37 weeks update (posted at start of 38 wks)

We are at the end of my 37 weeks today!! This week has been long, not only because my boys have been out of town but because I FEEL READY for this o come at anytime!  My body aches, I move around like a zombie, a few other unmentionables, and I get weird spurts of energy that give me the ability to get some things done but only for brief periods of time haha!  My tailbone literally feels like when you slip on ice, fall down, and crack it, yet I don't recall slipping on ice and landing on my buttocks! I believe we only got snow for a good day and now it's melted haha!! 

Yesterday was my doctors appointment.  While there we checked for dilation as usual, got my weight done, blood pressure done, and of course got to listen to this little boys strong heart!  

We found out I am still 3cm, but he said I'm really softened and he can feel baby's head and to make an appointment for Wednesday or he'd see me sooner! Who knows, it's all baby and the man upstairs in play right now because we are ready. 

All of this happened as my husband was driving his way back home, WOOHOO! My boys are back!! I've missed them, it will suck having to endure some time without them in the same country as I am, but I will have my hands full of a cute little somebody to keep my mind occupied and I will have family around me, as soon as I am cleared to go back home by my doctor.  I'm contemplating having someone meet me from Dillon to drive down with me as a precaution and a peace of mind.  

Well that's all for now. 

35 Week Update

This week was the start of my weekly appointments.  While we were at the doctors today we got my Group B swab test done and are waiting for the results.  Also found out that I am 3cm dilated and 70% effaced (thinned in cervix).  I am just barely that dilated and my effacement still has some thickness to it; the doctor says I could be stuck at this far dilated for a few weeks or I could start furthering, its a waiting game but it doesn't surprise him that I am this dilated based on my history in pregnancy.  We are at the point where he feels that the baby will be perfectly fine whenever he comes and is happy that we have made it to the end of 35 weeks and the start of 36 tomorrow, of course as always our goal is making it to our induction date.  I feel like 37.5 to 38 weeks is probably when we will see this babys arrival, but who knows he may be a trickster!!

Earlier this week, I got the baby's memory book (baby book), a big brother gift, and a faculty gift for when we have the baby.  I wanted to do something special last time for all those who were part of our special day becoming a family, but we ran into the surprise of Graison coming early and no time for me to plan it.  After Graison was released, I saw this dum dum topiary and decided if we ever had a baby again, that I would create it for the nurses and staff that helped bring our baby safely into the world. 

We have also received news that our orders have posted as finalized and Graison and Sheyden will be heading to Japan December 3rd.  THERE IS NOTHING we can change about this.  We thought that there could be something we could try to change still but found out that because they are finalized we can't.  We were going to try to move Sheydens report date so we could go as a family or see what we could do about Graison going without me but our situation is a unique one.  Everyone we have talked to while we were waiting to hear about the status of our orders told us that normally you do not see this happen *(meaning a separation such as ours)* and that you normally have 8 months at the least to prepare for a move.  We only got a few months to prepare for this and because of my medical status our orders went to magcom status, which is a status above anyone on either of the bases we have been dealing with.  We were warned of this possibility as a preparation for us hearing it in a "no matter what" kind of way and so we have just been preparing for anything. We have been told that it should take no longer than my six weeks postpartum recovery for me and the baby to get to Japan, that normally the only thing that would hold us back is an issue with passports or if one of us ended up in a critical medical state that the base in Japan could not help with.

Everyone we have contacted at Sheydens squadron in Japan, has been extremely helpful and have already set up a place for him and Graison to stay until we can contact the housing office, and also have been dealing with the daycare situation for Graison until I am able to get there.  If daycare is not available, we have some good friends that moved over there earlier this year that are offering to help with him while Sheyden is working, and they have been around Graison enough to know him.  They also have two boys that Graison will absolutely adore now that he can actually play with them. 

RIGHT NOW it is TOO LATE to change anything or cancel orders as they are set in stone; the only way it could change is if Sheyden did something extremely stupid and got kicked out of the military and that is not something we need as a family.  WE BOTH THINK AND AGREE that this is something that will be good for our family, ALTHOUGH the separation will suck horribly it is something we will have to endure and get past.  There are some elements to this move that will make this separation a bit more difficult than just being a split family but we are trying our hardest to get past them as healthily and safely as we can and as a team.  We just hope that everyone can understand that our situation is not a normal PCS situation but is a very unique one, and one that because of medical status and period of time getting to Japan being so short, is a situation that made things difficult in moving dates around and changing once they were already accepted.  Any questions, ask Sheyden as he is the one dealing directly with it and I am hearing it secondhand; Plus I DO NOT NEED any excess stress ESPECIALLY being 3 cm dilated already!!  

Thanks for understanding!

So for this week that is all that has been going on, here are some pictures to enjoy until next week! 

34 Weeks Along

This week was a milestone for us!! My transition day is in Saturday's and Monday was the official gestation day I had Graison, or 34 weeks 2 days.  I am so elated that we made it clear into the rest of this week without any signs of going into labor; though I didn't even notice with Graison I was actually in labor, I know now for this one what symptoms I had with Graison that I could keep an eye out for.

Today was my doctors check up for 34 weeks and now I start weekly ones; so the next appointment is a week from today!!  If it sticks to every Friday, like they scheduled my 35 week, then I will be posting every Friday!  I am weighing 139 and my girth is 40, my uterus is as big as one of the pumpkins on our porch measuring right at 35 weeks because I am starting that week tomorrow. Baby's heartbeat is perfect!  I have heard a clicking sound coming from him the last two weeks and have heard it 3-4 times within that time span, Sheyden heard it once; it sounds like toes cracking, clicking of artificial nails, or how I like to say it "when you pop your ears at high elevation to relieve that pressure and the sound you hear while doing it."  We asked Dr. Zwiesler if there was concern and he couldn't really say.  Since it doesn't hurt me at all and I only feel it when baby moves, we are saying it is just his joints moving around.  Babies in the womb are so fragile yet flexible, and they have to be wouldn't want his bones extremely hard already or we won't come out vaginally; all babies bones in the womb are soft for there to be an easy exit for them.

WE HAVE A SCHEDULED INDUCTION....Since I am in uncharted territory now, yes uncharted, we have set up a day for induction, in case I end up going ALL THE WAY!!  Dr. Zwiesler isn't extremely concerned if he comes after 35 weeks though, but obviously we all want to make it to full term.  Our next set milestone is to finish my shots, I have 2 left!!  Next OB appointment is my Group B Strep swab test, and I don't know if we are checking for dilation that day either....its a possibility and the "routine" time for this clinic to do that is at 36 weeks, so we shall see.  ANYWAYS, if this little boy decides he is snug as a bug and nice and toasty in his womb, then his birthday WILL BE.....drum roll please....DECEMBER 1st or 2nd depending on how long that delivery will take.  We are scheduled to go into labor and delivery on Monday, Dec 1st at 6:45 AM and who knows how long it will take for my contractions to start up and get going to delivering that baby.  Of course that is still about 4 weeks away, and I have no idea if I have any dilation going on yet HA HA.

Anyways, Mr. Graison is HULK today and I will be posting tons of pictures on our family blog later.  You may also be seeing them on Facebook, of course!  I am so excited to see him out there saying "TRICK or TREAT" in his cute little 2 yr old voice.  He is so excited to go out and get some candy, especially being The Incredible HULK.  That's gotta be his absolute favorite superhero, and that goes in thanks to my mother Cheryl, who got him in believing daddy is Hulk because of his muscles!!  Maybe we will get some videos of Grasion saying some phrases!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL AND BE SAFE!!  HAVE A BLAST AND DON'T ROT THOSE PEARLY WHITES TOO MUCH!!

Love Always,

Candice and them Turner boys!!

33 Weeks

This week feels just the same as others so far for this pregnancy.  Although I have realized that it's going by fast, Saturday marks my 34th week and Monday marks the exact length in pregnancy I was when I had Graison.  It's the first milestone I wish to reach for this pregnancy and I'm curious, very curious, as to what will transpire next week or what may not transpire.

As far as I know and can feel, the baby is doing well.  I have 3 shots left to get and I get a OB check up on the 31st.  I really hope my doctors plan is to start checking me for dilation and if not I'm going to ask because I want to know. 

I've got the baby's section of the hospital "GO" bag ready, now just for myself and Sheyden, and whatever we do about Graison haha.  On Saturday I've got 6 weeks until our due date but again I'm sure this baby will be here within the week of Thanksgiving or after for sure.  Just so Sheyden won't miss the baby coming.  We are still waiting on his orders to finalize too, it's stressful and Sheyden definitely is handling that load for us. I'm more than likely being split from Graison on top of Sheyden and we're just waiting to hear if that's the only option, were preparing for everything and anything at this point in the game. Obviously, as always, I will keep everyone updated.

PICTURES!  Took them with my own dslr and edited myself, pretty proud of myself.