"Happy Due Date" to me...

Well my due date has come, and still has 4 more hours, but I think it's safe to say that I am overdue...again. I thought for sure we'd have our little guy home by now!! Oh well, if he's not here by Thursday we've got another dr. apt. then and hopefully he'll have some good news or he'll have us set a date to be induced. I'm so bummed, huge and exhausted though...

I told Ty that for our next baby (in like 10 years :)) I don't want the doc to tell me my due date because I get so excited and then my babies are always late...so next time I'll have no idea :)!

Anyways, here is a picture of me at 40 weeks exactly. (I just got out of the shower so I look disgusting, plus am getting really fat!) Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end...

One word...HUGE!

PS. Happy Birthday to my "little" bro, Kol! He's 21 today...

More Doctors

Today we had another doctor appointment. Just a routine appointment, except this time I wasn't very happy because we waited in the waiting room for an hour and a half. It wouldn't have been as big of a deal if we didn't have Riley with us. When setting up this appointment I had left just enough time for a small wait (just in case), the appointment and drive home to put Riley down just in time for her afternoon nap. Well, that time came and went. She was really good, but was getting pretty antsy after waiting so long and being SO tired. I was getting pretty antsy, myself, and I wasn't tired...she was a trooper. To make a long story short after we left the appointment she fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot. Poor little thing, she was so sleepy.

This appointment I came out of really disappointed, I mean, I know I've still got a week until my actual due date but Dr. Winter did an exam and I wasn't dilated at all. I also put on 4 lbs. since last week (oops) and I just feel like I'm never going to have this baby!! Maybe I feel like he should already be here because that's all I've heard my WHOLE pregnancy. People have always said "You'll never make it to your due date (probably because I am so big)"...I guess once I started hearing that enough I starting believing it too. Oh well, I can't stay preggo forever...right?? :)

So I've got another appointment set up for next week, I just hope I won't have to go to it! I hope I'll be at home resting with my precious baby boy!

On a side note, I talked to my friend Sarah who is due to have her second baby and they found out today they are having another GIRL! YEAH! I am so excited for them...

35 1/2 weeks preggo...

Updated belly pictures at 35 1/2 weeks: (I'm definitely getting uncomfortable).

We've got a doctor's appointment on Monday so I look forward to see what the doctor has to say. We also start going every week now--that's when you know it's getting so close!!

35 1/2 weeks

35 1/2 weeks

Don't mind Ty's sweats and the Lakeshore t-shirt from 4th grade that I've got on...it was late :)!

ZZZ....

z z z z z.....

Sleep is something I haven't been getting much of lately. I have been so frustrated lately because I have pregnancy insomnia and I'm not sure there is such a thing...but if there isn't, there should be! The last couple of weeks I've been averaging 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night. AND...the only place I can sleep is on the couch, it's the only place I've been comfortable lately.

Last night we went to bed at 9:45 because Ty had to work early but I didn't actually get to sleep until at least 3 am. I know, I know, I probably should get used to such little sleep with the baby almost here, but at least when he is here I'll have a reason not to sleep. I suppose maybe it's maybe my body getting me ready for the months to come!! If this little one is anything like Riley then I'll be lucky to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep. Lets hope he sleeps better as a "newborn" than she did. Although we can't complain much about Riley because since she was 7 weeks old she's slept through the night--about 13 hours. She sleeps from 7 pm until about 7:30 am now, and has done that since she was 2 months old!! But until she was 7 weeks she was up ALL NIGHT, we (well, at least I) literally got an hour or maybe 2 a night.

Anyways, enough rambling for me tonight. Hopefully sleeping tonight will be better--I REALLY NEED IT!!

??? Guesses, Anyone ???

Before Riley was born, Ty and I decided to guess on her "statistics" and see who guesses would be more accurate for fun (I, of course, won :))! So, we decided to do the same with this baby too. So here is the criteria we based our guesses on:

The baby's weight, length, date and time he'll be born on! So does anyone care to put in their two cents?? (Oh and for those who don't know, I'm due May 6th)

Here are our guesses:

Ty thinks he'll be born on April 30th, 2008 at 4:30 pm and weigh 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 inches long.
I think he'll be born on May 1st, 2008 at 4:38 am and weigh 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 inches long.

Ultrasound and Dr. appointment

This past Wednesday (03.05.08) we had another ultrasound in order to determine if it would necessary that I would have to have a C-section. In a previous ultrasound done at 19 weeks the sonographer determined that I had partial placenta previa. This is where the placenta is partially covering the cervix and if it didn't move by the time I went into labor it could cause serious issues and I would have to have a C-section. Anyways we had really been praying that it would move!! So during the ultrasound it was one of the first things the sonographer looked for and sure enough it had moved...THANK GOODNESS. I was really relieved! So we're good to go now...

The sonographer then looked and the baby and fluids and everything according to him looks great. We had a 2D ultrasound first and then a 3D one. According to the ultrasound I'm pretty much right on track with my due date (I'm 31 weeks right now) and it also measured the baby to be about 4 lbs. 2 oz. The sonographer said that's a little above average for 32 weeks...go figure. He'll probably be a decent size if he stays cooking until 40-ish weeks.

After the ultrasound we met the new doctor, Dr. Winter. He seemed like a very nice guy and very knowledgable, but he's no Dr. Pastoriza :)! I'm thankful though that he seemed very caring and I'm sure that he'll be great too!

(The pictures are a lot better quality in original form, but I had to take a picture of a picture with our camera since we don't have a scanner.)

Our little chubby-cheeked baby! (Ultrasound in 3D color)

Similiar picture in black and white! I think this little guy is going to look like Ty too!!

Just when you thought...

...I couldn't get any bigger!! I'm posting my new belly pictures and man, even I couldn't believe how huge my belly is. Is it really possible for this little guy (or my belly) to get any bigger?? Here I am at 32 weeks (almost):

It's also getting pretty bad when I've still got 8 weeks left and already growing out of my maternity clothes, which is starting to happen. Just in the belly though...thankfully. I don't feel like the rest of my body has ballooned yet...we'll see. Isn't it amazing how God designed our bodies to stretch and change in order to "house" a little baby?! It never ceases to amaze me...

I'm feeling well but tired and my feet are starting to hurt more and more. It's getting much more difficult to get out and about with Riley (without Ty) so thankfully we've found crafts and fun things to do on the days when I'm too tired to go anywhere. The baby is kicking like crazy (well more like pushing and rolling) still all day and all night. Most mornings I will roll next to Ty in bed and let the little one kick him and wake him up. I mean if he's keeping me up, Ty should have to be up too, right??? I don't think Ty agrees though :). But he does love feeling the baby move. I know that after I had Riley that was what we missed the most, so we try to take advantage of it now because soon it will be over!

Dr. Update

Monday I had another doctor's appointment (29 weeks)-this one was definitely bitter sweet though. It was great to see everyone and I always look forward to the appointments, but it was also my last appointment with Dr. Pastoriza in Jackson. We weren't sure if we'd be able to find a doctor in Kalamazoo and be able to get an appointment to keep on track with the appointments. So on Monday I dropped Riley off at my mom's and headed up there. Ty was bummed because he couldn't get the day off and he's never missed an appointment (for this little guy and for Riley's appointment before she was born), I have always appreciated that he wants to be there, even for the check-ups!! Everything went really well; I gained another 5 pounds. YIKES! If I keep that up (which I probably will) I'll gain a bit more than I wanted to :)! During the appointment Dr. Pastoriza was feeling the baby and all of a sudden he says "Sorry to tell you this, but, I think you might have a big boy in there...". Just what I wanted to hear :)! I suppose that's maybe why my belly is so huge. I guess I'll find out in 2 months...

I am really disappointed to be leaving Dr. Pastoriza's office, he and his staff are great!!! I couldn't have asked for better care or for a friendlier staff! When Riley was born Dr. P was on vacation the whole week around when she was due and he gave us a note to give to the nurses in labor and delivery when I went into labor and it said "Call Pastoriza for delivery". He said he'd come in and delivery for us even when he was on vactation. But he specifically said "don't have her on Saturday because I have Michigan tickets and won't be around"...so when did we have her?? Saturday of course :)! He couldn't deliver, but he called during half-time and at the end of the game to check on me! Then he came in the next day to check how we both were...and he was still on vacation!! If only every doctor was so caring about his patients!!

The next appointment is on the 25th with the new doctor here in Kalamazoo, Dr. Winter, but it's just a consultation. Then another appointment on the 5th because I start going every 2 weeks now. I think at this appointment we will have another ultrasound too! We'll see...

I would also like to add that Riley did GREAT at my mom's!! (and Jori and Lily weren't there either to play with her). She doesn't usually do well when we leave her but she only cried once: when Jeff put me on speaker phone and she heard my voice. I am thankful she's getting better and beling left with other people!! It will definitely help us out in the long run! Maybe Ty and I can actually go on a date by ourselves. We've only been out together twice since she was born!!

!!! HELP !!!

Okay, we need major HELP! Ty and I sat down tonight trying to figure out boy names for our little one and we can't decide or come up with much, even with the help of baby names books and the internet. We want something different, but not too different and not too common. We need to at least come up with a few options because Riley was un-named for 2 days (poor thing) because we couldn't decide or agree on her name :)! The nurses finally came in and said we had to fill out her birth certificate so we could leave, so we had to decide! ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!!!! We need all the help we can get...:)

27 Weeks...

Brace yourself...here are my updated belly pictures.

I am just over 27 week and I look like I'm about to burst and I still have 13 weeks left! YIKES! I'm not quite sure how or why I get so huge, all I know is that I do. So far I've put on 14 lbs. not too bad?!? I'm feeling great, the contractions have stopped (for the most part) thankfully and I have finally entered into the third trimester; the trimester of backaches, sleepless nights, sore feet, outgrowing maternity clothes, but most importantly the birth of our little one! I cannot believe how fast it has gone by and to be honest, I'm not quite sure I'm ready yet to have two babies running the Paulk Household!

As you probably have figured we're moved into our new place which is really nice, a lot of room, two bathrooms and huge closets and we thankfully have internet. We're not quite all unpacked yet but we're getting there; it's been difficult to get a ton done because it's pretty much Ty doing everything. I help but it's more like I work for 5 minutes and rest for 15, so I don't get much accomplished. Thankfully I have a very understanding and hard-working hubby!

PS. When we get all moved in and cleaned up I'll post new pictures of our apartment.

27 weeks

27 weeks

Hospital Visit(s)

Update (AGAIN): Monday night seemed much the same as the night before. I started having contractions AGAIN and I called up to the ER and they wanted to see me...seems like this is becoming routine! Without going into a ton of detail, I will try to give a shortened version of what the docs are saying now. First of all they have no idea why I am having contractions! Second they are no longer concerned about them because they are not changing my cervix therefore they have no reason to believe that the baby will come early! I had a midwife last night watching over me and she was GREAT, she answered many of my questions and I felt much more at ease after I left the hospital! I am so thankful for God's protection over the baby and myself!! I am also thankful that I am not having to go to the hospital tonight because the contractions have subsided, so far at least! Hopefully it was just a weird thing that happened for a couple of days and they won't come back until the little guy is ready and fully cooked :)! Thanks for your prayers!

Update: Last night (Sunday night) again I had to go up to Labor and Delivery because I was having contractions...they still are unsure what's exactly going on. We hope it doesn't happen again tonight because we're exhausted!! We didn't get home until 3 am and then Riley wakes up around 7ish, so we're not getting much sleep. I called my doctor this morning and was a bit disappointed when he simply said that if it keeps hapening I'll just keep having to go to the Emergency Room since it doesn't happen during the day (when his office is open). I was hoping he'd want to see me and figure this out, but I suppose if it keeps going on then he will. I'll keep you posted on what's going on when they figure it out.

Last night (Saturday night)was a weird night. Ty and I put Riley down for bed at 7:30 and then I pretty much crashed on the couch for a while. I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions soon after I layed down (which is pretty normal) so I decided to get up after a little while and start packing some of our things. I thought that maybe they would subside if I actually got up and did something. So I went into our bedroom and packed while Ty and a neighbor watched a movie in the living room. I came out and told Ty that I was having contractions, more than usual, and he told me I should lay down and rest. So I layed down and went to sleep. Then I woke up around 1 am because I was still having contractions and I would have 8-10 in an hour so I came in the living room and called labor and delivery to see what advise they could give. Jen, one of the nurses, told me to drink 2 big glasses of water and lay down again and if I had more than 4 contractions in 30 minutes to come in. Well I did that and after about 10 minutes I had already had more than 4 contractions. Ty was still awake, playing a game and so we called back to the hospital and they wanted to check things out. Ty called our neighbors at 1:30 am and Melissa came over and slept on the couch so we wouldn't have to take Riley and I wouldn't have to go alone...we are so thankful for them!!

We got to the hospital and they strapped on the monitors to watch our little guy's heart rate and to track my contractions. At first I was having them every 5 minutes and then after about an hour the contractions were about 2 minutes apart. To make a REALLY long story short, they gave me 3 shots of tributlyene to stop the contractions and it worked!! They aren't quite sure why I'm having these contractions, but they don't seem to think that it will put me into labor. The contractions aren't changing my cervix so far, so that's a good sign. The baby looks perfectly safe and healthy, which was a relief! I am only 27 weeks, so that would be WAY too early! We were discharged after they made sure the contractions conpletely subsided with strict orders to take it easy for a couple of days! We got home just after 6am and Riley woke up early (of course) around 7:15! I'm feeling okay today, just tired and a bit out-of-it. The meds they gave me made me feel like I had Parkinson's and was running a marathon, at the same time. It raised my heartrate (and the baby's) substantially, I was out of breath and sweating, and I couldn't stop shaking. Not very comfortable! However, it was all well worth it in order to make sure the baby was just fine. He better stay put for a while, we've still got 3 months to go! Please pray that it doesn't happen again (the doctor's seemed to think it was a fluke thing that won't happen again, until actual delivery) and that our little one stays healthy!

Happy Superbowl-Day!!!

Stocking Up!!

Okay, well for most of you that know me you know that I can get a deal on just about anything. Well, a couple of weeks ago Target had a coupon for Huggies products and I definitely took advantage of it. I bought 140 travel size packages (normally $1.47 each) and I got them all for free (well actually I got money off the rest of my purchase because the coupons were for $1.50 off any Huggies product). I also bought 60 containers of the normal size wipes (normally at least $2.50 each) for a total of almost $5.00. I think we'll be set on wipes until both babies are out of diapers (seriously)! I also got 12 bottles of Huggies shampoo or baby body wash (normally $3.00 each) for $1.50 total.

These are the regular size of wipes, the 140 travel size are already packed away!! Right now they're taking up a good portion of our closet.

Then yesterday I found a great deal at CVS. I bought 16 packages of Pampers diapers jumbo pack (normally $10.50 or more each) for a total of $40.00 (that's $2.50/package). Then this morning I went back to CVS because I found more coupons and they had a great deal on Huggies diapers. This morning I bought 32 packages of Huggies diapers jumbo pack (normally $10.50 or more each ) and 6 bottles of Johnson's baby wash (normally $4.50 each) for a total of $29.00!!! It turned out to be about $.75/package of diapers!! My mother would be so proud!!

It's going to be a pain to move them all, but I couldn't pass on such a great deal!!

Riley was excited to see all the diapers because they all have pictures of babies on them, so she went from package to package kissing each baby!! It was priceless.... (This picture shows half of the diapers)

Pampers in Riley's closet...some are for her and some are for the new baby!

So this is what we got and how much I spent:

140 travel wipes: FREE

60 pkgs. of normal size wipes: $5.00

16 pkgs. of Pampers: $40.00 ($2.50/package)

32 pkgs. Huggies Supreme: $25.00 ($.75/package)

6 J&J products: $2.00

12 Huggies shampoo/body wash: $1.50

Belly Pictures: 23 Weeks and Counting!

Okay, as promised here are my updated belly pictures. I feel like my belly is getting huge even quicker than it did with Riley. You be the judge :)! I hope this little guy isn't bigger than Riley was!!

23 Weeks

Doctor Updates

So I'm a little behind in posts, but am trying to get caught up. Last week Riley had her 15 month doctors appointment. We have truly been blessed with such a healthy and active little girl! She has only been sick once since she was born. She went for her routine checkup and to get another round of shots. We got to the doctor's office and were immediately called into an exam room (they're always good about being on time, which I am thankful for). I got Riley naked and waited for the nurse to weigh her and measure her length. She is now 19 lbs. and 31 inches long! She definitely had a growth spurt and I was so happy to see that she's back on the growth chart for her weight, granted she's only in the 1 percentile, but 3 months ago she was way below the line!! She is, however, in the 50th percentile for her height so maybe she'll be tall and thin...but then again who knows! She got three shots in her little thighs, and the poor little thing screamed so bad when she got them. I ALWAYS get teary-eyed when she gets her shots because I hate to see her in pain. I brought her sippy cup along because it always comforts her and it did until she drank all of her milk...then she cried the whole way out of the office and the entire 25 minute drive home. She was much better when we got home, as long as I was holding and cuddling her (I love that she's a cuddler!!!!). This went on for about 2 1/2 hours...lets just say that I was exhausted carrying her around for over 2 hours. It's hard carrying her for so long because I have to hold her high enough to carry her over my growing belly!! By that night, daddy got home and she was back to her normal self! THANK GOODNESS!!

The following is Riley's WEIGHT growth chart, so far:

The following is Riley's LENGTH growth chart:

I also had a doctor's appointment the next day for this little guy that I'm carrying!! It was also just a routine appointment. I was 22 weeks at the time and everything is going very smoothly. This pregnancy, so far, has been a breeze compared to my pregnancy with Riley! I started out at 105 lbs. and am now 115. So I've put on 10 lbs...not too bad, the doc is very pleased with my progress. I'm hoping to not put on as much weight as I did with Riley. This baby is very active and is constantly moving...definitely the best part of pregnancy! I love feeling him move and knowing that he's growing and getting stronger daily. We're also going to have another ultrasound at 32 weeks to make sure the placenta has moved. I'm starting to get really big and have alreay gotten the comments "You look like you could be due anyday" and "Are you having twins?"...then I tell them I still have 4 months to go and they are in shock. It's actually kind of funny, but gets old after a while! I will be posting some belly pictures soon...check back. :)

Half way there!!

Tomorrow I will be 20 weeks along, half way there already! I can't believe it has gone by so quickly...definitely much quicker when you're chasing a 1 year old around and have other things to do than lay on the couch and feel the baby move all day long. (Although when Riley goes to sleep that's pretty much what I do the rest of the night :)!



Here I am at 19 1/2 weeks:

Baby Paulk #2...coming this May!

We had the ultrasound for baby number #2 on Tuesday, as we like to refer to HIM as (at least until we come up with a name, which could be a while given our track record). Yes, I said HIM...we are having a baby BOY!! We are so blessed to be have one of each. God is so good. Here are a few of the many ultrasound pictures that were taken. God has blessed us with one very healthy baby and we pray that this little guy is just as healthy. So far the docs. say everything looks great, we'll have another ultrasound around 28 weeks because of where the placenta is located right now. It needs to move because it is blocking the cervix, but the ultrasound tech said that 9 of 1o times it will move...we pray that it does, because if it doesn't I will have to have a C-Section.

Time to Catch Up...

So to catch those of you up on our lives who don't know...Riley is now 14 months old, and growing like a weed. I can't believe how time flies. It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital and getting no sleep what-so-ever! Also, Ty and I are having another baby, due May 6th, 2008 (also my brother, Kolby's birthday). We found out this past Tuesday that we are having a little BOY!! We are both so thrilled and so excited to have a girl and a boy now!! Ty can't wait to dress him in baby Superman pajamas and play action figures with him and I think Riley will do great having a little brother. She loves babies! I'm not convinced that she quite knows exactly what's going on, but she definitely notices a change in my appearance. All day long she enjoys lifting my shirt to kiss "the baby" (I think she may think my belly button is the baby because when I say "are you going to kiss the baby?" she plants one on my belly button.) It is so cute, whether she understands or not.

As I said, Riley is 14 months now, she has 12 teeth and is such a blast to be with all day. I am so lucky to be able to stay home with her! She says a few words: Mama, Dada, all done, hi, hot, and chicken (kinda random, I know) but she does even more sign language which is so cute and helpful to us too. At her last check up (her 1 year apt.) she was 15 lbs. 14 oz. and 28 inches long. She's a tiny little thing. But, since then I think she's had a growth spurt, but we'll see because she has another appointment on Dec. 27th.

Staying home with Riley keeps me on my toes and very busy!! I don't get a ton of time to myself anymore, but I have enjoyed going to the Mother's Club at our church. It's nice being around others going thru the same things and I really wanted to get involved in a Bible Study. Other than that I spend my days changing diapers, making meals, running errands, reading books, playing with Riley and when I'm lucky taking a much needed nap.

Ty is still working at LaSalle Bank, he enjoys his co-workers but not necessarily the job. He is also going to school full-time to finish up his MBA (Masters in Business Administration). He is also a GREAT help with Riley, whether it is giving baths, feedings, or simply keeping her occupied so I can take a nap, I appreciate all he does for us. He is also making late-night runs to the grocery store for my pregnancy cravings, again. What a great husband I have, I am truly lucky!!

Riley loves hiding under things, we always find her reading too!