36 week appointment

Today was my 36 week appointment. Everything is still going well. I've gained about 3 1/1 lbs. in the last 12 days, which puts me at a total of about 17 lbs gained. My group B strep test was positive this time, so I will be getting antibiotics while in labor. Also, the baby is head down like she should be. And my cervix is softened, 50% effaced and a fingertip dilated. My next appointment will be on the 23rd.

4th of July

Most of the festivities here for the 4th were actually on the 3rd this year. So, we went to a youth arts fair mid-day and the kids got to color their own Frisbees, ball and paddle, and make crowns. Then we went back after dinner and met up with my parents and my sister there. My dad gave Gabe and Carissa both $5 to play on/in the big blow up toys there, and then later he bought both of them light up swords too. They were both so excited about both of those, especially since we were only letting them do things that were free due to a lack of funds on our part. They were still happy to do the free activities too, but Grandpa made it even better. Then we watched the concert that was going on for a little bit while waiting for the fireworks to start. Gabe had several questions/comments during the fireworks too. He wondered what happened if the sparks raining down from the sky landed on you, which I told him that they are ashes by then and that they couldn't hurt him. He also said, "So that is how clouds are made, by fireworks." He did really well with the loud music and the fireworks display.

Then on the 4th we had a family get together at my parents' house and had a bbq. The kids played, rode their bikes, rode their ATVs and everyone spent time together until it was dark enough to do fireworks. Then all 3 of my younger siblings lit the fireworks in the street while the rest of us watched. Carissa enjoyed doing sparklers as well. Gabe on the other hand didn't like sparklers. He doesn't think they are safe. And, he was a nervous wreck during a good portion of the fireworks. He didn't like the loud fireworks, and when he was being all fidgety and kept getting out of his seat I ask him if he was excited or nervous, and he responded by telling me that he was afraid that someone was going to get hurt. He watched all the fireworks and didn't ask to leave, but he was nervous about it.

Last day of swimming lessons

The last day of swimming lessons was yesterday, and it was a fun day for the kids. Gabe got to jump off of the diving board and go down the big water slide. Carissa got to go down the big water slide. Gabe's class only had 2 kids so I think the diving board thing was easier to manage with only 2 kids. Both kids loved the water slide, and Gabe got a few more jumps in off the diving board because he asked to keep going. They both really want to keep taking swimming lessons, which I think is great. But, for this summer they are probably done. Between not having enough money to sign up right now and the baby coming in about a month, I think that swimming lessons are going to wait.

34 week appointment

This morning I had my 34 week appointment. I've actually gained a little over 3 lbs. since my last appointment, which is good. I'm still only at a gain of 14 lbs. total, but no one seems worried about it. It is just weird to me, this pregnancy will probably consist of the least weigh gained out of all of them so far. I had my strep B test done today. And everything else checked out well. The baby's heart beat was about 150 bpm. My doctor said to start coming in weekly, but the front desk already scheduled all my appointments about a month ago and they thought I would be doing one more 2 week appointment. So, I am going to go back in on the 14th, so about a week and a half from now. Then I will start going in weekly. At my next appointment the doctor will start checking my cervix too. We're getting closer.

Swimming Lessons and No More Trainng Wheels

Today was the first day of summer, and the first day of Carissa's and Gabe's swimming lessons. They have been marking the days off waiting for today since we registered a few weeks ago. They both did a great job in their classes which ended up being combined together for today at least. They are both essentially doing a level 1 class, but because Gabe is under 5 years old he has to be in the pre-level 1 class. They both commented on how short the class was and how they wanted it to be longer, but they get to go again tomorrow so that made it okay.

Then this evening Gabe came running in the house and basically told me that I needed to take his training wheels off, because he can ride a 2-wheeler now. I told him that I wasn't ready to take them off right now, but if he could first show me that he could ride on Carissa's bike then I would do it. He promptly got out Carissa's bike. When I got outside Carissa and another neighbor boy were holding up Carissa's bike, so that Gabe could get on the seat. As soon as he was on they let go and off he went, no problems. So, Ben and I talked about it a little and figured that he would still have to learn to start by himself but if Gabe was really ready and determined to do it we might as well let him. I took off the training wheels and then spent a little time helping and coaching Gabe on how to get started without help. It only took him a few tries and he can to that now too. I thought he would be ready sometime this summer, just not quite yet.

32 week appointment

On Friday, I had my 32 week appointment and Ben and the kids all came with me. I thought that it was a good idea for Ben to meet my doctor before the delivery and then the kids just came too. It turns out this was the last appointment that I would want the kids at too, because I was told that for the rest of my appointment I would be getting undressed from the waist down. At my next appointment I will be getting tested for strep B. Anyway, I would prefer the kids weren't there to ask questions about my exam. Everything all checked out good, and again I'm not doing much for weight. Since my last appointment I have only gained .2 lbs, which puts me at a total of 10.8 lbs gained. But, my doctor said that my weight is just fine. I also got the phone number and information to pre-register for labor and delivery, so I can do that whenever I'm ready to now.

North Pole-Santa's Workshop

After our first failed attempt at making it to Santa's Workshop we stayed an extra day in CO and the weather co-operated nicely and we had a nice day there. The kids started off by driving cars, and Gabe was just barely under the height requirement to drive alone so Daddy got to go with him.


The kids went on several rides alone and with Ben. Ben even got to stay on the ride for 2 consecutive runnings in order for Carissa and Gabe to both be able to go, since I didn't go on the rides because of being pregnant. Most of the rides go in circles too, and Ben's motion sickness was getting to him. But, he was a good daddy and kept going so that the kids could keep going. We also went to see Santa Claus, and to feed the animals there.

The kids really liked the roller coaster too.

We also had to visit the frozen North Pole while there.

We saw a magic show, ate lunch, and all of us rode the train together and saw the reindeer. Then right before we left Ben, Carissa, and Gabe all rode the sky cab ride. When I saw them all lined up waiting to get on the ride, I realized that Carissa and Gabe should be really good at getting on that ride because of them being little skiers and it is just like a ski lift. When they all got back to where I was, Ben had a story for me. Apparently, I was on the right track with the ski lift idea, because as the ride got near the part where you turn around and head back Carissa asked how they were going to get off/down. She thought it was exactly like a ski lift and that you only got to go one way. Ben told the kids that they were all going to have to jump, they didn't think that sounded safe. But, they started to consider it and Ben told them that they would stay on until they got back to where they started. They liked that idea better.