32 weeks

I am 32 weeks!  Yeah, only 8 weeks left.

I had an appointment last week and everything with the baby looks good.  He's active, has a great heartbeat and is measuring right on track.  I, however, have been having some issues with dizziness, pressure on my chest, blood rushing to my hands, head and feet, heart racing and heartburn.  

The nurse practitioner had some concerns after hearing my symptoms and listening to my heart.  She picked up a heart murmur and wanted me to see a cardiologist.  

Today I headed in to my cardiology appointment and had a EKG done.  Everything looks good and the doctor saw no concerns whatsoever.  He said that all pregnant women have a heart murmur and everything sounded good when he listened to my heart.  Just to be on the save side I'm having an ultrasound done of my heart in two weeks just to make sure that my heart is "squeezing" (his words) like it's supposed to be.  He has no concerns that it's not.

I do have one continuous theme running throughout this pregnancy... my doctors keep telling me to leave the laundry, the dishes and the floors.  I should be resting more and taking naps.  If it only were that easy.  

I'm getting VERY excited now that I have only 8 weeks left.  I'm starting to make a list of everything that needs to be done before he arrives.  #1- find a name.  I don't know why I'm so antsy to find a name.  Thomas likes to look through the whole baby names book one letter at a time and write down all the names that jump out to him.  As of today, he's on letter K and has about 20 names written down.  My list is about 8 names.  Most of them Thomas doesn't really like.  Bummer.

I'm also starting to plan for Garrison's first day of 4K, which will start only a week or two before his baby brother arrives (that's going to be a whole new ball game for us.) and plan Josiah's 3rd birthday (which I'm really hoping to be home for).  September is going to be a crazy month for us!

   

Fourth of July weekend

For 3 days the boys and I took a little trip to see family while Thomas flew to Colorado for a wedding.  It was fun to get away and to not be by myself with the boys.  They definitely loved spending time with their cousins.

We saw everyone from both sides of the family.  I'm not sure when the last time that happened was.  The boys and I even received a bonus visit from my Grandma and Aunt.   

The only downfall from our trip (besides coming home to reality) was that our truck got a flat tire at some point.  Luckily, we made it home without any problems, but by the next night it was completely flat and bending the rim.

Garrison and Thomas in Uncle Nate and Aunt Kathy's pool

 Josiah not really sure if he wants to get in...

 ... didn't like it!

Storm Trooper Josiah.  

He loved wearing this helmet, but was afraid of it if someone else wore it.

Papa (my dad) giving piggy back rides to Adeline and Josiah.

Building sand castles while visiting my mom.

Pontoon time!  

They each got a chance to drive and blow the horn.

They were pretty excited!

  

My mom with Garrison and my Grandma.

Aren't they precious when they sleep?!

29 weeks

Weeks along: 29!

Baby:  Is doing good.  Measuring where he's supposed to be, has strong heartbeat, active as ever.  I'm actually a little nervous as to how active he is.  The other two boys were never this active.  I'm thinking this little guy is going to always be on the go.  I'm tired already thinking about it.  :)

Me:  I've gained 30 pounds.  I'm already looking forward to working it off... maybe not.  I've been experience light nose bleeds.  Nothing major- there's just always a little blood in my nose.  My back pain comes and goes.  I still have good days and bad.  I've been trying to surround myself at night with pillows and that seems to be helping some.  I keep telling myself to get out my brace, but I keep forgetting to put it on.  

Doctor appointment:  Had one today.  The doctor says everything is good and I will now start going every 2 weeks.  I can't believe I'm already to this point.  I also had the glucose test for gestational diabetes today and failed the test.  I've never failed this test before so I'll be going on Friday to take the 3 hour test.  I'm praying that I don't have gestational diabetes, but I know that God's hand is in this and everything will work out to his plan.

Food cravings:  Food.  I'm actually not craving anything.  I'm just enjoying food- especially fruit.

Extras:  This poor little guy still doesn't have a name.  We don't even have one in the lead.  We figure we still have some time so we're not stressing.  Josiah wasn't named until 2 weeks before his birth. 

Garrison and Josiah are talking more and more about their baby brother.  I'm pretty sure it helps that they can see my belly getting bigger and bigger.  They do ask often if they can lift up my shirt and see him.  If only it were that easy.   

This little guys room is ready.  All his clothes are washed and put away.  His car seat and crib are sitting and waiting for him.  I wanted to be a head of the game as I didn't know how I'd feel towards the end.  I'm also hoping to be potty training Josiah soon and didn't want to overwhelm myself.  Now we just wait until we get closer to having him before I head out and buy him diapers.  Then we'll really be ready.

I cannot wait to meet this little guy!

picnic

I love picnic's and my boys are starting to share the same love.  They're normally spur-of-the-moment decisions that end with fun memories.  For our first picnic of the summer I decided to grab some McDonald's and head to a local park.  The boys could hardly eat they were so excited about the park.  They did manage to get some food in the bodies before they ran off.

Our second picnic happened today thanks to Garrison.  He suggested going outside to eat our lunch.   Great idea!  We had hot dogs, sandwiches, carrots with ranch dressing and juice.

We kept the dogs inside (so we could actually enjoy our picnic instead of spend our time fighting for it.)  Of course, the dogs hated that idea and barked or scratched at the door almost the entire time.  (We are out of sight, but they could still tell we were close by.)

After a few seconds of Aza, our chocolate lab, barking Garrison turned to the house and yelled, "Be quiet you fools!"  I almost chocked on my food.  I love the things that this kid says sometimes.

A little later I was trying to tell Josiah something, but he wasn't hearing or understanding me.  So after the third time of repeating myself I finally told him to never mind.  He responded to me by saying, "Oh, were you talking to yourself?"  He's only 2 1/2 years old.  Where does he come up with these things?!

I love the memories I'm making with these boys.  Garrison told me today that it was such a good idea to eat outside.  I hope they remember these moments like I remember moments of my childhood.

cleaning my microfiber chair

We bought a microfiber rocking chair right before Garrison was born.  Now five years later with two (soon to be three) little boys around you can only imagine how dirty our tan chair is.  I was actually embarrassed by this chair.

 I really wanted to clean it, but had no idea how to do that.  So one day while looking at Pinterest I came upon a solution to use rubbing alcohol.  I didn't have any rubbing alcohol on hand so I decided to try what I did have which was hydrogen peroxide.

 Here's what I did...  

I put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and sprayed the area that I wanted to clean.  With a clean, never used before white rough sponge I scrubbed the area.  I was a little paranoid that it wouldn't work so I scrubbed it quite often while it dried.  After it had completely dried I went back over it with a clean, white bristled brush and "fluffed" the area back up.  It was a little crunchy after it dried, but a little brushing and the fabric felt just like it did before I cleaned it.  It was so easy and I can't believe how well hydrogen peroxide can clean microfiber.

Here are the before and afters...

Before

After

Before

After

 Before

After

 Before

 After

25 weeks

I am 25 weeks and 2 days.

I've gained 21 lbs thus far.  (With Garrison I had gained 21 lbs at this point and with Josiah I had gained 20 lbs.  So I'm right on track to gain my 55 to 60 lbs.  Wowser!  I just looked up how much I actually gained with both boys... Garrison I gained 58 lbs and Josiah I gained 56 lbs.  Here we go!)

I'm craving watermelon, cereal and salads, but, of course, I've been eating everything and can't seem to stop.

I had a doctors appointment last Thursday and the baby is doing good.  His heart beat is 150 bpm and everything is looking good.  My next appointment I'll be going in to test for diabetes.  Then I'll be going every 2 weeks.  Crazy!  I'm so excited to meet this little guy I'm practically busting at the seams.

He's been kicking a ton lately.  The other day Garrison was leaning against my tummy when his little brother began kicking.  Garrison gently elbowed my tummy back and said, "knock it off."

I've still been experiencing a lot of back pain, pressure and cramping.  Lately it's been more back pain then anything else.  By the end of the day it's hard for me to walk, but I'm loving being pregnant again.  A lady from our church has set up people to bring us meals once a week until the baby comes.  I'm a little overwhelmed by it all, but am trying to take it all with a "thank you" and a smile.  I feel like I'm still capable of making my family meals, but I also know that people want to help out.

Dirt ball

I have a feeling that this summer I'll be giving the boys lots of baths and showers.  They usually end up looking like this when they're done having fun.