PREGNANCY UPDATES!!

4/5/2011 UPDATE :: KARA'S 10 MONTHS OLD AND CRAWLING!!!!!!!!!

Karalena started crawling just days before she was 10 months old, but would only go forward one little "step". But on April 5th at exactly 10 months old, she took off and will go anywhere now! Watch out Sissy! Here she comes and she's ready to follow you!!

Kara also has 2 bottom front teeth, but is teething again, so I expect the new ones to break through soon. She is also talking up a storm now and says both "No" and "Yes" which surprised Bhad and I when she first said it. Kacey refused to say yes until she was 25 months old (yep, just a month ago!!). LOL

I have truly enjoyed being home with my girls the last 2 1/2 months while I've been unemployed, but it's time to go back to work now and I will miss my time with them dearly. It's been a blessing to help both of them grow and develop and take such leaps and bounds. I have the best girls ever!!! Mommy & Daddy loves you!!!!!!!!!!

KACEY ELIZABETH IS WALKING!!!!!

5/16/2010 Kacey has more teeth coming in... right now she has her 4 front teeth on both the top and bottom, and now has some upper rear teeth coming in. I'm not sure if they're molars, but they are a few back from the front. She is just talking up a storm and starting to repeat what you say. Her vocabulary is very big for her age range, as she can say so many things and actually understand her!! She is just so smart and learning everyday! She loves to DANCE anytime she hears music, and her personality just blossoms everyday. She's learning that she can 'test' us as well, and tries to do everything we tell her not to do! The temper tantrums have started too!! ;-) She hates to hear "NO!"... have the terrible 2's started already???

4/26/2010 Kacey is 15 months old and is 32 inches tall and weighs 24 lbs 5 oz. She had to go for her shots today and was such a good girl! I'm so proud of our little sweet pea!

4/12/2010 Kacey started walking on her own tonight!!! Daddy and I were sitting on the couches and she just decided to get up and start making laps around the coffee table and to the kitchen! She was so cute, so precious!! Our baby is getting so big!

BABY/PREGNANCY UPDATES!!!

5/14/2010 - 36 WEEKS!!!! We've made it to 36 weeks and all looks great. Still have frequent contractions off and on, and I've been back to the Labor & Delivery since 2 weeks ago, so just waiting for little one to decide when it's time! I can choose to be induced at 39 weeks if I want, so maybe just 3 more weeks. We finally have the crib up and trying to tell Kacey that she'll have to watch over Baby during the night. It's so cute. If you ask her where Baby is, she'll raise my sheet and kiss my belly!!!

4/30/2010 - 34 WEEKS TODAY!!! Just spent 3 hours tonight in Labor & Delivery getting checked since I've been having contractions off and on since Monday. All is good, baby has strong heartbeat about 135, and I'm already dialated 1 CM!!!

UPDATE: 7 MONTHS 2 WEEKS OLD

Kacey is now 7 months 2 weeks old and just really growing into a beautiful little girl... she is the sweetest baby and always happy! We're finally in a routine and she settles down for bed much easier now. She's been sleeping through the night since she was 2 months old (and is finally back in her crib now).

She has 2 teeth on the bottom and cutting more on the top that we're sure will make their appearance soon the way she's been biting on her pacifer and rubbing her gums with her thumb.

She's starting to pull herself up but hasn't been able to do it completely yet. Still not crawling or walking, but that's OK with Mommy because I want her to stay little as long as she can!

She is a MOMMY'S GIRL and there's NO doubt about that! Whenever I'm in her presence, she wants me and no one else! Occasionally one of her grandparents or Daddy can sneak in a few minutes with her, but once she turns and sees me again, she's all mine! But I don't mind... I love my baby girl!

UPDATE... almost 7 MONTHS OLD!!!!

Kacey will be 7 months old next week and Chad and I are already talking about planning her first birthday party!!!

FIRST TOOTH - Well TEETH now... Kacey's first tooth popped through the gums around 8/3/09 and her 2nd tooth came out 8/10/09!!! She loves to bite down HARD when I brush her teeth at night.

FIRST WORDS - She is very actively saying "MOM" and "MAMA" now and has been since right about 6 months! We are trying to get her to say "DADA" but no luck yet!! Just wait Daddy and she won't stop saying it once she starts!! In the past few days, she's started saying "Aaaa" so not sure what she's trying to say... Daddy likes to tell her "Apples" stressing on the "a" sound!!

FIRST CUP - Kacey's doing very well drinking from her sippy cup. We let her try it at 4-1/2 months and since about 5 months old, she's drinks all of her water from her sippy cup! She loves it!

ROLLING OVER - she has started rolling over from her belly to her back, but of course won't do it when we are "watching" her so we've yet to SEE it, but she's doing it and we are so proud of her!

LAST DOCTOR VISIT - 6 months old and she was 28 1/2 inches long and weighed 18 lbs and 1 oz and is surpassing the doctors expectations for her age. She was impressed that she is already doing so many things now and compared her to the achievement level of an 8 month old!!

6/16/2009....... UPDATE and almost 5 months old

Kacey will be 5 months old next week and time has just flew by so fast! I know it will never slow down though so we're enjoying just watching her grow and develop each and every day. It's summer now and so she's with Grammy & Grampy every day now while Mommy & Daddy work and they are really enjoying this special time with her! I dreaded going over to Aunt Andrea's last week to get Kacey's stuff from her to take to Grammy's. Kacey loves her Aunt Andrea and Uncle Neil but at least they're just next door and we can visit anytime!

Here's the latest updates... Kacey loves to talk and laugh and suddenly last week she's figured out how to talk when she yawns and it's the cutest and sweetest sound! I laugh everytime she does it which is every time she yawns. She drank from her sippy cup ONE time last week but likes to bite it more than try to sip from it. She's really enjoying her baby food... except for the chicken with chicken broth (which tastes like chicken salad)... she was ready to spit it out tonight so we moved on to green beans. She tried on her bathing suit last night for the first time since we have Abi's pool party this Saturday, and thanks to Christy (and Sydnee) she has a baby float now so we can really enjoy the pool at Abi's birthday party! I can't wait!!! I hope Daddy can come after work and watch her the first time in the pool. Kacey loves to take a bath and tries to grab the water from the shower head so this weekend ought to be interesting! She did peepee on Mommy the other night walking into the bathroom for her bath and Daddy just laughed... was that funny? HA! She's saying "Mama" but no "Dada" quite yet, but we're trying to work with her on that. She really loves her Daddy... last weekend she was all his girl... didn't want much to do with Mommy! She got to meet MaKayla and Julie last Saturday for lunch and that was great to see her again. And oh one important thing I almost failed to mention... Kacey has her FIRST TOOTH coming in!!!! She's been teething since about 3 months and I saw a little white speck on her bottom gums last week and it's still there! It's got to be her first tooth trying to break through! We're so excited!! And she is almost able to sit up on her own now. She can hold herself up if holding onto something, but still falls backwards and sideways alittle. She's getting better with tummy time too! She really enjoys her walker (see picture below) and just loves to play in it! Well can't think of much else that's new, but I'll add it if I can think of anything! She's just growing up and becoming such a social butterfly too!! Thanks for following our blog and watching her grow!

Kacey's 4 months old... update!!

Kacey turned 4 months old on Memorial Day! We had her pictures made at Olan Mills that afternoon. She went to the doctor on Wednesday and weighed 15 lbs and 4 oz and measured 25.25 inches long... so she really is growing like a weed. She's started eating baby food now and I think you'll enjoy those pictures below. She finally got the hang of it for her 1st real time eating solid foods. She has taste tested the baby food before but just by sticking out her tongue and testing it, but tonight she actually ate some from the spoon! I love the mess! Enjoy her - we sure do!!

Update on Kacey

Kacey is just over 2 months old and boy has this time went by too fast for Mommy! She is getting so big and doing very well holding her head up. She is finally getting on a schedule that is very helpful to Mommy and now allows me to actually SLEEP at night!! (I should be in the bed now instead of posting!) She still doesn't care for tummy time though!

She is smiling and will smile back at you when you smile at her. She's rolling over onto one side now and will sometimes even hold her bottle when eating. She is cooing all the time and loves to talk... she's so ready and will be talking before we know! She's also trying to laugh and will every now and then!

We took Kacey to church yesterday - this was her 2nd time - and hopefully we'll be able to continue going now that she is on a schedule.

She went to the doctor on 3/27/09 for her 2 month check-up and weighed in a 11 lbs 3 oz. She has had her share of spit-ups though when she eats, so the doctor went ahead and started her on rice cereal... up to 3 tablespoons of rice with a 6 oz bottle at EVERY feeding and this thicker formula has worked and reduced the spit-ups! But only after a week of trying (and failing) with several different bottle nipples that would work for the thicker cereal/formula! Finally after trying 3 different ones, we have ended up successfully with the Gerber NUK bottles (medium flow) that have turned into a Godsend and work perfectly for Kacey! With the other ones, she would either drown herself by getting too much out or sucking and not even getting one drop out! So Mommy's very thankful that we finally found one that works!

She had her first taste of baby food on Saturday too... Applesauce. I'm trying to just introduce her to different foods and flavors since I've had to cut back on nursing her and now she's 95% on formula. We just dipped her spoon in the jar and let her taste it with her tongue and she loved it! Over the next few weeks, we'll also try bananas, peaches, prunes, pears, sweet potatos, carrots, peas, and green beans.

Mommy has been back at work for a month now and although I love being back on schedule myself, I really miss her during the day. I'm gone for 11 hours so I feel like I have no time for her in the evenings because of everything I still have to do when I get home... but I truly cherish every moment I have with her! She stayed with Chad's mom the first 2 weeks I went back to work and that really made it easier to get through those first days! Now she's staying with her Aunt Andrea (my next door neighbor) and that's been wonderful just walking her next door in the mornings and not having to drive anywhere. My mom will begin keeping her when school's out for Spring Break and then during the summer... and then Chad's mom still watches her on Fridays when Daddy has to work!

Her eyes are turning more blue every day, but I know that may still change... but we're hoping that they stay blue like Mommy's!

KACEY IS 2 MONTHS OLD!!!

I cannot believe how fast time flies! She is already 2 months old and growing so fast... too fast!! She is 11 lbs 3 oz and 23-1/2 inches long now... and already starting to grow out of some 0-3 month onesies that have the footies... she's fine as long as the feet are open so she can stretch out.... so she's now starting to wear some 3-6 month outfits already! She's also starting to eat rice cereal at every bottle feeding now - all because she is spitting up so frequently so the doctor told us to thicken her formula to help keep it in her tummy!

LOTS OF NEW COUSINS

If you remember from previous blog posts, there were 4 of us in the family pregnant together... on Chad's dad's side, it was me and Megan, and then on his mom's side of the family, it was Mandi and Stephanie!! Can you imagine how FUN the family dinners will be now with these little ones running around???

So our family has proudly welcomed these little babies...
9/30/2008 Wayne Garrett Baker (Megan)
1/16/2009 Mark Andrew James (Mandi)
1/25/2009 Kacey Elizabeth NeCaise (Helena)
2/3/2009 Jackson Dwayne-Lee Vanhoy (Stephanie)

Garrett was born prematurely 7 weeks early, but then a chain reaction came with the other births... one every 9 days!! Kacey is 9 days younger than Andrew and then she is also 9 days older than Jackson!! How funny! That couldn't have happened better if it had been planned!

PREGNANCY UPDATES!!

39 WEEKS PREGNANT

MY DUE DATE IS ALMOST HERE... BUT WE'LL HAVE BABY BY FEBRUARY 4, 2009 AT THE LATEST! IT WON'T BE LONG NOW!

Chad and I can't wait!! We are both getting very anxious and ready to meet this baby! Read on to the doctor updates below for the latest daily kick!

It would have been special if Kacey was born on January 18th! She would have shared a birthday with her great-grandfather, Harold Davis (mom's dad)!! Love and Miss you Grampy!! I wish that all of my grandparents could have been alive to share in this wonderous time with me! This has been an AMAZING adventure! I miss them all so much....... but then if Kacey isn't born until February 5th, she would share her birthday with her great-grandmother, Anna Kiser (dad's mom)! But that's a day after when the doctor will be ready to induce!

Here is just a glimpse into Kacey's nursery!

It's all ready to bring her home!

"Thanks Doni for the beautiful painting!!"

We are down to the final days of this pregnancy now! This picture was taken on Christmas Eve 2008 of Mommy & Daddy feeling Kacey move around and getting more excited about her upcoming birth!

HERE ARE THE ULTRASOUND PHOTOS FROM SEPTEMBER 3RD!

(Above) PERFECT PROFILE PHOTO!

YOU CAN SEE HER NOSE & FACE AND HER BELLY!

(Above) 3 little lines show IT'S A GIRL....!!

(Above) Here is a photo of Kacey's face... look closely and you can see her eyes, nose, and lips!

(Above) Here is Kacey's footprint... the arrow is pointing to her heel and her toes are pointing down!

MY NEXT DOCTOR APPOINTMENT

is on my DUE DATE!!!!

Wednesday 1/28/2009 40 Week check-up

We'll have another Ultrasound at this appt!!

JANUARY 22, 2009 39 WEEK APPT

I was hopeful today that I would be a candidate to be induced this week, but there's been no change in my cervix since last week. I am still dialated at just 1/2 cm so I couldn't schedule anything. Not exactly what I was hoping to hear at 39 weeks, but Kacey is comfortable in her own little world for a little while longer! So now we will go back on my due date - next Wednesday 1/28/2009 - and will finally have another ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid around the baby and check for estimated fetal weight and they'll do a non-stress test on Kacey to be sure she's not in any distress. After those, I'll see the doctor again to see if anything's progressed enough to talk about labor and delivery options. If it shows that anything is unfavorable then they'll schedule to go ahead with the delivery, but if all is normal, they will wait and induce at 41 weeks on 2/4/2009 even if my cervix hasn't changed any by that time, but hopefully nature will soon take it's course and I'll go into labor on my own!

JANUARY 16, 2009 38 WEEK APPT

I went back today for my 38 week checkup and I have started to progress slowly within this last week. My cervix has started to thin and I'm starting to dialate, but not quite at 1 cm yet. That's not exactly what I wanted to hear from the doctor - I was hoping to be 1-2 cm already - but I wasn't so we couldn't even talk about inducing or anything yet! I am so ready to meet this little baby and hold her in my arms! I don't want to wait any longer! I just want her here! I have had the BEST PREGNANCY and have no complaints - I could stay pregnant all the time if it was always this way - but after carrying her for 9 months, Mommy just cannot stand to wait another day to hold, kiss, hug, and just cradle this bundle of joy in my arms!!!!!!!!

JANUARY 9, 2009 37 WEEK APPT

I have not started to dilate any yet but the doctor said I could still go in labor at any time even though no changes in my cervix yet! But the contractions are coming on more this week, but they're painless and spread apart so unable to really time them... just the false labor contractions! At today's appt, her heartbeat was still strong in the 130-140's BPM range. Since I have passed the 37 week point now, the doctors will let me deliver now if I go in labor. The baby is now considered full-term so we just have to wait and see now when she wants to come!! My blood pressure is still stable and good - today it was 102/70 - so no complaints there and my weight gain is still within normal range! Yeah!

JANUARY 2, 2009 36 WEEK APPT

I went back to the doctor and I haven't started to dilate or thin yet so we'll play the waiting game for another week at least! No real contractions yet either. Kacey is still squirming and moving around alot (right now as I type actually) and putting a lot of pressure on my bladder. Starting to get alittle uncomfortable at times, but still enjoying my pregnancy!

DECEMBER 19, 2008 34 WEEK APPT
Today's checkup was normal and everything is still moving along just as it should. I am measuring right on my due date and her heartbeat is still strong at about 140-145 BPM. The doctor seems to think that she had turned down now which I believe because of all the rib kicks I've been feeling this week. Kacey is a very active little baby - moving, kicking, and playing - all the time! The doctor hasn't guessed at her size, but according to all the baby books I read, Kacey should be nearing 5 lbs now and close to 19 inches long with still another month to grow! I was 7 lbs 15.5 oz when I was born and Chad was 7 lbs something!! I am carrying her all out front (and luckily just in my belly and not all over - ha!)!!! It really won't be long now to wait. Christmas is next week and then I'll be 36 weeks on New Years Eve. Starting at my next doctor appt, my visits will now be weekly and they'll start checking to see if my cervix has thinned or dilated any. I'm planning to work up to the end of the pregnancy and still feeling great for the most part. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

DECEMBER 5, 2008 32 WEEK APPT

I went back to the doctor for another checkup and everything is progressing along just as expected. I am measuring right on my due date and her heartbeat is still strong at about 140 BPM.

NOVEMBER 12, 2008 UPDATE

I believe I had my first Braxton-Hicks contraction today. It was very intense and very painful and lasted about 60-90 seconds! I couldn't move or relax! Oh how my FUN part of this pregnancy is just beginning!!

NOVEMBER 11, 2008 UPDATE

I had a headache that started Saturday evening and would come and go for 48 hours. I took some Hydrocodone yesterday morning and felt dizzy for a couple hours. My doctor called me at 5PM and said my tests came back OK from Friday (NO Gestational Diabetes - PRAISE THE LORD!!!!) so I told her how I felt. They sent me straight to the hospital to be monitored in triage… thinking maybe my blood pressure was high and possibly causing my headache. I left work and got there about 5:10. My blood pressure was normal (120’s / 60’s) and Kacey's heartbeat was strong – going between the 130’s to 150’s – she was active and trying to kick the monitor off my belly!!! They ordered some blood work to make sure there wasn’t anything causing my headache or dizziness. They gave me some more Hydrocodone for the headache (which finally went away) and all the blood work came back perfect and they released me to go home with a clean bill of health for me and Kacey about 8PM – 3 hours after I went in! And it could have been as simple as just a "caffeine withdrawal" headache! Go figure!!

Chad had went on home from work because I thought I would be there for 30-45 minutes… not 3 hours…. so I told him I’m meet him at home. My mom came up about 7:15 to follow me home. We stopped at Food Lion for a few minutes and then headed home a little before 9PM. A normal 15 minute drive turned into an hour…. I finally got home at 9:50pm. After I was at the hospital for three hours, I hit a DEER on the way home. Both me and Kacey are fine. There was no impact to us – just the poor deer who thankfully hit dead center and bounced off the front of the car – I was scared he was going to hit my windshield or something! It messed up my hood and my passenger side headlight is out – but not broke – and that's it. What a night!!!! Thanks for everyone's prayers and we are very thankful that the Lord kept me and Kacey safe and sound and that we made it home ok!

NOVEMBER 7, 2008 28 WEEK APPT

We are measuring right on target at 28 weeks and Kacey's heartbeat was strong in the low 140's. Our appointments are every 2 weeks now! I am still feeling absolutely wonderful and just taking it easy now in my 3rd Trimester so that I can carry her full-term through January! (Too many premature scares in the family lately - I don't want to take any chances!!)

OCTOBER 10, 2008 24 WEEK CHECKUP
My appt went well and the doctor says all is measuring on target. I am measuring 25 cm and the baby's heartbeat was in the 130's - 140's range. We are getting her nursery ready and preparing for the baby showers!

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 UPDATE
Mommy has 2nd degree sunburn!! We went to the new dragstrip at Lowes Motor Speedway on Sunday for the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals and we both got burnt - badly - on our legs/knees. I have been in a lot of pain this week and haven't been able to walk or stand up. My face looks like a raccoon (no kidding either!!) and then my legs are blood red - not pink - and now blistered. My face is peeling so I look really beautiful now!! HA! I wish I had a picture to share! I have definitely learned my lesson about needing sunscreen no matter what! On another hand, Kacey seems to be growing... and KICKING more and more!! I just love to feel those little kicks and movements inside! It is the most precious feeling! I am 21 weeks along and so we are getting closer and closer! I am getting anxious and excited at the same time. My baby showers have been scheduled (Friends - 10/25/08 and Family 11/1/08), we are planning to paint Kacey's nursery in the next 2 weeks and going to buy her crib this weekend! How EXCITING is that??!! My baby girl will be here before Mommy & Daddy realize it's time!

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

19 WEEK PRE-NATAL CHECKUP AND ULTRASOUND
It's a girl!! Kacey Elizabeth NeCaise is due to make her grand arrival near the end of January and we cannot wait! We had the ultrasound and all images of the baby seem clear and perfect! (See Above!!) She is right on target in her growth and looks beautiful! The doctor said everything looks normal and healthy. I am still doing fantastic and just waiting on the day to hold my little girl!! Yes, I was wrong... I must now learn to say SHE where I was so expecting a baby boy!!

AUGUST 15, 2008
16 WEEK PRE-NATAL CHECKUP
We met with Dr Bresnahan today and she said all seemed good. Uterus felt like it was growing like it should and we heard baby’s heartbeat (in the 150’s) so Chad was really happy to HEAR it for the first time! Our next appt is in 3 weeks and we'll have our ultrasound then!! JULY 25, 2008 UPDATEI am still feeling really great! Starting to get a little more tired that normal, but everything is going well. I think I have started feeling him move -- it's still on and off so I can't wait to start feeling him all the time.

JULY 18, 2008
12 WEEK PRE-NATAL CHECKUP
The appt went very well. I met with a different doctor for the first time. She tried to use the Doppler to listen for the heartbeat, but baby didn't cooperate... so she did another Ultrasound. It was so awesome to see our baby again. As she was moving the wand around, it appeared to startle him one time and we could see both arms and legs move suddenly then he seemed to settle back down! (OK I am used to saying "he/him" now because that is just my maternal instinct - we should learn the baby's true sex with our next ultrasound on September 3rd - but until then, he's Mommy's Little Boy! LOL) During the ultrasound, he was lying face down so all Mommy & Daddy got to see was his 'backside' - showing his butt already! LOL! The doctor spent several minutes doing the ultrasound and pointed out his spinal cord, arms and legs, but he just wouldn't cooperate and turn over so she could see his face. She measured his heatbeat twice at 158/163 which was up from 146 just 4 weeks ago. Just 6 more weeks until the next ultrasound to see if mommy's instinct is right!

JULY 16, 2008 UPDATE
12 Weeks Today!! I went to see my regular doctor today for a basic checkup and while I was there she agreed to try the Doppler to check and see if we could find the baby's heartbeat and we did!! Oh it was so sweet to hear it for the first time! We only got to see it on the ultrasound monitor last month. Everything seems to be great! Heartbeat was steady and fast - probably double my heartrate - and I will probably be able to listen to it again Friday with Chad at my 12 week prenatal checkup. So far I am still feeling absolutely great -- I really don't even 'FEEL' pregnant but you can see in picture above that I do 'LOOK' pregnant! So at least hearing his/her heartbeat gives me a like reassurance that everything is ok!

JUNE 19, 2008 8 WEEK PRE-NATAL CHECKUP
Met with the doctor for my first routine office visit. Everything seems good and ultrasound was fine.

JUNE 16, 2008
FIRST ULTRASOUND

We had our first Ultrasound this morning and saw the baby!! Everything looks great and heartbeat was 146 BPM. And here are the FIRST pictures of 'Baby NeCaise' !!!

IT'S SO AMAZING THAT BABY HAS ALREADY GROWN SO MUCH AND IS STILL SO SMALL! WHAT AN AMAZING MIRACLE OF GOD! CHAD AND I JUST THANK THE LORD FOR HIS BLESSINGS AND FOR THIS CHILD!!

JUNE 5, 2008

FIRST PRE-NATAL VISIT
My first prenatal was today. It was good – or rather informative – I met with the Nurse for a consultation. A lot I knew already from reading through several pregnancy books/journals, but now I know a little more of what to expect at each appt and they drew some blood for some lab tests, but I can’t remember which ones. They’ve already done 3 blood pregnancy tests to be sure my levels are increasing and all that has been fine. Next I have the 1st ultrasound on 6/16 and Chad & I are so excited to hear the heartbeat that day. Then I go back the next day for my 1st doctor appt. So far I feel absolutely wonderful!! No morning sickness or anything... YET!!

MAY 22, 2008

POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 2 months/rounds of Clomid and trying to conceive for 19 months, on Day 28 of my cycle, I took a pregnancy test only for it to show "Negative".... I was heartbroken and wondering when it was ever going to happen. I had faith in the Lord and knew that it would happen in His time. With the Memorial Day holiday approaching, I did another test on Day 30 just to see if the Clomid had worked for us because I would need to call in my refill that day if it hadn't... I was still being hopeful, but expected another "Negative" result. I did the test and much to my surprise, it showed POSITIVE so I took off running across the house to Chad as he was getting ready for work that morning... I showed it to him and he looked at it and looked at me and told me to go and take another test right then. I ran back to my bathroom (jumping for Joy through the living room... where I pinched a nerve in my shoulder doing my little happy dance!) and I took another test..... it was POSITIVE!!!!!! I took both tests to Chad and we just couldn't believe it had finally happened. We talked about how we would share the news with our families and decided to try to get everyone together that weekend for Memorial Day. I had to work at the speedway all weekend so Monday would be the only time to see everyone. We talked about it again at lunch and at dinner before I went to the speedway, and the next morning we just couldn't wait to tell anyone! We called our parents on Friday morning - I was on one phone and he was on another - all told our Moms at the same time over the phone that they would soon be Grandmas!!! They were both soooo happy and thrilled and excited!!! Then we told our Dads and our brothers!! Once the family knew, we both shared the news at work that day! It was a wonderful time!!!!! We are so blessed!!!!!!

THANK YOU
FOR SHARING IN THIS EXCITING TIME WITH US!
Chad and I are truly excited and happy for all who shared in this joyous occasion with us as we now await the arrival of our little miracle! And a special thanks to everyone who support us with your love and friendship! We cannot thank you enough for sharing in this time with us and for all of the wonderful baby shower gifts we received!

We appreciate everyone's prayers and support and look forward to sharing this exciting time with everyone!!

LOVE, HELENA & CHAD

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UPDATE...

Kacey now has 5 teeth and one more coming very soon... she has had her two bottom front center teeth since she was 6 months old, and now finally the four front center top teeth are almost all here! She is walking better with assistance and sometimes will take a few steps holding just one hand instead of both! Her favorite foods include grilled cheese sandwiches, and chicken... and she's enjoying snacks like cheerios, honeycombs cereal, chocolate milk (with her daddy), cheddar cheese, and lots of new stuff! She is learning new words to say ("nana" is banana, "water", "tractor") and doing great with sign language as another way to communicate. She knows MORE, ALL DONE, and DRINK. It's so cute, it I tell her that I love her more, she gives me the "more" sign to say that she loves mommy more!!

The baby is growing fast and really kicking mommy alot now! I always thought I would miss those kicks after Kacey was born, but it's worth it once they are here and giving hugs and kisses!!! Less than four months left and we are getting ready for baby! We had our ultrasound in January, however the baby's legs were crossed so the only quick glance we got makes us think it's probably another girl, but will be a surprise at delivery!

Another update soon....

BEFORE I WAS A PARENT...

"Before I was a parent, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a parent, I had never been puked on... Pooped on... chewed on... or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a parent, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a parent, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a parent.

Before I was a parent, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a parent and child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a parent, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a parent... I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a parent."

This was sent to me in an email (thanks Melody) and it is all ever so very true! This little baby that now controls my life is the biggest and best gift from God that He could EVER give to me and Chad! She is awesome!

Kacey - I just love being a parent!!! You are the most amazing thing that I have ever experienced. Mommy loves you baby girl. Hugs-n-kisses XOXO Mom & Daddy!!

IT'S A GIRL!

Kacey was born on Sunday 1/25/2009 at 2:42PM!! She was 7 lbs 4 oz and measured 21.5 inches long at birth (but at her last doctor appt she was only 20 inches so not sure how she was measured initially but she shrunk!!! HA!) but she's perfect and healthy!

We were finally able to really bring her home on Thursday! Well actually we were discharged on Tuesday night, but her jaundice levels were borderline at 12.3.... so we had to take her to the pediatrician Wednesday morning 1st thing and they checked it again and it was 19.2 so they immediately admitted her back into Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. She had to stay under the light in the incubator ALL the time except to feed and change diapers and it came down to 11.3 by Thursday afternoon so they let her go home.

Her birth weight had dropped down to 6 lbs 6 oz while she was in the hospital, but was back up to 6 lbs 14 oz at her first follow-up appt and then she reached her birth weight and was 7 lbs 9 oz on Tuesday, February 11th at just over 2 weeks old!

My labor and deliver went well........... I started having regular Braxton-Hicks contractions Saturday night about 6:25pm and they were every 5-10 minutes apart. I got up Sunday morning at 4:40am with BAD back pain and then my water broke about 10 minutes later. We went to the hospital and they checked me, but I was still closed and hadn't dialated any, however my contractions were 2-4 minutes apart by then. They gave me Oxytocin at 8:30AM and I did 2 doses of Stadol for pain which helped with the 1st dose for 30 minutes of relief, but nothing the 2nd does, and then my contractions got so bad I couldn't stand it. I ended up on my hands and knees to relieve the back labor and Chad says I almost pulled the rails off the hospital bed with each contraction. By this time they were less than a minute apart so I was hurting really badly. About 12:30pm, they ordered an epidural even though they hadn't checked my cervix again. They came right in and done that and then the doctor checked me only to find out I was fully effaced and dialated to 10 already! So I went thru all that labor without the epidural, but I was thankful I got it before I started to push for 1 hour 40 minutes! Now she's here and healthy so we couldn't be happier!

A FAMILY THING!

I was responding to an email today from my cousin, Stacey, in Ohio and that's when I realized that we have a lot in common! Both of our mom's were pregnant with us at the same time - she is just shy of being 6 months older than me - so I always said that it would neat if Stacey and I could be pregnant together too! Well it didn't work out that way, she had her youngest child in 2006, but both of us had our FIRST child on January 25th! Her oldest son, Trent, and Kacey, will share the same birthdate - just 7 years apart! How crazy is that! It's a Family thing!!! HA! :-)

HOPE, FAITH & LOVE with Relay for Life

CELEBRATE... REMEMBER... FIGHT BACK and help me in the race to find a cure for cancer! Why Relay? SURVIVORS!! Cancer hit close to home several years ago when Chad's mom fought her own battle. Thankfully, today she's here to watch Kacey grow up!! Amy, one of my best friends, recently won her own battle with breast cancer (at the age of 30!). As a survivor, she can now raise her two young kids with her husband. Then another one of my friends, Brandy, watched as her 15-month old son fought the battle and survived. Hunter is now a healthy 5 year old who will soon celebrate his 6th birthday in May. They were all able to receive the care they needed and were blessed to find the cancer at such early stages. Now we have a family member who was just diagnosed with Lymphoma, so this year I'll be raising money in honor of her! (UPDATE--sadly we lost Aunt Betty on March 16th when she was called home to be our Lord and Savior!) If you are interested in helping me to meet my 2009 goal of raising at least $150, you can click on the link below to see all available options. Remember that your donation will share the HOPE for a cure, give another survivor FAITH to continue on, and you'll be sharing your LOVE with everyone that's been affected with cancer! We all know at least one person that has been through this battle. Thanks in advance to everyone who contributes to this worthy cause. My prayer is that Kacey will never have this struggle!