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!

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!

The Disney "Christmas Carol" train stopped in Bargerville today on it's nationwide tour.
Ty is really into trains right now, so we thought we'd take him to see it.
There was a 5hr wait to get inside! No thanks! But he was just happy to see a train that close. Actually, there was a shuttle bus/tractor (like at the fair), and each time it went by he'd say "Choo Choo". So I'm sure he would have been happy with just that ;)

Today Ty & I enjoyed a super-fun day at Trader's Point Christian Church's indoor playground "Park".
We went along with my SIL, Denise, her son Brayton and nephew Al.
And our friend Crystal, her daughter Shelby, and new baby Caiden met us there as well.
How cool is this place!?

Ty's 1st Dentist Appt

Today was Ty's 1st Dentist appointment. I wasn't sure when I should take him for the first time and we getting conflicting answers. So I called up the office I wanted to take him to, and surprisingly they said 12-18month old. So here we are! He has 6 teeth and apparently some molars coming anytime now. I didn't realize one had already broken through til the doc showed me.

Ty did really well. They had him sit on my lap facing me, then he leaned back into the Dentist's lap to have his teeth cleaned. They called it "tickling his teeth". He was excited to sit in the Big Chair afterwards and even more excited about the balloon he got on the way out!

An April Baby!

Today we had our first OB appointment. I was super nervous. My mind was racing with all the things that could go wrong. But once I saw that little flickering heartbeat, tears of happiness flowed! It's such an amazing thing that I don't think I can ever grasp. We're very excited, yet with still a few nerves. Our due date is April 12, 2010!

Ty Happenings...

It's been awhile since I've posted, yet daily Ty cracks us up with something new. For instance just over the weekend, he started saying "yeah". His answer to EVERYTHING used to be "no". I had never heard him say yes, although we'd been working on it. Then out of nowhere he comes up with "yeah". It's so cute.

He's also really into Apples lately. "Bapple", as Ty would say. He walks around the house with it taking the tiniest bites with his 6 little front teeth. At first he was biting off the skin and throwing it onto the floor. So we had to work on teaching him that if he doesn't want it, then it goes in the trash. Which was followed by another lesson that not everything goes in the trash. Well recently we found his "bapple" hidding place...under his ride-on firetruck seat. We were watching TV one night and watched him walk over, lift up the lid, and continue to eat the apple he'd left there for himself (who knows how long ago).

Ty is also becoming much better at eating with utensils and even asks for one with his meals.

He continues to enjoy going to preschool. Each morning I'll say, "You wanna go to school today?" He says, "Yeah", and runs to get his backpack.

There's so many other things. I'll have to post more often and write as I think of them :)