25 Weeks

It has been a while since I have updated everyone on Sully so here it goes..... I had my 24 week appointment last week and the Dr. said everything looks great and he is definitely growing! While there they checked my weight (total gain is 8 pounds), BP (100/65), checked for proteins and sugars (none), fundal height (measuring a little ahead as usual) and of course Sully's heartbeat which is in the 130's. My pregnancy book says that Sully weighs around 1 1/2 pounds and he can now recognize light and will turn his head toward a flashlight shining on my belly. He is moving all the time and has formed a schedule which I have heard can be consistent with his schedule once he is born. I feel him starting around 8am and from there it is every 2-3 hours. Every night Josh and I spend at least 30 minutes talking to him and watching him move around. Being able to see and feel him move around is incredible!! We have been trying to hear his heartbeat with a stethoscope my mom gave us a while back and last night we think we heard it. Sully is very playful and constantly kicks at it when we are trying to listen.

While at my 24 week appointment they scheduled me for the 1-hour glucose screen that I failed by 4 points. Apparently this is not uncommon and probably had to do with the fact that I ate some fruit for breakfast before taking it. Yesterday I went for my 3 hour glucose test. I was completely dreading it because I was not able to eat or drink anything after midnight. So I go in and I had to drink the lemon-lime glucose drink which doesn't taste that bad but made me feel awful. I sat there for three hours having my blood drawn every hour. Apparently I have vanishing veins so they had to stick me in six different places with the top of my hands being the least pleasant. As you can imagine I look like a bruised up drug addict today! But that is okay because I passed!!!

I go back next week for my 26 week appointment and will continue with visits every two weeks. Our 4D is scheduled for the middle of November and I can't wait to see our little man again. It feels like it has been forever since our last ultrasound! This pregnancy is flying by and I can't believe we only have a few more months left to prepare. The nursery and house updates have been at a stand still but we are hoping to have them finished by Thanksgiving at the latest.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! War Eagle!!!!

Strength

The past few weeks have meant so much to me. Being able to spend almost every waking minute with my Grandbobby was priceless and I will always look back on those weeks with appreciation. Appreciation for the 81 years he lived telling the best stories and jokes, making friends wherever he went and loving every minute of his life, even the rough patches. He was a good man who meant so much to so many. In his last few weeks he told stories about his life and reminisced with old friends who came to visit. He was always smiling even though he knew he was losing his battle. One of the last things he said before he passed away was, " I've had a good ride, we all had fun and we all got to know each other along the way and that is what is important." I do not think it could have been said any better. Being with Grandbobby in his last moments was something my mother, aunt and I never thought we could handle. But, God knew we were strong enough and we are all so thankful to have been there.

When Josh's mom was put in the hospital I made a trip to the bookstore one afternoon and found new devotionals for Josh and I. I had forgotten how much I loved daily devotions. When Josh's mother passed away these devotionals were our strength to make it day by day. The days lined up beautifully with what we were going through, as if they were written just for us. The words spoke to us so strongly during such a sad time. Over the past few weeks our devotionals have lined up again and given us that extra bit of strength we need.

One month. One month from diagnosis my Grandbobby lost his battle with a cancer none of us saw coming. If you were told you had this much time to live would you be as certain as my grandfather was about where he was going after his life on earth was finished. I do not think anyone can ever be prepared for the death of a loved one. No matter how much time you have with them there are always things you wish you had said or done. One of the most important things you can talk about with those you love is your faith. Sharing the word of God is one of the best gifts we can ever give someone.

Thank you all for your prayers, they mean so much to us!!

On the pregnancy front I have to take the 3-hour glucose screen (yes, I failed the 1-hour, but only by 4 points) so I will update on that later in the week. Hope everyone has a wonderful evening! I will enjoy mine snuggling with my husband, watching Sully kick around and watching a movie.

Well it has been a rough week and a half, to say the least! My grandfather went to the Dr. on the 5th and they found a few small spots in his brain, so he is now going for radiation in addition to the chemo. He had his first Chemo treatment Wednesday with the second on Thursday. He was supposed to have his third on Friday but his blood pressure was really low and his heart rate was erratic and high so they just gave him fluids. Other than that he was feeling good so we packed up and took him to visit some friends who were having a get together for him. He has such amazing friends and it meant so much to him to be able to spend the afternoon with so many of them. Unfortunately it really took a toll on him and his BP and heart rate never were both still not where they needed to be. So this afternoon he was admitted to ICU where they are keeping a close watch on him. We are hoping that the only reason for all of this is the chemo treatments and that his medicines need to be tweaked. Hopefully he will be back up and running and they will release him in the next day or two.

I got home late last night and Josh and I have had a pretty productive Sunday. We ran some errands, got him some new toys for hunting season and did a little housework. Tonight we were watching Brothers Bloom and Sully decided to show us some moves. I have been feeling random movements from him for the past week or two but nothing major. So tonight we are laying around and I feel him move, when I look down I see it! It has to be the coolest thing ever! Josh was even able to see and feel it too. I can't wait to have it be a regular occurence!! I will be 23 weeks on Tuesday and can't believe how fast time is flying by! I am carrying all of my weight in my belly as it has gotten bigger just in the past week or so. I will try to post another pic soon of the growing belly.

With everything going on with my grandfather I have been so worried that me being upset would hurt him. Everytime I sit down and rest and focus on Sully I have felt him moving around. God definitely knows how to ease my mind! I am thankful for everyday I am given with those I love and look forward to many happy days ahead!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

God Is Good!!

Tuesday we met with a wonderful cancer Dr. at UAB's Kirklin Clinic. The whole ride up there we were pretty quiet because we were so nervous/anxious/scared of what the Dr would say about my Grandbobby. The ride back was quite the opposite!! The Dr we met with was so nice, caring and funny, which we all loved! They explained to us that the cancer my grandfather has is small cell (oat) cancer. The best news we could ever get is that it is treatable. This was so good to hear because last week they told us the opposite. So today my mom, aunt and grandfather are going to the cancer center in Montgomery to meet with another Dr and discuss the treatment process. Everyone's prayers and kind words have meant so much to us all!! The funniest part about the whole thing is all the food that has been brought to my mom's house. Everyone knows my mom is not a big cook so they have loaded her down with all kinds of homemade goodies! Thanks to all who have fed us over the past few weeks! A good homecooked meal makes you feel so much better!!

As for Sully and myself we are doing great! Carpal tunnel has set in and can be quite painful, but I really don't mind so much. Round ligament pains have also started to be more noticeable but I welcome them because that means he is growing strong. We signed up for childbirth classes and will start them in November. As for my screening tests I assume no news is good news since I have not heard back from them on either test. I guess that is about it for now. Renovations begin in the next week or so on our living room and guest bedroom so it will be a busy couple of weeks ahead. As for the weekend, War Eagle and I hope everyone has a great one!