The New Normal

The past 6 weeks have been a little crazy adjusting to our new "normal". I pretty much feel like everyday I am running the marathon of life juggling between being a mommy of two kids in very different stages, a wife, a house keeper and a cook (thankfully we had meals made for us by our family, friends and church). I am still doing some contract work for Micross and marketing work for Brian. Needless to say my cup runneth over, haha. Someone in my MOPS group commented how I always have it together, I laughed and said that I cry in the privacy of my house. The good thing is that I am doing some things for myself as well, like going to MOPS, girls night and bible study every Wednesday.

I get a lot of help with the kids from my parents and Staci (SIL). Brian's parents came for 5 days and were a tremendous help as well. I don't know what I would do without everyone! We are so blessed to have such loving, wonderful families that want to invest time with our children.

I work hard every day to try and meet the needs of my girls and my husband. I am stretched pretty thin, but am starting to adjust. Prayer is always welcome and much appreciated!

Our Newborn - Baby Center has failed me

Every week I post an update from Baby Center regarding the size, etc. of Addison. I logged into Baby Center this morning and here is what it said: Your newborn How your baby's growing:Because he was curled up inside your uterus until recently, your newborn baby will probably look scrunched up for a while, with his arms and legs not fully extended. He may even appear bowlegged.Don't worry: Your baby will stretch out, little by little, and by the time he reaches 6 months, he'll be fully unfurled! In the meantime, as he adjusts to life outside the warm, safe confines of your womb, he may enjoy being swaddled in a light blanket. Haha! Thanks for rubbing it in Baby Center... they should give you an option to continue with the weekly updates or move on to the newborn stage. I mean seriously, how many people give birth on their due date, I think it is less than 20%. Ok... time for some yoga.

40 Weeks: Happy Due Date

I have waited for this day to come for so long! 40 weeks, wow time really did fly by! I think due dates are over rated and think doctors should give you a "due range" instead of a specific date. We still have some time to wait before Addison will make her arrival (11 more days) according to the revised "plan". I go in on Monday to see Dr. Hughes (my temp doctor) and will get a stress test.

I am actually doing pretty good! I am walking and doing yoga to try and progress things. I am not sure if it is helping, but it makes me feel better that I am trying. I am believing that my body will progress so that I can have a natural birth.

Please just continue to pray for my body to progress and handle these last 11 days... pray also for the health of our precious baby girl.

From the Baby Center:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

Addison's Revised Birth Date - The New Plan

Today was a pretty big appointment for us.

• My blood pressure was 97/60
• Addison's heart rate was 144
• Measured right at 40 weeks
• 0% Effaced, 0cm dilated

So obviously I am not progressing towards labor and there is not much I can do about that. My doctor goes on vacation starting tomorrow and will return on the 27th. I have an appointment with Dr. Hughes on Monday at 11:40 for a stress test (NST) and will check all the normal stuff (blood pressure, heart rate, size, etc.). I will see Dr. Hughes again on Thursday. If on Thursday I am 50% effaced and 2cm dilated then we will start the induction process on the 26th and Addison will be born on the 27th. If I have not progressed then we will schedule a c-section for the 27th.

The blessing is that it looks like my doctor will deliver Addison after all! I am not thrilled about the extended pregnancy, but oh well! God is in control, not me.

The prayer is for me to progress so I can have natural childbirth (medicated of course). We are also nervous about the higher possibility of me having a c-section, so please also pray for peace.

With God All Things Are Possible

Yesterday during my quiet time I came across Matthew 19:26, "With God all things are possible" and Luke 1:37, "For nothing is impossible with God." There are so many times God has made the impossible possible, so that is what I will choose to believe. The lack of physical progress is frustrating, but I do believe she could still be born anytime. My prayers are for my body to start progressing and for my doctor to be able to deliver her, but that may not be His plan for me. So instead of allowing myself to be depressed and stressed, I am going to rise above this and enjoy my final days of pregnancy (even in this 100 degree heat). I know I am going to miss this life growing inside my belly and would regret focusing this time on details I ultimately have no control over. Prayer Requests:

• Patience during these final days
• For my body to start progressing towards natural labor
• For the doctor and nurse that will be with us though labor & delivery
• For Brian and I to enjoy these final days of it just being us
• That we will not stress over the details and just focus on the blessing

Side note: Please also pray for Brian's back, he has been having a lot of pain and discomfort.

Today Brian and I are going to get Addison's coming home outfit and are going out to dinner. I must say I am enjoying all the outings with my very sweet and supportive husband. Yesterday he came home early to spend time with me, brought me my favorite candy bar and then went to Berry Cool for a treat after dinner.

Ok, it is almost 4am (I have been up since 3). I am going to do my bible study and then back to bed.

39 Weeks: Zero is my lucky number

I had our 39 week doctor's appointment this morning and good news is that Addison is doing great! My blood pressure was 100/70, Addison's heart rate was 144, minimal swelling, etc. Dr. Solomon estimates her size to be about 7 pounds 12 ounces. Unfortunately I STILL have not progressed, I am 0% effaced, 0 cm dilated and she is still high. This lack of progress means I will NOT be induced next week, which makes total sense because my Doctor will not induce unless my body is progressing towards labor. So instead of scheduling my induction, we scheduled another doctor's appointment for Wednesday. My doctor goes on vacation on the 17th, so chances are that he will not be the one who delivers our baby. It looks like Addison will probably make her appearance the week of July 19th. I am super bummed, but very thankful for the healthy baby girl in my GIGANTIC belly.

39 Weeks: Finally a Watermelon

From the Baby Center:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

38 Week Doctor's Appointment: Induction Date Set

We saw the doctor this morning, the only real exciting news is that I will be induced on July 15th if Addison does not make her appearance before then. My doctor is going on vacation and I really want him to deliver our baby (yes I know nurses do 90% of the work). I of course would love to go into labor naturally if possible.

• My blood pressure was 110/60
• Addison's heart rate was 140
• Fundal Height is right on target at 38cm
• Dilated to a big whopping 0cm and 0% effaced
• Doctor said he did think she was a bit lower

As you can tell from this picture, I am huge. Hard to imagine we have 2 weeks left!

38 Weeks: <14 days to go

We are so close to the end of this pregnancy! This past week definitely seemed like the longest yet. I am feeling pretty good, just the normal end of the pregnancy stuff. I finally started packing our hospital bags yesterday. I still have some shopping to do, but I am not too worried about it. Brian and I also need to make our final trip to Babies R Us to purchase the final necessities.

I have started spending time in prayer specifically in regards to L&D and becoming new parents. Hopefully this will help me focus less on the scary stuff and more on Him. He blessed us with this child and I know that He will give us the strength to deliver and figure this whole parenting thing out.

"I can do everything though him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Our doctor's appointment is at 8:00, hoping for a good progress report!

From the Baby Center:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Note from Carrie: There is a 99% chance that Addison's eyes will be blue. 1% that they will be green.

Hello July

Hello July! This is the month I have been anxiously waiting for and now that it is here I am scared to death. Seriously, time has flown by since finding out we were pregnant. I remember thinking that July was FOREVER away and then bam here it is. It is time to get my act together and finish getting everything ready. Today also marks the day that I am officially working from home. It is strange. Normally right now Brian and I are praying and I am about to walk out the door. Instead I am about to log into my computer, check e-mails and do what I normally do except I will be home. I know I will be more comfortable here (sitting in an office chair all day was painful), but I am going to miss everyone at the office. I am also going to unload all my work stuff from my car and get organized. I am sure Brian is going to love all my stuff in the office. So my prayer request is specifically for the transition to working from home and soon becoming a mom. I feel like life as I know it is gone and I have to rediscover and figure things out. Don't get me wrong, I am one of those people that does not mind change. It's just that this baby changes everything (in a good way) and I just want the transition to be as streamlined as possible for me, Brian, our marriage , career and new life as parents.

37 Week Doctor's Appointment

We had our 37 week appointment today and everything went well.

• My blood pressure was 110/60
• Not sure how big she measured
• I am not dilated or effaced. I am a little bummed about this because I thought we were making progress with all the pain and pressure. Oh dwell... she will get here when she gets here. I guess I am just more than ready due to all the pain and this Texas heat is unbearable!
• I have noticed a decrease in fetal movement, so they decided to do a stress test. Turns out Addison is doing great! The decrease may be because she has more prolonged awake and sleep times.

While I am bummed at the lack of progress, I am very thankful for our healthy baby.

My next appointment is Thursday, July 2nd.

37 Weeks: We are Full Term!

I will say that being officially full term is amazing and a total blessing. As most of you know, I spend way too much time on the internet and am fully aware of all the different complications, etc. that can occur during pregnancy. I feel like this pregnancy has gone by so fast, in fact just the other day I read our entire blog because I felt like I had forgotten half of the amazing journey. Woah, what an adventure it has been. Thank you Lord for our healthy baby girl!

On the opposite end, I have started to feel a little sad and somewhat overwhelmed with all the changes that are about to occur. It has just been Brian, Rodnee and I for so long. I am all about change, but this is a big one that will change EVERYTHING. Don't get me wrong, I cannot wait to be a mom and to start this new chapter... it is just scary because we are moving into new territory. Brian and I had a long talk about this yesterday and I must say that I have the most amazing husband. We are an awesome team and are ready to take on this new chapter. Rodnee on the other hand is another story... it will be an interesting transition for him.

So how am I feeling? I still think I am doing good for having a 6 pound baby in my belly. My walking has turned more into a waddle... my swelling is still under control unless I get hot... I am still exercising 3-5 times a week... still have a lot of pain and pressure...

Addison is doing good... I think she wants out and I am perfectly ok with that! Our doctor's appointment is tomorrow and he will check me for dilation and effacement. I am hoping that there will be some progress,but who knows. From the Baby Center:

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

36 Week Doctor's Appointment

My 36 week doctor's appointment went great! My blood pressure was good (I always forget to ask the number), Addison's heart rate was 142 and she measured right at 36cm. I asked some of my off the wall questions and had a few laughs... I love my doctor! Next week I will be checked for dilation and effacement. I also made my last 3 doctor's appointments, yippee!

He He Hew

This past weekend Brian and I took our 12 hour Comprehensive Prepared Childbirth class. I was honestly scared of this class but I am glad that we went. Overall it gave an excellent non-biased overview of the child birthing experience. Here is everything that was covered:

Stages and Phases of Labor

When to go and What to Bring to the Hospital

Lamaze Coaching Techniques of Breathing and Relaxation

Pain Relief Options

Variations in Labor

Early Recovery Expectations

Cesarean Section Experience

Baby Care Basics

I was pleased to find out that the epidural needle was not 24" long like some women make it seem. My goal is to wait as long as possible for the epidural so I am not stuck in a bed, but we shall see how that goes. I also decided that I do not want to be induced unless medically necessary.

The funniest section for Brian and I was the breathing, I could not stop laughing... Brian actually did a lot better than me. One thing is for certain, I am blessed with an awesome labor coach.

Overall we learned so much and have a good idea of the different options and interventions that will be available when our times comes in labor and delivery. We feel fully equipped and educated and a lot more comfortable. One thing is for sure... bringing Addison into this world will be the most surreal event and we cannot wait to experience it.

35 Weeks

I am now entering into my 9th month of pregnancy and boy do I feel it! Addison seems to be doing well, still very active in my belly and I know how she is positioned. I am feeling ok... I have finally come to terms that I need to slow down. My brain tells me I can still do all my normal things, but my body is telling me the opposite. The recliner is my favorite place to sit these days because it is easy to get in and out of. I am still sleeping pretty well at night, the only thing that is bothersome is when I have to roll over... it is a gigantic and sometimes painful process. I am thankful we have a Temperpedic mattress or else Brian would have be bounced out of the bed by my dramatic moves. I think my iron levels are improving because I seem to have more energy throughout the day. Overall I think I am just experiencing the normal symptoms that everyone goes through... I will adjust and am staying focused on Addison. I can do anything for 3-5 more weeks!

Emotionally I have been doing ok as well... I have been sort of freaked out by the commitment of being a mom, but I have heard it is normal. I am also tired of all the "You are big" comments, to me it is stating the obvious and is unnecessary at this point.

Overall we are just super excited about meeting Addison and am anxious for her arrival.

From the Baby Center:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 Week Doctor's Appointment

We just got back from our 34 week doctor's appointment and everything is looking great.

• My blood pressure was "normal"
• No swelling
• Addison's heart rate was about 138, Dr. Solomon said that it is normal for her heart rate to go down as she gets bigger. That made me feel so much better.
• Fundal Height was 35cm, still a week ahead in "growth".
• Dr. estimated her weight to be about 4.5-5 pounds, she is gaining about a third of a pound every week.
• Last week my heart rate soared to the 160's for no reason (I was on the couch), I asked Dr. Solomon about it and he thinks it is due to my anemia. Truth be told... I have been "forgetting" to take my iron pills. They make me so sick and planned on getting back on them in 2 weeks. He gave me some samples to try every other day until our next appointment. Hopefully the extra iron will help me regain some energy as well.
• All my aches and pains are normal.

34 Weeks: 42 days to go!

All is still well with Baby Addison.... I am feeling pretty good, just tiring out a lot faster than normal. We have paid our portion of the doctor's delivery fee and the hospital co-pay. All I need to do now is call the Anesthesiologist to make sure everything is in order. Everyone says I have good insurance, I guess we shall see once the baby is born and the medical bills start coming in.

My belly button is still "in", but should be popping out within the next couple of weeks. Swelling has been minimal, I notice it more when I am hot. I still wear my wedding rings, but take them off when I go outside or exercise. Still no stretch marks.

We are at the point where we are going though all of Addison's stuff to figure out what we still need to get. We have been immensely blessed, so the things left to get are minimal.

Addison's room is pretty much setup, everything left is just cosmetic (hanging pictures, etc.). Very exciting! I will post pictures once it is all done.

My 34 week doctor's appointment is tomorrow, so we should find out more in regards to her heartbeat (pray for it to be back in the 150's) and size.

From the Baby Center:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

33 Weeks: Pineapple YUMMM

Boy oh boy am I getting big... I am starting to forget what life was like without this belly! The other night I asked Brian if he remembered when I had a somewhat flat stomach, he laughed. While this pregnancy has gone by fast, it is starting to feel like I have been pregnant forever! I feel like my due date has been miscalculated (haha) but when I look at cute pregnant women who are obviously closer to their due date that me, I realize I still have some growing to do. Don't get me wrong, having the blessing of life growing inside me brings me so much joy. I think I will even miss being pregnant! There is nothing like feeling Addison move inside me, in fact when I have not felt her move, I wake her up so I can get a quick kick or punch just so I know she is ok.

From the Baby Center:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

32 Week Bump Pic

Here is my 32 week bump (more like a small mountain) picture... I am getting HUGE! It is hard to even imagine what I will look like in 8 weeks. So far no stretch marks... Here is a picture of my new hair do! I got my hair done by a new person on Thursday and she is awesome. She put me back to light blonde, which I love! If anyone needs a good hair stylist in Cedar Park, let me know. It will be nice not having to drive into downtown Austin to get my hair done!

32 Week Doctor's Appointment

I had my 32 week doctor's appointment, Brian unfortunately could not go with me because he is in San Antonio for a network installation. Addison's heart rate was down at 132 (she has been consistently in the 150's). Dr. Solomon did not seem too concerned and thought she might be sleeping. He confirmed that she is still head down and should remain that way until delivery. My fundal height was 33cm, so we are still a week ahead in growth (but not development). Today we talked a little about my birth plan and if I was anxious about delivery. I told him I my birth plan is to get her out and I am not too anxious about delivery. I know everyone's birth story is different, I am going in with an open mind. My anxiety may rise a bit as we get closer, especially after our birthing class. I told him my only concern about delivery was how I was going to get him to deliver her! There are 5 doctors in the practice that could potentially bring Addison into the world (even though the nurses do majority of the work). He told me to either deliver on a week day or on one of his on-call evenings or weekends, haha. He did say that if I was dialated to 2cm on my due date (July 16th) then he said we induce me. So all is well with Addison... I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks.