Miss Pickle had had a very eventful couple of weeks. So busy, in fact, that there’s hardly been time for an update. Now that things have settled down — just a bit — I figured I should give all of Pickle’s fans a little life update on our precious little stowaway. But, since I’m tired (and getting more so by the second), you’ll have to settle for a list of bullets and some pictures.
- We took a birthing class and toured the birthing center at the hospital. It’s still weird for me being in a room full of pregnant women who are worried about the “normal” things pregnant moms should be worrying about. But, it was a good tour — if for no other reason than Mr. B now knows what kind of back massages I like and where he needs to take me when I go into labor.
- Pickle started her twice-weekly nonstress tests (NSTs) last Tuesday. Things we learned: She has a pretty low heart rate. Still within the acceptable 110-160 range, but definitely on the lower side. Low as it was, she was very active (the nurse said she counted 50 movements within the 15-20 minutes we were sitting there — she was hoping for 10 good movements), and her heart beat was strong and accelerated and rebounded just as it should.
- Wednesday night, we headed out to a Whitecaps baseball game. It was a perfect night for a game — not too warm, and not too cool. We were there as part of a fund-raising outing for Faith’s Angels.
It is the mission of Faith’s Angels to raise awareness for congenital heart disease (CHD,) educate people to the facts involving CHDs and raise funds for medical research to help aid in the quality of life for children born with CHDs.
While at the game, we got to meet a lot of wonderful heart families and supporters, as well as learn a lot more about Mended Little Hearts. I’m looking forward to getting to know these families as Mr. B, Pickle and I continue to expand our “heart circle.”
During the game, Mr. B got a chance to play hero for his Pickle-girl, as he batted away (with his bare hand) a fly ball that headed straight toward Pickle’s temporary home. Thankfully, no major damage was done. But Mr. B definitely showed everyone the hero I’ve always known was in there!
- Friday was Pickle’s second NST. It was a little better than her first in that she had many more peaks and valleys, and the nurse was very pleased with the results. Though her heart rate remained on the lower end of “normal,” she had a lot of activity and recovered well from her accelerations.
- Friday evening we headed north for a weekend of family fun time on the farm — and for Pickle’s first baby shower (Saturday). I always feel so much better about everything when I’m surrounded by the farm, with Mom and Dad nearby. Last weekend was no exception. Plus, some “away” time with Mr. B is always welcome — it’s so nice to be able to leave our (growing pile) of worries behind just for a couple of days. Plus, coming back home with a trunk full of fresh fruit is an added bonus.
- The baby shower was quite lovely. Lots of family. Lots of friends. Lots of love for Pickle. She’s so lucky to have such amazing kindness and love in her life, and I continue to be grateful for all of the people in my life who show me, every day, that no matter what, love remains.
- Another highlight of the weekend was a very special surprise from Papa (my dad). He’s been collecting pennies, and this weekend, he gave them to us for Pickle. A Pennies for Pickle fund, if you will. When we got home, we visited the Coinstar and turned them in to cash. It was just over $30 in pennies. Yeah, that’s a lot of pennies! And serves as the first official donation in the “Pennies for Pickle” surgery fund.
- And, of course, no trip home would be complete without a photo shoot! Mr. B continues to get nervous when I say the words “I’ve been thinking we should have some pictures taken.”
A very, very special thanks to Kelly Jean Jones for the pregnancy photos. As always, she did a fantastic job!
I loved reading about your weekend-even though I was there (here). It was like living it over again. Such a good time!
Love is just shining through in these pictures. You two look so wonderful and strong together.