32 WEEKS

I started writing this blog last week when I was 31 weeks. I've been slow to get things posted. I'm going to post some pictures later, but wanted to post an update since it's been a while. Time seems to be going fast and slow at the same time. We are in the single digit countdown now. EIGHT weeks to go. Unbelievable. It really brings a sense of urgency to get things done. The nursery is almost complete. We are proud of it. I will post pictures once we add the final touches. I recently had to complete a 3 hour glucose challenge, because I failed my 1 hour challenge to test for gestational diabetes. I was allowed to do alternative carbohydrate loading as the glucola caused me to get dizzy, vomit, and have a very high heart rate. I was told that I could drink two 20 oz bottles of coke. I was NOT told that I had to consume both bottles in FIVE minutes. The lab guy waited until I had two minutes to go and only part of one bottle completed to inform me of this news. I was not a happy camper. I told him to cancel the test. I came back the next week and got to eat Skittles this time. This may sound easy, but it wasn't. I had to eat 4.2oz of Skittles in 15 minutes. Try it. It's hard. I almost ran out of time. I was shoving them in and had chipmunk cheeks at the end. I managed to get them down, except for the wad that I saved in my cheek and threw in the trash as soon as I left the lab. I then had to get my blood drawn every hour for 3 hours. It was pretty much torture. But, I passed the test with flying colors! Yay! No gestational diabetes. Aunt Regina, Kelli, and Mama had a baby shower for me. I was totally overwhelmed by the whole event. When Kelli was pregnant with Kaitlyn, I hid in the bathroom and cried the majority of the shower. Don't get me wrong. I was thrilled for Kelli. I was sad for myself, because I had already been trying for many years to get pregnant. So, when I walked into my own shower, I started bawling. Tears, snot, the works...classy. Not only was everything beautifully decorated, but seeing my family and friends there for ME did me in. I really appreciated people taking time out of their busy lives to be there. I still get teary eyed when I think about the people that showed up. Missing were both of my grandmothers. That makes me emotional as well. I wish they were here to see this precious baby. The shower was held at Murray's Grille in Yulee. Aunt Regina said she was disappointed in the food and even gave a small speech to make sure people knew what the unrecognizable stuff was. It was pretty funny. We spent a couple of days washing tiny clothes and organizing baby gear. That was overwhelming, as it provided a big sense of reality. I'm pretty much a big ball of emotions at the moment! I had two doctor's appointments on 8/7. The first was with the high risk specialist. Addison is doing great! She weighed 3lb 5oz. She has big, chubby cheeks and we love her so much already. We think she has an attitude because she gets mad if she's touched. She will either freeze or start doing somersaults to get away. It's been difficult for the doctor to find her heartbeat at times because she is trying to get away. She gets all that from her Daddy. Ha, ha. I was told at that appointment that I'd have to start attending NST's (heart rate testing) and Ultrasounds every Tuesday and Friday until I deliver. Phew! Tuesday's testing went ok. Addison kept wiggling away from the heart monitor but she passed the test. We got really good views of her face during the ultrasound. Its a BPP (biophysical profile) and she scored an 8/8. Today's testing didn't go quite as smoothly. They wanted Addison's heart rate to reach the 150's, but it stayed in the 130's. She failed her NST and we had to do another BPP (ultrasound) which she passed. The doctor said that some of the medicine I take to keep my heart rate controlled could be going to her, or she could have been just resting. They attempted to startle her by pressing a vibrating buzzer to my stomach. She could have cared less. The doctor brought up that my amniotic fluid is on the higher side (sigh). The US tech brought up that she has hair! She is so, so, so cute with her chubby cheeks and pouty lips. So, I am slightly concerned but trying not to totally freak out. We go again on Tuesday. Prayers that she will pass this time won't hurt! (I'll post pictures when I can.)