Baby Hensley's First Dresses!

Baby Hensley's first outfits...picked out by her big brothers.  

This is so fun!

Baby # 4 is a...

GIRL!!

{Baby Girl Gifford is waving at you}

We have never done this before but we scheduled a gender ultrasound this time.  It has always frustrated me how all my Florida friends find out several weeks before I do what they are having.  My sister had the idea that we should just pay and have an ultrasound done so we could find out sooner....so that is what we did.  We were beginning to wonder if we were even going to get to find out today.  Baby girl is so ladylike that she didn't want to uncross her legs.  Finally after me turning side to side and walking around she decided to cooperate.

Eric and I have been so nervous.  It has been such mixed emotions because our hearts desire has always been to have a daughter at some point.  After being told we would never get pregnant again...we didn't know if that would happen.  I was so afraid of my reaction if this baby was a boy.  I feel so blessed to even be pregnant and the last thing I wanted was to seem ungrateful.  BUT I have 3 boys, who wouldn't want a little girl?  

My Dad's wife Elsie, told me when I first got pregnant that she knew this was going to be a girl.  She said that I had to have faith and speak it out loud.  I began to do that...but only by myself.  I began to speak it and believe it.  I had this feeling that this was our girl but I didn't know if it was because I wanted it so badly or because I had faith (it can be very confusing).

My Mom sent me an email last week that talked about Hannah (1 Samuel 1:10-11) and how she was barren and prayed and begged God to give her a son.  She promised Him that if He did, she would give him back to the Lord.  The title of my Mom's email was, "It's ok to ask God for a girl."  Honestly, that made me feel so much better because that is what I was already thinking/praying.

Last night, Gavin asked me if he could pray for the baby.  He put his little hands on my tummy and said, "Dear God, we aren't asking for much but could you please give us a little girl.  We love you.  Amen." So simple and yet so heartfelt.  He then told me that he hoped when I picked him up from school that I would still be crying because I was so happy.

When I picked Gavin up from school, of course the first thing he wanted to know was "what is it?" I told him that the baby in Mommy's tummy was a girl.  He was so excited, he was screaming.  He asked if we cried and I told him that we held back tears, he said he was holding back tears too.  I told him that Jesus had heard our prayers and he loves us so much that he gave us what we asked him for.  Our wise beyond his years 7 year old said, "yep, just like the Bible says, ask and it will be given to you."

The way that all of this has happened is just so...God.  This is the perfect ending to His story.

Growing up...I always wanted to be a Mom.  

I can remember as a little girl carrying my cabbage patch doll, Emma around church.  

She had green eyes and blonde hair just like me.  

I never had these big ambitions for a career...I always just wanted to be a Mom.  

Fast forward several years and after struggling with years of infertility and having 2 surgeries we were given the gift of 3 amazing sons.  

I was told that my baby having days are most likely over, that I will not ovulate anymore.  

Eric and I still had a desire to add a daughter to our family, a baby sister for all these big brothers to protect.

We start discussing going back to the fertility Doctor.  

Then without even trying we become pregnant, a surprise miracle pregnancy.

God loves us so much, He remembered that little girl carrying her baby doll around.  

He knew that we wanted a daughter and he blessed us with one.  

A perfect ending to His story and a perfect completion to our family.  

We are all so grateful for baby Hensley Faith Gifford.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Miracles do happen!

Disclaimer:  This is a long post!  This is just too amazing of a story not to include every detail.  If you don't care about the details....then you can just skip to the bottom.


Eric and I have been so blessed.  We have 3 beautiful boys. It took a lot of heartache and prayers to get them here, each one is a miracle.
Gavin took the longest to conceive.  We went through about 2 full years of treatments and surgery--probably 12 rounds of treatments total.  His birth was easy and like a party.  It was also my only "natural birth" (natural meaning no c-section not no drugs....I'm not crazy!).
Nolen was the easiest as far as actually getting pregnant, considering it only took 2 rounds of treatments.  However, the way he came in to this world was by far the scariest time of my life.  Fortunately, everything turned out great but I thought I would never want to be pregnant again.
Cohen took another surgery and several more rounds of treatments as well but the pregnancy and delivery were great and it really put all my c-section fears to rest.
I had always said I wanted 3 kids and Eric had always said he wanted 2.  After we had Nolen, we knew that we weren't done.  Then I said 3--maybe 4 and Eric said 3 and for sure done.  When Cohen was born, I knew in my heart that I wasn't finished having babies.  My Mom has always told me that when she was pregnant with my sister (the baby of our family) she enjoyed every second of it but knew that she was finished being pregnant and was ready to move out of the baby phase of life.  I didn't feel that way.  At first, Eric said that we were done but as the months went by he began to feel that we were meant to add to our family again.
Shortly after Cohen turned one we started discussing what we were going to do.  We had been told by our fertility Doctor that I would probably not even ovulate anymore and since I was no longer responding to the fertility shots like I had with Gavin and Nolen she did not feel that another pregnancy was a possibility, even with fertility treatments.
I have been told over and over in the past 10 years that I have endometriosis, no progesterone, ovaries that are not conducive to ovulation, that I ovulate early.....that I cannot become pregnant on my own.  I did have a very early miscarriage in July of 2008 (when Nolen was 1) but my progesterone was a 3 and my HCG levels never increased like they were supposed to.
We have had an extremely busy winter, Eric has been gone more than ever and was gone about 3 weeks out of the month.  This is way too much information but with all of his traveling we only got to "make whoopee" (ha!) one time.  I did do an ovulation kit but never got a positive and so I just gave up since Eric was going to be out of town anyway.  I did not take progesterone.  I have taken progesterone for the first trimester with all the of our boys.
I had not been feeling well and even mentioned to Eric that "if I didn't know better, I would think I was pregnant".  I continued to have symptoms and finally decided to go get a pregnancy test.  I didn't tell anyone.  I came home and peed on the stick and waited....then I decided to move the test from the bathroom and when I did I messed it up.  Ugh....it said I needed to retest.  I had to rush out and so when I came home I went upstairs and took another test.  I went and gathered some laundry and walked back by the test and glanced at it, knowing it would be negative.  IT SAID PREGNANT!  I could not believe it.  I text a picture of it to Eric, to which he responded "what is that?".  Ha!  We have never had the experience of not expecting to be pregnant and getting a positive test.
I immediately took progesterone and called my fertility Doctor.  They were closed for the weekend and I left a message telling her what had happened.  She just happened to check her messages and called me back.  She was quite surprised herself and sent me an order for bloodwork.  She told me that she wanted my HCG level to be above 50 and my progesterone above 15.  She ordered it stat and said that she would call me later that evening.  She never called that night and I hardly slept a wink.  She called me at 7:00 Saturday morning.  My HCG was around 850 and my progesterone was 25!  She wanted me to come back to retest on Monday morning to make sure the levels were increasing like they were supposed to but said that everything looked really good.
We spent most of Saturday and Sunday in complete shock.  Saturday morning as I was making breakfast Gavin came in the kitchen singing, "My Mommy has a baby in her tummy!" over and over.  Eric and I were surprised because we had not told him.  I asked him why he said that and his response was, "Because you do!  Because I prayed!"  I love that childlike faith!
I went back last Monday and had my HCG and progesterone checked again.  She called me with the results and said that my HCG was around 2800 and my progesterone was great!  She said congratulations and that it looks like a great pregnancy to her!
I called my OB to set up my appointment and they told me that they don't do your first appointment until 8-9 weeks.  I was really bummed because with all my other pregnancies I have had an ultrasound (by my fertility Doctor) at 6 weeks.  I scheduled my appointment for the end of February and realized that I would just have to wait like normal people.  The next morning, I got a call from my OB's nurse.  My fertility Doctor had sent over my bloodwork paperwork.  She wanted to know what was going on, I told her and she said "well, you shouldn't have to wait that long for an ultrasound!" and scheduled it for Monday (today).
Today Eric and I went for our first OB appointment.  We had an ultrasound and got to see the heartbeat.  Everything looks perfect and even my Doctors were shocked.  My due date is October 6, 2012.

I cannot tell you how humbled and loved I feel by God.  I have always known that God loved me.  He cares about even the smallest details of our lives.  He knew that even though we have 3 amazing boys that were conceived through fertility.....that ours hearts desire was to conceive a baby without fertility.  He loves me so much that he gave that to me....even though I don't deserve it.  God's grace is so good.
There is no explanation for why I got pregnant at the age of 32, when I should be "less fertile" than I was at the age of 24 when I was trying to get pregnant for the first time.  There is no explanation for why my progesterone was good this time when it hasn't been in the past.  The only explanation is that it is a miracle.....and we are so so humbled and honored that we get to experience this.

Cohen's Birth

I already did a post about Cohen's birth....but here is the story in pictures!

My last pregnant picture--39 weeks and 2 days.

 Eric and I about to become parents of 3 boys!

 All ready to go....my husband looks hot in scrubs!

 Baby Cohen's debut....sorry about the weiner shot.

 Daddy and Cohen

 Mommy and Cohen

 All 3 of us

 Nanu meeting Cohen

 I finally got to hold my baby!

 Middle Bro Nolen meeting Cohen

 Our 3 boys!

 "Old Mamaw" (that's what the kids call her) and Cohen

 Mamaw and 3 of her many grandsons

 Gavin and Cohen...he was so excited!

 Heading Home!

Cohen Miles Gifford is here!

Cohen Miles Gifford was born on October 18, 2010 at 12:23 pm.  He weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long. 

My c-section was scheduled for 7:00 am, we had to be at the hospital at 5:00.  We were getting all prepped and then found out about 6:00 that it had been re-scheduled for 12:00.  I was so bummed.  After being dilated for a month and not going into labor on my own....I was so ready to get him out. 

The c-section went sooo much better with Cohen than with Nolen.  The anesthesiologist was great--I had told him about my experience with Nolen and he assured me that I would not be in pain and I wasn't.

Two of my friends, Jody and Joscelyn came to visit.  Joscelyn is a photographer and took these amazing pictures.  I am sooo in love with them......I melt every time I look at them.

He is nursing like a champ.  He nursed about 20 minutes after he was born and latched on great.

He is such a great baby!  We are all just completely in love with him.  The boys cannot get enough of him.  We are just trying to cherish each and every moment because it goes by sooo fast.  We are so blessed.





Any time now.......

Well, Eric went on his trip and made it back!  YAY!  I am so happy that he got to go and I did not have the baby while he was gone. 
Now that he is back......I am READY!
None of my clothes fit.  It is much cooler here than it has been.....the few pair of pants I have hurt my stomach because they are too tight.  My stomach hangs out of the bottom of my shirts....which is so attractive.  The most comfortable thing I have is leggings.....but I only have 1 pair and I can't wear those everyday....and I need really long shirts to cover my ever expanding butt...and I only have a few! 
So.....enough complaining. 
We are ready.  I think when you find out you are dilated.....you go into this panic mode and you rush and get all your last minute things done so that you aren't left unprepared when the baby comes.  Then you wait.....and you get really impatient when 2 weeks later you are still just walking around.....4 centimeters dilated but not in labor. 
I go back to the Doctor tomorrow so we will see if anything has changed. 
Eric's Dad says the baby is coming on his birthday, which is Sunday.  That would definitely be neat to not only share a birthday with his Papaw but also have a birthday of 10/10/10.  Also, Friday would be good because then all my boys would be born on the 8th of the month. 
So....we wait.....not so patiently. 

An Update.....As Promised.

I had my appointment today......I am now 4 centimeters dilated and still 80% effaced.  My Doctor believes that Eric will be fine to go on his trip.  However, to ease my our minds she is bringing me in again at the end of the week to check me again and make sure that I am not progressing more quickly than she expected.  That way....if I am Eric can hop on a plane and get his butt back here.  I am hoping and praying that she is right....but you really never know.  It is amazing to me that some people (me) can be walking around at 4 centimeters dilated and others are in labor at the hospital at 2 centimeters....and in severe pain....crazy!  I guess the good news is....by the time I go into labor, I will be almost half way there....or further!  YAY!  I have definitely been having some contractions, which she says is totally normal when you are 3 or 4 centimeters dilated.  Another few weeks of this and I will be soooo ready to get him out! 
The boys CANNOT wait....they ask me every day when the baby is coming out of my tummy.  Gavin has been a huge help.....he helped me organize the whole nursery, sanitize the pacifiers, organize the drawers and he helped Eric put the swing together.  When Nolen was born, Gavin was only 25 months old so he really didn't know what was going on.  This time they are both older and they really seem to get it....especially Gavin.  It is so exciting!
So....say a prayer for us this week.  That Baby Cohen will stay put until Daddy is back!

36 Weeks, 3 Centimeters and 80% Effaced......What???

So, I had my weekly appointment this past Tuesday.  My Mom and sister were in town, so my Mom went with me.  Everything was going perfectly normal until she decided to check my cervix...which was closed last week.  I totally expected it to still be closed....so we were shocked when she said I was 3 centimeters and 80% effaced!  She then sent me to have an ultrasound....since I tend to have big babies.  He weighs approximately 6lbs. 5 oz., which is the 60th percentile.  He is not big right now but if he stays in there for 3 or so more weeks....he could be!  I would prefer a newborn and not a baby the size of a 2 month old...but I have no control over it.  Just in case he decides to come early, I immediately got my butt in gear and got all the clothes washed and put away and a bag packed for us.  Eric and I went yesterday and got most of the necessities that we still needed before he gets here. 

So, now we wait....which brings me to my next issue.  If you recall this post, then you remember that my husband is supposed to be going hunting.  We are not really sure what to do.  If he goes and I go into labor....we will obviously both be devastated.  If he doesn't go and nothing happens....he will be devastated.  Is it a chance that we want to take?  So, I guess we are waiting until Tuesday to see if anything has changed since my last appointment and talk to the Doctor and we will go from there.

Don't you love Eric's imitation of my prego pic?

I will let you know what is going on after my next appointment on Tuesday!

A Baby Shower for Cohen!

A few nights ago, my amazing family and friends had a shower for me.  My sister in law, Sonda pretty much organized everything and Jody was so kind to host the shower at her home....with 3 kids on a school night.  I was so touched by all the girls that came out and just love all the baby stuff!  I made Eric unload it all when I got home around 10:00 and have been playing and organizing ever since.

This is part of the invitation. I thought it probably wasn't the best idea to put the whole invitation on the internet considering it has Jody's address and Sonda's phone number. Trust me when I say...it is perfect!!

The amazing cake....that tasted every bit as good as it looked!

Jody and Joscelyn.....

Lindsay, Adrienne and her sweet little girl, Ava

The always stylish Tiffany, who also happens to be taking Baby Cohen's newborn pictures!  Can't wait!

My Sister, Me and my Mom

Some of the goodies.....

Also, my Mother-in-law was a huge help with the food.  She is such a great cook.....and made some of my favorites!

It was a great night.  I feel so blessed to have such great family and friends.

I am 32 weeks pregnant!!!

I can't believe that we are already 32 weeks!  I have been feeling pretty good.....just tired.  We pretty much finished the baby room today....we just have a few finishing touches to add.  My poor husband--I have been on a mission to get it done and driving him crazy. 

Now that the room is done I feel like I can take the time to make burp clothes, blankets and pacifier clips....all the things that I have been wanting to do. 

My shower is coming up in about 3 weeks....so I am getting really excited about that.  Especially since my Mom, Sister and Ayla are coming up!!!

Just the past few days I have noticed a few contractions.  Nothing major....just Braxton Hicks.  It is definitely a reminder that this little guy could be here soon--hopefully he will wait at least 6 more weeks!

The boys are sooo excited.  Gavin tells me everyday that he cannot wait until his baby brother gets here.  He is going to be such a great helper.

 

The name game.....

When we were pregnant with Nolen we did a poll to help name him.  Nolen was not the name that won....actually Landon did but we didn't listen and went with Nolen instead. 
When we found out this baby was a boy we had no clue what we wanted to name him.  We did know that since Gavin and Nolen both end with an N....we wanted this baby's name to end with an N as well.  We went to the internet and looked and looked and looked at names, narrowed it down to 5 and did another poll.  The name that won this time was Weston.
So, did we go with the winner of the poll?  No...ha!!!  However, the poll did prompt a facebook friend to suggest a name that Eric and I both love.  So, the poll did help lead us to our baby name.
Our 3rd son's name is going to be........................

Cohen Miles

Cohen means priest or brave

Miles means merciful, servant or generous

We chose Cohen because we just love the name and the meaning.  Miles is my maiden name so it is after every one in my family.

So, there you have it!  Little man has a name and a painted room!  We are making progress!

A Sweet Surprise!

I have been a little overwhelmed.....there is SO much to do before this baby comes.  I feel like we have no where to put anything.  I consider myself a pretty organized person but I have realized that the longer you live somewhere the more junk stuff you accumulate.  When we started cleaning out the guest bedroom to make room for baby I realized that we didn't have anywhere to put all the stuff that had been in the closet of the guest bedroom. 
So....I have to have a garage sale.  Can I just tell you how much I hate having garage sales?  I would almost rather just take it and donate it all rather than go through the trouble of pricing and getting everything ready.....not to mention getting up at the butt crack of dawn to sit in the heat for hours only to listen to people offer you virtually nothing for your items.  However, I just have too much stuff to donate and I know that I could make some money....so garage sale it is. 
Back to the point.......when I went to Florida this past week, Eric was VERY busy.  To be honest, I was getting annoyed because he didn't have time to talk to me. 
This is what he was doing while I was gone................

I had told him what I wanted so that he could go and get the paint while I was gone.  I wanted all the walls taupe and then stripes on one wall.  He apparently can listen very well when he wants to because he did exactly what I wanted.  It looks even better than I imagined.  I still have A LOT to do but I cannot even tell you the load that was lifted when I saw this.  I am not sure who hates painting more....Eric or I.  It just meant so much to me that he did this.....I love him and obviously he loves me too--YAY!  So, now time for a new fan, decorations for the walls and tons of other stuff. 

P.S.  Don't you love my uber fabulous car seat and stroller?.......I sure do!

Soooo excited!

The boys and I made a VERY quick trip to Florida last week.  The main purpose for going was to have my most favorite photographer, Amy Q take maternity pictures of me.  Let me tell you.....TOTALLY worth the 16+ hours I spent in the car with my wild boys going there and back.
My family loves her....my boys love her.  For them, it doesn't feel like they are having pictures taken....they are playing and having a great time.  However, somehow Amy always ends up capturing their personalities and I end up with amazing pictures of my boys.  I can't say enough wonderful things about Amy and really I don't have to because her work speaks for itself. 
So.....if you wanna see the slideshow she put together, click here , then click on clients toward the bottom left of the page and the password is gifford.  You better hurry though, they will only be up for a week! 
Now I have to go try to decide which ones to buy---AAAHHH!!!!

28 Week Update!....at 29 weeks.

I am already almost 30 weeks!  I can't believe it.  Little man will be here before we know it.  We have finally picked a name.....I will do a separate post soon and announce it--I know you are all dying to know! 

I am feeling pretty good.  I have been on two road trips in 3 weeks and my back has not bothered me at all!

I just keep gaining weight...I have gained 30 lbs so far!  30 lbs in 30 weeks is not soooo bad....if I average a pound a week and gain 40 total...that will be 5 less than Nolen.  It doesn't seem to matter what I do or eat...or don't eat--I just gain weight with babies.  Granted....exercise would probably help but I haven't done it yet.....so I can't start now right?

I am definitely tired at the end of the day and run out of breath walking up the stairs....pathetic I know.

He is moving all over the place....all the time.  His movement has changed from kicks to hard spots and shifting.  There is no feeling in the world like your baby moving inside of you....I am trying my best to cherish it and lock it in my memory in case this is the last baby for us.

Look out for a post about what my amazing Hubby did for me while I was in Florida last week...he is hot and sweet...what a package!

Sciatica......huh?

I have had a rough week or so.  I think it was last Saturday or Sunday that my back started hurting.  By Tuesday it was so bad that I was in tears and Eric called the chiropractor.  I went in and learned that my entire pelvis is shifted to the right....causing pressure on my left sciatic nerve (or something like that). 

I went back 3 days last week and would feel some relief after going but continued to have pain. 

 All of a sudden last night it just went away.....like GONE!  Totally gone.  I am not sure if the little guy changed positions or what happened but it doesn't matter.  I am sooo thankful because it really put me in a funk.  I was mad.  I have WAY to much to do to be having back issues at 26 weeks pregnant.  Aside from having 2 kids and a VERY busy husband, I have a baby room to prepare!

So.....pray that it doesn't come back!  Glucose test Tuesday....fun times!

24 Weeks Already!!

This pregnancy is flying by!  I am feeling pretty good.  I can definitely tell that this is my third pregnancy.  I think I am already "waddling".....mainly because my sciatic nerve is bothering me.  I don't recall that happening this soon with the boys.  Other than that....I am just pretty tired in the evenings and my patience isn't what it usually is (which isn't saying much because I am always impatient......now I have none--zero). 

I am no longer going to tell you how much weight I have gained.  Ha!  So, obviously it is more than I would prefer at this point.  I am guessing somewhere around 20 lbs so far.  I feel like my arms and face are already filling out and I swear I have cellulite at the tops of my legs.  Ugh.  I am going to Florida in August for maternity pictures with the most amazing photographer.....Mrs. Amy Q, and I was really hoping not to look gigantic for them.  I am already considering asking if she can use photoshop to slim my arms and face down in the pictures! 
Little Man is kicking all the time.  The boys have both got to feel him and they get so excited!  Nolen is still full of questions.....he wants to know if babies poop and pee in their cribs and if he can carry the baby and if the baby is as big as his spider man toy...and on and on and on. 

We are getting really close with a name.  I think that we have pretty much decided but I don't want to announce it until I am sure.  It isn't a name that was on the poll but it was fun anyway!