Yesterday marked 27 weeks for me, and if you want to get technical, 27+3 = third trimester, so Thursday I will be there. I am still very comfortable (as expected) and getting asked more questions on how I'm feeling (also expected, although rather annoying).
It was nice to have a 3-day weekend! We had a wedding to attend on Saturday, although we just went to the reception because taking both kids, neither of whom sit still for more than 2 minutes, would be an embarrassing nightmare. I figure what's the point, when we'll just end up outside of the church waiting for the ceremony to end. I put on my dancing shoes, as did my husband (after he had a few drinks -- he's one of those quiet people who becomes a very happy drunk after a few drinks). I have some funny blackmail pics from our night. :)
Yesterday, we had our annual family picnic that has been an event since my mom was 9 years old (she's 51, so do the math!). Her side of the family has had a shelter rented out on Memorial Day ever since, and everyone brings a dish to pass. Yesterday's picnic was typical -- it's funny how it's the same every year. It was just a little hot so sitting in that shelter was kind-of like being in a sauna with a bunch of odd relatives. At one point, the hubby was putting the finger gun to his head! Outside in the sun, it was pretty hot, so it was pretty much an opportunity to pick your hot spot. Andrew had fun. The kids were filling up water balloons, and he wanted one. Not to throw, but to hold and protect. He had the biggest smile on his face as he walked around with his orange water balloon! Then it popped at some point, when all he was doing was holding it. Cue the tears. He got another one, which popped during a teeter-tottering accident (it's not as bad as it sounds and nobody was injured besides the water balloon), and then he had another one, which popped right before we left (and much to Andrew's despise, there were no more balloons). He left sobbing, but he was also very tired and this contributed to the demise -- he was zonked out in his carseat five minutes into our ride home.
Our garden is wild -- you should see the size of the broccoli the hubby grew under his low tunnel (think a mini-greenhouse tunnel thing that has metal hoops) -- they're monsterous. All of our fruit is taking off and by mid-July - August, we will have peaches, pears, plums, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, apples, and I think that's it. Not sure.
The backyard still needs to be fenced in. Does anyone want to come help? We will pay you in beer and baked goods . . .
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Time for an Andrew pic
He has not been cooperative lately and will either make goofy faces or cover his eyes, or run. I did manage to get a nice one of him today!
He's such a sweetie . . .
He's such a sweetie . . .
Monday, May 23, 2011
26 week appointment this morning!
This pregnancy is flying right by. Well, my midwife is awesome. She walked in and gave me a hug and told me I looked great! That's always a boost when you're feeling big and well, pregnant. I am mostly "all belly" -- but I'm not going to lie, I know my ass and thighs gain a little too (breastmilk stores, as I'm told).
Anyhow, today I had to drink the orange drink for the glucose draw. I chugged it down in 30 seconds because the sooner I get it done, the sooner my hour countdown starts before the blood draw. I passed the last two pregnancies, with plenty of room to spare, so I have no doubts I'll pass again. It's really not as bad as people make it out to be (the orange stuff).
My blood pressure was 96/64, which is excellent! I run on the low side of normal, which helps, because once I get towards the end of the pregnancy, my BP is still pretty low/normal!
I am up 13 lbs. from my "regular, non-pregnant" weight, but 22 lbs. from what I started at (I was losing a bunch of weight and actually trying to gain it at the time of conception -- LOL!). My midwife said my weight is not a concern at all. That made me feel better.
We listened to the heartbeat. Baby sounds like he/she is getting BIG! I mentioned that I thought the feet were on the left side of my stomach, with the baby lying transverse, and she confirmed that. Basically the bulk of the baby is all on my right side! Fundal height = 26 cm.
Oh, another reason why my midwife is so awesome? She asked me, because I don't know the gender, if it were a boy if I'd be circumcising. I told her, "no!" and that Andrew wasn't either. She said, "good for you! So many people do it because everyone else does it, so I'm so happy to hear that you are not doing it". I told her, "yeah, I don't go with the crowd". :) I had asked the nurse when I was pregnant with Andrew, because at the time I didn't know much about it. She said it's basically a cosmetic procedure, and some people do it for religious reasons, but that there isn't medical evidence to routinely recommend them. "They" say that it lowers the risk of UTIs from 4% to 1%, but honestly, that's not enough for me to do a "preventive" surgery, considering the rate of UTIs for girls is much higher than it is for boys, and we don't do anything to them to prevent it. I also like that this way, my son (and possible future son, if we have a boy) can decide for himself if he doesn't like it. My midwife also said that it frustrates her that all of the medical text she is provided gives only reasons for circumcising, but they don't really go into the risks (she herself has seen botched circumcisions). Even with anesthetic, there is a painful healing process, and it's not anything I want my baby to go through, not when I feel he was born perfect just the way he was. There is a risk to circumcising, but there is no risk to my baby if I don't.
This may make me seem like a crazy hippie, but my mom herself sat through my brothers' circumcisions and she said it was very hard to watch, and she cried (my dad wanted it done).
It's really none of anyone's business, but a few people did ask me when I was pregnant with Andrew, if I'd be doing it. Their only reason "pushing" me to do it? So he "matches". Matches who? Are boys sitting around comparing penises? Not the last I checked.
(For the record, I don't go around asking anyone else, nor do I preach. I figure this is my blog and my place to state my thoughts -- I just was so happy to have my midwife agree with me, because it's not always what you'd expect from someone in the medical community.)
So there you have it. All in all a great appointment, and at the next one I will be 30 weeks, and it seems to me that the rest of the pregnancy FLIES after that!
Anyhow, today I had to drink the orange drink for the glucose draw. I chugged it down in 30 seconds because the sooner I get it done, the sooner my hour countdown starts before the blood draw. I passed the last two pregnancies, with plenty of room to spare, so I have no doubts I'll pass again. It's really not as bad as people make it out to be (the orange stuff).
My blood pressure was 96/64, which is excellent! I run on the low side of normal, which helps, because once I get towards the end of the pregnancy, my BP is still pretty low/normal!
I am up 13 lbs. from my "regular, non-pregnant" weight, but 22 lbs. from what I started at (I was losing a bunch of weight and actually trying to gain it at the time of conception -- LOL!). My midwife said my weight is not a concern at all. That made me feel better.
We listened to the heartbeat. Baby sounds like he/she is getting BIG! I mentioned that I thought the feet were on the left side of my stomach, with the baby lying transverse, and she confirmed that. Basically the bulk of the baby is all on my right side! Fundal height = 26 cm.
Oh, another reason why my midwife is so awesome? She asked me, because I don't know the gender, if it were a boy if I'd be circumcising. I told her, "no!" and that Andrew wasn't either. She said, "good for you! So many people do it because everyone else does it, so I'm so happy to hear that you are not doing it". I told her, "yeah, I don't go with the crowd". :) I had asked the nurse when I was pregnant with Andrew, because at the time I didn't know much about it. She said it's basically a cosmetic procedure, and some people do it for religious reasons, but that there isn't medical evidence to routinely recommend them. "They" say that it lowers the risk of UTIs from 4% to 1%, but honestly, that's not enough for me to do a "preventive" surgery, considering the rate of UTIs for girls is much higher than it is for boys, and we don't do anything to them to prevent it. I also like that this way, my son (and possible future son, if we have a boy) can decide for himself if he doesn't like it. My midwife also said that it frustrates her that all of the medical text she is provided gives only reasons for circumcising, but they don't really go into the risks (she herself has seen botched circumcisions). Even with anesthetic, there is a painful healing process, and it's not anything I want my baby to go through, not when I feel he was born perfect just the way he was. There is a risk to circumcising, but there is no risk to my baby if I don't.
This may make me seem like a crazy hippie, but my mom herself sat through my brothers' circumcisions and she said it was very hard to watch, and she cried (my dad wanted it done).
It's really none of anyone's business, but a few people did ask me when I was pregnant with Andrew, if I'd be doing it. Their only reason "pushing" me to do it? So he "matches". Matches who? Are boys sitting around comparing penises? Not the last I checked.
(For the record, I don't go around asking anyone else, nor do I preach. I figure this is my blog and my place to state my thoughts -- I just was so happy to have my midwife agree with me, because it's not always what you'd expect from someone in the medical community.)
So there you have it. All in all a great appointment, and at the next one I will be 30 weeks, and it seems to me that the rest of the pregnancy FLIES after that!
Friday, May 20, 2011
I am alive!
Alive and well! Work has been very busy for me lately. They have increased my duties and likewise, I haven't had much time to post. I've still been logging in to my reader and keeping up with all of you, but I haven't had much time to comment.
What else is new?
Andrew is doing a lot better this spring/summer than he has in the past in terms of staying in our yard and away from the street. He's actually listening a lot better.
Elise has just gotten all four of her 1-year molars, which took seemingly forever to come in. She has 12 teeth in now. By comparison (although I don't believe in comparing kids to each other because every kid will do things on his/her own schedule), Andrew had all 20 of his teeth, including the 2-year molars, by 16 months. She is a silly girl who loves to put blankies or towels over her head and walk around like that. She knows a few more words, but both of us are still, "dada" to her. I come home at lunch and she says, "Dah!! Dah!!" (yes, Dah will give you the boobie, silly girl).
The hubby does such a fabulous job with "Daddy Daycare". My kids are so lucky! He bikes them (in the bike trailer) down to the park and they just love it. He even takes the camera with to capture some of those moments I'm missing out on during the day. They really are best off with him during the day and I'm glad that we are fortunate enough (not rich, by any means, but able to make do) to avoid daycare.
I am almost 26 weeks along (will reach that milestone on Monday). I have my 26 week checkup as well that day and I'll get to do the dreaded glucose test. I passed both of the last two times, with plenty of room to spare, so no worries. The orange drink isn't as bad as people make it out to be.
I guess that's about it! I am so glad that we opted not to find out the gender this time. I am really looking forward to the birth. I can't wait to find out what I'm having!
Have a great weekend. I hope the weather is sunny where you are . . .
What else is new?
Andrew is doing a lot better this spring/summer than he has in the past in terms of staying in our yard and away from the street. He's actually listening a lot better.
Elise has just gotten all four of her 1-year molars, which took seemingly forever to come in. She has 12 teeth in now. By comparison (although I don't believe in comparing kids to each other because every kid will do things on his/her own schedule), Andrew had all 20 of his teeth, including the 2-year molars, by 16 months. She is a silly girl who loves to put blankies or towels over her head and walk around like that. She knows a few more words, but both of us are still, "dada" to her. I come home at lunch and she says, "Dah!! Dah!!" (yes, Dah will give you the boobie, silly girl).
The hubby does such a fabulous job with "Daddy Daycare". My kids are so lucky! He bikes them (in the bike trailer) down to the park and they just love it. He even takes the camera with to capture some of those moments I'm missing out on during the day. They really are best off with him during the day and I'm glad that we are fortunate enough (not rich, by any means, but able to make do) to avoid daycare.
I am almost 26 weeks along (will reach that milestone on Monday). I have my 26 week checkup as well that day and I'll get to do the dreaded glucose test. I passed both of the last two times, with plenty of room to spare, so no worries. The orange drink isn't as bad as people make it out to be.
I guess that's about it! I am so glad that we opted not to find out the gender this time. I am really looking forward to the birth. I can't wait to find out what I'm having!
Have a great weekend. I hope the weather is sunny where you are . . .
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sweet and beautiful.
I had an awesome day with my sweet and beautiful children! It was finally beautiful on the weekend. For those of you who work during the week and live in this shit of a climate we call The Midwest, you all know how much is sucks when weather is shitty on the weekends. It's hard to spend all week inside, especially after this long winter we have had and the late, late, LATE start to spring (seriously, it snowed a couple weeks ago and was in the 30s as recent as this past week. Ridic).
Today we blew some bubbles (I got Andrew one of those bubble guns because for some reason he has trouble with the wands). He loved it. Elise played in some water I put into a bucket for her (she is obsessed with water in a way Andrew never was. For example, she is totally drawn to toilets like a dog is to meat. She cannot resist if it is left open and will run to it and dip her hands in. If you're not quick enough, she will actually bring her hands to her mouth! This is why we put a big, heavy book on top because she can't move it, yet Andrew can for when he has to go).
Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous too! Happy Mother's Day to all of my beautiful friends. I hope you have a great day.
Here are some pics from the past few days (I have a lot of Elise but Andrew would not cooperate). I will say that these photos are much more vibrant, but because of the large file size, Photobucket does degrade them and mute the colors some, so just picture them being a little better than they appear here:
Me yesterday (23 weeks and 4 days):
I also took some of our fruit trees today:
A peach tree, grown from a seedling:
A plum tree:
Today we blew some bubbles (I got Andrew one of those bubble guns because for some reason he has trouble with the wands). He loved it. Elise played in some water I put into a bucket for her (she is obsessed with water in a way Andrew never was. For example, she is totally drawn to toilets like a dog is to meat. She cannot resist if it is left open and will run to it and dip her hands in. If you're not quick enough, she will actually bring her hands to her mouth! This is why we put a big, heavy book on top because she can't move it, yet Andrew can for when he has to go).
Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous too! Happy Mother's Day to all of my beautiful friends. I hope you have a great day.
Here are some pics from the past few days (I have a lot of Elise but Andrew would not cooperate). I will say that these photos are much more vibrant, but because of the large file size, Photobucket does degrade them and mute the colors some, so just picture them being a little better than they appear here:
Me yesterday (23 weeks and 4 days):
I also took some of our fruit trees today:
A peach tree, grown from a seedling:
A plum tree:
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