39 weeks

I really wasn't sure if I would make it to 39 weeks to do another blog post. But, here I am. Big and pregnant!:)
My doctor's appointment was last Friday. I was all about the 7's
I weighed 170
My blood pressure was 117/77
Baby's heart rate was 138...no 7's, but that is ok.
I am not going to give you a list of symptoms...because I think I have been quite repetitive with all that. I am definitely still experiencing all of the symptoms under the sun. This baby is giving me every sign that she wants to come out. We are just waiting on contractions to start. She is in position and I am dilated to 1 as of Friday. Which...well, could mean nothing. Being dilated to 1 is kind of like nothing...you could be there for a while!
One good thing about not going in to labor yet, is that Nate arrived on Monday! And since he will be here until August 14th, he will be around for the birth and be able to meet Peyten when she is first born. He met Charly and Aydan shortly after they were born...but it isn't the same as "just born";) Or, so I think.
I am still a bit scared and not "completely" ready. But, there is no way around that. There is never a time when you are completely ready for a new life to rock your world. You just have to jump in head first and enjoy as much as you can, while you can.
I pray that this birth goes just as well as the first two. There are no warning signs that say differently, but I always go in knowing that anything can happen and that I am in God's hands. Peyten will join us in this world...just as God has intended. I have little control over anything when it comes to all this. And that is just fine by me.

Mark's predictation day

Well, today is the day that Mark predicted that I would have the baby. It is still early...so you never know, but it doesn't look to promising at this point.
I am a bit tired. Just tired. I can't even find a better way to describe how I feel. I am tired of being pregnant. I am tired of work. I am tired of going going going all day long each day.
Mark has been laid up for a while with his back, which he is finally getting to the point where he can do more again. But, he still has to watch when he picks up the kids, etc.
But, really, I haven't had a break from both of the kids in a long time. I don't really see it happening before Peyten is born either. But, such is life. I may try and finagle a couple hours to myself...we will see. But, with work, it is hard too. I feel like I am glued to this computer all waking hours of the day.
I am not trying to write a "poor me" post. Just venting a bit I suppose. This is the life I chose. I am working hard now, so I can reap the benefits later in life. That is how it is supposed to work, right?
It doesn't help that this is the most uncomfortable 9th month I have experienced. I remember being bloated and had heartburn with Charly...and just generally uncomfortable from being big. With Aydan, I think I was just anxious more than anything. And I kept having various contractions for a week before...which made me think the baby was on his way.
This time...I just can't even describe all the pains and discomforts I feel. I feel like I wouldn't even recognize a contraction if I had one because there is always so much going on with my tummy between...pains, aches, pulls, cramps, tugs, and shooting pains. I took a walk yesterday with Mark and the kids, and I guess I shouldn't have. On the way back, my whole left side of my belly was in some bad pain and it went in to my back on that side too. It was kind of like a sharp contraction that wouldn't go away. I sat down once we got home and the pain subsided after a bit.
I am so nauseous throughout the day. It drives me nuts. It reminds me of the 1st trimester...which I did not enjoy of course. I have the heartburn...mainly at night when I lay down to go to bed. I have a lot of pain at night. Just hard to move and roll over and if I have to get up...I do it VERY slowly. Kind of feel like I have to wait for the baby's head to move out of the way before I can sit up. And then pain in other areas too.
There is quite a bit more "personal" issues going on as well...but I don't feel the need to detail those items out here. I am not certain if I am dilating at all, but I sure feel like I have. I think I will have the midwife check at my next appointment on Friday.
With all this discomfort, I feel like I SHOULD be in labor. Kind of like...having all the symptoms of labor, without the contractions I guess. I get about an hour in the morning when I feel ok. And then the rest of the day goes downhill from there. Feeling worse and worse throughout the day.
Peyten, where are you!?!!
I guess with all this....I can't wait to meet Peyten and have all these symptoms be over with. But, also too...I know that having a crying baby will be another added stresser. But, I think being able to hold her and watch her sleep will help to outweigh all that. It always does.
So, with all these overwhelming pregnancy hormones, I just want to cry, throw up, and/or crawl in a hole into fetal position. But, on the flip side, I have had some really good hair days.
I think I will go have another freezer pop now....

Another doc appt

I had another appt today. Pretty uneventful. I met yet another midwife. I am not sure if I have met them all yet, or not.
I weighed in at 169.
Peyten's heart rate was 144
My blood pressure was something like 122/60
The baby has dropped down some. Not sure if she is quite "in position" yet though.

I seriously feel like I could go in to labor at any moment. And that is because of all the pain my body goes through each day. At night especially I have so much pain, it is hard to move.
But, at the same time....mentally I feel like I am still a little ways away.
Ya really just don't know.
I did have a couple new symptoms pop up recently. Sore boobs. And sore, bleeding gums. With the nausea that I have had...I feel like I am in the first trimester all over again!

A post not about pregnancy or kids??

Boy...this might be hard. My life is so consumed with babies!

My other all consuming...work. Work is going well. I have been with the same company for quite some time now and I enjoy my work. I still have the two jobs and seem to be able to handle balancing them both ok.

Enough about that...

Food - ah, I love food. The fact that I am hungry all day doesn't help matters. But, I still enjoy cooking. I have been trying to just go with the flow...and make food that I crave. I have had a few successful dinners that Mark really liked. The other day I made Chicken Alfredo, but I used the fat rotini pasta instead of fettucini.
I was at the store looking for dinner and saw one of those roaster chickens at the deli. Well, I didn't like the 6.99 price tag on it of course, so I mosied along. When I got to the meat counter, I realized I could just buy a fresh chicken and do what I like with it. Mark had mentioned alfredo a couple times recently...one of his favorites. I didn't have a lot of time to cook, so I took some shortcuts.
I picked up the whole raw chicken $3 something. I bought a jar of alfredo(cheated). And I grabbed the pasta and I remembered I had some broccoli to use up at home.
When I got home, I broke the chicken down and deboned it. I had the breasts and deboned thighs and legs. I left the wings as is. I seasoned it up and cooked it up in my cast iron skillet. In the meantime, I cooked my pasta and steamed my broccoli, and heated up my alfredo. Once the chicken was done, I chopped it up quick and tossed everything together. Needless to say, the dinner hit the spot for both Mark and me.

Two nights ago, I had a hankering for some enchiladas. I had some chicken tenders and a breast to use up. And I have been craving some espangole sauce. Why? I don't know. I hadn't made it since culinary school. It is one of the five "mother" sauces and is pretty easy to make.
I started my sauce first. I sauteed some onions, carrots and celery in butter until they started to brown. I added some flour to make a roux. I cooked the roux until it was brown and nice and "nutty". I added some tomato paste and cooked that until the tomato wasn't quite as sweet. I added some beef stock and some fresh herbs I had on hand. I let this simmer for as long as I could. When it was done, I strained the veggies and herbs out.
The chicken, I just seasoned up with some salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and chili powder. I seared it and finished it in the oven. When it was done, I chopped it up. In the meantime, I sauteed up some mushrooms that I had gotten on sale. I chopped those up and added them to the chicken. I mixed in some sour cream and added some more of the same chicken seasonings I used.
I rolled up the chicken mixture in flour tortillas that I had to use up and put them in a baking dish. I poured the espangole sauce over everything and topped it all with some cheese. A mix of cheddar and mozzarella...again, just what I had on hand. I baked it all for a little while until the cheese was nice and melted.
It turned out really good. I think it might have hit the spot more for me than Mark...but he didn't say that out loud;)

And last week, I had a hankering for tacos ...La Pasadita style. I had some beef in the freezer. I think it was a type of sirloin...and then a lonely little ranch steak. I seasoned them up and seared them in the cast iron skillet. I cooked them medium rare and then let them rest.
Before all this, I made a trip to the carnaceria. I got corn tortillas for me, flour for Mark, and I got some cilantro as well. Oh, and Dr. Pepper...because it just sounded good.
I chopped up the cilantro and I chopped up some onions and I mixed them together. I cut up the rested meat and made sure it was seasoned pretty good. I just did basics....salt, pepper, garlic, and a little paprika. I heated up the tortillas on the skillet and added meat, cilantro and onions. That is it. So basic. But, oh so tasty. I ate probably too many of those. And was happy to have leftovers for the next two days;)

37 weeks

Alright folks! We are getting closer and closer. We are in the home stretch. And stretch is a good word to use...because my belly feels soooo stretched out. As, I am sure, it looks.
I am very uncomfortable most days. The pain/pressure in my pelvic area wakes me up at night sometimes. I can't roll over easily at all.
On Sunday, I had a really rough day. I almost didn't make it to church. I had so much pain in my lower back, legs and lower abdomen. I had some pains in my belly that I couldn't quite place as to where they were coming from or why. During church the pain continued...but not as bad. And I had a couple contractions, but that was it.
The babies kicks are getting different. They just feel...different. Hard to explain really. I am not sure if she is in position or not. But, I definitely don't feel the pressure up against my rib cage anymore. I haven't had breathing problems in a while.
I did get my freezer meals all ready. So, that is a load off.
I managed to make:
Sloppy joes
Cheesy chicken and rice casserole
Meatballs and marinara
Chicken enchiladas
Turkey pot pie
Beef stroganoff
Hot dogs and buns - frozen to just have on hand
Red beans and rice
Macaroni and cheese
Lasagna

I think that is it. I have a couple of bananas that I am going to make some more muffins, and will freeze those. I also have pie crust ready-made for the pies I intend to make for the fair next week.
So, I think I have all my ducks in a row as far as that stuff. I know Mark is able to cook...but, to have it all ready means that he can concentrate on me, the baby, and Charly and Aydan. Plus we don't have to worry about grocery shopping and all that. Money will be tight...so having a week or two of food all there...well, that saves a lot. Plus, whoever is watching Charly and Aydan while we are at the hospital, won't have to worry about cooking either.

The only thing left to do is to pack a bag. ...oh, and go in to labor!!:)


"How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his 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."

Labor and delivery

I am a bit nervous about having this baby. I am not sure why. I have had two other babies...no problems. But, I guess the anticipation is getting to me. I am so excited to meet Peyton, but I am not quite ready at the same time. I have just a couple weeks left. I think I can get ready by then;) Plans are made...sitters are lined up...bassinet is up...I am pre-registered at the hospital. I still have to wash some baby clothes, pack a bag, and get a car seat. And I want to try and make some food to put in the freezer. It is nice to not have to worry about meals with all the baby business going on. And whoever is watching Aydan and Charly while we are at the hospital...would probably appreciate some easy meals too.
My "birth plan" will be as it always is. Go with the flow...and follow the baby's lead. I always try and go with no drugs and hope for the best. I am really not looking forward to the pain. But, one day of pain is worth a lifetime of joy.
I think what happens is this...if I can try and relay a random thought. When I am pain free, I can't fathom the pain of childbirth. I can't even empathize with myself or anyone else. I can't imagine how badly it will hurt. Or to what extent my body could "scream".
But, as I get closer to actual childbirth...my body isn't pain free anymore. Each day I have aches and pains. I get joints feeling like they are going to pop out. I have pain in my pelvic bone that just feels unnatural. I can't move too swiftly...because some part of my body will "yell" at me. If I sit too long, my joints need time to be accustomed to moving again. Not to mention, the pain that little Peyton delivers to me from inside. Usually from kicking my bladder in just the right way. Or she seems to have found a nerve of some sort...that hurts and leaves me breathless at the same time.
So, as I start to feel these pains all over and really just get tired each day from soreness...I can start to imagine how badly labor will hurt. How much pain my body will surly endure. I can start to empathize with myself...and what I will have to go through. I am for certain that the words will come out of my mouth again "I can't take it, I can't do this anymore!". When we all really know...that isn't an option. I am so uncomfortable most days...and it is just a waiting period for when I have the ultimate day of "discomfort" a girl can imagine.
I guess I am just tired and feel in no way up for labor and pain. But, with all that said....when the day arrives, I will step up to the plate. I will have some help of endorphins and excitement to get me through. I will have my husband and sister there to root me on and keep me going.
And even though I am not looking forward the pain of childbirth...the thought of having an epidural scares me even more. I am not really sure why. I guess even though i am in a tremendous amount of pain, I am still aware of everything. I can still be in control. I can walk around. I am not numb. And after the baby is born...the pain goes away and I am not lethargic. There is no...letting the drugs wear off. If I don't have an epidural, I am experiencing the birth of my child in its entirety. I am not taking any shortcuts, and I am making sure I am there for my little one all the way.
This is my own personal opinion and I, in no way put anyone down for their choices in labor. I think everyone is different, pain tolerance is different, each labor is different. Some people would rather have the pain meds, and I would not. I certainly don't rule it out as an option. I can hope that for my third child I won't need one...but you just never know. I will go with the flow....

Surreal

I finally got to go to my own church yesterday. With summer....comes a lot of travel and different activities, which makes it hard to make it to church every Sunday. Well, Garry and Cindy were in Indiana and Mark was resting his back. So, it was just the kids and me. Aydan screamed as soon as I brought them in the the nursery, but Charly did just fine. I left right away and Aydan didn't cry too long after that.
I sat by myself at church and I actually quite enjoy that. It is sort of my "solitude" time. Just God and me. And I don't get enough of that. Well, this particular Sunday, the pastor told us how his father in law had passed away the day before. His wife, was with family and he read and excerpt from something she had wrote to say good bye to her dad.
It really made me well up with tears. I never knew the man, but I think it just brought me back to my grandpa dying. Not to mention the fact that I can't imagine losing any of my parents, and I completely empathize with anyone losing theirs.
Well, I never really got to say good bye to my grandpa. Well, and more to the fact that I haven't let myself grieve at all. Life has kept me swimming lately...and at the funeral when I normally would have been focusing on grandpa's life and letting myself grieve over his death....I was chasing two kids around and wasn't able to pay attention at all.
I did walk up to the casket and say my good bye and I began to cry at that point, but I just sucked it back up because I had the two kids to tend to.
I just never let myself grieve. It really does have to be a conscious decision....which is odd.
I was going through my phone looking for a number today and found grandpa's number. I didn't delete it yet...but I know that I need to.
A person that has been a part of my life since the beginning, has died. Hopefully he is with my grandma and they are enjoying themselves.

35 Weeks

Well, I had an appointment on Tuesday of this week. Everything is going along well. My weight is a grand ole 168 and the baby's heart beat was in the 140's. The midwife said that she thinks Peyton is around 5 lbs right now. So, coming along just fine.
I start going to the doctor once a week now since I am in my last month. It is all just a waiting game from here on out. I feel like throwing a prediction out...of when I think I will deliver, but I just don't know. Maybe July 28th? Sure, let's go with that;)

Symptoms have actually gotten a bit better. I hardly ever have the PVC's now. And even my shortness of breathe has reduced. And dizzy spells...I don't have them as often, and when I do, they are much less severe. So, mostly what I deal with is pain in my legs, pelvic and those painful kicks that Peyton likes to give my bladder. I have a few braxton hicks contractions, but nothing crazy or consistent.

I have been eating kind of crappy lately. I need to get better about that. It is hard when you are near the end of the pregnancy and all you crave is pop and sweets. I have been still trying to suck down the water as well. I average about 32-48 oz a day. Not too bad.

That is about it for the exciting week 35 update...moving in to my 9th month now! Peyton, we will meet you soon!