January 23rd!

I received this message from a friend today, and I just had to share it. All throughout my pregnancy I have been complaining about the little aches and pains I have associated with it, and how I wish there were things I could do, and so on. And then I got this, and realized how very blessed I am. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, a precious son on the way, a brand new home, and the best family and friends anyone could ask for. It makes those little complaints I have seem selfish at the least. I hope after reading this, you realize the blessings you've received in your own life as well. It certainly makes me see things very differently...

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift.

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

January 28th!

So I had another scheduled doctor's appointment on Friday, January 25th. It was a very short visit this time. They got my weight, and I had only gained 4 lbs. again this month. So that's awesome I'm staying on track, because I feel like I eat all the time! They measured my belly, which I was surprised how far up I could feel my uterus above my belly button! It doesn't seem like that long ago that everything was all below my belly button, but now I'm definitely popping out and rounding out!! Then I heard my baby boy's heartbeat, which was 158. Good and strong!! He asked me some questions about Alyssa's delivery, and called in for my records for her birth. When I told him I pushed for nearly 4 hours, he just gasped! So they want to see if there were any problems I wasn't aware of or anything like that. So the next appointment is February 27th, and I get to do the oh-so-fun Glucose Tolerance Test! Yummy :(

February 27th!

Had my week 29 appointment today, and all is well! I had to do the Glucose Screening Test, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It just tasted like flat fruit punch really, so not too bad. I won't get the results until tomorrow though :( And in an interesting twist, I lost 3 lbs. at this appointment. Shocker for me, but completely awesome! The baby's heartbeat was 156 which was great, and I'm moving right along. I have to start going every 2 weeks now, so my next appointment is on March 13th when I'll be 31 weeks. It's crazy how fast this is all moving along!

April 9th!

So yesterday was my 35 week appointment, and some interesting news came from it. They called in for my records from the hospital when I delivered Alyssa, and went over them with me. They told me (which I well remember, trust me!) that I had a bad tear when she came out and required lots of stitches because she was just over 9lbs. at birth. So, they said by feeling my tummy they could tell me that little Tony was following in the same footsteps, and he's pretty big. Also, he told me that little Tony still hasn't turned head down, and is still in a completely breech position. This being said, they are going to check my cervix the next two weeks at my appointments to see if I'm making any labor progress, and all that. If I haven't had him by week 38 on my own, they want to induce me and deliver him!! They don't want him to get as big as Alyssa was, because they said the way I'm shaped I can't handle it and that's why I tore so bad with Alyssa. Now, at my 38 week appointment on April 29th, if I haven't had him on my own yet, they're going to do an ultrasound to confirm if he's still breech or not. If he isn't, then they want to induce me the next day with medication. If he is, then I will have to have a C-section. But they do NOT want me to go past week 38. So it looks like I'm going to meet my little Tony 2 weeks before I thought I would!!!!! I'm soooooo super excited, I can't hardly stand it! My next appointment is next Tuesday, at week 36, and I'll have the Group B Strep test done. I was positive with Alyssa and had to have antibiotics when Alyssa was born, so we'll see what the results are this time. Dang, almost time!

April 16th!

So I had my 36 week appointment yesterday, and it was pretty uneventful. I saw a doctor in the practice I've never seen before, and I wasn't really pleased with him. I was supposed to have the Group B Strep test done, and I didn't have it. I was supposed to have my cervix checked for dialation or effacement, and I didn't have it checked. Pretty much the only good thing that came from the visit was the fact that he scheduled an ultrasound for me on Monday morning to see if baby Tony has turned head down from being breech or not, and to see exactly how big he is. Then they will take the results from that ultrasound and provide me with more information as to what course of action they're going to take when I go to my 37 week appointment next Wednesday. So we're still in limbo, still waiting to be checked for progress, and still waiting for baby Tony!

April 21st!

Ok, so today's ultrasound was very informative. I found out that baby Tony has turned head down...which is very good news! He's no longer breech, which means I won't have to have a C-section unless it's absolutely necessary. I can plan on delivering naturally!! I also found out that he weighs 6lbs. 8oz. They said if I were to go full term, he would be a little over 8lbs., which they do NOT want to happen. Alyssa was over 8lbs. at birth, and she gave me a 4th degree tear. So...the ultrasound technician strongly believes next week is it! I'm really hoping I go into labor before then, because DANG IT I'm getting very excited to meet my little guy. I posted a picture of the ultrasound today...she ended up doing it in 4D - and I wasn't expecting that at all! It's just too cute! So now, I'm just waiting for my appointment on Wednesday. The doctor will check my progress, and then tell me which course of action they'll go with. It looks like an induction with Pitocin, like my last baby, will be what happens. I'm anxious to see!

April 24th!

So I had my regular 37 week appointment yesterday. Interesting to say the least. I had my Group B Strep Test done, no big deal. Then I had my cervix checked, and I'm what he called a fingertip dilated. So nothing major there. But then, my blood pressure was 147/95 and I had protein in my urine! So he sent me on over to the hospital to have a non-stress test, urine test, blood pressure checks every 15 minutes, blood work done, and all sorts of crap. After 3 hours, they said I was ok to go home. But until my next appointment Tuesday, I'm on bedrest. Dang, I don't know if I can handle that or not. So I guess I'm not working today, I'm going to go home and try not to do anything. It's just not in my nature. But if that's what it takes to get my baby Tony here, I'll do it. I'm just so tired of being pregnant!

April 30th!

Yesterday was my week 38 appointment. I must say, I was severely frustrated at first. But I have since calmed down a little bit. The good news is my blood pressure was down at this visit, to 137/75, and there was no protein in my urine. So that's one less thing to worry about. He checked my cervix, and there wasn't much change at all from the last appointment. So it seems that I'm not making any progress whatsoever. Now here comes the really frustrating part - my next appointment isn't until May 9th! That is a full 10 days from this appointment. Are they crazy? That's way too long! They told me that if I haven't had baby Tony on my own by then, they are going to schedule a C-section for me because they don't want to risk me tearing badly like last time. WHAT? Why can't they just go ahead and induce me with Pitocin now, and let me go ahead and have him vaginally? He weighs over 7lbs., and they've said he will do just fine outside the uterus. I don't understand!!! Why would they wait so long, and then have to do a C-section when they can avoid it? I'm really upset still, but I don't know what else I can do about it. I guess I'm just going to pray that baby Tony comes on his own between now and then, whenever that will be :(

May 5th!

So this weekend has been spent being miserable. All weekend I've been having contractions, and have been feeling soooo crampy - like period crampy. But no results. I start timing the them, but they're so irregular that there's really no point yet I guess. There's bound to be something going on in there though. I just wish I had a doctor's appointment before Friday so I'd know for sure! I still feel upset that I have to wait that long to see my doctor. I'm really hoping I go into labor on my own between now and then, because the thought of a C-section is really freaking me out. And can you believe I'm STILL working??? Geez, I'm out of my mind. But I've decided my last day is going to be tomorrow. That will give me 2 days before the appointment to clean the house one last time, and catch up on some sleep. Because after I have little Tony, both will be taking a backseat for a while :-/ So wish me luck that the next time I write, it will be to announce the birth of our little boy!

May 9th!

So I finally had my appointment today I've been looking forward to for 10 long days! My blood pressure was 157/90...not good. They also measured baby Tony to be right at 9lbs. He hasn't dropped AT ALL, and no more change in my cervix. So here's the deal - I am scheduled for a C-Section on Monday at 9am!!!!! I'm sooo very excited to know there's only 2 more days until I meet baby Tony. The next time I talk to everyone, I will be posting pics of us. Be thinking of me :)