A first.....

Last night something amazing happened. A first for us.

I have been feeling Caden kicking for awhile now....but last night as I was laying on the couch and I put my hand on my stomach and I felt him kick. I called Mike over and he put his hand on my stomach and Caden kicked again....and Mike felt it! I wish I could have captured his face on camera. It showed pure happiness. I would have to say it is one of the best feelings in the world....and we finally got to experience it. Amazing. Truly amazing.

I even woke up this morning still smiling. And as I started writing this blog something else came to mind. I realize how lucky I am. Even though I have not been able to have a child yet....with my two 2nd trimester losses....I had been able to feel the baby move....even if Mike couldn't. I was able to see and hold both babies....I was able to see what features they would of had. That is MORE than what alot of woman even get to experience. Even more so....I was able to get pregnant 4 different times.....alot of women don't even experience the joy of looking at a pregnancy test and seeing a positive result. So even though the end result has been the same as those women.....being left empty handed...I am soooooo thankful that I have been able to experience more in two years than most experience in their whole life time. And I pray for those who are struggling to start a family as we have.

Thank you God for blessing us with this first....it is something that we will never forget.

Introducing our little man......

I know it has been awhile since I blogged. I've wanted to many, many times.....but I have held off. It was my intention to hold off another couple of weeks....but my doctors appointment yesterday went really well.....therefore I decided it was time.

I am now 21 weeks....and I am sure most of you know that we are having a boy. I have been going to the doctor very often with this pregnancy. I have had sonos every two weeks to check the length of my cervix and as of yesterday my cervix has not shortened at all! My problems started with Ava when I was 22 weeks.....but even at 2o weeks last time my cervix had already started to shorten some....and at 22.5 weeks there was only a stitch holding the baby in. So my doctor stated yesterday that we should be seeing a problem starting by now at 21 weeks if there was going to be one with my cervix. SOOOOOO..... I feel alot more confident saying that it APPEARS the abdominal cerclage worked for us. My doctor was so pleased yesterday....and I walked out of that office with a HUGE smile on my face.

Its really hard to not feel excited when you are pregnant.....but I have been so nervous as well. Mike and I both have. We have done things alot different this time. Number one.....we didnt read the weekly growth books like we had the last 3 times. I also didn't want to post any pictures or blog that much either. It just seems that we would get our hopes up when we did that. Dont get me wrong....we personally celebrated every week down.....we prayed and thanked God for every single week that has past. We just didn't want to get too excited. And maybe it is foolish of me to be so excited at 21 weeks.....but hey....I think I am just going to take my chances. We still have a long way to go.....but the main problem has been my incompetent cervix....and it appears that the cerclage is holding this time. That being said....I am going to try and enjoy the rest of this pregnancy. Not hold back so much. And if it happens to be God's plan that things don't continue to go well....we will deal with it then. I know that God wont give us anything we cant handle....and I have faith in him.

As of now....I am going in weekly to the doctor. I am getting a shot once a week of progesterone to try and prevent any pre term labor issues. I am still having a sono every 2 weeks to check my cervix length....and I am still staying off my feet as much as possible. Mike has really helped me alot in this area and I truly believe that not lifting anything and staying off my feet when I can has helped the situation. All that being said....I am finally ready to share a picture of our little man.....so here is a few sono pictures of Caden Terry Cruz.....

Profile Picture... with both hands in the air....

3D/4D Sono picture at 21 weeks....Looks a little funny...but it is a picture of his face....looks like he has two bumps over one of his eyes...but they said it was just the cord in the way...

Caden looking at you....lol

Another profile picture...

So thats our little man....weighing in at 13 oz. and 9 inches long at 21 weeks. Mike and I even picked out the nursery theme....its a rock n' roll theme....so he is going to be our little rock star. =) Please continue to keep us in your prayers and I promise I will be updating alot more now! =)