So, it's been awhile since I've updated this blog. The last time I wrote, I was announcing our pregnancy and talking about the ups and downs we experienced in the process of finding out I was pregnant. What. A. Rollercoaster!
Since then, we've had some exciting things happen! Like this....
Family pictures! We finally ALL got together to take a family picture. We had some REALLY funny pictures, but this is the good one. :)
The other fun thing that happened was someone ELSE announced their pregnancy! That's right, Jana and I are pregnant together again! Jana announced right before we started taking family pictures. She is due at the end of June (just a day later that Ami's due date, and on our wedding anniversary).
What else happened in the last 6 months??? Well....
Yep! In November we found out that baby #3 is a BOY! It wasn't a huge surprise for me because I always imagined I would have 2 girls and a boy (just like my family!). But I had my suspicions too. We would have been happy with either (girls just seemed so NORMAL), but it's a new experience to be having a boy!
And....in January I started taking belly pictures (it starts later and later with every pregnancy!)
25 weeks along!
30 weeks along
And in January we also found out that Jana is expecting a GIRL! Technically, this wasn't a surprise either. Because the last time we were pregnant together I had a girl and she had a boy. So we just switched. AND we have a pattern we've been following for the last 7 years of boy-girl-boy-girl etc. So if she had a BOY she would have broken both trends!
So, what else have I been doing in the last 6 months besides these few things? Well, I think the words "Barely Surviving" come to mind. I was so excited when I thought there was a chance I wouldn't be super sick with this pregnancy. Sadly, the sickness came, and it dominated. I started feeling sick just a few days after we announced (which was later than my other pregnancies). Because anti-nausea meds didn't work during Ami's pregnancy, I had decided to forego any meds (and their nasty side effects) this time around. It was rough, and I spent many days wishing I could just feel good enough to chase the kids around. But I knew it wouldn't last forever. And it didn't. Around 18 weeks I started feeling much better. Sadly around that same time we battled 2 rounds of the stomach flu and that was terrible. But by the beginning of the year, the nausea had mostly subsided. Sadly it was replaced by something terrible. Equally bad, maybe even worse than morning/all day sickness. I learned that I had developed SPD, or Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction.
What on earth is that? Yeah. That was what I asked. At about 15 weeks I started feeling really sore in my pelvis. I thought that it was pretty early for my hips to start moving, but hey, what was there to do about it right? I noticed that it was WAY worse at night and during the nights I would struggle with pain every time I rolled over or needed to get out of bed (which was 3-4 times to pee and 2-3 times to deal with kids, ouch!). I had mentioned it to a few friends and one finally said "It sounds like SPD." So I googled it, and my symptoms were all there. In a nutshell, during pregnancy you produce a hormone called Relaxin, that relaxes your joints and ligaments to allow space for your baby (especially for delivery). With SPD
your Relaxin production starts way early, and goes into overdrive. The ligaments in my pelvis started stretching way too early, and so from about 16 weeks on my pelvis has been all out of whack. It's super painful at night when trying to move and most nights I've had to take hot baths before bed to get the pain to subside so I could fall asleep.
I mentioned the discomfort to my Midwife and she agreed that it was SPD. She recommended physical therapy, but after research I realized that I would have to do therapy 2-3 times a week for the rest of my pregnancy in order to have any relief (and sometimes not even that works). I also looked at chiropractic, but it's the same deal, consistent adjustments with hopes that it works. Neither of those were things we could try (financially or time wise!). So I researched other at home options and some have offered minor amounts of relief. At this point, the only thing that is going to fix my SPD is having this baby and my body stopping the production of the Relaxin hormone. So, I'm coping with the symptoms until then. I try to see the silver lining, and remember that things could be worse. At this point I feel the pain about 70% of the time, the worst pain being at night. But in about 7-8 weeks, hopefully I won't have that anymore!
To keep me busy I've been working on a few things here and there as time (and energy) permits.
As some of you might remember I made quilts for the girls during those pregnancies:
I drafted the pattern when I was 38 weeks pregnant with Beth (and actually finished piecing the front about 5 hours before going into labor). I kept the same pattern with Ami's and just changed the color, patterned fabric, and initial.
Here is Baby Ezekiel's. I've only finished the front, and I might even be able to finish the whole quilt before he's born. Which would be a first. And by "I" I mean my mom and I. Because she's really the quilt master. :)
Around the time that Ami turned 2, we transitioned to cloth diapers. Yes. Really. :) And so I've been slowly building up a "stash" of newborn/small sized cloth diapers for this kiddo. I have all of the "One Size" cloth diapers I used with Ami but most babies don't fit into those until they are about 10-12lbs. And so newborn sizes are important for the first few weeks/months. Here is what I have for my newborn diapers, and yes, cloth diapers have come a LONG way since my mom and mother in law used them!
It's ridiculous, but I'm really excited about using them! And I LOVE that I don't have to budget for buying disposable diapers. And after I'm done using these I can resell these diapers for about 80% of what I bought them for. Awesome! I'm also really excited that Ami finally decided to potty train (at least day time) so that we don't have 2 kids in diapers! We'll be working on her nighttime training after the baby comes and things settle down. For now I have her in cloth trainers at night, so I don't have to buy pull ups either!
I've been trying to remember to enjoy the little things in life. The moments with my kids and husband, the sunny days, the very short times when all the chores are done and I can sit and rest. All of those things are important. And I am so grateful for them.
These two certainly keep me on my toes (literally). They love to make messes and play pretend. And most days I have to tear them apart so they don't kill each other. Sisters. Luckily I know that they are best friends (just like my sister and I) and always will be.
Both girls are excited for Baby "Zek" (pronounced Zeek or Zeke) to come. Beth asks every day if he is big enough to come out. She has come to a few Prenatal Appts with me and she always helps my Midwife measure my belly and find the heart beat. Ami is also excited, but I don't think she understands it quite as much. Right now she uses Zek's room as her own nursery for her babies.
Can you tell we co-sleep? :).
Anyway, life is good. It is hard. And I think about that every night as I lay down to bed. But every morning as the sun comes up and my girls come drag me out of bed, I remember just how lucky I am. I'm lucky to have a wonderful husband who deals with my emotional outbursts and listens as I complain about my body hurting. I'm lucky to have two wonderful daughters who LOVE ME and show it every. single. day. And I'm lucky to be pregnant with a very active little boy. I'm lucky. And I'm blessed.
I can't guarantee another post before this baby arrives, but you know I'll be updating after he comes.
Until Next Time,
Happy Blogging.
