Week 26

+ it has been a good week generally. my work finally allowed me to swtich to working 4- 10 hour shifts a week, which relieves a huge burden for me with all of my doctor appt's I was missing alot of work and using up alot of my PTO. starting Nov 15th I will have Tuesday's off to make Sophia and I's doctor appt's. my next check up is Nov 9th (the dreaded weigh in) and our next ultrasound is Nov 16th. I also am doing a research study on milk that pays me some money to let me get a pedicure and massage and treat myself a little.

+ we have really been stressing/talking lately about how we are going to financially handle all that is coming our way, especially if Sophia does survive and needs some time in the NICU. I unfortunalty didn't get signed up in time for short term disability (to get paid while I am on maternity leave) and at this point we don't think we could survive on just Aaron's income (those darn Paramedic companies don't want to pay him what his medical decision is worth--- which is crazy, he is the person that finds you in your house having a heart attack and makes decisions to save your life gets paid less than someone checking you out at Wal-Mart). so i will most definatley be going back to work as soon as possible. possibly just to keep Sophia on a better insurance and with the better doctors, as any insurance we would have access through on either of his current jobs is not good. so i just keep praying aaron gets picked up by a fire dept full time so i don't have to work as much!!

+ on the flip side of this we have been incredibly blessed in the past few weeks by our family, to a point that brings me to tears. they have really taken care of us with small and big gifts to us that they didn't have to do, but did. it really has helped relieve this financial burden we have been fearing and reminds me that God is using them to remind us that he will take care of us. I am such a finances worry wart/cheapie, so sometimes i get so freaked out by all these extra tests that i forget that knowing month to month by baby is okay and growing even just a little is so much more worth it. so another big thank you to our family that we are so very lucky to have.

+ i also went on a women's retreat with our church last weekend, which was great on multiple levels. it was nice to just spend time with some friends i all ready have and to meet more women in the church. i was so lucky to have them all place hands on me and pray for Sophia and our family. this little girl has more prayers for her than i have ever been a part of. i like the whole laying their hands on me to pray part- it feels like it works better... which sounds rediculous but it just feels different when someone does that.

+ other than that- sophia continues to kick and hit me and do flips all day long. she is one happy baby in there, and it make me one happy mommy to feel her. she really starts hitting when i lean forward when i am sitting, i'm beginning to think she is one stubborn little girl and gets fiesty when i do something she doesn't like. like mother like child.... i hope she gets my determination to do something and that carrys though to her being a fighter to breath when she is born. type a personality pays off sometimes :o) other than that- i am lucky as she is most active mostly during the day (she hasn't woken me up yet with a kick), yet the past week she is kicking when i wake up around 5 am to pee...

+speaking of peeing... i thought that whole wake up to pee in the middle of the night thing was only suppose to be in the first few months and then again at the end months... oh no. my body and i have fought this the entire pregnancy. i have probably slept thru the night maybe 2 times since about 6 weeks preggo... and when it happens i actually worry. ha. other than that, my hair falling out and endless acne (that i have never had before- even when i was a teenager) pregnancy hasn't been too bad to me. i was never that nauseated (only enough to not want to cook for a few months :o) oh darn!) and was only tired during month 2 and 3. i know that now that i am starting the 3rd trimester it may all get alot more uncomfortable.... but being that our situation is special i have decided she can stay in there as long as she wants... as me being physically uncomfortable isn't nearly as bad as the heartache we may encounter when she is born.

+ i apologize for a long post. guess i had more on my mind than i thought today. thank you for listening and caring about my precious daughter and our family. since i have been getting asked alot lately-- at this point we will not be having a baby shower before Sophia is born. we will await to see what happens to celebrate her arrival after with a party. i am registered at Target, with the basics for now. we will be setting up a nursery very soon... i think i have decided that will be the spot i will go spend time with her. hopefully we will be blessed and get to bring her home to her room.

-prayer requests-

- Aaron's grandmother- Lois recovering from surgery and multiple heart attacks
- Aaron and I to make wise financial decisions
- Sophia to be healed, and her ribs/lungs to grow.
- Aaron to be hired by fire department full time