My trip to the Triage of Labor and Delivery EARLY Friday Morning

So I had false labor on Monday, and the next day I started feeling really swollen and a little itchy, I figured I was going in Thursday I would talk to the doctor about it then. So Wednesday it got a little worse and then Thursday morning I was really itchy and the doctor thought that I had eaten too much salt for dinner the night or two before causing swelling and itching. I have been losing about a pound a day, and my blood pressure was perfect, so she didn't see a problem other than me just swelling up. She told me to put hydrocortizone on my hands to help with the itching. I went home and it started getting really bad really fast. By 6 or 7 I told Evan that something was wrong and I started itching all over my body, I called my mom for advice and tried to down as much water as I could to flush out the swelling. Well, we ended up calling my friend and asking for advice, since she works with pregnant women, and her husband came over to help Evan give me a blessing around 10:00pm. It was a good blessing and I felt comforted, and felt that I needed to call the nurse, but wanted to chug more water first. So by the time I called around 11:00, the nurse told me that I needed to take benedryl and soak in baking soda water.
before swelling and then after swelling up around 11pm(not even half of what it became)



After finding the benedryl and soaking and crying lots because my hands, face, legs, feet and back of my head were all now swollen, itchy, burning, covered in hives and welts, I tried going to sleep just after midnight. I told Evan that I might need to wake him up in the middle of the night to help me or drive me to the ER. I woke up around 1:30 and hurt so much and my hands were now doubled in size and I couldn't even bend my fingers, they had to stay straight because of how swollen they were. I was in tears, and Evan was getting everything ready to take us to the hospital. We got to the hospital around 2am, and they hooked us up to the monitors and started working on what the problem was.



They thought that I had eaten something to cause this reaction, but nothing new was introduced into my diet. They said I didn't overeat on salt, that wouldn't have caused this much of a reaction. My blood pressure was perfect again, and everything was getting ruled out for a different cause. I was in SOOO much pain..I could hardly move, and I itched and burned soooo much. They made little ice packs for me to hold onto to try to calm my hands down. After getting a urine sample and blood work drawn up, I had to wait for those results and for the attending doctor to finish a c-section before she could come help us. Meanwhile the monitors showed the baby was perfect and happy inside of me:)..(doesn't she know she needs to come out already!!!!)

We didn't get a picture at my worst point, but my fingers looked something like these that I found on the internet....
(not my hands)

So, Evan watched sports center and tried staying awake for me, and I kept trying to get comfortable while drifting in and out of sleep. The entire time I was hooked up to monitors and Evan kept trying to videotape our baby moving...she moved SOOO much, and we finally got a good video of her towards the end. (Everytime we tried getting her on video this pregnancy, she would be camera shy) They had great ice for me to chomp on...I have been craving ice this entire pregnancy!!! (I love Sonic ice)

Finally around 7am, they were allowed to give me benedryl and send me home with a week supply of steroids. I was still swollen, I can't hold things very well because of the pressure and burning and itchy feelings, so Evan is doing TONS for me.

We got discharged at 7:30 and went home. We went through the drive thru pharmacy at RiteAid to get more bendryl and finally made it home. Evan showered and went off to work. Poor guy, no sleep and had to work still. I slept all day, the Benedryl really knocks you out! Evan came home and crashed as well. He said that a lady at work swelled up right before delivering, so maybe this is a good sign???

I was totally bummed out because I was going to have breakfast with the Mia Maids, and I couldn't function, so they switched it to a different house. While I was working on this blog, they all stopped by with a card...so sweet!!!!! I love my Mia Maid girls! I hope this baby comes soon so that I can do more activities with them.

I am feeling a little better, just extrememly itchy and still have hives all over and some swelling. I wish It could all go away right now, but I guess I am having the trial now, and will be blessed with a baby afterwards...

So now, we are nearing the 38 week mark..we shall see:)

False Alarm

Saturday and Sunday were really crummy days for me physically, and I had spotting Sunday, so I was told to come in today to get checked out, and after getting checked and being dilated another cm, they put me on the stress test monitor, and concluded that they thought I was in early labor. So they sent me home walk around and told me to return in 3 hours and get checked again. Evan left work early just in case it was hospital time. He was very cute and happy!!

I was hurting sooo much and could barely walk. Evan gave me a blessing and it helped calm me down and bring me peace. We went in but then found out that labor either stopped or slowed down, so I was told to go home and rest a lot and monitor contractions. After a long 4 hour nap, I woke up a little sore, but feeling better.

Thanks to all of you for your support...she will come soon, I hope!!! for now I will be patient..and enjoy my week 37:) I will post a couple pictures. the one with the green shirt is from last Friday and the others are from today...

my update....

So no baby yet, I think she just likes being in me too much:) No sign of going early, but good sign that I am effacing. We went to the doctor today, and she is measuring beautifully and all my vitals are awesome!!! I guess I just need to be patient and not hope for an early baby. Today I actually felt really good and got lots of chores done. I still hurt and my muscles are sore, but that is still a good thing for me anyway, especially since I have been in tears and the worst pain ever for aobut 4 days now:) I guess I will update next week when I am full term:) YAY!

week 36

So I am really hoping that Lucy gets to land on one of my siblings birthdays...that would be awesome! Tina's is April 26 and a few other friends as well, so that would be a fun day! Or April fool's day...that would make for some fun birthdays in the future!!! I decided she shouldn't come for a week or two, so her birthday wouldn't get overlooked by General Conference, and making it to 38 weeks would be good for her lungs right? I will take any day though, hopefully she can come when she is ready and healthy and ready to meet us. Plus, Evan has a baseball game next weekend, and that would be sad if he missed that...GO PHILLIES!, I mean Rockies:) haha. I can't wait for my mother to come out. She is such a great woman and example and I am so grateful that she is willing to come out and help, I wouldn't have it any other way!!! I can't wait to take a 3 generation picture with her. I wonder if Lucy will get any of the Danish looks or genes. This morning Evan was funny, he asked me if I would do a favor and I said yes, and he asked me to please watch a movie that he had rented for me(he wants to return it already). He was so cute, I just finished watching it, "Secret Life of Bees" GREAT MOVIE, 5 stars!...off to take a nap:)

Potentially scary pictures:):):)

So here are some pictures Evan took..he liked getting different angles. I am almost 36 weeks, and feel like I could go any day now. Since I am a high risk pregnancy I get to go take another ultrasound on Tuesday and make sure everything is fine and get the exact size of the baby. I go weekly for my appointments starting this week, so that is nice. I found out that I am 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated, and feel like I am dilating more, if you can even really feel that. My hips feel like they are separating, and lots of pressure down south, and I am pretty sure my mucus plug is starting to disappear. Lots of fun and extra mood swings and hormone imbalances...Evan is being a great sport. I am definitely 'nesting' and also need a lot more sleep. Swelling is just a normal thing now and I look like a puffy marshmallow with fun stretch marks. Braxtin Hicks also like to take over my entire day and night...yay for pregnancy, and yay that it is almost to an end with a beautiful surprise. I swear they have my due date delayed...

a 13 week difference YIKES!

So I wanted to see what I looked like when I first started showing until now, and so here it is. From about week 22 until week 35. I can only imagine week 40:)

I go in for my 35 week check tomorrow, and I am hoping they tell me I am further along than I really am...I think I am ready for this baby to be in my arms, and not in the way of rolling over in bed or bending over:)

Evan has Spring Break this week, so I am glad I have his company this week:) We are even goig to attempt swimming at the gym..I think I need a new bathing suit:) He is going skiing Wednesday with his brother, so we are praying that if the baby did come early, to just not come on that day.

Cheers!

Diaper Deal of the Day!

DIAPER DEAL OF THE DAY!!!



So I already made a post about diapers, but here is the continuing story. Evan thought we should buy more diapers, so he managed to find more computers to print more coupons, which we didn't even use all of them(all different barcodes), we gave the rest to Amy and hopefully she got some great deals too! We now have tons of diapers in every size, and are pretty sure Lucy's bum is covered and there should be extras for our next baby:)

Evan went to two more Albertson's and one Walmart(who matches prices) and combined with his three trips and our first trip, here are the numbers:

Diapers: 2063
Cost: $197.08
Saved: $438.68
Cost per diaper: .955 cents less than a dime a diaper:)

I love it! all of her diapering for under $200! Thanks Chrystal for posting about the Albertson's advertisement!

Æbleskiver....Danish Pancakes

So if you didn't already know, my mother is from Denmark, and I love the traditions of the Danish people. She recently introduced Æbleskiver. If you google it, you would just type 'ebleskiver'. It is like a pancake and a popover combined, and you can fill it with fruit, chocolate, etc., and dust them with powdered sugar. Syrup could be used as well. SO YUMMY! After visiting her during Christmas and eating this yummy new food, I had to buy a pan and try them out in my own home. Here are some pictures! Evan absolutely loves them, and I am thinking it would be a great holiday tradition to make these. Ebleskiver are usually eaten during holidays or festivities.






I love my mom's pan the best, and she has a gas stove, which I also think works the best. I don't have a gas stove and my pan is from William and Sonoma, so maybe one day I will get to buy a cast iron pan and use it on a gas stove, for now, mine works just great! We didn't fill our's with anything for this batch, but I think we are going to try adding apples to the middle next time. YUM YUM!

Huggies!!! and Daddy Bootcamp

So I am all about couponing and saving money. I grew up watching my mother clip coupons and save lots of money, I still have a few of her old "non expiration date" coupons like Cabbage Patch cereal:) A few of my friends told me about coupons.com and couponsurfer.com and the great deal at Albertson's, I think there was one at Walgreens too. I live near Albertson's, so I went in with Evan, and bought 12 packs of Jumbo size diapers, totalling 433 diapers, and the bill was originally $137.60, and after the in-store sale and my coupons, I walked out paying ony $41.63. WOW!!! What a deal! Even better than Costco!!! You can only print off so many coupons per computer, so we are going to try to find more computers and buy more before the deal ends.... How can you beat 9.5 cents per diaper...I guess free is better, but I feel like I got a STEAL! I now feel more prepared incase I deliver early. It was cute buying diapers with Evan...He is going to be a cute daddy.

Evan went to a Daddy BootCamp this week. He loved the class and said it was better than the other two classes we did together. It was for fathers taught by a man. He got to hold a baby and thought that was cute, even though the baby spit up on him:) He came home and cleaned the house and was extra sweet to me, it must have been a great class!

YAY for Babies, and only 7 more weeks for us, unless I come early. I go to my next appointment in 2 weeks, and will see if I am dilated any or efaced...That would be nice to go a little early. I am getting so big people ask me if I am having twins or due any day. I have to explain that I am just carrying her right on top of my belly. And I have a waddle in my walk now as well..yikes!

Little Lucy's baby shower...

I had a great baby shower on Saturday, and I got to see a few old friends and get some really fun stuff for Lucy. For those who couldn't come, I would love to see you sometime. I find myself missing people more and more as I become less able to get out and play...but I LOVE being pregnant and knowing that I have a miracle baby soon to arrive in about 7 weeks, even if it does mean some "fun" pregnancy symptoms along the way.

Amy did a great job at hosting the baby shower, especially since she has a sick little girl only a month old now. She was able to do so much and recruited a few others to help out. It was a very fun shower, and I loved everything about it! She had great decorations, fun and food. THANKS AMY!!!!!



My sister Tina is wonderful! She came with a few of her children, her 2 week old and two little girls. She brought some yummy food, great game and fun advice for me. I am so lucky to have her near me, especially since I am a worry wart about a lot of things and she knows how to calm me, answer my silly questions, and be a great friend!

My two visiting teachers Alisa and Summer, friends now for about 4 years, were able to help out as well. Alisa made a great chicken salad and rolls, and her punch bowl was so cute. It had floating rubber duckies in it..such a great idea!!! Summer had a fun memory game that we were able to win candy bars like a "Mounds" for the word "engorgement:)

Amanda made the best crab dip ever, and I think I ate most if not all of it. That stuff is dangerously delicious!!! I wish I would have taken a picture!

My sister-in-law Cindy did a phenomenal job making three cakes. One we get to keep forever:) She made a round cake out of styrofoam and covered with fondant. It was like a cake from "Ace of Cakes". She topped it off with what she thinks little Lucy will look like. SO CUTE! I couldn't stop staring at it.







I loved seeing everyone, and although I felt like I was going through Menopause because I was so overheated and sweaty, I had a great time and really appreciate all of the lovely gifts for Lucy. I hope that I can help someone else get started for a baby as well. I can't wait to hold Lucy in my arms and kiss her and just touch and stare at her. I think baby feet are the cutest! (My face gets so round when I smile...too funny)


She kicks me so much, and I think that she is definitely getting a strong personality and some soccer legs. Evan had to freeze her out with a bag of frozen veggies the other night because she was being stubborn and wouldn't move out of my ribs as she kicked them. Also, she will kick and toss and turn soooo much, and then right when I ask Evan to come feel, she stops, I think she is pretending to be a good girl for Evan. HAHA

Sunday and 8 more weeks to go...

32 weeks/8 more to go the size of a Jicama, just image that with legs and arms too. Around 17 inches long and almost 4 lbs

So, I have had some great things happen in the last couple of weeks. I have met new people, rekindled old friendships, had help in more ways than I could ask for and my life is just really going well, despite challenges that try to creep up on me. Recently I hung out with some friends and realized how happy they were, and wanted to reflect on my own life. A few of you have blogs called Thankful Thursdays, but I think I will start reporting on being thankful today, even though it is Sunday:) Then I will try to on Thursdays...:)

1. Amanda, Lexi and Evan really helped me clean my house. They helped with my nesting needs, and the house is so clean I can hardly take it:) I don't want to start any projects because I love the calm and peace I feel by not seeing boxes everywhere, and in two rooms boxes don't even exist anymore:) YAY! There is freedom when the mess is gone:)

2.Good friends. I am thankful for the phone calls, texts, emails, notes, etc of friends. I think being pregnant brings on a lot of doubtful thoughts and challenges of not being able to do the things I used to do, but I have received so much encouragement, I am not able to sit and wallow in sadness for very long.

3. Puffs Tissues. We have gone through boxes and boxes of tissues lately, and they finally went on sale at Target, I bought 12 boxes. They are the best tissues, they don't crumble or make a mess, and they always treat our noses right.

4. The zoo. What a great place to walk around and have peace. I have tried getting exercise and it has been fun to go to the zoo a couple times and walk and enjoy the great "winter/spring" weather we are having and love the animals that our Heavenly Father created.

5. Evan!!!! Without him, I don't know what I would be doing. I love him so much and his patience surprises me. He has been my backbone and cheerleader. He laughs at me at just the right times, and doesn't get offended by my pregnant hormonal ways:) He loves me very much!

6. Smiles. I have had lots of random people smile at me and I have been able to smile at lots of strangers. Smiles have so much of a positively powerful outcome, I think we should all strive to smile more and see how it changes our lives, especially when exchanging smiles with those we may not know. It is contagious!!!

I will be 32 weeks this week, and am grateful I am nearing the end. I have had many ups and downs with this pregnancy, and I am sure will miss it a little when it is over, but I am so truly excited to hold my little girl and to see Evan with his daughter:) We have been blessed so much and I know that the Lord has everything in His hands and in His timing. I am blessed!

31 weeks down only 9 more to go:)

So my third trimester so far has been crazy. I have been sick with a bad cold and ear infection in both ears for almost 3 weeks...I am finally hearing normally again and am almost done with my antibiotics..the second round in three weeks. (they gave me the wrong kind the first time) Thank you everyone for the dinners and help while I was so sick! I had lots of morning sickness and heartburn and other pregnancy symptoms for most of the pregnancy, and just when I thought I was feeling better and was really good for about a month, my 3rd trimester started and it all returned...lucky me:) But really, I feel so blessed to be pregnant, I shouldn't complain. This will all be over soon:) I have discovered though that potatoes and pasta and cereal are my new favorite foods, since they don't make me sick and I can hold them down..nice eh?:)

Evan was gone a couple days for work and that was a little difficult for me, since I got used to him helping me with things that I can't do anymore, like reaching into the sink and unloading the dishwasher successfully. Even turning out the lights and letting me go upstairs before him, getting in and out of the car. He really is a great husband and helps me with soooo much! I am so lucky to have him.

We are getting ready to have company this weekend, and other things coming up, so I really need to clean the house. He is great to clean with, especially since he can bend and carry things:) I am totally going through a nesting phase, and since we are house-sitting for another year, it has been difficult knowing how to fill this nesting need. All of our stuff is still boxed up for the most part. We need to go through it again and figure out what we can do with all of our stuff. We are trying to become more organized financially, physically, emotionally, all of the "ally's". Life runs so much better when you know what you are doing. I can't wait to have my own house and use my own things, and know where they all are. We are totally blessed to be house-sitting right now, but I can't wait to not have to be in the "living out of a suitcase" mode. For now, Evan and I do what we can, and looking at the baby room is awesome. It is the cleanest part of the house, and we know exactly where everything is in the room..small victories:) Well, if anyone ever wants to have a sort through and organize Hilary's stuff party..let me know:)

I hope I can get on the ball of taking more pictures of my growing belly..because it sure grows more and more each week, if not day:) Lucy kicks all of the time and it is awesome watching her toss and turn and guess what body part is sticking out:)

For those who want to read a funny but yucky story:... I picked Evan up from his conference today, and on the way home we had to stop somewhere, and just as we were nearing our stop, Evan made me laugh for like 3 minutes straight and I couldn't control myself, I peed my pants in the car...I couldn't stop laughing, which made me laugh harder and lose even more control. Let's just say the car is clean, but Evan had to go into the store by himself..oh..the pregnancy memories I will cherish:)

Sick

So I have been sick for over a week now, seems like almost two. It started out with me just feeling tired and worn out, I thought I was just in one of those moods. then I started coughing tons and could not sleep. I think I have averaged about 25-30 hours over the last week and a half with naps and bedtime sleep. I have been going downstairs in the middle of the night, attempting to sleep in the recliner and not keep Evan up with my coughing and congestion. I figured it was just a cold, and thought that I could just rest it away, and Monday I went in for my glucose test, and told the doctor I wasn't feeling so well. I got some suggestions and then when I tried sleeping that night, rolled over in bed and felt like my ear drums had burst. Both of them hurt sooooo much! I decided I needed to go back to the doctor. Evan woke up and found me in the recliner, and I couldn't move..I was in the worst pain ever! Well, I went to the doctor and he said that I have little holes/perforations in both ear drums and should be treated for an ear infection. So I am on antibiotics, which are already helping. I hope that I get better soon, especially since we had a fun Valentine's Day weekend planned. I am very grateful the dinners friends have brought over, and my home-teacher coming over and helping to administer to me. I can't wait until I can breathe normally again and sleep a full nights sleep:)

PS Lucy is kicking and doing well... 11 more weeks:) the other night she kicked Evan in the face when he was listening to her..it was hilarious!

Homemade Pizza

Growing up my mom homemade pretty much everything, in fact I could count on one or two hands how many times we ate out. We all loved her homemade pizza as well as a bunch of our friends, they still talk about it. I don't have cool pizza pans like my mom yet, but last night we made two very yummy pizzas. Pepperoni and a Pizza with Artichoke hearts, alfredo sauce, red onion and tomatoes. YUM! I hope that the more I make it the better I will get at it, and the better shaped they will get too:) I forgot to take a picture of the out of the oven look, so I took it of the remaining pieces gathered together...it was yummy!

Generosity of all of you!!! THANKS!

I have been blessed all of my life by other people's generosity. I can remember growing up and getting hand-me-downs, which I loved, presents, Christmas trees, food, invited to paid events, money, etc. I have learned that it is okay and sometimes necessary to accept help and kindness from others, no matter how difficult it is sometimes.

Evan and I tried for a couple of years to get pregnant, which was a challenge because I have PCOS-polycystic ovarian syndrome, cysts on my ovaries and a hormone imbalance. I always wanted to be a mother, and it is finally my time. It has been a humbling period of time in my life, and I am grateful for all that I am learning.

To that, many friends and family and strangers for that matter have been so excited for us and asked if there was anything we need for us or for the baby. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!!!! Recently a friend dropped off some adorable clothes for us and got me thinking of how lucky I really am. It was such a huge blessing, as we are struggling to save money right now, paying off debt and trying to get to the point where we don't have to live paycheck to paycheck. I have been very blessed by sooo many people's generosity and kindness, I couldn't say thank you enough!!!

So thank you to all of you. You are angels in our lives, and I hope to repay you all somehow some day. I know the Lord works through all of us, so thank you for listening to Him and blessing our lives. THANKS a million times over!!!!!

Babies, Baths and Bundles class

So I signed Evan and myself up for a few baby classes, and we had our first today. Babies, baths and bundles. It was awesome!!! We learned some things like how to dress, bathe, and soothe a baby from newborn to first months of life. The best part of the class for me was seeing Evan change the diaper and swaddle the baby in a blanket burrito style:) Evan is going to be the best daddy ever! Can't wait til our next class. Reminds me that I need to set up an appointment for checking our car seat...did you know that you should have your car seat set up in the middle of the back seat? I always wondered if there was a rule, and that is what they said, I am sure other people say other things, but that is what we will go with:)

26 weeks prego!!!

So, I think it is funny how you don't think you look so big until you see a picture of yourself, pregnant or just adding on a few pounds...sadly for me, when I smile my face gets very "cheery":) HAHA Well, here I am 26 weeks pregnant...wondering how much bigger I am really going to get...can't wait to see my feet again:) 14 more weeks:) and yes, I sport the pigtails a lot more lately..much easier and less work:)

I guess she is about 14 " now and nearing the 2 lb mark. The other night, I had ice cream for only the 2nd or 3rd time being pregnant, and she went wild. I saw her moving my belly like an alien was inside, and she kicked tons for about 2-3 minutes straight..what a silly baby!

A Day with Amy

So I got to spend the day before Amy's due date with her...check her out..She is so cute! Now she is just patiently waiting for her little girl to come...she is late:(


We started the day after her 40 week appointment, and saw Bride Wars. It is a cute movie, not one to buy, but a one time viewing is cute.

Then we went for really yummy and cheap Chinese food. $5.50 for an entree, soup, wantons and rice. It is up in Westminster next to Dairy Queen across from the Westminster Mall, I definitely want to eat there again..yum yum!
Amy is still in her nesting phase I think, we went and picked out fabric for the baby room Valence over the windows:)
Our two pregnant bellies! I am glad we are such great friends and having little girls at the same time:) We will have to take a picture again after we have both had our babies:)