35 Weeks

*This is the 5th post I have written today, so make sure you read the others--there are some cute pictures!

I am 35 weeks! In the home stretch! My doctor told me that at this point, if I go in to labor, they won't do anything to try and stop it. It's just better for me and the baby that way. They are continuing to test and monitor my blood weekly, and we have had lots of discussion about keeping stress down, making sure I drink enough water, etc. etc., so I feel good knowing my doctor is watching me so closely. There have been a few small things they have been concerned about with this pregnancy, but the overall picture has been pretty good when compared to what happened when I had Kara, so I'm thinking I might even be able to carry this baby to term!

I had to go to a perinatologist yesterday to have the baby checked out to make sure she was growing ok, and she's a little bit on the smaller side, but looking healthy! We got to see her face in 3D because they checked a few things with their 3D ultrasound, and the tech was nice enough to do a face shot! I thought it was pretty cool, and I think she definitely looks like a baby! It's just too bad her hand was up next to her face blocking half of it.

I'm getting more and more excited for her to be here!

Playing At Nana's House

We have been spending a lot of time at my mom's house--I've been able to keep her company while she is busy around the house, and she's been able to help me with Kara. Nana's house is one of Kara's favorite places to go--she asks every day if she can go to Nana's house! It's no wonder why--Kara loves her Nana and Grandpa (and auntie and uncle), plus, she gets lots of running time in the grass! I don't think Kara would ever stop running if she didn't have to.

Rain! Finally!

For the last couple of weeks, we experienced record heat here in CO, much like the rest of the country. The heat and the dryness contributed to several big wildfires here, and let me tell you, it felt like the entire state was burning. We did get some pretty sunsets out of it though, so I guess it wasn't ALL misery--there is always some kind of silver lining I suppose!

Anyway, we finally had a big rain the other night. I was so glad that things finally cooled down, and we were all loving the rain! My mom and I had taken Kara to Sonic to get an ice cream cone right as it started raining, and a bolt of lightning struck (literally) right behind us. My back was to the lighting, so I didn't see it (although I did see the flash), but my mom and brother saw it. My mom swears that you could hear the *pftht* of the lightning strike. The thunder was so loud, and it scared poor Kara to death. We hurriedly finished our ice cream and headed home before the rain got any worse. When we got home, the rain REALLY started coming down! It started raining so hard at one point that we couldn't see out our window!

After the rain died down, Kara and I headed out to the ranch to help my mom and sister with chores. The roof to the chicken coop (where all the baby chickens and the baby turkeys are) had a big leak and got all their food wet, so Karina climbed up and fixed the roof while Kara and I laid new bedding out for the chicks and cleaned out their feeders and gave them new food. And of course, I had to go visit the pigs and feed them. When we were about ready to leave, they were hanging out over by the fence in the mud pit they created from the rain, so I started feeding them some weeds that they love and playing with them for a few minutes. They were in hog heaven!

Pregnancy Update

Here's a little update on what's going on this go-around:

Two weeks ago, I had my blood test and the doctor called me back and asked me to come back for another test the next week (Normally, I only have my blood drawn every 2 weeks). The doctor has been checking my blood work to make sure my liver enzymes are normal, platelets are normal, and my kidneys are functioning ok. After I went back last week, the doctor called me on Monday of this week and let me know that she wanted to have me do blood work again this week. I had my "regular" appointment this morning, and we discussed the results from my labs. One of the things they test for in my blood is a little higher than she would like. On its own, the doctor says she wouldn't normally worry about it, but because of my history and some things that have come up in past visits, she was a little concerned and wants me to come in once a week now. Next week, I am supposed to have some kind of stress test, an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid levels, and some other test that I didn't understand, as well as my usual battery of blood tests. I now have a standing appointment with the doctor and the lab every Friday, so if anything gets worse or changes, they'll be sure to catch it before it gets to the point that it did with Kara. So there's an update for anyone that was wondering what's going on!

Here's a shot of me at 32 weeks.

Just for comparison, here's a picture of me with Kara around 33 weeks. Do you think I look about the same size-wise?

 

Today, I was out with Kara and I decided stop by Target to look at some baby things (I wanted to look at car seats, diapers, pacifiers, socks... Just a few things that have been nagging at me that we really need to get). While we were in the baby aisle, I spotted this adorable outfit! When I look at all the newborn clothes, it's hard to believe that Kara was that tiny just 2 and a half years ago!

How We Spent Independence Day

In spite of the firework ban here in Colorado because of the terrible fires and heat, we managed to have a pretty great 4th of July.

Originally, we were going to go to a pancake breakfast at church, but my mom told me that my dad was going to be in a big parade at the same time, so Kara and I decided to go watch Grandpa and Nana instead.

The parade was a lot of fun! Kara's favorites were the horsies (of course), the firetrucks, and Grandpa and Nana as they pulled the truck with the float on it. There were a whole bunch of cool old cars in the parade, as well as some singing groups and some dancing groups. It got hot by the end, but it was worth it!

Waiting for Nana and Grandpa to come by

Here they are!

Waving at Nana and Grandpa!

Later, after we went home and took a nap--well, actually, I took a nap, Kara pulled all of the clothes out of her dresser, all the toys out of her toy box, and all the stuffed animals out of her closet--we headed over to my mom's house. We all sat in the shade while Kara ran around in the grass (she loves playing in the grass!) and played with her ball. Eventually, Grandpa came out too and played a little catch with Kara. She loved it (and I think he did too!)

Meanwhile, the dog decided she was a little thirsty and snuck a drink out of my water. After she drank it all, she tipped it over and ate all the ice!

After dinner, we finished up the day by going with Grandpa and Nana to the ranch to feed all the animals. I might have *accidentally* let all the chickens escape from the chicken house when we were trying to move part of their yard/pen, so we spent quite a few minutes rounding them up and shooing them back in to their house. My dad wasn't very happy about it, but it was kind of funny and cute because they realized that there were loads of grasshoppers waiting to be eaten in the field next to them, and they all started running around and catching as many grasshoppers as they could. We move their house (it's called a chicken tractor) every day so they have fresh ground to peck at and new bugs to eat every day, but they had eaten all the grasshoppers in their house for the day, so they were pretty thrilled to have such a treat. I'm pretty sure they ALL got a grasshopper (or 2 or 3) last night!

I fed the pigs last night, which I do whenever I go out with mom because the pigs are my favorite. The little girls (there are 4 of them) had to wait while I fed the 2 bigger sows, and when they saw that I was coming back to feed them, one of the girls started running in circles around her trough and wagging her tail. I love the pigs because they have so much personality.

I hope everyone else had as good a day as we did!

Lazy Day

I have been feeling more and more tired every day, and have had almost no energy to do anything--eating, showering, battling my 2-year old. Everything has just seemed like a giant chore the last couple of weeks. My doctor had her nurse contact me today, and she is somewhat concerned about one of my lab results--I have to have some more tests done on Friday when I go in for my appointment--so that may be why I have been so stinkin' tired lately.

 Anyway, I really had a lot I needed to do yesterday. Among things on my "To Do" list were clean house, finish the laundry that has been sitting around for days, put the zipper in Kara's shirt, send something in for school, go to work... But after Kara and I ate breakfast and showered, I just didn't have the energy to do ANY of that. I still had to work in the afternoon, so I weighed the pros and cons and decided that I needed to lay in bed so I would be able to do my job and take care of the kids at school. Kara and I got dressed, hopped on my bed, fluffed my pillows, and I pulled out the iPad for her. I felt like a bad mom for letting the iPad be the babysitter, but it sure felt nice to relax and rest before I had to work in the afternoon! Kara also had a blast, I might add. After she jumped on my bed a few times, she snuggled right in next to me and played games and then watched The Land Before Time on Netflix (that's what I REALLY feel guilty about. I don't believe in movies except on special occasions, and I REALLY don't think a movie should be babysitting my daughter). The snuggling was pretty nice, and so was the little nap I caught before work.

And can I just say, it constantly amazes me that Kara knows how to manipulate my iPad better than I can.

"Mommy, I don't like it."

I sewed this for Kara last Friday so she can wear it on the 4th of July (I still need to put the zipper in it, which I guess I'll have to do after work tonight since tomorrow is the 4th). I showed it to her, and she said, "mommy, I don't like it." She never likes anything I sew for her--she is such a booger sometimes!

I don't care, she'll wear it tomorrow with little capri pants, this matching hair bow I made, and she will look cute.