Pregnancy Update

Things with this pregnancy have become a little crazy lately. I have been really lucky in that I have never had problems with high blood pressure, or really any of the complications that can pop up during pregnancy before now.

But lately, the baby isn’t growing at the rate he should be. I was right on track until somewhere around 30 weeks, at which point my stomach stopped growing at the correct rate. As of right now, I’m 37 weeks but am measuring 33 weeks- a month off. At first the doctor and I figured that I just ‘hide’ a pregnancy well. This is actually true- I never got REALLY big with JJ or McKenna, and they were both about 7lbs when they were born. But as the growth has continued to slow, the doctor is taking more precautions.

I had an ultrasound last week that showed that the baby has a good sized head but that his abdomen and femur are measuring about 32 weeks. The estimate of his weight from that ultrasound was 5lbs 10oz, but because the head is bigger that estimate could be off quite a bit. Plus, ultrasounds become less and less reliable as the baby gets bigger anyway.

So now I am having weekly non stress tests too. If anything looks funny on one of these, they will just induce labor right away. I am full term, so I guess this isn’t really that big of a deal. My first non stress test was yesterday. I was so worried that something was going to go wrong that I was in a panic trying to scramble to do last minute laundry, packing my hospital bag, getting the house cleaned up, etc. But luckily the test went just fine and I wasn’t induced.

First, they measure how much amniotic fluid there is via ultrasound. The number needs to be between a 10 and a 26. The first time she got a 9.6 and since it was so close to 10 she decided to try it again. The second time she found a bigger pocket of fluid which bumped the number up to 10.5 so that was ok.

Next, they put a fetal monitor on you to measure the baby’s heart rate for 20 minutes. The rate needs to go up at least twice within the 20 minutes for you to pass. As that was probably the first time I had sat down all day, the baby was very active during the test and his heart rate went up 5 or 6 times. So he did really well on that.

I am supposed to do kick counts every day too. (Actually a good idea for all pregnant women.) But I just laughed as she explained that I needed to feel 10 movements within an hour- I probably had 10 movements in the time it took her to tell me that! That is the one thing that is very reassuring- this baby is VERY active. He keeps me up all night and it seems like he is constantly moving. So that is good.

My next test and Dr.’s appt is on Monday which is also James’ birthday. I am still worried about the baby’s size, but there just isn’t anything I can do about it, so I’m trying to keep my mind on other things for now.

When I had JJ we had just moved into our apartment 4 days before. I spent those 4 days sleeping (moving is SO exhausting, let alone when you do it at 40 weeks gestation) and getting the nursery put together. When we brought him home I didn’t know where ANYTHING was. It was a bad recovery, and I had such an awful time because I couldn’t find anything. I remember one day I really wanted to make some pasta but I couldn’t find my pots or pans yet. I was crawling around on the floor opening and moving boxes all around in my search. All the while completely exhausted, in pain, and with a jaundiced baby whom I didn’t really know how to take care of yet. It was really bad.

So now I have this totally irrational impulse to have EVERYTHING in its place, cleaned, organized, folded, prepared, in good repair, and ready for when I go to the hospital. Yeah, that’s not really feasible with a 2 and 4 year old in the house, but I still have to try! Apparently my logical inner self doesn’t yell as loud as my neurotic one does. The world will not end if I go to the hospital without having mopped the floor first!

Anyway, here is a recent (blurry) picture of what I look like. We’re still trying to figure out how to get our new camera to focus.

As Requested

I thought I'd post a little bit about this pregnancy, and show you what I look like at 7 months. A couple of weeks ago at enrichment, someone told me that I still don't look pregnant. I get this a lot- especially when I have on a coat or jacket. I'm never sure how to take these comments because...really?? Do I really look like this when I'm not pregnant???

In these pictures I'm wearing a tighter shirt so it should be obvious!










And yes, this baby is a BOY! We are so excited! I can never remember what I've said on Facebook and what I've said on the blog but it isn't a secret. I have been going through all of JJ's tiny little baby clothes and can't wait to use them again. There is nothing better than a new little baby. I think it is my favorite phase and it goes away so quickly. I know that this baby will eventually be getting into everything, throwing tantrums, and running all over the place- they all do! This just makes me enjoy the tiny baby days even more- even with all the sleepless nights. It is just a sweet, special time.

We have a name picked out, but James likes to keep it a secret until the baby is born.

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We stayed home all day and watched conference, had a lot of good food, let the kids eat WAY too much Easter candy, did puzzles, and just enjoyed being together. I don't remember the last time the four of us were all home for the whole day together. I'm feeling a lot better about things. Sometimes you just need a day off! 10 more days to go!!!

I hope that everything is going well for all of my friends and family in the blogosphere!

An Update

I have neglected my blog for a long time! So I thought I'd give an update.

Marianne:

Lately I've been incredibly stressed out about having enough time for all of the obligations and projects that I am in the middle of. I am scanning and organizing all of the Brown family photos clear back from 1970, I've been called as the 2nd counselor in the primary presidency, and then there's always the bills, cooking, cleaning, teaching JJ's joy school, etc. It just never ends. There are so many things that I can only do once the kids are in bed which leaves me with very little free time. James is almost never able to help me with anything at home or with the kids because of tax season. And once tax season is over, I'll be probably be nesting like a maniac and then I'll have a new little baby to take care of. I have missed going to the ward book group, I feel guilty that I can't attend all the meetings that I'm supposed to for my calling, and I feel just plain isolated. When your husband is a tax accountant, that is just a part of your life and you have to get used to doing everything by yourself. I know that I am lucky to have a husband who has a good job that he generally enjoys doing. And I know that there are women who really are single moms- That has got to be the hardest job ever. So I know that I really don't have it that bad. I'm trying to remember that at this time of year.

I spent most of this last week in St. George visiting my Dad and Jane. For three nights in a row I didn't have to make dinner which pretty much qualifies as the best vacation ever! My Dad went shopping with me at the outlets and helped to wrangle the kids so that I could shop, and the next day Jane watched them for a couple hours so that I could get out for a while on my own. It was a MUCH needed break!

My pregnancy is going well and I'm generally feeling great. Of course there is always the heartburn, tired feet, inability to bend over, etc. But as soon as I feel a little knobby elbow or knee moving across my stomach, or feel those tiny hiccoughs, I am reminded of what a miracle pregnancy is. I never want to take it for granted. I know how lucky I am and wish that every woman could have this experience.

James:

James has been working 12 hour days and is seriously burned out. When he comes home from work he changes, eats, and then studies for the CPA exam. He is such a hard worker and I love him so much for this. He is a wonderful provider for our family. We're all looking forward to April 15th, but once it comes he has warned me that he will still be staying late and going in on Saturdays to study. He will take the last section of the CPA exam in May and then will go out of town on an audit for a week three days later. We hope that things will calm down in June so that we can get ready for the arrival of our baby.

JJ:

JJ has gotten over a bad illness from a couple of weeks ago and had a great time in St. George. He got to play outside in the nice weather, make fires with grandpa, play with toys, catch ants in the driveway, blow bubbles, flew airplanes with grandpa, make forts with grandma, and eat LOTS of junk food! A four year old's dream come true! As we came home and pulled into the garage, he asked if we could go back to grandpa's house. He is a cute boy, and we love him. (And he has just informed me that conference makes him feel boring- we'll get out the play doh.)

He is growing and maturing and getting better at so many things. I am so happy to say that we no longer need to buy pull-ups for him. I was totally planning on buying three sets of diapers this June, but am thrilled that this won't be the case.(Although I'm still holding on to a bit of cautious disbelief.) He has done a lot of hard work, and I'm proud of him.

McKenna:

McKenna is also feeling better from her ear infection/cough/fever thing from a couple weeks ago. And she also had a great time in St. George. She loved running outside by herself and sitting on the patio furniture and running across the rocks in the backyard. She always wants to be independent and do her own thing, and since we could see her from the windows, we let her go in and out all she wanted. She was in heaven!

She is talking more and more, and we are having a fun time trying to figure out what she is saying, and repeating her mispronunciations. It is just a really cute age. We have found that when she is around men (except for daddy) she becomes totally mute. In nursery she doesn't say anything. Ever. This is so funny, because at home she talks a blue streak.

I hope to update more often, but won't make any promises!

McKenna's Birthday

We celebrated McKenna's 2nd birthday earlier this month!


We indulged her balloon obsession.


The butterfly cake was a great success thanks to the advice I got from James' Mom: Freeze the cake just before frosting it and it won't crumble. Thanks, Ma!




Opening Presents.





McKenna got: Some Little Miss books, (Thanks, Nana and Grandpa!) a shopping cart, a see and say, the little mommy playset with a baby, and some play food.



My Mom came over later in the week with some more presents! A piano with a microphone from Grandpa Brown and Grandma Jane, and a trike from my Mom. She loves them both!

Christmas Day

I feel like a really bad mom because as I sat down to start blogging about Christmas, I realized that there is not a single picture of JJ opening or playing with his presents on Christmas morning! :( We did get it all on video, though. Sorry, JJ! He did get lots of cool toys: a transformer, a bionicle, racetracks for his hot wheels, a couple board games like Hungry Hungry Hippos and Elefun. We had a great morning.

Santa Came!

Here is JJ's bowling set that he got from Santa. As soon as the kids came downstairs, they immediately started fighting over it. And we were worried that JJ would feel bad that he didn't get a big playhouse like McKenna!


The Rose Petal Cottage has been a big hit!





Santa even remembered Sparky



We always go to my Mom's for lunch on Christmas Day. All of the cousins come too- it's a lot of fun!






Moms on Christmas. We were worn out!

The Brown Family Christmas Party

On the 26th we had our annual Brown Family Christmas Party!




We gave my Dad a book of all of our family pictures from 1970 to 1979.






We sang Happy Birthday to JJ. He was really shy about it, but you could tell he really loved it too.


McKenna got an Elmo from Grandma and Grandpa Brown. He sings the ABC's which is perfect for her. She has been learning the alphabet and can recognize and pronounce most of the letters now.



She calls the Elmo toy "Melmo." And she loves her Melmo. He has joined her entourage of 'gigi's- her blankie, bunnie, and chocolate milk are all gigi's too.

JJ Turns 4

Happy Birthday to my big boy yesterday. He had a great time and kept saying, "This is the best birthday, EVER!"

I like my sister's idea of not doing friend birthday parties until they are 5, so we didn't do one with his little friends this year. Honestly, that's one part of parenthood that I am dreading: friend birthday parties. Not my idea of a good time.

Another thing that I'm not so excited about? Making cakes that are not in the shapes of squares or rectangles. Here is my first attempt at making something different. Frosting it was such an ordeal that I was about ready to throw the whole thing out the window. Luckily, James stepped in and finished it before I got to that point.





James lifted the balloon ban and I think that was a good thing. McKenna didn't care at all that JJ was opening presents. I swear, to her, balloons are like crack.



JJ was really happy with all of his presents. Each year his Nana and Grandpa in South Dakota give him some of the Mr. Men books for his birthday and Christmas. I think that by next year he will have the whole set. (McKenna gets the Little Miss ones from them too.) Missing from the picture are the Bionicle and Viewfinder from my Mom.


We let him stay up late to play with his toys. He had so much fun. And I will admit it: I've always wanted a viewfinder.


In the meantime, we're all looking forward to James coming home from work so that I don't have to be a Bionicle while JJ is a Transformer. That's what dads are for. (And brothers. Maybe JJ will get one of those this year.)