Way to kill my morning, Tully's.

So I just went to Tully's for a Cappuccino Chocolate Chip muffin and decided to get a hot apple cider, since its Halloween, and really even they can't screw that up. (I admit it, I hate Tully's - they just happen to be inside my work building.) Well so much for not screwing that up - this drink is so hot that I'm pretty sure she actually gave me molten lava. I waited until I got back upstairs to even try it and burned the crap out of my mouth. Oh and I'm pretty sure this apple "cider" is actually apple juice.

Oh yeah, and since when do they rip off Starbucks sizes (Tall, Grande, blah blah blah)? This girl looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for a small, but this is the first crappy coffee place I've been to that has ganked SB sizes. I KNOW what a tall is, I just didn't want you to feel bad for not being Starbucks and call it that! Little did I know!

The moral of the story I guess is don't mess with a pregnant woman who is in a lot of pain and needs a nap. And for the record, anyone who says they like Tully's better then Starbucks is a lying liar.

There. It felt good to get all that out!

Happy Halloween!

Hot dog!

34 Weeks

Gah! 3 more weeks until full term - 6 weeks until D-Day!

So this week has been fun times with the sudden onset of sciatica. It started on Sunday and hasn't let up since. There is nothing like an extremely sharp shooting pain on one side of your back every time you walk, stand, or move at all to really slow a person down. According to the doctor it is most likely caused by Big Man here sitting on a nerve where he doesn't belong. If he moves the pain could go away. Or he could stay put. Or it could come and go. So basically, the verdict is too bad, suck it up.

In other news, here is my gigantic gut, which no longer fits into any of my clothes. My new theme song is "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" for pretty much everything I put on. This outfit should look familiar since its almost the only thing that fits so I put it on right after work almost every day!
According to Babycenter: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

I don't know if I believe this weeks produce comparison. Cantaloupe seems like a downgrade from last week! Shenanigans Babycenter!

33 Weeks

According to Babycenter: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.

Thats a big piece of produce! Yikes!

A less exciting first...

Today was our first real trip to labor and delivery.

So, I finally called the on-call doctor today because I was afraid I was leaking fluid. Without going into details, it had been happening since yesterday straight, was different then anything I had experienced yet, and didn't go away over night. Of course the doctor sends us to triage so we can get everything all checked out.

We head out at about 1, right as we were about to eat lunch, and finally get to the hospital at about 1:30, thanks to some totally random Saturday traffic. We get up to triage and they strap the monitors to my belly and we wait... and wait and wait for the doctor to make it in. Once she finally got there she did a (most uncomfortable) exam and then came back and said there was no fluid, I was fine. BUT, when we first got there the baby's heartbeat had a couple dips in it so she wanted to send me for an ultrasound to make sure the fluid wasn't too low. So we wait another few decades for ultrasound to come and get me.

Finally they manage to make it down a floor to us and wheel me on the bed over to ultrasound. A little dramatic, don't you think?! Oh yeah, and I'm still only wearing that lovely nearly see through blanket to cover me from the waist down for this ride.

Long story short, more waiting, a normal ultrasound, followed by more waiting, and we were finally able to go home. So yeah, nearly 4 hours later and everything is fine.

Its 5 when we can finally leave, I hadn't eaten since I had a couple freezer waffles for breakfast and Doug hadn't eaten at all, so he runs down to the cafe while I'm getting dressed and waiting for the discharge form. We walk out of the hospital drinking oj and eating a giant bag of gummy bears and a bag of cheetos. We were that hungry.

So what did we learn today? Lets try to keep emergancies to office hours, and if you have to go to L&D then please EAT SOMETHING FIRST! Trust me on this one!

Doug's First Attempt at Hanging Wall Letters

Yep.

Forget baby bibs, I need my own.

Yeah, its pretty much a rare day when I can get through all 3 meals without spilling stuff all down my shirt. Granted, I've always had a slight problem with this, but it really isn't my fault any more. With the belly sticking so far out by itself, and then it causing me to not be able to lean over my plate as much as I need to I'm screwed when I eat pretty much anything.

Today I am wearing a white shirt under a light gray zip up hoodie. Of course, we are halfway through lunch at the Thai place when Doug points to my shirt - pad thai juice all over me! Now, I'm thinking, oh well thats ok I can take off the sweatshirt and I'll be fine. Nope! The shirt under the sweatshirt is already stained.

Sweet.

32 Weeks

Ummm.... 8 more weeks until my due date. That seems pretty close when you put it like that! As a frame of reference, Doug was born 2 months premature, which is basically now, and he turned out alright. But Milo, you better stay in there a little longer big man - we aren't ready yet!

This is what Doug likes to call my "Grimace" outfit. Yes, I know that Grimace is purple, and this suit is clearly blue, but since he is color blind, he insists that he is right. (I know, it makes no sense!)

I also like to think that I am not quite as roly poly as our purple friend here is!

Exhibit A:Nope, not even close! I win this one Doug!

According to Babycenter: By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent picture of a jicama on the internet? But seriously, what the heck is this thing anyways?

Just in case it was getting too easy...

So, ultimately, I really can't complain out my pregnancy experience. I have had it really easy compared to some people.

But, this new "symptom" is totally unexpected and out of the blue....

Heartburn and Acid Reflux.

Seriously, I didn't even know what it was when I had it the first time!

Me: "Doug, my chest hurts right in the middle here! What the heck is this?"
Doug: "Sounds like heartburn to me."
Me: "But I haven't eaten anything in a while!" (You know, meaning like an hour or two - thats awhile for me!)
Doug: "It doesn't matter."
--------------------------------------------------------
Me: "WTF - why do I keep kind of burping and then throwing up in my mouth a tiny bit out of nowhere for no reason?!"
Doug: "Its called Acid Reflux."
Me: "But I haven't eaten anything in a while!"
Doug: "It doesn't matter!"

I am not kidding - I had no idea what was wrong with me! Thank goodness I have it mild (for now) - Milo likes his tacos and what not too much for it to affect my eating habits!

Combine that with my new need to pee every hour or hour and a half and I am downright lovely to hang around with. :-P

31 Weeks

According to Babycenter: his week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

Four F@#$ing Oranges!? Come on! There isn't a single piece of produce equivalent to that all by itself? I'm calling shenanigans again, Babycenter!

New Milo Pics!

So we had our ultrasound today and everything looks good. No excess fluid and he is only about a week ahead, like he was at the last ultrasound. I guess he just has a king sized suite in there! He is also head down, oh, and of course, we confirmed that he is indeed still a HE! Here is his profile from both sides...

Also, although you can't see if from this view really, when she looked down from the top of his head she showed us an area that she said is hair - so he won't be totally bald! Also we saw a really cute view of the front of his face showing his lips and eye, but we didn't get a picture of that. We knew he was doomed for a big nose with both of us as parents, but he also got his momma's full lips it looked like. ;-)

30 Weeks

Holy crap! 3/4 of the way there! 10 weeks until my due date, and only 7 weeks until we are considered "full term."

So yesterday we had our 30 week appointment and it all looks good. Milo is still measuring 3 weeks ahead with the tape measurer so Friday we get to go in for another ultrasound to see if he really is that huge, or if there is just alot of fluid, or whatever. The doc is not concerned she just wants to get a peek at what we're dealing with for future reference. Fine by me - I like Milo pictures!

I think I have to call it quits on my rings now too. Even the fake ones (2 sizes bigger, remember!) are too tight on me!

So, here is the big belly:

According to Babycenter: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.This week's huge produce - a cabbage!

Well ok, this is a Cabbage Patch Baby - but we've all seen cabbages, and this is much cuter!

How to Start the Day

So I walked into work this morning to find this on my desk:

Turns out, one of the women in my office brought in flowers from her garden for all the gals in our department. I like surprises like this in the morning.

In fact, this is pretty much the only thing I like to see sitting on my desk in the morning that wasn't there when I left! :-)