Baby Allie Update

Last Friday I had my second bio physical appointment, everything is still looking great and at that time she was stretched across my belly. Though last night she decided to go head down and I've been in pain ever since. It doesn't help things since I have already had trouble sleeping over the past two weeks. This going to the bathroom every hour in the middle of the night is out of control, I can handle it when I'm up during the day but at night ... ugh!

This coming Friday is my last appointment with my Nazi doctor, which is a good thing because I was getting tired of her showing up late to appointments and not even apologizing. The doctor that will be performing my surgery will be finishing up the rest of bio physicals on Tuesday mornings.

Now it's just filling out benefit paperwork adding Allie to our medical-dental-vision plan and writing a letter to the hospital for my tubal ligation. Registration is already completed for the hospital.

We are going to be extremely busy the first month of Allie's birth. My sister, Dee, is flying in the day before my surgery and staying with us for a couple weeks. She has some top secret craft projects going on with Makayla, this should be interesting! Before my sister leaves, my niece, Jackie, will be visiting for a week. I'm assuming my parents will be up sometime during this time frame as well and then my other niece, Jill, will be spending the last week of March with us while Makayla is home from spring break.  Dwight talked about taking time off in April after everyone leaves but now it sounds like it will be when I head back to work. When Makayla was born this time went by so slow and now I have a feeling this time with Allie is going to fly by! I'm really looking forward to the time off though.

Sounds like my department will be throwing a shower for me soon, I think they are afraid I'm going to go early ... I guess only time will tell!

Baby Allie Update

I had my first weekly biophysical appointment on Friday. I was surprised how things have changed from 8 years ago. When I was pregnant with Makayla, they hooked me up to these monitors that watched for her movement and contractions. With this appointment they did everything through the ultrasound.

Allie is now 4 pounds, with this pregnancy I have only gained 7.4 pounds. She is measuring right where she should be and everything else is looking great. The technician said she has long hair, it's amazing what they can tell from the ultrasound. My blood pressure is still great and so are my sugars. Hopefully things continue to go well and I'll be able to work right up to my scheduled c-section.

Dwight put the stroller together and Allie's bag is packed for the hospital. We picked up the crib mattress today and finally got her room in order. Finishing up washing the clothes that Jackie and Jonathan sent, along with Granny Kay's homemade sheets for the changing table mattress.  Now I'm slowing getting my stuff together for the hospital. I was able to purchase some nursing bras and tank tops and the next thing on the list is a breast pump. With changes to the health care reform, our insurance plan now covers breast pumps at 100%. My doctor wrote me a prescription so all I need to do is pick it up from the hospital pharmacy.

7 more weeks to go!!

Making Gum

For Makayla's birthday she received a Gum Factory kit from Nana and Papa. She has been learning to make gum and experimenting with different flavors.  She loves her gum!

Thank You Jackie and Jonathan

 

We received a couple packages in the mail a few days ago. Jackie had made us a diaper cake, unfortunately when I lifted out the second layer, part of it fell apart but I was able to get it back together with no problems.

 

We were also overwhelmed by all the 6 month clothes! This girl will surely be styling!

 

I knew Jackie was just starting to sow and I had no clue that she was making Allie a blanket. She did such a great job and the colors matched perfectly!  Thank you so much Jackie and Jonathan!

Happy 8th Birthday Makayla

 

Last Thursday Makayla turned 8 years old and the celebration continued into the weekend. 

On Thursday Dwight and I brought McDonald's (her lunch of choice) to Makayla at school for lunch. For dinner she chose to go to Applebees where she ordered appetizers for our meal. When we got home we enjoyed cupcakes from "Cupcake" ... a store at Mall of America which was opened by one of the winner's of Cupcake Wars.

 

 

On Saturday we headed to the Mall to Build A Bear. Makayla made two bears, one for her birthday present and then she made Allie one to give to her on the day she is born. Allie has a special present for Makayla too ... but it's a surprise.

After Build A Bear, we went to the movies to see Parental Guidance. Many of my friends who have seen the movie, has taken their kids to see it. It was a great family flick and we all really enjoyed it as a family.

I can't believe it's been 8 years since Makayla entered our life! She has brought much happiness, laughter, creativity and Bigfoot in our lives! We love her so much and can't wait to watch her grown up to be a big sister!

Baby Allie Update

On Friday I had my 30 week check-up ... I seriously can't believe we only have 9 more weeks to go before we meet our beautiful baby girl! My doctor is impressed with my glucose numbers and how low my blood pressure has been. We listened to her heartbeat, which was perfect, and she measured my belly. At the end of my appointment I scheduled my bio physicals starting in two weeks. Every Friday I will go in at 10:45a for an ultrasound and after that they will hook me up to the monitors to watch for contractions, Allie's movement and to measure the fluid around her. After that I will see my doctor. We have them scheduled through the end of January. If my blood pressure continues to stay low, I will maintain my doctor's appointments every Friday otherwise if it's high, they will see me twice a week instead.

Swanson Christmas

On Thursday afternoon, Dwight's brother and his family arrived for the weekend to celebrate Christmas. Makayla's cousins brought their left ears, made for some fun photo opportunities!

After dinner we had ice cream cake to celebrate Jonathan's actual birthday and the rest of the January and February birthdays. We then opened birthday presents and Christmas presents. Makayla loved the two journals she got.

Friday after lunch we headed to Mall of America for an afternoon of fun! Everyone rode rides ... except for me, though I probably could have made everyone go on the Ferris Wheel.

Yes, Makayla and Jonathan both went on Spongebob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge! Dwight, Makayla and Jonathan are in the front row, Jennifer and David are in the back.

After rides, arcade and tour of the American Girl store we went and had a snack. We then headed to Sea Life ... otherwise known as Underwater Adventures. The kids had a great time looking around at all the fish, sharks and jellyfish.


After a tiring day at the Mall we drove a few short blocks to show them this beautiful tree. On the other side of the house is Cedar Avenue and I see it every night when I go home from work. This was the first time that I was able to see it up close. Pictures do not do this tree justice, you have to see it in person. Unfortunately, it's only lit from Thanksgiving to New Years.

The rest of the weekend was spent with the kids playing inside and out, a little shopping and playing board games. It was a fun weekend catching up and relaxing before Allie's big arrival!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve was Tiny Tim's last night at the Swanson household, he is seen here reading "Twas The Night Before Christmas" to our Christmas stuffed animals. He left with Santa early Christmas morning but he did manage to leave Makayla a note.

Dear Makayla, I am going to miss you so much! Please do not forget about me! Please continue to listen to your mom and dad. I can't wait to meet your little sister next year. Take care of her and don't forget to tell her all about me. I love you and be a good little girl! See you next year! Your friend, Tiny Tim

Makayla woke up at 5am to see what Santa brought her. Santa left her a microscope, Bigfoot book, an adoptive Yeti and a stocking full of candy. As you can see, he left some stuff for the rest of the family ... including Allie.

Makayla is shown here investigating things she found outside in her Bigfoot Field Investigator shirt that Aunt Dee sent. She also received a new stereo from Nana and Papa so she could listen to her MP3 player, some personalized stationary, stickers and make your own blanket from the Elliott's. The Bigfoot shirt and I'm Going To Be A Big Sister shirt from Aunt Dee and Uncle Doug.

Thank You Dee and Doug

Thank you to my sister and brother-in-law for sending us the Encore Travel System for Christmas! It was an unexpected surprise, Allie will be traveling in style now!  Dwight hasn't put it together yet, he is waiting for another month or so ... though he is probably procrastinating since he had a little trouble with Makayla's before she was born.

Thank You Jennifer and David

Thank you for all the clothes! We gave Jennifer and David some of Makayla's clothes and they gave those back plus more! Half of the closet is filled with their clothes, I did find a couple tubs of our own that we had in storage. I was trying to sell them at a garage sale we had a few years ago and never got around to officially getting rid of them. Plus the three totes have clothes for 12 months, 18 months and 24 months!  This helps out tremendously!



Two Week Wrap Up

Over the last several weeks we have been preparing for Christmas,

Dwight's brother's family visiting and the birth of Allie.

We made a few batches of twice baked potatoes and potato skins and froze them for the future.

Christmas shopping has been done for a while now.

Here is our tree in all it's glory. Mister's spray bottle is not too far away.

He still continues to bite the corners of our presents and the branches off the tree.

Dwight volunteered at school on Thursday to help Makayla's class make gingerbread houses.

Here is Makayla's masterpiece, you can't really see it but she put gummy bears on the liquorish teeter totter.

Yesterday, Makayla and I made some sugar cookies and tried to

use Nana's vintage cookie cutters.

They didn't work out so well so we had to break our old ones out.

Dwight trying to get a picture of my belly.

I told him that he will go through a special camera training when Allie is born!

While Makayla and I baked cookies, Dwight put a puzzle together.

Mister is supervising.

Since I was on my feet all day, Dwight helped Makayla decorate the sugar cookies ...

they were yummy!



Christmas Program at Church

Last Saturday Makayla had her Christmas program at church. Since our church is so big, they have to split up all the kids into 5 different Christmas programs.

After church, Makayla slept overnight at her best friend's house. Harper is shown right below Makayla. They took her out to Pizza Ranch after church and had a fun filled evening of crafting. I thought I would have gotten a call in the middle of the night but I didn't. She didn't even want to come back home Sunday afternoon. We had Harper sleep over at our house already this year so this was Makayla's first night away from home.  Dwight and I were able to enjoy a movie, dinner and some shopping.



Elf on the Shelf

Baby Allie Update

We have officially hit the third trimester today, we are in the home stretch!  I had an ultrasound this morning followed up with a doctor's appointment. Allie is growing very nicely, she is a little over 2 pounds so she is right on track. She is breached, her head is on my right side up into my ribs. All the ultrasounds that I've had, her hands and arms are covering her face. In this ultrasound she did a lot of yawing and I actually had to lay on my side while the technician poked my belly for Allie to move her arms so we could see her lovely face.

My sugars are under control and my blood pressure is still unbelievably well! I lost a little weight, I've only gained 3.8 pounds with this pregnancy. My next doctor's appointment will be in two weeks. At that time we will start to schedule the bio physicals. Typically the appointments are twice a week but if my blood pressure stays under control, I will only been seen once a week (starting at 32 weeks) up until we give birth. 

We did set up an appointment for our c-section so Allie's birthday will be March 1, 2013 at 10am. I need to be at the hospital at 8am to get prepped. We are excited that my sister will be here for the birth and has already made her flight arrangements. She was here the first week when Makayla came home from the hospital and I'm so glad I had the help as Dwight came down with the flu. And of course being a first time mom had no clue what I was doing!

Makayla Home Sick

Our household is finally feeling well. Makayla was home three days last week with an ear infection, sinus infection and possible strep throat. The doctor was surprised her throat didn't hurt her but didn't do a swab because the antibiotic would help that as well. Her fever lasted three days so she was out of school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. She stayed mostly in bed, with Mister by her side, watching movies in her room. Her teacher kept me informed of what she was missing and that there were about 5 other kids out sick in her classroom. Makayla has a few more days left of her antibiotic.

Our First Snow Fall

 

Last Sunday we received a foot of snow, it started about 3am and didn't stop until the early hours of Monday morning. Makayla and Mister enjoyed their day out in the snow. Unfortunately, Makayla was disappointed that district 196 wasn't late or canceled. I don't mind the snow but a whole season's snowfall in one day is a little ridiculous!