37 weeks

This week has definitely been the most difficult of my pregnancy. Thursday afternoon I got a pain in my lower back. By Friday it had become so intense that walking was extremely painful. I've tried several things to relieve the pain but nothing  has worked.

Sunday Garrett and I were blessed with one more shower from our home group from church. It was another beautiful shower and we are so thankful for each of the individuals who contributed and prayed over us.

Monday I had another doctors appointment. She said there wasn't really anything we can do about the pain and offered to put me on bed rest. I told her I'd rather go to work and if the pain is still as bad after Thanksgiving then I won't go back. I am 50% effaced and the doctor said she didn't think I would make it to the 6th, however she wouldn't give me an idea of when to expect Maddox.

On Thursday I noticed and felt quite a bit of swelling in my ankles. I spent most of the day at work with my feet in a chair. Teaching is definitely not the easiest job to do from a chair. I'm thankful that my class doesn't seem to mind picking up things that I drop and going to get things for me!

I'm praying that next week is easier.

36 weeks

We are officially a month away from the arrival of our sweet boy.  In some ways I am so ready and in others I am not at all close to being ready.  I am totally over being pregnant, waddling around, and being flat out uncomfortable. On the other hand I don't know if I will ever feel totally prepared for Maddox's arrival.

This week has been a very productive one. I was able to take off of work Friday and mom, dad, and Sue came down and helped with more things than you can imagine. I got all of Maddox's clothes washed, we cleaned the entire house probably better than it's been cleaned since we moved in, set up Maddox's room, set up the world's most difficult monitor, and several other house projects.  Maddox's room looks so good! Everything has come together beautifully. Garrett and I are so appreciative of our parents and everything they continue to do for us throughout this process. Again, we are so blessed.

Last week I finished sub plans for when I'm out for maternity leave. This was probably one of my biggest accomplishments since being pregnant. It took months of work and I am so glad that I am finished!

Saturday, after a quick visit with Tyler and Kendall, mom helped me prepare 23 freezer meals for when Maddox comes! Believe it or not, all of this only took 4 hours and around $150! I'm so glad that she was able to come help or else this process would have taken days.

Garrett and I were able to purchase most of things that were left on our registry (which was very few) with gift cards and a few of the things we had to return. We were also able to splurge on a swing that Garrett has wanted for quiet a while. I'm not sure if he is more excited about Maddox arriving soon or this swing. :)

We started our weekly appointments Monday.  I had some kind of bacteria test...obviously I listened really well. Maddox is head down and I am not dialated yet. The process of her checking to see if I was or wasn't was extremely uncomfortable. Upon her checking all I could think was "oh my gosh I'm definitely going to need an epidural."

We also interviewed our first pediatrician.  It's funny how I can google doctors for myself and choose them based on a thing or two I read online but a pediatrician requires an interview.  We have two more interviews the week of Thanksgiving but we really liked this woman so we will see how the other interviews go.

 

34 and 35 weeks

It seems like it's getting harder and harder to blog with everything there is to prepare for the next couple of weeks. I imagine that after Maddox gets here this blog will be practically nonexistent.

Over the past two weeks a lot has gone on. Garrett, Dad, Tyler, Kendall, and many more participated in Tough Mudder...a 12 mile mud run/obstacle course. Mom and I participated in walking around and watching them. We had to have walked at least 5 miles and I'm convinced this walking was just as hard as the course. Needless to say Garrett and I were both sore and exhausted the following Sunday. I guess this was a glimpse of life with an infant. 

I went back to the doctor for a visit and everything sounded good. We were also blessed with an amazing shower from my coworkers. We got our first round of gifts and started dealing with the good problem of "where are we gonna put all of this?" I am so blessed to work with such thoughtful and caring people that are willing to spend a few of their hard earned dollars on Maddox and I. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures from this shower. :( The first graders took a field trip to the Dallas Arboretum. Basically this means more walking and an extremely bumpy bus ride. I was pretty sure that after being tossed around the bus seats for an hour Maddox would just fall out but thankfully he's still right where he needs to be. This Saturday we were blessed with another amazing shower given by family and friends. I am so thankful for all of the family and friends that were able to attend and share their love with us. (Pictures of this fabulous event will be coming soon!) Garrett was also honored with a diaper poker party. He had a lot of fun and we got so many diapers that will last us for months! Now if they just came with someone to change the diapers with.

Thank you all to everyone who has blessed us over the past few weeks! Your love is definitely felt and we are so incredibly grateful for every gift, card, kind word, prayer and long trip to Sherman that you have invested in. Words won't be enough to thank you all for every little and big thing you have done.  God has truly blessed us with an amazing community of people.