3/4 done!

This past Wednesday marked 30 weeks!  We are 3/4 done!  I can't hardly believe it!

Today I had my 3 hour glucose test and I passed with flying colors.  I honestly wasn't too worried - not near as worried as my husband was.  The drink wasn't so bad and even the three hours spent there went by quickly (even without the use of my iPad - which I found out after I got there that the touch screen isn't working and I had only a few chapters of "Heaven is for real" left!).

I think the worst part of the whole deal was not being able to eat anything for 15 hours!  (12 hour fast plus 3 hour test).  No, the worst thing was 2 hours into my fast last night Walleye decided it was the perfect time to finish up the last bit of ice cream we had left in the house - complete with hot fudge on it.  Seriously?!?!  Right in front of me!!! 

I had an OB appointment between hour 2 and 3.  It went fine.  I am measuring right on target.  I mentioned the pain I get in my groin/leg and he thinks it's just round ligament paint but I really think it's SPD - he said we will continue to monitor it.  I go again at 32 and 34 weeks. 

Starting at 35 weeks we will being weekly appointments including a weekly non-stress test.  Every two weeks I will have an ultrasound.  He said given my age (even though I am a few years away from 40) combined with my PCOS/medical history and the fact that I was a bit over weight at conception he wants to monitor a little more closely towards the end.  He reinforced numerous times that he really has no specific concerns and everything is fine but that he'd rather err on the side of caution.  I am surprisingly not worried or anxious over this.  I feel rather calm about the whole thing. 

I know and appreciate how blessed I am and thank God every day for this miracle (and the relatively easy pregnancy).

I have been sending up lots of prayers lately for my brother, Duckie, and my MIL. 

Duckie is about half way through his three times a week shots to continue to fight off the cancer but for the past few months has been experiencing horrible back pain.  He has a slipped disc and they are trying 6 weeks of PT and if that doesn't work will have to do surgery.  Apparently the PT is rather painful, which the physical therapist said is not common.  (I sure hope that doesn't mean there is more to it than just a slipped disc).  He is at a point where he mentally and financially can not afford surgery.  One of the side effects of the shots is depression and I can see he is having a hard time battling it - which I think is also made worse by the back problems. 

My MIL is having surgery on Tuesday because the sore they operated on back in August still hasn't healed and isn't getting any better.  We take solace in the fact that it wasn't an emergency surgery but with her medical condition surgery is never easy and carries more risk factors and a harder recovery than for most people. 

Because I don't want to end the post on a negative note...I met with HR yesterday and I have enough PTO saved up to take the full 12 weeks off with FULL pay!  I am thrilled!  Now if only we could find a daycare we liked....

Bad, bad (and undeserving) blogger

Has it really been a month since my last post?  It can't be!  I read blogs every day so how could I not have posted at least once or twice in there?  I'd like to blame it on it being a busy time of year or that work has been overly busy, which both is true but not so true as I didn't have any spare time to blog!

I am also an undeserving blogger as I notice Morgan has awarded me an award - so very sweet and nice of her but since it's taken me almost a month to acknowledge it and all the bloggers I would award it to have already received it (once, twice or more) I am going graciously say Thank You and unfortunately not follow through on it.  (How was that for a super long, rambling sentence!).  Thank You Morgan!!!  You are too sweet and I appreciate both your reading and your giving me an award. 

We are now 29 weeks 2 days and things are still going really well.  I am truly blessed and lucky!  I really only have three main complaints/side effects:
1. carpal tunnel in my left hand has roared it's ugly head - and bad!  Last week I could barely write it was so bad.  I just wish in April when I had my right hand done my left would have been bad enough to warrant insurance covering it. 
2. I think I might have SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) and will ask my Dr next Friday at my appointment (going every two weeks now - craziness!).  But basically after sitting at my desk or table for long periods of time when I get up I get an agonizing shooting pain in my groin - almost like I pulled a muscle.  It gets better with walking but it can be paralyzing at times. 
3. I failed my 1 hour glucose test last Friday and have to do my 3 hour next Friday.  Praying and hoping I pass that dang test. 

The nursery is about done - Walleye is putting up curtains as I type (or at least I think that's what he's doing with his last day of vacation) so I can FINALLY take a picture to post.  I am in love with the nursery!  And my dear sista has taken the nursery theme and pulled it into the theme of my baby shower!  The invites are the cutest things I have ever seen.  My Mom saw them and jumped at the chance to make coordinating Thank You cards for it! 

I am feeling Lucky move more and more and have noticed a pattern - or somewhat of a pattern.  He/she is most active around 8 pm and 4 am.  I am sure during the day he/she is active but work keeps be busy and I don't make as much of a mental note as to what time and for how long.  Walleye finally got to fee Lucky move - I had been waiting and waiting for that!

Work has been rather crazy - even though students and faculty are gone I have had more than enough to keep me busy...not that I have been all that productive this week.  It's hard when a. there's no one around and b. Walleye is home all week (his company shuts down the week between Christmas and New Years). 

We still haven't found a day care - we thought we had and even had a verbal agreement with her but it fell through and I was devastated and haven't been able to find one I've liked even half as much since.  We need to make a decision soon though!

No where closer to a name for this baby...girl names I think we are fine on but man-oh-man are we having a time with boy names.  I just know because of that we are going to have a boy and that poor child will probably be weeks old before he's named! 

Well I should try to finish up a few things here at work before squeaking out early for the weekend.  What a random post huh! 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year!

Names, names, names

We are 25 weeks today!  As of Friday Lucky weighed 1 lb 10 oz – which is so strange to me.  That seems enormous but my OB said it’s within average (which the baby websites I read said 1 ½ lbs is average for 25 weeks so we aren’t too much above average). 

So 25 weeks means we only have 15 left – eek!  105 days!  (Obviously depending upon when Lucky decides to make his/her entrance!!!)  As excited as I am about that I am also a little freaked out by it.  I don’t feel we are really ready.  We have the nursery done, for the most part, and a pack of diapers and wipes, a few burp clothes, a blanket or two but that’s about it.  Granted I did ask for baby stuff for Christmas and we have two showers coming up but it’s still a little unnerving. 

The other thing that is freaking me out a bit is our lack a name for this little blessing.  I think we have two for a girl that we both agree on.  One is first name Greta with my Dad’s first name as her middle name and the other is a combination of the first names of my Dad and Walleye’s Mom for the first name and the middle name being my middle name (which also happens to be my Mom’s middle name).  Obviously my Dad’s first name is both male and female.   We have a few others that we somewhat agree on but we (well I) keep going back to those two.  Being a Daddy’s girl I am pretty set on his name being somewhere in the name.

We are having the hardest time with a boy name.  Walleye is pretty stuck on using his first name as the baby boy’s middle name but I am pretty stuck on using my Dad’s name for the middle name.  My reasoning is the baby will already get Walleye’s last name.  Especially if it’s a boy – he’ll have Walleye’s last name forever, unlike a girl who would most likely change it if she got married.  Neither of us like my Dad’s first name well enough to use it for a first name – it’s a little feminine.  I do however like my Dad’s middle name for a first name with Walleye’s first name as the middle name. 

That combination has extra special meaning to me because my Dad’s middle name is his Godfather’s first name (my Great Uncle, whom we were really close to).  But my Great Uncle didn’t like his first name so he switched his middle name to his first name and put his original first name as the middle name.  It just so happens that the first name my great uncle went by is also the same as Walleye’s first name.  So really the baby would go by my great uncle’s birth name but still have Walleye’s name as the middle name and a tie to my Dad’s name.  Confused yet?  Let’s try it this way…hypothetically speaking:

     My Dad’s middle name is Edwin

     My Great Uncle’s birth name is Edwin Jeremy but he didn’t like that so went by Jeremy Edwin

     Walleye’s first name is Jeremy

     Proposed name for Lucky would be Edwin Jeremy but we could call him EJ   

     But Walleye isn’t too keen on Edwin, which is why I say we could call him EJ

We had originally talked about Adam for a boy – way before we had told anyone we were expecting and we both really liked it but then once we told my MIL we were expecting she started referring to Lucky as “Adam or Eve” and ever since that very first time she said “How’s little Adam or Eve doing?” I can’t stomach the name.  I’ve thought about asking her to stop referring to Lucky/the baby as Adam or Eve but it’s too late – I will always associate Adam with her calling the baby that.

We’ve both thrown out names that the other has said they don’t mind but to be honest sometimes I say I don’t mind because I don’t want to constantly be turning down Walleye’s ideas and I think he might be doing the same.  I just feel bad because I really haven’t liked any of the names he’s thrown out.   Maybe I am too set on the above scenario to really give any other names a chance.  Or maybe it’s just Walleye’s names are just to blah.  Not that I want an off the wall, crazy name. 

Who knew this would be this hard!  And knowing my luck we will have decided on a name and the baby will arrive and we’ll take one look at him or her and decide that is NOT the right name and poor Lucky will go two weeks without a name like my sister did when she was born.  My Grandpa even started a bank account for her with “Baby” as the first name and our last name as the last name. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I know Thanksgiving isn't for a couple of days but this will be my last chance to post until next week.  (Meaning I am off until Monday and I typically only have time to post from work...mainly when I am feeling rather uninspired to get any real work done and so typing a post both sounds and looks like I am busy!)

I have so many things to be thankful for this year... (no particular order)
1. Lucky (and that this pregnancy has been so easy)
2. My wonderful, wonderful Walleye
3. The general good health of my family - granted not everyone is 100% healthy but things have been looking better the farther into 2011 we go - Duckie's treatments seem to be working and without too many adverse side effects, my Mom's health hasn't declined too drastically and my MIL seems to be not getting much worse even though not getting any better.
4. My family and friends - they are all so loving and supportive
5. That both Walleye and I have decent and stable jobs that allows us a comfortable life
6. My two furry babies - one who loves to cuddle under the covers with me on lazy Saturday mornings and one who loves to "talk" my ears off whenever given the chance
7. That my cousin, who has been deployed to Kuwait since May is able to spend two weeks with his family- including his eldest daughter's birthday and Thanksgiving.
8. That Walleye and my FIL finished painting the nursery, the crib is up and the dresser almost done - all in time for my family to see it - as they most likely won't be up after Thanksgiving until Lucky arrives!
9. We get to "see" Lucky on Friday!
10. The never ending love of our Lord

And the list could go on and on....

Happy Thanksgiving!

One week until....

Black Friday and our next ultrasound!!!  So stinking excited about both!

A week from right now my sister, cousin and I will either be pushing our way through the Black Friday crowds in our 11^th hour of shopping (yes we are going to attempt starting at midnight) or passed out cold from exhaustion after middle of the night shopping!  Either way I’m super excited about it!!!

Next Friday is also our next ultrasound.  Which is good – as I really don’t feel the baby move that much which is sort of freaking me out.  I know with an anterior placenta it’s harder/later to feel the baby and I am sure my weight doesn’t help matters but it’s rather concerning and disappointing to not be feeling Lucky.  Not to mention I want more than anything for Walleye to get to feel him/her!

So when I set up the ultrasound three weeks ago I picked out next Friday with the thought that 1. Walleye and I would both be off work so we wouldn’t have to take any more time off as we are both trying to save up vacation time for when Lucky arrives.  And 2. My sister would be in town and thought it would be way cool for her to attend the ultrasound (if Walleye was cool with it).  I don’t think my sister will ever have kids so this might be her only chance to go for an ultrasound and experience this first hand. 

Well when I brought it up to Walleye originally he automatically, without even considering it for one moment, said no.  He didn’t want her to go.  He didn’t think other people ever went to ultrasounds other than their own child’s.  I asked why and he really didn’t have much of an answer but later said that he didn’t want to her to try to find out the sex when they tell us to look away.  (She’s been pushing for me to find out so she can shop – but I don’t think she’d go that far.) 

It got brought up at a Halloween party and a couple of his friends’ wives agreed with me that my sister should go with.  (Yes, I know completely unfair of me to do that to Walleye – I should have left that conversation between us.)  They kind of bombarded him and backed him into a corner, making him feel pretty crappy.  So I dropped it and figured we could talk about it closer to the date and in private. 

Well earlier this week I reminded him that we have the ultrasound and that I hoped he would come with to the OB appointment after so he could at least meet the OB.  Walleye said if my sister was going to the ultrasound he wasn’t.  I asked why again and he said the room is too small and things are already weird enough with my sister.  I understand the room one but don’t know where he’s coming from with things being weird with my sister.  So now he’s making me feel like I have to decide between him and her and of course he comes first – he’s my husband and the father.  But he’s rather insistent that she can go and he understands she’ll most likely never have another chance like this.  But I still feel bad.  Like I am depriving him of something.  I just don’t know what to do.  I wish they both could/would go with. 

To end with a happier note....while I am off in the cities visiting a girlfriend tonight/tomorrow and going to "Breaking Dawn" my wonderful husband and FIL will be painting Lucky's room!  (And, crossing fingers and toes, putting the crib and dresser together!!!)  I'll post pics when it's done!

Baptism, Baby Showers and Bedding

It's somewhat crazy to me that I am actually thinking about those three things and that they relate to me!  That I am actually starting to plan a baptism, register and give dates for a baby shower and opened a big huge box that was delivered over the weekend that contained our nursery bedding...and that it is all for OUR baby! 

There are days when I am still in shock that I am pregnant - and almost 23 weeks pregnant at that. I am so blessed!

BAPTISM
I have been trying to connect with Father at our Church about how to begin planning the baptism but every time I call he is out and I am told to call back around 8:30 the next morning.  Wouldn't you know those are the mornings when I have meetings during that time. 

Our Church website says that we have to take a 2 day class in preparation which I am hoping is more like the "class" or "meeting" we had with Father prior to our wedding - where we just met with him and discussed marriage and such.  I was telling Walleye about that and he suggested if that's all it is (a meeting with Father) then maybe we suggest he comes over for dinner one night - great idea in my book!  I so excited to talk with Father and to get started planning the baptism (even if it is still months away!)

BABY SHOWER
On our 2nd wedding anniversary we spent the evening registering for our baby shower(s).  This past weekend when I was at my sisters we talked potential dates and locations!  Thinking sometime in January - which in reality is just around the corner!!!

BEDDING
When I arrived home from my sisters this weekend what was waiting on our doorstep but our crib bedding!  I am so stinkin' excited!!!  We can finally pick out paint colors and hopefully Walleye can start painting soon (like maybe this weekend while I am visiting a girlfriend in the cities).  It is even cuter in person than it was online!  There are so many accessories I want to buy to go with it but must be patient as those were put on my Christmas list.  :)

BLESSED
That should really be the first "b" in my title....because we truly are blessed! 

Swift Kick (of punch) to the ribs!

So for a while now I have thought I had been feeling Lucky move but was never 100% certain.  But today, well that's a totally different story!  I am 110% positive Lucky gave me a swift kick (or punch) to the ribs earlier this afternoon.  I was just standing and talking with my coworker and all of a sudden I felt this huge jab to my ribs.  :) I LOVED IT!!! 

We had our 20 week ultra sound last Friday and it was simply amazing!  Everything looked great! No matter how tempting it go we stuck to our guns and did not find out the sex.  And man was it tempting!!!  We do have to go back for another one the day after Thanksgiving as the tech couldn't get a real good picture of Lucky's spine because of how he/she was laying.  No cause for worry and my OB even said he didn't think it was necessary but why not get one more peek!  I didn't argue!  Especially since my sister will be in town so I want to bring her with as I am sure she would love it! (Even if it means interrupting our Black Friday shopping or post-shopping nap!). 

I am a DHW for the next few weeks....Deer Hunting Widow.  Walleye heads to deer camp right after work tonight and I might, MIGHT, see him on Tuesday night for a bit and then he's out at it again until after that next weekend.  I don't mind too much though.  I have a high school friend and her three kids coming up tomorrow for a visit and next weekend I am going to my sister's for the weekend!  Although I do secrety hope he doesn't shoot a deer...or if he does it's when I am not home so I don't have to see and SMELL it when the process the deer at home. YUCK!

Not much else going on right now.  I have been reading and praying for fellow bloggers and tried to comment but for some reason I am not able to comment.  It's getting a little frustrating!!!  Please know I have been thinking of you!