Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a big day for our family! For two reasons.

First of all, Nathan starts school!! He's really excited. His backpack is packed, and he's really loving it all, especially the watercolor paints - even though I'm pretty sure he hasn't a clue what they are. hehe  But he got to do some one-on-one school shopping with Mommy, so he knows they must be special, I guess :)

We went to "Meet the Teacher" night on Wednesday and got to see his classroom. I'd met the teacher before, back in May at his evaluation meeting (called an ARD). But I really didn't know much about her or what the class would do. So Wednesday night was just as good for me, as it was for Nathan. He'll be in a class of only seven children, with 2 teachers, rotating through stations learning his letters, simple science & math, and other activities all geared to help his speech and fine motor skills. He'll also have 20 minutes of speech therapy, one one one with the speech therapist, three times a week. He's going to love school!! Even so, I'm sure will it be tough dropping him off on Monday morning... especially since he has to be there by 7:45am. Ug. Good thing at least he is a morning person ;-) 

And Faith is going to love having 100% of Mommy's attention for 2 1/2 hours a morning every weekday! Just what she needs to help prepare her for a coming little sister.... LOL  Hopefully she won't get too use to it ;-)

After we pick Nathan up from school on Monday, we'll have lunch and then Jacob will come home early because we will be heading out to go to another sonogram. Yes, another... not typical. Usually there's one at about 7 weeks, and again at 18-20 weeks. Then no more, unless something is wrong or you're a high risk pregnancy. I wasn't planning on another...

Last week I got a call from my OB's nurse. She sounded slightly more serious than normal and asked if it was an OK time to talk. Which immediately raised red flags in my mind. She shared that Dr. Askew (my OB) had just been able to look over my sonogram - she was on vacation 3 weeks ago, when I had it. I'm assuming she either had a long vacation, or has been really busy since returning (she is pretty popular - and seems really wonderful, too... which is probably why she's so popular.) Anyways, Dr. Askew wants another sonogram. Some things in the last one were not clear enough to assure her (and us) that the baby's spine is properly forming. It could be nothing - the baby was in a funny position... I was only 17 weeks & 5 days along (slightly early for the sonogram)... and the tech was still in training - though her trainer was in the room. So it could be a combo of all those things. Or there could be something there. Monday's sonogram will clear it all up.

It's kind of exciting to get to have a sonogram at 21 1/2 weeks. Anatomy sonograms in my other pregnancies were all at 18-19 weeks. So I imagine that being almost 3 weeks further along will make a little difference in the baby's activity and clarity since she's bigger. Or maybe I'm just hoping.
But at the same time, it's nerve racking. What if something's wrong? The spine is a BIG deal. And the baby rarely seems to move... I'd been assuming that she must just be laid back. Faith kicked almost non-stop - and still to this day it's impossible for her to sit still. Maybe this baby was going to be an easy-going cuddler???

Then I started to worry a bit... what if she's not moving much because she can't??  But God's taken away that worry. Since the day the nurse called, there have been 2 days where baby has been very active. Not as much so as Faith, but very active for this child. So much so that Jacob finally got to feel her kick. In a typical day she'll kick 2-3 times, and unpredictable times. But on at least two occassions, she's been rather active and Jacob's been able to feel her a little. I don't know what's made her more active those days... either she REALLY likes mac & cheese (who doesn't?) or she's just letting me know she's OK.  I like to think the later :)

I know many of you have been praying that baby is OK, and praying for peace for Jacob and I. Thank you and know that I feel at total peace - God's in control and there's no reason to worry or stress. And I'm not. I'm just looking forward to seeing the miraculous little wonder (again) that God is knitting together inside of me - in the way that He has purposed her to be, since before I was even ever pregnant.

Thank you all for praying for us today and tomorrow. Tomorrow, I look forward to sharing first day of school pictures of Nathan. And photos of his youngest sister - along with the news we get from the doctor tomorrow afternoon.