Almost 34 weeks!

Almost 34 Weeks!

Well, it's been an interesting couple of weeks. There was all the painting that happened..... After that, I kinda lost my steam, but I still have a list a mile long of things I want to get done!

I've talked about me and the pregnancy a lot the last few posts, but we're getting close to the end. Jason has started to make plans for coming out here to meet his little girl. The plane tickets are bought, we've been talking to the doctor about the "ideal" induction date, baby names have been a hot topic of conversation again.... I think it's starting to gel for us all that a BABY is going to be here soon, and not just the idea of her.

Chris and I are making plans on this end; my parents are planning to come out during our "ideal" induction time, so we have someone to watch our kids. We've been trying to think back and remember our kids' deliveries- so we can ask Jason what he wants done in the event that the baby decides to come before our planned date. It feels like we're actively participating in the pregnancy again, instead of just enjoying the "uneventful" middle time. I keep saying, though, that we want this to be SO planned this time, that something not planned is bound to happen...

It boggles my mind to think that we're closing in on the home stretch of this amazing journey.

In pregnancy news, I'm contracting more than I ever did with my other pregnancies. I was sent home from work last weekend with instructions to "take it easy", and I saw the doc mid-week this week. The good news is that the contractions aren't doing much to my cervix. The not good news is that they really ARE annoying sometimes! Funny, it makes me totally able to relate to my patients who contract all the time with no changes that happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that nothing "exciting" is happening at this point. I just could have gone another 2 or 3 weeks without contracting!

Okay, here is me and Little Miss as 33.6 weeks. I'm definitely NOT looking my best, but I realized it's been a long time since I put a pic up. So, this just goes to show that I don't insist on looking perfectly "made up" in every picture! ;)

Could I be nesting???

Could I be nesting???

It's another one of those crazy pregnancy phenomena. Most women reach some undefined point in their later pregnancy, and decide they MUST clean, sort, organize, etc, etc, etc. Most of the time, it's thought that this is a woman's internal drive to make a place for the new baby to come home to. That's the theory I always went with anyway.

Until this week.

I know I don't have a new baby coming home with me. There is no worry about setting up a nursery, picking out bedding, washing little teeny clothes, and making sure that we have everything we need for a new little person. Then why, I ask, have I spent the last week in full nesting mode???

It must be the hormones.

Tuesday night I inexplicably couldn't fall asleep. Those who know me know this is very rare. As I lay there in bed, with sleep eluding me, I started making a list in my head: Bed, Bath and Beyond for new kitchen rugs, curtains, and curtain rods. Home Depot or Lowe's for paint, and something new to cover the sliding glass door that I hate. Do I need to replace the blinds downstairs? All of them??? I'm kinda tired of the white look after 10 years; it might be nice to get some darker ones. But what shade? I won't know that until we replace the coffee table and the kitchen table.... But we're not planning on doing that just yet. Should I put a rug under the kitchen table???

And on and on until sleep finally found me.

So Wednesday we went out to BB&B and Target. I gathered some of what was on my list. When we got home, I spent the afternoon tearing apart the kitchen and sorting and decluttering drawers and cabinets. Thursday, I went out bright and early for paint. I spent the rest of Thursday painting the kitchen, the slider wall, and then putting some things back together again. This morning, I finished pulling the kitchen and eating area back together.

I have yet to hang the new curtains and rods we got for downstairs. I was in the middle of hanging the black-out roman shade in my room when I discovered that I really would need the drill. And the battery on the drill is dead. Sigh.....

Hopefully there's enough energy left to tackle the mountain of laundry waiting for me next week.

The Space Heater Syndrome

The Space Heater Syndrome

We all know that pregnancy does funny things to women's bodies. I've had my fair share of "pregnancy weirdness". One of the most interesting things that happens, I think anyway, is what I've come to call the "space heater syndrome".

I'm usually cold all the time. Like the flannel-jammy-pants-and-blanket-on-the-couch during the dead of summer cold. Chris always comments on how my "thermostat" is broken. Especially when we get in bed at night and I put my cold feet on him. I warn my patients before I touch their bellies with my bare hands because they are usually cold. I try to talk Chris into putting the flannel sheets on the bed in September, and don't take them off again until June. You get the idea.

Enter the Space Heater Syndrome. About two weeks ago, I noticed that I wasn't getting very cold at work any more- believe me, a very rare occurrence. Then I was needing fewer and fewer blankets on the bed. Yep, it's hit. The baby is big enough now that I feel like I'm toting around my own little space heater. I no longer feel the need to dress in layers, I only need the sheet to sleep with, and I don't grab my down coat to go outside with any more (good thing, too, cause I can't zip it up anymore!). Last night, when I got in bed I put my feet on Chris. He said "Holy crap, what's wrong with you???" My feet and my toes were WARM!

I get progressively warmer as the pregnancy continues. It's quite the interesting phenomena in our house. It's the only time EVER that Chris and I agree on the temperature... I'm totally cool hanging out in short sleeve ts, and don't need a blanket on the couch- unless a cat wants in my lap, that is. The only downside is waking up in the middle of the night-either in a pool of sweat, or completely missing that t-shirt I know I put on before bed! I wake up in the middle of the night- not to take multiple trips to the bathroom- but because I'm frying squished between Chris and Paige....

The other crazy pregnancy thing that happens with me? My hair gets darker with each baby I carry. Some women get bigger feet, I get more brunette. But I don't mind that at all, I kinda like the dark.

Latest pics of me and Baby Girl- 31 weeks tomorrow!

29 weeks and counting....

29 weeks and counting....

So I always think of all these great things to blog about when I'm away from my computer.... In the car, falling asleep at night, at work. But when I"m actually here, in front of the thing, my mind goes mostly blank.

Like now. I have my 29 week picture to post, but no story to go with it.

Things have been pretty great the last few weeks. So there's not really much to relate today. The baby is moving a ton, and all was well at my last appointment. She's been getting the hiccups, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, lately. This is the part of pregnancy that I truly love. I'm not so big that I'm uncomfortable all the time, and I can really feel her moving- which is my favorite part.

I'm starting to envision what labor is going to be like, and am really starting to contemplate what to expect after delivery. The time is going to fly by, and she'll be here before we all know it. I know that she's not coming home with me- that's the whole point of this journey- but I'm really starting to think about what the experience will be like. I hope it will be as easy as I imagine it will be!

Maybe I'll have a fun story to tell next time??? :)

Approaching 28 weeks

Approaching 28 weeks!!!

I love 28 weeks. Not that I feel super special wonderful at 28 weeks or anything like that.... It's the antepartum nurse in me coming out. 28 weeks is the first big "milestone" gestation for the NICU and pre-term moms. (Not that I've ever been a pre-term mom, but I'm aware that there is a first time for everything....) If a baby is born after 28 weeks' gestation, there is a marked decrease in the incidence of brain bleeds. Scary sounding, and scary. Although babies born early, even after 28 weeks', have difficulties of their own, I always breathe a tiny sigh of relief when that first milestone mark passes.

On to other thoughts!

So, one of my "usual" pregnancy discomforts is itching. I've been an itchy mess with all my pregnancies; mostly through the end of the first trimester to almost the third trimester. There have been several theories for my itching: increased blood volume, skin stretching, bile salts, soap allergies.... None of it really made sense to me. Then, my doctor and I were discussing my progesterone reaction incident earlier this pregnancy. He said, "Well, yeah, increased progesterone makes some people itch." Ding, ding, ding!!!! This rang true to me as the cause of all my itching- especially with how severely I reacted to the injectable progesterone.

The itching this pregnancy has been astronomical. I've made my ankles and feet bleed from scratching. I scratch in my sleep. Chris says he feels like he's sleeping with a grasshopper... Yes, I've tried things. Aveeeno soap, aveeno lotion, medicated aveeno lotion, benadryl, cortisone cream, oatmeal bath soaks.... My doc recommended Cetaphil lotion, but I really don't think it's a case of dry skin. I'm going to talk to him about it again at my appt next week. Although I think it's going to be one of those "so sorry, not much we can do about it" things.

Interestingly, and maybe this all goes hand in hand, but my skin has just been really super sensitive this time around- like a tactile issue. My clothes are uncomfortable against my skin, tags bother me, blah, blah, blah. I feel like a skin sensitive challenged toddler most days. Clothes and ways of wearing clothes that usually get me through a pregnancy have done absolutely nothing for me this time around. I've lamented to Chris several times that it's the dead of winter, and I HAVE to dress in layers. Why can't it just be summer so I can throw on a soft sundress.... or a mumu for that matter????

Lol. So. I'm getting creative. My latest endeavor is to turn a old pair of drawstring scrub pants for work into a pair of maternity scrub pants. Yes, with the large, uber ugly (absolutely fantastic) full belly panel. I found some soft, stretchy fabric at the fabric store ( I should not be allowed into the fabric store) that I think my belly will enjoy. This afternoon will have me getting friendly with a pair of scissors, some fabric, and my sewing machine.

Wish me luck.

Uh, the holidays are over now.... so....

Uh, the holidays are over now.... so....

Hmmmm..... I just looked at my 25 1/2 week pic (it's down toward the bottom). Talk about chipmunk cheeks! I'm hoping it was just the angle of the picture. I'm thinking my face is starting to look rather.... full.

Now I know weight gain during pregnancy is normal and healthy. I'm one of those crazy people who chooses to never know my weight. I don't look at the scale at the doctor's office, and I never jump on "just to see". What a horrible idea. I choose to go with how my clothes fit.

Well, I know my regular clothes sure aren't fitting me now!!!! So I can't really use that as an indication any more. I've always said one of my goals this pregnancy was to try and stay active- I never accomplished it with my own pregnancies. And so far, I haven't done very well this pregnancy either.

I was in pretty good physical condition before this pregnancy, visiting our local rec center 3-5 times a week. My love was Zumba. With all the craziness that happened the first trimester, I wasn't able to keep exercising the way I had envisioned. Then my rec membership ran out.... Drat. Did I renew the sucker???? Uh. No. And I miss my Zumba, I really do. I think about my long lost class at least 4 times a week. But I'm pretty sure my body would take a furious ass-kicking if I went back now!

However, it doesn't keep me from thinking it's a great idea. I dream of my little support belt strapped to my ever-expanding belly, and me hopping around class like a pro. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty sure I'm going to be red faced and breathing like a steam engine.

Walking the track may be a better "get back into the game" activity.

My goal for the end of January is to get in and renew my membership. Then my next goal is to start going again. I miss exercising, so I'm pretty confident that I will work it back into my weekly routine. And my goal will not be to lose weight. My goal will be to remain active and feeling good about myself.

And if my face stops looking like I have chipmunk cheeks, so much the better. ;)

The "boring" inbetween

The "boring" in-between......

And thank goodness for it!!! After all the hullabaloo of the first trimester, I'm glad there's not much to report right now.

We had another appointment today, and Little Miss is doing great. Developing right along, and right where she should be. I had to do my glucose test today, a little early since I do have a history of gestational diabetes. Only with my first pregnancy, but I'm still keeping my fingers madly crossed that I pass this time, too....

I'm really feeling her move all over the place these days. She was head down at the doctor's today, which is great news. Hopefully she'll stay that way! Her little body is getting so big in there that I can feel her roll now in addition to her kicks and jabs. Sometimes it takes me by surprise, because I still sometimes think she is so small!!! She's decided that she likes to hang out on my right side and in my right hipbone area; so much so that my belly often looks lopsided. My OB even commented on it. I think it's funny that these little kiddos have their own personalities and preferences so early.

Little Miss also likes music. A lot. Jason sent us a playlist for her to listen to, and a story he read so she can get used to his voice as well. Pretty cool. She is pretty active in the car these days, too. I figure it's because I drive with the music fairly loud (when I'm by myself anyway). I love to sing in the car, but really have to drown out the sound of my own voice! She really rocks with Evanescence. I figure that means she either loves them or hates them. Hard to say. :)

Here's our 22 week picture, even though I'll be 24 weeks tomorrow.