Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: 37 weeks! That’s considered “Full Term”!
Size of baby: she likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6 pounds. From this point on she’ll gain about 1/2 ounce each day.
Movement: It’s been much less the last couple of days
Sleep: About the same
Cravings: I think I am addicted to Lifesavers. Seriously. I might have to Join LAA- Lifesaver Addicts Anonymous.
Symptoms: Miserable. Is that a symptom?
Best Moment this past week: I got to take a nap on Saturday and Sunday!! Hooray for naps!
My weekly doctor appointment was yesterday. They went ahead and put me on the baby monitors because I haven’t been feeling her move hardly at all the last couple of days. Everything seems to be fine, though. I guess she’s just really running out of room! Dr. Smith checked me again and I haven’t made any progress in the last week, still just dilated about 1 cm.
I’ve had a lot less back pain in the past week. With the exception of Friday, which wasn’t a good day at all, the past week hasn’t been too bad. I had a really good day Monday, and even yesterday wasn’t too bad. Traveling to LR and back does take a toll on me. However I’m starting to see a pattern where I pay for that ride the following day. It just makes me so sore and gets my back all out of whack!
If nothing changes, my next appointment will be next Tuesday. It will be my last appointment before delivery! My scheduled delivery is still set for September 12th. We have to be at the hospital at 6 am. It’s crazy to think 2 weeks from right now we could actually be holding Arden?!
Next week is my last week at work. And it will be a short one, since Labor day is Monday and then I have a Dr. Appt on Tuesday. That will be extremely strange. I try to keep my stuff in order and every night when I leave I try to leave it so that if I didn’t come back things aren’t too much of a mess. But really knowing that I won’t be back for another 10 weeks will be really, really, bizarre!
I still haven’t heard anything from the Neurology Clinic about getting an MRI scheduled. I called Monday and left a message but still never heard anything back. When I told the nurse and Dr. Smith about it yesterday they were both surprised, so the nurse called over to Neurology yesterday while we were there and talked to them and they are supposed to be working on it still. Apparently trying to get a pregnant woman setup for an MRI takes an act of congress! They are supposed to be getting back with me soon. I sure hope so!! I mean if they want to do it before I have the baby they’d better hurry! I did have an echocardiogram on Monday, and it was all good. So, at least that’s out of the way.
In other family news, I feel like such a bad mom. I can’t remember the last time I took a picture of Stratton. I tried to take one of him on Saturday with a turkey hat on his head but he wouldn’t be still. . .anyway I am really going to try and do better this week! But it’s not like there is anything interesting to take pictures of, we really haven’t been up to too much. Stratton has a new teacher at school. He seems to really like her. Last week they talked about how everyone is unique and they made a class scrapbook with pictures of all the kids. They took pictures of themselves as babies and Stratton took one of him and pops on a tractor when he was about 3 months old and he couldn’t wait to share it with this friends. This week they are learning about the human body. I can only imagine what kind of questions he is asking his teacher! Not only is he always asking questions, he’s full of insight these days. He told me last night “Did you know dragonflies EAT mosquitos?” – No, actually I didn’t. I may have to google that!
We had such a good day on Saturday. We got up and went to eat breakfast at Sue’s before going refrigerator shopping (it’s a long story- but our fridge has been on the fritz for weeks and we needed to get something that we can depend on before Arden gets here!). Stratton was SO good! He only got a little whiney toward the end of our outing, and that’s just because it was nap time! Then we came back home and Stratton and I took a nap (it was raining and just the best afternoon for napping) and then Saturday evening (after a brief but dramatic meltdown) we went to a birthday party for Isabella (who is 11?! When did that happen??!!). Jarrod had to work Saturday night. He went in around 9pm and got home at 6am. When he got home we decided to go to early service at church since we were up. We went to church, bible class, grabbed a bite at Cracker Barrel, and were home and all back in bed by 12:30! Stratton and I both just slept a couple of hours, but Jarrod slept all day. Sunday night after church we ate with some friends at Stratton’s favorite: Firehouse. It’s also strange that we only have two more weekends before Arden’s arrival! That’s two more Saturday’s to get stuff done, two more times to be in bible class at church and just two more times for Sunday night fellowship with our friends! Crazy!
As we count down the days, we are nervous and excited- but ready! My cleaning lady is coming to do some “spring cleaning” over the next two weeks, and I’m trying to keep the laundry up! We all have bags packed and pretty much ready to go. Arden’s room is finished and ready for her! I do need to do a little grocery shopping and pantry re-stocking (especially now that we have a fridge that works properly!). We will probably try to do some of that this weekend, if the weather isn’t too bad. Hurricane Isaac is making it’s way onshore today and should impact us Friday and early Saturday. Hopefully we won’t get too much wind and rain out of it! Not good for the crops!! Also, college football starts this weekend! We bought ASU season tickets this year. I’m bummed that I probably won’t get to go to many, but I know Jarrod and Stratton will really enjoy getting to go! Between harvest already starting and now football starting that can only mean one thing!! It’s officially fall!! Yay!! My favorite time of year! I can’t wait for the cooler temps and it will be time to bring out the pumpkins before too long! Stratton asked me last night if we were going to go to the pumpkin patch, and if we could take his sister. I told him that we could for sure go, but we might have to leave Arden with Gig and Pops since she will probably be too little to enjoy the pumpkin patch. He was fine with that, he told me that he’d bring her a pumpkin home. . .awww!!
It went pretty good. We liked the Dr. and even though she was young, she seemed to really know what she was talking about, and spent about an hour and a half with us. We didn’t learn anything new really, which is what I assumed would happen. She did rule out the idea that my “episode” might have been migraine related. She said it just didn’t meet the criteria. And she also didn’t really think it was related to a blood sugar issue, either. She did a simple evaluation on me, and apparently I passed! After discussing the episode and evaluating me she didn’t really seemed too worried, she said she had actually seen 5 or 6 similar cases in pregnant women and it turned out to be nothing. But since the problems I had did sound a lot like some sort of stroke it would be negligent not to go ahead and do some further testing to make sure there isn’t anything going on. The only way they can determine if I might have had some kind of stroke or similar episode is to do an MRI. She also wants me to see a Neuro-Ophthalmologist, to make sure everything is ok in my eyes and optics. And she also ordered a echocardiogram just to check and make sure my heart functions are normal. We will have to go back to UAMS sometime for the MRI and to see the Ophthalmologist, but I am having the echocardiogram done Monday morning here in Jonesboro. I am really hoping that we can get all this done soon! I am ready to have all this over and done with and I’m already tired of driving back and forth to Little Rock! They are supposed to be calling me with the appointment times, since I am pregnant the computer wouldn’t let them schedule the MRI, they will have to call and set it up. Of course the MRI that they will do doesn’t have any of the dye and will be totally harmless to the baby, but I guess they have to be extra cautious about all that with patients. I am really hoping that we can get the scheduled on a day that we are already having to see Dr. Smith, but I realize I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
The doctor said that she fully anticipated for the results of the tests would be fine and hopefully the episode was just a weird one time thing. But if it did show that I had some sort of stroke-like episode, since there doesn’t seem to be an lasting effects, maybe all I’d have to do would be take medicine to keep it from happening again. So, if nothing shows up on the tests, I will follow up with her in 6 months. She did recommend that if everything turns out to be ok after Arden is born to start on an aspirin regiment (she actually strongly encouraged this and said everyone should be one on?!) and have my cholesterol tested.
Monday night we were sitting in the Living room talking to Stratton about his day. I can’t remember how it exactly came up, but Stratton said he had a friend named “Golf”. My first instinct was this was a make believe friend, so I started asking questions. I asked him what Golf looked liked? He said “he has white hair like me”. I asked him where Golf lived? He said “In the country”. I asked him if they played together, and what did they play? He said “yes, they played golf” –Ok, duh! Then he told us something about Golf having an attitude! We just laughed and thought how funny it was that he had this imaginary friend named Golf!
Well. I told Brandye about it so yesterday when she picked Stratton up at school he was playing with a little boy. She asked the teacher if there was any new kids, and the teacher said yes, the little boy Stratton was playing with was new and his name was Connor. When they got in the car Brandye asked Stratton if Golf was at his school today? He said “Yes!”. Then she asked what did he have on and then he described what the little boy he had been playing with had on. So she asked him if Golf had another name? He said “Yeah. His name is Connor”. Ha! Apparently Golf is real! I just wonder how much of what he told us about him is real?? And where in the world did he come up with calling the kid Golf??
And on another note he is a walking, talking imitator these days. I need to remember to watch what I say in front of him! This morning he was flopping around in his booster seat sitting on his feet and ended up spilling his full bowl of milk and cereal. I, out of frustration, said “Ugh. Stratton! I really wish you’d be more careful. I know it was just an accident, you didn’t mean to make a mess but if you were sitting in your seat like you were supposed to be that wouldn’t have happened.” then he said “Ugh! It gets on my nerves too mommy!”. I’m not sure where he’s heard that expression, but I’m sure we say it more than we realize! Then a few minutes later he told me that he didn’t feel very good and he needed to stay home from school. Just like a big kid would say. I don’t know what to do with him!! Monday morning he told me “Mommy, I just feel awful”. Haha. Pretty sure I know where he’s heard that recently!!
He told Brandye last night that he wanted parmesan for supper. I told her that probably meant pasta, but I wasn’t sure. I asked him the other day as we drove past Olive Garden, “what do we eat at Olive Garden?” and he said “Salad, chicken and parmesan”- that’s usually true. I guess he associates parmesan with pasta? Makes sense to me! His favorite restaurants right now seem to be Firehouse or Red Lobster. If you ask him where he wants to eat it’s usually one of those 2 places that he names off first.
He is also all the sudden into Spiderman. Not sure why. Yesterday morning I asked him if there was anything he needed us to bring him back from Little Rock. His answer? “Probably, a Spiderman shirt”. Really? I have no idea where that came from either? We didn’t have any luck finding one, so maybe he’ll forget about it! I thought he’d say a truck or tractor or some kind of toy? But no. He wants a shirt. He is such a mess!
Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: Just 3 weeks till my scheduled delivery, if I make it that long!
Size of baby: The ultrasound we had yesterday put her at 5 lbs. 6 oz.
Movement: Subtle movements still going on
Sleep: Is sporadic. One night I’ll sleep great the next hardly at all
Cravings: Still on the lifesaver kick, and I got to satisfy my Bonefish Grill craving finally, last night!
Symptoms: Crazy bad heartburn, swelling, a lot of pelvic pressure and pain, back pain, a few contractions and of course even more frequent trips to the ladies room.
Best Moment this past week: Having the ultrasound done yesterday
I had an appointment with Dr. Smith yesterday. Everything looked good. I have gained another 8 pounds!! Yikes! That brings the total to 32 pounds now! Scary! All my vitals were good. I had the group B strep test done. We will get the results at our appointment next week. If it’s positive I will just have to be put on antibiotics before delivery. She checked me and I am dilated about 1 cm. We also had a quick ultrasound so they could determined about how big she is. The ultrasound indicated that she weighs around 5 pounds 6 ounces, give or take. However, I’m not too convinced that those measurements are accurate. . .I mean they told us a couple days before Stratton was born that he was around 5 lbs and to be prepared for how small he was going to be, and then he ended up being 6 lbs 10 oz! So who knows!
I asked her if she thought I would make it another 3 weeks since I’m already starting to dilate. She said it just depended on the frequency of these back pains and contractions I’ve been having. She encouraged me to take it easy and if the contractions become measurable, or I start noticing a pattern to let the ANGELS hotline know. She also told me to take tylenol pm if I needed to in order to get rest at night.
Dr. Smith made an appointment for me to see a neurologist at UAMS on Thursday. She thought I should go ahead and get the all clear from a neurologist since I will be having a c-section and anesthesia will be more comfortable if I have been examined and ok’d after what happened last week. She said she thought it would give us all a little peace of mind going into delivery- I agree. Plus, she had to pull some strings to get me in. When they called the first time it was going to be 3 months before there was an opening! It just so happens that the Neurologist is a patient of Dr. Smiths, so she made a personal call and told her what was going on and she agreed to see me this week! I figure if Dr. Smith went to all that trouble, I should at least go to the appointment.
After my appointment we ran to the mall to take some things back, then we made a trip to the Learning Express toy store for Arden to find a gift for Stratton, that she will give him at the hospital. And last we had an early dinner at Bonefish! I have been craving it for months, but the one in LR is only open for dinner!? Crazy, huh!! It was sooo good! We were back in Jonesboro by about 8pm. Jarrod dropped me off at home so I could put my feet up and then went to Dillon and Brandye’s to pick Stratton up. He was already asleep! Poor thing, they’d wore him smooth out! He must have had a good time, because he asked me if he could go back today!
So I guess we will be keeping the road to LR hot. Tomorrow my appointment is at 1pm, and then I start my weekly appointments with Dr. Smith, so I will go back on Tuesday to see her. The good/scary news is that we should only have to make that trip for a couple of weeks, then it will be delivery day! I am just not looking forward to all that riding. I was miserable yesterday! I have to keep reminding myself, just a few more weeks. . .
So, I now have four. Well, sort of. I have 4 bags that have been bought or given to me recently for use with baby Arden. One is a cute and very girly messenger style bag that my friend Amber gave me, it will be good for nice events. The second one is more of small an “overnight” style quilted fabric bag from my friend Amanda, it’s going to be really useful for those many trips to the grands’ houses (and it has super cute owls on it). The third one is what I call a “dump bag” just a big square tote that a sweet lady at church got me. It’s also quilted fabric in pink and brown and has Arden’s monogram on it (You may have seen it on fb in an ad for Emily Ann’s) It’s actually packed with Arden’s hospital stuff and sitting by her bedroom door! And the last is one I bought myself. It is fun and cute, but most of all seems really, really practical! It’s wipe-able, has lots of storage and pockets and comes with 2 sets of straps and stroller straps! AND I got it at half price- which makes it even better!! I’m hoping I’m not disappointed at the quality, but from what I hear Timi and Leslie is a good brand? We’ll see!
The monogrammed “dump bag”
The practical
So help me out. What bag did all you other mom’s just love or hate.
I will need to add to my collection before long! I really don’t want to spend a fortune. . .but it’s a lot to ask of a bag to be stylish and functional! And this time is way easier, as I’m not afraid for it to be really girly!
With Stratton at first we had a couple or maybe 3 diaper bags. . . one for church (a really nice monogrammed canvas type from Restoration Hardware but wasn’t good with the stroller) and one for everyday (a wipe-able army green manly looking Eddie Bauer bag that was perfect with the stroller and extremely functional, it just wasn’t that cute [it was manly]) and personally, I think they need a different one for daycare, too many hands are in and out of that one and it gets grungy and plus you really don’t want to keep anything too nice in it in case someone accidently picks up your bag and never brings it back. . .it could happen! So he had one for that. I can’t remember what it was like, but probably simple and cheap and it’s probably been thrown away or garage-saled! We also had one that my friend Amy made me! It was so pretty and I could hardly bring myself to use it. But I did and I broke the strap. I think I retired it after that! We mainly took it to church or short events.
Then when Stratton was at about 5 months when we started needing more toys and books for church so I ended up with a large Vera Bradley tote that seem ginormous at the time, but it worked perfectly. I loved that I could throw it in the wash (probably not supposed to do that but I did) and it would be looking and smelling like new in no time! However it also didn’t work with the stroller very well. I still use it today to tote my stuff around! It does show a little wear now though.
Then when we went to D.C. I ordered a skip hop backpack to take with us, I was excited about it, but it never came in. . .and never came in. . and finally a few days before our trip I found a really lightweight simple shoulder strap bag at TJ Maxx. It worked, but by the end of our trip it was already torn. It went to the garage sale this year. I think the backpack would have been good, but I canceled the order. I did get the matching “saddle bag” and really like it. It Velcro's to your stroller and is nice for your small stuff. It’s red and black and matches the stroller. It’s perfect for outings like the zoo!
On a side note:: We also got him a medium sized (carry-on approved size) red and brown monogrammed duffle bag before we went to D.C. and that bag has been awesome! As much as we travel and as much time as he spends with this grandparents its so nice! And the perfect size. If you are looking for a good and different gift for a baby or toddler I would suggest PBK Fairfax collection. So, far it’s really taken the beating and banging! We had intended on buying him the whole set, but guess what?? Yep, they discontinued the color we picked. Go figure.
So, let me total that up. With Stratton we had a total of 7 diaper bags. No wonder I couldn’t afford a new purse for so long!
Around the time he turned 2 we quit carrying the “diaper bag” in leui of a more boyish bag so he could pack it and carry it himself (not that he does). Stratton now carries a Northface backpack with his books and toys and snacks for church and also a fabric train backpack that he takes to school everyday. He’s such a big boy.
Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: We are exactly 4 weeks away from holding our baby girl!
Size of baby: On average a baby at this stage is 5.5-5.8 pounds and around 18.5-18.7 inches- about the size of a coconut.
Movement: Still plenty of movement, but it’s getting less and less intense.
Sleep: It comes and goes. I can nap really well though!
Cravings: Nothing new here, still chopping on lifesaver mints and ice like crazy.
Symptoms: Still have bad heartburn that I can’t seem to get rid of, more swelling, and of course all the mess that went on Monday and Tuesday!
Best Moment this past week: Our fun dinner party/shower Saturday night! (more on that in another post)
Stratton may be digressing a little. He told us Sunday that we weren’t having a girl, but a baby boy! Hmm. . .I’m thinking all this might be getting a little to real for him too! He’s been watching a show on Disney Jr. lately called Charlie and Lola. It’s a cute cartoon about a big brother and little sister. So, I think at the moment he thinks having a little sister is going to be fun like the cartoon. Haha. He’s in for a rude awakening! We are still dealing with some weird tantrums and fits. This morning he got mad at Jarrod because he was going to walk him into his classroom, like we always do. Today apparently he wanted to do it alone! One minute he’s wanting you to hold him and the next he’s Mr. Independent?! These moody phases need to pass!! I’m the one that is supposed to be having the mood swings!
Adren’s room will be completely complete if I can just get Jarrod to hang up the window valance sometime this week! My mom finished it and gave it to me this weekend. We just haven’t had a chance to get it up, but we will soon! Then I will finally post pictures!
Other than being mentally prepared, I think we are ready for her to come anytime. Her bed is ready, laundry is done, bottles are ready to go, carseat is revamped and ready to put in the car, and We all have bags packed and ready to go . . . I just need to schedule the cleaning lady to come and do a really good deep cleaning to the whole house and we’ll be set. It’s funny that I think I’m ready- and it’s even funnier that I know I’m kidding myself and I’m not even the least little bit prepared for what’s really to come! At least I’m trying! I know even the best and most thought out preparations are going to need some tweaking, but things are much farther along than when Stratton was born and we made it ok, so I’m not going to get too worried! I feel like I’ve done just about everything I can do at this point!
Things on the checklist now are: Spend quality time with Stratton, Take it easy and try to make it 4 more weeks, Get a mani/pedi (and maybe one more massage), Go buy a new robe that isn’t white (I left mine at the hospital on Monday! Ugh!!). All that doesn’t seem too ambitious does it? I don’t want to over-do it! Ha-ha?!
Yikes! Just 4 more weeks?!
So, it all started Monday morning while I was getting ready for work. I was standing at the bathroom counter drying my hair, when things started getting blurry on my left side. I went about my getting ready thinking it was just something that would pass but after a few minuets it was worse. I got Stratton up and situated on the couch with something to eat and drink and called Jarrod to come home. I called the Angels hotline at UAMS and talked to a nurse who instructed me to get to a hospital as soon as possible. Jarrod got home, we ran by and dropped Stratton off at school and went to the hospital. I started having some numbness in my left hand also and my head was slightly aching, but I chalked that up to sinuses. I was concerned it was preeclampsia. I had been on my feet a lot over the past weekend and started noticing more swelling in my feet, legs and a little in my hands over the last week.
My blood pressure was on the high side when I got there but after laying on my side and resting it went back down, and was never dangerously high. It just so happened that Dr. Layton, the ob/gyn that I have seen in the past, was the one on call. She knows my history so that was reassuring. She really thought it was just a spell brought on by an increase in blood pressure. She said that at this point even just standing in one place too long can spike bp enough to make me dizzy and lightheaded along with the other symptoms. She also told me to make sure I ate. (which I do, I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet at 7 am!) She let me go home with instructions to rest the rest of the day and drink lots of water. So that’s what I did.
I took a nap and watched some tv, pretty much was a bum all day. Then about 5 pm my left eye started doing the fuzzy/blurry thing. So I laid down and rested on my left side, while in the middle of this episode Jarrod and Stratton came home so Jarrod took my bp and it was ok. I started feeling better so I got up to sit and eat with the boys. About 5-10 minutes into sitting at the table I all the sudden got to where I couldn’t talk. It was the scariest feeling. I was trying to say something like “Stratton, wasn’t it nice of daddy to bring supper home tonight?” and only about every 3rd or 4th word would come out and it wasn’t the words I was intending to say. Jarrod had the strangest look on his face, really confused looking. And I just burst out into tears! I did manage to get out “I don’t know what’s wrong with me!”. Jarrod calmed me down and Stratton was asking a thousand questions of course but he was really sweet, and looked concerned. Jarrod called Dillon who rushed over to stay with Stratton and we headed back to the hospital. With this episode my left lip was numb and my left hand was numb and tingling. I was seriously worried I was having a stroke!
Jarrod checked me in, since I couldn’t really articulate what was going on with me and they quickly took us back to a triage room, hooked me up to the monitors and started checking my bp. Everything checked out and was fine. They came and drew blood, and then not too long after that Dr. Layton came back in. This time she thought my symptoms sounded more like a migraine. Since all my vitals seemed to be checking out, she couldn’t come up with any other reason why I would be having those symptoms. And of course by the time she got into see us, the speech impediment was all but gone and I was starting to feel like myself again. She said she wanted a neurologist to have a look at me. So they moved us to a real room while we waited for the neurologist. My mom and dad came to check on us. It was probably 7:30-8pm by now. Jarrod ran home to take a shower and get some stuff (like our ipads) in the case that we had to stay the night. We called in and checked on Stratton and he was already taking a bath and Dillon went back over to our house and gathered up the stuff he needed for bedtime, since it looked like it would be late by the time we got out of there. By the time Jarrod got back I was having my doubts. Between 9:30 and 10pm the nurse came in and we asked her about the consult and she told us that more than likely if they hadn’t showed up by 9:30 they probably weren’t coming till in the morning. Great. So we were stuck. My mom and dad left a little before 10pm and I decided to take a shower and maybe being warm and clean would help me be able to rest in those awful hospital beds. We did have a pretty restless night. Poor Jarrod tried to sleep on the chair that pulls out into a sleeper! Ouch! However the nurses and staff left us pretty much alone. They came in around midnight and then again about 5am. Not bad for a hospital! When the nurse came in around 6 she told us the Dr. was making rounds and would be around to see us soon, but he’d already seen my chart and thought everything looked ok, and they were going to discharge me around 8 am. I asked her about the neuro consult and she didn’t seem to be very positive that anyone was coming. She said they were extremely hard to get to come in, but for me to ask the Dr about it when he came by. Sure enough when the Dr came by he suggested that we just go home. He said that unless he has a patient stroking out right in front of him that it’s almost impossible to get a neurologist to come in. (Good to know!) He thought it would be in our best interest to go home, and if it happens again come back or take it up with my Dr at UAMS. He said there are so many things that these symptoms could be caused by, and while it could be anything from a migraine to a pinched nerve it might just be some weird fluke. He said some really weird stuff can happen when your pregnant that there is just no explanation for! I was really frustrated, but glad he was honest with us. Otherwise we might have waited all day long and who knows if they would have even showed up?! At least I was under observation all night and nothing happened, so maybe that’s a sign that this little spell, or episode or whatever is over or at least on its way to being over!
Tuesday we got home about 9am. Jarrod decided to stay home with me. Dillon had taken Stratton to daycare to keep him on his normal schedule. So Jarrod and I got something to eat and then we both crashed. I’m not sure when the last time was that I slept that hard! I think I got up around 11 am and Jarrod fixed us some sandwiches. Then the rest of the afternoon I did laundry and piddled around the house. Jarrod had a dr appt at 4pm so Brandye went to pick up Stratton and brought him home. He was mad because he wanted to stay at their house again! Brandye gave me what I hope is the last of my progesterone shots! Then Jarrod fixed us some dinner and we were all in bed pretty early! I did have another small spell last night around 8pm. But it went away pretty quickly. We went ahead and checked my bp just in case, but it was good.
I did get word from my Doctor at UAMS. While she thinks it all sounds extremely rare and is concerned, she didn’t seem to think that I should rush to see a neurologist. I have an appointment with her next Tuesday, so I am guessing we will discuss it more then. She said if I had anymore issues to either go back to my local hospital or call the Angels Hotline. She said that they could arrange for me to see a neurologist at UAMS but she wasn’t sure how long it would take for me to get an appointment. At this point I almost feel like going back and forth to another Dr. in LR these last few weeks of pregnancy aren’t worth it. Especially if we do a bunch of testing, which come out inconclusive and then all my symptoms go away after childbirth anyway?! I think we will just play it by ear, at least till Tuesday and go from there. I do feel a little better since all this has happened a couple of people I know who have regular migraines said those symptoms are familiar to them and others that are in the medical field have said they also have seen these symptoms play out in migraines, even migraines without a headache? Weird, but not unheard of.
I didn’t sleep much at all last night. Probably from taking a nap yesterday? So I am so tired today! But so far things are ok. My eyesight is a little blurry and splotchy, and I’m a little lightheaded but overall I feel ok. I decided to come into work. I was already bored at home yesterday, and I think as long as I feel like it and am able I will try to work. And there is plenty for me to do at work still to keep me busy! I’m not far from home if I need to go home, too. Plus, I don’t need to sit at home with time to twiddle my hands and Google all my symptoms . . .
Ya’ll, I’m tired!! I saw this cartoon on a website and had to post it to facebook immediately, as this is exactly how I feel!!
Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: 34 Weeks. . .5 weeks and 1 day to go till Arden’s scheduled delivery.
Size of baby: Almost 5 pounds and around 18 inches! Compare to a cantaloupe! (I feel like I’m carrying a 20lb watermelon in there, though!)
Movement: There’s been a big change in movement this past week. She’s still kicking, but it’s much, much less. I think she’s either “dropped” into position or just really cramped!
Sleep: I had a few nights of wonderful sleep! One night I only got up twice!
Cravings: Still chopping on lifesaver mints and ice and I’ve been so thirsty!
Symptoms: WORST. HEARTBURN. EVER. Seriously, I have bad acid reflux to begin with, but the hb I’ve had this past week was killer, it’s keeping me up at night and making me nauseous. And my feet are swelling, I knew it was just a matter of time.
Best Moment This Week: Just making it to 34 weeks! I can’t believe we’re here already!!
Wow. 34 weeks! God is so good!! What a blessing. I’m just so relieved that we’ve made it this far and haven’t had any issues. We’ve continually been blessed with a normal pregnancy. . .no diabetes, no bed rest, and so far looks like no signs of preterm labor. I can’t get over how fast the last seven and a half months have gone by. I’m excited about Arden’s arrival, but also a little sad since this will likely be my last pregnancy. It’s weird and conflicting emotion! (Why am I sad?? I’m tired and miserable?? It doesn’t make any sense!).
Other good news, my cold symptoms are much better, thankfully! I took my last dose of antibiotics last night! Glad those are over! They sure were giving me some stomach issues!
We are just about done with Arden’s room. Just a few more final touches and it will be complete. It’s pretty much ready now, the big stuff is in place and her laundry is done, and the car seat has been washed and recovered! We are ready to go! I even have my bag packed! I’m hoping that getting all prepared will just mean nothing happens. Like in the winter when there’s a snow storm coming and they tell you to get prepared, so you run out in the craziness to get milk and bread. . .and then nothing happens! : ) I’m hoping for that scenario! I have to be honest, at this point I don’t know that I am going to make it 5 more weeks. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m just feeling like it’s getting closer.
Stratton has been such a love bug lately. He has been noticeably more affectionate to me especially. A couple of months ago, he could pretty much care less if I was around or not, he wanted “daddy to do it” whether it was getting dressed or fixing him something to eat! He was also right by Jarrod’s side where ever and whatever he was doing. But the last month or so he has really become a momma’s boy. He’s also been asking us to “play with him” a lot lately. Where as before he would just sit in the floor and play by himself. Now he frequently asks us to join him. Sunday Jarrod said he was ready to go back to the beach and asked Stratton if he was ready to go. Stratton’s response “No! We have to wait till my sister comes out so she can go with us!”. And last night he drew a picture of “our baby sister” and “she is going to be red!”. Haha.
This week has been forever long! I guess that’s mainly because I’ve been sick, but some weeks just seem to drag on and on! I did get my hair cut and colored on Wednesday! The last time before Arden comes! That’s just so weird! I go about every 8 weeks, and when I left the salon, the lady that cuts my hair mentioned that the next time she see’s me I’ll have to bring Arden with me?! Crazy?!!
I decided since I still felt awful and it didn’t seem like my cold was getting any better I should maybe go to the doctor. I emailed my dr at UAMS on Wednesday to see what she thought about my lingering cold and she said to go to my family doctor and get checked out. So, I did and turns out I have sinusitis and bronchitis. I guess it’s a good thing I went. Now I’m on antibiotics and feeling a little better. I left my Dr. Appt and headed home to rest before the guys got home and we had to rush around for church. Well my resting was interrupted with a call from Jarrod that he would be working late. So I went to pickup Stratton and he was in a MOOD. I didn’t feel like fighting him by myself and we missed church. Some nights I just don’t have the energy to get him home, fed him get him bathed and dressed and to church by 7! It’s not that he’s necessarily bad, he just gets side tracked and I’m constantly having to keep on him! He just doesn’t get in a hurry- sounds like somebody else I know!
Yesterday at lunch I met Carla and we got pedicures. I haven’t had one in almost 3 weeks and I thought it might help with my swollen feet. I think it actually made it worse! My feet looked awful last night! I am somewhat trying to watch my sodium intake and I just can’t figure out why some days when I really don’t do much my feet swell so bad and other times when I’ve been on them all day they are fine! There is no rhyme or reason! I have to document my night last night! I went to bed around 10ish and only got up TWICE during the night to go to the bathroom and then I went right back to sleep! That means I got roughly 8 hours of sleep last night!! Whoo!! I haven’t done that in months!! I guess I was just really tired? Who knows. The funny thing is, you’d think I’d just have lots of energy this morning- Not really! In fact I’ve been pretty groggy. Weird!
We don’t have any plans this weekend. It’s the “tax-free” back to school shopping weekend, so I think we will try to stay out of town as much as possible! And Jarrod is working Saturday night, like he did a couple of weeks ago. He’ll go in around 10pm Saturday night and hopefully only have to work a few hours, but it could be most of the day on Sunday as well. Sunday I have a baby shower to go to at church for Tia (McDonald) Carraway! I can’t believe she’s old enough to have a baby! I can still see her as a kid! And even though there’s only like 3 years difference in our age, it makes me feel old! Haha! Her baby is due September 9th. She is also having a girl and they are going to call her Hollis. So, our girls could potentially only be four days apart in age! How fun is that?!