Progress

29 weeks!
We have had a good week for the most part. Unfortunately, this past week, my nausea has made its re-entrance. It has happened somewhat randomly, not always along with meals or with being hungry. Sometimes the feeling has been pretty intense and I've had a rough time going to sleep. I have also starting taking my iron pills (no, my nausea is not from these pills) and I have to be careful when I take them. It has to be one hour before or two hours after food or antacid tablets. I also can't lay down for 30 minutes afterward so getting in a schedule has been rough.

I am starting to have a really rough time getting comfortable. My belly is starting to feel like a concrete pillow and I cannot stand having anything touching it. This is like undershirts, panels on my pants or pillows even. I had a really hard time during my massage the other day being comfortable because it was hard to breathe laying on my back (even though I was somewhat elevated) and that was a bummer because I couldn't enjoy it as much.

This weekend we got to babysit for our friends' little boy Gavin who is 5 1/2 months old. We had him several hours on Saturday and Sunday. It was so much fun and a good taste of what it will be like to have a baby around. Saturday we didn't have much planned and he was super content to hang out and play. Sunday, we were all sleepy and we had chores to do, but Gavin just really wanted to be held. It's so interesting how much just "normal" things change when you have a baby. But having him around certainly makes me more excited for my own to come!

I should get the results of my 3 hour glucose test on Tuesday at my next appointment. Then, I believe my friend Stef and I are going to the Baby Depot to look at baby furniture if I have the day off of work. This is my last "full " week of work! Woo hoo! Baby and I are looking forward to some rest before the big day and the house needs a lot of attention before October.

That's the news! Have a great week!

Third Trimester!

The third trimester is here! While some sources will argue whether it begins at week 27 or 28, it doesn't matter, because I am in it no matter what now! Woo hoo! The second trimester went so super fast. Before we know it, in three short months, little girl will be here!

She is getting bigger all the time. Over the last 11 weeks, she has doubled in size! I can tell because she now spends a lot of her time kicking me in the ribs. I try not to complain too much because I take that as a good sign that she is facing downward and hopefully increasing my chances for natural birth. She could be born now and live outside my body (with assistance) and would be just a little bigger than our hands. My mom told me yesterday that she is predicting her to weigh somewhere in the 5-6 pound range... I'm not sure yet. We'll have to see how my growth goes this trimester. She can gain up to a 1/2 pound a week this trimester.

In mommy news, I go in for my 3 hour glucose test on Tuesday. I was able to get the whole day off because my caseload has been lighter so I can devote my whole day to that. Then back to the doctor next Tuesday to find out the results.

I have now been affectionately been nicknamed "BB" by my family because of my weird obsession with playing with my gradually progressive "outey" bellybutton. It has a little ridge on the top of it that I can't stop messing with! I just wish it would go ahead and pop out or stay in. This in between thing is weird!

We have lots coming up in the next few months:
Aug 1st is our "Prenatal blitz" class, Aug 3rd my work schedule changes, Nathan is taking TWO call weekends in August back to back, our 3rd anniversary is Aug 19th, Aug 22nd is my shower with the ladies at church, Sept 13th is my shower with friends and family in Marion, Sept 16th is my breastfeeding class, Oct1st is the end of teaching bible class, Oct 5th is our ladies' lectureship and then I am due Oct 10/11th! This trimester is gonna fly!

We are looking forward to meeting our little lady soon. Have a great week!

Not What I was Hoping to Hear

Well, first of all in good news, I am only a few days away from starting my 3rd trimester. I'm 27 weeks and my belly really seems to be growing. Baby has definitely stepped it up a notch with her movement lately too. The last several days she has been very active throughout the whole day on and off. Yesterday, Uncle Jared got to feel her move for the first time! :) At my doctor's appointment today, I heard a nice strong heartbeat which is always music to my ears. She moves a lot when they take the doppler off my belly....I think it scares her or something from the noise of it. I'm right on track for gaining weight too. Really overall, I feel great.
So now for the bad news....

I am anemic. I was borderline in my first trimester when they tested me, so I guess I'm not totally surprised that the retest last week showed that I am. Most women revert back to normal after delivery, so hopefully that will be the case. I have to start taking an iron supplement, which in itself isn't bad, but the digestional side effects aren't always so pleasant. Yuck!

I also failed my one hour glucose test. She said my sugar was 176 and normal is 140s. It doesn't mean that I definitely have gestational diabetes, and there are several factors as to why I could have failed. SO, now I have to go spend 1/2 day in the lab and do a 3 hour fasting glucose test. Meaning... I can't eat/drink 10-12 hours before the test, I have to drink that fruit punch elixir again, and then they take blood after 3 hours and I can't leave the lab the entire time. Awesome, right? Well, the good thing is only 2-5% of women who fail the first one end up actually having GD. Hopefully I won't fall in that category, but we'll see.

I will leave this on one good note, Dr. Hoover did say she thought it would be appropriate for me to have 8 weeks off after delivery. That was wonderful news. I have been stressing a little about getting baby girl on a schedule for my return to work and plus with my job demands, she did feel that it would be an okay option. Yeah!

I officially start going to the doctor every two weeks until 36 weeks now. I'll know the results of my GTT at the next appointment. Your prayers are appreciated and coveted!

Have a great week.

Glucose test

I just made it through my glucose test! My drink was fruit punch flavored and tasted mostly like "spicy" Hawaiian punch. Not bad. About halfway through it, it got harder and harder to drink. I had a big knot in my throat and I just kept thinking, "please don't throw it up!" Nathan met me at the lab this morning since they didn't have any cases until noon. We went for a walk up to the new Birthing Center at Howard. It was beautiful! The rooms are spacious and I think we'll do just fine there. We met some of the staff and everyone was very friendly. Nathan took me down to the cath lab to "show me off" to his co-workers and then I had my blood drawn. The ladies in the lab were excellent and very friendly, as usual. Now, I'm just doing a few errands at home, then off to work!

Whew! It's over! I should have the results by my appointment on Tuesday. :)

Let there be furniture

So it has been a fun and relaxing weekend with "Gram and Pop" Seago in town for the last several days. I know baby girl has enjoyed them being here and has been putting on a gymnastics spectacular in my belly because she has been so excited. It seems like I'm growing more and more over the weekends, although certain outfits tend to flatter me and make me look more pregnant.
Today at church my two favorite comments were "We can finally tell you are pregnant" and "You look so cute pregnant." I guess there was some excitement for me in both comments. Random strangers are now asking me when I'm due and how I'm feeling which has been fun for me.
The only bad thing about another holiday weekend is I am EXHAUSTED. We had a weird schedule last week at work and by Thursday night, I was useless. I have barely lifted a finger to cook one single time except for a couple side dishes for Saturday's cookout. I have really got to watch my salt intake more closely because of my swelling (which wasn't bad because I was able to rest more over the weekend...hallelujah!) and my sugar (this week anyway) because my blood glucose test is coming up on Thursday. My schedule is all nuts again at work this week so I'm sure I won't be able to tell Tuesday from Thursday again.
In super fun news, Daddy and Pop got the baby crib assembled this weekend. It was very exciting and I can't stop going in her room to look at it!
My mom is working on this quilt for her bed (it's not done yet) but she brought it over to help me with my "inspiration."
The finished product looks wonderful. It has a drawer underneath, a changing table (converts into a shelf), 4 built in shelves and a laundry basket that pulls out. It also converts into a daybed, toddler bed and full size bed as she gets older. We will probably have to buy another bed of some sort once we have a second baby, but this has lots of options! I love it!

In other big news, in 2 weeks I will officially be in my THIRD TRIMESTER! Wow, has time flown (in retrospect)! August 1st, Nathan and I have our "prenatal blitz" all-day class at the hospital and August 3rd, I officially go down to a 3 day a week work schedule. I'm looking forward to getting some more rest and having more time to pace myself getting things done around the house before baby comes. I have a shower in August and one in September and before we know it, she'll be here! I'm getting more and more excited every day!

Have a great week!

25 weeks

So officially in the 6th month now, my little eggplant is getting her immune system and her eyes are forming so that she will soon be opening and closing her eyes. Perfect for batting her eyes at mommy and daddy when she's in trouble, right? I also read that Nathan may be able to actually detect her heartbeat by putting his ear to my belly at some point this month. How cool! I'm not quite flexible enough to do that unfortunately. At some point this month, she should weigh around the 2 lb mark. Everyone at work cannot believe how much she grows over the weekends!

I had a couple patients today tell me that "as big as you are, you will probably have a big baby." Me, big? I think I'm still pretty small for 6 months pregnant. Wow. All those different opinions. I still have ladies at church swear I'm having a boy because I'm only showing and gaining right out in front.

Exciting thing of the week (for me anyway)... I believe that I'll be getting my pump for breastfeeding this week. A "nosy" (haha) patient asked me if I would be breastfeeding and I told her yes. She said her daughter had a pump that she was unable to use because of inability to lactate. It was basically new and top of the line. Come to find out, it is the pump that I was wanting. It is almost $300 retail in the stores and she only wants $125 for it. Yeah! That would be a huge money saver! Plus, the price to replace the shields and hoses is minimal compared to buying brand new. Hopefully this will work out and save me some big money!

The in-laws should be here by Friday. We are looking forward to their visit and I can't wait to shop with my mother-in-law for the baby's room!

I have the big talk with my boss tomorrow about work and my hours. I am petrified so some extra prayers that all will go well would be appreciated!

Have a great week!

Movin' right along

We had a painting party with Aunt Shelly this weekend and got the baby's room all done. I don't think this picture really shows the true color though. We are so pleased with the way it has turned out so far. Now we just need to work on getting some furniture in there! I can't wait to see the finished product.
This is a picture of my cousin, Rebecca, and I just after we got back from Topsail. I am 23 weeks in the picture and she is 35 weeks. Our babies will be just 3 months apart. I don't think our baby girl will run out of playmates!
I would not normally post a picture of my bare belly, but I took one the other night and was absolutely amazed at the growth in the last few weeks. I am DEFINITELY looking pregnant now! So far, no stretch marks either, but I still have a lot of growing to do. I have had a 10 pound weight gain so far, and I'm hoping to gain about 1 pound a week until she is born.
The normal 24 week belly picture. She is getting more and more active every day. Saturday was the first night she has kept me up because of her activity. Last night, Nathan and I just sat on the couch and watched my belly for about 30 minutes because the movements it was making was unreal! I think she might have had the first hiccups that I could feel last night. It was so funny. We can also now start to feel where her body is in my belly. We found a little foot last night and it was an awesome moment. I was amazed at how cramped she is starting to get in there. I guess because she is still so tiny that I just pictured her floating around and doing whatever she wants, but now her growth will be the main thing that makes me bigger until she is born. AMAZING!

Check out the link if you are curious what I am talking about (shows a baby at 24 weeks gestation, but this picture is a breech baby):
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-24-weeks

I am at my 6 month beginning mark! One more month until I reach my 3rd trimester. I have to get my blood glucose test on July 9th. Fun, fun! Last Tuesday's appointment went great and her heart rate was 148bpm and she moved all around. I am measuring normally for this point in pregnancy and the doctor's nurse practitioner called me "petite"! Woo hoo!

Can't wait for a visit from Nathan's parents next week. We'll post fun pictures of baby's Gram and Pop! :) Have a great rest of the week.