Holy Hanna...I'll be a Mom Again in Six Weeks!

AHHH!!!!!!  When I have a moment to take a break from the craziness that is wrapping up loose ends before Hope's birth (Practically building a new house anybody?), that is typically the word that races through my mind.  Sometime in the next six to seven weeks, I'm going to become a mother of three, a feat I never dared to dream of achieving.

Every day I am asked the same question..."How much longer???!!!"  Here's the 411 people.  The plan is for George and I to fly to Ashley's home state when she is 38 weeks along.  Ashley turns 38 weeks the day before Mother's Day, so, George and I will be flying to Texas Monday, May 13th to wait for Miss Hopelyn's grand arrival.  If she hasn't arrived by Ashley's 39th week, she will be induced sometime during that week; the dates we have been given have ranged from May 17th-20th.  Either way, my newest princess will be here...SOON!!!

One change in ME that I can't get over is my urge to nest.  Of course, I experienced the famous nesting phase when I had my first two children, but the thought of nesting during this pregnancy never dawned on me to be truthful.  I suppose it's Mother Nature's way of preparing me for new parenthood; I can't stop cleaning, cooking, listening to sappy music, etc.  In the beginning of Ashley's pregnancy I experienced morning sickness with her, so, I can now validate the reality of men feeling sympathy pains for their pregnant wives; it's really a hoot!
 

Nesting 101: Remodel your house just a few weeks before baby is due to reach your maximum stress potential!

As I mentioned, I listen to sappy songs, and, I'm much more sensitive to the miracle that is Hopelyn Jane.  It feels as if the past eight months have flown by, and, when I look at that little picture of two tiny eight-cell embryos I marvel at the wonder of it all; one of those two bodies of cells that were formed in a petri dish is now be a real, live human being I'll have the privilege of cuddling, feeding, nurturing, and raising to become a strong, fearless woman.  It's simply a miracle; I have no other words to describe how lucky George and I feel.

As I said, I'm feeling sappy as we near the end of our pregnancy.  This is Hope's chandelier medallion that will hang in her nursery.  My mother had a "thing" with ladybugs, so, this is my way of telling Hopelyn that Grammy is always looking over her.  Kudos to designer Marie Ricci for making this custom work of art for us!

As for Ashley, she's hanging in there.  She's understandably exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and, is just as nervous/excited for D-Day as George and I are.  I can't imagine what it's like to deliver a baby for a couple who cannot do so themselves; I often think of how lucky she is that she is giving a family the ultimate gift, and, I hope her pain medicine kicks in enough during her delivery that she gets to digest just how much she's blessed our family.  With that in mind, I must admit that I'd be terrified of giving birth in front of a crowd, and, I give her props for taking this huge feat on.

Like me, Ashley is nesting (as much as she can given her family's current circumstances...more on that in a bit).  She laughs as she reads magazines and shops at stores like Target, seeing baby things like cribs, and realizing that, despite the little occupant residing in her belly, she doesn't have to buy anything for the sidekick she's shared her body with over the past eight months. 

Ashley glowing at eight months pregnant. 

One thing Ashley is coming to terms with is the failing health of her father.  Ashley's father has stage IV cancer, and, her family recently made the difficult decision to place him on hospice care.  Every two weeks he has several liters of fluid drained from his abdomen, and, Ashley told me he looks more pregnant than she does.

Given all that Ashley has on her plate, it is understandable that she would need a little (more likely a lot) of support right now.  To add to her emotional stress, her father's medical bills have been astronomical, and, a "Go Fund Me" account has been opened to help Ashley's family pay for her father's medical care.  It would mean the world to me if my blog readers, whom I've come to know and love more than I even did before we embarked on this journey, would consider donating to this account.  All of the funds donated on this website will go directly towards the care of Ashley's father, and, no amount is too big or too small.  To donate simply click on the image below and you'll be all set.  I must say thank you now to anybody who is willing to donate a few bucks to help a friend who has so generously helped me fulfill a dream so great.

Well, this mommy-to-be needs to go clean up more sheet rock dust, but, I'll be back and posting more often like I did in the early days.  As we near the end, we'll be receiving more updates on our journey at a more frequent pace that we can't wait to share with all of you.  Until next time...

Cheers!