almost 35 weeks

Hello!

All the little feet and big paws around here are doing great.  Working hard and getting ready for Mr. E. Except for Mika.  She just plays hard, whines when we aren't playing, and barks at the UPS man.  She never helps around the house.  Unless I drop food on the floor of course.  Then she happily helps clean that up.  I'll call about our camera on Monday.  If the police say it might be awhile before we get it back, I'll start getting pics of my belly on my phone.  If they say its only a week wait, I'll probably wait to get our camera back.

On to the fruit comparisons!  I'm just a day shy of 35 weeks so that's what I'm posting about:

Mr. Eli:

• is getting a bit cramped.  Don't worry, he still tries to move around and thumps and kicks and such.  
• is about 18 inches
• weighs about 5 1/4 lbs (think of a honeydew melon is what the site says, but that seems heavy for a honeydew melon.  Or maybe I'm just that strong!)
• has fully developed kidneys
• has a liver that can process some waste products.  
• is developing his brain and getting all smart and stuff.  He'll be a genius I'm sure.

Ms. Mommy: 

• my uterus is up under my rib cage by now (I think it has been for a few weeks now.  Mr. E has gotten between my ribs a few times).  
• pees a lot
• has pelvic/hip ache-i-ness
• hates trying to roll over in bed.  Owieowieowie.  I just sit up, it's easier and less discomfort
• is still dealing with heartburn
• made her first sweet potato pie.  It was yummy. 

Mr. Daddy: 

• got accepted to an astronautical (think space and satellites, not airplanes) engineering program.  I think he is going to choose this over fire protection engineering.  We should know soon as this program he will start in January instead of next fall.  
• Got his hair and beard trimmed.  A bit more than he wanted I think, but he looks good.  He just looks a little less like a hermit mountain man
• got his Christmas present this week.  We got a lenovo yoga 13.  It's a pretty cool convertible laptop / tablet.  Windows 8 has a learning curve to it.  
• is a great man who gives me back/hip rubs, makes me ovaltines and pbj sandwiches, and keeps things easy going even when I'm bitchy and grumpy with him.  I love you dear.  

Ms. BigPaws: 

• has taken to rearranging the living room to her comfort.  She has currently moved a couch cushion and couch pillow to her "bed" (behind our couch where her crate use to be) and has been seen propped up on top of all these pillows.  She is quite the princess.  
• Chased after deer twice today.  I'm sure she just wanted to ensure that we had a thanksgiving feast and was a bit worried about not smelling any turkey yet.  She did not catch either deer.  Not even close.   

I had a great week this week.  Last Sunday I got a pedicure with a friend who is also pregnant.  I got cute little dots on my toes.  She got me an awesome gift of a bottle drying rack and a bottle parts dishwasher container thing (pregnancy makes my english real good like).  See, she is smart and got me something functional that I actually still need.  We had a whole conversation about how people tell you to make a good baby registry, and then no one buys you anything off the registry if it is functional (it has to be cute).  I was not smart and got her the cutesy stuff.  Ooops.  

I had a busy busy week and worked a lot of hours, but it was really good.  I solved a 3 year old problem at work by using copy and paste and hitting a "submit" button.  I did it on a whim.  It worked.  It probably never should have been a problem if it was that simple to fix, but I felt like a rock star.  Then when my boss took his new rock star and her team out to lunch, she promptly tripped over a curb and tumbled to the ground making a fool out of herself.  Anyone who knows me well will know that I'm a very clumsy person.  I was not hurt and neither was baby.  My pride felt a little bruised though.  

Then I spent Thanksgiving with one of my chosen families.  Brian and I had delicious food and great company.  I had been hesitant to make plans because I get randomly tired and grumpy, but I'm so glad we went.  It was fun and relaxing and yummy.  It also meant we didn't have leftover pizza or cereal for Thanksgiving.  I got to talk to a lot of my family over the phone.  Not everyone though, I'll probably call around some more this weekend.  

People keep asking about the nursery.  We aren't doing anything fancy with it, but things are cleaned and prepared.  There is still some office stuff in the closet and behind the door (and books and travel souvenirs on the shelves), but I'm sure baby won't mind for awhile.  I also got an amazing painting of the Cat in the Hat from a great friend, but I haven't hung it yet.  That will probably happen this weekend and maybe I will take more pictures.  Below are some pictures of the nursery.  

Hanging on the wall is Brian's baby blanket.  The crib is mostly empty now.  All that stuff is cleaned out.  I'll put the sheet on this weekend.  

3-6 month clothes.  The drawer is full.  This doesn't include sleepers.  

0-3 month clothes all washed and ready to be worn.  The drawer is full.  

Mr. E's dresser with decorations and toys.  The bear was Brian's when he was a boy.  The bear's ear was cold.  He needed a hat. 

We packed our hospital bag mostly.  I still need to add some stuff.  You can see heat and cold packs, clothes for me to come home in, hair ties to keep my hair out of my face, a Pilates ball (for massaging my back without killing Brian's muscles, something we learned at our comfort measures class),  a pashmina for relaxation learned in our class (don't worry, it is a stained one),  Mr. E's going home clothes, and deodorant for Brian because I'm going to make him work hard!  The other side of the suitcase has Brian's stuff. We also have tennis balls now.  We'll pack toiletries when the time comes.  I'm sure you all want me to shower and brush my teeth between now and then :)

33 weeks

I am 33 weeks yesterday!  We had a very eventful week this past week.  There will be two posts.

Here are the fruit comparisons:

Eli

• weighs a little over 4 lbs (~ the weight of a pineapple or an adult duck (I wonder if he's a witch))
• is ~ 17in long (ladies, think of the length of your favorite collarbone length necklace)
• has hardening bones and he is gaining more fat and looking less wrinkly 
• has an almost mature respiratory system
• can tell the difference between light and dark/night and day (I'm sure he'll forget this knowledge as soon as he arrives and sleep all day and fuss all night)
• kicks and punches with more force now.  

Mom: 

• has to pee all the time.  Frequently rushes to go and then the bladder only releases about 3 drops.  It is obnoxious.  
• has started waddling a bit.  My hips and pelvic bones are sore, especially going from laying/sitting to standing.  
• has been reading a ton about labor and delivery, so I'm starting to feel much less nervous about it.  I'm trying to go into it with an open mind about what I want since things will happen how they happen and I will just adjust accordingly.  Although an epidural scares the bejeezus out of me.  
• Heartburn...yay
• My fingers have been swelling a bit.  I wear my wedding rings on a chain as a necklace.  
• I'm tired.  Naps are frequent and frequently unintended!  

Dad: 

• is doing well in school and has been looking into an alternative to the UMD fire protection degree.  This other option is Capitol College and is a degree in Astronautical Engineering.  Either one would be pretty awesome.  
• has been taking over a bunch of chores for me (vacuuming the stairs, taking the dog out, carrying the laundry up and down the stairs, etc)
• has been procrastinating on learning about labor :)  I think he thinks 7 weeks max is a long way away.

Mika: 

• pees, poops, eats, and demands attention.  What good practice!  
• got many many treats this week

So I started washing baby clothes and prepping the hospital bag this weekend.  I have all the 0-3 month clothes washed and sorted.  I might do the 3-6 months in a week or two.  We are also going to give the cloth diaper thing a try and we have a good starter stash built and prepped.  We have pockets (bumgenius and fuzzibunz) and prefolds with covers (thirsties, flips and 1 econobum).  I got almost all of them used and almost all of them will last through potty training, so if we keep up with it and don't switch back to disposables, we'll be spending a max of around $300 for diapers.  If we don't, they have a great resale value, so I'll just sell them for about what I paid for them.  Not much risk there.  We plan on using up the disposables we have received first while we get settled with Mr. E and find a general routine.  

I had an appointment on Friday and everything was great.  Heartbeat was 143.  Fundal height (my belly) measured right at 32 weeks and the doc told me to keep up the walking and my eating habits.  My pelvic bone hurting is normal.  That was really it.  I go back the first week of December (36 weeks), then again two weeks later (38 weeks), and then every week (39, 40 weeks...they won't let me go past 41 weeks).

We took an infant care class and learned a bit about diapering, bathing, things that happen at the hospital, skin care, sleeping, swaddling, dressing, nails, etc.  

People have been asking us what we need so I'll list it here.  This isn't a request for items, I just can't think of things on the spot when asked because we really are good to go for the first few weeks.  I've been trying to think about it, but we really do have the basics to get us going.  We could probably use a few more bottles for when I start pumping.  We have a few Avent bottles and some babies r us brand drop ins (like the Playtex nursers), but a few more probably wouldn't hurt.  I know many people swear by the Dr. Browns, but we would prefer not to have bottles with a ton of parts to clean and worry about.  (I've heard the Dr. Browns leak if they aren't put together just right).  We could also use a bottle drying rack and dishwasher container.  We don't have many socks or mitten things.  We could probably use more crib sheets.  

Things we have a ton of: heavy blankets, 0-3 and 3-6 months clothes, bath time stuff (shampoo, soap, lotion, towels), teether toys.  

Larger items we have: car seat, play pen, swing, bouncer seat, boppy pillow, bumpo seat, crib, dresser, stroller, bassinet, diaper caddy, backpack (diaper bag)

Here is our registry again in case anyone wants to look.  Again, this isn't a request for items.  People just keep asking.   http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3C6NTSMZVLTNU

Scary Happenings: It was a dark and quiet night after the election

So we had quite the excitement this week.  At least one guy came into our house while we were home sleeping and attempted to steal things.  We are all safe and well.  All of our stuff was recovered and one guy was caught.  We think the front door wasn't locked after Mika went out for the last time.  Lock your doors.  Apparently many thieves just walk around checking for unlocked doors.  Here are the details from my point of view.  

We went to bed and watched the election results for awhile on Tuesday night.  I fell asleep early, but Brian didn't go to sleep until about 1/1:30am.
At a bit after 2:30am, I woke up to Mika barking and coming into our room.  She does this sometimes, so I didn't think much of it at first.  She'll do this when she sees a raccoon or a cat outside.  She is barking while sitting on the cot we have for her in our bedroom.  I wake up B and tell him to just go downstairs and look outside because that usually calms her down.  Then I realize that she isn't barking at the window, she is barking while intently staring at our bedroom door.  We get quiet and B tells Mika to "go to your house" which is her command to go down to her bed where her crate use to be.  She refuses, which is strange and never happens.  That is one command that she always follows in the house, even if you can tell she doesn't want to.  B gets up and goes to the open bedroom door and we listen.  We hear creaking downstairs.  Anyone who has been in our house much knows that we have creaky floors. I hear crickets, which is odd.  Our windows provide great sound proofing.  Brian closes the bedroom door while I call 911.  I'm hiding, crouched down, on the side of the bed away from the door and B and Mika are at the foot of the bed away from the door.  We hear creaking around.  

The 911 guy was super calm.  I know they are trained, but his confidence was very calming.  I tell him we think there is someone in our house.  He asks some questions: 2 of us live here, we have a dog, yes the dog is with us, we hear creaking, yes we still hear someone/thing moving around downstairs, no we don't have weapons.  He lets us know that the police officers are on the way and that we should stay on the line with him.  I'm shaking and feel completely terrified but stay calm enough to talk quietly.  I'm thinking about how I can't hide under the bed...I don't fit...and there is no where else for me to go without crossing the path of the door.  B tells me afterwards that he was trying to think of something to use as a weapon, but we didn't really have anything.  

It only takes a few minutes.  It felt like a long time, but it wasn't really.  We see lights near the walking paths behind the house (the officers looking for people) and hear a dog (the canine unit).  The 911 guy keeps us on the line and tells us that other units will be there shortly and to stay in our room until they announce their presence (and to keep hold of the dog).  A couple minutes later, a cop announces he is an officer and B goes down.  I keep a hold of Mika and stay in the room a bit longer.  After getting better dressed and going downstairs, we answer a bunch of questions about what happened.  We are asked not to touch anything if at all possible and to start looking for things that are missing.  They won't let me do anything because I'm pregnant and they have called the EMTs to check up on me.  The guy took a computer monitor, my purse, B's keys, our digital SLR camera, the camera bag, our PS3, and laptop.  The police found things ditched throughout his path of escape up to a few blocks away.  My purse was on a neighbors car with nothing missing from it.  B's keys were found under my car the next day when I left for work, other stuff was found in bushes and under cars.  All of it was found.

After awhile, the EMTs showed up and took my vitals (big surprise, my blood pressure was a bit high).  I haven't felt any movement from Mr. E at this point and I'm worried, but at this point I remember that I have a home doppler thing and grab it and find his heartbeat before the EMTs leave.  His heart rate was also a bit high, but within the normal range of 130-170 that I'm always told at the doctor's office.  Poor little dude probably got a ton of the adrenaline and other hormones/whatever that were running rampant through my system at that point.  EMTs couldn't do anything else for me.  So they left.  

A detective comes and asks us again about what happened, what was missing, did we know anyone by the name of the guy they caught and had out in their police car.  We write formal statements.  We get some of our stuff back.  A crime lab lady came and took fingerprints off all the stuff he stole and certain places around our house (door knob of the front door and lock of the sliding door (it was open and most likely the door he left through) and a clear fingerprint on a speaker that was otherwise covered in dust).  We answer some more questions and provide our contact information.  

At some point, probably around 430ish, an officer comes in and says that someone should probably take the suspect down to the station because he was in the back of the squad car crying about the cuffs being too tight and having carpal tunnel syndrome.  The thought makes me smile.  That sounds mean, but it's his own damn fault.  Also he was apparently intoxicated.  

The officers finally leave around 5am.  I call into work and take the day off.  Brian emails his professors to get excused absences so he doesn't lose points.  Mika receives a bunch of treats and peanut butter.  She did a good job.  Some people have mentioned that she should have attacked, but I don't think that is really her personality.  She came to us and alerted us, and she probably couldn't have done anything better.  We still don't know what she would have done if he would have come into our room or come after us.  I have a feeling she may have attacked then.   We would have slept right through it if it wasn't for her.  We sleep with our bedroom door open.  The thought gives me chills.  I've decided Mr. E may be sleeping in our room until he is old enough to wield his own baseball bat.  I'm only half joking.  I can't imagine what I would have done if he was already born and in a different room. The rest of this crazy story isn't scary for me to tell anymore...that thought is still heart-pounding terrifying to me.  

We slept until noonish and called our families and insurance and all that and just tried to relax all day.  I cleaned house to get out some energy.  We walked Mika to get some of her energy out, you could tell she was still on alert.  I've checked the locks a billion times since then.  We had already planned to get a new front door and floors put in soon.  I was thinking before about how I wanted to get rid of the creaky floors.  Now I'm not so sure.  We probably wouldn't have heard anyone moving around after Mika woke us up if it wasn't for the floors creaking.  

I was extremely impressed with the Howard County Police (we don't have city police, just county police).  They got here so fast.  The officer that stayed with us and asked us questions was very good at keeping us relaxed.  They caught the guy and found our stuff in the dark hidden in bushes and under cars.  You could tell they were pumped up by actually catching someone.  I'm not saying they were happy it happened, but breaking and entering isn't usually noticed while its happening so they rarely catch people.  I felt kinda bad for the detective and crime lab lady, you could tell they had to get out of bed for us.  The other officers were already on shift. I still feel very grateful for how fast they got here, how they kept us calm and relaxed, and that they got the guy and all of our stuff.  We received a letter in the mail today about victim assistance.  It provided phone numbers to call for different things, our detective's info and case number, and information about how the judicial process works.  I'm sure it's an automatic thing to send to people, but I feel like we were completely taken care of.  Seriously impressed with our police here.  

Because I'm an internet stalker: 

We saw the court case in the Maryland court system online system already.  His preliminary hearing will be later this month.  I told someone that he was about 28, but he is 23ish.  He is being charged with Burglary-First Degree, Burglary-Third Degree, Burglary-Fourth Degree-Dwell, and Theft: $1000 to under $10,000.  I know it is the weekend, and this may only be due to a backup in data entry, but his bail was set on Thursday and it still doesn't say he was released.  

This isn't this guy's first run in with the law.  He has had multiple instances of driving on a suspended license, a second degree assault charge, public intox/reckless endangerment, theft of under $100 (found guilty), a few other charges that I would consider minor, and one of the officers recognized him from some vandalism at a convenience store.  A few of these cases were closed out due to the prosecution choosing not to pursue, probation, or a suspension of the prosecution (they could reopen it for a repeat offense in a reasonable amount of time).  

That's all I can think of for now.  It was scary.  It a way, it feels like it didn't really happen even though I know it did.  We still haven't gotten all our stuff back, so we don't know what condition it is in.  I did get to keep my purse though.  

The moral of the story is: Lock your doors.  

32 weeks

I'm 32 weeks (and a day).  Here are the fruit comparison details:

Mr. Eli:

• is ~3.75 lbs (weight of a large jicama...what's a jicama you say? Babycenter says it is this. 
• is ~16.7 in long
• gains about a half pound a week from now on
• is plumping up in preparation for birth so his skin is smoothing out more.  
• kicks a lot still and mostly aims for my ribs.  He can get up behind them now and can reach further than the bottom one.  I try to remind him that when he puts his feet there it doesn't tickle it hurts.  He doesn't listen often.  
• was tapping back when Daddy was tapping my stomach today, but we were in Lowe's and Daddy could only put his hand on my stomach to feel.  Just like in the past, Daddy's hand must be soothing because he immediately stops kicking.  Poor Daddy rarely gets to feel kicks.  

I: 

• fall asleep at the drop of a hat.  Ask B.  I will be talking to him and asleep before he responds.  He told me that if I'm quiet for more than 4 seconds he expects me to be asleep.  This is anywhere.  Home, the car, Lowe's.  Although I seem to be able to keep my lids open at work.  
• have started feeling breathless a lot.  Mr. E. or at least my uterus has met my diaphragm for sure.  It is annoying.  It doesn't hurt though.
• am feeling more strain in my lower back and joints thanks to all the hormones loosening up my ligaments and tendons and such.  
• My pelvic bone hurts.  Mostly when I go from lying down to anything (rolling over, sitting, standing).  Hopefully that's normal.  I'm going to ask at my doctor's appointment this week.  
• have been reading up on labor, delivery, and coping mechanisms (breathing, positions, massage, focus tricks, etc).  

Not a whole lot happened over the last two weeks other than me falling asleep a bunch.  

Mika is being Mika.  We gave her a pig ear the other day and it took her forever to realize she was suppose to chew on it.  She just sniffed it and looked at it for awhile.  It was funny. 

Brian is looking at another option for school. Still engineering, but this time Astronautical (sort of electrical engineering specifically for spaceships and satellites and such).  So we'll see what happens there.  Thankfully he isn't set into one degree path yet.  Both schools (for Astronautical and for Fire protection engineering) have great programs, are covered by the GI bill (or yellow ribbon program), and have outstanding placement rates at graduation.  

Ok, I'll wrap up with some pictures so Brian can do his calculus homework!

OMG I look huge!  I feel kinda big too, but everyone says I look small and all belly.  This picture makes me look HUGE (to me)

You can't see my bump much here, but have at it.  I miss my waist.  Even when I'm overweight I have a waist.

"No, Brian, this is not a mug shot!"

My favorite maternity shirt

Self explanatory.  Mr E and I were studying some stuff for work when I had the desire to show you all my favorite maternity shirt.

Making sure Mr. E can see the book.  Not many good pictures though.  

I don't know why this one looks funny...

Beautiful fall day!

Brian and I went to a friend's cookout today which was a blast!  The weather was great!  When we came home to feed Mika, we hung out in the backyard playing kickfetch with Mika and chillin' in our hammock.  It is just awesome weather today.  Not too many updates with baby.

I'm 30 weeks!  EEEK!  10 weeks / 69 days left (yes I know this isn't a set day, but here's hoping Mr. E stays in until ~40 weeks).

Mr. E:

• ~15.7" long
• ~3lbs
• still moving around like crazy.  
• Fingernails and toenails are pretty much finished developing
• his bone marrow is completely in charge of red-blood-cell production
• is opening his eyes sometimes, but his vision is only about 20/400
• has spent most of his energy on brain development
• has eyebrows

I am: 

• sleeping a lot
• suffering from swollen hands.  My rings have been moved to a necklace chain.  I'll probably just quit putting them on my hands even when they are not swollen.  I might also drop them off to get them cleaned. 

Here are some pics from today's trip to the backyard:

Brian fixing the camera for me.  But he got my belly so I thought you would want to see!

Brian's feet

Mika says, "Throw it!"

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Eli and Mika playing kickfetch

Chillin' in the hammock

I was trying to get a nice picture, but someone had to make a face

I got rid of my first husband to marry this mountain man I found while on a hike one day. 

We decided we wanted a family photo, but Mika wasn't working with us.

She was very ball-focused and couldn't figure out what we wanted her to do.

This was the best we could get!

I tried to get my belly, but my arms aren't long enough.  B is so serious looking with the beard and shades.

Taking a break from playing with her ball.

"I'm ready!  Throw it!"

I got it!

I'm ready!

I'm a terrible blogger: 29 weeks

Here, have some pictures first to appease the masses: 

29 weeks 3 days.  Not a maternity shirt so it looks weird.  I was feeling lazy, and you're lucky I'm even wearing pants.

29 weeks 3 days

29 weeks 3 days

Sorry I haven't updated (again).  I'm a terrible blogger.  I'll make up for it today by writing a thousand page novel.  I have just been tired and too lazy to bust out the camera.  And not having pictures was a great excuse to be lazy with typing.  Who cares about the pregnant lady unless you can see the bump!

Obligatory fruit comparisons and such:

Mr. E:

• is about 2 1/2lbs (about the weight of a butternut squash...mmmmm butternut squash is delicious and now is the season!)
• is about 15 inches long from head to heel.  That is long.  That is longer than a ruler.  I'm having a baby.
• is developing a ginormous head to cause me pain and make room for what will be his genius little brain.
• is further developing in his bones, lungs, and muscles
• is starting to grow his fat stores.  He will be less skinny from here on out.  
• has teeth under his gums
• is going to be cramped soon.  He's trying to get in all the movements he can before then.  Believe me. 
• can distinguish between bright sunlight and artificial light, not that he knows what it is, he can see the difference though.  

Me:

• I can no longer type in baby at ## weeks into google images.  This leads to pictures of babies born at 29 weeks.  I don't think of that.  I keep explaining to Mr. E that he isn't allowed to come out yet and to stop knocking on the door.
• I have started kick counting as advised by the doctor.  Even though Eli moves a ton, I don't have the attention span to make it to 10 movements at most times throughout the day.   So I do it when I lay down to go to sleep. 
• Heartburn is actually not as big of a problem this week as it has been the last month or so.  I'm telling myself it is because Eli is hanging out attacking my bladder and cervix instead of my ribs and stomach.  
• I'm pretty sure I saw an arm/elbow or leg/knee bulge out of my stomach the other day.  That was cool, although a little uncomfortable so I'm glad it didn't last long. 

Brian: 

• School is going well!  It is midterm week and he only had one midterm (how lucky is that!).  
• The spring schedule looks like we might not need full time childcare.  Who here can see Brian being a work at home dad two days a week?  It may just happen!!
• Has had two realizations that baby is coming soon: 
• He said, "What do you want for Christmas? Christmas is soon you know.......That means baby is coming soon!"
• He was emailing a hotel that he has been to before (about returning for a stay) and wrote something to the extent of "I will be returning with my wife and son."  He said that using the word son felt strange.  I am very excited for him.  He doesn't get all the bumps and kicks and heartburn and bathroom trips to remind him all day long.  So I am excited that I get to share more of the excitement/nervousness that I feel with him because I think he is feeling similarly. 

Mika: 

• Doesn't even know what's going on
• is currently snoozing like a rockstar because she went to camp today.
• has been licking my belly so maybe she does know something is going on.  
• loves bananas and applesauce and cheese and pumpkin and...

So for those of you who can't resist buying cute baby things and sending them to me (you know who you are...grandmas!)  We are pretty set on newborn and 3-6 month clothes.  Our neighbors are awesome and have a boy about 10 months.  We are getting tons of his hand-me-downs!

For those of you that are getting titles with this birth, we would love to know what you would prefer to be called.  I'm sure we'll have an Oma and a grandma and an Aunt (like ant) and an Aunt (like aunt) and such.  So if you know what you want to be called, let us know.  Also, if you have a recent picture you could digitally send me, that would be awesome.  I want to put family pics on his wall and start a picture book for him so we can "visit family" who we don't get to see often.  My older sister had a little photo album for her kids and I love the idea.

I had a doctor's appointment last Friday.  There weren't any real updates before then anyway (another excuse for being a terrible blogger).

• I do NOT have gestational diabetes which is great.  
• First off, that glucose stuff they make you drink is gross, I am so glad I didn't have to do it again for a 3 hour test.  It tasted like a flat orange syrupy soda.  I don't like orange soda and if you are a drink that tries to taste like soda you better have carbonation and a lot of it.   This weirdo husband of mine likes to shake his sodas so there isn't as much carbonation.  I glare at him.  Anyway, the orange stuff is gross.  Most of you know me well enough to know that I love my sweets, so you would have thought that I would have loved an uber-sugary drink.  
• Secondly, I'm hoping this will prevent a doctor from trying to tell me I'm going to have a 20 lb baby and demand a c-section and then baby comes out at 5 lbs.  
• I'm a bit anemic but I practically begged not to be put on extra iron supplements.  I'll feel fatigued a lot, that's fine. Most of you ladies that had to take prenatal vitamins with iron probably know the reason why.  Everyone else can just be left hanging. 

The doc at my appointment was great.  This was the first time I had questions and she listened very carefully and answered thoroughly.  Also she felt comfortable laughing with me.  That was nice.

• Laughter suddenly turning into uncontrollable sobbing is perfectly normal, even if you are still trying to laugh BECAUSE you are sobbing so hard you can't breathe.  She got a giggle out of me explaining the deer in headlights look Brian gets when this happens (poor guy).  
• Punches to the cervix area are normal and not a cause for concern unless it is consistent pressure.  I like to tell Mr E. to go away ("no one's home!") and come back in a few months.  I actually think I preferred it when he was exploring all the different ways he could hit my ribs.    
• Sadly, my left arm and hand has started to get tingling in it again.  This is a first since my surgery, so it scared the crap out of me.  I spent many moments trying not to cry about it (stupid hormones) during the three days between the tingling starting and my doctor's appointment.  
• The doc recommended going to a regular doc and getting my hardware checked on and anything else they might think is necessary.  
• She also explained that my progesterone levels are already on the higher side of normal so my tendons and ligaments may be relaxing quite a bit to prepare for birth.  This could be putting stress on the nerve going down my arm.  
• She also thinks I may be compensating for my belly with my back which could cause strain on that nerve somehow.  SOoooo (why aren't there various sizes of the letter o so I could make that soooo get smaller in increments?), she provided me with a pregnancy belt.  Now anyone sitting inside my mind during my plane ride home to Indiana would know that I made fun of the pregnancy belt advertisement in the magazine I read.  However, it made a difference just in the 40 minutes I wore it that day.  So I'm suppose to wear it when I have to walk a lot (in and out of work, renn fest (ooops, forgot it), shopping, etc).  And I get to be the dork in the pregnancy belt.

That's all for now (are you really still with me?  woooow!).  I'll update again this weekend.  If I don't, make sure you blame the photographer.  Or maybe the dog.