7 Days to go....

Here we are - we have 7 days to go & i'm back in the hospital.  First I have to tell you that I keep saying that this is the "Final Countdown" and each time I hear this song, "Its the Final Countdown" by Europe in my head.  Horrible, I know, but that's what hospitalized bed rest will do for you! lol!

My appointment Friday didn't go so well & my blood pressures were up.  I have no idea what happened because they had been doing well at home & i'd made it through 4 other OB appointments & managed to pass & be allowed to head back home.  My OB was out of the office last week so I saw two of her partners.  Made it though one but not the other.  Funny, the one on Friday, Dr. C. - she was the one who put me in the hospital the first time, back in early April!  I really do like her so i'm not sure how we don't mesh well with my blood pressures during my appointments where I see her.  In the end, my Maternal Fetal Specialist who oversees my care told her that if I threw blood pressure numbers like that again, then they would have to deliver me.  So we agreed to keep me put here for the remainder, instead of risking me repeating the blood pressure episode at one of my two appointments this week and ending up having to deliver a few days earlier than planned.

Anyways, I made it 2.5 weeks at home & for that we are so thankful.  It was really nice and really helped with some extra quality time spent with my bug.  She is doing much better this time around as we had a lot of time to talk and answer any questions she had.  We also reminded her before each appointment that I went to, that if the Drs. wished to watch the baby grow more closely, then I would have to come back in the hospital.  So I think we were all prepared better this time around & she's seemed to of done well, thankfully.

We are scheduled super late in the day on next Tuesday.  So it's going to be a long day.  I'm also due for a lovely round of Mag Sulfate after delivery since I do fall into the mild preeclampsia category.  So we will update everyone but don't expect to see anything here until late Wednesday or maybe even Thursday, depending on how I feel - since Mag Sulfate should truly be used as a form of torture....  thoughts & prayers are welcomed for us all.  We are very excited to meet our newest little one & to complete our family.

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who made my first Thirty-One Online Party a success! The party is closed & the orders have been placed.

If you want to get some great freebies from Thirty-One Gifts but really don't want to host a home party - Host a Facebook/Online Party! So simple!

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3. EARN YOUR HOST REWARDS!

It's as easy as that! You get the hostess rewards and I do all of the work!

Who's first?

My Thirty-One Gifts Online Launch Party!

I wanted to invite you all to shop my Thirty-One Gifts Online Launch Party!

No need to leave the comforts of your home to shop for all of your favorite Thirty-One Gifts Items! The Summer 2012 Catalog has been released & is packed full of beautiful items & designs! During the month of May - for every $31 you spend you can get an All-In-One Organizer for just $5!

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Thirty-One

I'm so excited to have joined the Thirty-one Team!   Today is the perfect time to check out the great product offers from Thirty-one, as the new Summer 2012 Catalog has just been released!  It’s full of great products that you, your friends and family will love! 

During the month of May - for every $31 you spend you can get an All-In-One Organizer for just $5!

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Macaroni Kid Richmond

If you have kids and live in the RVA area , be sure to sign up for www.richmond.macaronikid.com, a FREE weekly email with all to do with your families in Richmond . Plus, there's lots of great giveaways too! It is also spam free! I think you will find it to be a great resource!

Rascal Flatts - Changed

I can't say that I am a music person.  My husband certainly is.  I can usually take it or leave it.  Especially after motherhood, there is something very nice about a quiet car ride when I get the rare opportunity to be out on an errand alone.  I think at times I just get a little sensory overload & I find quiet more soothing than music.

However, when it comes to Rascal Flatts, I feel like they are one of very few bands that trigger the musical person hidden deep inside me.  With them I experience the nostalgia & memory connections with my songs that instantly transport me back to the time in my life where that song was new and popular.  They are also one of very few bands where I can put their album's on and listen to the entire thing all the way through without skipping songs or turning it off.  I will listen to them enough that when I hear one of their songs on the radio - as it goes off, I start to sing the song that follows on their album... anyone else do that?!

Their first two albums, Rascal Flatts and Melt take me back to college.  Especially the long summer nights, fresh mountain air & lots of fun times with friends.  Their third album, Feels Like Today,  takes me back to my newlywed years with Bless the Broken Road.  I think we all feel that way when we've finally found our forever someone & marrying him really made me reflect back on my dating experiences & I was so thankful for my new husband and starting our future together.  The album also takes me back to a handful of NASCAR races here in Richmond and down in Charlotte where I really had some great times. Their forth album, Me and My Gang, takes me back to my younger sisters high school graduation with the song, My Wish.  It really summed up everything that I hoped & wished for her as she entered college & adulthood. 

As I stated earlier, entering parenthood as really reduced the amount of free time that I used to spend listening to music or attending events where I had the opportunity to listen to music!  However, as the trio's eighth studio album, Changed, was just released earlier this month & it is just as much of an amazing album as their past ones. What I love most is that these guys are so invested in their music & their passion.  Each of the three band members had a hand at writing the songs on this album.

As I am in the hospital on bed rest with my pregnancy of our second baby, I suddenly have plenty of time to listen to music again & I find that it helps to pass the time.  I've really enjoyed listening to Rascal Flatts new album, Changed.  I think my favorite song on the album is Hot In Here.  Every woman likes to know that they have such an affect on their man.  It's a really upbeat song that is easy to sing along to & one that on a warm day you'd love to turn the radio up, put the window down & just sing along as you are driving down the highway.

The Changed album overall doesn't disappoint.  I feel that its still the same great band & that is one thing that I have always like about Rascal Flatts is that they stay true to who they are & their country roots.  You can hear a song & instantly know its them.  They are great & I love that they keep producing great music that helps create happy times & happy memories.

One thing I haven't done that I wish to do is to catch them live in concert.  It's on my list & I know that when I do, it will be so much fun!  If you are looking to catch Rascal Flatts live in concert this year, here is the listing of their upcoming concert tour dates.

I received Rascal Flatts, Changed, album as a member of the One2One Network in exchange for my review.  All opinions are solely mine.

#RVA LivingSocial Daily Deal: Southern Women's Show Tickets - 50% Savings!

The #RVA Daily Deal is a 50% Savings for Two One-Day Tickets to The Southern Women's Show, April 20-22, at the Richmond International Raceway Complex.   This expo offers food, clothing, and health-related wares. Even has cool events like hourly fashion shows and an exhibit of Princess Diana's life & gown collection.

What's the coolest part I think is that some of my local frugal buddies, Tiffany from Young & Frugal in Virginia & Alison from Richmond Bargains, will be offering savings workshops there too!  These ladies have a ton of great information to share with you & is certainly & don't miss!  So don't miss out!  Get your tickets now at 50% savings!

Stepping back in for an update...

Well the lovely cartoon above has probably given it away -  but I am currently in the hospital in the antepartum unit just loving life....  (truth be told these nurses have been amazing & you actually look forward to them coming in to have someone to chat with, even when the visit entails having your vitals checked & having to answer plenty of lovely pregnancy questions that we all like to pretend just don't happen to us).

How did I get here? I was doing so well!  I KNOW, RIGHT!  Well to back track.  With our daughter Lyla, I started swelling (um, like a blowfish) and having trouble with my blood pressure early on, at our 24 week appointment.  I had a slow progression and didn't get the official 'pre-eclampsia' diagnosis & hospital admittance until 34 weeks.  It was mild, as my proteins stayed in the 400-800 range the remainder of my pregnancy & my blood pressures were mostly 140's/90's with me on my sides.  So all that landed me the entire month of May 2008 in the hospital.  I was admitted on May 2nd and we walked out of there with our new baby on May 31st!  It was a wild month but one that was totally worth it all after we met our beautiful daughter.

Even though it was 'worth it' - lord I didn't want to be here again.  This pregnancy, as I have shared with you'll before, I have worked extremely hard to try & control any perceived risk factors that I could.  Not working any longer so I was hoping that controlled my stress & rest levels enough to gain from what an almost 4 year old also takes from those! lol!  Eating high protein & very nutritiously.  It's helped me feel really great.  Maintaining some sort of exercise.  I've varied between jogging early on and light weights to swimming and walking.  It's felt really great to of been more mobile & active up to this point.  The good eating along with the exercising has led to a very realistic and normal weight gain (at this point with Lyla, shew....).  Finally, combine all of these together with the fact that my blood pressure had been super normal & i'd been a text book patient up until last Thursday, at my 31 week appt, had left me thinking that I was going to make it to the end with only having to see the hospital for a few days of joyously welcoming our second baby.

BUT - couldn't be that easy, right?

My blood pressure was up at my 31 week appointment, enough that they sent me over to L&D for more bp checks & some monitoring of the baby.  After a long 4 hours - my bp's were down & they sent me home for the weekend with a 24 hour protein collection to turn in on Monday (collecting your pee, ya'll).  My parents kept our bug for a few days in attempt to give me peace, quiet & rest so that it could buy me time & keep me out of the hospital.  Didn't work out that way.  Yesterday, my bp was back up in the drs office.  No place where it's higher.  Add in a little white coat & nerves to elevated bp & it can make an OB/GYN nervous really quick!  So back to L&D for more monitoring & we were waiting for the protein catch results as that would let us know if we were dealing with just PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) or the start of my nemesis, Pre-eclampsia.

We were looking for levels below 300 and of course after 4 hours of chillin on my side in L&D Triage closet size room & roasting, as it was beyond hot in there, the results came back in the 400's & suddenly we are thrown back into the Pre-e game again - with almost no warning.  My blood pressures are mostly 130's/70;s-80's right now.  If you were to see me & compare me to a photo that is on my fridge of my office baby shower from 4 years ago - pregnancy dates are off by about a week - the difference is so noticeable.  I am sure some wonder why I keep that photo on my fridge b/c I look like you could lay me down & roll me b/c I am so bloated & swollen. (I keep it b/c its one of the last sweet photos of me pregnant with bug).  With the absence of the swelling this time & the fact that I've really been feeling great, with great reports, up til Thursday, I had really convinced myself that this time would be different.

So here I am back on the Antepartum unit.  I'm here at least a few days & through at least a few more rounds of blood work & lab tests.  Thankfully, all my blood work for my kidneys & liver & such look great.  Depending on how these go, will determine if I could possibly get to go home or if I am here until I deliver.  Let me just say - that was how they got me in the door last time.  Sneaky.  Then the night went to the weekend then to the week & then - BOOM - you're here until you deliver!  So I am not anticipating anything different this time around.

I am so thankful for both sets of our bugs wonderful grandparents that are able to drop everything & help work out schedules with us that allows her to have a pretty normal routine, provides my hubby with plenty of help & also allows me to get to see her almost every day of the week.  That is the plan.  I get to see her this afternoon, as I haven't seen her since Saturday - longest time apart ever - and I can hardly wait.  It's going to be a long next month or so - but we know that it's all worth it in the end.  First goal is to make it to 34 weeks and the next goal is 37 - i'll be 32 weeks on Thursday.

My current goal is to try to get a little more sleep before they are in for rounds.  My 5:30a blood pressure check was such a sweet way to greet the early morning & left me, shockingly, hungry, so I couldn't go back to sleep.  Grabbed me a bite to eat out of my fridge (which high fives for that b/c my other hospital 4 years ago did not have that amenity) and decided to blog a little while I was eating.

I'll have plenty of time on my hands here - so do expect regular updates and i'll probably even get to some frugal posts too - "Gasp, isn't that what this blog is about to begin with?  Not pregnancy & babies!"  I know - so sorry to of neglected you guys - but everyone loves pregnancy & babies.. right?!

All thoughts & prayers are greatly coveted and appreciated.

Swagbucks: March Madness Plus 100 Swagbucks for New Users!

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Be sure to check in everyday, as the earning goal for any given day could be higher or lower than the day before. Your total bonus amount will continue to accumulate each day, and your bonus amount will be applied at by April 5th – this special promotion runs through April 2nd. If you hit the earning goal every single day of March Swagness, your bonus amount will be doubled!

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Swagbucks is also giving you a 70 Swag Buck sign up code, meaning that you will start with 100 Swag Bucks instead of the usual 30. The code is MARCHSWAG and it must be entered during registration! The code is valid through at 11:59pm PT on April 2nd.

27 Weeks & Some Rambling Thoughts...

Wow - my Third Trimester really snuck up on me!  The First Trimester was at a snails pace for me but the Second seemed to of passed in a blink.  I know this one will too & before we know it, we'll soon have our  new baby snuggled in our arms, Lord willing.

Here I am in all my glory this past weekend, 27w2d.  This is pregnant reality when you are 5'2" and expecting your second.  No cute "Oh you don't even look pregnant from the back", etc.  Not a ton of room to put this baby so by being so short - I grow out in many directions!  I've noticed a little waddle coming back in my step too!

I am doing well with the pregnancy.  Normal aches & pains but nothing too bad.  I am thankful my blood pressure is still holding steady in a great normal range.  I haven't blown up with swelling like I did with bug.  Possibly why I am decently ok with posting a picture of myself online! lol!  I do know when this pregnancy is over that I won't wish to see another glass of milk or eat any eggs again for a long, long time.  I am working on a high protein diet, ala the Dr. Brewer Pregnancy Diet, in hopes of keeping away the Pre-eclampsia that plagued me with my pregnancy with bug.

There are many theories out there to what causes pre-e.  I am guessing that it's not just one cause or one solution.  This diet seems to be working so far, thankfully.  However, I could also be having a better pregnancy because this baby could be a different gender than our bug.  Many people say they have less complications or an easier pregnancy with one gender versus another.  We are always Team Green - so we won't know until the end.  Also - you have a higher risk of pre-e with a first pregnancy & there is no guarantee that you'll get it again for any following pregnancies, even though you'll technically have a higher risk since you have had it before.  Speaking of high risk, I am labeled as such due to my pre-e with bug, even though things are going great so far.  Therefore, I get an ultrasound at each appt to keep an eye on the baby.  Here is a sweet 4D one from my 25 week appt.  Baby looked great.  Was measuring about 1lb 12ozs & the tech captured our littlest one sucking it's thumb.  It was at this moment that my heart swelled as I realized that we would have another little human that we've created that we love just as much as we love our bug.  My heart feels huge & so full.  So much to be thankful for.

Looking forward to a week of amazing weather.  I am not a Winter person.  Just not a fan of layers & bone chilling wind and all else that comes along.  I like one good snow & then for Winter to be over!  I am so ready for Spring and so thankful for a week that will be so pleasant in the 70's where I can get my bug outside for some fresh air (and wear her out so that bedtime is less of a battle, shew).  Also plan to relax a good amount this week.  The hubs was off on a road trip with his cousin last week to Houston to see ZZ Top at the Houston Rodeo.  Long long week of keeping up with an almost 4 year old without my partner in crime.  Beyond thankful for my parents & my in-laws.  Couldn't & wouldn't of made it through the week without their help.  I am certainly no Super Woman at almost 7 months pregnant!

In closing - I would like to add that I am thankful for the hour+ we got back this morning when our bug slept until 8am!  Thank you DST!  I have always been a fan but after a month of our bug being up b/w 6:45-7:15am - I am even more a fan of the little extra rest I was allotted today :-)