Pictures!! Including the cutest lamb hat ever!

 Avi trying out her little brother's new car seat. She thought it was nice of me to get her a new toy.

 Jennica gave us some 'warrior' head bands! If you look close you can see I have a little bump- 18 weeks.

 Avi's first time in the sand box.

 Avi loves black bean soup!

 I love Avi's lamb hat!!

 Avi loves Alice.

Avi looking for grapes

Sunday

Well, Avi is going to have to carry the rest of the family on her spiritual strength, because she is the only one going to church... Gunnar thought he would be able to, but something came up. Goodness, our apostate family!
I read some the general conference Ensign. Elder Holland's talk in the priesthood session is so powerful. I have felt some apprehension having a boy in our world filled with filth. I pray he will follow the counsel of the gospel and keep himself clean. That he will be able to worthily answer his call to serve a mission. I thought it so exciting Elder Holland said there needs to be tens of thousands more missionaries out there! The work is going to progress and escalate!
I was able to talk to Gunnar for a few minutes. I talked to his mom today about how it is kind of funny talking to him, because it is so one sided. I don't know if Gunnar is just following his training, or going over board with being careful, but really he tells me nothing! If I do get something out of him, it is really vague. So our conversations are usually me just talking to him. Yes, I am a talker, but after this long, conversations don't feel exactly fulfilling with only one person talking all the time. Okay, in his defense he did tell me how he was trying to organize the book shelves over there- it was almost strange to have something to listen to. I am sure when he comes back I will have a hard time listening to him talk- and I bet he will have a hard time adjusting to having a family around. We had been working at over coming that before he left- I am afraid any progress made from him learning he is not a bachelor anymore will be gone...Good thing we love each other.
Well, that was probably TMI...
I worked on a photo book. I am amazed how much time it takes!! But it was free!
Avi has been folding her arms a lot the last two days. Sometimes I'll say a little prayer with her. Sometimes I think she is anxious for food (okay when is she not- I think she is going through a growth spurt!) and also it is a new thing she has learned to do.
When she wakes up happy from a nap she is content to play in her bed for a while. I love 'spying' on her with the video monitor. She is just soo cute! Today she took off her pants and was very proud of herself, yesterday she took off her socks and threw them out of the bed- looked where they landed and said, "Uh-Oh".
I had felt a bit down from not talking to Gunnar two days in a row, then I was able to talk to him for a little bit last night and this morning. After this morning's chat I wondered why I still felt a bit down. I looked out the window at the lightly snowed covered outdoors and realized- I am pregnant, on bed rest, it is winter, and my husband is across the world and irregularly briefly talks to me- no wonder I feel a bit down sometimes!

week 22/week 2 of bed rest

Fairy wings at Sonja's

We are now to week 23. One week more to viability!

I met my new doctor this week. I think she is fabulous! If anyone is looking for a good Ob/Gyn in American Fork- I recommend: Dr. Tennille Cloward. I like the office better- they have you label your sample cup- I could not believe the last office didn't, and they would just have you set it on the counter with other cups-Scary!... but really she was so so nice. She listened, and is open to doing regular checks to monitor cervical length. I was impressed and very happy I had changed!!!

Sweet Sonja picked us up and took me to the appointment. She picked up a friend's two little girls, and after the appointment we went to her apartment and had lunch and Avi kind of played with the girls.

Kesten was a lifesaver and brought dinner that night-Aliea was sick, and Erin has a sinus infection. I could not believe how kind Kesten is! It was a great dinner that everyone enjoyed- Avi even had three bowls of pasta!!

Oh, the Dr. Cloward is so good- I asked about getting a physical therapist to come in- bed rest is killer to the body!! The next day I had one come to the house. He did an assesment and we will see if Tricare says it is medically necessary for them to keep coming, but I felt better just from the one visit, at least a little bit, for a little while...

I made Avi a bracelet. She is so cute!! Poor kid still has a bit of a cold, but on the upside for me- she was really cuddly today. The compassionate service leader offered to have the kids come play at her house today for a bit. They said Avi did really well, though she would worry when the kids would switch to another room. After a while she got tired, so she watched football with the dad. When they told Erin this- they were kind of nervous how she would respond- Erin replied that Avi's father would be proud.

We watched "Captain America" tonight. I thought it was fun. I wonder if Gunnar has seen it, I think he would enjoy it. I really liked that the hero was moral. I also thought he was adorable when he was scrawny!

Last night Erin and Wayne went to a seminary dinner so mom came over to baby/invalid sit. She brought us dinner- yum! After the kids were put to bed we watched a "Monk" episode. It is so nice to have family around.

Oh, 22 week visit- I was 129. Up from 125 on the 20 week visit, but I went from flip flops and short sleeves to boots and a sweater, so I think there was about two pounds of clothing. But my tummy is growing! Last night I was sure I was going to wake up with stretch marks!

Well, Gunnar has been gone close to two months, seven more to go. Ugh!

I am on the third Work and the Glory book. In the second the character Lydia has a hard time with her husband being gone a lot- for missions and other things he wants to do for the church. I was glad I was not the only one who has a hard time- though it is fictional... Near the end, he learns he needs to be more aware and caring of his family, and she finds help in D&C 25:14 "...let thy soul delight in thy husband." I have been trying to remember this. I think it is one of those things I should 'needle point on a pillow'... When he is around I have so many more expectations- which can result in well, let's just say I need to do better at delighting in my husband. In the meanwhile I just wish we could talk regularly. I do okay missing a day here and there, but when it goes beyond that I start to go a little crazy.

I should mark out the days we talk and really see. I feel like it is about three times a week, which I feel is not enough. But I am thankful the Lord has answered our prayers and his schedule is allowing him to go to church right now.

Halloween

 Avi in Jaxon's Jack Sparrow hat.

 tried to get pictures of Avi on Halloween...

Poor Avi has a bit of a cold. Aliea is throwing up. Erin has a sore throat. I hope I can stay well! Today Erin was out running errands- one of which was to turn in the Halloween candy for money! Avi made her first $2!! What an industrious 15 month old!

Erin said since it was cold she put Avi's hat on her. Avi cried and try to fight it, but then they went out in the cold- Avi was shocked. She was grabbing at her face as if she was wondering what the strange horrible things on her face was- this cold air!

Avi was tinkerbell for Halloween! What a cutie!! I was perfectly delighted- she was adorable! I went with her to one house. The candy bowl was out and Jaxon just grabbed a piece for her and put it in her bucket- not how I had imagined it going, but at least I got to see her first house! Erin and Wayne said she held onto her little bucket for the rest of the night and was very good at putting the candy in it. She did try eating a few pieces, but they told her no and she stopped.

Bed Rest Begins

 Avi thought the nurse call/remote thing was a phone.

What a crazy week. On Friday, since mom and Em were on Fall Break, I ran some errands while they watched Avi. I felt I had over done it a little, and thought I should lay down, but I was running behind and had agreed to make cookies and cream brownies for dinner at Erin's. The brownies are amazing! Yummo!
When I got to Erin's I let her know my cervix had changed more then originally thought. She requested I lay down on the couch for the rest of the evening. When we got home I put Avi to bed then started getting myself ready. I noticed a little bit of spotting and my heart fell. I called Labor and Delivery and asked them what to do. They said call your doctor or come in. The doctor's office was closed. I called mom, she had taken Jaxon to a play. She was on her way home. I called Erin to have her come over to be with Avi. Mom got here first. We waited for Erin. When she got here, it was decided for her to come, since she is the one with pregnancy complication experience.
I got checked in to labor and delivery. As the nurse asked me questions, Erin was on the phone with registration. The lady from registration would not believe Erin that Gunnar's name was Gunnar. Then the lady asked for his middle name. She thought Erin was crazy. So Erin passed the phone to me. I wasn't sure if my insurance had approved the new doctor, so I told them the doctors I had been going to. My heart fell when they told me the doctor on call was the one who had been so mean that week. The nurse called him, asking what he wanted done. The charge nurse came in to check me. She said I was one cm dilated and 80% effaced. The nurse who was caring for me seemed a bit lost at what to do (she was way sweet, but she said they don't get many women coming in this early- I was about 21 weeks). They monitored me for contractions. It is hard to pick up this early, but we think I had a couple. I called Gunnar's parents. They arranged to have Uncle John Maddox come to give me a blessing.
Later the doctor came. He was much nicer! He admitted that he deals with a patient like me once every several years, and the studies are not completely comprehensive. He arranged to have me meet with a perinatalogist the next day- actually at that point we were into the middle of the night, so later that day.
Sonja had come over and when Emily came home, mom came over as well. It was about three or four am when everyone went home-no point in someone staying when they could sleep comfortably at home.
I just wanted Gunnar. I wanted at least to talk to him. I had not talked to him for about two days, and had no idea of when and how we could get a hold of him. I hated it. Sonja and Erin sent him messages on Face Book. I even called mom and asked her to put a message directly on his page- not the most private and kosher ways of dealing with a situation like this, but I desperately wanted to have him find out as soon as possible, and he is not the best at reading his messages. Thankfully Gunnar got the message and called Saturday afternoon.
I do not want to loose my little boy. He has been so active. I had just started being able to see my belly move when he moves. I did not want to loose this sweet little life inside of me.
I know this is part of mortality, but it really is an awful thing to have a body that doesn't naturally hold your babies in. I had prayed so hard to know if I should get a cerclage this pregnancy. Did I miss the answer? I don't know.
I met with a perinatalogist Saturday a bit after talking to Gunnar. She did an ultrasound to check things out. What a busy boy I have inside! and he is proud to be a boy :)- no question about his gender! He is sooo cute!! Thankfully I was still about a 3 cm cervix- some measurements said as low as 2.8, but average about a 3. She told me of a new treatment of a (pretty sure it is a progesterone) suppository to strengthen the cervix- so we were to try it out and to do bed rest.
The doctor on call for the day gave me the prescription, and told me the perinatalogist was being over careful, that I was just fine and had nothing to worry about. I smile and nodded- glad I was getting away from this office of doctors. Maybe I could just be up and things would be fine, but obviously things were changing when I was, and he wants me to risk my baby's life??? I was so frustrated he was not taking me seriously- even in the hospital. At least the doctor the night before admitted there was a problem!
So mom and Em moved me and Avi to Erin's house. Poor Erin! What a crazy week. We got the internet put in on Tuesday- but the router we had wouldn't work with it, so she had to get another, then that did not work- after spending all day trying to get it to work, so the next day she got another- more problems, then it turned out, the problem-this time was my laptop. Erin lost two days to trying to get the internet going so I can have a chance to communicate with Gunnar. Let alone she is taking care of me and Avi and trying to still care for her own family. I hope things will get easier! She called her book club and had them come to her house so I could go- I have been trying to do book club for a while, but something always comes up!! Ya for book club!!
Oh, on Sunday mom reminded me I had been asked to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting- she gave it for me :). I think I should never agree to do anything in sacrament meeting when I am pregnant- last time with Avi, we had been asked to give talks the weekend I went on bed rest.
It has been hard on me not be able to really be a mother to Avi. I am just on the bed or the couch. It is such a wonderful privilege to be a mother. It kills me to not be the one caring for her- and to see how it is so demanding on Erin's family care for her. I never want to do bed rest again. It is horrible enough to not be able to care for one child- I cannot imagine two. Not to mention the soreness and weakness that comes with bed rest, the emotional and mental trauma.. the feelings of uselessness and fear of loosing or having a baby come with so many problems.
But there has been blessings. Avi is now beginning to fold her arms for prayers, I think Aliea and Jaxon have been a good influence for her that way. At my appointment on Friday, they used the 3-D ultrasound for a minute! We got to see his handsome little face! And best of all... My cervix has lengthened to a 4.5!!!! Amazingly long!!! The perinatalogist still wants me on bed rest because things can change so quickly. We are going to monitor the next couple of weeks- get to viability- and maybe I can do a modified bed rest!! We shall see.
Avi and I are at my mom's for weekend. Avi has had much more interest in playing with me since Aliea and Jaxon are not around- last night I felt better with getting on the ground and playing with her- since my cervix is looking so good. I hope I can play with her more, so Erin doesn't have to watch her as much. I am so thankful the medication and the bed rest is working. It will be interesting to monitor and see if it is more the bed rest or the medication that is making the difference.
I am 22 weeks today.
Erin made French Onion soup the other day- yum!!
it was
2 chopped onions- she did a yellow and a red- saute till clear
add
garlic
pepper
water and beef -paste- whatever- I have bouillon in my cupboard
Let that simmer a bit- her teacher that taught her let it reduce several times- and added more seasonings each time- I thought once was very flavorful.
In oven safe dishes put a piece of french bread in the bottom, add soup, and top with cheese. Bake in oven around 425* till cheese is melted and browned.

October Times

My little firefighter!

So yesterday we went to get Avi's car seat checked- aka- I took it out to wash it and know I did not put it in very well, so I went to get some 'man muscle' to secure my baby's seat. We got a tour of the fire trucks and an ambulance after. Avi loved it. It was adorable. She got to sit in the driver's seat. She loved the big steering wheel and all the buttons!
We got my records released from the doctor's office- it turns out my cervix has shorten even more than I thought. The doctor had said I was a "Three- seven." So I assumed it meant 3.7- I was wrong- I am a 3.07. I know the cervix changes and 3.07 is still safely long, but going from a 4.35 to a 3.07 seems a big jump to me... I am interested if my cervix is still shortening, and what my new doctor will advise. We will see on the November 2nd.
Today I went down to have my hair cut by Jennica's girl- Jennica looks fabulous, so I was excited. She did a good job, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for- but maybe I just don't know how to get it to styled correctly. I sent her a picture, maybe it is about the same.. hum. I just think I look older now and my face more round, but it will fun to have a change and glorious to get rid of so many split ends.
My picture of the temple came in today!! I was so excited to pick it up!! I think it looks fabulous. I had them print "The Nelson Family- next line-Established Oct. 24, 2009..." I wish I had put Est. October 24, 2009. But it will be wonderful for our home.
Avi likes to scoot down the stairs on her bum. I wish she would just turn around like she did before, at times she does, but it is not the norm... She has taken several tumbles down stair- ugh! Thankfully, mom's stairs are short and no harm has come.
Have I mentioned Avi has THE MOST KISSABLE cheeks. they are just so precious squishy.

It is officially a boy!!

So poor Avi looks abused! I put Avi down when we got home from the doctor's and she turned and fell into the table leg- I didn't see the bruising on her noise till tonight.
Well, the doctors..
It is a boy!! It's certain now! Hurray! for baby brother! Avi was very sweet sitting on the bench they have in the ultrasound room eating snacks and watching the ultrasound. She was so well behaved.
He was curled together, so it was hard to get good shots, but hey- at least he looks good :). His right kidney is a little dilated, so we will watch that. He is measuring a day ahead of schedule-really they have these things down to the day?? But I think he is going to be a very handsome young man!!
It was wonderful to see him.
The doctor on the other hand was not so wonderful. So with Avi we had some scary times- I am a bit nervous. Plus, I have gone from a 4.3 cervix to a 3.7- 3.7 way long and healthy, but I am changing... I just want to keep an eye on it- Well, the Doctor was so rude. I wish I could express his manner and tone he used in writing- it basically was, "Lady, you are crazy and stupid. You are a waste of our time. We want your baby to die, rather than keep a check on things..." The funny thing was it was the same doctor last time that Avi cried when he came in-Avi, who loves everyone... Well, Avi was onto to something the first time she met him- this guy is not nice. So we are getting out of that office. I am done with them.
I called and talk to another doctor's nurse when I got home, I have an appointment. I need to call my insurance and get my records released from the last place.
I am missing my last doctor- Dr. McDonald. Yes, he was, I thought crazy lenient, but he really cared- and he did extra checks just put me at ease- and wow- his extra checks got Avi here safely- I want to kiss the man. I did not know how rare it was to actually have a doctor really want to get your baby here safely.
I made chicken Korma for dinner- it was from the bottle. I added chicken, cauliflower- because it needed to be used- some pineapple and even some mango on top. I wanted to go further, funny because it was just Avi and me- but the bottle didn't seem to be enough for the proportion to the chicken I had cooked... so I added more coconut milk. I thought it needed more- so I added curry powder and put cheese in Avi's- that kid needs calories :). It wasn't too bad by the time we got done. We had it with brown rice- yum! I forgot the yummy 'nutty' flavor of brown rice.
Did I already put down that Avi gives requests for "Round and Round the Garden..."- a little ditty that ends in tickling... It is so cute- it starts with circling your finger around the hand- so Avi points one finger to the other hand and circles...Adorable!!