One more day...

We made it through camping!  We ended up leaving for Cook Forest on Friday after Brandon got out of school and stayed until Sunday afternoon.  The kids had so much fun playing outside with their friends.  We weren't too far from the bathrooms and sleeping on the air mattress was just as comfortable as sleeping at home. I think I probably slept better because I was more tired when I went to bed.  We got up around 7:30 each morning which made for a long day.  We ended up leaving a couple of hours early.  It was pouring rain and I was having contractions.  Turns out, after five straight hours of them, that I was "dehydrated."  I was having contractions but they were not causing me to dilate therefore I was not in labor.  We went to the hospital where they gave me an IV of basically Gatorade and sent me home.  It was nice to be home Monday and not have anything we had to do.

I've had contractions for hours at a time on several occasions since then but still no dilation.  My body is getting ready but taking it's sweet old time.  I've had terribly swollen feet for months now and its gotten progressively worse.  When I went to the doctor on  Wednesday, May 30th, my blood pressure was 138/84 so my doctor ordered some blood work and another ultrasound.  The blood work showed that some things were a little off (literally that's what they told me!) but nothing to worry about.  The ultrasound was good.  They claimed she weighed about 7 1/2 lbs at that point.  I'm curious to see how accurate this is because that would put her over 8 lbs. at birth which would be crazy to me since Brandon, Xander and Isabella were 6 lb. 14 oz., 6 lb. 6 oz., and 6 lb. 11 oz.  Rosalie would definitely get the prize for biggest baby at birth!  I went back on Friday for a blood pressure check-up and it was staying steady.  I was concerned about preeclampsia but my doctor didn't seem to have the same concern after getting all the tests back. 

Went back again on Monday for another blood pressure check and ultrasound.  Both were good.  I got to watch Rosalie practice breathing even though it seemed very shallow compared to when I watched Isabella do that at 30 weeks.  Now we wait.  Isabella was born at 38 weeks 5 days.  Today was 38 weeks 5 days for Rosalie and she didn't make her appearance.  Tomorrow is her last chance to come on her own time and, if not, then Thursday at about 9:30 a.m. they will be wheeling me into the OR to take her out. 

The kids are in MI with their grandparents having lots of fun.  They went to the zoo today.  I miss them but it's been nice to have a couple of quiet days with David.  We have been able to get some things done that we've been putting off.  So many things to go through and organize.  Basically the extra cleaning that we don't usually get to.  We've had some fun too.  Sunday we went to the movies and saw Snow White and the Huntsman and The Avengers.  It was nice to go to the movies and enjoy a night out - just the two of us.  David had bought me a gift card to the movies for Christmas!  Still hadn't gone and it's June.  So I think it was worth watching two movies.  Who knows when we'll get to go again after Rosalie is born and the kids are all back home.  We have gone to some kids movies.  We just usually don't get to go to "grown up" ones.  Over spring break we went to see The Lorax.  Isabella was ok for most of the movie but she couldn't sit through the whole thing which meant I had to get up and walk around with her... Just not the same as going out with my husband!

So we're down to a maximum of 33.5 hours left in this pregnancy.  Knowing that is a strange feeling.  I'm going to miss my belly... Not going to miss my ogreish swollen feet, sleepless/uncomfortable nights, aching/swollen arms, acid in my throat... Just going to miss my pregnant belly and her little kicks, her little hic-ups and feeling her little body in my belly.  Carrying around another person inside your belly is a pretty awesome thing.  A special time that is coming to an end.  Now we're moving on and I'm ready to meet this new little blessing!  Come on Rosalie, we're ready for you to come out!!

To Camp or Not to Camp

This is the first time I've ever been at the end of my pregnancy and NOT wanted to go into labor.  We're hoping to go camping this weekend (Memorial Weekend) - well, the kids and I are.  David cooperates but camping is not his favorite thing to do.  I'm 36 weeks.  I'll be 37 on Thursday.  I know the chances of me going into labor before we go are about 50/50 and the chances of me going into labor when we're gone are probably more like 75/50 because Brandon and Xander were both born by 37 weeks.  Isabella hung in there for what seemed like forever and was born at 38 1/2 weeks even though I wanted so badly for her to come out!  What are the chances that the girls would be similar in that way?

If she's born then great! We stay home and have a baby but if she's not, why sit at home and do nothing when we could be out camping with friends?  I've been told by many people that I'm crazy for still wanting to go camping.  I blow them off of course, but a tiny part of me is screaming "They're right!  I'm going to go into labor and have this baby on the side of the road!"  That's probably extreme but I do have to admit it is a little scary to think of what COULD happen.  I did talk with my doctor though which gave me some confidence that everything will be fine.

So will we go camping or will we have a baby and stay home?  If we go camping, will we leave in a rush for the hospital?  Only God knows and only time will tell...

Isabella at 18 months

I wrote this more than six months ago but for some reason just never finished it...

My sweet girl recently turned 18 months old.  She is learning new things everyday.  Even though she is my third, I am still amazed at what she is cabable of doing at this age.  I love her big blue eyes and soft blonde curls.  Her stick straight bangs reach down to her lips now but I refuse to cut them.  Most of the time she wears her hair in a clip to the side.  Lately she's been pulling it out of her hair although I don't understand how she can tolerate her hair in front of her eyes! If I ask her about her hairbow she will say "hairbow" and run and get it.  She usually knows exactly where it is. 

She has become much more interested in watching t.v. lately.  She's been a Baby Einstein fan for awhile, but now she enjoys Blue's Clues, Dora, Diego or whatever her brothers are watching.  I've started putting on Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake for her because I liked them when I was little.  She'll watch them but the cartoons are usually too long for her attention span.

She is saying many new words and will try to repeat almost anything you ask her to say.  She's not shy in sharing her feelings.  If she wants something, she will let you know.  Usually either by smacking you or getting in your face.  She loves her baby dolls.  She will carry them around, sit with them or push them in the stroller.  She calls cats and other animals - dogs - similar to the boys at this age. 

She loves her big brothers and wants to do everything they are doing.  For the most part they are good with her.  They give her a kiss and hug each night as she goes to bed and usually each day as she goes for nap.  She surprised me the other day as I got ready to put her down for nap.  I had gotten her bottle of milk (yes, she still takes a bottle for nap and bedtime and I'm not worried about it) and showed it to her.  She immediately stopped what she was doing and got up to follow me as she always does but I said to her "Go tell Daddy 'Na-night' and you'll see him when you wake up."  She ran right over to David and puckered up her little lips to him!  It was so cute!!  He gave her a kiss and a little hug and she turned and ran right back to me.  I guess 18 months of carrying her around to kiss and hug everyone before bedtime paid off! 

The end is near...

So much for blogging a lot through this pregnancy!  Our baby girl, Rosalie Faith, is expected to be born within the next three to four weeks.  She is a big girl.  At 33 weeks, she weighed 4 lbs. 14 oz.  I think she just might be our biggest baby at birth.  Brandon was born at 37 weeks - the biggest at 6 lbs. 14 oz.  Xander was the smallest born at 36.5 weeks. weighing 6 lbs. 6.6 oz.  Isabella was right in the middle even though she wasn't born until 38.5 weeks weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz. 

Of course, I've gained way more weight than I had intended to. I look forward to losing it all and more after the baby is born.  It should be easy to lose the weight chasing after four kids all day every day, right?  I know I'll have to work at it but I'm determined that I'm going to do it this time.  My goal is to lose 65 lbs. by Christmas.

We are all excitedly awaiting Rosalie's birth.  I have so much to do though before she is born.  I have bags to pack, baby stuff to wash and lots of cleaning/yard work to do.  I keep thinking that I have plenty of time to get all these things done.  I had my 35 week apt yesterday though and the Dr. told me that I am 50% effaced and dilated to a 1.  Doesn't mean she is going to be here tomorrow but it does remind me that the clock is ticking!  

Rosalie is going to stay in mine and David's room until she is at least 4-6 months old and then she will share a room with Isabella.  Eventually the two of them will end up with bunk beds like the boys.  I think it is so wonderful that we have two boys close in age and now two girls close in age.  How wonderful God is.  Jeremiah 29:11 says "I have a plan for you..." He certainly does.  God has been great to us and we're so grateful for all the blessings that He has given us.  I look forward to seeing what else He has planned.

Pregnant: Week 9 Rant

8 week ultrasound picture

I keep saying that this pregnancy has been rougher than my other ones but I think the reality is that its pretty much the same.  I think I've always been exhausted, nauseous, unable to eat very well and generally feeling pretty crappy the first trimester.  I think I just forget because in reality its only a couple of months and is quickly replaced with other concerns.  Its kind of like those first newborn months, for me anyway, after awhile they're all a blur!
 
This week I reach week 9.  This is especially important to me because I feel like I'm getting past the miscarriage worry.  I've seen the baby on ultrasound twice now.  Once at 7 weeks 1 day and once at 8 weeks.  The baby looked great both times and I could clearly see and hear its little heart beating.  The tech said it was about 133 bpm.  After losing three babies I worry a lot during those first few weeks.  This pregnancy I did have a small blood clot but, thank God, it disappeared by the 8 week ultrasound. 

I'm starting to realize that some of my stomach discomfort is being caused by my pants being too tight around my stomach.  Mostly when I sit down.  I guess its time to get the belly bands out.  Some friends recommended them to me when I was pregnant with Isabella.  They sure made a difference and I was able to wear my regular pants a lot longer.  They were nice after my c-section too. 

Thankfully I haven't really gained any weight to this point.  I'm trying to watch my weight and have a "healthier" pregnancy but it hasn't been easy to exercise since I feel so crappy most of the time.  I'm not able to eat much.  My stomach hurts all the time.  It will hurt when I'm hungry then hurt when I eat.  I can't eat anything spicy or drink coffee.  I have to eat very small portions when I do eat or I get really sick to my stomach afterward.  Its not fun but I'm hoping this stage will be over in a couple of weeks.

I started taking Zofran 4 mg that dissolves because I was having so much nausea that I felt like I was unable to function most days.  I have five kids to care for Monday-Friday so I have to be able to function.  So far it is definitely helping.  It's expensive though and I don't want to take it too much so I've only been taking it in the morning and not at night.  It has its own side effects but at this point I think its good that I'm taking it.  Hopefully by week 11 or 12 the nausea will let up and I'll be able to stop. 

So I feel like crap, but it won't last forever.  I know the ups and downs of pregnancy but in the end the little bundle of joy that will be placed in my arms in June will make all of this a blur just as the last three have.  I'm going to try to blog this pregnancy as much as possible.  It's fun to look back and who knows - maybe there will be a baby number five and I can look back and say "oh, yeah.  I remember now.  It will be over soon!"

We're having baby number four!

As we left the grocery store tonight, I had Isabella in the cart and the other two tagging along.  My stomach was bothering me and I was so tired.  All of a sudden, as if for the first time, I thought to myself "I'm going to have FOUR kids."  I unlocked the car and lifted Isabella out of the cart as the boys ran to the other side to get in.  Brandon can get in and buckle himself but Xander still needs my help.  I loaded the groceries into the car and  and then started to buckle Xander in.  I heard a woman's voice behind me.  "Do you want me to take that cart for you?  Looks like you have your hands full," she said.  I hear that comment a lot!

I'm excited about adding another member to our family and so are the boys.  David is, too, just in a different way.  He loves the kids and says that he will love any more that we have.  I'm lucky to have him.  The boys talk about "the baby" often and like to see what the baby looks like and hear about how it is developing at www.babycenter.com.  Brandon says he would like a brother and Xander says he would like a sister but I think they both will be happy whichever the baby is.  I will too but a girl would be "ideal" since she will be sharing a room with Isabella that is currently bright pink, the swing, jumparoo and carseat that I have are all pink and I have way more girl clothes and shoes than I have boy stuff.  That's what Kids' Closets are for though.  If it's a boy I will sell a lot of the girl stuff to trade in for boy stuff and we'll paint the bedroom a neutral color.

Telling people you're pregnant with your fourth baby is much different than telling them you're pregnant with your first or even second.  It's entertaining in a way!  Seems like it's not common for people to want to have big families anymore.  I've always wanted to be a mom and have a big family.  I love each one of my children so much.  I love that they have each other.  I can't imagine my life without any one of them and I know I'll feel the same way about any more children that God blesses us with. 

There's a new sherriff in town!

Seen one of these yet?  Chances are you may since Chrysler's Warren Truck Plant is making 250 of these big boys.  This is one big truck!  The boys enjoyed checking it out and I have to say I was pretty impressed as well.  This one was on display during the truck plant's Family Day that we attended since my mom works there.  According to DaveAdmin at www.allpar.com, "The Ram would most likely be sold as a “special service vehicle” rather than as a pursuit truck. Neither Ford nor GM offer a pickup with a specified police package, and there is a market: commercial enforcement, game wardens, and park rangers all use pickups, along with some specialized police officers (e.g. at weigh stations)."   Other than that, there is little information to be found about where they are going or when they will get there.  The boys enjoyed seeing where Grama works although we were unable to get to where she actually works because they had half of the plant blocked off.  The weather was quite cold and windy for early October but at least the sun was shining.  We were able to sign some pieces of a white truck which the boys thought was pretty cool.  Then walked around the plant to see different phases of trucks being built.  The boys enjoyed watching the "robots."  Then it was outside for lunch and the bouncy house.  They had veggie burgers!  Gotta love the veggie burgers :)