Update -- 7 Weeks to Go!!

Hello, disregarded blog. I am here, once again.

My status for the day: Life is good. I have a man who loves me, a fun and loving daughter, a baby on the way, great friends and family, a good dog, a great job, a decent house and car, and pickled cauliflower in the fridge.

Physical update (Don't read if you don't want to know!!):

I have gained 43 lbs. to date. Not bad, considering that 3/4 of that was put on in the first 4 months . . . ! I am catching up to it. Or something.

I haven't measured my girth - let me do that right now. . . . ummmm . . . . 47 1/2 inches. I started at 30.

My hands, legs, and feet are swollen.

I have to pee every 30-45 minutes . . .

I get winded walking from my desk to the bathroom.

My hair is unmanageable.

My skin is crying out for less hormones.

It's hard to even roll over in bed.

I suffer from acid reflux.

My teeth hurt. So do my gums.

My boobs are finally getting bigger! But my belly trumps them still.

My belly button went from 2nd knuckle deep to half a fingernail shallow.

I can't reach my toes or get up easily from the floor (or the couch for that matter).
I get really hot when I am trying to sleep.

Cravings: carbonated mineral water, ice cream, strong flavors (pickle, spicy food, olives, mustard, citrus, etc.).

Emotional Update:

I still worry I will damage Peanut by resting something on my stomach, or bending too much, or sleeping on the "wrong" side, or eating the "wrong" food, or missing my vitamin, or whatever else my pea brain can come up with.

I am giggly over a Laffy Taffy joke one minute, and crying over a Hallmark ad the next.

I no longer have a filter when I speak.

I no longer have patience for stupidity.

Although I was never super careless with myself, I miss not having to worry so much about what I do to myself.

I am nervous about the baby room being done in time, even though she won't even use it right away. I am also nervous that we won't have the furniture in time.

I am starting to get the nesting instinct, which allows for me to overbuy, overcook, and overprepare.

I keep thinking that there really aren't 7 weeks to go, that she'll show up early, and that makes me worry more (see 2 lines above).

I get frustrated easier than ever before.

There is already an anticipation around doing everything perfectly (which I know is not an attainable goal).

Baby Update:

She is still breech.

I am feeling her kick a lot more than before, but I think it's because there is less fluid and more baby.

Natalie talked to her on the phone last night. :)

She likes to kick the dog.

She reacts to music and spicy food.

She is about 4 - 4 1/2 lbs. now.

Other:

My symptoms categorize me about 2 weeks farther along than the doctor estimated.

I got a promotion at work! With a raise! Just in time for babysitting fees. :)

We are starting to interview potential temps for me at work. First one is tomorrow. The goal is to start them next week, which will be nice, because I will have some help for at least a few weeks.

We bought an Envoy from a friend. He took very good care of it, and gave us a very good deal on it. It makes me feel safer and much more comfortable.

The latest check-up showed protein in my urine, a second sign of preeclampsia (the first being my swollen extremities). I was chided for not drinking enough fluid. Otherwise, everything looked good. Now I visit every two weeks, and the next visit may include a physical "look-see" to make sure I'm not dilated yet.

I continue to have strange dreams. Lately, there have been a lot that suggest she is a he.

People are finally speaking up about my pregnancy. When I say people, I mean strangers. When I say speaking up, I mean they are asking when I'm due, or if it's a girl or boy, or giving me a congratulations. I'm sure it was noticeable before, but now it must be so noticeable that they aren't afraid to make a remark.

A baby shower was held for Lorelai at work Friday. I will post some photos. It was spectacular.

My last shower will hopefully happen on May 22nd. I hate waiting until the last moment to plan, but that's how this one is ending up. I am trying not to stress over it, but I can't help myself. My blood pressure is actually really low, considering the frenzies into which I work myself.

Sudden Panic!

I just wrote an e-mail to a friend and suddenly started panicking . . . Yikes!

I am not ready for this little girl. Sure, I have clothes for her and a car seat and I'm registered at the hospital and I have been taking my vitamins and seeing the doctor, but I am really getting down to the wire here.

Well, I have 11 weeks, give or take, but what if she comes early? It could only be a month!!!!

There are still so many things that need to be done. We have to get the room painted and buy furniture. I am still teetering on the whole formula/breast-feeding deal, as well as the cloth/disposable diaper option. Plus, I haven't signed up for lamaze or baby classes.

I have seriously changed about 3 diapers in my life. And I am about to be alone with a baby who will need to have that done for her very shortly. I have maybe served 3 bottles in my life, and I have certainly never breast-fed. I am 30 years old!!! Does this all seem crazy to anyone else??!?

We have a crib, but no mattress (or sheets). We have 2 bottles (no formula), and 1 bag of diapers (which I'm guessing will last a day or two).

At work, they're asking me how long I expect to be out, but I have no clue. I get 6 weeks paid in full (8 for C-section), but can take vacation time and/or FMLA . . . I just don't know where the breaking point is -- I don't want to come back to early, but I don't want to go stir-crazy after staying out of work for so long.

I even tried filling out a birth plan, but I have no clue as to whether I want ice chips while in labor. I haven't thought about giving birth -- I 've been too busy thinking about being pregnant.

I guess I need to get my butt in gear.

Week 25 Starts Today!!

To start, here is a photo of week 24:

And to refresh your memories, here is week 22:

At the doctor's yesterday, I finally discovered that what I thought was possibly just a muscle spasm is actually Peanut kicking my bladder. I was able to watch her kick and feel it at the same time. She is breeched right now, but Doc said there is nothing to worry about -- we still have a lot of time for her to flip. I think she likes being upright, though, because I can feel her roll at night when I switch sides (laying on my left or right side). Doc also said that I shouldn't be surprised if I wet my pants now and again, as she is kicking my bladder constantly (She said it happened to her before!). Awesome.

I have to stop in at the hospital to get my glucose test done . . . that will hopefully happen next week. I also have to get registered there in the next couple of weeks. Classes start soon too. Woo WOO!!!

It's becoming more and more of a reality that there is an endpoint to this pregnancy. I have to face that I will be going into labor soon (hopefully in 3 months or so, not sooner or later). I haven't invested too much time into thinking about that part of all of this. Doc told me what to watch for and to go straight to Delivery if A, B, or C happens. Yikes!!

That's about it for now. I feel reassured that everything is okay. And now that I know what a kick feels like, I am super glad she's active. It gives me some kind of connection to her now.

Week 23 Has Begun!

So, I'm at week 23 -- aside from the back pain I'm receiving (pinched sciatic), I feel nothing. What I thought were baby kicks may not have been, as I have spasm-like feelings in the same exact spot randomly, and have felt nothing else nowhere . . . . I am trying not to worry, but that's my style.

I took yesterday off work. My back hurts so much that sitting and standing repeatedly just kills me. And actually, now that I am thinking about it, my feet hurt too. Is this what everyone goes through? Am I just a wimp??

I really thought I was tough as nails, but now I am reconsidering . . .

I submitted my first Avon order -- 3 customers at $208!!! However, 1 of those customers was me . . .

And, I have a new role starting at Avery. I will now be the R&D Project Manager -- sounds pretty special, right? It will surely be more intensive than my current role, but I have no doubt that I am very over-qualified for the position.

Dad and S-Mom are coming over this weekend to help with a few things . . . but mainly to visit. We are going to (hopefully) empty out the former guest room (after they have been guests in it) and paint the trim . . . Then, we are planning to go ice-skating. Natalie has it in her mind that watching Grandpa Don in ice skates will be the best part of the trip! I would have to agree. That's why the video camera is charging as I type.

That's all for now . . . I was going to post a new photo, but I haven't changed size AT ALL!! But, I'm not worrying. Right?

21 Weeks!! Over the hump!

I went in for a checkup and an ultrasound last Thursday. After peeing in a cup, having gel slathered on my belly, and having my blood pressure taken, they told me everything looked good. At the ultrasound (photos posted below) the technician said everything looked good as well.

Yesterday morning I received a call from the office. Apparently, they did not get a good look at all the parts they were wanting to . . . I was scheduled to have another ultrasound with my next visit (March 4) . . .

At first, I freaked out. Did they only see 3 valves? Was there a toe missing? Does the head look funny?

Then I realized if they had seen something out of the ordinary, they would have had me come in much sooner than 4 weeks from now.

I even asked my forum friends on whattoexpect.com if they had ever been called back in for a follow-up ultrasound. They all told me not to worry.

So I'm not.

Otherwise, things are good. However, I did have a creepy dream the other night. I dreamt that all of my high school classmates were pregnant at the same time, and we all had blonde-haired babies, born on the same day. It was kind-of like that horror flick, Village of the Damned. Yikes. (Mine was the cutest baby though!)

March will bring a big weekend. The 20th will be a day of celebration for my friend, Sara, who is getting married in April. On the 21st, assuming all of my friends survive the previous night, will consist of a celebration for Lorelai Mosier (this is going to be a Michigan family and friends party -- Indiana party will come later!!). I am geeked.

Boppa Don and Grandma Francie will be visiting in a couple weekends -- I will be putting dad to work on the baby's room, where painting, sanding, and staining will be necessary. We will also have to remove all of the furniture in there . . . Goodbye, spare bedroom!!

It seems as though things are moving quickly now. I think with less symptoms, the days fly by faster. Really, the only symptoms I have are fatigue, backache, and having a hard time getting up from sitting or bending over . . . :)

I do love my belly though. It's fun. But since I haven't felt her move much, I am still having a hard time realizing that there is someone in there. I don't talk to my belly, or rub it, or play music for it . . . but I am trying not to yell (at the dogs or at Clint, for example) - I don't want her to hear my yelling and think that's how I talk.

That's about it for now . . . I will be posting a belly photo soon!