Love is Patient: Sprucing Up A Salad...With A CUCUMBER!!! (Week 26)

This pregnancy is literally flying by faster than I can blink my eyes! I seriously look up and it's a new week and every week seems to be busier than the week before. And with summer winding down and the first of school getting ready to start, I have a feeling it's only going to go faster! Which is good because that means we will blink and our precious Seiden will be here! And her nursery is almost done...which is amazing because I wanted it to be absolutely complete before I went back to school. I know I will be so busy during the week that when the weekends roll around...I'm going to want to rest and get those chores and errands run before a new week starts. The only thing that is still left to go in there is the furniture that we bought for her. It's a dresser and armoire that is about 50 years old and is absolutely gorgeous. Some of our friends are re-doing it for us...so hopefully it will be done soon and we can move it in her room! They are painting it the teal blue that is in her bedding, distressing it, and putting a brown glaze over it to soften it a bit. And I also bought some gorgeous white rose knobs at Hobby Lobby that will be absolutely beautiful on the furniture. All the other décor that mom and I have been working on will sit on top of the furniture. So, we really are almost done with everything! I can't wait to get the furniture in there to see it fully complete and put together...her nursery is going to be so beautiful!!!

And an update on our sweet girl and that little cyst that's on her neck: God is so good and He is answering our prayers each and everyday!!! We went in on Monday afternoon to see Dr. Maberry...who is absolutely amazing by the way. The sonogram technician did a scan on my belly and we got to see our growing girl. And let me say...she is growing! She weighs about 2lbs and is 13 inches long...which is right on track for 26 weeks along! When we went to see Dr. Tabor in Ft. Worth on July 10th, she was only 1lb, 9 oz and about 10 inches long...so she has grown a lot in just a few weeks! All her organs were perfect and her heart was beating at a good rate of 155 BPM. She has been pretty consistent with that. I went back and looked at the past month's sonograms and all but one was 155, the one that wasn't was 157. So, she has got a good, strong, precious little heart! Her sweet little face is just getting more and more beautiful and her profile is getting to where we can really see her precious little features. And her feet...well...they are so big! She is going to be a runner. I'm calling it now...there are no if's, and's, or butt's about it! We have thought they were pretty big for her size for a long time now...but they just keep getting bigger and bigger! And they are so precious...we can't wait to tickle them and kiss them! It's absolutely amazing to me how detailed these sonograms are. We didn't get a picture of her hand this time, but we did see them when she was in full out wiggle mode for a couple of seconds. You can see every single one of her fingers and the lines on the palms of her hand. And in the picture we got of one of her feet, you can see her tiny toes and all the lines on her foot too. I mean...it's crazy how detailed these sonograms and pictures are...and so wonderful too!

Ok...so about the cyst. It hasn't grown a single bit since about June 24th!!! So, that means that she has almost doubled in size in the last month and that cyst has stayed the same size. That is absolutely wonderful news...we were in complete joy when Dr. Maberry told us the news on Monday! It was an overwhelming feeling and we just couldn't be happier with hearing those words. Dr. Maberry was also so very excited for how it is looking. You could see it in his face that he felt so much better about the development (or lack there of) of the cyst. He also had to measure the amniotic fluid to make sure that it was increasing. If it doesn't increase, that is a sign that the cyst is pushing on her esophagus and windpipe and is actually causing her problems in the womb...which would have to be addressed before we deliver. But, he measured it and it was increasing and said that it really couldn't be more perfect. He absolutely reassured us that this couldn't be going better...unless it goes away of course! He also told us that he felt like if something more serious was going to happen, like the cyst getting bigger or pushing on her esophagus and windpipe, that it would have already happened by now. With only 14 weeks to go and how much she is growing at this point, and the cyst hasn't gotten bigger, it's all a sign that Seiden will continue to grow and the cyst will not! If I had to say that any part of this is a bummer, I would have to say that it's having to deliver in Ft. Worth. At this point, I will still be having a C-section at Cook's. The only reason it's such a bummer is because our doctor, Dr. Tadvick won't be delivering. And that makes us both sad...he is absolutely amazing and his love for Christ is unwavering! He prays with us after every time we see him and he has prayed with me over the phone when he's gotten reports from the other doctors we've seen. I'm really thinking about finding a way for him to come to Ft. Worth and be in the room when she's being born! Seriously... But, because I will be delivering at Cook's, Seiden will have the absolute best care in the world. The doctor that will be watching over her is world renowned and we couldn't be in better hands. Just another way God is watching over us!

I can't tell you how thankful that we both are. We truly saw God's healing powers in the sonogram room that day. We have been desperately praying that He will take the cyst away, make it smaller, or just not let it grow and keep it the same size as she continues to grow. It's amazing to see God's work and to see His hands being laid on our precious daughter. He has been taking care of her before we even knew we were pregnant and He is continuing to do so each and everyday and will for the rest of her life. She is His precious child and we are just beyond blessed that He has given her to us and trusted us with her life while here on this earth. We have so many precious family, friends, and people we don't even know praying for us, this pregnancy, and for Seiden. I can't tell you how amazing it is to see followers of Christ come together from all over the state to pray for one precious child. Especially when that child is yours. I have never felt so blessed by anything and the overwhelming feeling I have is an emotion I could never describe. We are so fortunate, thankful, and truly blessed beyond all measures. We absolutely can't wait to tell Seiden how many people have been praying for her since the day we found out about her and how many people have come into her life through this cyst and have been lifting her up each and every day. When we really look at the big picture of all of this, it truly is a blessing. Cody and I have become even closer than we already were, our relationship with God has gotten closer, our prayer life has gotten stronger, and we are going to have an amazing testimony to share showing God's blessings and faithfulness. Not only that, but we are going to have a precious, beautiful, perfect little girl to love, protect, raise, and bring her to know Christ. We are truly blessed!

And on a fun, exciting note...Cody was home from Friday night through Monday after the appointment! We got to hang out with each other, family, and friends, go to church together, watch movies, lay on the couch, and spend time with the dogs and each other all weekend and it was wonderful! The CrossFit Games were also on...so we spent a lot of the weekend watching those together. On Saturday night, we went over to Britain and Dallas's house to watch the Saturday WODs and of course...grill out and spend time together! Brent and Bria were there and so were some of our very dear friends; Cary, Marla, and their 3 precious kiddos, Shelby, Alli, and Zach. We had so much fun spending the afternoon and evening together...we sure do love all of them so much! It was absolutely wonderful to have Cody home. I wished I could clone him so he could be both places at once! I think the best part about him being home though was how much he got to feel Seiden moving around. I know she was so excited to have her daddy home and she must have been doing somersaults in my tummy! He had his head and his hands on my tummy one time and she kept bumping him so hard, she was making his head and hands kinda come off my tummy a little bit! And she still loves to push-up on my tummy...with what parts of her little body...we have no idea! But when she pushes, you can very vividly see where she is...she is not shy and love to make her sweet little appearance known! I love seeing the look on his face when he feels her moving. I wished he could be home more so he could feel her all the time. She is quite the little wiggle worm and loves to shake, rattle, and roll all around! And all the time!!! Amarillo has been such a blessing though...and just another answered prayer from our amazing Father. It's been tough with him being gone...just because I miss him so much. But, it is only temporary and with Seiden coming soon...he'll be home sooner! Week 26 has been a big week for all 3 of us...but we are so happy to report that we are all doing perfectly!!! Seiden Grace...you are simply perfect and an answer to our prayers in more ways than we could ever imagine. God is doing things in your life that we don't even know about and His will and plan for you is perfect. We love you more than words could express!!!

Seiden Grace at 26 Weeks:

You are the size of a cucumber!
You weigh 2 whole pounds and are 13 inches long!!!
You have doubled in weight from 4 weeks ago!
You have made momma's uterus grow to the size of a basket-ball! And seriously...it looks like I swallowed one!
You are still quite a little snuggle bug...loving to curl up in a tight little ball and in the fetal position.
But when you are wiggling around...you are a strong little girl and Mommy and Daddy can both feel you squirming around!
Your auditory development is continuing to grow and your hearing is becoming more and more acute.
Your taste buds are also very developed now too. I sure hope you like what I'm eating...cause you are getting a full fledge flavor explosion!
You are also continuing to put some of that sweet baby fat on your precious little body. You are one healthy little girl and are developing into such a beautiful, precious baby!
Seiden Grace...you are more than we could have ever imagined. We can't wait to hold you in our arms, love on you, and kiss you. We love you so very much precious girl!!!