11.30.2011

Doctors Appointment at 32 Weeks

Today we met the one male doctor in the group just in case we run into an emergency situation and he's the one on call when I'm in labor. He was quirky, but nice. We were in & out in around 30 minutes = amazing! Usually after checking in I leave my urine specimen then return to the waiting room until I'm called back, but this time the nurse was waiting for me outside the bathroom! Weight. Vital signs. Back to the exam room to wait for the MD... less than 10 minutes! And his time with us was thorough but brief. I'm healthy & Gabriel is healthy so there is not a whole lot to discuss.

A Few Stats

Baby
Heart Rate: 150 {the doc said his HR was up from "exercising" since he was moving around a lot during the exam. And we heard his hiccups on the Doppler!!}

Mom
Fundal Height: 33cm
Weight Gain: Up 2 pounds in the past 2 weeks (1 lb/week is appropriate at this stage of pregnancy) so my total is now 20 1/2 lbs.
Vital Signs: blood pressure 115/76, heart rate 84

Thanksgiving 2011

Candids from Thanksgiving Day at my aunt & uncle's! I didn't end up with very many pictures on my camera.

Uncle Tom, Aunt Kathie, and Allie
Emily!
Caitlin, Aunt Amy & Allie
Aunt Lorraine & Matt in the background, Aunt Kathie & Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom & Matt. Hah!
 Aw!!
My tired look = 32 weeks pregnant + staying up after working night shift
Emily & Jennifer
Emily, Allie, Caitlin & Luke
Next Thanksgiving in Fayetteville will be fun!! Our Gabriel will be 10 months old! There hasn't been any small children around in years. My youngest cousin is a freshman in high school!

11.25.2011

32 Weeks

How far along: 32 weeks (November 24, 2011... Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!)

Size of baby:

Photo Credit: Baby Center
Interesting Facts: By now, your baby weighs 3.75-4.5 pounds (pick up a large jicama^) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He is sleeping approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth. He will also begin to settle in the head-down position.       
        Credit: Baby Center & Planning Family

Gender: BOY!!! Gabriel Turner.

Movement: I feel a lot of kicks, movement, pressure- and just baby!- on my right side. He's still pretty active.

What I miss: A good night's sleep.

Sleep: For a few nights in a row, I slept a couple of hours but then was wide awake for the rest of the night, typically ~3:00 or 4:00am until 7:00am. Where did this insomnia come from?? I've never had a problem sleeping before. Just another perk to being pregnant, I guess! I was so tired but could not fall asleep. It was horrible. My back ached and I felt an excruciating pain when I changed positions. Then, on Monday night, I slept like a baby {no pun intended!}. It felt amazing- I didn't get out of bed until after noon!!!

Symptoms: Heartburn & indigestion! After having 1 slice of pizza at my Mom's, I took the liquid Pepto Bismol {ew}; Aching pain in my ribs (~6-7th, see the pic below). I can't figure out what is causing it or what relieves it! So far, nothing does; Severe pain across my lower back/sacral curve.


Other Notes: I waddle.

Cravings: Ice water.

Best moment this week: Our co-ed baby shower on Saturday!!! We appreciate everyone who came from near & far to celebrate with us and blessed us with wonderful gifts. A big thanks to my in-laws for hosting it!

What we are looking forward to: Getting the finishing touches done in the nursery- wall decor/artwork, washing & putting away everything, etc; My birthday on the 28th!

Things checked off our "to-do" list:
-Perry finished painting one side & the back of our house!!!
-We bought a TON of baby things that we still needed with gift cards {thank you if you gave us one!}
-Perry assembled the stroller- we love it! Thank you Mom & Paul!!!
-We installed the car seat & base in the Element!!! I even buckled in a moose stuffed animal that my in-laws gave Gabriel to get the full effect! Pictures to come. The mirror we bought for the headrest doesn't tilt down far enough for us to see baby's face, so we plan to return it.
-I ordered 2 pieces of artwork for the nursery on Etsy. I can't wait until they arrive; one is coming from New Zealand! The other is from Oregon.

11.24.2011

Happy Thanksgiving!



Later this morning, Perry & I will be heading to Fayetteville to feast with all the Durrs, my Dad's side of the family! I am going to sleep in the car on the way there {I'm working tonight} and will most likely take a nap in the afternoon. Last year I managed to stay up well over 24 hrs after working Wednesday night, too, but I wasn't pregnant then!! Thanksgiving is one of my assigned holidays to work this year but I'm thankful I found someone who was willing to switch shifts with me.

11.20.2011

31 Weeks

How far along: 31 weeks (November 17, 2011)

Size of baby:

Photo Credit: Baby Center

Interesting Facts: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs on average 3.3 to 4 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges^) and is heading into a growth spurt. From this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will gain about a 1/2 pound every week. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. You may even see an arm or a foot move slowly across your belly! Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
      Credit: Baby Center & Planning Family

Total Weight Gain: 18 1/2 lbs.

Gender: BOY!!! Gabriel Turner.

Movement: I felt his hiccups for the first time last Friday night while I was at work!! I also am getting a few jabs to the ribs and bladder.

What I miss: Being able to sit comfortably.

Sleep: So-so...

Symptoms: The knots & tightness in my back have returned- starting on my right flank, up around my shoulder blade with cramps in my right arm. Also back with a vengeance is the sharp pain in my tailbone. Have you ever tried to drive while sitting cockeyed on one hip?! Leg cramps.

Other Notes: My nails are growing like crazy. I do have the linea nigra line down my stomach which I've actually had for a few weeks but forgot to mention it!

Cravings: Ice & ice water. Breakfast food- bacon is back!!

What we are looking forward to: Our co-ed baby shower on Saturday!

Things checked off our "to-do" list:
-Perry scrubbed the paint drips (big ones and the itty bitty microscopic ones) off the dining room floor & resealed it. We then moved the furniture back in place.
-I primed the exterior windows on the rear of our house and scrubbed & primed everything on 1 side of our house {unfortunately, the other side is a lot higher off the ground so I can't help Perry at all with it...}.
-Perry painted (1) the exterior rear windows, and (2) the second half of the front of our house! He did a great job. It's dark grey and we love it. Our house is brick, so it's the trim & a triangular-shaped section of vinyl siding that goes up to a pitch in the roof. It's been 1/2 white primer-1/2 grey for a year a while now... but we won't talk about that! *still to do: scrape, scrape, scrape around ALL the windows*
-I completed 2 more pages of our wedding album/photo book. I just need to make the time to finish it.
-We found an end table for the nursery! For less than $30, too! Still debating whether to leave it "as is" or get creative with it.
-We Perry also spotted 2 great wall decor items for Gabe's room while we were out & about today. He has such a good eye!

11.19.2011

Doctor's Appointment at 30 Weeks

A Few Stats

Baby
Heart Rate: 136-140
Position: Head down, butt under my left ribs, legs over to my right. He was in this same position at 19 weeks.

Mom
Lab Results: blood glucose-104 (no gestational diabetes!); hemoglobin- 11.5 (no iron-deficiency anemia!) 
Fundal Height: 31cm {accurate for 30 weeks gestation, and he's been measuring up a week}
Weight Gain: I never thought I'd say "finally, I gained weight!" but today I did! At my last 3 doctor's appointments- over a span of 8 weeks- my weight did not change by even a quarter of a pound. I was relieved to see an increase of 4 1/4 lbs since my last visit 3 weeks ago. No need for an u/s to check on Gabriel- he's doing just fine in there! My total is now 18 1/2 lbs.
Vital Signs: blood pressure 119/76, heart rate 91

Funny story: I asked about birth plans which brought up the fact that I greatly prefer a female MD to deliver Gabriel. I said something along the lines of "...but I know between the 4, the chance is 50-50". For as long as I've seen my doc there, I've always thought there were 2 male & 2 female obstetricians, and the other providers just did gynecology. The NP says "well, we had 5, but since Dr. So-And-So is out on maternity leave herself, that leaves 3 females and 1 male, so your odds are actually pretty good." ...Okay, what?! Now I was confused! 

It took hilariously too long for me to get it us to understand each other. The NP even resorted to counting on her fingers- "if we had 5 (holds up her hand) and 1 is out (folds down 1 finger), that leaves 4 (shows 4 fingers), and 3 of them are female." She never actually said "no, there are not 2 male doctors" so I was so lost. The one who I was convinced was the 2nd male is, in fact, a female! Her first name is Sharon. It would help if I paid attention to that... Also, I didn't know Dr. So-And-So delivered babies. The NP nudged Perry and said "that's okay, she's got placenta brain" as they both laughed & Perry shook his head!!

Things we learned:
(1) I'm easily confused, but it is only because I have placenta brain. If the NP said it, it must be true *wink*.
(2) We will have the opportunity to meet all of the doctors who could be with me at delivery. Our next appointment is with the only male OB in the group. I will schedule the following appt with the 3rd female doc.
(3) There is only a 25% chance that I'll end up having the male doc. Yay! The main concern is, of course, a safe delivery regardless of which doctor is on call.

11.14.2011

30 Weeks

How far along: 30 weeks (November 10, 2011)... only 10 more weeks. Crazy!!!

Size of baby:


Interesting Facts: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage^). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. He now almost fills up your entire uterine cavity and his arms and legs have grown much plumper, thanks to the continued growth of subcutaneous fat. Lanugo, or fine hair that once covered his body, will start falling off this week. His sight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep hisyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)
      Credit: Baby Center & Planning Family

Total Weight Gain: According to my scale, I've gained a pound {I try to be consistent weighing myself in my birthday suit right after getting out of bed}. That bumps my total to 16 pounds. The scale at my doctor's is really what matters though...

Gender: BOY!!! Gabriel Turner.

Movement: Big, even more coordinated rolls, kicks, punches- and bounces!

What I miss: Nothing.

Sleep: This past week I have slept well.

Symptoms: The muscle cramps & back tightness have improved tremendously! (but aren't gone completely); Sore hips at times.  

Other Notes: My belly button is officially an outie. I think it may actually stretch out into a "flatie"!! I'm fortunate to not have any stretch marks or swelling- yet {I hope I didn't just jinx myself}.

Cravings: Still ice, and now ice water! I'm so thirsty. And the ice at work is so so good {it's like Zaxby's- anyone with me?!}

Best moment this week: Celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary on 11/7/2011!!!

What we are looking forward to: My doctor's appointment on Monday; Upcoming baby showers!

Things checked off our "to-do" list:
-My closet is back together. I now have 2 bars for clothes and love it- one and a half for me, one for Gabriel!
-I finished painting the living room walls & dining room walls and trim!!! *still to do: I need to put another coat of trim paint on the windows {and scrape the windows} in the DR*
-Perry changed out more of the receptacles around the house, replaced the outlet covers after the paint dried, and sprayed a fresh coat of paint on the vent covers.
-I scrubbed the (exterior) windows on the back of our house in prep for me to prime/Perry to paint them.

30 week belly pictures:
I haven't been able to take any pictures in front of our fireplace lately (like I did in the beginning). We are still in the middle of many home improvement projects and it isn't pretty! This picture was taken 11/8 at our Annual Family Pictures photo shoot with "Our Photographer", my mother-in-law Debra! We snuck in a few of just me, but I'll share a LOT MORE sometime!

11.09.2011

Happy Birthday, Mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best Mom ever... MINE!!!


11.08.2011

29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks (November 3, 2011)

Size of baby:
Photo Credit: The Bump

Photo Credit: Baby Center
Interesting Facts: Measuring roughly 15 inches long, he weighs close to 2 1/2 lbs (like a butternut squash^). For the first time, his head is in proportion with the rest of his body! By 29 weeks, his brain can control his body's temperature. His eyes can move in his sockets and his muscles and lungs continue to mature. His bone marrow is now producing red blood cells and fat continues to develop under his skin.
      Credit: Planning Family

Total Weight Gain: No change on the scale...

Gender: BOY!!! Gabriel Turner.

Movement: He has been making some very BIG movements lately! I've made several attempts at videotaping my belly...

What I miss: Being able to eat a normal-sized meal without "needing a breather"!

Sleep: My new pregnancy body pillow has worked wonders! The first two nights I was actually more uncomfortable and got quite frustrated with it, but by the third night I had it figured out. The thing didn't come with directions (and I always read the directions) so it was trial and error. Now I love it! Perry named it "Elizabeth" (after my middle name! I think he enjoys cuddling with "her" when I'm at work). When I sleep during the day after working all night, I put Perry's pillow length-wise behind my back and then have the body pillow in front of me... it's cozy! Nothing beats leaning back against Perry though :)

Symptoms: Worsening muscle cramps in my right arm and tightness in my right upper back/shoulder blade/flank. I'm constantly extending my arm out, flexing my wrist and/or massaging my forearm and below my shoulder blade... 

Other Notes: It's been 2 weeks since my glucose tolerance test and I never got a phone call from my doc's office- as they say, no news is good news! No gestational diabetes or anemia for me!!; My belly is starting to feel heavy.

Cravings: Fruit (apples & oranges) and ice.

Best moment this week: My baby shower on Sunday!!! My Mom hosted it for all the Durr ladies (my Dad's side of the family)- it was lots of fun! Mom did a wonderful job on the decorations, food, and games- and everyone blessed our little one with thoughtful gifts!

What we are looking forward to: <3 Our 2nd wedding anniversary on the 7th <3; my next doctor's appointment and maybe getting to see Gabriel again {if I haven't gained weight, they will do another u/s. It's been 10 weeks since we've seen his precious little body!}.

Things checked off our "to-do" list:
-Perry re-did all the shower plumbing
-Painted the living room *still to do: I need to put a final coat around the edges*
-Painted the dining room *still to do: I need to put a final coat on the trim & touch up the green above the chair rail*
-Perry changed all the receptacles in the nursery to tamper-resistant & bought outlet plugs

29 week belly pictures:

11.07.2011

Our 2nd Anniversary!!!

Today Perry & I are celebrating two years of marriage. Two WONDERFUL years!! I love that man more and more every day.

Happy Anniversary to us!!!!