Huge House and baby update at 26 weeks

So, the past few weeks have been all about baby, and progress has been a little slower on the house. Still, quite a lot has been done.

First, baby update:

I am now 26 weeks. This week marks about 10 total weeks (counting earlier in the pregnancy) that I have been on bed rest. I am going to the doctor every week, and occasionally twice a week. Still getting the 17p injections, which really seem to be helping.

The past couple of weeks I can tell a difference the days before I go in for another shot. On Tuesday, I was uncomfortable all day, having contractions (?) with some pain off and on. I told my doctor when I went in yesterday, and she decided to check me again. She didn't think my cervix felt any thinner than it has been (yay), but my cervix felt soft and baby has dropped really low (boo). So, she told me that she wanted another ultrasound to measure my cervical length to see if we needed to "do something else". When I asked her what that"something else would be", she told me that if my cervix was shorter than it has ever been, then she might admit me for hospital bed rest... Here is where I think begin thinking...please, God, no. Hospital bed rest would be a whole other level of agony...hehe But thankfully, my cervical length is unchanged from last time....hospital avoided...yay!!

So, instead, she is putting me on another drug, Procardia, to stop contractions in between my injections. She said I might only want to take it when I feel pain like I have before, because it has some side effects and will make me feel pretty bad. It can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy...and considering my history of passing out this pregnancy...I don't think I want to make hitting the floor a routine...ha

Bennett is continuing to grow and weighed in at 2 lbs 5 oz on this week's ultrasound. He is 2 weeks ahead in length and 1 week ahead in weight and almost 2-3 weeks ahead in his head circumference. I hope he has a lot of smart brains in that head. ;)
He continues to be crazy active and gets the hiccups all the time now. He wakes me up all night flipping around and even kicked the remote control off my belly last week...I was impressed...ha!

That is basically it for baby update. Continuing along, and thankful he is still in my belly! Thanks for all of the prayers!!

Now, for pics and house update!!

22 Weeks

24 Weeks

Sunday, Adam came over while he was here to take a few maternity pics since I couldn't leave the house for any. I think they turned out great! Here are a few...I will try to post more to facebook sometime soon.










As for the house...Wow...it is a DISASTER!!!

The roof was finished a long time ago, and with the exception of one transom (that finally just came in) the windows and doors are in. They finished the plumbing and electrical rough-in in the addition, and completed the central heat and air in the entire downstairs. The drywall is up in the addition, but not finished. We ordered cabinets that should be built in the next 3 weeks, and we ordered all of our appliances that will be delivered the week after Christmas. The appliances might end up coming too soon. We were hoping the dry wall would be complete this week, so the floors could be installed next week, and the cabinets the following week....but the dry wall people have not shown up the whole week....grrrrr....

While the addition is coming together, the old part of the house looks the worst it has ever looked... The electrician moved into the downstairs of the old part and ripped huge holes into the walls and ceilings to wire for new lights and some speakers. And...the insulation people started yesterday drilling holes in between every stud to blow in cellulose...
Now we have hundreds of holes in the walls and ceiling with construction dust everywhere. Upstairs, isn't too bad for now. We are just getting the heat and air started, and the insulation in the nursery. So, the rest of the rooms we are living in, aren't too bad. It's probably good that I am confined to my room. ;)

Back of the house:

Porch Close up:

Side:

Looking from hallway into keeping room (minus the missing transom):

Keeping Room:

Kitchen:

Side Entryway:

Part of master bath:

Great News at 24 weeks!!

This past week has been full of Doctor's appointments.

Last Wednesday, we went to see my regular OB and then went to Emory to see my Maternal-Fetal Specialist. No big news at the specialist appointment. Basically just said that my regular OBs are doing everything that he would do and to continue on as planned with the bed rest, weekly injections, and to maybe consider another dose of steroids for his lungs a little later.

Soooo....I went back to my OB today for another ultrasound and appointment.

AND....drum roll please....my cervix has thickened in the past week!!

It is still too short, but went from 1.8 with a lot of funneling to 2.4 with some funneling!

I was talking to the nurse and told her that I didn't know if it was the weekly miracle shots, bed rest or divine intervention. And she told me that we must have some serious prayers going up for this little guy, because she has NEVER seen the injections work like this.

So, there we have it....Divine Intervention.


We decided on the name "Bennett" when we found out it meant Little Blessed One. Wow, he continues to live up to his name...he is definitely blessed. We are definitely blessed.

Thank you, God, for our little blessing.

As if the first miracle of creating him wasn't enough...then the second miracle of not losing him very early wasn't enough....Now, we have miracle number three....He is still in my belly, instead of fighting for his life...and hopefully there to stay for a lot longer.

So, here is where I say thank you to every single person that has prayed for us. God is faithful and is answering our prayers....I am absolutely amazed by His goodness.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as I know we still have a loooong road ahead. But for tonight, I am thankful....very....very...thankful. :)

This kid better stay in there!! 23 weeks this Monday

I went back to the doctor yesterday for another appointment and ultrasound...and, unfortunately, did not receive great news.

Basically my cervix is still thinning and funneling open. Down to 1.8 cm. My doctor said, "he was hoping that this might have been a little blip on the radar, but it looks like we have a serious problem on our hands". :/

He talked about the reality of viability at this point, which is no news to me. But the reality to me is that I have felt this baby inside of me everyday for almost 2 months...he has a name...he has two parents that love him and want him more than anything...and to me, there is no other reality than him coming home with us.

So, the big plan...

I'm going on 17-alphahydroxyprogesterone injections (had the first yesterday, another on Wednesday and one every week at the office until I deliver.) This will hopefully prevent me from contracting and prevent my cervix from thinning any more. I think this drug was just recently FDA approved, but from what I have read it has pretty good results in at least holding off labor until at least 32 weeks.

I'm going to the hospital today for my first injection of betamethasone. This is the steroid for baby's lungs to mature. I'll go back on Sunday to get the second dose and while I'm there they will do an ffn test. If that comes back positive, then I am likely to deliver in the next two weeks. Negative, Bennett will hopefully chill out for the next couple of weeks.

My doctor is going to send me to a maternal fetal specialist. They normally refer to Northside, but said I could go to Emory if I would feel more comfortable at my own hospital. After thinking about it...if there is a good chance of me delivering really early, I might feel better knowing some of the people that are taking care of him in the NICU....So, I think I am going to try to get in with them. The maternity coordinator will hopefully make me an appointment on Monday to see them sometime next week.

Then on Wednesday, I'll go back for another appointment and to get the results of the ffn test. I was supposed to have my glucose screen, but he cancelled that and said that diabetes is the least of my worries right now...great...

Back to them for another ultrasound and appointment the next week.

I think that's pretty much it. I can't leave the house...a lot of waiting, a lot of tests and a lot of appointments... I had a slight melt down on the way home last night...but I just need to pray and trust that everything will be okay....


"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
Psalm 139:13-14

Please, Please, God, continue to knit...

Crazy couple of weeks for the house and baby!!

Wow, has it been a crazy couple of weeks. Great, productive weeks for the house...but a nervous, unpredictable week for the little guy.

We'll start with the house:

Framing is complete with the plywood and house wrap on! Roof framing started and completed. The shingles are on. Some interior detail framing started. So, now the slow parts start...

Framing going up:

Roof Framing about half way complete:

House wrap on and roof framing complete:

Porch

Keeping room, looking out on to porch:

Keeping room looking toward the kitchen:

As for baby...

Monday, I went for my 20 week appointment and ultrasound. A couple of things have been bothering me lately...Mainly at work. My legs and feet have already started swelling (not to mention a lot of aches and pains) which I thought was too early at 19 weeks. I generally feel pretty terrible all the time. But I have been sucking it up...knowing that he will be worth it!!

When I went for my ultrasound, everything looked great with him...no problems. But they noticed that my cervix was thinner than last time...going from around 4 cm down to 2.8. This really bothered me at 20 weeks, but didn't seem to bother my doctor as long as I wasn't having any other issues. She just told me to call or come in if I felt any bit of tightness, heaviness, cramping, etc.

Soooo...I went to work on Wednesday and was pretty upset most of the day. I will admit I was nervous, but felt that something wasn't quite right. After my 12 o'clock rounds, I started having some pain in my lower abdomen that wouldn't go away when I sat down. I started thinking that I was being really paranoid. I even thought maybe it could just be in my head since I was so worried after Monday's appointment. But after about 30 minutes to an hour, it didn't go away...so I called my doctor. They called back and wanted me to come in.

When I went in my blood pressure was pretty high, and they did a repeat ultrasound...

The ultrasound showed about the same cervical length (yay), but that my cervix was starting to open up a little (what?!?!?). Ummmm....not good. So, the doctor reassured me that I did exactly what I should have done by calling and coming in...and... to plan on being out of work and in the bed as much as possible. I will admit....this is pretty scary to me. At 20 weeks, I don't want my cervix changing AT ALL.

All I can do now is rest, and pray that God will take care of us.

I have another ultrasound in a couple of weeks to see if anything has changed...

20 week pics :)

16-18 weeks prego!! Foundation complete and Framing underway!!

September 26th- the foundation started!! The block and masonry went up pretty quick, and with the exception of a couple of little things, they were finished the same week. Our lot slopes a bit, and the foundation is quite tall in the back. So, we were pleased that they completed the bricking in a week. :)

On to the pics:

Foundation complete!

Bricking almost complete!


Tuesday, October 4th, the floor framing started. That took a couple of days to complete. The remainder of the week, they laid out a lot of the walls and most of the exterior walls went up!! We can now see it coming together. For the longest time we talked and talked about it...then we looked at it on paper...and now it is becoming a reality...it is just crazy!!

Floor framing started

Floor framing complete :)

We have walls!!

Yay!!

The day the walls went up, Will and I were walking around the inside, and I asked him to pinch me. I sometimes feel like all of this is too good to be true. The beginning of this year was so incredibly difficult...filled with so much heartache, and doubt, and pain. Now, here we are, seven months later, with a perfect, healthy little boy kicking inside me, giving us so much hope for the future. And as if that wasn't enough, now we get to create a home for the three of us. It is unimaginable the blessings God has given us.


Speaking of baby.... :) :)

At about 17 weeks, Jaynah Ruth and Andrew came for a visit. This is probably the last time I'll see her before Baby James makes his arrival in a few weeks...So, a belly shot was a must. (but we won't talk about how my belly looks as big as the one giving birth next month... ha!)

18 weeks at my parent's house!!

The little guy seems to be doing great. At about 16 weeks, I started feeling him move everyday. It amazes me every time I feel him. His kicks are getting a lot stronger. Will got to feel him for the first time the other day. And now, I can see my belly jump when he kicks hard. I know, I'll probably be in pain from this later on...but for now...it never gets old and I love every second. ;)





To think that 13 weeks ago...they said I was going to lose you...





God is good...Praying everything continues to go well with our little miracle baby...

Demo is Done!!

Demo started on September 1st, Will's Birthday! I don't know if it was the greatest birthday present to come home and find your house torn apart.... But progress is progress. ;) It only took a couple of weeks to finish the demo. Here are some pics of the disaster in progress...

Before Demo...

Going....

Going....


Gone!!!





September 19th, grading started. The footings were poured....and then the rain came for days... So, some time was lost.


But, today, September 26, the foundation is going up!

As for us, things are going great. Baby is growing and growing...and I am growing and growing (a lot faster than I expected)....ha. I am 16 weeks today. We found out on our last ultrasound that it looks like a boy, and we are super excited!! This little guy is definitely a thrill seeker. I just hope that he doesn't like to go to the ER as many time outside of the womb as he does inside... He has always been ridiculously active on all of our ultrasounds, and I've felt his little flutters quite a bit.
The flutters are starting to feel a little different now...maybe since he is getting bigger. Right now, he is measuring a week ahead in his height and weight! Will and I picked out some furniture this weekend...but the nursery needs a LOT of work before it can go in there!

Here are a couple of pregnancy pics:

12, almost 13 weeks

15 weeks

Our Renovation has FINALLY started!!

When Will and I bought our house almost a year ago, we knew this was going to be our forever house. The house to start a family, raise a family...to grow old in. We knew that this was THE house. Little did we know that we would be faced with so many trials and challenges in the upcoming year with not only the house, but more importantly with starting a family
(among MANY other things). This has definitely been the most difficult year of our lives. After a lot of answered prayers, we finally feel like we are getting a fresh start! I decided to create a blog to capture this exciting time in our lives!

Soooo...our Vision...

We loooove almost everything about our house...except the back part. There is an original two story part of the house...and then the "additions". The "additions" are not exactly practical, aesthetically pleasing, or safe. They just don't do justice to the rest of the house. Sooo... our thoughts...take the additions off and completely start over. You can see on the plans that then we'll replace the tiny (and very ugly) kitchen with a new, updated and open one. A new master bath and additional half bath will replace the old bath that you can barely turn around in. And then some additional bonuses for our growing family...like a walk in pantry...a family/keeping room...and drum roll please...an indoor laundry room. Ha!

Our existing Floor Plan:


Our new Floor Plan:



Current views of the side of the house:

New Elevations:


Existing Views of the back and other side of the house:

New Elevations:

And some elevations inside the house:

I think you can click on all of the photos if you want a closer view! :)

I can't believe this is finally happening!! We have hoped for this for a long time. The house...well...is ultimately just a house.
To have a life growing inside me is what we have really hoped for... It is unimaginable sometimes. It seems like a dream come true, and I thank God for His blessings, and His Grace, and His mercy in our lives.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

We thank God for the abundant blessings, and ask that He guide us while
We Make Our House a Home. :)

A lot more updates to come soon!!!