Happy One Week Jenavieve!

We were beginning to wonder if you would ever meet the rest of your family! It has been a hard week for your mommy. That blood pressure would not come down so she had to stay in the hospital. Because of the lockdown, your sisters could not get up to visit you.

You are doing so well! You eat like a little piggie. I love to hold you and look at you. You are a blessing and someday soon, you will meet all the people who have been praying for you and your mommy!

The after math

Last night Jordan's blood pressure got so bad that they had to begin a mag drip. It is very nasty and she is very uncomfortable. What should be a happy time with Jocelyn and Juliet meeting their new sister is not - yet. Normally they run a mag drip for 24 hours but have decided to extend this one to 48 hours.

Jenavieve is eating like a little piggie. She is perfect in every way. She loves to be held and cuddled. We are blessed.

Sweet Treat

Traditionally, we have a sweet treat at the hospital to pass out to visitors. This is yours - pink jelly beans! It is a fun way for your two older sisters to feel a part of the celebration.

You will probably be here by the end of this week. We are waiting. Waiting for YOU!

Gifting

Since you are going to be such a wonderful gift, we decided to make up something to give in return. We made up these gift bags for your nurses! In them are some neat things from Bath and Body Works, a tablet, candy bar, and lip balm. Small things, but things that will show how much their hard work will be appreciated. The tag has your monogram on and a thank you from your mommy and daddy.

The time is closer but we are still waiting. Waiting for you!

Week Thirty Five - I WILL survive!

Your mama is normally pretty petite and she is getting at the stage now where she is having a tough time moving! Tonight your entire family came over for pulled pork sandwiches. Your mama ate some salsa just for you! Juliet is waiting for you. When you come, she won't be the little sister anymore.

We are all waiting. Waiting for you!

Our Living American Girl Doll

This week you are as long as an American Girl Doll! Can you keep a secret? This is for your biggest sister for Christmas. Both of your sisters love Bitty Baby and now it is time for Jocelyn to graduate to the bigger doll.

Going to Chicago and visiting American Girl is a fun memory that we have. We love to take the train and go to Millineum Park and play in the Crowne Fountain. Even though you will be little next Summer, you will still like the water! Making Memories is fun and we can't wait to begin making some with you.

We are waiting. Waiting for you!

Meeting Jenevieve

Today we got to meet Jenevieve. We think she will look like her daddy! She was a bouncing around but the tech got some really great pictures and it was a relief to know that everything is looking good. Jenevieve weighed about 4 pounds and 11 ounces - the same size as her cousin Edwin when he was born at 31 weeks!

It is getting Closer!

The pregnancy ticker says only 70 more days until it is time for you to arrive. We know that you will be here sooner. Doctor visits are every two weeks now because your mama needs some extra watching. You continue to grow and we love you already! Six years ago yesterday, your big sister was born. That was an exciting time.

Soon it will be your turn. We are waiting, Waiting for you!

Week Twenty Nine - Still Doing Fine!

Your mama borrowed my camera so I haven't kept up very well the past few weeks! This week you are as big as a loaf of bread. I don't like chocolate, but give me my bread!

Things are going well with you and your mama. She is growing which means you are too! This week she had her glucose test and now she will begin visiting the doctor every two weeks. Dr. Cook thinks you will come early, and so do I.

Today we are celebrating Jocelyn's birthday. She will be six! I remember seeing her for the first time and thinking about how much she looked like your mommy when she was first born. I will see you soon too. I am waiting, waiting for You!

Week Twenty Four - Going for More!

Your mama is now 24 weeks! That is a milestone because babies born at 24 weeks are considered 'viable'. They do gave the potential for surviving outside of the womb. That's certainly not what we want though.

Being 24 weeks along, your mama likes to eat! She is eating enough to nourish you too. She really isn't that big yet. You are though! You are now the size of a foot long hotdog! Your mama had to make another unplanned visit to the doctor but you are both doing well! We are waiting. Waiting for you.

Week Twenty Three

You have gone from the size of a chocolate sprinkle to 11 1/2 inches tall this week. You are as tall as one of your sisters' favorite books!

I have been thinking about you a lot these past couple of days. Your mama has a doctor appointment today and we are hoping for another ultra sound so we can get another 'sneak peek'. I already know you are amazing. After all, you are being woven by an Amazing Creator. We are waiting, waiting for you!

Week 22 - Pink or Blue?

You are 11 inches long. That is as long as a piece of paper!! Another 10 inches and you will be full grown. One thing we are all looking forward to is finding out for sure if you are going to be wearing pink or blue. I have been looking at baby clothes but haven't bought any yet. Next week your mama has a doctor appointment and we are hoping she will get to have another ultra sound.
We stopped by your house this evening. Your big sister is thinking about school and your little sister is thinking about having fun. I must tell you that your big sister wants a brother. Your mama has been joking that if you are a boy, she will name you 'Pink'. I don't think she is serious though! We are waiting. Waiting for you!

Week Twenty One - Watch her Grow!

From a can of Red Bull to a bottle of Root Beer, we are watching you grow, by watching mommy's tummy grow! She still isn't real big, but each week it is fun to see how big you are! Your daddy drank the Red Bull from last week.....
This week we celebrated the 4th of July. It is a birthday party for our country. How blessed you are to be a part of the land of the free and the home of the brave. I love America! Next year you will be here to celebrate with us. We are waiting, waiting for you!

Twenty Weeks - OLE!

You are halfway here! This week you are as big as a can of 'Red Bull' I have never seen a red bull and you probably never will see one either. I had to make sure it wasn't alcoholic before I bought some! Maybe your daddy will like it!

Your mommy went to the doctor and you are looking good! You are gaining weight and soon, your mommy will have another ultra sound done so she can tell you 'Hello!'

I won the little onesie for you! I never win anything so this was pretty exciting.
It is a 6-12 month so we will be waiting for quite a while until you will be able to wear it. We are waiting, waiting for you!

Week 19 - You little Turkey!

This week you are as big as a Turkey sub from Subway!! You won't be ready to eat turkey with us this Thanksgiving, but you should be with us by then. Your organs continue to develop - this week your kidneys. You are looking more and more like a baby should. Next week you will be halfway here! We are waiting, waiting for you!

Week 18 = You aren't in a pickle - you are as big as one!

You are really beginning to look like a baby now! You are the size of a pickle - a big deli pickle. How fun is that? I also bought your mom a maternity top. She doesn't think she is getting very big yet - but to the rest of the world, she is beginning to look kind of pudgy! There is going to be another baby at church born the same time as you are. That is always fun! This weekend Jocelyn is going to go up North with us. We will stop and feed the fish at the fish farm, just like your mommy did when she was little. One day, maybe you will go to the fish farm too! We are waiting, waiting for you!

Week 17 - You're 'Spud'tacular!

This week you give the term 'couch potato' a whole new meaning. Actually, you are as big as a potato! It is amazing to think that a few weeks back, you were as big as a tic tac! In the next few weeks your size will double. I hope your mom's size doesn't!

Your mommy and daddy celebrated their wedding anniversary this past week - 7 years. Your daddy wanted to go for a bike hike so he rented a tandem. Because of the problems last week, your mommy is kind of a couch potato too. It rained anyway!

You are almost halfway here. We are waiting. Waiting for you.

Week Sixteen - Here's Looking at You!

Week Sixteen got off to a rather scary start that ended with an emergency visit to the ER. Jordan began having cramps and bleeding and her doctor wanted an ultra sound. We are thankful that all looked well with the baby. Jordan went back to the doctor today and was told she needs to take it easy. It is rather early to determine the gender, but the ultrasound tech said she did not see anything that would indicate a little boy.

This Memorial Day we were thankful that we are still waiting. Waiting for you!

That's KIT Kat - not KITTY Kat

Moses is one big hunk of kitty. He'll be bigger than you for a long time! Right now, you are as big as a KitKat Candy bar. I've never eaten one, but they are supposed to be really good.

This week has been an emotional one. If your older brother/sister would have been born, they would now be three. I gave your mama a little necklace last night so she knew I did not forget this baby and recognized how special they would have been.

Picking our names is a fun part. Your sisters both begin with the letter 'J'. I suggested Jennevieve to your mama last night. Of course we don't know if you are a boy or a girl. We are waiting. Waiting for you!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Actually, you can! You are also as big as a cell phone this week. It is amazing that the weeks are flying by and you have grown from the size of a chocolate sprinkle to the size of a cell phone in just a few weeks! Your heartbeat was strong today. Mommy didn't gain any weight. That means that you are growing, but she isn't. Yet.



Today Jocelyn and I got to go to the doctor appointment too. It is always very reassuring to hear that heartbeat and it was something Jocelyn wanted to do. When it came time, she was somewhat nervous. Dr. C wanted her to come help listen but she wouldn't go by where Jordan was lying. It is such a blessing to know that baby is growing. Another blessing is that Jordan's blood pressure was good.

Week Thirteen - Talking to you!

One trait Jocelyn inherited from her daddy is the gift of gab. She loves to talk to you! She tells you good night and about a day in the life of a 5 year old. Get used to her voice because you will hear it a lot!

You are now as big as a nutter butter! Mommy is feeling better. It really is time to get her some bigger clothes, but you are a good reason!

This Sunday is Mother's Day. This past week I took my mom, who will be your great-grandma, to the cemetery where her brother is buried. It is a distance from where she lives and she had not been there since the funeral. On each grave stone there are two dates - a birthday and a death day. They are separated by dashes. My goal, my job, is to teach you that it is what is between the dashes that counts. What I want to teach you the most is about God and His love for you.

We are waiting. Waiting for you.

Week Twelve - Do I look like?

No, you are as big as a vienna sausage, but you don't look like one! Actually, your ears are where they need to be and your face is becoming more defined. Your mama is still sick so I don't think she would add a vienna sausage to her menu! The dogs like them though!



Today your Aunt Dryscha had to go to the dentist so I went over and watched the boys. As I left, Robert began crying, 'Grandma, take me with you. It's my turn to come to your house.' I try to keep one of them every few weeks. Robert has to wait until Friday for his turn. Sometimes waiting is hard. We are waiting. Waiting for you!

The Third Time

After the loss of Jordan's second baby, she went through a very difficult time. Unfortunately, we were all wrapped up in the triplet high risk pregnancy that Dryscha was experiencing. None of us thought to truly grieve with her. None of us had experienced the joy she had when she found out she was carrying this child and none of us went through the horror of loosing it.

After several months of struggle, in May of 2006, Jordan and Patrick came to our house and said she was once again expecting. This pregnancy was different than the pregnancy with Jocelyn. After an ultra sound that Fall, there was the fear that this baby was suffering with amniotic bands. I left our vacation campsite one day and met Jordan for an ultra sound with the same high risk doctor that had delivered the triplets. It was determined that this condition did not exist.

Jordan also had developed a situation that required that she have a C-section. The fears were there. The memories of how ill she had been with Jocelyn and the fears of meeting this little girl face to face and wondering what their future might be. Once again I was able to be with Jordan and Patrick when they delivered, only this time in an operating room.

At 3:30 on January 7th, Juliet Rebecca Katherine was born. She is my brown eyed girl and it is impossible to imagine life without her.

Week Eleven - Inchworm X 2

You are now as long as two inchworms! If you turn out to be a little boy, you will become very familiar with all things creepy and crawly. Especially in this nature loving family! More importantly, your organs are all formed. Can you believe it? Each week it is so much fun to see how you are growing and what is happening in the miraculous body that God is weaving. Today your mama and sisters went up to the cabin. What a perfect day! Here is a picture of Joceyln and Ruger. One day you will go up there too. We are waiting. Waiting for you.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

It may take me a while to find a Brazilian Mondo Nut. That is how big you are! Your mama went to the doctor today for the first time. She got to hear the reassuring sound of your heart beating. Of course, God knows about your first heartbeat. The doctor said it was good and strong.

We just celebrated Easter. Next year you will join us at church. Your mama and daddy don't just go on Easter. You may as well get used to the fact that you will be there every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, and every Wednesday night. Just like when they were babies! We are waiting. Waiting for you!

Sharing the News

To share the news about you, Jocelyn and Juliet made shirts. Jocelyns' says, 'I am the big sister.' Juliet's says, 'Me too!' It takes a minute for most people to figure it out, but finally the news sinks in. We are waiting. Waiting for you!

Week Nine -OliVER or OliVIA?

This week your gender is determined. You are as big as an olive. I didn't have a green olive so we had to use a black one. Your sisters liked this picture because they got to eat the olives afterwards. Notice that they are in their princess crowns. I promise I won't make you wear one if you are a prince. We are waiting. Waiting for you.


I bought you your first gift today - "Baby Legs'. I don't know if you will be a preppy baby or not, but if so, your wardrobe is off to a good start because Baby Legs are a must in every preppy babies wardrobe!

Week Eight - Doing Great!

Since I don't have a ring the size of Eva Longeria's, I can't post a picture of how big you are. I decided to post a picture of all of your cousins/siblings instead. You are bigger than a tic tac though! Your face continues to form. Will you have a pug like nose? Ears that stick out at the tips? A mouth that often curves with a smile?

Your family has had an addition this week, as Will has joined them. He probably won't be there when you are born, but for now, he is in a safe place where no one can harm him. Just as you are. And we are waiting, waiting for you.

A Tic Tac?

Yep. They say you are as big as a Tic Tac. Your brain is developing. Your arms are growing. Your face is becoming more like a face. What more could we ask for? Your mama is feeling somewhat sick. Somewhat tired. That soon will pass. We're waiting. Waiting for you.

The Second Time

In August of 2006, Mike and Dryscha attempted IVF for the first time. We found out that they were expecting, and in early October, we found out that they were expecting triplets. Research mode kicked in and it didn't take me long to realize that a triplet pregnancy was very high risk. Since it was not spontaneous, that made it even more high risk.

One evening in October, Jordan came over. I thought it odd and asked her why she wasn't at work. She made a comment about taking the evening off. Later she told me that she was pregnant, but was in the process of loosing the baby. My first thought was how in the world would I deal with her pregnancy along with Dryscha's. I vividly remembered the weeks preceding the birth of Jocelyn. The next day we went for an ultra sound. As the tech moved the wand around, I knew what I was looking for and also knew I didn't see it. Jordan asked and the tech unsympathetically told her that her doctor would give her the results.

It was obvious within the next few days that Jordan would indeed miscarry this little life. Jordan already knew this baby. Had dreams for this baby. Had hopes for this baby. The rest of us did not. It was several months later that I came to the realization that this child would be 'missing' for the rest of our lives. Only by then it was too late.

Week Six

We have a lot of weeks to wait for you, but this is the hospital that you will be born in. Guess what?! I get to be there too! I got to be there when both of your sisters were born, and your birth will be no less special.

When I was a little girl, we would go to some pond areas and collect tadpoles. That is what you look like this week. A tadpole! You will never turn into a frog though.
Your arms are like little buds, and your heart is beating although we cannot hear it.

Tomorrow night you older sister is coming for the night. It is something she loves to do. We haven't had your younger sister yet, but her turn is coming too. Someday, it will be your turn as well. We love you. We are waiting for you.

Week Five

A new week in your developing life! Your heart begins to beat this week. How can someone say you are not a person? Your heart is beating beneath that of your mother, just as her heart beat beneath mine. Your will have two sisters. This week they decided to model some tutus I made. If you are a little girl, I will have one waiting for you.

The First Time - Part 2

I didn't sleep that Friday night. I knew Patrick gave me a specific time when I could go to the hospital, but early the next morning I called. I told them I didn't want to over-ride my son in law, but I was worried. They told me, 'Honey, you are her mother. You get in here right now.' So I did.

Jordan was disoriented. She was still hooked up to IV's and in a darkened room away from everything else. We talked and I told her she needed to be honest with her doctor about some issues. She thought I meant because she was dying. As the day progressed, they took away the breast pump because that was one of the issues causing stress. Her mother in law brought Jocelyn up, felt the tension, and left. Patrick was at their home working with Bob on a gas leak that needed attention. The doctor came in and talked to Jordan about going home. She was scared. She was unready. I told her I would spend the night at their house if that would make her feel better. After all, it wasn't the first time I had that week.

The days, weeks, months progressed. Not a lot changed. It appeared that the life had been sucked out of Jordan. Gone was the care-free girl that once was. It did not affect her parenting of Jocelyn and for that I am thankful. Normally, delivery of the baby is the only cure for pre-eclampsia. In Jordan's case, the problems did not stop with delivery. It was six to 8 months down the road before some sense of normalcy returned.

The First Time - Part 1

It seems like just yesterday that Jordan brought a stack of pictures to show me. As I was looking through them, there was one I couldn't figure and I asked her what it was. It was a positive pregnancy test. She immediately burst into tears upset because she was pregnant and Dryscha was not.

Jordan told me soon after that she and Patrick wanted me with them in the delivery room. I got every book I could get my hands on. Watched videos. Took notes. Went to childbirth class with her. I was determined to be a good labor coach. The best I could be.

Three weeks before her due date, Jordan called and said that there were some blood pressure problems. They admitted her to the hospital and were running some tests. Due to pre-eclampsia,it was determined that they needed to induce labor and deliver the baby. Because of her blood pressure, we could not use any of the techniques we had practiced. Jordan was dead set against an epidural and early the next afternoon they told her they needed her to have one. It was a bleak time. She had been doing so well, but her labor was not progressing and I honestly feel they were prepping her for a possible c-section.

One of the deals I made with Jordan was that I would take pictures of all of them together after the baby was born and then leave so that they could be together as a family. Patrick was then to call us when she was in her regular room so that we could go up and see the baby again.

It was late when the call came. Too late for us to go up that night. I was disappointed but it never entered my mind that it was due to complications. When we went up the next day Jordan said that she shook so hard for several hours. She could not even hold the baby. Of course Patrick was attending to Jocelyn and Jordan felt all alone. She said she wished I would have stayed so that I could have been with her, but none of us could have forsaw that this would happen.

Jordan was released two days later. The first day home was intended for them to be a new family so I did not go over. I went over the next day and she was upset about something that had happened the previous day but I felt that they needed to deal with the situation because they had allowed it to happen. She needed a hair trim so I was going to take her to get that done.

While at the salon, she stated she really did not feel well. She called the doctor and then decided that she felt so horrible she wanted me to take her there immediately. I did and she was still having blood pressure problems.

The following day, she began feeling bad again so they took her to the emergency room. She was there until early the next morning. This continued throughout the week. I was stressed. She was miserable. Patrick probably wondered what in the world had happened. Finally on Friday, they once again had to go to the hospital. The doctor decided to admit her. Originally, I was going to keep Jocelyn. Patrick then changed his mind and wanted me to take her to the hospital so his mother could care for her. I went up and was shocked to see Jordan in an isolated room with a lot of equipment. I asked a nurse I knew how Jordan was and she said that she was one sick little cookie. Patrick had given me a time when I could visit the next day. I went home that night in despair, not knowing if I would see her alive again.

The News Leaked

I knew that eventually Jordan and Patrick wanted to add another child to their family. Jordan was on some pretty strong meds and needed to be assured that they would not affect the life of a growing baby.
This past week Jordan and the girls came over to use the computer. As they were playing with the snap on dolls, I asked Jocelyn what she would name a new brother or sister if they had one. She looked at Jordan and said, 'How does Grandma know our secret?' Jordan immediately burst out, 'Jocelyn!' I started to laugh. Jocelyn started to cry. The secret was out.

The Weaving Begins

We just found out that a new life is being woven. So new. So fresh. Boy? Girl? Only He knows. Yes, a new life has begun.
Spring is almost here. We have experienced Winter, and now we look forward to Spring. As your story unfolds, it will take many turns. It is fitting that your story begins in Spring, a time when we celebrate life as our world becomes renewed.
You are still a secret. A special secret. In a few months, your life will become obvious.
We don't know whether you are a boy or a girl, but we love you and are waiting for you.