I will be 19 weeks pregnant in a couple days!  Almost halfway there!  I consider each new week a blessing and one step closer to having our sweet baby girl :)  This past week, I have been listening to Christmas music every morning. I have also received a few emails about Christmas clothing and toy sales!  With every Christmas song and email, I am reminded that, "Yay!!  Christmas really is just around the corner!!"  Now, given any other year, I would be mortified by Christmas songs and sales in July, but this year, Christmas time means baby time...and it's coming sooner than you think!  Bed rest will not last forever...although some days feel like an eternity.  Sometimes I almost feel like an outsider, as I am not fully participating in the minute to minute care of my children and my house.  In a way, this has been a blessing. Stepping back from it all, I am able to see how sweet my children really are.  They are so easy to love when I don't have to deal with the tantrums, or make and serve their food, or clean the house with every spare moment.  I am able to just observe the cute things they do, lie down with them, read to them, and love them!  Don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't want to be a less active participant in the raising of my children forever.  But for this brief moment of time, I feel it has given me a new perspective. 

The kids have been so sweet.  Baby Weston is easy going and happy.  I think he knows now that Mommy can't pick him up, so he'll come over to the couch and give me hugs and kisses every so often...or he'll just lay his head down next to mine. He is my favorite little boy in the whole world.  Daddy mentioned a few weeks ago in Family Home Evening that Mom needs more hugs and kisses from everyone.  I think Miri really took that to heart.  She comes up to me throughout the day and gives me big kisses and Nina likes to lie down next to me and cuddle.  Today, Nina told me I was the best Mom ever.  :) And Chris has been a Superdad and husband through all of this.  He takes such good care of us and the house.  I feel so blessed to have such a man. 

Okay, now for something random and funny:  Yesterday, we watched a documentary about blue whales and other sea creatures.  I said, "Wow girls, did you know that blue whales are the biggest animals on earth!?"  Miri got all excited and asked, "Bigger than you Mom?!"  I laughed and explained that yes, blue whales are even bigger than Mommy.  :) 

Both Miri and Nina really want to name the baby, Cherry.  They are so  set on it.  I think that no matter what we name her, they just might continue to call her Cherry.  

Did I ever mention that we found out it's a girl?  Well, it is!  Another emotional bundle of drama and cuteness!  Oh, how we love little girls :) 

Quite a bit has happened since I last wrote.  About three weeks ago, we rushed to the ER due to a major bleed.  I was about to walk into the movie theater with the kids, when I felt blood rushing out of me.   I frantically called Chris and picked him up from work.  We dropped the kids off at a neighbor's house and made our way to the hospital.  I was sure it was a miscarriage...but after hours of tests and ultrasounds in the ER, they informed us the baby looked fine.   Not all good news though...I do have a large subchorionic hemorrhage.  They told me there's a 50/50 chance of a second trimester miscarriage...so be prepared!  My doctor was quite concerned and put me on modified bedrest until the hemorrhage heals...which could take the entire pregnancy...who knows?  I have to go into the doctor's every week for an ultrasound to monitor the bleed and the baby's growth.  I am hopeful that everything will be okay!  Being on bedrest has been quite interesting thus far.  I feel so helpless. Some days are better than others...some days, I feel downright depressed.  But, we will get through this the best we can!  I try to occupy my time with good books, family history, and naming contests.  My sweet parents and niece, Vera, traveled all the way down here to help with the kids, since I cannot do much.  Sadly, they have to leave in a couple days, at which point my ward family will be coming in to help.  I am so grateful for the Relief Society and their eagerness to serve.  I have felt great love and support during this time.  Sixteen weeks and counting.