Spoke too soon...

Definitely jinxed myself Sunday with the braxton hicks comment. Monday morning I woke up at 5:00 a.m. (5:06 a.m. to be exact when I checked the clock) from pain. I started watching the clock and Gary moved so I told him that I was having pain and it was continuing to get closer together the last 30 minutes. I stayed in bed until sometime after 6:00 a.m., still tracking it and noticing it getting closer to 5 minutes apart.

After moving to the couch and over an hour later I told Gary I thought we should go in to be safe. I hated having to make that choice. For some reason in my mind I did not want to overreact about any of this and whenever I did start into labor I wanted to stay calm and not rush to the hospital and have a false alarm. I wasn't thinking this was labor, but at the same time it wasn't stopping, so I really had no clue what to think.

We arrived at Wesley just shy of 8:00 a.m. and checked in. Got back to a room and hooked up so they could monitor Cadens heartbeat and my contractions. While we were there the contractions got to be 2-3 minutes apart and weren't tapering off so they gave me some Tylenol, Benedryl and an IV of fluids to try to help slow them down. They also took some blood samples to make sure I didn't have any infection, since I guess that can cause early contractions/labor, and that came back fine as well. After being checked (talk about fun...not!!) I wasn't dilated so eventually after about two hours there they sent us on our way with the recommendation to return if the contractions got worse or Tylenol didn't help, or of course if any other labor signs happened.

We went home and crashed. I woke up with pain still, and still have it, but have been taking Tylenol which does help. The nurse said this could just be how it is until he actually does arrive. Well, talk about confusing!!

Gary's mom came over in the afternoon and brought some flowers which was so sweet of her! And with the help of a heat pack, Tylenol, some back rubs I think we can make it through until our little guy arrives! Not saying it's going to be a bundle of fun, because I certainly don't anticipate that now, but at least he's not coming too early. Looks like taking a step back and slowing down is in order until Caden arrives!

Countdown is on...

Picture blog galore right here!!! We have been on an amazing, emotional, crazy, fun journey these past 8 1/2 months of being pregnant for the first time. We are so excited to welcome our first baby, a little boy, Caden Russell Lee due August 24th. (Of course I'm definitely at the point where I would be okay with our little guy coming early!)

Enjoy some pictures of the journey-it's crazy to me how far we've come. It has gone by so fast, but to see the pictures of when we found out to now, man do I feel like change is an understatement!

We found out pretty early so the 'typical' symptoms you hear about didn't set in for another few weeks at first, but they sure did show up nonetheless! There are a few good breakdown moments that I had, no real good reasons of course, and I couldn't believe how tired I had become! Nausea was there, and I had some bad days, but having a coworker 8 weeks ahead of me and seeing how sick she was I knew I didn't have it that bad and it could be worse.

20 Weeks- Halfway there! I do think it's crazy how you are pregnant for 40 weeks (10 months) not 9 months like we always say...who in their right mind thought to tell such a lie?! 4 weeks is a lot when you're at the end of your pregnancy!!

All of that did go away for a while, but they sure didn't stay away for too long! I couldn't feel Caden move until probably about 21-22 weeks, shortly after we found out he was a boy. But ever since then, and especially the last month or so he has been SO active. I can't even begin to describe to people how strong this little man is! Many people comment how I always have my hand on the top of my belly at work, and it's because how much he is pushing and how strong he is pushing at that. Gary has been able to feel him and see him to which is fun! It definitely makes us wonder if he's going to give us a run for our money-and with how often he is active I keep wondering how this little guys sleep schedule will be like!

And here we are- 6 weeks left to go!


Added bonus to being at the end of this pregnancy has been swollen feet and braxton hicks. Since about 8 months they've started to swell if I am on my feet or sit too long. The braxton hicks aren't mistakable that's for sure-just have to mentally keep track of them so we don't get any false alarms here! Pretty sure my hips down are just done I think. Here's where I will give crazy props to my wonderful husband-he has been so nice about massaging my lower back from the pain it helps so, so, so, so much!! He's the best, and has been so supportive and great through these changes I couldn't imagine having a better man by my side. I am truly so grateful God gave me him as a best friend, husband, and soon to be father to our baby-he's going to be great!

Okay, enough chatting. All that made up for the abundance of pictures:) Off to make dinner and relax/soak up the rest of our Sunday. Enjoy the rest of yours:)

Blessings

Boy, oh boy have we been showered with many blessings these last few months. With having our first baby due just six weeks from today-Yay!!-we have been humbled beyond what we could have even imagined with love, support, and gifts from family and friends.

Gary's co-workers threw him a surprise baby shower at the end of the school year. My college girlfriends threw a shower for me in early June. And to top it all off my sister (with the help of my mom and a few friends) threw an amazing shower in the middle of June for our little guy.

Let's just say we were soaked in showers. Which to us was the same as being soaked in blessings/being so humbled. It's a situation that we have had to take a step back and just thank God for all the wonderful people that he has placed in our lives. It's been such a journey so far just with the pregnancy alone, trying to prepare ourselves to be parents, and get ready for a baby-if that's even totally possible...

Overwhelming, excited, anxious, tired:), and a little scared at times are just a few of the ways to describe the last 8 1/2 months. Oh, add uncomfortable to that list, but that and pregnancy itself is a whole different story. Back to blessings. Here is a nice suprise I got from my friend I've known since middle school. BFF is the correct term, but I always like to throw in how long we've known eachother since that seems to be more and more rare to still have friends that long.

Aren't they gorgeous?? It came with a card saying 'Something to make you smile before Caden's arrival! Love you, BFF'. Cue the tears at this point, but all good tears. And thankfully the flower lady didn't give her the chance to write on the card herself or who knows how out of control that would have gotten:)(I will add a small side note that my family is in Thailand visiting my brother right now too which is so bittersweet and makes me emotional all in itself)

She's the best though. And to say that having her as a BFF is a blessing is an understatement. Through the good and the bad, any ups and downs we've had in life or even with eachother we've stayed so close and I thank God for that. Definitely good to have a solid, honest person in your life like her.

Enjoy the cute picture of me and Katie (aka BFF) from the baby shower :)

We have so many wonderful people in our life. I always have to remind myself while I'm sending up prayers on my drive to work to thank God for all his blessings. Gary and I are so thankful to be able to share this crazy journey of life with them all!

Procrastination

Procrastination is our middle name. Gary and Amanda -Procrastinators- Lee.

-We have given up on renting from RedBox-it's a reasonable price, but only if you can get yourself to return it the next day. Instead, we pay a few dollars more and rent via Playstation.

-We borrowed my aunt's carpet cleaning machine, failed to return it until months later when another cousin needed it.

-I borrowed my sister's bike in APRIL and still have it. Parked in our guest bedroom.

-My sister-in-law gave me a sticker with instructions for something we were cooking for Thanksgiving. It is now almost Christmas and I have yet to give it back.

-Christmas is 12 days away, and we still have 8 gifts to get, plus eachother, AND we're doing Christmas with the Lee's in only 5 days.

Horrible!!! And I absolutely hate that about us. It makes me so mad each and every time I remember we still have something and did not return it shortly after borrowing.

If there is a cure for this I WANT IT!!

Maybe this is something that over time we will get better at and remember to put it in our car when we think about it, or take it back that very moment instead of putting it off further.

Or...maybe we are destine to be 'that couple'.

As of now, if you lend it to us, please either accept the fact that there will most likely be a late return or remind us.

I don't want to be that couple, therefore I think that will be the New Years resolution that we take on as a couple.




Fingers crossed....

Goals

It has been ten long months since I last updated this. I have given up all hope, motivation, and had already mentally pulled the trigger on blogging.

Until today. Recently my supervisor said, "Ironman. In three years we will do the Ironman.'


My first thought went to the movie. Thinking to myself, okay...sure, we can watch the movie in three years? Oh, crud. She meant the race. The death defying, over 12 hours (minimum) race.


Seems beyond possible and not even close to any desire/goal I have ever thought to have.


This blog :http://www.nomeatathlete.com/ironman-wisconsin-recap/made me think it over a bit. It's an inspiring story, and she makes it seem like a more realistic goal.

Also, when I googled 'thriathlon shoes' these babys came up and I am in love with them!
I mean, really, who can resist shoes that look that fun!?

All in all, maybe someday I'll set the amazing goal to do the Ironman Triathlon, and maybe not. But after the conversation, the one thing I did realize is that I have set very few goals in my life. Sure, I am proud of things I may have accomplished so far, but to set a goal that would really challenge and mature me for the better I have yet to do.

I want to change that. I believe in life you always need something to look forward to and work towards. Be it small or large. I want to be able to balance the easily forgotten beauty of everyday-not rushing through those moments too fast or take them for granted- but also working and striving to better myself for tomorrow with goals of all types.

Next step? Find a goal that fits me and-repetitive-would challenge and mature me.