32 Weeks Down...hopefully only 5 or so more to go!

OMG! 32 weeks today!!! I can't believe how close we are!

I've been in major nesting mode lately and have had to force myself to slow down and take it easy or my SPD really acts up. I've got our hospital bag PARTIALLY packed. Baby clothes are washed and folded.

We've got a busy couple of weeks coming up...my JENNAPALOOZA (birthday extravaganza!!) is this weekend! Exciting! And our BaByQ (Baby BBQ...get it??) is next weekend! I can't wait!!! Should make time fly by!

I have an appointment this Thursday (my birthday!) so I will update if I have any new or exciting news! :)

Pregnancy Update - 28 Weeks

Third Trimester...here I come!! I am 28 weeks today! Wow! Time is flying! Only a few weeks until our BaByQ (Baby BBQ/Co-Ed Shower...details on that soon!) and then a few more weeks and little man will be here! I cannot believe it!

I'm feeling "meh" most days. The SPD is very draining...hard to walk and move. I'm still on half days at work, which is stressful, but we're hanging in there. Baby is growing and squirming and moving. Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions this pregnancy. I have my Gestational Diabetes test and 29 week appt. next week, so I will be sure to update with results from that!

The physical therapy for the SPD doesn't seem to help...it's actually quite painful sometimes, but I'm keeping at it, in hopes that the second this little guy is born this pain and discomfort will be a distant memory!

We have SO much to do to the house and yard before baby gets here (not to mention we need to agree on a name for the little mister!!) but with me under the weather, it's been slow going as of late. We're trying though!

I've got TONS of big ideas...it's just implementing them that is the problem! Especially from the couch where I seem to spend most of my time.

That's about it on the pregnancy and home front.

Ciao
-J

Ouch!! SPD

It's official. I've been diagnosed with SPD (symphasis pubis dysfunction).

Basically, my pelvis is separating...OUCH! So I've been given work restrictions (down to part time) and have been ordered to rest the next few weeks, and hopefully it will fix itself. (Fingers crossed!!!)

Lots of time while sitting on the couch to search for projects I want to do, but not a lot of time to do them since I can't get up too much! Kind of a bummer... :(

But...it could be worse! Hopefully a few weeks from now I'll be back to my usual, productive self!!!

23 Weeks...and Projects Coming Up!

I'm giving the 23 Week Update a couple days early...technically, I'm not 23 weeks until Tuesday.

I've been having some pretty severe pelvic pain (as in, pain actually IN the bone...or so it feels like) so I will be making an OB appointment for this week, and hopefully they can do something for me. I talked to the nurse last week and she thought it was probably round ligament pain. I've done this a few times though, and know round ligament pain when I feel it. (Although, I will say I have noticed much more round ligament pain this time than with the other pregnancies.) This is different, new to me, and not "normal". Standing or walking for extended periods of time is getting harder and harder, so that's not fun. I've done some research on what the problem could be...but I'll wait until I see the doctor and see what he says.

On a happy note, little Mister Man has been squirming and kicking up a storm! That is fun for his older brothers who have been able to feel his kicks! :)

According to baby center, little dude is almost a foot long and is starting to recognize loud noises that we hear often...like the dogs barking (or dirt bikes!!) Fun!

On NON-baby notes...RUMMAGE SALE SEASON has begun!! (Ok...I guess that's baby related too because I'm always on the lookout for cute clothes and great deals on baby stuff!) The man and I hate a few around town this past weekend and scored a chest freezer (which we NEEDED) for $25!! Nice!! AND, this was our first time yard sale-ing in our new MINIVAN!! That's right...I've crossed over to the dark side, and I'm loving every minute of it! :)

As for upcoming projects, as promised, we'll be starting the kids rooms soon and will have lots to share on our progress! I've been researching lots and am excited to start some canvas art for their rooms!! I also want to make a weekly menu board...just something to keep myself organized, and the family informed of what momma will be serving up that week! Those are the couple things close on horizon, so be watching for those. OH! And I will have a new recipe to share this week...YUMMY!

Alrighty folks...I gotta try to get some sleep. (Getting harder and harder these days...)

Ciao,

Loving Life & a 21 Week Update

Quick pregnancy update...things are going well. I'm measuring right on target. Not gaining ANY weight, which is fine by me as long as our baby BOY is healthy! Yep...I am soon to be the mom of FOUR boys! Love it! I'm feeling better (minus a punishing UTI I'm dealing with right now) and baby is rocking out, kicking up a storm in my ever-expanding belly!

PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!! We have SO much on the horizon!!

I've found a project I am including the kiddos on that I cannot WAIT to try! We are going to make onesies for our baby BOY, due August 10th! Now that I am finally feeling better after what seemed like NEVER-ENDING "morning" sickness. I can cook again...and clean...and CRAFT! Yay!

So I will be much more present, now! Spring is in the air...which always invigorates my heart! I've got photography work going on which makes me happy. The baby is seeming more real to the kids now that I'm getting a big belly and since we found out it's a boy! I just feel so much more like myself! Ahhh...bliss!

Now that I'm back COOKING up a storm, you can be expecting more new recipe posts! (And this is a long way off, but I am very much looking forward to trying something new...making our own baby food!)

We've got LOTS of home renovations going on too...we're doing some bedroom swapping, and all the kids (and the man and I) will be shifted around and in new and improved rooms! Lots of fun...and lots to post about!

Ahhh...I am feeling GOOD about life today! Love days like that! Back tomorrow with my son William's favorite dish to post about...SUPER EASY "Half-Homemade" Chicken Enchiladas!! Yummy!!

xoxo

Knocked Up

(That post title was for you mom...you know I love ya! *wink*)

Just thought I'd share a quick pic...my buddy Luc took this for me. After every press of the shutter button he'd look at the LCD screen on that back of the camera and go "Ooo...that turned out nice!" LOL! My little photographer...

Anywho, this is a couple weeks old now, but here I am...getting bigger by the day! :)

Pregnancy Update - 17 Weeks!

Inching closer...17 weeks today!!

Baby's skeleton is turning from cartilage to bone now...hopefully he (or she) will have nice strong bones so our mini-MX'er isn't prone to breaks later in life!!! Daddy's broken a collar bone and a toe (inevitable with his sport of choice) and I've broken my foot (because I'm a klutz) so I suppose we're not TOO terribly accident-prone! We're big milk drinkers so that should help, too, I suppose! :)

This weeks "produce" comparison?? TURNIP...baby weighs about as much as a turnip. I'm not much of a turnip eater myself but I carved one like a jack-o-lantern once (it's tough...I don't reccommend it), so I'm familiar with the size/weight.

Not TOO much changing around here...I'm feeling more frequent movement lately, so that's exciting! I can't wait until the man can feel it! I am anxiously awaiting my ultrasound appt. in a couple weeks!! Then we can start shopping! We have NO baby stuff left, so we're starting over...I have found two cribs I like but want to wait to see if we're having a boy or girl first to decide which to get. And then there's wall paint, bedding, toys, clothes, diapers, ohhhhhhh...sooo much to buy!!! Scary!!

We're having a "Baby Bash" this summer though...a Co-Ed "baby shower" thrown by my cousin, that's mostly going to be just a big party to celebrate...we'll have a BBQ and yard games. More on that later... ;)

ANYWHO...gotta run. Much to do!

xoxo

16 week Appt. Update

I had my 16 week appt. yesterday! Heard a good strong heartbeat (135-ish). Scheduled my ultrasound for the end of this month (I CAN'T WAIT!!) I have gained NO weight, so he said from here on out, he expects to see steady weight gain so I need to snack more...I giggled..."I don't think THAT is the problem". So he clarified..."Snack more on protein". Bah.

He said the light-headedness I've been experiencing is from low blood sugar. (Again, fix, with more protein.)

I have been diagnosed with pregnancy induced carpal tunnel in one hand...so I have to brace my wrist while typing which is taking some serious getting used to...but if it helps the burning pain, then I'm all for it! :)

AND...that's about it I think! Overall a nice, quick appointment! I go back at the end of the month for my 20 week!

Pregnancy Update - 16 Weeks

Me and the "Avocado" (size-wise) baby are hanging in there. :) His (her?) little heart is working, working, working...s/he's growing toenails...swimming around. :) Only about a month until our BIG ultrasound!! I can't wait!

I'm doing alright...nausea is lessening (what a RELIEF) but not gone yet. I've been feeling ridiculously short of breath (which I remember very clearly from being pregnant with my Luc). It's not even when I'm exerting myself...just sitting at my desk or on the couch. Not alarming...just uncomfortable. I feel like I "look" more pregnant every day...I'm even going maternity clothes shopping this weekend! (And I might have to buy just ONE little gender neutral baby SOMETHING!) ;)

And that is about it on the pregnancy front. I'm going to start weekly belly pictures soon...around 20 weeks I think. Should be fun! :)

Talk to you soon...
xoxo

Pregnancy Update - 15 Weeks

I know...I know...I don't keep up. I can't keep up. While my weekly update sites no longer make any mention of "morning sickness" or "by now you should start feeling better", I've been left behind in "Feel.Like.Crap.Dom" It's lovely. And I am ready. I am SO very ready, to not feel so sick anymore. :(

BUT...enough complaining, because as I've learned...it doesn't help.

I was 15 weeks last Thursday!! Inching closer to the elusive tell-all ultrasound! Baby is 4 inches crown-to-rump...approximately the size of an apple. Much easier for me to visualize than "kumquat" or whatever my previous fruit/veggie update was! :) Apparently, I've probably gained five pounds, but I don't weigh myself at home, so I have no idea. I'm definitely "pooching out" in the tummy area though! But anyway, baby is apparently moving around in there (still feeling movement here and there) and can kick and swing his/her arms and legs. Baby can sense light THROUGH my stomach (that weirds me out slightly...LOL!) and is forming tastebuds this week. :)

Like I said...I still feel like crap...getting "fatter" but still don't look truly pregnant, so I'm in this weird awkward in between stage right now. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks the pregnant "look" will be more obvious and I'll feel less self-conscious...we shall see. :)

That's about all I've got.

Until next time...xoxo

Pregnancy - Week 10

I want to start posting weekly updates on myself and the “babycakes”…I will eventually be including frequent photos but definitely not yet. ;-)

So I’m in week 10 (my weeks actually change on Thursday…so this Thursday will start Week 11, but it’s easier for me to update on Sunday or Monday so that’s the plan for now…dig it?)

Apparently the baby is the size of a “kumquat”. I can HONESTLY say I’ve never in my life seen a kumquat, but it’s bigger than last week which was “small plum”. He or she is growing really fast right now and I am looking forward to looking pregnant instead of fat and bloated. :)

I’m still feeling sick more often than not, but I do have “good” days where I can actually make dinner or do ONE load of laundry before falling back onto the couch moaning and sick. I am definitely ready to be feeling better. I know that generally that takes place around the end of the first trimester, which is in a couple weeks for me, BUT, I also know (from experience) that it’s not like I’m going to wake up Thursday a couple weeks from now and magically feel better. Hopefully, though, a little bit at a time I will improve and can get back to feeling like myself again.

I’m on a cloth diaper kick right now and trying to talk the man into jumping on board (so far he’s pretty adamantly against it…I’m holding out hope though…) and reading as much as I can on the subject. I’m also REALLY anxious to get our new master bedroom finished, get the boys into their new room, finish Will’s and McKenzie’s beds/rooms…and then wait impatiently until the big ultrasound to find out who gets to share a room with the new baby!

OH…and we got a new puppy. (Yes…I am indeed crazy. How’d you guess?) He’s a Chihuahua/Yorkie mix ( Chorkie?? Yorkie-huahua??) He is the CUTEST thing I’ve ever seen…now if he could just stop peeing on the floor we’d be all set! :)

Ok…that’s about it for now. Nothing else new on the home front. I’m not feeling well enough to be doing any new (or finishing any old) projects, but soon I hope! Oh, and I do have a new recipe to share soon. The family LOVED it…but I’m so turned off by the thought of food right this second, that the thought of typing any more about it is going to make me gag, so that’s going to have to wait.

xoxo

Update

I am still feeling SO very unwell, so for now, posting will remain scarce. I've got my confirmed due date now...August 12th! So hopefully I'm only a month or so away from feeling MUCH better! (PLEASE keep your fingers crossed for me!)

Miss my blog... :( **sigh**

"I'll be back...don't ya worry" (Quote from an old video game I used to be BIG into! Whatever happened to Oddworld games...they were my FAVE!)

Anywho...miss ya!

SURPRISE!!

Alright...it's time to spill the beans. (Better late than never, right?)

So the big news IS...

We're having a BABY!

That's right...the man (Adam) and I are expecting our first child together!!! :) It was definitely an unexpected surprise, but we're happy and excited to be having our first (and LAST) baby together. If you're a regular reader, you'll remember that I currently have three sons and he has one daughter, so this will be our full house. NO MORE! LOL!

Soooo...now you maybe understand why I've been scarce with my posting. I've been SO sick and miserable...it's hard to motivate myself to do much of anything. But once I'm through this stage, I'm sure I'll be back posting full force! And you can fully expect more "parenting" focused posts, due to that consuming a lot of my mind lately!

So anyway, SURPRISE! Now you know!