Still here



39 weeks 6 days



Yep here I am, chipmunk cheeks, double chin and all, one day before my due date.  Yes, I am still working and plan to untill I go to the hospital.  Well at least getting up, dressed and to work.  There is not much left for me to do.  Today I made some copies and them have started to study for my PE exam that is in October. 

 As of tomorrow Blueberry will be the size of a "jackfruit" (google that one!) The average baby is between 6.2 and 9.2 pounds and measures 18.9 to 20.2 inches long!  Blueberry continues to grow hair and nails.  He or she is practice breathing. 

I am guessing Blueberry will be making his or her apperance on the 5th of March, really doubting it will be a February Baby.  However, I do think it would be kinda cool if the baby came on March 2nd, which is Dr. Seuss' Birthday.  Baby watch has offically started.      

39 Weeks

Well here we are at 39 weeks.  Feeling HUGE and getting more uncomfortable.  But at the same time feeling blessed that Blueberry and I are both healthy.  I love feeling Baby kick move and stretch inside me and watch the belly move.  I had my weekly appointment this morning.  My weight, blood pressure, Blueberry's heart rate (143), and belly height (38 cm) were all looking good.  I had not made any progress since my last appointment but I Blueberry's head went from "way high up" last week to "pressing down" according to the Doctor, which mean I should start to progress more. 

And hopefully I do go into labor in the next week naturally.  I have an appointment scheduled for March 2nd, 2 days after my due date.  If I make it to the 2nd, I will have bio-physical profile ultra-sound done, a Non-stress Test and an appointment with my doctor.  At the appointment with my doctor we will talk about an induction date for Blueberry most likely between the 5 and 9th of March.  I am really hoping for a natural birth and limit the number of "interventions" required. So I am hoping, praying, walking, bouncing on my exercise ball, eating pineapple, and more to try to get Blueberry to come on his or her own. so we can skip the induction talk.     

38 weeks

38 weeks, a view from the top!

Boy or Girl?

With only 2 weeks, yes TWO WEEKS, unitl my Due Date I decided to look up Old Wife's Tales to find out if Blueberry is a Boy or Girl.  Here is what I found.

It's a boy if:
You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy.
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute.
You are carrying the extra weight out front.
Your belly looks like a basketball.
Your areolas have darkened considerably.
You are carrying low.
You are craving salty or sour foods.
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese.
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy.
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy.
Your hands are very dry.
Your pillow faces north when you sleep.
Dad-to-be is gaining weight right along with you.
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever.
Your urine is bright yellow in color.
Your nose is spreading.
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles.
You are having headaches.
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number.
Total 7


It's a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy.
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute.
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear.
Your left breast is larger than your right breast.
Your hair develops red highlights.
You are carrying high.
Your belly looks like a watermelon.
You are craving sweets.
You are craving fruit.
You crave orange juice.
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy.
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy.
Your face breaks out more than usual.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread.
Your breasts have really blossomed!
Your pillow faces south when you sleep.
Your urine is a dull yellow color.
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number.
Total 8

As for the wedding ring I tried it earlier in Pregnacy and it went in circle -which mean boy but I just did it again now and it went forwards and backwards.  Which is not circles and not side to side: so inconclusive??

Boy 7 Girl 8, so pretty much it is a tie.  I guess we will find out soon enough.  I have not had any indication that I will be going into labor soon but things can change quickly.    My guess is the Blueberry will come March 5th.  Mike is sticking to his guess of February 22nd.    Next doctors appointment is tomorrow, so we will find out if we have made any progress.

2 years: Callentines Day

Two years ago this morning my brother Callen lost his live doing what he loved, snowboarding and hanging out with friends.  I cannot believe it has been two years.  Some days it feels like yesterday and I am drawn back into the grief.  Other days if feels like ages ago it happened and since I have seem or talked to Callen. 

I remember laying in bed Sunday February 14th, 2010 in our Anchorage Condo.  Snuggling with Mike.  I had decided to play hooky from church and stay with Mike since he had worked the night before, getting home at 6 am.  Around 8:30 my dad called me.  He and mom typically forget that Alaska is a 3 hour time difference on Sunday mornings so I ignored his call.  He called again, then my mom called. Again I ignored them.  Then the associate pastor at our Alaska church called around 9:30 or 10:00, again I did not pick up the phone, but decided it was a sign that the world wanted me to get out of bed for the day.

While still laying in bed I listened to the voice mail that my dad had left me.  It said to call him as soon as I could because Callen had been in a snowboarding accident.  I woke Mike up to tell him Callen had been in an accident.  I had this pit in the bottom of my stomach that something was seriously wrong.  Mike said, "I am sure everything is fine, call them back."  I called my dad and he did not pick up.  So I frantically called my mom who answered but I could tell by her voice it was not good.  

Then she asked me if I was sitting down and where Mike was.  I told her that he was laying in bed next to me sleeping.  She told me to wake him up.  Then told me that Callen had been snowboarding, got in an accident, and DIED!!  I am pretty sure I started sobbing and yelling no here and my mom told me to give Mike the phone.  I remember saying over and over I need to get back home, I need to go to Minnesota NOW.  I need to be with my family. 

Mike got off the phone and held me a long while.  He then sprung into action. First he called work to tell them he would not be coming in that night.  Brought me water and Kleenex.  Made a few other calls.  I remember laying in bed and receiving a call from Brad, who I call my 2nd Dad.  He is also a pilot.  He said not to worry about making travel arrangement that him and his wife Carla would let us know what flights we were on ASAP.  I remember being in the bathroom just staring in the mirror when Mike called up stairs to tell me that Jay and Robbie, who were the youth director and a Mom from our church, were coming over.  And then I remember my good friend Samantha coming in with her son Jacob, telling me that the associate pastor at church told her about Callen and she came right over.           

To say I was a mess would be an understatement.  I was trying to pull out our suitcases.  Clean up my scrap booking stuff from the night before that was all around the living room so my house did not look so messy with people coming over.  Robbie got here and told me to sit down relax, put a prayer shawl over my shoulders and prayed with me. 

 After a while Samantha, Jay and Robbie left and it was just Mike and I.  I called my mom to make sure Callen's girlfriend Rachel knew before I posted anything on Facebook.  Then the news really spread.  Callen's friend Jamison with in hours posted a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb6cxOpQ2Ko&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLE46BB18B0F0A87E0) .  Profile pictures changed to Callen.  Another one of his friends started a "In Loving Memory of Callen Fuchs" Group on Facebook.  Mike talked back and forth with Brad and got our reservation numbers for flights out of Anchorage that night, stopping in Seattle and getting into Minneapolis on the 15th.  

I went back up to just lay in bed and my dad called me back.  He wanted to know if they should keep Callen on life support so I could say good bye or not.  I decided I that I had a picture of Callen in my head and I did not want to see him hooked up to a ton of tubes.  Plus we donated what organs of Callen's we could and the sooner they were removed and transplanted the better. 

The rest of the day I really do not remember.  I have a memory of calling my parents from the airport before the plane took off.  I remember trying to sleep and read in the Seattle Airport.  And I remember crying a lot, wondering what everyone else in the airport was flying to.  

The morning of the 15th Brad and Carla picked us up at the airport, with Brad being a pilot they were able to meet us right at the gates.  We collected our bags and headed to my parents house.  Mom and dad were still driving back from Michigan but there were a bunch of people at the house.  From there on it was all about being together with family and friends.  I was so out of it for the first few days.  Being around big groups of people totally put me off and I often retreated into my bedroom to sleep, cry and question why.  

Today 2-14-2012 I can't help but miss Callen.  I wish he were here with me and Mike to celebrate the upcoming birth of Blueberry.  I know he would be an amazing uncle.  Losing Callen has made me be thankful for what I have and to try to live each day to it's fullest.  He taught me so much with how he lived his life.  I wish I had spent more time telling him how much I loved him when he was here.

So call you sibling today and tell them that you love them and how lucky you are that they are in your life.  

Happy Callentines Day.   

PUPPPS

Well 37 weeks and 4 days into my pregnancy I get my first what I would call truly negative side effect. I have PUPPS which is described by Baby Center as:

"Up to 1 percent of pregnant women develop a condition characterized by itchy, red bumps and larger patches of a hive-like rash on their bellies. This is called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) or polymorphic eruption of pregnancy.

PUPPP usually begins in the third trimester and is more common among women carrying twins and those having their first baby. The eruptions usually show up first on the abdomen around or in stretch marks (if you have any) and may spread to your thighs, buttocks, and arms. PUPPP is harmless for you and your baby, but it can itch like crazy!"

Well I can testify that they itch like crazy!!  My Belly had been itching for a while but last night before bible study al of the sudden I had a painful itchy rash! Mike being the lovely husband that is he confirmed that I had bumps on my belly. I called the doctor’s office this morning and described it to them, they said yep that’s what you have. The doctor recommended Hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl at night. And they will re-evaluate it at my appointment on Friday.

Until then let’s hope I can resist the urge to itch.

Maternity Photos

Mike and I had Maternity Photos Taken today!  We went to Sears in Minot and had them done.  I think that they turned out great!  Only 20 days until our Due Date.  

37 weeks

How far along are you? 37 Weeks!!  Full Term!
How big is baby? The Size of a Watermelon according to one source- 6.2 to 9.2 pounds and 18.9 to 20.9 inches long.  My Doctor told me today he thinks Blueberry will be around 8 pounds
Maternity Clothes? All the time. Mike's Shirts and some maternity shirts are getting small around the belly
Weight - loss or gain? Gain...Had an appointment last Friday Doctor said it was right on.
Sleep: This weekend my hips and lower back get sore had up at least 2x a night to pee and ended up sleeping on the recliner, but the last 2 night I have only gotten up once.
Movement: When is there not movement.
Food Cravings: I had a craving for Salty and carbs this week
Food Adversions: No not really
Belly Button In or Out? In, but getting smaller by the minute

What do you miss? Being able to bend over easy, get out of bed or laying position easy, sleeping on my back, and red wine.



37 week bump picture



Happy Birthday Mike

A bit belated but Mikes 26th Birthday was on Sunday.  He was quite excited it coincided with the Superbowl so we threw a Birthday/Superbowl party.  We had about 20 people over, including 5 kids under 5.  The food included served chili, veggies, corn muffins, chips and I made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting.  They were a hit.  The group had a great time chatting and chasing the kids, I am not sure how much of the game was actually watched.  Mike got a compression drill from me and my parents for his birthday for all the home improvement projects that come in the future.  I could not ask for a better husband.  Mike has worked so hard on Blueberry's nursery and completeing the bathroom in the past few months.  In addition to helping me out around the house.  He also recieved some money from other family members and friends.  I think he plans on buying a vest plate for his work vest with the money. I hope he enjoyed the Birthday celebration.

36 weeks and due this month!

How far along are you? 36 Weeks!! Due this MONTH!!!
How big is baby? The Size of a Coconut according to one source- 4.3 to 5.8 pounds and 17.2 to 18.7 inches long, that is a big coconut!
Maternity Clothes? All the time. Even some of Mike's Shirts are starting to get small
Weight - loss or gain? Gain...Had an appointment last Friday Doctor said it was right on.
Sleep: ugh, hips and lower back get sore, up at least 2x a night to pee.
Movement: When is there not movement. Blueberry's but try’s to get under my right ribs, but not as much anymore seems to have dropped a little
Food Cravings: I had a craving for Salty this week
Food Adversions: No not really
Belly Button In or Out? In, but getting smaller by the minute
What do you miss? Being able to bend over easy, get out of bed or laying position easy, and red wine.

Not much else is new.  We have the nursery done, our hospital bags are pretty much packed, only have to throw in last minute things like the cameras and cell phone chargers once it is go time.  It is getting more real.  We toured the Labor and Delivery area last Friday. Everyone was really nice and the labor rooms are HUGE with a whirl pool tub in each.  They seem pretty much on course with our birth plan. We were supposed to have Lamase class last Saturday but it was canceled at the last minute do to the instructor having the flu. I was a bit upset, but have gotten over it. Hopefully Mike and I will have good nurses who can help us through labor.