Happy V Day

I am finally feeling better... even with a cold coming on! We see the doctor on Monday, hope to hear a heartbeat! It was a weird week and I am a little nervous that all is well.

As far as Valentine's Day goes we celebrated with the kids on Thursday and had a few items for the parents to enjoy earlier in the week. Xing Yee was awesome with those flowers! The tree will look better next year I hope with a little help from Judy Ellison's tin hearts with the kids photos. She had the kiddos that I used to sit for make one heart each right before my wedding 10 years ago. I keep them on our daycare Christmas tree... so many awesome kids- now practically adults!

Our gluten-free cake was so gross but we enjoyed the effort and the frosting! Gluten-free is no fun for sure... if you make stuff from scratch it usually tastes ok but forget the packaged items most kids enjoy. Just think of paying over $7 for a package of pretzels that go stale super easily: ( We are trying to make these yummy with some melted chocolate.

We spent Saturday morning at the aquarium with our friends... Chris, Emily, and Clara. My pictures stink but maybe Emily with me for the blog. Kira was not feeling good even with help from medicine and a stroller: ( We ate a delicious lunch across the street at a Mexican joint... still wanting more of those chips and salsa!! She loves her presents Nana and currently G+G Saunders are here with a surprise for her too! Lucky girl!!

BLESSED by Xing Yee

To my utter surprise Theo and his family came back to the states with Tin Tin's niece. She is in the in America to experience 12th grade and possibly college subsequently. Her name sounds like CINDY when Kira says it but it is Xing Yee... the X is pronounced more like a z or s. ANYWAY, she volunteered to help here in the afternoons!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so touched that she would do this AND that Tin Tin would drive her here and back extra at lunchtime!! She was here almost daily for all of January while the first trimester was slowing me down! She is so sweet and the kids love having her company. She will not keep up the same pace now though since she is suppose to be studying for ACT and SAT testing. I owe her!! This is the biggest gift I have been given in a LONG time!!!! There are GOOD people out there... thank you Xing Yee and Tin Tin for ALL your extra efforts to make all these kids feel loved!!! I have to say when Tin Tin shows up the kids go nuts to play with her... she gets right on there level and brings such crazy excitement!

A MIRACLE!

On December 16th I had a memorably odd moment with a little boy here... his mom said, "SOMEONE needs to have a BABY." His mom was referring to herself but Breck points up and says, "SUSIE does." ODDLY, I normally would just laugh but I really have some hard feelings buried about NOT being able to get pregnant for the last few years. Well I was having to switch off our insurance through Walker and settle for Medi-Share that next day... on the 17th I knew I should ensure I was truly safe to start on a new plan.

OH MY! To our utter shock I had a positive test... well three of them!! I freaked about insurance right away and had a local sales person realize we actually had a couple options but they were a little shady ethically for me. Within hours someone there clued in that we all were misinformed and could stay on our COBRA with the great help from the government. We will have high deductibles but the length of the pregnancy could be covered at this good rate!! Thankfully all of us have an option after all is said and done but it will never be the same as being in a group plan.

I wanted to keep the news private until 12 weeks for almost everyone but Bart insisted we need the support of our family at least especially since that first 12 are so fragile! I did blood work and learned I needed help to raise my progesterone level. I have been taking these pills since around Christmas and have seen good results but HATED these last weeks of symptoms. My stomach hurt so often especially through the night while the meds were absorbed. I have low blood pressure even worse with this and was extra sleepy... all predictable but frustrating just the same: ) I got off the med last weekend as I hit 12 weeks, I feel so much more normal AND seem to sleep better at night!!! Sorry for the details.

We shared with our parents at the Saunders Christmas. I was very anxious to share since a few more months out would be more ideal to conceive. Bart and I are still waiting to see his business gain more stability and see him have more success from his workout routine: ) We gave them a little Chinese like food box with a pacifier and tag saying, "May this be your favorite gift this year." They received it well as you might see in the photos but I have to admit there seems to be some I don't feel are right behind us. It happened though and it all is working out. Dr. Susie Klinger is following the pregnancy and has blown me away with thee calls to the house to actually share an update or discuss concerns... she HERSELF calls!! At 20 weeks I am to have an appointment at the Women's Clinic with an OB to get clearance that I can be a VBAC. I want to avoid a C-section at all costs this time! With the nightmare of labor with an emergency C-section with Kira I WANT THIS CHANCE at least. I will spare the details of Kira's birth and the damage to my body AND the follow-up wound care. My hope is that the same doctor that had to cut me open in her office just a week after having Kira-- SHE will be the one to back me up and understand WHY I want this chance. We will pray over the situation. Reality is that I will not be able to stay under Dr. Klinger's care if I can't get approval from an OB: ( Honest truth is that Dr. K would assist in a C-Section if the labour was not going well... I just want someone like her advocating for me so we all do not see another UGLY delivery!!

Early January I had another CRAZY moment with a daycare mom! Now NONE of the parents knew of our secret, most knew we didn't think we could even have another child. Well, Ethan's mom walked in and let me know that she had a STRANGE DREAM... she said that' "You were pregnant and the baby was due in August." She said it was very clear! I don't know what my face looked like but I knew I didn't want to share yet!! I tried to laugh and act like that was just nutty!! The other day I got to tell all the parents as KIRA was starting to tell the boys. This dear MOM is so amazed as are we about her dream!!!! THE BABY IS DUE ON MY BIRTHDAY, AUGUST 25th!!

This ultrasound was taken at 10 weeks with Kira, Bart, and Grandma Ruth present for the moment. It was Ruth's first ultrasound experience!! Kira found out right there that there was a baby in my tummy! We hope my mom gets to be with us for the next in March.

Layla

One little miracle happened months ago when I found a lost memory card from her first months... maybe soon I will collect all her shots for her family- sure better do it before she is one! She has her own pace at developing for sure... she has hit every milestone so early. She loves her meals and steals our food as often as she can. Layla can be seen crawling around at super speeds and stands and has even taken a couple steps at just eight months. Her adoration for Theo seems to be as strong as ever... he is her protector and companion:) Hope her mom enjoys a flash from the past.

THEO

I sure missed Theo and his family when they were away for December! He got a great new dew in Malaysia and came back with more and more zest and spirit! He is growing so much lately, more social, detailed, mindful, and adventurous.

More fun with family and friends

Bart's brother and wife and kids were in town for about a week and more fun was to be had: ) Kira enjoyed Estes with them, a local pool, and more times just playing with her cousins. Cousin Travis and Bethany were able to join in too. We had a couple of the Bob Walker cousins and their families over for New Year's Eve where Matt was able to share about his outreach in China. We even broke out a game and planned to have regular game nights. I PROMISE in the next couple weeks we will attempt this again: )