The Arnolds

I can't get too deep in this one or I will start to cry.

We have so much thanks to give that mentioning it seems pointless since it doesn't do it justice.

I am so thankful for absolutely everything in my life: That I know God, that I have the best family and friends, that my little boy is growing and perfect. I am not wanting anything. I have everything I could ever need and I am fulfilled.

I am thankful for Gods timing. Which I am reminded every day how perfect He and it really is.

This year, we had to stay in Dallas for Thanksgiving. We were suppose to go to Katy and spend the holiday with my family. I was really really looking forward to it but since I was on bedrest I asked my Dr. if I could still go and she looked at me like, "No, you idiot!". SO, Lane said, "I'll make everything!" And BOY, he did. My husband saved the holiday and went to the store, cooked and cleaned for me. We had a sweet family meal that we will never forget because our first to have on our own.

Lane made a few non traditional items that he was pumped about and they were delish! He had a Corn pudding which was similar to stuffing and a brussels sprout au gratin dish that was to die for!

Lane prepping the Turk:

Adorable husband and the finished Turk:

Cutting the Turkey while the dogs are praying for some to drop:



My Dad in Katy, Texas with his Turk and William Sonoma timer that we got him last year. Lane had the same one this year. You carry this around on your pants and it says, "Your turkey is done!"

Mona, cutest dog in the world, waiting patiently for some scraps:

Mona in a food coma after she got some:


The food and a huge pregnant belly:


THANKS JESUS FOR A WONDERFUL LIFE!

My new Dr. is great. Thanks Rachel for telling me about her!

*A little sidenote about my friend Rachel. She is GREAT. She is one of those people that you wish you were more like. She knows KEY things in life. Good doctors, where to get stuff, great deals, she is creative and kind, she is the best hostess and just has the touch to make things beautiful. I am always in awe about things she has done or created. Go to her cute Etsy shop Twenty9freckles for some cute things for your little one. Each purchase goes towards their adoption. Speaking of, they are adopting 2 sweet babies from Africa - yet another thing you just say, "wow, cool" about.

I went to Dr. Romberg for my 24 week check up after I had been on bedrest for 2 weeks. I had a great appointment where I did my glucose test (still haven't gotten my result but I am assuming I don't have gestational diabetes or they would have called). I drank the drink which was like a sweet Sunkist soda and waited for an hour. I almost ate at the Chic-fil-A in the hospital but luckily was on the phone with my sister who quickly reminded me I wasn't suppose to eat. And I am a nurse - HA! I walked around a little bit reminiscing at the days in nursing school when I did my clinicals at that hospital. It was weird being there as a patient!

As I waited in the waiting room for my blood to be taken, Baby A was kicking like crazy!!! Apparently the sugar rush hit! My whole belly was moving around and I was just looking down and laughing at how active he was. It was cute and of course I loved it. I was by myself and I wished someone would have been there with me.

Before I left I scheduled a sonogram to check my cervix for the next day.

The next day I went back and they did a sonogram of not only my cervix (which wasn't dilated or thinner - which is great and a good sign that I am not going to be in preterm labor in the next few weeks!) and then she did a FULL SONO on our little guy just like the 20 week appointment! The lady WAS AWESOME. She was so fun. She said, "I know you are an RN so what are you nervous about?" Then when I told her I hadn't seen his feet yet she went right to them and showed me them! They looked like Lanes. I know that is cray but they did to me. Then she looked at him and ALL his organs AGAIN and said everything looked GREAT. She showed me even more than at my 20 week appointment when the Dr. who did it was a dud. She looked at his brain for special things that indicate a problem, she looked at his stomach and heart to make sure they were in different cavities. Kidneys, esophagus, male parts, cord insertion, etc all were perfect.

I couldn't help but stare at him in awe of how cute he was and became "one of those" moms who kept saying, "OH MY GOSH, HE IS SO CUTE!". He was moving his mouth open and closed and turned his head away from the camera. He was moving and so much bigger! He, in fact, was measuring a week later! YAY I hope he is HUGE!

without further a-do: Here he is:

Cute!

Big Ears!

Boy!

24.3 weeks

25.1 weeks

SOOOOOOO

Apparently a lot of people were active between the sheets in February. SO ANNOYING AS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE.

The second week of November was Hell at work. I worked Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night and it was the craziest I have ever seen it (in the 6 months I have been there).

we had people coming through Triage and almost every one was admitted to the already BUSY FULL floor. I had 2 patients all 3 days and when I would get one up to postpartum would get another. CRAZY I TELL YOU. NO breaks the entire 12 hours I was there and very little time to do anything, including drink water.

As the work week for me ended (Wednesday morning) I went to sleep to forget about all the things I forgot to do or chart in hopes that what I had just experienced on the floor was just all a bad dream.

So I slept most of Wednesday and then Thursday I was still tired so just slept and hung out. *SIDENOTE: When I am sleeping I don't drink water. Thursday I woke up and had some Chai tea, a sip or 2 of water, a chocolate shake for lunch and then a coke around 4 ish in the afternoon. I know healthy. And no water.

I decided to make dinner and so I got up to cook something and I can't even remember what it was. Oh yes, I do. It was a pot pie (easy) and a cherry pie (because I can't stop eating sweets and my poor baby is probably malnourished already because of this).

I sat back down after I started to cook and felt some tightening that was happening every 5 or so minutes consistently. As a trained nurse in this area I thought, "Braxton Hicks duh, drink water you fool since you haven't a lot and take a warm shower then sit down and relax so they go away." So I did. I drank A LOT of water. Like 9 glasses or something and then took a warm shower and sat back down.

As I sat down I started to play some things I have seen at the hospital. 18 week twins demise, preterm labor on patients less weeks than I, preterm labor on patients greater weeks than I, water breakage SUPER too early and fetal demises. I started to get nervous and kind of panic. Then I remembered that my mom went into preterm labor with both Katy and I at 7 months when she went to her routine doctor appointment and was dilated to 3 cm and started to REALLY freak. Our pregnancies have been very similar and I am just 5 1/2 months pregnant (6 now).

I decided that I should probably call the doctor in the morning just to make sure my cervix hadn't decided to dilate and to make sure everything was ok. Still in the back of my head I thought this is just Braxton Hicks but I've seen and know too much and had to make sure.

Throughout the night I had a few more but all in all they had calm down. So I am currently in between doctors (long story) but the short is that I want to deliver at Baylor Downtown Dallas and not in Arlington or Baylor Fort Worth (where I work). It is close to our house and I get a really good discount because I work for Baylor. Although I LOVE my dr. in Arlington it just doesn't make sense (I had gone to her when I worked for the Rangers and she knows my history and everything).

So the morning.

I call my "new dr." who I haven't seen yet but have an appointment with on Nov 30. to see if I could come in and they suggested that I go to my old dr. because I hadn't established anything with the new one. SO I DID.

I got an appointment with my old dr. at 1130 AM and so off I go.

Got there, waited and then when she came in I described to her what had happened. She immediately looked concerned and said I shouldn't be feeling them right now (which I am not sure she is right about that but we will go ahead and trust her since she has done this for as long as I have been alive). She immediately wrote a prescription for bedrest for 2 weeks since we are/were in the grey area as far as his survival if I was having preterm labor. Usually 24 weeks is considered "viability" which is where the baby would have a chance at survival if born. Anything before that the baby would not live. At 24 weeks, there can still be MASSIVE complications so it is all just scary and made me more nervous.

She checked my cervix and said that it "felt shorter" and that she wanted to do a sonogram of my cervix at 3pm to make sure it was ok.

So I went out to my car and called my lovely husband and mom and started to bawl. I asked Lane to please leave work and come be with me and he did just that. Left a VERY busy day at work and came to sit with me in Arlington until my appointment. Then went to the appointment and provided me with the strength and humor I needed. He is my rock. My crazy nervous hypochondriac self needs him. He is the perfect personality for me as he NEVER worries and is calm always. He is a gift to my life. I love God. My mom use to pray with me when I was a little tiny girl about my future husband. All along it was Lane. Apparently Lane's mom use to pray about his future wife too. Neat story for later.

I called my mom and she left what she was doing immediately to come to Dallas. She was at lunch with her friends and she said, "I'm coming". And 4 hours later she was in Dallas to be with me. Not only did she come to be my comfort but she cooked ALL day so we would have food for the next 2 weeks, organized my kitchen completely and then organized my closet and room. IT WAS AMAZING. She got organizational items, food out the wazoo, etc. There was something in my voice that broke her heart that afternoon and she did what ANY good mom would do and came to be with her child who needed her desperately. I hope I am half as good a mom she is.

The sonogram on my cervix went great! It was the correct length (weird I know) and there were no signs of dilatation or anything suspicious. So she said that she suggests I get my cervix checked every 2 weeks to make sure b/c of my family history.

I was elated and felt relieved. Especially since I didn't have to go to my beyond stressful job for 2 weeks. I am not sure at this time if I will return or not. Lane said I don't have to and I really do feel so responsible for getting our sweet baby here safely and healthy. I have this overwhelming feeling that I have and am responsible for him and that is both the most awesome and scariest feeling in the world.

I go to the new doctor on Wednesday Nov 30th and will discuss with her everything. She may suggest I be on bedrest for a bit longer to make sure. And I would be ok with that.

Belly pic time!

19.4 weeks

20.5 weeks

21 weeks

22 weeks

23.3 weeks (Thanksgiving, looks like I swallowed the turkey whole!)

23.5 weeks

Well, A lot has gone on the last month!

We got confirmation that our baby is a boy and we couldn't be more thrilled. My whole life I have always thought I would have a boy. I didn't know if it would be the first, second or third child but I knew I would have one. I have always wanted to raise a son.

I don't think I am calm enough to be involved in all the girly things girls come with. I do LOVE little girl clothes but it seems super overwhelming to be involved in dance, ballet, dresses, skirts, makeup, boyfriends, hair, emotions, etc...

So I think starting off with a boy will definitely help me get down the basics first in the event that we do have a girl, one day. I would love to see Lane with a little big girl. I can't wait to see him with this little guy too! I am already in awe of him when he looks at my huge belly and smiles because he loves it, or when he feels the baby move and looks at me with excitement. He has done SO much already to help me (tied my shoes because my stomach hurt to bend over, moved our entire house around, gets me food, lets me pig out and doesn't say a word) and every day I fall more in love with him. Ok, enough of the gross stuff.

So Halloween Day we went to our Dr. appointment and she did a sono. We waiting for A LONG time in the waiting room and with every minute that passed anticipation built because I wanted to see him so bad! We went back and a doctor that wasn't my personal doc came in to do the sonogram. She wasn't very chatty which made the experience not as fun as it could have been. She was quiet and concentrating. Lane walked up to the big screen that the image of our baby was on to get a better look and to record the event. *None of the videos came out that good. As she looked around everything looked great and he had all his parts that were measuring right on! 2 hemispheres of the brain, cerebellum, kidneys, stomach, nose and lips, spine, 2 hands, 2 feet, 2 arms, 2 legs, a 4 chamber heart and a 3 vessel umbilical cord. He had his legs all tucked up (he is very flexible in there as they all are) and so at first we couldn't tell what he was. Then my doctor wiggled my stomach and alas, he moved his legs and we saw "the junk". It was much bigger than at 12 weeks and immediately we knew, boy it is! The Dr. who did the sonogram didn't give us a print out of the "money shot" which I am kind of upset about now that I think of it. Here is us waiting and his profile and then one of him looking at us that is kind of creepy!

******PS PARDON HOW DISGUSTING I LOOK, I HAD TO WORK THAT NIGHT SO I WENT WITHOUT ANY MAKE UP OR ANY HAIR CARE AND BOY CAN YOU TELL:









I have prayed numerous times that he is big, healthy and smart and right on with all his development throughout the pregnancy and beyond. God is so good and I can't believe He has allowed us to be parents to this little guy.

After our appointment I continued to work and had some really busy weeks that I had no idea were about to come.....

I bought a fetal heartbeat doppler for home to hear our little guys heartbeat whenever:



And here is it in action!

Today I might have felt you move. But I'm not sure.

I felt a flutter'ish thing in my tummy kinda down low where you are. I have been waiting to be able to feel you and hope you kick me a lot!

It is nighttime and I have been feeling the same fluttering in the same spot occasionally throughout the day - is it you!? I hope!

It feels like a little muscle twitch...hummm...

8 weeks



11 weeks



15 weeks (just ate a huge meal!)



17 weeks (just got home from work)

July 13.

Late June (I know the date but it's TMI). We had been trying for a while and the last "cycle" I had taken Clomid for the first time. Had a positive ovulation test. And yes, cooked pork the night of ..... I remember thinking positive thoughts this month in particular and trusting the Lord with His timing. Because after all, His timing is perfect.

We went to Chicago at the beginning of July and had a great time. Your dad and I walked A LOT, drank coffee and had beer/wine/mixed drinks every night we were there. I didn't think anything of it since we had tried and tried for months for you and always got a negative pregnancy test. We met with Jamil and Luke for dinner one night and the other days/nights got to see what the town had to offer. Napped in Millennium Park, went to museums, boat toured with Nancy (who was in town for a Pampered Chef conference), and ate... A LOT. We got to spend quality time together (which is my Love Language...), laughed a lot and talked about how we wished we could live in a city that cool! We loved it!

The night we came home, we were drinking at the hotel bar waiting for a cab to take us to the airport. I remember distinctly having 4 beers. We left Chicago late and got back to Dallas around 1 or 2 am. The next day (Wednesday), we both had to work so off we went.

I had just spent the day in classes all about bereavement. aka: death. aka: baby death. This week was all about the complications of pregnancy, labor, birth and stillborns, miscarriages, etc. It was horrible. I numbed myself because it was too much. I focused on God's perfect timing and that He was in control of everything, not me so that helped me A LOT. When I got home from my L&D classes that day, I decided I would take a pregnancy test. It was time to check but I was sure it would be negative.

I had some really cheap tests that my friend Cat had gotten from a friend and somehow I ended up with them after a night of hanging out with our friends a few months prior.

I dipped it in my urine and waited.

When I looked, it looked like this:


So I immediately called my sister because if you have a sister, you know, that is who you call because you don't know if that faint line means yes or no or maybe or huh? or kinda or what. So I sent Kate the picture and she said, "You are pregnant". So we got my mom on the phone and told her. It's kind of a blur but everyone was talking and joyful and it was a neat moment.

Then I called your dad at work. I actually e-mailed him at 4:54 pm and told him to "call me" with a message 2 minutes later that said, "Asap". He called me back and I said, "Um I just took a test and it says positive" - his response (which is what he says a lot you'll see) was "oh boy!". Little did I know he was right! A boy! We couldn't talk long because he was at work but by the time he got home, I had taken 4 or 5 more tests:



We couldn't stop talking about how shocked we were and we were so excited! I took these pictures to document the night we found out. Sorry dad looks white trash in his "wife beater"


I actually had a doctors appointment the next day to get another prescription for Clomid. So when I got there I just told them that I think this is going to be a different kind of appointment. When I went back, the doctor checked me and made me take another pregnancy test and confirmed that I was pregnant!

She scheduled a sonogram for the next week which turned out to be too early but we got to see you for the first time. My mom (Nandy) and Lane were there but only Lane got to come back with me. This is what we saw which was confirmation that you were in the right spot with the right stuff at this stage! A yolk sac and gestational sac:


Since it was too early, we went back about 3 weeks later and saw this:

The hole looking things in your head is really just CSF (cerebral spinal fluid).

I remember looking over at dad and he was wide eyed just staring. I looked back over at you on the screen and I couldn't help but to cry. Not the ugly boo hoo cry but a few tears came out because it was just so amazing to see you in there, looking like a baby and seeing your heartbeat on the screen. Especially after having tried so hard for months. It was truly the first time we saw you and there really aren't words to explain the feeling. I can't wait for you to have that feeling one day.

The next appointment we had was the Down Syndrome/Trisomy screen at 12 weeks. We decided to have all the tests done because I am a hypochondriac and just wanted to see you more! So I went alone because I didn't know exactly what was going to happen and thought it was just going to be a simple blood test with maybe a quick sonogram. It turned out to be the neatest appointment! I sat down on the bed/chair and the doctor came in and placed the gel/sono thing on my stomach and immediately you came up on the screen in front of me. It was a big screen and I could see you very well. The doctor was really great. The whole appointment I was asking him if you looked smart, and if you were long (because of our height) - we were joking around and laughing and he was showing me your organs and just telling me different things. He measured you and looked at things and said things looked great and then said, "Do you want me to tell you what I think it is?" and I said, "sure" - that is when he pulled up your little behind and said, "see that right there, I think it is a boy".



I have always wanted a boy.

Then he jiggled my tummy to see if you would move and you did! I laughed so hard and couldn't believe it. You kicked all around with your tiny legs and bounced around in there - you were so little but it was the first time I got really excited and things seemed real. There was a little person in there moving around. Such a strange realization because the last sonogram at 8 weeks you didn't move at all.

Some more pictures from that day:




I left and called everyone and again we were excited. Dad was sad he didn't come to the appointment. I could hear the disappointment in his voice and just tried to tell him that the 20 week appointment he would be able to see you do all that. That night I made a "boyish" meal of bagel bites and mac & cheese in celebration:



We went lsat week to the 16 week appointment and heard your little heartbeat and scheduled our 20 week big appointment for Halloween. So we will get to see you again then and confirm that you are in fact a boy!

xoxo

God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me Brien Finley O'Brien for my Dad. And yes, he is as cool as his name.

I don't think I have ever told anyone this but for a long time, I was frightened that I wouldn't have my Dad around past the age of 17. That is the age my Dad was when he lost his Dad suddenly from a brain aneurysm.

There are some men that have daughters when they would have been better with sons. It is tragic to see and be around a girl that hasn't had a good, scratch, Great....Dad. I have seen first hand the impact (good & bad) a Father can have on a daughter. I am a lucky one. Who had a Dad that always, no matter what, made me feel like I was the smartest, most athletic, most beautiful, confident girl. My Dad made me believe that I deserve the very best from life and love.

It is impossible to summarize 29 years of life with Dad like mine. He is one of the most special people I've ever met and I am honored that God had him be my dad. Here are some of my favorite things about him: He is 6'3". He taught me how to drive, ride a bike, and play basketball. He laughs a lot. He loves the sun, Mexico and buckets of beer. He is a guys guy but is sensitive and sweet and can talk to Kate and I about relationships and girl stuff. He loves Christmas. He loves turkey. He is loyal. He loves his family. He loves the Fiesta Americana Condesa. He is genuine and supportive. He is stern when he needs to be. One of the clearest examples is when I didn't want to go to college and he said to me that wasn't an option. He is a man of God and is one of the best examples of how to be and live like a Christian. He is a hard worker and just signed a multimillion dollar deal to sell the company he built from nothing. He takes vacations. He isn't snobby. He is humble. He is giving. He is funny. He loves people. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. He gives the best advice. He is severely conservative and the typical Republican. He loves consistency and traditions. He is honest. He is a great example of how a man is to love his wife. I know without a doubt he would do anything under the sun for his family and he loves my husband, admires and respects him which is the best feeling in the world.

One of the reasons Lane is my husband is because he possess a lot of the same qualities as my dad. I knew that I wanted to marry a guy that loved me and made me feel as beautiful, smart and lovely as my dad always made me feel. I saw how my dad treated my mom and that is exactly what I wanted for my marriage. And I found that in Lane. Who I know will make a great dad whenever we have children, which I hope is soon.

Here are a few shots of me and my dad throughout the years. I have a million pictures of our family vacations and times spent together. Pardon the really unflattering pictures of me in my youth. Even during that time, I never felt ugly because both my parents told me how pretty I was (which must have been hard :) )

Teaching me how to ride a bike: I think this was the first time ever I did it on my own:


Skating during my birthday party: I am on the right with the skinny bird legs:


The 80's:


Holding me when I was scared of Santa:


Hanging out:


First Father Daughter Dance:


Father Daughter Dance:


Father Daughter Dance:


Homecoming Junior year: (ug)


Homecoming Senior year: (ug)


We went to New York every June: He would go to a conference and the girls (Kate, Mom and I) would shop while he worked!


A yearly tradition putting up Christmas lights:


Visiting us in college:


At a Rangers game when I worked there:


Cutting the turkey - one of his favorite things to do:


Hoopin'


One of the many trips to Cancun: (which is where he is this Father's Day!)












Probably his favorite place on earth:


Walking me down the isle:


Giving me away to Lane:




The last Father Daughter dance:


My two favorite men: