I passed, new ultrasound pics, and more!

Once again I started blogging here and there in my free time and evidently never finished my post because here we are at 30 weeks and I already have new updates.  Hence the post title.  So, he's the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy in a nutshell...

I went in for my 28 week check-up as well as my glucose test and subsequent blood work.  I asked Cooter to stay home with Ty since I knew I'd be sitting the waiting room for at least an hour while my glucola did its thing.  I have to admit...it was actually quite peaceful going to the appointment by myself.  I very much enjoyed my quiet time and even got to read a little while I waited for my blood to be drawn.  Not that I don't enjoy Cooter and Ty's company with me when we get to hear little girl's heartbeat, but sometimes its just nice to be alone.  =)

All was still well with little miss two weeks ago.  Her heartbeat was ticking along in the 140's.  She was moving, but not like the spaz she usually is since I fasted before my appointment.  I guess I made her mad not feeding her.  My blood pressure was great at 114/78, no swelling, still measuring right on target.  By this time with Ty, I was measuring weeks ahead and they were concerned that his size meant I might have gestational diabetes.  Not an issue though, I just grew a big baby!  Most surprising of all at this appointment was my weight.  I am always paranoid about my weight gain since I seemed to receive a talking to at lots of appointments with Ty (even though I ended up only gaining 27lbs and lost it all in 5 weeks, thank you very much).  I lost weight in the beginning of this pregnancy from being sick and when I started to gain in the second trimester, I was gaining about 5lbs a month, which is a tiny bit over the 1lb/week average they like to see.  No one has said a word though.  Well this appointment I expected a 2-3lb weight gain since it had been 2wks since I was there last.  To my astonishment, not only had I not gained anything, but I lost a pound.  Don't worry...I'm not trying to lose weight, and at this point I could really care less if I get in trouble for gaining weight.  I 6-7lbs a month till the end and still be within a healthy weight gain range.  That was one reason for this week's ultrasound.  I'm wasn't worried though...I checked the scale a couple days ago and I had a couple pounds back on.  I think most of it had to do with fasting before my appointment.  Trust me, this little girl is growing.

Got my blood results back and I do not have gestational diabetes, nor am I anemic!  I do have an rh incompatibility because I have negative blood type (which we found out way back when we had our first miscarriage 4 years ago).  Its a formality that they make me do a blood test before administering my rhogam shot.  I was supposed to come in last week for my shot, but I honestly forgot until Thursday at which point I decided I'd just remind them about it at this appointment.

I am officially uncomfortable.  I remember occasionally being uncomfortable when I was pregnant with Ty, but it was usually after a busy day or a large meal.  I am uncomfortable pretty much 24/7 with this little girl.  She is still laying transverse across the bottom of my uterus.  Although she did flip the other day, it did nothing for the pressure I'm feeling.  The only difference I've noticed is her hiccups are now on my left side and her kicks on my right side.  I'm really hoping she will turn either head down or breech soon.  Since I'm having a schedule c-section, it doesn't matter how she lays, I just want some relief.  With Ty I had horrible pain in my right hip because his butt sat there for the majority of my pregnancy.  Its really hard for me to even sit up straight because it puts so much pressure on my lower abdomen.  Forget leaning forward for something...holy geez, I can't even breathe!

I've also developed a hideous case of varicose/spider veins.  They look more like spider veins, but the pain and symptoms associated with them are that of varicose veins.  Either way, they are not pretty at all.  I noticed a large patch of them on the back of my left thigh a couple months ago and actually thought it was a bruise until I realized it didn't hurt.  The longer they were there, the more they hurt.  After spending a long day on my feet doing a Pampered Chef show at Cooter's sisters, their crawfish boil, and holding my clingy, tired child all day (oh my gosh I was SO sore the next day), another patch of veins popped out on the back of my right thigh.  My legs feel sore all the time.  I now have another patch on the top of my right thigh, one of the side of my left leg and another one coming on top of my left thigh.  From what I've read, they may fade, but typically don't fully disappear after birth.  No offense to 80 year old women out there, but I feel like that's what my legs look like.  I work really hard to be able to wear cute shorts and dresses and my legs are so ugly now.  From a distance it looks like I'm covered in bruises.  I'm trying my best not to sit too long, stand too long, and exercise when I can.  Between my achey legs and her low position between my hips, I can't walk very long distances without needing to sit down and take a break.  Even standing to cook dinner makes my legs achey.  Pitiful.  Why is this happening?  Its just one of those lovely pregnancy symptoms that many women get.  Little girl is positioned on a nerve in such a way that its causing strain on my blood vessels.  Thanks to pregnancy, my blood vessels are already less firm from a hormone called relaxin, which allows the extra blood flow to makes it way through my body.  But it obviously has its negative effects too.  Just like stretch marks, I'll wear them with pride...they are my war wounds for the work I did to get this baby girl in our arms.

Seriously though...I think I'm done having babies after this!  

We went back to the doctor today for a check-up and ultrasound.  I think the ultrasound was because I've been measuring a little small and lost weight at last check, but they didn't say that.  We'll take the chance to see Ellie again...its been almost 10wks since we last saw her.  Right away the tech measured her heartbeat around 140.  She measured my fluid which looked to be just fine.  We also had her confirm that she is definitely still a girl!  I was unreasonably nervous that they told us wrong at 21wks, especially after I've bought clothes and bows and set her room up!  Baby girl was curled up in a little ball, but moving and active.  I was right a couple of days ago when I thought she had flipped.  But just since last night, she folded herself into a ball.  Her feet are definitely on my right side, and I get kicks in the side and into my hip.  Her head is around my belly button and sometimes she curls up tighter and her head goes just under my ribs and I feel her hands up high.  I'm hoping all this movement means she is working her way into more of an up and down position for my sake.  She kept a little hand up by her face the entire ultrasound (Ty used to always look like that too!).  Every now and then we'd catch a glimpse of the other hand by her head, fingers and all.  At one point a foot was by her head and then she'd move them both down together.  We got a good shot of her little piggies.  She weighs about 3lbs 2oz right now.  She measures a little on the small side, as do I, but my doctor specifically told me she's not worried right now.  She said she's small, but not to a point that anything is wrong.  Just a petite little girl like her momma!  As far as my stats this check-up...all was well.  I gained a couple pounds back (I think I'm up 16lbs total) and my blood pressure was good.  Quick visit and back in two weeks.

Ellie's profile shot...there's that little hand up by her face like I said.  That profile looks SO much like Ty's ultrasounds at the same gestational age!

Ellie's face...look at those fat cheeks!  She's waving hi!

Little piggies

We scheduled Ellie's birthday today!  My c-section is scheduled for July 12 at 10:30am.  So its official...she will be here on or before that day!  9 weeks from this Friday!