I am SOOOO SICK!

Oh man, the last 2 days have been close to miserable for me. I know it could be worst so I'm trying to count my blessings. However, I think I have the worst head cold that I have had in a loooong time. I am so incredibly plugged up and congested! Nothing seems to help either, I left my humidifier on all night, even sat next to it with a sheet draped over me for a while to breathe in the vapors... my mucas didn't budge. Sleep was pretty hopeless last night. My throat hurt so bad, breathing was uncomfortable!
I am thankful Ronan is still tucked away safely in my womb, because it would be hard to care for a newborn right now, and i would HATE for him to get sick too :(
I keep wondering if me being ill is effecting him at all in anyway. I really hope not. I hope he is blissfully unaware.
Only 3 days until I am considered FULL TERM! I never thought I would make it this far. God is trully gracious. I hope I can repay him by being the best mama I can be. I know that this is who God created me to be, I know when he formed me, he was forming a mother. It has been my heart's desire since I was a child. I cannot wait for the adventures that lie ahead with little Ronan, and hopefully the children to come after him as well.

On a more upsetting note, this week has also been filled with tradgedies :( My cousin had her house broken into, and had many items stolen, although i'm not even sure any of that can compare to the violation you feel after.
We also found out that a close friend of ours had his wife leave him, with their 2 little ones.
And probably the most upsetting is my friend who recently announced her pregnancy, also announced that her precious child has a very rare disease, in which the kidneys did not form properly. The prognosis is not good, in that it is apparently "incompatible with life". Needless to say, I am still praying for a miracle. I do not want this dear friend of mine to know the ache and pain of a loss. There is nothing more painful. So if you are reading this and you feel led, PLEASE say a prayer for my friend and her precious child...

Well, it's back to the couch for me! Sipping hot tea, filling the room with nasty tissues, and cuddling my dog while watching movies :)

36 weeks, I've entered the 9th MONTH!!!!

It's HERE!!! The NINTH MONTH!!!!! YAY!!!!

Things are going well! Ronan is his active little self, and I am more sluggish and tired, achey and sore, hormonal and grumpier than ever ;) But at the same time, I am also the happiest, most blessed woman alive!!!

I had my 36 week appt yesterday, and got my first cervical check. He normally doesn't even check until 40 weeks, but being curious I asked if he could check! I had NOOOOO idea what that actually entailed... I figured it would be something like an anual, where they use a speculum to "peak" inside... IT'S NOT! The next thing I knew he was in up to his ELBOW!!!... ok not really, but it felt like it! HOLY CRAP! It hurt SOOOOOO bad! Not much to report though, he said i was getting soft though! So i guess that is something... however, i will NOT be asking him to check again anytime soon.

I also had my strep b test done, which also wasn't pleasent hehe. They have to swab your um.... *ahem* OTHER hole... like the butt one. hahaha and OUCH!

After that, he measured my uterus height (fundal height) and I'm STILL measuring behind. About 3 cm. Which i read is really common, especially if you carry low, are taller, or more slender, or have well toned abdominal muscles, which all apply to me. So i guess it's a little reassuring, but I like to worry myself needlessly apparently. The Doctor didn't seem worried one bit. He mentioned that he would keep an eye on it, but by the time he would want to do another u/s to compare his growth development, he will be showing up!

I feel like I am SO close to holding him in my arms, but so far away at the same time... I find myself more worried for him NOW than I ever have before. I don't know if it's because I know I'm so close to actually having him and i don't want anything to go wrong now... I... blech I don't know. I'm hardly even making sense. I guess part of me is still just so scared that it's just too good to be true. It's hard for me to ACTUALLY believe that I'm going to be having a BABY!! I still feel "infertile" in some ways. I feel like I just need to actually see him, hold him in my arms, look into his eyes to know, it's all real. I trully DO have a son and he is HERE!!!!

Lord, you know worries. You know the fear that hides in my heart. I pray that you would take it away Lord. I pray you would replace it with anticipation and excitment. With confidence that you are watching over Ronan, and that in a few short weeks he will be in my arms, safe. Please continue to meet his needs in the womb. Please keep him healthy, strong and growing. I love this little boy with all my heart. I SO look forward to meeting the one you have given to me to raise. To see how you have formed him in your own Amazing way. Give me strength these last few weeks to fully trust YOU!!!
I love you Lord!!

Amen.

A little bit of panic!

After handing out halloween treats to all the cute little kids i began noticing that I hadn't felt my little Ronan move for quite awhile, which is NOT normal for him. He is VERY active. I had felt him shift a bit and press up against me, and dh could still heart his heart so i wasn't completely worried. I tried ALLLL the tricks that normally get him to go crazy, like drinking cold water, or orange juice. Laying on my side. Squishing him... He wasn't budging. We called the Dr. and they said to go ahead and come on in since it wasn't his normal- better safe than sorry.
We got there very quickly and they hooked me up to a monitor right away. They monitored him for about 30 minutes. OFCOURSE the minute that the monitors were placed around me Ronan started going bonkers :) that little stinker! Rolling and pushing all over the place. The nurse came in and said that everything looked very healthy. He had several accelerations. She did say however to watch for too many contractions. I guess while being monitored I had 2 big ones (which i felt, but figured were normal) and 1 small one (probably from all the stress)
Anyways, all turned out ok and I'm praising God for keeping my Ronan safe.

The lady next to us in the triage was hilarious to listen to. She had NO clue about... ANYTHING. She said she was in labor and was going to have her baby any minute, but the nurses kept trying to reassure her that she wasn't even 1 cm dialated and that she wasn't far enough along to deliver him. The lady was crazy and kept talking like he was coming out any minute, saying, "if I have him now will he be born at midnight, or 11:00pm due to day lights savings?
DH and I couldn't help but be slightly amused. those poor nurses.

So it was a bit scary, but all ended well. The nurse reassured us that we made the right choice. It's ALWAYS better safe than sorry. And even if he is still moving, but there is a decrease in his normal activity, it's important to find out WHY. So i didn't feel foolish for coming in. Nothing would've stopped me anyway. I will do everything in my power to keep my little man safe, even if I look foolish doing it.

Thank God he is fine. Just a little pistol ;)

35 weeks!

35 weeks pregnant today! WAHOOOOOO! That means only 2 weeks until I am considered "full term" and 5 weeks away from my actual due date! HOLY COW!!!! Sometimes it still seems too good to be true. I'm so anxious for him to just get here already so I can hold him in my arms and meet his needs directly. I look forward to all the little things. Putting him in his car seat, dressing him, changing him, nursing him, watching him sleep, listening to all his little sounds... *sigh* I just cannot wait!!! Lord, let the time fly by!!! Keep him safe!

So a lot has happened! I had my appt. on monday, his heart beat sounded excellent, but I am measuring a tad small. The top of my uterus is only measuring around 32 cm I believe, when it should have been measuring around 34. It's not an exact science as, it can be appear smaller depending on his position. The Dr. figured it's probably just because he has "dropped" quite a bit. He palpated my stomach and could tell his little head was really far down there :) But just to be safe and not just assume it's his position he sent me for a growth ultrasound.
I was so looking forward to seeing his cute little face again, but on wednesday (my ultrasound) all we could see were body parts :) which are equally as important, just not as *cute* hehe. His head was too far down to see. But his heart looked excellent. The blood flow from the umbilical cord into his little body looked great, and he measured about 4 lbs 15 oz. so... 5 lbs pretty much. She said that was right on track for where I am at, a little small in the 28th percentile, but nothing to be concerned about- he is just petite. She guestimates that by the time of delivery he will be about 7 lbs if I were to deliver full term. I can live with that!

The next thing on my plate was to get my h1n1 vaccination. I have had the crappiest time trying to get it. Thankfully my awesome hubby made some calls and got me an appt with my OB (whom i had previously talked to, and they wouldnt do anything for me) but Brian apparently is a smooth talker ;) and got me in within minutes. So after a peaceful walk with my dog today I jetted off to the hospital, got my shot and then stopped by Panda Express on the way home :) It was a good day.

I also packed my toiletry bag today for the hospital. Next I need to pack my actual hospital bag! It's all so exciting!!!

In other news, my body is really hitting some limits. My poor back is ALWAYS sore, and nothing seems to eleviate the pain besides laying down- which gets old fast. Ronan is pretty low, so I can feel his every movement of his head on my cervix, OUCH! haha it's all so very worth it though!

So that is all for now. I have moved to appts once a week now! Every friday!!! WOO HOOOO only one month left!!!!!!!!

Maternity photo shoot :)

Our friend Angela drove up to take some pictures of us yesterday. She is starting a photography buisness and could use some more maternity photos to add to her portfolio. She is deffinatly good enough to charge, but she kindly "gifted" them to us :) Since they were only taken yesterday she hasn't had time to put them all on a CD, but she was sweet enough to post a few on facebook, so I thought I would share them with you :)

Here is a link to her website if you want to check it out, I think she deserves a good plug!

http://www.tekoarosephoto.com/

My mother in law is going to hire her for Christmas photos and for Ronan's newborn photos too! She is very talented.

Other than that, things are going good on the home front. Almost 34 weeks! I have an appt on monday, where I think we will be discussing pain management during labor and delivery.
This saturday we are celebrating my husband's birthday and we will also be going to the pumpkin patch and the haunted house like we do every year :) So that will be fun!
I hope everyone is having a lovely week!

33 weeks!

7 more weeks to go... Lord willing less :) Every day I get more and more anxious to meet the little guy hoggin' up all my belly room!!!
Things are going well, I still have a sore throat off and on, so I've been mostly staying at home.
I got my diaper bag in the mail, and I've already got it all stocked up :) It's so cute I love it!!!
I also have my car seat installed now! I feel like everything is pretty much ready!!!
Tummy is getting tighter and tighter and is sticking out further!! I find myself miscalculating it's size on a regular basis. I often open doors on it, or drop food on it. It's really weird, and funny at the same time. Atleast Brian thinks it's hilarious.
I cannot believe it's almost Novevember!! I am hoping to go into labor at the end of November, I just cant believe the time is coming!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord please keep Ronan safe, keep us both healthy. I pray that Ronan will make a safe entrance into the world in your time God. All I care about is his safety. I ask these things in your name. AMEN!

32 weeks!!!!

Well, it's been awhile! I have been reeaaaalllly busy! So, I had my baby shower, and it was soooo wonderful! I'm finally working on getting pictures up, but I'm still waiting for my mom to send them to me since she is the one who took all the pics :) hint hint mom.
Brian and I were VERY blessed by all the wonderful gifts for Ronan. I think we are 110% set for his arrival and MORE! He is going to be a very blessed boy.

So basically since the shower I have been busy washing and puting away all his new clothes, sheets and blankies. The house looks great, if I do say so myself :)

I had my 32 week appt a couple days ago and that went well. Ronan is head down. When my Dr. squeezed his little body to check his position Ronan started what is called an "acceleration" Basically it's like when we work out, our heart rate goes up. Well I guess Ronan was working out! He didn't like that squeezing so he went a little bonkers, kicking up a storm! The Dr. said it was a sign of a very healthy boy, as long as it also goes back down and doesn't just stay up. So we waiting for his little body to calm down, and sure enough is went back down to the 150's. Crazy kid.

I also had to get my flu shot. That left me sleepy and weak feeling. My Dr. also wants me to get the H1N1 vax when I go back in 2 weeks for my 34 week appt. I'm slightly more nervous about that one because it's newer, but it's better than risking our health.
I am choosing to trust my Dr. on that one.

OH, and we officially graduated from our childbirthing classes! It was a blast, I can't wait to finally go into labor!!!!!

Anyway, that is my update for now~ my next project is to eat lunch, then vacuum my car to put in the car seat :) YAY!