Turbo!

Silas is in camp at a local gymnastic center this week - the theme is American Gladiators. On the first day, all the kids got to draw a "gladiator" name out of a hat and his gladiator name is Turbo. It so suits him.

He has decided that he really likes the name and has even asked if I will sign him in at church as "Turbo Silas". He is even working hard to learn to spell it! I guess whatever helps him learn.

He is really doing well at camp and LOVING IT! I showed up early yesterday to observe for a bit, and I was amazed at the complex series of activities they were asked to do:

Donkey kicks on the wedge mat, then
Walk sideways up the inclined balance beam, then
Somersault (with assistance) down the ajoining balance beam, then
Hop on one foot on the mini-trampoline five times, counting outloud (1,2,3,4,5), then
Run up to the spring board, jump two times and land on raised block mat, then
Go to rings and pull up to make "Mickey Mouse ears", then
Run to start and begin again.

As I listened to Ms. Paige give the instructions, I wondered if he would be able to do it all. I was stunned at how well he did! My little boy CAN follow directions! YIPEE!

Pregnancy Update: 2nd Trimester

I am feeling so much movement these days - it's so much fun! I'm really starting to feel that special connection to him and Steve is even starting to refer to him as "Josiah" so we might have finally settled on the name. We don't have a middle name yet, but that will come. I have been noticing Braxton-Hicks contractions everyday, especially in the afternoon and into the evening. I don't remember feeling them this early with Silas. I am such a hypochondriac sometimes that I think I make too much out of everything, but I do plan to mention it to my doctor when I go see her in a couple weeks, just to make sure I'm not overdoing it. I have this friend from church who I've just gotten to know and she and her husband just went to Italy for 10 days, hiking and biking all over - oh, and she was 6 or 7 months pregnant! On her blog, she posted a video of her husband napping on a bench while she's waiting on him so they can go hiking up this gorgeous mountain side. I feel like such a wimp compared to her!!!! But I know I shouldn't compare myself and I should be thankful for the health I do have. It is hard, though, not to feel like a complete whiner when I think of her!

Summer Days...

Isn't summer wonderful. Sleeping until 8:00. No where to rush off to in the morning. Lazy days at the pool, library, playing in the backyard. Wonderful.

I am so enjoying my little boy. I realize this is my last summer we have to ourselves, just the two of us. Next summer we'll have a 6 month old with us, and while I'm so thrilled to be giving Silas a sibling, I will miss these days of just having one child. It's so easy to up and go. And he is so fun!

We spent a relaxed evening at home, which started with watering plants and ended with playing in the sprinklers. After bath, we had a snack, and then cuddled up to read some of the new library books we picked up before dinner. Since it was a bit early for bed, I didn't mind reading more than the normal three books. I enjoy new books just as much as he does! And then into bed, prayers and cuddles. So sweet.

Our cat, Cooper, sleeps with Silas most nights. He jumped up to join our cuddle time and tickled Silas by "kneading dough" on his belly. It was hilarious. One of those cute little moments you are so glad you got to be part of and you never want to forget.

Here's an action sequence of our water play, starting with dousing himself with the hose...

...running wildly while wet...

...coming around...

...to laugh...

...and laugh some more!

Silas' Future Wife

We hope...

Seattle

We've just returned from a wonderful getaway to visit my dear friend, Faith, in Seattle. We couldn't have asked for a better visit, expect, perhaps, I wouldn't have had crazy swollen feet the first two days.

We were able to get a great deal on tickets (thanks, Priceline!), but couldn't fly at ideal times, so we asked my lovely family if they would watch Silas for us. Now you can see why this was such a great visit - not that travelling with our dear son wouldn't have been great, just not as deep and rewarding, and probably much more tiring.

Faith and I have been friends for so long and it is so lovely to spend time together. She is such a treasure. I don't deserve her. Since she married Phillip four years ago, our friendship has become the long distance kind, with weekend visits here and there and long chats on the phone when we had time. We were so blessed this visit with how well our husbands got along; it was the boys who stayed up the first night talking late! (The pregnancy really slowed me down this trip!) Phillip and Steve really had a great time together, which is such a blessing to us.

We ran around their lovely little town, checked out the military base Phillip is stationed at, and spent the Fourth of July enjoying downtown Seattle. We visited Pike's Market and the Space Needle and watched the fireworks in Bellevue accompanied by a live philharmonic orchestra. It was such a memorable holiday that we will never forget.

Journey With faith...

Originally drafted April 11, 2008

I am pregnant again. It is so wanted and yet it brings out so many difficult emotions. Joy and Fear are constantly fighting for my full attention and so I have found myself forgetting that I am even pregnant at times, perhaps as a coping mechanism.

I have had 2 ultrasounds showing a strong heartbeat and many blood tests showing good HcG and progesterone levels. This is quite different from the pregnancy I lost in September when there never was a heartbeat and my body just took a long time to recognize that it wasn't supporting a viable pregnancy. And so this time I have been guarded, protecting myself in case, God forbid, things might go in the same direction.

But this time is very differnt, and I am rejoicing because of it.

I went last week to see the doctor and felt as if I could finally exhale when I saw that beautiful heartbeat blipping away in a static field on the monitor. And as we were walking back to the exam room for a final consultation, I thought all was well. But then my doctor reviewed some addtional labwork and discovered something of concern: I have Anti-D antibodies present in my blood.

What are Anti-D antibodies and why would I be concerned? I am Rh negative and Steve, my dear husband, is Rh positive. If you recall from high school biology, there are different bloodtypes and some are compatible and some are not.

Sometime during my miscarriage my body recognized I was pregnant with an Rh Positive baby and my body converted and began producing anti-D antibodies. This means that my body may begin to produce more of these antibodies with this pregnancy which will cross the placenta into the baby's bloodstream and begin destroying the baby's blood cells. There is NOTHING that can be done to reverse this process. I felt completely defeated and hopeless upon receiving this news.

I called my mom that night, and she reminded me of the hope that is in Christ Jesus, that I can call on Him and He will answer me... She went on in faith for 20 minutes, building my faith and encouraging me not to give in to fear (I Peter 3:6). I went to bed that night with a resolve to feed my faith and not my fear and instead of lengthy internet searches on "anti-D antibodies", I read through Bible verses that spoke of God's promises to heal, hear, and protect those with FAITH.

The very next morning we were able to see a specialist and were very encouraged by our meeting with him. He basically confirmed that there is nothing that can be done to remove the anti-bodies, but he was very confident that I would be able to carry this baby to term with regular activity and some intervention if needed. The change in my heart was so amazing from Tuesday to Wednesday. I am confident that everything will be fine. I may have to jump through a few hoops in order to have a healthy baby, but I WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY!!!

"Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome!" Nehemiah 4:14

And so I am rejoicing in the LORD and in his great mercy. He is faithful and good and I will not be afraid.