Waiting to Exhale

This Pregnancy has been the most eventful in my opinion. With Cadince, we had an emotional roller coaster waiting to see how early she would be, then when she was born and we could not bring her home it was even harder. Her first two months were touch and go with respiratory problem after problem and, even now at age 3, she still gets pneumonia at least once a year and always worse than the rest of us. I thought that was hard (and it really was) but I didn't think there was going to be a worse... gee whiz! Don't you just love when the Lord says "Surprise!"!!! lol

With Chase we have experienced our share of anxiety over when he would be born, whether he would have mental and physical handicaps, and what our futures would look like with any of these problems. We discussed changes in our lifestyles and how our family would adjust to the big changes we foresaw. Thankfully, we are beyond blessed, and Chase is now completely in the clear for any handicaps besides possible clubbed foot, he is full term and still cooking =), and the changes we will have to make consist mostly of adapting to raising a little boy at best! Everyday I am not only amazed, but I am eternally grateful for the miracle the Lord has sent us and the struggles his wonderful love and our faith have brought us through. I have had doubts in my faith before in the past. I have struggled with my life with Christ and Jared and I have both experienced times where we felt completely abandoned by the Lord when times have been exceedingly tough. I ashamedly admit that those doubts and lack of faith moments have caused me to stray from my christian path more than once. The few months prior to finding out about this pregnancy I went through a life change. Jared and I were on the verge of a divorce (we were seriously discussing child arrangements, living arrangements, him moving out of state, and dividing up our possessions) that was not going to be pretty and our lifestyles were not modeling the christian attitude and path they should. I prayed for the first time in quite a long time that the Lord help me through it all and guide me so that my girls would not suffer for their parent's issues. I was so overcome with emotion during this time and it was almost as if I saw my life from the ghost perspective. During the longest prayer I think I have ever committed to, I saw my life as it should be and completely reevaluated the direction I was going. I was overwhelmed with love for my family, and for my husband (truthfully a feeling I had not experienced for many many months) and made a decision that changed everything. I talked to Jared after that, explained to him my faults and the faults of our marriage and explained to him the path the Lord had empowered me with on how to save our family. Everything changed then. I now, more proudly and passionately then I have ever imagined, can say I have an AMAZING marriage and friendship with my husband. We started rebuilding right away and then, out of nowhere, learned we were pregnant just a few months later which just made everything so much more vital. This past year has been the biggest emotional roller coaster we have ever experienced but it has definitely been the most rewarding in our lives somehow as well!

Now, with all that seemingly pointless insight into my personal life=) I will get to the point of this blog.
I am soooooo sick of being pregnant! lol! I am only 37 weeks, and I have only 2 weeks left before my doctor said she will induce me (the 19th)...these conditions normally would not be such a big deal, but the combination of a hip fracture (ouch!), 14 hours of preterm labor at 33 weeks that ended with no baby (ouch! again), and the constant influx of bronchial infections...well it makes things a little unbearable. Physically, this has been VERY difficult and I am ready to be over and done with the pain! I really don't care if that makes me a bad parent in some people's eyes, because it truely is not me being selfish, it's me being human! (sorry, felt compelled to say that)
Emotionally, the strain has been pretty crazy as well. Each time I go to see my doctor (2 times a week) she tells me that I am 3cm and about to pop anyday. She assures me that I will not make it another week and that we will have a baby soon. Though, up to this point, Chase has been considered a preemie and him coming early would mean a hospital stay, I have to admit I would get excited. I mean, what woman goes through her pregnancy with the mindset that she DOESN'T want to see and hold her child?! Who DOESN'T get excited about loving that little one and bringing them home into the family?! So, we would get all excited and ready...and Every week, we would end with me...still pregnant! As soon as my contractions would start picking up, we would pack up and drive the 45 minutes to the hospital, often at midnight or later, with the hopes that THIS time we would end up with a baby. Each time, we sat in the hospital for a few hours just to be told I was STILL 3cm and there would be no baby again that night. It's exhausting! My mind and body even would prepare for the arrival of my son and I could practically smell and feel my little boy. I could imagine myself holding him and snuggling him. Each time they said no it was as if he was being ripped from my hands and I was being told I could not have him... it sucks!

Well, obviously Chase is still not here and we have no idea when he will arrive. I am full term now so when he does come he will be able to come home with me after he is born!!! At 39 weeks, January 19th, my doctor will iduce if he has yet to be born but I am hoping for an earlier delivery. School starts up nexy Thursday, the 14th, and I would prefer to be in and out before then! lol! I pray for understanding, less emotional stress, and a quick safe delivery very very soon! I only need to dilate one more centimeter and they will augment me when I go in! PRAY! It works!

That's my ramble for the week... signing off now, still pregnant, after taking up practically my whole blog page! lol!
Oh, and Laura, I have taken pictures this week and I will post them as soon as we get the printer fixed so I can download them off of my memory card!! Hopefully tomorrow or Thursday! =)

Living in Fast Forward....

....and I need to rewind real slow....!!!!
The year is almost over!!!!!!
Time goes by so fast. I look at my girls and I wonder, everyday, where they went. The young ladies I see can't possibly be my little baby girls.
Cecilia is such a young woman already! She comes home from school everyday with something new and interesting to tell us, some things, I admit, I am not ready for her to know...but for the most part she just fascinated me with her mind! Today the news was that a boy in her class...bet you know where this is going...is IN LOVE with her and just so I know, she is NOT happy about that! Thank the Lord! I know, with little beauties like mine, Jared and I are going to have one heck of a time in years to come with boys knocking the doors down to get to them...of course, when those boys come face to face with the 45 they might change their minds! lol! I am just not ready to deal with all that yet!!!
Ciara is growing so fast. She has new questions to ask me everyday, new facts to tell me from what she learns on t.v. or from Cecilia, and many many ideas in her head! She has gotten so tall, sprouting up like Cecilia our little giant, and I can't help but think back to day one, holding her tiny little body...far different looking than the long blond haired 4 year old in front of me!
Cadince, my little Cadie bug, though obviously bigger than she was at birth is still so tiny...but she is 3?! How did that happen?! She is still majorly struggling with potty training, and a broken collarbone has not helped the matter, but she is growing up just the same. I am amazed by all she can comprehend each day and how she can understand more and more of what we say and do. Three years ago she was just a little preemie baby, so tiny and fragile, and now she is my big girl...about to be a big sister! Yes, I definitely miss my little girls!
I realize today that, despite the craziness I have gone through the past few months and the insane 27lbs I have put on the past 33 weeks, I am about to not be pregnant anymore and I am oh so sad!!! Any day now Chase will be born, and I will no longer have a little miracle inside me. Since we have decided that, barring some insane twist of fate, this will be our last baby, the idea is even more tragic to me... no more waking up in the middle of the night feeling the baby kick, no more crazy cravings... it will all be over soon...already?!?!
Why does everything precious have to go by so fast? Why can't we slow down the wonderful parts of life?! The Lord knows what he is doing, this I know, but sometimes...well it's hard to say goodbye to those moments that take your breathe away!
On the plus side..... my little man will be here soon! I feel completely unprepared as nearly every mother does right before the baby comes, but I am so excited to hold him! Everyday is another day closer to touching him and loving him more than imaginable! What a blessing that will be!

I want to say that, unfortunately, hard times bring out the truth about certain situations and people. I have found that, there are many friends I thought Icould count on that I indeed can not. My family has been so supportive and constantly involved with every step of everything and I appreciate them more than I could every explain. My sister has been living with me, my on call emergency system if you will, and has helped keep me sane in my time of "captivity"! I get phone calls from family states away every week to stay up to date on the situation and many friends and family who can not be here to help, still offer prayer and assure me I am loved. For those who don't know or understand, in times of trial and pain and worry...sometimes the most important things is to know you are loved. I have made friends during this period in my life that i hope I never lose and I hope you know who you are...people I never had any contact with before really have become supportive aspects of my life. Thank all of you who have cared and who have been there, offering meals, relief, and support to Jared and I during this crazy time.

As far as Chase goes, here is the update... figured I should get to that eventually =)

I am 33 1/2 weeks along and just got home yesterday from the hospital where I was in preterm labor for 16 hours! Blah! I was put on the magnesium and 12 hours later my labor finally stopped. I am dilated at 3cm and counting...if I get to 4cm they cannot give me the medication to stop labor. If Chase is born anytime within the next week and 1/2 he will not be able to come home right away...he will spend a few days to a week or so in the NICU for his lungs to develop. Right now he is about 4 1/2lbs and I have already had the steroid shots to help his development along faster. My doctor expects that he will be here within the next week, though it is possible (not likely but miracles happen) that I can hold out for another 2 weeks. In all likelihood and probability we will have a baby by Christmas.
For those trying to stay updated, please pray for us. I desperately want to bring my son home once he is born, Cadince's 10 day stay in the NICU was nearly unbearable. Pray for his health, our patience, and our understanding of whatever decision the Lord makes for us. I suppose I am done rambling and updating...don't know when I will be on again as I am actually contracting pretty bad tonight... by as soon as we know more I will try and post!
Thank you so much and Bless you for your prayers and support, even if it is silent...

inspiration...even though you didn't ask

Sometimes, all you need to get through the day is for someone, somewhere to say just the right thing...or tell you something they heard once. That person is almost ALWAYS my mother and I am so thankful. Thank you Mom... I love you!

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you
read to the end!!!!!! Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain
Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It
is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves

30 weeks

These are a bit blurry because Jared took them with his camera phone and his hands were not perfectly still the whole time! But, here are some pictures, posed by my husband, of me at 30 weeks! Chase is measuring a little bigger than average, but not huge...Thank the Lord! This is our bassinet for the little man!

I found this sign very appropriate since we are having a little CHASE and we always encourage our kids to follow their dreams as far as they can reach and way beyond... It will go over his crib!

I look and feel humongous, but this if for documentation purposes, especially since I have not been keeping up with pictures like I should! Here the girls wanted to be in a picture so Jared had them stand with their hands on my belly! If it wasn't so blurry it would be even cuter!
All in all I can't complain too much. Being pregnant obviously means getting a little bigger and gaining some weight. I have gained just under 20 lbs so far with 10 week left so that is about average and I am ok with that! Now that I am on bed rest though, I am afraid of those pounds that will just be sitting around multiplying! lol

Of course!

Things have been going pretty well around here lately. As well as can be expected in this house anyway! Cadince is doing fine with her little broken collar bone...she hardly ever has her brace on the way it should be and climbs around EVERYWHERE as usual. I figure if she isn't in enough pain to stop herself then no harm done letting her play. Cecilia is pulling off average grades in school, better than the low grades she started off with but not quite the higher grades she COULD be getting if she would stop talking in class and do her work...so she is pretty much grounded all the time lately. Ciara is becoming very excited about the arrival of her little brother and wants so much to help with everything....the nursery, the baby book, rubbing Mommy's tummy.... anything she feels contributes to preparing for Chase. To her, this will get him here sooner!
Speaking of which....

Here we go....This is why I labeled this "Of course!"
Today I had an appointment in Nashville with the specialist, a different one then usual this time, to get an echogenic test done for Chase. This is basically and extensive ultrasound done mainly on the heart and surrounding arteries and valves. The tech spent the whole time zoomed in on his heart and than the prenatal heart specialist came in to scan for a bit and examine what he could of the heart. No worries here, everything about Chase's little heart was perfect! That is a BIG blessing!
However, the Lord finds humor in my topsy turvy world I swear, and the next thing the tech needed to do was a transvaginal to measure my cervix and some growth. Two seconds into the scan she started getting that "huh" look on her face. I was then informed that there was a not so small issue...my cervix had shortened 12 cm in the past month and a half (which is NOT ok) and I was now at a very short 22 cm! Oh Joy!
My friend was with me abd we had plans to go pre Christmas shopping and browsing after the appointment, but instead I was immediately sent over to Centennial Hospital for Women to be hooked up to machines and monitored! Great! I tried to tell the lady that I wasn't in labor, nor was I even contracting, but no one listens to me. I was, indeed, not contracting and was released shortly after I got there, but all of this came with bad news.
Chase will be here soon, alot sooner than we thought, alot sooner than he should be... 3-5 weeks. I am 29 weeks and 4 days as of today...
So....
Please pray for us. Please pray that my son will stay inside just a little longer, that there will be no complications, that he will be safe inside of me, and that when he is born he will not have to stay in the hospital NICU for days and days like Cadince did. My heart breaks when I think about not bringing him home, when I think about not being able to hold my son for weeks for mor than a minute or two before they have to stick him back in the incubator, when I think about not being able to nurse him like I want to so badly. Everything was fine! I haven't been to the E.R. in awhile, no bad contractions, just growing pains... I don't understand why this happens, I just ask that you help me and pray that we ALL get through this healthy and happy.
I have to add something positive to stop myself from crying anymore while I write this =)
We have all the big furniture we need for the nursery!!!! And it is all set up!!! We want to paint and are just waiting on approval from the owner of our house to start! We found a crib, dresser, and changing table/dresser combo all for $250 gently used from a very nice woman! I got an adorable bassinet for super cheap from a consignment store, and I got his baby swing on sale too! I need diapers of course, bottles, a breast pump, and tons of other little things for his actual arrival, and I feel so unprepared now...but that's me worrying! ugh!

Thank you all for all your prayers! We will get through, we always do...

First Broken Bone among the kiddos!

So.... Wednesday, the 4th, Cadince was in the middle of practicing her new acrobatic routine (she is secretly a tight rope walker) when her balance was thrown off by a sudden movement of the CHAIR she was standing on! Her tiny little body was thrust forward behind the chair and she fell down, down, down many feet (like 3 1/2) and she landed with a THUD! on the floor! (I try to tell her everytime she needs to use a safety net!) I was in bed because I sleep whenever I get the chance and Jared rushed her into me, quickly explained her terrifying feat, and moved her sleeve to show me the puffy bruised area on her collar bone. After examining it for a few moments I decided she was probably just bruised and decided to get back to my nap...I am a very involved mother! LOL A few moments later I could hear her cries from the other room. I got up to check o her and she had barely moved her arm but was obviously in a great deal of pain...to the emergency room I guess! Well, after 1 hour of Gateway's "excellent service" and being exposed to swine flu and all sorts of other ailments from the other people waiting around in the waiting room, we were called back. The doctor came in, looked at her, moved her arm around, and sent her to X-ray. For those of you mothers who have not had to experience your young child being tortured in a X-ray room, may you never have to! She was TERRIFIED! I tried desperately to hold her hand but they kept pulling her away and bending her in ways obviously causing anguish! She kept screaming and through the tears I heard "Mama, I am scared! Help me!" Let me say I have NEVER felt so helpless and so horrible in my life! My poor baby was right in front of me, calling for me, in pain and I could not help her. After the great fun in the Xray room, we were sent back to our room to wait....and wait...and wait. Well, another 3 hours went by and we were finally seen again by the doctor, all the while my little Cadie was cuddled up against me sobbing in discomfort. He told us she had a clean break in her collar bone and, yes, there is nothing we can do to fix it! He said he would give her some medicine there, but she was to take just Motrin at home, and wear a sling for 6-8 weeks! She is 3!!!! So, after all the tears we both cried during our 4 1/2 hour stay at the hospital, Cadince and I walked out to the car where Daddy and Ciara were waiting to tell them the news... My poor poor Cadince! The smallest of us all gets a big boo boo! To top it all off, our cell phones were shut off that morning so I couldn't call to cancel my doctor's appt for the 3rd time to take Cadie to the E.R.!! Crazy Crazy day!

Halloween 2009

We had a GREAT Halloween this year! Our church had a chili cook-off, American Idol, Trunk or Treat, an AWESOME hayride, fireworks, and some of our favorite people... the Spencer family! The girls got to go all out this year! Cecilia picked to be a Queen bee, though she mostly looks like a super hero in her pictures! Ciara was the belle of the ball as a Southern Belle and won the all ages costume contest at the LDS church function and got 2nd place at our church's festival! Cadince, our Cadie bug, was a cute little lady bug and the most adorable one I have ever seen at that! So, here are some pictures of our little cuties. I have to say, though it may seem biased some, I have the most adorable children in the world. Truthfully, I don't thank the Lord often enough for them and He deserves ALOT of praise for the little wonders He has blessed Jared and I with!



All my girls... Cadie smearing her face paint! Aren't they the cutest?!






























One thing is for sure... we will NEVER run out of Halloween candy! Here's our stash from Halloween night alone... and this is AFTER we passed out some to the late trick or treaters who came around after we got home!!!

Baby shower

So... Saturday was my baby shower and it was amazing! I had so much fun with friends and family and couldn't have asked for a better turn out...well, Andrea, it would have been nice if you hadn't thrown yourself infront of some crazy teenager and gotten in that accident so you couldn't come for it, but I understand your selfishness I suppose! lol Anyway, I want to thank everyone who made it out to make me feel all special and thought I would go ahead and post some pics for those who couldn't get there (because of some fake "car accident" or whatever) haha jk



I really was in a good mood, but this picture makes me look hateful! lol... I was cooking!










Before the party started everyone was just hanging out...so I was forced to pose for pictures!













Not that Chase woudn't look so muc better in these, but I think I pulled the look off ok, right?!










I was so in love with all the little bags! Loved my gifts, don't get me wrong, but I got all giggly over them bags! lol










Some gifts brought out the tear works... Cecilia picked out a bunch of stuff from her and her sisters just for Chase. She chose some diapers, Finding Nemo baby wipes, an outfit, and s baby pacifier thermometer so she can read the temperature when she helps with Chase. Right before that I had finally stopped crying from when Tabby walked in with the cutest little carseat! She surprised me! It is adorable! Laura R got these precious little hand/footprint frames for me to hang up in Chase's room! Holding those just made me think of how small his little feet will be and I just want to hold him already! lol



























Of course, every good shower has a super yummy cake to gorge out on! lol. My Mommy got me the cutest little cake. In case you can't read it it says "It's a Boy!" She said she asked, but they couldn't fit "finally" on there anywhere! hahahaha













Here I am, stuffing the adorable cake into my mouth! mmmmm! It was so good!











Last but not least I wanted to show the world exactly what all happened at the shower and I could not do wo without including this next picture! My husband, who was NOT invited to the shower by the way, snuck down the stairs during the gift time to swipe a bunch of food from the kitchen and then sneak back up stairs... well, all I can say Jared is... BUSTED!














I feel so incredibly blessed to have the friends and family that I do who took time out of their busy lives to spend some time with me, pampering me and playing insane games! With all the chaos that has been associated with this pregnancy, it was so nice to just be surrounded by people who really care about us and feel that support! Thank all of you so much and please know that I love you all for everything you do! We had a blast didn't we?!



* On a side note, I did want to add, not to bring the mood down at all, that I did have another ultrasound with the specialist Friday. Apparently we have a bit of a road ahead still of tests and ultrasounds to rule out other possiblities, but we are pretty sure Chase has clubbed foot and there is a possibility of some brain abnormaility. From the looks of the ultrasound the doctor believes that the left side of his brain appears larger than the right and so she is just a little concerned about that. She has scheduled me for an advanced echo for his heart and a measurements ultrasound in a few weeks to get a better look! We are hopeful though... please pray everything is ok! The Lord will get us through just fine! Thanks!

motivational in my very hectic life

My mom sent me this email story and it undoubtedly touched my heart so much. I have been building a stronger relationship with the Lord these past few months, unfortunate that it took such a horrid probability (the possible health problems with our son) to finally get my butt in gear towards this transformation, but whatever the reason I have matured so much in this short while and have been "blessed" with trials and tribulations already to build up that faith and relationship even more lately.
I hope that as you read this short story you feel the spirit rush over you as I did.
For, the Lord only gives us what we can handle and he will not weigh upon us that which we can not carry. He might try :) but he knows our limits!


Here's the story:

I was tired. Bone weary. For six weeks, my schedule had been relentless. In the middle of it all I had been faced with one tragedy after another: the accidental death of a young woman in our church; the loss of a close friend to heart disease; the breakup of a loved one's marriage. I was beginning to feel like Job.
One Wednesday night at prayer meeting, the strain must have showed on my face. After the service, Tom Parrish walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I knew he had something important to say. Tom is eighty yeas old. A survivor of Pearl Harbor, he has been a lawyer, a pastor and university administrator. He is a man of wisdom and experience. I have learned to listen to him.

"Scott," Tom began, "let me tell you a story about something that happened to me in high school. I was strong and lean back then, and very fast. I ran the mile on the track team, but I was having problems. I always led the pack through the first three-and -a -half laps, but on the homestretch I was getting beat. One day after I lost by a whisker, my track coach pulled me over and said a single sentence that changed my life: 'Always remember that the other man is just as tired as you are.'

"Now, Scott, you haven't said it, but I can tell it: You're tired. But this is the moment when you must not give in. Just remember that others have gone through what you're going through, and they didn't lose the race. And they were as tired as you are. Keep your chin up and keep running."
There are times when all of us need to collapse and rest. There are other times when we need to tighten our jaw and "keep on keeping on." And sometimes the encouragement of a friend can make all the difference between winning or losing the race.

Dear Father, may I continue to run the race that is before me. And may I give encouragement to other runners along the way. Scott Walker

Are we an encourager or discourager? May God help us to be like Jesus. Have a Great day in the Lord!

Differences

So, I have been keeping a small record of what has been going on during the pregnancy through the blog, not really keeping up the way I should, but attempting to keep some record... Anyway, my Mom suggested I keep track of the differences between this pregnancy and the other two, since we have a boy this time... and believe me, there are differences! lol

First Trimester

With the girls, I was sick throughout the entire pregnancy. With Ciara I was actually physically ill, vomiting all the time, everything but what I was craving! With Cadince, I was just nauseous 24/7! I couldn't eat anything even if I wanted to, but once I did I had the constant feeling of nausea, with no relief! With Chase, however, I had early morning nausea through the first whole trimester, occasionally it was throughout the entire day but mostly in the morning or late late evening. It was always accompanied by vomiting! lol

Second Trimester

Into the second trimester, with both Ciara and Cadince, I was laid up in bed, still ill! My body stayed fairly small, however, and my weight gain was minimal. With Chase, my feet swell, my legs and hands swell, and my weight gain has been average, but not where I would like it to be! Because with Ciara I started out so small, I only gained about 18 lbs with her over all 9 months. With Cadince, since she was 7 weeks early, I only gained about 24 lbs, but at 33 weeks that was a good deal more than what I had gained with Ciara. After Cadie I didn't lose all of my weight, and started out at an unideal weight with Chase... 155 lbs! So far, in the second trimester, nearly to the third with Chase, I have gained 20 lbs... and I still have 15 weeks to go! I have just now been put on light bed rest, with orders to prop my feet up as often as possible and avoid any straining exercise or movements. Great! I have 3 kids! lol By this point , 25 weeks, in my previous 2 pregnancies, I had been to the hospital quite a few times with preterm labor scares, had to have terbutaline shots out the whazoo, and was incapable of doing anything on my own! haha! With Chase, I have been twice, only because an infection has caused me to go into heavier Braxton Hicks than permissible, and that has thrown me over and required me to have the terb!

Kicking

Ciara was my first and so, I wasn't exactly a pro on what to look for movement wise. I first felt her kicks around 19-20 weeks and they were like little butterfly movements! I felt the same feeling with Cadie around the same time, only a little more profound, since the girls were only a year apart! With Chase, I felt the butterflies at about 16 weeks, way before I expected them. At 20 weeks I could feel full on kicking and moving around and unlike the girls, who I could SEE moving around at about 28 weeks, I have seen Chase moving since week 22! It's true, you really do see and feel things earlier each time! haha
The girls were pretty consistent with their kicking and location. Both girls stayed in the center of my belly area most of the time, only occasionally putting pressure on my spine and only towards the end. Chase, however, is ALL OVER THE PLACE, all the time! He kicks me in the back, the chest, straight down (oh ya, that one hurts ladies!), and pretty much anywhere he pleases!

Ultrasound

With both the girls, I had an ultrasound around 21 weeks and then had at least one after that. With Cadie, because of her/my condition, I had 2 ultrasounds a week for about 2 months to keep a close eye on her measurements. Both the girls were very proportioned looking. Their bodies seemed about the same from head to toe... Chase, on the other hand, appeared ALL LEGS in all his ultrasounds so far! No wonder his kicks make me shake sometimes with their intensity!

Cravings

My cravings haven't been near as intense with Chase as they were with the girls. With Ciara and Cadince I had hardcore cravings throughout the day and night all the way to about the 7 month mark. I wanted strange combinations of things, beef jerky all the time, pepsi circulated through my veins like blood, and if I didn't eat when and what I was craving then, I couldn't eat after. I practically lived off of Subway with Cadince! lol With Chase, I have had minimal cravings, mostly for full course meals like Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy (thanks Mom), steak and loaded mashed potatoes, salads and such... oh, and pistachios! haha! However, the weirdest craving I have had, through all the pregnancies has occurred with Chase only and is really abnormal to me... milk! I HATE milk so much! I barely use any in my cereal each morning, I would only drink it accompanied with Ovaltine mix, I wouldn't even drink it with oreos! Chase, on the other hand, LOVES milk and I have to have two or three glasses everyday! I never thought something I personally have such disdain for could become my new pepsi all because of the appetite of my child!

That's about all I've got right now... Which is quite alot I realize! haha! I hope to remember to update in the third trimester!