Lily in 4D!!

Well, where do I start to explain what all has happened since my last blog post? First I spent a few days in the hospital after my blood pressure shot up to 160/90 and they were testing me for eclampsia. Well praise the Lord I did not have eclampsia they just said that I had Gestational Hypertension and that eventually it would turn into eclampsia so they wanted to start monitoring me weekly. They also said that I have Gestational Diabetes which means that I have to prick my finger four times a day and I am taking a low dose of insulin by mouth in the morning and at night. With all that being said I am now seeing a specialist every Monday and my regular OB every Thursday until I deliver. I told Ford the other day that the Diabetes is very difficult and that if it wasn't for her then I probably wouldn't be so compliant. Lets just say if it wasn't for her I would have had a huge piece of my shower cake at work! I have cut out all sweets altogether and have only been eating sugarfree or no sugar added things. The doctors are more concerned about the hypertension and they say that as long as my blood pressure stays low then they will not take her early! The gestational diabetes could inhibit her lung growth if it gets out of hand so I want her to stay in as long as possible. They said they would not let me go past 39 weeks and if my blood pressure goes high they will take her right then. I will be 35 weeks this Saturday so the goal is to make it to at least 37 weeks so please pray that my blood pressure continues to be good. On a more positive note since we see the specialist every Monday we get an ultrasound now every week! This past Monday they turned on the 4D ultrasound and we were able to get a profile view. Now when looking at the picture below you are looking at her face with her left arm/hand up by her face. On Monday Lily was oblique and according to the ultrasound tech she looked like she was laying in a hammock however, today Lily was back head down so hopefully she will stay that way this time. Once again Ford and I appreciate your continued prayers and support. Please continue to pray that Ford will find a job as well.

Out with the Old in with the New!

Well it is hard to believe that it is already 2010, time really goes by quickly! This past year was a year full of blessings and sadness. The biggest blessing this year was to find out in June that Ford and I were expecting our first child. I also started a new job this year assisting in the opening of The Woodlands at Furman and that has been an experience. We have also had our share of difficult times this year with the loss of Ford's cousin Holly and Ford losing his job at the beginning of December. As we are getting ready for this new year I am appreciative of what the Lord has blessed us with. The Lord has been so faithful to Ford and me and he has always been there to pick us up when we were down. I am also thankful for having such a supportive husband who puts up with my crying spells and constant tiredness lately. Ford is so sweet to me and the best part of all is he doesn't judge me. I have learned recently that I have to quit trying to please everyone in my life and to just focus on pleasing the Lord, Ford and myself. Ford has always supported me and reassures me how proud he is of me which is always nice to hear. I am thankful to have a good support system in our family and know that Lily is fortunate in her grandparents and fortunate to have a great-grandparent. As this year ends I am setting goals for this next year beginning with growing closer to the Lord and being more aware of His voice. I am also excited about the journey of parenthood we are about to embark on and my goal is to be the type of mother the Lord wishes for me to be. I want to be a better person this year and teach that to Lily. Thank you all for your support and continued prayers as we continue our journey.

Christmas Eve Blessing!

On the Wednesday before Christmas Eve I received a scare when at work I started cramping and presented with two other signs of pre-term labor. I have been very busy lately at work and decided to go ahead and complete a contract with one of my families and then call the doctor. I called my doctor's office around 4:45pm and they told me to go home right then and lay on my left side and drink lots of water and that they wanted to see me first thing in the morning. I called Ford and actually had him pick me up from work so I didn't have to make the trip to my car and went home and rested the rest of the evening (except for the multiple bathroom trips from being pregnant and drinking lots of water!) Ford and I went to the doctor at 9:30am and they put me on the monitor to check Lily's heartbeat and to check for contractions. The doctor said that the bottom part of my cervix was open some but that the top was still closed. The doctor said that she is also still far up therefore he was not concerened that I was in pre-term labor (Thank you Lord!!) I have started feeling my braxton hicks contractions already and that showed on the monitor. The doctor just told me that when I start to feel tight to sit down and relax especially at work and to just take it easy. I told Ford that it is scary the changes your body goes through when your pregnant that you don't understand! I am just thankful that everything was alright with Lily and now just have 10 weeks left! Thank you all for your continued support and prayers!

Chunky Lily!

Ford and I went to our appointment yesterday and received another ultrasound just to see how Lily is growing. She is a little chunk weighing in a 2lbs 7oz and is now measuring two days early so a due date of March 4th now. During the ultrasound they were unable to accuratly measure my fluid so they are sending me back to Dr. Gregg's office who is a specialist on Monday. Lily's heart rate measured at 132 which is normal and healthy and they were happy with how much she has grown. I will update everyone after our appointment on Monday thank you all once again for your continued support and prayers!

Lily on the Move!

Some of you already know that I have what is called an Anterior Placenta which basically means that Lily takes a back seat to the placenta. My placenta is positioned in the front of Lily blocking her movements and that is the reason it was so difficult to hear her heart beat at times. It is a common thing for women to have and does not put Lily in any danger whatsoever. Well that being said I felt her move for the first time last night and it was the sweetest and most precious story! Ford and I have decided to start doing a devotion together at night so we read our Bible and discussed the chapter and then said our individual prayers. We then decided to pray over Lily and in the middle of the prayer I felt her move! It felt like a little flutter and I just started to cry while Ford continued to pray. I have been waiting to feel her for so long and it could not have come at a better time! After we finished praying I told Ford I felt her and we started singing "Jesus Loves Me" to her and I continued to feel her little flutters. I was so disappointed that I could not feel her before but the way that I felt her was the most precious memory and I would not change a thing. It is amazing how the Lord works everything out for the better! Thank you all for your support and for you continued prayers!

Lily Ann Rose Cole

IT'S A GIRL!!

I know by now that most of the people that look at my blog are also my friends on facebook however I did want to make a post letting everyone know that we are having a little GIRL! Ford and I are so excited and can not wait to meet our Lily Ann Rose Cole! We had our ultrasound last Friday and she is feisty already (just like her mama!) She was not wanting to turn for the ultrasound tech and at one point you saw her punch at us and it was so cute. We go for our regular check up on the 20th and have another ultrasound on the 29th because they were unable to see two things they wanted to see. The doctor said that the ultrasound looked great last Friday and that she presents as a healthy little girl. The doctor went on to say that he is not concerned about any types of birth defects or down syndrome and that she looks good. She weighed in at 10 oz which is almost a can of soda to put things into perspective. Ford and I started registering on Saturday and tomorrow are planning to start cleaning out her room. We feel so blessed that we are going to have a daughter and are so thankful to the Lord that she is healthy. Thank you for all of the support and prayers!

Four Wonderful Years!

Ford and I have been married for four years today! We have had ups and downs along the way but the Lord has always brought us through! We are closer today than we have ever been and are both excited about the journey of parenthood we are about to embark on. Ford is a wonderful husband and my best friend. Thank you Ford for the love that you show to me and for the support you give to me especially with my crazy mood swings! I love you very much!

Ironic Birthday!

I was talking to Ford the other day and said to him, "You know what is funny is that 25 years ago at this time I was inside mom's belly and now I have one in mine!" It is just funny how time just goes by so quickly these days! Carrying a child of my own gives me a new appreciation for my mom and for other moms. It is amazing how much you can love this person growing inside of you and the connection that is created as it grows. I am just excited about this journey that Ford and I are on and can not wait to feel the first kick or punch from our little one! We will be able to find out on October 9th what we are having and are so excited because we can begin our shopping! On my birthday, I would like to say thank you to all the moms that read our blog and a special thank you to Ford's mom and my mom who has always been there for me and I can honestly say is my best friend!

Pregnancy News!

Well by now everyone that looks at my blog knows that Ford and I are expecting our first child!! It took us a while to get here and now that we are expecting we could not be more excited! We have had a few scares so far with the Gestational Sac not measuring with the baby "gummi" as Ford calls it because our last ultra-sound he said it looks like a gummi bear! We saw a specialist and he said that he thought everything looks great! We ask for continued prayers for a health pregnancy and birth! It is funny the different emotions that a woman goes through when she is pregnant and the way that every women is different. My friend Elizabeth is also expecting and she put on her blog that she can't eat a lot at one sitting and me I can't get enough food it seems like a "bottomless pit!" One thing that I can not get use to is how exhausted I am! I can go to sleep at 8:30pm and sleep until 7:00am and still be tired! I have had a great deal of nausea but thankfully nothing else! Ford has to put up with my mood swings especially my crying for no reason over a show I have watch at least four times! It is a blessing to be a part of this miracle we call life! It is the most unbelievable and fulfilling thing I have ever been a part of! We are so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with this gift! Thank you all for your love and continued prayers!