ELSA JEAN!

On Wednesday October 9, 2013 this happened:

I am now, after being a mom for 7.75 years, and AUNT! and we are officially Aunt Clare and Uncle Ross!

Elsa Jean Godwin came in to the world at 8 lbs, 5 oz and 19 inches long. With super cheeks and her Daddy's mouth. Emily and Ryen are thrilled as are all the extended family.

Natalie was captivated by the swaddling and so the next morning she asked to be bundled up like baby Elsa:

Very exciting indeed. We love our little Niece/Cousin.

October

This month is full of changes, good and bad, and it's causing me a few sleepless nights as well as happiness and a little bit of nesting.

My Aunt Caroline passed away on the 7th. She is my Dad's sister-in-law and it was fairly sudden. Her memorial will be on the 27th in Boston, but due to my pregnancy gestation at that time, and the preterm labor I had with Natalie, it is thought best that I stay put. I'm not sure if I've seen the Loughlin side of my family all together since we got married.

On the 9th, I became an Aunt myself! Emily & Ryen had their baby girl! More on that in another post.

Starting to have Sciatic pains this month.

Going to buy a new car this weekend, and get rid of my Honda (that I've had since before we got married).

Kids are going to be combining rooms this weekend as well. Lots of rearranging. Natalie is excited about the bunk beds, but not for the fact that they'll be in "Jackson's Room".

And to finish out the month, Mom and Jim are coming for a visit. Might be perfect timing to get a little extra helping hand to prep for baby's arrival.

Third Trimester

I had my 28 week appointment, which indicated the start of my third trimester.

All seemed well though I was diagnosed with anemia (just like my other pregnancies). I now am taking iron pills, and Metamucil to counter act the side effects of iron pills.

Sciatica fun

Just to keep up with the fact that this is a "geriatric pregnancy" my body has continued to add some "fun" into my life.

Last night my backside as aching before bed and I applied icy-hot to it and felt much better.

This morning started out fine. It wasn't raining so the kids and I walked to school. It was a nice walk, but when Natalie and I started back I noticed the pain again in my backside. It intensified with every step and before we were off the school property I was wondering how I would make it the three blocks home without crying. Thankfully another mother whose son is in Jackson's class saw me limping and offered us a ride home. I was most grateful.

Throughout  the day my backside hurt when I was walking, twice so sever I thought I'd fall down in pain. I was able to swim during Natalie's lesson and it didn't ache at all. Most likely it is Sciatic Pain but will know more tomorrow after my appointment about it.

SIL Dream

Last week I had a dream that I was to give birth to my Sister-in-Law's baby. This is most likely because she is scheduled for her C-section on Wednesday, October 9 and I've been thinking a lot about her and baby Godwin.

In my dream, I had to give birth to her baby because if she did it, it would be stillborn. Not a pleasant thought and I was happy to help out. In an ultrasound I could see her baby in my birth canal and my baby in my uterus. My concern was though, how would my body know to birth only the one baby and not mine who still had three months to cook.

And that's where the dream ended. I'm not sure what the outcome would have been.