Happy Birthday to my 4 year old

today's the day

Hopefully by the time you are reading this, our little one will be here or close to being here.
Many have asked about his name, especially the spelling.
Read - Ben's dad's middle name, Grandmother's maiden name.  His lineage has been traced back to a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Allen - my dad's middle name.

Please be praying for us for the next few days.  I promise to post pics as soon as Motherly possible.

belly shots

The countdown is on...I will either go into labor this week or he will be induced on Friday morning at 5

another update

As I told you, I have been feeling pretty crummy for several days, more than just pregnancy crummy.  On Sunday, that developed into something else and then Tuesday that turned into something else and yesterday that turned into spending the morning in a surgeon's office.  I am feeling much better this morning, but I am on some great meds.  I am so thankful for a believing doctor and now a great surgeon and an amazing husband.  Please continue to lift us up in prayers, but especially that baby stays happy, healthy and comfortable for a few more days while I heal.

Green Eggs and Ham Baby Shower

 My cousin, Anna and friend, Natalie hosted a sweet brunch for me and our little boy this past weekend. The theme - Green Eggs and Ham. It was a great morning with friends and family. He got some great things, just one thing more to mark off my list before he comes.

baby #3 countdown

I have not been feeling real hot the past few mornings.  Breakfast has been a struggle to get down, can usually do cereal, not good going to a dr appt. 
At my appointment Friday, found out I have begun to dilate. I am sure that means something, but with the girls not so much, so will get excited when I start progressing.  He also had some concerns about how easily he could "feel" the baby.  He put me on the sonogram machine and discovered I was leaking amniotic fluid.  Then, I got on the stress test, which this baby does not like at all.  He kicked, squirmed, and had a good ole party the entire time I got to lay peacefully in a big comfy recliner; no sleep b/c of the Zumba class occuring in my uterus.  After the test, he sent me across the street to the fetal medicine office, so they could "squeeze" me in for a more formal sonogram.  Remember, upset stomach and 2 bites of toast, now noon, starving Mama, one hour wait to be seen.  Baby will not move, will not practice breathe, just sleeps.  They discover I am not "leaking" fluid, but they need to see him practice breathe.  Nope, not for 45 minutes.  We did get to see that he is still a boy, and he has a head full of hair.  Left the office and the stinker gets the hiccups for like 15 minutes.  So, he is a Neal/Richards and is already doing things on his own time.  He is head down and weighs 6 lbs 4oz.  I am excited to see his head full of hair.

baby #3 update

I am now going to the doctor every Friday.  I have to have a stress test every week now (my age) and he has started "measuring" me, but no news to report there.  I have found out that I am anemic, no surprise known that for 5 years and I have a potassium, calcium and magnesium deficiency, thus the Gatorade cravings.  I have had very bad charlie horses for the past two weeks and woken up with cricks in my neck and a sharp piercing pain in my abdomen, which is the result of the deficiencies.  I have not gained weight in 3 months, and my belly is now measuring 31 weeks, so he is growing.
I started having contractions last weekend, but nothing consistent and then this weekend they stopped.  Today I have had a handful, probably b/c I worked out this morning and then the girls and I walked/rode bikes to the mail boxes.  I slept really well last night and being able to get an extra hour of sleep was awesome this morning.  It made a huge difference in my day.
I discovered this weekend I do not need much, just a masseuse, housekeeper, personal chef, nanny, shopper, and homeschool teacher for my girls over the next few weeks.  I was very thankful my mom was here yesterday b/c she entertained the girls, made us a pot of chicken and spaghetti and cleaned my kitchen.  

baby bedding

We have the baby bed ready, car seat figured out and now a camera. Just waiting for the baby.

3rd trimester update

Not sure when I will have any more pics to post, so thought I would update you on me... I do not do pregnancy well, thus the very minimal updates on what's going on with me.  I am 4'10", so being 25-30 pounds heavier and carrying it all in my midsection does not equate happy thoughts or happy blogposts.

• I am 6 weeks, 3 days away from my due date, and I am still working.  I teach class two days a week and I consult four days a week. 
• I have put on 25 pounds and it is all in my middle area, chest to hips, that is all the details on that one.
• I have not slept through the night in weeks, multiple potty trips and the inability to fall back asleep have made the nights my least fave part of the day.
• I crave chocolate, anything chocolate.
• My back and hips are the worst.  I know he has not dropped yet, but my hips and my lower back are taking a beating.
• There is a large pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs waiting to be carried up each night b/c I hate climbing the stairs.
• He has hiccups 5-6 times a day, mainly at night.  Do infants have hiccups that often I cannot remember?
• I go to the dr. every other Friday now.
• I am measuring 28 weeks, but doc says that it is just a primitive tool they use, so why use it?
• Ben and the girls are awesome.  I know the girls are starting to think this will never end, but they are getting better about me having to rest more often and not being able to pick them up.

it's a...

todays' the day

We are getting ready to head out the door.

Predictions?
Bella - girl
Landry - boy
Mommy - boy
Daddy - boy

Wait is almost over.  What do you think?

changing our blog name

I never thought the day would come when I would have to change the name of our blog.  Well, I never thought that it would have to be done b/c we were expanding our family in this way, but surprise, and yes it is a surprise to us all, but we will be Richards Family Five this December. 

I am sorry some of you are finding out via blog, but it has not been something I have wanted to talk about.  I have had a hard time coming to reality that I will be giving birth at the age of 36.  I had big plans for this year and being nauseous, a growing belly and mood swings were not in my plan.  I can honestly say it was not until experiencing this moment yesterday, was being a mom to an infant something I was remotely interested in.  I had plans, but God's are bigger and I am trying to learn to trust again.  Knowing He knows what is best for our family and this is the way he wanted to expand our family and the time He wanted it to happen.  Once again, I am sorry I have not told more of you, or shared the experience with you, it is just something I am working through.