30 Weeks!

We are officially in the thirties!!! Yea! John has been patiently waiting for this and we're so excited to have hit it. In just two short weeks from now, our Trio will be back together at home. I feel like the hard part is behind us. The last two weeks were an uphill climb but we've made it and the finish line is in sight. 

I am feeling great! Up 20 lbs. so we know Johnny is growing good! He passed his first official test with flying colors--I had an ultrasound and biophysical profile on Thursday. The cervix is holding steady, he's got good amounts of fluid around him and he is practicing his exercises that help prepare him to breathe in the outside world. The tech even noticed some hair on his head! It's amazing how close you can feel to your unborn child when you get to check in on him thanks to technology :) I love feeling how strong he is in my tummy. I'm trying to savor these moments since I know this is our last pregnancy. 

Things are busy on the homefront. Mom has continued nesting for me, God love her. Papa and Mimi have had her a few times this week allowing Papa H a few breaks from his new full-time gig. John and Dad will be busy painting the playroom & nursery this weekend, so Lola will be enjoying her first sleepover at Grammy & Brittany's house. 

I got to see Lola a few times this week and while I've surprised myself at how I've been able to cope being away from her for this time, I'm already daydreaming about being home with her again. We had a great lunch together on Tuesday and sitting across from her, watching her just eat and be her ridiculously cute self made me feel like I'd won the lottery. 

And lastly, I learned to crochet this week, thanks to my new friend here, the recreational therapist. In three short days, she's taught me enough to get started on making a blanket for Johnny. I'm highly addicted to this new craft. Auntie Joanie always wanted to teach me but we never got around to it. In some way, I feel like she's guiding me a bit. How else could I be this good at it just three days in? :)

Blessed Brother André

Today is a day I am proud to be a catholic--and part of the Holy Cross family. I learned of the life of a humble man named Bl. Brother André while attending Holy Cross College. He lived a very humble life as a brother in Montreal and served the congregation in different menial roles. But somehow, this man developed a following of local Catholics that believed he helped them in healing their ailments. He didn't do much more then to direct them to pray for St. Joseph's intercession--but it seemed to be just what many needed. His life's mission was to build a magnificent church in honor of St. Joesph. And that he did. The Oratory of St. Joseph stands on a Mount high above Montreal and is visited by thousands yearly--and is decorated with many chruches that are no longer needed by those who say Br. André helped in curing them of their physical aliments.

At this very moment, the Pope is canonizing Blessed Brother André as Saint André of Montreal. The live stream from the Vatican is in French, so I'll have to wait for the re-broadcast in English at 9am.

My favorite professor from college introduced me to the life of this man. My professor is blessed to be in Rome to witness this amazing moment in person! While doing my initial research on Br. André I got instant chills when I learned he was made venerable on Ronnie's birthday and beatified on my first birthday. I believe in little signs like that and from that moment I felt a special connection to him. I went on to learn as much about his life as I could and began to pray for his intercession.

In the Catholic faith, a person must be dead for 5 years before a case for their sainthood can even be made. At that time, if enough people have petitioned the Vatican for a case to be made, the Vatican creates a special team to see if the cause should be venerated. Once made venerable, miracles may be attributed. The first attributed miracle and the person is recognized as blessed. The second, they are canonized as a Saint.

On a side note, the Vatican will dissect any claimed attributed miracle with every scienctific scrutiny at their disposable. In other words, they try with every tool at their disposal to prove the miracle was due to human intervention. When it cannot be proven that human hands caused the miracle, only then is it considered legitimate.

Why have saints? To me, that has always been an easy one to defend in the argument of faith. Since we are all called to live as one, why not have models to look toasted who already have, especially ones who have lived among us in modern times?

Saint André of Montreal is the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross to be elevated to Sainthood.

Ave crux, spes unica.

29 Weeks!

Yea!! Today marks 29 weeks. As you can see from the pictures, Johnny is growing. The ultrasound picture was taken on Tuesday. My doctor did the usual check of my cervix (no change!) and also a growth scan. They estimated his weigh to be 2 lbs. 14 oz.--great size for his gestational age. I am so spoiled with these 4D ultrasounds. And I am sooooo in love with that sweet face. It is going to be such a change having a little boy--and I am bursting with excitement about it. We really think he looks just like Lola did at her 28 week ultrasound.

The second picture is my big belly at 29 weeks, taken just after a delicious dinner from Calypso Cafe in Hyde Park. It was a featured restaurant on "Check, please!" a few years ago and looked so good that we remembered it. Since it's just a few blocks from the hospital we figured no better time to try it. It was awesome! John & I had a wonderful date night just the two of us. Don't worry, we ordered in :)

I'm up 17 lbs. so far. I could easily gain another 15 and still not be close to the 45 total I gained with Lola. I'm interested to see what the final weight is, especially if I go full term. I love every pound I gain. :)

John, Lola and Dad just left. We had a great visit this morning. We went for a walk in the beautiful sun and I got to watch our sweet girl run around. That is the best medicine. She is adjusting so well to me being in here. It is so typical of her chameleon personality. And of course she looked so adorable all dressed up in some new fall clothes, complete with bow in hair. John makes sure she looks extra cute when she comes to visit--just another reason I love him so. It's the little things that make me most happy.

NICU

Today, the social worker for the women's center here at U of C picked me up wheelchair style so I could tour the NICU at Comer Childrens Hospital--just in case. I'm the kind of person that needs to have as much information as possible. Rather than scare me, on the contrary, it reassured me that should Johnny be premature, he's going to be just fine. The NICU at Comer is one of the best in the country--they can care for up to 48 babies at a time if need be. The surroundings are new, modern and very comfortable--something any family spending time in the NICU deserves.

I pray to never see the inside of the NICU again, but if I must, I'm as prepared as possible for what's to come. Everyday Johnny stays inside Mommy decreases the number of days for him in the NICU.

If you're reading this, I ask you to say a quick prayer for the families that are there now....

Bedrest, Hospital Style

Well--things have changed a bit. Instead of doing strict bedrest at home, on Tuesday, my doctor informed me she'd feel much better if I was on bedrest in the hospital. Tuesday's ultrasound showed my cervix to have funneled even more than before. Since we've already made it to 28 weeks (today), why take any further risk? I, of course, agreed. Mom was able to take me home and get me all packed up and then John brought me back to the University of Chicago on Tuesday night. I've been here ever since and will stay until 32 weeks--at least that's the plan. Hopefully Johnny stays in until then (I really think he will!) and I can come home after that, and do a little more bedrest until 34 weeks. If he comes anytime after 34 weeks, given all we've gone through, my doctor would view that as a success.

I feel so incredibly grateful for so many things....that I've made it to 28 weeks (huge milestone), that my doctor is so conservative, that I'm surrounded by the best family and friends to help support us through this, that John works with a team who is so supportive and understanding, that I have a strong faith that makes me certain everything will turn out just fine, that we're steps away from one of the best NICUs in the country should Johnny decide to change his mind and come out despite everything. I'm thankful for it all.

As you can imagine, the hardest part is being separated from John & Lola. I know our trio will make it through this and than at then end, we'll have added even more love to our family by becoming FOUR! Today, John, Lola and Papa came up to visit me at the hospital. This upcoming visit has sustained me all week...

It was so amazing to snuggle, hug and kiss her (and my husband, of course!). We watched the newly released "Beauty & the Beast", colored, sang songs and even went for a super fun wheelchair stroll around the University of Chicago Hospital grounds (Doctor approved of course.) Fresh air is mandatory as treatment of a patient on bedrest, as far as I'm concerned. I'm so glad we got to enjoy the sunshine, warm air and fall colors together.
Eating yummy pumpkin cookies made by Parker :) Tracy came and visited yesterday--bringing lots of smiles and fantastic goodies!

Here's a little snapshot of my "prison" calendar...I'm counting the days until November 6th when I'll be 32 weeks...and free! You can also see the beautiful art projects made by Lola (with Papa at storytime) and Parker (my boyfriend!).
And finally, as if a visit from my loves wasn't already fantastic enough, Santa (aka John) gave me my Christmas gift early....an iPod Touch!!! I have been wanting one of these for months. Well, I've been wanting an iPhone for a long time, but once I found out this guy existed, I quickly crossed that off my list and told him I'd much rather this. You can only imagine how excited I am to set this all up tonight. I really had no idea how I'd manage a whole 4 weeks without a techno link to the outside world--my husband is the best, in so many ways. I can even video chat with my family members who have iPhones, too--Mommy, Ren, Ronnie, Timmy, Lindsay--Did you hear that?! :)

Playroom Design

Even though we wish we could be upgrading to a 3-bedroom house right about now (thanks awesome real estate market!), I'm really excited about re-designing the playroom to accommodate all the goodies that come along with not one, but two children! And while it's not a house, the layout of our condo can't be beat--I love that Lola has her own space to play just off our living room--so she's never out of sight (and thus, stays out of trouble, haha!)

I've decided on the Ikea Expedit after much research. It will fit perfectly with our espresso colored furniture, so the play and living spaces flow nicely...
I'm going to combine storage. Some Ikea...
Some Land of Nod...
Inspiration? Look what some others have done with their Expedits! I'm so excited about this project to come. I'll never be fully organized in life--that's just not my personality. But I'm going to try my hardest, as it's my official resolution of 2011.

I haven't yet decided if I'm going to go with the 4x4 or 5x5 shelf--Lord knows I have plenty to fill the 5x5, just don't know yet if it will overwhelm the room. Looking forward to an Ikea trip sometime in December!

Halloween Art

Mommy couldn't wait for Lola to wake up from her nap this afternoon--Alissa had dropped off a bag of fall art goodies the other day and I couldn't wait to create with her. I sat in the armchair and she sat at her picnic table--I only assisted a very little--she did such a great job and had so much fun creating some fall themed decorations for the house. I couldn't wait to hang up her work!

(Click on pic below for close up view).

Papa is here!

Lola, October 2010, on the patio--shot on Papa's camera phone.

Call me the luckiest girl in the world--I'm not going to correct you. For those of you that DON'T know, I'm now on strict bed rest after a two day stint in the hospital. Basically, I have very little cervix left. It's much, much shorter than it ever was with Lola and is now starting to funnel from the inside--something they worried could happen with Lola but thankfully never did.

You're probably wondering "Ok, so how are you so lucky?" Well--even though we've got this cross to bear, we have been blessed with a Grammy and a Mimi who have been helping out so far every free second they have. I can take care of myself, but we really need someone to be here 24/7 to help with Lola so I'm not getting up to meet her needs every other minute. She is, in my book, the world's greatest toddler, but she still requires Mommy's help with alot.

Enter Dad. He has graciously agreed to come live with us for the next two months (and sleep on our AeroBed) and help take care of Lola. He arrived this afternoon and jumped right in--taking her to the park and for a nice long walk around the neighborhood. He's always been so great with her--we're so glad he could come and help!!! Mom should arrive sometime in early November. They all had planned to be here for a week at Thanksgiving--so travel plans just got bumped up a bit :)

As for Mommy & Johnny--we've hit 27 weeks! One more week and we're officially in the 3rd trimester--we know there's now a very real chance he could come early. We're not thinking that's going to happen--we've VERY positive--but we know it can happen. Though 28 weeks is still very early for a lil guy to be born, I'm going to be breathing a sigh of relief when we hit that next Saturday--as many babies born after that mark due very well long term. I think of my cousin Sue, who was born at 28 weeks 30 YEARS AGO (!) and is so very smart--she teaches high school English, directs an annual play, has a master's in Poetry and her works have been published--not to even mention she has been a huge support to me since going on bedrest, since she endured it with her son--who she delivered at 32 weeks. I think of her and smile and know anything is possible.