Guess who has high blood pressure?

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, my blood pressure was a little high for the third week in a row, and there was protein in my urine. The doctor told me to watch out for headaches that don't go away with Tylenol and pain in my upper right rib, I think. If I get any of those, I'm to go straight to labor and delivery because he'll want to run some tests. 

Well, I got a headache at work, so I stopped at Walgreens after to get some medicine. I took it and tried to hydrate myself, but even after the chiropractor I still had a headache. I was nervous I was just psyching myself out: I have a tendency to do that. I asked Cass what to do, and he said I should just call the Dr and let them know that I have the headache but think I might be psyching myself out. So I did, and they decided I should go into Labor and Delivery. 

Cass had work meetings and homework, so I told him to stay home. If anything crazy were to happen, he could get a ride to the hospital, but I was pretty sure they'd just do some tests and I'd be fine and they'd send me home. 

I was mostly right. I had to wait a bit once I got to the hospital, but they finally got me set up with some monitors around my belly and a cuff. The cuff would take my blood pressure every ten minutes, and I guess the two monitors were for baby's heartbeat and contractions. I felt like they kept me on forever, but at least I had my book. They also took a vial of blood and had me pee again. After another while, they said all my tests came back okay, gave me some lortab  and sent me home. 

It was a little scary being in the hospital and not knowing all what was going on, but I was sure the baby wasn't coming then! And even though I was worried at the hospital, I could still hear her heartbeat and even feel her move around a little. So here's hoping I can make it the next few weeks til she gets here and that everything goes well until then! 

37 Weeks!

We've finally hit 37 weeks! I can hardly wait til baby girl gets here! I keep getting bigger every day and feel like one big stretch mark, but I hear it will all be worth it once she's here. 

Updates: 

The other night, Cass and I were in bed and I was the big spoon. She starts kicking and Cass asks, "Is she kicking me in the back?" Yes indeed! Silly girl. 

She moves a ton, especially when I'm trying to sleep! Sometimes I feel like she's only not moving when my belly is too hard and contracted for her to move. It's so weird, though, because my belly is all lop-sided. She's always on my left side and sometimes it's very obviously lop-sided. 

Baby girl likes to kick me in my ribs a lot. I have a bruise on my ribs from her. For real. Visible bruise! 

A student asked me if I was having twins because I am so big; I explained that it's normal. He was all, "No, [math teacher] didn't get that big!" Well, she's taller than I am! And she didn't go full term. Regardless. I'm huge. 

Doctor says: 
Last week at 36 weeks, 1 cm and 70%
Today at 37 weeks, 1 cm and 80%
He says the most he'll let me go over is a week, but he doesn't think it will come to that. My belly was also measuring big today, so big baby? 

I got a Prenatal Massage yesterday. It was super great and relaxing. I could have fallen asleep right then and there! And I did take a little nap after . . .

Cass put the car seat in last week and it's so weird to see it when I turn around to back up! Speaking of driving, it's a constant battle between my short legs and my big belly, do I squish one or stretch the other? 

30 Weeks Down . . .

10 weeks to go! I don't know how my belly can get even bigger! 

But really, everything is going well. I've gotten sick a few days, and obviously my back has had pain, but nothing terrible. Baby girl is doing really well; she loves to move around, especially when I'm trying to sleep. When I'm lying in bed, on my side, she'll bounce from one side of me to the other, so up and down like she's bouncing on a trampoline. Sometimes it feels like she's doing back flips in there too, especially after I eat! The worst thing she does is kick me in the ribs, in fact, she kicked one out of place! So last week I finally got myself to the chiropractor; I went again today. Hopefully I'll get sorted out here soon and get some sleep before the baby gets here! Not too much longer to wait!

about 28 weeks

 almost 30 weeks

 

today -- bigger every day!

Barefoot

There's a quote on this cover about Barefoot making you want to pick up everything and head to the beach. Which it did-- Just to get me away from this book! Elin Hilderbrand writes to show us how smart and well-read she is, trying to make herself sound brilliant and comparable to the great works of literature one might study as an English major, while presenting herself as a beach-read chick-lit author. And Barefoot certainly appears to be a beach read, but it clearly is not.  Hilderbrand, in mixing her demographics and genres, seemingly to obtain more readers, must be losing readers from both sides. She attempted to write an intellectual beach book and failed. I can't say that I recommend this book. 

Nesting: Baby Bib

I finally finished my second cross-stitch project! Here it is! 

 

Three More Months!!

Today is January 7th. My estimated due date is April 7th. That's three months away! Three months til I get to see my baby! I'm so excited! I hope these three months go by quickly, and not slowly and painfully . . . I know I'll continue to get more and more uncomfortable, though. But baby is doing well, she moves around a lot and the doctor said everything looked good at my next appointment. I want her to finish cooking, but I want her here soon too! 

A Year in Review: 2012

2012 has been a good year for us Swallows. 

In May, Cassidy took me to Hong Kong where he served his LDS mission. He had a great time; it was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation! In July, my brother Michael got home from his LDS mission in Ohio, and we were able to have the whole family together! A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant, and we're so excited to welcome our little girl in April!

That's been about the jist of our year. Here's hoping 2013 is even better than 2012!

Christmas

Because of our work schedules this year, Cassidy and I drove up north for the holiday on Christmas Eve. It was pretty snowy, but Cass is a good driver and we had no problems! 

Our first stop was in Flowell to visit Grandma Carma. We just dropped in for a quick visit, but it was great to see her. Next we met up with Chris, Nathan, and Pyper at Nathan's parents to see their Christmas Extravaganza display. They have trains and Christmas's villages set up all over. 

Afterwards we headed up to Grandma & Grandpa McCoy's for the family Christmas Eve party, where we worked on a service project. Cass cut fringe on fleece blankets. I helped Pyper make a necklace and bracelet then helped tie a baby quilt. 

Then we went down to my parents' house for Christmas Eve dinner with all my siblings, Grandpa, Uncle Scott, and his kids. And I finally got to meet baby William!! he is so squishy and adorable!! 

Awww! Tiny squishy baby! 

me & Cass in front of the tree

We spent the night at my parents's house. A very excited Jordyn woke us up at seven; I think that's a new late for my family! 

Jordyn loves Alpine, the boo-eyed reindeer I got her

After presents, we had breakfast. Mom made some great cinnamon rolls. I just love cinnamon rolls! Then we played Ticket to Ride. I got Dad the 1912 expansion and it was fun to play with the new routes. 

Later that afternoon, Cass and I headed up to Salt Lake to meet up with Morrell and Dylan. We saw Les Miserables. While I was mostly impressed, there were definitely things I liked better in the USF production. The movie was much more emotional and less power ballad than I like. It was also harder to connect with the characters. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were great, but stage is very different from screen. And Amanda Seyfried drove me nuts. Her voice was great, but I really didn't like her vibrato. It was excessive. As far as her role as Cosette . . . well, I don't like the character of Cosette, but Amanda Seyfried nailed the character. Overall, I thought it was a good production. Not the absolute best it could be, but certainly enjoyable. 

Cass and I had a great Christmas & I hope you did too! 

This Swallow is Nesting

                                     

So the crafting bug has hit me, and these are the fruits of my labors! Mom and Jenn are always crocheting or knitting, but I wanted to try my hand at embroidery and cross-stitching. I got these onesie kits at JoAnns (on clearance! Boo-ya!) and it was really fun to work on them and know that they were still going to have a use when I was done. 

I did the bear first, and I think it's adorable, duh, but after washing it I can see where some of the stitching is coming loose and where I didn't do such a good job. I kind of want to fix it, but I don't want to over-fix it and ruin it. I did a better job on the ducky, not that you can see because the pictures are blurry, my bad. But I like having something to keep hands busy! Being crafty is so fun! :) I can't wait for baby girl to get here so she can wear them!

On a side note: Last night, Cass had his hand on my stomach, and I guess Baby could feel him because she kept kicking right at his hand! 

It's a Girl!

awwwww . . . isn't my child an adorable little thumb sucker? 

We went and got the ultrasound done on Monday afternoon. I had a feeling, not super strong but still there, that it would be a girl. Cassidy had no predictions either way, but thought I was being ridiculous in thinking it was a girl. Well, I may be ridiculous but I was right! 

We skyped with our families that night and everyone is way excited for our baby girl!

Now, if you're not into alien-esque fetus photos, feel free to leave now. 

But I just think my alien is adorable! 

Ward Halloween Party

Last night was the ward Halloween party. Cassidy is a bit of a party pooper, so we didn't dress up. It was pretty fun. Cass even got to hit the pinata before it broke! Happy early Halloween!

I didn't get a chance to take my picture at home,
but I really wanted to show off my shirt :) 

Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook Hike

Last Saturday, Cassidy and I went for a Hike up Cedar Breaks. We did the Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook Hike. I checked the weather beforehand, but only checked for Cedar, not for the mountain. My bad! It was a little chilly and windy, but I said we'd get warm once we got moving, plus the sun was out. (Luckily, Cass still brought his hoodie on the hike! I needed it on the way back!) 

The trail was super muddy, so our shoes got very gross, and there was some snow on the ground. It was a tough hike, but the view was amazing! The contrast of red rock, snow, and the bristlecone pines was pretty neat. 

View from the trail head, no hike required!

all muddy! And this was just the beginning!

a lookout point along the trail

I tried to climb the tree . . . no dice

Spectra Point

Soaking in all that is Spectra Point

more Spectra Point

Cassidy's Video, with even more of Spectra Point :)

Yes, he climbed over the protective railing . . .  

Back on the trail towards Ramparts Overlook

Bristlecone Pines

See? Totally cool! Not what you'd think at all!

I made it! But just barely . . . can I blame my tired legs and lack of balance in the mud on the baby? 

Ramparts Overlook

Squirrel got so angry at us! He was yelling and hissing!
He was right over head and I was nervous he was going to jump on me! 

You can't really tell, but the backs of my legs were all muddy too!
But I was so glad to be back at the car and done hiking! It wore me out!

Antelope Island

Last weekend, Cassidy got a scholarship to go to a conference about student affairs up at SLCC, so we jumped at the opportunity to head up north and get a quick visit in. The conference was Friday, so I got a sub for work and planned to have my mom come up to Salt Lake so we could play. Turns out, that was the day Jenn was flying back home from Louisiana and my mom already had plans to be in Salt Lake to pick her up. How convenient! 

Mom and Jordyn picked me up and we headed to the City Creek Mall. Despite the rain, we had a lovely time! 

We did some window shopping and had gyros for lunch before heading to the airport to get a very pregnant Jenn. While waiting, we saw some cute missionary homecomings as well as a marine meeting his baby for the first time. Tender! 

Saturday we went up to Antelope Island. Grandma Carma wanted to go after she found out that her great-great grandfather Briant Stringham was sent to Antelope Island to tend cattle. His father-in-law Fielding Garr was originally sent their by Brigham Young. There's a ranch on the island that was the Garr family ranch. The original house and other buildings are still there and open for the public. I had never been their before, so it was fun to see all the historical sites as well as the animals. 

Since I took so many pictures, I'll just let them show you our day! 

Dylan, Whitney, me, Cass, Pyper, and Morrell outside the Garr Ranch House

Dylan trying to rope a "cow"

 

Pyper "roping" hers! 

Cassidy roping Pyper

Pyper on the horse, trying to throw the rope

Pyper loved feeding the horses!

Cheese!

Pyper and the "buffalope"

Climbin' Rocks!

Cass and Morrell

I got so close the buffalo! er . . bison!

See?? Close! I was scared to get closer though

See all that white? Cass thought it was salt from the lake, but he went down and touched it, it was just foam! Salty, salty foam! 

After our fun, we got a late lunch, and then a much needed nap! All that fun and walking wore me out!