Hanging on

After a two day scare of possible labor, I'm happy to report that at 34 weeks and 4 days, I'm still pregnant! We just need to get through the weekend. It should be low key, so I hope that helps. 

It really all started on Monday night, I had some horrible menstrual feeling cramps down low. Then I couldn't get comfortable in bed. It took me two hours to finally fall asleep. I felt decent during the day on Tuesday. I rested most of the day and only left the house to take and pick up the kids from school. 

Tuesday night, however, was terrible. It started around 10pm. More horrible menstrual like cramps but they were wrapping around to my back. It felt like my hips were being pulled apart. I tried a heating pad and multiple positions to try and get comfortable. After about an hour and five pillows, I was able to fall asleep. I  was woken up about midnight to pains in my back. They were coming and going. Which really freaked me out. I've had three back labors and this definitely felt familiar to me. I got extremely nervous at that point. I really thought "this is it!" 

I got up and took a hot shower. Fully planning on packing my bag afterward and calling the doctor. I got out of the shower and felt slightly better. I can downstairs and took two more magnesium pills, drank a bunch of water, and had a snack. I was hoping the magnesium would calm my uterus down. I sat on the couch and watch some TV. I felt better. About 1:30am, I fell asleep on the couch and slept there the rest of the night. 

On Wednesday, my back felt like I had been lifting weights and was pretty sore. I still felt a lot of pressure too. I wasn't confident that I'd even make it to the end of the week. 

Last night I took a bath with some lavender Epsom salt. After I got out of the bath, the baby was super active. Moving around like crazy. Bennett woke up and went in to lay with the boys. I slept all night, without any pain or contractions! I feel much more like myself today. The back pain and pressure are gone. 

I'm starting to wonder if she had turned sideways and that is what made me so uncomfortable. Then last night she changed positions and gave me some relief. 

I know that I probably should have called the doc Tuesday. But now that I'm passed 34 weeks, they wouldn't have stopped my labor anyways. And I'd much rather labor at home for as long as possible before heading in. I have a doc appt tomorrow and I am fully prepared to get the talking to of a lifetime from her. And rightfully so. She is the doc, not me. 

I've packed the baby bag for the hospital. I really wanted to wait to do this until it was time. For the simple reason of packing NICU wire friendly clothes, or newborn clothes. But I've packed a little of both, just in case. 

I'll update more after my appt tomorrow. 

You're so small!

Honestly, I am sooooo tired of hearing this phrase every.single.time someone asks me how far along I am. It's giving me a complex that I'm destined to give birth to a 3lb baby!

So, you tell me. Do I look small for 34 weeks pregnant?

Here is my 34 week pic with Avonlea for comparison. I had her a week later and she was 5lbs 11oz. 

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

I also decided today that I was finished working. I had a bad belly day today and I just knew it was time to stop. This way I can rest as much as possible and hopefully get through this weekend. Please pray that I make it through the weekend! And until 37 weeks!

The crazies

I've hit that stage of my pregnancy when I start to get slightly (and I use that term loosely) emotionally crazy. It's the point when I feel like I'm on watch 24/7. It determines how I get up out of bed to pee at night, (Rolling out, instead of sitting straight up. Just in case you were wondering.) in hopes that I don't break my water. It's happened, twice now in fact. My water breaking when getting out of bed. And that scares me because I know if that breaks, there's no turning back. There's no hope that this baby will cook any longer. Whereas labor could come and go, or possibly be stopped. KWIM?

So, lets talk about Monday, shall we? I had a doc appt in the morning. I've gained 7lbs this month. I didn't ask what my total was. My white blood cell count was a +2 in my urine when it's normally a trace amount. Doc said she noticed my swelling. But my blood pressure was still rock solid. I told her my uterus had a bad day on Saturday. It felt very irritable no matter what I did. But then on Sunday I felt better.

She did a FFN test and it was negative. She checked my cervix. It was high, closed and firm. So no change from two weeks ago. All good things! She gave me the talking to of "if you feel like you did Saturday again, you need to call me!"  

She wanted me back in a week, instead of two weeks. And then I left, an emotional wreck. I felt like my hope was gone that I would even make it to 35 weeks, let alone my goal of 37. I got angry, really angry. What is wrong with me? What is wrong with my body that I can't/won't carry a baby to term? Why do the most undeserving people that do everything wrong in a pregnancy still have healthy babies and all I want it to take a baby home with me? Why is that so much to ask? 

I had just lost it. But you know what, maybe that was exactly what I needed. I took the day off yesterday and did absolutely nothing but take the children to school. I didn't do any laundry, dishes, or pick up a single toy. And it was nice. It wasn't stressful. I put my feet up and caught up on my DVR. And you know what, my uterus started to like me again. I've lost 2lbs since Monday, my swelling is down, and I feel better. 

I'm finished with work at the end of this month. I've told myself I'm not going to let the small stuff stress me out anymore. And that's that. 

Here we are at 33 weeks and 3 days:

She's as active as ever in there. Practicing her running and building up her endurance. Or so it feels. 

I plan to attend the Women of Faith conference this weekend while Hubby stays home with the kids. I hope to feel revived and refreshed and have a positive attitude!

Sunday randoms

Cause every once in a while you just need a random post. 

--Peytonn had orientation today for 1st grade. First grade people! He officially starts school on Tuesday. Bennett starts the following week. Where did summer go?!

--Avonlea is a holy terror at least 4 hours out of the day. Taking this child out in public isn't for the faint of heart. How early does reform school start?

--I'm 32 weeks pregnant today. And I feel every bit of it. I'm too the point where the panel of most of my pants is getting tight. I honestly would wear yoga pants for the remainder of this pregnancy if I could get away with it. It's probably going to be a lot of dresses from this point forward. That of which I only have 4. 

--climbing the stairs multiple times per day feels like hiking Grand Canyon. It's not even that I'm out of breath, my legs feel like they weight 100lbs each. They're just tired, sorry looking things these days. 

--hubby and my father in law built the kids a wooden swing set/play area yesterday. They love it. But I have yet to let them play out there today. I've already swept and mopped the floor 3 times since Friday night and I just want to enjoy it for a little while before they start tracking more grass and dirt in. 

--if one more child comes down these stairs to tattle on the other one while they should be having rest time....I may find myself a new home. 

--the mag/cal supplement that I started taking a little over a week ago has helped tremendously with my leg cramps and RLS! It's heavenly! Wish I would have started them sooner. 

--I need a nap. The end. 

Crafts and 31 weeks

II worked on some projects the other day during nap time. My first project was to dye some muslin blankets for the baby. I really wanted some bright colors, so I went with orange, blue, and purple. I also had some plain white onesies and I decided to dye those as well. 

 I let them soak for about an hour, agitating every 15 minutes or so. Then rinsed and washed on warm. Then I soaked them in cold water and vinegar to set the colors and hopefully prevent them from bleeding. 

Here is the first round where I dyed the blankets according to then package directions:

I love the bright, vibrant colors!! I need to finish sewing the raw edges of the purple and blue, but so far I love them. 

After I finished the blankets, I used the same dye and added another 2 cups of warm water to get different colors. 

I love them!!

After I was finished dying, I made a changing pad cover with some soft cotton fabric I found on clearance at Joann's. I used a tutorial that I found on Pinterest. It turned out pretty good and was rather easy to do. 

I've got some more fabric and projects in mind, but those will have to wait for another day. 

I had my doc appt today. I'm 31 weeks now. We did a fetal fibronectin swab (checks for labor in next 2 weeks) and she also did my group beta strep test. I've never made it to a 35 week appt to have it done, so they always give me the antibiotics via IV during labor. They are a b*tch and then my babies always have to have them after birth as well. They basically treat you as though you are positive, even though they don't know for sure. 

Everything looked good at my appt. I already got my results for the FFN test and it was negative, thank heavens! I have also started taking a probiotic and mag/cal supplements. 

The probiotics have really helped my tummy issues. The cal/mag can help with RLS, cramping, sleep, and irritable uterus. My doc agreed with me on taking both and I've already seen a difference. If they help me get even a little further, I will be a happy camper. I've even read the cal/mag can help reduce pain during labor. Now, that would be an awesome bonus!

I continue my shots until 36 weeks. Can't wait to be done with those, I'm not going to lie. I go back in two weeks for another appt and another FFN test. 

Bump pic @ 31 weeks:

  

Bare belly:

My baby is two!!

I can't even believe that Avonlea is two!! She has grown and changed so much from the 35 week 5lb 11oz baby.

She was such a sweet and chubby baby during her first year. Then from year 1-2, her personality has grown leaps and bounds! She is sassy, but super sweet to her baby dolls and any other child she meets. (minus her brothers!) She still has an awesome bond with her big brother Peytonn and calls him "her bubby." However, her relationship with Bennett is growing more and more each day. They still have a love/hate relationship. He will be all "let me help you girl" you minute, and the next he is stealing her baby stroller and she's all "count dracula" on him. But we're getting there.

She loves, loves, loves baby dolls and they usually go everywhere with us. She loves to push them in the stroller, feed them, attempt to put a prefold on them, dress them, and get them to sleep. She also loves to play with the Mega blocks and matchbox cars. She's definitely a girly tom boy, just like her mama was. Wearing dresses to play in the mud and dirt, while still loving and caring for her babies.

She adores her daddy and has him wrapped around her finger. Most days, she would prefer him over me. Her favorite words are "no", "stop", and "papa". She definitely loves her papas.

I have high hopes for she and her baby sister. She does so well with the baby at the babysitter, so I am hoping she is just as good with her own baby sister.

 She loves her cousin Evie and getting to FaceTime and play with her. I hope they continue to be best buds all through their childhood. 

I am so blessed to be this little girls mama! She has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives and family. 

Updates and things

I had my doc appt today and my 3 hour glucose test. It was torture. The test, not the doc appt. I don't handle really sugary things well anyways, and especially not on an empty stomach. I drank about 36 oz of water in those three hours just to keep from passing out or throwing up. At least it was something else in my stomach. 

Thankfully I had my last blood draw right before my doc appt and I was able to eat a Nutrigrain bar to tide me over until I could get some lunch. 

My appt went well. I'm 29 weeks now and feeling pretty darn good, uterus wise. I feel like my belly is smaller this time, so I made her measure it twice. I'm actually measuring a week ahead. Go figure. 

As for the kids, Peytonn starts school again the second week of August. That just totally crept up on me. I've spent the last week getting him uniforms, shoes, belt, backpack, etc. I was able to get everything on sale, which was nice. I was even able to get myself a pair of shoes for the Fall with a BOGO half off sale. I went with a charcoal gray madden girl "Toms" knock offs. They actually are roomier than the Toms I have and fit my high arch/high instep feet much better. 

I was also able to score some Fall clothing for Avonlea. Children's place had jeans for $10 and sleepers for $8, plus I had an extra 20% off coupon. I got her 18-24 month and they fit her great now. But I know they won't last all winter. So I went back and got all the same stuff but in 2T for later on.  At least someone in this house can wear skinny jeans and they look cute. 

 I love the stretchies without the feet in them! They are just thin, soft cotton jammies that are perfect for summer or Fall. 

Bennett starts school a week after Peytonn and will be going 5 afternoons a week this year. We have lots of school supplies to get in the next two weeks. This always seems like a hectic time of year for everyone! This baby better stay put until the middle of September when things start to settle down a bit and everyone is in the routine.