32 weeks

How am I feeling physically? Yesterday was rough:o( I had acid reflux/heartburn all night combined with DD waking up crying and coming to toss and turn in our bed, I got minimal sleep. Then, I just felt like crap the whole day. Upset stomach, heartburn coming and going and exhausted. Luckily, my amazing DH was able to take most of the day off and take care of DD while I got some rest. I slept OK last night (minus the getting up every 2 hours to pee;o) and I feel quite a bit better today. I am hoping it was just a fluke thing and, if I increase the Zantac to twice a day, things will go back to normal.

Doctor's Appointment: I had my 32 week (32w4d) appointment today. Everything looks good. BP- perfect, urine dip- fine, GB's HR- 148-150, uterus measurement- 33 weeks. Yesterday's symptoms- normal :-P Basically GB is taking up more space in my abdomen, which leaves less space for food and can make food slower moving. My next ppointment will be April 19th. It will include a test for Group B Strep and a cervical exam, in addition to all of the other "normal" stuff.

Weight Gain:  7 pounds total!

Sleep: Sleeping is becoming more difficult. Especially because I really need to drink more water, but getting up every 2 hours to pee is already annoying enough. The bright side is I just switch sides when I go back to bed, thus avoiding the breaching whale effect (DH's term;o) that rolling over has. I don't seem to be having trouble going back to sleep, so that is good, too.

Mood: This weekend we bought a new Honda Odyssey. It will make a lot of things easier, as my belly continues to grow:o) And, yes, it is a "mom mobile," but I love it! I try to keep politics out of here, but it is part of my mood this week, so, if you don't want to read it, skip to the next section:o) Feeling poorly yesterday was a major mood killer, but all of the talk about marriage equality gives me hope that someday, we, as a country, will get past our archaic views. I am not a huge rallier, but I feel like I am doing my part and I hope that someday soon, R & T can get married, if they want to.

Movement: I feel kicks and punches all over. In the last week, I have started feeling more smooth movements and less sharp movements, which makes sense as GB's quarters get tighter. Yesterday's events definitely prove that GB is making his presence known. "Out front is still an option, Little Man. It doesn't have to be up or down."

Exciting Moment(s): Everything seems to be moving along as it should:o) 

Milestones Achieved: GB weighs in at about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds and measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches. He's getting ready for his descent and is likely in the head-down position now. And he's probably feeling even more cramped. (Source: thebump.com)

Next Milestones/What I am looking forward to: Hopefully, the Pre-birth Order will be finalized soon. I know that a baby shower is in the works for the guys and I can't wait to hear about that, since I know how exciting it is to see how much love a baby has before it is even born. Then, we can sit back and relax until GB decides it is time to meet his daddies:o)

32 weeks

Happy Birthday T!!!!!

Today is T's birthday and, almost exactly a month from now, it will be R's birthday. I thought it would be fun to give them one last 2 dimensional peek at Mr. Gummy Bear, so I went and had an ultrasound done. The cool part about paying for them is you get lots of pics and a video with the sound of the heartbeat. Below, you will find a couple of my favorite pics. I will wait until Wednesday to do the 32 week update, since I have an OB appointment that day. For now, Happy Birthday T! and here is Mr. GB, who is very definitely still a boy, but I won't share those pics;o)

30 weeks

Sorry this is a bit late. It was a whirlwind weekend. Saturday we had a shopping day with my aunt and cousins. I spent most of last week doing stuff to help prepare for my grandpa's funeral. Sunday night through yesterday, I traveled with my mom to her hometown, to help her pull everything together for the memorial service, which turned out perfectly. It was exactly what he would have wanted. A few tears were shed, but, mostly, we laughed over the awesome memories and antics of the 75 wonderful years of his life (though he lived 84 years).

How am I feeling physically? Zantac continues to be good to me:o) The weird tongue thing I had with my daughter seems to be virtually gone (for now)! That cold I had seems to be completely gone. I feel like that cold zapped my energy, so, hopefully, some of it will return as time passes and my activity level increases. I seem to have some annoying sinus drainage, but it is just annoying. Otherwise, I feel well and am looking forward to Spring and what it brings.

Doctor's Appointment: My next appointment will be March 27th and will be the last same ol', same ol' appointment! Cervical checks and other fun stuff after that.

Weight Gain:  9 pounds total!

Sleep: I am a tummy/side sleeper. Sleeping is becoming more difficult. I usually read in bed before sleeping and I can't lie on my back that long anymore. I have to lie and sleep on my side, so my hip gets sore from lying on it so long with the extra weight, so I have figured out how to prop the pillow under my knee/leg and rotate forward just enough and switching sides is a chore. I am working it out, but it is definitely decreasing the quality of my sleep. The waking up to empty my bladder at night is here to stay, but luckily it is 1-3 times per night and not too disruptive, yet. Overall, not too bad.

Mood: I am starting to wrap my head around the fact that this journey is coming to an end, and all that entails. I have come to terms with the fact that no labor and delivery go exactly as planned and I am prepared for a myriad of situations. R & T live so far away and that significantly increases the chances that they won't be here at the moment their son is born, which is a bummer, but I am super excited to see them hold their little Gummy Bear in their arms. It is also fun to get a glimpse of them getting ready to welcome this sweet little one.

Movement: Mr. GB has changed yet again. He seems to be down low again, but I feel kicks and punches all over. In the last week, I have started feeling more smooth movements and less sharp movements, which makes sense as GB's quarters get tighter. You would think this is a good thing, but it feels a little weird and, occasionally, hurts. I did get some video, but DH was having trouble uploading it, so, hopefully, he can do that soon.

Exciting Moment(s): GTT- PASS! I have started compiling a list of important contact numbers that I am going to include in a folder, along with all of the important legal papers and birth plan to go in my hospital bag. For Christmas, the guys gave me a gift card to a local spa and I finally got to use it last week. I felt so loved and pampered:o) Thanks again, guys! It was exactly what I needed after this last month of sickness, busyness and emotions.

Milestones Achieved: GB is about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 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 my uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes 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.)(Source: thebump.com)

Next Milestones/What I am looking forward to: Hopefully, the Pre-birth Order will be finalized soon. I know that a baby shower is in the works for the guys and I can't wait to hear about that, since I know how exciting it is to see how much love a baby has before it is even born. Then, we can sit back and relax until GB decides it is time to meet his daddies:o)

30 weeks 3 days

GTT

I passed the Glucose Tolerance Test! Yippee!

28 weeks

I want to take a quick second to give a quick shout out to my DH, David. I might be the one growing the human being, but he deserves his props because I could not do this without him. He is such a huge support for me, especially over the past few weeks, when I was sick. Add to that, the fact that he is studying really hard for a HUGE test that he will take in April over 3 days. I have the utmost confidence that he will crush it because that is what he does:o) For now, he is doing a great job of supporting me, spending time with his daughter, working full time and studying for this obnoxiously huge (in breadth) test. I love you, Honey!

How am I feeling physically? Zantec continues to be good to me:o) The weird tongue thing I had with my daughter seems to be virtually gone (for now)! That cold I had hung in and I think I am really almost over it now. It was a rough one and over 3 weeks later, I am glad that it seems to be almost gone, finally. Hopefully, I will regain my strength and energy quickly, especially with the gorgeous weather and a baby girl who loves to get outside:o) Some may find the next bit TMI, so skip to the next section now, if you want. I developed hemorrhoids after giving birth to my daughter. I know they are never "gone", but they had left me alone. They have been back for a month or 2 now and seem to be getting ever so slightly bigger as time goes on. Luckily, they don't hurt and only itch, occasionally, but they are just gross and I am worried that they will get more obnoxious (bigger, painful, more itchy) as time and weight progress and I give birth to another baby, but I guess I will deal with that as it happens.   

Doctor's Appointment: I had my 28 week appointment today. Everything still looks great! My BP, urine dip and weight gain are all perfect. GB's heart rate was 158, which is a bit high for him, but he was hyped up on sugar from the GTT drink;o) We should get the results from the GTT tomorrow or Wednesday. The lab was a zoo today! I waited 40 minutes just to check in and drink the stuff and I was 10 minutes late for my OB appt:o( Luckily, after that, I was a timed draw, so they had to take me when it was time, but the room had gotten even fuller while I was upstairs at my appointment. I need to remember to avoid the lab on Mondays, other days are not nearly as bad. DD did a great job:oD By the time we left, it had been almost 2 hours and she hung in there. We also scheduled all of the rest of my appointments! That means we are getting close to D-day! My next appointment will be March 27th and will be the last same ol', same ol' appointment! Cervical checks and other fun stuff after that.

Weight Gain:  7.5 pounds total!

Sleep: I am a tummy/side sleeper. Sleeping is becoming more difficult and was even harder when I was sick. I usually read in bed before sleeping and I can't lie on my back that long anymore. I have to lie and sleep on my side, so my hip gets sore from lying on it so long with the extra weight, so I have figured out how to prop the pillow under my knee/leg and rotate forward just enough and switching sides is a chore. I am working it out, but it is definitely decreasing the quality of my sleep. The waking up to empty my bladder at night is here to stay, but luckily it is 0-2 times per night and not too disruptive yet. I have started having a little trouble falling back to sleep after getting up because it is hard to get comfortable again. Overall, not too bad.

Mood: This has been a rough 2 weeks. Several days ago, I was almost in tears because I was sooooooooo tired of being sick and saw no end in sight, add hormones and bad combo. Then, Friday, my Grandpa passed away after a loooooooooong battle with dementia and declining health. It was time and I am so thankful that he is no longer suffering, but it is hard to think about all that he endured in the last, almost 10 years, of his life (again, add hormones, and tears are guaranteed). I choose to think about all of his accomplishments and contributions to his family and community:o)

Movement: Mr. GB has changed his hang out zone. I am feeling a lot more and a lot stronger movements and most of them are above my belly button, though I feel him in various places at different times. It is fun to watch my belly moving and I am determined to get video of it soon for his daddies.

Exciting Moment(s): Our birth plan is complete and things are starting to fall into place and get ready for GB's grand entrance.

Milestones Achieved: Mr. GB weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. (Source: thebump.com)

Next Milestones/What I am looking forward to: The last little hurtle is passing the GTT, which I am pretty confident we will. Hopefully, the Pre-birth Order will be finalized soon. Then, we can sit back and relax until GB decides it is time to meet his daddies:o)

28 weeks

26 weeks

Officially in the third trimester:o) Yippee!!

How am I feeling physically? Zantec continues to be good to me:o) The weird tongue thing I had with my daughter seems to be staying about the same. It gets worse for a day or two, then a little better for a few days. I have had a cold for the last week. The first 3+ days was just a scratchy throat and cough, which was no biggie. Just when I thought it might be on its way out, Friday night, the congestion, sneezing, sinus pressure started. It almost seemed like maybe a new virus right on the back of the other, but who knows. Last night, I finally got an OK night's sleep and I definitely feel better today than I did this weekend, so, hopefully, I am on the downward side of this and on a path back to healthy. Being sick sucks in general, but add to it pregnancy, motherhood and a husband who is trying to study for a HUGE test, and it is especially no bueno. If this is the end of it, we survived!

Doctor's Appointment: My next appointment will be February 25th and will include the dreaded (which I say because a lot of ladies dread it) Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), which I really don't mind. The drink isn't my favorite, but it isn't too bad. The worst part is having to sit there for an hour and wait to have blood drawn. Lucky for me, I can go to the lab first, drink the stuff, then go upstairs for my OB appointment, then go back down and have my blood drawn. This should get rid of or significantly decrease, my sit and wait time:o)

Weight Gain:  7 pounds total!

Sleep: I am a tummy/side sleeper. So far, I can still sleep in my comfy position- on my tummy with one leg bent, so slightly off to the side, but I can tell that the comfiness end is near. The waking up to empty my bladder at night is here to stay, but luckily it is 0-2 times per night and not too disruptive yet. I have started having a little trouble falling back to sleep after getting up because it is hard to get comfortable again. Overall, not too bad.

Mood: This past week has been rough physically, but I think I held it together pretty well, though I know I was a little grouchy. Things are moving along well. I can't wait to see R & T holding their little Gummy Bear. I really wish that R & T lived closer, so they could be a little more involved in the pregnancy, but I totally understand the cost and logistics involved in flying halfway around the world, when you have a baby on the way. We had a Skype date about a week ago. It is always nice to talk to the guys face to face. We have our third trimester video conference call this Friday with GG.

Movement: Mr. GB definitely likes to play down low, which can be a problem, if I am sitting in the car or trying to sit forward to eat. It seems like he is trying to tell me, "Quit cramping my space!" ;o) I have been feeling and even seeing him move a lot more frequently and with more power, which is fun. He still likes it down low, but I have been feeling more higher up, above my belly button:o)

Exciting Moment(s): 2 trimesters down, 1 to go:o) More movements in more places.

Milestones Achieved: The network of nerves in GB's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both my voice and the voices of those near me. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. His testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days. (Source: thebump.com)

Next Milestones/What I am looking forward to: The last little hurtle is passing the GTT, which I am pretty confident we will. Then, we can sit back and relax until GB decides it is time to meet his daddies:o)

26 weeks

As promised, some pics from a special photo shoot by Holli Horton when my sister and her family were visiting a couple of weeks ago.

All 9 of us

The grand parents with the grandkids.

Haley flying- probably my favorite:o)

My sister's family- Troy kissing his baby sister <3

24 weeks and the Land of Viability

How am I feeling physically? Heartburn is my biggest complaint. I finally decided to give Zantac a try, and so far, so good:o) The Tums was working, but Zantac is safe during pregnancy and prevents the heartburn instead of treating it after it starts. The weird tongue thing I had with my daughter seems to be staying about the same. It gets worse for a day or two, then a little better for a few days.

Doctor's Appointment: I had my 24 week appointment today. Mr. GummyBear had a heartrate in the high 140s, my bp was 120/80, which is perfect and urine dip was normal.
From here on out, at each appt, The Dr. will use a tape measure to measure the height of my uterus. The number of centimeters should correspond to the number of weeks gestation and, basically, indicates the rough size of the baby. It is definitely not an exact science. Today, she measured my uterus at 25 weeks, so, maybe a smidge big, but basically, right on! My next appointment will be February 25th and will include the dreaded (which I say because a lot of ladies dread it) Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), which I really don't mind. The drink isn't my favorite, but it isn't too bad. The worst part is having to sit there for an hour and wait to have blood drawn. Lucky for me, I can go to the lab first, drink the stuff, then go upstairs for my OB appointment, then go back down and have my blood drawn. This should get rid of or significantly decrease, my sit and wait time:o)

Weight Gain: 6 pounds total!

Sleep: I am a tummy/side sleeper. So far, I can still sleep in my comfy position- on my tummy with one leg bent, so slightly off to the side. When I can no longer sleep on my tummy, it will take some time to adjust. The waking up to empty my bladder at night has started, but luckily it is 0-2 times per night and not too disruptive yet. I have started having a litlle trouble falling back to sleep after getting up. Overall, not too bad.

Mood: Things are moving along well. I can't wait to see R & T holding their little Gummy Bear. I really wish that R & T lived closer, so they could be a little more involved in the pregnancy, but I totally understand the cost and logistics involved in flying halfway around the world, when you have a baby on the way. We thouroughly enjoyed visiting with my sister and her family last week. It is so much fun to watch the 2 year olds play together and to see DD interact with a newborn. So sweet all around:o)

Movement: Mr. GB definitely likes to play down low, which can be a problem, if I am sitting in the car or trying to sit forward to eat. It seems like he is trying to tell me, "Quit cramping my space!" ;o) As a matter of fact, he is kicking down there, right now, as I am sitting at the computer to type this.

Exciting Moment(s): We are in the treasured Land of Viability! I don't remember being this excited about this milestone with DD, but it is super exciting to me this time:o) We have passed all genetic screening and anatomy scan with flying colors and we have rounded third base and are headed for home. Hopefully and likely, we still have 3-4 months left, but I say it is smooth sailing from here:o) But, it is nice to know that if GB decided to make his debut now, he would, very likely, be OK.

Milestones Achieved:GB is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. (Source: thebump.com)

Next Milestones/What I am looking forward to: The last little hurtle is passing the GTT, which I am pretty confident we will. Then, we can sit back and relax until GB decides it is time to meet his daddies:o)

24 weeks
 

P.S. I will post some pics of the cousins playing next time;o)