A question for you all

So, my doctors have been concerned that in the last month I'm not measuring as big as I should be, like pubis to fundus today was 34 weeks and I'm 37 weeks. Has anyone else ever had that? They told me today I shouldn't me concerned as long as the baby keeps growing, but that is not much comfort. One doc even ordered an ultrasound to measure the baby. According to that I was two weeks ahead AND the baby measured at 6 1/2 lbs! But then in the office they tell me the baby is small and I'm measuring way behind. It's very confusing.

Anyway, if you've ever experienced this, please chime in and let me know how things turned out for you. I know the whole thing is a guessing game anyway, but a mama can't help but be concerned.

Thanks!!

Things I really don't like:

• blinding sciatic pain
• laundry
• feeling like my pelvic and uterine ligaments are at their breaking point and therefore my pelvis is being pulled apart
• ironing
• people who like laundry or being pregnant

I'm sorry, but if you qualify under the last statement, we can no longer be friends.

But I'll still love you.

Thanks for listening.

For your viewing pleasure

For some strange reason, one of my friends wants to see a picture of me prego. I can't figure out why, but I figured I humor her with a bathing suit picture!! Truthfully I was just going to email it to her, but then another friend said I'm neglecting my blog, so why not put a picture of me pregnant in a bathing suit on the internet?

And that's as close as I'll allow!!!!! I'm 29 weeks here, by the way.

It was the opening day of my parents pool. It was a very warm day here, and the water was still a little on the chilly side, but we had a lot of fun.

Handsome Sterling, who turned 7 today. I wish my kids would quit making me older.

Me and Hyrum playing "All Around the Mulberry Bush." I jump in a circle with a kid in my arms and at "pop goes the weasel" we jump really high in the air, or, if it's Sterling, I throw them.

They want me to play all day, but at some point, my legs beg for mercy.

And Jonah wanted nothing to do with the water. No way, Jose. He just sat in a swing the whole time. And loved it.

Brandon's brother has been in town this last week, so we've been busy! Of course I didn't have a camera or would have even thought to take pictures, but we've had a lot of fun at the beach, hosting all the Chapman siblings and the parents for the 4th of July, swimming, and playing with cousins (six boys and two girls!). Our summer is going great and we are so excited to play in the sun more!

Hope you are having a blast too!

What's New

Life just doesn't seem to slow down! And I have a hard time keeping up with the day to day, much less blogging, but this morning Sterling is spending some time with grandparents, so I get a "teacher work day!"

Sterling started t-ball, with his daddy as his coach. The first game was Saturday and it was really cute to watch the entire team run after the ball when someone got a hit. Then, when it was our turn to bat, every time one of the kids hit, everyone in the stands would yell "Run!" because, as all curious kids would, they would stand there and watch where their hit went! It was a lot of fun, as long as you remembered they are kids who've never played ball before.

Jonah's 2nd birthday was yesterday. Is it terrible that we haven't done anything yet? We are going to have cake and presents on Sunday. Yesterday was busy. But he got to go to one of his favorite places... Grandpa's! So much spoiling happens there. Candy and toys and TV and swinging and playing ball and wrestling and stories and four-wheelers... really, how can I compete?

We got Sterling some cleats for t-ball the other day and Jonah has worn them every moment of every day he possible can! It is pretty hilarious.

Yesterday was crazy busy because I spent the day running back and forth to the doctor. Regular check-up and 20 week ultrasound. Are you curious now? Well, there was a funny-ish story to the whole thing. As the tech was looking around I thought I saw some distinguishing parts and asked if that was what we were seeing. She said no but she'd let us know when she got there. My mom came with because she'd never seen a u/s before and she was much better company than my sweet hub, who gets bored with it pretty quickly. Anyway, the tech got all the upper measurements she needed and thought for a second she saw girl parts and said so. The room exploded! Brandon was jumping around, my mom was bawling, and then the tech says, "Oops." Yeah, she was wrong. Boy again!

I'm pretty excited. I'm good with boys. My poor husband, on the other hand, was really hoping for a pretty little girl who would wrap him around her finger. I know there is a special bond between a daddy and daughter. I had and have that, so I can sympathize. We were talking about it last night and I told him not to count his chickens yet, and he swore to me I'd never carry another child. I didn't have the heart to remind him he said that two years ago!

Plus, I think Hyrum needs a brother a little more spaced in age. Two years to each one now is a little too close. Four years seems to bring a lot of improvement in patience and kindness. And if there is a little girl someday, you know everyone will dote on her!

Oh, this baby's name will be James, for my brother, who would have been 27 on Wednesday.

Some randomness

Here's a little recap of the first trimester.

-Refill nausea medication four or five times.
-Get nausea medication dose upped.
-Visit Urgent Care twice for IV rehydration and extra meds.

-Get the very basics for homeschool done.

-Make very few meals.

-Do very little housework.

-Nap everyday.

-Call in for reinforcements three times.

Overall, not the worst first trimester I've ever had, but not my best either. We all survived.

And on a totally unrelated subject, and at the risk of causing a huge ruckus since all my in-laws read this on occasion, I wish my husband would quit commenting on his siblings' Facebook comments. Truthfully, sometimes I just wish he'd keep all his FB comments to himself. What he thinks is witty banter almost always can be taken offensively. And there is some tension in the sibling relationships already, so really anything he says gets an immediate reaction by someone. It's getting ugly.

Finally, have you heard about the school teacher that ate school lunches for a year and blogged about it? I wandered over there yesterday, and it has given me renewed conviction to be better about what I feed my kids here for lunch. Especially when something like chicken nuggets has been on our menu, which is not normal. Plus, if Hyrum had his choice, we'd eat candy and crackers all day. He does eat a carrot if I tell him fruit and veggies are the only option, but he'd much prefer to bypass that part. Today he ate half a banana with his half egg salad sandwich, but only because Grandpa had brought over some mini Oreos that he really wanted.

Anyway, onward and upward! I've woken up feeling fabulous the last 6 mornings out of 7, my house got a complete cleaning the other day, I'm making dinner again, (and eating it!!), and spending more time with my kids and less time in bed with them watching TV. We're gonna make it!!

The Nitty Gritty

I agree I missed a few key points in my last post. So here's the details. I'm due the end of September. We did plan this, although after the first time I prayed to the porcelain god, I wasn't so sure why. I'm on my medication and it is working, for the most part. We're hoping for whatever comes along, and that the baby and I are healthy through the whole thing.

When I was pregnant with Jonah, I made an antibody in my blood. Antibodies, as you know, are what your body makes to fight off things, like colds and whatnot. Well, your blood making antibodies when you're pregnant is not such a good thing. My doctor told me no one knows why we make them, but our body thinks it needs to fight something. And once an antibody is made, it doesn't go away, so I have to be monitored with a monthly blood draw. If my antibody level starts to rise, I'll have to have more extensive testing to make sure it's not attacking the baby.

If the level doesn't rise, I just have to tell the pediatrician so they can test the baby's bilirubin levels right away. Jonah was so jaundiced because of his blood having to break down my blood with the antibody.

The best part of all this is I'm finally getting the questions answered I had when I was pregnant and when Jonah was born. Two years later seems like the perfect amount of time.

In the meantime, I'm just trying to get my normal, daily things done, which is not as easy as it used to be. I'm pretty exhausted and I have to have a protein-heavy something to eat every two-three hours or I'm tossing cookies. On the other hand, if I eat to much, I'm tossing cookies. It's a pain!! And sweets have absolutely no appeal. I never really crave them anyway, but right now they are totally revolting.

Did I miss anything?

Mmmm, words are yummy!

Yep, this is current. From Thursday. I'm never ever making official declarations again! Wait, that was one....