5 Week Update

If our calculations are correct, we are 5 weeks pregnant today! Our baby/babies is/are around the size of a sesame seed. So far, I've not had too many symptoms. I've mainly just been tired, feeling a little bloated, and needing to pee a little more than usual.

My HGC levels were continuing to rise at my doctor's appointment this past Friday, so everything looks good so far. My HCG level was at 715.5. Our next appointment is on 3/25/11 for an ultrasound, which is when we will find out how many babies we have!

My mom and dad came to visit this past weekend, and they gave us our first baby gift--a little baby robe and hooded towel. My mom also gave me her old sewing machine, and I completed my first sewing project with my mom's help--a nursing cover. Thanks momma and daddy!

Please continue to keep our precious baby/babies in your prayers!

Hershey Has Some Big News to Share...

We're pregnant! God is so good! We went to the doctor's office yesterday for a pregnancy test, and it was positive. I go back on Friday for another blood test to make sure that my HCG levels are still rising properly. We have an ultrasound on March 25, and we will find out then how many babies we have baking in the oven. (Make sure to answer the poll to the right.) We are so excited!

After we got home from the doctor's appointment I took a home pregnancy test. Of course, we knew what the result would be, but we've never had the joy of having a positive test. After going through years of having negative tests, we figured that was something we needed to experience!



Baseline pictures (4 weeks):

A Forest of Daffodils!

There is an area in Winterville where someone has planted tons of daffodils in a field. We've heard a lot of people talk about this place each spring and have seen many of our friends' family pictures taken in this location, but we had never seen it in person...until today! We decided to take Hershey with us and take some pictures. You could tell where it was located from a way down the road, marked by the many cars parked on the side of the road. There were many families there taking pictures, as well as 2 or 3 artists painting and drawing pictures. It was really beautiful!

An enchanting forest


Daddy and Hershey


The majestic prince


Mommy and Hershey


That smells good!


Mel


Awww...this reminds me of our high school prom pictures!


Sweet love!

Our First Baby Pictures

Well, not technically, but we already consider them our babies! Technically they are still cells, and we are waiting to find out if they "stick", or implant in my uterus, resulting in a pregnancy! But we couldn't wait to share our first baby pictures, which Cody has so endearingly nicknamed Cletus and Brutus.

Close-up Pic


Ultrasound pic (the two white dots in the middle of the left hand side are the babies)


Many of you know that Cody and I have been trying for over 2 years to get pregnant, and it just hasn't happened yet, for a reason that is known only by God. Long story short, we tried everything: patience, doctor's visits, various fertility medications, IUI (intrauterine insemination), and just recently IVF (in vitro fertilization)! It has not been an easy journey, but one in which we have learned so much, and one that has brought us closer to God and each other.

So, right now we are waiting...waiting to see if our babies kept growing, waiting to see if they "stuck", waiting to see if we will become parents to these sweet babies that we already love so much. Please keep us in your prayers as we go through this period of waiting.

Adios, Amigos

For several weeks, there has been something missing in our neighboorhood...our neighbors, the Heplers! They moved to Greensboro!



Before they left, we gave them a going-away party. We had a mexican fiesta themed dinner, with tacos, chips and salsa, and homemade fried ice cream. It was bittersweet, as it's always great to spend time with friends, but it's so sad to see a great family move away. Luckily, things have quickly fallen into place for the Heplers; they have already sold their house here in Greenville and have put in an offer on a house in Greensboro. We couldn't have asked for better friends/neighbors, and we wish them all the best with this new path in their lives!

Dancing the Night Away

Our friends from college, Amy and Elliot came to visit a few weekends ago. It was so nice to have them stay with us for the weekend! Unfortunately, Cody had to work for a part of the weekend, but he was able to join us for most of it.

We played games (as is our tradition when we are together), went out to eat, and Amy and I went shopping. While they were here, we borrowed Just Dance 2 for the Wii from our friends, Phil and Kelley. It is a super fun game to play, it provides lots of laughs, and it is a great source of exercise.

Holiday Happenings

We had lots of fun things to do and some great people to see over the holidays. I know I'm way behind with this post, but better late than never. Here is a (somewhat) quick run-down of what we did to celebrate:

1. Traveled to Asheville ~ Cody always has a family medicine conference in Asheville each year in December, and it just so happens that some of our friends live in/around the Asheville area. We are lucky enough to be able to stay at the Chateau de Lunsford (our friends house) while we are there, and we get together with all our friends for dinner and game night. I always look forward to this weekend each year!

Pam, Riley, and Mike


Playing "Aggravation" with Elliot and Amy


2. Watched our nephew star in a Christmas play ~ My old church back home always does a children's Christmas play. Connor, our oldest nephew, had a part in the play. He read a small paragraph about the Christmas season. (Yes, this child, who is now almost five years old, has been reading since he was about three....so smart....just like his Aunt Mel and Uncle Cody. ;) He also played the handbells with a group of kids. His face was hilarious each time it was his turn to ring the bells!

Connor reading his part


Handbell music (Unfortunately, I couldn't get the video to upload, so a pic will have to do. The video was so funny...)


3. Helped my sister and her husband move into their new house ~ We went home a few days early to help my sister and her husband move into their new house. They moved in the Tuesday before Christmas, and they were completely moved in after two days (for the most part). They even had their Christmas tree up!

4. Attended lots of family gatherings ~ Christmas Eve at my grandmothers, opened presents with my mom and dad on Christmas morning, Christmas breakfast at Cody's brother's house, opened presents with Cody's mom, Christmas lunch with my dad's side of the family, and Christmas dinner with my mom's side of the family.

Hershey playing with his squeaky tennis ball from Santa Paws


Opening presents with my mom and dad


Our nephews, Connor and Jackson, at Christmas morning breakfast


Aunt Mel and Jax


Opening presents with Cody's mom


Mel, Cody, and Sherri


5. Enjoyed a beautiful white Christmas ~ Snow started falling mid-day on Christmas and kept falling, leaving a 6-8 inch blanket of white all over NC. When we drove back to Greenville, it was beautiful! The entire state was covered with snow!

Hershey waiting to go outside in the snow--he LOVES snow!


The snowy view from my mom and dad's back deck


Our family


6. Had a quiet evening at home for New Years ~ We actually stayed awake this year until midnight to celebrate 2011! The past several years at least one, or both of us, have fallen asleep before midnight. (I know, such party-ers we are!) We enjoyed a nice steak dinner, and a midnight snack of port wine cheeseball, chicken-in-a-biscuit crackers, and sparkling grape juice. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!