Maternity Leave productivity

Here we are...December 29th and that means 29 weeks and 5 days into the Max and Me journey! I am really looking forward to our last several weeks together in this whole thing because I realize that once he is out, we no longer have the same bond. That being said, I will be glad to get back into jeans with a button, sleeping more than 1 hr at a time, and spending much less time talking and thinking about urine!

Max had his 28 week check up last week with our OB as well as the Fetal Maternal Specialists. Everything is going very well and we found out that my hemoglobin A1C is down to a 5.8 which is super healthy in terms of diabetic control. We are so grateful for an uneventful pregnancy with diabetes and issues of complication. We have also not seen any further problems with my blood pressure as it is staying in a normal range for pregnancy. Max had a new ultrasound and as crazy as it is, He already looks just like Anthony (see picture above) Almost everyone that sees it says he looks just like his daddy. I think that is wonderful...super handsome is what that means. I only hope his heart is as great as his daddy's!

Symptoms are about the same with some new fun ones to add in. I am still nauseous vomiting on a every other day basis. I was one of those lucky women who have ALL pregnancy morning sickness. I am just grateful that it really does end by about noon-2 pm for me. I know women who have all pregnancy and all day sickness. I am also still really having trouble sleeping and usually get about an hour or two of sleep at a time before I am up using the restroom, waking up out of nowhere and being wide awake or just plain uncomfortable in whatever position and place I have chosen to sleep at that time. The new symptoms are that my stomach has started to burn night and day so I am using a lot of cocoa butter to soothe the pain and help my skin to be softer for stretching to Max's growth spurts and another symptom is that I now have more swelling in my ankles. This was to be expected for sure and I'm grateful it is just now happening.

We are getting very excited for all of the new things happening including Maternity Leave has started officially, January is our baby shower, and Max's room is coming along. I will be sure to post pictures on the blog when his nursery is complete. I hope that isn't with him in it. :)

It was fun to spend our first Christmas thinking about it being our last without him. He got lots of great Christmas presents already from his nana, Aunt Hilliary, and from us. It was awesome to see his stocking hanging up in my mom's house and ours and awaiting him patiently. This dream is somehow becoming reality and we are so excited about that. I will now start having Dr appointments every two weeks where Max will get stress tests and we are going to start talking about birth plans, registering at the hospital, and discussing specifics. Those are exciting yet fearful subjects for me so please keep us in your prayers.

We love you all and thank you so much for being invested in us and Max! He will love all of you so much

Love,

Anthony & Erica

Yes, we know...you're a boy!

Yesterday we had our 23 week ultrasound at our specialist's office and as always, it was fun and exciting to see our little Max moving around and finding new ways to aggravate the ultrasound technician. When we were there last time, they were doing the anatomy ultrasound and Max did not want to show a few parts of his heart and one portion of his spine. We were trying to get those photos yesterday and it turns out Max is shy about his heart but he has no problem letting us know OVER and OVER that he is indeed, a boy!

We were able to finish the ultrasound except for one photo of the blood going into his body from his heart. We are hoping he will cooperate in a month when we have another one. He is weighing in at 1 lb, 8 oz and the doctor feels that is exactly where he needs to be. We are so grateful for that since babies of diabetics tend to get too big too fast. So far, my blood sugars are staying in good control and Max is not in any danger.

Some things that were concerning over the last week of appointments were that my blood pressure was steadily going up. I do not struggle with high blood pressure at all but it seems that the last trimester, it is going to raise a bit. Although both of my fantastic doctors assured me that this is completely normal and I am not at any dangerous level, please keep Max and I in your prayers for the duration of the pregnancy so that we can stay as healthy as possible.

News on the delivery front: Upon talking to my doctors, it seems that the delivery could go a couple of ways in terms of location. At first, it was stated pretty clearly that I would be giving birth in Louisville. However, the new idea is that Max could be born closer to home if a couple of things go as planned. Babies of diabetic mothers tend to have under-developed lungs when coming early (by early I mean before 38 weeks). At about 38 weeks, they are more developed and can usually prevent having to be given oxygen and needing any special help. So, that being said...if Max waits a bit and comes around 38-40 weeks or beyond, we will most likely be able to have him closer to home. If he feels he needs to come a bit sooner, we will probably need to deliver in Louisville in order to have a NICU that meets those needs and the specialists that are trained more thoroughly to deal with those issues.

I am at peace either way. I know that my little guy will come when he is supposed to come and God has his hand on both of us during this stressful but exciting time. As I go into the third trimester on Monday, I am starting to get excited about new things like enjoying my baby shower, getting the nursery entirely ready for Max, and enjoying the last few months of Anthony and I being....just Anthony and I! Please continue to pray for us and help us praise God for our miracle. We appreciate all that you guys have done over the months to encourage us, pray for us, and remind us that we are going to be great parents. That never gets old to hear!

Thank you

Erica & Anthony

It is well..It is well...with my soul

So yesterday was a big day for Anthony and I. We had our first ultrasound with our little baby Lewis. Our last experience with this was a tragedy to say the least. Yesterday morning we prayed in the parking lot of the doctor because we knew that our nerves were on edge in thinking what the possibilities could be. When we got into the ultrasound room, Jesus had gone before us. My doctor is a Christian and a friend of our family and on the wall was the verse "He leads me beside still waters" and a picture of Jesus holding a lamb was beside that. The room had dim lighting and the music on in the room was Praise & Worship. More specifically the song "It is well" which happens to be one of my favorites in dealing with some of the painful things that we have gone through in our quest for a little one.

Almost immediately we saw a gestational sac and there was a heartbeat!!!! We are so excited and hopeful for our little one to be with us in Spring next year. We will continue to pray, continue to trust God, and continue to go forward in hope. We are taking this small victory though and praising God for it is well with our souls!