Goodbye, July!

Claire, New Jersey, July 2005

July

by Annette Wynne

July's for Independence Day,

For flags and speeches and for play,

For hiding deep in meadow grass

And watching flying creatures pass,

For sailing boats on little seas,

Where just the smallest summer breeze

Can blow; for picking flowers any day;

July comes for flags and play. 

People.Com

Oh, you know, learning about Ozzy Osbourne's death,

 how Heidi Klum stays so skinny and hot, 

AND the huge plot twist in the life of Stephanie Nielson. 

A baby after 13 years, I mean, this is all serious news.

1.4 million views of baby girl Nielson, who looks like a peanut/acorn.

I wish Topher were alive to see this headline; he'd love it!

I'm shocked.

I love you all!

PS.  The headline was a little confusing, 

Many thought I was having my THIRTEENTH CHILD.

HA!  

Ummmmmmm, and no.

 

Go Back

(Lottie, '12.  I do make the cutest babies)

 The cat is out of the bag! 

I'm pregnant 13 weeks tomorrow!!

It's happening, it's real!!!

And it's the biggest shock of my life!!!!

I've been posting about it along the way.

You can go back and read about it. I've posted everything now. 

I hadn't published my posts until I was out of the woods

(I had a miscarriage after Lottie)

 and knew the baby's sex (GIRL!). 

So, go back and read.

Starting Here

(Also, enjoy Claire's wedding photos!)

The Big Reveal

 Today I got an e-mail notification letting me know my blood tests were back.  

Among the terrific news is that all my genetic testing proved low-risk, 

the gender was available for revealing! Yay!!

Christian was leaving in the truck, and I waved him down, trying to catch him 

before he left (which was the most exercise I've had in like 4 weeks). 

I told him that we got the news.  

THE NEWS that we've been anticipating since the blood draw 10 days ago.

He parked the car, and we sat on the front porch swing in the 104-degree

 (plus humidity) weather.

I clicked "See Results".  Guess what popped up?  

FEMALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a girl! 

I was pretty sure it was a boy.  I was very wrong.  

Christian and I decided to keep it a secret and take the 

Nies out for dinner to share the results. 

After we all ordered our food, Christian lingered and secretly 

asked if the restaurant could make pink shakes for our table 

and bring them over in about 20 minutes- after we'd gotten our food.

The cute 16-year-old boy, Garrett, who took our order, could hardly

 contain his excitement when Christian mentioned "gender reveal." 

He brought over the six pink shakes even before we had our first bite of food. 

The Nies were puzzled because no one had ordered shakes

and I said, “Well, guys, surprise, we're having a girl!

Everyone was shocked, mainly because we all expected that I would have a boy. 

Then Claire and Nate called from Arizona; they had stopped for 

shakes after work and were with us in spirit. 

It was a really special moment for all of us.

 And Garrett, who brought us the pink shakes, probably had the best 

story to share with his family when he got home!

Carry On

 This is an important post...

And the photo has nothing to do with it.

Christian and I had a lovely dinner with one of our dearest friends 

and family doctor, who casually told me that 

the patch that is placed behind my ears that I am using for my nausea 

MAKES MY EYESIGHT BLURRY.  I AM NOT AN OLD LADY.  

ONCE THE PATCH IS OFF, MY EYESIGHT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL.

And my old lady glasses can be put away until a further date,

which will probably and inevitably be in the near future.

CARRY ON.

Old Lady

 A few days ago, I woke up and couldn't see.

I should clarify, I could see it's just that everything was blurry.

Being old and pregnant strikes again.

I'm not talking like a little burry, I'm talking, I-couldn't-see-my

hand-in-front-of-my-face-blurry.

What is going on?!

Then I found myself on the computer, 2 inches

away from the computer with Christian's readers on.

The ones he bought last year.

(I'm sorry for all the times I made fun of you, honey).

Then I bought myself OLD LADY GLASSES. Readers.

Not one pair, but THREE pairs because I need one

for my purse, my nightstand, and the car.

Also, went to the dentist, and I need a crown.

Why is this ALL happening at once?

Every Two Hours

 Having Jane home is like having a 

personal nanny/cleaner/personal chef/personal assistant.
She has taken over work at Barre3 since I can't even go near the studio,

 or I will spontaneously throw up.  It's actually tragic. 
She has been planning/preparing protein-rich food for me and baby

then brings it in and waits and watches me take a few bites 

before moving on, just to be sure I'm eating.  

I've been known to request food, get it, and then reject it the second

she puts it in front of me.

Or leave it abandoned on the edge of my bed.

I'm so weird.

She does this for me every two hours.  It's the sweetest thing ever.
Today I requested refried beans from a can on chips.  

She whipped that up, then for dinner brought me quinoa & veggies.  
 I couldn't do this without Jane.

Then I saw this photo of me, as we took photos

for the studio, and I want to scream at her and say, 

"Big news, honey, you don't know it yet, but YOU ARE PREGNANT!"

Halloween Ready Or Not, Here It Comes!

 
I went into the store today to stock up on grape Gatorade

 (my life juice, and the only reason I drink liquid), 

and saw HALLOWEEN HAD ARRIVED!!!!!
I was so excited.  I am 100% on the Halloween train.  Bring it on!

Gigs Is In Mission Prep Mode

It's mission prep time over here. 

We've gotten most of the items Nicholas will need for his mission, 

including his suits, extra slacks, ties, white shirts, shoes, boots, a coat, 

gloves, a hat, an umbrella, a belt, and socks. 

We want to ensure he has enough supplies to last him for two years on his mission. 

Tomorrow, we will take him to the tailor to get his suits fitted.

I can't believe we're here already.

Where did the time go?

I sat curled up on the floor with a blanket,

while trying to be helpful but feeling rotten.

I'm almost 13 weeks!  Shouldn't I be feeling better?

It's crazy to think he'll be living halfway across the world, 

and even crazier to me that I won't get his phone messages 

with him grunting like a zombie for several minutes for no reason.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll miss that.

 

Thank You, Katherine

 This morning, Christian and I went to the Main WakeMed hospital

OBED in Raleigh and admitted because they have some magical nurses 

who can obtain blood from unusual, complex cases — like mine.

Blood draw is taken per regular prenatal testing (including gender!),

I am the worst blood draw case ever.

While I was there, the vascular team came to my room and checked my skin

for my PICC line, which will be inserted around 36 weeks.

Katherine was my nurse, and in all my blood-drawing experiences

was hands-down the best one ever.

She was gentle, quick, and just so lovely, too.

I left the hospital feeling really uplifted!

Thank you, Katherine.

I'll be requesting her for my repeat blood draw at 23 weeks.

I've been reflecting a lot about this baby and all the change that

is coming along with it.  It's often been a little

bit unsettling and overwhelming.

But today in our Come, Follow Me reading, 

I read this from amazing Sister Virginia H. Pierce 

"Even though we may not see, minute to minute, that we are moving 

forward and making progress, I believe we will be able to one day look back

 at our lives and see that we were, in fact, doing just what we needed to be 

doing at just the right time in just the right place. We can trust that the

 Lord will work in and through us. Mormon expressed it beautifully: 

“And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth 

all things which are to come; 

wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.”

Like Mormon, I do not know all things, but I do know that the 

Lord works in faithful, prayerful people to do according to his will. 

I know that by small and simple means are great things brought to pass."

This perspective today has changed me.

I am so thankful for prayer, for hope, for faith,

The Book of Mormon, and for miracles!

I Should Be In These Photos

 I have been looking forward to this weekend 

since Barre3 Chatham Park opened last month.

Aubrey, my master trainer from the Barre3 Home Office, 

was coming to spend time with me and my B3 team.  

With training and workshops for all of us, it will be helpful and enlightening! 

I was especially looking forward to it because 

Aubrey guided me through all my training and certification.

But today I woke up feeling so sick.

I wasn't able to keep anything down, but still determined to NOT miss

this much-anticipated training, I got myself up and into the studio.

BIG MISTAKE.

I couldn't keep anything down.

I believe the studio has a smell that is imprinted in my soul, 

and it automatically makes me feel nauseous. It's truly awful.

I sat in the office while Aubrey, Jane, Christian, and I went over

policies and procedures, and all things Barre3.

First, I tried plugging my nose inconspicuously,

then I unbuttoned the top button of my jeans.

Then I excused myself and threw up in the bathroom, then 

I peed my pants all in the Barre3 bathroom and all at the same time.

I was miserable. SO miserable.

I can't stress how horrible this timing is.

Tomorrow is our instruction training.  I don't think I'll be able to go.

Some leader I am.

How Did This Happen?

 

Dear Husband,

Thank you for being so good to me while I feel like crap.

Thank you for taking care of me because apparently, I can't do it myself.

Thank you for putting me first, even though I know you have

100 million other things to do.

I love you!

PS. Let's talk about how I got pregnant 

because it's genuinely a mystery.

Oh, Hello There!

Oh, hello, there, baby Nielson #6!

We don't know yet if you are a Nielson boy 

or a Nielson girl, but something inside me thinks you are 

a Nielson boy.

After my ultrasound, Christian and I met with the OBGYN director 

at WakeMed Hospital to create a plan for my birth and delivery.

We talked about all my challenges and restrictions.

I'm concerned about my legs and my recent case of cellulitis.

I'm worried about the baby stretching adequately with my "new stomach".

I'm worried about my age (44), and what this means for baby

and for me.

I'm worried about my veins (or lack thereof).

Dr. B. was excellent and very thorough. 

I feel very safe and secure with this new team.

I can't believe this is happening!

I Wish For Autumn

Is it bad to wish for Autumn?

Because I do.

Mostly because it means I could possibly be feeling better

since I'll be that much further along in my pregnancy.

This morning reminded me of a fall morning on Stillestead.

The way the fog hovered about the trees, and the yellow grass.

I'm really looking forward to that.

Tomorrow I get my first official ultrasound, even though I've

already had a few:

1. When I found out I was pregnant at 8 weeks

2. In the ER last week to be sure the baby was OK.

 

RIP Bruce, Beasley & Winnie

 Over the weekend we had more bad weather, and this evening 

Three of our cows, Bruce, Beasley, and Winnie, died; 

we suspect they were hit by lightning.  

The way they landed was so unnatural and out of the ordinary.  

We're so sad.  This is the hardest part of having animals on a farm.  

The reality is, they die.