Here we go again!

**I wrote this post a little over 4 weeks ago on the day we found out, we were indeed, blessed with baby #3**

Yes, indeed, this is a baby you see!

We are excited to announce that we are taking a leap of faith and entering into the world of THREE kids!  Three?!?!  Yes, three sweet angels.  My due date is September 6th, 2013.

I am writing this post just a few hours after this ultrasound was done and just after meeting with my OB, Dr. E. for our first prenatal visit.  While this will be my third pregnancy, it may also be my last, so I want to do my best to document my thoughts, feelings and experiences along the way.  

This appointment today was a huge relief.  All of the signs were there that I was actually pregnant....I won't go into the details, but there are a few obvious signs that confirm a woman is pregnant...and I had all of them...including the double lines on the pregnancy test.  Even though common sense was telling me that I was in fact pregnant, my brain just wasn't so sure.  It was a huge relief to have the ultrasound today to confirm that yes, there was a baby in my "belly" with a strong heartbeat and correct measurements!  

I have never been so nervous with a pregnancy as I seem to find myself with this one.  Maybe its because I have 2 healthy children and have had two fairly uneventful pregnancies.  Sure, I had a few minor problems with my first pregnancy and a few nice scars to prove that I have had 2 c-sections.  Maybe having a 3rd is almost like tempting fate and that is why I find myself more anxious than ever before.  With that said, I can also say that my family is not complete...and, hopefully, after this little bundle arrives in September, it will feel complete.  While I am nervous, I am thrilled that I have been blessed with at least one more baby!  

My thoughts for today are actually kinda funny....

I would be lying if I did not admit that I hope the high heart rate (171) means my sweet little baby is a baby girl.  Yes, most of all, I want a happy, healthy baby with 10 fingers and 10 toes...but, I would be thrilled for that happy, healthy baby  to be able to leave the hospital in a pink outfit!  If it is another boy, well, we'll take that too and yes, we will be happy with another bundle swaddled in blue......and move forward with our plans to adopt a baby girl in the future (yes, for real!).  You heard it here first....

Obviously, I am excited...and nervous....and shocked.  There is a baby in my belly...again!  It is amazing.  The fact that there is a baby in my belly means that when September rolls around, we will be outnumbered.  If this is a boy, we will be surrounded by three wild little guys.  If it is a girl, we will be B-R-O-K-E because I will have to plan a new nursery and buy pink outfits.  

I am laughing....

 (beware, side story that is just SO present in my mind today...feel free to skip if you don't want all the dramatic details of my life!)

....laughing, because 12 years ago, at the ripe old age of 19, Dr. (name to be withheld) in Chapel Hill, NC had to perform surgery to remove an ovarian cyst...for the 3rd time in my not so long life.  After the surgery, he (not so politely) informed me that I had severe endometriosis, so bad in fact that he nearly did a complete hysterectomy (without my consent!).  Before I could catch my breath, he went on to tell my 19 year old self that I would most likely never be able to have children...but, not to worry because adoption was always a good option.  WHAM!  Now, imagine processing that news as a Sophomore in college....yeah, I didn't take it all that well!  

Luckily, Dr. _____ upset me just enough to go in search of a second, more reliable opinion.  The second opinion I found was an amazing doctor at UNC.  This doctor, Dr. S and his nurse, not only saved my sanity but they are also the primary reason that I went into nursing.  Needless to say, Dr. S did exactly what I needed...started a pretty strong medication, performed a cutting edge surgery and followed up with me for several years.  He basically promised me that I would be a mother one day but he did expect that he would have to help me with hormones or IVF.

My last appointment with Dr. S was on June 6th 2007.  We were making plans to move to Mt. P and we had also decided that we were ready to move forward in starting our family.  Dr. S laid out a plan for me.....go ahead and start trying....after 1 year, I was to follow up with him again and we would start discussing reproduction assistance and find a specialist in Mt P at that time.  

Again, laughing....laughing because 4 weeks later, I was pregnant with Payton.  

Laughing today because I would LOVE to find that 1st doctor in Chapel Hill and show him my 3rd ultrasound....with my 3rd little baby.  I just wish he could take back the many years that I thought I would forever be childless...it is not an easy thing to deal with in your early twenties!  I bought adoption books before I ever met Chad and on our 2nd or 3rd date instead of discussing normal things, we were discussing the fact that I would never have kids.....Well, Dr. ______, what would you say now?  

(back to today)

My laughing, also turns to other emotions....Amazed!  Overjoyed!  More blessed than I could ever imagine!  Full of faith!  Sure that God has had his hand in it from the beginning.   Thankful for all the people who supported me, even when they didn't know it, for the time that I thought I would be the one without kids....now, I'm the going to be the crazy one of us with THREE!  

I am just so happy that we get to go through all of these emotions again.  Sitting in the ultrasound room to see that there is a healthy baby growing with a strong heart beat....hearing the doctor tell you the plans and the due date...leaving the appointment and calling parents to tell them the good news.....it is just a wonderful experience.  I will do my best to soak it up and enjoy this blessing.

So far, I am feeling great.  Exhausted, but great.  I have been nauseated but not sick.  One thing that has never happened...at work, I had to draw labs from a patient and the smell of the blood nearly made me puke...in all my years of nursing and in all the times I have drawn blood, I can't remember even noticing the scent.  Just hoping I don't have too many labs over the next few weeks!  

And, honestly, I feel like this one is another boy....yes, you heard it here first!  I would LOVE to have a little girl but I feel confident it's another little ball player....be prepared!

Thank you, sweet baby, for giving me one more chance to enjoy the wonder of pregnancy, childbirth, and holding you for the first time.  I can't wait to meet you!