Big 'ol boy!

Well...I had a check today...and all is well! However...although by dates I am 29 weeks 3 days, P4 is measuring 30weeks + at 3 and a half pounds!! Yipers! That is one big baby! No wonder my back is so sore lately! :) I will start my twice monthly visits with my next appointment and actually scheduled my c-section today!! Crazy! As of right now, this little boy will, Lord willing, join our family on February 20th (which also just happens to be my grandmother's birthday!). Obviously, they do not want me to go into labor on my own since this will be my 4th c-section and because of the cerclage, so if I start contracting and/or my water breaks we will deliver without delay. It is just so incredible to try to wrap my head around it all!

I got to see our little cutie's face today...and yes, he has cheeks like his brothers already!! I can't wait to smooch those sweet cheeks!! He also showed off a little by yawning and waving! Sheesh...10 weeks...it sounds like such a long time, but really, I just have to turn over one more month on my planner! :) Now if we could just come up with a name...

Take good care!

Mathis' 3rd Birthday Party!

Mathis turns 3 on Monday, December 12! It is so hard to believe that he is already 3!! It seems like only yesterday I was living at Northside and praying that I would make it to viability/28 weeks/32 weeks...c-section day!! Well, we did make it to c-section day and delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy named Mathis...gift of God! We are so thankful for him and the little person he is! He is bright and fun and funny...and busy and loud and absolutely precious!

Today we celebrated his birthday with his cousins and uncle, and some fun friends! It was a little bittersweet, as we were missing Grandmommy, Grandy, Aunt Lisa and Mary Claire, but he seemed to have a fun time! (My parents and sister were in North Carolina with my Gram). We sure did miss having them here - I especially missed my mom while I was trying to construct his Thomas the Tank Engine cake...but all in all...it turned out be a great day! Mathis had a ball with his friends and cousins playing trains and being silly...and we had a ball watching him having so much fun!!

His big gift was his balance bike...and the Lightening McQueen horn for it...he was so proud! :)

Happy Birthday Mathis Cooper!! We sure do love you!

Finally...a visit from the tooth fairy!!

On Saturday, December 3rd, Landon finally, at 7 years and 3 months old lost his first tooth. Granted, he had a little help from a girl in his class, who cracked him in the mouth with her noggin, but he didn't care. Prior to the collision, his teeth were still tight, and he was a little more than frustrated that he was one of the very last ones in his class to lose a tooth! I have been travelling back and forth to North Carolina the past 2 weekends to visit with my Gram and to help my mom and her sisters and brothers care for her...and it has been tough on all of us. Last weekend I was going to ride up with my dad so he came to Landon's basketball game Saturday and we were to leave right after the game. Landon had a great first game and had a ball being back on the court...all week long his tooth had been hanging on by a thread and I kept trying to get him to pull it out...I just didn't want to miss his first tooth coming out, in fact, I made him promise that he wouldn't lose his tooth while I was away!! Anyway, Dad and I got to Grams around 6 or so and I got a phone call from Greg saying "your oldest son is crying because his tooth came out while he was brushing his teeth and he feels guilty because you weren't here to see it!" oh boy! It really was kind of funny...but I did feel bad for him (and me!) I just tried to make a big deal out of it and he seemed alright! I did ask him if he would wait to put it under his pillow until I got home so I could see it, to which he replied "well, I really want my money, but okay" :) that's my boy!
Anywhoo, Dad and I got home Monday evening and he put this tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. Times certainly have changed! She left him 2-$2 bills and a gold dollar coin and he was elated!! It was a long time coming and he was so excited! It was really fun for all of us! Isn't he cute with that hole in his mouth?!

I PASSED!!

Praise the Lord!! I passed my glucose test!! I am not diabetic!! it is a really good day! :)
I was on the Marta, on the way downtown to pick up my race number, on the phone with Greg, when the OB office rang through. I almost didn't get it b/c I was getting close to downtown and knew that I would be underground and lose one or both calls...but I couldn't stand it and had to get it! When she said I passed, I made a complete fool of myself and everyone around me started snickering at me...I don't care...bring on the sweet potato casserole!! :)

I was cleared to walk the Thanksgiving 1/2 marathon and am planning to walk with a friend from running club who is nursing an IT band injury. Ironic, but the girl I bought the number from is young and apparently really, REALLY fast (like 7 minute miles fast)...so I have my best number (4499) and best corral start EVER (A). Although I am bummed that I won't be able to run the race, I am thankful that Carole is walking with me and grateful that I am able to walk it at all...I missed the Thanksgiving 1/2 when I was pregnant with Mathis, so this will be sweet - running or walking! And, because Carole earned a B corral start we will hopefully stay ahead of the street sweepers and finish well before the 3:30 time limit! :)

The boys are off from school for the remainder of the week and although I had grand plans to make it an adventure of a day, it sounds like they just want to play outside all day...which is fine with me!!

We hope you all have safe and blessed Thanksgiving!!

I survived...

it wasn't fun, and it certainly good (the drink tasted like melted Popsicles with sugar added, I got stuck 4 times and it was a LONG 3 hours) but I made it! The hardest part was not drinking anything from midnight last night until my appt. at 9:40 when I drank the concoction and then having nothing else until I left at 1! Obviously, I was thirsty and starving and had a wicked headache but I think that was due to the fact that I usually have a diet coke sometime in the morning for a little caffeine fix. Let me tell you...McDonald's has NEVER tasted so good! :) Greg actually met me to help pass the time and we played a game of Ticket to Ride, which took us through 2 sticks...then we basically did what we could to pass the time, including dreaming about what we would do to our basement if we had unlimited funds, chatting about how to use his remaining vacation days and discussing baby names. Thanks for all of your prayers...I really appreciate them...and you! We won't have the results until after Thanksgiving, so until then, I am going to be aware of what I am eating, but I plan to indulge in the occasional chocolate treat just in case this is it for the remainder of the pregnancy! :)
Take good care, and know that we are thankful for you and your prayers!!

Carb loading

Well, it could be worse!! Being told by the doctor to be sure I either eat 3 candy bars or 6 slices of bread every day for 3 days was kind of a shocker...but I could get used to this! :) I surprised the boys with their favorite, chocolate frosted glazed Krispy Kreme donuts, for breakfast...and got some of the pumpkin spiced donuts for Greg and me...yummy!! I had forgotten how yummy donuts are! We get donuts each week for volunteering at church, but Greg and I split ours so each of the boys (and Greg) can have a half...I have managed to be good...until now! :) I also decided that if I had to eat candy bars, instead of eating the boys' left over Halloween candy, I would actually get the ones that I love but have long ago left - Heath and Take 5! Can't wait til my 2nd installment of carbs today! :) I am a little afraid about how many pounds I will actually gain this weekend...but if it will get us a healthy baby...so be it! I do remember though why I started cutting back on carbs to start with...boy is there a crash!! We don't have a strict diet to speak of in this house, but Greg and I long ago adopted a more protein based diet with carbs as a distant 2nd. Even the Ezekiel bread we eat has a low glycemic index, hence the need for donuts! :) I am beginning to think I may actually have g.d. b/c although the carbs are wonderful going in...about 30 minutes after I have them I feel like I am ready to hibernate! Last night I even nodded off - could have something to do with a long busy week, but it was almost like I was powerless to fight the sleep off...and when I did go to bed, it was the most tossing/waking/restless sleep I have had in a very long time. I really have no idea how much of this has to do with the carbs, but let me just say although I am enjoying the delicious break, I am looking forward to going back to my normal way of eating!

It is a brisk Saturday today and although it looks drab, there doesn't seem to be any rain in the forecast, so Greg and the boys are working on creating a leaf pile to obliterate later on this afternoon! I'll try to post pictures when I can!!

Make it a great weekend!!

Big fat FAIL!

Well, we are more than 1/2 way through this pregnancy and everything looks great! I still have ultrasounds every 3-4 weeks to be sure that my cervix is doing it's job (it is) and to check on the baby's cord and fluid levels (all good!). My blood pressure is always good and I am gaining weight (enough said about that!). Tuesday I went in for a routine cervix check and my 1 hour glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. After drinking a glucose concoction that tasted suspiciously like melted Flav-o-ice Popsicles, I had to wait an hour while the little guy got the biggest sugar rush of his life to date! He was doing so many jumps, kicks and turns that my stomach looked like it was full of Mexican jumping beans!! My doctor came in to go over notes and when she told me all was well with my cervix, I convinced her that walking the Thanksgiving Day 1/2 would not be too far off my normal walking schedule and she agreed that I could probably handle it with no problem. She did remind me to take it easy and listen to my body, and to eat/drink plenty during the race. All great news and I was thrilled!!

And then my hour was up. I had my blood taken, scheduled my next appointment and was on my way...easy peasy, right? Sure. Then yesterday, I got a call...from OB/GYN of Atlanta...never good...and...I FAILED the test!! The cut off is 136 and my number was 187. Not good, not good at all. So, now I have to go back on Monday and do a more in depth 3-hour glucose screen. Fun, fun. The upside is that I have to carb-load for the three days before the test (this weekend) and the actual printed instructions they sent actually say to eat either 6 slices of bread or, get this, 3 CANDY BARS per day for each of the 3 days before testing!! Seriously?!?! No problem!! I have always believed in following directions to a tee!! :)

In all seriousness - please say a prayer for both P4 and me. Besides the fact that GD can produce some enormous babies...gestational diabetes can be pretty dangerous for him even making it hard for him to control his sugar levels after birth...so we are obviously praying that I do not have it. I have never gotten it before, even when I was on complete bed rest, so I am pretty surprised...well except for the fact that I am single-handedly taking care of 3 boys' worth of Halloween candy. So please pray for my body to be able to handle the carb load/glucose screen and that I do NOT have Gestational Diabetes. Thank you all so much! Take good care!

Fall Tradition

This has been the most fun weekend! Friday was totally low key, but we made up for it on Saturday! Up early, we started with basketball evaluations for Landon and then raced directly to Tanner's game...just in time to see his first at-bat and a standing double that made it all the way to the fence!! He had a super ballgame, going 5 for 5 and got the offensive player of the game! As soon as we finished, the other two coaches and their families (those that weren't going to princesses on ice) for lunch at Taco Mac...and the fall festival at the little boys' school...which was sooo fun for all! They were toast after going all day without a nap, but they perked right up when we offered to let them roast their dinner over the fire pit...and finish with smores!

Today we made our yearly pilgrimage to north Georgia to get our pumpkins at Burts and then to hike the Amacalola Falls trail. Seriously people, this day could not have been any more perfect!! The sun was bright but the air was neither too warm or too cool...just perfect!! We had the best time with our dear friends the Robinsons on the hay ride and picking the perfect pumpkins! We had also run into the Johnsons on the way out of church who were also on their way to Burts so we had a fun time seeing them too! After securing the perfect pumpkins (we had to get one for each member of the family, plus one for P4 and two for Tanner's frogs), we bid farewell to the Robinsons and headed to the state park...along with several hundred like minded north Georgians!! It was packed!! The boys voted that they wanted to do the Creek trail from the visitor's center to the base of the falls and then head up the path by the falls to those 175 stairs that take you to the overlook about 1/2 way up. So, it is a rather mellow hike, but there are several areas with large steps and lots of roots and rocks in the path, so I was a little curious to see how Mathis would do...silly me! Even though several times he was stepping up almost as high as his hips, he never slowed down and kept reminding me "I'm a big boy, and a big hiker!" Adorable! All three boys climbed all the stairs without even slowing down and really enjoyed the view! Surprisingly enough, even without a nap, all three did great both on the trip up and on the trip back to the car...and didn't even fall asleep on the way to dinner!

So, true to form, we were having trouble coming up with a dinner plan...We had intended to hit a Smith house type restaurant up in the mountains, but never came across one, so we had headed back towards home and ended up introducing the boys to the wonder that is Golden Corral (affectionately known as "the trough"). While we thought they would be blown away by the bounty offered, they stuck with tried and true (rotisserie chicken, mac n cheese, biscuits). However...when they saw that dessert counter...and the chocolate fountain for dipping marshmallows and rice crispies treats...well my friends, it was all over!! Needless to say, they are more than happy to return to the trough again...even when we told them that next time they would have to eat more veggies...I think that soft serve and chocolate fountain is worth it!! :)

The boys have the day off school tomorrow for a teacher work day...so we are going to see what kind of adventures we can find...but I am guessing it will include a corn maze and maybe even a corn cannon...ah...fall in Georgia!! Get out and enjoy this amazing weather!! We love ya'll!

21 week anatomy scan

Today was my 21 week anatomy scan to check on the baby...and it went great! My mom and dad met us at the office to keep an eye on the boys, which we really appreciated! (Thank you!) We were able to ask questions and take the time to get advice that we wouldn't have been able to do had the boys been in with us! I think it was pretty fun for everyone to be able to see all the parts...the boys still had a ton of fun calling out the most obvious body part! :) It is just so amazing to see that little boy baby in there...and we pray that he continues to grow and develop right on schedule!

So all the right parts were in all the right places...and yes, it is definitely still a boy!! Now we just need to come up with a name...which has proven to be pretty tough so far!! Good news is that Greg and I did some brainstorming on our weekend away to Destin last weekend...the bad news is that our list is 61 names long!! Also, we were told to start considering what day we would like to schedule the c-section...yikes!! My official due date is 2/25, so no, they will most likely NOT let me go to Leap Year (bummer) AND they don't schedule sections before 39 weeks, so my 2/12/12 is most likely out too...I'm going to keep working on that...so we'll see!

I'll try and post some photos of the newest Powell...who, by the way, seems to have a similar profile to Landon...

Also, if you have any unique, but not crazy, suggestions for names...we would love to hear them...as I said, we are pretty stumped! If you know me (and our other boys), you'll remember that my preference is 6 letters/2 syllables....but at this point, we may consider other options! :)

Take good care!!

One more makes FOUR!!

I lied...

...sorry!! My appointment isn't this Tuesday the 13th...it is NEXT Tuesday the 20th!! UGH!! I am, however, going to try and get in tomorrow to have a quick scan of my cervix. I have been having some pressure and been feeling the baby very low and it is a little concerning to me. I have cut way back on my running until I can be sure that all is as it should be, and that is also not good for my mental state...I'm certainly not as relaxed or "nice" (as the kids say) when I am not running. Please continue to pray for P4 and for my cervix to do it's stinkin' job!!

SO, we will not know the flavor of P4 for another week...stay tuned!!

A great Saturday!

Today was a great day...it started out really cool, almost chilly, at Landon's 8am football game. Although he is still quick to say that he doesn't like it as well as baseball and misses fall ball and his friends a ton, he is really learning the game and seems to enjoy it. Thankfully, his team played better today and only lost by 2 points in the final minutes. For a kid that somehow has always been on a "better" team, losing is really hard for him, but I think that it is good that he is learning that you can't always win...you just have to play your best!
On the other hand, Tanner had his first baseball game of the season and they trounced the other team! He is playing up on the 6U team and while he is definitely the smallest player out there, he plays like a big guy!! He had an incredible defensive game and hit every time up to bat! He is thrilled to be back on the field and it is so fun to watch him love something so much! Landon is already counting the days til spring so he can be back on the ball field too!! We had a good many of the players' families join us at Taco Mac after the game as a way to get to know each other better and further unify the kids and parents...it was so fun!

Mathis was a sport, as always, and enjoyed playing with the other siblings at both games...and breaking out his mad dance skills at Tanner's game, where we have music for each of the batters.

And, while the game was exciting, the end result of the GA/SC game was disappointing to say the least...oh well...it is only game 2...we can still turn it around, right?

Last, but not least, we'd love to have ya'll join us in prayer for my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I have an ultrasound to check that my cervix is still doing it's job and have a really good chance of figuring out, once and for all, what flavor P4 is. Here is the kicker...when I scheduled the appt, it was just supposed to be a cervical scan, the big deal gender ultrasound is not until 20-21 weeks and I will only be 17 weeks on Tuesday, so I scheduled the appt for Tuesday am when all the boys are in school and Greg has a weekly staff meeting. Now I hear that there is about a 95% chance that she will be able to tell the sex of the baby on Tuesday! What to do? Do I reschedule the exam for later in the day (highly unlikely that I could get in the same week, let alone the same day!)? Take the boys out of school? Skip it until 21 weeks when we are scheduled when everyone can be there? I am torn...A friend suggested I have the results sealed and we can open them at home as a family...which is probably what I will do...it will depend on how strongly Greg feels about being there for the ultrasound...stay tuned!!

Home again, home again jiggity jig!!

We had a great procedure today...the doctor said the surgery went well and he was very pleased with the results. He even said that I could resume my activities in a week. We are so thankful. Thank you for all of your well wishes, texts and calls...and more than anything...your prayers, they were definitely felt and we appreciate you!!

Surprise!!

We have a little news to share...and an introduction to make...everyone...meet P4!!

We are currently 13 weeks pregnant and had a wonderful appointment today...we humbly ask for prayers for this little blessing and for a completely uneventful pregnancy! Tomorrow I will have another cerclage procedure (the same procedure that we had "emergency-style" last time). The hope is that it will enable me to continue the craziness of life with three boys right up until delivery day...Lord willing...late in February. Could even possibly be on leap year...how fun would that be?!


SO, please everyone say a prayer for our doctor, our baby and our nerves...we trust, this time, like last, that God has this little one safely in His hands...and we can't wait to hold him/her in ours!!


Love, Greg, Kristen, Landon, Tanner, Mathis...and P4