the first thing she wanted to do was get wet and play in the water park
feeding sardines to the dolphins...she loved this!
sharing a Pop Rocks candy experience with dad
Thursday, June 17, 2010
birthday surprise
Nathan and I took Ellery to Sea World on her birthday. It was a fun surprise and I think she enjoyed having all of our attention (Price stayed home and bonded with my dad). We were there from 10am to 6pm...so a long, hot day full of shows, lots of junk food, and great memories.
the first thing she wanted to do was get wet and play in the water park
feeding sardines to the dolphins...she loved this!
the first thing she wanted to do was get wet and play in the water parkfeeding sardines to the dolphins...she loved this!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
never a dull moment
It's been a crazy week! We celebrated Ellery's birthday on Saturday and I was busy with the preparations all week. It was such a fun party...12 little girls and lots of pink! I can't wait to share pictures.
Thursday was quite a day. We had a 6-month check-up with Price's neurologist at Texas Childrens. Thankfully, it was very uneventful. He definitely thinks Price is making progress and is hopeful, just as we are. Our doctor is a sweet grandfather-type man who wears a bow tie and speaks in a Donald Duck voice to his patients. He admits to not really understanding why Price is having the delays he is having since all his testing has come back relatively normal. He wishes he could "fix" the problem, but that's just not a possibility. Our only hope is in the Lord, and we pray everyday that Price's healing would bring him much glory.
Price was acting completely normal Thursday until around bedtime when he was sounding a little hoarse. I didn't think much of it since he was acting well otherwise, no fever or anything. Nathan was up late (probably watching sports center) and kept checking on him. At about 1 am, he brought him into our room and said that he thought Price needed to go to the ER. Price's breathing was really labored and it sounded like he was gasping for air. Nathan was so calm but I was starting to panic a little, it just sounded so awful. Nathan and Price headed for Texas Childrens ER and I stayed home with Ellery but was ready to head that direction if needed. It turns out Price had croup and he was immediately seen by an ER doctor upon arrival. Nathan said before they even checked in they were giving Price a steroid to open up his breathing. After steroids and a breathing treatment and a couple hours of observation, the boys returned home around 5:30 am.
Price has been feeling better each day, although the kids and I stayed home from church this morning just in case.
Tomorrow is Ellery's official birthday and Nathan and I have special plans with the birthday girl!
Thursday was quite a day. We had a 6-month check-up with Price's neurologist at Texas Childrens. Thankfully, it was very uneventful. He definitely thinks Price is making progress and is hopeful, just as we are. Our doctor is a sweet grandfather-type man who wears a bow tie and speaks in a Donald Duck voice to his patients. He admits to not really understanding why Price is having the delays he is having since all his testing has come back relatively normal. He wishes he could "fix" the problem, but that's just not a possibility. Our only hope is in the Lord, and we pray everyday that Price's healing would bring him much glory.
Price was acting completely normal Thursday until around bedtime when he was sounding a little hoarse. I didn't think much of it since he was acting well otherwise, no fever or anything. Nathan was up late (probably watching sports center) and kept checking on him. At about 1 am, he brought him into our room and said that he thought Price needed to go to the ER. Price's breathing was really labored and it sounded like he was gasping for air. Nathan was so calm but I was starting to panic a little, it just sounded so awful. Nathan and Price headed for Texas Childrens ER and I stayed home with Ellery but was ready to head that direction if needed. It turns out Price had croup and he was immediately seen by an ER doctor upon arrival. Nathan said before they even checked in they were giving Price a steroid to open up his breathing. After steroids and a breathing treatment and a couple hours of observation, the boys returned home around 5:30 am.
Price has been feeling better each day, although the kids and I stayed home from church this morning just in case.
Tomorrow is Ellery's official birthday and Nathan and I have special plans with the birthday girl!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Reveal
Really wanting a light-hearted and fun post and since we don't have a big boy/girl reveal, how about a name reveal?
If this sweet baby is a girl, her name will be Charley Jane. We are still unsure about the spelling, but it's a name we have loved for awhile. Ellery could have easily been Charley. And Jane is my middle name, as well as my Aunt Sherry's middle name, and my Nanny's mother's name. I love that she would be named after some of my very favorite women.
If this baby is a boy, his name will be Street Michael. Yes, Street. Kind of weird, kind of random...but we like it. Price could have easily been Street. But Price is Pricey and it fits him so perfectly. Michael is not only Nathan's middle name, but Nathan's dad's name and my dad's middle name. All special men.
So there you have it! I always tell people when they ask about our chosen names that they don't have to pretend to like them. It's okay if you don't. We do and that's all that matters!
Oh, and did you hear I will have a niece named Piper Elizabeth? Love that little girl already!
If this sweet baby is a girl, her name will be Charley Jane. We are still unsure about the spelling, but it's a name we have loved for awhile. Ellery could have easily been Charley. And Jane is my middle name, as well as my Aunt Sherry's middle name, and my Nanny's mother's name. I love that she would be named after some of my very favorite women.
If this baby is a boy, his name will be Street Michael. Yes, Street. Kind of weird, kind of random...but we like it. Price could have easily been Street. But Price is Pricey and it fits him so perfectly. Michael is not only Nathan's middle name, but Nathan's dad's name and my dad's middle name. All special men.
So there you have it! I always tell people when they ask about our chosen names that they don't have to pretend to like them. It's okay if you don't. We do and that's all that matters!
Oh, and did you hear I will have a niece named Piper Elizabeth? Love that little girl already!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Prayers answered
It was a rough weekend, my friends. Friday we went for our 20 week anatomy scan and I just knew throughout the scan that something was not right. The ultrasound tech didn't say a word and I got one picture! One picture of an alien-like face! When I met with my midwife, I immediately asked her if the baby was okay. She said something like, "Yes, but...", and that's all I heard. Immediately, tears starting streaming down my face and I felt like I was in the middle of a bad dream. I thought to myself, "I trust you Lord, but really what are you doing? Haven't we been through enough this past year with Price? Haven't I learned enough, grown enough? Are you upset with me?"
The midwife proceeded to tell me that I would be seeing a fetal specialist because the baby has a cyst on it's brain and also has a two-vessel umbilical cord instead of the normal three-vessel. She said the problems alone aren't huge but the two together could mean something else might be wrong. So with no pictures of our baby I left their office confused and terrified of what might be wrong. And to top it off, I would have to wait the long weekend ahead with hopes of seeing the specialist sometime this week.
Of course googling the condition got me even more worked up and all of the possibilities overwhelmed me. I can't say the nervousness ever really went away but I was filled with a peace that could have only been from the Lord. This baby is His, He didn't make a mistake when forming him/her, and we will be okay no matter the outcome. This baby is a gift. Once again, I found myself submitting to His will and telling Him I would walk down this road, even though I so desperately did not want to. I think I also felt entitled to a healthy baby. I mean we have had our share of "issues" with one child, shouldn't this one be perfectly healthy? Why us?
Fast forward to today. Our appointment was at 2:45 with the fetal specialist. We felt your prayers. Nathan and I had a wonderful conversation on the way to the office and we were even laughing. Something we have not done enough of lately. The specialist was a get-down-to-business, too-smart-for-my-own-good, kind of guy. And I immediately knew we were in good hands. He proceeded to rattle off numbers and percentages. A two vessel umbilical cord happens in 1 percent of pregnancies and 15-20% of these babies will have heart or kidney defects and possibly chromosome defects. Ugh. But, most of the time these babies are born perfectly healthy and normal. I asked him if I did something wrong to cause this and he said absolutely not, just a fluke deal.
We got a great look at the baby. He did a thorough exam and gave us a detailed explanation of everything he was looking at. He specifically looked at the heart, doing a fetal echocardiogram, and the kidneys. We saw this baby's hands open and close, the mouth opening and swallowing, and lots of movement. He did see the cyst which he said is really not a big deal. They usually disappear and cause no problems. He said lots of people, even adults, have them without ever knowing. Ultimately, he gave the baby a clean bill of health at this time. Praise be to God!
I will be monitored with growth scans every 5-6 weeks because the umbilical issue can cause growth problems. But, so far this baby actually measures ahead of schedule and the doctor doesn't suspect we will have any problems arise.
So, that's it. That's what you were praying for. And can I continue to ask for your prayers, that no problems will arise with this baby and that he/she (we were so tempted to find out today!) will arrive 100% healthy and thriving? I know our family is taking up quite a bit of your prayer time and I cannot thank you enough!
The Lord continues to work in my life, showing me so clearly that my plans are not always His plans. I am confident that if I knew everything and could see everything, I would gladly choose HIS will everytime.
The midwife proceeded to tell me that I would be seeing a fetal specialist because the baby has a cyst on it's brain and also has a two-vessel umbilical cord instead of the normal three-vessel. She said the problems alone aren't huge but the two together could mean something else might be wrong. So with no pictures of our baby I left their office confused and terrified of what might be wrong. And to top it off, I would have to wait the long weekend ahead with hopes of seeing the specialist sometime this week.
Of course googling the condition got me even more worked up and all of the possibilities overwhelmed me. I can't say the nervousness ever really went away but I was filled with a peace that could have only been from the Lord. This baby is His, He didn't make a mistake when forming him/her, and we will be okay no matter the outcome. This baby is a gift. Once again, I found myself submitting to His will and telling Him I would walk down this road, even though I so desperately did not want to. I think I also felt entitled to a healthy baby. I mean we have had our share of "issues" with one child, shouldn't this one be perfectly healthy? Why us?
Fast forward to today. Our appointment was at 2:45 with the fetal specialist. We felt your prayers. Nathan and I had a wonderful conversation on the way to the office and we were even laughing. Something we have not done enough of lately. The specialist was a get-down-to-business, too-smart-for-my-own-good, kind of guy. And I immediately knew we were in good hands. He proceeded to rattle off numbers and percentages. A two vessel umbilical cord happens in 1 percent of pregnancies and 15-20% of these babies will have heart or kidney defects and possibly chromosome defects. Ugh. But, most of the time these babies are born perfectly healthy and normal. I asked him if I did something wrong to cause this and he said absolutely not, just a fluke deal.
We got a great look at the baby. He did a thorough exam and gave us a detailed explanation of everything he was looking at. He specifically looked at the heart, doing a fetal echocardiogram, and the kidneys. We saw this baby's hands open and close, the mouth opening and swallowing, and lots of movement. He did see the cyst which he said is really not a big deal. They usually disappear and cause no problems. He said lots of people, even adults, have them without ever knowing. Ultimately, he gave the baby a clean bill of health at this time. Praise be to God!
I will be monitored with growth scans every 5-6 weeks because the umbilical issue can cause growth problems. But, so far this baby actually measures ahead of schedule and the doctor doesn't suspect we will have any problems arise.
So, that's it. That's what you were praying for. And can I continue to ask for your prayers, that no problems will arise with this baby and that he/she (we were so tempted to find out today!) will arrive 100% healthy and thriving? I know our family is taking up quite a bit of your prayer time and I cannot thank you enough!
The Lord continues to work in my life, showing me so clearly that my plans are not always His plans. I am confident that if I knew everything and could see everything, I would gladly choose HIS will everytime.
Prayers Appreciated
If anyone reads this, we would welcome your prayers today around 2:45. I will update later and let you know why.
Thanks friends.
Thanks friends.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The passenger
I have had lots of questions about our little passenger on board, i.e. baby #3! He/she is kicking up a storm already which has me really thinking we've got a feisty one on our hands. Price was just so chilled in the womb that this one seems out of control. I switched to a different doctor (she's actually a midwife) over the last couple of weeks and so my anatomy ultrasound got pushed back a little. It is this Friday and I will be 21 weeks along.
All I desire and pray for is a HEALTHY baby. I really know too much now about what can go "wrong" and so it's definitely more of a fear this time around for me. I don't dwell on it but it gives me some anxiety from time to time.
And yes, I am curious to know if this one is a boy or a girl. I am going to have to wait a little longer though, because Nathan and I (as of today...ha)have decided not to find out! I can't believe he talked me into this but now that I am half-way there, I am very okay with our decision. I think it will be such a special surprise. We've got a perfect girl and boy name picked out already and I love them both so much, I kind of wish we were having one of each! =)
All I desire and pray for is a HEALTHY baby. I really know too much now about what can go "wrong" and so it's definitely more of a fear this time around for me. I don't dwell on it but it gives me some anxiety from time to time.
And yes, I am curious to know if this one is a boy or a girl. I am going to have to wait a little longer though, because Nathan and I (as of today...ha)have decided not to find out! I can't believe he talked me into this but now that I am half-way there, I am very okay with our decision. I think it will be such a special surprise. We've got a perfect girl and boy name picked out already and I love them both so much, I kind of wish we were having one of each! =)
