A Praise

So, as many of you know I was terrified last weekend about having all of my blood work completed. I was so afraid that I was going to be a carrier of the cystic fibrosis gene, and that we would then have to have Nick tested as well. However, I just spoke with the nurse and she informed me that the test results came back all clear. THANK YOU GOD. I don't know why but for some reason, I really thought that I was going to be a carrier. I am so thankful that God has allowed Nick and I the peace of knowing that our little baby will have no worries when it comes to that specific illness.

On another bright note I am so excited about this weekend. I have always been a romantic, and I love Valentines Day because of that. Yes, I know that Valentines Day is a corny holiday, but I am not a girl who expects a large, expensive gift. I am perfectly content with a little bit of romance, and a night alone with my hubby. Since we began dating Nick has planned all of the Valentines Day dates. Last year he took me to Japanese, to Merrick for drinks, and then home to blankets in front of a fire and a bottle of wine. It was perfect. I accidentally guessed part of this years plans without knowing the other day while we were in the mall. I have such a bad habit of doing that. We were walking past build a bear, and I looked at Nick with what I thought was a brilliant idea. Little did I know he had already thought of it, and he was planning on surprising me with it on V-Day. He is taking me to build a bear for the baby together, and we are going to both kiss the heart, and record a message for the baby that will be placed in the bear. He was so sad that I came up with the idea to, because he really wanted it to be a surprise. It will still be fun though, and it is so cute. Other than that all I know about our V-Day plans is that I have to be ready for dinner by 8. I will keep you posted on what other plans he has up his sleeve.

Please keep my cousin, Ashley and her husband Jeremy in your prayers. Yesturday she had emergency surgery due to an unknown tube pregnancy. She ended up loosing one of her tubes due to it, and she is heartbroken over the miscarriage.
Also my great-aunt lost her husband this morning due to a stroke so please keep her and her daughter in your prayers as well.

Cora

Last night I came across a blog about a family with a little 10 month old baby named Cora. Their story has truly touched, and ripped my heart out of my chest. Three weeks ago Joel and Jess (mom and dad) took Cora to the doctor due to the fact that she kept getting ear infections. Jess also had a couple of other concerns, like all new moms do, with her stomach being swollen, and an unexplained black eye. The doctor had the parents take Cora to the hospital for tests, and the prognosis ended up being that the sweet baby had stage 4 cancer. They began fighting the cancer immediately, and Cora had four surgeries. Eventually she began having lung failure, and her heart started building up fluid. Cora passed away Feb 8.

This story absolutely broke my heart. I can not even imagine how the parents of this little girl could be feeling. At Christmas, as far as they knew their baby girl was healthy, and now she is gone to be with Jesus. The parents have a strong faith in God and their blog is truly touching. Here is the link to their blog http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/. Please keep this family in your prayers. I can not seem to get them off of my mind, and I have been praying for them all day. There has also been a lullaby written in memory of her. Here is the link http://www.newmusicmonday.com/.

The 4th month/2nd Trimester

Finally I have completed the first trimester, and am now beginning the journey into my second. This marks 14 weeks for baby and I, and I have to say I am getting more and more excited each day. The baby this week is about the size of my clenched fist, and the baby may actually be sprouting some hair. God knows this poor baby is definetely screwed with the curly hair gene. Unfortunately daddy and I both have been blessed/cursed with a head full of curly hair. I think I can deal with a little boy with a head full of curly hair, but I pray that some how if we have a little girl, a straight hair gene will come from somewhere. I do not want my daughter to have to go through life with hair like mine. It drives me crazy on a daily basis. The baby this week may also be growing eyebrow hair, and languno to keep him/her warm for the time being.



Nick and I had a blast shopping yesturday, however, we found it very difficult because we do not know the sex of the baby as of yet. Therefore, we left the shopping spree with a UK hoodie, and UK jersey for tailgates, and we decided to wait until we for sure know the sex before we buy anything else. It was so difficult. I am seriously looking into the 4-D ultrasounds in order to determine the sex a little earlier, and to get a clear picture of our little baby. Our doctor does not perform the first ultrasound until the sex can be determined, and I have to admit I am getting impatient. My birthday is this month so I think I may ask for the 4-D ultrasound as a birthday present. I have calculated the weeks, and the sex of the baby could be determined as early as March 8. I really feel as though it is a boy, but I can not wait to know for sure.



Today I have been thinking a lot about my cousin Matt. He is now in Atlanta at a rehabilitation hosipital in critical care. The doctor has stated that his eyes are tracking vertically at times, and that one eye has tracked horizontally. Some days it is just weird for me to think that he is still recovering, and that the future is still unclear at this point as to how long it will take. Today has been one of those days where everything reminds me of him. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. We are trying to plan a time to go visit him, and I am thinking it will be the end of February. This situation has truly taught me not to take anyone or any moment for granted, and to cherish every situation and day that God blesses you with. I look forward to the day when I can sit around with Matt, and have him make fun of the crazy things I say once again. This is a picture from my 21st birthday a couple of years ago.

The Dreaded Blood Work

This morning, Nick is taking me to have all of my pregnancy bloodwork completed. I have to admit that ever since my last appointment I have been putting this day off. I have always had a fear of having my blood drawn, and I am definetely one of the those people who freak myself out before hand. However, my next appointment is on Tuesday, so I must have this blood work completed today.

Keep us in your prayers as we go to get this completed. One pray that I do not pass out, and two pray for the Cystic Fibrosis gene test to come back negative in my blood. My great aunt had two children with cystic fibrosis, and therefore I could possibly be a carrier of the gene. If I test positive for this gene then Nick will have to be tested as well to see if he is a carrier. Even though the chances of both of us having the gene are slim to none, it is still another pregnancy unknown to worry about.

After we are finished at the hospital however, we are going to a baby store that is going out of business, and seeing what fun things we can find. That idea is definetely what I will be looking forward to as they are poking me this morning.

It must be in the water!

So, I have decided that there is a baby epidemic that must be present in the Kentucky water. Either that or, as my friends have stated "I have placed a curse on everyone I talk to about being pregnant. I had mentioned in a previous blog that one of my best friends from my entire life is expecting a baby. She found out a few weeks after she and I went to dinner, and I told her that she needed to have a baby with me. On Sunday another one of my life long friends called me freaking out because she definetely saw a line on the pregnancy test, but she was unsure if it was positive or not. It ended up being positive, so now we are all three pregnant together! It is so exciting/crazy. The other night at a super bowl party I sat around with my one of them and talked about pregnancy symptoms. We are so old. I am so excited for all of us, and I pray that we all have healthy babies.