BELLY-32 Weeks

For all of you DIE HARD BELLY PIC fans...(you know who you are)...

 

 

 

(pictures courtesy of PQ using my phone)

An Update From My 30 Week Visit

Sorry...no belly pics right now...stay tuned...hopefully I will post one later this weekend.

I had an appointment on Thursday and I literally brought a list of 'complaints' with me.  I keep saying that this pregnancy is different than PQ's and I genuinely think that my age is playing a huge role in it all (I'm not the chipper 27 year old that I was back then)...but after meeting with the doctor this past week, I realized that there were some other quirks going on this time around.  Yes...I'm still older...but there are some definite things to keep an eye on the next few weeks.  Stay tuned...and I promise, I will try not to complain about my discomfort.

Here is my list in no particular order (please don't judge me)...hahaha

*Shortness of Breath when sitting...duh! There is a human resting on my diaphragm, which makes it difficult to breath!

*Heartburn- again...I knew this was common...I just needed to say it out loud!

*Incontinence- no details needed...sigh...

*Night sweats (for the past 2 weeks)...hormonal and probably caused from the 5 pillows encasing my body at night while I sleep.

*Did someone mention sleep??!!??  Yeah...sleep discomfort...y'all know I LOVE to sleep.  But lately, it's almost a joke to expect that I'm going to get comfortable enough to sleep for a three hour chunk of time.  I toss from side to side (rearranging pillows as I go) and typically end up on the couch with pillows propped behind me and under my legs.  Oh joy...

*Charlie horse type cramps...in my legs, of course....but also in my HIPS!!  Seriously??!!??  In my hips??!!??  Thankfully I'm seeing a fantastic osteopathic doctor who is helping me cope with the hip and back discomforts.

*Braxton Hicks- I've been having them since week 18...nothing too wild and crazy...just different, considering I didn't have them during PQ's pregnancy.

*Cramping- dull period-type cramps...yikes...the doctor wondered if I was experiencing pre-term labor and ended up testing for a certain protein that is present when a woman is going to deliver that week.  Thankfully, the test came back negative but she did say that we need to be watchful of continued symptoms over the next few weeks.

*Pelvic pain/Scraping- I had this same thing with PQ's pregnancy.  It's not fun.  I get sharp, shooting pains that feel like a metal fork is scraping my insides.  That's the only way to describe it.  During my exam, the doctor was surprised at how low the baby is positioned.  She surprisingly could feel his head during the exam, so they said that they would keep a watchful eye on that as well.  It's a bit early for him to be so low in my pelvis.  (When I delivered PQ, he actually had a raw spot on his head from rubbing on my pelvic bone during the last few weeks of the pregnancy.  I'm just hoping this little guy doesn't have the head circumference that PQ had!  YIKES!)

To date, I've gained 24 pounds since the start of my pregnancy.  Based on my exam this week, I'm measuring exactly where I should be.  I am, however, 30% effaced already and the baby is extremely low in the pelvic floor.  The doctor wasn't overly concerned about any of this but she did say that we all need to be watchful that my symptoms don't continue to progress at rapid rates.  As much as I want to meet him, we really want this little guy to stay put for several more weeks.

So, that's me (us) in a nutshell.  Stay tuned...I promise I will post belly pics soon!

Here Am I- Mercy Me

For the past several months, we have been mentally preparing for PQ to head out of the country on a missions trip next summer.  Let's be honest, when PQ came to us and told us that he wanted to go on the trip, we didn't really think it would happen.  Sure, it's nice to say that we want to do things and then never do them.  And deep down, I thought that was what was going to happen.  But instead, our world was rocked by our determined son.  Not once has he ever thought that this trip would not happen.  He has been more determined about this trip than we have ever seen him be about anything in his life. 

I was recently stopped and asked "How are you able to let him go?" and my reply was instantly spoken.  It's all because of God.  He gives me a sense of peace about this entire trip.  He gives me rest when I grow restless.  He continues to prepare my heart for something that I could only dream of.  My son...my ten year old son has been given a desire to serve others on this trip.  It's something that every parents wants deep down.  We all want our children to grow up being productive, mindful members in society.  We want our children to grow up knowing that there is something bigger than them in this life and we want them to act on it.  And seeing my ten year old accept, tackle, and conquer the things that have been placed on his heart by God is simply beautiful to me. 

While driving in the car a few weeks ago, we heard an older song called Here Am I by Mercy Me come on the radio.  Up until that point, none of us had ever heard it.  But it absolutely captures what PQ has committed to do.  As I looked in my rear view mirror, I saw a sweet look on PQ's face.  When I asked him what the look was all about, he humbly told me that he was excited to see what God was going to do in Ecuador this upcoming summer.  He's excited about the upcoming trip (and deep down a little nervous to be gone for so long) but he's hopeful that God is going to move mountains (no pun intended).  PQ knows that God is in control and he knows that he is being obedient to what God has placed on his heart.

And as a mama, I couldn't ask for anything more.  I am over-the-moon proud of him.  He's stepping out of his comfort zone and doing the will of God.  He's stretching Papa H and I into places that we never dreamed we would go at this point in his life.  It's all Good because it's all for God!

Playing in the Snow with Aunt Mamie

A big THANK YOU to Aunt Mamie for taking the kids out in the snow this past weekend.  While visiting with Grampa H and Grammy JoJo, the kids had a chance to enjoy the cold snow with their aunt.  They had a blast playing in the snow with her!  And Sugar even made a snowman (2nd picture...you will see "Frosty's" arm sticking out of his head).  Check it out!

 

 



Baby Names

For the past several months, we have been throwing around baby names, hoping to come up with THE NAME for our youngest son.  If you know us, you know that we like unique names.  Not weird names, but unique names.  There is a difference, just so you know.  We like names that we aren't going to here every time we walk into the local Target.  And for months, we've struggled to nail down his forever name.  It's serious business!

But luckily, we still have time.  (Thanks for those little reminders, Country Mouse.)

If you're interested in hearing what we currently have swirling around in our minds, please let us know.  We would love to share our name ideas with you, if you're up for it.  I must let you know, however, that just because you don't like a name on our list doesn't mean that it's going to be taken off our list.  Sorry, folks!  But don't let that stop you...we would love to share this special list with you, if you are eager to cast your vote for your favorite name.