36 weeks...

I had my doctors apt this morning but I am technically 35 weeks 4 days (36 weeks on Thursday) but measuring well into 36 + weeks. Eerything looks good (blood pressure, urine and weight) but I have been having alot of pelvic pressure so she checked me again (so not fun!) She said... "no head hanging out!" That's good! She said my cervics was starting to soften but no dilation at this point and we would check again next week. She also checked me for group B strep and sent me for blood work. I have another apt next week Tuesday, July 31st and I am really hoping for no progress because Emma and I are planning to meet Clint in Houston for a couple days because he has a training there. Also, we want to try and see my friend Maria and her twins (Ava and Mason) and my BFF Tiff, Adam and Lawson. I know it sounds crazy to head to Houston when I'm almost 37 weeks but my biggest fear has been Clint missing the birth and this way I figure if I go into labor in Houston (A) we are next door to a great hospital in the Woodlands and (B) he will be with me! My doctor may not like the idea but I want to see my husband EVERY chance I get and I am only gonna be 3 1/2 hours away so I could very well be back too! I am still going to pack the carseat and hospital bags (just in case!) Also, this is my last week at work and the first in a long time that I have worked 40 hours (because both the girls that are replacing me are both out of town this week). I am working Monday-Friday with lots of lunch apt so it should make the week go by fast (I hope!) and Clint should be home Wednesday night for dinner (that is if nothing goes wrong :( He will get to be home till Sunday and leave for training in Houston and that is where we hope to meet up with him that Wednesday night. I am REALLY ready to meet this little man and not be pregnant any longer because of this terrible pelvic pain I have been having and it seems to get worse when my doctor checks me, BOO! Not much longer and it would be super exciting if he came on Clint's bday the 16th (if not sooner). After this week maybe it won't be so hard to get out of bed because at this point I am so tired and unconfortable that I am ready to be done! I have been trying to take my mind off things by finishing Lane's room with the super cute letters my friend Adrianne made and ALL the amazing gifts we got at my work shower and family/friend shower. WE are set! Emma has been a challenge the past couple weeks but I really hoping it is just because of the age, knowing something is fixing to change her world and missing her daddy. I have had a couple meltdowns but yesterday was one of my hardest days but thanks to my mom for recognizing it because she took Emma to swim while I had a private melt down at home, collected myself, called Clint and then went with my friend Maria to lunch and a little retail therapy! It was nice to have grown up conversation and really just someone to listen to me and let me know I am not crazy or alone. "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" and "God doesn't give us more than we can handle" (sometimes its close:) I know this is just a season so I need to remember that...

34 - 35 weeks and OH so busy!

This has been a busy week... Monday~ my aunt and cousins came in from Virginia, Tuesday~ had a growth sonogram, doctors apt, a great baby shower at work!Friday~ winery and dinner with mom, Barabara and Mimi, Saturday~ finished thank you gifts up for my shower, Dinner at Fireside Pies and Magic Mike! (good news it was good but bad news it didn't send me into labor :( SUNDAY~ Lane's Family/Friend Baby Shower, it was amazing!! We are so blessed with some extremely generious people in our lives! Also, my hostess did a GREAT job on everything! We went to the lake house with family after the shower. Monday~ wasn't feeling so great so rode back into town with my mom so that we could start going through all the wonderful gifts from the shower. We made a couple returns of duplicate gifts and went home to start washing this little man's clothes (he got a LOT!) We also went over to my grandmother's to visit with aunt and cousins because they are leaving on Wednesday :( after a little visit we headed home and made a quick dinner, Skyped with Clint, bath, books and bed for Emma. I stayed up entriely too late making cookies for a work bake sale and washing Lane's new whardrobe! I need to start going to bed sooner but I keep telling myself that and it doesn't evern happen! Nothing too exciting today... just tried and ready to go home and take a nap. Should be a pretty easy week and weekend. only plans we have are Friday... play date at the house with Maria and the twins (Ava and Mason) and wedding reception on Saturday. I am really hoping that Clint gets a day or so break to come home soon because I miss him terribly and so does Emma. I have gotten everything pretty much ready for Lane but know for the waiting... this is the part I am not so good at! Next doctors apt is next Monday and my last day at work is next Friday :(. I am happy to not have to get up and go to work but I will really miss these people since I have seen them for the past 5 1/2 years. New chapter is really about to start! Until next time... These are the hostess from my shower (more pictures to follow)

Dixie Stampede, Branson, MO, Happy 4th of July (yesterday) 33 weeks today!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks... Clint came home last Friday (YEA!!) from a long 5 hour drive from Midland in just enough time to get a shower and jump back in the car for another 8 hour drive to MO (but we ended up stoppping in Texarkana for the night because he was tired, I was pregnancy hurting and Emma couldn't get comfy to sleep in the car). Last week we spent Friday to Wednesday in Branson, MO/Table Rock Lake with my family (mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law and grandma). It was a beautiful lake but not the best place for an almost 9 month pregnant mama! I wouldn't have made the trip if it weren't for the pure joy of a three year old wanting to see the Dixie Stampede! It was so worth it! She had so much fun and we even went back two other times to just look at all the horses in the stables so she could remind us of their names and breeds. This little girl LOVES horses!! The lake was also nice but between mine and Emma's fair skin we didn't stay out on it very long plus she seems to fall asleep every time we go for a ride on the boat. Ha! We also went to a Berry Farm down the road from our cabins and it was lots of fun to let Emma pick her own Blackberries and eat them but it was sure HOT! The trip home was much better and we all went to my doctors apt on Thursday morning. It was the first apt Clint has gotten to come to so they got to hear Lane's little heart beat and the doctor confirmed he is still ahead of schedule. Only issue is that I am having some pretty significant contracts so they had to do a not so comfortable test to make sure I wasn't at risk for going into labor in the next few weeks (it came back negative but they will still have to do the test everytime to keep a handle on it). I am excited for my next apt next Tuesday because we will have another sonogram and it is the same day as my baby shower at work. It has been pretty sad to think that at the end of this month I won't be working with this family of people that I have grown to love over the past 5 1/2 years. I know I will come visit LOTS but also crazy that my new job will be FULL TIME MOMMY :) I am excited and scared all at the same time. Also, some of my super sweet friends have offered to give me a small shower on the following Sunday so after that we should be all set for little Lane's arrival! I can't wait to see his little face and just enjoy my babies!! We had a wedding on Saturday for a family friend and I actually had a date because Clint didn't go back to work till Sunday (so nice)! We all looked so fancy too! The 4th was nice but HOT and I have decided ALL outdoor activites aren't the best idea for me at this point (swelling toes and fingers:( I was misrable and not the best company! Emma had a great time... riding her stick horse Flicka everywhere and that little girl can make any situation enjoyable! Love her... and so glad tomorrow starts are weekend together and only three more weeks of work until I can just stay home when she says..."mommy I don't want you to go to work today!" It has been so hard on all of us with Clint working away so much but she truly is a blessing that makes me crazy in the same breath she makes me smile in! "Live everyday as if it were your last!"

29 weeks 5 day doctors apt or more like...

I had my doctors apt and growth sonogram on Monday. Much to my surprise the sonogram lady did my testing several times because our little man or should I say (BIG guy) is suppose to be 29 weeks 5 days but it showing to be 2 weeks ahead at 31 weeks 5 days. After seeing my doctor and they measured my tummy, it was confirmed! We have a BIG boy on our hands! :) My doctor even went back and looked at all my sonograms (all normal), and blood test (glucose and thyroid) all those came back perfect! So my doctor said it looks like we are dealing with a case of "genetics" - meaning Clint was a big baby so looks like this one will be too! The original due date was 8/23 but might look more like 8/10 (WOW!! That is only like 8-9 weeks away...) I am fine with that but I want him to be healthy and all I feel like I do these days is stress about him. He kicks plenty and squirms tons so I shouldn't worry so much because its not good for him or me. The doctor said everything else looks great but gonna have to keep a close eye on his size the next couple weeks. Since, this is the first time he has looked big, maybe he just had a growth spurt but the only problem with that is they tend to start picking up weight faster at this point. Lets just hope that is not the case and he just levels out. Father's Day weekend looks like we wont get to see Clint either because he isnt due back until the following week because we are taking a family trip to Table Rock Lake (near Bransom, MO). With doctors orders it looks like we wont be staying the entire week, it will be more like Saturday to Tuesday/Wednesday because I have to be back for a doctors apt on Thursday. We are excited about the trip because we got tickets to the Dixie Stampede http://www.dixiestampede.com/(Emma is LOVES trick riding and its like 2 hours of just that). She will be in heaven!! That's part of the reason I told my doctor I HAD to go!! It should be a nice trip because we will all be together and that is a blessing in itself! Swim lessons is going great for Emma!! She hated it the first day but after mommy gave her a "peep talk" and a swimming Barbie (yes a brib!) It worked and now she LOVES it!! This is the second week and we may sign up for another session for next month. Next month will be a busy month with Sibling Class at the hospital for Emma and I, shower at work and a family/friend shower that my dear friends Lisa, Brit and Kenz have offered to do! Also, my LAST day of work will be on the 27th (if Lane doesn't make any earlier arrivals). This is when I will start my new career as a "stay at home mommy". I can't express how excited and scared I am but so greatful for my husband and his career to be able to have this time with my children. Emma will be in school Mon/Wed/Fri from 9-12, along with Zoo School and Museum school twice a week. It seems that she is becoming so independant and so crazy to think school is just around the corner! I feel so blessed with all the amazing family and friends in my life because without them I don't think we could have done it! My mom and grandmother have been so great with keeping Emma since she was 8 weeks old to now and my friends may not live close (CA, Houston, Granbury, Mineral Wells and Stephenville) but have the biggest spirits that travel my way often and make me feel important. Life is hard but God puts amazing people in our lives so that it seems barable! Until next time...

28 weeks...

I can't believe I am already starting my third (final) trimester! This little man has really been kicking and squirming like crazy... Clint even said the other day, "what is he doing, trying to get out already?" It sure does feel like it sometimes, especially at night (so not getting much sleep). Other than that my last apt was May 15th. At that time I took the glucose screeing - it came back perfect!! We had another growth sonogram done and Lane Cash is still ALL boy and not shy about it! :)I go back on June 12th (30 week apt) and that is the start of going every two weeks. It still seems so crazy that I will have two children... I still have days I look at Emma and say, "I am really responsible for you!?!?" Such a blessing to have such a bright, loving and healthy little girl and she is so egar to see her little brother! Still trying not to stress about delivery day... if Clint will get here in time from a job or if he will be late and make it easier but life just happens when it happens so I will just pray that God make it happen the way it is suppose to happen! Clint has been home a week and I have loved EVERY second of it! We have planted shrubs and flowers and our home is looking so great! I am pretty proud of our hard work! We don't have a fancy or big house but its our house and we have LOVE it! We have also take Emma to the stockyards to see a Wild West Rodeo (it hard trick riding and she loves that) but show wasn't all that great but she was just happy to see horsey's. We also celebrated my grandmothers 72nd birthday and we made her the cutiest flower pot and (easy). She is a wonderful lady that has been a BIG part of my life and Emma's and I am so greatful for that! Little Cowgirl... New potted flowers infront of our house... Grandma's flower pot and Our Beautiful Yard Work!

I am getting my mother's day gift tomorrow... maternity massage and pedicure (SO EXCITED!!) Also, making a Texas Tech cake for a graduation party (another paid gig!! I'll post pictures later). Emma starts swim lesson next week and I can't wait because the water stresses me out (which is strange because I was a lifeguard and taught swim lessons). Can't wait to see how she does! She is very brave so I hope she listens and catches on quick! On Sunday she took her life jacket off and desided to sit on the ledge of the pool... no biggie because I was only about 5 foot away but Clint was on the other side of the pool (in the water). Normally she just sits and waits but this time she just jumped off the edge and thank goodness I was so close and saw that "NO FEAR" look in her eyes so I was only about 2 seconds behind her. I pulled her out and she had a pretty SURPRISED look on her face but good thing was we had been practicing keep her mouth closed in the water so thats the only reason she didn't come up chocking up water. BUT this mama's heart was about to pop out of my chest! I even had a bad dream about it that night. I know what my parents were always talking about now... "See ALL these grey hairs, they are from you!" THIS IS SO... THE TRUTH! Blessed in so many ways!

22 weeks

so i had my 22 week doctors apt this morning. i went in for a sonogram (which was suppost to be the gender determination but since we did it a few weeks ago, it was no surprise. He's still a boy!!) also, he is ahead of schedule and looks great! after getting to see my little man, i met with my doctor. blood pressure, urine and weight all looked good but she was concerned when looking at my sonograms that my placenta is sitting pretty low and semi covering my cervix. she said its nothing to be alarmed about just YET but would recheck at my next apt. it is a form of placenta previa http://www.babycenter.com/0_placenta-previa_830.bc this pretty much stresses me out!! the words bedrest, c-section and hemorrhaging really makes me scared!! 4 weeks can't come fast enough because i hope and pray it corrects its self! if anyone has any encouraging words, i would greatly appreciate them! i just want myself and baby to healthy! clint returned to work so back to being mommy and daddy! i sure hope with his masters that he can land in a position that gets us all in the same place (even if we have to more, we will be together!) being pregnant and without my husband has really been hard and even harder trying to be strong for a 3 year old. i can't imagine how mothers/wives do it when there husband is gone to war for months at a time. i am counting my blessings and trying to let pray push me through this difficult time. its funny how when clint lost his job for close to 7 months, it seemed like one of the hardest challanges but know that he has a successful job but gone alot it is a new kind of hard. life is always changing and new things are always being delt to us. i heard a quote last night on "Bethany Ever After" by the Self Magazine editor in cheif and it really stuck with me. she said "the true test of our characters are not how we are on our BEST days its how we are on our WORST days!" prayer goes a long way.

It's official!!

First... Clint got to come home on Thursday and I couldn't be happier!! I also didn't tell Emma he was coming home because I didn't want anything to happen and her be disappointed so Clint drove straight in and meet us at dinner. She was in the worst mood but the minute she layed eyes on her daddy she was the happiest girl in the world!!


Other great news is that we got to get in for a sonogram on Friday morning and pleased to announce we are having a BOY!!

We took Emma to the Stockyards, BBQ with family on Friday, went to Clint's family on Saturday night and we also got to keep my BFF Kristy's 10day old babu for the evening while they went to a wedding. He was perfect and can't wait to meet my little man! Easter was great except for Emma's allergies making her grouchy but she was just happy to be in her daddy's arms (and me too! :)





It was just a great weekend and I am so blessed to have been with ALL of my family!!