36 Weeks

Here's a comparison of just how much I (or baby girl) have grown in the last 7 weeks!


Doctors are still thinking that this girl should probably come sooner rather than later. They won't let me go 7 days past my due date, but I think they're pretty iffy about even letting me go that long. The last Dr. told me that they might strip my membranes next week or the week after. I'm seeing a different Dr. next week, so we'll see what he says... They don't always seem to be on the same page, which is definitely annoying. Hopefully, my body will start to do its job soon because I really don't want to end up getting a C-section.

In other news, Jon is thinking of going to graduate school. Ugh. I mean, it's good, but I don't really want to have to keep waiting for him to finish school, especially since I thought he would be done in April. But the plan is for him to find a job (hopefully) in his field of emergency services management and do the Master's program at the same time (because you can do most/all of it online). There's two schools that Jon is looking into right now, and I definitely favor the one in Vegas. The other one is, ironically, in Arkansas. And I'm pretty sure that just won't happen, unless he doesn't get into the UNLV program. Vegas just makes much more sense as far as finding a job in his field and is a location that will be MUCH easier for us to move to. Plus, we can test out the ridiculously hot desert weather and see if Arizona (or even St. George) might be places we want to end up in the future.

An Update On the Last Post

I went in to see the doctor again Friday morning. I was somewhat nervous about (1) being sent to the hospital or (2) being put on bedrest for the rest of this pregnancy. Luckily, neither happened. Good news came back from the blood work and urine samples. AND my blood pressure was reading 120 (normal)! I was definitely relieved because the doctor I had on Wednesday definitely made it sound like this baby was coming early, and it doesn't look that way anymore. Why was my blood pressure reading so high on Wednesday? I'll tell you... the same thing I told that doctor that day (I have like 8 different doctors and 3 nurse practitioners, so I pretty much see a new one each with each visit). I had just gotten home the night before from San Diego (I was in the car for about 10-11 hours), which I know traveling can cause swelling in pregnant women. Also, I had mentioned to the 1st doctor, on Wednesday, that my first three appointments the nurses would get my blood pressure with the smaller cuff, it would read high, switch to the larger cuff, and it would read normal. However, the most recent appointments I had had (when I first found out about my blood pressure getting higher), the nurses just used the smaller cuff every time. My Mother, who used to be a nurse, told me that the difference in the two cuffs can cause the blood pressure reading to be inaccurate. Well, I asked the doctor on Wednesday if that could be the case, but he just told me it wouldn't make much of a difference if the nurses were using the wrong cuff. All he knew was that with the three most recent readings, my blood pressure had been going up, so it was enough to worry about. When I found out my blood pressure was normal on Friday (yes, the nurse used the right size cuff this time), I told this other doctor the same thing about the different cuffs and just getting back from traveling, and he pretty much agreed with me that that might have been the problem. But, obviously, they want to keep checking on me just in case. He also told me that pre-eclampsia affects the whole body, and since I wasn't feeling any of the symptoms of it (besides some swelling, which has been pretty minor and probably normal for pregnant women, in my opinion), that I probably didn't have it. It's kind of amazing the difference in opinions from two different doctors. Anyways, I'm going in for weekly appointments now, and my blood pressure is still going to be closely watched. I don't remember all of what the doctor told me what they were going to do with me at my next few appointments because he was telling me so much information while he was also checking the baby's heartbeat... and the doppler was pretty loud. I know they're planning to do a non-stress test at my next appointment, and Jon thinks some other test as well (he can't remember either). I am definitely relieved that I can get up and get things done again. Maybe this baby's nursery will be ready for her arrival after all.


Here's where we're at right now... Nothing on the walls yet. Need to buy either pink or white curtains. Still have lots of organizing and cleaning to do. We just bought a dresser yesterday at IKEA, and so it has helped make the room look more put-together and added a lot more needed storage space.

My Most Recent Appointment (32.5 weeks)

Well, I had an interesting doctor's appointment yesterday. Let me backtrack to the appointment I had just before this one (before we left for Vegas and San Diego).... I met with the nurse practitioner, who told me that my blood pressure was slowly increasing and to try to avoid salty foods and get as much rest as possible. I tried to heed her instructions, but it's pretty hard to completely avoid salt, especially when you're out of town and not making your own food. I did the best I could though. If I got french fries at a restaurant, I would ask for no salt. I tried to eat sandwiches and wraps and avoid fried, processed chicken.  I did go shopping a lot while I was gone, but other than that I mostly laid/sat around watching T.V. Anyways, onto my appointment yesterday.... The nurse takes my vitals, and I find out my blood pressure is up from the previous appointment 2.5 weeks ago. The doctor tells me that I am in the beginning stages of pre-eclampsia (not completely there yet) and tells me that he could either send me to the hospital right then or have me do a 24 hour urine sample with bedrest. Luckily, he had me do the second option. Every time I had to go to the bathroom, I had to place this measuring cup type thing on the toilet seat to catch the urine and pour that into a jug, which was to be kept in the fridge (gross, I know). This definitely made me not want to go to the bathroom very often, especially in the middle of the night when I'd have to go to the kitchen to get the jug out of the fridge and then go to the bathroom and put it back. Well, I just took that jug in this afternoon, and they drew some more blood from me (and, yes, I got poked in both arms again- my veins are very hard to find). They're sending all the samples to the lab and are trying to get the results back in time for my appointment tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I'll probably be placed on bedrest.... If not, I may be going to the hospital to see what they can do for me. And, if they can't get my blood pressure to stay down, the baby will have to be delivered early. I'm really hoping my body can hold out for another three weeks since that's when this baby will be full term (37 weeks). But I did read today that babies delivered between 34-37 weeks have a very high survival rate as long as there are no other major health concerns with the baby, which makes me feel somewhat better. But, in other words, more than likely this baby will be delivered earlier than my due date... But I'm crossing my fingers for good news from the doctor tomorrow because I don't want her to come TOO early. Unfortunately, I can't really do much, and we really don't have everything ready for this baby yet. We have the major things, and I know Jon is capable of picking up all the other items. I just wish I could help out more. Also, her nursery may not be the way I was hoping to have it before her arrival since there are pretty much no decorations at this point. I guess all I can hope for now is that the baby and I will continue to be healthy and safe.

Baby Belly, etc.

Not really a fan of the belly pictures, especially since my belly was never flat to begin with... but here you go (Em):

29.5 weeks

I don't really want to see what I'll look like in 10 weeks/end of pregnancy.... And, unfortunately, by the time this baby gets out, it'll be bad weather outside to start up running again. Ugh. Guess I'll have to stick with workout DVDs.... or pray we move somewhere warmer soon after her arrival!

In other news, I'm feeling like this:

I had to buy these two cute outfits. The first is a newborn (for coming home, if she's small enough- I hope!!!), and the second is a 3 month. I love Target!

 Jon and I finally ordered the baby crib and changing table since I had a 20% off coupon for Babies-R-Us.

 Jon, I guess, assumed that baby girl was automatically going to be named Lyla Lee because I have loved it for a while now. But I told him I was still thinking and that I wanted to see her first before I made up my mind (plus, I would like him to be happy with it too). We looked at some more names online, and Jon saw Madeline, which I kind of like as well (Maddie for short). So we'll see.... We'd appreciate any other suggestions. I realized most of the other names I liked are some of the most popular right now, so I don't really want to pick any of those any time soon. I'm not really particular about being super unique (like all the weird names Utahans come up with); I just don't want baby girl to be in a class with 3+ other girls that have the same name. Sounds annoying to me. My name isn't unique, but I've only had maybe one class in my life with a girl that had my name as well.

We had our second prenatal class last night, which I wasn't looking forward to since the nurse told us last week we would be watching a birth video (yuck!). I left our first class feeling really good about labor and delivery. I can't say the same about last night. I stared at the chair in front of me for about 95% of the 25 minute video (it showed 4 different births). And I still felt traumatized afterwards. I had bad dreams and really struggled with sleeping last night. At least Jon has now decided that I can get whatever I want from here on out after watching it. So something good did come from it, I guess.

Change of Plans

Over the last week things have changed a bit with the direction Jon and I are headed (mostly Jon- but it affects me as well). As soon as he finished the Fire Academy, he was supposed to be volunteering on ambulances or at a hospital to gain some medical experience. To get into the Paramedic Program, you need medical experience and 3 letters of recommendation from medical professionals. Well, I bugged him the first week he was out of school, and he kept promising he'd do it soon. The second week came around (last week), and he still hadn't called anyone to set anything up. I won't lie that I have enjoyed having Jon around in the evenings again, but I knew that if he kept pushing this off then there was no chance for the program in January (Spring semester). He would have to wait and apply for the Fall semester instead, which I really didn't want because I am SO ready to get out of Utah and ready for him to have a real job. Not that there was really any real guarantee he'd get into the program for Spring semester, and I knew it was still a possibility we'd have to stick around longer than we hoped. I just thought he would want to give it a try because who knows what would have happened. Well, last Wednesday, he asked me what I thought if he didn't do the Paramedic Program. I will admit that I wasn't happy to hear this because it's hard to find firefighting jobs in the West (where we would like to live) without being a paramedic. Plus, he'd get paid much better, and I thought he was interested in one day getting onto a Life Flight helicopter. He continued to tell me that he could still get a Bachelor's degree in his major, but he would just have to change his concentration. He told me that all he'd have to do to get the degree is take two semesters worth of online courses (somewhere around 25 more credits). I reluctantly told him that if that's what he really wants to do, then that's fine... all I've asked of him is to get a Bachelor's degree. Then I realized that classes at UVU hadn't started yet, and asked if that means he could get signed up for the classes he needed for the Fall to get it going and over with. So that brings us to today. School technically started on Monday (I think), but his advisor just barely added him to the classes yesterday (even though Jon emailed her the same night we had this conversation, a week earlier). This means that, as long as he works hard and passes all his classes, he will graduate in April!!!! But this also means Jon can start looking and applying for firefighting jobs, and we can move before he finishes school (but after the baby arrives, of course). Most of the jobs we have found have been in Texas, unfortunately. It's not really where I want to go, and it's much further East than I want to be. But I'm in the mindset that if Jon gets a job, it'll be good for us no matter where it is. He just needs to get the experience (and hopefully, become a paramedic in the first few years), and then, when a place we want to go to opens up for employment, he can apply and, hopefully, have a better chance at getting the job. Some of the other places we've found have been in New Mexico, Washington, and Nebraska. Yeah, like I said, nothing where I really want to be, but it'll have to do for now... Although, the Washington one is on an island west of Seattle and pays ridiculously well (like twice the salary of most of these other places)!!!! So I definitely wouldn't object to that! This next month Jon will be filling out applications to fire departments... and he'll, at some point, have to travel to all these places to take a written examination. Then, if the department is interested, he'll have to go back for a physical agility test and interviews. This is pretty crazy, but I am excited to see what comes of this (if anything). I just really hope we can move early next year. If not, Jon will probably do wildland firefighting again next summer (but maybe somewhere different this time??).


Oh, and I guess I never mentioned what his new concentration is, but I don't exactly know what it's called... it's more emergency administration, I think. But from what I understand, he could get a job working for a city and help to create emergency plans/evacuations specific to that city (for any kind of disaster).... if he wanted to, at least. I think that would be something he might consider doing when he gets older though.

Nursery Inspiration

Here are some things I LOVE and want to try for baby girl's nursery (click on pictures for links):

pom pom clusters

pretty garlands

IKEA spice racks for book storage

hanging wall planters for toys, books, etc.

IKEA storage furniture & bins for clothes, diapers & supplies, toys, etc.

white crib & changer

and custom-made (by me or my Mom) crib bedding!

Those are my ideas so far (thank you, Pinterest)- I have some stuff already that I want to put on the walls that just need to be painted. I wonder if anything will get done before baby's arrival though....

I Love My Mom (and Grandma)!

I just had to share these cute outfits my Mom got for baby girl (my Grandma also bought one of the sleepers).

I am seriously obsessed with the Minnie Mouse onesie, hat, and shoes. SO CUTE! It's size 12-18 months, so I hope baby girl will be able to wear it next year for Halloween. I would also like to go to Disneyland sometime next year and put her in this adorable outfit! I don't care if she won't remember anything about Disneyland (Jon's complaint)... I know it'll just make my experience there so much better! I sure do love Disneyland, and I'll start her love for it early too! (Jon's in trouble....)

Oh, and I think I could do a Minnie/Mickey Mouse themed 1st birthday since I remembered that I found this cute idea on Pinterest:

DIY Minnie Mouse ears

Wedding & Graduation

1. One of the thousands of reasons why I hate Wal-mart. All I was getting was toilet paper too!!!

2. Our newest niece, Alora, and our nephew Kaden at Derek and TJ's wedding reception.

3. Jon's family stayed in a cabin at the local KOA in Provo for most of their time here (our apartment is too small for 6 people!!!). We went swimming with them and then ate dinner there. Some fire trucks showed up- apparently, there was a small grass fire across the river behind someone's yard. Jon was excited... until he saw how small it was.

4. We had a campfire and roasted marshmallows in celebration for Kaden's 4th birthday.


There was a photo booth at Derek and TJ's wedding reception. You got two sets of pictures, one to put in their guestbook/scrapbook and one to keep. They also had silly hats, glasses, etc. that you could wear. The camera flashed quickly, and I didn't have time to think of what to do (that's why I look so dumb).
1 & 2. On Jon's last day of school (AKA graduation day), they had some fire games where the recruits (he and his classmates) competed against real Provo and Orem firefighters in various competitions. Jon did the ax relay, in which, he and another recruit were supposed to chop through a log before two other real firefighters could. Pretty much, Jon didn't have to tag in his partner before getting through the log. The other team had already tagged in the other competitor. So Jon beat the strength of TWO firefighters. He did feel somewhat bad that his partner didn't even get a shot at chopping the log. Oh well...

3 & 4. Immediately after the ax relay, Jon was in the arm wrestling competition. His arms were tired and the Provo & Orem firefighters somewhat cheated in their arm wrestling (they used their whole bodies to pin the recruits rather than JUST their arms- you can totally see that in the picture). Jon lost on the right arm, but he did win on the left.

1. Graduation day finally! So happy that is over with... now onto the paramedic program...

2 & 3. After the fire games, Jon decided to show us the fire trucks he got to use all semester long. Kaden especially enjoyed climbing in them.

This was at Jon's graduation. I snapped it really quickly because he was already walking to sit down. I was pretty positive I got a picture of him shaking hands with his instructors, but it's not on my camera! So proud of him though!!!

Another Random Photo Post

1. Cookie dough dessert pizza from Pizza Pie Cafe. Yum. Too bad their regular pizza isn't as good as their dessert pizza.

2. Sunset from Wal-mart parking lot in Springville.

3. Pretty mountains during the sunset.

4 & 5. Taggie elephant and alligator for baby girl. Definitely put the legs on the alligator in the wrong spots. Oh well.

6. Jon is always playing the guitar. He has recently learned children's songs for baby girl to listen to.

7 & 8. Roasted garlic chicken pesto pizza - before & after cooking. (Sounds amazing, but I didn't care for it.)

9. My favorite cheesy alfredo pizza.

1-3. Our dryer decided to be loud and annoying right before Jon's family came into town. I had to go to the laundromat to dry our clothes until new parts for our dryer showed up and Jon had time to fix it.

4. This cat came into the laundromat and tried to hop onto my lap. Then s/he followed me outside and tried to get in my car when I was leaving. I do not like cats at all, but I did feel bad for it...

1-3. Baby booties!!! Picked them up at Kid to Kid, and I love them!

4. We bought a diaper bag on Saturday, and I decided to put some toys in it.

5. My pregnancy stats as of last night. Less than 100 days!!!!! Baby girl is also around 1.5-2 lbs. and 14-15ish inches long, according to the pregnancy apps on my phone.

Life According to Instagram

1. What you get when you take education classes and have lots of lesson plans and ideas you don't want to get rid of. Time to organize...

2. Nicely organized papers.

3. Ry was obsessed with my Harry Potter 3D glasses and wore them the whole time at my apartment on Friday.

4. The pacifier clip/leash that I crocheted ALL BY MYSELF. I'm awesome, I know.

5. I love when I find a secret clearance item for ONE DOLLAR (hooded bath towel plus three washcloths).

6. My favorite popcorn. Ever. Try it.

7. I finally decided to give in to the Utah snow cone fetish. I think I'd rather have ice cream.

8. Cute baby girl clothes.

9. Cute hat that I got for 50 cents at The Children's Place Outlet in St. George.

1. Waiting at the doctor's office for my ultrasound. They had balloons and cookies just for me... or so I told myself.

2. Being pregnant means lots of snacks for me: water, string cheese, peanut butter crackers, and cookies.

3. Thank you, Costco, for bringing the wonderfulness of churros to Utah.

4. Clearance baby toy that plays music and head moves (Creepy? Maybe. We didn't realize the second part until we got home with it.).

5. The. Best. Grilled. Pineapples. Ever. Try them. The link is on my sidebar.

6. Pomegranate 7-Up in the summer? Yes, please. Thank you, Maceys.

7. Ry at the San Diego Safari Park (formerly known as the Wild Animal Park) back in May.

8. Jon brought home some beautiful roses to me after he got off work one day!

9. Fake flowers at Rumbi.

1. Go Orem Owlz! Love baseball and summertime. Miss my San Diego Padres though.

2. The clouds turned crazy colors as the sun was setting behind us.

3. Jon at the Birch Aquarium overlooking La Jolla Shores in San Diego back in February.

4. Jon in front of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. So sad that that was my last visit for probably a while.

5. Lego firefighter Ry and I found at Toys-R-Us.

6. Painted toes all ready for summer!

7. My other love: Pepsi. I try to drink the non-caffeinated kind for baby, but sometimes I just need the real thing!

8. Craving this right now. I make a whole wheat crust to make up for the fact that the rest of the pizza is super unhealthy: four cheese Alfredo sauce topped with an italian blend of cheeses. SO YUMMY!

9. Jon and I went hiking in Hobble Creek Canyon a few months ago. Not sure how I survived for so long, but I did.

1. Herriman Rodeo.

2. Three books I mysteriously received in the mail. Found out a few days later that my Mom sent them.

3. Waiting for Jon to finish work in Alpine. Love the houses up here!

4. Jon and I at Disneyland.