my first visit was actually with the nurse, but it went over ok. it took FOREVER. why didn’t anyone tell me how long those things take?!?

anyway, according to her calculations, my due date is jan. 9. and until we have an ultrasound done, i guess we’re supposed to say that as a due date. even though i don’t think it’s right.

she thinks i’ve been getting soooo sick because of my prenatal vitamins, so she told me to stop taking them for the first trimester. she said continue to take the folic acid supplements, and take flinstone vitamins 3x a day. we thought that was odd, but ok. i didn’t take it last night and am feeling a little nauseaus, but not as bad as usual, so maybe she was right.

if anyone has any advice please feel free. i really don’t mind. as long as you realize i may or may not take it, i’m fine with hearing anything.

we plan to breastfeed and pump because i really would like jerry and other family members to feed the baby. (i’m sure militant people will want to kill me, but it’s true - and it’s not like it will be an every minute kind of thing either!)

we plan to use cloth diapers if possible. if anyone has any that they know they won’t be using anymore, throw them on over!! we know how expensive they are, but know in the long run they are worth the extra costs in the beginning.

i plan to work as long as i’m able. i already told my boss that if it came down to my job and my baby i would definitely choose my baby, and she seemed fine with it. she’s making steps at work to make me more comfortable - i will be out of my beloved toddler room so i won’t have stinky diapers and little ones to lift all the time. i will be in the next room, with 3s and 4s, so i’ll still get to visit my little angels. i will miss them a lot!!!!! but it will be better for the baby and me, because i am always so tempted to lift those little cuties up for hugs and stuff….

when i stop working, i will be considered stay at home mom to be and i will stay home with my child and children forever afterwards. we plan to also homeschool our kids when appropriate.

oh, and we are using a little bassinette at first, that has wheels, so the baby can be with us at night. close enough that if he/she needs some breastmilk i’ll be there, not close enough to be smothered with a pillow or with our bodies. jerry just told me a lady he works with has a nephew who recently smothered his baby during sleep - the couple had let the infant sleep in bed with them. i just can’t imagine the pain and horror as well as guilt i would feel if something like that were to happen to us, so that’s why we have never considered co-sleeping.

well and what should i do about my pants? should i go out and get new ones already? it’s killing me to think that i need to already, because i have an outfit at work i have to wear - khaki or black pants or shorts - and usually the ones i wear to work get ruined. i think today i’m going to try some of jerry’s pants. mine still fit, but they fit tightly, and i don’t want to suffocate the little angel!!!!

well i need to get going to FIND something to wear!

hugs and love to all you aunties!

jenn

yes, yours truly!! i’m in the newspaper of my hometown! well, the county i grew up in anyway i’m really excited about it…
i have been emailing a reporter back and forth for a few months, and he just got the story in today! you can check it out at ShelbyNews.com. i told him that i was pregnant, but it was too late for him to update it, so he may be doing another article on me soon!!! i feel so special

mom said that in the real paper, my picture was on the front page. now i wish i’d given a more recent picture, because the one i gave him, though a great one, doesn’t really look like me anymore! i’ve gained too much weight hehe. and not because of the baby. actually, i’ve lost ten lbs (the ten lbs he talks about were lost then regained since i started fertility drugs. fun huh. now it’s gone again but i’m sure will be back soon! hehe)

anyway you are now in contact with a famous lady.

love you all dear aunties! i would love to hear from you!

jenn

was very wonderful! the pastor thanked the Lord for the blessing of our baby, and the entire church started clapping for us! everyone knows how much we wanted this…

everyone gave me a hug and congratulated me. then after church my family had a nice little memorial day/celebration cookout meal. it was nice.

i really need to get motivated to work on the baby’s room. my brother took out mom’s dresser, which was in there as a storage unit or something. but wow there is SO much junk in there i really don’t know what to do! it’s overwhelming to be in there right now. plus i am having major ALL DAY sickness, and have to run to the bathroom at any given moment. every time i vomit though, i say, thank you, Lord!!! because it means the baby is still in there and fine and healthy as can be!!!!!!!!

i am still kind of in shock….

a week ago i was 170 lbs. the day i found out i was 165. and today i’m 162. i’m having a problem eating, and keeping things down. i’m sure it will all be ok because i’m overweight so the baby has plenty to live on for a while, at least until the first trimester is over.

oh i have signed up for lots of registries, but am having trouble finding any good boy stuff!!! it seems that most of the green things are GIRLY now, because i guess green is the new pink (which if you ask me is DUMB!) so poor little boys have only blue to use. ridiculous. first people take boys’ names, and now they take a boy color. but i am sure i’ll be able to find something that will work, because i remember when we were at baby depot about a year ago, we found something we LOVED!!! it was perfect for jeremiah. now i wish we’d gotten it then, but i hope i’ll find it again.

anyway, as soon as i get some stuff in each registry i’ll post them all for you!!! you will have a lot of things to choose from if you’d like to buy something for our baby. i’m also giving it a little while because even though i’m sure everything will be alright and safe, i want to be absolutely sure. you know????

oh, i was able to give my mom a book i’ve had for over a year and a half. it’s GRANDMOTHER memory book. she was happy. and she gave me something she’s had for probably two years -a precious moments angel holding a lamb!!!! awwww. how perfect, huh?!

well i need to go, i’m going to work on the baby’s room while i’m motivated.

lots of love to you all, aunties in love!

jenn and baby

i just wanted to let everyone know that it will be opposite from now until delivery….i will post mainly on precious dreams, but if i have something else to say i will post on precious dreams to come look here!! so if you want to add the precious dreams linkie to your sites for now that’s fine.
God bless!!!!
mama jenn

you will never believe this, but i said the wrong month. we haven’t taken fertility drugs since MARCH not february…. i can’t believe i made that mistake. somehow all along i have been thinking it was february…. now i don’t know if the femara might still be in my system or not. it’s something i’ll have to look into. whatever i find out, i’m still giving God ALL the praise in this.

i am feeling SOOOOO sick!! a whiff of about anything sends me to the bathroom, and almost everything i eat makes me queasy. any suggestions on food? besides saltines????

love and blessings,

the mama to be

Dear Jenn & Jerry, Congratulations - I CANNOT WAIT! To two people who I know will make wonderful parents! Love you! - Amy C.

Congratulations - I am sooooo happy for you! I am praying this pregnancy will be smooth and happy and know that the baby will be healthy!! - Jen M.

Congratulations!! I will be praying for a healthy, happy pregnancy!! - Tera C

Jenn!!! I’m dancing with you!! Oh, how God is faithful!!!! I’ll continue my prayers for a healthy baby/pregnancy. Praise the Lord, He is good!!!!!! - Marcella B.

I am sooooo happy for you…yeah!!!!! - Nicole

Jenn, I’m so happy to get this email! God is SO good and it’s amazing what can happen when we give control over him. I’m so thrilled for the three of you - and guess what? We get to be pregnant together!! What an incredible blessing you have received, and I’m so glad to be able to share a little part of this journey with you! - Cheryl F.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!! o/ Oh Jenn, you don’t know how HAPPY I am for you!!!!!!! I know the intense joy you feel, because I felt it too when I was finally pregnant after almost 3 years of trying! I am SO, So, So, SO SO SO SO HAPPY for you!!!!!! - Julie J.

Oh Jenn…I am just THRILLED for you!!!!!!! You are just radiating from your e-mail!!!!! I don’t know if you’ve read my blog or not, but we lost my father on Monday…his battle was lost and he died peacefully with his family there with him. But I’m a firm believer with every death comes a new life…and both you, and a good friend of mine who wasn’t planning on any more babies found out that she is pregnant too!!!!! So I am just tickled PINK about this news you shared with us today!!!!! This baby means a lot to me as well! :o) Thank you so much for sharing this news with me! I sure am beaming in happiness! - Jana G.

OH MY GOSH, I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! It’s about time!! - Latosha S.

I am so unbelievably excited for you both!!! I even posted about it in my blog this morning!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! Looks like those “Precious Dreams” are finally a “reality!”

Praise God!!!! - Rebekah C.

That’s AWESOME news! Congratulations Jenn & Jerry! I know you will be excellent parents. It has been a very long and emotional process. I am so happy for you. Keep me posted. - Amber K.

Jenn, congratulations on being pregnant!!! That is so wonderful! Praise God- See, he never ever lets us down!!! Wow, that is going to be so important an addition to your testimony!! God Bless!! - Erin C.

CONGRATULATIONS!! I’m so happy for you both!!! I’ll be reading that prego journal!! - Lisa M

JENN!!!!!!!!! I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN FOR YOU!!! I KNEW IT!!! Amen and praise God for all the Glory goes to him, Jenn!!!!! I LOVE YOU SWEETIE! oh, goodness….I am bawling my eyes out, lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!! - Brandy

I am SOOO happy for you and Jerry!!! I will continue you in my prayers for an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby - Love, Shirley

Are we excited or what Lots of well wishes, hugs and kisses. - Uncle Newton and Auntie Loraine

I read your e-mail with tears in my eyes!! I couldn’t be happier for

you both!! OOOOOOH!! I’M SO HAPPY!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I will be praying for you, Jerry, and Baby - Julie S.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I am so happy for you. You take it easy and rest! I know that God is the bearer of all our dreams and hopes. I can’t believe how amazing He is. We need to chat soon! once again CONGRATS…PRAYER WORKS!!! - Blessings, Shannon

How exciting!!! God really does answer prayer. Congratulations! - Nancy & Larry

Jenn and Jerry, I am so happy for you both!! I can not wait to hear all about your pregnancy!! Will you be finding out the sex of the baby? I just knew your prayers would be answered soon. I could tell that you were talking about it a little less than usual, so it was bound to happen. That is how it always works isn’t it!!! - Lots of hugs and blessings to you both!!! - Love, Candi

precious dreams is open again with jerry’s new blog system!!!
it’s now a pregnancy journal!!

God bless everyone!!!!!!!
jenn

Well, it’s happened. Not because of expensive fertility drugs. We haven?t taken any since February. No, it happened because we gave this desire totally over to God and we prayed for his blessing and miracle like never before. It happened because all of you, our beloved friends and family never stopped praying and continued to believe the Lord would bless us.

Yes, WE ARE PREGNANT! We are due either in January or February, 2-7 weeks along. We?re both thrilled, overjoyed, thankful and in shock.

I?m already feeling major morning sickness. I?m having trouble sleeping (partly from the excitement) and I?m peeing more than ever!

We are getting the baby room in order, which until now, though it?s had that title, has doubled as a junk room. ;)I?m already getting signed up on baby registries, and many friends want to take me baby shopping. As you probably know, we have the names picked out already: Jeremiah Thomas or Jalia Annemarie. Even so, you can vote in our poll so we can know how people feel about all the names we?re choosing for our future children.

In case you?re curious, our colors are mint green and lavender. The room theme is lambs, pastel Baby Snoopy and Precious Moments. As soon as it?s mainly decorated we?ll of course have pictures for you to see.

I can?t begin to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for all of your prayers and your love for us. I know this baby will be so very loved with real aunts and uncles and surrogate aunts and uncles as well!!!

Ok, here?s what had happened to tip me off. First of all, I have been feeling sick to my stomach for quite a while (since about may 8). Then I started getting breast tenderness. This past Saturday I wrote five or six new lullabies for my lullaby album, without feeling melancholy or depressed (not feeling I?d never sing these songs to my children), actually feeling happy. I was already thinking, hmmmm maybe it?s true. Then I got some disturbing news from a friend, and it sealed my decision to take a pregnancy test and find out if I was right!

I held my pee as long as I could, and awoke at 4 am, needing to go badly. This is it! I thought. I was looking to the left while I peed thinking it won?t be positive?then I put the stick down and said, yes, I AM pregnant, I know it. In like five seconds, it went positive!!!!!! I had to run and tell Jerry and he was so shocked and happy! I took a second positive test about half an hour later, then called my mom and dad, who were surprised and happy.

I tried to get back to sleep, but was pretty unsuccessful. I tossed and turned over and over. One of the songs I wrote on Saturday played in my mind and heart?.here are a few of the lyrics: Thank You, Lord, for this child from You

A perfect gift from Heaven, a blessed dream come true

You alone know how very long I prayed

For this precious miracle, and to You I give the praise

A life, a precious life, formed by Your hands

A heart, a tiny heart, made from pure love

You gave him to me, as I prayed that you would

Now I commit him unto You, Lord; once again, he?s in Your hands

At nine, I called my dr?s office and asked for a blood test ordered.in between then and the actual blood test, I took another positive urine test (I just had to be sure!). the blood test was at eleven, and they had to stick me three times to find a vein. L and then we didn?t find out until 550 that yes, it is indeed absolutely positive!!!

So when I got home I called lots of people. If you weren?t called, please don?t be offended. Either we don?t have your number or we figured it would be too late to call you, as I was sooo tired after my last phonecall after 10. I was just exhausted.

Today I?m home from work recovering from my stressful, though wonderful day yesterday. I feel horrible ? sick, tired and miserable. But still oh-so-happy!

here are the lyrics that describe exactly what I?m feeling (from a Christmas soundtrack called Child of the Promise): When The Dream Never Dies

(Michael Omartian & Stormie Omartian)

Deep in my heart was an ember of longing

Kept warm by the flame of desire

A dream held in secret I yearned to hold openly

Fanned by my hope into fire

It burned to such heat I could touch it no more

So I put it away and then closed up the door

Forever extinguishing all that would keep it alive

But the dream never died

The Lord has done this for me

He has looked on me kindly

He has heard all my cries

He has given me back what I laid at His feet

It must be God

When the dream never dies

Isn’t it just like the Lord to invite me

To put all my dreams in His hands

Forever releasing the grip that once held them

Forever surrending my plans

And then when He’s certain it’s not born of men

He calls for the fire to rekindle again

And He asks me to know in my heart

What’s not seen with my eyes

So the dream never dies

The Lord has done this for me

He has looked on me kindly

He has heard all my cries

He has given me back what I laid at his feet

It must be God

When the dream never dies

It must be God

When the dream never dies

Thanks again, friends and family, for all your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for us, that this pregnancy will be normal, that our baby will be healthy and that all goes well.

Love to you all,

Jenn (mama!) and Jerry (papa!) and our beloved baby

Dear Baby,

Your Papa

I’M PREGNANT!

in between 2 and 7 weeks. i think i’ll be due in february. i am looking for an ob now.

jerry is working on making me a brandnew baby blog, a pregnancy blog. i’m so excited! i probably won’t be able to work on it until tomorrow night or the weekend though, so don’t expect anything yet.

i am drop dead tired. i just wanted everyone to know.

love and hugs and please continue to pray that this pregnancy is a safe, healthy and complete one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jenn

i wanted to show you a picture…………………

but my stupid little camara and the software won’t cooperate………………….

i have TWO positive pregnancy tests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! pray that they are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for all the prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

btw i am going to get a blood test taken today. i will let you know when i know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and please still see last night’s entry.

God bless and love you all,
jenn