39 week craziness!

Alrighty, 39 weeks! I can't believe it!! Since I'm a little late on posting this, I am already almost 40 weeks... Tomorrow. The 39th week has been interesting to say the least. Went to my doctors appointment on Monday... Had high blood pressure, shocker! She told me to come back on Thursday so they could recheck it and make sure everything was okay. I went to my doctors appointment on Thursday with a doctor I had never seen before in my practice. I guess I was super nervous and they were freaking me out because it kept going up every time they rechecked it. So he ended up sending me to labor and delivery at the hospital to be monitored and get blood work to make sure everything is okay. I really did not want to do this... But followed my doctors commands. Steve and I took all our bags in case they needed to induce me (blah!) and headed up to the hospital. Well, 3 hours later... We were discharged because my blood pressure was fine over and over and all my blood work came back normal. Imagine that! I am glad we went though because I feel a lot less nervous about the real day now! It was nice to know a little of what is going to happen when we get there and get used to being monitored! The Lord knew I needed a little preview! :) I also stopped working per my boss' recommendation on Wednesday. I thought just hanging out at home the day before and of my appointment would help my blood pressure, but I guess not. Now I'm just relaxing and waiting on sweet Ellison to make her arrival! Oh how amazing that day will be!!! :) Here's a pic Steve took of me while I was being monitored.. Don't I look so excited?! Haha!

Oh we also had our amazing friend's, the Jones' Annual Christmas party on Saturday night which was a lot of fun! Here are a few pictures from the party!

                  me and my honey!

39 weeks and 21 weeks with our sweet girls

Love these friends of mine, a few had already left by the time we remembered pictures! 

It was interesting being so big and pregnant this year!! Crazy to think we will have an almost 1 year old next Christmas party and the Jones' will have an 8 month old! How fun! 

Well, we are just waiting and waiting on our little girl to arrive. I can't wait... I'm just trying to be patient... So hard! I AM thankful for the peace that The Lord gave me through the whole monitoring situation.. I feel better about my blood pressure and also about the actual day I go into labor! Praise The Lord! He knows what He is doing and it's way better than my plan. Trusting Him in all of this... Especially her BIRTH day! I guess that's all, here's a picture of my big belly at 39 weeks, hard to believe I have a WATERMELON in my belly, well actually I can totally believe it with how uncomfortable I am, HA!...

I'm over the questions... So I'm not doing  them anymore ;) I guess I have reached that point in my pregnancy... Just ready to have her!! :) 

Ella's future husband and bestie!

SO Saturday, November 9th, was such an exciting day! We woke up to texts early Saturday morning from one of our close friends, Jolynn, saying that she was in labor! We then found out that she had her third boy!! (they didn't find out before... they have a little girl as well) Sweet Maddox Dupree, Ella's future husband, was born November 9th around 6:30am and he is just as precious as can be!! SO excited for them! I told Jolynn that I was so jealous... I want to be holding my baby right now! Soon enough! It was fun being pregnant with Jolynn since this is probably their last baby... glad we got our first in just in time! haha! We love the Duprees, I am glad they have 3 boys for Ella to choose from for her husband... one of the cuties is bound to be the one, right? :)

Well, then we went to our other close friend's gender reveal party! Lauren was about 17 weeks pregnant here... now, she is about 20 weeks along! She is so itty bitty... love her!

 

It's a.... GIRL!!! :)

Steve and I totally called girl for them. They were both just like we were before we found out - we just "KNEW" it was a BOY! haha... both of us were dead wrong. HA! Our girls are going to be besties... only makes sense! :) It's so crazy - I never thought we would be pregnant with our firsts together... none the less, both with girls! How fun! Avaleigh and Ellison are going to be such sweet friends - I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for both of them, as individuals and in their friendship! :) Thank you Jesus for these precious gifts!

I can't wait for more friends to jump on the baby bandwagon... little by little, more of our friends are having babies and it is such a fun time in our lives. I know Ellison is going to have so many precious friends - girls and boys... and that makes me so happy! :) I cherish all of my friendships so much and pray that the Lord will give Ella Godly friends like he has given me... I can't tell you how important all of my friends are to me - they help me grow in my relationship with Jesus and keep me accountable, which is something that everyone needs! So thankful! :)

It's official... I'm "full term"!

I never thought this day would come! I'm actually 37 weeks.. Which means Ella could come anytime!! Now I know that she will probably be here closer to my due date or after, but there is something cool about knowing she can come whenever! 

My sciatic nerve is acting up again and is as painful as ever so not only do I have a waddle, but also a limp when I walk. I look awesome! (Ha!) I also went to my doctors appt last week and Julie, my awesome midwife ended up letting me have an unexpected sonogram!! I asked her if she was head down and she said yes... But we could make sure with a sonogram! There wasn't anyone there and the sonogram tech wasn't in so she said we could play! This is so awesome and such a blessing because I haven't seen Ella since my 20 week appointment. Unfortunately, she is so big now that I couldn't see her face but it was still fun! I saw the top of her head, her ear, her back and ribs with her sweet heart beating away... Also her hands. She kept clasping them together and putting them near her face... Also playing with the umbilical cord. It was amazing!!! I guess she wants to keep her face a surprise for the big day! Haha! She is indeed head down and facing back so that is perfect!!!   Julie said she thinks she will stay that way until delivery so that's great news and an answer to prayer! 

In other not so great news from my doctor appointment this week... My blood pressure went back up after not being high last week... I just don't get it. So my doctor wants me to come back Friday and check it again. He was throwing words around like bed rest and not working anymore... Oh boy. So basically I haven't been doing anything from when I get home from work until I go to sleep but laying on the couch. I'm going crazy after just 2 days!! I'm trying to enjoy it, but I just like to go! Especially when Ella is due so soon... I need to get things done! Thankfully my hubby has been very helpful... But I think until his sermon is preached on Sunday, he can't really think about anything else! Haha! So Monday is when it really starts!!! Ella can't come until after thanksgiving anyways because mom and Mache will be in Virginia visiting everyone, especially my Gaga who is having surgery on Monday. I would HATE for them to miss her birth... I doubt I will be this early anyways! I did find out my cervix has started to thin which is great but doesn't really mean anything about when labor will start! Just exciting to see something is actually happening! Haha! 

On the up side, my boss was very nice about the fact that I might have to go on leave a little early and told me not to stress over it. Total answer to prayer! 

Also, my work had a shower for me today! I felt so blessed and loved by everyone! I literally got all I needed and even more! They got the rest of the cloth diapers to finish my collection, the Bumbo seat tray, the swing/bouncer, a pretty picture frame with Ellison's name on it with places to put monthly pictures in it, an adorable little outfit with mittens, and last but not least my boss got me a Nikon camera!!!! Along with an extra lens, memory cards, and camera case. I mean this is the mack daddy camera with the lens and all.. So professional! I cannot wait to take sweet pictures of Ella, especially in the hospital. This was something I really wanted but thought I would never get because it was so expensive and not a necessity! So thankful for my boss and all my co-workers. Once again I was reminded that The Lord totally brought me and blessed me with this job. I don't deserve it, He has been way too good to us! Thank you Jesus! 

**Update on blood pressure before I even had a chance to post this (wrote the rest on Wednesday but didn't have time or energy to take a pic until today): so Thursday, I woke up with a bad headache that didn't go away as the day progressed... It was freaking me out because this can be one of the signs of preeclampsia according to the doctors so I ended up leaving work early because I felt so bad and running by the CVS to take my blood pressure and call the doctor. My blood pressure was super high so I called the doctor and she told me to come in so they could check it there and we could make sure everything was okay. Well, it was still high when I got there but there was not any protein in my urine (sorry for the TMI) which is a really good sign. She said she still wanted to do bloodwork to check my liver and kidney levels. If these came back abnormal on Friday, I would have to go to the hospital to be monitored... Either way I could not go to work Friday and needed to be on bedrest. Ugh. Also, I have to go to working part time until my leave. Well, Praise The Lord my bloodwork came back normal, but I still have to take it easy, work only part time, and probably go to the doctor like 2 times a week just to make sure. Trying to have a good attitude on this but for sure having to trust The Lord big time and really ask for strength and peace from Him. I mean, I have so much to do and laying around all day just does not sound that great to me! Trying to enjoy these last weeks of chill time though before our little bundle of joy joins us and things get a bit more hectic! 

Well, that was a long update.. Now I leave you with a picture of my big 37 week belly... Enjoy ;)

How far along? 37 Weeks
Maternity clothes? For sure! Thankful for friends who have let me borrow clothes!
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Same, hips bother me and I have to pee like 2-3 times a night.. Also the heartburn is in full force!

Best moment this week: Baby shower at work... Being totally blessed with pretty much everything we need and could want!

Have you told family and friends: Oh yes! I think they would know by now with my belly if I didn't hahaha!
Miss Anything? Feeling normal ;)

Movement: It seems like she is moving all the time now! Thankful for this though because it eases all my crazy thoughts. Nice to know she is okay in there!

Food cravings: Last night I might have MADE hubby go and buy pillsbury simply break and bake cookies... ;)

Anything making you queasy or sick: not really, I did walk past the food court at the mall and feel so nauseous which was so weird!!!

Gender:  Girly girl!
Labor Signs: Not really beside it feeling like she might fall out at times ;)
Belly Button in or out? Out... So freaky!

Wedding rings on or off? I wear only the fake band (my real one is sautered together) because anything else makes my skin break out! :(
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy - ready to hold our baby girl!
Weekly Wisdom: I got nothing.
Looking forward to: Thanksgiving and holding our sweet girl... I just want to meet her already!!

35 weeks... Only 5 more to go?!

I can't believe I only have 5 weeks left of my pregnancy! I know these will be some tough weeks, but I am just so thankful that my pregnancy has gone so smooth and that we will be able to hold our baby girl in about 5 weeks! Overwhelming for me to even think about! Well, I went for my 34 week appointment this week and my blood pressure was high... urgh. They laid me on my left side and then took it again and it went down drastically which was good. They are still worried about it being my first pregnancy and possibly preeclampsia, so they want to me to come back this coming week instead of the following week just to make sure it isn't still high. PRAYING that it was just a case of "white coat syndrome" and it will be back to normal. This time I won't drink a large caffeinated tea before I go either... oops!

In other news, I am officially huge and uncomfortable. HA! Imagine that! I am trying to be positive and not complain too much to my hubby! :) I am struggling with that because I know how long I waited to be pregnant... to complain about it seems just wrong. So I am focusing on having a thankful heart and relying on the Lord to give me strength for the rest of my pregnancy. Also, just enjoying the time Steve and I have together before things get a little more crazy!! :) He has been super sweet with my pregnancy and has been really excited about all the goodies we have received from showers! He already put together the high chair! HA! I asked him if he realizes she won't even need that for the first several months... he was just too excited to build something for her, he couldn't resist! I think it's precious and I know he is going to be the best dad! Makes me happy! :)

I had two more showers the past couple weekends, my church shower and my family/family friends shower. Both were just incredible! I felt SO thankful and blessed by everyone! I will post pictures of those showers when I have a chance... my hosts did such a great job with everything - I was just blown away!

I will leave you with a picture of my 35 week belly... wooow!

How far along? 35 Weeks
Maternity clothes? For sure! Thankful for friends who have let me borrow clothes!
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: My poor hips... they pop and ache when I try and turn over during the night... it's actually pretty neat that the reason is because God made our bodies release a hormone that loosens the ligaments down there to prepare for labor... that's why there is so much popping and feeling like my hips will just pop out of place any minute at times.

Best moment this week: Probably my baby shower - I felt SO loved!

Have you told family and friends: Oh yes! I think they would know by now with my belly if I didn't hahaha!
Miss Anything? Not being so slow and "breakable"

Movement: Oh yea! She loves to move all the time - I don't mind it most of time, but sometimes when it's a leg or arm it kind of freaks me out because it is such a fast "skinny" movement... eek! She also just looooves my right rib - it's painful, but worth it!

Food cravings: Not really!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No - well, except my iron pills... haven't felt the best.
Have you started to show yet: I might need to remove this question at this point. haha!
Gender:  Girly girl!
Labor Signs: No even though I freak out at every ache and pain... thankful for friends who have been through this and tell me "Sarah, you will KNOW when you are in labor... don't worry!"
Belly Button in or out? Out... Even shows in pictures now! Ahh!

Wedding rings on or off? Today, even my fake ring is off because it made my skin break out in a rash too... so sad!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy - ready to hold our baby girl!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't drink a large caffeinated iced tea before a doctors appointment or you will be sure to have high blood pressure (hoping this was the reason)
Looking forward to: My work throwing a little shower for me at the office and finishing the nursery - it is taking me forever to figure out what finishing touches I want! Makes me crazy! And of course I am looking forward to holding Ella! :)

If only pregnancy was 32 weeks long...

Well, I am a few days late on this one... technically I am past the 32 week point and on my way to 33 weeks, but I just couldn't get motivated to actually take the picture and write on my chalkboard this past weekend. Oh well!

Updates? I had my 32 week doctors appointment yesterday which went really well. I was kind of nervous that my iron had not gone up... but it did! A whole 2 points! It's only a point away from the normal range now! Praise the Lord!  I guess eating all that red meat (eww!) and taking those iron supplements really helped! Finally! My midwife said that Ellison is head down which is great! She doesn't have to be until around 36 weeks, so she could still move around but it was still nice to hear!

Overall, I am feeling pretty good. I just hate that I don't have a ton of energy to go walk around a store like I used to. It starts feeling like she might just come on out - she MUST be a big baby! HA! SO heavy. Oh well - it will be all worth it once she is here.

I was planning on taking a chalkboard pic, which I still might.. but for now here is a pic from about a week ago... might change it later so I have the signature chalkboard pic for my collection! :) 

How far along? 32 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Same - maternity pants and mostly maternity shirts or regular flowy shirts I have had.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Now I just have to get up and pee 2-3 times a night which gets kind of annoying haha!

Best moment this week: Finding out my iron went up! Hearing Ella's heartbeat too... never gets old! :)

Have you told family and friends: Yes! Feels like forever ago...
Miss Anything? Being able to walk around Target without feeling the need to sit down and rest... soon enough I will have her in a stroller walking around Target with me! EEK!

Movement: Yes! She mostly rolls around and pokes her booty out. Some days she will kick me in the ribs which is just lovely... but I mostly feel her just moving around big movements. I found out my placenta is located on the anterior so that means it's like on the outside, not the left or the right... so that is why I don't feel her as much as some people who don't have the placenta blocking some of her movements... so interesting!

Food cravings: Hungry for anything! I feel like I am hungry all the time!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really!
Have you started to show yet: Um, is this even a legit question at this stage in the game? :)
Gender:  Girly girl!
Labor Signs: No way - Praise the Lord!
Belly Button in or out? Out... Even shows in pictures now! Ahh!

Wedding rings on or off? Having to wear a fake ring I have because it is a thinner band and doesn't cause my skin to break out like my actual wedding ring... so sad!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy most of the time!
Weekly Wisdom: Eat lots of red meat so you don't have low iron! :)
Looking forward to: Mine and Jolynn's joint baby shower this Saturday thrown by our small group... It will be super sweet! Love our church family!

My first BABY SHOWER! :)

On Saturday October 12, 2013 I had my first baby shower for Ellison! My friends Lauren, Jolynn, Bethany, and Allison threw it for me and it was at Jolynn's beautiful home. It could not have been more perfect and I was SO thankful to everyone who came and showered us with love. I am still just over the moon about the whole thing. God is WAY too good!!! Here are some pictures of the gorgeous shower...

The food table... so pretty!

Ellison's sweet sonogram with some cute decor!

I think half of these were from my mom... HA! This is before everyone arrived! So blessed!

Adorable chalkboard banner!

The famous "shower" blocks... love them.

Love it... Bethany's pics were so "artsy" ;)

Cute bucket my mom gave some gifts to me in... thankful!

I love this - not only was the cake made by Lauren which was amazing but also the burp clothes under the invitation made by Jolynn. So talented!!!

Posing when I walked in ;)

My friend Lisa had a brilliant idea for the cake topper so this picture is for her creative idea! :)

Some of the us enjoying the yummy shower food!

Gifts galore - so thankful!

Everyone cutting ribbon the size they think my belly was... AH!

Preggo friends... she might have cheated a little... and we might be almost the same size even though she is almost 5 weeks ahead of me... waaah!!!

My sweet mama, who tied for the win with Courtney! She must see my belly a lot! :)

Sweet Courtney tying with mom! I think they cheated ;) kidding!

Mama Baer having her turn... hers was a little big! :)

My other preggo friend... who usually wins this game... but was off a little :) Blame it on being pregnant! ;)

My beautiful friend Allison blending in with all the gifts - we had to get a picture... she was so sweet to help pass the gifts to me while I was opening! Love! :)

OH MIA... my friend Jenny's little girl... she is SO precious!

I can always expect something cute and frilly from Lauren ;) Looove it! Ella is going to be styling next summer! :)

Cutest outfit ever from Ma! (my grandma) :)

The softest little bear outfit from Aunt Donna! Loove!!

My sweet friend Lily made this precious cross for Ella's nursery, I love it! She is so creative!

My Sanctuary friends went in together and bought us our car seat along with some other things... how awesome is that? EEK!

My hostess' gave me this most precious blanket with matching fabric from Ella's bedding. LOVE! (Jolynn sewed it!)

Here's where I lost it when opening up Ella's bedding that Jolynn made.... I am so beyond thankful and I feel so loved. Can't say it enough.

Just crying hahaha!

My sweet creative friends, Courtney and Lily, painting Ella's blocks! :)

After some girls had left, we remembered to take a group picture. Love this.

The grandma's stepped out and Bethany joined! :)

My sweet, amazing hostess'.... Not to mention the three preggos in the middle.. haha! SO fun! Love you all so much!

haha... showing off the amazing bedding that Jolynn made!! She is going to sell bedding probably... so get excited!

I never thought we would be preggo together!! Love it! 31 weeks and 13 weeks! My belly might swallow Laurens.. HA!

31 weeks and 36 weeks... preggo friends! Not too much longer until we find out boy or girl!!! Eek!!

I love this.... picture with my moms!!! SO thankful for both of them!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  
Proverbs 17:17

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3

30 weeks with our little girl!

Well, I can't believe I am at the 30 week mark - actually 31 weeks since I forgot to post this blog a week ago! Ooops!  Time has flown by! So thankful that my pregnancy has gone pretty smooth! This belly is getting huge and I am ready for Ella to just be in my arms and have my body back! HA! Trying so hard to cherish these last 8-9 weeks... I am just too excited to have her here with us!

I had my first shower this past Saturday. To say that I felt so loved and blessed would be an understatement. My friends Lauren, Jolynn, Bethany, and Allison threw me and Ellison an AMAZING shower! It was seriously the best and I might have had a few breakdowns... starting with opening the bedding Jolynn made for Ella. It is SO beautiful! She did such an amazing job... I couldn't have imagined something better. I am so blessed to have such talented friends. I was so overwhelmed with everyone's generosity... I also cried when I was trying to give my little speech about how thankful I was for everyone... didn't get to finish that. But I seriously just feel so blessed to have such great friends who were not only there on Saturday showering me with love, but also have been praying for me and Ella through our entire journey. Infertility is not something that I would wish on anyone, but I know that the Lord has been SO good to show his FAITHFULNESS and also really teach me the power of prayer through it all. There are so many other things that He showed me, but I am just so thankful for the prayers and encouragement my friends and family gave me over those 2 years and also throughout my pregnancy. I couldn't believe that the shower was ACTUALLY for ME! It is still all so surreal and I am just trying to soak it all up and not wish the time away! Anyways, sorry for all that sappy stuff, I will leave you with my 30 week chalkboard pic....

 

How far along? 30 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Same - maternity pants and mostly maternity shirts or regular flowy shirts I have had.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Not bad actually - just hard turning over during the night, ha!

Best moment this week: My shower on Saturday for sure!

Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Just not having to worry about having a big belly even though I know I will miss it!

Movement: OH yea! Of course she loves to move during the night, or have hiccups when I am trying to go to sleep. That is one thing I could do without - the hiccups just feel so weird, almost like a heartbeat in my belly, which is just strange to me! - but sweet at the same time! :)

Food cravings: Not really - just always hungry these days, she must be growing!!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really!
Have you started to show yet: Um, is this even a legit question at this stage in the game? :)
Gender:  Girly girl!
Labor Signs: No way - Praise the Lord!
Belly Button in or out? Out... Even shows in pictures now! Ahh!

Wedding rings on or off? Having to wear a fake ring I have because it is a thinner band and doesn't cause my skin to break out like my actual wedding ring... so sad!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy most of the time!
Weekly Wisdom: I got nothing. ;)
Looking forward to: My next shower... at the end of the month! And of course just holding our sweet Ellison!

I will post pictures of the shower on another post! :)