week 14

Here are some pictures of my 14 week baby bump and some pictures of our sonogram.
So far I have gained a total of 10 pounds. :) My doctor says that's perfect and right on track. The goal is to gain between 25 and 40 pounds. I'm trying to eat healthy with lots of fruit and some veggies. I really don't like veggies right now so I have to force myself to eat them (and every once and a while I have to have Taco Bell!) :) Thankfully I'm not craving too many sweets, I love, love, love dill pickles though! I eat one or two every day, and smoothies are also a must! As far as other cravings, anything with jalapenos or hot peppers, I love me some spicy!!

If you have any questions, or want me to talk about something related to pregnancy just leave a comment :) 

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

Yesterday, Monday January 17th, Mark and I had a nuchal translucency test scheduled for 8am. We arrived at 7a;45 and the nurses weren't even there yet (I love being early!) So we had the opportunity to look around the labor and delivery unit where we will be delivering our bundle of joy. All of the nurses were so nice and they actually looked happy. I've done some clinicals where the nurses were not happy at all. So this is great news! We didn't hear any screaming or swearing either, an added bonus :) 

The greatest blessing of all was that all the blood tests came back negative along with the other tests they had to do. They said that we have 1 in 18,000 chances of our baby having a defect, I'll take those odds any day!! So everything looks great so far. The first ultrasound picture captured the baby sucking it's thumb, precious!!! The entire procedure took about 45 minutes. Unfortunately the little guy or girl was not cooperating  so the sonographer had me jump up and down and do jumping jacks to get the little thing to move to the right spot, in the process off all the jumping and wiggling they had me do, I sprained my Achilles tendon where it attaches to my heel bone. I now have a limp that hurts like crazy when I put pressure on it. So I'm doing what I would, as a nurse, tell someone in my perdicament: RICE. (rest, ice, circulation-heat, elevate) It's not really working though. So if it's not any better by Thursday, I'm going to the doctor.

Tomorrow I start my last semester of nursing school. I never thought this day would come. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. It's going to be a challenge, but a challenge that I can overcome with the Lord. This whole nursing school thing has been from the Lord, in His timing. Thank you, Lord!

The Day We Found Out: Picture This

It was not a typical Sunday for us. Sunday November 14, 2010, so a sunny Sunday none the less. My dad, Sparky, was out of town preaching at a church in Mexico, my brother, Austin, was leading worship at his church in Denver. My mom, Donna, rode to church with me and Mark. I was feeling really peaceful, and hungry that morning. At church I remember looking around during worship and noticing little things. Little things like the way the air felt in the gym, the way our voices hung in that air, I was just very aware of every little thing going on. (It's amazing how many people get up during a service!) 

We arrived home around 10:30 that morning and I raced into the kitchen to make breakfast. Mark watched some football, I tried to study. But study I could not! Because there was this huge issue that I couldn't ignore anymore. So I snuck out of the house by myself (to Target of course) to buy a pregnancy test. At this particular store they keep the men's shaving necessities in or near the same isle as the tests. A guy approached me and looked like he wanted to start a conversation. So quickly I grabbed a test (the one on sale) and smiled at him and said, "I think I'm pregnant!" and happily walked away. When I got home my heart was beating so fast and I was sweating. This was one of two goals that I've really had for myself: first one being that I would be the absolute best wife that I could be, and the second one being that I would be the best mom that I could be. So this moment was huge, this is what I had wanted since I was a little girl, to be a mommy. 

(I will spare you the mechanical details here) so the test was positive and I slowly knelt to my knees in the bathroom and lifted up my hands to the Lord and sincerely thanked Him. I asked that He would use me and Mark to allow this child to know and fear Him. So with tears of great joy I quietly walked out to the living room, Mark was on the computer, he turned around slowly and looked at my beaming face. He knew. His first words were, "no way! we're going to be parents". He rose to his feet and gave me a huge hug and we stood there really quiet, not saying anything. A few minutes later we composed ourselves and walked next door to tell my mom. This is a really strange thing to tell parents! She took the news with grace and love of course and we three gathered in prayer. Our next task was to tell my dad. He came home from Mexico that evening. Waiting those 6 hours to tell him were really hard! But the time finally came, he was home! Mark and I raced over to tell him he was going to be a grandfather. He was so excited in a way that only Sparky can get excited.

That night, and for the following 6 weeks I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about my child and how much I love him/her already. Thank you Jesus, for giving me this special gift.

First things first!

To be honest, this whole blog thing is still really mysterious to me. However, I really want my friends and family to be able to read and see what's new and exciting in my life. I want to be able to share the ups and downs. And now that Mark and I are expecting our first child, our first bundle of joy, our first little one, our first real great adventure; my life seems like it is almost exciting enough to report! So, my loved ones, this blog is a place you can share with me in this exciting, AND SCARY time of my life. Welcome!!!