28 Weeks!

I made it to the third trimester!  :)

 

I am 28 weeks, 1 day today. 

 

Overall, I feel great, although my "symptoms" are definitely increasing in severity / annoyance level as I get further along.  I have a lot of heartburn, nasal congestion like you wouldn't believe (yup, this is normal), and back pain when I stand too long.  My energy levels are decreasing.  I also have pain in the front of my belly, by my belly button.  My appendix ruptured when I was a teenager, and so I have a very large scar that spans my entire midsection (vertically).  Apparently, it is causing my stomach muscles to separate as my belly grows.  Awesome, right?  It hurts, a lot. 

 

Seriously though, symptoms aside, I am so, so, so amazingly happy right now!  I can't believe that Bug and I have made it this far. I feel very blessed, and am extremely grateful for every day that he stays in there, moving about and growing inside me.  I am still reeling from the fact that this might end up being a normal pregnancy.  I was always hopeful, but that hope was often overshadowed by fear.  It is so amazing to be able to just enjoy being pregnant, like everyone else.  :)

 

It is good that most of my activity restrictions have now been lifted, as life has become very busy as of late! We are moving in just over a week, as we need an extra bedroom to accommodate the little man.  I have been packing very slowly, doing a few boxes a day.  To be honest, it has been hard - my energy levels have plummeted, so even doing a little bit a day has been exhausting.  My blood pressure is apparently very low right now, so that might have something to do with that as well.  Anyway, I am taking it as easy as I can in the circumstances, and am trying to be very careful to not overdo it.  I obviously won't have any part in the actual move. 

 

I am so excited to start decorating Bug's nursery. :)  It is going to be where the master should be, so it will be huge, with a private bath and walk-in closet.  I don't even know what to do with all of that space! I have been holding off on buying all but a few big ticket items until we are in the new place, but I have many of them picked out.  I am in love with this monkey rug from Pottery Barn:

We have also decided on this rocker and ottoman in chocolate brown, also from Pottery Barn:

The rocker converts to a regular chair, which will enable us to move it into our living space after it has served its purpose in the nursery.  Knowing this makes the price a bit easier to swallow. 

 

We have also purchased the crib, and the stroller (Uppababy Cruz).  Still though, there is so much left to do! I can't believe that I am due in less than three months.  And to think, we will have to unpack and set up our new home in the interim, as well as make sure that we are ready for Bug's arrival.  Just the thought makes me tired.  :)

 

On that note, I am off to do some more packing!  With a huge smile on my face. :)

Yup, Normal! And Baby Shoes. :)

So my OB called me at work yesterday.  She actually sounded pretty excited.  She said that she had just received my ultrasound report from Tuesday, and wanted me to know right away that my ultrasound was indeed 100% normal!  My placenta no longer looks abnormally thick, and there is no hematoma.  Samuel is measuring in the 68th percentile, and weighs approximately 800 grams (that's about 1.76 lbs).

For the first time in this entire pregnancy, there actually doesn't seem to be anything wrong or unusual.  I am normal. Sam is normal. :)

I am so freaking happy!!!

I am still spotting everyday, and that sucks.  Given our history, it is hard not to worry, at least a little bit.  My OB swears though that there is no explanation for the bleeding, so it must be my cervix.  I won't let her do a cervical exam to check (she doesn't recommend it anyway), so I will just have to take it on faith that she is right.  Some women do spot through their entire pregnancy - I guess I may be one of the few that do so.  Lucky me.

But, back to being super happy!!!  :)

Between this amazing news and reaching viability, I have garnered enough confidence to start doing some shopping.  My first purchase was an adorable pair of shoes.  Not practical, since he won't need shoes at that point, but they are just so tiny and precious, I couldn't resist:

 

I've also bought a few sleepers, and an adorable little pair of (equally impractical) jeans.

 

I am in the process of setting up a registry, which to be honest is much more overwhelming and difficult than I thought it would be.  There are so many options, and so many different opinions and reviews on what is necessary, what is a waste of money or space, what works, and even what is or is not safe.  I am getting through it slowly though, mostly to satisfy my mother in law. 

 

Oh, and don't even get me started on how challenging it was to choose the right stroller!  I *think* I've decided on the Uppababy Cruz.  Still mulling it around a bit before I make the purchase though.

 

To be clear, I am definitely not complaining!  I feel so, so blessed to still be carrying my little boy inside me right now.  I honestly didn't think that I would make it past the first trimester, let alone to viability, and an actual diagnosis of "normal."  When I think about it, I can't stop smiling. :)

 

 

 



24 Weeks, 5 Days - Normal??

I had another ultrasound today, with the high risk doctor.  I didn't actually get to see the doctor today, but did luck out with two very chatty ultrasound techs.  Well, I think one was a medical resident, which is probably why the other was so verbal about what she saw.  Anyway, the end result was definitely to my benefit!  This is all subject to what my actual OB has to say when I see her late next week, but for now...

 

...everything looks normal! 

 

The tech and resident agreed that my placenta wasn't really thick, it just looked that way because of how it was positioned (something about it being both fundal and left lateral).  The tech said "it might be a little thick", but in her (admittedly non-doctor) view, it was nothing to worry about.

 

There was no hematoma.

 

I am still spotting...that has been ongoing for just over 20 weeks now. It is very, very light.  My OB believes that it is my cervix. Maybe she is right.

 

Bug still looks perfect by the way, and is measuring in the 60th percentile.  Here he is:

 

Isn't he beautiful? :)

 

I am so, so incredibly happy.  I know that the tech and resident aren't doctors, and that everything they said is subject to what my doctor has to say when I see her.  But for now, I am not going to question the good news I received today.  I have spent enough time being scared or sad this pregnancy - I'm due for some happy and excited.  And I'm taking it.  :)