38 weeks 1 day

I hate that I'm feeling so impatient and done being pregnant, considering I still have 13 days until my due date!  I didn't start feeling like this with the others until around my due date.  Maybe that means he'll come early?  HA!  I wish!  Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it but wait.

Yesterday I took the girls out to Fair Oaks Farms for the day. Tyson worked the night before so he was sleeping, so I asked grandma if she wanted to come along and help me keep the kids wrangled.  It's only about 45 minutes from us, but we had never been!  The girls had a great time.

Of course, as usual I forgot my camera, so I had to use my cell phone!

Where the cows are milked.  The girls called this the "cow merry go round!"  I don't think Riley could see much of what was going on, but she's a happy camper and loved the bus ride.  We got to ride all around the dairy farm on a tour.  We also got to see a baby cow being born at the Birthing Barn!  Apparently mom had some trouble because two people attached tethers to the baby's legs and yanked him out (it seemed like it took forever and it was painful to watch!  Poor mama).  Grandma asked Bailey later if she had learned anything, and she said "yeah- cows having babies is disgusting!"  (She refused to look, she preferred to look at the one that was already out!)

Rory and I conquered the "string cheese maze" while her sisters bounced on some huge pillow thing.  She cheated, though!  Going under the ropes :)

So that was yesterday.  Today we're going to Latin Mass with Bailey, then dropping her off at grandma's with her sisters and doing some baby shopping (STILL no student loan, but we got some money from a class action law suit against Tyson's former employer, so at least I can get a changing table and a few other things!)  Then out to dinner sans kids for my birthday, which is tomorrow (I will be 28!)  Tyson finally got our bedroom painted and I've got most of the baby's clothes washed and folded in a box, so I'm excited to get a changing table and get the room all set up for him!

I did get some canning done, a few more pints of pickled peppers and a couple pints of peach butter.  So sad I didn't get any tomatoes this year, but oh well!

It's amazing how quickly September is going!  It seems like it just started, and it's already the 19th!

I got the Mary Undoer of Knots novena I spoke about in my last post in the mail.  I'm hoping to start it tonight.  I know I've got plenty of knots in my life that need addressed.  Speaking of which, we're STILL waiting on dh's student loan money to come through (money that I really need to pay bills and finish baby shopping up) so prayers for speed in that are appreciated.

I'm 37 weeks and 1 day, so home stretch!  I keep hoping maybe this little boy will be nice and come a little early, unlike his sisters that were all a week or more "late."  I am tired and huge and uncomfortable and just generally done being pregnant, but mostly I'm still very paranoid that something is going to go wrong.  I just want him safe in my arms so I can relax.  Of course, I think that now, but I'm sure after he's born I'll just transpose that worry to SIDS and things like that.  One of the hardest things about multiple miscarriage for me has been the loss of innocence.  I never worried incessantly like this with my pre-miscarriage pregnancies.  I need to work on giving that up to God and surrendering myself to His will.

I'm also VERY ready for consistent fall weather.  This is probably due in part to the fact that I'm a nasty, sweaty mess, and yesterday it was 84F out which made me want to cry.  I don't remember sweating this much with my other pregnancies!  Even with the a/c blaring and freezing the rest of the family out I'm still all sweaty and gross.  BLAH!  The end of pregnancy is definitely not fun.  I spent a couple hours in labor and delivery last Sunday because I had so much, um, "wetness" that I was starting to worry I had a slow leak in my amniotic sac.  It wasn't, but geeze, isn't pregnancy so glamorous?  Still, praise God for it no matter how hard it can be!  Pregnancy is a miracle and a blessing no matter how miserable I might feel at the moment (actually, right now I feel okay, just tired!)

Ah, also, we have some surprise chicks!  We had a hen (well, technically still a pullet, but whatever!) go missing.  After a few weeks we still hadn't found her and just assumed she had been taken by a predator.  Well, yesterday afternoon my neighbor knocks on my door and informs me that I have chicks hatching in his yard!  She had made a nest in his overgrown wood pile and laid a clutch.  We left her until today, not all the eggs were hatched yet but I really wanted to get her somewhere safer (before we left for church there were two big dogs I didn't recognize roaming, there are also a few cats, including my own, around, so I was worried something might get her and the chicks).  So we stuck our two brooding cages together and moved mama and the chicks and eggs to the garage.  I think there were 13 eggs total, and so far 6 chicks.  When I checked earlier, one had just pecked a hole in his egg and you could see the little beak sticking out.  Very cute, unfortunately, I have absolutely NO MORE ROOM for chickens, I'm at my limit.  I really hope I can find someone to take them, or they're going to end up butchered for meat in a few months. 

I've been hearing a lot about this novena to Our Lady.  At my rosary group/Bible study on Friday, one woman mentioned that she knew a woman who's son had fallen away from the Church and become vehemently anti-Catholic.  She did this novena and ended it on a Saturday, and on Sunday he called to tell her he was coming back to the Church!  Now he's an active, enthusiastic Catholic.  Others chimed in that they had also heard great things about this novena.  St. Irenaeus said, "Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it."    Mary is our mother, she loves us and longs to "undo the knots" in our loves that are causing us pain and distancing us from her Son!  I've ordered this novena, I'm looking forward to praying it.

As for things in baby land, I am 35w3d!  (or 34w4d, going by the u/s edd, but that doesn't match up with my ovulation, so I'm sticking with the first one for now!)   I bought paint for our bedroom, Rosemary Green, where baby boy will be staying.  I don't have an extra room for a nursery, anyway, plus I like to keep my babies in my room for at least 18 months.  It would be nice it we were moved to a bigger house by the time he's ready for a toddler bed (and thus his own room), but if not, I'm sure we'll figure it out.  We're getting cramped here (maybe "cozy" is a better word!) but God will give us what we need.  Anyway, the walls were all white when we bought this house (6 years ago) and we really should have repainted then!  White walls and children just don't mix well.  We've painted the kids' rooms (both pink) and the kitchen and living room and hall way.  I'm not going to bother painting the utility room, so all that's left is our bathroom and my bedroom.  I think I might hire someone to paint the bathroom, it's small (VERY small!) so it shouldn't cost much, and I don't feel like dealing with painting behind the toilet.

I'm hoping dh doesn't procrastinate (like he usually does) because I really want the bedroom painted asap, so we can rearrange the furniture and start getting the room set up for the baby.  I've got his car seat, we need a new changing table, and I'll probably just use the pack and play with the bassinet attachment for sleeping, like we did with the last baby.  I think I've got most of our newborn and 0-3 month clothes washed, so I just need the changing table to get them set up on!  I did make kind of a hard decision about diapering...I've used cloth with all my others, but I've decided to go with disposables with this one, at least in the beginning.  Frankly, I have a hard enough time staying up on laundry, and I've always struggled with funk because of our hard well water, and I just don't want to deal with it!  So I've given myself permission to make a decision based on convenience for me (my convenience usually doesn't factor in!)

I met with my doula on Friday, so that is all set up!  I'm hoping for another smooth labor and delivery like dd3 (who was a vba2c [vaginal birth after 2 c-sections]), but I know by now anything could happen!  Her birth was so easy that by the time I was in enough pain to consider the epidural, I was 10 cm and ready to push!  My next appointment is September 8th, and then it will be weekly until the baby arrives!

4H

We're gearing up this week for 4H judging!  It's a good thing my friend and neighbor is our club's co-leader, because I thought judging would be NEXT week (at the actual fair!).  I knew chickens were judged then, so I just assumed everything else was, too.  Well, I was wrong...everything else is judged this week!  So we've been scrambling to get everything finished.  Thankfully Bailey was nearly done, anyway.  It's her first year, wish her luck :)  I let you know how she does.

We could also use prayers for our money/job situation.  Monday was dh's last unemployment payment, of course his benefits ran out the same week congress voted against an extension.  He's been tied up waiting to start a job at Kroger's, prayers that the background check and things they're waiting on clear in the next couple days so he can start this week!

In pregnancy news, I'm chugging right along.  Almost 28 weeks and everything is going great so far.  Baby boy wiggles and kicks a lot, I love it.  The girls love to talk to him and about him and feel him kick.  He's still breech but he's got another month or so to turn.  My gestational diabetes test is at the end of the month, I'm sure it will go fine.

baby update

Poppyseed seems to be doing well. It's been really difficult to relax (okay, truthfully I feel pretty neurotic half the time). I had another u/s yesterday, couldn't see Poppyseed very well because my bladder was full and it pushed my uterus up, but we could hear the heart beat (171bpm!) It took the OB a moment to find it so I was panicked for a second, but what a great sound to hear! We couldn't hear it at the first u/s because it was too early, so it was the first time.

I'm doing okay. I had a week of constant nausea and I've been really tired (and I've already gained...well I won't go there, but let's just I've already gained over half of what I "should"). But it's worth it, so I'm not complaining! It's hard to get attached and believe I'll actually end up with a baby, losing Dominic was so unexpected I feel like it's naive to be hopeful.

Well anyway, the OB I saw yesterday won't be able to do my delivery. My first two were c-sections and my last was vaginal (VBA2C) and the hospital she delivers at won't allow me to deliver there. I was worried for a moment, but I got a hold of the OB that did my VBA2C and she said she'd be happy to take me on again. Which means I'll have to drive 45 minutes for appts and use the community clinic till 36 weeks (since dh lost his job and we don't have private insurance now), but it's worth it to avoid unnecessary surgery!

I had an ultrasound today, Poppyseed looks good! I'm actually a week behind where my lmp put me, but I wasn't really surprised. My cycles have been off since I miscarried Dominic so I didn't think my lmp was terribly accurate. So I'm actually 5w6d and Poppyseed is teeny! Hard to see in the u/s, but there s/he is between the two cursors.

Baby Poppyseed

Well, Anne Marie noticed my widgit on my blog, so I guess I'd better go ahead and do an official announcement (I was getting around to it, I swear! I was just waiting to get my latest hcg results!) I'm pregnant and due October 7! We were a bit surprised, my cycles have been out of whack since I lost Dominic, but I guess the teeny smudge of fertile mucus I had last cycle was enough :D Of course, we found out I was pregnant a week and a half after dh lost his job, so that's a little stressful, but we know God will take care of us. I've had four hcg blood draws (because of my prior ectopic pregnancy) and they look great! Just from Friday to Monday my levels went from 380 something to over 2000! We have an ultrasound scheduled for the 16th, we'll verify baby isn't ectopic and get our first look at him/her.

I'm trying to remember to pray for the intercession of St. Gerard every day, and we welcome your prayers for a healthy pregnancy, too.

O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfectimitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of Mother of God, enkindle within my heartone spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love.

O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers.

Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day, and receive the purifying and life-giving waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Sorry I've been neglecting my poor little blog! Life is busy :)

September 27th I celebrated my 27th birthday! We spent the afternoon and evening at our parish's 150th anniversary, it was wonderful. A very nice day.

I finally got dd3's bedroom painted! And we moved her from a pack n play to a toddler bed. She looks so little in a big girl bed! It's hard to believe that this spring she really won't be my "baby" anymore.

My pregnancy is going well so far. I'm finally starting to show so I don't just feel fat, haha. I have my next OB appointment on the 26th and I think we'll be scheduling the "big" ultrasound. I'm definitely learning the sex of the baby if I can, the anticipation is killing me! Truthfully I'd love another little girl, but I know dh would really like a son. We'll be happy either way, though :)

This pregnancy is bittersweet too, though. If I hadn't lost the previous baby in May, I would be due in mid-December. The happiness and anticipation is mixed with sadness. It's also kind of weird to consider that if we hadn't lost that pregnancy, I would have *this* baby.

We're headed out soon the the local Life Chain. I hope you're all able to participate in one near you! The unborn need our prayers and voices now more than ever.

Pregnancy update

Pregnancy update, for anyone interested :) Because of my ectopic pregnancy in May, I have a 10% chance of another, I will always have to have multiple hcg checks as soon as I find out I'm pregnant, as well as an early u/s to make sure the baby is in my uterus where it belongs. I saw my OB on Monday and was able to get in late that morning for my ultrasound. Everything looks fine! Baby is measuring right on target so my due date didn't change, strong heartbeat, and most importantly, it's settled in right where it belongs!

Since my husband was at home with our other children, I asked the technician for a couple pictures to show him and the girls. She gave me 8 pictures and a DVD of the entire u/s, ha ha! She even switched to 3d for a few minutes, which I've never had with my previous pregnancies (so now I'm excited to have our 20 week u/s and get to see the baby in 3d then!)

Baby kind of looks like a kidney bean with stubby little appendages, but still pretty neat! Here are a couple pictures-


Classic 2d, baby's head is at the bottom right, rump at the top left.


3d! Baby is there on the right, head at the top, you can see the teeny little arms and leg stumps!

Thank you Lord, that our baby is doing well so far! And thank you, St. Gerard and Blessed Virgin Mary, for your many prayers on our behalf.

Yikes, I guess it's been a few weeks since I updated!

I'm doing well, coming into my 7th week of pregnancy. So far, so good! I have an OB appointment on the 31st and I'm hoping she'll do an ultrasound. I haven't had any signs of ectopic pregnancy this time around,but I'd like to know for sure the baby is where s/he should be! I feel pretty good, I've gained a little over a pound already because I'm ravenous all the time, some fatigue, a little nausea, but no sickness (never had any sickness with any of my pregnancies, knock on wood!)

Yesterday our 4 year old started her second year of developmental pre-school, she's very happy to be back. My big 2nd grader also started school with me. She's probably a little less enthused, but I don't take it personally :) She had fun today, though, we did a back yard archaeological dig that she got a kick out of!

And, FINALLY got our 17 month old into her own room! It's kind of bare right now, I still need to paint it, clean the carpets, and get her a dresser, but she's got a bed and toys so she's happy. And so am I!