Hello, Third Trimester!!

Alternate title: 28ish weeks

Time is flying and also going so slow. I can hardly believe that there's only 12 weeks (give or take) before we meet our little guy! But on the other hand, it's like COME ON how am I supposed to wait 12 more weeks?

Things are still going pretty good. I've been getting heartburn more often at night, so I am working on not eating too late, and not going to bed right after eating. Our little guy is moving a lot these days. Last night, he gave a couple of really good, strong kicks that Adam got to feel, and I said to Adam, "if he's kicking that hard now and he only weighs just over 2 pounds, how hard is he going to kick and elbow me later??" :-D

My only other complaint/issue is a stuffy nose that has gotten worse since Monday night. I've had a stuffy nose off and on since I got pregnant, but Tuesday I went through at least 40 tissues throughout the day at work. I even took my temperature, just to make sure I wasn't actually "sick," and I was at 98.2. So no worries about a fever, but goodness gracious my nose has been bothering me. I wish I could just take a deep breath through my nose!! We moved the humidifier into our room (we've been keeping the door closed for house-heating purposes) and I think that has been helping, because the last two nights I've actually been able to breathe enough through my nose to sleep! The days before that I literally had to breathe through my mouth to get enough oxygen, which made my throat really dry.

Other than that... things are going well! Took 28 weeks pictures on Wednesday, and I think I look bigger in the pictures than in real life... I guess that's what they mean when they say the camera adds 10 pounds or whatever? I mean, don't get me wrong, I know I'm big - I'm growing a human, after all. But I see myself in the mirror, and I don't think I'm as big as I look in the pictures. Whatever - all that really matters is that Baby and I are healthy, and that he's growing and developing as he needs to!!

27 Weeks Update + Fun Weekend

So I didn't update last week... Friday I went to the chiropractor. I'm getting tested for gestational diabetes at my next doctor's appointment, so I asked him what he would recommend if it came back positive. He said he would be shocked if it came back positive, but that I would need to do a high-protein, low-carb and low-fruit diet, and work on building muscle, because that uses sugar. So I'm really hoping I don't have it, but if I do, obviously I want to be prepared and will want to change my diet however necessary. I get tested October 16.

This Saturday, Adam and I decided to "get away" and spend a day just the two of us before Baby comes. The B&B plan didn't really work out, so instead, we spent most of Saturday exploring/having an Adventure Day in various small towns, went to an apple orchard (actually 2!), and then out to dinner for Adam's birthday. We ate at the Dorf Haus, which is Adam's favorite restaurant in Wisconsin, and afterward we walked out in their little garden area that has a gazebo. On our way to the garden, we saw this crazy crooked shed... the picture isn't great, but it was hilarious!!

 At first, we were going to have an early dinner and then go to Olive Garden for dessert (we have talked about doing this for-ev-er and have never actually done it), but Adam filled up on other sweets after dinner so we postponed dessert until Sunday. We ended up ordering 5 desserts for the 2 of us... talk about sugar overload!! But it was fun, and we got to try a bunch of different things.



The first course

Saturday, Adam got to feel our little guy move quite a bit. Up until now, he had only felt jabs or kicks, but on Saturday he felt him move along the outside of my stomach, as if he was rubbing his elbow or heel against my uterus :-D He thought it was weird and cool at the same time.

So now, today, is 27 weeks! Yesterday was 6 months, according to my method of calculating. Only three months (give or take) until we get to meet our little guy! I'm very excited.

I've also noticed that I'm a lot more emotional. I'll either get way more worked up than normal in response to something, or I'll just come out and need to cry when nothing has really happened! Thankfully, it hasn't happened a lot. I feel bad for Adam, but he's been great and very supportive. I know everything's ok, and 99% of the time I'm completely fine, but sometimes it (whatever "it" is!) just hits me!! I like being pregnant and all, but I certainly won't miss the crazy pregnancy hormones!!

Last thing for today - I got a pregnancy wedge pillow for under my belly. I just got it yesterday, so I've only used it one night, but so far I like it. I think I will like it even more once I get bigger and have more belly to support! But I slept pretty well last night :-)

26 on the 26th!

I just had to say that today is September 26 and I am at 26 weeks!! :-O

Borrring...

So I really only have a couple things to say. The first thing is that last night I saw that I have a slight linea nigra! Weird!! I showed it to Adam, who had just read about that for our childbirth class, and he said, "That's really common, it occurs in about 75% of all pregnant women." He wanted to reassure me not to worry about it! How great is he? :-)

Also, my hips started hurting. Mostly when I'm sleeping and shortly after I wake up. I am pretty sure this is normal, but what a pain! (Figuratively and literally). I am going to talk to my chiro about it on Friday, but in the meantime, I'm trying to figure out if I should try sleeping with a pillow under my hip, or what I can do to help alleviate this pain...

Also, Adam and I are trying to get away for a night while it's still just the two of us. Maybe this Friday - we are looking at doing dinner to celebrate Adam's birthday (we still haven't gone!) and then a night at a B'n'B near the restaurant. Then the next day, we'll explore whatever area we're in, or a nearby area, because there are some cute little downtowns that need exploring! So that's the plan.

That's about it for now. 26 weeks tomorrow! My little guy keeps growing and growing! I probably won't update until Friday, so hold tight until then :)

Five and Twenty Weeks

:-) Not too much to say, except that I love my baby! And if his recent movement patterns are any indication, I have to assume he is going to be a soccer player! Lots of kicks (from where I think his feet are), and some other movement, but mostly kicks!!

Doing a lot of research for baby items. Car seat, burp cloths, sheets... Adam and I decided on a stroller and have the car seat narrowed down to 2, so those are two biggies taken care of, at least!! :-) Any recommendations on items for our registry that might get overlooked?

Love

So Saturday, I went to Cheese Days with Michelle and Popp. We had fun, and we got the famous cheese curds before the line was crazy long!! But I was pretty worn out by the time I got home, and I hadn't really eaten a lot, so I was frustrated, tired, and hungry. So Adam says, "What do you really want to eat?" And I said "Potatoes." And he said "Do you have potatoes? Do you want to make some?" And I said "well I have them but I don't want to make them, I just really need a nap." So I went to the fridge and got out tortillas and cheese for a quick "cheater quesadilla" as I call it (in the microwave as opposed to the stovetop). But then I saw that my maybe one-week old tortillas had mold on them. Are you kidding me. So I was just done at that point, I threw away the tortillas and just went to bed. So while I was napping, Adam made me mashed potatoes and garlic toast. I think he's made food for me once, maybe twice, ever. It was so sweet of him, and the potatoes were very good! (He used garlic salt instead of garlic powder on the toast, so that didn't turn out as well, but he gets an A++ for effort.) It was just what I needed. As I have said before, he is a wonderful husband and I am so thankful that he's mine :-)

24 weeks

Let me just start by saying I'm so glad and thankful that I'm married to Adam. I love him so much and can't believe how God-lucky I am to have him as my husband.

So, had another doctor's appointment this morning. I think up questions to ask him, and I always anticipate that I'll get pushback or resistance, but I think my doctor is pretty agreeable to me pursuing a natural birth however I want to do it! Which is awesome!! I'm very thankful that I chose a good doctor who seems to be fine with my preferences.

Anyway, I gained about 5 pounds and measured 25 cm. My little guy had a nice strong heartbeat, and the doctor said based on where he found the heartbeat, he's probably already head down (good job, Baby!!). My doctor is good with me having a doula, and said that nothing abnormal showed up on the ultrasound at my last appt for my ovarian cysts. He said that if they found something unusual at my post-natal appointment, they could possibly do another ultrasound, but that often they go away on their own (which I know is common). So, overall, Baby and I are doing well! :-)

Hogwarts and a torn meniscus

So my little sister just turned 11 (Happy birthday!!) and I decided that what I wanted to do for her birthday was to send her a Hogwarts letter. She is totally into Harry Potter - she has read the entire series at least twice, has a poster or two up in her room, wants to get a wand... you get the idea. So Adam got some parchment-style paper from Joe, I practiced my fancy writing, and got the letter all ready. Adam found a Hogwarts seal and a Platform 9 3/4 ticket. I cut out the seal and put it on the top of the letter and included the ticket instead of a book/equipment list. Rob happened to have some leather punches and we used an "H" as a seal for the letter. I also stained the envelope with tea to make it look more parchment-y. Maybe later I will put up a couple of pictures. ANYWAY I thought it turned out pretty awesome if I do say so myself, and my only disappointment was that it didn't get there in time for her actual birthday. If our kids are into Harry Potter, we're totally going to do Hogwarts Letters for them as well :-D

Also... Adam found out that he tore his meniscus! Which explains the pain and swelling in his left knee. He is supposed to stay off of it for two more weeks, to give it time to heal (hopefully), and we'll see how he's doing then. He said that the pain and swelling are already getting better, so I am praying that he heals quickly and does not need surgery (depending on the severity of the tear, he might need surgery if it doesn't heal itself). So he's still taking it easy. I'm also hoping he's well enough to come to the next Bradley class with me on Thursday.

Well that's it for now. More to come later this week!

23 weeks and then some

I'm a little behind on my update. :) So as of Wednesday, I am at 23 weeks.

Updates: Tuesday I went and saw a customer that I haven't seen since probably December, whom I used to see every week at my old branch, to let him know my news. He was very excited for me, and asked how everything's going at my new position. It was good to see him; he's a nice guy.

Wednesday was 23 weeks! That afternoon/evening, I wasn't feeling great, so I stayed home from work on Thursday. I'm glad I did. I think I was having either Braxton Hicks contractions or round ligament pain (I think they were Braxton Hicks). They weren't painful, per se, although they were uncomfortable, so I'm glad I stayed home to handle them. I am still having some discomforts today (Friday), but so far I think they are better than yesterday. Walking helps.

Last night was my first Bradley childbirth class. It's an entire class of first-time parents! Adam couldn't make it (he injured his knee and has been dealing with it since last Thursday :( He took this week off but wouldn't have been able to sit through the class), but other than that, it was good. We did some stretches and exercises (all of which I have already been working on, holla! Thanks for loaning me the book, Denise! I'm way ahead of the game), and got to know the other couples. It went a little late, and it's in Middleton, so I didn't get home until 10 last night. But I think the class is going to be very beneficial. Oh also, we were practicing relaxing at the end of class, and when I got up, I saw a spot on my shirt - I had leaked! That was kind of weird! Thankfully, my friend Ashley just gave me some breast pads that I will be able to use. I probably won't start using them every day unless it happens again. I will probably wear them to my Bradley class from now on, though, assuming I remember!

So that's about it for now... next doctor's appointment is a week from today, so expect another update then!

Chiropractically speaking...

I saw my chiropractor today. And he said I'm doing great! He said I'm going to have the healthiest baby boy :-D I've been taking probiotics, but I recently changed brands, so I wanted to have him check out my new kind to make sure it's ok and to see how many I should be taking a day (my old probiotic had 2 billion whatevers and my new one has 15 billion, so because I didn't want to overload my system, I've been taking one) (I just looked it up - it's 15 billion live cultures per capsule). He looked it over and said it's fine, and to take one a day for the rest of my pregnancy and two a day while I'm nursing. And he did the "pressure point check thing" to see what my body is missing or what I'm doing wrong, and there was nothing! Again, I don't put too much stock in that part of it, but still, even his little system couldn't find anything I need to do or change :-)

I mentioned to him that my tailbone has been kind of hurting, and he said it's because of the relaxin, and that for the next 6-8 weeks everything is loosening, and to just stand/walk or lay down as much as possible as opposed to just sitting... which, of course, is what I do all day at my job :-/ so I'll just be more conscious of standing when possible, and walking on my lunch, like I did yesterday. And laying down at home.

That's pretty much it for now... thanks for stopping by! :)