Back From The Chiropractor

So my thoughts were correct. I have a sacroiliac dislocation, which means that the top of my sacrum is rubbing loosely on the iliac area of my pelvis. On top of that, by pelvis is out of alignment, so one side is higher than the other. Sound like fun?!

So he put a heating pad on me for a while, and used this massager to loosen up the muscles around the area so that he could adjust the area. I heard a big "pop" on both sides, but it didn't hurt at all. So now I feel a little sore in my muscles, but all in all I think this is going to help a lot. I have to go back to have it repeated on Thursday, and hopefully it will stay in place until I have the baby. He said that everything should go back to normal after the baby is born.

Next on the list - GTT tomorrow!

Week 27 Update

Well this week has been eventful, yet uneventful. I went to the doctor on Monday and they recommended that I see a chiropractor and stay home from work for the week. Both of these things proved easier said than done.

It took a while to find a chiropractor that I was comfortable with, because I am not fond of the idea in the first place. After my OB recommended I see a personal friend of his who was a DC. So I wasn't able to get an appointment with him until tomorrow morning.

This week my back has gradually gotten to the point of being bearable. The soreness gradually diminished and was gone by Friday. However I still had acute pain when I tried to sit or stand, get out of the car or out of bed, etc. This morning I woke up feeling the best I have all week. Not pain free, but definitely manageable. Just knowing that I am improving makes me feel so much better about everything... I was so worried that I was going to have to deal with that pain for the duration of my pregnancy, which would have been unbearable.

So hopefully the Chiropractor will let me know exactly whats going on with my body. After doing some research online, I have self diagnosed myself with Sacroiliac Dislocation/Subluxation, which seems to be a common back/pelvic ailment in pregnancy. We'll see if I'm right.

In other news, on Tuesday morning I will be going to have my screening for Gestational Diabetes. Basically I have to fast overnight, then go to Quest and drink this drink that tastes like Orange Pop without the fizz... then sit around for an hour reading a book, THEN get my blood drawn to see if my body has properly handled the glucose. If my readings come back fine, YAY!... if they don't I have to go back for a 3 hour test where they draw blood three times! I really hope I pass!

Happy New Year!

Today marks the beginning of my third trimester. Two-thirds down, one-third to go! It's so exciting to be only 3 months or less away from meeting our baby girl!

I have spent my free time this week promising her candy, a pony, a car for her 16th birthday, etc. if she takes her foot and pushes my tail bone back in place. So far she has not taken the bait... but I am feeling better day by day. The soreness is decreasing, so not I am basically dealing with localized pain, and really bad pain when I try to get up off the couch. Kevin has taken on the role of "man-slave" when he is home, so that has been helpful too.

I will update again after I talk to the doctor on Friday.

What a Week (26)

Merry Christmas to US!...

And a Happy New Year too!...

So this past week, starting on Christmas Eve, or basement decided to flood, not once... but twice! The first time was on Christmas Eve night, we came home to find that our newly re-done basement was covered in water and sewage.

Our new rug was ruined, and two couches, the computer, the flat screen TV, storage cabinets, and a few other things. It was a nightmare. We called in the parents and Colin and we all stayed up until 2:30 AM Christmas morning to get the water out and start cleaning and drying things.

THEN, just as we got everything cleaned and bleached... it flooded again on Friday night. This time the water did not stop, and we had to use 3 pumps to get all of the water out. Then the cleanup started again, and the drying out has started. Hopefully our homeowners insurance will cover what we lost, but it is disappointing to know that all of that work we put into it has been undone. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't help at all with the cleanup because I'm pregnant.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

To top it all off, on Saturday night, I went to walk up the the stairs and something snapped in my lower back, leaving me unable to move for the rest of the night. This weekend my tailbone area has been excruciatingly painful, and today the Dr. diagnosed me with a dislocated tailbone. This has left me unable to sit on my butt, bend over, or lean to one side or the other. All I can do is lay on my side, or stand straight up. I can only take Tylenol to relieve my pain, which is not working, and take hot showers. I have been taken off work until my symptoms improve (which I have no idea how long it will take). Basically they told me I just have to deal with it and hopefully it will go away on its own.

What's In A Name...?

100 Days left! Can you believe that's all we have left (maybe fewer?)?!
Pita wanted to participate in this weeks belly picture... Week 25...


Kevin wanted to keep the baby's name a secret, but then we ended up telling a few people, which became a few more people so... in celebration of our milestone Kevin and I have decided to reveal the name we have picked for the baby.

This is a picture of the letters we made for her room that will hang above the crib. Her middle name will be Jean. Do you like it? Well... it doesn't matter if you do or not! Hehe, because we do!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

New Produce!

Today marks the beginning of week 25, which means we are entering our SIXTH month! This month's produce is: Eggplant!
"Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes."

Week 24

This week proved to be another productive one, as Kevin's dad came over and helped us lay the tile for the bathroom floor on Thursday night. It looks great now! On Saturday I grouted the floor and sealed the tile on Sunday morning. Here are the latest pictures:

All that's left is to install the baseboard, and put the sink and toilet in! I will have a fully functioning bathroom by Christmas! Whoo Hoo!

This weekend was also Christmas Tree Hunting Day for Kevin's family. Unfortunately we couldn't partake in the actual hunt, but we did join the whole family out for dinner afterward. Kevin's Aunt and Uncle and cousins were there too. We spent a lot of time talking about the growing 24 week bump...

What do you think? Getting any bigger? I should be, by the way she has been kicking lately, trying to spread out and get more room to grow in there. Either that or she is honing some awesome ninja skills... Her favorite thing to do, instead of kicking on the outside so Daddy can feel, she turns around and kicks Mommy in her internal organs! So much fun!

Tune in next week for a special "100 days to go/Christmas Special" blog entry. Kevin and I have a special Christmas gift for all of you!

Busy Weekend

This weekend was a busy and productive one for Kevin and I. I finally convinced Kevin to help me put together the baby's furniture so that we can get rid of all of the large boxes they came in, and make the space more useful for storing all of the baby things we have accumulated so far.

Kevin put together the crib with a little help, and I put together the tall dresser with a little help. Then tonight we both put the long dresser together. Everything looks so great all put together! It just makes us all the more excited... it's getting so close! Pretty soon we will have a little person to fill that crib!

Here are some pictures and the week 23 belly pic!

Pita helped a little too... supervising from her new chair :)

New Layout!

I decided that we needed some pizazz on this page, and something more appropriate for a baby girl... so here we are. Do you like it?

Here is this weeks belly picture too! Nothing too exciting to report this week... the baby is moving around more than ever, and all we have to do is lay tile in the bathroom and then it's DONE! I can't wait to take a shower in my nice new bathroom.

No produce on Wednesday for week 23, so I will update again soon!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Baby girl has been having lots of fun the past couple days kicking mommies internal organs day and night. So yesterday was the first day of the infamous "2nd trimester heartburn". It all started after my mom's birthday dinner.

Perfect timing... the day before I plan on stuffing my face with as much turkey and mashed potatoes as it can hold... time to break out the TUMS!

Week 22

This weeks produce is actually this months produce because the website I use clumps the last 5 months together in 4 week groups for one piece of produce... Papaya"Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop."

That means there are only 4 more pieces of produce between now and when the baby is born!!!

Baby Kerl would like to wish Grandma Virginia a happy birthday today!!!

Finally...

So I finally got to see the Dr. on Saturday morning, after they cancelled and re-scheduled me twice. It was rather uneventful... he keeps saying "you're so easy!" because the pregnancy has been so textbook. I've gained 9 pounds since the start, and my belly is measuring right on target too.

Also, they gave me an ultrasound picture that they forgot about last appointment:

She is waving "Hi" to everyone reading her blog!

So now the count is official, 10 fingers, and 10 toes! So there's no need to worry about that when she finally arrives.

Kevin and I went to Babies R' Us this weekend to try and finish the registry. That place is so crazy all the time! It's terribly organized, and you can never figure out where anything is based on the printouts that they give you! I wish there was an alternative for baby registers, but they truly have more choices than Target and places like that. Luckily, Olivia lent me her copy of "Baby Bargains" (like Consumer Reports for baby stuff) so we were prepared to make decisions on the big ticket items.

I keep trying to convince Kevin to start putting together the baby's furniture, but he insists on the bathroom being finished first. I understand, one project at a time... but I want to see what it looks like!!! It would make everything feel so much more official.

The good news is the bathroom is almost finished. We just need to tile the floor, and install the sink and toilet! Yay! I will post pictures when we are all done... it's going to look great! Kevin's dad has been doing such a great job on the walls and painting... I don't know what we would to without him!

Week 21

This weeks produce: A banana!
"Baby gulps down several ounces every day of the amniotic fluid for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch."

So currently the baby and I are enjoying a cup of tea (decaff - of course) and some Girl Scout Cookies!!! I think the shortbread are her favorite... maybe she will be a good cookie seller if she wants to be a Girl Scout!

Update

This weeks belly pic is officially our "halfway there" picture!

Now I officially feel like I look pregnant when I go out in public. This weekend we went to Rochester to visit Eric, Olivia, and baby Rosie. We went to the mall for a while before hand and I actually felt like a mommy-to-be! We walked around and checked out all the families with their new babies, and what strollers they were using etc. It was fun.

Then we went to Eric and Olivia's for dinner, and to meet Rosie for the first time! She is the cutest thing ever! If our baby girl turns out half as cute and well behaved as she is, I will be so happy. They really helped us by talking about what to expect, and not to listen to others "advice". It really makes us think "we can do this!" We are now more excited than ever to begin our journey as parents!

OOOooo, and... when we got home, thanks to the sugar rush provided by the cake we had for dessert the baby was moving around like CrAzY! Kevin got to feel the baby kick for the first time! I think he was caught off guard about how it would feel... they were some pretty powerful kicks! Maybe she will play soccer like dad after all!

In other news, we were supposed to have a Dr's appointment tonight, but it got cancelled because two moms went into labor and the Dr. got called to the hospital. So we had to re-schedule for Thursday night, so hopefully I will post again after that!

Half Way Done!

Yay! Today baby girl is half way done! 140 days down, 140 days to go.

So far the journey hasn't seemed that long, the second trimester is flying by, and to think that we are already half way there is crazy!

This weeks produce is a cantaloupe:

"Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!"

Update

Well, this weekend was kind of crazy with Kevin and his dad working on the upstairs bathroom. Our baby girls room has been turned into VALU home center, filled with pluming supplies and extra parts and pieces right now. I think that until the bathroom is done, the work on the nursery cannot begin, because it would just be too crazy.

We forgot to take a Week 19 belly picture this weekend because we have been so busy, so we took one late last night... let me remind you that last night was "comfy pajama day"... hence my matching outfit!

The belly is definitely getting bigger now, and I am starting to feel visibly pregnant. I will post tomorrow with the Week 20 produce!

Baby Bedding

We picked out the baby's bedding (actually I did) and it came in last week! I absolutely love it, and I didn't think Kevin would care about it too much as long as it wasn't too pink, and it's not:It's actually less pink in real life than in the picture, its more of a salmon/orange color. Kevin ended up liking it even though he "hates dots", and it looks great with the orange walls! I can't wait to finally start getting the nursery ready!

Yes we can!

I am just so happy this morning because my baby will be born under a President that will be making his mark on history. After years of stuffy old white guys, who don't know their brain from their rear end, we will finally have someone with depth, intelligence, and outlook on diversity, and maybe we will get something accomplished, instead of just playing with little army men.

I know that politicians will pretty much say anything to get you to vote for them, and there are a few things that I am fully aware just won't happen... However, I truly think that Obama can accomplish much of what he talks about, and he is actually intelligent! He is not a puppet that has to be told what to say and do, he is a real person, and he lives in the real world! I could just hug him!

On to the bad news... I am so disappointed in the people in this country who use their right to vote to remove rights for other people... I'm talking to you Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California...banning same sex marriage, banning them from adopting children, taking away rights that should be available to EVERY member of the United States. All they want to do is be YOUR definition of "normal", get married, have kids, get old together and be happy. I will NEVER understand why someone would want to take that away from another person.

OK, that rant is over I promise... on to this weeks produce!: Mango
Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

The Baby has a PSA

She would just like to remind you to get out and vote tomorrow!

(Unless you are a republican... in that case we will forgive you if you forget! ;)

Happy Election Day!

Also, everyone in West Seneca, don't forget to get out and vote on November 17th to decrease the size of our town board!!!

Included is the Week 18 Belly Picture!

Latest Photo Shoot

Here are the latest pictures of our baby girl!!!

Tiny Feet

Picture of her face up close

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