In less than 24 hours....

We will be at the hospital for an ultrasound!!

The "20 week" ultrasound has approached us! When we first learned of the cystic hygroma, the talk of "getting to the 20 week ultrasound" were pretty slim and seemed so far away. A few weeks ago when the doctor had me schedule the ultrasound, it was exciting to have it on the calendar, and now, with less than 24 hours to go, we will actually be having the ultrasound!!!

So, tomorrow is a BIG, BIG, BIG day for us! We will be able to see if the cyst on the back of her neck has gotten smaller or bigger, if there are any heart defects, and many more things. Here's to hoping and praying that it will ALL be good news!!

Another Doctor Appointment

I had a doctor's appointment today to listen for the heartbeat again. As far as the heartbeat goes, she has a good, steady one!! While that is great news and very encouraging, the doctor is concerned about my lack of weight gain. I reassured her that I gained around 40 pounds with Isaac, it just comes at the end! Prior to listening to the heartbeat, she was concerned about the size of my uterus. I am 17.5 weeks and she said if she didn't have my charts, she would say my uterus is measuring at 16 weeks. She looked at me and was about to ask if I had a problem with eating, and before she said anything I said, "Oh, I eat!" She encouraged me to go get some ice cream and add an extra slice of cheese here and there, and you better believe I am going to take that advice to heart! :) In all honesty, I really do hate gaining weight, but the idea of having a malnourished baby scares me even more--and having a uterus not growing is not what I want either....so here's to beefing up this little angel of ours!

"Happiest Place On Earth"

This past week we were in Orlando, Florida! Taylor had a business trip for a conference, and it really just turned out that my dad also had a business trip in Orlando for a different conference--but same time. So, really, how could I pass that up?! So both my mom and I went too!

Taylor and I flew out from Denver on Monday morning. We had to leave the house at 5 a.m. for our 8 a.m. flight. We were nervous how Isaac would do on the plane for a 3.5 hour flight, so we gave him some of his cough medicine and we thought that coupled with a lack of sleep would knock him out....nope, sure didn't. Back-up: portable DVD player. Nope, he wouldn't keep those headphones on for the life of him. But we just did odds and ends and he really did well for the whole flight.

My mom picked Isaac and I up from the airport while Taylor and his co-worker headed to the hotel to set-up for the conference. My mom and I stopped at Target to get some food for the room--at this point it had been about 8+ hours since Isaac woke up with no nap, so I thought for sure he would crash.....but he didn't go down until we got to our room! I was so impressed with him!

Taylor and I (and Isaac) stayed at Disney's Contemporary Resort, and we really liked it. Once back at the room, we met up with Taylor, we all took a quick nap, and then headed to my parents hotel for dinner. Sorry, no pictures from day one.

Day Two: It was supposed to rain, so my mom and I decided to hit the shops for the day. It ended up not raining, but a day at the outlets is always good! I got this picture of Isaac...when we were in Ann Taylor he kept running into the window display and did not want to leave! It was so funny.



Tuesday night we went to dinner with everyone at Moon Fish. We went back to our room after dinner and I was nervous about how the nights would be with all three of us in the same room when we didn't go to bed when we put Isaac down, but it was no big deal. Isaac would stand up a few times to see what we were doing, but after putting him back down he went to bed. Also, no one tells you what to do with a dirty diaper in a hotel room!

Day THREE: We went to Magic Kingdom. We knew prior to this trip that we would only spend one day at Disney. We go every other year as a family to Disney World, so I knew Isaac would have another chance to really appreciate the parks....but we also knew he was at an age to finally get into it a little bit.

The monorail ran through our hotel and took us to Magic Kingdom...I just thought it was so funny how Isaac would hold on to the bar! He also started a new thing of "helping" me push the stroller when he was walking, it was all so funny!

"Happiest freakin' place on earth" right?!?! :) This is how we started the park..... hahaha...I really couldn't resist getting this picture just so I could say that! My mom and I were both laughing at the thought. However, I believe he just wanted to play with my mom's phone, but unfortunately she was on it.

Once we got in and past the tantrum (aka--needed lunch!) we went to Pirates of the Caribbean! It was so fun to watch him stand in line and walk with us. He absolutely adored this Mickey stuff animal.
Waiting in line....

On the ride...obviously caught Isaac in a blink. He was so mesmerized by it! And never got scared when it got dark. He sat on the bench between my mom and I and would put his hand on my leg...it was so cute.

After Pirates, we went to "It's a Small World"...again, he loved all the lights, movement and sound. Here is a picture of us waiting in line. Maren, a good friend from Colorado, was in DisneyWorld as part of the College Internship program. She had the day off so she came and hung out with us! It was so fun.

Here's Isaac sitting like a little gentleman in the ride.
Following It's a Small World, we went to Phillur (sp??) Magic....a 3D show with Mickey Mouse. I didn't know how he would do through it, but after he stopped fighting to pull the 3D glasses off, he sat mesmerized on my lap. He would jump a few times throughout the show....it was pretty funny. He loved holding onto the railing...

Then we headed off to the "Celebration" Parade. He didn't quite know what to do at first, but he quickly grasped the concept of waving at the floats--so much so, that when we were waiting for Taylor to pick us up at the airport on the way home, Isaac kept waving at the cars driving by!

Best part of the parade: When the fairy Godmother blew Isaac a kiss and Isaac blew one back! SOOO Cute!!

That night we went to Downtown Disney to eat at Portobello's. The children's menu turned into a chef hat...I thought that was clever...
That night, Isaac and I slept at my parents hotel. That was not planned. On Tuesday, Taylor and his co-worker realized that they could leave Wed. night (instead of Thursday afternoon) and figured with as much as they have going on at the office, that it would be wise to leave early. So that meant he had to check out of the hotel on Wed., leaving Isaac and I "hotel-less"....well, not really, we just slept at my parents place. So it worked out.

Isaac was in such a funny mood this night...he would sit on my mom's lap, cover his eyes, my dad would throw a mini-football at his stomach and he would laugh so hard and get up and give it back to my dad and start all over again...

Day FOUR: Last day. We spent the morning at the pool. Isaac is so fearless that it scares me so bad! He just loved jumping in, over and over again. After we got cleaned up, my mom and I headed to the airport for our FOUR hour flight home. Isaac did so well, I am so proud of him! Here is my mom and Isaac walking up and down the aisle during the flight at one point.

Ok, two funny stories...well, maybe not both funny.

First: On Tuesday, in order for us to get from our hotel to my parents, we had to ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom and then get on one of Disney's buses to get to my parents hotel. Well on Tuesday, Isaac and I had to go over by ourselves since Taylor was in his conference. After this experience I worry about what I would do with TWO kids!!!! It started when we got on the elevator from our room to go to the monorail....we got off on the wrong floor, so when we got back in the elevator, the elevator wouldn't move (enter biggest fear of getting stuck in an elevator) we got off that, made it to the right floor and got on the escalator to get to the monorail. Well the escalator is a MINI escalator--just wide enough for our stroller. Well the front wheel turns, so when it hits the top it turns the back two wheels, causing us to get stuck all the while the escalator is still moving us up. Embarrassing. But wait, that's not the worst. Then we get on the monorail and I guess through all of this, I hit the lever on the front wheel. Because as I am trying to move the stroller out of the way, the front wheel falls off. Uh....some guy on the monorail helps me. At this point I am sure I have a red blinking sticker on my head that says "this girl needs help!" That was essentially all that really happened, but I was sure missing Taylor at this point!!!

Second: I officially hate the Orlando airport. My mom and I went to eat before going through security, and in order to leave the restaurant and get down to security we were going to take the escalator--which was obviously the fastest and most convenient method. Right as I was getting on the escalator I hear "Ma'am! Ma'am!" So I turn to look and some power hungry man says "You can't take that stroller down the escalator!"

Me- "Why not?"

Power Hungry Man- "You have to use the elevator with your stroller."

Me- "Why" sounding irritated.

Power Hungry Man- "It's against fire code"

Me- "Just here??"

Power Hungry Man- "In all airports!"

Me- "R-e-a-l-l-y...." as I turn to the elevator.

Tell me, would it really be fire code to put you in an elevator if there was a fire??? I don't think so. And really, I have to go up and down escalators in the Denver airport, so why, of all places would this one escalator be against fire code??? Grr....this seriously had me urked the rest of the day...and apparently still does. I so wish I would have just turned and gone down the escalator.

THEN...we get to security and a man comes up and asks up to move to the very end to go through their "family line." while it ended up not being a huge deal, it still bothered me that they felt like I would be a "nuisance" enough because of my one child, that they moved me to another line to go behind everyone else who had kids. Why, why do you have to separate like that??

THEN...oh yes, not done yet. We get on the plane. We try the DVD player again, and he would not leave the headphones on. So I unplugged the headphones and we just listened to it normally. Isaac was great. He was like any toddler---well about 20 minutes before FINDING NEMO ended, the flight attendant came up and since Isaac had a book in his hands, she says "Since he isn't watching the movie, I need you to turn it down. I've had passengers complain it's too loud." First thought through my head: "Would you rather hear the movie of him screaming??" 2 minutes later, enter next flight attendant: "Will he not listen to the headphones?" My thought: no lady, are you dumb? He is a toddler! She continues, "Well technically, it needs to be off or listened to on headphones. It is disturbing other passengers." Enter next thought: Oh, I'll give them something to be disturbed by! I told my mom I wanted to pinch Isaac so he would cry and annoy them. Granted, I wouldn't, but it was still a thought. I WAS SO ANNOYED. REALLY???? Because this non-vulgar, G-rated movie is offensive??? You know the people who complained were those who have no kids. Then the guy sitting next to me said, "If I am sitting next to you and I don't even hear it, it's not a big deal" ... tells me later he is the dad of twin boys....case in point.

So that was our fun adventure home. We definitely wore Isaac out each day. He is so fun and did extremely well with the heat, lack of schedule, and stimulation. I am so proud of him!

As for Taylor, his conference was a great success and I am so glad he let Isaac and I tag along!!!

Cutest Pictures E-V-E-R!!!

I took these pictures of Isaac earlier this week....couldn't be more happy with how well they turned out!! Look at that curly red hair (he gets that from me, it's exactly what I had as a baby) and blue eyes (he gets that from Taylor)! What a cutie!

Here's his "Cheese!"

I love this little boy!!!

A Great Weekend

We had a great weekend this past week! It started off on Friday when I had the privilege of hosting a breakfast for my mother-in-law, Suzanne, and all her sisters. Now, this was a big deal! They (Suzanne and her sisters) were getting together for a sister's reunion to go through some family things and the fact that I was even allowed to steal them away from that was an honor! So--like my sister-in-law Kim, I had been planning and visioning what I would cook, how i would lay it out, etc.... haha, I love hosting parties, what can I say?? Did I pass, Kim??

Here are all the sisters: (From L to R, Mary Ann, Kay, Diane, Suzanne, and Joan) I love these ladies!!!!

Grandma and Isaac!

The three of us....I promise I didn't intentionally plan on color coordinating. :)

The next big event of the weekend: Time Out For Women in Denver. I went for the day on Saturday with my good friend, Kelly, and we met up with several girls in the ward.

My good friend, Kelly, and I at the end....boy were we ready to be done sitting! She is also pregnant, just a few weeks behind me! So fun!

So, while I was in Denver all day, and Taylor went out to see Cougar in training, Isaac had his FIRST sleepover with Nana and Papa. (That was so weird to go home without Isaac!) Both Taylor and I had to get up early on Saturday, so we figured it would be best to let him sleep in at Nana and Papa's. Never a dull moment at their house....started the night out with coloring....

And once I got home, he went crazy with apples and caramel. I couldn't get over how big he looked as he sat on the bar stool all by himself! Look at that sticky mess....gotta love it!

Cheesing with dad and Papa!

This is Isaac saying "Cheese!"

I love this picture of Taylor and Isaac looking at each other....

And then we were able to spend a meal with Suzanne and her sisters and Taylor's cousins on Sunday after church and then we took Suzanne to the airport! It was a great weekend!

Look What Came In the Mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look what came in the mail yesterday:


Taylor's DIPLOMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Taylor graduated from ISU in December with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Training and Development. I am SOOOOOOO proud of him!!!!!

For those of you who don't know, when I first met Taylor and when we got married, Taylor was never very big on school. I believe his attitude about it was, "I'll get school done when I get it done." It just wasn't a big push for him to finish--he wanted, or planned, to finish but didn't really see the need to get it done quickly. Taylor was much more of the work-type of guy and school was just a hindrance to that.

Well, at some point, his attitude completely shifted. He wanted to finish. He wanted to graduate and he even wants to go get his Masters now. This shift in desire came and is a leading factor for why we moved to Idaho. When we first moved to Idaho, Taylor was leaning towards getting a degree in finance. He did a semester of finance classes and enjoyed them but it just didn't seem right. Things feel into place--like they always do--and he learned of the HR major. It was PERFECT for Taylor.

I have never seen Taylor do so well as he did in his HR classes. It's true what they say--when you find something that just clicks, it's for the best. Taylor really challenged himself in this major by taking 18+ credits a semester, plus working, plus a new baby, etc. He did awesome!!!

Turns out, that if he didn't find his major when he did--which led to taking certain classes during a certain semester, he wouldn't have been able to finish when he did. They stopped offering core classes during certain semesters that would have delayed his graduation (and our moving) if he hadn't already taken them. So it was truly meant to be!!


It's a big deal to Taylor to walk, so in May we will be going to Pocatello, Idaho for his graduation! I am so happy and proud of him!! He worked so hard and definitely has earned this degree!!! Now, it's time to relax for a little bit before he starts his Masters.

Doctor Appointment

Since learning the results of the CVS test, and the chances of miscarriage being high, my doctor asked me if I would like to come in every week or every two weeks--or as much as I wanted--to check for the heartbeat. She said miscarriages don't always result in bleeding and that the baby could die without us knowing. (She probably put it a little more eloquently than that, but that is it in a nutshell). So, today was our first doctor appointment to check primarily for the heartbeat.

I was a little nervous given the fact that the previous two times I was in, we should have heard a heartbeat, but couldn't. (Has nothing to do with the cystic hygroma, has a lot to do with my tilted cervix).

Anyway, as she puts the Doppler on my stomach, probably a good 20-30 seconds pass before she finds it. It felt like forever! But once she found it, it was GOOD NEWS!!! The baby's heartbeat is strong and steady--which is a very good sign!!! She said if the baby's heartbeat was fast it usually indicates fluid around the heart with my condition. And, while we were listening to it, the baby moved, another good sign. I keep thinking I can feel the baby move but think it's still a little early.

So all in all, it was GREAT news and very encouraging!! I am 15 weeks and I will go in again in about 2 more weeks and then a few weeks later we will have the "will tell us a lot" 20 week ultrasound!

I still feel like this baby is a fighter and that we have a God of miracles--so I feel pretty confident that all will go well with this baby.

And, I must say what a tremendous husband I have. He has truly been a rock to me throughout this whole process. Someone once asked me how Taylor was handling this trial and it kind of caught me off guard. Taylor has been nothing but faithful and believing and supportive through this--from the moment I told him we had a problem. I have welcomed and leaned on him in so many ways--for his Priesthood blessings, for his faithful perspective, for his warm embrace. There have been nights where I will look at him and just ask him a question pertaining to how I am feeling and he will answer it in the most Christ-like, faithful and positive way. And I have been truly grateful to have him by my side through all of this, I couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else. I am grateful that we have handled this trial together and that it has brought us closer together as we have turned to the Lord and recognized His hand in all of this. Because we know that the Lord has something greater in store for us than we can even comprehend.

The Results

We got the call today with the results from the CVS test. I know a lot of you have been wondering if we have heard so I thought I would post...

We learned that there is a chromosome abnormality and that it is indeed Turner's Syndrome. If you don't remember, that is where there is a 99% chance of miscarriage. If I get past 26 weeks, I am considered to be in the 1%. The effects of Turner's Syndrome typically will not be noticed by anyone who does not know. For example, one of the effects is being shorter than average-- the child will most likely not be taller than 5 feet. (My mom should enjoy someone her own size now!) :) The child--if we get to delivery--has the full potential to live a long, healthy and normal life.

And, we found out that we are having a GIRL.

Ultimately, we feel this news is a mixed blessing.

I have felt for a while that I will not loose this baby, so initially, when she said it was Turner's and that signalled the 99% chance of miscarriage, I was confused with the feelings I had felt so strongly earlier. I thought, the FACTS of the matter are we will loose this baby to a miscarriage. BUT, I KNOW facts are not faith based.

I think the hardest thing about receiving this news is that I was mentally prepared (and convinced) that it would either be Down Syndrome or no abnormality. When Taylor and I spoke about what could happen, we knew Turner's was an option, but we never thought or talked about the chance that it would be Turner's. Never. So the news really did come as a shock. The genetic counselor continued to go on after giving me the news and I honestly don't remember a word she said.

So, you ask, how are we doing? A few hours ago that question most likely would have triggered the tears. But you ask me now, now that the news has been received and absorbed, we are doing good. We have the knowledge and support we need to get through this. We know and we believe that if we do loose this baby to a miscarriage, we will have the opportunity to raise that sweet little girl in the eternities. And that gives us great peace and comfort.

We also know that we will accept the Lord's will. We know that He is in control and if we put our FAITH and TRUST in Him, all will be ok. We know that. And because we know that, we are doing ok. Does it make it easier? No. But He never said it would be easy, He just said it would be worth it....and that, I do believe.

We are also lifted up by the incredible support and love we have felt from our friends and family....the care and the interest from those around us has truly made a difference in our lives throughout this experience. The prayers, the fasting, the calls, the messages.....have all meant so much to us and has helped us get through this and for that we are sincerely grateful to you.

We know we will get through this. We know that whatever happens will be God's will and that whatever happens is what is supposed to happen and knowing that has brought us the peace we need at this difficult time.

I remain hopeful and full of faith that we will be in that 1%. I believe miracles happen everyday. So for now, we take it one day at a time. The 20 week ultrasound will tell us a lot....so we pray that the cystic hygroma will resolve itself and disappear, because that will truly help our odds. If the cystic hygroma gets worse--which the ultrasound will tell us--the chances of having a stillbirth are likely. (Most likely, if it gets worse it is because there would be an excess of fluid building up around the baby). So please, pray with us now, that the cystic hygroma will resolve itself.

...And we wait....and wait....and wait...

About 4:30 today that heart-dropping name and number popped up on the caller ID. It was the hospital. I answered it, prepared to hear the results.

Instead, it was the genetic counselor saying that the sample from the procedure was too small to take some out for the preliminary results. So, we won't know anything this week. Instead, we will wait until the final tests are run and they will call us at the end of next week....

I personally think this is for the best. For the preliminary results, they only test for 5 things whereas the final test will test for 46 things. And personally, I would like it all at once instead of a little here and a little there.....but if all could come tomorrow or Friday--I would have liked that better!

So, here's to waiting for another WEEK! Ugh, that sounds like a long time.