White Out

Today, we are getting a HUGE snow storm 6-12 inches (which I guess the most they have gotten all at once, in several years) and Todd & I are so excited.  It's a white out, take a look:

these are pictures from this morning from our 6th floor apt building downtown

There is Dietrich snowed in, third car on the far right

So fun.  Todd has to work from home today---our streets haven't been touched yet by a plow.  My family is flying in tonight if they can, to help us move this weekend.  Todd's mom was here earlier this week to help me deep clean the new house, carpet clean, and run errand--she was a  huge help. 

And the big news as of yesterday is that I GOT MY LPC (licensed professional counselor) License of MO!  Yeah, it took forever, but now I can finally see pts. 

And here we are at 24 Weeks-- "our ear of corn" is 1 foot long and weighs 4 onces.  You can see the boxes around me, our second move of this pregnancy, I wouldn't have it any other way.

It was a Big Week

Well, this week, we bought a house in KCMO. 

Here is our 23 week- "large mango" picture from the same day:

Besides both of those events, this morning before getting out of bed to go to the closing, Todd was able to feel Monika doing cart-wheels in my uterus.  It was beautiful moment, he couldn't believe that he could finally feel it.  And he couldn't believe how much she moves.  We have a very busy, feisty little girl on our hands and we love it.  

Monika Trogdon--our daughter's namesake

Many of you folks who haven't had the privilege to have met Monika Trogdon, our daughters namesake, have asked that I post pictures of her on my blog, wish granted . . .

Monika helping Todd cut my chocolate icecream birthday cake and of course she got her hands right in it :-)

Monika and her son, Marlon

Her hubby Justin, holding their son, Marlon, & Monika holding their daughter, Magnolia, at our Christmas party at church

Monika & Mars again

Monika all dressed up to go to a play (make-up compliments of her sister Mel)

Monika takes a lot of pictures of everyone else, so it was hard for us both to find pictures of just her.  She also takes many many silly, funny, crazy pictures, well because that's the fun loving person she is.

As for our daughters middle-namesake, Marie, here is the one and only Heather Marie DeBoer. . .

This is from last month when she came to visit us here in KCMO for 4 days and then drove all the way back to Virginia in one day--she's a road warrior and an amazing friend.

This is from last week's update on our Monika Marie at 22 weeks, we had another OB appt on Friday February 8th, all looks great, she's happy and healthy, and moving a lot. The doc also said how strong her heartbeat is and always so easy to find.

I won't give up

I've found that music is so helpful in life.  It really can describe your mood.  Sometimes I feel like listening to some jazz music by Coltrane or Thelonious Monk or Miles Davis to chill me out when I'm stressed.  Sometimes I need up beat music when I'm working out to inspire me.  But over the years of infertility I needed someone to encourage me along the way.  Jason Mraz was the musician for me.  I listened to Details in the Fabric countless time to match my sadness and despair, but also to work through and heal.

My dear friend, Megan Pardue, made me a card with a hanger on it that said "Hang On," til this day I have it on my dresser to remind me that there were days that I could only do just that--hang on for one more disappointment, and to take one day at a time.  It also reminds me to be with those who feel that way today. Jason also says it in this song Details in the Fabric, here are the lyrics:

Calm down, Deep breaths, And get yourself dressed, Instead of running around, And pulling all your threads, And breaking yourself up
If it's a broken part, replace it, If it's a broken arm then brace it, If it's a broken heart then face it.
And hold your own, Know your name, And go your own way.
Hold your own, Know your own name, And go your own way, And everything will be fine.
Hang on, Help is on the way, And stay strong I'm doing everything.
Hold your own, Know your name, And go your own way.



Last spring he came up with a new album called Love is a Four Letter Word.  I of course bought it-early release and listened to it all the time, and thankfully it was the right time.  During that time we had our 3rd failed IVF, and his song I won't Give up, and Living in the Moment both really encouraged me to not give up and "I will not live life facing backwards" and "to remind you every minute of the future isn't written."

Here is his video:
I Won't Give Up Video by Jason Mraz

Whatever helps you heal and tolerate the pain of suffering.  Jason Mraz's music was a gift to me.  Here's a picture of me and my dear friend, Richelle, at his concert on August 19, 2012--exactly 1 month before my retrieval surgery. Man did it help my mental health.

Here we are last week at 21 weeks.  Monika is moving a lot these days.  This friday we go in for our next OB appt.