a helpful brother

Because I'm an uber-planner, I've been worrying about our time in the hospital here having baby 3. I have a ton of helpful friends here, but they all have babies of their own and I just know I can't ask them to take care of my kiddos while I'm having my c-section and Nick is bonding with his second little boy. My mom & stepdad are coming out just after to help, my dad & stepmom right after that. My sweet sister would probably pay a million dollars to be here, but it's during her last few weeks of school and understandably, her students need her. I would count on one of our ministry assistants, but New Beginnings has a girl due the exact time as me and I want them to be able to focus on her. What to do, what to do?

Then today, it came to me.
Ask this guy.
Satan.


Just kidding, he's not Satan. He's my awesome brother-in-law, Josh. He just happens to be playing Satan in an Easter production at their church called The Thorn. I gotta tell you, this is him only like halfway dressed up. The pictures are TERRIFYING. I've never been one for dramatic performances in church, but I am dying to see this thing. Not just because it stars Josh, my sister as an angel-dancer, my little sister as a part of Jesus' disciples, and my precious nieces. It looks amazing and I hope many, many people come to know Jesus through it. Pray for The Thorn if you think about it & pray for the Walters & everyone who is a part of the show, which by the way - they don't get paid for. They have like 13 shows in a row to do as a family and definitely pray for Katie, she told me that last night Josh came home in all his crazy makeup. Freaky. Not to mention he is so dedicated he even shaved his head... bald.

If you're in the North/South Carolina area - go buy a ticket!

All that said, we're really excited Josh wants to come help us out while we're in the hospital. It's so great to know Elias' beloved Josh will be here to play with him and Nick will have some good man time at night with him while Tres and I rest.

life, modified

Chapter 1:

Well this has certainly been an interesting week. 

It's funny - as I look back on the last seven days, it really seems like I should be discouraged or more tired, but I'm totally not... I'm energized and excited for tomorrow. 

Monday and Tuesdays were two of the most productive days I've had in almost my whole life and I felt on top of my game. UNTIL Tuesday night when my normal braxton hicks contractions turned stronger and stronger until I couldn't sit like normal or stand or do anything but lean over on all fours and whine. That night, I drank a lot of water and took some melatonin to pass out, but the next morning - as soon as I stood up, they started again. 

Nick and I spent the morning kind of laughing about it - while I continued to run after the kids and cart Elias up and down the stairs each time he whispered "pee pee". By that afternoon though, I knew I had to call my doctor because I couldn't quite function. After a few hours of being monitored in labor and delivery and another day or so of the same massive, unending contractions - we started to figure out that this was different than what I've experience in my last two pregnancies and something we needed to take seriously. 

So, I'm on "modified bedrest" which basically looks like normal life with some restrictions. No carrying Elias or carrying Glory for extended amounts of time. No running up the stairs sixteen times a day or sweeping after each meal. No two and half mile walks with Lauren and no cleaning my shower. Wait, I never do that. The point it, after a few days of watching it and being careful, I've started to get it under control. 

Also, we still do not have a name for this child. We were totally set on one and totally threw it out the window. We may call him Elias Powell Connolly #2. I sure love that name for a boy. 

Chapter 2:

On another note - we live life EXTREMELY modified here at New Beginnings. I'm serious you guys, you actually wouldn't believe 50% of the stories of what goes on here if I told you. I think Lauren and I are going to need to find a way to change the names in situations and any identifying characteristics and start posting a story a week. Maybe we'll call it "How-in-the-heck-do-we-not-pee-our-pants-daily-Wednesday" or something. Maybe "Why-haven't-we-started-to-pull-our-hair-out-this-is-so-nuts-Thursday"?

Chapter 3:  

I'll be doing life extremely modified the next few days, sans husband. If you saw the video from my last post, or if you ever read my blog, or if you even know me in general - you know I'm mildly obsessed with my mate. I think he's just about the greatest thing in the whole world and I don't like doing a night away from him, much less FOUR! When he is gone for a night, I usually turn into a driveling pile of dog doodoo, but I have to say I'm really excited for this trip for him. I'm excited to spend a few funny days with my bebes alone. I'm also excited because this is going to be such a great trip for Nick, BUT, I'm going to let him blog about all the details.

My list of things to do at night while he is gone: 

LOTS of tv, obvi. 

paint my nails. 

clean my shower. (ha)

read the 50,000 baby name book in it's entirety. 

whatever else fun you guys suggest. 

ok. that's it for me, now. 

have a good Sunday night, loves. 

Two boys & a Girl.

Today was a sweet day.
Yesterday at around 4pm, I tried for the final time to see if there were any cancellations for an ultrasound before our trip this week. I guess I sounded seriously desperate because the sweet receptionist scheduled me one at 9am this morning - when they don't usually start until 9:30.

It was odd going into an ultrasound having literally no care as to what we were having, I just wanted to see all four chambers of the heart, that the ventricles were in tact, etc. etc. etc. We had gotten the call yesterday that the quadscreen that checks for things like Trisomy & Downs came back totally fine so that was just a great relief to know it wasn't a scary ultrasound ahead. We've had a good deal of those, and they're not fun at all.

We're well acquainted with the ultrasound tech at my ob by now, and we know she isn't much for small talk or excited chatter but I still did ask her to humor us and let us guess the sex. Literally, about three seconds after she put the sonogram wand on my belly, Nick and I both said - "It's a boy." He was right in position & showing us all his jewels.



While she spent about forty five minutes measuring and checking every little bit of him, Nick and I just thought about another boy and what that meant. Glory will have two protectors, she'll most likely be our only girl, Elias will always have someone to play ball with. Another handsome boy to look like his Daddy, another sweet son to cuddle with. And - oh, this one is a cuddlebug. In every shot, he is rubbing his face or laying with his hands folded beneath his chin.



He had one little, little minor blockage near his kidneys that they are going to keep checking on - but Nick and I have learned not to freak out when they promise you it is minor. Even if this blockage doesn't work itself out, it would only mean Baby Tres being on some antibiotics for a while to help his little self go peepee.

Other than that, he is just a big, healthy boy. Yesterday we also got my early diabetes check back (and it was good) but when she measured him today her first question was, "Do you have a history of diabetes?" Because he is a biggun. Big head like his older brother and long legs like his sister. I can't wait to hold all probable ten pounds of him:). I'm 19 wks and 1 day, (thought I was 20 wks, 1 day) and he is measuring 20 weeks and 6 days. And at that week's measurement - he is in the 70th percentile for body and 90th for head size. Thank you Jesus that I know I'm having a c-section. I've done 36 hours of labor with a big head and it sure isn't any fun.

So, thanks for your prayers & sweet comments. Feel free to keep suggesting those boy names, and we'll let you know the final decision around June 1st.

while I still can.

I fought him on it, but Nick won out & we will be finding out the sex of baby number three.

This baby has been a bit different in that we haven't been obsessed with knowing the sex or what the name will be, I think because having one of each feels like such a blessing that we would feel blessed to add a boy or a girl.

But all of a sudden, it has snuck up on me & I need to list some names for both sexes while I still can. For the record - I'm thinking this one is a boy, & I haven't been wrong yet.

So....
My absolute faves for a girl: Esme, Rose, & Margaret
for a boy: Cannon, Porter, Simeon, & Theodore

it may be a week or so before we have our ultrasound, so there's still time for suggestions.

three under three

March 14th: Gloriana Eloise Connolly is born. Ah-mazing.
Around April 1st: Realize sweet Glory has colic and reflux and decide - while she is amazing - two children is enough.
summer of 2008: feel quite sure the baby maker is closed, for now. Jesus teaches me a lot about patience and timing and asking Him what He wants. Am also terrified of taking care of three kids. 
August 9, 2008: my entire heart shifts in one day. While Nick and I are on a date night, he gets teary eyed talking about how much he likes our kids - what good people they are. After praying, we decide the Lord is saying the baby maker is not closed... if we really believe scripture, than we believe children in our youth is a blessing. Confused though, because I don't seem to be ovulating at all. Begin praying for twins. Post about said prayer here.
September 23, 2008: get diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease and am told probably not ovulating and should not get pregnant - too risky until levels are normal. Make appointment to meet with OB to discuss natural but reliable birth control options. Feel excited about this decision sort of being made for me.
September 29, 2008: night before the ob appointment. Nick is away at school and I have the weirdest night ever. The night before I had a dream that is only recurring for me when pregnant and I also am praying all day about why I'm so obsessed with Jon & Kate plus 8. I tell Lauren about the dream at 10pm and realize during our conversation - I don't need a test to tell me, I'm definitely pregnant. Test does confirm and I wait up until 1am to tell Nick. He's thrilled - thanks God. I'm scared to death but read this scripture and feel some peace.
September 30th, 2008: Go to OB appointment made for birth control conversation and tell them it's just not necessary. Hormones confirm I'm definitely pregnant. Have ultrasound - no baby found. Told I'm most likely having a ectopic pregnancy - will miscarry & maybe need surgery. Told to go home & wait.
Following days: pray a lot, cry a little. Feel confused and then ultimately a lot of peace. I have two kids - they are amazing blessings. I want to have open hands - take them when I can and know that God will take them when He needs to. Have a hard time talking about the future - is a surgery ahead? A baby? Is this our twins? Is it 17? Throw up about three times a day and wonder, and wonder, and wonder.
October 16th, 2008: It's the night before the ultrasound. I can't even think straight I'm so excited. I don't really have any fear about it being ectopic. I hope I'm not being naive - I just don't think it's going to happen. Either way - God is good. Either way - I'm already extremely blessed. Either way - I kind of need to go puke right now.

October 17th, 2008: Just got home from the ultrasound where we saw one sweet little baby. Not two, not seventeen - just one. Due in June - hmm... good time for family to come and visit. 

I am thankful beyond words. 

Family is all told. Despite all my talk about not making a big deal about it, Lauren just came home with a stuffed animal, maternity shirt, target giftcard, nausea medicine, dark chocolate & shredded wheat - my favorite post-puking food. She said it best - when else do you find out you're having a third baby? 
Three under three, Lord - let's do this.