Three months to go...and our story of hope

Halloween means something completely different to me this year than it did last year.

Last year, I was hoping and praying that I would finally be pregnant after two years of trying to conceive. I was full of hope that surely "THIS" would be the month - OUR month. As I watched the families with multiple children trapse through the neighborhood yelling, "Trick or Treat!", I wondered if I'd possibly have a baby in my arms by this time next year. I imagined what it would be like to dress a chubby-cheeked newborn in one of those cutie-pie "My First Halloween" outfits - perhaps a pumpkin with a little stem hat? I watched the other children run past with their siblings in tow, and I wondered then if I would EVER see the day when I would be able to provide a sibling for Ian. Would my son ever know what it was like to have a brother or a sister?

Fast forward to April, 2007.

After three years of trying to conceive, we finally DID! We were so excited. We picked out names immediately and told our families after our second trip to the doctor confirmed that our pregnancy was "real". Eight weeks later, our precious little one was born into heaven. We were completely devastated. I have never felt so low in my entire life - except for when my own Dad died. We wanted that baby so much. We had waited so long. We were already in love with the idea of being parents again. We couldn't believe that our miracle was FINALLY given to us, only to be taken away. Why? Why would God allow this to happen? And then, the answer....

J & D told us three weeks after our miscarriage that they were expecting a baby. My first reaction was that I wanted to throw-up. I remember thinking, "How am I going to get the words, 'Congratulations' out of my mouth???" (I somehow did, though.) I was NOT happy for them. I couldn't be. We had been through too much - three years of temperature charting, blood draws, reproductive specialists, endocrinologists, surgeries, hormone therapies, taking handfuls of fertility medicines, and losing weight - all with the goal of trying to help us to get pregnant. And, we had to endure the truth that our little baby had gone "home" to be with Jesus. I had to endure extreme labor pains in order to pass our child into the arms of our loving, eternal Father. Why? Why was God letting THEM have a baby and not US? And then they said it: "We were hoping that you would like to parent our baby?" WHAT??!!! I don't remember much of the conversation after that. I think that I kept shouting, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God!!!!" I'm not completely sure - I went into my own form of shock. It wasn't real. It couldn't be real..... Were J & D SURE that this is what they really wanted? Did I dare to open up my heart to the possibility of our dreams coming true? Did God choose to answer our prayers in a way that we had not expected? What would happen if J & D changed their minds? Would I be able to keep on going? Would I (mentally) be able to take two losses within a year? I didn't know. I waited for more details to unfold with a mildly guarded heart.

Fast forward to Halloween 2007.

I am full of hope again. This year it is a different kind of hope. I am no longer torturing myself by peeing on a stick each month to see if two lines miraculously appear, or going into my doctor's office to get my blood tested for the presence of a human growth hormone. Instead, I am awaiting a different kind of miracle. I am waiting for Kira. She will be here in just three short months!! Next Halloween, I will have a nine-month-old, chubby-cheeked, BEAUTIFUL baby girl to dress up in the "My First Halloween" pumpkin outfit. She will be loved and adored, and protected by her big brother, Ian, as we trapse around the neighborhood shouting, "Trick or Treat!". I can't remember the last time I have been this happy; our dreams are about to come true. Praise God! Thank you for this amazing gift. We are so thankful to you, our Heavenly Father, for allowing us to parent J & D's child. We are so thankful to J & D for allowing our dreams - our long-time dreams - to finally come true. Someone, please pinch me - NO - WAIT - If I'm dreaming, I don't want to wake up!!!!

New Crib Bedding for Kira

Hello everyone!

I thought I might take a moment and let you know how proud I am of Jim. He has successfully bid on a crib bedding set on e-bay, and won! The set is worth $400, but Jim got it for $86! The nursery set includes 13 pieces! (That's $6.63 for each individual piece!) Go Jim!!!!! We are still planning to frame a Texas flag and hang it in the nursery.

~Kris~

Facts about 24 weeks gestation

(Above is a picture of a baby at 24 weeks gestation.)


Week Twenty Four: Practices breathing

The child is now gaining around 3 ounces (90 grams) a week.
Baby weighs about 1.3 pounds and is 12 inches long.
Baby weighs about 600 grams and is 30cm (crown to heel) long.
The eyelids can be seen very clearly.
If born at this stage is officially considered viable, they may well be able to survive.
The baby is producing surfactant. This is stuff that keeps the small air sacs in our lungs from collapsing. The unborn baby is covered with a fine, downy hair and the skin is protected by a waxy substance. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed. The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into developing lungs.

Baby gains about 3 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs. The body begins to fill out with his appearance increasingly becoming more like a newborn. Taste buds begin to form. If mom drinks something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing his or her distaste.

Little creases have appeared on his palms. The muscular coordination of the hands has improved as they sucks their thumb. Over the next week or so, the sweat glands will be forming in the skin. The lungs are developing branches of the respiratory tree and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

After this week, a baby is officially considered viable. 36% of babies can survive premature birth at 24 weeks - However, serious complications are still possible.

Baby now weighs about 1.3 pound (600gm) and is around 12 inches (30cm) long.

D is 24 weeks now

I know that D probably doesn't keep track, but she will be 24 weeks pregnant on October 14th. We are about three months away from having Kira at home with us! Time is just flying by! Woohoo!!!!!!!

This past week, Jim cleaned out the entire garage and the basement area. They are VERY clean now. We bought a very nice antique dresser at an estate sale to put in Ian's room when we get Kira's room finished. We have to get the computer desk and the filing cabinet OUT of Kira's room. We have to go and get her crib out of storage. We will probably get her room completed in November sometime. I have yet to have ordered her crib bedding. I also keep forgetting to take the Texas flag to be framed. I suppose that I am dreading the price on the framing - it's likely to be very expensive, and we really don't need to be spending money on such things right now. Having the money to bring Kira home from the hospital is more important than framing a flag to go with her room decor!

We are still praying for Kira and J & D every single night. We pray that Kira will remain healthy and strong until her due date. We pray that J & D will be able to handle their very mixed emotions when the birth takes place. We pray that they will feel a peace about their decision that will pass all understanding. We pray that this experience will bring them closer together, and not tear them apart. We love you, J & D!

Love,
Kris