Postpartum Padsicles

I am a complete nutcase when it comes to being as prepared as possible. I have done hours upon hours of research about all the little things doctors don't tell you about. Like how pushing a watermelon out of you who-ha hurts for weeks after. Oh, and your insides continue to fall out of you like a freaking waterfall for weeks too. Of course I didn't think it was all push baby out and I'd be up a running within a few days or that everything would just snap back to normal like a rubber band. But holy crap, I'm scared for my poor lady parts. One of the best things I read about was the "padsicle". I asked a nurse about these and she said they even have some in the hospital but will only give one to you if you ask. Hello! You should advertise these puppies! Since my little one has a few more weeks to cook, I figured I would get a jump start and have a bunch of these babies ready to go for when I get home. After all of the research I had done, I decided to NOT put any essential oils in there (like lavender) mainly because I can not stand the smell of lavender. Plus, most Witch Hazel comes with some sort of smell. However, you can add a few drops of an essential oil if you'd like. Here's what you'll need:

• Maxi pads (I got 2 kinds. Maximum strength w/ wings and Overnight Heavy Flow)
• Thayers Witch Hazel (Doesn't have to be Thayers but this was the only kind I could find that didn't have alcohol in it. I also got the Rose Petal kind for a nice scent but any kind will do)
• Aloe Vera Gel (Has to be gel. Don't get the concentrate or juice!)

Then the steps are easy..

Open the pad and cover the middle with Aloe Vera Gel..

Spread out the aloe with a spatula or spoon. Squirt on Witch Hazel enough to make the pad wet but not enough to soak through the pad. You still need some absorbency in there for your mess. Close the wings (if you got ones with wings) back over the middle and recover the adherent with paper..

I used Always Maxi Pads mainly because of this point.. their plastic covering can stay on when you are making these and then you can just close it back up using the tape that they originally had on them!! However, if you can't keep the original plastic that your pad comes in then you can either use plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Either way, wrap the pad back up into its form..

Store the pads in a large gallon size zip lock bag or extra plastic grocery bag so you don't have pads hanging out all over your freezer. Once you are done, place the bags in the freezer and you're ready to go!

I really don't know how many I made. I did make some that only have Witch Hazel in them because I ran out of aloe. Otherwise, I can't wait to try these out. Plus, seeing how both aloe and witch hazel have healing properties in them, I can only imagine they will be amazing!!

Blustery day in the Hundred Acre Woods

We finally got the birch trees for the nursery and I love them! At first when we opened the box, the leaves were orange. That's right, orange. Well this was just not going to work for my grey and yellow nursery so I came up with a plan to spray paint them yellow. Thank god for an amazing husband. He got all messy and made them perfect! Only a few more finishing touches and the nursery will be DONE!!

Daddy-to-be Survival Kit

Since this is Doug's first baby I wanted to do something super sweet for him. He has been a god send through this whole pregnancy. He has been to every apt. (for both momma & baby!) and has dropped everything he is doing when I needed him. 

He is so excited for his little girl to arrive. When we started talking about the baby shower, I knew I wanted him to be involved too. He is going to be a first time parent too. I didn't think it was fair for me to get all the attention. So we decided to have a couples shower.

Then I started thinking about the shower and how many showers I had been to where the mom gets special gifts, but the dad doesn't. I knew that this would probably happen at ours too but I wanted to show him how much he meant to me and how grateful I was.

This honestly took me hours to complete.

More so just thinking of all the little fun things I could put into it!!

Snickers: Because sometimes you just need to laugh!

Socks: You will be doing lots of rocking!

Shirts: For all those spit up messes, you'll need to change too!

Pop Rocks: Because you are my rock.

Candle: So you never feel like you are in the dark.

Coffee K-Cups: For times you need a pick me up, and fast!

Venti Coffee Cup: Because sometimes you are going to need a Venti.

Travel Mug: She is going to keep us on the move!

Granola Bars: For mornings we're just too tired to make breakfast.

Salt & Pepper Chips: For those late night feedings.

Tootsie Rolls:  To remind you to roll with the punches.

Erasers: We're both going to make mistakes.

Life Savers: Because you are my life saver.

Paper Clip: To help you hold it all together.

Sugar Daddy: You're the best one I know.

Advil: When all else fails, take 2!!

Diaper Bag (not pictured): So you always have a back up. 

34 (maybe?) Weeks

Welp, shit just got real. We've had our (first) baby shower and now our house has EXPLODED with baby stuff. The only room that does not have something baby in it is our bedroom. And that will soon change once we get our bassinet. 

Our shower was amazing. I could not have even thought of anything better. We are so luck and blessed to have so many people who love us and our little peanut. I feel overwhelmed with love. Of course, so many people wanted to feel our little princess move or kick. She had other ideas in mind. I swear she gets scared when she hears voices she doesn't hear on a normal basis and gets all hunkered down inside me. She didn't even get the hiccups (which she gets at least 10 times a day!). I felt really bad. Until most people had left I sort of laid on the couch and had my sister put her hand where I knew little girls butt was and she rolled over. Megan SCREAMED. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. Go figure, this scared the shit out of baby (seriously think I felt her shudder) and she did not move a muscle until we left. Poor little girl.

In other news, our 32(?) week baby apt didn't go as planned. This pregnancy just hasn't been the easiest thing for me. Something is "off" with me measuring wise so I am getting another U/S on the 28th. While I simply can't wait to see my baby girl again, I am completely and utterly freaked out. I know measurements can be off all the time, but still. The last thing a expecting mom needs to hear is something is "off". He even went onto say that he is concerned. REALLY? I love love love my OB and have nothing but complete confidence in him so I know he is doing the right thing. I'm still nervous. 

*We kept the sign at what I should be.*

How far along? 34w4d (32w4d)
Total weight gain: up to 155. 
Maternity clothes? Needed some tights for my shower. Not the most comfortable thing in the world. I also got some leggings. We'll see how those feel. 
Stretch marks?  Nope!!!!
Sleep: I have been so flipping tired this week. I had a few nights that I slept 11 hours. Yep, 11. Unfortunately, I've also had nights that I wake up at 1 AM. Not a fan. At all.
Miss Anything?  Fitting into my old clothes. Being able to breath. Yummy fall drinks.
Best Moment this week: Hearing our sweet little girls heart beat.
Movement: She loves moving for daddy. She will not move for anyone else. 
Food cravings: Crush Orange Soda. so.freaking.random. I've had at least 6 this week.
Aversions: Mac n'cheese. 
Labor signs: Nothing new
Symptoms: BH suck. And baby's little hiccups are just crazy.
Belly Button in or out? Just straight up odd looking.
Wedding rings on or off? ON!!  
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! and starting to get super super nervous!
Looking forward to: Thanksgiving!!!!!
Not looking forward to: I've totally slacked on the HW front the last 2 weeks. I have to bang out so much today/tomorrow. I'm going to be exhausted.

33 (31) Weeks

Although I have been running around like a CRAZY person, this week was pretty status quo on the pregnancy front. I will say, no news is good news. I found out that I don't have some random blood disorder that we didn't know about. However, my platelets are still low. So now I will get my blood drawn every week and see the hematologist every 2 weeks. 

How far along? 33w4d (or 31w4d)
Total weight gain: still at 154
Maternity clothes? Nothing new. 
Stretch marks?  no!
Sleep: Been so so tired this week. I think I have gone to bed before 9PM almost every night.
Miss Anything?  Being comfortable.
Best Moment this week: Finding out nothing crazy is wrong with me. Boom!
Movement: Crazy girl
Food cravings: Sweets
Aversions: Nothing new
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: Been awfully off balance the past few days.
Belly Button in or out? Flat!
Wedding rings on or off? ON!!  
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: My baby shower on Saturday!!! I'm so excited
Not looking forward to: So many doctors apts this week! Sheesh.

30/32 Weeks

I can't even put into words how insanely CRAZY the last 2.5 weeks have been. I'm surprised I even had time to take showers. AND of course, I woke up this morning realize I never did a 29 or 30 week post. Sorry!! On top of all that, I remembered I don't have a free weekend until DECEMBER!!! *commence freak out* Where is all this time going??!! On another note, we got through frankenstorm sandy okay. We lost power for a few days and stayed with some friends and my parents for a few nights. Otherwise, last 2 weeks have been spent at way to many doctors offices..

So now for the not to great parts.. apparently I don't do being pregnant very well. At my 28 week apt they did some blood work that came back showing I have low platelets. Yuck. Off to the hematologist I went where they did more blood work. 10 freakin viles. I didn't even know I could give that much blood. Unfortunately, my low platelets were not a fluke by the lab. ugh. So what does this all mean? I'm not sure yet. Basically, it happens in about 5% of pregnancies (seems like a really low number to me but whatev) and doctors have no idea why. Their best guess is that since your body is doubling to even tripling your blood supply to care for the little babe your platelets just can't keep up. However, there could be some other reason so they tested me for everything under the sun (why they took so much blood). They want me to see the hematologist every week from now until I deliver. That's a lot!!! I see him again on Thurs. to find out all the results. Yippee.

I saw the OB this week too (since we go every 2 weeks now) and he told me great news.. I DON'T HAVE GD! Woohoo! Not that anyone thought I did, but still great to hear. Also, little one is freaking huge. We're measuring 2 weeks earlier then projected. Meaning I am measuring at 32 weeks instead of 30 weeks. Woot woot!! 

How far along?  I'm gonna do both my new date and old date so; 32w4d (30w4d)
Total weight gain: 128-->154
Maternity clothes? I went shopping with my momma this weekend for a dress for my baby shower in 2 weeks. A) so freakin excited for my shower B) I got 2 and now have to decide between them.
Stretch marks?  Negative
Sleep: More just turning over and bathroom breaks. Otherwise, sleep has been pretty awesome in the last few weeks.
Miss Anything?  Being able to breath.
Best Moment this week: Going to our birthing class. We both actually learned a lot.
Movement: All over the place.
Food cravings: Milk. Of course when we don't have any.
Aversions: Pretty much the same stuff through the whole pregnancy..
Labor signs: Not yet. Other then my random contractions that aren't BH's. However, I have a whole list of things to look for!
Symptoms: Still some awful hip pain. And now chest pain at night. Not a fan.
Belly Button in or out? Odd.
Wedding rings on or off? ON!!  
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! And starting to freak out a little..
Looking forward to: Finding out my blood results, hopefully nothing too scary!!
Not looking forward to: All the damn work I have to catch up on since we lost power last week. Ugh.