36 & 37

Baby BOY DeSalvo - Week 36 & 37

How Far Along: 37 weeks, 1 day

Total Weight Gain: Right now I believe I am at around 40 pounds or so...woof!

Maternity Clothes: YES!

Favorite Moment This Week: These have been a great couple of weeks around our house! Last Thursday, fourth grade went on our spring field trip to Arrowhead. It was a great day and I loved getting to spend that time with my kids. When we returned to school, we went to another room to watch Magic School Bus and returned to our classroom around 2:45 p.m. The kids were really excited to be returning to class, but it didn't phase me...until I walked into the room. There were several classroom parents, MY parents and 21 smiling faces yelling, "SURPRISE!" My precious class and their parents had planned a baby shower for Calvin and I. We played a game where we guessed whose baby picture was whose, raced changing diapers and opened generous presents from my wonderful kids. It was truly one of the highlights of this school year and my heart felt so full! I am truly blessed with the families I have had the pleasure of working with this year and CANNOT wait to spend another year with their students and their support!

Gender: BOY - Calvin

Movement: Yes! As a matter of fact in between our ultrasound and our next doctor's appointment he went from being head down to being breech...again. That silly boy just loves to move!

Food Cravings: Nothing new, but fresh fruit has never tasted so good.

What I Miss: Energy! I still get bursts of it every once in a while, but by the end of the day, game's over and I am ready for bed!

Sleep: Not terrible, but not great either. It's hard to change positions without getting out of bed and starting all over. I am getting up between 3 and 4 times to use the restroom which makes it difficult to sleep through the night. However, I am glad that God is preparing me for the sleep patterns I am about to adopt in a month or so.

What I am Looking Forward To: I am looking forward to relaxing in between school getting out and the birth of Calvin!

Symptoms: Exhaustion, swelling, cramping and some mild contractions!

Belly Button: Outtie

Next Dr. Appt: We go tomorrow! We're going to see where Calvin is laying now.

Contractions: Yes, some Braxton Hicks, occasional mild cramping, and mild contractions

Dilation and Effacement: Last Monday, I was dilated to 1cm, but my cervix was still very "long". Tomorrow I will find out if that has changed at all!

 36 weeks! 

 37 weeks! 3 weeks to go! 

Adorable cake from the phenomenal shower!

twenty five things

While wandering around on Facebook this evening, I came across a "note" that I wrote four and a half years ago. I got a real kick out of reading the twenty five random things about myself back then. See for yourself...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I can't wait to get married on July 11, 2009. 
2. I am excited to be a wife and do all of those wifey things!
3. I LOVE to clean and do laundry. Strangely, I find it relaxing. In fact, I'm doing laundry right now!
4. I believe that I was a nurse in a past life, I love taking care of people, but can't handle vomit or enormous amounts of blood.
5. I wear my retainer to bed EVERY night.
6. I never imagined that I would graduate with a GPA above a 3.0, but I did and I have to say I worked hard for it!
7. I'm an over-analyzer.
8. My nose used to be really squishy, there wasn't much bone in it, but after I had septoplasty surgery, it's not as squishy. And I'm bummed about that.
9. I have become obsessed with the original 90210 on SOAP Net.
10. The school supply section at the store makes me really happy.
11. In the past month, Joe and I have bought a couch, chair, side tables, and a coffee table. I guess that means we're almost adults.
12. I love the fact that my fiance is such a kid at heart.
14. I love my VW Jetta, I love everything about it.
15. I can't wait for Joe and I to move into our home/apartment and make it our own.
16. I'm very organized, and very messy.
17. I wish that I could live in the White House and be a nanny to the Obama girls.
18. There is nothing better than walking in to school and having kids run up to you to give you hugs. Nothing better.
19. It makes my stomach hurt when I see kids who get so excited that I am willing to help them with something, or offer them a hug because no one else will!
20. I am a realtiy tv junkie.
21. My favorite part of watching Grey's Anatomy are the monologues at the beginning and end.
22. I think "flesh" is the most digusting word ever.
23. I will never be okay with people who drink and drive, ever.
24. There is nothing I hate more than procrastination.
25. I wish I could wear my rain boots every day.

thirty five

Baby BOY DeSalvo - Week 35

How Far Along: 35 weeks, 3 days

Total Weight Gain: I am not sure if it has changed since last week, but I will know for sure at my next appointment on Monday.

Maternity Clothes: YES!

Favorite Moment This Week: I have many favorite moments from this week. We have been doing a lot of prep around the house and stocking up on various household items. We have pretty much everything laid out for our hospital bags, we just need to get everything into the bags and get them in one centralized location in the house. We also went to the fire department this week and learned everything there was to learn about car seats. It was incredibly interesting and I am so glad that we went. I now have a car seat in my car...talk about reality check!

We also had our 35 week ultra sound this afternoon. At our 20 week ultra sound, they discovered that I had a partial placenta previa (a condition in which the placenta is abnormally placed, and partially or totally covers the cervix) and would need to be checked again at week 35 to determine if I could deliver vaginally or if we would need to schedule a C-section. GOOD NEWS - it shifted and is now no longer a danger! We also got to see our baby again and it is such a previous memory that I will have forever! We got to see his hair, chubby cheeks and big belly. I am so thankful that he has hair as I didn't have hair until I was 2 and a half! His hair even looked like it was styled like Joe's. One other thing that we noticed is that he appears to have my nose. Of course, this isn't the greatest visual and only time will tell for sure! We only have 4 and a half weeks until we meet our little man!

Gender: BOY - Calvin, we finally settled on this name. It has been our front runner from the beginning and we haven't found one that we like better so, Calvin it is.

Movement: Yes! It's amazing that even though he is running out of room, he is still able to move all around and contort my belly! I am going to miss feeling that and seeing him move.

Food Cravings: Nothing new, but I have been craving Chicken pad thai throughout this week.

What I Miss: Sleeping comfortably and being able to wear whatever shoes I want to. Right now, my Sanuks are the ONLY ones that fit.

Sleep: Not terrible, but not great either. It's hard to change positions without getting out of bed and starting all over. I am getting up between 3 and 4 times to use the restroom which makes it difficult to sleep through the night. However, I am glad that God is preparing me for the sleep patterns I am about to adopt in a month or so.

What I am Looking Forward To: Continuing to get everything ready for Calvin's arrival and spending our last days as a family of two.

Symptoms: Nothing too terrible, but swelling in my feet and ankles is the most unbearable.

Belly Button: Outtie

Next Dr. Appt: Monday! Then, it's every week until baby Calvin's birthday!

Contractions: Yes, some Braxton Hicks and occasional mild cramping

Dilation and Effacement: Don't know, but I will be checked for the first time on Monday!

 Joe sure did spoil me on Mother's Day...Baby D's name is officially Calvin!

35 weeks! We are almost there!

How do you measure a year?

It is phenomenal how much can happen in one year.

Last spring was one of the hardest times that we've ever been through. It was hard, impossible at times, to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I distinctly remember shopping for Mother's Day gifts last year at this time and it being one of the most painful experiences. It seemed pitiful and selfish, but there I was in the middle of Dillard's crying like a baby. That day, Mother's Day, was so painful last year. I couldn't help but think of the fact that I was supposed to be a mother that day, but I wasn't. My baby was gone and I wouldn't be a mother.

Fast forward to Mother's Day 2013. I am a Mom. My baby may not be born yet, but I'm a mom.

In five very short weeks, my baby Calvin will be here and he will make me a mom.

So much can happen in a year. Calvin is the light in the tunnel that I have been praying for and I can't wait to meet him.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms that I am blessed to know.

34

Baby BOY DeSalvo - Week 34 Update

How Far Along: 34 weeks, 3 days

Total Weight Gain: Since week four, I have officially gained (you may need to sit down to hear this)...38 pounds. Whoa!

Maternity Clothes: NO doubt! Now that it is finally staying warm, my wardrobe has consisted of leggings and dresses and long skirts.

Favorite Moment This Week: Last Tuesday, we had our maternity photos taken by one of our dear friends who just so happens to be due the exact same day as us! Her husband tagged along and we made it a double date...photos followed by Lulu's Thai!

Gender: BOY!

Movement: He is VERY active! At our appointment this week, the doctor had a hard time getting a good read on the heart because his movement kept interrupting it!

Food Cravings: Same, but I've been craving ice cold Shatto milk again! I'm averaging 1-2 glasses a day.

What I Miss: Being able to wear any shoes I want. I am now only able to wear my Sanuk flip flops or my Nike tennis shoes...

Sleep: Still getting up frequently to use the restroom and having a hard time finding a position to be comfortable in all night. I really miss sleeping on my back and tummy.

What I am Looking Forward to: We're packing our hospital bags this weekend and getting the car seat installed on Tuesday. It's all beginning to seem so real and I LOVE every minute of it!

Symptoms: Puffy feet and ankles, VERY sore feet

Belly Button: OUT

Next Dr. Appointment: We have an ultra sound next Thursday to re-check my placenta previa. If it is still present, I will have a C-section. If it has shifted a good amount, I will be able to go natural.

Contractions: Some mild cramping every few days.

 34 weeks - May 6, 2013

Trying shoes on when feet are at their puffiest proved very difficult.

33

Baby BOY DeSalvo - Week 33

How Far Along: 33 weeks, 2 days

Total Weight Gain: I haven't gained weight over the past few weeks. I definitely feel like I have, but I suppose the scale doesn't lie!

Maternity Clothes: No doubt!

Favorite Moment This Week: These aren't necessarily "favorites" but Baby DeSalvo has had a very eventful week. Last Tuesday, we went in for our 32 week check up. I have been having some swelling in both ankles/feet, but one was especially swollen and painful to the touch. When I asked the doctor about this, she gave two possible explanations; blood clot in a deep leg vein OR a sprain/strain in one of my ligaments. She was very confident that it was either a sprain or a strain, but wasn't 100% sure. To reassure us that everything was okay, she sent us straight to radiology to have an ultrasound of my legs. On the way down there, we went over the possibility that if it was indeed a blood clot that I would have to be admitted and put on blood thinners and then continue taking those for the remainder of the pregnancy. Not something I was at all interested in. After the ultrasound was complete, we discovered that I did NOT have any blood clots in either leg and that it was probably just a sprain/strain. We were very thankful for that news. 

Then, on Thursday evening, I began having some cramping and contracting. I didn't mention it out loud to anyone, not even Joe. I figured that once I rested through the night, I would be fine. When I woke up throughout the night, I could still feel the cramping, but when I woke up I felt better. Then, throughout the morning at school, the cramping/contracting returned. Even thought I kept telling myself that everything was okay, I decided to call my doctor. When I got in touch with my doctor's nurse, she told me that I needed to come in and be checked and possibly monitored for pre-term labor. I was panicked and unsure of what emotions to feel. I called Joe and let him know they wanted me to come in to the hospital and that I was leaving work immediately. Upon arriving at the doctor's office, I was taken back immediately and my vitals were checked. Then, while waiting for the doctor, I was mentally preparing myself for anything that could possibly happen...including the slight possibility of having my baby. My doctor came in and examined me and asked me to explain what I was feeling. She then "checked" me and let me know that I was still "sealed" and that my cervix was not dilated at all. She then went on to explain that my body was preparing itself for labor and that as long as the contractions weren't being productive that it was all okay.

Movement: He is a very busy little guy and I love it all. It's especially fun to watch because my belly definitely morphs several times during the day.

 Belly morph in progress!

Food Cravings: Still the same things, but I definitely craved fruit and yogurt this week.

What I Miss: Today was an emotional day as I was getting ready. I didn't feel comfortable in anything I put on and NONE of my shoes, except for a couple of pairs of flip flops, fit. Thank goodness one of my teammates was sweet enough to purchase a pair of Sanuk yoga-mat flip flops for me last week and she brought them to school today...just when I needed them most. I also went to Famous Footwear after school and purchased a pair of tennis shoes. It took about an hour, but I finally found a pair that fit and that I liked. Whoa.

Sleep: It has been pretty warm here this week and we've had the windows open. The other night I woke up around 11:30 and just pleaded with Joe to shut the windows and turn the air way down. Sleep is becoming more difficult, but still no real complaints.

What I am Looking Forward to: We had our maternity photos taken last night and I can't wait to see all of them and get several framed!

 Joe captured this photo during our maternity photo shoot.

Symptoms: Mild cramping, contracting, and swelling of the feet/ankles

Belly Button: Pretty much out all of the way

Next Dr. Appointment: May 6th

Contractions: Yes, but not too many since last Friday when I was at the doctor.

33 weeks!

healing wound year one.

yesterday. april 23. one year since we lost our baby.

i remember everything about last year like it was yesterday. the wounds are still healing and they always will be.

last spring, our hearts were full of wishes, hopes, dreams and imagining what our sweet baby would be like and who he/she would look like. then, our hearts felt the worst pain and we were faced to deal with the fact that those wishes, hopes, and dreams wouldn't be a reality.

i mourn for that sweet baby every day. i know that one day we will meet and be introduced by our heavenly father. what better way for us to meet for the first time?

until our reunion day, i get to celebrate life with the birth of our son in june. god has blessed us with this sweet child in the midst of our grieving. god's plan is unfolding. i have no doubt that there will be a part of the baby we lost in the baby we welcome in just two short months.

after all, our wishes, hopes and dreams are coming true. it may not be in the way we had planned or imagined, but it's happening june 17th.