The Addington Outpost: 2012

Week 36

8:04 PM

And. . .we are ALL still hanging in there. Readers and baby grower alike. Good news is - we have hit 9 months! We are all the more knowledgable for it too. . .and I'm rounder.

First off - to those readers in the US - Happy Thanksgiving! My weekly image indicates my contributions to the event- a growing baby and desserts!

We had a doctor's appointment earlier in the week - all good news still! Chloe and mommy are both progressing towards labor and the doctor has already made his prediction of her arrival. I'm really enjoying the anticipation!. . .you wait so long for it to get here and then suddenly the terms that were once only in the very distant future are now in your present! Can you believe that December is next weekend?? Christmas tradition calls for the annual trek to the Christmas tree farm to occur on the first weekend of December. This year we're shaking it up a little and going a week early - just in case. Plus I really don't think I'll be able to hike a Christmas tree farm at 38/39 weeks. I think 37 weeks will be a stretch as it is! The early Christmas tree chop down means Christmas begins early in this little house!

Chloe's comparable fruit is not very Christmassy, or Thanksgivingly for that matter - but she is a honeydew melon! She probably weighs around 5.5lbs to 6lbs. Hard to tell for sure, but that's the guesstimate. Sleep is very hard to come by - and very uncomfortable too as I can't sleep on my back, and she doesn't like for me to sleep on my side as she gets cramped and then proceeds to relocate thus cramping me. So we take turns cramping each others style. . .

She is also moving less and less. . .again, not a whole lot of space to move around in anymore. Her little boney legs see the majority of movement. I'm sure she's looking forward to giving those legs a nice big stretch when she's born :)

Clock continues to tick. . .and the end is nearing. . .and nesting is in full swing. In fact I'm proud to report that I have the cleanest house within a 2 mile radius - I am almost sure of it! Jon says I've been exhausting him with all my cleaning. I believe I must have walked about 10 miles within the last 24 hours - all within the confines of my 1200 square foot home. This weekend we shall try get some rest - once we've decked the halls that is!!

. . .and here comes week 37. Have a safe and happy weekend.

Week 35

9:13 AM

Week 34

2:50 PM

Chloe and I grew this week - further expanding this body we are both trying to fit into.

34 weeks 6 days

I would ask how much further can this belly stretch, but I know God has a sense of humor so I DO NOT want to find out :) !

Other than our growth, it's been a relatively standard week of which depicts a lot of last weeks' happenings but I won't further indulge as hearing it once it enough :) My sweet hubby thinks so too! Although his level of patience allows me to mumble on about my lack of breathing abilities and lack of ability to move in general. This week I found Gabe to be less than understanding when it comes to losing his toys under furniture. I just can't make him understand that I am no longer physically able to go crawling along the floor in search of a squeaky toy. You'd think a dog could understand this. . . :)

Back massages in our house are now a common event. If I don't automatically receive one when Jon sees me in distress then I bring him the massager thingy and plop myself down in front of him - in a similar manner Gabe and Jackson bring their toy and just drop it at your feet in the hopes you get the drift :) Also new this week is the back pain associated with laying in bed. Previously it was only present when I stood or sat. But we're working through this - with back massages :)

It dawned on us the other night that Jon and I are now experiencing the last few weeks of it being just "us". It's been just the two of us for 12 years {altogether}. . .while we're super duper excited about Chloe, it's also a huge realization that for the next 18+ years we'll have another little body running around the house. For those of you who've been there you know the emotions and thoughts I'm referring to - and how you just want to soak each other up before things change for good! So we find ourselves sitting quietly in each others presence more - turning off the world - and it just being "us" for a little while longer.

This evening we'll find ourselves doing just that - for one more night. How many more do we have where we can quietly sit in front of the fire, listen to the crackling and bask in the warmth knowing our sole responsibility for that moment is sitting safely inside me and in the mean time we can focus on each other . . .

Side Note:

Chloe received an extra spoiling from my sweet co-workers! They threw us such a lovely baby shower and lavished this little girl with thoughtful goodies to keep her going for a while :) Thank you to each one of you for your effort, time and love! Jon and I truly appreciate it! xoxo

Week 33

7:52 AM

Week 33 - not too bad from the front. . .

Whoa mama! There's Chloe! :)

This week we find ourselves favoring the number 3. Week 33. . .and this is what I've learned

Insomnia - Who needs sleep? Nope, not me apparently. Nor Jon.
I like stretchy clothes - there is nothing graceful about "slipping" this prego bod into a pair of jeans. Normally the act of dressing involves a hop, skip, squeeze, force, grunt and plead. Stretchy clothes on the other hand. . .ahh how wonderful!
Google.com - question for you. How long 'til my bruised diaphragm recovers?
It's NOVEMBER! This means the baby will be here. . .wait for it - NEXT month! Wow, how the time has flown.
Now that it's cold, jackets are required. However - what is the purpose of wearing a jacket when the "pumpkin" is still subject to the elements? Can't tuck that baby in :)

We had our regular Tuesday doctor's appointment. All's well in Chloe's world. Her heart is beating strong and she decided she'll also show the doctor how well her little legs are developing, so she gave him a good hoof :) This is the 2nd time in a row she's done that to him. Next appointment indicates the home stretch!

This is what Chloe did this week:

She opens her eyes more and more and is realizing that when she's awake, she must have her eyes open too
She's coordinating breathing with sucking and swallowing
Her bones are getting harder (for sure!)
More major brain development occurred this week!

As Chloe will be born a couple of weeks before Christmas I've been patiently awaiting the arrival of all things Christmas as this marks her near arrival. Well - the time has come. . .everything Christmas is here! I've heard Christmas music playing already - AND Christmas commercials are on TV. Seems to come earlier and earlier each year, but THIS year I'm not complaining coz we have a special Christmas delivery :)

On a more sober note - we said goodbye to our Grandpa. Sadly he won't get to meet his 2 new great grand babies on the way, but he was a legend so the stories will keep his memory alive. We had the opportunity to spend more time with him in the sunset of his life - for this I am grateful. He had a kind heart and a contagious smile that lit his blue eyes up - just thinking of that smile, brings a smile to my face. We appreciate all the trips he made from Australia over the last couple of years - the memories created will always be treasured. RIP Grandpa Cook.

Week 32

4:36 PM

EIGHT MONTHS! Whew. . . we can do this! May take a little more effort to conquer the small tasks, but the end is in sight! I think I'm getting used to rolling out of bed like a walrus, or adding some crawling movements into the process of getting up off the floor. I have now mastered putting a shoe on sideways - this is the trick! Why didn't anyone tell me?

Chloe wiggles like crazy when she's awake. . .and wiggles like crazy when she is asleep. I jinxed myself by saying she hardly wakes me up at night. . .unless week 32 is when the baby decides it time to teach the parents what it's like to wake up multiple times through out the night. So - the the droopy eye syndrome has begun. I wake up each morning feeling like I've been out partying. Yes I can hear the giggles of readers saying "oh you just wait" :)

So this 23 hour a day wiggler is just in time for pumpkin season as she is the size of a SQUASH! Yeah, I'm being squashed by squash! She's preparing for birth by moving into the head down position. Although she still likes to spin around and head butt a rib. But we know that she is aware that the head down position is where she needs to be focusing her attention. She is still wiggling her little fingers which is the weirdest sensation - feels like she's tickling me. It's going to be interesting to see her mimic those same movements when she outside the womb. Maybe she'll be a piano player? or take after my Gramps and play the guitar? Yeah, that must be it :) Gramps, you have a little one that will be seeking your expertise in a couple of years!

Chloe's bedroom is coming along nicely. We still have a few more necessities that need to be checked off the list - but no worries - we still have some time before she arrives. I'm currently seeking book shelving options as well as pictures for her walls. Jon is making the book shelves as they need to be a little more custom to fit into the space we're working with. As for the pictures. . .

I've also officially started packing the hospital bag! Early? Nah - you never know. . .

Complaints of the week? Sore and swollen legs and fingers, exhaustion, muscle aches, ligament pain. . .lack of sleep and boy oh boy have I been uncomfortable.

What do I miss? Sleeping on my stomach, being able to bend down. . .a good proper hug!

Week 33 involves another doctor's appointment - and I think I might sneak in a prenatal massage to help these weary muscles :)

Til next week! See you.

Happy Fall!

2:44 PM

Week 31

10:00 AM

We have made it through the final week of month 7!

31 weeks 5 days

Chloe had a growth spurt. As a result I now waddle, especially in the evening when I'm feeling exhausted. Even Jon made a comment. I walked into the laundry room the other night and the floor creaked. . .that was good for the self esteem :) I have 7 lbs left to go to reach my minimum weight goal - and 7 weeks to go before I hit week 38. I'm liking the sound of 38 rather than 40. I hope Chloe does too.

Chloe and I had our 9th appointment on Tuesday.

Our late night rendezvous to the ER last Saturday night. . . {in which we:

Negative:

pulled an all nighter
obtained a nice big bruise from the IV
reacted negatively to the glue on the EKG stickers
subjected Chloe to radiation
shivered to death from the subzero ER temperatures

Positive

got to spend what almost calculated as being a whole extra day with Jon
learned that cuddles and love really do calm the soul
Chloe is very responsive to her mommy and enjoys long nights together
Jon will give up his sleep at the drop of a hat
at 2am we can get to the hospital in 10 minutes
...we've been blessed to have such an incredibly healthy pregnancy and this was our reminder }

. . .did come back with a diagnosis.

So - looks like I have severe Costochondritis. Need the English version? :) I did too, don't worry. Translates to inflammation of the ribs' junction between the breastbone/sternum. They don't know what causes it and nor is there treatment. Best case scenario is I'll endure pain in my chest for several days or worst case, up to 3+ months. So, more reason to take it easy.

Week 31 little baby Chloe is a PINEAPPLE!! She feels just like one too. Her 5 senses have developed - officially and completely. This has also been a week of hiccups for her. I've found no link to the foods or things I drink, so I'm baffled as to the reason {if I am the cause of them}. Her movements are still strong - there are moments I'm pretty sure she just took out an intestine - but for the most part this week she has only been rolling from one side of my belly to the next. She is pretty good with her sleeping habits too. Last night was the first time in a while she's woken me up wiggling. But she drops off to sleep again pretty quickly. As with most pregnancies, the evening is her most active time. I'm glad about this as it gives Jon interaction time.

So - are we ready for Month 8? Heck yeah! Check back next week and it'll officially be Month 8 of little Chloe Annsley.

Re-Learning Appreciation

3:37 PM

As we left 30 weeks behind and found the day after - yes, week 31, we didn't realize what else we would find. . .the true appreciation for each other, the life we have . . .and the appreciation for our little baby yet to make her entrance. Why can't we realize just how fortunate we are without having to be shown? We had to be shown, I suppose.

When I was in the very very beginning stages of pregnancy I found a blog that written by Matt Logelin that has stayed with me ever since. His name may sound familiar - he's just released his first book titled "two kisses for Maddy". This is where I first learned how fragile life is - and how a mom's life can indeed be made more fragile when carrying a baby. Matt's wife Liz had several complications around 30 or so weeks and ended up delivering their baby early. Unfortunately the 5 weeks of bed rest resulted in a blood clot that took her life inexpectantly the day after she delivered Maddy. She was on her way to see her baby girl for the first time. . .the sheer sadness of a mom patiently waiting for her baby girl, then not even being able to see her, hold her, touch her. . .or watch her grow struck me to the core. Then to watch how Matt struggled to grasp the idea of being a single dad - raising their little girl all by himself while struggling with the grief of Liz's sudden death. . .heartbreak. If you have a box of tissues and some extra time - read his story below:

http://www.mattlogelin.com/if-you-havent-been-here-before/

I've said to Jon from the very beginning of this journey - I cannot bear the idea of never being able to see or touch or love on this little baby growing inside of me.

Late last week I started having chest pain that steadily got worse and worse to where I couldn't breathe, couldn't bend down from the pressure {if you read my week 30 blog i.e the FIRST one...the one I accidentally deleted which is why week 30 part 2 reappeared - I mentioned having a sore shoulder and chest}. Come Saturday night I was virtually going insane from the pain. My breathing was even more labored, movement was limited further - the pressure from simply sitting down resulted in the most incredible amount of pain. So off we go the the Emergency Room. If you know me, you know that I am very stubborn so ER's are not a place you'll find me unless I'm checking out of life {yes, nearly done that before too}. So off we go. . .get there and they immediately hook me up to the EKG machines as my complaint is chest pain related - they immediately think - ahh heart related. Breathing continues to be labored, so on goes the oxygen and in goes the IV. Blood pressure is too high so I'm now attached to additional monitoring machines that are insistent on squeezing the living life out of my arm and finger and if it's not being squeezed out they're sucking the life out of me through the IV as they run a battery of blood tests. Jon and I have nearly pulled an all nighter by this point. We didn't even do this kind of madness in College. . .and we, sure as heck, can't stay up past our bedtime. But here we are - 4am. Doctor comes in...sits down beside my bed, solemnly looks at me and says - blood results came back and it appears you have a blood clot in your lungs. Pause Immediately I remember Liz. Now my worst fear is practically here. I look over at Jon who's sitting there quiet digesting the information - see his sweet face, those soft, kind blue eyes - I know this man. I love this man. I've spent the last 12 years of my life with him - and now what? Worst case scenario is he going to be raising our Chloe alone? Will she only ever know me from this blog?

Our options were simple. I need a CT scan to be sure. It's risky having a CT scan while pregnant - but even more so not having the CT scan. Chloe is at the age where they said the damage from radiation is practically nil as all her cells and core development has already occurred. Hard decision still as this is our little baby and we need to protect her. But I'm also the one sustaining her life and without my heartbeat. . .So we had the CT Scan and they protected Chloe as best they could. Results come back and it looks like my lungs are clear - however there is still confusion as to why I'm in the state I am. I have more doctor appointments coming up. Probably more tests as well. But for now it appears I'm safe. I won't be Liz.

I learned just how much I appreciate this life God has given me - how much Jon means to me - how much this little wiggle worm means to us. . .and how quickly a Pulmonary Embolism can turn your life upside down (and when you're hanging upside down you really do appreciate life the right side up :) )