30 Weeks Down...10 to Go!

Today we are officially 30 weeks into this pregnancy...That means in just 10 short weeks (plus or minus) I should be holding a sweet newborn in my arms :)

Oh, and staying awake much of the night. And experiencing major stomach cramping along with engorged "milk bags". Randomly crying for no reason...oh wait, those pregnancy hormones are already here. But I'm not complaining, it's all part of the motherhood experience. And this time around, I feel pretty aware of what to expect. Every ache, every tear, every sleepless night is totally worth it. And I am so thankful for this opportunity.

So as I hit this milestone and feel the urge to better prepare my heart, mind and home to welcome our son; I have decided to begin a weekly countdown to...Baby's Birthday!

Of course I realize that the due date is by no means a guarantee of when baby arrives. In fact recently, a couple of my friends had their babies several weeks early and had to experience their little one's first days (or weeks) in the hospital NICU. So tough! I remember those days all too well with Adria, but she was in the NICU recovering from her spina bifida closure surgery, not because she was premature.

Johanna arrived just one day before her due date, so I am hoping this little guy stays the course and arrives near his expected time.

What's Happening at 30 Weeks?

According to my Baby Center app, our little guy is roughly 15+ inches long and weighs almost 3 pounds. Woohoo!

We actually accomplished a great deal this week. Daddy was able to complete a couple of big projects - painting the girls' room and the Nursery! We have soft tan walls in our home and have left it that way for the nearly two years we've lived here. Adria lamented over the lack of color, as her previous room in Virginia was two vibrant shades of pink with a green stripe down the center, but we left that home after only eight months and did not have the motivation to repaint.

It's finally time to add some color. And we did! The girls picked a light PURPLE color, and yes we decided to paint the nursery BLUE. Daddy was also able to once again assemble the crib that has held both of our girls for the first two years of their lives...It's a bit damaged and worn after years of use and several moves, but it'll work just fine!

We also received the Motherload of boy's clothing from Adrian's cousin, who has three young boys and just found out their baby #4 will be a Girl! We are so excited for them...and our new stash of blue, black, gray and green clothing :)  Prior to that, we had just 3 outfits for a baby boy.

The girls watching Daddy paint their bedroom.

Pretty Purple walls in the girl's room.

The Nursery before the new paint.

Johanna "helping" Daddy with the crib assembly today.

Freshly painted blue walls and the crib comes out again!

How do I feel?

One of the most common questions pregnant women hear is, "How have you been feeling?" And rightly so, because having a life grow inside is no easy task. Generally, I do not get very sick in my pregnancies, which is a blessing. In December I had an annoyingly long winter cold that became painful with all the coughing, but I had been doing good since then. This week the cough and sneezing returned a day after I spent a couple hours outside in the snow with the girls. I thought we were all bundled up good! I'm praying it doesn't stay around long this time.

We had our first good snowfall this winter on Tuesday and enjoyed lots of time outdoors.
Then the arctic blast came at the end of the week, causing all Delaware schools to close Friday because of temps hovering just above zero and worse wind chills. We stayed snug inside...Actually they did, I went to work.

Also, a visit to the chiropractor this week did confirm that both my hips were somewhat out of alignment, as I had been experiencing some pain, but he fixed that for now.

The belly is really starting to pop out too...I'll try to have new pictures next week. Adria continues to eagerly rub my belly and give baby brother kisses every day :)  I think I'm most excited to see her response when the baby arrives!

Let the Countdown Begin!

And with that, we shall begin our 10 week countdown to Baby Boy Seely (at least we are 90% sure of that fact)!  We hope you'll enjoy experiencing this unique part of our journey. As far as I know, this will likely be my last time counting down to the day I meet our new baby. In the midst of all the busyness, I want to treasure this and remember what it was like.

30 Weeks Down...10 to Go.

Day Trips for Delaware Families

FUN! To me it's a critical part of life and maintaining sanity. Random fun around the house is always good, but sometimes we need to take it up a notch and plan a day trip or weekend away to experience new adventures. Of course, my definition of FUN can vary dramatically from my husband's, but that's another topic completely ;)

We recently enjoyed a WEEKEND in the POCONOS with our girls, and on the return trip home I was inspired to make a list of FUN places to visit with our children over the coming years. Now, I'm pretty excited about trying to fit in a few of these little trips a year if we can! Maybe it will inspire you too.

With baby #3 preparing to join us in May, I'm not sure how many we'll be able to get in this year but maybe we'll be brave and try a few outings with a baby, 3 year old and 6 year old! (I know many a mother who has handled more.)

Children's Fun Places to visit:

All of the places on this list can be visited with just a day or weekend trip from southern Delaware. Many I have been to at some point in my life, but we have yet to take our girls to any of these destinations.

Of course these "Day Trips" require three things that can be hard to come by: Time, Money and Patience. But I figure if we make a list and make a plan, maybe we'll get to experience them at some point in the coming years while our children are still young. I've even provided direct web links to aid in trip planning!

• Dutch Wonderland - Lancaster, PA (about 2.5 hours)
• My friends who have been there say that this is a must visit for young children.
• www.dutchwonderland.com
• Hershey Park & Hershey's Chocolate World - Hershey, PA (3 hours)
• I still remember the aroma when we visited their chocolate factory as young children, and the nearby theme park is great for all ages.
• www.hersheypark.com
• www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld
• Great Wolf Lodge - Williamsburg, VA or Poconos, PA (3+ hours)
• Just down the road from our Poconos hotel was one of the dozen national locations for this popular Family Indoor Waterpark resort.
• www.greatwolf.com
• Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom - Allentown, PA (2.5 hours)
• We passed this amusement park on the way home too, reminding me of when I went there as a Girl Scout...many years ago.
• www.dorneypark.com
• Delaware Children's Museum - Wilmington, DE (1.5 hours)
• This museum is just down the road from Adria's children's hospital, but we still haven't made it there for a visit. Need to do that soon!
• www.delawarechildrensmuseum.org
• Valley Forge National Historical Park - King of Prussia, PA (2 hours)
• Both Adrian and I have childhood memories of visiting this and other historical sites, and we'd like to share that with our little ones too.
• www.valleyforge.org
• Adventure Aquarium - Camden, NJ (2 hours)
• We love aquariums and some friends have raved about this one, but I've never been there.
• www.adventureaquarium.com
• Francis Scott Key Family Resort - Ocean City, MD (50 minutes)
• I just found this fun-looking place that's close to home and looks like it would make for an active weekend by the boardwalk and beach.
• www.fskfamily.com 
• The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, PA (2 hours)
• One of my all-time favorite museums with a strong emphasis on science. I went there on school field trips and fell in love; I hope my children do as well. 
• www.fi.edu
• Assateague Island-State Park - Berlin, MD (1 hour)
• Wild horses on the beach and ocean front camping...need I say more? Oh yes, insect repellent is a must.
• dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/assateague.aspx
• Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Air & Space Museum - Washington DC (2 hours)
• Two different destinations along the Mall in our nation's capital that offer so much to see and learn.
• www.mnh.si.edu
• www.airandspace.si.edu
• National Aquarium - Baltimore, MD (1.5 hours)
• In our early years together, Adrian and I went on a special date here, now it's time to share this underwater adventure with our children.
• www.aqua.org
• Sesame Place - Langhorne, PA (2+ hours)
• This amusement park is for the Big Bird and Cookie Monster lover in all of us.
• www.sesameplace.com
• Kings Dominion - Doswell, VA (3 hours)
• We went to this family amusement park with Adrian's siblings a few years ago, but never made it back during our time living in Richmond.
• www.kingsdominion.com
• The Zoo - Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; and Washington, DC (2 hours)
• There are so many interesting, exotic animals waiting to be seen in the area. During our time in Indianapolis, we spent countless hours at the zoo with the girls. 
• www.philadelphiazoo.org
• www.marylandzoo.org
• www.nationalzoo.si.edu

Sometimes I complain about how little there is to do in rural southern Delaware, but the truth is, there are countless adventures waiting for us around the corner!

Of course there are many local adventures we have already experienced with our girls, that I would recommend. These include:

• Please Touch Museum - Philadelphia, PA
• Cabin camping at Trap Pond State Park - Laurel, DE
• Busch Gardens Amusement Park - Williamsburg, VA (not so great for the very young though)
• Winterthur Museum and Gardens - Wilmington, DE
• Cape Henlopen State Park beaches and camping - Lewes, DE
• Boardwalk and Funland - Rehoboth Beach, DE 
• Delmarva Shorebirds Baseball game - Salisbury, MD
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry and Cape May Zoo - Lewes, DE and Cape May, NJ

Little scientists at the Please Touch Museum last spring.

Beach bum at Cape Henlopen State Park

Bikers at Funland 

Are you ready to go have some FUN ADVENTURES with your little ones? I'd love to hear about your favorite places to take your children and recommendations to add to this list...though it's quite long already!

All that said, it's about 10 degrees outside and I've got a runny nose, sore throat and a big belly that makes me more tired than normal, so the most FUN thing I want to do right now...is snuggle under my covers in bed (and pray for a more restful sleep than last night).

But it is fun to dream about activities for sunny days ahead...

The Proposal

Valentine's Day 2003. It was the only year I went on a Valentine's date with my boyfriend.

Prior to that, I was always single on February 14. And since that year, I have always spent Valentines with my husband. Because on February 15, 2003 I became engaged...this is the story of our Proposal.

Spring 2003 - Adrian and I with another engaged couple at the LU Junior/Senior Banquet... both couples still married!

It was a special date night. Adrian and I had been dating about nine months when he drove down to Virginia again to meet me at college and take me out for dinner. We dressed up and he brought me to a fancy restaurant in downtown Lynchburg. Of course, he brought me flowers. He spoiled me with flowers while we were dating, and even now he surprises me with them on occasion. (Like stopping by my office on Friday with our little girls and a bouquet of purple roses...I was in the middle of a sales appointment, but my clients didn't seem to mind the interruption! I certainly loved it.)

After our romantic dinner that Valentine's night, Adrian and I went back on campus to Liberty University to watch a Coffee House show...basically a talent night for students to perform. The acts were entertaining but the bonus of these nights was that students were allowed to stay out past curfew... Yes, Liberty had some conservative rules including an 11 p.m. curfew on weeknights and midnight on weekends. (You might laugh at this if you went to a state college, but it generally didn't bother me.)

Halfway through the show, we decided to step outside so that we could spend more quiet time together walking and talking. Technically, I was supposed to return to my dorm room at that point, but maybe I had a bit of a rebel inside that didn't care about the curfew. I was with my boyfriend on Valentine's after all! This was something new and different.

Adrian walked me to one of the highest points on campus. There, we climbed a lift that was next to the football practice field. On this night, that lift provided a romantic retreat with a wonderful vantage point of the city lights and mountains in the distance.

It was sometime after midnight as we stood together silently for a while, appreciating the peaceful view, all the while Adrian's arms were wrapped around me against the chilly night air.

He broke the silence with barely more than a whisper in my ear... A poem. I listened, quickly realizing it was a poem he had written and memorized for me. My heart started pounding faster as the poem ended with... Will you be my Wife?

Barely visible in the darkness, his hand opened in front of me with a small box. The Box. It held a lovely ring with a trio of diamonds.

I was shocked. Kind of nervous. Pretty excited. Was this really happening? I had just turned 21 the week before. Was I ready to be a wife???? But this Guy...they don't make them like this much anymore. Sensitive, romantic, intellectual. This man would be a great husband and life partner. And I loved him.

I said Yes! He placed the ring on my finger. We Kissed. (This was also technically forbidden on campus at Liberty...but do you think I cared?)

Here's the ring he gave me that night...and a Pandora bracelet he gave me a couple years ago.

Adrian later told me that he intentionally waited until after midnight to propose, so it would be February 15. He knew I would not appreciate something cliche like a proposal on Valentine's Day. Smart guy! Hahaha...

(p.s. Don't let this taint your experience if you had a Valentine's Day proposal!)

In all honesty, when I returned to my dorm room that night and showed my roommate the ring on my finger, I was more afraid than excited. I seriously never thought I would get married so young. Three months later I graduated from college with a ring on my finger. Six months after that, we said "I do."

And here I sit 12 years later with that same ring on my finger and thankful to be carrying another child from this Guy. We have created a life and family together and traveled many a bumpy, yet exciting road along the way.

I am so glad I said YES that February 15...many years ago.


For more details on how we first met, check out this post: HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY TO MY CHILDHOOD CRUSH. Read a little of Adrian's perspective on our life and marriage: TEN YEARS AND COUNTING...IN HIS WORDS.

A Weekend in the Poconos

Last weekend we enjoyed a fun family get-away to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The best part...our two night hotel stay was paid for by my company!

It was our annual team building get-away to go Snow-Tubing. The only trouble is, I've got a baby bump growing which makes snow tubing too risky, and it's just too involved and difficult for Daddy to try it with two little girls on his own. But we didn't want to miss out on a chance for a weekend trip...especially since it happened to be my birthday on Saturday!

Excited little girls snuggling with their toys in the hotel bed!

We joined in for the snow tubing at Camelback Mountain last year. It was pretty fun, but definitely geared toward older children. Navigating the long lines, the lifts, and double person snow tubes with a 5 and 2 year old along was rather tricky...not to mention the downhill was super fast.

So while my co-workers and their families went snow-tubing on Saturday, we went exploring to CRYSTAL CABIN FEVER in Lakeville, PA. A large red barn almost lost in the hills of the Poconos becomes a visitor destination every February with more than 100 tons of ICE meticulously sculpted into beautiful creations. This year's theme was "Under the Sea", and we were quite impressed with the display plus the girls got to play outside in the deep snow!

Checking out the "Crystal Cabin Fever" ice sculpture exhibit with an "Under the Sea" theme.

We even got to see an ice carving competition...impressive.

Daddy and Johanna made snow angels

Yeah for deep snow! The girls have been disappointed at how little snow
we've had in DE this year, so this was a special treat.

Daddy and girls exploring in the woods beside the ice festival

The Ice Throne...made my bottom COLD!
See that Nemo in the corner? They were hidden throughout the display.

We had an enjoyable weekend with the girls loving some time in the hotel pool after our outing, and they actually slept well in the hotel bed...Yeah!

That night we joined my company's crew for dinner at Red Lobster.  At the end the servers brought me dessert and sang "Happy Birthday", which reminded me of my younger years when my Aunt Bon would treat me to Red Lobster every year on my birthday. Good times!

While we were in the Poconos, I noticed several fun places and things to do that might be worth coming back with our children another time to experience. It got me thinking of all the great places to go within a few hours of our home in Southern Delaware, so I took some time on the way home Sunday to create a list of future fun trips.

Stay tuned because that list will be my next post: Great Day Trips for Delaware Families!
Maybe it'll give you some good ideas or you can help me come up with more fun adventures with children.

We did stop for one more quick activity on the way home, visiting the new Cabela's beside the Christiana Mall. I've got to say, it was surprisingly impressive and entertaining with all the animals on display and large fish tank. Adria even said it looked more like a museum than a store! And she decided she wanted to try out the dart gun, but Johanna was surprisingly too bashful to try.

Oh yeah...we totally took advantage of this parking spot :)

Sometimes adventure comes in unexpected places, like the new Cabela's by the Christiana Mall, where we stopped on our way home Sunday.

Adria even got to try something new...

It always takes some extra work to get away, needing to pack all the girl's stuff (especially with Adria's involved nightly routine) and sleep in different beds, but usually the adventure is worth it. I would say the girls loved it...they got to celebrate mommy's birthday playing in the snow, swimming in a pool, and eating shrimp!

2 Brothers with Spina Bifida

The first time I met this precious family was in the waiting room of Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.

I remember it so well. The couple was our age, and she was beautiful with a precious baby bump growing. Close by them was an adorable little boy about Adria's age. He had the biggest smile and energetic personality, and he was cruising around the waiting area in his little walker.

Dara and James with their handsome boys last fall.

I was quite sure that he too had spina bifida as I noticed his leg braces (AFOs), and we were all waiting together for the Myelomeningocele clinic after all.

It was amazing to see him, as this was the first time we had ever met a toddler who was Adria's age with spina bifida. This came at a critical time for us as Adria was over two years old, and her physical therapist had been working with her for months on using a walker and getting around more independently that way. She was just struggling to get the hang of it, but we so desperately wanted to see her take more steps using the walker. And here was this little guy who seemed to have figured it out.

Just a few minutes of waiting, and I couldn't help myself. I had to say hello and learn more about this incredible little boy who so confidently made his way around. Plus, we were still new to Indianapolis and I was open to making friends whenever possible.

I said hello to his mother, Dara. We talked for a few minutes, and it's hard to express how refreshing it was to talk face to face with another mother who had experienced so many similar things with her child as we had. Her son was just a few months younger than Adria. Their story was similar yet different, as she told me that it was a surprise to them when their son was born with spina bifida...the ultrasound had not revealed it like it had for us. I could only imagine how hard this had been for them. But she talked about his progress and different experiences. Her eyes were full of love, but there was something else there...a look of exhaustion or even fear?

Soon it became clear why. They had just learned that the baby she was carrying was another boy...and he too had the severe form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele.  My heart went out to her. I think I gave her a hug. I hope I did.

It had been such an involved, wild ride caring for Adria's needs those first two years of her life, and I knew that much was yet to come. How hard would it be to manage all the therapies, doctor appointments, medical bills and special needs for TWO young children with spina bifida???

Four years later, I can tell you that it has been difficult for this family. We were able to see them again a couple times while we still lived in Indianapolis and meet their second little boy. And we have remained in contact through Facebook, where I can pray with them as the boys face setbacks and rejoice with them in their progress.

Their boys have been through so much, and it seems the youngest especially has needed multiple surgeries and faced countless challenges.

Through it all, I see this couple loving their boys unconditionally and constantly fighting for them to get the best care and opportunities. Honestly, it can be very difficult when you are a hard-working middle class American family. The parents both work and like us, make just enough money to not qualify for much of the government assistance that exists for children with special needs. This leaves them and us constantly battling with health insurance to gain access to medical equipment and coverage for critical services/surgeries that can have a huge impact on our children's well-being. The annual out of pocket costs can be...daunting.

Dara just posted the other day, that they are finally being able to meet with officials regarding a special medical waiver they applied for years ago. Praying this goes well for them!

In all these experiences, this family has gained a unique perspective on what really matters in life which also comes with a sense of exasperation over complaints of petty things. I feel like I can really relate sometimes.

James and Dara with their boys in 2013

Recently, Dara shared her heart in an on-line post that comes from a woman who has been there...through the really, really tough times. She is a nurse and has witnessed many others battling their own issues. I asked her if I could share this with you, so here is some food for thought from a Mom who knows what it is to love deeply and survive in the struggle:

In Dara's Words

Coming from a different perspective, in which I've learned to always think about the other end before I say something: 

1. All of this fad on social media with breast feeding vs formula..please be cognitive of those mothers, such as myself, who weren't able to breast feed or pump to feed my children thru an NG or OG tube because of stress and no appetite and constant worrying of the unknown with living day by day regarding the health of my children in NICU...so does that make me or others bad mothers for choices or circumstances? Stop saying breast is better...good for you, but other mothers don't need that blasted in their face. 

2. When you say you've been blessed with healthy children and God is good, think about how it feels for parents to hear that who have children with special needs or health problems..is that implying He wasn't good to us? Talk about salt in an open wound. Yes, we are too blessed. 

3. Don't say something is "retarded"...seriously, think about if you personally experienced a family member who was cognitively impaired or delayed. You're missing a sensitivity chip. 

4. Before you speak and say such things, that your life is so bad or a situation is so bad you could shoot yourself or kill yourself, be a little sensitive because there are those who have personally experienced that in their families. 

5. I won't even go there with "short bus" comments because you're just making an ass of yourself to even make a comment regarding that. 

6. Think about those struggle to get pregnant because you could be complaining about how bad it feels or horrible feeling being 9 months pregnant. I'm sure those who can't have children would love to feel that and appreciate every moment..what if you're complaining to that female who can't get pregnant. Can you imagine how they feel?

I could go on and on...I'm just saying, try to think beyond the box...unless you prefer to be content in your own. Maybe I just care too much about others, which I've learned there's more to life than just my own.

I'm just hoping this will help people see from another point of view that I have been guilty of not seeing and people have helped bring to my attention, as well as my own experiences. Don't get me wrong, I do get offended easily and pissed off initially on certain things because that's my protective motherly instinct, but I have to step back and realize they don't even know what they're saying. It's all just something to think about...

Dara's youngest son recently making progress with the Gate-Trainer.