Updates!!!

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday afternoon. Everything's fine. . . always good to hear. . . my next appointment is in 3 weeks . .not sure why LOL but whatever.

The only not so fine thing (in my estimation) was my weight gain. Holy CRAP I gained 14 pounds in a MONTH. .yes folks. . that's right. . IN.A.MONTH. i wanted to crawl off the scale and just rock back and forth. . . funny thing - i don't feel like I've gained a THING. . .. sigh.

let's see what else. . .Ellery's heartbeat was good and strong. . . always a good thing!

so that was Friday afternoon. Friday after my appointment we went to the Burlington Mall, had dinner at the cheesecake factory. .and ended up picking out Ellery's coming home outfit.

cute huh?? I love it. .it's sooo soft and looks like it'll be soo cozy and warm for January!!!

John FINALLY felt Ellery move on Saturday night - which pretty much made my month!!!!! very exciting for both of us (apparently the bonehead has been feeling her move for a while. . he just didn't know it . . sigh Ellery what are we going to do with your Daddy??!!! lol)

oh really weird thing that's going on. ever since my night at L&D and my run in with the evil blood pressure cuff, my left arm has been feeling weird. it hurts. . almost cramp like at times...anyway. .on Sat. morning I noticed a lovely bruise gracing the inside of my wrist. .WTH. . I don't believe it's pregnancy related . .but WTH anyway??!! ROFL

so that's about it. . just waiting around now. . our shower is on November 12. . so that should be fun!! :)

27 Weeks - only 91 days to go!!!

from Babycenter:

How your baby's growing: Your baby is really starting to fill up your uterus. This week he weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

How your life's changing:
Your body is gearing up for the final lap, so you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your uterus is putting extra demands on your circulation. (As your uterus expands, it puts pressure on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.) Unfortunately, the cramps are likely to get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. Flexing your foot (by pointing your toes forward and then flexing them back toward your shins) stretches the calf and should give you some relief. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions before your baby arrives. And in some states, if you're considering a tubal ligation during your hospital stay, laws require that you sign a consent form at least a month before delivery day. (You can still change your mind later)

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so. . 91 days to go. . freakin' amazing!!! nothing really new to report. .Ellery's still kicking away (when i can feel her that is) and we're just waiting. . .our shower's on November 12 so that's pretty exciting. I'll have another update on Friday night probably as we have our monthly appointment on Friday :)

We interrupt this baby blog for a picture

of the big sister in her halloween costume :)

a Saturday night at Labor and Delivery

I hadn't really felt Ellery move all that much Friday and Saturday during the day. . .so Saturday night after pretty much freaking out I called the doctor. The covering doctor called me back and said that it was probably nothing but for my peace of mind to go ahead and go to Labor and Delivery and get checked out. (He was SUPER nice and if Dr. F isn't on when I go into labor I hope he is ROFL). He called ahead and they were expecting me when I got to Winchester. (Side note: VERY nice not to have to go to the ER ROFL)

When we got there the L&D nurse (named Lois) spent about an hour and half with us. I was hooked up to 2 monitors: 1 for Ellery's heartrate and the other for contractions (luckily I wasn't having any). Anyway ..she spent all that time with us - listening to Ellery's heart and movements. Bascially she was "training me" (for lack of a better term) to correllate the wooshing on the monitor to the feeling I was (or wasn't) feeling. The deal is I probably won't feel 90% of her movements b/c of the anterior placenta. . . .but she's 100% fine. she was pretty much constantly moving the entire time we were there :)

and now she's moving a TON more. .so I don't know if getting prodded a little Sat. night moved her around and she's in a better place for me to feel or what. . but i'll take it :)

26 weeks. . and a giant pain in the. . . well you know where!

From Babycenter:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is more sensitive than before — he may now be able to hear your partner's voice as well as yours as you chat with each other. You may start to get more backaches, too, now that you're carrying so much weight up front. Are you in the midst of childbirth classes, a room redo, and other preparations now? Just make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest.

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs a little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches, from head to heel. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

How your life's changing:
Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly as it returns to its normal pre-pregnancy range. (It was at a low from 22 to 24 weeks.) Though preeclampsia most often occurs in the last trimester, this is a good time to be aware of the warning signs of this dangerous condition that occurs in about 3 to 7 percent of all pregnancies. Signs you should be alert for include swelling of the hands and face, sudden weight gain (due to water retention), blurry vision, seeing spots before your eyes, sudden severe or persistent headaches, or upper abdominal pain. By checking for high blood pressure and protein in your urine, your caregiver will monitor you for preeclampsia at your routine prenatal visits, but call her immediately if you have any of these symptoms before your next appointment. Early identification of preeclampsia is essential for the health of you and your baby.If your back seems a little achy lately, you can thank pregnancy hormones (which are loosening up your joints and ligaments) and your shifting center of gravity. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath — or cool compress — might bring relief. Or you may want to schedule a prenatal massage by a trained therapist. Use a pregnancy wedge when sleeping, to support your back and abdomen. Try to maintain good posture, which will help reduce the strain on your back, and always take care when bending and lifting. If you experience severe pain or numbness in any area of your body, call your practitioner.

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so. . no back pain. . but groin pain. . .seriously. . debilitating, sharp, shooting pains. This started on Monday and has just gotten progressively worse. It hurts to walk especially. . which is a problem. . since unfortunately my wings are busted so I can't currently fly! :)

I finally broke down yesterday evening and called the OB's office. My doctor wasn't in but the other doctor in the practice told me that it's either round lingament pain or (more likely) my pubic bones separating. doesn't that sound like fun??!!! best part??? there's NOTHING they can do. Basically it's stay off your feet, hot compresses if you can (yeah work isn't exactly conducive to that) and Tylenol.. . .woo hoo. .that's it. He said that it MIGHT go away. .it MIGHT get better or it MIGHT get worse. . . . . I probably shouldn't complain due to the fact that I have had such a great pregnancy. But I can't do this for 14 more weeks. It's so bad it brings tears sometimes. He also said that if it's REALLY bad we can talk about physical therapy. I'm not too keen on the idea. . .but we'll see. my next appointment with Dr. F is on October 27. .so hopefully it'll be better by then. . .otherwise. .we'll be having a "chat".

In other news. . another one of my closest friends told us she's expecting also. . in May though :) How exciting. Ellery's going to have lots of friends to play with!!! :)

Little Red Sox Fan

My friend Steph (and her boys of course) from Cali decided that every good Boston Baby needs her Sox gear!!!!! I think my favorite is the first one..... it's got ruffles on the butt :)

Me @ 24 weeks

This was last week. .i'm late getting it posted. . .ignore the weird look on my face ROFL

25 weeks

From Babycenter:

Your baby weighs about a pound and a half and is around 13 and a half inches long. She has more hair on her head, and if you could see it you'd know what color and texture it is. Your 'do may be fuller, too, thanks to pregnancy hormones. Some women notice more or darker body hair as well. It'll return to normal after you deliver. You're getting bigger by the minute, but that's no reason to stop exercising — just modify your routine as your body changes

How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.

How your life's changing:
Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but the hair you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. You may also notice darker or thicker body hair. It will return to normal in the weeks after you give birth. You probably can't move around as gracefully as before. It's fine to continue to exercise, but use your common sense: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired, and stop if you feel any pain or when you begin to feel at all fatigued, dizzy, or short of breath. Don't lie on your back too long or do any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, your practitioner may take a second tube of blood at the same time to check for anemia. Although your blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy, the total amount of your red blood cells becomes diluted — a problem sometimes called physiologic anemia that's common in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. If your blood tests show that you have anemia, your caregiver will likely recommend that you take a supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. Look to family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Rhett, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

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Let's see. . on the heels of last week's stress things are nice and calm at Casa de Palmer and with Baby Ellery. On Sat. we ordered her bureau/changing table tower thingie (nice description huh?) and will bring the crib home from my parents on Sunday perhaps. It doesn't have a mattress yet. .but that's okay. .it'll be fun to have it up in her room. My mom bought the switchplate that matches her room and we put it on this past Sunday. ..it's SOOO cute!!!

Other than that. .things are pretty status quo. Although John's newest concern is wondering if Ellery is going to come out looking like a french fry. That's basically ALL i want to eat right now. I am eating other stuff too (obviously) but French Fries make me SOOOOO happy right now :). I seem to be only wanting carbs too. . .we went out for breakfast on Sunday and I ordered pancakes, a side of homefries and a side of toast. . . hmmm weird LOL.

Not sure if I mentioned this in my update after our Level II but I have an anterior placenta.....doesn't mean anything bad..my placenta is just on top (in front?) rather than in the normal spot. It explains why I don't feel her kicking constantly and why John hasn't felt her move at all. Makes me kinda sad because I really really want him to feel her move :(. I hope he gets to soon :(

Pictures!!!!

Here is baby Ellery from yesterday's "photo shoot" hehe

everything's OKAY!!!!

the perinatologist said that if she had seen the foci originally she wouldn't have thought a thing about it.....there were 2 on the 25th and I only saw one this time. and they (it?) were not even close to as "bright" as it was before

the level 2 ultrasound machine was soo cool...we got to see soo much more of her - her ribs, kidneys, blood flow from her renal arteries...we saw her opening and closing her mouth which was pretty flipping cool!!!

the tech who did the first part of the US was super nice and pointed a TON of stuff out...she spent almost an hour and used 2 different wands to try to get Ellery to move so she could get the good profile shot for us....no dice.....Elley was laying on her side facing out and she told me to take a break and walk around and stuff to see if she'd move....yeah she moved...onto her tummy ROFL

also the machine actually does 3-D ultrasound so we got to see her in 3-D - her arm was covering her face and stuff though so we didn't get any 3-D pictures. we think she's shy...like mommy

she also weighs 1lb 9oz which is apparently PERFECT for her gestational age etc.

i'll be sure to post the pics we got tomorrow :)

1%

Seems like such a tiny number doesn't it? And it is. Tiny, infinitesimal......unless it's your baby. When it's your baby it's a HUGE all consuming number that packages fear and uncertainty into it's tiny little self.

I KNOW that statistically Ellery is probably 100% fine - but statistics don't help when it's the little one in your belly that kicks every now and then to make you aware of her presence.

I'm scared....and I probably shouldn't be. Rationally I know that the doctors HAVE to do this stuff. . . they don't want to be sued if something *is* truly wrong and they didn't run the proper tests etc. to know. I just hate it. I hate being scared. I hate not knowing. I hate thinking I won't be strong enough as the "what ifs" play through my mind.

I hate it.

And then I feel bad for complaining . .John and I have been SO SO blessed with this pregnancy: we got pregnant on the first try (we weren't really even trying LOL), I've had NO morning sickness, just a lot of fatigue and headaches but for the most part I've felt FANTASTIC. My weight gain is totally under control (7.5 lbs @ 6 months pregnant). It's honestly been a dream pregnancy. So what am I complaining about right??? Yeah.....that makes me feel guilty for even THINKING some of the things I've been thinking :(

My head is totally in a jumble but I wanted to have a record of these thoughts...they're important. Today's an important day. And I'm scared. So very scared.

UPDATE!!!

I just got a call from my perinatologist's office - they messed up booking my appointment and they happened to have a cancellation for tomorrow at 11am!!! so I'll be getting another look at my little bean sooner than anticipated

now i feel sick with nervousness though!! UGH

hopefully i'll have a good update tomorrow afternoon!

24 weeks

From Babycenter.com:


At just over a pound and almost a foot long, your baby is long and lean. And your uterus is growing along with him — it's now about the size of a soccer ball. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon, and his brain is growing rapidly

How your baby's growing: Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

How your life's changing:
The top of your uterus is now an inch or so above your belly button, which means it's about the size of a soccer ball. With the skin on your abdomen and breasts stretching, you may feel a little itchy now and then. If your skin is dry, keeping it well moisturized may help. Also, your eyes may be sensitive to light and feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as dry-eye. To ease your discomfort, use an artificial tears solution to add moisture.
Most women will have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between 24 and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a high-blood-sugar condition during pregnancy. Untreated, high blood sugar increases your risk for having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow overly fat, especially in his upper body. It also increases your baby's risk for complications like low blood sugar at birth. A positive result on your GCT test doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you should have the more involved glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out.

It's also a good idea to be aware of the signs of preterm labor. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice an increase in vaginal discharge that is watery, mucus-like, or pink or blood-tinged; any vaginal bleeding or spotting; abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping or more than four contractions in an hour; an increase in pelvic pressure; or low back pain that you haven't had before

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lovely...stuff to worry about ROFL..

My ultrasound appointment is next Tuesday October 10 at 8am...hopefully the perinatologist will have positive news for us. I'm scared still but trying not to focus on it.

Other than that I feel pretty good. . I'm tired again. . which I'm not liking at all. . . John and I picked out a bureau/changing table combo thing so hopefully we'll be getting that soon and can bring Ellery's crib home from my parents' basement ROFL

A perfect Fall Day!

Saturday was perfect fall weather so John, me and my mom and dad (well and Ellery of course) headed up to Amesbury to go to Cider Hill Farm. It's mine and John's fall tradition. We buy apples (no picking....when Ellery's older definately!), hot cider, and cider donuts. ..it's VERY fall-y!

so without further ado. . .Ellery's first trip to Cider hill: