viability and fireworks

We have the sweetest, most supportive, caring and go-out of their way to love, awesome friends. Thursday and Friday we gave steroid shots to our Little Guy. (These will help his lungs and tummy, etc if he happens to be born in the next two weeks- we hope he isn't. The shots weren't bad at all, with one small exception- I couldn't sleep at all the first night, Charlie called it "roid rage").

So anyway.... Both of those days we had little celebration parties for our Little Mr. Nichole, Andrea, Stephanie and Anne came out to encourage and celebrate this (big) milestone (for this baby) that the Lord brought us to. Nichole even made this delicious oreo ice cream dessert (below). Um---YUMMY!

It was a much anticipated milestone. At 24 weeks babies are most likely viable. After all we have been through the past month +, we have had moments when we didn't think we'd make it to this week. But here we are, all three of us, at home, happy, healthy, and kicking like crazy. (well the boys currently feel better than I do from time to time. Baby has such a way of making me incredibly dizzy and passy-outy when he decides to move [his body] and karate kick [my cervix]).

For the first time I actually felt like I could REALLY dream about having this baby- in my arms and bringing him home. Charlie and I even bought a few things for him this weekend. It was soooo fun and relieving and hopeful and, on some levels- scary. Scary only because I've not really even thought at all about the nursery, baby necessities, clothes, strollers, registries, etc. But over the weekend, I started to do a little bit on online shopping. I love amazon.com! I guess bed rest from this point on could get VERY expensive. Hahaha! It will be fun to begin dreaming.

Charlie's parents came up for the weekend, It was nice to hang out with them. They helped us cut and trim trees, vacuum, and laundry, etc. We had yummy meals and played domino's together. This is what the night of the fourth looked like at our house:

We randomly discovered that our nearby neighbor put on a fairly decent firework show. It was perfect for us; we walked out to our driveway and watched the celebration of our countries freedom. No fighting traffic or bugs! (and I could be up long enough to enjoy them).

I guess in one of the previous pictures I posted people thought I cut my hair. Well, I hadn't- I just had it pulled back in my bed rest pony tail. BUT-

Today my dear Katie and Mike came out to our house. And they cut Charlie and I's hair ('cuz I still can't be up long enough to go anywhere)! YAYAYAYAYY! I hadn't had a cut since January. It's so refreshing to have freshly cut hair, and they're both great stylists. It was so sweet of them to come out to do that for me (us)! Thanks guys!

This isn't the greatest portrayal of my great hair cut (I had just got up off the couch). But it does accurately show the size of Little Mister and I at 24 weeks and 3 days today!

Katie and Mike brought these gorgeous, colorful and day-brightening flowers.

What a good week it's been so far. God has held our Little Guy inside the womb, and continues to grow him bigger and stronger!