17 Week Comparison

Hannah

Kathryn

Baby G #4

17 Weeks with Baby G #4

17 Weeks

This week was a pivotal week for me. 

I had my check up with my OB/GYN on Tuesday. 

Heartbeat was 154 BPM, and my uterus was right where it should be. 

We discussed what happened last week with being sick, among other things. 

A few weeks back I researched and requested my hospital records. I was not satisfied with the records from my OB's office, so I ordered them directly from the hospital. I read through them all and found out that it took two pretty common maneuvers to get Hannah out when she was born, which resulted in shoulder dystocia. In fact, we did not know she had dystocia until two weeks after birth, which I observed a clicking sound above her shoulder.

Since the beginning of this pregnancy, I had said that I wanted to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) I was convinced that even though Hannah required some maneuvers, she was not diagnosed with true shoulder dystocia. I guess I have to see it in doctors written documentation for me to believe it.  Every time I asked at my OB's office, they would tell me she had dystocia, but I thought that was just based off of what I explained from my previous childbirth with Hannah. My doctors that I have now, were not the same who delivered Hannah. I'm stubborn, in case you didn't know that. And, I am hard to convince without significant research many times. 

So, Hannah was 7lbs. 5 oz. and she had some difficulty during delivery (which I was unaware of). Kathryn was 8lbs. 5 oz. I labored for 25 hours and ended up in a C-Section because she would not engage into the birth canal. So, I've decided with this third one to have a scheduled C-Section. This way, we can be sure we will avoid any and all trauma that could take place in labor/partial delivery before possible c-section. Basically, I so badly wanted a VBAC, but never could get myself to have full and complete peace over it. After much prayer, research, and discussion with my current OB, I decided to opt for a scheduled C-Section. Guess what, no sooner did I make that decision, and I felt COMPLETE Peace come over me. I am thankful for that. I believe that one of the ways that God reveals himself  to me in through his Peace. 

I also informed the doctor at this visit that we do not want to know the gender of our baby until birth. I am really excited about this, except that it's been tough coming up with a boy and girl name!

I also had some lab work done, which all came back negative for the defects in the spinal fluid. 

To this point, I have only gained 6 lbs. I'm pretty happy with myself. I have also not have any cravings -- well, other than Cheerios in the night with Milkadamia milk :-) 

Sleeping this week has been good since I was gifted a used maternity pillow. I sleep with a giant elongated "C", and it helps tremendously. The issue I have now is with my hips, they feel bruised when I wake up. The muscles are super tight. 

I feel good at 17 weeks. I almost don't feel any real issues other than some tiredness by about 5 PM every day. Pregnancy is definitely more challenging with 3 kids to look after, taking to and from school and activities, as well as working part time. I am enjoying this pregnancy and looking forward to baby moving. 

16 Weeks with Baby G#4

16 Weeks

This is a week I do not wish to remember, for any reason at all. 

We got off the cruise ship on Monday morning and I immediately began sneezing. Back to Houston allergies! It continued for several days. I ended up taking Zyrtec every morning just to keep from sneezing so much that I would have a sinus infection. 

I didn't sleep Monday or Tuesday night at all because I was up congested and could not breathe! Wednesday I was a wreck and Thursday...this was the day that made the week just terrible. 

Thursday I woke up, had my two eggs, 3 pcs. Ham, and Gluten free toast with Goat feta cheese. I went to visit Hannah at school that day, and when I left I did not feel well. I was very tired, so I just went home. I slept for a few hours until I had to go pick up Jensen and Kathryn. I tired to eat some food. I tried leftover brown rice pasta and it made my stomach churn, then I tried leftover salad--I LOVE salad. This gave me the shivers. Then I tried oatmeal, took one bite and could not handle it. 

That afternoon, my stomach did not feel well. I was VERY nauseated. By the end of the day, my temperature had gone up, and by the evening, I checked myself into urgent care. I thought maybe I had flu. I tested negative. They said I just had really bad allergies, consisting of ear congestion, sinus congestion, as well as post nasal drip that was making my through hurt. My mom was so incredibly sweet to take me. When I got back home, not even 15 minutes later, I was in the bathroom, throwing up 6 times in a row. Afterwards, I felt much better. Actually, other than weak, I felt perfectly normal. Go figure. Must have been something I ate?

Thursday night, I slept fine and was up periodically for saltine crackers and sips of water. I never felt sick again. Dan left for Dallas that particular morning at 4:30am, and my dad was gracious enough to take Jensen and Kathryn for me. I literally slept from 10:30am until 6:30 p.m. I did eat some soup in the day, toast, and bananas. I stayed hydrated, but the amount of energy and calories I lost, was incredible. I could not believe how much being sick the night before would wipe me out. Not to mention how bad my throat was hurting. Of course, I continued to monitor baby and (I need a nickname for this baby) everything seemed just fine. The next couple days were a blurr and I just took it easy. That brought us to 17 weeks! My thought at the end of week 16 was, "I'm glad you're done, I don't miss you at all."

15 weeks with Baby G # 4

This week we were on our family cruise. 

Saturday I was 15 weeks.

It was quite eventful in many ways. 

Another post for all that.

I don’t recommend cruising while pregnant. I was super tired just from the stairs and worn out by dinner time. I could not stay in the sun much because I would dehydrate easily. I could be found most often in the shade :). It was relaxing to lay around by the pool and watch the kids have a super-blast! 

I ordered room service most nights. I had Cheerios or corn flakes and milk. I caught on quickly that room service was free for cold items. Hannah enjoyed ordering 3 glasses of water, milk, and cereal for me each night. 

I felt the baby move for two days, and then did not feel it anymore. Baby is the size of an apple now. As I use my Doppler, I can see that the baby is growing and my uterus is for sure popping up out of the pelvis. 

Bathroom trips happen about every 1.5-2 hours as do light snacks. Being on the cruise was hard because you have big dining room meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you want a snack, you have to go up to the 9th floor to get it. I wasn’t interested most days! 

I’m starting to have some ligament pain at night when I lay on my side, propping up my belly with a pillow seems to help. I sleep with 3 pillows now, but I have yet to put up as Daniel calls it, my “pillow wall”, which goes behind my back when I sleep. 

Overall, I think we are doing well. 

We don’t know if we’re having a boy or girl...this is hard for me. I want to connect and bond, knowing what we have! But, I know the surprise will be well worth it :) Love you baby G :) 

14 Weeks with Baby G #4

Today I am 14 weeks with this baby.

At first, I felt like this pregnancy was going so slow, but now I feel like it's speeding up a bit, thankful for that. I am feeling really good. I enjoy maternity clothes and the belly. 

My favorite part is how Kathryn and Jensen are captivated by my growing belly. They rub it, hug it, and kiss it. They also ask me if the baby is still in there. Just a simple reminder to be thankful for each day of life we have. Jensen is just so compassionate about this baby. He prays for it and prays that it will be healthy too. He and all the kids called the baby, "Baby Brother". 

All are convinced it's a brother. 

I am getting up every two hours at night to use the restroom. 

I am also snacking all throughout the day. 

And, by 5pm, I am exhausted and by 7 PM, I WISH I could go to bed...but that doesn't work for mama when you have 3 other children, work part time, and when Dan is gone all week!

Sleeping is already getting a little uncomfortable since my hips are starting to hurt and I need a pillow between my legs. When I sneeze, my round ligaments hurt as well. 

All in all, things have become uneventful. I have not had anymore spotting since 11 weeks. I am grateful for that. I continue to pray for this baby, growth, healthy and safety for me and baby.  

So far, I have not been sick at all! Again, thankful!

Jensen and Kathryn's Pancakes and Pajama Day!

Thursday was Pajama Day for Jensen and Kathryn at their preschool. 

Jensen and Kathryn had pancakes for snack the other day at school.

They were both so excited and Kathryn keeps talking about how she had pink pancakes!

Love these two and all the fun memories they make together.

13 Weeks with Baby G #4

This week I am 13 weeks.  

I noticed within the last week that I have much more energy in the morning when I wake up, but about 5pm, I start to really get tired. I no longer have nausea; however, if I don't eat when I am hungry, the nausea is relentless. I wake up for yummy multigrain cheerios in the night, which I am crazy about with the macadamia milk.