Bath time

Laurelei loves taking a bath these days. I think it has something to do with her new found love of swimming. While giving her a bath the other day I just had to run and get the camera (okay, or er waddle I guess I should say?) to capture some of these sweet memories before they were gone.

{I must disclose that there are about a billion sweeter pictures that I am in love with, but I had to crop my favorite photos to simple head shots for the blog! Even so, I just had to record these memories for myself, I don't want to forget a second.}

 

 Our favorite bath time activity, after a strict regiment of 'swimming' of course, is pouring. L will collect water from the faucet and pour it into different cups over and over. This of course is if we are smart enough to distract her from drinking the water first. What is it with children and drinking bathwater, pool water, and just naturally things that kind of gross us out as adults?

 Matt's number one rule for bath time, which Laurelei recites every time she gets in the tub is, "The water stays in the tub." You can imagine how this ornery two year old loves to torment sweet daddy by breaking this rule. I can imagine her making this face after quickly telling daddy, "I not do that daddy. I not put the water out of the tub! hehehe..."

"...I am way to sweet to break the rules."

This is the look we often get after fighting Laurelei to wash her hair. This is somewhere between the tears drying up and her insisting we do not need to rinse the soap out. She HATES having water poured over her head! I can't say I blame her, considering the pour child has hair about half of her body length that takes a good drenching to rinse all the way out.

I realize that we will definitely have a baby here in 13 weeks or less, so I am soaking up these little times with baby #1 while there are no other distractions!  It's crazy how you can get even more attached to your first child knowing there is another one on the way. I know without a doubt that this family has enough love, hugs and kisses to go around, but there is just something about knowing that Laurelei won't be the only baby forever that makes me just want to trap these sweet times in a little box and hold onto them forever and ever. Am I crazy?

26 Week Thoughts...

Originally I thought that bed rest would be great for my blogging habits. I would have plenty of time to catch up on our personal lives here, and prepare future posts for Lemon Tree. Well, it turns out that a nasty combination of contractions, back pain, achey-ness, fatigue and basically all of the other symptoms that warrant bed rest in the first place has made completing much of anything more difficult! Alas, a goods night sleep has me motivated for the next few minutes.

We have made it to 26 weeks now and we are all feeling very confident about the future! Abbott seems to be growing healthy if my growth is any indication! We go back to the doctor on Monday, and I can't wait to see how much he weighs and has grown. According to my pregnancy apps, the baby should be about 2 pounds and 14 inches long! I can't believe it.

This week the weight of our situation hit me from a different angle. Until now, I've spent so many nights fighting sleep worrying about this pregnancy. I hadn't really stopped to think about the future too much. Despite the fear and anxiety we've experienced since we got pregnant, we really didn't have much trouble getting here. We know so many couples who have tried for years to finally get pregnant. Sure we waited through our share of negatives and experienced loss, but we never doubted the outcome. Now that we are here and have again had the complications we experienced with Laurelei, we know that this has to be our last pregnancy. It feels weird to be so young and already saying goodbye to such a big stage of life. I have always been aware that I started a family young, but that's just who I am. I have been in love with Matt for almost 10 years now, and growing a family with him has literally just made my dreams come true. I'd be a fool to deny that I am loving this stage of life, even if it came 'early' for us.

Knowing this is the last time I will carry such a precious little baby in my belly, I am trying to revel in the pregnancy stage. I'm not going to lie, being on bed rest is challenging me! I don't see many people, I don't get to talk about all the little baby movements and how baby and I are changing with anyone besides my mom and Matt. I haven't been shopping for baby, falling in love with tiny onesies and little socks. I think for now I just have to remember that this pregnancy, and my two sweet, sweet babies L and Abbott are what God has planned for me. I need to lay here day after day and love every little baby kick, knowing that our life will be so full of love, no matter how our plans have changed for the future!

{I think we are done with pregnancy highlights for awhile! There's not a lot changing around here at the moment except my size. Don't worry, if there is anything worth sharing, we'll let you know!}

Vacation

One of the things my mom's family cherished while she was growing up was family vacation. They would all pile in a car and drive to Florida every summer. For as long as I can remember, we have done the same thing every year. The destination wasn't always Florida, in fact most years we ended in the Carolina's somewhere, but not a year has past that I haven't spend a vacation at the beach somewhere!

Well, summer bed rest undoubtedly changed some of our plans. Today my family is driving back from their vacation in Charleston, SC and I am still sitting here on the couch. Of course, I can't feel to sorry for myself because I know we have been incredibly blessed to vacation each year. In good and hard times, my mother found a way to give us all a week away each year. It's been fun to spend this week thinking back to all the fun places we've been and all the crazy memories we've made together.

Even if I don't see a beach this year, I feel very excited to think about what next year will look like. We'll probably be back to one of my favorite places, the Outer Banks, and we'll have another precious one in tow! Hopefully Abbott will take to the beach more quickly than little Laurelei.

We're on the right track!

Today we had another big doctor's appointment. When I left the doctor two weeks ago, I knew I would be returning today to the possibility of being put into the hospital and baby Abbott coming very soon. I am VERY happy to say that I am back home, and while I may be back on the couch, we are elated!

The ultrasound today showed that my abruption is still very big, but slightly smaller than it was last time. Yay! This is so important to ensure that Abbott has access to all of the oxygen and nutrients he needs. There wasn't enough improvement to warrant any change in my status :(, aka 'strict bedrest,' but I am happy to give Abbott more time right where he needs to be. For now, we will sit tight for two more weeks before we lug my bag back to the hospital for another ultrasound and check in with the doctor. I have been having some contractions, so the doctor sent me home with a prescription to help stop pre-term labor contractions as they come. Our fingers are crossed that this will be enough to keep Abbott safe and sound for another two weeks. There is a chance that I could still fully abrupt at anytime without cause, so our continued prayer is that we avoid a full abruption at all costs!

We did get some important stats, which helped Matt and I wrap our heads around where we are and our goals for baby Abbott. At this point we are obviously shooting for at least 26 weeks, but hopefully no sooner than 28. At 28 weeks premature babies have a 95% survival rate, with only around 20% having lifelong health effects. If we can make it to 32, the percentage of babies with lifelong struggles decreases significantly and survival rate is almost 100%! Our doctor told us that at our next appointment we will discuss the possibility of steroid injections to speed lung development. This helps preemies a ton, but increases my risks of contractions, which could complicate the abruption.

For now, we are counting our blessings that Abbott is safe and growing right where he should be. We have a new milestone to look forward to, 26 weeks, and we are growing more and more confident each day that we will reach it! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

Here are a few pictures from today's ultrasound. Most of the focus was on everything surrounding baby Abbott, but they got a few quick shots of the little guy himself...

(This one is slightly alien-like, but that's ok!)

These are feet shots. I loved how you could see even the little toes :)

Thanks again, we're hoping to be "action free" over here for another two weeks!

24 Weeks!

We are SO excited to get to 24 weeks. The last two weeks might have been challenging, but I think we all feel like it is uphill from here! I don't quite know what this week, or the next, or the next has in store for our family, but we are certain it will include a healthy baby Abbott in the end.

Baby Highlights:

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Gender: Baby boy Abbott Matthew.
Movement: The little kicks are becoming more predictable, and I love feeling each little movement. I am anxious for Laurelei to feel the baby move too now. I don't know how she'll respond, but I think it will bring a whole new level of fun!

What's Abbott Up too? Abbott should now be over 1.7lbs and 9 inches long! His skin is getting pinker and his lungs are closer to being fully formed. At 24 weeks, Abbott is now considered viable, which is a huge celebration for all of us!
Baby Planning: The room is pretty much done! All we need is a few more globes, since that was originally the 'theme,' and we still only have 1.
Prayer:  We have our big appointment on Tuesday. We will see Abbott again on the ultrasound which I know will set my mind at ease. We are hoping to avoid going into the hospital this soon. Each added week at home on bed rest at home might try my patience, but will be so much better for Laurelei. I am hoping to have at least a few more weeks of down time with Laurelei, Matt and baby Abbott in my belly.  Just say a little prayer that my abruption has not grown, and that Abbott is still growing despite the stress his little body is under.

Catching Fireflies

I am convinced that one of the great joys of having small children is letting them in on the little mysteries of life like fireflies. Up until tonight Laurelei barely new these fun little bugs existed.  For a couple of nights now Matt and I have been sitting on our couch, looking out the window and admiring them in our yard. I have such vivid memories of when I was a child, spending cool summer nights catching the magical little bugs and collecting them in jars. We would always race to see who could fill up their jars the fastest, hoping to have the best 'light show' when we opened the lids to set them free. So many good memories.

I saved up all the energy I could today just to share in these 15 minutes of memories with Matt and L 'firefly hunting,' and it was well worth it!

When we gave L the jar I don't quite think she knew what was going on, but she caught on quickly and got very, very excited about the adventure that ensued. 

She quickly followed daddy around the yard shouting, "I want one, I want one!" whenever he would catch one. In the beginning daddy lamented how catching fireflies seemed a lot easier when he was a kid.

Every time she got her hands on one her face would light up. Her little smiles are priceless!

She would run back to whoever was holding the jar at the time exclaming "I got another one, I got another one!!"

 When we all decided it was getting late and probably time for the fireflies to go nigh-night, Laurelei came and sat on my lap where I was camped out on the front walk. We watched the fireflies go and said good night to each of them, one-by-one.

It was the perfect 15 minutes of memory making.  

We came inside, kissed Laurelei goodnight and tucked her into bed. 

Then I began counting my many, many blessings, one-by-one.

23 Weeks and Such

A week has passed since my last update on Abbott, though it seems more like 2 or 3 weeks to me! We are now 23 weeks and 4 days. I feel good about that number, knowing that every day baby and I progress the better our odds are. Abbott is kicking away which hopefully means he is growing right on track. I sometimes start to go a little crazy wishing I could see inside my belly, hear his heartbeat, just to know he is growing.

Baby Highlights:
How Far Along: 23 weeks

Gender: Baby boy Abbott Matthew.
Movement: We move a little less than we used to, but Matt is now able to feel him when he is kicking. We also saw him kicking today, which was a great feeling. We used to love to lay on the couch together and watch Laurelei kick and move around.

What's Abbott Up too? Abbott should now be over 1.5lbs and 8.5 inches long! His face is almost fully formed and he can hear and recognize our voices now.
Baby Planning: The room is pretty much done! All we need is a few more globes, since that was originally the 'theme,' and we still only have 1.
Prayer:  Continued safety for Abbott. 

 

 

Bedrest has been weighing on a little more than just my physical patience. While sitting around all day everyday sounded alright at first, it actually can get quite long. Some days take forever to pass! I am so happy to be here at home in lieu of the hospital, but it can get pretty quiet. 

 

One of the harder parts has been watching Laurelei leave everyday. I can't risk being alone with her, so our wonderful family has been helping out during the days when Matt is at work. She kind of thinks Matt and I are human jungle gyms, and it gets hard to protect my little baby bump from all of the games we like to play. Recently another friend on bedrest made a comment about how having a two year old while on bedrest is like an oxymoron. I would totally agree! Recently Matt was going to the store to pick up a few things and took L with him. She said, "You come with us mommy, ok?" I had to tell her I couldn't and it about broke my heart when she looked up and asked, "why mommy, because of your boo boo again?" She doesn't quite understand, but has named whatever mystery problem I have as a boo boo. 

Some days are better than others. Poor Matt is such a trooper. He answers my teary phone calls and wipes my tears at night, calms my fears, prays over me and the baby and our family. I am so lucky to have him. It is so hard to not know what next week will look like, or next month, or the month after that. Not to know whether we are looking at 3 months of waiting, or 3 weeks. Not knowing how things will look on the charts next Tuesday at the doctor, whether I will end in the hospital or back on the couch. I get upset at the smallest things. Last week I called Matt in a panic at work because my belly button hadn't popped out yet. As if my belly button popping out is the universal sign that this baby is 'done.' I have always had trouble letting go of plans and timelines. I worked for weeks to prepare myself for this possibility that things wouldn't fit my idea of a plan. Turns out my preparation did little to ease the pain. I am having a hard time letting go and 'letting God.' I keep reminding myself that God is in control. I know that God will provide for us, as he always has. 

I promise to come back with something more uplifting next time. Maybe nursery pictures, or an anecdote from the life of Laurelei. She is always keeping us on our toes for sure! Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers.