Major Tiredness.

Holy cow! I am tired! Going from nothing to long walks standing all day cooking and lets not forget trying to run up the stairs! However, I am so grateful that my Doctor has fixed me (maybe too well... baby still doesn't want to come out!) and that I get to get up and move around a bit before I have her. I couldn't imagine now.. knowing how tired I am now, going straight from 3 months of bed rest to new mommy. Never thought I'd appreciate how hard my stairs are to climb. Now if my SI joint would ever get back in place... :) So things are going well here. I'm happy to be able to take Isabel trick or treating on main street today (the shops here in town have people outside with candy.. it's a mad house!) and to our church's trunk or treat tomorrow night.
I know have more compassion for those who's feet hurt all the time. My heels kill me from the extra weight and finally being on them again!
Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.. now off to call a chiropractor!

I'm FREE!!!

Well at least from bed rest. Cerclage came out yesterday with surprisingly less pain then I thought. It was over pretty quickly. Because baby is still breech and the two previous c-sections... Doc says I have only a 40% chance of a VBAC. Sad day. He also is apparently a fan of the episiotomy, not happy about that so we'll work on that. He won't turn baby either, well not while in labor, he might try while I'm in the office next week but we'll see.

I tried doing the lunges and squats I told everyone I'd do. It was truly pathetic. I got 3 lunges in on each leg and my muscles about gave out on me. Then I tried running in the hall way but all I succeeded in doing was making Mike laugh at me. So I am now up for suggestions.. I know I still have about 4 weeks left, but I really, really want to meet my girl. Plus I have a feeling that it might be a few weeks before I go into labor. Yes I'm learning how the other half lives. Oh and I have my first stretch marks which means if I have to go longer.... my cute stomach will be cute not longer. I remember going down for a wedding in Alabama a few years ago.. I think it was Doug and Sarah's.... all my old roommates were commenting on my nice flat stomach after I had Isabel (granted when you're only pregnant for 6 months...) now I'm going to have to work much harder to get it back. I know, no one feels sorry for me.

So the super happy note... I'm off bed rest!!! So I am running around doing whatever I can now. I don't know if I'm hitting "nesting mode" or just excited to be up but I have been cooking/baking the last couple days and will do more today (oh the cinnamon rolls last night were AMAZING), starting sewing projects, getting excited to go to JoAnns for fabric to do more projects.

Oh to be free!!!

Showers and waiting

Saturday we had a friend throw us a baby shower.. a bama baby shower. I have a picture of Isabel sitting in the living room with my AWESOME Bama balloons, I LOVE THEM!!!! (thank you Crystal!). The shower was at Buffalo Wild Wings and we just had a great time sitting around talking and eating. It was a couples shower so it was nice to have the husbands there... the ones that could come.



I hung upside down on the inversion table and almost threw up. Apparently I should have known better then to use it the 1st time and go straight up and down. My dad kindly reminded me that I could stroke out so we're taking it a bit less then vertical from now on!
We're getting really excited for this week. Tomorrow is the big day... 36 weeks!!! The stitch is coming out... and the lunges, squats and attempted sprints are coming. I even had a dream last night I was jogging thru the halls of the hospital in my underwear trying to get baby to want to come out. She may not still arrive until next week.. or later but I'm still hoping by Wednesday. Just my luck she'll be more stubborn.... but I can still hope. I can't wait to be able to actually get off the couch without help or my basketball getting in my way!

And tonight for family home evening... painting my pumpkin belly.

We'll keep everyone posted... Oh and for those who are really concered (Cheyenne).... my 1 st stretch marks came in.... and they are not even on my stomach! Thankfully I think my swim suit will hide them.

Hanging around...

My FIL brought up his inversion table yesterday.. I get to start hanging upside down to try and have my baby turn. Yesterday Mike and I went and got our pedicures and I had my eyebrows waxed... I feel pretty...o so pretty. It was nice to get out the house and have a mid-day date with my husband. I got an idea from my friend back home... I'm going to try and find some paint lying around and paint my stomach like a pumpkin. I'm pretty excited. Since I have no stretch marks (knock on wood it stays that way) my tummy isn't too bad looking! Stay tuned for pictures!!

To celebrate...

my 35 weeks.. I decided to watch Transformers 1 and 2. The black military guy fighting... with one with the red hat, made me think of Mark and I smiled often, beating the bad guys. I digress.. My lil' girl still hasn't flipped, rather then trying the pillow under my pelvis for a few minutes (because lets face it my back hurt for days) I decided to lay upside down hanging off the couch. After Mike had to rescue me to put more pillows under my head, it wasn't so bad. Baby loved all the space to move around and holy cow... my hip flexor attachments are TIGHT! So I enjoyed the stretch. However... I would not recommend this for people who get motion sick. If I turned my head away from the TV to talk to Mike I really thought I would vomit upside down. I only made it about 5 minutes like this because of the whole wanting to be sick problem but my back didn't hurt nearly as badly so I think I might do it every night.
I could not however sit up so Mike had to come rescue me again and was lifting me up and helping to move me like I was an invalid. I love my husband! Thankfully with his help there was no emptying of the stomach. So here's to another few days of head rushes.

35 Weeks!!!

I just realized at 2:45 this afternoon (that would be when I clicked on my blog) that I'm at 35 weeks! I have monitoring tomorrow, a Dr. appt on Thursday then my hopefully last Dr visit on Tuesday when they pull out my stitching!!! I do have this fear that because the US tech messed up my due date that Doc will want to make me wait one more week. I even dreamed about it the other day. Mike took a pic of me looking all pregnant but I haven't gotten it off his phone yet. I might even be on his FB. So that's all for how. Just waiting.. I did start all the laundry for baby stuff and grabbed a few things for baby at the hospital. If she doesn't come until Halloween... I have Isabel's old pumpkin costume to bring her home in!

Such a tease!

Since I'm able to get up for a couple of hours in the morning I went to church today for the first time since the Sunday before the 24th of July (I'm guessing the 21st). It's been FOREVER. I have missed it terribly. So I was able to go for Sacrament today and loved it. While sitting there, having baby move all around she started sliding down.. her head was not longer straight up and down. She was sideways in my belly.. yes I was super excited. Then I stood up and was walking out of the Chapel and when I stopped to talk to someone.. I realized her head was back up top. I mean really.. flip already. Back to laying down on pillows and lots of prayer!

please, please, please

Little baby of mine....please turn over so I can have a chance to deliver you "normally" I'd really like to not be required to have another person cut into me. So please behave and listen to your mommy and flip!

34 Weeks!

So 34 weeks came this week. I'm getting pretty excited. I went in today for my ultrasound, she weighs approx 4lbs 10oz and apparently has a bunch of hair, well at least more then the last few babies the US tech had seen, she's still breech. I started monitoring this week also. If you've never been on monitoring before, it's kind of fun... they hooked me up to the machine that I'm used to being on and gave me what looked like a morphine pump and I had to push the button every time I felt little girl move. There wasn't a ton of movement at first then she started doing a congo line and I felt like my finger was twitching.

Because I saw Doc today I can miss my appointment tomorrow and see him next week. I"ll head in, and finally get to ask a few questions about the labor process hoping for that VBAC. I need to figure out how to turn her around so I can deliver her. Then on the 26th of October at 2 pm my cerclage comes out! Doc said I have to stay around the hospital for about an hour or so in case I head into labor. So basically if her can pull it out... I"ll be doing squats, lunges and what not all the way to the elevator and then I'll be doing wind sprints up and down the halls. I really hope she comes out with in the week of my stitch coming out. Apparently I have a 50% chance of delivering within 3 days. So everyone should keep their fingers crossed. Mike and I finally got a picture taken.. Of me at 34 weeks. I need to get it off his phone but man I feel huge!

So that's it... we're about done with this crazy weekly blog update. :)

My 33 week visit

I went to see my Doctor on Thursday. I mentioned to him about missing my friends memorial service and about started crying right there on the stirrup table. He was very compassionate but let me know that he would not have cleared me to go, that and Mike was not going to drive me because he wasn't comfortable either. So I guess a family visit is in order this May.

On to happy news that doesn't make me cry. Doc was so excited to see me at 33 weeks. I don't think he really thought I'd make it this far. So here are my cool changes coming up.....
34 weeks... bed rest is modified and I can get up for 2 hrs in the morning and 2 hrs in the evening (which means I can legitimately go to the Primary program for church next week, it's Isabel's first one)

also at 34 weeks.... I'm off my meds!!! Finally no more pumping my body full of drugs (although I owe it to those drugs to mention they have helped keep baby inside me)

36 weeks... CERCLAGE COMES OUT!!! I can't wait for this! He said about 25% of people go into labor within the next 3 hours after the procedure, and about 50% within the next 3 days! So this lil girl might must make her debut before Halloween.

Oh AND my mom is being 'forced' to take vacation because she has so much accumulated that she is going to be able to come down!!! So she's planning on being here the end of the 1st week in November which is 37 weeks. We figured that was safe just in case I didn't go in to labor right away.

So exciting to think that in 3 weeks I might finally get to see this baby. Once I get the go ahead, I'm going to start washing all of babies clothes and such to get ready. Now to make it perfect I just need to be able to deliver and avoid a C-section.

WOO HOO!!!!

Thoughts

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them,
glory and danger alike, yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it." ~Thucydides




This week I have been almost fanatic with checking up on blogs and facebook checking for updates and comments on Mark. I have cried and cried everyday since he has passed. It still breaks my heart even though I know that Mark truly felt like this was his mission on this earth, to take out the bad guys and he was able to even while being shot at. His heroism overwhelms me. His love for his country, his selfless service and the service he gave in honor of our Heavenly Father, overwhelms me. I can only hope that I can live MY life like Mark. Truly aware of my purpose and ready to face whatever comes.

It breaks my heart that I won't be able to attend his memorial services. They are in Haleyville, AL, about a 5-6 hr drive from here. I can't see any way my Doctor will let me forgo bed rest for a day to drive down there. I would, I will ask but I doubt that he will let me make that trip. This spring when we head down there, I do want to stop to pay tribute to a hero of mine.





Below are some quotes I found on a Military post his brother Thad linked to.

“Lest I keep my complacent way I must remember somewhere out there a person died for me today. As long as there must be war, I ask and I must answer was I worth dying for?”
Eleanor Roosevelt


When tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes, All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry, The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand.

She said my place was ready, In heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind, All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, Just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you, And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized, That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity, And all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past, But here it all starts anew."
"I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last;
And since each day's the same day, There's no longing for the past."
"But you have been so faithful, So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things, You knew you shouldn't do."
"But you have been forgiven, And now at last you're free;
So won't you take my hand, And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.




We love you Mark