My Pregnancy with Sam

**I was just going through my posts and found that I had written all this out from my pregnancy with Sam, but never actually posted it... now that he's a year and a half, I'll share it with you all!**

5 weeks 2 days

February 4, 2014 - Week 6
I highly doubt it is, and really hope, that it's not the case, but I can't seem to shake the feeling that we might be having twins. I don't know why or where I got this idea. Or, why it keeps coming back as something that my mind thinks is going to happen. But, I guess we'll have a couple weeks to wait and see. Around 8-10 weeks, we'll have a dating ultrasound, and they'll be able to see how many itty-bitties are in there.

February 20, 2014 - Week 8
We had the dating ultrasound and she only saw one baby in there... But I'm still not 100% convinced. Here's hoping she's right though! I also asked where he/she was hanging out, because I'm wondering if placenta previa will be an issue again. She said he/she was hanging out kind of low in my uterus. :(

9 weeks 1 day

March 11, 2014 - Week 11
We had our first trimester screening today. The kids and I met with Joan before the ultrasound, and I told her nothing had really changed about our family history. She loves seeing the kids! All went well, though the placenta is close/partially over my cervix. Krista (yep, I got her without even asking!) said there's a better chance it will move this time. Nora & Nate sat very nicely the entire ultrasound eating their lunch. Krista even gave each of them an ultrasound picture of the baby! So sweet! :)


March 21, 2014 - Week 12
I had an appointment with the new provider today. Jennifer seemed to think that a VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans) was something that the clinic wouldn't do. I told her that Dr. Mahan said with Nate, that I could likely try a VBAC again. So when I left, I made sure I could get an appointment with her next time. If she decides that I can't attempt a VBAC again, then I may switch to Dr. Hartung (though the baby would be born in Wisconsin, and that's no good!)

12 weeks 4 days

March 22, 2014 - Week 12
Someone in one of the Catholic Mom groups I'm in on Facebook posted about getting a relic from St. Gerard, who is unofficially the patron saint of mothers, pregnancy, and infertility. I had already found a prayer (below) that I have been saying everyday in hopes of the placenta moving so I can have another VBAC, but I sent a request for a relic from him that I can wear. I can't wait to get it!

O Sainted Brother Gerard, whose heart went out to the unfortunate; who relieved so many poor, healed so many sick, comforted so many afflicted; behold me worried and troubled as I kneel at thy feet. In vain to turn to men to seek consolation and help; therefore, do I have recourse to thee thou who art so powerful in heaven. Graciously assist me, Saint Gerard, that being freed from this trial or strengthened to bear it for the love of God, I may praise and thank God and serve Him with greater love and fervor. Amen.

15 weeks 2 days

April 29, 2014 - Week 18
The scripture I reflected on this morning was Psalm 5:3, "At daybreak, Lord, You her my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly." I've been saying that St. Gerard prayer every morning, in hopes that God will hear my prayer and I've been waiting and watching expectantly for His answer. I thought it was so fitting.

18 weeks 3 days

April 30, 2014 - Week 18
I finally had an appointment with Dr. Mahan. On the way in Nora said that we were going to get the baby out of my tummy. So I explained to her that after she turns 3, then the baby can come out. Dr. Mahan said what I thought she'd say about VBA2C: totally fine. She said I'd have to have continuous monitoring though (which I did last time anyway), and if anything went wrong I'd be in the OR right away. She listened to baby's heart beat (160 bpm), and Nora remembered our talk earlier about how we need to listen with our ears and tell Dada about it when he gets home from work. Nate was just perplexed by the weird noise and watched me and Dr. Mahan the entire time.

18 weeks 6 days
Dressed up for a wedding in my bridesmaid's dress
when I was 5 months pregnant with Nora

26 Weeks 3 Days

27 Weeks 1 Day
All dressed up for a cocktail party at my
friend Anna's home. 

29 Weeks 3 Days

July 23, 2014 - Week 29

All was looking good at my appointment, except that I was measuring small (just like I did with Nora), so Dr. Mahan said if I am measuring small at my next appointment that she would order an ultrasound. She also said she'd want one done anyone to check for placenta accreta.

August 7, 2014 - Week 32

I had my appointment with the nurse today. I was measuring small again, so she ordered a growth ultrasound. I'm sure we'll see in a couple weeks that it's just low fluids like with Nora. With summer pregnancies, I find it hard to keep hydrated enough. I thought I was doing better this time around, but I guess not! I was also supposed to see the lactation consultant they have on staff, but I guess the patient before me had a lot of questions. We had a play date to get to, so I said I'd just meet with her next time, but that I didn't really have any questions at this point (since this will be my 3rd baby nursing!)

37 Weeks 4 Days

Looking Forward to...

I love watching Adam interact with our niece, Addy. She's two. He is always nervous and unsure around babies, but once they get a little older, he's completely comfortable, and natural. After seeing him follow her around most of the night at my sister-in-law's wedding, and after us watching her overnight on their wedding night, I started wondering: What part of having this baby is he most looking forward to? So we were laying in bed the other night, and I asked him, "After spending all that time with Addy, what are you most looking forward to with your own daughter?"

His answer was simple and pretty much covered it all, "Being able to bring her home."

Quite frankly, I had to agree.

Gestational Diabetes Test

Why is it that the day I have the gestational diabetes test, I crave sweets, and forget that I have the test? This morning during PAWS (kind of like homeroom, but after 2nd hour), I craved chocolate, so dug out a fun-sized Kit Kat bar. Later, when I was checking my mail, I saw cookies sitting out, so I grabbed one and halfway though remembered my sugar levels were being tested today. And since drinking my normal Nalgene full of ice water makes me feel sick, I've been drinking Crystal Light all day.

I left work right at the end of the school day, so I could drink the glucose, meet Adam at home, and head out. Today, we saw the nurse practitioner, Aimee Neumann. I asked her about a spot of pain that I have on my tummy when I am feeling the baby. She said it's fairly normal, and it may be that I have a bruise there. She measured my tummy, and felt for the baby. She said that it felt like she was head down with her little butt up on my left side. Then she listened to the heart rate: 140 bpm. Before she sent us on our way, she handed me my next "pampered pregnancy" gift: a free 1/2 hour massage at their clinic! I'd been thinking about how nice it would be to have one, but am worried about spending the money on one, if I don't have a job next year. So this will be a nice treat! We didn't have any other questions, so she sent us out to the lobby to wait to be called back for the gestational diabetes test.

We were called rather quickly (as it hard pretty much already been 1 hour since I drank the orange glucose). This time it was only a finger prick, and I was able to sit in a chair without passing out! I thought they would have to send out my blood and get back to me, but the nurse assistance said it only takes a couple seconds. We watched her put the slides with my blood into a machine, and waited for the quick results. She said, "95, you passed." I asked her what the highest you could get and still pass, and she said 140. Holy buckets! I was worried about eating that sugar for nothing! She also checked my hemoglobin levels, which I guess were also normal (I think an 11.9).

Belly Pictures!

We've been so crazy-busy the past couple weeks (and will be for another week), that we haven't taken as many belly pictures as I would like... and I haven't gotten the ones posted that we have taken. So here's what we've got...

21 Weeks

21 Weeks, 4 Days

23 Weeks, 3 Days

Dressed up for Charles & Kitty's Wedding

23 Weeks, 4 Days

24 Weeks, 6 Days

Dressed up for Laura & Steve's Wedding

26 Weeks

 27 Weeks, 1 Day