Rest, rest, rest....

...and then more rest!  As of  Monday, May 9, 2011, I have been placed on "strict" bed rest to prevent a pregnancy related hypertension called, Preeclampsia.  The symptoms I had were protein in urine, elevated uric acid levels and a sudden (non-diet) related significant weight gain.  Woooo Hooooo!!!!  My life now consists of laying vertically about 23.5 hrs each day, primarily on my left side as we try to prevent any changes in my blood pressure.  I am allowed to get up to use the restroom and to take 1 shower per day.  And let me please tell you...a trip to the shower has NEVER been so exciting nor felt sooooooo good!  I find myself in there using every last drop of hot water until I am forced to go back to bed.  Now, after dramatically and woefully describing my life...

Let me just say, with a mom that does this (every meal of the day):

(and this is just course 1 of dinner)


and a husband that does this, so that I don't loose my mind watching soap operas all day:

It's totally doable!

Quite honestly, this week has been full of incredible blessings - My mother had been planning for weeks to come down this Wednesday, to deliver some bookcases that she was getting rid of (just as I was looking for some).  WHAT GREAT TIMING???  That was just about the time I was beginning to think that this bed rest thing wasn't going to be so cool and my man was trying to figure out if and how to change his plans to be out of town for a prior commitment on Sunday.  Problem solved...mom stayed, so if I decide to pop, she can take me in!  The three of us have had "dinner parties" in here each night with them bringing chairs and tv trays into our room so that I don't have to eat alone.  As if that wasn't enough, my man comes and hangs out with me whenever he can.  This is quite a busy time for him, with long days already, and my barn chores on top of his workload. See what I mean...totally and completely blessed!  So, as I get used to being spoiled and having a personal assistant that runs my errands, cooks and cleans for me....mom is having fun decorating our house (talk about a win-win for me!).  These are the bookshelves that she brought down and "organized".

Gage's Room

Our Room

At times, I may think I want to complain, but you know what....I've got it pretty good!!!

Sneak Peek...

Okay, I wanted to give you all a sneak peak at Gage's nursery!
 
Mom is coming down next week to bring me some book shelves, and I have a few small things left to hang on the walls, but you can get the idea.  Mom did an amazing job on the bedding and the curtains!!!  AND...we found the incredible rug (that matches perfectly) at Ross for $29.99!!!!  

*Not sure how to format these to view side-by-side*

 I absolutely love the crib (which will turn into a toddler bed and then a full sized bed) that Dad let us pick out, but gave it as a gift to us.  It was sooooo incredibly easy to put together....only took Mom & I about an hour and a half. 









Here are a few pictures of Lee unpacking it...and then the final product.  First picture is Grumpy Lee, saying it's too late to do this....

Second picture, is happy Lee, pointing to the sign above him talking about a having a happy home! 

Skip to: Final Product

 

This is a print that I found and fell in LOVE with, bought online and had it framed with credit I had at Hobby Lobby!  The title is:  Nap Time.

We have a chair coming from Lee's parents, that will go in our room...because, we have run out of room in his room!  Papa Gare & Nana Mare graciously drove wwwwaaaaaaayyyyy out of their way on a trip to Dallas to pick it up for us (picture is from the people we purchased the chair from). We found it on Craigslist for less than 1/2 of what it was in the store!  Both the chair and the ottoman glide!

There is also a picture that Lee's parents gave us of Lee when he was younger and a place for a picture of Gage, it is going on the top of the book case (didn't get a shot of this...will include it with final pictures).

We officially have our bags packed, however, I think there are still a few more things to go in here

 oh...and, we may need a couple more pillows...

and, look at all this stuff you gotta have to take a kid home!

Sooo....that's about it for now, folks!  We will have some more pictures and updates soon!

I got dressed today

 
The chick on the left, is how I used to feel (minus the kid) and the chick on the right is what I resembled on this day...actually not nearly that cute!   But, I did have that look on my face, and I may or may not have been close to shedding some tears.  I know this may not sound like a monumental feat...but, it is...and it was.  On any other given day or week...this still might not be all that great of an accomplishment.  I mean, I live 35 miles from town, work from home and don't leave the house very often....so, quite honestly I don't get myself all "fixed up" that often, unless I have somewhere to go.

This particular morning, I did.  It was quite exciting, in fact.  I was asked to judge the local county livestock show horse show.  The one thing that makes this story interesting and quite the feat, was that I was 6 months pregnant and was going to have to wear some of my pre-pregnancy jeans as my professional attire for the day.  Ha ha.  Yes, the joke is on me!  As luck would have it, the morning that I woke to get ready to go and judge, it was a mere 20 degrees outside with wind gusts up to 40 mph.  Therefore, not only was I going to be wearing clothes made for a woman with a normal body-type, but I was going to have to wear long johns under them because we were going to be in a barn! 

After digging through my closet of all my starched jeans, I settled on a pair of "fat jeans" that I had that were pressed and ready-to-go.  Ha ha...I can hear the laughing now.  You know how hard it can be to get into heavily starched jeans on any regular day??  Well, try it after finding just the right pair of underwear that you think won't ride up all day, squeezing into size s/m long johns, layering on the cotton and wool socks AND the ever so valuable maternity tank top that would cover the fact that I was unable to zip or button my jeans.  So, pry I did...for 15 minutes.  I also broke a sweat, I tell you!  After finally getting the starched legs of the jeans opened and getting my growing-by-the-minute body into them, I had to go and stand on my porch in the gusting 20 degree winds to regain my normal body temperature.  Too bad that wasn't the last layer I had to put on!  I was able to find a white button down shirt to wear with a sweater over it.  I checked myself out in the mirrror, and not too bad.  As soon as I get all my layers on and in place and feel like I am about ready to walk out the door, I realize I have to put my boots on.  Ha ha...this is where it got really funny!  A 6 month pregnant gal, in heavily starched pre-maternity jeans with long johns and about 4 other layers, now had to bend over and place her feet in boots and end up with the jeans over the top.  Holy cow!  I think I almost fell off the bed half a dozen times before I accomplished the task and then had to go stand outside again to cool off.

You know what else?  As luck would have it, as soon as I got it all on, I realized I had to pee!  Whew...you know what?  I am sure glad I don't have to go to town every day.  I don't think I would make it!