20 wks - Half Way There!!

Wow, I can't believe I'm half way there!! 

I am filled with gratitude and love to all those who have been on this journey with us and for all your prayers.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19w6d

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a cantaloupe at 20 wks.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think 6 lbs (down two since 17 wks & cutting sweets and watching what I eat).

Maternity Clothes: Definitely maternity pants.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: None since I thought I felt him poke at 17 wks. I've been gently poking him, hoping he would poke or kick back, but I got nothing!  The dr said I should definitely feel it by 23 wks.  I hope he starts kicking before then! 

Sleep: Getting better at sleeping on my side, but occasionally still end up on my back.  And the bathroom breaks in the middle of the night are still going strong.

What I miss: Diet Coke and sweets!

Cravings: None, yet. But I can't stand scrambled eggs.

Symptons: Stressed with work and church responsibilities.  Hoping it will all slow down soon.

Best Moment this week: Seeing baby at our 20 wk scan and knowing that he is growing on target.

Happy Fall Ya'll

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

Just sharing some Fall pictures that I took of Abbey!

(Dress, headband & tights are from Gym.boree.  Boots are from Target. And I am not getting paid for this endorsement!)

The fall foliage is really starting to peak around here!  Can't wait to capture it all.

Weekend Round Up

We went to see Disney on Ice, Toy Story 3 on Saturday with some friends.

It was our first time to see a Disney on Ice show.  It was fun and the kids had a blast.

Here's a picture of Abbey right before we left.

(Don't pay attention to the sad looking mums.  It's been blown over a few times).



I didn't bring my good camera so I just had my little point and shoot.

Here's buzz light year to the rescue.

(This picture makes it look like the place was empty, but it was just that section that was empty).

Prior to coming to the show, I told Abbey that we were not going to be buying any toys or anything from the show and I didn't want her asking (or begging) for any toys.  At intermission, they had people coming around selling cotton candy and drinks (from Toy Story mugs).  Of course Abbey wanted one and I didn't have any cash on me at all so I told her that we couldn't get it.  She was not happy at all and was pouting. 

I felt horrible!  I hate to see her sad and there was a part of me that wanted to go out and buy her something (they accepted credit cards outside by the concessions), but I knew that I couldn't give in to her.  I had already told her from the beginning that we weren't going to buy anything and I didn't want to go back on my word. I was trying to teach her a lesson, and while it was hard for me, I knew that it was the right thing to do.  She was very sad for a while, but by the end of the show, she was perfectly fine.  I'm glad that I was able to stand by ground. 



We had good seats, thanks to my friends who were able to get discounted tickets for us.

Another fun weekend with my Abbey and my friends!

18w6d - Gestational Diabetes

So, do I actually have Gestational Diabetes??  That was my question to the Endorinologist.

He said I have everything working against me (weight, PCOS, etc) and it will only get worst as the pregnancy continues.  He wants me to monitor my sugar levels for the next two weeks and return to see him.

I have to prick my finger four times a day (once in the morning when I get up, and one hour after every meal). I also have to test my urine every morning for ketones (they are produced in the body when fats, rather than glucose are used to produce energy.  It is harmful to the body if ketones are allowed to accumulate).  So far my numbers have been good so I am hoping to maintain it.  I really have been watching what I eat and have cut out all the sweets.  That's been hard, especially since I have such a sweet tooth and all those jars of apple pie we just canned!  But I have to do what's best for the baby. 

I have to go to a two hour Gestational Diabetes class next week and meet with the nutrionist.  I also have an appt with the high risk dr for our 20 wk scan (even though I'll only be a little over 19 wks).  I can't wait to see how much baby has grown!  I can't feel him move yet, but we were listening to his heart beat at home with our little doppler and all of a sudden we could hear him kick the doppler.  It was very cute!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Apple Pie in a Jar

We finally got around to canning most f the apples we picked a week ago.  I found a recipe for Apple Pie in a Jar from Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin.  Her site is awesome because she talks about how to entertain simple and stress-free and she has great recipes. 

We tripled the recipe and used mostly granny smith and fuji apples. The process goes much quicker when you have two people doing it versus doing it by yourself. It takes a little time, but worth it! 

And this little gadget was the biggest help to us! 

It's a must have if you love to make apple pies!

Soaking the apples in water/lemon juice so it wouldn't brown so quickly.

And the fruits of our labor....Yummy!

Now anytime we want apple pie, we just pop open one of these jars and pour it into a pie crust and bake!  Quick and easy!

These make great gifts too! 

(Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas from the Whitcomb's this year?! Just kidding!)

We still have lots of apples left so we're hoping to make another batch or two this weekend.  Steve guestimates that we will have enough apple pie in a jar to have one a week! (yeah, that might be too much apple pie overload).

Here are the ingredients for the recipe, but please go to Reluctant Entertainer for the complete step by step instructions (with pictures!) 

INGREDIENTS: 
4 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
10 cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
7 quarts peeled, cored and
sliced apples

Fall Festival Weekend

Another beautiful weekend spent enjoying the Fall weather!

We went to a fall festival that was sponsored by a non profit organization in our area.  It was held on a family farm and they had free food and games for kids. 

Abbey loved playing the games because you get a prize (candy) every time!

Here they are playing a game called 'my cup runneth over'.  They had to squirt water into a glass and Abbey beat Steve!  She was so happy.  Her prize was a little yellow rubber ducky.  

Silly Faces!

What's a fall festival without a tractor ride?!   

Holding on tight getting ready to ride the horses/ponies.

I can't believe we're half way through October!  Every weekend has been filled with fun activities for us.  I made sure not to over do it this weekend.  After our fall festival, we went home and took naps, then we spent the rest of the evening canning our apples that we picked from last week (more to come on that)!

17w5d - Glucose Fail

Last week I went in for my routine OB appt and they found sugar in my urine so I had to go earlier this week for a 2 hr glocose test.  I think making a pregnant woman fast and then giving her a nasty orange concoction of a drink, which taste like cough syrup and very sweet orange soda, is cruel and unusual punishment. But I survived. 

The OB called with my results and told me I had failed.  Anything below 140 is passing.  I was at 145.  Not terrible (in my non-medical opinion), but she said that since I'm on metformin (for my PCOS), it should have regulated my sugar levels.  So now I have to make an appt to see an Endocrinologist AND I have to visit the Diabetic center at the hospital for some 'counseling.' 

She also told me that they found blood in my urine so I had to go see my primary doctor about that.  I went yesterday and my primary doctor said they didn't find any blood at all in, but they will send it out to get it cultured and should have the results back next week. 

Bottom line is that I have to add another doctor/specialist to my regimen of appointments and I have to really watch what I eat.  No more sweets, cut back on carbs and just get my body moving.  I will do whatever it takes to ensure the baby is healthy and growing. 

I'm happy today is Friday!  We are going to a fall festival this weekend and will be taking it easy the rest of the time.  I hope everyone has a great fall weekend!!

Apple Picking

We couldn't have asked for better weather to go apple picking this year!

It was absolutely gorgeous!

We had a house full of family and friends who came out to join us.  I packed a picnic for everyone and we ate lunch before the picking started. 

The kiddos loved it!

We picked a ton of granny smith and fuji apples to make apple pies with.

Baby MJ even had fun amongst all the apples!

All the kids in the tree (and no one fell out!)

Afterwards, we all went back to my house where my cousin made pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) for us.  Steve and I are pretty confident that we can make it on our own now.  We'll be attempting to cook it again very soon.  It was so yummy!

I was so busy taking pictures of everyone else that I didn't get any pictures of us with Abbey at the apple orchard.  Steve managed to snap one of us while we were eating. 

I think everyone had a great time and I can't wait to do it again next year.  I was super exhausted once everyone left and I came to the realization that I really shouldn't try to do so much in one day/weekend. I just don't have the energy to do it all anymore and will have to cut back.  Once this month is over, things should slow down for a bit.....then it'll be Christmas before we know it!

Mocking Jay Book Club

 I hosted book club on Friday at my house.  We discussed the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, Mocking Jay.  It's an easy read and aimed toward young adults, but we 30 somethings love reading it.  To read more about the series, click on this review on Good Reads.

Thanks to my friend Lisa for leading the discussion. We had a fabulous time! Steve even joined in on our discussion because he had read them too.  Now I personally wasn't very thrilled with the third book.  I felt like it was rushed and didn't really explain enough.  But I think the overall series was good.

Here are the lovely ladies from book club (some were missing).  We even had little Piper join us.  She is the cutest thing ever!

 

Thanks ladies for coming! 

Can't wait for the next book/series to read. Any recommendations?

17wks (tomorrow)

This picture is actually from 16 wks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16w6d

Size of baby: Baby is the size of an onion at 17 wks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think 8lbs, but every time I stand on the scale it's different (even though I weigh myself around the same time every morning!  And don't even get me started on the scale at the dr's office (which I usually get weighed late afternoon).

Maternity Clothes: I definitely need maternity pants.  I bought some, but need to get them altered because they are so freaking long!

Gender: BOY!

Movement: I think I felt him move yesterday. In the morning when we were driving into work and then in the afternoon when we were coming home.  It felt like a little poke.  It was strange, but was such a special moment for me. 

Sleep: Hard to sleep on my side the whole night.  I usually end up back on my back, but then just roll back to my side.  And getting up to go pee at least 2 times a night.

What I miss: Diet Coke

Cravings: None, yet.

Symptons: Tired in the afternoons, can't walk very long without my feet and back hurting.  And sitting at my desk all day makes my tail bone hurt like crazy! Occasional heartburn.

Best Moment this week: Feeling baby poke me!

A Blog Gathering

These are the lovely blogging ladies I met up with while in Williamsburg.

This is just a small sampling of the Braces Bunch (no we don't all have braces).  It's a group of us bloggers who love and support one another through blogging, email and snail mail (yes, people still send snail mail). 

Some of the bloggers like to remain anonymous, like dr. S.euss below. 

It was so awesome to meet these ladies in person.  One of the ladies is a local to Williamsburg so they all stayed together at her house.  I stayed at the timeshare with Abbey and Steve, but I met up with them for lunch and dinner and fun times.  Once again, it was stress free and very relaxing because no one had any definite plans so we were able to just wing it.

It's amazing how much you can bond with people over food and fun!  We all shared our struggles and got to know each other better. 

Absolutely a wonderful girl's weekend!

We went to dinner at Food for Thought and it was very yummy!  It was a very simple restaurant and was super crowded but we called ahead so we didn't have to wait very long.  And our waitress totally looked like Katherine Hei.gel (from Greys Anatomy)!

This picture quote was hanging on their wall and I really liked it.  

For those who are vision challenged, it says:

"Look to this one day, for it is life.  Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.  Yet each day well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.  Look therefore to this one day, for it alone is life."  

Thanks ladies for an awesome weekend!  Can't wait until we meet up again next year!

Williamsburg Weekend

We took a long weekend and went to Williamsburg to meet up with some blogging friends (more on that later) and to relax.  Abbey was able to miss two days of school and she was excited about that.  Thanks to my in-laws, we were able to stay at their timeshare resort for the weekend. 

We had an absolutely wonderful, very relaxing time! 

We slept in, went shopping, ate out, and just spent quality time together.

Steve and Abbey trying on cowboy hats.

The resort had an indoor pool, arcade and activities to keep kids entertain.  While I was lunching with my blogging friends, Steve and Abbey were able to build a bear (really a monkey and a cat). 

Abbey making sure that her kitty cat had plenty of stuffing in it.

Here they are with their proud animals.  Abbey's cat is named Fuzzie. 

She asked Steve how to spell Dandelion and he didn't know how so he suggested she name it Fuzzie. 

Steve drew a hammer on his monkey's t-shirt and it says 'I Build' and on the back it has baby's initials. 

I love it!

Abbey was so happy that she had her own TV in her room.  She would wake up in the morning and just watch tv in her room or the living room until we got up.  One of her many favorite things, besides the tv and the arcade, was the indoor pool.  She loved swimming in the pool.  We loved it because it would tire her out and she would go down for a nap quicker (some days were better than others).

A trip to Williamsburg is not the same without dinner at Capt. George's. 

We went there on our last night and enjoyed great seafood!

   

 Yummy crabs!

One last picture before we hit the road to go home! 

We didn't go down town to Colonial Williamsburg because we felt like Abbey was still too young to really understand the history. And I don't think I would have lasted on a history walking tour.  I barely lasted when we went to the outlet mall.  My feet and back were killing me.  Baby was sucking all my energy. 

Through out the whole weekend, Abbey kept saying how much fun she was having.  Steve and I were just super relaxed because we didn't have a jammed packed agenda.  Isn't that the purpose of a vacation?!

Now that the fun is over, it's back to reality.  Catching up on work and cleaning my house to get ready for bookclub and apple picking with family this weekend.  I will do another post on meeting up with blogging friends later.

I am LOVING this fall weather!!!