OOPS! I swore I wouldn't be the one...

...that had the false alarm! I figured, I know my body. I'll know what it's doing. Hmm...I guess not.

On Friday I had some signs of labor. Not contractions but 'other' signs. I'm leaving out specifics for those that get grossed out easily (Dad, Mara, other squeamish people). I really didn't think it was a big deal but liked that my body was preparing for the tough job ahead. I knew this meant that labor could start anywhere from within the following days to weeks. I really wasn't concerned.

Saturday night, I had some wicked cramping. It woke me from a sound sleep twice. The first time, the pain in my back was so severe, I could only be relieved on my hands and knees. Believe it or not, I actually fell asleep like that. I was on my knees and elbows with my forehead on my pillow and my butt in the air! Talk about funny looking! But I didn't care. I was finally comfortable and it was 4 in the morning! Nic didn't even see me like that (sleeping soundly) so what did it matter?!

Sunday morning, I was having my cup of coffee with Nic on the couch. All of a sudden, I felt...uh...wet. Pregnancy does some strange things to your body. This wasn't exactly a new symptom so I changed my undies and continued with my morning. Within about 30 minutes, it happened again. This time I started to get a little concerned that I had a slow leak. Not my bladder, my amniotic fluid. I knew that it didn't always happen in a gush like the movies because the babies head could act like a plug. I decided to lay down for a little bit and see if it happened again when I got up. Well, it did. Not much but still enough to concern me.

I should also mention that this particular Sunday was the magic Sunday. The one in which I'm officially 36 weeks. The one in which there is a point of no return. Once 36 weeks, if labor starts, my doctor wouldn't stop it! Oh crap! That's when the freak out started. I wasn't ready. I really, really, really wasn't ready. Nic did a great job of keeping me calm and was very supportive but all I kept thinking about was the things I hadn't done yet.

The nursery isn't finished (which isn't so much of a concern) but I hadn't started washing the new baby clothes because I didn't have anywhere to put them. I haven't finalized my order for the cloth diapers we'll be using, meaning we had nothing for this little guys tush. I felt like that house was a mess (really not a big concern but it became an issue when I felt unprepared). It's really not. I just have Christmas boxes around. We still haven't met with the pediatrician. There were a few things that I need to exchange that are baby related. I need the infant insert for the Ergo baby carrier. We still haven't really decided on a name. Oh, the list goes on and on. It's all a bit overwhelming when you thought you had a little longer.

Thankfully my water didn't break and I could relax. While we were at the hospital, they did a NST which is a Non Stress Test. They wanted to hear the babies heart beat, feel him move and see if I was having any contractions. Well, little man behaved wonderfully. His heart rate was averaging 130 and spiked to the 150's (which is what they wanted to see). He moved several times. Even a few that Daddy could see from across the room! I wasn't having contractions but I do have an irritable uterus. I wasn't told to be completely still, so it could be the fact that Nic was making me laugh and I was moving some. In any case, it was nothing to be alarmed about and our wonderful nurse Audra asked me to drink more fluids and rest more. I could manage that.

As we were getting ready to leave, Audra told me that the doc wanted me to call first thing in the morning to set up a time for me to go in for a wellness checkup. I told her that I had an appointment set for Tuesday but she insisted that the doc wanted to see me tomorrow (Monday) and said that she might consider waiting til the scheduled appointment but to call anyway.

I called the office first thing the next day and sure enough, she wanted to see me ASAP. It wasn't anything crazy urgent but she just wanted to chat and check me over. We did all the usual stuff. Check for proteins in the urine...none. Weigh me...only 1 pound in 2 weeks. Yippee! Measure the fundle height...36cm. Perfect Perfect. Listen to the heartbeat...always wonderful! Check for GBS (Group B Strep)...not fun. Should know by our next appointment. She told me that I was perfect and that it's always nice to have a patient so easy and healthy. She also said that she's going to yell at Dr. E for hogging the good patients! She really cracks me up. I love that I'm so comfortable with my docs. We also talked about what happened and said that it's nothing to worry about. Better to be safe than sorry. She also gave me a few tips on what to look for and when it's absolutely urgent to call. So, it's all good.

Overall, even though I feel a little silly, I'm kinda glad it happened. It's lit a fire under my tush to get some baby related things done. I know I can't do everything and I should still be resting but I need to prepare as though it can be any day. There are some things that will need to be DONE when he gets here. I also like that I was able to see the L&D section of the hospital. Of course it's a closed ward but because of the H1N1 hoopla, I couldn't take a tour and meet the staff. It was a little daunting not knowing what to expect. But, I saw it. Not all of it but enough to have a mental picture. I was also able to meet a few of the nursing staff. They were all very kind and personable. I'm glad I'm comfortable with them too. It should make the birthing experience a relaxed one. Exactly what I was hoping for.


So, it wouldn't really be a post if I didn't include some pictures. :-D This is one from a set I didn't care for. The attempt was for a Christmas card photo but Nic was being uncooperative. He laughs and says he couldn't help it. Every time he was needed to look at the camera and smile, he made this awful face because we were looking into the sun. The outtakes are pretty funny but I didn't even bother editing them! It was such a beautiful day and my results were only mediocre. Eh...we'll try again. I'm hoping with enough time to send out Christmas cards!


Here are a couple others from my 35 weeks set. (A week ago.) Nic was the photographer behind these. I think it's a neat little sequence. :-)












Have a great day!

2 are growing to 3

Well, after a little trying, the hubs and I are expecting again. With great joy, we've gotten through the scary part and are sailing well in our second trimester. Actually, by the end of next week I'm officially 6 months along. I haven't really done it on purpose but I've managed to not blog, not take many pictures of my growing belly or even keep a journal. It's quite strange really. I'm excited beyond belief! I've just found it hard to keep tabs like I was with the first pregnancy. We found out on Mothers Day that I am pregnant. It was a pretty cool day to find out, I think. We were able to hear the heartbeat at our 12 week appointment on June 2nd. It was a rocking 153 per minute. Since then we've had our 16 week appointment and a 21 week appointment. This pregnancy has been flying by with ease and with very good health reports. My BP is a wonderful 110/58. I've had no morning sickness since about 14-15 weeks. I've had many healthy cravings of beef and milk. That's not exactly out of the normal for me but the doctor seems to be very pleased with my choices. I've been able to feel the baby move since 14 1/2 weeks and Nic has been feeling it since 18 1/2 weeks. At first it was sporadic and caught me by surprise but the last week has been very regular. I can feel the movement just about anytime I look for it and I even felt it when I was running around at work the other day. I think that was the first time when I was busy and not sitting completely still. I can feel the increase of hormones. I'm not an emotional person by any means and have caught myself getting teary in the simplest of situations. Once when I was walking through the baby section at Kohls. I made sure to hightail it outa there asap since I was alone and looked like a crazy person. Another when I was reading though my mothers blog about missing my grandfather. He would be beaming with joy, I just know it. I still miss him often. It makes me tear up thinking about it now. It's still a little overwhelming and surreal to think that we're bringing a life into this world. Just last night I was looking at my belly in the mirror as I was getting ready for bed. I've wanted to be a mother for so long and we were always waiting for the right timing, it just felt like it would never come. I can't quite put into words the joy it brings me to grow our family, to have a child with the man I love, and to witness the miracle of human life. Yet at the same time, I'm concerned about the changes it'll bring in our relationship, the trials that child rearing will inevitably bring or the never ending life lessons that will fill our days to raise a moral and well mannered child. It's strange how many things I can feel at once. No matter what thought runs through my head or new emotions course through my body, joy still rules my heart. Sometimes I think it's just going to burst. I can see myself being a blubbering fool on delivery day. It's ok though, I welcome it.

Oh and I must say, we've also had our fetal scan at 18 1/2 weeks. This would be the ultrasound that scans for healthy growth, measures organs and makes sure that everything is developing properly. It is most commonly known as the gender scan. :-) Of course everyone is hoping for healthy reports but look forward mostly to discovering if their little peanut is a boy or a girl. Our little peanut didn't want to cooperate. Legs were crossed and tucked up tight. There was moving and wiggling a lot through the ultrasound but no shot to give us a sneak peak. Well daddy and I were quite eager to know and we also wanted to be able to plan accordingly (that's the type A personality coming out in me). We looked 3 times! On the final shot, the very end of the exam we discovered....we're having a BOY!!! Of course daddy did a double fist pump in the air and emphatically said, "I got my Boy!" I'm so happy we're getting a boy first. I'm giddy that I can give my husband a son. I'm overjoyed that our little man is healthy, strong, active and cherished (even before birth). We can finally plan a nursery. We can start purchasing items that he'll need. We can FINALLY start talking names. Goodness, that will be a while before we can agree on one!

Such a sweet little man. He was a total of 6 inches long and 10 ounces in weight. It was only because we had a great and generous sonographer that we were able to get a 3d shot. I'm still blown away by his detail. He's so small yet so perfectly formed. I could stare at this picture all day. I see his father in every part of it. He already has his fathers lips, chin and head shape. He's so handsome and so beautiful. I can't wait to be holding my healthy baby boy.

Thank you for following my ramblings. I realize that most of this is a bit disjointed but I promise the following blogs will be better. :-)