Baby News

So, quick baby update: Bunches of tests today & everything looks good. Going back Friday to repeat some tests, but looks like we're in this for the next 3 weeks long haul & baby's looking good!

And for those who have asked, despite having a million ultrasounds, we've still managed to keep the boy/girl-ness a secret! It does require constant vigilance- every ultrasound I remind the tech, "Please, for all that is holy, I've waited 8 months don't ruin it now!"

So, without further ado here's todays grainy profile shot of Clumsy Carter:

Also, now that I'm clear to not rest as much, I rocked a little "Just Dance 3" with Syd. It's a terrible sight to behold, which means OF COURSE I must share it with you all:

I just love Rob picking his nose & stoically showing off the case for MarioKart.
Syd is so technical with her rockin' it.
And then there's my jiggly baby belly.
Hot stuff, people.
Hot.
Stuff.

Taking it easy

We're working on taking it a little easy these days. So, today was a blueberry muffin & Old Maid kind of morning.

I think it's my new favorite kind of morning.

Stress Test

This is a MASSIVE post about what's been going on with crazy pregnancy stuff. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO IGNORE THE DRAMA & hop down to the mini post at the bottom:

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Oh man, lately my life has felt like it is one big ol' stress test. Not like the lovely Non-Stress Tests I've been doing weekly (& now bi-weekly), the REAL LIFE stress.

I just wanted to keep everyone who isn't a FB (why the heck aren't we FB friends?) or text friends up to date on the craziness that has been life this week. After my last NST came back low I was told to come back 5 days later (Monday) & when they checked me the number dropped abnormal/ dangerously low. They told me to go straight to Labor & Delivery because I was most likely going to have this baby. Yeah, I didn't even have a car seat.

At the hospital they admitted me, put me in a lovely gown, & put in a heplock all saying they were just waiting for the doctor to start inducing me. When the doctor did come he told them "35 weeks is TOO early to induce her let's try some stuff first" (thank heavens for doctors that agree with me) but he added "you are still almost certainly having this baby today or tomorrow".

They hooked me up to an IV & DUMPED me full of saline and then rushed me down to get an ultrasound again. This time my numbers were up. Still low but not dangerous. They still weren't sure if they were going to induce me. Finally, it was decided 35 weeks was too early, I'd come back Thursday & they'd check again.

Wednesday I had an appointment to see the doctor at the OB's office. After telling her what had happened Monday & she mentioned that I was measuring small (I've measured RIGHT ON every other appointment). She also said it didn't look good to keep this baby in much longer.

Thursday (today) I went in & my amniotic fluid numbers actually went up. I was ecstatic, but then when they started monitoring the baby the heart rate wasn't quite right- just having strange dips & they thought I'd probably have this baby today. So, I sat there for 3 1/2 hours (which would have rocked if I wasn't starving, didn't hate TV & had a book that didn't stink). The doc finally came & again reinterated that he thought 36 weeks was too early to induce & to go back to the doctors office on Tuesday for an amnio test, a NST, a doctors appointment, & an ultrasound to check the babies size.

I came back an emotional mess. All this "you're giving birth RIGHT NOW" and "wait, no you aren't" etc just did me in. I'm now determined that this baby is coming at the end of February. I'm not even letting the idea that I'm having this baby enter my mind unless I've got an IV of petocin dripping in my arm.

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After I got home a weepy mess, my lovely mom-in-law (who flew out at the false scare & has been helping SO MUCH) took the kids & I out to "Beauty & the Beast" in the theater. It was just as amazing as I remember it being when I first saw it in the theater when I was 9 years old.

So, you are all now FULLY updated on my life. Thanks for sticking with my through my blogging absence & baby-on-the-brain posts. You all rock!

Brodi Ashton Book Launch for EVERNEATH

I can not even tell you how much I love Brodi Ashton! She is the kindest, funniest, snarkiest, most outgoing, welcoming person I have gotten to know in my author-ly friendships (read about the first time we met here).

Last night was the long anticipated launch to her debut novel EVERNEATH. I was lucky enough to have already read this book & it is a solid 5 stars- it looks like people agree because reviews on amazon.com & goodreads.com have been awesome!

Brodi gave a fabulous talk & hilarious PowerPoint presentation that left me doubled over in laughter. It was also one of the biggest turnouts I've ever seen at a launch, with some of the best food too!

And since I love Brodi so much, love her novel so much, and love ya'll so much I'm giving away a signed copy. Check out her book trailer, the synopsis of it, and leave a comment to be signed up to win one for your very own! GOOD LUCK!

Baby Celebration!

Today a lovely double, for Es & I, "baby celebration" was thrown by my favorite LBG ladies- huge shout out to Linds who worked tirelessly & had an immaculate house to host it at.

We had such a fabulous time with a close group of friends who came to wish us, & our little soon-to-be-born babies, well.

Tasty food, good conversation, & opening beautiful gifts from extremely thoughtful friends.

I could not ask for sweeter, more generous people in my life. Thank you all for your love & support for this awesome addition to the Carter Clan!

NSTs

I'm pretty sure the term "Non-Stress Test" is a misnomer- like "fun run". Because while nothing happens but measuring amniotic fluid & baby hearts rate (& it's boring), I can't help but worry (I'm such a worrier).

I've been having weekly ones for the past bit because of concerns about low amniotic fluid. I've been trying to drinks lots of liquids & rest in the hopes of bringing the number (which is a tad low) up.

Poor Rob joined me at my last appointment. The kid was a trooper, but extremely bored. Fingers crossed for my next one (on Monday)!

Kickin' it with cool kids

Yeah, it's just a regular run to the grocery store...

... with the coolest kids on the planet.

Feeling done.

I honestly wasn't expecting to feel this poopy, this early on. I can't remember when I felt "done" with my other bambinos but right now, at 35 weeks I feel DONE. Today 5-6 more weeks sounds impossible.

I know it's because I have a cold creeping in & I have been working too hard the past week or so. I'm hoping to slow it down a little, kick this post nasal drip, & soon feel like I can push through these last weeks because, honestly, I don't really have another option.

All complaining aside, I can not wait to meet this new little human being I've been growing inside me: little toes, little eye lashes, little heart. My body grew all that. It's a miracle & I can't wait get this 5 person family started!

Baby in my Belly

Yeah, I'd say the kids are pretty excited for this baby.

This is pretty much their new favorite game:

"Baby in my belly" game.
It consists of them with their hands on their back shuffling around & complaining.
I guess that says a lot about what I've been doing lately.

Wrong Answer

Syd, Rob, & I played a new game we got from the PERC Center. As we're playing along, it's Syds turn & she landed on a spot where we have to read a card.

Here's the card:

Before Syd even had a chance to move her game piece Rob pipes in saying: "That's wrong! He should have just snuck one candy bar before dinner, so he had enough room to still eat dinner."

Ummm... yeah, I'd call that a parenting fail.

Family Night: getting ready for the baby

For Family Night last night, I thought for part of our evening we'd have some "what's gonna happen when the baby comes" activities with Syd & Rob.

We started off reading this LOVELY (in story & especially in drawings) book my mom-in-law gave Syd & Rob for Christmas.

Then we played a little game of "What will change & what will stay the same when the baby comes". I typed up a bunch of sentences & then we put them under each column (We had a bunch & I made an effort to have the "stay the same" list longer than the "change" list).

To top off the night we played with Sydney's doll, specifically learning how to hold a baby. The kids went ga-ga for it.

I am probably a lot more neurotic than I need to be about how they're going to handle a new baby but it was fun to talk (& warn them) about all the fun (& hard stuff) that comes along with a new baby!

School Pictures

In the de-junking & going through the house, I found this book my mom kept with all my school pictures.

For your viewing pleasure enjoy grades 1-12:

Oh, the stages of life you can spot while looking at these pictures: my first perm, when my gappy adult teeth started growing in, my over-sized tortoise shell glasses, the beginning of my grunge stage, when I started dressing myself for school pictures, & the senior picture where I sure thought I was hot stuff.

And P.S. What is with the oscillating between awkward shoulder length to awkward chin length hair?

Nesting

It has begun.
Nesting.
Finally.

I thought maybe it wasn't going to happen with this baby & I'd be left with a horrible messy house with no desire to clean it. Now I'm on a rampage & I'm rolling with this feeling as long as it lasts.

The kitchen was todays project & I went through the whole place emptying all the cupboards, wiping them out, throwing out extra junk, & organizing everything.

Here's a look at my trunk after todays CostCo trip. I had the obsessive need to buy cleaning supplies, baby supplies, & other essentials. Like Poptarts.

We bought toy organizing storage things for each kids room because their toys have been crazy cluttery. Especially since Christmas.

And while this technically doesn't fall under "nesting", I've been trying to find ways to dress like I'm in pajamas all day long without actually being in pajamas. Maternity leggings & a big cotton dress worked nicely today.