35 weeks, 2 days.

Lost my mucus plug today.  Was dialated to 2 cm at my appt on Tuesday. 

Man I am bad about posting lately! 

I am 34 weeks (based on May 8 dd) or 35.5 weeks (based on April 28 dd).  Most likely the baby will come sometime inbetween that time.

I had my appt yesterday, starting the weekly appts now.  I gained 2 lb, after not gaining anything for the last 5-6 weeks, it was a good thing.  My fundal ht was 34, bp was 120/86.  I had an ultrasound to check for placenta location (it was too close to the cervix at 18 week us) and it was at least 4-5 cm, so all is clear that way.  Dr. Ward checked me due to me starting to feel more pressure and I was at 1 cm and still had a long cervix.  I am having lots of contractions, just like with Emma, so we are just monitoring it.  Baby is VERY active!  It is so fun to watch my belly roll and see the kicking and movements.

We have a lot to do still, I need to figure out where I want the cradle in our room.  We have a carseat, so we are good to go there.  All the baby clothes need to be washed and sorted (again).  I need to make sure I have enought small diapers.  I probably need x-small also, but with our budget issues it is hard to justify the amount I would need to spend vs just using diaposables for a week or two, expecially when they are given to us, although I would love to get some x-small if I could.  I think I need about 10 more smalls and I should be good, I need to get those all out also and count everything up.

I had my 26 week dr appt today.  I measured 28-28.5 weeks.  I NEVER measure bigger, with the other 4 pregnancies I start slowing down at this point.  Neither of us are sure what to think about that at this point.  Baby is head down, also unheard of for my pregnancies.  All 4 of my other kids have been breech and turn on their own at 38-39 weeks.  Makes me a little nervous to think about this one turning breach at the end.  We did talk about if that happens and she said that although they do not generally do breach deliveries, since I have had 4 successful vaginal births, if baby stays breach, they will attempt to turn it, if that doesn't work, she is comfortable doing a breach delivery.  Lots to think about, I have concerns about it, but only time will tell what will happen and there is not anything we can do about it now, so I need not put to much thought or worry into it.

I am up 16.1 lb, my blood pressure was 97/61 and hr was 85 (always higher at the dr- blah).  Babies heartrate was 148 and fundal height was 28-28.5.

I will do the glucose test at my next appt, we didn't have time to get it done today without Abby being late for gymnastics, and since I have never had an issue, she was fine with putting it off.

I am still taking Zofran at least once a day in the morning, sometimes I have to take it in the afternoon but not every day.  I am taking colase 3x a day to help with constipation, it is helping some, but I am still having pretty bad issues, so she said she will call in some Miralax to see if that will help.  Then my zyrtek as needed (usually every other day) and my vitamin and additional vit. D.  Plus either unisom or tylenol pm for sleep at night - I tried about a week ago to go without it and was awake until 5 am, and had to get up at 6:30.  I wish I could figure out another safe thing to take, but this is what works, and was the only thing that worked with Emma.  I would really like to not have to be taking so many pills, but I also have to be a functional mom and wife.

My next appt is in two weeks - I can't believe I am already to the 2 week appts!  This pregnancy is flying by!

Today is Chris's birthday.  He is 41.  Unfortunately he is sick, same thing the kids had earlier in the week, although he didn't throw up, he just felt like it since yesterday, no energy, etc.  Too bad that I had lined up for the kids to go to a friends house this afternoon.

Instead, I took the kids to their basketball games, Abby had to be there at 7:30 for pictures before her 8:00 game.  Then the Eli had a game at noon, and Reagan at 1:00.  My alarm went off at 6:15 so I could get showered and ready and Abby had to take a shower.  Makes for a really long day.

It is hard not to be disappointed.  I know he didn't want or plan on being sick.  I had just been looking forward to an afternoon with just him for the last couple of weeks and with our schedule, it is hard to plan.  Oh well, I guess some other time.

Emma's new phrase, "This is the best _____ ever!"  Like yogurt, cuddle, spoon, sandwich, pretty much anything she likes :)

She is still nursing a tiny bit.  It is somewhat annoying, but we are gettting through.  She knows that she has to latch the right way or nursies go to sleep.  We are down to before nap and bedtime, and the last couple of days she has skipped one or the other.  She even didn't nurse on Friday or Saturday.  Then she asked at bedtime last night.  It makes me sad to be ending our nursing relationship, but it is nearly time.  I am treasuring each time she nurses, so I have a good memory of the 'last time.'  I do remember each of the other kids last time nursing and I want another memory that is positive.  I am glad she is still nursing because I don't think there were many positive moments last month with it.  Now we can end on a good note.

Emma's attitude is driving me crazy!  She can be a sweet little thing and is a great helper most of the time. Then I will ask or tell her to do something and she is all 'NO! I no wan to.'  Then she usually waits and does it a couple of minutes later.  She also like to say 'I is mad (or angry) at you' usually for no reason.  Makes me want to laugh, but I also want her to know that I respect her feelings.

She loves to read books and have them read to her.  She loves to sing and dance.  She is always so energetic.

Emma is doing great using the toilet.  She still wears a diaper at night, but half the time it is dry.  We did go to disposables (YUCK!!!) because I didn't have enough to do a load of cloth and they were getting really ammonia-y, I also started killing the elastic in the diapers from all the stripping to get the ammonia out, and although I am going to have to replace some, I didn't want to have to do them all.  I was also so sick especially in my 1st tri that I just couldn't handle it, everything was making me throw up and diapers were the worst.  She still has a few accidents occasionally, but usually just if she is over tired.

Reagan was sick yesterday.  He was supposed to have a wrestling tournament, so we were going to do early service for all, then Chris would take him for the weigh-in while I kept the other kids at church and taught Sunday School.  So when he was getting dressed he said his stomach was feeling funny.  I assumed it was nerves for the tournament and was not very sympathetic. He got dressed, brushed his teeth, at a couple of bites of something (they fend for themselves on Sunday morning) and went out to the Yukon.  Then he puked in the driveway.  So complete change of plans.  I still was doubting the true sickyness, but then Chris said he threw up again while we were at church.  He ended up getting sick at least 5 times.  I am so glad it was on a Sunday when Chris was there to clean it up.  My stomach is still not able to handle that kind of stuff, I can't even look at it without at least gagging if not getting sick myself.  I really hope that only Reagan gets this and it passed by everyone else without everyone getting sick.

Todays dr appt went well.  My weight was up 6 lb, so not as bad as I thought.  My bp was 107/72.  I didn't get the baby's heartrate, but it sounded great.  I also forgot to ask what my fundal height was.  I go back in 4 weeks, so I will make sure to get the numbers then.

I had to have an internal check due to the contractions I have been having.  Everything was fine, she also put pressure on the top of my uterus to make sure my cervix didn't respond, and it was nonresponsive so that was good.  She told me I had to slow down.  Basically, my uterus is spastic, no changes at this point, but they can happen.  Right now the baby is viable, but she wants me to get to at least 28 weeks, then I can increase activities some, and at 34 weeks I can go back to normal activity.  Good thing it is winter and I just want to hibernate :)  I have never had any issue with pre-term labor, and I am not sure that is what this is.  I still think it is braxton hicks and as long as I stay hydrated and don't push it, my body knows what to do.

TMI - I did have to call back in once I got home because I forgot to ask about the terrible constipation I have been having.  Basically I hadn't poo'd in 3 days, and seriously the amount of food that is going in compared to what is going out is a bit scary!  That might be all the weight gain right there.  The zofran is expecially constipating.  I have been eating a ton of fibery foods and am up to at least 12 dried apricots and prunes a day!  So now I am taking colase 3 times a day and supposed to drink 64 oz of water before noon, and another 64 oz of water by bedtime.  That is a butt-load of water!!!  I probably drink 80 oz of liquid already right now, but I will be up all night and constantly in the bathroom and that rate.

I have a drs appt today at 1:45.  Just normal stuff, but I am not going to be happy getting on the scale, I already am prepping myself.  I always have one month where I have a big gain, and it usually coinsides with the holidays.  I ate a little extra, treats and such, but generally stuck to my healthy diet and the numbers on my scale here keep creeping up.  I know I lost all my extra weight over 16 years ago, yet I still freak out over any weight gain.  I know that it is normal and I am doing what I am supposed to do, but as I get older, it has taken more work after each child to lose the extra.  GAH!

I need to get back to chasing the kids back to the table for their school work.  Back to school day after a break is always hard to get everyone motivated, especially momma!  We are doing a light day, reading comprehension, math, handwriting or creative writing, and home ec (still needing to get that tree down and finish cleaning ).  Along with the dr appt, it will be a full day.

So after having a ton of contractions (4-5 an hour) yesterday after cleaning and sorting clothes in my bedroom all day long, I finally rested and they slowed down to 1-2 an hour.  When I called L and D they said that since they had slowed down, I could stay home as long as baby was moving around and they didn't increase in frequency.  They stayed the same, baby was going crazy, so I stayed home.  The nurse did say that since this is #5, my uterus knows what to do, so I may notice a lot of BH, especially if I am very active.

Since I hadn't 'announced' on facebook, I thought I probably should.  Ya know, the whole posting if I had needed to go the the hospital, yet hadn't 'officially' let people know.  All my family and close friends know, and other peoples responses can be crazy, cause, ya know that I have a TON of kids :P  Anyways, people have been great, no rude comments, so that is a really good thing.  Although I am really showing and I can't imagine that people who have seen me at church didn't figure it out, and many there knew anyways.

22 weeks today, but the nurse last night said I was 23 weeks 2 days, so I am assuming my lmp must be in the computer there and she wasn't paying attention to my due date.  Oh well.

So, Emma is doing really well at using the toilet, but def needs more than panties.  With the other kids I used pull-ups and I would rather not go that route if I don't have to.  Any suggestions?  I got her 1 pack og Gerber trainers, which will be fine around the house, but when we are out I need something that keeps the mess from getting everywhere.