31 weeks and 9 more to go!

   So many things happened this week. My family came up for my baby shower. I saw my mom, sister, and nephews from Friday to Sunday! I love it when I get to see them. My nephews got to feel Elijah move and even felt him have the hiccups. My niece, Alyssa, kept coming up to me telling me that there was a baby in my belly. It's so cute and heart-warming. My nephews kissed Eli good-bye on Sunday. Melt my heart! Next time they see me, they will get to meet Eli!
      Elijah continues to move each day. He kicks me multiple times a day. His favorite thing to do is elbow/knee me across my belly when I'm on my side while sleeping. It's a weird feeling. He has also had hiccups at least twice this week, well I could feel him twice.
     My baby shower was amazing. They surprised me with a book theme, which as a teacher, I loved. Each food served was connected to a book. Multi-colored gold fish with "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." Train sandwhiches with "The Little Engine that Could." Grape caterpillars for "The Hungry Caterpillar." The cake, which said Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart(a Winnie the Pooh quote), had "Bunny Cakes." "The Velveteen Rabbit" and cut up vegetables.
    It also had lots of Superhero things too! I got an amazing diaper cake with Superhero little people on it. I received a lot of gifts from friends and family. I only cried once or twice! Of course, a friend from when I was growing up wrote a special message to me: Many years ago at a Ladies Retreat this book was read(Love You Forever). "It is a very special one, one that makes us cry. In fact your Aunt Dar never liked it read in Cherub's Nest. But it is a true story in it's story line. Your little boy will always be your baby and you will always love him. You and Travis will be awesome parents. Love to 3 special people." Cue the tears! I also got a picture frame with a hand and foot print kit to go with it. I might have teared up to that. I can't believe that I am going to have a baby to hand and foot print! My grandmother sent me some cute overalls that Grandpa made her pick out, as Eli needs to have somewhere to put his tools. It is very special to me as he is a carpenter at heart. 
   I also had some great baby shower games: Price is Right(Guess the cost of various baby gifts), Memorization(Get 30 seconds to memorize baby items and try to remember them), Baby Words Scramble, and my favorite game: Candy Bars that connected to some part of the baby(ex. Milky Way- breastfeeding, Whoopers- 10 lb baby, ect). I really enjoyed my baby shower and so glad that I had my family and friends to celebrate this miracle.
Here are some pictures: 

My Baby Shower Table

 

My Diaper Cake

The girls and I(except my sister- she took the picture)

My nephews feeling some hiccups!

Stats! How far along? 31 weeks
How big is baby? Pineapple(15.2-16.7 inches long and 2.5-3.8 lbs)
How I'm feeling? Exhausted
 What I'm most excited about: To hold him and kiss him!
Weight?  223.8 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump continues to grow and ankles are starting to swell a little bit.
What I miss?  Sleep(I realize that I won't have a good nights sleep for a long time!)  
Symptoms? Exhausted, dry lips, back pain, heartburn, emotional, Braxton Hicks, slight cankles at the end of the day
Cravings? Anything sweet!  
Highlights this week:I had my baby shower and my family came to visit!
Something I've done to prepare for baby: Baby Shower! :) We also set-up our nursery carpets to be cleaned- one last step before I can set it up!
Special gifts or things I've gotten for the baby: I received a ton of special gifts for Elijah. I can't just pick one!
 Special moment: So many!!! My nephews felt Eli move and even felt some hiccups! :) My newest niece, Alyssa, kept coming up to me telling me that there was a baby in my belly. Just the special moment of being surrounded by friends and family celebrating the miracle of Elijah!

National Infertility Awareness Week April 21-27

           This week is National Infertility Awareness Week is this week. It's a week to bring awareness to the disease of infertility. Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples. 1 in 8. Isn't that crazy? We don't talk about it, either! Until you have been there or are there, you don't realize that it happens to so many people. I never understood infertility until I was there. It was the most painful months of my life! It made me frustrated, depressed, bitter(at times), jealous, doubt, and insecure. I only went through 20 months of this. I was lucky, as some people go 5 years, 10 years, and a lifetime. I can't even imagine. It breaks my heart.
       I pray for couples going through this. I pray for peace, comfort, and direction. I pray that they will be able to have a child. I ask that you would pray for these couples.
    Also, please support them by just listening. So many times people would give me advice(just relax, take a vacation, ect) and it made it worst instead of better. Many people just want someone to listen to them. They want someone just to let them cry and scream about their frustrations and pain. Please, just be there.
    Also, understand that infertility impacts couples emotionally, physically, and financially. They are obviously emotionally strained. Every month(or more than that), their hopes are raised and then fall when they don't become pregnant. Or they try to adopt and hit a road block. Or they lose their child. It's awful. They need support.
    Luckily, I didn't have a lot of the pain from infertility, but many women(and maybe men) do. I know women are pricked and probed throughout treatment. There are the needles and internal ultrasounds. Then there are the medicines that give awful side effects. It's not fun. I had some not so fun side effects from medicines.
     Financially, it's hard on couples. Infertility is expensive and most of the time it is not covered by insurance. Many couples have to pay out of pocket. We were really lucky that when we switched insurances, we had 3 chances with an IUI covered. Apparently, it only needed one chance. But many couples don't have any coverage. Not to mention, places in rural areas(like us) have to drive fertility clinics far away(like 2 hours) multiple times and with gas it's expensive. Or if they decide to adopt, it cost money and it's expensive. There are so many expenses and it can be rough.
      Infertility sucks! Please take time to pray for couples dealing with infertility. Please support them. Be aware of them. If you need some more information about infertility, please visit Resolve. If you want to know what to say or how to help, visit this page: Infertility Etiquette.

30 Weeks... 10 more to go!

        Can you believe it? I'm 30 weeks! I only have 10 more weeks to go! It's gone so fast! Luckily for me, Travis' co-workers told him that now I can go at anytime! BUT, more than likely I won't! I honestly thought I'd never be here! I'd never be pregnant! Here I am and I only have 10 more weeks! I've caught myself crying a lot this week. I am in awe of this miracle. I thank God everyday for him. I thank him for the movements and jabs I feel! It takes my breath away.
        This is the first time I've felt comfortable in my body in a long time. I was admiring my bump in the mirror today. I am okay with my body. It's beautiful. There is a moving, breathing baby being made. Sure, I have a large stomach, but there is a spirited little boy inside. I think it's beautiful. I'll take the slight cankles, the dry and peeling lips, the tired look, and starting to swell legs with spider and varicose veins for my beautiful belly. It's beautiful because of the wonder and amazement it holds inside! I am in amazement.
 

Stats! How far along? 30 weeks
How big is baby? Cucumber (about 15.2-16.7 inches and 2.5-3.8 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Feeling overwhelmed with happiness and a little tired
What I'm most excited about: To hold him and kiss him!
Weight?  222.8 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump continues to grow and ankles are starting to swell a little bit.
What I miss?  Sleep(I realize that I won't have a good nights sleep for a long time!)  
Symptoms? Tired, dry and cracked lips, hip/back pain, heartburn, emotional, Braxton Hicks, slight cankles at the end of the day
Cravings? Anything sweet!  
Highlights this week:  Eli is moving and putting his butt into my side. I can't believe he is big enough for me to move him! Last week, he had the slight hiccups and I felt him! Once in a while if something is on my belly, he will kick it and actually move it! It's so weird to see it move!
Something I've done to prepare for baby: Finished my registry. This weekend is my baby shower!
Special gifts or things I've gotten for the baby: Today I got my first baby shower gift early. A dear friend of mine got me a bible for kids through the year. Each day it has a short bible story! So adorable. She also got me silk-lined security blanket. It's the same kind that her daughter used to carry around all the time(I babysat her daughter from 6 months-Kindergarten). It meant a lot to me! <3
 Special moment: Spending time with Travis talking about Eli and Travis playing with my belly trying to get Eli to move! :) Absolutely melts my heart!

29 weeks

        29 weeks! Not much to record. We are getting excited and nervous and more excited! I am starting to count down the weeks, 11 more to go! In one and a half weeks is my baby shower! Wow! Time has really flown. I have 8.5 more weeks of school and 11 for Elijah! So excited for this little miracle.

Stats! How far along? 29 weeks
How big is baby? Acorn Squash (about 15.2-17.7 inches and 2.25-3.38 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Exhausted, but it doesn't help I have a sinus infection! :( 
What I'm most excited about: To hold him and kiss him!
Weight? 224 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump continues to grow and ankles are starting to swell a little bit.
What I miss?  Sleep(I realize that I won't have a good nights sleep for a long time!) Symptoms? tired, hip/back pain, heartburn, emotional, slight cankles at the end of the day Cravings? Anything sweet! Highlights this week:  Nothing big
Something I've done to prepare for baby: nothing
 Special moment: Having my husband hold my belly with excitement. He keeps asking how much longer do we have to wait. I keep telling him he has about 3 more months! My husband responds, "He's been in there sooo long!" It's magically to see how excited Travis is getting for Elijah. I can't wait to share this miracle with him.

28 weeks and moving into the third trimester!

          Yesterday I had my 28 week appointment. Everything went smoothly. I gained 4 pounds since last apt(3 weeks ago). Not too shabby! I also had to take the Glucose Tolerance test! The orange stuff I had to drink wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be! I drank it like a champ! (Not to toot my own horn!) They said they would call me today ONLY IF I didn't pass and guess what? I didn't get a call, so I guess I passed! I was really nervous I wouldn't pass as I am overweight. Being overweight is a risk factor for Gestational Diabetes. Everything else went well. His heart is beating very strong. My Fungal height is good and in a good range. In a month I go in for an ultrasound to check on his head and brain. My dr. said that Eli should be 4 lbs by then! Crazy! I'm so excited to see how much he has grown! :) 12 more weeks and we meet this precious miracle.
        I'm still in awe that I am pregnant, not that I can forget that now! LOL! I just have to look down or try to get out of bed! Seriously though, just think one year ago, I was trying to do an IUI through the hospital and was so frustrated. God has a plan and his plan for me to get pregnant in October. His plan will always prevail. He always knows where he is leading me. I look back and it really was perfect planning that I got pregnant in October, because I have the whole summer to enjoy little Eli and helps with how much I have to take off. I thank God that he has a perfect plan. It reminds me that I need to remember to Trust in HIS timing and HIS plan, not Mine. I won't lie, infertility was one of the hardest journeys I've been on and I kicked and screamed a lot through it. But it's still God's plan and not mine that got me to where I am now.
        
Ecclesiastes 3:11

         New International Version (NIV)

        "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

     I am so excited to be pregnant and to have this miracle. I might complain about the aches and pains, but I am happy. It's all worth it! 

 
Stats! How far along? 28 weeks
How big is baby? Chinese Cabbage (about 14.8 inches and 2.25 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Exhausted  
What I'm most excited about: I can't wait to see what kind of personality he has!
Weight? 222 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump is growing and ankles are starting to swell
What I miss?  Feeling normal(between emotions, aches/pains, and getting big)
Symptoms? tired, hip/back pain, heartburn, emotional, slight cankles at the end of the day
Cravings? Anything sweet!
Highlights this week:  28 Week Apt.
Something I've done to prepare for baby: Got a Ford Escape, which is more car seat friendly than a truck!
 Special moment: Hearing my baby's heartbeat! Love that sound!