Back to the doctor today! A girl??

I went back to the doctor day. Everything was great. I was measuring between 17 and 18 weeks (right on) and the heart rate was 154. I LOVE hearing the sound of that precious heartbeat!! He also gave me some "Protonix" for heartburn. He said it would change my life. :-)

My doctor told me he was betting on us having a girl. I have no idea how he came up with that, but he has told us that every time. Hopefully we will know soon! We go in two weeks, on December 4, to hopefully find out what we are having!! I can't wait!

The 3 Day Experience!

November 7-9, my best friend Jennifer and I participated in the Breast Cancer 3 Day. I was truly amazed by the generosity of my friends and family. They gave to a cause that is so close to my heart. Although my mom continues to bravely fight liver cancer and diabetes, she is a 17 year breast cancer survivor. My Aunt Mary Helen (on my dad's side) is also a 17 year survivor. My mother in law is a 10 year survivor. Most recently, a teacher at my school was diagnosed with breast cancer. So, as you can see, this experience meant the world to me!

Our adventure began the Thursday night before. Our friends Matt and Amy graciously let us stay at their home in Wylie because we had to be at South Fork Ranch between 5:30 and 6:00 AM on Friday morning. It was so nice to hang out and laugh until we almost had accidents. :-)Sweet Matt got up super early to take us. He even fought the crazy traffic to bring back my hat I left in the car. (Thanks Matt!!)

Jen and I walked 30 of the 60 miles. Jen was so supportive of me being 15 weeks pregnant! She had no shame in taking the SAG bus when I just couldn't walk any more. The first day was our longest day and I was really sore! I was having a lot of pain in my tailbone. So Jen suggested we go to the "medical tent". What an experience. I think they freaked out a little bit when they found out I was pregnant and had high blood pressure. They took my blood pressure 4 times (sitting, laying down, standing up, etc.) Seriously, my blood pressure was great. We were thinking, can you please just give me a massage, stretch my back or something? So, finally after 30 minute of evaluation, they determined I was just sore. REALLY?? I could have told you that! So, we got a sweet chiropractor girl to work on us and bring a little "life" into our body. We figured out quickly that she was as sweet as could be but EARTHY!!! We laughed about this experience all weekend.

Camping was a little rough on the pregnant girl! But, we survived! We stayed warm and that was most important!

I was so grateful that my mom, my niece, and Jennifer's mom and daughter were able to meet at us one of our cheering stations on Saturday. I was so happy to see them and so glad mom got experience the 3 day as well!

Overall, it was an incredible experience I will never forget! I will definitely consider doing it again!

I can't thank you enough for your generous donations and your encouraging notes. Overall, the 2008 Dallas 3-Day raised over 7.9 million dollars.

Jen, thank you for being such an amazing friend. I couldn't have made it without you. I will treasure the time we had together forever.

Remember...Everyone Deserves a Lifetime.

16 weeks

First I have to apologize for it taking me almost a month to post something new! I am such a slacker! :-)

I am officially 16 weeks and 4 days pregnant and after looking at the picture...officially growing! I have been feeling great! I have the occasional "migraine" type headaches, but other than that doing great.

This past weekend I went hunting at our deer lease in West Texas with Jeff and my dad. Lots of people have said "I can't believe you are still going hunting." I know, probably crazy to climb up a 15 foot ladder decked out with 3 layers of camo to sit in a deer stand by myself in 28 degree weather when you are pregnant. But, I love it! I love not only the "sport", but treasure the time with my husband and daddy. Jeff got a 7 point and my dad got a 9 point this past weekend. (Sorry for the gruesome picture. I know some of you think I am crazy, but it does feed our family.)

The weekend before my best friend Jennifer and I walked in the Breast Cancer 3 Day. What an amazing experience! I will save the details for another post!

My next doctors appointment is Thursday. Can't wait to hear that heartbeat again!!! Then, it should be about 3 weeks until we find out what we are having. So exciting!!

Back to the doctor today!

Today was another exciting day! We went back to the doctor and we were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. We were so excited. To our surprise, our doctor did another sonogram today just for fun! He gave us several "photos" of our precious baby, but here is one of my favorites. I turned it sideways so you could see the face better. Baby Smith is looking right at us! Kind of creepy looking, but I love it. Check out that big smile!

The heartbeat was 160 and Baby Smith measured 60 mm. It will be about 7 more weeks before we find out what we are having. We can hardly stand it!

10 weeks and growing!

Just for Auntie Jen! Here is a 10 weeks picture. Why is it that my uterus is the size of an orange , but I feel like a cow? I am sure this is something that most pregnant women go through, but I have already started to feel uncomfortable in regular jeans and some of my dress pants! I think we may have to dig out the Bella Band that Auntie Amy let us borrow!

I have felt really good lately. Of course being tired and the occasional nausea in the afternoons, other than that, I have done well. I have still wanted more salty things than sweet things...a little opposite than normal! Smells, yes...they definitely get to me! Coffee in small, contained rooms, Chinese food, and tuna, are just a few that I have experienced.

I went to Canton this morning (craziness) and I came straight home and took a nap. I love Canton! I got there right at 8:00 and about 8:30 it was already starting to get crazy! I left about 11:00 and you seriously had to turn sideways to get through the walk-ways. Maybe my hormones were raging, but I was beginning to get so frustrated with all the carts, strollers, and the motorized scooters. I am not kidding, people had scooters connected together two and three deep. IT WAS NUTS!! If you know anything about Canton, October is the month you leave the carts and baby strollers at home. And if you can walk, walk...don't get a scooter! We all need the exercise! I did go by myself so I was able to get through the pavilions fairly quickly because I usually know the places I want to go. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more baby bedding but I still have lots of time to look! I did get a couple pair of shoes, a new pendant for a necklace, and of course cinnamon-sugar roasted almonds (for Jeff) and pecans (for me and baby Smith). Can't wait to go next month with Amy! Then the next month, maybe we will know what we are having! For sure will be going with Jen in January!

Until next time...Much love!

Songram pictures of Baby Smith

Here are the two sonogram pictures we have. The first one is from our first visit at 6 weeks. Baby Smith was 5 mm. The second one was less than three weeks later and Baby Smith was 22 mm. The head is at the right + sign. The hands up top and the knees on bottom. (Atleast that is what Dr. Thurston said!) :-) He said the heart beat was about 160 bpm (we haven't heard it yet). He also said that I would probably be getting more ultrasounds than the "average bear" due to my high blood pressure. So, I will continue to post our pictures of our precious baby as they come!

Exciting News To Share!

Jeff and I have some exciting news to share! After lots of prayer, the Lord has blessed us! We are expecting our first baby! I am about 9 weeks and am due on April 30, 2009.


It was so much fun to share our news with our family a few weeks ago! Jeff and I "made the rounds" in one evening. We pretended we had house plans for them to look at, but instead it was a poster with a special message to them with our first sonogram picture.


I am feeling pretty good right now. I had one really bad week with sickness that lasted ALL DAY! I wouldn't wish that on anyone! But, I feel blessed that it has subsided since then. I do have occasional nausea and get a little weak at times, but feel pretty good otherwise.


Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy! I will keep you updated through our blog. Our next appointment is October 20.


Much love!