38 Weeks

Again I say, we made it.  Shockingly.  I'm beginning to think this kid just likes drama and is, after all this, going to come right on time.  At least in the meantime we've gotten his room a little more ready and I've tired myself out considerably with preparatory organizing and cleaning.

I will have my check-up on Tuesday; we'll see if there's been any more progress (that is if we haven't had a baby by then).

Nursery #2

I've been surprisingly more relaxed about decorating our second nursery and wanted to create something fairly neutral since it is also our guest room.  When I went on bed rest I let go of my desire to have the room completed before baby boy arrived, but have been blessed with so much help getting it painted and well-stocked.  Though we have yet to hang art or add any of the decorative elements, I wanted to share a sneak peek of the progress so far.

Stripes on the walls courtesy of my stepdad, Rick.  He painted these the day we went to the hospital in false labor!  Though we didn't come home with a baby, it was a wonderful sight to come home to a room much closer to resembling a nursery.

 The closet color is Tidewater by Martha Stewart at Home Depot.

The fixed roman shade I made in my favorite taupe Suzani fabric.  I followed this tutorial from one of my favorite bloggers, Centsational Girl.

I by no means would call myself a successful shopper, especially when it comes to bargain finds.  But, this elephant was a great find at TJ Maxx this winter (pre-bed rest) and a perfect compliment to the eventual theme of the room.  During the same trip I also found a sweet mini-globe in robins egg blue!

Seeing this all come together has gotten me excited for the days when I can shop the aisles again and fulfill my plans for this room.  Soon to come: a faux sheepskin accent rug, a large map print for above the guest bed, baby's monogram above the crib (once he has a name of course), and some coordinating pillows for the guest bed.  I'm thinking a little aqua chevron, gray zebra print...  for now I dream.

37 Weeks

Four weeks ago I really didn't think we'd see this day!  Thanks be to God and to all of our family and friends who sacrificed so much to help our family over the last month.

The last week has been our most eventful and honestly I am shocked to still be pregnant!  After spending 4 hours on the labor and delivery floor, contemplating names for a baby we were certain we'd meet that night, being sent home and then spending two other nights since wide awake with regular contractions only to have them eventually fade... I am hovering between feeling like I will go into labor at any moment and like it might never happen.

And so we wait.

False Labor #2

I didn't realize that one can have strong timeable contractions for much of a day and not be in labor, but alas, we experienced this just yesterday.  After my appointment in the morning I tried to lay down for a nap and again was unable to sleep, felt very uncomfortable and just 'off'.  Within a couple of hours I was having very strong contractions that were about 1 1/2 minutes apart so we called the doctor and rushed to the hospital.

Though I was at 3cm when we arrived (up from 2cm that morning) and convinced this was the real thing, over the next 5 hours they concluded that my contractions were spacing farther apart and I hadn't progressed past 3cm.  When the doctor informed me that she didn't think I was in labor, I was truly in shock and surprisingly disappointed.  Even though it's still very early, I had mentally and emotionally prepared to meet my baby boy last night and to have that taken away left me very depressed and confused.

We came home not sure if we'd be heading back within hours, days or weeks, but last night the contractions continued to weaken and spread apart.  At least I got a good nights sleep.  I will say I still don't feel like it will be long... I know women can stay at 3 or 4cm for weeks but I just don't believe that's my body's way of doing things, especially with its incredible propensity for contracting.  We shall see though, all we can do now is wait and pray for a healthy boy.  Oh and for my water to break!  No more of this false contracting nonsense please, my heart can't handle the roller coaster.

36 Weeks

We have finally made it to the crucial week we were most praying for.  Now I will be able to deliver in our hospital if I go into labor!  We have had lots of help around here, I've been able to take it easy, and the amount of cramping that I was experiencing has greatly decreased.

Today at my appointment we did get some great news of progress.  Baby's head has dropped, I am 2cm dilated already and 70% effaced.  When I was pregnant with Ava I was 2cm dilated at 39 weeks and had her two days later!  Though I could still go full-term, we are kicking our baby readiness into high gear.  I am very uncomfortable, not sleeping well and definitely ready to get this boy out so this was music to my ears now that we've reached a "safe" point for delivery.

I've also been given the O.K. to be up and moving about which is a huge relief.  Though I still don't feel up to doing my usual duties, it is so good to know I won't exercise or exhaust myself into an early labor.

Ava has continued to be quite a champ with all the change, the visitors coming and going, the new foods being kindly delivered and the mommy who has taken yet another step further away from the daily rough and tumble.  She is SO excited for her brother's arrival, loves to feel him kick, talk to him and "snuggle" him (as seen in the above photo).  She picked out a gift to bring to the hospital for him when he's born and she keeps talking about that day to come with the anticipation of a child preparing for their first visit to Disney World!

This week I finalized my top choice for baby boy's name and I think Blair has too.  Though we will probably have to meet the little one before deciding, it is wonderful to finally feel like he will not remain nameless indefinitely.

In short, I am very ready, Blair is nearly ready, no one has told the little boy with the quick heartbeat that it's time to settle down in there but we're bracing ourselves for whatever is to come!

Pig Tails

Oh no!  My jump rope got caught in my pig tails!

Yes people.  We've arrived.  Her hair is long enough to *sort of* wear pig tails:)

Modified Bed Rest

On Tuesday I had my 34 week appointment and follow-up from our trip to the hospital.  We waltzed in, me on my wheelchair with Blair and Ava in toe.  The doctor looked at me, stunned, and said, "What are you doing?!  Did something happen since I saw you in the hospital?"  I was already trying to hold back tears and replied, "No, you put me on strict bed rest, remember?"  His response, "Uh, some lines got crossed somewhere, you can walk around!"  I felt like a bit of a doofus and was simultaneously furious after the stressful week we'd had trying to scramble together 24/7 help for me to make this bed rest possible.  I was also struck with half relief and half terror at the thought of being allowed to go back to 'taking it easy', something that without help left me contracting the night away and making trips to the hospital.

When we got into the exam room, the doctor came in and explained that in short, the wrong box had been checked on our outpatient form.  He had meant me to be on Modified Bed Rest and instead I was put on Strict Bed Rest, complete with anxiety and a serious directive from the nurses about the risks involved if I were to deliver before 36 weeks.  An honest mistake but one that cost us a considerable amount of worry and inconvenience.

That said, we are relieved to know the alert level on my uterus has been lowered and there is no serious risk of me delivering dangerously early as long as I take it very easy.  We have still been calling on family and friends to come and help--without it it is nearly impossible to rest when my body tells me to while under the rule of one busy little Ava.  But, it is nice to know I can get up to make myself a snack, get Ava to the potty on time or do even more if we have a gap in our schedule of helpers.  What a relief to know I won't single-handedly usher this baby into the world before he's ready simply by doing a few dishes.

Thank you for all of your prayers and to those who have offered help and meals.  At my appointment I was not showing any internal signs of preterm labor and though I've continued to have cramping and contracting, none have been regular since our trip to the hospital.  Though this is not how we imagined it playing out, those prayers were answered!  I am just 6 days shy of the 36 week mark that we were praying for and it feels wonderful to have it in reach.

Bed Rest.

Early yesterday morning I awoke with more contractions and this time I called my doctor's office and we were instructed to go to the hospital.  Though I was not in real labor (and of course the contractions had slowed by the time I was being monitored), the doctor diagnosed my uterus as an "irritable" one.  Lovely.

In short, I was put on strict bed rest.  My heart sunk at this news.  I knew my body wasn't doing well but all out bed rest?  Like, no-laundry-no-cooking-only-get-up-to-pee kind of bed rest?  At another time, this directive might sound like winning the jackpot but I had already begun to morn the loss of my plans, my to-do list getting done, my clean floors, and most of all, the picture of what my last few weeks alone with Ava would look like.  Granted, I had already self-imposed a great decline in my activity around the house (and almost totally withdrawn from any out of the house activity), but without help there is a certain measure of meal-cooking, laundry carrying and 2-year old bathing, wiping and cleaning up after that is unavoidable.  And apparently still too much for my irritable uterus.

24 hours into said bed rest, I must say it is both hard and a relief.  This is what my body has been craving and needing but it is so difficult to lie on the couch, see a million things that need to be done, and order an already busy husband to go run after Ava for a trip to the bathroom, remind him that the steaming broccoli is overdone and oh yeah, could you get me a snack while you're at it?  That said, I did underestimate how delightful it would be to have nothing better to do than pay attention to my daughter. Though I can't play on the floor, give her a bath, refill her milk cup or go places with her for a few weeks, I didn't foresee how sweet it would be to be so available to just talk with her and snuggle at a moments notice.

Now, while I lay here, I will set my energy toward prayer.  Praying that this little guy makes it at least 3 more weeks in there (if he decides to come earlier we will have to take an ambulance ride to a hospital much farther away that can accommodate pre-term babies).  Praying for no more regular contractions, for the abundance of help we will need around here to be provided, for all of us to stay healthy in the meantime and that I might be able to let go of my desire to DO and just rest.

To Labor or Not

For a few weeks now I've been pretty ready to get this baby out.  Though, last night when that dream became a real possibility, I suddenly found myself keenly aware of what it might mean to have a baby 7 weeks early, and heard myself thinking, "Oh, God, please not yet!"

Around 12am I was lying in bed and started having some pretty strong cramping--strong enough to keep me awake.  It wasn't coming and going in regular intervals but was pretty steady with some very painful peaks every few minutes.  I decided to get out of bed and join Blair who was still awake upstairs.  While sitting down, I started to have Braxton Hicks contractions every 2 1/2 - 3 minutes which continued to be accompanied by some painful cramping.  We timed these for about an hour before I started to walk around and stretch.  This helped to lengthen the time between the contractions and at times lessen the cramping, solidifying that this was in fact a false labor.  The cramping and contracting kept me up for a total of four exhausting hours, reminding me of the excitement and hard work that is labor.  Maybe I can wait a little while longer!

All this to say, Blair and I are officially motivated now to actually go buy a package of newborn diapers, dust off the bassinet and get going on all of our other pre-baby to-do's.

32 Weeks

I was surprised to find out today that I lost two pounds in the last two weeks.  The doctor said it's not too concerning unless it's a continuing trend, but it is still a little worrisome to me.  I have also been having intermittent cramping, which again isn't a concern in itself but still isn't a great sign.

My take on it is that I've been doing too much around the house and not eating enough, both of which are "easy" fixes but difficult for this stubborn, wanna be busy-bee.  I have a hard time staring a to-do list in the face and lying down instead, but given that I've been feeling so lousy I really do owe it to myself and this little one to slow it down a bit.  Not a simple task with an almost three-year-old, a recent total home makeover and a personality that is always desiring uber-productivity.  Lord, help me!

Catch Up

Pregnancy has not been kind to my body and therefore I have not had the energy or time to keep up with our blog!  For that I apologize and I hope that it's not a continuing trend post-baby.  Instead of trying to crank out ten posts today, I am going to attempt an abridged version of our household goings-on these last few weeks.


Holidays
I fear I'm even less likely to write post-holidays since it takes me about two weeks to recover and about two months to upload photos.  That said, we had a fantastic and family-filled Thanksgiving and Christmas and Ava loved getting some time away from home.  She has become quite the flexible traveler and now does very well in new situations, with new foods, people or sleeping arrangements.

Christmas was especially delightful as this was the first year Ava really understood the full excitement of the Christmas morning tradition.  She waited quasi-patiently at the top of the stairs for mom and dad to get dressed and ready and then tore into all that the day had to offer.  Besides the expected new lesson that not all gifts are for her and the lessons of patience and gift-giving, what a joy it was to watch her open her presents with awe and wonder and trembling hands.  She kept saying things like, "What is it?!  What could it be?!" and "Woah, cool!  I'm so excited!"  Experiencing Christmas through her eyes really was a thrill.

Ava waiting patiently on the steps on Christmas morning

Moving Day
Blair has had some time off between semesters and his schedule has been substantially lighter.  I have of course capitalized on this and given him a lengthy honey-do list to complete before mid-January!  As my belly has become increasingly more inhibitive, I've enjoyed having him around to not only to carry loads of laundry downstairs and pick up things off the floor, but to also do many of the preparations for our "moving day" which took place last week.

Our upstairs bedroom is to become the nursery and guest room, and we moved our master bedroom to the finished basement.  I spent the weeks prior to moving day painting a design on one of the walls down there (a task much more difficult than I originally imagined) which though exhausting, has really helped to transform that room into a much more luxurious space.

The "hand-painted wallpaper" that I finished for our new master bedroom

Moving day also involved setting up Ava's new bed, dresser and nightstand which she couldn't have been more excited about.  She has loved having a bigger bed, has done very well with no bed rails, and is slowly adjusting to having mommy and daddy a little farther away.  I've also overhauled the orientation of the rest of our furniture, storage and layout to better suit our incoming arrival.  Ava has been a good sport though she'll be glad when mommy's all done moving things and throwing things out while she's asleep (especially her things).  While we still have a lot of work to do around here of the big and the small variety, it feels very good to finally have a space that is capable of welcoming a baby!

Ava's new big-girl room

The Ava Girl
Ava has really been a trooper with all of the changes going on around here.  She's lately been a bit more clingy and "mopey" as I like to say, but she's fairing pretty well.  She is growing so much and is still as sharp as a tack, always thinking, always asking questions and astounding us with the connections her little brain makes.  Today I made chili for the first time in awhile and she said, "Mom, there are two chili's.  That up there (pointing to the stove) and then how it's chilly outside!"  Genius.  All day long she asks what everything means, why things are the way they are, and is into classifying her vast amounts of knowledge.  For instance, a regular conversation at the table for us goes something like, "I like oranges.  Are oranges healthy?"  "Yes, very healthy."  "Are they healthy for your baby?"  "Yep."  "Broccoli is really healthy.  Is mac & cheese healthy?"  "No, but it's ok to eat every so often."  "It's not healthy?  But it tastes so good?  Is candy healthy?"  And so on!  This girl loves to learn and I know will give us a run for our money in the coming years.

Though she doesn't understand the full extent of what's to come in March, Ava is very excited for her baby brother's arrival.  I think she is mostly excited because it will mean mommy can actually chase her and be tackled by her again, but she's also looking forward to giving the baby his pacifier, singing to him and rocking him when he cries (so she says).  Today she felt him really move for the first time and it was such a precious moment.  Every time I've asked her to touch my belly in the past she either misses a kick or refuses all together.  But, today baby boy had the hiccups and I ushered her over to feel.  Her eyes lit up and she said, "Is he knocking?!"  She was fascinated when I told her he had the hiccups and showed her the movement that she was feeling.

Pregnancy
Just shy of 32 weeks, I'm definitely feeling the end is near... but not near enough.  I've thankfully remained healthy and without any major issues, but my body would beg to differ.  It likes to remind me daily that it doesn't approve of my choice to get pregnant and therefore refuses often to do what I want it to do.  Since entering the third trimester I've become much more nauseous again and have had to deal with a lot of anxiety which was a surprise.  With Ava I had the expected amount of over-emotional to deal with but with this little guy I've been a bit of a wreck!  Thankfully, I have a loving and caring husband and a healthy dose of perspective that I didn't have the first time around.  I am doing my best to just take it one day at a time and get through the next two months with as much enjoyment as possible!

Hopefully it won't be another month until I post again.  In the upcoming weeks, check back for photos of Baby Two's nursery!

28 weeks

At 28 weeks I am

So thankful for the many kicks and punches from this baby boy

Still experiencing a lot of pain and pressure

Fitting more comfortably in Blair's clothes than my own

Nesting like crazy

Taking it easy

Loving imagining Ava as a big sister

Over the moon about entering the third trimester!

Still very undecided about baby boy's name

Beginning to get his nursery together

Enjoying time as a mother of one and

dreaming of life as a mother of two

Sooo ready.

The Star

Too sweet a moment to keep to ourselves!

Betty the Faceless Snowman

Given that Ava has had very little excitement in her life lately (due to my constant need to take it easy), I decided to celebrate last nights two-inch snowfall here with Ava's very first snowman.  I squeezed into two pairs of maternity pants, barely zipped my coat and got down on my hands and knees in the name of making my girl happy.

Despite aching hips and a mid-frosty topple, we eventually completed Ava's first snowy friend.  Unfortunately, Ava didn't realize how long it took to actually construct a snowman.  When we finished, he got two hugs, the name "Betty" and then Ava was ready to come in for some hot cocoa.  By the time I made my way back out there to affix a face to our frosty, it had turned completely to ice!  Though his button-nose is m.i.a., he was at least donned with a hat and scarf for his photo shoot.  Though not the epic first-frosty moment I'd hoped to share with my daughter, it was still memorable and Ava has continued to love him from her warm perch at the kitchen window!

Now, thanks to you Betty, I will be laying down for the rest of the week.

O Christmas Tree

Each year we have been married, Blair and I have gone out to cut down a fresh frazer fir for our living room in December.  We've been through illnesses, pregnancies and baby-toting years, so each visit to the tree farm has looked a little bit different.  Even though this year I was huffing and puffing up hills in search of our perfect tree, it was by far my favorite as we got to watch Ava run gleefully through the lines of trees and savor every moment of this tradition.  This was the first year that she was really old enough to not only enjoy and understand what was taking place but to also do the whole trek on her own two feet--hurrah!

Ava squealed, "Mommy!  This one is Ava-sized!"

Our pick (and check out that central PA view!)

Merry almost Christmas from our family of 3 1/2!

A Miracle Baby

I believe God performs miracles every day.  In the last few weeks as I've gone from 22 to 24 to 26 weeks pregnant, I have been remembering and marveling at one of God's miracle creations.  Two years ago, my friend Melissa gave birth to her son Kyren at just 24 weeks gestation.  The story is remarkable and unfathomable but in the end God chose to bless this family with a precious and healthy baby boy.  I have been pouring over these pictures of baby Kyren and cannot believe that a boy just this size has been kicking around in me and making himself known.  I am praising God for saving and growing Kyren and for our healthy son as he grows in my womb during this 27th week.

 Kyren, born at 24 weeks gestation.

Getting to hold Kyren for the first time at a week old.

A perspective shot, Kyren with his Daddy

at one month old (28 weeks gestationally).

 4 weeks old

Kyren at two years old!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

24 Weeks

I had my 24 week appointment today and it couldn't have come soon enough.  Over the last 4 weeks I've been having increasing pain and intense pressure in my lower half and over the last few days haven't been able to stand or walk for more than a few minutes at a time.  Yesterday, against all my natural leanings, Ava and I had a "PJ day" (mostly because I couldn't bear to sit on the floor and attempt to change her) and watched a lot more TV than I would normally prescribe.  I laid on the couch or in bed as much as possible and by the evening I was feeling a little relief.

Thankfully my blood pressure is normal and the doctor said that though this is unfortunate for me, there are no pressing health concerns for me or the baby.  Hurray (I guess).  What I described he said was not unusual for second pregnancies as the body doesn't hold up quite as well as it did the first time around.  Being that this will probably only worsen over the next 3 1/2 months, he advised me to rest and get help with Ava when I can, but I'm grateful to know that no real harm is being done.  Though I wanted to say, "Are you sure, because I'm pretty sure this baby's head is already halfway out and my legs might burst open at any moment."

The other good news is that my weight and girth (Brian Regan anyone?) are almost exactly in toe with what I measured with Ava, despite my feeling twice as big and cumbersome.  It's the small victories!  And once again, somewhere in between taking the above picture and uploading it from Photo Booth, the magical circuitry has made me look much less huge than I actually am.  You will not hear me complaining about this.  Since I don't know how to work the timer on Blair's camera for a more accurate photo, I'm happy to display this and then shock you all with the real thing later.

We got to hear the heartbeat and when the doctor asked Ava, "Are you going to have a baby brother?" she lifted her shirt and pointed to her belly, "Yeah, and I have a baby Jesus right down here in my heart!"  It appears that teaching her about pregnancy and the Holy Spirit at the same time might have caused a little confusion.

All in all, though some days are better than others, I am feeling very weary and ready for this pregnancy to be over.  I am praying for mercy in the weeks to come (and an early delivery date would be magical).  I am however SO thankful for my loving husband and best friend who have rallied to help me as much as they can.  Today after my appointment, Blair dropped Ava off at Erin's house and will be picking her up this afternoon and taking her on a daddy-daughter dinner date while I rest.  Now, let me just say that I haven't had 8 hours (or 2 hours) to myself in almost 3 years and I'm not even sure what to do with that amount of quiet time!  I'm sure I'll think of something (probably involving jammies and hot cocoa) and I feel so blessed to have people in my life who care about me and my baby boy.

Asthma

We headed to the doctor on Friday, sure after a night of screaming that Ava was suffering from her third ear infection in six weeks.  The good news?  No ear infection (shockingly).  The bad news?  Ava almost certainly has asthma.

With every cold and ear infection this season so far she's continued to have wheezing and a dry asthmatic cough, though thankfully her oxygen levels have stayed within a safe range.  We have an inhaler that we have to give her every four hours whenever she begins to show signs of illness, and she's just started on Singulair, a medication she'll take daily through the winter as a preventative measure.

With two parents who have had asthma since childhood, she was most definitely doomed.  I was hoping it would hold off for a few more years but at least at this stage it's not holding her back in the slightest!  And, as sorry a 'pro' as it may be, I am thankful that we had four weeks of health between Ava's last ear infection and this latest cold.  Compared to last year that is a significant improvement and happened to coincide with starting her on a multivitamin and vitamin-D supplement.  Maybe they are doing the trick!

Outdoor Bliss

Just like her mother, Ava LOVES fall and the cooler temperatures that come with it.  She has been asking to go outside every morning (yes, when it's still 30 degrees) and thankfully we've had lots of sunshine lately for her to enjoy.  A few days ago she went on a long walk with daddy and the childhood bliss that ensued is palpable in these photos!  Love her.

Window Crayons

One of the best winter indoor activity inventions ever.