34 weeks, 3 days

2nd day of bedrest and I am feeling sooo stir crazy! This wasn't exactly something I would have chosen, but I will be thankful for it:-)

Everything was going well and I was feeling great. Monday and Tuesday night I noticed that I was having some major swelling in my feet, ankles and legs. Didn't think too much of it until Wednesday afternoon when I started seeing spots after lunch. So combine that with the extreme swelling and there being some protein in my urine at my last doctors appointment I did start to worry a little as I knew that pre-eclampisa could be setting in. I went to have my blood pressure checked and it was a little elevated so my doctors office suggested that I go to labor and delivery to be checked out.

So I arrived at the hospital thinking I may have gone for no reason. I was given a room, hooked up to the monitors and was a little surprised when they told me I was having a contraction. Kind of figured it was just practice contractions so was happy to hear that my body is indeed getting ready to give birth! Elam's heart rate was a little high but did calm down after a little while. My blood pressure was checked every 20 minutes or so and it was perfect (of course), urine and blood came back normal so I'm thinking "great, they think I'm just paranoid! I am sure they will be sending me home shortly".  Yeah, not so much. Was shocked when they said I was having contractions every 7-9 minutes and that some of them looked pretty strong and were lasting for a full minute or longer and did I need anything for the pain. I wasn't feeling anything but Elam moving around.

I was given 2 bags of  IV fluid to hydrate me, even though there was no evidence of me being dehydrated,  and also 2 shots of Terbutaline to help stop contractions. The first dose helped them stop immediately...but then after 20 minutes they were back. After dose number 2 they finally settled down enough to send me home! I was so happy about that because I knew that I could only have 1 more shot and after that I would be admitted overnight and given a drug from hell to try to help. So now I am on bed rest until at least Tuesday, when I go back for my regular doctor appointment. Praying that everything is good and that she will let me go back to work, even if it's just for half days.

Yesterday Holly came over with groceries, lunch from Zaxby's, movies and a bag full of goodies- coloring books, crayons, devotional book and super comfy throw. It was so nice to spend time with her and helped the day not drag by so much! I feel super blessed because of all our friends who have offered to help with meals or anything else:-)

In all of this I have asked God to show me how to relax and how to slow down, because I don't slow down...I usually have so much on my plate and don't seem to be able to say no to anything. Now I am saying no to everything, lol. I am learning to be still and to listen. Today's devotional was entitled "Stop and Smell the Roses" and one section really encouraged me-

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1. We should let each thing in our lives have its season, and realize we can enjoy that season without rushing into the next one. Our pace of living affects the quality of our lives. When we eat too fast , we don't properly digest our food; when we rush through life, we don't properly digest it either. God hs given life to us as a gift, and what a pitifufl shame to do nothing but rush through each day and never as they say, "stop and smell the roses". 
So I will enjoy this season of rest :-)

33 weeks!!!

Not too much new is happening these days. I am just getting bigger and more uncomfortable but other than that things are good. Late last week I woke up from a deep sleep with both my calf muscles knotted up. I don't think I have moved that fast in a while! Almost brought tears to my eyes. Took a couple of minutes to stretch them out and then my legs hurt the rest of the day. My ankles were pretty swollen last night and I can't eat much without getting indigestion.

Been trying to do things for myself after work...even if it's just something simple like a bubble bath (which isn't too simple to get out of these days, lol) or sitting down with a cup of hot tea and a book. Last night it was a bubble bath and my biggest accomplishment was shaving my legs! Someone should have warned me how hard it would be to shave my legs:-)

I've been thinking I'm having Braxton Hicks periodically but then I wonder if it's just Elam balling himself up...hmmm. I have another doctors appointment Friday. Hopefully I will get the okay to go to the beach next week!!

Let me just say that this picture is very unflattering and I sort of feel like a cow and normally I would not post a picture like this, but I just had to show you my halloween costume last week...zombie baby!

So here is my 33 week picture! Feeling super huge but also enjoying it at the same time as I know this will be over before I know it! So blessed to be carrying this little one!

32 weeks!

Wow! This pregnancy is just flying by! I hear so many people say that pregnancy just seems to drag on and on. I don’t think I have ever felt that way. Seems like I just found out we were expecting! I am getting so excited about meeting our baby boy around Christmas! My last appointment was on Thursday. It went very well. Elam is head down and if their measurements are correct he weighs 4 lbs, 8 ounces! He may be a big baby when he’s born, unless he chooses to come early…which I’m not against, as long as he’s ready. My goal is to still have him naturally – no epidural or anything. I do realize that things do change and sometimes medical intervention is necessary, but just praying everything goes well and I’m able to do this. I am excited to have a Doula come support us. She is the sweetest lady and I feel we just clicked from the beginning. So thankful she will be by our side! Everything else looks good too – blood pressure is good, no protein in my urine, my weight is good (or so they tell me). Seems as if my weight gain slowed down momentarily as I only gained an ounce or two since the last appt…versus the pounds I had been gaining. I used to HATE getting on the scale and wincing as my weight kept climbing, and climbing and climbing….they say that gaining between 25-30 lbs during pregnancy is good. Well, I’ve already gained 33 lbs and still have a little ways to go.


I was sitting on the couch the other night making one of my many lists (so I’m a little OCD about my lists…I have accepted it, lol:-)). I have lists for everything. Normally I think it helps me focus on what I need to do next if I see it on paper. Anyway, I was coming up with a list for after baby is born and I go back to work and my brain almost exploded…”…I can nurse before I leave for work…will have to put dinner in the crockpot…when am I going to have time to run?...I will have to leave at this time on Friday to get Elam to his Nanny’s and then make it to work by 7:30…will have to do date night at least once a week…” So I tore my list up and decided to have a hot drink before I got overwhelmed:-)I know it will all work out. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life that we aren’t going to have to put Elam in daycare! Between Mike working from home, me cutting work hours back, my parents and Mike’s mom and step dad in the area we have childcare covered, for which I am soooo thankful! Now if I can learn to not compare myself to other mothers I will be doing great! A lot of my friends are having babies now and most of them are stay at home mommies or only work part time. I’ll admit I am a little envious of them and sometimes wonder if I will be as good of a mother because I won’t be with my child all the time.

Since I will be considered full term in 5 weeks I am packing my hospital bag now and hoping I am packing everything I need (yes, I have a list for this too:-)) . The car seat is in my car. House is getting cleaner than it has ever been and nursery is just about done – just waiting on the crib and dresser to arrive from Mike’s step sister! Yay! We are planning a last minute getaway to Myrtle Beach mid November, assuming my doctor says it’s ok to go. When I mentioned it to her last time she wasn’t overly-fond of the idea but said as long as I came in to be checked out she would okay it. I hope we can go. We so need to get away for a little bit. Plus, it won’t cost us anything except gas to get there and food money. My brother and his wife have rented a condo for the week and graciously asked if we wanted to join them. Um, yes!

I have included the most recent pics of Elam:-) I took a picture of myself this morning at 32 weeks but unable to post it right now.

Have a great day!!!

27 weeks, 1 day...

...today I am feeling guilty, fat and unhealthy. The day started off ok. I had a glucose test done and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...tasted like really sweet gatorade.  I chugged it with no problem. However, I was EXTREMELY discouraged as I found out that I have gained 12 pounds in the past 6 weeks. Really?! 12 POUNDS!!! My doctor kind of slapped my wrists about that one. I had been doing so good up until now. So my plan is to walk more (walked 2 miles today) and keep track of everything I eat. Today I did well (other than the ton of sugar I had during my sugar test:-)) but still feel bad about the weight. I saw some pics that were posted on facebook of me and I just wanted to cry. I look huge in them...and I still have 13 weeks to go. I know it seems really vain of me to let this bother me this much but it does. I really just want to stay home away from people at this point. I have cried several times today. Not just because of the weight but just an overall overwhelming feeling. The weight was bad enough but then my mind starts wandering...."ok, so I have gained a lot of weight really fast and I'm swelling...could it be a sign that pre-eclampsia is coming?"...."I should have been eating healthier the whole time. I did this to myself"...."Am I really going to be able to do this?"...."will I be a good mommy" and on and on....

 I was so blessed to have a friend text me and check up on me right when I needed it. She was more encouraging than she could know and I thank God that she was there for me:-) This friend is expecting a little girl and due in November and like myself is planning on a natural birth. She has been like my own little support group:-) She is also everything I really want to be...she is so gentle, kind, meek, etc...qualities that are not my strong suit.

Anyway, just needed to get that off my chest.

Elam is doing well. His heart rate was in the 140's and he is still moving around like crazy. Can't wait to meet this little guy:-)

20 weeks, 5 days

This has been a good weekend. Been in a nesting phase and have been cleaning and organizing like crazy. Also been in an incredibly emotional phase. Friday night I told Mike about how I feel I don't know how to communicate with him here lately. So we sat at the dinner table and we talked, we argued, I cried, we laughed and ended it all ended in a hug. This morning I had another meltdown and cried about how how I wanted to be a good wife and mother and how I feel so inadequate at the wife part, so how am I going to be both a good wife and mother? Mike was so sweet to re-assure me that I will be a good mommy, that I am a good wife and that everything is going to be ok...and he knew when to just hug me and rub my shoulders.... On the way to church I apologized to Elam for his mommy getting so upset lately. I felt so guilty because I should be speaking calming words and instead have just been upset. I so want him to feel how much I love him, not feel my anger or frustration :-(

Other than the meltdowns, this weekend was very nice. It rained like crazy Saturday morning and was nice to just sit, read and relax a little. We ran a few errands in between rain showers and then I cleaned and then we met a friend at the $2 theater to watch "Hunger Games". I have not read the books yet, so will need to do that soon. Had a yummy dinner of chipotle-orange shrimp over rice and a salad followed by some dishpan cookies with mom,dad and Mike and then fell asleep watching tv.

We have another doctors appointment tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing more pictures of my baby boy! He has been really active lately, especially at night. Guess he is preparing me for when he arrives, lol. I hope to actually get some pictures up tomorrow. Not much else going on. Oh, we are about to start on the nursery and will be finishing up our registry next week:-)

18 weeks, 4 days

So we're having a boy!!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet him in Decmember! His kicks are getting stronger and stronger and looking forward to Mike being able to feel him moving:-) We have decided to name him Elam Michael. It is a different name, but we really like it and it just feels right. Elam is an Old Testament name meaning "Safe", and we picked the middle name Michael after Mike and my dad (also a Michael:-)

Our gender reveal party went really well! So blessed to be surrounded by friends and family as Katie and I both released blue balloons! So nice to have another little boy so close in age:-)

It is hard to believe that I am so close to the halfway mark in this pregnancy! I want to enjoy every moment because I know this will go by sooo quickly! I am feeling really good. I've been staying well hydrated and eating fairly well (with the exception of ice cream and chocolate here and there!). I have not been walking like I should be but part of that is due to the heat...it's just too stinkin hot to do too much. I do get a good bit of walking at work though and also been doing some toning and stretching exercises at home. I have also started reading and singing to Elam. Today mom and I hit the library and I came home with sooo many childrens books to read outloud to him:-)

In non-pregnancy news, I have a maximum of 2 weeks left at my current job. It is a little bittersweet as I really like the people I work with, but I feel it's time to leave. I am transfering back to my old job in Graniteville and really can't wait. I am counting the days down!

Asking special prayers for my friends Chris & Melissa. Their baby girl was born prematurely yesterday, weighing under 2 lbs. She seems to be doing as well as can be expected but know they have long road ahead of them!

16 weeks, 4 days

Worst. Blogger.Ever. Yep, that's me. Who waits until they are 16 weeks pregnant to start blogging about it?! lol:-) oh well. Better late than never I guess.

Back in December we decided to stop all forms of birth control and just kind of see what happened. In March I decided to take a more proactive approach and start using ovulation tests. Well, that seemed to work:-) On April 15th (I'll always remember that date - Mema's birthday) I decided to take a pregnancy test just on a hunch. I didn't have any really obvious symptoms other than my period being a few days late, which wasn't that unusual. I did have a cold that wouldn't go away though and just felt different. I had taken so many pregnancy tests in the past that turned out negative so I wasn't getting my hopes up. So I pee on the stick, wait 5 minutes and go back and am absolutely shocked to see the "yes-you-are-pregnant" line where I was used to seeing no line! It was very light so I wasn't sure how to take it. Per the package instructions, a line is a line it doesn't matter how light it is but I wasn't convinced. So I took another test the following day...and one the day after...the last test had a much darker line so it was time to go the doctor! 2 days later it was confirmed that I was indeed pregnant.

I always thought it would be neat to tell our parents in some creative way that we were expecting. Yeah, that didn't happen. I was so excited that I called my mom as soon as I left the doctors office. Once we told the parents and Mema we were free to tell everyone, so we did in the fastest way possible - facebook.

I have been blessed to have had no morning sickness. Queasiness, yes. Hugging the porcelain throne, no. I feel like I have gained more weight than I should have by this point but I blame that on eating every couple of hours in my first trimester. It was the only thing that kept the queasiness away. My pre-pregnancy weight was 135 and I am now at 148. Not too worried about it because my weight has always fluctuated, but I did realize how insecure about my weight I have always been. There are some days I have to tell myself over and over "you are pregnant, not fat. you are pregnant, not fat". Those are the days when I have to make myself take a deep breath and realize that this is such a short season in my life and to relax and enjoy it! Other than queasiness I just felt like crap during the first trimester - no energy, felt bloated and gassy all the time and just didn't feel good. Now that I am in my second trimester I am feeling great! I have been walking and running still but that is about it. I try to get in some toning exercises several times a week but I do fall short of that goal. I wasn't expecting the exercising part to be so hard. Since I am still walking and running (well, more of a jog than a run, but whatever) I would love to do another half marathon before baby comes, even if I have to walk most of it.

So far I have had 2 ultrasounds...one at 9 weeks when we found out my due date was moved to Christmas Day and one at 13 weeks when they did one just to make sure everything was ok. I went in for what I thought would be a quick appointment - pee in a cup, have my bp and weight checked and then hear baby's heartbeat with the doppler heart monitor. Well, the med student couldn't find the heartbeat and neither could the nurse. It would have been nice if they would have told me that this was normal. Of course maybe they did and I was just freaking out in my head and didn't hear them. I remember laying there and realizing that I was crying. I tensed up so badly that when I went to take a deep breath it  hurt my back. All day I had been praying because I woke up just hearing the words in my head "you aren't going to hear a heartbeat today". I assumed it was spiritual warfare going on and prayed it off all day....Then, after the nurse couldn't find the heartbeat there was just calm. I just heard God say "your baby is ok". My doctor did an ultrasound and I was thrilled to see baby moving around and finally heard the heartbeat. Turns out my bladder was just full and blocking the heartbeat. Still can't figure out how my bladder was that full as I emptied it when I got to the doctors office.

We find out Monday if we are having a boy or girl! My friend, Katie, and I find out the same day what we are having so we are having a double gender reveal party. I am so excited!!! I have so many friends who are pregnant and due fairly close together and it is nice to be able to experience this with them:-) I have one friend, due in November who, like myself, will be doing childbirth the old fashioned way - without drugs! We do get a lot of "are you crazy?!?" looks but oh well. It's nice to have her for support. I do realize that things happen and that I may be begging for medication but my goal is to do this all natural. We have a Doula and will be taking birthing classes to help prepare us. I read an article that compared natural childbirth to running a marathon and that's when it clicked that hey, I can do this!

Don't think there is much else to write other than I feel sooo blessed! I have not had to buy anything so far! Mike's stepsister is giving us the nursery furniture (from Pottery Barn may I add...something that is definitely NOT in my budget, but nice to be given!), we have been given a travel system, a car seat with 3 bases, high chair , bassinet and lots of maternity clothes. People have been so generous and it has put me in tears on some of my emotional days:-) I pray that one day I could bless someone as much as we've been blessed.

I will try to write more frequently but don't be surprised if the next post is announcing baby's birth near Christmas, lol:-)