Baby Charlie 4D Pics

We went today for our regular OB check up and sonogram. We were very lucky to not only have a regular sonogram, but the guy gave us some free 4D pics!! Here are few for everyone to enjoy. I'll write more later, but he looks very healthy and we could even see him swallowing the amniotic fluid. The last picture is with his hand in front of his face! ("no more pictures please") He already weighs 4 pounds and is right on schedule. Carson and I were both so excited to see him today!! We already love our little Charlie so much!! Look at those cute cheeks...

30 weeks pregnant was a good week!!

We have lots of things to praise the Lord about from last week:
1.) Carson got a job!!!!
2.) I graduated with my Masters in Nursing!!!!
3.) Charlie is growing well!!!!

Carson accepted a job at Compass Bank as a "preferred client officer." He will pretty much be doing the same thing as his previous position at Bank of America, managing high net worth clients. It sounds like it will be worth the wait for this job because he'll be doing what he is more passionate about. They asked him when he would like to start so he said the Tuesday after Labor Day.... so he could go fishing with his dad in Colorado and then we could make a trip down to Kerrville to visit his family before Charlie arrives. Until then I'll be working 2-3 days a week, studying for my boards and getting ready for Charlie to arrive!

Friday, August 14th I crutched myself across the stage and finally graduated from UTA! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!! Still doesn't feel real that I actually finished. Maybe after I take my boards I will feel that full sense of relaxation. Here are some pics from graduation and a little fiesta cookout we had Saturday night at our house. It was a great week and weekend of celebration!!
I'm sticking my belly out a little, but it's pretty much that big! Baby Charlie is really growing...WHOA!!!
Just a little snap shot from the Graduation Fiesta at our house. Carson cooked up some yummy food as always!

We went to the OB last week and I measured exactly 30 weeks. That means he's growing well and the Dopplar indicated that his heart rate is good and strong. I have been able to manage my blood sugars very well on my new diet plan. The only reading that was a little high was the morning one. She wanted it to be less than 90, but mine was about 105-110. So she started me on some insulin at nighttime. I was a little upset at first until she reassured me that this was extremely common to give myself a very small amount of insulin at night because there was nothing I could do to prevent it. She simply said my pancreas just can't keep up while I'm asleep and because my numbers are just a smidge too high, we need to keep them down so that Charlie doesn't take them in and put on too much weight! Pretty much after he's born I won't need insulin anymore and my body will go back to normal... which was very reassuring. For now, the little monkey in my tummy is doing well! The one exciting thing about this whole gestation diabetes thing is I get to have extra sonograms!!!!! I'm actually going to have one on Thursday and we can't wait to see his little hands, feet, and sweet face. Don't worry if I get a good picture I'll post it on here!!

Thank you everyone for the millions of prayers that have been lifted up for our little family of three over the past 8 stressful months. We felt them and are extremely happy to report ALL of the good news from last week! Praise Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pregnancy update...

Well, I'm sure you read from my previous post that I officially have gestational diabetes. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, I'll fill you in on how my life has changed. When I first found out, I was fully aware of what gestational diabetes is and what all it entails... so I received the call at work and cried for about an hour. Now I'm over it and have moved on to accept that this only going to be for the next 10-12 weeks until Charlie is born and then I'll be back to normal. This new change is going to be worth it once I see little Charlie's sweet face! I was just bummed out that I now have one more thing to add to the list! Carson and I now joke that with a broken leg, trying to finish up grad school, Carson not having a job and now the diabetes... that HAS TO mean that Charlie is going to be the easiest baby in the world OR the next time we have a baby has GOT to be easier that this pregnancy! Like my parents always say... "this too shall pass."

I've been to the diatician and have my glucometer to check my blood sugars (four times a day), so now its almost a routine. Basically I have to eat a certain amount of carbs, proteins, & fats everyday. And eating very few sugars... which you KNOW is hard for me!! I'm being very strict on the diet though because I don't want Charlie to weigh like 12 pounds!! That would not be fun for me :) Carson is being so sweet and supportive, helping think of creative meals to keep my blood sugars down. I just love him!

Charlie is still extremely active and wild in my belly though, kicking me so much that sometimes it hurts a little. Carson is so cute about kissing my belly everyday and talking to him. He calls him "Squirt" and tells him how much we already love him. We both are extremely excited!

I never posted a picture of the super cool crutch covers I bought, so here's a picture from the internet:I love them! I even ordered some for my brother-in-law, Andrew who just had ankle surgery. Don't worry I ordered him dark green since he's about to go to Baylor at the end of this month!

Speaking of Carson, we have great news!! He has a second round interview on Monday at 12:30pm!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!! If you read this before he interviews, please send up lots of prayers. He is very excited about the job and they sound very interested in him too. It seems like a great fit for him. We've been praying very hard about this job too, so we'll keep you posted. Lots of big things this next week: Carson's interview on Monday, I finish up clinicals on Thurday, and then graduate Friday night! I'll be sure to post some pictures of me walking across the stage 30 weeks pregnant on crutches!!!!!!

Ashley's shower (29 weeks pregnant)

My friend Debbie & I hosted a baby girl shower for our sweet friend Ashley at our house on Sunday. Ashley already has a 14month old son and is now expected a little girl in September, so we threw her a shower to get some cute litle girl stuff!! I was expecting to be off my crutches by now, but obviously I wasn't so Carson helped me set up the decorations the night before. :) So not only does he cook, clean, drive me around, basically do everything for me.... he also helps me decorate for baby showers! But working together, Debbie, Jacqueline, Carson & I were able to get everything ready for the shower! It turned out to be a great party.

I had to show off these cute cupcakes that Debbie & I made for the shower! (The white petals are from cut up large marshmellows, then edible sprinkles painted on them, with lemon drops or junior mints in the middle!) Everyone said they were yummy but I couldn't eat any because I now have gestational diabetes. I still had fun making them!

Two of my favorite people: Ashley & Debbie. We've been in the same small group for 4 years and have all grown so close. We're all pregnant too... me: 29 weeks, Ashley: 35 weeks, & Debbie: 16 weeks. Can't wait for all of our babies to play together!