Embarassing

Wednesday morning I woke up convinced that my water broke during the night. I could hardly wait to get to my doc appointment at 1pm. Thinking I would go straight to the hospital afterwards, my bags were packed and ready to go. But, like so many stories...it was a false alarm. I felt so embarrassed, like the pregnant lady who cries wolf. Who looks for any little sign of progress only to be disappointed in the end. On top of it, the doc said I was still at zero and only 50% effaced. Wow, I really thought this time was for real. My belly has been rock hard the last two days straight, and the radiating back pain combined with menstrual-like cramps continues on. And STILL nothing???? So, he asked how long after my due date I want to go..."ummmm, not too long" I said. Well, he only schedules inductions on Tuesdays, so its either the 8th or the 15th. I think our baby will be like 10 lbs by the 15th....so I opted for September 8. Who knows....maybe she will get the ever elusive birthdate 9-9-09 :)

In the meantime, I've been sewing up a storm. I've been up since 6:00 this morning sewing and redecorating the house. Here's one project I'm most proud of. A simple lamp shade makeover. And I can just slip off the cover to change the look if I want something different in the future! Thanks Better Homes and Gardens! Such great ideas you have. :)

BEFORE

AFTER

Last week. This week.

LAST WEEK...

bonfires. hobo pies. story telling. and monopoly with the cousins.

38 week picture documented. and a sewing project.

38 week pic

sewing projects: 2 roman shades in the nursery in need of a hem

BEFORE

(another project is currently in the works

using the leftover 2 panels I cut off the bottom of the shades)

AFTER

THIS WEEK...

Doctor visit on Wednesday. More sewing projects. Last minute house cleaning.

And I'm wondering which one of the following babes our little girlie will look like...

Mr. Gregory Peter

OR...

Miss Shannon Michelle

Undropped?

So, apparently a baby can drop and then decide to undrop? That's the latest. I went in yesterday for my check-up and I feel as though we are working backwards now....blast! No dilation, and yes, our little girl has floated back up toward my ribs. Fan-freakin'-tastic. The only nice thing was I dropped a couple pounds! (which I expected with my decrease in appetite lately, and it's quite normal the last few weeks of pregnancy). But hey, it's a mental boost anyway and I will gladly take it.....aside from the whopping 45 lbs. I've gained this whole pregnancy. Geesh.

I had a conversation with a teenager yesterday who asked if it "felt weird to have a baby inside of me". After talking for a while, I realized that I've forgotten what it feels like to NOT be pregnant. The kicks and punches throughout the day. The hundreds of bathroom trips. The convenient shelf to rest my hands on. The waddling. The profile I've grown accustomed to as I walk by a reflection of myself. It all just feels so normal now, it truly is hard to imagine not having this round belly. But, to be honest....I'm going to miss it. I know it sounds weird. But, I'll miss rubbing my tightly stretched skin with lotion every night. (only to be replaced by a flabby stomach with nothing to offer but flabbiness). I'll miss trying to guess which body part is poking out as she twists and turns in there. And, I'll miss all the conversations I've been able to strike up with perfect strangers who can't help but ask when I'm due. It really has been quite a journey. And it's only the beginning...

** Thanks for the comments on being induced in the last post. It has been great to hear all of your different experiences. We may end up having to go that route if she continues to be so stubborn! Stay tuned in...**

Nothing yet...

So, just to update on my last doc appointment....nothing new. I was pretty disappointed. I thought with as much pressure as I've been feeling down there, something would be different. Nope. Still no dilation, and only 50% effaced. So, I wait until Tuesday to see if anything new has happened.

In the meantime, I've heard quite a few stories about induction. Apparently (from what I've heard), being induced is the way to go. It's a scheduled date that you can plan for, you get your epidural at a time when your not in too much pain yet, and boom the baby is born! I try not to get sucked into these stories, but it does sound rather enticing. However, I can't help but wonder how good that is for your body or the baby. I mean, forcing your way into delivery? I can understand if the baby is too getting too large, or if you are way past due....but out of pure convenience, to say I want to be induced on this date because it sounds the coolest, or it works with my schedule the best, or frankly I am just uncomfortable. Where's the excitement, the anticipation, the spontaneity? I could go either way I think. What do you think??

Progress...I think?

I have definitely seen a change in the last week! As I get more and more uncomfortable, I've noticed the following:

~Achy and swollen feet 24/7. Getting out of bed in the morning is the worst. It feels like pins and needles on the pads of my puffy feet. I wear Greg's crocs inside the house daily to relieve some of the pressure, which does help a bit. Up until recently, I could keep up my 30 min walks around the neighborhood 2-3 times a week. This week, we cut it down to 20. And my pace feels about half as fast. But it still feels good to walk in general, so I'm gonna do it as long as I can!

~I think I hit the bathroom 5 times in the middle of the night last week!! I've been going about 3 regularly, but this sure tops it off! Quite bothersome really. But, it's practice for those midnight feedings right?

~ New pelvic pressure. At least once a day, my right leg completely gives out from something "pinching" the right side of my pelvis. She's gotta be bumpin' into a nerve down there or something, cuz it shoots a lightening bolt down my leg that sends me straight to the couch for recovery! It hasn't happened in public yet, but I don't see too many couches laying in the grocery aisle that I could lay on if needed, do you?

~Decreased appetite. For once. This whole pregnancy I feel like I could eat a COW. Until now. I haven't had a huge interest in stuffing my face like I used to. Maybe I'm distracted by the fact that we are going to meet our little missy in a matter of weeks! Or maybe I'm busy trying to organize the nursery!! Or maybe I'm busy thinking how Greg and I will be at this whole parenting thing!!! Oh wait....maybe I'm busy thinking how on earth am I going to push this watermelon out of a lemon sized hole!?!!!! ok.....*breath*. "People have been having babies for hundreds of years Shannon. You too, can do it".

~Crazy dreams! Nothing I can ever really remember. But, seriously weird and twisted. They aren't neccessarily related to having the baby or being pregnant either. Just wacked out dreams of ALL kinds.

I get to see the doc on Friday...hopefully supporting the progress I think I'm seeing. :)

"3 more weeks. 3 more weeks. 3 more weeks...."

She's dropped!

Good news from the doc yesterday! It looks like our little miss Mulder is heads down and is dropping into position! Yay! I had a feeling she had dropped some, just by comparing my profile pics. But, it's always nice to hear it from the doctor :) My cervix has thinned 50% with no dilation yet. I'm right at 36 weeks now, with nothing holding this baby back except maybe a few more weeks. Everything is looking great!

36 weeks

On another note....I had to take my wedding ring off yesterday :( . I woke up 2 days ago and my hands were puffy from a humid night's rest. My finger had a slight purple tint to it in the morning, yikes! I had to wait until evening again and a good rinse under cold water, but was finally able to wrench it off. I find myself fingering for that familiar accessory on my finger only to find it missing every time. Sad day...but only a few weeks left.

My goals this week are to pack the hospital bag, find a pediatrician, and get that car seat in the car properly....she'll be here before we know it!

Anniversaries, cousins, and baseball

Baseball is America's past-time you say? How about anniversaries?? We had so much fun at the local White Caps game last night celebrating 4 years together. Better yet, we joined Greg's cousin Beth and her husband Dan in celebrating THEIR 5 year anniversary! In fact, I remember attending their wedding very well. You see...after the reception, Greg drove me out to the beach that night and proposed among the dune grass....we were married almost exactly 1 year later. Sweet times indeed.

So here's to anniversaries, cousins, and baseball! Oh, and Greg did catch a foul ball for me too :) Then after I snapped a pic, he gave it to an adorable, bright blue-eyed, 6 year old girl instead...such a softy :)

34 weeks

Four and counting!

To my tall, dark and HANDSOME hunk of a husband Greg,

It's amazing we have been married for 4 years now! Some days it feel like just yesterday I was slipping into the gown of my dreams and then staring down that aisle only to see your beaming smile :).

Each year that has passed has brought on new challenges; life, and family, and our personal lives have tested us for sure. But, we have never stopped loving each other during those times. We have looked to God for counsel, and WOW has he been answering prayers left and right!

Thanks for being such a rock for me this past year, even when you didn't feel like it. You keep me so grounded! I really respect how you handle our finances, your commitment to AMST, your commitment to church and youth group, and your relationship with our Lord.

Now let's enjoy our last anniversary before a certain little munchkin comes knocking on our bedroom door in the middle of the night...maybe for the next 18+ years! ;)

All my love, Shay

honeymoon in Mexico...and Greg looking Mexican with that tan! :)

Baby Shower!

My first official baby shower over the weekend...

fabulous food.

generous gifts.

hilarious people. fun games.

heartfelt prayers.

tears of joy. good memories.

Thank you everyone for such a special day! Baby thanks you too...she just kicked :)

Use it...

I was blessed by this devotion and wanted to share it.


My Struggles are About Him
by: Max Lucado

What about your struggles? Is there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God's glory? Have you "been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29)?

Here is a clue. Do your prayers seem to be unanswered? What you request and what you receive aren't matching up? Don't think God is not listening. Indeed he is. He may have higher plans.

Here is another. Are people strengthened by your struggles? A friend of mine can answer yes. His cancer was consuming more than his body; it was eating away at his faith. Unanswered petitions perplexed him.Well-meaning Christians confused him. "If you have faith," they said, "you will be healed."

No healing came. Just more chemo, nausea, and questions. He assumed the fault was a small faith. I suggested another answer. "It's not about you," I told him. "Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering cranks up the volume of God's song."
Oh, that you could have seen the relief on his face. To know that he hadn't failed God and God hadn't failed him--this made all the difference. Seeing his sickness in the scope of God's sovereign plan gave his condition a sense of dignity. He accepted his cancer as an assignment from heaven: a missionary to the cancer ward.

A week later I saw him again. "I reflected God," he said, smiling through a thin face, "to the nurse, the doctors, my friends. Who knows who needed to see God, but I did my best to make him seen."

Bingo. His cancer paraded the power of Jesus down the Main Street of his world.
God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.

Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God.

Through your problems and mine, may God be seen.

Recent happenings!

Since my last post, quite a lot has been going on! We went camping with Greg's family over the 4th of July out at Gun Lake. (Funny name, but the lake is actually shaped like a gun...weird huh?) It was so fun spending time with all Greg's cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings, parents and grandparents. This year the cousins thought it would be fun to create a mini triathlon, which turned out to be quite a riot! I joked that I would compete in the bike, float, and walk preggo triathlon. But, I did end up doing the 4 mile bike and 1/2 mile walk portions with the others. We had opening ceremonies with a special speech from Uncle Chuck out by the lake, followed by award ceremonies at the finish line where the aunts draped a yogurt lid attached by a paperclip to a candy necklace around the first place winner (stellar performance Elliot!) Mom M. and I were awarded the oldest and youngest competitor award with candy pacifiers (very appropriate don't you think?). Next year I am bringing my A game to this new tradition!

Some beach time...

The start of the race...

Elliot's crowning moment :)

Glowing with enthusiasm over our coveted ring pops...

Next we went up north to visit my lovely Lauren and her husband Dave for the following weekend. It happened to fall on only the biggest day of the year for small-town Weidman... Weidman Daze!! OK, this is pretty much your stereotypical po dunk small town festival. They have a small parade with mostly firetrucks and tractors, a small firework show, and the classic festival activities including tractor pulls, craft shows, and a dunk tank. The highlight was watching Greg and Dave compete in a fireman water hose contest where they had to push this tank across a wire using the power from the hose. It pretty much turned into a water fight....boys. Geesh.

In front of Lauren's recent house update....love that fireplace!

What a talented husband she has :)

32 weeks...

Thirty

Well, I feel like I'm finally in the homestretch...officially 30 weeks today! It feels so good knowing there's only 10 weeks left (or less hopefully)! Here's a few pics I forgot to post along the way...

27.5 weeks

29 weeks

30 weeks!

My legs have definitely started swelling more...even at the beginning of the day sometimes. And the veins continue to worsen. But, I have learned how to camouflage and wear lots of long dresses and skirts to avoid the stares. I have a normal check up appointment Thursday, and after that I will go every 2 weeks. I still feel pretty relaxed. No nightmares of birthing yet. No dreams of ugly babies. Not too much anxieties really. But, I am anticipating the 2 month push where you feel like you have so much to do in so little time. We still need to paint the baby room and move all the furniture in. But, for now I'm doing pretty good. However, ask me in 2 weeks, and I may suddenly feel overwhelmed. We'll see...

Flood of '09

So here's the latest for those that did not hear about the torrential rain we had in our area last Friday night...

It started raining Friday evening. Lightning. Thunder. The whole works. It got progressively worse in a short amount of time. Before we knew it, there was a river running between our house and the neighbors. Greg was next door at the time helping a friend install some flooring. He called and frantically said to check the basement. I had just been down there 30 seconds before he called. When I returned, there was water pouring down the basement windows. My neighbor Jen was over at the time, and we quick grabbed some towels to stuff the windows with. Like that was going to help. Come on. It was like the ship was sinking. There's nothing you can do to stop it, so you start collecting as much stuff as you can to get it to a dry spot. Thankfully, our basement is unfinished. We have some old couches and carpet that we put down there for a temporary hang out spot.

Greg and Mark (neighbor) came back to lift the couches on rubber totes. That worked. For a while. Until the water was so high, the totes started to float. When we checked on them again, all 3 couches had fallen off and were halfway under water. In the meantime, Greg and Mark went around outside trying to "save the neighborhood". People with finished basements, and tons of keepsakes were helplessly under water. Kids down the street were rowing in canoes in the middle of the street while cars were barely able to drive to their homes for fear of floating away.

Our house has NEVER flooded since it was built. Our neighborhood has been flooded before, but never water in OUR basement. We moved in less than a year ago, and it floods. Go figure.

Anyway, it was a wild experience....here's some pics for the record.

front doorstep (8 inches away from the water coming through the front door..yikes!)

We propped up the baby furniture on anything we could find. The garage only had about 3 in.
The sunroom with 2-3 inches, but everything got cleared out before the water crept in...

The basement with 18 inches! This is after those darn couches fell off the totes. At least we tried to save them....oh well.

Our backyard completely underwater...

And proof that we did indeed survive...

That's right...22 inches!

We are drying out with fans and dehumidifiers that have been running nonstop since Friday. The water table under our house must still be high though because our basement still has water seeping through the walls. With yesterday and today being 90 deg and HOT and HUMID, it has not really help get the mucky mildew smell out either! But, I'm thankful we saved what we could, when so many others had to strip their basements down to the studs following this "100 year flood".