20 Weeks

Well we are finally half way to meeting our precious Mackenzie!  She is 20 weeks and the size of a small cantaloupe.  Where has the time gone?  Being on bed rest I am so thankful that time is moving right along!  I am so ready for the end of this journey and anxious to begin our new chapter of life as a family of five.  

I am still not feeling her as much as I would like, but she does give me a couple of "thumps" per day to let me know she is there.  

More Practice

I am so excited!  I can not believe that I'm actually making these.  I'm not a very "crafty" person so this is a huge deal for me ha!  I'm ordering a couple of waffle crochet hats, crochet headbands, and coordinating flowers!  I just have to get the "go ahead" from Joseph since he makes the money.  I'm out of ribbon, but I'm hoping to get some this weekend.  Since I'm on bed rest I have to order all of my supplies on line.  Finally something I can do while on bed rest, makes me feel productive!

Perinatologist Appointment

Yesterday Joseph and I went to the Gainesville Perinatal Center.  It was such a calm atmosphere.  I sat in a leather recliner to have my blood pressure taken....very comfy!  They took us into the ultrasound room and we were able to see Mackenzie once again.  I think she is getting tired of everyone looking at her because she was not cooperative at all.  Her face was away from the ultrasound wand, making it impossible for us to see her cute little face.

The ultrasound tech performed a detailed check of Mackenzie.  We were able to see her her brain, heart, kidneys and other parts as well.  Their machine was a little more detailed than the one at our OBGYN.  Joseph and I were upset she didn't cooperate because we weren't able to see her little face in 3D.  Mackenzie is doing great!  All her organs are perfect, and her growth is right on schedule.

The reason we went to the Perinatal Center was to check out my hemorrhage.  We learned that the hemorrhage is not a risk to Mackenzie because it is not attached to my placenta.  That was great news!  But now for the "not so good" news.  As they did my ultrasound they found that my placenta is too close to my cervix (marginal placenta previa) and I'm at risk for pre-term labor.  Joseph asked if that meant that I could go into labor a few weeks early and her response was "she could go into labor now"....  Okay not what we wanted to hear, but they told us that my placenta could still move.  So for now we are praying that my placenta will move away from my cervix and no pre-term labor.  If that happens and the bleeding stops I can go back to my normal activities.  I'm not sure when that will be or if it will happen, but I will continue to wait on the Lord.

Up until yesterday I did not know that I was at risk for pre-term labor.  It scares me especially to know that I am only 19 weeks.  Please keep praying for us.  We still have four months to go and I am praying and believing that we will make it!

"...call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15

Practice Makes Perfect

I was not feeling very well today.....but I was able to finally give bow-making a try.  A couple of you tube videos, mess ups, and time, but here it is...

My Very First Bow

Mary Elisabeth came home and I was so excited to put it in her hair.....but what do you know she did not want anything to do with it.   No surprise there!

19 Weeks Doctor's Appointment Update

This is our little girl, Mackenzie Eliana.  Today we went to the doctor and had our  "big" ultrasound.  They checked all of Mackenzie's organs and growth.  It all looked great.  She is perfect!  Her heartbeat was good and let me tell you this girl loves to move.  She was all over the place and I can not help but smile as I write this because I am so in love.  In the picture above she had her hand in her mouth, can you believe how amazing that is?  God is so awesome!  

Here is another picture of our baby girl.  We also had a DVD made that we can not wait to show the kids.  Mackenzie looks great and I am so thankful that she is healthy.  She weighs 10 ounces so she is almost a pound.  Let me tell you, she already has us wrapped around her little finger.  I can not wait to meet her.

As far as my status goes....the hematoma is still there.  During the ultrasound they found a new bleed as well as placenta previa.  My mid-wife went ahead and referred me to perinatologist.  We will see him on Wednesday and are praying that he will have some good news for us.  So bed rest will continue...I really hoped to see some kind of improvement, but I know God is good and it is all in His hands.  

Please continue to pray for us.  We are going into my fifth week of bed rest and fourth week without my pay check.  Joseph is exhausted and it's hard not being able to help him.  I am so blessed to have him as my husband.  Him and his mom have done so much in the past month.  Joseph gets the kids up, gets them dressed, takes them to school, works all day, picks the kids up, brings them home, and some days goes back to work.  His mom comes over after work and cooks dinner, washes clothes, cleans my house and helps Joseph get the kids ready for bed.  It is so hard watching them do all this while I sit on the couch, but I am so unbelievably thankful for them.  God has blessed us so much and has shown us that He has everything under control.  Joseph has had more work than he knows what do with (praise God!) and is constantly making new contacts for future jobs.  As every week goes by we are continually in awe of what He's doing in our lives.  

There are days when I feel discouraged and become anxious about the future, but I continue to cast my anxiety on Him.  I can not get down and I can not let myself doubt His almighty power.  Do I believe He can heal my body and make it all better?  Of course He can, but that's not His plan right now and I'm okay with that.    If all of this makes me stronger in Him and brings me closer to Him than how can I complain.  I can not take this into my own hands it has to stay in His.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  

Romans 12:12