30 weeks!!

We've hit the big time! We are at the approximate 10 week countdown to Alaina's arrival. Very exciting.

With this third trimester has come a resurgence of symptoms I didn't expect to feel again--like nausea/morning sickness and a worsening of the old favorites like heartburn and swelling (Chad and I have decided I do not have cankles, I have thigh-kles!). That pressure/pain that I was feeling last week really hasn't gone away and I am expecting it probably won't. However, Alaina is still kicking and moving around like usual so I'm not concerned that anything is wrong.

Today was a rough day. Things like putting on socks can take a lot of time and effort! However, we went to Lowe's and bought shades for the nursery. I woke up with a sore throat and just haven't been feeling well but it's hard to tell what is pregnancy-related versus if I am coming down with a cold. I've upped my vitamin C intake and have been drinking even more fluids, just to be sure. Along with a sore throat, I've been feeling stuffy, achy, and grumpy. I almost cried when I saw that we didn't have any tea in the pantry. Fortunately though, Chad ran to the store to get me some so I'll be sipping hot tea in just a few minutes! Anyhow, hopefully I'll be feeling better by tomorrow.

I wasn't a big fan of Chad's picture and it was blurry so I also took a shot in the bathroom at work.

29 weeks

As suspected, today's appointment was fairly routine. I had only gained 1.8 pounds in the last two weeks to that was my little pleasure for today. Blood pressure was normal and I was measuring right at 29.5 weeks. She said it is still too early to tell how Smudge is positioned. After the appointment (of course, isn't that how it always is?) I started having a new pain. I think Alaina must have her foot or elbow comfortably couched under my right hip. She doesn't want to move it, either! I am not concerned though; it's just a uniquely uncomfortable feeling!

Chad and I also finished up the childbirth and newborn care classes tonight. Tonight's was definitely useful. Chad was a pro at diapering a teddy bear. This class also pointed out to me that swaddling is not my strength. Looks like Madeline is going to have to be our little guinea pig for the next couple of months! :) We're pretty sure Jasper would not tolerate being swaddled. But I'm sure we'll have to try, just for fun.

Glucose Tolerance Testing & Reappointment--eek!

Today was a day of poor scheduling! As I noted in a previous post, I had to take the 3-hour glucose tolerance test today and it was also the day the faculty met regarding my reappointment materials to vote on whether or not they agreed with the report written by the Departmental Academic Review Committee (DARC). What was I thinking in scheduling that? Is it any surprise I lost sleep last night?

Just like giving feedback to assessment clients, I like to get the bottom line out first. I passed the glucose test and the faculty unanimously voted in support of the DARC report, suggesting I should be reappointed/have my contract renewed. So yay. But wow, what a long day.

Because Chad is the best (though he sometimes needs to be not-so-gently reminded...), he went along with me to the hospital for the test. We arrived around 7:15 am and got checked in. We left at 11:30 am so yea, my doctor was right--3 hour test, my foot.
In all honesty, the test wasn't the worst experience of my life. It was not fun. I did not enjoy it. However, either I had a mild experience or others are full of hyperbole. For those who don't know (and are curious), the test starts out by first assessing your fasting glucose level. I did not eat after 7 pm last night and stopped drinking water before 9 pm. I then had to wait about 30 minutes for the lab results to come in. If I failed the fasting level, they might not have had me continue. For a moment, Chad and I looked at each other, both thinking it would be nice to not have to stick around the boring, not-quite-comfortable waiting room forever--especially since I couldn't eat or drink anything (including water!). But we shook it off, knowing the hope was to pass. Once they got the results that I passed the first test, I had to drink a 100-mg lukewarm glucose solution, supposed to taste like fruit punch. It wasn't completely awful but it was the consistency of maple syrup which slowed me down a little. But down the hatch it went, in 2 minutes and 8 seconds. :) So I then had blood drawn each hour for the next three hours. I have terrible veins (I would make a horrible IV drug user) so I'm a little marked up from their digging expeditions. They tried my right arm (I warned them not to!) but I ended up getting blood drawn from my right hand and then three draws from my left arm. Between draws, Chad played on the iPad and I read for class. We also people watched and got some interesting stories. The solution definitely caused a lot of nausea but the hardest part for me was not drinking water. I seriously drink water like it's my job. It just seems so sadistic to take a pregnant lady and make her not eat or drink for about 14 hours, especially when giving her a drink that makes her hungry and super thirsty. Ah well. Once it was all over, Chad and I went to lunch which was nice.

I don't have any details about the reappointment meeting (it's a confidential process) other than it seemed to go fine. The next step is that the department head writes an independent report. Both of those reports and most of my portfolio will then be forwarded to a college-level review committee. I believe they write another report that the Dean reviews. Then all of my information goes forward to the Provost. So I will have official word about reappointment around June or July. Yes, a terribly long process given this all started in September. And I get to do it all again in a few years for tenure!

Tonight Chad and I went to our third class. It was one on medical interventions, etc. Chad definitely learned a lot and I certainly have a lot to continue considering in the next couple of months.

So, that's it for now! Long day to be followed by nothing new to report. Next appointment is Tuesday. I don't expect anything that exciting but I'll keep you all posted.

Third and final trimester! 28w 0d

We can't believe it. We are under the three mark month! Woo hoo.
You may notice the little ticker above which gives the countdown to Alaina's due date.

Just for comparison, here is a 15w 0d shot in the same shirt (though Chad is never able to take it from the same spot--we really just need to put an "x" on the carpet...and I am not loving today's picture).

Meh. I hate numbers.

Given that so much of my life is devoted to research and the occasional afternoon of exciting statistics (yea, maybe that is rare), pregnancy has certainly given me a surprising disdain for numbers. Today is no exception. So you may have seen yesterday that I said we were hoping for a number below 130 on the initial screening test they do for gestational diabetes. Well, I got the results of the screening test today and it was 130. Exactly. So it's important (or annoying) for me to note that last year the cut-off for the gestational diabetes screening was 140. Some doctors still use that cut-off. Not mine. Even though I am literally on the cut-off, she wants me to do the 3-hour test. Given my family history of diabetes, this isn't really that shocking to me. Just the fact that one single number makes such a difference. If it had been 129, I wouldn't even be thinking about this. If it had been 135, I probably wouldn't question it. But 130. Boo.

I have been overly obsessed and focused on this today. In reality, I want to not complain. While yes, it will likely be disgusting, uncomfortable and ridiculously boring to hang out in the hospital for 4 hours getting blood drawn every hour, I am still thankful that I've had such a healthy pregnancy. I never threw up and my morning sickness was not severe. I haven't had any spotting and no scares. I haven't even really had back pain yet and reflux is manageable with Tums. I am thankful. I have a friend who has been struggling with her blood pressure and heart rate and has had a lot of monitoring and difficulty. A girl that I went to college with was due the week before me and she had to have her little girl the week after Christmas due to severe high blood pressure (baby is 2 weeks old and from what I understand, she is making progress). So yes, I have a lot to be thankful for. I just need to keep reminding myself of that. I'm sure I'll complain on Monday, but hopefully I'll have perspective.

27 weeks: Two trimesters down...

So, we are right on the border of the second and third trimester. It's really hard for me to believe. While I certainly would not say this pregnancy has gone fast, I strongly suspect it will speed up now. Lots of excitement in finishing the nursery, ordering the essentials, feeling her move, etc. We are now in the year of her birth!

This morning I had my last monthly doctor's appointment. Now I am on the every other week schedule. Big step. I had the gestational diabetes test today. I had the orange drink. It didn't taste great but about halfway through it (in combination with eating an egg for breakfast--I'm allergic) I definitely got queasy.  Given my family history of diabetes (both maternal and paternal), I am a little nervous about the results. If the numbers are over 130, I will have to take a 3-hour glucose tolerance test which I have heard is about the least fun thing ever. If the number is over 200, that's an automatic diagnosis of gestational diabetes. I am just really hopeful the number is under 130, preferably far below so it isn't even a question. Given how picky of an eater I am, I am terrified of the GD diet. In other doctor news, I had a surprise shot as well. I didn't realize it was already time for the Rhogam shot (because I am Rh-). Always fun. The good news is, I don't have a urinary tract infection. So that's good.

Fortunately after all that, I had some personal time for lunch so I went to a hair appointment. As many of you know, I've been growing my hair out to donate to Locks of Love. It seems like it has been forever that I've been growing it out. I have been wanting to cut it for over a year now and I knew it was close to the required 10 inches. I've been struggling at night because when I have to turn over, it's already hard enough with the carpal tunnel and the growing belly but my hair tended to get stuck under my shoulder and man, what a pain. So, off it was. I had to really, really convince Amanda that I was ready to take the plunge and we ended up cutting about a FOOT off. I like it and it's so nice to not have that extra weight. Chad is still deciding. He doesn't hate it but it's shorter than he expected.

In other news, I am SO excited because I got my diaper bag in the mail. Earlier this year, I got roped into the Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag craze but wondered who would be willing to spend that much on this kind of thing. Well, a friend told me about a crazy deal online and I was able to get it for about half off plus free shipping. I convinced Chad that it could be an early birthday present for me. I think he would have gone for it even if I hadn't said that--shoot. :) We both were very excited that it came in tonight. I am a little obsessed; I like it even more than I expected. Chad said it was the nicest bag he'd ever seen and that I better keep my eye on it so that some crazy pregnant lady doesn't steal it. This isn't the greatest picture because the design is actually yellow (not green). You can't tell in this picture but it also converts into a backpack. Yay.

We also had our second childbirth and newborn preparation class tonight. I think it is going fairly well. I am not 100% convinced they are worth it but I would rather regret going than not going. There are some interesting folks in there, that is for sure. I haven't really felt like I learned anything new but I am sure Chad is learning stuff and it is good to have it all written down in one place.

Last baby bump picture of the second trimester--with the new hair cut.

Following, subscribing, what does it all mean? Blogging 101

So technology is both a blessing and a curse. It's mostly good though, right? Anyhow, I had a couple of questions about how to "follow" a blog and given that I have next to zero knowledge about blogging, I went straight to Google for answers.

It appears to me that following a blog is basically just a way of saying "hey, I like what you're saying." And that's always nice. But if you hit follow, in the hopes that you would get updated whenever a new blog is posted, well, you're out of luck. Apparently it doesn't work that way. It's basically about as meaningful as hitting "Like" on Facebook. But feel free to follow this blog. I like seeing your pretty faces and who doesn't like "Likes". It may be important to note that you can follow blogs publicly or privately.

What some might be more interested in knowing is "but how do I know when there is a new blog posted?" I mean, clearly, you can't sit around and just hit refresh all week, waiting for an update. And if you got as far as reading this post, you probably also wouldn't want to forget all about this blog and remember next July that you wanted updates on the baby. Apparently this process is what is called "subscribing" in the blogosphere. If you're already a fan of blogs, you probably know that you can "subscribe" via popular readers like Google Reader, My Yahoo!, etc. This means that your front page (if it's your home page) or your reader site will be updated if a new blog is posted. I have added this function now (Smudge subscription via a reader).

But if you're asking questions like "what is follow? how can I know if there is a new blog posted?" chances are, you have no idea what I'm talking about right now.  What you may be interested in, is simply receiving an email when a new blog is posted. Voila! I have now added a little box on the right sidebar (Smudge Subscription! Enter your Email) that will do just that. In essence, you just type in your email address and a box will pop-up asking you to complete one of those annoying "captchas" making sure you're not a robot spammer. Once you have done that, a message will be sent to your email address asking you to verify that you really were crazy enough to want to receive my boring updates. You will then go to your email and follow the link, nodding your head that yes, you agree it's crazy but why not? That's it! Now you are subscribed to the blog and will receive an email whenever a new blog is posted. How easy is that?

And while we're talking logistics of blogging, you may have noticed that after each post there is a place where you can "comment" on that specific post. Feel free to use that function liberally. Everybody loves comments.

Finally, just a note that if you scroll to the bottom there is a button on the right side that says "Older Posts". That will take you to...you guessed it, older posts. You also may have noticed along the right hand side that there is a blog archive that indicates which months have posts in them and you can see the titles and go to specific ones through that link.

Whew. Well, I learned more today about blogging than I expected. I have no idea what people did before Google. :-)