Blog Return: Baby #3

It has been so long since I have blogged (like 2 years!!!).  I have thought about updating so many times over the last couple of years, but it seems there has always been something else take precedence. (ya know, laundry, dishes, mowing the grass, helping with homework etc.)

Seeing as we are expecting baby #3, it made me sad to think about not blogging monthly updates with this next baby.  I figured I would go ahead and start back, even if it's just temporary.

I found out on Nov 19 that I was pregnant.  We had been "trying" for a couple of months, but with two kids that STILL sleep in our bed I figured it would take some time.  I woke up that morning with extreme breast tenderness.  It was only cycle day 20 for me, so I really didn't think it was possible to have a positive test that early.  I had some old tests on hand so I took one about mid morning.  I honestly did not even think it would be positive, but low and behold there was a faint line. 
I will I could say I told Matt in some kind of cute, creative or romantic way, but I just called him back to the bathroom (it was on a Sunday so he was home).  "Hey babe, come here!!"
He came back to the bathroom and I said, "what does that look like to you?"
"It looks like a positive."
Me: "there is no way, I am not due for my period for another 8 or 10 days??"
Matt: "oh, well, that's a positive"
(I was still in denial.  Excited.  But in denial for such an early positive.)
We decided to go to Walmart later that day and get a "digital" test.  Words that say Pregnant or Not Pregnant.  haha!  Even though I have my Master's in nursing and practice medicine every day, for something like this I still wanted SIMPLE and fool proof!

I didn't take the digital test until the next morning or even 2 days later (I can't remember now, isn't that awful?)  And sure enough after 30 seconds or so, the words PREGNANT popped up on the test.  I sent Matt a SnapChat, but he didn't check his Snap all day, so I finally called him when I got off work.  I was so excited all day.  I couldn't believe we were going to have another baby!!
I called my OBGYN that morning and they told me to come in later in the week for a pregnancy confirmation u/s.  I was suprised to be seen so early, because my previous pregnancies (which were with a different OBGYN) I had to wait until 8-9 weeks to be seen for an ultrasound.
It has been so much fun to watch this pregnancy grow via ultrasound.

My very first ultrasound showed  nothing but a gestational sac, which was expected for the timeline of my pregnancy.

I went back about two weeks later and there was a heartbeat!!  What a sweet, sweet sound.
My third check up was Jan 11.  I got to see a 4D glimpse of baby T and it ohmygoodness at the growth!!  At this point, Baby T had arms and legs, tiny ears and was very "human" appearing.  I was only 10 weeks. 

It made me sad to think about the people that have had miscarriages or even chose to have an abortion, because even so early at 10 weeks this baby was a BABY!
Let me just say too that I have measured a week "early" every ultrasound too.
I  decided before this pregnancy that if we were to get pregnant again, I would want the gender to be a suprise for this one.  Matt wants/wanted to find out, but he is going along with it for my sake.  I told him before the 20 week anatomy scan, that he could find out but there were some conditions:  He could not tell anybody, not even his mama, daddy or siblings.  Anybody that knows Matt and his family knows how close they are, they work closely together and all talk on the phone multiple times throughout the day... so I knew this would be difficult.  Matt didn't really say or act like this would be possible for him, so here we are (almost) week 24 still not knowing the gender-- either one of us.

How has Mama felt?

I will be honest, the first 10-12 weeks were roughhhhh.  I was very nauseated.  I didn't throw up (only once), but I would have these waves of nausea hit that made me wish I could throw up.  I learned to suck on hard, sour candy, nibble on crackers or high protein snacks and sip gatorade/gingerale throughout the day to keep the nausea at bay.  Smells were the worst.  My senses were very, very sensitive.  I normally love Christmas time and all the cooking, baking and candle scents but almost everything turned my nose or stomach.  Pork was the worst!  We usually get a ton of Boston Butt around the Holidays, but it nauseated me so bad.  I also had a coffee aversion ( so so sad because I LOVE coffee!!!) I couldn't stand the smell of it.

 I lost a few pounds at first, but I think it's because I craved fruits / veggies and anything fatty/greasy (or good for that matter) made me nauseated.
I was also veryyyyy tired.  I mean, 10-12 hours of sleep at night and wake up still feeling exhausted with awful brain fog.  I thought maybe it was the time change and the hustle/bustle of the Holiday season that made it worse this pregnancy.  It could also be that I am four years older, working full time and chasing two other kids....
Luckily by week 12 my fatigue and nausea were much improved.  I began having headaches daily.  Those were annoying, but I started taking magnesium and that helped a ton!

By week 16 I felt amazing and still do, thank the Lord, even now!  I have some back pain, hip pain, sciatic nerve pain, reflux and varicose veins... but in the grand scheme of things I really feel great.  I am one of those people though that "love" being pregnant.  I have also kept my anxiety down during this pregnancy.  I am focused on keeping a very "zen" pregnancy this time in hopes this will be a content baby.  I am learning to pick my battles and let go of a lot.  I still have my moments, because I am wired as a very strong Type A personality.

I started feeling Baby T move around 16 weeks and strong movements around week 18.  I also started to show earlier with this one.  By 10 weeks, regular jeans were snug and not comfy. Thank goodness of leggings, jeggings and dresses!!  I was rocking maternity pants EARLY this go around!!!  (I mean, why wouldn't you?! These things are amazing....)  I have gained 14 pounds so far at 23 weeks.

We went last week for my anatomy scan.  I was 22 weeks, measuring 23 weeks.  Everything was PERFECT.  THANK YOU LORD!!!  I tell people all the time, its hard working in the medical field. While most people are looking for fingers and toes, I am looking to make sure there are four chambers to the heart (equal and symetrical in size), 3 vessels to the umbilical cord, adequate movement, spinal cord intact, intestines on the inside etc.  It was also hard to look for all of this stuff WITHOUT finding out the gender.  My ultrasound tech is the sweetest and she was great about not lingering between the babies legs too long and anytime it went that direction I looked away.  I honestly could not tell you today if we are having a BOY or a GIRL.  (This is so exciting for me!!!)
 
I am so thankful for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  I am so thankful that the Lord has intrusted me (again) to raise a warrior for Him.  I am very excited about this journey and I continue to pray for the Lord to guide me to be a mother in a way that He sees fit, continue to bless this pregnancy and this baby.  I have been praying very specific prayers this go around for this baby and this pregnancy.  As a Christian, I admit prayer is my weakness... often getting wrapped up in day to day doings andI "forget" to pray--- or at least pray like I should.  I have been trying really hard this time to pray fervently for this baby and pregnancy, as well as for my family.
I am so glad to be blogging again and can't wait to continue to update through out this pregnancy!!
XO
Katie

20 weeks

22 weeks

Sweet sneak peak of Baby T- 22 week anatomy scan

A comparison of my three babies: Grant on the left, Norah Kate top right and Baby T bottom right. They favor soooo much already!!

Norah Kate Lately

April 2016

What's next??

NK: mama, do I go to kindergarten next year?

Me: no, you start pre-k.

NK: and then I go to kindergarten?

Me: yep, you'll go to prek then kindergarten.

NK: and then I am done?

Me: nope. Then you go to first, second, third, etc.

NK: so, I will go to prek then kindergarten then first grade then I will be done right?

Me: no baby, you go to prek, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd etc, middle school, then high school, then college. Like mommy did.

NK: {sigh of exasperation}. That's a lot. I think I will just go to prek.

my baby

NK: mama, can Mileynhold my baby?

Me: yes, you need to share your toys at school.

NK: no, I mean MY baby?

Me: you mean Grant?

NK: yes.

Me: oh, he's your baby??

NK: yeah.

Future Dental hygienist 

Here is the setting:

NK is getting her teeth cleaned for the first time. She lets them do everything during the cleaning.

When she is all done she turns to the dental hygienist and says, "ok, your turn!! Let me do your teeth!"

Said dental hygienist: um, I need to see your credentials first! 😂😂😂😂

Grant: 2 years old

Now that Brown Boy is two I feel like I officially have a toddler and a preschooler!!! When did this happen?  I know I say this every blog post, but it seems like yesterday I was carrying him in my baby k'tan and toting NK on the other hip.

Grant is definitely growing!! He is still in diapers and I am in no rush to potty train. He is in size 4 diapers, 18 month pants (due to length!!) and 2t shirts. He wears a size 6 (WIDE) shoe.  He sleeps through the night : most of the time : in our bed (duh!).  He still has his "bur"'(aka paci) but is using it less and less. He can have it in the car and at nap/bedtime. He isn't allowed to take it outside, to school, or inside stores etc. I let him have it in the evenings before bed when he is fussy. My goal is to have it gone in a few months!

He loves all things boy. Tractors, trucks, balls, blocks. He has several stuffed animals and he usually carries at least one of them to school each day. Right now our favorites are a webkinz kitty cat, tiger, and Nick off of Zootopia.  He loves paw patrol. We watch it every morning on the way to school.  We also have a matchbox car (TowMater and Lightening McQueen being our favorites) at any given time. He wears his John Deere hat backwards.

He had his 2 year check up and weighed 26 pounds.  

Grant is starting to talk more and more. He learns new words every day. We are working in our colors. He knows all of his body parts and animal noises.  In the last few weeks he has started putting more words together to make small sentences. (Mamas phone. Bad kitty. Go outside. Daddy's truck etc.)

He still cries a lot when I leave him, at daycare, but NK is still clingy too. I don't know when or if they will grow out of that but that's ok. 

He still sticks his hand down my shirt when he is sleepy or nervous.  When he gives kisses or hugs he squeezes your face or neck tight. (It is the best little feeling ever.)

We had a cowboy birthday party for him and it turned out so cute!!

Grant, 

These last two years have been awesome with you a part of them!! You are all boy ( and a mamas boy!) and I love that.  You are smart and watch everything Sister does.  You have this way of scrunching your nose up and showing all your teeth and it melts my heart everytime.   You are my Turkey, Brown Boy, Bubba.  I am soaking up every moment of watching you grow up big!!  You don't have to do it quite so fast though!!  

I love you a Bushel and a peck!

Mama

Norah Kate Lately

Last weekend was quite eventful.

We spent Saturday evening at my Mother-in-laws house. The kids were super hyped up (you know how they can get at the grandparents house.) and were jumping on the bed.  We had told them both to quit jumping before someone got hurt. Norah Kate is at that stage where we climb and jump on to and off of everything. G being the little brother and copy cat he is tries to do the same stuff.  Well, after the 173946738 time of telling her to get off the bed Matt pulled her by both arms (not any kind of crazy or unusual way) and got her off the bed.  Norah Kate started screaming crying and wouldn't move her arm.

I did the usual parental things, but when your mama is a nurse/nurse practitioner you kinda tough it out unless you are bleeding ( a lot ) or not breathing.  I put ice on it and rocked her and tried to asses for any fractures.  My first thought was a nursemaid elbow (pulled elbow), but I have never corrected one myself and she was screaming every time I touched her arm.

After about an hour the poor girl was still carrying on with her arm. We would get her calmed down, then every time we went to move it she would holler.  Needless to say, we decided it was time to go to the ER.  Poor Matt, he felt terrible and so guilty.  I kept telling him that it was going to be alright and if it's what I thought it is, it's a quick fix.  Accidents happen.

NK fell asleep on the way to the ER, and so we were thinking maybe she wasn't hurt that bad after all and maybe she was just over-tired.  Because, yes, that is a thing and anyone with kids knows that when they are overtired a papercut or mosquito bite will have you thinking their leg is falling off.  We started hitting potholes in the pavement in the road to the hospital and sweet girl started whimpering on her sleep..... So nope, keep on going to the ER.

The ER was super efficient that night. I have been seeing a ton of Flu at the office, so I just knew we were gonna be there for ever.  We registered and then got pulled practically straight back to triage.  Everyone had to look at and move her arm and she would scream. I knew they had to do it, but it hurt my heart every time.

After triage they came and got us for X-ray. The X-ray techs were amazing, but the experience itself was terrible.  They had to position her arm for the X-ray and NK was screaming.  It hurt so bad she was shivering and her teeth were chattering. I felt so helpless. The sweet X-ray tech would wait until I had NK somewhat distracted before repositioning for another image. They were really quick about it, but BabyGirl screaming had my nerves shot.  We were both crying.

It was the craziest thing---- after X-ray, NK said, " Mama I want to stand up." Which was a first, because she wanted me to hold her since she first hurt her arm.  They offered to let her see her pictures which NK thought was the coolest thing ever. ("mama! I have never seen my bones before!!!")

They put us in a  hallway stretcher because there were no beds. NK was like a different child. She was laughing and smiling and low-and-behold!!! Moving her arm. (Praise God!!)

The ER doc came around not even 5 minutes later and wanted to see her arm. NK is doing fist-punches by this point. Haha!! 

He said she had nursemaid elbow and it most likely corrected itself when they were positioning her for xray.  She was good to go and released! The whole visit was less than an hour.

NK has been fine ever since!!

Georgia Aquarium

This past weekend we took a trip to Atlanta for the night and went to the Georgia Aquarium.

It was a big deal, because Matt was able to go with us.  With him farming, family trips are few and far between.  I savored every moment!!  The kids also enjoyed spending time with him.

The weather was supposed be yucky though!  It was flooding at home that morning, so it was about lunch time before we left.

We had a hailstorm along Forsyth, and that was scary.  The kids napped most of the way.

We checked in to our hotel (the Ritz!!) at about 4.  We let the kids run and play (yeah, we probably won't be allowed back....) and it started snow flurries outside.  NK was SO excited to see the snow.  We went for a walk downtown around 5.

Downtown Atlanta is a little scary.  The tall buildings are so neat, but there is homeless people that will come up and ask you for money.

We ate at the HardRock because it was right next to our hotel.  My sister met us for supper which was great because we don't get to see her very often now since she is living up there.  We were in a corner table and the kids were able to dance.  They loved the restaurant.  It was my sister's birthday and they sang happy birthday to her and Norah Kate.  NK's face was priceless!

G was dancing all over the place and was being quite the entertainer.

The next morning we got up to more snow!  We packed up and went and had breakfast at Waffle House.  (I know right, we go to Atlanta and eat at Waffle House?)  However, with the cold weather it was super yummy!!

In Atlanta, you have to park in public parking places (pay to park) and then walk to your destination.  Or at least that is how it is downtown.

Every where we went people talk about how cute G and NK are.  It never fails either, that my children are putting on some kind of entertainment for people.

Due to the weather, the aquarium didn't open until 11.  We got there right when it opened (again, parked and walked in the snow and freezing wind!!).  The kids were layered up with long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and then heavy jackets.  With a blanket!

I also learned that Matt is not a cold-weather man.  It was a wimp.  haha!!  I was prepared though with gloves, toboggan and heavy coat.

The kids LOVED the aquarium.  It wasn't very crowded at first, so that was nice.  We watched the dolphin show and then walked through the different tanks.  They have a tropical fish tank, a freshwater fish tank, a cold weather fish tank, and then a BIG fish tank with sharks, sting rays, etc.  They also had fish in with the sharks and I wondered why the sharks didn't eat the other fish?

It got super crowded, so we left without seeing a few of the activities.  The kids were also tired and hungry.  Overall, I would say it was a success.  On our way out we stopped in the gift shop.  They each had $10 to pick out a toy.  Grant and NK both got a sea otter.

We ate lunch at Johnny Rockets right by the aquarium.  It was SO good.  It was like an old-fashioned burger/shake dine-in.  We had a juke-box at the table.  My hamburger was yummy...or maybe I was just starving.  We also all shared a vanilla milk-shake.  I really think eating there was one of my favorite parts!

We walked back to the car and was trying to decide if we were going to go somewhere else and stay another night or just head back home.  While Matt and I were weighing "pros and cons," we looked back and the kids were sound asleep!  We decided just to drive on back home.

I know this trip may not sound like anything special, but I want to remember it forever.  Matt works so hard and we rarely get to spend weekends away with just our little family.  It was so nice.  The kids were also so well-behaved.  (which they usually are anyways).

NK can't wait to go back!