29 weeks tommorow!!

We had a doctor's appointment today. Baby's doing great!! My uterus is measuring "ahead" the doctor told me. I became excited and said, "Oh good, so he's coming a little early maybe??". She laughed and informed me that it meant I'm probably going to have a big baby. We'll see about that - as long as he's healthy, but I wouldn't mind proving her wrong on the 'big' part :)!!

His heartbeat was between 135 and 145 while we were there - quite a bit lower than it's been. It was really strong and she said it sounded great! When I had my ultrasound at 22 weeks he was breach. But, based on how low she found the heartbeat today she said she thinks he is now head-down. But, if they don't know for sure I will have another ultrasound at 35 weeks to be sure of what this little guy is up to in there!!

I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks - the appointments start getting closer together already!! When I go next time I'll be 32 weeks, and then will start going every 2 weeks, then every 1 week once I hit 36 weeks.

We are so thankful for how well this pregnancy has gone and how well baby is seemingly developing! We just keep praying for a healthy outcome for both mom and baby after delivery!! It will be great!

I talked to the doctor about the MS drugs dilemma and when to go back on, etc. She won't make the decision for me either, but made me feel alot better about it and and which choice I make either way. We're pretty sure we've made up our minds as to what will be best, and will need to decide for sure in the next few weeks. If I am going back on Avonex, that will be early October, so by the time I get the prescription written by the neurologist, get the meds ordered and they get delivered, we need to get on the ball if that's what we're going to do. That process can take a while.

Thank you for your prayers and all your love and support. I know I say it all the time but we just can't believe how fast time is going and how truly blessed we are!!

I'm including a couple of pictures - they are from our weekend last weekend at Krissy's parents house in Columbus - we went up there for the weekend and it was a blast - our annual trip :). One pic is of me and Jared and the other is Kelly's boy Asher with Jared - Asher and Jared are such good buddies - makes me SO excited for Jared to have his little guy here!!

Talk to you all soon!! (P.S. Football starts a week from Saturday - I cannot wait!! This "big" baby isn't going to stop me from tailgating and getting to a few Husker games - I am my father's daughter, after all :)).

T-minus 11 weeks & 5 days (If I were counting :))

We have gotten some odds and ends for baby and are slowly but surely getting ready for his arrival! I've been feeling great and that darn MS hasn't caused any problems for me thus far, which is such a praise! I spoke with the neurologist's office this week in regards to how he wants everything to go at and around delivery time. That is the time that becomes a little scarier for us, as the risk of relapse during & in the 2 months after delivery is 80% for those with MS. But, we have been so blessed and I have beat all the statistics so far, so I don't plan on stopping with that trend now!! I don't have time for a silly relapse, I just want to hang out with my baby, right?!?!

In all reality, though - I won't get into all the details, but Jared and I have a lot of decisions to make in the next month or so. There are pros and cons to each choice, it just comes down to what we decide. MS is such an undpredictible disease that the neurologist won't make the decision for me (trust me I tried to make him :)) as far as when to go back on meds, etc. I've been really upset struggling with the choice to make all week, but I am just handing it over to God and pray that He leads us in the right direction. The truth is, I was off Avonex for 7 months before I was able to get pregnant, and in that time had no new lesions or relapses, which in and of itself is a miracle!! The doctor himself was pleasantly suprised at that time.

So, I am trusting that we will be able to make the right decision and feel confident in that. I am planning on taking 8 weeks off after baby comes. I don't have childcare totally figured out yet, so that is another decision we have to make in the coming months. Part of me is having a hard time because there's so many choices, and part of me is having a hard time because I don't want to have to pick one period, I think :). I just don't know what to expect. But again, I am just going to have to trust God and know that He will show us exactly what he wants me and baby boy to each be doing come January.

So, that's what's going on with us right now. We continue to be so excited for this baby. We are also trying to be logical and realizing that we need to acknowledge the risks that may lie ahead and how we plan to handle that. I don't mean to sound naive like we didn't know of this before, but some of the details of it all are just now becoming a soon-to-be reality that we need to figure out :). But, I know that miracles happen every day and often things that don't "make sense" to the doctors, as God is ultimately in control.

I feel like this post is a debbie-downer - ick, I don't want to sound like that - I just know some have said to let them know of prayer requests, so I guess now you all know what that is as we prepare for baby's arrival :).

On another baby note, "Multiple Blessings" comes to mind when I think of the next several months that lie ahead. No, I'm not just plagarizing the (gulp) book written by Kate Gosselin before everthing turned to a mess. Rather, this is what I mean: In September and October I have baby showers. Then, in November our son comes! Then, in December my cousin is due to have a baby! Then in February my dear, dear friend Krissy is having a baby! Then in March my wonderful friend Nikki is having a baby!! Now, do you see what I mean?!?! Wow, what a year!!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers - we look forward to being able to introduce our little guy to everyone!!

I get winded easily these days, and this blog post has gotten so long, I think I'm winded just from typing it!! I will stop now. Goodnight!! Emily

94 and counting :)

No, I'm not talking about the temp outside today - duh, that's 100, not 94 :). According to the cute little counter at the top of this blog, that's how many days I have left. Time is flying by!! When I think about all that's between now and then - weddings, showers, NE football (I'm convinced I'll make it to a few games and tailgate some, too), I know he will be here before we know it!! I have been so blessed and everything has gone so wel l!! I'm now at the not sleeping stage as of a few days ago, which, well, stinks. But, maybe it's just a phase!??! Or maybe it's the way life will be for the next year?!?! Haha - we shall see. I can't complain though, everything is going as it should be, even the no sleeping thing, so I'm told :).

Well, here it is - a pic of what I'm looking like these days. So, now you all know, not left to the imagination any longer :). Things are going great!! Baby is SO active!! He's on the move all the time, especially at night. You can now see my stomach moving when he kicks, or whatever he's doing in there, it's so crazy!! I feel like I'm out of room already, but I know this will be nothing in another 3 months. 3 MONTHS!?!?! Did you hear that - that's all that's left - did I mention that?!?! I guess I did :).

Hope everyone's doing great and having a wonderful summer. We've had great weather so far this year, so I guess it being 100 out today isn't worth complaining about - we haven't seen this all summer. In 3 days Jared and I will have our 2 year anniversary, WOW!!! What a wonderful 2 years it has been - next year we'll have to get a sitter to go celebrate our anniversary, how wild is that?!?!

Take Care!!

Emily, Jared, and Baby Boy (yes, he has a name, NO, no one is going to find out until he's born :))