Pregnancy and Me

This is everything you ever wanted to know about pregnancy and me.  Probably more than you want to know.

You would think that by the 3rd pregnancy everything would be old hat.  But, they tell me that just like every child is unique, every pregnancy is different.  

With Elizabeth I was sick most of the time.  With Rachel I had about a 2 month reprieve.  This time the majority of the morning sickness was confined to the first trimester.  But, I didn't get out of jail free.  I was blindsided by a random increase in allergies.  I've even been allergic to my own "hypoallergenic" dog.  If I get around dogs or cats or even someone that has a lot of pet hair on them I have horrible asthma problems.  I had asthma as a kid.  But I've been free of asthma for about 15 years.  That is until this pregnancy.  I went through about 3 months of horrible nasal stuffiness.  I couldn't breath for the life of me.  I began to wish for morning sickness as a trade.

Every pregnancy has brought on a sensitivity to smells.  Different smells each time.  With Elizabeth I couldn't stand hashbrowns.  This time I am sensitive to perfumes, hairsprays and especially Doug's deoderant.

Cravings have been different too.  With Elizabeth I wanted fried rice, mashed potatoes mixed with corn, and pizza.  With Rachel I could hardly stomach fried rice.  I wanted salsa, salsa and more salsa.  This time cravings were one of the first hints of pregnancy.  I ate onion dip until I wreaked of onions.  I wanted buttered bread with extra salt.  Yes, I salted my buttered bread.  I wanted popcorn with extra butter and salt.  Otherwise I wanted cinnamon.  I ate rice with milk, sugar and cinnamon and couldn't get enough of Cinnamon Oatmeal Squares cereal.  Gestational diabetes throws a wrench in cravings.  Now I just wish I could eat more carbs and less protein.

Each pregnancy has been different when it comes to feeling the baby move.  Elizabeth had limited movement in some of her joints.  Plus with polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid) she had lots of extra padding.  At 6 months along my uterus had grown to the size of 9 months because of the fluid.  I've been told that the child determines the type of pregnancy you have.  Elizabeth had broken bones in the uterus.  She must have needed the extra fluid.  Rachel was a different story.  I felt her a lot earlier than Elizabeth.  Doug was able to feel her more often.  But, it still wasn't like the folk talesI had heard.  I couldn't distinguish the movement of a hand or foot.  This pregnancy has been amazing in the movement arena.  I began to feel Joseph's fluttering at about 13 weeks.  Doug could feel him before 20 weeks were up.   At 30 weeks he can be shocking.  Sometimes he can even keep me up at night.  He really likes to be up between 9:30pm and 1:00am.  When he gets really kicking I often think of this old commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS0Tlz-r-0c

Part of the difference in feeling Joseph's movement is that I have a low-lying placenta.  The placenta offers no cushion to my organs or uterine wall.  Luckily, that is really the only significant thing for me regarding low-lying placenta.  Why?  That all goes back to Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth was born they thought she had Osteogenesis imperfecta (broken bone syndrome).  So when I went into labor they did an emergency c-section with a vertical incision as well as an extra wide horizontal one so they could just lift her out.  Now I am not allowed to labor.  The vertical incision puts me in danger.  They are planning on bringing Joseph at 37 weeks to avoid any problems with labor or placenta issues.   My official due date is March 28th.  But, the current tentative date is March 7th.  In 2 more weeks we will be able to actually schedule his birth.  I must admit that I miss the element of surprise when it comes to my child's birth date. 

I have full bladder control this pregnancy.  I wasn't so lucky with Rachel.  I know, TMI.

When I was pregnant with Rachel my belly button was pushed to the edge but never fully popped.  I am already pushing the limits of my belly button.  I kind of hope I "pop" this time.

I have to be very careful about my activity level.  If I do too much I get horrible Braxton-Hicks contractions.  Sometimes just going to church can be too much.

With Elizabeth I was borderline gestational diabetes.  With Rachel I was on insulin at about 28 weeks.  This time we just assume I have gestational diabetes.  They aren't making me take that horrible 3 hour test.  Hurray!  But, I take my blood sugar 4 times a day.  I've been on metformin this pregnancy and that has helped keep my sugars under control.  It's likely that I will end up on insulin again before I'm through.  But, I'm grateful for each week that I don't have to have shots.  I'm a wimp.  I hate needles.

The other major difference has to do with weight gain.  With Elizabeth I gained 65 pounds.  Yikes!  I'm still carrying some of those pounds.  With Rachel I gained about 30 pounds.  Luckily I was able to lose all of those pounds before Rachel was 6 weeks old.  I have gained about 17 pounds so far.  Hopefully I can keep weight gain to 20 or 25 pounds.

We are so excited that we are having a baby boy.  It has been really fun to buy little boy clothes with trucks and tools in the color blue.  Meanwhile I have a ton to do, clean and organize before Joseph arrives.  I know that I won't get everything done but I can do as much as I can.

I am so grateful that I have been able to have these 3 kids.  I can't imagine my life without them.  No matter how torturous, I am thankful for my pregnancies.

January 12

My day always begins with a finger prick to check my blood sugar.  So far I've been able to keep my gestational diabetes under control without insulin.

Rachel has oatmeal and applesauce for breakfast.

Rachel takes care of her dolly while I slave away cleaning out her bedroom.  I need to make room for all of Joseph's stuff.

The first task is just straightening up.  Before and after.

Rachel keeps me company while I fix lunch.

Peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches with a side of grapes.  She doesn't eat the grapes but at least she doesn't discard them off of her plate.

Yummmmmmmmm.

After her nap Rachel takes some time to read.

I wasn't feeling well so Doug took Rachel downstairs for an hour. 

When I came down to check on them Doug was trying to rest while Rachel was crawling all over him and watching "Signing Time."

Doug got a new shipment of computer cooling fans.

Rachel is a fan of fans and was very unhappy when we took them away.

 We had nachos for dinner; refried beans, chips and cheese.

 

After dinner we all went into my office.  I hung out while Doug worked on souping up my computer.  Yes, I am spoiled.

Rachel spent the time trying on hats.

Doug heroically put the Christmas tree in the rafters of the garage.

Rachel and I took some time to read, "Are You My Mother?"

Rachel checked out her reflection in the oven.

All in all, it was a good day.

Fashion

I love having a little girl that I can dress up.  

 

Her clothes are cheaper than mine.  She can pull off any style.  

 

She doesn't have to worry about whether it is slimming or not.  There's no hour long dressing room sessions.  

 

I can buy her just about anything off of the rack.  

 I wish that I could be this fashionable myself.

Helping Around The House

My first household job was to unload the clean silverware from the dishwasher.  I was probably only 3 or 4 and I took my responsibility very seriously.  In fact, I would get very upset if I found out that someone had unloaded the silverware without me.  I grew out of that.  Now I'll accept any help with the dishes that is offered.

Doug's first chore that he remembers was turning on and off the sprinklers.  He was responsible for making sure that all of the lawn got watered.  Brown spots were to be watered by hand.  Beyond that he loved the vacuum as a child and was always happy to help with that task.

Rachel loves to help unload the dishwasher.  It is not assigned to her...yet.  But she absolutely loves to be involved.  Every time she hands a dish to her dad she says, "thank you."  It's really too bad that the video camera didn't pick it up.  I hope her interest in helping lasts a lifetime.

What was your first chore?  What chores do you ask your kids to do?  What ages?

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ovu47CMZZI

Christmas Dress

I cannot remember my first Christmas dress.  But, I remember loving the special dresses we got each year.  It is so much fun perpetuating this tradition with Rachel.


This year her Christmas dress came with a matching dress for her doll.


 

This dress holds another distinction.  She was wearing it the first time she really admired herself in the mirror.  She was all dressed, ready for church.  I looked down to see her twirling and smiling at her reflection in the oven.  The moment was priceless.




I look forward to many more of these priceless Christmas moments, Christmas dresses, and Christmas smiles.

Thanksgiving 2010

We love the holidays.  It's the one time a year that Doug and I will get to see most of our families.  Thanksgiving was our opportunity to spend time with the Goodwin clan.  We went down to Provo the night before Thanksgiving so that we could partake of all of the next day's activities.

Unfortunately for us, Rachel was unnerved by sleeping in different surroundings.  It turned a girl who sleeps like a champion into a screaming banshee.  Doug and I took turns rocking her, singing to her and holding her in bed.  Many prayers were said.  Then a blessing.  She was asleep 15 minutes later at 11:30pm.  She slept quietly until 4:30am and began to cry again.  Doug heroicly wrestled with her in our bed for another 3 hours until he gave up and got up. She did surprisingly well the next day for getting only a small amount of sleep.  She took a small catnap in her daddy's arms but otherwise there was no napping either.

Rachel loved playing with her cousins.






Doug brought his slot car racing set to play with the kids.  Rachel loved that too.


 

 

Zoe accosted her favorite "cousin" McKenzie.


Doug and Dad worked on the setup crew along with many others.




Greg serenaded us with some beautiful Christmas music.


Laura carried the brunt of the work and slaved cooking dinner most of the day.  Mom had hurt herself earlier that week and was in some of the worst pain of her life.  For those who know Charlotte, that is saying something.  My only contribution to the food was a favorite from my family...cheese ball.  It was a big hit with McKenzie and Alexandria too.


We feasted.  We talked.  We loved being home with the family.  But, as with all good things, it had to come to an end.  Everybody scattered to their respective homes and lives.

Dancing Ponies

It's official.  Rachel is growing up way too fast.  Her hair fits into a back ponytail.  I know.  Hairstyles don't make the girl.  But, for some reason, she looks way older to me with her hair all pulled back.








That same day I caught some great footage of her dancing.  She kills me.