​The Woes of the 3rd trimester.

The third trimester started out well. I still had the energy overflowing from the second trimester... but things gradually changed.

I am now 35 weeks pregnant and getting increasingly more uncomfortable by the minute. Braeden is a very active boy, which makes me so happy. I was concerned about not feeling him when the Dr. told me i had an anterior placenta, but this boy is quite the little ninja. I think the best part about pregnancy is feeling him squirm around and kick me.

The contractions i have on a regular basis are not enjoyable. Ive been having braxton hix contractions for quite a while now. Boy does my belly turn into a rock. It started out not hurting or even bothering me, but now i feel like every time i have a BH contraction, i have a harder time breathing and feel like i need to go pee immediately. I know they are part of preparation for birth, but they are quite uncomfortable for me.

I have also found myself getting increasingly exhausted after walking for a while. While in NYC, I decided we should walk from Serendipity to time square, which i thought wasn't a big deal, but the 1.5 mile hike was very exhausting. Needless to say, we took a cab back to the hotel at the end of the night. I still try and walk as much as possible, but the aching in my feet and back just make it a slower pace. It is not just exhaustion from walking either. I have found myself so tired, similar to that of the first trimester. The other night I actually went to sleep at 8:30 pm.

My hands have been swelling a bit when i sleep. Its weird because one morning i woke up and my knuckles hurt. From then on i noticed my fingers would swell at night. I actually started taking off my wedding rings because I am so paranoid that they will get stuck on my hand. The swelling seems to subside during the day, but i think the humidity and heat here recently have also been adding to some swelling.

My feet are still looking ok. No cankles yet! Im sure that could change in the next couple of weeks as i know most people start retaining alot of water.

I have also found myself becoming short of breath, even when just sitting in a chair. It is quite a weird sensation. I think my organs and especially my lungs are really being pushed up high. I feel like Braeden is sitting very high... hopefully he will drop soon. I hear that it is alot easier to breath once the baby drops.

And one last thing to mention. HOLY HEARTBURN. Before I was pregnant, i never once had heartburn. Throughout my pregnancy, the heartburn really kicked in... But it was nothing compared to the heartburn of the 3rd trimester. It is the most unpleasant thing ever. Even after popping tums, sometimes it still doesn't help.

All in all, the 3rd trimester has been quite the ride. Don't get me wrong, nothing is worse than the 1st trimester, but I do miss the energy i had during the 2nd. I am so excited to meet this little boy. I cannot believe he will be with us in 5 weeks! The end is in sight, and oh so worth it all.

Growing a baby is serious business!

I haven't had much time to write a blog post because I have been so busy... Busy growing this Baby bubsie. Pregnancy is not exactly what I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled about this journey, but I must be the exception to a normal pregnant woman.

Of course, you have the common side effects:
-Nausea (during the first trimester)
-Constipation (from those hard core prenatal vitamins)
-Heartburn
-Getting plump
-sore back, legs, and feet
-stretch marks

But I had the scary bleeding during the first trimester, some serious periods of headaches, and the worst pelvic pain i can describe. The pelvis does alot of moving, stretching, and separating during pregnancy.. some women have it worse than others, but in my case, it is excruciating at times. I know pregnant women complain alot. We are allowed. But Braeden is making it really hard on this mama. I know in the end it will be all worth it!

Some hints/tips/tricks for all of you non pregnant people, or newly pregnant women. Take it or leave it. No hard feelings. I am not a pro by any means.

Maternity clothes: invest in maternity clothes. Although you may be able to get away with wearing your normal pants for a while, when it gets to the point where you need to unbotton your pants, it is time to go shopping. Pants come in two styles basically. None have buttons. You can buy ones that are lower rise, with a band about a couple inches thick. These worked well early on, but i found that they would fold down, and turn very uncomfortable, especially if you sit alot during the day. They are also more noticable under your shirts. I personally like the pants that have the full belly coverage. Yes, they are weird at first,but oh so comfortable.. and have been working for me for months now. 

Bras: Maternity bras are strange contraptions...They double as breast feeding bras! Alittle too much info, but my chest got much larger during the early months. They seem to have gone down a bit, but from what i hear, once baby comes, they go back to being gigantic and painful. I experimented with alot of maternity bras, and found that i personally like the ones with no wiring at all. I found one from target that are super comfortable and cheap. I actually bought 4. I made sure that i would have some extra room for growing, so i went up in the number size, not the letter cup. Alot of the ones i tried said "no underwire", but really they all had one bar of wire on both sides that would dig into my side and hurt really bad, even when trying on bigger sizes. So try some different styles and figure out what works best for you.

Butt cushions: If you sit for long periods of time, ie a desk or in the car, and your rear end is really hurting like mine does, invest in a cushion. I have a weird one that i found at bed, bath, and beyond and it goes with me on all my car rides.

Registries: I have two registries. Yes it may be awkward to have a registry because then people think you are expecting gifts, but when people are throwing you multiple baby showers, and they plan on buying items regardless, it is alot nicer to be able to tell them exactly what you need. Yes, it is always awesome getting surprise items, and you should expect that to happen, but when it comes down to baby basics, it will be nicer in the end to have alot of it listed out so they can see what you have already and what you still need. We registered at Babies R US and Target. I must say, the customer service at babies-r-us has been top notch for us. They ship incredibly fast, and they take returns super easy. We actually bought two cribs, because one was back ordered and finally came in, so we returned the other one (obviously not assembled) and they were so nice about everything. I highly recommend babies-r-us. (They also give you bonuses based on how much off your registry has been purchased). So, long story short, don't be afraid to register. You don't need to tell everyone, but people will ask.

Furniture: We did alot of research about baby items. They whole realm of baby stuff is insane. There are so many products and alot of them are really different. After doing some research, we decided to invest the most in our rocker/glider chair. With my plans to nurse, this chair will come in handy. I wanted it to be comfortable, but also cozy enough that when it comes time to read bedtime stories to Braeden, the chair will be comfortable enough for a larger sized child and mama. We did not buy a furniture set, but bought a separate crib and dresser. They ended up matching perfectly because we decided on black furniture (if you had a specific color of wood, then it would be much more difficult to buy them separately without looking tacky. The crib was a piece of cake to assemble, but the dresser was much harder. We bought the dresser online from Target. Although it is great looking now, the 500 parts that came in the box unassembled were quite overwhelming. It took us 5 hours to assemble the dresser. So, be warned, it may be better to splurge on a dresser that comes assembled from a store. Regardless, the dresser and crib turned out great... We used a coupon from Babies-r-us and purchased the crib for $150 plus tax, and the dresser, although was a gift, was about $220. The chair on the other hand was about $400.. but it is not your typical looking chair, it is much more modern looking. Just do your research and check out youtube. They have great reviews from real people who actually demonstrate how the products work.

Stretch Marks: Every person is different, but i will share my experience with stretch marks. From the get go, i purchased a mass amount of stretch mark lotions and creams. I figured that if i started early, it would prevent the process. I was wrong. Just about a month ago i finally started showing signs of stretch marks on my stomach. They look like lighting bolts on both sides of my belly button. I have increased my lotion application but i think it is only getting worse. My advice, take it or leave it, don't spend tons of money on these lotions and creams. Just buy the cheaper ones because it likely wont make a difference. 

Here are some recent pictures... they really show the progression when lined up next to each other. This boy is getting big! Sorry for such a long post ;) 12 more weeks to go!

scary times

In just 3 days we will know what baby bubsie is (fingers cross it'll show us its goodies). This is a huge milestone for us because we then get to start planning everything! As of right now, all we have ever envisioned is a little bubsie in yellow. Not that i plan on converting to the pink only or blue only stereotypes, but it would at least be nice to be able to envision the future of this bundle of joy.

 

People usually say that the mother can "sense" what the baby will be, but i don't know if my hunch is right. It is certainly not what everyone else is predicting. haha. All i know is that i will be happy with either. I just want a healthy baby.

 

Most people do not know that this pregnancy has been a very scary one for us. At the beginning, i was so nervous that something would go wrong that i tried not to become too attached to the idea of having a baby.  Once i finally got over this fear and stupid notion, and became excited about our new addition,  something actually did go wrong, and it made it that much scarier.

 

Shortly after the clock struck midnight on Christmas morning in our tiny little apartment, Dan came rushing to the bathroom where i sat sobbing holding the blood-soaked toilet paper. I could not even talk as i just sat their sobbing while he tried to calm me down. We drove the half-mile to the emergency room and waited to see the fate of this baby i had become so attached to. This was the first time i got to see our baby bubsie, just merely a blob on the ultrasound. Baby was still alive and the bleeding subsided but they did find a subchorionic hemorrhage and told me this could happen again as it is unpredictable.  This was a very scary time for us. We knew bubsie was still alive inside, but the thought that this bleeding could happen again was terrifying. We went home relived and happy to celebrate our first married Christmas.

 

I know that bleeding is fairly common in pregnancies but unless this happens to you, you have no idea how scary it is. I'm sure some of you mommas reading this understand what I'm am talking about. We just kept praying for bubsie because there is really nothing else you can do. I had two additional scares with bleeding episodes but thank goodness bubsie was ok and we got to have some extra appointments just for reassurance.

 

Another scary situation that has been happening is concerning my blood work, more specifically my antibodies. One of my initial blood tests was flagged as abnormal and this instantly caused lots of questions, not just for dan and i, but also for our doctors. The antibodies that were appearing in my blood were not common and no one really knew what it all meant. I think by far that is the most frustrating part, especially when they have to tell you the worst case scenario. I am still being monitored frequently and have repeat blood work done every 3-4 weeks just to check. Hopefully at the ultrasound this week they will be able to give us more information on the antibody issue and check to see if it is affecting the babie's blood at all.

 

But there is really nothing you can do but wait and pray that baby bubsie will be healthy.

 

3 dyas! Time is flying by and we could not be more excited.

Kiss me hard before you go

"Kiss me hard before you go 

Wintertime sadness

I just wanted you to know 

That, baby, you're the best"

I dislike winter.

Don't get me wrong, I do love cooler days. Anyone who truly understands me knows that i hate sweating. My husband and I have to be the sweatiest couple known to this planet. I guess we were made for each other ;) . Back to the point, I don't like the weather that makes you wear coats. I hate having to take layers upon layers off, only to be covered with static electricity. 

I hate how dark it gets since daylight savings. 

Do you remember learning about SAD in psychology? I'm not saying I have "that", but I sure hate working during the only light parts of the day. The sun makes me happy. Nature makes me even happier, and I cant even enjoy it because there isn't any light out by the time i get home from work. 

I miss my husband.

I hate these weekend nights when they randomly assign him a night shift, when he works day shifts during the week. He then has to spend the other free day catching up on sleep. UGH?!?  At least I get to use this time to get cleaning done. Boy do we have a lot of laundry. I can't imagine throwing kids into the mix hahah.

I really dislike homework.

I have mastered the art of procrastination and no mater how many times I go back to school, I can never seem to shake it. I was never cut out to be a "life long student.  Mad props to all of you in graduate school, and even more props to those incredible people that take on medical school. I would have never made it. My class down in Maryland is alot harder than I anticipated. I figured it would be small, focused topics, but it is turning out to be more like a whole semester of biology classes. I really shouldn't complain though since I technically am not paying for it and it is only going to better me in my field. 

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. This year, I get to create my (our) very own Christmas. I love the idea of starting new traditions and building our way. We will be celebrating with the Dometitas the weekend before the 25th, and then with the Kanes, the weekend after the 25th.

All in all, sorry about the complaining. 

I will leave you with the things that make me Happy during the wintertime. 

My husband.

Snuggling with blankets on the couch

Family time.

Christmas traditions.

Christmas Trees & Decorations. 

Traveling.

Time is flying...

It is insane how fast time is going by. I guess I have been busy over the past year planning our wedding. Now that it is over, I find myself still so busy.

Married life is amazing. I almost forget sometimes that we are married... just because it all happened so fast. The wedding was beautiful; more than I could have ever imagined. I look back at the actual wedding day and it seems like it went so fast, even though it was such a long day(7am-midnight). The beautification with my lovely ladies, all of the pictures, the ceremony and reception... it really just flew by. I’m so glad I was able to have a photographer and a videographer to capture all of the little moments. It’s funny how much you actually don't see because you are busy being the "bride and groom". There are so many people to talk to and so much zooming around that you actually miss a lot. But in all of the day, there is more than you could ever absorb.. SO many emotions, smiles, and love bursting out of you. The video that my brother did captured all of those emotions; the nerves, excitement, joy, and pure love. If you haven't seen it, please check it out. It is incredibly beautiful, and I am truly thankful that Jeffrey blessed us with such a wonderful wedding present.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63z8oza2-qo&feature=youtu.be

It has almost been two months, and every night when I go to bed, I know that I have the man of my dreams right next to me. Forever. I am so excited to see what the future has in store for us.

The Big Countdown..

Where has the time gone?
I feel like it was just yesterday that I moved up North. At that time, I was worried about starting up in a new state, finding a job, and settling in. It has been over a year, and boy has it flown by. I guess I should update everyone on what is happening... and if you are my facebook friend, you will have noticed that all I talk about is the wedding... Well, it has taken over my everyday life and I don't mind it! I am actually very stress free due to having a wedding planner, but there are still lots of little things to do. To all you future brides, I advise you to get a wedding planner, it is an amazing feeling to know that on the day of the wedding, all you have to do is show up, and none of your loved ones have to do any setting up. I cant even begin to tell you how invaluable it is. Back to what has happened in the last year.

• I got a job at the same hospital as Dan... Geisinger Medical Center's Weis Center for Research. Although it was a rough start, I am finally getting into the groove of it all. It is hard initially figuring out a new boss... I think that was the toughest adjustment.. and it is still a work in progress, but I am soooooo blessed to have this job.
• I got engaged! DUH! This happened back in October 2012. I then set out to plan a wedding in 11 months.
• I got accepted into a year long graduate level course down near DC in which I will gain more hands on, technical training, which will in turn raise my pay in the coming years... also, Geisinger covers 85% of the bill, which is very pricey. So I will be taking this course in which i will have labs down in dc a few times a month... I am always excited to learn more and improve my technique! ( this starts the week after the wedding) 
•  Dan and I are excited to purchase our first house. This should happen shortly after our wedding, and I am excited to start a new life together!
•  Last but not least, we are down into the "teens" as far as the countdown is concerned. I am so excited to have a vacation down in NC and see all of my friends and family.

Moving NORTH...

Time seems to go by so quickly these days. I feel like I just graduated... but in reality, it has been quite a  while.  I am moving to Danville, PA the first weekend of May. It feels weird only having one week left at work. I am taking a leap of faith and moving without having a job. My hope is that I will find one easier once I am up there( and be able to set up interviews more easily). 

The coming 2 months are going to be a whirlwind. Between moving, Dan's Cruise and Guys trip to Vegas, My trip home to Jacksonville, Dan's Graduation, and Wedding in Charleston...WE HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON.  The next couple months will be exciting at least. I am so very proud of Dan and all of his hard work.

Moving is bittersweet. I have done it many times before(over 10 times since high school). I actually hate the process of moving. Being older, it is very hard to make friends. I always find myself making friends, and then having to leave them. But that is life. I am very excited to be living so close to Dan. I cannot even begin to describe how much I despise long distance. I will never ever deal with long distance again. BUT I will miss the South something fierce. I really do love the South... honestly, southern hospitality is not a myth. I LOVE IT. But I also am excited for cooler weather( I hate sweating).

Most of all,  I will miss my family. I know that living in Raleigh, I did not get to see my parents all that often, But just knowing there were only two hours away was such a relief.... But at least it is only a short one hour flight home. GOSH, I LOVE MY FAMILY...

BUT I HAVE TO FOLLOW MY HEART... DR. DAN STOLE IT. <3