Merry Christmas...IT'S A...

GIRL!!!!!!!

We decided to do a family gift this year...The kids got a Wii! There was a lot of screaming!

Dan's new Disc and Belt Sander. He's a happy boy.

Kids new PJ's. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Johnson!

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS!

34 weeks...

Look at that belly! Holy cow! I am getting so excited and impatient for this little one to arrive! I also can't wait to let everyone know what this baby is! Dan and I finally decided how we would tell the kids what we are having Christmas Morning. I will fill you in on all the details Christmas Day, so stay tuned ;) It's getting very difficult to keep this a secret as it's becoming so real! I want to refer to what this baby is all the time, and have to make a huge effort to NOT say he or she.

Since getting over the terrible cough I had a month ago, things have gotten so much better! I still fight getting good sleep. I usually get insomnia in the last couple of months before baby comes. I average 2-4 hours of sleep each night. If I sleep during the day, it gets worse, so I walk around with bags under my eyes and everyone asks if I'm okay. The crazy thing is I feel pretty good. It's so weird. I miss exercise the most. I miss being able to move quickly, to run or take stairs two at a time. That probably seems weird, but this moving slow business is for the birds. My left hip gives out if I get up too quickly, lol! I feel like an old woman! I am totally in love with carbs right now! Any kind of bread, pasta, rice, you name it, I love it! It's been difficult for me to love meat during this pregnancy. My favorite thing right now is not chocolate and not the packaged stuff...I have to make my own :) 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa in a large glass, rice milk (yes seems weird, but I love it), a pinch of cinnamon, and 7-8 drops of stevia. It's so yummy!

This baby is a mover. None of my kids moved as much as this one! The most active time is during the night, although it moves a lot during the day as well, especially from 9 to 11 and then again in the afternoon a bunch. If you push on my tummy, then he/she pushes back. The last visit I had with the doc, this baby was breech. I know that he/she has turned a few times since then. I'm very worried about have a c-section. I've never had one, and am desperately praying that I don't. So keep us in your prayers, please?!

My next visit is on New Years Eve. My doc is nervous about how quickly my babies come, so I will be almost 36 weeks and I'm interested to know if I will be dilated, and how much. Usually I'm at least dilated to a 4 and 80% effaced. Crazy, I know. I am very curious to know if this one will be different. I've exercised regularly and watched my weight over the last 5 years, where I didn't do much of that with the other kids. I know that I have carried this baby differently as well. As much as I would love to have this baby now, I also don't want to deal with my water breaking 5 weeks early as it did with Hailey. She was 5 pounds and that was scary! I hope this little one stays in there for at least another 3-4 weeks, if not to term.

Well, next post Christmas Day... stay tuned!

Rachel's 7th Birthday

Every year I tell the kids their story. I had a doctors appointment in the late afternoon December 11th. I was 37, almost 38 weeks along. The doctor was already delivering a baby and so the nurse checked me. I was dilated to a 6! I couldn't believe it! She was worried about a prolapse cord, because Rachels head moved from her hand and that could cause the cord to come out first. Dan was working across the street from our doctors office, so he met me there and we went to the hospital together. My Mom took the other kids. I was very excited! For some reason my body doesn't contract steadily on it's own, but I manage to dilate easily...lucky me ;) Rachel was born just after 10:00 p.m. It took about 4 hours to have her. She was my first baby natural, with no pain meds. It was tough! I was sold though. It was so much easier to recover afterwards. I hate not being able to control my own body. Rachel weighed 6 lb's 7 oz. She had blonde hair and super big blue (later green) eyes. She is such a sweet girl! She is so feisty but super sweet! I love her sweet spirit! Happy Birthday Rachel...We Love You!