26 week checkup!

Yep, this morning was my checkup. Boring, as usual. Heard the heartbeat, sounded good and strong, and doc said I am measuring just right for 26 weeks. We discussed my fear of this baby being even bigger than Bradin was (he came out at 9 lbs!), but doc said that measuring the uterus is fairly reliable and "normal" measurements suggest that baby is going to be of "average size" (7-8 lb range) but suggested we do an ultrasound at 30ish weeks (which, incidentally is when Emily and Henry will be here for a dr.s appointment...sort of a coincidince, sort of not hehe) to do some measurements, just to be more sure.
I start being seen every 2 weeks now, so the updates will be more frequent. And at my next checkup I get to do all of the fun stuff: 1-hour glucose test, rhogam workup, and rhogam shot. Yippee!!! That means that before my checkup I get to run over to the hospital and drink the orange drink (kind of tastes like half-carbonated orange soda, some women despise it, I don't mind it.) then in an hour they will do a blood draw to see how my body breaks down the sugars I ingest. The rhogam shot is just a shot, but basically it's since I'm Rh negative, if the baby's blood type is positive and the baby's blood mixes with my blood, my body could try to fight it like a disease and it could hurt the baby. This shot is given at 28ish weeks and prevents my body from reacting to the baby's blood. It's well worth getting a shot, and besides, who doesn't love a good burning shot in the hip or shoulder?????
The only negative thing that came out of today is the weight. By my weight chart, it APPEARS that I've gained 11 lbs in the last month. (My overall weight gain is good, about 14 lbs) I'm hoping the fact that I kept my shoes on is what makes the difference, but I'm guessing it didn't throw it off by that much...GRR!!! I'm hoping that with the weather warming up, we'll be able to get outside more and that'll help me work off some of the swiss cake rolls I've been eating!!! ;)

25 Weeks Pregnant PICTURES!!!

OK OK OK, I know a lot of you have been asking to see belly pics. I tell you all that I look pretty much the same, pregnant or not, because I'm so fluffy. Yes, fluffy. Because it sounds nice, makes me think of an edible cloud of frosting :D
Anyway, on to the pics. Y'all are LUCKY, because I conned my friend Kim into taking a couple of shots quick before the Sound of Washington concert (a choir I help coordinate) tonight, so my hair is all DID and stuff, and I'm at that stressed/frazzled point, so I don't normally look this CRAZY (some might argue that point) but here they are:

Since she wasn't pleased with the background on the first one, she took a second one in the hallway with a better background:

So there. All of you who have been calling me a SLACKER!!! I slack no more!! :P Have a happy Easter!!!

Nothing new, but fun!

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since the last update, and I've been told I'm slacking on the blogging, although nothing really exciting or fun has happened lately. Today, though, Dorothy decided she was going to be interesting. I was sitting on the couch, vegging out as I tend to do when I'm trying to figure out if/what I'm going to make for supper (I won, didn't cook tonight! hehe) and suddenly my belly (and other fatty parts of me, although that doesn't really narrow it down...) started wiggling, with no explainable reason from the OUTSIDE. I could feel her squirming and kicking inside, and it was so fun to finally SEE her kicks!! She's a bit of a turkey, as every time I feel her kick and am able to try to feel it with my hand, she stops...let's hope this doesn't indicate a trying child for Henry and Emily!!!

On a different note, I've been thinking a lot lately about my surrogate tattoo. I found a pretty celtic mother's knot, that the intention is you add a dot for each baby:

but my long-term intent would be to add initials and dates for each future surrobabe, plus most artists won't even touch you for less than $50, so paying that much for a little dot would make me mad. So here's my challenge to you all: help me with my tattoo!!! Come up with a great idea, nothing too big or gaudy, but something that's sweet (like me hehe) and will fit nicely on my left shoulderblade (my kids are on my right). The prize will go to the winner(s), it will be my lifelong thanks for coming up with an awesome tattoo idea!!!!

Another checkup is next Thursday, the 28th, so be looking for an update then, although I'm sure it will be another boring visit!! Have a great Easter, everyone!!!

22 Week Update

Went in for my checkup this morning. Boring, as usual. But that's a good thing. Of course she measured the fundal height (yep, sure, whatever that is hehe) and listened to the heartbeat. Little Dorothy was a wiggler this morning and it actually took the doc a couple of minutes to find (and keep) the heartbeat long enough to count it, but she ended up with something in the 140s, consistent with where she's been.
Nothing unusual has developed, so I didn't really have any questions for her. Rhogam shot (because I'm Rh negative) will be in about 6 weeks, next appointment is in 4 weeks, and after that one I start being seen every 2 weeks. wow! Time has flown by! We will probably start seriously talking about scheduling an induction at one of the next few appointments. Still not quite sure what Emily and Henry are thinking as far as dates, but we can schedule as early as July 29th, so that's all still up in the air, but hey, at least we know she'll be born sometime between today and the middle of August!!! Everyone have a fantastic weekend!!