Elaina Elizabeth Jeanine

The beauty of pregnancy has always fascinated me. Knowing how a baby is created, and no I am not talking the logistics of it, I am talking the sperm, the egg, creating a the bundle of cuteness at the end of 10 months. It is beautiful knowing that this tiny creation is being held securely in my belly.
The above picture is me at 10 weeks
The picture below is me at 20 weeks

This is me recently at 30 weeks

And this little miracle below is Miss Elaina Elizabeth Jeanine

She is quite the active little girl and has kept me on my toes this entire pregnancy. This first half of the pregnancy I was either so nauseous, throwing up, or taken out by a headache, there was no room for enjoyment. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days getting IV fluids and nutrition. Put on several different anti-nausea medicines and constant pills to try to control my headaches.

Then the 20 week mark came, things started to calm down, still had the headaches but not as bad, I could eat, just not a lot. I could only stomach about 3-4 bites of anything before having to call it quits....I lost 10lbs...so on and so forth....

Then things started to look up as I was finally able to eat more and headaches didn't have me in bed all the time. I started working, I started gaining weight back slowly, then I started getting sick with colds...my blasted immune system has been horrible this pregnancy. Bronchitis, Walking Pneumonia, Double Ear infections, sinus infections, Influenza A, Kidney infections, UTI's. Then lets add the pulled muscles from all the coughing and then the contractions that started up... Yup...on my toes indeed. Ive been in L&D 3 times now having to have shots to stop my contractions. The good part is they didn't cause any dilation and my cervix has only just recently started thinning.

So...with all this being said, this is my very last bundle of joy that I will ever carry within. It is scheduled for the day after delivery that my tubes will be tied. My body can not physically handle carrying another child and in all honesty I am not saddened by this at all. 4 children is enough. I have always wanted a big family and that is what I have.

I will be induced with Laina around the 37 week mark if she doesn't decide to come out earlier then that.

She is heart healthy along with everything else looking beautiful. She is weighing 3lbs...probably a little more seeing that was 2 weeks ago that we were told that weight. I can't wait until she is here in my arms, to smell that sweet newborn baby smell, to count her fingers and toes...to kiss those little cheeks, to be able to cuddle during nursing. To be able to enjoy all the wonders of newborn again, this time without tubes, wires, and medical equipment.

The kids can't wait to meet their little sister, Lily is looking forward to being a big sissy. She has already started taking her dolls aside and telling me which ones baby Laina can have. Hopefully she stays that generous once her sister gets here....knowing her she will remain just as sweet and caring and kind-hearted because that is just who she is.

I am a blessed woman to have a life so full of love and joy, I could not ask for more.

"Maaee...I 3!!!"

Sweet Sweet Lily

Little Little Lilybug

Precious Lily

Princess Lily

Mama's Lily

Who would have thought a song I began singing to her at 5 days old would have stuck. A song that calms her when she gets an owwie, when she is frightened, when she is sick. One her brothers sing to her to make her laugh when she is in a bad mood. It is hard to ever get upset at this sweet little girl.

Sweet Lily-Lou just celebrated her 3rd birthday. One I didn't dare imagine when she was born. I never imagine her birthdays ahead of time but when they come, it is a day of joy, a day of blessings and thanks, and as our heart buddy Bela's mommy put it, "Birthday's are always happy and special, but yours are truly magical!"

I sit and listen to the sweet miracle tick of your heart as your mechanical valve keeps it working for you, and it is never hard to be remind how truly blessed we are to have you as our daughter. To have walked this journey with you, and to continue walking it with you.

To see your eyes light in wonder and excitement, to see the look of awe come across your face, makes me have to swallow such a big lump in my throat.

You keep growing but I want to keep you small forever. I watch you play dress up, play mommy to your babies, and get down on the floor and play hot wheels with your brothers. Not a day goes by that you amaze us. Such a happy little girl for all you have gone through. I could not be more proud to call you mine and have you as my daughter.

Thank you Lily for being the beautiful miracle you are, you are my inspiration, you are who mommy wants to be like.

You are going to be such a great big sister and I hope she takes notes from you.

I love you Lilybug...

Happy Birthday Love

A Very Merry Christmas

This year I will not use words to sum up Christmas, I will let the pictures say it all. You will notice the kids have grown, Lily doesn't look like a baby anymore, Austin is a huge monkey man, and Lucas is his Daddies doppelganger.....I hope everyone had a great Christmas, I am sorry for the lack of posts, i have been super busy with work and being sick with this pregnancy. Oh and seeing i haven't posted it on here, I will share....I am having another little girl. The kids are thrilled, their sisters name is to be Elaina and according to Lucas, its a "beautiful" name and little girls should have pretty names, like Lily's name and my name....he's a charmer that boy...not sure where he got his smooth talking but I'm gonna have to keep an eye on him.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings

Jenna

Announcement

So I have an announcement to make on this blog that if you are a friend on Facebook you already know.



I am expecting again. Lily is going to be a big sister, along with of course her brother's. I didn't want to announce it on here until I finished my first trimester and here I am 12 weeks and 5 days. So with that being said, I am due May 24th, and I am pretty darn sure this little one is going to be a girl. I have never been this sick before. I was a little bit dizzy with Lily, some foods made me sick, but this pregnancy has been a dozy. I have had to go to the ER 4 times, and the last time I went I was finally admitted. I wasn't dehydrated which was good after how much I was throwing up. But I lost 6lbs in under a month time, on top of battling with horrible migraines that were debilitating, and sleeping 16-18 hours a day. I am now on 3 different anti-nausea meds on top of 2 different pain meds for my headaches. My doctor is hoping that it has to do with my hormone levels, and nothing more serious. I am being monitored closely and already scheduled for a level 2 ultrasound and then we will be scheduling an echo shortly after that just to double check. I will be going in towards the end of December, maybe right before Christmas to find out if I am having a little boy or a little girl. To me I would be fine with either as long as s/he's heart is healthy along with the rest of their little body. But as much as I say that, I would love a little girl because then I would have 2 of each.


I have already talked with my doctor about having my tubes tied after this little one. After everything I have gone through with this pregnancy, my body is screaming at me, "No more, No more." So I am going to listen. I have always wanted 4 kids, so I am done. I am trying to enjoy this pregnancy to the best of my ability even though it has come at a REALLY unexpected time.

To clear up any question's, not that I really have to justify anything, but this child is not Chris's and I am 100% relieved about it. I am Completely thrilled, and so is my boyfriend. I am very happy, minus that Chris and I are still at each other's throat's dealing with court. He is trying to relinquish my rights completely from the kids....so yeah...this is a very ugly time. I miss my children very much but they know I love them very much and we still talk each night. I don't get to see them once a week like I was once able to. I have never felt so much anger towards someone in my life. With all that being said, I do not feel like disclosing anymore on here as this is not my own personal blog, this is about how Lily is medically. Which speaking of......

Lily is 36lbs and hasn't really grown any taller then she was a few months ago. She graduated from once a week visits to every other week visits, to now once a MONTH visits. I am so very happy and proud of my little girl and how stable she is medically. I know you are all wanting to see pictures and I promise I will post some here soon. I want to thank you all for all your continued prayers that I know you have always offered. She is doing so well and I stand amazed at all she has over come through her almost 3 years of life now.

I will update here soon, she has a cardiologist apt on the 16th. We have her echo at 10am and follow up with Dr.Rhee at 11am. So once we get the new news, I will update you all.

Sending my Love, Hugs, and Blessings,
Jenna