1 year ago
First a few pregnancy picture memories...
3mo.
4mo.
5mo.
I have yet to take my 6 mo. picture, but I can already see the pregnancy in my face, if you know what I mean! I have already gained 20lbs. My weight at this month's visit was 145lbs. I about fell over when I saw that! Generally, you are supposed to gain 20-25lbs for the entire pregnancy.
I had my final visit to the perinatologist today(25 weeks). The baby still looks great and is growing right on schedule, weighing 1 1/2lbs. Today he/she had a foot in or near his/her mouth. Too cute!! Just for simplicity, let's call the baby "him". Seeing him suck on his feet surely explains the amount of movement I feel. This baby is all over the place! He will kick or hit the top of my stomach and at the same time kick or hit me all the way "down there"!! I don't dare ever have a full bladder!
They measure my cervical length at each appt. This is one of the best predictors of preterm labor...or so I have read. The good news is my cervix measures very long and closed. I, of course, took the measurement they told me(4.82 cm) and looked up everything on the Internet about cervical length. At 24 weeks, a cervical length of 3.5-4.0 cm is average. I took my even longer measurement as a good sign, especially since I have been having contractions since just before Thanksgiving. I will do everything in my power to keep this baby inside me until at least 37 weeks!!
One funny story...I was doing an online gender prediction quiz, where they ask about how you're carrying the baby, how much morning sickness you had, what foods you're craving, etc. This particular quiz asked, "are your looks prettier or uglier since becoming pregnant?" I found this question very weird. Deep down, I would answer "uglier" but for some reason I had a really hard time clicking the computer mouse over that choice. Nobody wants to believe they are "ugly"! So what did I do? I asked Ed! The look on his face was priceless. He knew this was one of those questions where there was no right answer. Of course he said prettier. I decided that it was a stupid quiz and didn't finish it, but I still wonder which gender is related to looking prettier and which gender is related to looking uglier!?!
Last Friday was Brenna's Christmas concert for school. We decided to take her teacher's Christmas present to give to her. On Monday morning Brenna had a nice "thank you" note from her teacher. When she got home she was really excited for me to open it. I opened the envelop and handed her the card. She opened it, paused for a moment, then looked at me and said, "there is no money in this card!!"
I could not believe she said that!! Ed explained to her that cards are not about getting money. I then read her the nice message that her teacher wrote inside the card. Her teacher mentioned what a special girl she is and when she heard those words, her face just lit up. It is almost as if she really understood what Ed was trying to explain to her.
On the way home Sunday evening, all four of us in the car...
Braeden: What does SEXY mean?
I looked at Ed. Sometimes I just don't feel like answering those questions and it had been a long weekend. I also just kind of wanted to hear his answer.
Ed: It means that you are attracted to that person...that you like how they look. You can only say it to the opposite sex, so you can only say that to a girl.
As Ed is explaining "SEXY" to Braeden, I am thinking "what if he wants to say that to a guy someday."
That is just a whole other conversation, though.
Me: Braeden, you cannot say that to ANYONE-girl or boy! You are too young to be saying that word. I don't mind that you know what it means, but I don't want to hear you say it to anyone until you are much older and married!
All I need is a call from his teacher saying that he is telling his female classmates that they are sexy!!
Whenever the kiddos have questions about God or religion, I get a little nervous. I don't feel like I have all of the answers and sometimes I have questions of my own.
On our way to AWANA at church last week, Brenna asked me about the offering she has to take each time she goes.
Brenna: Why do I take a quarter each time?
Me: That is what God has told us you need to take.
Brenna: He did not tell me that. I did not hear him say that.
Me: He has said it in the Bible. (For Brenna's age group, $0.25 is the amount she is told to bring to her AWANA Cubbies class by her AWANA leaders).
Brenna: Well...
Me: (cutting her off mid-thought, because I just wanted the conversation to end and not really knowing how else to explain it). Sis, we just do what the Bible says and therefore you will take a quarter with you each time.
Brenna: (still not satisfied). What does he do with the money?
Me: He uses it for our church and to help others who need it.
Brenna: Ok. Are we going to have treats tonight?
Me: I'm sure you will. (glad that conversation is over, for now)
Today I had my first visit at the perinatologist office and it went great! Talk about a huge sigh of relief! They said the baby and all of his/her organs look great and just as important, my cervix is staying closed and my body is doing everything right.
I had to start seeing the perinatologist with Brenna's pregnancy because of Braeden's preterm birth. They would check my cervix every two weeks and they got me started on the progesterone injections I took weekly. The doctors are GREAT at this office and I actually enjoy seeing them. This time they don't feel like they need to see me every two weeks, so I'll go back in one month just to take another peek at the baby although the doctor feels it will not be necessary because everything looks great already. It gives me such good piece of mind that I am glad to go back!
We still don't know what the baby is. I was told to close my eyes when the doctor took a look at the bladder and all of the lower extremities. The baby weighs 5 ozs.
Today was a good day!
Yesterday was my first test on whether or not I can stick to not finding out the gender of the baby and I passed!! The Dr. asked, "are we finding out what this baby is today" and I said, "no"!! My Mom thinks that because the Dr. turned the ultrasound screen away from me, that it is probably a boy. With the other two kids, I had a feeling of what their sex was before we found out and I was right both times. This pregnancy, I have no idea! If it is related to morning sickness, this is definitely a girl. Deep down I hope it is a girl just because Brenna is extremely excited to have a baby sister and I don't want her to be disappointed. Braeden says he wants a brother, but I don't think he wants a brother the way Brenna wants a sister. But...to be perfectly honest, I am not sure our house can handle anymore female hormones. We already have our Diva. Either way, we are completely blessed and will LOVE he or she with all of our heart. So let the mystery continue.
Not sure how I feel about that. 32?? That just seems pretty crazy. I've been reminding myself of what I always tell my patients when they complain that they are getting old, "it is better than the alternative." That is really not a good way to think about your birthday. So on to more positive thoughts...
By the age of 32, I have graduated from college, gotten married, own a home(or at least continue paying for it!), have two healthy children, and one on the way. I have a GREAT family and amazing friends. I have a good job and I enjoy the people I work with. I have really been blessed during my 32 years. So no more focusing on how OLD I am getting, but rather all of the great experiences in life that come along with getting older.
On another note, the best Birthday present that I received today was Braeden's football team winning the "Superbowl" for the Kaw Valley League! Go Piper Pirates! They went undefeated this year and today was an exciting finish. More blogging and pictures on this to follow along with some pregnancy updates. I am feeling great now, so hopefully I can get back on track with this blog. No more nausea and slightly more energy!
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