Belly Shot

Tonight is belly picture night. Unfortunately, I looked ugly in my picture but fortunately Katarina stepped up so we could take a picture of the baby in her belly.

Needle Fun

Today I had off so I figured I should finally take care of the rhogam business. I wasn't really looking forward to it since it meant two needle pricks. And everyone knows how I feel about needles!

I first went for my blood draw. It actually was one that hurt more than usual. I'm not thrilled with the phlebotomists at the hospital - they are the same people that couldn't find my vein for an IV when I was in labor with Katarina. After the blood draw, they had to send it to the lab and then I had to go back in 2 hours to get my shot. I still am not sure why I had to have the blood draw - they already had tested me and I was A- blood and I haven't had any bleeding or anything. I asked the tech and she couldn't really answer me either. Again, inspiring lots of confidence!

I went back for my shot in the 2 hour time frame. It was strange going to the maternity ward again! It is all exactly the same - the same lighting, the same smell, the same quietness. I can't believe I'll be there having a baby in 2.5 months! The nurse came in to give me my shot and boy did it hurt this time! The shot itself didn't, but it did once she injected me with the chemical or whatever it is. My hip is still sore an hour later!

I guess I'll be going back for my non-stress test in a month so there is still one more visit before the big one.

Pregnancy Woe Is Me

First off, today I had my 1 hour glucose test. I have been a little nervous about it since I've been craving so much sugar today - I hope my levels aren't insanely high. I was also nervous since it requires a blood draw - one of my least favorite procedures. I went in to Labcorp, got ushered into a little room with a comfy recliner, a tv and magazines from 2004 and 2005 to read. (Hey, as least I now know what was fashionable those years.) The tech brought in a bottle of orange stuff, about 12 or 16 oz, not sure, and said I had to drink it in 5 minutes. It's not that it even tastes bad - it just tastes like orange soda, but I can't drink that much liquid in such a short amount of time. I did it though and then sat there with a weird sugar rush for the next 55 minutes until it was time for the blood draw. Finally, my hour was up and I went to go get the dreaded done, and it actually wasn't so bad. I build it up much worse in my head than it really is. Now I just have to wait to find out the results. But I'm not done the blood work yet - I still have to get my rhogam shot which requires a blood draw and a shot. Double whammy of yuckiness! I'll wait for next week for that "fun".

Second, I'm not happy with my body right now. Obviously I'm pregnant, but I'm much bigger than I was last pregnancy at this time, so I just envision how big I'm going to get and it scares me. I look like I should be in my 34th week, not my 28th week. I noticed last night that my ankles are starting to swell. I haven't weighed myself but last time I did, I gained 15 pounds. Not that bad, overall, and actually I'm not getting bigger everywhere, but where I am, I'm not pleased. After this weekend, I'm going to be better. Not diet, of course, but cut back on the sugar (I've been having to fight Easter candy temptations, it's not fair!), cut back on the salt, more veggies and fruit. It might be too little too late, but at least it's something. I still have 3 months so I can't just give up and say, "oh well."

I'm also having anxiety about the whole delivery thing. I'm worried I'll go earlier than I want (in order to go on vacation with my family) and I can't control it. I'm scared to death that somehow this baby is huge and I'll end up with a c-section. (I know lots of women have them, including my mother, but if you think needles give me the heebie jeebies, you have no idea the craziness I have in my mind about being cut open.) I'm nervous that I won't be able to have this child without an epidural since I know how bad the pain is this time around. Again, it's not the end of the world if I did, but I'm scared of them too. I don't know...I'm just having anxiety about a whole lot I can't control and wish I could.

Sugar Fiend

I am addicted to sugar with this pregnancy. I am usually a total salt freak, but right now, I can't get enough sugar right now. Which isn't good because I'll probably gain a lot of weight I don't want too. I already have compared this pregnancy with the last one (size-wise) and am bigger. It's all just baby belly right now - in fact people at work keep commenting about how I look like I'm losing weight everywhere else. But I don't want to get too big so I wish I could get these sugar cravings under control. It doesn't help that it's Easter and there is candy everywhere I turn. And that I cannot get enough of Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Yummy.

The Big Sister

Katarina has a lovey. It's name is Becky Bunny and we got it as a gift from Aunt Dee & Uncle Kevin when she was born. This thing is her favorite and sleeps with it every night. Today, we went shopping and we saw a giraffe version of Becky and Katarina wanted to get it so she could give it to her new baby brother or sister when it's born. She even told me when she met him/her she would say, "here baby, this is for you." I thought it was so cute that she wanted to 'buy' an item just for the baby. She did walk around the store cuddling it, but did hand it over to pay (and even used a gift card I had to pay for it). I'm happy that she is so excited for the new family member and already learning about sharing. I know that the new addition is going to be a big adjustment for her, but so far she seems to be doing ok. We are in the process of getting together Katarina's big girl room and she has already said it's more than ok for the baby to sleep in her crib. I just keep hoping that this good attitude lasts when the baby arrives in 3 months!

My Early Appointment #6

This morning I woke up with cramping. I figured it was going to go away so I got ready for work. Right before I was to leave for work, the cramping was so bad that I had to sit down. Nick had been asking me all morning to call the doctor and finally I said I would. I just didn't want to drive the half hour to work to have the pain get worse and have to come back this direction. I called the office and they had Dr. L call me back. He asked me if it felt like contractions, I said no, it felt like cramping. He said he wanted me to come in to take a look.

Nick & I got to the office and they took me in to see Dr. L right away. He checked to see if I was dilating, which I wasn't, thank goodness. He listened to the heartbeat, which sounded good. We talked some more and he felt it wasn't pre-term labor (which I didn't think it was either) and told me he just wanted me to take it easy.

What was really funny about the whole visit is guess what the first thing he said to me was after looking at my belly? "It looks like you have a hernia." Um...really? You think? How long ago was I telling you that I did?! I'm glad to know that I wasn't going crazy, but I wish they had listened to me earlier. Not that it really matters because nothing can really be done at this point, but still...

At this appointment, I got my paperwork for my Rhogam shot and my sugar test. None of this I'm looking forward to since it all involves needles and blood draws. What also caused me to panic just a little was that my next appointment is in a month but after that, I'm down to every two weeks. Already!! Where has the time gone?

25 Weeks and Maternity Leave

I am 25 weeks pregnant today! (Well, if it's according to my OB's office, I'm about 26.5 weeks pregnant, but I don't agree with them, as we all know!) I have a few more weeks and then I'm out of the second trimester.
At work, I make outbound phone calls to some prospects. Typically, if it's not a good prospect, I schedule the next call for 3 months from now. Three months from now is starting to put me into June! I sort of panicked a bit today realizing that the impending birth is right around the corner! I also realized I had to start thinking about my maternity leave and when I was going to stop working.
With Katarina, I stopped on Friday the 13th because my due date was Monday the 16th. As we know, Katarina didn't come for another week. I pulled out the June calendar to see what would work for me this time. (Part of the reason I don't want the baby to come until mid-June is because there is a family vacation planned for early September that I want to be able to go on! If the baby comes too early, I'll have to be back at work and I'll miss on the fun.) Anyway, I looked at the calendar and I decided my last day - Friday the 13th! It's funny how not exactly 2 years later the dates fall on the same days of the month as when I had Katarina. I figured it was some sort of "sign" so the 13th it is! Now, if the baby holds out that long...but not too much past it!
The pregnancy is going ok right now. I feel the baby moving around regularly. I have periods where I'm pretty uncomfortable, but for the most part I have no complaints. I started taking extra iron since my mother and my co-worker both told me I am "looking anemic". A little extra iron can't hurt. I have my next doctor's appointment on Thursday and I guess I'll be getting paperwork for my GD bloodwork and my RH shot. Fun times.