Christmas Dance Recital

Zuri had her Christmas dance recital on Saturday.  It was really cute and a lot of fun.  The kids pretty much had the dance memorized, but for some reason they all blanked out during some portions of the dance.  I think it had to do with the fact that they had practiced entering from the left and exiting to the right, but for the actual performance, they entered from the right and exited to the left.  I think it threw them all off.

Before the recital, the studio held a breakfast and the dancers got to sit with their families until just before their dance came up.  It was relaxed and a lot of fun.  I didn't realize the studio was so big!  I would say there were at least 200-300 people there, and over 20 dances (Zuri's was #14).  I thought it was more of a mom-and-pop type of studio.  Wow, was I wrong (but not in a bad way). 

The costumes ranged from very hip-hop (jeans and t-shirts) to very glittery and dressy.  Zuri's was slightly on the dressier side, which I am thankful for.

While she sat with me in the audience, she kept asking when it would be her turn to go up.  She was very excited and couldn't wait.  I also think some nerves came into play because she asked a couple of times if she would have to do some of the more complicated dances that the older dancers were doing.  I assured her that she would do the dance she practiced in class.

It was a great experience and I am grateful for the relaxed atmosphere that the studio provided for the dancers. 

37 Weeks...and Going!

37 weeks--I made it!  I have officially made it to term.  I can have the baby at any time now, and my body is starting to get ready for the baby.

I am dilated to a 2, 50% effaced, and she is at a -3 station.  That doesn't mean a whole lot right now (in terms of how long before she comes), except that my body is getting prepared for labor.  I can be like this for a couple days or a couple weeks.  My amniotic fluid levels are good--not too high or low.  My blood pressure is also good. 

37 weeks is a milestone for me.  I have never made it this far in a pregnancy.  I am also experiencing things that I have never felt before, such as carpal tunnel when I sleep, mild swelling of my ankles and feet (and fingers during the night);  it is almost impossible for me to get more than an hour's worth of sleep at a time due to going to the bathroom, carpal tunnel pain, and being uncomfortable--the baby will shift herself so that if I lay down on my side it hurts.  There have been several nights where I will lay cross-legged on the floor next to the bed and fall asleep with my head leaned back against the bed because it is the only position that feels comfortable.  I am also officially waddling--not all the time, just mostly in the evenings or if I have done a lot of walking throughout the day.  I never did that with my previous pregnancies.

Not everything is bad, though.  I am also experiencing the baby move in ways that I didn't feel with the other two.  I am feeling her roll and stretch.  I can't remember ever feeling the rolling with Zuri, so if I did, it was only a few times.  By the end of my pregnancy with Kai, I had stopped feeling him altogether because of the amniotic fluid build-up.  This baby has also flipped so that she is now head-down.  Yay!!  I can't remember the precise day (I wish I had recorded it) but I pretty much know when she flipped because I stopped feeling all the kicking on my bladder and started feeling all the movement above my belly button.  For the record, I haven't felt any movement above my belly button with any of my pregnancies, so it was a new feeling for me--so cool!  Then I started to feel her rolling and stretching versus the kicks.  Another new feeling--hiccups!  I can feel when she has the hiccups, and it is fun.  I still have the pressure on my bladder because that is where her head is, but I am not feeling the awful jabs to my bladder.

It is so much fun to watch my belly as she moves around.  I can usually pinpoint where she is because my belly will bulge more in one spot and be tighter.  When she really gets moving I will stare at my belly as it shifts around.  In some aspects it feels like a first pregnancy for me because I am experiencing so many new things.

Another first: no restrictions (other than to know my limits and the usual pregnancy caveats)!  I think the strangest part is to be this far along and be able to move around as I wish.  Obviously I am being careful, although J thinks I do to much. 

I had another ultrasound this week, and they are estimating that she is about six pounds ten ounces right now.  My doctor said that the measurements could be a bit bigger than she really is, but he is confident that she is at least six pounds.  The relief I felt at hearing that news could not even be expressed.  I almost started crying (darn pregnancy hormones).  ;-)  I know only too well the dangers of a low birth weight, and I have been praying that this baby will be at least six pounds, so to hear that weight felt like an answer to my prayers.

I have also had the feeling that December 17th will be the day.  I have felt that for several months now, so it will be interesting to see what happens.  I would like to make it through next week at least--having her come Christmas week.  Things would just be easier to manage that week with Zuri and Kai.  Whenever she plans to make her debut, I am excited and can't wait to meet her!

Thanksgiving Week (and Beyond)

Thanksgiving this year was held at our house.  It was more like Thanksgiving week rather than day, because we had family at our house pretty much all week.  Tuesday, J's brother, Cory, returned from his mission in Atlanta.   I had a doctor appointment at the time he flew in, so we all met at our house and had a welcome home dinner for Cory.  Aunt Peggy brought in all the food (bless her heart) and we feasted on her wonderful cooking.

Maria, Kynlee, and Suzanne stayed the night because Kynlee had her next chemo treatment Wednesday morning.  Afterwards, Kynlee was pretty wiped out, so she and Zuri watched Tinkerbell movies in our bedroom.  The picture above was taken just as the two of them were falling asleep.   I accidentally woke them, and got this precious picture below.  Kynlee looks mad, but she really wasn't--just not feeling well.


Thursday, we all got together for a quick family picture in front of our fireplace.  We then sat down for our Thanksgiving meal, which was pretty much all cooked by Suzanne and Maria the night before.  J and I helped a little bit, and everyone brought something to help out.


The kids' table




We also celebrated Jaxson's birthday with some presents and cupcakes.  The kids had a blast with the blue icing on the cupcakes because it stained their mouths blue. 


I didn't get a picture of the feast, so I got one of the pies.  All homemade!

Cory, all grown up and back from his mission!


I have to say that I love having a house big enough for everyone to come.  It was SO nice not to have to transport Kai around and stress about him.  He was content in his crib for most of the day, and we were able to relax and enjoy.  I can't stress enough how wonderful that was.  We had brought him out for the picture, and had planned to leave him out, but he got really fussy.  I don't know if it was just all the people and the chaos, or what, but once he went back into his crib he was a happy little guy. 



Toward the evening, everyone geared up to either go back home or go Black Friday (in this case Thursday) shopping.  Shin and Heather stayed with J and I and we had a relaxing evening together.  J's mom, sisters, and one of the foreign exchange students living with them all braved the crowds--shopping until 2 am, then getting back up early Friday morning for more Black Friday shopping. 

J and Zuri went down to J's parents house Friday morning.  Zuri spent the weekend at Maria and Nolan's house, and J went to Page, Arizona with his Dad, brother, and one of the foreign exchange students.  They went hunting with his Uncle Steve, visited the toadstools and horseshoe bend.

Which means that I had a quiet weekend with Kai.  It was just the two of us, and I was under strict orders to "relax" and not worry about the house.  So, I did some mild cleaning Friday, and pretty much vegged with a book the rest of the weekend.  It was really nice, but by Saturday evening I was beginning to get restless.

Unfortunately, Zuri came home with a cold, which means that this week has been pretty busy trying to get her better.  Monday started out with throwing up and a slight cough.  Tuesday she complained of a sore throat, and her cough was more phlegmy in the morning, but went back to a dry cough by the time she was ready for school.  Wednesday brought almost incessant coughing and a fever.  Luckily, her fever broke overnight, and while she is still coughing today, it isn't as bad as yesterday.  I kept her home from school today, and she has been resting, so hopefully she is on the mend.

It is always a little scary whenever one of us gets sick.  Kai has proven that his immune system is strong, but it just takes that one cold to be fatal.  As we draw closer to that "3 year" hump (when we were introduced to his syndrome, we were told that most pass away before the age of three due to respiratory illnesses--we have since learned that three is not necessarily the true age--many live way beyond that, but nevertheless, it has stuck with me as a milestone), I am both more nervous and more relaxed.  I have seen how in the world of special needs, things can turn from good to bad in a heartbeat. 

Luckily, we are all pretty healthy and we don't get sick that often.  Even though we are in the "season of sickness," maybe this will be the only one we have to deal with this winter.  Haha, here is hoping!