35 weeks

Today marks 35 weeks for our little munchkin. We've decided our kids just REALLY can't wait to meet us! We must be pretty cool parents....at least that's what I'm taking away from all this. Your prayers are being heard and God has been so good to us through all this. He has honestly given me a strength I KNOW is not of myself to be able to lay in a bed or recline in a chair all day long for almost a month now! He has provided numerous help from family and friends in the ways of encouragement, prayer, phone calls, emails, gifts, babysitting, meals, and more. Thank you again to all those people who God has used to bless us! My goal is 2 more weeks of bedrest. At that point my doctor feels the baby is mature enough to be very healthy and it will be okay for nature to run its course (meaning no more medications or bedrest). Yeah! Please keep that as your prayer. The excitement and daunting task of having a newborn again is just sinking in. I'm sticking to the motto: "better late than never" on this one!

Vague Understanding

People often ask if Kai knows a new baby will soon share "his" EVERYTHING! We've been trying to introduce the sister concept and acclimate him to "baby rules" ("shhh, baby's sleeping," "gentle please," etc) However, he has failed to show any understanding that "baby in mama's tummy" means something is about to change. He sees it more as a very weird looking belly button to push or a drumming opportunity (not gently I might add)! The other day when we were all in the same room together, Kai randomly stops playing and points very intentionally to Derrick and says "Daddy," points to himself and says "Kai," points to me and says "Mama," and then runs over to me and rubs my belly gently and says "ba-be!" I was stunned! He must sort of grasp something of the concept of his new baby sister who will enter the world soon enough! There's hope.

Mama's Home

Shelbie was released from the hospital today and we are both super happy she is home. Kai has been pretty grumpy for the past few days- fighting a cold and missing his mama big time. She is still on strict bedrest and taking meds to help keep the contractions down. She was in the hospital for a week and a half and for 4 days she was all alone because everyone else was snowed in. Iam pretty sure she is glad to be home and have her own bed back- although the bed is going to need some altering to accomodate her. Thanks for everyones prayers and support during this time. Iam sure Shelbie would still love all the calls and visits to help pass the time. Here are a few picture from the past weeks I think thats our car. Close to 3 feet of snow.

Going for a ride with Grandma

At the hospital with Mama

Excited about Easter eggs.

Home At Last?

Pray today. If my cervix cooperates I may go home today. I'm off to the test. Keep you posted.

33 week marker

Today I am 33 weeks pregnant. Today is the equivalent day Kai was born premature.....so it has me reflecting. I am so thankful for God's "heads up" with this little one on any complications. Although it's still difficult on many levels, He has definitely prepared us for whatever trial sneaks up this time. He is good. All the babysitters are getting sick on me! I think Kai had a little flu bug this last weekend and is now re-cooping....however, he has apparently spread it to everyone who's been watching him. So please pray that everyone would feel refreshed, strengthened, and back to tip-top shape by the weekend. Things at the hospital are pretty status quo. Thanks to everyone for their company, gifts, and prayers. Our little munchkin is still doing well. My cervical length has extended by 1 cm in the safest direction since my admit here...which is a positive thing. I've been having less but still some "irribility" contractions the last 2 days. I had another Fetal Fibronectin test today that predicts if you'll deliver in the next 7 days (amazing technology if you ask me).....haven't heard the results yet. It was negative last week....so pray it will be again. My mom will arrive today to help with Kai the next week. Pray she arrives before our snow storm does! Within this whole hospital/bedrest ordeal, it has been hardest being away from Kai and Derrick. I feel so helpless going from caring for Kai fully to not at all. Please pray for my strength in this area. Again thanks for your prayers and support....we couldn't do it without the help of our friends and family. God is faithful to provide for what we need through this....and He continues to teach us along the way.

Hospital Stay

We are officially here......Memorial North hospital for extended bedrest. My last Friday doctor's appt. showed further deterioration of my cervical length and accompanying small frequent contractions. Our doctor is attempting to prevent another premature labor (@ 32 wks) and THIS is the safest place for the baby and I to be monitored. Baby seems to be healthy and I'm just "hanging out" and "laying low." We are geared up for an extended stay.....several weeks, unless a baby comes sooner. Derrick and I's parents are pitching in big time help with Kai while I'm laid up here and Derrick is back and forth between home, hospital, and work. Please keep these things in your prayers: 1. Monday ultrasound for baby's health. 2. My ability to "chug" water to keep hydrated without IV fluids and to keep the uterus fluids adequate for the baby. 3. Resolution of a bladder infection I had that contributes to contractions and therefore deterioration of the cervix. 4. For Kai, for a small intestinal bug. Kai has had fever and is not eating well....although seems in better spirits this Easter Day! 5. For Derrick, to balance life.......caring for me, baby, and Kai as well as himself, work, and other chores.

A weeks glance

Yes, as a family...... we are all avid fans! Derrick and I hit up the Jazz vs. Nuggets last week. Game was at 8:30 pm and we "hit the hay" at about 2 am......the absolute latest I've stayed up in probably 2 years! Good times though.

Kai is really enjoying drawing and coloring pictures lately. He is starting to decipher red, purple, blue, and yellow (although they still get mixed up sometimes). The fun ususal comes to an abrupt halt when he bites off a chunk of the crayon (he likes to eat chapstick too....maybe it a wax thing?).

Amongst the other "new" things this week, Kai got his 1st Tatoo! We're not sure exactly what the tatoo is....Derrick found it at camp. We were told it's a band on the Disney channel, although it says "Naked Brothers Band." I don't know about you, but not something I would expect to find on the Disney channel....maybe I really am getting old!

Kai was eating more snow off the bottom of Derrick's boots and our dirty rug at the front door.....so we got him his own "snow helping" again! He enjoyed it immensely! Yes, he pretty much ate that whole bowl.

Kai got his 2nd (very needed) haircut! We debated about doing it at home again, but decided it was necessary AT THAT EXACT MOMENT to get rid of his little "duck tail" in the back. The process was a team effort between the clippers, cameras, entertainment and evaluation. There were only a few minor "patchy" spots in the end and it saved us $20+....can't beat it!

Kai got an early Easter basket from our good friends/neighbors/co-workers, the Tadlocks. It was filled with his favorite goodies....fruit snacks, crackers, fake grass (that is apparently edible), bath toys, and plastic eggs with M&M's. Every time he sees an Easter egg now, he says "em-ma?" (meaning where did the M&Ms go?------what can I say, I taught him chocolate well!) Straight up lounging in the carseat!

Prayer Need

We are in need of family and friends' prayers. Last Friday at our bi-weekly ultrasound it was discovered our little munchkin may be planning yet another very early arrival! Therefore, we have prayed and prayed for her to stay "in the oven" and made some necessary changes this past week to prevent that from happening. It has been a difficult adjustment. I am suppose to do "nothing" while Derrick does everything......or so it seems in my eyes! The doctors orders are for "light duty," meaning no exerting myself with heavy lifting for the most part (Kai, laundry, groceries, etc). It's proving to be much harder than it sounds. I've had to suck up alot of pride to let everyone else "do it" for me. Although with the changes have come a new toddler bed for Kai so Mama doesn't have to lift him in and out of the crib......pics to follow soon. We just finished painting it today. Please keep us and our little girl in your prayers. We will be having ultrasounds weekly from now on to keep a close eye on the situation, in addition to some new medications to help stop pre-term labor. We really must have faith to trust God's timing in EVERYTHING.

Sledding

Moma and Kai went sledding in the front yard after our mini-blizzard this week. Kai loves this sled. He would follow my lead saying, "Ready, set, gooooo" to get me started pulling him down the hill. He had nothing but big smiles while riding until some snow from my boots would fly up in his face! Guess we need a longer rope to pull the sled! As I mentioned in a previous blog, Kai loves his snow boots! Getting to put them on and walk in the snow was a perk of this outdoor adventure. He actually did much better walking in them by himself this time around. It must be all that practice he's had wearing them around the house!

This is a pre-storm shot. He's just wondering the fields around our house while Scout gets some energy out! Most likely he's tasting the snow in this shot!

A taste of snow

Kai has always liked to chew on ice and now that we've finally gotten a little snow this last week, he has had plenty of opportunities. He has been picking up BROWN ice chunks from the rug at the front door from Daddy's work boots to suck on. Gross! So Derrick decided to just get him his own bowl of fresh WHITE powder from outside to quench the ice craving! Here he is enjoying his snow!

New Rides

New "horse," no chariot!

Our tolerant dog, Scout has a new best friend. Kai likes to sit on Scout and give her kisses or sit between her paws while she lays on the floor. He frequently has a cup of crackers in his hands which makes for an interesting "dance" between the two of them (Scout is completely food-driven). I'm waiting for the day he starts chanting "ye-haw" while he's ontop of Scout. It's his latest thing......a horse says "ye-haw" instead of "neigh-neigh." We're working on understanding what a cowboy is! Not there yet.