Quick Baby Update

Today I had an appointment to have my blood pressure checked. Two weeks ago it was super high and the doctor increased my dosage. I have been seeing the other doctor in the office since my doctor was out on maternity leave so I needed to see her too to talk about the blood pressure and the last ultrasound.

Thankfully my blood pressure was down, but still a little high. It was 140s/82 which is a little high for a normal person, but for me she said was really good. She decided not to increase my medicine right now because she is afraid of making my blood pressure drop too low. She said that the baby and I are used to a little higher blood pressure and dropping it too low to a very normal blood pressure could make me feel like crap and harm the baby. So we kind of want to try to keep it around what it is.

At my last appointment they had trouble during the ultrasound seeing some important things. My doctor took a look at the ultrasound and said that it looks like due to the baby's position and her not wanting to cooperate at all that they didn't get a very good look at much of anything. They were unable to get a good look at the heart, they couldn't see any hands, and they didn't get a good look at the nose and mouth (looking for a cleft lip). She assured me that everything looks normal and she doesn't believe anything is wrong. That it was just a position and baby not cooperating issue.

She gave me the go ahead to not have to come back for 4 weeks at which time I will be 26 weeks. At that time they will do another ultrasound to get pictures of what they couldn't see before, make sure the blood pressure is still under control, and I get to do the lovely glucose test at that time too.

Shortly after this next appointment probably the appointment after it, I will start my weekly or every other week non stress tests and ultrasounds. With both Mason and Taylor around 32 weeks I always started having weekly visits that consisted of a non stress test, ultrasound, and a doctor visit because of the high blood pressure. Once I hit those long weekly visits I know I am near the end and because of my previous record it could be anytime. Both Mason and Taylor were induced because of a combination of the high blood pressure, a failed non stress test, or a bad report on the ultrasound.

For now I just keep thinking positive and pray that maybe this time I can actually go into labor on my own. It will just depend on the darn blood pressure!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend! Be safe and have fun!

Crazy Fact!

I have been pregnant, giving birth, or taking care of/nursing a newborn since 2006!

2006- I got pregnant with Timothy

2007- I gave birth to Timothy

2007 (9 months later)- I got pregnant with Mason

2008- I gave birth to Mason

2009- I got pregnant with Taylor

2010- I gave birth to Taylor

2011- I got pregnant with baby #4

possibly 2011 or 2012- I will give birth to baby #4

That has been the last 6-7 years of my life. That's insane! My poor body! I am actually looking forward to the next chapter of our lives that doesn't include pregnancy or newborns. As sad as it will be to be done, I think I need a break. Or at least my body will thank me!

Peanut #4- weeks 21 and 22

This is a quick update on our little peanut and my pregnancy. With this pregnancy I wanted to do a weekly update with pictures from the beginning to document everything. But due to my severe morning sickness, that is just now really going away, I was unable to keep that up. Most days I had a hard time even getting off the couch.

Thankfully I think I can say I am pretty much past that phase. This is my favorite part of pregnancy! I am no longer throwing up multiple times a day, I actually have most of my energy back (can't say all since I do have 3 other kids that drain my energy on a daily basis), and I am feeling really well. This phase I am not too big yet where I am really uncomfortable, but enough to really feel pregnant.

Last week is when I really started to feel her move. I was getting a little nervous because all three of my other kids I felt move before 20 weeks. So when I hadn't really felt anything yet, I started to get a little nervous. Knowing that I am overweight this time around , I knew that could be the reason in not feeling the movement as quickly. But after my appointment last week with the ultrasound, when I knew everything was alright I started to feel her more and more. Now she moves ALL. THE. TIME. I love it!

Nothing too exciting going on. Trying to keep up on my blood pressure medicine so we can keep that in check. I feel like I am growing and growing and growing. And just soaking up all those precious movements. Even on the hard days, when I am either so tired or not feeling well it's all worth it when I feel her move inside me. By far my favorite part of pregnancy!!

Another Prince or Princess?

Last Tuesday, I went in for my 20 week checkup and THE ultrasound. My guess was another boy, I had that feeling from the beginning. Everything about this pregnant reminded me of Timothy's pregnancy. Tim was thinking girl. Really I didn't have a preference. I have both boy and a girl so I would have been thrilled with either.

During the ultrasound the tech did the all the usual measurements they do around this time. She measured the head, belly, femur bone, looked for all the vital organs, checked the heartbeat. Everything looked good except there were a few things she couldn't really see or get a good picture of.

She was never able to get a good picture of the heart or things like the lips. WTF?! She said that she is sure everything is fine that it could be I am a little more overweight this time around so it's harder to get clear pictures. I mean I'm sure my little angel has lips, but It made me a little nervous to know that there were things they couldn't see. I have never had any problems with ultrasounds.

She decided to schedule me for another ultrasound in 4 weeks, and said that by then the baby will be even bigger and they should be able to see everything. But at the very end she asked if we wanted to know the sex, and of course we did! I have no patience to wait.

And then she wrote it out for us. We will be welcoming a new baby......

GIRL!

I was shocked! I was really thinking another little boy. Tim of course had to brag that he has been able to guess all 4 of the kids correctly. Nonetheless though we are ecstatic, and I cannot wait for Taylor to have a sister. I could not think of a better way to complete our family. 2 boys and 2 girl. Perfect!

Now comes the hard part, picking a name!

Coming Back!

Hello to my loyal followers, who are still here after my very lengthy absence. I looked at my last post, dated for May 31st, and I still cannot believe I have not blogged or been able to keep up with all of your blogs in almost 2 months. Let me just say I have missed it. But we have been plenty busy around here!

I am officially 15 weeks pregnant, and finally starting to really feel better. Getting my energy back, and not throwing up multiple times a day. It's great! Still taking my Zofran, usually everyday which is probably why I am not throwing up.

I had a doctor's appointment at the end of June. I had an ultrasound to take measurements and get a more accurate due date. I thought I was around 10 weeks, but during the ultrasound it was determined that I was measuring more along the lines of 12 weeks. The baby looked awesome, and I was given a new due date of New Years Day!! So it looks like we will most likely have a Christmas baby. I was also put on blood pressure medicine at that time because my blood pressure has been really elevated. I have had this problem with my last 2 pregnancies. So she decided to start the medicine now to hopefully control it from the beginning before it gets out of control and hard to bring back down.

I am really trying to be optimistic that this time around my blood pressure will stay under control, that maybe I won't have to be induced, and that I could just go into labor on my own. I would really love to go into labor on my own. All three of my kids were induced because of blood pressure, so this would be a miracle. But I am hopeful!

In other news, all the kids are doing great. Taylor is getting so big and sassy! She is running all over the place, chasing her brother's and keeping up with them too! Oh and the climbing, she climbs EVERYTHING. This morning I caught her on the kitchen table. I have no idea how she got up there! Thankfully she didn't fall. She babbles non stop too. Just a talkative little thing. Her favorite thing to do though....play dress up. The boys never did that, but if Taylor finds a shirt, pants, any clothing item on the floor she is trying to put it on. I am always amazed at the differences I have seen in Taylor's personality and the boy's. It really is like she girl's are wired to be drawn to certain things, and boys to certain things.

Mason is really starting to talk and pronounce a lot. We were a little concerned about his speech, because he was just not a talker. Just grunted for things. But boy does he talk now. A lot of what he says is still hard to understand, but I think that is pretty normal. And oh the energy there is plenty of that! Both the boys have more energy than I can imagine, but especially Mason. He is on full steam from the time his feet hit the floor in the morning, until I convince him it is bedtime. He is so much fun though! He has his 3rd birthday at the end of the month, and we are planning a small party at the park on Sunday the 24th, his actual birthday. I am really excited!

I still have a hard time believing Timothy is 4, crazy! He is a little devil sometimes. Having a little bit of a hard time with his behavior. He likes to talk back, and his tantrums and whining are worse than a 2 year old. My hope is that since he is not going to be going to preschool, that I can slowly stop his naps and take that time to work with him. There are still things I need to work on to prepare him for kindergarten, and I hope that this time with him will help his behavior. Because when he gets that alone time, he is such a great kid!

Not much else has really been going on here. Just trying to keep sane. I have spent most of the time at home, just trying to keep from breaking down from really not feeling well. The poor kids are probably so ready to get out more and to see friends. I am hoping the weather cools, it's been in the high 90s with a heat index in the 100s, so that we can get out to the park and Zoo!

Going to spend the morning with my feet kicked up, trying to catch up on all of your blogs! I hope you all have a great day!!

The More The Merrier!

If you happen to follow me on Twitter, or know me IRL than you probably already know the news.

In case you don't know, I am going to tell you.

I am happy to announce that we will be welcoming baby #4 sometime in January!! Yep, you read that right, I am 5 weeks pregnant with number FOUR!

And just in case you don't already know, this would be the 2nd baby conceived while having an IUD in. Miss Taylor was conceived with an IUD in too!

CRAZY!

Still trying to get used to the thought of having 4 kids. Still processing how I am going to handle everything, especially financially. But I know that it will all work out, so I am trying to be positive.

This is another miracle, and another blessing for our family.

A beautiful surprise!

6 weeks already...

Tuesday I had my 6 weeks post pardem check-up. Fun...NOT! Everything went pretty good, I am all healed up, thank you body for not tearing. I think this was the easiest birth to recover from since I had no tearing, I barely had any pain! I am still on the blood pressure medicine I was put on during the pregnancy, so that was also checked. It wasn't the greatest, but not bad for me so she is going to try and slowly wean me from the medicine and see what happens!!

Then we had to have the talk about what to do for birth control. Since the boy's were both born when I was on the pill (my fault for not taking them right), and Taylor was born with the Mirena IUD in...I was at a loss for what to do next. Right now getting my tubes ties or Tim getting a vasectomy is not an option. I just don't think I am ready to make such a permanent decision being so young. Call me crazy, but deep down I would like to have one more child. Even though I know Tim is done, and I am happy with my three beautiful kids, I can't help but be sad to think about making that permanent. The doctor agrees with me. She also believes that the Mirena IUD is as effective as getting my tubes ties so in her opinion that is my best option. Even though it didn't work the first time, I will cross my fingers that is works this time! Maybe you all should cross your fingers for me too!! We will probably double up on BC for awhile!

So I have to go back next Tuesday to have the IUD put in and to have my blood pressure checked again. It is so crazy to think that Taylor is already 6 weeks old, she is growing way to fast for me!

Pregnancy brain.....STILL!!

You would think I was still pregnant with this pregnancy brain hanging around. I am forgetting all kinds of things lately. The other day I was taking the kids to Purina Farms for the Easter Village and to see the Easter bunny with our playgroup....I had been looking forward to this for awhile!

Wouldn't you know it we didn't make it. Want to know why?? Because I locked us all out of the house and van. Go ahead ask me how I managed to lock us out of not only the house, but the van too. Being the ditz I am ran out of the house, excited I was actually going to be on time for once, without the car keys. The only way back into the house was through the garage, and the only way into the garage is through the garage door opener, which you guessed it was in the van!!

NICE, I know! PREGNANCY BRAIN!!! So there we were all dressed nice ready to see the Easter Bunny, stranded in the front yard. Luckily it was a nice day out. I had to call Tim at work and have him come home to let us into the house! While waiting for Tim I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the boys, I had nothing better to do!





Once Tim got there and we were able to get into the van to leave I decided we were going to go somewhere since we were all dressed and ready. So we met my mom for lunch and spent a little time at the park. The day turned out OK!