"This is the best Christmas gift I could ever give you."

I have never had such a great appointment ... I have never left a doctors office with such confidence ... I have never felt such a relief. I am excited! I am pregnant with a baby boy who is growing normally! Actually is a little larger than normal. He is in the the 63 percentile, and currently weighing in at over 2 lbs. Thats right, he currently weighs more than what Hani weighed when he was born! As a reminder Hani was born at 30 weeks, and was a mere 2lbs. The doctor said this is turning out to be a normal pregnancy. My chances of premature labor are 10% ... a lot better than the 98% they originally predicted. There are still chances of IUGR, but currently there are no signs or symptoms. Even once IUGR is detected they still typically wait a few weeks until delivery. So, even if we have an IUGR baby the premature level will be very slim, and the baby will be considered a large IUGR based on his current growth pattern! Basically, I "could" still deliver early, but it won't be at 30 weeks ... BJ, one of our doctors, said "this is the best christmas gift I could ever give you and I am just the one that gets to tell you. I think this is from someone greater. Enjoy your holiday season, relax and enjoy the next few months."

BABY SHOWER SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY!!

Hani finally got a chance to meet brother. Well, sort of! We brought him to the appointment yesterday. He held mommy's hand during the entire ultrasound ... it was so precious! When the doctor saw him he said, "thats the little preemie we saved!?" Little shy Hani politely wives and says, "hi" ... it was a priceless moment. The doctor couldn't believe how well Hani was doing and acting like a normal 18 month old! He also said no wonder you insisted on only seeing us for your pregnancy, he is a miracle!!

GROWING ... growing ... GROWING ... growing

HE IS GROWING!! Mr. Safadi #2 is weighing it at 1lb 2oz ... that is half of Hani's weight when I gave birth!!! My original doctor, BJ, even made a point to stop by the exam room yesterday. That is a big deal when the "Big Guy" makes time for you ... it's either really good or really bad. First time we met BJ it was really bad, but this time it was really GOOD! He told us to stop stressing, he told me to enjoy this pregnancy, he told me that everything is looking GREAT! Although when I asked if I should have my baby shower in the winter or spring, I didn't get a reply. Then I took the scale ... the moment of truth. For so many years I have wanted that number to keep falling and falling, but now I step on that platform with hopes of a rise. I am officially back to pre-pregnancy weight. Sounds weird saying, since I haven't delivered, but it was a huge goal. To gain back all the weight I lost in the first 18 weeks. Still not fitting into maternity clothes, and I am very comfortable in my jeans ... but I am seeing hope that I will have a belly!!

We thank you for all the continued support and prayers.

Too much knowledge ... a BAD thing?

Sometimes, I feel as if I know too much. Sometimes too much information is trouble. Like, when my pregnancy doctors said they would follow me on a month basis for the time being. But I look at my calander and notice it's been pretty close to bi-weekly. Then today they said why don't we move you to bi-weekly. Does that mean that it will actually be weekly? My team rotates who sees me. So it was one doctor every other week ... thats how it became bi-weekly ... but now do they mean one doctor every other week? Then seeing how I am dealing with doctors and patients on a regular basis everyday, I also know that this could be a bad thing. Do they think something is wrong? Do they think something is going to be wrong? Or they telling the truth when they say it's just for caution? I guess I just follow their direction and trust in their abilities as physicians.

Prayer. I believe in prayer. I pray for my family and unborn child on a daily basis. I pray that it is GOD's Will ... not what I want, or think should happen ... but for the will of God to happen. I am asking for prayers ... the next 4 -6 weeks are very important in my pregnancy. If something is wrong, they will probably find it then ... I ask that you pray that God's will be done toward my family and unborn child. We all 4 thank you ...

So FAR ... So GOOD!

So far the little man squirming inside my tummy is growing! The Doctors are still not hopeful that he will continue to grow, but the fact that he has been growing for the last 19 weeks is a positive thing!! They expect to see the slow down or stop of growth some where around 25 weeks. I pray every day that this doesn't happen, but I guess it is in God's hands. Premature 28 weekers, as they call them, can have a great chance at life. As as we know from experience so does a 30 weeker. I would love to make it to 36 weeks! I said I will lay in bed from 28 - 36 weeks and not get up once if that means I can still be pregnant, but I also said that last time and they quit two weeks in ... I guess my point is ... we have to wait and see. Right now everthing is month by month, until next month it will be week by week.

I am more excited then ever to introduce little man into our family. I am excited to see how Hani reacts, and watch their special bond grow! I am even thinking about putting them in the same room from the beginning. But we will see ... that might just be too much at once for Mr. Hani! Right now he just knows to point to mommy's belly and say "brother" ... it so cute ... but then I get worried when he also knows to punch and kick it too.

As for Mr. Hani, he is super smart! And I am not just a parent bragging about their child. He recently went for testing to see how he was progressing. First because he is a preemie and should start catching up to his peers and secondly, he still won't EAT! (thats another story) ... Well, after a few little test and some playing with the doctor ... the results are in! He is WAY SUPER ADVANCED for his age! They also adjust for two months and compare him to a child that is 14 months instead of 16 months, but when compared to his actual age ... he is WAY SUPER ADVANCED! The vocabular, skills, problem solving, everything is off the charts! We have a little genuis! YAY! I love my smart little boy! On a side note he learned how to say and point to "teeth" ... and of course daddy is just so proud! So, we may just have a 2nd generation dentist!!

Another Mr. Safadi

Baby Number 2 ... is on "his" way! Yep, it's another boy! Hani is going to have a little brother! I am so excited for Mr. Hani! I am happy that I can give him this wonderful gift; a brother he can create a lasting bond with, and the ability to be a BIG brother! I never had the chance to have a sibling, something I think I would have very much enjoyed. Especially now in life I realize it is important to have those relationships. I feel blessed to welcome another Mr. Safadi into the world, and give him and Hani the best gift of all ... EACHOTHER! I am due in March ... but we'll see ... I could deliver as soon as the end of January ...

I just love this picture of SAM! I think he looks oh, so HANDSOME! This was taken on the formal night on the cruise we took over the summer. Sometimes I am just blown away ....

Family Picture

Look at the cute little boy! This is our first "family picture" ... and I love my little family. My two boys are my world, and I enjoy every minute of everyday that I get to be with them. Hani was just about a year old in this picture ... and with everyday he seems to get even more cute.