Lisa's Unexpected Blessing

Today's the day!

2009-04-14T02:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, today is the big day! We finally get to meet our baby girl! I got up early, partly because I'm too excited to sleep, partly because I wanted to eat and drink a lot before my long day of not eating or drinking. We check in at noon, and the c-section is at 2:00! I did not go into labor on my own, as I had hoped I would, but God knows what is best. At this point, I don't care how she comes out! As you can see, I had some very last-minute images done Saturday by a friend in a field of our beautiful Texas bluebonnets! She did a great job! (www.petitephotography.com)

God gave me a poem this morning for my little girl, and I'd like to share it with you. We will, of course, be keeping everyone updated on our exciting news! Love, Lisa

Only God Knows
by Lisa Strealy

What will she look like?
Who will she be?
Will she be a much smaller version of me?
Will she have full hair or very long toes?
Or great big round eyes?
Only God knows.

Will she be like Daddy?
Will she sleep at night?
Will she be docile or put up a fight?
Will she take long naps, or just like to doze?
Will she like binkies?
Only God knows.

Will she fall in love?
Will her heart stay intact?
Will she behave? Will she know how to act?
Will she be kind, others first, she below?
Will she humbly obey?
Only God knows.

Will she love You, Lord, for the whole of her life?
Will she stray and return? Will her life bring her strife?
Will she serve You and love You for all of her days?
For this little girl, it is this that I pray.

I know that You made her, from her heart to her skin,
And I know that You know her, both outside and in.
But I've yet to meet her,
So you mustn't blame me
For wondering who she will grow up to be.

I love her already, and I'd just like to say
That I'm so overjoyed I will meet her today.
She was not expected or planned or proposed,
Who knew she was coming?
Only God knows.

Just as your love never ebbs, always flows,
No matter the answers to the questions I pose,
I will always love her, from her head to her toes.
How much will I love her?
Only God knows.

Photos From My Church Shower!

2009-04-05T02:39:00.000-07:00

David's finally making an honest woman of me!

2009-03-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is me at almost 36 weeks. It's actually our niece, Sabrina's, bridal veil, though. My sister, Kara, is getting married!!! She got engaged on my birthday in February. We went to Edmond to visit David's family over Spring Break, and my mom and sister came for a day to shop for wedding dresses. She was trying on Sabrina's veil to see if it might work with the beautiful wedding gown she found! The wedding is set for August 7th, in Pennsylvania, where her fiance Ben is from, and I am going to be her matron of honor! I hope I can get back to pre-pregnancy weight quickly so I can fit in the dress!

My c-section is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th, at 2:00 pm! I am hoping to go into labor before then, and, if so, I can try to have her the natural way. This is my last week of work. I am so sad to leave all my students and co-workers. I have been there for almost five years now, and it is truly like leaving a family. However, I am so excited to meet my baby girl! (Not to mention ready to get her out of me!)
My friends and family threw me a wonderful shower last month, and I received so many nice presents. It was such a blessing to receive so many things that we needed! It really helped put our minds at ease that we may actually be ready for this! It was such a fun night, and I was so happy that most of my family could be there, and so many of my friends and co-workers.

The ladies at my church also held a shower for me yesterday afternoon. It was so nice, and I felt so loved! I will post photos from that shower, as soon as I get some. We'll keep you updated on any exciting news! She'll be here before we know it!

Love,
Lisa

Isn't she lovely? (And big-headed)

2009-03-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

I had an ultrasound today to determine the position of the baby, approximate size, etc. The top picture is her face. Her head is turned, and she's looking at the camera. In case you can't decipher it, her forehead is on the right, then her eyes, nose, and mouth, which appears to be slightly open. She was opening and closing her mouth during the ultrasound, which my mom and David got to see. Bottom picture is of her little feet and toes. Good news is she is properly positioned for take-off, and, based on her position, I can finally identify some of those body parts that have been poking out or jabbing me in various places. Other news is that her head is a bit large for her relatively normal-sized body. The tech estimated that she is about 5 lbs. 5 oz. already, which is I think about 60 something percentile, but her head is about 89 percentile, or about a week and a half or two bigger than expected. (Katelyn was only 5 lbs. 13 oz. when she was born.) The doctor wasn't concerned about the head size, but we may have a future neurosurgeon or Jeopardy champion on our hands. Seriously, though, it sort of puts a damper on my hopes of having a vaginal birth again, like I did with Katelyn. Her head (and everything about her) was quite small in comparison to Garrett, whose head would not fit through my pelvis, resulting in my c-section. So, we are scheduling a c-section, and if I don't go into labor on my own, they will just rip her out. There's still a chance I can avoid the c-section, but we'll see. I would like the experience of going into labor on my own, just once. I am looking at April 13th for the c-section, which is the day after Easter. I am waiting for confirmation of this date from my doctor.

I had a wonderful shower on Saturday night! I think there were about 40 people there, including many of my co-workers and family. It was a lot of fun! We are so blessed to have received so many wonderful gifts. David and I are both nervous about our upcoming loss of income, but we are trusting in God to take care of us, and He has already started providing. I will post photos from the shower soon.

Six weeks to go til d-day! I'll keep you updated.

Love,
Lisa

We're in the pink!

2009-02-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got the nursery painted, or, should I say, David did. As you can see it is very pink! We haven't put anything on the walls yet, but thought I'd go ahead and post this. I'll add more photos as the room progresses. My mom made the valance, and she is making some crib sheets to match, in the same fabric. Our niece, Sabrina, is letting us use her daughter Kate's beautiful bedding, and the photo does not do it justice. The bumper is a pink, green, and cream striped, and the skirt is pink with brighter pink polka dots, and a green gingham trim. My mom and I added a white eyelet trim to the skirt, because we thought it needed it to tie in with the sheets she's making. (Don't worry, Sabrina, it can be removed.) I am very excited to be able to finally start decorating the room and get it ready for little what's-her-name's arrival.

Actually, we do finally have a name picked out . . .but we're not tellin'! I like our name too much to tell and have it possibly ruined for me (not on purpose, of course), so you'll have to wait until the big day! It is quickly approaching! I am in my third trimester now, and I am starting to feel it. There's not much room left in there for her, or for my internal body parts! My back has been rebelling against my extra weight, but, overall, I am still feeling pretty good, just fairly exhausted by the end of the day. I know that will only get worse from here on out, but we're hitting the home stretch, and it'll be here before we know it! I'll keep you posted on any new news or nursery updates. Talk to you soon.

Love,
Lisa

It's . . . still a girl!

2009-01-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

I had another ultrasound on Monday, just to check out the heart, since it was a little too early the first time. She checked everything else out too, and everything seems to be going smoothly. That's little "what's-her-name"'s profile up there. She appears to have a big belly, so I guess I've been feeding her well. (I know I've been feeding her well.) Actually, the doctor estimated that she weighs 2 lbs., which is at 52 percentile, so, in other words, she's absolutely perfect! That moon-shaped object above her head is her halo. No, really, it's a cross-section of her arm. I think I can see her little fingers on her head up there, so I think she is doing kind of a Scarlett O'Hara swooning thing. Drama Queen already! We got to see a really close shot of her upper lip and nostrils and a quick shot of her face, although she wouldn't stay still long enough to see her face very well. So, I guess we'll have to wait until she comes out to see who she looks like. (Hey, I think I'll add a poll, so you can tell me who you think she looks like, judging from her profile. Look for it on the left.) David is in Germany for two weeks enjoying the Biergartens. Really I think he's spent more time in his hotel in the evenings than anything. It's cooold and he's working late hours! But he is going to get to see some really cool castles this weekend. My Dad actually came from Tulsa and went with me to the ultrasound, which was nice. He was amazed at how much they can see and all the little details they can focus in on. It truly is incredible how much they can detect within the womb! The doctor really liked Daddy. I think she wanted to take him home in her lab coat pocket! Anyway, that's all I have to report, other than I'm getting larger by the day. People at work said I finally looked pregnant this week. I guess I should - third trimester starts next week!

To clear up any confusion . . .

2008-12-03T04:13:00.001-08:00

Just so you know . . . I do not put shirts with curse words on my 9-year-old daughter, even if I do have "sex parties". Katelyn's shirt says "Itsa Bitsa". When Garrett announced Katelyn's gender at her party, he was 2 1/2, and he came out and said, spontaneously, "It's a itsa bitsa girla!" So there, that clears up the confusion for those of you with dirty minds. (Since about five of you asked me about it yesterday.) Ha Ha. Oh, by the way, David was able to feel the baby kick last night for the first time. She was apparently doing somersaults in my belly when we went to bed last night!

Lisa

Think pink!

2008-12-01T18:37:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got the news we have been waiting for, and it appears that our little "it" is a little "she"! I was quite surprised when the doctor told us, because most people, including most of my co-workers, David, Garrett, and 48% of you who took our poll, thought it was a boy. I am thrilled and have been intently searching through pages and pages of girly crib bedding for the last week and a half, until my head is about to explode. Katelyn, of course, is very excited to be getting her girl. Garrett was a little bummed at first, (actually kind of mad), but he appears to completely over it. David was just happy that the baby appears to be healthy. Everything on the ultrasound looked good, and our genetic screening came back with a very low likelihood of any abnormalities. We revealed the gender to our families at the "sex party" over Thanksgiving break in Edmond. (This is kind of a tradition in my family and is not as exciting as it might sound . . . not that it wasn't exciting.) As you can see, the kids made t-shirts before we left for Oklahoma, and they revealed it was a girl by taking off their jackets. The party was fun, and we were so happy that so many of our family were able to be there. We had a good visit in Edmond and Tulsa, and we are finally back home and happy to be sleeping in our own beds, but we'll back soon. Christmas comes too quickly this year. On that note, I'd better go get some things done. We don't even have our tree up yet . . . so much to do, so little time. If I don't write again before Christmas, we wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.

Love,
Lisa

It's a . . . baby!

2008-11-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

No, we haven't found out the gender yet. That happens next week, but we did get an unexpected glimpse at our little bundle. In case you can't tell, the baby is face-down in the picture, with the spine on the top. I went for my monthly OB appointment on Wednesday, and I took the kids so that they could hear the heartbeat. Since the kids can't go in for our ultrasound, (because the perinatologist is "distracted" by children), my OB took pity on us and squeezed us into the ultrasound room. The kids got to see the baby moving around and kicking (a lot). We got a really good view of the spine and heart beating, plus we got to see its legs and feet (kicking of course) and a glimpse of the profile. Garrett was hoping to see some boy parts, but no such luck. We'll have to wait until next week for that. Garrett did say that it looks like a boy to him, a future soccer star, he thinks.

I think Garett may be right, about the soccer star part, at least, because I started feeling the baby kick last Sunday, and I can feel it a little stronger everyday. With that, it's starting to feel more real. However, it might not really "kick in" until he/she is inflicting pain on my major organs. The ultrasound next week should help too. It is a "Level 2" and will be more in-depth, so we should get a good look at the baby, not to mention being able to stop calling it an "it".

Okay, that's all for now. I'll post more soon!

Love,
Lisa

180 days left!

2008-10-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Let's see if this thing works. It is supposed to tell you how many weeks and days I am at and how many days we have left 'til the big day. We'll see if it changes on its own, or I'll have to update it every once in a while.

Anyway, I heard the heartbeat last week. It was really loud and strong . . . so I guess there really is a baby in there! I am anxiously awaiting the first signs of life, a kick, a flutter, something. It could happen any day now. I'll let you know. I wore my first maternity top today. Woo hoo! Yes, I seem to have grown overnight, or at least the baby has, or my uterus or something. Thank God for low-rise jeans, though. They fit nicely under the little "bump", as they so fashionably call it in Hollywood. We'll see how long I can get away with those. That's all for now.

Love,
Lisa

Too tired to blog!

2008-10-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, that's what it comes down to . . . I've been too tired to blog. I don't remember being this tired when I was pregnant before, but, then again, I am 10 years older. A woman I know who is a brain development specialist told me that , in your first trimester, your body exerts daily as much energy as it takes to climb a mountain. So, I feel very justified in taking my extra naps and having "pregnancy brain", which I'm not sure David actually believes is a real condition. I am 12 weeks now, almost through my first trimester, and it is getting better. I'm only exhausted about every other day, and, thankfully, I haven't been nauseous much, just hungry, very hungry, with a wide variety of cravings and food aversions. David has been kind enough to indulge me by running out and getting chocolate malts and whatever else I am craving at various times. He has been pretty good about not indulging with me, and I am proud of him for that. I've also had quite a few headaches, an upper respiratory infection, and lots of allergy attacks. Because I've had all these allergy symptoms, I am fully expecting my nose to get really wide like it did with Garrett. I'm expecting it, but hoping it doesn't. It wasn't the best look for me.

As you can see, I am sharing my wonderful ultrasound photo from the little ultrasound I had about 3 weeks ago. In case you can't tell, the blur in the middle is the baby. Can't you see its little nubs dancing around. Actually, it was dancing around quite a bit, and we could see its little nubs, even if you can't, and we could see the heartbeat, which was really what we were going for. It was a relief to finally see the baby and to see its little heart beating. And, since I can't stand calling it an "it", I cannot wait until I have my Level 2 ultrasound, which is already scheduled for November 19th. We are anxiously awaiting that day and wish we could fast-forward, so that we can start calling it a "he" or "she" and start picking out paint and bedding and preparing for his or her arrival.

By the way, David is still somewhat in denial, and I guess I am too. Once I start showing, other than the pooch I have, which is probably more food than baby, then maybe it will become more real and not so surreal.

Much love to you all,
Lisa

Wow! What a surprise!

2008-08-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm sure the word is spreading fast. We had some unexpected news yesterday. It seems that I am pregnant! Yes, that's right. It's still hard for me to verbalize, but, after three home pregnancy tests, one of which clearly said the word "Pregnant" in its digital read-out, I am convinced. I was in denial for several hours, not believing the very faint pink lines on the first two tests, but, after talking to the triage nurse about getting a confirmation test and having her tell me in a very calming voice that the test I take at home is the same test they would give me at the office, and having her go on to tell me all the things I cannot do or ingest, and having her transfer me to the scheduling operator to schedule my first OB appointment (really?), and after running back to Wal-Mart to pick up the more expensive digital test, along with a rotisserie chicken and an anniversary card, and actually seeing the black-and-white results of that test, I guess I am out of the denial stage and into the dazed and confused stage. It's okay, though, because David is right there with me. I don't think anyone could be more dazed and confused than he is right now.

I told him on the eve of our 15th anniversary. The night before, we had discovered what turned out to be a hot water leak in our slab, and that day, the same day I discovered my great news, the plumber came out and gave us some more great news - $1780! Let me just say, it has been a rough summer financially, with gut-wrenching electric bills and now this. Surprisingly, David was handling the news of the plumber's bill fairly well, so, when he got home from work, I thought, what better time than now to let him know. Why not just load some more onto the pile. I couldn't actually say the words, so I showed him the test. He had to squint at first to read it, and then he didn't quite understand it, but then he did, and that's when his face turned white and he went into shock. I'm not going to go into too much more detail here, but, after giving him a short refresher course about how these things actually happen and having a dialogue about how we have no idea how this is all going to work out, he came on board. We know that this is not a surprise to God, and that He had it planned out all along, and that He will take care of us. (Of course, we're still both scared to death!)

We told the kids last night. We had an anniversary dinner at home, and David was so sweet to bring me pink roses and chocolates. At the end of dinner, he had another surprise, he pulled out some sparkling grape juice and four champagne glasses, and the kids got so excited, because they love that stuff. Anyway, he toasted to our anniversary, and then he asked me if I had something else to toast. Of course, Garrett said that we should toast to the fact that he pooped earlier. Which opened up a great segue, since I couldn't seem to actually bring myself to say the words, and we started asking him if he liked poop, if he would like to smell it all day and wipe it, and if he liked to change diapers. That's when he figured out what we were trying to say, and David said, "Cause Mom told me she was pregnant." Garrett said, "Really? Uh Uh. Really?" Garrett said he felt sick. He couldn't believe it. I told him to join the club. Garrett immediately started vying to move into the third bedroom (with the plasma) and let the baby have his room. Katelyn was just giddy and didn't say much, until Garrett said he hoped it was a boy, so she chimed in and said she hoped it was a girl. She couldn't stop laughing. They are both very excited. Garrett said it was "surreal", and I couldn't agree more. He chose the perfect word for the perfect time. He truly is my son. Love to you all. Please keep us in your prayers. By the way, the due date is April 21, 2009!