Waiting Waiting!

The past few days have been quite a whirlwind in the Vodicka household. I mentioned in my update last week that things were really busy at work, and the evening are usually full for Adam and I too. I noticed last weekend that I was starting to look a little "puffy". By Thursday of last week, I couldn't even get my feet in my shoes and I resorted to wearing flip flops. I thought it was the normal end of pregnancy swelling that I was dealing with and I decided that I was going to go through the next 2.5 weeks looking and feeling like this:

We went to the doctor's on Friday and she came into the room, took one look at me, and started flipping out about my appearance. I knew I was swollen, but she just kept telling me to relax so she could check my reflexes, hands, feet, etc. It was hard to relax seeing her running around the table in circles. She mentioned she thought I might have preeclampsia even thought I had no risk factors and my blood pressure has been relatively normal. She told me I was going to go for labs and to go home and get ready to have the baby "sometime early next week." While waiting to do blood work, I snapped this picture of my leg:

Yup, I was a little swollen. My face and hands were this bad too. Following blood work I called work, my parents, and Adam and I headed out for what we thought would be our last pre-baby dinner out. The doctor told me to sit put and we'd hear by Saturday what the plan was. 

I went to work Saturday morning because I knew that if I did have the baby this week, nothing was really set in stone and I needed to finalize a few details. Then I went to Target to get some last minute items for my hospital bag. While I was waddling around in Target the doctor called. BUSTED...haha. Anyway, she said I didn't have preeclampsia but that I did need to go on bed rest for the rest of the weekend and take Monday off work. I went home, hunkered down on the couch with Penny and just hoped and prayed that the swelling would go down by today. 

Bed Rest Buddy!!

This morning when I woke up, I felt much better and was excited to see what she would say today. I was curious about why I would swell so bad if there was no reason for it, but at the same time I was relieved that I was looking better. We went in for a Non-Stress Test and then we saw the doctor. 

Having fun listening to baby girl during my Non-Stress Test. Looking A LOT better.

We saw the doctor and she said the baby looked beautiful on the monitor and that I looked well enough to go back to work. I am going back for three days a week until I deliver. She said we'll definitely have a baby in the next two weeks though. Right now I am just "a little bit" dilated and my cervix is starting to soften. According to the doctor, baby girl hasn't dropped enough to be a candidate for a successful induction, so we're just going to have to wait :) 

Waiting has been a major theme with this little one. We waited patiently to get pregnant with her and we are waiting patiently for her to be ready to be born. It's hard but she'll be totally worth it!

My verse for the next few weeks: But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure. -Romans 8:25

35 and 36 Weeks

35 Week Update

Well, despite my best efforts, I have been quite the slacker when it has come to my blog. But that doesn't mean NOTHING has been happening. The last three weekends we have gotten spend some wonderful time with family! Adam's mom was with us for two weekends and Karen was here last weekend.

Adam and I are super excited that our niece, Emma Christine, was born on October 16th. She has been quite the fighter and we can't wait for her baby cousin to join her!

Adam and I were both sick :( That was a bit of a bummer. Adam was on retreat with the group this past weekend and I have been in the thick of the busiest fall semester our office has ever seen.

Needless to say, we were richly blessed during the last week and well, I just didn't get to work on my chalkboard. Since my preggy world has been pretty uneventful, I'll leave you with my update for this week:

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks 5 days

Total weight gain: Up 35 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I am afraid to admit that I have had to officially retire a few of my maternity items.

Stretch marks? My bellybutton is just one giant stretch mark at this point. Other than than that, I think I may make it without any stretch marks on my belly.

Sleep: Still sleeping great except for the fun getting up to go to the bathroom every few hours. I really do think God has a sense of humor though in preparing me for my new mommy role. Penelope woke me up on Friday night throwing up from  2-3 a.m. THEN she fell out of bed Tuesday night at 2:30 a.m. The funniest thing about this was 1) She is not allowed up on our bed, so she got busted for sleeping up there to begin with 2) she took out Adam's phone, iPad, and books on the way down and I literally thought Adam was a goner. Turns out, it was just Penny. She walked around stunned for a few minutes until I got her to go back in her own bed. But she was SUPER pitiful for a half an hour while I tried to go back to sleep.

Best Moment This Week: Celebrating baby girl at our SHUMY shower, getting our maternity pictures back, seeing baby girl practicing her breathing in my belly. It was all wonderful!

Miss Anything? I miss not feeling on my "A" game. At work, I am distractible, tired, and not nearly as effective as I normally am :(

Movement: Yes! She is still rolling, punching, and kicking. I have recently been able to identify quite a bit of her anatomy now that she is bigger.

Food cravings: Root Beer! Hahaha

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender: Girl!!

Labor Signs: I have been having Braxton Hicks, but it goes away with putting my feet up and drinking water. AND you can see that my little one is starting to "drop" Big difference between the 34 and 36 picture!

Symptoms: Swelling!!!!! I can't wear any of my shoes :(

Belly Button in or out? FLAT and icky looking!!!

 Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I couldn't even get Karen's wedding band over my knuckle. I am officially sausage fingers to the max.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! I can't wait to see my little girl!

Looking forward to: Holding my baby!!!!! :)

Church Baby Shower Round Two

This past Tuesday night I was so blessed to receive a second shower from the youth group at Southern Hills. It was so fun and they even invited the ladies from my work to come be a part of all the fun! I only got a few pictures on my camera but I'll post some fun ones.

Little miss baby V is going to be the most well dressed, spoiled rotten little thing. I seriously don't know if Adam and I can fit anymore stuff in our house for her. We have been completely overwhelmed by the love and kindness as we have been TREMENDOUSLY blessed by our family, friends, and church family.

Now I can't wait till she is here to put all this fun stuff to use :)

Awesome shower hosts Linda and Susan :) So thankful for both of these ladies!

Cute selfie girls! Bahahahaha Love these two!

Opening presents!! :) She got SO much cute stuff!

Listening to the wishes for my baby girl. I love how many people wished that she wouldn't think her daddy was weird, awkward, or strange :)

(SOME) of the very awesome high school girls that Adam and I get to spend time with! If my baby girl turns out like any one of these girls, we will be SO blessed. Love them :)

Madison and I! 

Love these girls and the super cool diaper motorcycle they made me!! :)

34 Weeks

We are getting closer and closer. This last week has been filled with so much baby fun! I had my 34 week appointment yesterday. Baby girl is growing right on track. My belly is measuring at 36 weeks and her heart rate was 145. I told the doctor that I was pretty sure at my last visit we listened to my own heart beat. She said that next time I come back in, I will get checked and we will for sure set my induction date. Given how healthy my pregnancy has been they don't need to see me back for two weeks. I am excited and scared about that all at the same time. I can't believe that no matter what happens at my next visit, baby V will be here for sure in less than a month. I'll either be induced the 8 or 12 depending on my dilation. Ahhh!

Here is my 34 week update:

How far along? 34  weeks

Total weight gain: Up 30 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yep! Mom V. was in town this week and she bought me a sweater and pants to get me through these last couple weeks. I can't even say how grateful I am for warmer maternity items!! 

Stretch marks? Just little white ones on my hips.

Sleep: I am sleeping well still! I did find if I take a nap, it ruins my whole sleep schedule. I need to just go to bed at night and try not to nap during the late afternoon.

Best Moment This Week: The shower that the church had in our honor. Adam and I were completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity that was shown to us. I will never begin to thank everyone enough for what they did for me. The baby received so many special items and I can't wait to share her with our church family.

Miss Anything? Being able to get off the couch by myself :) I got stuck twice this week. 

Movement: Yes! She is still rolling, punching, and kicking. I love it!

Food cravings: Malley's chocolate pretzel bars and milk

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender: Girl (we hope)! Adam heard a story at work this week about a family that thought for sure they were having a girl and it turned out to be a boy. He was super freaked out!

Labor Signs: nothing that labor is imminent. I have been a little crampy, but nothing that is a true braxton hicks contraction.

Symptoms: Swelling

Belly Button in or out? I could say what I said last week. It is flat, icky looking, and stretched in ways I never thought it would stretch. The least favorite part of my doctor's visits is that my bellybutton seems to be where they can best locate the heartbeat, and she will jam the doppler in my poor stretched out belly button as a starting point.

 Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I have been wearing them as a necklace.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! I have been a little emotional too! Our lives our going to change in incredible ways here in less than a month!

Looking forward to: Getting our maternity pictures back!! Adam and I had so much fun taking those this week! :)

Pictures from my church shower:

The Vodicka family was richly blessed!

Talking with the ladies at church. My belly is getting bigger!

White Cake!

Chocolate cake!

We finally got little squirts loot home! We have A LOT of thank you's to write :)

33 Weeks

I can't believe that we are getting so close!!! Considering I am not going to be allowed to go past 39 weeks I am really starting to get excited. The women that I work with think that I won't even make it to 39 seeing as I am starting to get HUGE. I officially can't see my feet anymore and I am slowing down a little bit. I can't wait to meet my baby girl!!

How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain: Up 28 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes, though I don't know how much longer they are going to last!! I hope I can make it with my work wardrobe at least! I have two go to dresses and a pair of dress pants. Everything else is getting a little snug!

Stretch marks? nope, not on my belly!

Sleep: I feel like I can't complain because I am still sleeping fairly well. I have been thankful for the rest I have been getting. Unfortunately I get wiped out half way through the work day.

Best Moment This Week: I shared a story on my Facebook page about a little boy who "LOVED" my baby. He was so cute running up to me and giving my belly a kiss. I loved that it was a small child who shared (almost) my same level of excitement about our baby. It was so sweet.

Miss Anything? Being able to get my feet in my shoes

Movement: Yes! I feel her moving around in a new way. It's almost like she is rolling back and forth. I love it! I know I will miss that feeling when she is here.

Food cravings: Aurora Spaghetti Sauce and Cherry Strawberry Soda. Not the best with my heartburn situation.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: nothing that labor is imminent. I am starting to feel a little pressure in my pelvis and she is now definitely out of my ribs. I think I am experiencing lightening :)

Symptoms: Just fatigue and some swelling in my feet.

Belly Button in or out? Flat!! I sure hope my poor belly button makes it. It looks horrible and is stretched to the max. It has at least six weeks to go.

 Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I have been wearing them as a necklace.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! The closer we get, the more I am just overwhelmed with the fact that I am going to be a mother and that this little thing inside me is my little girl. I just can't believe it. What has seemed like a dream for so long, is pretty close to becoming a reality. I am incredibly thankful.

Looking forward to: Going to the doctor's this week and hearing sweet girl's heartbeat and holding her in my arms!