Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Photos - Ivy's First 7 Weeks

This blog post is just going to be a big ol photo dump of the first 7 weeks of Ivy's life.  Enjoy!

Me and my beautiful children.

Aunt Arlana and Uncle Cameron came up to meet Ivy and spend time with us!

Ivy and I enjoyed some sunshine.

My dad and Patty came up for a visit and got to meet Ivy as well.

We went to Fremont to visit Delores and introduce the baby. 

Orion is the best big brother and a huge helper, even with diapers. 

Ivy spent some more time with Uncle Forrest

Daddy gives the best group hugs.

Relaxing quiet time.

And lots of big smiles. 

Even the dog loves this little one. 

Love makes a family! 

My mom came up to meet baby Ivy. 

Aunt Jaime was at the hospital with us, and also took great care of Orion while Ivy was born.

Ivy turned 1 month old.

And attended some soccer practice.

We took a family trip to watch the total solar eclipse
And even some trips to the zoo. 

As you can see, life has been crazy busy and filled with quality time together and with family.  Thank you all for being part of this crazy ride.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Ivy's Birthing Story

So, Ivy is already almost two months old and I haven't blogged at all, but life has been crazy busy and beautiful.  I figured it was probably time to write out Ivy's birthing story while it's still at least a little fresh in my memory.  So, let's begin.

On Friday, July 7th we woke up at 7am to head to the hospital for my scheduled c-section.  Jaime had flown in to Omaha, and she stayed at the house with Orion so he didn't have to wait at the hospital for quite so long.  Seth and I got to the hospital and checked in, and next thing I knew we were in the pre-op room. They had me change into those super sexy hospital gowns, of course, and wrapped my legs with the aluminum foil looking wraps.  The nurse Catherine was incredible.  She made conversation and talked like we were old friends, staying in the room with Seth and I from the time I arrived until the procedure....other than when she took Seth to get some apple juice since he had skipped breakfast. 😀😀 .

Initially I was a bit concerned because the nurse told me that they didn't have a room ready for me yet for recovery and that I wouldn't be able to have visitors until I got to my room.  I told her about Orion and how excited he was to meet the baby, and she promised me that they would figure something out to make that happen.

They started my IV and pushed fluids, and it was way less painful than a lot of them have been! Catherine then did the necessary grooming 😮  and strapped the baby monitor to my gut, and we waited patiently for the time to pass.  Of course, baby was not having any of the monitor so we spent a bunch of time chasing her down, but it kept me entertained until it was time to go into the OR at 9am.  The room was cool but not too cold and for this epidural they actually allowed Seth to be in the room with me, which was so helpful for my sanity.  There were two nurses, my doctor and her assistant, and the anesthesiologist in the room for the procedure.

I talked to the anesthesiologist before the procedure, talking about all the issues I ran into last time, and he helped me feel so much more comfortable by adjusting the dosage and giving me an action plan for post-procedure.  Before I knew it, I was leaned clear over my stomach and the epidural was inserted.  I did not go instantly numb like I did with Orion, and that was a little bit scary.  They laid me back on the table and feeling slowly faded away, but I still didn't feel completely numb.  Instead I could tell WHERE they were touching, but not really feel any pain associated with it.  Eventually that faded too, and the small curtain was hung in front of me, and surgery began.

Seth stood by my side, camera strapped around his neck, holding my hand and waiting patiently.  The doctor talked to me throughout, explaining what she was doing and asking how I was feeling.  Seth and I talked about how I felt.  Last time I told him I felt like I was on a roller coaster with my entire body flopping around.  This time it instead felt like the table I was on was moving around while I held still.  I asked Seth and he assured me that the table was stationary.  It seemed like no time at all before I heard my doctor say, and there she is.  It is a girl.  Seth looked around the curtain and simply said "She's so beautiful."  I asked "She is?" and he says "Oh yes" and I just started bawling.  I was so happy she was here and beautiful that the tears just flowed.  They took her over to be weighed and measured while they finished tying my tubes and closing me back up.  As soon as she was wrapped up, Seth brought her over to meet me and I knew in that moment that all of my concerns about being able to love a second child were completely unnecessary.

The procedure was over quickly, and they took me, Seth, and baby to a labor room temporarily while they prepped my room.  They went to move me from pre-op bed to the labor room bed and instead of waiting patiently, I found myself helping them move me.  They were all very surprised that I could already move my legs.  They then brought in Orion to meet his sister.  He sat down on the couch and wanted to hold the tiny screaming baby.  I was so proud of him, holding her close and talking to her.  I'm so glad he got that time, away from everyone else, just us and his sister.  It's a moment I'll remember forever.

Eventually they did get my room ready and we were off to recovery and the rest of the family visitors.  Recovery seemed less difficult this time, which says a lot considering I didn't think it was awful last time.  The nurses were excellent and the itching and frustrations from the first time were a lot less.  The itching was well managed and there was no benadryl involved, so I didn't feel all drugged up and groggy.  The nurse checking my uterus was also much less forceful so, while uncomfortable, it didn't hurt nearly as bad.  The worst part was keeping the IV in place and taking off the bandage after surgery (I had Seth help me out).  Overall, we had a happy, beautiful baby to complete our family.  There will be no more little ones in our future so we are enjoying every second with this tiny baby, while also watching Orion blossom into his role as big brother.  It's an amazing journey.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Welcome Ivy Elizabeth

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Ivy Elizabeth. She was born on July 7, 2017 at 9:43am.  Our little girl weighed 7lb 10oz and was 19.5 inches long.  She has a head full of dark hair and has deep dark eyes already.  We are all in love with her.  I'll post more details later, but considering she is over a week old I thought we should probably at least post an announcement, and some photos.  Enjoy!




Ivy Elizabeth



Orion loves his little sister


Daddy is enamored 

Even her yawns are adorable.

Mom and baby in the hospital.

Orion's first time holding Ivy

Me with my kiddos.

I love her face so much.

I definitely love his too! 
My beautiful little family.


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Your Amazing Sis

Orion took the time to write his future little sister a letter.  I think it's incredibly sweet and I wanted to share it with you all.  I'll type out what he wrote below, and then attach pictures so you can see it for yourself:


On the outside of the envelope, he wrote "Your amazing sis!" surrounded by hearts and a smily face:


When I open up the letter, this is what is written: 


Dear ____,   (he actually put the name, but we aren't sharing that yet!) 
       I am sooo Iksidide (excited) to be your big brother. I just want you to come out.  I've wanted a sibling and I'll have you! 

From Orion




Monday, July 3, 2017

5 Worst Parts of Pregnancy

A couple of days ago I talked about my favorite things about being pregnant.  Today, I figured I should share the things about pregnancy that I do not enjoy so much.  In general, most of my complaints have to do with being uncomfortable, but I thought it would be worth sharing nonetheless. Why not?  

The worst parts of being pregnant for me:  
  • Pain in my tailbone & hips!  This time around, my tailbone and hips have hurt on and off from almost the beginning.  The sharp pains make sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping all a challenge and I just do not appreciate the consistent discomfort. 
  • Swelling!  I've been pretty lucky in that most of the swelling is not major, but it's still very uncomfortable to have my feet swelling to where my shoes are uncomfortable, or my hands swelling enough that I have to take off my jewelry.  No bueno! 
  • Heartburn!  Heartburn is the one thing in pregnancy that I just never get used to.  I've gone through more Tums than is probably healthy and find myself getting heartburn almost daily no matter what I eat or how hydrated I am.  It's super frustrating. 
  • Becoming public property.  I've talked about this off and on throughout both of my pregnancies.  While I love the pregnancy stories from other women, I hate the comments from strangers, the stares and questions, and the fact that there suddenly seems to be no boundaries between my privacy and the people I don't even know.  It drives me crazy.  
  • Being babied!  There are so many people who seem to feel that pregnant women are no longer adults who can take care of themselves.  I get very annoyed by people telling me that I can't do something, like lifting my own watermelon at the grocery store, simply because I'm pregnant.  I know my limitations, don't tell me I can't do something!! 

So those are my biggest complaints.  Knowing the experiences some women face, none of these complaints seem to be all that major at all! 

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Week 39

Welcome to week 39! Baby will officially be here by the end of this week.  It's hard to believe that we've finally made it.  And if it isn't crazy enough, we also have 4th of July this week and family will start showing up, with Aunt Jaime making her appearance on Wednesday.  I have a feeling this week is going to go very quickly.

For baby

Baby is officially considered full term!! Baby probably is somewhere between 19 and 21 inches long and weighs between 7 and 8 pounds, but we will know by this weekend.  The skin has changed from pink to white because the baby fat has been layered over the blood vessels, making baby squishy and cute.  It will also help baby maintain body temperature on the outside.

For momma:

I am officially ready for this baby to be here.  While I still feel pretty good in general, I'm sick of waiting and starting to get pretty impatient.  Luckily we have less than a week left before baby will be here.  I'm so happy my blood pressure and everything else has been completely fine throughout this entire journey.  My tummy is big enough that I'm uncomfortable, and baby coming out will be bittersweet, but I'm ready to meet them and share with the world. 

Saturday, July 1, 2017

5 Favorite Things about Pregnancy

In my life, I have heard a lot of women complain about being pregnancy and how miserable it makes them feel.  I honestly feel sorry for these women because while pregnancy can be difficult, I genuinely enjoy most of the experience.   So what are the best things about being pregnant?


  1. Feeling baby move: I absolutely love feeling the kicks and wiggles that happen daily, and interacting with baby in those moments.  It is the part that I miss the most once baby is born.  It is highly distracting, and there are definitely times when it hurts or is super uncomfortable, but it's one of the most entertaining and reassuring parts of pregnancy. 
  2. Excitement from my family:  I'm not someone who particularly enjoys a lot of attention or expects special treatment, etc.  However, being pregnant brings a level of excitement to my family that I love.  My sisters check in on how I'm feeling, Seth regularly does little things to take care of me, and even Orion has taken to giving my tummy hugs in the morning in addition to my hug.  I love seeing the excitement around me and I appreciate all their love and support. 
  3. Growing hair & nails:  My hair has grown so much and feels super healthy.  I'm sure half of it is the fact that I can't dye my hair, but my hair feels pretty good and is longer than it has been in probably 8 years.   The same can be said for my nails.  They feel stronger and have grown longer than ever.  I have also been able to not chew them, which is a huge deal for me as someone who has chewed my nails since I was 5 years old. 
  4. No menstrual cycle!  Probably way too much information, but not having to worry about having a period for 9 months is really, really nice.  I won't dwell on it, but I appreciate the break. 
  5. Entertaining dreams:  My dreams have always been super vivid and it gets even more intense while I'm pregnant.  While I don't appreciate the horrible nightmares I've had so far, I do completely enjoy the fun dreams that come along with pregnancy.  

Friday, June 30, 2017

Dr Appt - Week 38


This was my last appointment before my scheduled c-section.  I have less than a week to either go into labor naturally, or we're going in after baby.  It was a very short visit with nothing exciting happening at all.  We checked vitals, listened to baby, and sent me on my way.

My weight:  Up 1 lb from last week
Blood Pressure:  110/70
Temperature: Normal
Baby's heartbeat:   150


Now to spend the next week doing all the final preparations for baby, and waiting patiently for arrival.


Thursday, June 29, 2017

3 Things I'm Excited About

As we finish out the last several days of pregnancy, I did some searching for some writing prompts and I'm going to genuinely try to post one post a day from now until we have a new little one.  So today, I'm talking about 


3 things I am excited about

  • Meeting this new little person! 
    •  I know that seems like a "duh" response, but I'm so thrilled to meet the baby and learn the personality and quirks of a new human.  It should be interesting. 
  • Seeing Orion as a big brother!
    • Orion is the sweetest boy, hugging my tummy and giving his unborn sibling so much love already without even meeting them.  I can't even imagine how excited and loving he is going to be once baby is actually here to share his experiences with.  He already talks about sharing morning snuggles with baby, and how if they have a nightmare, they could come sleep in his room.  Even though they have separate rooms, he's also talked about them needing bunk beds.  I think it's adorable and I can't wait to share this experience with him.  I know just how much I love my sisters, and I am delighted that he will have a sibling to grow up with. 
  • Finding a new sense of normal! 
    • Pregnancy is this weird type of waiting where you spend 9 months preparing for the unknown and trying to do everything you can to be ready for a new little human to join your family.  It's stressful and exhausting to spend so long not knowing exactly what to expect, at least for me.  I look forward to baby finally arriving and finally getting the chance to set up a new routine that works for us and our changing family.  

Strangers and Pregnancy

In past posts, I've talked about how becoming pregnant suddenly makes you public property and my frustrations with that.  People feel that they are welcome to say whatever they want to you, giving unwanted advise and asking overtly personal questions, even going as far as feeling that it's ok to touch your body without permission.  It can be awful and uncomfortable, and as someone who is naturally introverted it makes me extremely uncomfortable.

However, this morning I realized just how much of a blessing it can be as well.  While there are rude and insensitive people, being pregnant can also bring out the most beautiful and personal parts of people as well.  During this pregnancy, I've found myself listening to the pregnancy and birthing stories from women all across the board.  My co-workers talk of their successes and issues while pregnant or giving birth.  I've listened to the sympathy from those who had rough pregnancies, and the joy of those who had amazing pregnancies.  I've heard birthing stories from strangers, and had random people stop and want to talk about my baby without knowing anything about me.  When I stop at the gas station on my way to work, the woman who works there often asks how much longer I have left. This morning I found myself listening to her birthing story from 16 years ago as she cashed me out.  I heard about the normal pregnancy of her first two children, and how she gained 70 pounds and had an 11 pound baby for her third.  I know these are stories that she doesn't share with just anyone, and it gives me both some insight into who she is, but it also builds a special bond between women to share those moments.

So today I am grateful.  While the invasion of privacy often frustrates me, I also understand the beautiful and amazing community bond that women feel with other pregnant women.  We look out for each other and want to share our stories.  We want to share our triumphs and our failures, and help others know that they are not alone in their experiences.  I'm thankful to each woman who has shared her story with me, and even those who wanted to share their advise.  Thank you for the kind smiles, the loving stories, the warnings and the laughter.  It's moments like this that I understand just how beautiful pregnancy can be.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Due Dates & Milk....no not that kind!

My due date is right around the corner.  I keep saying it's hard to believe, but sometime within the next 9 days I will officially meet this little person that has inhabited my womb for the past 9 months. While some parts of this process feel like they have taken forever, a much larger part feels like it has gone by SO so quickly.  I didn't quite realize how close we were to the end until today.   So, what made that feeling hit home?  A bottle of milk.  Yep.  I said it.  Milk.

Let me explain...

Since I was a child, I've always been fascinated with upcoming dates and countdowns to events.  I'll divide time into more manageable sections when driving and have had a count down until baby's arrival since January to go along with the count up in weeks that I've had since the very beginning.  My methods and tracking have often changed.  However, there is once consistent method that I have always used to tell when an event is officially "close"...and that is the expiration date on a jug of milk.  As a kid, I remember seeing my birthday on a bottle of milk and being excited that it was so close to the celebration, and I've continued that trend into my adulthood.  When I see an important date on a bottle of milk, I know it's time to start to get excited, and to make sure I'm actually ready.  Today, I found this:


That is my due date on a bottle of chocolate milk.  I guess that means that it is officially close and it's time to make sure that we're completely prepared for this little person to come home.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

38 Week Dreams

Baby is right around the corner, but dreams of baby are as elusive as ever.  With Orion I regularly dreamed of him, but that has not been the case this pregnancy at all.  Instead, last night's dream brought a visit from my grandpa:

I was standing in the street of a small town talking with grandpa.  He was dressed in his legion uniform and holding a flag, getting ready to march in a parade.  He said one of his buttons on his uniform was loose and he was worried he was going to lose it, so I told him I would grab something and march behind him so I could pick it up if it fell. He then put his arm around me and started to tell me "did you know, these suckers are paying me to march?  I do it for free all the time!" and giggling like only my grandpa could.  He found it hilarious that they were willing to pay him to walk in the parade.  He was still chuckling to himself when he went to find his place in line.  I walked over to a table that was set up on the side walk and picked up a large glass goblet and a clear vase to carry along with me, and took my place in line a few feet behind grandpa.  Music started behind me, and the parade began to march forward. We marched through the streets, uneventfully as I proudly watched him carry the flag down the street.  This parade progressed into an enormous cathedral style building and my grandpa marched right up to the very front with the flags, so the rest of the parade followed.  When we got to the very front, I found myself walking past grandpa and facing the giant stained glass window that was at the front of the building.  Grandpa paused behind me and I could hear the national anthem begin to play behind me.  It was right then that my grandfather let out a sneeze and the button popped right off his uniform.  It bounced off the stained glass, and with one swift motion, I caught the button in the glass vase I had carried along.  I looked to my right and my mother was staring at me, wide eyed.  We both tried to stifle our giggles as the band played, but I had tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard.  After the anthem was finished, the parade dispersed and I found myself walking among the crowd, trying to see if my friends had witnessed my epic button catch, or if it was something I would only share with my mom and grandpa.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Week 38

Welcome to week 38! We are under 2 weeks officially until baby will make an appearance, one way or another.  This week, the countdown will fall into single digits, which seems insane and I have mixed feelings for sure. So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby probably is about 19 1/2 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds.  Baby has an eye color by this point, but the eye color, as well as the hair color and texture will continue to change from now through the first year of life.   Baby continues to ingest the amniotic fluid, building up that first yucky poop. Surfactant also continues to be produced in the lungs, which is the stuff that causes the air sacs in the lungs to inflate once they start to breathe air for real.

For momma:

My hospital bags are officially packed, the car seats are in the car, and the swing has been brought upstairs into the living room to prep the dog for the invasion.  Physically, I am tired and definitely feeling like I have to pee more often.  My tailbone also hurts a lot, but I think it's because I did too much moving and lifting over the weekend more than anything.  Otherwise, I physically feel ok.  Emotionally, I'm a bit torn.  Part of me is 100% ready for me to get this baby out and into the world.  However, the other part of me is a bit weepy about the whole situation.  I know this is the last time I will be feeling a little human in my womb, and I'm not quite ready to give that up.  I'm ecstatic to see Orion as a big brother and I know he'll be amazing, but I also am not ready to have to share him with another family member yet.  I'm going to have to share my snuggles and love with another human, and I just am not quite ready for all of that business.  I know it will be fine once baby is actually here, but I definitely find myself wanting a little bit more time with Orion, while also being desperately ready for the baby to get here.  It's problematic, but really the only thing I can do about it is to just continue to live in the moment right now, and go with the flow as well as I can.  Either way, it will be over before I know it.


Friday, June 23, 2017

Dr. Appt Week 37

Once again, the latest Dr appointment was uneventful and went smoothly, which is a good thing.  Baby continues to try to hide from the doctor as she tries to find a heart beat, to the point that the doctor thought maybe she had flipped around and was breech.  Fortunately, she wasn't but it was entertaining to feel her wiggling around and responding, but the doctor still having to chase her.

They did my Group B Strep test, and my doctor and I talked a little bit about the epidural for the c-section.  I explained the super itchy feeling that I had after the last one, and she explained that it's actually the pain medication included in the epidural that causes that reaction.  She then said we would discuss our options with the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery.  Essentially I have 2 options, either I have the same medicine and an itchy reaction, or I have a pain med pump put into place, which means no itchiness but potential for more pain.  

Otherwise, the rest of the appointment was not exciting at all.


Now for the vitals:
My weight:  went back down 2 lbs.
Blood Pressure: 112/88 - the nurse said this was a little high, but the doctor was fine with it.
Temperature:  Normal
Baby's heartbeat: 146
Uterus: Measuring at 42 weeks!!!


The next appointment will be in just 1 week, and will be my final appointment before I have this baby.  Woot.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Hospital Bag

I've always been a bit of an over planner...I try to be hyper organized, make lists for everything, and definitely am not one to just "go with the flow."  Things like waiting for baby to arrive without being able to control any of it drive me CRAZY!  So imagine trying to pack a bag for an event that you don't know when it is going to happen or what you're going to experience.  Needless to say, the hospital bag has definitely stressed me out more than it probably should, but as of right now it's officially packed.  So what's in my bag?

Clothes for Me
I know at some point I am going to want to be in my own clothes, even if it is just on the way home.  Gotta be comfortable somehow right?  So what have I packed?

  • A dress and super stretchy tights to go under it
  • Comfy T-Shirt
  • 2 super soft pairs of socks
  • Nursing Bra
  • Washable Nursing Pads

Items for Baby
  • Muslin baby blanket
  • Little Dress to come home in
  • Little Green outfit, just in case ;) 
  • Socks & light gloves for long fingernails
  • Burp Rags
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Baby brush & lotion


Electronics
  • Phone Charger
  • Ear Buds
Bathroom Supplies
  • Hair Brush & Hair Ties
  • Shampoo & Conditioner
  • Lotion
  • Makeup & Chapstick
  • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
  • Pads
  • Makeup remover wipes
  • Q-Tips


Other
  • Eye Glass cleaning cloth
  • Grandpa's handkerchief
  • Eyeglass case
  • Wallet with ID & Insurance Cards
Seth will also be grabbing his camera and extra batteries.  Of course, we will also have the car seat in the car, and I will have my breast pump available if needed as well. 

The way I work, this is all packed and ready to go.  However, if I don't unpack and re-pack this bag multiple times in the next 2 weeks, it will be a miracle.  


Sunday, June 18, 2017

Week 37

Welcome to week 37!  We are now under 3 weeks until this little human arrives.  That's insanity!!  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby is now considered "near term" or "early term", which is the final step between being full term at 39 weeks.  During this time, lungs continue to mature and the brain continues to grow and develop.  Baby probably is about 19 inches long and weighs about 6.5 pounds! Baby will continue to grow about half a pound a week up until arrival.  She still wiggles a lot, but definitely feels like she's down lower than she has been in past weeks.  Baby continues to breath the amniotic fluid and suck their thumb to prep for life on the outside.  Before we know it, they will put those super important skills to the test.

For momma:

I managed to catch a cold this week, which is not my favorite thing.  As if I didn't have to pee often enough as it is, add a cough on top of things and it makes life quite the challenge.  Sleep for the past couple days has been MIA so I'm hoping to get past it soon.  The heartburn is still not too bad, which I will never complain about.  I haven't had it consistently at least, which is great.  Otherwise, I'm trying to be patient and not get too stressed or nervous about little one making an appearance.  I plan on packing my hospital bag sometime this week.  I already have the diaper bag packed, but I'm somehow sure that I'll unpack and repack it more than once in the next two weeks. 

Friday, June 16, 2017

Dr Appt - 36 weeks

I'm officially tired of going to the doctor.  Now, don't get me wrong...my doctor is very kind and awesome...I just don't want to go to any more appointments!  We just hit the point where I will be going weekly, which means that the end is in sight, and for that part of things I am totally ready.

My latest appointment went smoothly and uneventfully.  I did get to take Orion with me, and that was fun to share.  The nurse weighed me and took my vitals, all while explaining to Orion what she was doing.  She even took the time to weigh him as well.  Then we went back into the doctor's office to wait and he asked questions about how the baby was doing.  It was very sweet.  Ultimately though, he was here to listen to the baby's heart beat.  This was his face when he heard it for the first time:


The baby kept moving away from the sensor, making the doctor chase the heart beat and Orion found that super entertaining.

My doctor also officially scheduled my c-section with the hospital of my choice since we are so close to the end now.  She still says if I go into labor naturally in the next couple weeks, we will play it by ear, but if not we have an appointment scheduled at least.

After the appointment, my doctor also gave me a prescription for a breast pump, so Orion and I went to Milk Works to pick up my electronic, hospital grade double breast pump.  I obviously haven't tried it out yet, but I'm happy to have something higher quality than what I had with Orion, and for it to be covered by my insurance.  Here is hoping it makes breast feeding easier this time than it was for the boy.

Now for the vitals:
My weight:  went up 2 lbs.  I officially am back to pre-pregnancy weight.
Blood Pressure: 131/78
Temperature:  Normal
Baby's heartbeat: 145
Uterus: Measuring at 38 weeks


Also, Orion is now 50" tall and weighs 62.8 lbs!  Where did my little boy go??  The next appointment will be in just 1 week, so whee?  I expect it to be very uneventful.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Week 36

Welcome to week 36!  The countdown has started and we are officially less than 30 days from meeting this little person.  It seems impossible, but there we are!  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby is now 18 to 19 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds! Baby should be shedding most of the lanugo, which is the fuzzy hair that covers their body, as well as the vernix, which is the waxy stuff that protects the baby's skin in the womb.   The baby's skull bones are not completely fused together, and won't be until well after birth.  This is to make it possible to move through the birth canal without getting stuck.  Circulation and immune systems should be complete and working on their own to keep the baby safe from infections.  The digestive system is still working to get completed though, and won't be done until after birth because the baby will continue to rely on the umbilical cord for nutrition until birth.  Baby should also already be head down, and has been at all of our appointments so far.  Here's hoping it stays that way.  I go back to the Dr. on Friday, June 16th and will give you an update on how things look at that point.

For momma:

Physically, I feel ok.  My tailbone still hurts but in general I feel pretty good.  Baby is pushed up against all my organs, so there are definitely moments where I have to pee quickly, or where I'm just not hungry because my stomach already feels full, but in general none of those are major issues.  I still have heartburn semi-regularly, but it doesn't seem as bad as it has been in weeks past.  I'm also still dealing with some random swelling in my feet, most often on days where my entire work day is spent sitting in meetings.   When I do have time to walk around, I'm trying incredibly hard not to waddle!  

Monday, June 5, 2017

Pregnancy Brain Returns

Adventures in Pregnancy Brain returns.  Whee!??!  I figure I should blog this while I still remember it happening...


I had sincerely hoped that I would miss out on Pregnancy Brain this time since I dealt with it so badly with Orion, but as of Saturday I can no longer pretend that I'm not currently brain fried completely.  So, what happened?  Let me explain:

Saturday, I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things for the weekend.  I took Seth's car to the store, parked, and successfully bought all my groceries with no problems whatsoever.  Yay, me!  I go back to the car, open the trunk, and put all the groceries in.  Then, like a good patron, I walk the cart to the cart holder and put it away and return to my car.   I try to unlock the door, and the doors don't seem to respond to the buttons I'm pushing.  I try again, and no go..the doors will not unlock!  I lock the car again, and hear the honk, so I know that it's working.  I try to unlock them again, but nope, still won't unlock.  I try to think, and realize that I had just opened the trunk with the same key fob, so I try to open it again, but nope...the trunk won't open either.  What the hell!  Now I'm getting mad.  This isn't even my car and the damn thing won't work, and I'm stuck in the Hy-vee parking lot with groceries in the trunk.  Grr!

So, since the car is push to start, it has the hidden key in the keyfob where you can manually unlock the car...so I take out the manual key and...wouldn't you know it, I can't open the damn door with the manual key either!  What the heck!??! I lock the door again and hear the "honk" that it locks.  At this point, I take out my cell phone and try to call Seth to ask him if he has had problems with this damn fob unlocking his car.  As I'm calling him, I click the damn lock button like 3 times in a row..."Honk!  Honk! Honk!"

It is at that point that I realize that the honk is not coming from in front of me...but instead seems to be coming from behind me...

I hang up the phone quickly before Seth can answer.  I turn around and, wouldn't you know it, 2 cars away from me is Seth's car, trunk wide open, honking proudly that the doors are locked.  I rush over to the car, slam the lid closed, then unlock the doors and get in before looking around to see just how many people are watching me try to break in to the wrong car.

Of course, at that point Seth was calling me back and I couldn't get away with just a "nevermind" answer...because when you're pregnant, your man gets WAY more concerned when he misses a call from you, so I told him the story and he enjoyed it so much that I thought I'd share it with all of you.


What can I say except, you're welcome?


Sunday, June 4, 2017

Week 35


Welcome to week 35!  The weather is hot, the sunshine is bright, and we're now only 35 days until this little one is supposed to be arriving.  I can't believe we're so close already and 35 days seems both so close and so far away at the same time.  It's a little bit crazy!  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby should now be somewhere between 18 and 20 inches long depending on how big they are going to be.  Baby should also weigh over 5 pounds now! They will continue to put on about 1/2 a pound each week until arrival.  Fingernails and toenails are in place, and the kidneys and liver are fully developed to process waste from their little bodies.

For momma:

For me, I feel alright.  Very full, but in general not terrible.  My tail bone hurts fairly regularly, which is no fun, but most other aches and pains are temporary.  There is a lot of movement now, which is entertaining and very distracting at the same time, but it's one of my favorite things in pregnancy.  Even Orion is now regularly feeling the baby dancing around and talks to her often.  He even gives me 2 hugs in the morning, one for each of us, which I think is sweet.  I know he is going to be an incredible big brother.  

Friday, June 2, 2017

I'm a bad blogger

So, I'm a couple weeks behind in baby updates, and haven't even posted about my latest doctor's appointment.  Let me reassure you that everything is going just fine!  I'm just plain lazy...or exhausted...or busy.  It's definitely been some combination of those things.  I want to continue writing and sharing this journey, so I'm going to ignore those missing posts that guilt me into not posting at all, and instead focus on moving forward.  I'm going to try to go back to posting the regular updates as I can going forward, so look forward to the next baby update on Sunday.  Thanks for reading through our journey as parents, and caring about our family.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Sweet moments with our son

Last night, as we were tucking Orion into bed, he sat me down and started talking about being a big brother.  He's decided that if the baby gets scared or has a bad dream that they can come sleep in his bed with him so he can take care of them and show them that there is nothing to be afraid of.  His heart is so big and he is so loving and sweet that I can't wait to see how he is as a big brother.

Each morning, not only does he hug me, but he also makes sure to hug my belly separately to say good morning to the baby.  He is so sweet to me and I really look forward to seeing him in action as a big brother.  I truly think he will be amazing, and I hope that he loves this baby just as much when he finally gets to meet them.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Dreams #8

Yay for more random dreams!

The first dream that I'll share today was a dream that I was a ballerina.  Let me begin by saying that I have never in my life wanted to be a ballerina, so I have no idea where this dream came from, but I was highly entertained by it nonetheless.  My dream was that I had a ballet recital.  It starts with me on stage surrounded by random small children and my dance instructor.  I was 8 months pregnant and wearing a black leotard and a little black tutu.  I pranced across the stage as my instructor repeated "padichu" over and over like it was the name of the dance move.  Waking me knows that "padichu" is the French word for "puff pastry" but sleeping me definitely thought it was a fancy ballet dance move.  I finished my recital, and my mother and grandmother were there watching.  They came up to the stage and my mother was crying because she was so proud of me.  My grandmother told me "now don't forget that grandad left those veggies down in the cellar".  I still have no idea what that means, but it definitely seems like some randomness that my grandma would say.  I woke up giggling at the thought of me as a pregnant ballerina.


Last night's dream was short, but sweet.  I was holding a tiny infant baby with dark hair and lactating everywhere!  I was trying to get the baby to eat, but it seemed like more milk was pouring out of me and onto my clothes than there was going into the baby I was trying to feed.  It was short, but super weird.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Week 32

Welcome to week 32!  Spring is here, the weather is warm, and we are now less than 60 days until we meet this little person.  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby is now about 18 inches long and weighs about 4 pounds! Baby will continue to put on about 1/2 a pound each week.  If baby is going to be born with hair, the fuzzy hair will now be in place.  Also, baby should now have all of their fingernails and toenails.

For momma:

So far this week seems a little bit better than last week.  Mother's day was lovely and I'm sunburned and tired in the best possible way.  I'm still tired but I feel better about it today, so that's a good thing. This baby is sitting up way higher than Orion did, so I'm a bit uncomfortable, but nothing unbearable.  This week looks pretty positive, and I'm happy. 

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Week 30

Welcome to week 30!  It's cool and rainy here, but we're spending the day together as a family.  It's hard to believe that we're less than 10 weeks from meeting our little one already.  This last trimester is going so quickly already!  I'm sure the end will be here before I know it.  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby is now about 17 inches long and weighs about 3 1/2 pounds!  Orion was 20 inches long and 8 pounds 9 ounces, so that doesn't seem that far off!  Apparently from this point forward baby is supposed to be putting on about 1/2 a pound each week.  Baby is also starting to lose the lanugo, or the baby fur that covers them in the womb.  Hopefully that means the baby is less werewolf and more human by the time they are born.   The eyes are also still developing, but not very good but can tell the difference between light and dark, etc.  They will continue to improve over the next month until they reach they point they are at for birth.  Also, the bone marrow is now supposed to take over making baby's red blood cells, which will be extremely beneficial for the future.

For momma:

Overall, things are going alright.  I haven't had anything too major happening, other than the doctor's appointment that has made me uncomfortable.  My arm still hurts from the Whooping Cough shot on Thursday, and my hand is still incredibly sore, but at least now I can make a fist without whimpering.  I feel ok for the most part, with some soreness in my hips and tailbone, but again nothing major.  The worst part of things is simply feeling tired all the time.  I'm absolutely exhausted and not able to sleep through the night at all.  I wake up constantly from being uncomfortable or having to pee and it's definitely draining.  I'm doing the best I can to not let it get to me, but that's definitely easier some days than others.  

Saturday, April 29, 2017

V-Bac vs C-Section - Doctor Discussion

I mentioned in my last post  that I had a discussion with my doctor at our 29 week appointment about the potential of VBAC vs C-Section.  I chose my doctor specifically because she's someone who genuinely supports VBAC efforts, but I wanted her honest opinions on how things looked and was pleasantly surprised to get that.   We went through everything, and ultimately her answer was that statistically I only have about a 40% chance of success for a VBAC at this point.  There are a few things that work against me here:

  1. With Orion, I never progressed, so there is no guarantee that my pelvis (or the rest of my body) can manage childbirth naturally.  That doesn't mean that it can't but it's something that has to be taken into consideration. 
  2.  I am overweight (shocking, I know) which reduces the success rate of VBAC statistically. 
  3. My age.  While I'm not at an age yet that puts me at high risk, I am 32 years old, and the older you get the harder childbirth tends to be on your body. 
Again, none of these things necessarily mean that I COULDN'T deliver the baby naturally.  It just means that statistically I am more likely to run into issues.  All those things being said, if I chose to still try to do a VBAC my doctor would fully support my decision.  Ultimately, it is my decision which route I want to take, and I've made a decision.  

We are going to be scheduling a C-Section during my 39th week of pregnancy, unless I naturally go into labor before then.  Again, there are multiple things that come into play with that decision, and I don't feel like I have to justify my decision with anyone.  However, there are a few things to understand: 
  1. I will be having my tubes tied.  This process can be done as part of the C-Section, but would require another hospital visit and surgery at 6 weeks post-partum if I had a vaginal birth.  This would mean more time off work and 2 intense medical events in a very short period of time. 
  2. If I ended up using an epidural during vaginal birth, this would also mean the potential for 2 separate sets of anesthesia, which is not always my friend. 
  3. Again, I only have a 40% statistical chance of having the baby naturally. 
  4. Finally, I know that if I tried and failed I would feel MUCH worse about things than just choosing to go C-Section from the beginning.  This may not seem like it matters, but I remember with Orion feeling like a total failure and like I missed out on child birth, and I don't want to put myself through that again. 
If I go into labor naturally before 39 weeks, we will see what happens there, but for now this is the plan.  

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Doctor's Appointment - 29 Weeks

Today I had my 29 week doctor's appointment.  This appointment was longer than most have been, but should be the last intense-ish appointment *fingers crossed*.    This appointment included the 1 hour test for gestational diabetes, and the discussion of VBac vs C-Section with my doctor.

First, the gestational diabetes test.  At my last appointment, they sent me home with the glucose drink for me to drink one hour before my appointment.  I spent the last month dreading that since everyone talks about how horrible it was.  It was a clear liquid that was optimistically labeled "Fruit Punch."  I knew I had to drink the entire bottle (which was actually pretty small) within 5 minutes so when the time came, I held my breath and decided to just get it over with and chug it expecting the worst. In reality, it tasted like a melted popsicle and really wasn't all that bad.  When I got to the doctor's office, I checked in with the desk and they took note of my drink time, and then sent me back to the nurse for my vitals.  She measured all the things, then took me back to the room to meet with the doctor, promising she'd be back to draw my blood at the 1 hour mark.

In preparation for the blood draw, I made sure to drink more than 8 glasses of water in the 6 hours before the appointment because last time I was told I was dehydrated and that's why the blood draw was difficult.  Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.  The nurse tried to take blood from my right arm, but couldn't get it to flow, so she then tried my left arm.  Again, no go.  The nurse was kind and very good, but my body was not cooperating.  Ultimately, she ended up finding a vein in the back of my right hand and drawing the blood from there.  That was the most painful blood draw I've ever had.  And after barely getting 1 vial I started to clot so they gave up, but my hand is still swollen and bruised  and hurts SO bad.  I can't make a fist and even just typing hurts.  It was not my favorite experience.  Then, to just get it over with, they gave me the TDaP shot as well in my right arm for whooping cough so I ended the day with 4 bandages and lots of sore spots.  Not my favorite experience.  They said that they will contact me if I fail the gestational diabetes test, but I won't hear from them otherwise, so if I get any news, I'll make sure to post that here.

This post has gotten quite long already, so I'm going to make the VBac discussion with my doctor in a separate post.

Now for the vitals:
My weight:  Actually stayed the same in the last month.
Blood Pressure: 122/68
Temperature:  Normal
Baby's heartbeat: 145
Uterus: Measuring at 31 weeks

From here on, appointments will switch to 2 weeks instead of monthly, which definitely shows that we're getting closer!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Week 29

Week 29.  So, I totally missed week 28, but here we are, playing catch up!  Sorry.  We are officially in the third and final trimester.  Woohoo.  We've had lots of rain and things are starting to grow and turn green, which is great.  So, what's happening in pregnancy world this week?

For baby

Baby is now about 16 inches long and weighs about three pounds!  That seems so big, but in the next 11 weeks baby will at least double, if not triple in size.  That seems crazy.  More and more fat is being deposited under baby's skin which is where most of the additional weight will come from. The baby still moves a lot, but is super stubborn and won't kick consistently for either of the boys.  I can tell Orion is frustrated, and that makes me sad.  I hope that as the baby continues to grow it will get easier for him to feel.

For momma:

Well, things are still progressing.  Unfortunately, I've officially had my first calf cramp.  I fully expected them, but I still hate them SO much.  They wake me from a dead sleep and take so long to go away again.  *sigh*  I've also started to have a weird issue where I feel light headed if I get too hot, which has only happened twice, but it's not fun at all.  Otherwise, things are just moving along.  I have my next doctor's appointment on Thursday, which includes my gestational diabetes test, so we'll see how things go there. 

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Dreams #7

It's been a while since I've talked about my dreams, but there are a couple new ones to add to the list.

A couple nights ago I had a dream that Seth and I went to the hospital to have the baby.  Instead of an epidural they put me to sleep completely so I missed the baby being born.  However, when I woke up I was in no pain and was able to get up and walk around with no issues.  They brought the baby in for me to try to breastfeed and the tiny baby had 7 teeth!! After trying (and failing) to breastfeed, the baby sat up on their own, grabbed a bottle behind me, and laid back down with it, holding it on their own.  It was so random...


Last night I had a much shorter dream that I was listening to my own stomach with a stethoscope to hear the baby's heart beat, but instead I could actually hear the baby cooing and crying inside my womb.  It was very strange!

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Week 27

Week 27.  Welcome to the final week of the second trimester.  It's hard to believe that we're here already, but we've made it!! The weather is warming and it feels like spring is finally here.  So, what's happening this week?

For baby

Baby is now about 15 inches long and weighs 2 pounds.  Baby will keep growing and growing over the next couple months to prep for life outside my body.  Baby is apparently supposed to be sleeping and waking up at regular intervals now, and is possibly even sucking on fingers.  Aww.

For momma:

Other than the usual aches and pains, nothing terribly exciting is happening.  I'm trying to avoid calf cramps like the plague!!  I haven't had one yet this pregnancy, but remember just how badly they hurt so I'm trying to steer clear of them.  

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Week 26

Week 26.  Last week, I scheduled my very first 3rd trimester doctor's appointment for next month.  It's hard to believe that we're that close already.  This week, we're officially in spring as well, so I'm hoping the weather will continue to stay nicer.  So, what's happening this week?

For baby
Baby is now about 14 inches long, and weighs nearly 2 pounds! This week baby's eyes finally open and they start to learn to focus and take in the world around them.  The iris still isn't pigmented, but that will come with time, although eye color can continue to change for at least the first 6 months of life.


For momma:

Overall, nothing much has changed.  I'm getting bigger and baby is wiggly but otherwise things are going well and uneventfully. 

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Week 25

Week 25.  Last week, I scheduled my very first 3rd trimester doctor's appointment for next month.  It's hard to believe that we're that close already.  This week, we're officially in spring as well, so I'm hoping the weather will continue to stay nicer.  So, what's happening this week?

For baby
Baby is now about 13.5 inches long, which is about the height of a prairie dog, and weighs about 1 1/2 pounds.  Lungs are continuing to develop, and fat is building up under the skin.  The hair (if baby has any) will also start to gain color, although this color can continue to change after birth.  Baby is also very wiggly at this point, and movement is starting to be visible from the outside.  It's pretty entertaining.  Now if only the little one will start to kick for big brother, Orion will be a much happier kiddo.

For momma:

As is probably expected I have not dyed or cut my hair during this pregnancy, so for the first time in a couple years, I have probably the longest hair in our household.  It's strange and I'm ready for a change, but for now I'm trying to be patient. I am also waking up at least once every night to pee, so I'm starting to get very tired at times from not getting enough sleep. My hips and back are typically ok, but Saturday I spent too long sitting on the floor and now my body is paying the price for that. My next Dr appointment, I will also be doing the Glucose screening for Gestational Diabetes so I'm hoping that it turns out fine as well. 

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Dr Appt - Week 24

Today I had my 24 week doctor appointment.  This appointment was relatively short because I was visiting a nurse practitioner since my doctor had to go deliver a baby unexpectedly.  We were supposed to visit about my probability of VBAC success, but that obviously didn't happen.

The stats for this week's appointment:

My weight:  I've gained 1 pound in the last month, but I'm still well below my starting weight.
Blood pressure:  110/60
Temperature:  Normal
Baby's Heartbeat:  144
Uterus:  Measuring at about 25 weeks

My next appointment will be where I do the Gestational Diabetes test...wheee.  Here's hoping the next few weeks go by uneventfully as well.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Week 24

Week 24.  Man how time flies.  I haven't accomplished much in the last week, but I'm ok with that.  We spent the weekend in Kansas City to celebrate Orion's birthday and now I'm pretty exhausted, but happy.  Let's see what this week brings us.

For baby
Baby is now about 12 inches long and weighs about  1 1/3 pounds.  Lungs are developing even more to prepare for life on the outside, and the cells to hep air sacs inflate are also forming.  The skin is still super thing and translucent, but that will change as more weight is gained and fat begins to accumulate.  Otherwise, baby will just keep growing.

For momma:

As I said before, we spent the weekend in KC for Orion's 8th birthday and had a great time.  We went to visit the Pompeii exhibit at Union Station, hit up the KC Zoo, and even got to go to the Sporting KC soccer game, where Orion got to walk onto the field with the team.  It was an incredible weekend, but I am definitely tired and paying for it now.  In general, I feel alright, but I miss my pregnancy pillow FOR SURE!  It will be nice to sleep in my own bed again. 

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Week 23

We have reached week 23. Time is going very quickly, while somehow seeming to stand still.  I'm not sure how that's possible, but it's the best way I can explain it. There is still so much that I want to get done before the baby comes so it feels like time is flying, but I'm also ready to meet this kiddo, so it seems to stand still.  Whee?  So let's see what this week brings us.

For baby
Baby is now about 11.5 inches long, which is about the height of a Barbie doll and weighs just over a pound. Blood vessels are starting to form in the lungs to prepare for life outside the womb.  The ears are also growing more sensitive, so she can hear even more, both inside and outside of the womb.

For momma:

My mother and my grandmother were here this weekend, and it was great to get to spend some time with them.  I love them both and spending time hearing them talk about my family history and learning about my grandmother's childhood was fascinating and entertaining.  I've also finally taken the time to make a couple of gift registries since I've had people ask.  I am not having a baby shower so I don't know that these were really necessary, but ya know.  :) They exist out there at least.

Target Registry

Amazon Registry

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Week 22

So, this is definitely posted late, but we've now reached week 22. July still feels like a long time away, but I'm trying to get as much stuff ready as I can.  There are still things that I know need to be done, but we're making progress, so that's something.

For baby
Baby is now 11 inches long and nearly 1 pound in weight!  Movements are getting easier to detect and are happening more steadily.  Lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are now easily distinguishable.  The eyes are formed, but the irises still have no color.   The pancreas is also in the process of developing and starting to create their own hormones.

For momma:

I got a new pregnancy pillow and this thing has been amazing!  I have even gone so far as to take ALL of the other pillows off my side of the bed, which is amazing since I previously had 4 of them.  For those curious, I bought this pillow.  It is super comfortable and keeps me from sleeping on my back or stomach, which is such an improvement.  

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Orion is 8!!

My baby boy is 8 years old!  How is that even possible?  It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I was posting pregnancy information with him, but he's grown into such an incredible little man.  He loves soccer, Pokemon, Star Wars.  He's got an enormous heart and is super intelligent.  I'm incredibly proud of him.  I also know that he will be an amazing big brother and I look forward to seeing him take on that role. Happy birthday, bubby.  I love you and am so incredibly proud of who you are.





Thursday, March 2, 2017

Official Pregnancy Annoucement

Last week we finally made an official pregnancy announcement on social media.  We had taken photos in our home together during the week before and had a lot of fun laughing and posing together.  I think they turned out great and I'm happy to get to share a few of the photos here as well.