In June, I started working as a temporary employee at a steel foundry in Bettendorf (a neighboring city). I was working full time doing office work and really loved that it gave me something to do. I worked full time until July when I went to CA for 2 weeks (more on CA later). Once I got back from CA, I could barely work a couple hours without feeling like I was going to fall over and die -- that's a little dramatic, but true. Ben told me that I should quit, but I still felt some responsibility to work until I told them I would. I ended up cutting my hours to part time and only working another 2 weeks, instead of the 4 that I was hoping to do. Such is life. Now I spend every afternoon napping and that my friends is exactly what I want to be doing. (Read: There is no need to ask what I do with my days and if I'm bored. I'm not bored. I sleep, I read, I sit quietly on the couch, etc. I love it. I'm enjoying my time without having to care for the every need of another human being.)
Baby update: The baby's room isn't ready, I don't have bags packed, and I still have a list of things that we need to buy, but I also have all the time in the world, so I'm not too concerned. The baby does have a name, but it's not set in stone. She could come out and look like an Alice and that's what we would name her or maybe Mildred or maybe I'll let one of the nurses name her. At my 34 week appointment (Tuesday, 8/12), the baby's heartbeat was great (158), my blood pressure was great (116) and I'm measuring at 32.5 weeks (small, as per usual, but they aren't too concerned because the last ultrasound showed her measuring perfect). The doctor informed me that at this point they won't stop labor once it starts, so here's hoping she comes when she is ready...and maybe that she will be ready early and be 100% healthy and perfect. We got to tour Labor and Delivery at the hospital we are going to and I'm pretty dang excited. It is so nice and they have different laboring options available, birth ball, jetted tub, etc. Will I use any of those? I don't know, but I like knowing that they are there. I am extremely grateful for the luxuries that we have in this country, especially when it comes to where we deliver babies. What else is new...? The babe moves plenty and last week was the first time I really felt a limb of some sort sticking out. Usually my stomach is just hard whatever way she is leaning, but this was a protruding, bony limb. It was pretty sweet. Ben was asleep though, so he missed it. Sorry Ben. She also gets the hiccups multiple times a day, it's fun because then Ben really gets to feel her move (she tends to flail about when they last long, probably desperate for them to stop). I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow morning, so updates on that will have to wait (I wrote this post weeks ago but was waiting to post it, because it started to interfere with my nap that day. Naps take precedence.)
Now about CA. Rachel finished her 18 month mission in Nashville, TN on July 16th, so I flew out for 2 weeks to spend time with her and the rest of the family in CA. It was so fun to see her and everyone else especially since we aren't spending Christmas with my side of the family this year. We spent lots of time by the pool, going for walks, and enjoying the little bit of time that we had. While I was in CA, Ben's job had him spend 5 days in Brazil! Ben served his mission in Brazil. This was such a great opportunity for him to go back, speak the language and eat delicious food. After Brazil, he came to CA and spent 3 days with us! Ben even agreed that we should move to CA. That was probably the happiest day of my life. Sadly, that won't be happening anytime soon, especially with the 6.1 earthquake that hit right next to my parents' home this morning. I would still choose earthquakes over tornados.
Our 2 year anniversary was last Monday! It has been an amazing 2 years and I'm grateful for all the fun and growth that I have experienced. I couldn't have picked a better person to spend eternity with. On that sappy note, here is a fun story from the other day. It sums the current stage of our relationship up perfectly. One Sunday, we got home from church and I was going to make sandwiches for lunch. Before I started the sandwiches, I saw that we had a cantaloupe sitting on our counter. I had completely forgotten about it and was thrilled that I noticed it (fruit can be thrilling). I grabbed a knife out of the dishwasher, noticed it had a little something on it, but the dishwasher isn't exactly new, so I wiped it off and started cutting. No big deal, right? Wrong. Ben and I both eat a few pieces of cantaloupe and then I throw it in the fridge to get cold while I make the sandwiches. I pull a couple plates out of the dishwasher and this is where it gets exciting. The plates are dirty. Definitely dirty. The bowls are dirty, the measuring cups are dirty, the cutting board is dirty...you get the idea. EVERYTHING IS DIRTY. Still, no big deal, right? WRONG. The knife that I used to cut the cantaloupe with had been sitting in there for 2 days and the last thing I cut with it was raw chicken. Raw chicken. Mass hysteria ensued (this is a little dramatic, as well). Ben and I were both disgusted and mortified. Usually I start the dishwasher right after dinner, so that it's ready for the next day. Unfortunately, I have the memory of a gold fish right now and had forgotten to start it, then forgot that I didn't start it. Ugh. Of course, Ben had to google what could happen if you consume raw chicken, THEN he had to google what happens when you get Salmonella and you're pregnant. He was not happy with me. The on call nurse said the baby should be fine and to come in if I had any symptoms. Luckily we are all still alive. Since then, Ben has informed me that I'm not to leave our room, that I'm an airhead lately, that I almost killed the whole family, and that he would appreciate it if I could go 6 weeks without any disasters since we have made it this far. I cut my finger while slicing chicken the next day. Whatever.
I hope to post once more before the baby gets here, but I make no promises. If you have any advice on how to kickstart labor, don't hesitate to throw them my way!
Kristen
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| 21 Weeks |
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| 28 Weeks |
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| 35 Weeks |
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| 32 Weeks |
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| Home with Rachel! |
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| Aug 18, 2012 |
