Two Turkeys In The Oven

Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment and found out that I had some protein in my urine (which is one of the signs of preclampsia aka toxemia) and that when they checked my hemoglobin that I had low levels of iron. Hudson was measuring right on target (per the tummy measurements) and his heartbeat was nice and strong. My doctor did some additional blood work while I was there and had me do a 24 hour urine specimen. So as I'm leaving the lab they give me this huge orange jug with my name and weight on it (to add insult to injury). I had to carry the jug around with me and track every bit of my urine for a full 24 hours. Will got me a little cooler set up so I could take it to work with me (I didn't want to gross my co workers out by keeping piss in the fridge). But carrying a little cooler in and out of work made me feel like I was toting around a liver. So yesterday proved to be interesting with all of that. It was so hard to maneuver the container to pee in especially as it got heavier and heavier as the day and evening progressed. Through the night (my prime peeing time) I had to bust out jug number 2 (which I requested since I knew I would need it). What a pain to have to remember to go to the fridge to get my container, find a way to pee in it without getting pee on the floor or anywhere else when you are half asleep, and then return the container to the fridge. It was ridiculous so needless to say I was grateful to return the gasoline looking jugs full of urine to the lab this morning. They were able to tell me that the blood work came back negative for preclampsia but they still have to send the urine specimen off just to be sure. I do however have an iron deficiency. I got the iron supplement filled on Tuesday and have been taking it for the past 2 days. Hopefully that will help. When my doctor asked me if I'd been feeling tired - I really didn't think anything about it since at 8 1/2 months pregnant who's not tired? Work has been super busy and there is so much to do with shipments coming in left and right for the holidays (yeah the holidays). I feel like I have such a handicap because with a 20 pound weight limit and roll racks that are too slender for me and my belly and boxes to pass through and the carpal tunnel and numbness in both of my hands making it hard for me to get a grip on things and leads to me constantly dropping things I really am not able to be nearly as productive as I need to be. So it's just been extra frustrating. I know it's just going to get harder and harder as the weeks progress. As long as Hud is healthy I will gladly pee in a jug every single day, and not have feeling in my hands, or have a big assortment of shoes to choose from.( But thank goodness it's all temporary:))I had a great time in Wilmington and at Jennifer's shower. Being in the car and traveling went pretty smoothly. I did take my pillows along which proved to be extra helpful. It was really good seeing the other turkey and hanging out. I love the beach. Can't wait to have both the babies playing in the sand!! I think I may finally actually get a chance to work in baby Hudson's room tomorrow night. Off this weekend - yay!!

I am so excited for this weekend!  Not only is it my baby shower weekend, but I have my best friend and her sister in town, my brother and the other turkey will be here tomorrow, and my mom will be here on Saturday.  So fun, friends, and family!  Lots of pics to come!

Now I really do believe that all those pregnancy rumors are true. I constantly have to pee, I think pickles are one of the best things ever, I sleep with a million pillows, I crave foods so badly that I can taste them and I'm not quite sure what I would do if I couldn't get my little paws on them, third trimester a foot rub trumps sex any night of the week, I am irrational and moody, I have eaten chocolate cake for 4 days straight, by the end of the day I feel nothing but big, a warm bath feels so good but hoisting myself in and out of the tub is quite a job - and now requires a little help, my toes are incredibly fat - I only have 2 pairs of shoes that fit, I am extra thirsty, I am a hot, sweaty mama almost all of the time, due to hormones and prenatals I am starting to notice that I have hair in places I didn't before (thank God I'm fair) and that the hair I already had grows way quicker -( I have been seeing my little vietnamese man every 2 weeks to get my brows waxed and that used to be an every 6 week deal), I need yet another bigger, more comfortable bra, I think sweatpants and Will's t shirts are the jam to hang out in, as soon as I get all my pillows positioned perfectly and finally find my sweet spot I have to get up and pee, apple juice and push up pops are my nightly treat, I could sleep for 12 hours if left to my own devices, suddenly everything in my house needs to be re organized and cleaned - I can't keep enough clorox on hand from all the frantic cleaning of the bathroom, kitchen, baseboards, and laundry I'm doing, I still think soap is fantastic and brush my teeth with it quite frequently - I don't even care that it dries out my lips like there's no tomorrow, I have totally gained 40 pounds, my ass does not look the same as it once did, I have too many baby magazines and books beside my bed to count, I can't stop making lists, when I finally get home at the end of the day I want a bit of sympathy, my lower back has started to ache, I wonder how I am going to last for 7 more weeks - the load is getting extra heavy, then I wonder how I'm going to get everything done in 7 weeks, I will never tire of feeling that precious baby move around in my tummy. Despite all the crazy ailments and that last night as my big whale of a body laid in the tub aching and tired I said to Will "I just want this baby out of me!" I think that growing a baby inside of you is the most amazing thing ever!!!

I had a check up at the doc today and everything is looking good.  My blood pressure is still great and we got to hear Banks's little heartbeat going at 140 BPM.  It looks like she is on track for normal growth and should be about 3 1/2 pounds now.  She has really been rolling around in my belly lately.  Since she is still small enough to cut flips I think she is taking full advantage of it.  I love it, but it feels weird and is really distracting when I'm trying to talk to someone at work.  I think she has been stretching out too.  It seems that her foot keeps making its way into my ribs!

I had a long day at work today. By the end of the day my newfound pregnancy weight, my aching back and swollen feet have gotten the best of me. I also cannot wait for it to cool down. I am so hot and sweaty all of the time. My belly button has finally decided to pop all the way out. It looks strange but for a while it was only partially "popped" - so I'm feeling this look a little more. I washed my first load of baby clothes and loved it!!! I also got the pre registration form for the hospital filled out and in the mail. Each day I feel like I'm getting a little closer to meeting my sweet baby -and I guess I am:)

I have been at a standstill with  my nesting because I have already cleaned out every cabinet and I have everything done in the nursery until after my baby shower - I promised Brian I wouldn't buy anything else until after the baby shower.  Good thing its next weekend, then its game on!  So, I found a different, productive way to feed my nesting...stockpiling.  Since Brian is back with a Johnson & Johnson company, we have access to their E-Store.  Basically we can get all the consumer OTC products for crazy cheap.  So Banks is all stocked up on baby wash, vapor bath, baby lotion, baby oil, masssage gel, sunscreen, baby wipes, diaper cream, baby powder and then some!  We did a huge trip to Sams (thanks Mom & Dad for renewing the membership) and now we are all good on most of our household items.  It felt good to know that I won't have to worry about getting a lot of our cleaning supplies and toiletries for months.  I am planning on doing one more run before Banks makes her debut to make sure we are all stocked up on detergent, TP, paper towels, etc.  Also, I got all of our groceries done for the next 2 weeks by hitting up Sams, Wal-mart and Harris Teeter.  Yes, a lot of stops to get everything we need, but since we have guests in town next weekend, I wanted it all done.  Ahhh, now I feel better prepared for the week ahead. 

On a side note...I counted my actual workdays that are left before my last day on November 5th and the total is only 36!  That alone makes facing Monday much easier.

The labor and delivery class went really well. I thought that by the end of the 5 1/2 hour class we would be totally freaked out. But I actually left feeling very prepared and informed. The videos were a bit much but necessary I suppose. I am definitely going to get the epidural but I want to use some other relaxation techniques prior to the epidural. The instructor said that you actually labor at home for several hours or more - until your contractions are about 5 minutes apart. She was saying that it's good to stay at home until you at least get to that point since it's a comfortable environment for you - and that the early contractions are very manageable. I am going to pull some things together to take with us that I think will help like lavender spray, a massage roller ball for my back, pillows from home, and Will's in the midst of making a relaxing mix for the ipod for labor day. We went to Barnes and Nobles today and I bought a book on Hypno Birthing. At the class yesterday they talked about this method and Spartanburg Regional actually offers a Hypno Birthing class. I really like the philosophies. So even though I don't want a natural birth I thought the method would be helpful with the first contractions at home and would allow me to hold out a little longer on the epidural. The book came with this relaxation cd that Will and I are going to start practicing at night. I have a breastfeeding class next week and then we have an Infant Care class the first part of October. I am starting to feel bigger and bigger by the day. I am amazed how much your body changes during pregnancy. I also have been having some numbness in my fingers and hands and lack of mobility. At my last doctor's visit I found out that I have carpal tunnel in both hands. The doctor said it's common in pregnant women. The only thing that you can really do is some hand exercises (which I've been doing) or get hand braces (which I'm holding out on). I do not want to be looking like Edward Scissorhands going to bed wearing the double hand braces. I feel like I have enough bed time gear with all the different types of pillows and vitamins and lotions I have around.

This week is the first time I've really felt the effects of my body producing relaxin - the hormone that loosens your joints and ligaments.  I am still working out, but only about 3-4 days a week.  I was doing some lunges yesterday and could really tell that my hips were more unstable than they had been a couple weeks ago.  Throw in the extra 29 pounds I'm carrying and my new center of gravity and I looked like I had never done lunges before.  Its affecting my lower back too...but that is to be expected at this point.  The body pillow is great at night and does seem to help my back some.  Biofreeze is must too!  I found this good prenatal pilates routine I am going to try to do a couple times a week.  I'm supposed to be doing my keigel exercises and according to the childbirth class the best way to do this is to stop the flow of urine 2-3 times every time I pee.  Well, at this point, when I gotta go, I gotta go...and it makes it really hard to stop the flow because the relief feels so good.  Oh well, gotta keep trying I guess!

Apologies on not blogging for a few days. I have been sick with whatever kind of cold or sinus thing that everyone else seems to have. The Emergen-C and Airborne did not do the trick!! When I called the OB office to verify what I could take and to make sure I didn't need to come in the nurse told me she had over a dozen calls about the same thing that day. Cold and sinus frenzy in the 'Burg! Yesterday I had to go to three different drugstores to find one of the three meds I can take for cold and sinus. And even at the third the selection was scarce. I snagged some Sudafed and Will was able to find some Robuttusin DM while he was in Greenville. I have been extra tired - not sure if it's late pregnancy, this cold, or if Hud is literally just sucking up all my nutrients and energy to get ready for his big debut. So for the past couple of days I've just been snugged up and taking it easy. Oh so the Kid's Consignment sale was awesome!! I couldn't beleive how packed out it was. I got a crib set, a coordinating diaper hamper and a super cute painting. I also scored a diaper wipe warmer, a bottle warmer, 14 super cute outfits for Hud, 2 pairs of stylin' baby shoes, and a maternity shirt for the Mommy. I wanted to get more but had to control myself! Our big Labor and Delivery class is in the morning. I hope it doesn't freak me and Will out! Afterwards they'll do a tour of the hospital. Oh we also found Hud's pediatrician last week. He has been moving so much latley. He is starting to move so hard you can see my belly jumping with all this activity. Earlier today when Will was watching my tummy he said "he can't wait to come out." I can't beleive that baby will be here in 7 1/2 weeks!!

We attended our first of three childbirth classes tonight.  It was from 7pm-9pm and wasn't the most exciting 2 hours of my life, but I did get a few good tidbits of info.  Most importantly, how to time contractions and when to actually go to the hospital!  I think the scariest part of the class was the to scale diagram of the cervix at different stages of dilation...yikes!  Some funny parts were in there too...like the stories about people that bring the mucus plug to the hospital in a ziploc and the fact that the staff will lie for you to keep family and friends out of your room.  The biggest relief was finding out that 98% of people DON'T poop on the delivery table!

Each night it feels like I am making more and more trips to the bathroom. Even during the day I feel like I could pee at any given time. But nights are most definitly worse. This is how it goes I drink my 3 liters of water before 5 or 6. I drink a little glass of juice or water or whatever with dinner and then only take a sip of water at bedtime to take my prenatal and other meds. While I am trying to fall asleep I literally get up every 20 minutes to pee then once I finally fall asleep I wake up about every 2 hours to pee. It's insane!! Pre pregnancy I have always been one of those people who could fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow but now it takes forever for me to doze off. Even when I am completley exhausted. I just can't get comfortable. The body pillow is still my jam and I truly don't know what I would do without it. But my pregnant "g" is hard to manuever into a comfy position and I have this new weird thing where my hands start going numb when I sleep. It has been taking me a few hours to get to sleep at night. But I am too physically tired to really do anything - plus by the time I get to bed my feet and ankles are so swollen and tight they MUST be elevated. And I am too mentally tired to read for too long. Most nights Will has a bit of insomnia too so he's good company. Last night however this mug was snoring so loud and pooting so bad that it was really interfering with my sleep. I think he should lay off the melatonin.

We had maternity pictures taken today!  I felt so beautiful!  We had them taken by Frank Pillari, who is usually photographing fitness models, so I was definitely a different subject for him.  It really was fun - we took some traditional couples pics, then I had a lot of solo and belly pics that were more artistic..even some underwater!  We haven't had professional pictures taken since our wedding and I am so excited to see all of them.  I know we caught some priceless moments today.  I should have them all in a couple days and will definitely post a few.

Its hard to believe how fast time has gone by.  There are only 10 weeks before Banks is here...if she stays in that long.  She is moving around so much now that I think she is trying out for U.S. gymnastics team.  I know that I will miss that once she is here.  It makes me smile every time I feel her move because I know that she is OK...my sweet baby girl.

I went to the Cape Fear Baby Expo today and there was a lot of cute stuff I had to resist. I did get Banks the cutest Christmas bloomers! Pics in December!

Today marks 31 weeks - the final week of the 7th month. I am really starting to feel the pressure of getting things done before Hud's big arrival. Our crib and vinyl appliques for the nursery came in yesterday and the changing table arrived today. Yesterday I got a 9 cube storage system and lime green and brown canvas storage bins from Target (along with a pair of adorable baby khaki pants and some shirts). Tomorrow I am going to work on getting the room nice and clean - ceiling fan, baseboards, windows, ect. Will is going to get the furniture assembled and then we'll put a stain on the floors and shampoo the rug. On Tuesday my sister in law Laken is going to come over and we'll get the vinyl appliques up and get things into place. I know I'll feel so much better once it starts to take shape.

Sorry I have been behind on blogging...I will be back on track this week!

We have been so busy and the days have been flying by.  I am 29 weeks and 2 days along...its so exciting to know that she will be here in about 11 weeks!  Today I had a check up at the doc and things are going great.  My blood pressure was 112/64, Banks's heart rate was 140, my hemoglobin was good and I am measuring right on track for growth.  Gold star for us girls!  Now I will be going for a check up every 2 weeks until the last month, then its every week.

Banks has really been a jumping bean the past couple days.  She has definitely been moving on a regular schedule, but has stepped it up a notch for sure.  Its all good though, I love feeling her move around.  That is, until she kicks me in the ribs!

We ordered the crib and the changing table and they should be here sometime this coming week. The vinyl wall appliques are shipping as well so once everything starts coming in we'll work on getting baby Hudson's nursery all set up. I am super pumped up about his nursery. It's going to be so smooth!

Brian has been traveling alot for work the past few weeks and has picked up a few things for Banks along the way.  San Francisco was the first trip and although he didn't have time to tour Alcatraz, he did get her these.