I'm an aunt again!

My SIL had her baby girl this morning!!

It's so exciting and I can't wait to go see her and remember how tiny newborns are.  The baby was just 7 pounds.

Yesterday I had Braxton Hicks contractions (painless contractions) every 5-7 minutes for 3 hours before they went away.  I had this when I was pregnant with Christian too, but the doctor wasn't worried because they weren't changing my cervix.  I'm hoping I go a tiny bit early this time so that I'll be out of the hospital and recovered enough to attend Christian's kindergarten graduation.  My due date is right around the last day of school.

I also had a freak out session last night, and went into Mower Mode.  I basically grazed my way through the kitchen and ate JUNK.  Jelly beans, honey roasted peanuts, Bugles, and a cookie.  All total, and utter crap.  And then I panicked, thinking that all I was doing was adding fat to my baby and me.  And not healthy fat.  It was a wake up call, for sure.

I'm hoping to get a really nice blender (like a VitaMix) soon, so hopefully I can start making green smoothies and protein shakes and get back on track.  That's my hope, anyway. ;-)

Hope you all have a good day! I'll be snuggling a newborn at some point today. :-D

Sunshine makes everything better

Howdy, All!

I'm doing much better.  Yeah, it's still not easy to see the scale go up, and to see my bloated body in the mirror, but this sweet girl is worth it and somehow, some way I'll get the weight off when it's time.

The sun has shone brilliantly all weekend and again today, and it makes such a difference for me!  I love being able to spend time with my family in the backyard.  We broke out our "pool".  It's a tiny little kiddie thing, but the kids love it. :) I can't wait until summer is here, the kids are out of school, baby girl is in my arms and not my stomach.  I have plans to spend all summer in the backyard with good friends. :)

Overall I'm doing well; I can tell my circulation isn't good; my feet/legs fall asleep pretty quickly when I'm sitting down.  My back is still bad, but I know there's an end in sight. 

Not much else to report.  Hope you're all doing well!

Hormones

Oh, dear. 

I currently look kinda like this:

Why?  Well, because I happened to see a picture of myself from the back.  And wowza.  It wasn't pretty.  Basically I am as wide as I am tall.

I feel like this:

Now, I know it's normal and healthy to gain weight while pregnant.  And I thought I was dealing pretty well with it, despite being the heaviest I've ever been. Ever. In my entire life.

But when I saw that picture, I just started crying.  Because I am short (5'3") and have a short torso, pregnancy does not look very good on me.  As opposed to someone taller, with a longer torso.

I know it's just hormones.  I know I don't really look like the lady above.  I know that pregnancy is the absolute best reason EVER to gain weight.  But today, it's hard. 

I think part of my problem is that the only successful way I've lost a significant amount of weight in the past is with HCG.  But I don't think I can do that anymore, because of how I responded to it, hormonally. So it makes me really freak a little about how I'm going to lose the pregnancy weight, without being able to do HCG.

Anyway, I'm kind of just talking myself through it currently.  I haven't gained massive amounts of weight. I'm at 25 pounds, which isn't bad, it's just more than I've ever gained before.  I know I'll figure it out.  I just had a freak out moment.  :-P

Overall, things are fine and going well.  I just needed to vent a little bit.

Mom's MRI results

Hi All,
So my mom had her MRI on Friday, and because my sister works in the medical field she was able to get a doctor to read the results right away.  The good news is there are no tumors, no sign of stroke, and no brain degeneration.  The bad news is, we still don't know what's wrong.  But we're SO SO SO thankful to have ruled out those scary things!!

In other news, I'm so glad that Baby Girl flipped once again... back to transverse, where she's laying sideways.  It is so much more comfortable for me!!  No more burning ribs or bruised organs.  I hope she stays like this for a couple more weeks.

My back is still hurting in a major way.  A heating pad has really been helping, and I just keep telling myself that it's just for a time.  Once the baby comes my back usually returns to normal within a few weeks/months.  And it's so worth it.

I'm getting so excited to meet our little girl, to see what she looks like and see who she is.  I bought a baby swing the other day, and Kate and I immediately came home and started playing with it. :-D

I bought the swing second hand and only found out once we got it home that it plays music and has different settings for the swing. I think that doll has put more miles on the swing in the last 2 days than is reasonably necessary. ;-)

MB-Rebecca is the name that my dear friend chose for her little girl who went to heaven. I do like your other suggestions, though!

Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy!  And having better weather than us!! Rain, rain, rain and more rain!  I'm ready for summer!!

Oh, Baby

Well, I can officially say the baby is no longer laying sideways.  She's head down.  Which is great, right!?  Yes.  Except.  Now I am in SO MUCH PAIN.

Oh my word, I have forgotten how bad it hurts.  My ribs are constantly burning; it feels like they are on fire.  And that's not even when she's kicking or moving.  There just is absolutely no room in my short torso, and because my stomach doesn't just stick out really far (I have no idea why; my abs are NOT strong) then the baby is all up in my organs and ribs. 

So just sitting and standing... pain.  Always. 

And I have 9 weeks left!?  63 more days.  Where she gets bigger.  And longer. 

Dear Lord, give me strength!

I am determined to take it the right way, to not dwell on the inconveniences, but to be consciously thankful for this precious gift.  Because it is SO worth it. 

Just don't laugh at me for constantly stretching out as far as I can, laying in odd positions and doing other silly things to try to make more room for Baby Girl. ;-)

In other news, my mom has an MRI today; pray they find out what's wrong, and that it's not life threatening and can be treated/fixed.

31 weeks and a picture

Hi All,
Sorry I've been MIA.  Life has been super busy and stressful lately.

I saw the OB yesterday and suddenly I'm measuring 4 weeks behind. ??? He wasn't concerned, and neither am I, as I think it's just due to the fact that Baby Girl changed positions.  And I also measured behind in ALL of my previous pregnancies.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the baby will be between 6 and 7 pounds when she is born.

The name... ugh, I keep changing my mind.  Originally I was just gonna go with what Josh picked, but it just doesn't fit.  So now we're back to square one.  I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating/unsettling it is for me not to have a name.  Today my sister and I were talking about it in the car, and sweet Christian (who is almost 5) piped up and said, "Maybe when the baby comes out you'll know what to name her."  I'm really hoping he's right!!

Here is a picture of me taken on Tuesday, the day I turned 31 weeks:

I have the sweetest OB ever.  He's like a grandpa, and so kind and compassionate.  I was asking him if there was anything I could do to help with my fatigue.  On Monday I slept from 5:30pm to 7:30am and still could hardly drag myself out of bed. It's almost debilitating.  Unfortunately, it just goes with the territory of being pregnant, I guess.  He said it's all cardiovascular, and that my heart is having to pump SO MUCH extra blood/fluid that it's kind of like I'm in a constant state of exercising... even when I'm sitting on my rear on the couch eating black jelly beans. ;-)

I'm looking into something called Super Food that is supposed to help with energy, but for now I just rest as much as I can and drink an iced coffee or diet soda if things get really super bad. 

Other than that we're just plugging along.  My mom is having some pretty major health issues, so if you remember, prayers would be greatly appreciated for her!

Hope you're all doing well and staying healthy!

Good Friday

Howdy, Folks!

Good Friday to you!  Do you have plans this Easter weekend?

We're going to a church retreat and we're all excited about that.  We get to stay at the property in a cabin and for the kids it's so much fun. Well, it's fun for me too. ;-)

My back is KILLING me today.  Wanna know why? Cuz I pushed a grocery cart that had literally 5 items in it around the store.  Seriously!! It's ridonculous.  Today I'm hobbling around, wincing and moaning like an old lady.  I think the more I move the more it'll limber up.  That's my hope, anyway.  I was supposed to go shopping at Costco, but told Josh I can't do that otherwise I'll be bedridden all weekend. :-P

The sun is shining and it's SO NICE to see it's sunny face!!  I have lots of packing to do, so I best get on that.

I saw pictures of my friend's baby that she lost.  Oh my goodness, her little girl was sweet perfection.  She already had a head full of dark, curly hair, perfect little features, tiny toes and fingers.  It's crazy to think that's what my baby looks like inside me now; maybe not the hair, but just like a miniature full term baby.  So heart wrenching and sad; it just really made me realize what a gift and blessing it is that my little one is still alive and healthy, and her constant movements let me know she's doing okay.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

MB-Oh. My. Word.  I can not believe that story!!! I'm so incredibly sorry that happened to you and hope that your in-laws come to their senses SOON!!!!

I'll leave you all with this little funny :-D

Sick Girl

Hey all,
Just checking in.  I'm super sick today. I got really sick last night; it was like the series of most unfortunate events EVER.

I didn't feel well all day, but managed to keep it together.  I only managed to eat a few bites at dinner and I just felt like I'd been run over by a train.  Josh could tell I wasn't feeling well, so he sent me to bed and took the kids to the park.

Well, I ended up throwing up.  Really badly. It was horrible.  This is probably WAY too much information, but when I throw up I have to sit on the toilet and throw up into a bucket, because... well, after 4 babies and my issues with my bladder, it's just better that way. *Ahem*

Anywho, I was cleaning up, dumping the bucket into the toilet, washing out the bucket, and I grabbed the can of disinfectant to sanitize the bucket.  I was shaking it, and it flew out of my hand, right into the toilet.  With the puke.  And it splashed out.  All over me.

And then I puked again.

Nice story, huh? Pregnancy is SO glamorous. :-P

Anyway, I went to bed and woke up in the night to use the restroom and still felt yucky.  And it's lingering today, which is rather unfortunate as I have to take Kate to the dentist, hit up the store for some groceries, and Josh is gone tonight at fundraising for our church.  I have grand plans to lay around once my errands are done. ;-)

I'm 30 weeks today, so 10 weeks left.  I'll try to take a belly shot and post it here in the next few days.  It's really getting to be impressive in size! ;-)  And it's so crazy to watch it move when Baby Girl does her gymnastics routine.   I think it still hasn't really sunk in that I'm having another baby.  I really didn't think I'd ever be able to have more after Owen, and it just seems too good to be true that not only do I get another precious baby, but I get another girl!  Kate gets a sister!

My nesting is starting to kick in.  Josh built shelves in Kate's room for the baby's clothes... I think I mentioned that already.  And I can't let the house get too messy before it bugs me and I have to pick it up.  It's nice, in a way.  Even though bending over isn't so easy these days. ;-)

I hope you're all well and having a good day!

Plugging Along

Hi Everyone,
How are you? I'm doing okay.

I am still so heartbroken for my friend, and feel massive amounts of guilt that my baby is still alive and healthy while she had to bury hers. It seems so unfair, but I just have to trust that God knows what He's doing and has a perfect plan in all of it.

There are big changes happening. For one, I'm enrolling Owen in preschool today. He's my youngest currently and it's so strange to think of him going to school! He was born in November so he missed the school cut off for this year.  So we're starting him in preschool, cuz he's ready and needs that mental stimulation.  So come September Kate and Christian will both be in school full time, and Owen will go for a few hours 2 days a week.

The other big change... is my belly. ;-) It's getting bigger and bigger.  Yesterday I started to get discouraged/down on myself because the shirt I was wearing was quite tight and I probably won't be able to wear it again. Then I realized it's a size medium, NON maternity shirt. :-P

And having my friend lose her sweet girl really put things in perspective for me.  WHO CARES how much weight I've gained? (24 pounds, in case you're interested.) WHO CARES if I've already gained 4 pounds MORE than I ever have before during pregnancy, and I still have 10 weeks to go.  It's all so irrelevant and shallow and the only thing that matters is getting my baby here, safe and sound.  WHO CARES how much my back hurts, or how sick I feel, if the end result is a precious little baby in my arms?

It's really helped me remember to be thankful for this miracle, and not resent all the aches and pains and inconveniences that go with it.

I do, however, have a plan for these last 10 weeks.  Lately I've felt so heavy and toxic.  My frame is not meant to carry this much weight, and it's glaringly obvious.  I am not feeling well in general.  So I'm going to TRY to eat according to my blood type.  Have you heard of this?  There are certain foods that I should be eating and others that I should avoid.  I have type O blood, so the best things for me are most vegetables and fruits (but not strawberries or oranges, waaahhhh!), lean meats and few grains.  No dairy really at all.

I'm hoping to start making some green smoothies and maybe some protein shakes.  I think if I'm able to stick to the right foods for the most part, that some of the unnecessary weight I've gained will drop off, and I'll feel better, more energized, etc...  I have to get the book from my friend, and then buy the right stuff, but I'm hoping to start in the next 2 weeks.  I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing.

I hope you all are well.