Haylea and Hannah

In just 4 short weeks we will finally meet our new little girl!  It really is just a short amount of time left but at the same time I feel like it is still ages away!  I am getting really anxious to meet her and see who she looks like and if she looks anything like her sister.  I am anxious to see how Haylea interacts with her and how this whole parent of two little girls thing works!  I am also really getting excited about the whole labor and delivery thing.  I know that may sound weird because I know a lot of mother's dread that part, mainly because of the pain, but because of the uncertainty of how things will pan out.  I am actually excited that I have no idea what will happen.  Who knows if it will be another fairly easy labor and delivery and who knows if I will get to have another vaginal delivery or if something will happen to require a c/section.  Not that I am excited about anything going wrong, I am just excited and anxious to find out what WILL happen and HOW it will happen and make that memory.  It is going to be a day I will never forget, regardless of how it happens and that is so exciting to me.  I can't wait for that first moment when I hold her for the first time and that moment when Haylea comes in to meet her sister for the first time.  I can't wait for that first picture of us...a family of 4!  Wow...a family of 4.  There was a time I thought it would be just Brian and I forever.  The only part I am dreading is being away from Haylea for those 3-4 days.  I have never been away from her that long and even though she will come to visit, I can't help but feel guilty not being there for her.  I know she will be well taken care of so that isn't an issue, but I am her mommy so I think it is normal.  I have never had to share my attention between two before so this will be a new adventure for us all.

Haylea also had an appointment today with an orthopedist to look at her feet.  It actually went very well and I feel so much better about everything now.  We didn’t really have to see the orthopedist but I just felt like I needed someone following her and maybe someone who could give us an answer as to WHY she has this problem.  He was awesome and put my mind at ease so much.  When he first came in Haylea was surprisingly in a good mood for 1pm and he made her laugh right away so that helped.  He asked the normal “what brings you in today” so I told him that she was now 20 mo old and still not walking.  I told him about the first steps evaluation and how they said she pronates and has low tone in her lower body and how we just got her orthotics a little less than 2 weeks ago.  So he played with her feet and looked at her range of motion and had her stand, etc.  He then told us that he in fact doesn’t think she has low tone at all because tone refers to muscle strength and he thinks her muscle strength is just fine.  It is just that she is extremely flexible.  She can still have her foot bent back to where her toes touch her shin bone, which is normal for an infant but not for a 20 month old!  Same with her fingers and hips.  She does sit in the W sit position a lot and you can take a leg and pull it out to the side and then stretch it out in front of her with no problem.  So he thinks that the reason the orthotics weren’t a “magic” fix like I thought they would be is because her instability isn’t just in her feet but also her hips.  She has had to pretty much re-learn how to stand with better alignment and I think just now we are back to where we left off before we got the orthotics as far as how much she will stand, and re-learning how to lift her legs to walk, etc.  So now she feels stable when she is standing still but because her hips are also so flexible she is unstable lifting her legs to walk.  Makes sense to me now that I think about it because she has been pulling up since she was 10 mo old (almost a YEAR ago!) and she definitely has muscle strength…try changing her diaper in the middle of a temper tantrum!  He said he doesn’t see this being more than a temporary problem and once she does take off walking she should have no lasting effects of it, besides being very flexible.  I was a very flexible child, my mom used to make me show every one my back bend where I could but my head between my toes…and even a bit further.  I also roll my ankles all the time because they are so flexible.  He also said it is more common for girls so Hannah might also have similar issues.  But he stressed that he is confident it isn’t low tone.  I mentioned my fear of a degenerative muscle disease or mild CP and he assured me that those things were highly unlikely because she has hit all other milestones on time and does have great fine motor skills.  He also cleared up that while CP kids have a lot of flexibility until about the age of 2 when they actually start stiffening up, they are also very floppy (low tone).  Haylea definitely isn’t floppy so that put my mind to ease about the whole low tone thing.  He also said literally “Even if she does have a mild form of CP, the only thing that means for her since she has proven to hit all other milestones is that she doesn’t walk til she is 2.  Big deal!”  And he is right!  

So all in all I feel much better.  Much better knowing there is a reason she isn’t walking besides being stubborn like we originally thought but also knowing that most likely there is no underlying pathogenic cause other than just extreme flexibility and that she should have no lasting effects of this once she does learn to walk.  He said give it another 4 months (till age 2) and if she isn’t walking by then we would look into it again but otherwise he doesn’t need to see her again.  He thinks that once she learns to walk we will be able to wean her out of the orthotics and they are just a temporary need.

She will still do Physical Therapy because I figure even if we don't need to concentrate on muscle strengthening (although it won't hurt) we can still focus on balance and techniques to teach her how to walk and feel more stable.  She will also still be doing the developmental therapy a couple times a month just because I feel like she needs a little help learning how to communicate better.  Not so much that she NEEDS it because there is such a wide range of normal at this age as far as speech and communication but it won't hurt to boost things along right!?

It is going to be a challenge with a newborn and with a toddler who is just learning more independence but I think this summer is going to be so much fun and a learning experience for us all!

Long, overdue Update!

So we have a name for our new little girl, Hannah Grace Finch.  I really can't wait to meet her and the last few months have been so crazy but now we can finally concentrate on getting things ready for her.  I had quite a few photo shoots this month and I was working a lot of extra shifts at the hospital to help prepare for my time off after she is born.  Now it is almost April and I am 31 weeks along.  It is getting so close!  Brian is still working on furniture but we have the room painted and it looks amazing!  I have organized all the newborn clothes and have them ready to go!  I also hit the jackpot at the Indy Kids Consignment sale and stocked up on summer clothes.  I told myself I didn't need anything for Hannah since we had all Haylea's clothes still but who can resist those tiny little sundresses and shorts!?  I think Hannah got as much as Haylea did.  But to be fair, most of the things I already had for Hannah weren't very summery since Haylea was born at the end of August.  I have also gotten them a few matching outfits.  I can't wait to dress up my litte girls!
I also have to apologize to Hannah for not taking as many belly pics as I did with Haylea.  I know!  I need to remember to have daddy take my picture soon!!  I love having this little one in my belly and watching it grow.  Even though I have experienced it before, it still amazes me that a little person is growing in there.  Hannah definately moves around more than Haylea did but I think now she is beginning to run out of room because she has slowed down some.  I do get some big movements in the evening...it is my favorite time to just sit and watch my belly going crazy!  I am so excited to see how Hannah's personality is compared to Haylea.  Haylea was such an easygoing baby and I would love for Hannah to be as well but for some reason I have a feeling Hannah is going to be a little more demanding!  Haylea has hit an age where she is becoming pretty demanding as well so this should be interesting.  She turned 19 months and I think she thinks she turned 2!  The tantrums and meltdowns have begun.  Most of the time they are easily fixed but there are times we have NO idea what the problem is!  I can't blame her though.  I imagine it is very frustrating to KNOW what you want but have no idea how to get it or how to communicate it. 

As far as Haylea, we are still working on getting her to walk.  She is now 19 months old and still not walking.  At her 18 month check up her pediatrician recommended First Steps to evaluate why.  At her evaluation, her therapist noticed immediately that she has very weak feet that causes her to pronate (turn her feet and stand on the inside of her feet) pretty severely.  I felt like I should have noticed that a while ago but I didn't.  I noticed she was wobbly but I figured when she started walking more that would strengthen her feet.  I looked to see if she pointed her toes out to the side or walked on her toes but she didn't do any of that.  Her pediatrician at her 15 month appt. convinced me that she was just a very cautious child and she would be walking soon.  When the next 3 months went by with very little progress, I began to question that.  Looking back I wish I had trusted my instinct and called First Steps after her 15 month appt.  But I didn't...so you live and learn.  I will be more proactive from now on when it comes to my babies.  So the next step is an appointment with an orthopedist and a fitting for orthotics.  The orthotics will help to stabilize her feet so that she feels more secure and confident standing and walking.  I am excited for this.  I know she WANTS to walk and she WANTS to be doing more physically but her feet are inhibiting her.  With the orthotics she will be able to acheive all that and more.  I can't wait to see her blossom with these!  The therapist who evaluated her said she will most likely wear them long enough to go through two pair.  Not sure how long that will be, I am guessing 6 months??  We will see.  Whatever we have to do is fine with me.  We have been going to Gymboree classes as well and I think seeing kids her age is helping her desire to be more physical and mobile.  I also know that Hannah will be starting Gymboree classes much earlier in life.  I really wish I had thought of it sooner with Haylea because she is really not around kids her age and I think that is an important step in development.

IT'S A GIRL!!

After what seemed like an eternity we finally had our ultrasound on Thursday!  Most importantly I wanted to make sure the baby was healthy and then I was dying to know "who" was in there!  We saw a perfect 4 chamber heart, 3 vessel cord, normal brain and measurements were all right where they should be.  Then the ultrasound tech said "are you sure you wanna know?" Ummm...YES!  So she moved around for just a few seconds and said "You see those three lines?" AHHH!  Another girl! Brian wasn't sure what the three lines meant until I said "Haylea had three lines!"  I think I am still in shock...I thought for sure it was a boy this time.  I think it is wonderful though.  I can't wait for Haylea and her little sister to grow up and hopefully be best friends!  They are so close in age that I hope they will have a lot of fun together as the years go on. 

I think we may have a name but we are waiting to announce it until we are sure.  I would say right now we are 95% set but...I might need a few days to let it sink in!  Today we moved my craft room into the guest bedroom and all the stuff that was in there for storage went down to the basement.  So this little girl is getting her own room and I can't wait to start decorating it and getting ready!  Daddy is going to build her furniture just like he did for Haylea so I can't wait for him to get started on that as well.  I went through all the baby clothes today and re-washed them all.  I forgot how stinkin cute newborn onesies are!  Haylea had some really cute outfits that I hated to put away when she outgrew them and now I get to use them again!  Of course, we will have to buy a few new things as well. ;)  I am halfway through this pregnancy so we better get going before I am so big I can't do anything anymore!

As I was clearing out the craft room and Brian was moving things downstairs for storage, we also had to bring out the baby gear.  Brian all of a sudden said "Oh No...It came back to haunt us!"  When I asked what he was talking about all I had to do was look into our bedroom where he had put the swing.  And there she was...giggling and loving that stupid thing!  We had a love-hate relationship with that dang thing.  For MONTHS it was the only place she would sleep.  Yeah, she slept in it so that was great but we just wanted her to sleep in her BED!  But you do what you have to do and it got us through those months so for that I am grateful.  So here she is...in the dang swing!

Snow Day...and Picture Day!

We went out and played in the snow today...as you can see, Haylea didn't really care for it much!  I don't think she really knew what to do.  She just sat there and pouted.  Ginger didn't mind though!

Earlier in the day I was supposed to have a photo shoot but because of all the snow we cancelled for now.  So instead I decided it was time to take some new pictures of Haylea!  She isn't really interested in that either.  The only things she is interested in lately are her Ellie, the dog (doh), and food!  I was able to get some shots though and she looked so cute in her little jean dress!  Here are just a few of them with a cool vintage edit that I wanted to try out.



And a bunch from this week...we have been busy! 

Ready to go shopping with mommy in my new super cool hat!

Haylea's new favorite thing to do is stand on a chair at the island to "help" us cook.  Here she is helping daddy make mozzarella sticks for mommy's birthday party! YUMMY!

We have been giving Haylea a fork to eat with lately...not much food goes on it but she sure does try!

 Haylea spent the day with Aunt BB and this is what happened!  She actually let her put her hair in a piggy!  I have been trying but she just hated it and threw a fit so I just stopped trying.  Well not anymore...if BB can do it so can Mommy!

Daddy was cutting up fruit so Haylea was helping by putting this banana in a bowl for us.  She just couldn't figure out how to get it to fit!  Such a good helper.

This is what our hair looks like after we take the piggy down!  Oh well...she is still stinkin cute even with her hair all wonky!

Cookin...with wonky hair.

Ultrasound is coming up!

Our 20 week ultrasound to see how Gummy Bear is doing is one week from today!!  I am so anxious to know "who" is growing in there.  I can't wait to find out and start preparing the new nursery and getting clothes gathered and put away.  Now that it is the first of the year and I am halfway through this pregnancy I am getting really excited to get everything ready for this baby.  I am going to be a mommy of 2 in just a few months!  Work has been hard the past few weeks...I am talking about seeing all the ultrasound machines and not being able to use them!  It seems like everyday I work I see the ultrasound techs pushing around their machines to patient bedsides.  I just want to grab their little probe and put it on my belly...just for a minute!

I am starting to prepare myself for sleepless nights and now that I have Haylea too, I will also have sleepless days because I won't be able to nap with the baby!  I vaguely remember how exhausted I was with Haylea but I do remember how much I loved her naptime because it meant that I could rest too.  Haylea will be starting preschool in the fall (makes me sad to think about it though!).  It will be twice a week 9a-1p.  Four hours is a long time to leave my baby girl!  But I think it will give me a chance to get things done or rest with the baby.  Hopefully that will be baby's naptime! 

Expecting Baby #2!

I decided to start a new blog for baby #2.  It is a fresh start to a new life and one step closer to completing our family.  At one time I never thought I would even be thinking about baby #2 let alone carrying that baby.  After Haylea's first birthday we decided it was time to try again.  Of course, given our history of miscarriages and fertility struggles, we were nervous but excited at the same time.  We know how blessed we are to have Haylea and how much she changed our lives for the better and we just couldn't wait to add to the family.  After spending the majority of 2 years trying to conceive our first, we thought we should get started as soon as possible because who knows how long it would take this time. In September, 2010 we went back to our fertility Dr. who agreed that we should stick to what worked to conceive Haylea.  We went into that first cycle not expecting to conceive right away but hopeful that we would.  We assumed it would take a few tries.  However, on Sunday, September 12, 2010 I found the faintest of lines on my home pregnancy test.  It was very early, but if you know me you know I CAN'T wait when it comes to testing!  Each day after the line got darker and darker.  It worked!!  We were pregnant again!  Now let the obsessing and worrying begin! 

We wanted it to be a surprise this time.  We didn't even tell anyone we went back to the Dr. to discuss trying again.  My goal was to wait until we saw a heartbeat on ultrasound before telling anyone.  When you find out you are pregnant when you are only 3 1/2 weeks along and your first ultrasound isn't until you are almost 7 weeks it is torture not telling your close family and friends!  At least it is for me...I have no willpower with these sorts of things.  I caved and we told our parents and my sister after my second set of labs came back with great results.  I figured these people will know either way if something happens so I could use all the prayers I could get.  Those prayers worked because at that first ultrasound we saw the most amazing little heartbeat.  I had seen it with Haylea but you never forget that first ultrasound.  Yes, the ones later on are fun because you see baby moving and kicking around and you can find out the gender.  But the best by FAR is that first time you see that little flicker on the screen.  At least it is for us...we went twice before with our first and third pregnancies hoping and praying to see it and unfortunately we didn't.  It was horrible to look at that screen and see nothing moving.  So after that experience we never thought we would see a heartbeat on that screen...and now we have seen two! 

The next few weeks were rough.  I was like a zombie.  So exhausted and nauseous.  Brian took over most of the household and parenting duties while I spent time in bed or on the couch.  You would think such a tiny little person growing inside wouldn't take up so much of your energy but that is definitely not the case!  The good thing was, as exhausted and sick as I felt, I rarely got sick which was a relief because with Haylea I was throwing up almost every day up until she was born! 

So here we are.  It is 1/1/11 and the start to a new year full of excitement for our family.  I am currently 19 weeks pregnant (due May 27, 2011) and I can't wait to see what the year brings for us.  Watching Haylea continue to grow and learn new things and in a few months welcoming our new bundle of joy into the world.  It is going to be crazy and so much fun!

Here are a few pics to recap the past few months and begin the next step in our journey!

 6 weeks...Beautiful Heartbeat!

8 weeks...Gummy Bear!

12 weeks...Waving Hi!

First Belly Pic...18 Weeks on Christmas Day 2010