16 weeks and all boy!!!

This was at 16 weeks 4 days.

This was at 15 weeks 6 days.

How far along? 16 weeks and 4 days in the first pic above, but as I type I'm about 17 and some.  Lagging behind here.

Total Weight Gain: 3 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Yep, all day erryday.

Sleep: So I don't know whether it's the fact that this bump protrudes more or the fact that I'm a light sleeper now (thanks to previous kid), but I cannot get comfortable with the body pillows.  Paul suggested wadding up some blankets to hold my belly up so I don't go bump first into the mattress and end up in this half turned-over phase and it works like a dream!

Best moment of this week: Well technically it was last week, but my sweet class and co-workers got me a gift certificate to stork vision- this place where you can get a gender reveal sonogram and see a sneak peak of your baby in 4-D.  We went last Saturday and found out that we were having a boy!  Overjoyed, ecstatic, thrilled- any of the above wouldn't do just how we feel justice.  We are blessed to have one of each now and we're done!!

Miss Anything? Sushi- raw sushi and lots of it.

Movement: Every now and then when I eat or drink, but for the most part he seems pretty still in there.  

Food Craving: Bread or any other carb will do.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Shockingly, sweets.  This is super shocking and another verification of this kid's gender.  I couldn't get enough sweet stuff with Remy and to this day she could take down a bag of jelly beans if I let her.  With this kid, I'll take a second helping of whatever we're eating for dinner!

Gender Prediction: Boy was I wrong about last post; boy all the way.
Symptoms: Irritable, but that could be because I'm not sleeping super well :/

Belly button in or out? In but it's in the stretching process.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  We picked up a bunch of camping stuff for the nursery this week with my MIL; we're doing a camping theme :) 

Looking forward to: Feeling this baby roll and turn in my belly on the regular.  Also, our sonogram next week; praying that everything looks good and baby is healthy.  Lastly, I'm chomping at the bit to get started on this nursery, but we've got a while, so I'll try to calmly wait.  

14 weeks...again

So fun to have her walk through this with me.  I wonder how much of this she'll remember when she's older.

How far along? 14 weeks

Total Weight Gain: -1 lb and holding!

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but as the day varies so does the ability to keep the maternity clothes up.  I feel like I'm in this perpetual middle ground stage.  Most days I just look like I've over-eaten and the bump is really more of a flabby mound...attractive :/

Stretch Marks: Not any more than usual :)

Sleep: Again, I'm in this middle stage of wanting to use a body pillow, but then I'm uncomfortable with maneuvering it around me and I just end up kicking it off the bed in the middle of the night. 

Best moment of this week: Went to the doctor again last week and we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time.  It was 168 and going strong!  My sister-in-law and I both looked at each other and said "girl" at the same time.  Remy's heartbeat was always pretty high, so if we're going by old wives tales, I'm calling for another girl.

Miss Anything? An occasional beer every now and then, or glass of wine at the end of a long pre-school teaching day, but other than that, my lifestyle is pretty much the same.

Movement: Not as much these past two weeks.  I feel some flutters when I eat spicy food or if i'm lying flat on my back, but I think it's found its new sleeping position in there. 

Food Craving: We've moved on from tacos and pizza to flavored beverages.  Vitamin water is my new best friend and I tote one around with me all day.  Sometimes if I drink just plain water I want to barf. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? See above.  The other day I did entertain the idea of eating an egg, but then I thought better of that idea and stuck to my usual morning breakfast of a bagel and cream cheese.

Gender Prediction: Girl- see aforementioned heartbeat.  Although I will say that this pregnancy has been different, I haven't craved sweets hardly at all and all that really appeals to me is carbohydrates.

Symptoms: Nothing really to report, still having random bouts of queasiness and even though I'm now in the second trimester, I'm really tired all.the.time.  That could be thanks to teaching 16 three-year-olds three times a week.

Belly button in or out? Pretty normal, except that now that my body is like "oh, hey!  I remember this."  It's got this weird skin flap above it from being all stretched out before.  TMI- #sorrynotsorry  On the plus side, it would be perfect for a belly button piercing, but who am I kidding- I'm not 21 anymore.  Belly button ring + stretch marks = sexy. (or not)

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  I can't wait for the sonogram at our 20 week appointment and even though it's 6 weeks away, this pregnancy has been flying by. 

Looking forward to: Our next appointment before my birthday and celebrating said birthday with Hibachi and arcade games- here's to 33! 

Four years later...

and we're having another baby!  I will confess that this child is, by all means, a miracle.  I won't go into details, but we weren't sure if we would be able to have another baby.  We prayed for years and after a whole year and some of trying, the Lord answered our prayers!  We found out on November 4th that Paul passed the bar, which was, in itself, a huge answer to prayer, and then we found out over Thanksgiving that Remy was going to have a sibling.  It was blessing upon blessing and we are, to this day, humbled and thankful beyond measure.  

I thought it only fitting that I start up the blog again.  In the early weeks of pregnancy it was quite helpful to look back and see that many of the symptoms I was experiencing, I had also experienced with Remy.  So without further ado, here ya go...

How far along? 12 weeks

Total weight gain: -2 lbs- not sure how that happened; I'm a freak of nature because I've been eating every hour.
Maternity clothes? oh yes, since 10 weeks
Stretch marks? no new ones : /
Sleep: decent I guess; really sleep after a child is hit or miss
Best moment this week: getting past the first trimester and feeling this little bugger flutter away
Miss Anything? sushi and wine
Movement: around 11 weeks or so I started to feel distinct fluttering which was shocking to me since I took a peek at my previous pregnancy posts and I didn't feel anything until 16 weeks.  
Food cravings: Specifically, hard tacos from Taco Bell, pizza and fizzy non-soda drinks
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Eggs still- clearly my children don't like eggs in utero or out.  Remy has yet to touch an egg and she did not like them in the womb!
Gender: I'm calling for a boy with these cravings.
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: This pregnancy I've been way more nauseous and in general just feeling icky.  It was pretty bad weeks 6,7 and 8 and then started to subside and now it's back every now and then; I hear that's a good sign though.
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Here's some brutal honesty for y'all: I had a major meltdown/disappointing first appointment (10 weeks).  We didn't get to hear the heartbeat or confirm that there was something in there other than doughnuts and gas; I was so sad when we came home and from that point on until an epiphany around 11 weeks or so, I thought for sure this baby wasn't staying around for the long-haul.  Clearly my faith and trust were lacking and after a much needed attitude adjustment, a healthy talk from Paul, and some prayer, I realized that this child (one that we've prayed for the past three years) is a gift.  The Lord also answered my prayers when later that week I felt this kid move and I had that reassurance I was seeking.  So to answer that question, moody and happy all at the same time (please pray for my husband)!
Looking forward to: Our next appointment to hear the heartbeat and maybe (fingers crossed) get to have a sonogram.  

And now for your viewing pleasure...

(Don't mind my super tired expression with both kids) I know they say you show more quickly with your second, but holy growth Batman, that's quite a difference!

Finally after 4 months...

Well folks after all this time I think I'm finally settled enough to start giving you all some updates on the Grenier household!!!  About time eh?  Let's start from the very beginning, a very good place to start.  If I recall correctly I left you all hanging with baited breath regarding the growing child in my womb.  Let me assure you, SHE is no longer in there and is a healthy, quite chunky and squishy 4 month old!  Which leads me to the birth story so here goes.

INDUCTION!  What I thought was a nasty word, turned out to be much better than anticipated.  There I was at 41 and 1 weeks of gestation all itchy and plump ready to get this kid out any way shape or form!  My wonderful Dr. had me scheduled for an induction where I would come in at 10pm and they would insert this little tiny pill to sit on my cervix and dilate me in hopes of kicking me into active labor.  It was Wednesday May 22nd at 9:30pm when I got the call.  Apparently God had orchestrated a natural disaster with several tornadoes touching down in various states around us which in turn, caused the barrometric pressure to drop, which caused every pregnant woman in the DFW metroplex to go into labor, which caused me to get booted from my scheduled induction.  The lovely nurse on the phone informed me that there were three women in labor in one room; I would happily stay home and wait out "the storm."  I was instructed not to eat anything and told that I would have a baby within the next day once they cleared out the deluge of patients.  So just in case your math is as good as mine, that would mean almost a full 24 hours of nothing to eat...right...who were they kidding?!  So I politely assured her that I wouldn't eat and would wait for their call the next day.  By noon the next day we did not have said phone call, so Paul and I promptly decided to go out for sushi, well he had sushi; I had some california rolls and tempura.  In the middle of our succulent lunch, we got the call.  Could we be there in a half hour they said; sure we said :)  We rushed home, gathered our accouterments and headed out.  All of the cavalry was called in as this was, in fact, happening.  It was a strange feeling to arrive at the hospital NOT in labor, check in with the receptionist and play solitaire on my phone next to the nursery of screaming babies as I waited for my room.  I looked at Paul and said, "This is the last time we'll walk in any place just the two of us."  Mind blown I started to perspire- who was I kidding- I was going to birth a baby,OMG!  I waddled back to the room and changed into my lovely hospital garb and the waiting game began.  The nurse asked me my birthing preferences and Paul and I told her that we were planning to do this thing naturally.  She looked at us like we had 10 heads and said, "Ok."  Fortunately she was about to go home for the night.  The aforementioned pill was inserted at 6ish after what seemed like every nurse in the hospital came in to check me for progress.  My Dr. then peeked his head in to say that he wanted me to take some Ambien as this would probably be the last night in a long time that I would get a full nights sleep (in actuality it was the night before and had I known, I would've commemorated that sleep with some sort of significance- I digress).  So I took the Ambien and prepared to drift off.  Not two hours later my nurse, the one that would see me through this ordeal, who just happened to look like my bestie Colleen, came in to introduce herself and insert another pill.  She was on board with my pain preference and said she wouldn't mention it unless I brought it up myself~score one for us!  A couple hours later I was awakened by some cramping and got up to pee when whoosh, there went my water.  Paul came over and the fun began.  We started a rhythm; he would breathe in deeply and I would mimic his breathing.  We got through every contraction that way.  It was around 2 am at this point and the nurse came in and told Paul (I don't remember any of this conversation) that my contractions were coming too fast and she was going to have to give me some fluids to slow them down while she called me Dr.  I think I was around 8 cm dilated fully effaced, but this kid was still pretty high, so my nurse asked me if she could maneuver me into some rather uncomfortable positions.  She also asked me what my pain level was and I think I thought I was at a 5 or 6.  The next hour or two were some of the most painful of my life but I felt like I was progressing and I was able to breathe through them, so onward we went.  At some point my breathing changed into some medieval sounding grunt and I knew it was time to push.  At this point I almost lost my cool, but as long as I was locked eyes on Paul I was alright.  I remember asking my sweet nurse when my Dr. was going to make his appearance because it was time to get this kid out!!!  As soon as he walked through the door, Paul informed me that I said, although I don't remember this, "Took you long enough Weinstein!"  Hilarious!  Since I wasn't medicated I could feel him telling me where to push and 45 minutes later he held up this giant child and all I could see was her vagina!!!  It was a girl- a girl!!! I was for sure it was a boy!  I kept on saying over and over again, "It's a girl!"  She also looked exactly like my little brother :)  It was a moment to cherish.  Meanwhile, I was bleeding out like a stuck pig.  I didn't realize that this was happening, but needless to say I was being poked with every blood-stopping medication known to man. The absolute worst pain out of the entire experience was when my Dr. shoved his whole hand into my uterus and began massaging it from the inside and the outside with his other hand.  I was writhing in pain at that time and really would have preferred him to stop, but I also wasn't relishing a blood transfusion, so there ya go.  This little angel weighed in at 8 lbs. 13 oz. and measured 21 inches long; she was born at 5:34 am. roughly 6 hours after I went into active labor.  Let me take a moment to comment that I drank my weight in red raspberry leaf tea in the months leading up to her birth and I think it did wonders for my speedy delivery.  I'm banking on the next one walking out in under 3 :)  

Labor and delivery were an absolute joy and I say that with all sincerity!  It was a bonding experience with Paul that took our relationship to the next level and I felt that I had accomplished something that women had been doing for millions of years!  What a rush!  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  What I wasn't prepared for were the next 6 weeks, but that's another story for another post.  I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of our sweet chunky monkey!  

 

39 Weeks and Still Preggo...

How far along? pic was taken at 39 weeks 3 days, but I’m typing to you all at 39 weeks 6 days and let me tell you, I think I’ve gotten bigger!

Total Weight Gain: 31 lbs...passed the 30 lb. mark- get this kid outta me!

Maternity Clothes: Are there any other kinds of clothing- I swear if I see one more pair of pants with a stretchy top or maternity tops that no longer fit this belly of mine- I’ll go stark raving mad!!!  

Stretch Marks: We are a full go on the stretch marks and I’m itching like a mad women- it feels like poison ivy all over my belly and no amount of lotion or oil or cortizone will curb this itch!  I’m stretched to maximum capacity people and it’s not fun!

Sleep: Oddly enough, I’m still sleeping pretty well, but I guess that’s only if you call pretty well waking up every 1-2 hours to pee.  The other night I almost clocked Paul in the jaw because I was dreaming that my ob was going to check me and I didn’t want to be checked, I just wanted to be left alone.  Turns out, I was having a contraction and had to pee at that very moment; not a pretty combo.  

Best moment of this week: My mom flew in to be with me at the delivery and to help out afterwards; it’s been wonderful to have her here and my house has not been more organized and clean maybe ever!  Also, I stopped working yesterday and my feet and back have been eternally grateful!  

Miss Anything? Fitting into any type of clothing that doesn’t resemble a moomoo and being able to breathe.

Movement: At night about the only thing this kid has room to do anymore is run its little hand up and down my belly.  I can also feel the outline of it’s footprint which is adorable and alien-like all at the same time.

Food Craving: Back to fruit again, for morning, noon or at night- it just tastes so good!

Anything making you queasy or sick? I’ve had bouts of nausea lately, but I think that’s because I’m so huge.  The silver lining is that this kid has dropped significantly and I can now eat something without having to tote my maalox around with me.

Gender Prediction: Only now, when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel do I have a strong, strong need to find out.  The dr. has had two impromptu sonograms the past two times I’ve visited b/c he’s said this kid’s butt feels very similar to a head and he wants to make sure the head is down.  I’ve been extremely tempted to say, “Aww, hell, what is it, boy or girl?”  But seeing Paul’s face and knowing that we’ve held out as long as we have- I feel that it would be very anti-climactic to find out that way now.  

Labor Signs: 1-2 cm dilated and 20% effaced and my dr. can feel the head, but my cervix is still set pretty far back, so it looks like my due date (tomorrow) might come and go...

Symptoms: Feels like I’m having nasty menstral cramps whenever I walk consistently and I’m contracting pretty frequently, but nothing regular and as soon as I stop walking or moving around everything stops.

Belly button in or out? For the sake of my cousin, we shall not address the belly button situation this week.  Be assured that it’s not a pretty sight.

Wedding rings on or off? Off officially, the only ring that fits me now is this band I usually wear on my right hand.  

Happy or Moody most of the time: Honestly, I feel like this kid will perpetually stay in there.  I can’t even fathom what it will be like to hold this child for the first time and my brain is kind of on “shut down” mode.  It’s kind of like the twilight zone everyday now.  All of this baby stuff is surrounding me and I’m not really sure what it’s doing in my house.  Sounds very close to denial eh?

Looking forward to: Do I even need to tell you all?  Obviously, I’m looking forward to getting this kid out and seeing what it looks like, if it’s a boy or a girl, but mostly I’m looking forward to this pregnancy part being over.  40 weeks is enough don’t you think?  Hopefully there will be no 41 update for you all, just pics of this kid!  

36 Weeks...We're in "Go" Mode!!

How far along? 36 weeks exactly

Total Weight Gain: 26 lbs...still averaging a lb. per week...so if my math is right, we’re looking at a total of 30 lbs. give or take a few DQ blizzards ;)

Maternity Clothes: Really I’m at the point where I don’t even want to put on clothes in the morning.  The other day I was retrieving a pair of pants from the dryer and I thought to myself, how bad would it really be if I just didn’t wear pants- pantsless is much more comfortable!  Alas, I stuffed myself like a sausage into those suckers and went about my business...

Stretch Marks: I’m convinced that my pasty white skin is hiding all of these tiny little stretch marks and one day, a long time from now, when I’m donning a  bathing suit and get some sun, I’ll look like I have a million little white worms all over my belly.  Really- this is the stuff of nightmares people!

Sleep: I’m trying to savor my last bit of what I know will be a good night sleep...

Best moment of this week: Getting a much needed pedicure and buying a carseat :)

Miss Anything? Honestly, I would love to be able to eat something, anything without having to think about the fact that it’ll be no doubt revisiting me for the rest of the day.  Also, I’d like to be able to breathe like a normal person- too much to ask for???

Movement: There is very little room in there for this kid to move much anymore and now its stretching sessions are a bit more painful as I can feel my cervix giving way!  

Food Craving: Pizza and chocolate milk...mmmmm, also DQ ice cream at any point during the day!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Eh, not really.  Just not really wanting to eat anything in general knowing that I’ll be soon downing a bottle of Maalox. 

Gender Prediction: Who knows?  The Asian ladies at the pedicure place swear it’s a girl, but mostly everyone else says boy.  We shall see- hopefully sooner rather than later :)

Labor Signs: Hello braxton hicks!!  At least one or two every hour, sometimes more.  This kid is also dropping for sure and I’m beginning to feel like I have a bowling ball in between my legs, but I’m not waddling yet; still holding strong.  

Symptoms: Aside from the ankles that at the end of the day look like an 80 year old women’s and the braxton hicks, and the head dropping lower and lower, doing pretty good. 

Belly button in or out? Funny you should ask- it’s stretched like a pancake and won’t expand anymore.  It’s like it put its foot down and said, “That’s it, I’m not being pushed anymore.”  So now the super weird thing that’s developed is that my stomach has started to expand around it, so I’m forming a pseudo butt-like belly.  Good thing none of you have to see me naked, believe you me, it’s a sight you would not soon forget...sometimes I have nightmares ;)

Wedding rings on or off? We’re down to just the engagement ring, which apparently is a half size larger than my band, b/c the band is a no go.  This warm weather might take the engagement ring too in a weeks time; there’s no telling. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  Excited!  Overwhelmed!  Anxious!  Really bottle up every hormone raged emotion and I’m feeling it all at the same time!

Looking forward to: Getting a new car to put our new car seat in!   Visiting the in-laws in Shreveport and chowing down on a couple lbs. of delicious Louisiana crawfish!  Packing for the hospital-gasp and organizing the poo out of this house before the little bean gets here.  Lastly, nearing the end of school to begin the summer- even if I won’t be going near a bathing suit for at least another year or so.  It’s the summer!!! 

33 Weeks and The End Is In Sight

How far along? 33 Weeks 4 days

Total Weight Gain: 24 lbs...depressing...think I’m going to miss my goal of containing it to 30; my doctor is not going to be pleased :(

Maternity Clothes: Yes and even those are starting to feel snug.

Stretch Marks: I think I may have my first stretch mark people.  I lotioned an oiled my little heart out, but frankly there just isn’t anymore skin left to stretch.  I’m genuinely concerned about how I’m supposed to go another 7 weeks!

Sleep: Eh, it’s touch and go.  Could I sleep all day, yes.  Would I be able to move afterwards, debatable.  I’ve gotten many a charlie horse in the middle of the night lately and I’ve practiced breathing through that, so bring on the contractions (HA!  Who am I kidding!?)

Best moment of this week: My parents coming to visit!!!  It was so nice to have them there and take them around to go look at baby stuff.  I think my dad was done within a day or two, but my mom was insatiable and it was fun to see them morph into grandparents before my eyes!  Also, of course, my family and close friends shower!  It was so overwhelming to have so many people that love you and want the best for you pour over you and your soon-to-be baby.  I am more grateful than words can express.

Miss Anything? This week I could really go for a nice plate of sushi followed by a turkey sandwich that doesn’t have to be heated into oblivion polished off with a large mixed drink or a nice glass, err, bottle of proseco.

Movement: Hehe yes, and it is my favorite pastime to sit and watch it do its gymnastics inside my belly.  This little one will go from one side to the other and back again until it finds its comfy spot.  It also has this weird habit of pushing out on either side of my belly button with its back or butt until it gets comfy, so funny.  Also, I’m averaging about 2-3 episodes of hiccups per day!  Craziness!

Food Craving: Still pizza, cold or hot.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Feeling better these days; it seems the bouts of queasiness have passed for now.  I have been getting dizzy on occasion, but I think that’s just because I move too fast.  Eggs are still unappetizing, but other than that, nada.

Gender Prediction: Maybe girl this week.  My friends last night did the necklace over the belly trick and both guys that did it got a girl prediction, my girlfriend however, go a boy prediction.  Shrug.

Labor Signs: Braxton hicks some.

Symptoms: Starting to feel like the quintessential pregnant woman who is constantly walking around with her hand on her back.  I used to stare and sneer and think to myself, that will never be me.  Karma eh?  By 7th period during the day, I’m wheeling myself around in a rolling chair and teaching from that seat; only the bottom half of the board gets written on HA!

Belly button in or out? Ok, so here’s the weird part about this one in particular.  Some days it’s flat like a pancake and others it’s kinda poking its little head out, but just a bit.  I thought for sure that you’d be able to see it through my shirts, but it changes.  I feel alien like in all senses of the imagination at this point.  

Wedding rings on or off? On, but I don’t see that remaining that way too long, especially since it’s getting warmer here.  

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and ready to start this journey.  I’m getting to the point in this pregnancy where I’m wanting it to be out rather than in.  

Looking forward to: Nearing the end of the road.  I know I have a full month and some to go yet, but I’m starting to get excited and anxious to see what this kid looks like, whether it’s a he or a she and beginning a new chapter in my life.  I can tangibly feel the changes surrounding me and as each day passes, I’m embracing that more. 

Thought I'd leave you all with some pics of the family at the most delicious restaurant EVER!!! The boiling crab!!!  Only a measly hour wait this time in the freezing cold...totally worth it!

And the dog of course...a picture is worth a thousand words eh?