Impatient

Okay, so I never confessed to being the most patient person in the world. I got up this morning and decided I wanted to see Preston TODAY, and not 2 weeks from today. I called my ultrasound place, and they said they could squeeze me in at 3:30. It was amazing to see him again. He wasn't cooperating in the least, so I only have two 3d pictures and one 2d picture, but they are so nice at the ultrasound place, I get to go back on November 13th (my original appt) for free. At that point they will do the full DVD and CD of images. I am so excited I get to see him twice!

The best news of the day? He is head down! No more breech baby! I am so happy about that! He also is still a boy (thank goodness!) and his heart rate was a perfectly normal 142. He spent the entire time with his head buried in my placenta playing with his cord. He still has his hands up by his face too which is adorable. Only 2 more weeks until we see him again!!




Yes, it does appear he is flipping us off

Zofran

Last night turned out to be rather interesting. I went to my first class and got out at 6. I felt really sluggish, tired, and slow which isn't uncommon for me lately, especially when I am at school. I decided to not go to my evening class that started at 7:15 - so I drove home and curled up on the couch. My hands and feet were turning purple and were super swollen and my lower back started having horrible, sharp pains so I started to pace around the house trying to get everything to relax. I began having trouble catching my breath, and then I threw up. I wasn't throwing up a lot, maybe a few tablespoons, but I threw up twice in 20 minutes.

I decided to call the on-call line for my doctor's office. I hadn't eaten since one that afternoon (I had a huge lunch), so the doctor thought it might be a bug. She put me on a liquid only diet for 12 hours and called in Zofran, a prego safe anti-nausea medicine for me to pick up. She said if things didn't get any better by noon today that I needed to come in. She thought I sounded dehydrated and that is what was causing the swelling in my hands, feet, belly (causing the shortness of breath) and my back ache. I was able to sleep through the night with the Zofran in my system and feel much better this morning - albeit I have some heartburn. I haven't taken any Zofran today. I have no idea what that was all about, but I'm glad everything is okay and I am so thankful to have responsive doctors who don't think every pregnant girl is a hypochondriac.

Preston was still moving all around during the entire thing which made me feel so much better. I woke up this morning and he very nicely kicked my ribcage to say good morning. Glad to have that episode over, whatever it was, and I am glad I listened to my body and wasn't downtown in the middle of class when I started getting ill.

27 weeks

From Babycenter:
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Starting to come together

With not working, I've had a lot of time to sit and stare at the nursery lately. I just placed a big order on Amazon, which gives us everything that we need for the baby except for diapers, wipes, and a diaper bag. All I need for me is nursing bras/tanks/pads, etc. but everything I read says to wait on most of it until my milk comes in. Until then, I am waiting for Amazon to deliver all the goodies I purchased, including the following adorable pictures that match his bedding.



I bought the giraffe, monkey, and lion. I haven't decided whether or not they will need to be framed, but I will hang them above his crib. My mom and my aunt also picked up a monkey hamper, lamp, and night light which will go perfectly. I bought the changing table pad and a few covers for it. I keep reading the covers are pretty useless since the pad itself is waterproof and easier to keep clean than the covers, but they were too cute to pass up a package.



I also picked up a diaper wipe case for the diaper bag, some diaper pail refills, and the book The Happiest Baby on the Block. I keep hearing such great reviews for the book, I had to pick it up.

I am anxiously awaiting the last few items that we purchased to get the nursery put together. The husband and I spent the weekend buying, painting, and installing shelves in the room, which is making a huge difference. We have one more shelf to install and then I will post pictures. We also found a place to hang Preston's letters, and we will get that up soon as well.

I've been looking on Etsy for cute prints of lions, monkeys, elephants, and tigers to frame and put on one of the shelves. It looks like one shelf will be used for storage and the other I am hoping to have as decorative. I haven't found exactly what I am looking for yet, but hopefully it will pop up soon.

In the meantime, I am working on finishing up my final projects for school. I have three term papers that I've been chipping away at. I really want to have them all wrapped up by Thanksgiving so in case Preston decides to show up early it doesn't affect my school at all. It's an arbitrary deadline, but still one I would like to keep.

I think I have settled into not working and have been spending most of my time working on school, the house, and Preston's room. I do make sure that every time I feel him move that I stop and enjoy it. He loves when I lie on my side and gets very active in that position, so I make sure to do it a few times a day. I've been playing a lot of music in the house lately, so hopefully he is entertained in there.

I also set up his swing yesterday which is adorable. It has its new home in our living room and is a constant reminder of the new guest coming to our home. It's been horribly warm and humid here (75 degrees at 8 am?!), so I've adopted the elliptical machine lately for some exercise. I have slowed down for sure, but 20 or 30 minutes at an easy pace with a high grade seems to get the blood flowing for me.

I am so grateful for the stress free, textbook pregnancy I have had so far. It's been an amazing experience so far. I can't believe that we are just about at the 90 day mark until my due date. It sometimes escapes me what a life-changing process this is. I feel very blessed to be able to have the family, friends, and support system that my husband and I have and to be able to share this amazing time with everyone.

The rings are off

The swelling in my hands has gotten pretty constant. Out of fear for my wedding rings, I had to take them off. I'm too scared of having them cut off! I have another, plain wedding band that is a larger size than my wedding rings so I am wearing that. At least I don't look like an unmarried floozy.

26 weeks

From Babycenter
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

99 days!

So today we hit double digits until the due date - only 99 days left! We are getting more and more excited for Preston to make his debut every day. We went to a childbirth class at the hospital I will deliver at and it was informative. I'm feeling good about everything and trying to be realistic about the outcome. I want to be prepared for either scenario (c-section or regular delivery), so nothing catches me off guard or surprises me.

I've been having some crazy fatigue the last few days and the swelling continues. The little guy is so active, he actually knocked a notepad off of my lap with a kick today. He spent a little while using my ribcage as a jungle gym (in my head at least) which was mighty uncomfortable. He is active almost all day now, but thankfully lets me sleep throughout the night.

It is slightly calming that at 26 weeks, if something were to happen and Preston was delivered at that age, he has an 80-90% survival rate. That really sets my mind at ease. He is also almost 2 lbs and his hearing is advanced - I'm not sure if it is coincidence or not, but he does kick after a loud noise lately. It is so amazing.

I have my glucose test in a few weeks (yuck!) but am already counting down to the week after when we go for our 3d/4d appointment. It may be the last time we see the little guy until he is delivered, so I am very much looking forward to that. It will have been over 2 months since we have seen him on an ultrasound by the time that appointment comes around, so I am getting antsy. I am so curious to see what he looks like in there!

25 weeks

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

Holy swelling!

I'm not sure how well this comes through in the picture, but this was my hand last night:



I've started taking daily walks around the neighborhood. They seem to be helping the backpain, so that is all the incentive I need to keep going.

Drive - Thru Appointment

Had a quick check-up today with my doctor. Weight is doing well (total gain of 17 lbs so far) and blood pressure is 110/70. Preston's heart beat was nice and strong and the doctor felt him kicking around during the exam. My fundal height is perfect for my gestation, and all is well. After about a 20 minute discussion with her, I decided to get my flu shot.

If I pay attention to my stomach now, I can see it twitch when Preston kicks. It's pretty cool. I can't see any arms or legs or anything poking yet, but my stomach definitely reacts when he moves. It's super cool to sit and watch. I wish I had a way to record video to share it with everyone.

Next appointment is November 8th for my one hour glucose test to check for gestational diabetes.

I've been having some hardcore swelling in both my hands and feet, as well as constant tailbone and back pain. The doctor says they are nothing to worry about, but it's weird not being able to curl my toes sometimes. I also am getting tired much sooner. Errands tire me out and cleaning takes forever lately. I'm just getting used to my new limits, which I know will keep changing as I get further along.

The bright side

One of the fringe benefits of not working is being able to feel absolutely every movement our little one makes. It's simply amazing just to pause, put my hand on my belly and feel him kick or punch back at me. It sounds silly, but I am feeling closer to him than I think I've felt before. Four months seems like an eternity before he is here.

I am trying out another yoga studio next week. I enjoyed the one I went to, but the classes were all at night. I'm not really a fan of being home alone by myself all day and then just as the husband comes home, I'm out the door for class. So I found a school that is actually less expensive that has mid-morning classes twice per week. I am looking forward to that.

We get to go on a little road trip this weekend to visit a friend of mine in Charleston and then take a client out on Saturday night in North Carolina. It is our first road trip since I've been pregnant, so it should be interesting. I'm looking forward to some time out of Atlanta and some time out of the house. It should be a good weekend.

24 weeks

From Babycenter
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.

Yoga and Crafts

I went to my first prenatal yoga class yesterday, and I absolutely loved it. There were three other girls there who weren't very talkative, but the poses were amazing and I left feeling absolutely refreshed and regenerated. Preston really enjoyed some of the poses and was horribly active for hours after the class. I go back on Tuesday and can't wait!

Preston is moving all over the place. One minute I'll feel him down by my hip and the next he is up in my ribcage. It's amazing how much he is wiggling around! Hopefully he isn't breech anymore *fingers crossed*

I also spent some of my free time painting wooden letters for Preston's room. It was a fun little project. I can't wait to see them up on the wall. Sadly, I can't think of anything else to do the nursery until we get closer, so there's no more opportunity to distract myself by playing around in there. It's coming together though!

Here's a picture with the letters paired up with his bedding. The second picture is much truer to the actual color:

How 24 hours can change things

I was laid off from my job on Wednesday at 6 months pregnant. One of the things I enjoyed most about my job was working for people I truly considered friends - ones I spent time with socially as well as professionally. It's hard not to take it personally when you are betrayed like that. All and all, it will work out for the best. I had out-grown my work there, and Preston was the only thing keeping me there through the rest of the year. I'm able to collect a good amount through unemployment and was given a decent severance. And that is the end of that chapter in my life.

After I was laid off, totally unexpectedly, I had to go take a midterm exam in a class I can't stand with a brand new professor who has no idea what he was doing. I was totally shot. I did really poorly on the exam and will be spending the rest of the semester making up for it.

Then, on my way home at 9:30, some woman hit my car. Luckily everyone was okay, but my car isn't driveable right now. The whole front right corner of my car is caved in from my headlamp to my tire. I got myself into a rental through my insurance company, and am adjusting to my new wheels.

It's been a very long two days, especially as I adjust from working full time and going to school full time to staying at home full time without the opportunity to look for a job. I'm planning to be back in the workforce next spring, after Preston comes and I can spend time with him his first few months. Emotionally, I'm shot from all the sudden changes. But everyone and everything is okay, and each day will get a little easier.

It's also helped me realize how important both of the men in my life are. My husband honestly is my rock. He's been there for me emotionally every step of the way. Feeling little Preston kick and punch his way around my stomach at just the right moment when I am trying to catch my breath or wipe away a tear just melts my heart. Through all of these random events, I really feel like a part of a true family unit, and that our family is getting stronger every day.

Once I get over the changes to my life and my routine, I am looking forward to enjoying every last minute remaining of this pregnancy. My husband signed up me up for prenatal yoga at a studio down the road twice a week for my mind and my body. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm trying to get out to take walks and spend time talking to and playing with the baby. Once all the emotion is gone, I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life, where Preston continues to grow and change, and makes his grand entrance into the world surrounded by a mom and dad who have honestly counted down every moment until his arrival.