They call this a non stress test??? Really?

Yesterday was a little scary for my taste... after the Monkey didn't do his usual 11:30 PM to 4 AM kickathon and didn't really react to breakfast ,the doctor (I was there for my 28 week appointment), thought it was important enough to do a non stress test. Mr. came with me, as he always does.

What is a non stress test? Well, you get hooked up to a fetal monitor that monitors the heart rate and movement of the little guy (and contractions if necessary). You sit there for 20 minutes listening to the baby's heart beat, and then in 20 minutes the doctor comes in and checks a sheet of paper that measures the rate/activity.

When the doctor came to check, she asked me about the movement, and when I told her that I wasn't feeling much movement (I had only felt one kick) she told me there was not enough movement. The heart beat was perfect, but with not a lot of movement, my son failed his first test. So the doctor explained that we had to see whether or not he is happy, because if he is not happy in the uterus, then he wouldn't grow and thrive and he would be better on the outside. She ordered me to go to an ultrasound to right away and I thought I was ok... then all the nurses were in with the doctor, checking me out.

Then she started the line of questioning... "Have you taken your childbirth class yet?", "Do you have a pediatrician?" and "have you decided on the circumcision yet?"

That was when I started to freak out a little. I hid it well and Mr. didn't realize it until later when I told him how freaked out I was. We aren't ready. We don't have everything done. If we were to go today we have no clue what to do, we had (I took care of that right away yesterday) no pediatrician, we hadn't gone over my labor wishes (not a "plan" cause I know circumstances change), the room isn't done, and bags aren't packed. I am NOT ready. He is NOT ready. I felt overwhelmed and afraid....and hearing Mr. talking about being nervous did not help, but I was glad to know at that moment I was not alone.

We got to the ultrasound and then had to wait for an hour. But when we got to see him, he was fine (a little stuck and frustrated and kicking my spine) and the biggest wave of relief washed over me. I still worry and wonder what is in store for us these last 12 weeks or so, but as John Lennon said in Beautiful Boy "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." So last night, we talked about a new plan.... what happens if he comes early. And today, I feel a bit better knowing that we can handle anything that gets thrown in our way.

But the boy is sooo grounded for the next three months or so.

The Home Stretch!

I can not believe that Thursday I am 27 weeks along with the Monkey. It will be my last week in the second trimester.... a trimester I will miss when I am gone! I could actually do stuff and see people! It was like night and day between the trimesters!

But we are in the homestretch and are preparing for life as a family of three (and a kitty)!

Ok, let's see what this third trimester has in store for me!

Gestational Diabetes & Me...

So it turns out I did have gestational diabetes, which can cause the baby to get too big. I have to watch what I eat, count carbs and make sure I eat 6 times a day.

All in all, I think the only thing that the boy is not pleased about is counting the portions (smaller meals and no Spagetti O's (my signature craving) - obviously the end of the world as he knows it), but it is for his own good, and is not going to change no matter how many times he kicks me in the bladder or the ribs really hard!

This also means I must face my fear of needles head on. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and take insulin at night. Although I must say... I can't really do the insulin every night by myself. Frank helps me on the nights he is not playing.

Of course this also means that they will be monitoring the little guy to make sure he is not getting too big/getting stressed out in there. When they determine he is close to being too big, I get to have the amneo test and they will check his lungs to make sure they are fully developed. Then they will talk induction... and while I want to meet him sooner rather than later... he needs to bake a bit more.

So that's whats new with me!!!

So Cool!

So yesterday, my mom came up and we went to my doctor's appointment. Everything looked great and he allowed the doctor to find his heartbeat easily! I took my Glucose test, so I am on pins and needles waiting for my results, which should be in today!

Then after lunch and a little shopping, we did our elective ultrasound. He showed himself and even performed for us! (Including giving us the finger!) I fell even more in love with my little Monkey!

The infamous finger shot!

I think he heard my crack about him having more hair than his daddy!

Bein' all cute!

There is about 17 weeks until we meet you! I can't wait!

It was totally neat to see what the 4D scan can see. The baby has a head of hair, my nose, his daddy's cheeks and his great-Grampy's feet! (Which skipped me, but his Uncle Mikey totally has my Grampy's feet!) It also looks like he laughs like mommy.

We also have a DVD of his performance. It is just mindblowing to watch him move around and kick and bend. It was a memory I will have of him for the rest of my life. And it was neat to share it with my mom, who had never been to an ultrasound like that before!

I can't wait to see that face up close and in person, but for now I know every day and every kick will bring me closer to meeting him.

Decorating the Nursery!

So we have known before we were having kids what the general theme of the nursery would be for either gender. Now that we officially know we are Team Blue, we have started really focusing on the baby's room.

The theme will be Rockets and Robots!

I have been working hard on some really fun and creative home made projects for it, including (insert gasp here) a thematically appropriate room sign and name letters. Those will not be posted here until the baby is born and the name is no longer a mystery!

It is super fun planning these things, but with the former office about to be turned into a baby's room.... We are going to have to work hard to get some things packed and put down into the cellar for storage. That is one of the things we will need to begin to do this weekend, as our crib will be in our house in a few weeks!

But for now we have the gorgeous Dwell studio for Target sheets we picked up, and some other assorted rocket stuffs for the little one!

Dreaming in ....

We had our anatomy scan yesterday. The anatomy scan is basically two techs do an ultrasound one right after the other, and they look at the baby from head to toe and then they can tell you if they see anything that can lead to birth defects. They can also tell the gender!

The great news is that the baby's heart is pumping strong. The blood is flowing great. No sign of Downs Syndrome, and a perfect kidney.

The even more awesome news is that the baby wasn't shy... We are dreaming in blue!

Meet our son!

We have a great name that will not be revealed until the baby is born.

My beautiful baby boy... I am in love with him already. June seems so far away!

Happy New Year!

We celebrated alone at home with Chinese food and it was AWESOME. It was just the way to ring in what we call:

2011: The year of the Baby

We got a great strawberry cake and just hung out on the couch watching Twilight Zone and the Boston Fireworks.

As far as Monkey goes, everyday I am astonished at the growth of my stomach, the idea that there is a little guy or gal in there. And now I find myself enjoying my pregnancy, but I am counting down the days until we meet him or her. It is incredible how close I am with a little one I have yet to meet.

I found myself this afternoon thinking about what the baby will be like, who he/she will be like, what he/she will be when they grow up.... I don't care. All I want is a happy child.

And I get to be the proud Mommy.

That is the awesomest feeling.