That's what I've been chanting to this Little One night and day!!
My appointment today showed that this babe is doing just that! Cocoapuff is measuring right on target & has a strong, 186 beat per minute heart rate! Yayyyyy Baby!
That pesky subchorionic hematoma is still hanging around. We're keeping an eye on it and I've been down-graded to monthly appointments, so that's a good sign.
After a week of misery, I started Zantac & I'm a new person!! I can also start light exercise & lift up to 20lbs (Makafui weighs 28, which is a bummer). I'm excited to work on getting back to some level of normal.
I confess that I'm still a bit nervous about this pregnancy & look forward to just being able to enjoy it. Still praying for this precious baby- whoever he/she is, they're one tough kiddo!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
God Knew, God Knows
The drugs I'm on to help Baby hold on have some un-fun side effects. By far, the worst one is mood swings, or more extreme emotions. For me, that meant that several days this week I was completely overcome with anxiety, fear and sadness. I cried a lot and didn't feel like myself at all (this is not normal for me-even pregnant). I was constantly worried that I was somehow harming Makafui by actually being on "light duty", that I had tanked our families finances with a surgery, many Dr. visits and expensive drugs and feared that all of this upheaval would be for nothing-that our precious little baby wouldn't make it.
Today, I am feeling much more myself! I have not cried at one news story or commercial, I laughed when Makafui turned the water in my shower to cold (that non-verbal communication is quite loud) and I am hopeful.
So before I become a basket case again, I want to remind myself of some truths.
George and I are not the type to make decisions and assume God will give His stamp of approval afterward. We really try to seek Him for our life and future and consider what HIS plans are for our life, rather than just what we would like to do.
We sought Him and wise counsel when we were sorting through and figuring out what insurance plan we chose for 2013 and 2014. We trusted Him when He said "no" to some things we really wanted and "wait" for the things that were meant for us...just not yet. We asked Him to bless us with another child and believe it happened in His timing.
And here we are, embarking on a new year with a LOT going on! Some things we have shared publicly, others, we have not. But they all weigh heavily on my mind.
None of these things were a surprise to God. Not the baby or "her" precarious situation, not the medical crisis, not the medical bills, not the needs of our sweet boy, not the changes juuuuust around the corner, not the uncertainty of our housing, not any of the stresses and more.
God knew what was going to happen before it did. He protected us from some things, and allowed others. God knows what we need, what we crave, what we worry about, what brings us to tears.
And He is faithful. Faithful when things are awesome. Faithful when they are hard. Faithful when I am an emotional basket case. He is blessing our marriage and our growing family through this faith walk. I am taking it one day at a time, reminding myself that the Lord knows what's next and what's best.
Today, I am feeling much more myself! I have not cried at one news story or commercial, I laughed when Makafui turned the water in my shower to cold (that non-verbal communication is quite loud) and I am hopeful.
So before I become a basket case again, I want to remind myself of some truths.
George and I are not the type to make decisions and assume God will give His stamp of approval afterward. We really try to seek Him for our life and future and consider what HIS plans are for our life, rather than just what we would like to do.
We sought Him and wise counsel when we were sorting through and figuring out what insurance plan we chose for 2013 and 2014. We trusted Him when He said "no" to some things we really wanted and "wait" for the things that were meant for us...just not yet. We asked Him to bless us with another child and believe it happened in His timing.
And here we are, embarking on a new year with a LOT going on! Some things we have shared publicly, others, we have not. But they all weigh heavily on my mind.
None of these things were a surprise to God. Not the baby or "her" precarious situation, not the medical crisis, not the medical bills, not the needs of our sweet boy, not the changes juuuuust around the corner, not the uncertainty of our housing, not any of the stresses and more.
God knew what was going to happen before it did. He protected us from some things, and allowed others. God knows what we need, what we crave, what we worry about, what brings us to tears.
And He is faithful. Faithful when things are awesome. Faithful when they are hard. Faithful when I am an emotional basket case. He is blessing our marriage and our growing family through this faith walk. I am taking it one day at a time, reminding myself that the Lord knows what's next and what's best.
Silly boy!
We tried to get out on our own today, or maybe I'm the only one who tried! I got M to climb into the car, but he had no interest in his own seat, he scrambled to the driver seat in no time!! We didn't end up going anywhere, after a while, he decided he wanted to watch Daniel Tiger. Silly boy!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
23 Months
Today, Makafui is 23 months! I can't believe he has only one month left until he's two!!
Makafui is quite the delight. He definitely pushes the limits at times, but in general, he is a fairly easy going, BUSY, super happy & social boy.
I'm very proud of how Makafui is adjusting to all the changes and craziness around here. His sleep has been most affected. He's not really napping anymore because we don't really do anything to wear him out. He has started night waking as well. I'm trying to be sensitive to his emotional needs and how his world has been turned upside down, so I just lay down with him in the night. I'm so hoping he will get through this & start sleeping well again! One day at a time...
He continues to be a big talker & I love hearing what's going on in his mind. He is speaking in longer & longer sentences & is even saying please & thank you without being reminded. He's allllways asking questions, but we haven't hit the WHY? stage yet. When we pray, he now repeats what we're saying or adds something similar, rather than just cutting us off with an amen.
He is a pro at taking his clothes off, and quickly! He can't get his jean closure open, but he can pretty much do everything else. One more sign that potty training is just around the corner!
He still LOVES Curious George, but likes to mix it up with Daniel Tiger every now and then.
He is very affectionate. Everyday, I get unprompted kisses, I Love Yous, pats on the back & tickles. He is so sweet.
Makafui is messy. Like, a lot. Our living rooms totally trashed & I think he likes it this way. If I really coach him, he'll clean it up, but it takes forever!
These days at home resting are long and hard at times, but I'm trying my hardest to cherish this time as just the two of us. I'm so thankful for my sweet boy!
Makafui is quite the delight. He definitely pushes the limits at times, but in general, he is a fairly easy going, BUSY, super happy & social boy.
I'm very proud of how Makafui is adjusting to all the changes and craziness around here. His sleep has been most affected. He's not really napping anymore because we don't really do anything to wear him out. He has started night waking as well. I'm trying to be sensitive to his emotional needs and how his world has been turned upside down, so I just lay down with him in the night. I'm so hoping he will get through this & start sleeping well again! One day at a time...
He continues to be a big talker & I love hearing what's going on in his mind. He is speaking in longer & longer sentences & is even saying please & thank you without being reminded. He's allllways asking questions, but we haven't hit the WHY? stage yet. When we pray, he now repeats what we're saying or adds something similar, rather than just cutting us off with an amen.
He is a pro at taking his clothes off, and quickly! He can't get his jean closure open, but he can pretty much do everything else. One more sign that potty training is just around the corner!
He still LOVES Curious George, but likes to mix it up with Daniel Tiger every now and then.
He is very affectionate. Everyday, I get unprompted kisses, I Love Yous, pats on the back & tickles. He is so sweet.
Makafui is messy. Like, a lot. Our living rooms totally trashed & I think he likes it this way. If I really coach him, he'll clean it up, but it takes forever!
These days at home resting are long and hard at times, but I'm trying my hardest to cherish this time as just the two of us. I'm so thankful for my sweet boy!
Friday, January 3, 2014
I don't really know how to title this...
We had a very eventful Christmas around here! I have debated about whether I want to post about what's going on or not, but I think I'm just gonna go for it. This is part of our family story and I hope that I will look back at this next year and marvel at how God showed up for us. Also, I'm at the place right now where I will take all the extra prayers we can get.
First, I'm pregnant!
We are so very excited that our family is growing, but our joy turned to anxiety and fear on Christmas Eve. Now, we wait, anxious still, but hoping for the best, trusting the Lord and praying our butts off!
I was not feeling very well on Christmas Eve, just kind of blah. Sluggish, a little uncomfortable and just kind of full in my abdomen. I told myself that I'm pregnant and have a toddler and just need to get over it! So I drank water, got Makafui and I dressed and we headed out to get some treats to take to George and his co-workers.
Traffic was terrible after I got donuts and it took me 45 minutes to get to George's branch. As I drove, I started having really intense pain that just got worse and worse. By the time I arrived, I was drenched in sweat, shaking, dizzy and could not even stand up straight. I called my OB's office and they told me to go to the nearest ER. George heard that and literally drove 90 miles an hour to the nearest hospital.
I was triaged quickly and got back in a room and became a pin cushion. My parents came and my Dad took Makafui and Mom stayed with me (which was awesome because I love her and George had to run back to work so they could close the branch!). After a while, I had a really long ultrasound in which the tech said just enough to super freak me out. Then, I waited to hear from a real Dr.
The ER Dr. and OB on call both told me that I had a large mass on my left ovary, but they weren't positive what exactly it was and that my belly was filling with blood. They both strongly suspected that I had twins, one being an ectopic that had ruptured and the other one being viable, at the moment. Either way, I had to have surgery and it needed to be done right away.
I just didn't even know how to process all of this. At this point, we decided waiting to announce our pregnancy till after the first trimester was silly-we needed all the prayers we could get. My mom started shooting off text messages and I was able to call and text a few people as well.
The immediate outpouring of prayers and support was phenomenal! I instantly felt at peace about the whole situation and was totally calm when they rolled me into the OR.
Thankfully, surgery showed this was not a twin/ectopic pregnancy! I had a cyst that had ruptured and was bleeding out, which was the cause of all the pain and why it looked like an ectopic on an ultrasound. The Dr. was able to remove all of the cyst and repair my ovary and fallopian tube.
Unfortunately, this cyst and surgery disturbed the production of progesterone (which the baby needs from the ovary until the placenta takes over around ten-ish weeks) and put the baby at risk. :( I'm taking progesterone now to help the baby hold on.
I have had 2 follow up appointments since the surgery and yesterday, we saw and heard the heartbeat!! I was so relieved I cried. The Dr. says we still aren't out of the woods yet, so I have to continue with the "light duty" thing.
As you can imagine, "light duty" with an active toddler is no easy feat. My house is a mess, my child is watching too much Curious George, I feel guilty that I'm not being an awesome mom to him, I really, really miss holding him, aaand I've started watching My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding...it's a mess. That's the major down-side to all of this.
The up-side is how God has shown His faithfulness! First, I'm in America, so I am alive! We are so grateful to have such wonderful medical care, even if it is astronomically expensive. We are well loved! Friends and family are just covering us in prayer and tangible support as well. My MOPS group has been amazing!! We've had meals for more than a week and everyday people are checking on us and offering more help. I am just blown away. Makafui is truly a champ and is coping really well with everything-he is gonna be a good brother. George, as I knew, is gold and this has just reminded me of that! He has just completely taken over- in addition to going to work, he comes home and cleans, does laundry, puts Makafui to bed, waits on me hand and foot and does anything else I ask. I know this must be exhausting for him! My sister has also been an immense blessing to me! Since I can't get Makafui in and out of the car, she comes to get us to take us places and last week we hung out at her house and not only did she wait on me and feed me, she WASHED MAKAFUI'S HAIR (that is definitely considered strenuous activity)!
Each day I am blessed and reminded of God's care for us. Today, I was so encouraged at MOPS that God loves our children, and this precious baby, way more than we do and HE is the one to trust for their wellbeing. Of course, I'm taking my vitamins and meds, eating healthy, blah, blah, but stressing out about this sweet baby is not doing any good. God knows this child and has a plan. God loves me, and He loves this sweet babe more than I can imagine. I can't hold my breath and make everything okay. Only God can make everything okay.
I'm remembering that as we continue to wait and pray and wait some more. If you think of us, please pray for our family and for the health and growth of the newest little Azaletey.
First, I'm pregnant!
We are so very excited that our family is growing, but our joy turned to anxiety and fear on Christmas Eve. Now, we wait, anxious still, but hoping for the best, trusting the Lord and praying our butts off!
I was not feeling very well on Christmas Eve, just kind of blah. Sluggish, a little uncomfortable and just kind of full in my abdomen. I told myself that I'm pregnant and have a toddler and just need to get over it! So I drank water, got Makafui and I dressed and we headed out to get some treats to take to George and his co-workers.
Traffic was terrible after I got donuts and it took me 45 minutes to get to George's branch. As I drove, I started having really intense pain that just got worse and worse. By the time I arrived, I was drenched in sweat, shaking, dizzy and could not even stand up straight. I called my OB's office and they told me to go to the nearest ER. George heard that and literally drove 90 miles an hour to the nearest hospital.
I was triaged quickly and got back in a room and became a pin cushion. My parents came and my Dad took Makafui and Mom stayed with me (which was awesome because I love her and George had to run back to work so they could close the branch!). After a while, I had a really long ultrasound in which the tech said just enough to super freak me out. Then, I waited to hear from a real Dr.
The ER Dr. and OB on call both told me that I had a large mass on my left ovary, but they weren't positive what exactly it was and that my belly was filling with blood. They both strongly suspected that I had twins, one being an ectopic that had ruptured and the other one being viable, at the moment. Either way, I had to have surgery and it needed to be done right away.
I just didn't even know how to process all of this. At this point, we decided waiting to announce our pregnancy till after the first trimester was silly-we needed all the prayers we could get. My mom started shooting off text messages and I was able to call and text a few people as well.
The immediate outpouring of prayers and support was phenomenal! I instantly felt at peace about the whole situation and was totally calm when they rolled me into the OR.
Thankfully, surgery showed this was not a twin/ectopic pregnancy! I had a cyst that had ruptured and was bleeding out, which was the cause of all the pain and why it looked like an ectopic on an ultrasound. The Dr. was able to remove all of the cyst and repair my ovary and fallopian tube.
Unfortunately, this cyst and surgery disturbed the production of progesterone (which the baby needs from the ovary until the placenta takes over around ten-ish weeks) and put the baby at risk. :( I'm taking progesterone now to help the baby hold on.
I have had 2 follow up appointments since the surgery and yesterday, we saw and heard the heartbeat!! I was so relieved I cried. The Dr. says we still aren't out of the woods yet, so I have to continue with the "light duty" thing.
As you can imagine, "light duty" with an active toddler is no easy feat. My house is a mess, my child is watching too much Curious George, I feel guilty that I'm not being an awesome mom to him, I really, really miss holding him, aaand I've started watching My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding...it's a mess. That's the major down-side to all of this.
The up-side is how God has shown His faithfulness! First, I'm in America, so I am alive! We are so grateful to have such wonderful medical care, even if it is astronomically expensive. We are well loved! Friends and family are just covering us in prayer and tangible support as well. My MOPS group has been amazing!! We've had meals for more than a week and everyday people are checking on us and offering more help. I am just blown away. Makafui is truly a champ and is coping really well with everything-he is gonna be a good brother. George, as I knew, is gold and this has just reminded me of that! He has just completely taken over- in addition to going to work, he comes home and cleans, does laundry, puts Makafui to bed, waits on me hand and foot and does anything else I ask. I know this must be exhausting for him! My sister has also been an immense blessing to me! Since I can't get Makafui in and out of the car, she comes to get us to take us places and last week we hung out at her house and not only did she wait on me and feed me, she WASHED MAKAFUI'S HAIR (that is definitely considered strenuous activity)!
Each day I am blessed and reminded of God's care for us. Today, I was so encouraged at MOPS that God loves our children, and this precious baby, way more than we do and HE is the one to trust for their wellbeing. Of course, I'm taking my vitamins and meds, eating healthy, blah, blah, but stressing out about this sweet baby is not doing any good. God knows this child and has a plan. God loves me, and He loves this sweet babe more than I can imagine. I can't hold my breath and make everything okay. Only God can make everything okay.
I'm remembering that as we continue to wait and pray and wait some more. If you think of us, please pray for our family and for the health and growth of the newest little Azaletey.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Take a Stroll
We had a good time enjoying the weather and first day of 2014 by taking a stroll. Makafui was being sooo silly! He is such a joy. 😊
Makafui super loves his new big kid shoes!
Makafui super loves his new big kid shoes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)