35 weeks

How far along? 35 weeks and four days

Total weight gain/loss? 24lbs+

Baby size:  Baby measured at 5lbs 10 oz (almost the size Ryan was when he was born!)

Exercise: Not so much lately

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I can't wait to get back into some normal clothes...mainly because I will have more options. I have just been wearing the same things over and over and over again....

Stretch marks? Still good here but still have some time left! eek!

Sleep: Still waking up 3 or 4 times for the bathroom. Otherwise I think I sleep like a rock and don't move an inch...seriously...rolling over is a monumental effort at this stage - it doesn't really happen in my sleep anymore.

Best moment this week: xxx

Miss anything: Being able to do things without completely 

Movement: Pretty active little baby still- mainly at night when I am trying to go to bed!

Food cravings: I have been going through grapes like nobody's business. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Have you started to show yet: Yup

Gender predication: Going with boy...especially after today's sonogram pic! I think the little face shot below looks like a little brother for Ryan!

 baby profile

Labor signs: Nothing really. I feel great...pretty sure I am going to end up being induced on my due date (Sept 15) which I am actually totally ok with! I need the extra time!!!

Symptoms: Heartburn, exhaustion and the back pain has started up again.

Wedding rings on or off? Keeping them off because I am scared they are going to get stuck on my fingers and cut of circulation! haha

Belly button in or out? Out

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

34 weeks

How far along? 34 weeks and four days

Total weight gain/loss? 24lbs ... guess it's safe to say I will pass that 25lb mark!

Baby size:  Didn't measure baby this week but I am guessing at least 5lbs since it was 4lbs 11oz last week. 

Exercise: Not so much lately

Maternity clothes? Yes, although I did squeeze myself into some non-maternity clothes (shorts & a shirt) last Saturday. The shorts didn't even being to zip but thats what the ol belly band is for!

Stretch marks? None so far and hopefully none of the way....but I am already the size I was the day I had Ryan soooo I better get that stretch mark cream out!

Sleep: Still waking up 3 or 4 times for the bathroom. Otherwise I think I sleep like a rock and don't move an inch...seriously...rolling over is a monumental effort at this stage - it doesn't really happen in my sleep anymore.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Ryan's birthday AND my surprise party!

Miss anything: Sleeping on my belly...won't be long now!

Movement: Lot's of hiccups. Also lots more movement on the left side of the belly - baby's feet and hands are usually on the right side...guess baby did some rolling around. 

Food cravings: Grapes and grilled cheese sandwich

Anything making you queasy or sick: No nausea this week

Have you started to show yet: Um yes, and everyone I meet likes to tell me that I am carrying a boy.

Gender predication: ?

Labor signs: I am actually starting to think that this baby is going to take it's sweet time. At first when my doctor told me that he would induce me at 39 weeks I was like, what??? You mean my baby won't be here by then? Ha, I know he cannot predict when this baby will arrive but I have just had it in my head that it would be early. Well, now I am kinda on board with letting it cook as long as it needs too. It was difficult having a small baby - sleeping, breast feeding...just everything was a little more difficult so although I know having a larger baby won't guarantee things being easier I wouldn't mind trying. 

Symptoms: Heartburn and exhaustion. 

Wedding rings on or off? Somedays they are on and somedays they are off. It really depends on the weather...and what I have eaten (trying not to go crazy with the salt).  

Belly button in or out? Out

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

32 weeks

Lately every tech (and that's five in the last week) that puts a monitor on me or does a sonogram says the same thing....Oh wow, your baby is sooooo low! Oh yes, I know...because I certainly feel it!

How far along? 32 weeks (I took this picture right away this time!)

Total weight gain/loss? 19lbs -  I double-checked and couldn't believe it. Apparently I didn't gain any weight in the last two weeks. In fact, I actually lost .4 of a lb...I am not sure how this is possible but in celebration I am baking cookies. 

Baby size:  We didn't measure the size of the baby today at my sonogram - they only do that every two weeks.

Exercise: No exercise but at least I am no longer on bed rest as of today!

Maternity clothes? Yeah.

Stretch marks? Not yet but this belly feels huge! 

Sleep: Going to bed around 10:30 and only waking up once around 2-4 for the bathroom. 

Best moment this week: News that my cervix has remained stable at it's current length, which means no more bed rest! I am advised to take it easy but at least now I feel comfortable getting out and about. 

Miss anything: Really been craving sushi this week for some reason...won't be much longer!

Movement: So much movement. Baby likes to move it move it. Now at my sonogram appointments they will monitor fetal movement before I get a sonogram.  This is something that they do starting at 32 weeks and it is related to the SUA (not the shortened cervix). Anyhow, baby did great and showed lots of movement.

Food cravings: Well, I gave up sweets for three days (while I was on bed rest). After two deliveries of TIffs treats I was on sugar overload and feeling pretty icky. Three days without any sugary sweets wasn't too bad but of course I decided that sharing some of Ryan's cookie cake was a serious motherly duty. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: A couple of days this week I have felt a little nauseous but it's usually just in the mornings and doesn't last long.

Have you started to show yet: Yes

Gender predication: ? I have been hooked up to a lot of monitors lately and watched baby's heartbeat go from the 130s to 160s within a 5 minute span...so I know it's just an old wives tale but it is kinda difficult to use if baby's heartbeat changes so much!

Labor signs: I felt some contractions this week but they were 20 minutes apart - my doctor has reassured me to only be concerned if I have more than four contractions in an hour. 

Symptoms: Heartburn. Definitely feeling more exhausted these days oh & lots of pressure really low...

Wedding rings on or off? On...for now. 

Belly button in or out? Out.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Change of Plans

(My dinner visitor & date)

Soooo we were suppose to be leaving for Montana tomorrow but looks like we won't be making it this year. I am really disappointed but know it's for the best. Honestly I was nervous about this trip ever since we booked it but after two perfect doctor visits last week I felt good and was truly excited to make the trip. It's crazy how quickly things can change. 

Yesterday I woke up and noticed that I was feeling a lot of pressure really low. The only other time I had felt pressure like this was the day I went into labor with Ryan so I was definitely on alert. I didn't notice any contractions so I tried to ignore it. I was hoping that it was just growing pains and that after a good nights rest I would wake up and everything would be back to normal.

When I woke up this morning it was better, but after an hour the pressure/pain was back. When I was at Little Gym with Ryan I knew that I really needed to get in to see my doctor again...if anything to ease my mind. I headed over to my sister-in-laws house and she also agreed I should get in to the doctor before our trip. It was 11am and they told me to come in...I had planned to run up and see the doctor and be back to pick Ryan up by his nap time. Well, I ended up waiting for almost two hours to be worked in to the on-call doctor (Dr. Bertrand) who then referred me to Dr. Reinhart for a sonogram to check my cervix. He told me there was probably a 1% chance that my cervix had shortened (especially since it was checked last week) but to ease my mind before my trip I should go ahead and get it checked.

And here we go with that 1% again....if you remember it's 1% of all pregnancies that have a SUA (like baby #2). Apparently I am big on the 1% this go around.

So Dr. Rienhart checked and found that I do in fact have a shortened cervix. Last Tuesday it measured at 3.6 and today it was 2.4cm. At this point there really is no way of knowing if this is something that will continue to progress or if it will stay at this length until full-term but since it is considered in the shortened range it calls for bed rest. He told me that I needed to go check into triage and be monitored for a few hours. Once I was down there and all hooked up to monitors they noticed that I was having uterine irritability and contractions. They gave me a steroid shot to help develop baby's lungs in case he/she does come early (I get another one tomorrow) and then a pill that is suppose to calm contractions. After a little while Dr. Bertrand came in and broke the news: No Montana trip, bed rest for a week, and hospital stay until Wednesday. Goodness. This was not the way I saw my day/week going. He also said...well I guess it looks like you are in that 1% we talked about :)

Baby and I are good so no real concerns at this point. I am glad this happened today and not tomorrow when we would have been traveling or already up in Montana.  I am also so grateful for my sister-in-law who watched Ryan ALL day long...not only does she have three of her own kiddos but she was also trying to get the family ready for their trip to Montana tomorrow. She is amazing! Thanks again Sarah - I owe you! As for baby and me, I just need to stay rested and keep this little sizzler in there for a little while longer. Apparently my children aren't fans of my womb. 

Anyways...tonight I am in the hospital (all alone now....watching the bachelorette and eating a horrible cookie) but hopefully I will get some good rest and they will let me continue my bed rest from home starting tomorrow. I'll keep the updates coming!