It's a Baby!!

I'm a little delayed with this post out of pure tiredness! All I want to do is nap here and nap there...oh well. So, last week (wednesday) we went for a baby check-up. We were 11 weeks and 4 days along. {Time is passing so quickly!} I did the whole, pee in a cup, weight and blood pressure thing and everything looks great. I've actually lost 4 lbs, so I guess that's good. My doctor wasn't worried so I'm not worried.

We go in for the doctor visit part, which, by the way, only lasted about 5 mins or less, and we asked her a couple of questions. She also said she wanted to listen to the heartbeat to make sure everything is sounding okay. (Apparently this is something they will do from now on, I gather.) So after about 1 min of listening and looking for the heart thumpity-thump, she said, "I'm not worried, you're probably just a little early to hear anything on the hand-held doppler and I hate to send anyone home without hearing their baby's heartbeat, so lets just jump in and take a quick peak on ultrasound."

YYYYAAAAAYYYYYY!!!! We were so excited! Jason and I had been kinda bummed because we thought it would be a few months before we would get to see the baby again, at the 20 week "big" ultrasound visit. So she slipped us in there and as soon as she put the ultrasound probe on the baby, we KNEW everything was ok! Baby Street was moving and shaking everywhere! Long arms and legs kicking and stretching....it was amazing! In fact, "Awesome" was the word Jason said about 35 times! haha

Baby Street's heart rate was 184 beats/min! Really fast! So of course as I told my family, everyone's guess was instantly "GIRL!!!"

Only time will tell. We go back to the doc on April 27th and we will be 17+ weeks. We will probably set up our "big" ultrasound on that day. That thought makes my heart beat a little faster. Until next time, here are a few pictures from our ultrasound last week.

Pickles and what?

Well, for anyone who has been keeping up with my very few posts, I'm pregnant!! I know the last post was short, but, if I say so myself, powerful. Jason and I are so excited to be having a little baby Street sometime in the vicinity of October 2nd.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions. Excited, anxious, elated and worried to name a few. Of course when we first found out, excitement was at the top of the emotions list. But before I could even go to the Dr., we had a little scare. So at the doctor's visit, we told her our worries and she felt that we should do an ultrasound just to make sure everything was ok. I was only (by what I thought) 6 1/2 weeks, so we knew it would be a really early ultrasound. Oh and "your gonna put the ultrasound probe where????!!!"

Because of that, we couldn't believe it when were able to see the heart beating when the baby was only measuring 5 weeks 6 days!! God is truly amazing! So, the HR looked like it was about 90 beats/min, which seemed kinda slow to me, but I decided not to worry until the Dr. Bailey told us to worry. The worrying came a few days later. The following Monday, Dr. Bailey's nurse called me at work to set up another ultrasound......*my heart flip-flopped in my chest*.......to "make sure the baby is developing ok". So my second ultrasound was set up for the following monday.....10 days after the first one!

Now, in my gut, I knew this wasn't "normal" if everything looked good on the first ultrasound. Between the two of us, Jason and I had come up with various abnormalities, dangers, and miscarriage opportunities. All in all, we were still being optimistic, and understood that God was, and is, totally in control! So at the 2nd ultrasound, which was through my belly (so cool), they just focused in on Baby Street and checked out the heart rate. It was 143 beats/minute. Over 50 beats faster in only 10 days!! Not to mention, Baby Street was like 20 times bigger!

Jason and I were amazed at how fast the baby was growing! We were able to hear the heartbeat and it was so loud, fast and strong! It was the most amazing sound we had ever heard.

We don't go back to the Dr. until March 17th. I will be almost 12 weeks preggo! As of now my only symptoms are a little tiredness, queasiness (without vomiting, yay!), and a full feeling quickly after I eat. All in all, I can't imagine a much easier pregnancy so far. Unfortunately, some have told me that means a terrible labor. I'm not buying that yet, still keeping my fingers crossed.

Until next time, carry on Bloggers!

To Be Continued......

Reflecting

I can, without a doubt, say that 2009 was a busy year. It started off with a bang by me starting a new job in January. Jason and I, at the time lived in Meridian, but my new job was in Hattiesburg. So.....new job begins 90 miles from our apartment in Meridian, and I start driving back and forth, 5 times a week. That lasts for almost a month, but by the end of January we had moved to Hattiesburg. Unfortunately, since it is Feb. 3rd, this means that now Jason has been driving "to and fro" for over a year. ( I have a really, really great husband, by the way.)

One 1st for us as a couple....we moved into our first actual "house" together, even though it's a rental. We both detest apartments, but, hey, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do.

So within 5 months, I get promoted! Yay! I'm now the supervisor of my department....kinda weird, but I like it.

Now, the reason for this blog post becomes clear: The coolest thing we did, during the very busy 2009 year was go to AFRICA!!!

Yep, you heard it, Jason and I went to AFRICA! As a side note, I want to once again thank any and everyone for there financial and spiritual support, we couldn't have done it without you.

We went to Rwanda, Africa with e3 Partners. Jason's parents, Mike and Mary Wagner are team leaders for e3, so we had family with us. It was the most amazing thing we have ever done; single or married. I suggest that everyone who is physically able plan on making a trip. I'm sure that anywhere would be great, but from personal experience, let me say that God is doing a great work in Rwanda, and it is wonderful to be a part of it.

This trip was, simply put, a church planting mission. We didn't build, or provide food. We shared the message of Christ with anyone who would listen. We partnered with at least 20 Rwandan Mission Partners (also were translators) and went in small teams to the villages. Jason and I were not on a team together, so we have very different stories and experiences that we were able to share with each other.

Once we got to the villages, there were many Rwanda nationals, most of which were brand new believers, who joined with us to share the Gospel. Of course, Jason and I had no idea what we were doing!! We were so nervous, completely unprepared and unworthy!! But after the first day, everyone made us feel so comfortable that even though we stumbled around, we knew it was ok.

These villages that we went to were beautiful, but desolate. These people have hardly anything. I can't even begin to describe what we saw. But to put it into perspective, most homeless people in the US have more than the people we met in Rwanda, and the people in the US who can't support themselves and depend on government assistance, look RICH compared to the rural Rwandan people.

I am posting a few pictures from our trip. They do not show how beautiful and different Rwanda is, but they will give you a glimpse.

I will say that after going, I can understand why Mary (Jason's mom) considers Rwanda her second home. The people are amazing. Loving and happy regardless of the circumstance; so unlike us here. It is a complete culture shock.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures. God is so GOOD!!!

Jason and Nelson (his ministry partner)

Me, Jack (left) and Turambe (ministry partners)

An EVENTFUL Boring Night

Unfortunately my husband is out of town. He is having a "guy" weekend in Atlanta; I am not upset, for the most part, because this is also my weekend to work and be on call ALL wonderful weekend. (Can I get a "What, What" from all those Weekend Warriors?) For anyone who is reading this blog that possibly doesn't know me very well; my husband and I have no kids and live in a town where ZERO of our family members live; soo....No Husband = No Life = Boring! Of course I can find things to do to take up part of the time; clean (boring), tv (boring), fetch (boring), wii (awesome, but more fun with Hubster), and reading, mainly my Bible, (awesome, but I do better with small pieces to chew on). Taking all of this into account, I was going to call it an early evening at 9:00 pm and get some much needed R&R.

Switching gears for a moment: Meet Reese, my miniature Dachshund.

Reese is an inside "city" dog, and like any inside "city dog, he goes out at night before bed to "do his business". The nightly question at our house is, "Reese? You wanna go OUTSIDE!?" *note: this is always in a very excited voice, cause he's just so cute running to the door!* So, after the question, I open the doors (we have a storm door) to let him out, turn to go brush my teeth and 5 seconds later I hear the most horrible sound:

BRRRAAAAAKKKKK!!!

BRRRAAAKKKKKKK!!!

BRRRAAAKKKKKKK!!!

BRRRAAAKKKKKKK!!!

Even now it gives me the willies! It was so loud and scary and ...and...HUMAN sounding! I thought...Oh My Goodness!! A pack of wild mountain Gorillas have attacked my dog in our (fenced in) yard! He better run away fast, cause I definitely AIN'T going out there!

I run the glass storm door and strain my eyes to see him over by the fence and as soon as I look, I realize that it isn't Reese that is screaming; he dragging something out from under our little storage shed and it is BIGGER than he is. My second deadly animal guess was a badger. Now, I'm not even sure if badgers live in Hattiesburg, MS, or if I would even know what one looked like if I saw it....but it was DEFINITELY a badger....or a raccoon (do raccoon's SCREAM like that?)...or a .......and then I see it........

Lets say it collectively "AWWWWW!!!!".

That's right a bunny! Well, technically it was a rabbit. I was right about one thing; it was at least as big if not bigger than my little dog! He had it by the back leg dragging it out from under the storage shed!!! I flipped out!! What if it bit him? What if it had disease? Then my thoughts turned to, What if he KILLED a bunny??!! I just knew I could never look at him the same way again; Reese: Pet by day; Bunny Killer by night.

So then I proceeded to chase Reese ALL over the yard in my sock feet, at night, in the wet grass, where he goes POOPY, while he is dragging (running backwards away from me) what had to be 7 or 8 lb rabbit. It took me more than 5 mins to get him to let the rabbit go!

Moral of this story? #1. Never assume a night is going to be boring. #2. Clean up your doggy poop, even if you no one can see into your yard!!

I am glad Jason will be back tomorrow!!!

Goodnight!

New to the Blogging Community

Prepare yourselves....I am now a BLOGGER! (Whatever that means.)

I hope everyone who reads this keeps their standards low and their minds open. Don't get me wrong, I am very excited about starting a blog; I just have no idea what I am doing. Hopefully this will get better over time.

Let me start by saying that I LOVE other people's blogs! In fact, I rank them right up there with ----wait for it----- Facebook! There are some incredible writers out there, and I have the privilege to "Follow" some of them (and stalk others). Oh, lets face it, we all do it.

This is definitely NOT going to start out as one of those blogs; it's not even promising to be updated in a timely manner. This blog will be for friends and family who are interested in Jason and I and what has become of our life here in Hattiesburg.

Just stay posted and hopefully I will become a seasoned blogger quickly. I will post a real blog as soon as I decide what I want to talk about!

Soon,

Randi