Baby #3

We are expecting our third little bundle of joy to arrive around February 15th of next year. February isn't the most prefect timing for us. As of now Jake is supposed to be finishing up a 6 week OB rotation in MONTANA the month I am due. Montana people. That is not O.K. Hopefully we will be able to rearrange his schedule so that he will be a bit closer to home when baby decides to come.

 This pregnancy is flying by because our family has so much on its plate. Hannah is in preschool and dance, Hannah and Liam are playing soccer, Jake is a 3rd year medical student, and I am teaching 6 Zumba classes each week. As of a couple of days ago I am 19 weeks pregnant. We find out in a little over a week if we are having another boy or girl. The kids think it is a baby sister, or rather Hannah does and Liam goes with whatever Hannah says. Smart boy.

2 weeks ago I felt the little one kick for the first time, and ever since I have felt a non stop flutter of movement. It feels like the relationship you have with your baby really starts to develop once you feel those little movements. The first trimester was pretty rough. I felt sick almost all day. I had never really experienced morning sickness before. Thanks baby for making sure I didn't miss out on that pregnancy experience. As soon as 12 weeks approached I haven't felt nauseous much at all, but I still am pretty tired. Here are some ultrasound and baby bump pictures. We can't wait to meet this little one!

Little Peanut at 7 weeks

12 Weeks

16 Weeks

19 Weeks

Disability

Disability -  A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

It has taken me 20 months to freely admit this, but Hannah has a disability. I know why it has been hard for me to admit it. Because for the first 3 years of her life, she was perfectly capable of doing anything and everything a child can do at those early stages in life. She started talking early, walked on time, loved to color, hardly ever cried or got hurt. She was every parents dream child. I pictured her being an accomplished dancer and talented artist.

But in January of 2012, those dreams were put on hold as we carried our little girl around who no longer had the coordination to walk on those perfect little legs anymore. Our hopes were kept alive when doctors told us that children with Hannah's diagnosis are usually up and running again in a few weeks. Weeks past, then months, and finally relief and excitement set in as we witnessed our precious little girl take her first steps again. For a long time I referred to her as temporarily disabled, because we were assured she would be back to normal again soon. But more time has passed and we realize that her condition might not be as temporary as we hoped.

Many parents with disabled children at times probably wonder and imagine what their child would be like if they didn't have their disability. Maybe Jake and I were blessed because we don't have to wonder, we got to see Hannah and watch her thrive for years. It is still so hard for me to look at photos and videos of her before she got sick. I don't think those reminders will ever get easier. But I take comfort in the fact that even if she doesn't fully recover in this life, because of our Saviors sacrifice for us, she will be perfect again.

Hannah is not disabled. She has a disability, but she will not be defined by this disability. Yes she has a physical impairment that makes it hard to do certain things that require fine motor control, but she has it in her to do all that she wants. I can't wait to see all that she will accomplish. I have learned so much from her and I am forever grateful that she is my daughter.