Best Anniversary EVER!

So, we had the absolute best anniversary on Friday and probably the happiest, most carefree day we've had in a long time.  I am so incredibly blessed to be sharing my life with such an amazing man!  He is so good to me, better than I deserve at times.  He is the most unselfish and giving person I know and he is going to be an amazing father!  We have loved one another for 9 years and been married for 5 - I can honestly say that each year gets better than the one before.  I love being by his side and I can't wait for us to be a family!!   

Part of the reason we were so carefree and happy Friday was that our doctor's visit was GREAT!  Our baby is still thriving and we saw it very clearly this time!!!  It was five times bigger on Friday than it was just two weeks before!  It still looks like a little alien but we can tell it's just starting to resemble a baby now. :) The heart rate was right on target (167 bpm) and everything else measured exactly 8 weeks so we are right where we're supposed to be. :) 

I can't tell you how much better I feel seeing that little heart beating away again and having the doctor tell me everything is okay.  I still have this nagging voice inside telling me that something can still go wrong but I'm trying hard to ignore it and I really am worrying a lot less now than I have been.  I'm finally starting to feel that it's okay to let myself really believe this is happening and to finally get really excited.  We've been talking about names and nursery ideas and the more we do that, the more it feels real.  I'm still as sick as can be with nausea and throwing up and as weird as it sounds, it really has helped me feel more secure with things because I actually feel pregnant.  Not that I will complain when it eases up!  It's definitely not a pleasant way to feel day and night but it is oh so worth it!

We are hoping to go home next weekend and if not then, we'll see family the next weekend for my cousin's wedding.  We plan on sharing the news with my little niece Eve when we see her in person.  She is 6 years old and has been dying for me to have a baby so she will be super excited.  We are really looking forward to telling her and seeing her reaction!  I'll be just a couple of weeks away from being out of the first trimester at that point and even though we won't be totally out of the woods, it just feels right to include her.  Most of our families and close friends know now and just a few close coworkers.  We'll be ready to share with others after we've been able to see Eve in person and tell her.  We're pretty sure she'll spread the news for us in Greensboro anyway!

"Morning" Sickness and a Sad Goodbye

Silly me, I thought maybe I would be one of the lucky ones and get by without experiencing real morning sickness.  After all, my mom says she never had it with either of us.  And, even as late as the end of last week I was still just feeling really nauseous but not throwing up.  Well, this week it's been a different story.  And it's not just in the morning - it hits me off and on day and night.  People keep telling me it's a good sign so I'm definitely not complaining.  In fact, I take comfort in the feeling just praying it means that all is well with our little jelly bean. :)  We go this Friday for another ultrasound so they will make sure everything is still moving along according to schedule.  We can't wait!!!  I will be 8 weeks and our baby should be the size of  a grape - simply amazing that it has grown so much in just 2 weeks!  I'm feeling pretty good about everything, better every day, but hearing them say that the baby is measuring 8 weeks and everything still looks good will be a huge relief!  And to make the day even more special, we'll be celebrating our 5th Anniversary on Friday!!! We can't think of anything in the world that could compare to that as an annivesary gift. :)       

With all the baby excitement, we have also been dealing with the very sad loss of our sweet little dog, Macy.  I got her as a puppy 13 years ago back when I was a single, carefree college student.  She was my best friend and constant companion for my whole adult life.  Lewis and I met 9 years ago and she and I came as a package deal.  He grew to love her just as much as I did and we are both just heartbroken.  We know she had a long, happy life but our house feels so empty without her sweet little presence.  She loved us with all her heart and we were her whole little world.  She gave us so much joy and kept us laughing all the time.  I am so, so grateful that she passed away on her own and that it was on a Saturday when we could be with her.  We tried to get her to the vet but her little heart gave out on the way.  I was sitting in the backseat with her, petting her and telling her how much I loved her and she was looking up at me with her soft brown eyes when she took her last breath.  As hard as it was, I wouldn't trade that for anything. I am so grateful that I have the baby to focus on now and I think that's why God chose this timing to take her.  As empty and quiet as our house feels now, it won't for long. :)

Goodbye, our sweet little friend.  You were such a blessing in our lives.  Thank you for all the love and memories you gave us.  We miss you.

ANSWERED PRAYERS!!!

It's official, WE ARE PREGNANT!!! Our due date is December 3rd and we are just over the moon and feeling so very blessed! Once again, God has shown us that he's in control and that there are no limits to what he can work in our lives when we have faith! I must say about a hundred prayers of thanks every day and for every one, I also say a prayer of his protection over our little baby. :)

We've actually known since March 23rd that our IUI worked when we got a + home pregnancy test. It was confirmed at the doctor a few days later and they've been watching me very closely since. So far, everything has gone perfectly! My progesterone has been very high on its own and I haven't had to take anything to sustain the pregnancy because my body seems to be taking care of everything. :)

I am actually 6 weeks 1 day today. :) We've been a little cautious in telling too many people because we were just so worried about the chance of miscarrying again. But, then yesterday we went in for our first ultrasound and saw our little sweet pea for the first time with a very strong heart just beating away! It was the most amazing thing either of us has ever seen! How can we keep something so wonderful quiet??? We go back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound to make sure the baby is growing appropriately. If all is well then, the specialists will release me to my regular OB/GYN. I will probably have my first OB appointment when we are about 10 weeks.

As for how I'm feeling, I couldn't be better! I've been very tired and taking naps almost daily for the past week but I haven't had morning sickness at all yet. My doctor told me yesterday that the next couple of weeks are generally when it starts for most people so we'll see. The only other symptom I've had is really sore boobies - and they have already grown a little! Uh-oh! I'm a little scared!!

One of the best parts of this is seeing how excited our parents are. My parents were actually here visiting this week and stayed in town until we got home from our appointment yesterday so they could hear how it went. They were so sweet and both cried when they saw the pictures of the ultrasound. We understood completely because we both cried when we first saw it too! And this will be Lewis's parents' first grandchild so they are overjoyed! They are both so cute and ask about a million questions. I can't believe this is all really happening! Seeing that little heart flickering yesterday sure made it feel more real but it's still just amazing to me that our baby is growing - and thriving - inside me right now! :) We are still nervous because we are not out of the woods yet but we have chosen to focus on today and let God take care of tomorrow. He's already blessed us beyond belief and we know the best is yet to come!

Thank you all for your prayers and support throughout this process. People all over have supported us through prayer - everyone from family and friends to coworkers and friends of friends and even some sweet ladies I've met on message boards! We know without a doubt that prayer has played a huge role in making this happen. We can never thank you enough! Please keep praying for our little baby! We'll keep you updated!!!

Pictures of our sweet little pea: