I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date

Tap, tap, tap...is this thing on?  Is there anyone left out there?  I'm so sorry I've been so absent, but things have just been so crazy.  I will try to catch you up on everything, without leaving out too many details...this may be a couple parted post...

So, you know I'm at 34 weeks...and as of Sunday, I'll be 35 weeks!  I can't believe we have little less than 6 weeks to go!  Everyone says it goes fast, but I had no idea it actually did!

On Friday, February 24th (yes, I am really that late!) we went to visit the lady who will be our pediatrician.  I've known her for years because when I was swimming regularly (I haven't probably since before IVF), she swam there too and we got to know each other through our team and the little parties our team liked to have.  Plus, every time I talk about her to my friends, someone pipes up and says, "that's our pediatrician and we love her!".  So I think we're good.  She's very honest, but not brutal and her office is ideal.  J doesn't know her very well and I've only been to her office with Ms. T once, so she recommended we come in and meet the staff and take a tour and just chat.

Their office is very inviting and fun.  There's a placard above check-in that says, "Children left unattended will be given an espresso and a puppy" if that tells you anything.  The nurse came and got us and showed us some of the rooms, explained that there are 3 docs in the office so you can see whoever if baby is sick, but you'll definitely see your doc when it's time for regular check-ups, and that both nurses are lactation consultants (SCORE!).  Again, very helpful and inviting.  Sat down with Dr. Kids and chatted about various things: 1) the schedule Reese would be seen on, vaccines, cord blood banking, childcare options, etc.  Very informative and good.  We left feeling like that is definitely the right place to take Reese.

From there, we left town...literally.  We had planned our "baby-moon" or "last vacation just as a couple for a while" and it started that day which is why seeing Dr. Kids worked out so well before we left.  I had found a Groupon a few months back for a two night stay in a hotel in Bisbee, AZ, a ghost tour and dinner at a brewery.

Bisbee, AZ is about 2 hours from our city and is an old mining town.  It has a lot of history and at it's peak was thought to be the next Manhattan, if you can believe that.  It was built for walking and not driving.  However, after the mines cleared up, the town kind of died and now is just a historic place with lots of fun hotels, restaurants, and artists.  It's very quaint, but I surely wouldn't want to live there.  There's also a lot of talk of ghosts that wander Bisbee, so J was very excited to go.  It's also very hilly!  We stopped to have lunch in Tombstone (another historic place in AZ) on our way to our destination.  We took some pictures but none of us...oops!

Bisbee is a nice town but you could never convince me to live there!  After a day and a half we were ready to leave.  We took a trolley ride around the city and listened to the driver tell all kinds of historical facts and stories, which was nice.  Our hotel was, of course, at the top of a hill and our room was, of course, at the top of the stairs, so my lungs got a pretty good workout the whole weekend.  We ate some pretty good food, and picked our way through the museum about all the mining era and the first baseball park to be built in AZ where Babe Ruth played a couple times.  I'm telling you, they thought Bisbee was gonna be H-U-G-E...boy were they wrong!  We also got massages, which was fantastic, from a lady who also worked at the hospital...ahem, delivering babies...so she knew all kinds of tricks and things.  She even gave J some advice on how to get me through labor.  I want to bribe her to come be in the room with me ... she was great!  The one thing I came home from Bisbee with that I wasn't too pleased about was ... cankles!  For those of you who don't know, that is when your ankles swell up it looks like there is no change between your calf and your ankles.  And boy did the elevation surely have an effect on mine...yuck!  Uncomfortable and not pretty to look at.  They went away after we came home, but they weren't fun.

We got home on the 26th of February and on the 28th, we had another ultrasound to monitor Reese's cyst in the brain (the one they didn't measure last time - remember!).  We ended up having the very same tech who had initially found the cyst and she was fan-tab-u-lous!  She searched and searched and the verdict came back...NO CYST!  YAY!  However, now our little baby girl has decided to be breech.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  I have a feeling this will continue once she is born too!  We were told that we have time for her to move and she has space to do so.  She's currently 5 lbs and has hair!

Here's one of the many pictures the tech sent us home with...it's amazing what they can see inside the belly.  This one is in 3-D!  Look at her little smushed face! 

Anyway, we were way relieved to hear that the cyst is no more, and that she can still move into the position she needs to be in to get out without a C-section.  J had to go to work, so he left for work and I went across the street to see Dr. OB for my bi-weekly check-up, however I was about 30 minutes late because of the ultrasound being late to start and running over, so Dr. OB's appointment was way late too.  Dr. OB's office had scheduled both appointments, so they had to know it would happen.  Dr. OB too was excited the cyst was gone and when I told her Reese was breech, she said, "we'll still get her out!"  

To be honest, the thought of a C-section had never even crossed my mind.  I just thought it would all go seamlessly.  I'm not against it, if we need it, but it had never entered my brain.  Maybe this was just God's way of getting me ready to think about having to do it.  Dr. OB said that if this were my 2nd child, she could still come naturally because (get this) my pelvis would be experienced.  Apparently, I have a virgin pelvis so pushing out a breech baby just will not happen...fine with me!  Anyway, one more thing to think about.  Other than that, doc visit was fine. Of course we talked about my weight which was up about 2 lbs from the last time.  I can only do so much people!   And I've been having tingling in my right hand fingers.  The verdict is carpal tunnel brought on by this little girl in my belly.  So now I have a brace that I wear when it gets really bad, and usually some at night.  Whatever it takes right?!

Okay, I will stop here and let you rest.  You'll hear the rest tomorrow!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

Hi Bleeps...please forgive...I know I am way late.  Everything is fine, we've just been super busy.  Two out of town business trips, our baby-moon (will post about it at a later date) and a slew of other things.  Hopefully this little post will hold you over until I have a moment to write out the rest.  Here is the 33 week update and the 34 week update!  Have a good week and I PROMISE I'll post soon!

Week 33 of Pregnancy
Your baby's immune system gets a boost, while her sleepless mommy could use a boost of energy.

Your Baby in Week 33 of Pregnancy
Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There's less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once she's outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs.

Your Body in Week 33 of Pregnancy
With midnight bathroom runs, leg cramps, heartburn, and your basketball-sized belly, it's no wonder sleep is elusive. Third-trimester insomnia strikes about three-quarters of pregnant women (who may also be coping with a mind that races all night long thinking about your to-do-before-the-baby-comes list). But your body needs rest, so do your best to get comfy — before bed and when you get in it. Grab a pile of pillows, wedge them where you need to, and look on the bright side: Pregnancy insomnia is great training for those sleepless nights to come!

Week 34 of Pregnancy
A boy baby's testicles descend this week (whoopee!), but Mom should also look out below — and above — as her vision becomes less sharp.

Your Baby in Week 34 of Pregnancy
What's new this week? Your baby is clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now, and the vernix (the white coating protecting your baby’s skin) is getting thicker. This week, a boy's testicles start making their way down from his abdomen to their final destination: his scrotum (look out below!). While about three to four percent of boys are born with undescended testicles, it's nothing to worry about — they usually head downtown before junior turns a year old. In other baby-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now — and getting ready for that first postpartum manicure.

Your Body in Week 34 of Pregnancy
You're not seeing things — at least not as well as usual. That's because your eyes are yet another part of your body that falls prey to those pesky pregnancy hormones. Not only can your vision seem less sharp these days, but also a decrease in tear production can leave your eyes dry and irritated, especially if you wear contact lenses. Plus, an increase in fluid behind your eyes’ lenses can temporarily change their shape, making some women more nearsighted or farsighted than usual. Happily, these vision changes during pregnancy are all temporary. Things should clear up as your eyes return to normal after delivery (so there's no need to change your prescription just yet).

Week 34 Pregnancy Tip: Recording Memories for Your Baby
You've got so many hopes and dreams about your baby, and each one is worth remembering and sharing. Record them (before you forget) by writing a letter — or a series of letters — to your baby. Feel a little funny writing to the boarder of your belly — whom you've never met? Don't — just speak from the heart. Start by visualizing your baby, and writing down what you see in your mind's eye. (Gorgeous? Of course! Brilliant? No doubt!) Talk about what this pregnancy means to you and how it's changing your body and your world. Recount the foods you craved (the cheese, grape jelly, and pickle sandwiches) and the lengths you went to satisfy those cravings (driving six miles out of the way to the one deli that would make it). Relay how you chose your baby's name (you have chosen it by now, haven't you?) or the colors for the nursery. Share your reaction when you first found out you were pregnant; when you felt those first kicks; when you found out your baby's sex (if you have). Imagine what your future will be like together (do you see yourself pushing a swing in the park, tossing a football on the front lawn, baking muffins in the kitchen?) and what your baby's future might be like. (A movie star? A scientist? The president — dream big!) Open up your heart, put the contents on paper — and seal it with a kiss. Your letter to your baby is certain to become one of your most-treasured possessions — and eventually, your child's.

Alright folks, hope that tides you over for a while and don't worry there are more coming with all the details of our last few weeks.  Just need to catch my breath....literally!  :)

32 week update - TODAY

Hello Bleeps!  Not late today!  As of today, I am officially 8 months pregnant.  Now figure this out...I have 8 weeks left, but I'm 8 months pregnant.  Whoever said pregnancy lasted 9 months?!  The only thing I can figure is because most women don't technically know for the first month that they are with child, that month isn't counted because it passes without the mother even knowing?  Odd.  Anyway, I have 8 weeks left before Baby Reese is due to make her debut.  And I'm starting to feel it.

Before I post the 32 week update, let me tell you about my weekend.  I returned a whole bunch of stuff from my baby shower that we had duplicates of to Babies R Us and Target and thus got gift cards or cash back.  That money practically went right back to the store when I purchased other things.  Plus, when the mother buys off her registry to essentially "close it out" at Babies R Us, she gets a 10% discount on everything from the registry.  Plus I had a bunch of coupons for 15% and 20% off, so I was able to utilize those too.  Then I had gift cards.  So I walked out pretty happy with myself and how many discounts I got and how little we actually spent out of pocket!

Then I came home on Saturday after getting my hair cut and lunch with some girlfriends, to work on putting nursery stuff away.  I'd also ordered some vinyl decals for the walls and one of them came in, so I put that up.  Now just to wait for the rest of them.  Hopefully soon!  Then, I tried out a new church and I really liked it.  So plan to go back and see it again to see if that's where we should continue to go.

Today, J's parents brought down the long awaited cradle that J's dad had been refinishing for Baby Reese.  J slept in this thing when he was born.  It is gorgeous!  Currently, it's in our bedroom but we haven't figured out where it will be exactly for a while.  Will post a picture once it is in it's final place!

That about wraps up our weekend, so here's the 32 week update.  Again, my comments are in red.
Week 32 of Pregnancy
Your baby is practicing survival skills like sucking and breathing, while your uterus is practicing some Braxton Hicks contractions.

Your Baby in Week 32 of Pregnancy
What's up with your baby? She's starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, your little one has been able to suck her thumb for a while now. Something else to note: As more and more fat accumulates under your baby's skin, she's becoming less transparent and more opaque.

Your Body in Week 32 of Pregnancy
This week, your body may start prepping for delivery day by flexing its muscles — literally. If you feel your uterus bunching or hardening periodically, those are practice contractions, otherwise known as Braxton Hicks. These rehearsals (typically experienced earlier and with more intensity in women who've been pregnant before) feel like a tightening sensation that begins at the top of your uterus and then spreads downward, lasting from 15 to 30 seconds (though they can sometimes last two minutes or more). How do you know these contractions aren’t the real thing? They’ll stop if you change position (try getting up if you’re lying down or walking if you’ve been sitting).  I haven't had these that I know of, just some cramping that didn't last very long and only happened a couple times over a period of days.

Week 32 Pregnancy Tip: Ultrasound Photos
Ultrasound is a tried-and-true prenatal tool (and a window into the wonderful world of your womb), but lately this procedure has taken a giant leap from the confines of a doctor's office to a storefront at the mall. Is it safe to take a peek inside your tummy on the way to Sears? While the FDA has yet to establish rules on these prenatal photography studios, they do warn against having ultrasounds for fun (as opposed to for medical reasons), since such three-dimensional imaging machines use much higher power than the typical ultrasound machines at your doctor's office. And many medical professionals fear that nervous moms-to-be will come away mistakenly convinced there's something wrong with their babies, or, worse, that the untrained wand wavers will miss real problems that would be detected by a pro. If you do choose elective sonograms, do so wisely (and after you check with your practitioner for the go-ahead). While there's nothing more precious than seeing your baby in three dimensions (except, of course, seeing your baby for real once it's born), limit your visits to one or two, each no more than 15 minutes in length. And bring your wallet! Some studios charge up to $300 for a photo, CD-ROM, and a video of the fetus. Due to our previously crappy insurance and our increased amount of sonograms necessary, we've spent more than our fair share on ultrasounds, so we won't be doing the 3D version or anything that isn't mandated by Dr. OB.

Week 32 Pregnancy Symptoms
Flatulence: To minimize that gassy feeling, aim for eating six small meals a day (versus three large ones) so that you don’t strain your digestive system (which is being taxed enough by your growing belly bearing down on it). I'm very burpy!
Bloating: Your slower metabolism (which has slowed down to give the food you eat more time to enter the bloodstream and nourish your baby) can cause bloating. Stick to your pregnancy diet and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation (see below), which aggravates bloating. Probably a little bit, but hard to tell. 
Constipation: Your growing uterus is cramping your bowels, making them sluggish and irregular. Get some regular exercise (anything helps, from brisk walks to prenatal yoga), and drink up! I always drink a lot of water, so I'm good here.  And I'm in the bathroom constantly, so I think we're ok.
Occasional faintness or dizziness: Feeling faint or light-headed can be a result of any number of things, including low blood sugar. Don’t forget to carry a protein-and-carb-rich snack in your bag to munch on when you feel dizzy. Granola bars, trail mix, or soy chips are a great choice, and may keep light-headedness at bay. Thankfully, none yet.

Leg cramps: Just as you’re ready to drift off to dreamland you may feel a painful spasm in your calves — though no one is quite sure what causes the pain (or why it’s worse at night). One theory: a lack of calcium and magnesium in your diet. Ask your practitioner if taking an extra calcium supplement is a good idea, and be certain you’re devouring your dose of daily dairy (bring on the cheese and yogurt!). Not very many of these, and thankfully none that are intense.  I drink a lot of milk!
Itchy abdomen: That swelling belly is getting itchier and itchier, as the skin stretches and dries out. If slathering on creams and moisturizers doesn’t help, try calamine or some other type of anti-itch lotion that soothe more-stubborn cases. Or add oatmeal to your bath and have a soak in warm (not hot) water. Yes and yes.  I do lotion at least twice a day and that seems to help.
Enlarged breasts and colostrum: As your breasts get bigger in the third trimester, they may also leak a yellowish fluid called colostrum, which is the precursor to breast milk. This liquid, packed with protein and antibodies, is the first milk your baby will get. If the leaks are getting uncomfortable, try wearing nursing pads. Again, none yet.  

Ok folks, have a wonderful week and talk to you soon!

Dr. OB visit and #2 Childbirth class

Okay, here's our continuation from yesterday....

This week has been crazy busy.  Tuesday morning I had a Dr. OB appt.  Both Nurse Shari and Dr. OB were happy to see that I was actually down 1 lb.  Still need to watch my salt intake, but at least we're not growing so fast anymore especially as we get to month #8.  A few questions for Dr. OB, mostly about symptoms which she chalked most up to just being pregnant or sodium intake.  I asked about what to look for in a pediatrician, even though I am fully confident about who ours will be and we go see her next week.  Advice as far as what to ask folks?  Also, we have yet another ultrasound on February 28th to monitor the cyst in Reese's non-thinking part of the brain.  Dr. OB said it's nothing to be worried about, they just want to see if it gets bigger or smaller, but when I asked which had happened, they hadn't even measured.  So on the 28th, will specifically ask them to measure!  

Then, Tuesday night was our 2nd childbirth class.  We were down from 5 couples to 3, don't know what that's about.  Hopefully everyone is okay.  More back-rubs (always nice, especially because Tuesday was Valentine's Day) - side note, this is what I came home to on Monday night...

Very nice...J got a new wedding band over the weekend as both our V-day present because his old one doesn't fit anymore...he weighed a whopping 130 when we got married, and now he is up to 165!  Apparently, marriage agrees with him.  Anyway, it was bugging me that he wasn't wearing his ring, so we went shopping for that as both our presents.

But I digress....our romantic Valentine's evening consisted of class and Nico's.  (Fast food Mexican food...not the healthiest, but I needed something quick!)  Class was good...ok, that's where I was...back rubs, breathing again, and positions to get through the labor with.  Saw another video more focused on the long labor than the birth itself.  I really think these classes help J understand what our next step consists of.

Other than that, nothing super exciting.  Wednesday night, we had our first HOA meeting in the new neighborhood.  It was nice to get to know some neighbors a bit better and get some contact info.  We have one neighbor a few houses down who has a 10 year old, so I picked her brain a bit about childcare and she said she would ask friends of hers with little ones.  Hopefully, we'll get this figured out soon!  But it was nice to connect with her again and we'll hopefully get to know her better soon.  We didn't get home until 9 pm!

One thing I am noticing as I get more round is how nice people are to pregnant ladies.  In Vegas, everyone was very concerned about me.  "Do you need to sit?"  "Do you need water?"  When we came back and I was waiting for Mom to come pick me up from the airport (she had gone to get the car), a gentleman popped out of nowhere to put my suitcase in her car so I wouldn't have to pick it up.  More and more people open doors for me.  Apparently now, I'm very cute!  I ate dinner at Sauce (a pizza and salad place - I had a salad!) on Wednesday before the HOA meeting and this woman and her 3 kids sat down next to me and was so excited to ask me about my pregnancy and her kids were intrigued too.  I am feeling very loved!

And with that, I'm off to find some dinner! Later Bleeps!