Remodeled

Sigh, no pictures of the kitchen or master bedroom - Rew is currently fixing our countertop in the kitchen and the master bedroom is littered with baby things I need to sort. And I forgot to take pictures from the balcony or entryway... Otherwise enjoy:

Living Room: repainted, new lights, new baseboard, new carpet.

Living Room

Craft Room

Mikey's room is hard to photograph because his room is L-shaped.

Mikey's

Mikey's - I fell in love with the animal decals-this picture doesn't show them off very well and the wall is actually light blue, though you cannot tell.

Sarah's Room

Master Bath: Yeah... go STARE at the old picture, then come back. Yes, they are the same room. This picture doesn't show my butterflies- another decoration find I fell in love with and couldn't leave behind. Also, the checkered rug you see on the floor- I kept going back to Bed Bath and Beyond just to look at it, finally decided that yes, I really loved it and still do. New tile, paint plumbing...

Storage...

Oh! and another picture of my kitty Calysto! She is so sweet. She wasn't too happy about bright lights in her eyes.

House

House

Okay, we moved in March to this lovely house. Then promptly tore it apart, painted, cleaned, replaced...blah, blah, blah...

Here's the before:

House Front, you can't tell, since this picture is from Google maps, but we trimmed all the trees, cut down the overgrowth in the front and put in a stone path leading to the gate (on the far right). Also, put down wood shavings in the flowerbeds around the plants.

Back of house...wish I had a picture pointing the other direction-love the view from our balcony and we have terraced gardens around the west perimeter.

Sarah's Room:

Entryway/Stairs:

Master Bath:

Upstairs Bathroom:

Kitchen:

Entryway looking into livingroom:

Master bedroom:

Living Room:

We don't have any pictures for the Mikey's room, craftroom, garage, cold storage, laundry or balcony. But enjoy! and when I find my computer cable, I will post pictures of the refinished areas! :) Yea!

Hello Baby

Stomach Flu today. :p not fun when baby likes to kick your aching stomach!

I've known for awhile, I'm expecting a boy. He was incredibly active during the ultrasound and wouldn't let us see his profile. Dr. had to find the heartbeat 5 times because he kept moving.

Rew and I had given away all of our baby stuff so we have been purchasing one item a month. We finally have a crib, swing, some blankets and a few outfits. I've been very slowly getting over the shock of even finding out I'm expecting--but with this new basketball belly I have constant reminders.

Rew and I watched an animated video on labor and delivery, my guess is that Rew will pass out. Or else get very queasy- I'll pack him some juice and crackers for the maternity bag.

Speaking of which... what do you put in the maternity bag to take to the hospital?

Fertility

Someone asked me, "Aren't you excited to be pregnant? Why haven't you announced it to everyone yet, share the good news?"

Well, I did finally post it on FB and of course I'm excited. But, having 6 years of disappointing news and Dr's can take a while to get over and a while to actually accept/becomes real. I was more excited to tell my daughter. You should have seen the look in her eyes, the way her face lit up and she bounced on her bed. It was adorable she is determined that I will have a daughter that looks just like her-I'm certain that will come true soon. My son still is taking a bit to understand. Sometimes he points to my tummy and confusion-ally asks, "Baby, in mommy tummy?" Sarah is also determined that Michael will have a brother that looks like daddy. Tonight I sang Disney songs with my kiddos and showed Sarah a few clips from 'Oliver' and 'Aristocats'. "Cat's and dog's shouldn't talk." was her response and, "Mice shouldn't sew clothes."

Living

School has been interesting. I have a unique mix this year. I had a student who has been giving me a very hard time, out of seat, not doing work, but is a very smart kid. I finally had to write up a student contract with him, and if he does well I will give him a treat.

This is what happened yesterday:

"Mrs. R can I have my treat now?" student.

"Yes, but first, how did you feel you did in class today? Scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest." Me.

"Uhm, probably a 5." student

"Does a 5 deserve a sucker?" me.

"Yes." student

I pulled out a sucker and a hammer. Broke the sucker in half and gave him half a sucker.

He did much better in class today.

*****************

Update: I am halfway through my pregnancy, any guesses for gender? anyone?

I can feel my little teddy bear kicking and bouncing. Speaking of which, i'm hungry...

Rew is looking for a job, pray for him please.

My kiddos are so excited to have a new brother/sister! S was so excited today she bounced up and down "Can I help with the crib daddy?"

New flooring in the kitchen is almost done, only a few tiles left woo hoo!

Fertility

I was reading some of my favorite blogs today, each is about families who have adopted or have been down the Infertility road. It isn't easy to read their stories. It makes me sob and cry to see their struggles. I fell a special connection to these people because I know what it's like to have your hopes crushed every month. I continue to pray for my friends

The post you've waited on for SIX years.

Well, news from the Rosenvall Home...

I'm Pregnant, due March 23, 2012

No, not "pregnant" as in expecting another child to adopt, this time I'm actually carrying a little gummybear.

Confused?

Those of you who have know me for a while will recognize that Andrew and I have been to fertility doctors and were given a 5% chance of ever getting pregnant, even less chance of keeping that baby.

Why?

I do not normally ovulate.

My body doesn't produce progesterone on it's own.

Andrew also has fertility struggles.

We decided to see another fertility doctor this year, we have saved up to try IVF and other fertility treatments, knowing that the chances where probably slim, we decided to try. That appointment was scheduled for July 26. I discovered I was pregnant July 25.

I woke up that day, feeling funny. I was tired even though I had slept in. Andrew turned to me and said, "Take a pregnancy test. It will be negative, but take it anyway." He then proceeded to tell me the unusual things I had been doing that week. Refusing all treats/sugar. Falling asleep everywhere, sleeping without the covers. It was only after he said this that I realized that my period was late.

I took a test. It showed 2 blue lines. Unfortunately I had thrown away the box, so I had no clue what 2 blue lines meant. I was tired.

I showered, told Rew that I was going to Walmart to buy another pregnancy test-knowing that I would have to start testing myself every month after I went to the Fertility Doctor I bought 3 digital ones. Then I saw the box my other pregnancy test came in-2 blue lines=positive. I stood in Walmart with toothpaste in my cart, staring at the package and whispered, "What?!?" I drove to the nearest doctor and requested a blood test. Came home, took the digital test and started crying.

Rew heard me, came running, looked at the stick, "Really? Are you serious?" he choked up too.

Doctor called back, "Congratulations."

Still over whelmed at this point, I remembered my fertility doctor, "If you ever find out by some miracle that you are pregnant, call the doctor immediately and get put on Progesterone supplements."

My friend Sara watched the kids as we drove back and forth down to retrieve records from the fert. doctor, back to our newly procured OBGYN. Progesterone started the next day and we cancelled our long awaited appointment with the new fertility doctor.

This pregnancy has not exactly been an easy road. I have had 2 threatened miscarriages. I have been on bedrest twice. The first week (week 6) having to lay in bed was okay. The second one scared me a lot - I started bleeding heavily(week 11) the OBGYN believes this was from the placenta detaching from the wall and then because I was on bedrest it was able to repair itself. I am not allowed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. I am to sit when I teach, yes I am still teaching. I had to tell my school because I was on bedrest and not able to go to school. I still haven't told my students.

I am 13 weeks and 3 days today. My pregnancy is considered for now, normal/mild risk. (It was high risk.) Morning sickness isn't too bad. My entire family knows because I requested their prayers and have definitely felt that great comfort of the spirit and from the many prayers in mine and the baby's behalf.

I saw my baby today. Apparently I've been spoiled and had ultrasounds frequently. (Week: 5, 6, 10, 13) The little profile, tiny hands and feet, placenta, bouncing up and down, heart rate around 141--old wives tales would say I'm expecting a boy. But I will be thrilled with either.

Every day has been a blessing, I'm shocked that I'm pregnant and I know that this early I shouldn't be able to feel the baby. However, when I lay very still, I know that I can feel tiny little bubbles or flickers coming from my uterus. We are excited.

~Amy, Andrew, Sarah, Michael and Gummybear.