Nesting and Extra Energy...

Pat keeps saying my energy level is frightening and super human... after falling asleep after going back to bed around 3:40 last night and sleeping until about 9 am... I've decided to make good use of this energy and get this house organized!!!  I was just taking a break and googled nesting and extra energy- some women have it right before delivery others 4-6 weeks beforehand...  With Sarah and Anna I never had it... I was too terrified they would be born too early... I'm hoping I'm a 4+ weeker, because I could have this house in amazing shape by the time Baby Kate's Scheduled C Section date of 12-27...


I did eat a ton of food today and then was super sleepy, so I did take a nap from @ 3:15-5:15- I've given up on reducing my nap time in hopes I sleep better at night after the past week of little night time sleep...


It's 11:19 pm, I'm off to take a shower, and hope to relax and unwind after that- hoping sleep will arrive at a decent hour after organizing Jack's clothes and Baby Kate's stuff most of today...  I'm up to 4+ full bags of clothes to donate in less than 2 weeks and can't wait to purge more... it is about time!!!

Update @ 2:25 am... still wide awake!!! Just discovered I'm producing Colostrum... which I am reading on the web is normal and not a sign of eminent labor ... I'm just not so sure...

I'm Giving Up....

On Sleep That Is...


After 3+ hours of tossing and turning, 4 trips to the bathroom, lots of times feeling Baby Kate move... I've decided to catch up on blogs and have a cup of Sleepy Time Tea... hoping that will do the trick...


This lack of sleeping has been getting worse over the past several weeks, hit an all time Sleepless in St. Louis record this past week...Sleepy Time Tea + 2 Benadryl did nothing...  I finally I passed out from exhaustion last night... boy did that feel great this morning!!!


I'm not nervous or stressed... I'm actually in a good emotional place... About completely ready for her to come... I think at this point I can delegate anything that I don't finish or it can wait until I am home... I guess it is the hormones that are keeping me awake...


William and Patrick got all of the baby stuff out of our garage today... it needs to be recleaned, but that won't take long... I washed all of Baby Kate's new baby clothes and blankets... they just need to be packed for the hospital...


I finished Christmas shopping today and bought our tree... William and Patrick also pulled a bunch of Christmas decorations and lights out of the closet, so we can work on that tomorrow as well...


Pat thinks Baby Kate is looking for a way out whenever I show him how she is moving inside of my tummy... You can watch her move while I am sitting...


I am once again predicting a December 6th arrival as I confirmed on Thursday that was my Godmother/Aunt/Baby Kate's Great Aunt's birthday... unfortunately Gingie expectantly went to heaven in December of 1999 AND Baby Kate's Aunt Francey's Birthday, whose middle name is Lucile and Baby Kate is getting her middle name in honor of... plus it is St. Nicholas Day- one of my favorite saints...


For now, it is all in Baby Kate's hands... we can't wait to meet you sweetie!!! But are hoping you wait a bit longer so you go stronger and can come home when I do...

35 Week Monitoring Appointment

Baby Kate's heart activity was described as "Textbook Perfect"!!!  I only had one contraction which was extremely painful and in my back during our 20 minute monitoring session-

My blood pressure continues to be low @ 109/69... too funny as it was high when I was pregnant with Sarah and Anna... Pat says it was from the added stress of being pregnant with Sarah- who caused my cervix to funnel at @ 18 weeks and refused to move her head from the top of my cervix until she broke her water at 35 weeks 6 days...

Baby Kate's fluid was measured at 16.9 units...

The ultrasound gal carried on and on about how cute Baby Kate looked on the moniter, how adorable her lips were, and what a sweet face she had... finally I asked if they say that about all of the babies... she said no and handed me to two photos of her face- one of her lips... which Daddy declares repeatedly are not "McLaughlin Lips"... my mom said they were from her mom... who gave them to my mom, and now to me...  I still can't believe God has given me the opportunity to have these conversations...

Our family maternity session was on Sunday... I can't wait to see the online photos!!!

I'm still working hard at getting everything ready for Baby Kate's arrival... and Christmas....

We will meet Baby Kate sometime between tomorrow and 5 weeks from today as I will be 35 weeks pregnant tomorrow and the doctor said that after 35 weeks, they will most likely not to anything to stop labor AND 5 weeks from today is my scheduled C Section @ 9:15 am!!!

Personally, I have asked Baby Kate to wait until the late evening of December 2 to arrive... that way we can all go to Pat's Christmas Party for Families hosted by his employer... and Baby Kate will be 36.5 weeks along...

34 Weeks and Way Too Much Information....

Please consider yourself fairly warned... 

I'm sitting here with Nair Facial Hair Remover on my pregnancy mustache, beard, and sideburns... I've been trying to trim all myself with a child's safety scissors, but have given up... I fear I will accidentally cut off an ear... I asked my hair dresser to use the clippers last week and she recommended the Nair... This was after Sweet Lizzy kindly and innocently asked if she "would have hair on her face when she grew up?"  I explained pregnancy hormones and that I was glad that my nose didn't spread like some pregnant Mommies... the hair we can remove... huge noses we can't... Well, I spent too much time on the computer and missed the 10 minute maximum time to leave the Nair on... my face is hair free and stinging- my fault though...

I have hardly been able to fall sleep at night for weeks... even after finally taking a Benadryl... I have weaned my almost daily naps and that hasn't helped... 

Most nights, my legs and ankles are restless... I finally find comfort from getting into a frog like position with my belly hanging low, my face on the pillow, with my forearms and hands underneath the pillow... this allows me to stretch out my inner thighs, which relieves the restless legs... I think I fall asleep like this and when I wake up, the legs are worn out...

I have been having very painful abdominal and groin pain- especially later in the day and when I am on  my feet... I was so concerned it was signs of preterm labor that I called the doctor's office on Monday...  they weren't concerned... I started wearing an abdominal binder that I was given after Sarah and Anna's C Section... my belly feels so much better!!!  Which I would have tried this sooner, but it took my mom's literal threats of skin hanging down to my knees and having to be tucked in to scare the hell out of me... plus I knew she would bug me about it until I tried the binder...

On Tuesday, I went into the Perinatal Center for my second weekly non stress test monitoring of Baby Kate's heart rate and contractions and fetal position/amniotic fluid level ultrasound... Baby Kate passed with flying colors... two contractions that I could not feel showed up on the monitor... Baby Kate was laying on her left side, head down, with her spine towards the left side of my belly and feet and hands on the right side... I love when I know her position so I know if I am being kicked or punched when I feel those small movements which I just love to feel!!!  I want to say the tech told me her fluid was 29 centimeters??? Whatever it was, she was happy... it is so nice to have stopped obsessing and worrying about every detail and measurement!!!

We are still stunned that we are having a newborn in less than 5.5 weeks... I have so much that I want to complete before Baby Kate arrives...

Our family maternity photo session is on Sunday at 1:45... I'm looking forward to that... I still need to gather everyone's outfits- I know what I want them to wear, I just have to find all of the pieces... I plan to have the kids wear the same outfits to Pat's Christmas party for work in December, so that will be one less stress...

Anytime after the party, which is a favorite of the kids and mine... I have told Kate she can choose her birth date... honestly, I don't care if she breaks her water after we get home that night... she will be more than 36 weeks along and our doctor has assured me that she will most likely be able to come home when I am discharged and avoid NICU time- which of course is my goal...

Of course, the longer she waits, the more tasks I can complete so that I can focus on her when she arrives- not preparing for Christmas for the kids...

I'm going to try and catch up on some sleep!!!  Good night!!!

32 Weeks and Counting!!!

On Monday I had an ultrasound.... Baby K is actually measuring a bit big... which is too funny because Pat is 5 foot 11 with shoes on and I'm 5 foot 2 with shoes... Since the kids were off school, Lizzy, Jack, and Mary C. went with me to see their baby sister... they were so cute and excited to be there...

The ultrasound girl kindly took a few shots in 3D... Pat had to be in court and was unable to go this visit... I emailed him one of the 3D photos and he replied, "those aren't McLaughlin lips"... after almost 15 years of wondering if our original dream and plan of having a genetic child would come true, we are still stunned and amazed at God's Blessing of answering that prayer from so long ago... after 7 adopted blessings we don't think about genetics except in medical situations... now we will be giving birth to our genetic child... for better AND for worse...

What A Long Strange Trip This Has Been... Certainly not the path I would have chosen, but one I am so grateful and thankful that I had the honor and privilege to be on... I have been blessed with meeting so many wonderful people... and truly my faith in God and relationship with my husband is so much stronger... I have been pushed to the point of literally screaming out to God to help me as I felt like I was about to jump off a cliff... clinging to the quotes: "That if God leads you to it, He will lead you through it..." and "That with which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger..." 

I am so glad that God did not answer my prayers from 15 years ago...

Thank you, Lord for knowing what was truly best for my family and me!!!