You have asked for it

I have multiple people asking me for a pregnancy update since I haven't posted anything about that in a long time.

As of today we are in our 31st week. Less than 9 weeks left until my actual due date. However, we have our C-Section date scheduled for the first day of the 39th week which means I know that we have less than 8 weeks at the very most.

My history has been between 35 to 38 weeks which if I follow suit of my other pregnancies that would mean that I could be having a baby as early as 4 weeks from now up to about 7 weeks. That thought is a little nerve racking for me. Ok, maybe not a little, but rather a lot. As much as my body is ready to be done, I still have much to do in that 4 to 8 weeks. I can't believe we are only 4 to 8 weeks away. AAAAAGGGGGGGHHHH!

With that being said, I don't know if I will follow suit as the other pregnancies. This pregnancy has been SOOOOO different than the previous four. With the first four I had severe morning sickness up through my 6th and even into my 7th month sometimes. This would have me going in to have the baby at or below my pre-pregnancy weight. Really not a good thing, but it was always funny to see the nurses' faces as they figure that one out.

This time the morning sickness stopped at the beginning of my 4th month. I feel strongly that Heavenly Father took away that trial as he gave our family others to deal with, but it has caused a few changes. I have actually gained weight. Can you believe it!?!?!?!?! I am getting FAT!!! That is such a hard concept for me to grasp. When I go in for my appointments and the little weight keeps going up I start to freak out. They have to remind me constantly that it is a good thing. I hear them often say, "Most women gain 30 to 50 pounds, you are barely at 12." Ya, but I don't have the pregnancies of most women. So still I am working to be alright with the weight gain. Most of it is right in my belly, but I know my legs, behind, and hips have gotten a bit of that as well.

My blood pressure continues to be at a great level. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about that - NO BED REST!!!! Yippee! The last two appointments I went in thinking it would be going up (based on headaches, tiredness and several other things that have accompanied that in the past). Yet, it remains well within the safe zones and we are good!! I pray that it will continue in that safe zone so I will be able to stay off of bed rest this time. Wouldn't that be amazing - that is certainly the last thing I need right now!!!! Maybe gaining weight and having a healthier pregnancy has something to do with it.

I continue to have contractions throughout each day. Some are much stronger than others. Others aren't as strong, but last for several minutes. I have now had two extra ultra sounds for that as well and all thicknesses and everything else remain in safe zones so my Dr. isn't concerned - yet. She reminds me if I get up to six an hour I have to head to the hospital. The most I have had was five an hour for three hours in a row. I just kept praying that entire time that a sixth wouldn't happen and it didn't. Thank you for answers to prayers.

We still have things to purchase and figure out. I can't get out any of the baby clothes until I get a new dresser and I haven't done that because I need to confirm that we are moving Bailey to the "Big Kids" room with the other two girls. If we do that I need to get them a new bunk bed. Josh and I think we have decided that we will get a twin over full bunk bed (Bailey & Kenzie can then share a bed - usually 3 or 4 nights of the week they all decide to sleep in the same bed any way - might as well give them a little more room, right?) so we will have room for a third dresser in that room. I know, see it all becomes confusing and I don't have time to focus on it. I need to start focusing on that soon so we will be prepared for the time that our little one makes her debut!!

Then of course I need to get a new car seat - got rid of the one we had for Brendon because it had broken. This is obviously higher on the priority list. I have been checking out Craig's list for that, but the options that are neutral in color/print are more expensive - Hello people, if I wanted to spend that much I would go buy a NEW one. A new swing - someone acciddently sold mine at a garage sale thinking I had a second one I could use. Oops! A new bouncer - the one we had converted to a toddler chair, but despite my attempts to keep them out, my older kids constantly sat on it and have broken it. Luckily our High Chair & Crib are still in Mint condition.

The final decision is what to decide about nursing. Lexi was my only good nursing experience (8 years ago now), but because I was working outside of the home at that time it was very short lived. MacKenzie's was a nightmare to say the very least. Bailey I didn't even attempt. Brendon I tried, but had thrush from day 1 and got mastitis twice within a short period and I had a doctor who seemed to think everything was always in my head!!!! All of that combined and emotionally I couldn't do it so I stopped after about four weeks. I haven't decided if I am going to try one more time and see where it gets me or if I just want to do bottle from the start. I have so many pros and cons for each side that I have been weighing out the entire length of the pregnancy so far. Still I have yet to make a decision. If I go bottle route, then I also need to start stocking up on formula because we will be going through that like no one's business. Still I constantly ask myself, "What to do? What to do?" Josh tells me it is my decision. He will support me no matter what. I just have to make that decision now.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Well, I think that about sums up the pregnancy update. I am doing fairly well and can't complain. I still take everything a day at a time and try to take a break every few days. School is almost out. I know my kids are going to go insane with boredom, but I am so ready for the break. Maybe I will bite the bullet and actually go get a maternity swim suit and take them swimming a few times while we can. I don't know, just more choices and decisions to make. They never stop!!

I have a few other posts I need to get done to show you what I have been up to these past couple of weeks, but that is for tomorrow or another day!!!