Lil' Update

On Friday, I returned to the midwife (after that oh, so, magical appt on Tuesday) and had some good news: lost 4 lbs (peed out that water weight), no protein in pee, bloodwork looked better than normal for even a non-hypertensive woman, baby still kicking, head down, 70% effaced, fingertip dilated, and feeling good:)

Bad news: blood pressure is still high. What does that mean? Well, basically I have gestational hypertension and they will watch my BP very closely. It also means I got put on a reduced in-office work schedule. They said no more than 4 hours in office and then pretty much sit or lay my butt on the couch. My wonderful and supportive bosses said, go ahead and just work from home (unless a meeting requires my attention). That's great!!!

It also means that all that nesting that I want to do- (you know, clean, organize, clean) I can't do. Nope, just couch and computer time for me. My lovely mother came over on Saturday and did laundry, cleaned floors, emptied trash, etc, etc, etc. Thanks Mommy! Gary is finishing a few things as we speak (e.g. installing a utility sink in the laundry room- a must for the hopefully cloth diapering parents we are going to be).

I did get our new wireless printer hooked up, that will make working from home much nicer. And my hospital bag is packed, so we are almost good to go. Whenever "go" decides to happen!

Well, I go back tomorrow for another BP check, so we shall see. They want baby to come sooner rather than later, but aren't talking induction yet:) I also made Gary watch 3 births today. 1 water birth, 1 squatting, and 1 standing. He is totally freaked that I have to do that. Who wants to take bets as to whether or not he passes out?!

Oh My Stinkin' Goodness...we are having a baby people, a baby, a little human. Pheeeewwwww, had to get that out.

Any-whose-a-whats-it, here are two 37 week pictures for you all to enjoy.

You like my hair, I know you do.


Shiny, round, basketball belly for you all to enjoy.


XOXO

So close

So close is right! 25 days until our due date, February 20th. We all know that due dates are not be all, end all dates. In fact, the chances of me actually giving birth on that date, not so good. Yesterday was my 36 week check up (36 weeks and 2 days).
Bad news #1: If this baby comes before February 23rd, I probably won't qualify for my short term disability pay. Bummer.
Bad news #2: I gained 9 pounds! That's 9 pounds in 2 weeks. Ouch.
Bad news #3: My blood pressure was 150/90. I had them recheck. Three times. Guess what? Still 150/90. That's high, way high.
Bad news #4: Pee stick turned green. For me, that means protein in the pee.
Bad news #5: Blood draw, 3 attempts before she struck gold!
Bad news #6: If this sticks around, we might have to induce. Inducing is not what I wanted, trying to avoid the possible snowball effect (watch The Business of Being Born, very interesting indeed).

What news 3 and 4 might be=preeclampsia. Google it, it can be bad.
What news 5 might tell us=how bad 3 and 4 really are. Won't know until Friday when I go back to the doctor. If everything looks okay with my bloodwork, they will probably just watch the blood pressure. Although that depends on what my numbers are that day.

I spent so much time yesterday thinking about all the bad. Bad news this, bad news that. Then today I stopped myself and started thinking about the good things.

Good thing #1: I have a great job that is super flexible with me and a wonderful support network to help me through whatever comes my way.
Good thing #2: Baby looks healthy and strong. Strong heartbeat, lots of kicks, my sweet wiggly boy.
Good thing #3: I have only gained 30 lbs so far, still within healthy range, so no big deal really. And no stretch marks yet either.
Good thing #4: No other signs of preeclampsia, so even if it's there, it's mild. On that same note, baby is almost considered full term, so if they had to induce, he should be big enough and strong enough:)
Good thing #5: I am married to a wonderful man and have two really cool dogs!



With all the bad and all the good, I am reminded that this is just how life goes. Never perfect, but glorious in all its wonkiness. Yep, I said wonkiness.




Embrace the wonky with me people. And send good thoughts my way for Friday.

XOXO

Time flies

Time is just flying by. The first trimester of this pregnancy seemed to eek by. We found out at 6 weeks but wanted to wait until we heard the heartbeat to share the news. We heard his little wooshwooshing at 10 weeks. Those were the 4 hardest weeks so far. Not in terms of sickness or physical things (although I did get yucky tummy if I didn't eat, so you guessed it, I just ate). It was hard because we were nervous. Would his little heart be ticking? Would we miscarry? Would this happen or would that happen? We just had to learn to stop worrying.




Then the second trimester...easy peasy. Started a new job (which is fantabulous), felt great, started showing (yay for belly bumps), started dreaming about what it would be like to have a baby. Except for the nasty acne that cropped up, and the occasional hip cramp/back ache, I felt better than ever. We started marking time by the upcoming holidays...we knew Halloween would come, followed quickly by Turkey Day, and then in no time Christmas. After that, only 2 more months!!



Then on NYE, my lovely sister-in-law Keara took some maternity pics of us at our house and at the park where we got married. Those that you are looking at now. She was AWESOME! And it was COLD! Like 35 degrees cold. Which for Gary in his jeans and sweater was fine (even though he complained, "I'm so cold", the whole time). For me, in my skirt and short sleeved top, not to mention the pulling up of the shirt, it was icy! But still so fun.




Now this baby is right around the corner. Just over 5 weeks until my due date, Feb. 20th. Which means no more than just over 7 weeks until baby is here since our midwives will let us go 2 weeks over due before inducing. 5-7 weeks at most. That's if baby doesn't come early. Freak out anyone?! Last week I had my family pick out due dates, baby sizes, etc. The average: 2/19 DOB, 7 1/2 lbs, and 19 inches long. We shall see. Feel free to place your bets in the comments box:)

We are really excited. The nursery is just about done, it just needs some decorations on the walls and a fan and lights and such.



As for funny Gary moments, I have this one to share from last night:
Scene- Gary rubbing and smooching my belly
Gary: "Hey there little guy." "How's it going in there?" "I can't wait to meet you." "I am going to love the crap out of you Ferris!"

Now you might be asking yourself, why is this funny or weird at all? That's really sweet.

Well, we are not naming our son Ferris. That is our dog's name. Yep, our dog.

The best part...it took a solid 15 seconds of me laughing for him to realize what he said. Then he laughed. Then he said, in all seriousness, "Well, I am going to love him as much as I love that dog!". Let's all hope paternal instincts kick in a bit more and the baby gets a little more love, I mean, just a little!




XOXO

Phewww!

Hello all! The holidays were awesome, time with family and friends was priceless. This is our last Christmas without a little one in tow and it was really nice to spend some quiet time with my hubby. I will say that we spent a lot of time talking about next year when we have a baby with us to celebrate. We are definitely excited about this baby! Like my psuedo-sis in law said, I am having a baby next month! Provided he comes on time or not too early/too late. I am super super excited:)

My wonderful sis in law took maternity pics of us on New Year's Eve. Let me tell you something...IT WAS COLD! But so much fun. She will send a sampling soon and I will get those posted for sure.

In the meantime, I put a little video thing together showing my belly pics from week 18 to week 33. My greasiness in many of the pics is overwhelmingly awesome, so enjoy!

XOXO

Gary's Words of Wisdom

Let me set the scene:
Gary is watching me on the computer (researching cloth diapers) as I rub my round belly.

He says, "Is this real, I mean, is that for real?"

I reply, "Yes, yes it is."

He says, "It's so surreal." Followed by, "That's Greek for Super Real!"

And that, ladies and gents, is my life:)

XOXO

The big 2-9!

No, I don't mean my birthday. That was August 11 for those who forgot:) Just kidding! I mean the big week 2-9! Yesterday marked week 29 in this here pregnancy thing. I feel like I am growing exponentially. Little Boy Barnes shifts and sits in funny ways making my balance go wonky. And, yes, I said wonky. He moves and wiggles and jiggles, and I love it. I love the way he sits on my bladder, and the way he crowds my lungs, and the way he shoves his little foot/fists into my ribs. I know, you're probably thinking, "nice sarcasm Kim". But I really do mean it. His movin and groovin connects me to him. Even as I type, I see my belly shift from side to side as he snuggles in. When Gary is able to catch a movement, either by feeling it or seeing it, his eyes light up. He can't believe that's our little boy. Neither can I. It's all happening so fast. I already want time to slow down and he isn't even here yet. Wowsers!

This past weekend Gary and I worked on the house. I know, finally!! We painted the nursery, it's almost finished, but not quite. It's this awesome blue/gray/silvery color that I had picked out well before knowing I was pregnant. I liked it no matter what, girl or boy. So I am really stoked that I like it as much on the walls. We even purchased the nursery set online, should be here in a week or so. I will post pics when it's done. We (and I mean Gary) also re-built our bedroom closet so both of us can put our clothes in there. Gary has been keeping his clothes in the nursery closet up until now. That obviously isn't going to cut it in a few months!

Enough of that. I leave you with the 2-9 picture and some other pics of our cute dogs!

XOXO

Check out that basketball belly!


Umm, note the sexy hair and outfit. Didn't I just say we were fixing the house?! Don't judge me.


Ferris Boy - Our 3 year old Pitbull, AKA the Snugglebug



Belle Dog - Our 3 year old Carolina Dog, AKA the Curious Cow

Little Baby Face

So we just got back form the 3D ultrasound and it was rockin! Of course, stubborn Baby Boy Barnes had his feet, hands, and umbilical cord in his face almost the entire time. The tech was able to get a few good shots, oh yeah...and he is definitely a boy. We might go back again to try to get some better pics, but we might not, that is yet to be decided. He is definitely a "junior" as the tech put it. He totally has Gary's nose and lips, and I'm pretty sure I see a butt chin. Although I could be imagining that! Our next midwife appointment is tomorrow, so hopefully all is good on that front too. Now I'm off to eat some crackers for this awesome heartburn.

XOXO

Oh, you wanted pictures?! I guess I can accommodate that request:)

His cute face. He looks angry...I think that might have been all the jiggling we were doing to get him to cooperate.


Here he is sucking his big toe, yep...that's my foldy little baby.