Halfway through August…

August has been, to put it mildly, challenging so far. I’m 36 weeks pregnant today, and well, I’m just having a hard time. Every morning, I go over my mental to-do list of things that really should be accomplished before this baby arrives, and every evening, it’s all I can do to contain the mess made by the tiny tornado living in this house. I really fear for this poor little baby- poor thing is really going to have to compete with a lot of neediness and chaos going on around here. On my to-do list: setting up his/her therapy fund.

This stage I’m in is just hard. I feel a little guilty complaining about it because I know there are so many who deal with more kids/harder medical situations/more stressful finances than us. But I just have to admit, this is where I am right now. Most days I feel completely and overwhelmed by my current life and the life that is to come in just a few short weeks. I just keep telling myself that perhaps it will be a little easier when I’m not pregnant and can feel better physically and have more energy (but then there’s the sleep deprivation).

I never could have predicted 6 months ago how draining and challenging 2 1/2 year old Charlotte could be. We started off the year (and this pregnancy) in such a sweet spot with her, but it has escalated into a not-so-sweet stage. Poor thing has dealt with a lot the past few months, along with it being summer and a billion degrees outside and no real routine- but she is testing every single limit every second of the day. I am so, so frustrated with her behavior and it makes me so sad that she seems so miserable so much of the day. And the mess she makes. Dumping toys, food everywhere, playdough remnants stuck to the furniture- it’s making me crazy. Yesterday while she napped I packed up 80% of her toys- I just can’t take the constant dumping right now. I’m praying that even though the baby is going to turn things even more upside down for her, a more structured routine and cooler weather will help all of us settle down a bit.

Grayson is having a good week. He was in the hospital last week for 4 nights- he caught a virus that both Charlotte and I had with very mild symptoms but just knocked him flat. The worst part of this illness for him was it caused terrible, horrible pain in his legs/hips- so much that we were worried about a bone infection or other post-surgery complication. He was on round-the-clock pain meds again the whole time we were in the hospital. Fortunately, since we’ve been home is pain has been so much more manageable and seems to be less and less every day. We follow up with the surgeon and his rehab doctor next week. His school starts back Thursday (hallelujah!) but he has a tube-change scheduled that morning so he will start back on Friday.

I am surviving the last few weeks of pregnancy, although it feels like just barely. The nausea is definitely better than it has been, although I still have to wake up at 2 am to eat and take part of a Zofran, or I am a sick mess in the morning. But the nausea has been replaced with other pains, sleeplessness and just general discomfort, which I know is all normal. I’ve never made it past 38 weeks and my doctor doesn’t seem to think I will this time either, so most likely I have less than 2 weeks to go- eek! I considered scheduling an induction, because the unpredictability of life right now is just killing me, but she can’t do it before 39 weeks, so it’s probably not an option anyway. And because this is my last time to do this, I really do want to go into labor on my own.

So that’s life right now. Exciting times coming very soon- let’s just hope I survive until then!

10 Comments

  1. cajuntexasmom.com on August 19, 2015 at 2:43 am

    Love and prayers for you, sweet friend!

  2. allthesunforyou on August 19, 2015 at 3:17 am

    I read your bit about Charlotte to Brian because OMG we are going through the same thing with Bryson. “No, no please don't dump that bin, NO!”. I lose my mind a little bit more every time a bin of toys are dumped out. Nothing makes me crazier. NOTHING.

    Hooray for school starting up again! That will be nice for you to have that routine back!

    Good luck with that natural labor!

  3. basebell6 on August 19, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Oh my gosh I was overwhelmed just readng this! I hope things settle down (haha) and that your delivery is healthy and uneventful! I am 38 weeks today with no signs of baby yet.

  4. Down On The Farm on August 19, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    Wow!! You do have a full plate. Getting the new baby here and getting Charlotte on a ROUTINE will be great for all of you. Don't worry, everything will be FINE!! Blessings my friend!!

  5. The Martin Family on August 19, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    There has been many a Monday when I'm beyond thankful for the qualified and loving teachers at my kids school. I hope you have an amazing delivery. Don't worry, it will all get done in due time and if it doesn't you probably didn't really HAVE to do it anyways. 🙂

  6. Mellow MW Mama on August 19, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    ugh, those last few weeks of pregnancy are so incredibly draining. hang in there!

  7. Jos on August 19, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Phew, exhausting and overwhelming for sure. I hope these last couple of weeks of pregnancy go smoothly for you and this new little one is here soon and you can move into a new stage of life as a family of 5!

  8. apluseffort on August 19, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    That all sounds so tough and you handle it with grace even when venting a little 🙂 I hope things get easier and less chaotic once the uproar of a new baby settles down!

  9. Brittnie on August 20, 2015 at 11:16 am

    Life is so crazy, right? Just when we get into a sweet spot and are thriving on a certain routine, then things change drastically and the sweetness and routine go to the wind! We know life with little ones is like this for a good long time, yet it is always so hard to work through in real life (at least for me). I will be praying for you as the weeks continue!! You will get through!

  10. Stefanie Blakely on August 24, 2015 at 2:31 am

    You are a rockstar, mama. Hang in there– can't wait to meet the newest member of the family! xoxo!

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