4 Years and Many More to Come!

Happy 4 year anniversary to my best friend, my companion, my coach, my love...and my baby's daddy! It's hard to believe how much has happened since our wedding day. I love looking back and being so happy with where we are. Life is good!

We've been together for 11 years (J just took a while to propose..haha), but I think the last two and a half years were probably our hardest. It's crazy to think that we spent half of our married life trying to conceive, but here we are now, 5 weeks away from meeting our baby!!

I actually wouldn't change a thing. I truly believe things happen for a reason and even though we still don't know why God chose this path for us, he obviously knew our relationship could handle it. And little did we know, it made our relationship deeper than we could've ever imagined. If we made it through this, I have no doubt we can get through anything! So here's to MANY more wedding anniversaries to come!

Family Baby Shower #2

Father's Day weekend was our second baby shower with my family, family friends, MIL and her girlfriends. It was great timing with family in town for the Father's Day and the turnout was a lot! So fun to see family and friends that I don't get to see often!

My mom and aunts hosted the shower and had it in one of the party rooms at our church so we had enough room. My aunt had a great idea for the invitations, and I was totally willing to participate! Here was the picture on the front of the invites:

We played a few games, one where they had a rack with a bunch of baby items hanging on it that was visible to everyone at the party during social hour and while we ate, but of course not many noticed it as they were too busy chatting and catching up. So when the game started, the rack was covered and we had to list out everything that was on the rack. Tough one! The other game was guessing my girth in inches..haha. The one closest to 45.5 inches won! (yep, that was my official girth at the time!)

My step-grandmother made a super cute fruit bowl out of a watermelon. I didn't even ask her how long it took but it was adorable!

She is on the right and my other grandmother is on the left. I am blessed to have them in my lives and they are SO excited to be great-grandmothers!

And then it was time to open gifts. I cannot believe how spoiled this baby is! I have so many talented people in my family and received four hand-made blankets, some hats, a cuddle sac (which you'll see in future baby pics) and an adorable sweater my aunt made.

The best gift was saved for last..and it brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather is a woodworker and made a highchair for Baby Barrett. However, this highchair also can be turned on it's side and used as a rocker and also the other side can be used as a desk! (I don't have a picture of the desk) He signed his name on the inside "Grandpa Elton" and will be cherished for years and generations to come.

Thank you for hosting a great shower!!

And my Mother-in-Law who also helped with the shower, SO lucky to have her in my life!

Let's Dish

After we got pregnant, I still followed the fertility websites and blogs that got me through all the ups and downs of our journey, but I also needed to find support for this next journey. I found a Facebook page, July 2012 Moms. A whole page of women like me, expecting a baby in July..perfect! On this page, I was just a normal pregnant mom-to-be, not a struggling, infertile woman I felt like for so long. It was refreshing to begin to celebrate this baby and not talk about the struggles of my monthly cycles, injections and disappointments. I felt normal.

On this page I met a bunch of amazing women and it turns out there was a group of them that lived close by! We had heard of other women in other states going to Let's Dish to prepare meals for when they are first home with the baby, and we thought it would be a great idea to do it ourselves and finally meet one another. So we did it! And it was a blast! I've never done it before, it's quite the set up. Everyone picked 4 meals and we spent the next few hours putting them together to freeze at home. Then afterwards we got to enjoy some treats (and not do the dishes!) and chat about our pregnancies, face-to-face finally! We all agreed the next time we hang out, we'll do a playdate with all our new babies, I cannot wait!

From left: Elizabeth, Anna, me, Kayla and Amanda (who I went to junior and high school with!)

And in our freezer, we have some great meals to enjoy after Baby Barrett makes his/her appearance and keeps mom up all night :)

- Calzones (veggie, canadian bacon & ham, meat)

- Layered Cheesy Beef Enchiladas

- Chinese Lemon Chicken with Jeweled Rice

- Roasted Red Pepper White fish with Grilled Parmesan Veggies

Happy Father's Day!

This was my first year buying a card for J for Father's Day. Wow. Let's just say I was in tears in the Father's Day card aisle at Hallmark. I found the perfect card that said what I wanted him to know. (Hallmark is so good at that!)   "Fatherhood has a way of bringing out the best in a man even when he was already pretty darn good to start with. "

It's funny how men have the same fears we do, 'will I be a good Dad?' and 'how will I know what to do?'. And I simply tell him Yes and Yes. I have do doubt that J will be a fantastic father to Baby Barrett. He has been there for me through all the ups and downs of our infertility journey and the joys and woes of this pregnancy, how could he not be the greatest dad?! His compassion, understanding, patience and support is all the proof I need; I wish he saw that in himself.

I cannot wait to see our little baby in his big arms. The thought alone brings a tear of joy to my eyes and fills my heart with love. There's something about how a man can be so gentle with a baby that makes a woman's heart melt.

I am so glad I have him in my life and as my partner in this journey. More importantly, Baby Barrett is so very lucky to have J to call "Dad". Happy Father's Day!

Lose-Lose

I know I said I wouldn't complain about being pregnant, but there are a few things I'm not fond of (like cankles).
Lately it's been getting harder and harder to get comfortable. The worst is sitting. The belly is higher and harder and definitely more full of baby, so it pushes up on my ribs. I'm also pretty sure that Baby Barrett is creeping his/her way towards my ribs and every once in awhile, I'll get a jab close to my ribs that makes me jump. It's such a strange feeling; it doesn't hurt but it sure doesn't feel good either!

I'm better off standing or laying down, but those aren't the best options either. If I stand for too long (which means about 10 minutes these days), my feet hurt. And if I lay down, I start to get nervous about triggering an AFib episode, since all my episodes have occured when I've been laying down. If only I could have a recliner available for me everywhere I go; now that would be perfect.

It's really a lose-lose for me. Hoping Baby Barrett drops soon! Though I'm sure that will bring on a whole new meaning to being uncomfortable :)

Not Long Ago

Today one of my Fertility Friends got "the news". She's pregnant!!!
I met her a few months ago through my blog as she was struggling with infertility and didn't really have anyone to talk to about it. We instantly became Fertility Friends and I've really enjoyed being a part of her journey. Being able to support someone going through what we went through is such a great feeling. I had a very supportive Fertility Friend that had gone through IVF before us and she was my rock. So to be able to pay it forward and help someone else feels so great!

When I got her message that she got the news from her Dr., I got goosebumps and the tears started. I was SO happy for her!! She did it!! I also instantly flashed back to November 22nd, 2011 - D-Day. This was the day we found out we were pregnant and I will NEVER forget it. Hard to believe, not long ago, that we were waiting for our "news" and how much has happened since then. I remember the emotions leading up to that day and even following the great news. No one can prepare you for such happiness!

I can't wait to meet her and give her a big hug. Funny how connected we are and we've never even met!
And I also look forward to being a part of her next journey, pregnancy!! Soon enough, we'll get to have playdates and reflect on all that we went through to get here. Can't wait!

Barrett Baby Shower

We had our first baby shower last weekend! It was a couple's shower with J's family and was hosted by The Cousin's. And how fun that I get to be pregnant with one of them! We're only 3 weeks apart; can't wait for our babies to grow up together!

(we're missing the three other little girls, Lainey, Cate and Grace!)

We're so lucky to have such a great family and had a great time. We got some of our big items including the pack-n-play and stroller! Though the best gift was from Lainey; a Baby Manual that she made. When I read it aloud to the family, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. It was so sweet!
Here's a sample of her advice (and she also noted "Just remember, you are taking advice from a 9 year old"):
"Having The Baby: It will be over and you will be so happy. Listen to the Doctor. Breathe in and out."
"Taking The Baby Home: You will feel so proud. You will just wonder what and how to be parents, that's why I made this."

I look forward to saving this and giving it to her one day at her own baby shower!

I know many people think baby showers should be women only, but I think couple showers are great! It gave the family an excuse to all see each other, something we don't get to do enough. And this family is always a guarantee for a good time! The girls did such an awesome job with a huge taco bar (we love mexican!) and the cake even matched our nursery colors (white/gray/yellow)! We can't thank them enough for throwing us the shower and sharing this exciting time with us! Love you guys!!

Now we just have to wait and see...is it a boy or a girl?

Heart to Heart

Although I haven't updated everyone since my hospital visit, I've gone back into AFib four times since then, though nothing as scary as the first time and I've been able to convert on my own within two hours. It's really been freaking me out, especially since I'm my due date is getting closer and closer.

It was time for a Heart to Heart with my OB and cardiologist and talk about all the what-if's going through my head....What happens if my episodes continue to happen more frequently and last longer? Will they want to induce me? What if I go into AFib during labor? 

Earlier this week I had my 32 week appointment with OB. I was also able to move up my cardiologist appointment a week and met with her the day after my OB appointment. I find it funny that both offices are in the same building and on the same floor; in fact, they are right next to each other! If only I could get us all in one room to get all the questions answered at once and everyone on the same page. Since that won't happen, I'm happy that I got to meet with them both in the same week.

My OB was not happy to hear that I had 3 episodes last week and glad I was meeting with cardiologist to see if there was more we could do to stop them from happening. She thought I may need to go on a stronger blood thinner (I'm currently on a baby aspirin a day) which is done via injections. Good thing I have practice with that! With increased AFib episodes, she feared that I could form a clot and therefore have a stroke, which the blood thinners would prevent. At 36 weeks, she'd have to switch me to a safer blood thinner for delivery and that would also mean inducing me. As much as I NEVER wanted to be induced, things have changed and I'd do whatever it takes to ensure our safety. However, any changes in meds would come from the cardiologist.

I hadn't seen the cardiologist in a month and she was surprised to see how much I'd "grown" :)  She had known about all of my episodes since I call them in to the nurse line to report. She immediately told me she still wasn't concerned as my episodes weren't that frequent (apparently 3 times a week isn't frequent?) and they weren't lasting very long. She knew that I may feel differently as they are very uncomfortable, but definitely reassured me that me and Baby B are okay. In order to form a blood clot, I'd need to have episodes almost daily and/or have them last 24+ hours. Since neither were happening with me, there was no need to put me on stronger blood thinners (yeah!), though we'd consider putting me on a beta blocker to help prevent the occurrence and length of the episodes. First she wanted to consult with my OB. This is when it would've been handy to have them all in one room...but she was able to have a nurse page her and we got her on the phone! My OB agreed to the beta blocker daily as it would be a low dose. I needed reassurance that this was okay for Baby B, and it was, and will also be okay for breastfeeding since I'll be on this for at least 4 weeks after I deliver.

I also got answers to some of my questions.
I asked why these keep happening at 2 or 3am and the cardiologist said she wasn't surprised. Our bodies run on a circadian rhythm and we have a surge of hormones and adrenaline around that time. In fact, that is the most common time for a heart attack. Interesting!
I also told her how the last 3 episodes happened when I was moving from my right side to my left, which is not an easy feat these days. She simply told me to just sleep on my right side; when I lay on my left, where our hearts are located, it's making it work harder. Although I've read sleeping on my left side is better for Baby, the OB also assured me everything will be fine if I sleep on my right side. Done.
In regards to if I go into AFib during delivery, I'll be in the best place possible..the hospital! I'll be monitored the whole time and if something happens, I'll be able to be quickly treated. I really have no reason to be worried!

So I'll see my OB in two weeks for my usual appointment and I'll see my cardiologist in a month for another follow up. Obviously if I have more frequent or longer episodes, I'll call the cardiologist, but I feel MUCH better and really don't expect more to happen. Now if we can just get through the next 8 weeks!!

Strike!

It was a rainy Memorial Weekend and we were stuck in town. Thankfully so were some of our friends, so what else to do but go bowling! It's been a long time since I've been bowling, and I surely wasn't pregnant then, but I've always loved it and wasn't half bad either. Perhaps this belly will give me an extra oomph! (or not)  

 It looks like I smuggled in my own bowling ball!!

It was a ton of fun and I bowled some good games...and some not so good ones. After 5 games, I was exhausted and pretty crampy. I think it gave me my first Braxton Hicks. But it gave me an idea! As I get closer to my due date, perhaps some bowling will help move things along, we may have to give it a try :)

In and Out

...and I'm not talking about the fast food burger joint (though that sounds delicious right about now!)  I'm talking about my belly button. I'm officially an "outie".

I've been watching the slow progress of my changing belly button, which was once very much an "innie", but it finally totally popped out a few days ago. I will save you and not take a picture; preggo belly's really aren't all that pretty. I may have to start doing the band-aid trick for some of my thinner shirts, though I may not really care either. It's kind of fun!

I'll be curious to see it go back, or will it even go back to an "innie"? And how quickly will it happen after Baby B arrives? Another mystery of pregnancy...

Project Nursery - Part II and III

It's been awhile since I updated everyone on our nursery progress and I'm happy to say..ALMOST DONE!
We're almost to the fun part, washing everything and putting away all the goodies we've gotten thus far.

I am a bit behind in posts, so I combined updates on our progress: 

Part II - The Hard Way
After finally getting the office all cleaned out, it was time to install the chair rail and do some painting. It was J's decision to keep the paint color in the room; he really didn't want to have to repaint again and since it was gray, it would work just fine for a gender neutral nursery. Little did he know this may have been more work than just painting the room.

The chair rail was up and it actually went really smoothly. We painted it white to match the crib and dresser/changing table. What a difference it makes in the room! However, the trim in the room was still wood color and looked weird with the new white chair rail. The time and cost to buy all new trim and doors for the room was too much, so time for painting. The trim in the room is probably as old as the house, over 50 years, and had a sheen finish, so it needed to be sanded before it could be painted. J took a day off work and sanded all the base, window, and door trim as well as the door and closet door. There was sawdust everywhere. We tack clothed the whole room to get all the dust out and then began taping. We taped the windows, door frames and base trim, which meant taping to protect our hardwood floors. A LOT of tape.  Like I said before, it may have been easier to just have painted the whole room, but I actually love the way it's turned out; it's the nursery I dreamed of when we started this project. Thanks honey!!

Part III - The Barrett's vs. The Glider
The last big purchase we made was the glider/ottoman. I have been fretting over this purchase for months. I was determined to find the perfect one (white wood with tan fabric) while trying to be thrifty. I found our crib and changing table/dresser on Craigslist and was so happy with them that I was figured I could easily find a glider/ottoman as well. I scoured Craigslist daily. When I did find a white/tan one, it was usually a bit more beat-up than I wanted (and overpriced!) so I finally realized that I should just spend the money and get a good one. I figure this is something I'll be using daily so it made sense to splurge a bit to make sure it was comfortable and sturdy.
Once I decided to buy a new one, the process of deciding which brand started. Turns out there are quite a few brands of them from super expensive to cheap, good reviews and bad reviews. Overwhelming! I finally found one that not only matched my picky colors but was also very comfortable...and on sale (score!) Thank you Babies R Us!

I bought it the day after I saw it int he BRU mailing and even went across the city to another store to pick it up. No way I was going to wait for it to be shipped to me. They loaded it into my car and I was a bit surprised by the size of the box, not too big. Hmm..I bet it's mostly put together (the back, seat, arms) and we just need to assemble the pieces together. Heh. Not quite. We pulled everything out of the box and stood looking at a pile of pieces, screws, dowels and some very confusing directions. Although I didn't think to get a picture of all the pieces, I did get a shot of part of the directions. And I thought IKEA was bad..

Of course I wanted it put together NOW :)  So J grabbed a beer and a screwdriver and we went to work. An hour later, we were still on step #5 and were barely speaking to each other; I was almost in tears. I cracked open an O'Doul's (which did not cut it) and we decided to take a break, eat some dinner and come back refreshed.
So an hour later, we started back up again and this time, we worked through it. Two hours later, we had a fully assembled glider and ottoman! And next time, I'll pay the money to have it assembled!

I love it!! And turns out, so does big brother Bear. I think he's found his new spot :)