It's Almost Time!

It's Almost Time!

 

As I am typing this, I am sitting on a very large exercise ball.  That's right, an exercise ball.  I am trying (almost) everything under the sun (well, everything I've found on Google) to get this child to move down!  I never thought I would be over being pregnant...well, there is a first time for everything!  It's not that I'm tired of being pregnant, I'm just tired...period!  I have had some problems with elevated blood pressure over the last couple of weeks and along with that comes swelling in the hands, face and ankles.  To say I have "cankles" at the end of the day is an understatement!  I spent most of the day on May 29th in Labor and Delivery making sure I don't have pre-eclampsia.  I am not spilling protein in my urine, so I am still in the clear!  Although I am very tired and swollen, it is ALL SO WORTH IT!  I would do it all over again and would go another 2 months if I had to!  (But I really don't want to do that ;)

We have been trying to enjoy the last few weeks as a family of two.  However, this weekend, we have been bored out of our minds!  I am trying to take it easy since my blood pressure has been elevated, so we haven't been on the go as much this weekend.  We are so anxious to meet Eli and that is all we can think about! 

Everyone please pray for the health of Eli as well as myself.  I just want my blood pressure to stay under control for a safe delivery!  I go back to the doctor Wednesday and I pray for good news!  So far, he has been unable to reach my cervix because Eli is still so high!  I hope he has moved down...I've walked enough to have made it back to Alabama by now (ok, that's a stretch, but you get the point)!

37 weeks!  We went to downtown Tulsa for Mayfest.  Lots of booths with local vendors, food and live entertainment.

A little blurry, but this is the night before I turned 38 weeks!  We went to a wedding of one of my sweet co-workers!  We danced until after 10 that night.  I don't think it helped to move Eli at all!

38 weeks!  We drove to Oklahoma City to the outlet malls.  My sweet husband bought me a new purse and some new clothes.  He is so good to me :)

39 weeks!  We drove around in the Jeep and enjoyed the sunshine!  I walked about 2 and a half miles this morning...does he look lower to you?! 

 

All we can say is "COME ON ELI"!  I know he will come in his own time and I have pretty much given up thinking he will be here before his due date in 6 days!  I'll just keep working to try and keep my mind off of wanting him here!  Pray for a good check-up on Wednesday.  We are so ready to meet our little man!  

Love Letters to Eli- weeks 31 through 35

     Time is flying by SO fast!  Eli, I cannot wait to see your precious face!  I spend hours out of the day dreaming of what you will look like.  I know you will be the most beautiful baby in the world...at least to me and your dad!  The past couple of days, I have been having contractions.  Nothing regular, just uncomfortable moments.  I have developed a very numb and painful area in my upper abdomen but that is really my only complaint so far!  I would take all the pain in the world and do this all over again!  I know you will be so worth all the "uncomfortable" moments.
     
     I go to the doctor on Monday for my 36 week check-up and after that, I begin weekly visits.  It is getting so real to me now!  Your daddy is SO excited!  He had been so helpful in getting your nursery all ready!  He is starting to get a little nervous, I think.  He keeps stressing to me that we need to "get our bags packed for the hospital"! He is convinced that you will come early.  He is so ready to meet you!  I know that he will be the best daddy in the world!  He already loves you so much and so do I! 
    
     You are still very active in my tummy even though you are running out of room!  You love to kick me in my sides and in my rib cage!  Sometimes, you kick so hard that it startles me!  It is the most wonderful feeling in the world!  I've been trying to stay active during this pregnancy.  I ride my bike 2 miles about twice a week!  It's getting harder with my big belly!  I'm sure I get weird looks and YES EVERYONE, I am VERY careful!  You are such a blessing in our lives and we thank God daily for sending you to us!  Your nursery is all ready for you...we are patiently waiting :)

31 weeks

32 weeks

33 weeks

35 weeks

We somehow missed 34 weeks.  I am so amazed when I look in the mirror and see this big belly!  What a beautiful gift from God!  Please pray for us in the coming weeks for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby boy!



Love Letters to Eli

Our Sweet Eli,

          Tomorrow, I will be 31 weeks pregnant!  Time has really been flying by the last couple of months.  I can't believe that we will get to meet you and see your precious face in (hopefully) less than10 weeks!  Your nursery is all ready for you.  I sit in the glider rocker in your room and dream of holding you and loving on you.  I cannot wait to snuggle with you, rock you, sing to you and smell your sweet baby smell!  You are truly an answered prayer for me and your daddy. 

          Some things I love about being pregnant:  I absolutely LOVE feeling you kick and move around in my tummy!  It is the most awesome feeling and it reassures me daily that you are ok!  I LOVE watching your precious daddy talk to you through my belly and kiss on my belly!  I LOVE the way I have felt the last couple of months!  I finally have more energy and the nausea/vomiting has pretty much gone away!  I LOVE watching my tummy grow.  I swear, sometimes I think it grows overnight!  I LOVE eating bag after bag of Cadberry Mini Eggs and not feeling the least biit guilty about it!  By the way, I know that you love sugar too because when I eat it, you do flips in my tummy! 

          It's so funny how your emotions go CrAzY when you are pregnant!  I have been watching "A Baby Story" on TV and I just cry right along with the people on the show!  I can see a commercial with sweet babies and I cry.  I also think you might be a little jealous of other babies...when you hear a baby cry, you begin kicking like crazy.  It's almost like you are saying "Hello, I'm still here!!" 

          Just a few more weeks and we will meet you!  I can't imagine how much we will love you after seeing you because at this point, I feel like I already love you with everything I have.  I know that will only grow stronger!  I can't wait!  I've never been more ready for something in my life. 

           Thanks to everyone who prayed for us during our battle with infertility.  God answers prayers in His time.  I'm so thankful to be Eli's mom!  Anyone who reads this blog, please pray for a couple of my friends who are battling infertility.  It is so emotionally draining.  Pray that they can find comfort and peace and that God will guide them in their journey. 



Random, Random and More Random (Catching up)

Well, needless to say, it's been a while!  I have been so busy the past few months.  Moving half way across the country, starting a new job (which I really do love), moving for the second time in 3 months and of course being PREGNANT :)  Here is what I have been up to...

We took a drive down this famous stretch of Highway!  We didn't go too far, but it was still fun!

 A little shopping (and posing for photos) at Utica Square.  It's a beautiful outdoor shopping center in the heart of downtown Tulsa.  For my Alabama peeps, it's a lot like the Summit- just smaller!

 This was in early November.  Josh insisted that I get out of the apartment.  I had been so sick.  We had a fabulous day!  I am approximately 10 weeks pregnant here :)

Josh bought me this awesome little tool set.  I love it so much!  I think because it is so neatly organized in it's own little container ;)  Only my best friend will appreciate that!

I've gotten pretty handy with tools...who needs a man??  ;)

That is my boring life from October through November.  I will try to do better.  My life is finally slowing down a little!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Tonight, I have a heavy heart.  I have been positive about this move for so long...until now.  It's selfish and petty.  I know that.  I am selfishly missing my home in Alabama.  With the holiday season quickly approaching, I am more homesick than ever.  I loved decorating my home for the holidays.  I usually decorated too early!  It's just not the same going from a large home to a small apartment.  I know this is just a stepping stone for us.  Just ready for a normal life.  Here are some of my holiday memories from our home. 

I loved decorating my banisters.  They were so pretty, all lit up at night.

I love my 9 ft. tree.  Maybe it will look as pretty in my new place.

One of my favorite ornaments

The Road to Tulsa

October 19th, 2011

I had already bid farewell to all my loved ones...except my Mom.  Thankfully, my sweet husband offered to let Mom ride out to Tulsa with us and he would pay for her airline ticket back home!  This helped my feelings tremendously...she would be such a big help to us!  She shuffled her patients around and managed to get 3 days off of work to join us in the 12 hour drive.  I don't think I have ever laughed so hard as we did on that LONG drive!  We made horrible time...we stopped for ice cream, shopped at the grand opening of the Dick's Sporting Goods in Conway, AR, had an hour long lunch at Wendy's and  filled up the tank 3 TIMES!!!  But the memories are so worth it! 

 The "Captain"

Captain and Co-Captain ;)

Mom's job was to just lay down and keep her lips zipped...she excelled at her job!  Just kidding!  I took a few naps myself!

 

Pyramid Arena in Memphis, TN

Wonderful snack basket that Megan made for us!  It was a lifesaver on the long stretches with nowhere to stop!  

 

 

 

My Mom stayed with us from Wednesday until Sunday.  We dropped her off around noon and it almost killed me.  I am so glad she got to come and help out.  We got a lot accomplished but I think we had more fun than anything!  From our notorious late night Wal-Mart trip to cooking up some chicken and dressing, it was a wonderful bonding experience with her!  Can't wait for more family to come and visit us!

Bittersweet Goodbye's

Well, the time had come to say farewell to everyone.  Moving day was coming, regardless of if we wanted it to or not.  I said my goodbyes over a 2 day period of time.  I think that it helped not having to tell everyone "bye" at the same time. 

This is my Gentiva family.  I said goodbye to them on September 22nd at our weekly meeting.  They had a lovely surprise party planned for me!  I will miss them all.  Such a good group to work with.

 This is one of my many lunch dates with Megan before I left.  We brought along the kiddos this time, Bella (Megan's daughter) and Peyton (My sister's daughter).  We ate at Old Town Grill and it was so good! 

 I said goodbye to Peyton the night before we left.  I think I had the hardest time telling her goodbye.  She is such an angel.  I can't imagine life without her!

My sweet sister, Shelby.  It was so hard saying goodbye to my sisters.  We have always been so close, I know that won't change.

 My sweet sister, Lorrie.  She came home from Auburn to tell me goodbye.  So sad :(  She is my baby.  

 Joc.  What else can I say?  He is so funny!  He keeps me laughing and I will definitely miss him!  By the way, this is Shelby's boyfriend and Peyton's dad.

My precious friend, Megan.  She came by on the morning that we left.  I'm so glad she stopped by!  I will miss her so much!  She is my lunch buddy and phone pal.  The phone calls will not stop.  We just won't have so many lunches together (and probably save a lot of money!)

Saying goodbye to the people I love was not easy.  My new saying is "I'll see you soon then", taken from one of my favorite movies of all time, Dear John.  When I talk to my family, I try to end on that note...I'll see you soon then.  It helps me, at least a little bit.  I didn't capture all my goodbyes on camera but they know who they are.  I'm already planning on coming home the weekend before Thanksgiving.  I hope it works out, I can't wait to see everyone!