Jaxon Update

I went in for my 34 week appointment this morning. I was hoping to get a good report and maybe hear from Dr. H that I could go back to work within the next week. Of course when I got to the office I started cramping and having some mild contractions (it's been a few days since I'd had any). When I got back to the room my blood pressure was elevated. I got to hear Jaxon's heartbeat and it was good, 153. Dr. H came in and checked me. She told me I was still 1cm dilated, 70% effaced and his head is down. So what does all of that mean.... no going back to work. If I can hold out until 37 weeks, Dr. H told me she would be fine with me going back then. She said she would let me come back at 36 weeks, but like me she feels like I would more than likely deliver and then we run the risk of Jaxon being in the NICU like Bryson was. Clay and I talked later that afternoon and said that we would rather me stay off from work and hope I can hold out until 37 weeks than run the risk of going back and Jaxon being put in NICU.

After my appointment Dr. H sent me down to L&D to be monitored and have some blood work drawn for PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension). Once the nurse hooked me up to the monitors I was contracting like crazy. She gave me a dose of brethine to help stop the contractions. An hour later I was still having contractions so they gave me another dose of the brethine. And can I just state for the record how much I HATE brethine. Talk about wanting to come out of your skin and feeling so jittery.

Here I am just hanging out watching the monitor :)

Dr. H came in to see me after my second dose of brethine and told me I was really contracting this time (not like last time where I was having uterine irritability). I asked her what she thought in terms of how long I could make it. She's hopeful that I will make it to 37-38 weeks, but she's not 100% sure. She did say that she couldn't rule out that I wouldn't be back in the hospital before then to try and stop the contractions.  She told me it was okay for me to be discharged home and to take it easy and see her back next week.

The nurse asked me if I wanted to be checked one more time before I went home and I told her I thought I was okay. Well, right then I started having another contraction so she thought it would be best to go ahead and check me to be safe. I was still 1cm and 70% effaced and she told me she could feel his head. CRAZY!!! She told me that if I had more than 5-6 contractions in an hour to call the doctor. Drink plenty of water and try my best to stay off my feet.

I have much faith that I can make it to the 37 mark!! I have been so lucky to have family that have been able to keep Bryson so that I could rest and not have to worry about him. I honestly have no idea what I would do without them.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7



project 365: week ten

March 4: Bryson and Clay before leaving for the Veggietales concert. I hate that I wasn't able to go. :(

March 5: Putting Bryson to bed has been so much better since we put him in a big boy bed. Bedtime is a lot more fun!

March 6: Bryson has been talking to my belly a lot more lately. On Tuesday night he was telling Jaxon all about Mr. Potato Head and all his parts. Oh, I just love that boy!!!

March 7: Daddy's last day student teaching at the Elementary School. Only 8 weeks left til graduation!

March 8: This little guy loves his puzzles.

March 9: This week Bryson has become obsessed with Clay's hats, especially this Atlanta Braves one. He's been wearing it every day since Friday.

March 10: The weather on Saturday was A-MA-ZING!!! I'm so glad my little boy loves being outside. It's going to make for a great Spring and Summer.

34 Weeks {Baby #2}

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 34 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a cantaloupe
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 22 pounds.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY! Jaxon Clay
Movement: All the time!!
Sleep: Tossing and turning A LOT! 
What I miss: Not being able to get things done because I physically can't! Ha! 
Cravings: The usual. Anything chocolate, Mexican, and the Italian Sandwich from Firehouse Subs.
Symptoms: Starting to get tired a lot more. And there are certain things that I feel my body is telling me that's letting me know it's getting close to time.
Best Moment this week: I went out to dinner with some of my close girlfriends last week. It was so nice to get out of the house and have that "girl time." Not sure if I'll be getting a lot of those for the next several months.

I can't tell in this picture if I look bigger this time around. I do feel like I'm carrying much lower this time around. Not sure if that has anything to do with my body already knowing what to do. I can tell y'all that looking at this picture I'm in desperate need of some work done on my hair. My roots are really showing!!! HA!!

Reading List for 2012

I wanted to write this post a little earlier in the year, but haven't gotten around to it until now. I'm hoping to do a lot better at reading this year since I only finished 6 books from last years list. I added several books to this years list that I didn't get around to reading in 2011. I will go ahead and admit I'm already behind, but I hope to catch up in a few days. My goal is to read a least one book a month.

So without further adieu here's the list for 2012....(don't know if I'll read them in the this particular order)

January - Handle with Care - I already finished this book. I have never read a book by Jodi Picoult and I could not put this one down.

February - Breaking Dawn - Hoping to finish in the next few days. Took me a while to get into this one, but it's starting to get really good!

March - The Lucky One - Can y'all believe I have never read a book by Nicholas Sparks? I know...CRAZY!!! Saw the trailer to this movie the other day and I love reading books before going to see the movie.

April - The Hunger Games

May - Catching Fire

June - Mocking Jay

July - Heaven is for Real

August - The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

September - Crazy Love - this was another book I didn't get to last year

October - The Best of Me

November - Someday

December - House Rules

And here are a few others I hope to get too this year...

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian

So what's on your reading list for 2012?

A To Do List Before Jaxon's Arrival

I am obsessed with making lists. I make lists for just about everything. And since we have less than 8 weeks to go (hopefully I won't go past 40 weeks) I thought I would write down a list of the things we need to do before Jaxon's arrival.

1. Get Jaxon's nursery painted. Hopefully that will be done by this weekend!

2. Set up crib and purchase the rest of the furniture for the nursery (night stand and dresser/changing table)

3. Get the carpet cleaned in Jaxon's Nursery and our room

4. Order and purchase Jaxon's coming home outfit

5. Wash and put away all of Jaxon's clothes

6. Get the bouncy seat, swing, boppy pillow, etc down from the attic

7. Order "Thank you" gifts for the hospital

8. Get ideas for Bryson's Big Brother bag and take to the hospital

9. Set up pack-n-play in our room

10. Purchase any "baby items" we don't have; i.e. mattress, bath tub, bottles, etc

11. If possible do something fun with Bryson before Jaxon arrives

12. Finalize plans for Bryson while we are at the hospital

13. Pack hospital bag for me, bag for Bryson, Jaxon and Clay

14. Jaxon's bedding - waiting for mom to finish the last few finishing touches

15. Register for the hospital

16. Get car seat in the car

17. Order contacts

18. If I can try and make up some freezer meals while on maternity leave

19. Organize the boys cabinet in the kitchen

20. Pick out and order Bryson's Easter outfit

21. Get paperwork completed for Bryson's MDO

22. Finish painting the changing table and nightstand

23. Order "Thank you" cards

24. Finish Bryson's 2nd year photo book (I know I'm soooo far behind)

25. Fix up Easter gifts for Bryson's class

26. Finish CEU's for work and continuing education courses.

project 365: week nine

February 26: I haven't been able to go to church in the last month :( But I am so thankful that my church is shown on television every Sunday and I am able to watch it from home.

February 27: Bryson used the potty TWICE for the first time ever. He was really excited! But I don't think potty training is in our future because he hasn't done it since.

February 28: Our friends Drew and Sheri were so sweet to bring over dinner on Tuesday night. Poppyseed Chicken! My favorite. I am so thankful for the wonderful friendships we've made over the last 5 years.

February 29: Jaxon and me waiting to see Dr. H for my weekly appointment. Got a good report on Wednesday and I get to come back in two weeks!!!

March 1: My sister got Bryson this guitar for Christmas and he is just now getting into playing with it. He gets it out of his toy box every night and plays on it.

March 2: On Friday Bryson spent the night with my parents. You would think by the way he is dressed it was 80 degrees outside and actually I think it was. Ha!

March 3: I've made it a priority to try every night to lay in bed with Bryson for a little while and ask him about his day, read to him or sing. Sometimes all three! I've tried not to let being on bedrest take this time away from just the two of us. This time is so special to me!!

33 Weeks {Baby #2}

Pregnancy Highlights


How Far Along: 33 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a pineapple
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 20 pounds.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY! Jaxon Clay
Movement: ALL THE TIME!!! :)
Sleep: Surprisingly this week I slept really good! And I know I say this every week, but I know I'll be moving to the recliner very soon.
What I miss:
Cravings: I'm loving the sweets right now. Just in time for Easter :) I see several bags of the Cadbury Candy Coated Mini Eggs in my future. Ha!
Symptoms: Cramping has gotten a lot better. I got a good report from Dr. H this past week, so I don't have to go back until next week. YAY!!!
Best Moment this week: Bryson got to go and see the Veggietales "God Made You Special" concert with Clay and Mimi. Y'all he came back home last night and was so excited. He told me about everything he saw and the songs they sang. I hated that I wasn't able to go, but Clay took a few pictures and some videos for me and I'll be sharing those with y'all later this week.

March Photo A Day {Thursday} Challenge

I can't believe March is already here! And with the start of a new month comes a new Photo A Day Challenge created by fat mum slim. I thought I would change it up this month and take my pictures on Thursday.

Today's photo

Day 1: Up

It was such a beautiful day today and not a cloud in the sky. Makes me excited for spring and summer to get here!!!