Crazy Busy

Where does my time go?  I hate that I had a doctors appointment last week and I am just now getting to writing a post.

We had another quick appointment last week and everything is progressing perfectly.  It was a quick appointment and was just the normal vitals for me and then time to listen to the heartbeat.  We were going to maybe do an ultrasound but they did not do it and I did not care since I was in a hurry to get out of there and to my son's school so I could volunteer.

It was interesting to learn that my midwife is thinking about becoming a surrogate for her best friend who has trying to conceive for a few years now and has not had success with IVF either.  Her main question to me was how did I feel about having to give the baby up and how did I stay detached.  Such a good question!  I always hoped that I would be able to stay detached like I am now, but of course I did not know how it would feel before I was actually carrying the baby.  I have gone through this whole process knowing that I am helping another family bring their little one home and i think that knowing that has helped me to keep this baby out of my mind.  I know she is there (especially when it feels like she is clawing herself out!) but never once have I had a connection to her like I did my own children.  It also helps that I am so busy and full with the activities of my own children that the thought of having a 4th kinda overwhelms me right now!

I would feel so good if someone hearing my story and learning about my experience was then inspired to become a surrogate themselves.

So now my excuse for not getting around to writing...last weekend we took a 4 day/3 night "vacation" to the beach with my sister, 2 cousins and all our kids.  We were in a 10 bedroom oceanfront house with 12 kids between the ages of 5 months and 8 years!  It could have gone really bad but we were lucky and everyone had a great time.  Now don't get me wrong, we had some moments (like at 6:30 am trying to keep the early risers calm and quiet) but overall we had a wonderful trip and some great memories.  The weather was great and we were able to spend most of our days outside which was such a blessing for a mid-October trip.  We have now decided that this will be an once a year trip, not an one and only:)

Here is a picture of all the crazy kids:

And another of a crazy mealtime:

Since we have gotten back our days and nights have been jam packed and I have just been trying to play catch up.  I finally got all the laundry done and the suitcases unpacked today, 5 days later, which is so unlike me!

Yes, I am feeling good, when I have the time to think about even being pregnant!  I am getting pretty big and can't believe I still have 3 months left to go!  I know this last trimester will fly by as we are now in the holiday/birthday season.  There is a "big" event every 2 weeks from now till New Years which then puts me 4 weeks from my due date, whew!

13.5 weeks to go!

Ok Already!

I know, I know, I need to keep up with this!  I promise I am trying but I am failing miserably:(  For some reason I just can't find the time to sit down with the computer and write even a little update.  Could be I don't like writing or that I would rather be sewing:)

The last week and a half has been a roller coaster of emotions for our family.  Probably doesn't help that  I have these wonderful pregnancy hormones hanging out in my body!  Last Sunday night we had a little scare with our youngest child and ended up in urgent care and ultimately at the Children's Hospital for the night.  I noticed bruises popping up on her legs, lots of little bruises and not in places were I would expect to see them on a 2 year old.  It ended up that she has Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in which her body started attacking her platelets like they were a foreign body.  She had an IV treatment of antibodies which helped her spleen stop attacking the platelets early Monday morning and was able to go home Monday afternoon.  We have 6 months of follow-up blood checks but it is something that will go away on its own and should not affect her anymore.  Such a blessing!

After that was finally over we found out on Monday that my husband's grandmother had passed away. She had lived with my husband and his parents for many years so a huge loss to the family.  I am grateful that I got to know her and see her as much as we did.

Finally, on Monday we took our black lab to the vet as she had had loose stools all weekend.  Deep down I knew she has not been feeling the best but I was trying to ignore it.  We found out she has a grapefruit sized tumor in her abdomen. The tumor is taking her nutrients and slowly taking away her muscle mass.  We are lucky she has been so healthy in her 11 years and we will continue to do what we can to keep her comfortable and happy.

Between all this the pregnancy has not been high on my mind:(  I am feeling good and trucking along.  The baby is moving a lot more now which catches me off guard sometimes.  I don't forget that I am pregnant but I am not completely obsessed with every little movement like I was when it was my child. I am still feeling the detachment that I have had throughout this pregnancy.  Last night it did feel as though the baby was trying to kick her way out of my belly!

My weight has started to creep up a bit but I have to attribute that to the excessive sweets I ate the last couple of weeks.  I have tried to keep that in check lately so I am hoping the weight gain slows down!  I have been keeping up my 4-5 days a week of exercise which always keeps me a little happier:)

16.5 weeks to go!