Olivia Grace McBride

Monday, December 19th at 10:00AM our beautiful baby girl was born!

6lbs 4oz  19inches

  Olivia and Shandra are both dong well
                                

Best Ward EVER!!!

Seriously....I just have to say that I am SO grateful to live in the ward we do

We've been in the ward for almost 2 1/2 years...which is a long time for a student ward.  And I've always loved our ward and been so grateful for how willing the sisters have been to help out with meals and activities and such.

BUT...being on bedrest this past week, I have felt so much love and support from the ward.  People have been so sweet to drop by and visit us, bring us meals, and just be concerned enough to ask how we are doing.  Also, I asked if anyone had a bassinet we could borrow while my mom was in town, (thanks Bridget for the suggestion!) and within like 10 minutes my neighbor Erin totally offered to let us borrow hers.  It was so generous, and I am SO grateful!!  It is adorable by the way....and will work out perfect for the next couple of weeks.  Thanks Erin!  Oh...and when JJ (her husband) dropped it off...we had our trash outside the door -- waiting for Jason to walk it out to the dumpster (he is the worst about taking the trash out -- bless his heart!) and JJ just took it for us.  Little things like that are just so nice and thoughtful.  It seems like it might not be a big deal, but it was big to me!

Also, just having advice from all the gals in the ward that have been through this whole process, it just helps so much and calms me down. 

I'm also glad to have the family support I have; my mom and sisters are amazing!  They have put up with me talking their ears off this past week since I am stuck at home and stressing about all that needs to get done...or just about what is to come in the next few weeks.  I am so grateful that they are there for me whenever I need.

So...thanks to all of you for all you love, support, and care...you know who you are!!

Preeclampsia

Fun, right?  Yesterday I went to my 37 wk check up to find that my blood pressure was elevated and I had protein in my urine -- so off I was sent to labor and delivery to do a non-stress test and another urine test.

2 hours later, after laying in the hospital bed having my bood drawn and my blood pressure taken every 10 minuts, -- my blood pressure continued to be elevated, and again I had higher levels of protein in my urine.  I was released yesterday w/ a diagnosis of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension/Preeclampsia.  I am officially on bedrest and am peeing in a container all day long so they can do a 24 hour urine test and then I go back into labor and delivery tomorrow for another NST.  Boy, pregnancy is fun! 

The good news is...I am 37 wks and 2 days.  So this far along in pregnancy it isn't such a scare.  AND little Olivia is doing great.  Her heart is beating wonderfully strong and she is moving a ton still!  It was so fun to listen to her little heart for 2 hours and also to hear her kicking and moving around.  The Doctor just said at this point, they are concerned about me and my health, and wants to make sure he takes care of me -- which is great.  I was dilated to a 2+ last week, so he says I'm favorable for a healthy, normal deliver -- barring no complications from the HBP.

So, I am scheduled for induction Decmember 27th @ the latest!  We will have our precious little girl by New Years :

Having been laying down for almost a day -- I do have to admit, I feel a lot better.  Working FT has really put a strain on my body, and being so short has made pregnancy a bit harder than I had anticipated.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I could have a baby this week or next....but for sure within 2 wks she'll be here, and we are getting so excited!!
 

Two more months!!

So, I'm officially 32 weeks today. It's funny...at times i feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER, but other times, I can't believe it is only two months away. I am so excited, and yet extremely apprehensive of how will I will be as a mother. The burden of my responsibility for this child seems so heavy -- and I have to admit it stresses me out quite a bit. It doesn't overwhelm my excitement to physically have her in my arms in such a short while, but it does weigh heavy on my mind.

I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mother and to be at home to raise my children, and I always thought I would start really young -- which wasn't quite in the cards. Sometimes, I think that may have been less apprehensive at a younger age -- probably not. I just am so concerned for the world that this little girl will grow up in, and how I can help guide here through this life to avoid as many of the pitfalls as she can. I know I can't protect her from everything, and I already have this heavy trepidation of what she may have to face in life. I'm so crazy! I wouldn't change my life path -- even my difficult trials -- and as long as I help her to gain a testimony of the Savior, and a knowledge of His plan for her, and help her to learn to rely on Him -- "It'll all work out" as President Hinckley said.

So...that is my little vent. Jason says I worry way too much. He's like...you know she comes out as a baby right? And she is a baby for quite a while...and then a little girl...and then...etc...He teases me a lot about it. I'm also worried about working a few days. I hope that I will balance work and motherhood. It's just with Jason's school, and bishopric calling, and working on research, and then me working 2-3 days...it seems like a lot to balance. I'm sure we will do just fine, but the unknown is so hard! I know I need to just relax and take it one day at a time.

On to more fun baby news....she is a crazy little girl! She is a total kicker and mover. All day and all night. Its fun to feel her, and see my stomach move -- Jason can finally feel her most of the time -- it took him FOREVER to really feel her. Now, you can visibly see it, so it can't really miss it now!

Her moving so much is a lot of fun, but definitely making me really tired. I'm not sleeping at night -- and working 5 days a week with unrestful nights is starting to take its toll! I only have 5 more weeks until the end of the semester at the school though, so I can hang in there! I have been so blessed to be able to work full time and feel as good as I have. I haven't really swollen up much at all. My hands and toes slightly swell if I don't drink enough water. I have some RLS at night, and she gets caught under my right rib a lot -- which can be pretty painful. Jason gets all of my complaining, and is so patient with me, but overall things are going really well.

Ok...so after the novel...here is a picture. Requested by Ashley! It me at almost 32 weeks. Jason takes awful pictures....or I just look awful in them...so I took this one my self. Thanks to my sister Sheryl for the winter maternity stuff!! Its getting COLD up here!

I'll attemp to have Jason take another picture today when I have actually gotten ready with hair and make-up. This was on our way to the temple and my hair was all slicked back, so no go on the full picures!

Updates and such

So…I haven’t blogged for a while….but while we were in AZ we did some really fun stuff….our first day there we went to lake w/ Ashley and Sean Tillman and her parents.  They are always so generous and kind to take us out on their boat! We had so much fun!  It was Jason’s first time REALLY wakeboarding….and he was AMAZING!  Stinking natural talent – got up his first time…and rocked it the rest of the day!

Getting up

Crossing the wake

Out in the open water! Crossing back over! Trying a bit of a jump  So freakin proud of him! The boys also did a bit of cliff jumping (pretty sad cliffs – but it’s still fun to climb and jump)  Us and the Tillmans.  Me and Ash and our baby bumps…so the story here is Ashley had a dream back in the winter that in the summer we would both be pregnant out on the lake this summer…so we had to make this trip come true!  Thanks Ash!  It was so great :)My baby bump…a bit more attractive then me next to tiny little Ashley!  lol!  So this is at 20 weeks :) 

Another great thing we did was get together with our “single” – now “married” group of friends.  We ate at the Gecko Grill – which is a place in Gilbert that Jason used to work at….and is basically obsessed with! It was so fun to get together with everyone now married – such a successful YSA ward!  We missed Tyler and Marrie and Brielle (they took off before we could snap a shot with them).  Also Josh (Jason’s brother) and his wife Syl couldn’t make it that night.  Derek, Lauralie and Max, Steve and Melinda, Jase and Me, Ashley and Sean.  The next night we got together with Jason’s friend from HS – Erik and his girlfriend Beya and Jase’s BF Adam and wife Monet.

Then on Thurs I headed out to Phx to hang with Sheryl and her fam.  This little peanut is so dang cute.  I think she has my nose – at least the one I had when I was a baby.  I can’t believe how much she has changed since she was a baby. She has such a fun personality.  Lizzy is such a cutie too!  She has so much attitude.  It crack me up.  She also is so sweet – the other day she drew a picture for me…it made my day to know that she was thinking of me after we came home!  Sad I didn’t get a picture of the Blakester boy.

One last great thing (besides the shower) Is that we went to Last Chance.  It is the best store ever!!  I got this diaper bag (Petunia Picklebottom) for $30 – yep that is right $30!  UGG boots for like $35 UGG slippers for $20

And other fun things….I also got some Tom’s shoes that are so cute!  I wasn’t totally selfish.  I did get some things for the baby too!  And last of all…here is a pregnancy pic @ 23 wks.  I hate taking these, but everyone says that I will regret it if I don’t.  I feel so huge already :(  But whatever! 

Showered!!

So…while I was in AZ, my darling sis-in-law Sylvia decided to throw me a baby shower. My wonderfully AMAZING sister Sheryl hosted it. (Thanks to both). It was all the way out in North Phoenix…so thanks to everyone for being willing to do the drive. I KNOW it was a long one.

The food was delicious and fresh….salads, foods, croissants, and a yummy sherbet drink

food and decorations VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Lizzy Guessing how many butterfingers there are

Savannah helping me…..always such a good help…hahaha

The in-laws….Syl, Me, Mindy, and Sherri

And…with Sheryl, Savvy and Lizzy

Time to EAT!!

THE ADORABLE diaper cake that Kelly and Amy made! The netting at the top is a new-born tu-tu. She also made me headband w/ interchangeable bows/flowers. Baby booties….and a blinged out pacifier clip, baby toys and rattles….etc… They spoiled me!

Amy

Kelly

Really…these two have treated me like a sister. They were so great to work with, and it’s been so fun to get back in touch with them! Thanks for making the drive!

Me and Ashley! One of my very best friends! Ashley is also pregnant….only 5 wks behind me…she is such a tiny thing though! I need to learn to not be in pictures next to her…lol!

I’ve been really grateful to have such a good friend to go through this crazy rollercoaster of beginning motherhood. She is someone I feel like we will always be friends, no matter how far apart we live. Love you Ash!

The Diaper/Cady Bar Game!!!

Breaking the water! Sheryl froze little mini babies in ice cubes and whoever could get the baby out first wins….my horrible ice chewing habit came in handy this time!

Sylvia telling who won the Baby Ruth Game…..and it was….

MindyKelly, Me and Amy

The whole group

I love laughing pictures

Sheryl and Me….pretty good shot of my belly!

Sheryl and Ian….love you two! Thanks for letting us invade your house!