Stephlewis

This is the official announcement that Josh and I are expecting baby #2 in mid-December!

So far the pregnancy has gone very well and we have finally been over the many positive markers that make us feel open to tell others (especially the fact that people have started looking quizzically at my growing belly). At this point we are very excited, and feeling tired in advance of all the extra hoopla that a second child will bring. I am glad that I feel much more confident this time around.

As many of you know, I have a history of miscarriage - 4 to be exact. With Caleb I was doped up on progesterone supplements (just a random dosage) until I was 20 weeks along and was also put on several bed rests. I was eventually induced with him after being diagnosed with preeclampsia and HELPP Syndrome. After a lonely 6 day hospital stay, we finally brought Caleb home along with blood pressure equipment and regular calls to our nurse. (Really makes you want to try for another child, doesn't it?)

I will say that my tumultuous pregnancy history has left me both smarter and more skeptical about medical processes and my body in general. It has increased my faith in God immensely. That being said, I think this pregnancy is going much better in part due to much more informed medical care and a very good doctor. I have been getting progesterone weekly, this time it is regularly adjusted to make up for what my body is (or is not... usually the case) producing. (Caleb likes to go into the clinic and loudly announce, "Mama SHOT!!!" to the receptionist.) I have also had regular ultrasounds to show that my cervix has developed correctly (unlike 2 of my miscarriages where it just fell apart while the baby was still alive). My doctor has also been doing more regular physical check-ups as well as monitoring both my nutrition, my activity, and my hormone levels.

After nearly blacking out at a car show a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a pattern of ringing in my ears, dizziness, nausea, clamming up, and near fainting whenever I am "up and about" for awhile. My doctor looked into this and said that my body basically cannot handle activities that rely on the large blood vessels, so I am not to do them anymore. The obsessive workaholic in me feels like a slacker, but I do treasure the health of this child over my fantastic work ability, so I sit and make lists for other people when I need help with something.

During my last doctor visit my doctor said, "Would you listen to that baby move? I haven't heard a baby move like that for a long time." She paused, looked at Caleb, and asked, "Did he move a lot?"

I replied, "Oh, yes. I actually had bruises down the left side of my rib cage from his moving."

She said, "Well, I think you're really going to have your hands full with these two."

I have recently been nick-naming this child Hyper-Hypo since I'm a little over 15 weeks and his/her movement sometimes makes me stop and consciously refocus my breathing & balance. I don't think I felt Caleb moving until I was maybe 19 weeks or so. So, perhaps little Hyper-Hypo Lewis is just living it up in there right now. Like a little hummingbird swimming in nectar.

Also, I am not bringing anything to any Christmas gatherings, so be forewarned. I've actually started mapping out my Christmas gifts (crazy, I know) already so I can have them ready well in advance of the "launch date." We are also working on reorganizing Caleb's room to accommodate two little monsters instead of just one. I am in the market for a toddler bed, but am really eyeing this one. Last, I am working out a plan to get back in shape & lose some weight after I've healed from this baby. I didn't lose all of my baby weight with Caleb and I don't want to keep tacking on a few pounds with every child. I'm so serious about this I wish I could start now, but you know, the whole high-risk, passing out, still nursing the toddler thing is keeping me from that. But, I can put together a plan and imagine myself in my favorite jeans again.

So, there's the news. Hooray and hooray! We pray that, Lord willing, we will add this fourth member to our family come December. Thank you in advance for all of your love and prayers.

(Here's Josh's post on this news.)

Caleb is officially 21 months. I had to go to the doctor today and he was my little sidekick while I went. Beginning yesterday he has started taking off if I'm talking to someone (he used to stand and wait nicely... what happened?). Today the receptionists at the check-in desk got quite a kick out of him as he took off and I had to chase him down. "Look at him go! Man, he's quick for his size!" They thanked me for "making their day" and said I brought back lots of memories for them. Can I start charging for these "services"? I'm sure I'd make some serious cash if I could. The ad would read, "Watch an exhausted mother chase down her active toddler boy! It'll get more whoops and hollers than you've had all week!"

When the doctor came in to the check-up room, I told Caleb that it was the doctor. He went right up to him and said (shouted? He's really loud when he talks.), "Hi, Dah Tah!"

The doctor said hello back and then asked, "What is your name?"

Caleb pointed to himself and said, "You." (He always refers to himself as "you." We're pretty sure that he thinks it is his given name. You Lewis.)

The doctor said, "Hello there, you! Can you give me five!" Caleb slapped the doctor's hand and then said, "YEAH!"

During the visit Caleb had some great fun with the mirror and also with drumming on different things in the room. One of the metal cabinets was very rattly when he hit it, so he spent some time banging on it. He of course danced the whole time.

When we left the doctor said, "And I'm pretty sure that you have the cutest kid ever." Awwwww, warms a mama's heart. And then Caleb took off down the hall. Also, the doctor gave him a sticker with a car on it that Caleb put on his shoe. He likes to see his stickers when he walks.

Other updates: he repeats everything you say and is saying several new words each day. My favorite word mispronunciations are bumblebee ("Gmm Gmm Bee!") and one version of yes ("Ahh-Dee!" usually said with much gusto.). He likes counting things, "Unnn, Dooo!" He is very good at running and kicking different balls while running. His is interested in potty training and will poop & pee in toilet 3-4 times a day (but he still has no problem going in his diaper). We give him an M&M when he goes, which he loves. I think he would stay outside all day long if I let him, especially if he's around Grandpa's horses and pigeons. He adores dirt and anything that digs, sifts, and transports dirt. His favorite songs are "Mahna Mahna" by Cake and "The Yeah Yeah Yeah" song by The Flaming Lips. He also loves jazz piano so I bought him some Meade "lux" Lewis and Marian McPartland albums. He claps at the end of every song. He is still my helper and is in charge of feeding Ella in the morning, helps to wash the table, takes laundry out of the washer, and several other tasks we do together. He loves helping me give Ella baths. He is super awesome at climbing and is not afraid to go down any slide at the playgrounds, even the high super fast ones. He loves putting on hats & mittens and dancing around. Actually, he pretty much dances all the time. He also will risk his life to acquire any piece of technology and has successfully paused shows playing on our T.V. (while saying "All Done!"), updated my sister-in-law's Firefox, hooked up his vTech game on the T.V., and can work my mom's CD player until he finds the song he wants. We've started playing Memory games (as in Memory, The Game - the one with cards to match) and he loves it and will even play by himself (in his own weird way). And did I mention his love for balls and dirt?

Favorite books that we read way too much:
Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue
Goodnight Gorilla
Good Morning, Sweetie Pie! (a collection of poems)
Time for Bed
This Little Chick
How Much is that Doggie in the Window?