Go Cubs Go!

Me and my student teacher Emily

My precious student teacher this semester shares the love of the Cubs with my husband! Her last day with me was today and she is going to be at another school, causing her to miss my baby shower! She has been telling me how excited she is about the gift she got me, and now I know why!!! I know this gift will make daddy VERY happy! Take a look...

Baby Cubs onsies and bottle!!

31 Weeks

Things going on so far:

• It officially takes me 30 minutes to ATTEMPT to shave my legs the best I can!




• I lost 2 pounds (total gain of only 23lbs at 31 weeks!) which confirmed that I do NOT have gestational diabetes!




• I cannot sleep...at all...ever...in any position....with any pillow




• I'm fighting a sinus infection which seems to be a problem with most pregnant women I know!




• My iron is still low! So now I'm on TRIPLE doses. Oh the fun that brings!




• Our baby boy is measuring at the "normal" size and heartbeat is good.




• I am beginning to feel trapped in my own body!




• I cry (or am on the verge of tears) at least once a day...no reason...just cry!




• My baby showers start next weekend, YEAH!




• The nursery is complete with the exception of shower gifts :)




• Childcare is secure.




• Pediatrician is secure!




• My anxiety towards balancing life is starting to freak us out, but the changes that are coming make Chad and I SO excited at the same time!



• I have had to resort to wearing my husband's T-shirts on warm days because my clothes supply is running low!

Baby Proofing Begins!

This weekend Chad and I began to get the house ready for baby! It was both exciting and frustrating at the same time. Before this weekend I would have told you my house was PLENTY big, but after trying to find space in the kitchen and closets for our little boy's things, we are starting to think we need more space! We cleaned out our guest room (now nursery) closet and put those things in other closets and in our master bedroom closet. Then we moved to the was room and bathrooms to find new places for the cleaning supplies so they are out of the reach of baby hands. Then we moved into the game room to move things around for baby toys. We ended up not having much space left! I must say though...it's exciting to open the closets and see baby stuff! Tomorrow is my next doctor's appointment, so hopefully he will say all is still going well :)

Growing excitement...and belly!

Chad and I have spent a lot of time laying together before bed dreaming about the day our baby boy will get here! We cannot wait for the day we can walk through our nursery boy and he be in his crib! Everything seems to be growing:

my belly

(his kick count!)

our collection of baby clothes

baby items around the house

parent magazines

baby gifts

and especially our excitement

We cannot believe in 9 weeks or less now we will have our baby boy in the world! My showers start in two weeks and all of his new things will start rolling in.

Monday is my next doctor's appointment. We are hoping I can get an increase in my sugar count, because 20 grams a day is just about to kill me! So we will continue to pray that all is well with my blood work and the growth of our baby boy. We just can't wait to have him here in our arms!!!!

Seriously...

Well, you know the saying...When it rains it pours.

Today we got the devastating news that my Aunt Judy's brain tumor (which was removed Thursday) is the most aggressive type of tumor. She is going to be in a 3o day recovery from the surgery, then they are going to start aggressive radiation and an experimental drug. The doctors say it is rare, but with these treatments, people have gone into remission. We just cannot believe it... The Tinder family needs your prayers. I spoke with her on the phone while my dad visited her today, and she is in the best of spirits. The preacher came to see her and he actually said to her "I came to counsel you, but you have ended up counseling me." She is so strong in her faith and I'm so glad for that. Please keep her in your thoughts...

On top of Papa Rod and Aunt Judy, my baby girl Cali began getting sick at 11:00pm last night and did not stop all day. We took her to the vet this afternoon to find out she has bronchitis...seriously... She is a very very sick puppy, but the vet says it is viral and WILL work its way out. She is just going to be sick the next 1-3 weeks. It isn't life threatening or anything, just hard to watch her hurt. She coughs until she gags and cannot lay very long because her throat hurts. Goodness...

2009 is starting out to be a very faith testing year. I'm so glad I have such a strong husband and family to remind me of all the blessings around me each day.

Beautiful Valentines...

Chad and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day together! Since he is gone to soccer practices late all week, we chose to stay in and just be together today. We met with a childcare provider early in the day...who we are praying works out for us! (A GREAT Christian woman!) We went to the mall and enjoyed buying each other a small something, and then came home to watch movies (and watch our baby boy roll around in my tummy!), then we grilled out steaks for our Valentine's Day dinner. It was such a blessed day just being together. I'm so glad God gave me such a wonderful man who makes me feel like everyday is Valentine's Day!

Getting Uncomfortable!

Everyone keeps asking me if I am "feeling uncomfortable yet." Well after this week, I can say I am starting to feel it! My legs are starting to swell from the extra weight, but I don't exactly have the job where you can kick your feet up. Bending down and getting up are A LOT harder than they have ever been before. I go to the bathroom so many times a day I lose count! I keep repeating in my head "10 weeks, 10 weeks..." Not that things will get easier then, but at least I will be able to move again! Did I mention I'm on a protein diet now...CRAZY! I have never had to watch or count calories, but now I'm having to watch my iron, sodium, and sugar contents. I don't even know what I'm looking for when I look at the label! So it's lots of fish, poultry, and red meat until baby Bridges gets here. Until then... I am definitely uncomfortable now!!

The Third Trimester

Today is my last 4 week doctor's appointment! Hopefully all will be well! We are at 28 weeks and I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable. It's harder to get up from a sitting position and out of bed in the morning, and I'm definitely visiting the restroom more often!!! My baby boy is VERY active, especially after meals and at night. It feels like he is trying to get out! We are getting closer to having child care, and closer to having our baby boy in our arm. We just can't wait!

The size of our baby!

Papa Rod

Conrad "Rod" Graham
CHAPIN - A memorial service for Conrad “Rod” Graham, 77, of Chapin, SC, will be held eleven thirty a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2009, at Chapin United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Springfield Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to Chapin United Methodist Church Building Fund, 415 Lexington Avenue, Chapin, SC 29036. Folk Funeral Home of Williston, SC, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Surrounded by his loving family, our beloved Conrad died Tuesday, February 2nd after a brief illness. During his 77 years of life, he had been a shining light to his family. His engaging sense of humor, his love of life, and his devilish smile will be greatly missed. Rod had many good friends and delighted in his fishing trips and gatherings with them. His ministry to others was his greatest achievement; his faith could not be shaken. The family greatly appreciates the love and support over the last two years that Jody Flowers, Paul Allen and the Chapin United Methodist Church family were able to provide. The family has appreciated the exceptional care provided by the Intensive Care Staff at Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Lyons, GA, Rod was a son of the late Willie Van and Agnes Gerald Graham; Rod received his associate degree from the University of South Carolina. He retired from the wholesale grocery business, having worked for Colonial Stores, Thomas Howard Company and, more recently, worked with Merritt Brokerage Company. He was an active member of Chapin United Methodist Church, the Thursday AM Group, United Methodist Men’s Bible Group, the Christian Fellowship Sunday School Class, the Jolly Christians and the Misfits Kitchen Band.
Survivors include his loving wife of 25 years, Mildred “Millie” Bennett Graham of the home; sons, Danny (Phyllis) Graham of Mooresville, NC, Steve Graham of Columbia, SC, stepson, Joey (Meree) Williamson of Norway, SC; stepdaughter, Judy Tinder of Irmo, SC, daughter-in-law, Shirley Graham; sisters, Betty Flowers of Tallahassee, FL, Mable (Horace) Kearse of Fairfax, SC, Diane (Wayne) Wright of McDonough, GA; brothers, Bobby (Linda) Graham of Dade City, FL; sister-in-law, Lottie Graham Anderson, SC; grandchildren, Rachel and Robert Graham of Mooresville, NC, Brooke (Chad) Bridges of Chapin, SC, Brittany Tinder of Irmo, SC, Joseph and Michael Williamson of Norway, SC. He was preceded in death by a son, Paul Graham, brothers, Edward Graham and Andrew Jackson Graham. Visit our on-line registry at http://www.folkfuneralhome.com/.

A little smile in the middle of hard times...

We have had some hard times the last 3 weeks, but in the middle of it all there is joy knowing that our baby boy is getting closer to being here! This week our glider came in, and next week our matress gets here. Once we have the crib set fixed up we will be almost there!

Tough Day

Yesterday was my grandfather's funeral. It was a tough day. The visitation brought tons of people which went to show how important he was in people's lives. While the visitation was taking place we had a power point of Papa Rod running. It was the hardest thing for me to watch. Especially the pictures of him holding us all as babies, feeding us, sleeping with us... I just know I won't have that experience and it is a hard realization to come to. Things are settling down and the fact that he really isn't here is starting to set in. Tomorrow is his burial in Springfield, and then we all have to go on with life after Papa Rod. I have no doubt where he is and I know I will see him again one day, but in the meantime I ache to have him here.

Hard Times

2008-Summer at the Beach House
Playing on the boardwalk-always laughs with Papa Rod!

Cutting up again!

Britt and Papa Rod

Today at 5:00pm our family suffered the tragic loss of my Papa Rod. He went peacefully and in no pain, which is the way it should be. I always heard when you are pregnant and not supposed to be "stressed" that things like this happen. I'm trying to keep it together and hope my baby boy cannot feel the sadness in my heart. Thank you to everyone who prayed for him. Prayers were answered, because there is no doubt where he is now.

Praise God!

As I sat and wrote about needing prayers for my Papa Rod, my phone rang for the 1 hundredth time from the hospital. My "unresponsive, on life support" Papa Rod has opened his eyes and turned his head! God is so great! The biggest problem the doctors were having this last 48 hours was determining what made his life stop for 10 minutes. They are thinking that since it was the first day he had eaten something in 2 weeks, that it shot back up into his esophagus and got stuck! This caused him to stop breathing. The doctors exact words to us just now are: "He is not a 22 year old boy, he is a 77 year old man. It will take him a long time to recover from this, but I believe he will." PRAISE GOD! Please keep praying for him!

Praying for Papa Rod

I've always heard that life seems to hit you the hardest when you are pregnant and NOT supposed to be stressed out. For the past 2 weeks my family has been on a roller coaster ride with my Papa Rod. He entered ICU with a pancreas problem and as he was there, things seemed to get worse, then better, just in a matter of hours. Most all major organs have stopped working at one point, and he has blood clots which are under watch.

On Friday I got a call that he was doing better...kidney's working, breathing on his own, pancreas levels good, bacteria levels low. So I was able to go see him Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They were good days. He could talk to me and even smile (which has not been happening since he got there). The last thing he said to me was that he was tired and really wanted to just go to sleep. I kissed him bye and went home. I got a call on Monday that he was so much better that they were moving him OUT of ICU and just admitting him to the main hospital. I cannot tell you how excited we were!

He enjoyed a day out of ICU, had some family and church friends to visit with, and was able to keep some broth down. You cannot even imagine the shock I felt when almost 48 hours ago my phone rang to say that Rod had flat lined for 10 minutes and was back in ICU and unresponsive. He still hasn't come out of it yet... My family is aching for the life of this man and we know it is out of our control. For my baby's sake I have not been to see him since he has been on life support. Selfishly, I just know I can't handle seeing a man I love so much not responding. I know my stress level would be through the roof to have to see that.

Even though things have been so painful, God has managed to show his hand in all of this. My last memories of speaking with my Papa Rod are that he just wanted to go to sleep. We had 3 great, pain free, days with him this weekend. When he flat lined, it was in the middle of the night, so he did not feel pain. And today, although on life support and unresponsive, they believe that they have found brain activity that suggest he could possibly breath on his own. Praise God for the man he made my Papa Rod, and I just pray that whatever his decision is, he continues to show his hand though the hard times we are having. It's a long road ahead still with Papa Rod, so please keep him in your prayers!

It's beginning to look a lot like...BABY!

If you were to enter the Bridges' household these days, it would be very evident that a little on is on the way! Baby items are starting to roll in and it is so exciting! The kitchen has a high chair in the corner (the same chair I used!), the den has a beautiful rocking horse (thanks to grandaddy Bridges!!!), and the nursery is starting to fill with baby boy items! Our furniture for baby is in (I can't stop going in the nursery and looking at it!), and our trash pick up is mostly Babies R Us bags and boxes! I am moving into 7 months pregnant, and my anxiety for the arrival of our baby is rising! I just can't wait!

Child Care Search Begins

The last major battle we are going to have with our precious one is finding child care! We have started calling the names and numbers on our list of people who provide in home care. My list of questions goes on and on and most people have been great about answering them all. We have eliminated a few people already, based on the fact that they are in the car a lot, or have too many babies, or WAY too pricey! I am very hopeful about the last call I made. Chad and I made an appointment to meet with a lady who is only going to watch teacher's children. The first statement she made to me on the phone was that she is basing her child care on a christian beliefs. She followed with "I hope this isn't a problem. I just feel the need to be upfront." Are you kidding me! Too good to be true I hope. After talking with her I'm hopeful she is going to be our choice, but we will see. Please pray that we find the best person possible to help us in raising our child while we continue to work.

Almost 26 Weeks!

At 25 weeks and 4 days here's how life goes:

• Restless nights due to leg cramps and MANY bathroom visits! (Thanks for the maternity pillow Lauren, it has helped some!)


• Tummy is getting VERY big-which is exciting and scary at the same time! I want our baby boy to be growing and healthy!


• Up 3 bra sizes!!!!! Who would have thought!!??


• Lots of bathroom breaks at work-the Lord blessed me with a bathroom in my classroom thank goodness!


• Nursery Furniture in! Waiting on mattress so we can put our bedding on!


• Showers starting to pick dates which I am SO excited about! :)


• Having off and on round ligament pain as baby grows!

Although there are many irritations and crazy things going on throughout the day as my pregnancy progresses, I couldn't be happier! I feel closer to Chad than I ever have. He has stepped up as a husband and father in more ways than I could have imagined. Feeling our baby move everyday is reassurance that he is okay and well. My family is getting more and more excited, and we are praying my Papa Rod will be here to celebrate with us. My 25 week appointment was this week and all is well. Heartbeat was strong and I'm waiting for the results from my gestational diabetes test. We go again at 28 weeks so until then... :)

Snow Day

Today both Chad and I didn't have to work due to the snow day. It was a great day! We got up early to "prove" to our eyes that snow was really here. Then we opened the blinds and laid in bed together watching the snow fall, and listening to our neighbors kids play in it. It was exciting to think the next time (which could be 3 more years!) we have snow, our little one will be out running around in it! We watched the Obama inauguration and laid around most of the day. For about 2 and a half hours the snow came down pretty hard. Since it wasn't below freezing it didn't stick long. Man it's going to be hard to get up early and go back to work tomorrow! At least it will be for only 3 days :)

Nursery!

Today we picked up our nursery furniture! It was so exciting! Chad put together our crib and dresser, and we started putting our baby boy's things up in his drawers (not much but still fun!) Take a look...

KD Family Fun!!!

My WONDERFUL KD family!

Chad putting our new stroller together :)

Cali checking out the new goods...she has no idea what's been going on!

Training Cali to stay OUT of the nursery!

Our new baby carrier stroller!!!-Thanks to the recommendation from Hollie!

All the precious items stuck in our diaper cake :)

Tonight I went out to eat with my Newberry College Kappa Delta family. These girls have meant so much to me, and I wish we were able to get together more often! They surprised me with VERY generous gifts for baby Bridges and we got to catch up together. I cannot wait to put his diaper cake on his changing table tomorrow, and Chad and I went ahead and put his stroller together! These are our first gifts off our registry! They also gave us some bottle cleaning tools, bottles, stuffed animal, and baby blanket! I am so thankful to have Cara, Betsy, Kayce, and Jessica in my life and I know my little boy will be too! Thanks for everything girls!!!!!