Pregnancy Update - Week 33

Are we there yet?!?!? 

I had my regular visit with my OB this morning. My belly is still measuring right on schedule - 33cm for 33 weeks. Her heart rate was at 142. We did a super quick ultrasound to see if she is still breech and sure enough she has flipped. I knew that things felt a little different the last two weeks so I figured she had flipped. Looks like she is gearing up and getting ready for her grand entrance!  


Speaking of grand entrance...we (the doctor, and everyone else :-) were thinking all along that she would likely take after her brother and be a monster. It's looking like that is not the case and thankfully I don't have any signs of the complications I had with Carson at the end that prompted the pre-term labor at 35 weeks and induction at 37 weeks. We aren't holding our breath since those complications started at 35 weeks and I am still only 33 weeks. However, we went ahead and scheduled a date for the C-Section. Unless I go into labor spontaneously or face any of the complications I did last time it looks like Miss Haley Grace may make her grand entrance on Thursday, December 30th!!!


I must say, I am very interested to see how this all pans out. With Carson, it was very much a surprise to have him so early. I had the due date stuck in my head and prepared as if that was when he was going to be born. This time, there is no telling! She isn't as big as Carson so who knows if I will go into labor spontaneously before 39 weeks. That "unknown" is a bit exciting, to be honest. I like the idea of possibly having a birth that just happens naturally. Well, as naturally as possible given that we will have another C-section. I mean "naturally" if I go into spontaneous labor before 39 weeks. Now this does throw a wrench in the planning. If she was as big as Carson was the Doctor would have been more likely to schedule her birth at 38 weeks which would have been December 23rd, right before Christmas. This would have made planning for my parents arrival and Christmas a whole lot easier. But to be honest, its all in God's plan and I am ok with that. When ever He chooses to welcome His daughter we will be more than thrilled. We can't wait to meet you Haley Grace!!!

Carson is so excited to welcome Haley. His teachers tell me that he talks about her all the time. Sometimes he calls her Haley and other times its Grace or Haley Grace. And everything around the house seems to be Haley's. He will pull out clothes from gift bags and ooh and ahh at them and tell me they are for Baby Haley. And just yesterday he was rummaging through a bin of winter clothes I was pulling out and he held up one of my sweaters and said it was Haley's. My heart is filled with anticipation. I can't wait to give Carson a little sister to love on.

November 19th, 2010

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along:

33 weeks

Symptoms: 

• Tired, tired and more tired. I thought I had more energy this point last time. Perhaps it has something to do with having a 2 year old, facing the busiest time of the year on my projects at work, and gearing up for the holidays? You think that might have something to do with it??
• Heartburn in the morning, afternoon, evenings, pretty much every time I eat or drink. Ha!
• My appetite has definitely picked up - big time. You can probably tell by my weight gain.
• Lots of PVCs. I seem to notice them more when I am active.
•  Braxton Hicks contractions, usually only when I am active.
• Emotions have subsided a bit, thankfully! A lot less tears and a lot more smiles :-)

Weight gain: 26 lbs total

Movement:

Very active!! This little girl is a mover and a shaker! Last night I think I felt the full outline of her foot. It was dark and I so wish I could have seen my belly because I am sure I would have seen a foot coming out of my belly :-) She has the hiccups at least a couple times a day. She almost always has them after dinner when I am sitting on the couch with Brian catching up on our DVR'd shows. I remember Carson would always have them while I was sitting at the dinner table.

Preparations:

My "to do" list is getting longer and longer with out much progress being made. I have been focusing on the more stressful items first which are not baby related - getting ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas Shopping, preparing to leave work for a couple of months, etc. The major baby preparation is pretty much out of the way. But this time I am more relaxed about getting "everything" done. Who really knows what "everything" is, right? I know now that I will have my family here to help with last minute shopping, decorating, etc. I am so blessed to have that comfort!!

Belly Shots:

 Yes, this is what it has come to. Shirts that are too small and track suits. My selection of shirts in my closet is dwindling and it didn't help that I haven't done laundry in a couple of days so what you see is what you get!!!  And as for the track suit, that is all that is comfortable. She is sitting so much lower than Carson did that pretty much anything is uncomfortable to wear.

And now for the comparison shots...

34 Weeks - Carson (March 2008)

Isn't it crazy how much lower I am carrying Haley then with Carson?

Flip

I have the best husband ever!!! And not because he is the best gift giver, ever!!! I promise! Although he does put a lot of thought into his gifts, and always has. He even goes by the "Traditional Anniversary" gift guide. For example, the traditional gift for the 4th Wedding Anniversary is fruit or flowers. That year he got me a gift card for Lowes to buy flowers for our front flower bed. I had been wanting to spruce it up for fall and couldn't justify the expense. And for our 5th Anniversary last year the traditional gift was wood. My ever so thoughtful and creative husband bought me a slew of beautiful picture frames, a new decorative cross for my collection, and this great wooden decorative piece for our living room that says "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." Go ahead and say it....ahhhh. Yes, I am a darn lucky woman and I thank God for him every day. So, what does he get me this year for our 6th??? The traditional gift is candy or iron. Great timing for that one, eh? Pregnant woman + candy = a slam dunk! Of course he buys me my favorite candy to satisfy his 6 year stretch of buying a traditional gift. But then he surprised me with this...

This is the coolest thing ever and I can't believe I didn't know about it before! Its an awesome HD video camera that is super easy to use. So not only is it a gift for me, its a gift for you (Momma, Pappa, Mamaw, Memaw and Pepaw!!!) Now you are going to get more videos than you ever imagined on this blog. Yeah!!! Thanks honey, you are the best - and not because you are the best gift giver, but because you just are!!!

I couldn't help but to share my excitement! Enjoy the videos :-)

Tackle Daddy

Carson loves anything and everything to do with sports. He watches it on TV and tries to imitate the players which is great! When ever he holds his baseball glove he almost always squats down like a catcher. This is Carson latest...while watching football with Daddy on Sunday he showed Daddy how to tackle. Brian did not tell him to squat down like a linebacker, he did this all on his own. I just love it!!!  And now this is Carson's favorite game - he calls it "Tackle Daddy". Ha!

 

Carson's Somersaults

Carson learned how to do somersaults at school and he was showing us his new skill. Check it out!

Do the work

I read a post on my friend Somer's blog the other day that spoke to me. Don't you just love when God speaks to you, when he gives you what you need when you need it most? I had been struggling with a few things in my heart lately and this devotional just made so much sense in so many ways. Recently I have given a lot of my worries and fears to God. I can not tell you how much peace that has brought me. I feel as if this is the next step in my faith. Now that I am continually learning to trust in Him, I must now "do the work".  I wanted to share it with you all. I hope it speaks to you in the way you need it to. Thanks so much for sharing Somer!  She found this devotional on www.proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com.

DO THE WORK

Marybeth Whalen

"Then David continued, 'Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the temple of the Lord is finished correctly.'" I Chronicles 28:20 (NLT)

I pushed the computer aside, convinced that the task I was attempting was impossible. I couldn't fathom completing the work I had ahead of me and I needed a mental break. Picking up a Christian book I was reading, I carried it upstairs to the treadmill, deciding to pound out my frustration and read at the same time. I had no idea I was about to have my own personal revival.

Several pages into the book I read today's verse. Have you ever had a verse jump o ff the page at you? Well, this one did. I thought back to my frustration with the work I was facing earlier and felt God speak to me through this verse. Quit telling me how impossible the task is and just do the work, He said. Don't forget I will show up each time. Not so you can boast about your abilities, but so you can boast in Me.

After my time on the treadmill, I raced downstairs to email a friend of mine who I had complained to earlier that day. I told her how the verse had ministered to me, and how I was going to simply do the work. She wrote back that she had been praying for God to speak to me about the task that was overwhelming me. I had a new motto as I recommitted to the task at hand: Do the work. Whenever I started to get discouraged or overwhelmed by the hugeness of the task, I reminded myself: Do the work—three little words that got me through one of the biggest challenges of my life. Perhaps you need to hear those three little words today.

Are you facing a challenge in your job? Do the work.

Does your marriage need to be rebuilt? Do the work.

Are you worried about your ability to be a good mother? Do the work.

Are you dealing with a personal hardship that just seems too big to overcome? Do the work.

Are you struggling with debt and financial issues? Do the work.

Do you want to eat healthier, commit to regular exercise or lose weight? Do the work.

Is there a dream that God has planted in your heart that seems too big for you? Do the work.

Make no mistake: sometimes the work will be hard. Note that our verse today didn't say "Lay around and hope things get better." The challenge we face is not in focusing on how hard the work is, but in seeking the God who has promised to show up as we work. We offer our best efforts and trust that He will multiply them. We will see Him supply the words, the resources, the energy, the time, the patience, the grace we need. But first we must do the work. Just like the priests had to first step into the water before the Jordan could part in Joshua 3:15-16, so we must begin working before we can see the solution appear.

What work do you need to start doing—or keep doing—no matter how discouraged or disheartened you feel? I pray that you will see Him at work on your behalf today as you do the work He has called you to do. Do the work, and He will be with you.

Dear Lord, help me to look to You and not to the hugeness of the work I have ahead of me. Help me not to be afraid or discouraged. I thank You for Your promise that You are with me and that You will not fail me or forsake me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

To have an to hold from this day forward

As long as we both shall live. In this day, I recommit my life to you.

Happy Anniversary Brian!!!

Thank you for 6 wonderful years. Every day is better than the last...

Pregnancy Update - Week 31

I can not believe we are in the home stretch!!! I am ready to hold this little girl in my arms. I am super excited to meet her and just as excited to introduce Carson to her for the first time. I can not wait for that moment. 

Brian and I went to my OB appointment this week for another ultrasound. The doctor ordered another growth scan to see if she is going to follow in the footsteps of her big brother. Everything looked great on the ultrasound. She is currently in the breech position. We will see if she stays that way and if it presents any issues later on. She is taking after her brother in some ways.... her head is measuring in the 85th percentile and her belly is in the 80th. Her legs, however, were closer to average. So, she may be more like Mommy for her height. Overall she is measuring in the 70th percentile. Hopefully she will stay on that track and we will have a chubby little 8lb baby...instead of a 9.5lb monster. Regardless of how big she is, we can't wait!!!

I had my follow-up with the Cardiologist and he explained the irregularities in my echocardiogram. Most can be chalked up to pregnancy. He did note, however, that it appears my left atrium has enlarged a bit from my last echo during Carson's pregnancy. It could be "shadows" or the difference in measurements due to new measurement standards recently released. There was nothing overly concerning to him so we are going to repeat the echocardiagram this spring after the Haley is born and my body is back to normal after pregnancy.

Haley's sweet 'lil face.

November 5th, 2010

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along:

31 weeks

Symptoms: 

• Energy levels are starting to dip. I am not yet back at the point where I can't get through the day without thinking about a nap, however, I am definitely ready for bed when Carson goes down.
• Heartburn in the morning, afternoon, evenings, pretty much every time I eat or drink. Ha!.
• My appetite has not been great. I am eating pretty normal, just not craving much. I can't eat too much at one sitting.
• Lots of PVCs. I seem to notice them more when I am active.
•  Braxton Hicks contractions usually only when I am active.
• Very emotional.

Weight gain: 21 lbs total

Movement:

Haley is still very active. She has managed to bruise my uterus right at the top. It is sensitive to the touch and of course when she hits that spot just right. Unfortunately this will have to be just another thing to endure as my OB said its not likely to heal due to her activity and her continued growth. 

Preparations:

I haven't done too much in the last couple of weeks. My mom and I started a project when she was here to make the letters that hang above her bed spelling out her name. I am really pleased with how they are turning out. I finally finished painting them this week and now I just have to glue them on and hang them on the wall.

I need to start making a list of "must do's" before she arrives. I am procrastinating on that a bit since the thought of how much we have to do scares me. I know we will get it done...well, hopefully :-)

Belly Shots: