Thank You Heidi

I just want to say thank you to my dear friend and neighbor, Heidi. I made the post "Make Your Prediction" last night before I went to bed and Heidi commented that she predicted that the baby would come last night because she is up at 3am and could watch my kids. Now let me just tell you what happened last night. Did the baby come? No. At exactly 3am I felt a horrible pain in my stomach and had to get up to use the bathroom. I will not go into detail about that but from 3am on I had pain in my stomach that felt more like food poisoning than contractions. This continued until 11am when my bathroom visits ended and the pain turned into regular contractions. Rich and I got the kids ready to go and the contractions slowed. It is now 1:30pm. Kids are napping. Contractions have stopped. What? I'm so confused? Is she coming? Is she not? This fake labor stuff is not fun. So that is the update and I just had to thank Heidi because I am convinced that she cursed me or said a prayer or poisoned me because she is very competitive and wanted to win the prediction.

Make Your Prediction!

So it's been a good 2 weeks since the doctor told me that she could come at any time. Every day it feels like she is coming but then I make it through the day! I keep making predictions and she keeps proving me wrong so I want to know what YOUR prediction is! Here is where I currently stand:

*Dilated to a 4

*50% effaced

*Have about 3-4 decent contractions a day

*I am feeling more pain in my hips

* Due date is December 8th, the day Rich's finals start. Yippee!

*Aidan was 1 week late, Maya was 3 days late

*My mom is flying in on December 5th

What do you think? How much longer until we get to meet this little girl? Oh, and by the way, we have changed her name. Funny story. I went to my appointment last week and was seen by a different doctor because mine was out of town. She walked in and the first thing she said when she looked at my chart and saw what we were naming our baby girl is, "Oh no, not ANOTHER Isabella." Apparently this is a very popular name thanks to Twilight. Rich and I had picked out the name before Twilight became huge but still cannot seem to escape the hype so we have decided to change her name ever so slightly just to give her a little more individuality. Her name will be announced after she is born :)

In The Spirit Of Thanksgiving

This video has been circulating on facebook for a couple of weeks now but I just watched it for the first time today. Totally got me in the spirit of Thanksgiving and made me think about what I am thankful for. Click here and watch this video.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving I am thankful for:

-The gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. It makes everything else that I am grateful for more meaningful, beautiful and eternal.

-Rich and his good heart. He gives service by using his talents. He is so compassionate and giving when he sees others needs. He is an amazing husband and father. He is such a good example to me and makes me a better person.

-Aidan and his strong will. It's been a year since Aidan got his feeding tube and trach out and yet I still think about all that we went through often. I'm grateful for the miracle of his life, his sweet disposition through it all and who he is today. The fact that he is completely healthy is something I am thankful for every day.

-Maya and the light that she brought into our family. From day one she was always exactly what I needed her to be. She brought with her peace and comfort and replaced the fear that I had. She is so happy and active and so much fun to be around!

-I am grateful for my mom for all of the sacrifices she made so that I could have all of the opportunities that I've had in my life. I am who I am and I am where I am because of her example.

-I am so grateful that I am going to have another baby any day now!!!!!!

I could seriously go on and on and on but I will stop there. I will be sure to thank my Heavenly Father for all that he has blessed me with, not only on this special day but everyday. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

One of my favorite things to watch. Rich reading our kids a bedtime story :)

One Week Later...

Here I sit. One week later. No baby. I had another appointment today and once again she said, "That baby is ready to come out!" I am almost dilated to a 4 so I have a feeling this little girl is gonna come fast! It sounds strange but I feel like I've had more time to prepare for Bella's arrival than I did with either of my other two. It has been fun. Her room is set up, clothes are washed and hung and her family is anxiously awaiting her arrival. Rich and I couldn't be happier with our lives at this point. We have been so blessed!

She Walks!!

2 Days short of being 14 months old, my baby girl WALKS!! She actually did it for the first time on her own yesterday but today I got the proof :D

Oh Bella where art thou?

I went to the doctor yesterday and got some very exciting/nerve racking news. She said that she could feel her head which means that she is REALLY low and that I am dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced. I have to admit, I wasn't super shocked because I've been feeling more uncomfortable the past couple of days. I've also been feeling the nesting urge like crazy! So the doctor said that she could come tomorrow or she could hang in there for another 2 weeks. I'm just not sure what to think because last night I had a horrible nights sleep but today I feel the best I've felt in weeks! I've gotten lots of cleaning done and I'm feeling more ready for baby Bella to join us! So excited!! I am soooo excited to meet her!

Slacking

So this pregnancy has been a little rough. This is why it's been quite a while since I've made a post. I probably shouldn't complain because I know that there are others that have it a million times worse than I do. This is for me to be able to look back on and remember the reality of being pregnant before I decide I want to have another baby. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids but I enjoy them soooo much more when I'm not pregnant.

Varicose veins :) They have not been fun. It's not even the actual veins that bother me so much, it's more the achy legs and swollen feet. I've discovered that the best thing to do for this, other than wearing the compression hose which work wonders is to put my legs up. Seriously though, I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old, when am I gonna get a chance to do this every time my legs start to ache?

Back pain :) I have been having back pain almost since the beginning of my pregnancy. I learned from my doctor that apparently all of this is because my uterus is not as strong as it used to be. I am carrying really low and this is causing all of the pressure I've been feeling. She said that everything I would normally feel at the very end of my pregnancy I will feel a lot earlier on. She was right. Now that I'm getting to the end of my pregnancy...ouch.

Muscle spasms :) I have muscle spasms randomly throughout the day that stop me in my tracks. Kind of funny to watch. Not so fun for me.

Every night at around midnight Bella wakes up and begins to practice her kick boxing. If I'm not asleep yet I won't be for about 30-40 minutes. If I am asleep...I'm not anymore. Thus, I am a bit sleep deprived which makes for a grouchy mommy in the morning. My kids are great! They are usually well behaved and good natured but they still want my attention. I want to give it to them but I'm often short tempered and impatient. I am not the mom I want to be...when I am pregnant.

Like I said, this is not meant to be a pity party. It is for the future me. Also for the future me...

they are soooooo worth it.