can count. I celebrate your ups and mourn your downs. I'm not great at writing comments - but I do mean everything in the best possible way!

I'm a scattered thinker and a horrible writer. The combination does not make for very interesting blog content (or comments). When I started this blog I had no idea how much comfort and support it would give me.

It will soon be 2 years since Ellie died in our arms. At the beginning everything was raw and fresh. A huge gaping whole in my life that I never thought I would survive. But I did - slowly - day by day - getting stronger without realizing it. I poured out my heart here and was offered love and understanding in return. All of you have helped me heal.

I think I'm just completely over come with emotions right now.

This is the weekend I officially became a parent for the first time. It is also the last weekend my sweet little YaYa will have us all to herself. I am feeling the tug of uncertainty. Right now she is my #1. Becoming her mommy gave me more than I ever imagined possible. I hope a new addition to our family will be good for her.

Next Saturday... 7 days...

Don't forget to check out today's 25 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!!

Today's givieaway is being hosted by Jeanette at Lazy Seamstress. Jeanette is giving away a beautiful hand made doll - so go by and leave her a comment so you can be entered to win her very special giveaway.

Belated Thanksgiving

Yes - I am still here and big boy is still cooking!

I am so thankful for what a wonderful amazing family I am blessed to be a part of.

I have tried to keep computer time to a minimum this weekend. This is our last weekend as a 3 person family and we are making the most of it! Since none of us really knew what to expect we decided to stick close to home. And this is a really special weekend for our family. Nov. 25th, 2005 was the day that T and I headed to Guatemala to pick up YaYa. We spent Nov. 25th - Dec. 2nd, 2005 becoming a forever family. So not only is this our last weekend as a family of 3 - but it is our "Happy Adoption Day" celebration!!! Monday Nov. 30th is our official "Happy Adoption Day" - but it's kind of nice to have the whole weekend to just be happy together.

This is us 4 years ago today with YaYa's foster mother in Guatemala.

This is T's first picture with our new daughter. She fell asleep in the cab on the way back to the hotel.

This is me and YaYa...
I didn't know I could ever love a human being as much as I love her!

Yesterday we had a totally non-traditional Thanksgiving and stayed in our jammies most of the day - until we decided to go get Chinese food. But - our favorite Chinese restauraunt was CLOSED!!!! (how could that possibly be???) So we raided the junk food aisle of the grocery store and ate at home watching football.

Then this morning just because I can't miss the tradition - I rolled myself out of bed at 3:30am and headed to Tar.get... I didn't get much (and actually got no christmas gifts...) because my brain has turned to mush in the last week. But I did get us some great cheap movies to watch... I picked up breakfast for my bacon loving sleepy heads and got home before they were even awake! So we lazed in bed for another hour and then stayed in bed to watch the Griswold's celebrate Christmas on the portable DVD player. (No bedroom TV's for us...) Rolled out of bed about 11am and headed to the Chinese restaurant we missed out on yesterday.

In the midst of all this fun T has been on a major cleaning/nesting binge. He washed the front porch this afternoon (in freezing cold weather no less...) and just got done changing out the shower head in our bathroom. My man is on a roll!!!

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!!

25 days of giveaways

I am excited to be a part of the 25 Days of Giveaways coming up in December!

Tina at Living without Sopie and Ellie has designed a kind of tag team Holiday Cheer giveaway for December.

Check out her blog and the links to the other giveaways starting after Thanksgiving!

A quick post

I wanted to write a really quick post to let all of you know that I'm still here - and big boy is still cooking!

It's been a crazy week and will continue to be crazy until I deliver (or so it seems...) I've been trying to wrap things up at work and make an organized list of what will need to be followed up and I'm trying to do the same thing at home for my mom when she comes to stay with YaYa.... There are way to many details in a person's life to communicate - like what YaYa will and will not eat in her lunch or how we pick out clothes to wear...

I am also avioding most thoughts about what is about to happen. Emotionally I'm just not ready to walk into that hospital and have a baby. I am very. very ready for Big Boy to be here - I'm just not ready for the actual labor and delivery part. In my mind that's still part of Ellie's story that I'm not ready to share.

(Changing subjects completely...) But on a slightly vain note - everyone has been telling me how great I look lately! That sure does boost a more than slightly rotund girl's mood!!!

Thank you!

I just want to send a great big THANK YOU!!!! to Katie. She brought me 3 HUGE bags of baby clothes and toys this week. We used to work together and a mutual friend put us back in touch. Her son was born last December. Amelia and I had a blast going through eveything this morning.

Survey

I just saw this on another blog and thought it might be interesting. You know me - I'm a sucker for a good survey... and I needed to lighten my mood today.

Total Weight Gain? 25 pounds

Maternity Clothes? They barely fit anymore! I've passed on most of what I have been wearing to my sister and a friend. I'm down to 2 dresses, 2 pair of jeans and about 5 tops that still look OK to wear in public. I can't believe how HUGE my belly is!!!

Stretch Marks? 1!!!! Thank you mom!!!!

Sleep? What is that again??? Between bathroom trips, tums and coughing the last few weeks have been rough on the sleep front.

Best Moment this week? Seeing the 3d ultrasound pictures and watching Big Boy move around and chew on his hands.

Food Cravings? Not so much right now... It's been hard to eat and breathe at the same time. But I am still on a bagel-egg-cheese sandwich kick, and pizza, and mangos.

Sex? Not so much... I'm kind of feeling like a whale these days.

Labor Signs? Yes - but nothing seems to stick...maybe I need to go back and review the last question. That's supposed to get things going isn't it? I really want to go into labor on my own so we can rush to the hospital in a panic. (Crazy ideas... I know!)

Belly Button? Still in - I was really hoping it would pop out while I was pregnant but no luck. It just looks flat and miserable.

What I miss the most? A nice cold beer with dinner some nights.

What I am looking forward to the most? Meeting this little one. (and no more shots!)

Milestones? Every day is a milestone.

Stress

I need some advice...

Without going into to many details there is major stress in my life right now trying to coordinate family coming for the birth.

#1 - we have no room at our house for guests - our only guest room has now been transformed into the baby's room.

#2 - My mom is flying in a few days before and staying for a few additional days. Pretty limited time. She was really looking forward to spending some time with me and YaYa since she doesn't get to come to visit all that often. She will be sleeping on the bottom bunk in YaYa's room.

#3 - In-laws live only 2 hours away but have decided to come "stay" with us for the whole time my Mom will be here. (they are bringing an air matress so they can sleep in the living room!) I tried to nicely suggest that they come see us the day the baby is born and the day we come home from the hospital and then wait until after my Mom leaves for a long visit. But the hint wasn't taken. I also tried to suggest that they stay at a hotel - but again, hint not taken... Now "T" thinks I am trying to exclude his family.

I feel completely trapped and know that this is all going to go terribly wrong at some point. "T" is angry with me for even worrying about it - but how can I not? It happens every time my parents and his parents come at the same time. There's this big huge competition for YaYa's attention and now it will be the same with the baby too.

Should I just ignore the situation and pretend it doesn't matter?

18 days left...

As of today we officially have 18 days left. Where did all that time go? It seems like just yesterday I was peeing on a sticking not expecting to get good news. And now - I'm on the verge of having a real live baby.

I went back to the Dr. today. BP is elevated but holding steady below dangerous levels!!! She switched me to Hep.a.rin for the next few weeks. Pretty much the same routine as with the Lov.e.nox. (Only 36 more shots to go!!!!)

The most freak out part was watching my contractions (yes, you read that correctly - CONTRACTIONS) on the NST monitor. I've seen the irritability on the monitor before - but this was completely different. It was a smooth rise to a hump and then back down again. Who knows if it means anything - but secretly my fingers are crossed. I'm just way to anxious to get this last little bit over with so I can actually see this little guy. I'm excited and scared all at the same time.

We had another great ultrasound today too with lots of cute pictures... He was all active and showing off again too...

He seems to love letting his tongue hang out!

He even opened his eyes for this one! (and yes - the tongue is still out...)

Sucking his thumb.

November 17th - Fight For Preemies

Fight For Preemies // Bloggers Unite

I saw this and thought it would be great to share. Visit the site, make a donation if you can, or just remember a little one with love.

35 wk ultrasound

Before I let you go on - I just want to share how much it means to me that everyone who reads this blog has been following along to support my journey. I know that for many of you it isn't easy to hear and see details of this pregnancy. I'm sorry for all of the hurt and pain that each of you have to bear. I feel very, very lucky to have found such an amazing community of mothers to lean on and learn from. Thank you all for being my inspiration!

Now...

Baby is doing great!!! He already weighs 5 lbs 13oz.

We had the best ultrasound today - the sonographer got us some great pictures. We got to watch him chew on his hands and roll around. It was pretty cool! She even said that she doesn't usually get to see such a show off. He was even smiling for some of the pictures. She also told us that she could tell he was going to be born with hair. She could see it on the ultrasound.


I forgot the best part! My BP was AWESOME today!!! It continues to be high at home - but when the nurse took it during the NST it was the best it's been all week!

Emotional Landmine

I thought signing up for the prepared childbirth class at the hospital was the responsible thing to do. And I guess it is if you are a blissfully ignorant first timer it is. Me on the other hand - I guess I've just seen to much in my own life and your stories.

It started out great. Good information, nice people, what seemed like a great instructor... Then is just got hard.

It was just so emotional to sit there and talk about labor and birth and what it will feel like and what to expect. I know (or at least I have a lot of hope) that this time it will a completely different experience. Even though this birth will hopefully have a happy ending my journey to it wasn't exactly filled with joy.

I don't even remember exactly what set me off yesterday, but it must have been the (far to short and glossed over) conversation yesterday about PE. Not even a blip on the minds of a single mom in the room besides me. No one gave a second thought to the mothers and babies that die because of PE.

And then there was the endless discussion about how bad and horrible induction was... (yes, for my own health and the health of my child I am being induced...) Not a single person in that room took a minute to consider there might be a perfectly good reason for a Dr. to schedule an induction. Yes, there was a film about one mom who was induced for being 2 weeks over due - but I guess in every other circumstance it's selfish of the mom to agree to an induction.

Then there was a film about the actual birth that showed dozens of happy healthy little babies being handed to the happy alert moms and dads. I had to get up and leave for most of that one. I just completely lost it at that point. I did this. I had a baby. I was in labor and gave birth. But I didn't get to hear her cry. I didn't get to see her beautiful eyes looking back at me. I got to watch my daughter slowly fade away. How do you relive those moments in a room full of strangers who are completely immune to tragedy? I sat in the bathroom balling my eyes out wondering what in the hell I was doing there.

Signing up for this class I wanted to be normal. I wanted to be the happy almost full term pregnant lady learning about what comes next. But I guess I needed one more reminder that is far from what I am.

Don't get me wrong. I am happy that we took the class - there were some very useful tips and ideas for what to bring along to help with labor and being at the hospital. But for the most part - I am very disappointed that there wasn't more open and honest discussion about how each pregnancy is different with different circumstances and different needs and how that is OK too.

Where are you at in your grief. Has it been years or just weeks since you lost your baby. How are you feeling. How do you hope you will feel in the future. Have you found any peace at all?

I've been really struck by these questions and many of the answers I've read.

I'm coming up on 2 years since my daughter's death. I dont' know if I can say I miss her so much as I miss the idea of what she would have been. I miss what our family would have been if she had survived. I miss being able to see Yaya and her sister grow up together. I see my neices who are the same ages that Yaya and Ellie would have been and wonder if they would have a similar relationship.

During this pregnancy I have thought about Ellie a lot. I wonder what could have been different if anything had someone noticed what was going on sooner. I wonder if we would have made it any further along - giving her a better chance to survive.

My grandmother died in September. Yaya likes to think of her in heaven with Ellie. I don't know what I think. I've never been able to resolve all of that in my own heart and mind. But I do know that I've always felt a connection between Grams and Ellie. From the moment she was born I thought she looked just like my grandmother. For most of my pregnancy with Ellie I really thought we would name her Charlotte (my grandmother's name) - but we changed our minds at the hospital after we found out she wasn't going to make it.

I think I have found peace. I haven't forgotten or even gotten past what happened - but I do think that I can accept it as part of who I am and what my family is.

Pictures....

Sorry - they are terrible pictures taken as I was rushing out the door this morning - but hopefully you will get the idea. The room is about 1/2 done - T still needs to paint the animals, the curtains need to be hemmed and I'm not ready to put in the bedding - but it feels good to be this far!

Not great news on the BP front... I was hoping that it would settle back down once the sickness was being treated but it hasn't so far. No big jumps yet - but it hovers just below to high for comfort. Big boy doesn't seem to mind... he's gotten super active lately. If I am sitting in a position he doesn't like he lets me know!

Just in case you are dying to know more about whooping cough - check out this link... I guess it's more common than most people think it is.

I'm sorry if I seemed glib about the PE symptoms. I guess I was just on a "high" after getting the induction news and nothing else was really sinking in yet (I just can't tell you how much of a relief that was!). Given how quickly it moved for me last time we are all going to stay on top of it. I've gotten to far this time around to let anything happen. I'm trying to be cool and relaxed. Freaking myself out about it isn't going to do either one of us any good.

In really great news - T finished painting last night and put the furniture together today. I can't wait to get home and see it! I promise to post pictures once the room is done. T said the furniture and the walls looked great together. He was worried about my color choices until now.

Who would have guessed....

...I have whooping cough.

Yes, that old fashioned sickness that you never hear about anymore. How in the world did I manage to get whooping cough you might wonder? Honestly - I have no clue. But now I have some bright shiny new antibiotics that will hopefully eliminate this evil cough sooner rather than later because I'd really like to get some sleep in the last month before we are invaded by a hungry newborn.

Besides the whole whooping cough thing today was a pretty productive visit at the MFM.

Baby was great for the NST. My uterus on the other hand was not - it has gotten irritable. Personally - I think it's just pissed off by all the coughing - but that's just my non-medical opinion. So now I'm doing NSTs 2x a week - just to make sure.

Also in the not so great news department - my BP is officially up and there is protein in my urine. Nothing dangerous but it's time to start watching things a little more closely.

And the really big - super exciting news for the control freak in me.... WE HAVE A DATE!!!! The whole baby birthing process will officially start December 5th! Now every one that needs to be here can make travel plans and we don't have to stress about what to do with YaYa when it's time. Some one will be here and ready to take over for a few days. This is also assuming that everything stays the same for me and Big Boy between now and then.

Walking out of the office today with that date all set and ready was such a wonderful feeling! It was like a huge stressful weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Now I can relax and plan the next month out in detail!!!

Ugh...

I have gotten a terrible, miserable something or other that has me coughing constantly! As if my stomach muscles weren't sore enough from being stretched to the limit. I have to brace myself everytime I feel a cough coming on - otherwise it feels like I am going to split my ribcage in two!

I don't want to go to the clinic because I am more worried about picking up something more dangerous than what I already have so I'm going to wait it out until my MFM appointment tomorrow. I'm hoping she will give me some thing to reduce the coughing - but most likely not.

I'm just exhausted from all the coughing...and the crazy weekend schedule.

Saturday we did an infant care class - nothing to in depth, just how to handle a brand new baby once you get home. (Yes, we have a daughter - but she was already 10 months old when she got to come home with us. So no previous newborn experience for either of us.) Mostly standard stuff - but one more thing that made us realize we need to get ready for this baby sooner rather than later.

Then Sunday I did a breastfeeding class. Sorry - but this scared the crap out of me!!! Something that seemed so natural and uncomplicated now seems like this monumental task to be undertaken. Maybe I'm just going completely wacko in these last few weeks... I hope it turns out tobe much easier than it seems!

But the biggest news of all !!!!! We bought furniture this weekend (It is currently sitting in boxes in our dining room but hey - it's a start!) and T is going to paint the room this week!!! Maybe by next week (if I'm lucky) I'll be able to post some baby room pictures.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get rid of this cough soon - it's miserable!!!

Suprise Shower!!!

My co-workers suprised me with a baby shower today! They had a delicious lunch and beautiful decorations!!! It was really, really wonderful.

The cutest diaper cake ever - with a little sugar bear and baby on top. One of my co-workers is an expert cake decorator. She made the baby and the bear!This is the wonderful, amazing, incredible group of people that I work with! They really are part of my family.

It's been awhile since I've had any time to post.

First and most important - NST/Ultrasound this morning was GREAT!!! Worth the drive in the rain to get more good news. I will be 34 wks on Friday with no problems to speak of!

Second - A few weeks ago my sister told everyone that she is pregnant! Due in June 2010. She told her OB about me and my wonderful funky blood. They did a thrombophilia panel that same day. So far all of the tests have come up negative. Really great news for her! (How is it that I got to be the lucky one in the family??) A is really excited about Aunt Nana's baby because it can be twins with ours... (she also keeps saying that Aunt Nana has a little belly but her Mommy's is BIG!)

Third - We had our first ever baby shower this weekend! My MIL & SIL hosted a family baby shower for us this weekend in T's hometown. I was kindof dreading it - but we had a great time. T's family is just so amazing. Everyone (aunts and cousins etc...) made all kinds of good food and shared how happy they were for us. But then I looked around the room at how many of the women (my age and older) there who have had some kind of child related tradgedy touch their lives... One woman in her 60's was never able to have children after repeated miscarriages. One has had several IVF cycles and finally adopted three children. One just had a hysterectomy last year and has decided not to pursue adpotion. One is still undergoing IVF and IF treatments with no success. One that wants desperately to have children but is in no financial situation to do treatments or adoption. And one who's baby died at 30wks last November. All of that sadness in their lives and they were still there to help us celebrate. How amazing and special is that kind of family?

A neighbor to my MIL makes cakes... She is amazing!

My MIL made a diaper cake...

Me looking HUGE!!!!

Just another one of the Diaper Cake and gifts...

Fall

I think fall has arrived overnight here. All week we have had the kind of cold, wet miserable weather that no one likes to see arrive. Maybe it's just because I leave my house in the semi darkness every morning that I haven't noticed the changes.

But today - as I drove down the country roads that lead to our house I really noticed how beautiful everything is right now. We've gotten lots of rain so the lawns are all nice and green with lots of leaves scattered all over and the trees that still have leaves are red and orange and yellow. And there was just something special about the quality of the sunlight this morning. It was sunny and warmish and there was just a litle bit of drizzley moisture in the air to soften everything. It's just so amazingly beautiful. I want to go get my camera and take a picture so I can share it with everyone - but I know a picture won't capture the smell of the wetness or the feel of the air.

Happy fall!!!

32w ultrasound pics

Everything looked great yesterday! Little big boy weighs 4lbs now and finally turned himself around so he's head down. And best of all - still no signs of PE for me!!! Looks like we are heading into the home stretch.

Everyone who sees this 3d image says it looks just like my husband. It really is uncanny - it's the shape of his mouth and the nose mostly.