Number 5...

At 19 years old I remember having thoughts at how I could not wait to be a Mommy, someday.  Turns out that was about to happen sooner than I realized or planned.  That is the great thing about surprises, sometimes you just do not realize how much you actually need them.  With a due date of August 30th, there was nothing easy about my pregnancy, except loving it whole heartily from beginning to (early) end.  I moved back in with my parents, became single and around 24 weeks along I was in the hospital with preterm labor!  I was given medicine, monitored until the contractions stopped and sent home with bed rest and a prescription.  I was in and out of the hospital many times over the next few weeks, each time pumped with more medicine, some to stop the labor, some to help ready the baby, and even more to stop the labor.  But Baxter Alben (that was his pregnancy nickname) was just insistent on coming.  At 32 weeks there I was again, around midnight, at the hospital being pumped with medicine.  By 7 that morning, June 30th, I was contracting again, after scarfing down breakfast I opted out of having any more medicine, the baby was coming for a reason and I was confident he would be ok.  Shortly after 7 that evening Andrew Kyle Sipes was born, a whole 4lb 4oz.  He was great, he did stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for just over 2 weeks but no major events.For 5 years it was just Andrew and myself, quite the pair if I do say so myself.  Now like a lot of things go unplanned, I was blessed yet again with another surprise, expecting my second baby.  With a due date of August 4th, my husband Brian and I decided and were married on March 18th.  Not a moment too soon as come April, I was finding myself in preterm labor again.  With the passing of almost 6 years, a new doctor, new information etc it was decided I should be put on bed rest again with the addition of the hormone progesterone injection once weekly.  Now with the addition of this weekly injection this pregnancy showed much more promise, to be a lot less trouble.  Yes I was still in the hospital every couple of weeks being monitored for contractions, however they were never severe and I did not progress/dilate like I had with Andrew.  All was well and July 23rd at 37 weeks Clara Lyse Riley was born at an even 7lbs.I am more than excited to announce that we are expecting baby 3!  As Andrew likes to call him or her, Number 5.  Ha!  That boy cracks me up!  He gets his little fingers about a pinch apart and squeezes my tummy to give Number 5 baby hugs!  Anyway, we had a very good doctor visit today, everything looks great and she is not too concerned with my history.  We will still treat me a little more high risk, but knowing how well the injections changed my last pregnancy we will just start those sooner, she is in agreement that it just seems my body doesn't quite make the normal amount and that is why I contract more and early.  I will tell you one thing, compared to having a baby 12 and 6 years ago, I am so much more tired/sick with this one thus far!  The nurse assured me "I am just older".  Thanks!  But wow!  So I am not dying (even though some days if you ask, I would swear I am) I am just pregnant.  I have been editing a little slower these days because the days I am sick, I get up enough to make it to the bathroom and that is literally it.  Then I finally thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and then the computer crash (see previous blog :)).  We do have a a new addition to the ABCs business family, Virginia Gale, who is still receiving important installations and about January 7th (before with my history) we are expecting a new addition to the ABCs personal family, how fun!Thank you all for your patience yet again, I love my personal and business ABCs family!  Having some better days and once all setups are finalized work will pick right back up!    Have a great day and as always, thank you for stopping by ABCs Blog!Sami