Baby #5, Week 37

I think Baby has dropped!

How far along: 37 weeks!
Weeks to go: 1 to 3 weeks, but baby can come anytime he or she wants!

Baby is the size of: a bunch of Swiss chard!

Gender Prediction: Boy. We asked our friends and family via Facebook what they think about Baby Jedi's gender. I think all but *maybe* three people think that Jedi is a HE! We will know soon!

Weight gain: 35 lbs, the most I've ever gained during a pregnancy. Blah!

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! And most of my maternity shirts don't fit at this point! 

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones! Keeping an eye out for any new ones, especially with my weight gain!

Belly button in or out: Flattie, but my hernia makes it look like an outtie!

Sleep: Very good! We officially moved Adeline into her big sister's room and the transition has been great! Charles needs to be in there with her initially, but she has slept wonderfully in there with them! She only ended up in our bed one morning because she was teething and getting sick. Otherwise, it's been wonderful! I can move around and not worry about making too much noise! I can read on my Kindle when I can't sleep and not worry about the light waking her up! I'm loving it! Though I did cry the first two nights that she wasn't in our room! Hormones!

Movement: Baby definitely has a sleep cycle! And this baby tends to deep sleep! There are moments when I get pretty freaked out because there's little to no movement at all. But then, once I settle down, baby wakes up and lets me know that he/she is perfectly fine! Baby is also head down, low, and in position! Hooray!
Labor Signs: TONS of contractions every day. Some regular, but mostly irregular. 

Best moment this week: My 36 week check up on 1-25-16. I had my Group B Strep test done, it was negative! Hooray! I was also measuring between 40 and 41 weeks. I went from measuring 35 weeks at 30 weeks, measuring 33 weeks at 33 weeks, to measuring 40/41 weeks at 36 weeks. So I have a feeling this baby is going to be HUGE. 

Worst moment this week: Being sick and not able to get a lot of rest during the day. 

Miss anything: Smaller boobs... pretty much smaller EVERYTHING on my body! And sushi. I could REALLY go for some sushi!

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night. My swelling hasn't been bad this week!

Cravings: Pears, Raisin Nut Bran, Ice Cream, Peanuts
Aversions: Raw Meat, any off or foul smells.
Appetite: I feel like I'm starving ALL. THE. TIME. I eat small meals throughout the days to help with this, but my hunger/thirst is ridiculous these days! I have been keeping my snacks on the healthy side: celery, carrots, apples, trail mix, etc. If I eat too much, I get raging heart burn... which is no fun!

Queasy or sick: Sick. Head/chest/throat cold that has been awful. Started symptoms Thursday, didn't come fully down it until Saturday night/Sunday morning. I was in bed most of Sunday resting. Charles has been sick, too. So I'm so thankful that he let me rest when all he wanted to do was rest!
Workouts: Zumba on Monday and part of Wednesday. I was having too many contractions during Wednesday's class, so I went home early. And I'm getting in more walks!

Emotionally: Aside from feeling sad when Adeline moved out of her crib in our room, I've actually been alright! I do feel insensitive at times, but for the most part, I actually feel pretty good! I still have my anxieties and worries about when this baby is going to decide to come and what we're going to do with the girls, but with the nesting I've been doing, I'm actually doing alright! I have plenty going on each day that I have things to look forward to and it keeps me preoccupied in my thoughts!
Physically: I am getting more tired during my workouts, but I feel SO much better after I get them in! It helps with sleeping and it helps with my circulation/swelling. I get winded going up stairs and I'm having trouble carrying Adeline upstairs for her naps, but I've been taking it slow. And I get extra cuddle time with her, so I'm all for it! I feel as if baby has dropped some because I can BREATHE! I can eat more food! My bra isn't killing my ribs at the end of the day! The only down side, I'm going to the bathroom every 15 to 30 minutes! BLAH!

Looking forward to: My prenatal appointment tomorrow! Labor. Delivery. Baby snuggles. Breastfeeding. More baby snuggles!

Baby #5, Week 36

How far along: 36 weeks
Weeks to go: 1 to 4 weeks!

Baby is the size of: a head of romaine lettuce!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 33 lbs

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! I am living in my maternity leggings/capris and my large maternity shirts. Though some of my large shirts are working pretty hard these days! I know I'm bigger this time around from when I was pregnant with Adeline. I need some XL maternity stuff, but I'm gonna make it work with my large clothes. Thank goodness for my maternity support tanks!

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones! Keeping an eye out for any new ones!

Belly button in or out: Flattie, but my hernia makes it look like an outtie.

Sleep: I'm going through a comfortable stage and I am LOVING it! Adeline's nights are still pretty iffy, but on the nights where she sleeps until it's time to get up with the alarm, those nights are glorious!

Movement: Jedi is still very much active even though I'm sure he/she is running out of womb room! Some movements are uncomfortable, especially when baby moves through a contraction!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions every day. There was a big snowstorm that hit our area all day Tuesday and it had me having contractions most of the day. When the snow stopped, so did my contractions. I'm thinking the weather messes with my body! This is what happened when I was pregnant with Caitlin, but I was too far into labor to stop. She was born the day before 36 weeks. So this pregnancy is my fourth that has gotten me to this point! I don't want another preemie! TMI Warning: I've also lost more of my mucous plug! 

Best moment this week: NESTING! Thank goodness! My house has needed some serious deep cleaning and it has been done! I'm so glad that it's out of the way now before Jedi's arrival! I still have a few things left to do, but I went through SO much stuff and purged! It was not only wonderful, I was NOT stressed during! And that's HUGE for me! I get so overwhelmed very quickly, but I really found the drive to push forward and make the most of my bursts of energy! Still a lot to do, but I'm not even worried about it! I am very much enjoying my nesting and cleaning ALL THE THINGS!

I also got to go on another date with my husband to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens! It's in our small town finally and we couldn't pass up the chance to see it again! Especially since I'm sure we're not going to have a lot of alone time once Jedi arrives! On Saturday, my friend Julie came over the the whole day to hang out and have our kids play together! I got some major baby snuggles from her newborn(the birth that I got to watch!) and if I weren't already pregnant, I would want to be!
Worst moment this week: Struggling with the thoughts about what's going to happen when I go into labor. We've been trying to figure the logistics out and I'm starting to get nervous. I'm praying that I'll go into labor when the girls are home from school, preferably in the evening or on a weekend, so that we don't have to worry about pick-ups, drop-off's, etc. The more contractions I have, the more I realize just how unprepared we are for this... 

Miss anything: Smaller boobs/arms/legs/face/all the things... 

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day, but only when I leave the house. Off otherwise and at night. I hate how swollen my fingers have been getting... BOO!

Cravings: Raisin Nut Bran, Ice Cream
Aversions: Raw Meat, any off or foul smells
Appetite: Normal! Though I feel parched all day long... even though I drink way more than 100 ounces a day!

Queasy or sick: Same runny nose as usual... it's starting to get old!
Workouts: Zumba and walking! I'm really enjoying working out! I am pretty self conscious with my largeness, but I just do Zumba anyway! I get stares, but for the most part, people are pretty supportive and rather impressed that I'm still trucking! Haha!

Emotionally: I have ZERO control over my emotions and it's a little ridiculous. I feel like a crazy person. I can not hold in my emotions, good or bad. Sunday was a bad day. I don't even want to talk about it really, but our family is struggling with Charles' new calling in the church.
Physically: I'm feeling good, but I am also feeling pretty miserable some days! Bloating, swelling, heartburn, belly tenderness, lighting crotch, restless legs, achy joints... all the fun things that come with the end of pregnancy. But then there are moments where all is well and I actually feel really good! I have been dealing with the swelling at the end of the day, but sometimes it's all day. Makes it difficult to really get anything done because with the swelling comes feeling incredibly tired. 

Looking forward to: My 36 week prenatal appointment tomorrow! Getting the last few things ready for Jedi's arrival! Labor. Delivery. Baby snuggles. Breastfeeding. Sleeping on my belly.

Baby #5, Week 35

My tank top is working pretty hard this time! Also, Charles took this photo, so my shadow is in front of me instead of behind me! Looks a little weird, but I'm to the point where I need help taking these photos!
So grateful that he's willing to put up with me!

How far along: 35 weeks
Weeks to go: 5 weeks, or 35 days! 

Baby is the size of: a honeydew melon!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 33 lbs

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes! I feel HUGE! 

Maternity clothes: Yes! As the cold weather is getting worse, I'm realizing that I don't have a lot of winter maternity stuff! So I've been wearing a lot of hoodies and sweatshirts when I get cold! Which isn't too often, but when I get cold, I'm freezing! 

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones! Keeping an eye out for any new ones!

Belly button in or out: Flattie! Though my hernia makes it look like an outtie. 

Sleep: Adeline is doing better with her sleep. We had two nights that were bad, but she's now sleeping until about 5:30 to 6, which works with our normal schedule! I'm so exhausted at the end of the day that it doesn't take me but two minutes to fall asleep! And that's anywhere! The couch, the recliner, my bed, the floor... if I lay down, I'll be sleeping before too long! I can't help it! I also find that I sleep better on the couch! But I love my bed, so I force myself to wake up and go upstairs every night. Though that usually ends in me having some insomnia and I can't get comfortable. I think part of why I love my bed so much is because I'm right next to Charles! And I find myself needing to just be close to him this past week. 

Movement: Baby Jedi is still as active as ever! The movements are very strong and sometimes knock me off balance! I know baby is running out of room, and I can definitely tell! Baby is very high in my ribs most days/nights. I can't walk across my house without getting winded! But that doesn't stop baby from kicking and nudging my ribs almost constantly!
Labor Signs: TONS of Braxton Hicks contractions with a few real ones here and there. TMI Warning: I've started losing my mucous plug already! Much like with Adeline's pregnancy, it's very small amounts, but enough for me to know that it's not the normal pregnancy discharge. I know that it's not time to celebrate labor yet, but it brings me comfort knowing that my body is doing what it's suppose to preparing for Baby's birth! It gives me hope that all of my contractions aren't in vain!

Best moment this week: My nesting instinct FINALLY kicking in! Saturday was a fantastic day for me! I got all of the girls' clothes sorted through and put away, baby's gender neutral stuff washed and ready, and even cleaned my kitchen! My house has been a disaster since Christmas break and when I get overwhelmed, I generally tend to shut down and zone out. So this wave of wanting to clean and organize has been heaven-sent! 

Worst moment this week: All the aches and pains that come with working out every day and then cleaning/organizing my house! Thank goodness for warm baths at the end of the day to soak in! 

Miss anything: Smaller boobs, sushi, not getting winded walking, clothes that actually fit, the summer.

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night. Though more lately with all of my swelling, I only wear my rings out of the house and leave them off when I'm home. 

Cravings: Raisin Nut Bran, Doritos, Ice Cream
Aversions: Raw Meat, any off or foul smells.
Appetite: Regular! Keeping my meals smaller and more often throughout the day has really helped! That and I feel like I can't get enough water these days! I am constantly chugging and filling up my water bottle!

Queasy or sick: Same runny nose...
Workouts: Zumba everyday but Friday(Charles and I went on a "date" to buy/price some baby stuff: hand-print kit, look at blankets/fabric, etc.), and walking!

Emotionally: I think that working out everyday helped with my emotional state. I was a wreck on Tuesday having a panic attack in the morning for no real reason, but I'm thankful that Charles had a personal day to stay home with me while I got all of my feelings and stuff under control. I was able to plan meals for the week and have things to look forward to. It was calming and much needed! I hate how my emotions are so touchy these days!
Physically: Exhausted, but in a good way! Working out has helped me to be able to sleep better at night and my surge of energy to nest has made my body ache a lot, but I'm so glad for it! I love being able to soak in a warm bath while thinking about baby names and the upcoming labor and delivery! My joints are starting to ache more, but I'm not sure if that's because it was bitterly cold or if it's because my muscles/joints are relaxing for the birth. Or both! I am still having swelling during the day if I'm up on my feet for too long, but so far it's something that has been able to resolve with resting on the couch with my feet up(watching Netflix!)! 

Looking forward to: My 36 week prenatal appointment next Monday, getting the house ready for Baby Jedi, and finally finding out what gender Jedi is after his or her birth!

Baby #5, Week 34

Not my normal bra or support top! Boo for laundry day!

How far along: 34 weeks
Weeks to go: 6 weeks! YAY!!!

Baby is the size of: a cantaloupe!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 33 lbs

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes! And the "Aren't you miserable?" and "Can't get much bigger can you?" comments are already coming. Which turns me into the unpleasant-pregnant-Carie that I don't like people to see. Guess what?! I'm big. I'm pregnant. It's a part of the process. Please be kind! I'm already self-conscious as it is and your comments remind me of just how much I've gained. *sigh*

Maternity clothes: Yes! I wore a regular t-shirt the other day and it was working pretty hard! So maternity from here on out! Haha!

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: Flattie. My hernia makes it look like an outtie.

Sleep: This is the first week that Charles and I have gotten TWO nights of sleep with Adeline waking up around 5:30 to 6! Which has been HEAVEN! We're still not sure why Squishy wakes up so much, but we had her 18 month check up on Friday and talked with our doctor. No concerns, just something we need to continue to ride out. Joy. A few of my nights were spent in pain from my jaw/gum pain. (More about that below.) 

Movement: Jedi's movements are getting into a routine. I can tell when Baby is probably resting/sleeping and it's rather obvious, even from a distance, when Baby is up and moving! It's so neat to watch my belly move from the outside! My girls sure LOVE watching it!
Labor Signs: TONS of Braxton Hicks contractions and a few real ones. Which scares me. I know that 34 weeks is generally a safe time for baby to be born, but up until then, baby's health is at risk. Babies born after 34 weeks usually have a small NICU stay and then go home. Just like our Caitlin did. But I was pretty much freaking out on Saturday when I have having regular, strong contractions for almost 12 straight hours. Some of the contractions had me in tears, and not from hurting, but from be being scared that Baby would be born too early. 

Best moment this week: My friend Megan's pure romance party, getting all of my maternity photos(taken by Taycey Post Photography), and then Girl's day in Des Moines with Jen, Sierra, and Darcy! 

Worst moment this week: The severe jaw/gum pain I started having Monday night. It lasted pretty much all week, with a few of the days ending in a migraine from all the pain. I couldn't even function when the pain was going on. It was almost unbearable. I couldn't sleep, and I would wake up moaning in pain. I ended up on the couch most nights so that I could be in pain and away from Adeline. I didn't want to wake her up. The problem isn't my teeth and even though I had some prescribed meds, nothing really seemed to help. Charles gave me a blessing and I haven't had any pain since Saturday night. And, the 12 hours of contractions that pretty much had me in pre-anxiety-attack mode. I was in Des Moines, away from Charles, and trying to not freak out. All was well, though! I said a few prayers that if it was really go-time, that the Spirit would let me know. I kept getting the feeling that Baby wasn't going to come, but as my contractions got stronger, I started questioning my judgement. Vicious cycle. I hate the end of pregnancy for this reason!

Miss anything: Sushi, tying my own shoes, smaller boobs, not being so puffy.

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Lobster, Doritos, Peanuts
Aversions: Raw Meat, any type of off-smell(when someone burps or passes gas around me I feel like I'm going to puke!)
Appetite: Hearty. But I have to eat small meals during the day or I get RAGING heart burn. 

Queasy or sick: Same runny nose!
Workouts: Zumba almost every day! Walking.

Emotionally: This was a tough week. I felt worthless because I was in so much pain from my face that getting up and going to the bathroom was too much. I did no laundry, no dishes, no cleaning, etc. while in pain. And the times when I was pain-free, I got in as much cleaning as I could. I even went to a few workouts, but regretted those later when I got a migraine from the pain/pressure. Which had me pretty emotional and all over the place. I cried A LOT.
Physically: Pain from my jaw/gum/face. Still not sure exactly what was going on, but I'm so glad that I haven't had any pain like that since Saturday. Hoping it continues this next week! My house needs cleaned! I'm also noticing that if I walk to fast, I get winded very quickly! I started Aqua Zumba this week and for the parts of the songs where I'm suppose to float, I can't! I can't get enough air in my lungs to stay afloat! It's rather hilarious! I just keep my feet down and spin in a circle or kick my feet up and down up like a mermaid. I am also peeing ALL THE TIME. Feels like I did in the beginning of this pregnancy! And if I try to hold it for too long, I end up dribbling on the way to the toilet! TMI, sorry! But for real! I am also swelling up during the day/night. Which I HATE. My rings don't fit, my shoes don't fit, socks cut off my circulation, and I feel HUGE. I haven't had symptoms like this since I was pregnant with Caitlin. I am not loving it, but I am making sure to rest during the day with my feet up, staying hydrated, and I've been watching my Netflix queue! This generally ends with me falling asleep, but I have alarms set on my phone to keep me on my schedule! Haha!

Looking forward to: My next appointment(1-25, 36 weeks), packing my hospital bag, washing all the gender-neutral clothes for Jedi's first week, the nesting instinct to kick-in, going into labor, and meeting this little Jedi!

Here are some more photos from my winter maternity session by Taycey Post Photography! She did SUCH an amazing job! I was in tears while looking through the photos! These aren't even all of them! It was so hard to even narrow down the photos to make collages!

The photos left me speechless! I've struggled this pregnancy with feeling huge and ugly. These photos made me see my body as a strong, amazing thing! Being able to even carry a baby is such a blessing! My body has carried nine babies, with only five of them being carried past 18 weeks. I know that nothing is guaranteed, but I'm so blessed to have this body! Yes, it's puffy, huge, and bloated, but it is a gift! I do not take this for granted! I am taking things one day at a time. I am doing what I can to prepare my body to deliver this baby naturally, if it is God's will. Glory be to Him.

Baby #5, Weeks 30 through 33

I'm playing catch-up on here! I was going to update a 30 week post but had a prenatal appointment the day after, so I was going to wait to update that post. But at that appointment, I was measuring large(again). I was suppose to measure at 30 weeks, but I was measuring between 34 and 35 weeks. Too much of a discrepancy for my doctor to be at ease. So he scheduled an ultrasound for the next morning to check on baby, my fluid, baby's position, due date, etc. I held off on updating my blog since it took a few days for my doctor's office to call me back.

When I finally got the call, it was discussed about possibly moving my due date from 2/21/16 to 2/10/16, but I would have to wait until my next appointment... which isn't until today, JANUARY 4TH! Which has been a pretty long wait. So I've held off on updating, but I've kept track on here as the weeks have gone by. A lot has happened these past few weeks and I don't want to miss out on this stuff since I tend to forget things quicker and quicker these days! This is a long one! And to top it all off, I have no photos from week 30, 31 or 32. Serious pregnant brain... But I do have my 33 week photo taken! In fact, I have a LOT of them! I had my winter maternity session yesterday by my amazing friend Taycey of Taycey Post Photography! Check out her page for more photos! The previews she posted left me speechless!

How far along: 30 weeks (12-13-15)
Weeks to go: 10 weeks

Baby is the size of: a large head of cabbage!

How far along: 31 weeks (12-20-15)
Weeks to go: 9 weeks

Baby is the size of: a coconut!

How far along: 32 weeks (12-27-15)
Weeks to go: 8 weeks

Baby is the size of: a large jicama!

How far along: 33 weeks, 1 day
Weeks to go: 6 weeks, 6 days

Baby is the size of: a pineapple!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 33 lbs and I'M FEELING IT... ugh. 

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! Pretty much all I'm wearing these days. And I am seriously outgrowing my maternity clothes fast! I've gained more at this point than I have during any other pregnancy, but I weigh as much as I did when I got pregnant with Caitlin. Which still blows my mind... but it's also hard for me to see a number on the scale greater than 200 lbs. I know I'm pregnant, but coming from a huge weight loss, it just bugs me. 

Belly button in or out: Flattie. My hernia makes it look like an outtie.

Sleep: So/so. I'm pretty sure Adeline has a form of insomnia. Some nights are great, some she fusses a little bit, and others she's up for three to five hours. We did this a few weeks ago, but it hasn't gotten any better. We had a good spell, but now we're back to it. I'm not sure what's going on, but it's turning me into an overly tired/emotional pregnant woman. I have no idea what's going to happen when Jedi gets here... We're thinking about moving Squishy into her big sister's room within in the next week or so, but we're worried that she'll wake up the other girls. I have serious anxiety about it. But I'm praying that the Lord will bless us with a smooth transition! I'm hoping that being in there will help her sleep through the night. She's been in her crib on the other side of our room since she was about 3/4 months old. She was in a bassinet by my side of the bed before that. Time to move her on up! She's 18 months old today!

Movement: Baby Jedi is rocking and rolling everyday! Baby is head down(according to the ultrasound on 12.15.15. I feel kicks and nudges all over, and we've been playing the "guess what part this is" game! Is that a hand, foot, elbow, knee, etc.?! It's been amazing and super creepy to watch all the movements! And even though this has been going on for a while, I haven't really mentioned it before, but I hear a popping/cracking sound sometimes when Jedi moves! My doctor told me today that it is nothing that causes concern! It just happens sometimes and there is no real proof as to what it is that makes the noise! Just guesses: amniotic fluid moving around, baby's bones popping, my bones popping, baby kicking my organs/intestines, etc. It's not painful, just creepy!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions every day. Some are really painful, but for the most part, they don't hurt at all. Just super uncomfortable in my larger state.

On New Year's Eve, I started having contractions for the fourth day in a row. They were stronger and closer together. I was getting worried around 3:30 in the afternoon, so I went ahead and called in. I was told to go in and be monitored. Long story short, after three hours of being monitored and having tests run, I was diagnosed with a very minor UTI. I never want another one again. My belly just plain hurts. I have having a mix of Braxton Hicks contractions, real contractions, and a TON of irritability.  It was a roller coaster... I was just glad to go home pregnant! I was very nervous about really being in labor... I did not want a New Year's Baby! I am on an anti-bacterial to treat the UTI. 

Best moment this week: Week 30: Friendsmasgiving Extravaganzaka and my friend Becky's "Last Fling Before the Ring" party! Friendsmasgiving was an ugly sweater party where a ton of us got together to eat a large Thanksgiving/Christmas meal and then play games afterwards! Including a white elephant gift exchange! It was a ton of fun!

Then the next night was my friend Becky's party to celebrate her getting married! We went to A&G's for supper, had a pure romance party, and then went to the Lobby to hang out! It was a crazy night for the weather(thundersnow in Iowa!), but we all had a blast!

Week 31: My ultrasound! I was very excited to be able to see Baby Jedi again! I went with Charles on 12-15-15 for the ultrasound. We kept to our promise to NOT find out our baby's gender, but it was difficult! We held strong! We got to see Jedi very well and it was pretty emotional and wonderful! Jedi has chubby cheeks! We watched Jedi open his/her mouth and even to to see his/her iris in his/her right eye! It was amazing!

Top: Profile - Bottom Left: Face(you can see Jedi's eye and iris!) - Bottom right: nose, lips, and cheeks!

Also, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!! Charles and I had a date night with our friends Taycey and Keith at the Science Center to watch the movie on the IMAX screen! It was incredible! Awesome, awesome movie! Though I don't think I'll ever go to another IMAX movie again! Haha! Week 32: Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas! We decided to do the four present thing: something to wear, something to read, something needed, and something wanted. It made shopping easier, but we did have to travel to buy one of Vivian's gifts. Each girl was over the moon excited!

Our tree - Rosie, Vivi, and Caity wearing the shirts they got from Santa - Adeline opening her shirt!

Week 33: Getting to go home after the labor scare!

Worst moment this week: I'll combine all the weeks together on this one: sleeping at night. Or rather, NOT sleeping at night. Oy. It's been awful. I'm so tired, but I'm so uncomfortable all the time. I can't get comfortable. And when I do, Adeline starts fussing... night after night.

Miss anything: Sushi, smaller boobs, being able to sleep, being able to breathe, bending over and tying my own shoes, putting shoes/socks on without struggle, and getting in a good, sweaty workout. 

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Cheese, Ramen(did not give in), Doritos
Aversions: Raw meat
Appetite: Goes back and forth between starving and not being hungry at all. I think it's the sleep. Or lack of...

Queasy or sick: Runny nose. Still.
Workouts: Zumba, walking, some light lifting, and working on the remodel!

Emotionally: I'm a wreck. All the time. Highs and lows. I know baby-time is getting closer and I'm totally unprepared! I've been battling my anxiety almost every single day. Not finding out the gender was suppose to be fun, but it's actually giving me anxiety! Oy! I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy this! We are SOOOO close to meeting baby! I'm anxious, excited, and stressing! I'm still waiting for the nesting phase to kick in! My house is still a wreck from Christmas break, so I'm focusing this week on cleaning things one at a time and resting between. Otherwise I get overloaded and shut-down. I'm washing a week's worth of gender neutral outfits for baby to help my anxiety! Seems silly that not having baby's clothes washed and prepared is causing me stress... but that's pregnancy for ya!
Physically: Exhausted! Still! I'm not sure that this has changed! It doesn't help that I get winded just walking up the stairs! Baby is in my ribs and it makes it uncomfortable./difficult to breathe. It's more irritating than anything, but I'm pushing through and keeping myself moving! I fear that I'll be pregnant forever... I've already reached that point in this pregnancy and it's driving me nuts!

Looking forward to: Meeting this baby! My next appointment, which sadly isn't until my 36 week check up on Jan 25th. Charles' birthday on Friday! Girl's night on Saturday! Cleaning my house! Preparing things for Baby and packing my bag!

Baby #5, Week 29

How far along: 29 weeks!
Weeks to go: 11 weeks

Baby is the size of: a butternut squash!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: Not sure... I stay off the scale these days!

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! I'm larger this time 'round, so I'm wearing only my maternity clothes now. Though I'm looking for a nice pair of maternity yoga pants and some jeggings! I hate feeling constricted by maternity jeans... I want to be comfy!

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: In. My hernia makes it look like I have an outtie. 

Sleep: With everyone sick, I'm lucky to get four to five hours at night. I'm restless and my body hurts. My hips, especially. Adeline is only sleeping after 2:00 a.m. if she's in bed between Charles and I. So I can't move as much as I need and I get super stiff. 

Movement: Lots of movement from my little Jedi! Especially when I'm resting right before bed! Baby goes crazy and gives lots of kicks and nudges! I am enjoying this as much as possible! I'm getting to the point where I'm tired of being pregnant, but mostly because I'm uncomfortable 60% of the time! Otherwise I'm loving this whole experience and enjoying all the kicks and nudges from my sweet little one!
Labor Signs: Some Braxton Hicks, but I'm pretty sure it was because of dehydration. As usual. 

Best moment this week: Crafting party Friday night and Pure Romance party Saturday morning! I was invited to both and had a blast at each! I spent most of my weekend with my bestie/twin Jen and it was MUCH needed! Charles took care of things at home so that I could go out and see people after my week inside. I went back to Jen's Saturday night for movie night watching The Lucky One. It was a good movie! I love movies based on Nicholas Spark's books!
Worst moment this week: All the sickness, ER trips, hospital trips, Medicap trips, amoxicillin, Motrin, Tylenol, tissues... all the things. I get so scared when my babies are sick. First Rosalie, then Adeline, then Caitlin. It was especially scary when I had to take Caitlin into the ER with super swollen tonsils. She could hardly breathe. It was all of a sudden that she was having difficulty breathing. Her tonsils were touching in the back of her throat. I called the on-call doctor and was told to take her to the ER immediately. She looked awful and was crying. I tried to keep her as calm as I could while validating that it was okay to be scared and to cry.

She ended up getting a shot of bicillin in her butt cheek and wasn't too happy about it. It was thick like glue and hurt while being injected. She did fantastically, though! She was forewarned that it would hurt, so I think that's why she was so scared. I wanted her to be prepared! She was able to actually eat/drink with ease by the following night's supper. Thank goodness. It's been difficult to get rest myself caring for all these sick babes. Vivian is the only one not not sick... yet...

Miss anything: Sushi. Smaller boobs. 

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: No specific cravings this week. I just craved sleep...
Aversions: Raw meat
Appetite:  Little. Between the sicknesses and little sleep, I wasn't very hungry at all. More thirsty than anything. I know I'm dehydrated. 

Queasy or sick: I'm pretty sure I have a cold now. I started feeling off early Sunday morning(around 1:00 a.m.) and with a crazy night with Adeline, Charles let me sleep in since he was feeling sick, too. I slept until noon. It. Was. Amazing! And much, much needed. After I woke up, I was having some serious issues staying cool. Literally. I was overheating like crazy. Full on body sweats. I took a shower to help, but I felt really ill until about 5 or 6 that evening.
Workouts: None. Boo. 

Emotionally: Keeping things together, surprisingly. When things are focused on my littles, I have no time to dwell on unnecessary things. I didn't even cry this week!
Physically: Exhausted. Again. 

Looking forward to: A friend's daughter's birthday party that Vivian is invited to, Friendsgiving, a "Last Fling Before the Ring" party, and my prenatal appointment next Monday(12-14)! 

Baby #5, Week 28

How far along: 28 weeks! THIRD TRIMESTER!
Weeks to go: 12 weeks! 

Baby is the size of: a large eggplant!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: Not sure after Thanksgiving!

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! I am more comfortable wearing my maternity shirts than I am wearing regular t-shirts. I'm not sure if it's because I'm bigger this time? But tight clothes make me achy, so I'm wearing yoga pants and maternity shirts every day! I also have to wear my support band or my belly and hernia start to ache. I went a day without it and was miserable. 

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: In, but my hernia makes it look like an outie.

Sleep: So/so. We spent most of our week with family out of town and sleeping on an air mattress was okay, but my hips killed me every morning. I had to take extra time to stand and try to walk after I crawled out of the air mattress. Once we got home, I had one of the best nights of sleep I've had in a while! There is something about being in your own bed with your own smells and pillows! Heaven!

Movement: Baby Jedi moves constantly! It's really quite amazing! I had my Mom and sister, Alice, feeling baby move like crazy on Thanksgiving after all the delicious food and pie! Baby was very happy! I can tell that baby is still doing flips because I feel kicks in my ribs, sides, and down below. I'm praying that baby gets comfortable being head-down and stays that way!
Labor Signs: None yet... 

Best moment this week: Baby appointment on 11-23! Baby is doing very well and his/her heart rate was in the 130's again! (Which, of course, makes me cautiously optimistic for a boy baby!) I am measuring larger, 29 to 30 weeks, but that doesn't mean that I'll go early or that my due date is changing. If I keep measuring big, I'll probably have another ultrasound to check amniotic fluid and baby's growth. Which means I'll have to tell the ultrasound person to NOT tell me AGAIN what baby's gender is! I also enjoyed spending time with my side of the family for Thanksgiving! And the Iowa Hawkeyes defeating Nebraska to get a 12-0 record! It was awesome!

Worst moment this week: Rosalie getting terribly sick during the last day we were visiting my family. Started out with her talking to me Friday morning and I noticed her voice was all but gone. She felt warm to the touch, so I made sure she drank plenty of water and kept an eye on her. By the end of the day, she looked awful and started getting the shakes. She felt cold, but she was burning up. It was pretty scary stuff. She kept waking up during the night with coughing fits and didn't get a ton of rest. In the morning, she had more energy, but soon threw up her breakfast. This was right before we were leaving, so we said a prayer that we would be able to make it home with very few stops and that she wouldn't' get sick. We made it all the way home with one stop for gas and a potty-break! I knew that mono and bronchitis was going around the school, so I made the decision to call the clinic and take Rosie into the ER for medicine.

After waiting for almost two hours, she was diagnosed with strep throat and a fever. We went to Walmart to the pharmacy because our normal pharmacy was closed. We were told to come back in 20 minutes. Rosalie started crashing when we were looking at Christmas trees. I should have grabbed a cart, but she made the trek over to get supper from the grocery side of the store and back to the pharmacy. She laid on the bench when we got back and fell asleep instantly. Poor girl.

As of today, she won't be contagious after about 4 this afternoon(24 hours on penicillin). She has bursts of energy, but then gets extremely tired. I'm letting her color, read books, watch movies, and rest! I'm praying no one else gets this in our household, but I'm not holding my breath!
Miss anything: Sushi

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Kluski noodles
Aversions: Raw meat
Appetite: Hearty! Thanksgiving was wonderful, but I was sad that I couldn't eat as much as I wanted to! Especially the kluski noodles, pecan pie, and stuffing! 

Queasy or sick: Runny nose, as usual.
Workouts: Zumba and walking.

Emotionally: Better this week. But I think that with everything going on and traveling, my mind was kept moving so I wasn't dwelling on things!
Physically: Tired! I wouldn't say exhausted, but tired is true! I am feeling good all things considered! My body is having the regular aches and pains from pregnancy! Achy back, hips, ribs, etc. And HEARTBURN! I knew this would probably happen again, but man-oh-man did it show up unannounced! There have been a few times where I've almost thrown up because it was so bad. So this is what I've decided:

Looking forward to: A quiet week to set up Christmas decorations, Christmas, New Years, and then possibly a Valentine's Day baby?! That would be fun!

Baby #5, Week 27

How far along: 27 weeks
Weeks to go: 13 weeks!

Baby is the size of: a head of cauliflower! 

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 25 lbs total

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! I got a new long black maternity dress that I love to wear constantly! It's so soft and comfy! I wear it around the house! But when I leave, I'm usually wearing maternity jeans and shirts! Otherwise it's the normal yoga pants and large t-shirts!

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: In. Almost flat... but I can tell my hernia is getting bigger, so at times, it looks like I have an outtie already.

Sleep: Decent. I've been especially tired, so I fall asleep really easily! I'm going through a comfortable phase in my bed and I am LOVING it!

Movement: Almost constant movement! But I'm starting to notice an awake/asleep routine! Baby Jedi is super active and then there are periods of a half hour or so where the movements are soft! I can also tell which body parts are which! I could feel Jedi's heel/foot and while it was cool, it was a little creepy! Haha!
Labor Signs: Not this week!

Best moment this week: Passing my glucose test on 11-17! And our first snow of the season on 11-20! We knew it was coming and the girls were more than excited when it came! They were very eager to play in the snow, too! I let them outside for about 45 minutes on Saturday! They had a blast!

Worst moment this week: I had a hard week this week. Without going into too much detail, Charles and I hit a rough spot and had a huge fight. We didn't speak for almost two days and it was very touch and go. But we eventually talked things out and have been doing much better since! Marriage is tough. And I know that we'll have many more rough patches as we grow together. Growing pains are hard. Our life is great, but things do get extremely hectic and difficult. We both deal with stress differently and those ways clashed really hard this past week. But the thing we learned is that we need to rely on each other and put God first. 

Miss anything: Sushi

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Sausage McGriddle(haven't given in...), Eggs, Fruit
Aversions: Raw meat, Sweets
Appetite: Hearty, but I'm really struggling with heart burn again! BLAH! Makes eating what I want to a chore! And if I eat too much, heartburn again! 

Queasy or sick: Still have a runny nose, but not complaining!
Workouts: Walking

Emotionally: I was a wreck this week. Which is an understatement... I really, really struggled with my emotions and my feelings. I spent a lot of time talking to some close friends and my big brother about things. It was nice to get some outside perspectives and encouragement.
Physically: Exhausted. Being emotionally drained really didn't help with the fact that I was physically drained. I am having difficultly breathing at times and my ribs hurt a lot. The stretching I've been doing has helped some, but there are days I really just want the discomfort to stop and to be done with this pregnancy and have my baby in my arms! I'm becoming more impatient, but I think it's because we don't know Baby's gender! I have to have help with tying my shoes now! Haha! I've officially reach "that" point! My husband is such a trooper, though! 

Looking forward to: My prenatal appointment tomorrow(11-23), Thanksgiving with my side of the family, and all the FOOD for Thanksgiving!

Baby #5, Week 26

How far along: 26 weeks
Weeks to go: 14 weeks! Crazy!

Baby is the size of: a scallion(14 inches)!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 20 lbs

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! LOVING maternity jeans, though I need more! I would love some maternity jeggings! Still rocking large t-shirts and yoga pants when I'm home, but I get dressed in jeans and nicer shirts whenever I leave the house! 

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: In. Pretty sure my hernia is slightly bigger this time...

Sleep: Decent! I've been especially exhausted this week. Not sure why. I'm taking a prenatal and I am testing fine with my iron. It makes falling asleep awesome, but if I wake up at night, I tend to have some insomnia. I keep my kindle charged on my night stand!

Movement: LOTS of movement! I am loving it and finding it annoying at times! Mostly when I'm trying to sleep or rest and Baby decides it's time to practice tumbling, kicking, and his/her light-saber skills! Baby Jedi, indeed! Jedi's Godmother, Jen, finally felt Baby move!
Labor Signs: None! 

Best moment this week: Sister time in Des Moines on Wednesday 11/11! Teresa, Lisa, and I went to the mall for Christmas shopping! I didn't buy anything, though! Not in the budget for me, I just went along for the sister time! It's been too long since we've had a girls day! We had a bad experience at the Outback Steakhouse, but aside from that, the day was fun! 

Worst moment this week: The weather as we were leaving Des Moines. A tornado touched down about 6 miles away from where we were. We couldn't see the road and there was a lot of hail, rain, and debris flying around. But right after that, the sun was shining and we could see a rainbow! And then later on, it started snowing... that's Iowa for you!

Miss anything: Sushi

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Co-Jack cheese, Pancakes with over-easy eggs on top, Pears
Aversions: Raw Meat, Sweets
Appetite: Hearty, but my stomach is getting smaller! I'm becoming more frustrated when I can't eat as much as want to!

Queasy or sick: Still having issues with a runny nose, but no complaints here!
Workouts: Zumba, Walking, and some light cardio/strength training!

Emotionally: I'm having good days and bad days. Mornings where I wake up ready to take on the day, and mornings when all I want to do is crawl back in bed and just lay there alone. I'm struggling with depression and anxiety, which is not new news, but I feel like I've been too quiet about it. My life is wonderful! I love my husband, our children, I'm beyond excited for this baby... but that doesn't mean that I'm not depressed. I'm not even sure what's going on that's making me feel this way, but I am optimistic that this will be over when Baby gets here! And if not, I'll at least be able to seek help from my doctor.
Physically: Exhausted! Which is normal! I am also reaching that point in my pregnancy where I'm having rib pain and difficulty breathing. Already! Gosh! My other pregnancies, this didn't really happen until 30+ weeks! But this is my ninth pregnancy(fifth pregnancy past 15 weeks) and my body has been through a lot so far! I am very proud of this body! My body is just becoming more tired the closer I get to my due date! Also, all the cheese I ate this week wasn't kind to me by the weekend... TMI, sorry. But for real. Constipation is no fun. 

Looking forward to: My glucose test this week(just to get it out of the way and DONE!), the PTO Carnival this Friday, my next prenatal appointment next week, and Thanksgiving!

Baby #5, Weeks 23, 24, and 25

How far along: 23 weeks - No photo... again...
Weeks to go: 17 weeks!

Baby is the size of: a large mango!

How far along: 24 weeks
Weeks to go: 16 weeks!

Baby is the size of: an ear of corn!

How far along: 25 weeks
Weeks to go: 15 weeks! Things are becoming more real, now!

Baby is the size of: a rutabaga!

Gender Prediction: Boy

Weight gain: 20 lbs total, though I haven't weighed myself since I've sworn off weighing myself for the rest of this pregnancy. I had a really bad day when I realized that I have gained so much already. I'm trying to take things in stride. I am growing a human. This is a tremendous blessing. My body has changed. My body will continue to change. I am only going to get bigger. I already feel huge... but I am embracing this and getting on with more important things! Like figuring out my birth plan!

Starting to show yet?: Oh yes!

Maternity clothes: Yes! I finally fit into my maternity clothes! All of them! Woo hoo! Some are still big, but I am so much more comfortable now! Though most days I still opt for yoga pants and large t-shirts!

Stretch marks: Just a lot of old ones!

Belly button in or out: In.

Sleep: Week 23 and 24 were absolutely terrible. Charles and I still aren't even sure what was going on with Adeline, but she was waking up every night with night terrors. It made for some very difficult nights. I was averaging 3 hours a night for almost four weeks. It was hell. We finally reached out for prayers on Facebook for our girl and that night was the first night she had slept all night. It was glorious! Since then, during week 25, she has only woken up once a night and will go back to sleep once she has her binky. Thankfully, I am functioning much better now, too! It was taking it's toll on Charles and I.

Movement: Baby Jedi is practicing his/her light-saber skills in there! All. Hours. Of. The. Day. And. Night. Which is neat! But gets a little annoying when I'm trying to sleep and then I'm woken up by Baby shifting his/her entire body!
Labor Signs: New category! I wasn't expecting to put this in here yet, but I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on. It was especially bad when I was tired and dehydrated. I was sick most of the last few weeks, and I was trying to stay hydrated, but not very successfully. I've been taking things easy anyway, so my doctor isn't terribly worried that I'll go into labor early. If it gets bad enough, I'll just go in for some IV fluids and bed rest for a few days. 

Best moment this week: Week 23: We had a lot go on this week and it was hard to choose the best moment, so here they all are: Caitlin got her hair cut(finally), family fun night, our first Halloween event of the season, Rosalie's math/literacy night, and taking the girls to the Pumpkin Ranch!

Week 24: My prenatal appointment! Baby's heart-rate was in the 130's, which is the lowest any of my children's have been during an appointment! I'm not sure how much weight I'd put on the old wives tales about it, but I did excited that this baby might just be our boy! Perhaps wishful thinking?! We'll know in about 15 weeks! Charles and I went to the House Hotties party on 10/30 for the calendar release! I helped the photographer and hung out all day while she shot the photos for the calendar back in August(I think? #pregnantbrain)! I was on the cover of the calendar because it was a photo taken with a selfie stick of the entire group from that day: models, photographer, helpers, etc. A group of friends and I decided to go to the party, which was Halloween themed, as Shark Week! Since there were eight of us, I volunteered to have "survived shark week" and went as a shark attack survivor! Charles went with me as a Lifeguard! We had a lot of fun! Then, of course, was Halloween! Charles and I took the girls to my sister-in-law's house for a party before trick-or-treating! We had supper and a bunch of snacks! Then we took the girls trick-or-treating with my bestie, and Adeline's Godmother, Amanda! She offered to help us wrangle all the girls to help them be safe while crossing streets and what not! She was an amazing help!

Vampire, Red Ballerina, Witch, Majestic Unicorn

Week 25: My favorite week this pregnancy, and for a good reason! I got to watch a baby born into this world! It was absolutely amazing! I still don't even have the words to describe how incredible the experience was! But I do know this, it was intense! My friend, Julie, asked me to watch her son(again) on Tuesday while she went to her prenatal appointment. I got a message from her Monday saying that she wouldn't need me to watch him because she was being admitted that night for an early induction(39 weeks)! Her husband was out of town, so I offered her some company until he got there! It was wonderful to talk to spend time with her talking, walking, and watching Chuck on Netflix! Her husband, Clark, got there around 2 a.m. and we decided that I would go ahead and go home for the night. I told her that if she wanted, I could come back later on for support when she went on pitocin. I dropped off the girls at school and got a message that I could come back. When I got there, it was 8:45. Julie was in a lot of pain and it was hard to know what to could do to help her through her contractions. Without telling her story before she's had the chance to blog it herself, things progressed VERY quickly and she wasn't able to get the epidural she was wanting. With three amazing/painful pushes, her son was born into the world! He was a 10 lb 7 oz baby! And I can't even imagine how much pain Julie felt, but all I do know is that her body is amazing! My biggest baby has been 8 lbs 7 oz... so I can't imagine pushing out another 2 lbs worth of chubby baby! I was literally in awe at the entire process and at Julie! She did wonderful and was so, so strong! Little Jonas was born at 9:20! 35 minutes after I arrived! I cannot express how grateful I am that Julie and Clark let me in the room during their special, yet painful, moment! It wasn't pre-planned, but Julie thanked me later for being her doula! I could totally see myself helping others as a doula for a profession!

Worst moment this week: The weeks of little to no sleep. I don't even like to remember them now because I get super emotional and upset. Not at Adeline, but at myself for not reaching out sooner for prayers and support. 

Miss anything: Working out. It's been a few weeks. With the sickness, tiredness, dehydration, and BH contractions, I haven't worked out at all.

Wedding rings on or off?: On during the day. Off at night.

Cravings: Eggs(especially over-easy ones on top of pancakes!), Guacamole, Cheesecake
Aversions: Raw meat
Appetite: Normal. I'm getting to the point where I can't eat as much as I want to! Which is probably best for my weight gain, but horrible now that Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming!

Queasy or sick: Sick. Chest congestion, head cold thing.
Workouts: ONE Zumba workout and some walking. 

Emotionally: Fried. My emotions were a crazy mess during the past few weeks. I've had some major issues with anxiety. I've seen my doctor about it and expressed my concern for my postpartum self. I've had postpartum depression before. And if I get it again, I really want to seek the help I'll need before it gets really bad. With all this anxiety comes me not being able to process things the way I use to. It takes me hours, if not days, to figure out where I'm at emotionally. I've been stepping back so that I don't say or do something I'll regret later.
Physically: Exhausted! But this past week has been better! I do have more energy now, but I feel like I'm trying to catch up on sleep! I know I never will, but I would nap all day if I didn't have things to do! I'm also finding it difficult to breathe some days. I've been doing some stretches to help my ribs from getting too uncomfortable. I have 15 weeks to go... I'm hoping this is just a phase and that it will pass!

Looking forward to: My next prenatal appointment, my glucose test(just to get it out of the way and DONE!), the PTO Carnival, and Thanksgiving!