wednesday, november 27 :::
 
+ Interesting +
I didn't know my uterus went that far over. I feel like you were kicking me this morning right in my side. It's actually a little further forward, but it feels very very weird. I'll admit, the kicking thing once in a while is kind of annoying, but it's absolutely a magical feeling. Every time I eat a meal, I anxiously anticipate the nudges and wiggles that follow shortly thereafter. What I wouldn't give to see you while you're doing that! It must be fairly amusing to watch. Well, tomorrow is 25 weeks, which is awesome. Only 15 +/- to go. Wow, that's soon. I know the holidays will be gone before I know it, so I'm hoping just to take it as slow as possible and enjoy. I've had some stress at work lately, so if I can slow down and have a nice time, that might help. I don't want you to have to feel my stress, and frankly, I don't want to feel it either!

::: posted by Kerry at 12:10 PM



tuesday, november 26 :::
 
+ These boots are made for walkin' +
We did a lot of walking this weekend, Little One, but you knew that surely. I definitely don't have quite the stamina I used to, and my feet would get sore very quickly. But we walked a lot anyway, and stood a lot too. I can say concretely that I know what Braxton-Hicks contractions are now. I've only had them a few times that I firmly know about, but I'm positive that's what they were. My entire abdomen swells and contracts at the same time and turns absolutely, completely rock-hard. It's freakish, and not entirely comfortable. It doesn't hurt exactly, it feels like a leg cramp without the pain. Does that make sense? Anyway... You kick me like a champ now! You're almost up to my ribs, and considering your proclivity lately to kick me very high on the right side, I'm not looking forward to that first rib-shot. Of course, you move all the time, and I can never predict where today's kicking will take place. Much of the trip you were down very low, doing a jig on my bladder, but now you're riding high again with your butt somewhere in my lower left abdomen. Yep, I'm starting to be able to tell where you are inside of me now. You mostly like to stay on the left side, with your appendages tickling my right side, but like I said, you move a lot and that varies. It's just weird to be able to feel where you are and where you aren't inside of me. Of course, the bigger you get, the less vacant space there will be.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:22 AM



thursday, november 21 :::
 
+ Tummy ache +
Stress is bad. I'm glad I don't get stressed very often. It makes my whole tummy sore. And back. And shoulders. It's a really busy day and I'm feeling the tension. I'll have to visit that spa in Aladdin while we're in Vegas. You haven't moved as much yesterday or today, which is kind of worrisome. Just when I really start to freak out though, you give me an obligatory kick and I relax a little. Move some more, will ya? Thanks.

::: posted by Kerry at 12:45 PM



wednesday, november 20 :::
 
+ 23w6d and Doctors +
Well, everything is perfect so far! I didn't get all the numbers (like my belly measurement) because I have to ask for each of them, and I forgot. :-) But my bp was 110/72, your heart rate was about 150 ("right in the girl range" according to Dr. U.), and... I gained THREE pounds! Woo hoo! I joked with the nurse that I've been trying my darnedest, so I was glad to see it was paying off. Seriously, as huge as I'm feeling lately, I truthfully expected it to be close to 10 pounds. But 3 makes me really happy. It means that I'm finally getting up to speed in that dept. Everything was fine, he had no concerns for me and told me that a couple of my minor concerns were nothing to worry about. We go back 12/17 for the 1-hour appointment for the glucola test. Yippee. I am definitely not looking forward to that, but I'm sure we'll be fine.

Anyway, glad things are going well, and glad I finally got in to see him. I'm feeling kind of crampy today, which tells me I didn't sleep carefully again. On the other hand, I slept fairly well. I woke up several times, but never to pee, and never more than a few minutes at a time. I was probably finally exhausted from all these half-sleepless nights.

::: posted by Kerry at 6:47 AM



tuesday, november 19 :::
 
+ Rollin' on out +
Well, this is the first time I have felt even a tiny "wave" of movement. You apparently are a little too squished on the right side of my belly, not far below my ribs, and you keep rubbing some appendage back and forth, back and forth. Very strange feeling...

::: posted by Kerry at 12:33 PM


 
+ Shots and Doctors +
We're off to see the doctor in a couple of hours, Baby O. They tried to cancel on me, but I didn't give them the pleasure. I informed them that, although I really really didn't want to take time off of work, I will NOT wait until next week for my next appointment. That would be 7 weeks, and I don't think I should go from 17 weeks to 24 weeks or more without an appointment. That just doesn't seem right to me. So we're going at 2:30.

I did get my flu shot today. I hope you don't mind that. My arm's a little tingly, but that's normal I think. I have had them before, so I'm hopeful there won't be any problem. The nurse, when she gave me my permission slip for the shot last week, didn't give me much comfort. I asked her if this was normal, if she gave these regularly and she said, "Oh, sure! It should be fine, unless... No, I'm sure you're fine." What was the unless? I didn't ask. Now I hear that voice in the back of my head as I sit here, rubbing my poor shot arm.

::: posted by Kerry at 11:02 AM


 
+ Amazing +
I've been hanging around in a couple of message boards throughout this pregnancy so far, and something really struck me today. One girl on a board is being put on bedrest because she's having premature labor. She posted that she won't be around anymore, and she's just praying to make it 4 more weeks to give the baby a better chance. Now, what's so disturbing about this, to me, is that she's due just 4 days before me. And she will probably have a baby within a month. Oh. My. Gosh. I know I said before that I was happy you're nearing the viability point (basically there now), but I didn't actually think about what that could mean. Honestly, I feel like I'm just now starting to get used to the idea of being pregnant. Only recently have I really started showing. Only recently have I started feeling you regularly and clearly. Even though I go to sleep early and can't move around quite as well as I used to, I don't actually feel hindered like I should for having a baby inside of me - one that could probably live OUTside of me. Does that make sense? It's like the last 23 weeks were warm-up to actually being pregnant, which is only yet to begin sometime in the not-so-distant future. And to think of that getting interrupted by unwelcome labor? Yikes! That's scary.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:10 AM



monday, november 18 :::
 
+ 11/18/02 +
Today is your mommy and daddy's anniversary, Baby O.! Two years ago, we married and were already talking about when we would get to meet you. We knew we weren't in a complete hurry, but we also knew it wouldn't be long.

This weekend was a busy, busy, busy one. It didn't center around you like last weekend's shopping spree almost did. But you were oh-so involved. First, at the movie yesterday, you decided to see what it was like to actually kick my bladder. Now, I'm sure you've put pressure on it before, moving around. But these were kicks. I was sitting there, innocently watching the movie, when suddenly I felt this poke and desperate urge to pee. A split-second later, it stopped. Then again. You were kicking my bladder. I wasn't sure I'd know what that would feel like, but I was sure wrong! You didn't help me sleep at all, thanks again. Last night I got about 4 hours of sleep. :-( Plus, all that talk last week about BH contractions made me start paying attention to what's going on in there. I can feel my uterus contract sometimes. It's like, normal, and then suddenly my whole abdomen, from really low to under my ribs is hard as a rock. It doesn't last, and it doesn't hurt. It's quite strange, actually. Daddy's getting frustrated about not feeling you, which is what I was afraid of. It's actually a sore spot now, and I'm afraid to ever mention it. I didn't tell him about you on my bladder. He figures when it's really obvious, then he'll feel it, and until then he doesn't want to try. I feel really horrible about that, but I know it's frustrating. I just want him to be able to share in all this with me. He knows that, and he loves us. He'll feel you soon.

Today you are kicking me over and over in one new spot. I've had a little aching, especially when I lie down, that I can only think is somehow related to my ribs. My uterus isn't quite up there yet, but it's on its way, and everything else has already been pushed up there. Tomorrow is our Dr's appointment. This one has been 6 weeks in coming, which I'm not happy about. I'm going to make sure to make my next one early so if it's cancelled again I don't have to wait this long. It makes me nervous.

::: posted by Kerry at 9:15 AM



friday, november 15 :::
 
+ Dancin' Queen +
You're doing a boogie on some internal organ. I'm not sure which one, but it's not completely comfortable. This whole pregnancy thing is just flat-out weird.

::: posted by Kerry at 9:20 AM


 
+ Friday +
I had more crazy dreams last night. I remembered them vividly when I woke up, but of course they're gone now. I also had more cramping last night, but that was my own darned fault. Last evening I got carried away cleaning and by the time I was done, my stomach and back were killing me. You didn't move a lot either, but you definitely moved a lot this morning to let me know you're okay. Sorry for the stress yesterday. I promise not to do that again for a while. Tomorrow we're going to go see your Great-Grandma Doris for a BBQ at her house, along with your Grandpa Dan, lots of great-aunts/uncles, second cousins (I think?), etc. A lot of your daddy's cousins are a little younger than us, and they're quite religious. They married young and had babies young, and they've been after us for quite a while to have babies too. Just so you know, never pressure someone else to do what you're doing just because you're happy with your choices! Daddy and I wanted some time to ourselves first, and then getting pregnant with you was no piece of cake. It was very hard to hear them pressuring us when we were already trying and not having success. Anyway, I'm sure there will be WAY too many tummy rubs and oohs and aahs going on tomorrow over us. So get ready for stranger danger! Oh, well! Next week is a short week, thankfully, as we're all going to Las Vegas on Friday. Your first trip to Vegas. I'm going to try to sneak away to the Aladdin for their prenatal massage in the Elemis Spa. It sounds so heavenly.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:04 AM



thursday, november 14 :::
 
+ Probably not +
BH contractions, according to WebMD.com are "usually painless." So it must have just been some weird cramping. Maybe you were lying in an unusually awkward position. Who knows? I guess I feel better now.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:44 AM


 
+ 23 weeks +
I was looking forward to seeing this one tick by, and I'm not entirely sure why. I think it's mattering more to me than I expected that we get closer to that viability point, where if you came early you'd be okay. Obviously, after 23 weeks (19 weeks of knowing about you), I'm rather attached to you. I can't bear to think of something bad happening to you. So, please just hang out, grow bigger and stronger, and be patient. I'm saying these things today, especially, because I think during the night last night I might have had some Braxton-Hicks contractions. I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that's what was happening. It doesn't worry me terribly; it does happen, and will continue to happen. But it's making me more acutely aware of where we are in this journey and how much time is left.

We were supposed to have an OB Dr. appointment yesterday, Baby O. But, as is bound to happen with an obstetrician given the nature of the business, Dr. U. was at the hospital delivering a baby when he was supposed to be chatting with me. I thought the appt. was with the nurse, but apparently it was supposed to be with him (and I guess only with him). So we had to re-schedule for next Tuesday at 4:30. So, I have to wait another 6 days to hear you or find out exactly how much ridiculous weight I've gained.

You are very active this late morning, after nothing in early morning. I swear, each day you find a new part of my stomach area to kick. You're kicking me so far over on the right side of my tummy, I didn't think it was possible! Anyway, I think that's all for our news this morning. I'm going to go do some research on BH contractions now and make sure we're doing okay.

Oh, and readers out there: Thank you for explaining why you haven't entered guesses! I totally understand, and just want to thank you for reading along. Without comments on this journal (deliberately), that guess board is the closest thing I have to getting feedback from you, so I just got a little anxious. :-)

::: posted by Kerry at 7:26 AM



wednesday, november 13 :::
 
+ Funny +
Yes, you little acrobat, I get it. I'm wearing these elastic-waisted jeans I got early on in my pregnancy, and while they still fit, they're getting a teeny bit tighter around the waist. The whole way to work, you kept kicking right along the waistband on my stomach on the left side. The whole. way. to. work. It was a long drive. Last night I SAW you!!! Well, I saw my stomach move 3 or 4 times as you kicked or punched it. Daddy didn't believe me, so he tried to feel you. I just knew if I could see you, he had to be able to feel you at last. So what did you do? You stopped moving. Again. Stop that! He wants to feel you, darnit! I can see how, in a few months, while I treasure these movements they just might start to get a little annoying depending on what you kick.

Readers: Unless your name is Michelle or Allison, you still haven't entered your birth guess. Is there a particular reason? Go. Do it. Now. Hee.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:16 AM



tuesday, november 12 :::
 
+ Symptoms +
Just a symptom update... All in all, I'm feeling pretty spiffy most of the time. I had a little headache today, but Tylenol cured it. My back hurts a lot. Frequently. I still get heartburn daily. But the morning pains I mentioned a couple of weeks ago seem gone (maybe because I greatly increased my water intake?). It has been replaced by belly (etc.) itching. I don't really itch a lot, but this morning I tried cocoa butter which really does seem to help. I'd been skeptical it would do anything, and I think I might have been wrong. I don't have any stretch marks, no signs of the linea negra. My feet haven't been swelling, but I've been pretty careful about that. My face is still broken out, and I'm just learning to deal with it. I think that's it.

Dr.'s appointment is tomorrow afternoon. Actually, this one's with the nurse, and I suspect it will last a few minutes at most. This is a good thing, since Grandma Laurie's birthday is tomorrow too! I need to remember to ask my Dr. for a note allowing me to get a flu shot. They're coming here to work to do them, but pregnant women need a Dr.'s note to allow them to get one. I really hope I remember, because I can't bear the thought of getting the flu while I'm pregnant! Yikes!

::: posted by Kerry at 2:11 PM


 
+ Being pregnant +
There are just days when I really feel pregnant. Today is one of them. You appear to have changed positions, and I can't help but think your butt is somewhere in my back. That doesn't hurt or anything, but I'm having these really strong, regular pokings all over the front of my belly. You made me completely distracted during a meeting this morning, and I thought everyone would see you for sure. Nope. Can't see you moving yet, amazingly. But boy can I feel you! You finally went to sleep long enough for us to go to lunch, eat and come back. And now that I'm sitting here, digesting, you are back at it again. My goodness.

::: posted by Kerry at 11:57 AM



monday, november 11 :::
 
+ Diaper Recycling +
Oh, how I wish our city would start doing this. I have to be honest: I would much prefer to use disposable diapers on you. But like it or not, I just can't ethically let myself use them primarily. So until they institute an environmentally-responsible program in Phoenix, cloth diapers it will be. Found that article via Jooles. :-)

::: posted by Kerry at 11:51 AM


 
+ Updates +
There's not a lot to update, but I'm sure I'll think of some. I went home Friday from work with some mystery illness, but it's probably somehow pregnancy-related. I was feeling much better by Friday night. The weekend sped by. Your Grandma Laurie and I went shopping on Saturday; we spent FIVE hours at Arizona Mills! Not surprisingly, I bought quite a few maternity clothes (good deals too; I got white jeans for $2.99 at the JCPenny outlet!), and Grandma and I bought some irresistable clothes for you. Of course, I have to remember to be surprised at your shower when I see them. The pj's I got for you are 18-month, so you won't see them for a while. But they are SOOOO cute! They are white and pink 2-piece pj's with a picture of a scottie dog in pink and a little 4-line poem about the scottie. I don't remember it all, but the end had the scottie running and jumping and coming back to lick your face. Little do you know now, but this is exactly what your life with Princess Fiona will really be like.

Speaking of scottie kisses, last evening we went for dinner at Grandpa John and Grandma Carol-Ann's house. Aunt Chelsie, Uncle C.R., and Uncles Chris and Mason were present too. There were four related Scottish Terriers and one unrelated dachsund tearing up the backyard. Mickey Lok (Princess's second cousin, I guess) jumped up on my lap and proceeded to completely remove my makeup! Ewwww! I have never been licked that much by a dog! We got some wonderful gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, including some cute clothes, hooded towels and lots of waterproof pads. How nice of them! Aunt Chelsie also gave me a half-ton of cocoa butter lotion for my rapidly-expanding belly.

You weren't terribly active on Saturday, but the remainder of the time, you were dancing jigs. You kept me awake some of the nights by poking me in whatever position I tried. That was really fun, thanks. Otherwise, things are good. We're 22.5 weeks. Daddy took a picture of us and my big ol' belly yesterday, which we'll do monthly from now on. So when we get that film developed, I'll put it on here somewhere with a password. It will probably be a while, though. I am very slow about developing film. The film in the camera already is probably at least 6 months old! Oh, well. We have a Dr's appointment on Wednesday (Grandma Laurie's birthday!), and I expect you have probably made me gain 10 pounds in the last 5 weeks. Hee hee. I guess we'll see. Speaking of gaining weight, it's time for lunch, so off we go!

::: posted by Kerry at 11:14 AM



thursday, november 7 :::
 
+ Childbirth and Baby Care Classes +
Well, I feel productive today, Ceili. I registered Daddy and I for classes at the hospital where we'll deliver. (Note to persons not currently residing in my uterus: If you watch the baby shows, anytime they show a Phoenix hospital, I've noticed it's my hospital every single time) I've been waiting for them to post the new schedules for 2003, and they finally did today! We'll start 4 childbirth classes on January 9th (OMG that's soon), 1 baby care class on February 10th, and a little OB orientation class on February 1st. That way, it'll be close enough to your birth that I won't forget everything, but not so close that if you come early I won't have finished yet. Yay!

::: posted by Kerry at 12:46 PM


 
+ Finally! +
I've been keeping my eyes out for an ultrasound picture that looked like you did when we saw you last. Most babies' ultrasounds show them sitting peacefully in the mommy's tummy, not doing headstands with their legs bent like you were. This is almost exactly what you looked like when we saw you. That's why we got such a good look at your legs, fee, girlie parts, bladder, heart, etc., but no good shots of your face.

Somehow, I don't think you've stayed that way. Sure, you might be like that right now, I have no idea. But you move SO much, I doubt you stay in any one position more than an hour at a time. You were practically taking my breath away last night you were moving so much. Daddy didn't want to try to feel you; I think he's afraid of being disappointed again. He may not be able to come to the next appointment, either, but it's probably going to be a quickie appointment. I think the nurse is probably just going to take my temps, blood pressure, your heart rate, etc. That's next Wednesday. Yay!

Today is 22 weeks. Dig it. Less than 5 weeks to the third trimester. Holy cow, is that right? Wow.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:19 AM



tuesday, november 5 :::
 
+ More +
BTW, the post below is probably TMI for anyone not accustomed to reading baby blogs. :-) If you embarass easily by girlie medicine and body parts, don't read the post immediately below this one.

If you haven't filled in your guess for the baby stats, what are you waiting for? There's a consensus so far (by complete coincidence!) that this girl will live up to her Irish name and be born on St. Patty's Day. What do YOU think?

Also, found out another girl here who used to be on my team is pregnant and due about 4 weeks after me. Looks like I started a trend! Fortunately, I'm first. I was thinking how much it would suck to be the last one, waiting and waiting and watching all the other mommies-to-be deliver and go on leave. Fortunately, hopefully, I'll beat them all to the punch!

::: posted by Kerry at 12:37 PM


 
+ Terrific Tuesday +
Well, it's a normal Tuesday, but I'm trying! You are a very active little girl, you know that? Last night you made me giggle you were so active. Then this morning, while I was watching the news before I got ready for work, I felt you kick my arm which was draped across my tummy. You kicked it hard too! I haven't had daddy try to feel you in a couple of days because I always feel guilty when he can't feel you. But I think it's about time to try again. Maybe tonight when we lie down for sleep he might have the patience to wait for you to kick him.

So, I haven't really updated on my symptoms lately, but I suppose since I'm doing this journal for posterity's sake I ought to do that. My feet haven't swollen that much since Saturday, but I'm being really careful, putting my feet up at home and getting up frequently at work. I have heartburn, and a lot of it! It started coming back a couple of weeks ago, and now I pretty much get it every single afternoon/evening. It's worse when I've had too much soda, so I'm trying to avoid it again. My face looks like a 15-year-old greaseball's! I don't think I've ever had this many pimples. It's very annoying. I'm buying the best cleansers and medicines I can find and it's only keeping it at bay, not improving anything. Ugh. Makeup is my friend (and my family and friends know I don't usually wear makeup much at all!). I'm doing much better energy-wise, and let's just say the 2nd trimester has brought back the desire for a love life I thought was gone forever. Let's see... What else? Back hurts pretty frequently. I'm getting better at sleeping. I brought in a flat, firm pillow to put under my right leg when I sleep on my side, and managed to sleep almost the whole night that way last night. Finally I think I might have solved the sleeping problem (without buying a $90 pillow). Belly's big, but no stretch marks or itching yet. I already had a couple on my hips, and they're more obvious now, but nothing on my belly. My breasts are still growing, after I thought they'd stopped. I bought a bigger (number and letter) bra last week, but it is still too small. That means I'm up 2 sizes! Yikes! Getting up is getting harder, and I can't use my stomach muscles to help either. I usually have to push myself out of whatever I'm sitting in (including the car). I'm still urinating frequently, but maybe a little less than before. There are some associated unpleasant things in that area, but I'll spare everyone those details, save to say that I checked into it and it's completely normal. My nails are growing like weeds, and my hair is finally getting thicker. It's also much redder, which everyone is starting to notice. I have no idea how, or why, but I don't really care. I LOVE my hair when it gets really auburn. Joe's dad's hair (and Joe's, really), is a kind of barely-red dark blonde, and my mother and I both have barely-auburn dark brown hair, so there's always a chance for a red-head. Joe and I would both be in heaven if that happened! HA!

Anyway, I know this is long, but I wanted to share what's going on at this stage, almost at 22 weeks. That's still so trippy to me. We're going to be parents. Wow.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:25 AM



friday, november 1 :::
 
+ BOIN-gy, BOIN-gy +
Never in my life did I think I would appreciate what it feels to be one of those gigantic, inflatable bouncy rooms that kids go into bright-eyed and shoeless. Now that I do, I sense I have discovered one more wonderful thing that only mothers can ever truly understand. Keep on bouncin', Ceili!

::: posted by Kerry at 12:18 PM


 
+ Movements +
I think you've been having the hiccups. Several times now I've felt this weird, rhythmic bumping, and I couldn't figure out what it was. I thought then, and I suppose I still think it's possible that it was my muscles twitching somehow from the strain being put on them. But it didn't seem to be in a rhythm with my own heart or anything, which I would think it would have been. Anyway. You move soooo much, you actually woke me up last night. I wasn't sleeping well anyway, but that didn't help. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE feeling you, and wish I could tell better what I was feeling. But sometimes it's just not completely comfortable. Basically any time I barely rolled even onto the edge of my stomach on either side, you kicked or punched me there until I moved. Thanks. :-) Well, baby, it's November. Four months, plus a little, and we'll get to meet. Cool.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:29 AM