3D Sonogram

Hello!
Sorry to be so slow to post this, but it has been a busy weekend and I am just now finding a minute to sit down and share.

THANK YOU so much for your prayers for us on Thursday evening. As you can see, we were able to get some wonderful glimpses of Caden. Our experience at Prenatal Imaging was wonderful!! The biggest challenge was actually NOT our lack of fluid, but rather, Caden's positioning. He is laying like an Olympic diver...in the pike position!! We've taken a picture of Connor in a similar position so you can get an idea of how our little man is inside of me with his knees pressed right up by his face. Caden is still breech, with his rear down and his head (and feet!) right up in my ribs. Janette, the sonographer that worked with us, had to work really hard to get a shot of his face...but she persisted and we got at least a partial glimpse of our littlest blessing (who has been blessed with a VERY Carlson-esque set of cheeks). They sent us home with pictures, a DVD, and a CD of Caden's heartbeat. What a gift! While all of that was free, we went on ahead and purchased a teddy bear, who carries within him a recording of Caden's heartbeat. You can press on the bear's tummy and hear Caden's little ticker beating away...it is great and the kids love it, too! I will confess that I keep it close to me much of the time. It brings me comfort to listen to his heart. Connor listened for the first time and proclaimed "It sounds like a piece of metal dragging on the ground!" Ah, five year olds.

This week has been a tough one for us emotionally. I am much more physically uncomfortable and am not sleeping well at night. While I try to enjoy every kick and nudge, there is a part of me that gets frustrated with feeling out of sorts. I feel that moms who aren't going to get to bring their babies home should get a free pass from all the pregnancy discomforts...but I know this isn't how it works...nothing is easy.

It has also been a hard week because tomorrow, Connor will start summer kindergarten with the Liberty Public Schools. We haven't committed to sending him for the full summer session (18 days), but are going to try it for at least this week, so he can get used to his new school, have some experience in a kindergarten classroom, and know a little better what to expect this fall. It is very difficult and emotional for me to think of him beginning this new chapter in life...and for us to begin this new chapter as parents. He will spend most of his day with a total stranger...his teacher, Ms. McPherson...who I have been assured is a decent human being....he is doing okay with the idea...and I hope and pray that he loves school and is blessed through his experiences there. Brandon assures me that this is the right thing to do...and he usually knows what he's talking about, so we'll give it a try! ;)

As if that weren't enough, tomorrow is also the 9th anniversary of my Mom's death. They did a prayer service in church today, during which I BAWLED (we are talking the ugly cry here, people!). Sometimes it just feels so unfair that God would ask me to process and cope with ALL of this at one time, when just one of these things would be enough on any given day. He continues to give me the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I know that my strength comes about, in no small part, because of your prayers. So thank you.

This week holds another Doctor's appointment for me...Tuesday morning. I am hoping this will be the last one before we go into the hospital to deliver. I am a bit concerned about trying to deliver a breech baby without a C-Section, so plan to ask some questions about that. I will also get more information about the induction process as a whole, so that will help, too. We are three weeks away from meeting our little boy.