28 weeks and counting

 28 Weeks!

 Chloe at 2 weeks post-op

Easter 2011



This pregnancy seem to go faster and faster with each passing week/month.  We've had so much going on in our lives the past 6-8 weeks which has helped to increase the passing of time for me.

On March 1st we found out our Chloe girl had cancer- a soft tissue sarcoma on her left wrist.  The past 6-8 weeks has been a whirlwind with caring for her.  We've taken her up to Purdue numerous times for testing, consultations etc. We then elected to have her front leg amputated, although very sad about the decision. It was either do nothing and expect that the cancer would likely spread within the next year or so causing us to have to put her down. Or we could amputate, or we could do a local removal with radiation to a tune of ~$10k by the time it was all said and done. So, unfortunately the only logical decision was to amputate. She's now 2 weeks post-op and doing great. She's learned to do the stairs again, both up and down, and even today learned to "shake hands" with her one front paw by leaning back on her hind feet. She's quite the trooper through all this. So, needless to say, we've been consumed with worry over her and our financial situation in the midst of it. And, our thoughts of this next baby have been kinda put on the back burner. But, now that we feel that Chloe is on the healing path....we can now turn our attention back to baby girl.

We've been talking more about what to name this little girl....I had posted a voting pole online for our friends and family to give us their opinion on names.  Our ideas thus far have been: Eliana, Isabella, Ashley, Alyssa, Mya, Madelyn.  Our top pick is Eliana.  We think the name is beautiful, a little different and it means, "God has answered". So considering our journey in this pregnancy...we feel that God has answered our prayers with giving her to us. We'll see if we change our minds on the name along the way. :)

I'm continuing to feel good, just starting to get to the big and uncomfortable stage, but overall doing well. It is hard to chase after a 2 year old, hold him etc. when I wear out easy and don't have much lap to hold him on. So, that is certainly a different challenge this time around.

Braden is continuing to be a busy a 2 year old. We've transitioned him to his big boy bed a little over a week ago.  Overall he is doing well. Bedtimes and sometimes naps take a little longer to get him to lay down and go to sleep.  He is definitely in the "Terrible Twos" with obedience being a major issue and spankings and time-outs being a regular occurrence at our house. We are taking a class at church on the book Shepherding a Child's Heart- which we've already read, but now hope to glean more useful info/tools with parenting. Parenting certainly is a full time job!
Lately he's said some really funny things....the other day he gave me his binky, shoving it in my mouth and then very seriously looks at me and says, "need a sleeve"? He's comfort measure when he has his binky is to pull his right sleeve over his hand, grab hold of it and pull at the edges with his other hand. It's been his habit since he was probably 8 months old. Cracks me up!  I know he's said some other things.....I need to sit and write them all out sometime.

Looking to the next month.....on May 20th, I have my 32 week appt with our 3D/4D ultrasound. We are very much looking forward to it to see what this little girl looks like. :) And, hopefully in the next month we'll get the rest of the baby "stuff" that we need and start putting her room together.