26 weeks!

Hey look, my face! And I'm smiling! Check out my new Christmas Boots. Just got them today. I don't want to take them off!
Also notice my belly popping out of my maternity sweater. I don't know why they make some of these so short. I still have almost 3 months to go. This sweater is going to look like a tube top by the time I hit 9 months!

My belly side view. I love a pregnant belly! I actually stare at it every night in bed watching and waiting for it to do a trick. It usually does something crazy like morph in to various shapes of round.
Front shot! Depending on where Lil' Dude is, my belly button pops right out!
****No, I didn't go to the beach or the tanning salon. My flash made me look red in all these pictures!!!****

Wow! Where has the time gone?

I can't believe I am just a few weeks away from my third trimester. This may be the last time I am ever pregnant. Woo-Hoo!

Here's what's going on so far...

No major details because I haven't been to the doctor in a couple of weeks.

Symptoms....

I'm big. I feel big.

Lots of movements.

Belly moving! You can actually see which way she is laying.

Hard time breathing.

Shortness of breath up and down stairs.

I have to pee all the freakin' time!

The worst heartburn in my life. I actually had some acid (or vomit) come up while I was sleeping. What a treat!

I am starting to sleep a little better if I can just get comfortable.

No cravings really. I don't even have a huge appetite, but I do eat more at dinner time. This probably doesn't help my heartburn.

I can't get enough ice water.

I think that is about it. I will update more next time if I missed something (which I am sure I did.)

Christmas so far...

I know that every Christmas I end up with tons of photos and very little time to blog. This year I have tried to blog as I go. I haven't blogged in about a week so I am getting a little behind. Here's my catch up Christmas blog so far. There will be many more photos and story to tell once the holiday hits! Today is only the 22nd and we have had a lot of Christmas fun. Tomorrow Papa arrives and then Nanna's house and then Christmas morning.

Oh... I just tremble with anticipation!

Here's our first Christmas of the season. We went to Grove to have Christmas with Papa. Sadly, Jorge had to stay behind and attend the exchange student holiday event. I think (hope) he still had a good time without us.

Everybody seemed to have a blast at Papa's house. We laughed so hard it hurt. The highlight of the night was playing Apples to Apples.

Or was it the two youngest girls singing Pants on the Ground in their panties?
Draven had a blast with his many cousins. Papa spoiled them all by buying a Wii for his basement. That is the kid's hangout now.
Lil' Dude's first gift from her Aunt Gum!
We finally went and bought our Christmas tree on Monday. I can give you many reasons why we it took so long but why bother. After tree shopping and Chinese food I took the kids to see the lights at Chesapeake.
It's official. Draven and Jorge are Blues Brothers.
Just couldn't get a good picture of me and Lillie. She couldn't stop looking at the lights!
On Tuesday we met Chris in Chickasha to see the lights. It was so pretty but my camera just couldn't capture the beauty of the lights. Lillie's highlight was getting to sit up front while we drove through the park looking at all the lights.
Even the boys enjoyed it. It was so cold outside I think they were thankful that we were able to drive and look with the heater on full blast!
On Wednesday (today!) we went to see Grandma and Grandpa (my grandparents). They got Lillie a set of fairy tale books. She loves them! Chris read her a few when he got home from work and I read her one before bed. She is quite the reader.
Lillie with her Grandpa. I think everyone enjoyed the visit.
That's it for now. Hopefully I will have many more photos and stories to share after Christmas! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

25 weeks...

I find myself getting a bit cranky while writing this post so I will just add photos...

Not pregnancy related (however I am a bit more moody since I'm pregnant but that is besides the point.)

I'll give pregnancy details later...

I know I'm not smiling in this photo but I didn't realize the camera was going to capture my face. I try to get it to just capture my belly.
Belly under clothes...
Belly and Lil' Dude...
Getting round!
More belly...

To be continued.....

NICU grad Christmas party...

Lillie did not want to see Santa. She told me she had to go to the potty so she could leave. When we got to the bathroom she told me that she was tired and really needed to go home and go to sleep. Nice try. When she went back in to the room and ran right to Santa. I think she felt OBLIGATED. She talked to him but didn't really smile. She did add Dora watch to her wish list.
She was nervously picking her nose and lifting her shirt.
When it was time to take the group photo everyone stood around Santa but Lillie. She ran up to Santa and jumped on his lap. Once again, I don't think she did it because she wanted to, she did it because she thought she was SUPPOSED TO DO IT. Her friend Ryan soon followed. He, however, WANTED to sit on Santa's lap.
She went to daddy so she could feel safe.
He always cracks her up.
The kids entertained themselves by playing on the stairs.
Lillie posing.
More stairs...
If you noticed in the other pictures she is wearing a skirt under her skirt. It is supposed to be a dress up skirt but she wore it under her other skirt.

Then she added a third skirt.
And a fourth...
And a fifth...

24 weeks pregnant...

This pregnancy is different than my last two. Of course my last two were different from each other as well. Draven was the easiest yet the scariest because of my age. Lillie's I wasn't scared, I might of been a little overconfident. I just assumed I was in good hands and everything would be fine. Now with Lil' Dude I know to much. I guess ignorance is bliss. I do however have a great team taking care of me. Great doctors and family support. But, now having involvement with the March of Dimes and meeting other NICU families I can't help but think this week about all of the Miracle 24 weekers out there. I am just really starting to feel pregnant. It's crazy to think about my Lil' Baby being born this week. I can't help but think about Besty and Ryan and their families this week. What miracles!

So last week I had my appointment with the specialist, Dr. M. He did a lengthy ultrasound and everything looked great.

Today was my appointment with my regular OBGYN, Dr. H.

Here's what I learned today...

My blood pressure was 100/68. Yes, very good but according to Dr. H. Preeclampsia can still show up unexpectedly.

My weight gain was fine. I have been stressing about this. With Lillie I only gained 18lbs and with Draven I gained WAY TOO MUCH! I am hoping to fall somewhere in the average category with this pregnancy. So far I have gained 17 pounds. I was hoping for 15, but 17 is still good.

She addressed my nightly rib pain. Nothing I can do about it. It's ligament or muscle pain. I don't remember what she said caused it, but she suggested Tylenol before bed.

She addressed my HORRIBLE indigestion. If this is what babies go through when they have reflux I feel awful for them. It is unbearable at night. Between this and the rib pain it takes me at least an hour before I can fall asleep. The nightly pain is bad. She told me to start taking a daily medication to prevent it from developing each night.

Lil' Dude's heart rate was 155 today. She is usually around the 140's but still average.

She discussed Dr. H's ultrasounds and said that Lil' Dude is measuring perfectly! Everything last week measured at 23-24 weeks (I was 23 weeks 4 days when I had the last ultrasound).

Now on to the BIG NEWS! We started talking about delivery dates today. It looks like Lil' Dude will be born around (or on if the scheduling goes well) on March 14th 2011! This is the first day of spring break. Hopefully that will free up the kids so they can enjoy the new baby and Chris' mom will be out of school and so will I. That means we only have 3 months to go!

Christmas time...

Friday Chris and I decided to take Lillie to go see Santa. She acted like she was ready and excited, she even picked out the dress she wanted to wear. Once we got to the mall she changed her mind. She told us on the way that she doesn't want presents because she is scared of Santa. This is the only pic we got Friday. Lillie crying on Daddy's lap.
Saturday we came up with Plan B. Lillie said she would go see Santa with her cousin Kate. We got our pics at the mall and after a few tries we even got her to smile.

This is a pic of Lillie and Kate at the movies after seeing Tangled. By the way, it was really good! Kate is actually "driving" in this picture. It's a scary look into the future...
After hours of antique shopping with Chris, I took the kids to meet up with Auntie Lo and Hazel to watch the Devon Christmas Parade on the river. Burrrrr.... It was cold!
Cute picture of Jorge! He was freeeezzziingg!
I think Hazel and Auntie were freezing too!
Santa had a sleigh that went on the water! Lillie wasn't getting any closer than this to Santa. She kept an eye on him all night.
After two days of talking about it.... We finally convinced her (ok, kate convinced her) to take her picture with Santa!
Here's her trying to tell us that she doesn't want any presents this year because she's scared of Santa. Poor kid.

blah blogging... (23 weeks)

I need to set a few things straight. Anytime I complain about pregnancy symptoms my husband reminds me that "I love being pregnant." Yes, I do. But it is also very hard on my body.

My bones and joints ache.

I can't get comfortable sleeping.

I have another human being using my organs as a punching bag.

I have to pee every 30 minutes.

My skin itches.

Rib pain when I sleep. No more underwire bras.

Heartburn/indigestion/reflux.

I'm moody.

My boobs are huge (and not in a good way.)

I get headaches.

I have a cold but can't take Nyquil!

My gums bleed.

I don't have maternity coverage.

With all that off my chest, yes "I do love being pregnant."

I am very happy to have a healthy baby growing inside.

My blood pressure is absolutely perfect!

I haven't gained too much weight (yet).

No stretch marks.

It's a girl!

I'm excited for Lillie to be a big sister!

I have a very supportive family.

I have the best husband!

So on to details of my last appointment.

I went to go see dr. M (the specialist) on Wednesday.

Still a girl.

BP 115/60

Didn't take weight.

She weighs 1 pound 6 ounces. Wow!

My sis and niece say she looks just like Lillie.

I think she looks like a healthy baby!

A few 23 week belly shots...

Chunky Monkey Lil' Dude.

On to random blogging...

Lillie and I have been sick since Saturday. She has been a real daddy's girl. Here's a pic of her and Chris "fake sleeping".
When Lillie starts feeling better she starts getting in to trouble. Draven found Lillie "taking a bath" in the toilet.