32 Week Update

So, it is time to give a pregnancy update. I really should take a picture of my ever expanding belly. Makayla keeps reminding me, I just keep forgetting to do it. Anyway, I went to my 32 week appointment. Things will now be kind of crazy for this mom of 4 kids, but no worries. I am measuring normal, which is good. My favorite thing though was my doctor asked how I was feeling about the size of my baby. He said that is actually the best indicator. He said it is a better indicator than an ultrasound or the doctors measurements. I was glad to know he would listen to me, because when I had my Makayla I didn't feel like I was listened to when I said "this baby will be extremely large." So, I will now just have to pray for discernment so I and my doctor will know if he is getting too big. I am so paranoid about having a 9-11 lb baby that I have to put those feelings aside and see how I feel he really is growing. I will say at this point I am not worried about him being too small....not even remotely. I don't know if I would say he is abnormally large....but that is where it is hard to tell at this stage. Around 36 weeks I will have a much better feel, I do believe.
Anyway, I now have to go to the doctor once a week and do a non-stress test at the hospital once a week. The only down side I see to this is finding babysitters. I want to do the non-stress test right after my doctors each week because the hospital is right across the street from my doctors and 12 minutes away from me, so I don't want to go twice. But, the non-stress tests could take awhile depending on whether this little guy is awake or not. Today he was sleeping quite nicely during the test. Which meant I was there for around an hour instead of just 30 minutes. His heart beat was great. He even had the hiccups which I heard on the monitor....that was priceless. I loved it!!! He just wouldn't move neough. We tried the lovely stimulator to get him going. Finally, we had to resort to juice to get him going. (I don't drink juice because of the diabetes...too many non filling carbs) I knew this should get him going a bit as it would be a good jolt of sugar to him. It worked, he wasn't going nuts but it got him active enough that I could go home. It made me greatly appreciate my sweet sister in law who has had to do this every two weeks for the past couple of months. She was saying what a pain it was because they had to get two babies to move enough. I now truly understand!!!
Anyway, rather than looking at having to go every week as a pain I will look at it as a wonderful relaxing time where I have to do nothing but listen to my childs heartbeat for 30-60 minutes. I will take books, conference talks, etc and just relax. Let's be honest, when do I get to sit for even 30 minutes and read a book without feeling guilty about doing nothing? NEVER!!!! So, I will savor this quiet moments that I get to share with my little one....and the nurses trying to probe him awake. I am grateful that my doctor is seeming on top of all of this. My blood sugar levels are great so there really are no worries. We are just taking precautionary measures to make sure everything stays okay. I am grateful for that.
Next week we will do another ultrasound to get a better idea of how he is doing size wise. That should be interesting and enlightening....hopefully. No matter what it will be fun to see him again.
Well, that is the medical update. As far as how I am doing, well, I am okay. I am tired all of the time and have days when I am almost in tears because I am crawling out of skin with discomfort. However, it isn't every day so that helps. My lower back kills constantly and my heartburn is only controlled through constant medication. However, I have been blessed with the best husband in the world. He saw how crazy my week is this week between teaching preschool, doctors appointments, teaching piano, driving carpool, etc. and he has really stepped up to ease my burden wherever he can. I could not do this without him and am so grateful to have him. I don't know how women do it alone, or with an non-supportive spouse!! I will be okay. I have hopefully only 6 weeks and 3 days left until he comes. I can do it!!! Right?!!!

Half way there

So, here is a picture of me at 4 1/2 months. (No Becca, I am not quite as big as a basketball...yet) You can already tell I carry my babies low. The baby, boy or girl, always seem to be mostly below the belly button. I do still get horrible heartburn and run out of breath, even though the baby is so low. However, I don't have to fight the baby in my ribs to much. That is nice.
Anyway, this little boy is starting to get more active. Ryan, Kayla, and Brad (in that order) felt the baby move on Wednesday for the first time. He was extremely active that day and was positioned right up near my stomach (other days he is way more in my back, which isn't too fun!!!) This is the part of pregnancy I will miss the rest of my life. There is NOTHING else like feeling your child move and having that closeness. My kids are never active enough where it gets bothersome to me at all. I even love when they get the hiccups. So, move baby move. I love knowing you are happy in there.