Appointment Update

Had my appointment earlier today and of course, it takes 2+ hours out of my day... again.

BP- 122/70... perfect
Weight - only 5lbs gained this entire pregnancy
Non-stress test - Baby behaved great. It kicks at the monitors the whole time. This time it showed a few contractions though. But they were just a few little short ones that didn't hurt or anything. No big deal. I get BH contrax all the time.

Doctor R didn't do much to alleviate my fears of the baby being a giant. He checked my fundal height and said, "Well that baby is definitely not small"... Gee thanks. So um yeah, guess I'm measuring a little big. He said I'm measuring nearly full term, so I guess that means 1 or 2 weeks ahead? I'm supposed to get a growth ultrasound but can't get in until next Wednesday night. Argh!

So chances are that baby is big, but we won't have an idea of just how big until next week. And of course, those growth ultrasounds can be off by 1 or 2 lbs + or -. But if the baby is showing to be pretty big , then there is a chance that might go a little earlier than the due date. Possibly by the dreaded induction. Doctor R says that when he checks me at 39 weeks and the cervix looks really ready, effaced enough, and dialated, then he'll probably send me in to the hospital, "break your water and you should go into labor pretty easily". Sounds like some form of an induction. Not my favorite idea. And I also asked how far he would let me go before he would insist on inducing me, and he said that he certainly does not want me to go passed 40 weeks. So that is that.

Now of course I have all this worries going through my head about inductions, and interventions, and possible c-section. But a lot can happen between now and due date. And I'm probably thinking about all this too much. We'll know a little more next week. Then I'll know if I need to start "Opperation Ripen", and try and get this labor train started, even if it's a bit early.

Ultrasound Photos

I know that I promised to post the ultrasound pics from a couple weeks ago. Well, better late than never, right?

The ultrasound itself was awesome. We got to see our little one for a good 30-40 minutes. It's legs, arms, heart, brain, everything. But sorry. Not sharing the sex here. Baby is still a surprise.

So here are the latest pictures of our little cutie.

Baby B @ 21 Weeks 1 Day

Been a Bad Blogger - Some Updates

Ok, ok, I've been a really bad blogger. Last time I was here I was over 14 weeks, and now I am nearly 21 weeks. Bad, bad blogger. So here is an update on what happened over the last few weeks since.

15 Week appointment - I had an appointment that was a week after I last posted due to that high blood pressure situation. At this appointment the blood pressure was perfectly fine, so the week before must have been a fluke or some weird anxiety thing. I also had my blood drawn for quad screen and then my 1hr glucose test, which I learned later I failed. But I still had no weight gain at that point, so the midwife told me to go ahead and enjoy myself on Thanksgiving. And I did.

15, 16 & 17+ weeks - Baby bump really started to make it's appearance and maternity clothes became a constant wardrobe must. I no longer looked like I just put on a few pounds. A little, not only fat, belly was starting to show.

Mom visit - My mom came to visit in the beginning of December. I worked my butt off to get my house all decorated for Christmas and cleaned, and got my business in order before she got here to make sure I could take some time off. It was great spending time together one-on-one which I never really get to do with my mom often. She took me on a maternity clothes shopping spree, which was awesome. Then we took a trip to NYC for a couple nights, did some more shopping and went to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Overall the trip with mom was a pretty great visit.

Christmas season - It was a crazy, busy time of year for me. I had a new client that came on that had lots of set-up to do. Plus it was holiday mailing season so I was going crazy trying to get all my clients calendars/greeting cards out, plus send holiday cards for my own business, not to mention to do my personal Christmas cards. All that on top of all the regular client work. And somehow I needed to sneak my Christmas shopping in there as well. And did I mention that I had to somehow fit a 3hr glucose test in there too?
I was working at a crazy pace and it was pretty stressful. But I managed to get through it, get it all done, and have some time to occasionally breathe. I am still busy but the added stress of Christmas is now over.

Christmas Eve - Our Christmas was pretty awesome. Christmas Eve I managed to work, clean the main floor of the house, dress up, go to mass, and then come home and fix our dinner for two... Whew! But somehow I got it in my hormonally challenged brain that Mr. H2O failed to recognize my work to make things nice, felt unappreciated, blah blah blah. But really, these days, it doesn't take much to make me cry or overreact. So I realized later that I let my hormones get the best of me and it was pretty much in my head.

Christmas Day - This Christmas was a great day. It was sunny but cold. We headed up to my in-laws house and spent such a lovely day with Mr. H2O's family, who I love. Food was great, my niece and nephew were so much fun to play with and be around, and I realized how next year our baby will be here and get to share in all the wonderfullness. And my mother and father-in-law are so very generous, and spoiled us and baby rotten. Among many of the great gifts they got us, we received our baby bedding that I have been coveting for months. It was a fabulous day.

Movement - I had been feeling very small movements over the past few weeks. Pretty much started at the end of 18 weeks where I was sure I was feeling baby and not the rumbling of my digestive system. I feel a little more each day, and this week they are stronger and way more frequent. So very cool. And If I didn't think it was real before, it's a definite reminder that this definitely is.

I promise there will be more to come bout my last appointment and more in my next post.

20 weeks, 6 days

Back From Vaca

We arrived home the other night from our Mexico vacation. We had a great, relaxing time and I just love it there. Having to refrain from drinking alcohol wasn't too bad. They made the virgin tropical drinks extra yummy for me. It is one of our last kiddo-free vacations that we will have. Next time in Mexico, we'll be bringing along a third guest.

So I did great on the flights, I didn't get sick at all the whole time, and found plenty of things I could eat (which I was worried about). Had my normal bloat and sleepiness symptoms, but it was fine because I was relaxed and on vacation. I got plenty of sun too.

So, right before we left we spilled the beans to my family by sending the ultrasound pic. Then we let my in-laws in on the secret while in Mexico with them. Everyone is thrilled all the way around, as expected.

Now we're getting ready to spill it to the rest of the world.

Fever and Chills Last Night = Temp Spike This Morning

I got a tetanus shot on Monday. My left arm has hurt like hell since. I was contemplating ways to amputate it after I had a terrible night sleeping the night before. At least today, it is feeling a little better.

In the early evening yesterday I decided I wanted to get out of the house since Mr. H2O was gone till later. So I decided to go to my favorite craft store to preview things I want for fall decor and projects.

While shopping, my lower back was sort of bothering me the whole time, and I kept rubbing it. Couldn't tell if it was that muscle spasm that had been plaguing me or what. When I was getting to my end of my sweep of the entire store I all of the sudden felt that something was not right. It was overcoming my entire body and coming in waves where I felt like I was either going to faint or vomit. I just did not feel right at all and I just had to get out of there and get home.

I got in line hoping it would go fast since I was wasn't sure if I would pass out right there. I paid for my items quickly and got in my car. I was white knuckled the whole way worrying I would pass out while driving and cause an accident. But luckily I did get home safely.

All night I was feeling chills and body aches and just generally like crap. I especially had an ache in my lower back which got me all freaked out about my kidneys. The chills and body aches were probably an indication of some sort of fever. But I had no headache or anything. It was strange. And I just felt awful. And we needed to work on catching that O last night and this was not helping.

So this morning I woke up to a big temp spike. Yesterday was only CD 10, so that is WAY too early to O in my case. So I am guessing that I probably had some kind of low grade fever last night. What from, I have no idea. Perhaps the tetanus shot. But I woke up feeling a little better than the night before. Don't feel feverish, or chills or anything. My lower back pain is still kind of there, still thinking it is muscle spasms. But this is all so strange.

So yeah, that's what's going on with me lately.

Yeah, it's been long

Ok, so it's been a little while. Not too much has changed, but a little has. Mr. H2O received a big promotion at the beginning of the year so that was exciting. And my business has grown significantly in the first half of this year... hence why I've been MIA for awhile.

Let's see... Much of the weight I lost last year came back on. But I'm now back on the right track again thanks to a gym membership and WW. So things are looking up. I've also had a major attitude adjustment and am starting to delve into this "law of attraction" thing and just having more of an overall positive and joyful outlook, in my business and my life.

I'm still baby-crazy as ever. But the Mr and I are hoping that it'll be our turn soon.

I promise, I won't let it go that long anymore.