IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Cousing Joseph pushing Neely around the house






We found out last Wednesday that we are having a GIRL! We are really thrilled. I never had a sister, and I am pleased for Neely that she will have more than a mean old brother. Just kidding, Trav.

It will certainly make life much easier in the coming months since I have all of the girl neccessities!!

I was just looking at my blog and the little baby bouncing around in the corner is starting to freak me out. 143 days...what? It is coming so soon!! I will say I am feeling and looking pregnant (for those of you sweet friends asking me if I am showing, YES, I have been showing since I was like 8 weeks pregnant. The second time around is very different).



I feel like I am in Bible study and I need to tell my praise reports and prayer requests also.

Praise!! The blood clot in my placenta is gone.

Prayer!! In the very next sentence the doctor reported to me that there is a "bright spot" on the baby's heart on the ultrasound (actually, I never know whether to say ultrasound or sonogram...can somebody help me out here? Aren't they the same thing?). My response was a nervous laugh and then "You're joking, right?"

No, not joking. The good part is I get to have another ultrasound on January 9th for another look. The worst case scenario is the spot is a hole in the baby's heart and then we go to a pediatric cardiologist for an echo on the heart of the baby. If it is indeed a hole, it can be "corrected upon the baby's birth" as my doctor so delicately put it. Translation: Open heart surgery on my infant. My doctor does not seem overly concerned. She said that in most cases, the spot is nothing. So, I am hoping for that. I will keep the blog updated on new info regarding the "bright spot."

Seriously, my entire experience in motherhood has been waiting on the Lord, and although I would not wish for a hip dislocation, a blood clot, or a "bright spot," I can honestly say that I have learned and am learning a lot about trusting the Lord with my children. It is a lesson I will have to learn my whole life long and theirs, so the patience and the constant waiting I feel are good training ground for knowing that I am not in charge, as I would so much like to be.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and many reasons to celebrate our blessings.

A few Christmasy pictures

Marcus teaching Neely how to put in Gulf Shores

My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

Marcus, Neely, Gary Chiou and Naomi

So, I have been informed by several friends that I need to update my blog. Here it is!

We have had Halloween, Thanksgiving, and a major milestone since our last posting. We bought a MINIVAN!! Hilarious. It is my pre-thirtieth birthday rite of passage. I still am in shock. I have lost what little cool factor I had left, but I must say, I don't care! I LOVE it. If anyone out there is considering it, I highly recommend it!

Next Wednesday we get our ultrasound to hopefully find out if we are having a boy of a girl. Exciting! Also, the blood clot is slightly bigger, so we are praying that it will be gone next week!