Family Camp & 31wks

Each year our church, Cornerstone Community Church, holds it annual Family Camp up in Donnelly, ID up on Lake Cascade. First off, let me say that being up by the lake is absolutely beautiful and can be very relaxing. However, if you are 31 weeks pregnant not so much in my opinion. We love camping and hope to be able to go a few times each year, but this year was not very enjoyable for me. Most of it I think (for me) was that we were farther away form the group than I thought we were going to be. Also, as the pregnancy has progressed I have become more and more uncomfortable and was really having issues with my back on the trip. The kids were out on the boat most of the day Saturday, we had a chili cookoff that night and also a sing along which is always fun. Sunday morning was service and then to pack up and come home. I kn ow that Chuck & Kenai really enjoyed themselves, Kenai also loved all the added attention from the kids and chasing the waves in the lake. I ended up with a sunburn from forgetting to put on sunscreen so I was also dealing with that. Oh well!

Chuck & the Empathy Belly

As part of our childbirth classes that we have been going to, Chuck and the other men in the class had the opprotunity to wear the "Empathy Belly." It is a suit that the dads to be get to wear that gives them a taste of what it is like to be pregnant. they didn't have to wear it long, maybe 45 minutes at the most. It is weighted in certain areas so that they "feel" the pressure that we do. It was rather amusing to watch the men pick up papers off the floor, adjust to sitting and just doing the normal things one would do. It adds about 30lbs to you. Once he had it on he loooked like he was gonna "POP," I couldn't help but laugh!!!

Baby Shower

Today was my baby shower! Heather, her mom Betty, and an old friend, Karin put it together for me. I hope everyone had fun, I know I did. We had a lite lunch and cake fo dessert. Betty made a beautiful diaper cake. I received several small items for Abby, including several blankets (2 were handmade) the Praise Baby DVD collection that I really wanted,a few gift certificates, a little lamb that plays Jesus Loves Me and some cute outfits. One of my favorite will be used when she is a little older and it is a super seat, kinda like the bumbo seat that Abby can sit up in. There were several other gifts as well, but I can't remember them all at this minute.

If you remember I also have a smell aversion these days (pretty much the whole pregnancy) and we played the Dirty Diaper game......several different types of baby food and candy bars were melted into diapers and you had to smell or taste them to figure out what they were.......Oh my gosh! I thought I was gonna get sick at one point, thank goodness that didn't happen.

I would say all in all it was a great day and everyone had fun! Thank you Heather, Betty & Karin!!!

29 week appointment

I had my 29wk appt & glucose test today and it went really good. Did the glucose test first. I had a choice of 4 flavors - lemon-lime, orange, fruit punch and cola. I took the cola and had no problems drinking it. Actually it really wasn't all that bad! I finally gained some weight - 4lbs, so I am officially back at my pre-pregnancy weight - woohoo!! Then the nurse asked me for a urine sample. I had just gone pee right before, so I managed to squeeze out a few more drops for her - hehehe. As Dr Lowder was listening for her heartbeat, he found it quickly and then she just as quickly moved on him and he had to find her again, couldn't help but laugh at that. I am measuring at 28 for my fundal height which is good. I am 29 weeks tomorrow (Friday). We talked a little about the anesthesiologist appt I had last time I was in and I kind of recapped for him what happened. I told him that given my choice I want to go with a planned C-section. He will take the baby up to a week early and gave me a few dates. As of now I am opting to have her on Mon, Aug 24. I think we will make a final decision at my next appointment on July 16. I can hardly believe that I only have 11 weeks to go! Should have my glucose test & iron levels back by Monday...

Oh and afterwards, after not having eaten since 8:20am this morning we went to the Outback, I had bread, salad, 8oz prime rib and a sweet potato! I devoured most all of it! Why do they tell us we can't have what we want when what we want can turn into sugar and then schedule our appointments for mid-afternoon????

Childbirth Prep Classes

We started our childbirth classes last night at the hospital. These are the first of the classes that we will take this summer. So every Wednesday night form 6:30-9pm we will be at the hospital till the beginning of July. We watched a birthing video, learned some breathing techniques, and then did some relaxation stuff, which includes different massages that Chuck can do to help. The breathing was probably the most interesting of all. Learning to breathe to relax is gonna be hard. When I am in pain I tend to hyperventilate, so this will definely be interesting.

Next weeks class Chuck will get to wear an Empathy Belly! I can hardly wait to see that....I'll have to post pictures of that one!!