Goodbye Belly, Hello Ava

The moment has arrived! A moment of celebration that I have embraced and thanked the Lord for everyday since my angel Ava Rose was born. I tip my hat to all that never believed we would make it to this moment and the simple fact is that I would have to tip it to myself at times. Even though I now feel somewhat empty inside I am filled with a gratification that I can't even explain. The one mission that has been given to me over the last several months was accomplished and now my new reality must begin. With this new reality comes an overwhelming feeling of excitement and the sky is the limit. I now have no physical restrictions, with the exception of the next few weeks recovering from surgery, and I can't wait to feel good again. I can't wait to be able to take my girls on walks, and to the park. I can't wait to be able to exercise! Yes you heard it right here, I am turning over a new leaf. I am taking advantage of what has been given back to me and won't take it for granted again. My new reality will include an active lifestyle and not just for me but for the whole family. As I walk through my front door tomorrow with a family of five I will be the proudest wife and mom on the planet. It still really hasn't sank in for me I think. I'm still trying to process the last four months and all that me and my family have been through. I look at my new miracle, Ava, and I feel nothing but love. To know that this little person was in my belly three days ago is just mind boggeling no matter how many children you have. My belly that I have protected for months, the belly that Sofia said good morning to everyday, and the belly that has brought me so much pain for the last several months is gone. But in it's place is my beautiful angel that we have all waited so patiently for. She will forever be a reminder of the struggle we went through to have her, a reminder of you take nothing for granted or lose sight of how blessed you are, and a reminder that you can do anything that you put your mind to as long as you keep the faith.

T Minus 1 Week and Counting

So here we are. No one thought we would make it this far, but we all prayed for it and God prevailed. One week from this moment I will be holding my new baby girl in my arms and that's a moment I've been waiting for, for a long time. I can't even begin to imagine what that moment will be like. I can imagine all the emotions I will be feeling as well as my family and friends. You know that saying that it takes an army to raise a child? In this case it's totally true. Without our army of friends, family, and the endless hours of support we would have never made it. So here is a huge hug and Thank You to all of you! As the time grows closer I get so anxious to see what's to come. What will she look like? Will she look like Zoie? Sofia? Or will she have a look all her own? Will she be healthy? One more reason to put your trust in God. Let him take care of all that big stuff right? But still you can't help but wonder. The last four months of my life have been strictly dedicated to this little baby that I have yet to meet. I already feel such a connection to her that I can't explain it. Usually I would be working, preoccupied with many other things and thoughts. Not this time. This time I have focused all of my time and energy on every little kick, pain, and contraction. It has really put into perspective what is important in life and what seemed important before really isn't. At my last doctors appointment every nurse, doctor and receptionist I ran into had to tell me how amazed they were with how far I've come. Nobody expected it and I know when you have shocked your maternal fetal medicine specialist you have really accomplished something. So when I think about all the things I have given up...my body, my time, my job, my life I then in turn think about all that I have achieved and all that I am about to gain. It's an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and it has forever strengthened my relationship with a God more powerful than any doctor, specialist, and pessimist.