Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him
down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop
the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so
important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to
make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

35 weeks

34 weeks and 2 days.....8 and a half months and counting.....

34 weeks and 2 days...Check me out from the side......wow, has my belly extended!!

I have the prego nose and face for real!!!

The Night of Conception......look at the difference in my nose!!! Lord, I pray my face goes back to normal..lol

Greetings to all the preggers and TTC's. I am new to the site and am just feeling my way around. I am excited, estatic, and anxious about this pregnancy and cannot wait until my baby arrives. I am just about 30 weeks pregnant (10/11/2007). Her dad is a wonderful person and I thank him for having patience as I know that I can be a pain in the $%! especially now. I hope to meet and make friends on this site. Please leave me a comment as I love to talk...lol CONGRATS!!!

My little princess's name is Kaleb Elaine-Elizabeth Hawkins. One day at church, I read about Caleb in the bible and how he had unwavering faith in God. I thought to myself that if I were to have a son, Caleb would be his name. I want my child to always have faith in God as life is hard and even when mommy has gone away, he would know to whom to turn. Well, Im not having a boy....Im having a GIRL! I wasnt the least bit disappointed. I decided to name her Kaleb with a "K" (the "K" is the feminine twist) because life will still be hard and SHE, too, needs to know that she can always depend on God. Keep the faith, Kaleb!!

Pregnancy Survey
About You
Name?:	Kesha
Age?:	26
Height?:	5'8”
Pre-pregnancy weight?:	2 much
About The Father
Name?:	Bubba
Age?:	29
Height?:	6"
Are you still together?:	Yes
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?:	Yes
When did you find out you were pregnant?:	April
Was it planned?:	No
What was your first reaction?:	Asked myself, “is that another line”
Who was with you when you found out?:	Karen
Who was the first person you told?:	My Mom and Karen
How did your parents react?:	Mother was happy…I still don’t know what my dad is thinking..lol
How far along are you?:	30 weeks
What was your first symptom?:	Missed period and very tender breasts
What is your due date?:	December 21st
Do you know the sex of the baby?:	Yes
If so, what is it?:	female
Have you picked out names?:	Yes
If so, what are they?:	Kaleb Elaine-Elizabeth
How much weight have you gained?:	22-23lbs
Do you have stretch marks?:	Not any new ones…lol
Have you felt the baby move?:	Yes
Have you heard the heartbeat?:	Yes
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?:	YES
Home or hospital birth?:	Hospital
Natural or medicated birth?:	Will decide at time of delivery
Who will be in the delivery room with you?:	My boyfriend and my mom
Will you breastfeed?:	Yes in addition to formula
Do you think you'll need a c-section?:	Maybe…Im high-risk
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?:	probably
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?:	Hey mama’s little baby girl
Would you let someone videotape the birth?:	Yes
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?:	Both

Okay, I usually dont do updates but I am sooooo freaking tired of being pregnant that I must share to help relieve some of whatever this is Im feeling:)

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October 27, 2007

I am 32 weeks and 1 day. I am so excited. My babyshower was held on this day at my paternal grandmother's house. Kaleb got lots of stuff and I am so thrilled that she did because I had not bought her one item. Since the shower is out of the way, I will be going on a shopping spree for my Kaleb dearest!!!!

October 28, 2007

I did not go to church today. Because I work 5 days a week, all I do is relax on the weekend. Since my babyshower was Saturday, I exerted so much energy there that I was way too tired to get up for church. I cannot do anything extra during the weekends or else I will be tired as H-E-double hockey sticks.

October 29, 2007

Back to work...blah, blah, blah. I AM TIRED!! I take the prenatal vitamins. I go to bed by 8pm. I cannot get a good nights rest to save my life. I have sprained both wrists and thumbs trying to get comfortable so I have this annoying little pain in my hands. I have the pillow and tried it but it does not work!!

October 30, 2007

Because I have Type II Diabetes, I have been seeing a perinatal specialist since I was 18 weeks. At 24 weeks, I was put on insulin, only 15 units at bedtime and had to be seen weekly by the perinatal specialist and every other week by my OB. At 32 weeks, I have to see the perinatal specialist twice a week and my OB every week. My blood sugar keeps rising. I am so tired of being pregnant I could throw up...well I do that anyway. Today, I am sick. My fasting blood sugar was 131 and that is too high. It should be under 100. I felt queezy all day. Kaleb is still moving alot. Mommy loves her so much but is ready for her to make her GRAND ENTRANCE!!

October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!! Nothing to report.

November 1, 2007

Okay, I went to work but it was extremely difficult to get up. My dietitian called and said that my blood sugar has been high. Now, I started out at 24 weeks gestation taking 15 units..then 18 units..then 24 units...then 30 units...then 32 units...then 36 units...and today, she said to take 40 units at bedtime and 15 units at breakfast. This is totally depressing. If this does not work, I will need to take another type of insulin in addition to the one I already take. Wish me luck!

November 2, 2007

Happy Friday!! I still feel a little bad and sad but since it is Friday, I am trying to cheer up. Last night while laying on my side, I rubbed my belly from top to bottom and Kaleb followed me. I was so excited. I cried. I tried to get her dad to do it but she did not follow his hand :( Oh well!

November 5, 2007

This weekend was okay. On Friday, Kaleb and I ate Joe's Crab Shack. On Saturday, we had a meeting at church and had a Strawberry Patch from Smoothie Factory.....those are the bomb!! I also did laundry. On Sunday, we went to church. I cooked dinner, too. This morning (Monday), I threw up!! Good old morning sickness waits until a weekday to show up! I guess that means that it is time for me to stop working, huh? I went to the doctor today. I think I have gained a pound or two. I had my BPP done as usual and everything looked great to the doctor. Im just counting down the days........

November 6, 2007

Kaleb was so active today! She would not stop moving. No morning sickness this morning...yippee!! I ate a bowl of cereal and drank apple juice for breakfast. I had an apple for a snack and a smoothie at lunch. I feel vibrant which means my glucose levels today have been in normal range. I see the perinatal specialist on tomorrow.

November 7, 2007

Well, due to a special project at work, I had to reschedule my appointment to see the perinatal specialist until next week. However, I go see my OB on Saturday. I will have a medical update then.

November 15, 2007

I went to see the perinatal specialist yesterday. All good reports even though my glucose levels have been a tad bit higher than the targeted range. Kaleb is measuring a wopping 6lbs and 2oz and we have at least 3-5 weeks to go! I think Im gonna have a good size princess, huh? :) I hope I can push all that out (no c-section please!!).....

November 19, 2007

I think my belly is getting bigger everyday! Anyway, I saw my OB on Saturday as scheduled and everything is still looking good. She told me that since I have diabetes that she usually induces labor 2 weeks early at 38 weeks. She said a likely date to induce me would be December 7!! That is soon! I am ready to deliver but when she said that, I sort of got scared a bit. Either way, when the time comes, I will be ready.

November 29, 2007

On yesterday, I went to see the perinatal specialist. He comforted me about the fluid level being high. He said that it was on the normal to high end and that I should not worry about it. It said that this is common in diabetics and no one seems to know why this happens. Kaleb has now grown to 6lbs 12oz!! I guess she is tired of ultrasounds because when he tried to show us her face, she kept putting her hands up so that we could not see..lol. She is developing her own little personality or her mom is developing a creative imagination...lol. He confirmed that I need to deliver during my 38th week since I am insulin dependent. So between Dec 7 and Dec 14, I will be delivering!!! YEAH!! I see my OB on Saturday and we will set a date...hopefully 12/11/2007!! That date has no significance.

December 3, 2007

On Saturday, I went to see my OB. We completed a biophysical profile as usual and everything was fine. I have dialated one centimeter. However, unbeknownst to me, I have a urinary tract infection so I was given a prescription for that. We set a definite date to have me induced...YEAH!!!! December 11 at 8pm. I am so excited!!

December 10, 2007

I have less than 24 hours until I am induced......yippee (time changed to 11am)!!

December 11, 2007

Today is the day!!

The Birth Story:

Daddy and I showed up at the maternity ward at 11am as scheduled only to be turned around because all the labor and delivery rooms were in use. I was told to return at 1pm. I came back at 1pm and settled into my labor and delivery room. It was a very slow start. They hooked me up to the monitor that monitors contractions and the baby's heart. I had only dialated 1cm. At 4pm, I was given half of a cytotec pill which is supposed to help me dialate. 4 hours later, I was given 1/4th of the cytotec pill and in another 4 hours, I was given the rest. By now, it is December 12th. As of midnight, I could no longer eat and of course I was hungry as h$%#!! I could only eat ice. I was starting to feel contractions but they were very mild. At about 10am, the person to administer the epidural came and said that he was extremely busy and that he would be back in 5 minutes to give me the epidural. He did not return until 5pm. In between time, pitocin was being given to me thru IV. The contractions were stronger but I could still tolerate them. For pain, I was given Nubain (spelling) which made me groggy. The baby became stressed and I was had to wear an oxygen mask. Since I am diabetic and had nothing to eat, my sugar began to drop. I was given sugar water thru my IV which made things better for me and my baby. At 4pm, my doctor came and turned up the drip on the pitocin and broke my water......thats when all hell broke loose. The contractions came faster, stronger, and nearly brought me to tears. At about 6ish, I was finally given an epidural because the doctor finally returned. Epidurals are wonderful, I felt no contractions....I went from 3cm to 5cm to 7cm to 10cm.....At 10cm, I started to feel pain on my right side as well as pressure on my bottom....Kaleb was on her way!! My doctor was called and she said she would there in 20 minutes. She should have said 45 minutes because I sat that long with her head clearly visable and all the nurses are yelling for me not to push...Im like, "okay but she is pushing herself". At 10pm, Kaleb was born weighing 8lbs 9.4oz and 20 in long. The part of child birth that I was not prepared for was the episiotomy. Getting sown up was very uncomfortable. Anyway, I got to hold my baby and fell in love with her all over again.