Crawfish Boil

Hey everyone!! Sorry it's been so long since I've written. Between work, real estate and Maddie's Footprints - there has barely been time to breathe! :) Things are still going well with Baby Noelle. She is quite the antsy one - moving around all the time! I've been feeling good, just still tired most of the time. I guess I'm not going to get that 2nd trimester burst of energy they talk about. Haha! Travis and I are headed to Natchitoches tomorrow for a weekend getaway. We are very excited to go somewhere relaxing all by ourselves and not worry about anything! We don't have much on the agenda - just touring a few plantation homes, maybe some shopping and of course eating at cute little diners! It'll be a much needed relaxing weekend!

I also wanted to let you all know that details for Maddie's Footprints' first fundraiser have been finalized! It'll be a Crawfish Boil at Acadian Village, Saturday, May 8 from 5-9pm. Tickets can be purchased through me or our website - http://www.maddiesfootprints.org/. We strongly encourage everyone to get their tickets in advance as we will only have a limited amount of crawfish on that day! The details are on the flyer here or on our website. PLEASE COME and help out a great cause!! And bring your friends!! :)

Definitely a girl!

I had another ultrasound today. Everything still looks great and normal, so all signs points to a healthy baby!! And this time, she cooperated and we could definitely tell it is indeed a girl! She also snuck in a couple of 3D shots. We got a few of her face. She's still skinny (weighs right at 1 pound), but she is looking more and more human! :) Pics are in the album.

It's another GIRL!!!!

So we found out today that Madeline will have a baby sister. That's right....it's a GIRL! The doctor said that everything looks great and completely normal. He has released me from his care and I only have to continue to see my normal OB. We couldn't be more excited with this news! We got quite a few pictures today, so I posted them in the Album. Some are in 3D - she still looks like a little alien, because they don't have much fat yet at this point. But again - she's a VERY cute alien! : )

We have also decided that her name will be Noelle Elizabeth. I think Madeline will be very proud to share her middle name with her baby sister! Thanks to all of you for the prayers! They are working so keep them coming!

Things are still looking up!

First of all, we received our results back from the scans and tests that were taken for Baby McGrew and they were NEGATIVE!! We couldn't be more excited about this. We can rest a little easier now and truly enjoy this pregnancy with a positive outlook. We'll be finding out the sex in just one week!! :)

We also received a VERY generous anonymous donation in the amount of $5,000 for Maddie's Footprints!!! This is incredibe and will give us a great jump-start to starting the new organization. We are hoping to have our first big fundraiser in April or May, so I'll be keeping you guys posted on that. David also designed our website and it's up and running now so check it out: http://www.maddiesfootprints.org/. It looks great - thanks Dave!!

Hello 2010!!!

Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010! The year 2009 has been a real bumpy one for us, our families and for a great deal of our friends. It seemed as though everywhere we turned, there were more negative things happening all around us. Well for 2010, I am trying to have a much better attitude. I usually don't really give much thought to the changing of the years (except where we're going for New Year's Eve), but since this one has been a little rough, I've tried to really focus on the positive things. Surprisingly - there are actually many of them! So here are just a few:

• We welcomed our first great-nephew (Cohen James) and our first great-niece (Mya Noelle) to the family. They are both beautiful and healthy babies and we are so happy that the family is extending!
• My faith in God is stronger than it has ever been. While of course that relationship always needs improvement - I feel that it has reached another level this year.
• While we've always known that our families are the best ever, we have realized it even more this year. They have been there for us every step of the way and we are so fortunate to have them as our family.
• Our relationships with our friends are stronger than ever. I guess the saying is true: When you are going through rough times, you always know who your true friends are. We have such a tight group who have helped us through this year and we have even made some more friends this year who it seems like we've known forever. They are all truly like a second family to us.
• Although we miss Mama more than anything, it warms my heart to know that she was finally reunited with the love of her life, Granddad, and the baby that she lost so many years ago, Roger Wayne. If you knew Mama, you heard her talk about Elvis, her late husband. After him passing so many years ago, you could tell she just loved him so much and now she is finally laughing with him again. Ohhhh.....that laugh of hers - I sure do miss it!
• And just seven months ago today, Travis and I witnessed the most beautiful miracle - the birth of our first child, Madeline Noelle McGrew. Of course it was a sad moment, however, it was still just amazing to be a part of such a beautiful moment. To hold her in my arms was the proudest and best moment I've ever had in my life. Of course we miss her and not a day goes by where we don't think of her a million times, but she still did bring joy to our lives and she has taught us so much.
• The idea came about to start our non-profit organization, Maddie's Footprints. We had our first board meeting and first successful fundraiser!
• I believe that our marriage is stronger than it has ever been. (Yes, I know it's only been four years - but we have been together for 10 years - so I think we get to start counting from then. Haha! Just kidding.) But seriously, just when I think that things are great and I'm so happy in my marriage, things seem to get even better. The year 2009 and God has played a big role in that too. While reading and researching about parents who lose their babies, everywhere you turn it says how marriages can break up over these things - which is quite understandable! It completely terrified me on top of everything else. However, God has turned us towards each other instead of away from each other and it has been the #1 thing that has kept me going.

So, we obviously have a great deal to be thankful for this past year, and I'm still so hopeful for so many more things to come in 2010:

• We have a healthy and happy baby born this year.
• We are able to welcome another healthy and happy niece or nephew this year (Hint, hint Dave and Jenn)
• All of our friends who have decided to begin their families - that they too enjoy the miracle of pregnancy and have healthy babies!
• Our relationships with God, family, friends and each other continue to grow throughout the year.
• Our families are rid of any sickness and become healthy again.
• Our friends who are getting married have the weddings that they dreamed of and have long, happy marriages.
• That all of our friends find true love (if they haven't already).
• Maddie's Footprints has several successful events and fundraisers and helps our very first family!!

I'm sure there is much more I'm forgetting - but I won't bore you with anymore. We love all of you and thank you for being such a great part of our lives! We hope that 2010 is the best year yet for us all!!

Lots of updates

Soooo....a lot has happened since my last post. First off, we had an excellent Christmas. Dave, Jenn and Mia came in for a few days and we had an absolute blast! We even got to take Mia to Claire's 2nd Birthday Party! Claire and Mia became instant friends and got along beautifully. I have posted the pictures in the album. Thanks Claire for inviting us to the party - it was fun! :)

Then today was a big day for Baby McGrew. We had the first part of the Integrated Screen. For those of you who don't know, Integrated Screen is a test that shows if you are at increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, Trisomy 18, or an open neural defect. It requires a blood sample and an ultrasound measurement from the first trimester and a second blood sample taken during the second trimester. Today we had the first trimester ultrasound and blood test. We will not receive the official results until after Part 2. However, Dr. Barrilleaux was able to give us some information from the ultrasound today. One of the main measurements that is taken during this ultrasound is called the nuchal translucency (NT), which is a measurement of the fluid filled space at the back of the fetus' neck. Baby McGrew's measured completely normal!! Other signs that we looked for were clinched fists (like Madeline had), no sign of a nasal bone (possible indication of Down syndrome), chambers of the heart and several other measurements. Baby McGrew had hands wide-open, a nasal bone, skeletal bones, two arms, two legs, and what appeared to be 4 chambers of the heart - ALL are normal!!! Again, this is not "official" but the doctor said that based on today's ultrasound, he sees no cause for alarm at this point. This was the absolute best possible news we could have heard today! We are still anxious for the results, which we will receive February 2nd, but this has allowed us to breathe some sigh of relief. We are also hoping to find out the sex at that appointment as well! So...more to come...but wanted to give you all an update. Thank you all for the prayers and keep them coming!

On another happy note, Travis and I will celebrate our 4th Anniversary tomorrow! WOW - how time flies! Travis is the absolute best friend and husband that I could ask for. I can honestly say that I couldn't get through some of these rough times without him being right by my side. I couldn't imagine my life without him and I'm truly blessed to have him as my soul mate. I love you, Travis and Happy Anniversary!

Oh!!! And I posted Baby McGrew pics in the album as well. The 3D ones are a bit scary because they still kind of look like aliens at this point! But I must say - that's a very cute alien! :)

Slideshow

Hello everyone! Lyndsay Melancon graciously put together this slideshow for us of the pictures that she took of Madeline in the hospital. It's just awesome! For some reason I couldn't attach it to the blog before...but now it has allowed me to attach! So here it is in the post below. Enjoy!!

Also, just this past weekend we had our first small fundraiser for Maddie's Footprints and we raised $3,500!!! We are just overwhelmed how much we were able to raise for such a small fundraiser! Thanks to all of you who came and or made donations. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives!!

We are also having our first Board Meeting tonight and I'm just so excited it's finally here and we can get things started. So many of you have offered to volunteer and/or help out with events (which hopefully we will have plenty) and we cannot thank you enough. So to try to keep things organized, please email me (lorimcgrew@cox.net) if you'd like to volunteer when things start happening. I'm starting a "list" so that we can remember all of our resources! Please give me your name, email address, mailing address and phone number so that we can contact you in the future.

And also, we have had another doctor's appointment since my last post. Baby McGrew is still looking good and has a strong heartbeat! Thank you for all of the prayers - they are working!

Again, thank you so very much for all of your love and support. I don't know what we'd do without all of you!