Week 40

It was quite the week. WOW! I am writing this on the OTHER SIDE!! YEAHHHHHHH!!!! I had Juliet Marie Winston at 40 Weeks 4 days. I was overdue, but I didn't do anything to get labor going because Jackson had just stopped being super sick and Emma was in the throws of it. I started feeling congested Tuesday night and was super irritated at God that I was in this situation. Like really? BOTH kids need to be sicker then they have been in a year and I am now getting congested and sick? Like WHY???? But I then declared that I was OK, and that I trusted him and it would all be fine. 
Dan slept in the kids room for three nights in a row to take care of Emma so I could sleep. It was extremely kind of him, but meant that he barely slept for three nights before Juliet was born and of course he had been up many nights the previous week with Jack. So, not ideal in the Winston household. 

Week : 40! 

What I love: I loved not having to worry that baby would get sick. Now I am. Oh well. I did love the moving, though she was hurting me pretty much every time, but she was a mover and groover the whole time she was in my belly. I loved that I was very close to being finished forever. 

What I hate: The whole, everyone in my family is sick and or tired. I was very tired of being pregnant and worried about when and how it was all going to work out. I HATE the unknowns about birth! It is such a mental battle for me. It really wore me out the last few days. Being worried about how it was going to go and when it was going to happen and my kids being sick. It was not fun. I even had a couple panic attacks when I felt sick to my stomach and just wanted to cry. It was not fun. Even if I didn't mind the labor and birth and pregnancy, I can't do the mental battle at the end of pregnancy. 

What I miss: No worries. I missed being a normal person. I miss being healthy! 

What I’m looking forward to the most: Being FINISHED! Having my little darling. (She is SOO cute!) 

Sleep:  Horrible, but more because of the sick kids and the sick self then because of being enormously pregnant. 

Bra Size:C

Wedding rings on or off: Off for the most part, but I was wearing it every once in a while to encourage myself. 

Weight: 176  Weight Gain: 33 lbs! FINAL and FINISHED! And I didn't even get as heavy as Dan! Wahoo!!!!



Worries: I was so worried about my kids and labor and being sick and how the heck was I going to push a baby out if I was coughing and congested. Worried that Emma was as sick as I've ever seen her and worried that I was going to have to be pregnant for the rest of the month.


Developments:  I didn't have any signs that labor was coming soon, other then contractions that were fairly far apart. Tuesday, I went to the office because I needed to finish work and the big meeting was that day. I had contractions pretty much every 15 minutes, but they were not early labor contractions, so I ignored them. I also would take a hot bath or shower every night so they wouldn't keep me awake for no reason. Thursday morning, after being up for a couple of hours being congested and feeling crappy, I had bloody show and was really surprised. 

Things of Interest: 

Other then having the baby? Nothing :) 

Mood: My mood was not good. I was so worried about all the things that were going wrong that I was really struggling. Wednesday night, I was yelling at God as Dan was making his bed in the kids rooms so he could be with Emma who was up every 20 min and I was feeling lousy and I was so ticked off. I stopped myself, and said out loud. "Lord, You know what you're doing. I Trust you." And that actually did help. 

Movement:  She definitely slowed down on the moving. But then on Thursday, the girl moved the ENTIRE day. She knew what was about to happen to her!

The belly (and the button!):
It was big and round and tight and I am SOOO glad that it is squishy now!

Measurements: Chest:  Waist:   Midsection:  Hips:  Thighs: I didn't take measurements as I was too worried about all the things above. 

Exercise: I walked on Wednesday and then I gave birth on Thursday which was the longest, most intense work out possible. I am so freaking SORE!

Eating: It wasn't terrible because I wasn't eating any sugar to help prevent getting sick. 

The weekly pics: 

Hair: Your baby's hair and nails continue to get longer with every passing day.

Skull: The skull bones are separated so that they can compress enough to fit through the birth canal during labor. Your baby will have soft spots on her head for the first year or more after birth.

And me.

I had been crying when I took these... Yep. I was all done. 

Week 39

Wow. What a week. Seriously. It can stop now. My kids have been sick with fevers for the first couple days and then Jackson's turned into a major cough with an extremely sore throat. So that means we've been up for hours at night and watching him cry in pain from coughing. It's so sad. :( I am hoping and praying that I don't get sick too. GOSH! BAD timing! It hurts my heart to see him so distressed, and not be able to do much for him. I was supposed to go to Fbx this week and see the midwives, but I had to cancel the appointment because I wasn't going to leave him here all day and I didn't want to go by myself. All week long I've been going from panic, literal panic where I feel sick to my stomach and cry about having to go through labor, and "get this baby out!" I am emotionally frazzled and I just want to be done. 

Week : 39

What I love: Being very near the end. Seriously this can only go on another three weeks at max. Thank the good Lord! I have been loving my free time in the evenings because I know that is going to go away soon. And I love my little naps while the kids are asleep, also going away very soon. 

What I hate: Jackson being so sick! I hate it! I am not a fan of the contractions or the aches and pains I'm having, but they are all prepping me for labor. I wish it would just happen already, though I don't really want her to be born until he is much better. I don't know. It's so confusing. I am so ready to be done and so don't want her born with Jackson being so sick. 

What I miss: Everything. No, really. Everything. I just want to be normal again. I have been pregnant since April. APRIL! I am ready for some more normalness. 

What I’m looking forward to the most: Peace of mind. Seriously. I can't keep going through this mental roller coaster. My baby girl. I want her to come out so I can hold her and cuddle her and see the kids with her. 

Sleep: It probably would have been fine except we were up all hours every night with sick kids. Dan slept in their room Saturday night and I literally slept 7 hours uninterrupted. It was wonderful! But I am still exhausted from being 9 months pregnant and up for about a week. 

Bra Size:C

Wedding rings on or off: Off. 

Weight: 176  Weight Gain: 33 lbs. Obviously water weight at this point. 

Worries: Obviously I am worried. I am worried about how much it's going to hurt. How long it's going to take. Her position. She keeps going posterior on me and I feel pain in my lower back, so I'm already projecting that it's going to take a long time and hurt a lot. I am so in need of the Lord to touch my mind. To find peace and trust that I'll be able to do this. I don't really know why I am so completely freaked out by birth this time. I certainly wasn't with Jack or Emma. But here I am.  


Developments: I've had contractions on and off all week, which is no surprise. Sunday night, they were strong enough to keep waking me up. I finally gave up at 2 and went and took a shower. I found myself standing there in the middle of the night, thinking, "no, I don't want to do this. Just stop so I can go back to sleep!" I finally fell asleep after 3 sometime. I had a couple of good ones last night too, but I knew that I wasn't close so I took tylenol and went to bed. No other signs of labor, other then being 40 weeks pregnant. 

Things of Interest: 

Joy is home and so I don't have to worry about that anymore. Which is really nice. One less thing to fret about. 

Mood: I was fine until the kids were sick for days and days and then the panic attacks have not helped. I am tired and frazzled and worn down mentally. I need a touch from the Lord. I need peace and I need to just trust my body, the process and God. HELP LORD! 


Movement:  She has definitely slowed down on the movements. I am a bit concerned, but I think it's pretty normal that she's completely out of space in there and so is not able to do the acrobatics she was before. 

The belly (and the button!): Big. Stretched out looking. I did have a very comforting thought. I won't ever be this large again. I am about as pregnant as I'll ever be or get. I won't grow much if any in the next week or so, so this is it! Hurrah!

Measurements: Chest:  Waist:   Midsection:  Hips:  Thighs: 

Exercise: I worked out once and walked three times. So a total of 4. I was too tired to do much more and my lower back was hurting, so I didn't want to risk doing anything to put it out. 

Eating: Total crap. But it doesn't bother me. 

The weekly pics: 

Hair: Your baby's hair and nails continue to get longer with every passing day.

Skull: The skull bones are separated so that they can compress enough to fit through the birth canal during labor. Your baby will have soft spots on her head for the first year or more after birth

Week 38

So I had a good week. I got a lot done at work, which makes me feel better about leaving it for 4 weeks. I STILL need to pack my bag for the birth and get the babies bed out and the nursing pillow. I am actually planning to do that today. Any minute. Right about now..... OK so when Dan gets back from skating with Jack.  I am ready to roll. Let's do it. Be all done. I still don't want to hurt that badly again, but I have too and I am really ready to put it behind me. I am pretty sure nursing is going to be a challenge again, so I am mentally prepared for that. It's doable pain as they say. 

Week : 38

What I love: I love being two weeks away. (God willing) OR at most 4 weeks away. That is GOOD news! Yippee! So close to the finish line! I love that I am still feeling pretty good and not hurting too much. And I love that very soon our family will be complete. I love that I am still able to do pull ups and exercise, even though I don't feel like it! :) I CAN if I want too... I love that I get an easier week next week and then I am THERE! The official due date, even though that doesn't mean the baby IS going to come, it does mean that the baby will come SOON! What's two weeks when you compare it to 40? 

What I hate: I am all done with pregnancy sleeping. And the stupid maternity clothes. And not being able to bend over. And feeling large. I can't wait to get slim again. It will take a while, but THANK GOD it's winter and I can wear sweaters and sweatshirts and not be large and squishy in the summer like I was with Jackson and Emma. Other things I hate? THe GIANT pimple I have on my lip. Literally the biggest one ever. It hurts like heck and looks twice as ugly! WOW! I was finally able to pinch it and get all the stuff out of it and it was epic. Literally EPIC! OK, enough of that. Thinking about birth. I am REALLY all done with that!

What I miss: Everything. I do. I miss being normal. BUT it's not too long before I get to be at least closer to normal then I have been the last 9 months, so I am REALLY almost there. I am missing being able to play with my kids more. At the moment, all I want to do is sleep and rest. AND knowing what is coming, I have been letting myself do just that. BUT I haven't wrestled with them or played with them, like I used too. It will be nice to be done with the sore and tired and frazzled stages and be able to be a good mom again. 

What I’m looking forward to the most: Being all finished forever. REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY looking forward to being done with labor! I really want to hold this little baby too. I keep squishy little bundles on babycenter and in real life and I want to hold mine! 

Sleep: Actually, good! I have been commanding myself to go back to sleep in the middle of the night, and for whatever reason, I am obeying. So yeah! I have been sleeping so deeply too, that I have not heard the other kids get up either. Good thing Dan is so in tune with what is happening with them! 

Bra Size: C

Wedding rings on or off: Off. Though I did wear my ring on Saturday. It was beautiful. I loved wearing it though it feels REALLY weird! I haven't had a ring on my finger for months and it is now twice as big as it was before. So, it might take a bit of getting used too. 

Weight: 176  Weight Gain: 33 lbs So, apparently, I didn't gain any weight this last week. Fine by me. 

Worries: Birth. That is all. 

Developments: She is still posterior, though Dana felt her last night and she was in EXACTLY the right position. She moved shortly there after, but it was comforting that she CAN get in the right position, even if she doesn't like to hang out there. 

Things of Interest:

I don't know. I am not very interesting at the moment. All I can think of is getting through labor and birth and being finished. It's really right there. Oiy! I want to be DONE!!!! I was talking with Oshea and of course her recent experience was not what she expected or wanted, and that also kind of ads to the panic of the "unknownness" of birth. Oh well. I'll be looking back on this soon enough. I have been looking at breathing techniques and ways to deal with labor and though I don't expect it to really help all that much, I will at least give it a go. 

Mood: Pretty dang good considering how pregnant I am. I am not depressed or despairing, so that's a win! 

Movement:  She's still moving and grooving, soooo oh well. 

The belly (and the button!): Still no stretch marks. Fingers crossed!

Measurements: Chest:  Waist:   Midsection: 42 - 42.5 Hips:  Thighs: 

Exercise: Well. I am failing. I just don't care. I did four days. Three days of crossfit and one day of just walking. Emma was sick yesterday and instead of being motivated and getting my work out in early, I procrastinated until it was too late. Oh well. Too bad. I just don't care. :)

Eating: Total crap. I am not being disciplined at all. I just don't care at the moment. Being 33 lbs over my normal weight and larger then I ever have been in my life has derailed all my good intentions. I will work on it later.  

The weekly pics: 

Eyes: If your baby is born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with dark gray or blue eyes, they may stay that color or turn brown, green, or hazel during her first year.

Hand: Your baby has a firm grasp now.

Week 37

Well this is the last week of the holidays. I am kind of glad, kind of sad. I am glad because all these days at home are making time go by more slowly. But sad, because Dan has to go back to work and so do I and I'm just tired. I'm feeling a bit apathetic at the moment and don't have much motivation for anything. 
I am totally fine pregnancy wise, other than she is still insisting on hanging out completely posterior or just half posterior on my right side. I had another baby check with Joy and she is moving and great and as far as we know, healthy as anything.  

Week : 37

What I love: Sleeping. I am tired at the moment and all I want to do is sleep. I know that does not sound like something that I should be so focused on, but hey, whatever. I love that I am down to just a couple weeks. I am loving that I still feel fairly cheerful and able to deal with life. At this point with Emma, I was on the verge of being a total jerk to all and sundry. I love that I will soon be on the other side of this. 

What I hate: I hate being sore and hurting from just being alive and 9 months pregnant. I don't like sleeping with tons of pillows and I can't wait to sleep on my back and my belly. Oh the joys! I am really ready to put this part of my life behind me. It will be wonderful! 

What I miss: Sleep. Free movement. My wedding ring, my winter coat, my clothes, my energy. I miss a mind free of worry about birth. :) 

What I’m looking forward to the most: Being done! I am really wanting to hold this little one too. I really want to name her and announce she is here and just be glad that it's over. I would like to just get on with the show, since it's not something I can actually avoid. 

Sleep: I am really not sleeping too bad, but more of the same, waking in the middle of the night and not falling back to sleep. Plus the pillows. Oh the stupid pillows. OK, so no, I am not sleeping great. 

Bra Size: C

Wedding rings on or off: Off. Ring is back and beautiful and I LOVE IT! And I want to wear it! DARN IT! Oh well, a couple more weeks. 

Weight: 176  Weight Gain: 33 lbs. Soooo three pounds in one week. I am not quite sure I am willing to believe it. Whatever. 

Worries: You mean other then birth? Not too many. 

Developments: Not any that I can think of. Joy is going to be gone from Monday of next week until the Sunday before my due date. A bit of a bummer but not one that I can't deal with. The baby is still posterior. I am still trying to get her to turn around, but nope. Stubborn girl. 

Things of Interest: None. :) OK, so let me think. I finally got the babies bag packed. I am ready for her. But I haven't packed my bag yet. I keep thinking, I have tons of time and why bother? I actually kind of feel like I'm never going to actually have the baby, so......

Mood: I was doing pretty good until Thursday. Then I saw Oshea's baby and Amanda's baby and I got really pregnancy grouchy and depressed. I just want to be done too!!!!!! I was pretty grouchy at my kids that day and then I got myself together and was OK the rest of the week. I'm sure I am more snappish and less patient, but I'm not in a black depression like I was with Emma, so I count it a win. 

Movement:  She keeps trying to get out the side. Or at least stretch her legs and GOSH it hurts! 

The belly (and the button!): Big. BUT no stretch marks still. Yippee! I might escape three pregnancies with no stretch marks! Hurrah!

Measurements: Chest:  Waist:   Midsection:  Hips:  Thighs: I didn't measure this week. I am still around 41.5 inches around the middle. 

Exercise: I broke down. I did two days of Crossfit and three days of walking. I just didn't feel like pushing myself. Lazy I know. But technically that is still five days of exercise, so I'm still going to count it as a win too. :) 

Eating: Total garbage! :) Oh well. I'll get myself back together after the first few weeks postpartum. 

The weekly pics: 

This is a super creepy picture in my opinion.... 

Hair: Your baby may have a full head of hair by now, with locks up to 1 1/2 inches long. Of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz at birth.

Skin: Your baby is shedding most of her downy body hair as well as some of the vernix caseosa, the creamy substance that protects her skin

Uterus: You may be having more Braxton Hicks contractions now, and they may last longer and be more uncomfortable.

Vagina: You might notice an increase in mucus discharge from your vagina. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny bit of blood), labor is probably right around the corner.