Twenty -eight weeks

How far along? Twenty-eight weeks - 2/25/11

How big is baby?
 

Chinese cabbage.

Hmmm...egg rolls, anyone?

Next appointment: March 1st

Symptoms: Now that we've survived the flu, I don't really feel like I have much to complain about! My indigestion is coming back, but it's nothing a little Zantac and some Tums can't help!

Reflections on this week: We just spent most of the week getting over "the sick," so there hasn't been much going on. I'm glad this week is almost over, though. I'm anxious to move past all this junk.
 

What I'm looking forward to: I'm glad I'm going to the doctor on Tuesday, but I'm not glad that the appointment will include unpleasant things. Oh, well. At least I'll get them over with. I shouldn't complain, right? This baby seems to be just fine and is still alive, so I definitely don't have a reason to whine! 

I'll update on my needle adventures later. Blech.

My BBC girlies!

There are very few moments of sanity during any given day at our house. I've had so many people tell me that I need to take time for myself and enjoy this pregnancy just as I enjoyed the first one. Right. These people don't live with me, obviously.

Anyway, I randomly went to the Babycenter website one day while the kids were napping, and was checking out information on Baby's due date, size, and all the things that were going on in my belly that week, when I noticed the "Community" feature. Once I was inside, I found a group of ladies that were all due in the same month I was! 

To make a very long story much, much shorter, after some time in the main group, I ended up finding a much smaller number of women that I got along with really well. Our personalities mesh, and we all have a great sense of humor (and a healthy grasp on reality). No, your baby is not going to die if you eat unheated deli meats. No, your baby will not get the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck if you lift your arms above your head. Most likely, your kid will be fine (until you manage to screw something up). Quit stressing and go eat some sushi, right, girls? Oh, and have some caffeine while you're at it.

Our little throng has about 50 members now, and we like it that way. We come from all backgrounds and all walks of life, we're various ages and in different stages of our lives, and we're scattered all over the place (mostly in the U.S.). Some of us already have kids (of all ages), and others will be first-time moms in May. It is so much fun to communicate with these ladies, and it helps keep me somewhat sane. I don't always get to spend much time online with them (I do have to be a mom and a wife occasionally), but when I do, it's very rewarding, and I usually end up laughing hysterically at some point.

The best thing that's coming up? Our baby gift swap! We were each assigned another group member, and we're making something for her baby. Sometime before Baby comes, I'll get a gift from Jenn, whom I've never met, made especially for my little one! I made my gift for Kelli already, and I can't wait to send it to her! Super fun!

So, here's an official nerd shout-out to my BCFC girlies! I love you all! Thanks so much for the little bits of "me time" that you've given me!

Battle scars

I think we may have survived the Great H1N1 Outbreak of 2011. It wasn't easy, and we're definitely still trying to get back on our feet around here, but I think everyone is much better.

Last Tuesday, we were all at the Alexanders' house, hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Tiffany and cousins Bailey and Christopher, and nothing was amiss. Before we left that afternoon, I noticed that Zoe felt a little warm, but wrote it off as paranoia. When we got home, she had a temperature around 99.5-ish. I didn't freak out, because it could have been anything.

By Wednesday night, she was in misery, coughing up her lungs and running temps between 103 and 104, and I knew something was not right. She and I sat up most of the night together, rocking and crying. Neither of us could sleep. I hardly ever take my kids to the doctor for viral illnesses, because I know there's nothing they can do, but I made Zoe an appointment for Thursday afternoon. I'm so glad I did.

The diagnosis? Zoe tested positive for Influenza A. 

 

Nasty little things, aren't they?

My next phone call was to my OB, because I was already developing a cough and starting to feel fatigued. We were both given prescriptions for Tamiflu, because we're both in the "high-risk" category. I drove home in a stupor, trying not to pass out. By dinnertime, I was completely sick. Thursday night was horrible.

By Saturday, Zoe and I were both feeling lots better. She was doing so well that she was able to go to church on Sunday without any problems. Ethan, in the meantime, had started running a high fever, so he stayed home with me.

As I type this, Ethan still has a low-grade temperature, but seems to be fine otherwise. Nicholas and Nathan remain unscathed, thank goodness. I think we're going to make it!

The worst thing about all this was that I didn't even realize that Zoe was sick when we were around other family members on Tuesday and we exposed them all to the flu. My mother in-law got it almost immediately; my sister in-law a few days later. Worst of all, my six month-old nephew went to the doctor on Sunday with symptoms, and he has it, too! Poor baby. I really, really hope that this is the end of it. I did not mean to start an Alexander family epidemic! I feel like such a jerk.

So, wash your hands, people, be sure to stay away from those that are sick, and get your booty to the doctor if you're feeling ill. It is not a pleasant experience.

*Side note: I would like to thank the developers and manufacturers of Tamiflu. I love you. This was the easiest flu I've ever had.

Twenty-seven weeks

How far along? Twenty-seven weeks - 2/18/11

How big is baby?

A head of cauliflower, apparently. 

 

Next appointment: March 1st

Symptoms: I think I've discovered some secrets to keeping the sciatic pain at bay (thank goodness), so I'm doing pretty well, baby-wise.

Reflections on this week: Well, we're having an outbreak of the plague right now. Zoe came down with the flu, and promptly passed it to Mommy. Fun stuff, especially since we're both considered "high risk" for complications/hospitalization. I think we're starting to get better, but now Ethan has a fever, so we'll see what happens next.
 

What I'm looking forward to: Getting well. I am slightly excited that this illness has forced me to move my next OB appointment forward another week, so I can delay the disgusting glucose test and Rhogam shot for a few more days. One positive amongst all the negatives, I guess.

All of you, stay healthy!

Bible Study!

My Friday schedule once again includes Bible study! I'm so excited! I haven't been able to make it to the last couple of studies for a number of reasons, but I think this one is finally going to work out. I hope so...it's going to be a good one, I think.

Daniel is fascinating, and I can't wait to get in-depth! We're focusing on living a life of integrity in the middle of a modern-day Babylon. Loose translation: Be in the world, but not of the world. There are going to be a lot of days where I'm going to have a hard time hearing the things I need to hear, and I can already feel it, but I desperately need this. Nathan was excited to learn that we're going to study the prophesy in Daniel, because he finds that particularly interesting. I get a little (okay, a lot) uncomfortable talking about end-times prophecy, but I think it'll be good for me.

The best part about Friday's first session? All three kids marched down the stairs to the childcare area and immediately went to play with the toys. No protests, no tears, no whining. Thank you, God! That was a huge source of stress with the other studies I've done...the kids did NOT want to go (especially Zoe). I think we're going to make it this time. Let's just pray that this does not become an issue in the coming weeks.

I love Beth Moore! This is the third (fourth? fifth?) study I've done that she's written, and I've loved them all. I wish I had been able to participate in the last one, because I really wanted to do it, but there were just too many obstacles and I couldn't make it. I hope I don't miss any days for this study...it'll be intense! Wish me luck!

Twenty-six weeks

How far along? Twenty-six weeks - 2/11/11

How big is baby? 

 

 An "English Hot-House Cucumber." Hmm...

Whatever that is. 

Next appointment: February 21st

Symptoms: When someone calls me a "pain in the butt," they aren't joking.

Reflections on this week: Nothing much to report, I'm afraid. We've had a boring week, actually. I do get to start my new Bible study today, and I'm excited about that. More on that subject later.
 

What I'm looking forward to: The weekend! I need to put my booty on a heating pad and scrapbook. I wonder if I'll actually get a chance to do that? Probably not.

Snow Day!

Last year, in February, we had some snow, but nothing like what happened this past Friday morning! We had several inches of beautiful, fluffy snow fall (and stay on the ground) - the most we've had here since 1985.

And now, for your enjoyment, some adorable photos of my children (as if you haven't seen enough of them already). I'm a shameless braggart of a mother, I know.

First peek outside.

Zoe wasn't awake yet, but I let the boys go out for a few minutes to play. We came back inside to get ready for breakfast and we had some hot chocolate with whipped cream to help us all thaw a little.

Finally, Zoe woke up, and we all bundled up again so we could go out and play some more. It was so much fun to watch the kids running around in the snow, but they seemed to enjoy eating it the most! 

Mmmm...tasty.

And so nutritious.

Nicholas made excellent snow angels.

So did Ethan, but I think he was just doing it so he would be covered with snow.

We discovered that the boys' car wouldn't go in the snow, unless Daddy positioned it going downhill. Wheee!

Snow is fun stuff.

Our street. It was so quiet outside!

I'm glad the kids got to go out and enjoy the snow before it melted away later in the afternoon. It might be another 20+ years before we get to do this again!

Twenty-five weeks

How far along? Twenty-five weeks - 2/4/11

How big is baby? 

 

Next appointment: February 21st

Symptoms: Still my back/booty. It's not going to go away. The fun new thing that's been steadily getting worse is heart palpitations and rapid pulse. I remember it with the other pregnancies, but it wasn't this intense or scary. It freaks me out, and makes me feel very strange.

Reflections on this week: Had my 24-week check-up on Tuesday, and I discussed my concerns about my heart and the anxiety resulting from the strange things that it's doing. Dr. P felt that it was very normal (especially at this time), and that there really wasn't any reason for too much concern. As a precaution, we did some lab work and checked my thyroid and my iron levels, to see if either of those were contributing to the problem. Thursday, they called to tell me that everything looks great, so I'm just going to do my best to hang in there and try some relaxation (if I ever get a chance!).
 

What I'm looking forward to: I know what I'm NOT looking forward to. My next appointment. I have to do the lovely glucose test (yuck) and my Rhogam shot. That will not be a pleasant day, let me tell you.

In other news, we're having a snow day today! Wheee!