More From An Ultrasound

Wow, time caught up with me fast. I think it caught up with my mom faster though. When I extemporaneously called my mom last Friday (the 24th) she had noted that Eva was a couple months behind me and in her 3rd month. I had to stop her and remind her that in fact Eva was 2 months behind me, but in her 5th month, which put me in my 7th month. I can relate...wondering where the time went. For the last week I've been trying to fit in a blog. I either find myself not in any mood to sit up at the computer or just too busy with everything else to fit in a writing session. So, I find myself now multitasking at work. While I wait for various programs to process, I write a few sentences at a time.

To try and make up for lost time, I'm doing a quick follow up to keep you [and myself] in the loop:

I finally have pics of the new fan:

It's offical, I've reached the stage of pregnancy that includes backaches. It came on last week and seems to still be here

I've been suffering some allergy/sinus issues again. Blasted weather.

BP is still doing good. I am down to talking to the nurse 3 times a week instead of daily on account of my body's good behavior (did I already mention that in this blog?)

We had some guests stop by and bring us gifts and we also received a gift from Jami's mom...take a look at some of the gifts here one, two, and three

Rachel K. B. stopped by with Eva this weekend to take a look at the belly and to make her guess as to the gender. She also entered the poll, you should too! Go here to do that: http://www.stephysite.com/Baby/Poll

The baby has been doing less punching and kicking and more wriggling and nudging. Occasionally I feel what I think is a foot in my lungs, not as much fun as it sounds.

While Amanda was able to feel some minor movement of the belly a few weeks ago, Jen was able to feel stronger, yet subtle movement of the belly this past weekend.

We had an ultrasound Monday, Sept. 27. So far everything looks good. The baby is small, in the 25th percentile for approximate size and weight [apparently it becomes a concern at the 10th percentile, but we've been tracking in the 25th percentile the entire time]

The baby is no longer in a frank breech position rather it has it's head down towards my pelvis.

We still do not know the gender, it's cute that some of you think we secretly know, but honestly, why ruin one of the greatest surprises you'll ever get?

Today I shall leave you with some pictures from the ultrasound...enjoy!

Bella Competes for Toys

It was really the cutest thing this morning...Bella found a toy she wanted. Last night we got a call that we have some company coming over tonight which meant we cleaned the house. [I shouldn't say we, I mostly picked up my belongings and put them where they belonged and then dusted table tops with some sweeping here and there, Chris did the rest!]. Part of the cleaning meant that I placed a small stuffed toy on an end table next to the couch in the living room. You might remember this toy from an earlier post...



Well, normally the dogs are so well behaved that they know not to snatch things off the table tops, but I guess this one was just too tempting. As I was getting ready this morning I passed Bella in the living room and noticed some color where there would normally be none...Chris peeked in to see, and sure enough, Bella found a new toy.

I didn't have the heart to take it away from her, but Chris did [it's okay she forgives him easier than me, she loveeeeeeees her daddy].

Poor mistreated baby, I'll have to make a note to pick up a special toy for each of the babies for being so wonderful.

On a baby movement note...there's a lot of wriggling around today. It sort of feels like the baby is attempting to tickle me (lower abdomen) with some random punches or kicks here and there (upper abdomen). So bizarre!

----Post Script----2010/09/25
Another stuffed animal occurance...Let the Jealousy Begin

Timer Popped?

This past weekend was a really busy weekend for me which is why I haven't taken a photo of the new fan in the nursery. It's a great fan, actually quiet and moves quite a bit of air. It's nice looking too. I should mention that the fan we had in there (old, noisy, and inefficient) was broken when Chris was moving the mattress and box springs out of the room. I can't say I'm heart broken about having to replace it, it's just now less money for other things we still need to get.

Speaking of things to get, I had a nightmare/anxiety dream a few weeks back about not having a car seat. Last night, I had it again. Basically it consists of me being at the hospital with this baby that I can't take home because I never got a car seat. So Chris and I have to leave the hospital without the baby. My subconscious is obviously very worried about the car seat! I've promised it this morning that I'd work on it!

So the question of the weekend seemed to be about my belly button. It came up not once, not twice, but THREE times! It's a popular question. So, to answer it, no, my "timer" has not popped like a turkey's. I in fact seem to have a deep belly button and am very sorry to disappoint everyone by informing you that I do not have an "outtie". It's just my regular old belly button.

On another baby note, it appears that Nicole C. from work had her baby this past Saturday, I send many congrats to her and her new family member!

I also want to say to Penny, that I really appreciate her reading and encouraged support. Sometimes I feel like I come off as a jerk or that I don't care, but she seems to really understand that it's neither. It's just sort of amusing the situations we can be in, and the way that others are effected by it. She also gets that it can be funny and frustrating (all at the same time) about questions people ask and the advice other people feel compelled to pass along. I've read enough to know that complete strangers will feel the need to touch my stomach bursting past the "personal bubble"; surprisingly, I've become okay with it (more so than I thought). I've also accepted the fact that people are going to ask me personal questions for which they won't want to hear the answer. I'm getting used to this, and am finding good ways to politely not answer the question, or to in fact give the real answer that either disgusts or annoys the questioner in such a way they will be too traumatized to ask such a personal question of someone they really don't know. Wondering if you are one of these people? Don't worry, you more than likely aren't. You'll have heard from me by now if you were.

Diary Notes, Excerpts of Doc Visit

Diary Notes:

Yesterday was a visit at the doc's office. Typically, I find those frustrating. This one didn't seem to go too bad, of course having a decent appointment meant something had to go awry. I asked the midwife at my doc's office (WC) about a follow up to the level 2 ultrasound I had done in July. She didn't have the paperwork and said she'd follow up. Within 20 minutes of leaving WC, I recieved a call stating that St. Mary's (SM) had no record of my making it to the ultrasound appointment. Obviously frustrated I said I'd get it taken care of, after all, I am paying the bill for it (there's also some images too)! When I got to my desk, I looked up a number online for SM's medical records, gave them a call and of course they do have my results. I had them fax that to WC and then followed up with WC to make sure they got that info. This morning I got a call from WC that my appointment is scheduled, so all seems to be well again.

Also yesterday, I got a kick from Yadi into my back. It hurt so much that I had to put my hand around to my backside to make sure a rib or foot weren't sticking out of me. Nothing there of course, but I could have sworn there would have been. The movements today parallel yesterday's; luckily none that have been that insane!

Yesterday Chris and I stopped by the Home Depot to pick up a ceiling fan for the nursery. It's a cool "Discovery" fan from Hunter. There'll be a picture of it here as soon as Chris installs it. I've also moved some of the sheep back into the nursery. More will follow, since that's what sheepies do!

I've had a few people ask me what feeling the baby kicks feels like to me. The best I can describe is as follows: ever have an annoying eyelid twitch? How about that same twitch in your arm or leg perhaps? It's mostly like that feeling except less annoying (if at all) because it isn't rythmic and disturbing but alien. It's also neat trying to figure out what the squirming could be, is it the baby rolling, punching, kicking, swimming, or simply a squirm to get comfy?

Week 29ish Has Been A Fun Week

This Wednesday has been an exciting day, not just for me and Baby Yadi, but for Chris and Eva too! Chris has a lead on some secondary contract work (which will help tremendously with finances that have been suffering with this economy). Eva went to her second ultrasound (I won't discuss too many details since they aren't my medical details to share)...but let's just say the second doctor that she saw for her baby's heart was very happy with what she saw, a healthy wee baby forming in Eva's tummy! Yea!

In addition to all that fun stuff, I found a gift for the baby from one of Chris' coworkers. To add to the excitement, when I got home, the UPS man stopped at our house and dropped off a package. To my surprise it was from my old high school buddy Maureen (and her husband Connor) expecting their first child sometime in the next 4 weeks or so! I shouldn't be too surprised I suppose, I sent her a gift once I got her address (diapers, teething ring, wipes, ya know some essentials from her registry). But I honestly didn't expect it!! I'm happy I have some sleepers for the baby once I get it home!!

Baby's Movin' On Up, or Down?

Diary Notes: So, there's this feeling that is not the regular "rolling around" sensation, nor the regular "warbling" sensation in the belly. It's along the lines of the "punch/kick" sensation. I can feel it though in a peculiar area...in my tush! I think it just so happens that the baby is moving in such a way that I can feel the vibration towards my backside today...it's just an odd experience to say the least! [Chris thinks I just need to go and use the toilet] Also today, I'm trying to get the movement on video. I attempted this yesterday when I laid down and got a lot of activity; however, let me turn the camera on and this camera shy kid suddenly stops moving! Imagine that! So anyway, I have my camera handy, hopefully I'll get some belly movement. It's wicked stuff.

On a side note, the invitations that Eva made for my baby shower should have arrived yesterday or within the next couple of days. I got mine in the mail yesterday. I'm pretty excited, I have the coolest friends on the planet! I'll have to be sure to add it to the blog so I have an electronic copy!

----Post Script----

Looky looky...Baby Spann got a gift from a lady that works with Chris!

Nursery

This is what the nursery looks like so far...





On a diary note, this kid is kicking like something fierce, as in, I randomly gasp at the strength. I also found out that the wife of Tony from Syska will be having a second child in December. Her due date is December 19. That's pretty exciting. *gasp* Ouch.

Daily Tasks

I've compiled a quick visual guide to some of my daily routines; four of these that started after a very long day (August 12) that ended with a visit to the hospital.  Actually it ended the following day back at the hospital after I dropped off my 24 hours worth of collected urine!

Fetal kick counts at least twice a day...


Urinalysis once a day to check for protein...


Weight once a day...


Blood pressure at least twice a day (using the nifty machine below and at least twice a day using a manual sphygmomanometer)...


Blood sugar at least 4 times a day (one fasting, one for each meal)...


All that, with a call to the nurse three days a week! It's not so bad though, mostly because it's way better than bed rest.

Starting Now

Half of you may care to read, (the other half not) the details of pregnancy that I feel encouraged (with much thanks to Holly) to record.  Recording her pregnancy in the form of a diary was the one thing she wishes she would have done.  As often as I like to go back and reread what I've written, I could see what she means by this.  Only I can feel the nudges and rolling of an alien in my stomach, only I can have a personal relationship with a machine that yells at me to step on the scale and tattle tells when I don't, and only I can really lose these memories if I choose not to record them.  So here I am, writing out the experiences of this "ordeal" in such a manner that I am choosing to share with the half that wants to read. 

So, to get started, I'll add a couple of links to My Mobile Blog that have dealt with the pregnancy...

Yes I AM Pregnant
...That's What?
Questions Answers and Congratulations
Starting Now

Enjoy!