25 weeks

Although the baby is only the size of a cantaloupe, Momma is feeling like a stuffed turkey!  My belly is so hard and looking like a basketball!!!  haha

Baby is doing tons of kicks and flips now!  Kevin can really feel them now as well.  He put his head on my belly and felt a full on foot roll across this face!

We have also been working on the nursery!  I love love love the way it looks!  (I will post pictures of before an after once its done) We have the crib and most of the major items done, now its just little touches and paint that we need.  It's very peaceful, serene and nautical.   I know it will probably be the only time I get to pick the decor before its dinosaurs and spiderman themes, so it may seem simple to most people but it's everything I dreamed it would be.

With all the baby set up my back has been killing me at night!  I really don't know how everyone continues on later in the pregnancy like its no big deal!  I have gained 15 lbs and its seems to all be sitting on my back! Ouch. 
And on top of that leg cramps have started this week.  Several night I woke up with full on knots in my calves!!!  OOOUCH!  One night I even tried to get out of bed to walk it off and fell to the floor, it was so knotted up. 

I can't believe we are into June!  Feels like September is right around the corner.  We are going on a baby moon/ anniversary trip in two weeks so that will be great!!! Lots to do....

But I did get all my thanks you notes done!!!  whew!

Texas Trip

I will try to make this a shorter version, but gosh I was home for 2 weeks and felt like there were so many things going on.  It was amazing to spend time with friends and family.  There was plenty of "belly rubs" and love to go around for Momma and Kai! 

The first thing on the list was Christy graduated from nursing school!!!  She is interviewing to work in the neo-natal unit with babies!  I am so proud of her.  There was such a glow and excitement about her.  She had worked so hard and accomplished something for herself!  Now if only we can plan on having her in NY when we deliver!!  Here are a few pictures of her graduation.

The next morning I was at Christy's house.  I had not slept all night because I was still waiting on test results to come back from the specialist in Rochester.  I had spent most of the night crying and praying.... for some reason God just kept saying to me, I will not give you more than you can handle.  BUT in my fear, I just kept wondering...well, what does that mean?  Is it all going to be ok, or is God going to show me how to love more than I know?  I remember taking to Kevin on the phone.  Everyone kept saying they felt peace.  I told Kevin (crying) I don't feel at peace!!!  I just had such a bad feeling in my stomach and was almost terrified to get the news.  I was crying and talking to Christy shortly after when the phone rang.  I immediately burst into tears.  I am certain the lady on the other end thought I was nuts, or possibly not (considering she has to make these kinds of calls daily) anyway, she said the most beautiful words.  "Honey, its ok... everything came back and your baby is OK!!!!!!!!" 

At this point I have now gone from tears to hysterical crying!  When I got off the phone I sobbed in Christy's arms.  All the emotion of the past week, the fears, worry, wonder and uncertainty all came out at once but was now combined with relief and praise and joy.  When I think about that moment all I can say is I see that God is sooooooooo good and perfect.  And that he truly wants blessings for his children!

The next day I went to Graham to have a baby shower at the Brogdon's thrown by Fleda, Jenifer, Jessica, Sheila, and Diane.  It was so cute.  I must say the decorations were amazing!!  Nautical all the way, and we got so many cute baby items.  Shirts that said "Captain Adorable", "Handsome like Daddy" and many more!  It was just wonderful and such a great way to celebrate right before Mother's Day.  Kevin even got me a card and had hid it in my luggage!

I spent the next few days visiting with all my loved ones, and just enjoying the moments of getting to share some of this experience with family!  I am very grateful for all that time.

Kevin came in the next week and we spent 90% of our time relaxing....something we had not done in quite some time.  We were poolside at the Benbrook house most days and spent every meal eating off of our "favorites list"  By the end of the week I think I ate Mexican food 10 times, and was still craving it! 

We finished off the week by heading to The Brewer's wedding in Graham and then to Dallas for our Couples Baby Shower!!!

This shower was for friends and was very laid back and un-traditional.  We had so many friends come up and see us it was wonderful!  We spent the day outside, drinking, eating crawfish and catching up!!!  Thanks again to the Sammon's, Gretzinger's, Catalono's and the Schoellkopf's for all the love and for showering us with fun gifts!

Here are picts from that shower as well.

  

                            

All in All it was a wonderful time.  It was a time to truly start enjoying the pregnancy and the blessings God has given us.  It was a time to visit loved ones, soak up the sun, gain 10 lbs, and leave TX happy!

23 weeks

Well we are back from our 2 week Texas trip and are trying to play catch up... so forgive me if the next few blogs are long, but there is so much to write about.

First of all... can you say hello belly!!!! Man it seems to be just growing every day now. I came back from Texas weighing 131 so I did put on a few pounds worth of Mexican food.

We got home and started getting the baby room ready and things seem to really be sinking in! After such a great trip I do have to admit I missed my bed, body pillow, and my pups! So I was happy to be home.

Kai's room is top on the list. So I will be posting pictures of that soon as we get it all set up! I cant wait, we got some really great Nautical decor while in TX.

Besides the growing round bump that is here to stay, I have been craving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the last few weeks. And dessert is a must after almost every meal (lunch included)

We have a few more sonogram appointments to follow up on Kai's little kidneys, but we are so happy and grateful that all the testing for Downs Syndrome turned out negative and we can now focus on the blessings we have!

Oh yeah, I also got a great baby book from MeMe so I am going to try to catch up in that...along with thank you notes! Busy Busy

Another Scary Moment

Well because I have spent every bit of this journey writing about it... this was a story to not be left out!

Right before my scheduled trip to Texas our OBGYN had informed us at our 20 week appointment that our baby boy's kidneys looked a little enlarged.  He then told us that he was going to send us to a specialist in Rochester about 2 hours north where a team of doctors would take a more extensive look and go over the next steps.  He did try and reassure us that majority of the time the kidneys would not be a major issue and probably correct themselves from the blockage before birth..... He did FAIL to mention any warning about what happened next.

Kevin and I went up on Monday to see the specialist (Wednesday I was leaving for Texas).  We had planned to see the doctor at 11, get some lunch, maybe a little shopping in a bigger city and then spend the afternoon at home.  WE WERE WRONG... VERY WRONG.

As we arrive I noticed that the "specialist" we were seeing was actually a Genetics Practice.  As Kevin and I walk into the patient room (a room that I will later say closed in on me) we were greeted with a lady who immediately began asking us questions about our family history, if we were familiar with Downs Syndrome, and if we had ever thought about how our lives would be living with a child with DS!!!  Shock!  That is really all I can say about what Kevin and I were hearing.  We were so confused.  At one point Kevin even said... umm Ma'am we are here for the baby's kidneys, not DS.
Turns out that enlarged kidneys is a "marker" or possible indicator of DS, and our chances and risk of having a child with DS were now elevated.  They told us that they were going to perform some blood test that would give us our "chances" and they would take a detailed look at the baby (a 1.5hr sonogram) to look for additional "markers"

So after a long realization that lunch, or peace of mind was no where in site any time soon. We waited on results.  The doctor came back in saying that Kai's legs and arms were measuring "shorter" than what they should and that those were two additional markers for DS! 

Soooooo let me recap.  At 10:30 am, Kevin and I believed we have a perfect baby that was basically all was healthy and happy...by 3:00 our world had now fallen apart and we were being told that there was a "very real chance" that our child would be born with DS.
The only way to know (yes or no answer) is to do a test where they stick a needle through your belly into the placenta and test the amniotic fluid.  A test I had decided early in the pregnancy I was not going to do, because it has a risk of miscarriage.  But here we are hours later... in the same room (that is now caving in on us) and we are making decisions based on the daunting information at hand.  Emotional to say the least!!!!!! 
So we would have to wait until Friday to hear any results.
Kevin and I didnt speak a word the whole way home.  I cried, he sat... astonished, scared, and left feeling empty and yet emotionally drained all at once.  Not to mention I now had to get on a plane in two days (without Kevin) and head home to be with family as the throw me a baby show for our little boy!!!!!!!!!

to be continued.

20 weeks

ITS A BOY!!!

The big reveal went well, the Dr's apt. was wonderful.  We got to see HIM on the ultrasound and view so many amazing things.  The four chambers of his heart, him kicking his legs and even swallowing!  It was amazing to see the growth. 
We do have to go see a specialist for his kidneys, one of them was enlarged and was not draining properly.  Sometimes this is a thing that can correct its self so we will have to monitor them.  We are praying for them to work out on their own, but if not the baby will have to have surgery when born.

Other than that it was an amazing week.   I started feeling baby kicks and its so exciting.  I can feel these little thumps all day long now!!!

We also got all of our registry items done. We are having two showers in Texas, hosted by wonderful friends and family in a few weeks so it was good to get that all done.

All the family was so excited and proud to be welcoming a baby boy!  And for everyone...including Kevin and myself we were surprised to hear it was a boy!!  For some reason everyone thought I was carrying a girl. haha

But Kai Mason Ford is on his way!  Mommy and Daddy love and welcome you little boy!!!!

We took some pictures to capture the day and share the news of Team Blue!

19 weeks

Thought I would catch up on some of the cravings lately.  For a few weeks it was Oreos (although I haven't had them in years) then it turned to Frosted Flakes.  Apple Juice has been the one constant.  I have it every morning. 

I broke down and bought some maternity clothes and a few cotton dresses that I figure will get me throughout the next 5 months. 

Wow I cant believe we are already halfway there!  The first half of the pregnancy has flown by... and been cheap.  But I told Kevin I feel like the next 5 we need to hide the credit cards. haha

I have done well with looking and browsing but not yet buying anything, but I have a feeling that after next week that will all change!

I still have yet to feel any movement.  I sit around on the couch in the evenings and wait for flutters or bubbles or something...but still nada. At least we will get an updated sonogram on our visit April 30th.

So what do ya think... Team Blue or Pink?

17 weeks

Wow, I cant believe its already 17 weeks. Sometimes they seem to fly by. We are getting really close to finding out if we are going to have a Daddy's Girl, or a Mamma's Boy! haha

I feel like my belly is really starting to show.  Which also means its time to start thinking about some different clothes.  I have been craving sweets with almost every meal!  I have only gained about 4 lbs so far. But I am sure that will all change. 
Last week we were out of town working on the new FWP office.  Let me tell you I was exhausted after all the work.  So I think I'm due for a spa day.  On top of that next week is B-Day week for Kevin and I!!!  Don't think we will be topping last year (30th in Vegas) but we are a year older and a year more appreciative of what God has blessed us with.  So we are going to eat a nice dinner and then we each vowed to cook each other our favorite dessert.  (Did I mention I'm craving sweets?!?! haha)
I will update next week with how it goes.
 
In the mean time I hope everyone enjoys their Easter Sunday, and remembers the reason for the celebration.  Our Father loves us enough that he made the ultimate sacrifice of his own son so that we may be forgiven. He also let him rise again because God's plan is a perfect one.  I feel blessed and thankful to be a part of his purpose.