The Time is Near

I went to my 38 week appointment yesterday and felt a big relief after discussing some of my concerns about the baby's cord around his neck with the Doctor.The doctor assured me that a cord around the neck is quite common and if it does cause any problems that they will be able to handle them. We also discussed that regardless of my past problems, that an induction a week early just isn't necessary and so we decided that we are going to just let nature take its course and let baby come when he is ready. That time might be soon, well I'm almost positive it is. Last night I felt terrible with a lot of braxton hicks, really bad back and leg pain and just an instinctual feeling that labor would start soon. When I got up this morning I had some other physical yucky signs so I am really excited to know that it shouldn't be long.
So today we have been getting the house in order, putting together baby things and doing laundry. I think now a nap is in order, the weather is perfect for it, nice and cool.

Waiting

Monday I had an ultrasound, one of many that I have had throughout this pregnancy to look for problems with the placenta because I had a condition called "placenta accreta" with my last pregnancy that caused major problems postpartum. Everything has looked normal with the baby and the placenta up to this point, and Monday was supposed to be my last ultrasound since I am due soon.
At the very end of the appointment though, the Doctor noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck and when he looked closer he said that it was wrapped around twice. My heart just sank. The doctor watched the baby's breathing and heart rate for awhile and found it to be normal. He said that right now the baby is fine but that a cord around the neck during labor can pose a problem because once the baby descends into the pelvis, the cord can get compressed or pulled tight and cut off oxygen to the baby. With that, he decided he needed to see me back next Tuesday to see if the baby has unwound himself otherwise a c-section might be the best route. Although I would like to avoid that especially since I've never had a c-section, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he gets here safe. So now all I have been doing is making sure I am feeling him move inside and I feel so on edge. I am so worried about him. I have a doctors appointment on Friday and just want Friday and Tuesday to come so I can find out what we are going to have to do.  More than that I just want him to be here, safe in my arms. That is all I've wanted since the day I found out I was pregnant, him here where I can keep him safe.

Another Shower

Jena & I

Yesterday a few longtime friends of mine had a small shower for me. Molly, my grade school friend, recently bought her first house and so I got the chance to see it since that is where they had the shower. It was so nice to hang out and catch up with all of them and it made me realize that even though you may not see people all the time, that true friends are always just that and it is so easy to pick up where you left off. I feel truly blessed to have these women in my life.

Molly grilled burgers and brats for everyone and they had a bunch of other snack type foods, it was really good! Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with Molly which probably was ok with her since she tends to be camera shy, darn!

Today is my Mom's Birthday so I'm going to get started on making dinner for her and Olivia wants to make brownies. I think before that we will take a trip to the dog park so that there will be some peace around here and since our nice days are numbered and I love this fall weather.

More cute stuff for baby!

Sarah & I

Jena & Katie

Ready or Not

I am tired today.
My calves and thighs been aching, my hips hurt, heartburn is a nagging and my anxiety is up and down. I know my body is ready for this baby to come but I really don't know if I am. I mean don't get me wrong, I am so excited and know we can do it but I wonder if it will be total culture shock to us just like it was 11 years ago with our first. With our youngest right now being almost 8 we are not use to life with a little one but I am confident that this time it will be much easier since we are older now and have experience on our side plus two older children who have such big hearts to help us. I know everything will be fine I think it's just hormones at this point because my emotions have been all wacked out these past 3 or so weeks. I am honestly surprised my husband is still sane!

Yesterday after I dropped the children off for their 2nd day of school I decided to go and get a pedicure since my feet looked just terrible and I haven't ever had one (except Olivia's that she has given me at home). I thought what a perfect time to have my first and it was such a treat and put me in a good mood for the day. I think I might have to make that something I do, not all the time but at least a few times a year.I just love being pampered and especially now I felt that it was well deserved.

This weekend and the beginning of next week are jam packed with things to do. I can't wait to get through all of them and just relax. So tomorrow marks 37 weeks pregnant meaning there is only 3 weeks til my due date and my Dr actually wants me to have baby at 39 weeks for past problems with pregnancy. So unless I go into labor before then it looks like about 2 more weeks at the most. I have mine and baby's bags packed so we are ready to go whenever it is time and ready or not, our new life is going to begin anytime now. (-:

36 WEEKS- We love u BABY!

First Day of School

Today is the children's first day back at school. I decided this year we would change our morning routine and get up a bit earlier so that we would be in less of a rush and so that I would have more time to get things done that I need to do. I can't sleep anyway lately so I got up at 7:00, woke the children and while they were doing their morning routine, I started dinner in the crockpot. I decided last night that I would make beef stew for dinner tonight so I cut everything up last night so all I had to do was put it all in the crockpot this morning and by 5:00 tonight it should be done. I realize that I am going to need to do easy meals like this more often especially when baby comes because it helps me out a lot. I have a book of slow cooker recipes and it has some amazing meals in it that are pretty simple and taste great. It is the Pillsbury Slow Cooker recipes, I recommend it and you could probably check it out from your local Library.

Here is the recipe for the Beef stew:

FAMILY FAVORITE BEEF STEW

1 1/2 pds beef stew meat, cut into 3/4inch cubes ( I just buy the beef stew meat that is already cut)

5 tbsp all purpose flour

1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1 tbsp oil

1lb small red potatoes, quartered ( I use regular white potatoes)

1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions ( I just quarter a big yellow onion)

1 12oz can/jar beef gravy

1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

1/4 cup cold water

On wax paper sprinkle your beef with 2tbsp of the flour, salt and pepper, toss to coat. Heat oil in large skillet until hot then add coated beef, cook until browned.

In slow cooker layer potatoes, onions, and carrots. Add browned beef. Top with the gravy and tomatoes.

Cover, cook on low 8-10 hours. ( I notice sometimes at the 8 hour mark that the beef is still not tender enough so at about 8 hours I turn it to high for about an hour or so and that really tenders it up, You may need to experiment)

About 10 minutes before serving blend water and 3 tbsp flour until smooth. Stir into stew. Increase heat setting to high; cover and cook an additional 10 min or until thickened.

So after we had all of our morning tasks done we made our way to school and of course Romeo the

now 5th grader didn't want me to walk him to his classroom (which I completely understand), so we wished him a great day and Olivia and I walked to her classroom. All Olivia's friends from last year were there in the second grade hallway checking out their new lockers, so excited for the new school year and to see each other. She went in and sat down at her new desk that she has been so excited about and we said goodbye. 

As I made my way to the car I wasn't sad at all but happy that the kids have this wonderful school to go to and friends that they enjoy seeing. I feel blessed that we live in the country we do and that they are getting an education that people from other countries only dream of, I mean I am sure my husbands parents would have given anything for an education like this that so many of us take for granted. So today I am very thankful for that, for the opportunities we have here and for the excitement of all the kids on their first day of school ( and I can't lie I am thankful for some time to myself too!)

Game Night

Olivia had the idea that she wanted to have family game night tonight, so during dinner each one of us chose a game and after dinner we played.
We played four games and realized that everyone has definitely outgrown Candyland, so we'll store that one away until the baby gets big enough.

Olivia made a list of all the games and had her little microphone to announce "Family Game Night" to everyone.  It was a lot of fun and i'm always so impressed at all the things she wants to do as a family, and all the preparation and work she puts into her ideas.

Earlier in the day Olivia also treated Romeo and I to pedicures in bed while we took our afternoon rest, it was very relaxing. She is always such a little sweetheart and we are so blessed to have her.

Tomorrow  Prob and I were going to try and sneak away to the State Fair for a rare date without the children before we become the parents of 3, but the few people we have to ask to watch the children aren't available so I guess we won't get to. It's ok though, we've come to realize that's the way it is when you are a parent. So plan B will probably be lunch and fishing after church, which is always a fun time and will probably be much easier on me anyway.

Babysitting and New Teachers

Today the children and I watched my best friend of 20 years daughter who is 14 months old. She is such a little sweetheart and my children always get really excited when we get asked to watch her. We haven't watched her since she has been able to walk until today and boy did that remind me how much work they are when they are that age. I did have a lot and I mean a lot of help from my children though and it made me happy to know that they will be wonderful to their new brother when he arrives.

 I also got a chance to see that my dogs really aren't very comfortable around a baby which was something I have been worried about since they have had no experience with babies considering we got our oldest dog when our youngest was 6. I guess they will adjust with time but we are going to have to be extra careful at first when we bring our new baby home.

This evening was also the time that we got to go to school to drop off all of the children's supplies and meet their new teachers for the year. Olivia was happy with the teacher she got and one of the big reasons was because they get to have desks instead of tables(I thought that was a funny but cute, definitely not unimportant reason when you've never had a desk lol). Romeo wished that he could have been in one of the male teachers classes because he has not ever had a male teacher but he ended up in the female teachers class, oh well, she seems nice and after meeting her he is excited to start back to school next week.
 I am excited for them too, because every time I go to their school it reminds me why I decided to sacrifice to drive them 15 minutes there and back 2 times every day in traffic rather than just sending them on a bus to a school nearby. It's because when I get into the neighborhood its like a community exists that is untouched by all the bad things in the world, where everyone has a smile on their face and everyone greets everyone with a sincere hello, its a place where family involvement is important and children remain innocent.When you walk into the school it has a certain feeling of safety and peace, and all these things are exactly what I wanted in a school for my children. I couldn't be happier!