Crazy Day

Thursday was a day that can only be called crazy.  I have been fighting some back pain for a few days and, after Wednesday night's small group meeting I was convinced that I should call my OB's office before my next scheduled appointment on Tuesday to make sure everything is OK.  I described everything to the nurse on call and she said that it sounded like I was having back contractions and sent me into the maternity center at Mercy to be monitored.  I was a little dehydrated so they hooked me up to some fluids and monitored the contractions for a few hours - which remained mild and not regular - They did a test called FFN (Fetal FibroNectin) which is supposed to predict pre-term labor in the next couple of weeks.  Ooh BOY is that a fun swab to get done!  It came back negative and all of the exits are still closed up so they sent me back home on "modified bed rest".  Which basically means, "take it easy", no heavy lifting, no prolonged or repetitive activity, but I'm not strictly in bed for the next 8 weeks thank GOD!  So I went home, slept for four hours, drank a ton of water and felt MUCH better.

I did get clearance, as long as I made my brother carry everything and didn't overdo anything, to still go to the David Cook concert at Simon Estes 

Amphitheater that night! 

 It was SUCH a nice night, even a little chilly, and his part of the concert was only a little over an hour. It felt SO nice to just be me for a couple of hours - the last thing that I get to do that is all about me before everything gets more complicated for child care - especially since mom is going to be watching Joseph full time and she will have Jackson half days when he is in preschool.  It makes it hard to ask for a few extra hours in the evening even just Jack - much less with both boys...so the timing was weird but I'm glad I got to go before Troy gets married in a couple of weeks and I become mommy of two.  

I've also determined that I am not built to rest...I'm so used to doing everything on my own that it is SO hard to watch my dad mow my lawn for me and to not be able to lift my son whenever I want to.  I just want this baby to get here so I can get back to being myself again.  I just keep chanting - 8 weeks left - 8 weeks left - just hang in there...

Yes, I haven't updated in ages due to some home Internet issues. (God bless those dear folks at Qwest for completely ignoring my need for service...) It seems like a lot has happened since that but really not much has.

I crossed over into the single digits counting down the weeks left until Baby Joseph arrives! 9 weeks and some change. When last we left the saga I was having to repeat the torture that is the three hour glucose test. I got there as early as I could, got two blood draws into the darn thing and - well - lets just say that Joseph "rejected" the glucose solution and I was sent home without finishing the test. I was PRAYING that the doctor's office wouldn't make me retake it and, since the levels on my first two draws were fine, they said I wouldn't have to and just watch my refined sugar intake.

According to the ultrasound from a couple of weeks ago, JT is in the 78th percentile for size so he is still growing just fine even though I have yet to gain any of my 32 pound weight loss back at all. I have a goal of gaining two pounds before my 32 week appointment on the 22nd but I've been battling a nasty sinus infection so I'm not sure that's going to happen...anyway, here is the official 7 month photo - thanks to Terry for taking it for me at the last church crop! Man I really do look as tired as I feel.

AND I miss my hair! It got hacked off (way too short) at the salon last weekend so I am hiding from cameras until some of it grows back...it should be just about perfect in time for the wedding though so that's good!

4th of July weekend was a BLAST Jack and I got to spend some time with some good friends, Josie, Jeremy, Heather, Andrew and Jaci - we had 5 children running around and playing, got to see a great parade and between Thursday and Saturday got to see three of the best fireworks displays in Des Moines. We went to the annual concert at the capital and ran into some friends from Jackson's daycare. It was just a wonderful time! More pics to come when I can log on from my home computer.

I hope everyone's holiday went well! Love to all!

Weekend Update.

Before I get to the weekend's events...

Today - I happened to be in the little town where the bridesmaid dresses were ordered so I decided to stop by to see how "frankenstein" my gown is going to have to be since I ordered it in February... I went in to the dressing room fully expecting to not even be able to zip the darn thing up but it was actually LOOSE on me. They are going to have to take in the bust and maybe let out the sides a couple of inches after the next few weeks but they probably won't even have to add any extra fabric to it. Yay for not having to pay for too many alterations but - um - how big WAS I before I got pregnant??? Sad that I'm actually smaller 7+ months pregnant than before...ugh - anyway - here is awful cell phone pic I took when I was there.

The weekend was VERY busy all around. Saturday night some of the ladies from church landed at my house after a night of bowling and brought over a FIRE PIT!!! I LOVE IT! We all sat around toasting marshmallows and just enjoying one another's company. THANK YOU LYNN!!! I just can't wait to figure out a way to landscape the back yard to accommodate the pit...may have to be a "next spring" kind of project!

It was a good weekend for scrapping up at the church on Saturday - I struggled with my first layout for-EVAH trying to make the papers that I had originally bought for these pictures work...I was about to give up when I pulled out this Bungle Jungle from Sassafras Lass and - voila - brilliance

The second one had been in my brain since I found this paper at Convention at the beginning of the month. The crate paper "lil sprouts" line is perfect for the nursery color scheme. I'm totally ready for him to get here as soon as he's ready to come! 10 weeks left - what torture...  

In the next post - torturous medical procedures and the pregnant women who have to endure them...

Not AGAIN!

Yesterday was my 28 week doctor's appointment and I must say that it was a colossal disappointment!!!!

I had to take my 3rd trimester blood glucose test - yup failed the 1 hour and have to go back next Wednesday to take another torture test (aka the 4 hour GTT).  

Then I got verbally flogged by my doctor for losing another 3 pounds...my mom was with me and attested to the fact that I really am eating as much as my nauseous stomach will allow...so I got shipped off to the ultrasound where Joseph was NOT cooperating, had his back turned to us, so all we could see was spine.  He is still measuring exactly on schedule.  He weighs 3 pounds and his heartbeat and digestive function all look good.  

I was totally bummed and the oppressive heat outside made it really hard to move myself through the last half of my day.  Ugh - where is my fast forward button?  I need it to be September TOMORROW!

Monday Comes Too Soon

Mom and Dad's time share definitely comes in handy when talking about weekend getaways!  This time we took off Friday afternoon and headed to the Wisconsin Dells for a few days. It was wonderful to get away for a couple of days and spend some quality time with the little man...we spent way too much time getting wrinkly in the water park at the hotel - ate some yummy food and found the few missing items from Joseph's wardrobe at the outlet mall.  The highlight though was Jackson's first mini golf game!  Best $6.50 ever spent in the history of his short life.  Check out these photos - it was a gorgeous course and J caught on so quickly to the instruction that papa and I gave him!  

Tomorrow is the last ultrasound before I get to meet my newest little man in person and up close.  Mom is bringing Jackson along...I can't wait!!!  Hello third trimester.  T-11 weeks to go!!!