Round 1...False Labor

Sunday morning I was getting ready for church when I felt the beginning of what I thought was labor. I had horrible back pains and pressure. Then my stomach started tightening as well. We timed "contractions" and they started at about 20 minutes apart and quickly moved to 5 or 7 minutes apart. I called my doctor and told her what was happening. She told me to go to the hospital to be monitored since I was 4cm at my appointment on Friday. So I went in and got checked in. They hooked me up to the monitors, took a urine sample, and checked dilation. They said I was still a 4. My urine showed some protein and also keytones. So they started me on an IV for dehydration. My contractions were not consistent on the monitor after being watched for 3 hours. So they told me that I was not in active labor and would be sent home. I wasn't too surprised. I know that this happens all the time with women thinking they are in labor. So she decided to check me once again to see if I have dilated anymore. Much to my surprise and the nurse's I had gone to a 5! She just knew the doctor would admit me and we would be having that baby, but nope! My doctor said to go home! BOOOO! I am told I get to live with this lovely back labor pain until my true labor starts. I am not thinking that is very nice of them! I am so afraid that since I am already dilated so far that when labor does start it will go quickly. I really don't want to be stuck 45 minutes from the hospital when I go into labor. Plus if it happens during the day before Andrew is home from work, I will have to wait 30 minutes for him to drive home. The scenario I play out in my head is not a good one! :) My the Lord have mercy on us! So we are just looking at round 1 as a practice round. We got to the hospital, figured out where everything is, so next round (hopefully the real deal) will go smoothly!!

Big Baby Bump

We have arrived at 36 weeks! Yay! I feel like my stomach has been stretched to the max. I am not sure how much longer it can hold out! But I love my baby bump. I couldn't wait until I had my big baby bump and now it is almost over. :( I am so excited to meet Mady Jane though. I can't wait to see the beautiful creation that God has made. Will she look like me when I was a baby or will we have another mini Andrew? Will she pick up some random family trait and come out with blond hair and blue eyes?? It is such a great mystery! I have had several dreams about her and every time I imagine her I see a dark headed little girl with big brown eyes. In a few short weeks we will know for sure! Last Friday my doctor said things are looking great. My blood pressure was a little elevated but not enough to worry at this point. I just have to keep my eye on it. I didn't have any protein either so that is a good sign. I think that I will be induced on either April 30th or May 7th. I will find out for sure on Friday. I also think there is a good chance she could come on her own before then. My body has been feeling weird lately. It is like I can feel it preparing for Madison's big debut. I am getting so anxious! I am a little nervous about it happening on it's own because I did experience contractions or my water breaking on it's own. Cannon was induced so I got my epidural before the contractions started and they broke my water. I have been experiencing contractions here and there but nothing consistent. They are very uncomfortable so I just hope and pray I get my epidural before I experience the real deal! I am a wimp when it comes to pain! :) Friday I will know a date for induction, so when I find out I will let you all know!

Blastball!

This Spring Cannon is playing a sport called Blastball. The point of the game is to prepare little ones for tee ball. They learn the basics of the sport. Basically they hit the ball off a tee and have to run to the base before the other team catches the ball and yells "BLAST!" It is really cute because the base honks when you jump on it. Cannon played for a little bit but lost interest pretty fast this weekend. He was excited to go to his cousin's birthday party after the game. That was all he could think about! So hopefully next weekend will go better, but we will see!

Doctor Appointments Galore!

Well last Friday at my doctor's appointment I found out my high blood pressure was beginning to show up in this pregnancy. I also had a high heart rate and sugar and protein in my urine. So this all shows signs that I will once again have preeclampsia. I am not sure why my heart rate has been so high, but I can be up walking from one end of the house to the other and my heart is beating really fast, about 122 bpm. So on Wednesday I get to go see a Cardiologist. I also went on Monday to my doctor to have some blood work done to check my iron levels, thyroid, and sugar levels. I also turned in the 24 hour urine test I did over the weekend. They want to see how much protein is there because this is something they watch for in preeclampsia patients. I don't really know where all of this leaves us right now. I think Madison will be here before the end of April though. If my blood pressure does the same as last time it got to severe levels at 35/36 weeks and Cannon was born at 36/37 weeks. I am expecting to be put on bed rest in the next week or so and then probably delivering the week after. This is all speculation though. I really have no idea. I could find myself at 40 weeks praying that I would just go into labor already! :) I am just going by what happened in my last pregnancy though. It is very exciting to think that I could be meeting my daughter in just a few short weeks! Once I get more information I will let everyone know!

Daddy's "Mini Me"

Last Friday when Andrew got home from work he decided it was time to do a little yard work. Andrew told Cannon after his nap that he could go help daddy mow the lawn. Well as soon as Cannon woke up he made sure Daddy remembered his promise. Andrew took Cannon in his bedroom and put shorts and a t-shirt on him. Cannon comes running out of the room and yells "Look Mommy! I'm Mini Me! I look like Daddy!" They both had on white t-shirts and kakaii shorts. So cute! Of course I didn't get a picture of it. :( My bad. (The above picture was taken last summer.)

Later that day they go outside to mow and Cannon was the perfect shadow to his Daddy. Notice in the video how when Andrew backs up Cannon backs up. It was so funny to watch. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Baby Mady Update

I had my 32 week appointment on Monday, which was quite the adventure. I had to schedule on Monday because my doctor was gone last week. I usually do Friday afternoon appointments so that Andrew can either go with me and watch Cannon or just stay home with him. Well...no such luck. Cannon had to go to the appointment with me. He is not very good at sitting quietly if you can image. So I did what any mother would do, BRIBE him! I took a ring pop sucker with me and told him if he was good he could have the sucker. He was doing pretty good until the elevator man pushed the button, which Cannon wanted to do. The meltdown began. He would not walk so I had to drag him on the elevator, then he wanted off the elevator. So here I am big and pregnant trying to deal with this screaming child who has gone limp. Don't you just love how people stare at you in those moments. They are thinking one of two things, that lady needs to spank that child and teach him how to act, or I am so glad that is you and not me! Well my friends, I wish it was you and not me too! And for your information I do spank my child when he acts like that but for some reason he is stubborn (I don't know where he gets that from) and it doesn't phase him much. So I finally get to the door of the doctors office, out of breath and sweating like crazy. I put Cannon down so that I can sign in, guess what he does....he takes off out the door! So now I am this big pregnant lady running out the door chasing after him, and of course, once again, all eyes on me. I pick him up and drag him back to the office. He attempts a couple more times to escape but I am able to keep him in the office. Finally, we sit down and wait for my name to be called. Cannon looks up at me sweetly and says "Mommy can I have my sucker now?" OMG!! REALLY! You think after all that I am just going to happily hand over your treat. While it would have been the easiest thing to do to keep him quiet and keep from annoying everyone in the waiting room, I refused to let him be rewarded for disobeying. So the sucker stayed in my purse. He cried and threw another fit and kept asking for his sucker. I told him if he sat there and didn't say a word, when the nurse called me back he could have the sucker. He did just that. So when they finally called my name he excitedly said "NOW, I can have my sucker!" He got it and the rest of the appointment went great! The power of candy!

As for the baby Madison update....
The doctor says everything looks good. They have been finding sugar in my urine (sorry if TMI) which can lead to a bigger baby, so they will do an ultrasound at 37 weeks and see how she looks. If she looks big I will probably be induced, if she is normal or small I will continue on until I go into labor. I will also start going to the doctor every week. Usually you don't start going weekly until 36 weeks but since I have a history of high blood pressure with pregnancy they want to start monitoring me early. So things are about to get pretty busy and exciting! We could have a baby in as little as 4 weeks! I am so ready to hold her in my arms. I know life will be more hectic once she is on the outside but it will be so worth it!

Oh and the best news of all...ANDREW DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO BRAZIL!!!!! YEA! PRAISE THE LORD!!! This is such an answered prayer! I don't have to stress about whether or not my husband will be with me when our sweet girl is born. He will definitely be there now! Thank you so much God! You are awesome!

TADAAAAA! Welcome to Madison Jane's nursery!

The fan will soon be replaced with this chandelier.

Here is one of my favorite outfits that is just waiting for Mady Jane!

Well, there it is! I still have a few things to add but for the most part it is complete! I am so happy with the way it turned out. I love seeing my visions come through and actually look good! :) Hope everyone else likes it as much as we do!