38 weeks

Hello there.  I am reporting from 38 weeks pregnant in a land of mental instability, painful pressure, and the inability to breathe, bend over to pick things off the floor, or stay awake past 9pm.  My body is sending me clear signals that it is over being pregnant, that three babies has pushed my body to the max.  I am so looking forward to having our sweet precious girl cuddled in my arms, far away from my bladder and ribcage :)   

Total weight gain: 20lbs.  Still hanging around that 20lb mark.  Acid reflux makes it difficult to keep food down (who still vomits this late in the game?! This girl) but I do still have the occasional craving that I can stomach. Like sweets.  Lots of sweets.

Maternity Clothes: the other day Parker asked me if my work has Pajama Day like her preschool class does on occasion.  I think she’s onto something.  Animal print pajama pants should make their way into the uptight financial world.

Movement: if someone outside of my womb punched my bladder as much as this wee one they would be charged with assault.   

Food Cravings: Starburst Jelly Beans were pretty darn tasty this week.

Sleep:  depends on the night.  Sometimes I’m out in no time, other times I find it hard to settle down.

Milestones: baby is cooked and ready to be loved on!

Best moment of the week: making the decision to embrace the epidural.  You would think after having two children, both completely unmedicated, that I would be a seasoned pro at this birthing thing.  But in reality the memories of the pain have come back to haunt me.  Mentally I cannot get into the mindset of willingly accepting the agonizing pain when with a quick shot to the back I could be feeling relief.  I’m not too keen on the idea of how medical this birth will be—IVs, monitoring, catheter, etc—when I’m used to not even having a IV inserted but the level of anxiety I started to feel over going at his au natural again has swayed me to the medical side of things.  A recent quote I saw online reassures me in this decision: “Enjoy the experience. Whatever it takes you to do so, enjoy it.”

So now instead of laboring at home until the last possible minute to avoid caving in to an epidural, I’ll be racing to the hospital as soon as I can to make sure I get this epidural in before I progress too fast!

Random:

-my MW offered to break my water at 39w to get things going if I’m 4cm dilated.  I haven’t been checked yet (will be on Tuesday) but from how I’ve explained the pressure I’m feeling to the MWs they are pretty confident that I’ve make some progress dilating.  I’ll likely pass on breaking my water as I’d still like to go into labor on my own, but at least I have an option. 

-I thought that I was in labor Tuesday night.   I had what felt like contractions and couldn’t sleep.  Turns out it was my body being mad that I ate Burger King for dinner.  Rarely do we eat fast food and I guess my body is not used to it.

-I keep thinking about the moment when Parker and Teagan get to meet their new sister.  I’ll never forget that moment when P met T.  I’m surprised my heart didn’t explode with love all over that hospital room.  To experience that again will be nothing short of amazing. 

And to document the near end of this pregnancy, I made Kris play photog and capture some belly pics on this absolutely gorgeous afternoon.

Sevel sisters, inside and out!

Leisurely stroll around the gorgeous Yates Cider Mill. 

Pretty much captures life with these two ladies. 

38 weeks, 1 day

I think Kris should quit his day job to focus on photography.

You gotta do what you gotta do when it's sunny skies

Mommy-Teagan photo overload

I had to bribe the littles with ice cream.  Whatever works, right? 

Spring has sprung!

Welcome to another addition of our life documented through the iPhone. 

With warmer temps welcoming us last weekend we took full advantage and visited one of our fave family hangouts.  The zoo! A must see at the zoo is the “baby” giraffe of seven months.  Chilly temps and construction in the giraffe area have kept this little one inside with his mama giving us the perfect opportunity to capture a giraffe selfie. 

Hours were spent at the zoo and during those hours I was sure about 48 times that I was birthing the baby.  But alas, here I am, still pregnant to the max. 

Let's take a step back to the weekend before, Easter weekend. when temps were slightly different.  And by slightly different I mean instead of sunshine and warmth we had snow and cold.  That's Michigan for ya. But like a true Michigander you don't let the weather get the best of you.  Especially when there are eggs to hunt for outside with your neighbor friends!

Do we live in a great sub or what?

Little Teagan loves a good egg hunt.  No eggs will get past her.

Court kids and parents. 

For whatever reason I'm blogging in a reverse timeline fashion.  Rolling with it at this point.  

Before the outside eggtravaganza we hunted for the eggs and goodies left in our home by the Easter Bunny.  I would say that the girls were pretty pumped. How could you not be when, upon waking up, the first thing you do is look out your window and see the yards cluttered with eggs.  Actual proof that the bunny has visited. 

Out of control hair due to the frantic egg hunting. 

When did my baby get so big?!

Excited.  Very excited. 

After the egg hunts we did what most people do on Easter Sunday.  Visited the new aquarium.  For weeks we've been trying to get our hands on these prized tickets, only to find the best dates/times sold out.  So when we were able to snatch some up for Easter Sunday we didn't hesitate.  

While I'm glad we checked it out, I'm in no huge hurry to get back.  It was just meh, especially for the price.  I'll save our aquarium trips for when we go on vacation.  Maybe we'll be able to get to Sea World when we're in Florida in December!

And this is precisely why we keep having girls.  That daddy-daughter bond!

Other things:

My poor Parker is sick.  Yesterday I got the call from school that Parker seemed off.  Shortly after drop off she told her teacher that her belly hurt.  When her teacher asked if she had told me about it this morning Parker replied, "No.  My mommy was sleeping when my belly hurt and she needs her rest.  I didn't want to wake her up." Oh my dear, sweet hearted girl. 

Parker, who always loves playing with her friends, just sat at a picnic table during outside time.  The girl who often takes seconds on lunches refused to eat a bite and instead, requested an early nap time. 

Out of the office early I went to pick up my love.  Once we got home around 3pm she cozied up on the couch and didn't move until early bedtime at 8pm.  Today was the same thing.  No fever, no vomiting, nothing other than a really sore belly, lethargy, and zero appetite.  I'm stumped. I really hope my girl wakes up feeling like her normal self tomorrow. 

Papi is up to await the birth of baby E! And to cuddle sick P. 

Parker likes her "area" set up when she's sick. 

Perfect opportunity for an afternoon viewing of Frozen. 

Sometime last week with my 37 week bump. I'm sure it was 40 something degrees that day and I'm sporting a sheer top and shorts.  Pregnancy heat wave is real.

Pinned it, did it! Love playing hair stylist.

Now back to a captivating 20/20 and straight to bed.  38 week update coming tomorrow!

37 weeks!

How far along: 37 weeks.  Full term today!

Teagan could not be less impressed with my ability to grow human life inside my body. 

Total weight gain: 19lbs to 20lbs.  Not much gain in the past month.  A combo of running out of stomach room making eating more of a chore than anything, a general lack of appetite, and nothing ever sounding good, it’s hard to overindulge. 

Maternity Clothes: I am quite literally busting at the seams in my go-to work black jeggings.  If/when my larger than normal thighs bust through this supposedly stretchy forever fabric I am going to actual yoga pants for my work attire.  Go ahead, try and say something to the hormonally imbalanced, pregnant three times in five years girl.  I dare you. 

Movement: this girl loves putting pressure on my bladder.  

Food Cravings: Chi Chis. Why oh why did this place close down a decade ago! I’ve had no choice but to take matters into my own hands.  Earlier this week I made fried ice cream straight from a Chi Chis recipe. I may or may not have eaten that for dinner a time or two. Today I ran out and grabbed all the ingredients to whip up Chi Chis seafood enchiladas, one of my personal faves from back in the day. 

Sleep: I am out like a light between 10pm and 11pm, only waking up a few times.

Milestones: baby is full term, ready to make her appearance.  Sooner rather than later please!

Best moment of the week: realizing just how close we are to meeting sweet baby E!

Random:

-my MWs office stresses every single appointment that I must get to the hospital asap this go around. If you don’t recall, this is because I delivered Teagan super crazy fast.  430am I was working through the uncomfortable but manageable contractions while making yogurt popsicles for Parker.  I talked to my midwife on the phone and, based on my tone of voice, she told me to labor at home a while.  Around 530am the contractions were picking up a bit, but still manageable, so off to the hospital we went. 540am we arrived and it wasn’t until I got up to triage that all hell broke loose on my body in a violent fit of rage and just like that, Teagan was born at 601am. 

So yeah, in an attempt to avoid a roadside birth we may be leaving a little bit earlier this time.

-I’m finally starting to pack my hospital bag.  It is getting real.

-Teagan has decided now is a great time to enter into the terrible twos.  Perfect timing.

-This weekend we’re in for some fun.  Temps in the 50s and mid-60s are much anticipated.  Dance class is cancelled due to spring break so we have our first free Saturday in forever.  I’m thinking the library, the park, delicious Cupcake Station treats, and some bike riding is in order.  Our swing set guy is coming early to move the set to another part of the yard to make way for the pool so Kris gets to help with that.  I’m sure he’s pumped.

-Sunday Parker will be quite the social butterfly.  First a birthday party at a bounce house place, then another party at a friends house.  This means her nap will be skipped.  This means by 7pm she will turn into quite the handful.  Early to bed for sure!

-It’s finally clicking that I am going to be a mother to three princesses in a matter of weeks.  Eeeeek I cannot wait!