Happy Thanksgiving and an update

Yesterday I went back to my regular obgyn's office for a checkup. My doctor said that things appear to be going well and my chance for contracting an infection has now been greatly reduced since surgery was 2 weeks ago. We were very thankful for this good news and we continue to see God bless us. We know that God has blessed us beyond measure and we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to praise the Lord for He is faithful and He is Worthy of Our Praise.

God Bless,
Niki

Praise God for a Great Report

Today was my first day out of the house and it was for a doctor's appointment. I went back to maternal fetal medicine for a follow up ultrasound and to meet with the doctor to see how things are progressing. Caitlin is still growing and looks really good! And my cervix is closed to 2 cms, it was only one when I left the hospital. And Dr. Collins also advised that it appears that my cervix is trying recover or close back up on its own. Instead of it being u-shaped, like last time it is currently serpentine shaped. So it appears that all is looking good. I go back to my regular obgyn on Tuesday and then back to the high risk one on Friday December 4th. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We know all of this is God's answer to our prayers and we thank you for journeying with us. God is great and He is doing wonderful things.

Niki

Results from Monday = Urgent Prayer Request

Monday the ultrasound went great as far as Caitlin goes. She is growing and healthy... Had a great heart rate and was moving around and trying to suck her thumb. We were able to see her arm and leg bones, her spinal column, heart, kidneys, stomach, liver, and brain and all looks very good. She has the right amount of amniotic fluid around her, and appears to be quite happy in her water bed.... we are praying now that she stays that way. My body is once again not cooperating with me being pregnant-- I have an incompetent cervix and had to have emergency surgery because part of the gestational membranes had entered the cervix. They were able to push that back where it is supposed to be, but as a result of it entering the birth canal, there is a chance for infection. I have been on mega doses of antibiotics in the hospital and will continue an aggressive antibiotic therapy for the next week. After surgery I had a second ultrasound to confirm the the cerclage is doing its job and so far all appears to be well.... the important thing is for me to not move at all unless absolutely necessary..... I can only get out of bed to use the restroom and take a shower.... otherwise I am to be in bed or laying down on the couch at all times.... unless I am going to the doctor. The doctor has advised us overall we have a fifty-fifty chance of Caitlin surviving.... but that depends really on how long I can keep my water from breaking and going into labor. If I make it to 24 weeks, there is a 25% chance she will survive but will more than likely have some physical disability like cerebral palsy. If I make it to 26 weeks, the chance that she will survive to live a "normal healthy life" is increased to 65% and if I can make it to at least 28 weeks of gestation, then the chance she will live a "normal healthy life" are greater than 85%. So please join me and Bryan in praying that Caitlin will remain in my womb until at least December 26th when according to the last ultrasound she will be 28 weeks along. We covet your prayers and know that we are praying for all of our friends who are currently pregnant that they will be free from complications.
We are trusting and asking God to allow us the privilege of raising this precious baby and remembering that God is faithful and He is good all of the time.

God Bless,
Niki

Update/ Prayer Request

This weekend has been busy but good. Saturday morning Bryan and I helped out with the Nolensville Veteran's Day parade and had a great time of fellowship with a few other people from church. Then we went shopping and got some much needed items and started looking at options for people Christmas gifts. Today was church, and we heard a very challenging message about how life is full of both "triumphs and trials" and Acts 16 was the text. It was a great reminder that God is in control of both the good and bad times.

Things are going well... I am still staying tired, and getting a back ache as I start to actually show that I am carrying a precious little baby inside of me. Morning sickness is still present, but perhaps not as frequent... but when I get it, its bad and riding in a car is really not fun.

Tomorrow, 11/9, we go for another ultrasound which is the anatomy scan and a doctor's appointment. I am excited but also a little anxious to know how the baby is growing, what she is measuring, and to make certain that her organs have all developed like they are supposed to be. I am trying to remind myself that God is in control and He is knitting Caitlin together in my womb, and to not worry... However, it is something that I am continually having to pray about. Once we go to the doctor tomorrow, we are hoping to register for birthing class at Centennial Women's Hospital and then start our baby registry!

Additionally on the family news front, my brother Matt is engaged! He proposed to his girlfriend Michelle while they were on a Mediterranean Cruise. I am very excited for them both.

And now for the prayer requests and there are several:
1. Pray that the doctor's report and ultrasound is good tomorrow.
2. Pray that my daddy will find a job quickly.
3. Pray for my cousin Kerrigan who is 8 and has been diagnosed with scabbies.
4. Pray for my friend's the Shavers and especially their little girl Gabrielle as she is treated for Cystic Fibrosis. (Her story and blog are part of my favorites).
5. Pray for my friends Marcy and Dale who are expecting a little boy and also for Marcy's dad who is suffering from some age-related health issues. He is a WWII veteran and deserves our honor and thanks for serving our country as we think of Veterans Day this week.
6. Pray for a little girl named Maddie Ballentine who is a student at Brainerd Baptist School and was diagnosed with ALL-- a form of leukemia as she continues her treatment.
7. Pray for my friend's Travis and Danielle and all of the work they are doing in Mexico City sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
8. Pray for my friend Darryl Christopher as she continues her battle with bone cancer.

Thanks and have a great week!

Niki

We're Having A Little Girl.....

Yesterday was a very rough day. I woke up to morning sickness and kept it all day..... I got sick in the middle of our ultrasound and the proceeded to remain sick to the point we had to leave my car at one of Bryan's co-workers house because I could not drive from being so sick. However, we were able to get the ultrasound completed and we got to see our precious little baby and hear her heart beat. We are having a little girl and her name is going to be Caitlin Ruth.

I am pasting pictures below.

Baby News, Names, and other news

I took a nap this afternoon, and woke up with a new ache and a stretch mark! It appears that baby is slowly pushing up into my abdominal cavity and even though I have loss twelve pounds from morning sickness things are slowly starting to expand. It is exciting but also a little bit painful! However, I am very grateful that everything appears to be going well. I am officially in the second trimester and have started feeling a "flutter" that is unlike anything else I have ever felt in my life-- so I am guessing it is our precious baby moving. This is also very exciting. We have a fetal sounds listening device so every once in awhile we listen to what we think is the baby making kicking and hiccuping sounds, etc.... It's not the most accurate thing in the world, however we are enjoying this. But to clarify we are not depending upon this but are still seeking the prenatal care we need. I am remaining on progesterone for awhile longer until at least week nineteen when I go back to my doctor and get the big ultrasound from her office. However, we are hoping to get an elective 3D ultrasound done this week-- we are looking at a package that would allow us to have one this week and then one around 30 weeks. Hopefully this will happen and we will be able to post pictures before long. In addition to the progesterone, I am still taking my prenatal vitamin, three extra tablets of folic acid, and a baby aspirin. It has become such a part of my daily routine that it has become natural. My energy level is slowly gaining momentum which means hopefully before too long I will start the "nesting" phase and really get to work on the house.

Now the debate right now... and its really not a debate but more of a discussion.... Baby Names. We have had names picked out for awhile-- David Keith Ary for a boy and Caitlin Ruth Ary for a girl. However, last night at a Bible Study party I learned that David Keith is an actor from the eighties and people assumed that is why we were naming the boy David Keith-- and its not at all Keith is once again for Bryan's dad and David means "after God's heart", so we decided we really liked that. But now I am not so sure I want to use David but Bryan thinks it is set in stone and if we are having a boy we have to name him David.

The girl name is the real issue.... There are a lot of different names that we have gone through.... starting with Caitlin Ruth. The name Caitlin means "Pure". However, other names that we have considered are:

Melinda (after Bryan's grandmother Mamma Ginny-- Melinda Eugenia) and it means "black beauty"
Francesca (after my grandfather Frank)-- and it means free
Emily and it means "to strive or excel"
Anna and it means "gracious and merciful"
Grace and it means "grace of God"
Ruth and it means "friend"
Charlotte (after my grandfather Charlie)-- and it means free

Ruth is after me and both of my grandfather's mothers. We have looked at various combinations of them including:

Melinda Ruth; Francesca Ruth; Emily Ruth; Anna Grace; Melinda Grace; Francesca Grace; Charlotte Grace; Charlotte Ruth.....

So in short I have no real idea for sure what we will name this baby if we find out that we are having a girl. And I am not sure how to create a poll so if you have a preference, please give me a comment and help me figure this out. Bryan likes all of the names and is totally willing to go with any of the girl names listed above.... so I will gladly take comments and suggestions.
Update..... after I wrote this and said Bryan liked all of the names, he decided to be honest and tell me he does not like the names Charlotte and Francesca..... so I guess those are out.... If we find out we are having a girl, I think I am going to let him choose. I am tired and a little frustrated so rather than fighting a losing battle I am just going to give in and let him decide.

So now to the other news......

Not a lot is going on at the moment. Work is keeping Bryan extremely busy and I am remaining tired, so not a lot of progress has been made on the home front... hopefully energy level is on the rise..... I am still enjoying my new car and know that it is going to be much better suited for baby when he or she gets here.

Chewey and Leia are fully grown and are beautiful but quite the handful.... however, we have a lot of fun playing with them.

God is still doing great things at Providence and we have started community groups on Wednesday nights. I help lead the one for middle school girls and then attend one for adults on opposite Wednesday nights and we are really enjoying them. It has been great to learn from others as our community group has a diverse age group and we get to hear lots of different perspectives. Our Bible Study class is a tremendous blessing as well. We have a lot of fun as we study God's Word.

Football season has been good for me in the college realm.... Alabama continues to win even though our offense is quickly becoming one dimensional-- hopefully our passing game will get back on track. The Titan's season is all but over at this point having lost the first five games and they are losing to New England 10-0 as I write. Oh well.... there's always next year.

Anyways, I think that gets you caught up on actual news from me and Bryan..... now to share some prayer requests:

1. Please pray for my Dad who was laid off back in August and has been having some health issues. Pray for God to open up the right job for him quickly and for him to remain healthy.

2. Please pray for all of our friends who are also pregnant: JP and Catrina; Marcy and Dale; Chad and Angie; Dan and Elizabeth; Ashley and Britt.

3. Please continue to remember us and this pregnancy. We are praying for God's will and protection for our precious little one.

4. Please pray for Providence that God will continue to work out the contingencies so that we are able to purchase the property on Sunset.

5. Please pray for the student ministry as they are on a retreat to Gatlinburg from now until Tuesday.

6. Please continue to pray for our friends Travis and Danielle and their work for Jesus in Mexico City. Pray for their strength, encouragement, and protection, as well as that many would come to know Christ as they seek to saturate the city with the gospel of Jesus.

Thank you everyone!

God Bless,

Niki

Prayer Request

Sometimes life is funny.... I mentioned yesterday that Bryan and I had experienced many heartbreaks in the loss of family members when sharing my testimony yesterday and we have experienced this loss again. My great uncle Fred, who was my grandfather's identical twin, died in his sleep last night. He recently accepted Christ as his Savior, so for that I am truly thankful. However, I am mourning his loss as he was a type of grandfather figure for me over the last several years and he reminded me so much of my papa-- they looked just alike and when I hugged him it was like hugging my Papa. I don't know when the funeral will be, but it will be very difficult for me because I fear it will be like my Papa's. Both retired from the Army and both deserve the full military honors that they were and will be given. However, besides losing my children to miscarriage, losing my Papa has been the hardest loss I have experienced in my life and with my hormones raging because of pregnancy, reliving this is going to be very difficult. Please pray for my family and for me. Please also remember to pray that our ultrasound tomorrow goes well. I will post pictures of Uncle Fred and share some stories later.... His birthday would have been next week on October 1st.