Today's Savings

Lately I have been couponing and watching for good deals. I follow this page called Krazy Coupon Lady who puts all the deals together with which coupons you need. This morning I went to Target & CVS. I got two bottles of peroxide, two bottles of vinegar, one bottle of hand soap, cotton balls, two bottles of head & shoulders shampoo, razor with refills, baby body wash, listerine & Draculaura (Alyssa has asked for her and she was on clearance so she will be put up for Christmas) for $30.31. I also have $4 in extra care bucks that I will use with my next trip.

Two Rough Days

The GI doctor's office was suppose to call me Tuesday or Wednesday to let me know about the sweat test and ultrasound. When they didn't call me I called them at 8:00 am Thursday. The receptionist told me they were waiting till next week to schedule the test and then they'd be a few weeks out. I was not happy. I told the lady he is a newborn, a preemie and losing weight. I asked to speak with the nurse and she told me the nurse wasn't there yet but she could have her call me. I asked when that would be and she said probably that afternoon. We hung up and I immediately called my pediatrician who asked how soon we could be there and told me to bring him straight in.

We got to Dr. Mays office about 9 am. They weighted him and he had lost more weight. He was down to 10 lbs 9 oz making 5.5 oz he lost in 6 days. She was examined, his formula changed and sent to lab. They checked his white count, his blood sugar and iron. Everything was normal. They scheduled the ultrasound and sweat test. We have to wait till April 30th for the sweat test but the ultrasound was done immediately. The test I was told by one office it would be a few weeks had it scheduled and completely the same day.

Bradley was very fussy during his ultrasound. That evening when the doctor called me she said it was a limited ultrasound but they did not find anything abnormal. Depending on how everything goes we may have to go back for another ultrasound with the radiologist there instead of just the tech.

Friday morning we went back to the doctor and he had gained 1/2 oz. The doctor changed his medicine, sent us to Children's for blood work to check the function of his organs and gave me some more formula in case I felt like the other formula wasn't making a difference. That afternoon the results of his blood work came back normal.

At 4 pm someone from the GI doctor's office finally called me. She said she had a message that I wanted to know about the test being scheduled. I quickly informed her when they refused to help the day before I called the pediatrician who had the test scheduled and the ultrasound had already been done. After about 20 minutes of telling her how they messed up and that I didn't need anything from them, she apologized and asked if there was anything they could do and i said at this point the only thing you can do is have Dr. King call Dr. Mays. Why call at 4 pm on a Friday when you know the doctor will be gone the entire following week???

Later Friday afternoon Dr. Mays called me to say Dr. King called her and they have come up with a game plan. We go back to the doctor on Monday and if he has not improved we are going to do some more blood work. I didn't ask what this blood work checks but I'll worry about that if he has to have it done. She had checked with her med group about what it may be and one doctor recommended having his heart looked at again. We have a follow up appointment with the heart doctor on May 7th but we may have to see him sooner. Another thing was to do a feeding study.

Dr. Mays has only not seen the results of one test done when he was in the NICU and it was the test the genetics doctor did. I called them Friday to see if there was anything they could tell me that may be helpful but the doctor wasn't in. I explained my situation to the receptionist who said she will have him look at the chart Monday when he gets back in and call Dr. Mays.

A Room Divided

Does anyone else have this issue? My girls fight all the time and want to be separated. Alyssa wanted to go back to sharing a room with Noah but due to the girl/boy can't dress in front of each other I decided that wouldn't work. Alyssa says she needs her own room but that just isn't possible right now. Bradley still doesn't even have a room. So in an attempt to solve the issue the girls' room is now "divided" and they each have their own space. Hopefully it will help them. I got the "But will I be able to not hear her" and I said no you just won't be able to see each other if you need to "not hear her" you can listen to your iPod.

Tummy Trouble

The things that we don't think twice about saying after having a child...

As most of you know Bradley has been very fussy for several weeks without much relief. It first started about three weeks ago. He seemed really gassy and I kind of felt like he needed to potty more.

I called the doctor, described his symptoms & was told to bring him in that it could be an ear infection. His ears looked good but he was diagnosed with reflux and treated with Zantac. Also the doctor was concerned about his weight because he had only gained 10 oz in 15 days and he should gain about an oz a day. So I started pumping and supplementing with formula.

A few days later he still wasn't happy so I called the doctor again. I was told to increase his gas drops to 0.6 and give him biogaia drops again. I did this and after several days he still didn't seem to have much relief.

I called the doctor again and the nurse wanted him to be seen. I was advised to not let him have anything to eat for 3-4 hours before his appointment in case the doctor wanted to do an upper GI. Of course the doctor did want to do an upper GI. We found out he has reflux and his stomach is slow to empty so they referred us to a GI doctor.

Today we went to the GI doctor. After a night of very little sleep and a fussy baby my brain just wasn't working to ask some of the questions I should have. The doctor wants to do several test. One is they will put this little device on his arm or leg that will collect sweat. The other is an ultrasound of his stomach. The doctor thinks the muscle that empties his tummy his too tight and that is why it is not emptying the way it should, causing him to not eat the way he should, causing him to lose weight. Today he had lost 3.5 oz since Friday. The doctor gave him Miralax so hopefully that will help some. Over the weekend I gave him karo and when he went to the bathroom he was much happier, ate better and slept better.

Now we are waiting on them to schedule the test. We'll have to go to Children's Hospital for the test.

A Sunday Afternoon Crafting

If there one thing my kids love to do that is to make stuff. In the last four months we haven't got to do much crafting between the issues I had at the end of my pregnancies then delivery then having a newborn at home. This afternoon we had a few hours while Bradley was resting to make some stuff.

We started out by planting some strawberries. The Easter bunny brought them each a cute little kit that had everything needed to plant them.

Next we planted some flower seeds. After the last two summers with my hanging baskets dying so fast because of the roots not having enough I decided this year I'd let the kids plant flower seeds and maybe we'd have something pretty all summer.

Then we made these stepping stones they got for Christmas. They have to dry over night before they can paint them but they were able to put the gems on them today. They were a little harder than I thought they would be, all the kids wanted to do their hand print in the cement and it didn't work quiet as well as the box showed.

Finally we painted sun-catchers. Noah painted a car. Poor kid is color blind so half the paint colors look the same to him. Taylor painted a butterfly & Alyssa painted a cat.

Giraffe Paci

Bradley loves his paci. He will be asleep and lose it and when he does he wakes up. I have seen the stuffed animals with the paci attached to them but I had two issues. One they are $30 and that is a lot for something that I don't even know if he will like. Two he won't take the soothie paci. I have looked and looked online but never found one that took the gumdrop paci. Also I saw a lot of complaints about the stuffed animal being too soft and wouldn't help hold the paci in place so I decided I'd just make one myself. When going through Wal-Mart I saw this cute giraffe and it's a beanie and heavier than the other stuffed animals I have seen so I decided it was time to make Bradley a stuffed animal with a paci. I really wanted it to be a monkey because monkeys have kinda become his stuffed animal after the monkey that we bought him while he was in the NICU that recorded my voice, but if he likes it I'll keep an eye out for a monkey that is heavier and make him another one.

St Patrick Day Hair Style

I finally got to do it. :) For Valentine's I really wanted to fix the girls' hair with the heart that I kept seeing on pinterest but my pregnancy issues just didn't allow me. I have seen a similar hair style for St. Patrick's Day so I decided I'd give it a try. Taylor is happy with it so I'd say it was a success. If you are interested in trying it yourself I found a YouTube video showing how to do it that you can watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmgn76d6YE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Yesterday was mine and Adam's one year wedding anniversary. I can not believe its already been a year. Shopping for each other has been hard for both of us in the last few holidays. So much so that we haven't gotten each other much of anything. The night before Adam was still trying to figure out what to get me. I think he did a great job with this bracelet. I told him he won't have a hard time shopping for me for a while now. The harder part will be picking a charm to add to it.

Bradley is 2 Weeks Old

Today Bradley is two weeks old. He came home from the NICU yesterday. The kids were all excited to see him. Rhino isn't sure about him. He slept pretty good through the night. He woke up twice to eat then went right back to sleep. Today we had to go see Dr. Cordell for his two week check up. He weighs 8 lbs 13 oz and measures 21 1/2 in. We have to go back Friday for a recheck on his weight. Surprisingly he can wear his newborn clothes. He has already figured out Mommy will hold him all the time.

Bradley's Hat to Wear Home

Anyone who knows me knows resting is not something I do well. I am always doing something. After my c-section when I was told I had to rest and couldn't do all of these things I knew I had to find something I could do while sitting on the couch. I decided I'd make Bradley a hat to wear home. Adam took me by Walmart the night I came home from the hospital so I could get a few things I needed including yard. I used Alyssa's kifty knitting loom (since mine is storaged away) to make the hat. I did add a brim to it and I just used the example that comes in the instruction booklet to make it. With Alabama weather being so back and forth this winter I wasn't sure till about two days ago if it would be cold enough for him to wear it coming home but it is.

Bradley's Arrival

I don't think I blogged about it but the week before Bradley's arrival was difficult. I was back and forth from the doctor or labor & delivery pretty much everyday. I swelled, my blood pressure went up, I didn't feel like myself and I gained 16 lbs in the last 11 days which was fluid. Monday I was told she didn't want me to work but she wouldn't put me on bedrest yet but I had to cut back more than I already had. Tuesday I was put on bedrest. Wednesday I spent 6 hours in labor and delivery for a full blood work and monitoring due to swelling. Thursday I spent 6 hours in labor and delivery due to contractions.

Monday before Bradley was born I had an ultrasound done and the tech sad he was 9 lbs 6 oz, but my doctor said he had a lot of fluid around him and she felt like the size was off and I should still be able to have a vaginal delivery. She told me pretty much we were just waiting on me to go into labor. I had a good many contractions that evening and through the night. When I woke up Tuesday morning they were continuing so I hydrated, ate, took a warm shower and rested. Then they all stopped. But that wasn't the only thing that stopped. I had not felt Bradley since around midnight when he had hiccups. I kept telling myself he was just in position and babies always slow down before delivery so I'd just wait on my contractions to pick up. Just before lunch they had not picked up and he still had not moved even after drinking caffeine so I decided to call my doctor. They told me to be in the office at 1 pm.

When I arrived at the doctor's office I did my normal routine and waited on the nurse. The doctor passed me when I was waiting and she told me we were going to do an ultrasound and a NST. The nurse weighed me and in 11 days I had gained 16 lbs that was all fluids. I went for the ultrasound and I heard a good strong heartbeat which made me feel so much better. The ultrasound tech didn't say much and we were done quickly. She told me to sit in the waiting area and the nurse would get me in a few minutes for my NST. When the nurse came and got me she took me to a room and when I asked about the NST she told me the doctor was going to talk to me. When the doctor came in she explained the ultrasound tech did not like the way Bradley wasn't moving on the ultrasound and the doctor wanted to do a CST instead of an NST and see how he responded to contractions and if he didn't respond the way he should then I would have to deliver by c-section that day. I left the doctor's office and walked down to labor and delivery in tears. Once I got to labor and delivery they took me to a room to start the test. The nurse explained I had to have three contractions in 10 minutes and this test could send me into labor. I thought that's ok, I'm ready to deliver.

Once the test was done the nurse told me she thought I was going home, that was at 4:15 pm. At 4:30 pm the nurse came back and said the doctor did not like how the test looked and we were having a c-section. At 4:45 the doctor came in and explained to me and Adam that the baby had a position CST meaning he failed the test. His heart did not respond the way it should and if I went into labor he wouldn't make it and I'd have to have an emergency c-section so she felt it was best to go ahead and deliver immediately. At 5:10 I was wheeled into the OR. I was a nervous wreck, my mind was going a million different directions and I had a ton of questions. There was 3 nurses, 2 doctors, the person to give me the spinal block and his tech; they were all running around me like crazy and they wouldn't let Adam in there so I was a nervous wreck. Once I had the spinal block, they laid me down and it kicked in; they brought Adam in. At 5:35 pm Adam Bradley Anderson Jr was born. He weighed 9 lbs 7 oz and 20 3/4 in.

Before I delivered I knew there was a big chance he'd go to the NICU. When he was born they leaned over the drape so I could see him and then took him to be cleaned up. A few minutes later the NICU nurse came over and told us he needed to go with her to have his breathing checked out. After Bradley got to the NICU we also learned his blood sugar had dropped way below where it should be.

Through the next week he has made great improvements and everyday he continues to improve. His blood sugar has stabilized, his breathing has slowed down and he is now eating from a bottle at every feeding. His white count wasn't where it should be at birth so he also has been on antibiotics and he is taking them for a full 10 days. He is almost done with them. Hopefully in the next few days I will be able to nurse him and we will be on our way to bringing him home. We just continue to pray for him each day.

35 Week Doctor Appointment

Today was my 35 week doctor appointment. Since my last regular appointment I have been to the doctor 3 or 4 times (I've lost count) because of contractions or follow up from contractions. I so badly want the doctor to tell me at _____ weeks he would be ok and wouldn't have to stay in the hospital longer than me, but she won't say it. I completely understand why but it would give me some mental relief and it would keep me from googling and reading other people's stories about delivering early, how the steroids helped, etc.

I found out today I am 2 - 2 1/2 cm dilated and about the same on thinned so about 25%. They have me taking medicine 3 times a day to stop the contractions and unless I am resting all day she wants me to increase it to 4 times a day. I asked when I could stop taking the medicine and she said take it for another week, but also to rest, rest, rest.

I asked about if I went into labor and she said at this point he is past all the major concerns so they wouldn't stop my labor but he may have to stay in NICU for a few days. I feel like from talking to her and her telling me I can quit taking the medicine in a week that after 36 weeks he probably would not have to stay in NICU.

I am worried about the big kids when I am in the hospital. They can't miss school for several days so if I have him during the week they will have to stay at home to go to school and try to make life as normal as possible for them. So I really want to have him on a Friday. They would miss one day of school and then I'd be back home before they went back to school on Monday. I expressed this to the doctor today and she told me the hospital has a new policy and will not let them schedule to induce unless I have a medical reason before 39 weeks which would be the soonest they'd induce me is March 12th, and I don't see me holding out that long. She did say if I come in and I'm 4 cm they will keep me or if I am 3 cm & the monitor shows mountains they'd keep me. I have contractions pretty regular most days, but they aren't painful so I don't say a lot about them. However, the nurse says they may not be painful but they are progressing me so if I have them 5-10 minutes apart for an hour to call. Basically every night at bedtime I should call but my solution has been go to sleep and if they wake me up, call or call the next morning if they keep up. Who wants to spend the night in the hospital, get no sleep and just get sent home the next morning?? Not me!! Besides I have 3 kids in the bed and I don't want their lives being shook up when it's not "time".

Tonight my feet are swollen and very uncomfortable. Hopefully in the morning they will have gone down some and not bother me.

I go back to the doctor next Monday unless something happens before then and we will see how things look then. I am so over the uncertainty of how much longer.

Kids' Valentine's Cards for School

About two months ago I started looking for Valentine's ideas for the kids to take to school. I wanted something different for each class, not candy and something creative. The hardest part was making sure Noah's wasn't too girlie.

I finally decided the cute heart shaped crayons that are all over Pinterest would be good for Taylor's class since she is in kindergarten. Noah's teacher told me earlier in the year pencils are always needed in their class, making something with pencils a good idea. Alyssa's class is reading chapter books this year and she always needs a bookmark.

I can not remember where I found each of these ideas. If you look on my Valentine's board on Pinterest they are all pinned on there with tons of other cute ideas. All three kids are really excited about taking them tomorrow and I am happy because they aren't packed with sugar.

Wipe Case

Before I ever got pregnant I saw this really cute tutorial on covering a wipe case so when I found out I was pregnant I knew I had to make me one. If you'd like to check out the tutorial it is at http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/06/dressed-up-wipe-cases-tutorial.html. Check out the rest of her blog too. She has some really cute stuff.

I covered Bradley's wipe case using some of the fabric I used to make his wreath, some chocolate and white ribbon I already had and a "B" from the pack of letters I got for his wreath. I didn't have enough of the chocolate ribbon to go around the top and bottom of the case so I use the white on the bottom. I think it turned out really cute.

Bradley's Wreath

I always get asked why didn't you give us instructions with how you did that so I decided with this project I'd do a tutorial. I am not so good about taking pictures along the way though. Maybe I'll do better about that next time.

I knew I wanted something baby blue and chocolate and I wanted something that will match his room so I can use it on the door at the hospital and for his room after he gets here. I actually meant to make this like a month ago so I could use it as a baby shower decoration since the theme in his room and for the baby shower match but I didn't get it done in time.

The only craft store in North Jefferson County is Hobby Lobby and its rare I go across town so I got all my supplies there. Also I'm really big about buying things on sale. It's rare that I pay full price for something at Hobby Lobby unless it's a dollar or two. I always check their clearance and the blue fabric was some I found recently on clearance, I got the letters for his name on clearance, I may have paid full price for the animals but they are like a $1 a piece and I used a 40% off coupon for the styrofoam wreath.

The best tool ever for cutting fabric is a rotary cutter. It make things so much easier and you can cut your fabric so much faster. Normally I always wash and dry all my fabric but for whatever reason I didn't wash and dry this fabric. I may have to think about that decision before I decided what I'm going to do with my remaining fabric. I cut 3" strips of the fabric and wrapped them around the wreath to make sure I had enough cut before I started gluing the fabric on. Once I knew I had enough I unwrapped the fabric and started gluing it on. I probably used a lot more glue than I needed but I want it to last. I used my hot glue gun and as I wrapped the fabric I glued it to the wreath. Luckily all my ends started and ended on the back. Once I got done I let it dry and I had to go to the store cause I used a whole pack of glue sticks..oops, but I know it's going to stay on there good.

After going to the store and eating lunch I laid out my letters and animals on the wreath to see where I wanted everything. Then I glued on the letters and animals leaving the unglued ones on the wreath. It also helps to know what parts won't be actually on the wreath so I wouldn't put glue there. After that dried I got some chocolate ribbon that I already had and measured out a piece for how long I wanted the ribbon to hang. Then I flipped the wreath over, got the ribbon straightened out for how I want it to look when it's attached then I glued it on.

Now I have a really cute wreath that's not girlie looking and will match Bradley's room.

Noah & His Bug

We have a rule that if you make a 100 on a test then you get a reward. Alyssa kinda set it last year since she was the first kid to take test that the reward is going somewhere with Mommy with the other kids. In the last two weeks Noah has made a 100 on his spelling test both weeks. He chose Mexican dinner one night which we are going next weekend. But since things are getting difficult for me to go places I decided for the next two months the reward will be I'll buy them something. Noah had recently asked for a hexbug. He got a small one for Christmas but he wanted a bigger so for his two 100 I bought him a new bug. I know it's not quiet the alone time but they seem to be happy and they understand I have to rest.

Contractions = Doctor Visit

I have been trying really hard to not complain about my contractions but this week they have been too regular for comfort even though they haven't been painful. So I finally broke down and call the doctor today. I debated on not calling because after resting they got better but I just felt like I needed to call. I am glad I did call.

By the time I got there the contractions had stopped. But they told me I am 1 1/2 cm and 25% thinned. She gave me some medicine to stop the contractions and told me it isn't like the medicine they gave me when I was pregnant with Noah that I refused to take. She said this doesn't have the side effects the other has. They will have to watch my blood pressure because they use this to lower your blood pressure but basically it's a muscle relaxer. They gave me a steroid shot and I have to go back tomorrow for another one. She said if we waited a week it would be too late for the steroid shot to help develop his lungs any. I go back in a week and if my cervix have progressed more then it's bedrest.

I explained to the kids tonight that they are going to have to be on their best behavior and really help me because the doctor said I may have to stay in the bed but if they will help me maybe I won't have to. I feel bad for Adam because he has been doing more and more around the house over the last few months so I don't have to but it takes both of us just to completely everything we have to do every evening. Dinner, cleaning up from dinner, homework, bathes and laundry..now I know I am going to have to do even less of it than I have been. Just bending over to pick something up is hard on me. But if I can go 3-4 more weeks he should be developed enough to come home when I leave the hospital so at least it won't be too much longer.

Week 33 Doctor Appointment

Today was my 33 week doctor appointment. They did not check his measurement on the ultrasound like last time. The tape showed I am measuring 3 weeks ahead. Last time the tape showed 4 weeks ahead and the ultrasound showed 6. They did a non-stress test to check his heart rate and everything looked good. During the 20 minutes I was hooked up to the machine I had several contractions but she didn't say anything about them. The nurse just told me she saw them on the tape. They also did an ultrasound to check his fluid and he has plenty of fluids. I go back in two weeks then I'll start going every week.

We talked about if I'll need a c-section or not and she said if I deliver at 35-36 weeks then I won't but if I go to 38 weeks then it will be a concern so we'd have to do more measurements the farther along I get. I asked about his lungs if I deliver at 35-36 weeks and she said it is possible he would not go home when I do. So now I'm hoping for around 37 weeks. I think with the way my contractions are that if I rest when they pick up hopefully they won't send me into labor and then when I am 37 weeks do lots of walking and complain to the doctor about them because she'd keep me. That my plan anyway. The way they have been today I should call but I don't want to spend half the night or all night in labor and delivery so I'm going to rest and drink water.

He was not exactly interested in the camera today so we didn't get the best ultrasound pictures but she did give me a few.

Sickness Go Away NOW!!!

I have got to be the sickest person I know. I feel like I am always sick. But normally it's related to sinus problems. Last year I went to the ENT and he said I need the less invasive sinus surgery. Apparently he doesn't know me very well and the word surgery and Sheena do not go in the same sentence. So I left and I have not been back. I have no plans of going back either. But on nights like tonight I sure do wish there was something to give me some relief. Being pregnant I can't take a lot of medicines but surprisingly I can take more than I could when I was pregnant with Alyssa and Noah. But even when I am not pregnant, I do not like to take medicine. I will use the vapor bath and humidifier and tough it out before I'll take medicine. I did break down today and take some medicine. I realized I need something that is going to dry up my sinus and I can take some of that stuff now but I won't be able to when Bradley gets here and I am nursing. So far, no relief from the medicine but it usually takes a day or two and its 24 hour medicine so I've only had one dose so far.

I had some things I wanted to get done around the house this weekend, but with me being sick and the kids not minding I didn't get those things done. I need their help with some of it, but it seems like lately they do not listen at all. Everyone keeps saying its cause I'm pregnant but they have got to get over it before Bradley gets here. I did get most of my thank you cards written, till I ran out of cards. Also I got honor roll stuff ready to take the school in the morning and some copies. Now my to do list is:

1. Finish packing for the hospital. I still have to put together the stuff for the craft for the kids to entertain them during the waiting time.

2. Make Bradley's wreath. I have everything ready. I just have to cut the fabric and glue it all together.

3. Clean out hall closet. This is the only closet I haven't cleaned out yet and it's bad. Maybe I'll take a before and after picture.

Most of the other stuff is just cleaning, picking up and waiting on Noah's room to be done. Noah told Adam today that he wants to move in there as soon as they are done. Any volunteers to help Adam move Noah's bed?? He has a very heavy bed. It has drawers under it and a bookcase headboard. Moving it from the room the girls are in to the room he is in now was a job and that was a small move. The next move will be across the house. But I am glad he is excited about the room.

I go to the doctor in the morning so I guess I need to try to get some rest.

Another Goose Egg

About 1:30 today I got a phone call from Nurse Jodi. Noah was in her office. I just knew it was because of how he felt this morning, because when he got up this hurt and that hurt and this hurt and that hurt. But he didn't have a fever so I gave him some medicine and sent him on to school. I told him if he got to feeling really bad to call me. But that was not the case. He had fallen again and had another goose egg. This time it was on his chin. He was walking to line up for a fire drill and he fell. This time wasn't as bad as last time. I guess the chin doesn't do as much damage as the forehead. She gave him some ice and he went back to class but was told to come back at 2:15. So I asked her to call me back at 2:15 with an update. When she called me back she said the knot was going down but it was already bruising up and it would probably be sore tomorrow. Of course this does happen the week before pictures. Last time I had a picture appointment scheduled Noah fell and had a big goose egg and Alyssa looked like she had two black eyes.

Wishes for Baby

For my baby shower I decided I did not want to have games. I know boring but I figured with everything else it would just be easier on. But then I saw this really cute idea on Pinterest of "Wishes for Baby". I thought it would be a cute keepsake to have. I found some paper at Hobby Lobby to match my theme so with my computer, printer, paper trimmer & glue I now have these really cute "Wishes for Baby" cards for everyone to fill out at the baby shower.

Valentines Countdown

A few weeks ago I found a Valentine's countdown on Pinterest and decided I wanted to make one for my kids since I didn't make the Advent calendar like I had wanted to for Christmas.

Adam brought home a piece of wood for me. I found some cute plastic heats at Dollar Tree and decided they would be perfect to put candy or a small note in. I laid out the hearts on the wood to figure out how big I wanted him to cut the piece of wood. I used my Cricut to cut the stencil for the words. I did copy the same phrase from what I found on Pinterest. "Happy Valentine's Day! Countdown to Kisses!" After I painted the wood black, painted the phrase on in red and hot glued my hearts on I used stickers for the numbers.

Now I just have to decided what I'm going to put in them. I have been thinking about a piece of candy for each kid or a note saying a reason I love them each day. I may change it up some and put a note in some of them and candy in some of them.

Week 30 Appointment

Today was my 30 week check up. It was also the follow up to labor & delivery last week.

I am not going to say what my weight is but so far I have gained 18 lbs. My blood pressure was right where it needs to be today so we agree the blood pressure issue last week was stress & I don't have anything to be worried about as far as that goes.

They decided to check the fluid around Bradley today to make sure he still has enough fluids. Also they wanted to check his size. He does have plenty of fluids around him which resulted in some really good ultrasound pictures including a few 4D ones. As of today I am 30 weeks & 3 days. According to the measurements I am 36 weeks & 6 days with him weigh 5 lbs & 9 oz. Of course that is just an estimate & it could be less & smaller but it does help explain why I am hurting so bad. The doctor would like me to try to go 6 more weeks. Even though he is measuring big his lungs still need more time to develop. If he continues to grow like he is then I may end up having a c-section because of his size.

I am still having contractions but they are irregular. I'll have them 20 minutes apart for an hour or so then they will be 10 minutes apart then I'll go 40 minutes and not have one. She checked my cervix and I am still 1 cm dilated. I go back January 30th unless something happens before then & I have to call them but hopefully it won't.

Grandkids

Lately I have been in the mood to make stuff & I have found so many things on pinterest that I want to make. This weekend was my mother in laws birthday so I decided to make her a photo display I found on pinterest. Thanks to Facebook I was easily able to find pictures of my three nieces so I was able to give it to her with pictures instead of without. I used an ultrasound picture of Bradley so I didn't leave him out. I changed it up a little bit from the one I found on pinterest, I decided to put the kids' names on the pins that holds their picture instead of flowers. It was really easy to make, the part that took the longest was waiting on the paint to dry.