Prayers Needed

Most of you know that Matthew is now a recruiter. Most of you know that this job has been very stressful with long hours. Since Matthew began this job, I have ben praying lots for him. But today I realized we need more prayer and more specific prayers. So I am asking for your help in praying for Matthew and his job.

Specific Prayer Needs:
1. Matthew is able to schedule 3 daily appointments.
2. Matthew is able to sign his first contract by the end of March and I have been praying for two contracts for this month!
3. Each month after that Matthew is able to sign 2 contracts.
4. That God opens opportunities for Matthew to find the people who want to join.
5. Matthew recognizes the opportunities that God has opened for him.
6. The above list happens so that Matthew can have some time to rest.
7. The obstacles holding Matthew back are set aside by the power of God.

I know this list sounds simple, but these are the specific needs he has in order to be successful at his job. There have been many obstacles that Matthew has no control over and that he can do nothing about. We need these prayers answered for Matthew's sake. The higher ups have repeatedly told us that recruiting is the most difficult job in the Marine Corps. I am not sure how it compares to fighting bullets in Baghdad, but his higher ups have been in Baghdad and know. We need your prayers and support PLEASE!!!

I am wondering how much time I need to be in prayer for Matthew and his job and I am beginning to think that I need to prayer longer and louder! Please help us pray!!! Thank you!

Matthew

I love my husband!

Advice from a pregnant mom to be

DO NOT EVER COMMENT ON THE SIZE OF A WOMAN WHEN SHE IS EXPECTING!!!! I am so tired of some form of the following conversation:

"Wow, You are big. How much longer?"

I fill in blank with weeks left.

"Oh, you are big!" with a shocked expression on the face.

I smile and nod.

"Are you having twins?"

"No, I am not. Just one girl."

"Well, you are big."

Smile and walk away trying not to scream that fact that I've been having the conversation with people for over 3 months!!!!!!

So when you see a pregnant woman, no mater how large she is, include one of the following phrases in your conversation...

you are so beautiful
i hope things go well
god bless you and the baby
you are so beautiful
you are so cute
what a wonderful experience

or, keep your mouth closed.

Have a wonderfully wonderful day!

ACC

Most people know that this pregnancy has had many ups and downs. I told Matthew the other day that we haven't had any major anything wrong, but we have had lots of little things along the way. God keeps peace in our hearts as Matthew and I try to roll with each punch. I thought I would list out the complications we've had with this pregnancy and end it with good news I got today!!!

1. Week 6 -- bleeding, thought we were having a miscarriage

2. Week 7 -- found out at one point there were two babies, but one not did not develop and remained an empty amniotic sac. This was what caused the bleeding. Because of the empty sac, my body could at any point decide to dump the whole pregnancy all together, this is a concern until Lexi is strong enough to resist the dump. Also, because of the bleeding, my body is open to infection which could kill or hurt Lexi.

3. Week 11 -- Doctor does an ultrasound and Lexi has no nose bone. This is a red flag for a chromosome disorder; Down's, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy some other number. I forget. Dr. recommends amnio, but we refuse because you can't really fix a chromosome problem.

4. Week 13 -- Blood levels are off; another red flag for chromosome problems. But levels could be off because the 2nd amniotic sac is in there messing up my hormones.

5. Diagnosed as high-risk pregnancy in week 11, referred for further testing.

6. Week 16 -- More bleeding. But Lexi is now strong enough to stay in my body even if I dump the other sac.

7. Week 20ish?? -- Lexi's heart checked by pediatric cardiologist, heart looks perfect!!!

8. Nov. 15 -- Week 22ish -- Lexi has level 2 ultrasound and all her measurements look perfect! She looks like a healthy little girl.

8A. Hospitalized with stomach virus. So sick Matthew took me to emergency room at 12:30 am and was sick for several days.


9. Week 34 -- Too much amniotic fluid and Lexi is now measuring to be too big of a baby. I am placed on a diabetic diet to try to slow down her rate or growth and to bring down the amniotic fluid. Now seeing the Perinatologist every week to check Lexi and her levels until birth.

10 Week 35 -- Today we saw that the amniotic fluids are back to normal though Lexi still measures big. How great that the fluids are normal this week! Great news for today!!!!!


Reasons to praise God during this pregnancy:
One of the best things is that we have military insurance which has covered the cost of all the expenses! Praise God for fabulous insurance. Praise God for all the Doctors who have been working with us during this pregnancy! They have been mostly warm, considerate and provide with time for us to discuss our concerns. So far we have had 9 different Doctors working to make sure that Lexi gets the best care possible. Only one doctor had the "social skills of a goat," (quoted by my step-mom Rebecca). The other 8 doctors have been wonderful! Praise God that we have not had any major problems so far! Praise God for supportive and concerned family and friends who pray for Lexi. My mom calls several times per week to check on us, my mother-in-law -- Michelle is a prayer warrior for the baby, our friends are in constant prayer, my dad and Rebecca help figure out the medical details, Aunt Jeanne went to the a appointment with me when Matthew was away for training, Aunt Brenda talked about amnioticentisis with me, our Mahoney family (Matthew's mother and family) have sent emails and threw a shower for the baby girl, and people are so positive about how Matthew and I have decided to deal with the stressers of this pregnancy! For example, we didn't really need to grieve when we found out about the second amniotic sac, we were concerned for Lexi and that she was going to be okay. So each time that there has been a problem, God has brought Matthew and I closer together and has provided peace to not get overwhelmed. What good would stress do for Lexi!?!? God has kept me mostly calm with this baby with only two nights of crying; when we thought we were miscarrying and when were waiting to find out about the chromosome problem! So praise GOD!!! We only have about 4 weeks until we get to meet our baby girl and touch/hold her for the first time! Thank you for your support, love and prayers.

Now, I finally found my lost camera today so I get to show you pictures of Lexi's nursery. Have fun and Aloha!


Crib bedding and accessories provided by Grandma Michelle, Grandpa Gerry and Godmother Rebecca.


The little couch was built by Grandpa Dan and Great Grandpa Larry.


Crib, Changing table/dresser provided by Aunt Jeanne (Matthew's Godmother).

Lexi Lou

No that is not her official name, but Lexi Lou sounds cute. We are right at the end of the pregnancy! We are only have 5 weeks left on our 40 week count down. I am trying to remember to enjoy these last few moments. I want to remember what is was like to have her rolling and kicking in my belly. Trying to hold onto the moments of carrying this beautiful baby in my belly. I love my Lexi Lou!!!!

Computers!!!

Ugh! Computers frustrate me! While they are useful, I have so much trouble figuring them out. I have several more friends' blogs that I wanted to add, but the computer won't let me add anymore links to my blog. I just wish I naturally understood computers the way my smart husband does. I wouldn't even have a computer if it weren't for him. Okay, enough griping.

This weekend was so nice! Matthew got home from work at about 3 pm on Saturday and had most of the day on Sunday off. It is so nice to get the extra time together! I was very thankful that we had Saturday afternoon and evening. Even though we both took naps, it was nice to have him in the house.

Another random thought, so many friends have been calling and emailing...Gina, Katy, Leah, family, and ladies from church, who have all been so reassuring about giving birth. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I am still a little scared, but it helps to know these are completely normal feelings and that you all shared the emotional part of having a baby and said of course it hurts, but you make it through! There will be a beautiful baby in the end who I will cherish and love! I know it's going to be hard work, but I also know I get to do the parenting thing my way. Katy and I talked about this. For several years I watched parents parenting in ways I couldn't even imagine. Now I get to, with God's grace and support, be a parent the way I think is best for Lexi. Our goal is to raise a God loving, functional, contributing citizen. I feel so many parents set out to parent but don't even think about what their ultimate goal in parenting is. They just go day to day not thinking about the long-term consequences of their parenting choices. Of course, these "bright" ideas of mine may all for out the window in a couple of weeks when I am actually parenting 24/7 on little sleep.

Have a wonderfully, wonderful day!!!

A

Oh man, oh man! I am so excited to meet my little girl! The two most amazing moments are going to be seeing Matthew holding her for the very first time and taking Lexi to church for the first time. Seeing Matthew hold our little girl is going to be beyond amazing. I chose Matthew to be her daddy because of who he is as a christian man and he is going to make such a wonderful father! For many years he has been challenging himself to become a father that God calls him to be. He has by far exceeded what God has called him to be as a husband and I know this will be true as a father as well.

At my bible study yesterday I was asking for prayers because I now need to see another specialist (I think #6 or 7 so far during this pregnancy). One of the ladies came up to me and commented on how I seem to be just taking things in stride. This is all due to the grace of God and influence of my husband. Several years ago I would have been a crying nervous mess. Matthew has ministered to me though his complete trust and faith in God's plans. This has become the attitude in our home because of who Matthew is and that is so wonderful for our baby girl! Hopefully my history of worry and anxiety will not be passed onto baby Lexi! That has been one of my goals during pregnancy, not to pass along stress hormones. God has been so faithful in that only a few moments of anxiety of occurred.

Praise God and Praise God for Matthew! Oh man, oh man! She is coming!!!

Delivery

So I have been reflecting on Labor and Delivery. Yes, millions of women have done it, yes millions of women have done it well. However, that is less and less of a comfort as I come near the time that I have to deliver. I know that many families would give anything to be able to experience this, but I am getting scared. Lexi is already above average for weight and that freaks me out a little more. She has to come out!!!! I don't know who even reads this blog, but I don't want to freak you out. I am just having a few moments of nervousness about bringing this little girl into the world.

I have several friends who are all natural! I don't think that is me. I ran the idea by Matthew and he actually laughed at the thought of me trying all natural. Not that he wouldn't support me %100, but the reality is I am wimpy and DON'T like pain. People say you can't remember pain...that is hogwash. I can remember pain! If the car gets scratched, I say "ouch" because to me I feel pain. I can remember all the times I have been in major pain (spinal tap was the worse) and it hurt!!!!!! So I am praying that I will be able to have an epidural.

I also have a friend (Whitney) who is amazingly strong. She watched her daughter in a mirror coming out. She talks about labor so calmly like it was no big deal. She said, yes it did hurt, "but you forget it." So many people say you forget the pain when you see the baby. If you forget the pain why do I hear so many stories about the pain?? I was the at the hospital several hours after my sister was born and my parents were pale and overwhelmed by their awful birthing experience. I clearly remember how awful it was! But too late now, I am knocked up and she has to come out. I really am so thrilled to meet my daughter who has been growing all this time. I know delivery will happen, I am just having a scared moment.

How do I put the ticker on the blog and not on a post?

32 weeks and counting

We are just at 8ish weeks away from D-day. We got to have a sonogram yesterday and she is still a she! Lexi is weighing approximately 5lbs and 2oz. Since I only weighed 7lbs and something oz, I had not expected such a big baby. With Matthew's genetic contribution, she is going to probably be over 9 lbs when she arrives. Yikes...that has got to come out! Hopefully lots of prayer and medication will make this not so painful! Here are her most recent pics.

The nursery is almost complete and will soon have pics up of that. I am not sure where my camera is after the move.
Enjoy and lots of love.