Belly Unvailing

After our little false alarm yesterday it hit me that I am not going to be pregnant much longer. While we do hope to have additional children in the future, you never know what God has in store for you so I have decided to be brave and document "the belly..." all 23 lbs. of it. No, my mother will not be blowing it up and hanging it in her bedroom (Keeping up with the Kardashians...anyone?), but they are nice to have I guess. So here goes nothing: (and if you get the urge to make fun of me, remember your own mother looked like this at one point and it was your fault so no teasing aloud.)

Trial Run Take 2

For the second time this week, Tim and I visited the hospital today. No, it's not that I think the hospital gown is fashionable nor do I get a rush each time we check into labor and delivery it's just how the week has gone. Today around 11 am I started having cramping (kinda like a period), but they were consistently 2 minutes apart. We wavered back and forth wondering if it was labor or not because it really wasn't what we expected so we agreed to call the doctor and do what he advised. He said better go get checked so that's we did. I hope that you have figured out by now that since I am typing a blog it was a false alarm and we are home yet again with no baby. When I got there they hooked me up and said that yes, in fact I was having contractions consistently 2-4 minutes apart lasting 50-60 seconds each. Now any of you that have read a pregnancy book lately know that this is by the book when they tell you to go in so while I feel silly that I cried wolf, I am very confused. We waited and waited hour after hour for them to tell me if I was staying or going. The doctor even came to the hospital which was neat because usually you just get the nurse until it's time to push, but our doctors are awesome:) He basically said that my cervix isn't changing fast enough so the baby isn't coming. However I was very open endedly left with, "she could come any time starting tonight all the way until the due date." wow thanks for narrowing that down for me.

Also, an update on my fall. All this time I have been thinking I strained muscles and have been hoping for a quick recovery. I sadly report that it is still very painful and have been told by my doctor that he believes I actually separated the pelvic bone. It really requires an MRI or xray, but since I can't do that he check my pelvis himself and says that my symptoms and the areas where I'm sensitive all point to a disconnected bone. We will worry about treatment later because labor will only make it worse. Sometimes the problem can resolve on it's own with rest, other times you might need crutches or a wheelchair to give your body time to heal and in the most extreme cases they actually do surgery to implant a plate into your pelvis. Hopefully I am one of the lucky ones. Let me remind you flip flops + rain = bad idea!!!

So here we sit yet again just waiting for baby. Hopefully there will be no more false alarms. Happy New Year!

Full Term!

Since today is our anniversary, I thought I'd start out by giving Tim a shout out. He has been such a loving, patient, and helpful husband throughout this pregnancy and I am just so grateful to have him in my life. Hannah is so lucky to have him for a daddy as I know he will be wonderful with her as well. He already has so many ideas of fun things to do with her, teach her, and show her.

Tim has been especially amazing these last few days since my fall. I have had to rely on him completely and he has stepped up to the plate. As for the update on me, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery. It was quite scary for Tim and I, but I am slowly making progress. I can now walk on my own, slowly, but still on my own. I can also go up and down stairs. When I am sitting I am not in pain. It is still really difficult for me to do things that require a lot of inner thigh/groin muscles such as lifting my legs to put on pants, climbing into a shower, or getting in and out of a car. Hopefully I will have a little more time to heal before I need those muscles to push out the baby. But if not, Tim reminds me that with the epidural I won't feel anything anyway.

Now for the Hannah update! Not only did she get spoiled with a delicious Ruth's Chris steak dinner tonight, but she is officially FULL TERM. That is right, 37-40 weeks is considered full term and she is 37 weeks. It's basically over and now we patiently wait. We are so excited and absolutely dying to see what she looks like. We had our appointment today and she is looking good. They had me on the heart monitor for 30 minutes and checked the amniotic fluid which is still looking good. Today's ultrasound measurement came in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. He said that her femur bone is really long so he thinks she is just tall not chunky. Sounds like she has some Tatum height (good for a ballerina or a basketball player) either of which I'm okay with, but you all know what I'm rooting for:) Could be any day now, the wait continues....

Consider it a Trial Run

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a wonderful day full of love, good food, and laughter. This Christmas was a strange one for Tim and I as we made the decision not to travel as it was too close to our due date. We enjoyed a nice quiet morning, made some breakfast, went to church, opened gifts and then went to the movies (which surprisingly was a packed theater). Tim had been eagerly looking forward to watching the laker game at 2. Unfortunately there was a different plan in store for us and he sadly missed the whole thing. As we left the movie theater is was pouring rain and due to the fact that I can no longer reach my feet I was stupidly wearing flip flops. My hands were full and I was trying to walk quickly to the car. That is when I slipped and fell flat on my tail bone/back in the middle of the road. Cars thankfully stopped for me because I couldn't get up and they must of felt bad. I imagine it looked like one of those youtube videos people later laugh at: a nine month pregnant lady, in the pouring rain, laying in a puddle of water in the middle of the road. Once I got assisted into the car I called my doctor because despite my pain all I cared about was possible damage to the baby. He said that usually unless you fall onto your abdomen the baby is fine, but he recommended we go to the nearest hospital for monitoring. So that we did. It was kinda funny because since I can't walk well I had to go really slow and hold onto Tim and the rail which made everyone at the hospital think I was in labor. That's why I call it our trial run because in just a few short weeks we really will be going to give birth. The hospital had much confusion over whether I was supposed to go to the ER or labor and delivery, but finally they worked everything out and I was wheeled to labor and delivery. The nurse we had was so nice. I hope we get one as nice as her for the real deal. I was hooked up to heart monitor for 2 hours. Great news is baby is still looking great (thank God for amniotic fluid). Bad news is I'm sitting here on the couch alternating ice and heat in hopes that I can soon be mobile again without needing assistance from Tim. Two trial runs today I guess...the first being wheeled into labor and delivery and the second Tim preparing for his life 50 years from now when he has to help me dress, get up and down from the toilet, etc... All in all God is good and our baby is healthy. That's all I care about. I was advised, to check into ER after I was released from labor and delivery to have myself checked out, but I declined. I will be fine, nothing a little time won't cure!

Four More

Just think, any day now you could sign into this blog and see a picture of Hannah…crazy I know. Today we have reached 36 weeks, 4 to go, but the doctor said it could really be anytime within the next month. Results from the blog poll were interesting. It looks like everyone who voted thinks she will be early. The two main dates were our anniversary (12/28) or (1/11). Stay tuned to see who was closest.

Today we had our weekly appointment and it was one of the most comprehensive yet. First I was hooked up to the fetal heart monitor for 15 minutes. He said I will do this every week because it really helps them determine how the baby is doing. The heart rate should be between 120-160 the whole time. Hannah’s seemed to range from 120-130 which he said was normal. He then checked the amniotic fluid and said there was still plenty which means my ‘aging’ placenta is still doing well. I also had to do this swab test to check for bacteria. I will get those results next week. The ultrasound revealed that she is 6 lbs. 10 oz. (give or take a few either way). She is still head first and doing well. My total weight gain so far is 21 pounds. I am hanging in there and just enjoying the last few weeks of being pregnant and being able to experience the miracle of growing a baby inside of myself. The backaches, heartburn, and lack of sleep are getting worse, but the pros are so much greater. He talked to us a lot about what to expect and one point that stuck with me was that he says labor is 70% mental toughness. There are so many strong women in my life that I will be thinking of when the time comes to help give me strength:)

Bump Watch Month 9: 36 Weeks (if you’re wondering why I’m in a tank top when it’s December, rainy, and cold, it’s because I’m hot all hours of the day.

So Blessed

Christmas is already such a generous time of year. A time when people think of others first and truly enjoy receiving a card from a friend, sending a surprise package in the mail or baking cookies for people at work. Tim and I love the holiday season. We look forward to getting the tree, listening to carols, drinking hot chocolate and seeing all the stores decorated. Most of all I love how it's impossible not to stop and pause from your busy life and just feel blessed. This year I have been particularly touched by how generous people have been to Hannah. I can't help but get emotional when I think of how loved she already is. I have also learned that the saying "a girl can never have enough closet space" applies even before birth. Hannah's wardrobe these days is really something. She has far more closet space than Tim and she's starting to give me a run for my money. Today Tim and I went to a shower thrown by the other psychologists in my district. It was a low key gathering after work at one of their homes and Tim's first official baby shower. All the excitement is really making us anxious to meet her. Also, I've always said I wanted both genders (and I still do), but I can't help but think I really need to have another girl someday or a lot of nieces because there is just so much cute stuff I want to be able to pass on to someone. But, before I get ahead of myself with baby #2, we are really trying to take this time to enjoy the last 33 days (who's counting?). Please keep us in your prayers as we inch closer daily and we promise to text at the first sight of any action!

For starters, I tried to add a poll up top and I'm not sure why the title got cut off, but it's supposed to say, "What day is closest to Hannah's Birthday." I've never put one on a blog before so not sure if it will work, but give it a try. I think anyone can vote, you don't need a google account like you do to make a comment.

Sorry my camera was not charged for my work baby shower so I only have one picture to share, but the yearbook girl taking pictures said she would email me more.


Also the office aides decorated and I thought it was cute that on my office door they put a stocking for baby too.

Many Random Thoughts

I thought I'd update you on a variety of topics none of which really go together. For starters, we went for our weekly appointment on Tuesday and all is looking well. I didn't blog immediately because there wasn't really anything new to report. The baby is doing good and the doctor continues to tell us he expects a typical delivery. He assured me that he only has a patient deliver in the car on the way to the hospital once every 10 years. It's going to be kinda sad not seeing the office staff and doctor as much as we do these days because they are so nice and friendly. The doctor also signed off on all of my disability forms for work so I officially have 6 work days left.

Speaking of work, the psych that retired last year has agreed to cover for me when I'm gone. I am so happy because she is amazing and knows a heck of a lot more than I do so I know everything will be covered perfectly and I won't be walking back into a mess when I return. Also one of my schools is throwing me a baby shower tomorrow which is nice. My coworkers have all commented on the fact that I must have the best family and friends in the world because the registry is picked over. They are right:)

Tim and I are happy the holiday season has arrived. Last weekend we shopped and bought/decorated our tree. And as Ashlee knows, Hannah and I have really been enjoying Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate! Baby Luke and Hannah already have something in common... they must be destined to be husband and wife (okay I'm getting ahead of myself, but it's fun to pretend).

Final thought for the day is that I am officially feeling Braxton Hicks contractions. Last time on the ultrasound the doctor said he could see a contraction, but I didn't feel it at the time. Now I feel them about five times per day. There is no pain and they are random. The uterus just gets really tight for about 15 seconds and then relaxes. I'm told it's normal to be feeling this at my point, it's just the body practicing for the real deal. Tim gets a little nervous when I tell him I'm having one, but if labor is anything like I'm expecting it will be, he will know the difference.

Thank you for all your prayers as we get even closer to the end. I just can't believe it's here. We wish we were with all of you for the holidays, but know that we think of you daily.

I'm a Royal and a Comet and soon to be Mom!

I think all of my readers know that this year has been super busy at work. I went from having one high school to two. That's 4,000 kids (national ratio is one psych for every 1000). Don't worry this blog is not to complain, I love my job. The people I work with are great and I feel so blessed to be employed. However, today I reached that point where I realized I'm about to fall asleep mid meeting and it hit me that the time has come. Maternity leave time! The awesome 3 months I get to spend being a mom at home and get paid for it:) Sleep has been pretty much non existent lately so needless to say I am dragging at work. Best part is though that I only have 10 work days left which means my answer to just about any question coming from a lawyer, advocate, probation officer, or crazy parent is "With finals here, it's really best we wait to address that concern at the beginning of the year." Sure, there are parts I will miss, but it's such a relief to know that in two weeks I will have one less thing to stress about and can fully focus on Baby Hannah. (Well, baby Hannah and all the Christmas shopping I have yet to start on).