Our Bun, Brandi's Oven

Tory here!

Tommy is 19 weeks today!!! He is the size of a mango which seems pretty darn big to me. Next week we are officially half way already??? Amazingly it actually IS flying by for me. I thought it would drag on forever….

Tommy is developing his senses this week. Which means at appointments he will start hearing our voices for the first time. 🙂 Oh I can’t wait! His big  20 week anatomy scan is next week! We hope to feel him then too if its not his nap time again 😉

I wanted to ALSO let you all know the blog has a new home as of today! Before it was a free WordPress URL…but today I bought a domain! We officially own, “Ourbunbrandisoven.blog!” Before it was “ourbunherovendotblog.wordpress.com”

(AKA it was a mouthful!)

This changes nothing for you though – the other URL will still route here. It’s just easier to Google/remember.

Thanks for being here!

Guys!

My mom let me skip nap and go to my brothers appointment today. Best day ever. I was pretty pumped as you can see!

 

Brandi gave my mom some gifts that made her give Brandi lots of hugs when she arrived! The sweetest sign from Brandi and a homemade blanket from Brandi’s mom for Tommy. My mom sure does tear up a lot when Brandi is around…she says it’s happy tears though, so it’s okay.

Once we got in the room I tried REALLY hard to feel my brother move! I had my hands all over Brandi’s belly but I guess Tommy must have been taking a nap. (Haha he wasn’t as lucky as me. He didn’t get out of his nap ;)) So instead I tickled Brandi’s belly and played peek a boo with him! I giggle alot when I play with Tommy!

Then they put this thing on Brandi’s tummy and I heard…boom, boom, woosh! My mom was all excited because it was the first time they could hear him on a Doppler! He sounded great!!

Then the best part happened! I asked to SEE him and my mom did too and they let us – again! Mommy says we have the nicest OB ever. Bryan, Brandi’s hubby works at the hospital so he was even able to make the ultrasound last minute! Bryan is super fun, we played lots of games waiting for the ultrasound to be ready.

Tommy was so big he didn’t even fit on their screen they had to zoom out. He is going to be way taller than me I think.

Here are Tommy’s pictures! He likes to suck his thumb when he sleeps. Isn’t my brother cute guys? But remember he’s sleeping so shhhhhhhh no awwing over these pictures 😉

I’m off to bed. Being a big sister is exhausting!

-Teags

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unicorn post 🦄

We are 18 weeks already! Maybe that’s an “already” to me… to Tory its probably taking forever!  Especially now that Tommy’s room is done!  But, we have to remain patient for another (hopefully) 22 weeks.

Today is our 18 wk appointment.  I’m excited and hopeful for this one in particular.  This last week I was able to feel Tommy move from the outside!  After I felt it I needed to make sure I wasn’t just imagining things.  So I asked my husband to come feel.   Sure enough it was Tommy being super strong!  It was around 11:50 (the time when he’s most active… when I’m trying to sleep…lol). I texted Tory right away and asked if she was still up.   I wanted her to be a part of this moment, even if she was a little ways away.  She quickly texted back she was… so I called her to tell her the great news!  The part that gave me good chills was she was sitting in Tommy’s room in the rocking chair!  (Cue tears)  So I’m hopeful at today’s appointment that Tommy’s long, strong legs are moving around in a way that Tory and big sis can feel it!

A lot of people have been asking how I’m feeling.  I’m past that first trimester hump, thank the Lord! But this trimester comes with its own bits of pregnancy reality.  I would say the top two frustrating parts are the restless leg syndrome (RLS) and the heartburn! I’m sure if people could be a fly on the wall in my house at night they would laugh. Im usually doing squats, dancing or swaying back and forth! But I truly can not sit still! And by the time I can lay down, the heartburn is enough to bring tears to my eyes!  But, these are both things I experienced with my other pregnancies, so it comes as no surprise.  And for me, I continue to be so thankful to God for opening this door and keeping us healthy and safe.  I entered into this journey knowing it may not be all sunshine and roses.  I am 8 years older than my last pregnancy after all.  But man, God is good! And to know I’m bringing a miracle and blessing into this world and the Daudelin family makes it all worth it!

My one saving grace is the body pillow Tory got me!! Oh. Man! Lol. It’s so comfortable that even my kids like laying on it when I’m not! It takes up a fair amount of room in our bed, but oh so worth it!  So thank you Tory!!

As you can see the baby bump is emerging. Some still say it looks like I’m just gaining some weight.  I’m not sure how I feel about that one…lol. But people are also telling me I’m glowing.  I’ll take that!

As I sign off Tommy is swimming around! My hope is you get to read a post soon by Tory about her first time feeling Tommy move! If not today, maybe in 2 weeks at our big 20 week appointment!

God bless all of you!

The Unicorn

 

This room was literally empty minus a cat climbing tree… AKA the kitty room. We had to get all new furniture to furnish it, so this was a lot more work then Tommy’s room where all we changed was decor and linens.

The dresser, so much drama but long story short we got a big discount since it arrived damaged. It was a nightmare to assemble but with Teags expert assistance we got it done.

The headboard for her bed?

It won’t arrive until March 🙄 It’s stuck in Waco, TX! Above is the headboard that is coming. This whole room was inspired by my love of all things Joanna Gains. The nightstands are Magnolia too (her furniture line).

Joanna I hope I did you justice! I sure tried!

Teagan’s room…(and yes that sure is a Unicorn over her bed and a unicorn book on her dresser!)

 

If there was ever a picture that I want Tommy to see one day, it’s this one.

It sums up how 2018 made 2017 all worth it. Some kiddos get a loving surrogate to bring them into the world which is a miracle in and of itself. Tommy got V6. (Voracek 6). These kiddos are just amazing and wise beyond their years to be on this journey with us.

To have a TEAM fighting to get your son here…Tommy’s Team. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to do this with.

Presenting Tommy’s Unicorn Squad on Christmas morning!

Tory here!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and happy almost 2018!!!

My family spent our Christmas in Chicago! Tommy spent it with his beloved unicorn in Iowa! 😉 I sent Brandi a text on our way to Chicago saying, “Merry Christmas Tommy! Mommy and daddy love you and cant wait for you to come next year! Have fun and be good to your unicorn!”

The last time I had seen our family in Chicago in person was this summer before IVF. We had a lot to catch up on but what stood out to me more than anything was right front and center was a Tommy stocking on the mantle!!!! Oh my gosh did that pull at my heart strings.

Not only that but all three of us girl cousins are expecting and the babie’s due dates are all within 9 weeks of each other – an April, May, and June baby! I didn’t have a bump, but I did have a stocking so we took a bump/stocking photo!

And the classic tipsy uncle photo bomb 😉

Tommy got SO many gifts! He even gave gifts to Teagan (man that kid really is miraculous ;)) about how to be a big sister!

The sweetest gift I received? It was from my twin sister… ❤

2017 you couldn’t have ended more differently than you began.

The beginning of 2017 had me literally on my knees in despair, depression, DEVASTATION for the new reality that we could not have more kids. It was my lowest of lows. I was still sick with HG physically. And reeling with mental health issues from PTSD that was not diagnosed at that point.

Hopeless. Utterly hopeless.

And then Feb 10th happened. The day I met Brandi on a Facebook group. And it quickly became the year of the unicorn, eventually once he was “here” – the year of Tommy.

I am ending 2017 with a SON who is 16 weeks along today!

2017 I am leaving you with an utter sense of awe. I have witnessed more miracles this year than most people see in a lifetime.  And the biggest one is still yet to come….Tommy’s Birthday!

My resolution this year?

To pay this all forward. To be a unicorn to someone.  More to come on that when we can finally reveal our secret in March… 😉

 

Well Tommy confirmed his gender today for us in his 14 week ultrasound. And the OB wrote “ALL BOY!!!” on his ultrasound photo. It’s one thing to get a check list of chromosomes with x’s and y’s saying you are having a boy on paper, but man does it hit home when it is visually confirmed in an ultrasound!

I am going to be a BOY mom!!!!!!!!!!!! #boymomstatus #wholenewworld

Tommy already has some of our features! He is SUPER tall like daddy. (My hubby is 6 ft, 4 inches tall.) The OB said he continues to look very long for 14 weeks. I agree and so does Brandi who has had 2 sons. He also shares my signature crooked pinky finger!

The OB was able to identify why we had the bleeding episode last week. Tommy’s placenta is low – a little too close to Brandi’s cervix. It SHOULD move upwards as the pregnancy progresses – it is still very early. They are hopeful it will resolve on it’s own. (Worst case scenario a c-section would be needed at 36 weeks, crossing our fingers we don’t need to go down that path.)

Without further a do…Tommy at 14 weeks.

 

The unicorn theme is running RAMPANT in the gifts under the tree this year …and its AWESOME. From unicorn socks to heated unicorn slippers I have been gifted to knowing what Brandi and her family will open on Christmas morning…

Not to mention when we pulled up in Mankato to meet V6 for Christmas lights last night and they handed Teagan a unicorn for her bday gift….

Here are some pictures Bryan (basically this blogs official photographer – thanks Bryan!) captured of us all last night – our squad of 9.5 celebrating Christmas.

The night ended with Teagan playing peek a boo with Tommy, lifting up Brandi’s pea coat and tickling her little brother. Followed by a million giggles. ❤

Merry (Unicorn) Christmas!

Hey Everyone!

It’s been a while since I have blogged, so I thought I would catch you all up on how things are going on my end.

I am 13 weeks 4 days today!  Things so far have been going along pretty well.  My mornings are perfect, but my afternoons and evenings are less so.  Kind of backwards, right?!  LOL  I’m still trying to figure out what’s causing my issues in the second part of my day.  I get bloated and very gassy (sorry if tmi), to the point that I am in a bit of pain and get nauseous because all my meals then just sit on top of the bubbles.  But by the morning I am better and great again!  So after a little bit I wondered if maybe it was the food I was eating.  I have never had an issue with eating anything, but it had to be the reason that throughout the day things built up, but by morning I was fine.  So my hubby and I thought maybe I should do away with dairy and see what happens.  Although I’ve never had any issues with dairy, the funny thing is, Tory is lactose intolerant.  Not sure if there’s any correlation, but I was willing to try doing away with it.  And it seems that it has been helping!  Now I’m wondering if I need to do away with gluten as well, to see if that clears up the rest of my issues.  Funny thing is, Tory is also gluten-free!  Crazy right?!  I am just hoping that this part of pregnancy subsides.  Although in the pain and uncomfort, I continue to pray in thanksgiving that I have been given this opportunity!

My belly is definitely sticking out now!  Tommy is growing and that’s a great thing!  It will be fun to watch as he continues to grow and makes my belly grow, too!  But today, we are even more appreciative.  This morning, as I was working at home, I noticed some bleeding.  This has never happened with any of my pregnancies, so naturally I was a little nervous, maybe scared, if  I’m honest.  Of course my first thoughts are what did I do to cause this bleeding?  And I couldn’t come up with anything.  So that made me nervous, too.  So I called my husband, who was in surgery (he’s a PA), and had to leave a message. Once he called back he said to wait an hour and see how I’m doing.  In the end, my hubby made an appt for me.  I called Tory to let her know what was happening, and let her know that I had an appt.  I can’t imagine what she was thinking.  I, of course, was praying from the get-go; for Tommy, for Tory and Travis, for the appt.  Luckily Tory’s schedule was such that she could drive down (with Miss Teagan) for the appt.  Thank God it was good driving weather!

When I got into the drs, she did an ultrasound to make sure Tommy was ok.  He wasn’t moving at first, which was making Tory and me even more nervous.  After what seemed like a minute or more (really was probably 10-15 seconds), she found Tommy’s heartbeat!  Phew, huge sigh of relief.  Then he started moving.  I immediately said a prayer of thanks to God.  I know He’s been with us through all of this.  Even if there were different outcomes.  Fortunately we got great news!  The dr. also examined my placenta, uterus and cervix, all of which were exactly what I wanted to hear.  So at this point, there is not an answer as to what caused the bleeding.  It’s possible it’s effects of my body adjusting to not being on my meds (progesterone in oil shots), even though I’ve been off of them for 2 weeks.   So even though there isn’t a concrete answer, I am thankful it’s nothing serious!  We go in for our 14 week appt next week again.  So we’ll check again next week.  Hopefully the bleeding is done by then!

With this I am reminded, yet again, of Proverbs 3:5.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  Sometimes we don’t understand why things happen, good or bad.  My faith tells me to simply trust with all my heart.  So I will continue to do that.

In the meantime, enjoy pictures of little Tommy!!

Tommy is 13 weeks this week! To say I am relieved we got to the second trimester is an understatement. I think every parent dreams of hitting 12 weeks but MAN when you have dealt with loss – the second trimester seems like a far off dream. Something so unattainable. We already have our next appointment – his 14 week appointment – scheduled for next Tuesday. That came up so fast!!

I have been BUSY getting ready for Tommy. Big sis is moving to the bigger room and her room will stay the nursery.

All the furniture will be staying put. Just planning to change out the design with something along the lines of a modern take on buffalo plaid, A Little Man Cave 😉

Source: Google Images, Hobby Lobby

Not to mention I am starting to buy boys clothes! Some of Tommy’s Christmas outfits for next year….

Source: Target.com

Since all of the furniture will stay in the nursery in order to get ready for Tommy I have been on the hunt for Teagan’s big girl room….currently the kitty room 😉 (We adopted 2 kittens this summer). So the kittens are getting booted out of the room and Teag’s new furniture is slowly going in.

I am OBSESSED with Joanna Gains so my first purchase for her new room were these Magnolia side tables – thanks Joanna 😉 The mattress and box spring for her new bed are also on their way!! The bed… however not so much. I am one indecisive mama on the bed LOL.

Source: Hom Furniture

Our hope is to get her in the room at least 3 months before Tommy comes home! We don’t want too many transitions all at once.