Full Term

October 12

Only two more weeks until my due date! I can’t believe it is so close. We are so excited to meet this little one. Yes I am nervous and scared about delivery but I am at a point now that I am ready for this little one to be out and for my back and hips to not hurt so much from the weight of a baby inside of me. This past week I have had days where I feel really good and days where I don’t feel so hot. I have felt kind of crampy and back pain mostly. I walk pretty slow and have quite the waddle. This past week to keep busy I have been doing lots of deep cleaning. I want the apartment to be clean when she arrives and though I may over do it on some days I am so happy to feel like the apartment is really deep cleaned. I had an appointment today. The baby’s heart beat was in the high 150s. Last week it was in the 120s so I asked if that was normal to have that big of a difference. She said that it is really good and they like it to change in the range from 110 to 160 which means they are active and change from being active to relaxing. My belly is measuring where is should be and then Dr. Lewing checked me and attempted to sweep my membranes. That was pretty painful and I have been not looking forward to it and nervous about it for the past few days. I am dilated to a 1 which I guess is progress but you can be at a 1 or 2 for weeks. She said she was only able to sweep a little bit of my membranes since my cervix is still high and the baby hasn’t dropped yet so we will do it again next week. Not looking forward to that but it also means we are getting to the end and it is a way to get my body to go into labor on its own which is a good thing and may lead to a successful VBAC. After Dr. Lewing left I laid there for a bit since I felt a bit dizzy and let myself cry for a bit. All the lead up to this appointment with my nerves and the painful experience I just needed a little release. I felt lots of cramps throughout the rest of the day which wasn’t fun but it all leads to the end and that soon I will be getting to hold a brand new little miracle baby.

38 week photos

October 18

I had another weekly appointment today. In two days I will be 39 weeks. It is so close to the end and I am so excited to meet this little girl. I am ready to have her here but I am trying to be patient and trying not to get my hopes up and expecting to go into November. Everything measured good and her heartbeat was in the low 130s. I got checked again today and Dr. Lewing tried to strip my membranes. I am still dilated to a 1 and my cervix is still high so she wasn’t able to strip much. It was pretty uncomfortable and painful but I got through it and we will see how the next week goes. The rest of the day I was pretty uncomfortable and had some spotting and cramping. One fun thing that happened is we all had a small bowl of ice cream in the evening and when I was done I set the bowl on my tummy and the baby went on wiggling like she was trying to get the bowl off her. It was so cute to watch and Paige loved it. Also in the evening I got really dizzy which led to a long night. I started off going to bed dizzy which was hard since I couldn’t change positions without getting really dizzy. So it was hard to get comfortable and I had to change how I was laying really slowly. I finally got to sleep and then woke up to go to the bathroom at 11:30 and then at 1:30 I woke up with major heart burn. I haven’t had it that bad ever. It was like acid was coming up my throat and swishing around. I finally got up to take some Tums and laid on the coach for a few hours to be more upright until the Tums really started working. I then went to bed at 3:30 and slept good until I heard crying from Paige a little before 5. I went in to see what was wrong and she had a bad dream. As I was laying next to her comforting her and rubbing her head and back I was filled with such gratitude. She didn’t want me to leave so she was cuddling with me which never happens. So I have her cuddled up to my chest and then I have another little girl wiggling around in my belly and it made me feel so grateful for modern medicine and that I have the chance to be a mom to these two amazing little girls.

October 25

I had my last appointment today before I reach the 40 week mark. In two days is my due date. I can’t believe that it is already here but then also it seems like these last few weeks have gone on forever. I am ready to meet this little girl. Also every day that gets closer to my due date I feel like it is déjà vu and that every day that I go overdue will lead to exactly what happened last time but I guess we will see. I am trying to stay hopeful that she will decide to come on her own. My appointment went well today and baby’s heart rate was in the 130s again. I also got my membranes stripped today. It didn’t hurt as bad today compared to last week even though it was still really uncomfortable. Dr. Lewing said this was because the baby’s head is a little further down and my cervix is softening and I am 50 percent effaced which is good that there is some progress. I am dilated to a 2 so that is farther along at this point compared to my pregnancy with Paige. I have an appointment next week where I will decide for sure when to be induced. I either choose a week over which is a Friday but I would have a different doctor or wait until the following Monday if I want Dr. Lewing. With this part of choosing it made me really miss Dr. Bigler. I have no idea how he did it but he always seemed to be at the hospital when I was there. He was there the night I went in and the next morning to deliver Paige and then checked on me the next day to see how I was recovering. When I was in the hospital with the my colon infection two weeks later he was the one doctor that I relied on and he checked on me every morning and I was there for four or five days. I just have to realize that Dr. Bigler is an old school doctor and I felt like he would do anything for me. Doctors now will be there if they are on call. I just have to change my way of thinking. I am just afraid if I wait until the Monday to have Dr. Lewing I will end up having a C-section since I will be 10 days overdue by then. I did email Dr. Lewing my concerns and she said she would work with me which is good news but we will see how the next week goes and how it all turns out. I just have to think I will be holding this miracle baby in my arms at the end of all of this and it doesn't matter how she gets here just as long as mom and baby are healthy.

October 27

Happy Due Date! I wish that I was already holding this little girl in my arms but I will just have to be patient. I have waited almost 5 years to have another child so I know I can wait another week to see her. We are hoping she comes on her own but my body just doesn't seem to want to go into labor.

Today was a beautiful day so we went on a little family walk on the Soos Creek Trail to try and get labor started and to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather.

40 weeks!

 And this cute little model wanted her own photo shoot too.

 For most of the walk Paige was super girl and her jacket was her cape. 

Then we had to get a few fall pictures with all the beautiful leaves.

Then on Saturday we went on another beautiful walk since that is what I was instructed to do by my doctor to maybe help my body go into labor. We went to a nature area called Meadowlark by North Bend with Nona and Pops. Paige wanted to be right by Pops side the entire time and it was cute watching them walk holding hands and racing each other. She is one lucky girl to have such amazing grandparents. 

You can come now whenever you want baby. We are ready to meet you!

Fall Weekend

 This weekend we had some beautiful fall weather so we decided to go on a few adventures. Paige didn't have school on Friday so we went with Margaret to Thomasson Family Farm after Nate got home from work. It was pretty chilly at first but then the sun came out and it was beautiful weather and we had such a fun time there. We have gone to this farm every year since Paige was about 2 and I love coming here. 

 The favorite corn box

 Paige was so proud of herself once she realized she could jump off this hay bail by herself and did it over and over.

 This is the one thing she remembered that she wanted to do when I told her we were going to go- milk the cow.

 Our very bumpy hayride.

 Paige didn't want to go by herself even though I knew she would like it so I climbed in with her. It was a tight fit with my large belly and Paige on my lap. :)

 Target practice with apples- Nate got really close to hitting a target and Margaret hit one and got a free hot chocolate. 

 We had a little picnic in the car before heading home. It was such a fun outing and it was nice to be outside for a while and spend time together. 

Then Saturday was another beautiful, fall day so we went to Issaquah to the fish hatchery.

 Looking at all the salmon in the river.

 There were some big salmon swimming through the ladders. 

 Watching a lot of little salmon jump around.

Another fun adventure-filled weekend with my little family. I love them so much and we are excited to continue having more adventures as a family of four!

28 to 36 weeks

August 9

I had another check up today and I am about 28 ½ weeks along. This appointment was pretty normal though I had to wait for quite awhile and I could tell the patient next to be was discussing her birthing plan with Dr. Lewing so I knew it could be awhile. Everything looks great with me. I didn’t gain any weight in the past two weeks but everything else looks great and the baby’s heart rate is great also. I signed the paper today saying that I would like to try a VBAC and had to talk about the risks involved in that. The worst that could happen is that the stress of labor would cause my uterus to break open where the incision is from my C-section and it would require surgery and a blood transfusion. It is scary to think about but they always have to tell you the worse that could happen and you hope that all will go well. I will most likely have to be induced or at least have to get my water broken to start labor. If I have to have pitocin then it will be a low dosage and I will be monitored since it is a VBAC. The really awesome thing that happened today is that when I was leaving I saw Tanya who is the ultrasound tech in Auburn who was with Dr. Bigler. I love that she recognized me and gave me a big hug and was so happy for me. She helped me with the ectopic and has been so much a part of my journey to get to this point. She was just subbing for someone today but it was so nice to see her and it made me miss Dr. Bigler even though I really like Dr. Lewing.

August 23

Today’s appointment was my 30 week check up and was really quick. I met with the nurse practitioner since Dr. Lewing was out of the office. It was the typical appointment of checking on me and listening to baby’s heartbeat which everything looks great.

30 week photo shoot

 I love being pregnant with Paige around. She loves feeling the baby move and talks to her sister all the time. She is so excited to be a big sister and will be an amazing one!

September 6

Today was my 32 week ultrasound and a growth ultrasound. Paige and Nate got to come to this appointment for the ultrasound. I have wanted Paige to go to an ultrasound and I figured this was the best one since it is later in the pregnancy and you can kind of see what the baby looks like. I still think it was a bit hard for Paige to tell exactly what was going on but she enjoyed it. They measured baby’s head and around the tummy and she is weighing about 4 ½ pounds. Everything looks great. She has Paige’s upper lip that sticks out and reminds me a lot of Paige. She has some hair and looks just so cute and is starting to get chubby. She also had the hiccups for some of the ultrasound and it was so cute to see her little body move with the hiccup. After the ultrasound I quickly talked to Dr. Lewing and she said everything looks great. She is head down now so I often feel her bum moving around and get kicks and punches on the sides and sometimes up near my ribs. It is most uncomfortable when is pushes where my belly button is. I feel pretty good most of the time. Usually by the end of the day my feet and bum are sore and I can tell when I have been on my feet for too long. In the mornings my back usually hurts from sleeping. I have also been getting more frequent heartburn which isn’t fun but if I take a Tums it goes away. I still love feeling baby move and it is always reassuring as she rolls around in my stomach.

Cute little profile- it is not the greatest picture since the ultrasound tech had a hard time getting a good picture because this little one kept putting her hands and feet in front of her face. 

September 20

I had my 34 week appointment today. It was pouring rain today and I walked to my doctor’s appointment so I got pretty wet. I am glad though that my coat is big enough to barely zip over my growing belly. It was another quick visit. Baby’s heartbeat was nice and strong in the high 130s. My belly s measuring exactly where it should and my weight looks good. I really don’t remember how much weight I gained with Paige but at this point I have gained 17 pounds. Dr. Lewing asked me the normal questions and everything is normal. She did tell me today that she will start stripping my membranes at 37 weeks. That scared me a little bit. Originally I thought she wasn’t going to do this until 39 weeks. She said that it most likely won’t do anything the first couple of weeks but it is a good way to soften my cervix and hopefully get my body to go into labor on its own. My chances of having a successful VBAC go up more if I go into labor on my own verses being induced. I think it scared me some just because that was sooner than I thought and I am scared and worried about the delivery part and I have never had my membranes stripped before and it doesn’t sound that comfortable. After my visit with Dr. Lewing, I got the Tdap shot since they suggest that for all pregnant women mostly for the pertussis part of it so I will have a sore arm tomorrow but I like doing all these small little things to keep this baby healthy and it is getting to the home stretch.

September 23

Today I had a baby shower. It was with so many good friends from my ward and I felt so loved! Paige has been so excited for this and couldn’t wait to help open all the presents. She got sick the day before and I was worried she wouldn’t be able to go but I decided that this cold couldn’t keep her away since she has been looking forward to it for so long.  She loves going to baby showers with me and was so excited to go to one for her own baby sister. I was so also grateful and excited to be having my own baby shower. When you are going through infertility baby showers can be really hard to go to. I have been to lots and lots of baby showers for friends and family since having Paige and often you go because you are happy for them but it is one of those times when it is also hard because you wish it were you having the baby shower. There were times in the past when I would put on a happy face but then cry in the private moments. It was amazing to be the one showered with gifts of love in anticipation of the arrival of this miracle baby that is growing inside of me. The decorations were all pink per Paige’s request and it was very relaxed and it was nice to visit with so many good friends. Paige loved opening all the gifts and her favorite gift was from Anna. It is matching dresses for Paige and her new baby sister. Paige has been excited to wear matching clothes since finding out we are having another girl. I loved all the gifts but one that meant a little more to be was also from Anna and it is a onesie that says “worth the wait”.  It has been a long road to get to this point and I wouldn’t have chosen to wait this long but this little miracle baby is definitely worth the wait. Nate’s favorite gifts were diapers and wipes since that helps us save money and will all get used. It was such a great party!

Paige loved all the pink decorations.

 Paige wanted me to wear this shirt to the baby shower since it was the same shirt I wore to her baby shower. She likes it since it has a bow so it is like the baby is a present. She also picked her cupcake shirt since it was a party.

 It was cute watching her hug this outfit since it was so soft and very girly.

The matching dresses for Paige and her little sister. I can't wait to see my two cute girls in their matching pink dresses.

 We received so many gifts and feel very loved and appreciate the support of so many family and friends!

October 5

It is so exciting that it is finally October and I can say that I am due this month! I had my 36 week appointment today even though I will be 37 weeks tomorrow. It was a quick visit. They measured my growing belly and listened to baby’s heartbeat. I also got the Step B test. Next week will be the start of being checked and getting my membranes stripped. It is getting so close. I am so excited to finally meet this little girl and of course nervous about delivery. I have a feeling this might be a long month waiting as each day draws closer to my due date. 

36 week belly bump- One more month until this little girl is due!

36 week comparison- left picture is 8 months pregnant with Paige and the right picture is 8 months pregnant this time around.

We all can’t wait to meet you little one!