Baby Shower

Who says you can't craft while on bed rest?! Since my body pillow is practically attached to my hip, I feel like I can do anything ;) I offered to make my baby shower invitations because I figured it would give me something to do and give me an excuse to use my cameo, which I absolutely love! I decided to be extra crafty and make the envelopes as well. It seriously took me a whole week to make 17 invitations, but I loved every minute of it!

The baby shower was held at my house. It was so fun to spend the afternoon with my family.

{Thanks to my sisters/mom who took all of my pictures}

If you're like me, I always dread the baby shower games because they always last forever. My sister, Amy, was in charge of the game and it was by far one of my favorite games I have played at a baby shower. It was seriously 5 minutes and it was so simple. She bought all of the items on the list and then we had to guess how much each item cost. The person that came the closest to the actual cost won a candy bar.

Can I just tell you how amazing my grandma is?! Not only has she made a baby blanket for every grandchild, she also makes them for every great grandchild! On top of that, she HAND sews it. She is incredible. I wish you could see the design up close because it's incredible!! She made the cutest disney blanket for baby DeVore. I am going to cherish this blanket forever!

My mom took after my grandma and is an amazing seamstress! She made me the cutest monster blanket, burp rags, and car seat cover. She definitely spoiled me!

I'm so grateful for these beautiful ladies that threw me the best baby shower today. I am so lucky to have such an amazing family!!

Happy Halloween

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Who doesn't love a day that revolves around dressing up and getting free candy?! Lucky for me, I was feeling the Halloween vibes early and put up all of my decorations in the middle of September before I was placed on bed rest.

Pretty sure Chad found the biggest pumpkins in Orem. Together they weigh 140 pounds!

We ordered a pumpkin shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner {it tasted a lot better than it looks} and watched Beetlejuice and Casper while we carved our enormous pumpkins.

 In case you're wondering how to carve a 70 pound pumpkin while on bed rest...

We got a surprise visit from the cutest Cinderella and Mike Wazowski there ever was...

Our busy night left us with two worn out dogs.

I'm so excited for next Halloween when we get to spend it with baby DeVore! Happy Halloween!

26 weeks

The best thing about being a "high risk" pregnancy is that I get to see this little babe every two weeks. At every appointment I have an abdomen and cervical ultrasound. In most pregnancies, you usually have 2 ultrasounds your entire pregnancy, so it's definitely fun to watch the progress of this little guy. 

Today, I was exceptionally nervous for my appointment. The further along I get, the more nervous I get about my cervix holding the weight of the baby. During my ultrasound, I was so anxious, I almost passed out! But luckily, the ultrasound tech re-assured me that my cervix is doing perfect! It is still measuring about 2.7 cm, which is the same since surgery... which is amazing news!!! This little guy is already ahead of the charts and is weighing in at 2 pounds! Baby DeVore is one strong baby and we are SO excited to meet him in about 14 weeks!

24 Weeks

My life consists of Gilmore Girls, cuddling with Bruno, playing endless amounts of Sudoko, writing a novel in my journal, and working at my goal of actually filling an entire coloring book. Welcome to life on bed rest :)

How far along: 24 weeks and 2 days!

Total weight gain: 12 pounds

Maternity clothes: Since I leave the house once every 2 weeks for my appointments, I never put on normal clothes. Who wants to lay around in jeans? So, it doesn't feel like I need maternity clothes since I'm basically wearing gym shorts and t-shirts all day :)

Stretch marks: nope, lets hope it stays that way!

Sleep: I haven't been sleeping that great. Since I am laying down 23 hours of the day, I get really bed sore. My hips get really achy. I'm grateful for my full-sized body pillow, it definitely helps!

Best moment of the week:My 8 year-old neighbor coming to my house and giving me crayons and a coloring book. Little does she know how much I love to color. It was the sweetest thing!

Miss anything: I miss being able to stand longer than 5 minutes at a time, shopping, cooking, cleaning, corn mazes, family gatherings, working out, date nights, and just being able to walk around! Being on bed rest has definitely taught me patience and how to be pro at countdowns... only 110 days to go!

Movement: Baby DeVore is quite the kicker, especially during the middle of the night. I love waking up to his little kicks, especially when they wake me up from my horrible nightmares.

Cravings/Aversions: Surprisingly, I haven't had any cravings. I will eat anything!

Looking forward to: My baby shower next month

Notes from Dr. appointments: I followed up with my Dr. a few days after returning back from CA and he was upset when he found out I had a cerclage surgery. He basically said how he can't diagnose me with an incompetent cervix until I have lost a baby (because there are no symptoms of an incompetent cervix....your cervix starts opening without contractions, and you don't realize it until you're going into labor). That's why most people lose a baby before they realize the problem. It made us disgusted to think that he was OK to have us miscarry, and then for the next pregnancy, he could officially diagnose me with an incompetent cervix. That's why we are SO grateful Dr. DeVore was able to see the problem before it was too late. 

Anyways.... we decided it would be best to switch to a different doctor. I need to feel 110% comfortable with my Dr. since I am trusting my baby's life with him, so it felt like the right thing to do. Dr. DeVore recommended Dr. Broberg in Provo, and honestly, it was the best decision we could've made. He makes you feel like you are his only patient and that he has all the time in the world to answer all of your questions. I feel so comfortable with him and am so grateful that we switched!

At my appointment, he checked my cervix to see how it looked since it had been 2 weeks since my surgery. I was very nervous to get the results, but I was so relieved when he said it was still measuring the same since the surgery, 2.67 cm! A huge relief was lifted off my shoulders and gave me a lot of motivation for bed rest. I can do this!

23 Weeks

Isn't he adorable?! I haven't stopped looking at that cute lil' face since our 23-week check-up appointment yesterday. It's always a good day when I get to see (& hear) this little man. I'm not gonna lie, it's quite nice to get out of the house, too. It was weird to actually put on make-up and normal clothes! I'm proud to say that Baby DeVore is growing strong and has a healthy heartbeat of 165 bpm. I can't wait for the day when I get to squeeze those chubby cheeks and kiss those luscious lips! 

My baby bump is really starting to show, and it's SO fun! I absolutely love being pregnant! It's so amazing to watch the changes your body makes to grow a little human. It's truly remarkable! It is such an exciting time in life and I feel so privileged to be able to experience it. 

Back to Reality

1 week of bed rest down, 18 more to go! I couldn't be more grateful for our little trip to California. I will be forever thankful for Dr. DeVore and all that he did to save our little baby! Getting me home from California was the tricky part. Since I would be sitting up for 3+ hours flying home, (going through the airport, security, plane ride, etc.), Dr. DeVore decided it would be best for us to drive home, considering I am only allowed to sit up/be on my feet for 5 minutes an hour. Since we flew to California in the first place, we had to rent a car to get home. Chad rented a luxury Buick, which was perfect because I was able to lay down in the back seat the entire ride home. I don't think I have ever been so excited to get back to Utah. I was so anxious to lay in my own bed, eat our own food, and see our dogs! 

I am so grateful for the love and support we have received from our friends and family. Yesterday was our first day back, and I couldn't believe all the texts/calls/visits from our friends and family. My parents brought Chad and I Zupas for lunch and my mom spent a few hours talking with me. My friends, Rashell and Sarah, brought me Swig and spent the rest of the afternoon keeping me company, and my mom brought over dinner that night. I am so grateful for the little acts of kindness we have received!

Being on bed rest is definitely not easy, and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, but honestly, I couldn't be happier. I have so many things to be grateful for! First, I am so grateful for Chad. He has been my shoulder to cry on, he strengthens my weaknesses, and he is the biggest supporter I could ask for. He has been by my side through it all and has picked me up when I thought I couldn't handle it anymore. I honestly couldn't do it without him. 

Second, I'm grateful for baby DeVore's fierce little kicks, they are what keep me motivated. I am doing this 100% for him, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I have grown so attached to this little man, I just want to keep him inside as long as I can! 

Third, I am so grateful to have had a successful surgery. My cervix is now a whopping 2.67 cm and I couldn't be happier!

Last, but not least, I am grateful for my two little bed rest buddies that keep me company. They give me someone to talk to all day ;)

This may be a tough time in life, but it won't last forever, and I know it will definitely be worth it in the end!