The Kenworthys Journey

20 months....

2012-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Well Quinn turned 20 months...thats 4 months from having a 2 year old.....Hes so independent now. Makes me a little sad, but so happy for the wonderful toddler he is becoming. We went to the park this week, (Yes in January, I love it) and he is so different then he was when we were going to the park in the fall. He would stay by my side and I had to go down the slides with him, now he climbs all the way up the equipment by himself and goes down the slides head first! And Im running around trying to make sure he stays in me sight lines....so basically I am sweating more then he is after an hour of playing at the park. He answers yes and no to questions now, he knows what he wants to eat and for a snack, it is crazy that I am communicating with this little person who just a year ago was learning how to walk. He is the politest little kid, he gets that from his dad. If another kid has something he wants, he will never just take it out of their hands, he always waits his turn for things...we are working on please and thank you! It just amazes me how much he is growing and changing right now. It is something new everyday.

New words in the past couple weeks...
range- means he wants an orange (tangerine)
Hot
coo-coo- Train
water
boo-boo
baby- finally he never wanted to say this before and now all the sudden everytime he sees a baby he says it
Bella- his playdate friend
I- is anything he can write with
shoes
basketball (so cute how he says it)
Football
Mouse- this is an old one, but this is what he calls Mickey Mouse
Duck-he knows donald duck
Toes, mouth( he knows all of his body parts, now he is starting to say a few of them)

In January we did a lot of activities...we go to open gyms every week, where he runs and jumps, and plays. We have been to the Childrens musuem a few times. We go to library time every week, for books, bubbles, and songs. We had a few playdates. We played in the snow and we are going to swim lessons every Saturday morning so Dad gets to go! We even got to play outside a few days with the weather being so nice.

We are working on colors, he has blue down...I am so proud of him.....I couldnt have a sweeter baby boy..I always say to him, Can Momma hold you? And he says Yes...and comes running for me to hold him......I love it......dont get me wrong he has his terrrible two moments......and when I ask him if he needs a time out he always says Yes...so those are obiously doing a lot of good!

Febuary looks to be just as great a January...we will going to Florida next week to visit Aunt Kassidy and Uncle Brian.....Cecil has a birthday...we are going to make a trip to see mamaw and papaw in Kentucky.....

First Post of 2012.....

2012-01-09T11:21:00.000-08:00

Welp...here we are 2012...I cant believe it...I will be graduated from high school 10 years this year...thats crazy! Makes me feel old.....2011 was by far a great year, probably the best year of my life so far......Quinn took his first steps and celebrated his first birthday...I dont know what can get more special then those two things! Cecil and I celebrated 6 years married....which again...CRAZY! I enjoyed every minute staying home with Quinn this past year, we did all kinds of things, play dates, played at the park, walks, swimming, played outside...2011 brought our first family vacation and Quinns first trip to the beach, it was so much fun....I cant wait to take him every year. My dad got married and my sister got married...so we welcomed 5 more people into our family in 2011. You can never have enough people in your life that love and support you! We also sold our house this year, it was bittersweet...this is what we do....it is our second income per say....but was a little tougher then most, I loved our house...we brough Quinn home to this house.....but I know we will find something we love just as much!

The end of 2011 brought Quinns second Christmas. He still doesnt understand but he was way more into unwrapping and being excited about things then he was last year, I know it will just get better and better every year with him. If he is anything like his dad, he will love the Christmas season. My sister and Brian were home for 2 weeks this year at Christmas, which was great....but Quinn and I were sick the second week they were here which is kindof a bummer! But we are heading down to see them in a few weeks...and I much rather hang out with them in the sunny warm weather then here! Quinn was spoiled at Christmas, the gifts just kept coming! When he gets a little older, I want to make sure we are explaining to him that Christmas is not all about the gifts and what people buy you...I hope I can come up with some ways for us as a family to do things for the needy during Christmas, so Quinn can see the true meaning. But for now...he enjoyed ripping paper and getting new things. His favorite gifts were his real basketball, his train table, hi mickey mouse pillow pet and his huge hot wheels track! Love spending time with all of our families at Christmas, it always comes and goes so quick.

Quinn turned 19 months the day after Christmas. He is the funniest kid ever. He proably shoots at least an hour a day on his basketball goal....he gives me the remote and says Ball and wants me to turn on a ball game. This kid is obsessed with balls, any...soccer, basketball, football, tennis...hes not picky! And I know everyone thinks since Cecil and I are into sports that we shove it in Quinns face all the time, but we really dont at all.....its just who he is, its just in his bood I guess. We follow his lead with what he wants to do, and what he wants to play with...and it will always be that way...if he rather sing in the choir then be on the sports court.....I will be just as happy, as long as he is doing what makes him happy. ( Even though I have no idea where he will get his singing voice from!)

He is saying so many words, a lot we understand...a lot we dont, and a lot we dont and he thinks we should be understanding
Quinns words at 19 months...ball, Bubba (our bulldog), Georgia (our dog), Big Boy ( our big american bull dog) Dog, Car, Tractor, Yum, Milk, Cracker, Bye Bye, Papaw, Mamaw, Dad, Mom (even though he calls me Dad too!) Mine (Thanks Aunt Kassidy) More, Bath ( the kid LOVES a bath, he asks for one about 5 times a day) No, Yes., Night-Night.....I know there are more I just cant think, he understands almost everything we say or ask him to do, put your crayons away and he does, go get your books and he does....

Besides playing ball he loves to color in coloring books, that is his thing right now..We are going to spend a fortune in coloring books because he scribbles on a page and then hes done with it and goes on to the next! Silly! He also loves MICKEY MOUSE, he asks for it to be on the TV...he can spot anything Mickey Mouse from a mile away.

We have been going to open gym every week, and he loves it! He runs and jumps, and walks on balance beems, and plays in the bounce house and jumps in the foam pit and on the trampoline. He has a blast. We are started swim lessons again this month and he will love that too, anything active he loves! Total boy!

We had our first of probably may trips to the Childrens Museum this past weekend. He did really well, we were there almost 3 hours, he loved the playscape and pretty much everything there was to do. He loved the big train, I see many more trips in our future there.

We actually have been playing outside a little bit because the weather has been so nice, he loves it...he wouldnt care if it were freezing out...he just loves to be outside, we cant wait for the weather to break again and be able to be outside all the time!

One of my New Years Resolutions in to blog once a month at least, with pictures from the month and what we did that month and what Quinn is doing new.....I am usually good about keeping resolutions so hopefully I will keep this one.....

Fall is here.....

2011-11-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Man I cant believe Fall is here.....and next Month in Christmas! We have had a great fall. The weather has been good enough to play outside in the leaves, take our daily walks, and explore the back yard! Quinn turned 17 months.....and the "terrible" twos have come early to this house, Im kidding he is not terrible by any means...but we are starting to deal with the tantrums, a few where he has thrown himself on the ground kicking. I was that mom carrying my screaming, kicking kid out of the store last week at the Nike outlet. Alls he wanted to do was throw every single box of baby jordans on the ground...and this mean mom wouldnt let him, so it was on! :) He may be a spitting image of his dad, but he sures acts like me. No patience at all. He has started hitting sometimes when he is really mad, so we are starting time out, which he Hates but it works, for 5 mins until he forgets about getting in trouble! But I love him the same...even carrying him screaming with people looking at me like get control of your kid!

He is still the sweetest boy most of the time. He loves to hug and when you say give me a kiss, he leans into your lips, like "man I am really busy right now, but you can give me one if you want to" He still loves his cars, Loves hot wheels, and this mom cant complain when spending $1.07 on a hot wheel makes his day!

He is talking up a storm, and repeating a ton of what we say. He has started putting two words together. Like "No way" "Football" No No Georgia. One of our bulldogs is named Georgia and so he calls every dog Georgia! And he says it the cutest way! He calls Mickey Mouse, Mouse, which is still his favorite show! He says dada and papaw all the time, he calls me dada too, I try and tell him dada isnt really as cool as he thinks he is! LOL. I am kidding but Quinn does think hes the coolest, everyday when he walks in from work , he just lights up and goes "OOOHHHH" and runs to him with his arms up!

He was a monkey this year for Halloween. We went to a few neighbors house and then came home and handed out candy, he liked watching the kids in their costumes out the window more then anything!

Other then that, not a lot going on, Volleyball is over for the year and my freshman did great, ended the season 8-3! We are just enjoying each other and this little thing called life around here!

I think its time for an update.....

2011-09-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Wow...Late Summer and Early Fall get super busy around here for us....I am pulling double coaching duty this year doing the Freshman team and being the assitant Varsity Coach. My Freshman are doing well, 5-2 so far, losing to two good teams. They are a good group of girls.....Our house is on the market, actually both houses are on the market....just looking to find another fixer upper, I see us doing this for a long time! We love it and make a good profit from our hard work, I just hate the packing and moving part. But its worth it, enables me to be a stay at home momma!

Whats new with Quinn---Well hes 15 and 1/2 months old.......he is talking up a storm all the sudden. He is starting to repeat things we say...time to watch our mouths! Words he says all the time

1. Ball-he can spot a ball from a mile away, he has ball on the brain, he does spend a lot of time at the gym or by a field...poor kid :)
2. Momma and Dada- Its def. more dada now then momma, which hurts my feelings a bit :( LOL
3. Yes and NO....and yes he knows when to use which one...and when the dogs bark he runs to the gate and yells no at them...
4. Bye-Bye...he not only waves it now, he says it
5. Night-Night...when I say night-night, he repeats it and runs and finds his blanky!
6. Block- loves to build with blocks
7.papaw and mamaw
8. More...this is my favorite, he says more when he wants more food or drink, but it comes out bore!
9. Car- loves them both toys and the real thing
10. Book- still loves to read, but he only likes to read by himself, he will hardly let us read to him anymore, hopefully that changes!
11. Dog- who would of thought dog would be one of his first words...:)

We are working on body parts...he knows nose, belly button, and mouth! He also likes to color in a coloring book for a few mins and then he finds it a lot cooler to throw the crayons.

He also knows how to get down in a football stance and tackle and the sign for touchdown, the sad thing is neithier one of us even taught him that...its just on his brain!

He also loves Mickey Mouse. He watches Mickey Mouse ClubHouse every morning and just laughs and laughs, he sleeps with his Mickey Stuffed animal every night and carries him around like a baby sometimes!

At his 15 month appt he was 75% height, 65% weight, and 99% head size! He weighs around 26-27 pounds.

2 years ago this week, I was in the 2 week wait after our IVF transfer, 2 years ago today I took an early home pregnancy test and it was negative, my hopes were shattered, I was sure our second IVF had not been successful. I cried, and cried. Cecil said dont give up yet....our baby is going to come at the right time, and 5 days later on Sept 26th 2009...I took a home pregnany test again (after 3 more negatives) and for the first time in the 5 years I had been doing home tests, the 2nd pink line showed up.....I was in shock and kneeled down on the toliet (gross I know but in the moment I didnt care) and Thanked God for never giving up on me, and for my husband never giving up on me, and Just thanked God over and over again for giving us our baby! I cant believe its been 2 years since that moment. The past 2 years has been the best of my life, from finally experiencing a pregnany, ultrasounds, and little baby kicks, to the moment with just Cecil and I in the delivery room, when Quinn made his way into the world...and we held him for the first time! I never lost faith, even though I questioned why......for the rest of my life I will stay faithful in God, even when it seems like it would take a miracle for something to really happen......Miracles do happen to those who believe!

First Vacation.......

2011-07-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

So Quinn went on his firt trip at 13 months old. His Aunt Kassidy got married to his crazy uncle Brian. So we headed down to Florida for a little over a week. It was hot, but Quinn loved it. He did great on the flights and loved spending so much time with Aunt Kassidy. The wedding was beatiful, on the beach as the sun was setting! Quinn was a ring bearer! He was so cute in his little beach outfit. After the wedding we headed out to a small Island off of Florida. He had a great time, swimming, playing in the sand, riding bikes, taking walks, eating great, new food. Our first family vacation=success!

Quinn turns 14 months tomorrow.....He is a crazy, wild boy...no other way to put it. Hes talking up a storm and will repeat random things Cecil and I say...along with his normal words....ball, dog, truck, mama, dada, yeah. He now dances all the time, every time there is music...even sometimes when there is not....he dances...its about the cutest thing I have ever seen! His favorite book is Moo, Baa, La La La, he will have us read it to him 10-20 times in a row, and he asks everyone that comes over to read it to him and when he sees it he goes "Baa" so cute!

He got his 4th haircut last week and hes turning so blond! Who knew I would have a blond kid. He is getting such a personality...he has started seeing things in stores that he wants and he lets us know! He is pointing and waving and has got 9 teeth. He is working on his molars right now, poor guy!

Still loves to be outside! As long as he is outside, he is good! I can finally say he is sleeping through the night! I honestly didnt know if I was ever going to get another good nights sleep, but all the sudden he just started going it!

He loves to stack toys and blocks...he loves to ride his 4 wheeler. He is becoming quite the little dare devil, standing on his 4 wheeler, turning over things so he can stand on them, trying to climb things.

Other then that we are just enjoying our summer.......He is the best little boy we could ever ask for, and amazes us everyday!

Turning 1......

2011-06-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Welp Quinn turned 1 on May 26th. I am still in shock I think. Where did a year go? I literally feel like it was 2 months ago we were coming home from the hospital, but then I look at pictures of him as a newborn and I feel like I cant remember when he was that little. I have mixed emotions about him turning 1, I am so happy, but a little sad. I dont know if I will get to experience all this "baby" stuff again so I try to soak it up as much as possible but man its just flying by.

On his actual birthday we just had a small cake and dinner, just the 3 of us. Cecil and I talked about how the day went the year before, and how ours lives changed in an instant at 3:12pm. We talked about how we were awake for 48 hours straight because we were so worried something was going to happen if we closed our eyes.....we talked about how we had Hot Box pizza delievered to the hospital room both nights we were there and how it was proably the best thing we had ever eaten.....and how going into that day last year, we didnt know how to change a diaper, how to make a bottle, how to do a swaddle....and how you just get "it" when you need to. We just did all those things because we had to, not because we knew what we were doing.

Im sure we have had made our fair share of mistakes, but this first year has been something I cant explain. I have never felt so much love for 2 other people in my life. Quinn has just been everything I knew I wanted, and a million times more. Cecil is everything I knew he would be as a father, plus a million times more. I sometimes wonder if I would have just given up, like some doctors told me I should....what a great gift and life I would be missing out on. Anyone who reads this no matter what in life someone tells you isnt going to happen, can't happen, won't happen....fight, pray, love, and fight somemore....Dont give up.....it will happen. "Where there is great love, there are always Miracles"

I think in the year I have got this stay at home mom thing down pretty good, growing up I ddint ever see myself being a stay at home mom. But I love and cherish it so much. I know its not for everyone, and I know everyone just cant do it, even if they want to. I can never thank my husband enough for being such a hard worked and allowing me this time with Quinn. We spend our days playing, taking walks, going to the pool, going to playdates, playgrounds, library time.....and just hanging out! It is the hardest, yet most rewarding job I have ever had.

Quinns Brithday party was a success. He had a good time, thats what matters right? We did a sock monkey theme and had it in our back yard, we put up a bounce house for the older kids that I didnt think Quinn would like at all, and of course when we put him in it, he LOVED it. He kept wanting Aunt Kassidy to make it bounce more and more. He loved his cupcake and wasnt really to into opening presents, he was way more concerned that their were other babies play with his toys in his room! (we are working on sharing!) He was cracking the whole party up because he would go into his room and just start yelling, and stomping his feet when he saw all his toys being played with.....Oh Gosh...am I really going to have that kid? :) He loved all his presents as soon as we got them out of the boxes...he is very blessed and lucky with all the people in his life that love him.

Other then that.....hes just a character.....he RUNS now, like literally full force runs...hes trying to jump and starting to climb....everything in our house is attached to the walls now! He is saying momma, dada, dog, baby, oh yeah, Hi, I love you.....he will repeat a ton of what we say.....Mom and Dad are having to start watching our potty mouths....he gives high 5s, waves, and points, he can climb stairs on his own. He watches about 10 mins of MIckey Mouse Club House every morning. He absolutly loves being outside, getting dirty and muddy. He is a true BOY in ever sense. His favorite toys are any ball and blocks, he loves to stack them up and knock the over. He still loves his food, and can clean an entire kids meal plate we were are out.

A letter to Quinn:

Quinn,

I hope one day you are reading through this blog and you know what a blessing you are to your dad and I. We love you even more then we thought possible. You light up ours lives everyday when you stand up in your crib and start chattering away. You bring such joy to us! This first year has flown by, but been such a blessing. I cherish every day, minute, second with you and enjoy it so so much. You have been the best baby we could ever ask for. We love you so much! Mom and Dad 6/15/2011

Quinns 1 Year pictures, turned out amazing as usual, Suni Johnson captured his first year and I am forever greatful.

T minus 15 days......

2011-05-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Until I have a 1 year old.....I tucked him in his crib a few hours ago and just looked at him for a few minutes....Thinking back to a year ago, I had no idea how my life was going to change...I mean a year ago I was 9 months pregnant and I knew having a baby would change me as person, change our household, change our marriage, change my world...I just had no idea how this little person could change everything about me. My mission is to be his momma....I know this because it brings me complete joy every single day.....I struggled for many years because I knew something was missing in my life....I had a great husband and a great marriage, a great house, great dogs....but I still didnt feel like I was complete...I am complete.....the past year of my life has been the best and I know it will just keep getting better...I am really struggling with the fact of doing IVF again and trying for another baby. I am I would say 92% sure we are done. I always just pleaded with God, just please give me a baby to love...I got my baby...he is healthy, he is happy, I am happy...what more could I want. And honestly the thought of needles, paperwork, doctors appts, medicines, 2 week waits....I just dont think I see myself doing it for the 3rd time. I am having some health issues...so I know I have to make a choice sooner then later, it just makes me uneasy to make such a permanet choice....I dont feel prepared at 27 to make it....but I really didnt feel prepared at 21 sitting in a reproductive doctors office going through an IVF, but I did it and got through it, so I know I will get through this. I just hope I can make the right choice for me, for Cecil, for Quinn..for our family...I am going to do what I have done this entire journey...pray about it, ask God to lead me...

Back to my baby boy.....and I mean boy oh boy..do I mean boy....he is a total boy...loves dirt, bugs, playing outside, cars, motorcylces, blocks, legos......he throws everything, he thinks everything is a ball......throws everything out of the grocery cart, carseat, high chair, stoller......The kid does not know a stranger....he will talk to anyone....he loves people and loves kids.....he loves dogs.....he loves to sleep on his belly....he loves food...and not baby food...big boy food....everything we eat...he eats...he loves drinking out of a sippy cup...he thinks hes so big.....he loves, loves, loves this crochet blanket his great, great grandma made for him, he just lights up when he sees it, and he sleeps with it everynight...which is totally cool...

he gave up his paci on his own....has no desire for it what so ever......easy enough.....

he is "talking" non stop...mostly things I cant understand..but hes says...momma, dada, baby, no, yeah

hes working on his 7th tooth..so he has a toothy smile and it melts my heart.....

We spend our days playing, going for walks, playing outside, reading...he is just a happy guy...all the time

momma...momma...momma...momma

2011-04-15T15:35:00.001-07:00

Why am I such a horrible blogger...oh I know...I am chasing a wild man all day long. Quinn is literally non stop all day long....his one good nap during the day is when I just sit down for a second and breathe.....He stopped crawling oh about 2 months ago...now hes in a sprint everywhere.....He is all boy, loves cars and destroying things. He actually tried to eat his first dead bug the other day....thankfully I was there to yank it out of his mouth...I know its going to happen, and I know I cant stop them all from being swallowed...but it just grosses me out.

The weather is finally nice...when its nice, we are outside. Quinn LOVES to be outside, I mean loves it. At the park he just walks around screaming and clapping with excitement....he loves to follow the older kids around and hes not shy at all. He loves to just sit back in his stroller and walk the day away, I think he would literally sit in the stroller all day if I could walk that long.

The kid is into toys...blocks, legos, cars, balls...anything we bring home...he LOVES. He has started throwing a ball and bouncing it on the ground. He now gives you things if you ask for them...and yes he gives up his toys to mom or dad if they ask, but just for a second, he wants them back really quick!

He is getting 3 teeth in the top now, finally....he got his bottom 2 almost 4 months ago and its been nothing since, Im not complaining, I can't imagine what it feels like for teeth to come in....but now he has 3 on the top...with a cute small little gap between the 2 front teeth, and 2 on the bottom....so hes a little off balance but its super cute!

He talking a lot, mostly things we cant understand but he cracks himself right up! There will be days he will say momma proably 250 times in a day...I love those days! He now knows I am momma, when he wants me he says it....its so great, melts my heart. He also says YEAH, hes starting to say bottle, momma, dada, and mamaw.....

He will be 11 months next week.....I can NOT, let me repeat, can NOT believe it was almost a year ago that he came into our lives and changed every single second of it. The past year has been the best year of my life...it puts all my other 26 years to shame, nothing compares to being a mom to the most preious boy, and a wife to your best friend and one of the best dads around.....I now know why people fight so hard to have families, no matter how it comes about...we fought so hard and we didnt even know what we were fighting for....I knew it was going to be good, but I never could imagine this good, he brings so much joy to our lives. I know people say what a difference a year makes.....um yeah...what a difference a year makes....

Well off to search the web for some perfect things for his 12 month photo shoot....

Growling, Clapping, & Walking..OH MY

2011-03-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

Giving Aunt Kassidy Kisses March 6th 2011

9 months Feb 26th 2011

Look at the lip!

Walking! Feb 2011

In the pool! Feb 2011

Ready for swim class..9 months!

Well Quinn is into his 9th month.....he is such a funny kid. I cant get over how much personality he has already. Lets see...his main thing right now is growling...yes growling...he literally growls at everything....I say his name...growl....I ask him if hes ready for bed...growl...I ask him what he wants to eat...growl........it is so funny...not really sure where he picked that up from but its something I will always remember him doing.

Clapping....along with growling this is favorite thing to do......When he first started walking and was falling a lot I would clap and tell him good job when he fell, because I did not want him to get discouraged from falling so much, so now everytime he falls he claps! Such a good boy! When we are in the car I hear him from the back seat just clapping away.

Lets see...clapping, growling....oh and shaking his head no....really hard and really fast, sometimes he even does it so hard he shakes himself right over. And the funny thing is he does it right on point....I try to talk to him like I would an adult..asking and telling him everything we are doing...so I will say "Quinn, are you ready for a diaper change?" And I ethier get a growl or a head shake no. What a charater!

Oh yes, and his new thing is giving high fives..if you ask if for a high 5, you are for sure getting one, hes just cracks himself up doing that!

Baby Proofing, that is what we have spent the past few weeks doing....because we offically have a walker, no help needed, no more crawling going on anymore in this house.......if he sees something he really, really wants and he really wants it fast, he will drop down and crawl...but other then that its all 2 legs around here ( well except the dogs) Hes falling less and less everyday, never in a million years did I think I would have a 9 month old walking around my house like its no big deal...its so funny to see him walk (and yes I have taken tons of video of it) but hes just a small little guy totting around...oh with his arms up in the air for balance like a little baby monkey! His first offical steps were 8 months 3 days. Offically walking without help 9 months 1 day. Im in trouble because hes already showing sign of being on the go all the time at a fast pace like his dad.

We have been attending a few different classes...music and reading class at the library and swimming class and the indoor pool. Hes such an independent baby, like I feel like he looks at me like Mom can you get out of my play room Im busy. He could literally play in his play room by himself for hours. But at library class, he doesnt want to sit with mom, ya know cause thats so uncool for a 9 month old...he rather go around and talk to other babies....so I am left sitting there singing songs and blowing bubbles to myself.......but hes not as tough as he seems, if I leave the room he lets me know that is no what he wanted......which I love, Im not ready for him to be Mr. Independent yet. My mom said I was the same way, very independent, not a cuddler. Swimming class on the other hand, hes a wild man.....LOVES the water......he splashes and kicks...the older kids in the class are to get out of the pool on the ledge and get back in with their parents, well I put Quinn on the ledge and he just falls right in the water and laughs....you have to be on your toes around this one! And I think thats where I will stay for awhile, on my toes......

His Aunt Kassidy was here over the weekend and he got his second hair cut! I after to do more with his hair after a bath then my own.....and its growing in so light compared to his dark hair when he was born, so now I have a high-lighted hair kid..I always wonder how many people that see him out are like I really hope his mom didnt color his hair, because yes I have been asked over and over again if I color it..."ARE YOU KIDDING" Cecil and I laugh everytime....because we know...there are baby pictures of Cecil at home, with the same high lighted hair.

His sleeping is getting better..hes a belly sleeper now...hes still up 1 or 2 times a night, we are working on it. He is the combo of both Cecil and I, a night owl like me and an early riser like Dad, not really a great combo. But we will get there.

Right now he has his first ear infection, poor guy...the only good thing about him being sick is he wants me to hold and cuddle him all the time....but other then that I feel so bad for him. Hes starting to get better today.

He is actually 22 lbs and almost 29 inches long, 75% in both. We have moved to the big boy carseat and he loves it because he can see out the window. He loves to watch outside, well actually be outside, we cant wait for the weather to break. Cecil and I are making our backyard all about Quinn, thats our spring project..so he can be outside all the time. He also loves to watch cars, trucks, anything on wheels really....he is for sure a typical boy!

Other then that everything else is going smoothly in the Kenworthy house, just trying to finish up the house inside, and then we are moving to the outside for some projects this spring. Ive started to plan Quinns 1st Birthday, and no I cant believe those words are coming out of my mouth already, werent we just leaving the hositpal with him like 2 weeks ago...because thats what it feels like. I have enjoyed every second with him, yes even the crying and screaming. He has changed out life in everyway possible....He just makes everyday better then the last.....he is the sunshine of our lives, and he is so lucky to have a Dad that cant get enough of him....

Until next time

xoxo-Kari

8 Month Pictures

2011-02-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

A Few Steps......

2011-02-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

That is how month 8 started out...with a few steps...8 months 3 days...Quinn took his first 3 steps in a row....we were shocked. He is pushing around a little cart with wheels everywhere with no help.....he is just amazing. Total he has done 4 steps now in a row, hes getting braver and is trying so hard to really walk. I thought I had a few more months to prepare for this.....but he had other plans.....hes ready to be on the move. He can stand up on his own from sitting, he walks with our hands and around furniture like a champ. I just cant get enough of him...but Im sad time is flying by....I cant even remember being pregnant or him being a newborn and it wasnt that long ago....

I am already starting to plan his first birthday...I keep re checking the calender....am I sure its less then 4 months away...that cant be.....but every time I check, its say the same thing...my baby boy will be turning 1 at the end of May.

What else is going on in our house...open mouth slobbery kisses is what...he loves to give them out...you see him coming froma mile a way with his mouth wide open right onto your face....they are awesome...never though I would enjoy being covered in saliva so much....he will literally have me rolling on the gound in laughter because he just kisses over and over again...and he thinks its so funny!

Words so far...he says dada, momma, and hi! We are working on waving, he does it every once in a while...he Loves to clap, he claps all day. His other great accomplishment, shaking his head no....and he knows when to do it too, like when Im singing to him, he shakes his head no the entire time...or when hes getting into something he shouldnt, I tell him no no no, he still goes about doing what he shouldnt be doing, but shaking his head no no the whole time...I mean how can you ever be mad at that.....Im gonna be such a push over!

We did our first mommy and me class this week, it was a music class...with bubbles and mirrors and toys and books. It was a lot of fun...Quinn does not like to sit still though,he rather be exploring then sitting on moms lap singing songs! We start mommy & tot swimming class next week..I am super excited for that because he LOves the water...so stay tuned to see how that goes.....

other then that we are just enjoying our days with our little man......now I know this is what I was made to do in life.....be a mom...it consumes me....its my world, its my perfect life, being a mother and a wife!

Month 6....& a little of month 7

2011-01-10T18:56:00.000-08:00

Playing on the vent when heat is coming out!

Skyping with Aunt Kassidy! Month 7

Turned 7 months Dec 26th 2010

Showing his support for Jama Sharp! (Month 7)

His Fave part of Christmas...the boxes! Dec 25th 2010

Quinn and Mom. Christmas Eve 2010

Seeing Santa. Could of cared less. Month 6

Getting ready to go see Santa.

Playing Naked....he loves it. Month 6

Getting his first hair cut by Aunt Kassidy. Month 6

Happy Baby. 6 Months

One of his Fave Toys!

Melts me heart everytime. Month 6

His first Snow! Dec 2010

Help Putting up the Christmas Lights 6 Months

Eating his First Thanksgiving. 6 Months

Month 6. Dec 2010

Sitting up so good. 6 Months

Wow I am a terrible blogger...I will get better I promise....Quinn is now 7.5 months old...crazy! He had his first Thanksgiving and First Christmas. Both were a joy. He wasnt to into Christmas yet, he liked the paper and the lights and the boxes. He loves all the new toys he got....he loves all the different balls and cars! TOTAL boy. Lets see...he started sitting up at 4.5 months old and now does that like a champ. He started crawling at 6 months. (I got his first crawl on video) He is now pulling himself up on furniture and anything really. I dont think walking will be to far away. Which makes me a little sad, he is just growing up way to fast....

He is so fun right now...I love his personality. I spend every minute of everyday with him and I still cant get enough. He has his 2 bottom teeth, so he know has a toothy smile..which melts my heart. He got his first haircut by aunt Kassidy. His hair is during super light, so the underneath is light and the top is dark...7 months old and sporting low lites! He can now clap and wave, which I think is super cute.

He is a total mommas boy, which I love...shh dont tell Cecil. All is well when momma is around. We are working on talking...he can say momma, and dada...but its very hit and miss. He is very vocal...with his baby babbles...just talks and talks...he always growls, yes like a dog, and yes he started doing after he heard one of our dogs do it. He still loves his bulldogs. He laughs and smiles at them everyday. (from a distance)

He is doing great with foods. We have started a few table foods, but mostly baby foods. I am really picky about what he eats and his diet is 98% organic. He doesnt get sweets or anything with sugar or salt. If he keeps eating the way he is going right now he will be eating us out of the house soon!

He is in 9 month tops and onesies....and 12-18 month pants and jeans...yes my 7 month old is in 18 month stuff...he is gonna be long! He is hitting the 20 pound mark.

He loves music and books......I think he the smartest baby ever ;) but honestly it amazes me not even 8 months ago, he was a tiny newborn...and now all the stuff he can do. I will spend a lot of my day just watching his crawl, discover things, study things, and just do all kinds of new cool things. Oh and chasing him all over the house....

He is still super happy all the time. (Well except for those dang teeth)He smiles at every person that talks to him...but makes sure mom or dad is close by. He is skyping with his aunt Kassidy a few times a week, some days hes really into it and other days he rather just play with his toys. But he always smiles at her and he for sure knows who she is. Such a cool way for her to be able to watch him grow.

That is all for now, I promise I will get better at this......my guy is crying...time to rock him to sleep.....

more pics.....Fall 2010

2010-11-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Oct 2010.....

2010-11-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

so..Im lucky to get one post a month...so here it is.......Quinn turned 5 months on Oct 26 2010! I cant believe it....he is such a good baby. He has been sitting up on his own for 2 weeks now, hes great at it, hardly ever falls over now. Hes right around 17 pounds. He has 2 bottom teeth coming in that is giving him fits...but other then that hes always happy and smiling.

His noises and babbling are crazy now, hes always makeing some kind of noise. He figured out he can scream really high pitched and loud, and he LOVES to do it. He will just talk and talk. He also belly laughs all the time. He laughs more at our dogs then anything, he LOVEs our dogs. Its pretty cute.

Yesterday was his first Halloween, he went as a pea pod, so Cute! Im sure one day he will look back on pictures and ask me why I would do that to him...but I thought it was so cute. We went trick or treating with friends and their kids, Quinn slept in the stroller the entire time. We took him to the zoo boo a couple weekends ago, it was great until a major downpour hit us and Cecil and I were sprinting through the zoo in a storm with the stroller, we opened the stroller when we got in a building and he was dry and smiling...Cecil and I were SOAKED! Good time though...

Still going strong on the homemade baby food, he loves fruits, still working on the veggies! He loves to play with toys and listen to music. His little personality is so funny. He will let you know when he is mad, but hes usually pretty happy. He always smiles at strangers and lets them hold him....for a second anyways and then hes looking for mom or dad.

He is literally so fun, I get excited to hang out with him everyday! He is changing so much minute by minute it seems like. The love I have for him is more then I even thought possible. Sometimes I think back to my embryo transfer laying on the table watching the doctor float "1 perfect embryo" where it needed to go, I remember looking at the screen at a little speck and praying please let that be our baby...a little over a year later and it still amazes me that I saw him before he even entered my body, I saw him at his first stage of life, perfect embryo = perfect baby!

4 months......

2010-10-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

Like I say everytime I blog, I cant believe I have a 4 month old.....its crazy how fast time is going, I already look back and pictures of him from a few months ago and he looks totally different, I am loving this age though, he is getting a little personality and laughs all day everyday! Honestly, he is a happy, happy baby. He will get upset when really tired or really hungry, other then that he is great.

He had his 4 month check-up on Monday and he is absoulty perfect. Hes weight 16.2 lbs, and is a little over 27 iches tall, which is 90%, he is gonna be tall like his momma! He has 2 bottom teeth getting ready to pop through the gums. You can tell because he is drooling and wants to put everything in his mouth right now.

The weather has been perfect for walks, we try and take one everyday. He LOVES to be outside, LOVES it. We take him everywhere with us, hes a little sports nut already. Hes been to football, volleyball, and basketball games already, and he loves all the action, lights, and movement.

We have started big boy foods, so far he has had oatmeal, green beans, squash, bananas, apples, and sweet potatoes. He LOVES bananas, and he likes everything else. Green beans are his least fave right now.

He loves to play in his exersausor, he could play in that thing for hours at time, I dont let him of course but he could. He gets so into the toys. He loves when we read to him still, we read to him everyday. He likes his swing okay, not really that into it. He likes things that light up and play music. He is really getting into his play mat, because he figured out he can kick the toys hanging down and he thinks thats pretty cool. He has discovered his feet, and again he thinks they are pretty cool. They have made it into his mouth a few times so far.

He is sitting up already on his own, for a few seconds, and he leans way forward but he is doing it. He rolls over but doesnt care much to do it, he wants to be on his back at all times, not sure how that will work with crawling but we will see. He loves to stand up, he looks around like hes such a big boy!

His beloved hair is no longer sticking straight up :( Hes starting to get a man hair do, with a comb over. LOL, still cute as ever, but I will always miss the straight up crazyness it was. I literally get stopped everywhere I go for people to look at his hair!

Hes very interested in our dogs, and will just watch them , and grab for them. I know they will be great friends when he gets older. OUr dogs our doing great with him, they are so used to him now, Georgia our female american bulldog LOVES him, we just have to be careful because she starts guarding him when our other dogs come around. The transition has gone very well, I still feel bad because our dogs entire lives have changed, and now they dont get the attention they used to, but we still try to play with them everynight and they get plenty of treats and loving!

Our lives are going great, being a mother is everything I though it was going to be times 100. He is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, along with Cecil. He is my greatest accomplishment and I thank God for both of them everyday.

1 year ago on Sept 27th, we were annoucing our pregnancy, what a crazy wonderful year it has been......

Update of Pictures

2010-09-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with mom at home..Loves to be naked Aug 2010

In his "Worth the Wait" Shirt I had made for him..boy was he ever worth it

Hanging out again, what we do best! 2 Months old

Getting so Good at tummy time. Month 2 Aug 2010

His awesome Notre Dame Blanket a great family friend made for him

HIs first trip to Kentucky to mamaw and papaws! Aug 2010

Loves to hang out with his dad....month 2

Love the hair in this pic, never had any fall out, but its turning light underneath Sitting up like a big boy...... month 2

Tummy Time 2.5 months Aug 2010

Our Happy Boy!

Spending time with Dad after work! 2.5 months

3 months old 8/26/10

Quinn turned 3 months on August 26th

Wow...I am not a good blogger....

2010-09-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

At the Apple Orchard 9/6/10

With Dad at the Zoo 9/5/10

Watching his first ND game, 9/4/10

Getting Ready to go watch Dad coach football 9/3/10

14 weeks old

So....it has been months since my last post, I am sorry...I wanted to do good at keeping up with the blogging.......but I spend every moment Quinn is awake with him and when hes asleep I do housework or things around the house......but I am going to get better about it......

Quinn is 15 weeks today....I cant believe it. He has changed so much....he is so strong and holding his head up so well.....he has rolled over 4 times now, found his hands and chews on them all the time, smiles a hundred times a day, laughs out loud....loves to snuggle and be rocked. He is sleeping from about 9-10 pm till about 5 am, which I will not complain about, he will take a bottle and then doze till about 7am.

He is a perfect baby! He has some fits at night, where he just screams...and Im the only one that can do anything with him and if all else fails we go for a little drive to get him calmed down, not sure what causes it but Im not a fan, because I cant do anything for him.....

He likes his swing to nap in and we just started the exersauser and he loves it. He still loves it outside and would sit out there all day. We took him to one of Cecils football games and he LOVED it.

My sister flew in from Flordia for Labor Day weekend and surprised us. We had a great weekend, Quinn first trip to the Zoo and Apple Orchard. He really liked the apple orchard.

He is becoming quite the momma boy, which I totally fine with :) We play and read and talk all day long. He LOVES TV, but I dont let him watch it...he wishes I did! He loves music and just hanging out.

He is weighing in at about 14.5 lbs and is eating constantly. He has a little bit of acid reflex but seems to be doing much better now.

He got to watch his first Notre Dame game with daddy this weekend, well I let him watch about 10 mins and then he just listened, but it was cute to see them bond and I know Cecil was excited to share his love of Notre Dame with him.

8 Weeks

2010-07-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

I will proably say this everytime, but I cannot believe we have an 8 week old. He is changing every day and Im loving every single second of it. He went to the pool for the first time, for about 10 mins, he LOVE it! He had his first holiday, The 4th of July, we went to a family cookout. He is smiling everyday, big ol baby grins, all day long...I cant get enough of those. He also follows people and objects with his eyes, his laughs when you play peek a boo, and he smiles when you kiss him on his cheek. He def knows his mom and dad. He loves to sleep on our chests and us holding him. He is starting to like his swing and bouncy seat. He LOVES to be outside, to bad its been way to hot to take him out, when its cool I just sit outside with him and he looks around at the trees. He is rolling, not rolling over yet, but rolling up on both sides. He is a very mellow baby unless he gets hungry or his belly hurts, and then he will get fired up. He loves to listen to music, his faves are Jack Johnson and Notre Dame Band CD, he gets his feet kicking and just smiles....his dad thinks its pretty cool, secretly I know its just to music, he wouldnt care if was elevator music.....

Hes not much for sleeping, during the say he only takes cat naps for 20-30 mins at a time, and he likes to be up bright and early anywhere from 4am- 6am, ready to smile, talk, and play. He is eating us out of the house....sometimes it seems like he cant get enough food. I know its because hes growing, hes growing before our eyes, he looks bigger to me everyday. He weighs about 11 lbs and is pretty long, all his 3 month sleeps fit him everywhere but length, and Im not having no baby wearing high waters....haha, I know all to well about that problem.....His eyes are changing color, just not sure to what yet.

We started cloth diapering this week, and I love it, he doesnt seem to mind ethier. Its so much easier then I thought and so good for him, the environment and our bank account, so its a win-win-win.

8 weeks later and I honestly still hold him sometimes and cant believe hes mine and that I have an 8 week old. Just yesterday he was sleeping on my chest and breathing on my neck and I had tears running down my face because there was a time when I never thought I would have this life and I love it more then I even though possible.

xoxo-Kari

I have a 5 week old......

2010-07-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

I cant believe I have a 5 week old...its crazy. Im loving every minute of it. I think every day I fall more and more in love with him, if thats even possible! I love being home with him everyday and look forward to each and everyday. He is staying awake a lot more during the day and smiling at me all the time. Each one melts my heart. He has outgrown his newborn clothes and newborn diapers, which makes me sad. Hes getting so big so fast. He loves music and listens to Jack Johnson in his crib. We still havent done overnight sleep in the crib, we are just not ready for that yet, but he does nap in there. His favorite place to sleep is on our chests. Hes getting up 2-3 times a night and sleeping 3-4 hours....which I cant complain about. But around 5am he is awake and ready to talk and play, and its a struggle for mom! He loves the outside, loves to watch the leaves on the trees and go for walks in his stroller, he also loves car rides, but watch out if the stroller or car stops, hes not happy! He also likes when I "wear" him in a carrier on my chest, I get so much housework done this way and he enjoys it. We have started tummy time and he is holding his head up so good. He eats like a horse and weighs a little over 9 lbs. He has his 6 week check up on Monday...I think he has to get one shot which I am not looking forward to. All and all, he is happy, healthy, and growing........I cant explain my love for him, its the most intense feeling ever, I cant get enough of him. Cecil always wants him when he gets home from work and even after being up with him all night and with him all day, I dont want to give him up! Who needs a shower, really? Hes the only one I see during the day...LOL okay Ill admit my 30 mins in the hot shower alone everyday is pretty nice......I will try and update more.......but for now Im gonna go enjoy my little boy and my grays dinner!

xoxo-Kari

WOW how my life has changed.....

2010-06-15T17:46:00.001-07:00

So tomorrow our baby boy will be 3 weeks old...I cant believe it.....Going back 3 weeks ago today...the day before I had a disappointing doctors appt, I found out I had not progressed in 2 weeks, that my doctor would be out of the town when I hit 40 weeks and that I wouldnt be induced until a week after I thought....so I thought for sure I had 3 more weeks of being pregnant, well the next day (Tuesday the 25th) I just didnt feel like myself, I slept all afternoon and got up to get ready to catch a bus to track regional meet. About 20 mins before I was supposed to get on the bus, I was standing at the back door and my water broke, at the time I thought I just peed myself.....so Cecil called and I told him man I just peed all over myself...he said do you think maybe your water broke? LOL and it did, so he rushed home and I took a shower and packed our bags...we got to the hospital about 2 hours later and they confirmed my water had broke but I hadnt had any contractions and was still dilated at 2. So we walked the halls for a few hours and still nothing so in the middle of the night I started pitocin and the contractions started picking up and I dilated to about 4cm and then stayed there for what seemed like FOREVER, so they just kept uping my dose of pitocin...about 5 cm I asked for my epi and when I got it my blood pressure dropped and I felt like I was going to pass out...so I got another shot...then my legs went numb but I could still feel contractions, so I got another epi and same thing......but by this time I was at 8 cm and it was around 12 noon the next day so I had been in labor about 20 hours.......I then went from 8 to 1o pretty fast but when I got checked, Quinn had decided he wasnt ready and was moving up instead of down....then my doctor said the dreaded word...C-section, this is what I did not want to happen...I had been in labor for 21 hours and now I thought I was going to have to have a c-section.......but she gave me a change to push, she told me I was going to have to push like I had never done anything before because the baby was way up high.....so I took the challenge, they gave me a 3rd epidural and same thing happened legs went numb but could still feel contractions.....by this time babys heart rate was up, mine was down, blood pressure wasnt great, I had a fever.......but at 1:30 I started pushing and pushed till 3:12 when he was born, it was just me, my doctor, a nurse, and Cecil...it was the hardest, most challenging, most wonderful thing I have ever done. It was a life changing experience. Cecil was the best labor coach ever, I didnt do any classes or read any books, I just wanted to go into and do what the docs told me and what I felt was right, and it was the best experience. Cecil cut the cord and Quinn was placed on my chest...it took my a moment to gather my thoughts...this is the moment we had been waiting for for 6 years and I couldnt believe it was happening.....the entire thing is truly a miracle and our baby boy is a miracle and hes perfect and I thank God for him mulitple times a day........after gathering my thoughts, I found out that Quinn wasnt crying like he was supposed to, so he got taken to the NICU, I HATED it......thankfully he was only down there about 40 mins and everything was fine. The wonderful thing about my epidural not working is I didnt have to wear any monitors (expect babys heart) when I was pushing because I could feel my contractions and I was up walking about 15 mins after I was stiched up (I had a 2nd degree tear) I got to watch his first bath and it was great. We stayed at the hospital for 2 nights and then came home on that friday......I have been loving every moment so far...I cant get enough of him! We never gave up on our dreams of being parents and God never gave up on us. I will never ever complain again about the money, the shots, the medicines, the surgeries, the ultrasounds, the tests that it took to get him here, I would do it over a million times for him! Thank you everyone for your prayers, we could have never made it this far without everyones support and prayers......

36 weeks!

2010-05-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

Well Cecil and I went to my 36th week appt yesterday. He doesnt usually go to my weekly appts with me but on Monday morning I woke him up about 4:30 am with some pretty intense contractions, I just waited it out because I already had a docs appt at 9:00, so he went with me incase it turned out to be something. Well by the time we got to docs office, they had died down a bit and were not as intense. She still wanted to check things out and when she did my exam, she told me his head is WAY WAY down. (she didnt have to tell me, I have been feeling it all week!) And my cervix is soft and I was dilated at 2.5! Also just by looking at my you can tell I dropped or should I say baby dropped. She said by how fast things are moving, I was dilated at 1 last week and had been for a few weeks before that, she wouldnt be surprised if I had him this week....WHAT? I mean I knew I had to do this, I know I cant keep him in forever, and I really want to meet him...but I was prepared for a few more weeks to get used to the idea! But she said with his size (she guesses him around 7.5 lbs right now and the fact I got the steroid shot for his lungs already, that he will be prefect.) In her words, "Bring him on." So we will see when he wants to make his self known....

In other pregnancy news...I have gained 25 lbs, yes I have been putting it on lately. Its proably because my 2 cravings are donuts and cereal...why cant I crave fruit or veggies?

I am offically waking up every 1-2 hours through-out the night, I guess its just practice for newborn schedule........

Well I got my first Mothers Day gift ever. I had flowers delievered and the card read "Happy First Mothers Day! Love Quinn" My husband and mother in law are great, I was no expecting anything. And usually I find things out because I am the one that does the banking so I see what Cecils spends money on and where, my his mom ordered them, so I had no clue. It was very sweet, I got a little teary eyed!

Well Quinns room is DONE! Now we are just waiting on him. It turned out pretty good for being an office a few months ago, its not even a real bedroom but his bedroom will be upstairs and master is down stairs on opposite ends of the house, and thats just to far away from me for right now. So eventually his bedroom will be upstairs, but for now its our "office."

I will update in a few days......but I just wanted everyone to keep him and I in your thoughts and prayers....I know your prayers have got us through so much to this point, just please ask to keep both of us safe and healthy through labor and delivery. Its such a beautiful thing but I am a nervous wreck.......

xoxo-Kari

34 Weeks!

2010-04-26T10:49:00.001-07:00

Well I am 34.5 weeks today! I cant believe he will be here in 5-6 weeks. (found out today she will not let me go past my due date because he is pretty large already) Went to the doctor today, everything seems great.....his heartrate was 140 and he was happily kicking her as she felt my belly. She is guessing him to be about 6-6.5 pounds right now. My contractions have slowed way down. Since I havent updated in awhile, we had a really nervous weekend 2 weekends ago, I ended up staying in L & D for the night. I was having some bleeding and conractions. I got woke up at one point in the middle of the night with her telling me my conractions were 3 mins apart, they got them slowed way down, and I have just been having them off and on since. I got the steroid shot for his lungs, just incase he decides to come early. I was also dilated at 1cm, but have stayed the same since. I was told today, labor will not be stopped from here on out. I am hoping to get a few more weeks out of him though and I think I will. I am up about 18 pounds and feel like I will gain 18 more in the next few weeks, I seriously cannot get unhungry...its bad. Cecil just laughs...I think I had about 6 full meals on Saturday.

We had our baby shower this past weekend. I say "we" because we had a coed shower and I am so glad we did, it was so much fun. My sister did an awesome job with it. I wanted more a celebration of our little miracle and to thank everyone who has supported us in our journey. It turned out better then expected, we had about 100 people come through and I couldnt believe the generosity (not sure if that is spelled right!) of people, we got everything we need for this guy and then some! Everything is washed and put away, and ready for him. Just have to get the car seat inspected and finish packing hospital bags......I cant believe I am at this point. I mean I have been pregnant since Sept 11th of last year, seems like it would have time to sink in, but its getting more and more unreal to me the closer we get, I think because I didnt know if I would ever be here, I didnt know if I would ever feel baby kicks in my belly, I didnt know if I would ever see our baby on an ultrasound, I didnt know if my husband would ever beable to rub my belly...I honestly can not Thank God enough because I have got to experience all of those things, he is making my dreams of being a Mom come true, I never doubted him but sometimes questioned his plan for me. Now I know, it was all in preperation for my little boy, this is my boy, this is the baby I was supposed to feel kick and to see on an ultrasound.......this is the little boy God promised me and told me was coming, I just had to be patience. The greater the fight, the greater the victory...that is our story in a sentence.....the fight sometimes was almost more then ethier of us could take.......but the victory has been more then I every thought possible. Thank You God for our miracle...he is our greatest victory!

30 weeks!

2010-03-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

SO there are my 30 week baby bellies...Im up about 12-13 pounds. This week I feel like I cant get enought to eat, so Im surely putting on pounds. I dont really have many cravings, but I love me some cereal, I eat a few bowls a day. And its so bad but if I eat another Reese Cup Easter Egg....Thankfully Easter is this Sunday, so all the Easter candy will be going away. I have started seeing the doctor every 2 weeks now. Everything is going really, really well right now. I cant believe in under 10 weeks we will meet out little guy!

His nursery is coming together, not quite done yet. These sock monkeys were fine when I was little. And his first Notre Dame Football. We still need to get the mattress. The dresser was in my nursery when I was born.

So we have started training our 4 dogs. They have been our babies for the past 4 years and we are trying to make this as smooth as transition as possible for everyone. We have set up many of Quinns things just so they are used to them by the time he is here. I also have been training them with a baby sounds CD, I randomly play in through out the day, it makes crying sounds, and just normal baby sounds.....We also are using a baby doll to train them, as you can see from the picture below our bulldog Irish already loves "the baby", not sure if he will be as keen on a real baby that crys and moves, but its a start!

Coming up is our baby shower, which I am really excited about. I am meeting with a peditrician tomorrow, hopefully I like him and its as easy as that to pick one. Other then that, not much is going on. I am offically in the nesting stage working on stuff around the house and getting everything orgainzed. I am loving the weather, Finally! This winter felt like it took 2 years, proably because I was so sick...but Im glad both sickness and winter are over. I am also taking a newborn basics class in April, I literally have almost no experience with newborns, which scared me a bit. I am really hoping that motherly instints kick in like everyone is telling me they will. I know I love him so much and will do anything to make him happy and keep him safe, so I think thats a good start, and hopefully I learn a lot from the class. Cecil and I also took an infant CPR and first aid class, I am gald we did, we learned a lot. We also did our hospital tour, and it seemed very nice (not much to compare it to), we went past the nursery and there were 3 brand new newborn baby boys in there, they were so cute, made me cant wait to meet our little one! Well at least not for 7 more weeks, when he is considered full term, but anytime after that is fine with me! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, to have a safe and healthy next weeks and delievery.

xoxo-Kari

Update.......

2010-02-28T17:34:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to do a small update.....Im a little over 26 weeks! Feeling pretty good, hes quite an active little guy. The first 3 pictures are of Quinns room so far, I am not doing a theme room, I am just doing modern chocolate and white. So far the room is painted, new floor is in, curtain up and changing table and crib put together. I still have not decided on a mattress......I still need a rocker/glider and dresser. Nothing is on the wall yet, except his name. The 4th is my baby bump picture! I am up about 4 pounds pre pregnancy weight. Quinns is weighing in at almost 2 lbs, which is right on track. Both of us are doing great. Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming that everything keeps going smoothly. God has blessed us so much and I thank him everyday for him! Next week is 27 weeks which is the start of the 3rd trimester, which I cant believe. And then at 28 weeks we are having a 3/D ultrasound done and I have a 28 week appt. Thats all going on for now. I will update after next ultrasound!

xoxo-Kari

Week 23

2010-02-05T11:17:00.001-08:00

So I am offically 23 weeks today! Very Excited......I finally am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, so anything from now on will offically be "baby weight." We picked out a name for our little guy, its Quinn Cecil Kenworthy. Quinn is doing great, I feel him move everyday now, some days a lot more then others, but I love every little movement. I have been off my zofran pump for a month now and the morning sickness is offically GONE! I am no longer in my regular jeans as I am gaining quite a baby bump. Next on the baby agenda is starting on his room, the picture above is the start. We already put new wood floors in and I am actually keeping the walls this chocolate color....I will post photo updates of how its going. The only things we have so far are the crib, mattress, and changing table, which are all still in boxes. Maybe with all the snow this weekend, we will get those put together. March 12th we are doing a 3/D ultra-sound where you can watch him move around and get to see facial shots, I am very excited about it. Thats really all going on right now....finally enjoying being pregnant! Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers so far, please keep us both is your prayers for us to both stay safe and healthy for the remainder of the pregnancy in early June. Thanks so much!
xoxo-Kari

Its a BOY!!!!!!!

2010-01-22T09:14:00.000-08:00

So we had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday. And there was no denying....ITS A BOY! We were beyond thrilled. And he is healthy which is even more of a blessing. We got to watch him for a good 40 mins as the tech took measurements and looked at all of his organs and parts. At one point he put his little feet up and we could see the outline of his feet and all 10 little toes. So Cute! And he kept facing forward and looking right at the little machine. I love him so much already. He was measuring right on time, and our due date is still June 4th. He weighs right at a pound. He is breech right now, but my doctor said that is fine and he has plenty of time to move around. I cant thank God enough for him!

The House

2010-01-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

So these are the pics of the house. It is not 100% done, as you can tell from the pictures. But it is done enough now to where we can live in it and do the rest. If you look back on my blog you can look at pictures of how the house looked when we bought it in June. It has came a long way and with the major help of my dad and a few other people we did all the work ourselves, which means a lot to us. Once the downstairs is finished, we do have a loft, 2 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs we havent touched, and that will be next. YEAH!!

The Stairs, which are still being worked on, but look great so far. They were covered with cat pee carpet, and they have great old charm.

babys room so far, right off living room. Will be in there while they are little

Living Room

Living Room from front Entry

Living room looking in from dining room

Dining Room

Dining Room, with pheonix at the bottom, sorry!

Our laundry/mud room. Which is Huge and I love. Sorry catching up on laundry that you see piled up there.

other side of kitchen, obiously a small cabinet needs to go in besides dishwasher

OUr kitchen, small but works for us. The house is 110 years old, so we worked with what we got. The trim still needs done in here and the kick plate under the cabinets. but its getting there. To the right is a pantry as well.

Our Kitchen, which still needs the most work. We have 1 cabinet to stain and the back splash to do.

Our Master Shower, that is huge and we love!

Our New Master. This used to be one huge family room. The brown wall behind the bed we put up and added a huge walk in closet and master bath behind it.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Well its been a few weeks since I have posted. We have been insanely busy. We are finally in the new house! Its not 100% done but close, I will post pics very soon. We are so happy to finally be in here. It was so worth all the time and sweat that we put into this place. Our Christmas was great, a little crazy this year with the moving and all, but still great. My sister was in town for a week and Cecil and I went to KY to visit the inlaws, mostly just hung out with family.

In Pregnancy news, I am 17.5 weeks and doing pretty well. I am still on my zofran pump, but they have lower my dose of medicine which is a good thing. I hope to be off this thing very soon. I am no longer getting sick, and have actually gained my first pound. I go to the doctor every 2 weeks, because of my weight lose and being on the pump, so every 2 weeks I get to hear the wonderful heart beat of the baby, the rate started in the 160's, then 150's, now this week it was in the 140's, which my doctor said is perfect! I have also started to feel the flutters, I LOVE IT! This baby is very active and there are days when I feel them all day, and other days when I think they are just taking it easy! I cant wait for Cecil to beable to feel, hes kindof jealous right now! :) We scheduled our BIG ultrasound, where we hopefully will find out the sex of the baby. It is Jan 21st, seems like a million years away! But we are excited. After that I will start on the nursery and actually buying some things, as I have not bought one things yet. It seems like 5 months is forever away, but I know it may fly by and I need to get moving on some things.

Thank you all for the prayers! We wouldnt be here without the support of everyone, and I cant thank you enough!

xoxo-Kari

Week 14

2009-12-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Well I am 14.5 weeks.....and am doing much better. I have not thrown up in 1 week. I got put on a Zofran pump, I wear it 24 hours a day with a line going in my leg. I am actually eating a little now and drinking without throwing up. I can get out of bed now, I still have some moments where I dont feel well but I am so much better. I have not gained a pound yet, still down about 10 pounds. I go to the doctor every 2 weeks to keep an eye on my weight. So every 2 weeks I hear the little heart beating away, I love it everytime. I am hoping at next weeks appt I will have gained some weight. I am offically sporting a baby belly, I just popped one day and now I actually look a little pregnant, I love that too! We get to find out the sex in about 3.5 weeks, I am so excited I cannot wait. I have no feeling one way or another....everyonce in awhile I will feel its a girl but then the next day I have no feeling what so ever. We have our names picked out for ethier sex, which I will tell when we find out the sex. I am hoping within the next few weeks I will start feeling the little flutters of the baby. That will be an amazing moment!

In other news, our house is almost done, well done enough to move in, there will still be odds and ends to do once we get in. But we have started moving things in . YEAH! I will post pics soon. I can not wait to get all of our stuff out of boxes and have a home again. Its going to be so nice. I think we will spend the night in there this weekend or early next week.

Other then that, I dont really do much. I am not working since I have been so sick, and now there is no point in starting again for 5.5 months till the baby is here.....so I am just hanging out, taking it easy.

xoxo-Kari

Week 12

2009-11-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

Your Baby's Development
Your baby's brain continues to develop, and tiny fingernails and toenails start to form. Vocal cords are formed this week, which is the last of your first trimester.
Your baby's kidneys are functioning! After swallowing amniotic fluid, your baby will now be able to pass it out of the body as urine. And the intestines will make their way into the abdomen, since there is room for them now.

Well we have hit week 12! Which is very exciting for us. Today we met with my OB doctor for the first time, we really really liked her. She is pretty awesome. I still have not gained any weight or gained back any I have lost, I go back in 2 weeks for a weight check. I still have really bad days and then I have okay days. There are some days when I cant even keep apple juice down and other days when I eat a little. I am hoping that gets better soon, I miss my food!

We had an ultrasound today, the baby was moving around like CRAZY...he/she was flipping and flopping all around and had its hands over its face, very cute. It finally seemed real today, maybe I will start to relax, but proably not. We saw both arms and legs and spine and head, and even little fingers. The ultra sound pic above is from today but still kindof hard to see what is what. (the head is on the left) We are beyond thrilled and cant wait to meet the little one. Oh the heartrate today was 158.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope I can eat some of the great food! But if not I have so much to be thankful for this year, our little one, my great husband, my awesome family, my faith, my dogs, our new house.............Have a great holiday week!

xoxo-Kari

Week 10

2009-11-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

Your Baby's Development
By week 10, all of your baby's vital organs have been formed and are starting to work together.
As external changes such as the separation of fingers and toes and the disappearance of the tail takes place, internal developments are taking place too. Tooth buds form inside the mouth, and if you're having a boy, his testes will begin producing the male hormone testosterone.
Congenital abnormalities are unlikely to develop after week 10. This also marks the end of the embryonic period — in general, the embryo now has a distinctly human appearance and starting next week your baby will officially be considered a fetus.

Well today is Week 10 for us! Finally double digits! Week 9 was a little tough sickness wise, but I made it through. Yesterday and today have been a little better. I start out my day dry heaving or throwing up, but then I kindof feel better after that. No interesting news this week as I have not gone to the doctor. I do have to go next week to recheck my blood pressure, because it was high last week when I was in. Hopefully everything checks out fine. Other then that, not much going on with me, a lot going on with the baby though as you read above. I am starting to show just a tiny bit, I guess I will need to start taking pics of the belly.
Other then that, I am just taking it easy, staying home and out of crowds, hanging out with my puppies all day. The house is coming along, we are pushing for us to be in by December 1st. It will not be all the way done, but at least liveable for us. I will post new pictures soon. Hope all is well with everyone. Please keep us in your prayers, that we both stay healthy and keep moving along as we have. I am so thankful to be this far, and have faith God will carry us both through until June, and keep us both healthy.

xoxo Kari

Week 9

2009-10-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well time flys when your having fun right? Well not sure...I am 9 weeks today, getting closer and closer to that 12 week mark makes me happy, I wish it would just get here already though. But the baby has had no problems. As you can see from the ultrasound picture, you can actually make out the little head and where the back is...it is crazy how the baby is growing from week to week. I had my first appt with my new OB this week, even though I dont meet her until my 12 week appt, I was really impressed with the office and the Nurses I did see. On Monday we got an ultrasound, and the littles ones heartrate was at 162. This is the first belly ultrasound I have had, so its great to not have to do the fun kind anymore. And the tech actually saw and I saw too, the baby move around. It was so crazy and so wonderful. So the baby is doing perfect...I love "it" (by the way I hate calling the baby it) so much already and cant wait to meet him/her.

So the baby is doing great, which is my main concern...but me on the other hand.....have had some rough days........I have been pretty sick for about 3 weeks, just gagging and dry heaving really, and this week started the throwing up. On Wednesday I was throwing up everything, including gatorade, so I got put on an IV of fluids. I have felt better after that. I am losing weight, which I think it pretty common, but I am not eating very much at all. I am trying to figure out ways to get some calories down but its not working out to great. But I will throw up everyday of the 9 months, if thats what needs to happen. (Im hoping it will end soon though)

Heres whats going on in Week 9 with the little one....

Your Baby's Development
The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and almost disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing — it's quite large compared with the rest of the body and it curves onto the chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.6 to 0.7 inches (16 to 18 millimeters) from crown to rump and weighs around 0.1 ounces (3 grams). The tip of the nose has developed and can be seen in profile, and flaps of skin over the eyes have begun to shape into eyelids, which will become more noticeable in the next few weeks.
The digestive system continues to develop. The anus is forming, and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, start to form this week.
Your baby may make some first movements this week as muscles develop. If you had an ultrasound now, those movements might even be visible, but you won't be able to feel them for several more weeks.

After many tears and talks with Cecil and me getting H1N1 Vax, I did decide to get it this week. I was nervous with it being so new and being pregnant and all, but pregnant women and kids were in top priority.......and Mooresville was struck with a tradgety this week.......A beautiful young 27 year old mother to a 9 month old baby, was taken to Heaven yesterday after fighting for her life for 5 days, after getting H1N1. I followed with her family for the 5 days, it was so awful. God was just ready for her yesterday. I played basketball with her in high school, she graduated a few classes before me, but I remember her being so beautiful and honestly one of the nicest people I have ever met. So for me, it was clear, I stood in line on Thursday with all the other pregnant women and kids and got my shot. I did what Cecil and I felt was right for the baby and myself. Please pray for the families of Jamie Blackwell Loveless, pray for them to have strength during this time. And please pray for baby Gavin, whos mom will live on through him forever.http://thelovelessfamily.weebly.com/

My next appt is Nov 23rd, I will be over 12 weeks and I get to meet the doctor. But it will be the longest I have been without an ultrasound, so Im sure I will be a nervous wreck the entire time. Thats the nice thing about IVF, you get many more ultrasounds and really see how the baby grows from week to week in the begining, I will miss that! But I know if just means the baby is doing fine and healthy. Please continue to say your prayers that both of us stay healthy and the little one stays as strong as it has this far. This baby is so blessed to have so many people love it already! It is going to be one spoiled little baby. Also Please keep Jamie's family in your prayers. I know she will be greatly missed.

xoxo-Kari

7weeks & 5 Days......

2009-10-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

So we had our last appt with my RE (the doc who did our IVF) It was kindof sad to leave all the people that have been so wonderful the past few years, but we are so happy to get released to our new OB. I have my first appt with our OB on Monday! Things are moving right along, we couldnt be happier.

So at the appt today we did another ultrasound, and we could actually see a head and the start of arms and legs! And not only did we see the little heart pounding away, we got to hear the heart beat as well. Up until now I have not cried at an ultrasound-I think I have always been in shock, but hearing the heartbeat did it for me, the water works started. It is a moment Cecil and I will always cherish, and Im so glad he was there to share it with. The tech said it was a very strong heartbeat! Thank God for miracles........

As for me, still pretty sick. I am eating a little more now, I regret it afterwards, but at least Im getting some things down. I am still trying to take it very easy and stay away from sick people. Im starting to get some heartburn sometimes. I am not having many cravings at all yet, because NOTHING sounds good every. I have a few times craved buffalo wings and meatball subs........so meat I guess, and I am so not a meat eater. But I give my body what it wants......

As for other life, I have volleyball sectionals this week and also Cecil had football sectionals this week, so our seasons are coming to an end. Our house is coming along, slowly but surely.......painting is pretty much done, wood floors have started to go in......we hope to be in by Thanksgiving...Which is the last day of my first trimester...so a great milestone and an awesome thing to be thankful for this year.

Our Due date is June 4th 2010, seems SO far away, but things are moving along pretty fast, a lot faster then I would have thought.

WEEK 8

Your Baby's Development
Marveling over a baby's tiny fingers and toes is one of the joys of the first day of life. Those fingers and toes are just beginning to form this week, and the arms can even flex at the elbows and wrists. The eyes are becoming more obvious because they’ve begun to develop pigment (color) in the retina (back of the eye).
Also, the intestines are getting longer and there isn’t enough room for them in the baby’s abdomen, so they protrude into the umbilical cord until week 12.
By now, the beginnings of the buds that will develop into your baby's genitals have made their appearance, although they've not yet developed enough to reveal whether your baby is a boy or a girl.

I will update after our first OB appt on Monday. Again the prayers are much appreciated!

xoxo Kari

Week 6 Ultrasound

2009-10-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

So we had our 2nd ultrasound last week. I was still a nervous wreck. THis is the first ultrasound Cecil has been too. I cant believe the difference in just one week. We actually saw the baby, not just the fetal pole and sac. (in the pic above the round white thing is the yoke sac and the thing to the right of it is the baby!) And then we saw the most amazing thing, the little heart just beating away. It was to early to hear it but we def saw it. One of the greatest moments my husband and I have ever had. Everything still looked great, my levels looked great, the baby was measuring right on time. We go back this Wednesday for another ultrasound and then I get released to my OB! I will update again after Wednesday. Please keep us in your prayers, that Wednesdays looks as good as this one!
Today I am 7 weeks and 3 days pregnant, so I will hit the 8 week mark this friday. Everyday is a miracle to me, hitting everyweek is a milestone. I am feeling pregnant, that is for sure. I am loosing weight actually because I am not eating hardly at all, which doesnt make me happy. But the thought of food just makes me gag. I have only thrown up once, but have gagged myself many times, expecially when I brush my teeth. I am just very nauseous most of the time, I do get a break every so often and start to feel good but then it always comes back. I am very tired. I am still pretty crampy, which makes me a nervous wreck, but I have been crampy the entire time.......and no matter how many times I read on the internet that it is normal to be crampy in early pregnancy, it doesnt matter....I am still freaked out. I also have 2 ovarian cysts that are giving me some pain as well, well I hope thats what it is. They showed up on my ultrasound.

I cant believe Im only about 4 1/2 weeks till Im done with the first trimester. Its going slow, yet fast. Im ready to be out of the first tri, so maybe I can actually relax a little, but proably not!

Please, Please keep this little one in your prayers, your prayers have done wonders so far, I know they have. Just ask him to stay and stick around with us for the next 7 months! I have faith this is going to work out!

xoxo~ Kari

House Update

2009-10-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

So I havent done a house update in awhile. We kindof took a little time off to concentrate on IVF. So we are a little behind but its okay. We had tile work done in our baths and entry way this week. MY master bedroom has walls that our ready to paint and the bathroom and walk in closet is added! (I am so happy, my closet is going to be huge....I have been wanting a huge clost forever) The kitchen drywall is done and the walls just got painted. Cabinets will be going in in the next few weeks. All new lighting is up! All paining will be done this week. But the big news is this coming weekend, our wood floors will be going in! That is like one of the final steps...after that we can start moving stuff in. I will post pics after this weekend of our progress! We are hoping another month and a half and we will be in! Just in time for the holidays.

Post about previous post

2009-10-11T15:31:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to make it clear after reading the poem thing I posted below that someone sent to me. I did not write this. While I like it because it talks about not treating your infertility as a huge problem, be thankful for the things it has brought you. I dont agree with the part about being anything better because we have been through it. I think women who have been through infertility have a different presective on things, but not a better perspective, and in no way, shape, or form are mothers who have been through inferility better then mothers who didnt. I dont like that part of the writing......there was a quote that a read from a lady that finally had a baby after 10 years of struggling and she said, "I wouldnt wish inferitiliy on my worst enemy, but I also would not want it taken away from me." I totally agree that it has made me the way I am today, it has made me love my husband more then I ever thought possible, but in no way to I think infertility is going to make me a better mother, awesome mothers come from everywhere and every story, adoption, surrogacy, infertility, teen mothers, and even when there is no circumstance and you just have a baby........Awesome mothers are every where and I would never think I am a better mother...EVER,, Im sure this time next year there will be times when I think I am awful mother, like Im sure everyone has felt at some point. I wanted to put this writing on my blog, to show not the part about being better because I dont believe that, but I want people to know, I am in most ways thankful for everything in my life, good and bad, it has made me the person I am today. SO please dont take it the wrong way....I know anyone that is reading this blog is beyond an awesome mom and parent...and how do I know that, because you wouldnt be reading it if you didnt care about what I have been through to bring a life into this world, and caring about any child coming into the world whether it be through IVF or not, makes anyone a great parent.

This blog is for everyone I know that has a child, because I dont know of any bad moms, they are all awesome!

Just didnt want anyone to take that the wrong way.........

2009-10-07T18:32:00.001-07:00

Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better.I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed.I have endured and planned over and over again.Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.I will notice everything about my child.I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see.Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain.I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body, I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.I have prevailed.I have succeeded.I have won.So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.I listen.And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immerse power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.I have learned to appreciate life.Yes I will be a wonderful mother.

Our First Ultrasound

2009-10-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

So I went in to my regular OB today (who does not deliever babies) to tell him we were pregnant since he has been there the longest during my venture through everything. Of course he was so happy for us. But I mentioned I have been having some pain, so he did an ultra sound. I WAS so nervous. My heart was racing, I hear so many stories about going to an ultrasound and there being just an empty sac. But there showed up 1 sac, it was alittle to soon for a heartbeat, I am a little over 5 weeks. But my doc said the sac was not empty, something going on it there! The pain is from 2 small cysts, he didnt seem concerned about them or the pain I was having. He said everything looked great.

We are still set for our ultrasound next week as well. Hopefully we will hear the heartbeat, there is chance it will still be to early, but hopefully not.

The chance of miscarriage goes way down after a heartbeat is heard. And goes way, way down after 13 weeks......I will be 13 weeks on Thanksgiving. I cant wait.

Please keep this baby in your prayers. Please pray for the little one to hang on for dear life for the next 8 months. I pray about 20 times a day, thanking God for this miracle and asking him to help this baby hang on. I love this little guy so much already. I really, really hope and pray that I will be holding them in about 8 months. This is the scariest thing I have ever been through. Everything scares me, and Im so worried at all times. Im sure I will be that way until he/she is in my arms.

By the way we did a Chinese Gender calander and it said we are having a girl. Its supposed to be 90% accurate. We will be happy with anything, just praying for healthy.

As far as me, I am feeling pregnant most of the time. Sometimes I dont feel any symtoms and its scares me. But most of the time I have the typical pregnancy symtoms...sore boobs, sick to my stomach, headaches, tired, cramps.............no throwing up yet, but the thought of some foods, make me gag. I am waiting for the throwing up to hit, I thought for sure today would be the day, I was so sick after I ate. But nothing so far, maybe I will be a lucky one.

Cecil, is very happy. Already a great dad to be. Making sure I am eating right, taking all my meds, making sure I am drinking enough. He tells the baby he loves "it." Makes me smile. Cant wait to see him with this baby for the first time, he is going to be awesome! I think I will have to fight him to hold the baby!

Thanks for prayers and please keep them coming. These next fews weeks are so important and vital for the baby.

By the way the picture above you can clearly see the sack, and more then likely there is just 1 baby in there. One can be hiding out, and we will find out next week!

We ARE PREGNANT!

2009-09-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

So....I have been waiting years to beable to say that. We are still pretty much in shock. I thought for sure it was over for us, but our great God had other plans. This past Sunday I felt pretty sick to my stomach and just didnt feel right. Now I had taken about 5 home pregnancy tests from about last Wednesday the 23rd till Friday the 25th, all NEGATIVE. So I just decided I wasnt going to do anymore, but I just had to figure out why I felt so bad. So I snuck out and got 2 tests. Did not tell a soul. Came back home and peed on the stick and all the sudden 2 lines popped up. I have never seen the second line in my life. I feel to my knees and just started crying. Cecil wasnt home, but returned about 5 mins later. I just walked outside and he could see I was crying and he said whats wrong and I just handed him the test. He thought I was just handing him another negative test....he looked down and he said I dont know what this means, and I said its means we are pregnant. We didnt say anything after that, we just grabbed each other and I cried. We were in total shock. So on Monday I took another test and it was another positive. I called my nurse because I am still having cramps pretty bad at this point and she tells me its pretty common in early pregnany to have cramps, but she decides to move my blood test to the Monday they 28th. So I go over and get my blood test, and she calls back at 1:30 and says, yep we know why you are feeling bad, you are def pregnant. Again the tears came.

Well I had to go back today for more blood work to make sure my HCG levels are doubling, I was more nervous for today then ANYTHING. I was a wreck. I went about 10am this morning and had my blood taken. Got the call about at 1pm, saying my numbers have doubled and my beta was at 560, which is a GREAT number.

I am still doing one shot a night of pregestrone and I wear 2 estraderm patches, and I will keep doing that for a few more weeks.

Our ultra sound is set for Oct 13th, 2 days after my 26 th b-day. We will be able to see how many babies there are and hear heartbeats. We are SO excited. As of today I am 2 weeks and 6 days pregnant. So it is still very, very early. Things are looking great right now, but we still have so far to go. Please keep these little guys in your prayers, that they contuine to grow over the next 38 weeks.

We love you all and cant wait to share this journey with you! thanks again for everything
xoxo-Kari

1 week down, 1 to go

2009-09-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well we are a week since our transfer, and 1 week away from my blood pregnancy test. The few days after the transfer were crazy. Thursday and friday, I laid around all day. Thank God for my mom and my husband. They made sure I was well taken care of. Thursday I didnt really feel anything, but Friday morning I got pretty sick and just had some major cramping. The cramping was still around on Saturday and pretty much gone by Sunday. No idea what was going on.

The 2 week wait is so intense and insane. It is the biggest emotional rollercoaster of my life. The days drag by and I wonder about every twinge in my body. Today was a tough, tough day for me. I couldnt take it anymore and I did a home pregnany test. It was negative. I know its early, but it is just such a blow to see a negative. I dont know what to think anymore. I was so upset all day. My awesome husband left work early to come home and get me out of the house. When he got home, we just sat and I cried on his shoulder. We then went to lunch. I could not make it without him. I honestly dont know what I would do without him through this.

Im not counting myself out yet, but its not looking great. But we believe in miracles and we are still praying all the time about it. I hope that I am totally shocked in a week with a positive, but I am bracing myself for the worst.

Thank you for everyone who has kept up with us the last few weeks! Hopefully a great miracle will happen next wednesday and I will beable to update with the fact we have a baby on the way. But if not, I have faith God will lead us in the right direction with what to do next.

First Picture of our baby or babies........

2009-09-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

So on Sept 16th we had our embryo transfer. When we arrived, I was SO nervous. I had not heard how our embryos were doing since Monday. On Monday we found out that of our 6 embryos, 1 stopped growing, 2 were looking great, and 3 were growing but slow. So we were so scared we were going to go come in and have them say all of them stopped growing. But we got there I went to the surgery center and waited for my doctor. He told us we had 1 perfect embryo, 1 almost perfect and all the others had stopped growing. We were bummed because we have none to freeze, no back-up plan. But we were so happy 2 of our guys had held on and contiuned to grow. So I signed off on putting the 2 embryos back in. Cecil sat beside me on a stool and I had an ultra sound machine on my belly. Now your bladder has to be SO full at this point, so the doctor can see what he is doing. He loaded the catheader (not sure how to spell that) with our 2 embryos and Cecil and watched on the screen, they kindof floated and then splashed in right where they needed to go. The picture above is the embryos in there, to the left of the black open part is a smaller white dot, and it looks like a circle around it, those our, our 2 embryos!

The doctor was very pleased and very confident! I was taken right back to my room where I had to lay flat for one hour. I had to pee so bad at this point from drinking so much to get my bladder full. So long behold I had my first experience peeing in a wonderful bedpan! Poor nurse. I had to though, there was NO way I could lay there for an hour with that full of a bladder.

After the hour, we came home, ate Jimmy Johns for lunch and I have been on the couch ever since. I feel okay, other then fact I am very bloated and uncomfortable. But I will make it. Cecil has been great, making sure I have everything I need. Now we are in the 2 week wait, the WORST part I think. We have to wait 2 weeks and then I do bloodwork to find out if the pregnancy took. Implantation is supposed to happen between 1-5 days after the transfer, so ANY time now my little guys could be snuggling in! We are hoping and praying they want to stay around for 9 more months.......

There will not be much to update for the next 2 weeks, I will be taking it very easy and trying to relax and NOT go crazy!

Once again, all the support has been wonderful, please keep us in your prayers for the next 5 days, and that our embryos decide to stay around!

xoxo-Kari

how can you be so nervous & so excited at the same time

2009-09-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

Well I am hopefully writing you on the last day of my not pregnant life.......tomorrow is our embryo transfer. Right now I am SO nervous. But I will back up a bit.......

I went in Sept 11th for my egg retrival, it did not go as good as I would have hoped, but it wasnt a total bust ethier. I got there and got prepped and waited on the Doc. Finally we went back, and I got the good drugs, I was loopy, but I could kindof hear my Docs and nurses talking. Cecil was in there with me. SO if you remeber the end of last week I had a 15 eggs, well we could only get to 8 of them at the retrival, some of them where just empty, which meant there was no egg growing, and I guess my left ovary is kindof tilted which made it hard to get to some. I was hoping for 10, but was happy with 8.

We were extactic the next morning when they called and said of the 8, 6 had fertilized! Which meant we were going to put 2 back and freeze 4. Well the next report on Monday, wasnt as good. We are now down to 2 embryos, she said they are almost perfect but of the other 4, 1 just stopped growing and three are not growing like they should. SO SAD! Yet so thankful 2 of our little guys are still hanging on. There is a slight chance some of the 3 that are behind could catch up, so we are really praying maybe one of 2 of them have a growth spurt!

So I havent heard anything about them since Monday, it has been miserable...they try not to disturb them in their environment because one wrong thing can be a disaster. So yesterday and today, I have been a wreck...I want to know if the two strong ones are still growing and how they are looking? I want to know if any of the other 3 have shown any signs of being viable??? Its a nightmare not knowing.......Please keep them in your prayers, there are so many things that can go wrong, they are SO fragile.

Tomorrow is the BIG day, hopefully the 2 strong ones are still looking strong and if so they will be implanted at 1:00pm tomorrow. I am going to an accuputunre appt before the transfer, it is supposed to help with implantation. The next 2 days I will be on bed rest. I rented some movies and are good to go.

I know I have said it a 1,000 x's but the support we have recieved has been unreal..........if I am having a bad day, I know I can be lifted up just by comments and prayers from you guys.

It is in God's hands and I am leaving it that way. He has a plan for us and if these 2 little embryos are supposed to implant they will.

Fear Not. Just Trust. I will not fail you.
Go forward fearlessly
Trust and be not afraid
Rest in my certainty
rely on me
Let Go and Let Go

...............................the greater the fight, the greater the victory......................................

In the Home Stretch

2009-09-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well Cecil and I went for my 3rd ultra sound and blood draw of the long weekend, poor nurses having to work their entire labor day weekend. I felt bad. But my E2 level today was 1440, which is getting up there. Not in the scary zone yet.....on the other hand, it means I am producing those eggs, and I am producing well. And I only have to do 2 of my shots tonight instead of 3! As of today my nurse, measured 15 little eggs! I have reached my goal. Now just because there are 15 in there, doesnt mean during the retrival the DR will beable to get them all out. We hope he can get as many out as possible, but he will not beable to find all of them. (Last IVF, I had 16 eggs and they only got 7 out at the retrival) We are hoping for at least 10 on retrival day. The next few days I have to take it very easy and push gatorade and fluids. I DO NOT want to get OHHS, which means I have overstimulated and could be cancelled.

The next 3 days will be very uncomfortable. I am VERY bloated, no longer able to fit into anything besides sweats and dresses. This week alone I have but on 7.5 pounds...so its a big change to my body. But it looks like FRIDAY Sept 11th is the big day, the retrival, I know what a day right, but I actually feel good about it. For one its my moms birthday and I know its Sept 11th, but I feel almost like everyone who tragically lost their life on that day will be looking down on us trying to bring a new life into this world. And my sister, will actually be in town for a wedding, so she will be here too.

Well I will update on Wednesday, I got back for another ultra sound and blood draw. Please keep our little guys in your prayers that they continue to grow.
xoxo Kari

Update.....

2009-09-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well I know I have used this picture before, but I wanted to use it again because I have

officially started on all these medicines and shots. I am on day 4 of my stim meds.

(Which we want to help me produce tons of eggs, the more the better) We are hoping

for between 15-20 eggs. I am doing 3 shots a night, Lupron 5 units, Menopur 75 units, and Follistim 100 units. The Lupron and Follistim are easy peasy, Menopur NOT SO MUCH.

Menopur is fine sticking the needle in, but when Cecil started to push the medicine in, Im not going to lie, it burns so bad, it feels like someone is taking a pocket knife and stabbing me in the belly. Fun Right?? I am also taking 3 other pills a day, just to keep my risk of infection down.

I went in yesterday for my first blood draw. My estrogen level was a 328, which is good. I AM PRODUCING EGGS! That is the first hurdle. My levels were actually a little high, which is a good and bad thing, it means I am porducing great, but I dont want o over produce because you can overstimulate and it can cancel your cycle and make you very, very sick. So there is a fine line there and we dont want to cross it. So they knocked my Follistim shot from 100 units to 75 units per night. I go back to the doctor every other day now for an ultrasound and bloodwork. We will do this until they consider the eggs mature. So I will go back tomorrow (Saturday) at 7:15 to see the little guys on the ultra sound. I am feeling, well I will say OKAY, not great but not super bad. I have my moments where I feel really, really sick. Its about 12 hours after my shots. I am having trouble sleeping because I am unformtable and my hot flashes are getting worse. The thing about stimming meds is they make you really, really bloated in the tummy, because your body is not used to producing so many eggs....and my ovaries feel like they weight 500 pounds each. So it gets very unformtable and the more meds I put into my body, the worse it gets...so I will let you know next week how I feel. :) The longest I could take these stims is one more week, but I will proably go before that since I am repsonding good to the medicines. I am trying to creat a great place for the eggs to grow and flourish right now. So no exercise, no pop, no junk food (I have slipped a few times) no lifting anything.

In other news, V-ball season is in full swing. We are struggling a bit this year, hopefully we will pick it up. I love the girls though and enjoy coaching them.

House news, well its kindof taking a back burner to IVF right now. So its not moving a long quite as fast as it was, but thats fine, we knew and prepared for this. Now we are hoping to be all done and moved in my Nov 1st. Right now electrical is still going on, drywall in our kitchen and this weekend will be starting on the master bath and walk in closet addition.

And Cecil and I are going to the first Notre Dame football game tomorrow, we are in the first rom and SO excited. We are huge fans, its just a great atomsphere up there and we love it!

Well thats all for now, I will be updating a lot the next few weeks because we are in the home stretch! I really, really appreciate all the support and I dont know what I would do with out it. Please keep up all the prayers, we are in no means out of the woods yet, there are still a million things to go wrong. But I feel really calm and I feel Gods presence on our side this time.

Everyone have a great Labor Day!

xoxo-kari

IVF Update

2009-08-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know, I got pushed back a month on our IVF. I had a huge cyst that just would not go away. I went in on August 18th and got in drained. That was an experience in itself. The procedure took all of 10 mins. It was in the surgery center. I got an IV put in and got taken back, then asked if I wanted to be put unders. I said no. So I did it without meds. I dont know if I would do it again with out meds....:) even though it was only 10 mins, well I will put it this way, IT SUCKED! But the cool thing is that I got to watch it on the ultrasound machine, I watched it be penetrated and then all the fluid sucked out till it was gone. I could even hear the fluid from the cyst coming out and dripping in a pan. Sorry if thats to much info. The funny thing is, when the fluid hits the pan it makes a sound like a bird chirping, so the doctor knows by the sound that the fluid is coming out so he doesnt have to look down and can keep his eye on the ultra sound...so here I am in stirups, about ready to kill someone because it hurts so bad, and then I get to listen to birds chirping as the fluid from my cyst hits a metal pan............oh my life experiences already and Im only 25!!!!

The good news I got that day is that my estrogen levels droped from 77 to 18, and they will not contuine with anything that is over a 50, so we are moving on to SEPTEMBER IVF!!!!

Right now I am still doing a shot everynight of Lupron, but we went from 20 units a night, to know 5, which is better. I am having trouble with the shots for some reason though, never have before. Its almost like my skin is so tough, that Cecil reall has to shove the needle in. We will get through it though. I am having a few side effects but not to many.....I am having some pretty killer hot flashes.....I always go to bed with clothes on and wake up with none. LOL....the weather cooling down has helped. I also get what they call lupron cramps, which is like deep cramps...but those come and do and arent to bad. I can be moody sometimes, and Cecil is doing very well with it. He can tell insantly if I am in a bad mood, and then he just kills me with kindness. Poor Guy. But then when I feel better, we just laugh about the ridiculous stuff that I got mad about. Like I have said before, I could not imagine going through all of this without him or with someone else. We are a great team!

So I have one more week to work on the house and to get somethings done. I start the really important shots on Monday Aug 31st. So then no exercise (besides walking) and no working on the house.....I will be producing tons and tons (hopefully) of eggs and you have to make sure they are keep in a great environment so they can grow. So no chemicals, lifting of anything, no pop (which I dont drink anyways) no junk food.

Then I go to the doctor on Sept 3rd, thats when they start montioring the growth of all my eggs and telll me how many are growing on each ovary. Then I go to the doctor everyother day, until they determine my eggs are "mature" by bloodwork and ultrasounds......then is retrival and then transfer.

My estimated transfer date is Sept 12th! Thats the big day. The day my already fertilized babies get put back into my body to attach and grow for the next 9 months.

Please keep us in your prayers, we are entering the home stretch and will really need to the support and prayers!

Thank you guys for everything!

XOXO Kari

PROGRESS REPORT

2009-08-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

LOOKING FROM DINING ROOM INTO LIVING ROOM

OUR OFFICE

LIVING ROOM INTO ENTRY

DINING ROOM WINDOW SEAT

FRONT WINDOWS

FRONT OF APARTMENT/INLAW QUARTERS

BEFORE FRONT OF APARTMENT

BACK OF THE HOUSE, SOON WILL HAVE A COVERED DECK HERE

BACK OF THE HOUSE BEFORE

SIDE PATIO

WELL WE HAVE OFFICALLY OWNED THE HOUSE FOR 2 MONTHS. WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL NEW WINDOWS PUT IN, A PRIVACY FENCE, NEW GARAGE DOORS, NEW SHUTTERS, ALL NEW PLUMBING, ALL NEW ELECTRICAL, EVERYTHING IS NEW IN THE APARTMENT. A LOT OF THE PAINTING IN THE MAIN HOUSE IS DONE. THIS WEEK IS DRYWALL IN OUR KITCHEN, 1/2 BATH, AND LAUNDRY ROOM. THEN WE WILL BE ADDING A MASTER BATH WITH TILE SHOWER AND A HUGE WALK IN CLOSET IN THE MASTER. THEN FLOORING WILL START GOING DOWN. AND THEN THE FUN OF PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER BEGINS!!!! I WOULD SAY IN 2 MONTHS IT WILL BE DONE.

ON OTHER NEWS, V-BALL SEASON HAS BEGAN. WE HAVE A SCRIMMAGE THIS WEEK AND THEN OUR FIRST OFFICAL GAME IS NEXT MONDAY! THIS SUMMER FLEW BY.

I WILL BE TAKING 2 CLASSES IN THE FALL FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY. VERY WEIRD TO BE BACK IN COLLEGE BUT I AM EXCITED.

IN IVF NEWS, THINGS ARE NOT GOING AS SMOOTHLY AS WE WOULD LIKE. WE ARE GETTING BUMPED BACK 1 MONTH BECAUSE I HAVE A RATHER LARGE CYST ON MY LEFT SIDE. I GO BACK THIS FRIDAY FOR ANOTHER ULTRA SOUND TO CHECK THE SIZE OF THE CYST. IF IT DOESNT GO DOWN ON ITS OWN, MAY HAVE TO DO SURGERY. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL JUST LEAVE PEACEFULLY. I WAS KINDOF BUMMED AT FIRST BECAUSE I AM READY, I AM READY TO GET MY BIG FAT POSITIVE. BUT I KNOW ITS ALL IN GODS TIMING AND THERE IS A REASON THAT THIS IS NOT MY MONTH. HEY ITS ANOTHER FEW WEEKS TO GET MORE DONE AROUND THE HOUSE RIGHT? I AM STILL ON 20 UNIT SHOTS OF LUPRON A NIGHT. USUALLY I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE BUT THIS TIME THEY ARENT WANTING TO GO IN SO IT MAKES IT KINDOF A PAIN, BUT THE GREATER THE FIGHT THE GREATER THE VICTORY RIGHT!!!

OTHER THEN THAT, THINGS ARE GREAT. DOGS ARE GREAT. WORK IS GREAT FOR BOTH OF US. FAMILY IS GREAT.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. MAYBE IF WE JUST BOTHER GOD WITH SO MANY PRAYERS IT WILL WORK. :)

THINGS WILL START HAPPENING ON THE HOUSE FASTER NOW SO I WILL UPDATE SOONER NEXT TIME.

PEACE AND LOVE-KARI <3 <3 <3

Update

2009-07-30T19:14:00.001-07:00

so not to brag or anything but I have been blessed with a flat tummy usually, this is how bloated I am already. That is the worse part, looking pregnant and not being pregnant, yet!

This is Cecil gettiny my shot ready (Sorry I cant figure out how to turn the pics)

Well as many of you know. We have started our IVF cycle. I started shots of Lupron shots in the stomach on Monday, and I do them all the way until next friday. At that point I go in for a baseline ultra sound to make sure my body is ready to start making those eggs. Then I start 2 more shots on top of the one I am already doing, these will produce tons of eggs!! So until next friday it will be the same thing, 1 shot every night. MY prenatal vitamin, DHEA, Vit D. I am also doing massage once a week right now, accupunture, fertility yoga, and fertility meditation, and of course many, many prayers!!!!

In other news, the house is coming along. We just got done doing all new electrical and plumbing. Right now drywall is going up.......I have painted the entry, living room, and dining room. I am doing a paint treatment in our master to look like very old barn wood on the walls, I got the idea from pottery barn, so we will see how that turns out. I almost have everything bought we need, I am still shopping for carpet, countertops, and slate for the master bedroom bathroom. Landscaping got done, that was a huge job. I will post some pics of that this weekend. I ordered all furniture and have redid a lot of old pieces, which sticks with my eco friendly theme. I have done reclamied and eco friendly floors, paint, kitchen cabinets. Next on the agenda is brand new high efficent heating and A/C.

Getting my 11th tattoo this weekend, I am geting a saying on my side its says
...the greater the fight, the greater the victory...... which I tell myself everyday right now. I will post pictures of that too.

Cecil and I are both going into our coaching seasons. Which means we are so BUSY. We have tryouts starting Monday and first practice is Friday and first game is the 12th, Crazy the summer is gone already, I cant believe it. Cecil will have games every friday night, I will have games a 3 times a week and Saturdays. And when I dont have games on Saturday, we will be heading to south bend for Notre Dame football games, which we Love to do.

Other then that we are loving each other and loving life, and getting through IVF. I want to thank everyone for their support, prayers, and love during this time. We really appreciate it more then you guys will know. This is such a hard process and knowing we have so much support out there makes it so much easier. So thank you from both of us.

Please keep up the prayers, we will really need them the next month.

xoxo Kari

IVF Time

2009-07-01T08:21:00.001-07:00

Well here are the Money shots, all my medicines!!! Wow a lot more then last time, and I HATE taking any meds. This is not going to be fun at all. NOw just waiting on aunt flow to begin the process. For those of your following the next month and 1/2 will go something like this.

1. Period Starts, Start Lupron ( this is a shot in the belly, it pretty much shuts me down like menopause) It will make me very irratiable and moody, tired, and sick to my stomach. FUN Stuff! I will take that for a whopping 21 days.

2. Then I will begin Follistim (another shot) and Menopur (another shot) These meds are helping me produce several eggs (hopefully 15-20 eggs) Normal women produce 1-2, so these meds make me very bloated, I look pregnant. These meds will control when I ovulate. I have a written out schedule that I have to follow very carefully.

3. I take these meds for about 5 days and then I start going in for a daily ultrasound to watch my eggs develop until they are considered mature, so at this stage its day by day. I could go in one day and my Dr will say they are ready.....or if they are not ready, we just let them grow for another day. I will also have many blood tests during this time, they can tell how mature eggs are by the blood test, this is a very important part because if they take eggs to early or late, IVF will not work.

4.Then comes the egg retrieval. This is where the doctor surgically removes all the eggs. I am slightly sedated. This happens when they have determined my eggs are mature and ready, they the night before I do an HCG shot, this is WORST part of the whole thing. The needle is HUGE and its and oily substance, so it goes in very, very slow. Then I wake up and they tell me how many eggs I got, the more the better. ( last time only 7 :()

5. Then my eggs are taken directly into a lab and the embyologist mixes the egg and sperm. Fertlization then takes place (hopefully) and then they are monitored for 5 days 24 hours a day. These embryologists are pretty much making sure our babies stay alive during the first 5 days.

6. Then 5 days later is the embryo transfer. This is where 2 of our best embryos (they are graded by the way they divide) are transferred into my uterus. (any extra willbe froze for later use) This is done through a catheter and we are both in there and we can watch them just float down where they need to go on a tv, its really cool.

7. Then I go home and I am on strict bed rest for 3 days and this is the most crucial part, embryo implantation. This is what did not happen last time. So this is where your prayers and thoughts will really be needed. We need those embryos to implant and want to stay put with me for 9 months.

8. Then 2 weeks later I will go in for blood work to see if we are pregnant or not. I just felt it in my bones last time even before I took the test that it was negative, worst day of my life. This time is going to be different, I just know it.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for their support. The next 2 months will be very exciting, scary, and nerve wrecking.......but I know with support of you all, my husband, my family, and most of all God. We will be okay, and in less then a year I will be a mom!

xoxo-Kari

WOW its about Time

2009-06-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

(Pictures of the Guest House Before, I will Post After Pics tomorrow)

So we are in the new house...YEAH....well we are in the guest house for now until we get the main house done. But everything is here, including our puppies. They love the new yard. I am loving having high speed internet again. Everything is going as smoothly as possible with a remodel, we have hit a few bumps but nothing major.

In other news, V-ball season has started, well summer stuff anyways. Lots of girls this year, which is a good thing. Loving my job and I can walk to it now! Heading back to school for physical therapy in the fall, I swear one of these times I will figure out what I want to do!

IVF news, went and got most of my meds, 15 different ones to be exact! now just waiting on aunt flow, then I start the dreaded Lupron. We are ready and have faith it is going to work this time! But all the prayers can only help, so thank you in advance for that!

Will Update New pictures tomorrow!

Have a Great weekend!
Kari

May 2009

2009-05-31T17:19:00.001-07:00

This month has been CRAZY......Its the 31st today and my sister has been in town from Florida for 3 days. We had a cookout, went to dinner, went shopping, colored our hair, walked our dogs at the park, breakfast.....and watched a softball game together. I try and fit as much in when she is here. We went to my cousins wedding today, it was downtown at Union Station, very pretty. I also went to 3 open houses today. I cant believe girls I coached are seniors and done with high school. Its crazy. But Im a exhausted from this weekend that is for sure.

We proably close on our house tomorrow. Yeah! I am so ready to get started. I have almost everything packed up. I cant wait until its all done and we are all moved in.

I also have decided to go back to school. I have been wondering what I am going to do with myself for the past few years and after some job shadowing and searching...I am heading back for physical therapy/exercise specialist degree. I have about 2 years left, but its a hard 2 years wtih 3 semesters of clinicals. It is really something I am going to love. I hope to work in sports med when I get out. Im excited to go back. I have about 2 years left. I also found a great part time job and its a long the same lines as I am going back to school. I will be working part time at curves, helping women with exercise, fitness, and health. I think it will be a very cool job and right up my ally.

Track season is over, the girls did pretty well. Our 4x100 realy team made it to the regionals and also a 400 runner. The 4 x100 team made it on to the top 10 of all time, so they did very well. It was a great season.

Volleyball begins next week......looking forward to it and getting back into it.

I start IVF meds in a month from tomorrow.......everything is just happening at once, but I know its all in our plan and we are just a long for the ride going with the flow.........

Other then that life is well...Cecil and I will be married 4 years on June 18th, it has flown by. But I couldnt ask for a better marriage or man to be married to. He is my best friend and my better half. We have many, many years ahead of us and I cant wait to enjoy them with him.

All our peices are falling together...this is what I have been praying for........God never lets you down.......

I will post pictures of the transformation of the house soon.

xoxo-Kari

May 2009

2009-05-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

And the Madness begins.....

2009-05-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

( Just thought I would throw in a pic of Georgia Lounging outside)

Well I have began to pack as you can see from the picture of our garage. It is not fun, but this will be our last move for a long, long time. We should be closing within a few weeks. Its going to be a lot of work, but looking forward to it.

So we will be doing IVF proably in August, want to be compeletely moved and settled before we start. And its actually nice to have a break from it right now, not taking an supplements or anything.

Track season is almost over, I really had a great time. I enjoy the kids, most of the time. We have our county track meet tonight and then sectionals next tuesday. But no rest for me, volleyball begins first week of June. Looking forward to another great season.

Other then that nothing new is really happening, just same old thing. Trying to decide what I want to do with my life, and that sucks because there are a million things I would be happy with, just dont know which one to pick.

Cecil is still working really hard, and hes been playing in softball tournies on the weekend with other Mooresville Football Coaches, he really likes that.

Life is great other then that........

2009-04-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

This is the mold in the apartment bathroom!

This is the trash that came out of the house already!

The HOUSE....

2009-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

So this is our new house, pretty right?? lol.....it was built in 1901, its a 4 bedroom 3 bath home with a 2 bedroom 1 bath detached apartment. As you can see the apartment above is a nightmare! It needs a ton of work. As you can see above the kicthen cabinets are from proably the 1940's...there is cat pee in the carpet, the bathroom cabinets are moldy. There is no air conditioning. It is going to be a big beautiful house when we are done, follow the blog to watch the pictures progress.

We got the House!!!!

2009-04-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

I know random wedding picture, but our 4 year anniversary is coming up...I cant believe this was almost 4 years ago, it has flown by. But he is still my best friend and I love him more then I did this day! We never knew in this picture the trails we would have in these next years, our new marriage has been through a lot. Thankfully for us our inferility has made us stronger as a couple. And I know it will make us better parents. I was talking to a very wise lady last week who went through infertility for 8 long years (I can imagine) but she said something that stuck with me...she said about infertility I wouldnt wish it on anyone, but I wouldnt wish it not to of happened to me. And I totally agree, it has made me the person I am today, it has made me appreciate every child or baby I see. It has made me relize material things are not important, it has made me love my husband even more then I thought was possible. I have finally given it to God, I cant make it on my time anymore, its on his, I think this was his way of getting my realtionship back with him and to stop and appreciate life, because if I would have just gotten pregnant 4 years ago when we started trying, I would not be the person I am today or appreciate the life I have. I know God will give us the baby we are supposed to have. Its crazy to think I could have a 4 year old right now, but God decided to take that baby to heaven even before it took its first breath, and I do not understand and I never will but I now have faith that I do not need to understand. I finally see my infertility in the way God wants me to see it, as a blessing........

In other news...we got the house!! Yeah I am so happy, no more living in the houses we flip! We are going to have our own house again. We close in about a month, and then the work begins. Im excited because we get to start from stratch, I get to pick out everything. But we along with my doctor have decided to wait a few months on IVF, Im kindof bummed, but with moving and remodeling a house, its just not the right time, and I prayed about it and I just know I need to wait a few months to not have the stress of moving and what not...and its only a few months.......proably end of July is when we are looking at........I will be updating this blog with pictures and how the remodel is going.....

Went to my first wedding of the season Saturday, It was Ashley Bains and Bryan Nuffers, it was a beautiful wedding and she looked just as beautiful and they both seemed so happy. And I am so happy for them......

Easter was great, very laid back. We went to church in the am, all the little girls in their dresses, I loved it! Then my dad came over for lunch with Cecil and I, then I took a nap with my puppies, then we went to my moms. Its so weird with my parents being divorced, doing different things on holidays, this year will be the first for that. After 24 years of used to it being one way, its different, but I know they are both happy and thats all that matters. I just thankful for both of them being in our lives.

A lot of people have asked how my sister Kassidy is doing, she seems to be doing great in Flordia. She and Brian seem happy, adjusting to living with each other! We havent made it down there to see them yet, with my coaching schedule its tough, but we will go soon. She is cutting hair down there finally and building her clientel. I miss her and hope one day they will be back.

Well thats all for now. I will update with pictures of the new house soon!

xoxo Kari

April is the Month.......

2009-04-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

Welp....we are officially in the month I start my meds......I will start shots of Lupron everynight at the end of this month! Then the FUN begins.......Other then that I am still doing my fertility yoga, chiro appts, supplements, massage, and accupunture........We are getting there....

In other news....we took all the dogs to the vet for their annual shots, its a treat getting 4 over 75 pound dogs to the vet...everyone is perfect...except our English Bulldog Irish, he is getting to FAT! So we have to get him exercising....which is good, because its starting to get nice out and he looks to walk and I need the walks. Right now as I type he is under the quest bed covers rolling around with his feet straight up in the air! He is crazy......He makes us laugh everyday, I swear!

Track is in full season, Im enjoying almost every minute of it! Volleyball will be coming on very soon too. Also I have beeen instructed to not start my business intill after at least 12 weeks of pregnany...so once again I am not working (well other then coaching) so I am taking advantage and resting and getting my body ready. Cecil is great, he is playing football and helping with High school football, he got a raise and a bonus a few weeks ago. We thank God everynight for his great job, expecially when it seems so many people are losing theirs.

Wedding Season is beginning, I have my first one this Saturday! I think so far I have a total of 4 this summer to attend, which is totally great because I LOVE weddings!

Cecil and I have put an offer in on a house...FINALLY.....we think we found what we have been looking for.......it is a major project though. It needs totally remodeled and its 3,000 sq feet, so its not a small remodel, it will be our biggest yet. And this is the first one we have bought where we want to live. Thankfully on the property is a 2 bedroom guest house, so we are going to fix that up first and live in it while we work on the big house! Then then guest house will turn into my business! Its really perfect for us, I hope we get it. It was built in 1901, I love the old houses like that...it has the orginial moldings and staircase......its going to be so cool once we get it done. Hopefully this is the house God has lead us to!

Well thank you everyone again for your support.......It really means the world to us.......this time next year we will be home with a newborn!!!

Here are some quotes I found in these Christian books I have been reading, these stuck out to be so I have them written and plastered on the walls in my house, so I can see them all the time...

...such wonderful things are coming to. Trust!........

...Just trust me in everything. The Difficult way is nearly over.........

...Out of our difficulties, grow miracles.....

....Rely on Me........

Also I have finished 2 great books this week, Hannahs Hope, is a great book about God and infertility......and I just finished Multiple Blessing by Kate of Jon and Kate Plus 8, its a great book as well......

Well Im going to go enjoy the thunderstorm that is coming in...Love them!

Our IVF Consultation

2009-03-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well we had our IVF Consultation yesterday! We begin meds in about 1 month! I will be on Lupron for 21 days, which is a shot in the belly everynight. And as you can see with photo number 2 of the handouts we got at the doctor, that my hormones will be crazy. Uh the joys of IVF I will be a pleasure to be around Im sure. Poor Cecil! Then after 21 days I start my "stimming" meds, which will make me produce tons of eggs. Those medicines are Menopur and Follistim, which are both shots in the belly every night as well. So pretty much I am a pin cushion for a month! Then I go to the doctor everyday for an ultra sounds to make sure I am producing good eggs. Our goal is between 10 -20 eggs. So right now our approimate Egg retrival (where they go in and take out the eggs) is the end of May and Egg transfer (where the put fertilizied embroys back in) is first week in June. I am so excited, yet so nervous. I hate being on all the meds, on top of the ones I listed I will be on 7 more on the course of a month. And then after we get pregnant I will be one still a shot a day until 12 weeks to prevent miscarriage...it will all be sooo worth it! I cant believe in about a year I will be holding our baby or babies in my arms. Well I pray to God everynight that we are! Also at our consultation we had to sign all of our scary adult consents......makes me feel very grown up, not in a good way. I have to sign off on the risks of IVF.....which are not a lot but still scary. And we have to sign off on things such as something happening to Cecil and I.....just not fun but I understand needed. The cost doesnt matter to us, but I know some people do wonder what it costs, and I know there are some people that are thinking of doing IVF following this blog, so we are looking at a total cost with meds and everything of around $14,000. But we would pay anything......so of course we think about the cost, expecially because this isnt our first time doing it, but I always try to put it in the back of my thoughts. I dont even think about what we could buy with that money because I will never think about a penny of it when we are holding our baby.

Other then that.....I have still been doing my fertility yoga, along with pilates. I had my first fertility massage on Thursday, it was different, but great. I start accupunture this week. I also am going to the chiro every other week for adjustments. I have cut caffiene out 100%. I am taking a prenatal, fish oil, dhea, and baby aspirin. Starting April 1st, I am starting the Fertility Foods diet. I have also been walking my bulldog at the park. We have so been enjoying this weather. My business is going good so far, opening the beginning of April. Track is going great, we had our first meet this past week, and they did very well for the first one. They will only get better. Cecil has been working hard to get the finishing touches on our latest flip house.....we are showing it twice tomorrow.

Everything is just falling into place........I know we are on Gods path, and thats what we plan to follow. He will lead us as he always has. We are so grateful for what we have and each other! The next month will be kindof boring, but after that the fun begins!

Starting My Business April 1st!!!!!!!!

2009-03-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to update on our lives....Im into track season now, I really like it. The kids are great, most of them anyways. We started volleyball open gyms and our running a kids camp. So I feel like I am at the school all the time.

Baby wise, I am seeing my RE next week to get my schedule. I am looking to about June to do our IVF. I just want to get through opening my business, moving, and track season. So right now I am just working out really hard, doing yoga. I am down 4 pounds in a week, which is nice because fertility meds put the pounds on ya! Next week I start accupunture and fertility massage.

But some exciting news, I am opening my own business! Well its my own business inside of an already established business. I am opening an all natural skin care and wellness business. I will be using all natural products, and doing facials, peels, body treatments for stress and strain. I am really excited. I am opening in in Greenwood in a wellness center. Opening date is April 1st. I am excited to share my green lifestyle with others.

Cecil is working a lot right now. He just got his review and he ranked in the top of insurance adjusters, so I was really proud of him. He is still helping out with football.

Thank you everyone for all your support! Kari

Nothing New Going On Here........

2009-02-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well not much new to report around here. Still on Birth Control until we get the go ahead. Just trying to get my body ready. I am no longer allowed to work full time........so I am looking into becoming a wellness therapist and working part time. I also just got one of the Girls Assistant Varsity Track Coaching positions at Mooresville High School, so I am now a 2 sport coach. I am really excited.

Other then that I think Cecil and I are going to start looking for a permanet home in the spring. We live in our flip houses when we get them done. We will still flip we just will not live in them. Its been fun, but we are ready to have our own home again, and with a new baby hopefully, we need to be settled.

Well since I have nothing new to post I thought I would post some of my doggies, we have just been hanging out since I have been home!

Peace& Love, Kari

Back to Reality!!!

2009-01-21T10:17:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone, we are back from our vacation. It was so nice to relax for a week and do nothing, excpecially before we start the IVF process again. Well before we left I started my supplements. I was really looking forward to taking the Royal Jelly/Bee Pollen, but I took it one day and had an allergic reaction. :( so no more of that. But I am still taking organic viatmins, DHEA, and some other things. I have started going to the Chiro, I just feel so good when I leave there. Start accuptunture next week. I go back to me RE (fertility doctor) next week. He will be checking for cysts. If I have any I will stay on birth control another month, if I dont we will get the green light to start IVF. I am SO excited yet scared out of my mind. I told myself nothing but positive thoughts this time, but its so hard. I always go back to the "what ifs", I need to stop that. God had a plan for us, and I just have to have faith. Faith that God knows when the time is right for Cecil and I to have a baby, faith he is going to carry us through this time, faith that even after he gives us the joy of a postive pregancy test that he carrys us through the first 12 weeks safely. He has done it for many women, that were told they did not have any chance, so I have faith he will do it for us.

Thank you all for support! Kari

Jan 1st 2009 it begins

2008-12-31T13:50:00.000-08:00

Well I went and got all my supplements today, that we will be starting tomorrow. I will take about 6 a day and Cecil will take 2. These just get our bodies as healthy as possible. Some are what my doctor wants me to take and 2 others are organic, natural things I have done tons of research on, that women swear by. We will see. Royal Jelly is the big one that women swear by, it is acutal bee pollen. It is supposed to help with everything fertility wise, because a female bee lays more eggs then any other thing in the world. The research and testing on it have been profound. We will take these for about 3 months to get the full affect. In that time I will stay on birth control, to clear my ovarion cysts. I also have my first accupunture appt a the end of the month, a chiro appt on friday, and fertility massage appt in January. My diet and excerise program starts tomorrow as well. Right now we are looking at March/April IVF date. We are looking at a total cost of $16,000, I know that is a big number, but this time we do have a little help from insruance as in the last time we did it we paid it all out of pocket, so we are thankful for our insurance. Cecil and I will be heading to the Flordia Keys on January 12th for a week. We decided we needed a week of relaxtion with our best friends before the craziness starts. I will update when I return home on how the supplements are going! Hope everyones 2009 will be as good as ours! Kari and Cecil

2008-12-25T20:37:00.001-08:00

This is a perfect embryo. This is what the first picture of our baby will look like, isnt that cool we get to see our baby from the very start of its life!!!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

Well Im sitting her on Christmas Eve and Im sad. I really thought we would have a family for this Christmas. I always told myself I'd be pregnant by 25, and if I wasnt thats when I could get scared about it. That was always my scary number, well I hit and no baby. If IVF would have worked the first time, we would have a 2 year old to celebrate Christmas with. Its just so hard and I know I am emotional right now because this new birth control is messing with me and making me sick. Hopfully next year I will be plump and round with a baby! Heres praying, because I dont know if I can do another Christmas this way.

And it starts......

2008-12-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

Today I started Birthcontrol, that is the first step in the IVF process. I will take it for 2 months to get rid of my ovarion cysts. Kindof ironic Im taking birth control to start trying to have a baby!

I also know there are some of you who will read this and have no idea what the IVF process is. I mean I had no clue until I went thur it.

IVF in non medical terms is, putting an egg and sperm together from the mother and father and letting it grow into an embryo for ethier 3 or 5 days, and then putting those embryos back into the mother, that is called the "transfer"

The process starts by me taking tons of medicine, oral and shots, to produce tons of eggs, women typically only harvest a few eggs a month, with the meds I will harvest at least 20 eggs. During this time I am so swollen from all the eggs, that I already look pregant. And yes last time I did this, I did have people ask if I was expecting, so thats super hard. Well after you make all these eggs, you have to go to the Doctor everyday to measure them, once most of the eggs are what they call "mature" you head to the doctor the next day for what is called the retriveal. You get sedated and they go in and remove all the eggs they can find. Then they are putting into a petri dish with sperm and left alone for 3 to 5 days to become embryos. The embryos are graded and they will only put back 2-3 of the best graded embryos. They rest, if there is more, can be frozen for later use.

After the 3 to 5 days, the mother goes back and does the "transfer" which means they put the 2-3 best embryos back into the woman. Then is the 2 week wait, which is the longest 2 weeks ever. After 2 weeks you go in for bloodwork to see if you are pregnant or not.

Now our first IVF experience was in January of 2007. In the egg retrieval the doctor only retrieved 7 eggs, which is not good for my young age. We had 2 pretty good quaility embryos to put back on transfer day. We had none to freeze which was a bummer. The 2 week wait came and went and then we recieved the bad news on a Saturday in early Febuary 2007. I just cried in Cecils arms for hours that day. It was the most devestated I have ever felt in my life. Not only did we spend our life savings, we had NOTHING to show for it.

This time I am conquering this with a whole new attitude and plan. Like I said I will be changing my diet to 90% organic and no meat or dairy. I will be yoga, fertility massage, accupunture, and meditation. I also have become a lot more faithful since the last time. Now there are many times I have been pissed off at God. Expecially when I see young moms who have there babies and leave them in the bathroom trashcan to die, or the women who have 13 babies from 13 different dads. Its very hard, but I know God is going to give us the baby or babies we are supposed to have. I have complete faith.

Im sure most of you are wondering, where is Cecil in all of this, what does he think, what does he feel. The people that know Cecil know that knows he is not very open with feelings. He has been my rock. There has been many of times when he has picked me up off the bathroom floor, after another negative pregnany test and just held me. He tries to take all the pain away, and I know he struggles not knowing what to say sometimes, but he has been perfect so far. I couldnt imagine going thur this without him. He does all of my shots and medicine. This had made me fall more in love with him, then I even thought was possible. Together we will make it thru this journey.

Our First Blog

2008-12-21T07:47:00.001-08:00

Welcome to our blog, we hope everyone can follow along in our journey with us. Any thoughts and prayers are appreciated very much. Without God Cecil and I would have never made it this far, it is such a draining task. Thankfully it has made our marriage stronger, but sadly that doesnt happen with all couples struggling with infertility. It is in the top 5 reasons for divorce.

Currently it is 4 days before Christmas and I will be really starting this blog at the start of the year.

We will be doing "conventional" fertility treatments and also inconventional ways such as yoga, massage, diet, accupunture. I am becoming very passionate about the things that go into my body and my environment and we live a pretty GREEN environment.