Saturday, May 10, 2014

36 weeks... resistance is futile.

   So here we are, at 36 weeks! My ankles and feet started swelling Wednesday morning, which means Pecan's arrival should be soon. I'm guessing in about 2 weeks, since CC showed up about 2 weeks after the swelling arrived. I've been having a lot of hip/pelvic/sciatic pain. Carrying a 6-7 pound bowling body around inside my body is taking it's toll on my hips and the sciatic pain moved from my left side to the right a few weeks ago. The ligaments that connect my pelvis have been feeling loose and sore the last few weeks as well. Guys, aren't you happy your pelvis is fused? Anytime I go to switch sides in bed, or get out of bed, or out of a chair, or stand up, I'm always very conscious of how the front of my pelvic bone feels and honestly, a little afraid that something's going to pop. I know it's not, but still. At least I know the hormone Relaxin is doing it's job and getting my body ready to meet Pecan. My gait has definitely slowed this week, pretty much to a slow shuffle/waddle. And I've been having those wonderful Braxton-Hicks contractions. Nothing super painful, but uncomfortable at times and interesting, since I didn't notice them with Ayla.

   Starting today, I've reduced my hours at work from 10 hour shifts to 5 hour shifts. Initially and ideally, I was planning on working until the end of May (half a week before my due date on June 4th), but it doesn't look like Pecan likes that idea. I'm guessing CC left a little note in there saying 38 weeks is long enough. It will be nice to not be alternating between sitting at a reception desk and walking around the hospital for 10 hours a day. My job can be fairly demanding, both physically and mentally, especially on a very pregnant body ;) My plan today is to go home, put my feet up, and snuggle with my Baby Ayla (she spent the night at grandma's last night, so I need her kisses today!).

Big Sister finding Pecan's heartbeat with
 the Doppler
 Our midwife appointments are now once a week and CC still loves going with and helping measure and find a heartbeat. The plan is to have her at the birth, but of course we'll just have to see how things go. If it's as quick and fairly easy as her birth, she won't get too bored or have Chris run her around the block too many times.

   
     
Measuring that growing baby!

Using the stethoscope on dad

 


Runner family! Bridge to Brews runners






   We've done a few race events in the last month or so--Whidbey Island Marathon, Bridge to Brews, and Cinco de Mayo. CC ran in 2 of the 3, my dad ran the Half marathon/10k/10k, and I walked the 5k/8k but skipped Cinco.


Silly CC before the Bridge to Brews kid's race
Whidbey Island runners (minus Kiah, dad, and Josh).
Becky, Maddie, Ariel, me and Pecan

Whidbey Island. Pecan and I walked the 5k,
Grandpa Harry ran the Half Marathon!
CC being a ham before the
Cinco de Mayo kid's race

Ready for the Cinco de Mayo kids race!

CC and Grandpa Harry, pre-race at Cinco de Mayo

Pecan's last race event while "on the inside".
No walking today for me, just cheering on CC and grandpa


  








































                     






















We made it down to the Woodburn Tulip Festival, but it was so windy and rainy this year! CC got to do the egg hunt and we took a few pictures around the gardens by the gift shop, but didn't make it out to the tulip fields (which were planted pretty far away this year--they rotate the fields).


Ooh, windy! And that's her 'rawr' face!
CC enjoyed the easter egg hunt!
Me and my favorite Cupcake

Our annual family photo at the Tulip Festival,
Woodburn, OR


 
   CC turned 3 on April 28th! We went out to breakfast and then she wanted to play at the trampoline place (or the 'jumpoline' place, as she calls it). Her birthday party was the following Saturday and she had so much fun playing at the park with her friend, Lilly!

Birthday breakfast!

Birthday ice cream

Enjoying her party with Lilly