Gemma's 1 Week Check Up

Today Gemma had her 1 week wellness check up with Dr. Brandes. She did such a great job a didn't cry at all.
Here were her stats:
Weight : 7lbs 9.5oz (she was 7lbs 13oz at birth, and when discharged from the hospital she was 7lbs 7oz)
Length: 20.75" long (she was 20" long at birth-so either she grew a lot already or they didn't get a very accurate measure at birth)

The doctor said she was surprised on how alert she was. She looked great doctor said. :) She still wants us feeding Gemma on demand, and throughout the night waking her at least every 4 hours to eat.

We do have to go back next week for a weight check. The doctor just wants to make sure she is back up to her birth weight by 2  weeks.

Heading Home!

It is already time to go home! Yay! I was told I could have early discharge because I had an "easy labor" and baby Gemma looks great. What that means is I could leave 24 hours after her birth. I instantly agreed to leaving. I missed Ellery more than anything, but also unlike when we had Ellery I was ready to dive in and do this "mom of 2" thing. The hospital also had 2 other moms in the Labor and Delivery area so I just thought why stay, be another person the nurses have to worry about and I knew I would sleep better at home without other babies crying and doors constantly opening/closing.

My experience at Westfields Hospital was yet another AMAZING one. They are incredible there. the nurses are always going above and beyond, Dr. Brandes is truly the best dr out there, and I love how it isn't overly big and filled with people. 

Gemma had a little "newborn photo shoot" before we left. I can't wait to see those pictures. Also before we left Gemma had to have her heart screening and last blood test. During these tests Chad and I got a "Congratulations Lunch" from the hospital. It was delicious and sweet. The nurses set up the OB lounge with our dinner, dimmed the lights, and turned on some music in the background. Chad had steak with onions and rice. I had a baked breaded cod with a side salad. We both also got glasses of sparkling apple juice. It was a perfect way to end our stay and prepare to head home. 

We got her set up in her car seat, which made her look even smaller, and headed home to our new lives as the Weiland family of 4!

Laboring

Today is the big day where we get to meet this baby and see if baby is a boy or a girl!

6:15 am---checked into hospital, got my iv put in (took 3 painful tries)

7:10 am---Dr Brandes attempted to break my water.  Didn't get the first we wanted but a bit of fluid. Chad and I walked around to see if we could get the bag of waters to open more.

8:00 am--- Started an iv of pitocin and got my epidural

9:30 am---Legs and toes are numb. Nurse just checked me and I'm at 8cm! Plus I'm leaking tons of fluid and the monitor is showing I'm having tons of consistent contractions. Baby's heartrate is also going strong at 133bpm.

10:00 am--- 9 cm! Nurse thinks heartrate is showing head may be starting to become low and compressed in the birthing canal.

10:40 am---10 cm and they can see the head. The nurses call for Dr. B and say "tell her to hurry". Chad says he is going to pee quick before we start pushing.  I laugh and the nurse says "don't laugh". 

10:42 am--- Dr B walks in and a nurse yells at Chad to "get out here or you will miss it". He comes running,  I
mix cry/laugh at him and baby comes sliding out.  No pushes at all!

Gemma Kemper Weiland born 5/21 @ 10:42am, 7lbs 13oz, 20" long

In a weird mood today...

Today I was in a weird mood..I was overly cranky and short. I got very frustrated with my students in class and didn't even eat in the staff lounge. I just knew I would not be the right company to eat with, so I stayed in my room with my door closed. I called Chad a few hours earlier to check in and ended up crying on the phone but not knowing why. Just because I was stressesd.
I think I am stressed that people constantly check in my room and say "Oh no baby yet...you are still here". I'm not even overdue yet, however it is a bit annoying to constantly hear. I have given up all hope of this baby coming early and now am planning on my induction date: WEDNESDAY!
See you soon baby!

39 Weeks!

I have officially hit "full term" this pregnancy today! It's really hard to believe it has been 39 weeks and I am so close to the end of this. Baby is the size of a watermelon this week! That is exciting, yet extremely scary and painful sounding. I just got home from the dr's office. Baby's heartrate was 125 bpm, he/she is just chilling calmly in there. Bad news from the appointment, I have another bladder infection (that's #3 for this pregnancy) but good news was the dr said I have made progress! Last week I was dilated to a "maybe 1cm" and this week she said she could easily stretch me to 3cm! THAT IS HUGE! 4cm typically means you are in active labor. She said I could go into labor any day now....although that's not a guarantee I could go a week or 2 more. :/
The most important thing for me is to deliver at the New Richmond Hospital and with Dr. Brandes. That is where things get complicated. She is going out of town Memorial Day weekend so if I try to wait out this baby and happen to go into labor next weekend (when I am 40.5 weeks) she wouldn't be there. I am thinking if it doesn't happen by my due date I am going to choose to get induced again (like I did with Elery). Dr. Brandes told me to go home and talk with Chad about it and if we wanted to go the inducing route to pick a day next week. We talked a quick bit and will talk more but I think we will go the inducing route if I don't have the baby by May 20th. I am thinking maybe going in on Wednesday May 21st. That way both kids will have a birthday on the 21st :). Who knows though, maybe this weekend things will happen on their own. :) :) I sure can hope. Until then I just continue to wait through these false contractions that come and go. Speak of the devil....here is a contraction right now.....ouch!

Oh and we gave Dr. B and Nurse Betty their "thank you gifts today" and they LOVED them! We got them personalized tumblers filled with Hershey hugs and kisses! so cute! Thank goodness for people being creative on etsy!

Mother's Day Race for a Cure

Happy Mother's Day! Today (like every year for the past 15 years) we went to the Mall of America to walk the Race for the Cure 5K. A few months back when I noticed how close my due date was to mother's day I was really worried I wouldn't be able to do the walk. But being close to 39 weeks pregnant wasn't going to stop me! I was actually hoping that this would maybe put me into labor. I have had so many contractions and back pain that I am actually surprising myself by wanting to be done. In a couple days when I am actually 39 weeks and FULL TERM  I am 100% okay with baby coming out! He/She would be hopefully as healthy as can be and ready to join us here in the world. 

Well the walk took us less than an hour and half, I had contractions a ton during the actual walk, but after when we went to lunch they stopped...false alarms again. We walked the mall next and still nothing but my belly getting heavy and sore. Overall I had an amazing mother's day and baby stayed put... I guess that's okay. More time to cook and develop. Maybe only a week or so to go anyways...I CAN DO IT! 

Thankful

There are  many things to be thankful for and I feel like many people need these reminders the last few weeks of pregnancy. Everyone wants to be done and have this baby out of them, (I have said it too) but deep down baby is healthier inside than out. Full term isn't until 39 weeks and though most babies are fine after 37 weeks, it is still better for baby to grow and develop in the womb. So I decided to really think about the things I am most thankful for lately and really understand these last 2 weeks or so are great, not miserable.

-I am thankful to have the ability to have children.
-I am thankful to be able to carry a child to full term.
-I am thankful for an amazing and supportive husband that does everything for me and tries so hard to have me relax (even though I reuse to relax "just because I am pregnant"-it was a choice I made)
-I am thankful for Ellery, and seeing that excitement on her face that she is going to be a Big Sister.
-I am thankful that baby is active and lively in my belly at night.
-I am thankful for complication free pregnancy.
-I am thankful that my body has minimal swelling.
-I am thankful that my Strep B test came back negative.
-I am thankful for my great doctor, she is wonderful!

Pregnancy is not only a choice, but a gift. Many people seem to forget this and it makes me sad to hear complaining. No one ever said it would be easy (even though the hard part is actually yet to come). I know that the best spot for this little baby right now is still cooking inside of me. The random contractions, upset stomach and back pains are things I can deal with while I continue to grow this child. Before I know it, the 2 weeks will pass and baby will be big and strong. He/She will be ready to meet everyone and start their exciting life in this exciting world. Keep Growing Baby and I will continue to stay positive and thankful for you :)

38 Weeks and NST Test

Baby is the size of a pumpkin! EEK!

How far along? 38 weeks-2 weeks till the due date

Baby's Heart-rate? 135bpm

Total weight gain/loss? I am officially up 30/31 pounds depending on the day. 

Sleep: I actually sleep great! I just need space to stretch out. I sleep through the night most nights and hate having to actually get up...until I notice he/she is on my bladder and I about about to pee myself. 

Best moment this week: At my appointment today dr was 100% sure head was down and I am starting to have my cervix soften and currently am dilated to 1cm!

Movement: Very little movement the past couple days. Today actually I explained to Dr. Brandes that the movement is really decreased and she sent me over to the OB department for a Non Stress Test (NST). Baby didn't move and his/her heartrate didn't go up or down for about 20 minutes. So the nurse had to give me some apple juice, about 10 minutes later baby was moving more and now he/she is going crazy. One thing the nurse did point out was that I was having quite a few mini contractions while I was there. So maybe my body will be able to do this and go into labor on its own :). Here is hoping! 

Food cravings: Nothing spectacular, more random actually. One night I want french fries, the next night (like tonight) I want eggs. 

Belly Button in or out? My belly is growing and now belly button is flat, not out or in.

Wedding rings on or off? Still fitting but some days my finger is a bit swollen. 

What I am looking forward to: Going into labor and finding out if this baby is a BOY or GIRL! 

Walking

It is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Wisconsin today. 65 degrees and sunny, how could I not take advantage of that (especially after our overly LONG winter). My pelvis has been sooooooooo sore today but no contractions that I could feel all day. So I decided since Chad was at work tonight, Ellery and I would go for a walk. We would just take it REAL slow. On Sunday we have the Mother's Day breast cancer walk and that is a 5k, so I need to make sure I can actually walk it. Tonight Elle and I walked about a mile and a half and it took a while but we did it. I know I will be able to do the 5k on Sunday, it just may take me all day ;)
Tomorrow is my 38 week appointment. It is hard to believe I only have 2 weeks left till my due date. It all went really fast, but lately these last few weeks are slowly happening. I am anxious and yet okay with having them go slow. As uncomfortable as I am and as bad as my back hurts I would love to go into labor soon, however the basement isn't scheduled to have carpet till the 15th of May. So deep down I would rather put up with all this and have that get finished first. I still am anxious for my appointment tomorrow. Last appointment, at 36 weeks, I was completely not dilated, my cervix was thick and far back. I just hope to hear I am making some progress. It is always exciting to hear you are a bit dilated. It just makes you feel like in the end this will really happen.
I also am interested to hear the heartbeat of the baby. Baby has definitely not been moving as much lately and of course I am worried, but trying not to stress. I want to make sure all is okay and it is just because baby is running out of room or calming down. We will see how it all goes tomorrow.

Contractions Every 10 Minutes

Last night was intense...Laying on the couch and in the bed I started having these tightening feelings in my belly. I thought maybe it was just the baby rolling around or pushing but Chad confirmed that my WHOLE belly was like a rock during these moments. So we came to the conclusion that they were contractions, but because they weren't really painful, more of an annoyance, they were the "braxton hicks" contractions. They are your body preparing for labor but not necessarily in labor. Chad started keeping an eye on the clock just to monitor/time them and said they were happening about every 10 minutes. The good thing was that they didn't hurt, other than a few of them that were a little bit painful in my back.
I just drank a ton of water and tried to go to sleep. I am not going to lie, I was a little worried (and I think it was on Chad's mind too) to go to sleep and wake up in full blown labor.
Luckily I woke up just fine and not in labor. I still have had a few contractions here and there but nothing painful. Who knows maybe it is all a sign I will go into labor on my own at some point. :)

Upper Back Pain

I am so sad right now. I have managed to go this whole pregnancy without taking any Tylenol. The little oooooo and ouches I have just fought through, used a heating pad, and  sucked it up. Why take it if you don't REALLY need it? The newest craze everyone is getting into is these "essential oils" So many people like how natural they are and have suggested using them to fight any colds or pains but I am not really buying it to it all and think its more in everyone's head. But hey if it works for you, go for it.
Lately, the last month or so, I have had pretty bad back pain. Not lower back but more upper back pains (like at my bra line-especially on the left side). It happens more frequently and intensely at school if I sit in the small kid chairs or my own desk chair. It actually feels better to be up moving around throughout the day. Same thing at home, it hurts soooooooo bad if I sit at the dinner table or lay on the couch. The past 2-3 days have been the WORST! I tried the heating pad tonight and it really didn't help much. I tried rolling over and getting on all 4s. That actually helped a ton, but who can stay like that for more than 10 minutes....so I finally did it. I caved and took a Tylenol. :( I didn't want to have to take any non-prescribed meds, but I was out of options and in too much pain. Hopefully I can figure out some other pain relieving options for the next 2-3 weeks...otherwise I may take more, even the 1 pill helped a lot.

Hospital Gowns...ick! A New Robe....yay!

Anyone that has been in the hospital knows that the gowns they give you to wear are not exciting or cute...and the birthing center gowns are even worse because not only do they have the opening in the back but also a few cutout openings in the front (for breastfeeding). When people come visit it isn't something I enjoy wearing, that's for sure. So I decided to order a new robe to wear so I can feel less frumpy and look presentable if people come visit and yet make it easy to breastfeed. Well it arrived today and I am LOVING it! It is black, white and coral colored and it is a super soft comfortable material. I am so excited to add it to my hospital bag! EEK only 2-3 more weeks!

Baby Names

It is really hard to pick a name but it is even harder when you don't know if you are having a boy or a girl. We have gone back and forth between a few names. I like more names than Chad does... but we finally have made a decision...but we are going to make people wait till baby arrives to find out which boy and girl name we chose :)

37 Weeks

We are almost into May and that is BABY MONTH! EEK! 37 Weeks pregnant now. Baby is the size of a winter melon. He/She should be weighing anywhere between 6-9 lbs. Let's all say a quick prayer that he/she is more in the 6lb range right now.
How am I feeling? Large and in charge! I defiantly can feel my belly has really "popped out and rounded out" in the last week or so and everyone at work is commenting on it. I have been wearing skirts a lot of days because they are stretchy and don't touch my legs. I feel like everything is so tight and I want nothing to touch me... so skirts are perfect. I don't have a dr appointment this week because Dr. Brandes is out of the country on vacation. I could have made an appointment with a different doctor but she said that because I wasn't dilated and the baby hadn't dropped at all, I could easily get away without coming in. However if I have any contractions this week, I am supposed to call and come in to get checked. Well no contractions yet, just lots of crazy movement by the baby and maybe some dropping...? I felt a lot more soreness and like I needed to waddle a lot more around school today, but I don't want to get my hopes up and go in next week to hear nothing has changed. Oh well eventually it will change and before we know it baby will be here. I know I can wait!
At our next appointment I want to talk to Dr. Brandes about the plan for delivery. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go into labor on my own but I also know I could be waiting for ever and never have it happen..or it could happen at 42 weeks and baby could be 10+ lbs and I may need a c-section (the idea of having a c-section is honestly my biggest fear at this moment). So I am torn and not 100% against getting induced again (after my due date of course). I am due May 20 (a Tuesday) and want to talk to the dr about if I don't go into labor by that Friday (May 23rd) can we have a scheduled day to come in for an induction like I did for Ellery. That Monday (May 26th) is my mom's birthday so I would like to avoid having the baby that day but I think for school purposes it would be nice to let me long term sub take over on a fresh new week aka Tuesday May 27. So obviously this is about a month away but I will see what the dr says next Tuesday at my appointment. Who knows, maybe I will get my wish and actually go into labor on my own at some point. :) :)
May 21st sounds like a perfect day baby to have you start to make your way into this world on your own!

Car-Seat Installed

I figure with less than a month to go we should get on a few things that have to be done for the baby. Today I tackled the car-seat install. I thought this would be the easiest and fastest thing I had left to do. WRONG! I wanted to keep Ellery in the middle but after lots of trials I can't fit her in the middle and the baby's seat on the passenger side. So looks like we will have one on each side.  Problem was that Ellery's seat I am a pro at installing now. I have done my research, watched videos and read my manual, so I know exactly how to do it and can do it fast (plus most importantly I know it is installed 100% correctly and in the safest way possible). The old car-seat we have...well I kind of forgot how to install it and honestly never really did much research on it. I mean think, this is your child's life, you need to make sure it is done 100% correctly...so I watched some videos, re read my manual and used the LATCH's to install it. It looks okay but I don't feel perfectly comfortable with it. It still seems to wiggle around a lot if I push on it. I think next weekend we are going to the fire department in town to have them check it and give me some feedback.
I do have to admit that it looks weird to have 2 car-
seats now in the backseat. :) soon enough 2 little ones back there too!

Baptism Class

Tonight we had our baptism class for this baby. It was the same class we had to take for Ellery to get baptized but they make you go every time. We were there with 2 other families and the Deacon. We watched movie about why we should baptize our child, the process we go through to have a baptism and the criteria for picking godparents. We asked Chad's brother Derek and his wife Kristie to be the godparents tonight and they both seemed very excited when they said yes. :) So I feel excited that we finally have 1 thing in order for this baby. Literally it is so far the only thing we have done. Still no nursery or birth plan or hospital registration...but then again we still have a month right? :)

36 Weeks - A month to go

Baby is the size of Honeydew Melon

How far along? 36 weeks-1 MONTH TO GO!

Baby's Heart-rate? 145-150bpm

Total weight gain/loss? +29.8lbs (haha no I will not round up to 30lbs...that .8 means a lot to me!)


Maternity clothes? I am finding that maxi skirts are the best right now. Comfortable and stretchy waist bands plus lately the feeling of things on my legs really annoys me. I need to go shopping I think for more skirts. They will be nice post baby too. 

Stretch marks? I still don't think I have any:)

Sleep: I sleep okay but have been waking up lately with the WORST cramps/charlie horses in my calves. They hurt not only when I sleep but also days later. 

Best moment this week: Easter was this week and it was also the 1 month countdown to having the baby!! :)

Movement: Lots of hiccups and pushing his/her butt out. Even the students at school got a chance to feel him/her moving around and hiccuping today at school. Every once in a while I get some crazy strong *surprise* kicks into my rib cage.  

Food cravings: ICEEs! Target the other day I had 2 of them, and the next day I stopped at Burger King for another one. :)

Belly Button in or out? Sticking out-looks like a 3rd nipple in my shirt

Wedding rings on or off? Rings are all still on

What I miss: Being able to work and walk around without breathing heavily....oh and easily getting off the couch. I'm like a turtle when I sit on the couch.I try to roll off or pull myself off yet it never works. Chad always has to come pull me off. 

What I am looking forward to: The basement finishing. We are having carpet people coming out this week to measure and hopefully 2 weeks from then we will have it installed. Then we can finally set a crib up and give this baby his/her own nursery.

Upcoming events: Baptism class is on this Thursday (better figure out godparents asap) 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from our growing family to yours! 

A night in labor and delivery...baby is fine and still in my uterus :)

They say after the first trimester you should feel comfortable about living life and the baby being fine because you are in the "safe zone". Well let me tell you, you never fully feel comfortable until that baby is out (and crying) and even then your worries just change.
Well I am 35 1/2 weeks now and last night I felt fine but randomly started bleeding. So off to the hospital I went. I had felt the baby moving all day, wasn't having any contractions and overall felt fine so I wasn't overly worried...but still going into labor and delivery is a bit scary when you know baby is only 4-5lbs. Chad was at work, but met me at the hospital. That helped calm me down a lot.
I got hooked up to have a 1 hour NST when I got there and had to give a urine sample (and was still bleeding a bit).The NST was great, I could hear the baby's heart-rate going strong (between 175-155) the whole time, it was showing that I wasn't having any contractions but I was having irritability in my uterus (mini cramps-but I wasn't feeling them). The nurse brought be some water to see if that would help.
Next the nurse had to do an exam just to make sure I am not dilated a lot. Well...I'm not dilated at all...and baby's head isn't even in position yet. So that was a good sign that labor isn't probably in my near future. She could tell I was bleeding though...but unable to discover why. She said it may just be my capillaries in my cervix breaking, which happens as your body starts to dilate...but because I wasn't in any pain it wasn't a reason to worry.
By the end of the hour, the bleeding had stopped and my irritability in my uterus had also calmed down. I got strict orders to relax and take care of myself more over the next month, I am also not supposed to carry Ellery anymore (because she is 30+ pounds) and most of all I need to drink more water to keep my uterus calm.
Hopefully this was a random event and won't happen again before it's the real deal. I would like to not have to go back to labor and delivery until I get to actually have the baby. :)

35 Weeks

Hello 35 weeks! Hello not being able to breathe regularly anymore....haha. People at work are commenting on how I am always breathing heavily lately. Yes, always when I walk up the steps but even worse is that I still breathe heavily when just sitting at my desk working on grading papers. Darn baby needs to get his/her feet out of my ribs/lungs. Baby is the size of a coconut. He/She is literally crazy in my belly. Nonstop movement and rolling. I am hoping that means he/she isn't very big. Otherwise I keep thinking how does he/she have that much room anymore. My upper back has been killing me and my right side is still swelling up most days. It is weird to think that my due date is only 5 weeks away. I saw the dr this week and she said my belly is actually measuring 34 1/2 cms, so a bit small. Baby's heart-rate was a shock for us all this week. Every time we have gone in it has been around the 150s (one time is was in the 130s) but at today's dr appt it was in the 170s! WHAT!?! I thought baby's heart-rate was supposed to slow down as he/she was getting bigger. It also makes everyone who said "boy" all along start to question their guess. Can you believe in 5-6 weeks we will finally be able to know if you are a boy or girl baby? I can't wait! 

My Sunday has consisted of....

My Sunday today has consisted of:
*A great mass at church (Ellery loved all the people and palms for Palm Sunday)
*A nap on the couch
*Heartburn

Pedicure Saturday

Lately I come home from work and my feet (especially my right one) have been starting to swell up. Not horribly but enough that my right shoe is completely uncomfortable. So I decided to spend Saturday morning with Ellery going to get a pedicure and a cheap new pair of shoes. My feet felt so good to soak in the tub of warm water and be rubbed down. They also look a lot nicer painted. My new shoes are nothing fancy, just basic shoes but a 1/2 size bigger so my feet will be more comfortable in the next 5 weeks.

OUCH

I can't believe I am complaining but I have been in so much pain the past two days. Not enough pain to actually want this baby out because deep down I know he/she needs as much time in there to fully develop (at least to 39 weeks-full term). I can barely move around the house lately thought. My stomach is tight constantly, I am feeling electrical shocks in my crotch (apparently his/her head grinding into my pelvic bones). It just feels like he/she is HUGE in there and every movement he/she makes hurts. I don't remember this with Ellery.
Please don't take this as me wanting a pity-party and baby out. Nothing drives me more crazy then people who want the baby out at 34-39 weeks because they are uncomfortable. Sorry but the baby needs to stay in there and its your job as a mom to keep them safe and growing even if it puts you in pain.
I have tried to not take any Tylenol or any meds that I could get by without this pregnancy but if this keeps up I may need to take something. Hopefully when I go in to the dr next week, she can reassure me this is normal and I don't need to worry about labor coming quickly...I still want to stick to having this baby a week late. :)

34 Weeks

Baby has been in there for now 34 weeks. He/She is the size of a cantaloupe. Baby has the hiccups constantly lately. Tonight was the first night I had *what I think* was an actual contraction. It hurt so bad, my stomach was like a rock and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Hopefully it was just him/her rolling around and not a real contraction. He/She still has 6+ weeks left in there. I know I may be uncomfortable but there are so many studies that show the last few weeks are the most critical for the baby's lungs and brain. If me being uncomfortable for a few extra weeks helps baby develop to his/her fullest potential, I can handle that. I never assumed this would be EASY.

I am 26lbs heavier now and I feel HEAVY. I waddle when I walk and struggle to get up off the floor/out of bed. I go to the dr. next week and then start going every week for my check ups to see if I am dilating or not. I have a feeling these last few weeks will fly by and we will be finding out if baby is a boy or a girl in no time. Can't wait for that moment that Chad gets to tell me *BOY* or *GIRL*. I am dying not knowing....

Painting Party!

We are getting close to this due date and it's starting to scare me because even though Chad, Ellery and I may be mentally ready, our house is not ready for another human to live here. Stressed is a very accurate word to describe how I've been feeling lately. We still haven't started the baby's nursery and I know the baby will stay in our room for the first few weeks but I still want to have a crib up and a nursery ready by my due date (if not sooner).
The sheet-rock is now up and taped, so it is time to get painting! We had a painting party with our families yesterday. Chad's mom, brother and sister-in Law, my mom, dad, and brother all came over. With only 4 trips to the hardware store (yes they were laughing by the 3rd and 4th time we walked in) we were able to get the entire basement painted and ready for Chad's brother Jeremy to do the woodwork (trim, windows, and doors) and then we can get carpet and then it's done! We are on the home stretch. We still have probably a month of work left but the end is in sight (although so is the end of this pregnancy-hopefully baby will decide he/she likes it in there and stay a few days past my due date).

33 weeks

We are officially into April and that means baby will be here in less than 2 months! I have 7 weeks till my due date but I am still really wanting to go a full week overdue. It'll save me a load of money at work (not having to take any non paid days) and its always good to let baby cook in their.
Baby is the size of a durain (whatever that is).
I am still feeling pretty good , pregnancy wise, but overall have caught some bug. I have a runny nose, cough and am losing my voice. Maybe it is the seasons changing and just allergies. We have been busy still painting the house and remodeling. The basement is making progress. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I can post a pic of the nursery actually having carpet, paint on the walls, oh and a crib in it. Here is hoping we can be ready for you in the 7-8 weeks. Keep growing and moving baby!

Dr. Appt-Pink Eye

Suddenly last night my eye started to goop up and turn pink. I took off all my make up, and when I woke up it was worse, swollen and my vision was even blurry. Luckily I had a dr appointment today so I could have her check on my eye. Definitely pink eye she said and she prescribed me some drops. Hopefully it will be gone real soon!

Other than pink eye my dr appointment went well. Baby was moving a ton. When Dr. Brandes tried to check the heartbeat with the doppler, the baby wouldn't hold still long enough at first even get a good reading. Then he/she slowed down and we were able to hear it beating at 150 bpm. My uterus is still measuring right on schedule at 32cm.

We also talked about any concerns I have and I told her my biggest concern is having a 10+ lb baby. She said because Ellery wasn't small, she thinks I will have a similar sized baby this time. I told her I would prefer to go into labor naturally this time vs being induced. She said that is fine, but prefers me to not go more than a week over due. If it comes to the fact that I am more than a week over due, we may need to talk induction. Obviously this is way far ahead thinking but still something to think about. 

32 Weeks-2 months to go!

Baby is the size of Bok Choy Cabbage.

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +26lbs

Maternity clothes? I am still sporting my maternity jeans and work pants daily. Shirts I have mostly been wearing regular womens shirts that stretch over the belly. I have also been wearing either scarves or a mini belt everyday.

Stretch marks? None yet! :)

Sleep: I have been sleeping much better. Baby moves a ton but it never seems to wake me up due to its moving. However, if I wake up for any other reason (to pee or if Ellery gets up) and the baby is moving, I have a really hard time getting back to bed. 

Best moment this week: Our basement is SO close to being finished and ready for our growing family. This week the taper came out and has been working on mudding the walls and getting the ceilling completed. We also started painting upstairs yesterday. By the end of all this we are going to feel like we have a completely new house we are living in. The orange pain all the main parts of the house is gone! The kitchen is now a nice chocolate brown, and the rest of the house will be a lighter tan. I think the lighter colors will really make it feel like there is more space. :)

Movement: This baby is CRAZY! Like I have said before, he/she isn't much of a kicker but more of a roller and shaker. He/she is always moving side to side and shaking around. It almost tickles when he/she does it. The only painful part is sometimes he/she likes to push out (like he/she is going to literally break out through my skin). When that happens my belly gets really sore. 

Food cravings: Nothing at all really. :( I want certain foods at certain times if I hear about it or drive by the restaurant but I think that is more just something "sounding good" vs actually "craving" it. 

Belly Button in or out? It is out now when I stand up, but if I lay down it goes back in. 

Wedding rings on or off? Wedding ring still fits with no problems. Yay for no serious swelling! :)

What I miss: BEER! More than ever I have wanted a beer so bad. Just with dinner, or while watching tv, or when we went to the Wild game. I can not wait to have one. 

What I am looking forward to: Next weekend we are having a painting party for the basement. Hopefully we get some help from both sides of our families and we get that basement all painted so we can call to get carpet and then get a crib put in the nursery. 

Upcoming events: We have to schedule our baptism class for next month so that after this baby arrives we can have him/her baptised. This also means we need to figure out who we want for godparents. 

31 Weeks

We are officially entering the single digit countdown weeks...SCARY! I am now 31 weeks, and that means technically there are only 9 weeks left until my due date. Even though baby will probably be comfortable in there and stay past that date-which isn't a bad thing. It may not be the most comfortable time, but I also know those last couple weeks are the most important weeks for the baby (so I think I can deal with a bit comfortableness if it means baby's lungs are stronger than ever).This week baby is the size of a pineapple. He/She is literally wiggling like a crazy worm. It seems like he/she is always moving and pushing around. He/She also had hiccups the first time this past week. Always a good sign, because it is a sign that baby is starting to try to breath and swallow in there.
I am officially convinced this week that there is a little boy inside there, Chad is still saying girl though. So we will be surprised no matter what. When my mom asked Ellery about what was in my belly, she said "a sister, and she is wearing a pink dress". I hope she's not disappointed if baby isn't a girl...we have to keep reminding her that it could be a little brother in there...but she just says "NO Sister!"
So all is going well lately and hopefully will continue going well for the next 9+ weeks.

30 Weeks

It was a crazy busy week, and we were unable to get an "official" 30 week belly shot with the chalkboard and Ellery. So instead I thought it would be fun to do a comparison photo from 30 weeks when I was pregnant with Ellery vs 30 weeks now.

Baby is the size of a large cucumber. He/She is probably weighing now about 2.5-3lbs.





Comparing the two pregnancies at this point:
Morning sickness/Nausea: I haven't had really any during either pregnancy.
Weight Gain: By this point with Ellery I was up about 23 lbs. With baby #2, I think I am about 25lbs. So pretty close for both.
Baby's heart-rate: At my 30 week appt for Ellery her heart rate was still about 146bmp. Baby #2 at my 30 week appointment was down to 130bpm.
Baby's Movement: Ellery was constantly kicking me, Baby #2 doesn't kick much, but he/she wiggles and pushes around a lot.
Belly Button: By this point in both pregnancies, my belly button is sticking out.
Cravings: With Ellery after my 30 week appointment I ate a whole can of Pringles, and for lunch today I actually ate the same exact thing. :)
My Belly Shape/Size: I thought I was about the same size as last pregnancy, however by looking at the side by side pictures I notice I look actually quite a bit different. My belly with Ellery was high and stuck out a lot. This pregnancy, I feel huge, but I think I actually look smaller in the pictures. My belly also appears this time to be more "round". It doesn't stick out as far, it is also high AND low.

Does any of the similarities or differences really mean anything? Probably not.... I still have no better idea if Baby #2 is a boy or girl.

Ellery likes to say Baby #2 is a girl and she is wearing a dress inside my belly. HAHA!

Working Out

When pregnant with Ellery I was able to walk outside because the weather was nice and then when winter came I just hibernated  on the couch. It is a lot easier to motivate yourself to go for a walk outside, then to actually go to the gym....but I have been trying. I try to work out 2-3 days a week (depending on after school book studies or my women's bible study night). I never have been able to run but I typically would do a fast paced walk for an hour. I was able to get 3-3.5 miles in. Each day it is sure getting harder and harder to keep up the routine. Getting to the gym is only half the battle. Once there I usually start walking fine, but I get tired and my stomach gets sore really fast. I went today, but was only able to walk for a 1/2 hour (1.79 miles). I figure better than nothing, but I can definitely feel the difference each day my belly grows. Hopefully I can keep it up for a bit longer at least. I figure the longer I keep up the habit, the easier it will be to get back into it after the
baby comes.

29 Weeks

We are now 29 weeks down and only 11 weeks away from the big due date. Baby is the size of a butternut squash. He/She is moving like crazy lately. Based on my last appointment, the Dr. thinks the baby is butt up in my ribs and feet on the side and head/hands down. I feel a ton down low moving around. I also feel the hard spot (butt) next to my ribs. I rarely feel "kicks" though because the legs are tucked behind my anterior placenta. I also have yet to feel any hiccups, which should be starting around this time.

Just starting today I started feeling these "lightning bolts" in my crotch. They aren't contractions, just like quick shocks but I had like 10 of them in 15 minutes and wow do they hurt! Apparently they are the baby's head grinding on my cervix. OUCH! This could make it a long 11 weeks.

I also got my first hurtful comment today. Another teacher at school today walked up to be all giddy and said "I think you are ready!" , I said "ready for what...a hotdog, yes!", she said "ready for the baby to come". I told her I still had 11 weeks and her mouth dropped. :( Note to self and anyone else out there, I don't care if someone is walking into deliver their baby, you never say anything about how "they are ready or huge". You always tell a pregnant women she looks great and small. It really hurts feelings to say someone is big, even when they are pregnant.

Dreaming of the baby

I had another dream about this baby (When pregnant with Ellery I never had dreams of her-I think it's because I'm team green this time and my mind is going crazy wanting to know).

Well here was my dream:
I was in labor and delivery. It was time to push and I pushed 2 times and out popped the baby. It was a boy (always is in my dreams) and it was so real. They told me he weighed 7lbs7oz, and was 23 3/4"long. Long and Skinny! But the crazy part was I actually saw "his" face this time. He looked like Ellery (except different, smaller eyes).

I couldn't believe it wasn't real when I woke up.

Most annoying part of pregnancy...

I am at that point that any sudden movement I make (sneeze, cough, laugh, etc) I pee myself. I literally find myself doing it 2-3 times a day right now. Obviously it isn't like a full bladder of pee coming out, but it still is enough to be annoying. It doesn't even matter if I empty my bladder immediately before I sneeze, somehow I still pee a bit. I know it is because the baby currently has his/her head resting on my bladder, so I am sure that every sudden move I make, makes the baby "bounce" on my bladder. But I have to say this is by far the MOST ANNOYING PART OF PREGNANCY and I still have at least 11 1/2 weeks left.

1 Hr Gestational Diabetes Test!

28 weeks means it is time for me to take my gestational diabetes test. It was just the one hour test but still no fun. I had to start by fasting at 8:15 this morning (I needed to do a 4-6 hour fast). This was the hardest part because I love to snack on things and today I had 1/2 day conferences at school so there was more down time than a typical Friday. 1 hour before the test I had to drink this lovely lemon-lime drink. It tastes like flat Sprite but with a lot of extra sugar in it...not very good to be honest but not horrible. Then I went in to the dr after an hour and had my blood drawn and gave a urine sample to show how my body is processing the sugar. If you score over 140 you are "diabetic" but if you score over 130 you have to do the 3 hour test to re-check. I already got my results and scored 102!(last time it was 109) BAM! No gestational diabetes for me!!
I also had my 28 week dr appointment right after my blood draw. It was quick and sweet (since I just saw Dr. Brandes 2 weeks ago). I didn't have any questions or concerns. My weight gain is still right around 22lbs, and my blood pressure was 98/66. She measured my uterus and it is still exactly on track at 28cms. She also found the heartbeat and it is still staying very consistent at 150bpm. I did then remember to ask about how currently on the top right side of my belly, by my ribs, I have had some part of the baby "stuck" up there. I was just curious if she could tell which part of the baby it was. She felt around and definately could feel the hard spot and took an educational guess based on where the hearbeat was located that it is the baby's butt. She thinks currently baby is head down (I HOPE SO!!) and its butt is up by my ribs and its legs are wrapped down on my left side. She also said don't get too excited because he/she will still be flipping around a lot before delivery time.
After my appointment, I broke my fast with cheese and crackers! But similar to last time, I didn't feel well and I felt extremely exhausted and even fell asleep on the couch with Ellery jumping all over me.
Now, 7pm, I am a bit more hungry and Chad and I are getting take out from Table65.  Alfredo and a cherry coke is on the dinner menu for me!