Close call...

Well, today was my scheduled 33 week check-up to see how things are progressing along with this pregnancy. When I woke up early at 5am, I had a funny feeling... lots of strong pain, mainly in my lower right belly. It started off somewhat okay, but progressed to sharp pains that began coming every 15 minutes. After drinking tons of water and lying down on my left side for a half hour, I finally made sure the girls and William were ready to make the trip with me to the appointment. Thankfully, I had just enough energy shortly after waking up to do a quick clean-up throughout the house- laundry, dishes, toys put away, living room straightened, and even prepared my hospital bag... I got extremely nervous that little Dannen might try to make an appearance today:(

By the time we made it to my doctor's office (right next to the hospital), I was having strong contractions every 10 minutes. They weighed me (only gained 4 pounds in two weeks!) and checked my blood pressure- up to 149, highest so far this pregnancy. I was hooked up to the stress test monitor and had my contractions monitored for a half hour. Dannen's doing great with a strong heartbeat of around 151. It was neat seeing the contractions show up on the paper. One time I could hardly breathe it was so strong! My doctor said since Dannen's laying really low now, he was pushing in an awkward position causing my contractions.

As long as I have no spotting and the contractions stay few and not really painful, we're still playing the waiting game- thank goodness... 33 weeks is too soon for me! We're soooo not ready! I'm very grateful my appointment was the same day so I wouldn't have to make a trip to Labor and Delivery this early.

Your Baby at 33 Weeks:
Your baby's crown-to-rump length is about 11 1/2 inches. He weighs about 4 1/2 pounds and gains about eight ounces every week. Your baby has probably moved to the head-down position and may descend into your pelvis at any time in the next six weeks and begin to press into your cervix. This position not only prepares his for birth but allows blood to flow to his developing brain. The dark quiet of your womb is perfect for this activity. Right now, your baby is also in the process of receiving your antibodies. If he were born right now, his immune system would be immature, and extra care would need to be taken to keep him in a sterile environment.

Bunny love!

Chloe has been a really nice addition to our family. It was determined right off the bat that Kaylie was her "mama":)

She's the friendliest, softest, calmest bunny we've ever met! Not once, not twice, but MANY times Chloe's been picked up and carried throughout the apartment like she was a baby doll... needing some play time. The girls can't get enough of her LOL We've found that letting her out in their bedroom provides the safest area- no cords to chew! So, once a day we sit together, with shut door of course, and let her run and hop around for about 30 minutes. Kaylie's in charge of filling her food dish and Makenzie adding the hay every morning. Gotta keep them in the routine of taking care of their pet!

This was Kaylie the first night we brought Chloe home... I walked out around 430am to find her fast asleep, nice and comfy next to "her" bunny:)

Makenzie LOVES letting Chloe hop over her legs and watching her attempt to climb on the beds!
~*~Chloe Rose~*~

Keeping a close eye on her...

Chloe only lets Kaylie lay her on her back like a stuffed animal... and she stays that way until Kaylie moves!!!

Hey! No eating the dressers!

I SEE YOU... :)

Christmas 2008

Our day began early... at 6AM!!! First Kaylie went running by our room and then quickly back to wake Makenzie up. Then, we hear them both "oohing" and "aahing" at the presents. Finally, both girls came running into our room holding presents saying, "Wake up! Santa came!" William and I chuckled and rolled out of bed... time for coffee!!!!

By 715AM we were watching the girls play with all the wonderful gifts. The day prior, we noticed Makenzie had a rash on a few parts of her body. Well, Christmas day turned into a rash fest! Quickly after initially opening the gifts, both girls were enjoying bath time. Makenzie's rash now covered all but her face. She never once had a fever, but itched, had a red throat and sensitive belly all day. She thought it was great running around in panties:) We finally got the girls to both change into their new Hanana Montana shirts. It was really great to watch them play so nicely together.

We played Christmas low-key this year... just the four of us enjoying one another. Christmas Eve was spent with my mother and sister at Olive Garden- yummy!

*We took Makenzie the day after Christmas to the pediatrician to find out she has the beginning of Strep... with anti-biotics, she should be back to "normal" within a few days:)*

Merry Christmas

Kaylie & Makenzie

~Our Home~

Christmas Parade

The four of us enjoyed a night filled with lots of lights, music and yummy candy! A few of my "Cafe Mom" friends also brought their kiddos to hang out with us:) What a great way to get everyone excited about Christmas coming soon.

Letter From Santa

Makenzie, Santa & Kaylie 2008

Great news times two:)

Okay, for all of you who have asked about Kaylie and whether or not there's any updated news...

Today she saw a wonderful Nephrologist who gave us some much desired news: She does not have any weird kidney issues!!! Thank God:) After an ultrasound session, which by the way Kaylie enjoyed- "I have a jelly belly like Mommy when she hears my baby brother!", he came to the conclusion that the traces of blood found in her urine are not from something life-threatening. His professional opinion was that it came from when she had a really bad UTI and bowl issues when all of this scary stuff came about. So, she gave a urine sample, which I took to her pediatrician to have sent off to the hospital for testing, just to make sure every thing's okay. If for some reason there's still small traces of blood, then they'll treat her with anti-biotics to flush her system and hopefully get everything cleared up fast! She hasn't had any bathroom issues, no pain, no crazy urges or trying to hold for long amounts of time.

I know our hearts were extremely in shock when this came about. But like I wrote before, I didn't want to go nuts writing about anything until we got further along and had an idea of what the next steps might turn towards. We're very thankful for the kind thoughts and prayers:)

Today was also my 31 week check-up... our little baby boy is doing just fine! My doctor found his heartbeat right away, very strong I might add:) It's kinda hard to miss how he lays sometimes, since his butt is usually up in the air. The girls love to poke him and make my belly "do the wave". I've gained some weight and have good blood pressure. I do blame the loads of cookies I've been making (and trying) on a few pounds though! I start the every-two-weeks' visits now. My 33 week check-up is on December 31st:)

~*~Two positive doctor's appointments in one day sure made for a few calm breathes and weight lifted off our shoulders.~*~

It's A Girl!!!

Just a quick note... it's a girl...

Name: Chloe Rose LaVella
Date: December 13th
Time: 11:10 am
Weight: 5 pounds 1 ounce
Height: 17 1/2 inches

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Bunny Rabbit!

Kaylie loves the food dish...

One proud Daddy!

So gentle and calm... she's very easy to hold!

~*~Bunny Kisses from Makenzie~*~

Through the wonderful www.craigslist.com website, I found a family wanting to give their little bunny away to a family with children who could share their love and attention. That's us! She came with her own cage, bedding, water bottle and food dish... who could have asked for a better Christmas present?!

The girls are very excited to pick out Chloe's stocking and go shopping for her little Christmas gifts<3

30 Weeks!!!

Time to have the big count down... 10 weeks at most! I've been itching to set up the online baby poll where our family and friends can guess what's going to happen with our little guy. In this poll, you guess the gender (hint- IT'S A BOY!), weight, height, date of birth and time of birth. Please vote and make sure to leave your name so we can see who the closest guess entry winner will be:)

Follow this link (the same will be posted on the main page as well) and play along! Thanks:)

Baby Info at 30 Weeks:

You baby's length is about 16 inches—about as long as a laptop computer—and he measures almost 11 inches from crown to rump. He weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. From now until delivery, every baby will gain weight at a more individual rate. Your baby has doubled in height over the past six weeks, and from now until delivery, he'll gain only a few more inches in length. Don't worry if he's in a strange position (what your care provider might call a "transverse lie"). There's still plenty of time for him to get settled into the head-down (cephalic) position for birth. He's floating in about 1 1/2 pints of amniotic fluid and has some room to move. Your baby's most important organ, his brain, continues to develop at a rapid pace. His eyes are able to track light, and some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light may stimulate development. Try moving the beam of a flashlight slowly over your belly in a dim room, and see if he reacts.

Mommy-To-Be Info:
You've now been officially pregnant for seven months, and the home stretch is in sight. You're big now, no doubt about it! Your belly is about the size of a watermelon. Tying your shoes is a challenge, and you may already have adopted the pregnant "waddle."

Watch Us Dance!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

10 Years Ago...

Ten years ago, William officially asked me "out". I remember, after spending the previous weekend together in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, our friendship grew closer. We had a blast enjoying the city, along with my parents, sister and Grandpa/Grandma Schultz. We sang Christmas carols... our special was "Feliz Navidad", and cuddled in the cold wintry air.

William came to me early in the day on December 6th, asking if we could hang out that night. He needed to have a serious talk with me. So, after our shifts ended at the movie theatre (He was an Operations Coordinator and I was a box office staff member), we met for dinner. When he walked me to my apartment door, he said, "Scoot over here!" pulling me closer to him and off to the side so no one could see us through the peep hole. He said, "I love you, will you be my official girlfriend?" :) Of course I had a humongous smile and said "YES!!!" I remember thinking I didn't want him to leave... His apartment was literally in the next building!

So, here we are ten years later, happily married, parents of two beautiful daughters and one little boy "on the way". We've been through A LOT together. I can only wish that the next ten years are as wonderful as these have been:)

Kiddo Updates...

My girls all dressed up in their new "play" tights... they look like little '80s kids!

Okay, so my girls are growing up so fast and keeping us on our toes! Kaylie is in the top reading group in her class... she will be starting the 1st grade books next semester. We are keeping a close eye on her health. For the past month, after two doctors' visits, Kaylie has been treated with antibiotics for having blood in her urine... Her pediatrician can't figure out why, so we had a Renal Ultrasound done this past Tuesday. They were checking for an enlarged kidney or stones. Hopefully we'll get the results in the beginning of next week. We're off to The Kidney Treatment Center in Orlando some time this month to see a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) to diagnose what's going on. Fingers crossed for some "manageable" news! Makenzie is my little helper:) She's been doing lots of housework and baking with me every day. Makenzie's favorite toy now is their Little Touch Leap Pad. She loves to sit either with one of us or alone, singing and reading... yes reading! With the help at times from big sister Kaylie, she's learned a few words already. She's gotten so tall now, that there's only two inches separating both girls, two pounds, and only one size in clothing. When we talk about me being pregnant, she ALWAYS refers to our little guy as "Dannen Michael"... can't forget his middle name, or we get the third degree from her:)

My growing belly at 29 weeks!

Only 11 more weeks left until our due date of February 20th... scary!!! I know this delivery will be sooner, it's just a matter of when he's ready to join our family. I feel great- no where near the "hugeness" like when pregnant with my girls. I do enjoy a nap here or there and get tired quicker at night. Since my belly is rising higher, the shortness of breath and acid reflux hits me at night as well. Usually, I sit up a lot on yahoo messenger talking to William or my friends once the girls go down for bed. It's nice to enjoy the quiet times while I can:)

Fetal Development:
The baby's head is in proportion to the rest of the body. Fat continues to accumulate under the skin. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control, and the eyes can move in the sockets. The baby is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell. Now, I wonder how experts know a baby can smell in utero?
Inspirational Thoughts:
Children are the purpose of life. We were once children and someone took care of us. Now it is our turn to care. ~Cree elder

I Miss You Dad...

(Photo taken only 2 months before he passed away)

December 2, 2004... 5:18am: My Dad became an angel... I can't believe it's been four years already... When thinking back, it seems like only yesterday that I spent time with my Dad... What I wouldn't give right now to have him here again... He was the absolute best father and grandfather- EVER! Kaylie will always be "Papa's girl"... I wish he could have met Makenzie and had the opportunity to be around her... In my heart I know he hand-picked her to be with us... Now as I sit here, pregnant with our baby boy, I can't help but wonder once again what it would be like to have my Dad here to experience this time in our lives... Finally a grandson... I pray he's watching with a smile at how much love we have for one another and how much we miss him dearly... I always think, "What would he say or think about what's going on?"... "Would he be happy with my decisions?" ... "Would he be proud of me?"... I feel him so close to me at times... if only I could reach out and physically hug him... Dad, I miss you so much... I love you....................

A montage of photos I was fortunate enough to share with my Dad, just before he passed away... (pictures are blurry, but still mean the same...)

One of my favorite songs that reminds me of my Dad...

Thanksgiving Celebration

This year was the first Thanksgiving where I got to make dinner!!! The previous years were either spent at my parents' house, with other family members, or when my mother-in-law came to cook at our house (2 years ago). It was a nice, calm day, spent just the four of us and one of William's really good friends Travis. Unfortunately, the parade, in my opinion, has gone down hill. So, the girls didn't really pay that much attention at all. They were more interested in their toys and eating all the yummy goodies:)

The night before Thanksgiving, both girls helped me make a Cheese Swirl Pumpkin Pie, the Pork Sausage Stuffing (which became our own recipe with a few add-ins by the girls), the Sweet Potato Bake, and our Fruit 'n Cream-Cheese filled Cornucopias.

Early in the morning, after William worked a short 3am-7am shift at Dunkin Donuts, he and the girls started making the Candied Pumpkin Pie- YUMMY!!!
I'm not a fan of touching, let alone stuffing anything that resembles a chicken, turkey, etc.... Thanks to Mr. Crabtree, my 9th grade biology teacher, after dissecting a fetal pig, nothing seems right! William was my hero...

Oh baby! "Tom" turned out perfect:)

Let's eat!

~*~Happy Thanksgiving~*~

I was one tired mama! The girls love sitting on me, especially when Dannen wiggles a lot:)

Kaylie passed out on the couch...

Makenzie passed out on the floor...

Car Accident:(

Today started off good, until some moron decided to run his red light and plow into the rear passenger's side of my car- right where Makenzie was sitting!!! I tried to move, but couldn't, otherwise I would have hit a car head on.

Makenzie was fine, she yelled "what the". The guy got out right away and went to her window asking her how she was doing. I got out and started crying like a baby:( My little girl could have gotten really hurt! He asked how we were and freaked out when he saw my belly... he kept saying sit down and relax- yeah, okay?!?! Thankfully, it happened a block south of William's Dunkin Donuts. I called him right away, and he came running down the street. This guy's jeep was barely scratched! My car has a nice dent and white scrape marks on the side. William was pretty calm- I thought he was going to deck the guy. He was like, "Don't worry about insurance, here's my info and all, I'll pay out of pocket for anything you need."

We called my mom right away and dropped Makenzie off at her place while William took me to my doctor... I had my 28 week check up scheduled anyways:) They hooked me up to the stress-test monitor to make sure baby Dannen was okay. His heart beat stayed around 150, and he kept moving a lot:) While laying there pushing the button every time I felt him wiggle, I enjoyed my glucose drink- yuck! At least I could relax listening to my baby boy:) As long as I have no cramping or blood spots, there's no concern about the accident affecting either of us... yay!

I had really high blood pressure, obviously due to freaking out. So far, I've gained 18 pounds and am still on track for my February 20th due date. The next visit is December 17th- I'll be 31 weeks!?!?!

So, what a day to have an appointment!!! I'm so grateful my little girl and growing baby boy are okay. I hate our car, so that added to the fury over it LOL William stayed with me all morning and afternoon, having to work tonight... it was nice to have him there to hold me:)

What is going on with you during week 28?

You may have gained about 17-24 pounds (7.7-10.8 kg). Your uterus will feel hard and you may even experience Braxton hicks (simulated contractions). Along with discomforts of the 1st and 2nd trimester, you are likely to experience heartburn and indigestion more frequently because of your digestive organs having to share room with your growing uterus and baby.

Date Night with Daddy

With William working so much lately, both he and Kaylie needed special time together... "Daddy's Date Night". They got dressed up all fancy: Kaylie in her favorite dress, Mommy's make-up, and fancy shoes, Daddy in his outfit picked out by Kaylie.

First, they headed off to Meg O'Malleys, a great Irish Pub & Restaurant in Downtown Melbourne. Bring on the chicken fingers:)

From there, they enjoyed the street party festivities... Kaylie's favorite- FACE PAINTING!!!

To wrap up the night, a visit to "Get Fired Up!" was in store. Kaylie chose from over 300+ ceramic items to paint. She selected a cute mermaid statue and had Daddy help pick out their color pallet. After three coats of each color, it was time to call it a night. Two more visits are in store for the statue to be finished. Then, it's off to be "fired up" and called a masterpiece!

I'm not sure who had more fun... Kaylie with dressing up and painting with her Daddy, or William, getting to spend much desired time with his growing little girl:)

Kaylie sporting her face painting and statue choice

Let's Paint!
Meg O'Malley's menu

Hi, Daddy!

Daddy's Little Girl...

Turkey Project

Kaylie's Turkey project for school...

Great helper!
The project is displayed all week in the media center for all the kiddos to enjoy:)

Last week of 2nd Trimester:)

This is me, 6 months pregnant with baby Dannen:)

Wow... These past weeks have certainly flown by, for the most part! It's really getting nerve-racking thinking of how little time is left until we meet our baby boy. Lots to do and lots to buy... guess I should have kept all of our things for the "just in case" factor- oops!

My Baby
Your frisky fetus is on another growth spurt, shooting up half an inch this week to measure about 14 inches from head to toe. He weighs roughly 2 1/2 pounds, and will gain approximately half a pound each week for the next 10 weeks. The average full-term baby weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and measures from 18 to 20 1/2 inches, but many normal, healthy babies fall outside this range.
Inspirational Thoughts:
A flower has to go through a lot of dirt before it can bloom. ~Unknown

Kaylie Updates

Well, our little girl had her first of 13 school year photos taken. She's growing up so fast!!! We're happy that she smiled and didn't get nervous:)

I had a HUGE scare today when picking Kaylie up from school... her teacher informed me one of her very close friends has lice!?!? She showed me where on her head to look for them or little eggs (base of the hair line at the neck) and what to watch for. Thankfully, as of right now she's okay- whew!!! On the down side, her teacher also informed me the school changed their policy this year. The "keep your kid home until fully cured" policy is out- they can stay in school even while infected!?!? This means, not only could her little friend infect her classmates/teachers, but also risk infecting their families. Total panic set in! I don't want to tell Kaylie to stay away, because let's face it, could you imagine how sad and terrified they would be to hear such news and not be able to play with one another? Tomorrow holds a meeting with the school and my doctor to make sure what is and isn't going to happen if Kaylie gets infected. There has to be something to make sure her friend is taken care of and that everyone here at home will be safe... FINGERS CROSSED!!!

Last Nighttime Shuttle Launch

Well, Makenzie and I got to enjoy what could very well be THE LAST nighttime shuttle launch. With the space program ending in 2010 on the space coast, everyone down here has been anxious to keep tabs on what's going to happen. 2009 holds only daytime scheduled launches. If for some reason they are pushed back due to weather concerns or flight delays, there's a small possibility for a nighttime launch. This was the first time Makenzie was able to enjoy a real launch experience... usually we'd run outside and see the trail leading up to outer space. It was absolutely wonderful!!!

Makenzie and Mommy ready to share the special moment together!

Moon over the ocean
My camera did something weird while I took a picture of the moon... wonder what it could be?!?!

Tiny speck on the upper left is the shuttle... bigger spot on the right is the moon:)

*Awesome... push the play button*