7 Quick Takes

Before I get started...thanks Leila for answering my question on my post yesterday. It has been something that has been eating at me for a really long time. Noe I wish I could just wish I could get him and the rest of the family to understand this. I feel like he doesn't understand his faith enough to get it and unfortunately neither does his family. They are steering him wrong. :(

So Anyhoo...let the quick takes begin!

1. I'm having lunch with a woman I met through working with the teenagers at church. She is a bit older than me (I believe late 30's) but we have so much in common. She and her husband suffered through IF for 11 years. They just finally had a baby girl this past February. Her little girl is one of the sweetest, most adorable little girls I have ever seen. It's kinda funny though. I always noticed her at church and one day our priest did the blessing of expecting parents at our 6pm Mass. It's never done then. It's always once a month at the 9:30am Mass. I remember she and her husband walking up to the front (he did it special for them) and tears started streaming down my face. However, I stead of my usual sad, poor me, tears I had nothing but tears of joy for them. I did not know them at the time. I had no real knowledge of their struggles. But I just knew. I knew this was special. It's like all of us IF girls have this unspoken bond. What a blessing!

2. It's Friday and I still haven't heard from my doctor about my gestational diabetes test. They said they would call by the end of the week but only if there was a problem. Fingers crossed they don't call today!

3. We are leaving for Orlando in less than a week! Wahoo! I'm such a 5 year old! I live Disney and am so glad we don't live too far. An hour, hour and a half away, tops. My 28th birthday is on Sunday the 19th and we are celebrating with my best friend S by going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas. We have done this almost every year since K and I have been together. It's AWESOME! I cannot wait! I told K we need to get some bump pictures in front of Cinderella's Castle all lit up! And I. Front of all the beautiful Christmas Trees. One day we can show Marry-Grace her first trip to Disney. And believe me...we'll be taking her with us next year! She won't remember it, but I will! I can't wait!

4. Mary-Grace is moving around more and more everyday! And all of her little kicks are getting stronger and stronger. I can now see my tummy jump when she does it. It's got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen. Sometimes she kicks at the sMe time on opposite sides of my belly. I imagine her stretching her whole body. So sweet! I tried to catch it on video the other day so K could see it. She doesn't like to do it for him. But alas, she must have known it was for daddy. She's a bit stubborn like her mama. :)

5. I'm am just sew stinkin happy for Sew! What a trooper! Hannah has for to be one of the most precious little girls ever! Such a cutie! A 6lb 10oz preemie? That's bigger than I was at full term! And no time in the NICU! And got to go home with mommy and daddy in just 2 days! How amazing!!!!!

6. Hannah's early arrival reminded me that everything is in God's time. We so often make all of these plans and try to plan everything out down to the last detail. We want everything on our own time. But in the end it is God and his perfect plan for our lives. And Gods way always turns out to be better than our way. I find that very comforting. If everything went according to my plans I would be in big big trouble! :) Oh, and it also taught me that I may want to have my hospital bags packed a little sooner than I originally thought necessary. :)

7. I'm going to a special Advent Mass tonight. I wanted to let all of you IF girls who are still waiting know that you will be in my prayers. You are all still always in my prayers. I have not forgotten you. I know how hard this time of year can be. Please know you have not been forgotten and thy I love you all!


Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!


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Thoughts

What am I cooking?
I made BBQ Chicken tonight. Well Kevin actually cooked it on the grill. Raw meet is still giving me the creeps so he's been helping a lot in that department.

What are my weekend plans?
Saturday I'm going to look at some fabric for Mary-Grace's bedding. My MIL is going to help me make it. We may pick out paint colors if I find some fabric I like. Sunday I have a cookie exchange party! Yum!

What are my prayer intentions for the day?
Prayers for my prayer buddy of course! Also my anxiety. It's gotten pretty bad and I'm sure if I wasn't pregnant my doc would be recommending meds. I've been down that path and don't want to again.

What have I done for my marriage this week?
He was very happy with how clean the house stayed this week. I actually stayed on top of it! I also made him cookies on Tuesday.

What am I reading?
For the first time in as long as I can remember, nothing. I just haven't had the brain cells to comprehend much of anything.

What’s challenging me lately? Shaving my legs and painting my toes.

Something that made me think?
The annulment process. Does anyone know much about it. Not because I need one of course! Let me give you a situation (I don't want to name names). Say a man gets a divorce a year and a half after marriage (very sad). He wanted the divorce. He was actually the first to brig it up. The divorce was final about a year ago. He is interested in an annulment but has yet to start the process. He may have a valid case but I'm thinking it's definitely not a slam dunk situation. He is already dating a woman very seriously. Is this ok? I'm thinking no. Shouldn't he seek the annulment first? My thinking is, what if he is not granted the annulment? Then what? Isn't the annulment period (when sought soon after divorce as in this case) supposed to be a time of reflection? I have many more questions on this topic and will more than likely do a whole post about it soon. I just wanted to get a feel for how it works since I have no clue and I'm concerned about said person.

Happy almost Friday!!!!


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First of all, have y'all seen Sew's blog! I just can't believe it! So many prayers going her way!!!!

Second, thanks so much for all of your prayers and encouragement yesterday. Hopefully I won't be hearing from the doctor this week! Although I probably will. They also checked my iron. I have had low iron issues off and on since I was a teenager so I'm thinking that may come back abnormal. I'm ok with that though. I can take an iron supplement, no problemo!

Although I'm still praying for no GD, I'm feeling more at peace about it today. Must be all of your prayers. If I've got it, well then I've got it, and I'll deal with it then. No sense in getting ahead of myself!

So I thought I'd give you a little pregnancy update.

I have been so worried about gaining too much weight. My doctors are real weight nuts and are quick to tell you not to gain too much. The first doctor I saw said he tells all of his women that there is no need to gain more than 20-25lbs. Ummm, most women I know gain more. Anyhoo, I was worried that I had gained a lot over the past 4 weeks because I definitely got much bigger. Well somehow I managed to not gain a pound. Not only did I not gain, I lost 1/2 a pound. Seriously? How the heck did that happen? I am so much bigger!!!! Weight totally baffles my mind. It really is different for everyone in the case of appearances. I'm 25 weeks tomorrow and I've only gained 11lbs. However I look like I've gained about 30. So weird! I could have definitely stood to lose a few pounds before I was pregnant (darn IF, weight gain) but this seems crazy to me. I asked to doctor if I should be worried about the weight loss this month and he said not as long as Mary-Grace is growing normally. Of course I should try to lose but if I'm eating normally and healthy not to worry. He also pointed out that I have nice "birthing" hips so I don't need as much weight gain. Maybe that also explained why my hips haven't gotten any wider. :)

The doctor also measured my belly. I was measuring at exactly 24 weeks. I was 24 weeks 5 days yesterday so that's great!

He brought up the flu shot and asked if I planned on getting one. I told him I wasn't planning on it and he said it was totally up to me but did remind me if the risks. I told him I would think about it but I'm still leaning towards no. If I was still teaching I would but I figure my exposure is really low now.

I talked to him about my daily morning migraines. He said that I can call anytime I feel like the pain is unbearable and come in for some sort of pain shot. I'm going to try to avoid that but it's nice knowing that it's available if I need it.

When we listened to her heartbeat he noted that she was super active. I told him that sugar drink didn't help but that she's alway super active. He liked that and said she must be strong. He said it's very common for women with an anterior placenta not to feel the baby a lot and for the movements not to be strong. She's got strong legs like her mama.

I have another 4d ultrasound next week on the 14th. Wahoo! I can't wait to see my baby girl again!

Other than that I do t see the doctors again until January 4th. After that I go to bi-weekly appointments. I cannot believe it! She will be here before I know it!




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Silly Anxiety! ***Updated

I feel so silly asking for your prayers for this but I've had so much anxiety the past few days about it that I'm starting to make myself sick. Ick!

I've got my glucose screening today at 1:10. That means I will be drinking this nastiness is a few hours.






Oh yummy! I'm just being a bit sarcastic. :)

My mom had gestational diabetes with both of my younger sisters. We aren't sure if she had it with me because she didn't receive any prenatal care. (I don't know if I mentioned it here but my parents weren't married and she didn't tell anyone about me until 20 days before I was born.) I'm thinking she probably had it with me too. Just a hunch. I've heard that it can be genetic so I'm pretty worried.

I don't know why GD freaks me out so much. Everyone says it's not the end of the world. And I know that if I fail this test I may still pass the 3 hour one. I just really don't want to have to even worry about the 3 hour test.

I feel like I'm just going to bomb it. It's so ridiculous because there is no way for me to know that.

I'm worried that if I do have GD, it's going to totally ruin my birth plans. My office induces one week prior to your due date if you have GD. I have been praying and really wanting a natural, unmedicated birth. Induction means Pitocin...and Pitocin is definitely on my "don't touch me with that" list. With Pitocin comes epidurals, and I really just don't want tong there.

I know I'm getting way ahead if myself. And I know that in the end I want what's best for Mary-Grace. I'll do whatever I have to to get her here healthy.

So if you have a second and can say a quick little prayer for me, mostly for peace, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you! Thank you!

** I'm posting this from a new app on my iPhone. If it looks all wonky I'm sorry. :) I'll fix it when I get home.

***Update***

Remember these...



Remember drinking the melted part? That's pretty much what the stuff they make you drink tastes like. Except that it's like drinking 20 of them. No too terribly bad. It does make you feel pretty bad though. It made my stomach upset and my head hurt. I felt like I was on the worst sugar high ever.

Mart-Grace seemed to enjoy it though. She has been practicing her karate ever since I drank it. :)

Of course I don't have results yet. Thy said it will take a few days. If I don't here anything by the end of the week I'm good and have nothing to worry about. I'm hoping for no phone calls!



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PSA

When you need to wash clothes it is imperative that you actually put the clothes in the washer. Running the washer without laundry in it does you no good. The load of laundry will still be dirty. Or in my case, two loads. Yes, I made this mistake twice...in a row.

Bump Pictures! FINALLY!

Note to self: It is not a good idea to wait until you are halfway through your pregnancy to start taking pictures!  It is a serious shock to your system to see what you look like.  Oh my!  Oh my!  I almost passed out yesterday when I saw the picture K took of me.  Sheesh!  I'm getting huge.  I can't believe I'm about to post these on here.  I've never been photogenic.  Weird things happen to my eyes and my smile.  Especially when I am alone in a picture.  I never look like myself and I always look heavier.  K even agreed with me yesterday that the picture he took of me looks about 10lbs heavier that I actually do in person.  Thank goodness because I almost cried when I saw it.  I've always had body image issues and unfortunately they don't go away just because you are pregnant.  Silly me, I thought they would.  But despite my insecurities, I am so happy and so blessed to have this little one swimming around in my belly. :)  If I had to gain 200lbs I would...I may cry...but I would still do it. :)

So, after almost 24 weeks I finally present you with some bump pictures. :)

I took this one at about 20 weeks.  Please excuse my messy bathroom. :)

K took this picture yesterday at 23 weeks 5 days.  Yikes!

On a completely different note.  I am so excited about prayer buddies!  I feel so unworthy to be praying for the amazing woman I am praying for.  I will do my best to pray my little heart out for her.  Prayer buddies makes me giddy!  :)

Thankful

As I sit here and type this my house is filled with the smell of Jim.my De.an Sage Sausage that I just browned for my famous dressing (stuffing).  Yes it's famous...among my family at least.  I've got 5lbs of potatoes sitting on my counter waiting to be cut and boiled for mashed potatoes.  And, there is the first stage of Pione.er Woma.n's Pumpkin Cream Pie is chilling in the fridge.  Thanksgiving Day is a mere 11 hours away and I am finding myself so thankful for all of the blessings God has bestowed on me, especially in the last year.

* It was on Thanksgiving just last year that my infertility became known to my family.  It didn't exactly come out in a way I would have chosen but it still came out.  After years of hiding it, it was a relief to feel like I didn't have this huge secret anymore.  After that I felt like so many of my family came together to support me.  Especially my sister S and my Nana.  Sure, there were still hurtful things said, but it was mostly out of ignorance.

* This brings me to something I believe I've said before.  I am thankful for my infertility journey.  It brought me closer to God than I ever could have imagined.  I believe it played a big role in helping me to come to the Catholic Church.  It brought my husband and I closer than ever and taught us so much about each other.

* I am thankful for my sweet little daughter Mary-Grace.  I cannot wait to meet her!  I am reminded everyday as I continue to take my Pro.gesterone that she is a miracle.  I've said it before, Dr. G is in shock that I actually conceived when I did.  My labs were not looking good in the month leading up to her conception.  There is absolutely no reason for this pregnancy other than one of God's many miracles.

* I am thankful for the kicks I am now feeling in my belly.  I have felt tickles since about 13 weeks but hadn't felt a real kick.  I was hoping every day to feel those little feet but didn't have much hope as several of my doctors and ultrasound techs have told me that I have an anterior placenta.  But then on Saturday I finally felt it.  I was at the retreat I mentioned last week when we were asked to go off in silence, alone, for 2 hours and just listen to what God wanted to tell us.  I found a nice shady spot under a tree by a lake.  After about an hour I decided to lie down in the grass.  Not seconds later I felt it, 3 strong kicks.  At first I wasn't sure it was for real so I put my hand on my belly and just waited.  Sure enough, she did it again.  I think she was having a little party in there because it went on for several minutes.  Every day she kicks more and more and K was finally able to feel it on Monday.  The look on his face made my heart melt.

* I'm thankful for my wonderful, amazing, priceless, handsome, strong, caring, sensitive, loving, protective, man of God husband.  Did I use enough adjectives? :)  I knew he was amazing when I met him, but over the past year our relationship has grown to a new level.  A level I never though possible with any other human.

*  I am thankful for a roof over my head.  I tend to complain about our house a lot.  It's small and not what I would choose.  We bought at the top of the boom and we could now buy 3 times the house for what we paid for this one.  Our plan was to only be here for 5 years and then buy a bigger "forever" home.  Unfortunately that is not going to happen.  This upcoming March will be 5 years since K closed and we will definitely be here for several more years.  Like so many we are upside down.  But you know what, we still have it.  With all of the people losing their house to foreclosure we are very fortunate.

* I am thankful that K is getting busy at work again.  He is a Civi.l Engin.eer so his job relies greatly on the housing market.  If people are building he doesn't have work.  In the last two years we have seen his small company of about 100 people go down to about 24.  We were getting very very nervous.  But, it looks as though things are turning up and for that truly thankful.

* I am thankful for my family.  As dysfunctional as they may be they are awesome and crazy and I love them!

* I am so, so, so thankful for my faith.  If you would have asked me when I got married if I though I would convert I would have thought you were nuts.  In fact I would have told you if I had my way K would convert. And boy did I work hard to try to work that one.  Of course that never happened, it only pushed K to grow in his faith and that ultimately helped me to grow in my new found faith.  God sure does have a sense of humor. :)

* I am also so thankful for all of you ladies.  You have truly been a blessing my my life.  You all have made these last several months so much more bearable.

There is so much more that I am thankful for.  I feel so blessed to be living the life that I am.  God has been so good to me, such and undeserving person.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!