The Kacal family Blog

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

2009-12-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate this Christmas season we just want to wish all of you, our family and friends, a VERY merry Christmas and a happy new year! May you all remember the reason for the season and enjoy time with the ones you love!

UPDATE

2009-11-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Well I am officially the worst blogger...I sit down to write a blog then things come up...babies wake up. So I wanted to share some pictures and a quick update because I may not have long!

Caden- is ALMOST 12! I cannot believe that! It seems like not so long ago that I met the cutest little boy ever. He's such a good kid, makes me proud every day. He's at a fun stage of "TWEEN" that is trying for all of us but just when I think my hair is going to fall out I talk to a friend who has a son his age and thank GOD I have him instead! He is doing GREAT in middle school. It was a difficult transition for him, as it was far more important to text or wear the right clothes or sit with the cool kids than worry about the nonsense of school (AND NO he cannot get that from me ;) ) but he managed to bring up his 3 week grades to ALL A's and one B! Since that first few weeks in the beginning he has really taken off and settled into his groove. He LOVES Pre Athletics, Speech, and Science. He loves school and has made a lot of really nice friends. He's the best big brother in the world, he may tire of playing with G but its rare that he shows it. They are inseparable and the site of the two of them laughing and playing really makes my day! Baseball season is still a while away but they've started practicing and it will be here before we know it.

Garrett- TURNED 5 last month! My baby boy is 5 now. I was telling Michael yesterday that I remember when Caden started Kindergarten being sad because I felt like I went from being his world to being just another person in it. I've hit that with Garrett. He LOVES LOVES LOVES school, so much in fact he ASKED to stay in the afternoons. We had a parent teacher conference and his teacher proudly told me he was very well prepared and doing phenomenally. He knows his letters, numbers, shapes, colors, knows what sounds each letter makes, he's showing a lot of reading readiness skills and he loves to figure out how to spell words on his own. He loves to read and do math ( and he does NOT get that from me-well the reading part yes but not the math!)
He is very smart. He is very much the big kid now. He makes me proud every day and makes me laugh and smile constantly. He loves bugs and we have since had a caterpillar and a grasshopper whom were loved too much by their owner. He learned to tie his shoes himself this week which was very exciting to watch him master that skill. He still loves Tech and Star Wars (and his momma) but he has a few news loves...Clair, Audri, and Georgia...which may be why he loves going to school! Garrett LOVES Leighton...he is VERY concerned about her every whimper or frown and lives to make her laugh and smile...which she does as soon as she sees him! OF course he'd rather be with Caden than just about anyone in the world

Little Miss Leighton is almost 6 months, that’s right, she will be 6 months next week!!! The time has flown by. She is now over 18lbs and 27 inches! She can drink from a sippy cup, she can eat real food (which I make with love), she sits up all by herself like a real big girl. She's not a roller but she CAN do it. She went from hating tummy time to tolerating it for a minute or two to loving it and now she will rock back and forth and kind of lurch forward. She loves to sit up and play with her toys. She enjoys her best friends, Laney, Mason, and Presley and of course the constant entertainment provided by her brothers, mommy, and daddy. Her favorite thing is to talk to you. She smiles and laughs so loud, she squeals and screams happily. She has started dancing, if she hears music and is sitting up she will as the boys call it "booty bounce" kind of bounces on her bottom. She gives kisses and hugs and the most precious melt your heart smiles. I love dressing her up and taking her places or just sitting in our pjs and rocking. She loves to be held and rocked. I worried with the boys both being so good and laid back that she wouldn't be but she is just a happy go lucky laid back little girl.

OK I apoligize I cannot figure out how to get the pics where I want them and now Laney and Mason are up and ready for lunch so....I will try to post some more after Leighton's 6 month appt!

Two months

2009-07-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

Well its hard to believe but Little Miss Leighton is 2 months old! Part of me feels like she was just born, like all those events were just yesterday and then part of me feels like she has always been a part of our family! The boys ADORE her. Garrett always wants to touch her and hold her and constantly talks to her and tells her "I love you my baby sister". Caden is SO much help. He's favorite job is to hold her while I make dinner/lunch. He'll just sit and talk to her. Both boys are absolutely wonderful with her!

We went today for her check up. She was 11lbs 14oz up 4 lbs from her birth weight and she was 23 1/2 inches, up 3 inches from her birth. She was 93% for height, 80% for weight, and 75% for head at 15 1/2 inches. She's definitely grown. Our pediatrician, Dr. Rogers laughed that this was once the baby I brought in twice a week for weight checks as we worried so much about her slow weight gain! Those days are gone!

Leighton holds her head up really well, she smiles, and talks. She TRIES to roll over but she's not there yet. Leighton LOVES to be with people, loves her brothers, her friends, and loves to be outside. Her favorite place is on our bed looking up at the ceiling fan. I can lay her there to change her diaper and she'll just squeal and talk and smile at the fan!

Here are some pictures from the last month

Some pictures/updates

2009-05-24T08:26:00.001-07:00

Well Leighton left the hospital weighing 6lbs 7oz, she was "slightly jaundiced" meaning she was yellow but the levels weren't high enough for home health. By Friday we were worried about her coloring as her whites of her eyes were yellowing and the yellow was spreading down. I was also worried about her weight as I wasn't quite sure I was doing the breastfeeding thing right. We took her in and she had gained 5oz! She was up to 6lbs 12oz which made me feel soooo good! They were concerned with her color and did the heal stick for billirubin levels. They called yesterday to tell us her level was 18! They like it to be at or close to 10 so home health came out and put up her billibox. It was sad but she seems to like it which makes it easier for me AND I have to put her in it so I have to put her down which meant yesterday I actually rested. I am putting up some pictures of her in her box. She has to stay in it as much as possible, only getting out for feedings (which she is doing wonderfully with every 2 hours on the dot), and diaper changes. She really is doing well with it. They estimated she'd be on it through Tuesday but they'll come out daily to check her weight and levels so say a prayer for us.

Yesterday, she also got her first at home sponge bath. Michael and I laughed at how curly her hair is! As soon as she got out and I dried it her little hair just curled right up. It is SO cute!

Last night, Kodi, Kaci, Laney, and Mason came by to see us. We were so happy to see them. I could not believe how big they have gotten this week! I loved on Mason until I hurt, LOL..he's a squirmy BIG guy! He seems huge after holding tiny little Leighton all week! Laney is beautiful as always and ate up a storm last night! It was soo good to see them and Kodi and Kaci too! We finally got Leighton out so she could meet her friends. I couldn't believe how tiny she looked next to Laney or how yellow! I cannot wait to watch them grow up together. Mason has already seen his girlfriend topless and neither dad was excited about that! LOL! It was fun though.

Mimi is going home today and we're going to miss her. SHe has been so much help to me especially with the boys. Its been hard for me to not be able to do much with either of them but sit. She has kept them entertained and been a big help with Leighton and doing household things. Thanks mimi!!!

Friday, Aunt Tammy, Gracelyn, Brittany, and Landon AND Nana and popo are coming to visit! Nana already got to meet Leighton in the hospital and she was here to save the day at Leighton's birth. I don't know what we would have done without Kodi, Kaci, Nana, and Mimi this week!

She's here!!!

2009-05-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Leighton Reese Kacal is here! She arrived on Monday, May 18th at 6:41pm via c-section. She was 7lbs 12oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She has a LOT of blonde wavy hair and looks otherwise a lot like big brother, Garrett!

Monday, I went to the dr. for my 37 week appt. I was 37 weeks 4 days. I had been having some back pain the night before and just didn't feel good. Kaci happened to be at the dr. as well that morning. I went in and was 3cms dialated and 70% effaced. They sent me over to the specialist to get monitored to see if I was contracting, if the back pain was labor or not. Kaci went with me (THANK GOODNESS because I was really scared). They didn't show many contractions but Kaci who had been through that informed the nurse that my breathing changed when I got one and she could tell it was happening more than the machine was showing. They sent me home but told me my OB would be calling me shortly to let me know what they wanted me to do. After about 45minutes my OB called and wanted me to come in to be checked again. I got there and was a 4, 85% effaced...so they sent Michael and I across the street to the hospital to be admitted for my c-section!

Michael and I were both so excited but so not ready for that. He paced nervously and I just kept thinking it was not real.

They got me prepped for surgery and we filled out some paperwork and before we got everyone called and even adjusted to the idea ourselves we were in surgery having our baby girl!

Leighton Reese Kacal was born at 6:41pm on May 18th, 2009. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She came out with a head of blonde hair and deep blue eyes. SHe scored an 8 and 9 on her apgar and then a 9 and 10 on the second. She had to go to the nursery for some oxygen but got to our room about midnight. She fed like she knew exactly what to do and amazingly I did too!

We had great hospital care, lots of friends, and family came to see us. Garrett and Caden love their baby sister but Garrett was a little concerned about his Mommy! My mom came down and stayed with us for the week and has been so much help! The boys have enjoyed having her around!

Here are some pictures!!!! We've been so busy but hope to hear from you all soon!!!

Count down....16 more days AT MOST

2009-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I got an email that some how made reality set in. It was from Melisse asking about payment for the next weeks. I have known for a while that Cayden and Cole's last day with me would be next Friday 5-22 to get ready for Leighton's arrival. Somehow the question she asked hit me that HEY thats next Friday. For some reason that sent me into a little panic yesterday. I'm not sure what it was exactly I was cramping, I was having a little braxton hicks, my stomach was really upset. I laid in bed last night...after my breakdown just trying to figure out what I was going to do with Caden and Garrett if I were to go into labor before the 29th. I got up washed the dishes from dinner, repacked my bag for the hospital, checked my camera to be sure it was charged, laughed at myself...got back in bed, tried to think more about what to do with the boys. All the while my back is cramping up and my stomach is hurting. I convinced myself to go to sleep...if it were labor it would wake me up or keep me up. Last I looked at the clock it was 3am. Needless to say getting up this morning was not fun.

I went to the dr. for my 37 week appt. Now according to my last menstrual period I am 37 weeks today but according to my first ultrasound at 6 weeks I am 36 weeks 4 days which is what my dr. office is going by...either way it doesn't matter. SO I go in and the nurse---who is the best EVER!!! measured me and she looked at me funny and said 37 weeks right and I explained and she laughed and measured me again and looking a little puzzled or amused told me my belly is measuring 39 1/2 weeks and I dropped. LOL. I can't quite guess if she's going to be big or not. Some days I just don't feel like she is as big as Garrett then I hear she's measuring 4 weeks ahead and think ok yes she is!

Rhonda said my contractions are likely the result of what they call uterine irritability...best way I can explain is that as my uterus is measuring 39 1/2 weeks and as it stretches to its capacity it gets a little irritable and contracts...these contractions don't really help things happen though...but they are not quite Braxton hicks. She told me that if I were to come in at a 3 or more it was straight to Labor and Delivery but if I came in at a 2 but not in any pain or discomfort they'd let me go home and wait to see how much longer I could go at this point. She gave me the option of getting checked but I opted not to. I don't think I am in labor, I hadn't been contracting this morning and I think I can make it AT LEAST another week to my next appt when they will check me regardless. The last thing I want to do is make things happen faster. LOL! She said Leighton's heartrate is still in the 150s she was moving around a lot...everything looked great. Blood pressure was low but good. Sometimes having such an easy pregnancy makes me worry about the delivery OR the baby HAHA!

I definitely dropped last Friday...not only can I tell by how I feel but everyone has commented. Cole even asked me why I was walking like a duck...the girl at the Science Spectrum commented, random people and people close to me. Its definitely that time in my pregnancy.

So from today I have 16 days left at most but it could be any day now which is both super exciting and terrifying for some reason! So keep us in your prayers. We can't wait to meet our little girl! I go back to the dr. next Monday so we'll know a little more maybe then but I am confident I will make it...I believe it the power of positive thinking...I told Kaci this as she errupted in laughter...to some extent I guess!

One more month

2009-04-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe we're already to this point. I am 35 weeks 3 days, Leighton will be born in 4 weeks and a day! Its crazy to think that, this pregnancy has gone by so fast but we are so ready to welcome our daughter into our family. I went to the dr. last on Tuesday. She said everything was perfect with me and little Miss Leighton. She is measuring only a week ahead now so we're thinking maybe she won't be as big as her brother. Nothing really to report because everything is going so well. Leighton is doing a lot of nudging and adjusting, and has the hiccups a lot. I am feeling pretty good. I am getting to that stage where sleeping is hard, being comfortable is hard, my feet swell like balloons especially with this heat...but that is all I can complain about and that is good with me! We have mostly everything finished for her. All I need to do is wash clothes and pack our bags but I think I will wait a few weeks for that. I've been nesting like a crazy woman and Michael is loving it...Caden is hating it. I can't seem to get the house clean enough and with 6 kids in and out its a never ending project...one I can't seem to get good enough. I didn't do this with Garrett so its kind of fun. I hope it lasts for the next 4 weeks though and I don't get so worn out!
We're staying busy trying to focus on the day to days and weeks at hand and I think thats where the time has gone. The boys generally have games about 3-4 days between them and practices several times a week as well. They defnitely keep us busy.
Last weekend, Caden competed in the Little League Pitch, hit, and Run competition. He actually tied for 1st place and will advance to Sectional finals in Midland over Memorial day. Unfortunately I won't be allowed to go watch him....since that is the weekend before Leighton's arrival. If he were to win that he would then go to Ranger's stadium for the state competition from there he would go to the All Star MLB game in St.Louis! Its a huge deal and we're really proud of him. He's been doing so well with baseball this year! I can't believe there are 21 days of elementary school left for Caden. It seems like yesterday that I was leaving him at Kindergarten bawling my eyes out...he's growing up pretty fast! We're pretty proud of the kid he has become! It occurred to me this week that when Leighton goes to Kindergarten Caden will be driving!!! SCARY!
Garrett is doing well...he is REALLY excited for his sister to be here. He asks me a lot how many days do we have left. This week I had told him 30 and he said OH I can even count to that! Even he realized its coming quick! He loves to kiss my belly and talk to his sister--via my belly button which apparently not only is a microphone but he is convinced if he sticks his finger in there he can touch her ;) He's doing well with Tball, enjoying every minute of it and looking forward to starting swimming lessons this summer. He's really REALLY looking forward to Caden being out of school and home with him! Daddy has told him he'd take them fishing and to the golf course and he's pretty excited. He's growing up too fast too!!!
28 more days and our little family will be complete! We can't wait!

Leighton's best friends

2009-04-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

An amazing thing happened this week. My best friends, Kaci and Kodi Scott had their twin babies. Laney Kayte and Mason William were born on 4-6-09 at 4:54 and 4:56 respectively. Of course I went up to see them as soon as I could on Monday evening. I got to hold Mason first, all 6lbs 2oz of him. He is absolutely adorable, he has the sweetest little face and makes the funniest expressions. He also makes all kind of funny sounds. Even as early as Monday he would look around and smile...sure they say its gas but he sure does it at the right time! Next, I got to hold Laney, all 6lbs 3oz of her! She is a beautiful baby girl! Something about her reminds me of her big sister.She has slept every time I have held her. Last night I even got to feed Laney!!! It was so wonderful. Holding them has made me realize just how much fun the 4 of us are going to have soon...and how blessed I am to be able to watch the 3 of them grow up together.
Last night I was holding Mason and Leighton got to really moving and kicking. I thought it was so funny. Mason just laid there sleeping like ya ya I've been through this before. Later I held Laney and Leighton just starting kicking like wild again. She would kick so hard Laney would kind of bounce a little. Then Laney would stretch her little legs out as though to kick back. Haha! It was really quite amusing to me...We just had to have a little conversation with Leighton last night about her staying put for at least 6 more weeks...just because her friends are born doesn't mean its time for her to come just yet!
We are all so happy for Kodi and Kaci and SO glad to have Laney and Mason here. They weren't born on my birthday but they sure got to go home healthy, happy and perfect on my birthday which is pretty special!

Baseball

2009-04-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well Garrett had his very first REAL tball game Saturday. Its quite precious. They don't keep score, everyone gets to bat until they hit the ball, no one gets out, they go through each team's entire line up and switch twice. Garrett says he won the game 80-70! He is VERY proud. He hit on the first try every time. He played 1st base and 2nd base and he did WONDERFULLY! Its fun to watch him being such a big boy now...but kind of sad at the same time!!!! Caden is doing phenomenal on his new team. He's pretty regularly the pitcher unless he gets "burned" which means he goes over his max pitch count. He's been batting well and playing the best he has ever! We couldn't be more proud of our boys!!!

30 week ultrasound

2009-03-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

Well this morning Michael, Garrett, and I got to get another glimpse at our precious baby girl. She looked great. They looked at her brain and head, her heart, her abdomen,her kidneys and other organs, her legs, arms...and everything. They said everything was text book perfect and they saw no potential problems or concerns. They showed me again that she is in fact a girl...this time not even I can doubt it...it was pretty plain as day. So its official OFFICIAL, we're having a girl! They did the measurments of the different parts to get an idea of her weight. They said she was 4lbs 9oz. The doctor said that was pretty big...but he wasn't surprised. In fact, it puts her ahead in growth by about 3 weeks. Of course that doesn't change anything but just means she is following in her brother's footsteps as he measure consistently 4 weeks ahead from this point on. We got to see her in 3D which was cool but quick. Garrett asked if she was a baby pig because her nose was pushed up against the uterine wall and she did have a little pig nose but she quickly moved and we could see her cute little round nose and chubby cheeks.
Its hard to believe there are only 8 weeks left. I got some great pictures but I will have to put them up in a few days when I get them scanned. We'll keep you updated but so far everything is going very well. My blood pressure is good, I haven't had any complications, weight gain is good. Seems everything is on track for a precious new addition to our family in 2 months!!!

28 weeks!

2009-03-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Just another uneventful dr. appt today. Nothing too exciting to report. Leighton is measuring right at 28 weeks, which scared me at first since Garrett averaged 4-6 weeks ahead the whole pregnancy....but she just might not be as big as he was. Her heart rate was a steady 140, a little lower than it had been but she was sleeping. Everything looked good. My anemia is only slight now. Just another 10 1/2 weeks! Everything looks good with both of us!

Super Glue

2009-02-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes as a parent its fun to sit back and watch your child play. Today I was watching Garrett play with his new favorite toy...Legos. Kodi and Kaci bought him a starfighter and ObiWan lego set for Christmas and he throughly enjoyed watching Kodi and Daddy put it together and absolutely LOVED playing with it. I would have to say it is his favorite thing. He has now been saving his money to buy more sets. He loves them....but he gets VERY frustrated when he is playing and the pieces fall apart...and sometimes they get lost and it breaks his heart when Daddy can't put the ship back together because of the missing parts. Well the little ships all come with little guys. He has a set with clone troopers and the helmets come off much to Garrett's annoyance. SO I bought some super glue and we glued the heads on so they wouldn't pop off. Today, as I sat at watched him play getting irritated with the constant need to go ask Daddy for help I watched his little face register something and off he ran to my room. I heard him rumaging through something and a few minutes later he comes in and asks Michael if he would just super glue the whole ship together...glue all the pieces on so they wouldn't come off again he instructed. I laughed and said Garrett the point of legos is to build and if you super glue them you cannot take the pieces off so you won't be able to build again. He looked at me like I was completely unaware of his brilliance and said "Um Mommy thats the whole point I was making". He sat and helped Michael glue all the pieces on and then went and got the other sets. They were finished and they looked at eachother and at the same time said "What else can we glue". I had to laugh so hard. Sometimes looking at them together amazes me...Garrett is his Daddy's clone. Whenever we say that he insists he has my eyes and nose and Caden's chin...whatever, he's a spitting image of his Daddy.

Whats new with the Kacals

2009-02-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Well its official my kids are growing up. Can you believe Caden will go to Middle School next year? It just seems like yesterday he was running through the house in underwear and cowboy boots with Spiderman googles on...or jumping off the top of the playground at daycare because he knew he could fly. He's just signed up to play baseball out at Cooper this year. He wants to play with his classmates and I think it will be great for him to meet kids from the other two feeder schools as well as play with the kids he'll play with in high school...if he so chooses.
That other little boy of mine, the one who use to be so tiny and quiet just outgrew his size 12 shoes! I mean tiny shouldn't be used to describe Garrett at any stage of his life but believe it or not he use to be little. He once was chubby and now he is skinny. He seriously grew an inch this month and has been eating CONSTANTLY. He's just growing up and up...and not so much out. Its funny to see that. We signed him up for Tball and next week I sign him up for Preschool! He's also no longer a quiet little, innocent baby...he's always ALWAYS talking and always on the move. He loves to play football and his new hobby is legos. He writes his name SO well...well it may take up the whole page but he does so well. I look at these boys and think WOW where did the time go? It doesn't seem like long ago that Caden was perfecting his name writing skills.
Today I went to the doctor for my 24 week check up. Little Leighton was doing great, her heartrate was a steady 160, she's been moving so much. Its crazy to think we only have 15 more weeks until our baby girl is here...so much to do before she comes! Everything looks great with her. My blood pressure was a little high but they accidently told me to drink the Glucola and that combined with some worry over a friend I am sure is to blame for that. It went down before I left...still higher than normal but surely it showed them it was just circumstances. I go back in a month and then every two weeks after that. I can't believe I have 2 more weeks of my second trimester. In some ways it feels like that day we found out back in September was years ago and in other ways I see my babies growing up TOO fast and know she'll be here in no time.
With Caden in baseball it seems our times flies by, we have practices 3-4 times a week, games 2-3 times a week...What were we thinking putting Garrett in Tball and in another league...he will play out at Frenship. Something tells me I am going to blink and it will be May.
We sure are excited, enjoying buying pink and hairbows...and shoes!
The boys and I just went to visit my sister and her family for my nephew Connor's 4th birthday. Watching Garrett and Connor play together is so funny. They were once babies just happy to smile and poke eachother...now they're running through the house yelling and hitting eachother with Lightsabers. Cole, my youngest nephew is 9months and Caden loves him...and he loves Caden. He had Cole just laughing outloud. I can't wait to see him with his sister. He's sure a sweet boy.

Pictures

2009-01-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

Here is her face

Another face

Girl parts

Feet

ITS A GIRL!!!!!

2009-01-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness!!! We had our sonogram today. We went in and the heart rate was 169. Thats pretty high I thought. The tech started and said well its a girl. I was so surprised I cried a little. Michael said are you pretty sure? She said yes. She looked at the organs, she has a great brain and her heart looked perfect...you could see all 4 chambers. Then I said are you sure its a girl...can you check again? She did. Then proceeded to check everything and this baby girl is perfect! She weighs 13 oz right now which the tech seemed to think was great. Then the dr. came in and checked a few things. He was talking to the tech about some things and she walked out. I said ok Dr. Hale is it really a girl? He laughed a little and checked and said yep I already double checked that and yes it is a girl. He checked again just to flatter me and said YEP its a girl.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT????

I still feel so funny saying she/her now!!!!

I'm so excited!

Ultrasound today...ITS A.....

2009-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

BABY!!!!!

Hahaha!

I went in today for my 20 week appt. with my doctor. My gender ultrasound is next week. Anyway my doctor asked what we were having and I told her we didn't know. She said well lets go find out. So we went into the ultrasound room and she did a quick ultrasound. She tried for 10 minutes and that stubborn little baby of ours extended its legs and would NOT give her a good look. It was good because Michael wasn't there and it would have been unfair to find out without him. So I wasn't too disappointed. WHATS ANOTHER WEEK?

But that baby better cooperate next week!

7 more days!

Christmas and Baby

2009-01-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2009 is going to bring a lot of wonderful things!!! We're excited. We had a great Christmas. For the first year ever, we stayed in Lubbock. Christmas Eve I cooked a big dinner, we went and looked at lights, Garrett got sick so we missed church. The next morning Garrett and Caden were REALLY excited to see what all Santa had brought them. Santa brought the boys a Wii and some accessories, books, movies, and candy. They got a ton of games for the Wii and a lot of fun things to play with and wear and do. We are blessed. We went to Abilene to celebrate with Michael's family. We really enjoyed our time with Nana, Popo, Aunt Tammy, Uncle Scott, Brittany, Landon, and Gracelyn. We even got to go see Marley and Me. Most of all we really enjoyed spending a week and a half together just enjoying each other. Its so fun to see the boys be SUCH good brothers. Caden is the world's BEST big brother. He is so patient with Garrett and they love each other so much. I can't wait to see what this baby brings!!!
I go next Tuesday for my 20 week appointment then the following Tuesday for my ultrasound. I am so excited. Everyone just KNOWS how much I want a little girl and I do...but having another boy would be fantastic too. So we're just looking forward to finding out who will be the newest member of our family. Isn't that crazy to think about?

I had a QUAD screening at my last appointment. They took blood to check for likelihood of neural tube defects, Trisomy 18 and 21 (Downs Syndrome is Tri.21). I got the results back Monday that I tested negative for all 3 and that the baby looks great. That is such good news.

I had been worried that although I had felt the baby move about the 15th week it was really sporadic. I know that's normal but I'd feel it move a lot one day and then not for 4-5 days. I was just beginning to worry during Christmas week because I had not felt our baby move and then as if the baby heard me he/she has been moving consistently for longer and longer periods more and more frequently. Those feelings are no longer questionable...and I am so enjoying it! I can't wait for the kids and Michael to share that!

I'll keep you all updated after my appointment next week and of course share the news of whether we're having a son or a daughter!!! I can hardly wait!

Let us know what your guess is

2008-12-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

Well with a month until our big hopefully reveal we'd love to know what your guess is. Do you have some super instinct or just a guess? Let us know which you think!

16 weeks

2008-12-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Well I went today to have my 16 week appt. I was very excited to hear the heartbeat which was a steady 150 beats per minute. The nurse went ahead and did an ultrasound because she's the best, and we saw my little baby's legs just scissor kicking away as fast as they'd go. Perhaps this baby will not be as calm and mellow as Garrett. We could see its long skinny legs and little feet. We saw its arms just a flapping along with the legs. Rhonda tried to see whether it was a boy or a girl but the cord was in the way and she wasn't sure how to move to get a better look. Thats ok I wanted Michael to get to be there for that. We go on Jan.20th and we can definitely wait a few more weeks.
My blood pressure was perfect. I had actually lost a pound since my last month's appt which means I am up a grand total of 2lbs since my preconception visit in June. I am pretty pleased with that. I know I am eating plenty I just must be getting enough exercise too. That part will probably change by the next appt as the baby starts to grow more. At this point he/she probably weighs around 3 oz and is about the size of an orange. But by the next appt he/she will be the size about the size of a cantaloupe.
Everyone seems to think this baby is a girl and I am not sure if that's just wishful thinking or if some people just have intuition. We'd LOVE to have a baby girl but we know what to do with boys and love our boys so very much. Caden wants a sister, he says he already has a brother. Garrett INSISTS this is a sister...don't be the one who tells him otherwise because he gets upset. He says his sister will have blond hair and blue eyes. I said what if he has green eyes and he looked at me annoyed and said well HE can have whatever eyes HE wants but my sister is having blue. WE just laughed SO hard. But I know he would LOVE having a little brother too so we shall see. The nurse gave her unofficial guess as a girl, and most of our family and friends have also said girl...I just don't have a strong feeling either way.

12 weeks!!!!

2008-11-18T09:36:00.000-08:00

Well I went today for my 12 week appt. Dr. Owen couldn't find the baby's heartbeat. She said this baby just wanted to be on camera. So she did a quick ultrasound. There was our little poppy just a flipping and kicking. It was so precious to see. I can't feel that stuff yet but I could sure see it! Too early to see much and Dr.Owens office ultrasound machine isn't very clear.
Dr.Owen scheduled my c-section for May 29th...SO EXCITING to know already what the baby's birthday will be...assuming nothing makes us move that date up. Everything looked good!!!

10 weeks

2008-11-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

Well I celebrated my 10 weeks today by going to the doctor. Nothing quite says excitment like a thin veined person giving 6 viles of blood...The appt was quick just with the nurse, Rhonda--who is WONDERFUL. She gave me only one exciting bit of information...My due date is officially June 5th! I feel better some days worse others, but anyway it goes I'm just happy to be pregnant! 30 more weeks we'll have a precious new addition to our family!

Where did you get Poppy from?

2008-10-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

No its not in honor of Big Poppy...although we love the Red Sox...My friend, Kaci told me about thebump.com where it has a timeline of the size of the baby. That week I found out the baby was the size of a Poppyseed which is what we started calling it...Now Poppy is the size of a blueberry!!!!

Another trip to the doctor

2008-10-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well today I got to get my first Rhogram shot! YEA...hear that sarcasm...OUCH those things HURT! But Dr.Owen said the numbers came back great and there was no reason for any concern...the spotting was likely caused from the ultrasound. It has kind of come and gone since last Wednesday. I went to the dr. again Monday and they ran blood again. Today they called and said the levels are all good...now I just have to relax and know that Poppy is ok. God is taking care of us all...and our little special angel, Kaylee is sitting right with him watching over us! Thank-you all for your prayers and reassuring thoughts...I appreciate them and you all! I'll keep everyone posted.

First Ultrasound

2008-10-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well Michael and I went to see Dr. Hales this morning for our first peek at our new little one. Everything looked good. We got to see the heart flicker (beating). The doctor said the heart was beating at 140...they said that was very strong. They had a hard time measuring the baby because he/she was so close to my uterine wall but they estimated at 6 weeks...according to my calculations I'm 6 weeks 5 days...but close enough for now! I'm relieved to see the baby is doing well.

I've been sick, I've been exhausted, my face looks like a 15 year old's, seems that the pregnancy is going just fine ;). I get to see the nurse practioner in 3 weeks and then my doctor in a month. Crazy to think by Thanksgiving I'll be out of the first trimester! Keep praying for our baby...its so early and I of course worry about "Poppy".

Garrett was quite proud of the ultrasound picture. He ran around showing everyone...though there wasn't really much to see and surely he had no idea what he was looking at but he was very proud...makes me just really look forward to seeing both of them with this baby!!

I want to finish school before we have another baby....

2008-10-02T10:27:00.001-07:00

Well good thing for me I finished my finals the day after we got the good news. I got an email later that week confirming I had received an A in one class and a B in the other which means...I AM FINALLY finished!!! Graduation will be 12-13-09 at 9am at the United Spirit Arena! I'm so excited and proud to have finally finished!

A little bit of positive

2008-10-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning 9-21 I took a home pregnancy test a few days early. I could have sworn there was a line but Michael convinced me I was crazy ;) Monday morning I took another and just knew there were two pink lines...still Michael (even with his glasses couldn't see it). Tuesday morning there was no doubt...a little faint pink line to say WE'RE PREGNANT! I took a digital test later that afternoon and it said "Pregnant"...no doubt now! We're both really excited. We decided to go ahead and tell the boys since the family would all be here for Garrett's party and we wanted them to hear it from us not over hear it from someone else.

The boys were watching TV. I turned the TV off and said ok guys remember when you were begging for a baby brother or sister...they both said uh yes...I said Well you're going to get one. Caden said " REALLY, you're pregnant??" and we said yes. He was so excited he jumped up and gave me a hug. Garrett in the mean time was jumping up and down screaming "I get to be the big brother".

Later, at dinner, Garrett informed us that he would be changing his name to Mario and naming his baby brother Blueigi...We all laughed so hard. Other names mentioned by Garrett have been Graham Harold (you know Graham Harrell QB for TTU), Michael Crabtree, Eli or Payton Manning....hmmm...thinking we won't let Garrett name the baby!

The boys have it all planned. They've been begging to share a room and now they just might get their wish.

I have an appt in two weeks for a sonogram to check the size and date the baby.