Twice a week starting at week 26...

There is a plus minus to being a high risk pregnancy, the plus 2-4 doctor visits a week, the minus 2-4 doctor visits a week! While this makes the time go faster, it definitely means I spend a lot of time a the doctors office. As most readers of my blog know I had beautiful baby boy born still at the end of my 27th week of pregnancy; because of this at 26 weeks gestation I am monitored with NST's and BPP's twice a week. A plus here is I see my baby on ultrasound every Tuesday and Friday.

This is what I look like kicked back in the recliner for my NST:

The lovely machine:


My side kick:

She loves to see her brother on the ultrasound, and usually reads books, colors or plays on the tablet during my NST's. She is so good and patient. This particular day she was chatting it up with Grandma on the phone.


This is outside my perinatologists office:


In addition to all of this fun there is also a monthly growth ultrasound and regular OB visits too!!!

I am all done with growth ultrasounds as my last one is the day before my c-section so they just canceled it, but I am 37 weeks and still have 3 visits this coming week and 2 more plus having the baby the following week. It sure is getting exciting around here!

8 months (3/21/12)...

That's right folks I made it to 8 months!!! Can you believe it? I can't!

The little turkey dropped at 32 weeks and has remained head down since about week 20. I think its funny that this is my last pregnancy (really no choice there between my history, c-sections, etc.) and this is my first baby to ever be A) head down, B) drop, C) not suffer IUGR, and D) cause his mother to have daily contractions starting at week 28. Can we say over achiever! He is trying to make up for all of his siblings lack of know how. My doctor says that he just wants to make sure that I experience as much of a true pregnancy as possible. Mission accomplished, minus labor ( and I did experience that with his sister Trena even though she still ended up a c-section too). I am so thankful that everything continues to look healthy with our little guy and that my c-section is just around the corner.

My point of view.

Stitches, take 3, although this time its Ava (3/5/12)...

On March 5th while watching a movie, Ava was dancing around during one of the songs and tripped and fell and hit her head on our rock fire place. Ava immediately started crying and I ran to her to find what looked like smeared chocolate on her forehead as all the blood rushed to the site. As soon as I got her to the couch it split open and the blood came gushing out pooling in her ear and hair (amazingly none got on anything else). This all happened right as the garage door opened and dad pulled in from work, he of course confirmed stitches were needed and we loaded in the car and headed back to dad's work. When we got there they knew that we were coming because Brent had called ahead and they had all the paper work ready to go and took us right back, another PA at the urgent care attached to Brent's family practice office quickly stitched up our brave little girl, dad didn't want to hurt his little girl and passed the buck to someone else. She cried harder when they numbed her and the first poke, but then she did great and was a super trooper! In the van on the way to the clinic Katrena was crying harder than Ava, I have to admit I loved that she was so upset that her sister was hurt. It truly shows how much they love one another!

I didn't get any pics of the bloody injury as I was too busy being mom. So here she is with a bandaid over the fresh stitches, and the blood all cleaned up right after we got home.

She was of course given stickers for being a brave girl, I love that she stuck them on her legs and refused to take them off for days! I had to scrub them with rubbing alcohol to get all the adhesive off.

They said to keep the stitches in for 3-5 days and being on the face we wanted to try and prevent scaring so dad took them out after 3 days. This is what the stitches looked like without the bandaid right before dad removed the stitches.



Once the stitches were removed Dad put steri strips on to help it heal even better.

And here she is now after the steri strips have fallen off

Florence Nightingale...

When I was three years old my Grammy Ann bought this cute nurses outfit for me for Halloween. Both of my sisters also wore this costume and so did my Trena bug, well for some reason and I have know idea why I forgot to have Ava wear it last year! So we had a fashion show and she dressed up with her play dr kit and dad's stethoscope.

Primary 3-11-12, Ava

Last week after church Ava came home with the monthly newsletter full of excitement because she was to give the scripture and prayer in primary, and has talked about it everyday this past week.

Today was the day and she did such an adorable job! I am so proud of her! She read Alma 37:35, my favorite part was when she tried to say youth and it comes out looth.

No picture because she ran in the door and quickly changed her clothes.

PAW 2012 (3/3/12)

Last year and this year Trena was able to take place in a 6 week Performance Arts Workshop put on by the local highschool singing performing group. Each Saturday practice lasted 4 hours and they learned multiple songs and simple dance moves. This years theme was Its a Small World.

Trena's hair is in a braid with a white flower holding her bangs back.

They started off with a chant about being anything you want to be.

Next up was Africa with Waka Waka by Shakira.

Next was an Irish song by the littlest kids and then Trena's group performed a Japanese song, followed by another song by the oldest group of kids.

Next the whole group did a Bollywood song

Followed by We are The Children, were Trena had a solo. Then its a small world with the conclusion being our National Anthem.

Here is a video of the night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkPnlc4nhcQ&hd=1

It was a fun night and we were so glad we could all go and watch Trena perform, she did a great job!

I also want it to be made known that while I did record the national anthem I had my right hand over my heart and filmed with my left hand. I am making note of this because I feel that it is so important that we stand allegiance during this song and for our flag.

Baby Shower 3/3/12...

My sweet friend Mal gave me a baby shower yesterday, she went all out on food and decorations, it was adorable and fun and we had a great time just chatting as friends.

Ashley, me, Tonja, Rebecca, and Malarie with baby Harlee

Ava with Josie (Ashleys daughter) in Siena's room. Siena had gone to her cousins with her dad, mom decided she could only have one daughter there and be the hostess. Can't say I blame her.

The cute food table! We didn't get a photo until after we'd started eating but the frames had what each item was (and it was all delicious). There was veggies and dip, mini fruit pizzas sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting and diced strawberries, kiwi's and blueberries, then there was 7 layer bean dip individual cups with chips and an adorable cupcake stand with cupcakes in a jar with blue and green frosting.

Mal made this cute garland and subway art for the shower. The fabric used is actually the fabric that I am doing his "corner" in.

The subway art is a list of rock bands including two of his dads favorites: RUSH and Dream Theater.

Mal also made this ADORABLE bunting for me (again the fabric his "corner" is being done in), the ends are burp cloths, then there is a crinkle tag toy, bib and a onesie with a guitar appliqued on the front. LOVE IT! She also gave me another burp cloth, and a blanket and sleeper with guitar fabric as well.

Tissue paper pom poms out of the colors

Opening presents! Ava was my little helper, she was so excited and made me tell everyone how excited she was to have a little brother.

Funny side note, that morning as I was getting ready I told her I was going to go get in the shower and she asked why because I was going to be showering at Malaries house. I LOVE it.

Our fun goodies! My friend Ashley gave us one of those soft blanket stuffed animals that is a monkey. Totally fun because Trena gave one of those to Ava at the hospital when she was born too.

Me and my girls, I love this picture. Trena was my great photographer for the day, so she wasn't in any of the other photos.

I also forgot to mention Brent dropped by to check out all the fun, but I hadn't gotten the camera out yet. But I still want to remember how much it meant to me that he stopped by after his work meeting.

Crazy Ava, when we arrived at the shower she had a headband in her hair, a jean skirt on over her leggings and a purple, pink and white striped sweater. You can obviously tell how comfortable she is at Mal's house.

Another funny side note: we haven't officially picked out a name, but the one we are leaning towards is not Ava's first choice. So the other day I asked Ava what she wanted to name her baby brother. Ava looked at me and said well, Harlee is a girls name so I think we should name him Harlot!!! So there you have it folks According to the three year old our baby should be Harlot North!