This Time Next Week....

So...we are going to have our baby girl on Wednesday, March 24th. We are very excited. My c section got moved up due to my high blood pressure. I have had more tests and blood taken and even a 24 hour urine collection (which let me tell how much fun that was). Monday is my pre-op with the doctor and the hospital. I am very excited, yet nervous at the same time. It is nice to plan everything out and weird to know when it is going to happen. I am really ready to move on to the next phase of this journey...I can't believe it is almost here.

Here are a few pictures as promised from my baby shower at church last Sunday.

Me and my huge baby!

My sweet son who had to come to the baby shower because his sister had pink eye and dad had to stay home with her.

A closer look at my huge belly :)

Me and Mom

36 weeks

My blood pressure continues to rise slowly. The doctor is now taking additional steps to ensure my safety and the baby's. I started non-stress tests bi-weekly at the hospital. This is where they hook me up to all the monitors and I push a button when I feel her move. Tomorrow I have another test and then an ultrasound to check the level of fluid in there. I see the doctor on Tuesday and maybe we might have some more answers, but it might be that we are just waiting. I have a c-section scheduled for April 9th but neither the doctor nor anyone else believes I am going to make it that far. I am swelling a lot in my hands and feet. I am pretty uncomfortable and it takes forever to fall asleep. I started maternity leave on Friday, so it is really starting to feel real.

My church gave me a baby shower today and my work gave me one last Wednesday. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of friends that they would think of us and spoil us with all this wonderful stuff. My heart is full.

I just wanted to give a quick update. I will post pictures and update after tomorrow's appointment.

35 weeks

I am 35 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure is high. I am now seeing the doctor on a weekly basis and monitoring my blood pressure 2 times per day. Baby Dahl will be delivered by C-Section. That is what I know. I do not know when. My blood pressure will decide that. Currently, my doctor has not hit the panic button yet, but I am monitored closely. He told me "we have to make sure we keep her in the best nursery for her, yours or ours". Right now "my" nursery is the better choice, but for how long....I don't know. I am not nervous for the c-section. I know it is the right decision for us and her. With my history and now blood pressure, we don't want her going to into distress and then ending up with an emergency c-section.

I am very uncomfortable. I am not sleeping well. I am nauseous again at night (fun). At least this time there is an end in sight. I am still working but for how long...only time will tell. I am tired and emotional and I really can't wait to meet her.

The kids are going to celebrate their birthday's at Chuck E Cheese on Saturday. They are so excited and I will make sure to post pictures. I am excited not to have to clean for the party, clean up from the party and be creative and plan the whole thing. I just have to show up and watch the kids have a great time.

33 Weeks

7 weeks left! I can hardly wait to meet her. I can't believe that I am 33 weeks pregnant. Well...I feel 33 weeks pregnant :) I had another doctor's appointment on Tuesday and all is well. My blood pressure is normal, baby is growing on target and sounds good. So, I will return in another 2 weeks for another appointment. The baby turned head down so I am getting a lot of movement and kicks very high up near my ribs (fun). Also, the baby is having the hiccups a lot which is very interesting.

I am not sleeping well these days. Between getting up and going to the bathroom and not being able to sleep on my stomach, I am pretty miserable. I am still working my short shift at school. The doctor sees no reason to take me off work at this point, so I am waddling around the school. I am pretty big and have gotten all the "fun" comments that go with it. If I hadn't suffered from infertility for 7 years I might have taken offense to some of the comments, but I don't mind.

I am starting to look forward to not being pregnant and getting back into the swing of things with my kids. I miss not being the mom on the floor and playing with the kids. This has been one of the most difficult things of this pregnancy is how much it has affected my body and how I have been unable to function like my normal self. I will however miss feeling her move around. I hope I can remember that feeling forever.

Baby Shower

On February 6th, my mother-in-law had a baby shower for me. It was a lot of fun and I had a really nice time. Grace was a big helper and Luke enjoyed taking photographs. The baby got some really fun clothes and lots of other things too.

My mom, Audra and Audra's Mom.

Me with a beautiful quilt my cousin Cathy had made for me.

Grace and I getting ready to play baby bingo.

Thank you to everyone who made the day special.

30.5 weeks & Friendship

Things with this pregnancy continue to go well. I was worried last week when I failed my 1 hour glucose test. So...I had the privilege of going back to the hospital for the 3 hour glucose test (where they draw your blood 4 different times). The doctor's office called yesterday and let me know that the test results were normal!!! I DO NOT have gestational diabetes. I am very relieved and happy!

God continues to answer my prayers in ways I wouldn't expect. A sweet, sweet friend of mine, let me borrow all of her maternity clothes. I had no sooner finished apologizing to my staff assistants at work as they would be watching me repeat wearing my clothes (and yes I wash them) because they are expensive and I didn't want to spend more money on something I would wear for only a few more months, and my sweet friend offered me her maternity clothes. She also brought me fun pregnancy books, magazines to read during my 3 hour glucose test, and bought babydahl her first dolly.

4 Years Ago

I was talking with my sister Audra on the phone last night, and she reminded me that they just celebrated their 4 year wedding anniversary. My first thought was "I totally spaced it" (what a good sister am I) which I aplogized for (pregnancy brain), and my second thought was I can't believe it has been 4 years. Luke was 2 years old in their wedding. The above picture is him as a ring bearer in Uncle Thom and Aunt Audra's wedding. I can't believe he was that little. Time really does go by so fast. He is almost 7 years old now.

This is Grace 4 years ago, on the day we welcomed her home (well this picture was actually taken in March) but close enough. I can see the mischievousness in her eyes even at 13 months old. She is almost 5 years old now. The one thing I do know...when this new baby arrives, I am going to blink and she is going to be 13 months old. I keep thinking...how do you slow time down to enjoy every second? I don't want to miss a thing. That is why today I officially resigned .5 of my teaching position. I will continue as a half-time employee of the Vancouver School District, but officially give up half of my position. Technically this year I was on leave from half my position. I thought I had one more year I could take on leave before "officially resigning", but I thought I wrong. Oh well.

29 Weeks and Counting.... (Happy 3rd Trimester)

Well...it's official...I am uncomfortable, in pain and miserable. I actually feel pretty good in the morning, but feel like I am 300 pounds by the evening. I had another doctor appointment this last week. Things are going well. Baby is growing on target. My blood pressure was a little high, but they are just going to monitor it for now. Part of the issue is that I get so nervous every time I go to the office. I got to drink the glucose drink and have my blood drawn for gestational diabetes. I haven't heard the results yet, but I am praying I pass.

Mark finished painting and moving the kids bedrooms around. What a big project! I couldn't have done any of that by myself. Things are moving along and time is going by quite quickly. I am excited for my baby shower in February. The rooms aren't completely done yet, but here are some pictures of the progress so far.

What the World Needs...

less obsession over current hair style trends....and more 4 year old hair cuts!

I'm Back...

I took a little break from blogging. The Christmas season started to get wild and blogging took a back seat, but I am back. Well...for starters everyone probably wants to know how the baby is doing...She is doing great. Currently I am almost 28 weeks pregnant. I had another ultrasound (#7) last month before Christmas and she was measuring a few days ahead and looking great. I have another appointment in a week and they will be testing my glucose this time. It is always some fun test that they are wanting to do on me when I go to the doctors. Baby is moving and kicking ALOT!!! Sometimes it feels like she is trying to jump out of my skin. Yesterday during church she was kicking me and my whole belly was moving. I am pretty uncomfortable at this point and very tired. A sweet friend of mine let me borrow all her maternity clothes. What a blessing because I had 2 pairs of pants. I normally wouldn't do this but many have asked for a belly picture...here is the most recent. I was 26 weeks. I am carrying the baby all up front. Complete strangers love to tell me that I must be due anytime now. "No, not until early April".

The kids had a great Christmas and thoroughly spoiled. Christmas Eve we had Mark's side of the family over and Christmas Day we spent with my mom and my brother, and his finance Katie. Here are a few pictures.

Windows

Baby K with my kiddos on Thanksgiving

Baby K with Luke

Baby K on her first day home from the NICU

Over the last 6 years we have the opportunity to care for 13 foster care children in our home. At times we would welcome them in with a couple of hours notice. Each holds a special place in my heart (2 of them becoming my own children). They all had a story, that would make most shake their heads in disbelief. Little people, too little for the burdens they would already have to carry. One of my favorite little people to come in our home was Baby K. She was my first experience with having an infant, and an infant with special needs. She was a preemie weighing just over 5 pounds when I picked her up from the NICU. She moved on from our home when she was 7 months old. The last time I saw her she was 18 months (she is nearly 3 and half now). I have often wondered about her.

Sometimes God allows us to look through windows at His plan. Yesterday I had the opportunity to look through a window. God decided to once again bring Baby K back into my life (although this time only as a person on the side line). Baby K is now a student at the school where I teach. I can only marvel at His mercy, and His all encompassing plan to remind us that the seeds we sew (even into babies) have a purpose. What a small world we live in, that windows are open for a glimpse into His plan.