A Baby Story

It's hard to believe we soon will be a family of 3, instead of 2.  Jensen wasn't planned, but he is such a miracle.  After being told my chance of having kids was slim, getting pregnant literally 18 days after marriage was a shock!  I still remember the night I found out:Dec 22, 2010~I had worked an 11 hour day at work, back was aching.  I decided to go to Wal-Mart and grab a few tests.  Lo and behold--the test was positive!  Tom was already asleep when I got home, so I snuck in the bedroom and woke him.  He had a migraine that night, of course.  I told him I was pregnant.  The three best adjectives to describe his reaction were shocked, disbelieving and confused.  He ended up going back to sleep a few minutes after.  Not quite the reaction I would have hoped for, but it was surely unexpected and a big change for us. 
We had to keep our news a secret until it was confirmed.  After we knew for sure, we told our families...on New Year's Eve.  From then on, the months were filled with dr visits, sonograms and preparation.  We found our March 23 that we were expecting a little boy.  For a girl, we agreed on Emma Anne.  For a boy, however, we didn't agree on anything.  He liked very tradition, common names.  I liked semi-traditional names that aren't as common.  A few days before I flew to Ohio, we decided on the name Jensen Thomas.  Tom found it in a baby names book, and I really liked it, too.
We found out the night I flew to Ohio that Jensen had an abnormality, something no parent wants to hear.  It was found on his ultrasound that he had a 2 vessel cord (also known has sua, single umbilical artery).  After research, we found out it could mean stillbirth, growth restriction, and problems with heart/kidney.  After meeting with maternal fetal medicine, we felt much better.  Jensen was growing ahead of schedule and had great organs. 
We didn't reveal the gender or name until the baby shower, April 17th.  My friend, Andrea and the grandma's threw the shower.  I had a wonderful time with friends and family.  Most girls wore pink, guessing we were having a girl...surprise!
The months passed.  We started non-stress tests at week 30.  And we got ultrasounds every 4 weeks to make sure his growth was on track.  Baby has been doing great.  This takes us up to the present, 37 weeks pregnant. 
To be continued....

"A new Baby is like the beginning of all things- wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."

  -Eda J. Leshan

New to Blogging/Intro

I have read several of my friend's blogs and thought this might be good for me. I am currently dealing with pregnancy depression, mostly from being across the country knowing only 2 people and from feeling helpless and disgusting physically.  I always heard how pregnancy was so beautiful.  Well, that's a big, fat lie lol You get hair everywhere, gain weight, have disgusting body odors, waddle more than a penguin and get stretchmarks.  It will most definitely be worth it in the end, but for now....it is depressing.
I think maybe writing daily might help me vent and get my feelings out. We shall see how it goes.
Today I am 36 1/2 weeks pregnant, so we are nearing the finish line.  I cannot wait to have Jensen in my arms.  And I look forward to losing weight and getting back into shape (at least a shape OTHER than round!).  Soon after he is here, we should be moving back to Ohio, where our friends and family are.  And we plan on working towards our forever house...cannot wait!  So much good to look forward to, only a few more months to muddle through the hard times.

"It doesn't matter how long we may have been stuck in a sense of our limitations. If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn't matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years -- we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on."

- Sharon Salzberg

Our Love Story

Most people have a traditional relationship with their significant other.  Ours, not so much.  So here is OUR love story...

I started using Match.com in 2009.  I dated a few guys but nothing serious.  In late September 2010, I ran across a profile that caught my eye.  A tall, handsome man in his late 20's from Zanesville, serving in the Army.  He seemed very intelligent and had a great smile.  I sent him a wink!  He sent me a message, and so we messaged back and forth a few times before trading email addresses.  We emailed a few times and then decided to try the phone.  We talked for hours, everyday.  I am not a fan of talking on the phone...but 3 or 4 hours a day with him simply wasn't enough.  We talked before and after work, sending a few texts through the day to hold us over.  I fell in love, fast.  In mid-October, we shared the 3 special words.  We jokingly discussed marriage, however, I think we were both serious but not wanting to scare the other.  He bought plane tickets to fly home on Veteran's Day.  In late Oct/early Nov, we decided to do something absolutely crazy.  We bought each other rings and planned a secret marriage on Nov 12.  Mind you we are both very much planners and practical, not to mention the fact that we had never met yet!  We were counting down the days...
Nov 11, I got up at 4 am to pick Tom up from the airport.  The time seemed to go so slow as I waited to meet my future husband.  Then I saw this tall, handsome man walking towards me in ACU's.  My heart was beating incredibly fast.  We hugged, and it felt perfect.  We stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a frozen pizza for lunch then went to my house.  We ate, watched movies and just enjoyed each others company.  For dinner, we went to Bob Evan's, our first date!  When we got home, Tom got down on one knee and proposed with a beautiful diamond ring.  I of course said, "Yes!".  We were so happy.
The next day, Friday Nov 12, we met up with our friends, Alyse and Zack in Zanesville to get ready for our big day.  We met up at the Cambridge Court early afternoon and said our vows.  Tom's flower kept drooping, so I was giggling.  I felt bad, but it made it a memorable experience.  Lunch was at Applebee's with the four of us.  Dessert included delicious wedding cupcakes made by Alyse.
It was an amazing day and experience.  I am certain many people shook their heads and had negative comments, but we have been happily married for 8 1/2 months now.  We are also planning a vow renewal for family and friends to join us.  I would also like to redeem myself by not giggling lol
Tom is my best friend, and I wouldn't change a thing.  Our love story may not be traditional, but it's ours <3

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."
- Aristotle