Baby Rice...aka...Shrimp

I had every intention of writing our pregnancy story a few weeks ago; however, I was delayed with our trip to Vegas, trying to find a job, Toby getting hurt and having surgery...and just plan ol' procrastination. Haha!

So here goes...

When we got married, we decided we wanted to accomplish a few things before bringing a little one into our lives.  These are a few things we felt were right for us, and would help our story transition a bit more smoothly. 

1. We wanted to establish a christian marriage and foundation we believe is critical to the success of family...as well as just to enjoy being young and married.
2. We wanted to travel.
3. We wanted to prepare our finances. 
4. We wanted to wait since we felt we were too young/not ready.  We felt four years would be about right.

Well...it seems that our plans also worked within God's (this time).

1. We feel we have been able to establish a christian marriage and stable foundation for our little family (although we know this is a long term process).  We did so with a lot of work on our parts, but also with the love and support of family, mentors, and small group (bible study group).  
2. We've lived in and traveled to many places.  Our top most enjoyable places we traveled to out of the country: St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Lucia, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, and Florence.
3. We've worked hard to live well within our means and maintain a budget (although we're far from perfect).  Last year, we took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.  We're not completely debt free as we're still working on Matt's student loans, but we're working hard to accomplish the goal.  Plus, we were able to squirrel away some money for a little one! 
4. On Oct. 27th we celebrated our 4th anniversary and we both turned 28 within the last few months.  I have to say, we both feel more mature/prepared to bring a little one into our lives, but we also have to keep reminding ourselves we're no longer 24...haha!

So that brings us to the actually baby story...I figure the easiest way to do this is with a timeline.

• July: 
• I suspected I was pregnant at the end of July, but I took three tests that came back negative.  After the third test, and much disappointment, I decided to call my doctor and they told me to try again a week later. 
• A week later, we were in Clayton for a going away get together with friends.  Before the get together, I woke up very early to take another test.  I told Matt since we had been disappointed before with the negative results, I would check the results myself (thinking it wouldn't be as big of a let down if it's negative again).  Much to my surprise...it was positive!!  My mouth literally feel open before I started smiling really big.  (However, then I felt guilty about Matt not being there to see the results.)
• I decided to tell Matt, who was still snuggled in bed asleep the news (but with a twist...I wanted him to be able to see the results himself).  I went in and sat down on the bed and told him sadly...no, still not positive.  He was so sweet and comforting and offered his arm out to hold me.  I held out the test to him and said, "see."  He was confused as to why I wanted him to look at the test because of course I had just peed on it....but he took it, lol.  He still had sleepy eyes and wasn't processing a lot at the time since it was so early, so he held the test and looked at it for a while.  Then, all of a sudden he popped his eyes wide open and looked up at me...then back at the test...then back at me and said...REALLY?!  It was too cute to see his genuine excitement.
• We decided it was important to keep it a secret, until we felt our baby was big enough for the big news.

the morning we found out...5 wks

• August:
• The first few weeks of August I was exhausted, having morning sickness, and very sensitive to smells.  We also decided we wanted to give our baby a nickname until we knew the gender, just so we didn't have to call it, it.  We went through various options but then settled on Shrimp. 
• Mid-August I went to stay with my family to visit for a week before our final move.  Unfortunately, I was really sick the entire time and I spent most of the week in bed or on the couch...I'm sure I was great company.
• We didn't plan on telling anyone until after our first OB appointment, but if I didn't go ahead and tell my family while I was home I wouldn't get to tell them in person.  So, Matt and I came up with a plan.
• My immediate family has a strong bond and we're all about each other...'The Pearces'.  It's hard to explain, but if you've spent time around us you would understand that last part.  When we were younger there was the 4 of us (Mom, Dad, Melissa and me).  When they found out my younger sister was on the way we of course became the 5.  We've had a way of tying in the number which represents each of us into various things within our family in meaningful ways.  Then, when Matt and I got married, my Dad made the announcement at our rehearsal dinner we're now 6, as a way of telling Matt he was one of us...and Matt knew exactly what it meant.  Even my family's boat is named Toe Dirt 6...for each of us (Toe Dirt is a whole other story, ha). 

my parent's boat

• We wanted to make the announcement to our families with an ultrasound picture, but that wasn't an option for my family.  So, we decided what better way to announce to the family there would be 7 of us than to show them a picture of the boat, but with the name changed to Toe Dirt 7!  I gave each of them a picture frame to open at the same time, and we must have done a good job with the photo shop, because they didn't notice the 7 for a little while.  Haley was the first one to notice the 7, and then the rest of the family caught on pretty quickly.  (Matt wasn't able to be there due to working in KS, so I had him secretly on speaker phone so he could share in the excitement.)  They were really happy for us.




This is the picture we gave my family.


• Our first OB appointment and ultrasound was on August 22nd.  During the ultrasound we got to see our baby's tiny heartbeat, but it was too early to hear it.  We also found out I wasn't as far along as we originally thought.  I was about 6.5 weeks that day.  We were extremely happy to see our tiny Shrimp. 
• In addition, unfortunately our doctor told us I miscarried a twin.  On the ultrasound, there was a second gestational sac, but it was empty.  (Twins run in both of our families.)  Although we were disappointed, Matt and I didn't focus much at the appointment on the loss of the twin, as we were elated to know we had a healthy baby on the way.  (I think our doctor was also great in helping us focus on the positive.)  Later that day we talked and prayed for the loss of our baby and decided to name him Byron.  I felt it was really important to name our baby (even though we obviously don't know the gender), because of the book I just finished reading "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo.  The book shares a true story about a boy that goes to Heaven and meets his sister, who he didn't know about that had been lost to miscarriage, but didn't have a name because she was never named by her parents.  It gives me a piece of mind, knowing God has a plan for everyone and that Byron is there with him.
• That weekend, Matt's family came to Charleston to visit before our final flight to KS.  We wanted to share the news with his immediate family, and now we had an ultrasound picture to share!  We set up a time with just his mom, dad, sister, Jessica, and brother-in-law, Justin, to go to lunch.  While waiting for our lunch to be served, we told his family we got them a little something while in KS on our home finding trip.  So, we gave his mom and dad a gift bag and one to Jessica and Justin.  We told Jessica and Justin to open their first gift, which we got them a small shot glass from KS to throw them off with thinking they really had gifts from KS.  Next, Matt told his parents to open their bag, but that they needed to open it together.  So, Brenda and Charles pulled out their gift and unwrapped the tissue and then...confusion, haha.  Brenda was looking at the ultrasound picture upside down (and couldn't read the frame that said Grandchildren are a Blessing) and Charles was trying to figure out what it had to do with KS...haha!  However, they both caught on pretty quickly and Brenda started crying while Charles kept saying, no way!  Due to the way we were sitting, Justin and Jessica couldn't tell what they got and didn't understand what was going on.  Before we could tell them to open their second gift, Justin quickly reached in the bag and pulled out their picture.  They were all very excited for us, but we swore them to secrecy.  It was a great experience!

first ultrasound picture at 6.5 weeks-this is what Matt's family saw

• September:
• I went to my first OB appointment at my new doctor's office in KS.  Things are quite different here, but it went well.  They had a hard time finding the heartbeat, so they did an ultrasound.  It was great seeing how big Shrimp had gotten.  Matt was also in awe watching the baby move as he didn't realize Shrimp could already move that much. 
• We also have confusion about how far along I really am due to this ultrasound.  The sonographer told me based on my measurements I was 13 weeks...however, our doctor decided to keep me on track with my original ultrasound, meaning I was 11 weeks at the time.  So, I don't know if my due date is March 28th or April 10...I will find out more later.

our second ultrasound (between 11-13 weeks)

• We also decided it was time to share the exciting news with everyone!
• Also, to track my tummy growth we decided to start taking pictures of me wearing the same thing to make it easier to see my changes.



around 13.5 weeks

• October:
• At this month's appointment we got to hear Shrimp's heartbeat for the first time.  That was incredible!  Here are a few pictures of my growth in October.

around 17.5 weeks

for Halloween I was a peanut M&M...18.5 weeks

• November:
• On the 21st we will find out Shrimp's gender...as well as hopefully some more insight on my due date!  We can't wait! Also, we have a few top baby names on the list for each gender...although we haven't shared them.  Hehe, aren't surprises fun!! :)
• We just booked a trip home for Thanksgiving (previously unplanned)!  We're so excited because this means we'll get to share the gender with our families in person at two gender revealing parties!

19.5 weeks

Sorry I turned this into a short novel, but most people haven't been able to hear our full journey up to this point.  We'd like to ask each of you to continue to pray for us and our sweet baby Shrimp.  We greatly appreciate all of your love and support.

Don't Forget Toby:

Toby has had a hard month in October.  He was boarded during our trip to Vegas and got hurt.  We don't know how he was hurt, but he had three puncture wounds to his back right ankle and wouldn't walk on his leg.  He ended up having to have surgery at Kansas State University Vet School (they were great) to repair a torn tendon that makes his toes curl.  Thankfully he is doing much better, but he's on limit restrictions until the beginning of December.  He will get his stitches taken out next week.  Here are a few pictures of his injury and soft cast afterwards.



two of the puncture wounds on the inside of his right hind leg




the third puncture on the back of the leg...you can also see the knot just below the wound which is the torn tendon




Toby quickly learned how to walk on three legs...




Toby post-surgery.  You can see his shaved leg and purple K-State wrap.




His poor "peg"leg went nicely with his pirate costume for Halloween. 

Again, thankfully Toby is much better and he is walking on his leg.  Thank you to everyone who has kept him in their prayers.