Sunday, January 17, 2010

36 Weeks and Maybe the Last Pregnancy Post??


Here I am at 36 weeks. It has been an eventful few weeks. I have gotten bigger and more uncomfortable. I am finally feeling like I am very pregnant. I had the flu two days ago and yesterday I tried to walk around Taipan with my mom and I really had to sit and rest more often than I care to admit!! Everything has been going fairly well. She is still moving around like crazy and seems to move on a schedule. I hope that she will be easy to get on a schedule once she is here! I am up a few more pounds, although I haven't gained anything in about 3 weeks. My total weight gain is about 29 lbs or so. We have also switched the kids rooms and have her nursery all ready. She has SOOOO much stuff I can't even believe it. I feel bad when people ask if I need anything... I really don't! People have been so nice and have totally helped me out. Her nursery is really cute. I had a fun shower thrown by my friends. It is so nice to be so loved and supported!

Another reason this month has been eventful is because of all the doctor stuff I have been doing. During my 34 week appointment, my doc tested me for all the blood clotting, thyroid, and had me to a 24 hour urine test to test for protein in my urine. The reason for all of this was because my blood pressure started to freak out right around this time. It is fairly normal when I take it at home (130/80 or so), but at her office it runs about 148/95 which is considered high, especially pregnant. So, at the beginning of the appointment, she took my blood pressure and of course it was high (and even a little higher since we had just dropped of Jon at the MTC). I then went into my appointment with her and she was talking about these blood clotting things etc and I just lost it. It was really embrassing, but I think she understood. At the time, I was totally done with being pregnant and everything that came with it! My doctor was very nice and just listened to me and handed me tissues. After that, she got the results from the urine sample and there was a trace of protein in it... so then she started to freak out a little. I think she is worried about me developing pre-eclampsia because of my higher blood pressure so she calmed me down, told me to get my blood work done and do a 24 hour urine test the next day to test for any more protein. She then started talking about induction at 37 weeks instead of 39.

So, I went in for my blood work and lost it with the techinician again... she thought there was something wrong with the baby. Ah, just one of those pregnant days. She took my blood, gave me the stuff for my urine test and sent me on my way. My doc decided then that she wanted to start seeing me every week so I made my appointment. The next day I did the urine test (Jason was thrilled to have a jug full of pee in the fridge for the day) and turned it in on New Years. I had an appointment the next week. Of course, all of my tests came back normal. No blood clotting diseases... urine was fine, thyroid was fine... blood pressure was still high. So, she benched me from the gym... :( The last time I went to the gym was the day I was at 35 weeks. I was sad about that. The gym has been such a blessing to me and I think it has really helped me with this pregnancy. I have felt really good (albeit somewhat emotional), but I am 20 lbs lighter right now than I was with Jack. I am not swollen and I feel like (until yesterday) that I have been able to get around very well. So, I figured it was probably coming, but I was sad when it did. After she benched me from the gym she was still talking about inducing me at 37 weeks and she decided she wanted me to go in for a non-stress test on the baby.

I did that last Wednesday and had another appointment with her. The test on the baby was fine. They hooked me up to a heart monitor for the baby and monitored her for about 30 min and did an ultrasound to check the fluid etc to make sure she is okay in there. The fluid and everything was fine. Her heart rate was a steady 150. She was supposed to have a spike in HR at least twice in 20 min and she had about 8 so she passed. :) She is very active and strong. That is another thing I attribute to the gym. I think it makes babies a lot stronger! At my appointment, my blood pressure was still the same, but everything else now is looking fine. My doc wanted to take my blood pressure again and then decide what to do about induction. My blood pressure was the same. So, she scheduled me for induction this coming Friday. I have another non-stress test on the baby tomorrow... and an appointment with my doc on Wednesday. I think her main concern is the development of pre-eclampsia like I said... so, it could be that I have this baby this week!! I, of course, want to make sure that she is ready to come and am okay with whatever my doc decides... but, I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited she might be here that soon! We will find out for sure on Wednesday what the verdict is. I think the final decision might be to do a mix and take her sometime between 37-38 weeks, but we'll see. I really don't think my doc wants to leave her in much longer. My blood pressure at home has been steadily getting higher and I don't think she likes to see that. She has been okay with everything until this point because at home my blood pressure was completely normal. That is not the case anymore.

Anyway, that's the scoop... Keep your eyes open. We could have an annoucement before the 40 week post!! Either way... she is coming so soon!!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam!


Jack is now a Sunbeam in Primary!! That is so crazy to me. We have been talking to him about going to another class for awhile and when we got to church he marched right past the nursery into the primary room. His teacher was great and he loves her already. They said that he did really well. He came home wanting to give talks and singing new songs! I am so proud of that kid. He is such a wonderful joy to me. I love him more and more as time goes on. He is kind and nice and just a genuinely good person, you can tell. I am sad to see him grow up... but so excited to see the person he will become. Ah, I love being a mom!!

First Time Sledding!!


Going down for the first time.


Snow Bunny!

Because I am pregnant and no fun whatsoever, Jason decided to get out of the house with Jack while he was off for five days at New Year's. One of the activities I could not go on was sledding. This was the first time that Jack has gone and according to Jason he loved it. He would only let Jason go down with him three times and the rest of the time he cruised down the hill be himself. He is already talking about going again... hopefully when I have the baby they can get out.

Our New Year's was really uneventful... besides the sledding, we took Jack to see "Princess and the Frog." He also had some bday parties to attend so I think he still had a good Christmas break! It was really nice for me to have Jason home for so long and keep him entertained while he didn't have school or the gym!

I Hope They Call Me Missionary....


Missionary and future missionary!


David Archuleta watching Jack sing his "Spiderman song"

My littlest bro is now a missionary!! I can't believe that he is old enough to be on his mission. It seems like his life has gone by so fast. It makes me sick to think that Jack's childhood will pass by just as fast, if not faster. Because Jon was scheduled to report to the MTC on December 30, our after Christmas time was bittersweet. It started with his farewell on the 27th. He gave a wonderful talk and had a lot of support from friends and family. I was really impressed with his talk and it gave me peace and I know that he will be alright out there. We had great food and company at the farewell, including David Archuleta! He was a friend of Jon's in high school and he actually showed up. Granted, he came near the end... but due to the reception he was greeted with I can't blame him. It really was crazy to see how everyone just flocked to him the minute he came in the door. I think he was a little annoyed. :) I am happy to say that I kept my star strucked self out of the way so much so that he didn't even know who I was until he was about to leave. :) He was really nice and very gracious. Jon is his BIGGEST fan so I have learned to love him whether I wanted to or not!

The rest of the week was spent mostly at my parent's house hanging out with Jon. He was set apart on Tuesday night. There was a great spirit. Wednesday was the big day. We left around 10am and went and had breakfast at Village Inn. We had to drop him off at 100pm. According to Jason and Andy, the dropoff is much better than it used to be. Only one car is allowed in so Jason and Andy walked in and met us. You pull up to the curb and there is a missionary waiting for you to be your host. It was really hard to send him walking down away from us toward the door to the MTC. Everyone was bawling... noone as much as my mom. That was what was hard for me. Being a mother now, I couldn't stand to watch my mommy send her littlest child away for two years!! I can't even believe how difficult it will be to do that with Jack in 15 short years!! It was really hard.

We have recovered somewhat now that it has been almost a week. We have gotten two letters from Jon. He sounds like he is doing well... not liking his companions, but is being humbled and learning lots. I know he will do great out there!! My favorite part of this whole thing has been how Jack has learned from it. Jon is being such a good example to him and he is old enough that when it is time for him to make this decision, he will remember that his uncle Jon went. He walks around singing.." I hope they call me missionary, missionary, missionary... I hope they call me missionary..." over and over again. He asks about Jon a lot and it gives us a lot of opportunities to really talk to Jack about religious things. We will miss Jon, but know his serving will be a blessing for him and for all of us!

Christmas 2009


Cookies and the key for Santa


Waking up Daddy


Seeing the haul for the first time


His Batman castle


His outfit for the whole day.

Christmas this year was the best. Jack was so excited about it and is already counting down the days until "the other Christmas," as he calls it. I was worried how he would do when we took down all the decorations, but he has handled it rather well. I think it helps that he still has his little tree in his room. :)

Since this was my brother's last Christmas at home for awhile, we spent Christmas Eve with my family. That is typically a bigger deal than Christmas. We headed over in the middle of the afternoon and left Jack there while we went home to grab presents and Zoe for the nightly festivities. Zoe was really excited to be included. We headed back around 4 and my mom was almost done with the Hunt family favorite dinner... FRIED CHICKEN. I know, it doesn't sound very Christmasy, but it was YUMMY! That might be why my blood pressure has been acting up come to think of it. :) Anyway, we ate dinner and chatted about Jon's mission... After dinner we relaxed, cleaned up and hung out for awhile. We have been trying to teach Jack a little more about Jesus in relation to Christmas and I thought it would be good to get the Nativity movie that is about 5 min long and narrate it for him. It was really successful. He got to see all the major players in the Birth and now when anyone talks about Baby Jesus, shepards, Wise Men, etc. he seems to understand. Next year, we will delve into it a little more, but for this year I was proud with how much he thought about the real meaning of Christmas. We watched that movie again on Christmas Eve and after that Jack was so ready to go to bed that he was practically tucking himself in. We did the traditional one present for him. He got Transformer PJs. He loves PJs. It is so funny to see him wearing his different PJs to the gym and the kids running up to him and asking to see the PJs he is wearing that day. He was really excited to wear these Transformer ones there. They have been a big hit. After the present we set out the cookies we had made for Santa, as well as a "Magic" key that enabled Santa to get into the house. Jack then ran up to bed and made not a peep until 7am. Us grownups watched "Jack Frost..." per Jon's request and hit the sack around 11.

Jack woke up at 7am and ran around waking up everyone. He was so excited to get down there and open presents. We make the kids crawl through a tunnel every year to reach the presents and this is the first year that Jack just barrelled through that thing. I was lucky to get a picture. His favorite toy was the Batman Castle he got from Santa. He loved the stockings and everything else as well, but that Batman castle has been a hit. He was happy that Santa remembered Zoe and left her a big candycane bone in her stocking. After breakfast, we headed home to shower and head out to Jason's family's house for the rest of the day.

Jack loved the bike, monster trucks, coloring supplies and cowboy boots he got from Jason's family. We spent a great day relaxing while Jack played with everything and walked around in his cowboy boots. They are the cutest things!! We napped and then headed over to my sister in law's mom's house for dinner. It was really yummy. After dinner, Jason, his dad and I decided to hit a movie. We went and saw the Blind Side. It was a great show, but the seats were terrible for this pregnant lady... I think I am still recovering! Jack had a movie night with his Grandma and his favorite uncle.

It was a beautiful day and although I wasn't thrilled with Jack's attitude toward the end of gift giving, it was such a joy to be a part of this magic for my child! I am already thinking of ways to make next Christmas even better!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Eek... 32 Weeks


Okay, it is starting to get scary... I am so happy to only have two months left. Actually, the good news from this month is that my doctor has consented to induce me at 39 weeks if I want. So, that makes me closer to having this baby in six weeks. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I know that a week doesn't make that much of a difference, but to me it is everything. I don't know if it is because it took us so long to get pregnant, the fact that I am more sore this time around, or the fact that because I am already mother I just want her here, but regardless, I am DYING to have this pregnancy over with. I don't remember being this anxious with Jack. Anyway, I love that my doctor is so open ( and that she is pregnant 2 weeks behind me) so that I am able to have Savannah here a week early. I know some people don't agree with that, but I have never been afraid of having the baby early... I think as long as it is after 37 weeks bring it on! :)

Anyway, I am thankful that it is the holidays because I think that is making it go by a little faster. I am excited for the new year, taking down the decorations and getting her room ready. Hopefully, all of those preparations will speed January along. That is partly why we have done NOTHING in preparation so far.

I am now onto my doctors appointments every two weeks. After gaining nothing from about 24 weeks until 28 weeks... of course in the last month I have gained about 7... I knew it was coming. That brings my grand total to about 24lbs... I am hoping for only 10 more, but I know that she is growing more than ever so I am trying to be really good. I am still working out. It is getting harder and harder however... The only thing that gets me there some days is the thought that I will lose my fitness if I stop so I plug on ahead. I always feel better after I work out though so I will do it as long as I can. Hopefully, to the very end. She is moving around like crazy all the time, growing well and has a strong heartbeat at every doc appointment. My doc appointments have been going okay, I guess. I passed my glucose test, although they said it was on the higher end of normal. I have to have it retested in a week. They are still a little concerned that I tested positive on the "syphilis" test at the beginning of my pregnancy. I guess this test is called "C-Reactive Protein" and the reason you test positive for it is: 1-- you are pregnant, but I guess this isn't very common, although I see it everywhere online, 2-- you have Lupus... which I and my doc highly DOUBT I have, 3-- you have some acute infection/inflammation in your body, which according to what I have read online can be caused by exercising or being pregnant, 4-- you have a blood clotting disorder... blah, blah, blah. In addition to being fed up with this pregnancy, I am also fed up with doctors! I have spent far too much time in the doctors office over the last 1.5 years! Anyway, I really think I tested positive on this test because I am pregnant and nothing more, but my doctor wants to make sure I don't have this blood clotting thing (or "sticky blood"). I guess it is good she is making sure. I am going to have all that blood work done on my next appointment. The only reason I am even mentioning this is because I want to remember for the next pregnancy... It seems that I had something like this during my pregnancy with Jack, but because I didn't keep good records and my doc didn't make a big deal about it, I can't remember. Oh, and I am anemic. All I have to say is just give me my baby and let me get back to normal!!!!

MANTRA: SIX AND A HALF WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!

Christmas Preparations


This Santa was weird... Jack came away saying, "He was mean..." Ah, good thing he's not the real one!


The family seeing the lights. It was packed!

Christmas is almost here! I can't wait. Jack has really gotten into it this year and is totally counting down the days. We wrapped most of his presents the other day and when he saw them under the tree he was so excited! I can't wait to see his reaction on Christmas Day! In preparing for the big day, we have baked sugar cookies and Christmas M&M cookies, gone to a few holiday parties, decorated Jack's room with lights and his very own 3ft tree, done the Christmas calendar (chocolate, paper chain and my family calendar), gone to see Santa, went and saw the lights at Temple Square and he has had a blast learning all the Christmas songs that he could. My favorite is that he loves Kurt Bestor. Jason and I were able to go see Kurt Bestor with some friends, but I really think we are going to take Jack next year. He loves listening to him and he pretends to play a trumpet anytime he is listening. He closes his eyes and really gets into it. He has Christmas flannel sheets on his bed and it just seems really magical this year. This past Friday, we took Jack on a "date." We had a gift card for Olive Garden so we took Jack to a "fancy" place to eat and he was so good. He sat and colored and we talked about Christmas and about Christ. We are trying to fit that in whenever we can. After dinner, we went and walked around Temple Square. It wasn't too cold and Jack really enjoyed being out on such an adult outing. I think he actually listened a bit to what we had to say about Jesus and he even listened to the narration they had for the nativity. It was a really fun night and made me so thankful for this little family of mine. Christmas is such a great time of year and having Jack enjoy it so much has made this my best year in a long time.