One year ago today, at 1:36am, God revealed Himself to us in the form of our tiny little miracle, sweet Sayla Grace. She weighed 1lb, 11ozs and was 13.5inches long. She has been our guiding light, and has taught us so many lessons in this short year. She is strong. She is beautiful. She is a fighter. God is using her to tell the story of his miracles. She has gone from fighting for her life, to fighting for her independence and everything in between. She is the happiest baby I've ever met, and is going to be a fabulous big sister!

Below are pictures of her throughout this year, along with a few thoughts I wrote in the days after she was born...

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So we're home again after 2 extra unplanned hours at the hospital. Now that I'm on my regular computer, I can give you more details of our crazy day!

It all began at 5:50am this morning, when Sayla Grace decided to go ahead and start her day. Owen and I both woke with her (since her Grands had to work). We fed her breakfast and her bottle, and played and played and played. We both had breakfast, and I showered to get ready for our 10:30a regularly scheduled doctor appointment.

By about 9:15a, we were all getting restless, so we decided to leave early at 9:30a. Since we're only 15 minutes away, we got there lickity split!

They actually worked us in, and we got our ultrasound first. Avery was looking great! Still head down, she has gained 10ozs and now weighs 5lbs 11ozs! We got some more pictures and even got one of her smiling!!

After that, we learned that Dr. B. had to go on a delivery, so we had to wait another 45 minutes! After what seemed like forever, we had our appointment with the doc, and decided to stop all medication that has been keeping me pregnant up to this point.

She then informed me that because I'm diabetic, it is standard procedure to monitor the baby's heart rate beginning at 35 weeks. This is just to be sure that the baby is not in any distress or lethargic due to the diabetes. So off we went into a different room, I got hooked up to the monitors (baby and contraction), and were told it would only be 15 to 20 minutes.

30 minutes later, Dr. B. came in and checked the strip. She commented that the baby was "sleeping" and we needed to wake her up. Her heart rate was good, but very "stable." I was thinking "stable" was good, but apparently they need to see that the baby can pick herself up if her heart rate drops, and if it rises, she should be able to calm herself on her own. And it should naturally rise and fall on its own...Avery's heart rate was not doing either.

So she grabbed this contraption, and pressed it to my belly and it vibrated/buzzed. Didn't hurt at all. She did this in about 4 or 5 different places on my belly, in an attempt to wake Avery.

Avery woke for a moment, but then went back to sleep fairly quickly. Dr. B. left to allow me more time to monitor to see if Avery would perk up. After about another 30 minutes, Owen went looking for her to see if we could leave. She explained that normally she would say yes, but given my history, she wasn't comfortable letting me leave.

Since I had not had lunch, she instructed me to go down to the Bistro and grab a bite to eat, and then head to Labor and Delivery for more monitoring. So that's what we did!

Once in the triage room, they hooked me up to the monitors and we began what turned into our (thankfully) brief stay. At first I was "contracting like crazy" according to the nurse. I actually felt 2 of them, and they were actually kind of painful. But since we had decided not to stop labor at this point, we just kept on monitoring.

After my lunch had settled, the baby started perking up, and the contractions slowed down. It took another hour or so, but finally the nurse came in and said we got the ok from the doc to leave.

She didn't have to tell us twice! We gathered all of our belongings - we actually brought our bags just in case!! - and high tailed it out of there! On the way out, Owen joked with the nurses that we would see them tomorrow (because everyone thinks I'm going to deliver on Sayla Grace's first birthday tomorrow!). But hopefully we won't have to go back until next Wednesday for our regular weekly appointment!

Time shall tell!

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Crazy day. Updating this from my phone, so forgive the shortness and craziness of this post. 

Dr visit was good this morning, but they monitored the baby's heartbeat in the office (standard procedure) and she was being lethargic, so they made me go eat lunch and come to labor and delivery to monitor her some more.  Babies of mom's with gestational diabetes can be lethargic at times, but if she gets too cozy and doesn't respond to stimuli, they will have to induce.  Hoping she'll perk up since I've eaten and we can go home. Brought our bags just in case!  I am contracting, but not bad. But we're not going to stop them with any meds. I'll keep you posted!!  Hoping to be at home for Sayla Grace's first birthday tomorrow!!!

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I got to experience a very small taste of bed rest freedom yesterday and today!! Since the doctor gave me permission to relax my bed rest duties a little bit, and I'm taking full advantage!

Yesterday I went to get a much needed pedicure. They were very shocked but excited to see me at my regular nail spot. We even took Sayla Grace, and she was quite a hit with the other patrons. I did get a few confused looks - being 8.5 months pregnant with a one year old (that looks like a 9 month old). I could tell some people were trying to do the math! I love confusing people like that!

The pedicure was fabulous, although I did have to tell them not to touch certain places on my heels and legs that are known acupressure spots that can induce labor! There was another pregnant lady there that looked very confused when I mentioned this. Apparently she wasn't aware!

This morning I went to get my long locks chopped. Not really chopped, but definitely shortened. Before today I have not had a haircut since March! It was getting very long! We almost couldn't go, because I had to monitor for contractions before we left, and I went over my threshold.

I got up early, came to the couch to monitor and got ready while I was monitoring. I ate breakfast, did my makeup and tried to relax all while monitoring, but apparently I wasn't relaxed enough. The nurse called right away and told me I had 6 contractions (my threshold is 5) and that I needed to drink water, eat more, empty my bladder and monitor again.

But since I didn't feel any of the 6, we made an executive decision to head to the salon instead (which is closer to the hospital than the house), and take our chances with the contractions. Since I'm to the point now where if I go into labor I'm not going to stop it, we figured I might as well try to get my haircut!

So off we went! The entire haircut - wash, cut and style - took less than an hour and we were back home in no time.

But not before a stop at my favorite establishment...Starbucks! I ordered a variation of my usual - grande decaf coffee, with a splash of regular (for that extra caffeine kick) and some sugar free caramel syrup. It was heavenly!

We made it home unscathed, and I ate some crackers, had some water (and my coffee) and relaxed a bit before monitoring again. The results were normal - just 2 contractions. I cannot even imagine how upset I would've been for missing my haircut for 2 contractions!!!

And now I'm relaxing again until my next adventure. This next week we are picking up Avery's crib, so I get to go home to direct its placement in the room, and get the pack 'n play set up. I've also got to pack my hospital bag, and pick up a few things for Avery's homecoming at the house. I know you really don't care about all of that, but it helps me remember if I write it out. So please forgive my rambling!

Off to finish working now! Must stay on top of that so this month's billing can be done!

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We have a little pork chop on our hands...or should I say in my belly! The ultrasound this morning revealed that Avery weighs 5lbs 1oz, at 34 weeks and 3 days. She should gain at the most a pound a week at this point, but possibly less.

She looks exactly like Sayla Grace. Exactly. Same nose, same lips, sticks her tongue out just like SG, has lots of hair and beautiful eyelashes. I'd show you comparison ultrasound pics, but I don't have any of Sayla Grace!!! But here's the ones we got of Avery today.

So what's our plan? Well, it's still up in the air, but we're a little closer to knowing when we will get to meet our precious angel!

I got my regular Progesterone shot today, and will continue the rest of my medicine and monitoring for at least the next week (through Tuesday night). Next Wednesday I'll get another ultrasound and we'll see how much she's gained. At that point, we can decide if we want one more round of the shot, and one more week of medicine, or if we don't. It will really depend on how much she weighs, because Dr. B. expects that shortly after stopping the meds I will go into labor. And our goal at this point is to bring her home, with no stay in the NICU.

Dr. B. said a 34 weeker definitely goes to the NICU, but a 36 weeker has a shot at going home. Of course that's no guarantee if she has an underlying issue that we don't know about yet. But if we can get to 36 weeks, that would be ideal.

She is head down, which is good, because I'm terrified of a C-Section (but I'm fully aware that things could change at a moment's notice that require a section). I'd just like to avoid the breach section if I can.

I've dilated a bit more, up to 2cm now, but that's to be expected. Doctor said I could go into labor at any moment, meds or not, but we're hopeful the meds will keep things at bay for a few more weeks.

The best news of all is that I get to relax my bed rest duties a bit! I have permission to get my nails done, get a haircut, and go out to lunch!!! Anything I feel like I can do without putting me in jeopardy of labor (except driving) I can do!!! I'm so pumped about that!! Of course there's not much I can do at this point because just getting up to go to the bathroom wears me out. There will be no shopping or swimming, but my toes are in desperate need of some Nail Vogue and my hair needs to see Jim's scissors at Salon 2229 before it gets any longer!!

I'm working diligently to get my work all caught up. It would be my luck that I'll have this baby right at the end of the month when bills are due to go out! So between pampering appointments and lunch dates, I'll be super busy with work these next few weeks to help keep my mind off the waiting part.

That is all for now. I'll keep you posted on any progress or lack thereof.

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Here's a sneak peek of some maternity pictures and Sayla Grace 1 year pictures I had made!! Many thanks to my dear friend Johanna at Johanna Cosby Photography for the amazing way she captures our moments!!

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I'm making it a point to not complain during this phase of my pregnancy. I am in fact enjoying it, but I would be remiss if I didn't admit that it does have its moments. It is certainly not all cupcakes and lollipops. In fact, there are no cupcakes or lollipops to be found, which I think would make things a little nicer!

In all actuality, I'm sore in places I shouldn't be sore, I can't breathe and I can only eat about a tablespoon of food before I feel like I'm going to explode. Which doesn't help the constant hunger. I can't lie down or sit up comfortably, which leaves me in some very awkward positions. And I moan and groan more than a 5 year old that just spent a day at Disney without a nap. And that makes for some caregivers that are constantly worried that I'm going into labor with each moan and groan!!

My face is beginning to look like a pizza again, and I'm sure I have stretch marks from here to Timbuktu that I can't see. In fact, there's not much of me that I can see anymore. If it's past my belly button (which I haven't seen in a while), I have no idea what it looks like. I'm quite sure I'm due for a pedicure, and hoping the doc will give me a permission slip sometime soon!

But despite all of these things, I really am over the moon excited and thankful about being 34 weeks pregnant. From what I read, her lungs are fully developed, and other than a possible short NICU stay, she should be A-OK healthy if she were born anytime after this point. She is supposed to weigh about 4 and 3/4 pounds, but I think she's a lot closer to 5 or 5 and a half (we'll find out Wednesday). And my doc says many 35 weekers can go home from the hospital with you.

That's really my prayer at this point. We love the NICU doctor's and nurses, but I would really love to experience having a baby and bringing her home with us!

I'll update on baby Avery again after our appointment on Wednesday! Praying for some good news and a little reprieve from this couch time!

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Nothing new to report on the Avery front. She is comfy cozy, and enjoying her time baking in my belly. She has given me no trouble, except for the few karate kicks to the ribs that seem to get stronger by the day.

Our latest doctor visit resulted in no changes and instructions to keep on keepin' on. Next Wednesday we go back and finally get another ultrasound to see how big she is. I'm hoping that will give us a little insight as to when she needs to make her arrival.

I will not make it to my due date - August 30th - because if I do, I might have the biggest baby on record, which my small frame cannot handle! So we have a pool going to see when everyone thinks she'll arrive.

We're supposed to stop my meds at 35 weeks, but I'm not sure if that means I'll take them until Wednesday (34 weeks) and then stop, or if I'll take them until the following Wednesday (35 weeks) and then stop. I should find out that answer at the next visit.

I've been watching WAY too much tv about babies on TLC and Discovery Health, resulting in many concerns and questions that I shouldn't have. Last night I watched the NICU show on Discovery Health, and two of the mother's had diabetes, resulting in strange abnormalities in their babies. One of the babies stopped growing in the 9th month, and was tiny when he was born (4 or 5 pounds at 9 months). So that made me concerned that Avery would stop growing soon.

The other baby wouldn't stop growing, and weighed 11 pounds 9 ounces at birth! So then I got scared that Avery is going to be massive!

Then they both had random weird problems - the little one's ribs were uneven (one side of his ribs was higher than the other); the big one had problems with her heart. Neither required much intervention, but now I'm unnecessarily terrified that Avery is going to have these problems because I too have diabetes.

Then I watched this crazy show called "Born on a Bad Day" where this crazy man came into the labor and delivery ward and held 7 people hostage (including 2 babies, one yet to be born) because his wife had her tubes tied without telling him (after 8 babies) and he wanted another girl. The pregnant hostage had to deliver during her hostage ordeal (a girl no less) and was terrified the whole time that crazy man would snatch her new baby. But really he just wanted to snatch and kill the doctor that tied his wife's tubes. But that doc never showed (of course) and the hostages eventually talked the scary man down from his craziness and he surrendered. The whole thing was a true story, and he eventually died behind bars. But now I have this irrational fear that some crazy person is going to snatch my Avery after she's born.

So now I've resolved to not watch any baby shows until after she's born - at which point I probably won't have any time to even turn on television for the next 5 years.

Anywho...

Sayla Grace is to crawling. Last night she got up on her knees and rocked, then proceeded to hop on both knees while moving her arms every so slightly forward. I'm giving her 2 weeks tops before she figures it out. She has learned that this "on all fours" position allows her to reach toys that are just out of her reach, and I think that's the key for her.

When sitting in your lap, she can now pull up from a sitting position to a standing position using your shirt as leverage, but she hasn't figured out that she can actually do this motion while on the floor next to a sturdy object. Which is good, because we still haven't lowered her crib mattress. But that's on the agenda.

Other than that, there's nothing really exciting going on here. I plan to start packing my hospital bag this weekend. Just in case I'm wrong in my thinking that she's staying put. But other than that, I'm just lying around, being boring and cooking this kid.

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Sayla Grace has a beautiful blankie that was given to her by her Great Grandmother Marcia. The blankie was hand crocheted by Great Grandmother's church members, and is called a prayer blanket. During the process of making it, it was prayed over. And when it was finally finished, it was again prayed over by those that made it.

Not only is it special for the prayer it received, but it is special because when I was a baby, my Great Grandmother hand crocheted a blankie for me. And it just so happened that my blankie, and Sayla Grace's blankie are the exact same colors.

I was very attached to mine. So attached that Grandma TT (my great grandmother) had to make me a smaller version just so I would have something to take with me everywhere I went. I once left the small version in the bathroom at Opryland...and it was gone forever. I was devastated, but TT made me another. I remember sitting on her lap while she made it, just waiting for it to be finished.

The big version of my blankie finally ended up in a few different pieces, but I still have them. It is very special to me.

Sayla Grace came home from the hospital wrapped in hers. And she's been attached to it ever since. I have always let her sleep with it, and when she gets out of her crib, she grabs it. If she doesn't have it, she'll turn around and look back into her crib, leaning towards it. It's especially helpful when she's upset, or tired. Ever since she figured out how to turn on her side, she would grab her blankie and snuggle so tight with it. It's quite adorable to watch.

Well, unfortunately, blankie is no longer allowed in the crib with her. You see, she now knows how to roll around like a little floppy fish, and 3 times now she has wrapped herself in her blankie like a burrito while sleeping.

Last night was the final wrapping. I had finally fallen asleep after getting really into my book, and I was awoken by a strange noise. At first I couldn't make out the noise, but then I figured out it was her crying (through 2 closed doors and across the hall). Normally I just lie there and wait for her Grandma Joyce to get up and get her, but for some reason, this time I popped up out of bed. I had to pee REALLY bad, but something told me to wait. I didn't even grab my glasses.

So with a full pregnant bladder and half blind, I went straight into her room, and was so thankful I didn't stop for anything. She had managed to wrap just her head at least 4 times in her blankie, and was struggling to get out of it, but couldn't figure out how. She was on her tummy, trying to lift her head, but the blankie was making it difficult.

Once I unwrapped her, and took the blankie from her crib, she rolled over and smiled the biggest grin! And then she just wanted to play!! Silly rascal! She scared me half to death, and she thought it was funny! Joyce then came in to take over, and help put her back to sleep (since I can't lift her).

I've decided I'm going to make her a smaller version of her blankie, just like my Grandma TT did for me. I figure I've got some time!! And once she gets big enough to know how to handle her blankie in bed, she can have it back.

But for now, it's bye bye blankie in bed!

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We had our weekly appointment this morning to check on Avery. My doctor's exact words when she walked in were "O-M-G YOU'RE STILL PREGNANT!!!" I think she is more shocked than anyone that I've made it this far (32 weeks as of Monday). She said it's a real testimony to science. I responded that it's a real testimony to God!

Nothing has changed with me, and I was directed to continue doing whatever it is that I'm doing to stay pregnant. Which is basically nothing. Just lying around all day!

She also said I'm the poster child for Gestational Diabetes. Even with Metformin twice a day, (meds to help my body know what to do with the insulin it produces), my blood sugar is still all over the board. But since we're so close, she doesn't want to make any changes to my meds. I have discovered that I cannot have any bread products, save for a few whole wheat crackers (like Wheat Thins).

We've decided that it's highly possible I was diabetic before getting pregnant with Sayla Grace, and that it compounded my pregnancy issues. She said I would've easily fallen through the cracks, being a "small, white female" (her words, not mine) and no doctor would've ever thought to check me. And I never thought to ask. So after Avery is born, we'll keep a close watch on things to see if I develop Type 2 Diabetes. I'm hoping with my diet and exercise I can keep it away.

We'll have a regular weekly appointment next week (33 weeks), then at 34 weeks we'll start getting ultrasounds again. This time to check on Avery's weight, since a side effect of the diabetes is extra weight gain for the baby. I can't wait to see her again! We got ultrasounds so frequently in the beginning, I miss seeing her now!!

At 35 weeks (the week of Sayla Grace's 1st birthday) we'll stop all my medicine (except maybe the Metformin, I'm not sure). I'll then continue the bed rest until she decides to make an appearance. Could be a day after the meds are stopped, could be a week, could be a month. No one really knows.

All I know is that it's a good thing she'll sleep in the pack-n-play in our room for a few weeks, because we haven't even picked up her crib yet!!! And I've got to rearrange their room, and...gosh there's so much to be done, but I can't do any of it!! I've not been to our house since May 28th!! I sure hope my hubby is keeping it semi clean! I may need to send in a maid before we get home! I'm going to be one busy momma when she's born.

Sayla Grace is growing like a weed. She's sleeping all the time, seemingly growing! She looks bigger to me every day, and she definitely weighs more. I'm guessing around 17 pounds. She's outgrowing her infant car seat, and trying her best to learn to crawl.

She can get up on all 4's and rock, but then quickly face plants when her arms get tired. She happily plays on the floor all day, and loves any type of animal that comes her way - especially Ralph and Fred...the deer hanging on the wall! She talks to them every day.

She is going to love having a baby sister, because she MUST have someone with her at all times. She hates being alone unless she's sleeping. I'm positive they will be fast friends.

She had her first taste of what I call real solid food over the weekend. She ate some peas and watermelon - not mashed. She did great with them, and I'm sure she'll be eating more solids soon.

Here's a couple of pics from the 4th...

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