30 week OB check up

Tank is not the size of THIS cabbage!!

I had my final every 4 week OB check up today. It was a long one. I started out with having to do the 50 grams of glucose test to ensure I am not a gestational diabetic. As you may recall, I had to do this at 24 weeks as well because of Tanks size. That one was negative and I am sure this one will be negative too. The drink has come a long way, it doesn’t taste too bad, but it sure does give you the jitters. (the calorie content is mysterious missing from the bottle).

Dr. Johnson measured my uterus, measuring 31.5, which is normal. We listened to fetal heart tones, Tanks heart rate was a steady 130BPM. My weight……171lbs, that’s a 24lb weight gain . Kris was able to attend this appointment today and he very reassuringly told that all my weight is in my belly (implying not my ass or face). I also convinced Dr. Johnson that we need another ultrasound. We will have a size dating ultrasound at 34 weeks (june 19^th). For the next  6 weeks I will have appointments every 2 weeks then at 34 weeks I start weekly appointments.

I had a first today too!! Get ready for it! I got my first shot IN THE BUTT!! Sounds silly I know, but I have never had a shot in the butt before.  I was really nervous about it but it was so easy. It burned a little going in and my right glute gave an involuntary twitch, but overall went well. So what was this shot???Rhogam. Because my blood type is A- (and kris doesn’t know his), I have to get a shot of Rhogam, which is an immunoglobulin which contains the rho antigen. The problems comes if baby is + (from Kris). There is a chance that if the baby is exposed to the RH negative factor that he is at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn which can lead to hydrocephalus and other problems for baby. So yes, I endured a shot in the ass for Tank. He better love me!!

The big 30!!! (10 weeks left)

Tank is coming in around 3 pounds and is over 17 inches. He weighs as  much as a large cabbage (not Alaskan cabbage). Next week its compared to a Pineapple, which I feel more appropriate than a cabbage!! Baby is continuing to grow and put on fat and ossify his bones. His hearing is improved and can react to sound. I have found this to be true. Tank knows Kris’s voice. Kris was gone this weekend and Tank did not move as much. I’ve noticed this as a pattern. Yes he does move more when I am laying in bed but he moves even more when Kris and I are laying in bed together and he has his hand on my belly. It’s pretty interesting to know that Tank can recognize our voices already. As for me, I’m just gaining more and more weight! My ankles have began to swell after a 10 hour work day…..it’s ugly. It’s not like its huge, you can just tell where my socks are but I think they look like a Vienna sausage.

We are excited to head home. We fly out Friday Morning and will arrive in Pocatello on Friday around noon. I am so excited to be able to share Tank with family.

Kris had a good weekend. He and three other guys went out on a boat and shrimped and fish for the weekend in the Prince William Sound.  They caught lots of fresh shrimp. I on the other hand got affairs in order. We have our nursery more organized, an appointment with a pediatrician, and of course I was able to squeeze in a massage! 

Kris and I are decorating the nursing with decals

Week 29-11 weeks to go

Week 29

Baby is about 3 lbs and is anywhere from 16-17 inches long. On average, boys weigh more than girls at birth. On the food scale the baby Tank is about the size of a butternut squash. Everyday about 200mg of calcium is added to his skeleton. Most of all the important organs are done forming and now he is just going to grow, and grow, and grown.

As for me...all is stable. No leg cramps this week. Baby has been getting hiccups at about 3 am the last few nights. Getting excited to come home and see everyone. You all better pray for good weather!!

So not much new to talk about since I posted all the camping pictures last weekend. See you all next week at 30 weeks!

Camping

We had a great time using our new camper. What's crazy in Alaska is that there are so many places that aren't open yet. We had a tough time finding a spot but ended up driving about 2 hours north near Talkeetna and camping along the banks of the Big Su River. It was actually  the perfect spot. Chloe was in heaven. She was able to swim for 4 hours, then roll in the dirt/sand, fetch sticks, and then go swimming again. I was in a pretty good mood  too. We had every every type of weather. It was sunny, it hailed, it rained, it was windy. Thank goodness when the hail came all we had to do was hop in our little camper and stay nice and warm. We went with two friends, Abbey and Kyle. We thought it appropriate to take them out the first time since Abbey is 20 weeks pregnant and could really appreciate a warm bed with camping. We had camp fire pizza's, explored the river, played bored games, and bs'ed around an awesome fire. It was a first of many great outings. Here are a few pics!!

The new baby

along the river there are still large ice chunks

abbey, kyle and kenzie

pictures of the ice bergs

The big su river

I'm happy to see moose tracks....

The camping crew; Kris, Jolin, Abbey and Kyle

Week 28- the last frontier

Week 28- The third and final trimester!!

We are on the home stretch. Tank is about the size of a Chinese cabbage (weight wise 2 1/4  lbs ) and is about 14 ½ inches long. Eyes are open and closing, the eyes have eyelashes. In the next 12 weeks Tank will grow from ¼ to ½ lb a week. If I don’t gain any more weight from fat, I am expected to gain another 11lbs! WHEW. Another fun fact is that the Tanks brain is going from a smooth appearances and is now getting those grooves in it called SULCI. He just gets more baby like and less alien like. As for changes in me, I’ve developed a very fine linea negra. That is a faint dark line that extends vertically over my abdomen. It is normal in pregnancy and should fade. It is NOT a stretch mark, thank god. So far I can thank my mom for good genetics. She has 12 weeks left before I either thank her or curse her. I had the worse Charlie horse of my life last night! I now have new sympathy for those professional players who cramp up during games. It hurt all damn day! Some days are better than others physically. After three days of working in the hospital my feet and back are pretty much done, but I am not in agony yet. I have given up running for good. I walked with a limp for a week after that 5k jog.

Not much else is new here. We posted the pictures of the trailer which is the biggest news in this neighborhood. We are going camping this weekend to test it out. Should be fun. Next weekend Kris is going shrimping in Prince William sound and then the following weekend we will be in Idaho!! Yahoo. 

We bear proofed our baby

well if a baby doesn't entice you to come visit maybe camping in luxury will! This is my "push" present. I told kris that if he wanted to fish and camp in Alaska with a pregnant lady or a baby, he better offer me bear protection! This is it. I am really excited. No more freezing after camping...heck, more camping. It is also going to double as our luxury guest bedroom. Can't wait to send you some pics from on the road. Heading out next weekend!

The new camper

queen size bed (chloe thought that was for her.

kitchen, bathroom and bunks. Sleeps 6.

we also got our crib!!! We forgot to order a mattress too but this came within a week after ordering at Target. Kris and I put it together as a team!!

changing table. We still need to put together the dresser but now it's time for bedding  and decoration. Nesting here I come