Well, I never did get around to posting an 11 week update and I can't believe week 12 is here already!
Countdown: 28 Weeks to GO!
Size: The baby will reach 3 inches this week- about the size of a peach
Development: All over growth in the body this week, the placenta is growing and getting ready to take over nourishing the baby (Whattoexpect.com). This week, our prayers should be for safe and complete movement of the intestines from their umbilical cavity to the stomach and the development of vocal chords that will give this little one a sweet little voice.
Weight Gain: None that has stuck so far. There are two pounds that come and go, but haven't hung around. But.... no more loss these past two weeks!
Pregnancy Symptoms: Still a little nauseous, some days are worse than others. Still exhausted, but that should get better in the next couple of weeks as I move in to the second trimester. Still have a sore chest, and a new one.... my absolute favorite...... round ligament pains! I really do like them, I'm not just being sarcastic. For every one of those little pains I have, I celebrate. I celebrate because I know that it means that my uterus and my baby are growing! And there just isn't any better feeling than that.
Thank you for your prayers! I've had a peace about this pregnancy that I didn't think was going to be possible, and I know it's because I'm being lifted in daily prayers.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thanks-Living
Bad things happen in life. It is through experiencing great sadness that you can truly experience great joy. Sad things happen to us. Sad things happen to our friends and sometimes we take them on as our own sadness. And soon, if you're not careful, you're counting your sorrows and not your blessings. There is thankfulness in all things. Sometimes its hard to see the thanks through the hurt or the sadness or the anger. It is so easy to go through life, forgetting to thank God for all that he gives us. He gives so much that we just take for granted.
I read a book this summer called One Thousand Gifts. It was kind of hard to get into at first because her writing style is so different. But the message was amazing, and much needed. It is the author's story of her journey to living thankfulness. A journey that started by a challenge to write down one thousand things she was thankful for. She began to look for thanks in all things and to her surprising she found it.....everywhere.
His desire for us it to be thankful, lifting hands in praise to Him for all that he gives.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1-2
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.
We can get to that point so easily, becoming so wrapped up in ourselves....our idea of what will make us happy, our selfishness.
I love listening to one of the little boys at my church pray. He thanks God for the day, for the people we are with, and of all things.....the trees that give us oxygen. He is 8. We think we are teaching them.... but oh, the things they teach us.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This is my desire, and what I'm trying to make my focus this holiday season. This Christmas is going to be so difficult. I just want to close my eyes and let it pass by without me. It seems so much easier than dealing with the pain of Hank's absence. It's funny how the absence of someone can take up so much space in a room.
Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my house is decorated inside and out for Christmas. Even my kitchen and bathrooms are decorated. I love the lights and how my house feels with a Christmas tree lit up in the window. This year, it looks so different. No tree. No lights. No Christmas potholders. No peppermint candle burning. No Christmas wreaths or door mats. No Hank.
What should have been our first Christmas together, has turned into our first Christmas without him. And it is so, so hard not to focus on that huge absence of such a small little boy. But there is still thankfulness. I'm thankful for the time we did have together. Thankful for the precious look Hank gave me when he recognized my voice. Thankful for all that Jesus has taught me since he died, and how He has held me upright through this. I'm thankful for reasons to smile. Thankful for the picture my sister sent me of Hank's ornament on her tree. I'm thankful that even though I can't do that for him this year, that she made sure he was remembered at her house. I'm thankful for my family's patience and love as I struggle to keep on living without him. I'm thankful for the most wonderful, understanding husband. God could not have given me a better gift than him. I am thankful for new life, for eternal life, and for the hope that brings.
My hope is that no matter what your struggles are this holiday season, financial struggles, loneliness, loss, guilt, unhappiness, physical pain, or emotional pain..... that you find thankfulness and that it fills you.
I read a book this summer called One Thousand Gifts. It was kind of hard to get into at first because her writing style is so different. But the message was amazing, and much needed. It is the author's story of her journey to living thankfulness. A journey that started by a challenge to write down one thousand things she was thankful for. She began to look for thanks in all things and to her surprising she found it.....everywhere.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1-2
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.
We can get to that point so easily, becoming so wrapped up in ourselves....our idea of what will make us happy, our selfishness.
I love listening to one of the little boys at my church pray. He thanks God for the day, for the people we are with, and of all things.....the trees that give us oxygen. He is 8. We think we are teaching them.... but oh, the things they teach us.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This is my desire, and what I'm trying to make my focus this holiday season. This Christmas is going to be so difficult. I just want to close my eyes and let it pass by without me. It seems so much easier than dealing with the pain of Hank's absence. It's funny how the absence of someone can take up so much space in a room.
Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my house is decorated inside and out for Christmas. Even my kitchen and bathrooms are decorated. I love the lights and how my house feels with a Christmas tree lit up in the window. This year, it looks so different. No tree. No lights. No Christmas potholders. No peppermint candle burning. No Christmas wreaths or door mats. No Hank.
What should have been our first Christmas together, has turned into our first Christmas without him. And it is so, so hard not to focus on that huge absence of such a small little boy. But there is still thankfulness. I'm thankful for the time we did have together. Thankful for the precious look Hank gave me when he recognized my voice. Thankful for all that Jesus has taught me since he died, and how He has held me upright through this. I'm thankful for reasons to smile. Thankful for the picture my sister sent me of Hank's ornament on her tree. I'm thankful that even though I can't do that for him this year, that she made sure he was remembered at her house. I'm thankful for my family's patience and love as I struggle to keep on living without him. I'm thankful for the most wonderful, understanding husband. God could not have given me a better gift than him. I am thankful for new life, for eternal life, and for the hope that brings.
My hope is that no matter what your struggles are this holiday season, financial struggles, loneliness, loss, guilt, unhappiness, physical pain, or emotional pain..... that you find thankfulness and that it fills you.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
10 Weeks
Today, I am 10 weeks along in my pregnancy. This little baby has so many people praying for it daily, and for that we are so thankful and feel so blessed. I have had several people who pray for our baby daily ask what exactly they need to be praying for. Little hands or feet, eyes or ears? So, I decided to update you every week as to what is developing, so that if you are one of the sweet people praying for this little one, you will know what body parts to pray for.
This was at 5weeks and 5 days. Just a round, black spot.
With Hank, I didn't have my first OB visit until I was 13 weeks. So I didn't get to see all of these first stages of development. He was already a big, kicking squirming baby by then. Dr. Ogdee and I didn't realize I was that far along, and when he scanned me he said, "Dang, this baby is huge!" So, it is kind of neat to see this baby develop from merely a big ball of cells, into a baby. I'm so ready for it to be big and feel it moving already though. Every day, Nathan says "I just can't wait till she's here. (He's sure its a girl.) This is going to be the longest 9, 8, and now 7 1/2 months of my life!"
I'm praying for peace and patience as we wait for our little one to arrive.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Countdown: 30 weeks to go!
Size: The baby will be growing from 1 1/2 in, to about 2 in by the end of the week
Development: This week hair follicles are forming and nail beds are forming. Growth is occurring all over, but especially the head which is half the size of the body. The body is lengthening and straightening out.
Weight gain: down 2 pounds this week. Trying to make the things I do eat count. I'm making myself eat vegetables that I don't care for, eat lots of protein, and drink lots of milk. Hopefully my appetite will improve in the second trimester.
Pregnancy symptoms: nausea, sore chest, need to get up several times in the night to go to the bathroom, and absolute exhaustion. I am thankful for each and every one of these symptoms that remind me there is a little one growing inside me.
Thank you again for each and every one of your prayers. I am so humbled by them, and so so grateful for them. I will leave you with a couple of pictures of my little angel.
This was at 5weeks and 5 days. Just a round, black spot.
Here is the baby at 8 weeks and 3 days. Just under an inch long, little heart beating away, and already moving around in there!
You can still see the cyst that is feeding the baby until the placenta fully develops. It is the round thing to the left of the baby.
With Hank, I didn't have my first OB visit until I was 13 weeks. So I didn't get to see all of these first stages of development. He was already a big, kicking squirming baby by then. Dr. Ogdee and I didn't realize I was that far along, and when he scanned me he said, "Dang, this baby is huge!" So, it is kind of neat to see this baby develop from merely a big ball of cells, into a baby. I'm so ready for it to be big and feel it moving already though. Every day, Nathan says "I just can't wait till she's here. (He's sure its a girl.) This is going to be the longest 9, 8, and now 7 1/2 months of my life!"
I'm praying for peace and patience as we wait for our little one to arrive.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thankful
This handsome little boy....
Is going to be a big brother!!
Yep, I am 9 weeks pregnant with our second child. Such a sweet gift of hope from the One who loves us most. And we are so, so thankful for that gift. Thank you for all of your prayers, and I hope that you will pray for this new life and for us as we continue to struggle without Hank and still have joy for our second child.
Thank you Lord, for this amazing tiny life growing inside me. Thank you for for holding true to your promise.... the promise for a crown of beauty.
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