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My name is Christine and I live in California with the love of my life Mike. We got married December 3, 2005 and found out that we were pregnant in September. It was a little bit of a shock because it wasn't planned but we are definetly excited about it. I was on birth control but decided to come off in May 06 and we were careful for like 2 months and then the one month we weren't i got pregnant!! I was suprised, i didn't think it would happen so fast! The baby is due May 26th and i can't wait! We found out the sex on January 8th and we are having a little girl!!! She is so active i feel her move all the time. We finally decided on a name and it's Brooke Marie. Marie is my mother-in-laws middle name and we just both agreed on the name Brooke. So we cannot wait for our little Brookie to get here. We already have a crib, dresser, my mother in law bought us the bedding and a glider (which i absolutley love!!) and my mom bought us a car seat and stroller. I am 26 weeks today and so excited to be more than half way through the pregnancy, looking back almost 7 months have gone by so fast but going through it has taken forever! Excited to be on this website and meet some expectant mother's who are anxious and worried just like me. The biggest thing for me is trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing that he will take care of everything. I totally believe and trust in that but It's just hard to give it all up to Him 100% and it's something that i am learning.

9/3/08

Took a pregnancy test this morning and it was positive!! Baby #2 due May 13th 2009!! My first dr apt is September 16th! i can't wait im so excited for round 2! Im praying continually for the health of this baby! Brooke is gonna be such a good big sister! she loves babies.

9/11

I woke up this morning at 3am bleeding and i lost the baby. Mike and i are devastated but know God has a plan. We will start trying again as soon as we get the ok from the dr.

9/16/08

I went to the dr today and was told it was a chemical pregnancy...there was a chromosomal abnormality of some kind and according to my HCG level to confirm pregnany it was pretty low. So things just didn't go as they should have. My dr said it is very common and i would go on to have more kids without any issues. which made me feel better.

As hard as it has been for me the past 5 days i can honestly say i have learned so much through this experience. I am so blessed to know Jesus Christ, the creator of life, HE has a plan for my life and i trust that he knows what is best for me and my family. My husband is truly amazing and i couldn't have asked for a better one. My daughter brings so much joy to my heart and days where i just felt like crying she was doing somehting silly to crack me up...her kisses and hugs helped a lot too :) So back to square one...waiting for AF to visit and then trying again. We didn't have problems getting pregnant the first 2 times and i hope its the same for the third. I will keep you all posted.

This is our first born Pixie...She's a 11lb Chihuahua. We dressed her like a reindeer for christmas haha!

Update: Feb 28th

Went to the Doctor for my checkup and everything looks great! Brooke's heart beat is strong. The Dr. said she is head down and that i am measuring 28 weeks right where i should be. I go in on Friday to do my Glucose test...not really looking forward to that but it will be okay i suppose. My little baby girl is moving non-stop now! I am carrying pretty high so she enjoys putting her feet in my ribs and she stretches a ton! haha but i totally love to feel her move no matter what she does! It's amazing to me how strong she is now and just can't wait for her arrival! I am 28 weeks on Saturday and just can't believe i am in the final stretch!

Update MARCH 7:

I had been having braxton hicks contractions pretty frequently for like the last 3-4days so i started to worry (naturally). I gave the dr. a call and she said to come in and to get checked out. I went in with my husband and she checked Brooke's heart beat and everything was fine there. SHe then checked my cervix and she said that it was long and closed so that was another good thing. She told me that she had a lot of b.h. when she was pregnant and carried both kids to term and that some women just feel more b.h. than others. She did a test on me to make sure that there wasn't any threat of preterm labor (which deep down knew that i wasn't) so i got the test result back today and it was negative. Praise the Lord! i feel alot better knowing that everything is okay and that she isn't going to try and come out yet haha. We will see if it stays that way. But i have still been getting b.h. and when i do i just rest and drink some water and they seem to go away for awhile.I also did the glucose test it wasn't so bad it wasn't good either ha. I don't have G.D. so i am doing well. So far i have gained 17lbs and have consistently been putting on 4lbs a month. I just can't wait till May! My husband is so cute and he is soooo excited for her to get here! We started our birthing classes and have gone to 2 already. This last time we saw pictures of the hospital and what the rooms look like and he whispered to me " I AM SO EXCITED!" I am hoping the next 2.5 months go by quickly so we can hold her and love her! She is so loved already by so many people!

March 16:

I will be 30 weeks tomorrow! I can't believe only 10weeks left! I am going to have my baby shower April 21st. I will be 35 weeks by then! I just pray that the next 10 weeks will go by quickly so i can see my beautiful baby girl. I feel like my tummy is getting bigger by the second! Every week my husband and i take a picture of the belly and it's amazing to see how much ive grown in just 7days! I will get some pics up soon. One of me earlier in my pregnancy and one of 30 weeks.

March 28:

Went to the Dr. today and all is well. I did have a UTI about 2weeks ago but that cleared up.Her heart beat is nice is strong,i'm measuring right where i need to be, i gained 4lbs this month and my blood pressure was great. The dr. said she was head down which is good. I start going every two weeks which is crazy to think that i am at this point in my pregnancy. I'll be 8months saturday not too much longer and she'll be here!

April 11:

Dr. appointment went well today everything is good. So it's pretty uneventful which i am enjoying. Her head is down and her butt is on my right hand side which is what i thought. I get big buldges on my right side so i figured it was her butt. I asked if she could tell how big she is but she said not yet and she would be able to until the last month so i have to wait a little bit. I am so excited!!!

April 23: Well i had my baby shower this weekend. I was so shocked at how many things we got! We are pretty much all set except for a few things. It was just such a blessing!! I am now 35 weeks and my next apt. is this thursday and then i start going every week. I'm not sure if it will just be a regular visit or if she will start checking my cervix or do my strep b test so it will be interesting to see. Hopefully i've been doing ok with my weight as well. I weighed myself the other day and i have only put on 1 more Lbs. I am so looking forward to the day Brooke is born to see her beautiful face and also to get my body back. Pregnancy takes such a toll and i didn't even realize how much until i got pregnant. Everything hurts and i am so uncomfortable. But i would and will do it all over again in a heartbeat! I'm still getting my braxton hicks and they are more frequent and intensifying little by little. I hate them! But i guess it is a good thing cuz it is preparing my uterus for the BIG SHOW! I can't believe i have only 33 days until i see my baby girl! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time! Now that i have all of her stuff the next few weeks will just be washing clothes, finishing up her room, and getting last minute things for my husband and i to take to the hospital (which i haven't packed a bag for by the way) I'm pretty sure i'm gonna get it done this week. Anyways I will keep you all posted and write another update the next time i go in to the Dr.

April 26

Went to the dr. today and she checked me and did a strep b test. She said that iwas 60% effaced and 2cm dilated. I guess all those b.h. contractions really are helping the process along. She told me to take it easy for the next week and that i should be fine. She said just to be ready. She also said if she came now she would be fine she estimated if i carried her until my due date that she would be 7-7.5lbs so if ihave her early she will prob. be 6lbs. I will keep you all updated!!

May 2

I had another dr. apt today and i am the same from last week...which is bitter sweet. I was hoping for a little more progress but i'm sure it will come soon. I tested negative for strep b which is good and my dr. said brooke is growing a ton. Only 3weeks left until the due date i can't wait to get checked again next week!!!

May 9

Went to the Dr. i actually lost a pound which i was happy about...blood pressure was good...And i was the FREAKIN SAME AS THE LAST TWO WEEKS!!! 2cm 60% effaced she is in my pelvis so it pretty much is just a matter of time before i have her. I want her out so bad! But it's all in God's timing and i just have to be patient

May 16

Dr. appointment today went well. I didn't gain any weight and everything was fine. I am still 2cm dilated and 60% effaced but Brooke is dropping which is a good sign. My dr. said she would only let me go 1week past the due date so either way i will meet my baby girl in a max of 2 1/2 weeks! So i guess if i look at it that way i can handle it. I just have to take it one day at a time and try not to dwell on it she will come when she is good and ready! So I am really excited and just waiting....

May 23-

I had another dr. appointment went in and got my membranes swept. I'm 2-3cm dilated and my dr said as ready as i can be all i need are some contractions! The sweep didn't hurt that bad at all...my dr. is very gentle and has small hands so maybe that is why. I lost another pound and my blood pressure was really good. I've been doing a lot of walking which is helping out. Mike and I are going to go to Disneyland right now just to walk around and see if it will do anything i'm hoping it will. My Sister in law is Cruella Devil at D-land and she told me that if Brooke was born at Disneyland (not likely but what the hey) that she would get a LIFETIME pass there haha so i highly doubt i will be giving Birth on Main St. disneyland but its kind of funny to think about. I'm praying i will have my little girl within the next couple days! WISH ME LUCK!!!

MAY 24, 2007

BROOKE MARIE IS HERE!!!

she's here! 7lbs 11oz 20.5inches long! I went into Labor wed at 515pm in labor for 10hrs was at 5cm and got that wonderful epidural...after that i dilated to about a 6 at 5 and by 7 was at a 10! Pushed for 1hr 13mins and she came out at 943am! I am so in LOVE with my baby girl! Everything went well...i tore a little bit and i am just recovering i will post pictures soon!

LABOR STORY-

Brooke was Born May 24,2007!

Well she is finally here! 9 FULL months of waiting is over and Mike and I finally have our little girl.She is amazing andI didn't think i could love someone instatnly the way i do her.

I went to the Dr. on Wed the 23rdand had my membranes stripped (which worked wonders) @ 9ish. After the appointment Mike and i went to disneyland to walk around and got some lunch.Then we just went home and waited for something ANYTHING to happen.Well hours passed and i started feeling like it wasn't going to work and i was going to pregnant for yet another week.Around 5:00pm i got my first contraction and they didn't slow down at all after that. My mom came over and was there for support and comfort.It was around 1130pm when i woke Mike up and told him we definatley needed to go to the hospital. At that point my contractions were 3mins apart.Once we got there they hooked me up to a monitor and checked me and i was 4cm dilated at that point. They started getting pretty bad and by the time i was about 6cm i asked for the epidural it was about 230 in the morning. so i was in labor 10hrs already andI just couldn't take the pain anymore and if i could have my baby w/o pain that's what i wanted. After the epidural i was in heaven! Then the dr. came in and broke my water to try and get things to progress. Mike and i actually were able to sleep some and the nurse checked me again at 5am.I still was about the same and she said she'd check me in 2hrs and if i hadn't progressed by then i would need pitocin. so i prayed and asked the Lord to help me progress cuz i really didn't want any pitocin.She came in 2hrs later and i was at a 10!!I started pushing and 1hr and 13mins later Brooke Marie Paino came into the world!I had a minor tear which is pretty painful and it makes things a little more difficult but it could have been worse.She had the cord around her neck so the Dr. had to cut it, which was a bummer for Mike but it was in the best interest of Brooke and he was totally okay with it.There are no words to describe the feeling when they put your daughter on your chest and she is just looking back at you! The only thing that i could do was cry!She weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20.5inches long.

32 weeks!!

33 weeks!!!

34 weeks!

37 weeks!

39 weeks! Sorry the pics are so big...i can't figure out how to resize them.

Standing alone at almost 8months old :) Big Girl!