Tuesday, January 31, 2012

26 weeks, 0 days

14 weeks (98 days) to go.  I'm up 19-20ish pounds.  I can't imagine getting bigger, but I know I will.  Eeesh.


Sunday, January 29, 2012

25 weeks, 5 days

My husband rocks.  
Here are just some of the reasons why I am lucky to have such a stellar man in my life:

1.  He bought me new white, wooden blinds for all of the windows in our house for my birthday.  Yes, this was by my request.  PLUS he already put the above blinds up... and they were delivered this week.
2.  He understands my need for new clothes.  And a new scarf.  And new nail polish.
3.  He doesn't complain when I go out with the girls on a Saturday night.  Or with my mom all day Sunday.
4.  He doesn't mind cleaning the bathrooms.  Or doing laundry.
5.  He lights candles.
6.  He makes sure that I always take my vitamins.
7.  He calls on his way home to see if I need anything.  By anything, he's asking if I want Graeters ice cream and is more than willing to stop for some.
8.  He doesn't mind my nightly Breathe Right strip, fortress of pillows that surround me, humidifier, and stuffy-nose-snore.  He even allows Lucy to hog the bottom half of his side of the bed.
9.  He changes his clothes/hair/shoes when I disagree with his 1st choice.  And he looks hot in his 2nd try at least 99% of the time (unless it's the awful blue Gap hoodie).
10.  He loves me.

Adam Conley, I love you too.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

25 weeks, 4 days

Well it sure has been an eventful couple of days.  Oy.

To start from the beginning.... last week I had a check up, and the OB told me I should start counting kicks at 25 weeks.  I'm supposed to feel 10 kicks in 2 hours, and if I don't, call immediately.  He followed up by telling us that "babies die" and even just 9 kicks meant something could be wrong.  Thanks for the pep-talk, right?

So naturally I started counting during week 24.  I mean, baby was active and I was able to count 10 kicks in less than 40 minutes.  I felt great.

Then this week there was a little change.  On Wednesday I wasn't able to sit down to count until pretty late.  I'd felt baby moving a lot at school, but I still wanted to officially count.  When I did, I felt nothing.  Like, not a poke, not a twist, nothing.  I drank OJ, I laid on my left, I pushed on my tummy.  Still nothing.  I laid awake in bed hoping for at least one sign of movement, and never felt anything.  I told myself that since I felt movement during the day, things were okay.  I had a nightmare that night that a doctor told me I wasn't pregnant (like, not even possible) and I fought with him over it.  I grabbed the ultrasound wand and gave myself a scan to prove I was pregnant.  His response was, "Well I'll be damned..."

On Thursday (conference night at school) I once again couldn't count kicks until pretty late.  I hadn't felt as much movement, or maybe just hadn't been thinking about as much because I was so busy, so when I sat down and felt nothing again, I really panicked.  I tried all the tricks from Wednesday, and even added some dance music via iPhone direct to the belly, and got no response.  I laid awake in bed again and had another nightmare that night.  This time I pushed on my belly, it deflated, then I had two bellybuttons, you could see into my stomach through one of them, and there was nothing in there.  Creepy and scary.

When I woke up Friday, I was super conscious of waiting for movement.  I still wasn't feeling anything.  I called the nurse at my OB at exactly 8am (when they open) and got a wishy-washy response.  She was neither concerned or reassuring.  She told me I should try drinking OJ and laying on my side.  [I did that!!]  I told myself I would keep waiting for movement until my planning period (at 12:45) and then I'd call a different office with the same OBs but different nurses.  At 12:45 I called and explained everything to a different nurse.  She wanted me to come in pronto for a non-stress test.  At her alarm, I was both nervous and relieved to be taken seriously.  My principal all but kicked me out of school and said everything would be taken care of.

The NST was not what I expected.  I guess I thought there would be an ultrasound or something, but instead they hooked me up to the belly Doppler and monitored baby's HB and kicks.  There was a little printout that showed how it was all going.  Baby wouldn't kick at first, so I drank loads of icy water.  The nurse also used this zapper thing to startle baby into movement.  He did kick after all that, but it was much more faint than it had been last week.  After a half hour I'd counted 13 kicks and the HB was steadily ranging from the 140's- 160's.  The nurse and OB were both pleased with the results, they reassured me that I had been totally right to be worried and come in, and then sent me happily on my way.  

I cannot tell you how relieved I was/am!  I guess the little nugget has moved to a spot where I can't feel him as well.  I think he's actually kicking my bladder as I have to pee about once every hour.  And, of course, he's been active ever since I left the NST.  I don't regret going in, because I know I would be a hot mess this weekend without knowing what I know now.  

So yeah.

In other baby news, I purchased two of the most adorable woolies last night off etsy.  The first is a soaker and the second, shorties.  Aren't they cute!?


I have to pee (again) so... goodbye!  (Sorry for no 25 week photo--I'll post one next week!!)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

24 weeks, 4 days

Pictures from the week...

Lucy is such a girly, girl... we always find her playing dress up in my clothes.


 


Our nursery got a paint job!  Thanks grandma & grandpa Conley!! 


 


Last night I ventured out into the first winter storm of the season for a little girly time at Lindsey's house.  It took an hour and a half to get home, but it was worth it.  Here are some of my favorite people in Arbonne mud masks. :)
    

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

24 Weeks, 1 Day

Letters from Pa, Part V

1/18/2012

Dear Son,

Thanks for moving around A LOT over the last couple days. What a great way to keep your mother at ease.  We have been busy (shocking) lately and are looking forward to seeing you soon, hopefully providing us some down time to lead into the summer.

Since I last wrote, you now have an older cousin... she is quite the little lady. I think the two of you will have a good time playing with one another. Mom and I had another appointment on Monday to listen to your heartbeat (153 bpm), not too shabby! We go back in a month for another follow up and start taking classes on Wednesday nights to learn how to do things during delivery and post-birth.

I don't have too many words of wisdom to share this time around, just thought I'd drop a line. According to our tracker, your due date is 111 days away, which is crazy! This weekend is NFL conference championship weekend, 49ers/Giants and Patriots/Ravens. I look forward to watching next year with you when it's the Browns.

I start more classes next week too. I'll be down at the Warren County Career Center, Tuesdays & Thursdays, all the way up to your birthday! That will make the time go by even quicker.

We haven't had much weather either, keep your little fingers crossed for that. Yesterday was really windy, but aside from that, we haven't felt winters wrath to date.

Take care and happy growing!

Love,

Dad

Saturday, January 14, 2012

23 weeks, 4 days

I didn't take a picture this week, so I'll just put that out there now.  Maybe I'll feel motivated to next week...

I've been going through moments of total overwhelm-ment lately.  I was in the nursery just a bit ago and began panicking at the lack of nursery that existed.  I don't mean room size either... I mean the fact that we have a bassinet, some clothes, and diapers... and that's it. In the grand scheme, I suppose that could get us by for a minute.

Here's what I'm talking about...

My current diaper stash.


My naked nursery + bassinet (which won't even stay in here!).

View of closet from windowed wall side of nursery.

We're not painted, we're not furnitured, nothing!  I'm a planner and this lack-of-a-plan is not working out.  In my dreams I have the whole nursery finished so that I can tackle the other areas of my life to get ready for nugget's arrival.  I know I have a few months (like, um, 3), but that honestly sounds super short.  Ohmygosh, that's SO short!!!

Aside from not feeling prepared, I am SO excited to have this baby.  I can't imagine what he'll look like.  Will he look more like me or Adam?  Will he have light hair or dark hair (or no hair)?  Blue eyes or green eyes?  Will he help turn me into the morning person I wish to be?  Will he be a good sleeper?  Will he be Lucy's best friend?  I just can't wait to find out!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

22 weeks, 2 days

I'm in the middle of loads of work (school shtuff, knitting, ball tossing with Lucy, and TV & ice cream date with the hubs), but here is my 22 week picture.  I'm up a total of 11 pounds--ICK!


Oh, and I'm officially an aunt.  Congrats to Jason and Jorden... and welcome to the world, Jyles Beau Conley!  :)