Preggo Journal Wk36

Well, I made it thus far...yippee! I had a doctor appt and got my membranes "swept" (just sounds better then the other word)...actually I just a rather "rough" cervix check...as far as the paperwork is concerned. That happened Thurs noonish. Well, all afternoon and evening I had contractions that were 5 min apart...for about 7 hours. But since they "slowed" down when I laid down I didn't go to Labor and Delivery. Plus, Devin wasn't home and I didn't want to go in for it just to be false. Oh, and if I get admitted into the Hospital and then discharged again I have to fill out the registration packet again. Dumb.

I was able to tour the Labor and Delivery today. Pretty nice. Except there is NO NURSERY! How on earth am I going to survive!?! Of course, with Matthew I was recovering from a c-section so maybe that is different. Hopefully we won't have a repeat of that!

It appears that there are so many details that are "right" this weekend that I hope I have my water break tomorrow morning (because that is obvious I am in labor....obvious is good) because we can get a good night's rest tonight and hopefully since daddy has 2 days off for sure and could get 2 off next week and then the 4 days before deployment...that is a lot of good time with family. The good news is that I think I passed my mucus plug today...went walking around the mall...and I am doing pretty good with contractions happening a lot, so hopefully the timing is perfect for Lydia to come to the world. Oh please oh please!

Lydia...come out!

Going Private

Yes...it is that time for us. I have come to the realization that the purpose of this blog has changed...OR my reaction to the purpose of this blog has changed. At first, it was for those family members who lived far away to "see" what we are doing and keep up on our lil family. Because those who it was intended for don't comment, I am not sure if they actually keep looking at it. PLUS...I want this to be a place for me to record our family lives. I don't want to be nervous about who is looking and who is not. I want to be free to write about us without concern for reaction (or lack thereof. I want to print this blog and include the comments. Too sad that some of the most important people have not commented. It would have been nice for the boyz.

So, yes, we will be going private before baby Lydia is born. NO pictures will be posted of her until we are private. So, without further ado...post a comment or send an email to: lilizbit3033@yahoo.com with a request to be included and be invited to view our blog once private. The deadline date is: MON DECEMBER 7, 2009 @ 8pm (CA time).

Thank you for those who have participated and wish to continue.

Preggo Journal Wk 35 - Photo

So, since it has only been a few days since my last journal entry, my big question is: Have I "dropped"? Mom says I have, I felt I did (before I saw her this morning)....so, to Ruth: what do YOU think? Since you can't be here now, I wanted to show you so that you could get in the opinion action.
BTW- I am completely miserable.....I want Lydia OUT!!! Maybe she will have already learned how to follow directions and will come when I ask her to???? We shall see.

Our Boyz are growing UP!

So many things happen so fast, and then they are followed by longer days of seemingly NOTHING that goes on. So here is the update on the boyz:

Nathan:
He is pretty much obsessed with his sword collection. He (and yes, now Matthew) love to run around with their swords and play together. They are very proud!


Nathan doesn't really take a "scheduled" nap these days...he is sorta in between. There are days where I can tell he NEEDS one because he gets cranky, but then his night sleep is interrupted and shorter - so he ends up with less sleep overall. So, if he falls asleep we let him sleep wherever he is and if he does sleep, then great, he just goes to bed at 8 and wakes up between 6:30 and 7am.

Preschool is amazing for Nathan. His teacher says he is so very social and follows directions every time and has only had a "warning" once. He plays with everyone - no one gets left out. And since he is basically repeating every week (meaning it is a T/Th and W/F - so what they do on T he does again on W...etc) he has the same excitement level for the activities every time. I am very proud of him and so happy that he is doing so very well for others.

Matthew:

The big news for this one is that he was moved into a "big boy" bed 2 days ago. Last week he start the beginnings of crawling out of the crib. I was standing right there, so he didn't actually finish the job. So, we set up the bed on Sat - morning. We could tell that Matthew was just so VERY excited about his new bed. He practiced going "ni ni" all day. I was worried he wouldn't get in the covers and would fall out while he slept (he moves so darn much!). But he took a nap perfectly that day - didn't get out once and slept for 2 hours. He has also spent both nights in there wonderfully! Sleeping 11 hours each night. So cute when they get out of bed. He doesn't appear scared at all. Both boyz are obsessed with "playing on the bed" and now they have 2!

I absolutely love the way Matthew pronounces Nathans name: sounding it out like: "nay nah". Matthew adores Nathan and is always pointing him out and becomes incredibly sad when they are apart. They really are like 2 peas in a pod. Each gets concerned when the other cries and while they can get on each others nerves they can giggle together for hours. So very grateful that they get a long and help mommy.

Preggo Journal Wk33-34.5 - Photo

I know that it has been WAY too long, but I have an explaination. For the end of week 33...I couldn't find my camera to take a picture. And then Devin started his "POM" - don't ask because I have forgotten what it stands for. Basically it is the scheduled leave before deployment. So, Devin had the last 9 days off, and thus I didn't do much of anything but be with him and the boyz. SO, now here I am. I also had a doc appt today, so there is some info to report too. Here goes

I feel like a huge house. My back constantly aches and is annoying. My belly is stretching and I itch to HIGH heavens. Nothing seems to work. Perscription anti-itch doesn't help. My belly button is sore...so I think I am in for another growth spurt. My contractions (I guess just the Braxton Hicks) are spuratically constant...they will come about like this for 6-7 hours at a time: every 5 min, 10, 4, 11, 5, 5, 5, 20, 5, 10...etc. The doc said that this is good because then my body is preparing for delivery...now THAT topic opens a can of worms.

Since I am due New Year's Eve...Daddy won't be here for delivery...so I only have a small window of opportunity for family to be here or come and help. And with my moving to AZ, that only complicates the matter further. SO, the doc decided to see me weekly and will be stripping my membranes on Dec 3...I will be 36 weeks that day. It is good for a VBAC...which would be most convienient...but then to help my poor planning mind, she scheduled an induction for Christmas Day. So, we shall see!

Preggo Journal Wk 32

I wish I could report that this week was better and that it was uneventful, but I wouldn't be keeping an acurate journal of my pregnancy and the surrounding experiences that effect me (and Lydia).

This week we had Halloween, the pre-deployment breifing, and the first half of my trip to TX to see my step-bro get married. Halloween was fine and great...I have commented about this in a previous post. Ever since the briefing I have been a wreck every now and again. About daily in no consistent timeframe I would just start bawling thinking about the daunting task in front of me. I am "pre-missing" my husband and trying to decide the specifics about when, where, and how this little Lydia of mine will be brought into the world. Most of the time I am at the brink of tears spilling over and any mention about the baby can take me over the edge.

I traveled to Texas with Ruth (sister) on Tuesday. Somehow we made it on the plane...(Thanks Lynn and Judy for helping!!!! - Our mommy-in-laws) just the two of us and our 4 children. Thankfully, Matthew fell asleep literally while we were taking off. Nathan and Mikayla played a lot...didn't watch a movie like we wanted, BUT...and Hunter was pretty good for Ruth.

Long story short, I have 100% decided that Texas is not an option any longer for moving to after Lydia is born. There have been too many time in 2 days that I have been irritated and felt belittled and completely judged, so I am working on the particulars about when, where, and how to deliver and then the particulars on moving to AZ. The specifics on my experiences here will be documented elsewhere.

I have had more contractions and "scares" this week and have definately worked more then when I am at home. I didn't 1. I expect it 2. anticipate it or 3. Know how to deal with it. I hope I am not worn out for when we travel back to AZ on Sun.

Oh little Lydia, I am so very attached to you. If anything ever went wrong I can't imagine the devestation and anger towards anyone I might feel. Please stay safely where you are and come at the best time! I love you.

Halloween Together

Halloween is not necessarily my favorite holiday. But this year was pretty fun. Nathan was old enough to basically know what was going on, Matthew likes to follow Nathan, and daddy was home. Daddy was his usual...Indiana Jones. Nathan was Venom (Black Spiderman....dun dun dun) and Matthew was Superman. I couldn't get him to wear the cape. It was enough of a crying tantrum fit to get him into the costume in the first place. I can't believe I actually got a picture with all 3 posing! They were so cute going Trick of Treating!

At Nathan's preschool, he got to use paint and make a pumpkin! It is actually a little bag that they went "trick or treating" with. He got just a few candies, but he was just so proud of his little self!

I think I look forward to next year...1. won't be pregnant! 2. I might even decorate! 3. Daddy will be home (cross our fingers) 4. More intricate costumes? 5. 2 boyz who will know what Halloween is about.....and 6. A girl to goosy up!

Preggo Journal Wk31

This week has absolutely FLOWN BY!! Depressing only because I have 6.5 weeks left with Devin here. I am getting more and more nervous about the delivery. I really don't like surprises...unless I initiate them. I like change, yes, but this is different. I can't help but hope she comes early, but then I want her to stay in there and be safe and healthy. My biggest fear now is being in the delivery room alone. I just know that no matter what, I will bawl in the delivery room. So many unknowns that I can't control. *sigh*

On a happier note, Lydia is doing well. She moves a lot and even seems to play with us. Devin will poke her, and she will poke back! I think she really likes the sound of Daddy's voice because she will move whenever she first hears him. So cute! A daddy's girl already!!! She will have him wrapped around her finger in no time. Watch out daddy!

My back doesn't hurt as much...but I can feel my stretchmarks stretching. I am more clumbsy...tired at night...ready to sit or lay down at a moments notice.

Week 32...bring it on! Traveling to TX to see Roman married off. Yup, going by myself with Ruth and her two kids (daddy will fly in Sat-fly out Sun). I must be nuts!

IIIIII'mm baaaaaack!

I have been feeling rather hum drum for a while...you will remember my quandry with my hair and the Navy Ball, right? Well, I have been completely fed up with this hairy mess on my head. So much that I went to a friend and asked that she make me beautiful again. I gave her a pic, and she completely transformed me. She kept asking if I would miss the length, and I just said, "NO!"

After doing my hair, all I could think was: There I am! I'm back! What do you think

BTW - It is really hard to take a good picture of myself by myself, so this is what you get!

Preggo Journal Wk30 - With Pic

Most of the time I can't believe I made it this far without...you know...I'm still pregnant with a baby! At this point, I feel a bit more like I have passed the "danger zone"...which is comforting. Granted, I have a ways to go, but I am not constantly worried she will die. Sure, I worry a little. Who doesn't?

I rest a lot, but then I still do the things I need to: ie - Play with boyz, cuddle with boyz, kiss my boyz, mostly cook for boyz, clean up after boyz (usually later then I normally would), cuddle with boyz, take boyz to park, cuddle with boyz, kiss the boyz, and most important...cudlle with boyz!

I am getting the Braxton Hicks contractions a lot lately...last night they were pretty constant. I almost went to L&D...but decided to see if they went into the night. Plus, Devin wasn't home and I didn't want to call someone. She should be going through a growth spurt soon. Oh belly joy! I have a doc appt in 3 days, so we shall see what the doc says. Plus I am getting ready to travel to TX for a wedding. I hope the kids do well. Portable DVD players...gotta love em!

The clumsey Liz has certainly come in full force! I fell over a laundry basket a few days ago. I knew the laundry was of the devil! Hee hee.

So, you think I am getting BIG yet?

Preggo Journal Wk 29

I will start with the good news. I FINALLY got a phone message from my obgyn stating that I have elevated protien but it is nothing to worry about right now. So, I do not have preeclampsia. (*sigh*) I am assuming that because of the "scare" I will be tested more often...oh well.

I took my 1 hour glucose test on Fri. Since I failed Matthew's...I kinda assume I will fail with Lydia. Not looking forward to the 3 hour one...I would have to fast. Also, I had to do Matthew's 3 hour test twice...ugg! I will report later for that one.

Funny story. Imagine waking up at 5 am from being splashed with water! Well, that happened this morning. Apparently I fell asleep holding my opened water bottle and...well, the rest is...wet. If I remember right, this is the second time this has happened. Too funny!

I am getting too big to lay on the couch with the boyz cuddling up to me :-( And, I am getting awfully hot all the time! No one else seems to be as hot. I guess my bun in the oven turned up the temperature!

Oh, and she has become a "twirler" from about 10 pm to midnight. I swear she is spinning! If I am already asleep by then (ha!) then I don't mind...otherwise, I am kept awake. What a booger!

Is there any meaning?

Nathan has been going to a preschool with the city...totally loves it! One of their little art projects and topics of the day was about animals with an emphasis on the kids pets. Now, we don't have any pets. They take too much work right now (not to mention that we have terrible luck with finding mentally stable animals). I should mention that he goes 4 days a week...the Wed is a repeat of Tue and the Fri is a repeat of Thurs. He knows his stuff, but I want him to learn to do things artistically (ie: color, draw, etc.) and get some social interaction with other kids. The repeat days there is a new group of kids. Totally worth it.

The first day he brought this picture home:

The second day he brought this picture home:

Now.....whenever he is verbally asked about his pets at home he responds that he has a dog. Sometimes it is two dogs. My question.....is kthis somehow a subconcious desire to have a pet cat (most other kids choose dogs to put in their pet house) or did he let the other kids have what they want because he doesn't care? Hmmmm....thoughts?

Preggo Journal Wk28

I am so very uncomfortable...and it is still early in the "game".....My doc said I had high blood pressure (something like 147/93ish) and ordered a test...a urine bucket. I totally laughed when she said it. It was disgusting, but for 24 hours I collected the "specimen" and turned it in Friday. I am hoping that the results will be to my doctor where I can call on Mon/Tue and see what my protein levels were. From my online research....I guess the test was for Pre-eclampsia. Not good. Then of course the worries come in about Lydia's health and wellbeing. Then come the concerns of my sanity and ability to be a mommy to the boyz and be a good home for Lydia as she grows.

This kid is definately my offspring...she moves as tho she is dancing to the beat of her own drummer...and that drummer is constantly playing whatever suits her fancy. Last night I was actually wakened by her movements. Thankfully I was able to fall back asleep easily. I fear for my future sleep. If necessary, I will be holding a public funeral for my passing sleep and will write a eulogy...maybe we will have a contest....:-) Gotta have somthing fun to look forward to when the times get tough!!!

Turned 30 and getting depressed!

So my "golden" birthday was this year. I turned 30 on Sept 30th. I am SO happy to be 30. I really don't mind growing older and what this really means for me is that I feel like others will take me more seriously. With age comes some degree of wisdom and I hope that I will be able to demonstrate through action and speech that I am someone people can and should listen to. I have always had a "complex" that I look sooo much younger then I really am, and I think therefore, I have always acted so much younger. In a business atmosphere...(this is basically what I would say in my head) "why should anyone pick me when they could pick...someone else?"

In other words: YEAH I AM 30!!!! This is a very good thing for me!!!!

But....you see it is tradition that I get myself a Dairy Queen icecream cake (I like them because there is no cake inside). Well, I also usually get it on my sister Ruth's birthday (6 days later). So here is a picture of our celebration cake:

The depressing news is that the cake is almost gone! I know that this may not seem like it...but this single solitary event of the disappearing cake is a very tragic one that deserves a moment of silence......

Maybe I will get another cake and extend the celebration just a bit longer!!!

Random Boyness

So there are too many random boy things that happen around here, that I decided to condense and blog about them here.

Nathan:
1. Could be transitioning out of naptime :-(
2. Fell asleep mid ice cream cone...yes, it was melting in his lap!
3. Plays with just about everyone at his preschool...so social.
4. Loves playing with swords. Often uses table butter knives as a substitute sword.
5. Helps load the washing machine.
6. Begs to look in the pot while I cook. Maybe he will grow up and cook us dinner!
7. Prefers watermelon toothpaste over strawberry toothpaste.
8. Decided that he wants privacy (door closed) as he uses the toilet for #2.
9. Will come into bed with mommy in the morning and sleep about another hour or longer.
10. Tells everyone that Lydia is coming and inside mommy.
11. Begs daddy to read to him but won't sit still for mom.
12. Constantly wants to watch Scooby Doo or Dora the Explorer.
13. Still throws his head back to laugh.
14. Jumps off his dresser and has started to spin while rapidly decending to the floor.
15. Correctly picks out his name (and can usually spell it) on a name tag for preschool.
16. Successfully broke 3 out of the 5 slats on his bed. I don't know what is holding it up right now!

Matthew:
1. Started sticking his hands in his diaper when he has pooped.
2. Still sucks his thumb...and only the left one.
3. Calls his teddy bear blanket "bun".
4. Follows Nathan around like a little puppy.
5. Stomps his feet like Nathan to show his shoes lighting up.
6. Most of his ramblings are still undistinguishable...but his eyes plead and makes you melt!
7. Uses important phrases with Nathan - "stop" and "go away"
8. Places the couch cushions on the floor and then jumps off the couch. Oh so proud of himself.
9. Actually wiped his face off with a wipey...got the chin too!
10. Snuggles with me on the couch...and watches tv.
11. Likes to touch my mole on my neck...giggles when he thinks he is tickling me.
12. Doesn't like showers...but will take a bath if he can fill and empty soda bottles.
13. Can still out eat us all with eggs.
14. Throws his own diaper in the garbage after each change.
15. Constantly asks for snacks and no matter what doesn't like to eat at meal time.
16. When walking with him and holding his hand, he will have spurts of "running time".

These boyz are growing so fast and just so eager to grow up. I wish that I could snuggle with them for all time and keep them just the way they are! I want to keep them in the cuddly stage for all time so I can selfishly snuggle and cuddle and tickle and snuggle and snuggle and snuggle all day everyday!