Words on Wednesday: 36wks

Well... almost 36 wks.  Tomorrow. :)
I can feel my body starting to get ready... of course that can happen for a month or more with no show of baby.. but it's promising anyway.  :)
Every evening I get a lot of contractions.  They are nothing serious, just braxton hicks... but at least my body is getting ready and at least they are somewhat regular... maybe, just maybe something is changing down there....
I go for my first non-stress test on Friday.  I don't think the Dr is going to check me or anything, but I won't resist if he wants to!
I am still desperately hoping for a June 30 baby, but that puts me only at 38w 2d.  I had Alaina at that point and she was fine... she didn't need to be delivered, although we thought she did.  I guess I hope for a "medical reason" but besides what we thought was a medical reason with Alaina (she appeared to be not growing, measuring only at 32wks, although she was fine) I haven't had anything go "wrong" that early.  Thankfully.
Then there's July 5... the day I turn 39wks... My Dr will induce me.  I did that with Matthew... but then felt guilty.  Also July 7 really stick in my head because of the 7th baby on 7/7 thing.. Only, that is a Saturday.  I do have an appt on July 6, I think so maybe I could just go in that evening and have baby after midnight again.  OR I could just WAIT.  If I get to July 12, I am pretty sure I will be induced.  I wish I was one of those super women that can just wait it out... but ugh... I am just too selfish for that.  Only it doesn't feel like selfishness at this point.. just survival, haha.
So.. bottom line is... we'll see!

A Little Something on Sunday: 35 1/2 wks

Well, here I am at 35w3d... sigh.... surprisingly my face doesn't look as fat in this pic as it really does in real life.... thankfully my chin doesn't look too doubled.  I am so discouraged though.  I weigh more than I have ever weighed in my entire life, including the pregnancies that I made it to 41wks. :( I still have 4 1/2 weeks to go at the most... I could weigh A LOT more.  I have gained 4lbs in the last few days.  I think, hope actually, that it is just water retention because I have been eating a lot of sunflower seeds before bed which are super salty. I have been watching my blood pressure and so far it's been fine.   A little higher than what is normal for me, but fine, nonetheless.  I am so sick of being pregnant and I just want to meet my baby so bad that I actually feel some disappointment when my blood pressure reads normal.  It's silly though, because I don't want to have the baby right now.  We have two weeks of swim lessons to get through that are already paid for.... and obviously it's too early still to meet him! Sure, he'd be okay, but I'd prefer at least another 2 weeks.  After swim lessons are over he can come ANY TIME though!!!  I am excited for my next appt when the Dr checks me... hoping I'll be good and dilated and then I might even get on the trampoline for some bouncing, lol... everynight.  Maybe we'll even go on walks.  Anything to make me think I am doing something to speed this along.  It's not that I just feel physically bad, but emotionally as well.  I am just so ready.  It's so worth it though.  When I am holding this baby boy in my arms, none of all of the aches pains and tears will matter anymore! I already love him so much!! Pregnancies are just hard, especially at the end.  Just praying that it goes fast... that's all I want.  And no more weight gain.

Thursday's Thoughts: Quilting Update

Here is the finished quilt for baby Joshua! It's kind of wrinkled because 1) I don't think I sewed straight enough... and 2) I thought it was so cozy I actually slept with it one night, haha! Overall, though, I am happy with how it turned out.

I put fleece on the back which worked very well! It's sooo soft and I didn't need batting so it saved money, and I think time. :) Now I just need to make curtains with the same fabric.  I thought it was the cutest firetruck fabric out there!

Here's the quilt I made for Elise... the hardest part was lining up all the rectangles! Other than that it was pretty easy.  I bought the fabric already cut.. cheating, I know! :) The back is a soft blanket that belonged to Danielle.  She let me have it, I was soo happy!  My only other option was hot pink fleece and I didn't want THAT much pink on it!

Here's the flower up close.  It wasn't hard to make, I just cut the shapes and then zigzagged around the edges.  Hoping it doesn't fray.  Next one will be Matthew's.  I figured I'd do one for each kid for their birthdays, that way I have a goal (deadline) for each kid that I will hopefully stick to!

Take on Tuesday: Nesting 34 1/2 weeks

Well, I spent last week with my wonderful Grandma Marie! I brought along Danielle, Matthew and Elise.  Steven had the week off so he kept the other three kids.
We had a great relaxing time. We went to Pizza Hut, Pamida and Alco one day.  Another day we went to Wayne's Variety (the rock shop) and the kids picked out a couple little things.  We also went to "Out to Lunch", a restaurant on another day.  Marilyn Johnson, one of Grandma Marie's friends (my Grandpa Duane's second cousin, I think) stopped by and she gave me $50.  All because she thinks I am a good mom and she likes that I am raising them to love God.  :) So, that was nice.
On one of the days Danielle went to the farm and another we went to Adams to see my Dad, Amy and baby Ruger who is almost 2 yrs now!
Mostly we just relaxed and spent hours talking to Grandma....

I just have to say though... Grandma's house is SO clean and SO organized that I got home and suddenly every mess, every finger print on the wall... every baseboard smudge, every crum and ALL the clutter - everywhere was just overwhelming to me.  The day after I got home I organized my closet.  Yesterday, Danielle organized the pantry.  I still have the fridge, the medicine cabinet, the EVERYTHING!!!  Today I plan to start tackling that.  Yesterday I had a Dr appt (I am 1cm dilated!) and we went to Applebees with Steven and then Walmart, so it wasn't a good day to organize.

So, here's my list of things that need (or I want) to be done before baby is born.
1)  Buy him a carseat
2)  Clean out the bassinette and decide if I can use it still
3)  Put newborn and up to 3mos clothes in his dresser
4)  Before that I need to completely empty it out, some of Elise's things are still in there
5)  Make "BOY" curtains
6)  find a pattern and make a red bumper for the crib
7)  maybe even make a wall hanging with remaining fabric
8)  Clean carpets, even if with just water
9)  organize medicine cabinet
10) Clean out fridge
11) Make more hats and diaper covers
12) Organize Matthew's closet
12) organize Johanna and Alaina's closet
13) wipe down walls and baseboards
14) windex windows
16) organize laundry room
17) hang pictures in basement

On my long term list...
1) repaint all baseboards and doors

So... I don't know, I just feel like I must be nesting.  I normally don't care about all this stuff.  I mean sure I want my house clean and organized, but I almost NEVER get the motivation to do it.  Now if my hip would just cooperate! :) We'll see...
I'll update again soon I am sure!

Mundane Monday: so tired - 31 weeks

I just don't think it's possible to be anymore tired!!!
To update in pregnancy news, I am taking a lot more naps - they don't seem to help a lot.  I am taking a hot bath every night for the sore ligaments and muscles - not helping a ton.  I am now seeing a chiropractor for my hip that is just slightly out of place, but it's enough to cause discomfort.  Hopefully that will start to help but for now it's just causing more soreness.
Having a lot more contractions and cramping.  Nothing to be concerned about, but they are bothersome sometimes, especially if I get upset, then they are worse. 
I am gaining weight.  Only a few lbs from being my highest weight ever.... but enough weeks left that I know I'll go over... :(
Swelling, too....
yeah.  I am a delight today... full of complaints!
Baby is moving a lot, his kicks are much harder now! I really can't wait to meet him.  I just would love it if he came at the end of June.  That would put me at 38 1/2 weeks... so just hoping hoping hoping... my babies always come later than that unless I am induced....
The earliest I can have an elective induction is July 5... but once I get into July and the disappointment wears off that I didn't have a June baby I might just try to make it to my due date.  Or at least wait until the 7th and have my 7th baby on 7/7... we'll see.
I am just so ready.  It's not only physical, but emotional.  I cry so easily, my patience is thin.  I look so forward to summer, but yet scared I will be a cranky Mommy. 
We'll see though. 8 1/2 wks til my due date.....

Take On Tuesday: 28 1/2 weeks

I am almost 29 weeks pregnant!!! It's getting so close, yet so far away still.  I am anxious to meet my new little boy! It's strange to say "meet" because I've "known" him for almost 7 months now! I know that he's active in the evening and that he's already found his favorite comfy position in my tummy.... His feet are always on the right top side of my belly.  Head down, which is great.  I know that he gets hiccups every evening around the same time.  Other than that, I don't know a whole lot? Who will this little guy look like? Will he like to sleep? Will he LOVE to nurse like his big sisters and brother have? Will he like trains and legos like Matthew? I am so excited to officially meet him, o see him and touch him and smell him.  I can't wait to kiss his fuzzy little head. It's going to be great to not feel the pregnancy aches and pains, but I will miss sleeping through the night.  Each child is so different and so unique, I just love getting to know each and every one. It will be no different with this little boy. 

As far as names go, we are thinking he will be Joshua Mark.  We've always loved the name Joshua, but when I was pregnant with Matthew I changed my mind.  I knew he wasn't a Joshua... I just knew he was a Matthew.  This time around, we both have no names that just stand out to us and the kids are set on Joshua.  Plus it's a great name with a great meaning.  "God is my salvation."

In other baby news, my good friend Shelby had a baby boy yesterday!!!! So she has 5 girls and 2 boys like I will have. They are almost in the same birth order except her first boy was number 4 (and then she had 2 girls after him) and Matthew is #5... Other than that though, almost the same and our kids are even very close in age.  Most with in a couple months of one another.  I just think that's pretty cool.

So I think that's it in pregnancy news.  My weight is high (pushing 170 now) and my blood pressure is normal.  I am always measuring right on and the heart rate is always good.  At the last u/s he weighed almost 2lbs.. which is normal!!

So with that being said, I am signing off!

Thursday's Thoughts: Quilting update

Well, not much to update! We haven't made much progress since the last update.  Katie and Danielle have started sewing their squares together, but they were looking kind of "bunchy" so I wanted to wait until a quilting meeting to get some help from Jeanne or Cheri.  It just hasn't worked out to meet in the last 6 ish weeks!
My quilt on the other hand is coming along.  I got it all sewn together! It's more bunchy then I'd like, but it's doable.  I went and bought a piece of fleece for the back, but haven't sewn it on because I want to wait for guidance.  :)  Almost done though!
Here it is...

I also plan on making curtains for the boys' room with the same fabric.  That I could do with out a back on it so I have no excuses there! Need to get on it! :)