36.5 Weeks!



Caden took this picture. He chopped my head off
but the belly is really the main feature anyway. :)

This will be my last post of the year. I want to start off with that at the beginning of this year I never would have dreamed I would be pregnant and about to have a baby by the end of 2013. God has really blessed us and I am so thankful that He's given me a chance to carry a healthy baby again. Life is not without its challenges and I'm looking forward to the new year and seeing our newest addition in our family. I'm somewhat terrified actually but also overwhelmingly excited! I really am looking forward to meeting my daughter. I know God will give me the strength I need to be the best mom I can be. I have no idea what life will be like. I'm anticipating lots of sleepless but wonderful nights. Lots of love in our house. Making more family memories and enjoying two children. I'm trying not to fear the unknown but pray to God about it and lean on him and others. During these past few weeks as my family has dealt with illnesses I've seen God's family step in and help mine. I'm learning to ask for help when I need it, which is very hard and I still don't do a great job at it. But I know God will provide. 

I saw my OB yesterday and Gracie is still doing great. If I hadn't had 4 miscarriages before I was pregnant with her and found out I had two blood clotting disorders this would be a very normal pregnancy. Last weekend I switched to Heparin injections from Lovenox. I.HATE.THEM! I really do. I never enjoyed getting shots growing up and didn't enjoy the Lovenox either but now I have to give myself two shots a day instead of one. I also have to draw it from the little container. But all the pain will be worth it once she's here.

My appointment went well. She's measuring 6 lbs 9 oz. I'm dilated to 2cm and she's dropped. My doctor said she could come anytime and if we had to induce she could probably strip my membranes and she'd come pretty easily. That sounds kind of scary! I really would prefer not to be induced but that's the more natural way to do it. I've been having a lot more contractions and last weekend thought about trying to change to a home birth. However, since I'm on blood thinners it most likely wouldn't be safe. But it should would be easy. Getting to the hospital in time is my biggest concern. I tend to have a high pain tolerance and wasn't even fully sure I was in labor when we were about to leave for the hospital with Caden. I had had Braxton Hicks contractions for so long that I just thought I was having those. We showed up and he was born less than 2 hours later.

I've lost 2 lbs and now have only gained 38 lbs. Which is great. I think the last month I was pregnant with Caden I didn't gain anymore weight. I gained a total of 44 lbs with him. Thankfully I lost 20 lbs the first week he was born. I'm just getting uncomfortable. The other interesting thing is I'm starting to crave various foods again. For a while I just ate when I was hungry. Now I feel like I'm starving if I don't eat within a few hours from when I last ate. Last night for example, we had a Mexican casserole I made for dinner with a salad. Later I had some ice cream. Then before bed I wanted some roasted garlic humus. I've also been craving bagels and cream cheese. I had one for breakfast and want another one. Also lots of fruits and it's kind of cool, watermelon, strawberries, mangos, and melons are available at the store right now. Being the tired pregnant woman I am, I buy cartons of pre-cut fruit which is lovely.

 

We have finished Gracie's room. It's so cute! Pink was my favorite color growing up and I love her room. I hope she does too. We Incorporated light and dark pink, white, and black. I made her a rainbow sign with a James 1:17 on it. She's considered a rainbow baby because she came after a miscarriage. I'm hoping to make a mobile to go over her changing table using Caden's hands or feet but have been too exhausted to do it. Collin put together her swing glider last night. We tested the video monitor on Caden last night and decided to order a second camera for his room. I love the video camera. You can zoom, pan, take pictures, and talk to your baby. It works with just the little monitor it comes with and you can configure it to work with your phones, which we'll wait to do when we get a babysitter. Last night we were able to talk to him and see him when he wouldn't sleep. Poor guy woke up scared in the middle of the night and talked to us through the camera and we didn't answer - we had turned it off. That's why we're going to get one for his room too. Might as well be able to see both children. The video camera we got is called Lorex Baby. I did a lot of research on these and this seemed to have the most options, great ratings, and best price. Also Lorex is a well-known security company. You can add up to four cameras.

We are ready to have this baby. A sweet friend of mine is coming over later this week to help me get the rest of my house in order. The baby's room is done. I just need to finish the playroom, reorganize the guest room, and office. I could do this myself but it's so nice to have a friend come help.

Here are some pictures of Gracie's room. An artist friend of mine is painting another picture to hang on her wall. Once I get it I'll post pictures of it too. I'm also going to hang the picture frames once she's born and we have pictures of her to put in them. I can't wait to meet her!

I painted the letters for her name

Rainbow sign

Love the pink curtains!

The dreaded Heparin!