The End of Another Semester!

Another semester has come to an end, and I'm happy to finally get a chance to post pictures of our little prince! It was really hard to pick and choose because I think he's super photogenic, BUT I could just be biased. =P He gets to have all of me for the summer, and in the fall, I'll be finishing my last few hours before graduation. This semester was especially rewarding because I took the bulk of my final hours to try to finish before Liam arrives, and even though he arrived 2 weeks early DURING my exams and finals, I still managed to pull through... not just barely, but with flying colors! It was surprising to me. I lowered my standards because I didn't want the extra pressure to burden me, and if I had to choose, I wanted to put my child before my school work. I gave up hopes of graduating with honors, but now, it seems like it's more than just possible. Praise God for knowing my heart and providing me with the supernatural strength to be a good mother to my newborn AND a good student. His timing is always perfect!

Liam Jireh

He Has Arrived!

Last Update Until D-day!

Update
It's official. Liam's not even going to make it to May. His eviction date has been set to the 29th, but we're praying he has his bags packed and he'll be ready to make a move on out before they come and get him! =P

By the way, the only reason that both my OB and high-risk doctors decided for an induction at 39w3d for me is simply because of general lupus risks, and nothing more specific than that. Of course, our prayer right now is for him to want to come out right before on his own, without any force or intervention. At this point, he seems ready, so the chances are good. Your own prayers are much appreciated. :)

Waiting

This will probably be the last post until he arrives, since D-day is getting so close! I can finally tell what a contraction is, as they're getting stronger and stronger. Sleeping is getting less enjoyable (maybe this is nature's way of weaning us off of a regular sleep cycle?). I'm awakened by sore and numb muscles and joints due to the pressure of the baby's weight, so I would have to subconsciously roll over throughout the night (and "rolling over" is no easy task! lol). I think this is also God's way of getting me more excited for his arrival since I really wouldn't mind lightening this load! :) Car seat's installed, hospital bag's packed, and the house is as tidy as can be! All I need to do now is run a marathon to get him going... haha, just kidding!

Preparation
I think the best advice I've received (in a nutshell) about delivery day is "It's gonna hurt..." Haha. Our subconscious has a way of wishing for the nearly impossible and putting us in denial. I think the best way of coping with something like this is to first accept the obvious, then work on coping strategies after. I guess now's a good time to expand on that piece of advice. "It's gonna hurt... but it's going to be the best feeling ever, and your experience is going to be your own, not anyone else's." That's what I've taken away from ALL the stories I've heard and read over the past nine months. It's so easy for everyone to swear on their own personal experiences, but in the end, God gave us our own, unique story, and it's up to us to experience it in it's fullness.

Thankful

Reflecting back on the past nine (or so) months has made us very thankful. There's no mistake his name will be Liam Jireh. The Lord has provided for us in every area we could and couldn't think of. Even though delivery day isn't here yet, there's not a tinge of fear for it because of the assurance God has provided us thus far. The medical care we have been receiving has been impeccable -- I've been receiving medical care for as long as I can remember, and this is, by far, the best care I've received yet! Of course, as the mother, I'm going to lose my benefits about a month after Liam's birth, so the hunt continues for me. But at this point, what matters most is providing quality care for our child, and by the grace of God, he's definitely taken care of -- and I have no doubt I will be taken care of too!

On top of that, school has also been going amazingly well. As I mentioned before, I took my oldest brother's advice and loaded the bulk of my hours into this semester, while Liam's still on the inside. ;) It's tough finding the motivation and energy to study for exams and complete assignments when all you want to do is sleep. Not to mention having to battle pregnancy brain at the same time, haha! I feel like it takes a lot more effort for me to grasp concepts and learn new information. Praise God, I still have A and B averages in all my courses... and that's even after lowering my standards just to stay healthy and  avoid disappointment, haha. I'm also thankful for understanding professors who are allowing me to take exams and finals early, just so I can focus more of my attention on Liam when he arrives. Thank the Lord for his mercy and favor! Graduation is coming soon!

Liam's Room

Back in November, I blogged about wanting to document the progress of the transformation of our tri-purpose room into Liam's nursery/room. Turns out, I'm not one of those super-bloggers with the leisure time I was hoping for, so all I have documented is the before and after. =P I'm happy to say we've accomplished both goals -- style and budget. It's exactly as we imagined it to be. Lots of bold, contrasting colors (courtesy of the human development side of me!), and the majority of the items are gifts and old items around the house. We have been incredibly blessed! We hope Liam will grow to love it as much as we do.

BEFORE

AFTER

Alrighty, time for more picture updates! (More pictures HERE)

My pregnancy timeline is finally finished! It's amazing seeing the transition all at once!
(Good thing I chose a SUPER stretchy top!)

Doing my weekly (now bi-weekly) NST (non-stress test).
Trust us, it's not as exciting as it looks! =P

For FTMs (first time mothers) with little exposure to babies, these infant-care classes are great!
I love that Liam's newbie aunties are just as dedicated! Thank you so much! :)

Baby Liam's Shower

It's been a while since my last update, and you probably guessed why -- the third trimester sure doesn't give you a lot of room for leisure activities (at least for me!)! Nowadays, I spend most of my time sleeping and saving energy for important tasks I can't escape like errands and school work. It's actually really comforting to know that Liam's taking up so much of my energy -- I know he's putting it all to good use... I can definitely feel him getting bigger and heavier by the week!

We had our baby shower about a month ago, and it was absolutely wonderful, despite the weather. It was cold and windy, so major props are due to all our families and friends who made it out, even for just a little bit. (Oh, and a huge thanks to Tenya for saving me and sacrificing her super warm coat for me -- I had definitely underestimated the weather and came dressed for a warm day!) Even more props are due to our family and friends who put the whole event together for us. I read an article about baby showers, and I can see clearly now why it's very common for the mother-to-be to be largely uninvolved -- no matter how involved I wanted to be, there was just not a single fiber in my body that could muster up the energy to put into planning an event. Therefore, we're so grateful for all of Liam's aunts that made that day possible. :) Photos, courtesy of Love Leaf Studio, can be found here.

Again, we thank everyone who was a part of this special day. We are blessed beyond words, and can't wait to meet Liam in just a few more weeks!

A New (and Final!) Trimester

Today is the last day of my 2nd trimester, and I'm welcoming this 3rd and last trimester with open arms! It's so true -- the 2nd trimester was the best. The baby gets noticeably bigger to the point you can show off that cute baby bump, but then he's not SO big to the point of discomfort... yet! That's how I knew I was approaching the final trimester. It was getting harder and harder to get out of bed (it doesn't help to have a really low platform bed at this point!), and forget walking like a lady -- waddling with pride is what I've learned to do! ;)

Despite all the discomforts and inconveniences that come with a quickly changing body from a quickly growing baby (especially for the first time), An and I cannot wait to welcome our firstborn into this world! Every day, we imagine what (or who!) he'll look like, how he'll be... gentle and quiet, rambunctious and loud, or right in between? Haha. We daydream about how our lives are going to change, and how amazing it will be to share our love with another human being. The best part that I'm most thankful for is that, as we think about these things, we draw closer to each other, amazed by what we've helped create together that is now growing inside of me. One of our prayers is that our child truly manifests as a blessing -- that not only is he glorifying in character, but he also brings An and I closer together through every milestone and experience. I want to love my husband even more after sharing our love with a child, not less... because it's our love that will help ensure a perfect home for our child.

On a side note, as a first time mother-to-be, I've been amazed by all the physical changes I've been experiencing. First, my belly button kind of "disappeared" more than "popped out," haha. It got stretched out, but not to the point where it protrudes a whole lot. You can see it if I'm wearing a thin, single-layer fabric, but that's about it. I made sure to clean out the lint before it was completely stretched out! ;) Second, my linea nigra (dark line vertically stretching across the center of the belly) seems to have fully appeared, but not fully darkened. It's pretty cool to gaze at it in the mirror. Next, I'm finally starting to experience mild edema (swelling), but it comes and goes. I had trouble taking off my engagement ring for the first time a couple days ago, but it didn't happen again after that (especially if I'm cold). Finally, I got my first "heat wave" today. I don't want to call it a "hot flash" because I only relate that term to menopause, haha. For only about a minute, I felt my entire body heat up, and I started breaking out into a sweat. Immediately after, it was gone, and I was back to feeling my normal chilly self (I have to carry a sweater everywhere I go, no matter the season!).

Well, here's to a wonderful final trimester, and even more milestones to experience! Daddy-to-be is out on the slopes in Seattle for a few days with his buddies. This is a special trip for him because it'll be the last snowboarding trip he'll have in a while. We do plan to have some get-aways with Liam when he's still very young, but not quite along the lines of snowboarding, per Mommy's request, haha. Maybe when he's older, for sure! Daddy would hate for his little buddy to miss out on one of his favorite hobbies! ;)

Daddy-to-be saying "Hey!" from the slopes! ;)

20-week Anatomy Ultrasound

The holiday season this year has been quite eventful. This year, we decided to spend Christmas with my side of the family in Louisiana, and it was really nice... mostly relaxing, which is what we really wanted with the new load I was carrying, and An's sympathy pregnancy (hehe). An and I (and Liam) enjoyed splurging on cajun food we have really missed. There are several favorite dishes we absolutely love that we can't find here in Houston (i.e. alligator and crawfish hotdogs from Dat Dog, charbroiled oysters from Drago's, fried fresh seafood, and king cake, just to name a few!). All in all, our bellies were very happy... and I think it's safe to assume Liam was quite satisfied too! ;) I think this could definitely count as our "babymoon," just incase we don't get the opportunity to have one eventually. Oh, and the holidays aren't over yet! We're looking forward to spending New Years with An's side of the family and close friends. :)

Right before we left to Louisiana, I had my 20-week anatomy ultrasound. For this specific ultrasound, I was recommended to have it done at my high-risk doctor's office, just so they'll know to look specifically at areas associated with risks pertaining to SLE. It was detailed... and quite long! I had to request a break to move around or change positions since my lower back was killing me! For the parts that weren't quite familiar to the untrained eye, we both kind of dazed off. But for the "cute" parts, like seeing the tiny little hands and feet and face, we were definitely zoned in, echoing "awwws" and "ooohs" here and there. :)

Overall, everything looked great. There was a "bright spot" in the heart that we assumed the doctor was obligated to inform us about, but it's practically nothing, and the doctor's recommendations were pretty much just to not worry about it. Apparently, it's something that shows up a lot, and in order for it to be considered a "real" concern, you'd have to display a plethora of other signs. Nonetheless, after I got cleaned up and dressed, An and I held hands in the room and prayed against all malformations and for Baby Liam's health. We didn't want to give any room for the devil to sneak in and destroy.

Instead of having to print out a ton of photos, they put all the screen shots on a CD for us. Neato!

We were able to record 3 videos of the ultrasound... 3 because I didn't prepare in advance, and the memory in my phone kept running out because I never backed up my phone (argh!). So in between videos, An had to go in and delete a bunch of photos and videos to make room. Oops! Now we know!! If you're familiar with these types of ultrasounds, they can get pretty boring, so there's your fair warning. ;) There were a couple cute moments where the tech would run across what she referred to as the "family jewels," haha. Attaboy! ;)

[1 of 3]

[2 of 3]

[3 of 3] Focus on heart

"I'm Alive!" -Dave Chappelle

Today marks two milestones: Uncle Frank's 23rd birthday and the midpoint of our pregnancy (20 wks/5 mos), and Liam seems to be aware of both. I started feeling Liam move inside of me a couple weeks ago. There were times where he would be very calm, and there were times I would wonder if I drank a little too much Coke! While lounging on the couch, I just happened to be rubbing my belly and looking at it when my skin poked out on the lower right side! I shrieked in both shock and excitement because it was amazing, yet freaky, at the same time! It reminded me of a scene from a movie where an alien was trying to escape through the belly of a human body (Matrix?), lol. An really wanted to see it too, so we sat there staring for a while, and nothing happened... An said I probably scared him, so he's not going to try that again anytime soon, haha!

This morning, I was sure Liam was going to do some tossing and turning to tell me to get my lazy butt out of bed to feed us, so I told An to just lay his hand on my belly and wait... Sure enough, just as mama expected, he put on a show, and An was SO amazed. It was such a beautiful moment. We laughed and looked at each other, smiling from cheek to cheek... there was a child inside me, growing bigger and bigger each day. Soon, he'll be born, and we'll finally gaze upon what was moving around in my belly -- God's wonderful creation!

--
Just incase you were wondering what episode I was referring to in the title, here it is. Haha. It's one of our favorites. Chappelle is a genius. We always mimic ghost-Tupac when he says, "I'm alive!"

Love in Labor

I have never heard nor read anyone's detailed account of their experiences while giving birth, especially an all-natural birth. I ran across this blog that has been beautifully written by the wife of a songwriter and a mother of two. This is her account of her first child. Every word echoed in my heart. It was so touching and powerful. I admire the consistent support of her husband through each and every step, and her determination to view everything positively, including all the moments of intense, physical pain. I want this. Although we may be a little more flexible when it comes to accepting medical interventions and tests, I do want us to achieve the same happiness and thrill of bringing Liam into this world... and I'm believing we both will.

Dear Baby Blog - Everly Veda's Birth Story

Growing Joys

I think I can already feel Liam moving in my belly. Based on the frequency, I want to say he's pretty active, and he's having fun in there doing back-flips and whatnot. :) I read in my What to Expect app to not confuse gas in your belly with discreet baby movements, and I'm beginning to be able to tell the difference between the two. (Plus, I think I'm pretty familiar with my gas symptoms by now, haha.)

I've had a growth spurt in my belly within the last couple of weeks (16/17 wks). It's like it came out of nowhere! It's a real joy, especially for me... I'm already underweight, and my lack of appetite and food aversions caused me to lose a couple pounds in my first trimester. It wasn't much of a worry to me or my doctors, so just like everyone promised, the pounds have started to build slowly but surely into my second trimester (and especially around the holiday season)! It's like I woke up and bam, I've got a belly -- and I can no longer zip up any of my pants! Every day, it gets more real. It's so exciting to see and feel him grow inside of me!

Product Review
I purchased this belly band from Target ($16.99) to help prolong the usage of my regular pants and jeans. It seems to work very well, aside from the fact that they're not "attached" to my pants, and occasionally, I'd have to go in and pull my pants up from sagging every time I get up from sitting (i.e. after a car ride). I would imagine it being a tad cumbersome for someone who is actively out and about all day, trying to make sure the band and pants are still sitting where they're supposed to be. For this, I'd just buy one staple pair of maternity jeans or slacks (or whatever you wear to work or on a daily basis). Other than that, as a student working from home who doesn't have to run around too much, I'm glad I purchased this because it's saving me a LOT of money from not having to buy a single maternity clothing item yet.

The Maternity BeBand in black (also comes in white and nude)

All in a Name

An and I usually agree with each other on many things. However, when it comes to deciding on a name for our child, it can get a little tricky! So for our son's name, as soon as we came to an agreement, we happily stuck with it...

LIAM, because who can contend that it's just a downright, cool name? Because who can name a movie that Liam Neeson acted in that sucked? And because, simply, it was the only boy name we both actually agreed on. Haha. Oh, and it has several cool meanings like, "will," "protection," and "my people," but we admit, those weren't the reasons we picked it. Haha. We also noticed it very closely resembles the Vietnamese name, Liem, when pronounced, so we actually don't mind our Vietnamese-speaking friends and family members referring to him as so. ;)

JIREH, because this is the name of God we're most thankful for throughout this season. Because it's the Lord, our Provider, who never let us go hungry, nor fear the next day because we didn't know when the next unemployment check would come through. Because after years without my own stable health insurance to depend on, my child and I are able to receive the best prenatal care at one of the top hospitals in Houston, by one of the best OB-GYNs in Houston. So, if it isn't my God who has and continues to provide for us, there isn't anyone else who can and will!

VO, because it's my husband's name, and not mine. Because it is the name of who I love and adore, who is God-fearing, and who I am proud and happy to call the father of my coming child. I love him!

So world, we can't wait for you to meet our son, Liam Jireh Vo, around April/May of next year! (You can call him LJ for short! An loves this nickname.) :)