Getting Through

Just a small update on the baby momma:

I am still teaching even though our due date is 3 weeks away. (Three weeks on Friday technically). For all future momma's, when people say the end gets really hard they stinkin mean it! I hope by the time we have another baby I am either not working or can time the birth for the end of summer vacation. It's just so exhausting. I am getting overwhelmed with all the school and sub plans at this point. Thankfully, I have some great co workers who are helping me out. Next Tuesday one of our instructional specialists is actually subbing for me so to speak so I can work on plans and materials. What a blessing!

I am getting really tired and swollen and achy these days. I really don't know how Jude could possibly grow any more inside me. Literally, everything feels so squished. I am really getting out of breath more and more because he is just up inside my lungs or whatever. You should hear me when I come in from recess and go up the stairs with my kids. I just huff and puff like a chain smoker with an oxygen tank. I have heartburn like crazy to. It feels like he will roll around, knock in to my stomach, and send this pleasant surge of stomach acid right on up. I'm about to start walking around with a bottle of pepto bismal on top of my oxygen tank.

Today was a first for one pregnancy symptom though- I've had several Braxton Hicks contractions today. I'm not sure if I've had them before or not. If I have, they weren't as clear as they were today. For those of you who don't know, Braxton Hicks contractions are just your body's way of practicing for the big day. They are perfectly normal. I "practiced" a lot today. Most of the afternoon anyway. It was annoying, but not a big deal. I suppose my body is officially getting ready for Jude to be here.

For all you Christians out there, Jude and I do have a prayer request. At my doctor's appointment this week, she told me that I have group b strep. I freaked out when I was told this because I thought it was an STD. It's not for those of you thinking the same thing. Apparently sometimes you just carry it. It's asymptomatic in adults, but can be dangerous for the baby during the birthing process. I'm going to have to go straight to the hospital when I go in to labor to get put on antibiotics. From what the doctor said, everything should be fine since they have caught it and I will get antibiotics, but to be honest, I'm still freaked out. It has the potential to cause big health problems for Jude like pneumonia and meningitis. I have to keep reminding myself he will be ok if I get antiobiotics. Just pray that everything goes well and I don't worry too much.

Another request for prayer is relating to our house. First of all, pray that Michael and I would continue walking by faith. It's getting hard at this point, but we know that in the end God will make it clear to us why He has taken us this route. We have had an offer in on a house in Crossroads since Aug 3rd. We were told it was a short sale, but our realtor failed to explain to us that short sales take 3 months. When we found that out, we talked and prayed about what to do. While we still have the offer in on the short sale house, we decided to try other houses to see which one opened up first. God led us to this wonderful realtor who is experienced and a Christian to boot. Really great for 2 inexperienced people like us. We started working with him around Sept 3rd. During that time we have put offers in on 4 houses I think? The first offer came back with foundation problems, termite problems, flooding problems, and fire problems. Go figure. We were able to pull that offer thankfully. Then we found another house that we really liked. We put in the offer only to find out an offer went in and was accepted mere hours before ours. Another bummer. We continued looking and found another house we really liked. Put in the offer, got it accepted, AND they agreed to close on Oct 9th- big deal for us. We had the inspection done the next day to help speed up the process, and were told the house needed $40,000 worth of foundation work to be safe. No, $40,000 is not a typo... At this point, we were just frustrated and frantic because time was running out. We found a house that was smaller than the others and more expensive and put in an offer out of sheer desperation. It was accepted and they agreed to close October 13th- again with amazing. And that's when God tested us to see if we can really trust him. It somehow came up to question whether we loved the house and would have bought it no matter what or whether we are just desperate and willing to take anything. Michael and I both felt that we were making a (huge) decision out of fear and a lack of faith. We decided to walk away from it and trust God to bring us HIS best- not just the next available. For me, with all my nesting urges, this was the hardest thing to do in some ways. The logical side knows it was not the right house. The spiritual side knows it wasn't God's best for us. Yet my momma side desperately wants a house to bring my baby home to. I'm still struggling with this so keep praying. I am holding on to the fact that I know the God I serve. He's so much bigger than the housing market and my parenting dreams. I know He has a plan to get us where He wants us to be. I know when we get there I will be soooo thankful that I allowed God to be God in my life. In the meantime, I'm kind of scared. Please be praying for Michael and I as we are literally clinging to Christ through this whole process. We really aren't sure what is going to happen for us in the next 3 weeks, other than a baby will come. Please pray that God part the Red Sea so to speak. We need to find a place to live.

Thanks guys, I know this post was kinda heavy...

Shower Pics- Mel's camera

Here are some shower pics that I stole from Melissa's camera. Some of them are fuzzy, but you get the idea....

36 weeks aka 9 months!

We are now in our 9th month as of yesterday. The journey is really and truly ending. Jude will be considered full term by Friday, which is both crazy exciting and scary. I can't believe it sometimes. The fruit of the week is a crenshaw melon so should you see one in your neighborhood Kroger, think of Jude (and me with that inside rolling about). At this point in pregnancy, Jude should be gaining an ounce a day. Given that statistic and that he weighed 6.1 on Thursday, he is probably about 6lbs 3 oz today. Always gaining. Interestingly enough, I swear I can feel him growing within. Each day everything inside me feels more and more cramped. I honestly do not know where else he can possibly go. I'm sure he is just as miserable being cramped inside. Anyway, he should be able 18.5 inches long at this point. They didn't tell me a length at the sono, so I have to use my weekly updates to guestimate. He is actually measuring a little bit bigger than the updates suggest (by 3 oz.), so he may be a tad longer as well. Not too much is interesting at this point. Just gaining weight. He's shedding the covering he's needed while inside the amniotic fluid. It also says he should be in the head down position at this point. He was head down during the sono, so I assume we are good with this. I'm not sure whether to assume he will stay in that position or will flip around at some point. By the way they describe it, he must stay head down from this point. Honestly, I don't know how he could find the space to do too much moving really. Luckily, I guess I don't have to worry about a breech baby, atleast not at this point. Overall, we are just waiting and preparing for the big day. While the dr seems to think there is no indication he will come early, for all practical purposes, Jude could come any day now. I'm not really ready for him though, so I hope not! Still have several things to do. Keep praying for us!

OB appt- 35.6 weeks

Today I had another OB appt. (They're weekly now.) I was 35.6 weeks pregnant. This appointment had a lot to it. First, I had my third trimester sono. It will be Jude's last sono unless something happens in the next 4 weeks that is alarming. I posted the only good picture we got of him. You can see his little profile and he has his hands up near his mouth. Cute!

The sono went really well except that he was, as usual, difficult to get a look at. Not because he was moving around a lot, although he was squirmy. Mainly, he just seems to be camera shy. He had his hands completely blocking his face the whole time so we never saw a frontal view. We were only even able to get his profile at the end. He decided to be nice and cooperative at the end I guess. Thank goodness.

The most exciting part of the sono for me was finding out that he has a headful of hair! I guess given Michael's full rocker locks, the idea of Michael's son being born with a full head of hair thrills me. Perhaps he'll be born with a fo-hawk? Just kidding, but really, I'm excited about his hair. Now to just see him to know whether he has Michael's blonde hair or my darker hair...

The other sono news showed that Jude is measuring 6 pounds and 1 ounce. She said that is a perfect weight for this point in gestation, which seems to suggest that he is right on track developmentally. Thankfully, there is no indication that he'll come early from the sono, which is good for maternity leave purposes. I also saw his heart and his heart beat which she said were good, as well as the fact that he was practicing his breathing. All good signs. Very reassuring and I really can't wait to meet him!

Finally, I had the OB portion of the appt. The only interesting thing to report is that she checked my dilation. I'm 1 cm dilated, which is apparently also normal for being 4 weeks away from the due date. Again, very reassuring since I am trying my hardest to make it to my due date with work. I know everyone thinks I'm crazy, but if I can make it to my due date, I will return to work the week before Christmas break. This would be really great for several reasons. 1) My mom can come up and help so I don't have to put him in daycare yet. 2) It would just be one week of seperation and then 2 weeks off. A nice way to ease into being a working mom. 3) It would only be 3 full days of work. Thursday and Friday of that week are half days. So basically, this is my goal, and based on the sono and dilation, I should be able to do it, or in the very least, come close. That being said, I know I will be miserable. It will just be worth it in the end.

Anyway, those are Jude's stats as of right now. Everything looks good. Can't wait to meet him!

More Shower Pics

Baby Shower

Yesterday, my two best friends from college threw me a baby shower. Everything was adorably decorated with blue and green elephants. My friend Melissa is an exceptional party planner if ever anyone is in need of quality services. She will perform! My friend Crystal found a cute little tea room in Denton to have it at which definitely completed the ambience. Very fun!

Jude, I'm sure, feels blessed as he was showered with love from so many people. He says, thank you by the way. We have already begun teaching the essentials, like manners. The girl inside me is so excited to get to use all the cute baby things. I don't think I've ever heard so many 'awwws' uttered in my life. It's really cute. I'm excited by it all, although I think Michael's favorite thing is by far the newborn chuck taylor's. I'm sure once Jude is born there will be pics with those on!

Anyway, it was a really fun time for me. Here's the one picture I've stolen from someone. I'll post more as I get them.

My Little Honey Dew- 35 weeks

We are in the last week of the 8th month meaning we only have 5 more to go. Or 35 days, depending on how you want to look at it. I think it seems a whole lot sooner when you think about it in terms of days. Regardless, we are getting very, very close. Even though Jude still has a little bit of growing to do, at the end of the day, I feel like he could come at any minute.

Here's the breakdown for week 35:

* 18 inches

* 5.25 lbs (he gains a lb a week fyi)

* fully developed kidneys

* mostly functioning liver

* most physical development complete

How mom's feeling:

* Tired! I cannot describe how hard it is to get up and do anything. I am so stinking amazed with myself for working everyday. I'm a little stressed though with all that we need to get in place with housing, subplans, nursery, etc.

* Waddling horrifically.

* Discovered that the annoying pain on my right rib was actually Jude who apparently has a favorite spot, which is most uncomfortable for me. The doctor told me I could try to move him, but I would just feel bad for him. I think that's a mom attitude right?

* Back pain also horrible. Thank goodness for my amazing husband who is will to give me a massage at night.

* Feet swelling has reached gargantuan proportions. I have approximately 2 pairs of shoes I can wear now. I can assure you none of them are my cute shoes. Luckily Michael is willing to rub those after my long day too!

* Number of times I'm asked if I'm going to pop- 11,287. Today someone even told me I looked like I was dropping. Being unexperienced in pregnancy, I have no idea. It seems a little soon to me. One things for sure, I don't breathe easier. It will take the hand of God to convince Jude to not chill against my right rib. He's sleeping there as we speak. Spent all of my dinner playing around, then falls asleep inside my rib cage. Awesome.

* Number of positions per night in attempt to get comfortable- 479. How many are successful? 0

* Waking up in the morning is the worst. I feel like my entire body is completely locked up. At those moments it really does feel like the baby has dropped and everything is down at the bottom. Miserable.

My next appointment is Thurs am. We have our final sono, which I am soo soo excited about. She will also be checking to see if I've started dilating at all. Scary stuff, but it will be reassuring to know where I stand regardless of what she says. Only 2 more weeks until Jude will be considered full term. We can definitely make it until then! Just hope we make it longer so that we can get our things done.

Please be praying for us with everything going on. I have so much to finish with school. We should be closing on this house in the next 2 weeks, so please pray that there are no more issues with that as well. Thanks!