Backhanded by the Third Trimester

I'm sorry....what??

3rd trimester??

Already??

It can't be!

I'm not ready for this!!!

Didn't I just get a positive pregnancy test like a week ago?

Noo, more like months ago. Time is going by much too quickly for my liking, right now.

Yes, we are, apparently, in the final trimester of pregnancy.

It really does feel like the 3rd trimester has, pretty much, just slapped me in the face. All I want to do is sleep and eat.

Since my last post, a lot has happened. Or at least it feels like it.

We've dealt with new life. We've dealt with death. We've dealt with birthdays. We've dealt with road trips, heart break, ice storms, cankles, 'cabbage patch doll' like feet, calves the size of...well...lets not talk about how big they got during a 27 hour car ride. There were tears, and maybe some laughs just because I was so blasted exhausted, and perplexed.

About 3 weeks ago, we found out Grandpa was really sick. He was acting very out of character, being combative with the staff of the rehab center he lived in. He was refusing his meds, refusing his food, and running the hallways naked...VERY out of character for this sweet, loving, gentle man.

They told us his kidneys were failing, his blood sugar was critically high, his intestines were dying. The list when on. By that Friday he hadn't improved any at all. He was in a Critical Care Unit in Martinsville, VA. He was heavily sedated, because he kept ripping his IV's out. He was on a respirator because his breathing was so labored. He was on dialysis to try and give his kidneys a chance. By that Sunday, his liver was also failing. He passed away the following Saturday, after we decided to remove all life sustaining treatment. More on this in a different post. I was okay when we first heard about his death, but now if I try to write about any of it, I will cry...again. So, later.

The Friday afternoon that Grandpa started dialysis, Deborah and I decided we were going to make the 1700 mile drive to see him one last time and say our goodbyes. We were on the road by 9:00 PM. The ride out went rather smoothly. I wasn't uncomfortable in the car...much, anyway. We made the dizzying trip down Virginia highways, making it to our hotel in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

We checked in, and carried all our stuff to our room. I peeled my my socks and pants, and discovered that my feet, ankles, legs, and knees were not my own. Shocked and perplexed I asked Deb if I was seeing things or if my legs really were twice their normal size. They were indeed. Fluid filled, swollen, purple, tingly nightmare.

With my other two pregnancies, I never had any swelling. At all. The nurses in labor and delivery joked that they were going to take pictures of my ankles because they were so beautiful.

I know, all pregnancies are different. But still, I was startled....and terrified.

When we went to visit Grandma in the rehab center, one of the nurses checked my blood pressure. It was super high compared to my normal, but not dangerously high. (More on the visit with Grandma later...again, I'm not emotionally stable right now.)

By the time we got home, early the next Thursday morning, my blood pressure was back to normal. My feet and legs, however, kept their swollen state for a few days. They're fine now as long as I don't wear shoes for more than like 3 hours.

My footwear of choice are my pink and white stripped flip flop slippers. It will probably stay that way for the next 3 months...or so.

Anyway, the 3rd trimester is here. Baby shower plans are in full swing. All I want to do is eat and sleep, previously mentioned, I believe. The numbers on the scale are climbing. My belly button has officially popped out.

I guess my theory of the baby being ready to come out when the belly button pops is now invalid. Bummer.

Isaiah asked me why it's taking so long for the baby to come out. He wants to hold her. : )

Jayme says we're going to call her Melon. I said we'll have to wait and see how big her head is first.

We have a check up on Wednesday. I'm curious to know if I passed my glucose test. I'm nervous about it this time, for some reason.

My wedding ring is stored safely in it's box because it no longer fits. My engagement ring still fits...only because it has a thinner band than the wedding ring. Plus, my hand feels kinda naked without it.

Here are some pictures documenting the growth of The Belly. ; )

27 Weeks

28 Weeks. (I feel like a cow, this week)

A Baby Update & A Few Funnies

A Baby Update

We had a baby check up, today! She is growing well, apparently, due to a very substantial placenta. My midwife, Laurie, says the reason Madalynne is measuring big is because she has a super great blood supply.

She said that most women either have a posterior placenta, or an anterior placenta. Mine is both. She said it's measuring well within acceptable ranges, so to not worry.

I was unreasonably excited about this news. I don't know why.

Even though I nearly stroke out every time I weigh myself, my weight gain is right on track...so they say.

3 weeks from today, the 3rd Trimester will begin. I can't believe it! This pregnancy is going by rather quickly, and I'm not sure that I'm okay with it. Regardless of all the pregnancy aches and pains, I truly love being pregnant. Nothing strikes my fancy quite like having a tiny human perform his or her acrobatics in my womb. I know...it's a bit sappy. And by 37 weeks, I'm DONE! But we're in that super happy 'baby moves all the time, responding to voices and sounds' phase. I LOVE IT!

Speaking of aches and pains...I've been running this whole pregnancy. Mostly without any issues. Yesterday, I barely made it a 1/4 mile before my uterus was so pissed I had to stop and sit down. I nearly burst into tears.  My running shoes have officially been retired until after this pregnancy is over. I'm a bit sad, but I know it's for the best. Goodbye for now, old friend. Yoga will have to do for now. Don't get me wrong. Yoga is pretty great, too. Running has just been my go to exercise/'stress reducer' for quite some time.

25 Weeks

A Few Funnies

Jon stopped by on his way to work, yesterday, to pick up a few more tools he needed. He was getting ready to head out the door when Jayme yelled for him. "Dadddddy!!! Don't leave, yet! (and in her best singing voice) I neeeeed a kiiiiiiiss!" He followed her voice to the bathroom. She says "Not yet! Hold on! I'm pooping!!"

I almost want to apologize because so many of my stories involve pooping...but uh, they wouldn't be funny without the pooping.

I really thought I had a few more funny happenings to share, but my brain is rebelling once again. I'm quite sure there are more...maybe I'll think of them later.

Some Baby Love

For those of you who missed the announcement via Facebook, Baby #3 is a girl! 

Jayme was right about that one! ;) However, she was a little upset when she learned baby girl's name would not be Princess, but instead Madalynne Danielle. She says that Madalynne is too hard to say. We'll stay clear of the nickname 'Maddie'...it's much too close to nicknames of other family members. It's best to avoid any confusion. We shall see what nicknames stick when little miss makes her big entrance. 

It's beginning to look like 'morning sickness' will just be a sporadic happening through this entire pregnancy. As long as I don't mix bananas and peanut butter, and as long as I don't eat raw tomatoes we're mostly okay. 

Exhaustion is setting in again, even though we're still a few weeks away from the 3rd Trimester. I'd be super happy going to bed at 6:30 most nights. Daily nap time will start happening for this mama very very soon! 

Last night was the first night I had a hard time getting comfortable. I guess it's time to bring out my pal, the body pillow. And I'm gonna have to start sleeping reclined soon....or just quit eating after 4:00 PM. Freaking heart burn. 

My feet cramp if I'm on them too much, but can't say I blame them. Foot cramps suck. That is all.

One morning, a couple weeks ago, Isaiah tells me "Mom! Look! Your belly is growing up!!" 

Thanks, kid. I hadn't noticed. ;)

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

Madalynne - 24 Weeks

In other news; I have a new nephew!! That's right! My pretty baby sister is a mama! On Saturday the 29th of December at 4:41 AM, sweet Zachary Parker made his grand entrance. He's quite the looker, and he has his Auntie wrapped around his tiny finger, already.