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36 weeks
36 weeks was pure awful. Emotions ALL over the place. I spent, what feels like, days in bed and hours of my life crying over everything or arguing with hubby... sometimes over how nice he is being? Sounds like a psycho pregnant lady to me! 


Jon went to Washington D.C. as his last business trip before baby Ezra makes his debut and I decided to spend some time with friends in the neighboring town; just a few hours.
Well, in those few hours- five, to be exact- I managed to sprain my ankle. {Stylishly, mind you. Ruining one of my favorite pairs of wedges I spend a lot of money on as a souvenir when hubby and I were in Vegas last February.} 

I oh-so-graciously tripped over a rock in the road and, fortunately, did not fall on my stomach. Thank goodness I took my good friend, Jade, with me and she was able to ease my fall. Although, my leg eased its way underneath & behind me. Nasty bruising ensued, 4 days of crutches, and lots of ice and tylenol. Jon, had to get an early flight home from work and my mom came to spend the night with me because I could barely even get around enough to use the bathroom by myself.

All this, was the same week that I am, of course, due for a dreaded vaginal test at the doctor. Warning to all you girlies who haven't yet been pregnant... If you ever get the Group B Strep test in your 9th month, you will NEVER forget it. A plus was that the doctor I saw that particular morning, before abusing my lady parts, gave us an unscheduled in-room ultrasound. I was beyond thrilled because we had not seen our little alien in almost 17 weeks!

He has gotten so big, healthy, strong, and head down! I could've leaped for joy, had I not almost fallen on my already injured ankle in front of the dozens of people in the waiting room.

On top of everything else, it was also the week of my baby shower! However, I'm grateful I was at least able to get a mani/pedi and pull myself together to make it through the weekend. My mom did a great job planning the shower and incorporating the ideas I had too without letting me know too much about it. The hot chocolate bar went over great and the desserts were so simple! Not to mention we got almost EVERYTHING on our registry. 

Plus, all the things we had to return to the store.... that money paid for all the things we didn't get and still needed. I love all of our supportive friends and family so much. Below are a few pictures from our shower day. Don't forget to follow our Ezra's hashtag to see more photos in general.... #eisforezra

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Hubby and I in the mirror...Inspired by a pinterest maternity photo.
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my mom and I at the end of the baby shower
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I originally wanted Dahlias at my shower SO badly. But, they aren't in season. So, a friend made them all out of gum paste. How gorgeous are these?!
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37 weeks
37 weeks today! FULL TERM; and totally ready to meet my kid!
Especially after last night's fiasco...



Last night, Sunday, was supposed to be our last pre-baby date night. Knowing that Ezra could arrive at any time starting today, and Noah being at his mom's house, we wanted to spend some time together after having a very busy week/end. Plus, when you have a $25 gift certificate and two $5 off an entree coupons for Olive Garden how could date night NOT sound like a good idea?! 

I was so excited and feeling good... I actually felt like I looked cute which is pretty unheard of for me on a usual, non-pregnant day. Since I've gained my baby belly, it's even more scarce. 
Well, we made it through dinner, and I actually ate a full meal which surprised me! But, by the time the check was coming around my Braxton Hicks were so strong and the twinges of pain in my pelvis were so terrifying that anyone looking at me walk out of the restaurant probably thought that I was going into labor. And, dear lord, I felt like I was!

By the time we got home, I was bawling my eyes out and writhing in pain. (At least, now we know what my impending labor will be like. Probably, as awful as expected. Fortunately, I never expected it to be easy.) I ended up furiously angry, crying, curled up in the fetal position, and asking Jon over and over, "What's happening??" To which he thought the appropriate response was, "You're just in pain, babe."-- REALLY?? I hadn't noticed!

I felt so bad; like I just ruined the last "real" date night we will ever have... Which, of course, if a bit of a dramatization. But, what else is a hormone driven, done with being pregnant woman supposed to think when you go from feeling semi-sexy and by two hours later you're about to puke in your husband's lap?
Jon was a good sport and took awesome care of me... :)

Anyway, now that my "ripening" period has finally arrived, I am thinking of every possible way to have this baby come out ASAP! I'm so anxious to be a mommy and hold my baby with my arms instead of my abdominal walls. Also, I am tired of feeling like my pelvic bones are smashed to smithereens! 

I just ate an entire fresh, ripe pineapple by myself to see if the enzyme they say is in it, bromelain, will have any effect. Not to mention, I couldn't think of anything that sounded good for dinner....again. Still.



Right now, though, I am beginning to think that Ezra is perfectly content with his feet in my right ribcage...
 
I have about had it with this nerve pain that stems from the root around my tailbone and all the way down my left butt cheek.
It is getting progressively worse and neither hubby nor I can think of anything to do for it, besides putting on a moist heat pad. But, even with that, I couldn't get out of bed this morning without searing pain; wincing and moaning with every movement. (Really the only complaint I have right now, though, so that says a lot!)

Remember the post I put up a couple of weeks ago about detox baths. Well, I decided to research a little on good ingredients for aromatherapy baths and teas and muscle/pain relief... Here's a recipe I came up with all on my own and it was REALLY helpful.

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Quin's Pregnancy Pain Potion Bath
5 bags of green tea
1 bag peppermint tea
Lavender essential oil (mine is already measured out, but you probably don't need more than 2-3 drops)
1 tsp of ground ginger
1 cup Epsom salts
1/2 cup of honey


These ingredients are supposed to be good for drawing out toxins, loosening stiff areas, easing pain, taking away stress, softening dry/dead skin, toning, and fighting fatigue. I don't think you can go wrong even if this bath only does one of those things for you!

 
Here we are... This week marks the END of my 2nd trimester! I have been counting down for this for the past month! I'm so excited. When I hit the 30 week mark, it will signify that the end is near. AND, that the bonding with my baby can begin! 

Today the baby is sitting very low in my uterus and isn't very active. I'm sure it's because I feel crappy and have been quite the slug today myself. I didn't intend to be, for what it's worth. I woke up with motivation to clean my entire house from top to bottom, since it has needed desperately done for over a week now. However, halfway through my "to do" list, I became very clammy feeling and 'heavy'. Hubby took my temperature at 100 degrees and ordered me to lie down for the rest of the day. (He wasn't too happy when he found me scrubbing toilets about 30 minutes later.) I'm terrible at relaxing, with a capital T.

Noah has been coughing, sniffling, and blowing his nose on and off since last Thursday. Today, his mom dropped him off here (missing school) and he also has a fever of 100. I'm pretty sure that something is just going around. Unfortunately, it may be the flu. Many of our friends have had or currently have it. It's like the germs are saying, "Welcome! We've been waiting for you..."

Noah and I both got our flu shots early last month. He has been sick once since then, only for a few days, and I haven't been at all. I was literally terrified by one of the doctors I saw [in the practice where I am treated] into getting the flu shot. I was completely against the entire idea, especially since I never ever get sick. But, apparently, after listening to doctors, friends, and doing my own research, fatalities are higher among pregnant women who get influenza than among non-pregnant. I didn't want to even risk losing my baby mid-pregnancy. I am still waiting for Jon to get his flu & t-dap shots in the near future but, until then, I at least know the the internal safety of my little one is greatly improved by my taking precautions.

I do hope that my fever doesn't go above 100, though, because then I'll have to go to the emergency room and be hooked up to an IV of fluids so that I don't get dehydrated. I think that when it comes to babies, doctors are more concerned with you being dehydrated than they are about you doing things that might seem even more drastic, like not eating.

I am making myself drink water because I don't feel thirsty in the least. I think that between forcing liquid down my throat and being confined to the couch... I probably feel a bit like Noah did about 15 minutes ago when I told him I wanted him to take a half hour nap. He instead, pretended to fall out of his bed and somehow managed to have his bath stool on top of his head by the time I walked in there. *sigh* Boys will be boys. 

Hopefully, this groggy gross feeling goes away quickly and doesn't complicate anything... We are supposed to be going to Charlotte (Carolina Panthers) this weekend for a football game; in the cold and the rain, which is exactly what I don't want to be out in if I'm sick.



P.S. I passed my glucose test and don't have gestational diabetes! WHOOP WHOOP!