Monday, June 25, 2012

week 30

30 weeks have gone by - I can't believe it!

It's hard to believe that I am almost there...only 9 more weeks to go until we get to meet our little Ethan. Of course I have all different kinds of emotions running through my mind all day. I am constantly happy / excited - and every now and then my anxiety sets in. I am a planner, I have always been a planner - and currently we are on 2 daycare waiting lists. Kinda crazy right, he's not even born yet, and is already on a wait list?! I know that everything will work out the way that it's supposed to...in my perfect world, I would be able to stay at home with my kids...but, considering that Stephen and I want to buy a home very soon, we both have to work. I am also extremely terrified to have another C-Section. There, I said it. It's a HUGE surgery, and I don't like hospitals at all. I saw Dr. Chu on Thursday for my regular check up, while I was there she went ahead and scheduled my delivery date with the hospital. I'm not going to lie, it was a little weird to listen to her call the hospital and say, "hi, I would like to schedule a C-Section"...a lot of mom's have no idea when their baby is going to be born - we have an exact day and time for our little boy to arrive. Unless of course he decides to make his debut earlier and I actually go into labor, that's a completely different story. Part of me wants to deliver naturally - but, that means that he would be arriving earlier than 39 weeks which isn't always best. I guess I will leave this decision up to him :)

After looking at all of my chalkboard pictures, I have decided that I seriously need to wear tons of makeup. The problem is that I usually have Stephen take these at night, after I have already showered, and Bella is in bed...

My weight gain hasn't been too bad - currently I'm up 22 pounds. It looks like I've gained half of it in my belly, and the other half in my ankles and feet. I am retaining lots of water, and the swelling has definitely kicked in. I was told to stay off of my feet as much as possible...sure okay, with an almost 2 year old running around - got it.

Dr. Chu also did an ultrasound at the appointment to check his growth...our little guy is measuring about 35 weeks in length, and 4 lbs 15 oz already - and looks very healthy! Since Stephen wasn't able to join me for the visit, she gave me a lovely photo to bring home to daddy...


He's positioned so that his head is on my right side and he's looking down...hopefully he starts to turn completely soon, we will see at our next ultrasound in 3 more weeks. 

Let's see, some other good news - my last day of work before I take off for my maternity leave is Friday, July 20th. That means that Bella and I will get to spend some good quality time together before her little brother arrives. I might just have to spoil her a bit during those 4 weeks (even more than we already do).

Oh! I almost forgot, father's day was this past Saturday and we went down to Huntington Beach for dinner with Stephen's family. How cute are these two?!







week 29

i need to write about this week

week 28

Hello 3rd Trimester!

Ethan’s Progress - Baby's now the size of a eggplant!
Ethan's lungs are mature enough that, if born right now, he has a pretty good chance of surviving (with help from medical technology). His skin is still pretty wrinkly (one byproduct of living in amniotic fluid) but will smoothen as fat continues to deposit.


We had quite a busy weekend. Saturday I woke up early to help my friend Lindsay with hair for a wedding – we also attended the wedding later that evening, so I was completely exhausted! We ended up spending the night in San Diego because Bella was at Candie and Jerry’s house while we were at the wedding, it was waaayy past her bedtime when we got home but she was still awake – I didn’t mind because I had missed her all day long! Here's a picture of me and my sexy husband the day of the wedding...this was the 3rd attempt of this photo because he was acting like a crazy person for the first two.


Sunday, we woke up and took Bella to Sea World – she absolutely LOVED it! Again, this preggo mama at 28 weeks, walking around all day = EXHAUSTED. By the time we had got back home, I swear my feet were going to fall off!


I also decided not to take a picture next to the chalkboard this week – instead, it’s my first ‘bare belly photo’…Isn't it amazing how much stretching your skin can take?! I am growing a HUMAN inside my belly, crazy!


Friday, June 1, 2012

27 weeks

My last week in my second trimester! C R A Z Y. I had an appointment with Dr. Chu on Tuesday morning, my glucose test came back normal - my sugar levels were actually better with Ethan than they were with Bella...I find that hard to believe considering all I want to eat is sweets with this boy! I also had to get my rhogam shot (because I'm rh negative...here's what that means http://www.rhogam.com/patient/WhatRhNegativeMeans/Pages/default.aspx  
This injection goes right in the booty - oouch! Good news at my appointment: Ethan's heartbeat was nice and strong...and I only gained ONE pound. Thank goodness. I have been really trying to watch what I eat, and look- it seems to be working. The plan is that I have to go back in 3 weeks for an ultrasound to check his measurements again, and then I will see her every other, or every week until he's born...I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by!
 
In the middle of our crazy schedules, we are also attempting to plan a baby shower - oh and at some point, we need to get his room ready...wow, I'm behind!
 
 
Week 27 - baby is now the size of a RUTABAGA
Here are some cool facts about the baby at week 27:
  • Your baby weighs almost 2 pounds
  • He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening & closing his eyes, & sucking his fingers!
  • With more brain tissue developing, his brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning- with a lot of medical help - if he were born now.
  • Baby hiccups are very common from now on, they do not bother him and usually only last a few moments.      
 A few updates from the mommy-to-be...
How far along? 27 weeks 6 days
Total weight gain/loss: 18 pounds.
Maternity clothes? oh gosh yes.  
Stretch marks? Yes.
Sleep: what's that?
Best moment this week: he moves around A LOT. Went to see Dr. Chu and she told me that my sugar levels were GREAT!
Miss Anything? Wine – STILL.
Movement: LOTS.
Food cravings: chocolate!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope.
Have you started to show yet: ohhhh yes.  
Gender prediction: boy.  
Labor Signs: braxton hicks contractions starting already!
Belly Button in or out? almost out.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! and anxious!
Weekly Wisdom: call the chiropractor – I still have not done this. - STILL. 
Looking forward to: 3rd trimester beginning! woo hoo!!!

26 weeks

Again, no chalk board picture this week - I had quite the busy week...

Sunday - BBQ at Kristi & Scott's for Jerry's birthday
Tuesday morning- I had my first mole removed from the dermatologist (not as bad as I thought it was going to be)
Tuesday evening - BEFORE THE STORK APPOINTMENT!!!!
Thursday - Glucose test :(

Anyways, back to little E - We had an appointment at Before the Stork (a 4D Ultrasound facility). We got to watch him on video move around in my tummy. It's probably one of the coolest things I've seen. We did it with Bella and loved every second of it...so we wanted to do it again for Ethan. Let me just say that he's freakin' adorable! He looks a lot like Bella's 4D pictures...of course after watching him on the big screen, I am more anxious to have him here now! He put on quite the show for us - lots of yawning and stretching...he was even sucking on his fingers for a little bit. We invited the family to come watch with us - it was me, Stephen, Bella Boo, Nana, Pop Pop, Auntie Kris, and Uncle D...we were given a 20 minute DVD of the ultrasound, and lots of pictures....did I mention how much I love this little boy already!?

Things that are coming up - I have another appointment with Dr Chu next week to go over my results from the glucose test, and I have to get my RH shot :/ boo.

here's a picture of our little guy...



Our little princess...seriously though, how cute is she with her daddy! He's going to have a tough time when she starts dating (when she's 35). ha!