27 Weeks!

This pregnancy hasn't been smooth sailing but hopefully this week we found some answers.  I've been swelling a lot, overly tired, and I keep getting kidney infections.  I did my first glucose test and failed miserably.  They gave me a diet to follow for 3 days then made me go to get the three hour glucose test. YUCK!  I barely made it to the end of the first hour test. I wasn't happy to find out that I had to attempt to last 3 hours.

My diet consisted of 6 pieces of white bread a day (I hate white bread with a passion), 2 baked potatoes a day, 6 tablespoons of sugar (yes, sugar). Plus some other things but those three things were VERY tough for me.  Oh, I always got to eat cake or pie for lunch and dinner every day.  It seems like the perfect pregnant diet.  So I pushed through the three days of dieting and stuck to it very well.

I was lucky enough to have my bestie Natalie take me to my appointment.  I'm positive if she wasn't there then I would have gotten sick within the first 20 mins.  There were older ladies in the waiting room where we were sitting that kept trying to talk to me and made things much worse. I needed to focus on not getting sick and they kept making me think about getting sick.   Luckily, Natalie was there to help!

The problem with giving me all of this glucose is my terrible kidneys.  Once I started the glucose diet, I noticed I had a lot more kidney pain. By the time I took the test, I had terrible kidney pain.  Apparently, kidneys aren't a fan of anyone who is hyperglycemic. I have pretty bad kidneys and get kidney stones and infections a good bit.  The diabetes is making it much worse.

I am hoping on my appt Monday my doctor will be able to fix the diabetes and my kidneys.  But as long as the baby is doing well,  I will deal with anything that I have to.  My main focus and goal is to keep this baby as healthy as possible.  I just need to listen to what my doctors say.

How far along? 27 weeks and 4 days.
Total weight gain/loss: 14 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Cuqui got me the cutest t-shirt and cami from Motherhood Maternity which I am currently wearing as I type.
Stretch marks? No! Thank goodness.
Sleep:  Sleep is a relative term.
Best moment this week: We got to have dinner with such an incredible couple Cuqui and Eddie.  They are the kindest couple.  Allison adores them and Kiko really adores them.  Cuqui has been friends with my mother in law for many many years.  I'm blessed to know them.
Have you told family and friends: Yes.
Miss Anything?  Sleeping all night without waking up.
Movement: Lots and lots of movement.
Food cravings:  Watermelon. I could eat an entire watermelon in a matter of hours.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a lot now.
Have you started to show yet: Big 'ol belly!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!!!!
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? Off :(
Happy or Moody most of the time: Emotional for sure.
Weekly Wisdom: When you are this far along, remember to take the time to enjoy it. Cherish the little moments when you are laying in bed and you feel the baby moving.  You won't get those memories back.
Looking forward to:  Spending time with Kiko.  Finding time for just the two of us is not an easy task.

Baby Shower!!

I am so blessed that I have the family that I do. At first, I was against having a baby shower since I already had one with my daughter, but I found out that I was having a boy and warmed up to the idea.  Also, the last three times I traveled up to Ohio was to attend funerals.  It was so nice to get together with my family and friends for a joyous occasion.

The day that I found out what I was having, my mom (MaryJo) and Stephanie (my sister in law) started planning!  Stephanie even sent me over a power point presentation of ideas so I could sort thru them.  So amazing!! Knowing that I was having a boy meant one thing for the baby shower, an airline theme.  Kiko and I are both in aviation and it just isn't a job. Aviation is a passion for the both of us.

With all of the problems going on in my pregnancy (you will get an update for my 27 weeks blog which will be coming tomorrow), my mom wanted to make sure that I could fly up so we did it a little early. We planned it also so Kiko could come up. He is so cute and loves to be involved in everything.

I went up to Ohio a few days early so I could help with the final decorations and details. (I may or not may have OCD and need things a certain way)  Steph and I spent hours on making our gift bags.  Totally worth the time! We wanted cute suit case luggage gift bags.  We bought (meaning my mom) brown paper bags, blue ribbon and scrapbook stickers.  We made one as a template.  So we just cut out a handle, used double sided tape to add the ribbon and stuck cute stickers on.

These were worth all of the time that we spent making them. Plus, Steph and I laughed and talked the entire time.  I love projects that make you sit down and talk because throughout this entire baby shower process, Steph and I got so much closer. I would say that is why I appreciate these gift bags.




We also made signs that said "Baggage Claim, Arrivals, TSA, Lavatory, Galley and BV Airlines.  There aren't a lot of pictures of those but I will find some!

Thanks to Pinterest we got the great idea of "cloud jello".  Sooo soo cute! And so easy to make.

 These are also easy to make.  Just find plastic cups that are very very clear. Some aren't so clear and you want to be able to see the cloud effect.  My mom just made blueberry jello and whipped cream.  My second mom (one of my moms best friends and someone I look up to) Missy put these together at the shower.  She did an amazing job.  I appreciate all of her help, but she is always there for us!


We also made labels and stuck them on everything.  We wanted the labels to match the invitations.

We made these labels and put them on the cups, water bottles, and we planned on putting them on our "first class meal" to go boxes.









Lastly thanks to my incredible brother, Tanner, we had run ways down the middle of our tables.  Steph and I thought that there was no way we could get it done because we only had an hour to set everything up.  Tanner stepped in with the help of Ryan, my sisters boyfriend, and made it happen.  They put it together so fast and they looked so good.  I do want to take the time to thank my brother for everything that he did for me and this shower.  He was such a huge help.  I am beyond proud of my brother and everything that he has done in his short 21 years of life.  He is the most generous person I know.  I hope my son is just like him. Tanner is the perfect role model (besides Kiko of course) for Shiny Anchor.

The tables were made out of blue and black table cloth.  Tanner and Ryan cut wide strips  out of the black and laid them down the middle.  They used a wide white shiny tape and put the dashes down the middle.  The control tower centerpieces were made out of two terracotta planters.  We gorilla glued them on top of each other.  We also named each table for an airport that meant a lot to Kiko and I.  We also had a game where the guests had to guess airport codes.  My brother also bought a lot of airplanes and helicopters to put down the center of the runway. The kids also got to take them home.

We had a TSA area set up. That is where the kids got to go and make airplanes and color so the adults could enjoy the shower.

It was so nice to get together and spend time with my friends and family.  I really needed it. I come from such a strong family of woman and being around them in comforting while I'm pregnant.  I just wish I could travel home more but I'm grounded until this baby comes out.  I want to thank everyone who came to celebrate such a joyous time in my life (even though it hasn't been the easiest labor).

 This is myself and my moms neighbor, Cindy.  She is one incredible person, mother, and woman.  As you can tell from the picture, I was so happy to see her.  She is full of love and a woman I look up to.  It was great to see her.

My crazy sister, Shaye, mom, and brother Tanner hard at work getting all of the "first class" meals ready for the guests.  Without them, I wouldn't have such a good life.

<3 Kristen <3 She and I have not been friends for millions of years but in the last new years that we have known eachother, we have been very close.  I had to move back to Ohio for awhile and she was always there for me.  I would do anything in the world for her. In the next picture, you will see that she made a beautiful painting for the babys room.  As soon as I opened it, I started to cry.  It means so much to me that she would take the time to paint me something that is so beautiful and so meaningful.

It is the perfect painting.  Its a vintage airplane and the quote says  " When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward: for there you have been and there you will always be." 
It's one of my favorite quotes and perfection for the nursery.  

This is my beautiful nanny (or grandma).  Everyone calls her nanny.  This time last year I had 3 grandparents and now this year I just have her.  I cherish every single moment, conversation, and piece of advice she gives me.  She has the kindest heart and is the most honest person you'll ever meet.  I am so glad that she was able to make it.  It meant the world to me.

<3 Siblings <3 How am I the oldest but the shortest?  Not fair!  I'm blessed that have them. The may have driven me nuts when we were younger but I'm glad we are as close we are now.

This is as normal as you will get from us!

I'm happy that I can have such a great sister and best friend! <3 

 My partner in everything! Steph<3 She was destined to date my brother so we could be friends.  She is the perfect addition to our family.  

Our family is about to be complete with the addition to a sweet baby boy.  

My life is so blessed and so filled with love.

Kiko and Alli are the biggest reason my life is so full of life and love.

Kiko is my best friend, biggest cheerleader, biggest head ache, and love of my life.

Alli is my little princess and whole world. She is going to be such a great big sister.

This little boy will come into the world so loved. 

I again want to thank everyone who came to the shower to celebrate a new little life. It couldn't have gone better.  I had the best time.  From start to finish, it was filled with love. I am one lucky person to have such a great family and perfect friends. 

26 Weeks Preggers!

I want to first apologize that I haven't been posting lately.  A lot of things have been going on during this pregnancy. I can't believe I haven't posted in a month!  So in the last month, I have been on and off of bed rest. I currently am on bed rest again.  I started to have contractions and they needed to stop them so they can me some meds and it worked. Luckily.  The medicine was not fun by any means but I'm happy it stopped me from going into labor.  I've been trying my hardest to listen and be a good girl on bed rest but with some much that needs to be done,  I find it hard to do.  I do have great friends who help me out so much.  My best friend from Ohio, Natalie, moved down here and kindly helps whenever I'm stressed out beyond belief.  She swoops in and saves the day.  With the hot Florida summer, comes lots of swelling so I'm starting to feel not so comfortable. I'm going to try Epsom salt in my bath. I hope it works!  Any suggestions are welcomed!

This week was also my baby shower.  (I'll be posting a blog just about my baby shower).  It was incredible and everything I could have wanted.   My family worked so hard to give me the best possible shower ever. I appreciate them more than they will ever know.  So stay tuned for the baby shower blog!

I also want to share a few things that I proudly put together for the baby: (Note: I am not handy at all so this is a huge deal for me).

So this is one of the best things ever invented.  I can take this everywhere with me since I'm coaching or when he needs to go to my mother in laws.  It will be a life saver. I can tell already.  I did have help putting this together. Once again, Natalie to the rescue. 

I am lucky enough to have family that rock! I have 2 of these. One for Ohio and one for Florida.  Stephanie (my sister in law) had this sent to me so I have one here in Florida. It makes my life so much easier.  I put this together all by myself and it felt amazing once I was done!

How far along? 26 weeks 2 days.
Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Nope! Just dresses!
Stretch marks? No!
Sleep: Not at all.
Best moment this week: The baby shower!
Have you told family and friends: Yes.
Miss Anything? My cute summer clothes.
Movement: Lots and lots of movement.
Food cravings: Fruit still. Watermelon.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a lot now.
Have you started to show yet: Oh yes!! Big 'ol belly!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!!!!
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? Off :(
Happy or Moody most of the time: Well, it depends on who you ask.
Weekly Wisdom: When you get bad news from the doctor, be upset for an hour then move on. I've needed to learn this.
Looking forward to:  Getting the rest of the baby things for the room.