Coming Soon!

When I have a second (no promises on when that will be but I'm hoping tonight or tomorrow) I have a lot of updating to do! :)

Gretchen Suzanne was born on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 1:45 am. She was 8 lbs 2 oz and 20" long. I was able to successfully VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and we are thrilled. I want to write about my birth experience, Gretchen's stay in the NICU (don't worry, she's fine and home with the family where she belongs!), Dom and Annabelle's reactions, construction on the wall, our adjustments at home, her 1 week appointment, everything!

But for now, I have to go and clean to get the room ready for the wall (construction is starting whether I'm ready or not and I'd rather be ready!).

Here's a quick pic to hold you over until I can fully update.

Comes and Goes

So my headaches and pains and overall discomforts are just coming and going. Sometimes I feel like a million bucks. Other times I just want to lay in bed all day long and cry. Right now I'm having a good morning. Headache is almost completely gone and I feel decent. But I'm fearing that my pounding headache and stomach pains aren't far behind. I just need this baby to come already!!

On Saturday I was looking up every home remedy to go into labor. EVERY home remedy. I'll mention the only one I actually tried was eating spicy foods and all that did was wake me up at 2 am with bad heartburn...

But by Sunday day I felt great. I was thinking that I can do this for a few more weeks! Then Sunday night the migraine set back in and I wanted to throw up everywhere. Now Monday morning, I feel pretty good again. I'm fearing what tonight may bring though.

Only a few more weeks. I can do it, but man I'm ready to meet this baby already!! Maybe not ready like at the house (no baby room, no crib set up, no clothes ready, etc) but physically: my body is READY!

Here's to hoping for a baby sooner rather than later!

Migraine and Contractions

I had my first ever migraine last night...it was awful. I couldn't move. I couldn't have light on around me. I couldn't have noises around me. I wanted to throw up. It was just plain awful. I seriously don't know how people function like that if they have to go to work or anything. I just had to pick up my kids from my mother in law's and bring them to school and just doing that I thought I was going to explode.

I'm going to the store in a bit to get some things for home and for Dom's little trip, then I'm picking him up and bringing him to my mom and dad's work. Dom is a lucky lucky boy this weekend and gets to go with his Grandma and Grandpa to visit Aunt Angie, Uncle Andrew, Celia and Addie in Springfield! He is so excited.

After I drop him off, I'm headed to the doctor for an ultrasound to check growth and then my NST. And then I'll probably come home and climb into bed. I still feel pretty awful. I don't have a migraine anymore but I sure have a headache. It's just plain awful.

Last night I was also having contractions a lot. I literally was contracting every 3 minutes from 7:15 - 9:00 when I paged the on-call doc. Then when he called back at 9:20, they stopped. No more contractions at all. None. So I went to bed. Woke up at 10:00 pm with a contraction and then they came every 5 minutes until about 1:30 am. And then they stopped. And that's when the migraine kicked in. It was a long, bad, painful night.

I know I'm only 36 weeks 1 day but I'm done. This pain and all these contractions...I just can't handle it anymore. I'm done.

Only a few more weeks to go at the most!

Bring it on baby! Let's do this!

HOME!

Ok, so I actually got home on Tuesday afternoon but haven't had a free second until now to tell you!

I was released on Tuesday around noon and sent home basically the exact same as when I came in. I still have the severe abdominal pain. It's either a hiatal hernia (stomach pushes up through diaphragm) or an umbilical hernia (where abdominal lining pushes through near belly button). There's nothing to do about it while I'm pregnant and hopefully getting the baby out will be enough to fix it although surgery is always a possibility.

The main reason I was admitted was the contractions that wouldn't stop. I got sent home being told that I'm far enough along now that they won't stop it if it happens again. Which is silly to me. What did 3 days do? But I'm guessing those three days probably did a lot, so I won't complain and will just be thankful to be home.

I'm on modified bed rest while really means no bed at all. I'm just supposed to sit for the most part if possible. I can still work (thank goodness!) and I'm just supposed to take it easy until this baby comes. I think that is mainly to help control my pain (which there is a LOT) and doesn't really have much to do with the baby. But I'll try to keep my pain down any way I can, so sitting a lot sounds good to me!

I'm 36 weeks today and only one more week until I'm considered full term. I'm hoping to get to 37 weeks and then I think I'm ready. Although now that I've done the whole pre-term labor thing I'll probably wait and have to do my scheduled c-section on October 4th!

We shall see!!!

Antepartum

Not as in the place I work, but as in the place where I've been admitted and the place where I am stuck...

It all started Saturday morning. I was having severe pains in my abdomen and contractions pretty much all morning. I've been contracting for weeks so I wasn't overly concerned but I was keeping an eye on it. I started feeling better when it got closer to noon. I wanted to feel great because it was our baby sprinkle bbq at Jim and Leslie's and I wanted to feel good for it. By about 2 (when we were dropping the kids off at my parents) I was feeling decent. Not great but better than the morning.

We went to the shower (I mean, sprinkle) and had a fantastic time. Really an awesome time. We got to see friends we hadn't seen in forever. We were SHOWERED (not sprinkled) with love and diapers and we just had a lot of fun. The pain was there but mainly in the background the whole time. But when we got on the road, the pain was back and in full force. I was miserable the whole drive to my parent's house to get the kids. Miserable. Almost in tears. But we made it and we got the kids loaded up and headed home.

The whole drive home I was almost in tears. We got home, got the kids in bed and went to watch a little TV. I bailed on Nick right away to go upstairs to bed. I couldn't focus I was in so much pain. If I moved, there was shooting pain in my abdomen. If I took a deep breath, there was shooting pain in my abdomen. I also had a pounding headache that wouldn't go away with anything. I was downright miserable. I tried to sleep, honestly. But I couldn't. At 3:15am I was done. I couldn't stand it anymore. I woke Nick up and told him I was going to the hospital. He offered to come along but I wasn't sure what was going on and I didn't want to wake the kids up or anything. So I drove myself in.

I got to the Labor and Delivery unit at 4 am. They got me checked in and admitted and I was hooked to the monitors by about 4:30. The nurse was asking me lots of questions while I was getting settled and asked me if I was feeling any contractions. I told her no, I was just in constant pain. They started an IV, drew some blood, and took my vitals. Around 5 am, I told her I could feel contractions. Shortly after I started feeling them, they got stronger. And stronger. And my head was still pounding...

Around 5:30 or so, a resident came in and talked to me. I was contracting every 2-3 minutes at this point. She checked my cervix and said I was 1 cm, 50% effaced and at -2 station (goes from -5 to 5, 5 is when you are pushing the baby out). She started me on fluids and gave me medicine for my headache (which worked for about 4 hours, thank goodness) and told me she'd be back in an hour. Around 6:30, she came and checked me again and I was the same. So that was good. I was not in active labor but the contractions weren't stopping. And the other abdomen pain wasn't gonig away. She started me on procardia to stop the contractions, or hopefully stop the contractions.

My new nurse came on around 7:00 and had me sign all kinds of paperwork. I had already signed an admission form but with all the contractions, they had me sign a consent for a c-section, a consent for circumcision if I have a boy, consent for blood transfusion if I would hemorrhage. I started to get nervous. I called Nick and told him to come in when the kids got up. Then I called my parents and told them what was going on. I was getting a little worried.

Luckily Nick got there shortly and the contractions were spreading out. I don't remember the time, but the on-call doc came in to talk to us and gave us unexpected news. She told me that since the pain was constant and in the upper middle part of my abdomen that didn't seem to find any relief, she thought it was one of two things. 1) a hiatal hernia or 2) that my abdomen muscles (from c-sections and pregnancies in general) had stretched and were actually coming apart. Both of these things are very painful and neither have a solution...at least not until the baby comes and they can repair the problem. So she gave me two options. 1) Go home. Deal with the pain and maybe (probably) come back. or 2) Stay the night in antepartum. Let them do a trial and error on some pain meds and try to get me home in the morning.

I told her I wanted to talk to Nick about it. She left and Nick and I talked. I wanted to go home. But we were both afraid that I would get home and be in constant pain and end up coming back. So after a long talk, we decided I would stay. After a few hours, Nick left and then I got moved from Labor and Delivery to Antepartum. I had a nice afternoon. Stuck in bed but I had a TV and they give you a laptop to use while you are here and I felt ok. Still in a lot of pain, but ok since I was in good hands.

My mom came up to visit and that was nice. Even though I had only been in the hospital for a few hours, I was already lonely. So she stayed for a few hours and then she left. Nick came back up with the kids around 7:30 and that was kind of a disaster. :) The kids were hyper and crazy and couldn't stand being in a room and confined. So Nick only stayed for about 30 minutes. I told him to go home and I'd be home in the morning...

How wrong I was.

I received some pain meds and ambien to help me sleep and I slept great. I was feeling decent when I woke up this morning. Still in pain, but convinced I could handle it at home. I ordered breakfast and met my day nurse and was having a decent morning.

Then the contractions started again. And wouldn't stop. They put me on the monitor and I ate breakfast and waited for my doc. She came in and gave me the bad news. No way was she letting me home while contracting like this. So I got more procardia and told I would probably be spending the night. Again.

I'm not going to lie. I cried. I called my sister and cried. She talked to me for a bit and calmed me down. Then I called my parents and told them and I cried. They calmed me down, then I talked to Nick and told him, and I cried. I know it's what's best for me and the baby. I know that. But I want to go home. I want to be in my bed. I want to see my kids and my husband. And even that darn dog. :)

I'm trying to look at the brightside. While I'm here I have someone to help me with everything. I get to hear the baby's heartbeat twice a day. I get to order whatever food I want and someone brings it to me and then cleans up after me. Sounds pretty good right? I still miss my family and still want to be able to get up and walk around (I'm still on strict bedrest except to go to the bathroom).

I haven't had any contractions since the second dose of procradia. Hopefully I don't have any more and can go home tomorrow. I know I'll probably be on bedrest when I go home and I think I can handle that. I'm eager to talk to my actual doctor (I've only seen his colleague and not him yet) and see what he says. I know now that I probably won't get to VBAC. Especially if they are having to repair a hernia or separated muscles. No point in pushing a baby out and then having surgery anyway. But I'm wondering if he'll do the c-section early now that this is going on. If he does the c-section at 37 weeks, that's just a week from Thursday. I can handle bedrest until then. If he waits until 40 weeks, that's a month from tomorrow. Obviously I'll do whatever I have to do but would rather have this baby earlier than later.

Oh well. I know I'm in good hands and luckily we have wonderful family and friends. Hopefully Nick can get some help while I'm out of commission.

I'll let you know when I know more, but as for now, I'm holed up in the Antepartum unit waiting for those magic words that I get to go home. :)

Doc Appointment

Just had a great appointment today. Doctor came in and felt my belly and said this baby is big and almost ready to come out! :) He thinks I'll go early and we'll check to see if I'm dilated at my 37 weeks appointment. He'll also strip my membranes to try and help me go into labor on my own. That would be great if some of these tricks work and I go on my own. I really want to try and VBAC. I understand I might not be successful, but I want to give it a shot.

Since this baby is coming sooner or later (and I'm kind of hoping sooner) we really need to get stuff together. I've been nesting all day. All the laundry is folded and some of it is even put away, haha. I'm going to go through baby clothes tomorrow and see about washing everything and packing a few things for the hospital. I also started packing my hospital bag today. Nothing big, just a few travel size things I already had. Hopefully we can stay on top of things, now that we're actually trying, and be ready when this baby comes.

I was looking through a few old pictures on iPhoto and came across a few from when Annabelle was born. I honestly can't believe we're getting ready to do this again, but I'm thrilled. I really am. It took me almost 35 weeks to get to that point but I'm so excited to have this baby and have a family of 5!

I can't wait to duplicate these photos!! Just a few more weeks to go!

 A family photo (I look bad, and Dom looks sad...we'll have to make the next one a little better! haha)

 

 My momma holding Sweet Baby A

 Dommie holding his baby sister for the first time

 Sue and Annabelle

 Nick and the "BIG BRO"

 Andrew and Angela holding Adelina and Annabelle (Holy A names Batman!)

 Me and the BIG BRO. I think he's trying to give me a pretzel or something.

Nick, me and Annabelle

Just a few more weeks! :)

Baby Names!

I thought that we had names narrowed down to 2 boy names and 2 girl names. I was wrong...

Nick told me last night that he doesn't like either of the boy names anymore. Not that he doesn't like them, but that he doesn't think they are right for our baby boy (which he is sure this is a baby boy, I'm still not convinced...).

So we went back to the drawing board. Then I had an idea this morning. I called him and told him of my new boy name and SHOCKER he likes it!! :)

So I think we have changed our baby names. The girl names MIGHT still be ok. We'll see if he changes his mind on those in the next few weeks, but I think we have a new boy name. And I think I'm going to keep it a secret this time...

Stay tuned!

Pool Party!

I wanted to throw my classmates a pool party send off to Term #3 and a few of my classmates wanted to throw me a baby Sprinkle so we combined them and had a lovely day yesterday!

I am so lucky to have met so many amazing people these past 8 months at Goldfarb. I know you've heard me say it a million times already but Goldfarb Accelerated Nursing Program is an intense program. INTENSE. You are getting a second Bachelor's degree in essentially 10 months. It's hard. You are taking 20 credit hours a term and you are stressed all the time. These people in the program with you become your second family. And I'm so thankful for all of them. ALL OF THEM. I've heard stories about the classes ahead of us that don't study together or help each other or care about each other. Our class is completely different. We don't want anyone to fail. We will study as late as we can to help make sure everyone gets it. If someone finishes a study guide early, they email it to everyone. We just care about each other.

I got to see that a lot over these last 8 months. I was in danger of failing first term. You need a 78% to pass each class. Not a 77.99%, a 78%. Going into the final Pharmacology test I had an 80%. Going into the final Pathophysiology test, I had a 78%. I had to do great. And I had some amazing people to study with and I passed both classes. These people are amazing. And I'm so sad to not be moving on with them. I hope the class behind us (behind them I guess and it's now my class) is just as caring.

Some of these amazing people gave me some really sweet gifts for this baby. I told everyone not to get me anything. Hello! We're not working and we all just took out at least $25,000 in debt! But some of them got stuff for me anyway. Here are a few pics of the party yesterday and some of the gifts I've gotten.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come yesterday! If you couldn't come, I COMPLETELY understand!!! I'll be up to visit soon, I promise!

 Tony firing up the grill

 Machalla and Jen sittin' pool side

 Jess getting ready to wow us with her dive skills

 My momma hanging up some balloons

 Rachel and Jess having a beer and taking a break from the water

 Some folks lounging by the pool

 The onesies that my friends decorated! So cute!!

The other gifts I got (and 3 packages of diapers that I didn't bring up yet!)

 A close up of a really cute frame that a friend got me. Nick has already decided that 

Dom's pic will go in the giraffe, Annabelle's pic in the elephant, "new baby" in the top of the ark, 

and a family pic in the bottom of the ark. I can't wait to put it in the new nursery!

 A close up of the onesie by Rachel. Can you read it?? "Holy Unexpected Baby, Batman!" and there's

a batman logo she drew on the back!

 The one on the right is one of my faves (the back says, "You should See my MOM!")

This is adorable because it's SO true!! This baby has spent it's entire time cookin' at Goldfarb! :)

Machalla, me and Jen. The awesome girls who threw most of this party together. Thanks girls!!!

I'm going to miss everyone so much! I hope I can keep in touch with everyone. Thank you again to everyone who came, and if you couldn't come, I'm going to stalk you one of these days so we can hang out one more time!!!! :)

35 Weeks with Baby #3!

 

 

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life's changing:

Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.

 This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.

 35 weeks! Wow!! I know I say that every week, but really this is crazy. Today has been my first day to just RELAX. And what have I done?? Cleaned the basement, folded all the laundry, cleaned the couch covers, and now I'm taking a quick break and then cleaning the upstairs. I'm kind of nesting, but really just trying to get stuff done. I don't feel super motivated to get it done but I know I'm quickly running out of time! If this baby comes when Annabelle did, I have 2 weeks to get everything ready. So I better make each day count, right?!

I have been having HORRIBLE heartburn and indigestion. To the point where I want to throw up because I can feel the burning in my throat and it's so bad. But I know the end is in sight so I just need to hold on a little longer. 

Well I have a few more quick posts to do and then I must get back to work! 

Happy 35 weeks little baby! We all can't wait to meet you! (Well Annabelle probably can...she's relishing her last few weeks as the baby, but don't worry, she loves babies so she'll warm up to you soon enough!) :-)

First NST

I had my first NST last week. Everything is looking good! Baby was reactive right away which is nice and my fluid level is looking good. They want the level to be 10-20 ideally but they will take 6-23 and my level was 11.5. So it's fine. My kick counts are still good and they are happy with this baby!

I have to start twice weekly NST's now due to my diabetes. This week I go on Wednesday and Friday morning. I'm hoping things continue to go well. I had one scary NST with Dom that got me admitted to the hospital and got my induced the next day. I don't want to have to do that again. So keep your fingers crossed that this baby continues to be perfect!

34 weeks with Baby #3!

 I totally meant to write about this last week but I didn't, so I'm a little late on this one!! Oh well!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How your life's changing:

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable.

Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short).

Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.


34 weeks! I made it through school!!!! YAY!!! That was one of my biggest fears. I was afraid of bed rest or pre term labor or something that would prevent me from finishing this semester of school, but now I'm done! Woohoo! 

34 weeks and doing fine. I'm still contracting pretty much daily but never regularly and never really painfully. I'm convinced that I'll go early but my sister thought that with her second and she went into labor just a few days before her due date so who knows. That actually happened to my sister in law too...so shoot. They are probably right. I'll probably be close to my due date. 

Since I really want to VBAC, my doc scheduled my c-section for the morning of my actual due date. That way I get as good of a chance as I can get to go into labor on my own. So if I don't go early, this baby will come on October 4th in the morning. 

A Thursday would be nice. That way I'm in the hospital over the weekend. I hated having the majority of my stay during the week because you get so bored. I told Nick to go to work, which I'll do again and everyone else works. So you just sit by yourself. Having the rest of Thursday to recover and Friday morning would be nice, and then having the weekend where people can visit would be awesome. 

I feel like I'm really ready to have this baby but our house is not. I work a lot this week but plan to really get cracking on baby stuff around the house at the end of the week and Labor Day Weekend. Hopefully we can get the room started (I'll TRY and remember to take before and after pictures!) and start cleaning and putting away baby clothes. That will make this more real. 

I've been preparing mentally for awhile to have 3 kids and have Nick and I outnumbered but I've been so busy between school and work that I haven't REALLY thought about it. Getting clothes put away and packing my hospital bag (shoot! Gotta do that too!) will make this more real...

Only 6 weeks to go at the most!!! Happy 34 Weeks Baby #3! I can't wait to find out if you are my sweet baby girl or my sweet baby boy! (I'm still thinking you are a girl and Daddy is still sure you are a boy...can't wait to find out who is right!).  

Pregnancy Ticker

I'm procrastinating before getting ready for work and while looking at the tickers on the right side of my blog I noticed it said that I only have about 45 days to go until baby #3 gets here...

Well holy cow.

I'm NOT ready for that at all. I have so many things to do before this baby can come! SO many things!!!

As most of you know, I'm a list maker so it looks like I'll have to get in gear and make a list and get ready for this baby! I started working on cleaning out my bedroom today (we're adding a wall in our room to make it two separate rooms and one will be the new nursery) but then I got tired and took a 2 1/2 hour nap...oops!

SO here's my plan. I'll make a list tonight and get cracking tomorrow. I have all day tomorrow. I only have a 9:40 doc appointment and a little studying to do. I can do it!!!

45 days AT THE MOST. If this baby comes when Annabelle did, then I only have 24 more days. EEK!

Here we go...

33 weeks with Baby #3!

 

 

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How your life's changing:

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist.

Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.

So at my last ultrasound (last Friday), this baby was measuring at approximately 5.0 lbs. A little more than the 4 lbs this email is describing! Yikes! Maybe I do have diabetes...hmmm..

Well things are good but I'm having contractions every day now. Usually accompanied by dehydration so I'm not worried about them and they are never regular or more than 6 in an hour or anything. More like 6-10 every day throughout the whole day. But they are coming. Who knows. Maybe this baby will be early like Annabelle! As long as I get through finals next week and this baby is healthy, I'm ok with whatever. I'm not in a rush, but man I'm getting uncomfortable and it's been hot! 

I'm also having a lot of back pain. But I think that's because I've been carrying a book bag for the last 8 months. And that will do it! But no more book bag after today so I'm thankful for that. Maybe I can start getting the rest I need and get ready for this baby. 

We've done absolutely nothing to get ready for this baby yet. And I mean nothing. Once school is over (next Thursday!!!!!!!!!) I plan on spending a lot of time getting the house ready. I just need to make a list and make a plan and I can do it!!! 

33 weeks down and just 7 at the most to go! Woohoo! 

Or maybe not???

I'm really questioning whether I have diabetes or not. Since going to class and getting my glucometer, I've taken my blood sugar 15 times and 13 out of 15 have been beautiful. I'm thinking that it was a weird fluke. I tested my theory by eating a HUGE cheeseburger with ketchup and onions and a LARGE fry on Friday night. (The cheeseburger was on a carb filled white bun). I took my blood sugar and they wanted it under 140 and it was 135. Who knows.

But I felt like crap after eating that burger, so I'll try to be good anyway.

Less than 9 weeks to go. I can do it! :)

Diabetes

Again...

I failed my one hour. I passed the one at 20 weeks but failed the one at 29 weeks. BARELY failed too. I needed my glucose level to be 130 or less and mine was 133. BOO!

I refused the 3 hour tolerance test. I'm just going to start the diet. I have my diabetes class on Thursday. I'm NOT looking forward to it but maybe I'll keep my weight under control and be healthier in the long run for it. We'll see.

Also, now Nick's convinced that people in his family only get diabetes with boys so he's 100% convinced this is a boy (I'm still thinking pink). I had diabetes with Dom and now this one but not Annabelle. And Nick's sister, Kate, had diabetes with Henry but not Sophie or Jill. Nick's sister in law never had diabetes and has 2 girls, Kailey and Addison. And my sister never had diabetes and has two girls...

Huh? Maybe he has a point....

Boy??

30 weeks with Baby #3!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off.

 Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.


I can't believe I am 30 weeks already. Where does time go?? 

I remember after I had Annabelle a lot of people asked me if we were done having kids. They said, "You already have one boy and one girl so you can be done!", and I remember thinking, 'No way...that wasn't the last time I will ever be pregnant because I love being pregnant and I have to do it one more time'. Well this time around I haven't enjoyed hardly any of it. Not because it hasn't been enjoyable but because I've been so busy!! So I guess that means we have to have 4 kids!! ;-) We'll see...

Anyway, school is going well and almost done, thank goodness. I'm ready for a nice break. This past week it's really hit me that I'm exhausted. I've been trying to be so strong with work, school, kids, house, pregnancy, all of it and I'm done. I can't hardly take it anymore. I'm just flat out exhausted. 

I have 3 weeks of school left and 1 week of finals. All 4 of these weeks will be crazy. I'll be busy and stressed, but it's one more month...less than that actually since my last day is August 24th. 

I'm really looking forward to JUST working full time! And then being off for a few months with my new little baby!! 

And speaking of my new little baby, I think we have baby names narrowed down to 2 boy names and 2 girl names. So that's exciting. It will be a lot easier deciding from 2 than starting from scratch. 

I know that I've been the one who's wanted to wait and not find out, and up to this point it's been fine. But now that I'm digging through the baby clothes and trying to get stuff ready, it would be a LOT easier if i knew what we were having!! I'm still looking forward to that one special moment when we find out and get to meet him/her at the same time, but I realize why people do want to find out early!

That's all I got for now. More next week I hope!  

25 weeks with baby #3!

 

 

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

How your life's changing

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.
You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.


When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.
Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

25 weeks and going strong! Things are still going well. This past week has been a little rough for me. I had to work 3 nights until 11:30 pm and had a test on Friday morning at 9 am. But somehow I'm done with it and even managed to get an 86% on the test so it was a good week! 

I've already done my first glucose challenge test and passed so I just have one more to do and hopefully get cleared from diabetes this pregnancy! I really hope I'm ok, because I just discovered Ben and Jerry's Pistachio Pistachio ice cream and yeah, I'm in heaven. I don't know if I can give that up! 

We have started thinking about baby names and our girl names are narrowed down to two, but we are struggling with boy names!! I can't think of anything that I like. The middle name would definitely be Stephen, after my dad, so the first name has to sound good with Stephen and also has to go with Dominick and Annabelle. I always thought naming the first one was hard, but once you have siblings, it's really tough! Plus the added suspense of not knowing if we're naming a boy or a girl. It's tough work. :) 

That's about all I have for now.  Life is good. No complaints here! 

24 weeks with Baby #3!

 

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How your life's changing:

In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball. Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition.

Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn.

Looking at that picture above, no wonder I have to pee all the time! :) My baby is getting big!! And pushing on my bladder!!

Things are really good. I'm still feeling baby a lot (less these last few days but I've been on my feet way more) and feeling pretty healthy. Today was slightly rough. I feel a little nauseas, but not too bad. 

I know I'll have to do the GCT again (I already passed it once at 20 weeks), probably at my next appointment around 26/27 weeks. I'm praying that I pass again because I really don't want to be diabetic...but there's always that chance! 

I started off not gaining hardly any weight at all. I'm starting to make up for it!! So I need to be careful. I'm now at 12 lbs gained. Which is ok, but since I was overweight when I got pregnant I'm only supposed to gain 15-25 lbs and I have a long way to go! 

I'll keep watching it. Anyway, things are good. Busy but good. Very good. 

Happy 24 weeks baby!! I can't wait to meet you and see your beautiful face! And find out if you are my second son or second daughter!!!!

22 Weeks with Baby #3!

 

 

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate.

What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track. You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby.

At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.


Things are still going fine. Not great anymore but fine. Nick actually put me on his version of bedrest, which I have to admit is pretty awesome. I've been trying to do way too much. WAY too much. And he has cut me off. He made a good point. The last thing we need is for me to go on bedrest and not finish this 2nd semester of nursing school. So I'm listening and taking it easy. 

The main reason we were concerned is I got sick the other day (dizzy, nauseas, seeing spots) and I had my blood pressure checked and it was 142/90. I freaked out about pre-eclampsia. But I've been resting and my BP is down to 122/78 and the spots and nausea have gone away. Now I just need to continue to take it easy. And I see my doc on Tuesday so I'm sure everything will be fine. 

In the meantime, I'm worrying about work, classes and homework. That I can handle. Or at least attempt to handle. 

I'm still feeling this baby move all the time. This baby is a squirmer! And I love every movement. LOVE every movement. I'm still thinking it's a girl. But Nick is still sure it's a boy, so we'll see! We have two girl names picked out and no boy names so we'll see. If it's a boy, I'll be thrilled, of course, but this baby might not have a name for a few weeks! :) 

Well, I'm off to bed to get some more rest. 

Happy 22 weeks Baby!! 

21 Weeks with Baby #3!

 

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.
That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.


21 weeks! More than halfway there! Woohoo! 

I'm REALLY starting to POP now! There is no question that I'm pregnant! I'm getting HUGE! I'm feeling the baby move a LOT now and I love it. This is one active baby! 

I just realized that I used an exclamation point on almost every sentence I just wrote. Woah. I'll try and tone it down. ;-)

I am feeling pretty good these days but I'm overdoing it every day. I know I am. Tonight Nick and I went through all our clothes and got 5 big trash bags of clothes to donate to Goodwill. We've been moving furniture (more on that later) and cleaning and I keep getting some sharp pains. I know I'm overdoing it. But I feel like I have so much to do!!! I know, story of my life right!? But I'm trying to get a lot done in not a lot of time. 

I'm going to try and tone it down but it's rough. I have a lot of work days coming up and my first round of tests start a week from tomorrow. Hopefully I can stay on top of everything. Yikes. Wish me luck!

Happy 21 weeks little baby!