Sunday Fun: Visiting Kadyn

After church on Sunday we headed to the hospital to visit Kadyn. The kids were excited to see Owa after so long. Ria and her were matching so they wanted a picture together

Since the kids can't go into the NICU to see Kadyn, J decided to stay in the cafe with them while I went in with Eleanor. It was such a treat to watch her hold him and feed him. He is the tiniest baby I've seen. I think I would be afraid to hold (Eleanor is!)

It's so hard seeing him and being right there but not being able to hold him (just his parents are allowed to touch and hold him) but soon enough! He is just so cute. He is improving daily and right now he is at 4lbs / 1.6kg. Today they took the feeding tube off cos he was doing really great bottle and nipple feeding. He has several tests that he needs to pass before he can go home but they will keep him as close to his due date as possible, which was not til the end of October.

I am so thankful he is doing so much better. I know its been tough on Eleanor and Demaro. No one plans to not go home with their baby but he is in good care and is covered by so many prayers.  It wont be long before they can take their baby home and be together as a family.
~V

September Snapshots

Here's smorgasbord of pics from September

LFMS girls soccer team car wash - Ria got to help wash cars!

Sunday dress (8th) - still nice and hot out

Meet Baby Kadyn  (a day old here and first time J and I got to see him)

 Eleanor and Demaro welcome Kadyn on the 12th. He was born 7wks early and is in the NICU. He weighed 1.5kg / 3lbs 5oz. He is improving daily and will likely got home mid October.

 and here he is at 8 days old. He has tons of hair and is so tiny!

 Date night with my love - after visiting Kadyn, J and I got to spend some much needed time together. Rembrandts had been calling our names for a long time!

Ready for church (15th)

Orange Leaf treat for LFMS girls team - we got to tag along. And let me tell you, I am not and will NEVER be cut out to be a middle school teacher. Good grief were they annoying. It got to a point where I told J they were getting on my nerves and we had to get out of there! I know a lot of my childhood friends read our blog and they can vouch for me on this .... we were never that annoying at that age!

 First day of Autumn (22nd)

I never tire of watching this little one sleep ... she is seriously one crazy sleeper but oh so sweet!

see what I mean by crazy? I dont even know how she fell asleep like this!

Saturday chores after soccer - she seriously works hard for her money! I love that they fight over who gets to do what chores:)

September was filled with lots of soccer games but I will do a whole other post and recap those weekends soon:)
~V

Baby 3 Update: 24wk Appt

Just getting caught up here so this appt was actually 2wks ago. Guess I will make this a catch up baby post:)

This appointment was very routine (pee in a cup, weight, bp, baby's heart beat). I think I spent more time waiting than actually being with the doctor.

How far along:  24wks at appt; 25w 6d today
Blood pressure: healthy (forgot the numbers)
Weight gain: 9lbs / 4kg (kinda crazy that they have my weight gain at just 5lbs / 2.2kg)
Baby's heart beat: upper 150's

He measured my belly for the first time and its right at 24wks. I honestly thought it would be bigger since baby is measuring a week ahead. He gave me the option to bring home the drink I need to have at my next appointment to test my sugar levels. I am not looking forward to this so prayers appreciated please. I don't do well with needles and there will be blood work involved and I wont be able to eat until after blood is drawn (looking around 2-3hrs after I wake. I normally eat within 20mins of being awake).

THE Question of every day: How are you feeling?
I get asked that question all the time and I feel like I need to have a laundry list of things that are just 'not right' but the truth is I feel great. I feel strong and healthy and just overall good. Yes there are days I feel big, get crampy and am uncomfortable when baby is really pushing and kicking hard but all that's par for the course of this. I know I have so much more growing to do so I try not to focus on that aspect. I know a lot of how I feel is attributed to the fact that I am still exercising and keeping up with normal activity. I workout 4 to 5 times a week for at least an hour and half at a time. I have quit doing some stuff but for the most part I just modify my workouts and keep going. I am also coaching Javan's soccer team so that's a lot of running. J gets a little nervous when he asks me what I did for my workout each day. He always gives me a look of concern but I listen to my body and take it easy. Last week was a good example. I made it through my weight training and went to the inside track to run/walk but decided I'd rather rest. So I took a little nap for about 20mins! I am really very thankful for a healthy pregnancy.

Best Moments: I am really loving all the baby movements. We can even feel body parts (can't distinguish what they are though) but the most exciting part is enjoying this pregnancy through the eyes of the kids. Both kids have felt the baby move. Ria's reaction was so cute. She is constantly rubbing on my belly or has her hand on it. Baby just happened to be really active this one particular day and she got kicked. She pulled her hand of and said 'HEY!' Her face lit up and she says 'I feeled the baby move mummy! I feeled it!' It was adorable. She had to rub in to Javan that she felt the baby and he didn't. He got his turn the next day. He couldn't stop saying 'OMG that is so cool!' Just yesterday he told me 'I am so eager for this baby to get here' and he has also said how he hopes the baby comes before Christmas so we can wrap it up and put it under the tree cos it will be the best present ever:)

Here's a few belly pics:

21w 4d

 23wks 1d

Trying on my bridesmaid dress for the wedding I am in next month. I was so nervous to get this cos when we ordered it I had just found out 2wks earlier that I was pregnant. I got it 3 sizes bigger to be on the safe side. Thankfully I have lots of room to grow in it and wont need to order extra fabric. And the best part ... the dress isn't maternity. Suzanne chose a great style!

24wks

25wks

kids doing their nightly thing of poking around my belly trying to find the baby! Javan says 'I think the baby moved to the back. Turn around let me feel your back!

25w 2d

I go back to the doctor in two weeks. I am starting to feel the need/time crunch to get things ready for the baby. There is lots to be done but with Jermaine hardly ever at home, its a little challenging and our weekends go by way too quickly. We made a list the other night and hope to conquer everything on it within the next month and some.

And since you are wondering .... we still have no names on our (non-existent) list. Another thing to get cracking on.

~V

Birthday Fun

Loved seeing this on my fitness watch first thing in the morning. Made me look forward to my birthday workout even more.

I would say this wasn't the most fun birthday I've had. I babysat all day and basically tantrums, screaming fits and even getting called out early for pick up at the gym (it wasnt even my kid), made the day less than special. I couldn't wait for those three extra kids to leave so I could be with my family. And I was so thankful that even though I was really exhausted from the day, Jermaine was determined to make the evening and weekend fun for me.

J and the kids took me to dinner at J. Alexanders.

After dinner, they took me shopping. I LOVED it! It was fun getting some new things to clothe this big belly of mine:)

Saturday the kids had their first soccer games and later that evening we went to our friends Leto and Jaya's house for dinner. They surprised me with a little cake.

I had no idea but J had planned a lunch for Sunday after church with several friends. Several had plans or something come up at the last minute so it ended up being a smaller celebration. We had lunch at Carrabbas

and then we walked over to Menchies for a treat

 I think we both had a little too much fro yo!!!

{Baby belly at 23w4d}

So just like that another birthday has come and gone. I am very thankful for another year and look forward to all the fun we have ahead this year. Next birthday I will have another little blessing to celebrate with:)
~V

Sunday Fun: Hello September!

We had a really fun Sunday catching up on some much needed family time:)

 Ria kept roaring at the camera .... silly girl!

post church

 22w4d with baby3

 baby2:)

 baby1:)

 and my love!

I was so glad we made it home before it started storming. Nap time was perfect! Later that evening we went for a walk. Perfect way to end a great day.
~V