Introducing...Baby Dean #2!!!!!!!!

So my high risk appointment went beautifully!!!! I had to have a vaginal ultrasound because I am still so early along, but the baby has a strong heart beat and seems to be moving along really well!!!! FINALLY! A doc appointment that I didn't leave in tears! The due date is going to be like last time (for those of you who remember). My medication slows down the growth of the baby a little so it is hard to pinpoint an exact date. The growth of the baby is showing at 8 weeks but my last period says it would be about 11 or 12 weeks. The doctor jokingly said to me that he could narrow it down to the end of May or the beginning of June and that doesn't take into account the C-section option! That's fine by me as I could care less as long as the baby is healthy and developing like it should. Here are some pictures from the ultrasound today.










The heart rate of the baby is super strong and steady at 140! This was a concern as the Lopressor I am on to slow my heart rate can also slow down the baby's heart rate. It hasn't and I am so happy I just can't even put it into words. Those pictures are why I restrict myself, take this horrible medication, and put up with the constant worry. At the end of all of this is another beautiful baby that I have the privilege to be it's mommy!

I am way overdo for a Preston update and have some pictures from this cute Fall Festival we went to this past weekend. I'll post them this evening!

Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Pregnancy Update

I've tried to write this blog many times this past week. It's hard to put all of these emotions into words. I haven't even shared this with all of my FF gals because to tell them makes it all real to me and I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. To make a long story short my visit to the Cardiologist was not good. I received no good news and again left the doctor in tears. I will be monitored every two weeks with cardio visits and if needed a halter monitor if there is any change. I go on Wednesday to have one put on and will have to wear it this time for only 24 hours!!! I hate those things and am glad to only have to put up with it for a day. My spirits are low and I have been struggling for the past few days. I'm not sure how much is just preggo hormones and how much is caused by the new meds. The meds are helping but will have to be increased regularly as the baby continues to grow and put more stress on my heart. The good news is that I have hope and I know that my heavenly Father is really in control. He will not and has not given me anything more than I can handle.

A second thing that has been going on and I feel the need to share are the comments I have been getting from the doctors and people around me. These comments have all centered along the lines that I terminate this pregnancy. Let me tell you all now in case any of you are feeling the need to share the same with me. IT IS NOT AN OPTION. I have been blessed with this new life and it is A LIFE! I will not even give the thought consideration. Shame on those of you (and you know who you are) who have had the audacity to even speak the words to me. It was not in my hands to become pregnant and it is not in my hands what happens. Despite what many of you think it is all up to the Lord. His will is to be done...not mine or what you think it should be. All of this and all of the uncertainty is to Glorify Him. I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I do know that it will all be used to Glorify my Savior and for me that is all I need to know.

I have my appointment with the high risk OB on Wednesday and will hopefully have some fun new baby news to share. We will get to have an ultrasound and I can't wait to see the little bean!

First Doc appointment and moving day

Yesterday I had my first official doctor's appointment with my OB. They always start off the same...me having to pee in a cup and then getting my vitals taken. I HATE having my vitals taken. It's always scary to see what the heart rate will be. I had been hoping and praying that my heart rate would be fine. After all, with Preston I didn't have any trouble until my fifth month. I wasn't so lucky this time around. My heart rate in my first trimester is at 142! That's almost double what it should be right now. They had me lie down and rest and took it two more times. It was the same both times. This lead to a quick shuffle out of there as my OB is not the high risk doctor. His staff made appointments for me this Thursday with the Cardiologist and on the 29th with the high risk OB, Dr. Almalt.

On my way home I just burst into tears. It's scary that it is already so high and means that I already have to take it easy. This is basically an impossible task with a move this week and a very active 15 month old. I'm not sure how any of this is going to work. I am going to have to fight TRICARE tooth and nail to make sure that in Alabama I have the same quality care. The problem is that since I am near a military post, I technically have to see the OB there. NOT GOOD, OVER MY DEAD BODY, NEVER...in case you can't tell, I have little if any faith in the post doctors. They are typically straight out of their residency and I have no desire to be some jackass’s learning curve. Please join us in prayer that it all works out and that my doctors here can help me find the same in Alabama. The stakes are just too high this time. My life and my baby's life are on the line again, plus my sweet baby boy needs his mommy! I almost didn't survive my first delivery and I had the best of the best in high risk OB's. I don't even want to think about what could happen with some second rate hack.

As you can tell I am waaaay over emotional right now and my preggo hormones are working against me as I am overwhelmed with everything going on right now.

On a bright note, the move is going well...or at least well compared to the news we got yesterday. Our renter will move in on Friday and we are working hard to make sure that the place is ready. The dryer broke so we had to buy a new one and then go through the installation and take out of the old one! Pete also stepped off the beam in the attic and put a small crack in the bathroom ceiling that needs to be fixed. So much to do and not a lot of time to do it in!

I'm off to do more packing. This will be my last post written from Villa Lane! Good-bye sweet little house and thank you for the memories!

Our home away from home...

...for the next 18 months! Here is a pic of the house we picked to rent. It's a cute place with a huge back yard! It's on a cul-de-sac and all of the neighbors have kids. It will be a welcome change for a bit and will be a nice place to add to our family. It's hard to tell from this picture, but it has a nice front porch to put some rocking chairs on and a beautiful kitchen. I'll post some inside pics once we are all moved in.







In even better news, we have found a renter for our place here! So far everything is running along smoothly and as long as the criminal check comes back clean, our place is rented! YEAH! This is a huge load off of our minds. Our renter is a single paramedic who is going to school. Needless to say, he doesn't have much time for partying and has to keep his nose clean. This means our home will be taken care of! He wants to move in on the 24th of this month, so I am packing like a fiend trying to get it all done. This will mean that our move date to Fort Rucker is definitely going to be the first week of November.

Piggly Wiggly, Cotton Fields, and a sign that read "Sausage Breakfasts is here again"...

...Sweet Home Alabama!!! Greetings bloggy world from Enterprise, Alabama. Pete and I are up here this weekend to find a home. It was an adventurous trip with everything from a blown tire to the house we had driven up to see having already been rented!

We left last night at about 7pm EST and got into town about 2am CST. It was a long trip, but my baby boy was good. He didn't sleep much with all of the excitement of the trucks and tire exploding, but he was good. We checked into our room and all fell fast asleep. I got up to go to the bathroom at about 5am CST and I heard Pete talking. I assumed that Pres had woken up and was surprised when he handed me the phone. It was Chrissy letting me know that she was in labor!!!!!!! Sweet baby Asher was born at 5am AZ time this morning and is absolutely beautiful. My kick booty friend had a completely natural birth! Go Chrissy!!!!! After all of this excitement I was awake, so I played the waiting game for my boys to wake up. We got up this morning and headed out to look at houses. It was a big pain in the neck with everything from lost appointments to losing our rental. We finally found a cute little house in the nearby town of New Brockton. Now it's the waiting game to see if we get the house- competition up here for rentals is fierce!

The move is coming up quickly and it looks as if we'll be in Alabama in November. It's your typical military town with lots of pawn shops, Chinese buffets, and barber shops by the dozen! The cotton fields are just beautiful! I told Pete when we saw them that now I really feel like a southerner!

We spent some time on post today and it too is like all of the others. Lots of woods, slow speed limit, and bald men everywhere! It's fire safety month and the Fort Rucker fire department was at the Exchange with their big truck, balloons and plastic fire hats! Needless to say, Pres was in heaven!

We are back at the hotel now and Pres is finally napping. I should take a snooze myself, so I'll end this post here!

...and baby #2 makes four

Well, here we go again. I went to my new Aviation unit down in Clearwater for drill this weekend. It seems certain news hits my cell phone when I am away with the Army. For the second time in two years, I got a picture text from April of a POSITIVE pregnancy test. Yes, that's right, # 2 will be a spring baby. We are excited to add another Dean and to reuse all of the stuff we got for Preston. (Chrissy and Ryan, can we have that stuff back when your done?! LOL!!!) For my Mom and Dad, this will be their 8th grandchild. Good luck at Christmas!! Anyways, we will keep you all posted through the blog, so check back frequently.

Our Week in Pictures

SUNDAY
Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Pres had a wonderful time playing with his favorite person in the world-Grandpa Mike! He and my dad are so sweet together. The nice part about this was that Pete and I were able to really enjoy all of the yummy food and wine!



MONDAY
Running up and down the hill with Daddy! Aren't they sweet together?! The best part is that I get to sit and take pictures and don't have to be the one running up and down the hill! This is one of Pres' new favorite activities.





We also went to the Walmart to do some shopping. I was gossiped about by two ladies who decided that I was "not your typical Walmart shopper" ie I was a bit too fancy for Walmart. I took some offense to this because they were judging me based on my clothes. Yes, I do like to dress nicely, but ladies I AM your typical Walmart shopper. I am middle class and like to be thrifty with my money. I do also shop at Publix, but if I am going to do a big shop, it's Walmart ALL the way...I also get my oil changed there and find all kinds of yummy smelling candles! It is such a generalization to assume that everyone that shops there is poor. Let's face it, most people who are poor can't afford Walmart. Let me get off of this subject because I could go on and on...I can't stand when you judge people by what they "appear" to be! Here's a pic of my outfit that day. Let me point out a few things:

1. I live in FLORIDA! Sundresses are par for the course.
2. I got this dress on sale at Marshalls for $24.99.
3. My hair is done because my cute hubby was home with me all day (look at him, do you blame me?!).







TUESDAY

Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. A little naked swimming always is a good time! Pres had fun with Daddy, but he was on lookout mode for Grandpa Mike!






WEDNESDAY
The best excuse for an early nap I've ever seen! Look at those tired eyes!


THURSDAY
This is a fun activity to do with the little ones. We took cheap shaving cream and bought some crayola sidewalk paint. You add a little sidewalk paint to a bowl of shaving cream and then have fun. We all had a blast painting each other and the ground. The best part is the clean up is a breeze...just turn on the hose and rinse!








FRIDAY

The following pictures are from what I am referring to as "POOP GATE". I knew Pres was pooping, and I went to get a diaper and some wipes. I came out to find his pants and diaper pulled just slightly down, and poo on his hands, the ottoman, and the tv consule! Yuck! How on earth do you stop that one?! I made it so that he can't take off his diaper, and now the big stinker has found a new way to get his poo all over the house, he'll just stick his hand right on down IN his diaper. It might be funny later on, but not today!