Crazy Days of Summer

Pregnancy Update: 37.5 weeks

I saw my doctor yesterday morning.  Looks like I'm now dilated to 2 cm but cervix is still hard - not very thin.  This is not good, she explained.  She said that you don't want a whole lot of dilating without the thinning of the cervix.  So, she has threatened to strip my membranes next week if we haven't progressed.  Unfortunately, I've heard that procedure is pretty painful.  Anyway . . . good news is Hubby made it home today and the stress and worry of wondering if he'll make it home for the birth of the baby is over.  So, now I'm off to power walk and do all the home remedy stuff they say to do to get my cervix to cooperate and hopefully avoid that procedure on Tuesday.

Please pray for our school district

I'm saddened.  Below, I've posted a link to the news report.  If you all have not heard, one of the principals in our school district, the school district I grew up in, is now facing criminal charges from the ACLU for asking a fellow faculty member to bless the food at a faculty luncheon.  Both men are facing criminal charges, as we speak.  They both could potentially receive a sentence of up to 6 months in jail.  We've had a tough time in our school district trying to fight the rulings of the court on prayer in school.  In fact, our students were told that they were not allowed to pray at their own school functions.  For years, graduation speeches have been made by the Valdivictorians - but this year, they were told what they "could" and "could  not" say.  Everything had to be approved.  Well, these students (at Mr. Lay's school), decided to stand up for what they believed in and it is my understanding that they entered graduation and started praying.  Mr. Lay was chastized for not stopping them. 

Please, pray for our school district.  My heart hurts for these students and for the future.  What about my children?  Some of my best memories from school involved "See You At The Pole" and "Fellowship of Christian Students".  I understand that some students may not want to pray and that they believe it is their "right" to not pray.  Fine.  But don't take away the rights of those who do want to pray.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." —1 Peter 4:12-14, 16

Pregnancy Update

** NOTE: Some of this post may seem quite graphic.  So . . . if you're a male or even a female and you're not interested in hearing about it . . . skip down and I'll let you know when it's safe to read again.**

Well, I went for my check up yesterday.  I'm pretty much in the same condition as I was a week ago.  Still 1 cm dilated - however, my belly has grown now and actually is more in line with the weeks of pregnancy.  This is good because it means that the baby has grown.  Hubby came home for a brief surprise visit.  Man, I needed that.  However, this morning, I'm crampy.  The right side of my abdomen and back hurt.  It helps to walk, so that's what I've been doing.  I'm seeing quite a bit of mucus, but that just could be because the doctor checked me yesterday.  I've got lots of activity planned, so walking is good.  Other than that, nothing new to tell.  Just hanging in there and waitin' for my girl to let me know when she wants out.

** Ok, it's safe to read now . . . I'll give you all the short of it:

Baby is fine.  Still 1 cm dilated with not a lot of progression except that the baby finally grew (this is a good thing).  Walking a lot today because I'm crampy and it feels better to walk.  Other than that . . . we're all good.

As a side note, I purchased the cutest little carseat cover EVER!!  When I was pregnant with my first girl, we didn't know the gender of the baby.  So, the infant seat that I have is a neutral green.  So, I figured what's the point in knowing you're having a girl if you can't really just go all out -- full blown pink, you know?  I didn't do this with my second one - she's more of a purple gal now.  But man, there are some cute things out there for babies now. 

 

This is the carseat cover --- see, I told you it was cute!

And just look at these burp clothes . . .

 

Yes, I know they'll just be catching spit up, but aren't they the cutest things ever!

Ok, I need to run and actually get some things done today.  I'll be back to check in again!

Swimming Lessons

Yep - that title is as creative as I can be right now.  But I thought I'd tell you all that Maddy has been taking swimming lessons.  The local YMCA offers two week sessions.  I thought it was about time to get some professional assistance with the whole swimming thing.  Maddy does pretty good on her own, but she needed someone to really work with her on swimming skills - moving her arms, kicking her legs, keeping her head above water and holding her breath.  She does these things sometimes, but has never really been taught.  So, for 30 minutes the past 3 mornings, Baby Lulu and I have been hanging out on the bench by the pool watching Maddy master swimming.  She's been doing really well.  By the end of the first session, the instructor had her dunking her head underneath the water.  I was impressed.  Each day, I've seen such a wonderful progression.  But today . . . she was in a funk.  I'm not sure what got into her, but she just decided that she didn't want to jump in.  She didn't cry or anything, but I did see her wave off the instructor several times.  After the lesson, I took a couple of minutes to talk with Maddy.  I asked her if something was wrong or if she was scared.  She assured me that everything was fine (in a totally grown up way) and said she had a good time.  So, my next step (cause I'm one of those interferring mothers who have to be in control) was to speak to the instructor (just to make sure that this was totally normal).  After speaking with her instructor, she said Maddy was just having an "off" day and that it was ok.  She was doing just fine and this was totally normal.  So . . . that was good enough for me. 

After swim lessons, we made a quick trip to the park (because I'd been promising the girls everyday and totally flaked out on them because I'm like a million weeks pregnant and fat as a blimp).  We played at the park for a while and then we loaded up to head home.  And then all day, the girls kept bugging me to "go do something fun".  Hello?  Swim lessons, the park?  Do these activities not constitute fun anymore??  I started to feel a little guilty, like maybe I really was depriving them of a fun filled day.  And then, I totally got over that.  I mean, that's what's wrong with a lot of children today -- they expect their parents to run around like chickens with their heads cut off - shuttling from here to there all in the name of "fun".  Well, no m'am!  Not this Mama.  Especially not in this condition.  So . . . we had a bubble bath and spa time.  I painted their finger nails and toe nails.  And the world was good again.  We had "fun". 

As for the baby that's cooking in my tummy. . . I've been trying to coax her out into this world.  However, I've concluded that she's either afraid of me or she's afraid of those loud girls --- or maybe both -- 'cause she's not budging.  I mean, she's moving around enough to poke me and let me know that room inside there is pretty limited.  And every now and then, she gives me a good poke (not sure why) . . . but she's still in there, safe and sound.  I've got a doctor's appt tomorrow so we'll see if any progress has been made this past week. 

That's all for now . . . I'll try to let you know something after the appointment.