Christmas Celebrations of 2012

2012 has come to an end and the Christmas celebrations have ended.  We always enjoy spending time with family and seeing the excitement in the boys eyes but it's also nice to get back to routine.  December 23rd was our first Christmas celebration at my parents house.  It was a fun day.  We went over early so the boys could have some time to play with their cousins Bjorn and Norah.  Bjorn is just 6 weeks younger then Caleb and both Isaac and Caleb get along so well with Bjorn.  Norah is 6 and a girly girl but she's been known to tag along with the boys once in a while :-)

Grandpa Johsn came over to celebrate with us which was nice.  It was also a bittersweet feeling.  It was the first Christmas without Grandma and still hard to grasp sometimes.  It's hard think that she's not with us anymore but she's not in pain, that's what matters most.  Grandpa was quiet and took it all in.  We're hoping next year and the years to follow will be a little easier on everyone.

Chad was there as well and he brought his girlfriend Jamie and her son Gibson.  Jamie is really sweet and I think she's a great match for my brother.  We all really like her and think she is a "keeper".  Gibson is 9 and the boys loved playing rough with him.  A 9 year old boy is the best in the eyes of a 4 and 5 year old! 

For Christmas Isaac got a Cat combine from Grandpa and Grandma B and Caleb got the big John Deere loader tractor he had been asking for.  Both were quite excited when they opened them and we had to get them out of the box right away.  Norah drew Isaac's name and he got Ice Age 3 which was good because he's a movie boy and one we hadn't seen.  Emily drew Caleb's name and he got a fun alphabet and number tracing book and a John Deere small tractor. 

Christmas Eve I worked until noon and then spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the house a little.  The Children's Christmas Program was at 7:00 pm.  Both boys knew their parts so well.  I was a little worried thinking Caleb would be too nervous to say his part but both boys amazed me.  They sang their hearts out and said their part loud and clear.  It's too bad Isaac couldn't have stayed up with the rest of the kids to sing the other songs because I think he knew the songs better then some of the bigger kids, ha!  My boy loves music!  After the program we went back to our place and Grandma and Grandpa Kooiker, Grandma and Grandpa Bronson, Uncle Nolan and Great Grandpa Winter came over for pizza and snacks.  It was a fun evening.  We let the boys open one joint present and another small one.  Caleb got a John Deere baler, Isaac got a small lego set and together they got a Spiderman basketball bath toy.  We then set out cookies and milk, carrots for Rudolph and sprinkled food outside for all the reindeer.  The boys were super excited Christmas morning.  They got a bunch of fun stuff.  They each got a movie, a book, a wind up car, socks, Fisher Price ixL gaming system, Isaac got a transformer (Santa must not have realized when it says for 5 years and up, it's really for older kids).  Caleb got another small John Deere Tractor with loader and a haybale and I'm sure there are some other things I'm forgetting.
Christmas night we went to Great Grandpa Winter's house for pizza and snacks.  The boys got a game for their Fisher Price iXL system from Great Grandpa and their $5 grab bag gift was Knex blocks.
Our final Christmas celebration was held December 30th at Grandma and Grandpa Kooiker's house.  The boys got a lot of fun things.  They got winter coveralls, swords, Bible book, big truck and dart guns.  They were super excited to get everything and we had a nice time with family.  Ross got his gift from Gina and Brad which was frozen meals that will be great for after baby is here and box tabs to get a free pizza.  Erin drew my name and I got an Itunes gift card and a monogrammed bag.  It was all great.

Here's a few pictures from the holiday celebrations:

35 week ultrasound and checkup

Today I had a growth ultrasound so they could double check babies growth.  At 32 weeks he weighed about 4 lbs 1 oz. and was in the 79th percentile.  We knew he was on the bigger side then but I never realized he'd be this big at 35 weeks 2 days.  He weighs about 6 lbs 15 oz. and is in the 88th percentile.  His head and tummy are in the 97th percentile alone.  Babies usually gain about 1/2 lb a week towards the end so if I go all the way to my due date he could be 9.5 lbs.  Of course ultrasounds can be off by a lb in either direction.  However, considering I am measuring a good 4 weeks ahead I am certain he is a big baby.  They checked my amniotic fluid since it was a little high at my last ultrasound and this time it was normal so that was good to hear.  I didn't see my own doctor as she was on call during the holidays so I saw the Practitioner Assistant today.  I told her my worries about a big baby and that my last labor was only 6 hours and we are an hour from the hospital.  She said they will continue to monitor how big baby is getting and also consider induction at 39 weeks if I haven't had him by then.  My doctor checked me and I am not dilated at all and the baby is still pretty high up yet so it could be a while yet. 
I'm still hoping to deliver this baby vaginally but I know my chances of a c section with a large baby and induction are increased.  We'll just be open to whatever happens.

The boys are getting excited and asking me just about every day when baby will be here.  I told them a few weeks after my Birthday but I know they don't really get "weeks" yet.  Hopefully only 3 weeks to go.

No ultrasound pictures because baby was being a stinker and had his feet in front of his face the whole time!

33 week check up

I had my 33 week check up today.  Only 7 weeks to go!  I feel like I'm finally nearing the end, but it still feels a ways away.

I talked to my OB about my ultrasound and she said she was pleased with baby's grown but since he's on the larger size she wants to have another scan done to see how big he gets.  The ultrasound showed me measuring 1 week ahead of my due date but when the OB measured me, I was measuring 4 weeks ahead.  It could be baby's position or the size of baby or the extra fluid I have.

We may consider an induction at 39 weeks depending on how things are going.  We shall see.  I'm very anxious to meet this little guy!!!

My next appointment and ultrasound are scheduled for December 28th!

32 week ultrasound

I had to have another ultrasound because at 20 weeks one of the baby's femurs was measuring really small (8th percentile).  While my OB was pretty certain it was just an inaccurate measurement, she wanted to double check.  It's amazing how much he's grown in just 12 weeks.

He was quite active and we got a couple good face shots in 4d.  I think he resembles Caleb.  He is still a BOY that's for sure!  He's going to be bigger than Caleb I am sure.  He's now measuring in the 79th percentile.  The femur was remeasured and it was in the 65th percentile so it's obvious that they just didn't get a good measurement before.

The nurse did call me after my ultrasound to tell me that the measurements look good and that baby is on the bigger side so she wants to do another growth scan at 35 weeks to see how big he is getting.  I also have extra amniotic fluid which can be a normal side effect of having gestational diabetes.  I'll be anxious to talk to my doctor herself about the results next week.  The boys are getting very anxious to meet their little brother.  They keep asking me if he'll be here tomorrow.