Tuesday, 25 Mar

Today we found out we are having another baby girl!! I think their was some mixed emotions. We were hoping for a boy but I was SO happy to see her healthy. My husband looked sad and still hasn `t said a whole lot about it so that makes me feel really sad. He told me he was hoping for a boy but is happy it `s healthy but since this is probably our last baby (he don `t want anymore) and now having a boy will never happen.

Monday, 07 April

We just returned home from Acapulco Mexico on Saturday. On Sunday I began vomitting and was very sick. We still had a three hour drive home and my husband brought me to the hospital. They monitored the baby for awhile and found she was doing fine! They gave me a pill to help me get better and today is Monday and I'm already feeling quite a bit better. Let me tell everyone though that I would never recommend Acapulco to anyone. It is a crowded city with high prices to eat and the food is not very good there! My husband and three year old also got sick. I'm SO happy to be home. I guess the weather was great and I got a nice tan though!! The baby has been moving so much lately and I love the feeling!!! This is my favorite part of being pregnant!

Tuesday, 22 April

Today I had my 25 week checkup. I went in their with no real main concerns but wanted to notify my doctor of the fact that I've been having many braxton hicks contractions in the evenings. When he pushed on a certain area, I felt some pain and he then told me he was concerned I have a bladder infection. Other indicators I didn't even realize I have too, such as the fact I'm constantly having to go to the bathroom (which I thought was normal!) My urine sample is going to be tested and I will find out in a day or two if I do have an infection. I'm really glad I brought this up today because I almost let it go, thinking that the braxton hicks were normal. I'm kind of nervous too because my stepsister was this far along when she delivered a 2 lb. baby who ended up having cerebal palsy :( The reason for her early labor was account of a bladder infection.

Sunday, 27 April

I found out that I do not have bladder infection so I'm very happy about that. Now, I feel as though I have strep throat and if it's not better in the AM I'm going to go in for a culture. I don't want any infections getting too bad. It snowed Friday night 15 total inches. It was horrible. The lake was completely unthawed and we were in the process of getting the yard completely raked and then this! It's melting fast but that much snow takes awhile. Tonight my husband and I were talking about the name Ellie which we had picked out a while ago and also have been calling our little girl. Well he told me tonight he doesn't care for that name so we decided to pick a new one. We both are agreeing on the name Erica. That name seems to fit. I think I like it!

Wednesday, 30 April

It feels good to have it be the last day of April. This month has carried on too long. I keep thinking about how I just have May June and July left. It is kind of scary considering we haven't started on the baby's room. I figure I have June to do all of that though since I'll be done with work May 23rd. I also plan to do some rummage sailing to get some more baby clothes. I am home today because I found out yesterday that my throat culture (that started out negative on Monday) came back positive yesterday. I figure even though I was already feeling better before the antibiotics, I will take this day to fully recover. It gives me lots of extra time to think BABY!!

Wednesday, 14 May

Today I worked and was on my feet more than ever. I began to feel like I was leaking amniotic fluid along with some pelvic pain. The more I thought, the more I worried. So, after work I called in and they told me to come in. I had a trace of protein in my urine (unrelated to anything else). I then began to worry about that. My doctor checked me and we found that it was not amniotic fluid nor did I have a yeast infection. I felt a lot better. He was very through with me. He also said that the protein trace was completely fine and normal. The baby's heart beat was 147 and he said the baby seems "very happy". It felt good to hear that. The baby also measured right on track. I will start going in for appt's every 2 weeks now. My next appt is May 28th.

Thursday, 29 May

Yesterday I had my 30 week checkup. I also had my glucose screening. I am not too overly worried about it coming back as I failed. Everything is going great. I feel like it's hard to breath sometimes and it's getting really hard and annoying to bend over to pick things up. The baby's heart beat was 146 so it's been remaining pretty consistant. I am feeling the need to make sure I have diapers and wipes, bottles, and a few other things. I want to be prepared. The baby's room at the other house has barely got started. I'm hoping some family can come over and paint it for me. While we live at our summer cabin, she will just share a room with us for the rest of the summer. My next appt. is in 2 weeks!!

Sunday, 08 June

This weekend we had many graduation parties to go to. I have heard from all my family about how big I am getting. I can't believe I could be having the baby already next month!! I bought our daughter a Mercer Mayer book about a new baby in the family and signed both the girls up for a Sibshops class in July at the hospital. I know our daughter who is 4 is very excited and wants to kiss my belly and talk about the baby all the time but my stepdaughter doesn't seem very interested so I want her to become more involved. One problem I've developed is carpal tunnel. It can be painful and annoying. When I sleep, it wakes me up because my arm and hand feel like they are so numb. Now, it's getting worse and even turns numb when I sleep! I'm going to get braces at my appt. on Wed. though. Hopefully, that helps!!

Wednesday, 11 June

I had my 32 week checkup today. My two concerns were my carpal tunnel and some pain I've been feeling on my pubic bone. He gave me braces to wear at night and I'm sure they will make a huge difference. With the pain on my pubic bone, he said it's seperating some and that it's not a huge concern but delivery will be extra painful!! He said with an epideral though, I won't feel a difference. And I've planned to get one of those again. It makes giving birth enjoyable and my mind is more focused than I think it would be if I was in extreme pain. It's been so wonderful to go in every time to hear how everything is going normal and healthy. I've gained a pound since 2 weeks ago and a total of about 15 lbs. which is good he says. Next appt. in 2 weeks!!

Thursday, 26 June

Yesterday was my 34th week checkup. I found out the baby's head is down. That's kind of a nice thought. I have heard it's painful to have the baby turned. My pain on the pubic bone has been very annoying when I go to sleep at night. I took Tylonal the last 2 nights but don't plan to do that every night. The doctor joked about giving me a walker to use. I told him we are hoping the baby comes at 38 weeks and he said we can make that happen if we want since the summer can get hot and miserable. But we will see about that... I kind of want things to go naturally. I figured my blood pressure would be high because I had my daughter and stepdaughter with and they were bickering all day. Low and behold, it was the lowest it's been so far. I was kind of hoping I could make the girls feel guilty about the whole thing but I guess I had nothing. My mom sent out invitations for a baby shower for me on July 13th. That will be exciting and hopefully I won't have much longer after that till baby Erika comes!!

Friday, 27 June

I woke up this morning and I'm quite sure the baby has officially dropped. Just another step closer to meeting our new little girl!!

Tuesday, 01 July

I am now 35 weeks. I really wouldn't mind if this little girl would be born on the 4th of July... anytime SOON!! I feel so tired :( I have heartburn often. All day long my lower back has been in pain. I really want to have this baby SOON!!!

Wednesday, 09 July

Today was my 36 week appt. I never had any big concerns but wanted to know if I was dialated at all. I wasn't :( That's okay though... but I'm really hoping for only a couple more weeks. My blood pressure has been great all throughout. I hate this heartburn I'm dealing with!! I know I've dropped a lot because I could visably tell when I looked in the mirror one morning. Not to mention, I get up every hour on the hour to use the bathroom almost. I told him I think I dropped and he said "a little." I think I dropped a lot but I'm not a doctor I guess. We are camping this weekend so I guess it's good I'm not dialated any. I wouldn't want to go into labor QUITE yet... But soon!!

Sunday, 13 July

Today my mom and grandma had a baby shower for me!! I was very surprised to see all of the people that were able to make it! We got a lot of nice things for the baby!! Now I am COMPLETELY ready, so baby come on out...

Wednesday, 16 July

I'm so scared right now!!! Dennis is away up north at our cabin for the night and I have a scary feeling I will go into labor tonight. Today I had my 37 week checkup and he never checked if I was dialated but did tell me the baby is sitting very low. She is head down. If I do go into labor, I'm nervous that he wouldn't make it in time. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive to the hospital from where he is at. I would of course need to drive myself into the hospital. I have my 10 year old stepdaughter and 4 year old daughter to take with me too. If he missed the birth I would be SOOOO SAD!

On another note, tonight the girls went to a Sibshops class to prepare them for the baby's arrival. It was such a great experiance for our 4 year old. They watched a movie, listened to some stories, got to practice changing a doll and wrapping them in a blanket, and then we went for a tour through the birthing suite. I also am excited that I got a pink Boppy bouncer for 50% off at Target today.

I am very ready for baby to come, but really hope she waits till SUNDAY! Tonight of course, I am praying won't be the night. AND We have a 50th anniversary party for my mother and father in law on Saturday that would be bad to miss. My husband is in charge of roasting a pig that day and I know there are things I will need to help with. What a busy week this has been!!

Tuesday, 22 July

What a wild night we had last night! I have had contractions for 3 nights in a row now but last night was different. We were up north at our hunting cabin (2 1/2 hours away from the hospital I go to) and I had been refusing all day to spend the night and making it clear to my husband that was not going to happen. Well, it was 8pm and I started having contractions 10 min. apart. It was kind of the same situation that had been the past 2 nights. SO, we counted them and I went for a walk to see if they would go away. Nope... We took off towards home and on the ride home my contractions got stronger and stronger and closer together. By the time we FINALLY got to town, I was in a lot of pain and the contractions were constant. I got to the hospital and went up to the birthing suite. "Is this the real thing?" the nurse asked. YES I said. So I layed down with the monitors and guess what... the contractions went away!! I figured I was dialated from all of that but when she checked me I WASN'T AT ALL!! We spent the night so I would get monitored but this morning, still nothing! I was sent home... It was crazy though. I can't believe it was such intense "labor" and it ended up being "false labor". The only thing they found was a thinner cervix and today I think I lost part of my mucus plug because it was bloody. (Although she said it could just be because he checked me). So there is my long story... just not the ending I had hoped for yet.