So lately I have been laying on the couch playing Fable 2 on XBOX360 with Nathan.  It really has past the last two weeks by really well for me.  Which is a good thing since I am not suppose to be doing any heavy lifting.  My house is living proof that I stay lazy for Atalee.  Speaking of that little monster, she is doing really well.  She is growing so much.  I am not for sure where is going to grow at, but she is making room.  I have finally it the 30wks mark.  I am so relieved too!  It is hard to believe it has been a month since I was in the hospital, but I have been blessed to the fullest.  

Nathan has been really helping me out especially when it comes to lifting things.  He really doesn't even seem to mind either which is a big relief for someone like me who is tremendously independent!

Oh at my doctor last doctor visit the doc said that Atalee was measuring kinda big.  I just laughed because I sure am not surprised!  So I am officially going to the doctor every two weeks now.  I think we are mentally ready for her, but our house doesn't seem to agree.  We have ordered just about everything that is needed for our new little one.  It is easier to buy for a second one than the first one.  At least this time I realize I don't need all those stupid frivolous things that I never use.

My mother in law has the wardrobe department.  Thats what happens when you have a little girl in a family of lots of boys!  I am not complaining, my little girl is well taken care of thats for sure.  Cathy found this beautiful Dedication dress.  I cant wait for her to wear it!  Well, I need to get this cleaning off my bed before ArmyWives come on or else we will be sleeping on an HUGE pile of clothes that I took out of the closet.

Wow,  It has been several days...16 to be exact since I have added an entry to my blog.  SHAME ON ME!  Things have been going alright for us.  No hospital runs or anything so that is always good news.  So why have I been away from my blog, well mostly because I have been really busy with website stuff.  I have been working on several and they tend to keep me fairly busy.

So here we are at almost 29wks.  Just a handful more and I will have my little princess here.  I have finally gotten in gear and have ordered several things such as car seat, crib, changing table, bouncer, breast pump and a few small things.  It has been a weight off my shoulders.  I dont know why I waited so long.  With Reilly, it was just the opposite,  the day I found out I was pregnant I had my house packed with junk a MILE HIGH!  As a matter of fact, I was going through some of Reilly's stuff to see what I could use for Atalee and found several things that hadnt been opened yet.  At least they will be put to good use now.

Oh, I had so much fun at my 3D ultrasound appointment!  I wish I could have done with Reilly. I dont regret one cent of it!  I got the whole session record on DVD.  So I can make as many pictures as I wish! So since I would like to share I will keep this blog short so I can post some pictures.


2D at 28 Wks: She is just jibbering away!


3D:  Small clip of Atalee from the Ultrasound


3D Still Image


Reilly at 30wks on a 2D


A Plaque that Nathan's Mom made for Atalee:


Atalee's Coming Home Outfit


Nathan and our other baby girl, Sally.



Reilly on the Airplane having fun.

 

So things have been a little out of whack lately.  I sure have spent my time in the hospital scene in the last two weeks.  There is way to many things to write in detail, however, I will do my best to catch everyone up to speed.

So Reilly and I were so excited about heading to Arkansas for two weeks while Nathan was away in training in Texas. We were flying out on a Thursday morning.  The night before we were head to the airport Reilly had gotten extremely sick from something he ate.  He may have even had some kind of 24hr bug, I am not for sure.  All I know is that baby was throwing up everything on his stomach.  As the evening went by he did gradually get better.  He wouldn't eat pizza for a week!  Which is forever in Reilly's world.  So the morning came to fly out.  Reilly had so much fun flying.  There is nothing like watching his excitement as we took off in the airplane.  Now, Reilly has flown several times, but he is just now at the age were he remembers things.  He was so good for me too.  The airport was a little tricky because he tends to be a little poky, but we managed to get to each terminal just fine.

So we got to Arkansas on Thursday.  We had a fairly busy weekend from there.  Everything seemed to go ok. That Saturday, Reilly got to race in the Pine Wood Derby at the church.  He thought is was so much fun!  He even won a few races.  Sunday clicked by just like a charm.  It was so nice to see everyone at church too.

That Monday, however, was the end of our easy days.  Cathy and I started out doing a little shopping around and sight seeing.  Reilly was a little restless and complained of having a tummy ache.  That tummy ache turned in to an ear infection and we ended up the ER (our insurance will not pay unless we go to the ER when we are out of state or if we have a referral which takes several days to process) that afternoon. 

So Reilly got sent home with some antibiotics and things were ok  for Reilly for the next couple of days.  He still was sluggish, but managed until Friday.  That Friday and Saturday was a BOOGGER!  That poor baby started running a fever that would range between 102-104.  We didn't want to run back to the ER so quickly, so we did a lot of home remedies and over the counter medicine.  Since Reilly had a viral infection (which we knew it wasn't a bacterial infecection because of the anitbotics) we knew there was nothing the Doctor could do for him.  So as long as we were able to keep his fever down we stayed away from the ER.  The fever resided late Saturday, but he developed the Croup Cough, which sounds a lot like a seal bark that is deep and dry.  Very sad to listen too. He would cough so hard!  I was so worried even though his fever never returned.  That cough was TERRIBLE!  The cough went on to that Monday right past a Happy Mother's Day for me.  Nights were extremely bad.  Reilly would wake up and act like he couldn't breathe because his throat(voice box area) was swollen and he was panicky. Sunday night was enough to make me decided to take him back to the ER on Monday.

With that story aside for the moment, other things began to brew.  My grandpa had hurt his back (sciatica nerve was pinched).  So I was already scheduled to take my grandpa to the ER to check out what happened to his back.  We were there until noon.  Not a lot was resolved for my grandpa, but it was terrible to watch him go through so much pain! 

When I got home, Reilly seem to be coughing pretty bad.  So to the ER I went again.  The ER was SO packed.  We had 10 people ahead of us and we were waiting there for 30 minutes and no one had been called. We decided not to take a chance and pick up another virus or something while the were there so we left.  It ended up being a good choice because Reilly began to get a ton better over the next few days.

It was sad because our vacation was coming to an end.  We had only Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to catch up on all the things we wanted to do while we were in Arkansas.  He hadn't got to visit very many people because of everything that went on.  Our plane was flying back home to Georgia on Saturday to where we were going to meet up with Nate.  He had been gone for three weeks at that point.

(warning next few paragraphs are kinda graphic and maybe hard to read emotionally for some)

Wednesday was fine.  Everything was kinda normal. When I woke up Thursday morning I headed out to my grandpa's to check on him and his back (which wasn't ANY better...that nerve pain is HORRIBLE).  I left there house about 1030 so Reilly and I could go eat with PaPa and YaYa for Lunch.  I was home about 30 minutes and we decided to get dressed to head out the door.  I walked into my room and realized I had started bleeding.

I have never in my entire life been as scared as I was at that moment.  I did my best to stay calm, because I knew the worst thing I could do for Atalee was panic and make the bleeding or my blood pressure worse.  What a trip down the road that was.  So many "What ifs" and "what did I dos". I would have given ANYTHING to feel Atalee move, but she never would. I couldn't bring myself to call Nathan.  If it wasn't for his Mom I might not have called him.  I thought it wouldn't do any good having him so far away trying to fly and worry about Atalee and me.  I wanted to see what the doctor said first.  His momma over ruled and called him anyway.  There was no way I had the strength to talk to him.  I felt to much guilt that I was failing this baby and I just couldn't bare to verbal speak it to Nathan.  With that said, I knew in my heart he had to know.  I am so glad his mother found the strength to call him. Nathan had just as much of a right to know as I did. 

It is one thing to go through something yourself, but to watch the ones you love, hurt the way you do is NOTHING I care to ever REPEAT AGAIN!

So, Nathan was on an airplane from Texas to Arkansas within hours. I have NEVER seen the Army move so fast!  While Nathan was on his way, my bleeding had slowing beging to stop.  It really didn't have much of a choice considering we had people ALL OVER THE COUNTRY praying for us! 

Once the doctor did the ultrasound we discovered I had a blood clot that was attached to the placenta.  Not really the best thing to hear.  However, not a thing was wrong with that baby!  She was perfect.  What a relief.  They choose to keep me in the hospital to monitor me.  The bleeding has resided and the blood clot has shrunk.  PRAISE God!  I did get some steroid shots to help Atalee develop her lungs in case she had to be delivered.  That is not something anyone wants to hear when you are 26wks along.  Very scary moment.

Nathan arrived that night.  It sure wasn't the way I wanted to see him after three weeks, but how relieved I was to have him here with me and Atalee.

At this very moment I am in the hospital at 5:00am on Saturday.  Hopefully we will continue to hear good news.  I may get to go home today I am not for sure.  We have no idea if I will ever get back to Georgia time soon.

To make a long story short, because honestly I don't want to think about it much more, everything is ok at the time being.  Complete bed rest.  I have no choice. These next few weeks are so critical for my baby girl. I will do whatever it takes.  I will do my best to keep everyone informed.  Keep us in your prayers. They are working.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I havent forgotten about the blog.  I have been laying a little low since I am visiting here in Arkansas.  I am loving being around everyone.  It has also been nice to get away from those Georgia gnats!  Those things are MEAN!  It had been raining here since I landed in Little Rock last Thursday.  Today has been the first hot muggy Arkansas weather day in a week!  Which by the way is hard to believe I have been here a week.

Reilly has been taking up with everyone.  He has changed so much since Christmas even for me.  I have enjoyed watching him interact on level in which he understands what is going on.  He doesn't need me too much.  Which is a happy, but sad moment.

Monday, Reilly had a crying frenzy.  Which isnt like him.  He is usually a very happy child.  Well Monday he complained about his stomach hurting and he said that his ear hurt.  I waited awhile, but ended up taking him to the DR anyway.  It was a good thing I did because when I got there we found out that Reilly had an ear infection!  So the poor baby really had something to cry about.

One other thing I wanted to write on here.  Yesterday, Reilly and I went to Waffle House.  Atalee was kicking around and throwing a fit in side my stomach so I had Reilly lean over and feel my stomach.  Right on cue she kicked Reilly's hand!  He was in great shock!  His eyes were so big around and he started laughing.  He thought it was so funny!  It was certainly a moment I will remember!

I hope to get back on here soon and write some more, but at least I got a little bit out!

Lately we have been on a search for car seat.  I really didnt think much into it until lately.  We travel so much with us being a military family.  So I started thinking about safetly alot more.  Wow, did ever learn how the safety is directly related to cost.  I still havent found what I want for a infant car seat unless I want to pay big bucks for it.   Hopefully, we will find one soon.

Because of the search for a car seat, I came across an AMAZING deal on clothes for Atalee.  I stopped by Sears yesterday and took a look at the small selection of infant carriers and since they only had one to choose from I didnt have to spend too much time thinking it over.  I thought I would take a glance at the little girl clothes as I walked by.  I noticed they had a huge selection of clearance so I took a look.  It was an great thing that I did.  I landed an amazing deal!  I was able to find I think seven  winter outfits for Atalee.  Theses were not just any winter outfits, they were like three peice sets.  The orginal price for the outfits were $30.00 and I paid......drumrolll please........ $2.99 for each one!!!!!  I have never hit a bargain like that EVER!  I had totaled up all the orginal prices of the clothes and it came out to be $165.  Even at 50% off I would have to pay about $80.  I walked out of Sears with all those clothes for $18.27!!!   I still can't believe it.

So  I will most likey be heading there again to day.  There wasnt many boy clothes, but I am going to go back and see what I can find for Reilly this winter.  Hopefully, I will get an awesome deal like I did yesterday.

As far as the pregnancy goes I have been doing fine.  Atalee is getting stronger by the day.  Last night when I went to bed, I began to wonder if she was going to dig her way out of my stomach.   Thats what it felt like anyways.  She was on a constant move.  I love feeling her move though.  It makes me know she is still there and is doing well.

Surely today I will make an attempt to get this house in order.  I just havent really done anything around here.  I find myself wanting to get away from the house.  Not because of the mess I dont think.  I usally dont ignore too many problems, but lately I have just been a recluse to myself and Reilly.  Maybe this stage will pass soon, because eventually things HAVE to get done.

I had a regular OB check up today to see how Atalee is doing.  We headed out the door over to Taco Bell for lunch before heading to the doctors office.  I figured it would be a quick bite and then be on our way, but I was wrong.  So many people were there it was crazy!  If anyone knows Reilly, they know once he has his mind made up we are eating somewhere it is nearly impossible to change his mind.  It ended up taking 15minutes just to get our food.  Which doesnt sound long, but we are talking about Taco Bell.

Anyway, Reilly spotted the hospital right away.  First thing he said was "See Atalee on TV?"  I was sad to tell him that we were just going to hear her heartbeat and that we would see Atalee for awhile.

This was one day that we had a hard time finding a parking spot.  We went all the way up to the top on the parking garage before we found a spot.  I was starting to get nervous about it.  Several times Reilly kept saying he had to pee.  I told him that we would go in a minute which is forever in 4yr old years.

We manage to sign in at the front desk and then sit down.  Man it was crowded in there.  I couldnt believe how many people we saw!  It usually kinda empty, but not today. 

Since I have to do a urine test, I was hoping that Reilly would wait and we could go to the bathroom all in one stop....NOPE...that didnt happen.  As soon as that bottom hit the chair he yelled..."I GOTTA GO PEE!"  Yep, I was pretty imbrassed.  As soon as I opened the door to let Reilly go in the bathroom they called my name.  Reilly had already gone past the point of no return so I had to let him go and inform the nurse that I was waiting for Reilly.

When Reilly was done I told him to hurry.  He flushed the toliet and I started to run the water to wash his hand.  He steped over and washed his hand and I dried them off.  I opened the door and the whole room busted a gut!  Reilly looks up at me in the ever so crowded waiting room and says...MOMMA!!! LET ME PULL UP MY PANTS!! (as if I had stopped him).   I could have died!!!!! I was so embrassed.   As I reached down to pull up his pants (that he usually does himself) he says..."I told you to let me pull up my pants."

As quickly as I could move, I ran into the nurses room.  I was so glad to be outta there

Reilly ended up being right after all.  Due to the fact that we didnt get to see Atalee's face very well at 20wks they wanted to do another ultrasound to get a good profile picture.  So yes in deed, we are still having a girl and we did get to see her on TV.

I have added a web page with the photos.  You can check it out here.

REILLY:  Daddy?

NATHAN: What buddy?

REILLY:  You best my friend.

Although many of you may already know, I am still going to pretend this is the first time that you are hearing it.  WE ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL!!!  We are too excited.  It took a while for Nathan to really get the feeling that he will be raising a little girl.  He has always been around boys his whole life.  Our ultrasound was really alot of fun.  We were too excited!  So excited that it has taken me a week to even talk about it.

Nathan gave a little spill to the Ultrasound lady about he doesnt know what he will do if we are having a girl.  The lady didnt waste no time at all letting us know!  Her words exactly, "Well, daddy guess what..."   and then she smiled.  I really couldnt believe what that lady said next...."it is a girl."

What a shocker!  I went in fully prepared to be having another little boy.  I would have bet just about everything on it too.  I am sure everyone else would too.  Even Reilly was saying that the baby was a little brother.   Too cute!  We watched our little girl on screen.  She seemed to be a talker.  That mouth was always moving and those hands were waving around. 

I could see that Nathan was in still in initial shock from the news.  I think that I had also seen some grey hairs pop out too.  Everything went well at the ultrasound.  Our baby girl was kicking good and healthy.  What more could we want.

So after the ultrasound we hurried to the car because we couldnt wait to tell Nathan's mom.  I wanted Nathan to tell his mom, but that didnt work out too well since Nathan was still weak in the knees from the news.  I tried to get Reilly to tell her, but it sounded like Reilly said boy.....he he...that was kinda cruel to Cathy.   I was very happy that we could give her the news she has wanted for so long.  I couldnt imagine giving her a greater gift than a little baby girl.  Even today she wonders if it were a dream.  So in case you are reading this Cathy....we are still having a little girl.

So after leaving the hospital we headed straight to Toys R Us for two reason.  One, we promised Reilly a toy and two to buy something for our little girl.  I never thought it would be so hard  for Nathan to buy pink.   It was a pretty awesome moment having daddy buy for his little girl.  I always thought we would have all boys for some strange reason. 

I have always had a girl's name picked out.  I had this name ready for Reilly if he was a girl.  To me it is the most beautiful name.  Our baby girl's name stands as a reminder of some of the great women in Nathan's family.  Her name is Atalee Mae. 

I have been asked several times how I came up with that name.  Nathan once had a little baby sister named Natalie.  I wanted a name that would resemble Natalie's name so she would never be forgotten.  So I dropped off the N and came up with Atalie.  Thats was how I was orginally going to spell her name until I realized that Nathan's grandma Powell middle name is Lee.  So I thought, why not change the spelling to fit grandma Powell's middle name, thus I got Atalee.  Mae comes from Nathan's other grandmother  Ella Mae.  This is how I got Atalee Mae.

I always felt that it was a strong name from the begining, however, it wasnt until this week did I learn something that really touched me.  I never thought to look up the meaning to Atalee's name because I thought it was something I created.  Too me her name meaning was Natalie, Grandma Powell and Grandma Craig.  I have never heard anyone named Atalee either, so I thought it was unique.  When I did a baby name search for Atalee, I found an amazing discovery to the true meaning of her name. 

What I found:

The girl's name Atalee \a-ta-lee\ is a variant of Athalia (Hebrew), and the meaning of Atalee is "the Lord is exalted".

The baby name Atalee sounds like Adalee, Athalee and Atalie.

Atalee is a very rare female first name and a very rare surname.

WOW, "the Lord is exalted".  I couldnt believe my eyes.  When I read those words my heart about feel out of my chest.  Could a name be any more perfect for our little girl?

It is hard to believe that I am almost 5 1/2 months into this pregnancy, but I am.  Time is ticking by.  I suppose knowing that Nathan will be leaving for a year shortly after Atalee is born is making the time pass by before our eyes.  I know everything will be ok and that we are not alone in this world.  It certainly will not be easy, but we will find new ways to be a family for a year.

Hopefully, I will not negelect my blog any more.  I think about it all the time, but I just do not sit down and write like I should.  I will try to do better.

So I thought I would write in my blog for myself tonight.  Tomorrow morning we get to find out if our little blessing is a boy or a girl.  I am happy either way.  I know our worlds are going to be so differant after tomorrow.  Everyone else in the house is asleep, except for me.  I know the baby is what it is, but I am still nervous.

If we have a little boy, I will feel so totally blessed.  Reilly is my heartbeat everyday.  I couldnt image life without him.  So to have another little boy would be just a double blessing if  you ask me.  Besides I need two strong boys to take care of me down the road whether they like it or not.  Another good thing about having a boy would be that we already have "boy things"  so it would be better financially too.  Not to mention we be making sure the family name lived on with another Craig Boy....so we cant go wrong on a boy.


If we have a little girl, WOW...will our worlds be turned upside down!  The Craig's need a little girl around.  I think she would be spoiled enough from grandparents and great grandparents enough that I wouldnt have to do ANYTHING!  She would certainly have enough uncles to take care of her that is for sure.  I really dont know what to think about a girl.  I just  know she would be my little side kick too.

Another big event tomorrow is that Nathan and I will be married 6yrs tomorrow.  We have been married to the Army for about 5 of those years, been through two deployments, working on a third and lived in 5 states.  I lost count on the moves.  I dont think we will be doing anything special for tomorrow (with exception to the ultrasound), but it really doesnt matter to me.  I am just glad we can be together.  If we go to taco bell...well...then so be it, we will do it together. 

This time next year will be differant.  Reilly, the new baby, and I will be living in Arkansas and Nathan will be in Afghanistan.  Our lives will consist of phone calls, emails and web cam, but we will grow all together no matter where we are in the world.

So I think I am going to go to bed so I can get up early in the morning to go to the doctor.

Wow, I didnt realize it had been so long since I have written in my blog!  I have been so busy with Nathan's parents and brother Caleb being here that the time just flew by.  When I do get a chance I am going to sit down and write all about the things we have been doing over the last week and half.

All of our excitement ranges from a huge St. Patrick's Day Parade, Our trip to Atlanta to Six Flags over Georgia, to a national historic site called Fort Pulaski and went to Tybee Island.


So as you can see we are currently in the state of exhaustion, but we are having a GREAT TIME!  I hope to get everything up to date soon!