Week 23: Load me up!!!!!

I forgot to mention that my placenta actually moved up from the last ultrasound....Which means.... No more scheduled c-section. Military docs do not really give you the choice. Its nice not having surgery, I hate the smell of my own burning flesh ...But, as I said before, I had a much more difficult recovery with the VBAC, so its bitter sweet.

The other thing that stinks is the predictability. With Kory's job and the nature of his work (if you know me, you know what his job is), it would have been REALLY helpful to have a set delivery date. Now, I need a backup plan in case Kory cannot make it back.

Thankfully, my hospital covers the charge of a doula for women in my situation....Which is great because I do not want to be alone....

But after reading the doula's profiles, I am not sure how I feel about this.

Most of the doula's were pushy about not getting an epidural. Hmmm.

Because I got stuck with Braxton at 5cm for 12 hours after getting the epidural, Kory and I decided to do the Bradly method with Alexa . Doctors feared the epidural was what slowed me down with Braxton.

Well, when I got to the hospital, I was informed that VBAC deliveries (especially in my case), needed to be internally monitored the entire delivery.

That is when I threw the Bradly book OUT THE WINDOW!

If I could get up and move around.....Which is the basis of most of the Bradly book.....Then I would try.....But sitting in a hospital bed for the entire delivery without meds was something I did not want to do. Especially with my deliveries averaging around 30 hours +. Needless to say, I waited longer for the epidural that time around and the rest is history.

Although my epidural have never fully worked and they have a hard time sticking me, I STILL LOVE THEM!!!! For me...Not getting an epidural is like going to the dentist and not asking for Novocaine....Especially in my case where I have to sit with monitor coming out of my vag.

All in all.....I love the doula I chose....But, I think she is going to be very "disappointed" in me. But its my delivery and meds is how I want it!

On the bright side.... She is also a photographer, so she is going to be busy taking pictures of the baby once she comes out. Priceless! I am soo excited. I just hope she does not get any shots that could be used as blackmail in a few years.

Week 22:: Bad Week

I had a doctors appt yesterday and found out that I had gained 10 LBS in less than two weeks from my last appt (a little over a week ago).

If this was Alexa's pregnancy, I would have concluded my nightly binge of Jack in the Box two taco's for a $1 had finally caught up with me.

But this pregnancy has been different. I have been more careful about eating healthy. And its been killing me! I just CRAVE taco's DAILY when I am prego.

I knew I would gain more than the traditional 25 LBS because I went from doing six day a week workouts of P90X and an additional hour of cardio TO a much less intense workout. Now, I still workout...And workout as hard as I can with keeping my heart rate in check....But I am obviously not doing 100 push ups a day. So naturally, I knew once I started scaling back my workouts, the LBS would creep up just with the change in workout alone.

But not to this point.

I had gained about 10 lbs until last week....Which was OK, but another 10 LBS weight gain in such a short amount of time worried not only me, but my doctor. My doctor could immediately tell when she walked into the room. Apparently my face says it all!

So, I have to go in for more testing. I just do not want to hear the words preaclampsia.

Week 21: Ultrasound....And the big ?

Let me just start with this.....

Because of all Braxton's issues, our ultrasounds are done by a doctor who specializes in just pediatric ultrasounds for high risk pregnancies. When I told her I already knew the sex at 14 weeks, she said, "om, if it was a boy, I would not be surprised, but a girl, hmmm, lets just say in all my years of medicine, I have never diagnosed a girl at that stage." So.....With all that said.....

At 14 weeks, I was especially bummed the midwife accidentally blurted out the sex. I really wanted to be surprised, seeing as I already have a boy and a girl.

So, as of right now, I (Kory know the sex) am going to be one of those mom's who wants to be surprised at the birth! However, I am 99% sure its a girl.....I have been right with every one of my kids and this one I can just feel is an Ella....For more than one reason. So, my "its a girl" will stay, because of a mothers instinct I guess.

Let me just say this about the ultrasound.....I HATE THEM......I know its the day in pregnancy that most women look forward too.....But after Braxton, I absolutely hate it. I am frantically paranoid until the day comes. Having a child born with PBS has ruined all the fun.....Because just like I said in this post last year, being in the hospital with Braxton has given us a reality that most will never face. Thankfully, Braxton's issue is totally manageable, but that does not mean we can't be subjected to something else with him or Alexa for that matter. There is SOOOOO much out there.

I realized that no matter how much you pay your tithing, say your prayers, or go to church, God gives you the trials he needs you to have in order to fulfill your life's mission.....Whether you like it or not. And like I have said in the past, through time, I could not be more grateful for the trials he has given us. Its been hard....A child's health issues tops the chart when it comes to reasons for divorce, but in our situation, it made us closer.

With all that said, this ultrasound was just one of the many times I will be worried about this kid, because I have seen what can happen during ultrasounds that changes the dynamics of a families life.

When I told people I was having a girl and was really excited....I kept getting, "well, even if it was a boy, all that matters is that they're healthy." Honestly, that comment makes me cringe because I do not love or treat Braxton any less than another child because he is not healthy. But I was anxious for this day because it could be the start of another future of a child with health issues, which is never easy for a marriage or a family.

Does that mean she is not vulnerable to all the evil medical conditions which can happen later in a child's life, no...Lets be honest....They did not catch Braxton's until AFTER the ultrasound (major mistake on their part) But at least I can cross off spinal bifita. And even though spinal bifita is rare, Kory and I do not care....After having a child with a VERY VERY RARE condition, not to mention losing my brother to a VERY VERY VERY VERY RARE condition, the word rare is not really that rare.....So being able to cross at least one thing off is monumental in our home.

As for the gender. Apparently, the girl prediction could be wrong. 13 weeks is maybe too early to see if its a girl. So as of right now... Kory know the gender and I do not!





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Week 20: ...What other title can I give it?

I am not sure how I feel about week 20. I know there is a lot of hype with it. "THE HALF WAY POINT!"

In some ways its a relief because I am half way through....On the other hand, its kinda a downer because I am ONLY half way though. It seems like I have been prego forever!

The sad thing is...I am really sick.

It started at my in-laws. Until this point, my only symptoms in this pregnancy were irritability, fatigue, and a little nausea. This is really minor compared to my pregnancy with Alexa where I could not even keep down water.

When I found out we were having a girl, I was shocked because my symptoms were nothing like Alexa, but boy was I wrong! Over the holiday, I thought I just had a stomach bug because this pregnancy has not brought a lot of vomiting, but the vomiting has not stopped. AND LET ME TELL YOU.....I HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT THROWING UP!!!! I hate it!!!!

All in all, I am not sure if I should be jumping up and down at this 20 week mark or crying myself to sleep. Its not a good way to start out the year.

Week 19: The V Word

Yep....We're having three kids....And you know what that means.....We need a new car! We love the 4runner and have been hanging onto it as long as possible. I hate getting a new car when the 4runner is totally paid off and has been for years. However, we have been preparing for this day (financially) and are ready to make the purchase.... Although I know I am going to still cry after making the purchase. I hate spending money.



We have been saving for a Toyota Sequoia for forever. I love this SUV and its the step up from the 4runner. The Sequioa are not the cheapest car, no Toyota or Honda's are, but its an investment. I was not a huge fan of Toyota's or Honda's before I met Kory.....I just hated the price tag....I am all about buying the cheapest car with the lowest amount of miles. But after six years of driving Toyota's, I fell in love. We never have major maintenance issues with our Toyota's and the 4runner has 200,00o miles. Needless to say, with my husbands job, the last thing I want is van like my parents, we spent hours on the side of the rode and they shelled out thousands of dollars in repair costs. In the end, saving extra $$ for all these years is totally worth the extra cost in the end, at least for us. The new 4runners do have a third row option. Which was very tempting because like I said, I love our 4runner....But, the third seat does take up most of the cargo and since we want 4 kids (knock on wood), I would rather get what we need now and not have to trade another car once the fourth arrives. The Sequioa's are on sale this week.....They're getting rid of their 2011 models, so now is the time to buy.


But my love for the Sequoia all changed a few weeks ago. I have always been anti van, so has Kory. Kory has actually been worse than me. He loves the ability to tow. Getting a van was never a consideration because him and I love driving an SUV.

Then I drove one.

I was taking my neighbor kids to a church activity and drove their Toyota Sianna. Oh my gosh, it was love at first sight! I could still sit higher on the rode, the kids were able to get in and out without having to flip over one seat, AND with the sliding doors, I did not have to worry about denting any cars in the parking lot while trying to get the kids out. IT WAS A MIRACLE!

I told Kory about my new found love and to my surprise, he was totally OK with it. It shocked me! Maybe because the price is soooo much less for the van than the Sequoia, or maybe its because he knows I will be driving it much more than him.

Needless to say, as of this week or next, I am going to be just another soccer mom (literally. Braxton starts next soccer week) with a mini van. But I am OK with it! I JUST LOVE VANS!!!!!

Its between either the Toyota Sienna, Toyota Sequoia or the Honda Odyssey. The Honda Odyssey actually has better reviews than the Sienna, so I am open to either.