Isn't she Beautiful!!!

Tuesday I had my 3D ultra sound and 32 week appointment. Baby Bean looked awesome! She is weighing in at 4 pounds 7 ounces. She is a little ahead of schedule with her gestational size but nothing to major! Ethan was the same way. And he was born at 34.5 weeks weighing in at 6.8 pounds. So it actually is a sense of relief she is ahead of schedule. They had me laying flat on my back and during the ultra sound I got light headed and almost past out. Not a fun experience, but I made it through! Then on to see my OB. I'm still sitting at my happy little 1, but have effaced 50%. So progress is slow, but that's OK! Dr. McKernan is very optimistic she will be here in the next 3 weeks. I have been contracting like crazy off and on, so we'll see.

When I saw the ultra sound of my sweet little girl, I fell even more in love with her. I am not a huge fan of the 3d ultra sounds because their noses always look way bigger than they actually are and it kind of freaks me out. But the cheeks just put me over the edge....and then there are her cute little lips! HELLO......How much more kissable can they get? We are so excited about welcoming her from my tummy to our arms!

My Bub!

This is Austin. He is my first born son and one of the loves of my life. I am super proud of this little boy and who he is. Why, you ask....no reason, just because! He is an amazing big brother, tries daily to be obedient and keeps me on my toes thinking. When I look at him I still see him as a new baby! I remember thinking to myself, how did I ever live without you? He has been there during some of my toughest times in life! I am beyond grateful that Heavenly Father sent this little boy to me and our family.

I'm actually NOT crazy!

I am beside myself with excitement, not with what I am typing, but after MONTHS of what I thought were contraction, migraines and a uterus that for sure hated me....we finally have some resolve!

So as most of my family and friends know, this pregnancy for sure has NOT been my cup of tea. I have been in so much pain. I've been told things such as, oh well you're not really contracting, to this is what I went through with my last and so we need to be super precautionary and pump you full of hormones, to your muscles are stretching so get over it, to it was all in my head. Seriously? Would you like to feel the pain that I have been in?

Two weeks ago we decided to get off any and all medications that were stopping or suppose to be stopping contractions, etc. BEST decision I have made the pregnancy. I'm in control of my body, when I contract it's on my terms not when is my next dose of whatever. So things were looking up. Except of course the pain never magically went away.

Sunday night I am laying in bed and all of a sudden I felt like I was having a heart attack. My upper abdomen had been hurting (nothing new of course) and so I could not figure out what the heck? I took everything you could for heart burn. 4 hours later, I laid down took my sleeping pill and just went to sleep hoping that in the morning it would gone! And it was! I slept great. And within a couple hours my abdomen would start to hurt again. Love the vicious cycle.....NOT.

Now on to yesterday....I get a migraine at around 2. I took all the usual with a couple extras in there and NOTHING would kick this thing. So by 10pm I am surrendered to going in. My nurse asks me my symptoms of course and she looks at me and tells me about an experience she had when she was pregnant that sounded an awful like what I was experiencing. A quick call to the Dr and the approval was given. They would do an ultra sound of the baby and my gallbladder and do lab work. So a couple hours later, I get to see my beautiful baby girl! (YES, she's still a girl because I made them check) Everything with the gallbladder looked normal to me, Heck I don't know what an abnormal gallbladder looks like! A few minutes later my nurse comes in and asks me what I think about having gallstones? WHAT?????? SERIOUSLY!!!!!! This is what has been causing my pain for how many months now and they are NOW catching this? I'm actually not too mad, because the fact of the matter is.....they caught it!

So game plan time. I will be 32 weeks tomorrow. I have my second and last steroid series shots to help baby bean develop her lungs. I am going to do my very best to have minimal pain, (with the assistants of modern medicine) so that I can make it a little longer. We are in a safe zone with the baby by 34 weeks, so we may be having little nameless baby in 2-3 weeks at which that time I will turn around and have my gallbladder removed. No more pain for ME.....And I get a cute baby girl! Win Win for EVERYONE!

Oh the Places I'll go.....

I am beyond excited today as we are slowly approaching a very special day......NO MORE BED REST DAY!!!!! I have two more weeks and I am FREE! Free to walk around as much as I want....Free to go to the store whenever I want.....Free to Climb Mt Everest....OK not so much! I can take my kids to the park on Mondays! I can CLEAN my CARPETS! I am dreaming big now! I've already started making my list of all of the stores and places I haven't seen in weeks....Target, Fry's, Old Navy, A Movie Theatre, the Park, CHURCH! I don't know what to do with myself I am beyond excited! Hallelujah....I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!

Tender Mercies of the Lord

Today was the first day that the young men in our ward have brought the sacrament to me. For those of my friends who are not familiar, this is something we do every Sunday in remembrance of the baptismal covenants we have made. For me it helps me to remember, through out the week, what kind of person I should be. (Not just a grumpy pregnant one right now.) It's a very simple act of bread and water, but one that I can't live with out! It's been months since I have been able to actually go to church as my typical outing have been to Labor and Delivery or My OB. But today it was special. We have amazing young men in our ward. I could feel their spirits as they blessed and past me the sacrament. Not only that, but I felt the spirit in a way I've been longing to feel for a long time. I think sometimes I become stagnant or complaisant in my life and take for granted the little things that are so important to me. One being simple covenants that renew every week. How thankful I am to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. For an amazing family that wants me to be more like our Savior. And for a husband who is so patient and kind. As hard as this pregnancy has been it has also been very humbling as I think of the the atonement. This is merely a short experience in mortality that is a stepping stone to the ultimate gift of eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Count your many blessings....

I am 30 weeks this week and feeling GREAT! I met with my OB yesterday and have put a stop to all of my medications. I have not progressed since 22 weeks and there have been more bad side effects than good. I think they are all out of my system, at least that is how my body is starting to feel. Yes, I am contracting, but nothing I can't tolerate and I feel like I have complete control of my body. I also started my steroid series to help baby bean's lungs develop. I am still on bed rest and totally OK with that. My house is clean, my laundry is done, and I am ready to have her when she is ready to come. This was not an easy decision to have been made, but with a LOT of prayer we are at peace that the Lord is in charge and he will take care of our family. We have been blessed beyond belief. There have definitely been some hiccups but nothing that can't be managed by keeping the Lord in the decision making pattern! So for now, we are counting our blessings and excited to press forward!

New Do!

Drew decided he needed a hair cut, so being a 3 year old, hey, he should give himself one....right? I've been dreading this child doing this. I don't know any child that doesn't go through this phase, but for whatever reason I had it in my mind Drew would be the exception! Boy was I wrong. He is the cutest little thing and told me he looked nice with his hair cut. I couldn't bring myself to doing the shaving, so Gavin was given the assignment since he does it quite frequently with his own hair, or lack there of ;) Drewbee came out very proud and said, "Wook mommy, I wook just wike Daddy! I'm Bald!" Yes son, yes you are! I haven't started to cry yet, just have tried to laugh, but every time I look at the picture of his shaved little head I get that much closer to breaking down. So I remind myself....It's just hair! It'll grow back....Right???