Ahhh, the Joys of Pregnancy!

We had a nice time in Fargo, but it was a very quick and busy trip. I was so busy taking pictures of baby Livy that I forgot to get group shots of all of us, but I have some really cute ones of Uncle Jeff and Livy. We got to practice on her, and Jeff changed his first diaper! He really was a natural, while I was more nervous. Livy had gotten her baby shots right before we got there, so she was running a fever and was a little cranky for most of the time we were there. I just felt so bad for her when she cried, but Jeff was better. He bounced her and carried her and talked to her, as though he'd been doing this for years.

Elizabeth is kicking and moving all the time, so she's fine, but Mama has some issues. It turns out that I have pregnancy-related diabetes, carpal tunnel, and restless leg syndrome. The carpal tunnel is kind of like arthritis pain so far, so it hasn't been a big issue, but the RLS has been tough. As soon as I fall asleep, my legs start twitching and jumping, and I wake up about every hour with terrible cramps. The nurse told me to take calcium twice a day and to eat oranges for potassium (bananas make me gag), and that has been helping. For the gestational diabetes, I have to eat way more food than I want to, and so far, I have not been able to get it all in. I have to take my blood sugar four times a day, and so far my levels have been terrific. The funny thing to me is that my sweet tooth - along with most of my appetite - disappeared once I got pregnant, so I didn't think that GD was going to be an issue. However, I've learned that GD is almost always the result of the hormones coming from the placenta, and not what the mother eats. So, I will keep trying to eat more and take my blood sugar, and all of these things should disappear once Elizabeth makes her way into the world.

Jeff, wonderful husband and father that he is, has taken a second job at night to help get ready for baby. I hate that he has to do that, but no one is going to hire a 7-month pregnant woman, and so he decided to get another job. He has been looking for several months now actually, and a Mexican restaurant hired him this week. Tonight is his first shift, and I just worry so much that he will be overworked. We have agreed that if he hates the job, or if it gets to be too much for him, that he will quit. I don't want him to ever feel that he has to work so hard. After I get through student teaching in the fall, I will have a 300% salary increase, so we really just have to get through my time off and we'll be fine again. Jeff just felt like he needed to do something NOW, so that's what he's doing. Elizabeth and I are very, very blessed to have a father and husband like him!

December 2008

Nothing new to report, really, except that I have been feeling really good for the past two days. I even cooked dinner tonight! Baby has been kicking a lot, and other than the bladder-pummeling, I'm enjoying each little movement.

I go to the doctor Monday for a checkup and a gestational diabetes test, so stay tuned for those results. We are also heading to Fargo on Tuesday to have a Merry Lahren Christmas, and since all my siblings will be there for the first time in several years, we are very excited!

The Girls are Home!!

Boy, you guys work fast! Thank you so much for the prayers - the girls are home! I don't have any details yet, but Joanna just sent an email saying that they are home, and more details will follow. Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

Please Help!

I have been laying low lately as I've been suffering from the flu, but all is well with Baby and I. I'm updating today to ask a favor of any of you in the Twin Cities area, as well as the rest of you. One of my best friends, Joanna, has a cousin who has been missing for quite a few days now. Autumn and her friend Jeanette are thought to be with a gang in the area, although no one knows for sure. Please, keep an eye out for either of these two girls, and prayers are always appreciated.

Thank You For Your Patience . . .

I know, it has been too long (again) since I posted, and as I was reminded, people need updates!! You will be happy to know that Elizabeth is just fine. I mentioned before the pains I was having in my abdomen. Well, they lasted from the Friday after Thanksgiving til Monday morning, so my doctor wanted to see me. There was some concern of pre-term labor, although I wasn't too worried about that. The pains were more like muscle aches than contractions, and as I suspected, it was not early labor. It was quite the relief to hear Elizabeth's heartbeat, though. By Sunday night, I realized that she hadn't moved or kicked for several hours, and that really freaked me out. All was well though, and the doctor said that the pain I was having was just from her stretching out to make more room for herself. I think she must have gotten Jeff's long legs, and that's why she needs more room!

There's nothing I can do for the pains aside from taking Tylenol and laying on the couch, which the doctor recommended. It's been over a week since the pains started and I am still having them, but it seems a small price to pay for having a healthy baby. It has been difficult at work since the pains make it hard to walk, but I am getting by.

The nice thing is that she kicks a lot more now, and with more regularity. She actually had the hiccups the other night, and sometimes she kicks so hard she makes me jump! Although I know that Elizabeth will be a total Daddy's girl, she won't kick for him now. She'll be kicking up a storm, and as soon as Jeff puts his hand on my belly, she stops. Stubborn child!