Technology is AMAZING!

Update to the first trimester scan ...

We got the bloodwork results today. You are given a number to call, and have a patient code to enter ... so of course I have called obsessively this week. Patrick and I called at lunch together today with it on speaker and thought we would try one more time this evening, and surprise! The lady goes through our results for the risks of Down Syndrome and Trisomy 13 and 18 - we are in a very low risk category; 1 in greater than 10,000. So, we have a very healthy baby! Another part of the testing is gender - I have no idea how this works, but according to my OB this is one of the only places in the country with this technology. It is 99% accurate, and Dr. Winkelmann says they have never given one of her patients the incorrect result. So, at the end of the results the lady says,

"Congratulations, you are having a little BOY !"

Turns out Will was right ... and I had a pretty good feeling too. So, it will be me and house full of boys. We are all so excited!

First Trimester Scan

This morning we got to have an ultrasound that tested for various genetic disabilities .... to be quite honest this would not change anything about the pregnancy for Patrick or myself, but seeing the baby again (and finding out the gender in 7-10 days from the testing date is a nice bonus!). So I had to drink 20 oz of water 20 minutes before the appointment .... the appointment as scheduled at 10:00, and I was called back at about 10:30. Nice. They needed a full bladder. They got one. I was miserable by the time we got back there. The tech started by finding the heartbeat and letting us listen. This part makes me nervous at every appointment! Hopefully the fact that I am 3 days from being out of the first trimester will help me relax...no promises though. So, we heard the heartbeat which was beating at 155 bpm. Then she started the measurements. Head, neck, length of body from top of head to bottom, and a ton of other things. I felt bad for the poor baby - it had no room to move because my bladder was so full! But we got to see hands and fingers, fingers up by the mouth, it's little nose, and feet. The whole process just amazes me, and I have done this before!
Then we "met" with a genetic counselor via teleconference. It was weird, we basically skyped with her. But she said everything looks great. The amount of fluid behind the neck was within normal range, and the baby has a nasal bone (Down Syndrome babies commonly do not have this - I did not know that before today).
Then I had blood drawn so they could run more tests. It was a good experience overall, and I loved getting to see our baby again, and hearing the heartbeat!

*If I can figure out how to scan the pictures and upload them I will.

Will is going to be ...

A BIG BROTHER!

We have known for, well quite a while, but decided to just keep it to ourselves for a bit. Let me tell you, having a secret this big is hard! Baby brother or sister is due September 2, 2010 and we could not be more excited about adding to our family. Will is going to be a fabulous big brother. He loves babies, and is such a helpful kiddo.
We took Will to our 12 week appointment today and he got to hear the heartbeat of his baby "brother" and continues to tell us this evening that yes, this baby is a brother. Maybe he knows something we don't!
Please keep our growing baby, me, and of course the rest of our little family in your prayers as this pregnancy continues. I am one week from being out of the first trimester!! We have been lucky enough to see our little one twice on ultrasounds, and been able to hear that wonderful sound of a heartbeat in the womb (music to our ears!!!)

Bible Stories

Will gets to go to chapel a few times a week at school (another thing we LOVE about Grace!) and recently he has been wanting to share the bible stories with us. He finds a book, climbs up on the ottoman and shares a story with us. It is just adorable! Here are a few pictures from my phone:

3 Year Stats

We took Will to the doctor last week for his 3 year check up and he is doing great! He FINALLY broke 30 pounds!! He is 30.5 lbs actually .... and I attribute it to eating breakfast every morning. He has become much more interested in food again recently, and wants to pick things out at the grocery store for himself. It is great though because he eats what he picks out. He is 37.5 inches tall as well, in the 50th percentile for both weight and height. It seems he is really averaging out between BIG DADDY and small mommy.

Some of the milestones they asked about were funny ... for example can he stand on one foot? Well, I had never asked him to do that and he was too embarassed to try in front of the nurse. The minute she walked out he was happy to show us that, of course, he can! He is doing all of the things he "should" be doing at this age so Dr. Herrin was very happy (and so were Mommy and Daddy).

He is in a stage right now where he wants nothing to do with taking pictures. In fact, when he sees me holding my phone like I am going to take a picture he says, "No pictures, Mommy! No!" He was happy this day being able to play outside because it finally warmed up ... and it was his actual birthday!

Such a big boy!

Another amazing accomplishment from Daddy!

This morning Patrick ran his first marathon ... wow, I am in awe of him. He did an awesome job finishing in 3:23:50. This translates into 7:46 second miles for 26.2 miles. Amazing! It made it very clear to me that he was just along for the "jog" last year when we ran the half-marathon in Austin! I am pretty sure we will never be running partners again, but that is okay because he enjoys all of this so much. He looked great throughout the race, and finished strong. Will was so excited and proud to see Daddy at Mile 18 and yelled all the way down the street when he saw him.

Around Mile 7

Waiting on Daddy....

There he is!

Still smiling at Mile 18

After the race

Early Birthday Celebration

He is growing up too fast...

Movin' on Up

Will was moved up to the next class at school this week! After returning from Christmas break, Ms. Joleen (the director) called me and let me know that he was very ready for the Bluebirds class, so he started Monday. He is potty trained now (woohoo!) and they felt he was ready for more structure. He really seems to like his new teachers, and has a new friend, Sophia, who he's been talking about also. We are so proud of our big boy!

Back to Reality....

This week was back to reality for all of us...it was so nice to be home together for the Christmas break, but at the same time it is great to get back into our regular routine. Will LOVES school. He loves his friends, he loves his teachers, so that makes life easy for us! I will say waking up early this week has not been fun! Will slept in every day over the break (because we let him stay up later than usual) so getting him back to normal with that was a little tricky. But, we have finally found something he likes to eat for breakfast and will eat before he leaves in the morning - French Toast Sticks with syrup and chocolate milk. Every morning. We are hoping this will help the skinny boy gain some weight!!

I cannot believe his 3rd birthday is right around the corner. Our baby is no longer a baby. He goes to the potty when he needs to (and wants NO help). He lets us know what he wants. He talks like a big boy, and plays like a big boy. Life has changed over the past few months ... he has turned into a little guy! While I am so proud, I am a little sad too!

Patrick is running in his very first full marathon next weekend...26.2 miles. Please keep him in your prayers! He is ready. He has trained like crazy! Pictures will be posted soon after. We are already so proud of Daddy!

Shaving with Daddy

For Christmas we got Will a Thomas the Train shaving set....he has been wanting to shave since, but I have told him only when Dadddy shaves! He thinks it is just the most fun thing to do! I know he feels like such a big boy shaving with Daddy. Here are a few shots of Will's first time "shaving".

Christmas Morning .... Santa!

We did have to wake him up to see Santa gifts so he is a little sleepy .... enjoy!

Christmas Program - Video below

Push the play button to see Will "singing" Jingle Bells!

Christmas Program

Today was Will's Christmas program at school ... it s precious! His class sang Jingle Bells. I have a video but it is not cooperating so hopefully I will get it downloaded soon. Here are some pictures of our big boy!


He did not have a speaking part by the way....

November.....

I have really been bad about updating lately! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family and enjoyed having 5 days at home together! All of us. We are really counting our blessings this time of year, as it was a year ago Patrick was laid off. Thank goodness we are where we are now!


Annie Caroline, our new niece, was born November 21. Isn't she beautiful?






The weekend after Thanksgiving Bentwater does their annual Holiday lighting. Will had a blast! We rode a train, he got to innertube down a snow slide, see Santa and play games! It was fun for all!



He was so funny ... he got so excited, he would not look at Santa!






Now it's December and we have lots going on .... I will try to update more often!!

Sick, sick, sick....

Last week was a long one for all of us. School got the best of Will, or at least all the germs did! He started the week with a sinus infection and stayed with YaYa Monday through Wednesday. Wednesday we were sure he was on the road to feeling much better .... but at 10:00 that night he woke up (after being asleep for almost 3 hours) running a fever of 102!! Will does not generally run high fevers so this scared us a bit. So, Mommy pulled out the trundle and slept with our sick boy. I took off Thursday to take him to the doctor and he had a very red throat with high fever - viral. He continued to run fever until Friday afternoon so Daddy stayed home with him.
Today he has been all smiles! I am just praying we can get through the next month until Christmas break without him getting too sick again!
Tomorrow he will go back to school, and he is ready! He definitely is ready to see his friends, and teachers ... and so are we!


Poor sick boy passed out on the couch

Our Triathlete

Patrick completed a Half Ironman yesterday .... for those who don't know (because I did not until we started this triathlon journey - and yes, I said WE! I have been a very supportive wife!) it is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. He finished in 5:49 and looked great through the whole thing! We are so proud of this amazing accomplishment! Good job, Daddy!




Waiting patiently...




Crossing the finish line - way in the distance

Getting his award - 1st place in the Clydesdale division (over 200 lbs)

First Week = Success!

Will started his new school Monday ... and walked in like a pro Monday morning. Mommy got in the car, called YaYa and we both cried! But, every day he has been happy to get there, to see his friends & teachers, and most of all - to go play! I feel like this has totally been one of those God things. The place he is going is a well respected church day school in Conroe, and we were lucky they had an opening in his age group. We have gotten positive comments each day from not only his teacher(s), but also other teachers and the director. They all say it is like he has been there forever!
I am afraid we have a big boy on our hands .... it makes me sad, but at the same time so proud of his independence!

October ....

...in pictures! Pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving and Trunk or Treat!