Sweet potatoes, stuffing, and turkey..

We already had our Thanksgiving feast. We were thankful that Sara's parents came last Saturday giving Mike some free time to cook, and they helped entertain Haley. After eating leftovers for a few days we have decided that since it's just the 3 of us (or 4 depending how you look at it) on Thursday, we will just be thankful we are all together and eat some other yummy stuff instead of the traditional feast. 


We had an appt. today and it went well. For now they are going to stop measuring her cervix, since it has seemed to stay stable since this all started, the doc basically said even if it were to change (shorten) they would only treat the "symptoms" and not the change, since we have already done everything we can for that. So, if she starts to show signs of pre-term labor we will cross that bridge with the necessary interventions (meds.) if we get there.  Overall, it was a good appointment and the baby is 1 lb. 9 oz. with LONG legs and arms according to the sonogram tech.


We hope everyone enjoys the beginning of the holiday season with a weekend full of family and fun. When we ask Haley what she is thankful for this year, she proudly responds "crayons".


~~Also a thanks to the Michaud, Foote, Pepper, and Parker families for thinking of us this week. 


We certainly have much to be thankful for!!  Happy Thanksgiving.

World Prematurity Awareness Day!

I was looking back into the thousands of photos we have of Haley searching to find one of her to post today, from our NICU stay, when I realized that Mike had uploaded them to our external drive. It seems as though we have put that behind us and it's probably better I didn't take a walk down memory lane. However, I do want to recognize today, World Prematurity Awareness Day and the families who have had the experience of pre-term delivery. I can say that it changed me forever and I admire all of those who work with these tiny warriors. 

We are all doing fine, trying to stay busy. At my weekly appointment yesterday, things continue to look stable, no changes, which for me just means "continue what you are doing". I am 24 weeks today, which is gestational milestone in the sense it means the baby is viable and survival rates go up from this point on. Yesterday Mike said, "I feel really good about this. He's going to keep in there and now I just have to keep you from going crazy until then". In the end, each positive appointment just affirms and keeps me/us going and we are so thankful.

Continued thanks for those who send treats and well wishes, especially friends at Northside: Jenn, Cassie, Paula, Irene and Sharon, who graciously thought of us this week.

Keeping Busy sudoku

Hopefully everyone enjoyed Veteran's Day, especially my teacher friends who had a well deserved long weekend. 


We had another quiet weekend at home. Mike took Haley "shopping" yesterday which was just supposed to be a trip to Wegman's, however she returned with a bag from the Hobby Lobby filled with pretend dress up hats. So far we have pretended to be firemen, construction workers, coyboys (no we didn't teacher her to sing YMCA yet....) princess' and safari people. It's been fun, I'm trying to get her in a few pics to post.


Mike and I have had a few movie nights, we watched The Lincoln Lawyer and Water For Elephants and enjoyed both. I received a Kindle from my girlfriends (thanks again Marci and Al) and I downloaded something I typically would have no time to read, the 4 books for the Twilight series.  After finishing the first book I watched the first movie. I figure with the new movie coming out next week it at least gives me a little motivation, not that I need it I have enjoyed reading it so far. My friends also sent me some things to keep me busy, a new scrapbook and supplies, some fun sudoku/crosswords, a cross- stitch. I will be keeping myself busy as we start the 2nd full week on our journey to Baby Boy.


Yesterday it was beautiful in Rochester, so I got to sit outside on the porch as Haley played lacrosse and basketball. Hoping to do the same today.


Happy Sunday.

No news= good news :)

Today's appointment was relatively uneventful in the world of high risk pregnancy :) The baby looked great, his heart rate is around 150 bpm (which is up from last weeks 130), and they estimate he weighs around 1 lb. 4 oz., which is really good for his gestational age.  My blood pressure dropped back to it's normal range 101/55 so all the rest has paid off. My cervix is considered "stable" meaning following the surgery there has been no major changes, which is what we were hoping for. 


Mike and I both took a little exhale following the ultrasounds. I had an appt. with the doctor following and she really spelled out for both of us what I should and should not be doing. She stressed the importance of the next 4 weeks, what I need to be looking for and urged us to call for any reason, nothing should be ignored. At this point we are doing all the proactive interventions, now we need to be reactive. Their goal is to act and hopefully stop my body if I go into pre-term labor. Overall, we left feeling good and optimistic for the weeks to come.


Before the appointment, I got to indulge in a little trip to a coffee shop and I had my seasonal favorite, hot cider with caramel. I hope that little treat and public interaction will last me until next week. I go back again on Wednesday.

Haley is enjoying the warm weather at Daycare!

Duggars kid #20 Really?

This morning I enjoyed my morning show routine,  Matt L. is in Spain today so I am living vicariously...  Anyway, the Duggar Family came on to announce she is is pregnant with baby #20. Given that their last baby was  a preemie I felt a little sting. Other than that the news was pretty depressing.

I have to thank some of my girlfriends who have been spoiling us with yummy things to eat. Chili from Tasha, pulled pork and beans from Mollie and Patrick, and a yummy red pepper ravioli that awaits us in our freezer for later this week from Liz! Although Mikey does enjoy cooking things can get pretty overwhelming here at times, so it's nice to have the extra help. We truly appreciate it.

Tomorrow afternoon we go in for an appointment so I will be sure to update.

Happy Tuesday!

thank god for TBS

While I search for my new hobby it is nice to have FRIENDS re-runs on in the back ground :)
We are enjoying the first of many quiet weekends at home. Haley has started to realize I can't pick her up and every now and then she pleads "carry me Mommy". Luckily she is easily distracted and it is pretty easy to get her to do what I need. Mike has "refreshed" our front living room to make it more calming and comfortable, he painted and redecorated accenting with a cool shade of purple and family pics. This is our room with the bay window so I can see outside and keep up with what is going on in the neighborhood (which usually isn't much).  It is also attached to Haley's playroom so we have been busy reading, coloring, and playing dolls pretty non stop.
Just wanted to thank everyone again for their support. My work family has been amazing, sending well wishes and although I think about my kiddos at school often I know they are in great hands.


I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday (Go Giants!!)

Now we wait...

As Mike and I drove out of Strong hospital yesterday we commented on how long it's been since we pulled an "8 hour shift" there and how we pray we don't have to do it again. 


My procedure went as expected. The part I was nervous about, the spinal, was surprisingly easy and in my opinion pretty painless. For me, the worst part was hearing them talk during the surgery. I was basically tilted upside down on the table so I couldn't see anyone. I value Strong as a teaching hospital, as an educator I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't, but knowing they have needles 2 cm from my babies head didn't make me comfortable when I heard the attending say to a resident, "Well I wouldn't do it like that.".


Regardless after 45 min. I was in recovery, which in my opinion was the worst part. I am a fidgety person and not being able to move my legs was a sensation I did not enjoy. After about 4 hours of waiting we were able to leave and we were home just in time to greet Haley from daycare. Our amazing neighbors had picked her up and made us yummy minestrone soup and salad for dinner. Mike, Haley and I all fell asleep by 8 pm.


I go back to our docs on Weds. so we will assess everything via ultrasound, hopefully with the restricted activity will find no changes and everything will continue as planned...


Thanks for all the emails, prayers and positive thoughts!!

The things we do for love.

No one said having kids was easy, right?


Yesterday's weekly appointment was the one I had fearing. Those sonogram technicians sure are pretty good at keeping a poker face and when she left and said "I'll be back", I actually believed her. Yet, low and behold, 20 minutes later a doctor walked in and the air was sucked out of the room...


I won't get into the nitty gritty about all the things they are checking via ultrasounds, in an attempt to predict an upcoming per-term delivery, but what they found wasn't good and we needed to have a very serious conversation. Luckily Mike and I had been doing a little research on our own and were mostly prepared for the medical terms and information that were being thrown at us. So far the interventions have been no brainers: weekly hormone shots that Mike has been administering, easy enough. Weekly appointments and bloodwork to monitor changes, annoying yet possible. Last week, we had realized that we are dealing with an abnormality with the way I carry babies and today was the dreaded discussion about a minor surgical operation and immediate restricted activity and how to detect and react if I begin having contractions. GULP.


I can't even summarize the statistics that were given by the doctor regarding the link to pre- term delivery and the interventions they suggested. We walked away with the feeling that we have a 50/50 chance of having a full term baby so in the end that 50% is certainly worth the discomfort of the next few months.


So, I sit in my living room clinging to the positive thoughts on DAY 1 of my new "bed rest" adventure.


Anyone read a good book lately??  :) 

Happy Halloween

After failing at our quest to find a "nice wolf" halloween costume (per Haley's request), Mike found a NEMO costume and Haley was content. 


We hope everyone had fun trick or treating this year, Haley certainly enjoyed herself. She was on a mission at each house, ringing the doorbell, putting the candy in her bucket, and asking Daddy, "another house?" at the bottom of each new driveway. She even got a Halloween scare when a neighbors on our street had a spooky surprise in their entry way. Needless to say Haley never will return to the "scary house" and has been talking about it since.


Happy Halloween from NEMO...

Haley making herself at home at our neighbors house, she loves to visit Bob, Diane and Abby