30 weeks 6 days

August 31, 2016

Almost to 31 weeks. Woohoo!!! We'll be hitting the road tomorrow for a long weekend with my in-laws which means a loooooong car ride. Hopefully my son is well entertained and I'm not too uncomfortable.

I'm starting to realize this pregnancy is a lot more uncomfortable than my first. Maybe I glossed over it, maybe pushed it out of my mind, but I remember feeling chipper and mobile to the very end last time. This one...I already feel like I'm waddling and carting around a full grown baby. I'm also having terrible insomnia (I got up last night and worked half the night because I was so irked just lying there) and have, apparently, restless leg syndrome this go round.

I've been doing a bit with my oils to calm down and have been doing some hypnosis with Hypnobabies at night to try and focus my mind, but I think it has more to do with I just can't get comfortable and it's just a reality of this pregnancy. I did read online that doing squats before bed helps with the RLS so I was busy squatting at 1:30 in the morning last night.

I'm still a bit paranoid of over doing too much because of the whole bed rest and limited activity for the first half of my pregnancy and the strong braxton hicks, so I try not to over exert physically, but I cannot for the life of my deal with that creepy crawly feeling in my legs and trying to get comfortable to sleep.

I also upped my magnesium so hopefully that helps. A month ago it was constant charlie horses, now, they just want to move move move.

Well, I just realized what a griping post this was. Sorry, lol. The up side is this little bugger is on the CONSTANT move. Although it can get a bit uncomfortable or even painful at times, it's so reassuring and really, a neat feeling overall. I forgot how neat it was to be able to feel his little feet drag across my belly or feel his fingers right down there in my pelvis. It truly is amazing...there is a little person in there. Quite a miracle.

A director friend of mine called today. We'd worked on a film several, well, I guess about ten years ago and she is directing a music video that deals with infertility and wanted to chat a bit. It was so nice to catch up and a rather cathartic conversation. I hope her project brings the "taboo" subject to light.

Well, I hope everyone has a blessed Labor Day.

30 weeks 4 days

Aug. 29, 2016

I'm trying to be better about updates :) The baby is doing great. He's now measuring a bit ahead of the game and the doctor made note I was ALL baby. He was actually poking her back when she was taking measurements today as she literally was asking if I feel him. Um...that giant foot that just moved about an inch out of my belly all Alien style...yeah, he's active.

My blood pressure was way low today 85/48. It's always on the low side, but today lower than normal. The nurse said drink water...I lifted my 32 oz water bottle and said this is number three and it's 10:30 am. I'm well hydrated. The doctor just said to feel free to season liberally with salt and spice.

I also asked her about the braxton hicks being so intense and she said as long as there isn't spotting and I can't time them, no worries there. That's reassuring because they've been way more intense than I ever remember them with my son.

She did mention at 37 weeks because I'm, ahem, "old" we'll start NST and AFI testing. My fluids were low last time, so that'll be reassuring to me. She will be out of town the month of October, so I'll be seeing someone else.

Other than that, nothing new to report. I feel so much bigger this time around, but I guess that's pretty normal. And, not knowing this little bugger's genetics, I may be cooking a bigger baby too ;)

God Bless!

29 weeks 6 days

August 24, 2016

Almost to 30 weeks - the home stretch. And still so. much. to. do.

I've been working overtime hours and trying to switch out the upstairs office to my son's "big boy" room and organizing everything in between. By the time night time hits, I literally fall into bed.

Good news, our growth scan went well. Baby Snowflake was measuring 2 lbs 12 oz just shy of 29 weeks so right on target. A smidge ahead - so bigger than my last son. I'm getting very curious to see this little guy. Not knowing the donors, it adds a whole new level of what will this little guy look like. :)

He's still very active, very. My stomach is all over the place and he's quite good at the rib kicks and bladder punches.

I also had more iron tests run and my iron levels aren't in dangerous levels so I've been sticking with my blackstrap molasses, NingXia Red and iron rich foods to hopefully boost my levels. I have felt better the last week or so, so I think it's helped.

Other than that, nothing new to report. Still lots of braxton hicks, starting to feel a bit awkward, but all normal things :)

God Bless!

28 weeks 4 days

August 15, 2016

WOW! Where has the time gone?? I realize I am PAINFULLY late in updating this blog. We have been so so so so busy! Let's backtrack.

So, at our 18ish week appointment, we found out, great news, no more SCH and our partial placenta previa had moved up. Three cheers! I was taken off restrictions - still cautioned to not lift much and since the placenta was still low lying to continue pelvic rest. Here are some amazing photos of our little guy!

Everything was measuring on target, however we were surprised to hear his arms and legs were measuring about a week ahead. They said to expect some long appendages. Made us kind of raise our eyebrows and wonder if the initial report of the donor father being 6'10" was the legit height. We'd assumed with the weight at 155 that it was a typo and should have been 5'10"...wonder if it was 255 at 6'10". Hmmmm.

Fast forward two weeks and I was back to my OB and she again checked the position of my placenta since the specialist had said it was still low lying. It was 3 cm over my cervix, so officially not "low lying" just low. She advised me to start on aspirin again, although since my specialist had said not to, I've been kind of lax about taking it daily. I got the all clear to go to MI to visit family for a few weeks.

We had a wonderful time! Since there were so many fires right in our home town in CA and the air quality was so poor, my son and I stayed there an extra week. Since getting back, it's been full steam ahead trying to get everything ready for the baby. We're converting the office into our older son's room and I've been busy selling, donating and giving away all the stuff that has accumulated. That and organizing. Let's just say the nesting has set in and it's been NUTS this time!! I was up late washing couch cushion covers because it just HAD TO BE DONE...NOW! I've also started slowly stocking our freezer.

I was back at my doctor last week for my 28 week 1 day appointment. I told her I'd been having some strong braxton hicks and pelvic pressure so she did a quick scan and my cervix still is long, so not to worry. She did however think I was measuring a bit small, so I go in on Weds for a growth scan. I'm not too worried. They did the same last pregnancy and all was well. I think I just carry differently than most women.

My appointment also revealed that even though I typically have way too much iron with hemochromatosis, I am actually quite anemic this pregnancy. All this exhaustion, light headedness and shortness of breath make sense now I suppose. FEED ME!! It also makes sense I've been craving burgers non stop. I still refuse to take the iron in prenatal or iron pill form because of how sick it made me before - think toxic to my liver and can cause my organs to stop functioning, not queasy whining, we decided for me to get it from food sources like, well, lots of burgers (hello In 'N Out) and I've added blackstrap molasses into my diet as well. We'll test in a few weeks to see where I'm at.

It's funny how much more this baby depleted my iron resources. When I had my son I got slightly anemic last time near the end, but my levels right now are at where I was after labor with blood loss - very low. My glucose was also much lower this time as well. Close to the bottom of the acceptable scale - again, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. My blood pressure continues to be very, very low as well.

Other than all that, still plugging along. He is a wild one in there and my stomach is constantly moving from his shenanigans. He's already head down and I've been getting some hard jabs into the ribs already. I didn't remember it that high up until later last time, but they did say he has those nice long legs ;)

We are about 99.9% certain on our name. We aren't sharing because we don't like unsolicited opinions, lol, but we're pretty happy with it. Our older son told me an assortment of baby names this morning ranging from school bus, to pillow to milk. He thought it was hilarious. He has been so sweet snuggling and praying and kissing my belly. He also knows I can't get up very well anymore from the ground and is always insisting he help me up...basically makes me work about 200% harder to get up without putting any weight on him, but makes me smile every time...such a gentleman.

We also made tentative arrangements with my in-laws. Being six hours from us, they've said they'd be "on call" when I go into labor to come immediately. With no family and a toddler, it's hard to try and figure out childcare. We've a few friends that are happy to help, but I hate to impose on them longer than a few hours for them to get here. Our son's preschool also said he could come on his days off if I go into labor one of those days.

My mom arranged her flight out for a week after I'm due, so she may be here for the labor, or before, maybe after. Who knows. lol

Well, I promise I will be better about updating the blog. I took a few belly bump photos, but realized I needed to blur a few things out before posting ;) I'll save those for another day.

God bless!