Buddies, Beds, and Blessings

Life Updates

• Landen and Brayden are really becoming the best of friends! They are to the point now that (for the most part) they play with the same things, like the same books, look out for each other, etc. It’s such a precious time in our house! And though they do occasionally end up getting possessive over toys (or trash or cats or mommy/daddy’s attention or anything at all), they are also getting really good at sharing and helping each other!

Peanut Butter

Poor thing was so sleepy... I just had to take a picture

• Landen is officially sleeping in his big-boy bed (the bunk bed) and Brayden is FINALLY and officially sleeping in his big-boy bed (the toddler bed).

First night for Brayden to actually SLEEP in the toddler bed!

• Nana took Landen to get his first PROFESSIONAL haircut. He did great and it looks great!

• It occurred to us this past week that Declen is going to be here SOON! We dug out the baby clothes and got them in a drawer. It is crazy to think that the clothes we brought Landen home in are already too small for Declen. But it’s always fun to me to pull out the boys old clothes and get that flood of memories that go with the outfits… the milestones, the mishaps, the funny things, the learning experience, etc. Along with getting Declen’s wardrobe sorted, it also dawned on me that I’m probably going to need to get moving on packing a hospital bag (and overnight bags for the boys) one of these days! Especially since I have a history of unexpected birthdays (Landen @ 35 weeks during what should have been his Baby Shower and then Brayden @ 36 weeks)… I plan to pack bags this week!

• Keith has 3 weeks left of clinicals...  THREE WEEKS!!!!! I can't believe he is actually going to be finished with school! FINALLY! 

• We are now on car number 6! The wagon, despite the NUMEROUS desperate attempts at fixing every possible thing that could be related to the car, has officially kicked the bucket. Luckily, we were able to find and trade-in our money pit wagon to help us pay for a 2007 Chevy Uplander (by the grace of God and with the help of Keith’s dad). It’s nice and roomy and CLEAN (though I’m quite sure we will change that very quickly)! All three car seats fit with plenty of room to spare!! God ALWAYS provides!

• We celebrated my Dad's 66th Birthday last night... the whole way home and until he fell asleep, Landen was was singing "Happy Birthday to Papa! Happy Birthday to Papa!" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pregnancy Update: Week 34 

(These stats are really more from last week as I have my weekly appointment tomorrow)

• How far? 33 weeks, 0 days - which means I (hopefully) have 4-6 weeks left in this pregnancy
• Bump? Most definitely!
• Weight Gain? 5 pounds
• Belly Button? Pretty much flat
• Blood Pressure? 136/86
• Fundal Height? 33-34 (last week)
• Fetal size approximation? 36 weeks (last week)
• Maternity Clothes? Definitely
• Fetal Heart Rate? 121 bpm
• Movement? YES! And when he moves, my entire midsection goes with it!
• Cravings? Chicken Tetrazzini, steak, green beans, key lime pie, lemon stuff...
• Aversions? Strong smelling stuff, green grapes, red beans, sausage, onions, FISH
• Symptoms? Braxton Hicks, Swelling of my hands and feet (especially by the end of the day), Headaches, Exhaustion, Moody, Emotional, Back Pain, Pelvic Pain, MAJOR Forgetfulness, some rather unpleasant things... and I've currently got a sinus infection & bronchitis so I’m not feeling my best, which apparently affects my blood sugar :(

Swelling by lunch time
Please disregard the polish... it's not a priority

• Sleep? Not great.
• Gender? BOY!
• Name? Declen Miles
• Best Moment? Ultrasound showing that the excess Amniotic Fluid has decreased, Declen’s growth slowed down a little this past week, and his blood flow/oxygen levels looked good!
• Doctor's Report? I don’t have preeclampsia! They checked my liver enzymes and everything came back normal. My platelet count looks good. The Gestational Diabetes (up until the last couple days when I've been sick) seems to be cooperating with my diet and medication. We are still trying to keep as much stress off of Declen as possible, so I am now working 4 hour days so I can rest more, which will HOPEFULLY allow me to continue working longer before starting my maternity/full-time leave (and maybe not have bedrest AT ALL for this pregnancy!). 

36 Weeks: And the verdict is…..

Baby Brayden will be here Thursday!

For those of you who like things short and sweet... stop reading here... this is a LONG post!

Since the last post:

• My blood pressure has continued to rise.
• The protein levels in my urine have continued to rise.
• I have had the following: continued bedrest, 3 doctor’s appointments, an overnight stay in L&D, an ultrasound, a non-stress test, a Biophysical Profile screen, a GBS test, continuous monitoring, fetal movement monitoring, contraction monitoring, blood screens, and so much more….
• At one point while I was in the hospital, I was having very strong (non-productive) contractions every 1 to 1½ minutes. The doctor put me on Procardia XL, which is actually another blood pressure medicine, to get the contractions to chill out a bit. It worked!! The contractions are still strong, but they have spaced out to 1 every 15 minutes or so!!

Doctor’s Report:

• Well, I get to stay at home… still on strict bedrest and monitoring, until Brayden is born.
• Brayden is measuring 4 weeks ahead (that would put him at 40 weeks). His head is measuring at 41 weeks 5 days. He has dropped some, which is REALLY making me waddle AND making me take potty trips constantly (I guess strict bedrest is kind of compromised in that sense).
• Because of my blood pressure, rising protein levels, being less than full term, and Brayden’s massive head circumference, I will be having a C-Section on Thursday, 2/23/12. At this point, it will be safer for both him and me for Brayden to join the world.

 Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along: 36 weeks 0 days
2. Total weight gain: 18 lbs
3. Fundal height: 39 cm
4. Baby’s heart rate: 160s bpm
5. Baby bump: You bet! It moves all by itself… kind of like an alien movie…
6. Movement: Yep! Not as much though… he’s super cramped in there! The nurses have used a buzzer on him a couple times during monitoring to get him moving… apparently he can hear quite clearly and gets the hiccups when startled! It’s funny (minus the rhythmic headbuts against my pelvis with each hiccup)!
7. Cravings: Milkshakes, milk, juice, water, French dip sandwiches, Eggs Benedict… that’s all I can think of right now
8. Aversions: Onions, chicken, peppers
9. Symptoms: Generally uncomfortable, in virtually every way…
10. Sleep: O geez! I would love to get a good night’s sleep! I can’t get comfortable, so I change positions, which causes contractions, which make me need to pee, I waddle back to bed, finally get remotely comfortable and my foot/leg/arm/back/head/neck (fill in the blank) starts to hurt or falls asleep, I change positions, and the whole thing starts over!
11. Gender: He is still a boy. I checked again, today during the ultrasound… there is no question about it!
12. Belly button: By some strange coincidence it is still in. I can’t see it without a mirror and it is stretched beyond what seems humanly possible, but it’s still sticking in!
13. What I miss: Playing with Landen, I mean REALLY playing with Landen. Being able to sit with my legs together. Independence. Being able to get in and out of my own car.
14. What I’m looking forward to: Meeting Brayden. Getting off bedrest.
15. Concerns: (I am really striving to focus on Matthew 6:25-34, but I am struggling with turning these over to God)
1. I am so concerned about being a mom of two!! I don’t know if I am ready for this! I can’t imagine loving another child as much as I love Landen (I realize that other mom’s think this too, but it has been keeping me up).
2. I’m super concerned about Landen adjusting to having another baby in the house. He’s not old enough to understand any of this, or even to know what a brother actually is… I DEFINITELY don’t want him to ever feel like he’s being replaced or neglected. I was up crying about this last night… for quite a while!
3. I am really concerned about Keith. He has SO much on his plate anyway, and now having another baby with sleepless nights, as he goes through PT School.
4. I’m a little concerned about Gus (our cat). He and I have been bonding lately, with me being in the bed all the time, and he is VERY much my cat. Landen loves Gus, but Gus is quite the skiddish little buggar and gets a little freaked out when a toddler starts chasing him. When Landen was born, Gus had a bit of a nervous breakdown and his hair fell out in places and he lost weight. I realize he is a cat, of all things, and I should NOT be worried about him adjusting, but I am. It may be more hormonally based than anything else, or maybe I’m just blaming the hormones, but Gus is my little buddy… my buddy that keeps getting bumped down the line of importance.
5. I am extremely concerned that Brayden, being a month early, will end up in the NICU.
6. Finally, out of sheer selfishness, I am extremely concerned about the actual surgery and recovery! I realize that I have been through a c-section before, but it scares the mess out of me! I mean, really, who wants to get cut from one hip to the other!?!
16. Blessings:
1. Keith was able to take his PT practical today (it was scheduled for Thursday).
2. I have been able to remain at home rather than being hospitalized (for the most part).
3. Brayden seems to be on target developmentally.
4. I have an amazing job with amazing co-workers.
5. Our families have been super supportive and helpful.
6. God’s Promises: 

Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
   28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

35 Weeks and counting

35 weeks! - at this point I think I'm actually counting hours, minutes, and seconds...

Life Update:

So, Keith and I made a couple practice runs to the hospital over the weekend. My blood pressure was up and I had blurry vision and headaches. We went Saturday... stayed for a few hours until I was stable and came back home. We went back on Sunday.... found a small amount of protein in my urine (showing that I was beginning to develop toxemia) and had to spend the night being monitored. We got to come back home on Monday with the orders of STRICT bedrest...

FYI... the new women's center is like staying in a hotel (with the exception of the beds)!! It is SO fancy!!
 

Doctor’s Report:

So apparently I now have protein in my urine (indicating my level of toxemia) that seems to be gradually rising. I am on strict bedrest with a home monitoring system that takes my vitals, asks questions, and transmits everything to a nurse 24/7. I have a nurse that is assigned to me until this baby is born, her name is Eileen. I originally thought she would have to be here with me, but lucky for her, she and I have a phone relationship (unless something goes really wrong). Twice each day I have to count Brayden's movements... good thing he's a kicker, and I also have to test my protein levels. If anything seems unusual, I am immediately contacted by my nurse.


As long as I am laying flat, my blood pressure (for the most part) is maintaining. If that continues, and my toxemia remains below a "critical level", I will be able to continue bedrest at home.


We are taking things one day at a time. The longer Brayden can safely stay in me, the better his chances of staying OUT of the NICU. Anyone who has had a NICU baby can attest to the fact that you don't want to go through that stress again!! (Don't get me wrong, the NICU staff/doctors at Brookwood were absolutely AMAZING with Landen (and us), but it's a really tough thing to have to go through).


Brayden is still measuring big. I am having contractions (and have been) every 2-7 minutes. Most of them are not too uncomfortable, but there have been a few that flat take your breath away!


Assuming everything continues smoothly, my next appointment is Tuesday, 2/21. I will have another NST (non stress test - done weekly for me) to measure contractions, blood pressure, fetal movement, fetal heart rate, etc. I will also have another ultrasound (done every 4 weeks for me) to measure Brayden's development, size, amniotic fluid levels, and my cervix. Then I will have my OB appointment, at which point I have a feeling we will be scheduling an induction/c-section.

Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along? 35 weeks  2 day
2. Total Weight Gain? 15 lbs
3. Fundal Height? 37.5 cm
4. Baby Heart Rate? 150s bpm
5. Baby Bump?  I think the term “bump” no longer does it justice…. Mount Everest is more fitting.
6. Movement? Of course! The little (or big) wiggle worm is super confined, but he still manages to kick, punch, and bump all the time!
7. Cravings? Milkshakes, milk, juice, water... I've been thirsty
8. Aversions? Mostly just meats (not all the time though) and onions and FISH!
9. Symptoms? Strong Contractions, Moody, Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Hands and feet swelling (though it's MUCH less with me being on bedrest), Legs falling asleep, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness,  Blurry Vision, Heartburn/Acid Reflux, and a few very unpleasant unmentionables
10. Sleep? Yeah, right.
11. Gender? Boy! Brayden Daniel Thomas
12. Belly button? In, but VERY shallow
13. What I miss? Being comfortable and being able to do stuff!
14. What I’m looking forward to? Getting out of the bed. Meeting Brayden.
15. Concerns? Toxemia/blood pressure affecting Brayden's health and my own. Landen not understanding why mommy is in the bed ALL THE TIME. Landen's reaction to having a baby brother. Finances with me unable to work. The load that Keith has to carry between taking care of me (the vegetable), Landen (the inquisitive energizer bunny), PT school, and everything in between!
16. Blessings? Keith, Landen, our family, and our friends! That I’ve made it this far into the pregnancy, and Brayden is still appearing to be healthy! My awesome coworkers that donated 80 hours of vacation time to me to help with the fact that I have an unpaid maternity leave! Gus, our cat, who tirelessly keeps me company 24/7. Landen learning to say, "Love you momma" - it puts such a bright spot on my entire day!

32 Weeks

32 weeks: Jicama (whatever THAT is)

32 weeks: By now, baby Brayden weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I’m gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to Brayden. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

Life Update:

• Landen had his ear surgery!! The doctor said he was able to clean out a BUNCH of infection.
• I cannot keep ANYTHING in my hands… if it is droppable, IT WILL BE DROPPED!
• Baby brain has kicked into full gear! I keep getting words mixed-up (i.e. hotel v. hospital, pizza v. puzzle, etc)

Doctor’s Report:

This baby is going to be a whopper! He is ALREADY 5 lbs 10 oz, measuring 4 weeks ahead of schedule! My blood pressure is slowly rising and my doctor thinks I should consider working less hours. PLEASE pray regarding this decision!! Keith can’t have a job while he is in school and my working less will put a HUGE financial strain on our already dwindling bank account! She did say that with Brayden looking as healthy as he does, she MIGHT feel comfortable letting me go until 39 weeks. Brayden has hair that was visible on the Ultrasound… 1 cm long. His feet are 2 ½ inches long. Brayden currently weighs right about the same weight that Landen did when Landen was born… The doctor said he will continue to gain about a ½ lb per week until he is born! YIKES!

Pregnancy Update:

• How far along? 32 weeks  1 day
• Total Weight Gain? 10 lbs
• Fundal Height? I swear his legs are up in my throat sometimes… but the doctor says 34ish
• Baby Heart Rate? 137 bpm
• Baby Bump?  Absolutely
• Movement? He is moving and stretching and getting quite strong! He had the hiccups last night and every time he hiccupped, his head would hit me… (TMI WARNING: I felt like someone was thumping me in the crotch every couple of seconds)
• Cravings? Milkshakes, milk, water, juice, but not much in the way of solid foods…
• Aversions? I can’t put my finger on it…
• Symptoms? Contractions, Vomiting (no idea why, but I spent a good bit of my morning throwing-up today!), Moody (sorry…), CLUMSY, Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Hands and feet beginning to swell, Legs falling asleep, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness,  Blurry Vision, Heartburn/Acid Reflux, and a few very unpleasant unmentionables
• Sleep? Yeah, right.
• Gender? Boy! Brayden Daniel Thomas
• Belly button? In, but very shallow
• What I miss? Being comfortable!
• What I’m looking forward to? Finishing some name art for Brayden… I WILL do this before he is born! We have an OB tour on February 7^th; I’m excited to see the new OB building at my hospital!
• Concerns? Unpaid maternity leave. Possibly having to cut back my hours at work (less pay!). My blood pressure.

Blessings? Having a job. Keith. Landen. Family. Friends. Landen’s daycare. Seeing Brayden all huge and healthy on the ultrasound.

Pictures:



Here is his weight... if you look at the graph you can see he's chilling out around the 97th percentile





Side profile of his foot





Just FYI... if you know what it all means, it MIGHT be interesting to you





the pregnancy pose... 32 weeks





my very own arm rest/table top...





This picture didn't come out very well, but this is a comparison between my pregnancies...
Purple shirt is 32 weeks - Landen
Flowery shirt/dress is 32 weeks - Brayden



From the Mouths of Babes... and 31 weeks

Week 31: Watermelon (or Four Big Oranges)

31 weeks: Baby Brayden now weighs as much as four navel oranges (Length: over 16 inches, head to heel.) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy

 

Life Update: 

• Keith was talking to Brayden, aka my belly, last night and Landen decided he would too! Landen put his mouth against my belly and was yelling, “WA WAWA BAWA WAWAWA.” I was covered in drool by the end of Landen’s conversation, but it was possibly one of the funniest things I have ever experienced! I still don’t know if Landen has ANY idea that there is a baby in my belly. 
• We were able to get several things in the house ready for Brayden over the 3 day weekend:
• Pack-n-play
• Cradle (used to be Keith’s mom’s cradle)
• Baby book
• Bottles and slow-flow nipples
• Infant pacifiers
• Baby monitor
• Cleaned and sorted infant toys
• Replaced batteries 
• Landen is seeing all his old stuff (i.e. toys, bottles, pack-n-play, etc .) and thinks it’s all for him… he’s said “MINE” 16,871,846,741,684 times this weekend
• Landen is getting tubes in his ears on Friday! He woke up Sunday night with a nasty cough, so we took him to the doctor yesterday. The doctor said it wasn’t anything to prevent his surgery on Friday, but she gave him some medicine to make sure it doesn’t turn into anything… because dang-it WE ARE GETTING TUBES THIS FRIDAY come hell or high-water! Oh, and he has a double ear infection and he’s teething his two-year molars.
• Landen has become VERY talkative lately… VERY TALKATIVE! He will talk non-stop, but there is always a question of what he is actually saying… some words sound the same as others, some have a slight resemblance at one point of the actual word, and some words sound a little inappropriate…
• Football (easily confused with Momma) sounds remarkably like butt-hole… this we HAVE to work on ASAP!
• Gus (our cat) sounds like “cgusth”
• Cracker, tractor, doctor, play-dough, and door (I think he may be saying ‘the door’) sounds like “duh-doh”… and these can be all be confused with football and momma
• Bee (the buzzing creature), B (the letter), R (the letter… confused with B), and Wee (the exclamation) all sound like, “BEE”
• Boot, booboo, and poop sound like, “Boo” or “Poo” depending on the day
• Paci sounds like, "Bat-thee"
• Car, star, go, shoe, door, and dog sound like, “daw” (but can sound like “duh-doh”, too)
• Please, peas, tree, and piece sound like, “Peeethz”
• Papa sounds like, “bot-BAH”
• Puzzle-piece sounds like, “Buh-duh PEETHZ” (although it periodically gets additional syllables)
• Macaroni-n-cheese sounds like pure gibberish with “EETHZ” on the end
• Cat, hat, sock, and that sound like, “dat”
• Jacket sounds like, “dat-dat” which can be confused with daddy
• In addition to all of these, sometimes Landen will add “yo” to the end of words, just to keep you on your toes…Not to mention the constant sounds and combinations that he says in-between all his old and new words!
• Keith and I have been working on a puzzle that is so tricky and difficult! I LOVE puzzles, and I can usually fly through them… not this one! We have been working on it, little by little, for weeks now! (If you really know me, you would know that NEVER happens!) But it’s fun!
• Our church opened it's new building a couple weeks ago and it has been awesome! We are already bursting at the seams!
• My sweet friend Brooke cut my hair this weekend! It was great to see her and her precious daughter AND my hair hadn't been cut in close to a year... WAY overdue! It looks MUCH better!
• Landen is in the process of moving-up to the next class in daycare... they are letting him spend part of the day in his old class and part of the day in his new class. He seems to be loving it! It is SUCH a blessing that he is SO happy at his daycare!! 
• Apparently, last night Keith realized that we are about to be the parents of TWO children instead of just one... who knew!?

Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along? 31 weeks 0 day
2. Total Weight Gain? 7 lbs
3. Fundal Height? 31ish
4. Baby Heart Rate? 140s-150s
5. Baby Bump?  Absolutely
6. Movement? He is moving and stretching and getting quite strong! He had the hiccups last night and every time he hiccupped, his head would hit me… (TMI WARNING: I felt like someone was thumping me in the crotch every couple of seconds)
7. Cravings? Chocolate, milkshakes, milk...
8. Aversions? Meats, ONIONS, spicy stuff 
9. Symptoms? Contractions, Moody (sorry…), CLUMSY, Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Hands and feet beginning to swell, Legs falling asleep, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness,  Heartburn, and a few very unpleasant unmentionables
10. Sleep? Yeah, right.
11. Gender? Boy! Brayden Daniel Thomas
12. Belly button? In, but shallow
13. What I miss? Being comfortable!
14. What I’m looking forward to? Making some name art for Brayden
15. Concerns? Unpaid maternity leave.
16. Blessings? My blood pressure seems to be maintaining. Having a job. Keith. Landen. Family. Friends. Landen’s daycare.

Brayden is getting BIG and so am I! - Updated

Week 30: Large Cabbage

This week: Baby Brayden rivals a good-size cabbage in weight, tipping the scales this week at 3 pounds (<--- Actually 2 weeks ago he was weighing 3.5 lbs) (Length: about 15 3/4 inches, head to heel) . A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Life Update:

Keith started back to school. Landen is attending daycare 5 days a week. Landen has an appointment tomorrow with a Pediatric ENT to schedule surgery for tubes in his ears. Keith bought a 20 bag of pinto beans while grocery shopping --> an attempt to be economical... so we MAY be buying stock in Beano or Gas-X in the very near future! I have approximately 7 more weeks of pregnancy! Oh, and ROLL TIDE!!!!!

Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along? 30 weeks 0 day 30 weeks 2 day
2. Total Weight Gain? I won’t know until Wednesday 7 lbs
3. Fundal Height? I won’t know until Wednesday 30 cm
4. Baby Heart Rate? I’m guessing it is probably still in the 140s in the 150's
5. Baby Bump?  YES! It is definitely getting in my way… but hey, if you need your table/counter wiped off, you just let me know I’ll be glad to wear your food/dust/flour/etc across my belly!
6. Movement? He is moving and getting quite strong!
7. Cravings? Pizza and Caesar salad dressing… still!
8. Aversions? Meats
9. Symptoms? Contractions, Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Hands and feet beginning to swell, Legs falling asleep, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness,  Heartburn, and a few unmentionables
10. Sleep? I wish I could get some decent sleep!! Between bathroom trips, contractions, uncomfortableness, and ridiculous dreams… it’s practically a lost cause. Seriously, my dreams seem to be combining every awkward moment in my life and every argument I’ve ever had with any unknowns I currently have in my life... what the heck!?!
11. Gender? Boy! Brayden Daniel Thomas
12. Belly button? In, but shallow
13. What I miss? Being able to adjust the seat in my car, Energy, Sleep, Mobility, Laying down without getting heartburn, Seeing the stairs as I am descending/ascending, etc
14. What I’m looking forward to? bedtime
15. Concerns? Unpaid maternity leave. Retaking this stupid blood sugar test… I REALLY don’t want to have gestational diabetes!!!!!!! And I really don’t want to show my face in the doctor’s office lab again after puking EVERYWHERE on my 1^st attempt at the 3 hour glucose test last week!!

**NOTE** I was looking at my pregnancy journal from when I was expecting Landen. I failed the 1^st glucose test (the 1 hour one) with Landen, too. To pass it, your blood sugar level has to be under 140 – with Landen, mine was 167 and with Brayden it was 173. Hopefully, with the levels being so similar, I will pass this 3 hour test tomorrow and be in the clear!! I just need to keep the syrup in my tummy long enough to actually take the test!

Well, I had to stay the FULL time to take the Glucose test because in hour 2 my blood sugar went UP!? I still don't understand that! Ultimately, I now know that I DO NOT have gestational diabetes!! WOOHOO!! And, as far as showing my face in the office again, everyone was really nice and even let me lay down in a dark room with my very own trash can... just.in.case.

16. Blessings? My blood pressure seems to be maintaining. Having a job. Keith. Landen. Family. Friends. Landen’s daycare. Normal blood sugar!
17. Pictures:




Landen with my Grandmother (90 yr old)... I wish she were looking at the camera.

 



Sweet little package :)





Our little family of 3 1/2





Thought this would be a cute picture, but every time I try to post it on here it shows up sideways... whatever.





He finally got the concept of toys being in the stocking



Landen getting opening his "Big Boy Bed" (toddler bed)

The post Christmas post

Week 28: Chinese cabbage or Pumpkin

This week: Baby is the size of a Chinese cabbage By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

28 Week Doctor’s Report:

-          My blood pressure was 102/64 this morning!! I am officially in my 3^rd trimester.

-          I failed my 1 hour glucose test, so I have to go back next week for the 3 hour glucose test… YUCK!

-          Peanut is measuring 31 wks 0 days… his head circumference is 32 weeks!!! This is not a good trend, but it’s great that he isn’t measuring too small – a common occurrence for women with chronic hypertension

-          I am now on the every two week doctor appointment plan, but I will continue with the every four week ultrasounds

Life Update:

Christmas was draining nervewracking different this year...

• My sister had her baby on December 23rd... both mom and baby are absolutely beautiful and healthy!
• We didn't get to visit my sister because my doctor doesn't want me travelling, I STILL feel aweful that I couldn't be there for her!! She was SO supportive when I was having Landen, and I don't think I can ever relay how much I appreciated that!
• My parents, obviously, went to be with my sister so Christmas with my side of the family was postponed... no big deal!
• Landen had a high fever on Christmas Eve and had a Febrile Seizure... THAT was one of the most terrifying things I have ever experienced. We called 911 and he was taked to the ER.
• We got home around midnight Christmas Eve... Santa was still able to visit despite the late night :D
• Christmas morning was fun (despite Landen not feeling well), we watched Landen open his gifts from Santa and then we went over to Meemaw's house (Keith's mom) for Christmas with the Thomas family.
• Landen was still running a fever on Christmas day, so we were keeping him on tylenol and motrin constantly. By mid afternoon, the fever wasn't responding very well to the medicine so we stripped him down to the diaper and periodically put a wet rag on his neck to cool him down.
• By 7pm Landen's fever hit 105.3*F with cold compresses on his groin, neck, and arm pits... so we head back to the ER! Luckily, he didn't have another seizure!
• The ER Conclusion? AN EAR INFECTION!?!?!! What is this madness!?! SO, he got a Rocefin shot at the ER, he got a 2nd Rocefin shot Monday at the pediatrician, and he got a 3rd Rocefin shot yesterday at the pediatrician. He seems to be feeling  a little better now... still running a fever, but not a high one.
• The pediatrician is contacting an ENT for us so we can hopefully get rid of this dang ear infection!
• Keith has a cold, or something of the sort...

Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along? 28 weeks 1 day
2. Total Weight Gain? 3 lbs
3. Fundal Height? 28 cm
4. Baby Heart Rate? 140s bpm
5. Baby Bump?  I’m still carrying him low
6. Movement? Definitely feeling him move all the time!
7. Cravings? Peppermint chocolate chip milkshake (Chik-fil-A)  and my mom’s Christmas Eve dinner (we didn’t get to celebrate Christmas with them yet so I’m looking forward to that this weekend)
8. Aversions? Meats
9. Symptoms? Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Legs falling asleep, Congested, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness,  Heartburn, and a few unmentionables
10. Sleep? If I could JUST GET COMFORTABLE and have normal dreams without waking 25 times to pee or switch sides!
11. Gender? Boy! He’s still a nameless child
12. Belly button? In but rather shallow
13. What I miss? Energy, sleep, easy mobility, lying down without getting heartburn, etc
14. What I’m looking forward to? Naming this baby! Celebrating Christmas with my parents!
15. Concerns? Maternity leave (or lack thereof). Retaking this stupid blood sugar test… I REALLY don’t want to have gestational diabetes!!!!!!!
16. Blessings? My sister had her baby – Haleigh Rae on December 23 at 8:30pm – she weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 19 in long – they both are doing great! My blood pressure maintaining. Having a job. Keith. Landen. Family. Friends.
17. Picture:

Peanut... facing the right with his mouth open

Peanut = Cauliflower

Week 27: Cauliflower

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Life Update:

1. Keith and I have been sick! --> we’ve had walking pneumonia
2. Landen has a never ending ear infection --> I kid you not, he has had an ear infection since sometime in October
3. Gus, our cat, attempted suicide --> he ate a ribbon, which formed a ball in his stomach, that caused constant vomiting and an inability to eat or drink, which led us to the vet, ultimately forcing the vet to do emergency surgery, and our bank account plummeted! Pictures are below... in Exhibit A
4. Though my Christmas tree decorating skills are limited, I did manage to make a decent looking star for our tree topper. Pictures are below... in Exhibit B
5. After SEVERAL attempts at ornament decorating, my one and only tree worthy (and picture worthy) ornament is the Snow Family. Pictures are below... in Exhibit C.
6. Landen had his 18 month check up. I cannot believe he is 1 ½  years old! His measurements crack me up though. Weight: 23½ pounds (10%-25%) Height: 32 ½ inches ( 50% ) Head Circumference: 19 ½ (90%) I mean, it's a good thing we have the ability to see him in person or via camera. otherwise he would come off as a bean pole with a pumpkin for a head... I made a picture, but I cannot get it to load, but I feel confident that anyone can imagine the pumpkin headed beanpole child. 

Pregnancy Update:

1. How far along? 27 weeks 0 day
2. Total weight gain? -2 lbs (due entirely to my being sick)
3. Fundal height? I have no idea
4. Baby bump? Absolutely
5. Maternity Clothes? Yep! I do wish I had more winter maternity clothes… With Landen being born in June, I didn’t have a need for sleeves during that pregnancy
6. Movement? Definitely feeling him move all the time!
7. Cravings? Cookie dough
8. Aversions? Meats and onions
9. Symptoms? Pains (back, sciatic, leg, hip, neck, etc), Cramps (stomach, back, and into my thighs), Legs falling asleep, Headaches, TIRED, Forgetfulness, Cranky, Heartburn, and a few unmentionables
10. Sleep? If I could JUST GET COMFORTABLE and have normal dreams without waking 25 times to pee or switch sides!
11. Gender? Boy! He’s a nameless child… Keith and I have been talking the past couple days about a name… so far we agree that we don’t want a name that will be shortened (i.e. Jeffery – Jeff) and we don’t want to call him by his middle name… that’s as far as we have made it
12. Belly button? In but rather shallow
13. What I miss? Energy, sleep, easy mobility, lying down without getting heartburn, etc
14. What I’m looking forward to? Naming this baby! Christmas!
15. Concerns? Maternity leave (or lack thereof). Holiday stress.
16. Blessings? My blood pressure maintaining. Having a job. Keith. Landen. Family. Friends. Landen’s daycare <-- especially last week when Keith and I were so sick!
17. Pictures:
• Exhibit A: Cat + Ribbon = Surgically scarred cat



The ribbon



The cat (with shaved leg for IV)



The end result (FYI he is laying on his left side with head away from camera)



• Exhibit B: Felt star - 5 felt pieces (cut into squares) + 1 button + needle and yellow thread =




The felt star I made for our Christmas tree


• Exhibit C: The one, and ONLY, presentable ornament I was able to make for our Christmas tree - Snow Family

Year



Daddy snowman (Keith) and Landen snowkid





Momma snowwoman (Me) and Daddy snowman (Keith)