Puppy Love and 35 (almost 36 week) update

We had our maternity photoshoot on Sunday.  When I signed on with our Doula, we were given a coupon for a local photographer who would do a free mat shoot when you booked a new born shoot.  Since I really wanted newborn pictures we went with it.  I'm happy to have pictures of my belly and such, but I really wanted fun pictures with our gorgeous puppy!  Hubby and I did pictures together and then we brought Paige into the mix.  Our older, more cantankerous dog stayed home as he wouldn't be very co-operative.  We have only been shown 2 sneak peaks - one of me and one of Paige.  I'm so in love....

photographer: www.closeyoureyesphotography.com

I think we are more impressed with the quality of the photo than anything else.  We are so excited to see the rest!  Definitely going to blow this one up and have it framed!!  I think my maternal love is on over-drive right now because I was so proud of her getting her picture taken! LOL


I guess I should show the pic of me too...pretty good but I don't think I look nearly as cute ;)

Photographer: www.closeyoureyesphotography.com

So I'm doing pretty good for a few days shy of 9 months pregnant.  My biggest complaint (aside from sleep issues) is my patience is running very thin.  Given my job requires a TON of patience, it has been rather difficult some days.  However, I'm taking days off as needed and just trying to enjoy my last few weeks of work.  As of today, they have hired my replacement so the next couple of weeks will be busy getting things prepared for the transition over.  I'm a control freak - so it is going to be hard to hand the reigns of my class over to someone else.  However, once baby comes, I know it wont bother me any! 

I see my Dr tomorrow and I'll have my first internal exam.  Is it strange that I'm kinda excited for it?  Maybe it will show that baby is starting to get into place and make an early appearance?  So many first time moms say they aren't ready for baby until the due date or after...me I'm ready now!  Baby is big enough and I'm ready to just have this little one to love and cherish.  I would be super excited to know things are starting to progress.  However, I'm sure I'm still too early for all of that. 

One year ago this week we found out we were pregnant again for a second time - only to find out 8 weeks later that the pregnancy wasn't viable.  It is crazy to think that I will be off at the same time this year as last - but for completely different reasons.  One year and all the world of difference.  Miracles CAN and DO happen!

boo...

Stretch marks have arrived.  I thought I had two wee ones last week ...but they are not so wee anymore and they have brought company...in fact...they look to be hosting a party.  Boo.  Just another check on the pregnancy symptom checklist I suppose.

34 weeks - I jinxed myself...

I am going to apologize in advance as I feel this post will be mostly about me bitching about how awful I feel.  However, I will start off by saying that I saw my OB on Wednesday of last week and Dragon is still looking good.  All measurements are on track and fluid levels and cervix is good.  Yea!! She is quite confident that the baby will be around 7.5 pounds when born....lets hope she's right.


I feel as I have reached this week that I am fully done with being pregnant.  I never thought I would curse pregnancy given all I went through to be here.  However, I am.  My back is killing me.  If it isn't sciatic pain, it is lower back pain.  I can't sleep well at night and I often wake up to a sharp pain in my ass (sciatic) for really no reason at all.  It is brutal.

I'm also exhausted.  Totally and utterly exhausted.  I knew my class was active - but I never realized HOW active we were.  I want to set a precedent with my new students, so I participate in all walks.  However, we walk - A TON!!  This past week almost did me in.  My feet are so sore. I'm sure the walking has added to the back pain too.  I've decided to take Monday off to re-coup ... which gives me a 4 day week next week which is good.  I figure I'll use my sick days to last until October 12 (which is my last day of work for an entire year!!) Wahoo!!

We are also very stressed right now about our roof.  Last weekend in the rain storm we realized our roof was leaking (we thought we had at least 1 more year before it needed to be replaced).  My dad just had his roof redone and had a steal roof put on.  Given his connections, he was able to get us a quote for about 3000 off a steel roof.  Incredible deal ... however it will still cost of $10,000.  An asphalt roof will be around $4000.00.  Nether is ideal.  Steel we'll never have to replace...asphalt we'll likely have to replace in 10 years as we have a low slope roof.  Given I will be off for a year and only making E.I wages, I am scared of putting ourselves over the edge (we don't have 10 grand in the bank...).  So we are trying to weigh all of our options.  But...this is stress we certainly didn't need!!

I had my shower last Sunday.  It was crazy!! It was one big shower with all family/friends from both my side and hubby's side (my mother didn't show up...surprise surprise!).  It was so incredible to be surrounded by love from so many people who love this baby already.  Pretty overwhelming.  I'm actually surprised at how much stuff we STILL NEED!  We got a little of everything...but not enough of one thing to cross it off our list....if you know what I mean.  Most people didn't go off our registry which kinda annoyed me as I spent a lot of time choosing items.  However, at the end of the day...we have a ton of stuff...now we just need to find a home for it all!  Luckily  I am borrowing a lot of the bigger items so I'll just get those when I need them!

We met with our Doula on Thursday.  I'm very excited to work with her.  She told us that she doesn't have any clients now until my birth!  It made it feel so real!  Things could happen soon!! 


I'm very much ready for pregnancy to be over.  I know I still have a long haul left.  If baby came out now...he/she would be okay.   Small ... but okay.  I'm okay with a premie right now! LOL.  Hubby wants it to incubate a little more (and so do I...) but I'm ready to feel comfortable again.  Maybe if Dragon would just drop I'd get a bit of relief.  He/She is up so high..kicking me in the kidney's often...sitting in my diaphram so I can't breathe...I just would like some relief.  I'm also starting to swell.  I can't wear my wedding band at all - and most days my engagement ring doesn't fit either.  I'm surprised I lasted this long...but because I did last this long...I felt I would last the entire pregnancy without having to remove my rings.  For some reason...having to remove my rings has made me very, very sad and grumpy!  I hope my fingers resume their normal size soon after the pregnancy is over!

Once again...sorry for the bitching post.  I guess I just jinxed myself when things were going so well that things would continue so.  Maybe after a couple days rest I'll feel more human again?? Or maybe when Hubby and I go for cheese cake tonight I'll feel better ;)

33 weeks (almost) and back to work!

So I think I have jinxed myself.  Over the course of the pregnancy I was amazed at how many symptoms I have had - but was super grateful for the ones that I have been able to avoid.  However, the last few weeks it seems as though I can check a few more boxes off the symptom list.

Heartburn - still not overly sever..however it does have a tendency to rear its ugly head once and awhile.

Swelling - my fingers are turning sausage like.  My rings are still on...but I'm worried it wont be for long.

Clumsiness - I took a rather nasty fall on my second day back at work where I skinned my knee (rolled my ankle on uneven terrain and landed on hands and knees).  Luckily the only thing truly injured was my ego.  However, since then I almost fell off a stool at work (the E.A's have since taken away my right to a stool and told me I may ONLY sit in chairs) and rolled my ankle again today and almost fell walking with my grandmother.  Luckily nothing happened or else she would have probably called 911! LOL

I'm still tired and suffering from poor nights sleep...but overall I can't really complain!


First week back was pretty good.  My students are great (I had 7 returning from last year) and the new staff in my room are working out wonderfully!  Tomorrow I have my baby shower.  I wish I was more excited...I guess it feels really surreal?  Also, today we woke up to a leaky roof.  I think given we have only had like 3 days of rain, we didn't realize how bad our roof was.  Now I'm pretty anxious as I've put in my leave at work for October 12 and I'm worried it is too early.  I wish I decided to work right till the end so that I could get more money.  I'm really, really worried about how it will all work out financially - especially now if a new roof may be in store.  Did anyone else worry about money while they were off?  My husband works for the city - however he is seasonal and is only on-call from Dec-April.  Therefore it is a huge chance that both of us will be on unemployment insurance for the winter.  Since I make more money then him, this is going to hurt us...a lot. I know I need to focus on baby and me and not worry about money...but how can I do that?  If anyone knows ways to alleviate the financial worry, I'm open to them :)

I went for my 32 week ultrasound last week.  I hope everything is okay (wont know till Wed when I see my OB).  She had to measure my fluid 2x and made a statement stating that the second time she measured, she got the same results as the first time.  I'm hoping that doesn't mean anything....I guess I'll know on Wed!!

Here is the newest picture.  It is of baby's face....it is hard to make out so don't feel bad if you can't see it.  It was very 3-D like...we could see the eyelashes, hair and eyelids! Crazy!

  

Hopefully Wed will bring good news that baby is measuring on target and that everything is good!  I still want to keep working a few more weeks!!