26 Weeks

I thought I would try something different this week and post a few photos. Rob and I couldn't decide which angles were best, etc. So, here we go!





How Far Along: 26 Weeks

Size of baby: Eggplant (it didn't change from last week?!?)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds. Well, friends, my modest weight gain is apparently gone. The weight is here and it came with a vengeance. 5 pounds in 1 week is nothing short of insane. I blame Easter. Time for me to try to tone it down...

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: He was very active in the middle of the night last night. I think he knew neither Rob or I could sleep so he wasn't going to miss out on the party.

Sleep: Rob has had insomnia for a month and consequently mine has gotten worse. I think part of it is my body getting me ready to have to start waking up frequently when le bebe gets here.

What I miss: I'm kind of depressed for the past day for the last day or so and in conclusion I don't have much to share. Sorry.

Cravings: No specific cravings this week. Maybe that's my psyche trying to make up for the massive weight I gained in one week, LOL.

Symptoms: A B-I-G Bebe Belly!

Best Moment this week: Finishing registering. Babies 'r' Us is stressful! Registering for our wedding was super fun but trying to register for gear you know nothing about is tiresome. I had to go three separate times!

And, since I have "no shame" and constantly talk about my Heparin treatments, I thought I would take a moment to "brag" and show that my bruises are considerably better. I know a lot of women in my position get bruises worthy of horror films and with few exceptions over the months, I have been lucky to have only minor to moderate bruises.

Who Knew?

Baby bedding? Is super expensive. I suppose it stands to reason that the cost could vary depending on how fancy or high-end you went, but who besides Mariah Carrey can afford $800 for a fitted sheet, bumper and blanket? It seems foolish to drop major money on bedding they will puke on, poop on, and only sleep on for a very short time. Not to mention, my research indicates that the costly bumper included with most sets is actually very dangerous, so you don't even use it.

I think I will go with white sheets I can sterilize after accidents and spend my money on a custom quilt. Any suggestions from my mommy friends on what pieces are vital to a bedding set, or where to buy a nice one? Etsy did nothing for me, despite several options. I'm leaning towards a classic car theme, which is proving difficult at best. Ah, First World problems!

Big, Fat, FAIL

I forgot to take my morning injection of blood thinners. I feel like an ass, a negligent parent-to-be and an overall failure. I immediately swallowed my pride and called the doctor to try to figure out what the best course of action would be. I could barely get the words out, I just wanted to sob. If it were some minor medication, such as my antacid, I would not put so much stock into it. But blood thinners? Are a BIG friggin' deal! Ugh. I am so ashamed! I'm not even a true parent yet and already I'm failing on a BIG issue.

Double Digits

I have double digits left till this little bebe gets here. Where does the time go? I am woefully unprepared, having not purchased a single thing. Yikes!

No Bueno

Since I am currently, ahem, "logistically challenged" in the personal grooming department, I purchased a Remington groom kit for women. I had one before but it was hijacked by a certain someone when I got married. Obviously this is not the type of thing one shares, so I got the latest version:



Friends, it did not go well! The ergonomics of the trimmer have changed ever so slightly so I had to try each attachment. Not only did none of the parts get the job done effectively, but I ended up cutting myself pretty bad in a location you never want to have an open wound.

Needless to say, I was quite pleased I wasn't forced to drop trow for my appointment!

Heed my warning!

And that's all I'm going to say about that....



Photo credit: www.everyday-deals.com

Tuesday Thoughts

Today a stranger asked me when I was due, so I suppose that means I have moved from the realm of "Team Fat Ass" to "Team Growing a Person." Yay!

I had an ultrasound this morning and it went really well. Le bebe is a 1/4 pound larger than the average so he is not stunted. Praise be to God for that! My placenta has also grown into a better position, so that is also a relief.

Additionally, I spoke to the nurse about the low platelet business. She said it is not a problem with my platelets, but rather my white blood cell count. It's really difficult to understand but the bottom line is, it doesn't have anything to do with clotting and I should be fine. The protocol is the same-they will check again in a month.

All in all, I have a lot to be thankful for today.

Oh, Heparin, How You Stress Me

I spoke with my nurse advocate today about my concerns regarding my low platelet count. For those of you that didn't have one, a nurse advocate tracks you during your pregnancy and is available for consultation at any time so you don't have to stress over getting a hold of your doctor, etc. It's a lovely service (she even gave me an impromptu anatomy lesson today, ha!)

Anyway, she educated me on some things that did make me feel better. She concurred with my MIL that the platelet number must not be imperatively low if the doctor feels it is OK to re-check in a month, and not sooner. She also said Heparin is a good medicine because it doesn't cross the placenta, which I had never heard, but which brought me extreme comfort.

The bottom line is, I will ask (again) if it is safe to fly for my baby shower given the newest test results but other than that I will not agonize. I will also leave Dr. Google to his lonesome rather than allow him to send me into a tailspin, which is good protocol anyway! I have a growth ultrasound and I will simply focus on the joy of getting to see my baby another time.

"Can't Get Any Bigger"

My mom has been insisting for the past two days that I simply "can't get any bigger" and that my baby is already huge. Now, I will admit to being very large-and-in-charge. But from the perspective of weight, I have only gained 6 pounds. My grandfather even remarked that I look as though my face is thinning out, and that I already have my pregnancy "glow."

All this to say, I'm still in my second trimester! I'm very worried about my baby's growth as it is. I know my mom means well but I honestly can only hope and pray bebe continues to grow. He has a lot of growing to do before he is done baking in there! So, in the interest of full disclosure, here is a picture from today:



I chose the worst picture of those we took to illustrate my girth. My husband is not a large guy and my dress was an empire waist; I swear most of this is baby! So tell me, do you think it is humanly possible for me to grow any more?

25 Weeks

How Far Along: 25 Weeks

Size of baby: Eggplant (which I am allergic to, incidentally.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds. So, no change. The doctor's office actually puts me at a pound less than my home scale. Last night I weighed myself to write this post and it said I had gained 12 pounds in 3 days. I panicked and asked Rob what he thought and he said, "I really only see five of those pounds." I was floored but decided to let him live. I was skeptical of the scale since I had taken it from carpet to linoleum so I re-set it. I weighed myself twice more and it confirmed I had not gained ANY weight. Well, after talking to my husband, if I didn't have a complex before...

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: Every time he kicks it reassures me he is still alive. I know that sounds awful, but it is a reality for me. I have pregnancy anxiety because: 1. It is my first pregnancy, 2. My blood thinners can potentially retard his growth and 3. The platelet issue has me crawling out of my skin.

Sleep: Is constantly interrupted.

What I miss: Being able to see my Lady Bits. This is the same from last week. I bought a specialty "tool" that I hope will help with grooming. I am obsessed with body hair, sorry if that's TMI.

Cravings: I'm a creature of habit so if you have read my blog for any length of time, you can probably answer for me, lol. I'm still on a Moose Tracks ice cream kick!

Symptoms: A protruding belly, lol. I truly love being pregnant; I have been so blessed!

Best Moment this week: The sound of his heartbeat is music to my ears!

Ugh, Ugh, Ugh

Sometimes it is hard for me to recall what I have already shared, so please hang in there with me. For the sake of finances, I made the decision to stay on Heparin rather than switch back to Lovenox. Unofrtunately, many of my medical decisions have to be made based upon finances, to an extent. Heparin is a far inferior medication and it requires blood testing to monitor your platelets.

Today, the nurse called me out of the blue. She quickly blurted out that my platelet count was low and started to end the conversation. I was caught completely off guard. I stammered out, 'What?' and she replied that for now, the doctor didn't want to do anything other than re-test me in a month. The conversatin was very quick and I was left in shock.

If I'm being honest, because I wasn't expecting the call and because I don't know much about the topic, I didn't really ask any questions. I could kick myself for this.

Here is where things get bad: I made an epic error in judgement and turned to Dr. Google in hopes of determining some questions to ask when I go in on Tuesday. My doctor won't be present but I figured I could ask the nurse and she could have the doctor follow-up on anything she couldn't answer or if she felt the doctor should call me, etc.

I immediately emailed my MIL to ask if she had any questions I should ask. She replied that she thinks it will be OK and that my doctor is following proper protocol. That did make me feel better but I still feel like I should dig a little deeper.

I'm majorly concerned with flying for my baby shower, as flying is how my clotting disorder was initially detected. Ugh, I am so scared and worried. I feel like a schmuck for not asking better questions, such as the obvious, 'What was my number?'

Once again Rob and I had to have the conversation about what to do if something were to happen to me while pregnant. It is an ugly discussion but a necessary one. I am feeling very overwhelmed and frightened right now. My doctor called in some specialty heartburn medicine for me because the indigestion is just awful, and the medicine is not working (yet) so I'm even more on edge. If you have any to spare, would you send me some good thoughts and prayers?

Dignity, Class and Grace

I was at the grocery store and kept finding myself on the same aisle as a woman and her two small children. I wasn't eavesdropping on her conversations but I did hear her say some very specific things to her children which I admired.

First, we met in the pasta aisle. Her son proceeded to tell her that he wanted to ditch soccer so he could go to ballet with his sister. His mom replied, "Well, you should know there won't be a lot of boys at ballet to make friends with. But, there are a lot of girls you can be friends with and ballet is really fun. Whatever activity you want to do is fine by me."

Then, we crossed paths again in the cheese department. The woman was talking with another shopper who had lost all of her hair, presumably from chemotherapy. The women parted ways but not before the son could begin questioning why the woman didn't have hair. I should note here, her son was very young, and not being derogatory in any way, just questioning the way a child would. So then the mom replies, "She has a disease that requires her to take special medicine. The medicine is what made her lose her hair. She is a very brave person and we are very proud to be friends with her!" The woman with cancer was still within hearing distance so she turned and replied, "Thanks for that; your answer made me feel good!"

I guess more than anything I liked that she answered on the spot and didn't put her kids off. She didn't discourage her son from a traditionally female institution and she didn't shy from discussing cancer, a disease which impacts most all people at some point or another.

Yup, parenting is scary!

Too Soon?

I am really confused about the weeks versus months aspect of pregnancy. According to my common sense calculations, because I am approaching my 25th week, this puts me in my sixth month. According to an online resource I had been using to track viability, I am closer to month seven.

Whatever the case, isn't it way too soon to be uncomfortable during the night? Regardless of which side I try to lay on, bebe will kick me repetitively, which tells me he doesn't like my position? Supposedly sleeping on your back is bad, but it doesn't matter because I can't breathe anyway if I do!

So is it too soon to be a walrus?

An Important Edit

In my last post I was attempting to be humorous and failed. On #7 where I said I hoped people bought me stuff off my registry, I was entirely kidding. It came across as greedy and gift-grabby, neither of which I intended to be. The truth is, our baby would be fine with NO gifts and I am solely looking forward to getting to spend time with the favorite women in my life. I re-read my post and couldn't believe how awful I came across. Yes, babies are expensive but as it is my baby, I intend to provide for it. I was merely joking about how unprepared I was with how much baby gear costs. My apologies if I offended anyone or came across as uncouth.

Today

Just for my own memory, today I had a doctor's appointment. Here is what stood out for me:

1. The doctor said I do not have diabetes, despite the nurse practitioner's fears. I still have to do the glucose test but I don't mind so long as my bebe is healthy.

2. Fundal height (length?) and heartbeat were both awesome.

3. I get to start my frequent ultrasounds to monitor bebe's growth (a side effect of the blood thinners is growth retardation.)

4. We got a tentative c-section date of the week of July 25th. I also determined what would happen if my doctor is unavailable and I feel nice and confident about the alternatives.

5. Yup, I still want a c-section.

6. My doctor thanked me for being "sane and rational" in response to a conversation about what some people expect from their physicians. Ha!

7. We have yet to determine what I will need to pay prior to my delivery in light of my large deductible PPO plan. If any of you folks do not have kids yet, let me just tell you that I will pay approximately $3,000 to my doctor prior to delivery for her fee, then I will pay the hospital a small fortune, and then I will hope and pray people buy the stuff on my registry because did you know a high chair alone costs well over $100?? Babies are expensive before they even exit your vagina. You've been warned.

24 Weeks

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of baby: Ear of corn

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly.

Gender: A beloved son!

Movement: It would appear this child is a night person like its father. The major dancing occurs in the late evening. <--Same as last week. Although I noticed the other night when I couldn't sleep that he was very, very active. Also, any time I change positions while sleeping, he let's me know he is awake.

Sleep: Meh.

What I miss: Being able to see my Lady Bits.

Cravings: Not chicken wings, for once. Jelly beans and other candy. Also, ice cream. I can't say enough good things about chocolate Moose Tracks.

Symptoms: None, really. Hooray!

Best Moment this week: Any time the baby moves it brings me great comfort and relief.

Reasons I Am Glad to Be Having A Son

Yes, that's right, this little bebe is of the male persuasion! Originally I really wanted a girl and I took it a little hard, but that is ridiculous and disgusting behavior. All that matters is a healthy child, period. And for what it's worth, the Chinese gender chart, the Intelligender and (most importantly!) my own intuition, were all correct in telling me I will be blessed with a son. And without further delay, here are a few reasons I am thankful for a son:

1. One name: Justin Bieber. Or really, any other sort of infatuation with a male teeny bopper (we all know my kid will be too late for Bieber Fever but I'm sure some other celeb will be along in his day.)

2. Rob and I went to Dave & Buster's and were shocked to see a gaggle of tween girls covered in raunchy makeup and wearing clothing befitting a Woman of the Night. There are no daisy dukes or arguments about how much eyeshadow is "too much" in my future!

3. I have enough hormones that I don't need the competition. For now, I am the most important woman in my husband's life! ;)

4. If I do have a daughter some day, she will have an older brother who will hopefully protect her!

5. My sweet friend Cady told me that "little boys love their mamas" and if seeing my own brothers with my mom is an indication, I am about to be met with a lot of love!

All joking aside, I would love nothing more than to have a daughter some day. That said, the only thing I want for my children is for them to be God-loving, healthy, and productive members of society. Once you've seen cancer in your family, your priorities really change. I love my son so much already! I studied my last ultrasound photos and am convinced baby has my husband's awesome nose and not my ugly schnoz. Yay for genetics!

Scary!

I've been dreaming almost every night about breastfeeding my child. The dreams are so random! Then, yesterday, an informational packet comes from my insurance company. They assigned me a nurse to follow me throughout the pregnancy and she was very excited to hear I intend to breastfeed.

Let's just say, reading the brochure on all things breastfeeding did nothing to ease my anxieties. The whole packet was basically "Nursing for Dummies" so it wasn't an intellectual issue I was facing, but more of a reality check issue. I really hope I can do it when the time comes!

23 Weeks

How Far Along: 23 Weeks

Size of baby: Papaya

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I was able to buy some camisoles from Old Navy and they were non-maternity but super long to cover the bulge. Annnnnnd, my sweet friend Carrie sent me a bunch of cute things. I am so blessed!

Gender: Mental note: I have decided to spill my guts; look for a gender post coming up shortly!

Movement: It would appear this child is a night person like its father. The major dancing occurs in the late evening.

Sleep: It's OK. I have noticed that turning over is getting to be a bit of a challenge. Or at least, it feels like a tremendous effort to do so and I am sure it wakes Rob every time.

What I miss: Not having to regulate how many cold cut sandwiches I can eat.

Cravings: It is with tremendous shame that I must announce that I am still eating chicken wings like they're going out of style. I think I need a hot wing addiction group. You get one guess as to what is on the menu for dinner tonight...I made a promise to myself I would only eat them once a week and it is difficult!

Symptoms: Heartburn. Thank GOD for whomever invented Omeprazole. Seriously. It is the only medicine on the market that can tame the demon in my esophagus!

Best Moment this week: Getting my baby shower invite in the mail. I have such sweet, generous friends. And the girls from my Sunday school class also emailed to let me know they also wanted to throw me a shower. I do not know what I did to deserve such blessings. No, really. I am overwhelmed!

"Rounder"

I walked up to Mr. Case to give him a hug and he pushed on my stomach and said, "Whoa, it's hard!" I just laughed and he continued, "It's getting rounder and I like it!"

I love him!

22 Weeks

Sorry this picture is so janky! My computer is not cooperating and it was the best I could do!

How Far Along: 22 Weeks

Size of baby: Spaghetti Squash

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still only 4 pounds, further proof there is a God in heaven!

Maternity Clothes: My sweet friend is sending me some stuff from California, which is an immense help. Even one new shirt would feel special. Since I am not working I have been trying to function off of old clothes from before I lost weight, and one pair of shorts to beat the heat.

Gender: Mental note: Decide on whether we are disclosing the gender.

Movement: The baby is kicking up a storm!

Sleep: My head cold is more detrimental this week then my growing body.

What I miss: Nothing, really. I've been very fortunate.

Cravings: We are back on chicken wings!

Symptoms: A growing belly.

Best Moment this week: It's simply been another great week! Getting some strong heartburn medicine has been good, too.

Belly Button

On March 31, Rob was pretty confident he felt the baby move. Now, he has been obsessed with feeling movement for a few weeks now so I was honestly a little surprised he didn't act more excited. Maybe it was because it felt so faint? Whatever the case, I am hoping for a bit more enthusiasm in the future.

Meanwhile, Rob has developed a distinct obsession with my belly button. It is rather quite hilarious and I feel like I need to document it for posterity. Some days I am so thankful for this blog!

Anyway, Rob began putting his finger in my belly button every single day. I suppose he was trying to measure how shallow it was getting. I finally demanded he stop because it was making me feel insecure. He even wanted to tape a marble in there, in hopes he'd get to see it forced out from the pressure. Or something. Ha! I put an end to this idea, of course.

Of all things to develop a preoccupation with, my belly button was last on my list of ideas. I think it is super funny. Rob is counting the days till it turns into an "outie." Not me, I am dreading it! Anybody else's spouse have a weird fixation during their pregnancy?

Oh, Realllllllly?

This yesterday from my dad as I rounded the corner:

Whoa! You really look pregnant today!



Thanks! I think?

I Just Couldn't Do It

This cold has really given me a run for my money. I simply couldn't take my belly photo last night. I will try later today if I ever get around to showering. I just feel gross! A shower will help, lol.

Tonight Rob is supposed to be taking me to a hockey game but we got into an argument earlier so I don't know.... There is a lot of stress living with my family. Sometimes it all just feels like too much to me. My husband is my first priority, always, but that can be difficult to convey when family is the "opposing" side, ya know? I do know it was very, very hard on me living with his family so I can empathize more than he realizes.

I am hoping my entire day today is an actual April Fool's joke. Yuck.