She's a Growin'

Baby Andrey is definitely growing!  We missed a few weeks of pictures due to the stress of everything.  But Nate quickly reminded me we still need to be recording my/her rapid growth. 

Here's a few weeks ago at 23 weeks.  We didn't know what a papaya was, or what it looked like.  So I drew what I thought it should look like.  How did I do?

This picture was taken last night, at 25 weeks and 3 days.  I usually take the bump picture on Thursday's.  This, my friends, is an eggplant.  It feels really weird and it creeps me out.  Turns out I don't know much about fruits and veggies unless they are VERY common.  Like, I definitely know what an apple is! 

We are so in love with this baby!  Please keep her in your prayers.  We see the specialist next Thursday. 

Still

We're still praying.  We're still scared.  We're still hopeful, still excited to have a baby.  But with all that's been going on, we haven't taken much time to be still.

"Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

I find a lot of comfort in that verse.  There is nothing I can do to help this situation.  I can't eat something different, or go on bed rest, or stand on my head.  If I could do something, I would!  But I can't.  My daughter is in the hands of God.  And that is honestly terrifying and incredibly comforting at the same time.  It's terrifying because I struggle to let go of my desire to control, to do something.  More than it being terrifying though, it's comforting and peace giving to know who is in control.  I'm trusting God probably for the first time in my life.  In a real and bumpy way.  It's not consistent, but it's real trust.  I find that when I remind myself to "be still" I remember He is God.  Nothing is impossible for Him.  Nothing!

I'm super excited to share that we have chosen a name for our little jumping bean (she's quite the mover and shaker in my belly)!  Her name is:

Andrey Grace

Isn't it cute?  We love it!

Our next appointment with the specialist is two weeks from today.  As we approach that date, please continue to pray for our girl.  Pray that it's God's will for complete healing.  We know He can remove this cyst from Andrey.  Pray that Nate and I will take time to be still.  We appreciate the love and support you have all given us.  It's amazing to see people come together to help us "bear our burdens". 

Becoming a Mom Means Worrying Like One

I became a real mom last week.  I know my baby GIRL (score!  I love baby girls!!) isn't here yet, but...she is here.  She's inside of me.  She's poking me, kicking and turning all over the place.  She is real.  I never realized I'd love her this much before she was born.  She's made me a mom.

We learned at our big ultrasound that Baby Girl Pumm (BGP) has a cyst on her neck.  Her lymphatic system isn't draining properly and it's collecting in the form of a cyst.  We were told she had a 50% chance of having chromosomal abnormalities, namely Turner's Syndrome.  We were told the cyst could get worse and "leak" to other areas of her body ultimately costing her her life.  We were told it might not leak and she would have to have it surgically removed two days after birth.  We were told that surgery isn't a guarantee the cyst is gone and she might have multiple surgeries.  We were told it might just go away "on it's own".  We are scared.

We prayed.  We saw a specialist who did an amniocentesis to check for chromosomal abnormalities.  While waiting for the results we turned to a God who never turns away from us.  He is everything to us, and without Him we would be nothing.

The results came in.  NO chromosomal abnormalities!

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.  Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)

We know the Lord heard our prayers and the prayers of our family and friends.  I can't explain the immense gratitude I feel towards Him.  What a big God we serve.  He is mighty to save.  What a blessing!  We ask that you continue to diligently pray for BGP.  Pray for ultimate healing on her tiny body.  Pray that the cyst does just go away "on it's own".  If it does, we know it was God's will for her.  Please pray it does not leak at all!  Pray. Pray. Pray.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
       for in you my soul takes refuge.
       I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
       until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1

Check out the YouTube video below.  Great song by Hillsong called Mighty to Save.  I believe it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

Evidence

As I was looking through some old pictures, I found a large amount of evidence.  Evidence of who Nate and I are.  The truth.  The way we look at life and how we live is what really makes us "us".  Some say we are really goofy.  I deny this, and here is my proof:

We are classy.  When one is given a robe, one must wear said robe and be proper. 

We value and understand art. We copy the artistic representations we see and make them part of us.

Me at The Louvre in Paris.

Nate in Acupolco.

 

We salute the waters.  Only a fool would think being in the ocean is a joke.  It's a serious place that deserves our respect.

We see and take every opportunity to take framable pictures of ourselves.  Again, classy.

We have studied the correct way to take care of a child, and follow those rules to the moon! 

Nate and I are boring people.  Except when we aren't boring.  We love each other.  We love life and our dog.  I'm so thankful that God gave me my perfect match.

Farewell USA - Hello Oz!

Our dear, lucky, parents of twins, kindhearted friends are moving to Australia!  This is definitely how they roll.  I've moved before too you know.  I've lived in several cities within 60 miles of each other.  Therefore, I completely know what it's like to move to another country.  I could write a book.  Anyway, we had a going away party for them a few weeks back.  It was a night of laughter and tears.  They will be missed!


It's a challenge to get everyone looking at the same camera at the same time. 

The whole group. 

Best of luck down under Mike and Alli.  We miss you and your family already!

Some very important Australian slang:

Ace! : Excellent! Very good! 

Cat's piss, as mean as : mean, stingy, uncharitable  

Footy : Australian Rules football 

Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia  

Too right! : definitely! 

and my personal favorite:

Wobbly : excitable behavior ("I complained about the food and the waiter threw a wobbly")

My Melon

No, my melons are not growing, my MELON is though!  No not my brain (or my head circumference).  It's the baby people!  Just the baby is growing!  This is very good news of course.  I'm loving all the changes I see each week as little BPu gets bigger and stronger. 

Week 20 - Cantaloupe

I know some ladies melons are the size of cantaloupes.  So I wanted to see what that would look like on me. It wouldn't work. 

Bella is always around for our weekly photo shoot.  She licks each fruit or veggie we use in order to approve.  Here she is with the cantaloupe!  They are almost the same size. 

Off to the weekend activities!

Halfway There!

I'm so excited to be 20 weeks along!  That is, until I think about how long 20 weeks is...then I realize how far I have to go.  Dogs are only pregnant for 2 months.  Do they know how lucky they are? (Don't remind me that they live much shorter lives, that's not what we're talking about here.)  Okay and the opossum is prego for 12-13 days!  So what if they have to finish out the process in a pouch.  Crazy marsupials.  I've been pregnant for 5 long months and I still have basically 5 more to go.  I'm going to be a house.  I know it's all worth it in the end when you get to meet your prize.  I'm willing to wait, just not patiently.

19 weeks - pumMango

I made a killer mango salsa with that sucker after I nursed it.  I've never cut a mango before.  It's a mess! 

Today I have an appointment for my 20 weeker.  I do not get to find out the sex until week 22, which is not good for the patience problem I struggle with.  Any guesses on what I'm having?