So my car crapped out on me today. I pulled out of the driveway and had no steering, among other things. So we had to have it towed to the dealership. Thank goodness for car insurance. And we got a rental car. So I am pimpin out the PT Cruiser. That's right, got a Cruiser for a week. Its fun, but I miss my car.... I just hope it isnt going to be too expensive, we just cant afford it... But I have to have my car, so its a necessary evil, right?

31 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 31 weeks

How your baby's growing:This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Holy Cow!!!

I seem to be having a freak out moment. Apparently being 31 weeks, is my freak out time. Knowing that there are 9 weeks left (9! A single digit!) is WAAAAAYYYYY Different from having 10, 11 or 12 weeks left (All two digit numbers) 9 weeks, that's it. I remember when I was excited cuz I was 9 weeks pregnant, which was really close to being in the double digits. Now turn it around and I am getting a bit anxious. But I still cant believe how fast it went! I know that in reality, I'll probably be pregnant for 10 more weeks at least, but the Base hospital is pretty good about not wanting you to go too far over, if you don't need to, and I am not opposed to being induced as long as he is fully developed. Go for it.

I am getting bigger. Yep. I know, I'll only get bigger, but I remember conversations with Katrina, who worked at the store when I first started. She was 7 1/2 months preggo and I was two-ish. And she would tell me things like "buy your maternity cloths big, and if they are way too big, don't worry, you'll use them at the end." And she was right. And she told me to wait till I was in my third trimester and the effort to turn yourself over in bed would be a full body effort. And that it is. Sometimes I feel like a turtle trying to get off its shell. And now, our new stylist is about three months along and I have found myself telling her alot of the same things, without realizing I was doing it. LOL.

I finally called the hospital today, since no one called me about my results. And they told me that the sample was contaminated. Yet no one cared to call me to tell me that I needed to come in to give another sample. So I went in after work and she told me that they would call me in an hour with the results. So frustating. Guess they arent doing a culture this time? Who knows?

Running of the Reindeer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MBj_L67__Y

this video is the men's heat. 500 men and ten reindeer. Enjoy. I wish I could have been there, but it was right before the hockey game.

OK, continuation. The doctors' office called and said that there were skin cells and blood in my sample. Yes, I know, a retarded monkey could have told me that!!!! So they are doing a culture and will get back to me on Monday. BUT, after the blood amounts getting worse yesterday, i didn't see any all three times I went last night, so hopefully the bleeding is stopped. Now I just need to know why it started.

Ok, Back to Matthew not coming with me. While I didn't exactly tell him to stay, I didn't tell him to come with me either. The hockey thing didn't bother me so much. I know how he feels about his Aces and it was a good game. We won in an overtime shootout (which added insult to injury because I had to miss one of the few good games in a mediocre season) If I had made him come with me, I would have NEVER heard the end of it. I know this probably doesn't make sense to most of you, but that's ok, its our system and it works for us. What I was upset about was that after he got home, he didn't even come upstairs to check on me. He called me after he got out of the Sully (I asked him to call when it was quieter). But when he got home, he didn't come upstairs. He said it was because he didn't want to wake me up (because I yelled at him the last time he woke me up) But I wasn't asleep, ans he didn't even check to see if I WAS asleep. And I yelled at him last time cuz he woke me up for... reasons. This time was WAY different. So that was why I was upset. And when he finally didn't come to bed there was no comforting, no cuddling, he just turned on Friends.... But we have discussed it, I have told him that I was upset, and its ok to wake me up to make sure I am ok. As for the hockey game, last night was near identical, we won in a shootout, so I got to see some good hockey after all. So it all worked out ok. Now I just need to find out what is wrong with me. Well, whats wrong with my bladder, we don't have enough time for the other!!!

Off to the hospital...Again

So after work last night, it was off to the Aces' game. I got there, and finally parked and inside with 3 minuts left in the first period. Ok, fine, I can deal with it. And we're playing Las Vegas, which is HUGE rivalry. Huge. Its like Iowa playing Iowa State, its more than a game, there's pride on the line, anyway, I go down to pee during the intermission and I freak out. There is blood in my urine. I thought that it had happened early that morning (like 3 am early), but I was practically asleep so it didnt really register. So anyway, I go up to Matt and tell him I have to go. I have to go to the hosptial NOW. "Do you want me to come with you?" "No you can stay" (more on THAT stupid little gem of an answer later) So I call Labor and Delivery and tell them I was on my way back in. Twice in a week, boy, I am on a ROLL! SO get there and pee in the ol' cup. But they dont seemed too terribly concerned (about Hayden, I mean) so they hook me up to the moitors again, and there he is, my happy little boy, bouncing in his happy little bubble, so I could relax about that. Basically, they dont know why I am bleeding into my bladder, or whatever. It could be a UTI, Kidney issue, Stones... The only thing is that blood is my only symptom. So I am waiting on my test results. Hopefully they call today. I hope its just an infection. The doctor says, that though its rare, I could have a stone and no pain and its rolling around in there, irrating my bladder. Or that I had the stone, the pain wasnt as bad as last time, and I worked through it. They just dont know. All they know for sure is that it isnt trauma (my fall) related or pregnany related, only that it is pregnancy caused. So we will wait for the results... I will keep you updated. But I have to get going to work, so I will address the not leaving the hockey game after I get home. Hopefully I will have some news by then. No worries, Hayden is fine, thats all that really matters to me, besides, I'll be fine.

30 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 30 weeks

How your baby's growing:Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

A little Sore

I have a nice bruise from yesterday. And I am a bit sore all over. But Mr. Man has decided since I shook him up a bit, he is goiong to punish me for that all night. I hope he is enjoying my bladder as his play thing. This having to pee thing is getting ridiculous! And all I have to look forward to do is the peeing getting worse! LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Pregnancy is a magical time, I tell you. So this morning I woke up at 5:30 and didnt go, for whatever reason I decided I could wait 2 more hours when my alarm would go off. Anyway, an hour later I couldnt wait anymore, but Matthew was in the bathroom, and by this time, Haden is using my inflated bladder as a trampoline. So anyway, what I actually wanted to say was that I finally woke up and went pee again, put in my contacts and turned the shower on and I had to pee again. and then I took my shower and I had to pee again when I got out. This is ridiculous. Ok, enough about my pee problems, I really just wanted to let you know I am feel pretty ok. And Hayden is doing just fine. Like they kept saying, he's a happy baby. I am just starting to dread how active he actually is and whether this will tranfer over to the outside world. I guess we'll find out in a couple of months, right? I need to stop counting down cuz this whole thing has gone by so fast, but we get to Febuary and its like time has stopped. Its taking FOREVER for time to go by. Which would have been fine a few weeks ago, when I was comfortable and I could still get my socks on without passing out, but now.... Anyway, have a good day. I have to get going for work.

We are all ok

So yesterday was a pretty nasty day. It was 41 degrees and raining, on top of the snow. Now please note that snow removal is pretty minimal here. There are no clear roads, no salt, no sand except at the intersections. So when it rains on the packed down snow in the parking lots... Anyway, I decided to go over to Qdoba to get some guacamole and chips or lunch yesterday, and I slipped and fell (hard) on the ice rink of a parking lot. I was so freaked out. I told Mary that I fell and I a having Matthew com eto get me, and I was going to the hospital. She said ok, and I was off. My abdominl area was cramping, and my hip hurt like a m-fer. So Matthew came to get me, cuz I wasnt going to try to drive, just in case. And I got to spend 4 hours in Labor and Delivery hooked up to a bunch of montors. But everything turned out ok. The nurses kept telling me what a happy baby I had. Oh, he's so happy... And it was kinda fun to watch his little heart rate, and to be able to listen to it for 4 hours. And whenever he would move it would make this loud sound through the doppler so that was fun cuz Matthew got to hear how often he actually moves, not just the ones he could feel. Basically they were watching to see if I started to have contractions. The nurse came in and ask if I had had any, and I was like no, I dont think so. "so you didnt feel anything?" "no, some cramping, but not as bad as my period cramps" "Oh,well, you had a contraction right here...." (points to a big fluctuation on the graph) Oh, really? I guess I missed that one. But it was just the one, so they werent really so concerned, but I have to watch to see if my water breaks in the next couple days, or if there is any bleeding cuz that could mean there was some trauma to the placenta, and of course, if I have anymore contractions. The whole thing was pretty scary. I just kept thinking, what if something happened to him? Just because I wanted some stupid guacamole?

BUT on the bright side, my blood pressure was great, surprising, since I though it would be high since I was so freaked out, but it was a constistant 117/69. Which, I think, goes to show, that it really is because I hate doctors appointments. Cuz its always the first reading when its high, take it again later, when I am sure that you arent going to give me any bad news (I've had a lot of bad news given to me in dr's appointments!) Then it goes back to being fine. I just hate the doctor's office. I guess I feel about that, the way most people feel about the dentist.

29 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 29 weeks

How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

And for Fun:
MotherHow are you sleeping at night? You probably sleep less soundly than you did before you were pregnant. This is normal but that is of not much use to you. Due to the tingling in your legs, your tiny bladder, your calf cramps, your stomach that flutters and your belly that gets in the way, not to mention your spouse thumping on you so you'll stop snoring, it is difficult to stay asleep throughout the entire night. You can usually get to sleep if you have found a comfortable position with all the pillows arranged around you, but sleeping through the night... forget it! Lying on your back doesn't work at all and turning is no pleasure either. Moreover, you sleep so lightly that anything will wake you up. Once you are awake it will take hours for you to doze off again - at least that's how it feels to you.

A kick in your bladder and you have to go to the bathroom again; it feels like your bladder is filling up all the time. And then it's hard to relax and go back to sleep. Do you frequently have weird, scary dreams also? More than usual? It's all part of the process. Unconsciously, you worry about how it will all go. Can you bring up a child and look after him, how will the expectant dad do and how will the other children - if there are any - react? Will trying to combine work and taking care of the baby be too much for you? You are confronted with worries and small problems, things that don't bother you at all during the day seem like huge obstacles at night.Try not to worry while you are lying awake and stew about the fact that you can't sleep. The human body needs only 3 to 4 hours deep sleep to sufficiently repair its cells. If you have slept during that time, it's just a matter of the so-called phase 1 and phase 2 sleep wherein dreams play the most important part. It's no wonder that you remember all your dreams because you are sleeping lighter than you did before your pregnancy.Sometimes it seems as if your sleep pattern is already changing so that once the baby is there you will be able to wake up when he needs you. Mother Nature has arranged that nicely.

Appointment

Everything is a-ok. Levels are all within normal range. I lost more weight. Mom asked me what I had gained by now, and I was just like, I dont know I'd have to do the math, but I figured I've gained about 5 lbs. So I got back to work and actually did the math, and I haven't actually GAINED anything, I am actually still down 5 lbs. No wonder I am feeling good. I wish I had more energy to exercise a little more. I do it when I can, but I just dont really have the energy to do it, but I know its getting even more important now, not only will it help keep my glucose levels in check, but now I have to worry about Pre-eclampsia (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) and since my blood pressure tends to be a bit high, higher than I would like, and I know exercise would help with that. I am going to make more of a conscience effort to spend sometime at least down on the eliptical, even just a half an hour. I can do a half an hour. I wish we had cable downstairs so I could watch one of my shows while I was down there... I know we have a DVD player, but if I do it a night, I wish I could watch TV... Anyway, that is my new goal, I think it is a doable one, right? Right.

So for the last few months, we have had no neighbors,and it has been glorious. Glorious. No pounding, no dogs barking, no loud talking, no smoking! Now not only are we getting new people on the left side (Army no less, blah) BUT we are also getting people on the right side! It totally sucks! I just hop ethey dont have dogs. I dont think the left side people do, cuz they have been inthe house for a couple days, and no dogs, so there is hope. But they are Army, and Army ends to be loud and have lots of parties and have dogs. Well, I will tell you this much, I am NOT putting up with it. I didnt really care before cuz me and Matthew can deal with noise, we put up with it, but the first time they wake that baby up... OOOOO, heaven help them! They will have the fury of a sleep-deprived, new mom coming down on them like the right hand of the Lord Almighty, I guarantee that! I am NOT up with it this time.

It's warming up!!!!

OMG it was a gloroius 13 degrees today. 13! No - sign, just 13! But as with every double edge sword, it comoes at a price. SNow. Forcasted for the next ten days straight. Just snowfall. We are supposed to get 6 inches by tomorrow. But its warm. By Monday, now brace yourselves, by Monday it is supposed to be in the low 30's. 30!!!!!!!! That is a 50 degree difference from all of last week. Can you believe that? 50 degree diffetence, and it only 30 degrees, lol. OMG, get me out of here! Cuz guess what, you'r almost done, a month or two, and witner is over, a month or two here, and we still have a month or two left. This is utterly ridiculous!

BUT Fur Rondy is going to be starting pretty soon, so that is something new, and hopefully it will be a decent temerature to be able to go out and enjoy some of it. I want to go and see the snow sculptures again this year. And maybe the Running of the Reindeer. (more on that later, or you can go to furronday.net to read about it yourself). I think maybe the start of the Ididarod again, just since its my last one. I am trying to get those "last" things done, and not procrastinate on them since I will never be able to go back and do those things again. I have also decided that I want to do the Salmon Parade this year when everyone is up here. I think I may have mentioned it before, but its like the Cows on Parade and the Herky on Parade thing only with salmon. I didnt know about it, or I wouold have done it a long time ago. But as long as its nice out I thought it would be fun to do with everyone and be able to bring Hayden along pretty easily. I will have to find out if they have a salmon map, I am sure that they do!

I am getting so excited. Excited for Hayden to get here, excited for mom and dad and Amanda to get here. Lew ust told me he may becoming up in January to help me move home, so I am super psyched for that since I didnt think that he was going to come at all. I have decided that I am going to have to make dad sleep in my bed while he is here, cuz he cant sleep on an air matress, and I think our couch would be just too painful for his hip. So its the only solustion, and since matthew isnt going to be here... I dont see the big deal of having mom and dad in our bed and me and Amanda on mattresses. I can even put one in the baby's room or there is plenty of room in our room, I'd just have to deal with dad snoring. But I have to be upstairs or feedings, it'll be easier on all of us. And we can put the other on in the dining room, and keep the kitties downstairs so they dont lick Amanda's face all night long. I am still working out the logistics of it, But it should not be that big of a deal, expecting getting dad to sleep in our bed!!!! I cant believe all of this is going to be happening in a couple of months! It just seems like yesterday when I was only a few weeks long, 2008 was way off in the distance, Hayden was just Cricket, the size of a lima bean....

***Edit*** Ok so after I wrote all of that, I went to the Shoppette to get milk and toilet paper, and as I was leaving I slippd on the ramp outside the door and didnt quite fall, but was pretty close. Anyway, there were three people in the area and NO ONE offered to help me with my bags (remember milk and toilet paper, not small things), no one helped me get up... Ok a person falls on the ice in front or around you, and you dont have the decency to even ask if they are ok. Now that person is OBVIOUSL pregnant with arms full of bags, and you do NOTHING?!?!? Appalling. Dont worry I am ok, and I will mention it at my doctor's appointment tomorrow. My ankle hurts a bit though. We'll see how it is tomorrow. All I need is MORE swelling...

28 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 28 weeks

How your baby's growing:By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

You've been asking

So here it is, me at 28 weeks. 12 weeks left to go. Seems to be flying by!

When -20 doesnt sound that bad...

I am frustrated because no one I work with knows what a Primary is. Really?! For the first time EVER Alaska had its primary on Super Tuesday, early enough where the results there actually matter, especially in the Democratic Camps. And I went to bed before the official result came in, so I dont know who the leaders were. Republican sites didnt close until 8:30 pm, and I go to bed at 9. And now I cant find it, and no one was even paying attention. I cant believe that ADN didnt have an article today, except about the HUGE turn out all over the state.

On a side note, I know I have said this before, but I am so SICK of this blasted cold!!! Its gonna be around till Sunday, there are supposed to be some clouds rolling in. BUT it is only Wednesday! BUT we could be in Tok where it is -70, yes that is a SEVEN with a ZERO!!! Or even Fairbanks where its -45. Suddenly, -20 doesnt sound so bad. Except for those poor high schoolers in Eagle River who had the fire alarm go off and they had to stand outside for 15 minutes, some of them straight out of gym class!!!!! And on top of that, the weather people say this is typical Pre-La Nina weather (which will be rolling around next year) and so its going to be worse next winter. Thank Goodness we will be leaving before January really hits!

BAGGAGE

In an effort to decide whether or not to ticket Hayden when we fly home I have been looking into what additional/overweight charges would be. Here is a break down, and then try to guess what I decide to do. Keep in mind that if I DONT ticket Hayden he sits on my lap and we are limited to one ticket baggage restrictions. If i get a seat for him, he gets his own bags. Also pay attention to United for future information.

Delta:
Free= two bags weighing no more than 50 lbs
Additional bag= $75
Overweight= 51-70lbs- $50
71-100 lbs - $100

NWA:
Free= 2 bags weighing no more than 50 lbs
Additional Bags= $80 for one
Overweight= 51-70 lbs- $150

Alaska Airlines:
Free 2 bags weighing no more than 50 lbs
Additional bag= $50 each up to six
Overweight= 51-70 lbs- $25
71-100 lbs- $50

UNITED:
BEFORE MAY 5, 2008:
Free= 2 bags weighing no more than 50 lbs
overweight= $50
AFTER MAY 5, 2008
Free= ONE BAG weighing no more than 50 lbs
allowed ONE additonal bag for a fee of $25 per ONE WAY TRIP!!! so $50 for a round trip for a second suitcase!
Additional= 1st and 2nd piece- $85
Overweight=$100

So I believe that we will be ticketing Hayden, as long as TMO will pay for it, of course! And then I wont have as much of a heart attack about what it is going to cost to fly the cats home!!!!

Today i did my, what I hope to be the last at least for this kid, glucose test. They didnt do too bad for four draws they only had to stab me seven times, so yay. All of it was in one arm so its pretty sore right now, but its over. I will find out the results on Tuesday (the 12th) at my next appointment.

We had a nicw Superbowl SUnday. We went over to the Thomas' house across the street and had a bunch of food and watched the game, some of the comercials were really funny (I liked the Fed-Ex giant pideon one the best), and they had a baby girl three weeks ago, so she was adorable and gave me something to do besides be bored with the game. I guess that I wasnt really bored, I can appreciate good defensive game and blah, blah, blah, but the end definately made up for the first three periods. And the Giants had some great sacks on Tom Brady, who kinda bugs me.

I am about sick of this cold crap.the low negatives arent feeling as bad cuz I think the sun is getting warmer, so -5 to about-10 isnt really THAT bad, but nothing can make -20 feel anything but miserably cold! So that's what it was this morning on my way to the hospital. -20. Mom said they cancelled school in Wilton today because of the snow and ice and stuff and I had wonder whether if it was -20 would they still have school? Probably not. LOL.

Matthew's new skates