I have found it difficult to fit into my button up pants lately, but at the same time, I have found the maternity pants from when I had EG are way too big for just 10 1/2 weeks.  Today my maternity pants are strung with a black string around the belt loops just to keep them from falling down!  At least you can't see it b/c of my shirt.

I want to let everyone know that Jason has a job interview on Tuesday, Nov. 6th for the Asst. State Fire Marshall job, so you all can keep our family in your prayers.  This might mean the difference between my staying home next year and not.  If this job doesn't work out, then I would pray that we can find an in-home lady with maybe 1 or 2 other children for our baby to stay with next school year beginning in Aug.  I know how sick infants get in a nursery, and I really don't want to have to put a 12 week old in that environment.  EG was 8 mos. when she went to TCC, and even then, she got 6 ear infections in 3 months and ended up getting tubes placed in her ears.  So that could be our next major prayer request although we are confident that Jason may be offered this new position and that the increase in salary may be enough that I won't have to work.  :)

I read somewhere that right now at nearly 11 weeks the baby is the size of a grapefruit....can that be right?  It doesn't seem like it.  Everything seems new again to me although I know I've been 11 weeks pregnant before!!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

31 weeks left and counting!  Hard to believe we're about 1/4 of the way there.  I'm still feeling good and not too sick.  When I don't eat a snack about every 3 hours, I start to feel a little queasy.  Haven't gained any weight so far.  I'm sure that is yet to come!!!

This weekend Emma Grace lifted up my shirt and rubbed my tummy.  I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Looking at the baby!"  Then she said last night, "When I get a little sister, I will like beef sticks too!" because Jason and I were sharing a slim jim and she didn't want to try it.  I think she thinks once the baby comes, she will be all grown up and be such a big girl.  She often makes references to "when I'm this" or "when I'm that" like "When I'm a mommy, I'll wear makeup too!"  Cracks me up her thought processes.

Children are such a blessing--like Jasonsaid Sunday night--arrows in our quiver that we sharpen and sharpen  before we send them out.  Can't wait for the next one!! 

Had my first "real" NOB (New OB) appointment last Thursday....we had a dating scan and things are progressing nicely!  The baby is 8 weeks as of Monday, Oct. 8.  Our due date stands at Mon., May 19, 2008.  The cyst is still visible to the ultrasound, but the nurse assured me that the cyst is really a blessing!  She says that is most likely the side I ovulated from and the cyst actually helps the baby.  It will usually disappear around week 12 when the placenta is fully functioning.  We were so excited to see that little heartbeat going at 149 beats per minute!! 

We don't go back until 12 1/2 weeks, so everything is good.  It looks as though I will hit right at 20 weeks on New Year's Eve!!  Hopefully over Christmas break we can find out the sex of the baby! 

Continue to pray for us and for this little life.  There are some external stress factors at work right now that I won't go into, so you can pray for that as well and that it won't affect the baby.  :)  Love to all of you! 

A week ago today I called the Dr. about pains while sneezing and coughing.  While I wanted to believe everything was alright, I couldn't get over the fact that I had read that an ectopic pregnancy (tubal) might cause sharp pains while coughing or sneezing.  So, I went to the Dr. for an ultrasound and found out that we do indeed have an egg sac and a flicker which will become the heartbeat!  And it's not in my tube, so I feel 100% better!!  The pain I was feeling was a cyst on my ovary, which is completely normal when one takes clomid.  I was measuring 5 1/2 weeks last Monday, so I am probably around 6 1/2 or 7 weeks today. 

They also drew blood and it showed that my Beta HCG level is 12, 888!!  Yeah!  That is great news for 5 1/2 weeks.  I read that the Beta HCG goes up to 25,000 by 12 weeks and then declines the remainder of the pregnancy.  Also, my progesterone was 24, perfect!  And my thyroid is normal.  So the Dr. had only great things to say and I went home able to sleep much better.  

 We go again this Thursday for our official first visit.  This weekend in Gatlinburg Emma Grace told her Great Grandmother and my aunt and uncle that she wanted to help feed her baby brother....it fluctuates---sometimes she says baby sister (mostly) and other times she says baby brother.  Only the Lord truly knows.  We're just praying for a completely healthy baby!  Join us in this endeavor!

Love,

KP