Friday, May 31, 2013

33 weeks and 5 days

Well school is out for the summer and I am so relieved!

It was getting tough to walk around the building with limited breathing ability (baby girl likes to kick at my lungs and ribs so a full breath is kind of tough!).

It's been a crazy week since the school year has ended. Our roommate Bethany has moved out and I have had a slew of different doctor appointments. I have had a chiropractor appointment, an ultrasound, and a non-stress test all within 24 hours. So far, the baby is doing well - she's about 5 pounds 3 ounces and growing very well. I will have more monitoring next week. This is now a weekly adventure, 2 times a week, I have to go to the hospital and be put on the monitors to see how she's moving and growing. All of this is due to the gestational diabetes and making sure that she's not growing too quickly due to it. It's a precaution from the doctor and will continue until the end of the pregnancy.


How far along? 33 weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain: back up to 4 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight - the gestational diabetes makes it tough to gain weight because the diet is pretty restrictive
Maternity clothes? now that school is out, I can just wear more comfy clothes as opposed to having to be dressed up with maternity clothes - I get to be relaxed and I am so grateful for that!
Stretch marks? I have a few new ones on my stomach as she grows
Sleep: sleeping is something that happens for about 10-15 minute spurts on and off throughout the night - thankfully now I can just nap when I feel tired
Best moment of the week: the end of the school year - it was a pretty good year overall but I am just ready to do the prep for Genny's arrival and enjoy the summer with her and Aaron
Miss anything? Not really
 Movement: she is a moving machine! She is a just so busy all the time and pushing on my lungs and other organs!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope not really
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn for certain, starting to pee all the time (way more than I normally do), breathing hard because she is pushing on my lungs as I walk around all the time
Belly button in or out? In - but pushing itself out
Wedding rings on or off? I keep trying to see if my wedding set will fit back on my hand - but I am swollen so it's always just a temporary thing. Pretty sure it will be awhile until they can go back on my hands - maybe the end of the summer or in the early fall
Happy or moody most of the time? this week has been both happy and sad. Happy for the end of the school year and kind of sad with the moving out of Bethany
Looking forward to: getting Genny's room painted and organized with all the wonderful supplies people have given us - that's part of the goal for the this week, at least sort out the piles of stuff so once it's all painted, we can just get it in there and set up!


Saturday, May 25, 2013

32 Weeks and 6 Days


Here we are at the end of the school year - one more day to go and I am on break! I cannot wait! I am ready to be off the schedule for awhile, being 8 months pregnant and on your feet all day is harsh on the legs and causing serious swollen feet at the end of the day. I have been rocking some flip flops which are even getting tight at the end of the day. 

Now it's time to get ready for Genny's arrival! We are so excited to meet her after all this time. It feels like a 4 year pregnancy after all the years of trying and the treatments we went through. Our anticipation has just grown and grown.

How far along? 32 weeks and 6 days
Total weight gain: back up to 4 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight - the gestational diabetes makes it tough to gain weight because the diet is pretty restrictive
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants - at least I can start just wearing yoga pants to be comfy as opposed to being dressed up everyday
Stretch marks? I have a few new ones on my stomach as she grows
Sleep: sleeping is something that happens for about 30-45 minute spurts at the night between waking up to get comfortable or to go to the bathroom
Best moment of the week: my 2 baby showers this week - one at the church and the other at school - the outpouring of love from everyone was absolutely amazing and overwhelming to say the least! And the end of the school year! It's been a good year but I am relieved to have it done with so I can just prep for the baby arrival
Miss anything? Not really
 Movement: she is a moving machine! She is a just so busy all the time and pushing on my lungs and other organs!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope not really
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn for certain, starting to pee all the time (way more than I normally do), breathing hard because she is pushing on my lungs as I walk around all the time
Belly button in or out? In - but pushing itself out
Wedding rings on or off? only wearing the stunt double rings at the moment - the hand swelling has returned with the increase in the temperature
Happy or moody most of the time? this week has been stressful with the end of the school year, but now that it's pretty well over with - there is a huge sense of relief.
Looking forward to: the very last day of school so I can just relax and get things organized and sorted out for the baby room - our garage has been overtaken by all the baby gifts and we need to sort out what we have some doubles of and what we still need to purchase for baby girl!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

31 Weeks 3 Days

31 weeks and nearly finished with school for the summer!! I can hardly wait to be done for the summer, I feel like we have so much to do in order to prepare for baby girl's arrival and it's too hard to do while still in school. I come home at the end of the day most days just wiped out as if I ran all day long. Now that she's getting bigger and pushing on my lungs, full breath is harder to get so I think that is a major contribution to it all. Less than 2 weeks to go until my only goal is setting up her room and organizing all her stuff.

Come on summer!


How far along? 31 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain: back up to 4 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? I have a few new ones on my stomach as she grows
Sleep: sleeping is a random event in my life, some days I am so tired but cannot sleep, some days I toss and turn all night with only dozing on and off - story of my whole pregnancy
Best moment of the week: Seeing Aaron's face as he watched my belly bounce around with her moving everywhere! It was priceless
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is getting more and more active but it quickly running out of room so her movements are more noticeable to me from both the inside and outside!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope not really
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn due to her position, she sits very high and pushes up on my stomach, which causes the acid to be pushing up.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are temporarily on my hand right now, my hand swelling has gone down enough to wear them for the first time since January. However, I know that with the summer coming, I am sure that's going to change and I will be back to wearing the stunt double rings again
Happy or moody most of the time? this week has been an up and down emotional week with Mother's Day happening.
Looking forward to: to our next shower with Aaron's church and family on Sunday! I can't wait to see what cute gifts we get for it! 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was an interesting holiday for me this year. It was conflicting emotionally and was kind of a tough day mixed with the anticipation of becoming a mother.

The tough part: missing my mom.

This was the first Mother's Day without my mom - we are quickly approaching the 1st anniversary of her passing and I dread the day whole-heartedly. Not having her around to talk to about my life in general, but especially on Mother's Day. It was tough not to talk to her on this day. I miss her constantly and have a million questions I wish I could ask her about being a mom. It's a confliction for me - I miss her and wish to talk to her again about everything. I did really well for most of the day, didn't cry or feel sad until the very end of the day. Then I was just sitting there crying without being able to stop for a good 20 minutes.

The celebration part: celebrating motherhood

I was fortunate enough to have a husband and mother-in-law who recognized the day for me as a mother-to-be. They both gave me a card with warm thoughts for becoming a mother. It was very sweet and unexpected. We took my mother-in-law out to lunch and spent the time with her. When we came home, I spent the evening sorting through baby clothes that were given to me. There were so many clothes, I am passing them out to 2 friends who are also having baby girls right around the same time as we are expecting.

__________________________

While I know my mom is always with me, I just wish I could see her and talk to her again. I know she would be going crazy with buying items for the baby and just being so wrapped up in the new addition to our family. I am fortunate enough to have a mother-in-law who recognizes this and does her very best to make sure she includes thoughts for my mom.

I know that it will be a tough part to the birth without her there waiting so impatiently for Genny's birth - she will be there in spirit but man, it will be a little sadness included with the happiness and joy of the day.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

30 weeks 3 days

30 weeks! We are in the single digit weeks from this point forward and she will be here before we know it. It's all very exciting stuff!


How far along? 30 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain: back up to 4 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? I have a few new ones on my stomach as she grows
Sleep: sleeping has become a pillow mountain 
Best moment of the week: Reaching the 30 point mark and hitting the single digit weeks until she's here - it's very exciting and somewhat nerve-wrecking
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she has flipped so she is head down now, which means when she kicks, I get it to the lungs and stomach. This makes for very interesting walks around the building
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn due to her position, she sits very high and pushes up on my stomach, which causes the acid to be pushing up.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? this week has been an allergy-fest, which is not pregnancy related but very frustrating just the same
Looking forward to: the all-day birthing class this weekend where we get the tour of the hospital as well as get pre-registered for the birth

Thursday, May 2, 2013

29 weeks and 4 days

Had my first ultrasound since being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was very nervous about this because this diet is tough and somedays I don't do as well as I could, so I was worried that it was going to be affecting the baby too quickly. Thankfully, things were good. Her growth is still very normal - she's in the 56th percentile for weight/growth, which is perfectly were we want her to be. She is now 3.6 pounds and the fluid level is perfect. This was a huge relief to me. The ultrasound tech said she was doing great and we would go back in 4 weeks for another check up.

The weekly update:


How far along? 29 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: was up to 4 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight, but lost a pound - so back down to 3 pounds. This GD diet makes weight gain tough.
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? Pretty sure that I have some new ones as my stomach grows
Sleep: sleeping has become a pillow mountain - having the extra support of all the pillows while I am trying to get myself comfortable
Best moment of the week: The baby shower BBQ with all of our friends - it was amazing! 
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is moving machine - constantly on the move, especially after meals and about 2:30 am. She wakes up and squirms around tons and tons
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn due to her position, she sits very high and pushes up on my stomach, which causes the acid to be pushing up.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? now that all of my Master's work is done, I am so relieved. Now I can just turn my attention to getting set up for baby girl :-)
Looking forward to: organizing and sorting out her things for her room