two really great things happened yesterday

Two.

Two really great things.

In one day.

Amazing.

Really Great Thing #1:

 Creme.
Brulee.

Donut.

Maybe the most amazing donut idea EVER?

We grabbed it from Mojo Monkey Donuts, and I am happy to report that we were sufficiently pleased.

We will be taking all who visit us there {mainly just because I really want more}.

It was almost better than really great thing number 2.

Really Great Thing #2:

Baby update, thank goodness!

Long story short:

Yes, the baby unfortunately has a congenital heart defect.

No, it isn't something that we have to be too worried about.

 Short story long:

Everything seemed fine at the appointment, until the Cardiologist walked in, of course.

She had been briefed by the ultrasound tech and shown some images from that morning's scan before she came in.

And the first thing she said was, "Do either of you have a family history of heart defects, particularly that of the aortic valve?"

We say no but immediately start sweating bullets.

She knows something is wrong, doesn't she?

They start scanning my belly again, chatting with all their medical terms.

The only other thing she asks us is, "Where are you delivering this baby?"

That got us even more nervous.

After about 5 more minutes of looking at the baby, the cardiologist turns and finally smiles.

She tells us that baby has bicuspid aortic valve, which is the most common heart abnormailty.

About 2% of the population is born with it, and most don't even know they have it.

Yes, it can be serious, but most of the time it isn't.

And it happens a lot more in males than females.

And since we already have defects with the umbilical cord and kidneys, it isn't a surprising thing to have something like this happen {since all three develop at the same time}.

They will continue with my normal bazillion check-up appointments {along with genetic counseling to make a game-plan for once he gets here} and will have to do a quick scan on the baby once he is born to make sure there isn't anything else that draws worry.

Then, he will either grow into having the defect or will just have to be monitored by regular doctors visits.

And maybe have heart surgery, but hopefully when he is 40 and off our insurance ;)

So, in summary, we have a baby with a too-small umbilical cord, funky kidneys, a crazy little heart and a tiny belly.

And he should be just perfect :)

We still have to watch his weight and growth, which is the next big concern, so I will be loading up on Big Macs and french fries, hoping he gains just a little more pudge by the time we go back in three weeks.

Bad for my waistline, but good for the baby?

Maybe? 

Who knows.

But I will look for any excuse to eat french fries.

And now here are some pictures to make your rainy, drizzly day a little better, compliments of Kemry...

{and if you have sunshine in your sky, don't even say a word...we haven't seen the sun in a week...}

{My favorite, by the way...}

PS: Am I the only one that still thinks Photo Booth is hillarious?

Even after all these years?

warm fuzzies

I seriously don't think there is anything that makes me more giddy than watching Kemry and Tyrel play together.

BFFs.

Totally.

Every morning when she wakes up she asks, "Where's Daddy?" and runs out to find him.

When she gets up from naps, she asks the same question, followed by, "Oh yeah. Daddy at work. Daddy come back?"

And then she waits. 

And waits and waits and waits.

She meanders over to the window about 5 times throughout the afternoon to peak outside to see if he has pulled up yet.

And when she hears him come home, she goes into hyperdrive.

And let's not even talk about the day after Tyrel has a day off.

The world ends when she realizes that she can't play with daddy all day long.

I am so unbelievably grateful for those two mischievous people in my life.

They make up all of my happiness :)

 

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PS: Tyrel was extremly proud of this next sequence of photos.

And if you know him, you know how much it screams "Tyrel."

Am I right?

Why, yes.

I am right.

a few thoughts on this pregnancy {a mini-baby update}

They say every pregnancy is different.

And I fully believe that to be true.

 This pregnancy is 100% more difficult on my body, my emotions, and my spirit.

Of the bazillion appointments we have gone to, we have only left a handful feeling great.

All the rest have brought bad news or more little reasons to worry.

We went back to the specialist today for our second level 2 ultrasound.

Overall, baby boy is measuring a week ahead, which we were thrilled about!

He looked adorable and is so so so active.

The second kidney is still not where it should be but also doesn't really look like it is fully in his pelvis, and it seems to be functioning fine.

But, alas, his stomach is only measuring in the 15th percentile.
While they don't start to worry about lack of growth until they sink under the 10th percentile mark, we were sure hoping he wouldn't be riding that close to the line.
I don't mind being induced, but we at least want to make it to 34 weeks if we can...?
 

And then there is the whole heart drama.

It is bigger than normal?

I think?

I am so lost in medical terms and doctors trying to not freak us out to remember exactly what is wrong each time we go in.

So, alas, there might be a heart defect?

Maybe there is nothing wrong?

Regardless, we get to go to ANOTHER specialist for a fetal echocardiogram.

And I am so dreading it.

 What if there is something wrong?

What if it is serious?

What if it is nothing and we have been stressing over a simple anomaly?

The doctor today didn't really seem too concerned about anything, but it seems like no one has been "too concerned" about anything this whole time, and yet we still keep finding hiccups.

Along with all the crazy emotions that go along with this insane mess of a pregnancy, I am physically exhausted.

Kemry is so active {bless her heart}, and her terrible twos have hit full force.

My hemoglobin levels are low as well, so I get to pop iron supplements.

I have at least 19 more doctors appointments to go to in these next 12 weeks.

My hips hurt, my back hurts, my ribs hurt, my head hurts.

I have never felt so miserable in my whole life.

And yet, I also feel so blessed.

We prayed and prayed and prayed for the chance to have this little guy.

Sure, the stress is through the roof, but we are still so tickled that we get to have a newborn all over again.

We are already so in love with this dude, regardless of whether he has a heart defect, a genetic disorder, silly kidneys, or big feet like his daddy.

Maybe we won't be able to get pregnant again.

Maybe we will choose to not get pregnant again.

Maybe we will have a few more kids.

But since we don't know, we are counting our blessings because they sure are huge.

And we are pretty grateful for that.

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{And since this was a yucky sad pity-party, here is a look at what is going on around here in regards to our two year old who always seems to be covered from head to toe with dirt by the end of the night.}

Not pictured:

The one million squirrels that have come to stop by daily.

Seriously.

One. Million.

a day of daddy {and mommy too, i guess}

Not to brag or anything, but Kemry sure loves me.

She falls down, she gets scared, she gets lonely, she gets happy, and its all, "Mommy!!!"

But I secretly think she loves Tyrel a little more.

You should see these two play together.

No one gives better horsey rides, rocket blasts, or sneaks of sugary foods than Daddy.

Tyrel just finished up this last semester, which means we have a month where his days off are completely dedicated to us.

We are so excited.
Tuesday was the first of those days: no school, no work, no church, no baby appointments.

Nothing.

So we did everything!

We met up with Kemry's bestie at the Mall of America to ride some thrilling toddler rides and get smoothies.

Then we headed off to the zoo, the park with a picnic, the greenhouse to smell yummy flowers, and home to run around our {finally green} backyard.

And let me tell you, Kemry wouldn't let Tyrel out of her sight.

Or maybe it was the other way around ;)

This is what happens when you tell her we are going home. The world ends.

My parents are heading up our direction as we speak so we can tear up our yard.

There will be gardening, wood chipping, tilling, dirty fingernails, sweat, and lots of achey backs.

And I can't wait :)