Our Rainbow.

This post has been in the back of my mind for a few months now, and I am finally ready to blog about some of our experiences of this past year! And since our blog is our way of a family journal, these are some things I want to remember. 

We found out we were expecting again on July 20th, a few days after I got back from girl's camp! We were so excited and also very, very nervous. You see, in January of this year we found out we were pregnant. It was a bit of a surprise but we were thrilled! We told our families right away, and we were just so excited for this new baby we were expecting. Everything was going great until the day before my first appointment. 

One morning I noticed that I was having some pretty strong cramps, and then came the blood. I immediately knew that something was wrong and just prayed and prayed that everything would be O.K. Well after some blood tests, an ultrasound, and an exam, it was official. I was having a miscarriage. This came as quite the blow to our little family, especially after having 2 normal/healthy pregnancies, and we were heartbroken to say the least. I don't think I have ever cried so much or experienced so much sorrow, pain, and grief as I did those first couple of months after our loss.

 Eventually as the weeks passed, the pain and sadness started to leave and we were filled with hope for the future. It is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and our testimonies and our faith that we were strengthened and carried through this difficult time. I have never been more grateful for the knowledge of eternal families, and the comfort of knowing that we can have that baby again in heaven. We received so many tender mercies and blessings throughout the months that followed. One of those blessings was my amazing doctor, she is seriously the best. Once we were ready to start trying again for another baby, she was so pro-active about having a plan and using the right medications to make sure the next baby stuck! And it did!

We were sooo excited to see those positive signs show up again in July! We may have taken a few extra just to be sure, but it was true we were expecting our "Rainbow Baby"!

We wanted to shout it from the roof tops that we were pregnant again. But instead we waited til I was 8 weeks along and we were able to see that beautiful little heartbeat and a wriggly baby due March 31st, before we told anyone.

The day of the ultrasound we told Brooklyn we had a surprise for her at dinner time. When Greg held up the ultrasound pictures, her face was priceless! 

 She was so happy and excited, it was so cute!

That night, we took this picture to send out to our families. Bostyn received an eviction notice and was going to be kicked out of the crib at the end of March.

 Just to make sure things were still going well, we got to go in for another ultrasound and see that cute little baby on the screen! It was such a relief to have made it 13 weeks and finally be able to publicly announce that we were having a baby! It was soo hard for me to not tell everyone I knew about our little secret.

13 weeks prego!

 Everything was going the same as it had with the girls, except I started getting sick around 9 weeks! That was definitely a new aspect of pregnancy I could live without!

Our 20 week appointment couldn't come fast enough! We were so excited to find out what we were having! Luckily my Dr. scheduled us to go in just after 18 weeks; I was so excited to not have to wait the full 20! Brooklyn was pretty excited too. The girls both kept calling the baby a girl and Bostyn called it "Chloe Baby Sissy." 

We took the girls with us for this ultrasound. They loved being able to see the baby on the screen! Everything looked great and the baby was measuring right on track.

And we finally got to know that.....

We all were positive another girl was on the way, so we were completely shocked when the ultrasound tech said, "Well you are all wrong, it's a boy!" I almost started crying because I was so surprised. But the evidence was clear, we are definitely having a little boy! And we couldn't be more excited!

 

At 20 weeks-He was finally starting to pop out a little bit more.

Because we went in pretty early for the 20 week ultrasound they needed us to go back in a few weeks later for a better shot of his heart and kidneys. I didn't complain, I love any chance we can get to see pictures of him! Everything looks great and he is right on track. Luckily we even got some 3D pictures of him!

His profile...

 and his little arms and hands up by his face. We all loved being able to see him like this!

And finally a shot of me at 24 weeks, courtesy of Brooklyn. This baby has completely flipped around and changed his position since the 18 week ultrasound, and I am starting to feel pretty round and large all of the sudden! 

I have been loving being pregnant! I understand 100% why people refer to a pregnancy after a miscarriage as a "Rainbow Baby", the joy, happiness, and peace it brings to you is amazing. This little guy is already so active and is always kicking and moving, I can't wait to see what he is like when he is born. I have been feeling him move since 16 weeks and Greg and the girls have been able to feel him kicking the last 2 weeks, which is so fun! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by. Having Brooklyn and Bostyn to chase after definitely makes time go by so much faster, and baby Kingston is going to be here before we know it!