First Appointment & Details

We had our first appointment with this baby pregnancy in early Oct.  I was 9 weeks along.

I'd delayed our appointment a little because there was a big anniversary weekend at church.  I really wanted to attend and celebrate.  And I didn't want the possibility of it being marked by grief.  Mentally, there were also three "fun" things to do in the days after my appointment, that I was really looking forward to and would be so sad to miss... a YL banquet- then we always go out with friends afterwards, a dinner update with a missionary OB-GYN from our church who works in Kenya, and (less exciting) Lily's class trip to the pumpkin patch (I think they asked me to go after I was trying to avoid it?).  

Another fortunate thing is that I ended up going to a different hospital than the one I've always gone to, and worked at.  My usual office didn't have an appointment time that worked.  So they offered that I go to their other location.  And it hit me that that would be a wonderful thing to not have to walk into that same room I'd walked into twice before.  

So Mike obviously came with me to the appointment.  I told him that he was walking every.single.step with me into that office, not meeting me there, not dropping me off, etc.

We ended up waiting a loooooong time (to the tune of 1.5 hours maybe) to go back.  

I was nervous but ready to know.  And mostly that morning, I felt fairly relaxed or maybe just happy to spend some extra time sitting with Mike.

Immediately at the start of the ultrasound, the tech was very gracious and quickly said 

"Good News!  The heartbeat is great!"

WOW!  Tears of joy and relief and astonishment!

The heart rate (160) was so significantly high that it was wonderful & didn't leave much room for worry.  A few other findings that has been concerning in the last pregnancy were not true this time around, which gave reassurance.

We met with the doctor & I had some lab work.  It ended up being a long morning and Mike got to go pick Lily up from preschool (maybe first time ever so a treat for her!).  It was a warm, gorgeous, sunny 70 degree day!  The three of us went to lunch to celebrate and ate outside.  It doesn't sounds so exciting to write it out, but it just stands out to me as a wonderful day of such JOY and SHOCK and AMAZEMENT!  The bright sunshine, a lunch date outside with my sweet family, and good news to celebrate!

The next few days were such joy.  It felt like such a gift to be able to go to those events, with the idea of a little one growing well.  :)

Wonderful Announcement

Where to even begin this post that's been in the making for months?!

We are expecting another baby!!  

Oh my goodness.  I could not be more excited!!  
God has been so so good to us and so so generous.
Another little one to love, another baby to snuggle.  Another time to be pregnant.
(I'm weird and really love pregnancy!  Its so amazing and wonderful!)

Our due date is May 8th so I am 19 weeks along.

We did not find out the sex with Peter and Lily.  They were "surprises".  But after some hemming and hawing, we thought we'd change it up this time.  And that it would be fun for the kids to know ahead of time, to prepare and manage expectations.  

So with the blessing of some extra tests (after our history of two babies in heaven and now "advanced maternal age"--- but being pregnant makes me feel younger.... at least so far.  The excitement, the joy, the physical benefits of all those hormones, I love it!  ;)  Mike may disagree?

SO we have some additional news.... It's a BOY!

After the all clear that this baby is "healthy", there is only thrill at the thought of another baby and child.   But you may have guessed that the above news sorta increased my anxiety a touch.  But God has been good to help me trust Him and his plan for us.  
Yay, another baby boy!

Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.

We are having another baby!  I can still hardly believe it!
Thank you, Lord!

For as the heavens are higher 
than the earth,
    So are My ways higher than your ways,
    And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

 {17 weeks in both pics}

{And I got to be pregnant with Jessica at Thanksgiving- 
likely the one and only time to be pregnant with a Dennis sister!?!
God is good!}

Prayer Request

Hello there, blog readers (family, office family, a few friends)!

Will you all start praying for Peter's spring EEG?

As you know, he's done SO well.  We think he's been seizure free for 2 1/2, nearly 3 years at the time of the EEG.  We are so so so very thankful for God's goodness and mercy to us in this.  

As we discussed with his neurologist this past spring, we'll plan to repeat his EEG this spring.  I am hoping to have it done over spring break (Apr 14-18).  

Thankfully, I don't feel too anxious about it.  Having seen God's faithfulness to us over the last 3 years, I trust He will continue to give us what we need.  Even on his med, life has been great.  But I'd also love to know that his little brain is healed and healthy.  

So would you pray that God would continue to put His healing Hand over our child's brain in the next months and that his EEG would look great.  Either way, we trust Him and thank Him for his purposes in this.  I'd love Peter to have freedom from seizures and medication.  

Preschool Sunshine

Lily and I stayed after preschool one day so that she could ride her bike.  She said after school that she didn't want to just go home and I didn't esp want to either, so we played in the sunshine.  Which is always welcome in December!

 She's been more hesitant to embrace the bigger bike, which makes sense b/c she is significantly higher off the ground than Peter on the same size bike.  But this day to practice on her own, I think boosted her confidence.  

 Every now and then she'd tell me she wanted to rest and she'd sit for a few seconds then get up and go at it again.  :)  So cute!  I told her she looks like a little Christmas elf in this outfit.

This school year with her is interesting and feels different than previous years.  She definitely feels "older" and no longer my sweet little doll of a girl.  Still such a sweetie but she has more of her own ideas and plans.  And she is so very capable (except when it comes time to clean up or put away).  Her spirit feels more independent from mine, no longer just my side kick.  Which is bittersweet but seems natural and I know is part of growing up.  I find that I have to make a more conscious effort to lay aside my plans and engage with her.  Which I'm not great at.  But thankful for this sweet afternoon with her.

November Pictures

... In no particular order...

Lily preschool class singing the blessing before we ate at the preschool Thanksgiving Feast.

 Each of the kids had a Native American name on their head band & Native American necklace... how creative/cute is that!

 Friday afternoon Bike Riding!  He is a machine on his bike.  I love it.

When I need encouragement, I take them bike riding!

He is also getting awesome at writing!  Go Pete!

 We had a rough week a few weeks ago and I told Mike we were all in need of HIM (yes, the Heavenly Father "HIM", but also of MIKE... it gets so much harder in the dark winter months to have good Daddy time when we can't swim at the pool most afternoons/eves).  So Sat I found him crafting a fairy doll with the kids.  #gooddad

 My two couch snugglers.

 and TV buddies (tho we hardly ever watch TV with the school year schedule).

Sat we went to a family reunion.  So thankful these two are also still car sleepers!

More Thanksgiving Pictures

Our Thanksgiving week was fun of lots of fun travels.  I was so excited that Peter was done with school a day early.  It gave me & the kids the chance to go down to my parents' house (Mike had to work) and see some of my aunts and uncles.  My Uncle Ray (below) and Aunt Bettie (two down) drove down from Cape Cod.  They surprised my Uncle Henry (three down) with their visit, as they usually stay north and Henry and Barbara are the family at my parents for Thanksgiving.

 Can you tell Peter convinced a lot of family to read to him!

 Lily did some crafts.

 It was a rainy, yucky day but after Paw finally got home from work, we all had cabin fever.  So he took the kids out on an adventure.  We put bags on their shoes since it was so messy... they thought it was a hoot!

 We came back home and spent Thurs and Friday with Mike's family.  We had a secret mission at this park.  Afterwards, Peter and Tom loved getting scared by Anna saying "Boo!" to them. :)

Mike and Liam are bike riding in the background.

 Lily loves to mama Anna and got all of her toys out for her...

 ... and read this book to her.  So sweet!

  Saturday we went back to my parents.  There had to be a ride into the woods.  Its our standard entertainment and refreshment.

 Mike and Holly walked, while the rest of us rode, then walked.

 Peter and Lily got tired of the walk, so thankfully Robbie had his UTV and had been waiting to give them a ride back to the tractor.  :)

 And then back to the house...

 Peter needed some Holly love so jumped over to her seat.  :)

Thanksgiving Recap 2013

Keeping it brief this year.  

We had a great break and Thanksgiving week. 

We are so fortunate that we get to see both families.

We spent the beginning and end with my side of the family.

And the middle days with Mike's side.

I didn't take many pics but just enjoyed being with everyone.

{Mike leads a game of duck, duck, goose with the great grandkids/cousins at his aunt's house}

{of course, there was a ride into the woods at Maw and Paw's house}

....may add more later.  :)