Spring is almost here and so is Easter!  I can't believe that the time "springs" forward tomorrow night!  Hopefully that means Emma Grace will sleep longer in the morning since it will hopefully be a little darker at 7 and 7:30am.  This morning at 6:30am on my drive into work, I could see everything wonderfully and the sunrise has been just beautiful (when it's not raining lately).

I really don't have an update on my pregnancy other than to say I am gaining weight now and have probably put on about 9 or 10 pounds total.  I have 10 more weeks yet to go, so I hope I won't go past say 25 pounds.   

At this time, I have to remind myself that children are a heritage from the Lord and that birth is a miracle in and of itself.  Today and for the past 2 days my thoughts have been with Kaye, my younger sister's, best friend Jennifer Blankenship and her husband Jeff who live in my hometown in Charleston.  Please keep them in your prayers continually as they have lost their baby at 40 weeks pregnant (she was due today) on Wednesday due to what they think was a cord accident (not around the neck, just sitting on a mass of it).  I am truly sadden and grieve with them at such a terrible accident. 

The funeral will be tomorrow for Preston Thomas Blankenship.  May their families find comfort and peace in the One who knows their past, present, and future and only wants what is best for those who love Him.  I cannot even begin to say I understand how they feel even after an 8 week miscarriage, but I do know that my God is in control of all circumstances in life and He alone decides whether we live or die.  Will we trust Him fully or place our trust in ourselves, mortal man?  What a state I am in if I play the role of my own god. 

Let me start by thanking the Lord for His love and faithfulness.  We have a praise for the way that the Lord has taken away the choroid plexus cysts that were on our little man's head (wish we had a name so we could stop calling him "little man") at 20 weeks.  Yesterday we went for my 28 week visit and for a follow-up ultrasound, which most of you did not know we had scheduled.  It has been a continual prayer request for the last 8 weeks, but one that we did not want to immediately share since it would only worry both sets of our parents and families and those in our church.  And I have to say that sometimes the continual asking of "when is your appointment?" and "how are you feeling?" for 8 weeks can be more worrisome than just handing it over to the Lord and knowing that He will take care of His children.

So, I say all of that in rejoicing that his head is now clear and there is no more need for followup or further ultrasounds.  We feel very blessed and pray for continual healthy growth of "our little man".   I will tell all of  you that he is currently BREACH (thanks, Jason!) and is weighing in much bigger than most at 28 weeks.  He still has time to turn in the next 11 weeks, so I am not concerned yet about a C-section.  He currently weighs 3.17 lbs. and is in the 82nd percentile for weight!  Oh, boy, I see trouble on the way!  ha! 

My due date is still May 19 currently.  I have Dr. visits now every 2 weeks, so hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here until at least May 13.  My eyes are focused on May 13, which is my Great Grandmother Allinger's birthday and also the day after Mother's Day, and would be a wonderful remembrance of her life and a safe time to have him a week early (esp. if he's big!). I will try to attach some of the 4-D pics to this blog or at least in the photo album.

I have a prayer request today that I should have written yesterday when I updated.  The problem has gotten worse, so I am now asking for you all to pray.  It's not unbearable, but it does bring some concern. 

My right leg is very tight and swollen.  It feels numb at times and sometimes tingles.  I have a pain in my right butt cheek that I'm wondering if there's a pinched nerve or something causing the numbness down my leg.  I had a hard time at Bible Study last night getting comfortable in the chair and really needed to prop my leg up or just plain stand up.  Sleeping was not fun last night as I couldn't get comfortable on either side and really felt better sleeping on my stomach (weird as that sounds).  Hope I'm not hurting the baby!!  In my attempts at being me, I of course assume the worst and wonder if it might be a blood clot since the veins in both legs are getting worse and are beginning to even pop out versus just being ugly sights before.  Then again, my friend Laura had Sciatica problems and I think experienced some of the same leg/hip symptoms.  Oh, who knows?!  Anyhow, I would appreciate your prayer and concern until Feb. 26 when I can tell the Dr. about these symptoms.  Thanks!

Just wanted to update since it's been a little over a week that I wrote.  Nothing much new in the development of wee-one.  He's kicking more or moving around more now, so Jason and Emma Grace are able to feel these slightly from the outside of the belly.   I have a little more indigestion and the TUMS are becoming a friend of mine again after meals including anything spicy or involving tomatoes.  I still have about 2 weeks and a day (Feb. 26th)before I go back for the next visit, which will signify the end of the 2nd trimester and the visits will change to every two weeks.

Here are some names we are tossing around...

Thomas Jason Pope

Samuel Jason Pope

Eli Jason Pope (maybe Elijah and Eli for short?)

Becky's suggestion:  Barrett Jason Pope

Emma Grace still considers Jaca to be a name, but we don't. I'll add more next time so we can get feedback as we go!  Anyone with other suggestions, especially Biblical ones?