"Next month"

Can you believe that we are going to have a baby next month?! This whole time, we have said "we're due in May", or "he'll be here in May", or "May 13th"! But now...we can say "next month"! Just this little change in words blows my mind and I'm really having a hard time wrapping my mind around it...period.

This third trimester has really been the hardest of the trimesters, at least for me. We're so close to the end, yet so far away. We've had all of our showers. We have most things bought and set up for Joey. We're taking the classes now. I'm washing all of the baby clothes, even as I type. I'm up to my ears in baby books! After all this is said and done, all we have left to do is wait. This waiting is the hardest part.

I'm not good with anticipation or patience, for that matter. This new part of our lives has been all we've thought about, talked about, been asked about, and pondered about since September! Michael and I are ready to start this new chapter. We both know that it's going to be hard. It's going to be challenging. We are really going to learn the definition of the word, patience. We are going to be stressed. We are going to be sleep-deprived. We're going to feel like complete idiots.

But you know what else? We are going to be the happiest we've ever been. We're going to feel a love that we've never felt before. Yes, we're going to go through all of the negative things I just mentioned, but aren't life "failures" supposed to make you a better and stronger person? Michael and I are both VERY ready for Joey to get here. We are ready for the good, as well as the bad. We both are ready to meet our son.

So, bring it on last six weeks! We're ready for you!

Three words...

SCARED TO DEATH!

Michael and I went to our first childbirth/baby preparation class yesterday. This class was the short version of a childbirth class. The topics we reviewed were some light breathing techniques, drugs you can take during delivery, the actual delivery process, and postpartum stuff.

At the beginning of the class, we discussed what a female body looks like not pregnant and pregnant. No wonder I feel like I am being smashed all up inside of me! My freaking intestines are up by my boobs right now!! I don't know about you, but that does not seem very natural! haha! It was really cool seeing these anatomy diagrams, though.

We then did some light breathing and relaxation tricks. This really didn't work for me...this could be due to the fact that I giggled through most of it! This "training" was also nothing like you see on TV. Maybe if we would have taken the long course, we would have been more like the stuff on TV! haha! The relaxation must have worked for Michael, though, because he did fall asleep! :)

This whole time, I have been die hard "YES!" about getting an epidural. Now, I'm not so sure. The instructor was telling us how a pregnant lady could be steadily and quickly progressing through labor, get the epidural, and then "BAM!", the labor slows down or even stops! What?!? This doesn't sound cool.

With an epidural, you may also not feel how hard you really are pushing. The point of an epidural is to make you numb so you don't really feel the pain when going through child birth. Well, if you're numb, you're also not going to feel the urge to push. The doctors and nurses around you tell you when to push. However, you may feel like you are pushing with all of your might, and really you're not pushing that hard. The baby may also have to be pulled out with forceps or a vacuum due to getting stuck in the birth canal. Now, we also realize that you can get an epidural, and have no issues at all.

Another issue that arises with an epidural, at least for Michael and I, is that I have a small hole-in-the-heart. This was discovered a couple of years ago and I am fine. The doctors did not need to do anything about it. The only thing is that I have an increased chance of having a stroke. This somewhat causes a problem with the epidural. The anesthesiologists and cardio docs up here at this hospital have reviewed my files. I am able to get an epidural, if I choose. However, I would need to get to the hospital earlier, versus later, when I went into labor to get the epidural started. After taking this class, I actually would like to stay at our house for as long as possible before going to the hospital because I can still eat, take little naps, and just be in the comfort of my own home.

The docs would also need to ensure to use saline, and not air, in the epidural. This makes me nervous. What if the doc or nurse or whoever does not read the chart properly? What if they are having a bad day? What if I am in so much pain and so wrapped up in everything going on that I forget to remind them of all of this?

We have not made our mind up completely about the epidural yet, but this class does give us some things to think about.

During this class, we also got to watch several videos of the labor and delivery process by real women. I almost started crying when I saw the labor part. The actual delivery part, or transition stage, didn't bother me. It was all of the pain and contractions leading up to the delivery. I am scared to death now!

We also got to see all of these babies coming out of the women's vaginas. That actually wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. However, this did make Michael tell me that we don't have to have any more kids after Joey! haha!

Up to this point in the class, I was scared and nervous. Then we got to talk and look at babies! This part was pretty cool, and actually made Michael and I super excited about Joey! Michael and I have always said that we think newborn babies are not cute and they all look the same...like, squished up little monkeys. However, some of those newborns were very cute. So, maybe, Joey will be cute too. (Please note: if you get to see Joey when he is a newborn, you don't have to tell us he is cute, if you really don't think he is!). The class also went over what newborns do and look like for the first few weeks.

The class was very helpful and we are super glad that we went to it. But, I am still SCARED TO DEATH of the labor part that will be coming up in a few weeks! EEEEK!!! Oh, one more thing...the instructor suggested that we have a focal point in the delivery room to concentrate on when going through our contractions. Michael and I decided that my focal point would be a photo of a Bud Light Lime! :) We are also going to chant "beer, beer, beer, beer" during the contractions. Do you think that the docs and nurses will think I have a drinking problem? heehee

Do these stripes make me look...pregnant?

33 weeks, 1 day.

I hate cramps!

So, I've still been having these menstrual-like cramps. I thought that when I got pregnant I wouldn't have to deal with this crap for at least nine months! What the hell? I am taking the doctor's orders, though, and eating, drinking, or laying down on my side when these cramps take my body hostage. These things do, surprisingly, help. I am 30 years old and, seriously, thought that I knew what hunger pains felt like. Who knew that menstrual cramps could also mean you are hungry!?! Argh!

Also, on a side note, my prego friend told me that her doc told her to drink a small thing of G2 or Gatorade before going to bed at night to help with the leg cramps. Gatorade has a lot of potassium in it and this helps reduce leg cramps. I started to drink G2 (it has way less calories than Gatorade, and it's not as sweet) every night before bed and this has worked wonders!! No more leg cramps for me! Sa-weet!

The animals seem to enjoy my belly. Freedom likes to lay against the front of it and Riesling loves to lay on my side belly! No wonder Joey moves around like crazy...he's being pushed on from all directions!

8 months!

32 weeks, 1 day

We are officially 8 months pregnant now! Less than 2 months and we'll get to meet our son! Whoop whoop!!! Things are getting super exciting now!

* We purchased our crib the other night and it should be here in about a week and a half!!

* We got our tax return money back, so now we can go on our B-Dawg shopping spree and buy the rest of the items we need for Joey! Woo-hoo!!!

* Joey is very forceful in his movements and is even shaking my whole body when he is trying to flip around in there!

* Joey has hiccups several times a day, every day! I like when he moves, but I really do not care for his hiccups. The hiccups are like this constant tapping for 5-10 minutes! This can really get annoying. He was hiccuping so hard this morning that my whole belly was shaking every time he hiccuped! I even grabbed Michael's hand and layed it on my belly so he could feel the hiccups!

* We have enrolled in almost every baby-type class that is being offered in this area (for a reasonable price...like FREE, of course)! The month of April is going to be some crash course-ing in baby stuff!

* We tried to order the changing table that matches the crib that is on its way to our house now, even as a I type, when the Wal-mart and Target websites state that they will not ship the changing table to Alaska or Hawaii!?!! WTH?!? Wal-mart will ship the crib, but not the dang changing table? Seriously? We also checked out Babies-R-Us who will ship it to our house, BUT will charge us over $100 for shipping! Michael and I then went to the local stores here and they don't carry this changing table at all. I was really starting to freak out when Amazon.com came to the rescue. They will ship it to our house, the table is cheaper than it was on Wal-mart and Target, AND they are not charging us for shipping at all!! AT ALL!! I heart you, Amazon.com!

* Michael has also figured out that if Joey arrives when he is officially full term (37 weeks) that Joey could possible be born on Michael's 30th birthday (April 22nd)!! Michael has been having several talks with Joey stating that Joey is not allowed to arrive on his birthday, that he has to wait until May 13th to make his debut!

In yo face, N.P.!

Well, we went to our 32-week appointment today. I have been so freaking nervous about this appointment. Not because of obvious reasons, like the health of our child, but because of my weight gain! We knew that we were going to have to see the nice ol' nurse practitioner (N.P.) again, and I was super nervous. So, no need to keep you all in suspense, let's proceed with the appointment...

1) Have to have an anesthesia consultation at my 36-week appointment due to my small heart murmur. They just want to make sure that they will be able to give me drugs and what types during the delivery. If this stupid heart murmur makes me not able to have any drugs at all, well...Joey is screwed for the rest of his life because I will NEVER EVER let him forget what I went through for him. (hahaha, like I'm going to let him forget anyways! why do you think I have this blog?)

2) Have to have my iron level checked at my 36-week appointment to make sure that my iron has increased or is at least at a stable level. I made it a point to tell the n.p. that we bought a AM/PM pill box so I remember to take all of those damn pills twice a day. Screw her and her post it notes she suggested last appointment!

3) Joey's heart beat was 150 bpm, then it went to 130 bpm, and finally stabilized at 140 bpm. All of these readings were good! (I personally think that he was nervous for me to discuss my weight issue with the n.p. and that's why his heart rate was all over the place!)

4) My uterus is measuring 33 cm=33 weeks! That is one week ahead of schedule (we're at 32 weeks today)!!! You go boooooooooy!!!! Holla!

5) Weight gain=ZERO!!!! Weight loss=1 pound!!! Whoop whoop!!! (I am literally shaking my booty right now with this information!) I have now only gained 34 lbs total during this pregnancy! You know what's funny, though? That damn n.p. did not even bring up my weight! I had to ask her about it! This is all I have stressed out about this whole past month and she doesn't even want to acknowledge all of my work?!?! So, of course, I brought it up. She said since I had already gained so much weight, so quickly in the beginning, that losing one pound was okay right now. I don't need to strive to lose weight, but maintaining or only gaining a couple of pounds is the optimal thing for the rest of my pregnancy. Well, little Joey, you take whatever fat stores you need from mama! I won't fight you at all!! Whoop whoop!!! I guess Joey laying on my stomach, me eating smaller more frequent meals due to heartburn and indigestion, and trying to walk a few times a week is paying off!! Whew!!! I just need to keep this up!!

6) I've been very crampy in my lower abdomen all week. We almost called the doctor the other night because it was getting so bad. However, it seems that it was gas! haha! We brought this issue up with the n.p. today and she said that these cramps are contractions (holy shit!), and it's due to the fact that a very tiny area is having to be shared by baby, intestines, bladder, other body parts in that area! Well, that makes sense, but the whole contraction part kind of makes me nervous. She told us other signs to look for just in case I'm having pre-term labor. Due to all of this information, we have now programmed the labor and delivery unit's number into our phones, just in case! If Joey decides to wait until his full-term but still come out before 40 weeks (that would be 37 weeks), then that means he could be here in 5 weeks!!!! HOLY COW!

With all of this being said, this appointment was 100% better than the last one and the N.P. was actually very pleasant today. Maybe she was having a bad day or somebody made her mad before the last appointment. She even made a comment today about my big ol' belly when I lifted my shirt up..."that's all baby!" Awww, what a nice comment! I told her that is what I like to tell myself (note: muffin top fat roll is still in existence!)! I'm really glad she was a lot nicer today because I was ready to give her a fat lip if this was a repeat of last appointment!

Alaska Shower, aka Moo Moo Party

Our friends, Jill, Kate, and Amy threw us a baby shower up here in Alaska. They all know that I love theme parties, so they made our shower a MooMoo shower! Everyone was supposed to dress up in a MooMoo, even the guys! Almost everyone that showed up participated in this dress-up request! Whoop whoop!

The future parents-to-be in da house!


Me and my T.P.B. (Theme Party Buddy)!!

The ladies of the party

And the boys!

Our beautiful diaper cake that Jill made!

Opening some gifts...

Playing some games. This is the diaper game. You have to guess what type of candy bar has been melted in each of the diapers. You can smell the candy, but no tasting! (This game is actually pretty gross, especially when you pick up the diapers and they are warm and gooey)!


We also played a chugging game! Each player filled their baby bottle up with whatever liquid they preferred (I had water, just so you all know) and then we all had to chug! Whoever finished their drink first, won!! This is the girls team above!

The boys team!

Us in action!! This actually was pretty hard and the game lasted over five minutes before we had a winner! Bryan, the guy in the middle in the purplish moomoo, won!

All of the loot our Alaska peeps hooked us up with! Of course, Freedom wanted to make sure that everything met her standards! :)

Thank you to all Amy, Jill, and Kate for putting this shower together! It was really amazing and you guys did awesome! Thank you to the rest of our Alaska friends for all of the gifts!! You guys did great and we are very grateful to have met you!