Ms. Mila Paz is Here!

Okay, so she technically arrived a week ago, but things are just now settling down enough for me to post something! Ms. Mila Paz arrived at 1:06am on 1/6/15. The labor and delivery went perfectly, and I am so thankful that she arrived a healthy 7lbs 2oz and 18in at 38 weeks, 6 days. I actually went back to work the first day after winter break, fully expecting (and dreading) another full week of work. I worked all day and felt fine, and thankfully it was an easy day since we were transitioning into a new schedule. I had a doctor's appointment after work at 4:15. Dr. Weiler decided to strip my membranes to see if that would get things going since I was already at 3cm. I left the doctor's office, picked up Luca, and headed home to get dinner ready. Of course the night before I had prepped a ton of food for lunches and dinners for the week thinking I would be too tired to cook anything. I sat on the couch with Luca for a few minutes and we watched some monster truck videos, then I decided I had better get up and get dinner together before Santi got home from the gym. As I was chopping tomatoes, I started to feel some back pain, and not even 10 minutes later the back pain turned into the all familiar contraction...funny how quickly that feeling comes back to you, even after three and a half years. I didn't think much of it at first because I had mild contractions with Luca for a good 12 hours before I was actually admitted to the hospital. Well...this was a different story. Those mild contractions quickly got stronger and closer together, and I decided to start timing them on my contraction app. Sure enough they were the real deal. I sent Santi a message and told him he better cut his workout short. He rushed home, and we decided to call his parents (this is when living down the street from the in-laws is really beneficial) to come get Luca. I felt bad because things happened so quickly I didn't feel like I had enough time to prepare Luca (even though we had spent months reading books, talking about being a big brother, etc.). I gave him a quick kiss and hug and tried not to get super emotional about leaving him. That didn't work. We headed to the hospital in a winter weather advisory. I had to laugh at us following the snow plows...Luca was born in the middle of a major dust storm. And there was a 100 degree temperature difference. I wonder if their personalities will be as different as their births. We arrived at the hospital and got checked in (which seemed like it took forever). That was around 9:30pm. By 12:00am I was 8-9cm and begging for an epidural and of course the anesthesiologist was in a surgery. He made it just in time...I almost had a natural delivery...unplanned. I actually debated it for a brief moment, but things were happening so fast and there was no break in those contractions. By 1:00am I was ready to push, and out she popped in just 3 pushes. EASY. My labor from start to finish was only about 6 hours. Luca's was over 24 hours. I'll take it! The doctor called her Speedy Gonzales, and the post partum nurse said "oh, you could have 4 more kids, you are good at this!"...I am flattered, but we are pretty certain our family is complete (at least biologically). Since we arrived home with Ms. Mila P a week ago, things have been exhausting...but there is so much joy in the midst of the sleep deprivation. Having two kids is amazing. And since motherhood is not new to me, and I am much more relaxed about having a newborn, I am really enjoying these early days. It hasn't been all easy though. Luca has had his moments of jealousy, and being stuck inside due to freezing cold weather doesn't help. He has been so wound up and with Santi and I going on no sleep it's a real challenge keeping up with him. I am getting really anxious for spring when we can bust out of the house! In addition to the challenges of having a newborn AND a three year old, I also am dealing with post partum hypertension. Never in my life did I imagine that would happen. Luckily I feel okay, but I have to admit it's stirring up some anxiety in me...on top of new mommy hormonal changes. I am being monitored once a week until it goes back down, which hopefully will be soon, but it could take up to 6 weeks. There is a new level of anxiety about my own health and well being now that I have two children that need me. I know I need to focus my heart and mind on Him and His grace, and trust that He will see me through. One day at a time as we navigate this new stage in life. We are beyond blessed. God is good, and His mercies are new every morning.

Sotomayor...Party of 4....Coming Soon

I cannot believe we are going to be a family of 4 NEXT MONTH!!!! Time is flying. Life is crazy. Welcoming baby number two is so very different than baby number three. So different. Add in the Christmas craziness and I feel so unprepared. I still can't wrap my mind around the idea that this is our last Christmas as a family of 3, and I am trying to savor every memory and moment. I remember this point with Luca, and we were just over the moon excited to finally be parents and to meet our little boy. But we were definitely anxious about our new roles and all of the changes. This time it's a very different kind of anxious. We are so excited to meet Mila and add another little personality to our family, but this time our anxieties revolve around how Luca will adjust and how we will handle two kids. I worry a lot about how he will react, and I worry about how I will meet his needs and hers. I remember when Luca was born I had a really difficult time finding myself in my new role as a mommy, and I was trying to figure out how to maintain my identity as a wife and teacher in addition to mommy. This time around I feel confident in who I am as a wife, mother, and teacher. I know what it's like to have a newborn. Most importantly I know how quickly that first year passes by, and I want to slow down this time and really take in every stage. This is mostly likely our last biological baby, and I don't want to miss a moment in these next couple of months. It will be gone in a flash. I look at my three year old Luca now and I can't believe I blinked and I missed it. He is a big boy now. He is about to be a big brother. Where has the time gone?! I feel like life has been on fast forward since he was born. As we approach the next few weeks, my hope and prayer is that God would prepare our hearts for this special new blessing that is about to change our family forever. I pray that God would carry me through this last month of pregnancy and that baby Mila would arrive healthy in his perfect timing. All the details will fall into place. Everything WILL get done. I am trusting in His grace and mercies to provide the strength and energy needed for the weeks ahead.

Happy Halloween...It's Snowing!!!

Well winter showed up early here. After braving a few houses on our street for trick or treat, the cold temps sent Captain America rushing back to the house to warm up by the fire. We roasted hot dogs and watched The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Can I just say how much I love our fireplace already? I was hoping Indiana would go easy on us our first winter back...I guess not so much. As soon as Mr. Luca got to sleep, big snowflakes started falling. Part of me wanted to wake him up to catch his first real snowfall...but then I decided against that. I am certain he will have plenty more snowfalls this year. I don't think disturbing the peace was worth it this evening. I am glad we got to take him to Trunk or Treat at church last weekend when the weather was absolutely gorgeous. He dressed as a fireman (same costume as last year) for Trunk or Treat and his school party/costume parade. He decided to go with his Captain America costume for the "real" trick or treating tonight. This was his first year of going door to door. I wasn't sure if he would go for it or not. When Santi's mom dropped him off this evening there was a line of kiddos at our door waiting for candy. This was the same point at which I actually ran out of candy (it was only 6pm!). When he realized other kids were at his house eating his candy...major meltdown ensued. Luckily, after a quick explanation of how trick or treating works, he was ready to get dressed and head out. He literally ran from door to door with excitement. It was really cute. And really freezing.
This month has been so busy, but I feel like every October is. The fall foliage has been so beautiful. I have missed this season so much. We tried to take advantage of every opportunity to get out and enjoy all of the gorgeous colors. Last weekend's weather was amazing. We got to spend a morning at the pumpkin patch with my brother's family, which was a lot of fun. It's so special having all the cousins together. I knew we would need to soak in every last minute of that weather...and I was right. This weekend's cold temps hit hard. And the wind...oh.my.word. I forgot about the wind chill. I hope these next few months aren't going to be too rough. I know I will really miss my sunny Arizona winters after a few weeks of this.
Since I last posted, we have moved into our new home (what an amazing blessing!!!!) and we are finally getting settled. It feels like home now, and that's all I can ask for. After so many transitions and living with Santi's parents for 3 months, it is such a calming feeling to be at home...our home. Praise God!!!! Luca started preschool at his new preschool. He LOVES it. I love that he can go just a couple days of the week. I think he really gets a lot out of it, and being with Abuelita the rest of the time is a blessing. He has also finished up his first season of soccer at the Y, which ended with a huge celebration and a trophy last week. He was hilarious with his celebration. He started basketball and gymnastics this week. He really enjoys being involved in sports. We will see how much longer I enjoy driving him around to all these activities. We are also trying to get plugged into our new/old church. We have been attending Sherwood Oaks, where Luca also attends preschool. This was the church we attended when we were engaged, and we completed our premarital counseling there. It feels right to be back, and I am looking forward to getting involved and getting to know people.
We are now approximately 10 weeks away from Baby Mila's due date. I cannot believe in just a couple of months we will have TWO kids. I am really excited for her to arrive (I am particularly excited to not be pregnant anymore), but I am not ready at all!!! It's crazy how quickly a second pregnancy goes and how that due date sneaks up on you. I know with November and December being holiday season time is really going to fly. I feel like with all we have had going on since we found out we were expecting, I just haven't had hardly any time to focus on the pregnancy. Which I guess is good and bad. With Luca I had a lot of time to dwell on that "what ifs" and worry about every little twinge. This time not so much. I have to sit in the evenings sometimes and remind myself to check on Mila and do some kick counts because I have been too busy all day to even notice. She is most definitely a lot more active than I remember Luca being! Which I really enjoy. There is a special peace that comes when I feel her movements. I can't wait to see this little girl's personality. And I can't wait to see Luca as a big brother. Now that I think about it, I don't even think I have blogged since we found out that baby #2 is a GIRL. Let me backtrack a little...
Way back on August 29th we had our anatomy scan and everything was great...and we were elated to find out that this little one is a girl! We surprised our families by taking them out to dinner and having the waitress deliver pink cupcakes with pictures from the ultrasound. It was really neat. The name we decided on was Mila Paz. We loved how Mila sounded with Luca. Mila means "people's love". Paz is "peace" in Spanish. My Grandma Thelma's middle name was Irene, who passed away the morning after we found out we were expecting. Irene was the Greek goddess of peace. I wanted to honor her in some way, as it feels that this little girl was one last gift from her. It was a blessing (although a surprise) to have our second pregnancy happen so easily and without having to endure miscarriages again. My hope and prayer is that this precious little girl is filled with peace, and that she brings peace to those around her.
I will try to blog more frequently as D-Day approaches. Let's hope I get in a few more updates before we are a family of 4!!!

Our Journey "Home"

I have been thinking about this post for weeks...but let me tell you life has been crazy! To sum things up, in the last three months we have moved across the country, started two new jobs, sold one house, and are in the process of buying another...oh, and just for fun we are also excepting baby Sotomayor numero dos!
I'll go back to May. God promptings are real. And sometimes He really wants to test our faith. And two things are for sure: His grace is enough, and His mercies are new every morning. We were in the midst of selling our Arizona house, and had accepted our second offer after the first fell through. We had no idea what was going to unfold in that process, and I am glad we didn't or we may have quickly changed our minds! I was also wrapping up my school year at Dreaming Summit with very mixed emotions. I was excited about our new adventure, but I was also feeling torn about leaving a school I loved. And I was questioning my career as a teacher. I didn't know what my next steps would be...continuing in public education or moving on to something new.
We also learned at the beginning of the month that my Grandma Thelma's health was quickly declining. The night I learned that she had gone to sleep and wasn't coming out of it, I also learned that I was pregnant with our second baby. By the next morning I received a text from my mom letting me know she had passed away early that morning. Talk about a range of emotions. I battled through the next few weeks of packing to move across the country, tying up loose ends in Phoenix, saying goodbye to friends, and finishing a school year...all while in the early weeks of pregnancy and feeling less than energetic and only slightly hormonal.
Saying goodbye to the only place you have called home in your entire married life, the place you built your first home, started your career, welcomed your first child...all while pregnant...is emotional. Especially not knowing when we will return. My parents and Santi's family were life savers. They came out and took over a lot of the packing and moving so I could focus on finishing my school year. They also entertained Luca as we quickly sold almost everything we owned and were left with no more than a few boxes. That was not easy! On my last day of school my mom was a trooper and crashed with Luca and I at my sister in law's apartment while my dad and Santi got on the road with Tevez to drive both of our vehicles to Indiana. After I finished my last day of school, which is exhausting enough in itself, we headed to a hotel for one last night in our Arizona home before flying out to Indiana the next day. Of course as luck would have it Luca ended up with a fever of 102 that evening in the hotel...so I didn't sleep, which is all I really wanted to do after that week. We boarded a flight and quickly headed off with a sick kid and heavy heart. I was missing my husband and puppy, worried about them driving, and worried about a sick kid. All while not feeling so well myself. My mom was amazing. Thank goodness that women is so calm..I am not. We made it to Indy thankfully, and my brother was there to pick us up. Poor Luca was pretty miserable, but still excited to see his cousins. We got him to urgent care, then crashed at the Hughes' before making the last leg of our journey to Bloomington.
I have never been so happy to have all of my family back together again in one place! It was an enormous feeling of relief pulling into my in-laws driveway and seeing Santi, Tevez, and my dad. While we were so incredibly relieved to finally have reached our destination...our journey was not over yet, and God still had big plans for us as we began to plant roots in Indiana.

6 Days...or Less!!!!!

I know, I know, I have really really slacked off on the blog the last few weeks. I think the last time I posted I was almost 37 weeks. Well, here we are today at 39 weeks...and man am I tired!!! I had most of my nesting energy between 34-37 weeks. I cleaned the house top to bottom multiple times a week, organized drawers, and cleaned out closets. Once 38 weeks hit I was just wiped out. I haven't truly slept in weeks now. I hate bedtime. I dread going to bed because I know it means a night of tossing and turning, wanting to sleep so badly but not being able to, getting up a million times to go to the bathroom, going from the bed to the recliner and back again...it's awful. I know it's my body's way of  preparing me for having a little one..but geez at least let me get some sleep before he gets here!!!! So...blogging has taken a backseat to my laziness. I have spent the last 3 weeks just lounging around the house and pool trying to stay out of the 115+ degree heat. Summer is in full force here in Phoenix, and man it's awful when you are 9 months pregnant! I try to only leave the house for doctor's appointments, but I did get out a couple days ago to enjoy lunch with a friend and a much needed pedicure. My feet have been sooooo swollen in this heat! I haven't even managed to get any belly pictures the last couple of weeks because I have lived in Santi's t-shirts and sweats. I have actually reached the point where not even my maternity pants fit! I am a hot mess! So, if you are lucky I will force myself to get dressed tomorrow and I will take some final belly shots, including a final shot in the Halloween shirt which I am pretty sure will no longer go over my belly. In the meantime, here is a 3D picture of our little man:

When I went for my biweekly ultrasound on Friday, the tech decided to "play around" with the 3D machine. It looked much clearer on the actual screen, but she printed some pics anyways. And of course Luca has his arm/hand over his face like always, so you can only see his eyes and nose. And his head is now really low, so it was hard for her to get the shot. Typically the 3D machine is only for special circumstances, but I think since they see me twice a week she just wanted to do something fun and try to let me have a sneak peek of his face. I love the ultrasound techs at my doctor's office! They are so sweet!
And now for the exciting news...my due date is next Saturday, July 9th. After meeting with my doctor last week she said that she does not want me to go past my due date because of his small size and lack of appropriate weight gain. So, that means if Luca doesn't come on his own before Thursday, we will be induced early in the morning on 7/7/11. I think that sounds like a cool birthday, but I still would love a 4th of July baby so I am hoping he gets motivated to come out before I have to be induced! If I don't quit feeding him Ben and Jerry's ice cream every night he is going to want to stay put though...I might need to cut that out. Everyone keeps asking me if I am nervous, but honestly I am not at all. Maybe that will change once we are at the hospital,  but I am just so excited to meet our little man!!! I honestly can't wait! I feel like a kid at Christmas! It's been a long, hard road to start our family and I could not be more happy and excited. I feel so incredibly blessed and Santi and I are more than ready for this new chapter in our lives. Come on out Luca!!! We are all waiting to meet you!!!

And a Quick Baby Update

Santi came home from work yesterday with TONS of diapers! His coworkers are awesome! I think we are stocked for awhile now...

And for a bonus picture...yes, those are our hospital bags all packed and ready to go! Wow...is this really going to happen?

I have another doctor's appointment in about an hour, we will see what she says and see if I am any closer to bringing this blessing into the world.

35/35!!!!

35 weeks...35 days to go!!! I cannot believe how close we are to meeting little Luca. We are both so excited. I had another biophysical profile yesterday (I am having them twice a week now) and my fluid levels were up to 14! This is a big improvement and I am sure my doctor will be happy. I get to see her again on Wednesday. Luca is still a little peanut. He is weighing in at about 5lbs right now, and he is in the 25th percentile. He has been very active in the last 24 hours, and it is the best feeling in the world.
Now that I am out of school, having all this extra time on my hands makes the waiting really drag on. I have tried to keep myself busy by spending time at the pool with friends, cleaning, organizing, and next week I am going to go into school a few days and clean up my room a little.

And since it has been awhile...the pregnancy survey:

•How far along?: 35 weeks!

•Total weight gain: I don't know if I want to divulge this information anymore. Let's just say I think I surpassed the recommended weight gain...

•How big is baby?: The size of a honeydew!

•Maternity clothes?: I have reached the point where I am wearing mostly Santi's clothes around the house. And I hit the pool shamelessly in my bikini letting it all hang out:)

 
•Movement: He has been doing a lot more rolling and stretching now. It is clear that he is running out of space. 

•Stretch marks?: Yep...but not on my stomach. 

•Sleep?: Sadly I think I will be sleeping in the recliner for the next 5 weeks. I cannot get comfortable in bed anymore. I can't breathe, I have a pinched nerve in my back, and rolling over is torture. Poor Santi, he just follows me out to the living room...

•Symptoms?: Last night I woke up with serious nausea and heartburn...I hope that's not a sign of what the last 5 weeks will entail. 

•Food cravings: Vitamin Water lemonade, and because of my low fluids water, water, and more water. I also made some delicious brownies the other day. 

•Belly button in or out?: It's officially out.

•What I miss: Being able to sleep in my bed:(

•What I'm looking forward to: Luca's arrival of course! And our 4th anniversary is coming up next Thursday. Santi and I are planning a nice romantic date to The Tortilla Factory in Scottsdale and possibly a comedy club. We figure it will be our last big date night before we are parents! YIKES!!!!

•Best Moment this week: Chilling in the pool, and not having to get up early on Monday morning for work!

•Milestone:  Hmmmmm...I am two weeks away from full term! 35 weeks, 35 days to go!

•Nursery Progress: It's actually pretty much ready! We washed the clothes, blankets, and bedding last weekend. We just need to make the bed and finish organizing. 


I am going to *try* really hard over the next few weeks to do more blogging...I have been slacking lately. I am going to try some new recipes for my 101 in 1,001 so I will try to get some of those on here. I am also still tweeking the layout. I have had somewhat of a mental block lately as far as blogging is concerned. 

Summertime...and the Livin's Easy!

I cannot believe the school year is actually over. I am so relieved. I was getting exhausted towards the end, and this was a rough year being pregnant for the majority of it. I am so happy that summer vacation has finally arrived, but reality is also sinking in that I won't actually be returning to work until sometime in November. That seems like such a long time, but I know once Luca is here it will just fly by. I would give anything to be able to stay home with him and not have to return to work, but that is up to God.
As of today I am 34 weeks and 2 days pregnant. That means, in 6 weeks or less Luca will be here. I am so excited. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve every single day. I have plenty to keep me busy in the next 6 or so weeks between organizing things around the house, working in my classroom to prepare for the maternity leave sub, and preparing for Luca's arrival. I also plan on enjoying plenty of pool time (per doctor's request) and getting as much rest as possible. I know our lives are about to change in ways we can't even imagine. It's really hard to get my mind around what is about to happen.
Next week Santi and I will celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long, and what an incredibly blessed 4 years it has been. We got married and moved across the country together as newlyweds, and God has truly provided for us since we arrived in Arizona. We have had some wonderful times together just the two of us, and we have been through a lot together. I just can't imagine what it will be like when it's no longer just the two of us. I guess we will find out soon enough!
As far as the pregnancy goes, like I mentioned I am 34 weeks and 2 days. Due to my low fluid levels a couple of weeks ago, I am being monitored twice a week with non-stress tests and fluid index tests. I went in this morning for testing and praise God everything looked good. I will go back on Friday for the tests again, and starting next week I will be seeing my doctor every week until delivery. Good thing school is out, because I don't know how I would fit in so many doctor appointments while working! Other than my concerns about my fluid levels and Luca's small size, I am feeling great. I get tired much more easily, I can't stand or walk for long periods, and I am starting to swell with the warmer weather, but honestly I can't complain. I am grateful that I have had a pretty easy pregnancy up to this point. More importantly, I am thankful that I was able to get pregnant again quickly after our losses, and that Luca is healthy and doing well so far. I know too many people who have dealt with pregnancy loss and infertility, and it's a painful thing to go through. Being pregnant and being able to have a child of our own is a true blessing, even when I am uncomfortable or inconvenienced.

And per request, we have a 34 week picture with the Halloween shirt. I can't believe we found out about this little blessing on Halloween weekend. He has definitely grown a lot since then!!!

We also spent this long weekend washing baby clothes and doing some other pre-baby home improvement projects. I think Luca has enough outfits to last his entire first year.

Tevez was helping fold clothes. Do you think he is ready to be a big brother?

33 Weeks...The Troublemaker

Today we have reached 33 weeks. Things have been pretty hectic around here this last week, and it appears our little boy is already quite the trouble maker. On Wednesday I went to OB triage to be monitored because he hadn't moved much all day. This was very unusual for him, he is usually pretty active. After being on the monitors for awhile, and being sent for a biophysical profile, we learned that my fluid levels were a little low, and even though Luca was still being lazy his heart rate was great and he passed the test. They had me come back in on Friday for a non-stress test and to check my fluid levels again. So, after drinking ridiculous amounts of water on Thursday, they determined my levels had gone up to an 11 (most likely the first measurements were off because of his position, because normally fluid levels don't go back up once they have dropped). I left feeling like I could relax a little and hopefully get through the last week of school. So now we wait to see my doctor on Wednesday. I still have this nagging feeling that he is going to be arriving earlier than planned, but I am praying that he can hang in there another 3 or 4 weeks at least so he can grow a little bigger and stronger. I will be so relieved when he is finally here and I can see him and know he is okay.

On a lighter note, here are some of our maternity pictures from Papago Park last weekend. We love them! And we hardly paid anything for them after finding a great photographer on Craig's List that is just trying to get their photography business going. Enjoy:)

32 Weeks...

Yesterday I hit 32 weeks. That means in 8 weeks (or less) Luca Alberto will be making his grand entrance into the world. That just seems crazy. How can it be so close? 2 months!!!!! I feel so excited and so ready to meet this little blessing,  but I also feel like we still have so much left to do! Thankfully school will be out in just two more weeks and we can work on the last minute details like washing the clothes and blankets, organizing things, packing the hospital bag, etc. Speaking of hospital bags...we have our hospital tour in a couple of hours, followed by our maternity pictures at Papago Park! I hope the hospital tour doesn't freak me out. I have honestly not been nervous at all...yet.
We had our growth ultrasound last week and met with our doctor. Luca is weighing in at about 3lbs 10oz right now, and is in the 35 percentile. She said he is on the smaller side, but she isn't concerned at all since I am a smaller person. She said she would rather me have a smaller baby. I couldn't agree more, as long as he is healthy! According to her, he should be about 6-7lbs at birth. That sounds just fine by me...he can do is growing on the outside.
Last week I was also blessed with another baby shower at work. I have some of the best coworkers ever, and they make my job so much easier. It's such a blessing to come to work every day knowing I have their support in everything. Teaching in our school is definitely a challenge, and I know we wouldn't survive without each other to lean on!

 Just a few of my awesome coworkers.

 The Kindergarten Team

Some of the gifts Luca received...he is so spoiled.

I am hoping later this week I will be able to post again with our maternity shots that we are having taken today. I am not sure how long it will take for her to edit them. I also promise to bring back the Halloween shirt next weekend....I know I have been slacking with that. I will be amazed if it still fits, Luca has had quite the growth spurt in the last few days. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I woke up this morning to a delicious breakfast and roses from Santi, Luca, and Tevez.

I have the best husband in the world, and I know Luca is going to be just like his daddy:) We were supposed to have  maternity photos taken today, but our photographer had to reschedule for next weekend. That was just fine by me, I am so tired today and really didn't have enough time to get ready for the photographs like I wanted to. Next weekend we also have our hospital tour, and tomorrow I am having another shower at work. It's all becoming real....

How far along?: 31 weeks!

•Total weight gain: 23 pounds as of my last appointment...right on track...whew!

•How big is baby?: Luca is the size of a squash!

•Maternity clothes?: Hoping to survive the last 9 weeks of pregnancy in what I have.

 
•Movement: I think he is running out of room. His movements are different now and not as free. 

•Stretch marks?: Add thigh stretch marks to my collection...oddly none on my stomach yet. 

•Sleep?: Uncomfortable...turning over is hard work!

•Symptoms?: Tired...impatient...ready to meet this little man!!!

•Food cravings: Lots of fruit because it's so hot outside. Nice cold fruit. 

•Belly button in or out?: Popping out...

•What I miss: Being able to freely move around, and last night I went to The Tortilla Factory with my girlfriends and I was really missing my margaritas!

•What I'm looking forward to: My work shower tomorrow, the ultrasound on Wednesday because Santi gets to go with me again and he hasn't seen Luca in awhile, our hospital tour next weekend, and our maternity photo shoot.

•Best Moment this week: Hmmmmm....a pedicure on Friday, pool time with Santi on Saturday, a girl's night out last night, the awesome breakfast he made me this morning...tough to choose.

•Milestone: All 5 of Luca's senses are now working, and he can distinguish light. 


This is me all dolled up to go out to dinner in Scottsdale with my girlfriends:

 

The Big 3-0

30 weeks that is! I cannot believe I am 30 weeks pregnant. Do you know what this means? It means that in 10 weeks or less little Luca will be making his grand appearance. Santi and I are getting so excited. The only bad thing is that the closer Luca's arrival gets, the harder it gets to focus at work. I have four more weeks of school to survive, and then I am free to sit around, relax, and wait (not so patiently) for his arrival. I know technically I wasn't suppose to do a pregnancy post this weekend, but I couldn't help but share my excitement about reaching 30 weeks.
We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and Luca's heart rate was good, my weight was right on track, and she was surprised I am not swollen yet now that the temperatures here are above 90 every day. We also found out that I am measuring about a week behind, but she didn't seem too concerned. She said that the fundal measurements (literally done with a tape measure) are not the most accurate and that a growth ultrasound would be a better indicator of his size and growth. So, I have an ultrasound scheduled along with another appointment for May 11th. I am kind of nervous about measuring "small" as she said, and I hope that the ultrasound shows that he has caught up. We might just have a little peanut, which I am okay with, as long as he is healthy. No pregnancy survey this weekend...but here's a belly shot for your time!

27 Weeks!!!

I have been slacking off on the bi-weekly pregnancy updates and survey...so here we have week 27!

How far along?: 27 weeks!

•Total weight gain: I will not disclose my weight from my doctor's appointment Friday, but it's around 20lbs so far.

•How big is baby?: Luca is the size of an eggplant!

•Maternity clothes?: I am going to *try* really hard not to buy anymore actual maternity clothes because I really only need to get through the last month and a half of school. In June I will be sitting around the house or I will be poolside (and yes, I will wear my bikini and I don't care...no shame in this belly). I would like to buy some regular clothes in a bigger size along with some more stretchy waist band skirts so I have something to wear after Luca arrives and I am not back to my normal weight. I also need a cute outfit for maternity pictures in a couple of weeks and a bachlorette dinner. Maybe I will give next weekend a try. 

 
•Movement: He has gotten more consistent this past week, and I feel him more throughout the day. I honestly wouldn't mind if he was active all the time. I love feeling him move, it's so reassuring.

•Stretch marks?: Nope. Thank goodness.

•Sleep?: Apparently I have developed pregnancy induced Restless Leg Syndrome. Let me tell you, I thought that disorder was another made-up disease that pharmaceutical companies invented...but I was wrong. It sucks. My legs go numb and tingle all the time at night and I have to move in order to relieve the feeling. I also have achy hips. But it's all a small sacrifice.

•Symptoms?: Aching body and exhaustion, and the doctor mentioned yesterday that I should be expecting another baby growth spurt in the next couple of weeks...so I am going to feel even more tired and achy. 

•Food cravings: Water with lots and lots and lots of lemon or lime juice...still...and food of all kinds. I am always hungry.

•Belly button in or out?: About flat now...soon to pop out. It's very odd. 

•What I miss: Margaritas, sleeping on my back and stomach, and being able to bend over.

•What I'm looking forward to: According to the Bump I am already in my third trimester, but my doctor said it starts at week 28 (next week). I am going to go with what she said, so I am really looking forward to being in my final trimester next weekend! I am also looking forward to having a day off school on Good Friday next week, and going to the Mom's sale with Miranda next weekend! I am hoping I can find some great used items for Luca.

•Best Moment this week: My doctor's visit on Friday, hearing Luca's heartbeat again, and getting a pedicure!

•Milestone: Luca is now practicing breathing!


•Nursery Progress: This weekend we found a soccer print that we framed and plan to hang up, and a couple weekends ago we put up the shelves. We just need to decide what is going above his crib. I can't decide. 

The next step is finishing up the wall art. I cannot wait to start putting together all of his things too, like the bouncer, stroller, and high chair. I am also dying to wash that first load of baby clothes...but I am thinking all of that probably won't happen until after school gets out. My other kids are keeping me very busy! Which is fine, because it's making the time fly by! We are soooooooooooo excited to meet Luca!!!!

And last but not least....a belly pic.

PGAL Thoughts...and an Article.

PGAL=Pregnant After a Loss

That is my unfortunate title. When I go to the doctor's office, there it is on my chart. Of course at the doctor's office they use the tag of  "multiple losses" or "history of abortion". Why do they refer to it as "abortion" when I most certainly did not choose to abort my pregnancy? I hate that term. It has such a negative connotation. I much prefer pregnant after a loss. And it's a blessing and a curse at the same time. Blessing because I know that had we not gone through the pain of pregnancy loss (not once, but twice) we may not fully appreciate the blessing and miracle that is now thriving in my body. Curse because I have lived nearly every day of this pregnancy imagining all that could go wrong. Constantly worried and fearful. Taking it "one day at a time" has been a challenge. And getting this far has required a lot of strength and faith. Not only on my part, but on Santi's part as well. He has been a pillar of strength for me, my rock, even though there have been many times in the past year that he must have thought I was downright crazy. I have fought off the fear of not wanting to tell anyone until it was too difficult to hide (never imagining the day I would actually have a baby bump). I have battled with the terrifying fear of buying maternity clothes and trying to squeeze into my regular clothes as long as possible in fear of having to return things (really optimistic, I know). Excited and terrified all at the same time to shop the baby sections...to (gulp) make purchases. But with each passing week I have managed to muster up enough faith to finally allow myself to be the smug pregnant woman I always wished I could be. And it feels good.
Today marks exactly one year since the day we found out not only that we were expecting twins, but that the pregnancy was not viable. This time last year we were heartbroken, devastated, and lost. I faced surgery the next day because my body didn't react as it should have. One year ago today we began a journey to parenthood unlike what we had ever imagined. But that journey has shaped us, our relationship, our faith, and will shape our parenting. And as difficult as it was, I am thankful for it.
This article expresses perfectly what it is like to be pregnant after a loss. I cried when I read it.
Why I Still Keep My Maternity Clothes

And the three become four...

I'm back...and I come bearing exciting news if you hadn't guessed yet by the title of this post!!! Yes, Santi and I are expecting yet again, hence my absence for the last three months! Santi, Tevez, and I are about to add another member to our little family. So far the third time has been the charm for us, and we are putting our faith in Him with this pregnancy. By His grace I will carry this little one to term. So...since I have been avoiding you all for the last few months in an attempt to keep our secret under wraps, I will give you a timeline of events.

Giving it another shot-Due to my previous losses, my wonderful doctor decided the best bet for me to have a viable pregnancy was a combination of Clomid and progesterone supplements. We were nervous about the prospect of multiples with Clomid, especially having conceived twins naturally the first time around, but we decided if God wanted us to have twins so be it. It had been a tough journey for us and while we were anxious about the new treatments, we were thankful that our doctor was willing to find a solution to our problem before we had to suffer another loss. Most doctors refuse to run tests until you have had three or more losses. I think that's crazy. Our doctor is a blessing.

October 30th, 2010-Two tests confirmed what I already knew...we were pregnant again!!!

Even though we were thrilled beyond belief, this wasn't the first go around at pregnancy for us...and we were nervous. We tried to go about our normal routine for the next couple of weeks until our first appointment, but we may have purchased a little Halloween outfit on the sale rack after Halloween...

November 18th, 2010- We had our first doctor's appointment. She did an early ultrasound to make sure everything was progressing normally, and to give us some peace of mind. I couldn't even look at the screen until I heard her say, "There's the baby, and there's the heartbeat!". We were so thrilled that our tiny little bean was growing and thriving! This was the first time we had a positive experience with an ultrasound, and we were relieved. We found out our due date would be July 9th, 2011! We went out for lunch to celebrate afterward. Even though we had something wonderful to celebrate, it didn't take long for the nervousness and worry to creep in again. I was feeling waaaay to good to be pregnant, and although I was thankful, it also made me constantly fear that things weren't going well. I guess this is just how being pregnant after a loss goes.

This is our little one at 6 weeks, 4 days. Sooo tiny, but there's a heartbeat!


December 7th, 2010- Our second doctor's appointment seemed like it took forever to arrive. We got to have another ultrasound (I never get tired of those!) to check on our little one. He/she was moving around like crazy and had grown significantly in size since the last time we got a peek! It was so exciting and such a relief. We went out to celebrate making it through yet another doctor's appointment.

This is our baby at 9 weeks, 4 days. She/he is growing!

Now, we had to wait four whole weeks for our next appointment. It was torture. Even more so since I was feeling pretty great aside from my random food aversions and being a little more tired than normal. On Christmas Day I hit 12 weeks, I was officially the most pregnant I had ever been, and we breathed a sigh of relief. We even decided to start letting the family know little by little. Up until this point we had only shared the news with close friends and our immediate families, and it felt like a relief to let the secret out, but we were still anxious. Thankfully having lots of visitors kept us busy over the holidays and the time flew. Before we knew it it was time for another appointment, and I was just shy of 14 weeks!

January 7, 2011-We headed to the doctor for our third visit and I was extremely nervous. This was the first visit they would attempt to hear the heartbeat and get a reading via the doppler. My stomach was in knots waiting for the doctor to find the heartbeat, but I was relieved to hear that the reason it was taking so long was because our little one was moving all over the place and wouldn't stay still! She finally got a reading at 153 beats per minute. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. When we left the office, we went to schedule the next appointment...the anatomy scan! I cannot believe on February 11th we will find out if this is a little boy or a little girl. After all we have been through in the last year, I never imagined we would reach this point. We are so blessed. God is faithful!

And that brings us to now. As of yesterday, I am 15 weeks along. For those of you that like to know the months, divide by 4. And for those of you who can't do math, that's almost four months! As far as the belly, well I was in denial at first but in the last week or so it's become rather evident and hard to conceal. I caved and bought some maternity pants yesterday. I might as well be comfortable right?

We have done a pretty crummy job of taking belly pictures, but I will try to do better. Here is one of me around 9 weeks as sort of a "before" picture (ignore my terrible hair):

Yes I am wearing a Halloween shirt. Since we found out Halloween weekend, we decided it would be funny for me to wear the Halloween shirt all the way up until July to see how small it gets.

Here is a comparison picture of me at 15 weeks. Ok, I am bigger. Yikes.

Well, now that the word is out, we hope that we will be in your thoughts and prayers over the next 5 months and beyond as we prepare to welcome this new person into our lives.