Graysen's Birth Story: Part 3

I was suddenly in a bright room, filled with people scrambling everywhere, but I couldn't really see them. Come to find out later, my blood pressure was around 30 over 20 or lower and I was continuing to lose blood. I heard my doctor tell the other doctor, "We have verbal consent to do a hysterectomy." 

That's when someone started drawing blood from my right arm and my Russian Anesthesiologist was almost suffocating me with the oxygen mask. I remember her pressing it against my face and myself struggling to get a breathe and telling her, "I can't breathe!" She just pushed it harder and said, "Breathe the fresh air!" in her gruff, Russian accent. A painful shot of general anesthetic was shot into my left IV. I remember feeling the rush of cold pain shoot up my arm and then nothing...

While I was in the O.R., Tim called my parents and his parents. My parents came to the hospital right away to wait. He told Juanita to go home and get some sleep. They had no idea how long I would be in the O.R. and it was 4am at this point. She had almost been there 24 hours with us!

The nurses told Tim that he could take the baby into the room and wait. He said that he walked in and it looked like a crime scene or a scene from SVU. There was blood everywhere and he said the same thing I did about it looking like something had been gutted there. He said he just started sobbing holding Graysen. 

The nurse came in and yelled down the hall for someone to clean up the room. In a minute, they were there cleaning up all of the blood. 20 minutes later, they told Tim that the doctor was finishing up with me in ICU and then he could come in. 

At around 5:00am, it was so great to finally be able to have quality skin to skin time with my baby! My blood pressure was still 40 over 20 at this point and I was unable to sit up. I had to lie flat  while I got 2 more units of blood. I had already had 2 in the O.R. I wasn't in a lot of pain, but it's not like people who have a C-Section. I did not have any incisions and only had a tiny tear that needed just one stitch. (Guess he was right when he said I was "stretchy".) I was very swollen though and the nurses made ice packs out of diapers to put into my adult sized diaper. They changed them every couple hours along with using Dermaplast Spray and Witch Hazel Tux Pads. I was still so tired, but thankful to be alive! 

The doctor said that I was 2 minutes away from a hysterectomy, but that the other doctor on call got my uterus back in place on the last try. They were unable to get all of the placenta out though and I still may need a DNC. That's ok...it's so much better than the other option! This scary, rare thing that happened to me, happens to only 1 in 3,000 people and I was the lucky one! They said that if I had more children, my placenta would have to be manually removed again, but that it would be very, very rare that my uterus would do that! One of the nurses said, "I've been an O.B. nurse for 21 years and I have never seen that happen!" 

So..know that if you have never had a baby, that this is NOT A NORMAL DELIVERY!

Sleeping on Mama while she gets 2 more units of blood back in the Birth Center. 

(6 liters total)

Wednesday evening, after being in ICU all day, my hemoglobin was back up to 7 and seeming to stay there so I was able to be transferred back to the Birth Center. I still could not get up but was able to sit up to 30 degrees. From that point on, nursing and trying to get my milk to come in was the main priority. Since I lost so much blood, my body's first response was not to make milk, it was to make blood. 

Since the nurses did not know how long I would be gone, or out, they were forced to give Graysen a bottle of formula which my mom got to give to him. I remember waking up in the ICU and my boobs hurt so bad!!!! I had to use a special hospital grade pump with a preemie setting, even though Graysen technically was not a preemie, which I have at home and am using now for the rest of the week. At first, I was struggling to get 2cc's in a syringe and we were scraping every drop off to give to him. Latching on was not going to well since we were having to bottle feed him to supplement. Nursing is getting better every day now though! I'm still pumping and we are still having to give him a small bottle after nursing sometimes, but no more formula is needed. 

Thursday at 3:30, I finally got to stand up and take a "shower". Until now, I had been DISGUSTING! They "washed" the puke out of my hair in the ICU with leave-in shampoo that I'm certain is not supposed to be leave-in as it made my hair feel nastier than it did with puke in it. I was still very nauseas and dizzy when I sat up or stood up, but the doctor was certain that I would be able to go home the next morning. (Friday) Remember, we were having a graduation at our house on Friday!! 

Thursday night, as Tim and I were going to call to order our "special meal" that the hospital provides for new parents, now that I was able to eat more than ice chips, the power went out! All went dark! The nurse came in and said it was a planned power outage due to construction, but that they were using generators and they were all under the assumption that the lights etc would still work. Well...not the case! Only things plugged into the few red outlets had power. We had to get a flashlight to use the bathroom. Now, I was not only dragging my IV friend to the bathroom with me, but I was doing it in the dark!  My friend Cassie was kind enough to run to Chipotle to get supper since we were unable to order Room Service. The lights came back on around 10pm and things resumed as normal. 

Friday morning, the doctor came in and said that I was able to go home that morning. We then started getting things ready and going through the discharge process. At 10am on Friday morning, we were headed home!! 

Now that we are home, we are so excited to do normal things like bath time and cuddling! 

Thank you to all of the amazing doctors and nurses that made this all possible as well as our Doula, Juanita, my family and my amazing husband! This pregnancy has brought my husband I closer together. I could not have done it without him! I thank God everyday that he's here!

 This pregnancy has had several ups and downs. We were up and so excited to get pregnant right away, when told that it may not happen since I have endometriosis. Then it was down when thought it was ectopic because of all the cramping I was having. We were up when it wasn't and we found out 12 weeks later that it was a BOY! The next day was a downer when the doctor called to say that he had Brain Cysts and we needed a Type 2 ultrasound. We were up again when 9 days later the cyst on the right was completely gone and the one on the left was disappearing! We had a strong little man on our hands that even flexed his muscles for an ultrasound picture! We then were up pretty much the rest of the pregnancy and then had a huge downer with this post delivery trauma! I'm glad that we got to end with an upper and bring out beautiful baby boy home! 

Thank you to all who have sent things, given warm wishes and support. Since being home, I have felt amazing and Tim says it's very hard to tell people how close to death I was when I took a walk on Day 3, went to the neighboring town for breakfast with my grandma on Day 4, etc. The doctor said I need to keep moving and taking walks. I am still taking it easy, but am so thankful that they talked me into the epidural. I think that all of the general anesthesia and extra blood, plus having to lay flat for 2 days really made my recovery fast! I can't wait to continue to document all of Graysen's amazing milestones! 

MB

Graysen's Birth Story: Part 2

At 3:30pm, my water hadn't broke on it's own yet, so...the doctor decided to break it. 

We did not want to have to do that, but we agreed that it was the best decision at this point. Graysen, who is already stubborn with a mind of his own...(wonder where he gets that)...did not want to come as quickly as he seemed to in the beginning. The doctor was certain that after he broke me water, things would move very quickly and we would not need the aide of Petocin, a very nasty drug that starts extremely strong contractions, but blocks all endorphins so that you have no way for your body to cope with the pain. 

This was great news as we really wanted to try to have a natural childbirth with no drugs. 

From that point on, we did everything we could to get this labor going. Juanita, our Doula, was amazing. She is a God Sent! The three of us walked the halls, used the ball and tried different positions on the bed, which to start contractions. I'm not sure if I mentioned before, but I was Group B positive so every 4 hours, I had to have antibiotics, so I was hooked up to an IV as soon as we were admitted into the hospital, which made doing different positions difficult sometimes. When the IV wasn't dripping, it was locked and plugged so that I didn't have to drag what would later be my best friend around with me as we walked the halls. 

The doctor came in around 5pm to check me again and I was now dilated to 7 and 80% effaced. He said, "Well, you are at a 7 but I can stretch you to whatever I want! You have a very stretchy cervix!" Thanks I think! :/ 

Contractions on the monitor showed that they were coming more regularly and stronger, but my cervix did not want to dilate past 7 or 8! What went so fast in the beginning, was now starting to stall! 

We decided to try to use the shower to stimulate contractions. I sat on the birthing ball in the shower and let the water run over me. This really helped! Contractions started coming one right after the other. Nausea started to set in around 6:30pm. Juanita gave me a SeaBand to wear on my wrist. It helped a little, but the contractions were coming stronger than ever. I dropped to my knees in the shower to try to cope with the contractions as they came. I got out of the shower around 7:30pm...I think! Time was obsolete. 

From 7:30-8:30pm, I started throwing up and convulsing. The monitor was picking up many strong, close contractions. YAY! The doctor was sure that pushing was close or here. He checked me and sure enough...I was 100% effaced! BUT....still only dilated to 8cm. Yes, he could stretch me to past 10cm, but that wasn't good enough. 

The doctor looked at me and said, "I know you don't want to have an epidural, but we need to start Petocin to push your cervix to the max and it could be hours. (It was 9:00pm at this point.) I was so torn and distressed over the fact. I absolutely did not want to use Petocin, which has been called "The Devil" by even some of the staff. Tim and the doctor convinced me that an epidural was probably the best thing to do since I needed to keep my strength up for pushing and hours more of labor would be very exhausting. If I was close to pushing, or ready to push, I would have refused and dealt with it. I relentlessly agreed...I was tired and ready for it to be over. So at 9:10pm, they called the anesthesiologist. 

She arrived at 9:30pm. She was a gruff, Russian lady who was all business! My contractions were making me convulse and throw up still as she made me sit perfectly still on the side of the bed. Tim sat in front of me on a chair, holding me as I gripped the pillow to keep from convulsing too bad as she inserted the catheter into my back. It seemed like an eternity as I sat there, trying not to vomit all over my husband. She said I would feel a "funny bone" feeling shoot threw my legs. She was right. She adjusted the catheter and taped it into place. I laid down, which was not an effective way to deal with the pain of the contractions, which were still coming very strong, until the epidural kicked in. She handed me a clicker that I was able to use every 9 minutes to administer more pain medication. They inserted the Petocin into my IV and we were ready to rock and roll! Unfortunately, the Petocin kicked in before the epidural. 

 Finally, the epidural kicked in and I no longer felt the contractions. I did however, still feel pain in my upper abdomen and was still very nauseas. (For the last couple months, I had had a very sharp pain in my upper left side of my uterus/stomach, which the doctor attributed to the baby's foot being lodged up by my ribs. We'll later discover that that was not the case...) I think I dozed off. I obviously did because before I knew it, it was midnight and the doctor was in to check me again. FINALLY! I was at 9cm with only a little cervix left! At 1:00am I was ready to push! 

Pushing went well...until...the monitor started showing his heart rate dropping to 80 every time I pushed. (His should be almost twice that high.) They were sure he was under distress. The doctor came in and they told me I had to delay pushing and just breathe through the contractions, which were hard to feel coming on, so that they could check the baby. After an hour or so of delaying pushing, they realized that every time I pushed, the monitor was slipping and picking up my heart rate!!! UGH!!! What could have been an hour or less of pushing ended up being two hours! I used a mirror that my wonderful nurse Jenny held while I was pushing to see what was going on since I didn't have a lot of feeling. I could feel the pressure, but not necessarily the pushing. I could however still feel that pain in my upper abdomen every time I pushed. I remember telling Tim, "My stomach hurts so bad!!! Something feels wrong!" 

 I could see his dark hair crowning and knew I had to give it all I had. His head was out and the doctor told me to once again hold off on pushing so that he could clean out his mouth etc. Then I got the best news...PUSH! It felt so good to push him out! It was like a slimy relief! 

He instantly started crying and was wrapped up to be put skin to skin with me! 

Everything was supposed to be rainbows and sunshine right?? I had my brand new baby boy on my chest and delivery was over! WRONG! 

That's when the pain really started! The pain in my abdomen and pelvis was worse than any of the labor and delivery and I had an epidural that was supposed to block that pain. What was going on?? I was supposed to be delivering my placenta and be done! I looked down and the doctor was still "working" between my legs. He was up to his shoulder inside of me and his other hand was pushing very vigorously on my abdomen. Something was definitely not right. 

Tim remembers hearing the doctor say, "Uh oh...!" and that's when the blood shot everywhere! This may seem over dramatic to say that it shot every where, but he clipped something and yes...it SHOT EVERYWHERE! Tim said he was standing in pools of my blood! 

The doctor said, "We need to get her to the O.R. now! This is very serious! Your placenta has abnormally attached to your uterus and I had to manually remove it. As I was doing that, your uterus started coming out with it, pulling inside out." It was at this point that I started to black out and I could hear the beeping of the monitor start going crazy. I was instantly thrown upside down in my bed and the baby was whisked away! 

I then remember the doctor slapping me across the face and telling me, "Stay with me! I'm not going to lose you! If I have to take your uterus I will! You are losing a lot of blood and I'm not sure if there is a perforation. You may be bleeding internally." I looked at him, well, the black outline that was him, and said, "Take it...take it all! It hurts so bad!!" In an instant, I was racing down the hall. I started throwing up and had to turn my head and throw up off to the side, which was all over my hair and the nurse next to me. I did not care at this moment. I was in so much pain and was so scared!

I was suddenly in a very bright room with many many people. The doctor had called in the other doctor on call in to assist him. They threw me onto the O.R. table and when I looked back at my bed, thought, "It looks like someone just gutted a deer on my bed!" 

Part 3 coming soon... 

38 Weeks...He Arrived! Graysen's Birth Story: Part 1

Sorry bloggy friends for being absent. I have been a little preoccupied with an amazing early birthday present! Graysen Harold was born when I was 38 weeks exactly. He weighed 6lbs 6oz and was 17.5in. The labor and delivery went very well...it was after that that things took a turn for the worse! We are all home and doing very well now! He grew an inch and a half in the 6 days he's been alive and he continues to be a content and happy baby!

Graysen's Birth Story
Part 1

CAUTION

If you are pregnant for the first time or have never been pregnant, read with caution and know that this is NOT how a normal labor and delivery goes. I had a very rare and serious thing happen after he was born and almost lost my life. Thankfully, the doctors at the birth center are AMAZING and I'm here today to tell you my story!

It all started on Monday, May 14th at 4:30pm in the doctor's office for my 38th week appointment. Actually...I should probably back up a couple weeks and explain what was happening in our life. We were doing a ton of landscaping, getting ready for a graduation that we were hosting on May 18th, school at this time of the year is very hectic and everyday life was going on. Basically, I was VERY ACTIVE.

Ok...back to the doctor. He told me that I was dilated to 5cm, 50% effaced and baby was at 0 station. He said it wouldn't be long...

I looked at him and said, "REALLY??? I'll make it through Friday though right? I am having a graduation at my house!" He said...I don't think so! I didn't really think anything too much of it...I didn't imagine that things would go as fast as they did after that!

I went home after running to Hancock Fabrics to get some foam to make a mattress for the cradle that I had when I was baby that is in our living room. I called Tim, who was coaching softball 30 minutes away in an area with no reception. He didn't answer and so I waited and waited for him to finally call me back. I told him what the doctor had said and he came home right away. To be safe...he put towels and garbage bags under the sheet on my side of the bed just in case my water broke in the middle of the night. He did not want our new mattress ruined! :/

I had contractions that evening that were a little closer than normal. I had been having them for months though and they weren't anything that I couldn't continue to do my normal activities. The birth center nurse said to try and get some sleep and see what progresses. I continued to have contractions all night but evidently fell asleep in the middle of timing them because I woke up at 6 to get ready for school with the cell phone underneath me...timer still going!

I took a shower, got dressed and continued to get ready for the day. My kindergartners were going on a field trip and taking a train ride, but I was going to be teaching 1st grade. The doctor said awhile ago that she didn't think I should ride the train so close to my due date and so far away from the hospital so the 1st grade teacher and I were going to switch classes for the day. Everything seemed normal. My back hurt slightly but that was about it. Then...as I was just about to walk out the door, I decided that I should probably use the bathroom. That's when it happened! There was the bloody show!

I called the birth center and they said to come in right away to get checked. The birth center is 45 minutes away, but I knew I didn't have to hurry. It was the first baby and they never come very fast! I called school and told them that Tim and I would not be there. Tim called my mom to come in and sub for him and then he went to drop off his lesson plans and books to her while I called our Doula. Finally...Tim and I were on the road on our way to the hospital. Of course...there was construction, but we got through without having to stop and all of the big equipment moved for us because Tim yelled out the window that I was in labor. The contractions were now coming more frequently, but still it was virtually painless. I had had menstrual cramps that were worse.

We arrived at the hospital around 9am. They checked me and the doctor said that I was dilated to 6cm and 65% effaced. I was going to be admitted. Our Doula, Juanita met us at the hospital shortly after that. I did a lot of walking the halls and positions to try to move baby downward. (He was at 0 Station on Monday and the stubborn little thing decided to go backwards and was -3 Station on Tuesday morning.) I was still feeling really good at this point...I even ordered lunch from Room Service! A turkey sandwich was LONG overdue!! I was so excited to eat lunch meat! 

Still feeling pretty good.Contractions are coming, but nothing very painful. Mmmm Goldfish Crackers to go with my sandwich for lunch! 

Monitoring Contractions...nothing too extreme yet. 

Still feeling good for the most part. Excited to get this show on the road. They had to monitor his heart rate and my contractions for 15 minutes every hour. 

Contractions are getting stronger and closer together, but my water still hadn't broken yet. 

At around 1pm, the doctor came in to check me. I was at 7cm and 75% effaced. He said that he wanted to break my water. I really didn't want to do that. He said he would give me until 3:30 to see if things started progressing more. He also said that if we lived in Rochester, he would send me home and wait for my water to break or things to really pick up, but since we live 45 minutes away from the hospital and things were moving very fast in the beginning, he didn't want to risk me not being able to get back to the hospital. We agreed that at 3:30pm, if things didn't pick up, he could break my water. 

Needless to say...3:30 came and my water hadn't broke on its own yet.

The doctor decided to then and there break my water...

Part 2 coming soon...

38 Week Dr. Appointment

Well, had my 38 week appointment today and the doctor said things are really progressing. I'm already dilated to 5cm, 50% effaced and his head is at 0 Station! Half way there already! 

He asked about contractions and yes, I've been having them, but honestly, I've had menstrual cramps that were worse.  

We are hosting a graduation at our house on Friday and the doctor doesn't seem to think I'll be there or maybe I'll go during. I really hope he either comes tonight or tomorrow morning and I can be home on Thursday, or... he waits until Saturday. Either way, he's coming soon! 

We are so excited! Now...to get to work so I can get some things done for school seeing as I won't be there much longer! 

37 Weeks...FULL TERM!

I'm now considered FULL TERM!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Sorry for being a little absent lately. Things are getting very uncomfortable around here and we are eagerly getting things ready for Graysen's arrival among other things like hosting a Graduation at our house this weekend, getting Kindergarten in order for their Graduation and all of those end of the school year things that need to get done early just in case I go before school gets out. 

How Far Along: 37 Weeks 4 Days

Total Weight Gain: 35 lbs approx. I lost 1/2 a lb when at my last appointment but I go again tomorrow, so...we'll see!

Milestones: Baby is considered FULL TERM! He's developed his most crucial functions!

Baby Is The Size Of: a Winter Melon!

Sleep:Well, it's been a little better this week, but only because we have been frantically trying to get our house ready inside and out for the Graduation that we are hosting on Friday. Landscaping, being outside and teaching Kindergarten all day can really tire a pregnant lady out! Still not comfortable though and leg/hip/knee pain is STILL THERE!

Best Moment This Week: Reaching Full Term and getting the landscaping basically finished. 

Miss Anything?: Right now I miss my non-pregnant body more than ever! I am so uncomfortable and sore. I just want to be able to do the normal daily activities again like the dishes! That sounds crazy, but at work yesterday at the golf course, I was cleaning up the kitchen after serving a meal to 50 firefighters and my belly is too big so it bumps into the counter and I'm not tall enough for it to be over the counter so reaching into the sink to do dishes was a pain...and I mean downright painful! 

Movement?:Still movement but it hurts so bad when he does. His foot has been jabbed up into my ribs on the left side now for awhile and it has been excruciatingly painful all week!  

Food Cravings: No cravings. Food actually doesn't even sound good lately. My appetite has been very poor.

Things That Make Me Queasy: I wish I could say no queasiness, but I've been sick to my stomach all week. (Especially when I'm having a contraction!)

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: Right now, I'm not sure if the contractions are Braxton's or not. I am having a ton of pain in my pubic area and something is definitely opening up down there. I'm having sharp pains "up there" when having a contraction now. Low back pain and cramping are now happening a lot, not to mention the contractions are all over my uterus now, top, bottom, sides... Baby has dropped, but I still am not comfortable. Being short leaves no room for him to move which makes me unable to move as well! 

Symptoms: I have reached the point, where waddling is a must. A week ago even, movement was pretty good. All of a sudden, I'm in a ton of pain all the time, I'm unable to move, swelling is increasing and I'm ready to be done! I used to be able to say that I felt great most of the time, and just after a long day, I would be sore and tired, but I wake up sore now. I still have quite a bit of energy, but it's not really so much energy as nesting. 

Inny or Outy: Out!

Wedding Band On or Off: Off and this week, I'm not sure if I could put it on if I wanted to! My right hand is more swollen than the left, but I'm definitely retaining more water now. 

Mood Most Of The Time: Overall, I'm very happy, but I'm also anxious to get everything in order for Graduation this weekend, the end of the year at school and Graysen's arrival. I'm actually eager for Graysen's arrival more than anxious. My dad would quickly correct me or ask me to clarify. I know you are reading this Dad thinking..."Are you really anxious or are you eager? There is a difference!" 

Looking Forward To: Graduation on Friday and Graysen's arrival! (Hopefully in that order!)

Here is what we've been working on at our house. The fence isn't quite done yet, but it's close. We needed to get the landscaping done first so we Tim and Tom didn't have to work around the fence to rebuild the sidewalk and flower beds. We didn't take any good before pictures, which I realized when it was almost done, so you'll just have to look at the after and know that it was a "JUNGLE" of lilies and hostas before! I'm so happy with the results!

This is the south side of our house in the front. The building on the left is our neighbor's garage. Our property goes all the way up to their garage. You can see that the fence is almost complete. A panel and a gate are all that's needed on this side. Plus cutting down the posts, but that's it. We redid the sidewalk going into the backyard, so the guys didn't want to finish the fence until that's done. This area was literally covered in lilies and hostas. We transplanted the hostas so that they made more sense and added a rose tree and hydrangeas...my favorite flower in the whole world!

This is along the south side of our house. This area was full of blue bells that were probably 80 years old or more. They were there when my dad grew up here. (This was my dad's childhood home.) My grandma planted them many many moons ago. Her birthday would have been May 1st. She would have been 105 years old and my grandpa would have been 119 years on the 7th. I tried desperately to save some because I have fond memories of picking them when I was little and knowing spring was here because the blue bells were out at Grandma's. The ones I transplanted did not survive. I have a couple pictures of them so that will have to do. Who knows...they are so hearty that they may even pop up through the new rock next year.

Here is another view of the south side of the porch. These flowers all remind me of Dr. Seuss, especially the pink ones. I didn't take a close up picture of those, but they have a little patch of grass and then these pink flowers that look like Trufulla Trees popping up.

Our new newly redone sidewalk to the back yard. The fence will be put up across here soon and we will have a gate leading to the backyard. We have to replace a couple tiles though because the packer cracked a couple. Oh well...at least it was just 4 and not all 52! There were also blue bells in this area along the side of the house. 

Hydrangeas!! I love them! They were our wedding flowers!

Here is a picture of the back of our garage. This was also a mess. It was supposed to be covered in red mulch from the previous owners but that was basically gone and plants were again planted in very random places. We took some out, moved some and added the rock. We also extended it to the fence for a finished look. That empty space was on purpose since we are planning on adding a door from the garage to the backyard in that spot next summer. The guy that added on the garage didn't put a door to the backyard. 

Another picture but includes more of the fence. Still need to cut off the tops of the fence posts.

Here is back of our house. 

This is the north side of the house and the garage. This area was a little smaller and we brought it out to the end of the driveway and fence. We moved a couple plants around here too and added a rose bush. Our hydrangeas on this side are a little slow going this year. They were coming along great with the very early warm weather and then had a setback when we had unexpected frost...They'll make it, they'll just be late. 

I should have taken a picture of the whole house from across the street, but maybe in the next post. But...that's what we have been working on frantically for the last couple weeks!

36 Weeks and... Another Shower!

How Far Along: 36 Weeks 4 Days

Total Weight Gain: 35 lbs approx. 

Milestones: Baby's getting closer and closer to breathing on his own and his liver and kidneys are in working order. His circulatory system and immune system are good to go as well!

Baby Is The Size Of: a Honeydew Melon!

Sleep:Sleep still stinks. Last night was a good night, but I'm not sure why. Besides getting up to pee all the time and trying to find a comfortable position, my mind won't shut off! I know it will only be in like 2 hour chunks, but at least sleep will be more comfortable after he comes!

Best Moment This Week: My wonderful friend Cassie, threw a kick-ass baby shower for me with the help of a few other friends. I have the best friends ever!!! I'll put pictures at the bottom!

Miss Anything?: I still miss coffee, lunch meat and being able to bend over/sit/walk/sleep/etc with ease!! Things are getting very uncomfortable!

Movement?:He's moving a lot. It's different though and really hurts when he does. It's more like he's adjusting himself and it's big turns instead of kicks. 

Food Cravings: No cravings...did make Auntie Anne's Pretzels today from scratch. Those were one of my cravings in the beginning. Still love them!!

Things That Make Me Queasy: No queasiness overall!

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: No real labor signs. We have an appointment tomorrow and they'll be checking to see if I'm dilated yet. I can feel him moving lower and lower and I'm having stronger Braxton Hicks contractions. I am also having a lot of pelvic pain/pressure. 

Symptoms: Name a symptom and I have it. Heartburn, indigestion, aches, pains, pelvic pain/pressure, sore legs and feet, mild swelling, shortness of breathe...the other night, the stabbing heartburn was back. I'm not sure if it has something to do with the position I was sleeping or not, but again, it shot me out of bed and was a constant stabbing for about an hour. :( I'll be glad to be done with that!

Inny or Outy: Out!

Wedding Band On or Off:  Off, but I can still wear it. It just bugs me since it's tighter than it used to be.  

Mood Most Of The Time: Happy, anxious, nervous, excited...I'm every emotion rolled into one right now. I'm so ready for him to be here, but still trying to get the last minute things in order since he could come any day now. 

Looking Forward To: Graysen being here and our landscaping done!!!

I said I would post pictures of my last shower, 

so...here they are. 

I love these girls! College roommates!

Cassie made some scrumptious food!

Gracie made it too!

Another college roomie!

Opening presents begins...

This is an awesome book that my friend, Heidi gave us. It actually flashes like a real camera!

More books! Everyone brought a book instead of a card! Love that!

One of two Boppys!

Our baby carrier!

"The Poky Little Puppy"...a true classic! One of my favorites as a child. Lindsi even gave an "antique" copy! 

Hmmm...awesome wrapping Lindsey! This took a lot of physics she informed us! :) 

Yay!! A Bumbo!  

Cassie commented at this time that baby things have the dumbest names..."Boppy, Bumbo, Tiddliwinks..."

Bad picture but shows my excitement over everything! I love my friends!

Thanks for a great shower Cass!

I have the best friends...EVER!