by Jessica on January 6, 2012
I had my 32 week appointment yesterday, complete with an ultrasound. Since Brody’s cord was around his neck in our last ultrasound, they decided to take another look at his position and the cord placement this week. That went great! He is now head-down and the cord is NOT wrapped around his neck! I was very excited about both of those developments! I didn’t get any pictures because he was looking straight back towards my spine so she couldn’t get a shot of his face or even a profile. That’s okay, though, I got all of those great 4D images a few weeks back to hold me over.
After the ultrasound, I waited (and waited) to see the doctor. I’m having to rotate through them all, so this was not my regular doctor. Over the past week, I have been experiencing a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions. I really haven’t had many of them at all this pregnancy, just a handful a day, but never anything worrisome. Since last weekend, I would start to get a lot in the afternoons and evenings, sometimes around seven an hour (they don’t want you having any more than four an hour). So, this was my main concern to discuss at this appointment. The doctor told me that she wasn’t necessarily concerned about the contractions, considering we’re getting later in pregnancy and my fluid level is on the “high side of normal” which can contribute to more contractions (I guess because of the extra weight). She wanted to go ahead and check my cervix just to be on the safe side, and unfortunately, I was dilated to 1 cm.
She said since this is a second baby, it’s not unlikely to dilate sooner, but she didn’t like that I was progressing. So, they want to go ahead and give me steroid injections “just in case.” They have to be given in a set of two, with 24 hours between each shot, so I am going in next week for those. I am hoping and praying that we do not have a repeat of my last pregnancy! I was hospitalized with Knox around 33 weeks because I was dilating and effacing, then it was bed rest for about four weeks until he was born. I did have another shot of progesterone this morning, so I am hoping that it helps to calm things down a bit. Until then, my shot nurse was adamant that I take it easy and drink water until I can’t drink anymore. I think she was surprised that this doctor didn’t want to do anything else, and I have to say, I was kind of surprised, too. I’m keeping an eye on these contractions, though, and if they pick up, I’ll be calling immediately!
I would greatly appreciate some prayers that Brody can stay put for at least five more weeks! We want a healthy little guy, and I just don’t want him to have to go through the NICU stay that Knox did. Hopefully he will decide to chill out and hang in there until he’s full-term!
by Jessica on January 5, 2012
How far along? 31 Weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: Holding steady at about 28 pounds… same for a few weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes. Although I am totally wearing regular cardigans right now because I never button those anyway!
Sleep: Pretty good, thanks to my Snoogle! Although, I would love to be able to lay on my right side but can’t because of these crazy popping ribs.
Best moment this week: Getting so much done in Brody’s room! I’ve been installing book slings, hanging artwork, sewing things… who am I?! Motivation= awesomeness. I think Brody may grow up to be a very determined, hard-working individual and it’s just rubbing off on me while he’s in utero!
Movement: Like crazy! I think he *may* have flipped into a head-down position. As of last week, my shot nurse thinks he was transverse, but I’ve been getting his heart beat super low for the past two nights, so let’s hope! I’ll find out for sure today at my 32 week appointment because they’re doing an ultrasound to see if we’ve made progress with his position and cord placement.
Food cravings: Brownies… I guess he’s Knox’s brother, after all!
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: They’re baaaaacckkk! Darn Braxton-Hicks! I thought I had escaped unscathed, but apparently not. Over the weekend, I started to feel a LOT more of these suckers, and now, at some points during the day I’ll have six or seven an hour. I’ve been trying to drown them with lots of water, but it doesn’t seem to help. This is topic of discussion #1 for today’s appointment!
Belly Button in or out? Please. I think we know that my belly button will never go in again.
Stretch marks? I’m pricing laser stretch mark removal procedures, as we speak.
What I miss: Sushi and being nice. Seriously, my hormones this time around don’t make me anxious or sad, they make me mean! Poor Trevor, he told me he’s ready for March to be here so I’ll be nice to him again. I really don’t mean it, sometimes you just really FEEL those things!
What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery finished… I think it will be mid-January, though, because I have to wait on a couple custom items to arrive (like the big “B”!). Also, finishing baby laundry. It’s out of control. I told my mom she is hereby BANNED from buying Brody any clothes at all. His dresser is stuffed, and we only managed to fit newborn- 3 months sizes in there. For real. I’m just re-washing/folding the rest and putting it in boxes in his closet until he can fit into them.
This was my laundry stack of just the 0-9 month stuff… all Knox’s old clothes! Needless to say, MANY of these will be getting handed-down to friends or donated after Brody uses them!
Weekly Wisdom: Lay down when you can and drink lots of water!
Milestones: 3rd trimester
Stranger Comments: Oh yes, again this week. I received two, one good and one bad. I am beginning to realize that people who work at Lowe’s have no filter, so I should probably stay away from there.
Scenario One:
While checking out at… dun dun dun… Lowe’s
Lowe’s girl: You look like you’re going to go at any moment!
Me: … [continue unloading my cart and pretending she didn't say that...]
Lowe’s girl: Yeah, you don’t look pregnant at aaaalllllll! (<– dripping with sarcasm)
Me: Ha. [gives glare of death]
I mean, seriously?? What does she want me to say? I tried to just ignore the first one, but to keep on going? HUSH, YOU.
Scenario Two:
I’m in the dairy section at Publix. I pick up some yogurt and turn around when the lady behind me starts laughing.
Lady: I’m sorry, it’s just that you didn’t look pregnant at ALL from behind! When I was pregnant I was all huge, but you look SO great!!
Me: You should really go to Lowe’s more often.
P.S. My radio interview yesterday with Frank Fontana of HGTV went great!! He talked to me about my “DIY Disaster” staining Brody’s dresser, and it was a lot of fun. They streamed pictures during the live broadcast (since it’s online) so at least they showed the finished product so people didn’t think I was a total screw-up! If you would like to listen, here is the link. I start at the 45:40 mark.
by Jessica on December 21, 2011
1) Wear a thong.
Last weekend I had to go to a Christmas party with Trevor for the fire department. It was at a country club, so my normal attire of jeans and a tunic-style top would not fly. I had to pull out one of my few maternity dresses, and lo and behold, panty-line central. So, I had to do it. Let me just say this: the combination of hemorrhoids and a skinny string across your butt hole do not make for a comfortable evening.
2) Try on clothes.
Buying new clothes is a very nice thing. However. If you have to try them on, try to do so in the comfort of your own home where there are not multiple mirrors in one location. Because who needs to see their five new butt cheek dimples from three different angles? Um, not me!
3) Put on socks.
Seriously, who can bend at this point?? I always try to do this task away from Trevor who thinks it’s very funny to watch me struggle to lift my leg high enough to insert my foot into my sock without toppling over. The safest way to do this laying down, but then I look like a turtle on its back that can’t flip back over again. Oh, the indignity!
4) Walk by or enter Victoria’s Secret.
Is it really necessary for them to plaster those massive pictures of their “angels” in every single window? Like we needed a reminder of the fact that they all have perfect freak-of-nature bodies while we shop for a bra with a wider band width to accommodate our new rolls of back fat? True (and very sad) story.
5) Remember anything.
Whether it’s what you had for breakfast, what you needed to pick up at the grocery store or the name of your firstborn, it’s not going to come to you. Give up and just ask your husband what the kid’s name is again.
by Jessica on December 6, 2011
How far along? 27 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 25 pounds
Maternity clothes? Obviously. I had to go up a size, too, to fit this ginormous belly.
Sleep: Pretty good. The Snoogle is helping, my back hasn’t been as bad over the past week.
Best moment this week: Finishing Brody’s dresser and getting his room painted! Finally! Pictures coming soon. Also, getting my first hair cut in a good four months (my stylist was on bed rest/ maternity leave) felt awesome!
Movement: Definitely. Also feeling his hiccups about four times a day.
Food cravings: Chocolate milk, Pilsbury holiday cookies
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: No thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Way out there.
Stretch marks? Dear me. I literally felt my skin rip the other night when I went to stretch. I stuck my stomach out and felt it tear next to my belly button. I am becoming VERY afraid of what this postpartum stomach is going to look like. I swapped out my Burt’s Bees belly stuff for some more intense Palmer’s Belly Butter. It’s so greasy but I feel like it works better. I use it a good three times a day. If this doesn’t work, I’m going to get some of the pricier “Egyptian Magic.”
What I miss: No back or rib pain.
What I am looking forward to: Getting everything situated in Brody’s room. The crib is still disassembled, so that’s next on the list this week!
Weekly Wisdom: Not feeling very wise this week…
Milestones: Right at the brink of the 3rd trimester!
Unwanted Stranger Comments: This is a new addition to my pregnancy survey. Hopefully it won’t be a regular feature! I was at Lowe’s getting some paint for the nursery, and this is what occurred:
Skinny Blonde Cashier: Aw, how much longer do you have?
Me: A while, actually, I’m due in March.
Skinny Blonde Cashier: Are you SERIOUS?!! Oh my gosh, that’s CRAZY!
Me: Eat some cake, and stop talking to me. (<– no, I didn’t really say that)
I did have a doctor’s appointment on Friday, and I am only measuring about a 1/2 week ahead. I guess I’m just carrying this boy straight out in front! We’ll do two belly pics this week, too, the first is from last week and the second is from today.
by Jessica on October 13, 2011
This morning we had our anatomy scan and 20 week appointment to check on Brody. Everything went perfectly! I am so incredibly grateful for another seemingly healthy baby- God has blessed our family so incredibly with these boys! Trevor was off today, so he was able to come with me- this is the first doctor’s appointment he’s been able to attend. We had the ultrasound first, which is nervewracking and exciting at the same time. Our sonographer is really quick and is great about following her explanations of what she’s looking at with an immediate “looks perfect” or tells us what she sees and why that’s good. Brody did not stop wiggling the entire time, and it was so fun to watch him squirming around (even though the lady was telling him to stop wiggling so much!). We got a few pictures, but they’re not the best because of the aforementioned wiggling:
Kind-of a profile:
Face:
And, thankfully, he’s still a boy!:
She also checked to make sure the subchorionic hemorrhage was gone, and hooray, it was! Also my placenta has moved out of the way and is now in a nice, normal posterior position. With Knox it was anterior, so I wasn’t able to feel him move until after 21 weeks… I have to say that posterior is preferable! With both of those risk factors out of the way, my doctor also released me from pelvic rest! Bow chicka bow wow…
Everything else looked great at the appointment, and I don’t go back for another four weeks when I”ll have to start rotating through the doctors. I hate that part, I wish that since it was my second pregnancy an I’ve already met all the doctors I could just opt out of the switching game for the next few months. I like having just one person giving me consistent advice! Though, I do really like all of the doctors in the practice, so it’s not too terribly bad.
On another note, Trevor’s grandfather, Pop, whom he absolutely adores is undergoing a quintuple bypass procedure tomorrow morning. We would so appreciate your prayers for him during this time! He is in his late seventies, and this is a very intense procedure. His doctor did say that they have a 98% success rate for this surgery, so we are optimistic that everything will go very well. Pop is very spry for his age and doesn’t seem nearly as old as he is- hopefully his inner youth will help him with a fast recovery!
