I'll just list a few things before I forget (since my appointment was this morning). I weigh 140, so hovering at that 22 lbs still. My blood pressure is good and I'm measuring right on schedule! I am 1 cm dilated and very "soft" and effaced. Also, I am GBS NEGATIVE! BIG YAH!!!!! So, on Sunday I will begin my regimen again to stay negative for her arrival =)! Oh, Shelly also said I would be a good candidate for home birth bc everything looks so wonderful. She said, "in the future," but was she hinting something?! I told her if this one goes really well I may consider that for a third ;). The clock over there says 22 days! I'm in shock....
One bit of bad news is my Midwife (whom I have seen for 8.5 months) is leaving =(. I am not sure why, because she didn't tell me, but I found out upon scheduling my appointment for next week. The desk clerk says, "you will be meeting our new Midwife, Kelly, next week!" WHAT?! Thanks for letting me know so nonchalantly! Anyway, I'm trying not to freak about it because there wasn't really a guarantee I would have delivered with Shelly anyway. SO, fingers and toes crossed that the new Midwife will be just as exceptional and just as cool. If I hold out to 40 weeks I'll have 3 weeks to get to know her. If she is awful I guess I'll just go with Dr. Shutzer if I can?! Who knows. Again, trying not to get wrapped around the axle because there is nothing I can do about it.
Anyway, those are short stats. I might add more to this post tomorrow because it is getting late. I toss and turn now all night long, so I need to get to bed at a decent hour in order to get any sleep whatsoever. Oh, appointment with the Doula Friday =). So hopefully that will be encouraging!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Week 36!
I can't believe I'm 36 weeks and almost full term! I feel like I just took the pregnancy test and strutted Gabriel around in his "Big Brother" shirt. Now we are at the end and I have a bit to get done still. All of which I could get done in a day, but will probably spread out to bide my time for the next few weeks. Stuff like packing our bags, writing a birth plan, making sure laundry is done, cleaning the house, putting in her car seat and washing our car, and hanging up her chandelier. Josh will have a "honey do list" when he is home for the next few weeks. I'm sure, knowing our procrastinator selves, we'll be doing this all very quickly close to her due date. All the necessary stuff is done in case she comes early. We have everything she could ever need all tucked away in her pretty lil room!
I went to the doctor today for my GBS test. Results to come in one week. For the next 10 days I'll be taking a break from Echinacea, but will start that again after 10 days is up. That is, I guess, as long as the test comes back negative next week. If it comes back positive I'll have to get antibiotics at birth anyway, so the garlic cloves can go away too! I'll also start Raspberry Tea Leaf and Primrose oil around 37/38 weeks. Gabriel came with me to my appointment and was such a good boy. He watched me get weighed in at 139, putting me at about 21 lbs gained (but I'll just say 22 because there was a point something). He also watched my finger get pricked and wanted his done too (obviously he really had no idea what happened, just wanted to be like mom!), and listened to Elizabeth's heartbeat. He always loves hearing her heartbeat! Baby is all he talked about on the way home. He also will put his hand on my belly now. I think he is finally getting it here at the end. It's adorable! I can't wait for him to see her. I hope he is more gentle with her, however, than he is with his cousin Michael whom he kicked and twisted his ear yesterday. Obviously he needs some guidance on how to treat a baby! He'll get plenty of experience here very shortly. Hope he is ready! Hope we all are for that matter!
Well, I have to drive to Raleigh for two -wait 3 because another just confirmed- appointments. Life isn't slowing down here at the end. Just holding on and enjoying this ride! It is bumpy with the heart burn/acid reflux and no sleep, but I'm also enjoying it very much. Having a baby inside is a true miracle of life!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
35 weeks!
This is like a week late, but I'll at least post pics:
I was too jealous to write a blog this week. At 35 weeks pregnant with "DG" Josh and I went to Boone. Well, this past week my family went to Boone while I "dog sat" WITHOUT Josh. Bleck! Anyway, more on 36 weeks (tomorrow). GBS test tomorrow = smelled like a garlic the past 10 days. Also, terrible heart burn and even acid reflux tonight. I know I had to be this uncomfy towards the end with "G" too, because I remember wanting him out just as much. I am pretty ready though... 4 weeks!
I was too jealous to write a blog this week. At 35 weeks pregnant with "DG" Josh and I went to Boone. Well, this past week my family went to Boone while I "dog sat" WITHOUT Josh. Bleck! Anyway, more on 36 weeks (tomorrow). GBS test tomorrow = smelled like a garlic the past 10 days. Also, terrible heart burn and even acid reflux tonight. I know I had to be this uncomfy towards the end with "G" too, because I remember wanting him out just as much. I am pretty ready though... 4 weeks!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Week 34!
I am SO incredibly tired (thanks to my recent addiction to Shutterfly!), but I wanted to write about my appointment now before it never gets done. Gabriel is sleepy too. You should have seen his eyes at the appointment! He decided not to nap at all yesterday, so he is pretty woozy today! The midwife said he looked drunk, haha. I took a video of him listening to his baby sister and he did look pretty "dazed!" After he listened he could only say one thing, "baby!" He also said, "where is baby?!" It is so cute that he actually got to hear her today. I wasn't going to bring him but I was late getting out the door this morning and it just happened. He was such a good boy though. He held my hand and WALKED BY HIMSELF! I capitalized this because if you have seen Gabriel lately you know this is HUGE. He has been my attachment lately (wanting me to hold him), so for him to hold my hand and walk by himself at the Dr. was worth noting! He then sat on my lap while we listened to Miss Kate in awe. Liz decided to really show off too and move around. I think this is the first time he's actually seen her moving. Generally when I try to get his attention she stops. Generally, though, he only gives me like a 2 second glance! As if to say, "what mom." Today was different though. His sissy had him enthralled, and now he keeps asking about her. It AMAZES me that a two year old (a baby himself) can be in awe over another baby. I'm glad he came today. Although we were/are both about to pass out, it was incredibly sweet and I cherish the moments!
My blood pressure is great, contractions (even bunches of them) are normal now that this is my second pregnancy, and I can walk as long as the contractions don't start to really become painful. She said I probably won't get "lucky" and have her early, but we both agreed that this early is not even what I would want anyway. I'm sure by week 38 and 39 I'll be ready. It will be here like tomorrow. Seems close but far away! Just scheduling appointments every two weeks makes the time go by so much faster. My next one is the 24th and it will be here before we know it. I'll get the GBS test done, so I am going on a echinacea, garlic, and vitamin c regimen given to me by Jessica. Here it is for those curious:
For the first 10 days you take Echinacea capsules (3/day), Vitamin C (1000 mg 3x/day), and either garlic capsules or fresh garlic (I cut garlic cloves into 4 little pieces, dip in oil so they slide down, and swallow like a vitamin---it works wonders when you have a cold ). The garlic is 3 cloves/day or 6 capsules a day. For the next 10 days you skip Echinacea (you have to give your body a break every 10 days or it ceases to be effective), but do the other stuff. Then you go back on Echinacea for 10 days and continue the cycle until you deliver.
Let's hope this gives me a negative test in 2 weeks. It is a little of a surprise (to me) they are doing the test because originally she told me they would wait for the hospital. So NOW I'm going to have to do this twice. Once for the test, to insure I'm not hooked up to antibiotics as soon as I get to the hospital (i.e. strapped to the bed), and again before birth to ensure I am still negative (since this crazy bacteria comes and goes).
Good news is Elizabeth is still moving and turning. As of right now her head is still down, butt is up near my ribs, and feet are kicking out to my right side. So she isn't completely sunny side up anymore, she is sideways. This is a good thing! I am also working on a baby book for Gabriel (birth-6 months) on Shutterfly. This way I'll at least have that done before the next baby is born and I have to do another one. I would love to continue putting together books, in 6 month to one year increments, for the kids. This way I don't have to buy bulky photo books and chronologically place pics. It is, after all, the digital age and photo books are what I do for a living anyway. Shutterfly also has cool graphics, backgrounds, and embellishments that I am enjoying very much! It has its little hiccups that annoy the dickens out of me, but I am working around it! We should be doing a family maternity shoot here soon. I hope to get that done at the start of September when Joshua is back for good. I'll be pretty large, but I HAVE to have the pictures. Laying out this book for Gabriel makes me realize the importance of getting these pictures done. Life occurs in a fleeting moment, and if you don't take the time to create memories you will never ever get them back. Things may seem unimportant in the moment, but looking back they are all you have! I was asked today if we are going to stop at two kids. I said probably not, but they won't be as close as Gabriel and Elizabeth are in age. I realized then (as I have so many times before) that I only have a few short years of babies and pregnancy. I told the cashier at Starbucks that I would probably wait until mid thirties to start again, but mid thirties is right around the corner. Hard to believe.. So there may be like a 6 year gap between Gabriel and the third, but that means I only have 3 years until beginning the process of getting pregnant again (keep in mind that your preggo 9 whole months. This is a good chunk out of another year. I don't think people who are "waiting" to have their first baby -and are 29 like this cashier today- realize this or take it into consideration!). Life is crazy short! I'm glad I am realizing it now rather than later though... Trying to take one day at a time....
Pics to come and I'll try to get that video of Gabriel listening to Kate's heart beat off my phone =). All right, I can put the video up via Facebook (how cool is that):
My blood pressure is great, contractions (even bunches of them) are normal now that this is my second pregnancy, and I can walk as long as the contractions don't start to really become painful. She said I probably won't get "lucky" and have her early, but we both agreed that this early is not even what I would want anyway. I'm sure by week 38 and 39 I'll be ready. It will be here like tomorrow. Seems close but far away! Just scheduling appointments every two weeks makes the time go by so much faster. My next one is the 24th and it will be here before we know it. I'll get the GBS test done, so I am going on a echinacea, garlic, and vitamin c regimen given to me by Jessica. Here it is for those curious:
For the first 10 days you take Echinacea capsules (3/day), Vitamin C (1000 mg 3x/day), and either garlic capsules or fresh garlic (I cut garlic cloves into 4 little pieces, dip in oil so they slide down, and swallow like a vitamin---it works wonders when you have a cold ). The garlic is 3 cloves/day or 6 capsules a day. For the next 10 days you skip Echinacea (you have to give your body a break every 10 days or it ceases to be effective), but do the other stuff. Then you go back on Echinacea for 10 days and continue the cycle until you deliver.
Let's hope this gives me a negative test in 2 weeks. It is a little of a surprise (to me) they are doing the test because originally she told me they would wait for the hospital. So NOW I'm going to have to do this twice. Once for the test, to insure I'm not hooked up to antibiotics as soon as I get to the hospital (i.e. strapped to the bed), and again before birth to ensure I am still negative (since this crazy bacteria comes and goes).
Good news is Elizabeth is still moving and turning. As of right now her head is still down, butt is up near my ribs, and feet are kicking out to my right side. So she isn't completely sunny side up anymore, she is sideways. This is a good thing! I am also working on a baby book for Gabriel (birth-6 months) on Shutterfly. This way I'll at least have that done before the next baby is born and I have to do another one. I would love to continue putting together books, in 6 month to one year increments, for the kids. This way I don't have to buy bulky photo books and chronologically place pics. It is, after all, the digital age and photo books are what I do for a living anyway. Shutterfly also has cool graphics, backgrounds, and embellishments that I am enjoying very much! It has its little hiccups that annoy the dickens out of me, but I am working around it! We should be doing a family maternity shoot here soon. I hope to get that done at the start of September when Joshua is back for good. I'll be pretty large, but I HAVE to have the pictures. Laying out this book for Gabriel makes me realize the importance of getting these pictures done. Life occurs in a fleeting moment, and if you don't take the time to create memories you will never ever get them back. Things may seem unimportant in the moment, but looking back they are all you have! I was asked today if we are going to stop at two kids. I said probably not, but they won't be as close as Gabriel and Elizabeth are in age. I realized then (as I have so many times before) that I only have a few short years of babies and pregnancy. I told the cashier at Starbucks that I would probably wait until mid thirties to start again, but mid thirties is right around the corner. Hard to believe.. So there may be like a 6 year gap between Gabriel and the third, but that means I only have 3 years until beginning the process of getting pregnant again (keep in mind that your preggo 9 whole months. This is a good chunk out of another year. I don't think people who are "waiting" to have their first baby -and are 29 like this cashier today- realize this or take it into consideration!). Life is crazy short! I'm glad I am realizing it now rather than later though... Trying to take one day at a time....
Pics to come and I'll try to get that video of Gabriel listening to Kate's heart beat off my phone =). All right, I can put the video up via Facebook (how cool is that):
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Week 33
I slacked this week, but here are the 33 week pics:
Two are similar, but I loved Gabriel in them both! I don't look bigger than I was with Gabriel, but I feel huge at the moment. It is funny, however, because when I look back at previous blogs/comments I find that around 33 weeks I felt huge with Gabriel. Then at 34 weeks I felt fine. So, I guess everything just has to stretch a little bit ;). I am supposed to be gaining a pound a week at this point, so when Josh see's me I'm bigger and bigger (makes me feel sexy. not...). At this point with Gabriel I had gained 19 lbs.. I'm at between 20-21 with Kate. I'm not walking nor working as much with her. It is seriously TOO HOT to be outside. Gabriel and I stay mostly indoors until about 6:30 p.m. when we like to venture to the barn (but that doesn't involve much exercise!). He would like to stay out all day, but I would seriously have a heat stroke. I'm not THAT much further along than I was with Gabriel during the summer either. So I am either that much more out of shape or the heat is just extra killer this year. The humidity is definitely disgusting, and I have a 26-27 lb. kid to lug around (yes, I carry him way too much!). So, the dynamics have changed slightly for sure. Not to mention she seriously feels like she will fall out any second (especially when kicking me in the pelvic bone!). I also have contractions when I get to walking with her, so I have to scale back. I'm not trying to complain, I guess I just feel ginormous tonight..Again, I guess the uterus/skin needs to just give up and stretch! It will certainly make me a little more comfortable!
I was reading in my 34 week blog from Gabriel that the Pumpkin Spice Lattes were back in September. I am seriously looking forward to September this year. August is SO nasty hot, bugs are gross, and the allergy season needs to be over pronto. Not to mention I need my hubby back full time! So does Gabriel. He misses his daddio so much..
Speaking of daddy. We spent the weekend with him (thus the reason for this blog being late), and had Gabriel's first hair cut! I'll type a separate blog for that when I get the pics edited (hopefully early this week). Also worth noting is Gabriel's singing. He will sing randomly for us, but will also try to sing after us. We will sing "Jesus Loves Me,""You are My Sunshine," and other children songs only to get serenaded back with a sweet little voice. I'll try to get it on video soon. Again, I wish I had that record button in my head!
I also turned 28 last week. I can't even believe I'm 2 years to thirty. I was 25 when I got pregnant with Gabriel and turned 26 at like 30 weeks preggo. It is just hard to take everything in. Life moves so, so fast. I'm trying to convince younger people getting married that they need to start having kids early if they don't want to have them back to back. My, oh my, have my priorities/ thoughts/ ideas changed. Crazy how getting just a little older can do that to you huh?! Although, brides and grooms ARE older these days. Getting married between 25-30 means starting families a bit sooner. I guess priorities are just different for everyone in the "me" generation. Anyway, I won't get off on that tangent. I am just thrilled to have married my love at 21, and amazingly blessed to have a family with him now. Seeing Elizabeth's room across from Gabriel's room makes my heart so full!
Well, this was a bunch of randomness. Probably because I am sleepy.. I'm going to head off to dreamland. Blog post with Gabriel's hair cut, and 34 weeks, coming up next week. That is the plan anyway ;)...
Two are similar, but I loved Gabriel in them both! I don't look bigger than I was with Gabriel, but I feel huge at the moment. It is funny, however, because when I look back at previous blogs/comments I find that around 33 weeks I felt huge with Gabriel. Then at 34 weeks I felt fine. So, I guess everything just has to stretch a little bit ;). I am supposed to be gaining a pound a week at this point, so when Josh see's me I'm bigger and bigger (makes me feel sexy. not...). At this point with Gabriel I had gained 19 lbs.. I'm at between 20-21 with Kate. I'm not walking nor working as much with her. It is seriously TOO HOT to be outside. Gabriel and I stay mostly indoors until about 6:30 p.m. when we like to venture to the barn (but that doesn't involve much exercise!). He would like to stay out all day, but I would seriously have a heat stroke. I'm not THAT much further along than I was with Gabriel during the summer either. So I am either that much more out of shape or the heat is just extra killer this year. The humidity is definitely disgusting, and I have a 26-27 lb. kid to lug around (yes, I carry him way too much!). So, the dynamics have changed slightly for sure. Not to mention she seriously feels like she will fall out any second (especially when kicking me in the pelvic bone!). I also have contractions when I get to walking with her, so I have to scale back. I'm not trying to complain, I guess I just feel ginormous tonight..Again, I guess the uterus/skin needs to just give up and stretch! It will certainly make me a little more comfortable!
I was reading in my 34 week blog from Gabriel that the Pumpkin Spice Lattes were back in September. I am seriously looking forward to September this year. August is SO nasty hot, bugs are gross, and the allergy season needs to be over pronto. Not to mention I need my hubby back full time! So does Gabriel. He misses his daddio so much..
Speaking of daddy. We spent the weekend with him (thus the reason for this blog being late), and had Gabriel's first hair cut! I'll type a separate blog for that when I get the pics edited (hopefully early this week). Also worth noting is Gabriel's singing. He will sing randomly for us, but will also try to sing after us. We will sing "Jesus Loves Me,""You are My Sunshine," and other children songs only to get serenaded back with a sweet little voice. I'll try to get it on video soon. Again, I wish I had that record button in my head!
I also turned 28 last week. I can't even believe I'm 2 years to thirty. I was 25 when I got pregnant with Gabriel and turned 26 at like 30 weeks preggo. It is just hard to take everything in. Life moves so, so fast. I'm trying to convince younger people getting married that they need to start having kids early if they don't want to have them back to back. My, oh my, have my priorities/ thoughts/ ideas changed. Crazy how getting just a little older can do that to you huh?! Although, brides and grooms ARE older these days. Getting married between 25-30 means starting families a bit sooner. I guess priorities are just different for everyone in the "me" generation. Anyway, I won't get off on that tangent. I am just thrilled to have married my love at 21, and amazingly blessed to have a family with him now. Seeing Elizabeth's room across from Gabriel's room makes my heart so full!
Well, this was a bunch of randomness. Probably because I am sleepy.. I'm going to head off to dreamland. Blog post with Gabriel's hair cut, and 34 weeks, coming up next week. That is the plan anyway ;)...
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