Heartrate 170

My sister in law says that means we should start picking out girls names! I guess we'll find out for sure in about 5 weeks when we get the ultrasound. I loved my doctor yesterday. She spent lots of time with us, calmed all our worries, and told us about this great natural childbirth class. I think we're going to take it. She delivered her last child naturally and says it was a great experience. I'm not ruling out drugs entirely though!

12 weeks!

Well I made it to 12 weeks. I guess I'm past the scary part. I can't wait to go to the doctor next Monday and hear the heartbeat again. It's hard to wait!
Everything is going great. I feel much better, still exhausted but not nearly as sick.
It's going pretty fast so far!

Madre Maria Called It

Last year in June, I was in Tijuana, Mexico for my annual mission trip with Fr. John Tasto and the Missionaries of the Cross. On June 26, 2005, this was the first reading at Mass:

2 KingsChapter 4

One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, "I know that he is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often,
let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there."
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?" "Yes!" Gehazi answered. "She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
"Call her," said Elisha. When she had been called, and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son." "Please, my lord," she protested, "you are a man of God; do not deceive your servant."

Madre pulled me aside after mass and asked if I was listening to the readings. (Normally I would think there would be a quiz if a nun asked me a question like that!) The readings were in Spanish, but I had been paying attention as much as I could, and I got the gist of this reading. She told me that I needed to believe with great trust in God, and that by this time next year I would have a baby as well. She was right! We found out about our baby on June 28, 2006.

More prayers

Wow, so many people are praying for us! It's amazing and very humbling. A friend of mine, who is pregnant with her 8th child, told me today she is praying the St. Gerard prayer every day, and that she enrolled me in the League of St. Gerard and I'd get something in the mail every month for the rest of my life ;-)

The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka are praying for us every day as well, and my friend Dominic, who is going into the seminary this month. Not to mention Grandmas, Grandpas, Sarah and Chris, Deacon Dan and lots more!

We are so blessed to have these amazing friends. I feel like this kid is loved already (and not only by us!) What a great community he/she will be born into.

Mood Swings

Pants getting too tight, throwing up in the shower every morning, nothing sounding good to eat (except nectarines.) Crying for no reason.

Pregnancy is very interesting so far. I'm offering everything up for this kid. I think my husband thinks I'm crazy! He's being very nice though - he even went to O'Malias yesterday to get me stuff to make a root beer float, which sounded good at the time but I regreted very much later. He has had to put up with a lot so far!

I met a very cool Dominican Sister this weekend at the Frassati Conference: Sister Mary Brigid. She was very excited to hear about little Snack Pack. I told her about how Ken found the novena to St. Anthony, and we just happened to start it on the day that it would end on his feast day, which is June 13. Then in my pregnancy journal, I filled out the dates starting with my due date, and then it's supposed to end on the date of conception. Guess which date that was?

June 13. Thank you St. Anthony!

A friend of mine suggested that I start a blog to keep everyone updated, so I'm going to try it. Here's the email I sent to announce Baby Pack:

After Two Years

3 Doctors: $1000
2 Surgeries for Endometriosis: $1200
3 months of Menopause inducing drugs: $75
1 Novena to St. Anthony: Free off the internet


Being able to get my husband a bib that says "Daddy is My Hero" for our anniversary: Priceless!

Baby Pack: Expected arrival 3/6/07

Pray for us!