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How far along? 25 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: + 17 lbs (ahem. Vacation.)
Maternity clothes? I pulled out a few t-shirts and things for vacation this week. And washed my jeans halfway through the week.
Sleep: Better! Not much restles leg syndrome at all this week. And all the walking around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood probably did some good.

Best moment this week: Well, there were actually 5 of them – waking up as a family of 5, still, all in the same bed, every morning in front of our fireplace, looking out at the beautiful mountains outside our cabin.

Movement: Yes. And we all still love it.


Food cravings: Doughnuts? Dangerous. I’m glad we’re just a one car family – and my husband has to go to work everyday.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Driving down the mountain rode from our cabin. And the teacups at Dollywood that my daughters “just couldn’t keep” from spinning.


Have you started to show yet: Yeah…feeling kinda large and slow this week. I guess I should start feeling something not-so-pleasant – I am close to Trimester 3 here!

Gender PredictionsBoy, sweet handsome boy.

Labor Signs: A few contractions this week. Nothing serious – just braxton hicks things… but enough to remind me to kick this planning stuff into high gear now that I’m back at home.
Belly Button in or out? IN
Wedding rings on or off? Still too big for my left hand. This is awesome! At this point with Kami, I had my rings cut off. 🙁
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy – for most days except one this week – we had a fantastic vacation away. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Weekly Wisdom: As fearful as I was about it, it’s OK to rejoice with those who rejoice – even if you can’t rejoice in the same way. One of my dear friends (one of 6 close to me who are all expecting little boys between now and next April) had her little baby boy this week. It’s also OK, if at times, it’s hard to rejoice. That doesn’t make you any less of a friend.

Milestones: Baby Kyle is just precious. I didn’t get a weight on him at his ultrasound this week. I just looked at him in awe. I’ll do better about that this week. All he seemed interested in this week was playing punching bag with my placenta.

Weekly Prayer Request: Big, tough decisions coming this week. Things I never thought I’d have to think about, but they have to be decided. Just pray for wisdom. Our NICU consult is Thursday – this is where we’ll get a NICU dr’s wisdom on formulating our birth and post-birth plan as far as what interventions to consider and refuse. After that consult, we’ll be putting together said birth plan and then meeting with the NICU dr’s and nursing staff to “brief” them on our wishes. We’re hoping to have all this done by Thanksgiving.

Hey there, Baby Kyle.

What a fun week we had with you. Thanks for behaving so well.  There were a lot of firsts this week – the girls’ first sitting through 96 pages of Little Bear stories; our first pumpkin carvings; their first shark sightings, and Chloe’s first bumper car ride.

It was also your first family vacation. And we think we did well to make it a great one for ya. The girls were constantly trying to “feed” you chocolate, s’mores, fruit, graham crackers, and anything else they could shove down my throat – just to keep you happy. I didn’t  mind all too much.

And they made you a very special bear – just to have in the hospital – “in case you get scared”, they said.

Another special moment, was buying your first outfit. It might be the one of the only ones I buy. So, it had to be perfect. And, I think, for you, it will be. Do you know how hard it is to find cute boy clothes – let alone ones that are for a baby so tiny? I think the four of us made a great choice.

Your daddy had to buy it though. I was kinda crying a lot in the back of the store with your sisters. The rest of that day was pretty rough. But your daddy and your sisters do so much to help me pull through those rough days.  And carving my first (and second, and third!) pumpkin, really helped, too.

So, now, your box is growing. At first it was just a stack of Ultrasound DVD’s and CD’s of photos. But now it has your first outfit in it. And I just love it. Your puppets are in there too, for whenever your sisters feel the need to tell you a story.

I know things are tough on you now, but not long from now, you’ll have a perfect body. And I, for one, can’t wait to see it one day.

For now, though, your tiny body is making a big impact on a lot of people. Your sisters tell everyone they meet about you, it seems, about how you’re going to Heaven soon so God will make you all better and there you won’t be sick anymore. You can see it in these stranger’s eyes. Sometimes it’s a look of shock – they’re not quite sure they heard correctly. Sometimes it’s a look of sadness, as they try to come to grips with something in mere seconds that all of us have had these 12 weeks to think about. But many times, it’s a look of faith. That maybe, just maybe, there is a God somewhere that will heal you. Whether here on earth, or in Heaven…they seem to have faith, that perhaps there is, in fact, a God. And that, my dear, is a thought that not just anyone can plant in a grown “already-made-up-my-mind-about-God” adult. That is a gift.

You are a gift.

And until I see you again tomorrow afternoon, know that I love you and I always will.

XOXO,

Mom


Kim


4 comments

  • April

    November 5, 2012 at 9:43 am

    I can’t even imagine how hard it is to write these every week because I know how hard it is for me to read them every week 🙁 Tears come freely when I read these and think about what you and your family must be going through. I love you guys and will continue to lift you all up in prayer.

    Reply

  • Mona

    November 5, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Prayers, prayers and more prayers…thinking of you all.

    Reply

  • Tracy

    November 5, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    You write so beautifully! This little guy will know how much he is loved…and someday we will all know how many hearts and minds he impacted for God’s glory. Kyle is fearfully and wonderfully made. May God bless you and Chris with His wisdom and grace for your NICU consult.

    Reply

  • Karen

    November 6, 2012 at 12:17 am

    Love the outfit! Very special. Praying for you as decisions are made this week. God already knows when it is time for Kyle to arrive 🙂

    Reply

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