16 weeks.

I started to really pop out just around 16 weeks. Heard the babe's heartbeat for the first time yesterday! Remembering that sound helps me survive the nausea and visits to the porcelain bowl. :) Also have been feeling movements, especially during this week's midwife appointment - she prodded my tummy thoroughly.

(Note: Further tummy pictures will be fully clothed. Andrew snapped this one today - our only one so far, as I have been feeling so miserable, that picture taking is not on my mind.)

Introducing...

Juliette Marie Dilanji born September 15 at home in the water! I was fortunate to be feeling a little better this past week, and so was able to go up to Gainseville and meet her, and visit with Laura's family and Mom and Catherine who were in visiting/helping out. It was so very encouraging for me to be able to hold and spend time with a newborn - reminded me how precious is the gift that awaits at the end of this tough beautiful journey of pregnancy. :) Juliette is so precious and will receive much love, especially from her 3 older brothers.

Almost 14 weeks.

The infrequency of my posts, despite this most exciting and important time in our lives, will attest to the fact of my extreme morning 24/7 hr. sickness. At times, it is so intense that I forget I am pregnant!! But these crazy hormones are such a good sign, so I am thankful throughout the struggle. Hubby has been SO wonderful, taking care of me and the housework...I don't know what I would do without him!

This morning was one of those rare mornings I could eat, carbs nonetheless -
thanks hubby for the French toast! I'm not lookin' too hot.

Yesterday, I had such a great ultrasound of you, little one. I felt bad Daddy couldn't be there to see you. The tech pointed out all your important features and body parts to me. Strong heartbeat, great bone structure, limbs...everything where it should be. And you're quite the mover; your little arms were all over the place. Everything progressing well! I, on the other hand, have a cyst on each ovary that my midwife and Dr. are monitoring. No unsual pain stemming from that area, so we are suspecting them to be endometrial cysts....further diagnosis and decision on what to do with them will be discussed in the near future, but for now, I'm so happy that YOU are well and growing!! Deo gratias! We love you.

You're pretty cute, hmm, boy or girl....?

And there's some of the action.

You're really there!

Look who we saw today! Our little peanut with such a strong heartbeat - first time out of 3 pregnancies that we were able to see this - it was a special moment. Amazing to see the very definition of love in that tiny form.

(Think I have to go visit the bathroom now....oh the joys!)

8-ish weeks.

Daddy snapped this picture of me terribly naseous and exahusted. This is how mama spends most of her time these days...plus lots of prayer for strength to make it through - but you are worth it all! First ultrasound in 2 days...hope to see that heart beating strong.

6 weeks.

Well, little one, you are in there, as we found out the morning of July 13. You were quite a surprise, because mama has been gone a lot this summer, leaving poor papa very lonely. But God has blessed our hard work and self-sacrifice with YOU!  So far you've been making mama pretty warm, extremely exhausted (I didn't know it was possible to be this tired all the time!), and slightly sick just starting this weekend. Blood tests will be run this week and we are praying for strong results, and as always, to whole-heartedly embrace the will of our Lord. For now, know that we love you very much and dedicate you to the precious Sacred Heart of Jesus.

There you are at 4.5 weeks.

We discovered I was pregnant while in St. Louis, MO vacationing a few days prior to our good friends' wedding. I had a suspicion, due to being 4 days late and also having a spiked temperature so had brought along a pregnancy test on our trip. Sure enough, the test was positive Wednesday morning! We were fortunate to be able to attend Mass at the beautiful Cathdedral Basilica of Saint Louis that afternoon and gave thanks for the gift of another life. We also saw items used during the visit of Pope John Paul II and were able to touch the chair he sat in (as it's a relic now!) He will be one of our special patrons during this pregnancy.

Mama saying a prayer for you.

Mama and Papa on the day we found out.

Well hello there...

Yes, it's been awhile. But I have good reasons for it considering I was out traveling the majority of June and also 2 weeks of July!

Recap(s):

June 3 was my last day of teaching and I will not be returning next year. I am happy to say I went out on a good note - our high school music presentation was well received and my juniors did a fantastic job singing at the graduation Mass. They were so good they were mistaken for the Ave Maria choirs. :) The kids were very sad to see me go and I will miss them, their jokes and their craziness, but it is time for me to be at home more.

June 13-18 I was at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh for the Church Music Association of America's annual sacred music colloquium. It was excellent. So thankful my church was able to send me. I really needed a refresher in chant and conducting techniques and it was a blessing to be able to sing more intricate music with advanced musicians again. There was a great number of young people there; very encouraging, and I made a few great new friends. I had an absolutely splendid time and returned with renewed vigor. Below is a short video summary of this year's colloquium.

http://vimeo.com/25764590

Good lecture: http://vimeo.com/25776981

Then it was home for a week to prepare music for a friend's wedding and Corpus Christi. I pushed for a very simple procession at our church this year and Fr. agreed. I did a little extra work with the choir and everything came together beautifully - I hope the parishioners were somewhat inspired to have more reverence/devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; something I always pray my music will help them achieve.

The next day I flew out to Portland, OR to help my family finish packing and clean the house. It was such a joy to be with my sisters again, and although we were pooped at the end of each day, we made cleaning fun. Thursday we headed out on our road trip to TX! Many fun stops were enjoyed along the way including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park = gorgeous. The mountains, evergreens, and fresh air were balm for my chapped FL soul (I know I exaggerate this point). Hikes, boating, bears, bison, elk, hot springs, and waterfalls were the highlights of our adventures.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone

Old Faithful, Yellowstone

Grand Tetons

Mom, Chris and I hiked to Hidden Falls one morning.

The overall trip was just great; so good to be with my family again, especially my dearest youngest sister, Elizabeth, who was my car companion for most of the trip and made sure I was nourished and comfortable as much as she could. Love you. :)

We arrived in Dallas, TX a week following our departure. It was very hot; I actually appreciate FL and it's breezes much more now. I was able to be there one day to help with some truck unloading, but the boys did the majority of that. The family has a lovely home in a nice, quiet neighborhood. Friday afternoon I flew home to hubby, and it was great to see him after 2 weeks apart!! There were so many times I wished he was traveling with us, and my siblings also expressed this sentiment which was sweet. But my parents really appreciated him loaning me to them for this trip - thanks, hubby. :)

The very next Monday, Andrew and I took off for Missouri/Kansas to attend our dear friends' wedding which was that Saturday. Since Andrew had not been able to have any vacation time, we had decided to turn that week into a semi-vacation for us both and spent a few days seeing some of the Missouri sights, including the Meramec Caverns (SO cool), a winery, the St. Louis Cathedral, the Arch, and many other highlights in St. Louis.

Thursday we headed back to Kansas City to prepare for Dan and Lillian's wedding, as Andrew was in the wedding party. Friday was rehearsal and dinner and it was great to catch up with some Ave folks and Fr. Fessio. Dan and Lillian looked very much in love and ready to be done with all the marriage preparations. :) Their Saturday wedding was beautiful; Lillian was stunning and very peaceful. The ceremony was proceeded by a Rosary, which really exemplified how large a role that prayer and Our Lady has played in this couple's relationship. The Mass was lovely; I was fortunate to be able to sing the Psalm and Alleluia verse. Everyone got a kick out of Fr.'s homily, sometimes to the chagrin of the bride and groom, just because they are so humble. :) Reception followed in the church hall and directly after, Andrew and I were the lucky ones, being able to take the newlyweds to the airport for their honeymoon since our flights left at the same time. We are so happy for them...they have been so faithful and patient and I know God will bless them exceedingly.

Phew! That just about sums up the last few weeks...more updates to come soon. Hope everyone is having a wonderful and fruitful summer!
(Many more pictures from my summer on my FB page.)