The Joys of Pregnancy!

Wow, a lot has happened in the last month or so since I last blogged.
May started out with finals and me graduating from nursing school....so I can say I am done with school for a few years! I convinced Matt it was a good idea for me to take off 3 weeks between graduation and the start of orientation. And ugh after day 2 of building a shed I was ready to be anywhere but sweating outside being Matt's apprentice, meaning handing him tools and holding stuff.

On May 14th, the floor I work on threw me a baby shower- and so began the mounds of baby stuff piling up in her room. Then on May 16th, we had our 4D ultrasound...which was absolutely amazing and I would recommend to all my preggers friends! She was very cooperative and made lots of big movements and was so full of expression- smiling, pouty lips, etc. More people say she looks like me Daddy, but we'll know in only 42 days........


That next weekend, a very good friend in Mansfield threw me my "big" shower. And I just thought she had lots of stuff! We went to Matt's parents' lakehouse on Lake Granbury for 10 days during those 3 weeks off.
Last weekend, my baby sister Courtney graduated from high school...crazy that she's all grown up!

Now for some venting.....don't get me wrong, I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed being pregnant and I know without a doubt it's all worth it- but danggit I just had no clue what I was really getting myself into! So I think I was told something like 95% of all women get stretchmarks (or as my mom friends call them "mommy marks!"). Although I got them from growth spurts as a young girl...I guess I was hoping I would somehow fall into that lucky 5%- not so much! There's this skin rash that less than 1% of pregnant women get, called PUPPS, and yup you guessed it- I'm one of those lucky 1%ers! It's like a crazy eczema outbreak all over my body with bumps & whelps that itches like the dickens....once again during this pregnancy I found myself scratching until I was bleeding. (finally got a prescription yesterday!) Prior to this week, I had no idea that pads (ie maxi pads & pantyliners) came in the shape of thongs...but good news ladies- THEY DO! And I just thought I leaked fluids in my first trimester. Dr. P thinks I'm just gradually losing my mucus plug- lucky me! Then there's the hemangiomas I've developed, the worsening Vitiligo, the epulis in my mouth, swollen fingers that don't allow my rings so I look like I'm carrying an illegitimate baby with a married man, yadayada the list could go on and on!
Oh and to top it all off, I went to the dr yesterday and I've gained 37 pounds and I'm measuring 38 weeks, yet I'm only 34 weeks. So either 1) the due date is off,2) Maycee is swimming in an excessive amount of fluid, or 3) she's just a plump healthy baby in there.

But as I'm so kindly reminded by my husband, this is what I wanted and will soon have a beautiful baby girl that will make me forget about all these oh so fun joys of pregnancy!

Oops I did it again!

Ok Jane, this one's for you!
Well I went to the doctor this week- for our 7 month check-up, which is just mind blowing that I'm already in my 28th week. And this appt. was also the oh so fun glucose tolerance test- you mommys out there know how much fun this one is! Actually to be honest, I was so thirsty since I hadn't had anything to drink in 2 hours that the lemon-lime drink really wasn't that bad! I passed the glucose test but like many pregnant women, I am now anemic so I get to add some iron to my prenatal vitamin- bring on the GI problems! My uterus did measure a little big for my gestation, measuring over 29 weeks. So we're going to "keep an eye on her growth"- hopefully this means I can be induced early and not have to suffer in the middle of July (although I would love to be able to go into labor naturally). And I did once again gain another 7lbs this month....yup thats a grand total of 21 lbs in 7 months. So I am again saying for the second month in a row I am going to go on more walks and eat better...we'll see how this goes!


I got a job as a RN- I will be working on the oncology unit. I'll start June 7th......so excited to be making some real money! The plan is to work up until "D-day" and then take off 6-8 weeks to spend with the little princess. Maycee will be going to daddy day care, as Matt is home for 48 hours after working a 24hr shift. And on the days when we're both working- she'll spend her days with her Gammy or her Auntie Courtney. I will only be working 3 days/week, so between our schedules- she's going to be able to be taken care of by family only!
Alright, well that's about enough for now- until next time!
~Steph

Preparing for the lil Princess!

Ahh forgive me, it's been too long and I haven't updated this in a while.....this semester has been crazy!

So we found out on February 16th that we're having a little girl, which I'm so excited about and I think daddy is getting there too! I of course took my entourage with us to the appointment (that's my mom, Gammy, Jessica, & Courtney). And as if having a good looking older male OB do the ultrasound wasn't bad enough, his resident was there too.....and he's a cutie patootie too! Matt swore he wasn't disappointed, but I'm sure deep down he was hoping that the "100% It's a Girl" was wrong. But not mommy, I've had so much fun shopping for this little girl.

I guess I've been a slacker when it comes to getting prepared for her arrival, her room is still empty and I haven't picked out the bedding or furniture.....although I have narrowed everything down to just a few. Matt says he won't paint the nursery unless it has green in it, so the bedding choices I've picked out all are pink and green and not any of the pink & brown stuff that's so easy to find!
So at my 5 month appointment, I was delighted to learn that while most women at that point usually have gained 12-15lbs, I had only gained 7! But I guess I thought that meant I was entitled to eat anything & everything b/c at my 6 mo. appointment, I had gained gained another 7lbs. Meaning I put on the same amount of weight in 4 weeks that I had put on in the first 5 months. I've eaten more salads in the last few days than I have the whole pregnancy. No more cokes (or at least very limited!) and we're back to riding our bikes and going on walks. Even though I'm still within the weight gain for my gestation, I can't continue to gain 7lbs/month for the next 4 mos.

Well I could keep going on and on since I haven't blogged in forever, but I spare you. Hopefully by next blog we will have decided on her full name and the spelling, b/c that's been a source of contention...but I have faith that mommy will prevail and daddy will come around!