Oh, the Woes

I've developed Carpal Tunnel in the last few days and it's starting to really bother me! I wake up about 5-6 times during the night with completely numb hands. My wrists are really tender as well as my middle finger joints. Well, really, my whole hands are stiff, but the middle finger is the worst. Thankfully, it does go away within a few weeks of giving birth! This would not be something I would want to deal with for the rest of my life.

Maddox is 2!!!

I just realized that I hadn't posted any pictures of the birthday boy!!! He actually blew out both of his candles (in 2 puffs)!

On Getting Ready

Today, I'm feeling much better after this terribly awful cold. I actually have energy which feels so amazing! Forgot what it was like! Some things fell apart when I was sick, no laundry was done and not much got picked up around here. Thank goodness that I have energy today so that I can hopefully accomplish some things! My bags are not packed to go to the hospital, so hopefully after I am caught up on laundry I can focus on packing up what I will need for my stay there.

The sun is peaking out it's head from behind the rain clouds so I think Maddox and I will go take advantage of that and go on a little walk, something I haven't done much of this pregnancy, unfortunately.

I need to work a little this afternoon for the church (monthly bill time) so that it is done and out of the way before I give birth.

Off to strap on my tennies.

Adieu

The Latest on Miss Juliette

We had our ultrasound today and the Doctor that performed it doesn't seem overly concerned about her size and doesn't seem to think that inducing me a week early is necessary. He said it might be easier if my body was ready, but not that it was necessary. So, I met with a mid-wife afterwards and next Friday at my weekly check-up, I'm going to have them strip my membranes and see if we can get things moving a little more naturally. I would have had her do it today, but since I'm still feeling a bit under the weather and if it did work, I'm not sure I want to be in the throngs of labor while sick. Any whoo....we shall see. Off to pack my bags just in case she shows her beautiful face by surprise this week.

Sick

I came down with a really nasty cold/flu bug thing. It doesn't feel good one little tiny bit. I'm achey and my sinuses are feeling raw. I have no energy what-s0-ever today. I stopped by to see the mid-wives just to make sure everything looked okay and she said I didn't have anything to worry about. She said she would have stripped my membranes tomorrow had I not had this cold. Stink! My appointment isn't until tomorrow afternoon, though. So if I'm feeling better and feel like I'm rested up enough I might go ahead and have them do it. We shall see.

So Confused!

With Maddox, I never had false labor and I never was anxious about when I was going to have him. I expected to have him 2 weeks late, so it was a very pleasant surprise when I went into labor a week early! This time around, it's SO different. As you know, I've been having some-what painful contractions (Braxton Hicks) for over a month. They've progressively gotten more painful and at times I have contractions as painful as after I had already been admitted to the hospital with Maddox! But, I only have 3 at a time and then they taper off to nothing painful.

The nerd in me found this website called Contraction Master where you can use it to time your contractions by pushing the space bar when a contractions starts and ends. I timed my contractions for about 2 hours last night while watching some TV and they were so weird! Some of them were painful, some where not, but one would be 5 min. after my last, the next would be 10. They'd even last for a minute in length. It went in that order for 2 hours! In order to be considered in labor, they need to be painful enough that you can't talk or walk through them (I've had some), they have to be 5-6 min. apart, last for a minute in length and continue for a few hours.

Oh dear me! At least she'll be here within 3 weeks, I do know that!

I think, I wish???

Today, I started having some fairly painful contractions. They were even some-what regular for about an hour. And then they tapered off. Stink!

I think, I wish I had been in true labor. But, then again, part of me really isn't ready yet. If she had been born today she and Maddox would have had birthdays only 3 days apart. I would really like them to be a bit further than that. But, then again, does it really matter and really, do I have a choice?

I wish I had an answer.

P.S. I'm technically full term today (37 weeks), so that's a good thing!

Pink Invasion

Pink is invading our house!!! Here's a picture of Juliette's newly acquired wardrobe. LOVE IT!

Here is a picture of her 0-3 month clothes drawer. Again, LOVE IT!

Here's a picture of Juliette's room from the door. (The wall to the right has another window with a curtain going to the opposite direction.)

Here's an up close shot of the crib. The sheets are cream with green, brown and 2 shades of pink polka dots. I haven't bought the crib bumper yet.


And, since we're on the pink theme, I thought I'd share the silliness of my son. I grabbed Burger King for lunch yesterday (Kyle was sick and he craves Burger King) and this was the kids meal toy(seriously?). Oh, dear.

Just a Note

When Maddox was born, Kyle was great at keeping our adoring fans friends and family up-to-date on the happenings of his delivery. We're hoping to do the same this time around, unless she comes really fast and we don't have a chance (which, would be awesome, but I'm not counting on it!). Kyle will do that over on the family blog. So, check back often if you see an absence here because that might be why!

Blessed

That's what we are, blessed.

We are blessed by wonderful family, friends and church family that care deeply about us.

I'm feeling a huge sense of that today. My Mom and Grandma are giving up their time this weekend to come and play with Maddox so that Kyle and I can minister to our high schoolers. I know that coming to play with Maddox isn't a burden to them at all, but it still means a lot to us that they want to do things like that and are willing any time we ask.

Another way I feel blessed is that my friends threw me a wonderful shower yesterday! Juliette will be the best dressed girl around these parts, that's what I'm telling you!!!

Blessed.

(Almost) 36 Weeks Pregnant

I had my 36 weeks check-up with the mid-wives yesterday. For starters, I gained over 5lbs in just 2 weeks!!! I was absolutely shocked when I saw the scale! I haven't been bad over the last couple of weeks at all, hardly eaten any sugar and we always eat a pretty low-fat diet, so I was completely shocked. The mid-wife wasn't concerned because my over-all weight gain is still okay (as in 1lb away from the higher end of what I'm supposed to gain, why are they so nice!?! I still have 3 weeks left!). Any way, I doubt Juliette took all 5lbs, so, whatever.

They had to do a Strep B test yesterday, so I went ahead and had her check me to see if I was dilated at all. I am already 2cm dilated at the opening and she said my cervix is very "soft". It's hard to know what that really means as far as when she'll come, but it tells us that the contractions I've been feeling have been doing something, just very slowly. Kyle and I were able to go to dinner and a movie last night and I had contractions pretty regularly for about 3 hours.

Any way, the mid-wife and I were able to have a talk about the birth since we're now just about 4 weeks out. As some of you know, Maddox was a pretty good size little boy weighing in at 8lbs. 11oz. and his shoulder got stuck during delivery. Because of my "history", they are obviously concerned about this birth since historically, second babies will be larger than the first. So, they've ordered an estimated fetal weight ultrasound to be done at 38 weeks and depending upon how big it looks like she is, they're most likely going to induce me at 39 weeks (unless, of course, I have her before then). I really don't want to be induced, though, so I'm praying that she would decide to come naturally prior to the induction date

We have a high school youth conference next weekend in Portland that Kyle and I are taking some kids to, so ideally if I go into labor on my own in the next few weeks, she would at least wait until next Monday. (Love how I'm trying to plan this? I'm such a planner, I can't help myself, lol.) Another thing I'd love, but you know, also not in my hands, is that I'd like it if her birthday was in March just because Maddox's birthday is already in February. Silly.

I wish childbirth was more predictable. All of the unknowns are hard because really, you can't plan specifically for it.

Goodbye for now!

Baby Preparations

I have had very little energy lately and have been taking it pretty easy. I've been needing to finish a few more projects in the baby's room, but have been putting it off. I bought some beautiful fabric to make curtains out of when I was visiting my family for the holidays, but I knew it was going to be a BIG project to sew them because I'm making them ceiling to floor length. So, I've procrastinated actually cutting them and sewing them. I finally mustered up the energy to cut them out today and thought that that was going to be as far as I would get, but I had time tonight after Maddox went to bed and I actually got them both done! Now, I just need to talk my totally rad husband into installing the curtain rods so I can hang them so I can get some pictures to show you! I'm really happy with the way they turned out, and hope that they look awesome hung up, too.

I finally found a crib bumper that will work in the baby's room. I didn't think it would be so hard to find a solid brown crib bumper! This is the only one I've been able to find, good thing I like it and it's not too expensive! I think Juliette's entire room decorating cost me less than $100! That's all of her crib bedding (sheets, skirt, bumper & quilt) and her window treatments (including 2 rods). Our church gave me a gift card for Christmas (a thank you for doing the bookkeeping) that paid for half of her room redo. I don't think that's too shabby at all!

Oh, and for those of you interested, our family website is back up and running!

Much Better End to the Weekend

My weekend did get better!

Sunday was an exhausting day, but good. We had a Superbowl party at the church for the youth and we were there for around 5 hours. It was fun and we had a lot of kids turn out for it! We came home beat. We watched the Office, unfortunately because the post game show went 10 min. into the start of the Office time slot, our DVR didn't record the last 10 min. So, we need to finish watching it on the computer.

My wonderful husband took yesterday off to hang out with us. We took advantage of the time we had to run a few errands that needed to be run before Juliette shows her gorgeous face. So, we went to lunch, ran to Fred Meyer and then ran to Home Depot to pick up a shelf for our utility room.

I've been having contractions 5 minutes apart for most of yesterday afternoon/evening and then again this morning. I'm really hoping this doesn't mean something because A. I'm not ready for her to come. B. She isn't really ready to come either. It would be much better if she could hold off at least another week or two (she would be considered pre-term at this point) C. It would REALLY mess up some plans! (We have a youth retreat a week from Friday that Kyle and I are the only leaders for) The contractions don't hurt. They're just uncomfortable and they aren't getting worse, so I really think my body just doesn't know what it's doing, unfortunately. I really don't want to feel this for the next 4-5 weeks!

Oh, and my new bag came and I LOVE it!!!