Random Thoughts and Pictures~

I am 33 weeks now!

Another great milestone. I know I say this a lot, but it really truly is one. With the contractions and pre-term labor, I am thankful for every day Ryker can grow and mature inside my belly. Friday night I had contractions that were ten minutes apart for over 3 hours. I was worried that it was time and they wouldn't peter out, but they finally did around 4:30 in the flippin' morning. I feel pretty good right now. I am not as tired as I have been. We have our hospital bag packed and ready to go when the time comes. I have a Dr. appointment today and will find out if anything has changed. My belly has sure popped out, not that it wasn't before, but I had Matt take some pics and we were both shocked at how big it has gotten since the last round of pics. Perhaps that is causing my slight back pain? Probably, but that is fine.

Hannah loves kissing and talking to her little brother~

Sprinkler Park~

I took Hannah and a couple neighbor kids to the local sprinkler park yesterday. They had so much fun! One of the best parts is it was free! Can't beat that! We went to McD's after for some happy meal goodness. Hannah and I were pooped after and took a nice two hour nap. Here are some pics of her having fun with the water :)

Swinging~

Every Sunday we go to my mother in law's for dinner. She even takes requests, which let me tell you, to a pregnant woman, that is so awesome! We requested lasagna and it was so good. Across the street from her house is an old swing. One that was hung back when Matt was a kid and has been updated throughout the years. The kid's love to play on it and I got a couple pic's with Matt holding Hannah. She is still a bit small to do it on her own, and it kind of frightens her. But, she is in heaven when Matt holds her and swings with her.

I would love to move to the area his mom live's. It reminds me so much of Colorado. It has so many tree's and is hilly, almost like in some of the mountain range's in CO. Maybe one day we will find a house close to there, as I would be in heaven.

WhyMommy....one of many brave woman~

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?
I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.
Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.
Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.
There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.
Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.
You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

P.S. Feel free to steal this post too. I’d be happy for anyone in the blogosphere to take it and put it on their site, no questions asked. Dress it up, dress it down, let it run around the place barefoot. I don’t care. But I want the word to get out. I don’t want another young mom — or old man — or anyone in between — to have to stare at this thing on their chest and wonder, is it mastitis? Is it a rash? Am I overreacting? This cancer moves FAST, and early detection and treatment is critical for survival.
Thank you.

32 Weeks~

Another great milestone for my pregnancy was reached yesterday. I am proud of myself and for Ryker for staying put a little longer. I went to my Perinatologist appointment yesterday. I wasn't there for long, never am, but got some new info.
Ryker is weighing approximately 4 pounds and 1 ounce, which is super if you ask me! He is very active, as he repeatedly hit himself in the head during the ultrasound. Looks like he will come with some hair too, as the doc pointed out some "fuzz" on the screen! I wish I knew what color, red maybe? We will see!
My cervix didn't change much from the last visit a week ago, but he is now as far down as he can go without it opening and him coming out, so it is apparent that he is prepared for when the time comes.
I only have one more appointment with this Dr., which is in two weeks. Once I hit that 34 week mark (fingers crossed), he isn't as worried. He said I would be more likely to take Ryker home with me when I leave the hospital at that point, instead of having to leave him in the NICU. Of course nothing is for sure until he comes and we know how he is really doing. But, two weeks is hope for me. Once I get through the next two weeks, then I will tell myself "I can do this, let's do another two weeks." And, maybe it will happen.
He is still very active in there. I lay and watch my stomach and see some strange things going on. I don't remember my stomach becoming so distorted when the other's kicked, but that was a while ago too. He pushes up towards my ribs sometimes, with his feet I assume, and it catches my breath a little short. Otherwise, I am pretty comfortable now that he has "engaged" and moved down a bit. Not that he is huge to begin with, but it is a bit better now.
I think I should rewash Ryker's bedding, the bassinet bedding, and pick out an outfit for him to wear home. I have been putting off the outfit though. He won't be very big and I really don't know what will fit. I honestly would rather run up to Babies R' Us and get one of the preemie outfits they have, just in case. In fact, I think I will, just so I feel more prepared. The other two wore preemie clothes, and I am sure Ryker will follow suit.
Otherwise, we have everything else we need. Oh, except for a diaper bag. That isn't the end of the world. There is one that we really want, we just need to get it. The thing is, it is $40 and I need to talk myself into spending that on a bag. But, I really like it, so we will see.
Here is to another two weeks, c'mon Ryker, we can do this, k buddy!

Calling all tooth fairies~

Jacob just left to go have three baby teeth pulled. Ouch! I took him in yesterday to get a good cleaning and have the dentist check out a bothersome tooth. See, this bothersome tooth is an impatient adult tooth that couldn't wait it's turn to come in. The dentist advised me this is very common and it makes perfect sense to just pull that baby tooth so that the adult tooth can move forward. However, he also explained that his teeth won't have enough room with the two adult teeth he will have now. So he would recommend pulling two additional teeth, to make the room needed. I am foreign to dentistry mumbo jumbo and decided to just take his word for it, and hope that he isn't just pulling for the sake of pulling. So I ok'd his plan and made the appointment for tonight. The crazy thing is, Jacob isn't even worried one bit, in fact he said he can't wait. I would be scared and nervous, but hey that is just me. So off he went to the dentist. I opted to stay home with Hannah while Matt went with. I just don't think my pregnant self could handle seeing them pull teeth from my baby, er, I mean big boy. The blood, the sounds, no thanks.
Matt and I discussed the tooth fairies agenda on this. Jacob still deserves his teeth losing money, but at what cost. We decided that having them pulled, warranted a greater pay out, to make up for the pain he will feel. So I think we will give him a buck for each tooth. Normally we pay out 50 cents. I hope that that is enough and that the pain of this goes by fast for my guy. I have plenty of Popsicles and pudding, should he need them!

Bedrest and such~

I haven't written a post in forever on here. Like I said before, I am not so good at this blogging thing. I think the mom board that I am part of, takes most of my Internet time, as well with reading other blogs. By the time I am done with all of that, I am too lazy to post on my own. I won't take it down yet though, because I keep thinking that once Ryker is born, I will need it to post pictures and such.
Yesterday my Dr. put me on "real" bed rest. Since the hospital visit last week, dilating, effacing, and contractions, has sent me to this chapter in the pregnancy. So, I will take it easy and enjoy the time with Jacob and Hannah, all the while, not going crazy :)

So, if you actually read my blog, sorry I am not a daily blogger, but I will try to do better.

Summer Fun~

One thing I love about the warm weather is suiting the kids up and letting them play in the water. I don't have it in me to take them to the pool, much less put on a bikini, and blind people with my white ass belly. So we just stay home and put the sprinkler on for them. Here are some sweet pics of them playing with their friends in the sprinkler!

Jacob~

Hannah cheesing~

Soaking wet~

Getting warm~

The boys playing Candyland on their towels~

I suck....

at blogging. I have been so busy on the forum I joined, that I have been neglecting my new blog. I wonder if I am the only one that does this?
Not much going on though. Hot as hell here, 98 was the high today and boy did that suck! I let the kids play in the sprinkler for a while, but then they even thought it was too hot. Then we went to a local game place and played for a couple of hours, indoors. Had some good buffet too!
Now I am just sitting on the couch with Matt and Jacob, watching Harry Potter. Well, I am typing and they are watching.
I am praying that I can sleep decently tonight, because I am sick and tired of pregnancy insomnia. That and if I actually get to sleep, it seems as though that is Ryker's cue to push on my bladder.
I was just thinking today how stretched out I feel. When he kicks, it actually hurts now. So, sorry to say, but I am already at the point that I am done. I am ready to be unprego again. Not to mention I want to see this little guy.
But, I will remain patient because he needs to grow for at least six more weeks. The contractions are getting a tad bit more painful as well, but maybe that will make the labor easier? A girl can dream.

I will try to post more and be a better blogger, but I am currently addicted otherwise.

29 Weeks~

Today marks my 29th week of pregnancy. You could say I am feeling pretty good, aside from the norm of pregnancy aches and pains. Yesterday I thought my poor hips would bust out, I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I tried. I have an OB appointment this afternoon. He said that he will start putting me on the monitor pretty soon when I go in, just to see how the contractions are doing. See, I have had them for a while now and thankfully they aren't doing anything to put me into pre-term labor, but these docs keep a close eye on me nonetheless. Some of the contractions are getting a tad uncomfortable, but I know the worst is yet to come.

When I reach a milestone in the pregnancy, which to me is about every week. I am proud that I made it so far. With this week upon me, I think to myself- "If history repeats itself, this baby will be here in 6-7 weeks." Because that is when I had Jacob and Hannah. This is a bit startling. You count every week, wait for the next and at times just want to be done and have your munchkin home in your arms. But, I want him healthy too, not too early. I have everything ready and waiting. The clothes are almost all washed, the nursery complete, car seat ready. No bags packed, because I wait till the last minute on that one. Otherwise, we are all patiently waiting. Hannah keeps asking when he will get out of my belly button and Jacob explains that he needs to get a little bigger first. We go through this every day.

When he is ready he will come. I am ready with open arms. Our house is ready to be filled with more love.

To those mom's out there past their due date, or coming within close range. I feel for you. I think about you and pray for you. Soon your arms will be full and content.

WHYMOMMY~

I have been waiting all day to write this post. Searching for the right words, feelings, thoughts, and support. We have probably all known someone who had cancer, is going through cancer, or has SURVIVED cancer. I am going to touch on someone who was all three at one point. In fact, she had cancer a total of 11 times. I am speaking of my Aunt Barbara.
It all started in the early 90's. She was diagnosed for the first time. I remember my family and how scared we all were. My parents would talk to her on the phone daily, putting forth a support system thousands of miles away. We were in CO and she was in DC.
I remember when they deemed her in remission. We celebrated, we went out there, and we became closer. She was a survivor. She beat it, and she could move on.
Then it came back and she was strong as ever. In fact she is the strongest woman I have ever known. Got right in the face of cancer and fought the hell out of it every time. This cancer found new places to come back to every time. Finally she went through a leg amputation because that leg could no longer handle the surgeries. She went through all the chemo and radiation a body could handle. So they had to resort to surgery most of the time.
She kicked the cancer's ass so many times that she was never in shock when they told her it was back, she never backed down and she never let it sway her determination.
She lost that battle this last March. Over 15 years of battling, beating, and surviving cancer. I didn't realize how many people she had touched throughout her life. They are dedicating a gymnastics complex, in her name, in Washington DC. They are naming a gym after her, as well as a street by the school where she taught. This woman, my Aunt, was courageous, determined, hard headed, hopeful, and above all a pure fighter.

WhyMommy will get through this. We are her support system and we will be there for her when she needs us. In good times and bad. That is what you do. I just met her via blogosphere and she amazes me beyond words. Go and read some of her writings. You will be amazed at the strength this woman has. Take a look at her beautiful babies. And above all, support her. Add the button for Team WhyMommy. Be a part of the Team and support the crap out of her. Send her a message. Just.be.there.for.her.

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