Lessons from a Pregnancy

I have not posted any sort of updates on this pregnancy on this blog, but if you're a friend on Facebook, you are well aware of the struggles I have faced, and oh boy, has this baby girl put me through the ringer!!  Though this is not my first pregnancy, I have learned or have been reminded of quite a bit in the past 8 months.

1)  Throwing up sucks.  I have thrown up more in the past 8 months than I have in the past 8 years.  I did not get sick one day with Kelsey, had some nausea, but never actually got sick.  This baby girl?  She has a mind of her own, and I am lucky to keep any meals down each day.  The upside?  I have not gained much weight!

2)  I have an addiction.  Tums are my best friend, particularly peppermint tums.  I pop them like candy.  YUM!  My best friend was in town for a visit, and actually expressed her concern over my Tums "habit"... hey, what can I say?  They soothe the heartburn and nausea.  I love them.  Now the moment I am no longer pregnant, I will be repulsed by them, but for the time being, my bottle of Tums is never more than just an arms reach away.  My name is Kristin, and I am an addict.

3) Being pregnant means buying a ton of toilet paper.  Frequent trips to the bathroom because the baby won't get off your bladder = using rolls and rolls of TP.  Enough said.

4) You can truly live with a minimal wardrobe.  I have a pair of maternity jeans, a pair of maternity shorts, two pair of maternity capris, a variety of tops, and some dresses that have worked for me throughout this pregnancy.  That's it.  And my closet stays neat and organized.  Maybe I should continue with this minimalist wardrobe post-baby??  Probably not.

5) I am much slower these days.  Slower going up the stairs.  Slowing going down the stairs.  Slower rolling out of bed (literally, ROLLING out of bed), in general, I've just slowed down.  This totally goes against my nature and my personality.  I'm normally go-go-go nonstop.  Pregnancy changes all that. 

6) Pregnancy causes insomnia.  I know they say to rest while you can, but it physically becomes impossible.  You can't sleep on your stomach (obviously), and you aren't supposed to sleep on your back. You are supposed to sleep on your left side to increase blood flow and circulation, but it is nearly impossible to stay in one position all night long. First of all, my arm falls asleep from laying on my side.  My back starts to hurt from being in one position, and the weight of the baby pulls the muscles in my back.  It's awesome.  I've taken to passing out around 10 PM, I get up every hour or so for a bathroom break, only to "wake up" around 2 or 3 AM and get up for a few hours.  My DVR and I have done a lot of catching up.  Maybe it's just the body's way of preparing you for the sleep deprivation that is soon to come.

7) Bedrest is torture.  I was on hospitalized bedrest for almost a month when I was pregnant with Kelsey.  I thought I might escape it this time around.  Nope.  I ended up being put on bedrest at 36 weeks with this baby, but at least I'm at home.  Have to stay off my feet as much as possible and rest.  This is very difficult for many of the reasons listed above.  Add an almost 5 year old to the mix who keeps us very busy around the house and well, you'll see the bedrest is really amusing.  The idea of it is fantastic when all you want to do is slow down and sleep... the reality of it just isn't practical.

8)  Pregnancy brings out the worst in you, but the best in others.  It gives you plenty of reasons to complain, whine, be in a bad mood, etc.  But there are people in our lives who are supportive, caring, and remind us daily of the blessing we are carrying, not a burden.  It really is a beautiful thing.

9) People can't STAND secrets.  Everyone wants to know-- what are you having?  A boy or a girl?  We revealed that early on.  But we decided to keep this baby's name a secret until she is born.  Just something that we can share with others that will remain a surprise.  This doesn't go over so well with everyone else!  But we are enjoying it immensely :)

10)   As old as pregnancy gets, every time this baby girl kicks me, I smile.  It is a gentle (sometimes!) reminder that life is growing inside of me, and this little bitty person is just as eager to meet us as we are to meet her.  I feel truly blessed and look forward to welcoming my new baby girl into the world, whenever she is ready.  Hopefully it will be soon! 

Oh, Baby!

I am not doing a great job of keeping up with this blog at all, and I'm not going to make any promises that I will get better, but I will try.  I am now 6 months pregnant with another baby GIRL!  We are thrilled and are looking forward to welcoming her into our family in just a few more months.  We do have a name picked out, but all we will reveal to others are her initials-- baby K.C.W.  I have found that people are very opinionated about names.  They either love them and express their elation openly, or they are quickly turned off by the name and begin to offer alternative suggestions.  We decided on this baby's name together and we love it.  When we present her to the world in a few months, we will share her name at that time.  Until then, feel free to refer to her as K.C. 

3+1=4

The Westberg family: A family of 3 for many years now, and about to become a family of 4! We are very excited that our new addition will join us right around Kelsey's 5th birthday in October. She is very excited to become a big sister and we are very excited to "complete" our family!

I realize, as if my life has not been chaotic enough, that a new baby will mean more chaos, but the good kind. As Henry Miller said, "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written". This new chaos will be our new reality. We welcome this new chaos into our lives with open arms!

Empty Nest

It's quiet around our house this week. Kelsey is in Florida visiting with my family and having the time of her life. We are enjoying our time alone as well, but her absence is absolutely felt! There is no coloring, no dress-up or games of pretend, and no Barbie movies playing on the DVD player. No sounds of Dora the Explorer or the Backyardigans, and no little hugs and kisses from my sweet baby girl. Joey and I are going to take a mini-vacation this week to Savannah and enjoy our time together (as it may be our last for a while!) and will get to pick up Kelsey on our way home.

An unknown author once said, "A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer". I am looking forward to my bright days and warm heart returning when baby girl comes home!

Happy Birthday, Mommo

At the rising sun and at its going down, we remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn, we remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us, As we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make, we remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share, we remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs, we remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live, For they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

(From the Gates of Prayer Reform Judaism Prayer Book)

I miss you and love you, Mommo. Happy birthday to my special grandmother.
Sending hugs and kisses to heaven. XOXO

2/17/37 – 12/31/08

It's the final countdown!!!

I admit it, the music from Europe's hit song The Final Countdown is now playing in my head.. "do do do do, do do do do do... It's the Final Countdown!". As I approach my 29th birthday this week, I realize that I am nearing a milestone in my life and the countdown to the BIG 3-0 will begin. Who knew that my 20's would fly by so quickly? Who knew that my youth would be over in a blink of an eye? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to wish away the next year of my life, I am trying to confront reality and accept the fact that time flies by. So welcome 29, I'm going to make sure that I send my 20's out in style this year.

2010

2010. A new year, a new decade. Two Thousand and Ten, or Twenty Ten, whatever you call it, welcome to it. New Year brings to mind a new start, resolutions that will go unmet, and yet a hope that we have a chance to make things right. 2010.

I’ve started thinking about what will happen in my life in 2010 that I can already expect: 1) I turn 29 years old. That last year in my twenties. Ugh. Enough said. 2) I move on to year two without my grandmother. It’s not going to be any easier, but maybe won’t seem as weird because we’ve done this once already. We’ve been through monumental moments without her here, we’ve celebrated holidays with her glaring absence noticed, but we’ve survived. Year two won’t be any better without her, but maybe will feel a bit more normal. 3) My brother deploys to Afghanistan. This is one thing I am trying not to think about on a daily basis but the reality is that he will be sent off to war to defend freedom and democracy in a place that many of us would never even dream of going. While I am so proud, I am also a very worried big sister. 4) Kelsey turns 5 years old this year. Five Years Old. Where has the time gone? I’ve watched my little girl grow up right before my eyes and yet I am asking where every moment has gone? I just might have a breakdown in October, FYI. 5) So many of my good friends are welcoming babies into their lives this year. I am so happy for them and can’t wait to share the love and joy that I have felt with my own daughter and know that they have experienced it too.

So Twenty Ten—I’m ready for you. Ready for the chaos that you will bring, and I will do my best to control what I can and give to God what I cannot!

“Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.”- Tom Barrett