The Verdict is IN!

We had our 19 week baby appt yesterday morning. Mostly it was an ultrasound to check baby's development and we got a goooood long peek at the gender. The lady that did the ultrasound, Hazel, was awesome! I've had a few of these done and she was by far the BEST. She was so friendly and thorough. The moment she started the ultrasound it was quite obvious that she had hit the money shot (the shot between the legs) and there was no mistaking that baby #3 is ALL BOY! Jason and I knew it before she even said what we were looking at! Oh, I can't even explain the feelings I had when I saw those perfect little boy parts! So much LOVE and EXCITEMENT and even RELIEF to finally know that it's a boy in there and we can finally call him by name: Ethan! We are so thrilled and feel so blessed to be given this little man in our lives. We can't wait to meet him in September and see if he looks anything like either of his older brothers. We love you, Ethan!!

14wk appt for baby #3

I had my 14 week appt for baby #3 yesterday. My doctor was not in the best of moods so it was pretty quick. She is due to deliver her baby next week and looks like she's pretty tired of people asking her how she's doing, LOL. Anyway, we heard the baby's hearbeat, which sounded great, and I scheduled my next appt for 19wks which will include the BIG ultrasound! Our first hope is that we see a totally healthy baby in there, followed by a baby that wants to show us what is in between those legs of his/hers. I was a tiny bit disappointed that I'm having to wait an extra week (she originally said around 18wks), but I am guessing it's was scheduled like that because Dr. Shows is having her baby and taking a few weeks off herself. Just make sure to be thinking of us on April 23 at 9:30am and pray that we see a healthy baby!

Jack's 15 month well check

Jack had his 15 month well check today. He weighed 21 pounds 10 ounces which puts him in about the tenth percentile and was 31 inches long, making him in the 50th percentile for that. The biggest thing on him (as Dr. Wilke put it) is his head, measuring in the 60th percentile. He got two booster shots and screamed his head off. Luckily he's rebounded and was his normal self the rest of the day.

Baby #3, 10 week appt.

I had my 10 week OB appointment today. Just a little back-story here, with both Brandon and Jack I got an ultrasound (with Jack it was after she tried to find his heartbeat with the dopplar and couldn't find it that way). So, while I always want it to just be okay, I was kinda hoping for another ultrasound.

Anyway, I got there and mentioned to Dr. Shows that I was a little nervous that I wasn't having morning sickness. She asked when it stopped and I told her I haven't had it this time like I did with the other two. Instead of reassuring me and saying it was totally normal to not have it, she freaked me out a bit by saying, well, let's try to get the heartbeat...um, okay, glup. It took several minutes but she finally found that beautiful galloping sound. She never told me what the heart rate was but said she just knew she would find it by dopplar because my uterus is big...uh, thanks, but I already knew that, I'm already showing! She said the heartbeat sounded good, I have to admit it did to me, too! Then she said to come back in 4 weeks for my regular appt and then I'll have my BIG ultrasound in about 8 weeks! Wow, only about 2 more months until we know if we are having a third boy or a little girl!! So, no ultrasound today but it was still a pretty good appointment!!

The Latest

So, I haven't posted in awhile and my lovely sister, Carla, was complaining about it. I'm not sure why, we talk at least daily on the phone. Could my life be that exciting that she wants to see it on paper as well?!

Ok, the big news is that we are pregnant! Not so much of a surprise, I know, the whole world knows. Putting it here makes it official ;) I'm due in mid-September (Sept 15th..so mid-Sept exactly ;) We had our first doctor's appt last week and I got an ultrasound and the doctor said everything looks great. We saw our little peanut's heart beating away, what an amazing sight! I go back in 3 more weeks. I *think* we'll find out what we are having around the end of April, and yes, we DO find out.

We've told the boys to expect another baby. Jack, of course at 13 months, is too young to understand. Brandon keeps telling me that we already have a baby, named Jack...so, not really getting it so much. I showed Brandon the ultrasound picture and told him that it was a picture of the baby in mommy's tummy and he said, "I have a baby in my bellybutton, too!". Both boys have been unusually clingy lately so even if they don't get it, they must sense something is different.

I feel great, so great it's scary. By this point I already had morning sickness with both of the boys. Apart from a few moments of it I've really been fine. I am VERY moody and VERY VERY tired though, LOL.

What a week. sigh.

Christmas is always that time of year that makes you realize how blessed you really are, and this year was no different. My children were spoiled beyond belief, as usual, having six different houses to open gifts at! Brandon finally started to understand the whole idea of getting presents and opening gifts and could barely contain himself towards the end of our celebrations, opening gift that didn't even belong to him! Jack is still so young, so naturally he doesn't get what is going on, but he's sure been excited to play with all the new things that both he and Brandon got from everyone. We spent Christmas Eve at my dad's mother's house. Christmas morning we had our little family gift exchange, then headed to my parents' house and after that went to my aunt, Bev's. Finally, on Saturday, we went to Jason's grandparents' house and then to Jason's brother Nick's house (and Bliss too ;). As you can see we are very blessed to have all our family nearby. We got to see all our grandparents, parents, siblings and most of our cousins, aunts and uncles! I feel so fortunate.


Sadly, on Friday morning, we had Abbie, our cat, put to sleep. Since about mid-Novemeber she's been very sick, throwing up nearly every day and hasn't been able to keep any kind of food down. Jason took her to see two different vets and, after all the tests they did, they couldn't find a reason for her sickness. This last week we really noticed a change in her. Normally, even through most of this illness, she's had so much energy and strength, but we started to see her losing that spirit. We knew it was time and Jason finally took her back to the vet on Friday morning and the vet said he felt like there was nothing to do, that her body was shutting down. Poor Jason had to be with her when she passed on.

It's been hard to explain to a three year old what has happened. We were so sad and I was crying when Jason left for the vet with Abbie. Brandon was visibly concerned. When Jason got back Brandon asked where she was and I told him that she went to heaven. He asked if we could get her in the morning, or if we could get a new cat, did a little fake crying even. I told him she was in the clouds, jumping around and he told me he couldn't see her. "No, mommy, she's on an airplane". Gotta love the innocence. It's been harder for me than I realized to lose our pet. I hate that she had to be put down, she was only about 5 or 6 years old. I really think that she ate a piece of string or ribbon, as she's been known to do. We're just glad she's not suffering anymore. Even poor Sophie seems sad to have lost her best friend.

Our Christmas Lights!!!

This is our Christmas light display for 2008! Happy Birthday Me! :) - Jason