"I Bonk A Head"

And that's exactly what happened!

We had our first nice day in a really long time and I could not wait to tell Stella we were going to the park. She LOVES the outdoors and I'm sure she'd live outside if we allowed it. While we were at the park some of our other friends from our ward showed up with there kids which made it even better. One of Stella's favorite friends, Stevie came to play too. Stella adores Stevie, we drive by her house on our way home and every time she see's it "there's Stevie's house!" then for the next hour it's "I need a play with Stevie!". It's adorable actually.

Well they were running around the picnic table area and I heard one of my friends say "oh Stella", I looked up just in time to see her running fast with her head turned behind her watching her friend and giggling. She turned her head just in time to catch the sharp corner or this medal outdoor grill with her head. I ran over there as she was obviously upset, she pulled her hand down off her forhead and blood imediately ran everywhere. I panicked! I've worked in so many hospitals, nursing homes and dr's offices... I've been around this a lot but since it was my little girl my mind just blanked. Lucky for both of us I was surrounded by my friends. Cadi had wet wipes, we were holding pressure until Kathy came up with a first aide kit and Brooke had a sucker for Stella and they were all just there and so knowing what to do because... I blanked! For a moment I couldn't even remember where we were or where I would take Stella to get checked out. I just remember seeing a lot of blood coming from my baby. Pathetic? Probably. Brooke jogged my memory, we have an InstaCare less than a mile from our house so I rushed her over there after Kathy bandaged her head and got the bleeding to slow down. She was being pritty brave until she saw me break down to David on the phone, then she got scared and started crying again.

We got to the InstaCare and had to wait almost 2 hours to be seen. In that time a nurse came out with a cotton ball saturated in numbing solution and replaced the bandage for the cotton. I got scared a few times because she would start shivering, then acted like she needed to throw up, then kept saying how tired she was. She stayed curled up on my lap, watched the movie they had on in the waiting area and practiced her letters on the magna-doodle until the nurse finally came and got us.

I tried so hard to stay strong, I tried so hard not to cry, but I'm also very pregnant and emotional anyway... I don't know what anyone else could expect. They wrapped her up in a cacoon and shot more numbing stuff in her head and gave her 3 stitches. The Dr. and nurse were great and I eventually calmed down enough that I could try and calm Stella down too. I think for being 2 1/2, she did great.

As soon as we got back in the car her whole aura changed. I looked at her from the rear view mirror where she was looking back at me and said, "it doesn't hurt anymore momma, I'm all better. Can I talk a daddy?" So on the ride home she talked to David on the phone and this was the story from her perspective. "I go to a park daddy, bonk a head, momma cry, stella cry. Go to a dr. I'm all better, have a be careful."

We got home and she crashed. I was feeling pritty sick by then not having anything to eat or drink since that morning. So I settled in with some food, and so did a migraine that lasted 2 days. Maybe I didn't pass my first go round with a head injury too well, but I sure was blessed to have awesome friends who were so willing to help and keep us both calm. Each of them kept texting for updates all through the InstaCare visit until we made it home. Thanks Kathy, Brooke, and Cadi (and your friend, I can't remember her name, sorry) You girls are wonderful!

The picture I have posted above was taken from David's cell phone, I haven't been able to take a better one. You can kind of see where she hit, just above the hairline. The way her hair falls though, you can't even see the stitches. I still cringe thinking about the blood, about combing her hair and what if I rip a stitch, and pulling shirts on and off her head. It just makes my stomach turn and my toes curl. She's great about talking about it though, which I'm glad so she can process through it.
(Shana, I don't know how you have been able to do this... twice!)

3 + 1 = 4

Our little Stella is growing up so quickly. Her favorite shows are Word World and Super Why. It's so fun to view the world from her eyes as she points out letters and numbers. Her new favorite game is counting the members in our family. Mommy is 1, add daddy, he makes 2, add Stella and she makes 3, finally, rub mommy's belly and we have 4. =) We are thrilled to announce we are expecting another miracle in September. I'm 13 weeks along and I feel great!

Stella and I took a short trip to visit my mom for a few days in January. She works at a diabetic office running clinical trials and part of her studies she has to screen her patients for pregnancy. Well, she had a few of these pregnancy tests that were expiring so she gave them to me. The last morning we were there I decided to try one out. Not because I thought I was pregnant, more so because these weren't your normal, store bought, an idiot could figure them out type of tests. They were a little more complicated and I needed mom's help reading one. Well, two minutes later... even my mom couldn't remember if one line meant this, or this color meant that, so, like any good mother, she pee'd on one too. (Do you all remember when I found out I was pregnant with Stella? I wouldn't believe my tests so I made David pee on one too? Ya, this kind of reminded me of that) Well, she came out of the bathroom relieved with her result... which meant we were extatic about my result!! I had spoken to David many times that day on the phone but couldn't tell him because I wanted to see his reaction in person. Instead of driving home and waiting for him there, I decided to drive straight to his work. On the way there Stella was practicing on saying "I'm a big sister" but it usually came out as, "I'm a big sticker". When we got to David's work we waited almost 20 minutes for him, no one knew where he was and I thought I might explode. Finally he came to his desk and a very practiced Stella in a very small quiet voice said, "mummble mummble mummble ...little sister". David being the smart man he is figured out what that meant right away. The look on his face was priceless.

This pregnancy has been completely different than my first.
0-7 weeks: I didn't even know, couldn't even tell I was pregnant.
7-11 weeks: nauseous, but never bad enough to throw up.
11-13 weeks: I feel great! Am I sure I'm pregnant? Hopefully, cuz I'm getting a little pudgy.

During these last couple weeks of feeling great, there are a few reminders that peek in on me just so I don't forget I'm pregnant. Gagging. I HATE to gag. The number one thing that makes me gag is opening the fridge. Also lettuce, brushing my teeth, guacamole, public bathrooms and smelly lotions. My mom taught me to sniff laundry detergent when smells are at their worst, and I've used that trick many times.

It's fun to compare the two pregnancies and wonder why they are so different. It's also fun looking forward to each appointment. The midwife we go to does an ultrasound each check up and burns it onto a dvd. We are so blessed, we feel so grateful to have this opportunity to bring another spirit into the world and into our home. It's the greatest test of patience between now and September... waiting, wondering & praying. Thank you for sharing in our excitement too.