2 weeks down, another 12 or so to go.

I'm now in the third and final trimester. Now is when time starts to move at a snail's pace. I guess I should be nesting or thinking of names, but have been too sick and tired to even try. I am trying to recover from a nasty sinus infection that had me in bed for three days. However, the recovery is taking a lot longer than I would like. I was pretty worn down when I got sick so guess that is why I'm not bouncing backing quickly. I had to go to the hospital yesterday for an ultrasound because I was having a lot of discomfort above my pelvis. It turned out that everything is fine with me and the baby. The baby was just as stubborn this time about opening "her" legs as last time. I did say "her" because even though the tech couldn't get a great look, she didn't see a penis, but that still doesn't mean there isn't one hiding. Although it would be nice to be able to use she or he in a definite sense, I know that it will be awesome in the end to finally find out. I just hope this little one isn't as stubborn when he/she is born as it is now, if so, then we are in for a whole lot of trouble fun. The tech was able to give us some good pictures this time. The one were you see the arm and hand, right under is the knee and leg. As you can see, the baby is almost holding on to her/his leg, of course this is to ensure a tight seal of those legs. LOL *If you click on the picture, you should be able to make them bigger. *

Information on a 28 week fetus: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

So it has been a while..

However, the last few weeks have been crazy, actually I'm not sure that word really encompasses what has gone on. Christmas came and went with all of the normal craziness. My mom was put in the hospital with pneumonia two days after Christmas and is still there, but is finally on the road to recovery, and everyone started back to school(not a moment too soon.). I have been feeling for the most part fine. I've been experiencing a lot of upper back pain by the evening requiring me to just lay down and the oh so wonderful feeling like your pelvis is being torn in half has started. Yippee! I went to the doctor and I gained one pound, no, I still will not say my actual weight. The doctor isn't concerned, so I'm not. I'm still small so I'm hoping I can talk the doctor at my next appointment into another ultrasound. I was never that big with my other pregnancies, but I have never been this small. I actually have a pair of maternity jeans that are too big and I have to constantly hike them up. Here is a new picture of my belly at 25 weeks.

Some info on a 26 weeks.

Week 26
Baby: Your baby measures about 9.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs almost 2 pounds now. Its hearing is fully developed. As the fetus reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby will even move in rhythm to music. Lungs are still growing but are not yet mature. Patterns of your baby's brain waves appear like a full-term newborn. It also has patterns of sleeping and waking.

Puke, puke, and more puke!

Happy Birthday to me. My gift? two kids with the stomach flu who have puking on and off since 6 pm last night. I got about 3 hours of sleep last night. My oldest didn't make it to the bucket a couple of times, so instead it got all over the bed and pillow. Hey, at least her hair was missed. So I had to strip the bed. Nothing like doing laundry at 1 am. It seemed that every time I had just fallen asleep, I could hear her start to vomit and the whole thing would start again. My 2 year old also has it and even if I put a bucket or bowl under his mouth, he won't use it. However, he will puke in a towel. It is now 9am and I have used almost every towel we own and am running dangerously low on Clorox 2 and laundry detergent. So far my daughter has not puked this morning and was able to hold down a cup of tea. The baby drank an entire cup of juice and held that down for about 15 minutes before it all came right back on my couch. So our stairs, rug, and couch have been puked on. Yes, my house smells lovely. I am going to have to borrow my mother-in-law's steam cleaner and see if I can get rid of the smell. If I can't fix the carpet, it will be thrown out. I used carpet cleaner and water and scrubbed it by hand, but it didn't make a difference. I have not showered since Thursday, gross I know, but tis the life of a busy mom. My husband worked all day yesterday, is working today and will be working everyday until Christmas. I'm sure he is happy to be away from the puking brigade because he does not do well with puke. I don't think he could have handled being puked all over his back like I did last night. Maybe someone up there thinks this is a funny trick to play on an already stressed mom who has a lot to get done in the next three days. If so, I'm not laughing. I just pray I don't get sick because quite frankly, I don't have the time right now. 

So, Happy Birthday to me. ;) 

Baby its cold outside

and we are supposed to be getting some snow and ice. Woohoo! I can't wait. Can you tell that I am dripping with sarcasm? Tomorrow is the kids' last day before they are off on Winter break. I'm thinking they may be be canceling schools. The storm is supposed to hit this evening and last until well into tomorrow. We can get anywhere from 3-10" with ice.

I've been feeling pretty good and at times forget I'm pregnant, that is until I go to bend over and pick something off the floor. I'm sure you are scratching your head wondering how and that is a good question. I think it is probably because I don't have constant nausea anymore, though I do get tired a lot and it isn't like the baby moves 24 hours a day, but let me tell you, when he or she does, I know it! If this keeps up, I may have a broken bone or punctured organ by the time I deliver.  LOL I can't believe I only have 17 weeks left give or take a week (more like take one or three). Time is just flying by and I can't seem to catch up. Christmas is next week already. I swear, just yesterday it was Halloween.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about how I'm going to handle four kids. I mean around my house I get caught up on one thing only to turn around and find that a bazillion other things have fallen apart. I know it is normal, but some days it gets a little overwhelming. I know I'll get through it all, I think we all need a moment of panic every once and a while. 

No new ultrasound for me.

*sigh* Went to the doctor yesterday and according to the radiologist's report, they were able to see the heart fine so that means no ultrasound. I guess this little one is living up to be a big surprise in more ways than one. LOL! You know, I really don't mind. We did not find out what we were having with our first, so it only seems fitting that we don't with our last. So I guess I will have to start looking at both boy and girl names. Hmm, I already have a couple in mind, but I'm not sure how my husband will feel about them. As with our last baby, we won't be telling the names we picked until this one is born. :) Many of you know that two of my kids start with A and one with an N. So to answers some questions, no we did not plan it like that and no I will not only be looking for N names. We pick names according to if we like them, not what they start with.

Pictures.

Just thought I'd put up the ultrasound picture and a new belly shot. I have finally had to break down and start wearing maternity tops most of the time. I can still wear some of my regular sweaters and my husband's sweatshirts. Oh and I love wearing my maternity overalls, they are so comfy! I'll be seeing the doctor this Wednesday and should be scheduling another ultrasound soon.

Boy or Girl?

Well, that seems to be the burning question on many people's minds. However our little stubborn baby decided against opening his or her legs to give us a peek yesterday during the ultrasound. On the bright side, everything else looks great and the baby is measuring right on target. I will be getting another ultrasound soon because the tech could not get a good picture of the four chambers of the heart because of the way the baby was laying. Hopefully, little stubborn will think about it and allow us a peek between the legs at the next one. Here is some information on a 20 week fetus. I can't believe I'm already halfway through!

How your baby's growing:Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now (The tech said our little one was close to 13 oz.). He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

I will be taking a new belly picture soon and will scan the latest ultrasound picture even though it isn't that great.

Another week down.

So here it is one week until my ultrasound and I can't wait. I originally didn't want to find out what we were having, but now the suspense is killing me. Here is some info on the baby now.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. The hair on her scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

I lost another member of my family this week. My uncle passed away, following the death of my aunt, his wife who passed less than a month ago. You forget how precious life is while you are in the daily grind until you lose someone and are forced to face reality. I didn't know my uncle that well, but wish I did. He was in the Air Force and served in World War II. He told me the story of how he met his wife and how he never understood why she picked him. He talked about how they were best friends and you can tell how much he loved her just by listening to him and watching his eyes light up when he talked about her. He told me that now that she was gone, he was just waiting to be at her side again and hold her. I imagine that they are now together, perhaps dancing their way around Heaven.

Saw the doctor this week.

I lost a pound, no surprise there. The baby was very active and everytime the doctor would start getting the heartbeat, the baby would move out of the way so she had to keep finding him or her. Apparently this one likes to play hide and seek. I'm starting to feel better although I am still pretty tired and now have another cold. Gotta love kids in school, I think they bring home just about every germ possible. I have my ultrasound scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving at 3. Hopefully baby will cooperate ad let us get a peek in between his or her legs. Here is some new information in the baby.
How your baby's growing: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Is it really November?

The year has really flown by! I am so glad that Halloween is over. I was wiped out the next day. We trick or treated for just under 2 1/2 hours. We now have a paper grocery bag full of candy and that was after throwing away a bunch of candy. I also can't believe I'm already 16 weeks.It seems like just yesterday I was standing in my bathroom looking at the positive test and telling it (the test) that this was not funny. LOL As if the test cared what I thought. If it could talk, it would probably point its finger at me and laugh. I am feeling better than I was, but still have rough days. I go next week for my doctor's appointment and will get my ultrasound scheduled. I'm pretty sure this little one is a boy. I wasn't this sick with my daughter, but man did my boys give me Hell. I guess I'll know soon enough, that is if he or she chooses to cooperate. I weighed myself last time I was by a scale and I lost a pound. However, that isn't too big of a deal. Here is some info on a 16 week fetus and a new belly picture.

Baby: Your fully formed fetus, now in about its 11th week of development, measures 2.6 to 3.1 inches from crown to rump and weighs between half an ounce and seven-tenths of an ounce -- about the size of a peach. The head is still disproportionately bigger than the body, but the rest of the body is starting to catch up. In fact, your baby is growing rapidly these days. The face is starting to look more human, with eyes moving closer together. Toes and fingers are clearly separate, and ankles and wrists have formed. External genitalia are becoming visible. Intestines are shifting into their proper place, too.