I've got good news and bad news . . .

There's lots to catch up on, but I'll start with today's dr. visit/ultrasound/glucola test. The *GOOD NEWS* is that Morgan is doing GREAT!! She weighs 2 lb. 11 oz. and has a strong heartbeat!! I got to see her little femur and spine today, but she kept her face hidden :( Didn't think we'd have a shy girl! She's in the head-down position, which I hope she likes and then remembers in a few months!! My bp was 132/80, which is AWESOME for me, and I've only gained 3 lb. since last month - MORE AWESOMENESS!! Now, the bad news . . . I failed the glucola test by 3 measly points!! The results are supposed to be <140 and mine was 143. I was hoping the doctor would give me a pass, but I have to go back next week and take the longer test. Boo! He said I probably don't have gestational diabetes, but they have to do the second test to be sure. I'm definitely going to be more careful about what I eat next week!

See you soon!!

Baby Eggplant!

Well, it is no freakin' wonder that I feel this sweet baby moving around all the time - she's the size of an EGGPLANT!! Holy cow!! I don't actually eat eggplant so I don't exactly how much they weigh, but I'm guessing about 3 lbs. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday for my monthly ultrasound and my glucola test so I'm sure I'll get more info about Miss Morgan's size. Bailey weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. when she was born and she was always a nice sturdy, healthy baby, so that's what we're praying for again! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

See you soon!!

To Sleep or Not to Sleep!

So, I can tell that pregnancy has changed my sleep patterns because I am up and it's 6:37 a.m.!! A few months ago, it wouldn't have mattered how early I went to bed the night before, I would NOT have been up at 6:37 a.m., but now with my frequent middle-of-the-night bathroom trips and general pretzelness, it just makes sense to be up now (insert sarcasm here!). At least, I did sleep better last night than I've slept in a couple of nights so I'm definitely thankful for that blessing. And today is the last day of Vacation Bible School and Bailey is going to a slumber party tonight so I am SLEEPING IN tomorrow morning NO MATTER WHAT! Gotta take advantage of those opportunities before the baby arrives. I pray she's a good sleeper, too!! :D

See you soon!!

BellaBand Bust!

So, I mentioned the BellaBand in this blog post several months ago, but I never got back to you about what I thought of it. Well, I'm sorry to say that it drove me COMPLETELY BONKERS!! I wore it with my pre-pregnancy jeans and all it did was ride up. I pulled and tugged and adjusted the entire time I wore it, so I guess it's one of those things you need to try on in the store before you buy it! Perhaps if you're petite to start with you'd have better luck. But, if you want to give it a try, I have a gently used one that I will be glad you make you a sweet deal on!!

See you soon!!

Gotta brag a bit!

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School and I'm shepherding in Bailey's class, so I had the pleasure of seeing how absolutely precious she was today! First, there was a new girl there today who stood in the middle of class, frowning, because she didn't know anyone. I mentioned to Bailey that she might want to include her in her group. Later, in music, the kids were singing a song and the motions included putting their arms around each other. This little girl absolutely beamed every time Bailey put her arm around her! It was the sweetest thing!! And the little girl sat with Bailey and her friends the whole day and really looked like she was enjoying herself. It was a wonderful moment! Then, one of the other shepherds in her class told me that when she passed out snack, Bailey was the only one who said, "thank you." That makes a mama proud!! And then, in Bible Memory Verse, the leader asked who, besides God, gives us hope, and Bailey said, "Mama & Daddy!!" That REALLY makes a mama feel good!! So, thank you for indulging me today. I love talking about my sweet girl!!

See you soon!!

Happy Fathers Day!!

Today's featured baby is . . . me! This is my very favorite picture of my dad and me on our first Fathers Day in 1971 - I was 5 months old!! You can just see the absolute love and joy in his eyes and the devotion on my little face! My parents tried for 16 years to have me, so I've always felt an especially close bond with them. So many things have changed for the years, but my love for my parents and their love for me has remained constant! We went to church to them today and then out to breakfast & had a wonderful time!! And this is a great picture of Chris & Bailey from the Father/Daughter Valentine Dance at our church this year. They always look so good and have such a great time at the dance. They have such a special bond and enjoy doing so many different things together! This time next year, we'll have another little one to photograph on Fathers Day and I am so excited!! As we begin this brand-new adventure in our lives, we are blessed to have the memories of all the special people that have touched our lives over the years! Happy Fathers Day!

See you soon!!

Sweet Lily Tutus

OMGosh!! I just found the cutest website that sells TUTUS!! It's called Sweet Lily Tutus and the owner is giving away a tutu this week. How cool is that?!?! Bailey never had one and I don't even remember if they were popular almost 10 years ago, but you can bet that baby Morgan is going to have one!! I have seen so many cute pictures on the photo blogs I stalk of little girls in their diapers and tutus and maybe a strand of pearls and I am IN LOVE!! So, in a few months, check out my blog to see how we've kept the tutu craze going!

See you soon!!

Can't, Shouldn't, DON'T!!!!

OK, so when you're pregnant, there are LOTS of RULES - don't drink alcohol; you shouldn't color your hair in the first trimester; don't paint; you can't eat soft cheeses, hot dogs, or luncheon meat (apparently, these things will KILL you!!); no caffeine (come ON!!); & on and on (check out this article if you don't believe me!). But the rule that is killing me above all others is SLEEPING ON MY SIDE!! Obviously, sleeping on your stomach is out of the question, but can I please, oh, please, sleep on my back?!?! NOPE! So, in addition to being uncomfortable in so many ways, now I can't even get a good night's sleep most nights (which is why I am typing this at 5:07 a.m.!). I sleep on one side for awhile and then that hip gets tired and sore, so I flip to the other side, ditto, back and forth all night, trying not to lose the pillow the dr. said I should sleep with between my knees to help with some soreness. Oh, and she said a pillow behind my back might be good, too! Seriously, I need to be Saran-wrapped into my sleeping position so I don't lose all my pillows!! Needless to say, the pillow behind my back isn't happening, and most mornings, I feel like a giant pretzel. Oh, well, I guess this is preparing me for when the baby arrives and I REALLY won't be sleeping! Guess I better go try this sleep thing again . . . that is, until I have to go to the bathroom AGAIN!!!

See you soon!!

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall . . .

Just kidding! No beer for me, but guess what?!? Only 99 more days till the baby arrives!! I am practically freaking out! It seems like just yesterday that I was more than 200 days away from my due date. I cannot believe how fast the time has passed and how completely unprepared I am. But the more and more she kicks, the more anxious I am to meet her!

See you soon!!

Sorry to have gone AWOL

Sorry to have been gone so long! We are doing great and I felt so much better by the end of the week following my trip to the ER. Morgan is kicking like CRAZY - it feels like "Lord of the Dance" in my stomach most days . . . or like she's doing the wave! And last week, she was much higher near my belly button and Chris really felt her move! He said he'd felt her before, but he wasn't 100% sure and thought it might be gas! Well, thanks a lot there, sweetie!! So, next on the docket is another ultrasound and the glucose tolerance test in two weeks. I'm going to have to lay off those yummy cookies I get at the Farmers Market because testing positive for gestational diabetes is NOT part of my plan right now! Hopefully, helping with Bible school next week will help keep my mind off the sweet treats. In the meantime, Happy Fathers' Day and I hope you have a wonderful weekend with the special men in your life!

See you soon!!

So, I was on my way to the ER when all of a sudden . . .

Yep, it happened! My biennial visit to the emergency room occurred last night (that's every two years - I looked it up!). Boo! About 9:30 p.m., my chest really started to hurt. I have never had heartburn as far as I can remember, so I really don't know what it feels like. I took nine antacid tablets over the next 1.5 hours with no relief. So, I called my OB's answering service and talked to the dr. on call who said if the antacids weren't working, I should go to the ER. Great! That was the last thing I wanted to do! I was feeling worse by the time I got there and, even though there was a waiting room full of people, I was taken back fairly quickly and hooked up to an EKG machine. The tech said it didn't look like I was having a heart attack but that the dr. would have to give the final word. I was then hooked up to heart, BP, and pulse monitors, and the nurse put in an IV port and drew blood. The tech, RN, an dr. took turns coming in and out of my room for the next four hours during which time I was given a GI cocktail - I had asked for something to settle my stomach and was HOPING for Sprite; no such luck! :( I tried to sleep but anyone who has ever been to the ER can back me up on this - those are the LEAST COMFORTABLE beds that exist on Earth!! I think mine kept getting smaller! Near the end of my stay, I told the RN I felt nauseated and he gave me Zofran which, sadly, didn't do the trick because as soon as I got home, I was sick - and I mean sick sick!! But I felt better after that. I got cleaned up and went to bed at 5 a.m. praying that I would feel better later on and that sweet baby would be OK, too! Thankfully, she's been kicking up a storm this morning!!

See you soon!!

24-Week Doctor Visit

We just got back from the dr. and had a great visit. The ultrasound shows that Miss Morgan weighs in at 1 lb. 9 oz. and has a strong heartbeat! The fibroid is still the same size and is not impeding the placenta at all, but they will continue to check it every month. The ultrasound tech was able to see the area of the heart that she couldn't see last time and it looks good, too! The best news? I haven't gained any weight!! Actually, that's not the best news, but it's pretty awesome in my book!! On the docket for next month's visit is another ultrasound and the glucose test - woo hoo!!

See you soon!!