WEEK 9

BABY HALL'S WEEKLY PROGRESS:
Perhaps the most important development happening this week is taking place in your baby-to-be's heart. While his heart has been beating since week 5, it has been maturing more and more each day. The heart is now divided into four chambers, and the valves that will help funnel blood in and out of the heart are forming. Although your baby's heart is beating, your healthcare provider probably won't be able to pick it up during your prenatal office visits quite yet. Give it another week or so.

The umbilical cord is your baby's lifeline in utero -- connecting Mother and Baby. Made up of three spiraling vessels (one vein and two arteries), the umbilical cord provides oxygenated blood to help your baby breathe. Connected at your baby's abdomen, one vein carries blood to the baby's heart while two arteries carry blood out of baby's heart and back to the placenta. This system of pumping blood in and out of your growing baby's body not only provides oxygen and nutrients, but also removes any waste that your baby produces as he's developing. Along with your baby, the umbilical cord will continue to mature and strengthen to provide everything your baby needs to survive and mature.

The constant blood flow is helping your baby-to-be's limbs develop and lengthen. He already has the beginning of arms, legs, and fingers; this week his toes are also taking shape. Inside those limbs, bones are forming. As those bones develop, joints such as elbows, ankles, shoulders, and wrists are helping your baby move more freely. You won't be able to feel all this movement because your baby-to-be is still so tiny -- even though a sonographer could capture it with an ultrasound.

Another fun note: Baby's eyelids are forming this week!

At our first sonogram on June 29, we were able to detect Baby Hall heart beat at only 6 weeks!! It was beating at 118 BPM, keep that little heart beating strong :)!!

Doctor Follow Up

Today was my 2 week follow up with the doctor. Unfortunately my insurance denied a second sonogram in the first trimester so we were a little bummed about that. I did have my blood work done and should get the results from that in 7 days. The doctor said that everything still looks good and we should see a new baby Hall around February 20, 2011. We did discuss a second C-Section (I knew it was coming) and he feels that is my best and only option all things considered. SOOOOO, that means that Baby Hall should realistically arrive sometime in the week of February 11-18 depending what rate how he/she grows.

At this point (8 weeks and 3 days) Anna has not kept her secret very well so we will be mailing out announcements very soon. We do hope that everyone will keep us in their prayers, as we are not yet out of the woods. We are still in a very critical time and with the recent past still lingering in our minds, we just pray everyday that God will bless and touch my body to shelter, nourish, and protect this baby so that we can hold him/her in our arms in just a few short months!

Baby Hall's first photo session

We went to the doctor today for Baby Hall's first photo session!! The doctor said that everything is looking good at this point, but he would like to see me again in 2 weeks to try another sonogram. As of today, I am 6weeks and 2days. The baby's heart rate was 118 BPM.

Prayers Answered!!!

Today it is with great happiness that I am able to post that God has once again blessed in a wonderful way!! We have received a POSITIVE home test!!!! Marshall had to work so I was not able to talk to him during the day...the suspense of holding the secret was killer!!! When he got home I just had to tell him right away and of course Anna was delighted with the news as well...BIG SISTER!!!! God is good!! We plan to keep our news under wraps for a while until we get the ok by the doctor. My first appointment is on June 29th!!

In sadness we find peace

We received confirmation of pregnancy on Feb 24, 2010. We were very quiet with the joyful news and decided it was best to tell only Mimi & Papa the big news while we were on our mini-trip to Disney World on February 28. They were both very happy and shared in our joyous news. When Anna and I arrived back home, we had planned a dinner with Nana, Pop-eye, & Taylo to share the good news with them. It was that day, March 3, that would crush our hopes for this baby. When I woke up in the morning I had started having 'complications', I immediately called the doctor who asked to me come in right away. When we arrived at his office we did not wait to be seen, he had a room prepared for us already, I knew the news would not be good. After his exam and sonogram we received the devastating news that I had a spontaneous miscarriage and we had lost this baby. Marshall and I were crushed to say the least. The doctor advised that we could try again immediately following one regular cycle, however, this was not a situation we wanted to replay by getting pregnant again too soon. We have prayed and prayed that God would bless us once again with a happy healthy baby girl/boy. My hearts desire is to be a good mother and raise my children to make a difference in the world by standing for him in the face of adversity. I did spent a lot of time thinking about our future and praying that God would guide us on the right paths. We shared our heart break with only our immediate families as we tried to keep our heads up. God granted us peace through our hard times and has given us the opportunity to share our story with you. I feel that through hard times we gain strength that we will some day pass on to others.

And baby makes 4!!!

Today we confirmed our suspicions and had our first Positive home test!! We are so excited to see what this pregnancy has in store! We scheduled our first prenatal apt on St Pattys day!!

Sinking in

I was prepared but the reality had not yet sank in until today! I saw a brand new adorable baby in church this morning and thought to myself...wow maybe around this time next year, our bundle will be making its grand appearance, who knows??

The Big Day

Today is a big day, we are at the doc to discuss our plans and options for having another baby (and a few other things)! As I sit in the waiting room I feel a flood of emotions about this life changing decision! First and above all others I am extremely HAPPY and EXCITEd, along with those are anxious, nervous, a bit scared of another surgery, worried about reactions of friends and family, ready to get past the unknowns, ready to enjoy a healthy pregnancy, and to tie up all my emotions; again HAPPY!! Marshall and I are both very excited to be in a position in our lives to be able to expand our family! For that we give God the glory and the thanks for allowing us to be able to do this! We are thankful daily for all we have been given and do not take a single breathe for granted!

Making the decision to have a child is life changing. It is to decide to forever have your heart walking outside your body

Decisions have been made

After much prayer and discussion, today Marshall and I decided that we officially want to expand our family and give Anna a sibling. He is optimistic that this time will bring a boy, however we are both wanting another girl in ways as well. It is our prayer that whatever we are blessed to have, it will be healthy and happy!!! We will be going to the doctor to discuss going off BC this week in hopes of an October baby :) I hope that everyone will be as happy as we are about our decision!