H-U-N-T-E-R

Kelly sketched plans for letters for Hunter's room. So yesterday, we went off to AC Moore to get the supplies (since plain white letters at Babies R Us are almost $10 a piece). We also headed to Babies R Us for Kelly to get Emma a water table and I bought 2 boxes of diapers (and got a $20 gift card for my purchase). Ashley came over to join in on the craft fun.

After Kelly cooked a nice dinner, taking a long walk around Kelly's neighborhood, and putting Emma to bed, we got down to business. Some how I ended up with the easiest letters to execute (H and R) while Kelly (N and E) and Ashley (U and T) got the complicated ones. We had a lot of fun painting and talking. Luckily, the paint easily wiped off of Kelly's table, or she would have had an "R" permanently stained into her table.

It took us a few hours, but the letters are finished! They are so cute and I love them. I can't wait to hang them in his room (after the shower... Kelly is holding them hostage until then).

Another one of Kelly's projects... she says it needs more work:

I think my hair needs a little work. 27.3 days.

Warning: Political Mixed With Crazy Hormones

My husband, knowing how much I love keeping up with the health care debate and actually government in generally these days, pulled up this video link for me yesterday. I posted it on Facebook, but I figure it is worthy of being on the blog.

*I'm not sure if the video is still there, I tried to view it this morning, and it was only the transcription of it, but you will still get the idea.*

Nancy Pelosi, you fail. The point of our government is to represent THE PEOPLE. If we don't know what is in a bill, why in the world would we want you to pass it? When Massachusetts went Republican after a billion years of being Democratic, that should have been a sign. I might add, Massachusetts was the first state to mandate health insurance for all of its citizens. Even with that law, the majority of people in Massachusetts are apparently against the health care reform.

Do I think that the health care system could use some work? Yes. Do I think it should be government run? No. It has not worked out in the past.

Which leads me to my next government issue. How is it that we are affording this crazy light rail system (really, is it going to be decreasing traffic? Negative.) and yet, we are cutting money for education? Apparently, priorities are not in the right spot (or someone has their foot is in another person's pocket). Either way, it is ridiculous. If we can't educate our children, how are they ever going to help fix the problems in our nation? I was told that Norfolk has cut out all its before school breakfast programs. Now some of those children will not eat anything between dinner the night before and lunch. Learning in young children is optimal in the morning (research shows) which is why most "harder" subjects are taught in the morning. If these kids don't have food in their bellies, how can we expect them to concentrate?

This is why you need to call/e-mail your representatives and express your opinions. After all, they are suppose to be there to represent US, not the company that is making money off of the light rail system.

Can I just say that these pregnancy hormones have created a monster? I usually keep my opinions about comments on newspaper articles to myself. I just couldn't today. I even registered for an account with pilotonline just so I could comment on this guy's comment:

"Times are tuff. I think we will be fine with these cuts. I would really like to see some money back in my pocket some time soon though .. I dont understand is the Car Tax is used for the roads .. why i pay more for my 65k BMW them somone with a $500 truck dragging a chain off the back of it ... ? does my car hurt the roads more ?"

"Your spelling and grammar make it apparent why these cuts are NOT GOOD. Our education system suffers from these cuts while we build a light rail system that goes no where. Maybe if the government made education a priority, children wouldn't end up spelling "tough" t-u-f-f. And if you can afford a 65K BMW, you don't need more money in your pocket, probably better budget priorities."

What has gotten into me?!

I'm off my soapbox now. Sorry for another post without pictures.

Observations

Some noted observations during pregnancy:

-Pregnancy brain. Seriously, where did my brain go? I lose my cell phone multiple times during the day, in my house!! Usually on my bed. We don't have a house phone, so I have to email Carl to call my cell phone so I can find it. I may or may not have also tried to lock the front door (after I had already locked it with the keys) with my car door button. Carl asked how that worked out for me.

-When wearing fitted shirts and sitting in waiting rooms (not waiting for my midwife), sometimes people look at you like you are Sigourney Weaver. No, there isn't an alien in my stomach. I am pregnant and there is a baby who is squished in there.

-The belly either gets in the way or can be a nice resting place for things (I should say kids). I somehow run into door knobs or take corners too sharply for the belly. Kids in class like to use it as a pillow or a back rest or another thing to grasp to try to climb up into my arms.

-Other women band around you when they feel someone is being insensitive. Example, my husband, posted a very funny status on facebook.

Carl Rhodes

My wife's belly is growing at an alarming rate. If anyone see's her out and about do not comment on the subject. She is very sensitive. She keeps talking to it and calling it by a name. If that wasn't strange enough, she tells me to put my hand on it and fell it kick. BELLIES DON'T KICK! If anyone has any advice to help me through this most traumatic and strange situation it would be greatly appreciated

Well, you certainly look at this experience in an odd way. This is supposed to be a wonderful time for both of you. I bet your wife looks radiant and you make sure to tell her that everyday. No bellies don't kick but that little bundle of joy she is carrying sure does. She probably wants to share what she is going through with you. Be patient, loving, and give her anything she needs! Be supportive. (Nope, Carl, this not about you, sorry. It is about her and the baby.) Pretty soon you are going to need a lot more advice on a slew of things. Hang in there!!

Mike's advice: "Humor her" tell her things like "pregnancy is becoming on you" "You are beautiful!", my advice, that is your child get over it and love on it. He will never know who you are if you don't talk to him now!!! lol

For the record, he posted it as a joke. I found it hilarious. He is the most excited male you will ever meet about having a baby.

-As I greet people coming into work, they always look me in the face to say hi, but then look down at my belly. At least it doesn't just look like I ate too many cupcakes now.

-People you don't really know will ask you inappropriate questions. "So, was it planned?"... "You are going to do it naturally, right?" I'm married, does it matter if it was planned? But if you must know, yes, it was planned. I will have a birth that is best for my child and if that happens to be a C-section, then that is what I will have.

I'm sure there are more observations I have made, but pregnancy brain and all.

26 Weeks

As of today, Hunter has a 90% chance of survival outside of the womb. Why do I know this and why would I even post such a strange thing on the blog? I know that number from class (probably wasn't the smartest idea saving Language Development and Disorders as the class to take while pregnant) and because it is just so exciting! What a huge milestone! At 24 weeks, Hunter only had a 50% chance of survival outside the womb and at 22 weeks, he only had a 10% chance. It is amazing what 2 weeks will do! Even with such a high percentage of survival, it doesn't come without a pretty significant risk of issues (it's 20% of those babies born at 26 weeks have some sort of serious handicap). With all of that being said... Hunter can stay in and cook for a whole lot longer (just no longer than 40 weeks, please). :] You may also call me a nerd for knowing all of these statistics without having to look them up.

26 weeks

My belly button is gone. We aren't sure why there is that white line down my belly.

Hunter is moving like crazy! You can see my belly move with every kick and punch. You can feel his little elbow or knee come across my stomach when he moves a certain way. At this point, I still can't differentiate between a kick and a punch. I'm not even sure how he is laying. He had been breech, but it seems to me like he is now transverse (sideways). I tried to hint at my midwife for another ultrasound when I went 2 weeks ago, but she said we would check again at 36 weeks to see how he was positioned (and then I thought to myself, "You are a crazy woman if you think I'm waiting until 36 weeks to see a picture of my baby."). I go back next Friday for the fun glucose test. I've heard such great things about that yummy sugary goodness you have to drink. As long as I don't have to go back for the 3 hour test I'm good. I don't think I could handle a blood draw once every hour for 3 hours.

Carl and I like to say that Hunter is going to be "well loved" rather than "spoiled". He has a ton of stuff already from his aunts (including those not blood related). Carl and I went to Babies R Us and picked out his coming home outfit. I'm sure he will be swimming in it (as it is 0-3 months rather than newborn), but he will look handsome in it.

With the nursery being finished (in terms of the big stuff.. not all the wall decor), Carl and I have been patiently waiting for Hunter to arrive. To help us have a visual, we decided to make a chain link. Let's just say, fully stretched out, it was very overwhelming to see. But Carl taped it to Hunter's wall in a way that it doesn't look so bad. Each night, we both go and cut off one link. I've been trying to also sit in the glider and read Hunter a story. I'm very aware that he hears like we hear under water, but it is more of a bonding experience for me. And he seems to like it (especially The Very Grouchy Lady Bug... is he trying to tell me something?).

The chain

My favorite spot in his room :] Carl loves this shirt "Daddy got a hole in one"

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I take my last ever final on May 3rd. I can't wait! I will be finished collecting data for my thesis this Friday (as long as no one gets sick... including myself.. the stomach bug has been going around work). So it will be on to writing the last 2 chapters (which I hear are the easiest since it is your results section). I can't wait to have this bad boy completed.

I went and shadowed my thesis advisor at her school on Monday. I plan to go back a few more days to see the different things she does. I really enjoyed it; it was very fast paced and she did a lot of in class therapy. I'm pretty sure I will be doing my clinical fellowship in the schools. That will be an amazing day when I start to get paid for doing therapy! Although, I'm not sure I know how to be anything other than a student. I have been a student for the majority of my life.

Just because he has been neglected on the blog :] He was probably doing something he wasn't suppose to be doing, hence the "look" (please disregard the background mess... we are re-remodeling the bathroom floors so all the construction stuff gets put into this room).

And he's been neglected as well. He says this is his favorite because you can't see his face.

Shenanigans

The past two weekends, our area has gotten snow. This is a big deal here; an inch of snow closes our 7 cities. The first weekend we had somewhere between 6 and 8 inches. It has been a very long time since we have seen that much snow! I think I was in middle school the last time we had a ton of snow like this. We were able to visit Kelly, Harry, and Emma and play with them in the snow. Koal loved the snow. He would eat the snow balls we made and any ice that feel from the roof he ate. He rolled around in it like it was sand on the beach (just a lot easier to clean off of him!).

Koal looking for the perfect spot to make yellow snow

Emma loves Hunter

Hunter 2010 :]

His first snowman

Making Emma her lazy boy

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We finished putting together Hunter's room (all the things that we have right now anyways). I love it. If I had my rocking chair now I would just sit in there. It is nice knowing that everything is put together in there (as Kelly says, I'm like Monica on Friends.. it isn't nesting). Here are pictures of what his nursery looks like as of today.

His reading corner (although the rocker will eventually go here)

I need more books :]

And then there was 1

We went on Friday to EVMS for our level 2 ultrasound. This ultrasound tech was super friendly. Actually, everyone I encountered at EVMS was very friendly (even the check-in lady). The whole time the tech was looking at Hunter, she was telling us what she was looking at, how it looked, etc. The only thing I had a problem with was when she wanted Hunter to move (which, for once, he was calm and just relaxing) she started jabbing my stomach with the wand (yes, that is a technical term). All of his measurements looked good. The smaller cyst was completely gone and the larger cyst has gotten smaller. Yay!! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! The tech and the doctor that came in said we don't have anything to worry about.... we are very low risk, all of his measurements are normal, and these things occur in healthy babies. The term "cyst" sounds so bad... all these "cysts" are is a collection of cerebral spinal fluid and it is believed that it is just reabsorbed back into the brain. CSF is what keeps bathes our brains and acts as a sort of cushion. It is made in the Choriod Plexus... hence the name "Choriod Plexus Cyst". The only thing I'm worried about is his big head... it is in the 90th percentile, measuring over a week ahead. I'm not worried that anything is wrong (he is going to be really smart, lots of brains), I'm worried about birthing that head! lol

Sweet baby boy

I love his little feet

My sister came with us to the appointment. She brought us some really cute newborn outfits. :] She said she had tried to find boat shoes for him (my favorite!), but she couldn't find any at Target. I think I'm just going to have to go to Babies R Us and buy the pair I found (even though Carl really dislikes boat shoes... it's not like I make him wear boat shoes! Although, I would totally buy him a pair). Thanks Mel for being an awesome sister/best friend!

We got a TON of pictures from the ultrasound! Mel said he was throwing "gang" signs out for us because he knows his daddy is from P-town, haha. I saw them as a peace sign and an a-okay sign. :] He was sitting with his little legs crossed this time around, rather than showing off his man parts. He is still breech, but hopefully he will flip on his own eventually. I'd prefer not having my midwife trying to turn him... that just seems like it would be uncomfortable.

He's saying, "Everything is okay!"

Peace!

As I write this, Hunter is going crazy. I even saw my belly jump from one of his kicks/punches. I still can't tell the difference between which is which. I have tricked him into thinking he is in the car by playing music on the computer. He is always so active when I'm driving and I think it is because of the music. Even if it isn't, just let me be the crazy pregnant lady who thinks it. :]

Almost 22 weeks

Worrying Does No Good

Worrying doesn't get anyone anywhere. It doesn't solve any problems, it doesn't make Friday get here any faster (which, by the way, is our appointment day with EVMS), and it certainly doesn't suit Hunter very well (he goes a little crazy).

With that being said, I have had a few pity parties (like, the night after the 20 week ultrasound, or the day I was sitting around the house with nothing to do). But did they make me feel any better? No. What does make me feel better? Being Hunter's mother, enjoying the pregnancy, feeling Hunter move, having Carl/family/friends remind me there is nothing to worry about, watching Carl touch/talk/kiss my belly, and knowing there are no other signs of problems. Again, I'm not worried about having a child with a disability (well, I mean, I am, but not for superficial reasons, more so being the best advocate I could be for a child with a disability), it worries me not being able to raise my child (i.e., Trisomy 18).

So, what am I doing? Not worrying anymore. We haven't had the level 2 ultrasound yet, so why should I worry? For all I know, Hunter just has cysts (which aren't uncommon, and before the machines got so high-tech, went undetected) and they may or may not go away on their own. And if they don't go away, they won't harm him in any way. I am going to just enjoy the ride with Hunter and love him unconditionally.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would die for you. This is the miracle of love. - Maureen Hawkins.