Happy Holidays!!

From Our Family to Yours!!!

Here are some pic's of our family leading up to Christmas. They start off with the finding of the perfect tree, Jarrod and Jayk cutting it down ALL BY THEMSELVES!!! (first time ever, and they did such a great job, they didn't have to level it off when we got back to the barn!) And then there are pic's of us setting the tree up and decorating it, and then some of the kids in, around and under the tree! There are some from Gryfinn's first time playing in the snow! And also some of Oliver, our furbaby, having a blast in the backyard! He loves to catch snowballs! And Gryfinn loved watching him! There are some from the school Holiday parties, and the last are of when we went to see Christmas lights. My brother and his family came too, and so did my Mom. (Gryfinn's favorite person in the whole world!!) Gryfinn loved the lights - in one of the pictures he is pointing at them! They also had rides, and he got to ride one for the first time! He rode with Grandma, and they had a blast!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I will post pic's of Christmas Day here soon. They are still on the camera, so I have to upload them to the computer first. I will also tell about our Wonderful Christmas, that ended up in the Emergency Room. Everything is ok, Gryfinn was just sick. I will tell all the details here soon. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and has a Happy and Safe New Years!

16 Weeks

Again these are not photos of Junebug, just pic's found via the internet.
Hopefully we will have ones of Junebug in early to mid January!!

This week, Junebug weighs about 4oz and is about 5inches in length, crown to rump. The nails are well formed. And there will be a good chance that he/she will need a manicure shortly after birth! Junebug is also emptying his/her bladder every 40-45 minutes! (WOW! And I thought I had to go alot!) In and out of the womb, babies are so very playful. And chances are, Junebug has made the umbilical cord into his/her first toy - tugging and pulling on it! Junebug can also hold his/her head erect, and facial muscles now allow for a variety of different experssions! Goodness, I can't wait to see this marvelous little being on ultrasound!

15 Weeks

Again, not pictures of Junebug. Just ones I found on the interent!


I just can not believe that I am 15 weeks pregnant! Time has just gone so very fast! And it seems that over the past few days, my belly has really just popped! I am sure this has a bit to do with it only being 16 (almost 17) months ago since I gave birth to the Monster, also known as Gryfinn! My muscles and uterus are still pretty lax from being stretched, and pulled, and shifted in every which way. Which I don't mind starting to show! I love being pregnant, and I love having a pregnant belly! Speaking of my belly, Gryfinn has always been fascinated with any kind of skin. If he sees your arm, or back, or belly, or leg, he will rub it! But over the past few days, he will walk up to me, and since I am short, he can reach his lil hands up, and pull my shirt out, and touch my belly. It is the sweetest thing ever! I always tell him that his baby is in there. And if I tell him to kiss it, he just blows raspberries, which is a ton fun!

I have also been feeling some flutters. I have been for awhile, but just thought I was crazy. But, I know it was lil Junebug in there dancing around! Or maybe doing flipflops! Cause that is what it feels like!

Junebug is now four and a half inches in length and weighs in at over two ounces! For a better visual, he/she is the size of a large naval orange! From here on out, Junebug will be busy preparing for his/her debut into this big world. He/she is practicing breathing, sucking and swallowing, so that when he/she does arrive, he/she will be able to survive.

At a Loss.....

Not so much for words, but maybe for feelings, or maybe how to describe what I am feeling. I lost my father to cancer over 10 years ago. I was devastated. Lost. So upset. I have lost Grandparents, and Aunts, and Uncles. And it has been hard. But to have a friend, who is only 29, who is so young, and was once so full of life, to be fighting for her life. To be fighting the ultimate battle. It has just done something to me. She is not just a woman, she is also a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. A friend who I fear is slipping away. With each day, she gets weaker. With each day, she gets sicker. She is now back in the hospital. She is in a lot of pain. And they aren't even sure what is causing her pain. They have done a scan, but they are waiting on her previous test results to come in from Pittsburgh so they can compare them. They believe that she may have some swelling on or around her brain, and that this could be what is causing her pain. I am just ready for this Miracle that I have been praying for.

And then people ask me - is there really any hope left? How am I to answer that? Who am I to answer that? Yes, I am afraid that we are losing her. But have I given up hope? No. As long as all of her family and friends, and strangers alike, continue to have hope, then there will be hope.

And I feel guilty at times, living my life. Knowing that each day is a struggle for her. That she can't even take care of her kids. That she is sick, and in pain, and has to watch others take care of her 3 beautiful boys. I know that I have to continue with my life, but at times I do, I just feel guilty. We take so much for granted. I admit, that when I have felt really bad due to morning sickness, that I will complain to Kelly. And then I feel even more guilty. Cause nothing I am feeling, or have felt, even compares to what she is going through on a daily, hourly basis.

And I think about her so very much. Pretty much all the time. And Kelly and I talk about her so much. So much, that I am sure that Junebug will think that is her name. And then that makes me think, if she is a girl, that it just feels right. To name her after a dear friend. She is the strongest woman I know. She has overcome so many hurdles. And has kept positive, and had so much hope. And Kelly agrees. That it just feels right. But I feel that we need to talk to her about this. But with her being so sick, I am not sure how to bring it up. And I don't want her to feel like we want to do it because we think she is dying. We want to do it because she is living. Because she is so strong, and we would be blessed if our daughter had her name, and was half as strong as she is. And another thing, our Junebug is due June 10, and our friend's birthday is June 5. See - it just feels right.

I will finish up with this prayer.

Dear God,

Please continue to watch over our dear friend. She is very sick, and in a lot of pain. I do want her to get better, and I do want a Miracle to be granted. But I do not want her to suffer. Please just let her be well enough to enjoy her kids before You take her Home. Whether that be in 50 years or in 2 months. Just let her enjoy her kids for the rest of her life. Let her not be in pain, and let her not be sick. So that she can live the rest of her life to the fullest. And please watch over her husband, and her kids, her father and her sister. This is a very rough time for them. Having to watch someone that they love so dearly struggle to live. Please give them the strength to handle what You have in store. It is in Your Hands.

Amen

13 and 14 Weeks

Ok - so I am slacking. Last week wasn't a good week. I was sick two days - fighting a sinus infection, and then I was so busy trying to make up for the two days I missed at work, that I just didn't get any time to get online. So - I am now playing blog catch up! :O)

Oh - and again the disclosure - the following pic's are not of Junebug. They are of ones that I have found via the internet! Actual pic's of Junebug hopefully to come in the next month and a half or so!

13 Weeks




I love this one of the lil hand! You can see it so clearly! Each finger! So adorable!


Junebug is now about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and about the size of a peach, and weighs about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce! His/her body is trying to catch up to the size of the head. Although the head makes up more than half of the size, by the time Junebug arrives, it will only make up 1/4 of the size. The intestines are moving to their permanent location inside the abdomen. The facial features are looking more humanlike, with the eyes moving closer together and the ears moving to their normal position on the side of the head. This week those vocal chords are also developing, so that when he/she makes his/her debut - they can let the whole world know!!

14 Weeks






Welcome to the 2nd Trimester!!!! At 14 weeks, Junebugs crown-to-rump length is 3 1/4 to 4 inches, weighs almost 1 ounce, and is about the size of a fist. Now, I don't know if this is my fist, or Mama's - cause I have really small hands, so my first is really tiny, but Mama has an average sized hand, so her fist is a lil bigger. Growing by leaps and bounds, Junebug is now leaping and bounding! He/she is constantly moving with ballet-like movements that are smooth and fluid! Junebug can now wiggle his/her fingers or toes, and can even suck on a thumb! He/she could also be sprouting hair, and not just on her head! Junebug should be covered in lanugo (a downy coating of hair that helps keep him/her warm and also helps protect the skin while in so much liquid). Sexual development continues, so it becomes easier to determine male from female.