Happy 35 Weeks Rowan!

Happy 34 Weeks Rowan!

An update

A few nights ago I was over at my cousin's (who lives literally right beside me) and I started getting this tight squeezing feeling in my tummy so I came home, laid down and it went away. The next night it returned and it kept me up all night and yesterday morning it still hadnt gone away. It was this tight feeling in my tummy with a lot of pain. I felt sick to my stomach and sort of nauseous but I went into work last night. Once I got there it started to get worse and one of the girls joked about not wanting my manager to deliver my baby so I figured I would call into the doctor just to see what he said.

He wanted me to come in right away since neither he or a nurse practitioner would be in the following day and if it happened to get worse I would have to go into L&D. My boss was really understanding and told me to go right away. Just to let him know what the doctor said and what was up.

I got to the office and they ran a urine sample and apparently I have a kidney infection and some contractions. I believe its the kidney infection that is causing the contractions but my doctor didn't seem to thrilled about me working so much on my feet with no breaks. He wants me to take off work till Thursday, prescribed me some meds for pain and the infection and Thursday morning I will go back in for a pre-term labor test and an ultrasound and he will then decide if I should return to work.

Luckily last night Dave was hoem to take care of me. He brought home dinner and New Moon and we relaxed on the couch, and today I have pretty much been parked in the same spot ;)

Today I feel worlds better, no tight tummy squeezing. I really do think it was the infection that was causing the contractions. I am hoping the doctor doesn't want me to stop working because we need the money, but I fully understand that whatever it takes to keep Rowan happy and healthy and growing INSIDE my tummy for the next 15 or so weeks I will do.

Lots of you sent well wishes on Facebook and thank you ladies. As for the rest of you who didn't know I just wanted to let you know I am feeling better today and yesterday at the doctors office Rowan's heart rate was a solid 141 bpm and he was happily kicking up a storm ;)

18 Week Belly Pics

Snowmageddon and the Super Bowl

This weekend we got hit with a ton of snow just like most of the east coast. I worked on Friday night and could not believe the amount of people who were out and about on the roads. We were more busy Friday than we have been all month. Something about the bad weather brings people out! I stopped and got necessities at the grocery store after work and we spent all day Saturday snowed in. We declared it pajama day and lounged around. It was really nice.



Sunday we went to the Mustard Seed which is an organic food store about 45 minutes from home. We have an organic store closer but it is not as big, so every now and then we go to the Mustard Seed. We are hoping that some time this month we can drive up to Cleveland and visit their Whole Foods. We are thinking about getting a small freezer and stocking up on some free range, antibiotic free and hormone free meat. We figure since Whole Foods is a chain the prices may be a little cheaper.

We got home and got ready for the Super Bowl! Kensley and I colored on the floor while we cheered on the Colts. Sadly, they didn't really show up on Sunday. I haven't seen them play that badly in awhile. I watched Drew Brees hold his baby boy after the game and choke back tears and I couldn't have been more happy for him and the Saints. They deserved that win. Commercials were disappointing. I didn't think too many were good this year.

Today we had a doctors app. Baby #2 is doing good and with a heart rate right around 145. I have gained about 4 pounds total and my blood pressure was fine. A nice and easy appointment. I am experiencing some round ligament pain that takes my breath away every now and then but overall things are good! We scheduled our ultrasound and should get to see baby #2 again in early March!

Boy or Girl?

A few people have asked me if I have a feeling this baby is a boy or girl, or if I am hoping for a one over the other. The truth is I have a feeling this baby is a boy, but it is not an overwhelming feeling like I had with Kensley. With Kensley I was absolutely certain that she was a girl. I knew she was going to have dark hair and be chubby and look a lot like her daddy. Dave's aunt and uncle bought us a blue teddy bear when I was pregnant with her and I told them to take it back. No way was I having a boy.

This time around its just a slight feeling I have. I will be surprised (although very happily) if the ultrasound tech tells us that it is a girl. My hubby on the other hand is completely convinced that it is a girl. Just for the pure fact that he thinks he is destined to have all girls. And to be really honest I am not hoping for one over the other. There are plus sides to both. If we have a girl, well everything we already own is pink and sparkly and she will fit right in without us having to buy a lot of new things for her. If it is a boy then we are lucky enough to say that we have one of each and all the joys that come along with that.

I did have a dream last night that I gave birth to a baby boy. I have to warn you that in this dream I was laboring for ever and ever which made no sense to me since I am supposed to be having a c-section. They brought in this 3 month old baby so I could practice breastfeeding on him? And at that very moment Dave came in and thought he had missed the birth of our baby. I had to quickly explain that he hadn't. Then, almost immediately after giving birth to our son we went out for ice cream with our whole family. I got cookies 'n cream. So I wouldn't take that dream too seriously.

16 Week Belly Pics

Work it out baby!

So today we finally did something we have been saying you were going to do since Jan 1st- We went to the gym! I am still experiencing some slight morning sickness every now and then but today I felt good. TIRED but good. So we packed Kensley up and headed over first thing this morning. She cried when we got to the daycare. Poor thing cried her heart out but walked through the door and into the room anyway. She was such a trooper. We try hard to just say our quick goodbyes and go so that it doesnt make it any harder on her than it already is. When we came to pick her up she was carrying blocks over to a daycare worker sitting in a chair. She had nearly 20 huge blocks in her lap and K was bringing her two more! This is something she does all the time at home. She cleans out her toy box and brings me every little thing inside it to hold. The one worker told us that 5 seconds after we left she was fine, smiling and playing and they thought she was so cute and sweet. That makes me feel better. I KNOW she enjoys that hour playing with the kids but I only see the crying and my whole workout I spent looking at the door to see if they were coming to get me to tell me to come get my child. HA!

Surprisingly, as tired as I was BEFORE working out I felt pretty good the rest of the day and felt more energetic than normal. I am hoping to go everyday m-f and keep the weekends off to go take K swimming or another fun activity just us. Dave has classes during the day so I don't know if he will come every day with me but I do enjoy the times he can come with us. The gym was PACKED today. Maybe because of the holiday?

I also am officially 15 weeks pregnant today! Whoo hoo! One more week and we have made it into the 4th month :)

I have thrown up no less than 6 times today. And I thought the morning sickness was getting better...*sigh*

Baby #2

	I had my ultrasound this morning to date the pregnancy. I am officially 10 weeks and 2 days and my due date is July 12th. The baby's heart rate was right around 172 which was much higher than Kensley. Her heart rate was in the 140's and the nurses all guessed she was a boy ;) Guess that heart rate doesn't tell you much! My blood pressure was a little low 100/62 but that was not a big concern and I have already gained 4 pounds and the nurse informed me I should only gain 20 to 25 total. HA! They told us everything looks good and sounds good and we feel so blessed. What an amazing Christmas gift!

Kensley has some news to share

Happy 39 Weeks Kensley! (Now Get Out!)

Nothing much has happened or changed over the weekend. Yesterday my cramps continued all day and then I started to have this squeezing sensation in my stomach. It lasted most of the day, but I know it was nothing serious. I did go #2 about 6 times yesterday too haha. I guess I can take it as my body getting ready, but Ive told myself that a thousand times and really, how long does it take your body to get ready?! I have yet to lose my muscus plug, or have any type of bloody show so I know Im not that close yet. Did most of you ladies have that happen right before labor, a few days before or not at all? Ill just be sitting here praying for my water to break. Actually, its almost 60 degrees out today, so I might just go for a walk and try to get things going. I know a lot of you are going to be induced sometime this week, so at least I can live vicariously through all of you. Because I know that my baby is up there just shaking her head and laughing and saying, "You know I am never EVER coming out!" In which case I have already grounded her until she is 35.

So anyway. I thought I would post the pics of my belly so you can all watch as my belly grows to unnatural proportions. Hopefully this will be the last week of all this stretching and growing, because honestly I dont think that it can anymore!

5 weeks:

10 Weeks:

15 Weeks:

18 Weeks:

19 Weeks:

21 Weeks:

23 Weeks:

24 Weeks:

25 Weeks:

28 Weeks:

30 Weeks:

31 Weeks:

32 Weeks:

33 Weeks:

34 Weeks:

36 Weeks:

38 Weeks:

38 Week Checkup

Went to the doctor yesterday and everything is still looking the same. I lost 4 lbs, my blood pressure was 117/70, her heart rate is excellent. I havent progressed anymore from last week. My next apt is next Fri and if I make it to that one they will strip my membranes. He checked and said he could feel her head right there! Which I already knew, because boy can I feel it! He also guestimated that she is around 7-7 1/2 lbs. So no 10 pounder for me yet So yeah, now its basically a waiting game to see if see if she decides to come on her own or not. I have been having bad cramping all day today, but Ive been cramping for a month now and that hasnt done a thing. No contractions because this is a CONSTANT pain and nothing timeable. So we shall see..At least now we know she will be a March baby and our little lucky charm! Went to dinner last night with my parents and it was delish. On the way out my dad said, "Next time we see you, you will be handing me my grandchild!" haha. I sure hope so. Anyway, I just thought I would update and let you know baby girl is still in the oven and who knows when she is coming out! haha.

38 Week Pics

My doctor apt is not until 4:30 today, usually I go at 6:30 in the morning. I dont like sitting around waiting all day to go lol. Im just hoping for some progress at least, but we shall see. After the doctor's my mom and dad are coming up to take us out to eat for my graduation dinner. Its not the best time to go out to eat, since my stomach is the size of a small lima bean and I cant eat much, but Im still excited to be going.

We went to Target last night and walked around and I got a bunch of new makeup which makes me excited. I needed something to lift my spirits. Its funny how truly girly I am, that makeup gets me excited. I got the almay eyeshadow to bring out the color of your eyes. Mine are hazel (brown and green) so I already had the one for brown and the one for green, last night I bought the new on for hazel eyes. Its all grey's so Ill see if I like it. Ive really liked all the other ones so far. I also bought eye-makeup remover because I bought some waterproof mascara and I have to scrub my eyes with soap and sandpaper to get the darn stuff off. I will definitely not have racoon eyes when the baby is born! We also bought Dave a bunch of snack bars to take to the hospital so he doesn't starve to death. He was complaining the other day that the hospital has nothing good in their vending machines. So yeah, we are all set to go!

Ill probably update later tonight after we get home from dinner and once we hear what the doctor had to say. But I do have my 38 week belly pics to share as well....

It might just be me, but it does seem like my belly is lower and rounder, like she has dropped some and is out more...but that could just be me..

The Grinch was totally pregnant

I actually had a thought this morning that The Grinch who Stole Christmas was actually probably 7-8 months pregnant. He had all of the signs. Moodiness, big belly, his shoes were too tight...I mean in Grinch world he could have been pregnant for YEARS and I would be just as pissed off with those singing whos down in whoville if I had to be pregnant for that long.

Happy 37 Weeks Kensley!

Its official! She has made it to "full term" and I can now breathe a *sigh* of relief. She can come anytime now and I have to let you all in on a little secret. Im so so ready to have her out. Im to the point right now that I dont even care how badly labor hurts. My back has really been hurting the past few days. Dave gave me a massage last night and its full of knots. I laid on the couch and cried most of last night. Ive really been hoping that my water goes ahead and breaks even though I know that probably wont happen. Like I said, Im just ready. Im sure most women feel this way in the last month. All I can hope is that this week at the doctor things will be progressing, and I can at least feel like the end is near.

Ive been having cramping, lower back pain and contractions off and on for weeks now, so we have the bags packed and ready to go. All I can hope is that she decides to join us soon! I know I still have 19 days before my due date, and that she could very well/ and probably will be late, Im hoping she comes ASAP. I'm just exhausted and ready to be even more exhausted but in a different way. haha!

Back in the U.S.S... (Ugh..ER)

Even with all the prayers you ladies gave me, I ended up catching Dave's lovely stomach flu and spent all day yesterday in the hospital. I started feeling bad about 11:30 sat night and by 3:30 Sunday morning I was throwing up. I was up all night and couldnt keep a thing down. So at 1 in the afternoon we decided to go to the hospital. I was just afraid of getting too dehydrated and that effecting the baby. They checked my urine and there were keytones? in my urine which meant my body was starting to break down muscle, so they hooked me up to an iv and gave me a shot of meds for nausea. While she was giving the iv I started to feel like I was going to pass out. She checked my blood pressure and it was 104/43. The nurse did say I was looking pretty green. During all of this, baby girl was just fine. Her heart rate was higher than usual (in the 160's) but still perfectly fine. She was rolling around and kicking the monitor the whole time I slept off and on at the hospital until about 7:30. After 3 ivs and 3 shots of meds I was able to drink some ginger ale and eat crackers. I came home, took some more meds and passed out. Im able to keep fluids down today and besides feeling a little queasy and weak Im doing better. Im prob not going to be around to comment today, im heading back to bed. Just wanted to let you know Im ok, and not in labor haha. I couldnt imagine having the baby while feeling so ill. There would have been no way to enjoy it feeling like I did yesterday. But still hoping she comes out soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for all of your thoughts on my haircolor ladies. I decided to stick with all blonde for now. I figure, Im gonna look all tired and swollen in Kensley's baby pics so I might as well have good looking hair, right? It also seemed to be most of your fav look, and I already knew I look best blonde so a lot of you helped me realize a drastic change weeks before baby is due is probably not the best idea for my emotional well being. Thank you again!

Today was our 36 week checkup. I was up all night last night with cramps from hell. Ive had them off and on since I went to labor and delivery two weeks ago. But last night they were killer and kept me up most of the night. Nothing timeable, so I knew they werent contractions but goodness If I have to deal with these for another 3 weeks I may just rip this baby out myself. I only gained a pound this week, and if I only gain a pound a week until she gets here my total will be almost 35 lbs. and Im pleased with that. She is measuring right on track still and her head is down and right at my cervix. Im still a little over a cm dialated and 60% effaced. Two weeks ago I was really solid, so at least the effacement is progressing. Ill be back in a week for another checkup, but if I have any timeable contractions I should call the doctor. Im really debating taking a tylenol and trying to go back to bed for a bit. I havent been sleeping well at all lately and this should be the time I try to get sleep! haha. Funny how that works.

And as for Valentine's Day, this is what I came home to yesterday...

It was actually a lot darker in the room, but I took the pic on night mode. I got a gourmet meal picnic on our living room floor! Salad, bread, grilled chicken and pasta! And he made chocolate molton cake for dessert. He got me a cute card that plays, "Hey good lookin, whatcha got cooking?" because I sing that to him all the time when he cooks dinner haha. He wrote about this being our last holiday alone, but cant wait for our new "addition". He also went to 3 different stores to find me pot of gold chocolate caramels. Do I have the greatest hubby or what? And if you think he forgot that it might be hard for a 9 month pregnant woman to eat off the floor, he put pillows down and he fed me himself ;) *sigh* I love that man.

Things Are Looking Up!

Dave seems to be doing much better today. He didnt eat a thing yesterday, since our goal was to just keep fluids down, but today he has had some toast and has an appetite back. Ill be making him some soup in a bit if he feel up to it. Thank you for all of you who wished him to get better soon, and for me not to catch it. Im feeling pretty good. I stayed in the bedroom ALL DAY yesterday to avoid him, and even though it was the longest day of my life...it was worth it not to get sick. Thank you to all you ladies you sent me your screen names. I had fun chatting with you yesterday! And from waht Ive heard yesterday, most of you agree that Medela is best, which I already knew haha. Looks like Ill be sucking it up and buying a good one.

Anyways, as promised here are a few pics from Sundays Baby Shower and my 36 week pics!

Dave and his birthday cake!

This was too funny, his aunt bought him a tool belt that says "Daddy's Essentials" It has rubber gloves, a face mask, goggles, a pacifier, diaper wipes and a diaper. He loved it! She also bought him a "manly" diaper bag and it was stuffed with essentials!

Our bedding. Sorry its so pale...its mint green, pink and lace. Its gorgeous in person but doesnt photograph well.

This dress was given to Dave's mom at her baby shower for Dave. Since he obviously wasnt a girl, she kept it and now has given it to Kensley! That little dress is 28 years old!

Yay! His aunt made me a Care Bears blankie. I had a Care Bears sleeping bag when was little and I used it until the stuffing came out haha.

Daddy is ready for diaper duty!!!

My big belly at 36 weeks!

Im going to be washing her clothes, sheets and all that today and packing the overnight bag. I need to get that done! I hope you all are having a great day and Ill be on for sure later to comment!

Second Baby Shower, Dave's 28th Birthday And A Trip to the ER. Oh My!

What an eventful day yesterday was. It was Dave's 28th Birthday and we had our second shower :) I got Dave a birthday card from Kensley that basically said she was lucky to have such a great Daddy. I also bought a onesie that says Daddy's Little Sweet Pea. Then I got him a card and a hoodie from AE.

We headed up to the shower at his Aunt's house and I was completely blown away by all that she did for us. There was soo much food! We had italian and american subs, sloppy joes, 4 different kinds of wings, pizza bites, cucumber sandwiches, a fruit and veggie tray, mac salad, chips, cookies, cupcakes, a chocolate fountain with strawberries, marshmallows and pretzels and then the got Dave a Birthday cake! And this was for about 30 people! Nobody went hungry thats for sure! She also had mints, chocolate candy bars that said ITS A GIRL!, all of these votives and candles she gave to guests...It was amazing.

We got soo many gifts and even more clothes haha! After both of the showers there is only a handful of things that we still may need and I thought I would list them on here to see if any of you mommies thought it was needed. Somethings we wont need right away. Some we will.

• More receiving blankets (We only have about 6 total)
• Those soft feeding spoons for when she starts foods
• bottle brushes
• thermometer
• baby view car mirror
• mattress pad
• humidifier
• more sheets for the bed
• breast pump

Not bad at all! And we got about $400 in gift cards to use as well. I was wondering if any of you had used a good dual electric breast pump that was affordable because I had signed up for a medela one that is $250. I know its a great one, but if I can get one for less it would be great. I love when I can ask you all for advice!

Anyway, after getting home from the shower we started to put the majority of things away. Dave started to complain of a bad stomach ache. I told him to take some tums but he then got even more sick and threw up. He was throwing up of and on for 2 hours with really bad stomach cramps/pains and we decided to go to the ER. We didnt know if it was food poisoning or what, but I ate mostly the same foods as him and was alright. They told us he probably has a stomach bug since they are going around and sent us home. I didnt get to bed until 3:30 am! I had been up since 6 am the day before, plus all that running around. I was dilerious. I woke up at 630 this morning with a terrible stomach ache, but I havent thrown up and am feeling better now. Im confined to the bedroom and Dave is in the living room. Hes starting to keep some fluids down so I hope that helps. But all in all, what a day!

Ill be posting my 36 week belly pic, pics from the shower and all that tomorrow hopefully. Im just too drained to do it today. Hope you ladies all have a fab Monday!