McBaby 3: 32 Weeks

We are only 6-7 weeks out from meeting this little nugget of ours!  We're getting so excited!  We can finally say "The baby will be here next month!" because it's finally October, my favorite month.  We are so busy this month with packed full weekends, crazy work schedules and fun outside activities planned with the kids now that the weather is cooler.

In the last few weeks we got to visit the fair!  I wore this funny shirt to the fair when I was pregnant with Scarlett and I brought it back out again this go around.  It received a lot of laughs and love.

Hello funnel cake!

We also squeezed in maternity pictures!  I get pretty anxious the day of wondering if my kids will be happy come 5:30pm, will they cry the entire time or refuse to even face forward...it's a pretty stressful event with littles!  When Norah was Scarlett's age we actually had to have a re-shoot for fall pictures because she sat on the ground and cried the entire time.  BUT this session went amazing!  Norah is at that age that she will smile and pose, but Scarlett smiled and flirted with the camera too!  The weather held out and the husband didn't gripe too much.  It was all I could ask for!  Here are a few sneak peeks we've received so far.  We used a new photographer too since our favorite one is a little further along in her pregnancy than I am and it's getting difficult for her to travel.  We really like her and she's a prior NICU nurse!  We love what we've seen so far!  Thank you Every Single Season Photography!

As far as Mama goes, I'm still feeling really good.  Of course I get occasional back pain, round ligament pain and SO tired at times but I think all of that is to be expected at this point.  Babe is still measuring about a week ahead, so I feel like I look full term already.  I sure get asked all the time if I'm due soon.  I've gained only 20lbs this far so I'm really happy with that.  My appetite sure has gone down over the last few weeks.  There are days that I actually forget to eat meals, which never happens when I don't have a baby pushing up on my stomach.

I'm still working out 2-4 times a week!  I mostly do my own Crossfit style workouts at the YMCA because with Norah's school drop off time and my night shift schedule it's hard to make my CF gym classes.  When I go to the Y my workouts look like this now that I'm in the 3rd trimester:

15 min elliptical (warm up)
15 min stair climber (low impact cardio)
10-20 min strength and quick CF style workout

We've ordered a few fun things for our mystery babe.  We found a sweet coming home outfit (I'll get a picture soon), an announcement sign because what else can you buy for a gender surprise baby, and a few neutral hospital swaddles.

Hopefully by the next time I blog I can finish sorting and reboxing all the kid clothes piled in our playroom and organize all the burp clothes/swaddles that are piled in Scarlett's closet.  We also should be close to weekly check ups with the OB too!

McBaby 3: 30 Weeks

We're officially out of the 20's and in the 30's!  We are around 8-9 weeks out, time is really just going by so fast!

Last week I worked my one weekend a month and Kit was able to bring the kids up to visit.  While they were there we had the opportunity to get a quick peek at our littlest McVay!  The kids wanted their bellies ultra sounded too, so funny!  We got to see the little face/head, feet/legs and little hand opening and closing!  Norah asked if it was going to scratch it's way out.  LOL

I'm still feeling mostly pretty good.  These last few days I was cramping pretty bad, but not sure it if was constipation, gas or baby stuff.  Also the round ligament pain has had me up every two hours a few nights a week.  Luckily I can walk around for a few minutes and it goes away, but it's throwing a real kink in my sleep.  Also as I type now, it's 0345 in the morning because insomnia has hit me again.  UGH.  I did wake up a few days ago thinking I would have to go into the Labor and Delivery Triage department because I was contracting every 2-3 minutes, so much that it woke me up at 0500 on a Saturday morning.  I drank a lot of water, took Tylenol and rested and they spaced out.  This Mama does not have time for that on a busy Saturday morning!

I'm still working out/doing CrossFit 2-4 days a week.  It's definitely becoming harder to get motivated as the weeks go on.  It's often a toss up between sleep or working out and I often choose sleeping these days!  I had my last run on Riverside last week.  My body did it, but didn't like it much afterwards, so strictly speed walking for me until January.

This week I ordered a few things for my hospital bag!  It's been so weird and hard not being able to buy swaddles, clothes and personalized items for the new baby.  My husband says we've saved so much money so far because of our decision not to find out the gender, so funny and true!  I'm slowly putting things aside for my hospital bag and a few gender neutral items for baby.

Last swim day!

Last week I started sorting through the dreaded clothing boxes.  I got about half way done and needed a break, so hopefully I can finish this week or next.  It's getting really hard for me to bend over and sit on the floor for extended periods of time so the sooner the better on getting all these tasks finished!

We have a little party planned to celebrate this new one of ours and invitations are sent out!  We can't wait to have everyone over to celebrate.  Plus, it's taco themed...and I'm always craving tacos and queso!

We're still in shock we're counting down now in single digit weeks already.  We can't WAIT to find out who this little one is in just two months.  And we STILL have no final boy name! Haha

McBaby 3: 28 Weeks

Someone isn't excited for her time as the baby to come to an end!

Hello third trimester!  We made it to the last stretch!  Baby is as big as a coconut and coming in at around 1.5-2.5 pounds.  Baby moves and kicks so much these days!  I'm having strong BH contractions but still nothing worrisome at this point.  I'm having insomnia when I flip back to sleeping at night sometimes.  Really not a funny joke for someone who is pregnant with two kids working night shift!  I just love waking up and being wide awake at 4am, NOT!  My energy took a hit this week.  I don't know if baby is going through a growth spurt or if this third baby is just taking a tole on me finally.  I've gained 17.5lbs so far so I'm super happy with that!  Every pregnancy I fear it will be the one I gain an insane amount of weight, but with decently watching what I eat and exercising 2-4 times a week I've done pretty well so far.  It helps so much too to have a solid foundation and healthy lifestyle to start with. 

Sun Out Bump Out

Last week I failed my 1 hour GTT test by about 32 points, yikes!  Yesterday I sat in the lab office for 3 hours and did the 3 hour GTT test.  For those who haven't had the lovely experience let me explain the process!  First you have to be fasting since midnight the day before, then that morning the lab takes an initial fasting blood draw.  After that they make you drink a little bottle of koolaid with 100g of sugar versus the 50g of sugar you drink with your 1 hour test in 5 minutes.  After the initial they take a one hour, two hour and three hour blood draw.  If you fail more than one reading then you're diagnosed with gestational diabetes and by fail I mean if your blood sugar reading is too high either with the fasting or the hourly checks.  Thankfully I was only high on my two hour check, so I passed!! Whew!

1 Hour Drink

We have about 10-11 weeks until baby arrives and we're still cranking out our to-do list.  We went through all the kid's toys/playroom last week and donated ANOTHER van full of boxes to Goodwill.  I just can't believe how quickly the boxes can fill up!  Another item down!  Next, is sorting and shrinking our girl's clothes we have piled up.  Since having two girls, we have way too many clothes for each size until 4T so we need to prioritize and dwindle down our stash so that it all fits in one storage closet.  After that...the only thing left to do is pack that hospital bag!!!

This week we did check another huge item off our list...finally made the plunge and bought a new baby hauler!  We became a van family!  We bought a Honda Odyssey and she's a beauty!  She has way too much technolody, bells and whistles for us but we're slowly figuring it out each week.  Norah was probably the most excited.  She's only asked to sleep in it 5 times.  I can't wait to see the baby seat all snugged up in the middle!

We are also still on the fence about cord blood banking.  The biggest draw back is that it's pricey (of course).  Depending on what company you use, it's about a $1,000-$1,500 initial fee then around $300-$600 year storage fee for 10-12 years (after that the cells aren't typically useful from what we've read).  This baby very well could be our last, so if we were to ever take advantage of it now would be the baby.  We can use the stem cells for siblings as well (as long as the parents are the same).  Decisions Decisions Decisions!

Another two weeks down, about 10 to go!

Still working full time nights!  Strong enough to grow AND deliver babies!

McBaby 3: 26 Weeks

My last week in the second trimester!  These last two weeks went great!  I'm still feeling great, no major complaints.  I have been having some nice BH contractions, but nothing alarming yet, just uncomfortable.  I LOVE all the kicks and movement, it's my favorite.  My BP is staying low and so far I've gained 15lbs!

I had another OB appt on Tuesday.  Baby sounds great, strong heart beat!  She scheduled my glucose test for GDM for this coming week, ugh.  I failed the 1 hour with Scarlett and had to sit through the 3 hour test.  Let's hope this doesn't get progressively worse with each pregnancy.  We also set a date for my repeat c-section!  We're not broadcasting it just yet, because I have a feeling it may get pushed back.  When we get closer we'll start letting people know.

I'm still CrossFitting 2-4 days a week and actually ran/walked a 5k today!  I only run small distances now, no long distance running goals anymore.  I nap almost daily.  No food aversions, but this week I craved donuts HARD.  I might have stopped twice in one week and I'm NOT a sweets person.  Thanks kid! 

We bought this cute little nesting pillow for baby and of course the big kids had to try it out first.  I can't wait to see the new baby snuggled up with these two crazies!

Two big events happened in the last two weeks.  First, our first baby started Pre-K!  She was so excited she hardly slept the night before.  We think she likes it so far.  Honestly, we're still in shock a little bit!

Secondly we spent all of two days sorting through boxes we hadn't opened in two years, making Goodwill piles, filling up two trash cans, hanging degrees and shadow boxes and moving in/out furniture to FINALLY having a working, clean, beautiful office!!  I can't believe the two car loads to Goodwill + two trash cans we took out of that one room.  We feel so much lighter!  We also have room to set up a crib if need be in case Miss Scarlett isn't ready to share with Norah quite yet.  Such a weight off our shoulders.  We also ate at all our favorite restaurants in QUIET, added a fun date night and squeezed in a hour hike at Turkey Mountain.

Now looking toward the 12ish weeks we have left of what could be our last pregnancy!  September will bring my glucose testing, hopefully buying a van to fit our new family of FIVE, OB appts every two weeks now and entering in the 3rd trimester! 

McBaby 3: 24 Weeks

Big week for our little baby!  As a L&D nurse, 24 weeks means the difference between life and death.  At 24 weeks of gestation a baby has a chance at survival if born early.  We definitely don't want a 24 weeker, but it's so nice to breathe that huge sigh of relief knowing that if something happened, this baby has a chance now at life.

Updates!  I'm still doing pretty good.  The round ligament pain has let up a bit these last two weeks.  The hemorrhoids though...ugh.  You think being a c-section Mama and not having to push I could avoid them but due to the increased pressure of baby, increased blood supply, etc....I still get them.  I'm already feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing painful or too close together.  

I finally felt baby move!  And baby hasn't stopped since.  We can feel her on the outside now too.  Daddy and Norah love putting their hand up to feel the kicks.  That feeling never gets old.

I'm still doing CrossFit 2-4 times a week with a few trips to the YMCA too.  No more long distance runs so instead I'm killing myself on the elliptical or stair climber for some cardio.

No crazy food cravings or aversions!  I'm back to eating/drinking my old favorites.  It is hard limiting my caffeine intake though, especially during the night shifts at work.

Speaking of work, my patients ask me all the time (now that I'm for sure showing) "How do you handle being pregnant and working nights?"  Honestly it's not as horrible as one would think.  The biggest change I've noticed is I've become a hard core napper.  When I'm not pregnant I don't nap.  I don't nap with newborns, I don't nap ever.  But working nights I have to nap at least one day a week, plus being pregnant on top of that I find myself napping EVERY DAY.  I feel lazy sometimes, but I remind myself I'm doing some big work growing a tiny perfect human, so I try to give myself some grace.

I should have my glucose test coming up in the next month.  Also in September we should be scheduling the big date for baby day!  We can't wait to meet this little girl or boy!

McBaby 3: 22 Weeks

McBaby 3: 20 Weeks

OHHHH WE'RE HALFWAY THERE!!!! OOOHHHHH!!!!

Wowzers this is flying by way too fast.  I know I type this every time but I can't emphasize it enough.  I can confirm that with each pregnancy the belly pops bigger sooner and the time just speeds up way too fast.  I'm just seriously proud that every two weeks I can remember to take a bump picture thus far.  It's the little things!

Last week we had our big baby ultrasound to check out all the body parts/organs.  Everything looks great so far as they can tell.  I had the scan done at the Office of Advanced Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk specialist) instead of at my regular OB's office.  Nothing super alarming, but since this is my third c-section my OB wants to ensure my old scar site isn't thinning out again too soon or my placenta isn't doing any weird things (with subsequent c-sections your placenta can implant oddly and do damaging things each time).  Nothing so far, so fingers crossed!

Daddy's nose!

The HARDEST part was looking away when the technician hovered over the naughty bits.  My husband made me look at him the whole time so I couldn't peak.  So, I guess we're officially waiting until D-Day.  Honestly if he wasn't in the room with me I think I would have snuck a peak!  We're really excited though and I am happy we're waiting.  You just don't get truly surprised anymore  these days, so we're hanging onto it while we can!

As far as Mama goes, I'm feeling great!  This week I even got 5 workouts in, that never happens!  The collagen seems to help with the round ligament pain and my bump support belt during exercises.  I've gained 10lbs so far and I looked at my past weight gain charts with the two girl's and it's right on track as before.  Hopefully I can keep it to 30-40lbs like my usual.  No swelling, nausea, heart burn or weird side effects yet.  My hair/nails are growing like crazy but this veteran knows I'll loose all of it around February haha!

My husband seemed a little bit in shock this week when his 20 week update hit his phone.  I guess this first half flew by for him too. He's almost finished with our farmhouse desk and next month we'll tackle that big project.  I'm definitely starting to feel that nesting mode sink in.  I love it and embrace it each time.  I love the energy that comes with it and the feeling of getting my space organized.

Norah asks on the daily "How's the baby doing?  Is she getting bigger?"  She's obviously team girl.  "I'm going to change her diaper and shop for clothes for her.  Can I sing her to sleep?  Can she sleep in my room?"  Gosh I just love her big sister role this pregnancy.  I can't wait to see her hold this little guy/gal for the first time.

NAMES!  We've nailed down a girl name.  Whew!  The boy name though...we have a short list but nothing that's a hard yes for both of us.  We just may leave the hospital without a name if this little babe is a boy!  We're keeping our names on lockdown until delivery day too.  So many secrets this pregnancy HaHa!

Cheers for an uneventful first half!