29 Weeks

Only 11 more weeks to go!  Yikes.  It sounds a little scary when I put it that way.  (Maybe I'll just stick to saying 29 weeks.)

Here I am.  

As you can tell, baby is growing.  Although, I am somewhat proud to say that I actually measured a little (ok, a tiny) bit smaller than the 28 that I was supposed to, (I don't think that I have ever measured small) but nothing to be concerned about.

Baby girl continues to be doing great.  If I remember correctly, I think her heart rate was 138 at the last appointment (which seems to be typical for her).  She has quite a bit slower heart rate compared to Alayna and her temperament also seems to be more mellow (minus the fact that every doctor that has listened to her comments on how much of a mover she is, but let's disregard that for now).  Let's take her calm temperament as a sign that maybe she will be an easier baby than Alayna.  (Fingers crossed.)  As most of my family recalls, Alayna was NOT the easiest baby.  In fact, she was quite hard.  So, here's to hoping that this baby's calm temperament continues on.  (Although, I am comforted in the fact that I survived a HARD baby once.  I can do it again.)

I still feel really good.  In fact, when people ask me how I am doing, I kind of feel silly because I don't have much to report.  I always just say I am feelin' good.  I have the typical aches and pains here and there, but nothing to really complain about.  I am starting to notice I am a bit more uncomfortable at times, but who wouldn't with a belly my size. :) 

Layna felt the baby kick for the first time tonight and to be honest, I think it freaked her out a little.  But once we explained to her that was how the baby was saying hi to her, she was pretty excited.   We talked about how the baby is going to live with us at our house and we asked her if she was excited about that.  She enthusiastically said, "Yes!"  (Guess we'll see how she really does when the time comes.)

As for names, we are getting somewhat closer.  And by that I mean we have 3 possibilities, but we still are looking.  Rest assured, we are working as hard as we can to make sure this little girl's name isn't "baby" or "Grantalina" as my Dad calls her (considering his name is Grant after all).

Layna didn't want to be left out of the picture taking, so here we are.

Be on the lookout for upcoming crafting posts.  I am getting in the crafting mood. 

Craft #1.  Baby quilt.

19 weeks

So, some of you have been dying for a belly picture.  (Read: My family has been bugging me for some pictures.)

And here they are.  My 19 week belly pics.  There are two, since I didn't quite realize I wasn't standing all the way to the side.  (I think subconsciously I didn't want you to really know how big I am yet.)

 The full blown side view.  *Gasp*

I am fully aware that I am just one of those women who's body simply cannot. hide. the. baby.  I don't know why my body chooses to be all out in front, but it does.  I am already getting comments daily about my belly and people are shocked to find out that I am not even quite half way.  Just today, A lady at the temple asked when my due date was and I think her eyes were about ready to pop out of her head when I told her.  :)

All well.  All I can do is laugh.  We are so thrilled to be welcoming another little one into our family, that it just doesn't seem to matter.

A full heart

Today I am feeling GRATEFUL.

The Lord truly has answered my prayers and given us a miracle.

I found out today that I did NOT have a Molar pregnancy.

I am grateful beyond words.

The doctors can't explain why I had some of my symptoms, especially why my hormone levels were so high, but they don't have to. 

I know miracles happen everyday. 

With a molar pregnancy there was talk of things like cancer, weekly blood drawing for as long as a year, and much more.

I knew whatever the diagnosis, the Lord would help me along the way.  

But I am feeling truly blessed. 

Decide to decide

In life, sometimes it's not all about me and what I want.


I have found that recently this statement has particularly been true.


I am a stubborn person.  I have always been one that is quite determined once I have set my mind on something.  But let's face it, sometimes things just don't go our way.  The Lord has other plans in mind.  And boy, am I glad that He knows best. 


The Sunday after Christmas, Dan and I were asked to speak in church.  While researching and getting ready, I stumbled across a talk called, Decide to Decide.  After reading through it, I realized it was just what I was looking for.  But it wasn't until a few weeks after giving my talk that I realized just how perfect it was for me.  It's message talks about deciding to do something.  Deciding to make a decision long before the situation arises.  Deciding what we will do in advance when we are faced with a challenge.  Does that make sense? It's kind of confusing at first, but once I thought about it, it really struck me. 


These last few days have really got me thinking.  I have decided that I am going to Decide to decide in all aspects of my life.  Specifically in spiritual aspects of my life.  I have decided that as the Lord guides my life, I can choose how I react to the trials and blessings I am given.  I am just starting.  I am at square one, but I am trying.


This past week, our family has been given another trial.  Just after the holidays were over, we were blessed to find out that I was expecting again.  We were thrilled, but a little worried as well because of our previous experience.  But soon I was having my "all-day-sickness" like I had with Alayna, so we were reassured.  I was not feeling well at all and barely able to get off the couch some days.  But within a few weeks I was starting to not feel as miserable and the Lord truly blessed me.  Alayna and I were able to get out more and start resuming our normal lives.  Sure, I still felt miserable at times, but at least I could get off the couch.


We were feeling pretty good about all the symptoms I was having and I scheduled my first appointment.  While I had some nerves about my first appointment (and I think I always will), I felt good.  But once the appointment started, and I saw the medical student and doctor, my worries began. 


I was supposed to have been 10 weeks along so after the standard physical they tried to listen to the heart beat.  The medical student tried.  Nothing.  The doctor tried.  Nothing.  They asked for the ultrasound to be wheeled in.  The doctor started looking and clearly was not finding what she was looking for.  Again, they tried to comfort me by telling me I had all the symptoms and possibly I am not as far along and they thought.  They ordered some blood tests and another ultrasound.  Three hours later I was told I could go home and they would let me know.


Not an hour had passed by and the doctor called to tell me that I was having a miscarriage and I would need to schedule a D and C.


Not again!  I couldn't believe it.  I really was taken by surprise.  What about all my symptoms?  Dan, of course, was the perfect comfort and we leaned on each other once again.


The next morning my doctor called me again and told me there were some things concerning her.  My symptoms of morning sickness and insomnia and my hormone level being so high, to name a few.  She told me that after consulting another doctor, they thought I might have a molar pregnancy.  She went on to explain that although, they won't know if that really is the case until they send some of my tissue off to be tested after the surgery, they needed to do the surgery as soon as possible because this type of pregnancy can be very dangerous to the mother. 


So surgery was scheduled for the next morning.  And while I won't know anything for the next few days, I do know that deciding to decide has changed my outlook.  And while I am still struggling and bawling as I write this, I know that the way I choose to react will not only help me, but it will help my family. 


Are there things that I am struggling with?  YES!  Do I just want to skip over these last few days.  YES! Do I wish I could just catch a break? YES!  But maybe what I choose to do now will effect me for the better later on.


So, we're waiting and hoping and praying....

Reminiscing

One year ago today was my official due date.

I remember having my doctor's appointment on this very day and thinking that if I wasn't in labor, they would at least induce me. I mean, couldn't they see how gigantic and completely ready I was to have this baby?

Apparently not because at the end of the appointment they sent me on my merry way.

The day came and went and no baby.

Little did I know, I would still have six more days of being pregnant.

And now here I am a year later, six days away from celebrating my beautiful baby girl's first birthday and finding myself thinking about how in one short year my life has completely changed for the better.

What a whirlwind! And I love it!

Just When You Think It's Over...

Interesting comments is what I mean.

Remember how I would get all kinds of comments about my belly? (If you have read my various posts about pregnancy, you know what I mean.) Well, apparently those days are not quite over...yet.

On Monday (a week exactly after Alayna was born) I decided to "venture" out and get the mail. Mind you, this is about a minute walk, and the hardest part was walking up and down the three flights of stairs. I just had to "get out".

When going through the mail, I found a letter that did not belong to us and decided to take it into the office and give it to one of the managers. After handing her the letter and explaining it did not belong to us, she looked at me and said:

Manager: "Oh. When are you due?!"

Me:"Um. Actually I just had her a week ago. I am just not quite down to my normal size yet."

Manager: "Oh! I am so sorry."

Me: "That's ok."

She then proceeded with some small talk about the baby. (I think in her mind, this was making up for the earlier comment. Yeah right.)

What's funny about this whole encounter is the fact that I saw this person all the time around the apartment complex and she would ask me how much longer I had left. And... not to mention the fact that these people have never seen me NOT pregnant since I was 5 months pregnant when we moved here. So, anyway, I should look pretty dang good to them considering I don't look like I have a HUGE basketball under my shirt. I honestly think she didn't recognize me.

You may think that this event may have bothered me and that is why I am posting it, but actually, I think it is rather funny. It just goes to show some people have a hard time thinking before they speak. Now, if I encounter a similar conversation in a month or two, THEN I will be a little bothered.

The Details

So here is the labor story. I realize that some of you will not care to read this and that is perfectly fine. I understand. I am mainly writing this for my own journaling purposes.

Monday, October 13th we were scheduled for an induction, which ended up being six days after my due date. In St. George, for first babies, they will not induce you until a week past your due date. (My doctor’s husband had surgery on the 14th so she was kind enough to arrange for me to go a day sooner.) The protocol for an induction, is for the hospital to call you anywhere from 12:00am to 12:00am on the scheduled date.

At 5:00am we received a phone call (which at first I thought was my alarm going off so it took me a minute to register what was going on) from the hospital telling us they would like us to come in at 6:15am. Dan and I “tried” to sleep for another 25 minutes, which didn’t happen for me since all kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind, and then we proceeded to get ready.

After eating a light breakfast and checking our packing list, we were on our way to the hospital. I walked down the three flights of stairs as a gigantic pregnant lady for the last time. What a great feeling! On the way to the hospital, we said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare ourselves for what was to come.

I checked in, got dressed in the fashionable hospital gown, got an IV and hooked up to the monitor; to find out I was having contractions, which I couldn’t feel! Man this isn’t bad, I thought, but I wonder how long it will last. The nurse checked me, and I was 4 ½ centimeters dilated! I will admit, it wasn’t a complete surprise to us considering at my last doctors appointment I was 3 ½ centimeters and 80% effaced. The nurse then started me on penicillin (since I tested positive for group b strep) and pitocin.

Less than an hour later, at 7:20am my water broke. I turned to Dan and said, “I think my water just broke, or else I am wetting the bed A LOT.” He called the nurse and they came and checked everything out. My doctor came in and said, “I guess the baby wanted to be born today anyway.” My contractions became harder and I was surprised at how much water would gush out with each one. I looked down at my belly and realized I only looked 6 months pregnant now. Three months worth of my belly was water.

I had contractions from here on out, each one getting stronger and more frequent. Although I don’t know what happened more frequent; me having contractions, or Dan having to use the restroom out of nervousness. Dan was great! He let me know when my contractions were almost over, and wasn’t afraid to say “Whoa, that one was off the chart!” Thanks, babe. At about 10:00, I felt like the contractions were one right after another, and I couldn’t get a breath in between. The nurse then came in and checked me, to find out I was at a 9! She couldn’t believe it. (Thanks mom, for passing those genes of fast paced labor along!)

I was quickly informed that if I wanted an epidural, it was now or never. I then decided an epidural would be much appreciated! Less than 10 minutes later the anesthesiologist was in my room ready to relieve my pain. After a prick, and what felt like an electric shock, I was quickly numbing from my legs down and my contractions were now just a bunch of pressure. I was at the point of pushing, but I still needed my second dose of penicillin before the baby could come. They gave me the penicillin as quickly as they could and at 11:10 I began to push.

I pushed for an hour and 16 minutes before our precious bundle of joy arrived. How I wish I was one of those people that push two or three times and they are done, but Alayna was posterior so the doctor and nurses (and I) did a lot of work to get her to turn around. Among some of the things that were done, was a form of pushing where I played “tug of war” using a towel with one of the nurses. This was something my body paid for later, especially my arms. It was effective, but tiring. The doctor couldn’t believe how hard and fast my contractions were coming. I definitely had my work cut out for me, but it was all worth it in the end.

Alayna arrived at 12:26pm, after a little over 6 hours of labor (I realize this is very short and I am grateful). I began to cry tears of joy when they laid her on my chest. She was beautiful and perfect in every way. And she even had a head full of hair, which Dan and I did not expect at all. Weighing in at 8lbs 3oz., she is the biggest baby of any of my family and the tallest, at 21 inches long. I figure she gets these larger genes from Dan since he is so tall.

All in all, I have to say I am completely blessed to have Alayna. She is such a sweet spirit. Dan and I are so grateful to have her in our family.


Here is our precious bundle of joy.

Waiting

Obviously from the title of this post...we did not have our little girl this weekend.

Just as I predicted, she is taking her sweet time.

Well, now just six more days until I get induced.

We can wait six more days, right? After all, we have already waited 280 days. What's six more days?

Another Baby Update

If you thought the lack of blogging was because we were in the hospital....think again.

Here's the update as of a couple of days ago:

I am still dilated and effaced. The doctor says there's a lot of pressure on the water and she thinks that I will deliver this weekend.

Now don't get your hopes up because the poor doctor has been proved wrong before and she jokes that our little girl is definitely in charge. I just pretty much think she is stubborn like her mom. :)

Just in case we hold on even longer...we have scheduled to be induced on the 13th.

Oct. 13th.....here we come!


Here's my 39 week picture:
This picture shows a better side view of my massive belly as well as my "I mean business" look. (I wasn't quite ready for this picture, hence the look.)
Funny story:

Lady: So, are you having one baby or two?
Me: Um......ONE!

Baby Update...

I don't know if I should even call it that, but for those of you who are wondering or even care...

Here's the lowdown...(don't worry I will keep it brief and not TOO detailed)

I am dilated and effaced some (I have been for a couple of weeks, so don't get too excited). Her head is down. Now, we're just playing the waiting game. My doctor says she keeps thinking she will see me anytime, but what she doesn't know...is the odds are against me. (Both my mom and my sister deliver late, and I suspect that will be the case with me, but hey, at least I know and I am prepared.)

Here's the 38 week pictures. Sorry that I can't provide anything more exciting...such as baby pictures or heaven forbid an actual flattering picture of myself.

(I am beginning to think that those don't even exist any more. No matter how many times I try to get a good picture, where even my face looks decent. It just. doesn't. happen.)


Hopefully that was enough to satisfy you...at least until I can provide you with something a little more exciting. :)

36 Weeks

I think it is time for another pregnancy post.

As my pregnancy is drawing to a close, (ok, so I still have 4 weeks, but still, it's getting closer.) I was thinking about all the changes that I have experienced and I decided to document just a few.

My hands are not the size they once were. As you can see, my wedding ring no longer fits on my finger. It is now replaced with a CTR ring that thank goodness I bought a little too big.

My feet have definitely seen smaller days. Their size seems to fluctuate depending on the amount of time spent sitting and standing. For quite sometime I have been wearing the same reef flip flops EVERYDAY, with the exception of the three hours for church (I try to squeeze my feet into something a little fancier). If you look closely, you can see a slight tan line from these flip flops, as well as a line where the straps are getting tighter and leave marks.

Granted, these beauties are not as extreme as my sister's impressive "Flintstone feet", but I still have a few weeks to go.
And, of course, the belly that goes along with every pregnancy.

I think this picture pretty much is self explanatory. I am feeling and looking like I am about ready to pop. And apparently other people think so because a few days ago while I was at Wal-Mart the following conversation occurred after I passed a child and her mom:

Child: Mom, did you see that lady? It looks like she has a really big basketball under her shirt.
Mom: Shhh...I know.

The whole time I was thinking: No, it's more like TWO really big basketballs.

Then, yet a few days later, my kind husband says to me, "Erica, you are getting REALLY big. But I am the only one who can say that."

Thanks, Dan! I agree, I am getting really big. :)


Overall, I have had a wonderful, easy pregnancy (minus those terrible first three months. I don't even want to think about that.) and I have really enjoyed this experience.

27 Weeks

Not pregnant...

The lighting is not very good in the picture, but I had to show me from the back. We just saw my family for the 4th of July and my dad says it is still weird to see me with a belly. But then he said, "From behind, you would never know you are pregnant!" (Kind words from a father) Thanks Dad!

Pregnant!

I just had to put a picture where you could see my face so that you can see that it really is me!

Hello

I'm new to this blogging thing, but hope to be able to stay in better contact with everyone. To start things off, here is my 23 week pregnancy picture. Details of the new place and the move coming soon!