A Pregnancy Update

I have completely neglected my blog lately. I think about things to write about on the blog all the time, but I haven't been taking the time to actually sit down and do it . . . pretty much because baby Jacob is kicking my butt (and my bladder and my ribs).

I have done the morning sickness thing and the kidney stone thing, but this last month of my pregnancy has been incredibly tiring and painful, and I have eight more weeks to go! I am only complaining a little bit here, because aside from feeling yucky, I am incredibly blessed and privileged to be carrying our baby. He just hurts me right now:) I can take it . . . I just wasn't ready for it.

The top of my stomach just hurts. I mean hurts in terms of it feels numb, it feels like the muscles are stretching apart and are so tight they're about to break. Sleeping doesn't go so well because I can't lay on my back, and laying on either side just hurts because the muscles are so sore. I have a few theories on why this is. First, this is my third baby and my muscles just aren't as strong as they were with the girls. Second, he is sitting low and out, which is not how I carried the girls. Lastly, my doctor says that the muscles just get torn apart at the top--which was oh so encouraging to me.

So, I went out and bought one of those maternity belts. I didn't want to and thought I could tough it out, but ended up in Babies R Us almost in tears because I hurt so much and thought they didn't have my size. I'm sure the lady at the checkout just loved me, but she's got to be used to crazy pregnant ladies, right? So the belt is helping, and I am thankful for that.

So life is a little slower around here--well, life isn't slower, but I am. I still have two kids and a husband to take care of, laundry to do, meals to make, stuff to shop for, and a house to clean. I have kids who have activities and playdates and birthday parties. Thankfully, Nate is a super cleaner and helps out immensely around the house, but there's still lots to do. So I am slow, and by the end of the day I am exhausted and cannot even think about doing much else extra.

Overall, I am fine--just really, really uncomfortable. But the baby is doing great. I am gaining the appropriate amount of weight and he is measuring right on. He is moving around a lot and everything looks good. So there's lots to be thankful for . . . and I am. I just need to take lots of breaks during the day, which isn't so bad after all!