** hAppY fiRst biRthDay kYnLeE rAe **

Kynlee Rae,

Wow! I cannot believe a year has already come and gone! It seems like just yesterday mommy was laying in a hospital bed throwing a pillow at daddy to wake him up to get a nurse. I remember the excruciating pain I felt in my upper right stomach area and the horrible headache I had like it was yesterday.  I tried so hard not to be the "whiny pregnant lady" through the high blood pressure spells and the swollen feet, but that night the symptoms were too much to bear without complaining.  After shooting two doses of lidocaine with no relief, I knew that something was definitely not right.  I did not know, however, that my body was beginning to shut down and that I would soon become a mommy.

At 9:52 am on Friday, April 22, 2012 we welcomed a tiny young lady into our family.  Weighing in at only 1 lb 15 ounces, you soon became the center of our prayer life.  I remember being on the operating table during my c-section, praying that God would watch over and protect the tiny baby that would soon be transferred to NICU.  I prayed that God would provide the very best doctors and nurses to care for my sweet baby until I could meet you. God answered my prayers immediately and begin to show that He is still capable of providing modern day miracles.

Although mommy did not get to go with to meet your amazing medical team, Daddy was there with during the entire transfer.  After I got all settled into my room and was ready to begin my recovery process, I finally got to see pictures of you.  You were so tiny and frail, but I knew immediately that God had everything under control.  I am so very thankful He chose to use you to exhibit show His healing power.

Here we are a year later, preparing to celebrate your FiRsT BiRtHdAy tomorrow.  I am still in shock that this day is finally here and that you are perfecly healthy.  Yes, you throw minor fits and love to be held and get aLL of the attention from everyone around you, but I wouldn't have you any other way. Your giggles, grins, ear-to-ear smiles, beautiful blue eyes, sweet hugs and kisses, and sweet spirit make me very proud to call you my daughter. You have brought much joy to my life over the last year.  I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for you in the future.  Many people doubted that we would ever make it to this day.  And, if we did, they didn't think you would be completely perfect, with no major health problems.  Because God chose to break the mold with you, I am certain He has great things in store for you for many years to come.

I love you very much!
Mommy

:: kYnLeE's FiRsT cHrIsTmAs ::

This Christmas was definitely one to remember.  We celebrated Kynlee's first Christmas six different times in only 2 days! It kept us on the go, but it was so much fun watching Kynlee experience the joy of our families for the holidays.  Below are pictures of each event we attended! Enjoy! :)

it's not goodbye, but 'see you later'

We had a wonderful Nanny,

One who never really grew old;

Her smile was made of sunshine,

And her heart was solid gold;

Her eyes were as bright as shining stars,

And in her cheeks fair roses you see.

We had a wonderful Nanny,

And that’ s the way it will always be.

But take heed, because

She’s still keeping an eye on all of us,

So let’s make sure

She will like what she sees.

–Author Unknown

This poem could not be any truer about my sweet Nanny! With a heart of gold, she touched the lives of many! I will always cherish the wonderful memories I made with her ::

- teaching me how to play Solitaire because she was tired of playing Go Fish

- watching "Tales of the Crypt" through the cracks of my fingers on her couch

- reading Mother Goose nursery rhymes

- painting flower pots

- singing at "5th Sunday Singings" at Union Springs
- eating Fritos and lemon juice
- begging her to make fried chicken for every occassion possible

Although it is hard to see her go, I know she is not suffering and is now enjoying a land we can only dream of.  So, it is not goodbye that I am saying, it is see you later!

back to the daily grind

School has been officially in session for 2 weeks now! I must say that even though I was leary about going back to work, I am really glad I did. Although my class is boy heavy, and we all know boys will be boys, I am having so much fun returning to my "daily grind" in the classroom.  Of course, I miss Kynlee terribly during the day, but knowing that we have an aMaZiNg sitter makes me feel so much better.  Amanda is absolutely wonderful with Kynlee. 

On another note, Kynlee is beginning to be more alert and aware of her surroundings.  Last week, she began smiling in response to us. Seeing her sweet smile always brightens my day! Also, she has fallen in love with her "moo-cow" lovey.  Yes, I named it "moo-cow" like a child.  :) However, she snuggles with it every night before she goes to bed. Yesterday, we had a bit of a problem because she got sick and "moo-cow" had to be washed.  She had a death grip on the lovey and screamed at the top of her lungs when I took it away.  Nothing would console her.  She finally just cried herself to sleep.  So, I immediately called Mom and told her to order some backups! :) Another small problem we have is that Kynlee is definitely a Mommy's girl.  Of course, I don't really mind.  But, the strong attachment could produce problems in the future, i.e. when she needs to go to school.

Kynlee has also started to love playing in her play gym! She grins and kicks her arms and legs everytime the music plays.  Here are some recent pictures of our sweet little princess. 

 Just Mommy and Me ! :)

 using those fine motor skills

 sleeping in with daddy while mommy gets ready for work

 one happy daddy and his little girl

 playing with her play gym

 ready for a day with Ms. Amanda

 playing with my mommy :: such a happy little girl

 uh - oh ..... she's a thumb sucker

snuggled up with her "moo-cow"

the end of one chapter is the beginning of another

Well, sadly I must return to the world of 2nd grade TOMORROW! I cannot believe it has been almost 4 months since we added Miss Kynlee to our sweet family! She has been such a blessing and a joy to have around.  I never thought I would love anything as much as I love being her mommy.  Although she is still in the 10th percentile for her age group in height and weight, she come such a long way! Currently, she weighs 9 lbs 3 oz and is about 20 inches long. 

We are still battling reflux on a daily basis.  I have learned to carry extra clothes for myself and Kynlee if we are going anywhere.  :)  You never know when a wardrobe change will be necessary!

We have also added another new addition to our family.  In college, I had a small maltese mix puppy named Roxie.  When I started my internship and was working crazy hours, my mom and dad took her to their house.  Well, three years after I graduated from college, my parents decided I needed to take her back!  Thankfully, she is house trained and sweet with Kynlee.

Life is hectic now that I'm back at work, but I am sure a routine will soon be in place.  After all, I am a routine oriented person! :)

Here are some pictures of Kynlee at 3 months for your viewing pleasure.

:: moving on ::

Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end meaning this momma has to go back to work.  I started this week with a planning day with my second grade teacher friends, and have spent the rest of the week getting my classroom ready! However, I am finding it very hard to focus on the tasks at school.  Since I have spent everyday of the last 3 1/2 months with Kynlee, I somewhat feel like I'm abandoning her by going back to work.  But, I absolutely love our sitter and her family! I feel confident that she is going to love Kynlee as if she were her own! I am so happy God led them to us to care for little miss Kynlee.  So, when duty calls I must go.

On another note, I met with my obgyn this week and discussed the possibility and risks of future children.  He said given the genetics with my mom having severe preclampsia during both pregnancies and the risks and unknowns (i.e. if the baby will come later, or earlier, if my condition will worsen later or quicker, etc)  it may be best to count our blessings and enjoy Kynlee.  He really put it into perspective when he told me that I now have Kynlee to look after and he would hate to see her left without a new sibling and/or mother because of pregnancy complications that could have been avoided.  Of course, we can always get a second opinion from the maternal and high risk pregnancy specialist I saw in Houston if we decide later that we want to try again.  Although this news was, for lack of a better word, devastating for Trey and I (as we really had hoped to have 2 -3 children) we have decided to just let it go. Sometimes, that is very hard for me! Having children is supposed to be a natural part of life for young women! I work hard to lead a healthy lifestyle, so it's somewhat overwhelming to hear that a task I am MEANT to do as a woman, may not be possible.  Also, I feel like I am letting my husband down.  Never once has he even come close to eluding to the fact that he is angry or upset with me over this issue.  In fact, he has been my greatest support of all! However, I know how much he really wanted a son.  So, knowing that we possibly can't try for a boy is disheartening.  Yet, we weren't planning for Kynlee to come and look how God has blessed with her.  We know that God doesn't make mistakes, so if it is in His will, it will happen.   

All of that being said, it is time move on.  The hype, stress, and drama over our "first child experience" is now over and life is resuming as normal.  This "test" will remain a part of us and will continue to increase our testimony on how faith and prayer can truly make a difference.  But, it is now time to apply the things we learned to the new adventures we will face as Kynlee continues to grow into the amazing young lady that God designed her to be! :)

:: in the news ::

In case you missed it, Kynlee and I were featured in our local paper, The Lufkin Daily News, on August 1, 2011.  Here is a link to view the article.

http://lufkindailynews.com/life/article_fea1fdbe-bbeb-11e0-95c1-001cc4c002e0.html

However, there a few things not mentioned in the article that I would like to share with all of you. First, and foremost, I would NOT have remained calm during that time without the peace that only God can give.  I can say I never understood what the peace felt like until April 19th, when I was admitted to St. Lukes and introduced to a slew of doctors.  From day one, I began to pray that God would watch over Kynlee and I and calm my nerves.  I simply knew He would answer my prayers and the situation was in His control.  Therefore, me being nervous or worried, would only make my situation worse. In fact, during my c-section, the doctor asked if I was okay because my eyes were closed. I responded, "Sh. I am praying."   I also knew that as a mother, it was more important for me to be strong for my child, rather than be concerned about my own health.  Once  I was stable, I turned my focus on helping Kynlee get well.

Secondly, it is very humbling to know that our story affected the prayer life of so many people.  I have encountered numerous people who say that because of our situation, they began to have a daily prayer life.  It means so much that friends, family, and even complete strangers would take our needs to the throne of grace.  You never know how God will choose to use you.  I never would have dreamed it would be through the birth of my child.  After all, having a baby is normal part of life! :)

Thirdly, although Trey did have to work, he was with Kynlee and I every step of the way.  He visited every weekend, but one, and called numerous times a day. He would even call the NICU nurses to check on Kynlee when he worked nights so I could sleep peacefully.

Lastly,  the many visits we had from family and friends made our time go quickly.  Both sets of grandparents visited weekly.  Several friends from school and church came to visit, along with most  of  the members of our extended family.  Knowing that we had the support of others, made it so much easier to handle the circumstances.

Once again, thank you to each of you that have tracked our progess.  Trey and I are more than blessed to have Kynlee at home and doing so well.  Other than a struggle with reflux, Kynlee has no medical issues and is developing on schedule.  We couldn't ask for a sweeter gift from God. :)

:: walk to end Alzheimer's ::

Dear Friends and Family,

Looking back at the last few months and the struggles I faced with having preclampsia and delivering a premature baby, I have come to truly realize the importance of family, both by blood and by marriage. If not for the financial, emotional, and spritual support througout our journey, I would not have survived the trials we faced during our 68 day stay in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children's Hospital. During this time, I also realized how important it is to give back to the community and local organizations.

In 1997, Bertha Wilkerson, my husband's great grandmother, passed away due to Alzheimer's. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.

I’m walking to honor my husband's family and to remember Mrs. Wilkerson. I am also walking to help reclaim the future for millions,. By participating in the 2011 Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s™, I’m committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support.

I need your support to do my part! I am asking you to make a small donation to help my cause and to advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Alzheimer's Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.

Thank you for joining our movement! The end of Alzheimer’s disease starts here. You can click the link below or send a check to my address to make a donation. The walk will be held on October 1, 2011 at Lufkin Middle School. All donations must be in by that date. Also, if you would like to walk with my team, let me know and I'll give you the details. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and coworkers! I greatly appreciate your support! It means alot to me be able to help others, as so many helped Trey and I during our time of need. :)

Thank you again!

 

 

http://walktoendalz.kintera.or ​g/lufkin/cousinsforacure2011

it's my due date!

Today is my official due date, making Kynlee's corrected gestational age 0 days of life! Woohoo! She's finally "out of the womb".  Kynlee should start showing normal newborn behaviors more frequently now.  She is such a little trooper already.  She is beginning to pick her head up for longer periods of time when you hold her to your chest.  She is also beginning to roll from one side to the other.  Before we know it, she is going to be cruising around the house! In honor of my due date, here are a few of my maternity pictures.  I didn't realize how swollen I was until I looked at these a few days ago.  Thanks to Kelly Kirkland for the photos! If you are looking for a local photographer, give her call! :)

:: hOmE sWeeT HoMe ::

We have been home from the hospital for two weeks today! Life at home has been adjustment for sure! Kynlee spends the majority of her days sleeping! We started her out in the bassinet at night, but she did not like it at all and didn't hesitate to let us know! She screamed every time you put her in it.  So, we transferred her to her crib in her own room! Thank goodness for video monitors!   Here are a few highlights from our time at home!



smiling during tummy time




i love my aunt kels!




hanging out in my big girl bed




i LOVE bath time




paw paw loves busterina #3




napping on daddy's chest




i love spending my days with mommy




watching some TV and getting ready for bed



uncle Steven and Kynlee



i love my bouncer

finally home!

WOW! It is somewhat hard to believe that our 68 day NICU journey is finally OVER! :) Being forced to live so far away from each other while worrying about our sweet little child was definitely the most difficult time Trey and I have had together! However, we learned to lean on God and each other to make it through and now it is finished!

Kynlee did so well on the way home! She slept the entire way. :) Our first few days have been spent getting adjusted to being home and seeing many visitors. We love having visitors and sharing our story and our bundle of joy with friends and family.


Here are some pictures of our last week in NICU and our arrival home! Enjoy! :)

Mommy and Kynlee during our last weekend NICU!

Daddy insisted I come home in camoflauge so Mommy added some pink! Thank you Sister Sass for the cute outfit!

We are FINALLY home together!

That's one happy daddy with his little girl! :)

Kynlee has the most beautiful blue eyes! I hope they stay that way! :)

Kynlee is 2 months old!

Kynlee is now 2 months old! I cannot believe two months has already passed in our amazing journey! We have been through a lot in the last two months and I don't even know where to begin our story. 


As of now, little miss has gained almost 4 pounds! She is currently weighing 5 pounds and 12 ounces.  She is getting to be such a big girl! It was a three week struggle, but she is now taking all of her feeds by mouth! Hallelujah! She has started waking up on her own near feeding time and is ready to eat! She eats approximately 2 ounces every 3 hours.  It may not seem like much, but it is a lot for her little body to digest.  Sometimes. she gets overwhelmed during eating and forgets to breath! At first, it was a little scary when her lips would turn blue, but I have grown accustomed to it and no longer stress out! Just a little stimulation, and she's right where she needs to be! We are waiting for the results of a test they completed to determine if she will go home on oxygen or not.  While the thought of her needing oxygen is a little scary, I know that God will take care of her. Of course, as a mommy I worry about people looking at her as "different" or "special" if she needs oxygen, although I know that she is just a baby who needs some extra TLC to develop.


Kynlee has such a great personality already! She doesn't cry often, but she sure does love to grunt! She also loves her hands! She keeps her hands by her face all the time.  When feeding, she loves to rest her hands on the bottle or on my hand.  Two of my favorite things are her falling asleep on my chest and the times when she grins at me.  It's just a small reminder that she loves and appreciates all of the love we give her!


We have loved all of the visitors in NICU.  Any reminder of home always brings comfort! :)


We are planning to return to good ole East Texas on Tuesday! :) I cannot wait! I am so excited about getting into a routine at home and allowing our family and friends to meet our sweet girl! Be prepared to wash your hands before you touch her and to answer the standard NICU question before you come near, "Any flu symptoms?" 


Thanks for all of your continued support, love, and prayers.  I am well aware that the end of the NICU journey is only the beginning of our new life at home, as  family!

growing growing growing!

Kynlee Rae is proving to be a little fighter! So much has happened in the last week and half!

1.  Mommy gave Kynlee her first sponge bath.
2. Mommy was allowed to start changing her diapers.
3.  We were able to start holding Kynlee.
4.  Kynlee was removed her IV and lipids (fats).
5.  Kynlee was removed from the cpap (tubes in her nose to help her breath).
6.  The heat in her incubator was turned down because she has started maintaining her body temperature a little better.

All of that being said, Kynlee is now being fed 24 cc every three hours through her feeding tube.  She currently weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces and is 14.2 inches long.  She is beginning to have difficulty breathing on her own.  This is expected for kiddos her size and gestational age.  She is able to breath on her own, but her lungs are not able to keep up.  However, the doctors are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  She really appears to need the cpap to provide air pressure to her lungs to make sure they are staying inflated.  However, the tubes broke down her nose to the point that plastic surgery may be required, so they want to keep her off of the cpap to let her nose heal.  Currently, she is inside an oxyhood. It is basically a bubble over her head in which they pump oxygen to help her maintain her oxygen levels.  She is doing okay with the new contraption, but not as well as we had hoped. So, they are watching her closely to see what other options we can use.  Because she has to stay in the hood, we are unable to get her out of the incubator at the moment. That is no fun for this mommy! I loved my kangaroo time we shared each day! Soon enough, though, we will be rocking in our chair at home and all of this will be a thing of the past! :)

I have too have learned so much over the last two weeks.  Most people wonder "why?' when they are presented with a difficulty like this.  Not me! God has shown me several reasons he is providing this challenge in my life.
1.  It is okay for me NOT to be in control of everything!
2.  God truly does care about the desires of my heart and just wants to me ASK him to fulfill them.
3.  It is okay not to have a schedule everday and to just "go with the flow".

Apart from using this opportunity to change me, God has also shown me how amazing my family and circle of friends are! Everytime I talk to someone, they let me know that we are either in their prayers, or on their church prayer list.  Trey and I are learning the power of prayer is much stronger than we could have imagined! Thank you to all of you that continue to lift us up!


The chorus to the song Blessings by Laura Story pretty much sums up our experience! If you haven't heard it, download it! :)

"What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know your near? What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?"

just an update on things

I was released from the hospital, after an 8 day period, today! I was soooooo happy to see the sunshine and feel the air outside! I even got to eat a regular meal. Of course, I chose mexican food after being on a low sodium diet for most of my pregnancy. :)

On another note, I got to hold Kynlee today! Her little body is tiny, but so perfect.  It's amazing that she is already so perfectly formed! She has gained a little bit of weight in these last five days. She now weighs 2 pounds and 3 ounces and is beginning to digest a very small amount of milk.  They feed it to her through a tube in her tummy and suction out what she doesn't digest to see how much she can handle. 

I also got to meet the team of doctors that are taking care of her while she remains in the NICU unit.  Trey already had the chance to meet them, but since I was hospital bound I was a little behind.  They are all so helpful and amazingly patient.  They showed me everything and explained everything so thoroughly to ensure  I understand. I will be able to attend their "rounds" each morning to get a daily update from the doctor. 

Everything is going better! Thank you so much for all of the prayers and encouragement. This still isn't easy as Trey and I must spend so much time apart and it is killing him to be so far away from his little girl. Although, I am sure he misses me just a little too. :)

:: our miracle baby ::

This past week has been a whirlwind of chaos! I was admitted to St. Luke's in Houston on Tuesday, April 19 and was diagnosed with a disease known as, preeclampsia.  Check out the link for detailed information about the condition :: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001900/.  With that being said, I was placed on hospital bed rest and met with a a maternal specialist, an anthesiologist, a neonatalologist, and numerous resident doctors and nurses within 24 hours.  While meeting with these doctors I was given several health concerns for Kynlee and I :: a)because of the high blood pressure I was experiencing, I was not producing a lot of amniotic fluid, limiting the amount of space Kynlee had to grow, b)my liver enzymes were increasing. c) my platelet counts were dropping,  and d) the only cure for the condition was to deliver a premature baby. 

Of course, our goal was to keep Kynlee inside as long as possible because I was only 27 weeks pregnant. So, we planned to keep me at St. Luke's with constant monitoring until God decided that the day had arrived for Kynlee to enter the world.

Early Friday morning, I began to develop a severe headache, what, at first, felt like heartburn, and nauseau.  After taking Tyenol, Pepcid, Zofran, a Maalox and Lidocaine mixture, the pain became to much to  bear.   I was trying so hard not be the whiny pregnant lady, but when the pain brought tears to my eyes that flowed uncontrollably, I told the nurse I knew something was NOT right. So, they called in the maternal specialist, Dr. Carpenter (my favorite), and he said it appeared my liver was starting to fail and it was time for a delievery.  Within an hour, we had performed an emergency c-section and Kynlee was born at 9:52 am on Good Friday, April 22,2011.  She weighed 1 pound and 15 ounces and was 13 7/8 inches in length. 

Trey watched the entire procedure and got to see his baby girl before they took her to the NICU unit.  She is doing very well and appears to be a fighter! She likes to blow bubbles with her spit, hold her Daddy's finger, kick off her socks, and stretch her little bitty body often.  We are so thankful that she already appears to have a happy personality and has a ton a of people that are praying for, and love her.

We have had an amazing group of visitors in the hospital and cannot begin to express our gratitude for each person that has called, texted, sent a message on facebook, added us to their church prayer list, and intereced on our behalfs daily! It means so much to us to have a strong support system.  This situation is definitely not an an easy one, but I can't imagine having to do it on our own.

As of now, I will remain on bedrest in the hospital until the new condition I have developed , HELLP syndrome, is under control and stable. Check out the link for detailed information :: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001892/.  Because I am not stable, I am unable to leave my room to see Kynlee at the moment.  However, I am able to see pictures and am able to view her via a program the hospital has similar to skype.   I will not lie, this is not easy, since i just want to hold her little hand and tell her that her mommy loves her and is right there with her.

My blood tests are improving on a daily basis so hopefully I will be stable enough to see her today or tomorrow.  I am fully trusting that God has a plan and a purpose and am trying my absolute best to remain positive so that I can heal quickly.  On another note, I will be able to proivide breast milk for Kynlee that will help increase her development.  They will keep the milk at the hospital in the Milk Bank and give it to her via IV until she is ready to feed normally. Also, if I cannot produce enough milk at first, they will provide her donor milk that has been tested for numerous diseases and has been pasteurized.  Our baby is in great hands at TCH.

I think that pretty much sums up our week! Have a happy Easter!

- Rachel

boy oh boy ::: we're having a *GIRL* :)

Today, BB became Kynlee Rae Brown! Getting to see our sweet little girl was so exciting for Trey and I! Although he had his heart set on a boy, don't let Trey fool you! He was all smiles looking at his little girl! He is already wrapped around her little finger!

Kynlee's vital organs looked amazing and all in tact! She is complete with 8 fingers, 2 thumbs, ten toes, 2 arms and legs, a strong heart with four chambers, a healthy gallbladder and kidneys, a healthy brain and spine, and all her "normal" facial features! She currently weighs 1 pound and 1 ounce and is stretched from one side of mommy's tummy to the other (literally)!

It appears she is alot like her daddy and is not shy at all! She definitely positioned herself with legs wide open and booty to the camera.  In fact, that was the first thing we saw today! We will have to talk to her about being a little more modest with her body parts!

My due date was moved up to July 8th since Kynlee is growing faster than Dr. McMorries originally thought! :) His words, "She's a big girl".  That could be a little scary!! :)

We are extremely excited about having a sweet little girl running around our house! Now, if I could just convince Trey that is OKAY for her to wear big bows and that she does NOT have to wear camo ALL the time! ;) But, I still have time for that!!

:: sweet little girl ::

Kynlee's little face!
(still kinda looks like an alien)

Kind of hard to see in the picture, but it was very obvious she is all girl!! :)

hUnTiN with Trey! :)

Last weekend, I went on my first hog hunt with Trey.  Yes, I realize I am four and half months pregnant, but have no fear, Trey wouldn't let me do anything! :(  Despite being forced to sit and listen from the buggy, it was quite an exciting day.  When it was all said and done, I had walked up and down about three hills and climbed in and out of a bluff bank creek (twice)! However, we had sooooo much fun! We even caught about a 200 pound sow.  Who would've thought I would join in on Trey's hunting hobby, and ENJOY it?!?! While, I won't be attending anymore trips until after the baby is born, I surprisingly did have fun (maybe because Trey and I finally got to spend some time together).

bAby bRoWn Is gRoWiNg!

It's been a while since my last update, but to be honest, not a whole lot has changed! :) I am having pain in my right side (between my ribs) so the doctor thought I had something wrong with my gallbladder.  However, everything is good with my gallbladder, liver, and kidneys.  So, it appears the pain is probably just from everything stretching and moving.  After all, my torso isn't all that big! Dr. McMorries said it could possibly be a nerve getting pinched when my stomach gets full! So, our plan of attack is to: 1) eat smaller meals to avoid my stomach getting too full and 2) deal with it, both of which I am perfectly okay with as long as BB is fine.


While having an ultrasound done on my gallbladder, the sweet technician took a look at the baby, too.  It is amazing to me how much our sweet little bundle of joy is growing! Just 10 weeks ago the ultrsound picture looked like a small pea. Now, you can see BB's head, legs, arms, and spine.  The spine is my favorite part in the picture. It is amazing how something as small as an avocado as a perfectly formed spine, only furthur proving the fact that all babies are truly a miracle from God. 


On another note, we find out if BB will become Hagen Wayne or Kaylin Rae on March 3rd! According to "Big Daddy" and Trey there's no doubt BB is gonna be a boy! However, according to Alma, there's no doubt BB is gonna be a girl! Either way, I am happy as long as he/she is a healthy and happy baby!

First Picture

A few weeks ago, BB took its first picture! :)  About the size of 1/10th of an inch, BB's heartbeat was going strong! It's still the coolest thing to me that something that small (only 6 weeks) has a heartbeat. There is no doubt this baby is a gift from God.


My favorite memory from the dr. visit would be Trey's comment to Dr. McMorries.  The doctor asked me what happened because when he saw me in May I wasn't planning on having children soon after we got married.  Trey, being his normal self, replied, "Well doc, she held me down!"  Needless to say, I was slightly embarrased, but wouldn't expect anything else from my sweet husband!


Also, we were given a new due date.  I am not as far as long as the nurse originally thought.  Therefore, my new due date is July 14th! And, we know BB is gonna hold until at least that day so Papa Kenny and Kelsey will back from the ball tournament.  However, Kelsey really would like BB to be born on her bday (July 11) and Steven would really like BB to be born on his bday (July 21).  Trey and I do not care what day as long as BB is happy and healthy.


At my first appointment, I did talk to the doctor about the complications my momma had with Kelsey and I.  For those of you that don't know, Kelsey and I were both premature. I weighed 2 pounds and Kelsey weighed 3 pounds.  Mom had eclampsia.  The doctor assured me it does not appear to be anything genetic, and to watch my blood pressure, salt intake, and weight gain to prevent having these complications.  So far, I have gained one pound! Woohoo! :) Keep us in your prayers as this concern definitely weighs in the back of my mind daily!


Our next appointment is Dec. 15th.  Hopefully, this baby is growing healthy and strong.  From what I've been told, morning sickness means a healthy baby! That being said, BB should be one healthy little kid! :)

Shout-Outs

Kelsey has made it known that she was NOT mentioned in the first blog! So, here is a shout-out just for her!



Kelsey is soooo excited to be an aunt! I cannot wait to make her change a smelly diaper! However, she will be an awesome aunt and I know she will spoil BB ALL THE TIME! :)



While we are on the sibling subject, Steven cannot wait to be "Uncle Steven".  I still think BB should call him "Uncle Cuatro", but I am not winning that argument.



- Rachel