The End is in Sight!

Well, after much debate and discussion and weighing of feelings, I am probably going to opt to be induced a week before my due date. I am still nauseated every day, and since week 32, I have been experiencing some painful small contractions when I'm up and around, and starting this week, I have been getting them when sitting also. They are not regular and usually don't last more than a few hours, but are not so fun either. The doctor has been checking me and I am dilated to a 1 and thinning out and the baby's head is low but not really progressing more than that.

There are a few things that have helped in this decision. First of all, I have an end in sight and it's less than 4 weeks away, March 14th! Second, both of my 2 previous babies have weighed over 8 lbs and with gaining an extra 10 pounds with this pregnancy, I worry about a too large baby which could mean a more difficult delivery or potential c-section. 3rd, I am just ready to move on to the next phase and ready to have my body back. Lastly, my induction with Allison was so easy and the delivery was just perfect so I'm hoping that this will be the case with this baby boy too.

Now, I am kind of funny about deliveries. I think it is way more fun to go into labor and call your family all excited instead of having a set induction date where everything is planned. I know it's silly, but that's just me. Perhaps I will be induced with this one and then try for labor with my last one!

Well, here goes nothing!

Can't Sleep

So, this morning I woke up at 4:15 AM to use the restroom and after such vivid dreams, I can't get back to sleep. With such a busy day today, I'm sure I'll be struggling later but I don't know what to do. I lay in bed for 30 minutes with no luck.

Unfortunately, the reason I can't sleep is because my dreams were about delivering my baby, and then coming home to realize that I only lost 12 pounds after delivering, sad huh! The thought of having to lose nearly 30 pounds on my own was depressing but not true of course. This past weekend I have not craved any vegetables or fruits, nor really anything. The only thing I wanted was Chinese Food so we ordered take-out on Saturday night, overate, and now I'm going in to my doctor's appt this morning weighing 2 pounds more than last week. Silly mind won't go back to sleep now!

I also dreamed about visiting my neighbors who lived in a huge home the size of a castle. After walking around with my friend for about 10 minutes I realized that the house just went on and on but it was so beautiful. This home was around 30,000 sq. ft. instead of the measly 3,000 sq. ft. home I live in. It was a fun dream, but everything last night was so vivid that it is hard for me to get back to bed.

Anyway, those are my thoughts and random ramblings for now. Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Oh, and I am loving the weather!!

Can't I be Done yet?

Well, the more time that passes, the more ready I am to be done with this pregnancy. However, I still have 5 weeks to go and that seems like an eternity to me!

This pregnancy has been a little tougher than past pregnancies. With my first pregnancy, I never had trouble walking and never really waddled. I was able to walk with my husband until the day I delivered. I was perfectly fine going full term because I knew after that, I would have a baby to take care of for a very long time!

Then with my 2nd pregnancy, I started feeling some pressure on my pelvis about a month before I delivered and I was hardly able to walk the last month and even had to get those motorized carts at the store it got so bad. I kept hoping I would have the baby early starting at about 8 months, but no such luck.

Now, with this pregnancy, I have started getting painful little contractions when I'm up and about starting at about 32 weeks and I know they are not labor because they pretty much go away when I sit or lie down. I am however getting some pressure on and off again and my left leg is often sore and I have a hard time walking. Plus, I have some back pain which makes it hard to move sometimes too. I still have over a month and I am feeling really done. I need some lessons in enjoying the moment now and not keep wishing for the future to come more quickly.

Also, I have had a little bit more heartburn than past pregnancies. I never get it very bad and Tums takes care of it, but still, a little more than previous babies.

I am also still dealing with nausea on a daily basis. I can't wait until I just feel tired and not sick at the same time. Most days are okay but some days it still knocks me out and I have to rest and take a nap to deal with it. On those days that I can't seem to shake it, I do usually take a Zofran pill to help. It sure does help but then it makes me constipated so that's frustrating too.

I also feel a little more grumpy with this pregnancy. I haven't felt very emotional in past pregnancies but I have had down days a lot in the past few months. Perhaps it's having 2 other kids to care for that end up pushing my buttons including a little girl who really really likes her Mom and wants me to do more for her than Dad, even though he is willing. I can't wait for Timmy to start school, these kids are starting to go stir crazy, especially Tim! He's definitely ready to have some set structure to his days.

Well, I don't mean this post to be just a way to complain, but more to document what I'm feeling when so that I can compare it to any future pregnancies which should hopefully just be one more!

I'm close, and this little guy will be here before I know it! I just need to focus on eating well, exercising a little and staying positive :)

So Random

Wednesday was the first day I have actually thrown up during my pregnancy without having a stomach bug. I didn't throw up the first 4 months (besides getting sick) because the Zofran prevented it and it was so nice. The weight gain has been more with this baby as a result, but not throwing up was really nice. I woke up and ate Cheerios like I do every morning at about 7 AM. Then around 9:30 I was feeling nauseated and really hungry so I got some cottage cheese to eat. I started eating and realized I was just going to have to face reality and spend some time at the toilet. It was so weird to just randomly throw up at 33 weeks pregnant!

The only thing I can think that could've made it happen was I took a new prenatal vitamin that morning and maybe my body just didn't agree with it. I have 3 more of them (it's a sample) but I haven't talked myself into taking another one of them just to test the waters. My doctor gave me a bunch of samples to try at the beginning of my pregnancy and I decided now to use them up.

As for weight gain. The other day I weighed in at 176.2 which puts me at exactly 35 pounds and the most I am supposed to gain, ha ha. I still have 6 more weeks to go so I know I will go over the recommended amount. Most of the time I care, but sometimes I just don't and eat whatever I feel like eating. I try and exercise but I have been getting some little painful contractions and some pressure down below which makes even walking hard sometimes. I pushed through yesterday and exercised and actually felt pretty good after.

I have a kind of bad system I follow. I usually eat really well the week before my doctor's visit, but after I go and weigh in, I usually allow myself a few days to eat junk. I know I shouldn't, but I can't get out of the mentality that when I'm pregnant I have just a little more free reign to eat whatever I want. Wrong, I know, but I love food and especially food that isn't great for me like french fries and desserts.

Only a few more weeks to go so I'm trying not to stress out too much about this. At this point I kind of feel like whatever will be, will be :) On the plus side, I have not swelled up yet, hooray! My ring finger is a little swollen because my wedding ring is really snug and my shoes feel a tiny bit tight but no real visible swelling yet!

Funny side note. Yesterday I was at the mall and I saw a really cute swimsuit at JC Penney. I knew it would never fit me now but it's just the style and color I really like so I bought it in my regular size! Now I have 90 days in which to make sure I will really like it after my pregnancy and if not, I can return it. I told my Mom about this yesterday and she just cracked up! I think it's funny too but I really like it!