36 Week - Pregnancy Update

This has taken me some time to write this. I have been sort of in denial, sort of pretending that someone was going to call and say, "oops, we made a mistake"....

At my appointment on Thursday with my OB, I learned that this fate seems sealed. There was no improvement in my misplaced placenta and so I'm writing this from my temporary home... the hospital. I was admitted here today, and will await the arrival of this sweet little baby from this room. 

DIY Bassinet Makeover

I've been getting ready for baby... cooking, baking, filling the freezers and nesting around the house. Things are really starting to come together here, especially with the motivation that comes along with this condition that I have been diagnosed with.  I have been really trying to get ahead of things just in case. If you haven't already read them, I've posted a couple of recent updates here and here. Things are moving along, and I can't believe its only a few short weeks until baby arrives!

I've been finding it hard to decide on what new things this baby needs, as we've already got most of what we need from all these other kids, and I am not into doubles of items. I also like to reuse what I've got, no need to update with each baby. I have to say that even after three boys, most items are holding up quite well!

I had a wonderful idea a few weeks back, and I purchased the supplies I would need to make it happen. In typical me fashion, I put it off until just last week (nothing like waiting til the last minute for these things). I am so excited to share this project and I am happy to report that it was way easier than I had originally planned on, which was a total bonus!  I had anticipated a few days worth of work and time but had it completed in one afternoon!

Slow Cooker Italian Ranch Beef - Prepped in 2 Mins or Less!

I have to share this recipe for two reasons. 1) Its the most delicious recipe of my whole life I'm pretty sure and 2) it takes less than 2 minutes to prep. I am so happy that a girlfriend shared this with me, and that I was able to try it at her house so that I was extremely motivated to make it. I actually called my hubby on the way home and asked him to pick up the stewing beef so that I could make it the next day! Now I have to say that the original recipe called for three different envelopes of mixes (can you say SODIUM OVERLOAD!), but my brilliant friend modified the recipe to include the delicious Epicure products that we love.

35 Weeks - Pregnancy Update

Well, the week is here.

This week marks 35 completed weeks of pregnancy. Baby is moving like crazy. I constantly feel kicks into the right side of my ribs, and those little kicks are harder and stronger everyday. This is always something that I try to commit to memory. I love how it feels and I really miss it after baby is born. Everything else is same old, same old. Acid reflux, insomnia, aches and pains, all the fun symptoms pregnant women get to enjoy. I can't really complain though. I'm still enjoying the pregnancy.  I always find this the bittersweet part where you know its almost over, but you anticipate the sadness of it being done.

For me, this is the dreaded week where I will find out when I will actually be admitted to the hospital to await the arrival of little baby #4. At my appointment on Monday, things were more hopeful sounding. I asked all of my questions. I prepared for the worst. I will have yet another ultrasound on Friday morning and this one will determine where things are at, and when I will be hospitalized (unless things have improved which I am hoping and praying for!). In the meantime, I'd like to share what I'm experiencing right now....

If you haven't read my informational post about Placenta Previa, head over here and check it out. Basically, this whole thing has been out of my control. There is no treatment, no yoga, no medication, no anything that can change this misplaced placenta... only time and hope that my body figures it out and pulls it to a more reasonable location. I am a person who likes to be planned, organized and in control and therefore this entire experience has been daunting and unknown. Not cool.

I've been feeling kind of doomed.

Doomed to a hospitalization while hubby & the boys are 'abandoned' at home (I realize that is NOT how they will see it, but its how I feel).

Doomed to a caesarean section and the accompanying spinal analgesia, panic, post-op recovery, pain and everything else that will come along with the surgery.

Doomed to probably have this little one a lot earlier than I would like. What I like growing my babies to term, I even had two of them 6 days over due.

Now I realize that anyone reading this who has had a caesarean section birth is probably thinking, "what a whiner!", but these are all of my fears at this point in time as I have only ever seen the procedures as a third party, and never gone through it. I know that lots of people have them everyday, and life goes on.... but this is all new to me as the patient, and I just feel like I'm on a runaway train that's coming to crash into an outcome that I'm not ready for.

So there. I said all of that. It feels better to talk about it but I still hold onto these fears, irrational or otherwise.


I'm trying to focus on the positive. I'm doing as much as I can to prepare for this time, and it helps me to feel like I can at least control some of the situation. Like meals, for example.  I have made and frozen lots of meals for the boys while I am gone. And laundry... I'm keeping the mountain to a minimum to try to alleviate some of the stress that hubby will have to deal with in my absence. Nesting.  I'm doing a ton of this. I've gotten the kids' rooms done, clothes downsized, things organized, a new little play area created, etc. And I've almost gotten through my downstairs spare room. It was bad. When its finally presentable I will show you all what I have done. I'd really like to get my craft space organized but I'm thinking that will have to wait a few months at this point. But doing these little things that I can control makes me feel at least as if I'm not just sitting here waiting to sit in the hospital and wait.

At this point I am remaining hopeful, after all... what a total rip off this would be to turn out the way that ends with caesarean section and all that comes with it. I'm believing that there is still a chance that this whole thing could go away and I could just get on with regular life instead of this worrying-about-things-I-can't-control life.

Today, I'm going to take some time to stop feeling like this and I'm going to (hopefully) get a really awesome baby project finished so that I can share it before heading in to the hospital.

Oh, anyone have any tips on packing for a 2-3 weeks stay?  I'm leaving that until the last minute....

10 Craft Space Organizers {Perfect Pins}

With all of the nesting that I've been doing over the past couple of weeks, I decided to start looking for ideas to organize my craft space. Its likely just going to be the closet in my downstairs spare bedroom, but I'm excited anyway to eventually have an area for crafting & sewing, instead of using the dining room table.  

Here are 10 of the most awesome ideas I have come across so far. There are at least a few that I will be incorporating into my craft closet!  Just have to wait until the baby comes and I'm feeling well... then baby and I will head down there and set things up!

10 St. Patrick's Day Treats {Perfect Pins}

St. Patrick's Day is a school day this year!!  YAY!!  I hope that I'm going to be able to make one of these treats below to send with the boys to school.  It will be an exciting day as its the first day back from March Break.  I can't believe how fast this week is going by. Its almost over & I'm sad!

I'm thinking that maybe Sunday I will try to get treats made, and maybe make it a team effort and the boys can help...  It will be a fun way to end the weekend and they will (hopefully) be just as excited as I will be to send some fun treats to school!

Tomato Zucchini Soup

Recently I have been trying to fill the freezer with meals that will be handy for when I'm in the hospital, and for once we are home with this new baby.  I'm all about convenience and fast meals.  

Here is the easiest soup recipe you have ever made. Well, its not quite as easy as opening a can... but its pretty darn close!

Pregnancy Update!

The countdown is on!  I'm due in just 6 weeks!  However, it looks like the plan will still be for hospital admission next week followed by a planned caesarean section around 37-38 weeks.  Check out the explanation for all of this mess in this post.  I'm holding out to wait as long as possible.  I'd like to have a good sized baby, I'm used to them over 7 lbs when I'm overdue... so I'd like this one to grow a little longer!

The previa remains the same as on the ultrasound from 4 weeks ago, where its low (marginal).  I am running lower on hope that it might be changing seeing as time is limited.  My OB said that if there is a change on the next ultrasound, we will be able to wait longer and see, but I think I'm not supposed to hold my breath waiting.  

10 Shamrock Crafts for Kids {Perfect Pins}

I'm always looking for crafts for my boys. I especially love doing holiday & special occasion themed activities with them. This winter has been long and cold, and its always nice to have a stash of ideas ready and waiting for the days that are too cold for a lot of outdoor play.

Here are the very cutest shamrock crafts I have come across for St. Patty's Day that's fast approaching (Who else CAN't believe its already the first week of MARCH?!?!)