When a family member dies...

Today marks a very key moment in the history of my pregnancy...

My Gram passed away at 11:54 a.m. peacefully with us beside her assuring her of our love and how it was okay to let go. That it was okay to go home to Jesus and go be with my Grandfather, he was waiting for her and couldn't wait to take her dancing again! She loved to Jitterbug :) 

I have been bedside with many people but had never been there when they passed, this was a first. I am so blessed to have watched God's hand come down and take her so quietly. That was our prayer, to go in peace. You don't always get that when their lungs begin to fill with fluid.

We count ourselves truly blessed. 

The nurses found her early this morning with a fever of 104 and the realization she had developed more than just a chest cold and a UTI. She couldn't express the discomfort she was in as she had advanced dementia and it had rendered her without words, the desire to eat was gone and she no longer knew who anybody was. However, she did always have a tender smile when I told her about the baby... She rubbed my tummy the last time I saw her and smiled. The only smile we could get out of her came from the idea of this precious unborn baby. If that isn't God's grace I don't know what is!

My Gram was baby crazy!

She would always, ALWAYS be asking my husband and myself when we planned on having a baby and we always would say later, not yet. Little did when know it was right around the bend! When she learned she was going to be a Great-Grandmother (Again, I believe there are 3 before our little guy) it instantly brightened her day and gave her something to look forward to when I would go see her. I'll never forget when she told me she thought I gained too much weight! I guess you put a belly on a small frame and it looks massive to some. That moment has always made me smile. 

Something inside always told me she'd go before the baby and I knew it meant I wouldn't be able to fly back for the funeral. God gave me the gift of being with her as she passed so I was able to have closure. My parents will be flying back to attend and help with the funeral and my sister will stay behind to be with me as my husband works long hours and she has shorter. This will be awesome just in case baby comes a little early. However my mom has told this little one to wait till they come back. 

It's a relief to know she's in heaven free and able to be the woman she's always dreamed of being!

She was 85 years old.

Gram with me on the day I got married

12/02/2011

I loved my Gram and will miss her dearly!

What an amazing thing to realize I'll see her again on the other side.

Betty (Grammie)

One of my favorite pictures from 2010, Christmas Eve...

She LOVED sweets, I snapped this photo while she was sneaking some before dinner.

Oct/15/1927-Jan/17/2012

Betty went home to be with God and is finally free!

Amen.

Shannon <3 

A budget for your pregnancy Pt 1: The Basics!

Starting at a very early age we begin to dream in our little hearts of what we want for our lives...

Most little girls start dreaming of their prince coming to sweep them off their feet, getting down on one knee and give them a gorgeous ring and then start planning the perfect wedding! Other thoughts that dance around our heads are plans of one day starting a family and having children of our own. The feeling of our own babies in our arms and the intoxication of drinking in their scent and dazzling over their little hands and feet. A baby is one of those moments in our lives we will never, ever, ever forget!!!

But it costs to be pregnant and have a baby doesn't it?

I don't think we always think of those costs when we decide it's time to start a family...

I didn't.

A few costs kinda snuck up on me... Great learning experience, that's for darn sure!

Let's start with the basics:

**Pregnancy tests.

You will most likely buy a few for home and keep them there but you'll also want to have it confirmed with a blood test. The cost of this really depends on location, insurance coverage or lack of coverage. Will you also be seeking to have it expanded to guess your current state of gestation?

$50.00 +

Congratulations!!! You're going to be a mommy!!!

**Are you planning to stay with your OB, a midwife who works in a hospital or one that does births out of home? Again, you're looking at insurance coverage or lack of coverage. This will include visits, ultra sounds, blood work and any other test you or your provider may or may not want/need you to have. 

$2,000 + 

(Or under)

**But your body is about to change in such drastic ways... Ways you didn't even know possible!

Are you planning on using any massage therapy or chiropractic care to help keep your body conditioned for birth? These methods when used properly can help not only cut down pain and laboring time (usually), they also create a healthier pregnancy for both you and baby. Massage is usually paid out of pocket unless they're part of a chiropractic office and both may be covered by some (Not all) insurance. 

For chiro alone (Which I HIGHLY recommend!!) your cost may or may not start at,

$450.00 and this is based off a package deal. 

You're now pretty set for some big physical help to guide you through this amazing time but you're still forgetting a key factor... Your vitamins!

**You'll be needing at least a Prenatal and DHA supplement.

You may or may not need extra iron, calcium or vitamin C etc... This is what they'll help you figure out in your blood work. A lot of what you'll be needing on top of your supplements will be in your diet, can't just rely on those vitamins to feed and grow your bundle! You need nutrition in what you eat to double what you take in pill form. This will also depend on location of purchase, size and what you can afford. 

Let's start low... And no, low cost doesn't mean terrible product.

$10.00 per bottle +

**Your food budget probably will go up as you deal with the special needs of morning sickness, cravings and additional needs. So factor that in as well. Just keep track of healthy cravings vs not so healthy and look for local co-ops such as Bountiful Baskets to help you get fresh produce, grains and other needed things for a growing belly/household! http://bountifulbaskets.org/

These are a big deal when having a baby!

We don't always think of what it takes for us to have a healthy pregnancy and these are key factors that help keep both you and baby strong. It's really smart to think of these things before you get pregnant. Or if you're like me you didn't quite plan on getting pregnant so soon and some of these things snuck up on you! Esp if you decided to fire your OB and go a more holistic rout, insurance doesn't always cover that or at least all of it. The blessing for us is any lab work or medical shots are covered! 

(Rh factor for myself, it's not a vaccination. It's a treatment.)  

Praise God because lab work isn't always cheap!!

Keep an eye out for Pt 2 coming soon :)

Thought of and maybe not so thought of beauty basics for your changing body...

Have a glorious day,

Shannon <3 

Third Trimester Pampering!

So by this stage you may not feel so attractive, energetic or very clear when it comes to thinking...

You might be looking over your grown body and thinking things like,

"Those aren't my legs or my butt!"

"I miss my ability to bend over and get it myself..."

"When will I be able to roll over in bed and NOT grunt or groan?"

"My feet are kiiiillling meeee!"

"I want to get comfy so my husband can massage my back better but I have this mellon in my way..."

"Have I always looked this way when I wake up in the morning? *gasp*"

Yes, you are a 3rd tri mommy-to-be!

However, your husband is probably still looking at you and your body with adoring eyes and saying how gorgeous you are and that he loves the changes and knows you'll need some emotional support to get back into your pre baby jeans when you're tired and frustrated they didn't just snug back on a week afterwards. Those thoughts seem to start sneaking their way into your mind the closer your due date comes. You begin to think over things and process your plan of attack but won't know exactly what that looks like till after you've had your little bundle and you see how you're feeling. I've been reminding myself to simply take it one day at a time after our son comes. I know there will be days of frustration but I also know it's not impossible! I refuse to kill myself because rest is vital after baby and without that rest I won't heal properly and I won't have the proper energy I need as a new mom. 

I've been trying to plan out a way to pamper myself before and after baby for over a month now and have finally come up with some options for us pregnant or one day in the future pregnant mommies!

Here is what I've come up with:

1. Don't stress out on the little things! They will get done when they get done.

2. Drink water and if you doubt how much you've had have 2 more glasses or bottles. 

You'll feel much better!

3. Try your best to keep your diet in line. 

It's so hard not to "cheat" these last several weeks because you're beyond ready to be done!

4. Plan out beauty apts for the last month of pregnancy!

a. Have your hair redone or changed up a bit for a fresh feeling/outlook...

b. Have a mani/pedi so you feel a little more "put together" when you go into labor...

c. Get a facial or massage or both!

5. See if there's anything in your current at home skincare/body care routine that could use some updating. This is also vital! You may not be sleeping much for the first month or so and some extra help in the healing/preservation process wouldn't hurt.

i.e.

A new nightly moisturizer

Intensive eye cream

Healing treatments/oils for your skin/body

Hydrating shampoo & conditioner to help with post birth hair

Some new concealer and mascara for brighter eyes and blush for cheek color

6. As you asked for those special snacks when pregnant, ask for them again after to help boost your mood/energy levels. ESP if they're healthy!

(Mine is a berry cup from the store!! SO YUM!!)

7. Consider placenta encapsulation for hormonal help/healing post baby.

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/10/the-benefits-of-placenta-encapsulation-for-postpartum-healing.html

8. Buy yourself a few new clothing items even if it's just underwear and yoga pants!

9. If you need more than one bath or shower a day to feel refreshed, do it!

10. Keep away from negative people and online drama as much as possible, this is mental pampering and you will need it more than ever now! If somebody pisses you off you tend to feel it tenfold even when you're not trying to take it personally. Keep things around you as calm as possible, esp since now is when you'll feel Braxton Hicks or a sudden drop in blood sugar or energy if you get too upset.

BE CAREFUL!

I have invested in a few home skin products so I probbly won't treat myself to a facial or massage but am dying to have these treatments, not gonna lie... You also have to budget out what you is doable for you and your family, for me it'll be a couple more pedi's and my hair! (I need to see a change on top of my head!) For now I'm happy to have a new chiro that's helping take most of my back pain away and is helping me keep things relaxed these last 4 weeks of pregnancy! 

Current hair 01/07/2013

I've also been trying to spend more time praying when I wake up at night. This time of pregnancy you might feel things stirring in your heart and praying is the only thing that calms me. That and asking my husband to hold me close, his arms and warmth are a heavenly blessing! 

These are things to consider and I'm not you HAVE to do them all.

Heck, put your own list together! This is your life and your body after all :)

Have a glorious rest of your day,

Shannon <3 

"We're in the home stretch Hunny!"

**Based off of 01/03/2013**

I needed to hear this from my husband last night as I was BEYOND uncomfortable, felt really off, had some intense Braxton Hicks, couldn't eat much because I felt sick etc... It was a rough night before I got into bed. My husband said he hates seeing me like that but gets excited because he knows baby is almost ready to come. I agree! However miserable I was it did bring hope that things are almost done, as I am VERY ready!!! It's a daily thought and I will often have to stop and pray my way through tough moments of just all around yuck. Nothing beats a trip to Wally World while having Braxton  Hicks and being around grumpy people.... They don't really hurt per say as much as they are a thorn in the side and you just want that "wringing" feeling to stop while you're around so many people.

Hearing the words, "We're in the home stretch Hunny!" from my husband is such a HUGE help!

Here's an odd thing about the 3rd trimester and feeling off....

You have 2 ways of responding to it:

a. You're just so out of it all you can literally do is chill. Nothing else. Any task is too much!

b. You're out of it but you have to get out and walk or you need to at least get something small done around the house.

I was b. yesterday, total yuck but couldn't sit still. In a way getting out helps.
I didn't go out alone, I went out with mom for a bit and it was really nice to have a woman to talk with. At this stage of the game going out alone when you feel off just isn't a smart move.

My son was VERY active and that wasn't always comfy but I wouldn't change it for the world because it indicates he's healthy. I felt instantly better once in bed and watching my husband's face light up as he felt our little one roll around and respond to his daddy's voice.
It's the little things that change everything!

I'm reminding myself that even though it feels like my belly is about to fall off when I walk (esp since he's started to drop) and I'll start to feel more and more weird as the weeks count down to labor, I am reminded of God's design for a woman's body and how we never really know what we'll really feel until we're there. You know in your heart if it's your body prepping or if something's wrong. The thing to not let your head do is freak out, baaaad move! Trust your gut. I believe part of my feeling so off is due to the fact my body is now producing very small amounts of colostrum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colostrum
Hello newest onset of hormones!

5 weeks and counting......
Here's praying it's 5 weeks or less haha
I really want a healthy baby who's ready when he's ready so I tell him,
"No, rush. But yeah, hurry up and finish baking!! Don't come early on account of what Mommy wants! We want you safe and if that means a whole 5 weeks. Oi. That means 5 more weeks."

Shannon <3

3rd Trimester!!!

I always thought a woman in her 3rd tri looked uncomfortable but I had yet to actually feel it...

My goodness! 

Let's first cover food and appetite:

I've noticed mine is hit and miss, I guess my mom's was too by this time.

The annoying thing is sometimes you have to force yourself to eat seeing as the baby is now developing his chub. You don't want to compromise their body weight! Now, I've had to force myself each trimester at some point..Def never fully lost the "yuck" however mild. Praise God!! As I mentioned, hormone surges ALWAYS had me fighting the idea of food. Nothing usually sounded great those days but I always found something to eat. I'm not a huge meat eater and it's showing me how I'm needing to get creative on certain nutritional levels because you need SO much more protein now vs when you're not pregnant. I've learned Greek yogurt, almonds and dried fruits rich in the color red etc are awesome foods for boosting protein intake! A day low on protein is one yucky day indeed.

In your 3rd trimester you need more calcium, vitamin c and yes, protein! 

Not to mention keeping up with water. 80 oz +

35 weeks :)

Tired one day and energized the next:

 If I have an energy burst I need to watch myself cause I will overdo it and then my back is shot and that's just not a fun thing! My husband gets on me about this and rightly so. The nesting instinct makes it hard to slow down some days if I have the desire to go and not stop! 

Lack of sleep is another killer during this time.

You're getting bigger so you have to have a pillow for your back, under your tummy and between your legs! If it's not seeking comfort from pillows you might be praying for your back to unlock and stop whacking out on you... I had a heating pad I used but it died sooo I've been def trying to figure out how to ease that discomfort. A husband who's willing to rub is always a bonus and warm baths right before bed are even more addicting these days, the water calls your name more and more the bigger you get! It's heaven in the tub with bubbles and candles :) Also a heated rice sock has been a new friend vs the cold one I use for headaches.

 We keep learning how that car wreck the summer before last really did a number on my poor body. (Esp since I was still regaining ground in workouts before I got pregnant...)
We have been blessed with a wonderful chiro my midwife suggested and his passion is to work with pregnancy. My goodness has he been a life saver!! I had another I was seeing but this guy has built part of his job around pregnancy and all that entails. 

A product called Natural Calm that can be bought at most health food markets is a blessing for RLS (Restless leg syndrome) This stuff tastes pretty good too and it's fizzy, which I like.
(Can be had cold or warm.)

The bathroom is now one of your best friends and sometimes it's an emergency situation where you have to pull off at a gas station just to go pee. Or you're sprinting to reach it there in time. 

Back to that nesting instinct:

When it hits...

It HITS!

Suddenly things you've been putting off or that have been on the back burner become a full frontal focus that consumes your mind daily and sometimes you wake up thinking about it. The asking for more and more help gets old pretty fast but you need to think of that little bundle inside! 

It's a joy to put things together and plan out the design/colors, what you need etc!!!

Oh the hormones of it all:

If you didn't feel too hormonally emotional during the first 2 trimesters you may be feeling REALLY it now! My emotions have been pretty even keel this entire pregnancy and that has been so awesome. Another praise God!!

 However.

This 3rd hit and suddenly almost, (not always) everything makes me cry. What the heck?!

I'm not a huge crier to start off with so this is really odd for me. Poor husband looks confused but always has a hug an kiss right there waiting! You also may get angry or annoyed quickly for no good reason and that too makes you scratch your head... "Why the heck did that piss me off so much??"

Making sure plans are in place:

Now is the time to nail down any plans you have to make for you and your coming baby!!

1. Finding a reputable doctor for the baby.
And do they support your choice to vaccinate/not vaccinate or selective vaccinate?

2. Do you have a birth plan in place?
(This is esp good f you're planning a hospital birth.
We will have one set up for if we have to go due to any emergency.)

3. Do you have everything you need in order to have this baby not not freak out over something not being done or bought etc... All the major things at least. A few small things left undone is okay, ask for help for that stuff if you honestly can't do it before baby comes!

4. If you're having a home birth do you have all your supplies?
If it's a hospital birth do you have your bag ready(With birth plan in print and copies made)?

5. Have you researched how you plan on doing diapers?

a. Most disposable have a lot of junk in them that create health issues, rashes etc... Look into safer options which are out there for disposable but they will def raise the cost of things.

b. If you're planning on going the cloth rout, research and ask around for what people find to work best and what will fit your particular lifestyle.

6. Do you have nursing bras that fit for both night and day?
And do you have a small box of nursing pads put away just in case you start leaking pre baby.
Not to mention having some for day 3 when the milk comes in post baby is also a good idea!

7. Do you have meals frozen + lined up to be brought when you give birth?
In reality you'll only need meals for 2 weeks if all goes smoothly. Start prepping some meals and freezing them now and find somebody to organize the other meals you'll be needing!
You should not be doing all of this, you have a baby to prep for.

8. Make sure people know if you're planning on visitors or having them turned away for X amount of days/weeks. Yes, you will prob need to remind them a few times but this is time for you to get into routine and recover! Don't feel pressure to have people come right away.

9. Have you lined up pre baby pampering for yourself??
This is key!!
Get your hair done, a massage, a pedi and mani!
You OWE yourself, it's been a long road and you've waited so long to have this baby...
Make yourself feel gorgeous for that day when your baby makes their grand entrance :)

I see this has turned into quite the book so I'll stop myself here.

I have so much more I could say but I dare not over due it, as  I may have already ;)

I am overjoyed my time being pregnant is coming to a close as I just can't wait to hold my son!!!

Have a wonderful evening, 

Shannon <3 

Swelling during pregnancy...

Every now and then I look down at my feet and see little pudgy toes wiggling back at me...

I remembered my midwife and mom saying to really watch that as it can be a sign of more serious conditions such as Preeclampsia which did happen to my Aunt when she carried my one cousin. And another thing to watch for is morning swelling when you wake up vs at the end of the day when you might've been on your feet all day. This too may indicate something's wrong, but not always. It just something to keep and eye on and a great way to do this is to watch if you can get your wedding ring (or any other ring your might wear on a regular basis) off and on without struggle. Yay for me I can still wear my wedding ring!

I did however notice swelling when I woke and asked my midwife about it and she said as long as there's no pitting and or you can still see your ankles all is well. In fact, in your 3rd tri and if you eat a higher salt based meal you may wake up a little puffier than you did pre pregnancy. Unless you retain water easy then it may be nothing new, I never really have.

Another thing my midwife reminded me of was the fact your body has produced more blood to help grow/support your baby and that it's perfectly natural to look a little "fuller" in various areas of the body. (4000 to 5600 mL roughyl) This is pretty much my case unless I do indulge on a little too much salt which I usually do a good job at not over eating now that I'm past the months where you need extra. It's not hard :) Esp since I've had a sweet tooth vs salty taste haha Thanks to the Hubs and his genetic side feeding the baby. I blame him ;)

So rules of thumb for swelling: 

1. Remember your blood volume has increased.

2. It may be due to way too much salt intake that increased water retention. 

(Think of how much water do you normally retain or don't retain)

3. No pitting is a very good sign!

(Same with being able to still seeing your ankles)

4. Watch your body, if you suddenly wake or rapidly gain weight get in touch with your midwife or health care provider! Better safe than sorry.

5. How do your wedding rings fit or don't fit?

(It's a good thing if they still fit!) 

6. If you swell, keep your feet up for a bit and relax while hydrating. 

Here are a few extra tips from another blogger

http://www.externalinfo.com/2012/01/tips-to-overcome-foot-swelling-during.html

Have a great evening!

Shannon <3

Stretchmarks round 2 and the pregnancy "mask"

Remember when I wrote about stretchmarks in odd places?

http://pregnantaesty.blogspot.com/2012/09/stretch-marks-in-odd-places.html

If not look at the link above :)

Nobody was more shocked than me when I saw them popping up at such a rapid rate! 

I had heard this could happen but didn't think it would really happen to me. So the day I saw them starting I was like, "Aww really? Ugh. Great. Where's my lotion??....." 

My mom got off w/out a single mark! So I have somebody else in my bloodline to thank... I know this bc I had some from before (In another location) when I had a growth spurt from skinny thing with zero curves to a woman who had curves. I had those pretty clear and softened out nicely, but as we know they never fully go away and if they do it's a blessing!

 

(The most G rated version I could find with a rough example)

Well the stretching continued as my bust has continued to grow and grow and grow and hey... Grow some more!! My mom looked at me and was like "Holy cow Shannon! What size are you wearing?" I am in an XL soft cup bra from Target. Yes, that's right, an XL!! That puts me in the upper C to D cup family. My Aunt saw me several months back and was like, "You'll be a D cup!" and now that I think about it, bigger boobs do run in the family. Mom just hit the middle range as had I. Not to say I'm not wowed by this... Good Lord!

I've been using lotion as much as I can remember to and when my husband told me the other day it looked like they were fading I didn't believe him. Didn't want to get my hopes up. Until now! Shocked to say they've started to heal over even tho I continue to grow, what an odd thing to see so fast. I wouldn't put it past a few newer popping up but hey, they're healing! 

However.

There's another skin condition taking place on my bust...

Melasma (Chloasma) aka The Pregnancy Mask.

What are common cases for this you may ask?

Well, it's pretty simple to explain: 

A. Ladies with a more olive to brown skin tones are more likely to have this.

B. Ladies who are on BC pills or hormone replacement therapy.

C. Sun worshipers.

These are most common and will have you more likely to see this happen and it usually happens on the lower portion of the face but I never put it past happening on other areas of the body. (This is our skin we're talking about.)

The hormones Estrogen and Progesterone are what cause this and A-C up there are other factors that make it doubly possible. Mine would be the olive undertones from my Cherokee and Hebrew. Add the INTENSE physical reactions I've had to all these pregnancy hormones and it makes perfect sense. Thinking about it, it's really not that bad if it only happens on my bust. It may cover a fair amount of space but I'll take that over continued stretchmarks popping up. There's that chance it'll fade after baby comes and the body calms down in the melanin production department anyway.

**If it should stay esp for those who have it on their face you can always seek professional help from an Aesty or dermatologist. There are several options depending on how dark and how much it bothers you that we can offer. Chemical peels and various at home treatments are a few as lasers are a more intensive step and should be done with caution. Just remember SPF to help it from getting worse as you mature!!

 

Pregnancy is such a ride and for those who aren't informed it can be a scary time.

I keep seeing mom's who were never told about stuff and they're freaking out. :(

Not to say I haven't had my *gasp* moments in shock over something I never knew.

haha Not so. It's happened.

Anyway.

 It's time for me to dash!

 Hope this finds you well, I'm off to get more water and some food...

Shannon <3