Bumpdate Weeks 23-35...yeah, I know, I suck.

So, a little has happened since last I updated the pregnancy files.

In January, we had to go to Albuquerque to the Pinon Perinatal Center for a second-level ultra-sound.  Baby girl has one kidney that is a teeny-tiny bit enlarged so they wanted to look at it further (READ: Make a huge deal about it only to tell us that it's probably fine and they will just continue to monitor it throughout the pregnancy)

From here on out, we would have monthly ultrasounds.  Fine by me.  Any chance to see little one from within is always enjoyable.  At around 30 weeks, we finally had the conversation with the doctor about whether or not a VBAC would be possible.  After she considered all of the factors (history of preeclampsia, enlarged kidney, and small fibroid need the incision site) she determined that it would be in my best interest to go ahead with a planned c-section at 39 weeks, but that if I were to go into labor on my own and was progressed pretty far by the time I got to the hospital, we could consider the VBAC.

Shortly after that appointment, things got a little weird.  At my 32 week appointment, my blood pressure was elevated.  Not super high, just elevated from what it had been.  I had to do my favorite thing, which is a 24 hour urine test, and was scheduled for a couple of days later to return for another blood pressure check.  That day my BP was still a little high but not within the range of Preeclampsia (140/90).  However, the talk still began of moving up a c-section to 37 weeks if my blood pressure continued to rise.  And if it didn't, I could still go to 38-39 weeks.  Dr. Johnson asked me if there was any specific day/date/provider that I would prefer.  April 23rd is right at the 38 week mark and so I asked him if it would be possible to do it on that date.  The importance of that date is insurmountable for me.  (Again, I'll explain more of this in a future post) The next week (Thursday) I was scheduled for a high risk ultrasound, NST, and follow up test.  Fortunately my BP was fine, the U/S was fine, the NST was fine, and everything was looking good.  Doctors being doctors, they still scheduled me for the same set of tests the following week, plus an additional NST on Monday.  At that appointment my BP was still fine and so was the NST.  Then came the full gammot of tests that Thursday.  U/S good, NST good, Blood Pressure...not good...142/90.  Crap.  So here we go again.  Twice weekly appointments scheduled for the rest of the month and weekly 24-hour urine tests.  I'm still only considered on the borderline of hypertention, which means they are only calling it elevated blood pressure and not prescribing bed rest.

So, as of today, April 5th, we are between 12 and 17 days of holding our baby girl.  We are completely ready (as far as having all the 'stuff' we need) and very excited to meet our little bundle!

Symptoms:  For weeks 23-30 or so, I just felt great!  Great Great Great!  30-33 I started to slow down a bit.  Started getting tired after lunch.  Major heartburn.  33- Present - I'm huge and uncomfortable!  My belly shape is sooooo much different this time.  She just sticks straight out of me in a huge basketball!  This makes me really uncomfortable.  I also have been tanning REALLY easily!  I don't know if this is legitimate but I've hardly been outside and my skin looks like it does in August.  Definitely not complaining about this one :)

Cravings/Aversions:  I don't really crave anything any more, in fact, I can hardly eat at all.  When I eat I feel like I can't breathe.  Fun stuff.

Sleep: I don't remember what that was like :/  Can't breathe, uncomfortable, bleh. 

Movement: All the time!  Since Sophia was so tiny (and I was bigger myself) I didn't see her moving from outside.  I can see Ellie in the Belly all day.  I love it. Love it love it love it.  I've even taken several cool videos of her moving around.  So cool.

Gender:  Three times confirmed to be a girl.  (Good thing bc she definitely has a girl room)

Maternity Clothes:  Most definitely.  Some shirts are getting to be short bc of the roundness of the belly :)

Best moment this week:  I asked Sophia what she was planning to say to Ellie when she see's her and her response was "Nice to meet you."  Oh how I love that girl.  

Next doctor appointment:  Monday, April 8th and Thursday, April 11th.

Due Date:  Between April 16th and April 24th.

Here are some photos of baby and belly.  I never really did the weekly belly shot thing but you can still see the progression of my basketball.

Bumpdate - Weeks 21 and 22!

What's in a name??

Well, as it turns out we have had Baby Girl's name picked out FOREVER.  I really don't know why but we just always knew we would have two girls someday.  When we picked Sophia's name, we had a few in consideration but once we started to say her name aloud, it was clear that Sophia is B-E-A-UTIFUL.  Shortly after having Sophia, we fell in love with Baby Girl's name.  To be honest, it comes from a silly little show that we are/were obsessed with called "Chuck".  We recommend that you Netflix it because it's just so fun/cute/lovely.  On the show, Chuck has a really awesome relationship with his sister.  A sibling relationship that anyone would envy.  And his sister is just adorable!

And so, the name of Baby Girl Elflein #2 will be...

Ellise "Ellie" Catherine Elflein

We always planned to simply call her Ellie but felt she needs a sophisticated name too.  Maybe it's just the Jennifer/Jen and Kenneth/Ken in us.  Sophia's middle name is Margaret - named after my maternal grandmother.  Baby Girl's middle name will be Catherine - named after Ken's maternal grandmother.

The day after we found out her gender, we ordered her bedding.  After we received it, we went right out to buy paint.  I'll post pictures of the room as it comes along.  We have a pretty high bar to live up to since we put so much effort into Soph's room, but I know this one will be just a beautiful.

Symptoms:  Still feel overall great.  Starting to have sinus congestion.  I had this really badly with Soph so this is no surprise. 

Cravings/Aversions:  Fruit snacks please.  

Sleep: As I get further along I've become more cognizant of sleeping on my side.  I'm usually a back sleeper so this is making me somewhat uncomfortable.  

Movement: All the time!  It still feels like she is breech most of the time so her little kicks are downward.  No biggie unless Mommy has to pee (which is most of the time) and she kicks my bladder.  

Gender:  Still a girl as far as we know.

Maternity Clothes:  Most definitely.

Best moment this week:  Sitting on the couch watching my belly dance around.  

Next doctor appointment:  January 14th U/S in Albuquerque and January 17th regular appointment.

Due Date:  May 7, 2013

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's 2012

Clearly I'm a little behind in my posting these days.  There are some valid reasons, which I will expose in another post.

For now, let's talk HOLIDAYS!

This was truly the best holiday season I have ever had.

Thanksgiving
We hosted Thanksgiving again this year.  I had off the week before so I was able to prepare a lot of the dinner in advance, even though I was sick sick sick for the first 4 days :/  A couple of days before Thanksgiving, Sophia mentioned to me that she was or wanted to be a bumblebee.  I remembered that I still had her bumblebee wings and antennae from her first Halloween costume so I got them out for her to play with.  She put them on...and didn't take them off for about two weeks :)

We had a great group over for dinner, including our little three-some, Camille, the A+ Team, and Mike and Stephanie from across the street.  I guess I didn't get a whole lot of pictures of the people that were here, but I sure captured the yummy food!  Sophia was very helpful with all of it!  We made her a turkey hat and she was on her way.

After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool fall weather.

 And when all was said and done, the little "Bumbee-Bee" was tuckered out.

 

And now on to Christmas!

Thanksgiving was sort of early this year, which is GREAT for Christmas Season lovers.  An entire extra weekend of Christmas-ness!

Pretty much every weekend we had some type of Christmas party to attend.  A couple of Ugly Sweater Parties, a party at Sophia's school, a trip to see Santa, etc. The house was totally decked out (of course) and Sophia was completely into it all.  She was so excited to see all of the decorations all over the house and all over the city.  Every time she saw a house or a business with Christmas lights on, she would say "Look! More Christmas, Mommy!"  It was adorable. 

We had our first Christmas party here at the house on the 23rd.  We plan to make it an annual thing.  We made tons of tamales and posole and sweet treats.  We had just found out the sex of the baby a couple of days earlier so we decided to do a gender reveal at the party.  It was pretty fun to announce the big news in front of everyone :) Then Christmas Eve we were at Camille's for the traditional Feast of the Seven Fish with the A+ Team and Frank and Michael.  When Christmas morning came, she was just as excited to pass out presents as she was to open her own.  

And here's a ton of Christmas pictures.

 Since I was sick (again) before Christmas, we had to put off Christmas Movie Marathon until after Christmas.  The meal was still awesome as ever, but it lost it a little luster to watch the movies after Christmas.  Love Actually still made it's way onto the schedule, as well as the Muppet Christmas Carol.

 One of her favorite gifts was a Kindle Fire HD from Grandpa.  It's simply amazing to me that I merely turned the thing on with some apps loaded and she was able to maneuver her way around all the games and activities with no problem.

 Then  New Year's Eve we really did it up!  We got all dressed up, went to sushi dinner (pregnancy friendly sushi only of course), then went to see Finding Nemo which had been re-released in the theater, then headed to Paula's house for the A+ Team New Year's Bash.  We intended to just stop by to say Hi, but ended up staying until midnight!  Sophia was all into it!