Thursday, October 20, 2011

32 weeks!!!! And Autumn

Let me start off with Autumn, she has 2 teeth now!!!! OH and was it a hard few days before it came through (10/18). The night before she spent the whole night in bed with Matt and I, none of us slept good due to her tossing and turning. She was wake off and on the whole night and poor thing wet her diaper in a 5 minute time period and we even had to change her clothes! But we made it through the night that seemed to never end and now there are 2 buttom toofers (teeth) lol. Autumn is also making the effort to let go of things as she walks!!! She has taken a few steps but nothing more than 2 in a row. We are so proud of her and her efforts. I know she's an over-achviver already :). Her 1st Birthday is only 3 weeks away!

I'm 32 weeks today!!! Which makes this the end of 5 weeks of bed rest with 2 to 4 more to go. To think that I have maybe another whole month of nothing but laying sucks (and possibly not at home but in the hospital makes me very depressed). We did find out on Monday that Hunter is 4 pounds 4 ounces measuring 34 weeks. So at least he has weight on his side and hopefully his lungs are almost developed due to the shots I had 5 weeks ago. Matt and I have been doing some reading about what to expect at what weeks of when he's born. We found that March of Dimes has been the most informing and not scary place to get the scoop.
If you're wondering what we found out here it is.

Babies Born at 32 to 33 weeks
              About 98 percent of babies born at this time survive. Most weigh between 3 and 5 pounds and appear thinner than full-term babies. Many need supplemental oxygen to help them breathe, although some can breathe on their own. Some can breast- or bottle-feed, but those who have breathing difficulties probably need tube-feeding. Babies born at this time are less likely than babies born earlier to develop serious disabilities caused by premature birth, though they remain at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems.

Babies Born at 34 to 36 weeks
             Late preterm infants are usually healthier than babies born earlier. More than 99 percent of these babies survive, though they are:
        6 times more likely than full-term infants to die in the first week of life (2.8 per 1,000 vs. 0.5 per 1,000)
        3 times more likely to die in the first year of life (7.9 per 1,000 vs. 2.4 per 1,000)
Late preterm babies often weigh between 4½ and 6 pounds, and they may appear thinner than full-term babies. These babies remain at higher risk than full-term babies for newborn health problems, including breathing and feeding problems, difficulties regulating body temperature, and jaundice. These problems are usually mild. Most of these babies can breast- or bottle-feed, although some (especially those with mild breathing problems) may need tube-feeding for a brief time.
A baby's brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks. Because their brain development is not complete, these babies may be at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems. Most do not develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth.
A recent study, however, found that late preterm infants are more than 3 times as likely to develop cerebral palsy and are slightly more likely to have developmental delays than babies born full term. Another study found that adults who were born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation may be more likely than those born full-term to have mild disabilities and to earn lower long-term wages.

We have a lot fighting against us some days (or it seems that way) but whenever Hunter is born and whatever we may have to deal with, we will be a stronger family and make it through. We are very blessed to have made it this far and are very thankful for the extra time he's been inside me to grow bigger and stronger! Are hopes are to make it to 37 weeks which gives us the best chance of taking him home when we go home.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

So proud to be Matt's wife!!!!!!

I want to make a special post about Matt today.

Let me start of with the short story of how we met (it plays a very important part of today's post). Matt and I offically met the night of May 5, 2007. I had stopped by his work to get a pizza and drink on my way home. While I waited for my food, we had started some small talk. Then I took my food and left. At home I was telling my mom that I actually talked to the cute guy at the pizza place and that he seemed pretty nice (I'd always tell her when we picked up pizza that he was the cute one that worked there lol). Now I wasn't thinking about dating anyone at this point in time, I was actually thinking I didn't want to date anybody for a while. Over the next week or so we'd say Hi in passing as we came and went from our shifts (our jobs were next door to each other). Then the night that my mom and I started to move apartments, I stopped in for a pizza and drink for a very late dinner and I stayed to talk to Matt while I waited on the food. I left when the food was done and headed to the new appartment for one last drop for the night. As I was driving I picked up my phone and called his work, which was closed by now and just by luck he answered! I then mustered up the words to ask if he'd like to get a milkshake at Steak n Shake after he got off work that night. To my surprise he said "sure why not" (I later found out he was trying to play it cool). We met at Steak n Shake at midnight. We talked for hours and hours which only seemed to be a short time. By the time we realized it, it was 6 am!!!! Yes we were there for 6 hours. We taked about everything families, school, work, likes, dislikes, movies, and on and on. We had hung out a few more times over the weeks. Then Matt's birthday comes around, he had invited me over to his appartment to meet some of his friends and spend his birthday with him, to my surprise he introduced me as his girlfriend (which I was defiantly ok with) and later that night we had our first kiss which was perfect! Fast forward to September, we have spent almost everyday together and just knew that we were ment for each other. We decided to get married in March and that started our life together forever!

Now onto talking about Matt -
Matt doesn't get enough credit for all he does. Everyone tells me how great of a mommy I am with Autumn and how I go through so much with my pregnancies to get them here safe and sound. But what everyone doesn't realize Matt puts in A LOT of work in too, he's actually putting in overtime right now! I'm so proud to be Matt's wife and I'm so blessed to have him as man of the house. Over the last week alone Matt has been working so hard both at work and at home. Recently the GM of his location had their third child and was off work so, the others had to pick up some extra hours and change the schedule around and so on. Then he comes home to do laundry, dishes, cooking, taking care of my needs, and doing everything Autumn needs. He has also put up with a very moody me this week :( I have not been the best of spirits and very snappy do to failing my first glucose test and having to take the three hour one. Let's just say I've been throwing a pitty party for myself. And Matt has still been very patient and loving towards me! I'm also so proud that he took the time yesterday to go look at cars for us do to the fact that our gold car was on a lease and time to give it back in a few weeks. Normally we buy a car together and I deal with all the paper work and info and he deals with the car picking, finding the safety ratings, talking trade in value, and so on. But yesterday he picked a new Jeep out for me (because this is going to be the car I drive), doing the paper work, all the signing, and finializing the deal (all with me at home). I'm so glad he knows what I like and don't like, where we needed to be price wise, and being able to take charge and get it all worked out with no stress on me. When we were planning our wedding, he'd look at me and say "how'd I get so lucky?". I'd reply "because I was the one that had the guts to ask you on a date". But I am truely the lucky one, I've got a husband that loves me for me and our children, who doesn't mind working hard (and I mean hard, he's got a demanding job) to pay our bills, that is kind, loving, forgiving (and oh is he forgiving, I'm not one that many can handle my moods), and faithful. Matt and I have always tried to say thank you to each other when something is done for the other or for Matt working, or me taking care of the house stuff and Autumn (we just always try to remmber what the other one does to make our family work). It's key in a marrige to show how much it means to you what the other one does for their part. An that's why I feel like Matt deserves and extra special THANK YOU because without his help and love I wouldn't be where I want to be in life and in our family. I thank God every day that we met each other that one night in May and made it one of the best nights of my life.

To my amazing husband that loves me no matter what, and will always be there for me. I LOVE YOU oh so much for being the man you are!!!!!!!!