Whoops! Definitely didn't mean to post this yet. Since Neil and I were in Bozeman Sunday afternoon/evening I didn't have time to start it and then last night I had planned to wrap it up until my friend suddenly came to pick me up to fill in on Bunco Night with 12 ladies down the street. I ended up having such a fun time with amazing food and company and even a white elephant gift exchange and the most delicious chocolate cheesecake!
Anyways...I'll try to fill in the details here for you.
It has been a really busy last couple weeks and now I'm behind getting this post up! Where to start? Well, I flew to Maine for a week of work, which I'm really glad I decided to do. The flights out there were mildly uncomfortable with sitting for extended periods of time and the airplane seats being at such an uncomfortable angle anyways. I had a 2 hour layover in Chicago and actually found a few seats with no arms that I could lie down on for a bit. The week in Portland was so much fun, just to be with my colleagues and in the Portland office. They even surprised me with a little baby shower celebration...they all thought I had caught on and knew, but I was definitely surprised! They gave me a super cute kids book on Maine and a little outfit and a very generous gift card. We also had several fun meals together (including the lobster roll I had wanted!) and a day out of the office together volunteering at the local soup kitchen serving lunch. I hadn't ever done that before and had a really fun time serving over 300 people lunch in an hour with my team. And then of course there was the Holiday Party, which was definitely a good time. My aching back and feet and the lack of sleep were finally catching up with me by the end of the week and I was excited to head home Friday morning. Flights home were surprisingly even more comfortable than the way out, even with the 4 hour flight DC to Denver and being in a window seat with a mom and her two year old son in the middle seat. She sat down and was like, "Oh, and you're expecting...sorry for the rude awakening!" But the little boy did just fine and I slept and read the whole time anyways.
Then last Monday we had our annual Christmas Tree Hunting extravaganza. I even managed to tromp around in the snow a bit, and then regretted it the next day with sore hips/pelvic area, but it was a fun time with good friends, as always. And we got a great tree, that yes, we still have yet to actually put up. Maybe tonight! Then there were holiday open houses at Lone Mountain Ranch and Rainbow Ranch on Wednesday evening, with lots of great food and fun mingling with friends and community members. Friday night was the annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll in the town center, which again included lots of good food at business open houses and lots of fun hanging out with ski school friends and watching the fireworks. I even stayed out until after 10pm and besides walking slow and hanging on to Neil's arm the entire time, it was a really great time. Whew! And Christmas isn't even here yet!
Well, on to more baby specific stuff...Neil came with me to the 34 week appointment last Friday and it was so nice to have him there. They did the normal things of taking a urine sample, weighing me, taking my blood pressure...well, my blood pressure appeared to be a little high at 130/92. The nurse said I would meet with Cassie and then they'd take it again to double check. Baby's heartbeat was great, everything was normal, and we had a great chat with her more about what to expect for the big day and Neil even said afterwards how much he loves going to the appointments and talking with Cassie because then he feels so much more relaxed and comfortable about everything. At the end of the visit my blood pressure was still 122/90, so Cassie changed plans, asked me to come back in 1 week instead of 2 and to go down the hall to get blood drawn for some lab work. I started thinking that maybe I was going to get preeclampsia like my mom afterall and oh, my gosh, what if this baby needed to be delivered like next week?! We haven't even opened the car seat box! I need to pack my bag for the hospital like this weekend! Neil was so calm the whole time saying that I am fine and that I'm doing great and we'll just do what we need to do and it will all work out. We borrowed a blood pressure cuff from our neighbors and I've checked it every day since with normal results of 110/79 or 114/75, so I think it is fine and hopefully stays down.
One other thing we talked with Cassie about was Braxton Hicks contractions, which I wasn't sure if I was experiencing or not. Of course the day I was flying out to Maine I started noticing that the tightness that I had thought was the baby pushing out actually felt kind of funny in my stomach and made me short of breath and feel like I had to pee. It was happening all the time that week in Maine and they say if it is more than 4 times in an hour to go to the doctor. I had spent one worried night not sleeping well and even called Cassie the next morning, but she said as long as they weren't hurting at all not to worry. So at the visit when one happened she confirmed that it was in fact a contraction, but that it was good thing! She was glad to see that there was some activity and that my body is preparing. Yesterday I wrote down every time I noticed one and it was 1 to 5 times in an hour pretty much all day, but definitely not on a regular schedule at all. Sometimes I notice them at night too. But I figure as long as it isn't painful and I don't have any other prelabor symptoms that all is okay.
I've gained somewhere between 25 and 30 lbs at this point, but people still tell me I'm small for 8 months pregnant. But boy I sure don't feel that small. They have to just be saying that. I guess I don't feel huge, but it's the walking around like a 90 year old that gets me. Nerves in my hips and upper legs periodically hurt, the ligaments all in my pubic area get sore from the smallest of walks, all making it so I have to stand up slowly, stretch before making any sudden movements, and then take baby steps to get around. Neil says he actually has a hard time walking as slow as I am. I can understand that 30 extra pounds on a body not used to it can make things more difficult. My friend who just had a baby 2 weeks ago says she feels so quick and nimble and light! Oh, that will be so nice to feel that way again.
Here's the point when my face starts to look a little fat. I guess the 27 or so lbs I've gained are catching up with me. At least I still fit into the maternity jeans. This week is 35 weeks and she could be here anytime in 2 to 6 weeks! Time sure is flying...
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