The New Normal....

The NEW Normal:
1. Lilly is in our bed.....yeah I am not proud of it but things are so much easier for now! After two nights of us trying to get her to cry it out and stay in her room, we gave in and put her in our bed. She cried it out the second night from 11:00PM to at least 2:00 in the morning and that is when I finally fell asleep but when I woke up at 4:00 she was still awake. She is in such a better mood with more sleep too. We will just fight that battle another day because I do want it to go back to just me and Joel in the bed eventually.

2. 4-6 hours of sleep is what we live off of....THANK GOD FOR A HELPFUL HUSBAND! Bless you women that do well with no sleep. I am such a grumpy non sleeper and Joel knows it. I try so hard to get up for every feeding but Joel so nicely volunteers to help with this task. Right now Levi is up every 3 hours/4 if we are lucky. That is him eating, diaper change and getting him laid back down. So we sleep in like 2 hours increments. Rough but this too shall pass. We are just ready for him to be up to 4 hours apart.

3. A mother of 2....WOW and bless you moms with 3 or 4 or 19! I had to take Lilly to the doctor a week or so ago for what ended up being a viral rash. Joel had to go on a work trip just Monday to Wednesday. and Just the laundry, bottles, prep for the next day, clean up, diaper changes.....It's not easy but I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER WAY! Lilly is just at such a fun age and I am trying to treasure every minute of my last days with a 'baby.' (Thought they are always my babies! :)

Levi: I know it may be TMI BUT....goodness I would put him up against any man with the smell of his gas! IT'S AWFUL! At least since we changed his formula, the gas is coming out and not staying IN his belly! He is a pretty good baby though. He LOVES to be cuddled but what baby doesn't!

Enjoying sleeping outside while camping :)

Joel: YAY! The dirt is gone! Anyone that came to my house in the past month or so knows that right before Levi was born, Joel got a load of dirt delivered to start the landscaping out front. He got more than what he bargained for and we had a mound of dirt pretty much the size of the Tercel! Thanks for all that helped to take it away, move it, shovel it, whatever it took to get it moved!

Anyone that saw the pile of dirt realizes how great this is!

Lilly: Definitely going through her terrible 2's which are also the sweet 2's!
New things she is saying (good and bad)
1. "Oh Gosh, It's Crazy
2. "Don't touch this!"
3. "Go away!"
4. "I want a snack."
5. (someone sneezes)--"Bless you!"
6. "Wake up Baby!"
7. "HEYYY, Baby Vinee!" (no idea why she calls him that!)
8. "I want HAPPY!" (She means she wants to hear the song Happy)
Here are two videos:

 ABC's...getting closer to getting them right!

LESLEY: So it is back to the real life of most women in the fact that I have to actually care what I eat. I am SO ready to run again and have to start preparing for my goal of doing a half marathon in November. I FINALLY am wearing not maternity jeans today however I would rather still be in my maternity jeans! Back to the doctor May 9.
Back to the real world of working May 12th. I am leaving Levi in good hands with family, friends and Joel not to mention I have like 7/8 weeks off after that so I'll be okay to leave him. I saw a saying the other day that said teachers might get off in the summer and for breaks but they shove 12 months worth of work in 10 months! I totally agree! I am ready to end up the year with my sweet lil' kindergarteners. I really do have a great group this year so I do miss them and MY COWORKERS!!!! See you all soon!

Hope all is well in your world! Definitely praying for all the families struck by the recent storms and flooding!

Is it supposed to be that easy?

THE WORSHAM FAMILY IS OFFICIALLY A FAMILY OF FOUR!

The night of March 30, I could not sleep a wink. The anxiousness woke me up, as well as the kick in the ribs, at 3:30 am. I decided to go ahead and get up and take a bath and Pinterest to relax one last time. We headed out the door about 5:45 after taking one last family photo.

As soon as we walked in the door, I was trying to be strong but my eyes teared up as soon as we walked back into labor and delivery just thinking about the experience ahead. We got all hooked up-
1. IV in-not too bad even though her little bit of digging around with it was not fun!
2. Pitocin (sp?) started-of course my planning mind asked how long this would take to start making me be in agonizing pain....her answer "Anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours."
3. Blood Drawn- not bad at all though one lady in there thought it was April 1, the other put the blood pressure cuff on backwards and misspelled my last name.
OFF TO A GOOD START 

4. Dr. Cole broke my water and Oh I knew what came next...
HERE COMES THE PAIN! 
(Insert Joel's comment about how the hospital brings back pain of his arm..."really I hope your arm feels better, now get over here and let me squeeze your hand while I feel like I am being stabbed!" )

About an hour and a half of contractions that were I swear zero apart if that is such a thing, the epidural man came in. OH YAY!

5. They had to stop the pitocin because the guy had no chance of in between contractions to insert the epidural. He commented on how tight my ligaments were and how I must have had a lot of back pain..WELL YEAH! (Thanks friends that got me a massage even though I did not get to use it. Plan on making an appointment soon!) Epidural was not painful at ALL!

SUCH RELIEF!
(This is my I just had demerol, an epidural, and bag of fluid face; I can't believe I am posting this picture)

6. Seriously the most comfortable and relief I have felt in 2 months! Legs numb, contractions going but not feeling it, good nap. In my mind the worst was yet to come because after the epidural was when the drama started with Lilly.

7. Dr. Cole comes back in at 12:20 to comment about how full he is from a good lunch because I had already told him I wanted to have Levi and eat a late lunch because I was starving! He said OH OKAY, we are going to have this baby now. Here comes nurses, scrubs, stirrups, light and of course ME WANTING TO PANIC! Start time 12:38..... Baby at 12:46
REALLY THAT EASY???? I think I said that about 20 times!

He peed on me first thing! They weighed him in at 7lb 14 oz. YAY no 8lb baby!
Two hours later I was walking, yes walking, to my post delivery room! WOW
Thanks for all the visits, calls, texts, flowers, and gifts!

LEVI-He is just the cutest and so snuggly! He is so far a great baby minus the gas he keeps having that is hurting his tummy! The pediatric doctor said everything looked good on the XRay and nothing would need to be done about the mass/CCAM. I even questioned the pediatrician Wednesday when we went back and he said the same thing. When we go back in two weeks I planned to ask again. I have seen this thing for 3 months so I need to see the XRay for proof that nothing is there or whatever is there is tiny or whatever!

LILLY-She has definitely adjusted just as I thought she would. She is a GREAT helper and loves to hold him. Though in the hospital she just ignored him and I still think she might think he will be leaving at some point. Of course her sleep is all off track so that has been harder than dealing with a new baby. Hopefully our lives can get back to our new 'normal' soon and everyone can get back on track!

JOEL-He is head over heels in love with his 'boy.'I think is ready for everything to get back to 'normal' too!  I am so glad he could have a boy to enjoy! He got some yard work done yesterday that he needed to get done. He has been so good to me in the past few weeks. He sent me a text when he went to get Lilly just saying how lucky he was and how proud he was of me. I think I might never delete that text!

LESLEY- I know I have said it several times but I could not be more thankful for just everything and I feel so blessed! I still am a little sore but mostly I am back to it. I know it sounds stupid but I am glad to be back to doing laundry, dishes, feeding babies, getting babies to sleep and more. I do not want to sit around and people act like I am useless and helpless. Getting back to the new 'normal' makes me feel good too!

 Love Lilly's expression here!

First family of 4 picture!

WHAT IS THE NEW 'NORMAL?' ........

When another adult rides in the car, it is two carseats and mommy in the backseat!

Trying not to breath hard….GO AWAY STREP!

So God really thinks I am super woman! (ever feel like that?) 
Woke up yesterday morning with an unusually whiney husband. Finally he checked his temp….101.4! I said, "YOU WILL go to Satellite Med today!" I don't think it took me to tell him: that is how you can really tell when a man is sick! I just already knew it was strep because it has been going around so bad. Sure enough strep it is. He got two antibiotic shots and after a day of fever, as of 2:30AM he was fever free. I hope it stays that way! SO LEVI, I am going to need to you to unfortunately not be born on my dad's bday but at least wait until Friday to decide you want to come so Joel will be in the clear! 
A student of mine said I would have him when I breathed hard SO trying to be calm with my breathing until Friday afternoon. YOU GOTTA LOVE TEACHING KINDERGARTEN!

Obviously right now God, Levi, and/or my body think it is perfectly fine to function off of about 4 hours of sleep! Don't give me that he is preparing me for no sleep with Levi thing because if I was really prepared I would be well rested and refreshed!

Moving on…
It was a little bitter sweet to go to my last high risk dr ultrasound Monday.
What did we find out for the last time?Well Levi is measuring 8lbs 1oz with a little less than a week left and half a pound error (I'm hoping for this error!) the mass is now very hard to see on an ultrasound and they aren't even sure they are measuring the right thing or if its a shadow. What they did measure and think was it was the size of a pea (1cm/1.4cm) She said it wouldn't even be detected if we hadn't been monitoring it. She was concerned about my anxiety about it all (LOVE DR. SUNNY!) and she reassured me with all the right answers to the questions I had. She even said she'd would call and check on me because she would be in Cookeville next Monday! So March 31, 6AM in Cookeville it is unless he decides to screw up plans which he obviously has liked to do!;) I do go back to Dr. Cole on Friday afternoon for one last time. 

(Quick rant: SO I did find out today from Dr. Sunny that when I delivered Lilly, I got an infection because I was in labor too long. Insert some big long name that starts with a 'C' This is the reason why I lost so much blood, I had fever, Lilly had fever and so on! She assures me dr. Cole would not let this happen and I would have a csection if needed. Yeah my previous dr. Neglected to tell me any of that!ugh!)

ANYWAYS:Thanks for all the support and prayers especially from December 23rd on. Man did those three months fly by!
If I have learned nothing else from the past three months I've learned1. Be thankful! Be thankful for what you have and for what you don't have. Someone is always gonna have it worse and someone will always have it better. It is my job to strive for more but be thankful for what God has blessed me with right now.2.Slow down and check your priorities! (Goes along with you can say no) Now some people don't have this problem but I always have. I get so wrapped up in doing everything and never saying no that I'm neglecting what really matters. I have said no and checked my priorities in the past few months and letting go of some unimportant worries in my life have made me enjoy the things I really do enjoy!Kids obviously help choose your priorities sometimes too. I'd forfeit my time and belongings over just about anything for Lilly and I know things wont be any different with Levi.3. Wow do I have it good! I am beyond blessed with a great support system that cares (or pretends to) in good and bad times. I hope I can be that person back to any of you when you need it.
This won't be the last post but it more than likely will be the last before Levi arrives and we become a family of 4!The next few posts im sure will contain something to the effect of..... What were we thinking?.... Man I didn't know I could function off of this little of sleep?.... And is that normal?!?!Please continue your prayers in the next week for an easy, safe delivery and a healthy baby boy!!!
Here are several last cute Lilly picture before she hates us for bringing a crying kid into our house:

St. Patrick's Day outside

JUMP!

"Oh, WAIT, It's a Bird!"(literally)

1,000 toys in the house and she loves the toilet paper! It can be a ladder, you can jump on it or…...

YOU CAN SLIDE OFF OF IT!

THIS IS A STORY ALL ABOUT HOW MY LIFE GOT TWISTED UPSIDE DOWN...

SO THIS IS THE STORY ALL ABOUT HOW TODAY TWISTED EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN: 

So ever since December 23, when we first met Dr. Adair and found out about the mass Levi has, we have always knew it was best to deliver in Chattanooga. Well today when we went the ultrasound tech lady could not find the mass. As soon as Dr. Adair came in he found it but it is very hard to find. The measurements were about .95cmx2.4cm. I am not sure why the length is longer. Anyways, it is hard to find and measure so he said he was okay with me delivering in Cookeville which immediately through my brain for a loop. We immediately jumped to…we would like it better if it was in Chattanooga. He said that would be fine and then he said he would like to schedule it at 38 weeks which will be March 30….(WOAH WAIT IN THREE WEEKS?!?!?) So we went with it and he said the nurse would call and get it scheduled.
As soon as we walked out, Joel knows me well enough that he knows I was in freak out mode…
1. Cookeville or Chattanooga?
2. How does that affect everything?
3. If Cookeville, who would deliver….we do not want a certain dr to even step foot in the room!
4. A week earlier, means go back to school for sure…
5. THREE WEEKS AHHHHHHH! (It makes it more real when a doctor tells you that!)

So for now it is scheduled for Chattanooga March 30 at midnight eastern to start the induction. However I have a book of questions for Dr. Cole on Wednesday to possibly change it to Cookeville. It will be so much easier in Cookeville but my greatest fear is that something will go wrong and they will have to take him to Chattanooga and I will be stuck in Cookeville…...
SO LIKE IT HAS BEEN IT IS A HURRY AND WAIT GAME!

MEASUREMENTS: 
So they measure the head and SERIOUSLY 34 cm in circumference which was off the chart in weeks of greater than 37 weeks! They measure the femur and it is measuring about 38 weeks (I didn't look at exact cm.) and then they measure his stomach and POOF….that comes up with the estimate of 6 lbs and 14 oz ALREADY! When the Dr. came in he said look at those measurements….are you giving him miracle grow???? OH MY, not what I need to hear! I am hoping they are wrong! The Dr. also bragged about (and we have heard it at least 3 other times) how beautiful his heart is. I like hearing that!
Total amount of weight gained….25 lbs YUK but the last time I get to be fat and happy and not worry about it!

Well that's the update, so we will HURRY UP AND WAIT and see how it all plays out but in a month we will be a family of 4! (minor panic attack ensues and I constantly reassure myself, God owes me an easy delivery!) :)

Let the countdown begin….

Well less than 5 weeks left. OH MY!

Lesley and Levi: Well with the craziness of the last few weeks of school before spring break, I have had zero extra time to post. As I have said, we go to the high risk doctor every Monday now. Last Monday, there was not much change. Dr. Adair was there which was the first doctor I saw on December 23 and it was great to see him. (There are 4 doctors and they take turns coming up from Chattanooga.) The ultrasound tech nor him could get a good clear picture of 'it' because it is so light in color (which I found out means it is dense) and small. It is still measuring about 1.6cmx1.3cm or so. He said we looked like we were in good shape that this would not affect anything at all. Of course we are still wishing it would just magically go away to avoid any sort of surgery for him whether it be when he is born, 6 months down the road or at all! We are still pretty set for April 4/5 but it is not set in the books yet. I did have my as he said "last fully clothed" visit with Dr. Cole last week because next time they start checking me. I said well I guess there is no way to have this baby with clothes on so I better get used to it. This coming week will be the last week of only one doctor appointment. From there on out it will be 2 a week and will determine by how he/I am doing if our great plan of April 4/5 will be okay.

Once again, I had a God telling me I should be thankful moment at the doctor's office. I think too often we dwell on the bad and not about what we are blessed with. When we were at the doctor last Monday, I couple came in and I could tell they were a little nervous. She asked if they usually took so long and we talked back and forth. Turns out they think her little boy has cystic fibrosis. My heart just ached for her and all I could do was think and pray that things turned out well for them. Though Levi has whatever he has going on, I do realize we are blessed and all of the prayers we have had are certainly working and helping. So on my soapbox, every once and awhile step back and think about what you are blessed with and not always what is not going your way.

Anyways- I am more than ready and obviously I tell Joel that all that time because he said he has to hear it everyday. (I roll my eyes at that but it probably is true.) However today, Joel pulled out the pack and play, swing, bouncy seat and such and it definitely makes me want to have a little panic attack. If any of you know about Lilly's birth, you know why I am just a tad bit freaked out about the actual labor part. Throw in all of Levi's troubles, a whole new hospital, hour and a half drive and other things and this planned out control freak can easily panic about it all. I think I need valium at the thought of it all. I have to tell myself it will be SOOOO much better than last time or they might have to knock me out to have him. :) Less than 5 weeks but so ready to meet him, have him here, and not be pregnant. (sorry, no I am not that I love to be pregnant sort of gal even though I really have not had it that bad physically)

Lilly- Gosh, we are so thankful for her! She is so sweet and hilarious. Though I did tell someone the other day: There is about 5% of the time I want to strangle her! :)
Example: I wish I had it on video but I don't. I came home from a consignment sale and bought her a couple of pair of pajamas and a few other things. I would pull them out of the bag and show them to her and she would say, "WOW! THANKS MAMA!" It was so sweet. Then we were playing and she was laughing hysterically. Out of the blue, SHE BIT ME on the chest. She went through a random biting phase; not out of anger but when she was playing or pulling up. She had not done that in a long time. It startled me and I slapped her mouth out of instinct. Then I started tearing up 1. for slapping her and 2. because it freakin hurt! It left a bruise! She just laid there and stared at me and then said in the most pitiful voice, "I want hug!" I was like DANG YOU, I am trying to be mad at you. Of course I gave her a hug. Joel came in and she broke down because she reacts to him more. He made her give me another hug and I got more snuggles. Anyways point being she is just the sweetest thing!
Funny/sweet things she now says:

•  "Where go?" …."I see you boo." (she means BOO I see you) maybe thats funnier if you hear her :)
• "Be Right Back" 
• "Sing star!" (when she is ready for bed, we have to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
• Vi (for Levi)
• "Thanks, Mama!" 

Likes:

• STILL obsessed with Dora, Elmo, Mimi (minnie) and GoGo (Yo Gabba Gabba-thought Joel is highly discouraging this) 
• chinen (chicken)
• bananas (but DO NOT cut them up or she will not eat it-stubborn child!)
• MILK
• Her Minnie 4Wheeler (she is now not scared of it and rides it in the living room all the time)
• helping do laundry as in putting clothes in and bringing us clean clothes to fold
• LeapPad (best $20 my mom and dad spent; saved us at many a dinners out!)
• Her city blanket as we call it (Alicia gave us this blanket when she was born and now she has to cover up with it each night as she goes to sleep)

Dislikes:

• Unfortunately still hair bows thought she loves her monkey hat!
• Sleep, She has always fought sleep though once she is out she is out!
• lasagna (the only thing daycare says she won't eat for them)

Joel-Still hanging in there with me and Lilly. I think he is more than ready to have another boy in the house. A friend of ours, Tammie, gave us the cutest onesie. He even posted it on Facebook which is not like him if you ask me. He has been 'nesting' for me today. He vacuumed the whole house and by whole house I mean moved couches, got in corners, etc. He knows the way to my heart: a good vacuumed and mopped floor! Something about a clean house just makes me so happy! 

Well I am sure I do not have much long until Lilly wakes up, so I better go try to get something done. Back to the doctor on Monday for the last week of one doctor appt. They will take measurements so I might make another quick post with a new update about him at least. We all have a feeling he is going to be a big baby!

31 weeks plus! YIKES, pretty sure things are getting real and so close!

Levi We now get to see Levi every Monday. Dr. Sunny was there today and once again had good news for us. Once again the way he was positioned, they could not get a good picture of it. However she said if it was my first time going, they probably wouldn't have even seen it. When we first saw it, it was so blatant when they were looking for it as far as just a brighter white on the ultrasound picture. Now when they are looking for it, it does not stick out at all. The measurement that they got was good because it was under 2 cm for width and length. We talked to Dr. Sunny and we are all in agreement that it would be best if I delivered in Chattanooga, so it looks like Chattanooga it is!
His estimated measurement was 4 lbs and 10 oz which is up 1 lb and 2 oz in 13 days! YIKES! He is measuring two weeks ahead which is VERY concerning to me in so many ways! :)
My fluid was still a little low but still nothing of a major concern. I think that is all the update with him. For now it will be every week at Regional Obst. and every other week with Dr. Cole. Soon it will be 2 a week.

Lesley Dr. Cole said they will probably schedule Levi's delivery on or before April 6. OMG that is so close! We are more than ready except he has some more baking to do. Guess I better be packing my bag soon!

Lilly

• Last Wednesday, daycare called at like 4:00 as I was leaving and said she had a red face almost like Fifths Disease. I was like GREAT! So after taking all the symptoms into consideration (pulling at left ear, low grade fever, 'rash', not eating or sleeping good) we decided to take her to Satellite Med. Good thing we did, she had STREP…REALLY I do believe she is trying to catch everything going around! We agreed on the antibiotic shot and it was the best decision. She did not have it bad at all! 
• STILL on the poddy kick. I actually gave it a tiny try Sunday night, mainly to see how she would react to wet underwear. In 10 minutes she had peed/put her on the poddy and cleaned up/ went to get another pair/peed in the floor/cleaned up/underwear on/peed within 15 min. WOW this is gonna be so fun huh?! I think it will take her sitting on the poddy forever until she goes! At least we have the interest and all of the steps. Might give it a go spring break. 
• Totally didn't realize she could recognize numbers 1,2,5,6,8,9,10. I am just one proud mama! Makes me thankful for a great daycare and all they have taught her and will continue to teach her. It is hard writing that check each month but things like that make me realize that you get what you pay for when it comes to that! I posted video of it on Facebook. 

Joel:  He went snowboarding last week and he loves it! (me not so much!) He has some amazing pictures from the top of the mountain too.

Hope all is well with everyone else. Prayers are still working so keep 'em coming! Have a great week!

Newest Family Update

UPDATE

30 weeks and 1 day

Lilly: Well she has a new found LOVE to go 'poddy'..........except she hasn't put the go poddy and actually go pee thing together! She is obsessed! Any ideas on how to get both of those together? I am just glad she is on the right track. She will now pull her pants down, sit on the poddy, wipe, flush and her favorite thing is the end, washing her hands. SOOOO we just need her to pee and we will have it. We may start trying in a few weekends. WE WOULD LOVE to not have two in diapers!

She may be mama's girl but she is not too girly!

Levi: SNOW DAY AND DR APPT...YAY! We went to the doctor today...NOT BAD news! We were really me hoping that we would get as good of news as last time and maybe the mass had shrank a little more. However the measurements were about the same. So we are just pleased that it has not grown! 9 weeks and 6 days for that 1.3cm x 2.3cm stinking thing to GO AWAY!

Lesley: Okay, Levi HAS to wait to come out but man am I done already. I try my best not to complain because no one likes a complaining pregnant woman.....

• I'm tired of not sleeping good.(don't tell me it is preparing me for no sleep when he comes because nothing prepares you for that!) 
• I feel huge already. (I am ready to run again. Though I know when I can run again I will be griping about getting up to go run!)
• I'm tired of some comments. (OMG I could write a book about what not to say to a pregnant woman! I am sure anyone who has been pregnant would agree with me.)
• OMG, it is WAY harder the second time around! (The first time...come home from standing up teaching 20 kindergartners, prop my feet up and take a nap. The second time....stand up teaching kindergarten all day, go home and give all the rest of your energy to a 2 year old, housework, school work.....Then sleep if I can.)
• TOTALLY done with doctor appointments! So today my fluid was lower so now I get to go to the high risk doctor EVERY WEEK! YUK to the copays every week but yay to an ultraond every week! Starting next Monday it will be 2 appointments one week and 1 appointment the next for 9 weeks. 
• I also find myself not being sympathetic to others complaints....Yeah I'm working on this and realize it. :) 

THERE I only complained if you chose to read.
I say all that in knowing that I am totally blessed and have it way better than some women do. This is why I try not to complain. I also remember what a good friend always says "In three years (or soon) this will all be behind you and it won't matter."
A few good friends of mine gave me a 'sprinkle' this past Saturday and it was more than I imagined. I got some of the best gifts, ate some great food, and really enjoyed hanging out with some girls I haven't got to hang out with in awhile.

On an unrelated note, I got observed 2 Fridays ago so I am finished with my observations for the year. I thought it went okay but it went actually better than I thought. It is such a relief to have this over!

Joel: Well not much except he is still surviving me and a 2 year old.  Pretty sure he is counting down the days just as much as I am except more so he doesn't have to deal with me anymore. He is very busy with his honey do list I have for him all the time.

Well that's all folks. Thanks for the continued prayers and support!

HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER (28 weeks and 2 days) and welcome sleepless nights, starving, and kicks to the ribs! I wouldn't trade it for the world but I know I will be counting the days now to meet the lil guy!

Let's go in reverse order this time...

Lesley: As I said the third trimester is the best and worst part, mainly because of the anticipation! Things I have not got to yet is the swelling of feet and hands which was so bad with Lilly. AND I REALLY hope that either doesn't catch up with me this time or waits until the VERY END! I also haven't had carpal tunnel which was a weird pregnancy thing I got with Lilly.

GOOD NEWS #1: I passed my sugar test! Low iron but I did with Lilly too. I just have to take iron pills which could be a whole other post but too much information to share to some of you! :)

GOOD NEWS #2: I only had to use half day today because Putnam County got out at 11:00. Man, do I have a good team and a good sub that took care of getting my kids to the right place during that chaos!!!!! (Thanks!)
I am ecstatic with the news we got today about Levi.... :)

Levi: So we went to Chattanooga today. The first appointment was with the pediatric surgeon, Dr. Koontz. He was a very nice man. He just talked to us about all the possibilities. Basically when Levi is born, he will automatically have an X-ray and they will assess what 'it' actually is and see how much 'it' is affecting him. If it is necessary, they will immediately do surgery. If he is doing fine health wise (breathing), then they will wait and reassess at 3 months and we will keep going back every so often. Eventually unless 'it' does not go away then he will have surgery because it ultimately will affect his breathing, become malignant or so on. Once again, he said it is just a wait and see thing. He said he likes his job but he really hopes 'it' goes away and he never has to do surgery.

(Lunch break: We ate at the Urban Shack Burger Lounge. We enjoyed being kidless and the burgers were amazing!)

GOOD NEWS #3: Next up, the high risk doctor appointment with the every two week ultrasound. He loves to show that he is a boy but that's about it.....Of course Levi was being uncooperative and face down so the ultrasound lady first measured 'it' and she said like 1.3cmx1.2cm. We were like WAIT WHAT?!? She kept measuring and could not get a good measurement until the doctor came in and she could barely even see 'it.' She said it definitely seemed to be regressing! The biggest measurement was 1.2cmx2.3cm! IN CASE YOU ARE NOT KEEPING UP...that is 1cm LESS than 11 days ago! She said she wasn't sure but she definitely knew it had got smaller! BEST NEWS ALL DAY!

He also weighs about 3lbs 2 oz.

We go back February 3 in Cookeville and hope we get that same news or better news on that day!

Making progress on his room:

Lilly: OBSESSED with Dora! She wakes up saying Dora, backpack, map, and Swiper! She really has been so good and sweet lately! LOVE HER! Here are some sweet pictures...

CHEEESSEE....hanging out in the doll play pen with pizza face and pearls

Lovely hair after getting out of the bathtub,,,eventually it will get longer but for now just thicker

LOVES getting ready for snow...HATES the cold! We were back in after about 6 minutes. 

Oh and she won't wear gloves so don't harp on me for that :)

Only wanted me to hold her

Biggest complaint: With Levi, I REALLY hope to get him to lay in his bed and sleep on his own! I love rocking her and having that snuggle time but really 30min to an hour is just too long to be trying to get her to sleep! Anyone else have this problem? I need to just let her cry it out a few nights but I guess it is me being a little selfish and liking the snuggle time and hating to hear her cry and say MAMAMAMAMA.

Joel: Well a nice dry socket rounded out his wisdom teeth excitement. He is doing much better now though! He is such a good man to put up with me! I mean I am so lucky to have him as such a wonderful husband and daddy! Did you know he cooks almost every night? First of all, he is just nice but when it really boils down to it, he is a better cook! Yeah, I know I know! I blame it on the fact that I never had an Easy Bake Oven but really it's just I do not like to cook.
Joel was ready for also glad to get some good news today! He also backed into a car pulling out of a friends driveway Sunday leaving our bumper dented in. Yeah OH WELL...nothing that can't be fixed!

So to sum it all up, we are doing great..... thanks to all of your prayers! If anything this is really helping to me to TRY to not sweat the small stuff (sort of; if you know me I am a bit of a stresser). I just want to shout it from the rough tops how happy I am to have this good news today and will hang on that good news until the next appointment, Feb. 3.

Giving it a Try!……

So first of all, "I need a blog" and "I have time for a blog" are totally two different things! However, I am going to give it a try…..SO here goes….

Joel and the 3 L's: Pretty clever, huh?

Joel: Well he got all four wisdom teeth cut out Friday. I quickly realize 1. I would struggle being a single mom.(bless you all!) and 2. I need to be more sympathetic! He has slept pretty much all weekend; to the point that Lilly will say "Da, asweep?" He has been up and at it more today and feeling better now that he has eaten/drank more than ensure! Coming from a pregnant woman, I have told him at least three times, I would be starving!

Lilly: Oh lord! She is the SWEETEST , WILD child you will meet! One minute I am thinking, she is so cute when she is saying "Hey mama!" and climbing in the dolls play pen…… (pictures to come)

and then other times, I think…one of us is not going to survive to three years old! She is in the "No" and "Mine" stage….OH HOW I HATE THIS STAGE! She is also in the hitting or kicking stage…more to be funny but still not okay. Yep, one of those things you say your kid won't do…OH YOU WAIT! I am not opposed to spanking but when we spank her, she laughs…LAUGHS!!!!!!! I mean I have swatted her, diaper off so hard that I felt bad and she still laughed! However if we say, "Do you want to go to your room?" or even act like we are taking her to her room and locking the gate, she immediately breaks down and stops!

LOVES: pizza, turkey hot dogs, Dora, Big Bird, Elmo, writing the number 5 and 6 (yeah random I know!), DANCING!!, Technology, hugs, sheeros (cheerios)

HATES: lots of different food…yep she is so picky!, being told no, having to wait, hair bows and headbands

Levi:  I am sure if you are reading this then you pretty much know what is going on with little Levi but here is the jist one more time. All was well until the gender ultrasound when they could not get a picture of his stomach because he would not be still! (This turns out to be a blessing in disguise!) So the next appointment they have to do another ultrasound. During this the ultrasound tech is taking longer than normal and seems to be skirting around something. Dr. Cole thought it was just a hernia but wanted to send me to the high risk doctor just to see. SO of course, I am googling hernia like crazy and freaking out but I thought …O a hernia no big deal, right? So I have to wait until December 23 almost a week. I went into the doctor's office as positive as can be and came out with a much worse attitude and idea of what was going on. The ultrasound was great because they measured everything and then Dr. Adair (an AWESOME doc) came in and gave us the news. He explained that it looks like a CCAM (Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation) which is like a tumor/cyst but not cancerous. So many things were going through my head at that point but I was trying to hold it together. He took me to the room to draw my blood for the chromosome deficiencies and in his words said "Don't worry, we are the doctors: It's our job to worry, not yours" and said" he would be praying for us." That is when I pretty much lost it. Then he gave me a tissue box as my Christmas present. I got in the car and lost it even more. Poor Joel! He knows I am a worrier and planner and obviously "this" was NOT in the plans. All I could think of was how would this ultimately affect Levi but also already beginning to freak out about money for the doctor's appointments, delivering in Chattanooga and what we would do with Lilly, missing school, and more. So I googled and some information made it better and some worse but get this….Dr. Adair gave me his email! No I have not emailed him but just knowing I could/can helps!

Fast forward after two weeks of worrying, I went back last Thursday and 'it' did not grow and Levi is doing great they say. He is SO active; even kicked the ultrasound lady and kicked her. He likes to remind me often that he is still doing good in there. We go to Chattanooga Jan 21 to meet with the pediatric surgeon, Dr. Koontz, and with Dr. Adair or Torres for my every two week ultrasound.
**This blog for now is a much easier way to update people about Levi and what is going on if you care to read. It also just lets me get some stuff out!

Lesley (the last L): Well it's much easier to type about them than it is me but here are some key points:
1. I passed the sugar test WOOOHOOO! Low iron but just have to take iron pills…no big deal. I did with Lilly too.
2. Already gained 13 lbs…not too bad but I know that third trimester gain is coming. With Lilly I gained about 34 lbs so hopefully I'll gain less than that this time. I have to weigh myself everyday to make sure I did not gain more than 2 lbs in a day or 5 lbs in a week because it could mean Levi is going through hydrops (you google it) so I think that helps a little with the weight gain. As I typed this, all I can think about is the blasted ice cream I got for Joel and his can't eat mouth.
I guess moral of my part is life is crazy and busy but this worrier and planner is doing pretty good!

Well that's my first post…. pretty long huh? Next time, I will try to not be so long winded!
Hope you all have a good week….YAY no doctor appointments this week!