I've grown a raspberry!

Today makes 7 weeks! According to the expert books and websites, in the last week our Little Skittle has grown from the size of a grain of rice into a nice, plump raspberry. We had a sonogram yesterday, which confirmed a strong heartbeat - 137bpm, to be exact. It was the first time we've been in that room and not been told that our baby was measuring behind where it should be.

To say it's a relief is a tremendous understatement. I'm not superstitious in the least, but I find these silly little thoughts running through my head... for instance, when we found out our last baby had died, we were supposed to have our camera with us, to video the sonogram. But we'd forgotten it. Yesterday, we charge the camera to again video the sonogram - and alas, we forgot it. Granted, the God I put my faith in doesn't use silly, inconsequential circumstance to dictate my future - but the human body and mind that I'm stuck in sometimes forgets that. I guess when you have the kind of recent history that Jason & I have, you almost expect the worst to happen. Which is dumb, dumb, dumb. So I'm working on changing that habit.

Our next sonogram is in two weeks - and we can't wait! Aside from the mental battles, physically I feel okay. Kind of like I'm fighting off the flu, maybe? Only it's not the flu, and I better not be fighting it at all. :o) Just kind of achy and icky - but I'm embracing every symptom I can get.

Other updates...

My dad is not actually in Iraq yet. As of today, he's still in Virginia undergoing his state department training. Friday, he leaves for Georgia for a week - and then he'll go to Kuwait. One week in Kuwait, then on to Baghdad. That entire situation is conflicting. One one hand, I hear the excitement and the passion in his voice. Police work is his passion - and what he's good at - and he will certainly be well compensated for his time. But on the other hand.... um, HELLO??? It's a freaking warzone, Dad! Are you crazy?

But what can you do? He's a grown man, his children are all grown, and he's determined. He's promised that "he's no hero" and that if things are ugly over there, or more dangerous than he was anticipating - he'll be the first in line to come home. That's the upside of being a contractor vs. being military.

Jason is still healing from his surgery. The incision site got infected- but we've just about got that beat. He's still very frustrated because his pain was supposed to be BETTER after the surgery - and we're a month out and it's still worse, but we haven't lost faith yet. Please continue to pray for his healing, though. He's only 30 and really shouldn't have to live life so incapacitated.

Blogging.

I'm entering into this new media for two reasons:

1. So many of our friends have decided to up and relocate all over the globe. They have blogs, so we needed one, too. I'm not going to kid myself into thinking that anyone else would actually find my blather interesting. :o)

2. After our recent thrust into the world of "recurrent pregnancy loss" and all of the haunting questions it entails, I discovered the vast world of "infertility blogs". Including many, many, MANY who have been exactly where we are. It's hard for anyone to know what it feels like to be in our shoes, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but it's comforting when you find brilliant writers out there - putting the right words to the emotions we're experiencing. And so many of them have happy endings. We'll be a happy ending one day, too. I believe that. To reference Facing the Giants, we aren't just praying for rain... we're preparing our fields to receive it.

Now give me some time to spiff this place up and post some pictures.