Another great Friday

I always love Fridays. The work week is over (for me anyway- I wish it was for Ted also) and it's time to do the things I want! We saw Dr. Leight after school. Everything was perfect.... I gained one pound (in two weeks) for a total of 24, my blood pressure was 100 over 66, my belly measured 29-30 centimeters, and the baby's heart rate was about 145. We'll see her again in two weeks and have another ultrasound then to continue to monitor the baby's growth.

After the doctor's visit I went over to my friend Karen's house for a "girl's night" with a few other friends. We had some great food and watched the chick flick Mama Mia. I loved it! Gianna sat on my lap with her hand on my belly saying, "I felt it!" over and over. There is nothing like snuggling with a child... all I could think was... I am so lucky and... I can't wait!

Play Time

Snow Day, YEA!

I guess I'm so happy because hopefully I won't have to make up the day in June. I know it's not very nice but... sometimes you just have to live in the moment. I was surprised at first. When I got up to go to the bathroom at 3:00 it wasn't doing much, so I started preparing myself to get up at 6:00. So I was quite thrilled when the phone rang at 5:45. I even went back to sleep until 7:30 (Pili was staring at me and whacking her tail on the night stand because she wanted to be fed). It was a good day... got groceries before it got too crazy out, did some cooking, took Pili for a short walk, and finally got to do some yoga. It has been really nasty out up here... lots of snow, some sleet and rain, and extremely windy. Maybe we'll have a delay in the morning. :-)

29 weeks

My belly is getting BIG! There is no more wearing my regular clothes unless the shirts are really stretchy. And my jackets are in their final days (good thing Ted has lots of snowboard jackets!). The baby has been very active the last few weeks. It's such an amazing feeling.

I was just reading in the news about the woman in CA that just had eight babies! That is just unbelievable. She made it to 31 weeks and they are all breathing on their own. WOW! Now that would really change your life.

Today one of my kids at school poked my belly and said, "Is there a baby in there?" Next she asked how many (not because my belly is THAT big, but because she is a triplet). Later a pre-schooler said, "You have a big belly!"

Eleven weeks to go!

Church

I went to church this morning with my sister-in-law, Dawn, and nephews. I have been doing a lot of reading lately trying to figure out where my beliefs "fit." Although I was baptized Catholic, I wasn't confirmed, etc., but I used to go to Sunday School at the Shewsbury Congregational Church. Now that I am motivated to learn more, I find there are many parts of Catholicisms that don't really work for me. So I went to Grace Congregational Church this morning and really enjoyed it. The service was very personal and family oriented. I felt welcome and actually knew quite a few people there. The Protestant view of Christianity may work better for me. I'm not sure what Ted thinks about that.... but we'll see.

This afternoon I did the usual weekend work... vacuum, mop, clean bathrooms, etc. I really wanted to use my treadmill and do yoga but I never got to it. At least I took Pili for a walk. If only I had a cleaning lady! It was so nice when we used to, even though it was for a short time. I wish she wasn't so busy and could come back! Oh well, at least I have a great house to clean.

Good end to the week

Although it has been a short work week for me, having Monday off, it has still been a long and busy week. I started the week with a 12 hour day, followed by shorter things all the other days after school. I really like to be able to come right home after school. That is my straighten up the house, walk Pili (and myself!), start dinner, and relax for a minute time. But now it's the weekend... ahhhh.

I got a call with good news from Dr. Leight today. She said the ultrasound showed that the baby was growing as expected, measuring 28 weeks. The baby weight approximately 1,000 grams, a little over two pounds. The placenta was high on the back of the uterus and healthy. The baby's head was down with no placenta near the cervix, and the amniotic fluid looked good. I actually haven't been worrying about the results this week; I knew they'd be good. Earlier in the week I had thought about calling at some point if I couldn't wait until we see her next week. It was nice of her to call, since I know she doesn't usually do that. As Ted said, she knows how neurotic I am. Neurotic and happy!! :-)

7 months!

We're now in the third trimester! Only twelve weeks to go. We went for an ultrasound this morning. Everything seemed to go well, although they don't tell you as much as Burlington does. In Burlington they told us the actual size of all the bones and how that compared on growth charts. In Rutland she said the doctor had to look at the pictures to find the best ones. I guess that's part of the difference between a level 2 and a level 4 facility. We saw the head, with some peach fuzz hair on the back, lots of good pictures of the arms and legs (when they would stop kicking for a second), the heart, stomach, bladder, and kidneys, as well as the umbilical cord and placenta. She did say the placenta looked healthy, and the baby is clearly bigger, which made me feel good. He or she was head down with his/her but on my upper right side and kicking legs on the upper left (now I know what it is I feel so much!). Dr. Leight will have the report in a few days so I may call if I can't wait until we see her next week.

Moody

I have felt very moody lately, from sad to a just plain bad mood, and I'm not really sure why. I don't feel like I have been that way at all for the past 28 weeks, so I don't know why it would start all of the sudden. I don't like it and I want it to go away. At school we recently had two fathers of young girls unexpectedly pass away. One of them (just the other day), was the father of the two girls my sister-in-law has taken care of since they were born. They are very close with the family, who is devastated. I can't begin to imagine what it would be like... Then last night while I was waiting for Ted to get home I was watching Private Practice, which was about two children and a father ALL with cystic fibrosis. The older girl had an untreatable lung infection and was going to die and if the father went in to be with her, he would catch it and die, leaving the 2 year old orphaned. The father chose to go in and be with his daughter. I sat and bawled. So last night in my dreams (nightmares) I had the lung infection and was told I was going to die. I woke up with so many emotions... incredible sadness, anger, disbelief, and on and on. And then I think about my two friends that did have to face that. One didn't have time to think about it, as she passed away in her sleep, but my other friend did. It seems like the biggest injustice in the world. I'm reminded of my last conversation with her, as she told me to live my life with no regrets, as she had. So enough with negative feelings, there's too much to be happy about. I'm off to get ready for my ultrasound.

Doctor

We went for my monthly appointment today with Dr. Leight. I've gained 6 pounds this month, (not bad considering Christmas cookies!) for a grand total of 22 pounds. My blood pressure was the same as last month, 120 over 78, the glucose test results were great (they want the number to be below 130 and mine was 83), and my belly measured a perfect 27-28 centimeters. When the baby held still long enough to hear the heart rate, it was 150-155 beats per minutes. He or she is very active. We are now scheduled to see Dr. Leight every two weeks- another milestone! Monday we have an ultrasound... stay tuned.

27 weeks

Ted thinks this might be the last week of a bare belly picture... I must be starting to look obscene! I did feel like a blimp today. Maybe it was because of what I had on. My clothes have always had a big impact on my mood for the day. But when your choices are limited, you have to wear what you have. The baby is moving a lot; I can look at my belly and see it bumping around. I am anxious to see Dr. Leight on Thursday (except for getting weighed). I must sound like I have issues, but really I don't. I'm enjoying every moment!

Sweet Drink

We went to the hospital yesterday for my glucose and iron test, as well as a tour of the birthing center. It was very quiet there; no one was in labor. I got a tasty lemon-lime drink, which really was not too bad, just sweet, followed by a blood draw an hour later. We watched two videos; on car seats and breast feeding. We had a great nurse, Katie, that went over a huge information packet (yea- more to read!), talked with us about lots of things, and gave us a tour. It's unbelievable to think that in 13 or so weeks we will be back there for a very different visit. The rooms were very nice and we also got to see the c-section room (I hope I don't have to go there!).

This morning I went over to a good family friend's house, who happens to be a professional drapery maker! She is helping me make (or making for me) Roman Shades for the baby's room. We got a lot done. I have some busy work to do on them this week and then we'll finish up next weekend. It's so nice of her to do this for us. Thanks, Barb!

Snow Day!

We got the day off from school today. There hasn't been much snow but lots of sleet and freezing rain. It's supposed to snow some tonight. Maybe we'll have a delay in the morning... you can never have enough! I didn't really take advantage of the day like I should of, but I really enjoyed it. I slept in, worked on my quilt (almost done), did yoga, took Pili for a walk in the rain, and then just relaxed. Now I'm waiting for Ted to bring me sushi for dinner (what a wonderful husband I have!). I feel very lucky and blessed.

26 weeks

The baby's room is now painted, Golden Honey on top and Ponderosa Pine on the bottom, with peek-a-boo animals in between. I love how it came out. We just put the crib together (with no directions and minimal arguing!).

I'm six and a half months now. I'm still feeling good except for the lingering cold and cough I've been fighting. Two weeks until the start of the third trimester! This Friday I have a glucose test and a tour of the birthing center.