24 Weeks, 4 Days (so I am in my 25th week) update

I went to the doctor yesterday and had my glucose test done. It went great! My levels were really low, so I do not have gestational diabetes. The drink tasted bad, and the hour wait for blood work seems like forever, but I am so thankful I didn't have to do the three hour test.

Baby girl seems to be quite healthy! She was kicking like crazy after the glucose drink and when my doctor tried to check her heart rate, she just kept kicking the doppler. He was laughing a lot, but did finally get an accurate reading.

It is HOT in Oklahoma right now. Man, I can't imagine being pregnant last summer when it was even warmer! I feel like I can't cool off somedays, even in the swimming pool I feel overheated. It is going to be a long summer for me I think. Fall weather cannot come soon enough!

I have been able to continue working out through this pregnancy, and that makes me really excited that it won't be too difficult to lose the baby weight. It is starting to get more and more difficult though. I can no longer reach my toes, and I get out of breath very easily! Anybody had luck with pregnancy yoga? I am considering giving it a go.

 I have been feeling overwhelmed about not having anything ready for baby's arrival. I am nearing my third trimester and we don't even have a crib yet! I feel like there is so much to do and so little time to do it, but everyone keeps telling me to wait until after the shower to buy anything. That is so difficult though! I want everything ready now!

How far along? 25 Weeks

Stretch marks? None yet!!
Sleep: It is definitely getting more difficult to sleep now.
Best moment this week: Hearing baby's strong heartbeat
Miss Anything? Red Bull. My goodness I want a Red Bull!
Movement: So much movement!
Food cravings: I have not had any actual cravings, but have been wanting a lot of fruit.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Pretty much everything still.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Sick, and some heartburn if I have anything lime.
Belly Button in or out? In, but working on making its debut
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Fourth of July!

24 Weeks!

Our little girl is the size of an ear of corn, and weighs about 1.5 lbs. If she were born today, she would have about a 36% chance of survival-stay in there a bit longer baby girl!

Picture of my belly two weeks ago. I already feel like it is quite a bit larger now. I am definitely carrying her all up front. It looks like a basketball under my shirt.

I can feel her kicks like crazy. Sometimes I swear she is doing somersaults in there. My little brother got to feel her for the first time on Monday night and I will never forget his reaction! His eyes got really big and he didn't move his hand for a long time. He got to feel her strong kicks a couple times and he kept saying "oh my gosh!"

This whole pregnancy has been surreal. I love being pregnant, and I also hate being pregnant. I love that I get to feel her moving, I love that I am already getting to be a mother to her by watching what I eat, drink, and even how I exercise. I hate that I am soooo sooo sick all the time. I keep thinking it will get better, but it doesn't! The good far outweighs the bad in this though. At the end of all this sickness is a beautiful baby girl waiting to be held.

I went to an event called "Sit. Stay. Art." last month. It is an art show where people can purchase art. The art is animal based and is very interesting to look at. These artists are so creative! Pets are welcome to look in the gallery with their owners, and a sweet Great Dane was among the attendees. I am in love with big animals, so when I saw him I had to get my hands on him. Apparently, he has a thing for pregnant women. He walked right up to me and dug his head into my belly. Immediately baby started kicking him (she doesn't like stuff resting on her little home). For at least 5 minutes the Great Dane kept his head like this, buried in my tummy and baby kept kicking him. His eyes were closed like he was communicating with her or something. It was cracking me up! My animals seem to know I am pregnant also. I have a Manchester Terrier/Basenji mix that has to have her paws on my belly at all times, and both of my cats think my belly makes the best bed.

I have my next appointment on Tuesday. This appointment is where my glucose levels will be checked. It makes me nervous, I don't have any reason to think I would have gestational diabetes, but I am just thinking, if I do, pregnancy is going to get much harder! 

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Baby is very healthy and growing at exactly the right rate.

While I'm Waiting

I have never been a very patient person.

When Greg and I were trying to conceive, I would feel so desperate as I sat waiting for God to bless us with a child. I felt like Greg and I were ready, that we were just waiting on God. Why wasn't He ready to give us a child? Weren't we fit to be parents?

There is a song by John Waller called "While I'm Waiting". Every time I hear it I feel convicted. Here are the lyrics:

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

While we were waiting on God, I wasn't patient at all! I was impatient! I wasn't living my life as I should. I was living in resentment and honestly just feeling sorry for myself.

The one thing a woman should be able to do, I couldn't do. I couldn't make babies. Isn't that what women are on this Earth for? Isn't that our main purpose?

When I finally gave everything to God, when I finally said that I will serve Him while I wait, I got pregnant. Now, I do give a lot of credit to my doctor, and to clomid, but I wouldn't have been able to become pregnant if God didn't want me to. I had a moment of conviction in November, in January I was still worshipping God while I waited. I was determined to let God have all of me, not just the pieces I was okay with giving him. In January, our little miracle baby was conceived.

There is a reason God kept this child from us for so long. I don't know what it is, but it honestly doesn't matter. I don't have to know God's plan to be able to submit to it. I don't have to direct my own life when I have the creator of the universe to direct it for me. My God has provided for me for 22 years and counting, why do I still struggle to just let him have all of me?

My dream for this child is that she will be patient like her father and be able to love God and submit to him with ease. I want to teach her that looking to Him is always the right answer.