Much needed catching up!

Well, I have kicked Michael off the computer tonight so that I can attempt to catch up on blogging!

Michael and I have been so blessed these past nine months that we don't know how to properly thank everyone. We have received so many wonderful gifts for Daniel. This baby is so loved and he's not even here yet! We have had two showers that have provided a lot of our baby needs. If for any reason God saw fit to have him arrive tomorrow, we'd be set. The only big item we're missing right now is the travel set (stroller/car seat combo). It's the most important, we realize. But still it's the last important thing to get. How lucky are we? This baby is set for clothes up to nearly twelve months of age. We have tons of diapers, but we're still working on gathering more. You can never have too much of that! :o)

Michael and I also had some maternity portraits done last weekend after our shower. I'm hoping my feet aren't showing too much because they were so swollen! What was I thinking trying to do so much in one day? I'm an over achiever I guess trying to squeeze in everything before he gets here. But I had such a great time. For you "Friends" fans out there, I'm Chandler when it comes to having my picture taken. I don't do well at all! LOL If anyone is looking for a photographer her name is Natalie Busch and she was just great. She made me feel so at ease and have a good time. We've already started discussing Daniel's first photo session. (You may see pictures of my sister and her husband on her site.)

The nursery is basically done. My dad and "second mom" Lisa got us the changing table we had registered for. (It converts into a desk later!) Sadly, it's not put together yet. It was an online only item that had to be shipped. When it arrived the box was in horrible shape and one of the legs was split down the middle. Making it unfit to put together. So Michael immediately inspected everything else and made sure we at least had all the pieces before calling them. They told him we would have the replacement by Monday or Tuesday this week but we haven't received it yet. The email confirmation did say to give them 3 -14 days. So we'll give them a few more days to get it here. I'm just really anxious to get it done! Besides the table all I have left to do is purchase a slip cover for the couch in the nursery. Yes, I said couch. This is a very large room. I can't wait to post up pictures. But I'm waiting until it's all done. I can't post pictures of an incomplete room! :o)

My last appointment last week went fine and uneventful. After my appointment I did get a tour of the labor and delivery floor where we'll be. I made the mistake of doing this without Michael because the nervous excitement of it all took over on my way home. It all became very real! This baby is almost here and there's not turning back. My next appointment is on August 21st and Michael will be attending that one. I think he's just using the appointment to get out of orientation! :o) But we're going to tour L&D that day too so he can know where to go and such.

People keep asking me if I'm getting nervous and if I'm "done" being pregnant. I have to say that I have been blessed all around with this pregnancy. The fact that we got pregnant is a blessing. The fact that we're having the boy we've always wanted is a blessing. The fact that I've not had any problems at all with this pregnancy has been a blessing. I can say I've truly enjoyed being pregnant. I will admit that if I had my choice I wouldn't want to do it during the summer again. But it wasn't my choice, was it? Up until the past couple of weeks I've been pretty comfortable. But now the heat is getting to me and the lack of sleep isn't any better. All in preparation, I know!

Most of all, I can't wait to meet him!! I can't wait to see his face and all his fingers and toes. Who is he going to look like? How big is he going to be. Is he going to be a singer like his daddy? Is he going to have my temper? (I hope not!) I just can't wait to hold him and tell him how much I love him and see him in his daddy's arms! This is what we've been waiting for and it's just around the corner!

Thank you dear Lord for all of the blessings you've deemed us worthy to receive. I pray that we raise him to be the boy You want him to be. I pray that he grows up to love and worship you as his father and I do. Lord, I pray that our son understands one day just how much he was loved before he was even conceived. And not just by his parents, but by You Lord. I pray you guide Michael and me as we raise this boy to live for You and not of this world. Thank you dear God for everything. We love you and thank you!

Showers of Blessings

There were so many pictures to catch you up on I thought it would just be easier to do slide shows. If you slide your mouse over the pictures it will show the captions. Hope you enjoy!




Work Shower:

Family Shower:

Week 36: Wee fingers o' steel

Baby's development in pregnancy week 36: The countdown continues… and in baby developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

How your life's changing: Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

BAD BLOGGER!! BAD!!

I realize I have not been the best blogger. My posts have gone down to once a week and even then they're just the weekly development updates. But it has been absolutely CRAZY the past few weeks. I have tons of pictures to post and lots to catch up on. I'll will post an update soon!
I know you guys are just hanging on my every word! :) LOL

Week 35: Hey! It IS getting cramped in here.

Baby's development in pregnancy week 35: Congratulations! You’re now carrying nearly 6 lbs of baby not counting their amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, or the placenta itself. We’re impressed because that’s a LOT of work non-stop. Are you feeling proud of yourself yet? Well, get to it—you’ve done an amazing job! At this point, your little grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulationg baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.

And how's mom doing? We’re sure you’ve noted that the contractions are picking up and despite the obvious appeal of getting the pregnancy over with at this point, try not to jump the gun too soon by declaring actual labor. Of course, if it’s getting to the point where you’re having contractions continuously— you’re in labor and yes, it’s time for the "grab your bags we’re gonna have a baby" rush. For the rest of you not yet in labor, your watermelon-betwixt-my-legs waddle is as charming as ever, not to mention the glorious ongoing back pain and fatigue. Hang in there! Once you’ve got your miracle baby on the outside, this will all be a dim memory. So, catch the cat naps whenever possible and keep yourself hydrated with water and try to imagine how all of this will (hopefully) be much funnier in hindsight.

Your doctor or midwife should soon start monitoring cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) and dilation in order to predict labor. If your cervix is already dilated labor is probably not far away—although there are some moms who walk around with a dilated cervix for a couple of days prior to labor. And if you haven’t heard about the joys of discharging the mucus plug (which protects the uterus from infection) along with some spotting, commonly called “bloody show”—both are signs that labor is around the corner. Should you discharge anything unusual in consistency and/or coloration, don’t hesitate to call you health care providor, it’s probably nothing, but you certainly don’t need the extra stress right now.

Let’s talk about pain. Reports on the intensity of pain experienced during labor and childbirth are widely varied from woman to woman. The pain experienced depends on several things including your own natural pain threshold, medication, birthing position, fetal position, previous births, your general health and the actual birthing environment. Of course, there are natural births, cesarean deliveries, spinals, IV’s and other pain medications, all of which also play into how you experience pain during child birth.

Ideally, you should attempt to be as relaxed as possible and willing to accept the pain as part of the birthing process. In reality, your experience of the birthing process is unique to your body and how you choose to respond to it. Pain is a two part process: the first part is the physical experience of the pain and the second is your emotional reaction to your experience—and that is the part you have the most control over. Choosing to accept and endure the pain of child-birth (with or without medication) can be an empowering experience for any woman, as well as making the birthing process notably easier for those assisting you.

Week 34: Upside-down baby!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 34: Your amazing baby is on the move! They’ve been riding fairly high in your stretched-out womb till now (while kindly compressing your poor internal organs), but now they’re planning on making the big move to your pelvis this week. If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be feeling the weight shift that signals that your baby is most likely out of breech position, with their head now resting on your pubic bone. In liver news: although not quite fully formed, your little miracle’s liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste. In general, most of your child’s prenatal physical development is pretty much up to snuff and ready for the outside world. Naturally, further weight gain is expected—so you’re still not at maximum capacity despite probably feeling like you definitely are maxed out.

And how's mom doing? Obviously the big change for you is the notable weight shift (known as “lightening” or “engagement”). Now that your baby is resting deeper in your pelvis, you may find yourself walking as if you're carrying a watermelon between your legs. Yes dear, you’re officially “waddling” these days. Try to comfort yourself with this thought: it’s nearly over. Soon, you’ll just have to carry your adorable little watermelon in your arms. And in a rare spate of good news: this weight shift means you can breathe easier now that your lungs aren’t compressed. The not-so-good news, it’s a trade off: (we’ll wait till you’re back from the restroom) this new position has your poor bladder even more squished than before. We’d recommend writing your bladder little love poems to convince it not to leave you altogether, but unfortunately bladders don’t speak English (only Italian love poems will do).

If you've recently noticed some less-than-appealing itchy red bumps on your belly (and possibly around your thighs and belly), you've got yourself a harmless but not fun round of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP if your don't have the patience for the full name). If you feel itchy ALL over your body, that's different, and you should call your health care practitioner as this could be a liver problem.

At your next check up you can expect your physician to conduct a Group B Streptococci test (GBS), a common bacteria screening. As long as you have a strong immune system, you’re in the clear (one more reason to eat right and exercise!), but your little one is more susceptible to serious health complications (including meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection) if not diagnosed and treated properly—so the tests are good for some peace of mind. Hang in there momma, you’re already a super-star for making it this far!

Adorable Kid videos

These are some videos of kids from other blogs I read. How can you not love them!?!?

Week 33: Is it just me or is getting a little cramped in here?

Baby's development in pregnancy week 33: For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute as they pile on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Hey, did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor?

How your life's changing: As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.Many women are still feeling sexy at this stage — and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.

Saturday with the family, eh?

Michael's sister Patty and her daughter Catherine came down from Canada for a visit. They will be staying a couple weeks while Patty takes in the Mary Kay convention. We got to visit with them on Saturday before their trip gets too jam packed with visiting everyone in Texas.

Catherine is getting sooo big! It's amazing how fast time flies. I remember when they brought her home from the hospital. She's going to be five on August 12th! I'm suddenly feeling very old. She is really starting to come out of her shell. She is a very special little girl. They got James Daniel some great stuff. Patty laughed at me because I seemed surprised by what she got. (I can't remember everything I registered for!) She did get me a great diaper bag that I didn't register for. But she knows my taste so well!

Catherine had fun showing off her biking skills for Uncle Mike and her and I played in the bird bath. Sadly, Michael doesn't think to take pictures. I'm normally the one with camera in hand. So you don't get to see me acting a fool, soaking wet! (Maybe I can get some from Patty! I know she got some good video.)

We're hoping to see them again before they head back. Sadly they won't be here when the baby arrives, but we know they will be here in spirit! Enjoy what few shots I got. I was so preoccupied with catching up most the day went by before I thought to grab my camera!

Week 32: Mommy, you're HOT!

Baby's development in pregnancy week 32: In the latest womb reports, your amazing baby has now developed sensitivity to temperature! This means you’ll probably get a swift kick if you put a hot pad on your ginormous belly. For the Elton John lovers out there-- yes, baby’s got blue eyes. At this point, all babies do, although depending on their chromosomal disposition, this could easily change after birth (or even between now and labor), but for the time being, blue it is. Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week, survive premature births. So it’s pretty much a done deal. Even if your little monkey’s planning on heading out early, their survival odds are in everyone’s favor. Time to celebrate (no, no, wait until after the birth to crack open the champagne!) We’re talking baby-showers and alcohol-free punch!
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. 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.

How your life's changing: To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Welcome to my crib!

Well, Daniel's crib anyway! As you can see we now have a place to lay his punkin head. My wonderful mom purchased this crib for us on Friday. The three of us had so much fun picking out the crib and finishing up the registry. I almost wonder if my mom enjoyed herself even more than us. She bought several "grandma" themed bibs to keep at her house. One of my favorites was "What happens at Grandmas, stays at grandmas". They were all just adorable. I can't wait to see him try them on. The crib was very easy to put together. (A little too easy!) In fact, Michael did most of it and we didn't strangle each other in the process! We are so excited for Daniel to get here and occupy his new crib. Once we get the nursery all set up I will post pictures of the finished room!





Enjoy the slide show of the crib building process.

Week 31: Another day... another ounce

Baby's development in pregnancy week 31: Your not-so-little-one is just a bit closer to their birth weight and height at around 4 pounds and 17 inches. With each added layer of baby fat, your baby's skin starts to look more and more like it will when they finally get to see the light of day. The heavy news: you can expect your miracle-gro muffin to gain about a half a pound of weight per week from now until about two weeks before birth. Great. That's just what you needed. Even more weight to carry around!
Your baby's still-developing immune system has gained substantial strength over the past few weeks getting them in full gear to face our disease-ridden world o’ wonders. Obviously, a large majority of your child’s immune strength will be derived from exposure to breast milk as well as the outside elements. Their cute little noggin’ (which could already be covered with luscious locks or just purty peach fuzz), is still soft because the skull bones have not yet fused together. As much as that sounds a little too vulnerable, their “skull softness” allows for a much smoother passage through the birth canal during labor—something both you and your little swimmer will appreciate when it’s finally time to “go!” Also, some babies will have that “soft spot” on their head for up to one year after birth.

And how's mom doing? Have you felt anything you suspect might be contractions already? Braxton-Hick contractions are part and parcel of the second half of pregnancy and lucky for you, become more frequent during the third trimester. Cleverly dubbed “false labor” contractions, these spasms are an obnoxious fake-out and shouldn’t be confused with premature labor. The fun part of having BH contractions is that it’s not unusual for them to be painful... and by fun, we mean “why oh why, does the third trimester mean everything is uncomfortable?” Still, just a heads up: if you notice the contractions more than four times in one hour, or even more glamorous—changes in your vaginal discharge, call your healthcare practitioner right away.
As for other third-trimester niceties; your nipples may be engaging in a bit of “pre-milk” expulsion at the most untimely moments. So next time you’ve got yourself a pair of damp head-lights in the grocery store, just go ahead and purchase the nursing pads to protect your clothes, bras, and any remaining shreds of dignity you can salvage.
As your magical growing baby obstinately refuses to shrink or give back any real-estate in your belly, you can sit back, "relax," and take in the heartburn and increased lower back pain. If you choose, you can always eat less with each meal, and instead opt for smaller more frequent meals, this should help the heartburn. As for your poor back, get off your feet and elevate them above your heart, double-check the names list, and how many key baby-items you’ve already got in your registry. If you’re lucky, you might just make it in less than eight weeks! Hang in there wonder-mom, we believe in you!

Michael's Parenting Tip of the Week

I know it's been a while. Lots of stuff going on. So here goes.

Why does this look like a diaper changing gone horribly awry?

Week 30: Goodbye monkey baby, hello roly poly!

Baby's development in pregnancy week 30: The light is visible at the end of the tunnel! Your oversized self and amazing growing baby have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)! The fine lanugo hair that has been growing all over their little monkey-like body is going to start falling off this week in preparation for the big day. But don’t be shocked if they’re hairier than you’d anticipated, some babies keep their lanugo until after birth. Still, it’s not any cause to be concerned as it will fall off eventually. No surprises here: your little porker is getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms and legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. In terms of numbers, your baby should be weighing in at around 3 pounds 12 ounces (or more!) and be nearly 16 inches long.

How your life's changing: You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.
Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

"It's in the brown cardboard box marked..."

Well, we are all in moved in! I would first like to thank everyone who helped us this past weekend! We wouldn't have done it in such record time without you!! We had three cars, three pick-up trucks and trailers and five sweaty men helping us load and unload everything. Thank you Dad, David, John, Barrett and Larry! We also had help from my mom and sister, Jennifer, when it came to cleaning. Surprisingly, we were almost as sweaty as the men! Who in their right mind picks the first day of summer to move? Oh, wait...anyway. Thank you Mom and Jennifer. (Not to mention the inventor of the vacuum!)

The dogs love the new big yard, but Michael is still working on doggy proofing it. It's a chain-link fence that my clever girls can climb. So he is working on a hot-wire. It's been successful so far. All three dogs have gotten a taste of the fence. Once he's done then the two girls, Daisy and Gretchen, will become outdoor dogs. Not exactly great timing with summer here, but we will definitely be mindful of the weather. Frito will still live in the lap of luxury indoors. (Luxury in doggy standards anyway.)

We are really enjoying the new place. It's much smaller than we're used to so we've had to down-size quite a bit. We'll be planning a yard sale pretty soon to clear out what we don't need. Sadly, it's a lot more than we could have ever imagined. So, if anyone needs something, anything, just ask because it's possible we may have it in our "yard sale" pile. We are of course surrounded by boxes that are yet to be unpacked and think to ourselves, "Will this ever end?" This is the part I hate most about moving. I would rather take out only the essentials and leave everything else boxed. I hate unpacking. I can pack boxes all day long, I love it! (I think it's the OCD.) But when it comes to undoing all that work, it makes me cringe!

The hardest part is no matter how well you've labeled each box you're still wandering around the house with the same puzzled expression on your face asking, "Have you seen...?" Then receiving the answer that you dread, "It's in the brown box marked...!" Really? Because I wouldn't have guessed it was in the BROWN box! Slowly but surely we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel of cardboard and poppy paper. We have two, almost three, of the most vital rooms completed. (the living room, bathroom and kitchen!) My sister helped me out with the bathroom. I was quickly losing my motivation and was glad she came over last night to help!

I wouldn't dare post pictures of rooms filled with boxes. In fact I refuse to even document that. So, once every thing's done I will get pictures up...once I find the brown box with my camera!

Week 29: To pee or not to pee...

Baby's development in pregnancy week 29: If you’ve been feeling butterflies moving around in your belly, it’s not just your run-of-the-mill pre-birth performance anxiety. No, it’s your amazing baby with a case of the hiccups: a fairly common occurrence at this point resulting from practicing breathing for their big birthday. In addition, to getting a round of butterfly-like hiccups, your little swimmer has arduously managed to accumulate enough baby fat to account for nearly 3.5% of their overall body weight. Yeah, compared to we adults, it’s not a lot, but when they’re little like that—it’s certainly a healthy (and warming) accomplishment in its way. Another fantastic accomplishment: your baby's spleen is now in charge of hematopoiesis—the 10 dollar name for the process involved in building up certain important blood components. Another fantastic-accomplishment: your little monkey has been peeing into their amniotic sac for a little while now (this is why potty training takes a while) and if you didn’t know, actually swallows it along with the rest of the amniotic fluid. Although the concept is nasty, their urine is sterile and as part of the amniotic fluid base, is replaced several times throughout the day. So if you didn’t know before, now you can tell people, that yes, you drank your own urine—you were still in the womb, but nonetheless, you’ve been there.

How your life's changing: Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

While experiencing all these beautifuls symptoms of pregnancy, I just try to remind myself that I prayed for nearly three years for all of this! Thank you God for my little miracle!

Week 28: Why, you look positively bovine!

Baby's development in pregnancy week 28: You know how you’ve been feeling a bit like a barn with legs? Well, that feeling won’t subside before… well, you know, when you finally give birth. For the time being, you’ve got yourself a baby in the business of collecting fat and lots of it! In spite of the dubious joys of being a human-barn, this baby fat business is very serious and you’ve got to put up with it because it’s going to keep your little porker warm and healthy after birth. Other good stuff from inside: their eyes are doing lots of blinking this week because they’re now able to respond to light and dark. Also, their industrious little bone marrow is now a major construction site for developing red blood cells, while their super-cute adrenal glands are actually producing androgen and estrogen—which will stimulate your hormones to begin milk production. Can you say, “Moo?”

How your life's changing: You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

"Love Song" by Third Day

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promiseI
t has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Chorus:
Just to be with you, I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I'd give anything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
How may times has he broken that promise
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

Repeat chorus

(Bridge) I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I gave you
But I promise, I would do it all again.

Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

"Because that's how much I love you!"

Some of you may recognize this post from my blog on MySpace, which I have since deleted. I heard this song again and was reminded of my previous post. This song is definitely an oldy but goody! So here's a rerun of that blog.

Today I was listening to an old song today, and when I mean old, I mean circa 1996. It was "Love Song" by Third Day. Anyway, this song reminded me of a sentence that Michael and I have shared between one another for years that we say rather sarcastically. "Because that's how much I love you." For example: "I really don't want to do this for you, but I'll do it anyway. Because that's how much I love you." It's never really said out of heart felt love. Always full of sarcasm and jest.

How much do we truly love that special someone? Or anyone special in our lives. Do we expect too much of them? Do we not expect enough? I'll admit my expectations for Michael can sometimes be set too high for any human man. As I'm sure he can say the same. I realize that I can't expect him to "swim the deepest ocean" just to be with me. And I certainly can't expect him to sacrifice his life for me so that I may not die. Romantic, yes! Realistic, no.

But there is one person who has done that for all of us, without us even asking. Christ. He died for our sins so that we would not have to. He took the punishment of the scourging, crown of thorns, and being hung on a cross without question. He felt pain that no human man could have withstood. I realize that Easter has come and gone. But know that we are to be reminded year round of what happened on Calvary and at His tomb three days later. All of this...

Because that's how much He loves us!

Week 27: I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it!

Baby development in pregnancy week 27: Your not-so-tiny-anymore brilliant baby(about 2 pounds and 14.5 inches long!) is slowly rotating in preparation to “head out.” Obviously, this doesn’t happen overnight, but when you start to feel an unfamiliar pressure on your cervix, you’ll know you’ve got a fully flipped baby locked and loaded for the countdown to their birthday! Even now, at the beginning of the third trimester, their little lungs are already capable of breathing air while the pulmonary vascular system can provide sufficient gas exchange and the central nervous system can generally regulate rhythmic breathing as well as their basal body temperature. For what it’s worth, at this point in a healthy pregnancy a premature child (with intensive care) could easily win on the show: “Survivor: The Early Years.”

And how's mom doing? You’ve worked hard, done your research, endured a plethora of joyless symptoms and would like nothing more than to have wonder-baby on the outside. Well, dig in for the final endurance round and say hello again to the familiar but not-so-lovable faces of fatigue and nausea. You guessed it, the dratted hormone factory is once again running at full-tilt (and causing rapid hair growth), sigh…. Your (“yaaaawn”) fatigue stems from several factors, including the proverbial weight gain, shortness of breath and of course, sleep deprivation. (See week 29 for tips on how to alleviate fatigue!).
Yes, ladies, you’ve finally reached the infamous “live-on-the-toilet” stage. Your feet are bigger, your breasts are bigger, your belly is bigger, even your baby is bigger—and something’s gotta give. Annoyingly, nature didn’t choose your butt and instead opted to compress your bladder, which is now being completely squashed by your-super-sized-baby... all day long. So your best shot is to just accept the fact you’re going to need to urinate every 10 minutes (and if you manage to go longer, thank the good lord).
Of course breast tenderness is also very common at this phase as milk production is kicking in. Other thrilling third-trimester symptoms include more swelling (known as edema) and feeling like you live in a sweat factory as a result of increased basal body temperature. Thank your baby: this temperature increase stems from their body heat coupling with your own, which of course all adds up to one hot mama!
Just in case you don’t have enough things to stress out about: we’d like to remind you the third trimester is really a time to kick your baby-on-the-outside preparations into high gear: baby-proof the home or apartment, buy a car-seat, get a stroller, dress up the nursery and plan a space for diapering, keep mulling over possible names, and try to enjoy this time… when you’re not nauseous, constipated, running to the toilet, or just plain wiped out. (And don’t forget to get your sleep, be active, and eat well! Phewee! we're tired just thinking about what you're going through!)