Wonderful New Room

[Brooke]

Thanks so much for adding this room to the forum. I just think it is wonderful that us expecting parents can have a seperate place to share our joys, concerns, questions, etc. I hope that this becomes used a lot, which would obviously only mean one thing, that we are all being blessed with pregnancies that result in more healthy living children after each of our own individual losses!!! I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant with our third son who we will be naming Caden after the loss of our daughter Emma last October. As the end approaches I can't wait to get him delievered and into my arms!!! It won't be until then that I will be completely at ease. Well, thanks again.

Love,
Brooke- Mommy to Carter, Ethan, &

[Tasha Nicholls]

Yes, I think this is a good room to have.

You're almost finished, Brooke! (Your pregnancy went by really fast for ME, lol) We're all so excited for you and can't wait to see pictures if little Caden!

[Kathy Schneider]

Brooke,
Congratulations on being pregnant again. There is possiblity of a life after a loss! We had 2 beautiful healthy boys after we lost our Isabelle 6 years ago. I will keep you in my prayers as the end draws near. Remember to call your ob if anything feels wrong even if it seems silly

Kathy Schneider
Isabelle's mom

[Tina]

Not sure if I'm posting this right, I haven't been on in a while.
I agree this is an awesome post to have. Our son Christopher was stillborn on July 13, 2006, after years of infertility. We then adopted our beautiful daughter, we were told we would have no other biological children. Two weeks after our daughter arrived I found out we were pregnant again. I am now 22 weeks and scared every minute of losing this baby. Christopher's little heart stopped beating at 28 weeks and the closer we make it to his milestone, the more worried I become. I feel like a nut, because I call the ob or head to the hospital at every little thing! AHHHHH I feel so blessed yet can't wait to have this baby safe in my arms. I always wanted to be pregnant, now I find myself wishing the time away, yet I know I should treasure it. If one more person asks me what I hope for, I'm going to smack them. They look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them a baby that is breathing. Anyway, sorry for the rant. If anyone has any advice for staying calm during this time please let me know.
Tina

[Kathy Schneider]

Tina,
Don't worry about being a pest/pain/hypochondriac pregnant mom! If your ob has any compassion at all, he/she will welcome your visit or call. I was always told to call even if I felt a little off. Also, when I was pregnant the first time after losing our daughter at almost 37 weeks, I found a book that I found helpful. It is called "Pregnancy after a loss: A guide to pregnancy after a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death" by Carol Cirulli Lanham. Good luck and take care. Even after the 28 week mark passes, you may still be a worried mess. Don't think that is abnormal.

Kathy
Mom to 2 earthly angels, Matthew and Andrew and one heavenly angel Isabelle

[linda]

Brooke, I too can not believe how fast time has passed! I can't wait to see pictures and welcome Caden HOME for your family!

Tina your just a few steps ahead of me. I recently found out were expecting and our Angel Ethan was born still at 21 weeks on June 23, 2006. I have committed each day, some days each hour and some hours each minute to possitive thoughts. I thank Ethan for those thoughts. I also try to find strength in knowing I have a child inside me and that in and of itself is a blessing. My adopted parents only had me. They had no other children and I will never know what that is like. It's the little things that I value each moment. Granted I'm only 7 wks and a few days pregnant this time and I can't say that once I start to feel this little one move that my thoughts won't run wild when I don't feel them move. The poor baby will probably get no rest! :) If he or she is not moving I'll start a knockin'! He or She will probably come out tired ~ like are you now gonna let me sleep! :)

[marylouise]

What a great new room. I always felt that I shouldn't post anything about my new grandchildren,because I didn't want to add to our parents pain.
So, I'm very happy to see you all here and to wish you all congratulations. Looking foward to hearing your new adventures( who would quess you'd be happy that you had morning sickness! LOL) and milestones(hearing the heartbeat for the 1st time, that 1st kick) and to celebrate the births of your babies. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs

[Brooke]

Hi to All,

Yes, I'm and nearing the end, but still very afraid that something could yet happen to Caden. I'm trying to remain positive and enjoy these last few weeks of Caden in my womb, but not always easy to do. I actually have a doctor appt at noon today to meet with the surgeon who will be doing my scheduled c-section. We will be setting the date today, so I can't wait to find out when that will be. I'm really really hoping that they will take him at 38 weeks so looking at Thursday Sept. 27th. Although Emma passed at 24 weeks along, I am still worried that something like a umbilical cord accident could happen anytime and take him from us. Just want him safe in my arms. Please pray that my surgeon/doctor will agree and be willing to take him when I want. Nothing like choosing his birthdate :( I really didn't want a c-section but given my previous vaginal births and the complications, my doctor is 100% pushing me to have a c-section. So I just pray that there will be no complications and a easy recovery for me.

Linda, When I read your post earlier in the thread about feeling him/her move when you get to that point in your pregnancy you hope that he/she moves a lot, I had to laugh. I was just telling my husband, Kirk, that I'm so glad Caden is very very active because if he wasn't I'd be a basketcase. I told Kirk that he should thank Caden when he comes out that he was a very active baby in uetro, it saved him many hospital trips. I've enjoy every kick, hiccup, roll, etc. It is a undescribable feeling and I can't wait until you feel him/her move and I hope for your sake that he/she is very very active!!! Even if he/she keeps you awake at night!!!!

I'm so excited for you Linda and all the other mom's who will be blessed with healthy living babies at the end of 9 months, its so exciting yet scary. Try to enjoy every second of your pregnanies. For me this is my last, so am trying to listen to my own advice. Good luck to all of you during this journey.

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carther, Ethan, &

[Brooke]

Hi Again,

Well, my appt. with the OBGYN/surgeon went very well. She was very understanding and was willing to take Caden at 38 weeks via a scheduled c-section. So Caden will be delievered on Wednesday September 26th at noon.:) I can't wait for his arrivial and to hold his little body in my arms at last. Please keep me and Caden in your prayers as his birthdate approaches.

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carter, Ethan, &

[Rayna']

It is nice to have this new room. I hope to be a member of it some time next year. ;). congrats to you Brooke & Linda!

[Tricia Hackney]

Brooke - Your baby will have an awesome birthday -- he will share it with my youngest daughter Leah, I'll be sure to say a prayer for you as she blows our her candle.

Congratulations to all of you on your pregnancies. I'm so happy for all of you and pray that you all have safe deliveries after of course active pregnancies (try OJ, it wakes 'em up really good lol).

God be with you all!

[Julie*B]

Hi All!

I too am grateful for this new space. Congratulations and/or Good Luck to everyone! Before I forget, the book mentioned earlier, "Pregnancy After A Loss" is a must read if you're expecting again. Definitely helps calm the nerves a little.

I will be exactly 20 weeks (halfway point and when you can find out the sex) on what should have been our daughter, Emma's, first birthday (September 19th). With all the hype about making it through first anniversary dates, mixed with pregancy hormones, it's safe to say I'm a bit of a mess lately. Maybe I should be in the "I Need A Shoulder" category but it's so hard to feel excitement for a new life, while trying to honor the fact that I had a daughter who should be 1 in less than a week. Grieving and hormones definitely do not mix!

Thanks for letting me spew about these mixed blessings without feeling as guilty!

[Brooke]

Hi Julie,

First of all Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!I know how you feel. Our daugther Emma will be having her First Heavenly Birthday on October 10th and I'm sure I will be sitting at home holding our new born son Caden who will be only 2 weeks old by then, lord willing. I'm sure that day I will be filled with many mixed emotions as well. I guess we have to remind ourselves that those feeling are normal and expected. Happy Birthday to your daughter Emma on September 19th!!! I hope you are able to do something special to mark her First Heavenly Birthday.

Love,
Brooke- Mommy to Carter, Ethan, &

[linda]

Thanks Rayna! We are praying for you too!

[Lyssa Sauer]

I am so excited about this room. Kudos to Kirk for setting it up!
Brooke I will be praying for a safe arrival of baby Camden and remember we want PICTURES!
Linda time does seem to be passing and I am at that point where I am already feeling the baby not big movement but I can fill the baby. Praying for calmer times in our pregancy.
Julie Congrates! I know how you feel and it is very normal. I will be praying for you to enjoy and also be able to celebrate Emmas special day but also for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.
I am now 14 weeks and yes I can already feel this baby like I said in a prior Thread something diffrent about this one something great! Not that there isnt a day that goes by with the what ifs. I have a great OB right now and she has told me dont you even hesitate! But I havent had any bad or strange feelings. So far all the testing they have dont and check with baby has been normal so.. Praying for all of to enjoy or new mircles and to have them safe at home in our arms.

[Kerry]

Congrats to all you new mommies out there. I am so happy to have this forum up to see how people have made new editions to each family and we all have not forgot each special angel that are deeply missed. My tragic loss of having twins thinking everything was fine then that day on Jan 14th,2005 I will never forget finding out I only had one alive and how their must of been a mistake. We got through it and after a year we had a suprise of being pregnant again! We now have our son and he has been a true blessing and feel our family is complete. I was a nervous wreck at the end of my pregnancy and took every test to make sure things were going good I am sure the OB is glad to be done with me but with all the Vitamins and Heparin shots I administered in my tummy I had a good outcome and now the OB is able to help others to show what it can do to prevent and the outcome can be postive. Dont be afraid to both the doctors when in doubt always call the hospital that is what they are their for to help us ! Cant wait to see all the new babies this year !!!

[Erica Stone]

I am so happy about this area of the forum! It was difficult to know exactly how or where or what to say when I was pregnant after Matthew. I had worries and concerns, but knowing what everyone here had been through I was afraid of hurting someone's feelings accidentally.

To everyone here - congratulations! It will be scary and you will worry, but we are here for you. I had so many mixed feelings so much of the time and all I wanted was to deliver a baby I could take home with me. I thought that everything would be easy after that, but the past year (yes, Tommy turned one last month! I can't believe it!!) has taught me differently. I think a loss changes you in so many ways. I check on him constantly at night, which is probably the most normal of the many strange things I do now!

The best thing is that having Tommy has made me love Matthew even more than I ever imagined I could. I haven't been on the forum in some time. There were times when I was here multiple times a day reading posts and watching videos and crying and missing my baby. The good news (that I never believed would happen) is that I have been feeling so good lately and while my heart is always here - and with all of you - my head has needed a break. I wish all of you the very best with your pregnancies.

[Carey]

Congratulations everyone. I, too, am pregnant again. We lost our little boy, Beckett, at 22 weeks last November.

It took us seven years to get pg with Beckett, so we were surprised that I became pg after only trying for two months.

I am almost 26 weeks with twin boys. I am ultra high risk and I have been on bed rest since 19 weeks, but my cervix and the boys are hanging in there.

I understand that fear. Every week I gain a little more hope, but I am still scared every day. i think this could be a great room for discussing some of those fears.

If interested in our journey, my blog is here: http://careyayn22.typepad.com/2_hours_traffic/

[Tasha Nicholls]

Oh my goodness, Carey... twins!!!! Congratulations!


I am so thrilled for all of you!!!

[Lyssa Sauer]

Carey Congradulations Congradulations.. I will include you in my prayers for all of us to bring home our heathy babies.

[LoraRenshaw]

Brooke,
Your time is really close now and I just wanted to say you are in my thoughts and prayers and I will be thinking of you over the next week or so while you near the birth of your beautiful son.
Blessings your way..

[Brooke]

Thank you so much. I'm getting so excited but yet anxious and scared all at the same time. I just want the day here to be holding him in my arms. Only 9 days to go. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes.

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carter, Ethan, &

[Lyssa Sauer]

Brooke I cant imagine being that close but yern for it. I love this site but hearing so many diffrent stories of each special angel just makes me worry a little more. I am keeping you close in prayers as your son will soon be with you and your family, safe and beautiful. Lyssa

[Kirk Kief]

I wish you nothing but the very best, and you are definitely in my prayers over the next 9 days (well, beyond that too)

[Brooke]

Thank you Kirk and Lyssa. I love the support you get from everyone on this forum. You are all very special people. Thanks for everything. Good luck with the progressing pregnancy Lyssa!!! Kirk you have a great name, that is my husband's name as well!!!

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carter, Ethan, &

[tinantravis]

After hearing about this new room, I couldn't wait to log in! Thanks so much, Kirk. With a pregnancy following a loss, it is difficult to share the excitement and fear at the same time, but this room allows us to do just that.

We've had two losses (both in 2006) but are blessed with another pregnancy. We are expecting another baby boy, Chayce, in January of 2008. We are labeled as "high risk" because of our history of lossesl, so our healthy baby boy has been monitored very closely. Our due date cannot come soon enough, however. Everything looks great so far. We have a heart echo scheduled for this Friday (Sept. 28th) and I am hoping that will be the last big hurdle to jump over. It seems like no matter how much reassurance one gets, it will never be enough.

One more day, Brooke...hang in there!

Congrats to all the expectant moms out there! How exciting!

[Rayna']

After hearing about this new room, I couldn't wait to log in! Thanks so much, Kirk. With a pregnancy following a loss, it is difficult to share the excitement and fear at the same time, but this room allows us to do just that.

We've had two losses (both in 2006) but are blessed with another pregnancy. We are expecting another baby boy, Chayce, in January of 2008. We are labeled as "high risk" because of our history of lossesl, so our healthy baby boy has been monitored very closely. Our due date cannot come soon enough, however. Everything looks great so far. We have a heart echo scheduled for this Friday (Sept. 28th) and I am hoping that will be the last big hurdle to jump over. It seems like no matter how much reassurance one gets, it will never be enough.

One more day, Brooke...hang in there!

Congrats to all the expectant moms out there! How exciting!

congrat!

[Brooke]

Hi Tina,
It's nice to see you finally had a minute in your busy schedule to post on the forum again!!!! It was nice to see you last night and do something to honor our baby angels. I hope that the newspaper article turns out well and something we can be proud of doing in memory of our babies. Yes, less than 24 hours to go. By this time tomorrow I should be recovering from my c-section and holding my new little boy. I can't wait. I hope that everything goes well and we have no complications arise. Can't wait to see you again. Take care!! Good luck to you at the appt on Friday.

Brooke-Mommy to Carter, Ethan, (soon to be Caden) and our

[Lyssa Sauer]

Brooke tonight I will be saying a special prayer for you. I hope that things go well and that little boy is safe in the arms of his parents. We expect pictures as soon as you can get them! Thinking of you

[linda]

Brooke,

Thinking of you and praying lots of prayers. I hope everything went very well!!

[Heather Lombardo]

After nearly a year I had the honor today to photograph yet another baby of Brooke & Kirk's.

Meet Caden David

Born at 12:19 pm today
weighing 7 lbs & 13.2 ounces
21.5 inches long

Mom and baby are doing very well.:D More photos will follow tomorrow after we have our "official" photo session.

[linda]

Dear Brooke,

Nothing but tears fall from my face! Thank you so very much for sharing this special day with all us. CADEN is beautiful and my heart is filled with JOY for you and your family. You and Kirk look so happy to welcome him into your world. I will be praying for you diligently as I have been for days now and will be thinking of you often.

[Catherine Colgan]

He is beautiful! Congratulations!

[Rayna']

What a sweet baby! Thank you for sharing your wonderful joy with us. It gives me hope for the future. I can't imagine how you felt when you heard his first cry!!!! Hope everything is well.

[Shelly]

HOORAY!!!! This post has made my day!!! Wonderful, happy things can happen for all of us.....BELIEVE!
Shelly

[marylouise]

Congrats Brooke & Kirk. Heather what a great job you did.
Hugs to all

[Kathy Schneider]

Congratulations Brooke and Kirk! Caden is beautiful. I am sure that Emma is smiling down on all of you. My prayers will continue to be with you.

Hugs,
Kathy

[tinantravis]

Congratulations Kirk and Brooke! Beautiful photos, Heather...I expected nothing less than gorgeous! He is so cute--I can see the resemblence to Ethan and Carter. Can't wait to see you tonight. Sending all my love (and hugs and kisses). I can hardly wait to hold that little man!
Tina

[Lyssa Sauer]

Brooke CONGRADULATIONS. A HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL BOY! As tears fill my eyes and joy feels my heart it gives me a little more confidence. Thank you for sharing Caleb with us, and Heather thanks for posting the pictures so soon! I know we were all anxiously waiting. My prayers are with you and your family. Will pray for a quick recovery for you Brooke and a baby that will only warm you heart and give a little peace to you. Hugs

[Heather Lombardo]

Congratulations Kirk and Brooke! Beautiful photos, Heather...I expected nothing less than gorgeous! He is so cute--I can see the resemblence to Ethan and Carter. Can't wait to see you tonight. Sending all my love (and hugs and kisses). I can hardly wait to hold that little man!
Tina

Tina my dear, you will receive no less either!!!!! You're next!! Been thinking about you a lot lately!:)

With love,

Heather

[Hailey's Mommy]

Congratulations He is beautiful

[JenniferBrown]

Congratulations!!! He's such a beautiful baby!!!

[Lindzy Foster]

congrats! he is beautiful and tears are falling from my eyes i am so happy for you!......he is gorgeous! what beautiful photos!

[Estrella]

Congratulations! He is gorgeous! So happy for you and your family, Brooke! Take care!

[Brooke]

Hi to Everyone,

Thank you all for your support and many many prayers. As you can see by our photos that they were definitely answered. We are all doing just great with adjusting to the new buddle of joy in our lives. Caden is one week old as I type this. I can't believe he has been with us a week already or I should say in my arms. He is doing very well. He is actually letting mom get some adequate sleep at night which is great. I feel like a human during the day and not a zombie. I'm recovering very well from my c-section and hope that things continue to go so well. I have this wonderful peace since Caden was born. I appreciate him so much more than I did my other baby boys. I truely think that with them coming into the world I was just neive and expected to hold a healthy living baby at the end of nine months. This time I new that I can't expect that automatically, doesn't always turn out that way. Maybe it unfortunately took loosing Emma to really fully understand the mircle of having and holding a living healthy baby once again. I feel that she truely was watching out for Caden and all of us.

Well,I want to thank you all for the love and support you shown through my pregnancy and delievery of baby Caden. I hope that this gives hope and encouragement to all the mothers here that you can find happiness again after a infant loss. It doesn't replace our angles by any means, but gives you a new sense of peace while your staring into the eyes of a new little life that you created.

Love,
Brooke- Mommy to Carter, Ethan, Caden, and our precious,

[Rayna']

oh, brooke! You bring tears to my eyes. I am so glad Caden is here.

[Brooke]

Hi Rayna,

Thanks so much. I truely wish for you specifically that you can find this peace that I am refering too one day and hopefully have it be sooner rather than later. Good luck to you and whatever you and God decide to do with your future!!!

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carter, Ethan, Caden, and our

[Tasha Nicholls]

He is gorgeous, Brooke... absolutely gorgeous. I'm so thrilled that everything went well and you are enjoying your new little bundle of joy. Congratulations!

[Aurora]

Congratulations to you he's beautiful and I'm so happy to hear the joy in your post!

[linda]

Well today I had my first ultrasound and the doctor noted my cyst and asked about. The last time we talked about that darn cyst was in conjunction with finding out we were going to lose Ethan. It was an intense moment in time when she searched for our little pea, but in the end she reassured us we had a healthy little baby right there with a great little heart beat. I'll go back in 4 weeks for our next visit. I'm really looking forward to hearing the babies heartbeat.

Thanks for all your support, how nerve racking this is going to be. 8 wks down, 32 more to go!! :)

[linda]

Last night we were talking about the ultrasound and I likened it to this:
In that room with the lights off it felt like we were stranded in the ocean, alone, cold and dark - and then there it was our little lighthouse, with that flicker of HOPE - just calling us to look at her/him. Kirk was sitting patiently for the doctor to say something good, I was looking away until she said, "here's a healthy little baby, with a stong heartbeat." Kirk jumped up and got behind her as I turned my head to look. So here's to our little lighthouse, that is officially their nickname till they come out! ;)

[Lyssa Sauer]

Linda what a wonderful way to put how you felt.I am so glad things look good and you have a healthy baby. Just want to check on something you said their and they IS THERE TWO wonderful babys or just one? I am praying for all of to have healthy babies and to be watched by our angels in heaven. What a gift, I think our angels have a hand in these little mircles!

[Deb Stoner]

Linda, I've been thinking about you. Twinkle, twinkle little lighthouse!

Brooke,
Happy to see Emma is now a big sister. Congratulations!

[shawna]

Congrats Brooke! He is beautiful.
I was also holding my two week old newborn Dylan on Tyson's first birthday in August. What a bittersweet day that was. I hope you are continuing to heal from your c-section and all of the emotions that go along with birth, and birthday/anniversaries!

[Brooke]

Shawna,

Thank you. Congratulations to you too on the birth of your 3rd son, Dylan. I'm continuing to heal and feel pretty good since my c-section. Emma's Birthday was bittersweet also. Overall the day went much better than I thought it might. Still miss her and want her here with all of us, but I know she is in good hands until we can met again. Thanks again for the well wishes.

Love,
Brooke- Mommy to Carter, Ethan, Caden, &

[linda]

Today I had my 17 week appointment. They've been watching me closely so my last 3 visits they've done quick ultrasounds. Today I was hoping to see the little lighthouse but instead the Doc asked when my diagnostic appointment was with radiology and I said, this Friday. I knew then he was only going to listen to the heart beat, funny thing is we hadn't done that yet only because we look at it each time. He then said, we'll lets take a listen and we'll see the baby this Friday. :( Then he put the doppler on and I can't even tell you how wonderful that little beat sounded! Tears just fell from my face, I was so happy to hear the heart beating, after a few seconds he says it sounds good, 150 to 160. Then he moved it away, I let said, can't we just listen to it a bit longer please. :)

So now we wait for Friday to come...hopefully we'll know then if it's a boy or girl. Anyone want to guess...I'm thinking it's a girl. I will tell you I did put in a special request to God so I'm hopful He was on board with my request! LOL

[marylouise]

Hi Linda,
what wonderful news, my guess is a boy.
Hugs

[Deb Stoner]

I sent Linda a few of Marah's outfits that she didn't get to wear. So you know I'm hoping for a girl. I'm actually hoping for a babe with 10 fingers and toes and a big cry to announce its way into the world.

[linda]

I'll just take the cry!!!!!!! I won't be counting fingers and toes! LOL

[linda]

I guess I should share how I got Marah's outfits....just a few short days after Ethan passed I decided to do a baby shower for a Pregnancy Crisis Center. "My neighbors must have thought I was nuts!" Here they all knew I had just lost Ethan and then I've got blue and pink balloons outside my house on Sunday afternoon and tons of women from my church showing up with baby shower gifts...It was GREAT! I got an entire car full of stuff from all my friends. We were able to give so much to this wonderful organization. Long story short, Deb had decided to mail a gift. When I got it in the mail there were a few little things like a small bag of tissue - which I should have bought stock in during that time and then these outfits...call me selfish but here was this Lady miles away that I had never known sending me some of her childs cloths. I was so honored that I couldn't give them away. So I e-mailed her and asked if I could hold onto them as they were something then that would help me try to want to have another child....so here we are! Thanks Deb, now I need to find them in the basement...that will not be something I can live down. I just asked Kirk if he remember where he put the box of stuff I kept. Lord knows I didn't do any of that - so he had to do all that. He said that box is in the basement. Deb, ya wanna take mini vacation and come help me search for it! LOL

[Lyssa Sauer]

Well as I said my thought a boy just cuz of the heart rate! But wouldnt that be wonderful for you to have a baby girl to share those clothes with. I will put in a quick prayer that way too.. lol Hugs Lyssa

[Lindzy Foster]

awww....well my girls always had higher heart rates lol.....you made me smile Linda when you said that hearing the heart beat made you cry, i know it was a good cry of happiness, the same way i felt and tears i had when we saw the babies heart beat on the u/s, i cant wait to hear ours....good luck with the appt and finding out boy/girl! hugs!