Week 37 and Baby Poll

Holy Moly!  We are almost to the end of this pregnancy...here is what I'm looking like these days.

When people ask how I'm getting along, my typical response is that I'm "hanging in there."  I don't feel bad, but I don't feel great.  The baby has really slowed down on its movement in the last week, and I have slowed down as well!  I am having contractions here and there, and I'm having quite a bit of back pain.  I'm also experiencing pain/pressure in my upper inner thighs (sorry if that's too much info), but I don't remember this same pain/pressure with the other pregnancies.  I started feeling this particular pain while at the Kentucky Fair, but then it went away after 2-3 days.  Then, other day my foot slipped out from under me when I stepped on the garage floor with a somewhat wet shoe.  I didn't do the splits, but it was the start of them.  I was able to catch myself, but it definitely flared up this pain again.

Last week, at my check-up, I saw the Nurse Practitioner, Ashley, because Dr. Alvey was on vacation.  Ashley did the Strep Group B test (and I found out today that it came back negative).  She also checked my progress, and said that my cervix was beginning to soften, but she would not call it dilated to a 1.  She also made no mention of effacement.  

Today, I had my weekly check up with Dr. Alvey.  She checked me and said that I was dilated to a 1 or 1.5, and that I was 60% effaced.  She also brought up the topic of induction, and how I felt about it.  I said that we (Doug and I) have no objections to being induced...seeing as the first 3 all came that way!  Dr. Alvey did say that she can't induce labor before 39 weeks, so we still have 2 weeks before we can consider that route.

Lastly, while Dr. Alvey was checking the heartbeat of the baby, it was rather fast.  It was up around and above 180 beats/min.  Typically the baby's heart rate has been around 150.  Dr. Alvey listened for a bit longer, and it didn't really slow down.  She ordered for me to have a non-stress test where I was hooked up to a monitor for about 20 minutes to record the heart rate and movement.  During that time, the baby's heart rate had returned to normal.  The monitor even showed I had a contraction during the test! 

I did feel like I was on Jeopardy, because I had this cool little button to push each time I felt the baby move.

Alright...So, enough of that...

I did dig out a particular shirt this morning for my 37 week picture!  I had to wear it to give you all a good comparison of each pregnancy.

With that...I'm going to open up the Baby Poll!

Here's how you play...

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Number 4 will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Number 4's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Number 4's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Number 4 is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous.

If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Here are some helpful tips when thinking of your guesses. My due date is Oct. 7, and this has changed.  I originally thought I was due at the end of October.  With Julianne, my due date was Dec. 5, and did not changed during the pregnancy.  She was born on Dec. 6th - by induction.  Julianne weighed 7 lb 12 oz and was 21 in long.  With Reba, my due date was Nov. 19th and did not changed during the pregnancy. She was born on Nov. 17th - by induction.  Reba weighed 7 lb 4 oz and was 20 in long.  With Dallas my due date was originally March 24th, then it was moved to March 4th. Dallas arrived March 11th - by induction. Dallas weighed 8 lb 8 oz and was 21.5 in long.

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos

Daddy had a rough day at work yesterday.  They started harvesting, but only one of the 3 combines was able to run.  We thought we would cheer him up this morning with a picture.

This evening, Reba helped me dig the carrots out of the garden!  I was very pleased with how they did.

I think these carrots will be destined to become baby food for Number 4 and a carrot cake for everyone else!

All that is left in the garden are a few bell pepper plants and the sweet potatoes.  I think I'm going to wait for the weather to cool off before digging them.

Until next time...

Daddy's Lap

As I was cleaning up from supper, I heard Doug trying to coax Julianne up into his lap.  Then, I heard him telling Reba not to get down but to stay.  I popped head around the corner just to see what was going on...and this is what I found!

I'm not sure where Number 4 is going to fit, but I'm pretty positive he will find plenty of space.

Until next time...

Week 34

I'm really trying to be better at capturing this pregnancy, so here I am at week 34!  Can you believe only 6 more weeks until Number 4's due date?!?!

Once again, everything is progressing as it should, and this little one is very, very active!  It will wake me multiple times at night with its acrobatic moves.  I guess I should look at this as preparing me for those night time feedings.  I am also continuing to experience heart burn when I lay down at night.  I don't remember having much when I was pregnant with Dallas, I had some at the end of my pregnancy with Reba, I had quite a bit from the end of the 1st trimester on with Julianne, and I have had it from the get go with this one!

Dallas and Reba love to cuddle up beside me and place their hands on my belly waiting for the baby to move.  They also love telling the baby good night and that they love it.  Julianne will point to my belly on occasion and say, "Baby".  We'll see how she adjusts once the little one is here.

Until next time...

Week 32

It's been two weeks since my last baby/belly update.  Although not much has changed since my last update.  I did end up being extremely tired after the week of sheep shows and putting up garden produce.  I have since recouped, and I am back to "normal" for the time being.

Until next time...

Baby Food

Remember all those green beans I picked a week or so ago?  After I reached my goal for canning, I decided I had better prepare some baby food!

I was in the middle of packing pickle jars when the beans were done steaming, so I asked Doug if he would be willing to help fill the ice cube trays with the puree.  Dallas and Reba quickly asked if they could help too.  The more the merrier!

Until next time...

Happy 33rd Birthday (to me)!

What a day!  I got up early in hopes of getting a hair cut before my baby doctor appointment.  Only, as I was getting ready to leave, I found out I had left my wallet in the van last night.  Doug took the van today, so I could take the truck to have the tires rotated.  Thankfully, I had enough time to run up to Doug's work to get my wallet and get to the salon when it opened (one of those walk-in only places).  I ended up getting about 2 inches cut off the overall length, and I had the gal add layers - which has really brought out the waves/curls in my hair!

As far as the baby check-up, yesterday marked week 30 for baby number 4!  Everything continues to be on track, and baby is as active as ever!  I'm sure I am going to be exhausted next week after these sheep shows and garden work I've been up to this week.

After the baby check-up, I headed over to Sears to get the truck tires rotated.  Unfortunately, they were not able to complete the task because the stock racks were in the bed.  I had specifically asked when I made the appointment if it would be a problem.  The gentleman told me as long as they fit through the 10 ft door, they could do it.  Apparently that wasn't true.  The racks did fit through the door, but they did not allow the truck to be lifted high enough.  Oh, well...

After leaving Sears, I made 4 different stops to gather all the back-to-school supplies.  I ended my errands by stopping to get the sheep feed.  Doug then took me out for supper.  All in all, it was another great birthday!

Until next time...

Fun Friday Foto - Week 28

I know I'm not very good this go-around with my pregnancy updates, and I apologize.  Thus far all is well.  I'm feeling lots of movement, and I'm still experiencing lots of heart burn.  Without further ado, here's a belly pic for all of you that may be curious of my growth ;)

Until next time...

Phone Photos

Dallas and Reba had a little photo shoot with my phone today!  Believe me, this is just a small bit of what they took.

Dallas went first...

Then, Reba had a turn...

Gotta love their point of view!

Until next time...

10 years and 22 weeks

Happy 10th Anniversary to us!

February 2006

February 2007

Summer 2008

December 2008 

July 2010

Fall 2010

November 2012

April 2014

Summer 2014

Can you believe it's been 10 years since Doug and I stood in front of God, family and friends pledging to love one another for the rest of our lives? We have been so blessed on this journey, and I can't wait to see what the next 10, 20, even 50 years have in store for us!

Now, as for the 22 weeks...that's how far I am in this pregnancy!  I am completely slacking in the belly photos this go around, but that's what happens with each child.  Less and less photos...right?

I did go for another ultrasound today.  The tech was unable to take the anatomy measurements (head circumference, belly size, liver, femur length, etc) at the last appointment, so I had to go back.  I was able to take the kiddos again, but the tech this time around wasn't as sociable.  I don't think the kiddos enjoyed it as much, and we didn't come home with that great of pictures.  Here were the two best ones...

Everything still measured on track for a due date of Oct 7, so no surprises this visit!  We once again chose not to find out the sex of the baby.  Dallas and Reba voiced a few times that they would like to know, and Doug even considered finding out.  Momma got the final vote, and I said, "Nope.  Surprise."  Dallas and Reba are both hoping for a brother, and I think that is what Daddy is wishing for too.  We shall see come October!

Until next time...

Week 20

I know, you are probably surprised to see I'm already doing a week 20 post.  Honestly, I am, too.

This pregnancy is definitely flying by!  Let me back up.  I "officially" found out the last week of March that I was pregnant.  I had been extremely tired for the previous 6 weeks or so, I originally contributed it to the long winter we were having.  Anywho, I figured I was no more than 8 weeks along, so I put off setting up an appointment with my doctor.  

On April 13th, I had my first appointment.  At the appointment, the nurse practitioner had a hand-held ultrasound machine that she said would be able to pick up an image if I was at least 8 weeks along.  I was thinking I was 10 weeks (at the most) at this point.  The NP was quite surprised with the image on the screen and stated that I was at least 12 weeks!  She couldn't give me an accurate date, as the machine was not accurate enough to take measurements (it was the size of a smart phone).

I scheduled my next appointment for May 4th, along with a full ultrasound to determine my due date.  I was able to take the kiddos along for that visit, and they were super excited to see the baby on the big screen.  

Here are a few of the images from our visit

The tech was wonderful, and we had a great visit.  Although, I was quite shocked, once again, at the end of the ultrasound when the tech stated that I was 17 weeks 5 days along!  That was almost 3 more weeks than I thought.

So, here we are...half way through the pregnancy.  My official due date is Oct 7.  Let's hope Doug will be done with harvest at that point!

Enough of my story, here is my comparison picture!  Let the guesses begin: boy or girl?

L-R: Dallas ('07), Reba ('09), Julianne ('13), and #4 ('15)

Until next time...

Announcement

Remember the photo shoot I had with the kiddos a few weeks ago?  Well, I had another reason for the pictures.  I wanted to make a card...

Until next time...