BOW 2010

Summer BOW. A little different this year being I was 30 weeks pregnant. I didn't take any classes that were strenuous. First class was handgun. I already know how to shoot them, but how often do you get to? So I did that, I would just like to say that you don't want to mess with this mama - I'm a dead eye.

I bring you back also to last summer's BOW I believe - when I took out the buffalo.

Class #2 was canoeing. Funny thing with this (I should have taken a picture). When I put my life-preserver on, everything was going great until I got to the tummy. Darn thing slipped right up! I figured I was pretty buoyant if anything was to happen. I ended up with the instructors. It was very relaxing. I ended up getting a bandanna award for being able to steer so well (was in the back). The instructor in the front said she barely had to do anything. The other instructor sat in the middle and was able to observe everyone else. Being back in the canoe on a big lake reminded me of BWCA. Thinking of planning a trip out there again maybe next spring.

Class #3 was walking stick. I've made many sticks in my time with Tent City, but this time I had tools and embellishments...wood burners, Chinese carving tools, leather, beads, rocks, paint.

Class #4 was supposed to be Fly Fishing. We had heard that the class was on a river with tubes or off shore or off a bridge. Since I didn't have chest waders and they didn't have hip waders, I thought the other two would be my option. Well, the first class came back and said they were on the lake in tubes. Sunday morning it happened to also be raining (again), so Margaret said absolutely not. I ended up going back to the walking stick class and made another stick. I helped another attendee with her stick - she was 92 (?) and was having trouble stripping the bark from her stick.

The roomies this year:

Dorothy, Linda, Margaret, and me (we also had a newbie-Becca)

30 weeks

I had my 30 week appointment on Monday. My glucose results from last week were 88, (which were lower than last time!) so I don’t have to do the 3 hour test. Still haven’t gained any weight. My BP was 140/88. She upped my meds again to 300 mg 2xday. She said to tell my boss that I would for sure not be going past 39 weeks, so at the latest I will now be 8/8. If they have to keep upping my meds and it looks like the baby isn’t growing anymore, I may go in at 37 weeks (7/25). I don't know if this means induction or C-section. I'm hoping for induction. The only thing I am worried about with this new time-line is the showers. Nothing has gone out for dates as far as I know. I have only the car seat to get to be able to bring Jolynn home. Everything else can be later. The car seat is a combo traveling system with the stroller, so I don't want to go get it early if someone already bought or planned on buying it. (I have since found out that my cousin and aunt have gone in together and purchased this so I don't have to worry about the car seat.-Thank you Sarah and Cindy!)

Okay - so you ask,
"Are you excited?" - yes!
"Are you nervous?" - I wasn't until I got the news that I was possibly going from 10 weeks left to 7 weeks.

Besides the news about moving up the due date, the doctor also put me on Zantac 2x day. She thinks the night time acid reflux is causing my cough, which in turn makes me cough so hard I gag and then throw-up. Hoping this will help, since taking around 10 Tums a day is not working.
Night one of new drugs: 300 mg of BP meds+2 tsp Robitussin+150mg of Zantac=no Tums all night and only getting up to go to the bathroom!

Class this week:
We went over more relaxation techniques, medications, and packing your bags. Probably all good things considering we are at the end of 30 weeks and now looking at 6 weeks left. I'm really hoping we go longer than 37 weeks, but preparing myself for it at the same time. We found out that the epidural can actually lower your blood pressure (which was a bullet point in the disadvantage side). In my case, this may be a good thing.

This jump start in time has kick started something in Jon. He had two days off this week (his normal), but he got so much done. Normally I ask what he did all day and he says nothing or he'll do something that really does itself (laundry/dishes in dishwasher). This week he tackled cutting the lawn, pulling/killing weeds, laundry, dishes, vacuumed, laid carpet in the entryway, and we both started organizing/cleaning the guest room. Lots of stuff getting accomplished here. He also made dinner two nights in a row! I am soo grateful to have him in my life. I can't imagine anyone else caring for me so much (even when I am bitchy).

Jolynn's progress:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

29 weeks

This will be an early mid-week post. I'm off to BOW for another fun filled relaxing weekend! Jon and I went to an early class this week too because they were giving a tour of the rooms again. This time I brought my camera. It goes kind of fast because I wasn't sure if it was okay and I didn't want to hold up the group. You get the idea. The first video is the birthing room and the second is the recovery room. They don't look much different except the birthing room has a big tub, where the recovery room has a shower.

I also had another doctor's appointment. Jon came with this time. I brought my readings and the cuff I was using so they could see that yes I was taking my BP, but it probably wasn't accurate. They agreed. The readings were very off. I read 142/90 at the office visit. I lost another pound. Jolynn's heart rate was around 140. I forgot that this visit was also my next 1-hour glucose test. I don't have those results yet, but the orange flavor really gave me a stomach ache this time. Since my BP was still elevated and I was due for another ultrasound anyway, they scheduled one for later in the afternoon. Everything still looks good - still a girl. She measured just right for the week I'm on. The technician said she measured/weighed in the 50 percentile. Almost 3 lbs! She wasn't able to print any new profile pictures because once again Jolynn was camera shy. She was all curled in a ball with her head tucked into her chest.

Jolynn's progress:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

28 weeks

Monday's appointment wasn't great. On the positive, still no weight gain and Jolynn's HR is around 150. My BP was high again though. They had me rest on my left side for a while and then retested. It went down, but now they want me to test it everyday for the next week and then I have to revisit them on Wednesday. At that point they will decide if I need to come back in a week or if I can start my every two week regime. This sucks. I feel fine. I'm not swelling or light headed or feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. My choices are either go to the clinic everyday for a BP check or stop at a Target/Walgreens and use one of those machines. I don't do well with the machines because they get really tight/painful. Plus with camping this weekend, it's going to make it hard to find a place to do this. I'm hoping my mom still has her BP cuff and scope.

Mom's cuff was stolen when the cabin was broken into. So I went to CVS. They had a cuff and scope for $15 and a digital one for $30. I have come to the conclusion that the digital one is not all that accurate because I am reading 154/104 IN THE MORNING. The cuff does say that it has to wrap around to a certain point on your arm or you have to go up a size. Which it doesn't, so I'm sure it's not taking an accurate reading. Again, I feel fine. If I had any of the signs of preeclampsia I would be worried, but I don't.

My 28 week photo for some reason looks smaller to me than my 26 week. I'm so excited for the next few weeks - camping, BOW, volunteering at the MS 150. Then there will be a few weeks of rest. We still have class until the end of June also.

Jolynn's progress:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

27 weeks

We attended our first birthing class on Thursday. It was a packed room. Jon and I thought we were early because we were there 15 min before start time. Everyone else was pretty much right behind us. I found that I am not very good at asking the questions. I just don't have any. Talking was not a problem though during the group discussions. With all the books and websites I've been going to, there isn't much I'm not prepared for. Jon on the other hand I wasn't so sure of. I thought this would be nice for him to talk to other expecting dads. He found that he too was much more prepared for what is to come than most of the other dads there. At the end of class we talked to the instructor about how many of the dads were pretty clueless and how Jon was more at ease with everything because of the books he had been reading. She suggested he bring his books to our next class. Women tend to look and read into this more than men, and she thought if it came from him (not the instructor) it would have more weight.

I've been diligently taking my medication and watching the salt intake. I admit, I have had a McD's and we have been to Red Robin a couple times. Do you really expect me to eat salad 7 days a week twice a day?! I need to splurge every now and then. I'm feeling great. I've been weighing myself and still have not seen any weight gain. I have my last monthly appointment on Monday. There will of course be an update in week 28. After that I believe the appointments go every 2 weeks for the next 2 months and then every week for the last month. Cruisin right along! Jolynn was a little quiet the last two days, but has been moving quite a bit again today. Go right ahead. Squirm all you want. Daddy and I love to feel it...and sometimes Polly too.

Jolynn's progress:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 weeks

I made it to the end of the 2nd trimester! Bring on the last 3 months! I can't believe it. It really is going fast. I think about the things that are left to do with the room and I hope things come together soon. Jolynn moves a lot. Jon has been feeling her more (and believes that it really is her). Polly was resting her head on my belly last night and Jolynn started kicking and squirming. Polly got up and moved to Jon's belly. Haha. I want to try and find a stethoscope. The books say I may be able to hear the heart beat with one at this point.

Things are starting to hit work too. People realizing that there are only 3 months left. I think I am right on track and all the sales reps I work with are really sticking to their deadlines so I can get things done before I leave. Things run so smoothly when everyone does what they are supposed to do.

I've been to a point where I think I should still be able to do things and eat things. Then I do, and I don't want to do them again. Mowed the front lawn; pretty sure I don't want to do that again in the next 3 months. Eating spicy food; pretty sure I can't do that again for a while. Lugging groceries into the house; lighter bags or Jon has to be home to help. All a learning curve.

The one thing I still don't get is how I haven't gained any weight. I've actually lost weight. I'm HUGE. Really. And I still have the biggest growth spurt to go. Where is it going? Was I this big before I was pregnant and the baby has been eating away at my body (as my mom once called-a parasite)? Whatever is going on, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Hope it continues after Jolynn is born.

Jolynn update:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.

25 weeks

This marks the week that Jon got to feel Jolynn. I felt some hefty kicks and thought maybe he would be able to feel them on the outside. I felt for it first and did, then put his hand in the same spot. He thought I flexed my stomach muscles - nope, that was Jolynn!

It has also been brought to my attention that I need to slow my purchasing down, at least until after any showers. Mike asked me yesterday (as I was showing him more outfits from Munchkin Markets) if Jolynn had 365 outfits yet. Not quite, but close. I took a few photos of the loot.

Jodi had mentioned also that I didn't have any posts up on here or Facebook about the wall art above Jolynn crib. Here you go.

Next, picture this: Jodi had me send her these two photos so she could make original works of art on canvas to put above the couch.




Jolynn's progress:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.