36 Weeks!

36 weeks pregnant with Grant

36 weeks pregnant with baby boy #2

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Can you hear that deep breath that I just took?  I finally made it to my final milestone- 36 weeks!  Technically I am not full term until next week, but if you go with the every 4 weeks milestones, I made it!  I have been seeing my OB every week for a couple weeks now and so far everything looks good.  My blood pressure is staying consistently low and so far I have had absolutely no swelling.  It is crazy to think that it was this week two years ago that I went into the hospital to get tested for preeclampsia and I left with my Grant Weston! 

Unfortunately, I have been having a lot more anxiety lately.  I had a nightmare that this baby was stillborn and ever since then, I am scared out of my mind that something awful is going to happen.   So, needless to say, I am more than ready to have this baby any day.  I am pretty sure unless you have been in a similar situation, you just don't get the intense feeling of just wanting the baby out so that it is not just your sole responsibility anymore.  I have had so many people tell me that I am crazy for wanting the chaos of two little boys so soon, but please just bring me the chaos already. I will gladly take it on if it means this baby is healthy and breathing and in my arms and I can switch my worrying to things like is he eating, sleeping, and pooping enough! 

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like anything spectacular is going to happen anytime soon in the labor department so I will try to take deep breaths and wait patiently- much easier said than done!  Luckily I am  busy planning a choo choo birthday party for an amazing little boy so that is keeping my mind occupied at least a few hours a day!

I had great plans to post a belly pic but could not get a good one with the timer so I will have to wait until J gets home tonight to post it so you will just have to come back :)

September Recipe

Yes that is right, I am actually posting a recipe in the same month I made it! Amazing!  My dad was here for a week so it gave me a perfect opportunity to try out a few new recipes.  Again, I decided to take advantage of the summer harvest of peppers and tomatoes and made this delicious vegetarian meal.  I would recommend this for anyone- vegetarian or not.  The quinoa makes it hearty enough that you really don't need meat.  However if you have to cook with meat, I am sure you could add sausage or ground beef and it would still be delish.  I just got this recipe right off the back of the quinoa box which can be found in the rice aisle at the grocery store.


Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 4 large green peppers (or 6 medium)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes, coarsely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 (12 ounce) jar mexican salsa
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cook quinoa as per packet.
3. Steam peppers until soft but not limp.
4. In a large skillet, saute the onion and mushrooms in butter.
5. Add the diced tomatoes (reserving the juice).
6. Add the crushed garlic and salsa.
7. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
8. Add the sherry and simmer 10 more minutes.
9. Fold in quinoa.
10. Place peppers in baking dish and fill with quinoa mixture (half the mixture will be used up).
11. Thin remainder with reserved juice and pour around peppers.
12. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over peppers and bake in 325 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

The only thing I changed was that I omitted the sherry because I didn't have any and didn't want to buy a whole bottle for just 2 T!  It tasted fine without it.

Let me know if you try this one.

34 Weeks

We had our 34 week ultrasound yesterday to check growth and fluid levels in case I develop preeclampsia and need to be induced early.  Everything looked fine and baby boy measured in around 4 pounds- right where he needs to be.  It was so exciting to get another peek at this little guy.  And for all you that thought there was a possibility this was a girl, it was definitely confirmed that this is a BOY (see pics below)! 

I can finally say that as I lay there watching the screen, I got excited.  That is a lot for me.  I always try to not get too excited, just in case.  It felt good to feel normal for once and be able to enjoy this opportunity to see our baby boy.

Praising God for a healthy baby!

August Recipe

Yes, I know it is September!  However, I am a little behind in my recipe posts so I am doing a little catch up.  In July I tried a new recipe for a delicious looking zucchini casserole from All Recipes.  It was anything but delicious and unfortunately it was the only new recipe I tried, so no recipe for July!  In August, we had an abundance of tomatoes in our garden so I tried a bruschetta recipe that a friend gave me.  It was delicious and a great way to take advantage of all those ripe tomatoes.

8 plum tomatoes seeded and diced
2 Tbls minced garlic
1/2 c. Coarsely chopped fresh basil
1/4 c. Coarsely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp tarragon (you can use 1 tsp fresh if u want)
1 Tbsp. Balsamic vinagar
1/2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional) 

Serve with toasted crostini and if you are adventurous (and can eat goat cheese at the moment), spread some on the crostini before you add the bruschetta.  YUM!

simple things....

Sometimes I am just taken back for a moment by the simplest things in life.  I think about this stuff often so I am sure I have said it on here once or twice before, but when you have experienced infertility and infant loss you have a greater understanding and appreciation for the simple things in life.  This morning we attended the Labor Day Truck Parade.  It is nothing more than  25+ semi trucks driving through our downtown honking their horns. But, sitting there watching Grant's face light up when he saw the trucks and heard their cool, loud horns just brought tears to my eyes.  I realize the tears were probably pregnancy hormone induced, but I just took a moment to be thankful for the simple things like the amazement and wonder of a little boy waving to a bunch of trucks driving by.  I hope that all of you are enjoying your Labor Day and that you each take a minute to be thankful for the simple things in life that so many people out there are longing for right now.

love that look of excitement for all the trucks!