Pumpkin update- Monday, March 31, 2008

This afternoon I called Baptist Hospital to cancel my induction for tomorrow morning. It wasn’t a big deal, and the girl on the phone was really nice. About 2 minutes later the phone rang and the woman said, “Elizabeth, it’s Pam. So what’s the deal with tomorrow?” It took me a minute to realize that it was my doctor, Dr. Pam Wills! She basically told me that she was very concerned because I am progressing and not feeling any contractions and that the baby could come so quickly that I won’t have time to get to the hospital. She did say that neither I nor the baby are in any danger. I told her that I just didn’t have peace about being induced, but would rather the baby come on its own. Her clinic is closed on Mondays, but she was out and about and told me that she wanted me to meet her at her office so that she could at least check me.

Trying to make the story short: I am dilated to a good 4 cm, and after being on the fetal monitor for about 30 minutes we discovered that I’m having contractions every 6 minutes, even though I’m not feeling anything.

So here’s the plan: I’m supposed to be at her office between 8 and 8:30 in the morning. They will put me on the fetal monitor and after Dr. Wills visits another patient in labor she will come back to her office and check me. She said that if my contractions are closer together OR if I am more dilated that she strongly suggests we go on to the hospital. Though, she of course can’t make us do anything we don’t want to do. She told me that she is going to call Baptist back and tell them not to cancel my induction, but rather that I would be late. Ha! I should say so!

So it looks like we’ll have our Pumpkin tomorrow! We didn’t discuss the scenario of what we’ll do if the contractions aren’t any closer together and I’m not any more dilated. I think the stubborn side of me will say let’s wait one more day then. But I’m almost to the point where I’m ready to give up the fight and just give birth to this little munchkin. The stress of figuring out what to do with Caroline and how to transfer car seats and take her to school, etc. is about to get to me! I don’t know what we would do without friends and family.

So, hopefully you’ll hear from us soon and learn whether Pumpkin is a beautiful baby boy or girl! Love you all!

Pumpkin update- 38 weeks

Still no baby! But definitely progress…we had another doctor’s appointment on Thursday, March 27th and I was dilated between a 3 and 4 (she said closer to a 4) and effaced 90%. I still have felt no contractions and have had no pain, and have slept wonderfully the past 2 nights- Praise God! As I have mentioned before, my doctor is extremely cautious. Which is why she told me a big fat “NO!” when I asked if I could work for a few hours on Friday! Haha She thinks I should be induced b/c I can have this baby any minute and if history repeats itself it will be a quick labor. (Caroline was less than 4 hours from the 1st contraction.) One good thing is that my doctor told me to continue taking my ampicillin for the group B strep. That means that I won’t be as worried if I can’t get at least 2 hours of penicillin in the hospital once I am in labor.
So, we have an induction scheduled at Baptist for 6 A.M. this Tuesday, April 1st. Apparently that was the only day available. My parents won’t be back from their trip, and it would be 9 days before my due date. Still, I don’t know if I want to be induced!!!! I was told that I could cancel if I want, but I would have to call the hospital b/c my doctor’s office is closed on Mondays.
Please pray that we will make the right decision, and that we will do what is best for the baby. I want GOD to be in control, not me.
Thank you for everyone who has sacrificed through homemade meals, cleaning house, watching our daughter, all the encouraging words and lifting us up in prayer. We are abundantly blessed, I just can’t put it into words.
Maybe the next time we have an update it will be that little boy Hallum or little girl Hallum is here!!

Pumpkin update-37 weeks

We had another doctor's appointment yesterday. Good news- I am not any more effaced! Holding on tight to 80% :) I really think this bed rest is paying off and even though it's not fun, it seems to be working. I am dilated between 2 and 3 cm, which didn't alarm me any b/c I was dilated the same with Caroline when I was 37 weeks with her. My doctor did another ultrasound to measure the baby, but silly me, I forgot to ask how much she estimated the baby to weigh and I don't think she told me. Again she tried to determine the sex (though she wouldn't have told us if she did see it) but she wasn't able to. So Pumpkin is still a mystery!!! Though Patrick and I both think it's a boy. Last time we finally came to an agreement right before Caroline was born that she was a girl, so maybe we have parents' intuition or maybe we were just lucky!



I have another appointment next Thursday, the first one of the day. I'm not supposed to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. I can see what's coming...I'll be dilated between a 3 and 4 and she'll want to admit me to the hospital b/c the baby could come really soon once you're dilated that far. (Which I know from experience with Caroline- I was between a 3 and 4 on Thursday and she came the following Monday morning. Which was 4 days, not exactly 30 minutes.) I really don't want to be induced, and I see no point in being admitted to the hospital to be induced if I'm not having any contractions. So I'm ready to argue if I have to next week.



Just 13 more days and my parents, who leave Monday on their trip, will be home and that is the countdown I am going by. It could be wishful thinking, but I just can't help myself.



A big THANK YOU to everyone for all the calls, prayers, meals that are coming this week and everyone who has offered to come help me with Caroline as Patrick works next week and my parents are out of town. I cannot tell you how loved we have felt this past week by so many people. We are blessed to have you in our lives and we love you all!

Pumpkin Update

Well, I never thought I would say this, but I am officially on “BED REST!” Late yesterday afternoon I had another doctor’s appointment. I knew that I would once again be tested for group B strep (should know the results next week) and that my doctor would check me.

So she checked me and immediately asked me, “Have you had any contractions?” I wasn’t alarmed at first b/c she asked me the same thing the 1st time she checked me with Caroline. At that point I was dilated between a 1 and a 2. Well, last night I was dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. You got it. 80%. And I am only 36 weeks and 1 day. So basically I can go into labor at any point. (BTW, I couldn’t help but think of my sweet friend Rebecca T last night, I’m wondering which situation would be worse at the time: the baby won’t come out or the baby is a little too anxious to come out! Ha) Needless to say, my doctor was very concerned. She said that the sac was “bulging” and that she could feel it. However, the baby doesn’t seem to be as low as Caroline was at this point, but I am much more effaced. My doctor was also concerned that we don’t know the sex since the lungs of little boys generally develop later than little girls.

She then gave me very clear instructions: bed rest for 2 weeks. No picking up Caroline, no exercising, no cleaning house, no working, and no Duck Duck Goose this weekend. Needless to say, I was shocked, devastated and scared all at the same time. She told me to elevate my hips above my heart (and just how am I supposed to do that?) and rest.

She did a quick ultrasound just to make sure that Pumpkin is head down, which he/she is. She tried to determine the sex, but wasn’t able to b/c the cord and legs were in the way.
So…I have another appointment scheduled for next Thursday and this time she will do an ultrasound to measure the baby and determine its weight, which is typical for all her patients at 37 weeks.

I originally had my appointment scheduled for today, Friday, but she had surgeries all day so I had to reschedule for either yesterday or next Tuesday since their office is closed on Mondays. I am soooo thankful that I opted for yesterday.

I have had a few good cries, talked to family a lot these past few hours, am working through details with my boss about possibly working from home some the next couple of weeks, and basically trying not to freak out about not being in control and accepting help from others (which I NEVER ask for help!). Besides the obvious fear that my sweet child will come too early and that something might be wrong with him/her, I am downright devastated as I am now certain my parents will miss the birth of this child. It breaks my heart. But all I have prayed these last few months is that Pumpkin would come in God’s timing. I felt like a while back I had to accept the fact that Pumpkin might come while my parents are on vacation, but knowing now that my body is potentially close to having this baby, it just adds to the stress and worries.

Please pray for our family. Pray that I won’t drive Patrick crazy as he is such a servant to me, constantly propping pillows under me and getting me anything and everything that I need, while taking care of Caroline at the same time. Please pray that Caroline will adjust well to being a big sister. I think she finally understands that there’s a baby in my belly and she will rub and kiss “the baby”, so sweet. Please pray that I won’t lose my cool, and above all else, that God will be in control of Pumpkin and his/her entry into this big world, and that we will have no complications. I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I know he hears our prayers.

We will try to update this blog more regularly in the coming days.

Love, The Hallums

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13 My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite:
My mother taught me about JUSTICE
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor.

NAME_____________________________________
DATE OF BIRTH_____________HEIGHT___________ WEIGHT____________ IQ__________ GPA_____________ SOCIAL SECURITY _________________ DRIVERS LICENSE ________________BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES__________________________________________HOME ADDRESS_______________________ CITY/STATE___________ ZIP______ Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No
Is one male and the other female? ___Yes ___No If No, explain: _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Number of years they have been married ______________________________
If less than your age, explain ________________________________________

ACCESSORIES SECTION:
A. Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No
B. A truck with oversized tires? __Yes __No
C. A waterbed? __Yes __No
D. A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __No
E. A tattoo? __Yes __No
F. Do you have an earring, nose ring, __Yes __No
pierced tongue, pierced cheek or a belly button ring?
(IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATION AND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I SUGGEST RUNNING.)

ESSAY SECTION:

In 50 words or less, what does 'LATE' mean to you? ______________________________________________________

In 50 words or less, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you? _________________________________________________________

In 50 words or less, what does 'ABSTINENCE' mean to you? ________________________________________________________

REFERENCES SECTION:
Church you attend ______________________________
How often you attend ___________________________
When would be the best time to interview your:
Father? _____________
Mother?_____________
Pastor? _____________

SHORT-ANSWER SECTION: Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely all answersare confidential.

A: If I were shot, the last place I would want shot would be: __________________________________________

B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my: __________________________________________

C: A woman's place is in the: _____________________________

D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is: __________________________________________

E. What do you want to be IF you grow up? _______________________________ ________________________________________________________

F: When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is: __________________________________________________

G: What is the current going rate of a hotel room? ___________________


I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TOTHE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT,NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE and RED HOT POKERS

__________________________________________
Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!)

_______________________________
Father's Signature

________________________________
Mother's Signature

_______________________________
Pastor

________________________________
State Representative/Congressman

_______________________________
(Their stamp goes here) Notary Public



Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual.Please allow four to six years for processing.You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write. If your application is rejected, you will benotified by two gentleman wearing white ties carrying violin cases. (You might watch your back)

To prepare yourself, start studying Daddy's Rules for Dating. Daddy's (or Mommy's) Rules for DatingYour dad's rules for your boyfriend (or for you if you're a guy):


Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.'

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool, places where there is darkness, places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies that feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay...Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi . When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Elizabeth's 31st Birthday!

Caroline painted for the 1st time. She kept touching the marker tips and then putting them in her mouth. Then she would just bang the marker on the table so that it was just one big blob. I hope she takes after her daddy’s creativity and not her mama’s, which is none.

Before Patrick and I went out to
dinner we went to the church

to let her play on the playground.

She really likes to swing, and try to

go up the slide. Not so much go down

the slide!

A beautiful family photo! Ha Notice how C is signing “down”.

Her aunt, uncle and cousins had just gotten there and she did not want to be held for a picture. I wondered how Patrick talked my sister into babysitting Caroline, much less at our house. If you know Lori, you know she RARELY crosses the river! It wouldn’t take long for me to find out…

Patrick and I had a delicious meal at Cajun’s Wharf (thanks to my boss for the gift card!) which even included a free birthday dessert: chocolate crème brulee. Yum!!! Patrick had told me that we were going to see a show at 8 o’clock. At this time it was about 7:20, I think. Whenever I started to call the house to see how Caroline was doing and what she had to eat for supper, Patrick told me that we had time to go by the house and I could just check on her then instead of calling. I thought: good idea, plus that way we can drop off the leftovers in the fridge.

When we got home I slowly opened the door b/c C is notorious for standing right in front the door, and I had even hit her with it earlier that day not knowing that she would be there. But when I walked in there were TONS of people there yelling "SURPRISE"! I couldn’t believe it! I got all choked up, but tried not to get too emotional about the whole thing :) I have never had a surprise party before, and I was completely overwhelmed. I can’t tell you how loved and how special I felt seeing all those people there, for me! Well, I guess for me and the food. When I realized that my mom, sis, and BFF (hee hee!) Sarah had cooked all this food, I was just blown away.

Patrick had thought of everything: the big cookie cake that I had hinted at a while back, the invitations, balloons, food, ice cream (even strawberry-my favorite!), the sign the draftsman at my work had made, etc. I felt bad that I was complaining to Sarah just the other day how he didn’t pick up on hints! Ha He did such a good job, and I was so proud of him!

Thanks to everyone who came. I know Caroline sure had fun, and Reagan, too! I think Caroline was proud her new bedroom and showed it off to just about anyone she could!

Here are some pictures: The only time Caroline let me hold her. She was on the go the whole time!

Notice how I'm wearing Caroline's "I'm one" b-day hat. All I needed was a 3 in front of it!

The guys talking politics:
My college friends: Jessica (had a baby 4 weeks ago, I know. It doesn't look possible but I have met the baby.), Eva (had a baby 10 days before Caroline and is expecting a girl in June), and Sarah (has a husband).

Caroline and her best friend Reagan.

last Friday

On Friday, both Patrick and I were off work, so we got to spend the whole day together as a family. I love days like that! We started off with Krispy Kreme donuts, which Caroline LOVES! She didn’t love, however, wearing the hat.
Before we ran some errands we put her hair in pigtails for the first time. It was no easy task, but we were eventually successful. It took both of us, what kind of mother am I? ha

Her 2nd night in her big girl bed. Notice all the pacis lying next to her?

I love this shirt! I wear it all the time. Thanks Aunt Lolly! Though I’m wondering if you should have ordered one that said February or March instead…

Caroline is officially a BIG GIRL!

Well, it has now been a week since Caroline has been sleeping in her "big girl" bedroom. So far so good! She has done really well sleeping at night in her BIG bed, and taking naps in it, too.

Our little party for her was so much fun! She LOVES Papa John's Pizza! And we gave her a big Elmo to sleep with, which she calls "Melmo", so sweet. She has now said the word "Melmo" more times than she has said "mama" and "dada" combined. Guess I know where we stand.

Patrick worked so hard to get her room ready for her...which included moving almost all the furniture we did have in that bedroom up in the attic, then scraping the ceiling and painting it and the walls. We also had new carpet installed. Caroline has my old bedroom furniture. I'm thinking it might even be considered antique since it was purchased in 1985 when we moved to NLR! ha Caroline also has a few things on her walls that are special to me that I had as a little girl : the Precious Moments and the plates.

We usually put a baby gate up in her doorway and then crack her door. We quickly learned that she got over her apprehension of climbing down her step stool b/c she almost always meets us at the gate when she wakes up!

Here are a few pictures of the big night:

Eating her pepperoni and canadian bacon pizza

Showing us how she can climb on her bed all by herself (using her step stool, of course.)

Wanting her daddy to help her get down.

Our little superstar!

Playing with her balloons, which she calls "Bo Bo"

Pictures of her new bedroom

I know it looks like a mug shot, but we're actually measuring her for her growth chart. She's just a hair under 30 inches, which means she's grown about 10 inches since she was born! (Notice how she still has her knee fat. I love it!)

Caroline didn't care about her "big girl"certificate, she just wanted the cupcakes!

Our "Pumpkin" (aka Liz's first blog)

On August 4, 2007 we learned that our lives would never be the same! I took a pregnancy test early in the morning, and kept the good news secret from everyone except Caroline. (Really, who was she going to tell?) I hosted a shower for Rebecca L. that morning, ironically, and never gave a hint that I, too, was expecting. Later that afternoon…after the shower, after Patrick finished yard work at his parents’ house, after Caroline woke up from her nap (it felt like FOREVER!) she was finally able to tell her daddy her secret. Earlier that day we had made a little card for him that read on the outside: “Daddy, I have a secret”. On the inside was, “I’m going to be a big sister!”

I had the camcorder ready, though I didn’t quite get the response I expected. I think SHOCKED was the best way to describe his reaction. So I quickly turned off the camcorder to give him a chance to breathe again! Ha After the initial shock, I took a picture of the happy daddy x 2. And yes, that is Caroline playing with the pregnancy test, though don’t worry. The end was covered and completely sanitary :)

Then we decided to make Caroline a t-shirt to tell our parents the good news. My parents were leaving for Chicago in the morning and we really wanted to tell them before they left. Needless to say, both sets of parents were very excited! Once they finally read the shirt, that is.

Oh, on the way to Hobby Lobby we decided on 2 things: 1- the name that we would call this baby until it’s born, since we didn’t want to find out the sex this time either (we knew that Aunt Lolly would be pumped about that!!): Pumpkin (as you may recall Caroline was our Peanut) and 2- a boy and a girl name! Yep, we agreed immediately and knew what we wanted to call our precious child after it’s born. (Of course, being a woman, I reserve the right to change my mind at any point in time, but I doubt I will!)

August 9, 2007 My first belly shot w/ Pumpkin. 5 weeks

I swear that I am already growing!

September 7, 2007 My first doctor’s appt. 9 weeks
I asked the doctor why I was starting to show so much earlier than I did with Caroline. Patrick and I seriously thought that I was having twins b/c he even noticed that I was showing. Maybe she was just trying to make me feel better, but my doctor told me that it’s normal to show earlier with your later pregnancies. I felt a little relieved, I guess. But I still didn’t have clothes to fit me! Caroline attended our 1st doctor’s appt, but she didn’t exactly have fun. She wasn’t real interested in seeing her little brother or sister on the ultrasound :) We got to see that little heart beating just as fast as it could, and it was of course AMAZING.

My doctor told us our due date is April 10, 2008. We’re cutting it pretty close considering that my parents are going on a cruise to Greece with another church leaving March 24th returning April 2nd, and Patrick’s mother is going on a cruise to Greece with her church leaving April 15th!!! “What the heck, our parents think that since they’re retired that they can just travel all the time?? What about us? What about our plans? Who’s going to watch their granddaughter while I’m in the hospital popping out another grandchild for them???” Hahaha But seriously, my sister and I have pretty much decided that my parents will be out of the country when Pumpkin comes and she has already offered to watch Caroline for us. Though she will be in the delivery room again with me and Pat... Oh, I can’t worry about this stuff now. It will all fall into place when it needs to :)

We told our Sunday School class that we were pregnant. I think they were surprised but very excited for us! I knew we couldn’t keep it secret for long since I was already starting to show. Still, “mum” was the word!

I learned that I tested positive for group B strep/beta strep. Shouldn’t be a big deal, but I did have to take a round of antibiotics. Plus, whenever I go into labor I’m supposed to get 2 doses or 4 hours worth of antibiotics in my iv to make sure that the baby doesn’t catch it from me. “Uh, doctor, I didn’t even have an iv for 2 hours with Caroline, and don’t 2nd babies come even faster than the 1st one????” We’ll deal with that issue later. I did some research and it can be very scary if the baby gets group B strep. It can potentially be fatal. But I’m not worrying about it. I trust that Pumpkin and I are both in God’s hands and have faith that my prayers will be answered.

September 12, 2007 10 weeks
Starting to grow…

October 4, 2007 My 2nd doctor’s appt. 13 weeks
Caroline and her mama sharing some snacks while we waited on the doctor :) The doctor couldn’t hear Pumpkin’s heartbeat with the doppler (I wasn’t worried, b/c we couldn’t hear Caroline’s at that point, either.) Which means we got to have another ultrasound. And there was that little heart beating just as fast as it could! Amazing how much a baby grows in just 4 weeks…
The next day was when I told everyone at work that we were pregnant. Of course, I got a lot of laughs. Apparently several people had been asking around if I was pregnant (see, I’m not exaggerating. I really WAS showing!) but no one had the nerve to ask me! Ha!

October 24, 2007 16 weeks Caroline saying “Hi” to Pumpkin. She loves to play with my belly button! She thinks it’s hilarious (can you blame her?) and tries to pull on it. But she doesn’t realize that that doesn’t feel good :)

November 15, 2007 19 weeks My big ultrasound
The ultrasound was amazing. The tech saw immediately the sex of the baby. We had to turn our head several times! Apparently Pumpkin is not very bashful :) I was EXTREMELY disappointed when I learned that we would not get any pictures of our baby. Don’t get me started on that….some kind of legal blah, blah, blah. Oh, and she told us my due date was April 4, 2008. Not a big deal. My doctor won’t change my original due date of April 10, 2008.

It wasn’t until the next week when the nurse from my OB’s office called me with the ultrasound results: 1) I had fluid on my cervix: which means I could bleed or lose that fluid at any point in time or whenever I start to dilate. Doesn’t that sound lovely? The ultrasound tech didn’t tell me this.
2.) My baby had choroid plexus cysts on his brain…again, the ultrasound tech didn’t tell me. “Um, excuse me???? My baby has cysts on his brain???” That doesn’t sound good. The nurse told me that all babies have these and they normally dissolve at that point, and my baby’s hadn’t. No big deal, we’ll just schedule another ultrasound at 28 weeks to make sure they they’ve dissolved. Then I did a lot of research on the internet and talked to nurses about this, and basically these cysts can be tied to other birth defects like Trisomy, which is horrendous. Fortunately, my baby showed no other problems. According to my doctor, these cysts always dissolve unless the baby has other problems, which mine didn’t, in which case they don’t dissolve. So I had 9 weeks to fervently pray that these cysts would dissolve…

November 21, 2007 20 weeks

halfway point (but probably more than halfway, unless this baby takes after Jacob T.!)


November 29th, 2007 21 weeks
Another doctor’s appt

Christmas Day 2007 25 weeks
December 28, 2007 25 weeks
Another doctor’s appt. Caroline has gone with us to several of our doctor’s appointments. Even though the rooms are teeny tiny, she has done very well. She has even sat on the bed with me and watched while the doctor listened to Pumpkin’s heart beating! I pray that she will be a wonderful big sister. And I have high expectations, b/c I know how great a big sister can be. Other than the fact that my sister used to wake me when I was sleeping peacefully, jump over me when I was lying on the floor, and would never play with me, she’s the best big sister a girl could ever hope for!

I found out at this appt that my next ultrasound was not scheduled for 28 weeks, but rather 29 weeks. “I have to wait another whole week to make sure that the cysts have dissolved???” I wasn’t happy, but oh well.

January 14, 2008 28 weeks

January 25, 2008 29 weeks
What a busy day this was! I’ll spare you the boring and stressful details, b/c all that matters is that the cysts are gone!! Praise God! At least, the ultrasound tech and radiologist did not see them, which basically means they’re gone. And the rest of the baby checked out perfectly. This time the ultrasound tech said my due date was April 3, 2008. Alright, we’re starting to get REALLY close to my parents still being out of the country!!! That baby better hold on until they get back!

After the ultrasound I had the glucose screening (which I passed, no gestational diabetes. Yea!) and another OB appointment. All of this in the middle of bad weather, but we were all safe and I was extremely thankful.

I had to take a deep breath when my doc said, “Ok, I’ll see you again in 3 weeks, and then you’ll start coming every 2 weeks.” I was almost speechless (if you know me well, you know I’m never completely speechless.) Uhhh, that means the baby is coming SOON, right? Holy Cow! Before I know it, I’ll start going every week! Deep breaths, Elizabeth.

January 27, 2008 30 weeks
Caroline trying to pull on my belly button!

January 31, 2008 30 weeks
Wow, 30 weeks? Where has the time gone? I’m counting on less than 10 weeks to go…


Ok, so I hope I haven’t bored anyone, if anyone is still out there. You see why I can’t do this whole blog stuff? Once I start writing I CAN’T STOP! We have dial-up at home (stop laughing) so we’ll probably only update the blog during the week while we’re at work.
Can’t wait to show our Pumpkin off to all our friends and family in just a few more weeks!!!

BTW, tonight Caroline is offically a BIG GIRL!! She will be sleeping in her big girl bedroom for the first time tonight. We have a little family party planned with pizza, cupcakes, balloons, a gift, etc. I want to make this VERY special for her! She is such a sweet, good-natured little girl, and I know that she will make a wonderful big sister to Pumpkin :)