Annabelle's going to be a big Sister!

Surprise surprise your pregnant again. Tim and I were pretty shocked to learn that we were expecting a second time. Not that we weren't trying, just that we wanted to wait a few more weeks to start really trying. We heard baby #2 heartbeat for the first time on September 21st. What a wonderful sound to hear. I'm currently 16 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty good. This pregnancy is much different then the last. I've had morning sickness starting at 5 weeks, although no throwing up, just lots of gagging. We saw the doctor again at 14 weeks, and heard a strong and healthy heartbeat of 149 bpm. This time around my new doctor is being proactive with my care. She's suggested that I received 17p shots for my preterm labor. If you remember back in 2009, the day I was admitted to the hospital, I was put on magnesium sulfate to help lower my blood pressure. I also received one of two steroid shots to mature Annabelle's lungs. Over night my water broke unexpectedly and I started contracting. My doctor is hoping this time around with the help of the 17p shots that this prevent me from going into PTL. Starting at 16 weeks I will receive weekly shots until 36 weeks. I joked with Tim on Tuesday night, one shot down and 19 more to go. Some of the side effects are itchiness and welts around inject site. My nurse Val (love her already) insured me that she would be gentle and she was. I got the shot in my hip, instead of my butt (thank you Val). I never felt the serum go, another positive for Val. So far I haven't had any issues with itchiness or welts, but we are just starting. Next Tuesday, I get my second shot, on the left side and I'm hoping for the same outcome as the first shot.

Our next OB appointment is November 21, and I'll be 18 weeks along. We are hoping to get the referral to have the anatomy scan at this appointment. Stay tuned for results (hoping that baby cooperates during the ultrasound.

An update

Our little girl is not a baby anymore. It's hard for me to type these words out, but our little girl is growing up. I knew that the baby years would go by fast, but I never thought this fast. Annabelle is now 22 months old, and talking non-stop. You won't believe some of the words that comes out of her mouth. She will repeat everything you say. From Josie, Roscoe, to dog, cat, animals sounds, to describing what she sees outside. I love it. But I also miss holding her, laying her on my chest when she so tiny. Although we still snuggle, but she fights me most nights. "No mama, I big girl!"

Last weekend Tim and I celebrated five years of marriage. We decided to celebrate by staying in a Bed and Breakfast in Kennett Square, PA. This B&B is near Longwood Gardens and about an hour from our house. On Saturday we decided to do the "sip and stay gateway". We toured 4 of the 6 wineries on the tour. Our card does not expire, so we might go back for a day trip in the near future. We relaxed both days, GPSing it to the wineries, and checking out several of the local restaurants in the area.

On Friday, we ventured over to Kennett Square Inn for dinner. Tim got the Chesapeake Steak and I got the surf and turf. My steak was wonderful, but my lobster was over cooked. We got chocolate creme burlee for dessert and that got an A plus in my book, but I would give the overall dinner a C. After dinner we pretty much collapsed and went to bed early.

The next day we got up early, can't help that Annabelle wakes us normally up at 5:00 a.m. on the weekends. We had breakfast downstairs at 8:15. The first morning Gilji fixed us mushroom omelet w/fresh fruit and bacon. Yum. After breakfast we headed out to check out the local PA wineries. We returned late that afternoon, took a 20 minute power nap and then headed to Blue Moon Pub in Kennett Square. We ate upstairs on the rooftop desk, which had a wonderful breeze. We ordered Crab nachos (A plus) for apps. For dinner I had a cheese burger and Tim go BBQ pork burger. Over all it was a yummy evening. We had plans to go back to the room and bring our glasses of wine down to the porch, but we fell asleep early. Ha ha!

Sunday morning came and we greeted with the most amazing cinnamon french toast thanks to our wonderful host Gilja. We left Kennett Square and headed home. Were we processed to clean out the entire house. I left around 3 p.m. to pick up Annabelle and the dogs. Both Tim and I enjoyed our weekend away, but we really missed our little girl.

Check out some of the most recently professional pictures we had taken by our friend Charlene. If your every in need of a local photographer, please email me. I'll pass Charlene contact information along.

What's Miss Annabelle doing now??

I've neglected my blog for far to long. We've been busy since Christmas, we also have a growing toddler on our hands. Since Christmas, Annabelle has learned to walk, she is also talking too. Her vocabulary has exploded in the last three months. She use to say about 5 to 10 words, now she talks all the time. Tim and I decided to make a list of all the words that she now says. I'm sure we are leaving a few off. I also like to point out a few months ago I bought some flash cards from Barnes and Noble with a gift card that we received at Christmas. These flash cards have helped out amazingly. I've tried to google them, but I'm not having much luck. I'll just describe them to you all. They are the touch and feel, first words, transportation and color cards. Onward to the list:

Daddy
Mommy: (I'm so happy to announce that finally will say this word on command)
Josie
Roscoe: but it's more like "scoe"
duck
tree
car & truck: are her favorites when we are outside
apple: her first word other then daddy
ball
bath
tomato
baby
sweater: although it's more like weter
cheese
hot dog
dog: which see says doggie
fish
Lily but it sounds ily
up
down

Okay I'm drawing a blank for more. I know there is more. I think everyone has to be a wallflower at my house and you will see. You might even be shocked at how she is. Usually in public it's the quiet, shy Annabelle, but at home, it's a whole other story. Which I'm sure is the case for many children.

It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I've posted. We are already in 2011 and we are having lots of fun. Annabelle is growing like a weed. She just had her 15 month appointment on Friday. And she is up to 22lbs and 31 inches long. She has come a long ways from 4lbs 18.5 inches long. She is mobile now too. She has been walking for about a month now, and some days I look at her and think WOW! You'll be a teenager before I know it. Lets see her vocabulary has exploded too. Here's a list of what she is saying:

Dadda
Momma
Bush
Good
Dog
Bad
Yes
Linda (although I haven't heard her say this!)

Doctor is really impressed with her and wants her to say 1-2 new words a month. Now if we could just get through this winter and onward to spring we all would be doing wonderful. Annabelle is in the thick of flu season. She's been sick a few times, but nothing crazy, thank goodness. Mommy and Daddy are both sick now, so we hope to fight off this cold ASAP!

We are looking forward to several Birthday Parties this upcoming weekend, seeing some old friends home from Germany and and a few play dates too. Visit us soon. Hopefully I'll add some more pictures to the blog.

National Prematurity Awareness Day!

Today, November 17th is National Prematurity Awareness Day. This day is very special to me, not only because Annabelle was born seven weeks early, but for all of the other babies out there who were born too early. Being a mother of a premature child is difficult enough, not knowing what will happen, but with awareness, things can change and lives can be saved. While our NICU stay was short (praise the Lord), we still had huge out pour of love and support from not only our family and friends, but the March of Dimes too. I remember on one occasion arriving to the NICU without Tim, just wanting to see my baby. Just hoping that she had made progress over night. I would sit by her isolate hoping for her to keep fighting and praying for a speedy recovery. One of the MOD volunteers at Franklin Square, offered to take some pictures of Annabelle and I. It was small, but so meaningful to Tim and I.

Every year, half a million babies in the United States are born too soon, too small and very sick - that's 1 in every 8 babies. Since 1981, the rate of premature birth has risen 30%, and in half the cases it is not understood what went wrong. The March of Dimes is a wonderful organization who helps family in their time of need. Please share your story or check out other stories.

A year ago today my world changed forever...

Can you believe it's been a year ago since my precious girl was born into this crazy world. Her debut into this world was a crazy ride itself. I was admitted to the hospital on October 6, 2009 with high blood pressure and significant amount of weight gain. After having an U/S to check on the baby, it was confirmed that I had pre-e. A nasty disease that can cause death to both mom and baby if delivery doesn't take place. After a whirlwind of 14 crazy hours of drugs, epi's, lots of pain, Annabelle Renee was born on October 7, 2009 weighing 4lbs 10.5oz and 18.5 inches long. She spent 12 long days in the NICU. I hope to never experience that place again. Yes we made friends with the nurses, doctors and even some preemie parents. It was a scary place, a world of unknown, when any minute your life can be turned upside down. In our case we survived the NICU with lots of love and support from family, friends and care from those at Franklin Square Hospital. Tomorrow she has her 12 month appointment with her doctor, so I'll update everyone with her stats. Happy Birthday Annabelle. Mommy loves you very much.

Here's a few pictures from this morning in her Birthday Girl shirt:

Things that I've learned...

1. Wearing two hospital gowns is the way to go. Most of you know that hospital gowns open in the back, leaving you feeling a tad bit exposed. So yesterday I put on two, one opening in the back and one opening in the front. Wow, I sleep like a baby last night.

2. Saying Thank you to the nurses, they will let you do almost anything. For instance, I can take a shower every day if I want. I can now walk the halls in my cool outfit. Picture, socks, two gowns, yoga pants, girl with iv stand walking the halls. It's a sight.

3. I liked my old roommate! When I first arrived at the hospital earlier Saturday morning I placed in a room with another patient, who reminded me of my grandmother. We joked, talked about food, or food that we wanted to eat, what was on TV and life in general. She went home yesterday (Monday), I was alone for a few hours and then bam four hours later I have a new roommate. Who does the following things I can't stand: SNORES, COMPLAINS about not being about to reach the remote, SNORES, complains about the IV. Okay, I happen to over hear that she smoked like two packs a day, and so I guess that's why she SNORES. It's highly annoying. I want a new roommate. To bad I can't ask for a new room.

4. Hospital Food is not that bad! I've heard people complaining about the food. The two meals that I've eaten were yummy. Chicken w/gravy and mashed potatoes and french toast and a bowl of fruit. Those were the only two full meals I've had. I've also had several bowls of jello, pudding, chicken broth, beef broth, Italian ice. I can't wait to a crab cake sandwich.