Pregnancy Update!

It sure has been awhile since I wrote about my pregnancy! Once January hit, I lost a lot of steam. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant-- 35 days to go!

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures my best friend Brooke came and took at our home last week! I could not have been more pleased! I had taken photos when I was pregnant with Brenna, but I think only two of them were worth printing. I really feel like these pictures showed how much I am enjoying this pregnancy!

A big plus is that I'm not swollen like I was with the first so I actually feel pretty comfortable with what I can wear. It's starting to get warm so wearing long dresses and skirts has been a blast! Having Brenna around to talk to about what life will be like when the baby gets here is so neat.

I decided that I really am going to miss being pregnant. I never thought I'd say that! Besides my kidneys acting badly again, I have had a fantastic pregnancy. And Joe and I are pretty certain this will be our last child so I am also treasuring each day. 

It probably helps that I'm still sleeping well and am very distracted by a very active, heart-melting two-year-old toddler! She asks to give her baby sister a "kiss" on my tummy. She is planning on helping with everything except "sharing mom and dad". :o)

The baby (still no official name!) is over 5 pounds now and is at least 18 inches long. She is pretty much just gaining more fat until her debut. One of my favorite parts is not knowing when she is coming! I can't wait to call Joe (again) and tell him it's time! While the last week of April sounds nice, I'm 99% certain she'll come in May. I just have a feeling.

My baby shower is this weekend! I cannot wait! I was soooo against having one for awhile, but with my friends and family encouraging it, I'm so glad I gave in. I just love seeing all the women I love altogether eating delicious food, talking and celebrating special occasions. And this baby girl is such a joyful celebration we've been waiting for! 

Joe and I had hoped to be moved into our own place before she came, but God has had other plans. We are settling in here as a soon-to-be family of FOUR! Daily I'm trying to buy the finishing touches for her room and I feel a lot of peace lately. I sure needed that peace about now!

So we'll see what the next five weeks bring! I have done a lot of spring cleaning and have just a few things left on my 'list' so while I feel mostly ready, I am not ready just yet! 

100 Days...

...to go!!!

It's kinda fun making it to (seemingly) big milestones when you're pregnant. It keeps things exciting.

Speaking of exciting... I found myself in the hospital again with intense kidney pain. I was 24 weeks and JUST had my 24-week check-up with my doctor that afternoon. Joe and I babysat our niece and nephew that night till about 9 p.m. and I had taken a relaxing bath that night as well. I was so ready for bed! At about 1 a.m. I woke up suddenly with pain in the pelvic area. I thought, "Oh great, I got a U.T.I. from taking a bubble bath!" so I took a couple of non-Asprin, hopped in the shower for warmth and tried to keep my bladder empty.

An hour later, the pain had traveled up and around to my right kidney. I then knew what was happening. I started to throw up and woke up my mom and Joe. Joe took me to the E.R. and my parents stayed home with Brenna. They admitted me quickly and gave me pain medication, did a catheter and tested my urine, and took some blood. EIGHT hours later, they decided to admit me to the hospital. They had given me Dilaudid every hour with very little relief. No infection detected. They did an ultrasound to see if they could detect kidney stones, with no luck. Last resort, a CT scan. I hate being put in this situation the most because everyone knows it's harmful for a baby to be exposed to radiation. But my doctor made the call and felt it was safe since I was almost to the 3rd trimester. A kidney stone popped up.

My doctor came a visited me and was very concerned. I was so glad to see him, he is good at showing he cares. A urologist came and said he decided to have me wait till the next morning before he made a decision about surgery. I knew it was going to be the longest, most painful night of my life. No amounts/kinds of medication they could give me was helping. At most I could get 1 1/2 hours of sleep, max. Then I'd be sitting up and standing up, pacing the room hoping to get some relief.

People ask me what it feels like to have kidney stones. It absolutely feels like the most intense contraction when you're in labor, except you don't get a 30-second break in between them. The pain can last from a minute-15 minutes where you can barely breath, can't sit or lay against anything because the pressure is too awful. It really is the worst pain I've ever experienced and wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have new empathy for people who struggle with kidney stones more regularly! How awful that must be!

I finally got the OK on surgery. I knew all along it was what I needed. I was given a sedative and then an hour later, woken up. They had found a different kidney stone that had been blocking part of my ureter. It was so pokey it never would have passed on its own. They actually showed it to me afterwards! They also implanted a kidney stent that I couldn't get out for ten days.  I felt instantly better though and could finally eat a little. They kept me over night and released me the next day.

Here I am, three days away from getting this stent out and counting down the days/hours. It's not so bad, the last time with Brenna's was by far worse, but it's still uncomfortable! The worst part is getting it taken out because you feel like they're going to take the baby out with it! Haha. I know they are professionals but can you imagine?!


*PREGNANCY STATS*

STAGE: 2nd Trimester - 26 weeks
BABY SIZE: A head of lettuce
WEIGHT GAINED: 14 pounds
FITNESS: None currently! Temperature outside is in the single-digits so that's going to have to wait.
DISCOMFORTS: The stent
CRAVINGS: Ice cream!
FASHION: Wearing lots of leggings, drawstring pants and sweaters
TO-DO'S: Do a quick registry @ Target, work on Pregnancy Journal,  pamper myself :)


EXTRAS: Only two weeks to go until the next trimester. I can't believe it! I am hoping to stay positive during this last trimester. We will pick and share her name after she is born... I have a short list so far. 

Looking Back at 2012

I really enjoy taking a look back at what my family experienced each year. I hope to do this with my kids as they get bigger. =] So for us Walkers, here's the highlights:

{Vacations}

• Took Brenna on her first Disneyland trip
• I went to Texas, solo, to visit one of my dearest girl friends, Sarah, right before she had her baby
• Joe and I went to California for a long weekend over our 6-year anniversary for a very special wedding 

{Jobs}

• Joe worked a full-year for Cache Valley Electric as a Journeyman
• I successfully subbed an entire school year

{Family Changes}

• We had a miscarriage the beginning of the year
• Got pregnant again with baby #2 in August
• Switched churches; we now go to Calvary Chapel

{Big Purchases}

• Joe got his dream truck (!)
• Finally got our BlendTec blender
• I caved in and Joe finally got an iPhone :)

{Family Events}

• I had the time of my life taking pole/aerial fitness classes for a 3-month period
• Brenna tried taking swim & dance classes
• Brenna went to the lake with us twice this summer and rode on the waverunners and loved it
• We became a debt-free family
• I completed a three-month cooking class
• Joe and I took a "Marriage Oneness" series class
• Survived living another year with my parents! (Love you mom!)

That's really all I can think of! I know there's more and it sounds pretty simple, but we did have a pretty simple year actually. I'm really looking forward to this new year even though there will be many changes!