39 Weeks

1 week until the due date...I wonder if I will make it that far! Santiago came right on his due date - what are the odds of two babies arriving on their due date?  I'm hoping this little guy decides to make his appearance sooner rather than later!  I'm ready - I think! I'm nervous but very excited! I can't wait to see his sweet face....

I have been having contractions - Braxton Hicks - every day and today they have been constant all day.  They come and go.  Today they actually hurt some and were lasting longer but they have not increased at all - just slow and steady all day long.  I can feel it in my lower back and lower tummy and the tightness when it contracts is getting stronger.  The little guy moves alot after my belly loosens up as if he is saying "Get me out of here!"  I keep praying that things pick up just because this waiting game is getting harder!  We still have so much to do to prepare but I know it will all get done sooner than later!  The little man's room is not complete yet and I should probably at least pack my hospital bag! ha!

Santiago says he is ready to see "his" baby. He wants to give him one kiss- just one! haha!   He says he is going to help me get diapers and share his toys with the baby and I know he is going to be such a great helper.   I worry about him when I actually go into labor and how he will be when I am in the hospital.  He is such a momma's boy and its going to be hard on both of us to be away from eachother for a couple nights.  He has both sets of grandparents who he adores and although I don't have a definite plan for who will have him when it all does happen, I know he will be in good hands with whomever it is.  It's hard to plan when you don't know what time of day it will be or what everyone else will be doing at the time.  All I know is that everyone is ready to help out in any way they can and Hector and I greatly appreciate it!  This is an exciting time!  It's getting more and more uncomfortable for me and my body but it's all worth it. 

37 & 38 Weeks

 First off, I apologize for the bare belly! This blog is about documenting memories for me and my family so please forgive me for wanting to remember my bare BIG belly!  The good thing about that picture is that you are getting a sneak peak at the baby's new room.  The furniture is not placed appropriately yet but the paint job was complete : )  I really like how it turned out!  I was crazy the day before I took these pictures of myself and painted the baby's room all by myself before we got new carpet.  The above pictures were taken at about 36.5 weeks and then the next pics are from week 37.  Santiago wanted to get in the picture with me so I squatted close to the ground and let him sit in my lap.  He is getting more and more excited about the arrival of his baby brother! 

 At my 36 week doctor visit I learned that I was already 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced.  I couldn't believe it!  When I went to my 37 week visit, I was expecting to have made more progress because of the way I had been feeling leading up to that appointment.  I have been getting pretty swollen in my legs, feet and hands and have been pretty achy all over.  My hips, pelvis, tailbone area has really been hurting and sounds gross but I felt a lot of pressure down there like the baby is just about to fall out of me!  From one day to the next this week, I felt like the baby dropped and my belly looked different and felt different.  When I went to the doctor and he did my exam, I learned I had not made any more progress.  I was exactly the same!  I was really surprised and so was my doctor because I have Braxton Hicks contractions every night and he said that usually makes you progress more.  The good thing is that my blood pressure remains on the normal-low side - it's usually in the 104/64 range and I didn't have protein in my urine like I did at 36 weeks.  I only gained one pound this week also.  That gives me a total of 29-30 pounds so far.  My doctor still thinks I will probably go into labor sooner than my July 22nd due date but he doesn't want me to hold him to that because there just really no way of knowing. Originally he said he thought it would be a good idea to induce me at 39 weeks because Santiago was a 9 pound baby and this one is looking equally as big but he doesn't even think I will need that anymore.  I'm sort of glad about that, I don't really know how I feel about being induced.  It scares me a little.

 So today I am actually 38 weeks pregnant!  I thought I may have been going into labor last night because I had contractions from dinner time (around 6 pm) until I made myself fall asleep around 11ish.  They felt different that the contractions I have been getting off and on because I had lower back pain that was coming in waves right before my tummy tightened up and I was getting cramps as well.  I have an app on my iPad for timing contractions and Hector made me start using it.  I was averaging about 8 contractions in an hour.  They must have tapered off around when I made myself try to go to sleep.  I was very tired and when I put a heat pack on my lower back it made me relax more and I was able to go to sleep. 

 Today I was so exhausted that I had to call my loving in-laws to take care of Santiago for me so I could just rest.  I took an hour and half nap and then went and got my haircut.  When I was finished with my haircut, Santi was napping so I was able to come home and put my feet up and just watch TV.  It sure is different being pregnant the second time around.  It's exhausting but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I feel very blessed to be having a second baby - it's just different when so much of you time and energy goes toward your first baby!  I am counting my blessings to not be working up until the last day like I did with Santiago.  I went into labor while teaching first grade with him and I'm very thankful to be home for the summer at the end of this pregnancy! 


I will go to my 38 week appointment on Monday morning.  My parents are coming to town on Sunday and it will be really nice to have them here to help out as well.  Hector and I are so blessed to have such wonderful family members to spoil us and our children!  We love you all! 
 

33 Weeks

During week 33, I had to instruct three workshops with my friend and fellow reading specialist Krystle.  Several people there asked me if I was having twins, if I was due tomorrow, and other questions like that came up.  It wasn't the first time I was asked if I was having twins either! A cute elderly couple in Kroger asked me as well the other day.  I know I am big but I don't think I am that big!  I was pretty worn out after my workshops and Krystle and I were both thankful when they were over.  They went really well though : )

I have been getting a lot more tired lately.  I need naps during the day and luckily since I am off for the summer I am able to take naps and go to bed early as well.  Even though I am really tired I don't really sleep well anymore.  Between my aches and pains and inability to get comfortable with a big baby jabbing me everywhere plus frequent bathroom stops, its just really hard to sleep.  Santiago has been a wonderful sleeper lately taking a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon and that really gives me a chance to catch up.  At least I am getting a little down time.  My back hurts a lot -  especially in the evenings and when I have to sit on hard surfaces.  My hips are pretty sore when I wake up in the mornings and its definitely hard to get out of the bed.  I have to literally roll out!  Hector thinks it is quite funny the way I have to move around now.  The baby moves around a lot still and you can see my belly move with him.  The heat is pretty intense lately and my hands and feet are beginning to swell a bit.  Some days I can't wear my wedding ring because it is cutting into my finger. 

I know I shouldn't be picking up my 35 pound two year old son but every once in awhile I still do.  How can I resist my cute Santi?!? 

Overall I am doing well.  I am looking forward to meeting our new baby boy.  I have lots to do in the upcoming weeks - we need to get his room ready, start getting out all the baby stuff from Santi, and pick out a name! 

30 Weeks

Tomorrow I will be 31 weeks pregnant! Almost 8 months - holy moly! Hector took these pictures of me last Monday when I had my 30 week doctor appointment and ultrasound. I was 30 weeks and 3 days.

I feel really big and people are beginning to tell me more and more that I have been really "popping" out lately.  My body feels it!  I have gained 21 pounds total and I feel like I am carrying this baby a little lower than I carried Santiago at this time.  I feel the pressure in my hips, tailbone and back all the time.  My blood pressure is always on the normal-low side when I go in and the baby's heartrate tends to stay in the 140s.  Monday it was 146.  Feeling how the baby moves inside and seeing how my body changes all the time really makes me understand the definition of the word miracle.  I truly think it is a miracle that a woman can grow a baby inside.  AMAZING!
 
Santiago is getting really excited about having a baby brother and he wants to hug and kiss my belly all the time.  When you ask him what the baby's name is or what it should be - he always replies "Baby Easton" or "Easty Ray"  When I tell him that Easton Ray is his cousin's name and his mommy is Aunt Alli, then he says "two Easty Rays."  It's really quite funny!  At this time we are still undecided on a name for our new baby boy.  Soon enough we should figure it out! 
 
At the ultrasound appointment, the baby did not cooperate very well.  He didn't want to show us his face or his boy parts.  We wanted a second confirmation even though the 20 week ultrasound was pretty convincing that this baby is a boy.  The baby is already head down but the doctor said there is still room for him to flip around although he didn't think the baby would be turning if he was already down at this time.  His head pretty much sits toward my left hip area or on my bladder! I constantly feel jabs in my left hip and in my right ribs.  It was cool to see that it has been his hands or elbows jabbing me down low and his feet or knees jabbing me along my ribs or under my ribs.  He is facing toward my back instead of my belly and that is why we couldn't get a good frontal shot.  We could already see that he has a head full of hair though!   I can rub his little back along my right side quite often because he pokes his whole body out.  The ultrasound pics that we got on CD did not turn out too exciting at all, but we did learn that we already have a big boy!  He is one ounce bigger than Santiago was at 30 weeks and the ultrasound predicted that he will come in weighing anywhere from 8 lbs 8 oz to 10 lbs.  I do not have gestational diabetes so big babies must be in our genes.  Santiago weighed 9'2 and Dr. W thinks this baby will be very similar if not bigger in size.  He said that I may need to be induced a week early.  My due date is July 22nd so if we decide to induce as time gets closer, I may have a new little boy in my life around July 15th.  We can't wait!!  At this point in time I would rather let nature run her course and go in labor on my own, but if the Dr. thinks we should induce for sure later on, I will most likely go with his expertise and do it.  He says with second deliveries, your body will most likely remember what to do and won't fight it.  I don't want to go through active labor, even with an epidural, and then end up having a c-section.  So we will just have to wait and see what happens!!  So here's to the next 8-9 weeks of pregnancy and to the arrival of a very special little boy!  He has many excited family members waiting to meet him and love him and we are truly blessed with our growing family!

Doctor Updates

Yesterday I went to my OB for a regular checkup and the baby is doing great.  Like I said before, I am finally feeling good and it seems as if I am in total clear of the complications I began this pregnancy with.  The baby seems to be in constant motion and my bladder definitely is aware that there is a living being inside me! haha!  I absolutely LOVE feeling him move around inside me and I will never take that for granted.  I count my blessings that I am able to experience this miracle!  The baby's heartrate was 136 and I have gained 5 more pounds.  All great news.    We had a little unexpected discussion at yesterday's appointment about the size of the baby at birth.  The nurse brought up that she didn't realize that my first baby, Santiago, was 9 pounds 2 ounces.  So she and the doctor told me that usually second babies are bigger and as we get closer to my due date we may talk about induction.  I told them that I really preferred not to be induced simply because I don't want to try to make the baby come before he is ready and he said the earliest we could consider would be at 39 weeks and since I've already had one baby that my body would be more willing to cooperate.  I told him that we would cross that bridge later on when we needed to and asked if I could possibly have an extra ultrasound closer to my due date to help determine the size of the baby before making any big decisions.  I'm only scheduled for one more u/s at 30 weeks and that's still a ways off from the birth day- possibly 10 more weeks - and that would allow for plenty of growth to take place.  We will just see later.  As of now, I'm not worried.  I'll take another healthy BIG baby if that is what is meant to be!  I'll just deal with the recovery later! OUCH!

My OB is located in the same building as the orthopedic surgeon that we took Santiago to a few weeks ago so I decided to stop by and ask if they had the results of his bone scan.  I had no idea that they would invite me back to actually speak with the doctor. I just expected to leave a message with the nurse and wait to be called with the results. I got really lucky.  The doctor graciously read the scan while I was there and then reported to me that the scan was completely normal.  GREAT news! I was so relieved to hear that.  So that means that Santiago does not have any serious bone disease or infection but still does not explain why he limps off and on.  The doc still believes that most likely it is a transient synovitis which is a virus that comes and goes and causes inflammation in the body.  He things most likely the limp is occurring in Santiago's left hip or knee.  He recommended us to watch him for another 2-3 weeks to see how he does and if he continues to limp we will go back to see him one more time.  The next step after that would be to see a pediatric rheumatologist.  He doesn't think we are going to have to go that route so I hope we don't.  So all in all - we got great news about Santiago and I am going to let my mind rest and not worry about his limp.  Ruling out bone diseases sure is a relief!  Thanks to everyone for always showing interest in his well being and your prayers for our health.  We really appreciate it.

22 Weeks

Everyone lately has been saying how much my baby bump has grown and how big I am getting etc and I guess it's true! No more confusion of if I'm just getting fat or if I'm acutally pregnant.  And no I am not hiding a ball under my dress!  ha : )  I will be 23 weeks on Friday and I can finally say that I am feeling good!  The last few weeks have been fun because I can feel the little man moving around alot more inside and kicking.  Hector has gotten to feel him too and I am just waiting for the perfect time that Santi can touch my belly and feel his little brother as well.  This pregnancy has been a little rough with the complications I began with, then morning sickness and weight loss, then strep throat and two major sinus infections.  I don't want to jinx myself but I think I am finally healthy and I definitely hope to stay this way!  The best part of being pregnant is feeling the life inside of you grow and change.  Lately my hips have been a little sore and my feet are starting to swell a bit.  I feel like my body already knows what to do with baby #2 and things are getting a little looser and achier already.  The good news is I am not having the back pain I had with Santiago's pregnancy (yet) I hurt badly from week 20-40 with him and I am counting my blessings that my back is not hurting like that now at almost 23 weeks.  I'm sure it will come but it's all worth it!  Tomorrow I go to my OB for a check up.  We'll see if I have managed to gain more weight.  He was a little concerned that I have only gained 4 pounds as of my 5 month appointment but he said I still had plenty of time to gain more.  As long as my little man grows healthy and strong, I'm not worried about my weight gain.  So far so good! Thank God for this little miracle!

Our Growing Blessing

 Today Hector and I went for an ultrasound at my doctor's office.  I am almost 20 weeks pregnant (19 weeks 3 days to be exact) with our second blessing and this time around we wanted to find out the gender of our new precious little one.  We didn't know Santiago was a boy until the day he was born and it was the greatest surprise of my life.  Today was just as exciting waiting to find out!  We had to wait almost two hours for our ultrasound because the doctor's office was so crowded when we got there.  There were two other moms ahead of me for ultrasound so after all the regular doctor visit stuff, we were finally taken back.  The ultrasound tech gave us 40 images of our new son on a CD to take home.  Yes, that's right...we are having another BOY! 

He looks like he already has big feet and long fingers and it was truly amazing to see this tiny baby wiggling and moving inside of me and to feel it at the same time.  He was breech during the ultrasound so it made it a little hard to see his jewels but he finally revealed himself and let us know he is a BOY!  Santiago is going to have a best friend to grow up with and we know he is going to be the best big brother this new baby could ask for! He weighs around 12 ounces right now and has a heartbeat of 134 on ultrasound.  The doppler read a heartrate of 145 bpm about 30 minutes before the u/s.  He seems to be doing great in there in spite of all the complications at the beginning and I pray he continues! We can't wait to meet him in about 20 more weeks!  I am officially outnumbered in this Ornelas household but I feel blessed to have such wonderful boys in my life : )

13 weeks

Baby #2 top picture

Baby #2 is on the way!! Hector and I couldn't be happier and Santiago is excited as well.  We started my pregnancy pictures with Santiago's pregnancy much earlier at 8 weeks, but I missed that mark with this baby because I was having a lot of complications early on.  I'm ready to start posting my belly pics....So now starts the beginning of documenting how HUGE I will get with this little one growing inside.    

I'm a little more than 13 weeks - 13 weeks 4 days to be exact and so far things seem to be moving pretty slowly.  During my 5th week, I took two trips to the ER and was diagnosed with a subchorionic hemmorhage (SCH) at 5 weeks 5 days.  I had a lot of cramping and bleeding off and on until I was about 11 weeks along.  During weeks 6-10 I had a lot of morning sickness, mostly nausea and then lots of vomiting during weeks 8 and 9.  I didn't enjoy feeling sick but I knew it was a good sign - being pregnant is the cause and to me this horrible feelings of sickness meant my baby was still alive and growing.  I carried the diagnosis of threatened miscarriage and SCH until a little before my 12 week mark when I went to the doctor for my 3 month checkup.  They did an ultrasound and found a very wiggly baby and a resolved hemmorhage.  I was so excited and finally felt like I could officially tell people I was expecting and stop walking on the egg shells being scared I was going to lose my baby.  I started showing pretty early - at 7 or 8 weeks - and although I have been thinking I am much bigger this time around at 13 weeks, comparing the pictures it seems like I am about the same.

We didn't find out the gender the first time around with Santiago, but this time we will be finding out.  I would love to have the surprise again, but I am outnumbered by Hector and many other family members.  It will be fun to plan for a little girl or boy this time around and I will just let the size of my baby be the biggest surprise! Santi was 9 pounds 2 ounces....I hope this one isn't bigger!

So stay tuned as our Odyssey continues and our family grows!