Monday, March 26, 2012

35 Weeks

Baby and I have been enjoying all of the sunshine this week! So in honor of Sunny March 2012, we took our picture outside this week! We have been spending every day playing outside, eating lunch on the deck, and taking in all the vitamin D we can get! I hope hope hope that it is this nice out when Bambino decides to join us on the outside.

I continue to have LOTS of strong contractions-- about 5-6 per hour or so. We will find out at our next appointment (36 weeks) if all these contractions are making progress for labor. Any head start I can get would be fabulous! At my last appointment (34 weeks), I measured exactly 34. My BP is still excellent, so no snags there for my planned water birth. Baby's heart rate was 140bpm. Starting next week, I will begin weekly appointments, and get checked for dilation/effacement. We are in the home stretch!

The heart burn that plagued me last week has subsided! I am feeling "good" this week compared to last. I am still uncomfortable at night, and feel like my water just might break from all the pressure every time I stand up, but for the most part, I am not feeling too terrible this week.

As the time draws near to meet sweet babe, I find myself getting ever more excited, but also a titch nervous (which took me by surprise!). I am not generally the type to feel nervous about my upcoming birth, but this time I am a little, for unbeknownst reasons. Because this pregnancy has seemed to last FOR.EV.ER, I am surprised to feel a flutter in my stomach when I realize I may be holding our sweet little one in my ARMS in 3 weeks. That's coming up fast! But the excitement of that thought is winning out over the nerves.

Until next week, dear readers! Adieu!

35 weeks

35 weeks, full profile

Sunday, March 18, 2012

34 Weeks

Okay... what can I say? I am having "issues" now that I didn't experience until week 38 before. Example, this baby is suddenly so big and heavy that it is already forcing me to run for the bathroom at least every 45 minutes. This is very anti-productive, Folks. And very annoying. Example #2: The sudden heaviness has also caused constant back pain. Example #3: I have shin splints today from... living. Just the normal walking around the house. WHAT? What is happening to me? Example #4: I end most days by slumping onto the couch (or bed) and feeling so much relief from the uncomfortable pain that I cry. Tears of frustration and relief mingled.

This morning, while getting dressed for church, I broke my dress trying to pull it over my huge, weird body. So I did what any normal pregnant woman would do... I sat down on the floor of my closet and cried for awhile. Then I sewed my dress, because I really didn't have many other suitable options. I ran into that problem a lot this week. I would dig through my drawers, be delighted to find that "roomy" shirt that I know is comfortable and covers everything, only to find when I slip it over my head that it is no longer roomy, and no longer comfortable. I must have had a growth spurt. I had approximately 5 people tell me TODAY that I suddenly look huge.

I am feeling so close to the end in so many ways (and I am) but still have a ways to go in reality. I have a good 4-6 weeks left, which sounds like an awfully long time to go on like this...

I haven't mentioned my appetite lately. It has been a little lower than normal this week, due to the hot weather I believe. I don't ever feel as hungry when I am hot. The things I have been really enjoying this week: cold oranges, sugar snap pea pods, strawberries and chips with my mom's homemade salsa. I have also been craving a vanilla milkshake, which is odd because for the most part ice cream is not appealing. Along with appetite, I should mention that Midnight gives me heartburn. No joke. I get severe heartburn almost every night now. At midnight.

Speaking of the weather... we have been having 80 degree weather this week in MARCH! It is like a dream come true. I LOVE the sunshine. I am one of those people who should live in Florida. But I married a man who should live in Alaska. So we compromise with the upper midwest. I hope with all my heart that the weather is like this when I go into labor. With the sun shining down on me, a certain euphoria takes over and I feel like I could do anything. That would be a reeeally great feeling to have during labor.

34 weeks

Monday, March 12, 2012

33 Weeks

This week has been a little rougher than the past couple. I haven't been sleeping quite as well. I have had a definitive increase in trips to the bathroom. I get contractions CON.STANT.LY. When I eat until I am full, there is so much pressure in my belly that I need to lean back just to catch my breath. Oy.

One day this week I was experiencing some semi-intense cramping. So my Prince Charming (who was at work) arranged childcare for the kids and sent me to bed with water. So I spent the rest of the day in bed sleeping and watching shows. I feel much better now and have not had any more issues. (Thank you, Love!)

I have been extra emotional this week as well. I keep ping-ponging between the desire to be done-- have my body to myself and meet our sweet baby, and wanting the pregnancy to last longer knowing this is probably the last time I will feel a baby moving inside of me. I lay in bed every night with my hand resting on my tummy, relishing every little movement.

Saturday was Flynn's due date, as I mentioned in my previous post. I received such an outpouring of love this weekend. I want to thank all of you who showed your support through a kind word, a note, or flowers. I cannot begin to tell you how deeply that touched my heart. It moved this mama to tears several times to know that I am not the only one who remembers and honors Flynn's life. So thank you.

33 weeks

Monday, March 05, 2012

32 Weeks

Remember how I said that 30 weeks is a big milestone for me? Well, 30 is really exciting, but then every week after 30 goes sooooooo stinkin' slooooooooooow. Especially when close friends of yours give birth around now ;  ) (Congrats Aaron and Sarah!) I have been paying much closer attention to each passing day. Bad idea. It really makes time crawl. I try to distract my mind with my life apart from baby, but I think it is inevitable. The whole "nesting" thing has taken over my brain and I can't seem to regain control. So.... we wait.

I have been so grateful for deep, peaceful sleep up until now. I am starting to notice that changing this week. I have not been sleeping as well. I toss and turn frequently from discomfort, and have to get up several times to go to the bathroom throughout the night. I take comfort in knowing that each uncomfortable night, is one night closer to meeting sweet Bambino.

On a more serious note, I am approaching this week with a sad heart, remembering that I was due with Flynn on March 10th, which is this Saturday. And since I always go early, I am sure he would have been in my arms by now. It is a strange thing to mourn the loss of one child, while preparing to greet another. But somehow, thankfully, my mind has completely separated the two. Separate people, separate feelings. This is something I never would have understood, if I had not been in this place. If I had not had a miscarriage. I feel the pain from losing Flynn still and will never stop missing him, and yet still rejoice at this life within me knowing that s/he is not a replacement, but rather a sibling.


32 weeks

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Spot On!


Ran across this list this week, and internally shouted "Yes!" after each point...