Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

Today was Ty's Preschool Thanksgiving Feast.
Each child had these adorable t-shirts and hats they had made.

This is my beautiful friend Jennifer and Ty's best friend Campbell ("Mamble" as Ty would say).

And these are Ty's wonderful Teachers! We are so thankful for them :)

It's a BOY!

We were able to squeeze in our ultrasound a bit early since we were at the office for the remaining portion of our sequential screen. So it was a great surprise. First and most importantly, the baby is completely healthy from all they can see. And all our early genetic screenings have come back normal! Praise God.

Here's our new little man :)
Sucking his thumb

Before the tech could even say anything, she scanned over this picture. Dennis & I just looked at each other like, "Did you see that!" There's no doubt this kiddo's a boy :)

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"Ah...it's a rough life"

Halloween

Wow, it's been way too long since I've posted! Lots of fun things have happened. Like Halloween!
We started off our day of visiting at the Firehouse to see Dennis :)

He's getting so tall.

I love these pictures of the two of them walking together.

Next we went to a Surprise Birthday Party for my wonderful friend Carissa!
Here's a great photo of her just as she walked in the door.

Ty and Ayden Young as"Buzz Lightyear!"

"Cheeeeese!"

Our next stop was to see Ty's Grandma & Papaw Dillman

While we were there, my brother Greg showed up with my nieces, Layla & Brianna

Mom thought it'd be fun to give Ty a sucker. Notice we had to strip him down. Slobber Monkey!

Then it was time for a costume change. Ty found this Monster costume at the store and wouldn't let go of the eye balls. So we decided to save it for the evening when it got colder.
Our next stop was to see my Uncle Gary & Grandma Gilbert

Grandma with the kids.

And finally, our last stop was to the Fall Festival at University Heights to meet up with my neices & nephews.

Brayton, Griffin, Montana, & Ty

Pfew! What a FUN day!

Ty's 1st Haircut

The "Before" picture.

During...

...and AFTER!
a balloon makes everything better :)

My 4th Pregnancy

It occurred to me today that I haven't posted much about this pregnancy and our anticipation of this new baby. It's incredible to me that I've been blessed with the experience of pregnancy four times now. Each is so special and unique.

This one has been especially unique. I don't know if it's because I'm praying for a girl or what, but this pregnancy has been different than all the others. For one, I was sick in the beginning. Thankfully not as sick as some women get. But nausea for any length of time is no fun. I'm thankful I've only actually gotten sick a few times.

I've also been extremely tired this time around. That could also be due to factors such as chasing after an 18 month old or being overweight.

My cravings have been very different. I'm usually a person who loves sweets (don't get me wrong, I still have my share), but this time I want SALTY things! Taco Bell mostly, but also that everything tastes so bland. I've never been one to add salt to my food, but I admit I have been this time. I'm bound to puff up!

My face has also been breaking out, which I didn't experience with the others.

So we'll see! We haven't scheduled our ultrasound yet, but it should be sometime near my birthday in mid-November :)

Great News!

We had our 1st round of genetics testing with this pregnancy. So far so good. I have to admit it was a bit difficult for me to be back in that place, meeting with the genetics counselor we saw with Riley, and going through more testing.

But the results so far have been good. The measurement (nucal translucency- back of neck) was questionable on ultrasound. But they also drew blood work that day. We got the results from that today and they were very good. Our likelihood of this baby having Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome) is 1:930, so basically 1%, and the likelihood of Trisomy 18 is 1:10,000, which is the lowest possible risk.

The whole screening is a series of tests. So we have more blood work in a month, then another ultrasound. That will give us a 90% accuracy. But the genetics counselor was very positive and said things looked very good :)

It was also nice to hear that they all still remembered us and was excited to hear we had a healthy son and that they way things appear, we should be having another healthy baby soon!

Fall Fun

We had lots of fun this Fall season.
I was able to visit Ty at preschool during their Pumpkin Festival where he got to lots of fun things like paint his own pumpkin :)

We also had a great time during a playdate to the Waterman's Pumpkin Patch.
Miriam, Makenna, Kaitlyn, Naomi, & Ty

Playing in the sand and getting filthy, that's what boys do!

Time for a Hay Ride.
Simeon, Makenna, Naomi, Kaitlyn, & Miriam

Stacy & Lucas was there too!
Wha'z up Lucas? LOL

Ty wasn't in the best mood that day.

This is probably the best shot of what I spent most of my time doing. Taking pictures while Ty pulls at me to pick him up.

Finally he decided to break loose and have some fun on the HayStack

...and throwing the hay at each other

It's all fun & games til someone gets hurt.

PUMPKIN CARVING TIME!

"Eewwe"

After working so hard on his pumpkin, we enjoyed a yummy carmel apple that Dennis surprised us with :)

One last jump on the trampoline before it starts getting cold.
Ty saying, "Cheeeese".

Helping Daddy rake the leaves.

Jumping in the leaves.

Grandpa Black hiding in the leaves...Ty wasn't too sure about that.

Grandpa jumping out and scaring Ty.

Priceless

Walk to Remember '09

Today was the annual Walk to Remember.

It's a time for parents and families who have lost babies, to come together and remember their life.

The day starts at St Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. Everyone gathers and chooses a balloon for their baby.

Then we walk from the hospital to a near-by park.

At the park we all gather on the lawn with our picnic chairs and blankets and listen to poems, prayers, and each baby's name is read.

These are a few of my friends who I met because of Riley's life. They are also mothers of Riley's little buddies in heaven :)

Each year I choose a balloon for Riley, and one for the baby we lost to miscarriage in 2006.

After the readings, we all release our balloons. It's an emotional time to see that so many other families have also experienced the painful loss. But I also find it healing to know I am not alone and that others stand with me in my struggle to carry on.

After the ceremony, we are all allowed to choose a beautiful potted Mum to bring home. It's always a nice way to start off the season :)

Phil 1:19-20

"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body."

St Francis & Clare Festival

Ty & I got to take a ride on the Farris Wheel tonight!

"See Daddy way down there?"

"Weeeee!"

That was fun!

Fire Safety Week at Preschool

This week at Preschool, Ty has been learning the letter "F", and all about Fire Safety. Today the Greenwood Fire Department came!

It was raining, so Ty was all decked out in his fire raincoat :)

Ty & his friend Campbell watching the action.

They got to sit in the fireman's seats. Thought they were pretty cool stuff!

Remembering Riley

It's great to know that Riley is still remembered. While at dinner last week, my group of wonderful friends, who we call our YaYa's, surprised me with this gift. It had been in the works for over a year. What was so neat about it, was that God had perfect timing in making them wait. Since they waited, they were able to get Riley's brick placed near his buddy Carter's brick.
Dennis, Ty, & I went to see the memorial yesterday.

You can see Carter's brick at the bottom, and then Riley's at the bottom far right.

Race Cars!

Ty & I went out to O'Reilly Raceway Park to watch my brother Greg race in the ET Finals. My whole family was there to support him.

Ty and his "Papaw"

Mom, Dad, & Ty

Layla, Ty, & Dad

"Yea, Greggy!"

Airplanes!

Last weekend we got to pick up Dennis' friend Jim at the airport. While waiting for him to arrive, we were able to park in the "cell phone lot" and watch the airplanes come in. Ty LOVED it!

18 Month Check Up

At his check-up, Ty enjoyed running around the room naked while chewing on a tongue depressor. Hey, whatever keeps him happy!

He's right on track developmentally and has gained 3 lbs in the past 3 months (thanks to the lactose-free Whole Milk I found). He only had to get one vaccine this time, Hep A. He didn't mind it too much because he was busy looking at a book (one of his favorite pass-times lately). His first molars have slowly been coming in, as well as a few on the front bottom.

It's so cool to go to each check-up and know concretely that you're doing a good job as a parent. I never realized how much questioning of ourselves we do, wanting to make the right decisions and choices for our kids. It's hard to tell if you're doing the right thing. Time will tell for most of it, but for now it's nice to know I'm doing what I can to keep him physically healthy :)

Firefighter's Parade

The 150th year of the Indianapolis Fire Dept was celebrated this weekend with a parade in downtown Indy.

My Fireman and Little Fireman were there to celebrate!

Here they come!
My Uncle Steve on the far right.

Oh, how precious.

Dennis' new Fire Engine. How cool is it that my husband drives that thing!?

Priceless

2 Generations of Firefighters...maybe 3 some day :)

I'm so proud of these men!