Fumbling Towards Eggstacy

Mia at 7 weeks

Mia is a healthy little girl, growing like a weed and keeping me busy.  Here she is.

 

At birth she was 7 lbs, 5 oz, 19 in. long.  Not sure what she is now, but 2 weeks ago she was up to 10 pounds already.  She's a great little eater.  Sleeping is a different story -- she had her nights and days mixed up for the first six weeks.  Now she mostly sleeps at night but there's often a total of 2-3 hours when we're up.  For instance -- last night, went to bed at 11, she was up at 1-1:30, then at 3-5, then up for good at 9.  She is usually fussy at her long awake time at night, so (against advice I've been given), I do stimulating things with her because she seems desperate for them.  She watches her mobile, we read, and we do tummy slithering back and forth across a blanket on the floor. 

I'm doing fine.  No problems and I've had my 6-week checkup.  I'm getting back into exercising.  I take an hour walk most days with her in the Baby Bjorn.  Plus I'm doing Stroller Strides.  My gym membership started back up yesterday but I haven't gone because I'm not used to leaving her even an hour!  She won't take a bottle so I really need to work on that.  DH would watch her but she seems to want her mommy because she cries with him and stops with me.  Even so we need to work on it or I'll have troubles going back to work in 7 weeks!

36 Weeks Down, 3w2d To Go!

I had a check-up this morning along with an ultrasound.  Baby M is doing great, the ultrasound tech estimated that she's 5 lbs 13 oz and she'll be 7 lbs at birth.  Of course that's give or take a pound or so.  She said Colorado babies tend to be smaller than the national average because of altitude.  Didn't know that!  Also Baby M is breech.  So doc can now say my c-section is medically necessary, yay.

The doc I met with today is the one doing the section -- I haven't seen him since my very first appointment, but he's scheduled to work at the hospital on the date we picked.  I like him a lot, he's super blunt and doesn't talk down to me.  The other doc I've been seeing lately I really like too, he's not blunt and more nurturing, but he's not scheduled to work on our chosen day so I can't have him.  I always ask them about the scar -- who's doing the cutting, who's doing the sewing, is the midwife assigned that day good at sewing up women to avoid a big scar.  But I never know if they're being honest.  I wish there was someone I could ask about who does the best job sewing, and I'd change the date to get that person!

I changed Baby M's name this week.  I've been calling her Sarah for the past couple of months but now I think I'm going with what was my second choice, Mia.  DH likes both names.  There's not an overarching reason that I decided to change it.  Partially because Mia seems like a stronger name, partially because there are more cutsie nicknames I can come up with, partially because we've met soooo many Sarah's in CO.  And partially because I'm being a slight flake during my pregnancy.   ;)  Both names were in the top 20 girls' names on the Social Security site, with Mia at #15 and Sarah at #18.  I didn't set out for a popular name, but what can I say, I'm not the only parent who has good taste in names.  =)

There aren't too many physical annoyances to complain about.  After my first trimester puke sessions, I really can't get too upset about any physical annoyances anymore.  I haven't had any contractions.  I do have trouble breathing, so I have the humidifier going non-stop.  I don't get as sick to my stomach as I had been, guess that got better about a week ago.  I did have some water come out on Saturday --about 2 oz.  It happened, of all times, while I was at a party, without my husband, who was winter camping somewhere with no mobile phone reception!  I didn't call the doc or anything because it wasn't much liquid.  And it wasn't noticable so I decided to stay at the party.  I realize that makes me sound pretty grody but I don't get out much these days, plus I don't anticipate being able to get out much in the next few months.  So don't judge me.  ;)  From what I've Google'd it sounds like it was a hind water leak, which is a small rip in the sac, but since there are 2 layers of membranes, once they shift, it closes up.  The U/S tech suspected I lost fluid (I didn't mention it to her before she said that) but said I have enough.  The doc said as long as it wasn't continuous and I haven't had contractions, it's nothing to worry about.

We're definitely ready around here.  I went to the MOM's (mothers of multiples) sale last weekend in Castle Rock with a friend who is due a week earlier than me, and we got stuff we didn't get from our registries, pretty cheap.  What an experience -- when we got there it was 2 minutes to opening time and there must've been 400 women in line!  I wanted to bail but we waited and the doors opened and the line went fast.  It was a very well coordinated event.  There were some shoppers who were acting as if all the stores in the world had burned down and this was the only opportunity to get kid stuff.  Who knows maybe I'll be like that at the next sale, wagon in one hand and laundry basket in another, ready to stock up for the next year.  =)

In a week I have a photo shoot with a photographer in town, Jennie at Babycakes, to take pics of this great big baby belly that I worked so hard for.  It's a little splurge but it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...in my life, at least.  I really love one picture in particular on her site, of a naked prego woman in a studio with a black softly lit background, with fabric draped around her body, showing her shape, and blowing in the wind behind her.  If I can get that one picture reproduced, I'll be happy.

No pics this time.  I took some last week but can't find them...must be pregnancy brain.

32 Weeks

It's been a month since I posted...I finally got around to taking pictures.

Sarah is kicking a lot.  She keeps me awake at night sometimes, and she must be  music lover because she moves a lot when I turn up the radio in the car.  She especially seems to like the Beatles.  I'm feeling great for the most part, except that I'm sleepy and congested and struggle to get off of our deep couch.  I don't have consistent food cravings.  Sometimes I'll want a hamburger, sometimes fruit, sometimes ice cream.  I stopped walking for exercise a few days ago because everytime I walk for an hour or more, I get a pull in my stomach muscles and then I have pain for a day or two.  So I'm sticking to the recumbant stationary bike at the health club. 

My last monthly doc appointment was Monday.  All was good -- baby's heartbeat is good and strong, belly is measuring properly, and my weight is good (or so doc says, he's not the one who has to freak every time he looks down at a scale!).  My iron was low even though my prenatal has 150% of the daily requirement so I'm now taking iron in addition to the prenatal and fish oil supplements.

Last night I did the hospital tour.  All rooms are private, which is good, not sure if that's pretty standard across hospitals but my insurance won't pay for private unless it's the only option so good thing it is.  The nurse/tour guide told us that anywhere the baby goes, mom or dad can go.  The hospital is not the newest but DH worked at most hospitals in the city and said he always got a good vibe from the staff at this particular one.  The nursery was empty, and she said it was 99% of the time because moms keep babies in their rooms.  I knew that was common but didn't realize that it was that rare to take a break from baby. 

Speaking of nurseries, our home nursery is gaining color slowly.  Here's an annotated picture.  You may need to click on the picture to get a larger version to read the writing.  DH hung the curtains a few days back.  Good thing they are room darkening because this is the sunniest room in the house.  I want to put together long flower pots of silk gerbera daisies for the tops of the bookshelves, and I ordered more pink fabric boxes for storing items on the bottom shelves.  It's a little cramped in the room but not too bad.  And I'm still working on the artwork.  I ordered some prints of butterfly paintings but decided they don't match so I'm holding off on having them framed.

Here are belly pics.  This one is me in my workout clothes last night at 10pm so I look sleepy.

This one my husband had me pull my shirt close so you can see the belly outline.  Trust that I don't wear it like this.

 

I'm still working on my painting, which my mom and I started at Christmas.  I keep "erasing" parts and painting over them.  This is my first attempt at painting since....grade school??  Doesn't look much different from what I could do back then.  But hey it's cheap artwork, and it's a suprisingly relaxing way to spend time.  DH is all excited about my new found interest in painting and bought me a painting book for Valentines Day, and wants to buy me an easel.  As long as he doesn't hold out any hope for actual talent.  I'll stick to my kindergarten-style nursery art for now.

Iteration 1 is painted over and I have no evidence of it, but my mom and I painted snails and butterflies in the middle of the flowers.

Iteration 2 -- I didn't like this butterfly, it looked too much like it came from a coloring book.

Iteration 3 -- I made the butterfly match the ones on the curtain tiebacks.

Iteration 4

Since I'm sharing pictures, I'll share one of our youngest dog Pasha.  She had TPLO (tibial plateau leveling oseometry) surgery last week to help a torn ACL.  She cried the first 30 hours straight after coming home from the animal hospital.  We were up all night with her, calling the vet regularly, trying to figure out if she needed more pain meds or different pain meds.  After much expirimentation with meds we finally eliminated the one causing her anxiety.  She's been doing great ever since.  She's not supposed to be walking up or down stairs so DH carries her out to the backyard to pee 4-5 times a day, as our back door is actually on our 2nd floor and there are quite a few stairs to go down to get to grass.

 

And while I'm on a role with picture sharing, here are some from the Breckenridge snow sculpting festival a few weeks back.  It was sooooo cold, five degrees to be exact.  DH was skiing at Keystone while I went with our weather-wimpy friends (hey I make no judgements) from Florida to snow-sculpture-spectate.

     

 

27 Weeks Down 13 To Go

The third timester is here and the need to sleep more frequently has returned.  I still feel great with the exception of a leg cramp here and there.  No cravings yet.  Little Girl kicks me frequently now -- I started feeling her at 24 weeks -- pretty late in the game.  But I'm happy to feel her, it's such a joy!!  DH can feel her on the outside, and we can see my tummy move too.

Here's a pic of me and my big belly.

  

Here are some pictures of the (unfinished) nursery.

   

Everything came used off of Craigs List.  The nursery still needs some pizzaz.  I ordered two 6-foot-high white bookshelves to go on either side of the dresser (only $50 each from Staples - with free delivery), some room darkening pink curtains (only $18 at WalMart), and six pink gingham fabric bins for the shelves on the changing table.  I still need some finishing touches like artwork.  My mom and I started a painting at Christmas that matches the bedding, and I still need to finish it.  Our spare bedroom is full of hand-me-down baby stuff from my brother and sister-in-law, including a swing, bouncy chair, exersaucer, high chair, baby gates and more, so I also need to clear the closet in baby's room to store some of that.

My first hospital class is scheduled for late January.  That's the one where we tour the hospital.  I had to reschedule it due to work travel.  I have another class on C-sections in February and I'm considering taking the whole childbirth series of classes in case I find myself before the scheduled c-section, dilated to the point where slicing my belly open would be counterproductive.  I watched "The Business of Being Born," a documentary by Ricky Lake, with my husband last week.  It's about home birthing and how hospitals push women into having more medications during childbirth than would be ideal.  All the video of natural childbirth -- without drugs -- made me even more turned off by that option.  Although they did say that the drugs that women are given make it harder for her to bond with the baby.  Not sure if I buy it.  I don't like the idea of lots of drugs, but don't like the idea of pain.  There's no right answer, that's my final conclusion.

I've been a road warrior for work lately.  Everyone asks when I have to stop flying.  I always say the doctor says there is no medical reason a pregnant lady can't fly, unless she has some medical issues.  It's the airlines that don't want to have to deal with a woman giving birth on a flight.  I'm for sure not flying in March or April.  I'm not sure about February yet, I'll see how I feel.

I'm reading voraciously lately about baby stuff, I must have 30 books checked out of the library.  I keep thinking I won't have time to read after the baby's here so I feel like I'm cramming for motherhood.  All the books say you have no time to do anything after baby's here.  Seems to me you'd have at least some free time considering how much babies sleep. 

Tomorrow is my glucose tolerance test, plus an ultrasound to check baby's heart, since the ultrasound tech couldn't get a good view last time.  At least that's what she said.  Hopefully she wasn't lying and saw something of concern.  I'm anxious to see my little girl again on the screen, though.

22w6d

Ultrasound

Here are some images from yesterday's ultrasound.  Our little baby girl is doing great, everything is normal.  The tech estimated she's 1.3 pounds, and the doc said her heartbeat is 140 bpm.  She seems to be quite flexible too, almost touching her forehead with her toes.  Maybe we have a future Cirque du Soleil acrobat in there.  =)

 

Before the tech took this shot, on the screen, we could see her eyeball moving around.  Her belly looks so gigantic to me.

 

Birth Date

Doc said we can schedule the C-section for any day after April 9th, because at 39 weeks, babies are as healthy as they are at 40 weeks.  Our decision may be based on which day our favorite doc is working, and the schedule hasn't been set yet.  I am so so happy that they are willing to do an elective C-section.  I asked how they determine if it's medically necessary (that's what the insurance company requires to pay for one).  The doc said, if I want it, they'll do it.  He said it doesn't cost the insurance company any more money, and in fact, depending how long a natural childbirth would last with labor, it's usually less expensive.  The recovery doesn't scare me at all.  Maybe I'm naive.  But I'm seriously ecstatic that I don't have to push a human out of my hoo-ha.

Feeling Baby

I still haven't felt baby move in my belly.  The ultrasound tech assured me, and I could see, that baby is very active.  She reassured me that it's due to the placenta being in the front.  She said that some women don't feel their babies their entire pregnancies.  I'm hoping to feel her in there by Christmas.  She's still small but this is a time when growth picks up fast.

Before I saw her on the ultrasound on Monday, I have to admit I was worried.  Part of my worry came from a woman I work with who lost twins at 23 weeks after an amnio.  There was no cause discovered but she suspected it was the amnio.  Why people like to share their horror stories I don't know, but that one, plus the lack of movement in my belly, had me geeking a bit.  I had visions of having to sell the crib and having to deal with a loss.  Now I feel much better.  My very kind and understanding doctor said I can go into his office every week to listen to the heartbeat if it will make me feel better.  I think I'm fine now though. 

Nursery

I still need to take pics of what's in the room so far.  I'm working on ideas for the walls.  I got a library card last week and got a bunch of nursery decorating books for ideas.  I like the idea of a crib canopy, but the books say to remove it once baby can roll over, so it seems like a lot of work (to make) for four months.

I was going to make curtains, but even on a budget that's hard to justify since curtains are so inexpensive.  Plus I went to a fabric store and I am of course attracted to the fabric that's $30 a yard, not $6 a yard, which would make homemade curtains more expensive than purchased ones.

I may create artwork myself, or at least give it a try for fun.  I'm no artist, but I think I can handle painting butterflies or daisies on white canvas.  A lot of nursery artwork looks like a 7-year-old painted it anyway.  Plus then I can buy paint colors that match the bedding perfectly.

We bought a used Dutailier glider for me (and DH) to feed and rock baby in.  It's white wood with sage green cushions, and it is so comfortable I think I could sleep in it.  It feels good to have the furniture in place!  But even getting that crossed off the to-do list, there is so much more to buy and do in the next four months!

How I'm Feeling

I feel great.  Last week, I was in Tampa for work and everyone asks how I feel since I wasn't able to keep my morning sickness any kind of secret.  I'm fearful of being tagged as the sick pregnant girl at work, so it was nice to be able to report my super energy and health.  ;)  I have felt a few sharp pains in my tummy -- but I think that is probably just muscles stretching.  Saturday night I had a pain in a small spot on the top left of my tummy that lasted two hours while we were at a party, and today I had a pain on my whole left side that hurt so bad I had to lie down for an hour.  As long as they go away within a couple of hours, I'm not going to worry.  No other symptoms really -- I don't even feel pregnant.  In fact I feel better than I did when I wasn't pregnant.  Hopefully this lasts at least another month until the third trimester.