34 Weeks and Happy Father’s Day

Bless your heart if you read this entire post…it is extremely long! 

Today is a sad day for me because it is the third Father’s Day in three years I have not spent it with my dad.  We live four hours away from my parents, so we usually make a trip home somewhere in between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and combine the two holidays.  My dad is the best.  Not only did he teach us the value of hard work growing up, but he taught us how to be compassionate and considerate towards others.  My dad never passes anyone on the street or even in Wal-Mart that he does not know.  I used to hate going to the grocery store or practically anywhere with my dad because I knew he would be in the store for hours just a chatting away.  Over the past few years, I have come to really admire the man my dad is.  He is so much like my grandfather, his dad.  They never meet a stranger.  My dad would give you the shirt off his back and help you in any way he can.   I can’t wait to see him as a “Pappy” in just a few weeks when Maddox gets here.  I just know my dad will give him the moon!  :)

Three years ago this past August, we came close to losing my dad.  He went in the hospital for a routine back procedure, and the doctor almost killed him.  They performed the procedure and stitched my dad up, completely unaware of what the idiotic doctor just did.  He cut an artery.  I have asked myself over and over, how could he not know he cut an artery??  Basically, the artery was cut and my dad was stitched up while the inside of his body filled with blood.  Sorry if TMI.  His blood pressure basically dropped to zero.  They couldn’t quite figure out what happened.  After a week or so stay in the hospital and about 20 lbs. lighter, my dad was able to come home.  I remember the first trip we made home after my dad’s surgery, my dad didn’t look like my dad.  My dad is short- about 5’5 and 160 lbs.  He always had chicken legs and a little belly.  This time there was no belly.  My mom was a rock for my dad during this time and quickly nursed him back to health at home.   With my mom’s good southern frying cooking, my dad quickly gained his belly back. :)  Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!  I love you!

Now, I want to wish my sweet hubby a Happy Father’s Day!  I am tearing up right now thinking about how in just a few short weeks, Wade will be a daddy!  I can’t wait to celebrate that moment with him.  I just know he is going to teach Maddox the value of hard work, how to properly mow a yard, how to not shank a golf ball, how everyone is innocent until proven guilty and most importantly, how to treat others.  I know he is going to the best daddy to Maddox. 

I also want to wish my sweet Father-in-Law a Happy Father’s Day!  He is the best Poppy in the world!  You see, in Wade’s family, there are already 7 grandchildren, so Maddox will be the 8th!  Poppy loves spending time with his grandbabies, and I can’t wait until he and Wade can take little monkey to play golf and hunting.  That is all Wade can talk about!  Wade says he can’t wait until his “junior caddy” gets here!   Happy Father’s Day, Poppy!  Thanks for being a great father and role model to my husband.  We love you! 

NOW ONTO WEEK 34…THE END IS NEAR…YAY!!! 

NO PICTURE THIS WEEK- MY DEAR SWEET HUBBY LEFT MY CAMERA AT HIS PARENTS’ HOUSE

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  34 weeks 2 days

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  14 lbs.

Maternity Clothes:  LOVE them!

Best Moment this week:  hearing monkey’s heartbeat even though it wasn’t under the best circumstances.  You see, last Monday I started breaking out in a rash.  Not a rash that itched, but a rash that hurt.  On Thursday I noticed the rash wasn’t going away even though I was using an antibiotic cream.  I went to the doctor, and it turns out I have Shingles!!!  What?  How the heck did I get shingles?  I was so scared, not scared for me, but scared it could enter my blood stream or something and somehow Maddox could be harmed.  My doctor gave me a week long Rx to take 3x a day which is making the rash dry up and itch.  Apparently, shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, which I had a severe case of on my 10th birthday.  When I say severe, I had them down my throat.  My mom would wake me up every 2 hours to make sure I was still breathing.  Anywho, after you have chickenpox, the virus remains in the tissues in your nerves. As you get older, or if you have an illness or stress that weakens your immune system (aka pregnancy), the virus may reappear in the form of shingles.

Gender:  It’s a boy!  Maddox Wade!

Movement: yes, and it is amazing!   He has bony knees and elbows just like his mommy! ;)

Food Craving:  not really food cravings, but I stay thirsty all the time.  I must have apple juice in the fridge at all times!  Oh, I recently found a love for Ben & Jerry’s Creme Brulee ice cream!

What I miss: cold turkey sandwiches and sleeping on my stomach!

Sleep:  not even in my vocabulary!  

What I am looking forward to:   my doctor’s appointment on Wednesday and packing my hospital bag today! 

Belly Button:   I can actually see it peeking through my shirts now.

Symptoms:   horrible back pain and BH contractions.  I have been having them off an on for a weeks now, but they are so irregular that my doctor is not worried.