A Bit of Happy News
Since I haven't updated this blog in quite awhile, you may be wondering what happened to me. I have been busy being turned into a factory to produce a baby. Yes, you read right...I'm currently pregnant and Brian and I couldn't be happier about it. The baby is due July 27. We've officially made it through the first trimester and everything seems to be going well. I've seen the baby twice on ultrasound, the first time before it even looked like a baby and the second when it was the size of a grain of rice with its heart beating away. A couple of weeks ago at the doctor's office Brian and I heard the heartbeat. We still get paranoid that something bad could happen...yesterday I was feeling that way and called the doctor's office. They let me come right over and the kindest nurse listened to the heartbeat for me. The specialists at the University of Iowa didn't find any glaring reason for why I had a miscarriage before, but they had me take progesterone for the first trimester and, since I have elevated levels of an antibody associated with a clotting disorder, I'll take a baby aspirin everyday throughout the pregnancy. I have been impressed with the care I have been given at the University...when I was first pregnant the specialty clinic took every concern seriously and watched me carefully. Now it seems that the OB clinic will do the same. At the beginning of March I will have another ultrasound and then we should be able to find out if the baby is a girl or boy. I'll have to keep you updated on that. We certainly would appreciate your prayers that the baby will continue to grow as it should...already so many people have been praying in our family and church family. I have great hope that everything will turn out ok this time...each time I hear the heart beating my heart is that much more relieved and excited.

In other news, we had an enjoyable holiday season visiting each of our families. It was wonderful to see everyone and for everyone to be together for a few days. I enjoyed having my only obligations for the day being helping do dishes and cook food. =) But, now I'm back to traveling each day and having plenty to do at work. The experiments have been going suprisingly well and I have made much more progress with the help of my Russian graduate student assistant. Unfortunately he will be moving on to his next rotation in a different lab in a couple of weeks and I will be missing his help. Brian continues moving along in school. His first round of board exams is coming in March...talk about stressful times.