She's a GATOR!

Today was a monumental day for the Browns - Claire has officially been enrolled in Kindergarten!! She is now a Central Park Gator!! Surprisingly, I have held it together today, but I am sure it will hit me soon =). One of the very first things I thought of holding Claire in the hospital when she was first born was "One day I am going to have to send you sweet, itty bitty, baby to kindergarten". Now that day is near and I think I am in shock. There is so many things going through my mind right now with the baby that it was nice today to sit back and realize how big Claire has gotten and the smart, independent little lady she has become. I start thinking there is just no way she is old enough to be going to school...and then I hopped over to Tara's blog to see this picture she took of her last night while Claire spent the night with her...

Claire is so excited to go to Kindergarten and she was so excited to hear that she is officially "in". They even gave her a small gift to welcome her! This is all just surreal =)...

Baby update - At my last appt, I was kind of in shock (common theme with me anymore) when my Dr. was explaining my situation. Once I got home, Shane and I discussed and realized we had many more questions. So I called the nurse yesterday and spent a long time on the phone with her. I learned so much more about my condition (placental abruption) and we decided that me and Shane want to come in sooner to see the Dr again. As well we are requesting additional ultrasounds. So we have moved our appt that was supposed to be in three weeks to next Friday and then we are more than likely going to have another ultrasound that following Tuesday. In that ultrasound, there is a very real possibility that we will be able to see the sex!! As much as that excites me, I am really most looking forward to seeing the sweet sight of the fast baby heartbeat. What I learned yesterday is that the only thing we can do at this point to ensure the baby makes it is take it easy and pray. It is very critical that I had such a complication early on, but the fact that the baby is holding on strong with that perfect heartbeat and I feel pretty good, we are all optimistic.

Owen news - Poppy got him a Chicago Bears jersey - Urlacher =). It has not left his body for almost 24 hours =)! He took his Cowboys helmet to preschool Wednesday for show and tell. Lane told me that he made everyone try it on =). He is getting so big and would love to be more independent....but we are not allowing that yet - you have not seen a room Owen has been "independent" in =)!!

Have a good weekend!!! Thanks again for all your prayers!!!

Baby Update

Hello friends!! Had my Dr's appt today. This was actually the first time to see my real Dr. The first few times I saw the nurse (their protocol in the beginning) and then 2 weeks ago during the episode, he was in surgery and I saw his partner. Well today was another wake up call for me. He sat me down and really explained the severity of what has been going on with me. Last time, the other Dr. really just told me and Shane enough to get us through it and to somewhat relax. Dr. Hannah told me today that I am very high risk and there are many things that can still go wrong. The baby had a strong heart beat today in the 160's and is doing great. The biggest risk I have now is going into preterm labor as I get bigger due to placental abruption. I HAVE to continue to take it easy and not push myself. That means, no more picking up my Owen or going up and down our stairs. I have to say not being able to pick up Owen made me cry, but I know he has enough people around here to tote him around =). Things are going to continue to change around here and Shane is going to hold me to the new changes. He has given me strict instructions on how I am to do things =). Thank God I have so much help around me, I don't know what I do without all of our family and friends!!

Please continue to pray that this sweet baby continues to grow inside me and stays in there as long as it needs to!! Also, please pray for me that I can stay positive and not get so wrapped in worrying that things will go wrong. I know that I should not worry and that He will take care of me and this baby, but knowing and actually following through is two things =)!! And lastly, pray for Shane as he is going to have his hands full with all of us and that he keeps his sanity!!!!

I go back to the Dr in 3 weeks for another check up and then we go back 3 weeks later to find out boy or girl!!!!!!!!!


I will leave you with a sweet picture of me and my 40lb Owen when he was just 8lbs and my sweet, itty, bitty, baby boy...

Tackles and Curls

Happy Tuesday!! Hope you had a great day!! Today was the last day here before it gets cold again for a couple days =( BLAH!! It is 74 degrees right now and it will be low 40's tomorrow!! Good ole Arkansas early Spring!! Here is Claire today enjoying her last day before we are back to pants and socks =)!

Last week Poppy (Jake) surprised Owen with the ULTIMATE gift...a REAL Cowboys football uniform!! Owen LOVES it and it is completely obsessed with it!! Here are some pictures of him in his favorite outfit...

Have a great night!!!

Blessings

My 2 sweet Blessings on their way to church this morning...I love these kids so much!!!

It was chaos as always this morning as we are all running around getting ready for church. They looked super cute and I wanted to get a few pictures of them. I had to laugh to Shane as we loaded up to go - "We are going to have another one to dress for church VERY soon! We think it is crazy now!!!!"

One of my biggest blessings right now -I feel awesome!! I have more energy, all the sickness has subsided, and all my other issues have gone away!! I have felt so great this weekend, that I cannot help but praise our Lord for how He has blessed this baby and given our entire family a sense of relief. In addition, all of our family has been so much help and we could not have gotten through all of this without them. As well - I have to thank all of you my blog buddies - I know your prayers have helped us soooooo much!!! I love yall!!!!

2 other Blessings to me right this moment - the 3 Cadbury Creme Eggs I just inhaled and cold pizza =)!!

Happy Sunday and I hope you have a great week!! Did you see that people.com reported that Melissa from The Bachelor is going to be on DWTS!!!! Go here to read it!! She is soooo going to win!!