38 week Prenatal appointment

Somehow I gained 4 pounds this week. Probably half of that is the fluid in my feet! My ankles are getting so fat! So up to 29 pounds gained. Still only 1CM and 50% effaced. She said she doubts I will go into labor before my induction. She also could not tell if the baby is still head down. I have a feeling he might have flipped again because I feel a lot of kicking low. I really hope not or I will have to end up with a C-section. I have an ultrasound on Wednesday to check his position and size. If everything is okay I will be induced on Friday. I really hope everything goes okay because Shelly, Kevin and My mom have already taken time off for the induction and to have someone watch the girls.

Thanksgiving 2010

First thing in the morning Kevin went out and did a little shopping at Kmart. Then when he came home we relaxed for a while. I got the girls showered and dressed and then started cooking my green bean casserole and Vegetarian "Turkey" to take over to my parents house for dinner.  We got to Moms around 3:30 and her house smelled so good! She cooked the turkey in a roaster. She made a crock pot stuffing that I had found the recipe online for her. It was the best stuffing I have ever had!! I will post the recipe at the bottom. My parents, Angela, Kevin, Gabby, Avalynn, my Aunt Corrine and I all had dinner together. Everything tasted so good. We had Turkey, gravy, vegetarian Turkey, Mashed potatoes, Squash, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Olives & Pickles, Rolls, Celery with cream cheese and celery with peanut butter, A cherry chocolate cheesecake, Pumpkin pie, & Apple Pie.  We brought Kito over too. He loves going to my parents house. We had a nice relaxing evening. Shelly arrived around 6:00 for dessert and she was staying the night to go shopping with Angela, Tony & My Mom. No shopping for me. I have skipped it the past few years and shop online instead or have them pick me up some deals!

This year I am most Thankful for my family and our Health. We are so lucky to be blessed with two beautiful little girls and a new baby who will be here very soon!

For several months I have been following a journey of a little boy who has been battling brain cancer . On thanksgiving day he lost his battle. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in Peace Max.  Nunn Family Facebook page

 

Slow Cooker Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 12 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 12 cups dry bread cubes
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth, or as needed
• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, celery, mushroom, and parsley in butter, stirring frequently.
2. Spoon cooked vegetables over bread cubes in a very large mixing bowl. Season with poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, marjoram, and salt and pepper. Pour in enough broth to moisten, and mix in eggs. Transfer mixture to slow cooker, and cover.
3. Cook on High for 45 minutes, then reduce heat to Low, and cook for 4 to 8 hours

37 weeks ultrasound/Appointment

I had an ultrasound to see if the baby was still breech. Lucky for me he has turned head down! He is still measuring really big. The Ultrasound tech measured him 4 times. The first 3 times she came up with 8 pounds 13 ounces. Then the 4th time she came up with 9 pounds 14 ounces!!! But she decided to go with the first 3 times! He can be 7 Ounces different either way. I finally got to see his face clear on the ultrasound. I think he looks like me :) . For some reason the pictures they give me never come out very clear though.  I lost 3 pounds so back to a 25 pound gain for this pregnancy. My blood pressure was great! She checked to see if I have dilated and I am at 1CM and 50% effaced so a long way to go. The doctor set me up for an induction for December 3rd. She doesn't want me to get to my Due date because she is afraid he will get over 10 pounds and be too hard for me to deliver naturally. I am fine with that because I want to do all I can to avoid a C-section!! I am nervous about the induction though. I was hoping for a drug free birth like I had with Avalynn. I am hoping he will come on his own before then so I can try to have as natural a delivery as possible. I am so excited to see my baby boy! I have packed and repacked the girls an overnight bag 3 times, lol. They are going to stay with my sister Shelly when I go in for the induction. My bag is packed and ready to go also! Less then 2 weeks and I will be holding my baby boy! So excited!!!

36 week prenatal appointment

I gained 2 pounds so I am up to 28 pounds gained this pregnancy. My iron is a little low so they want me to eat as many iron rich foods as possible. My Blood pressure was great! I go back next Friday and will have a quick ultrasound right before my appointment just to check the baby's position. The doctor wants to know by 37 weeks if he is breech so they can try to manually turn him if he is still breech. If they cannot turn him I will most likely have to have a C-section unless he turns on his own before birth.

Ultrasound Update

Everything with the baby's heart looks perfectly fine! He is big for gestational age though and right now weighs at least 7 1/2 pounds. The fluid level was normal. He is breech and basically folded in half with his head and feet both up in my ribs and his butt down. I am going back on Dec. 1st to for another ultrasound to check the weight again and to see if he is still breech. Hoping he turns and will not gain very much more weight before then!

Vegetarian "Meat" Loaf

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package cottage cheese
 3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons water
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
1/4 cup dry plain breadcrumbs
2 cups cornflakes cereal crushed
1 small onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
Pepper to taste


Directions
Saute Onion and garlic on stove. Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Mix well with hand mixer. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake on 350 for 45-60 minutes until firm.

35 Week Prenatal Appointment

On Monday I had a non stress test that I am getting done 2 times a week because of my Gestational diabetes. While I was there the Nurse thought that she heard something irregular with the baby's heartbeat. There was a midwife on call so she had her come listen and she heard it too. She said that she thought the machine was just picking up my heartbeat in the background or something but they would check it again at my next appointment. Well yesterday at my appointment they heard it and it was even louder. Also I am measuring even bigger then last week. She said either the amniotic fluid level is really high or the baby is really big. On Tuesday I will be seeing the Specialist to have a level 2 Ultrasound done to check the baby's heart and get a measurement of him and the amniotic fluid.

They called today and changed my appointment to Monday at noon instead.

Broccoli Alfredo Lasagna

Broccoli Alfredo Lasagna

10 ounces frozen broccoli boiled, drained well and mashed or pureed

9 Cooked Lasangna noodles

1 15 ounce container Ricotta cheese

2 cups Mozarella cheese (Divided)

Alfredo sauce (Recipe for home made sauce at bottom)

Mix mashed or pureed broccoli with Ricotta cheese and 1 cup of the Mozarella cheese. Lightly cover bottom of a casserole dish with Alfredo sauce. Lay down 3 of the Noodles spread half of the Ricotta mixture on top, spread some alfredo sauce on. Put 3 more Noodles on and repeat with the rest of the ricotta mixture and more alfredo sauce. Put last 3 noodles on and pour remaining Alfredo sauce on top, cover with remaining cup of Mozarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

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Home Made Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese 

1 stick Butter

1/2 c. Parmesan and/or Romano cheese
2/3c. milk
1 Table spoon Garlic powder

1/2teaspoons of Chili Powder
Italian Seasoning to taste

 
Cooking Instructions:
Soften cream cheese and butter to room temp. In a bowl mix Garlic powder, Chili powder,
Italian Seasoning and Parmesan/Romano cheese together. In a pot, add cream cheese, milk
and butter over low heat. Mix pot ingredients until smooth. Mix in Bowl ingredients into
the pot. Cook over low flame for 5 minutes.