Pregnancy Update: 28 weeks

Capri's sass crack us up!
Heidi or Rowan weighs 2 1/4 pounds, about the size of an eggplant,
and is about 14.8 inches.  She can open and close her eyes, which now have lashes!

We saw our doctor this week! It was good news. She said since the tightening is not coming and going like contractions and I am not dilating, she is not too worried. Take it easy, sit and rest when I need to, ask  for help with the kids when I need to but at this point bed rest is not necessary! Praise the Lord! This was great news! 

At the appointment I also got Rhogam (because my blood type is O- and B's is O+ my body can reject the baby fighting against blood types. I'll have to get another one at the time of delivery), dTap to protect the baby and I against whooping cough, blood draw, and my Progesterone injection! WHEW! That was a lot of sticks in my arm! We were hesitant to do the dTap, but after researching and talking with the doctor we decided the risk of the baby getting whooping cough was much worse then the possible side effects of the shot. 

Time for the monthly update! 

How far along?  28 Weeks

Total weight gain:  21 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yep! Yoga pants are my favorite! They are just so flexible!
Stretch marks? Nope! I can't believe I am 3 kids into this and no stretch marks. I feel blessed.
Miss Anything? I miss being up and around without my stomach tightening. Taking the time to sit and let it relax is hard to do, 
Movement: She just might be an Olympic swimmer!
Food cravings: Salami and Kelbasa! B made a yummy dinner the other night! Egg noodles, bell peppers, Kelbasa! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: GIRL!! Still haven't chosen a name! 
Labor Signs: Contractions every now and then. They have gone away when I lay down. 
Belly Button in or out? In but threatening to pop out!
Wedding rings on or off? ON, but getting tight and making an imprint, so it may have to come off soon.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Jeremy meeting the baby girl he sings to all the time! He loves to feel her kick while he's singing.

January 2014 Update

They melt my heart! 

Jeremy starts every prayer with "Keep that we had a fun day"
He has an imaginary friend names "Accident"
Pears are his favorite food!
He is singing worship songs, constantly!

Capri says "home" Like ET! She is trying to tell us she wants to leave.
She even says it when we are at home and she wants to go somewhere.
She has a sweet motherly instinct.
She tries to separate her meat from the rest of the food
Blueberries are her favorite food.

Pregnancy Update 27 Weeks

They are saying, "Baby stay in!"
Little Miss is weighing in at almost 2 pounds, about the size of a coconut, and measuring 14 1/2 inches.
She has developed waking and sleeping patterns, although I can't tell. It seems she is always awake! Even in the middle of the night when I wake up to pee! She is opening and closing her eyes and her brain development is more active. 

One week down of bed rest, 10 more to go! That number seems unimaginable! I have to take each day one at a time or I get overwhelmed thinking about the amount of time. And being anxious about it or stressed is only going to make it worse for the baby. They say at 28 weeks, doctors cold sustain her life if she were born this early. So our prayer this week is, 7 more days! Of course we would rather 10 more weeks, but I need short term goals to keep sane! I still seem to have no symptoms from the progesterone. I am waking up a few times a night sweating! But I'm pretty sure that's a pregnancy symptom, not related to the progesterone. We have a doctor's appointment next Wednesday. I'm so thankful! I need to see MY doctor and get some clear orders of her opinion on how we should handle this. The doctor's I saw at the hospital had opposing views! 

I'll see ya next week! 

They were playing outside all day! I love the dirt on their faces! 

Pregnancy Update 26 weeks

She weighs 1 2/3pounds (lettuce) and measures 14 inches (Green onions)
The network of nerves in the baby's ears is developing this week.
She is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid for essential development of her lungs.

This week turned out to be the start of "moderate bed rest." This basically means I need to pace myself and sit and relax when I get uncomfortable. I was getting a tightening feeling each time I was up and walking around. After 24 hours of constant tightening unless I was sitting with my feet up, we decided to go in. The motor didn't show anything for the first couple of hours because i was in a bed laying down. Then contractions started coming about every 3 minutes. They only lasted about an hour. Since they stopped themselves I was sent home. They told me to do what I could but sit when I got too uncomfortable. Bobby had taken a few hours off in the morning so we could get the kids squared away and my mom headed over to help. When he got to work, they sent him home saying he needed to be with his family. He works for a great department! 

He had the rest of the weekend off! So I'm taking it way easy! EVERY time I am up on my feet I'm way tight. Thankfully we have a great support system that has been very helpful! 

The goal is to keep this little girl in for 11 more weeks! We would love all the prayer we can get! 

I just can't pass up the shot where she is looking up at me! 

Pregnancy Update 25 weeks

Our little girl is about 13 inches long, weighing 1 1/2 pounds, putting her at about the size of a Cauliflower.
She is gaining some baby fat this week growing more hair, if we could see it,
we'd be able to discern its color and texture.

I am having trouble with my sciatic nerve this week! The baby is really sitting on it. I got a massage, she was able to relieve it but as soon as I stood up, the little girl went right back to her comfy spot. I've been a;tenanting hot and cold and changing my sleeping position to sleep on my left side. Some days are better then others. I had the pain with Jeremy and Capri but this one is much worse. My hip would give out from time to time with the other 2 but I could catch it and it wasn't every day. This pregnancy is every day and I have fallen a few times! Luckily, since I am homebound haven't fallen in public! Or hurt anything! 

The kids are getting used to our new "home body" routine. Capri is coming up with new ways to do things!  She carries a step stool around to get up on things like the bed, couch, chairs! She is pretty clever! She understands I can't pick her up and asks me to go to the couch to read or snuggle or change her diaper. We decided to take Jeremy out of preschool. It was a long discussion, filled with advice form anybody that would listen! You can read about it here: Our Preschool Decision. So. . .  I have been homeschooling him. He loves it! I really enjoy it too! Capri gets to be a part of it and learn as well! 

I DO get cabin fever a little. When Bobby gets home I'm happy to go to the grocery store! We went on date that included a romantic dinner and a trip to Babies R Us! Ha! But the good news is that we fit 3 carseats in our 4runner, meaning we don't have to BUY A NEW CAR!! Thank you Jesus!! We also scored 50% off an infant carseat with coupons! 

Before I leave you I wanted to share another picture from this week! I love how Capri is looking up at me! She's so sweet! Jeremy was with Gigi this week, that's why he isn't in it. 

Our Preschool Decision

Jeremy started preschool this year. He goes Tuesday and Thursday from 9am-12pm. I was a preschool teacher at The Grove Preschool before kids. I loved it! I truly believe preschool helps kids with their social interaction, spiritual growth and introduction to education. I was able to hand pick his teachers. I know them well, so I was at ease with the fact that I was leaving my precious son for 6 hours a week in the hands of loving teachers that would pour into him socially, spiritually and educationally. We talked to him about it many times in the months before. He was interested to go. Excited on the day of his open house. 

Our "plan" (I put it in quotes because, we make plans and God laughs, knowing His plan is always better) was to have the kids go to preschool for 2 years then start homeschooling with Kindergarden. We wanted them to get the feel and structure of school by going so it was already instilled in them when we start at home. 

He enjoyed school while he was there. 

However, each morning we got up to get ready he didn't want to go. He didn't really fight me but he said multiple times that he didn't want to go and he wanted to stay home with Lulu and I. I asked many open ended questions trying to get a reason. He said there was nothing wrong at school, he liked his friends, he liked his teachers, but he just wanted to be home. We were making his Christmas card for this teacher, I asked what he wanted it to say, "Thank you for being my teacher but I don't like to go to school." 

What a sweet thing to hear from your child! It was breaking my heart! The battle I was facing was difficult. I didn't want him to think he could quit things he didn't care for. But there are SO many other situations we can teach this lesson! 

The ONLY days he did want to go were days we would be there with him.

While talking through our decision to keep him in school or allow him to stay home. One thought we had was that there was so much free time at home maybe he was resisting the structure at school. To test this theory out we added an hour of school work each day while Capri took her morning nap. We changed the type of work each day tracing pages, comprehension worksheet, science projects, etc. He LOVED it! He said, "Why do I need to go to school if you can teach me at home?" This kid is just too smart! 

From top left: Riding in the truck, doing school pages, science project with friends,
reading Lego magazine, playing in the rain, school pages on the patio, making tamales, painting,
using pipe cleaners to make hate with strainers, finger painting, gathering eggs, play dates,
Cutting practice, sorting marbles, digging in the dirt, fixing sprinklers, playing with playdoh.

In addition to his resistance to school, it has now been 4 months. I am on limited lifting and movement with this pregnancy. So taking him to and from while lifting Capri in and out of the car seat was another factor. 

The final decision. . . We decided he will be staying home. 

We explained to him that we love him and respect that he went for 4 months and we also respect that he wants to be home. He knows about the restrictions with the pregnancy and that played a factor. At this point, I think we will play next year by ear. 

Now my preschool teacher mind is going crazy with all the fun things we can do! But more importantly, my mommy mind is at ease and not feeling the struggle of wanting to keep my boy close! 

Pregnancy Update 24 Weeks

The kids were in a silly mood this week!
Our baby girl has gained 4 oz since last week! Making her 1 1/3 pounds. Since she's almost a foot long,she's about the size of an ear of corn. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world.

Time for the monthly update! 

How far along?  24 Weeks

Total weight gain: 17 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yep! I am loving wearing Bobby's shirts during the day, at home.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Miss Anything? Picking up my sweet girl when she wants to be carried.
Movement: She just might be a gymnast! 
Food cravings: I could really go for some tamales with an over medium egg on top!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: GIRL!! We are still deciding on names! I think we may have to wait until she is born to decide!
Labor Signs: No, thank God!
Symptoms: Not any I can think of.
Belly Button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? ON!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Nursing. I love breastfeeding!
Ultrasound check in: My cervix is still the same! 2.4cm No shortening in the last 2 weeks! Whoot whoot! 

I felt hiccups this week! It's such a cool feeling!
Little Miss Martens gained 2 cousins! As soon as we get a picture of William Sloat we will share it. He was born on December 15, 2013.
And the youngest, as of now, Levi William Heidtmann, born on December 29, 2013.