Waiting...

...not so patiently. So, this baby is not due until Dec. 15. My c-section is scheduled for Dec. 10. It has become obvious that neither of those dates bear any relevance anymore. On Monday, I was having regular contractions all day - not strong ones, but regular. I had an appointment yesterday and I am already dilated 2 cm (this after being on bedrest for 2 weeks!) and the baby is still engaged at zero station. This morning, I lost my mucous plug. This little dude is ready. However, it is not in the "standard of care" to schedule a c-section before 39 weeks at Kaiser. In order for them to take the baby, I have to be contracting every 4-5 mins and dilated to at least 3 cm. So I basically have to go into labor before they will do anything. Not cool. The best part about scheduling a c-section is that there is no labor, there is no waiting and wondering. You just know. I've been spoiled, I know. So, I guess the good news is, the last two weeks of bedrest worked as far as getting us to 36 weeks safely. But now that we are safely here, I just wanna get it over with! I have no doubt that this baby is STRONG...I have the bruised ribs to prove it. Of course, I want him to be ready and healthy, etc. But the "unknown" is making me crazy! Not to mention that my doctor is going out of town this weekend, so if I do end up going into real labor then, she won't be able to be the one to do the surgery! Grrr. Anyway, this is just me being whiney. Keep is in your prayers, bless me with patience and bless this baby with strength - and let's do this already! ;-)

Enjoying the Silence

Last Wednesday, I woke up feeling "funny". I was at exactly 34 weeks pregnant and I was pretty sure I was going into labor. I had the strangest (and excruciatingly painful) feeling in my right leg...like a contraction going from my pelvis through my hip and all the way down the front of my leg. But no contractions in the usual places. I was also feeling a LOT of pressure - like the baby was trying to get out...Anyway, I went to the doctor and had a Non-Stress Test (NST) which is just a monitor placed on the belly to see if there are any contractions. I had one contraction in a 25 minute period, and my cervix was not at all dilated. But we did find that the baby had dropped down to "zero station" - which means that he is ready to come out. Here's a picture to show you what that means...click the picture to make it bigger.



So zero station is like...that baby is knock-knock-knockin' on the door...ready to come out! (+1 means the baby is on the way out!) He was apparently sitting right on a nerve that was causing the pain in my leg. Thankfully, he moved the next day and that pain went away. However, the discmfort of having him so low is still very much present. Anyway, my doctor did not put me on bedrest "officially" but did say that I need to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible.

Sooo, I had friends take the girls for me that day while I was at the doctor, came home from the doctor and found two of those friends cleaning my house, making my dinner, doing my laundry, and just basically making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Our church has a lovely program for women called the Relief Society. My friend contacted the relief society and asked for some help for me - watching the girls, bringing dinner, etc. So I have had wonderful women coming and taking Anna for me while Haylie is at school, and even getting Haylie after school and giving me the entire day to myself. I have been able to literally stay in bed all day and do my best to keep this baby happy inside my body! I am sooo grateful for all the help I've been given. It amazes me just how willing people are to help - at a moment's notice.

So we've got to keep this little dude in at least until the 17th of this month - but preferably longer. My doc did say that due to his position at this time, he probably will come early. Our c-section is scheduled December 10th...but we'll see!

Thanks to everyone who has helped me - I am truly blessed - and enjoying the silence!!! And for your viewing pleasure (haha!) here's a shot of me at 34 weeks.

Calling all Mommies

I need some help! I've never had a baby swing before...and we are definitely getting one for this baby. I've been doing some research online and found these adorable little portable swings that sit lower to the ground than the traditional swings. I like the idea that they are smaller and take up less space, and that I can also travel with it easily. But I am worried about the Anna-mal having better access to the baby that way. I mean, I can't totally protect the baby from her in a full-size swing either, but it seems that having it lower to the ground would make it even more tempting/accessible to Miss Anna. Has anybody had one of these smaller swings and if so, can you tell me about it? Pros? Cons? Any information would be fabulous. Leave a comment here or on Facebook please!!!

Here are some pictures that show the difference...the first one is full size, the second one is "portable".

Even The Little Prayers Get Answered

Yesterday at Haylie's soccer game, she lost her tooth. And by "lost", I mean...it fell out of her mouth and into the grass on the field and got lost. She comes running to me in the middle of the game crying (and bloody-mouthed) because she can't find her tooth. So I did my best to comfort her and told her that we'd look for the tooth after the game. I was thinking "How in the world are we going to find a teeny tiny tooth on that big field?" Well, Eric was coaching so he knew the general area where she was when it fell out, so after the game we went out there and started searching. I really wish I had my camera with me because then some of the other kids started helping us look, and their parents too! So there are a big bunch of us canvassing the ground for this tiny tooth. It seemed pretty hopeless - like the proverbial needle in the haystack! Haylie really likes to keep her teeth, as you can see from this post. She was so upset and the only thing I could think was to say a little prayer. I know that prayers are answered, but gotta admit that I was thinking - it's just a tooth - is He really going to help us? So anyway, as we're searching, the next team is getting on the field and getting ready for their game. We had to go. So I told Haylie that she could write a note to the tooth fairy saying she lost her tooth and that the tooth fairy would understand. We start to walk off the field and out of the blue, Haylie looks down and says, "There it is!" Sure enough, it was just sitting right on top of the grass in plain sight just in front of her. The other parents were all shocked - especially that she had been the one to find it. So my friend Lori, whose son is on the team and is in my ward at church, says to Haylie, "Did you say a little prayer?" I looked at her and said, "I did!" And then both of us started to get a little teary-eyed just thinking about how amazing it is that Heavenly Father would answer such a teeny, seemingly insignificant prayer. He knows each of us, and what is important to us. He knows that it was important to this little 5-year-old to have her tooth. And important to this Mommy to make her little girl happy. So say your prayers...He IS listening. ;-)

It's Not Too Late!!

I love how they send you the preview of what your child's school picture looked like and tell you it's not too late to order. I mean, yes, she's adorable cuz she's my kid and I love her...but I'm not paying $42.75 for this...



I think she was focusing on showing the gap where she lost her tooth - and trying really hard to be brave while some stranger took her picture. So, there's always Spring pictures, right? ;-)

Breast Cancer Awareness

So last night I had a dream in which I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In my dream I remember feeling helpless and hopeless - feeling like there was no way I could do it, and wanting to give up before it even began.. So instead of posting on Facebook where I keep my purse to "raise breast cancer awareness", I thought I'd share this post instead. While my dream was not real, I felt for an iota of a minute, what many women have felt when receiving a cancer diagnosis. I just want to say that I love and admire those women and wish them many many years of health and happiness. I was planning to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this year, but this pregnancy is going to prevent me from doing so...but I will set my sights on next year.

Oh Boy!

We have already received boxes and boxes of hand-me-down boy clothing for our baby boy, who will be joining us on December 10! So I finally mustered up the strength to sort through the boxes yesterday and organize all the clothes into sizes. Holy moly, I can't believe how much there is! A big thank you to my sister-in-law Rachel, my friends Erin B. and Monica, and my sweet neighbor Trini who also gave us that cute bassinet!! This is going to be one adorably dressed little dude!


Not sure if you can see but there is also a storage bin under those bags that is also full of clothes! Love it!!