HEADED TO THE HOSPITAL

Since I'm not going to make it to 39 weeks, here's my last pregnancy chalkboard before we go in tonight at midnight to be induced. I have never felt this many emotions in my entire life. Excitement, fear, anxiety, love. Every emotion rushes through every single cell of my body faster then I knew possible. This little girl we fought so hard to create, this little girl we worked so hard to keep healthy. This little girl who is going to make every piece of me complete. She has no idea how loved she already is. We are literally counting down the minutes until we get to meet you, hold you, give you everything we ever can, and never let you go.

How far along: 38 weeks plus 6 days

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: Official weight gain 30 lbs this pregnancy.

Maternity clothes: maternity clothes and leggings only
 

Stretch marks: Can't even believe I'm finishing these surveys still answering this as NONE

Belly button in or out: its OUT! It took all 38 weeks but it happened!

Sleep: I go to bed at 9 every night but I don't really sleep. I am TOO excited

Best moment this week: a wonderful Saturday out to breakfast with Chuck, buying pumpkins and mums, and a beautiful fall walk with my mom and ice cream to follow. Soaking it all up!

Worst moment this week: the anxiety! Every little ache and pain I think "is this labor?" just to find out it's not

Miss anything: I miss so much. Clams, vodka, bending down to put shoes on, wearing jeans, walking on the bike path. But I'd do it all again to get to this point of almost meeting her!

Movement: her movements are still strong, but she is running out of room so they feel like they're in slow motion now

Cravings: this week, cherry kool aid. Needed it ASAP so chuck ran out and bought some. I haven't had kool aid is YEARS

Symptoms: major pelvic bone pain. I walk like I've been riding a horse for 48 hours straight

Looking forward to: MIDNIGHT. I can't even believe this is all about to happen. Our life is going to be turned completely upside down in the most precious and amazing way this life offers. I am SO grateful. I can't wait to see what she looks like and to hold her and tell her how mommy and daddy would do anything in the world for her.

38 weeks

How far along: 38 weeks

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: Uh oh, this one jumped this week. I'm up 30 LBS now!!!!

Maternity clothes: other then pajamas, all maternity clothes. Glad I'm done having to buy them though. I LOVED everything I purchased from Gap Maternity. I highly recommend anything. Very comfy.
 

Stretch marks: no, and seriously my stomach feels SO stretched out this week

Belly button in or out: kinda moving out now….

Sleep: Absolutely no sleep this week. I used to be the girl who could sleep for 12 hours every night

Best moment this week: a fun weekend, getting a lot of things accomplished!

Worst moment this week: waking up Sunday night to horrible pains, thinking I was in labor. Going to the hospital and being admitted for THREE days for ANOTHER kidney infection. WHY couldn't it just be labor??? Was on IV meds and thought I was going home the next day until they told me my infection can only be treated with iV meds and I was going to be induced the FOLLOWING Monday. Well the next day they found an oral antibiotic I was going to be able to go home with, but not until they tested it out on my for 24 hours. It was a LONG 3 days in there, and I'm SO happy to be able to go home before she comes!

Miss anything: walking, exercising, sleeping, drinking wine

Movement: oh yes, she is quite the mover and shaker still

Cravings: still on the apple juice kick! Its SO good

Symptoms: acid reflux bad this week, kidney pain, bladder pain, and ALL kinds of braxton hicks. I was put on the monitor daily at the hospital and always showed contractions 3-6 minutes apart, but no sign of progression ;-(

Looking forward to: BEING INDUCED IN EXACTLY ONE WEEK (If I don't go into labor earlier). My doctor has decided to induce me at 39 weeks due to the strain this pregnancy has put on my kidneys. He says little baby girl is doing just fine but the risk only involves me now. I'm scared and nervous, but mostly down right full of excitement to get to FINALLY meet her in less then a week!

37 weeks

Hitting 37 weeks is a whole new ball game in pregnancy. I woke up and just felt this huge rush of emotions. Chuck and I have been through so much to make it this far. From starting out hoping for a family, being told how hard it would be, being told how dangerous it would be, to getting pregnant, being SO sick during first trimester, to ER visits and hospital stays, to Chuck losing his job while pregnant, to fighting because I was so scared and so miserable, to getting to the point where she is full term and healthy enough to arrive any minute. We have hoped and prayed and waited for this week. Thank you God, for getting us this far. And to our family, who still just blows me away with love every day, thank you for your consistent support, advice, and help. We are SO excited to finally meet our little girl. You can come anytime you want- we're ready!

How far along: 37 weeks plus 2 days in this pic

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: I stayed consistent in weight gain this week. Even though I've eaten all junk. Total weight gain is 28 lbs.

Maternity clothes: oh yes, and now that its fall I live in leggings and long, open cardigans
 

Stretch marks: no, I still can't believe it!

Belly button in or out: staying flat. Will it ever look the same again??

Sleep: I don't really sleep anymore. I may go to bed and fall asleep early around 9:00pm, but I'm awake probably every hour. I wake up anytime between 1:00 am and 4:00 am and can't go back to sleep so stare at my stupid iPhone for hours, looking up shit on the internet

Best moment this week: the gorgeous weather, a fun date night with hubs at one of our favorite mexican restaurants, and my 37 week ultrasound. Doctor estimated her at 6lbs 9oz!

Worst moment this week: an unexpected trip to my doctor because I had some really bad tightness in my chest. He sent me for an EKG. Doing a lot better now though.

Miss anything: DEFINITELY sleeping on my stomach. I know I say that almost every week. And now that it's fall, CLAMS. I've had bad reactions to lobster, clams, and calamari during pregnancy so far so I've been avoiding them. I can't wait to take our baby to her first Myers Family Clam Bake!!

Movement: so much, all the time, as usual. She is so stinkin cute I can't even wait to see all her little kicks on the outside

Cravings: this week definitely apple cider and apple juice. Or apples dipped in caramel. I actually woke up last night starving at 1:30am and chugged a huge glass of apple juice. Turns out, apples are good for heartburn too! Win-win!

Symptoms: lower back pain, mild heartburn, LOTS of cramping and braxton hicks. I thought I was going into labor on Tuesday night for sure, but was able to fall asleep and the braxton hicks went away

Looking forward to: meeting this bundle of joy we have waited years for 

36 weeks!

How far along: 36.5 weeks in this pic

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: I lost 2 lbs this week, then gained them back. So I'm up 28 lbs now.

Maternity clothes: yup. but I still hate wearing pants
 

Stretch marks: no, I really can't believe it

Belly button in or out: not in or out, looks so tiny too

Sleep: sleep has been kinda bad this week. I've been waking up a lot and sweating like crazy

Best moment this week: installing the carseat, preparing freezer meals with my mom, and celebrating my brothers birthday!

Worst moment this week: getting ANOTHER bladder infection and being so uncomfortable

Miss anything: being able to stand for more then 5 minutes

Movement:  all kinds of stiff kicks still. some painful, some adorable

Cravings: this week I'd have to say Hersheys bars. I bought them earlier this summer for smore's and we didn't make very many 

Symptoms: lower back pain and bladder pain

Looking forward to: my ultrasound this week! can't wait to see how big she's getting!

Freezer meal prepping :

All ready to go in my freezer and my parents freezers for maternity leave and winter! Took a while but always fun with my mom! Thanks Brenda Kay :) 

We made:

Stuffed Taco Shells

Apple Butter Pork Chops

Lasagna

Meatloaf

Chicken Pot Pies

Chicken Fajitas

35 WEEKS

How far along: 35 weeks

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: hate answering this one. 27 lbs!!!!!!!

Maternity clothes: this dress looked so stupid on me for the longest time, now my belly is big enough to fill it out
 

Stretch marks: nope, none

Belly button in or out: not in or out. Just flat still

Sleep: sleep sucks, I'm uncomfortable all the time

Best moment this week: having my mom come over and deep clean my house with me. It feels SO good to have a clean house, and having my dad take my car in to be detailed. It looks brand spanking new. My parents are THE BEST

Worst moment this week: being so uncomfortable the other night while trying to sleep that I was crying

Miss anything: being able to walk faster then a snail,  being able to bend down and pick things up, being able to put shoes on, and definitely still sleeping on my stomach. So pretty much being able to do anything in general

Movement:  her movements are so strong now, I can tell she's getting bigger and longer and stronger

Cravings:  definitely still ice water. a lot of ice water

Symptoms: mostly just being uncomfortable now, some braxton hicks, and some stiff kicks to the ribs

Looking forward to: a relaxing, but accomplished Labor Day weekend!

34 Weeks

How far along: 34 weeks

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: 23 lbs! Moving on up

Maternity clothes: yes, other then longer tank tops and leggings, I wear maternity clothes every day. Now that it's getting colder I hate wearing pants again
 

Stretch marks: nope, none

Belly button in or out: still flat and can't believe it never came out

Sleep: sleep is getting worse and worse. Rolling over is SO much work, and I'm shoving pillows in every crevasse!

Best moment this week: getting a call that our rocker is FINALLY in to pick up and getting so many things accomplished in her nursery!

Worst moment this week: I was cleaning my house and feeling so exhausted from organizing the nursery and just wanting everything to be done. Then I got a call from my dad saying he passed out, fell off a ladder and couldn't get up and there was blood everywhere. I'm pretty sure I have never left my house so fast in my life. No bra, no purse.. grabbed keys and left. My husband was hiking in the woods about a half hour away. My mom wasn't home and I was the closest person to their house. I made my dad call their neighbor because I knew he would get there before me. I drove like a maniac, hyperventilating the whole way there. My parents live right by a fire station, and as I was about to pass it, an ambulance was pulling out. I KNEW it was headed there. And as soon as I saw it, I knew it was worse then I thought. The paramedics thought he had a broken nose, concussion, and broken neck. I was in pure panic mode. Long story short, he wound up with a broken nose and concussion, but seeing him on a stretcher with a neck brace, and shaking uncontrollably, I knew there was so much more to life then having my house clean and organized. The house could wait. My family won't be around forever, and although it's a great realization, it's a terrifying one at the same time.

Miss anything: uhm... summer? Where did it go???

Movement: all. the. time. When she stops moving, I get nervous

Cravings:  water! I've been SO thirsty this week. I drink an entire 32 oz water bottle every night waking up so many times to pee. so thirsty

Symptoms: mostly just being uncomfortable now, definitely still some acid reflux here and there though

Looking forward to: I look forward to seeing my doctor every Friday, and definitely look forward to getting more and more things accomplished on weekends

Look how cute louie is with her already!! 

Here's a few pics from the past couple months

32 and 33 weeks

32 WEEKS

How far along: 32 weeks

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: 21 lbs!!!

Maternity clothes: yes, a lot of maternity clothes!
 

Stretch marks: still surprisingly, no.

Belly button in or out:  still flat and looks so small now!

Sleep: sleep hasn't been too bad, I just wake up to pee a lot, and turn over a lot

Best moment this week:  having my best friend in town from Florida! Can't stand being away from her, but so thankful I get to see her at least once a year, and usually twice a year! We had fun (see pics below)

Worst moment this week: finding out I have ANOTHER bladder infection, and my doctor isn't letting me delivery passed 39 weeks. Hoping I don't need to be induced and this little girl decides to come on her own between 37-39 weeks!

Miss anything: still miss sleeping on my stomach the most, but really beginning to miss being able to walk around for more then 5 minutes without being exhausted

Movement: she moves a lot still but I love watching her wiggle in there
 

Cravings: this week I'm going to have to go with french fries and hot dogs

Symptoms: tail bone pain, lower back and leg pain!

Looking forward to: finishing up the nursery, and packing my hospital bag

33 WEEKS!

How far along: 33 weeks

Gender: Girl! 

Weight gain: still at 21 lbs this week

Maternity clothes: yes, everyday
 

Stretch marks: nope, none

Belly button in or out: still flat, just waiting for it to pop

Sleep: sleep is getting a lot harder this week. I'm definitely more uncomfortable and peeing a lot more

Best moment this week: coming home from a long day of work to Chuck working in the nursery.

Worst moment this week: getting sick again from seafood. Worst feeling ever

Miss anything: walking with my mom on the bike path!

Movement: she moves all day every day non stop!!!

Cravings:  I seriously have never been a picky eater, and I don't feel like I've had any specific cravings lately cause I eat everything. Though I did HAVE to buy a 24 pack of fruit punch juice boxes at the grocery store this week because, JUICE BOXES. And I have 2 left. I guess that's a craving.

Symptoms: hip pain like crazy this week. I don't know if shes moving down or what, but I wake up in the middle of the night and feel like my hips are being pulled apart or crushed by a crane

Looking forward to: washing and folding all her cute little outfits this weekend