36 w 6 d

Had another appt yesterday... with a dr. who actually told me she read thru my info before coming into the room! Now that's a first. And I believe her because she actually mentioned the fact that she delivered Ellie, which she did... I SO appreciate a dr. like that.

Dr. explanation - in our town our OB dr.'s have a rotating on-call schedule. So we don't get to have one dr. We get whoever is on-call when our baby is ready to come out! So thru all our appt's we see each one of them... some multiple times. (There are 5 of them.) I am fairly happy with all of them... some more than others... some rush thru the appt... having no idea barely what my name is... and others like the one I saw yesterday actually take the time to read my file and refresh their brain on my history, etc. I have 2 favs and am praying one of them is on when my time comes.

Anywho... am only dilated to 1 still. She can feel baby's head and my cervix is nice and soft. 22 days to go and I give myself about 14. We'll see. Some moments I think, "I cannot be pregnant for 2 or 3 more weeks, this baby is coming soon!" And other moments, like now, I feel good and think... "will I go past my due date?"

I measured 37 weeks and gained 2 more lb's yesterday. Bp was 114/68. I can't remember if I gave my strep B results last time or not... but it was negative.

No crying yesterday... was and am in much better spirits this week.

I feel good and am ready for this little boy to get here. We finally have a name... keeping it to ourselves for now. :)

Ellie has had a cold/runny nose/sneezing thing for the last few days and guess who woke up with it this morning. Lovely. My colds are different though, I have the nasal drainage with sore throat... that's what I've got today. I was supposed to work a few hours at the shop but just called in. I need to rest because I have a jewelry show tonight... which I'll earn way more $$ at than the 3-4 hours at the shop.

Had a jewelry show last week, my all time high in sales ($2029) and earned over $550 that night!! In 4 hours!! I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

36 w 2 d

>>>>>>>> Look at my ticker... it cracks me up! >>>>>>>>>

So it's Friday evening. I worked a whole whopping 3.5 hours today at my pt job and am exhausted. Ridiculous! My lower back is about ready to just give it a rest for the weekend. I did also run a few errands then came home and picked up the house and cleaned up the kitchen... the standing at the sink doing the dishes really knocks out my back so I'm sure that is part of it. It is nice to get back to that job once in a while and fill in when they need help... I love the adult interaction. Love and need it!

So yeah, I'm still pregnant. Have been feeling ok minus the back/hip/tailbone pain and the plain 'ole exhaustion. Baby is moving around alot... which just amazes me because it feels like he has no room in there.

We still have no name. I do not know what my husband is doing. (It's his turn to come up with something.) But I'm about ready to just put my foot down and say, "you took to long... his name is _____!" Not sure he'd really like that... but whatever. I feel a connection to one name and would really like that name... and he's being so wishy washy and not coming up with anything we can agree on... ugh I'm frustrated. Actually we did have one name, Brody, that I thought was going to be it... Ellie calls him Brody... but now Greg says he isn't feeling it anymore. See what I mean. Ugh.

Tomorrow is Saturday and I am doing nothing but resting. Reading. Watching movies with Ellie. I need a day like that and can't wait!

We had our best ever jewelry show last night!! I love my job. If anyone is interested in part time work, at your own pace, as little or as often as you'd like... please let me know. You can make up your own schedule to suit your and your families needs! Last nights party made us $418 in 4 hours! Orders are still coming in so that amount is guaranteed to increase! Did I tell you I love my job!?! Love it!! If you need a pt job to save for a trip/purse/home improvement/etc... this is a great way to earn that money. You can give it a go for 3 months/6 months/12 months or years... whatever YOU CHOOSE! It's all up to you! Visit our website if you'd like to see what we do!

liasophia.com/jewelryruehls

Ok, time to relax and read my book, night all!

Oh wait, 2 cute Ellie stories:

In the car we love listening to music. I have the Miley Cyrus (don't laugh) movie sound track in the cd player right now. I love songs #8 and #13. #8 is "The Climb" and it totally reminds me of our life right now... there is always something standing in our way trying to hold us down but we are going to keep working at getting up that hill. #13 is our wedding song "Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts. Ellie always wants to listen to those 2 songs... tonight as I turned on our wedding song she asks me, "mommy is that daddy singing?" OMG. She is awesome!

My parents are painting their house. The other day Ellie and I stopped over there to see how it was going (my sis and dad are doing the work) and Ellie helped paint a few pieces of siding. Yesterday when we pulled into my parents driveway she saw that only one half of the back of the house was painted... and it was pouring rain. She all the sudden screamed, "the rain is washing the paint off the house!!!" Cracks me up. I had to explain that, no, only part of the house had been painted so far... it wasn't being washed off the house be the rain. I love the innocence of these little people!!

35 w 6 d

I am going to try and post every other day from now on, if not daily, simply to keep a record of my last month of pregnancy for me, Greg and the kids. Sorry if this bores you to death... but I want a record of it all from here on out.

I took Jana's advice and took Tylenol PM last night. It seemed to have worked. I was up as usual to pee a few times but feel as if my sleep time was less restless and deeper. I'm trying to have less computer time, because it just sucks me in and I'd sit here for hours wasting my time, so last night I turned it off early and laid in bed with a book. It was nice and relaxing. Baby must have also known I was so relaxed because I've never ever seen my tummy move so much. I wish Greg would have been home to see/feel it. :( As usual I was woken up when Greg got home from work. We usually say good morning and talk a bit. Then he's out and I can't get back to sleep because he's immediately snoring. So I move out to the couch for the last hour or so before Ellie is up.

Ellie and I had a few errands to run this morning. After those we stopped by my old job and said hi to a few of the ladies. It is always nice to see them (a few of them anyway). Then we stopped by my parents house to see my dad and Katie. They have been painting my parents house and Ellie has been dying to help! So I made her wear play clothes today and she helped paint the siding. I forgot my camera, so no pics. :( We then had lunch with dad and Katie and headed home for quiet time.

I had a jewelry order come in when I got home so I went thru and processed that. Then it was time for my quiet time. I actually took the time for myself, when there was plenty of dishes, plenty of laundry, plenty of picking up and plenty of daytime tv on, to sit in bed and read... in peace and quiet... eventually falling asleep. It was wonderful! I hope to do it as often as possible these next few weeks.

Ellie was up at 4:15 (yes she takes awesome naps still AND goes to bed by 7:30... love it!) so we hung out with Greg a bit then headed upstairs to organize her closet and get the guest room ready for grandma melly who will be visiting very soon with baby coming. Didn't get quite as far as I'd hoped... just finished Ellie's closet around 6:30 and we were hungry so we came down for dinner. Mom of the year award goes to me... I fed Ellie grapes, toast and milk for dinner. Yup. Please no comments on that. It happened and it's not gonna be the last time.

Tomorrow I hope to finish the guest room, do a bit of laundry and start cleaning up the dining room which is covered with non-selling garage sale items (mostly baby girl things) that we are planning to take the the Children's Exchange and makes some bucks on.

Ellie's in bed and I'm going to go relax and read. Night.

pregnancy is SO MUCH FUN!

The last couple Sunday evenings I have been spending the night at my friend Tanya's house. I do this because her work schedule has changed and she needs daycare on Mondays. This way I can just wake up there rather than have to leave my house at 4:30 in the morning to get there before she needs to get to work.

Well last night I got there around 8:30. Hunter (her daughter) was already in bed and Tanya was heading to bed. So I took Ellie and we just headed upstairs to bed (we share a bed at T's). We read a few books, talked and sang a few songs. She eventually fell asleep and I followed about 10:45.

1:02 a.m. - up to pee

2:26 a.m. - up with very uncomfortable contractions. They are coming every 3-6 minutes. I am in pain. Something on the right side of my belly is causing a small circular area of my belly to really, really hurt. I sit, change positions drink water. Nothing helps. This continues on for over an hour.

3:38 a.m. - the pain is getting worse so I decide to go downstairs and get in the bathtub. I knew Tanya had to be up shortly to get ready for work so I woke her up first to check what time she had to get into the bathroom... 4:10 - so I told her I was going to sit in the tub for 10 minutes or so.

3:40 a.m. - texted Greg. He didn't wake up. I wasn't sure I really needed him up either so I just let it go. He was at home and I was sure that this wasn't the real thing at that point. And just like I'd thought... the bath helped. The contractions died down and became less severe.

4:15 a.m. - am out of the tub, back in my pj's and heading back to bed. Still uncomfortable but managed to fall asleep.

5:43 a.m. - YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME... my lovely daughter wakes up. She tells me it's light outside and that means it's time to get up. SHAAAA-right Ellie. Lay down and go back to bed. We do (but take a potty break first).

6:50 a.m. - she's up again. This time I just lay there until my alarm goes off at 7.

7:10 a.m. - we're up. Hunter hears us and gets up. I am barely functional! Contractions are seriously exhausting. I give them breakfast. Then have to jump in the shower for my 9 a.m. dr appt.

8:15 a.m. - Greg shows up at T's with a Starbucks for me!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE HIM! Katie shows up at 8:30 to watch the girls and we're off to my appt.

Appt highlights:

blood draw for hemoglobin - 11.3 (normal)

bp - 96/60

strep B - results in a few days

ultra sound - baby's head is down

heartbeat - perfect

weight - up 5 lbs (yay!! it's about time)

cervical check - dilated to 1, cervix is very soft, she could feel the baby's head!!

sobbing - yes, yes I sobbed to Jana... wishing I could have the baby today... told her about the night before, my pain, the huge baby in me making things SO uncomfortable, the heartburn, the fatigue, the back pain, the hip pain, the perineal pain... I'll spare you the rest of the details... but all I got was a big "NOPE! No baby today Kris" I cried even harder then.

Jana told me I needed to get more rest and run around less. That the exhaustion was making me more emotional and weepy and that I needed to save up my energy and strength for the actual labor... that if I was this emotional and fatigued when it came time to the real thing I would not have the energy to get thru the contractions and pushing and I did not want to end up with a C-section. So yeah. Rest, rest, rest and start taking Tylenol PM. I'm going to give it a try... but it is so hard for me to ask someone to clean for me or take Ellie for me... I feel like some will think I'm just being lazy and taking advantage of my situation, ya know? Why is it so hard to ask for help?? She also suggested I ask my parents or sister to take Ellie overnight over these next few weeks. So I did ask that they do that once a week or so.

I just don't remember things being this hard with Ellie's pregnancy. I worked until 13 days before delivery. I never missed a day of work during that pregnancy. This time around I cannot imagine how much more tired I'd be if I had to go to work all day 5 days a week. For example this night I describe above... up for hours with contractions and peeing... then to get up at 5:45 to shower and get ready for work, get Ellie up and off to daycare, then go to work all day. Goodness that makes me tired just thinking about it and typing it.

A few more weeks. I can do this. I can do this.

If you need me in the next few weeks I'll be the one laying on the couch vegging out while my poor daughter is forced to watch every single movie in her collection... twice.

time to get on with it

I want to have this baby now. I am tired of heartburn. Tired of being tired, uncomfortable and tired of having joint and back pain. Tired of worrying.

Can this happen at week 36? (I'll be there Wednesday)

Reality has set in. I'm scared. Scared of the pain of labor. Scared of the possibility of being home alone with Ellie (Greg works weird night shift work right now) when labor starts. Scared of severe tearing like I had with Ellie. (My perineal area must know what is coming and is preparing itself... because it is so swollen, sore and tender... it feels raw. This totally freaks me out). Scared of not getting there in time for an epidural and having to do it all on my own. Scared of pushing. Scared that I won't have the energy to push and get thru the labor... because I am so exhausted with trying to clean/prepare my house and baby stuff and chasing Ellie around every day. I think I'm more scared this time than last because I know what to expect... and although I did heal last time... it was a long road of bottom pain, sore nipples from breast feeding... etc, etc. I am just so scared of so many things. I want this to all be over!

I slept terrible last night. This must be affecting my emotional state today because I am just kinda weepy and want this baby out now. I want to get past all my worries and the pain and be home with my baby.

I have an appointment tomorrow... I am praying that I'm dilated to at least 3, 4 would be nice because I would feel like I'm more on my way to delivery... I have had on and off contractions throughout the last few days... nothing real steady. We will have an ultrasound tomorrow to check on the baby's position. Will also be tested for strep B.

Hope everything is good tomorrow... I'm ready to get on with it!

2 of my favorite pictures from this summer...

My sweet Ellie...

Playing "pregnant belly like mommy!" (I don't think I've EVER smiled with that much enthusiasm during a pregnancy!! :)) I think she looks hilarious!!!!

whine, whine, wine...

God I was so bitchy to Ellie this evening and I'm feeling terrible. She doesn't deserve to be snipped at because I'm tired or feeling crappy. I feel like a terrible bitchy mommy. Ugh.

I have been having at least 2 moments a day where I literally cannot keep my eyes open. I just have to put on a movie and tell Ellie I need to close my eyes for a few minutes... 30 minutes later I wake up and think, geez, she should not be left alone like this! It is kinda scaring me... how so tired I am and I still have 6 weeks to go!!

My hips hurt.

My lower back hurts.

My va-jay-jay is gonna hurt. Bad.

I can't even stand at the sink and do a full sink of dishes. My lower back starts hurting to bad and I literally have to lean against the sink with both my arms and finish the dishes that way!

I am an emotional wreck. I cry because I feel bad for fish... people fish for them, their mouths bleed and then they get thrown back in the water. What the hell is the point? I was a the beach and felt bad because they were collecting clams for the kids, prying them open (does this hurt them??), cleaning them out and letting the kids take the shells home.

Am I ridiculous or what?!

I am SO ready for this baby to get here. I need a glass of wine (or maybe a bottle) and a pitcher of beer margaritas.

Off my whiny soap box. Sorry.

Tuesday night movie night!

Ellie and I are starting a new weekly event. Twice a week we are going to watch a movie and enjoy a big bowl of popcorn together on daddy's night to work. Tonight we started with A Bug's Life. I love that movie!!

Here is the couch, Ellie and our popcorn all ready for me to jump in and cuddle up in my spot.
Can you tell she's sooooooooo excited!
I just love this little girl to pieces!!
I'm trying REALLY hard to give her the most fun possible days/activities over this past couple weeks and during the next month. I'm all emotional about her feeling like she's taking second fiddle after this baby comes. I want to make her feel special and remember that she is still my beautiful little girl!