32 Weeks!

Here are some pretty pics of Baby Gabe (oh, and Mommy) at 32 weeks!!



Don't they look good in black and white? Another cool thing about black and white and bare tummy shots is it somewhat masks all of the great stretch marks I got courtesy of Jacob and Caleb (so far no new ones this time around - but I was so stretched last time around, it wouldn't surprise me at all if I didn't get any NEW ones).

The tummy is really starting to grow some - keep putting on that weight, Baby Boy! (Yup, now you are really checking out the stretch marks now that I drew your attention to them. hehehe)



Aren't all of these pictures so pretty? No, I didn't pay anyone to take them - Jon did it! We took the boys for a picnic to the park, but decided to get dressed a little nicer than we normally would so that we could take some nice pictures.



This one is Jon's favorite. I think it is because it looks as if I am in Colorado, and he really wants to go now. It's been a couple of years since we have been, and we are sure it will be a couple more with the arrival of Gabe. I want to take them hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, however Jon wants to take them skiing on our next trip. We'll see...



This would be a great family picture if the sun wouldn't have blocked my head somewhat. :-( I may try to play with (and have Jon also try) photoshop later...



The very proud "Ma-ma" and "Da-da" of three precious little boys!



Back at the casa, we attempt to get a good, sweet picture of all three of the boys and I. Sounds easy enough... hehehe... YEAH, right! This one isn't so bad, but Caleb wanted to suck his thumb. (He's not even my big thumb sucker - Jacob is. The little turkey!) Don't they look more like little boys than babies now?!



Jacob didn't want much to do with taking pictures, as it would require him to SIT STILL! So this pretty much sums up the majority of our "photo shoot." You can, however, get a good shot of their new "Big Brother" shirts! They are the same design, but Jacob's is blue around the collar/sleeves and Caleb's is red. They also have their names on the bottom!



This is such a cute candid shot. Those are usually some of the best. Caleb is so proud to show everyone "where's baby brother?"



All is progressing well, and it looks like Gabe will arrive August 15th via scheduled c-section if all continues going so well.



Can you believe that is only 47 more days away?!

We go back on Friday, July 11th for an appointment and sonogram. You know we'll then have some actual Baby Gabe pics to share along with the tummy shots. ;-)

My lovely baby bump...

Here's a close up belly shot taken before church this morning.



I go back to the doctor this Thursday. Next sono will June 11th, so we will know more about how Gabe is measuring and see his sweet face again. But if we could guess how he is looking right now, it would be something like this:



Pretty cool.

Can you believe he'll be here in 54 more days?! That's less than 2 months... YIKES!

What's in a name?

Remember our name post from a while back?

We were trying to decide on a good name for our new baby, which we now know is a little BOY. The first name needs to be a good, strong Biblical name - like Caleb or Jacob. The middle name also needs to be a cool name, and it should honor someone special in the our lives. With the boys, Jacob ALAN honors my dad, and Caleb LUKE honors my mom's side of the family (Luke is her maiden name, but also works as a cool middle name too.)

Soooo.... **drum roll, please**.... For our new baby boy, we like the name:

Gabriel "Gabe" Elisha Seastrunk

Gabriel means "Champion of God." Gabriel is the name of the angel who appears to Mary to give her the news of her pregnancy and the impending birth of the Messiah.

Gabe is just a good, boyish name. We kind of think "Gabe Seastrunk" sounds like a good baseball player name! (Of course, if little Gabe doesn't want to play baseball, but rather get into music, drama, another sport, chess, whatever, we are down with that too.)

Elisha means "God is my help." Elisha was the disciple and successor of the prophet, Elijah. Elisha himself was a prophet who performed many miracles, including the resurrection of the dead. Elisha is also a dear little friend of ours.

In the Summer of 2001, Elisha was one of my patients while I was working as a Nurse Extern at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. He then had a rare blood disease - Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome. The treatment for this terrible disease called for a bone marrow transplant. Since he and his mother were "confined" to the walls of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in isolation for several months, I saw them everyday I was "on duty" for quite a while (and a few days when I was off, as Mary and I hung out a few times outside of the hospital).


(Elisha just prior to his Bone Marrow Transplant.)


(Elisha and I during the Summer of 2001 - a few weeks post-transplant.)

Being before the days of HIPPA and the fact that his mother, Mary, and I had a great connection, we all kept in touch over the years. In fact, Mary and Elisha were two of my first friends that I introduced Jon to at Hillcrest Church. Jon spent plenty of time during the Sunday night services chasing Elisha around the large room used for the non-traditional young adult service.


(Elisha and I "on a date" to see the Veggie Tales movie in 2002.)


Elisha battled hard in his life on Earth over the years. He developed acute (which progressed into chronic) Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD) due to the transplant. He has brought much joy to the world and to everyone who has had the honor of having their life's path cross his.

Unfortunately his battle on Earth came to an end February 4, 2006, however he became completely healed in Heaven, and God definitely got one more cool little angel. We can't wait to see him free from pain, without the need to take medications, and able to run (and have long beautiful hair!) there someday.


(2006 - not long before Elisha was completely healed.)

A year later, we had no idea that two precious boys would be brought into our lives! When I found out my due date, I knew that twins usually arrive a few weeks early, and thought that it would be "a little weird" if they arrived on the one year anniversary date of Elisha's arrival to Heaven. Well, when we found out that I had to have a scheduled c-section, I knew that would be out of the question, since the 4th was on a Sunday. My doctor set the date for February 5th.

Then my blood pressure began to go bonkers on the night of the 3rd, which landed me in the hospital with HELLP Syndrome on the 4th. Most of you know the story from there, but for those who don't:

IMMEDIATELY upon seeing my basic symptoms at the hospital - extremely high blood pressure (which was completely normal 4 days prior), 3+ protein in my urine (again - was ZERO 4 days prior!), and exaggerated reflexes (now at the point of complete clonus!) - they QUICKLY started me on Magnesium Sulfate and then had to do an immediate, emergent c-section. Thus, my boys were in fact born on February 4, 2007.

The birth of Jacob and Caleb and my survival of HELLP Syndrome on that particular day was yet another reminder that February 4th is a day of LIFE - not death. Our little buddy Elisha Henderson is ALIVE and well in his new body in Heaven.

So, that's the story of our little buddy. We miss him, but are so glad to honor his life through our newest little son - Gabriel Elisha Seastrunk.

What a bittersweet post! hehehe But seriously, this is all REALLY HAPPY NEWS!!

YES, as a matter of fact, there IS some news to report!!

OK, so maybe I lied on my previous post when I said that there's no big news to report... but do know that it wasn't intentional!!

I had already posted all of this to our family website, McMoms (My Multiple Mommy's Group), and my MOPS group... so I totally forgot to do it here. (Aren't you feelin' the love?!)

I went back to the doctor on March 21.


(The boys went with us.)


(Mommy and Daddy's "self-portrait" while waiting on Dr. White.)

All was looking great with the pregnancy…


(Getting the sonogram to see Baby S!)

AND our beautiful, healthy LITTLE BOY!!

That’s right, folks – I am about to be the Momma of three boys! Baby Boy Seastrunk wasn't at all modest, so we are, according to Dr. White, 99.9999999% sure of it. It looks as if the Seastrunk Boys will take over the Keller Little League in a few years, making up 1/3 of a baseball team when they are in the same age category. We are super excited, and I am really thanking God that I am not a "girly girl" and actually love the outdoors, sports, fishing, etc, as I am sure I'll be getting my fair share over the next several years.

Caleb and Jacob were smiling, laughing, and clapping when we told them that they were getting a little brother. I am not sure if it was because Mommy and Daddy were really excited or if they understand more than we give them credit... either way, it was cute.

We have a few good names picked out but, as we did with the boys, are waiting to "release" THE ONE until we see how each choice rolls off of our tongues for a little while longer. I mean, how could we pick any boys names cooler than Jacob Alan and Caleb Luke?! ;-)

If anyone would like to see the sonogram, the video is below. It's 10 minutes long, so you might want to skim through if you decide to open it.

"Baby Boy Seastrunk" is very healthy and measuring just a few days ahead of schedule - as did the boys every sonogram.

I had a few problems early on, as you already know about if you read my previous posts, but all is going GREAT now. (Thanks for the prayers.) The only time I remember that I am pregnant is when "little guy" moves, when I catch myself REALLLLLY craving things I see in ads and hear on the radio, and at night when I can't sleep on my back or tummy. The second trimester is much easier than a twin pregnancy thus far!!



ALSO (as if that news wasn't big enough), we are now the proud owners of a mini-van - middle age has arrived! It's a 2008 Honda Odyssey in dark cherry pearl. Our growing family just could not fit another car seat into the Rav, but we must say that the minivan is pretty nice.


(Here are the boys enjoying their new ride.)

Also notice in the picture above that Caleb and Jacob are now FORWARD FACING!! Combining two big changes into one, we went ahead and faced them forward in their new ride - and I must say they LOVE IT!!

My only problem with the Odyssey is that Jon didn't follow my instructions. I told him that the only way he would get me to drive a mini-van before the age of 30 is if he had them add a rockin' sound system, spinners on the wheels, and a flame painted on the side. He said that he told them, but they must have messed up the order. hehehe Seriously, Jon did all of the research to pick the best vehicle for our needs and made all of the calls to get the best deal on getting the Rav traded in for the Odyssey. I have to give him MAJOR PROPS here, as he did a WONDERFUL job handling all of that for his family, in attempt to take any stress or worry from Baby S and me. I definitely an grateful for that.

I'll try to post another update in the next few days... famous last words, I know!

We "Ba-ROCKED the Vote" and Then Had Another Scare

Jacob and Caleb made it through their first election process!
(All of us after casting our ballots)

After Jon got off work Friday, we headed out to Keller Town Hall to early vote in the 2008 Democratic Primary. We made it there at 6:40 - 20 minutes before the polls closed - to see a huge line. This actually made me quite happy, seeing the large turn out!

The only worry was these two little munchkins... (Notice how Mommy dressed them for their first election!)

Luckily you must be IN LINE by 7:00, not have voted. So we waited and waited...

And finally made it into the polling room!

Jacob was talkative as we entered the voting room, so Daddy had to remind him that, as much as he wanted to get his last word in to the other voters about Barack Obama, no campaigning is allowed where folks are casting ballots!


And WE DID IT! Here are Daddy and the worn out boys afterward.

And then with Mommy, wearing a tight red sweater to show off "Baby S!"

To celebrate (and because it sounded good to "Baby S"), we then headed to CiCi's Pizza where the boys each had a slice of spinach pizza. (Even thought they both had pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, carrots, and blueberry sauce right before we left to go vote!)


It was a bit little chaotic, but, hey, that's just our life!

We look forward to attending (boys allowing) the caucus Tuesday night. Wish us luck on that one!!


THEN last night at 5:30 am, I ended up at the Baylor Grapevine ER. This pregnancy has been more "dramatic" in the last few weeks than my supposed high-risk twin pregnancy! What the heck?!

Without giving "TMI," Baby and I are both FINE, however I still have a catheter in (yes, while I am at home). My flow of urine was completely obstructed, it seems - they think and WE HOPE - from all of the constipation I have been having. Basically, I CANNOT urinate AT ALL without a catheter. That is why I woke up at 3:00 am in excruciating pain - I have to go really, REEEAAALLLY BAD, but can't.

No, I've never heard of such a thing either, but, well, there you have it! Crazy, crazy!

I REALLY looked pregnant when I went into the ER, and after they immediately drained 2 liters of urine, the "baby bump" deflated again.

Not sure why all of this unbelievably crazy stuff keeps happening...

I go back on Monday after the whole "clean out process" this weekend. They'll try to remove the catheter, keep me there a while, and see what happens.

Jon said maybe this little one is in fact a girl, and she is a real Drama Queen!! Whatever the case is, little one needs to STOP IT!!!

"Baby S"

Proverbs 22:1 -

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

I think a person's name speaks a lot about them. Unfortunately, each person has absolutely no say in his or her name, so I think one of the biggest gifts parents can give their child(ren) is a good, strong name.

We named our boys Jacob Alan and Caleb Luke, and these names have really seemed to fit them! I couldn't not see our Jacob being a "Caleb," nor could I see our Caleb being named "Jacob." They just work with them, their faces, and their personalities. Funny how that works.

Caleb and Jacob are both Biblical (Old Testament) and just sound like good, strong names. Jacob and Esau were the first twins mentioned in the Bible. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the name "Esau" to grow on us! We also thought Caleb and Joshua would be a good combo since they were the two faithful of the twelve leaders that lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land of Canaan. They were as close as brothers, and both known for their strength, zeal, and obedience to God. BUT… we liked Jacob better than Joshua. We also liked how, with the boys being twins, the names just kind of fit together. (Same number of letters, same number of syllables, both ending in "b.") Alan is my dad's name, and, especially since he didn't have a boy, we thought it'd be nice to honor him that way. Luke is my mom's maiden name. My grandpa Luke had ALL GIRLS, so his name also didn't get passed on either. Thus… Jacob Alan and Caleb Luke!

Well, my friends, the time has come to start thinking about a name for "Baby S."

Jon and I have a few girl and boys names that we like, but welcome any thoughts/suggestions. We would like to keep with the same trend: good, strong, traditional names - ideally Biblical names- that are not difficult to spell or pronounce (come on, with a last name like "Seastrunk," we have to make the first and middles names as simple as possible).

Any thoughts? We welcome ALL ideas and/or comments!

Speaking of the little angel, here are a few pics of the recent progress of Momma and Baby:

Momma at 14 Weeks - Still can't tell much from this picture, but in person you can start tell something's up! (I am still at the stage where people may ask "Is Amber pregnant, or did she just let herself go a little over the holidays... and it ALL went straight to her tummy?")

Here's "Baby S" on my birthday, 02/20/08, during his/her big scare!
(See below post to know about "the scare." Also notice the text - "Happy Birthday Mom!")

As an update, I am still bleeding a little today - Sunday. Pray that it stops SOON so I can rest a little easier. ("Baby S" pulled this on Christmas Eve/Christmas and then also my birthday - it is looking like he/she is going to be quite a little "toot.")

"Baby S" and I from a different view - outside. Ignore the dead looking rose bushes. In a month or two they will be in full bloom with beautiful pink roses - I'll get a prettier shot then!

In this sono pic it is difficult to tell a lot, but she was trying to get a picture of "Baby S"
kicking like crazy. This little guy/girl was quite a show off!

A closer view of the tummy.

The best for last - here is THE BEST sonogram picture of "Baby S" we have gotten thus far!

And a cute one of Jon playing "artsy-fartsy-photographer!"

As with the boys, you know there will be many more cute shots to come as the belly expands more!

And remember, we go March 21st (Good Friday!) so have the "Big Sonogram," so be on the lookout for more baby pictures and the "big announcement." If y'all give us some good suggestions, we may even have a name picked out by then too!