Over Half Way There!

Dave and I attended the wedding of a dear old friend of mine two weeks ago.  It was a gorgeous wedding on the beaches of Lake Michigan.  Here are the two of us enjoying the beach, enjoying the hot weather and our feet in the cool water, and also enjoying being over half way to LG's debut!

I had my 20 week scan a couple of weeks ago and LG continues to look great!  She is growing well and I am becoming more and more uncomfortable as she kicks and squirms and does whatever else she does to occupy herself.  Heartburn has finally set in with full force, the back pain is beginning and my energy level is beginning to decrease.  But I am not complaining.  I am thrilled that LG is doing well and that I am doing well too.  The normal aches and pains of pregnancy are welcomed by me and I remain optimistic that maybe, just maybe, this pregnancy will be smooth and without major complications.

We did learn late last week that the genetic testing came back positive.  LG has VHL.  While this is not our first choice for any of our children, we are comfortable with the results.  We gave a lot of thought and consideration and ran through a number of "what if" situations before we even considered having children.  We know that some unique trials and struggles are in our future, but every parent is faced with this same possibility.  We feel fortunate that we already have an advance notice.

And right now we are just thankful for my health, LG's health and are eager for the day we get to meet our newest little girl.

Too Funny (a.k.a. Sock Humor)

Sylvia loves socks.  She loves to tell you what is on her socks.  She loves to undo a pair of socks from the little bundle I make them into when folding laundry.  She loves to pull them all out of her drawer, take them apart and bring them to bed with her.  She loves to put on several pair at a time.  Sylvia loves socks.

The other night when we went in to change her before going to bed we found her with 16 pair of socks on her feet!  16 PAIR, 32 SOCKS total!  They were not all matching pairs, and I was impressed that she had the exact same number on both feet.

Part of the reason that Sylvia likes putting socks on so much is that it is one fine motor activity that she "gets."  She knows how to put on socks and it gives her a sense of independence.  She also thinks it's funny.  Fortunately, we caught her before she had two feet that had fallen asleep!

All About "Little Guy"

Early last week I had the amniocentesis to check for the genetic disease "owned" by both Dave and Sylvia.  We also always have a basic chromosome analysis done to check for other common genetic mutations.  Typically we have results from the basic chromosome count the day following the amnio.  This year, however, they decided to run a full analysis of the chromosomes, resulting in a 7-10 day waiting period for results.  (Please keep in mind that the results for VHL testing take 4-6 weeks.)

These pictures are from the ultrasound that takes place prior to the amnio.  Baby looked good and baby was active!  We have always had active children during ultrasounds but I do not believe we have had one this active before.  It was kind of fun to watch but it also terrified me as we really needed baby to calm down before they put a huge needle inside of me and within millimeters of my baby!  Fortunately, by the time of the amnio, baby was sleeping soundly.  (Phew!)  The tech had a hard time getting a decent measurement of anything and the best information she could give was that baby was weighing in at about 5 oz.  This was a good weight for baby's gestational age.  We got a guess to baby's gender, but again, with that much movement there was never the opportunity to really see things clearly.  The tech said that while baby looked one way, she was hesitant to give any kind of an affirmation.  Having seen over 30 ultrasounds myself I agreed with her gender prediction but also understood why she was hesitant to offer confirmation-- this kid was simply unable to keep still for even one instant!

Today I contacted the high risk maternity office and learned that results were in from the amnio and that the genetics counselor would be giving me a call later in the afternoon.  Baby's chromosome count came back normal!  This news makes Dave and me so happy.  Additionally, we got confirmation that we are about to welcome into our home another girl!  Dave and I were not surprised and excited to learn at the ultrasound that it looked like we had another daughter on the way.  And much like when we were expecting Veda, we once again have a girl name picked out but had no clue as to what we would name a son.  And, yeah, I realize the name Little Guy doesn't really make sense, but I don't want to change it.  It is how I have been referring to her for a few months already.  (And I really hate the word "gal.")  Perhaps we will start calling her "LG."  That would work for me, but in my heart she will always be my Little Guy.

Summer Moves Forward

Summer is plodding forward this year.  It has been a rough one.  There has been so much rain and once the rain clears, the mosquitoes appear.  This may be our worst mosquito year to date.  We have stuff we put in our ponds and we try to tip over any standing water, but when you live in a wetland there is only so much that can be done.  We can't drain the woods!  So, to the girls, getting to play outdoors is a special treat.  Sad, but true.

But we have been making it work.  We have plenty of indoor activities and the girls always seem to create new ones.  Whether or not they are always mom-approved is another story!  A few weeks ago the kids wanted an impromptu fashion shoot with a new chair that Grandma had brought.  Above and below are the results.

Sylvia is the hardest to get on camera now.  (As I can no longer say "on film!")  She does this quick 2 sec. pose and then comes rushing over to look at herself on the camera screen.  No matter how many times or in how many ways I try to explain to her that she needs to wait a little longer (until after she hears the "click"), she still rushes prematurely to get a glimpse of the photograph that wasn't taken yet or that shows a single arm rushing from the shot.

Veda is an absolute scream sometimes.  She currently loves cars and trucks.  She loves making them go "beep, beep" and she also has this really deep growl/gurgle for engine noise.  But her girly-ness comes through when she insists on making sure that someone is always driving the vehicle.  It needn't necessarily be a person, a chicken will do!  And, in fact, sometimes only the chicken will do, as was the case in the above incident.  She desperately wanted that chicken driving this construction truck, but the chicken kept flying out of it.  She would get so angry.  So, I would try and be helpful and put a person in instead, as the person could be secured inside the vehicle.  Well, that made her even MORE angry!  So, she spent about twenty minutes driving and then yelling at the chicken and shoving her back in the truck and then driving again.

And this is Sylvia's play.  She is very interested in making family connections.  Everywhere we go there is a baby (or "Za-Za," what she calls herself) and a mama.  "Za-Za" and mama always "match," as is in the above picture.  The big pony/horse is the mama and the little horse is "Za-Za."  The white furry bear is the daddy and the little jaguar is "Baby" (in this case she means Veda).  And, yes, she really calls herself "Za-Za."

That is really about it for the news around here.  We will have more concerning Little Guy soon, but for now just enjoy the antics of the older two!

The Secret Revealed

I realize I have been more than a little negligent in posting on our blog, but I have been a little tired lately.  A little nauseated too.

The above is a picture of our no. 3.  That's our "secret revealed!"

I am currently in my 13th week of pregnancy (or the beginning of the second trimester).  While we have named baby, "Little Guy," we do not actually know a gender yet.  I had my third scan this morning and Dave was thrilled to be able to join me.  He hasn't been involved in any of the prenatal stuff yet and he always feels more connected after he gets to see baby in action.  And baby was in action!  (I always seem to have very active children during scans.)  Today we saw him opening and closing "his" mouth, kicking and stretching, and waving "his" little arms about.

I also felt my first confirmed baby movement today.  There have been a couple of times in the past week when I have wondered if I felt baby, but this morning on our drive to the doctor I definitely felt a very faint, but familiar "thump, thump."  Very cool.

This above picture is looking down on Little Guy.  The left arm is on the top, face to the left of that and right arm swiping across the right cheek.  We have named him Little Guy because I am convinced that this must be a boy.  As mentioned, we have no confirmed gender yet, but today's heart rate was the lowest of any of my children.  We'll see what the amniocentesis tells us in three weeks!

Yes, we are doing another amnio to check for Dave and Sylvia's genetic disease, Von Hippel-Lindau Disease.  When I was pregnant with Sylvia I was quite certain she had the disease.  When I was pregnant with Veda I was quite certain she didn't.  I was correct both times.  This time I have no feeling either way.

I am a softie for feet pictures.  Perhaps if you have been reading long enough you have gathered this about me already.  We got a really great foot view today, but the sonographer wasn't able to print a picture of it.  But we still got this above shot.  There are those little legs and feet hanging out on the right hand side, already beginning to kick me.

I am doing well.  The first ten or eleven weeks were rough, but since then I have had a little more energy and haven't been feeling as sick.  There is one small concern.  Today's scan confirmed placenta previa (the placenta is covering the cervix).  There had been suspicions before but it isn't until about the 13th week that the location of the placenta in relation to the uterus can be viewed on ultrasound.  There are no huge threats or concerns.  It just means I can't lift, pull, push, or do heavy exercise.  Generally the placenta "moves" up and away by about the 26th week.  [Technically, the uterus expands, the placenta does not actually move.]  So, we'll just keep tabs and see what happens.

I realize this news may be rather surprising to many of you.  It kind of was to us too, but we are very excited to welcome our newest family member in early-mid December!

Those Who Make Me Mom

These two cuties are who make me a mom.  I am so blessed to have them in my life.  I realize this mom sentiment is a bit belated, as the official day of recognition is now behind us, but I figure every day can be a Mother's Day.  (And blogger was refusing to upload my photos on Sunday.)

My children have changed me in ways that I never could have imagined.  I knew, and was probably too aware, of how much my life would change after having children.  But I don't think I had any idea just how much I would change.  For the most part, my own needs and wants have happily taken a backseat to the needs and wants of my children.  I am also suddenly full of curiosity about how children develop and have been avidly searching for information regarding brain development and have devoured information regarding Sylvia's special needs.  While an all natural and organic lifestyle has always appealed to me, it was only after having children that I began to do thorough research and decided to change our lifestyle in a drastic way.  There is something about having one child who has, as the doctor calls, "the most hypersensitive skin" she has ever seen and another child with an array of special needs, that suddenly makes you call into question what we consume and surround ourselves with in our homes.

But probably the most obvious and immense way in which I have changed is that I have discovered a brand new love.  I now know what it means to have a compulsive, uncontrollable sort of love.  I choose to love my husband and my friends and family.  I got to know them and then I fell in love with them.  My children are different.  They were born and I began to love-- instantly.  I struggled severely with PPD after Sylvia was born but even then I felt an overwhelming love for my daughter.  I cannot help but love my children.  This kind of love is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.

And so, while it is a little late, Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere.  To any woman who has felt the compulsory love I am talking about, my thoughts are with you today and every day.

Our One Day of Spring

This has been a hard late winter and early spring.  I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have been able to to take the girls outdoors to play.  But a couple of weeks ago we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous weekend and we took full advantage of it.

I love this picture.  There is something about her little body walking away from me that just makes me smile when I see this shot.  She was on a mission:  To get to Daddy's rocks!

Dave has a collection of rocks by the fire pit.  I am not sure what he intends to do with them, but he is always out there collecting rocks.  He has all sorts of dreams:  A rock wall, a larger fire pit, a rock garden.  Perhaps one day one or two of these dreams will come to fruition, but in the meantime, we just have a lot of rocks!

For those of you wondering, Veda is not yet walking.  She is so close and she has indeed taken a few steps here and there, but there has still been no consistent attempts to master the biped move.

One of my most favorite things about spring is the frogs.  I simply love hearing the frogs sing.  I am going to try and post a little video snippet from my walk, but I am not sure our internet connection will allow me to do so.  But here I am on my way to take a listen to the frogs.

Happy Spring!