Well, I was messing around & took these photos last week (at 26 weeks exactly- before the preterm labor). I wasn't going to post them, but since it looks like I'm not going to be up taking photos again any time soon, I figured what the heck (plus my mom wouldn't stop bugging me about it). :)
I saw my perinatologist who made me feel so much better. He said the kitten looks great! He says she is measuring about 2.12 pounds which is 12 days larger than expected for my due date. He said the uterus, placenta, cervix, and amniotic fluid all look good. I got to see all 4 chambers of the kitten's heart, and the doctor said, "What a beautiful heart!" I loved hearing that! Also, I did pass the FFN test, which means there is only about 1.4% chance I'll deliver in the next two weeks. But both my OB and my perinatologist do want me to remain on bedrest for now, especially since I've been experiencing contractions almost daily since the first episode.
I want to thank everyone for the tips and suggestions for coping with bedrest. I'm also glad so many shared their personal stories- they made me feel not so alone in this! At my next appointment in two weeks, I'll find out just how long I'll have to stay on bedrest- and if it ends up being a while, I am going to look into hiring a physical therapist. Thanks to my mom, I have lots of great pregnancy books including Excerises for the Childbearing Year (as suggested twice), so I will be catching up on some overdue reading! I'm also getting some online shopping done (was there any doubt?), but I will probably need to get one of those bedside hospital-like tables since using a laptop when you don't really have a lap anymore is challenging! Fortunately, Sophie Lu likes to snuggle up with me as much as she can, so I am in great company! Also, I do relocate to the sofa downstairs for a good part of the day so I can spend time with Sophie & Ollie while they play, etc.
So 27 weeks... next week, I'll be in my third trimester! I really can't believe it! Only 88 more days to go!
90 comments:
So glad to see that all is well. The photos are gorgeous and you will love looking back at them. All the best to you!
You look beautiful...hang in there!
Im so glad that things are better for you.You are so beautiful in your pictures.Its also nice to have a cuddle bug(sophie).
Is it ok to hate you for looking so gorgeous pregnant? You're obviously meant to have a birth child as well!
Hang it there.
Glad that everything seems to be going well for the kitten. Your photos are amazing - the first one is my favorite!
Beautiful photos! You look so pretty!
Take care & let the kitten nap a little longer. Can't wait to see the baby!!!
Tracy
How sweet is that Sophie!
You are beautiful! The pictures are breathtaking!
Wow! Love the pictures...you are stunning! Soooo glad to hear you are doing well. Will keep praying for you and the kitten. :)
Shana,
You look so beautiful. Seriously you look absolutely radiant. I will keep praying for you and the kitten. Thank you for keeping us informed, I was wondering how you have been doing for a couple days.
Bobbie
Wow, your pictures are amazing! Better than most of the professional shots I've seen. I'm impressed.
So relieved to hear you and the kitten are doing great.
Great photos - I love the straight hair with the headband! Did you use a remote on your camera or are they professionally-done?
You look beautiful! So glad you are doing well! thinking of you every day:)
Kim
Oh, I kind of hate you too for looking so good;) I am SURE that I did not look that good when I was pregnant (even at 29 the first time around!)
Kim
Oh Shana, I am so relieved and happy to see this posting. I was thinking about you and kept checking in to see if you updated. Your photos are stunning, as usual!
I am happy everything is going smoothly. Enjoy your bed rest and your reading. Take care of yourself and take comfort that so many people are supporting you.
My best, Stacy J.
You are a goddess!! I hope I'm as beautiful as you when I'm pregnant someday! Glad to hear you in such high spirits. :)
Beautiful - You're glowing!
Hang in there!!
Wendy
You look amazing, Shana!
Woo Hoo... 2nd trimester down, 1 more to go! I'm excited for you. Your pictures are gorgeous and enjoy the reading/ down time. Who am I kidding... let us know if you find any great websites too. Hehehe!
Take Care!
Shana, you are simply beautiful!
I hope your bedrest can be shortened and you can get back to a more normal routine soon.
:-)
My favorite is the second one! You look 15 years younger then what you are :)
Shana
I have to say I was getting worried about you when I didnt see a post for a while there. All I kept thinking was Shana always posts more regularly than this! Im glad you are doing ok. I cant believe how close you are now. Im so excited for you.
Your pictures are absolutly beautiful! I cant wait to see The Kitten!
Michelle- Canada
Wait - you took these pictures of yourself? You are more amazing than words! You are so beautiful! Wow! I am so impressed by you - truly! I am so glad you shared! They are absolutely stunning! I am also glad you got them before bedrest! I am also relieved (for you) that you are getting your much needed Sophie and Ollie time!
Thanks for sharing!
~Lynn/PA
Shana, we were so thrilled to see and here that everything is going well...Mary Grace, my precious darling from China and I have been concerned. Our prayers are with you and your family. We love the names that y'all are contemplating...some were even on my list...as a teacher I have always asked the parents what they would like for me to call their children...Mary Grace has not had any problems with her name...To make sure the Mary Grace was not changed we added another family name as a middle name Anabella...so her true first name is Mary Grace...and she loves all her beautiful names.We loved the Photo's...you will treasure them always.If you haven't already make sure you take some with the children and your husband putting their hands on your tummy...also with the children resting their little sweet heads on you tummy too. It is a precious picture. I can try and scan you one of mine...I am still a film and darkroom girl...but I could try. My email is beck16@cox.net. We are praying for y'all. God bless. Kim
Shana, such happy news! I've been thinking about you all the time and I'm so happy to hear that everything's going as well as it can!
Great pics! Praying for a safe, healthy baby. J
You look beautiful!!! Happy to hear that you are doing well : )
Shana... what beautiful pictures! Pregnancy (or maybe just motherhood) becomes you! You are truly glowing and have such a softness about your face! I am glad to hear that your sweet kitten is purring away safe in her momma... congratulations for making it safely into the third trimester!
Glad to hear that you are taking good care of yourself and that your mom and Sophie are too!
So pretty! Thank your mom for encouraging you to post them. & I'm so glad to hear the kitten is doing good. By the time you know it, August will be here and you will have your precious little kitten. Can't wait to meet her ( via blog world ). By the way.....will your husband be helping you with your posts? ( because you know all of us "shana-blog-addicts" will be impatiently waiting by :)
take care,
marsi
Gorgeous!!!!:)
I love the frist picture.
Take care,stay safe!
Andreea.
Oh my goodness, you can get more beautiful! Didn't know that was possible until I saw these pics, you look amazing!
So glad to hear that you are doing well. The pictures are gorgeous and you are a beautiful and strong woman. Take it easy and be sure to follow the Docs orders.
Glad to hear all is going..well. The pictures are fantastic. Keep updating when you can. All of our positive energy is heading your way to carry you through the next several weeks.
Shana you are GORGEOUS! Those pictures are beautiful and really look professional. They remind me of that show Runway Moms on TLC that I guiltily watch when I probably don't have the time!
I'm really glad everything is going well and the kitten is deciding to stay put a little longer!
I am so glad you are doing well. The photos are lovely. You look like and angel!
Been reading your blog for sometime now(first time commenting). Glad everything is going well and you will never regret those beautiful pictures!!
I regret NOT taking any pictures of me pregnant. I have 6 boys ages 26-12 and two grandsons(twins)4.I was due with my last child on Sept.8th so this bring back memories.My husband of 27 years still tells me how much he loved seeing me pregnant and wishes we had pictures:(.(By the way I'm only 4 years older than you:>)
All the best, Joyce
Wow Shana - you are beautiful! Pregnancy agrees with you.
Gorgeous shots! I've been a lurker here for a while but I had to comment to say that I am relieved everything is great with the kitten. I was pregnant last year with a due date of 9/20- I had my daughter on 9/15- so it's fun to follow along with your pregnancy and remember how i felt last year at this time. I had a lot of contractions around this same time as well- but they totally went away by week 32 or so. I also had those terrible headaches along with weird facial pain- so I have total emphathy for you. But all was well come the big day- I had a beautiful natural birth and felt back to normal quickly! So hopefully you will too.
Have you thought about using cloth diapers?- they are so much fun and a very addictive and excellent way to pass the time while on bedrest is to shop for some newborn "fluff"- beautiful organic diapers, little wool covers, etc. Just a suggestion- we love our cute cloth bottomed girl here and it's (too) fun to shop for them!
You are gorgeous not pregnant and if you could even get any more gorgeous it is when you are! These photos are so beautiful!!! I- was- not- pretty- pregnant. My legs were like tree stumps! LOL!!!!
We are praying for you! XOXOXO
Very Nice Pictures!
Shana, you are very lucky that your husband has enoguh money for you to hire people, get the help of a housekeeper, and buy all the things you want. Many of us cannot even afford to buy a house.
:)
Take care, and may God bless you!
Dear Anonymous,
Yes, it's true- I am very blessed. I grew up poor, so believe me when I say I do know how lucky I am to have a house, a housekeeper, and especially the luxury of being able to stay at home with my kids. I appreciate everything I have, and I know that happiness does not come from material things. And like everyone else, I do have problems and worries; and my life is not perfect. Though you don't have a house right now, I'm sure that there is much about your life that I could say, "How lucky" about too. :) We all have our blessings and our challenges...
God bless you as well,
Shana
p.s. My husband doesn't buy me everything I want (as you suggested), but I am SO lucky because all I ever really wanted was a family of my own; and my husband has made that a reality for me. I am blessed with two beautiful children and a baby on the way- yes, I am indeed very lucky. :)
Those are really beautiful pictures. Well done. I'm glad things are a little calmer (relatively) now.
I just had to let you know that you are a very beautiful pregnant women. You look so happy in your photos. You are very lucky to have your children and they are lucky to have the wonderful parents they have. Take care of yourself.
Shana, could you be any prettier, oh yes you can, you and the kitten are gorgeous toghether. What wonderful photographs, thanks for sharing. It made my day...being pregnant is such an honor, one you wear, oh so well.
Melissa (Mama to newly adopted Ana and bio boys, Tommy and Anthony).
You look so beautiful!!! I am glad everything is going ok.
Shana,
Congrat! You look beautiful and honestly, you are so first class all the way, as evidenced in the way you responded to Anonymous. Instead of being defensive you were encouraging. Blessings to you and your wonderful family!
Melissa
It is so good to hear from you. Glad you and the kitten are well. And those pictures are absolutely stunning. Gorgeous.....
Shana... these are beautiful photographs! As a photographer, while not entering the pregnancy/baby arena, I do mingle with those who do and have to tell you that what you did is gorgeous and ranks up there with the pros! You are simply glowing too!
Glad to hear you and the kitten are doing so well! Enjoy this rest, as boring as it may seem, for it will all change in about 88 days! lol :)
Hi Shana,
Please do share with us how you took the photos! Did you use a remote? What camera did you use?
Katie in Canada
You look stunning! I can't wait until she's here, though I can't say I am even close to as excited as you, Sophie, Michael, and Oliver are. I know I say this everytime, but I feel truly blessed to be witness to your beautiful family. No lie.
-S
Shana,
Gorgeous pictures of you. I agree that a pic with Sophie Lu and Ollie's hands on your baby bump would be so prescious. I can hardly wait to see more Annalisa sonogram pics too.
The person that commented about the house, wow, I feel that to sometimes from others. I have a home (with a mortgage of course), that I purchased in 1994. Way before the market went crazy.
A family member, at the time chose not to buy a house, it was too much responsibility. They wanted to put $ into husband's business. Well, we all know, the market has changed, and now there is no way they can buy a home. They resent me to no end cause I have a home and they are renters.
It's all in God's hands, it's "God's will be done". You are brining up children in God's love, and Praise the Lord (PTL) for that. The world needs more family oriented people !!
As a blog follower, we need a weekly update, pics, garden growing, Ollie turinng into a little man, Sophie a little lady, and Annalisa of course.
((((hugs))) to you and happy baby bump.
Shana... I am so happy for you and Michael, that you are able to experience both adoption and pregnancy. I have had such blessings too, and know that it is a rare gift in this life. I hope that you are feeling relaxed and happy---as you look in these photos!
Girl, you look better than I do at my not pregnant state. Wow, very happy for you. P.S. My sister's doing fine with her baby the one I told you about. Past the three month part.
Holding out faith.
Dreamer Girl
Wow, Shana, you are definitely glowing! You are beautiful. I'm glad things are stablizing for you and Kitten.
I am glad to hear things are going well :) Your pictures are beautiful!
Shanna,
What beautiful pictures!! You are so pretty pregnant, Milady my daughter who is just 8 weeks pregnant, wants to look like you when she gets as far a long!!!
You are meant to be pregnant, Glad to hear that the kitten is doing so well!! God is good!
Debbie
Shana,
I am so relieved to hear that everything is O.K. For some reason, I have a strong feeling that everything is going to turn out just as it should and your baby will be born healthy and strong. Even though we don't know each other, I know you have a strong faith so I wanted to tell you that.
Everyone has already said it, but I have to chime in...the pictures are stunning, I can't believe they're not professional. Although, with the the number of pics of Sophie and Ollie you've taken, you are certainly semi-pro!
Rest and keep us posted when you can.
Man Shana-
It is just not right how good you look! Such beautiful photos too.. your kitten will love having those when she is older.
I'm glad to hear bed rest is tolerable. Hang in there! At least you have two little ones to keep you entertained! Hang in there! Casey
Shana,
I am so sorry to hear about the pre-term labor. I know it can be scary, but you'll get through the rest of your pregnancy just fine. And your photos are stunning. You look absolutely gorgeous - I can see why your mom wanted you to share them. :)
Sending you all my best,
Carrie
Shana...you are so beautiful.....
Not being able to have children of my own I feel a bittersweet joy when I see your pictures.
(And praying that I soon will hear from China about our adoption referral...)
May God bless you and your family.
Take care,
Miette
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Shana,
HELP !!!! What camera would yourecommend for a beginner? I currently use a digital pentax, simple, simple, simple camera. What would you recommend for an upgrade for a beginner?
Thanks, Gail
Miette,
((Hugs))
I've felt that same way, so I totally understand- and my heart goes out to you. After three miscarriages, I never thought I'd be able to carry a baby to term either- but after seeing a wonderful accupuncturist helped me (not sure if that would work for you or not).
But either way, you ARE going to be a Mommy. You are so lucky to be adopting from China, and I pray that things speed up. Being pregnant is a very special experience, but still, NOTHING compares with my experience of adopting Sophie from China. I wouldn't trade that for anything- it was so magical and amazing in every way. Most women can get have biological babies, but a very very special few of us get to experience the miracle of adoption...
I hope none of that came out wrong. Just know I am sending my love.
Shana :)
Gail & Katie,
I used the Nikon D40X for these photos. Pretty easy to use... I also edited them using Photoshop CS2.
Good luck!
Shana :)
Gail & Katie,
I used the Nikon D40X for these photos. Pretty easy to use... I also edited them using Photoshop CS2.
Good luck!
Shana :)
Beautiful picture.
Glad your doing well and can't wait for the next update.
You are such a beautiful pregnant woman. It really suits you. I was looking at the photos and thought, "She needs to be on the cover of pregnancy magazine!"
Did you get any pregnancy photos with Sophie and Ollie???
Shana,
I have always thought you were such a beautiful girl - but I think you with your kitten has really topped it!! You are gorgeous, sisterl!!!
You look so beautiful! I'm praying for you and the Kitten. May she stay within for another 88 days!
very beautiful
Heather
Shana, your pictures are gorgeous - were you ever a model? You certainly could be! I had an idea to help you pass the time while on bedrest- how about sharing the story of how you and your husband met? I would love to hear how your story began and it would make a lovely addition for the blog if you someday want to print it and save it for your children.
You look beautiful and glowing! So glad things are going better.
What beautiful pictures! I'm sorry that you have to be on bedrest but I'm so glad to hear that both you and the baby are doing okay!!
You look amazing! I hope the next 13 weeks go by quickly and uneventfully of course!
Shana -
Glad to hear things are going much better. Your photos are absolutly stunning.
Even though I will never experience pregnancy, nothing brings me more joy than that precious bundle that is laying is my bed right now snuggled up and fast asleep in my bed.
I count my blessings everyday that God blessed me with this angel that brings me happiness beyond my wildest dreams.
Congratulations on everything. I know that you and your family are so excited and I honestly feel it thru your photos and your postings.
Take Care -
Michelle
So glad all is well. You are looking beautiful.
You look absolutely gorgeous! Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers...
Peace and Hugs,
Becca
Shana,
I already commented here but as I was checking for an update I saw that Anonymous comment and I want to tell you that you handled it with grace and style.
Also, I agree with the person who asked you to share how you met Michael. I know the kitten would probably love to look back someday and read about that on her blog:) Plus, we all need to hear a romantic love story:)
Kim
You are the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen! Those pictures will be so precious to you for years to come.
Praying that you got all the rest you need to keep kitten safely snug inside until it is the perfect time for her to enter this world.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
The most beautiful mummy¡¡¡¡
Belén
I was worried since I'd not seen a post on Sophie's blog in several weeks. Now I know why! Thank goodness you went to the Dr!
You're such a pretty MIW (Mommy in Waiting). I'm delighted to see your plump round belly after all you've been through. Just a few more weeks, okay?
Ha! My waist is smaller than yours! (wink)
Lots of love!
Donna
Our blog: Double Happiness!
Shana, you look beautiful! I'm SO SORRY I'm so far behind on the blog world... just read about your bed rest! Better to be safe than sorry, and you're SO CLOSE that it'll fly by! Glad everything is going well, hang in there my belly-baby sister! ;)
Such great news to hear about the "kitten". Keep resting and she will continue to grow big and strong.
Your pictures are beautiful and will be wonderful way to show and tell the story of "Kitten" when she's older.
Blondie
PS Online shopping can be done from the bed! ;) Hurray!
Shana,
I was on bedrest with my last 2 sons and they are both perfect and just fine. You are going to be ok. Just rest and follow your doctor's instruction.
You look great!!!! I had preterm labor with my first baby and now she's a happy heathly normal 15 year old!
Bedrest isnt fun but sooo worth it!
Many blessings,Leslie
Guatemama to Princessa Abby
Gorgeous gorgeous! Oh man bedrest, poor thing, I hope it's going alright. That's so tough.
I read in the comments about YOUR birth video. Is it on the computer? I am a Doula and so curious.
WOW! You are just so beautiful... and now you are even taking fantastic photos of yourself! There truly isn't anything you can't do.
I am so glad you and the baby are safe. I am praying for you....
I'm usually not crazy about pregnancy photos (due to infertility years, I guess), but yours are truly lovely.
Your pictures are stunning. The Kitten is very lucky to have a Mum like you as are Sophie Lu and Ollie.
Shana, estás preciosa. Enhorabuena. Mi familia y yo nos alegramos mucho por tí,Michael y los niños. ¡Vamos! Ya queda menos.
Un beso con cariño, Paz Serrano.
Oh my word! Those are the most beautiful pictures!!! ENJOY!!!! What a special time!
Blessings,
Kerri
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