Sophia has an announcement to make!

She wants to tell everyone that she is going to be a big sister!:-)
WE ARE EXPECTING!!!! WE found out in January, things are going fairly well so far. We were starting to talk about getting pregnant again, but probably waiting until the summer or fall. We certainly didn't expect it to happen as fast as it did. We are thrilled, the kids are happy although I am not sure that they completely understand what is going on

We have been to high risk OB as well as the regular OB. High risk OB basically said, yeah I definitely have the risks for HELLP and pre-eclampsia again. But she said is that my only risk factor is that I have done it before. SO unfortunately there is nothing that I can do to decrease my chances of getting it again, but we are praying hard that it doesn't happen again. I certainly am praying for full term and healthy with no complications, and while I am at it, for a VBAC will you join me?
I am feeling ok although definitely tired, and quite often weak as I am vomiting a lot. The OB that I am seeing now doesn't typically do anything for the nausea so at this point I am just trying to deal with it.
We finally started telling people this week as we are 13 weeks tomorrow! Our due date is October 7th:-)

Would anyone like some water?

I don't often talk about them, but we have two cats that live at our house. Their names are Lewis and Clark. They are great. They put up with a lot at our house, and the kids love them. I always thought that cats didn't like water, that is until I met Lewis. He LOVES to be in the bathroom when the kids take a bath. He leans right over the side, and tries to drink the water, the kids splash him, and Sophia has even dumped water on his head and he still stays:-) Silly!!!

Well child check up

Sophia had her 3 year well child check up today! I still can't believe my little peanut is growing up. She is 28.7lbs and is 36inches tall, she is just about in the fiftieth percentile!!! Not bad for my little failure to thrive baby:-) She is above and beyond for her age as far as language skills, recognizing shapes/colors etc.
We did have some concerning issues though. I have noticed for a very long time that Sophia has a very strange gait when she is walking, and especially running. I have mentioned it in the past to the doctor, but it has never been thought to be any big deal. I again mentioned it to her while we were there and she had her running up and down the hall of the office. She then saw what has been so concerning to us, and seems to be concerned herself.
We origionally were going to be seen by the head of pediatric orthopedics at Children's on June 3rd but the doctor was adament that she be seen sooner and therefore we will be going to see his colleague April 15th. I am anxious about this appointment but praying that all will go well. I just don't want her to have the frequent stumbling, and more recently she has been complaining that her legs hurt. She is incredibly fast and I don't want whatever this is to hinder her. Please say some prayers for my little princess

Butterflies

We celebrated our little Sophia's third birthday today. It is still so hard to believe that my babies are growing up so fast. We have officially exited the baby stage right now. We had a wonderful day with a butterfly themed birthday party. She was thrilled with so many people coming to celebrate her, and she was tremendously blessed by some wonderful presents.
We had such a great day:-)

The blessing of Sophia Grace

Three years ago today my beautiful precious baby girl was born. It was the most amazing experience of my life. With Sam he didn't cry and had complications at birth, so when Sophia came out screaming it was absolutely incredible. I get so emotional thinking about it even now. Being nearly five weeks early I didn't know how she would be but she was amazing:-) Becoming a mother to a little girl is such a tremendous blessing

In her first year of life, she was this tiny petite little girl who was content to watch and smile at everything around her. She didn't ever really want to crawl, and most of the time scooted on her butt. She didn't have much hair, and therefore I got to put beautiful handmade bows and headbands on her from Auntie Tracy

We celebrated her first birthday at Cushing Academy. So many friends came to love on our precious baby girl. Unfortunately on her actual birthday she was sick and had a temperature of 104! Poor little princess!

Around the time she started walking we started to really notice how adventurous she is. She is absolutely fearless, and loves to try new things. She is fast, and so curious. Almost as soon as she started walking she was running. And there has been no looking back. She LOVES to run! People have said that she should be put in track. Her second birthday was a cupcake theme, although she didn't really eat any. Her two year pictures were so much fun to get. We were in the middle of a rain storm but you would never know...

Today Sophia and Mommy are going out for a birthday breakfast after we bring Sammy to school.:-) Sammy has IVIG today so she gets to go spend some time with Miss Meg, and then tomorrow we are having a butterfly birthday party for her. Wait until you see the AMAZING dress my friend made for her!!!
Happy birthday sweet Princess! I love you to the moon and back

3 years ago today....

I was 35weeks and 2 days pregnant and admitted to the hospital for complications of pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. I was scared, overwhelmed and very sad that I again was getting so sick. With Sam by the time I realized I was getting sick I was really too sick to understand how bad off I was. But with Sophia I carried that fear throughout the pregnancy that I would again become so deathly ill. I am praising God that I didn't! That I delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl. Do I wish that I could have made it full term? Absolutely! Do I wish that I could have been one of those people who went into labor on my own, when I was full term and have a picture perfect delivery? Definitely! But that was not God's plan for me, and my birth story with Sophia brings such joy and amazement! I am so thankful that this precious baby girl was sent to us. Reminiscing about my precious beauty:-)

My last pregnancy pic, with Sammy the big brother (only 20months old!) kissing my belly

Poor neglected blog.........

Goodness, can't believe how long it has been since I have updated. Our internet was down for over a week so that is part of my excuse:-)
What's happened with us this past week or so:
-Results of Sam sleep study: NORMAL!!!! Praising God for this wonderful news
-Sam had some pretty significant GI bleeding last friday into saturday, but
again praising God that it has resolved. His GI doctor is believing that
he has probably a collection of blood vessels close to the surface of his
colon and that they are prone to bleeding. That being said, if his
platelet dysfunction (bleeding disorder) is not bad at the time of the
bleed, then it will resolve on it's own. If he isn't clotting properly
then something will have to be done.
-Our basement flooded last week:-( Thankfully although our washer/dryer and
boiler were all in the water, they weren't damage
-I started back to work!!! As a real nurse! It was so fun to actually take
care of patients again. My back did bother me some but it was totally
tolerable
-I had my re-eval for PT, they said that I still have significant decreased
mobility between the vertebrae in my lumbar reason, muscle weakness on
the left, and continued muscle spasms. So they are recommending to
continue PT twice a week still.
-I went to a webinar last week regarding Pre-eclampsia diagnosis and
treatment. I have always known how sick I was when I had Sam, but
actually seeing the data in front of me was truly terrifying. EAch
of the people that was at the webinar had some experience with me when
I was pregnant with Sam, and each shared how scary it was....Thankfully
MY GOD is bigger than Pre-E and HELLP and He kept us both safe:-)
That is what has been going on here in the last week or so. Sophia turns three this week! I still can't believe my little baby is going to be three. She is doing great with the Potty training TODAY:-) yesterday was a different story. We actually had a Potty Dance Party two weeks ago which was really fun:-)

Oh please PRAY, and then PRAY Some more!!!

Click on this link and read this story about Precious Lucy who was just recently diagnosed with cancer, with several tumors, and who has now been diagnosed with meningitis too. The sweet little angel, perfectly healthy one minute, and then the next diagnosed with a life changing horrific disease. I am praying and believing for miracles. Wont' you please join me???

Sleep study

We had the sleep study last night and all went well. I won't hear any results for two weeks, although if there is something bad we will hear sooner. But Iknow that God has resolved the sleep apnea, and I am not worried about it.
I have been diagnosed with Planta fasciitis, and can I just say it is SO SO painful. I am praying that it heals quickly.
Sophia had a wonderful sleepover with her friend last night and today we are having lots of wild and crazy kiddos over to play. And then tonight I will go to work, I am just praying between my back and my foot that it will be good night.

Paint

Do your little people love to paint? My kids love it. I love the crayola paints, they enjoy them so much!
Sam and I are off to Children's for him to have his repeat sleep study tonight. Praying for great results


Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The craziness of this week....

Lets see:
Over the weekend Matt's rear windshield shattered
Sammy started coming down with some respiratory illness which has gotten
worse, I am wondering if he is developing a sinus infection
Matt got some flu like illness with fever, aches chills etc. He has been
sick since sunday. And actually feels worse again today
Me: I got the approval to go back to patient care after 7months! And no
now believe I have plantar fasciitis!!! Not positive, but spoke
the doctor tonight on the phone and that is what she thinks. I will
get checked in the AM.
Sophia: the little darling was praying for all three of us tonight. She
was so incredibly sweet, and asking God to heal each of us, but
then also thanking Him for healing us. I am so thankful that my
children already are developing a faith that KNOWS what our God
can do.:-)
So that is our week so far in a nutshell. It has been a rough week but God is still God and He is still providing for us. We are praying that everyone feels better in the morning. Sam is supposed to have a sleep study tomorrow night at Children's, I am still unsure of whether or not they are going to reschedule due to his sickness. My friend graciously has agreed to take Miss Sophia while I am in Boston with Sam, again God is taking care of us....
My favorite verse of all time:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me:-)