:)
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Paying attention....
...to those contractions would have given me a better clue as to what was ahead...
:)
:)
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Are we there yet?
(Un)Fortunately, no....
I'm not sure which of those sides I really want to be on! Fortunately, I am still able to continue getting ready for this little guy to arrive. Unfortunately, I'm still pregnant....
It's a very difficult place to be in mentally and physically right now. Mentally, I think I am done being pregnant but still scared to death of the new change that is going to take place. Having to spend the time thinking about the changes and my ability to handle them is enough to mentally exhaust anyone! But to add the physical exhaustion in - double whammy! My kids and hubby probably think I am some evil-monster replacement of my former self right now. I try so hard to keep my stupid frustrations under control but these last few days have been difficult! I seem to be cranky no matter what happens or who walks in my path.
Oh, and did I mention I was lucky enough to pick up a sinus infection?!?! Seriously?? I am days away from a new baby - right now is not the time to be sick!! I am going to see if I can get some meds to get this cleared up before baby arrives. I certainly don't want to share with him!
Some things that have happened over the last few weeks.....
I went full term! 37 weeks and counting!! ... I then went beyond full term and am now a week away from my due date! Surprised me, that's for sure!
Last Tuesday (I was 37.6 days preggo) I started having some major contractions and discomfort. I was so sick to my stomach all night and I couldn't stop the contractions, even with being in bed on my left side. I was sure that it was time to have a baby. Especially after the plug disappeared (ewww). I was checked at 36 weeks and was 1.5 cm and 30% effaced. Apparently all that activity on Tuesday night made for some production because when I was checked at 38 weeks (Thursday), I was 3 cm dialated and 50% effaced. Moving right along. Strangely, after the big changes from the beginning of that week, I could hardly tell I was pregnant again! I felt great!! That feeling is now gone. I am definitely pregnant.
At this point, I have been having contractions for 2 days straight! They are kicking when I'm falling asleep and pick back up when I wake up. They contract while I roll over in the middle of the night and keep coming all day, no matter what I'm doing. I don't remember having this many braxton hicks with the other kids - considering the preterm labor, I'm sure I had a lot of contractions...but your mind has a way of forgetting all of the unfortunate parts of pregnancy and delivery while you're going through it again (good thing!). So, I fall in the super-uncomfortable category right now.
Work - we picked last week to start a new bookkeeper to take over some of my roles in my company. Nothing like trying to train someone while you're 38 weeks pregnant!! Worst part - she was clueless and we had to let her go...that means that position is still vacant and I am ready to pop. No time to find another resource and get them trained! That means, my poor mother is attempting to start taking over for me while I'm "out" and I will keep as many duties as I can. Not how I pictured the first several weeks/months of this kiddos life but I'm sure it will all work out. God's plan has a way of working whether you understand it or not.
Kiddos are good and excited to meet their brother. None of them get the "surprise" factor of the baby and can't understand why I don't know what day they will finally get to meet them! :) The biggest surprise thus far - the biggest hoping to come wait at the hospital while I deliver!! I just can't see that being a good idea at all...he is so sensitive to emotions and problems that I think he would be scarred for life! I will make sure someone has them at the hospital as soon as possible though. They are so anxious!
I really had intended on having a great, long, life-revealing post - but I'm exhausted, having contractions, sick, and in a fog.....that does not make for good writing. So I better end this now.... I hate that this entire post probably didn't make a lot of sense - I couldn't put together an actual sentence all day today! Maybe I'll come back tomorrow and revise.....or not :) hahaha!
Or maybe, I'll have a baby and post about that soon ;)
Fingers crossed - for which outcome, I don't know - but fingers crossed!
I'm not sure which of those sides I really want to be on! Fortunately, I am still able to continue getting ready for this little guy to arrive. Unfortunately, I'm still pregnant....
It's a very difficult place to be in mentally and physically right now. Mentally, I think I am done being pregnant but still scared to death of the new change that is going to take place. Having to spend the time thinking about the changes and my ability to handle them is enough to mentally exhaust anyone! But to add the physical exhaustion in - double whammy! My kids and hubby probably think I am some evil-monster replacement of my former self right now. I try so hard to keep my stupid frustrations under control but these last few days have been difficult! I seem to be cranky no matter what happens or who walks in my path.
Oh, and did I mention I was lucky enough to pick up a sinus infection?!?! Seriously?? I am days away from a new baby - right now is not the time to be sick!! I am going to see if I can get some meds to get this cleared up before baby arrives. I certainly don't want to share with him!
Some things that have happened over the last few weeks.....
I went full term! 37 weeks and counting!! ... I then went beyond full term and am now a week away from my due date! Surprised me, that's for sure!
Last Tuesday (I was 37.6 days preggo) I started having some major contractions and discomfort. I was so sick to my stomach all night and I couldn't stop the contractions, even with being in bed on my left side. I was sure that it was time to have a baby. Especially after the plug disappeared (ewww). I was checked at 36 weeks and was 1.5 cm and 30% effaced. Apparently all that activity on Tuesday night made for some production because when I was checked at 38 weeks (Thursday), I was 3 cm dialated and 50% effaced. Moving right along. Strangely, after the big changes from the beginning of that week, I could hardly tell I was pregnant again! I felt great!! That feeling is now gone. I am definitely pregnant.
At this point, I have been having contractions for 2 days straight! They are kicking when I'm falling asleep and pick back up when I wake up. They contract while I roll over in the middle of the night and keep coming all day, no matter what I'm doing. I don't remember having this many braxton hicks with the other kids - considering the preterm labor, I'm sure I had a lot of contractions...but your mind has a way of forgetting all of the unfortunate parts of pregnancy and delivery while you're going through it again (good thing!). So, I fall in the super-uncomfortable category right now.
Work - we picked last week to start a new bookkeeper to take over some of my roles in my company. Nothing like trying to train someone while you're 38 weeks pregnant!! Worst part - she was clueless and we had to let her go...that means that position is still vacant and I am ready to pop. No time to find another resource and get them trained! That means, my poor mother is attempting to start taking over for me while I'm "out" and I will keep as many duties as I can. Not how I pictured the first several weeks/months of this kiddos life but I'm sure it will all work out. God's plan has a way of working whether you understand it or not.
Kiddos are good and excited to meet their brother. None of them get the "surprise" factor of the baby and can't understand why I don't know what day they will finally get to meet them! :) The biggest surprise thus far - the biggest hoping to come wait at the hospital while I deliver!! I just can't see that being a good idea at all...he is so sensitive to emotions and problems that I think he would be scarred for life! I will make sure someone has them at the hospital as soon as possible though. They are so anxious!
I really had intended on having a great, long, life-revealing post - but I'm exhausted, having contractions, sick, and in a fog.....that does not make for good writing. So I better end this now.... I hate that this entire post probably didn't make a lot of sense - I couldn't put together an actual sentence all day today! Maybe I'll come back tomorrow and revise.....or not :) hahaha!
Or maybe, I'll have a baby and post about that soon ;)
Fingers crossed - for which outcome, I don't know - but fingers crossed!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Finally!! Ultrasound photos :)
 |
| Looking straight down - skull style... kinda creepy! |
 |
| A side profile view that is far away and rather lame...no good ultrasound photos at all this pregnancy! |
 |
| The official "It's a Boy" view...no confusing this little guy with a girl ;) One day he'll read this when he's in high school and hate me for it... hahaha! |
 |
| A cute little foot - that is ninja deadly in there! LOL |
Swelling...and a diaper bag dilemma
It's not a pretty sight! I'm getting to the point where my lack of water intake (see post several months ago where I promised myself I would drink more water this time...or not....) is causing some major swellings in my feet/ankles/legs. I guess the word "major" is a bit extreme, but there is some substantial swelling and pitting. Guess I'd better go grab that bottle of water and get my toes up!
In other news - today I got my little alert on my iPhone reminding me that we are now officially in week 35 of this pregnancy and exactly 32 days until delivery if my induction plan works out! Maybe NOW is the time to get started dealing with the fact that a baby is coming! I need to get to the storage unit and retrieve all the baby stuff, organize and sort it, wash it, put it away, go shopping for the last bits of things we want to grab, and...oh...maybe NAME this little guy?!?! haha Well, the naming part - I guess that will have to come one way or another, but I better get motivated to get this guy's stuff ready!
I've been lamenting over carrying a diaper bag again! I no longer carry anything (which might be a little brave) for the current kiddos and all I grab when I'm heading out the door is my little Coach wallet... soon, it's going to be a big ordeal to make sure the diaper bag is packed, I have my wallet, get the baby in the carrier, get everyone rounded up with shoes on, and get in the only car we will actually all fit in! But the hardest part will be remembering that diaper bag! Does anyone have a good suggestion on a easy to carry, not overly "clutterable" diaper bag that served you well? I can't decide if I want another backpack type item (which is the easiest to keep on you while juggling a carseat and a 3 year old) or to have something a little fancier/diaper bag specific that sits on one shoulder? Maybe I should just go get a big fancy Coach purse? LOL Nah, I refused to spend $300 on a bag! So what should it be? What's your thoughts??
In other news - today I got my little alert on my iPhone reminding me that we are now officially in week 35 of this pregnancy and exactly 32 days until delivery if my induction plan works out! Maybe NOW is the time to get started dealing with the fact that a baby is coming! I need to get to the storage unit and retrieve all the baby stuff, organize and sort it, wash it, put it away, go shopping for the last bits of things we want to grab, and...oh...maybe NAME this little guy?!?! haha Well, the naming part - I guess that will have to come one way or another, but I better get motivated to get this guy's stuff ready!
I've been lamenting over carrying a diaper bag again! I no longer carry anything (which might be a little brave) for the current kiddos and all I grab when I'm heading out the door is my little Coach wallet... soon, it's going to be a big ordeal to make sure the diaper bag is packed, I have my wallet, get the baby in the carrier, get everyone rounded up with shoes on, and get in the only car we will actually all fit in! But the hardest part will be remembering that diaper bag! Does anyone have a good suggestion on a easy to carry, not overly "clutterable" diaper bag that served you well? I can't decide if I want another backpack type item (which is the easiest to keep on you while juggling a carseat and a 3 year old) or to have something a little fancier/diaper bag specific that sits on one shoulder? Maybe I should just go get a big fancy Coach purse? LOL Nah, I refused to spend $300 on a bag! So what should it be? What's your thoughts??
 |
| That really is a Coach diaper bag!!! I thought I was just being funny... |
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Ultrasound....drumroll....
Hahahaha!!! I just looked back through my blog and realized that I was such a tough cookie on 10/10 - all "I'm not gonna find out" and then I never posted what happened! Duh!
Gigi and G.R. came up for the big event...I knew having them there would be a huge help! I wanted the kids to come along to see the baby :) R was pumped and couldn't wait to go. G...well, he was a little nervous about missing school (?!?!? go figure!) and decided to skip the appointment and see the photos when we picked him up early. Since we weren't going to find out the gender, there wouldn't be all that much excitement anyway...
Bwhahaha! Well, did anyone really think that would happen? I was so sick to my stomach that whole morning.... it was like I had never had an ultrasound done before! I just couldn't decide what to do. It was like the world WANTED me to do it and I really DIDN'T want to do it (find out the gender) and was totally torn! We went back towards the room and I decided we could put the gender in an envelope and open it if we were ready. That seemed like a great plan!
She put the wand on my belly, moved from head to toe one time, and BAM! I knew what I was having. I could tell plain as day! The tech, after the entire thing was over, asked if we wanted to know or just put it in the envelope. At this point, I had to confirm if I knew what I saw. She tried to go back and really get a good look and the baby wouldn't cooperate. Legs tightly shut! No peeking!
She then offered to have the other tech come and look.... this is the part where I regret. I should have just said no, but the curiosity of seeing everything and meeting this baby via the ultrasound for the first time won out... the other tech came in, slapped on the wand, gave a good little push, and POP! Boy goods for the world to see! LOL LOL
So, the little MAN is on his way. It was quite clear on the picture - it was surely a boy! Little Bit...well, she was devastated :( It broke my heart to watch her cry like that. She had hoped for a little girl and wanted a sister so bad. I wish I could have made her dream come true, but God had different plans for this family. Since it's been 3 months since then, I'm happy to report that she is super-excited about a brother coming too :) We keep pumping this "you're the only little princess" mantra in her head - I hope that doesn't come back to bite us! G is super-pumped! He was willing to accept a boy only...had it of been a girl - well, I'm not sure... LOL But needless to say, he quietly, and very politely, triumphed in the addition of another brother. :) And yes, little C is ... clueless ... it's a boy baby - that's about as much as we get from him. But, he's 3... and will soon completely understand the "it's a boy baby" concept! lol
Additionally, the doctor and tech saw an EIF (echogenic intracardic focus) on the baby's heart. It can be one of the slightest signs of Downs Syndrome (they call it a soft marker). Since I had no other markers and all my bloodwork came back normal, they assured us that it was nothing more than a calcium deposit that would clear up before birth. We did get to schedule a level 2 ultrasound a week and a half later and had some more time hanging out with baby man on the screen. He was perfectly fine (I'm not even sure if they found the calcium spot at the level 2 u/s) and we walked out with some more fun ultrasound photos. :)
Gigi and G.R. came up for the big event...I knew having them there would be a huge help! I wanted the kids to come along to see the baby :) R was pumped and couldn't wait to go. G...well, he was a little nervous about missing school (?!?!? go figure!) and decided to skip the appointment and see the photos when we picked him up early. Since we weren't going to find out the gender, there wouldn't be all that much excitement anyway...
Bwhahaha! Well, did anyone really think that would happen? I was so sick to my stomach that whole morning.... it was like I had never had an ultrasound done before! I just couldn't decide what to do. It was like the world WANTED me to do it and I really DIDN'T want to do it (find out the gender) and was totally torn! We went back towards the room and I decided we could put the gender in an envelope and open it if we were ready. That seemed like a great plan!
She put the wand on my belly, moved from head to toe one time, and BAM! I knew what I was having. I could tell plain as day! The tech, after the entire thing was over, asked if we wanted to know or just put it in the envelope. At this point, I had to confirm if I knew what I saw. She tried to go back and really get a good look and the baby wouldn't cooperate. Legs tightly shut! No peeking!
She then offered to have the other tech come and look.... this is the part where I regret. I should have just said no, but the curiosity of seeing everything and meeting this baby via the ultrasound for the first time won out... the other tech came in, slapped on the wand, gave a good little push, and POP! Boy goods for the world to see! LOL LOL
So, the little MAN is on his way. It was quite clear on the picture - it was surely a boy! Little Bit...well, she was devastated :( It broke my heart to watch her cry like that. She had hoped for a little girl and wanted a sister so bad. I wish I could have made her dream come true, but God had different plans for this family. Since it's been 3 months since then, I'm happy to report that she is super-excited about a brother coming too :) We keep pumping this "you're the only little princess" mantra in her head - I hope that doesn't come back to bite us! G is super-pumped! He was willing to accept a boy only...had it of been a girl - well, I'm not sure... LOL But needless to say, he quietly, and very politely, triumphed in the addition of another brother. :) And yes, little C is ... clueless ... it's a boy baby - that's about as much as we get from him. But, he's 3... and will soon completely understand the "it's a boy baby" concept! lol
Additionally, the doctor and tech saw an EIF (echogenic intracardic focus) on the baby's heart. It can be one of the slightest signs of Downs Syndrome (they call it a soft marker). Since I had no other markers and all my bloodwork came back normal, they assured us that it was nothing more than a calcium deposit that would clear up before birth. We did get to schedule a level 2 ultrasound a week and a half later and had some more time hanging out with baby man on the screen. He was perfectly fine (I'm not even sure if they found the calcium spot at the level 2 u/s) and we walked out with some more fun ultrasound photos. :)
Crying...
Why? Just because...
I read several Facebook posts and had to hold back tears. I looked through some old photos and wipes the dribbles in the corner of my eyes. I watched a YouTube video of an 8 yr old singing a song dedicated to her mother and sniffled for 20 minutes!
The hormones have set in...... *sigh*
(this was drafted on 1/4, but the tears must have distracted me from finishing the post...lol)
I read several Facebook posts and had to hold back tears. I looked through some old photos and wipes the dribbles in the corner of my eyes. I watched a YouTube video of an 8 yr old singing a song dedicated to her mother and sniffled for 20 minutes!
The hormones have set in...... *sigh*
(this was drafted on 1/4, but the tears must have distracted me from finishing the post...lol)
How many days did you say?
I just can't seem to wrap my head around this baby...
No matter how big my belly gets or how hard HE kicks, it's like I'm not actually pregnant. As though I'll wake up one day and nothing will have changed from our current family of 5 status?!?! What on earth is going on??
Maybe it's God's way of keeping me sane. I think if I really stopped to think about the complexities of adding another member of the family - namely a NEWBORN - I would loose it. Cleaning, laundry, grocery store, day-to-day, vacations, leisure activities...all of them are going to change! Of course, I know it's all going to change for the better, and the moment we lay eyes on little precious bundle, our hearts will grow immeasurably more to add in this gift from God...but it's still weird to be so distant from the actual truth of the matter.
Today - I had the kids check out the samurai-like abilities of their baby! He seems to have this awesome ninja-chop well practiced on my right hand side. I had Raegan put her hand where his chop takes place, took a bite of banana Popsicle (yuck), and waited... It only took a moment and "HI-YA"! Gotcha he said! Along with the heel pushes, it's uber-pleasant from the inside (hahaha). Anyway, R squealed! "He kicked!" and a big smile crossed her face. :) She proceeded to giggle and be hammered a few more times before I needed to change positions and moved on to the next kiddo. G was next. He is at the age where he really is starting to understand this whole "baby" process...and the parts that he doesn't, he wants to figure out. A little awkward, but I'm glad he's interested and wants to know details about his little brother. He cautiously, and very gently, put his hand on my side where R had had hers. Moments later, WHAM! He got the ninja-chop! G JUMPED a mile high and a huge grin instantly lit up his face!! "He's MOVING!" hehehe It was like he never remembered or experienced it before. <3 What an amazing experience! It was definitely at that moment where he connected with this little guy...actually assembling in his mind that baby's human-like abilities... I know he must have had a weirdly construed version of what a baby in the womb is like.... After he was kicked a few times, he asked me if the baby had his eyes yet. :-o LOL Yes, buddy, he is a little person, ready to come out, as soon as his lung can breath air a bit easier. :)
Little C - well, he's just not there right now. He does assimilate baby with my belly and will make comments about other babies in public and how I have one in my belly. He understands that there is a baby in there and the baby is going to come sleep in the crib in his C-O-L-E room (hehe) but to actually process what that means is going to take experience and then time... He'll get there. Having his little cousin come over in the next few weeks a little more frequently to share mommy will be a good starting point. We did that this week and, well, C didn't like sharing his mommy very much with Baby J. My lap and basically my whole body was bombarded by his when I would even look in Baby J's direction. Oy Vay...being the "new" big brother is going to be tough...
On a more personal note, I have devoted myself to picking up my camera AT LEAST once a week and potentially am shooting for once a day. I am not going to beat myself up for missing a day but I will try to make sure once a week is covered. I'm guessing that a lot of those shots are going to be of a newborn and subsequent growing baby, but it will be something fun to look forward to. I am going to create a new blog to keep them all cataloged over the year and will link between this one and the photo one so you can keep an eye out on our lives through my lens. Wish me luck!!
Doctors appointment in the morning...I'll update once I wrap up there :)
No matter how big my belly gets or how hard HE kicks, it's like I'm not actually pregnant. As though I'll wake up one day and nothing will have changed from our current family of 5 status?!?! What on earth is going on??
Maybe it's God's way of keeping me sane. I think if I really stopped to think about the complexities of adding another member of the family - namely a NEWBORN - I would loose it. Cleaning, laundry, grocery store, day-to-day, vacations, leisure activities...all of them are going to change! Of course, I know it's all going to change for the better, and the moment we lay eyes on little precious bundle, our hearts will grow immeasurably more to add in this gift from God...but it's still weird to be so distant from the actual truth of the matter.
Today - I had the kids check out the samurai-like abilities of their baby! He seems to have this awesome ninja-chop well practiced on my right hand side. I had Raegan put her hand where his chop takes place, took a bite of banana Popsicle (yuck), and waited... It only took a moment and "HI-YA"! Gotcha he said! Along with the heel pushes, it's uber-pleasant from the inside (hahaha). Anyway, R squealed! "He kicked!" and a big smile crossed her face. :) She proceeded to giggle and be hammered a few more times before I needed to change positions and moved on to the next kiddo. G was next. He is at the age where he really is starting to understand this whole "baby" process...and the parts that he doesn't, he wants to figure out. A little awkward, but I'm glad he's interested and wants to know details about his little brother. He cautiously, and very gently, put his hand on my side where R had had hers. Moments later, WHAM! He got the ninja-chop! G JUMPED a mile high and a huge grin instantly lit up his face!! "He's MOVING!" hehehe It was like he never remembered or experienced it before. <3 What an amazing experience! It was definitely at that moment where he connected with this little guy...actually assembling in his mind that baby's human-like abilities... I know he must have had a weirdly construed version of what a baby in the womb is like.... After he was kicked a few times, he asked me if the baby had his eyes yet. :-o LOL Yes, buddy, he is a little person, ready to come out, as soon as his lung can breath air a bit easier. :)
Little C - well, he's just not there right now. He does assimilate baby with my belly and will make comments about other babies in public and how I have one in my belly. He understands that there is a baby in there and the baby is going to come sleep in the crib in his C-O-L-E room (hehe) but to actually process what that means is going to take experience and then time... He'll get there. Having his little cousin come over in the next few weeks a little more frequently to share mommy will be a good starting point. We did that this week and, well, C didn't like sharing his mommy very much with Baby J. My lap and basically my whole body was bombarded by his when I would even look in Baby J's direction. Oy Vay...being the "new" big brother is going to be tough...
On a more personal note, I have devoted myself to picking up my camera AT LEAST once a week and potentially am shooting for once a day. I am not going to beat myself up for missing a day but I will try to make sure once a week is covered. I'm guessing that a lot of those shots are going to be of a newborn and subsequent growing baby, but it will be something fun to look forward to. I am going to create a new blog to keep them all cataloged over the year and will link between this one and the photo one so you can keep an eye out on our lives through my lens. Wish me luck!!
Doctors appointment in the morning...I'll update once I wrap up there :)
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