28 Weeks

Hello there 3rd Trimester!  I am ready for the home stretch!  I can't BELIEVE I am already this far!  In 3 weeks I get my 2nd ultrasound which is mainly to see what position baby is in.  I get the feeling she is taking after her brother and will be breech at the ultrasound.  Her brother was transverse until week 36 nearly 37... scared me a little... thinking I was going to have a c-section.  Thankfully he turned... so I won't worry about this one until I have to.

Well.  Here is my 28 week belly... Another SLR picture.  My buddy Brad, who I used to do photography with, had my tripod stowed away and he was kind enough to hunt it down for me and get it to me, so it is likely that you will be getting much nicer pictures for my belly updates from here on out. :) Wednesday was my appointment with my OB... well, my OB is on a MUCH deserved vacation, so I met with the nurse practitioner.  We talked about my visit to Labor and Delivery a couple weeks ago.  She enlightened me further on why I could be having these weird episodes of extreme light-headedness and feelings of my heart racing.  She said when this happens I need to evaluate what I have eaten recently.  She said that pregnancy can induce hypoglycemia and if I haven't eaten anything my blood sugar is low... on the same token, if I have eaten anything high in sugar that my blood sugar will be low as well because my body will send out a mass of insuline to take care of the mass of sugar and often times this results in a drastic drop in blood sugar (probably what we refer to as the sugar crash).  This made SO much more sense than what Labor and Delivery told me was the culprit.  I then confessed that I like to drink juice... a lot... she then proceeded to tell me BAD GIRL and that I might as well be drinking soda.  I felt properly chastised. ha.  I imagine my pancake breakfasts twice a week don't help either. ;) I didn't tell her about that though.

Then we talked about Tubal Ligation.  Yes.  I am thinking about getting myself permanently sterilized.  No more babies for this momma!  I'm getting too old for this crap. ha.  I am leaning toward doing this because I am terrible at remembering to take a pill and because I know that I do not want anymore children.  My three will be good enough for me!  Family of 5 seems like just the right size.  Hopefully this doesn't offend any of you "Let God close the womb" people out there.  I believe the Good Lord gives us common sense to know when we are done... I'm done.

Finally we talked about allergies.  Oh my WORDY DIRD!  My allergies are kicking me in the FACE!  The Goldenrod is waving it's big yellow pedally flag saying "I bring with me ragweed! There will be great suffering and rubbing of eyes!"  So... she gave me the GREAT news that I can take Zyrtec.  Benadryl SUCKS!  Sorry if you hate that word, but it does.  All it does is make me want to sleep and it also puts me in a downright grumpy mood.  I guess that makes sense because it's a depressant.  I have this little trick, usually, where I take my allergy pill with a Monster to counter act each other... I can't drink Monster while pregnant, so I just have to deal with the sleepies.  BAH.

Weight.  I don't think I have talked about this in a while.  Ok.  So we are looking at 156.8... I started this whole thing out at 135... so 21.8 lb gain at 28 weeks... not too shabby.  I am going to start cracking down on my eating habits now to hopefully  only gain 10 more lbs at the most.  WE WILL SEE.  I have 12 weeks left.  That is slightly less than a lb a week... This is a tall order, but I think as long as I stay away from the sweets and the juice I should be ok.

So, like I said.  Final ultrasound is in 3 weeks.  September 28.  After that my appointments will be every 2 weeks... it is going to be INSANE how quickly this last bit will go.  I love it when the appointments move closer together.

That's it.  I got a little winded... Kudos to you if you read it all.  You are a champ!
Catch ya later.

27 Weeks

Hi there!
Well.  I am 27 weeks along today.  Here is my 27 week belly...

What's going on?  Well, not a whole heck of a lot.  She is getting bigger.  I am getting bigger.  I am still taking my walks but I have skipped a couple days lately.  As I get bigger my aches and pains get bigger too.  I am still walking though so don't worry!

I am still experiencing that weird light headed, heart racing, overwhelming sensation that I mentioned last week.  It mainly happens in the morning.  I am going to talk to my doctor at my next appointment about possibly being anemic since those are symptoms of it.  I have never been anemic, but if I am going to experience it for the first time, it makes sense for it to be during pregnancy when the baby is taking all of my nutrition from me ha.

No special cravings.  Really it's life as usual except with a bigger belly and butt. ha.  I'm already wishing for December to be here, but then again, I'm not because I have SO MUCH to do to get ready for this baby.  I still need to get a breast pump, a car seat, and a pack n play... among other things.

I did a couple of maternity shots with my SLR.  I like them, but you can REALLY see my weight gain in them.  I think it's the angle, because I don't have a tripod, I can't get the camera at a typical eye level.  It's also difficult to get a good focus.  Here they are though...
Other than this... I am still in the process of getting enrolled in classes. I think I really like the blogger changes... for about 5 minutes I hated them, but after fiddling around with them for a bit, I like them (what changes? click the link at the top of your blogger home page). That is all! Hope you all have a fantastic Friday and Weekend! It's September! Woo hoo!

Becoming a Big Girl

I have NO CLUE what the above picture has to do with any of this post, except that to me it looks kinda super hero-ish, and I'm feeling kinda super hero-ish.  I don't know why it took me 32 years to decide what I want to be when I "grow up" but it did.  Now here I am, submitting a college application and a FAFSA, which was a pain in the royal patootis.  I have never liked school.  My two attempts at college were HORRIBLE.  If I have any advice for you young ones getting out of highschool, don't go to college until you know what you want to be.  At least, that's my advice if you are someone like me who needs to have a clear goal and direction.

My ultimate goal is to become a nurse.  Specifically an RN and I would love to work in pediatrics or labor and delivery.  I am so crazy excited to begin this journey, but I am also scared and worried at the same time.  Knowing how I have done in school in the past, I am so nervous about succeeding, but I know that I can't worry about that, I just have to DO IT!

I have my application submitted, I have my FAFSA submitted... now I wait.  Unless something goes dreadfully wrong and I get denied, I should be starting school in January 2012... new baby and all.  Which means I will more than likely have to change some of my plans as far as the baby is concerned to make it easier on me to do school work... like cloth diapering.  I really wanted to do that, but I don't think I will be able to keep up with the extra loads of laundry and do school.  We will have to see and take a it one day at a time.

There is the big news on the Schmamey front.  I will hopefully be going back to school.  I will hopefully do good and I will hopefully be an RN in 4 years resulting in me either working Labor and Delivery or Pediatrics.  GAH!  I'm really feeling a lot of anxiety and excitement, but there you have it.  I also hope that I won't be recanting any of this later... I just wanted to tell you all what is going on with me right now.

Week 26

Hi there.  I'm 26 weeks, and HERE is my 26 week belly.

Belly looks a bit bigger than last week but for some reason week 24 I looked HUGE.  I think at week 24 she must have been a little more scrunched up.  I get the feeling by where I am feeling kicks that she is stretched out and just having a great time in my belly ha.  Last appointment my fundal height was right on with my weeks of pregnancy so I am not worried about growth. I just think she is maxin and relaxin in there. ha.

Things are going well.  My only complaint right now is I get sensations of overwhelming lightheadedness.  Not even dizzy.  Just like I'm going to pass out.  I get it when I sit down as well... matter of fact as I type this I am having one of these episodes.  My heart feels like it's working overtime and I want nothing more than to lay down and go to sleep.  I did go to the Dr. to get my blood pressure checked among other things... everything seems normal... so I just try not to worry about it too much.

Still taking my walks although I will be honest and say it is becoming a huge struggle.  Not to get out to take the walk, but while I am taking the walk I run into "the wall."  Have you seen the movie Run, Fatboy, Run?  If you have, you know about "the wall."  ha.  I've been able to move past it, but I am worried as my pregnancy progresses that I won't have the will power.  Meh, I won't worry about that now.  One day at a time.

The fun stuff is when Avery gets really active and my belly is bumping all over the place.  I can't help but giggle.

P.S.  Yes, my hair is darker.  Yes, I did color it.  Don't worry, it is no longer a concern to dye your hair while pregnant.  They tell you to be in a well ventilated room and to wait till you are in your 2nd trimester... check and check.  So.  Gray is covered and hair is darker. :)

And THAT my friends is pregnancy week 26 for the Schmames.  Have a great Thursday!

Week 25 and my Baby Girl is a 2nd Grader!

First off.  The pregnancy update.  Today was a weird morning.  I have been feeling light headed... almost to the point of passing out, sweaty, weak, racing heart, a light pain in my chest... It's really weird.  I called the nurse and she instructed me to go to Labor and Delivery if my symptoms come back.  I am feeling ok now, the symptoms are still there, but not as overwhelming, I can at least function.

Other than that, I think I am doing good.  Here is my 25 week belly picture...

I think it actually looks smaller than last week! ha.  I think it's the shirt and the angle that the photograph was taken.  Oh well.  Fear not.  Baby is growing, I assure you...  Nothing really exciting to speak of.  She is moving.  I am still taking my 2 mile walks.  No new cravings... except I wanted a coca cola classic really bad the other day so I had one yesterday :)

My daughter Lindsey started 2nd grade today!  She's growing up too fast.  I took some pictures of her and her good friend Bella while they waited for the bus.  I am so glad school has started.  Maybe Bren and Lindsey will get along better now that they won't see each other so much.

I'm really hoping that this year doesn't go as fast as last year! How is it that my girl is ALREADY IN 2ND GRADE!!!??? Oh dear.

Week 24 TOO MUCH SUGAR!!!

Today was the glucose test.  For all you non-preggos, this is a test to make sure that I am not developing Gestational Diabetes.  Most pregnant women fear this test.  I never have.  It's not a horrible thing really.  So many people make it sound horrible.  I will admit that it used to be better than it is now.  With Lindsey, the drink was carbonated... so my orange drink tasted like Sunkist.  mmmmm.  Nothing wrong with that.  Now it is just REALLY sweet with a hint of fake orange flavor, no carbonation.  Not that yummy, but not too horrible.  If I am showing signs of developing GD, I will get a call from my Dr's office.  If not... No news is good news.

See the straw all crumpled up inside?  I'm telling you, straws make drinking ANYTHING easier ;).

Weight wasn't horrible, but I honestly was hoping for less of a gain.  Last visit I gained 6 lbs in 3 weeks.  This visit I packed on 5 lbs in 4 weeks... at first I was upset, but I just looked it up and it says that during the 2nd trimester the normal gain is about 1 - 2 lbs per week.  I gained BARELY over a lb a week, so I guess I shouldn't be hard on myself.   I am currently tipping the scales at 151 lbs.  If you remember I began at 135.  This is definitely my LEAST favorite part about pregnancy.  I am really hoping to end this pregnancy no higher than 160, but with 16 weeks left, I have no doubt that I will more than likely end closer to 165.  I am not going to do anything rash to make sure I stay below a certain weight, so don't worry about me.  This isn't my first rodeo.  I eat when I'm hungry and I take my walks.  I am doing everything as smart and healthy as I can.

Here I am 24 weeks pregnant.

Moving right along.  Next visit will be with a nurse practitioner.  I am discussing Tubal Ligation, so if anyone has any experience, advice, or thoughts on that subject, let me know.

I would like to apologize to all of you who typically get blog comments from me.  I have been so out of it in the blogging world.  I plan on catching up tomorrow. :)

P.S.  Almost forgot.  For those who don't know!  I am excited to tell you that.... my sister and I are both pregnant at the same time... she is nearly 18 weeks pregnant.  She just found out she is having a girl too.  I couldn't be more excited.  Both of us are pregnant with unplanned pregnancies.  It is the funniest situation, but we are both really excited... and I am so happy that my sister is getting her little girl, since she already has an awesome little boy!

23 weeks: 17 more to go.

Here it is, week 23... just trucking right along in this pregnancy.

(ooopse... forgot to shut the shower door... please ignore ;)

I haven't missed a day of walking since getting back from Texas.  Unfortunately, that will change on Saturday.  I'm going to a family reunion at my Grandma's house so I won't be able to get my walk in. :(

Cravings are getting less and less specific, I am just hungry a lot.  I have gotten up a couple times this past week to make myself a midnight snack, ha.  I am just glad that I don't keep a lot of junk food in the house.  

Starting to feel movements all around the belly rather than just at the bottom.  I feel her moving at the top and sides and still the bottom.  Never in the middle.  It's always a relief to me when I feel the movements, it lets me know she is doing ok in there.

Aaaaaaand that's it for the weekly update.  :)

Have a happy Thursday.