It's Looking Like Baby Will Be Here Soon...

I am reminded of how quickly things can change for me when being pregnant. On Tuesday, January 4, I went to Dr. Cook for my weekly appointment and everything was PERFECT. My blood pressure was totally normal. On Wednesday night when I took it (I have to take it at home because I got preeclampsia with Ryker and I just really have to watch it this time around) it was TERRIBLE! I immediately began crying and thought this can not be happening again. I was thankful I was further along this time than I was with Ryker but I still was not ready for this baby to come. My scheduled c-section was to be on January 28 which is already early so for this to be going on on January 5 was not good. I called Dr. Cook who told me to lay down, take my meds and if the bottom number did not come down to below 100 then to go into labor and delivery. If it did come down, I could go to bed and he would see me in the morning. Thankfully, it came down so I was able to stay home for the night. On Thursday I went to see him at the hospital because he had a patient in labor and he had warned me that I would more than likely need to stay for 24 hour observation. I am so glad he watches me like a hawk. Having pregnancy induced hypertension is not fun and is very stressful and I was really hoping to avoid it this time around but I guess I am not that lucky. In the hospital it would go up and down and they would adjust my medicine to try and keep it down. I was hooked up to a heart monitor for the baby which was reassuring to hear the heart beat all the time so I knew everything was okay with my baby. I was released Friday night and told to stay off my feet as much as possible...which if you know me this is hard for me to do but I am doing it for the sake of my baby! I have to go back to the hospital on Monday night for a stress test and then back to Dr. Cook on Tuesday. We will decide then what to do. He said on Friday before I left that hospital that he thinks I can make it another week or 2 so we will see what happens. It looks like I am far enough along to deliver in Bellingham this time around so that is good and it looks like baby is a good size too so ready or not....baby is coming soon.

"Stupid Dentist"

Not normally would I choose a title with "stupid" in it but this is what Ryker kept on saying after his appointment today. It was a not so fun experience and I actually felt really bad for him. I felt like he was not even my kid for the next 6 to 8 hours afterwards as he was very angry and acting like a completely different person. We were told this could happen when kids get oral sedation and then come out of it. He had to get a tooth pulled, a root canal and a filling all in the same day. They were hoping to put a "spacer" in for the tooth that was removed but that will have to be another appointment (which I am dreading already). Unfortunately, Ryker does not have the strongest teeth. We are told because he was a preemie he has very week enamel and we do our best to stay on top of brushing (I am quite anal when it comes to teeth) but somethings just can't be helped and I always say if poor teeth are the worst of what he has from being early then I'll take it. Anyway, he kept on mumbling through his gauze filled mouth "stupid dentist" and I could totally make out what he was saying. Thankfully, his dentist is not stupid and Ryker really does like it there (or at least he did). I hope this appointment didn't ruin him for future ones.

This is the MONTH for baby # 2...

Well this is the year and the month I have been waiting for and it is here. Baby #2 should be making his or her debut on January 28. That is the nice thing about having c-sections, you get to set the date. That is still 3.5 weeks early but because of the way my "cut" was done with my c-section with Ryker (they did an up and down cut) they don't want me to go past 36 or 37 weeks. Dr. Cook will do an amnio on Wednesday, January 26 to see if the baby is okay to be taken out. I am really nervous for that amnio but I am told "not to worry" so that is what I am trying to do. So far things are still going good. I have to go to Dr. Cook every week and then I also have to go to the hospital for a "stress test" every 5 days. Although my blood pressure has been PERFECT this pregnancy there is some cause for concern with the placenta and blood vessels going to it so as they put it at the hospital, "Dr. Cook is really keeping an eagle eye on you" and I am perfectly fine with that...this baby is SO desired into our family and I have always said from the beginning I would do whatever I had to do to have another baby...even it meant bed rest or hanging upside down I would've done it. So these back and forth trips to Bellingham are nothing. I can't wait to see what I have...I'm getting really excited for this baby to come and I am SO happy I held out for the "SURPRISE" again of not knowing. I was so tempted a few times to just find out since I have had so many ultrasounds but I would've been SO mad at myself if I didn't wait until he or she was born and for the Dr. to announce "It's a BOY" or "It's a GIRL"...I think that may be one of the greatest things to wait for.

LC Christmas Program

It was the LC elementary Christmas Program today. Each kid in grades K-4 wears a white cape with a red bow to represent the little angels they all are (and if you know my kid, he certainly is a little angel, lol). I remember back to my childhood days and we too wore the white cape and red bows...some traditions never die I guess. It is crazy to picture myself as a kindergartner. I had Mrs. Cook, who is still there today teaching and I can remember it honestly like it was yesterday. I remember there was this one time (maybe there were more, but I really remember this one time) getting in trouble and having to sit on "Lucy's Log" because Shannon Dykstra told me to color over a girls picture and I did. Yes, Shannon, I still remember that oh so well. :) I think of how I remember things from my elementary years and I can't help but think of Ryker and all that he will take with him this year and years to come.

Here is Ryker before leaving for school that morning, such a handsome little guy.

Surprisingly, he spotted me way up in the upper bleachers and put his hands out for me. He also blew me a kiss which was so sweet which you can see in the picture above.

3D ultrasound of Baby # 2...

Today we went and had a 3D ultrasound of our baby. I have always told myself if I had another baby I would get one of these as I think they are just amazing. Well, that day my baby was not being very cooperative (which makes me think I am having a BOY) so we didn't get many good shots of the face but it just means I get to go back another day and see him or her again...they let you come back to do them until you get the shot you are looking for which for most people is the face shot. I'm going back on January 7 and in the afternoon so that I can have lunch first so hopefully it is more active that day. Anyway, some of the pics we got are below. It is best to sit back and look at them and not try to analyze exactly what you see close up.

Here is a profile picture. If you put your hand over the right side of the image of stuff you can more clearly see the profile on the left. You can see the forehead, a closed eye, the nose and a chubby cheek...or at least it looks as though he or she may have some cheeks on him or her, that is what the ultrasound tech said too.

This is a picture of the baby's hand covering his or her face...already camera shy. ;)

And this is a profile body shot. You can see the arm bending down with the elbow resting on the knee. You can also see the shoulder and the belly. It's like it is in a "sitting" position.

It's the most WoNdErFuL time of the year...

With December and winter comes many things to do...and we LOVE to do each and every one of them. On December 4 there was the Lighted Christmas Parade in Lynden. I think it was probably the coldest day we have had so far but we stood out there freezing and watched the whole thing. The only thing I could of wished for was **SNOW** to be falling on that COLD night...maybe next year I will get my wish. Ryker loved each truck and trailer that passed and his excitement made it worth the endless shivering I did standing there.

The next day (12.5.2010) my mom, Treva and Karsyn, Jodi and Madison, Kara and her 2 girls along with her mom and me and Ryker (poor only boy) all went up to Abbotsford to go to Disney on Ice. Unfortunately my camera would not take good pics in there so I have nothing to share except the one I got of Ryker waiting for it to start. I still wanted to "remember" the day and event though.

And tonight daddy, Ryker and mommy all made a gingerbread house. This is one of Ryker's most favorite things to do this time of year. He loves to decorate it with the candy; of course it usually goes, 1 candy for the house, 3 candy's for Ryker's mouth and okay I admit it, I steal a couple too. ;) Ryker is always SO proud of his house when we are all finished with it and always wants his picture taken by it.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

Last month was just a CRAZY busy month. We moved and with that comes alot of work. There was also Thanksgiving and we couldn't forget about Ryker's 6th birthday. It seems like each day I was so busy with something and before I knew it we were into December. I spent alot of my time trying to get our new house to feel like a home. Things have been going pretty good but I have been starting to feel really overwhelmed so I decided to not even attempt to decorate this house (which if you know me you know this is just not me) until after Christmas...my most favorite time of the year and I just really want to focus on that and not stress about what pictures to hang where and what furniture goes here or there. I realized it just didn't matter...those things that stress me out make me look so silly, because really who cares, right? I did, however get to decorate for Christmas and although I would like to have been able to do so much more I am happy with what I have done. We went to Stoney Ridge to cut down our tree and that is always a fun time. Ben seems to think I should go an hour ahead of him to find the "perfect" one and then he will come and cut it down but his idea gets shot down and he partakes in my adventure. Ryker enjoys Christmas as much as his momma so we had a good time looking for that perfect shaped Christmas tree. In baby news all is well...I LOVE how active this baby is. I go to Seattle again next week just to make sure things are still going the way they have been. It is crazy to think I am now past the time I was when Ryker stopped growing. It is even crazier to think that if I make it to the 36/37 week mark that they want to deliver me at I only have 7 weeks left. I am filled with excitement and joy but at the same time get overwhelmed thinking about how much life is going to change. Don't get me wrong this baby is SO wanted and we can hardly wait for him or her to arrive but I just will get thinking about how different (and good) it will be to have a baby around again. I also get nervous for Ryker as I know it will be a HUGE adjustment for him. I just really want to be sure he doesn't feel left out or unloved because of a new little one in the home. For 6 years HE has been my baby and I don't want him to feel replaced. I get anxious when I think about it so I just need to remind myself that everything will be FINE...I have enough LOVE in my heart for a handful of kids. ;)

Here are some pics from Stoney Ridge and our tree all decorated.