Curtain Call

The finishing touch on the nursery is now complete. Gran had been sewing the curtains for the changing table and she brought them when they came this weekend. I'm so pleased with how the red turned out. It looks even better than I expected. 

On Saturday I washed Allie's clothes and sheets. I'm not thrilled with her coming home form the hospital outfit, but it will do. I realized we needed a few more pairs of socks and onesies so I took care of that at Target last night. Bags are packed and ready to go. Sheets are clean, the car seat is in the car...we're all set. Now I just have to be patient. I'm trying to do things that will be difficult for me once she arrives. This weekend I have a sleepover planned with some girlfriends. I've been reading a nice 900+ page book every night before bed. Fatigue has hit me hard lately so I'm trying to take care of myself, but it is hard to slow down with so much going on. Just a few more weeks and then we'll REALLY have a lot going on!

Bouncing along

Today we went shopping for a few more things we needed for the baby. Yesterday we learned that our old bouncer was no longer bouncing. I figure as much as Ainsley loved it, we probably just burned the motor out. Target had sent me a coupon for 10% off everything left on my registry so we went and got the bouncer and a few other things we need. I also picked out a slipcover for my Boppy pillow. It was looking pretty sad after nearly 6 years at our house. In addition to surviving a combined total of 26 months of breast feeding, the pillow has also served as a bed for dolls and countless stuffed animals. 

I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow. I know I was just there on Wednesday, but they only do the head check ultrasounds on Mondays so I had to take what I could get. Tomorrow is the last time I will see Allison before she arrives. The next time I see her face, I'll be holding her! Hopefully the u/s will show she is head down and ready for delivery. She's been very active today. Now that she's running out of room her movements are much more restricted. Just one month to go until my due date!!!

Three months and counting

My due date is three months from today. I swear yesterday I was peeing on the stick and calling Jamie at work to tell him that we were pregnant and now I'm staring down the third trimester. I had an appointment this morning. It was to check me for gestational diabetes. Anastasia called it my "sugar blood" test and she's not too far from the truth. I backed off on my peanut M&Ms and ice cream these last few days, but we won't know the results of the test until early next week most likely.

I hate that orange stuff they make you drink. You can only have toast for breakfast beforehand so I was already feeling icky. I like my big bowl of cereal so I hated not having it. I told the nurse not to read the number on the scale out loud, but I know for a fact she didn't slide the little thingy at the bottom so I haven't topped 150 lbs. just yet. My blood pressure was "awesome" as the nurse put it and my urine check yielded nothing but the ordinary. After the glucose drink, Allie (I think that's what we've settled on calling her...but I'm not sure) was ricocheting around like the girls in the moonbounce at Chik-Fil-A last night. I thought I was going to get a surprise u/s because they need to get an accurate fetal heart rate. We knew she was fine as evidenced by her movement, but you have to have that heart rate as part of the exam. Finally she settled down enough to get the heart rate needed.

After I saw the nurse, three other moms (and one embarassed dad-to-be) joined me in a room for the infamous "PreTerm Labor Class." It involves watching videos on the epidurals and signs of pre term labor. It was the same thing I watched with my previous pregnancies, but since you have an hour to kill as you wait for the blood test, I was trapped. The blood test was taken exactly an hour after my consumption of the aforementioned orange junk and then I was off. I now go back every two weeks which is shocking to me. I thought the nurse was kidding, but I guess not. I go back on July 1st and I get an u/s at that appointment to check my placenta.

I'm tired, hot and cranky. My ribs hurt and I have to get up 8 times a night to pee. I told Jamie to hit me upside the head if I ever said I wanted to be pregnant again. I swear I don't know how people do this after the age of 35. It's kicking my butt at age 28!!!!!!

Progress report from 17 weeks

I miss running. I haven't had a good run since my 5K almost three weeks ago. Walking is fine, but I miss going for a long run. I miss pushing myself to better my time, to go faster and farther. I know I'll get back out there a few weeks after the baby is born. I'm trying to focus on how nice the weather will be then; the cool days of fall finally returning to give us some relief from the heat. It will be the perfect time to start running again. I've got races planned, which is keeping me from going insane that I can't run any big races right now. The Knoxville 1/2 marathon will be 6 months after I deliver. I plan to be at the starting line for that one, followed by the Music City 1/2 4 weeks later. Long term, I plan to run the Goofy Challenge in 2011. 
 
I haven't had a glass of wine since the holidays. I haven't had caffeine since the first week of January. I can no longer wear pants with zippers. For the time being I can still see my toes and I'm still able to tie my shoes and paint my toenails. I'll count those as small victories. Overall I feel pretty decent. I'm not sleeping very well at night, but so far everything is going well. Honestly, I can't complain. I mean, I can, but it wouldn't be fair. This pregnancy has been so easy thus far and I am incredibly grateful for that. 
 
Jamie and I can't wait wait for next Thursday. The girls are also anxious to find out whether they have a brother or a sister. Hopefully the baby will cooperate and will share the secret with us. Anastasia was curious as to how we knew she was a girl. "Was it because you saw my hair?" she asked last night on our walk. "Well, no. It's because we saw your girl parts." She didn't hesitate and said "So if I'd had a little stick thing you'd have known I was a boy!" Yes, Anastasia that's exactly it. 

16 week appointment update

I had my 16 week check-up yesterday morning. It was a quick visit, as most of these in the middle are. My blood pressure was great. Good thing the nurse did that first, because I was patting myself on the back for a good two minutes. Then I had to get on the scale...S...C....A....R...Y!! As the doctor said "Well some people just have these "bumps" with their weight." Riiiiiiight. Seriously though, the doc didn't seem to concerned. She said all that lean muscle mass I had from my marathon days are still burning up a lot of calories, hence why I'm hungry ALL the time!! The doctor heard the heartbeat and then sent me on my way. I still think that the heartbeat sounds faster than it did with either of the girls, but we'll have to wait and see. My u/s is scheduled for the 23rd!! Yeah!! It will be here before we know it!

Roll up your sleeve

Yesterday I went to pick up the girls at school. Ainsley started slamming all her toys away as soon as she saw me and her teacher walked over to the cubbies. Her teacher is so wonderful, but I could tell there was some sort of hesitation. I immediately realized she was trying to deliver some sort of unpleasant news. I assumed Ainsley had bitten someone or chucked a truck at someone's head. That's what I get for assuming, it actually had nothing to do with her.

A child in Ainsley's class has been diagnosed with Fifth Disease. I had heard of it, so I knew it was one of those "bad for pregnant women" things. I got the girls in the car and called my OB. It was almost closing time though so I left my information with the nurse knowing it would be Friday before I heard back from them.

I had an event at the hospital early this morning, but I carried my phone with me and the doctor's office called right after 8am. They wanted to see me in ASAP to have my blood drawn. Apparently most of us are exposed to this virus as children. We might not ever get sick from it, but still build up an immunity. That's what the blood test will determine. If I haven't ever been exposed before then they will closely monitor me for a while and take my blood again in four weeks. I should have results on Monday. I have my 16 week visit late next week, so if I have any more questions I can discuss it with the doctor then.

Pregnancy update

I'm 14w3d pregnant as of today. I can definitely tell that the first trimester is behind me, but I am really starting to show now. I've avoided maternity clothes so far (whew!) but there is no denying my baby bump now. I eat all the time, which is why that bump has grown so quickly. Sleep is sometimes difficult at night. From crazy dreams to my constant trips to the bathroom it's very difficult to get a good 8 hours in. I take advantage of naps on the weekend when I can. 

I've been running pretty often, but it is slow going. I've been feeling a lot of pressure as the baby grows, so I feel I'll be waddling before too long. I'm feeling some tiny flutters, but no major movements just yet. We listen to the heartbeat often, which is very easy to locate now that the baby is so big. 

I go back to the doctor on the 3rd and there I will schedule my big ultrasound!!!!! Hopefully it will be in late April or right as May begins. I found out today the baby has already been cast as Baby Jesus in the Walk Through Bethlehem at church. The children's director and I were talking as I picked up Anastasia from Children's Church and she told me the baby would be the perfect age to lay in the manger. For some reason, this really cracks me up!!!

12 week appointment

We had our 12 week appointment today. We started with the ultrasound. Jamie and the girls joined me for this part of my appointment so the kids could see the baby for the first time. I hadn't seen the baby in 5 weeks and it's amazing to me how much it has grown! Because this u/s was to measure the head and neck for birth defects it was quite a lengthy one. We got to see the baby move a lot, which the girls very much enjoyed. We also got to leave with some wonderful pictures! All the measurements came out okay, and they did a blood test to follow along with those measurements. I saw the doctor four about 3 minutes and then we were on our way. I go back in 4 weeks!

I'm feeling pretty tired, but otherwise okay. I've started to put on some pounds which has me stressed out. I am having trouble reining in my appetite. I want to eat everything I can get my hands on. Currently I am dreaming of the donuts at the locally owned shop down the street. Good thing they aren't opened this late!!!

A whole new world

So after 7 years at Channel Ten....I now have a new job. I started today. It was kind of like transferring to a new school in the middle of the year. You're trying to figure out the lingo and to try and look cool in the lunchroom. The lunchroom was actually the hospital cafe, but the rules still applied. I attempted to appear to know what I was doing as I ordered. I chose a grilled cheese, yogurt, and a Pepsi (sorry mom...no Coke).  Of course the reality of it was...the yogurt was gulped down during a crisis meeting and the cheese sandwich was eaten cold two hours later in a different meeting.  All in all it was a great first day and I think once I get my bearings I'm really going to like it. 

The girls had a nice first day back at their old school. They were welcomed with open arms and acted like they'd never been gone. Ainsley slept well at nap time and they both ate good lunches. We were home before 5pm, which I still am having trouble believing! 

I'm feeling okay. Aversion to certain smells and tastes like mint. Ugh...mint is really bad. Fatigue had eased off some, but it comes and goes. We've been listening to the baby's heartbeat at the girls request. They are so excited about being big sisters. We get to see the baby again on Friday. The girls are coming for the ultrasound. Should be fun for everyone!!!

The cat's out of the bag

I am happy to report I no longer am carrying around a secret. Well, technically I am carrying *the* secret, but it's not a secret any more! We are expecting our third child in mid-September.

We wanted to wait until after Ryann's baby shower to spill the beans so on our way home Saturday afternoon we told the girls. They are thrilled! Ainsley keeps saying "I can't believe it, I can't believe it! I'm going to be a big sister." We've let them hear the heartbeat and now they pester me to listen to it all the time. They will join us for the u/s next week so they can actually see the baby for the first time.

I've been feeling okay. My nausea is better, but the fatigue is still hitting pretty hard. Hopefully that will ease off once my hours change next week. I've been pretty hungry lately and it's hard not to eat everything in site. I was pretty bad over the weekend, but managed to pack a salad for tonight's dinner.

So that's the big news from our house! A third baby is on the way!

25% of the way there!

As of tomorrow I'll be 10 weeks along. 10 down and 30 more to go!! I've been feeling better these last few days. I certainly have an appetite anyway. I'm eating anything that isn't nailed down. It's a nice change after my nausea, but I'm worried about stepping on the scale on the 6th. We've been listening to the baby's heartbeat every other night or so. I can't wait to tell the girls about the baby this weekend so they can hear it too!! Anastasia told me today it was time for me to have another baby. I swear that kid is psychic.

Houston, we have a heartbeat!

It's appropriate that on the week full of hearts, we would hear Monster's heartbeat for the first time. We tried several times over the weekend, but were unsuccessful. I was frustrated and stressed. I took a sick day today because I am still about to cough up a lung. I've slept a lot in the last few days which was not only good for the cold, but for the baby as well. I've been SO nauseous. Like...sleep with a trash can next to the bed nauseous. But I'm feeling better tonight.

After the girls went to bed I flopped down on the couch...less than 10 miutes later Jamie located the nice, strong heartbeat! It sounds just perfect. Plus, now I know exactly where to look when I want to hear it again. This should hold me over until I can see the baby again on March 6th.

8 Week Appointment Update

I had to be out of bed much earlier than usual today since my appointment was at 8:30. They told me to prepare for a two hour appointment, but thankfully it only took about 45 minutes. My weight is still lower than my very first appointment, but I had gained back a pound since last Friday. We did all the usual things...urine sample, blood pressure, pap smear. I saw Dr, McAmis today who is one of my favorites. He is actually the doctor that delivered Ainsley three years ago this week. He said I can keep running as long as I feel comfortable doing so. Yeah! He didn't seemed concerned about my weight but said I could drink one Ensure a day to make sure I'm getting all my nutrients.


At my request he made a weak effort to find the heartbeat, but said his doppler isn't really that great and I might have better luck at home. Mine arrived this afternoon so I'll be trying it out once I get home. It still might be a few more days until we hear it.


I've got a terrible cough that is making my ribs hurt. I've been very nauseous today as well. I actually thought I was going to have to pull over on my way in to work because I felt so sick. I'm a little better tonight after my workout, so hopefully that will carry over to the weekend.



I go back in four weeks on the 6th for my next appointment.

Zzzzzzzzzz

I'm 8 weeks pregnant today and I'm exhausted. This week has been particularly brutal for some reason. I have a cold and that's complicating things, but overall I am just purely exhausted. Crazy dreams prevent me from getting the quality rest I need at night and my schedule doesn't really allow for much sleep during the day.



Tomorrow is my next OB appointment. I called today because I couldn't remember if it was 8:15 or 8:30 or something else. It's 8:30, but the nurse was a complete jerk when I called. Like it was a huge inconvenience to look up my appointment. I am starting to look at other OBs in town. I still want to deliver at Blount Memorial, so that is going to limit my choices. I'm not convinced I want to switch, but some of the things at my last few appointments have started me thinking. I shouldn't have to stay with them just because it's easier. If I don't feel like I am getting the care I need, then I really need to look elsewhere.



Hopefully we will hear the baby's heartbeat tomorrow. I can't wait for that reassurance. It was great to see it on the ultrasound last week, but to be able to hear it. Now that is special. They also will be taking about 5 vials of my blood tomorrow. Yipeee. I am hoping I won't be nauseous in the morning and the blood draw won't bother me.

Well crap....

I've been pregnant twice. I'm familiar with the nausea. I'm familiar with the dizzy spells I have to endure whenever I get out of bed or rise to a standing position. But today I was reminded of one pregnancy "perk" I had forgotten. Nose bleeds. Ugh...I had to run to the bathroom a little while ago to stop it. I'll have to ask the doctor about that when I go in on Friday.

I've been struggling with some bad nausea the last few days. This morning I almost cancelled Ainsley's check-up because I felt so bad. I'm also pretty fatigued. It's funny because I'm exhausted, but I have trouble sleeping. Oh well, it's TOTALLY worth it!!

The cat's out of the bag (Pt. 1)

We told the grandparents yesterday that they are going to be grandparents once again. The shock was pretty funny if I do say so myself. I said it (heart pounding in my ears the entire time) and then paused as the news washed over them and soaked in. Anna and Chris were here too so they got to be part of the announcement. Anna said she wins the pool as she said we'd be pregnant by Easter. Good call little sis, good call.

We aren't spreading the news much further until after Ryann's shower. I'm pretty adamant about that. The night after the shower is over we'll tell Ryann and Scott in person and then it's fair game. Facebook statuses will be changed, phone calls made, and e-mails sent. Should be fun! And it's only 3 weeks away so it shouldn't be that difficult.

I'm feeling okay, but not fantastic. My appetite remains lost and I'm forcing myself to eat small snacks throughout the day. I went for run today and that seemed to help. I'm looking forward to vegging on the couch tonight and watching the Super Bowl. I'm just counting down the days until Friday when I am hoping we can hear Monster's heartbeat!!

Movin' on up

So today was the day I had been waiting 9 days for. I was feeling so icky this morning I could barely eat breakfast. Everything tastes nasty lately. I don't ever feel like I am going to throw up, I just feel blah. We had to wait a while to get back in the u/s room. It was extremely nerve-wracking and I could feel my heart about to jump out of my chest. Jamie got to go with me and I am SO glad he was there to calm my nerves. I was down to 119 pounds, which is a three pound loss form last week. No surprising since I don't feel like eating at all. Jamie was not too happy about my trip up on the scale. I vowed to eat more.

The tech turned off the light and started the u/s. I could immediately see the baby's heartbeat. I've never been so relieved in my life. I let it wash over me for a moment as the tech took all the measurements. It was so beautiful to see it flickering away in there. My official due date is now September 17th. It's my long-time friend Laura's birthday!! That makes me 7w1d as of today. That's much more in line with my positive pregnancy tests and there won't be another u/s until 18 weeks or so.

I go back next Friday for bloodwork and all that stuff. We heard Ainsley's heartbeat at 8 weeks so I am hoping we can hear this baby's next Friday. We've decided to call it Monster since the picture the u/s tech gave us looks strangely similar to the Loch Ness Monster.

It was a long nine days, but they are over and the baby is fine. We are truly blessed.

Less than 48 hours

Okay...my next u/s is less than 48 hours away. I can SO do this! Plus I feel like crap today, so that bodes well for this pregnancy. Boobs are killing me, I'm dizzy everytime I stand up, and tonight I actually have honest-to-goodness nausea. Who knew feeling bad could feel so good?



It's proving very difficult to keep quiet about the baby. Obviously it's a very joyous occasion and I want to shout it from the rooftops. I really feel like we should wait until after Ryann's shower though. I would be pretty ticked if someone stole my thunder right before my only baby shower for my first child. I just hope our family isn't upset that we held on to the knowledge.



I will be interested to see if the u/s on Friday moves my due date at all. I've heard early u/s aren't very accurate except for proving there really is a baby in there. It may take a little while before we nail down an actual due date. I think it's safe to say anywhere from September 15-25. Just my ballpark. As of right now we aren't finding out the sex ahead of time. We might change our minds, but for now I think we're going to go for the surprise again. Oh...and the names will be a secret too. I know that bugs people, but that's how we roll!!

Another positive test

This morning we were up with Anastasia at 4am as she was coughing up a lung. I had told myself that I would use my last pregnancy test on Tuesday so I figured 4am was far enough into the day to count. I peed on the stick and blissfully discovered a VERY strong positive plus sign. Whew! No I think I can make it until Friday. I'm confident the baby is growing well and that we'll see that little heartbeat fluttering away on Friday afternoon.

I've been pretty exhausted these last few days, but yet I have trouble sleeping at night. All those raging hormones make for crazy dreams and very restless nights. My breasts are very sore this morning and I feel a little blech.

Just a few more days to go!!!

Still waiting

I'm doing slightly better with the waiting game on this Monday night. I've given myself permission to take another pregnancy test tomorrow morning. I figured I've got one more in the box and this is our last kiddo so I might as well use it. Plus I think it will help me feel less anxious as we lead into Friday. Of course that could backfire and have me trying to determine if the positive sign is dark enough. *Sigh* I can't ever be happy.



I still have had no spotting and no cramping. That has to be a good sign. My bresats seem more sore today than yesterday. Goodness knows I've been checking them enough. I still don't have much of an appetite and feel just downright icky tonight. I cry at the drop of a hat. I sobbed during church yesterday and cried like four times during Extreme Makeover Home Edition last night. I'm taking all these as positives signs that the pregnancy is progressing as it should. I've done well and haven't skipped any of my three-a-day pill regimen since I began last Wednesday.



Just four more days to go...technically three and a half. I can do this. I can do this.