**Thanks**

I want to say a special thanks to my family and friends for all of the support you give me each day.

My mom has been the biggest supporter during both of my pregnancies.  I am so lucky to have her in my life.  She is a good advocate for me and the baby at our appointments and when I was in the hospital.  She cares about me so much and I am lucky to have her as my mama!  Thanks for all of the food that you cook for us and for the times you take me out of the house before my appointments on Thursdays for lunch.  It's nice to get out of the house.  I know you do so much more than what I said above, but honestly, you do so much I can't even keep track of it all :o)  I appreciate all you do for us!

Thanks to the rest of my family for always checking in on us and asking if we need anything.  Thanks to my sis for stocking this baby up on all the necessary cute items and for keeping me stylish in my maternity clothes!  Thanks to my friends who are willing to come to our house to hang out and help me pass the time more quickly.  Thanks for the friends who have offered to bring food.  Thanks for offering to run my errands and do anything to help.

I am not good at expressing my feelings most of the time, but I am so appreciative of all that is being done for Matt, Baby Squirt, and I.  It is really hard for me to accept help or ask for help...so I probably won't.  :o) I can't wait for Baby Squirt to meet all of the wonderful people who surround us!!  Love you all!

Bored Out Of My Gourd

I am seriously so bored!  I have only been on "couch" rest for 4 days now, but this is tough business.  I know a lot of people have told me I was lucky all I had to do was sit on the couch all day, but I am not a "sitting around" kind of person.  Please do not take this as a complaint though because I would do anything in my power to keep baby boy cooking for at least another 5 weeks.  I'm just sayin...it ain't easy!

Here are some of my observations during the past week:

- Daytime television SUCKS!
- I am always up to date on my DVR
- I am so lucky to have a job where I can work from home
- People are so nice to offer to bring food or come visit or run errands for us
- My hips are bony and hurt to sit on all day :o)
- My baby moves A LOT
- Ritz prefers to sleep upstairs in bed all day instead of be next to me :o(
- It's not a fun contest to see how much water you can drink each day when you have to get up to pee 100 times
- The cats are very smothering, to the point of all three taking over my seat when I get up to pee
- Thank goodness for the technology of instant messaging and Live Meeting so I can still talk to my work peeps
- I need to update my iTunes so I have more music to listen to
- These have been some of the longest days of my life
- I am SOOOO thankful to be past 28 weeks!!
- It's nice to sit at home with the windows open and enjoy the fall weather
- Working while in sweats is the best!
- Snacks are so much better when you can make something fresh, instead of just taking crackers to work
- I need to try my hardest not to gain 100 pounds from eating and inactivity
- Getting out of the house, even if it's just for two weekly doctor's appointments is refreshing
- Matt is a good help around the house and is a good sport with all of my commands
- Making lists of things to do is not nearly as fun when you can't actually "do" any of the tasks
- I should start knitting or something to pass the time
- Seems like about 2 p.m. every day would be a good time for a nap
- Sitting on my couch is one million times better than laying upside down in a hospital bed

But seriously, I am so thankful to be past the 28 week mark.  Baby boy is still growing right on track and is about 2.5 lbs now.  In another 4 weeks he'll be closer to 3.5 lbs.  My boredom doesn't really matter at all when I think about why I'm doing it.

Braelyn's Legacy

Over the weekend we celebrated Braelyn's first birthday.  Sad to think we had to celebrate it without her, but really amazing to think of all of the people who were blessed because of her.  A few months ago, Matt and I decided that for the first year we wanted to get both of our families together at Lake Evergreen to remember Braelyn.  I'm not sure we will do this every year, but something felt really special about doing it this year.  We debated for a long time on what to do while when we all gathered at the lake and had a hard time coming up with an idea that seemed perfect.  What we landed on couldn't have been more perfect.  We asked that every family take the time to do something nice for someone in need.  Whether this be a monetary donation or just taking the time to help someone.  (Thanks mom for mentioning this idea).  We then asked that everyone come ready to share their contributions with us on Saturday at the lake.

Friday was Braelyn's actual birthday and Matt and I took the day off of work and spent time together.  We didn't do a whole lot, but it was nice to be with one another.  It was (and still is) hard for me to believe it had been a whole year.  I felt like after Friday I was in a really good place.  I was kind of nervous about doing the "party" on Saturday because I was afraid it would make me sad again.  Little did I know that I really needed Saturday to happen!  We all met out at the lake around 2 p.m.  The trees were just as pretty this year as they were last year.  It was a beautiful fall day and the temperature was perfect.  I absolutely love fall, so October 7 will always be the perfect day to me.

We all sat around in a circle and shared stories about how Braelyn had touched people's lives in her short 12 hours here on earth.  The creativity and thoughtfulness of everyones contribution was mind blowing.  It never ceases to amaze me how much good has come to the world because our our tiny little girl.  Below are most of the donations/ideas that our families (and some friends too) came up with to honor Braelyn's name.  We are glad that other people inside and outside of our community will have new doors opened to them.

• Donation of baby supplies given to The Crisis Nursery (http://www.crisisnursery.net)
• Donation of baby items (especially for girls) given to the victims of the Joplin, MO tornado 
• Tiny bows donated to the NICU in Peoria and Urbana for premature baby girls 
• Donation to the Honor Flight-- a flight that takes WW2 veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorial (http://www.wixy.com/pages/10681940.php)
• A 5K to run every year in memory of Braelyn
• Major overhaul of the playroom at the Children's Advocacy Center in Bloomington.  New paint, new toys, new supplies. (http://www.co.mclean.il.us/childadvocacy/)
• Donated books to a local library
• Monetary donation to Operation Smile (http://www.operationsmile.org/)
• A plaque to hang in the waiting area of the NICU in Peoria with an inspiring poem
• Monetary donation to The March of Dimes (http://www.marchofdimes.com)
• Two injured sea turtles were adopted for a classroom to raise and watch 
• Monetary donations for reading programs for children in schools
• Donation of time volunteering in the community
• A butterfly garden and a knockout rosebush planted in memory of Braelyn, and meant to attract butterflies
• Monetary donation to The Caring Bridge website (www.caringbridge.com)
• Donation of reading materials to classrooms to help children learn to read
• Preemie clothes donated to the NICU in Peoria and Urbana
• Donated time at an underprivileged school in the community 
• Monetary donation to the LivLife fund (http://livlife.us/newsite/)
• Monetary donation to St. Jude's (www.stjude.org)
• Donations of two large boxes of diapers and a large box of wipes given to The Home Sweet Home Mission in Bloomington (http://hshministries.org/)
• Donations of many children's necessities, such as socks, underwear, burp cloths, diaper wipes, and snow boots to a family at a local church who was struggling to make ends meet for their 6 children

Overall it was a great day to remember our special baby.  We are so blessed to have family and friends that supported us during the past year and who are still supporting us through the journey of having this baby boy.  I always say it, but I truly mean it, we would not be doing as well as we are today with out all of you!  

Happy 1st Birthday Braelyn!!   I hope we all made you proud. 

We made it...28 weeks!!!!

We have made it to our biggest goal this pregnancy...28 weeks!  We are thrilled.  If he was born today he would need to spend a lot of time in the NICU, but he would have a very high chance of survival and a lower chance of having long term health problems.  We are so grateful to have made it this far.

Today at my doctors appointment they noticed my cervix is starting to funnel at the top.  They want me to be sitting most of the day and not doing a lot of walking or standing.  They also want to start seeing me twice a week in the office.  Talk about a "frequent flyer" program...  But, we are very thankful our doctors keep a close eye on us.  This time around we will not be caught off guard with anything happening.  We will know what to expect.  Every Monday I will have a sonogram and every Thursday I will do a non-stress test (basically they hook me up to monitors and watch for contractions).  At the sign of any more cervical progress they will most likely give me two steroid shots that will help develop baby boy's lungs more quickly.  I had these shots when I was in the hospital with Braelyn too.  It is a series of two shots given 12 hours apart right in the butt.  For now I will just begin to take it even more easy than I was before (for those of you who know me, know this is very hard for me b/c I like to be busy) and they will keep close watch over me.  I will update if anything else changes. 

Thanks again for all of the love, support and prayers that have gotten us to 28 weeks.  Keep praying for Baby Squirt to make it to our next goal of 34 weeks.   While that would put him the same week as Thanksgiving, we are hoping more for a Christmas baby.  :o)

Thanks mom, dad, Kate and Kyle for the very cool Edible Arrangement!  I love it!!!! 

Braelyn's Birthday

Today marks Braelyn's first birthday.  Even though we miss her every day, we have been truly blessed by having her in our lives, even if it was only a short time.  I love this story below, and will always remember the night she was born. 

On the night you were born,
The moon smiled with such wonder
That the stars peeked in to see you
And the night wind whispered,
“Life will never be the same.”
Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world.
So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain
That they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.
It sailed through the farmland
High on the breeze…
Over the ocean…
And through the trees…
Until everyone heard it
And everyone knew
Of the one and only ever you.
Not once had there been such eyes,
Such a nose,
Such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.
When the polar bears heard,
They danced until dawn.
From faraway places,
The geese flew home.
The moon stayed up until
Morning next day.
And none of the ladybugs flew away.
So whenever you doubt just how special you are
And you wonder who loves you, how much and how far,
Listen for geese honking high in the sky.
(They’re singing a song to remember you by.)
Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.
(It’s because they’ve been dancing all night for you!)
Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.
(Listen closely…it’s whispering your name again!)
If the moon stays up until morning one day,
Or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,
Or a little bird sits at your window awhile,
It’s because they’re all hoping to see you smile…
For never before in story or rhyme
(not even once upon a time)
Has the world ever known a you, my friend,
And it never will, not ever again…
Heaven blew every trumpet
And played every horn
On the wonderful, marvelous
Night you were born.

Siblings

So do you think these two siblings look exactly the same?  I sure do!

Baby Squirt (26 weeks)

Braelyn (23 weeks)

Photo Shoot

Today we had our 26 week appointment.  Everything is looking great!  My cervix is holding strong within the normal ranges, and no funneling.  The baby is growing like a weed!  Today during the ultrasound he had his arms in front of his face...that seems to be the case every week.  But we got a few good shots with his arms down.  We also saw him get the hiccups and open his eye once.  It is so amazing to me to see how much he has changed in just a few short weeks.  We can tell he is fattening up!

Our next goal to reach is 28 weeks.  Hard to believe that is only 1.5 weeks away!  Then after that is 34 weeks.  We will be going to the doctor every week until he is here.  That will make the time fly by.  Only 10 more weeks until they cut my stitch and he could come out at any time!  I'm feeling more and more confident we can make it to that week.

Here are some pictures that we got of little squirt today.  I think he looks exactly like his daddy!!