37 Weeks

It's hard to believe I'm even writing this post, but today I am officially:

 37 Weeks!!  

And this will be my last "belly shot" post!  Because we will be having our sweet boy this Wednesday...yes that's right, in 4 days...Oh My Word!!  I still don't think it has sunk in yet.

My blood pressure has been slightly elevated at my last few appointments but I haven't been having any protein in my urine and no other symptoms besides lots of swelling.  But I truly have a wonderful OB MD and she wanted to check everything out, so she decided to check labs for preeclampsia this past week.  My blood results looked good but my 24 hour urine, we found out Thursday, was elevated.  So, I have mild preeclampsia.  Josh and I went in on Friday to be placed on the monitor.  Little man looked great and we talked with our doctor.  She decided that an induction was the safest plan for the baby and me and we agree.  Even though I really wanted to go into labor on my own, I, more than anything, want to do what is best for Mason and me.  So, we will be going in for an induction on Tuesday night with a medicine called Cervidil and then Wednesday morning, the drug Pitocin will be started.  This is all so bittersweet for me.  Because as much as I am ready to have our precious little boy in my arms, I am also a little sad that he is leaving my belly...his warm little home for the past 37 weeks!  I love being pregnant.  I love feeling him move and for Josh to feel him kicking and squirming and I love having him all to myself!  But I guess it's time to share! And even though this wasn't the way that I had it planned out, I can already see the Lord's hands at work!  Because this baby's expected arrival date of June 11th, is none other than my Papa, William Henderson's birthday, which is who Mason is named after!  What a sweet surprise.  Papa was so surprised and happy when he found out this news! And what an awesome belated bday present for me too!!

Please pray for us this week.  Pray that my body will respond to the medications properly and that everything will go smoothly.  And more than anything, pray that we have a healthy baby boy!!  I have been nervous about this whole thing, which is crazy, because I help women do this all the time, so I know what to expect.  But it's a lot different on this end, as the patient and being a little less in control than normal.  But I know that the Lord is already there and just like He always does, is going to protect us and keep us safe!     "He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection."  Psalm 91:4 

We are trusting in His plan, because He's never failed us yet!  Thank you Lord!

 So I officially look like I've swallowed a watermelon!!

 And this is what he is looking like in there:

 Since finding out that Mason would be here sooner than we were expecting, we have been in overdrive!  It's starting to look all things baby in this house.  And oh, how I love it!  Bottles and clothes have been washed, bouncers, rock a roos, pack n plays and bassinets have been built and the car seat is installed.  Josh said that if we get anything else "baby" that we could run a day care :)

 Daddy hard at work building baby stuff!

 Chloe had to try out Mason's new ride...she approves, despite her sticking out her tongue.

 Our glider finally came in and the nursery is now complete.

 Chloe is waiting patiently for her little brother :)

And my very last pregnancy highlights :(

How far along:  37 Weeks

Size of Baby:  A Watermelon (19-22inches, 6.5lbs)

Most dramatic development this week:  Baby has rotated to head down and engaged in to pelvis.  Baby is sleeping more and sucking thumb to prepare for nursing.

Total weight gain:  28lbs

Gender:  It's a BOY!

Movement:  Lots.  While on the monitor Friday morning, I thought he would knock the monitor parts off my belly.  It's so sweet to watch!

Cravings:  Still nothing in particular

Sick or queasy:  No

Symptoms:  Swelling, elevated b/p and protein in urine=mild preeclampsia :(

Best moment of the week:  Getting all of sweet boy's things together and having my first NST (baby on the monitor).

Looking forward to:  Having our baby on Wednesday!!  Next post...will have our son in it!!  Wow!

We are ready and waiting for you sweet Mason!  We can't wait to see your precious face and for you to make this a family of four!  We love you precious boy!!

~"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11~

36 Weeks

Today I am:

 36 Weeks!

And we had our final baby shower this evening!  It was a co-gender shower, which was awesome because Josh and all of the men were able to be there!  It was a joy for me to see Josh opening some of little Mason's gifts.  The shower was wonderful!  We had amazing food, fun and fellowship with our family and friends!  Thank you Julie, Katie, Derek, Dustin and Debbie for making this evening so very special!

 Our boy is now the size of head of romaine lettuce.  Around 6lbs and 19inches long.

And looking like this in there:

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along:  36 weeks

Size of baby:  A head of romaine lettuce (6lbs and 19inches)

Most dramatic development:  Rate of growth slows to store up energy reserves.

Total weight gain:  27lbs

Movement:  He moves so much all throughout the day :)

Cravings:  Back to wanting country veggies...bring on the meat and three

Sick or queasy:  Not really..Yay!

Symptoms:  Lots of swelling all over and slightly elevated b/p which my MD is keeping a close eye on.

Best moment of the week:  Getting his nursery all finished up minus the glider and enjoying our last baby shower.

Looking forward to:  Finishing up the last few things around the house for baby and resting :)

~"God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20~

35 Weeks

Today I am:

 35 Weeks!  

Oh my goodness..I can't even believe it.  Less than 5 weeks to go.

We had our Maternity Portraits made yesterday by the wonderful Megan White and here is a little sneak peak.  I'll be putting up the rest soon.  I thought they turned out beautiful!

 Our big boy is now the size of a large cantaloupe.

 And this is how he looking in there...pretty cramped.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along:  35 weeks

Size of Baby:  Large cantaloupe (19-22inches, 5.5lbs)

Most dramatic development this week:  Baby is maxed out at length, but still has some pounds to gain.  Body fat is now 15% and by birth with double to 30%.  Fetal brain development is moving at a rapid pace and will continue through childhood.  Movements now feeling like rolls and slithers.

Total weight gain:  24lbs

Gender:  It's a BOY!

Movement:  Oh yes.  And it's so fun to watch my belly move around.  I never get tired of that special feeling.  In fact, I think I will really miss it when he is out of there!

Cravings:  Nothing in particular, just different things on different days.

Sick or queasy:  Not really

Symptoms:  Let me show you:

Huge lower legs, ankles and feet.  They have been swelling for the past few weeks now but have progressively gotten a little worse.  Also, by b/p was up this week at the MD and I had protein in my urine on my checkup on Wednesday.  I went Friday for a recheck and my urine looked good, but my b/p was still on the edge, so we shall see.  I'm resting and keeping my feet up as much as possible and drinking lots of water.  I'm also going weekly now to my appointments so I'll get rechecked soon. 

I have also started "nesting" for sure.  My Mom came over and helped Josh, and they got our garage cleaned out so that I can pull in now.  Yahoo!  I supervised with my feet up.  :) I also got our bags packed for the hospital and starting to do last little preparations before our sweet boy gets here!

Best moment of the week:  Definitely having our maternity portraits done!

Looking forward to:  Our final shower next Saturday that Josh gets to be involved in..yay! :)

~"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3~

34 Weeks

Today I am:

 34 Weeks!

And I had another great shower today thrown by the ladies of the Atkins side of the family.  It was lots of fun, so cute and little Mason got lots of great things!

 This boy is growing..he is now the size of a pineapple!

 And looking "squished" in there if you ask me. :)

We had a good week.  I had another wonderful shower thrown last night from my friends that I used to work with at Spartanburg.  Josh and I attended a breastfeeding class on Thursday, which he wasn't thrilled about, but we went anyway.  I go to the MD next week for a checkup.  And besides super swollen legs/ankles/feet, everything else is going good and about the same!  Looking forward to our Maternity pictures next week!

~"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8~

Happy "Mother's (to Be) Day" to ME

What a very special day...my first "Mother's (to be) Day."  I've waited to say those words for quite some time now and my heart overflows with joy just thinking...I'm a Mommy!!  It's still so hard to believe at times, but I'm so glad that God chose me to be little Mason's Mother!!  I already love this little miracle now more than I ever thought possible, and I can't wait to kiss his sweet face!!

And to my beautiful Mom, Happy Mother's Day!  I know that if I'm half the Mom to Mason that you have been to me, I'm going to be a wonderful mother!  You are truly amazing and I love you more than you know!!  

And to all the other sweet ladies in my life:  my stepmother, Judy, my mother in law, Patti, Nannie Tuck, and my two precious Grandmothers in heaven...I have some pretty amazing examples to follow and I thank you for the impact that you have had on my life! 

Happy Mother's Day and Love you All!

And thank you Missy and Gracie for my sweet card!  Love you two gals!

~"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."  Proverbs 31: 28-29~

33 Weeks

Today I am:

 33 Weeks! And moving right along :)

 Baby Mason is now the size of a Honeydew.

 And here is what he is looking like in there:

This was, once again, another difficult week.  My Grandmother went home to be with the Lord on Sunday.  We had the mortuary on Tuesday night and her funeral on Wednesday afternoon.  And even though you know that she is no longer suffering and free from all pain, it's never easy to let them go.  But I find peace in knowing that she is healed and that she will be looking down on us!  And I know without a shadow of a doubt, that she has already seen this sweet boy's face and is smiling down on us!  We will miss her so much, but we will see her again!  So thankful for that promise!

Not a whole lot has changed pregnancy wise this week.  My friends from work at Greer threw me a wonderful shower Thursday evening.  I had a good checkup at the MD on Friday and Josh and I went to a prenatal class today, which was very good.  Tomorrow is Mother's day, which is exciting because it will be my first "Mother To Be" day and also sad in the sense that my grandmother isn't here to celebrate it with us.  But I know she will be celebrating in heaven!  Looking forward to 2 more showers next week!

~"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philemon 4:7~

Heaven is Rejoicing

Heaven was rejoicing this morning as my precious grandmother went home to be with the Lord!!  Though it's difficult and sad to let her go...I can't imagine what she is now seeing!!  I find peace in knowing that all of her pain is gone and she is completely healed!

Grandma, we love you and we will "see you later."  And just like the book you read for sweet Mason, we know your love will always find us!!

"Our prayers have been answered
I finally arrived
The healing that had been delayed
Is now realized
No one's in a hurry
There's no schedule to keep
We're all enjoying Jesus
Just sitting at His feet
If you could see me now
I'm walking streets of gold
If you could see me now
I'm walking tall and whole
If you could see me now
You'd know I've seen His face
If you could see me now
You'd know the pain's erased
You wouldn't want me
to ever leave this place
If only you could see me now

My light and temporary trials
Have worked out for my good
To know it brought Him glory
When I misunderstood
Though we've had our sorrows
They can never compare
To what Jesus has in store for us
No language can compare"