FINALLY DONE!!!

Yes, it's true. Swimming lessons are officially over. It started very slowly - he refused to even sit on the edge of the pool. Tonight was "fun night" where the kids were allowed to pick and choose what they wanted to do and what they wanted to skip. He "danced" with the teacher twice and also let go of the edge to reach out to the teacher's hand. He refused everything else, including the diving board. Seriously, though. Who thinks that sending 3-5 year olds off a diving board is a good idea??? One girl bumped heads with the teacher and another girl hit her chin on the braces of the teacher. Not safe. I think Jason lost 10 years off his life watching those kids go off the board. (in case you didn't already assume, Nicholas didn't even attempt to get on the board). All in all it was a pretty lame night at swimming since Nicholas did nearly nothing and the majority of the time was spent over at the diving board. We're honestly just glad it's over - maybe Casey will take pity on us and let us come over and swim this summer!

30 weeks along!

Today was the big ultrasound appointment! Everything went great - the placenta has moved (yippee!!!). Baby is currently measuring big, but probably not Nicholas big - he is approximately 3 pounds 9 ounces, which is around the 75%-ile. Amniotic fluid looks great (unlike his big bro) and he is DEFINITELY a boy (in case there was a question!!). He was "hiding" and wouldn't really allow for pictures, but we did catch him grabbing his foot numerous times while his other hand (thumb?) was in his mouth! What an acrobat!
Last night I had several contractions, which is perfectly normal, but the last one didn't really go away. The tightening feeling didn't subside by bedtime, so I went to sleep. I woke up this morning with a still-tight feeling and generally felt yucky. As guessed, the doctor decided to check me today. My cervix is closed but soft and low - getting ready for baby. I have now been put on weekly appointments which isn't too big a deal since I'm there every week for my injection already!
Yesterday at church, my wonderful doctor sat next to us! That was a nice surprise! Today at the office, we were told I wouldn't be seeing Dr. Trout as she had multiple deliveries. Imagine my surprise when she walks in to the room! She apparently told the nurses not to let me go - she wanted to see me herself! So, after 5 deliveries and one more yet to go, she came back to the office (connected to the hospital, but STILL!) to see me! I just love her - she always makes me feel so much better! More baby updates to follow! Swim lessons tonight so there will be another post if something noteworthy happens!

What a difference a day makes!

The most important news: Nicholas had a GREAT night at swim lessons! He didn't cry at the start and agreed to nearly EVERYTHING his teacher asked him to do! He swam like a dolphin, blew bubbles in the water, did "elevator" on a kickboard, kicked on the kickboard, did "superman" float, etc. He was doing so well... and THEN... he fell into the pool. There are 5 kids sitting on the edge while the instructor completes a task with the 6th child - Nicholas fell in the water & his head went under. Traumatic experience. Tears came in huge amounts (Nicholas, not me - I freaked out at first). We finally calmed him down. Thank goodness it was at the end of lessons. At the very end, he even jumped into the water without holding his teacher's hands! (he was reluctant, but successful in the end).
I had my 28 week dr. visit on Tuesday. My glucose screening came back normal (in the 120s), iron normal (12.4) and baby is measuring pretty much right on! All of this is pure craziness compared to Nicholas! What a different baby this one must be! We'll have an ultrasound at 30 weeks (April 21st) to check the position of the placenta, size of baby, and amount of amniotic fluid. I officially go on bedrest April 15th!

Swimming... 3rd times a charm??

Nicholas had his 3rd swim lesson tonight. Last Wednesday's lesson was significantly worse than the Monday lesson and today started off much the same. He cried and cried and cried. He flat out REFUSED to even sit on the edge of the pool (tears galore). Finally I convinced him to sit on the edge with the other kids and I sat behind him on a towel (another mom was doing the same with her scared little girl). The pool manager came by to ask if he was always like that - did he need to be in the baby class - parent in the water? Granted, there were babies swimming better than my son, but I d0n't want to be his crutch. He started out slowly (refusing to kick - red light, green light) then started to warm up (Superman, kickboard, etc.) He was pretty excited to see the kickboard as he LOVES his penguin kickboard we have at home! Believe it or not, he also tried to blow bubbles in the water! At the end of class, the instructor asked if he wanted to jump in the pool... and he said YES!!!! Without mommy's help, he held onto the teacher's hands and jumped into the water! She was so excited & we were too! Day 3 wasn't perfect, but he's improving!!! Nicholas has a serious fear of getting his face & head wet. The activities he avoids all involve the face in the water! We'll update after Wednesday's lesson!

Swimming Lessons... Take One

Nicholas started swimming lessons yesterday. We were nervous enough about the lessons: Nicholas having a yucky cold and honestly we were petrified to let our little boy go in the pool without us & without a life jacket!!!! The class started well - he was game to try all the "on land" exercises. When the instructor had the kids sit on the edge of the pool, he started to get a little nervous. He liked playing "Red Light, Green Light" by kicking in the water but the hesitation really started the first time she pulled him into the pool. She tried to get him to blow bubbles (he couldn't), put his face underwater (he wouldn't), and hold on to the edge of the pool and bob up and down (no way!). The last activity they did was jumping into the pool. The instructor held the hands of the kiddos the entire time & never let anything above their midsection touch the water, but Nicholas would have NONE of that! He was reduced to tears multiple times during the lesson and honestly just wanted to leave. Looks like he is more like his Daddy with regards to water. We try again tomorrow night... here's hoping he gets a little more comfortable. We don't expect him to swim like a fish by the end of this session, but we'd like him to be a little more at ease in the water.
Healthwise, I had yet another injection today. The nurses are starting to feel bad about sticking me weekly. I have so many markings I look like an addict! Saw my Dr. briefly today and she was encouraging as always! We'll go in for our next Dr. visit next week. Glucose screening is this Friday - let's hope I pass the first time around!

Happy Birthday, Jason!

We've had a busy few weeks around the Savage house. Nicholas convinced Jason to put up the crib, we've been sifting through Nicholas' baby clothes (and need to do HUGE amounts of laundry!!), and just keeping the house clean for potential visitors.
Last Friday, my parents came to visit. It was nice to spend time with them and attend Good Friday service as well. I thoroughly enjoyed giving my parents a hard time about ordering from the "senior" menu at IHOP. Thanks to mom, we now have a new stroller for the un-named baby #2! It's quite lightweight and compact! I think we'll love it!
Last Saturday night we went over to Jason's parents house to celebrate Easter and Jason's birthday. Nicholas loved his Easter egg hunt (I got MONEY, he says) and very much enjoyed coloring Easter eggs. Jason got a new golf club and is ready for the golfing season to begin.
Yesterday (Jason's birthday) Nicholas & I spent the morning with the Gacke girls: Becky & Merrick. It was cute to see our little ones play together. Nicholas loves Tunnel Voyage and gets a little more brave every time we go. Merrick was unsure at times, but hopefully had fun.
Since it was Jason's birthday, Nicholas & I decorated the house with streamers - if you could only see what a 3-year-old can do with crepe paper! Jason called about 10 minutes after we finished and told me someone was coming to look at the house. Obviously panic set in as I needed to pick up the house and figure out what to do with the decorations! Should I have a crying 3-year-old but a picked up house or a decorated house and confused buyers? In the end, we left the decorations and a note explaining! Instead of a home-cooked birthday dinner, Jason got Panera for dinner (thanks to the student of mine who gave me the $10 Panera gift card!!!!!). Nicholas painted a picture for Jason and wrote "Daddy" and "Nick" inside his card. It was pretty cute! Hopefully we'll get a bite on our house soon!!!

Baby Update

Week 24... Today Nicholas & I went to my dr. appt. It was our first time seeing Dr. Trout since January! We discussed the contractions I've been having at work (too many per hour, she says) and our course of action. She checked me to make sure nothing is progressing (and I'm not) then we decided on bed rest beginning mid-April (probably wait until after MAP testing). My appointments will increase to every two weeks and we will keep my ultrasound scheduled for 30 weeks to check on the placenta. I'm also trying new meds for the horrible heartburn - if they don't work she's giving me a prescription! I can't imagine not having heartburn anymore! Let's hope something helps! While at the dr. office, Nicholas has made new friends. There are two nurses in particular who look for him each week - probably because he called one of them "gorgeous". Now she has a special treat ready for him every time we are there! They love him!
Nicholas is so excited for the warm weather today. We played outside for nearly an hour after his nap. Other than that, he spends his days playing "pirate" or taking care of baby (his cabbage patch doll).

Spring???

Can I just say THANK GOODNESS for spring-like weather? Nicholas went to the driving range and the park with Daddy today. Tonight after dinner Nicholas & I took a walk in the neighborhood! Hopefully he burned off some energy!!!!! Currently he's having a small tantrum - we're finding this is happening very frequently when he doesn't get his way or doesn't like what we're saying. Hopefully this too will pass.

It's a BOY!!!

Jason, Nicholas & I went to my Dr. appt. last Tuesday assuming we were having a girl - we were VERY wrong as the "boy parts" were almost immediately visible! The baby looks great, measuring exactly on due date (something I don't think Nicholas ever did!). My placenta is too close to my cervix at this point and they will recheck at 30 weeks to see if it has correct itself - otherwise there could be problems at delivery time. I started my progesterone injections last Tuesday. Because I was worried about tears - my own - I sent Nicholas & Jason out of the room. I hate shots and the nurses have told me how painful and thick the injection is. The injection wasn't bad, but the pain afterwards was pretty yucky. Yesterday's injection wasn't too bad but I just can't imagine doing this weekly! I read in a baby book that higher levels of progesterone during pregnancy lead to heartburn - I already had terrible heartburn and as Julie says they are now injecting me with heartburn!!!!!
Nicholas is doing great. He had a wonderful time at a Valentine's Party last week. Friday we went to Columbia to visit my parents - always a good time. Nothing happening with our house right now, just wishful thinking that February or March will bring good luck!

Happy Valentine's Day!

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