4 Months - baby!

Baby is now 4 months old and I am feeling great!

I have lost all but 8 lbs of the baby weight, and I'm working hard to get those last lbs off. I stopped breastfeeding around 5 weeks, so it's been hard to burn those extra calories and I had to go back to the old school way of losing weight.

I can finally fit into my old jeans again - but they don't fit the way I WANT them to....yet.

Now that I'm feeling good and my incision doesn't hurt at all, I feel like I can really get back to my old gym routine and I can push myself. Anyone who's had a c-section can tell you it's not easy to get back to feeling like your old self - and it really just takes time.

This little dude is so worth it....

6 Weeks Post Baby!

We've got some catching up to do!
So I went into labor at 39 weeks. I went in to see my Doctor on a Friday morning and she stripped my membranes. That night, I started feeling contractions around 10pm. They felt the same as all of my other contractions, so I didn't think anything of it. I thought that if I just went to bed, they'd go away like all of the other times. They didn't go away. They got a little bit stronger and after a lot of persuasion from my husband, we finally headed to the hospital around 1am. When I got there, I was dilated to a 5 and my contractions were 5 min apart. I got my epidural around 2:30 am and by 7 am, I was dilated to a 10 and was ready to start pushing! That part happened very fast! This is where we found out the baby was breach and he wasn't very far down the birth canal. The Doctor and the L&D nurse told me to start pushing to see if they could get him to turn over. After 4 hours of pushing and no success, I started to stress out and the baby started to stress out, so I was prepped for surgery and was taken into the OR for a c-section. I was ok with a c-section because I have been told by a lot of different doctors that I would probably have to have one because my pelvis is tiled and very narrow. I was able to watch the surgery in the reflection on the light in the ceiling. It was incredible! I pretended like I was watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy. By this time, I was shaking uncontrollably from the adrenaline from the epidural and also the anesthesia to numb my belly. The anesthesiologist gave me something to stop the shaking, which made me nauseous, so he gave me something for the nausea and then I got morphine for the pain....so I was pretty doped up! Mac was born at 12:23 pm on Saturday and he couldn't have looked more perfect.

I spent 5 days in the hospital and it is now 6 weeks post-delivery and I start work again on Monday. I have to say, if you have had a c-section or you are planning on one, it REALLY does take at least 6 weeks to recover. I am a runner and I love going to the gym to lift weights and it literally took 6 weeks to not be in excruciating pain when I would cough, sneeze or laugh. I started back to the gym 3 weeks post delivery and even though I felt good and felt like I wanted to go running at 3 weeks, I stuck to walking and lifting really light weights. I knew I had to take it easy. I started out small and each day and even though I felt myself getting stronger, I never pushed it. At 6 weeks post-delivery, I was finally able to run without my incision hurting, and I was able to do weighted squats and lunges. I am still numb below my scar, and at about 4 weeks, I started to get feeling back in my skin above the scar.

38 Weeks - let the waiting begin...

Last Friday was my 38 week check up. Having a short cervix is no longer a problem in this pregnancy, and we are no longer worried about being in pre-term labor! My Doctor said that if I am still pregnant at my next checkup, which is this coming Friday, she'd strip my membranes. She said most of the time, labor starts within 24-48 hours after that happens and BOY do we want that to happen!

If I hadn't gone into pre-term labor at 28 weeks, and spend 9 weeks on bed rest, I really don't think that waiting another 2 weeks would be a big deal. Its the fact that every Doctor, nurse and specialist thought it would be a miracle if I made it to 32 weeks, then to 34 weeks...so I had it in my head that I was going to have a pre-mature baby. Every day was a milestone and every week was a miracle! So that's why I'm a little anxious and antsy to get labor started. I think it's normal at 38 weeks for any woman to want to get the big show on it's way.

Don't be fooled - my smile is forced...

I officially started maternity leave today. I am really hoping the baby comes this week so I can spend as much time as possible with him before I go back to work. I probably could have worked another week or so, but I have all of my duties covered and honestly, my mind just wasn't in the game. I was so uncomfortable sitting at my desk, the A/C didn't work (in my office only - everyone else complained about how cold they were), and my clothes were getting to the point where I was wearing the same pair of jeans every day - and those were starting to get uncomfortable.  I refuse to wear sweats to work.

So far I have kept myself busy with my monitoring appointment and running some household errands. The baby is usually cooperative during monitoring, but today he dozed off, so one of the nurses came in and buzzed him. She literally took a little buzzer and shocked my belly! He perked right up and started behaving himself.

Another Monday...another non-stress test...

I decided that I can get a lot accomplished this week and use this time wisely to wash all of the baby clothes and get everything in order for his big debut. The nursery is all set up and I think it's rather cute, if I do say so myself... We tried to steer clear of anything that was too 'babyish.' I know, it's a baby's room and why not - but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Other than that - it's a waiting game... Taylor and I are ready for this baby to come and to meet our son!

Saturday night, I thought we were going to end up at the hospital. I was having really painful contractions mixed with Braxton hicks...I timed them for about 2 hours and they were about 5 minutes apart. As soon as I started getting ready to pack up my makeup and put some last minute items into a hospital bag, the contractions stopped.
I fell asleep and woke up the next morning with a couple really strong contractions and then NOTHING. Nothing happened all day, and I didn't have a single contraction last night. Usually I get a lot of contractions in the early evening and through the night - but I have found that if I don't drink enough water, and I'm talking at least 3 24oz bottles of water a day (for me, someone who is NOT a water drinker - that's a lot!),  that it brings on false contractions. Also - a full bladder can cause contractions.

Fun Facts

Weight Gain: Between 30-35 lbs. I'm at the high end of my 'target' weight gain and I totally blame bed rest and the entire series of LOST. My wedding ring still slides on and off with ease, so no puffy fingers here. Also - no puffy feet or cankles. I really can't complain.

Belly Button: It is flat as a pancake! No outtie here.

Stretch Marks: None! My Doctor said If I was going to get them, they would have shown up long before now. I thank my good mother for her fantastic genes. I also rubbed my belly down with bio-oil religiously morning and night.

Cravings: Nothing too crazy - yesterday I HAD to have some Cheetos...and some mini powdered donuts... but that's not crazy, right?

37 Weeks - officially off bed rest!

My last post, I was so excited to make it to 36 weeks....now I am at 37 weeks and considered full-term! It is wonderful news! No longer are we worried about having a pre-mature baby. Now we are playing the "waiting game." Someone mentioned to me that pregnancy lasts 8 months and 10 years. That is exactly how I'm feeling at this time! Taylor and I went swimming a few times over the weekend and it felt amazing to take the pressure off of my back. Being in the pool is amazing, but when you're almost 9 months pregnant, and you get that feeling of weightlessness, its even more amazing.

Isn't it amazing how much you can change? 

At my 37 week appointment, I was about 90% effaced and still only 2.5 cm dilated. I have my next Dr. appt this Friday, so hopefully there will be some change! I have been experiencing BH contractions and also some more intense and painful ones, but not frequently enough to start timing them, but there is definitely a difference in the intensity.
I have 17 more days left until my due date. I can totally do that! This is also my last week of working in the office. I know I am risking the chance of missing some of my maternity leave with my little one, but hopefully this babe comes within the next 10 days!

36 weeks - could be days, could be weeks

I know I could potentially have 6 weeks left - yes 6 weeks and let's hope that I don't go to 42 weeks, but I really am ready to have this baby!

My last Dr.'s appt, I was 35 1/2 weeks and dilated to a 2.5. I asked her if that was normal, she said it wasn't normal for someone with their first baby. So...perhaps this baby will come early? Apparently I'm the anomaly since a lot of the Doctors and Nurses are all surprised to see I'm still pregnant every time they see me. "Great job 'holding him in'" they'd say. Like I'm just keeping my legs crossed hoping the baby doesn't fall out...

Dr. said it could be days, it could be weeks...then she said she'd see me at my 37 week appt. Hmmph! So I'm kind of hoping I'll get there, I'll be dilated past a 4 and she'll say "go eat a Big-Mac since it'll be your last meal for a while and meet you at the hospital!" Here's hoping, right?

Bags are packed & baby's room is all ready for him. Car seat is installed... we are ready to go!

Yeah - check it out! What a difference 1 week makes, right? I think the baby has "dropped" at least that's what people tell me. The little fatty definitely put on some weight in the last 7 days. 

I had a baby shower over the weekend and it was so great! I know I was adamant about NOT wanting a shower, but I'm so glad I had one. I got to see family and friends I hadn't seen in years! It was totally worth it. Plus, it was a classy affair and I think everyone had a really great time. I gotta thank my mother in law and my mom for really pulling everything off. It was perfect. 

Sleeping still hasn't been too bad. I kind of barricade myself in with pillows and I have only been getting up 1-2 nights to use the restroom. The hard part about sleeping is when I roll over and I have a hard time rolling back. 

Still having contractions all day every day. They're frequent, but they're not painful.  I am still being monitored 2x a week for my non-stress tests and each time, the baby passes with flying colors! He's already an over-acheiver. 

I don't know if this is a result of '9th month pregnancy' or not, but now I'm thinking about different names for the baby, even though my husband and I finally settled on one. Hmmm... 

Well - that's about it for now, my fun facts have stayed pretty much the same: 

Weight gain: around 30 lbs

Belly button: flat as can be and not an outie!

Cravings: apparently anything anyone suggests to me I HAVE TO HAVE immediately. Most recently it was mini powdered donuts from 7-11. 

35 Weeks - Home stretch!

So I made it to 35 weeks! I went to see my Dr. at 33 1/2 weeks and I have not dilated any further, I'm still at 1.5 cm and 80% effaced. Same as 28 weeks. That is great news, I haven't changed at all! So my bed rest has been working - even though I haven't been on "total" bed rest. My Dr. "ok'd" my routine, so I am feeling great about that! I have been keeping off my feet as much as possible, I haven't been going to the gym or walking my dog, but I have been able to go to work,  to the grocery store and run a few errands without going totally crazy. Oh, and I finished the entire series of LOST and I really enjoyed it - I think It really helped me with this whole process.

35 Weeks on the dot!

I am still experiencing BH contractions every day. I get them so often I have stopped keeping track. I am waiting to start to feel the really painful ones and that's when I'll know we're in business. Our hospital bags are packed since we can really go at any time, so we are ready!

Taylor has totally started his "nesting" phase. He has wanted to clean everything, which I appreciate because I'm not supposed to be cleaning! Today was a great day though, we finally hung pictures in the  baby's room and we mopped floors and did a dozen loads of laundry...it feels good to get the house all clean and ready for baby.

Crazy how much you can change (and stretch) in just 5 weeks!

I am still getting monitored twice a week and those appointments always go really well. They test my amniotic fluid, monitor the baby's heartbeat and also monitor my contractions and the baby's movements. I am usually in and out within an hour, but sometimes the baby doesn't cooperate and they have to wait until his heart rate steadies before I can go.

Fun Facts

Weight Gain: I have stopped keeping track. I have gained around 30 lbs and feel ok with that. I wish it wasn't as much, but I just have to remember that it's still within a healthy range. I am really looking forward to getting back in the gym. I have to tell myself that I haven't gotten fat, I've just gotten soft.

Cravings: nothing too crazy, there is nothing that I feel like I have HAD to have.

Belly Button: is flat as a board. I don't have an outie, and I figure if I don't have one by now, it's not going to happen.

Things I'm looking forward to: Sleeping on my back, sleeping on my stomach, bending over and touching my toes (not that I could do that before, but I have decided to start stretching after all this is over just so I can do it), and running 5 miles just because it feels good.

33 Weeks

Made it to 33 weeks! 

I am really starting to feel the excitement of this new little soul that will be joining our family soon. My friend at the office, B, just had her baby on Thursday. B had a little boy as well and holding him was so amazing. Just knowing that I'm next, it was all too surreal - but it also made me get a few things into place for our little arrival.

I went to see my Dr. for my 33 week checkup, but she was in an emergency C-section. So I was only able to talk to the nurse. My next appt was scheduled 2 weeks out, but the Dr. called me later that afternoon and said for me to come in 1 week, not 2. I'm glad too, because I want to know if my cervix is still dilating. 

This week brought on different contractions. In addition to the BH contractions, I have also been feeling sharper pains during contractions and intense waves of lower & upper back pain. Those are not as frequent as the BH ones, but it is nice to be able to distinguish the two. I am also experiencing a "shooting" pain down the front of my legs, starting at my hip and rushing down mid-thigh. It is so painful. It's not my sciatic nerve either, I discussed this with my nurse and she said sciatic pain runs down the back of your leg, not the front. So I don't know if this new pain is do to the exceptional amount of sedentary activity I'm experiencing on bed rest, or if the baby is just pushing on another type of nerve. 

Taylor and I have been working on getting the baby's room set up. Thanks to his mom, we have a beautiful crib and changing table, and thanks to Uncie Park for helping us set up the crib! I had my first baby shower at work on Friday, and it was wonderful. We received a lot of diapers and wipes and tons of clothes and blankets for the little guy - which is good because I didn't have anything to put in his hospital bag at the time! 

We miss our little doggie Penny terribly, but we are able to go to my parent's house every 2 weeks to visit her. I can't wait to get her back. At least she's happy with her cousin Pepper and I'm grateful my parents are willing to watch her for a little while. I don't think she'll want to leave! She's getting exercised and she gets to run around and play all day long. 

Time for the fun stuff!

Weight Gain: 26 lbs - it's really starting to come on! I'm still "on track" but I am supposed to be gaining about 1 lb per week until the end, and that's exactly what's happening. My friends and family have also commented on my still growing belly. When I think it's not possible to stretch or get any bigger, I seem to keep growing. 

Belly Button: Still an Innie.... I'm surprised it hasn't "popped" out yet. Maybe it will remain flat. 

New Favorite thing: Maternity Shorts. Especially the maternity sweat shorts I can lounge around in and wear to bed....so comfortable. 

31 Weeks!

Alright! 31 weeks!

Each week is a milestone and I'm sooooo ready for this baby to come. I'm sure this is a common complaint in all pregnant women at 31 weeks....tick tock....tick tock...

I know that millions of women have babies every year and millions of women have been on bed rest... but no one ever complains about it. I have to say, I am NOT one of those women. Bed rest is not fun, nor is it easy. I finally had to take a few steps back (mentally) and say, if being on bed rest for 6 weeks or so will help this little baby to be healthy and eliminate long-term health problems, so be it! I can handle 6 weeks of bed rest. Some women go their whole pregnancies on bed rest, and to you ladies, I salute you. Especially my mom and my sister. I have new found appreciation and respect for both of you.

Braxton Hicks contractions are a daily occurrence at this point... they usually happen while getting up from a chair or after lying in bed for a while. They aren't too frequent - I have about 10-12 a day, and they don't last too long, usually under 1 minute each.

I saw my OBGYN today and she checked my cervix and it hasn't changed, which is good, I'm still at .5 cm and about 70-80% effaced. I am still dilated to 1.5, so that is good that I haven't dilated any further! I told her about my daily schedule, how I've been working in the morning and coming home in the afternoon when my body tells me to. She said to keep doing what I'm doing because it's working. That was wonderful news! She also let me know that there are new research studies out there that show that too much bed rest can actually do more harm than good. I have read similar studies and feel I've found a happy medium. My Dr. also told me that the next 3 weeks are crucial to the fetus, he will put on a few more lbs (he weighs a little over 3.5 lbs now), and when I get to 34 weeks I can rest easy. Wonderful news!

My first week on bed rest I watched seasons 1 & 2 of Scandal. I love it! I can't wait to watch season 3, but it doesn't come out until this fall...which is when I'll have a new born and probably won't have time to watch it anyway!
Since Scandal is over, I moved on to LOST. I have heard about the ending so many times, but I didn't care, so I forgot...so I am watching it for the first time and I'm really enjoying it!

The hardest thing about being horizontal most of the day (besides the obvious) is that I kind of want to stuff my face. I don't know if it's normal to want to stuff my face at 31 weeks, but now all of the sudden I want all of the bad stuff that I never wanted earlier in my pregnancy. And I can't eat it (more like I Shouldn't eat it...) because I have no way to burn it off. I can't go to the gym anymore and I can't take walks... it's really starting to stress me out a little bit. Taylor has been saving me by buying strawberries and mangoes and healthy stuff, so I can satisfy my cravings.

This week was a big week for growth of the baby, and I can see it in the scale as well. I would like to thank the baby, and also my bed rest for contributing to the growing number on the scale. I'm still right on track for how much weight I should have gained by this point, but I know if I keep going at this rate, I will reach my goal and surpass it before delivery. Not a good thing.

Weight Gain: 24 lbs.

Cravings: Orange juice, Junk food and veggie trays...what? I should also add "random candy bars" because yesterday I picked up a whatchamacallit for no reason. It wasn't even that good.

Belly Button: Still an "innie" but it's almost flat now and ready to "pop" out any day now....

Cool things: I wore my size 4 pants twice in the last week. Of course I had a rubber band holding the button together when I'd wear them while sitting down, but I can button them up. I also love maternity shirts.

Things I miss: Massages - real massages, not the prenatal ones - sweating really hard at the gym, feeling included, and sleeping on my stomach.

30 Weeks

So I made it to 30 weeks and so far, so good. Being on bed rest is really hard! I want to clean, I want to organize our storage shed, rearrange furniture, scrub every surface in the house... I have this incredible urge to get things ready for baby (all my parenting books call this "nesting"), and I'm not allowed to do any of it!

The effects of the betamethasone shots I received in the hospital finally wore off after my first week of bed rest.
I am still on the progesterone and the headaches I was initially having for the first few nights have gone away. I found out headaches were just some of the side effects of progesterone, including drowsiness, exhaustion and nausea. Luckily I haven't had nausea, but I still experience drowsiness and exhaustion.

I have modified my bed rest a little, because I had about 4 different doctors who had 4 different ideas of what bed rest meant. So I have been going to work in the mornings - that is when I feel the best - and I usually only last until about 1 or 2pm. Then I come home, waddle up 3 flights of stairs, make the most dramatic entrance into my house, crash on the couch for the rest of the night with lots of water, my lap top to check in with work, and I only get up to use the bathroom and to eat.

My next appt with my OBGYN is this Friday. She will check my cervix and also to see if I'm dilated any more. I will also discuss with her my bed rest routine and see if she thinks I should be more strict or if I can do more active things.

NST (Non-Stress Test) testing is still happening 2 days a week and each time the baby does well, is super active, and I don't have any contractions. Of course that's how it goes, I just have them every time I'm NOT hooked up to a machine to detect them. I had my most recent NST on Friday and only had 1 contraction during the session, but it was different from all of the other BH contractions I'd been having. It felt like menstrual cramps on my lower left side.

Yesterday I was feeling energized and wanted to take advantage of feeling well, so Taylor and I went to our pool for 1 hour. We both burned. I rested up and we went to dinner with 2 of our really good friends, and then we went to a movie. I figured I would be fine since we would be sitting the entire time. I was wrong, my lower back killed the entire movie and no position was comfortable. Maybe there's a certain point in pregnancy where you stop going to the movie theater.

Last night I woke up with the most powerful cramps, I was sure I was going into labor. My lower back was killing me and I could not believe that I was doubled over in pain from the cramping. They felt like really bad menstrual cramps, but they were only in my lower left abdomen area. I must have been making a lot of noise because I woke Taylor up.

My pre-term labor warnings all say that if I am having contractions, I should lie down on my left side and drink water. I was lying on my left side when the contractions were happening!
I tried emptying my bladder, but the cramps kept getting stronger and stronger, I thought for sure they were contractions. (Warning - TMI ahead) Then, all of the sudden I felt a strong urge to try to have a bowel movement. A lot of cramping, 2 hours and 3 bowel movements later - what I thought were contractions turned out to be what I affectionately call "poop pains"that went away and I was able to finally sleep. I have throw out that I have the best husband ever. He got dressed twice during the night and all but packed a bag for the hospital while I was doubled over in pain. He ended up sleeping in his jeans and his jacket just so he could be ready to go incase my "poop pains" were actually contractions and I really was in labor.

All is well now, and I feel a lot better, but we decided that we can't do dinner & a movie anymore - a little too much excitement.

My biggest fear (besides baby being born too early, obviously), now that I'm not allowed to be active,  is going way over my target weight gain. As of right now, I am still right on track, and that is with 2 weeks of bed rest behind me. If I can still keep on the track of only gaining 1 lb per week the rest of the term, I will be good to go!

I have also decided that when the baby is born I want to try placenta preservation. I have read so many good things about it and I feel it couldn't hurt. I want to have it put into pill forms, so it's not like I'm going to be frying it up in a pan and inviting the neighbors over. If you want more information about this and the effects, check out Placenta Wise.

Weight Gain: 20 lbs.

Cravings: Nothing too crazy, I'm trying to retrain my brain to crave veggies and fruits, but I did have a terrible case of "get me nacho cheese Doritos & a waffle cone frosty right now or I'm going to FREAK OUT!!" Friday night.

New Experiences: fetal hiccups! During one of my NST tests, the nurse pointed out that the baby had hiccups. I didn't notice them before, they were so slight, just a series of little twitches that were rhythmic. Nothing like the powerful jabs and punches and full body spasms I have been feeling. I have noticed them a few more times since then and Taylor has also gotten to witness them as well.

My favorite new thing: a recliner chair that is also a glider. I didn't know I could be so happy and so comfortable. It takes the pressure off my lower back and I get to put my feet up. Taylor used the power of Grey-Skull to somehow carry the thing up 3 flights of stairs all by himself. I've never been more impressed or attracted to him :)

28 Weeks & on Bed Rest

28 Weeks & Pre-Term Labor!

So remember how I said I was participating in that research study? Well, last Thursday I went for my last appointment and while doing a vaginal ultrasound, the technician discovered that my cervix was measuring at .5 cm. She said at this point in my pregnancy, it should be measuring between 2.5 and 3 cm. So I was admitted to Labor and delivery and the monitoring process began!

Baby is doing really well, he has plenty of amniotic fluid, so my water didn't break. I received 2 betamethasone shots (steroids) to help baby's lungs develop faster in case he decided to come early. After my cervical exam, it was discovered that I was dilated to a 1. Now who knows how long I've been walking around with a .5cm cervix and being dilated to a 1, but as soon as the doctor discovered that I was dilated, I was put on bed rest. I spent the night in the hospital with more monitoring to ensue. 

The next day I had to wait until 7pm to receive my 2nd round of steroids and also have another cervical exam to make sure I hadn't dilated any further. During this time, I had a few contractions, a few sharp pains (felt like menstrual cramps), and I went for more fetal monitoring and the baby is just fine. I was discharged at about 10pm Friday night and came home to my own bed to sleep like a baby. I was also prescribed progesterone for the remainder of my pregnancy to strengthen the cervix and keep baby inside! 

I saw about 4 different doctors over the course of my stay and each one of them had a different explanation of what "bed rest" meant. I told them that I have a desk job and could I still go to work, they all seemed to agree that I would be OK at work, as long as I took it easy and listened to my body. If I needed to rest, then I needed to go home. 

My regular doctor told me that I can't even walk my dog around the block anymore. So I had to have my parents come and pick her up and watch her for a while. It's a good thing because I live on the 3rd floor and I just don't think I could go up and down the stairs all night with the dog while I'm supposed to be resting.

Penny! 

Over the weekend I took my bed rest seriously. I have been on the couch or on my bed. It's very hard to be told that I shouldn't be active when I'm a very active person! I have had a few contractions every day, probably between 4-6 contractions. They usually happen right when I stand up after lying or sitting down for a long time. 

Today, I went to work and I was totally fine all morning, but when I went to leave, I had about 3 contractions in 15 minutes. I have a lot of lower back pain and a lot of upper back pain in my ribs and can't seem to get comfortable at all. 

Anyway - that's where we are at now! My doctor put me at ease and said I'll most likely make it to 38 weeks, but they're thinking I might be closer to 34-36 weeks. I guess all my "power of the secret" hoping for a July baby worked a little too well. 

Until delivery, I have to go to the hospital 2x a week for fetal monitoring and have weekly checkups with my Doctor to make sure the progesterone is working and that I'm not dilating more than I'm supposed to. 

Now, I could have been walking around like this with a .5cm cervix and being dilated for the last few weeks, who knows - but it's because of the research study that I was able to be treated immediately and that the hospital took extra precautions to make sure me and baby were ok. Apparently, I am the 15th girl the study has caught with a short cervix and this is something they're trying to diagnose as a sign of pre-term labor. For me, it could be genetically related as my sister also had an incompetent cervix. 

26 Weeks

26 Weeks

So I went on a little hike over the weekend and it was amazing! I really felt great. I didn't know how I would do on the hike, so I packed extra water and snacks. I feel like it was such a great way to get some exercise - I can't wait to do another one. It was about 4 miles total, and took about 2 1/2 hours. 

26 Weeks pregnant - Hiking to lower falls - Bells Canyon

So hike not included - I have been feeling those Braxton Hicks contractions everyone talks about during pregnancy. My uterus gets really tight and it's a little uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt. I have also been getting sharp pains in my lower right abdomen, almost like it's below my belly in my upper hip area. I usually get these pains while walking my dog around the block on my lunch break or doing something totally easy.

I have been telling everyone who asks that I'm due in July because when I say I'm due in August, people have the worst looks on their face. They just say "oh honey, that is terrible, oh to go through the summer...." and if I say July - people's reactions are totally different. They are excited and they smile and they say "oh I have a sister/brother/grandchild that was born in July!" It's so interesting.

24 & 25 Weeks

24 Weeks:

I think baby is having a growth spurt because I'm hungry ALL THE TIME! It seems I can't get enough to eat... I need to watch it though because today I had a LOT of junk food and that is not what the baby needs - not to mention my weight or my potential stretch marks (I don't have any yet...). 

24 Weeks pregnant

Clothes: My clothes are really getting uncomfortable. I went on a little shopping spree this weekend to get more clothes - I caved and bought some maternity shorts (heaven), and also some maternity leggings. Clothes are tight, jeans are still held together with a rubber band and I have fallen in love with maxi dresses. 

Gym Time: Working out - it's best for me to stick to the treadmill and the stair stepper, then I do weights and some machines. I'm obviously not working out as hard as I was when I wasn't pregnant, but I'm trying to keep toned. 

Weight Gain: I've gained 12 lbs so far, and that is right on track!

25 Weeks:

The baby moves around a lot and kicks me all the time! I love it - he's very active. Sleeping has gotten pretty difficult, so has bending over, tying my shoes, painting my toenails and getting in and out of the car. I'm just not as graceful as I used to be! 

Gym Time: I've still been going to the gym about 3-4 times a week. I power walk now on the treadmill and walk on an incline. I still lift weights but I feel like I can't do that much and that my arms and legs aren't as toned as they used to be. But I guess that's to be expected. 

Getting ready for bed is a process with my pre-natal vitamin & slathering myself with stretch mark oil. Still no stretch marks (yay)!

Weight gain: I've gained about 16 lbs. What did I tell you about that growth spurt? I wasn't kidding! I think I gained the most weight in just the last few weeks. 

16-22 Weeks

16 Weeks: 

So far so good! Baby boy has started to be very active! I first felt him at 15 weeks when I was having a chair massage at work. I didn't know what the feeling was at first - it was so slight...but then I realized the little flutters I was feeling (that felt like popcorn, or gas bubbles) was my little guy moving around! I like to feel these little movements because it lets me know this little man is alive and active!

This sweet photo is of me at 16 weeks. At this point I'm thinking EVERYONE can tell I'm pregnant...but big flow-y shirts and stretchy pants have become my partners in crime, and really - no one can tell I'm pregnant. Still only 2 people at work know at this point. 

Still no morning sickness, but now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, I don't think that will be a problem. 

18 Weeks:   

Still feeling really good - I have had sharp little pains when I twist or stretch, but they go away and I read that it is my ligaments stretching and my uterus growing. I have started to get headaches, but they aren't too bad and tylenol helps. I have also started to get heartburn, but Zantac is great for that. 

So far I've gained 4lbs! I feel like I'm right on track. I have been eating healthy (mostly) and going to the gym so I feel like that is helping with the weight gain. 

Clothes: My pants are definitely tighter and there are a few people at work who still don't know I'm pregnant, but I'm definitely starting to show. It's small, but I can really see a change in my body. 

Cravings: Nothing too crazy - but I am starting to give into my sweet tooth here and there...better be careful with that one!

20 Weeks:

I had to go to Las Vegas for a week for a work convention. I had strangers asking me when I was due... I guess the cat's out of the bag! I didn't realize I was showing that much. 

I'm holding a sign that says "20 Weeks ~ Baby Boy!"

When I got home from Vegas, my husband couldn't believe how much I had changed in just one week. It was like I had "popped" overnight! When I went to work the next Monday, the rest of the office found out I was pregnant because it was obvious I was showing. 

My lower back is killing me - and on top of everything, I have a sinus infection. I talked to my Doctor and he prescribed me Amoxicillin, which you're not supposed to take while pregnant, but he gave me the "OK" and it cleared up. 

22 Weeks:

My jeans don't really fit anymore...I rig them with a rubber band. I have gained 10 lbs and I feel like that's ok! Work is going really well and I'm able to keep up with everything. I'm not as tired as I was in the first trimester and my breasts have FINALLY stopped hurting. I still don't run on the treadmill or anything, I stick to the stair stepper and the walking on an incline on the treadmill. I am also still lifting weights to keep toned. 

14 Weeks - it's a .....

It's a boy! 

How do I know this so early in my pregnancy? Well, I joined a research study for first time moms called NuMom2Be. I went in for my genetic testing (cystic fibrosis & down's syndrome), and they asked if I wanted to do a cell free DNA test to also find out the sex of the baby. I thought, sure why not? The nurses said that it was a relatively new procedure and it can detect Y chromosomes in my blood. 

I thought for sure I was having a girl. 

14 Weeks:  I'm officially in my 2nd trimester and I still haven't been sick. I feel so lucky. I guess the baby has been growing a lot because I've had a lot of pains and cramps, they don't last long - but they're noticeable. I've been able to go to the gym about 3-4 times a week and lift weights and do cardio. Mostly the stair stepper or the treadmill on an incline since running seems to really really be uncomfortable for my blossoming bosom. 

I've been tired and sometimes I've totally had to talk myself into going to the gym, but I always feel better when I go. I've started to have a few headaches but nothing too bad. 

Cravings: I want orange juice like crazy! That is the only thing I can think about it orange juice. I have acid reflux and normally orange juice sounds like the most unappetizing thing ever, but I can't get enough of it lately - and I haven't had any symptoms of acid reflux during this pregnancy. 

Work is good - I told my boss I was pregnant - and he promoted me. WOW, right? Right. Good things happen when you work hard and have something to show for it. 

13 Weeks

Alright!! I'm starting this blog because I have a lot of family who wants to see pictures of my and my pregnant belly and I'm not about to put that stuff on facebook. So - now that I'm on bed rest - I can create this sweet blog and let all of you know how amazing being 35 and pregnant is. I have to go back to my journals to figure out my symptoms, but I think it will be a cool blog - at least for me.

Also - I never thought I would be pregnant at 35. I thought I'd be done having kids by now, but sometimes life throws us curveballs and we take what we can get!

So in this picture, I am about 13 weeks pregnant - and of course I totally feel like I'm showing...even though it's clear that I'm not showing (that much). 

13 Weeks: 

So blessed and lucky to not have any morning sickness! I feel great. I have been able to work full-time and no one knows at work that I'm pregnant, except for 1 person, B, who I share an office with. She's pregnant too, so we compare stories and symptoms all day long. For the first 8 weeks I was completely exhausted. I would take little naps during the day, and that was about my only symptom. 

I have had a little bit of nausea, but nothing to keep me from going to work, or going to the gym - I'm able to do my regular workout - except I can't really run because my breasts are so sore! People keep asking me why I don't just "strap them down..." ummm because I've never had to "strap them down" before. I'm barely a B cup. 

Clothes: I can still wear all of my normal clothes, I'm not uncomfortable yet, and they're not too tight. 

Cravings: Haven't been too crazy - just the occasional fast food fix every now and then. I had Taco Time for the first time in about 5 years...yikes. I quit drinking coffee and have cut WAY back on Diet coke. It hasn't been too hard actually. I don't usually get headaches and I still haven't gotten them, so I feel good.