Baby Update

My Doctor called last week. When our ultrasound and follow-up appointment were done last week, she was out of the office with a delivery, so I didn't get to talk with her personally at the time. Apparently, the placenta is low-lying, a condition called placenta previa. Essentially, the placenta is low enough that it covers some degree of the cervix, blocking the baby's exit.

It is very normal for this condition to reverse itself between 20 and 30 weeks (the baby is 21 weeks). If it doesn't reverse by 30 weeks (because it typically remains in place after then), a c-section will be scheduled for the baby's delivery. I was so relieved to hear that this was "worst case scenario"! A c-section, I can handle; that's all I know!!! Depending on the severity of the placement of the placenta, I also could be ordered to bed rest (which for me would be akin to torture).

For now, we will wait to do another ultrasound, probably closer to 30 weeks, and take it from there. Right now, I have complete peace about our little boy. By this point, I'm just so grateful to have another child, I don't care whether or not I get my preference of a normal birth. Please continue praying for the protection of our son in whatever course this story goes!

Back to Reality

We've enjoyed beautiful January weather this year; it has been so much like spring, that I actually went to the garden center at Wal-Mart to enjoy the plants--- but they still had Christmas ornaments up! Whooops : ) I guess it is still January : )

As of last night, though, it is snowing outside and the roads have become frightful! Tonight we will stay inside a warm and dry house, and enjoy some shepherd's pie and peach cobbler a la mode. YUM!

ITS A BOY!!!!

....a healthy, 11 oz little guy. Everyone has been asking what I wanted; to be perfectly honest, I've wanted a happy, healthy child, more than any specific gender. I feel so blessed to be entrusted with children that the Lord gives to us. We have been praying for "#3" for years, and I know that he will be the perfect addition to our little family.

We've had a name picked out for a while, but Andrew wants to reserve the right to change his mind, so I don't think I'll post the name on here quite yet : )

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your prayers. Please continue in praying with us for this new, little life!

Tomorrow

....we find out first thing in the morning what the sex of the baby is, and of course, if the baby seems to be healthy. Stay tuned!

I do mean to post more often, but it seems that everytime I sit down to post, duty calls, and I have to postpone my thoughts for another time.

I want to thank all of you for your phone calls, emails, and comments, regarding my last post. Its been so encouraging to find that these experiences are normal, and that I am not alone! Surprisingly enough, Marcail has toned it down a bit AND I've been doing a better job at finding ways to soothe her moods.

Anyways, in the meantime, I will try and sleep tonight (in my excitement/nervousness over tomorrow), and leave all my concerns in the Lord's hands; that's the best place for them, anyways : )

Back Again

It sure has been awhile since I last posted anything. The thought of catching up on pictures from Thanksgiving/ Christmas, and everything in-between is quite daunting, so I will just hit the ground running from this point. Pictures from the holidays may or may not appear, so no promises!

My darling princess Marcail has officially set her mommy into tears of frustration - though she hasn't seen it. I have sought experienced mothers out, and am relieved to hear that everything she is doing is a "phase;" a battle of wills and I must be consistent and show her that I am truly Queen. As smart as she is, I would've thought she would understand the concept by now!

Our main struggle has been to keep her in bed during bedtime. Although we are consistent in disciplining her in this, she continues to think she can rewrite the rules on this. Some of the results are comical: finding her fast asleep on the potty with her blanket draped over her entire head and body (is the toilet REALLY more comfortable than her bed???), or asleep under Donovan's crib, or anywhere else she happens to land when her gas runs out. The other night I woke up to some noise, at 1:30 in the morning, and crept downstairs where I found her taking Christmas ornaments off the tree (which is and has been definitely OFF LIMITS). She has tried rummaging through our bedroom and bathroom (also always off limits) during her naptime, and attempted to smear chapstick, lotion, Vaseline, etc. on the walls and tear up all our bandaids. This afternoon I found her in Donovan's room, having woken him up from his nap, turned his light on, destroying another box of bandaids that she illegally obtained from our bedroom. Why?!?! If I leave Donovan in her room (they have shared a room for years), she will climb into his crib, wake him up, and have a jumping party on his mattress. So we have had to split them up for now.

On top of this, she has started asking "Why?" about everything. I don't find it cute, because I don't think she really wants to know "Why?" I think she likes the "game of 'why?' " Finally today I started asking her "Why?" about everything, and I could see her understand my viewpoint. Eventually she asked me to, "Please stop asking 'Why?' " Hopefully I got somewhere with that.

And of course she has an alternative for everything I tell her to do. If I want her to wear a jacket, she doesn't need one. If I pick out a pair of shoes, she wants to wear a different pair. When we sit down to eat, she still tries to bring her blanket and some toys with her. When I try to help her get buckled in her car seat, she immediately wants to do it on her own, but when I leave it to her, she demands help. Every time, she wants to argue about it. Every time, I put my foot down. And still she tries to make the rules.

Understand that I love my child, but mostly what frustrates me in all of this is..... my frustration, my anger, my feeling of helplessness. I feel so lacking in emotional strength and fortitude..... and tenderness and love. Of course I knew child-rearing was work. Maybe sometimes I think its not supposed to be and that's where I end up feeling shocked and blindsided? I'm not sure.... My comfort has been in knowing that mothers tell me that this is motherhood. This is the "3's" phase. I so want to believe it!!!

And so, I hope to come out on the other side of this being well -seasoned and matured : ) and having a daughter who reflects the attributes of good training. Pray with me!