love

Heidi had several visitors in the days after her birth.  It was so nice to see everyone share in the joy of our new baby girl.  I didn't get pictures of everyone who came to see her, and I'm disappointed about that now as I think about it.

Introducing Miss Heidi Lee Miller

Well, now that she's a month old, I guess I'll finally post about her arrival.  At my 37 week appointment we discovered that my blood pressure was too high.  The same thing happened when I was pregnant with Isaac.  All the tests came back normal, so I wasn't diagnosed with toxemia.  However, due to the level of my blood pressure, I was ordered to restricted activity by my doctor which means I couldn't work.  I went back to the doctor on July 1st to have another checkup, and my blood pressure was still high.  I was 38 weeks and three days.  This was about the same point in my pregnancies that I had both of the boys.  I had honestly wondered if I would make it to 39 weeks since I never had before.  At my appointment, my doctor decided to go ahead and reschedule the c-section and not wait until July 10th.  The first date the doctor was able to get was Wednesday, July 3rd at 7:00.  This was the exact same time that Alex's tonsillectomy was scheduled.  So, I asked my doctor if there was any way we could do it a different day.  It turns out that we were able to get in that evening on July 1st at 5:00 pm.  So, after my appointment I came home and finished packing up my stuff and the boys' stuff so we would be ready to go.  I had to be at the hospital at 2:00, so C left work early and came home so we could go to the hospital together.  The boys were at Fun Company that day, and Isaac had an appointment scheduled to see his dentist to have his space maintainer repaired.  It was really bothering him, so I made arrangements for his Grammy to take him to the dentist.  Thankfully he got to his appointment and then to the hospital before his sister was delivered.  It was a very easy process.  We arrived at the hospital a little before 2:00 and she was delivered at 5:13 pm.  The c-section was a much better experience than my previous ones.  With my boys I had epidurals and hotspots with each one, so there was some pain once the procedure was in process.  This time, though, I got a spinal instead, and it worked much better.  There was no pain at all.  The only side effect was dizziness and nausea when they first gave me the shot, but the anesthesiologist was very quick to give me what I needed to fix that.  The procedure was quick considering the scar tissue from my previous c-sections, and our baby girl arrived very healthy and crying nicely.  It was such an amazing experience, even though it was my third time to experience it.  She will be our last child because I also had a tubal ligation after the c-section.  After they finished with the procedures, we were in recovery for a couple of hours and then they moved me to the postpartum room that we had for the rest of our stay. I am recovering nicely and am a little less sore each day. Heidi is a great baby so far.

While I was in the hospital, Alex had his tonsillectomy done at the surgery center  at the hospital where I was staying.  C and my mother took him in for the procedure at 5:30 am on July 3rd.  I had a difficult time sleeping that morning after C left to go with my mother to the surgery center.  Thankfully, he sent me a couple of pictures while he was there, so I had some idea of how Alex was doing.  He did well and after the procedure, we discovered that he had rather large tonsils.  So large that the ENT said they were the size of walnuts.  While I was still in the hospital Alex (and Isaac) stayed with my parents and my mother took care of him.  We came home on the 4th. After we got home, my parents brought the boys home too. 

I have been rather sore for several days, but the pain is getting less and less every day.  Alex had some pretty bad pain at first and he fought us to take his pain medicine.  Thankfully, though, he has been good about drinking plenty of water and other fluids.  He has done much better than his brother did when he had his tonsillectomy.  He is feeling much better today and has been eating well and is down to taking only Tylenol for his pain.

Next week is full of doctors appointments for me and Heidi and getting ready for a jewelry party that C's cousin is having at our house.  I can't even begin to explain how happy I have been this past week.  I am so grateful to have a healthy baby girl and two strong, healthy, hard-headed, handsome and intelligent boys.  I am so thankful for my husband who is always there to do what needs to be done to take care of our family.  Our family is truly complete. 

hlm - 9 months

Today hlm is 36 weeks and 5 days.  I can hardly believe that our baby girl will be here three weeks from today. (If not sooner.)  I'm really hoping she waits until her scheduled delivery though, because her big brother, Alex, has an appointment for a tonsillectomy one week before her scheduled delivery.

Size of HLM:

your baby at 36 weeks

She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own.

Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid.

Her liver and kidneys are in working order.

Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.

Total Weight Gain:

5 lbs since last appointment, 21 lbs total

Maternity Clothes:

Most of the time.  Still some non-maternity shirts and casual pants

Gender:

GIRL

  Movement:

Still moving all the time.  Mostly rolls and stretches, not too many kicks and punches these days.

What I Miss:

Nothing.

Cravings:

Lately it has been pizza and anything cold to drink: ice cold water, frozen lemonade, frozen coke, etc.

Symptoms:

Bad carpal tunnel pain in both hands, wrists and arms (at times), swollen feet, ankles and legs, and significant itchy skin at times.

Best  Moment of the Week:

My mother getting to see her move while she had the hiccups. 

What I'm Looking Forward To:

My next Dr. appointment, assembling her stroller and installing her carseat base in my van and Mr.'s car.

hlm - 35 weeks and other stuff

Spring has come for sure and my lilies are starting to bloom.

CM bought this lily when Isaac was born.  It has really multiplied over the past ten years!

He bought this one when Alex was born, so it's close to seven years old.  It hasn't multiplied quite as much yet.

My mother and I have gone to CMA Fest several times over the years.  But, this is our first year to have tickets for all four nights.  Last night was our first night, and the Fest ends on Sunday. 



Momma and Me and HLM at 35 weeks



The view from our seats





Size of HLM:

Total Weight Gain:

3 lbs since last appointment, 16 pounds total

Maternity Clothes:

Most of the time.  Still some non-maternity shirts and casual pants.

Gender:

GIRL

 Movement:

She still moves all the time, but more stretches and rolls than anything.

What I Miss:

Nothing. :)

Cravings:

Still anything frozen: Frozen Lemonade, Frozen Coke, Slushes from Sonic

Symptoms:

Still significant swelling in my hands, ankles and feet.  Pretty bad carpal tunnel in both hands now.

Best Moment of the Week:

Receiving a gift of more cute clothes for her.

What I'm Looking Forward To:

Putting her travel system and playard together and installing the car seat bases.



first and last

Isaac has six games left in his first season of baseball.  He has played soccer for the past several years, but he decided he wanted to try baseball.  So, that's what we've been doing this spring.  He is on a fairly good team; they've won and lost almost the same number of games.  Isaac is still learning, but he has improved greatly from when he started practicing in March. 

Last Friday was his last day of elementary school.  In the county we live in, elementary school ends at the fourth grade.  It seems so strange to me that he'll be starting a new school in August.  We toured the middle school a couple of weeks ago, and he was so excited.  He is ready for middle school, and that makes this transition easier for me.  I am just so amazed that I will have a middle school child, an elementary school child, and a newborn.  Wow.

baby HLM at 33 weeks

 

In just a few short weeks, our lives are going to get even busier.  But thankfully, the sports will be over until winter basketball.  C decided that the boys didn't need to play soccer while we are adjusting to having a newborn again.  I was a little hesitant at first because I didn't think it was fair to the boys, but they don't seem to mind, and I am actually glad now that we won't have to juggle that along with everything else.  We are still in the process of getting our house ready to sell, and we are hoping that once we get it on the market it will sell quickly.

49 days

I had another doctor's appointment yesterday.  I am currently 32 weeks and 4 days.  Miss HLM will be here in 49 days.  Wow.

Size of HLM:

Total Weight Gain:

4lbs since last appointment (man, she's growing!), 13 pounds total

Maternity Clothes:

Most of the time.  Still some non-maternity shirts and casual pants.

Gender:

GIRL

Movement:

She moves all the time, but her movements have changed.  I now feel more rolls and turns than kicks and punches.

What I Miss:

Nothing.  I am trying to enjoy every little thing, even the discomforts, since this will be our last pregnancy.

Cravings:

Anything cold: Frozen lemonade, Frozen Coke, Slushes from Sonic

Symptoms:

Still significant swelling in my hands, ankles and feet.  Pretty bad carpal tunnel in both hands now.

Best Moment of the Week:

Finishing up all the shopping for HLM after my last baby shower.  And, scheduling her delivery.

What I'm Looking Forward To:

Putting her travel system and play yard together and installing the car seat bases.

hlm - thirty one weeks

Size of HLM:

Total Weight Gain:

2 lbs since last appointment, 9 lbs total

Maternity Clothes:

Yep, most of the time

Gender:

GIRL

Movement:

She moves all the time, and I love it!

What I Miss:

Still nothing. :)

Cravings:

Lemonade and Frozen Coke (but I only indulge with one every now and then...)

Symptoms:

Carpal tunnel pain in both wrists and hands now and swelling in ankles and feet.

Best Moment of the Week:

Both of the boys getting feel their little sister have the hiccups, and celebrating our baby girl with friends and family at two baby showers.

What I'm Looking Forward to:

My next doctor's appointment in less than two weeks.  I can hardly believe I'm already to that point!  She'll be here before we know it!

We decided not to do the 3D/4D ultrasound. We didn't do it with either of the boys, and there are better things to spend that money on anyway.