Monday, October 27, 2008

I've been there...

For almost 2 years this song describes exactly how I felt. Now, through God's amazing grace, I don't have to feel like that anymore. I thank God everyday for the miracle that he gave us. I know that it is only because of him that we are now expecting Eli. He made us wait until the timing was perfect and I realize that now. So for those of you that are struggling with infertility, I understand. I've been there. The best advice I can give you is to give it all to God. Let go of control. I know how hard that is to do. Believe me, I know. But let my story be an example for you. When God knows it's the right time, it will happen for you. In the meantime, hang in there and keep praying and stay strong. Keep your faith strong! And grab some Kleenex's because this makes me cry every time I watch it!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

3d ultrasound

We had a 3d ultrasound today! It was so amazing! We could see him in so much detail! We got total confirmation that he is a boy. Here are a few of the pictures that we got and the rest can be seen on my flickr page.









Friday, October 24, 2008

Doctor's appt. Update

I had another check up on Tuesday. It gets kind of tedious going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. But at least I get to listen to Eli's heartbeat at every appointment. Since October 7th I have gained 1 pound. But I have lost 14 pounds total this pregnancy. Last Friday night I found out that I can still wear my pre-pregnancy jeans buttoned and zipped at 7 1/2 months pregnant. I think that's pretty incredible!! Eli's heartbeat was 146 just like it has been. I should be measuring between 30 and 32 fundal height. I am measuring right at 34 1/2. So what that translates into is that Eli is bigger than he should be at this point. So the doctor said that at my 36 week check up we will have an ultrasound. If he is still measuring big then we will have some decisions to make. We can induce labor but if we do it before 39 weeks they will have to do an amniocentesis to make sure his lungs are functioning properly. If I am still pregnant at 39 weeks, which is Christmas Eve, then they will induce at that time. However, if I go into labor on my own anytime after 36 weeks they won't do anything to stop it. Big John and I talked about it and we have decided that we won't induce early. There are too many risks involved with the amnio. Plus, it's a HUGE needle and I don't do needles very well.

I asked the doctor about an old wives tale I've always heard about more babies being born during a full moon. He said that it is definitely true. It has something to do with the moons effect on the pull of gravity that makes women's water break. So I looked at the calendar. There is a full moon on December 12th. I will be 37 weeks 2 days at that time. So that is my goal date for delivery. I know it doesn't work like that but I can hope right???

Monday evening I had my maternity portraits taken by a good friend of mine. It was so much fun and the pictures turned out great! Here are just a few of the many that she took for us!





















You can click on the link for my FLICKR page over on the right side to see the rest of the pictures.

We are having a 3d/4d ultrasound done tomorrow! I am so excited I can hardly sit still!! I will be sure to post the pictures of that asap. We will be able to see what Eli is going to look like once he is born!!!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Trace Adkins!

We went to see Trace Adkins in concert on Saturday night! He was wonderful! We also lucked out and got meet and greet passes which allowed us to go backstage and meet Trace face to face. And let me just say that he is a man of very few words. Big John asked him if he was going to sing the song "The Rest of Mine." Trace said he wasn't planning on it and Big John told him that he sang that song to me during our wedding ceremony 4 years ago. I don't think Trace was really impressed.

But the show was wonderful! Jason Michael Carroll and Craig Morgan were also there and performed. We didn't get to see a whole lot of Craig Morgan because that's when we were backstage. But from what I saw he did a good job.

Here are some pictures from Trace's portion of the show...












Here's how far away from the stage we really were! Big John likes to joke that from where we were, the concert was just a rumor!!



And here is Big John and Trace. Have you ever seen two hotter men standing next to each other? OH MY!! I think I need a minute to compose myself!



And here are me and Eli with Trace... I was going to ask him if he would rub my belly but then I chickened out at the last minute.


My first baby shower!

I had my first baby shower yesterday. It was so much fun! I finally got to get a lot of little baby stuff!!! My two sisters-in-law threw the shower for me. They did such a wonderful job planning it. We did a few games because what is a shower without shower games! They did one that I have never played before. Everyone got a sheet of paper with each letter of the alphabet listed on it. Everyone had to come up with a baby related word that began with each letter. It was pretty tough! The winner had a word for every letter except A and X.

After the games, it was time for the presents (which is my favorite part!!!) I'm not going to post all of the pictures because if I did we'd be here all day. But here are a few...

This is the wonderful Snoopy that my mom made for me. Isn't she talented??



Here is a cute little onesie and matching bib my sister-in-law Jenn got for Eli. Someone said that M is for Morgan. I said it was for Monster!!



This is an incredibly soft blanket! I wish they made these for mommies too!




We really got a lot of nice things for Eli. And the best part... I get to do it all over again in 2 weeks!!!!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

4 Years ago today

Where were you four years ago today? Do you know? I was getting married!! It was a wonderful day! We have come so far in just four short years. It seems like a life time together but in a good way. Just to give you an idea of how far we've come...



That was four years ago today! Isn't Big John the most handsome groom you've ever seen!?!

And here I am now. Actually this was yesterday. The first day of my third trimester!




Big difference, huh?

Happy anniversary Big John. Thanks for making this the happiest four years of my life!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

How to survive your third trimester

Here's a small glimpse into what my life is like at the moment:


How to sit down in a restaurant
1) Request a table.
2) Receive a booth.
3) Try to slide your enormous bulk into booth.
4) Note with alarm it's the sort of booth where table is bolted down.
5) Lift belly as high as it will go.
6) Inch your way into booth.
7) Release belly, which lands on table with a plop.
8) Rummage beneath belly for silverware and napkin.
9) Place silverware and napkin on belly, and ask waiter to just put your food there too.

How to put on a seat belt
1) Reach blindly beneath your gut, hoping to locate both ends of seat belt.
2) Find one end.
3) Use elbow to push poor, unsuspecting fetus to one side while you find other end.
4) Exhale fully and attempt to close belt.
5) No dice.
6) Let out belt until long enough to fit an elephant seal.
7) Close and tighten belt.
8) To avoid repeating, spend day in car.

How to avoid unhealthy snacks
1) Retrieve chocolate cake from fridge.
2) Close fridge door while reaching behind you to put cake on kitchen counter.
3) Lose balance and flail about like cartoon penguin.
4) Drop cake.
5) Scrape cake from floor, intending to eat it anyway.
6) Notice frosting is now embroidered with dust bunnies.
7) Sigh and throw cake away.

How to use a public bathroom
1) Attempt to cram self into stall.
2) Repeatedly get stuck between door and toilet.
3) Exit stall.
4) See that handicapped stall is free.
5) Glance around furtively.
6) Conclude that being in third trimester counts as handicap.
7) Dash into handicapped stall.
8) Do your business.
9) Discover toilet-paper dispenser is empty.
10) Shout for help.
11) Blush as person in wheelchair hands you TP under door.

How to tie your shoes
1) Sit on a firm, comfortable surface, right shoe in hand.
2) Raise right foot and place on left thigh.
3) Realize this is impossible.
4) Attempt with left shoe and left foot (also impossible).
5) Decide to do this standing up.
6) Bend toward floor.
7) Observe you have no idea where your feet are.
8) Wonder if a hand mirror might help.
9) It doesn't.
10) Phone neighbor to come over and tie your shoes.

That's not my hip!!!

I am 28 weeks today! Finally, the start of my third trimester!! WHOO HOOO!!!!! I had my regular OB check-up yesterday. It was a very quick appointment. It kind of sucks that it takes longer for us to drive to the office than I spend with the doctor. But I guess that’s the way it’s going to be for the rest of the time. My weight is still the same that it was 2 weeks ago. My blood pressure was perfect! Eli’s heartbeat was 141. The doctor measured my fundal height (the distance from my pubic bone to the top of my uterus) and said that Eli is measuring even more ahead than he was two weeks ago! I just can’t believe how fast he is growing in there! At this rate, if I go full term, I’m going to have a 12 pound baby!! I am really planning on delivering the first part of December instead of my New Years Eve due date. The doctor didn’t seem concerned at all that he is so big. But I guess, looking at Big John he figures that it just runs in the family.

Because I have negative blood and Big John has positive blood, I had to get a shot called Rhogam. If the baby ends up having positive blood then my body could attack it as a foreign object. Rhogam prevents this from happening. I knew going in yesterday that I had to get the shot. The nurse comes in and asks which hip I want the shot in. I asked if I could get it in my arm and she said no because the needle is too long for the arm. It has to go in the hip. Now if any of you know me, you know how terrified I am of needles. So hearing that it was “too big” to go in my arm, I broke out into a cold sweat and started getting very scared. So she had me get up and lean over the table as far as I could. Yeah right. I’m pregnant, remember? I can’t lean over a table with my pregnant belly in the way. So I pretty much put my arms on the table and leaned over as far as I could and dropped my pants. Now I have to explain that these exam rooms are very small. So when I dropped my pants and leaned over the table, my big ol’ pregnant butt was pointed right at Big John’s face. Not the most flattering position to be in. But he’s a good sport and didn’t make a single comment about it. I felt the nurse rubbing the little alcohol pad on me and I realized that when she said hip she meant right in the fleshiest part of my right butt cheek!! Before I knew what was happening, she pinched my skin and shoved that big ol' needle straight into my butt! I don’t know why they do this. If you’re going to give me a shot in the butt, tell me it’s going in my butt not my hip!! That way I know what to expect.

In all honesty, it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. It was tender for a few hours when I sat down but today it’s fine. I have to get another shot right after I deliver Eli. But for now, I’m good to go.

Tonight we go to the hospital to pre-register and start the paperwork for the birth certificate. We also get to take a tour of the birthing center. I am really anxious to see what the labor rooms look like.

I will have Big John take a picture of my belly tonight and depending how bad it looks, I may or may not post it on here tomorrow