Week 31

It has been an interesting week or 2. Last week Madison had a GI bug, so we had her first throw up going on. Poor baby girl. It freaked her out so bad it wasn't funny. It made Valentine's Day kind of lame because she was still sick & Mommy & Daddy were over tired because she chose to be sick in the middle of the night 2 nights in a row.

Just when I thought we were all done with the GI bug, I got it on Sunday. My first time with more than a cold while pregnant. It was a little scary to think I could have dehydrated with that bug. Thankfully it didn't last too long for me. I was pretty much done in less than 24 hours. The hubby sent me to bed & stepped up taking care of Madison, who didn't go easy on him at all.

Monday, I got a call from my OB's office saying that I failed the 1 hour glucose test & had to go in & take the 3 hour. Well, I did that today, so now we are just awaiting the results to find out if they are going to tell me if I passed or if I failed & need a new diet. I really hope I passed, but part of me wants to fail so my insurance has to pay for me to see a nutritionist, although I want my chocolate & bread! So torn! Really though I don't want to be told I have gestational diabetes.

How far along? 30 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: 16 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, since about 7 weeks

Stretch marks? On the stomach

Linea Nigra:  Still Not yet (never had one with Madison, so...)

Sleep: Not much. Insomnia is back.

Times you Potty a Night: 2 + times a night

Best moment of the week: Snuggling on the couch with my hubby & Madison

Miss anything?  Not really

Movement: Yes, I'm getting kicked & punched daily. Hubby is finally able to feel the movement of this baby girl & now pokes & prods at her when she does kick him.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all.

Cravings: Mexican Food!

Gender prediction:  Doesn't matter anymore because its a girl
Gender: GIRL

Labor signs:  No. Just some Braxton Hicks every now & again

Symptoms:  The bump in front, some sore boobs, & pregnancy insomnia & being uncomfortable

Aches & Pains:  A sore lower back from carrying the bump & a sciatic nerve pain

Belly button in or out? In (never popped out with Madison, so I'm curious if it will stay that way)

Wedding rings on or off? Off. Sadness.

Happy or moody most of the time? Uncomfortable & more moody than happy lately (might have something to do with a toddler acting out)

Looking forward to: Finishing off all the things that need to be done before she gets here. Oh & my massage, pedicure & manicure, but those aren't until the end of March!

I passed! I rocked the 3 hour glucose test. Not one of my 4 blood draws were elevated! Take that Gestational Diabetes! My poor arms look like hell from all the blood draws. 

Week 29

Last week was fun with making my last visit (unless I can con my husband into going some weekend) to my parents before this little girl shows her face.

I got to see a friend who had moved across country, but recently moved back along with her 2 girls. We took the kids to Jump Zone (a bounce house place). It took an hour before we were able to get Madison into a bounce house without freaking out & then we couldn't get her out of them!

Madison & I made a trip up to WI to see my bff & her family to exchange Christmas presents for the kids as her son was sick over our Christmas trip! Of course I forgot to bring the presents! Stupid pregnancy brain, but I did ship them to her. They should be arriving today. It was nice to be able to see her, her son, & her parents. They are family to me as we have known each other from 22 + years!

Obviously we spent time with my parents too. Not as much as we would normally as they are doing a lot of work on their house in preparation to sell it.

As excited as I am about this new baby girl, I am also sad that I will more than likely not see a lot of my friends & family until after this little one is born since they are 4 hours away.

How far along? 28 weeks 4 day

Total weight gain: 16 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, since about 7 weeks

Stretch marks? On the stomach

Linea Nigra:  Still Not yet (never had one with Madison, so...)

Sleep: Not much. Insomnia is back.

Times you Potty a Night: 2 + times a night

Best moment of the week: Having Madison behave so well that we got to watch a movie before bedtime & snuggle! Also, putting together my double stroller!

Miss anything?  Not really

Movement: Yes, I'm getting kicked & punched daily. Hubby is finally able to feel the movement of this baby girl & now pokes & prods at her when she does kick him.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all.

Cravings: Mexican Food!

Gender prediction:  Doesn't matter anymore because its a girl
Gender: GIRL

Labor signs:  No. Just some Braxton Hicks every now & again

Symptoms:  The bump in front, some sore boobs, & pregnancy insomnia & being uncomfortable

Aches & Pains:  A sore lower back from carrying the bump & a sciatic nerve pain

Belly button in or out? In (never popped out with Madison, so I'm curious if it will stay that way)

Wedding rings on or off? Had to remove them yesterday. They were way too tight. I'm so sad!

Happy or moody most of the time? Uncomfortable & more moody than happy lately (might have something to do with a toddler acting out)

Looking forward to: Finishing off all the things that need to be done before she gets here. Oh & my massage, pedicure & manicure, but those aren't until the end of March!

Week 27

Well, things were a little up in the air last Friday after my OB appointment. First let me say baby girl & I are fine. I had some really bad pains in the upper right quadrant (right below the boobs) while I was waiting in the exam room for the Dr. It was so bad it had me in tears & I was nauseous. I was sent for a gall bladder ultrasound that afternoon because the thought was that I had something wrong with my gall bladder & that was what was causing my pain. I found out last night the my gall bladder, liver & pancreas are all normal. I do have a normal abnormality in my gall bladder - it folds over itself. This however would not be the cause of my pain. It is now thought that baby was just in a position that was causing a lot of pressure in that area. She did up my dosage of my reflux medicine because my reflux has been bad & that too could be a cause of my issue.

How far along? 26 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain: 15 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, since about 7 weeks

Stretch marks? On the stomach

Linea Nigra:  Still Not yet (never had one with Madison, so...)

Sleep: Not much on my own lately. Naps have become my friend

Times you Potty a Night: 2 times a night

Best moment of the week: Getting Saturday morning off of mommy duty & being able to get stuff done without a toddler in tow.

Miss anything?  Not really

Movement: Yes, I'm getting kicked & punched daily. Hubby is finally able to feel the movement of this baby girl & now pokes & prods at her when she does kick him.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all.

Cravings: Hooters wings!

Gender prediction:  Doesn't matter anymore because its a girl
Gender: GIRL

Labor signs:  No. Just some Braxton Hicks every now & again

Symptoms:  The bump in front, some sore boobs, & pregnancy insomnia & being uncomfortable

Aches & Pains:  A sore lower back from carrying the bump & a sciatic nerve pain

Belly button in or out? In (never popped out with Madison, so I'm curious if it will stay that way)

Wedding rings on or off? So far on, but I think in another week they will be off as they are tight.

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy, uncomfortable & way excited that I have about 3 months left.

Looking forward to: Going to see family & friends for one last visit before I cannot do it again.

Week 25 of Pregnancy

Things have just been chugging along with this pregnancy. Its more the same old same old, but we are now considered viable! I've been trying to organize the house so when its time to start pulling everything out (bouncy chair, swing, etc.) there will be a place for it. I've already got all the clothes, blankets, towels & etc. out & washed. It just needs to be put away in the dresser & closet.

How far along? 24 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain: 11 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, since about 7 weeks

Stretch marks? On the stomach

Linea Nigra:  Still Not yet (never had one with Madison, so...)

Sleep: There is alot of changing sides because my hips start to hurt & some pregnancy insomnia. Also getting up 2 times a night to pee doesn't help either

Times you Potty a Night: 2 times a night

Best moment of the week: Snuggling with my Madison watching Princess movies

Miss anything?  Not really

Movement: Yes, I'm getting kicked & punched daily. Still Can't wait for hubby to be able to feel it too! Madison got to feel baby sister for the first time this past week!

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all.

Cravings: Nothing at the moment. 

Gender prediction:  Doesn't matter anymore because its a girl
Gender: GIRL

Labor signs:  No. Just some Braxton Hicks every now & again

Symptoms:  The bump in front, some sore boobs, & pregnancy insomnia & being uncomfortable

Aches & Pains:  A sore lower back from carrying the bump & a sciatic nerve pain

Belly button in or out? In (never popped out with Madison, so I'm curious if it will stay that way)

Wedding rings on or off? So far on, but I think they are going to be coming off soon as they are getting much tighter now.

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy, uncomfortable & way excited that I have less than 4 months left. 

Looking forward to: Getting all the baby stuff out & cleaned up.

2012 Year in Review!

I remember starting they year with bad news. It was just into the New Year that I had been trying to cope with the news that my Grandpa was diagnosed with liver & pancreatic cancer. I knew that moment that he would not be celebrating another year with us. Shortly, after that diagnosis, we found out that it had moved to his brain. He did some chemo & it made him sick so he talked to his doctor & they did radiation treatments for him. I drove to be with him & spend time with him numerous times throughout the beginning of the year.

February brought some news that I needed to deal with. I found that my liver counts were off & I was to spend the next 6 weeks without any pain meds & alcohol. Alcohol was never the problem. Not being able to take tylenol & advil for my ever growing headaches. At last I found relief in finding & going to a chiropractor. So when 6 weeks were up I was pain free & my liver counts were normal again.

March came to really buckle down on the planning for the new house. It also was when Grandpa decided to end treatments. It was toward the end of March when I was told to come quickly because they weren't sure how long we had with him. I did my best & got there. It was improving though. He realized he could not go home though because he needed more care than could be handled there. So we got him transferred to a nursing home.

April was the worst month but one of the most exciting of all. We gathered for Easter at the nursing home to celebrate with Grandpa. Pretty sure it would be our last holiday with him. Hubby & I also broke ground on our new house! I was ecstatic & still felt that I needed to be elsewhere. So a few days after ground breaking I left to go back to IL to visit Gramps & be near by. I went in on a Friday & saw him. He had declined quite a bit in the week or so I was gone. He new who I was for minutes at time & then thought I was someone else. After visiting him I went to my mom's for the weekend. Her & I made plans to go visit Gramps Monday afternoon together. Well, we didn't get our plan as Gramps had other plans. It was Monday, April 23rd, when my mom called me to tell me I needed to come get her & get to Gramps. They were sure that this was going to be it. We had called the whole family & they were on their way as well. I can't tell you how grateful I was for that finally day with him. For that time to be by his side. I will never forget rubbing his shoulder & telling him its ok to go. We love you! As much as I dreaded that moment to come, I would never take it back. I think it made grieving a little easier. We laid him in his final resting place 5 days later.

May was kind of a blur as the grieving was still happening & also building our house. I had to take each day one at a time because it was difficult after such a great loss to move forward.

June was much better. We celebrated Madison's 2 nd birthday with a blast of a party for her. We had water balloon fights & all. It was during this that I noticed & realized that Gramps was gone but he was forever with us. He was with mom when she went around the house & pulled the hose on Grams. He was with Grams when Grams was just shooting everyone with her water gun having a great time. He was there as the day went on. He was watching all of us. It was this day, that made it possible for me to move forward without feeling guilty about leaving him in that cemetery.

July was hot & filled with fun of celebrating 4th of July. We had a blast with hubby's family for the family reunion & the 4th celebrations! It couldn't have been better.

August was the best month of all. It was this month that my daughter took her first trip without mommy. She went to Alabama with my parents. She had a blast & was spoiled rotten. It was also the month we got the offer on our townhouse & the weight had been lifted off our shoulders! Then the best of all things. It was this month that we found out we were expecting #2!!!! I couldn't believe it. It was then that I figured out my due date. April 28th! It was as if this baby was meant to show me that everything comes full circle. My baby is due a year after we laid Gramps to rest. She will have the greatest guardian angel ever!

September was a little difficult as I had to pack our home so we could move. It was bitter sweet as we had brought Madison home to that townhouse. We had watched our love grow. It was the one place that had brought me comfort when I couldn't be with my family. However, we were moving to our dream home finally! After years of talking about doing it! We were!

October was just settling in to the new house. Nothing too exciting. Unless you count Trick or Treating with Madison for Halloween! She was the cutest Minnie Mouse!

November was more of the same. Though there was Thanksgiving with the family.

December brought us the Christmas spirit! We got to decorate & spend time with our families. We also had our ultrasound. We found out we were having another Girl & that she was a healthy baby too!  Hubby has also started the bedroom in the basement so we can still have a guest room after baby gets here.

All in all 2012 was a good year for us, even if we lost someone so near & dear to us. I can't wait to see what 2013 brings besides babies! As I already know 4 babies that will be born in 2013! 1 in January, ours in April & 2 babies in July! Cannot wait to see & hold the squishy babies!

Week 23 of Pregnancy

How far along? 22 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain: 11 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, since about 7 weeks

Stretch marks? a few new ones on my belly & some on the boobs (don't even want to think about how big those are now)

Linea Nigra:  Still Not yet (never had one with Madison, so...)

Sleep: There is alot of changing sides because my hips start to hurt & some pregnancy insomnia. Also getting up 2 times a night to pee doesn't help either

Times you Potty a Night: 2 times a night

Best moment of the week: Christmas with DH's family

Miss anything?  Sandwiches - regular non-toasted Jimmy Johns sandwiches

Movement: Yes, I'm getting kicked & punched daily. Still Can't wait for hubby to be able to feel it too!

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all.

Cravings: Jimmy Johns, but alas can't have it because they don't toast their subs

Gender prediction:  Doesn't matter anymore because its a girl
Gender: GIRL

Labor signs:  No. Just some Braxton Hicks every now & again

Symptoms:  The bump in front, some sore boobs, & pregnancy insomnia, but thats about it.

Aches & Pains:  A sore lower back from carrying the bump & a sciatic nerve pain

Belly button in or out? In (never popped out with Madison, so I'm curious if it will stay that way)

Wedding rings on or off? So far on, but I think they are going to be coming off soon as they are getting much tighter now.

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy, uncomfortable & way excited that I have 4 more months left. 

Looking forward to: Heading to my mom's this weekend to see them for Christmas. 

Christmas Thinking

As Christmas Day closes in, I am beginning to think more & more about the past. Mostly, in the forefront of my mind are the Christmas pasts with my grandpa. I wish as an adult I had taken a little more time to be with him Christmas morning to watch the parade on tv. I wish I had taken Madison to watch with Grampy. I know I cannot change the past, but at least I can now alter my future to make sure I do things that may not seem important to me, but may be important to someone else.

This is why I have agreed to go stay at my in-laws tomorrow night. I love them & love visiting them. I just didn't want to be there when someone else was staying with them. Its a little snug with more people, but I have figured out this is not important. Whats important is that my in-laws get a Christmas morning with Madison & the rest of us.

I have also been thinking about how blessed I am. I am blessed to have this new beautiful home that we built, a loving, caring husband, a gorgeous, smart daughter, a new healthy baby on the way, 2 awesome dogs & all the wonderful extended family & friends. I really could not ask for more in my life.

I can honestly say I have everything I ever wanted & have nothing I would ask Santa for that he could bring me at least. The only thing I would ask Santa for is more time. More time with Madison being little, more time with my husband curled up together, more time that I can spend with my parents, grandma, & the rest of my family & with my husband's family & our friends.

Knowing that I can't get what I want from Santa, I will ask Santa to bring all of you everything you want & could possibly ask for. I hope that you are as blessed as I am. So what would you ask Santa for?

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!