36 Weeks

Well we are officially in the home stretch!  It's that point in pregnancy where you are tired of being pregnant, and all the aches and pains that come with it.  I wish I had a personal masseuse to rub my back and feet at the end of each day lol.  You just want your body back to "normal"...but at the same time you are somewhat terrified of giving birth and having the baby.  I more times then not find myself suddenly questioning my ability to be a good mother, and all the small details that come with it.  Which I know is silly...though it is different, I have spent the last 5 years of my life taking care of and helping raise other people's children.  So why do I feel so inadequate?  I am positive that the anticipation is worse then reality.  I understand it will be an adjustment and a constant learning curve, but I think....at least hope that once he comes it is less scary then I make it out to be in my head at times.

 

Recently, I came across a reading where different women gave their perspective and advice on pregnancy to other women and their spouses.  I thought, I might as well type out my two cents, because maybe it will help someone, or I can look back on it one day when I am pregnant again and remind myself of some things.  It is amazing looking back as to just how fast pregnancy does go by.  It is definitely an experience filled with ups and downs, constant changes, and a field of emotions.  The one thing I didn't expect to experience is loneliness.  I don't know how many experience this, but I have spoken to some friends who could relate.  Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the impending life change ahead, I have no idea really.  But there have been times in the last few months that I have felt lonely.  Moments where I cry without knowing fully where it is coming from.  I find myself with a million things running through my head at all times, nights where insomnia comes and won't go away, throw in the good ole forgetfulness and it's a recipe for feeling like you are going crazy.  Now don't get me wrong...I wouldn't trade being pregnant for anything in the world.  And it has been such a blessing, for as long as I can remember the one thing I wanted in life was to be a mom.  And words can't describe how much I am looking forward to tackling this new chapter in my life.  But the roller coaster ride you go through emotionally on your road to motherhood, is interesting and nothing you can ever expect or plan for before it happens.  I think one of the hardest aspects is maintaining some sense of yourself, through it all. 

 

The best thing that can happen to you is to have an amazing support system.  From girlfriends you can talk to, relate with, exchange stories and experiences with...get advice from those who have children.  Surround yourself with positivity.  And having a supportive spouse who is excited to go on the wacky journey with you, helps a lot too.  My big advice to men is to first and foremost understand, we are in essence a bit loony for these 9 months.  Bare with us, lol.  As old as it might get, tell her she is beautiful, that she looks gorgeous every day.  She needs to hear it and be reminded of it constantly.  Dig deep and pull compliments from the heart, she will eat it up, and you will benefit from it. And I think it is equally important for the woman to take care of herself and do things that make her feel good.  Whether it's getting your nails done, getting a haircut, or buying a few things that make you feel pretty.  I will admit I struggle with this sometimes.  When I became pregnant I swear I suddenly became a crazy penny pincher.  I began price comparing like a mad woman and second triple guessing almost every purchase I make (do I really need that?)  But trust me, you have to treat yourself from time to time.  And take the time to get ready.  I have seen a lot of places where they say pregnancy is your time to "get away with wearing yoga pants everyday", or things of that sort.  While this is true, and comfort is important, I think neglecting to make an effort just because you're pregnant is a mistake.  If you never take the time to do your hair, or makeup, or dress cute you are going to start feeling like a bum.  I for one didn't want to feel like that...I wanted to be pregnant and feel as glamorous as I could.

 

 Don't ever stop showing affection and intimacy.  For a woman struggling with her self confidence during pregnancy, these things will mean so much to her.  Hug her, kiss her, touch her and show her you still are attracted to her and adore her.  And definitely embrace the belly...it sounds silly but you can't imagine how it touches a woman's heart when you touch or kiss that belly and begin bonding with your child in that way.  Some of my favorite moments during my pregnancy were simply when my husband laid with his hand on my belly...it's the first image I have of me and my little family, which a woman will cherish forever.  And the biggest advice I have is for both of you to remember that this is only temporary.  It will fly by, so cherish every fabulous and not so fabulous moment of it.  You will never get this time back, and you don't want to wake up one day and feel like you missed a moment of it.  Because I truly believe that one of the most beautiful things in this world is the creation of life!

33 Weeks...and counting

First off...slacker slacker....I know.  Funny I thought with being pregnant I would improve in the frequency I blog...wrong!  The thing is, unless I put it on my calendar, put it on a list, set an alarm for it...it probably won't get done.  That is the new norm for me, which for Ms. Type A personality drives me crazy.  You should see my cell phone...my calendar is filled with little dots and my note pad has lists among lists.  Add in the chalkboard weekly calendar in our kitchen, and then all the paper lists I write out.  Seems like the whole memory portion of my brain just...evaporated. Ha!

So how to recap the last month or so.  We have continued getting settled into the house, and we hosted Christmas dinner for the first time.  It was lots of cooking, plenty of time in the kitchen, and by the end of the day I was ready to lie on the couch and not move.  But everything turned out great, the food was delish (not to toot my own horn..but toot toot!) and thankfully my mom helped by making a few sides and dessert.  We opened gifts Christmas morning along with my brother-in-law and his gf, then played a boys vs. girls game of Cranium before we sat down for Christmas dinner.  Pregnant Angela even rolled around on the floor to act out mud wrestling...I am sure that was quite a sight!

In the weeks since Christmas, I began going through the pile of baby shower gifts that had been piled in the corner of his room.  I slowly but surely went through it, organizing items and putting them away in their decided designated locations.  I am so happy with how it is all coming together.  His crib is up, sheets are on, the dresser/changing pad area is set up, hubby did a great job putting together the bookcases I picked, hanging his curtains, and his monitor is set up.  Right now we are waiting on the glider to arrive and then I will hang his mobile, which I am super excited to put together.  Once we get that done I will definitely post pics!  I got my beloved Mamaroo set up, the bassinet is put together, car seat is ready to go with his BundleMe in it, his hospital bag is pretty much packed (still need a coming home outfit!), and I have a list of what I want to take in my bag.  I have been working like a mad woman organizing, cleaning, and trying to make sure everything is in line.  Thankfully I have not had any more contractions since our 28 week scare, but I can't help but worry about not being ready if he does come early.  So better to air on the cautious side, then put it off!

I have been feeling every bit of pregnant lately.  My neck hurts, my back hurts, headaches, constant potty trips, feeling the fact that there is less and less room in my uterus for him, and the increasingly difficult task of...moving. Ha...getting off the couch is a struggle, sitting up is a struggling, getting comfortable at night is hard, and heck I can barely put on my own socks!  And just the other day I got the official first "Wow, you look like you are about ready to pop" Ahh yes...definitely feeling it.

Last week we went and got a 3D/4D ultrasound....I am just too impatient and really wanted a sneak peak.  Though my dear son refused to wake up and slept the entire ultrasound, I was still excited to see that precious little face!

He sleeps with his arm up like momma.

 

So sweet.

28 Weeks

Oh how time flies when you are busy!  I don't know where to begin since my last post.

28 weeks

The husband returned home from deployment at the end of October.  Much of the next several weeks were filled with getting moved and settled into the new place.  I began commuting to Denver from CO Springs for work.  And baby continued growing.

Following the 20 week ultrasound, my doctor's noticed a spot on my placenta they wanted to recheck at 24 weeks.  This of course made me nervous, but on the bright side it meant my husband would be able to see an ultrasound of our son, which made me happy.  Following the 24 week ultrasound, they said everything looked fine and baby was developing right in line with where he should be.

The next several weeks went by fairly normal.  Aside from being tired, occasional nerve pains, and a super annoying reoccurring pain in one of my ribs...everything was going well.  I of course have had my moments of struggling with the ever continuous body changes.  Some days you wake up with a game face feeling good, and other days the sight of yourself in the mirror is less then glamorous.  It can definitely be tough at times to feel beautiful, and it's like you need constant reminders that you are.  I just try to remind myself it is only temporary and that the end result is obviously so well worth it.

Anyways, this past Thursday afternoon I was at work when all of a sudden I started getting pains in my abdomen.  It felt like pressure in my lower uterus, and pain that radiated up the sides and to the top of my uterus.  Along with a mild low back pain that came and went.  At first I thought I just needed to sit down for a moment, but after awhile when it didn't subside and seemed to get worse I got concerned and called my doctor.  They instructed me to drink water and lie down for an hour then call them back.  When I did, and the pain was still there, my OB instructed me that I was not to drive and not to leave Denver before going to the hospital.  My mother got dropped off at my job and drove me to the ER.  They sent me up to the labor floor and hooked me up to a contraction monitor and a monitor of the baby's heartbeat.  Baby thankfully sounded good and was ok, but I was contracting every 3-4 minutes.  They checked me, and luckily wasn't dialated at all.  I got shots to stop the contractions, and they did a fetal fibronectin test on me.  It came back positive, which essentially means I am not necessarily going to go into preterm labor but I am at risk to.  Since I wasn't dialated and the contractions stopped, I was released from the hospital.  My OB then had me go and get shots which help speed up the development of his lungs in case he is born early, and I have been put on a modified bed rest.  Many of my physical activities have to be limited, and I am restricted from driving outside of CO Springs on my own.

This has proved to be a very tough week for me.  First and foremost the fear of our son coming so early is terrifying, and as much as you realize it's not necessarily in your control, a part of you feels like you've failed because your body isn't doing "what it should".  Then the unexpected end of work has been tough.  Unlike an office job, working with children and families as a preschool teacher brings a different emotional connection with work.  I have been with the school for the past 3 years, so feeling like I just left with out saying good-bye to the kids has been hard.  I know I will have to go to work to get my things that are there, and get to see the kids, but it still wasn't the way I planned it which made it tough.  I am a planner, so unexpected change like that is not my cup of tea.  And of course learning to adapt to all my restrictions will be difficult.  I am always on the go, and have always been someone who does a million things at once.  So to be told I can't vacuum, or I can't drive myself somewhere, or I have to limit how many times I can go up or down stairs at my house will definitely be an adjustment.  I know that all these things are what is best for baby and me, though.  And anything I can do to insure his health and keeping him in as long as possible, is what's important.

Amidst all the craziness this past week, I did manage to have my baby shower this past Saturday.  Which I was so glad I was OKed to do, because I have been looking forward to it so much.  IT turned out beautifully and was beyond touched by the love and support.  My only regret is that I didn't take more photos because the ladies did such an amazing job putting it all together!

One of the games :)

 

Opening gifts

 

With my friend's dating back to high school

 

Adorable finger print tree the guests did

 

The wishing tree where guests wrote well wishes

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 Weeks

Well yesterday marked 21 weeks into the pregnancy.  It is crazy how fast it goes, and that we are more then This past Wednesday was the big 20 week appointment.  I had been looking forward to it for what felt like forever, and my entire day moved in slow motion in anticipation for it.  My good friend Megan came with me to the ultrasound, so I wouldn't have to go solo.  And I of course burst into tears the first few minutes of seeing the images on the screen.  It was so amazing to see my baby moving around, waving, sucking, yawning, and stretching out those little legs!  I could seriously stare at that baby on a screen for hours.  We saw everything from the arms, hands, legs, feet, stomach, kidneys, bladder, and more.  All looked fine, which was a big relief as well.  And I finally know baby's gender so I know longer have to refer to my child as an "it" ha....
Gender Reveal

Then this past Saturday I got the keys to our new place and began moving in.  Got furniture delivered and a portion of our stuff out of storage.  I am so thankful for the help of family and friends...with my luck I woke up pretty sick on morning of moving day.  So needless to say the being pregnant, sick, and moving combination made for one long day, and by that night I felt like death.  I am happy we got a good amount done though because that makes less to worry about once hubby gets home.

Sunday was my birthday, which unfortunately I was sick for.  I managed to go to breakfast with my dad, but by the time dinner came I told my mom I just had to pass.  By that time I was unable to taste or smell anything...which was even more of a bummer because I received beautiful flowers from my husband.

 

This morning I attempted going to work, but after an hour or so my boss sent me home to rest.  I am definitely not used to feeling this sick for this long, I can tell my immune system is weaker being pregnant.  So here's to hoping the extra rest will help me kick this cold, and get back to feeling well!

18 Weeks

I have not been the best at documenting the pregnancy week by week...but I have been so busy and life has felt so hectic lately.  Trying to balance working full time, looking for a place to live, doctors appointments, and random things like lesson planning, babysitting, and still making some time to see people has just had me on overload the last few weeks.  Not to mention the fact that "baby brain" is in full force.  I had always heard the term "baby brain" but never really quite understood it until having it.  Some days I literally feel like I am losing my mind.  I can't remember things, I have to put everything into my calendar so I don't forget, heck I can barely even finish my sentence or find the word I want to use half the time!  It is crazy how you literally get so scatter brained when you are pregnant, and for me and my type A personality, it has been driving me insane.  I hate feeling like I can't keep my thoughts in line or remember simple things.  So I am sure me trying to balance a million things doesn't make it any better.

Then there is the whole lack of balance you get.  That has officially set in.  I had my first fall about a week or so ago.  I was at work, went to walk through the baby gate, had my hands full when the gate got lose and began to tip over.  My feet got twisted up in it and I was un able to catch myself, so I don't I went with the gate, spilling everything I had in my hands.  Luckily I thought fast enough to land on my knees, but goodness were they sore for a few days.  Talk about full on limp there for a bit. And as the belly grows, the back aches have set in.  Thank goodness for my chiropractor, she has been my life saver!  Constantly getting on and off the floor, and picking kiddos up at work is slowly getting tougher.  And one particular spot on my back just aches, I found myself leaning against the edge of a doorway by the end of today to press on it, which somehow made it feel slightly better.  I suppose an actual massage may be needed rather then door ways lol.

I am hoping things slow down a bit, though I know that is a silly hope because October will be another busy month (maybe November right?) I am super excited to find out the sex of the baby though.  My last checkup at 16 weeks went well.  Got to listen to the baby's heartbeat for the first time - how absolutely amazing that was.  And they said I measured right where I should in all areas.  Then at about 17 weeks I began feeling baby for the first time.  It feels like little rumbles and it is such an incredible thing to experience, and I know it will only get more intense as baby grows. I am about 18 1/2 weeks so, so I am definitely counting down the days until my next appointment! 

So I am happy to say that thus far baby has been healthy and growing right on schedule, which I am so thankful for.  And I am hoping everything looks just as good at the 20 week ultrasound!

Rain Rain Go Away

Well this was day 5 of the rains, and as far as I know we have another day or two until we will see clear skies.  Wednesday afternoon storms came rolling in, bringing pretty heavy rains.  It went on into the night, and when I headed out for work Thursday morning I quickly learned just how bad it was.  It was coming down hard and constant, which that in itself seemed odd.  Typically, our afternoon storms come and go.  As I drove to work it wasn't long before I hit horrible traffic.  Now I realized it was coming down hard, but this traffic was crazy.  So when I came to an intersection that's cops had cut off, and was diverted I had a feeling this storm was wreaking havoc.  Much of my "drive" was spent sitting and waiting just to move an inch.

 

Shortly after I finally made it through this intersection, I witnessed a vehicle (on the other side of the median) halfway submerged in water.  At that point I had a slight sinking feeling, and even thought to myself "I sure hope I am able to get home from work."

 

As the day went on the rain did not let up, and soon enough we were on damage control at work.  We began getting leaks, puddles gathering in a spot in the basement, some ceiling tiles crumbling from the weight of the water leaking in, and our poor yard looked like a swamp.

 

By the afternoon we began more and more aware all the damage in the Boulder area, and also the Aurora area.  Which I then began seeing all the road closures due to flooding.  Almost every route I take to get between work and home had some un-crossable point.  Ultimately, I ended having to go west, far south, and then head east to get home. 

 

This was the road I was diverted from on my way to work.

 

Where I-70 and 225 merge...definitely couldn't get home that way.

 

A park I normally drive past to and from work every day.

 

Numerous roads were completely washed away, particularly in areas to the west.

 

 

Luckily, our home has been fine and we are staying above water.  But others have not been so lucky, and we really need the rain to let up.  My heart goes out to those who have been hardest hit.  Never have I ever experienced rains like this in Colorado in all my life.  Today was yet another ominous day...I am looking forward to these clouds going away and being replaced by some much needed sun.

Ready for the Weekend to be Over...

...That's right. I am. Let me start by saying the whole weekend wasn't bad.  The weekend actually started off great because I attended an AdvoCare 360 event Saturday morning, which focused on various aspects of life.  From self improvement, to nutrition, and finances.  I loved it and gained a lot of value! Plus, it's always nice to see some of my team members:

But the rest of the weekend felt like an awful reminder of how lonely I am. And maybe it's the hormones, but gaaaahh how crummy it's been literally sitting in the house doing nothing, by myself.  Some folks enjoy that kind of downtime, and I do too in small doses, but right now I can't stand it.  It even made me want to just be in the kitchen.  A few random things sounded good, but also because I think I was so bored that it gave me something to do and distracted me.  So Saturday night I made a late trip to the store, and found myself finishing up making soup at 10pm.  I was in the mood for some curry lentil soup, so I searched for a recipe that I thought looked pretty good.  I decided on a recipe that I found at Oh She Glows.  It turned out pretty good, though there are a few changes I will make next time.  Instead of water, I suggest using a chicken or vegetable broth, for a richer flavor.  Also, after soup has cooked throw some or all of it in a blender to give it a creamier texture:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1.5 cups chopped onion (approx 1 medium onion)
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped (optional - I did not use)
• 1.5-2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 cup uncooked lentils, rinsed and picked over
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste (I think I used 1/2 tsp?)
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional - I did not do)
• 1 lemon, cut into 6 wedges (optional - I did not do)

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in heavy large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, optional celery, and carrot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until onion is translucent, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or so.
2. Add finely chopped garlic and stir until vegetables are soft but not brown, about 5 minutes longer. Reduce heat if necessary to avoid burning.
3. Add curry powder. I started with 1.5 tablespoons. Now, add the rinsed uncooked lentils and 4 cups water. Season with a sprinkle of kosher salt and pepper, add in lemon juice, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
4. When lentils are tender, I poured about half of the soup into my blender and I blended the soup for a minute. I did this to create a very thick texture. After blending, stir the soup back into the skillet/pot and you will have a very thick soup with some chunky pieces left from the soup you did not process.
5. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and additional curry powder, if desired. Sprinkle with thinly sliced green onions and serve with lemon wedges.
Makes about 4-5 cups

Then this morning, I made a Sausage Egg Casserole for breakfast.  I found a recipe at All Recipes and then made a few changes, as well:

Ingredients:

Makes 12 servings       

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

• 1 pound ground pork sausage (I used sage ground pork) 
• 1 tablespoon butter
• chopped white onion (I have no idea how much I used, but about an equal amount to the mushrooms)
• 1/2 pound of sliced fresh mushrooms
• 10 eggs, beaten
• 1 (16oz) container low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 bag of shredded monterey jack cheese (plus additional to top casserole at end of baking)
• 8 ounces diced green chile peppers, drained
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• Small bundle of fresh spinach leaves

 

Directions:

Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and set aside. Melt butter in skillet, and cook and stir the onions and mushrooms until tender.
In a large bowl, mix the eggs, cottage cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and chiles. Stir in the sausage, onions, and mushrooms. Refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend in the melted butter. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Stir in the spinach. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Bake 40 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown (sprinkle with cheese with about 5 min left). Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Well if anything, I am sure baby was thrilled mom decided to do some cooking that last two days.  And I will have yummy food to take with me to work this week.  Ha gotta find the positives in it, right!