Week 37 - August 24, 2009

2 weeks! I cannot believe how close we are to holding this baby in our arms! I have mixed emotions…one minute I’m excited, next minute I’m scared and the next I’m sad that it’s almost over – the pregnancy that is. I love the sweet kicks, hiccups, attention, looks and smiles I’m getting from this huge belly! I’ve really enjoyed being pregnant this time. Swelling hasn’t been bad this time around; my teeth being out of align haven’t been bad; back has had problems but not like with Lucas. Maybe it’s because I haven’t gained as much weight this time although I’m heavier this time around. And I haven’t been that sick. With Lucas it seemed like I had a cold or scratchy throat all the time. I think drinking lots of water, allergy shots and cutting down my Diet Mt. Dews have really helped with the whole pregnancy this time around. Part of me is ready to have my old body back and part of me could stay pregnant forever. It’s very bittersweet because this probably will be our last. It’s very sad once you think about it.
Anyway, got a few more things done in preparation for the baby. I got the car seat installed. I think it took about 30 to 45 minutes. I had to move Lucas’ seat over behind me and clean up the center where his seat was. It’s weird to look back and him be behind me and see another car seat on the other side!!! Boy, talk about not having any room for anyone to ride in the back. It’s very tight back there. There’s space enough for the armrest in the middle and that’s it. Lucas thinks it’s cool because he can put his sippy cup in the cup holder on the left and the baby can put his/her bottle on the right. I thought that was too cute.
I think he’s enjoying being closer to the window. He hasn’t figured out that he can roll the window down yet but I’m sure it won’t be long. The doors automatically lock when the car goes into gear and you have to manually unlocked it instead of just opening up the door. So that’s a great feature to have. Chad called me on Wednesday and told me not to go online and look at the checking account, so I knew something was up. This is what was delivered to work!

Aren't they beautiful? I'm very proud of them. The card thanked me for taking such good care of our baby for the past 8 months. He's such a sweetie! I am truly blessed by God for a good husband, son and this miracle baby!

I went to the doctor on Thursday and nothing has really changed and that’s because he’s not checking me. I did gain 2 lbs so I’m at 13 lbs. Next week is my last appointment so if I only gain 2 next week I’ll be at 15 lbs total gained during this pregnancy!!! I’m totally excited about that.
He measured me and checked the heartbeat which was 147. I asked if I’m still measuring 2 weeks ahead and he said no, just 1 but it’s probably because the baby has moved down lower into my pelvis. He said this baby is still big. Last week he said he thought the baby would weigh around 9 lbs at first but then he said probably 8 something. I think 8 lbs is perfect!Here are the coming home/picture outfits that Chad and I chose. He got to pick the girl’s and I got to pick the boy’s.

We’ve been looking for a big brother T-Shirt for Lucas and have had no luck. Some saleslady told me to look at the hospital, duh, and they are bound to have them. So Chad took a trip to Baptist just for this shirt. It’s not the cutest thing in the world but I guess it’ll do. He went through so much trouble that I had to accept it. Lucas looks so cute in it. That’s all that matters. I found a Big Brother ball cap at a garage sale for 25 cents so I’m sure he’ll wear that, too! It’s really big for his head but he looks so cute! It makes me laugh.

Week 36 - August 17, 2009

3 weeks! I cannot believe how close we are to seeing our baby. This pregnancy really has gone fast. I’m sure these next 3 weeks will fly by.
I started training my maternity replacement, Marlene yesterday. She left Steve Ward and Associates about 7 years ago and she trained me as her replacement. So she still remembers how to do things which is a HUGE relief. We’ve changed a few things but she’s a fast learner and I’m so happy she’s going to be covering for me. I’ve temporarily changed my Fridays off for Mondays off as I will be training Marlene on Fridays. So this past weekend I had a 4 day weekend!
Friday I had Chad pull the rest of Lucas’ old clothes down from the attic. I went through and sorted the ones I wanted to keep and hung and tagged for consignment the ones I didn’t. That was a lot of work. I probably did around 7 to 8 loads of laundry. So I basically dedicated Friday for get ready for baby day. I washed down the cradle and mattress so that’s ready.
Had my 2 week appointment this week. I lost 3 lbs. So I’ve gained a total of 11 lbs! I’m so excited. I think my body has finally gotten rid of all that fluid they pumped me up with at the hospital. My feet and legs aren’t swelling as bad as they were last week.
I just knew Dr. Wingo would start checking me since I’m getting so close but he didn’t. I asked him why and he said he will not check me at all because he knows how this baby will be born. So no checks to see if I’m dilated. I was sort of bummed because I’ve been having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions and I thought maybe that would dilate me. But on the other hand, not having a doctor check for dilation is totally fine with me! I think I only dilated a finger tip with Lucas. So I probably have not made any progress.
No more ultrasounds unless there are any complications unless the baby is not moving, same as Lucas did. So I’m glad we got some great ultrasound pictures the last time we went.
The baby is still measuring 2 weeks ahead. Dr. Wingo said the baby will be around 8 ½ lbs which is close to what Lucas weighed, 8 lbs. 2 ozs.
I have 2 more doctor appointments and then I’ll be holding my baby. Gosh, it’s so close now.
I’m feeling fairly well and very surprised I feel so good. Getting tired earlier at night but during the day I feel really good. I just pray I feel this good during the next 2 weeks.
Bring on the jokes. Everyone is commenting on how big my belly is. I’m all baby this time and my stomach is HUGE. I don’t feel big until I see myself in the mirror and my belly is pretty big. I still can’t believe there is a true live baby in there. It’s a pure miracle. How can a baby fit into such a small space and live for days, weeks? You can tell the baby is trying to find room because I feel him or her stretching and is really quite active still. I keep telling them it won’t be long and you’ll have plenty of room to stretch out!

Week 35 - August 10, 2009

4 more weeks! Gosh that seems so far away but in all actuality it’s right around the corner. I’m so ready for this baby to be here although there still are a few things I need to get done before the baby gets here.
Chad and I tackled tons this weekend. We finally moved Lucas into a twin bed in order for us to put the crib mattress back in the crib in the nursery. So we got a great deal on a mattress and did not have to pay sales tax due to the tax-free weekend. We also got a great deal on his bedding. There was a Construction Truck theme bed-in-a-bag on clearance at Kohl’s for $29. Total score! We were going to do the Cars theme but the sheets alone were $30. So we’re happy about that. Lucas loves his new bed and is sleeping very well.
Chad got the cradle down, Moses basket and Lucas’ old clothes down from the attic. I’ve gone through the clothes and put a few in consignment. Now I just need to wash the others. I’ve washed the Moses back bedding so that’s ready to go. Now I need to get the cradle bedding from my sister and wash that.
I bought new nipples for the bottles which was on the list so those are bought. $5 for 2 nipples is crazy seeing I have tons of bottles! Now I just need to wash and sterilize the bottles but I can do that once I get home after the baby is born.
Finally found the coming home outfit for the boy. Chad and I had an agreement with Lucas. He would buy the girl’s outfit and I could choose the boy’s. We kept the girl’s outfit so now we needed to replace the boy’s. This has been difficult to find what I’m looking for. I wanted something very dressy but all I kept finding were sleepers. So I’m so excited about my find. The darn thing cost $24 but in my opinion it was so worth it. I had been to like 5 or 6 other stores looking for the perfect outfit and I finally found it. I was buying it no matter how much it was. We can always take it back if it’s not a boy, which I don’t think will happen. Chad swears it’s a girl.
He came out of the bathroom on Friday and said he had just gotten a sign from God. That he saw a piece of thread on the bathroom floor in the perfect shape of a heart which means Love, which is what we named our 2nd baby that I miscarried, which Chad believes was a girl. Then at Wendy’s Lucas had a chicken nugget in the perfect shape of a heart; one more sign. Coming out of Target and going home was a totally pink sky, absolutely beautiful, 3rd sign. Then once we got home on the floor there was a red heart sticker stuck to the carpet, 4th sign. Chad said all 4 signs were from God that this baby is a girl. Well, we’ll see. I’ll be sooo happy if it’s a girl because every woman dreams of having a girl who looks just like them. But deep down in my heart I know it’s a boy. I’m very happy that it’s a potential boy because Lucas will have a brother. I love having a sister and wouldn’t know what I’d do without her. There’s just something about that bond. If it’s a boy I just pray that they’ll always be close and get along together. Lucas will be a great brother no matter if it’s a girl or a boy. You can tell he’s getting excited. I’m going to have to really watch him because he really loves babies and is always trying to give my nephew, John, his bottle, wants to kiss him and plays with him. I’m afraid he may try to pick the baby up and bring her/him to me. How frightening. But he’ll be so much help to me because he’s so much help right now.
I’m feeling pretty good and was shocked at how much energy I had this weekend. I kept wondering if this is my burst of energy. Monday morning I was exhausted so it caught up with me. Maybe I was so tired because I had tried to choke Chad in my sleep the night before. I so do not remember doing that but I do remember dreaming about a man on his knees looking over men and I was scared. I also remember Chad saying something to me but I thought maybe I had hit him. I didn’t know I was trying to strangle him. Very weird.
Anyway, I’m feeling pretty good but in the bathroom a lot. If I could sit all day I’d probably be fine. At night my back has really been hurting when I try to get out of bed. I seriously need a walker to help me to the bathroom which is about 4 times a night. Once I get up from the toilet I’m fine. It’s the initial walking to the bathroom that gives me horrible, horrible pain. I can hardly stand up straight. I’m sleeping great but wake up suddenly and realize I have to pee. I’ve been really thirsty lately so I’m sure that’s some of the problem.
Swelling wasn’t too bad this week as I was able to wear my wedding ring for 2 days. My legs and ankles are obiviously swollen but my fingers have felt better over the past few days. I tried this morning to put my ring on and it wouldn’t go below my knuckle. So I had to slide my replacement on until the swelling goes down. That probably won’t be until after the baby is born. Other than that I feel pretty good. It’s getting hard to get up in the morning to go to work and sitting all day is hard but I only have 4 more weeks is what I keep telling myself!

34 Weeks - August 3, 2009

Had my bi-weekly appointment today with Dr. Wingo. I took the day off sick because I was still so weak that there was no way I could go to work. Chad took me and I’m glad he did. I was so “hung over” that it would have been a challenge. My husband has really taken good care of me while I've been ill. I love you, Sweetie!

I have gained 3 lbs for a total of 14 lbs gained! I was shocked because I did not really eat anything for almost 4 days! It was all that darn IV fluid. Anyway, blood pressure was good and the baby’s heartbeat was 147. Baby is still measuring 2 weeks ahead. Just another fast and boring appointment. Next appointment is in 2 weeks and then I’ll go weekly.

The swelling begins. I hate this point when everything swells up. My feet throb because there’s so much fluid on them. I don’t think they’re as big as they were when I was pregnant with Lucas but they are definitely swollen. I was doing so well before the stomach virus. I’m really upset because I couldn’t get my wedding ring on this morning. I do have a ring to wear but it’s not “my ring”. I’m trying to drink tons of water to flush it out but swelling is just part of being pregnant.

Still trying to get my strength back but I'm feeling fairly well. The baby is still very active and you can tell it's very squished in there. It's truly amazing that there is a "baby" inside of my stomach. I still forget from time to time that there is a precious miracle baby inside of me until he/she moves. I will really miss feeling this baby move. The pregnancy has gone really fast but I really can't wait until they get here. I'm not to the point where I'm ready to surrender but I'm getting a little tired of being pregnant. I've really enjoyed this pregnancy but it's starting to wear on me. When I think of 5 more weeks it feels like forever and that I'll never make it. I pray that I do and that God will give me the strength to get through because I want this baby to be born healthy and on time, not before.