1.27.2008

Hello Second Trimester!

Baby Stine (24 weeks) and Baby Hernandez (13.5 weeks)

Well, we're here! Officially! I'm in the second trimester and this is a big milestone in pregnancy. Things have been relatively calm up to this point and we're praying they stay that way for the next two trimesters. We celebrated with a great visit with friends--Chris and Tracy came in from this city and Tom, Alissa and Ellyana came from all the way down the street! We had some fun with Ellyana, caught up on what's new with everyone, and most importantly, Alissa gave Chris a very important lesson on the proper use of the Baby Bjorn. He's a natural! After that we headed to Sam & Jake's for a pregnancy indulgence--ICE CREAM!

Ellyana and Alissa, all bundled up!


Tracy and Ellyana introducing themselves


Alissa gets Chris set to Baby Bjorn
(I think this is Ellyana's first modeling job!)
It's fits. Looks great on you Chris!

Caroline Kennedy endorses Sen. Barak Obama in today's New York Times

"A President Like My Father"

By CAROLINE KENNEDY

OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

1.21.2008

Update on Baby Hernandez

So I ordered a baby doppler a few weeks ago. It's a little hand held device you can use to listen to your baby's heartbeat at home. When I first got it, it took me about 10 minutes to find the baby's heartbeat and I only heard it for about 10 seconds. Today, I tried it again and I INSTANTLY found the baby's heartbeat and had it on the doppler for a long time! So our little bambino is definitely getting bigger and stronger by the day. This time next week, I'll officially be in the second trimester and for the most part, "out of the woods." What an amazing blessing these past 12 weeks have been.

I've also changed my mind and convinced myself we're having a little boy. Everything I see and am drawn to is for a boy. We'll see. We should know what we're having by the end of February and we'll keep you posted!

KRH

Visiting The DiTore's

We had a wonderful visit to St. Louis this weekend. It was so much fun hanging with baby Clark, Rich and Linds. Leaving was no fun. We really wish we were closer and could see them more often. Good thing the drive between Chicago and St. Louis isn't too bad! I'm sure we'll be making the trip more once our little one is here. We got a nice glimpse of what it's going to be like to be parents. Rich and Lindsay definitely have the hang of it and they were happy to let us experiment with their precious boy. Happy to say when we left he was still in one piece. The highlight of my weekend had to be rocking Clark to sleep. I gladly volunteered for the task and 3 different times he lulled gently off to sleep in my arms. Could there really be anything better in life? July 30 can't come soon enough.

Love you guys!

Happy smiles with Clark




Chillin' on his Boppy with his Monkey
Dancing with his mommy
I think he's going to be a GREAT daddy!
Hmm...do we have a poppie diaper in the house?
Naked baby!
Getting to Pro status is serious business my friends. We loved the Wii!

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Of all the material I was assigned to read in 4.5 years in college, this stuck with me the most. Just so happens it was assigned to me by my favorite professor (Mr. Kloska) in my favorite class (Ethics). Many colleges have prospective students write their essays on this letter. Every MLK day I read it. It's long, but so worth the read. It deals with segregation in the 1950s but the theme is relevant to all humanity. INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.

Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail

1.18.2008

St. Louis, here we come.

Finally, after having to reschedule 2 times, we're headed down to St. Louis tonight to visit the DiTore's! We're oh so excited and promise to post some new baby Clark pictures when we get back. I can't wait to get some practice in with him this weekend. He just may be one of the cutest things on Earth at this very moment!

There just so happens to be 2 Chick-fil-a's within a 25-minute driving distance from the DiTore's home. Can you guess what pregnant lady is going to make her husband go out of his way to drive her to one of them sometime between now and our return trip Monday? I really wish you knew just how excited I am to have some delicious Chick-fil-a! But only my husband really understands my crazy obsession with that place. You see, I usually only get to have it when we go visit Florida. So this is just bliss.

"It's going to be cold this weekend so, bundle up."

1.09.2008

11 Week Ultrasound

We had our first OB appointment today and an awesome ultrasound session! We learned we have a little Mexican jumping bean on our hands. Baby was jumping and turning every which way making mommy & daddy crack up! Here's some of the best shots from our photo shoot...

Here I am in 3D....Look Papa! You can already see my ears.
They're just like daddy's. This is my good side...
Aerial view...

1.06.2008

Emergency Room x 2

Well, John and I are quickly becoming regulars at Palos Community Hospitals ER, much to our dismay. We had to make ANOTHER trip there this morning at about 7 am. After a night of violent coughing on my part due to my flu bug, I awoke to find I was spotting. Not something any pregnant woman wants to see, let alone one that has miscarried in the past.

About 3 hours after we arrived we finally had an ultrasound done and baby is doing just fine. Our little one has grown so much! It was doing summer salts in mommy's tummy and waving "hi" to daddy with 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. It's ticker was beating away just as strong as ever.

The best guess the medical staff could give was that the violent coughing caused this episode. I'm happy to say it has tapered off for the most part. Though we're not out of the woods, we're thankful to know our baby is still with us. And we're so hopeful it will continue to be that way.

Please keep us in your prayers! We really need them right now...

PS...mommy is starting to think baby is a girl because it's already high maintenance and it's not even born yet! anything for baby though....anything!

1.05.2008

Listen to my heartbeat...

Good news: We got to hear our bambino's heartbeat yesterday!

Bad news: It was in the emergency room.

Unfortunately, I'm dealing with a terrible bout of the flu. It started yesterday morning with very painful body aches and progressed to a 101 degree fever. We were worried about the fever more than anything because high sustained temps are not good for baby, especially in the first trimester. After waiting 4 hours (!) to see the doctor, I finally got in. The nurse was able to find the babies heartbeat. It was nice and strong and she even let us listen to it on the stethoscope earphones. I got pumped full of IV fluids at about 1 am and am feeling much better as a result. My fever broke and is staying down for the meantime. So it'll be alot of rest and fluids for me for the next week.

My husband and mom are probably the best non-certified nurses in the greater Chicagoland area. I seriously have no idea what I would have done without their constant care and attention. I'm so blessed.

1.01.2008

What a difference a year makes...

A year ago today, John and I found out we were expecting. It was the sweetest way to start off a new year. A week later our sweetness was taken away. I'd like to say 2007 was a good year, but it was full of some struggle and tears. Until Thanksgiving this year when the sweetness returned. And thus far... has stayed. Things seem to be progressing nicely. And I'm so blessed to say I'm 10 weeks pregnant now! With a little tummy to prove it. :)

Many know I'm a huge Madonna fan. There's a lyric to a song off her last album that I kept repeating to myself along the way. Love her or hate her, this is the truth:

"If it's bitter at the start...than it's sweeter in the end."

I truly believe God gives us our challenges, our road bumps, our crosses so that we can see the true beauty of the blessings in life. As much as I'm thankful for my blessings, I can honestly say I'm thankful for the challenges of life as well. It makes it that much "sweeter."

Ok, I'm done being philosophical and reflective for the night. I just couldn't help but take notice of what a difference a year makes.

KRH