41 Weeks

Oh my goodness ... who would have thought?!  I guess I certainly expected to be overdue, but as with Emerson I had a little glimmer of hope in the back of my mind that the 2nd and now 3rd might not be quite as overdue!!!  Not the case ... Which also is starting to make me wonder if this isn't a girl, as Blake was only 6 days overdue, Em 8!  (I use the term overdue very loosely, as technically you are not overdue until 42 weeks!!!  I suppose "post-dates" is the proper term!)  I had a Dr. appt. Monday and today and I'm still 1-2 cm dilated, no change from a week ago in my cervix.  Baby is comfy and happy :)  My non stress test on Tuesday afternoon went great, no concerns.  In the last week the babies heart rate has fluctuated between 128 and 148!  I might go for a NST tomorrow.  I can be induced on Sunday or Monday, depending on how busy they are with deliveries at the hospital.  I have in my mind that this baby will arrive when it's ready, but I do realize that it's not safe to go too overdue ... Fiona says I can say no to the induction and continue to have NST's and even request a biophysical, which is a more in depth ultrasound to make sure the baby is okay.  We'll see how it goes!  It's not that I'm in a hurry to have the baby, but I do want to make sure the baby is safe and healthy and if that means being induced, then I'm fine with that.  I have a friend who is a chiropractor in the States and she recommended having acupuncture to induce labour!  She apparently had 2 treatments on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon and then went into labour on the Sunday night.  And then there's always castor oil ... yuck!!  Never tried it, but I've heard if your body isn't ready for labour it can be really nasty on your system!!  So many options :)  I'll let you know what I decide!!  In the end all I want is a healthy baby, so say a little prayer for us and hopefully we'll be introducing him or her to the world very soon :)

Blake and Emerson are doing good.  Both have colds right now, Em's is worse then Blake's.  Basically just running noses, sneezing and coughing when they lay down.  No fevers or infections yet and hopefully they won't get them!  We've been talking to them about the baby a lot and they both seem excited!  We've brought out all the baby stuff (swing, bouncy chairs, carseat, put the base in the van) and both the kids are having fun playing with their "babies" and all the baby equipment!  Em sure loves to rock her babies in the carseat and swing!!!  Emerson is talking more and more and more and putting together bigger sentences everyday!  I can't believe how she can talk!!  She is such a chatterbox, we just love it :)  One of the cuter phrases she likes to say is, "See you later crocodile!!"  One day we were saying, "See you later alligator!  In awhile crocodile!"  That's how she starting saying that!!  So cute!!!  Blake is doing great in Preschool and continues to love it.  I asked the teacher how he was doing and if there were any concerns and she said he was great!  A pleasure to have in the class, he gets along with everyone and is very polite.  That was very nice to hear :)  Lately he has been very interested in writing his name.  They usually learn a letter a week at school and do practice sheets on those letters.  Every day he asks to practice his name and is pretty proud of how well he can write the letter B!  We're going through paper like crazy though, lol!!  I enjoy doing this with him and love to see him enjoying and initiating learning!!  Blake is improving weekly at hockey.  I went to watch him 2 weekends ago and couldn't believe how he'd improved!  He moves extremely slowly across the ice, he isn't winning any races, but is very steady and is having fun!  At first he was using the "walker" but isn't anymore, which is great!  He's the youngest out there and at times we wondered if he was too young.  But he continues to improve and continues to have fun and look forward to it, so that's great!!  It is a really great hockey club and there are some fantastic coaches on the ice, who have awesome ideas and strategies!  He has team pictures this Sunday :)

I hope everyone is keeping warm in this chilly weather and snow!  Looks like winter has arrived!!  I personally like it!!  Although after a few months of snow and cold I am certainly ready for Spring :)  I'm looking forward to having a winter jacket that fits me ... right now I'm sporting one of Cal's zip up hoodies and a big spring jacket!!!  Not worth buying a winter maternity jacket for a few weeks!!  Blake and Cal had fun shovelling snow this afternoon, the kids look so cute all bundled up :)  Talk to you soon everyone! 

xoxo
Tracy

The Big 3-0!

Today is my birthday ... Happy Birthday to me ;)  Hard to believe I'm 30 ... I don't feel 30?!  But then again, what does 30 really feel like??  I'm not bothered in the least by turning 30, I'm not having some sort of meltdown, I'm not depressed, I'm happy actually!  The 20's were great, but I think the 30's will be even better!  How could they not be?  I have a wonderful husband, 2 healthy, beautiful children and will be meeting another gorgeous baby very soon!!!  Not to mention the best family and friends a girl could ask for!  The next ten years are going to be fabulous (more on 30 and fabulous later!)!!! 

I've learned and grew A LOT in my late teens/early 20's!  Did the usual thing at that age - college, roommates, partying, Mexico with the girls, etc, etc.  Don't regret a minute, good times were had and great memories were made (although some nights are a blurr ...)!  But looking back I am certainly glad I moved on from that.  It seems some people get kind of stuck in that phase and before they know it they wake up and they're panicking because they're 30 ;)

Mid-20's were also a time of learning and growing.  Mostly they were very special and exciting with Cal and I buying our first home and moving in together, getting engaged, getting married and bringing two special little people into the world!  I'm so grateful I've had Cal by my side through this whole decade ... we've grown together, learned from one another, leaned on each other and created many special memories.  Thanks for always sticking by my side Cal, through thick and thin I'm so blessed to call you my husband and best friend.  Thank you to Blake and Emerson for teaching me SO much about life and myself.  A parent's love for their child is indescribable to those who do not have children.  It is not something you can "tell" someone, it is something that must be experienced.  Children introduce a whole new world of emotions, feelings, and experiences to your life.  It really is amazing. 

So here I am at 30!  Of course you never stop growing and learning and I can't to see what the next decade holds for me!  I love music, especially country music, and I often relate songs I love with life experiences!  All day I've been thinking of and singing Alan Jackson's song Remember When!  There's a particular line that I think really applies to turning 30 and older ...  Here it is: "Remember when thirty seemed so old, and now looking back, it's just a stepping stone ..."  How true is that?!  At one point in time 30 seemed SO OLD!!  I remember my parents turning 30 and at the time that seeming like such an unbelievable number!!!  I couldn't even imagine being 30!!  Now, being 30 and after working in long term care my view of "old" has certainly changed!  I don't even think 70 is old anymore ... !

Now back to 30 being fabulous!  The following are a few reasons why I think 30 IS fabulous:

- I'm comfortable with the way I look. Sure I'd love to lose a few pounds, but overall I don't worry as much about what others think!
- I'm also comfortable with who I am.  Take it or leave it ... I'm not going to act a certain way, say a certain something, etc that I don't agree with, believe in or feel right about just to please someone!
- I've met new people and tried different things.  I'm by no means a world traveller, but I've been lucky enough to do some traveling and seen what else is out there.
- I have a better sense of right from wrong, good vs. evil, and what ultimately is going to give me peace of mind.
- I’ve learned we all have different ways of doing things and different opinions and that’s what makes this world so interesting.
- I'm  hardly losing my youthful glow :)  And I'm not wrinkly!!!  Although, part of this could be due to good genetics and Arbonne?!
- I've figured out what makes me happy. I know what I expect from my spouse, from my friendships, and what I love to do with my free time (which at this point in time is very limited!).

So HERE'S TO 30!!!  Thank you to all who helped me through my 20's ;)  I'm looking forward to this new decade and sharing it with you all!

xoxo
Tracy