Capturing the Kerrys: 3.25 yrs

I guess since we're prepping to be a two child household, I've got to at least split the blog title since I've always marked these by Ryan's age!

We can hardly believe this weather. When we found out I was pregnant, I literally feared the oncoming winter since I am a complete klutz and afraid of falling on ice (I mean honestly, I fell and was hospitalized when I was this far along with Ryan after being taken out by a dog. Ice could do some serious damage!) Little did I know we'd basically avoid winter all together! It appears that this early Spring is aligning nicely with my health. After 3 months of almost daily IV infusions, I've been needle free (and thus throw-up free) for almost two weeks now! I'm still on Zofran, but down to twice a day. I am eating and drinking normally now and am so grateful. It was to the point that every morning Ryan would ask me "Does your tummy feel sick?" before he asked said else. The situation took it's toll on all of us: Max had to pick up all the slack (and did so without any complaint), Ryan was patient and sympathetic but didn't get his normal dose of mommy, and I was really having a hard time feeling isolated. Thankfully my parents really came through and had Ryan two+ days a week through winter to try and give me some space..and did I mention my mom cooked those days too?

Now with this change in my health, I'm able to go for walks and do yoga classes again. It's nice to see neighbors and actually have the bandwidth to call friends. This time around though, the entire world is not pregnant as was the case with Ryan, so it certainly has been a different in terms of feeling a sense of community through the pregnancy. The world treats a second child a bit less magically, though it's a miracle to us none the same.

Ryan is so excited: a) for "my baby inside my mommy's tummy" and b) for all the things he gets to do when he's a big brother, including move into a big boy room. So far so good. No jealously. Only the desire to share and understand this really abstract concept of pregnancy. Let's hope we're this blessed when the baby is actually here.

We had our "big" ultrasound last Monday. I say big since we also had one at 5 weeks to confirm the pregnancy. The baby is amazingly on track (guess they can predict pretty well when every sneeze, cough, and ovulation is being tracked :) The ultrasound ruled out 90% of brain and 60% of heart impairments. (So a perfect ultrasound by today's standards.) We're now deep in prep for the actual delivery. We've found a wonderful doula (delivery assistant) who was a labor and delivery nurse for 15 years and has attended over 1,000 births. And we're doing lots of reading and mental prep with hopes of a natural delivery. We'll see what this little one has in store and if that's achievable. Technically I am high risk (35 for delivery, pre-eclampsia with Ryan and the hyperemesis make me as such), but frankly, I'm not buying into it.

As for Ryan, he's on week 3 of swim lessons (without a parent) and doing great. He's in love with the swings this summer after never wanting touch them before. And the world is tied up in trucks and trains....as is our home. You can guess the theme for the big boy room! All in all we have a really bright sumemr ahead of us. That's about all from this neck of the woods. Enjoy this weather...it is Michigan...it could snow tomorrow.

Love Court, Max, Ryan + Baby K2

Ryan after a fun dinner thanks to Auntie K and Nami!


We "lost" Ryan and his friend Abby the other night, only to find them like this in his bed. Guess it could be worse :)

Ryan reading to Cali

Getting every last lick of ice cream.

Looking Baywatch in his new "wet suit" for Florida. He wanted one like a girl named Trinity in his swim class. The previous week a boy was picking on her and Ryan kept trying to stop him by either saying "NO THANK YOU" in a gruff low growl or putting himself between the bully and the girl.