Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Baby saigh #3 pregnancy: 36 weeks.

No make-up, 36-week selfie.
I can sum up my current state in this pregnancy, in just one word: Uncomfortable. To be honest, as I enter into my 37th week of pregnancy, I'd even go as far as saying that this pregnancy has become painful. For the last month, I feel like I've been carrying this baby really low. However, at my last two appointments, my OB did a vaginal exam to confirm that Baby Saigh #3 is NOT engaged in my pelvis, but his or her head IS down. I could have sworn that the baby's head was hanging out of my crotch.

My last appointment was at 35 weeks, and at that point I was uncomfortable. Now, sh*t is getting painful.

If I'm on my feet for too long, I feel stabbing pains in my nether-regions, and I literally need to stop what I'm doing to catch my breath. I'm having irregular contractions all the time... The kind that make me stop what I'm doing so I can breathe through them. My belly gets crazy hard and I can see the baby's amazing little body pushing out of my belly. If this was my first pregnancy, I would assume these symptoms are actual labor. It becomes so tough during the week when I'm chasing 2-year-old Jimmy around by myself, while also carting the 6-year-old around to her activities. I live for the weekends and after 5:30 p.m. on the weekdays, when Papa Saigh is around to help out. I normally bathe our kids daily (hair is only washed once a week), but lately it's gotten too difficult to bathe both kids and get them ready for bed by myself. So, we're averaging like 3 baths a week.

Whateves.

Nighttime is a joke, as I literally wake up every 20 minutes to pee. My acid-reflux is also horrible at night, making it almost impossible to even come close to getting a decent night sleep. I often have to get up to puke in the middle of the night, and I'm even vomiting in my sleep and then inhaling it, to the point of choking.

I know. It's absolutely disgusting.

I experienced this when I was pregnant with Jimmy too, and it happens no matter how much, or little, I eat or drink before I go to bed. Since I'm running on very little sleep at night, I'm taking advantage of Jimmy's naptime most afternoons, sneaking in an hour-long nap of my own. When I look at my profile in the mirror, I can see that the baby/my belly has dropped (please tell me you see this too!), and I'm feeling an incredible amount of pressure in my pelvis. I guess we'll see what my doctor says at my 37-week check-up on Thursday!

While this pregnancy has become painful and uncomfortable, I am beyond excited to hold this little human in my arms, and welcome him or her into our family. Linna asks almost every day when the baby is coming, and Jimmy is becoming familiar with all the baby stuff in the house (MamaRoo, bassinet, etc.). My belly button has flattened and popped out in the last couple days, and Linna loves to feel how squishy it is. The first time she saw it was hilarious, and she was totally confused as to how my belly button looks the way it does. The baby's stuff is all in the nursery where Jimmy is currently sleeping, and the plan is to keep Jimmy in there and in his crib, until the baby is ready to transfer into the crib. Then, Linna and Jimmy will bunk together in Linna's current bedroom. That should be an interesting transition, which we've started, by putting all of Jimmy's clothes, etc. in that room. Thanks, Neat Method!

We have a few boy names and girl names that we like, but we haven't committed to anything quite yet. We're closer to agreeing on our girl name. Boy names are tough! I still have my money on my water breaking and me going into labor, on March 10th. With my gestational diabetes, my OB will induce me at 39 weeks, which is March 15th. Speaking of gestational diabetes, I met with my endocrinologist and dietician a couple weeks ago, and I no longer need those appointments.

Hooray!

I've been keeping my sugar numbers in the normal range, so they'll just continue to check me at my regular OB appointments. The baby is measuring right on schedule too, so my OB isn't concerned about the baby getting too big... Yet.

We still don't have a set plan for what happens when I go into labor. We have a list of family and friends that we can call to help out with the kids, but my mom is currently in Florida through the beginning of April, with my dad heading there next week. It all just depends on what day and time I go into labor. Again, it should be interesting!

We'll see what they say on Thursday at my 37-week check-up. We can't wait to meet you, Baby Saigh #3!bathe our kids daily (hair is only washed once a week), but lately it's gotten too difficult to bathe both kids and get them ready for bed by myself. So, we're averaging like 3 baths a week.

Nighttime is a joke, as I literally wake up every 20 minutes to pee. My acid-reflux is also horrible at night, making it almost impossible to even come close to getting a decent night sleep. I often have to get up to puke in the middle of the night, and I'm even vomiting in my sleep and then inhaling it to the point of choking.

I know. It's absolutely disgusting.

I experienced this when I was pregnant with Jimmy too, and it happens no matter how much or little I eat or drink before I go to bed. Since I'm running on very little sleep at night, I'm taking advantage of Jimmy's naptime most afternoons, sneaking in an hour-long nap of my own. When I look at my profile in the mirror, I can see that the baby/my belly has dropped, and I'm feeling an incredible amount of pressure in my pelvis. I guess we'll see what my doctor says at my 37-week check-up on Thursday!

While this pregnancy has become painful and uncomfortable, I am beyond excited to hold this little human in my arms, and welcome him or her into our family. Linna asks almost every day when the baby is coming, and Jimmy is becoming familiar with all the baby stuff in the house (MamaRoo, bassinet, etc.). My belly button has flattened and popped out in the last couple days, and Linna loves to feel how squishy it is. The first time she saw it was hilarious, and she was totally confused as to how my belly button looks the way it does. The baby's stuff is all in the nursery where Jimmy is currently sleeping, and the plan is to keep him in there and in his crib, until the baby is ready to transfer into the crib. Then, Linna and Jimmy will bunk together in Linna's current bedroom. That should be an interesting transition, which we've started by putting all of Jimmy's clothes, etc. in that room already. Thanks, Neat Method!

We have a few boy names and girl names that we like, but we haven't committed to anything quite yet. We're closer to agreeing on our girl name. Boy names are tough! I still have my money on my water breaking and me going into labor, on March 10th. With my gestational diabetes, my OB will induce me at 39 weeks, which is March 15th. Speaking of gestational diabetes, I met with my endocrinologist and dietician a couple weeks ago, and I no longer need those appointments. I've been keeping my sugar numbers in the normal range, so they'll just continue to check me at my regular OB appointments. The baby is measuring right on schedule too, so my OB isn't concerned about the baby getting too big... Yet.

We still don't have a set plan for what happens when I go into labor. We have a list of family and friends that we can call to help out with the kids, but my mom is currently in Florida through the beginning of April, with my dad heading there next week. It all just depends on what day and time I go into labor. Again, it should be interesting!

We'll see what they say on Thursday at my 37-week check-up. We can't wait to meet you, Baby Saigh #3!

Monday, February 26, 2018

Instant pot meal: Easy fried rice.

This is one of the easiest meals I make in our Instant Pot, and it's a great way for the kids to get a serving of veggies (the 6-year-old loves this, but we're still trying to convince the 2-year-old to try it)! I use whatever frozen veggies I have in my house, as well as left-over meat (chicken or pork), and completely eye-ball this recipe. The best part is that it's cooked all in one pot and takes about 15 minutes (maybe 20) from start to finish. Let me know what you think!


Ingredients/Instructions:

2 cups dry basmati rice
2 cups chicken broth (or water)
Pressure cook on high for 4 mins
Manually vent immediately when finished
Remove rice from pot
Turn Instant Pot on saute
Add oil, veggies + salt to pot
Saute for approx. 5 minutes
Add green onions, salt + cooked rice
Stir
Add 3 eggs and saute for approx. 2 mins.
Add soy sauce to taste
Add cooked meat (optional)
Enjoy!

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Christmas 2017.

The holidays are by far my favorite time of year. This year, we spent Christmas in Omaha, NE and Marshalltown, IA, as well as celebrating with my parents and siblings in the Twin Cities, and Pap Saigh’s parents in Mankato, MN. It was so wonderful being with family, especially the little cousins. We may have been a little tired from all the traveling (ok, a LOT tired), but it was worth it to be with family.