Little Red Flower Plant of Hope

Last year, about this time, I posted about the plant with a little red flower blooming, and how much hope it gave us. We had the plant for many years and it never bloomed once. Then about a week after Sophie was born and all I wanted to do was be with her and give up on life, the plant bloomed.

Then a couple of months later we thought the plant had died. We couldn't throw it away, though. We dug around what was left of it, replanted it and kept watering it.

A few weeks ago, the tiny, red, petite flowers started to bloom again.

We are sure that was Sophie's way of telling her mom and dad to keep going, have faith and not loose hope because, "Where flowers bloom, so does HOPE."

28 weeks

We have pretty much decided this little Stansbery is really cute! 

This week we got to see hair on the back of baby's head. It was pretty awesome. Our Ultrasound gal, pointed it out to us. I hit Bill and said, "Do you see that?!?!" He sits about a foot from where I am and has the exact same view as I do, but I was so excited! 

This week the baby is working on practice breathing and of course growing. We were pretty pumped when we were told baby is weighing in at 2 pounds and 6 ounces! 

Here are a couple of 28 week photos of Baby Stansbery. 

Cousin Ryan

 Tonight we reminisced about time with our Cousin Ryan at his prayer service. Different people from different parts of his life got up and spoke about the time the spent with him. There was a resounding theme that came from what each person said. Ryan taught us more and gave us more than we ever gave to him. He has taught me, and many others, about love, patience and kindness. 

Ryan was not supposed to live after the took him off the ventilator when he was days old, but he did! He wasn't supposed to live past three, then five and now here we are 17 years later! He made it through so many sicknesses and lived life to its fullest as only Ryan could! 

I started doing childcare for Ryan when I was 15 and continued until I was 22. We spent many summers together and we got to be really good buddies. There were days I was so frustrated and days that I cried tears of joy on the way home from spending time with RyGuy. He was a special boy with a big heart and tons of love to give. 

I will forever be thankful to my Uncle Dan and my Aunt Keatha for bringing Ryan into our lives. They are amazing people and I know how blessed I am to have them in my life. 

This is one of the verses that I have grown to love and trust. 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Coughing, Kicking and Hiccups!

I have to laugh at myself today and blog this so that I remember. Even though I don't feel so great, I am sitting here smiling. Smiling and coughing, coughing and smiling. I am also fairly certain there are little red men in my throat randomly hitting it with hot pokers, maybe, but I am still smiling!

Here is why I am smiling:
I have realized that when I cough, the baby kicks, or moves or punches me. It is quite funny. I am pretty sure the baby is irritated with me! Seriously! I think the baby does not like the coughing and is trying to tell me to stop it.

I was so scared that the coughing was going to hurt the baby. Then rational thought hit my brain. I bet other women, over the course of the past couple million years, may have had a cough once or twice.

Here are two pictures from Monday's ultrasound of this sweet little one, who has been letting me know that coughing is annoying:)

We couldn't get any pics yesterday, however it was so neat to watch as they monitored the cord flow. We know exactly what to look for now and I got scared when I saw these little blurps that were popping up on the charts. I asked what they were and she said, hiccups. I assumed she meant a hiccup with the charting. NOPE! She moved her doppler thingy over and showed us the baby popping up. It really was the hiccups :) It was so cute, funny and wonderful to see!

We are finishing up with week 27 and are heading towards our 3rd trimester on Monday!

Gus and Baby Stansbery

I wasn't going to post this picture because I look pretty bad in it, but I have to show another loving moment with Gus. For the past couple of weeks, his favorite thing to do is to cuddle with my belly. He will put his head on my belly and sit completely still. Then when the baby kicks, he looks at me.

It is really neat!

He also loves to cuddle in and sleep with his head on my belly. If I move him off, he tries his best to get his head back to the belly.

Praying Baby

Here are our 26 week photos of Baby Stansbery! Pastor Paula is pleased with this little one because he/she already knows how to fold their hands and pray :) 

Sandy-You Know the "Good Dog"

One of the advantages of Bill's job is that he gets to come home at lunch and let Gus and Sandy out for a walk. The dogs get a break and Bill gets to hang out with them for just a bit, definitely a win-win situation. Today, however, he was out and about in South Dakota with a customer and was unable to make it for lunch.
I was in a meeting after school and realized at 4:40 that I needed to get home! I completely forgot about my four-legged children. Quite frankly, at this point, I was a little concerned. I was imagining all of the items Gus had probably destroyed and what trouble he was going to be when I got home.
I raced for the door as I saw him jumping, hoping he had not hit the lock again. Luckily he hadn't. I quickly hooked him up and opened the door, crisis averted! Well, that was until the little light colored one pushed me out of the way and ran out the door. Yes, Sandy, was the naughty one today! I walked outside and shouted for her but she would not come. I spent 20 minutes trying to coax her back to the house or even our yard. Finally I gave up and went inside. I decided she would come when she was ready.
I am slightly shocked by her behavior today and am letting her know by ignoring her. Unfortunately I do not think it is setting in because she has been snuggled up sleeping after her eventful run.

Baby Stansbery Photos

Here are few updated photos from last week and this week's ultrasounds. I think this little one is looking good! We are in a debate now between boy or girl. I have been convinced that this baby is a boy...up until Monday! The last picture has put a little bit of doubt in my mind. We will see though! I love surprises :)

Here we were at 24 weeks...