Scalini's Eggplant Parmigiana

38w 4d

   When Ben and I went on our honeymoon a few years ago, we stopped in Atlanta first.  While we were there, we ate at Scalini's, an Italian restaurant.  It was really good, but that's not why I mention it now.  They had pictures of babies covering one area of the restaurant.  Apparently they have a magical eggplant parm that will induce labor!  The babies on the wall were all "Eggplant Babies"- babies whose labor came on within 48 hours of mom eating the eggplant. 
  Well, being super close to the end now, Ben and I wanted to give their eggplant a try; however, driving to Atlanta when I could possibly go into labor at any point, didn't seem like a great idea.  We looked up the restaurant, and it turns out, they have the recipe posted!  http://www.scalinis.com/Bambino.htm So last night, Ben and I set out to 'induce' labor with an eggplant! 
  It was actually a rather time consuming recipe, and I'm not a fan of eggplant, but we had fun making it!  Now we're just waiting to see if their magic will work for us!  (I probably should have waited a few more days..)  The recipe was delicious (other than the eggplant part).  If their legend is going to work, I should be in labor by tomorrow night around 9.  My fingers are crossed!!  So far today, I've had tons of contractions, but nothing regular or time-able, so not really anything new.

Making Progress!

36w1d

Catching up- A few weeks ago, Ben and I attended our birthing and breastfeeding classes.  We definitely learned a lot (and saw more than we ever hoped to see...), but I think my favorite part was when they had all the fathers-to-be try on a back pack (worn in the front) with 25 pounds of ‘stuff’ crammed inside.  It was very amusing to see all the reactions to what their wives are loading around (plus some) each day. 

Also, we have been extremely blessed with so many great friends and family members hosting showers for us.  We had one at my work, one with my friends/family, and one more is set for next week from Ben’s work (and a diaper shower from Ben's friends has been mentioned, but I'm not sure on the plans for that yet)!  I am in awe of how generous everyone has been to us!  We really appreciate all of the support!  Ava is one lucky baby to already be surrounded by so many caring people.

Picture with my Great Aunt Lucy, Mom, and Mamaw.

More recently- I had a doctor appointment yesterday, and things went very well!  I had a few typical tests done (which I won’t get results of until next time), and they checked Ava’s position and my cervical changes.  Ava is head down and ready to go! And I am starting to dilate (1cm)!  Yay!  I know it could still be weeks, but at least it now feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Final thing- completely not on the topic of baby- Ben ran his first half marathon this week!  I am so proud of him!  

After "Santa Hustle" Half Marathon!

Ava's Nursery

33w 5d

I had a few more days off school due to Thanksgiving, and I was (finally) able to finish {or come really, really close to finishing} Ava's nursery.  There are a few teeny, tiny touches I may add still, but since I had time today, it seemed like a good time to post the pictures.  Her due date is in 6 weeks 2 days!!! (And she's considered "full term" in only 3 weeks!!!!!!)  Not too much longer!

Baby Bump Weeks 22-33

Update on Ava's growth!

Maternity Photos

Around 28 weeks, Ben and I asked our friend, Andy, to take some maternity pictures for us (It pays to have a husband who works in media. :-) ). He took the photos, then I got to play in photoshop editing them.  There were a ton that we really like, but here are just a few.

Ava in 3D and Glucose Results

29w 4d

First, Let's start with our adorable little 3D ultrasound images of Ava from this past Thursday.  She was all balled up (literally, had her foot pulled up to her head), and didn't want to give us a good shot of her whole face.  We did get some pretty cute side images though.  As far as her "check up" part, she is doing great!  Her heartbeat was 144bpm.  She is in the 47% for size, but her little torso is a bit short (measuring 28 weeks), and her little legs are a bit long (measuring 30 weeks).  Her head is right on track, and she is almost 3 pounds (2pounds 14 ounces)!! WOW!
During the ultrasound, she appeared to be asleep for the most part, but she did open her eyes a few times (kinda scary looking in ultrasound..).  One of the first things the u/s tech said was that she already has long eyelashes.  Yay for Ava!  I loved that! 

 

 

As far as my Glucose Tolerance Test- things did not go so well after my first attempt.  I had to go back for another 1 hour test (last Wednesday).  I was told to bring Jelly Beans and try eating 18 of those instead of drinking that drink.  The nurse was exceptionally unfriendly to me- she even said that my getting physically ill the first time was "mental".  I needed to have "mind over matter".  I digress- my results were too high after the hour, and they also took my iron level which they said was too low. SO, I left feeling like basically a terrible mom-to-be that I could have 2 things wrong, even thought I feel great (I know development of GD is not something that can be controlled, so I shouldn't have felt bad about that, but I did anyway.). 

 Well, just not feeling "right" about my hemoglobin being 9.1, I went to another lab (2 days later) to have it check through a cbc.  Turns out, my hemoglobin is actually 11.8 (perfectly fine during pregnancy).  Then, I had to go back to the doc today to do the 3 hour glucose test, and after only the first hour, my blood sugar was already well below where it needed to be at 3 hours (and I had to eat twice the Jelly Beans this time- so I'm not really buying that my sugar was 147 with only 50g of glucose, but with 100g it was down to 130 in the same amount of time.)  

  I don't know what happened at the appointment last Wednesday where my levels were so off, but I suspect the nurse had something to do with it. BTW, the glucose machine and iron machine are separate, so if it had been machine error, it would be crazy that it happened on both machines at the same time.  I think she either mixed my results with someone else's, lied, or somehow incorrectly put my blood into both machines... 

Oh well, I should just be thankful that I do not have an iron problem or gestational diabetes, but in the future, I am going to request a different nurse.

Glucola Test #1

27w 5d

Today is my last official day of Fall Break, so to end with a bang, I scheduled my gestational diabetes test (or maybe I just didn’t want to use a sick day for it and had to be close to 28 weeks).  My thought process was that I would at least get to hear Ava’s heart beat (which is always thrilling), even if it meant waking up early and drinking a gross drink on my last day to sleep in. 

            Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.  I had to fast the night before (not easy when your almost 7 months pregnant).  When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised that the orange drink of doom I’ve heard so much about, was actually not bad.  It tasted like orange Hi-C (one of my favorites).  I was feeling pretty smug as I drank the whole bottle with ease and went to wait out my hour.  About 30 minutes in, I started feeling a bit light headed.  I just blamed it on stress from lesson planning (I thought I would kill 2 birds with one stone and made planning my task while I had to wait).  Regrettably the feeling didn’t go away when I put my school stuff up.  I tried to get more comfortable, but nothing was working.  At the point when I really thought I was about to pass out, I went to the front desk and let them know.  They quickly moved me to a room to lie down, but it was too late.  I didn’t pass out, but the second my head hit the pillow, I threw up the orange drink.  Darn.. 40 minutes in..  Only 20 to go..  No one was around, so I went and found a nurse to let her know. 

At this point, I think they just forgot about me.  I was told the doctor would come talk to me to determine what to do (I was hopeful that they would test my sugar anyway since I was close to finished).  No such luck.  I sat in the room for another hour with no one checking in or anything (luckily I didn’t pass out).  I never got to talk to the doctor or hear Ava's heartbeat.  Eventually, I just went back to the main waiting room, and when they saw me, they told me I would just need to reschedule and try again next week.  Great..  Next time, I get to eat Jelly Beans instead of drinking the orange drink.  I hope it’s not as miserable.  It took several hours, and meals, and a nap to feel good/normal again.

On the brighter side, I really don’t *think* I have diabetes.  I am no doctor, so I could be 100% misinterpreting my symptoms, but it felt like my sugar spiked then crashed (insulin overshoot, I think).  I really wish they would have at least check to see where it was at that point..

Another positive note, which I am actually really excited about, since I have to take half a day off next week to go back, I scheduled a FREE ultrasound!!!  The Hope Resource Center in our area is training on new ultrasound equipment, and they needed volunteers to practice on.  Win-win- They are a great organization, and I am happy to help them in anyway, AND I get a free peak at our precious Ava!  I hope I feel better after next week's test than I did today, but seeing Ava should perk me up either way.

The nursery is still a work in progress.  I’ll try to post pictures soon!

Ava's Nursery Projects

26 weeks 3 days

 

Fall break is here!  My mom has come over several days to help me with various house projects, so I thought I would post some pictures of ones that relate to Ava’s Nursery.

 I found a website from Pinterest that said how to re-finish oak cabinets (or dressers), so that was my first big project.  Ben helped me move everything outside, so I wouldn’t have to be around the fumes.

 I am really excited about how the dresser and end table turned out!! They look a million times better than they did before, AND they match Ava’s crib to a T.  We had looked at purchasing a new dresser for her room, but I’m so glad I tried this first.  Grand total was less than $50, and I still have a ton of the gel stain left.  (I bought two colors to get the shade of the crib just right.)  In case anyone wanted to see the website where I got the idea, it can be found here: http://www.monicawantsit.com/2012/02/staining-oak-cabinets-espresso-color.html

   I did a few things differently (her sock method was way too messy for me.. I used double rubber dish gloves and a foam brush to apply the stain- so much neater), but I’m really glad she recommended the products she did.  We have a WoodCraft store close by that sold everything I needed in the right brand.

The next project Mom and I worked on was painting Ava’s nursery.  It was a multi-day project because there were 2 layers of wallpaper to remove, and I wanted to do a stripe.  So technically, this project started months ago with removing wallpaper stages at a time.  Ben and I really wanted to get the bulk of it painted before we got the new carpet put in, so we did the light green part a few weeks ago.  Then during Fall break, Mom and I have painted the top stripes (had to wait several days before adding the maroon to let the creamy-pink dry).  Here are pictures of that progression:

 Now that the basics in the room are laid out (paint, carpet, furniture), I get to start having real fun!  My next projects are going to be creating some of the wall décor and organizational baskets.  I have a few ideas of things I want to do (and try from Pinterest!), but we’ll see how they turn out.. I have a week and a half left of break.  Hopefully I can get it all in!  I'll post pictures when it's closer to complete!

Baby's name and check up

23 weeks 1 day

    I am realizing that I don't think I ever officially "announced" our name choice.  We are naming our baby girl, Ava!  We both loved that name from the very beginning.  There was no argument or convincing that needed to go with it.  We haven't fully determined a second name.  We have two very strong contenders.  Again, unlike our boy names that we couldn't agree on, with girl names, we just like too many.  As soon as we "set in stone" her middle name, I will share that too..

   We had another check up today!  First, I have to be thankful that everything is still looking great with Ava .  Second, I am going to be a little fussy that I did not actually get to see her this time.  I have gotten so accustom to getting an ultrasound with each checkup (due to various reasons), that I guess I kind of expected one.  Oh well.  Ava’s heartbeat was 170.  The u/s tech said that was good, and as always, I love hearing her heartbeat. 

   Apparently by 23 weeks, contractions have already started a few times an hour.  I had no idea.  The doctor had me feel my uterus and asked me questions about if I ever noticed it feeling hard.. No… He said it should 3-4 times an hour. Wow, I felt really out-of-touch with my body when he said that.  He said it shouldn’t hurt or anything.  He then went into what to do if I did go into early labor.  Praying that doesn’t happen.

   I won’t have another appointment until October now, but what I am most looking forward to is our 3D Ultrasound scheduled for the end of October- 30 weeks!  I can’t wait to see her again!

   Over Fall break (only 2 weeks away!!!) I will try to work on Ava’s nursery, and if we get a lot done, I will post pictures!
   Oh yeah, and those "teeny, tiny kicks" I was feeling are now full blown soccer kicks.  She doesn't kick that hard all the time, but last night I was watching my belly, and you can actually see her kicking now instead of just feeling it!  Really cool!  It definitely makes me smile each time I feel one! and I LOVE that Ben can now feel them too!

Sneak Peek at a 3D Ultrasound!

20w 4d

When I went to the doctor today, we were planning to do the second half of the anatomy scan (to see her heart now that it is more developed), but we got an extra special surprise!  No, not twins.. We got to see a 3D ultrasound of her for a minute!  It was so exciting to see her little hands open and close and see her fingers move.  I was thrilled!  So I just had to upload the pictures! :-)  We will have our official 3D ultrasound at 30 weeks when she has put on a little bit of weight, but I think she is beautiful already.

FYI, Everything went great with the rest of her anatomy scan- her heart has all 4 chambers working properly and everything is right on track!

Baby Bump- First 20 Weeks

Baby D is a...

18w4d

GIRL!! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to post about it, but we recently found out that we are having a beautiful baby girl!  Everything still looks good in the ultrasound/heartbeat areas. (Heartbeat today was 164bpm.) We’ve had a few more genetic screens done and so far so good.  We had an appointment today and got to see our daughter’s hands, feet, brain, heart, bladder, kidneys, spine, umbilical cord, belly, diaphragm, nose, lips, and maybe even more.  It was a lot to take in, in a short amount of time.  Luckily, the ultrasound tech made a DVD for us, so we can re-watch and see all of her again and again and again :-)! 

            Another exciting development in baby world: I have been able to feel teeny, tiny kicks!  From what I’ve read, I am probably only feeling when she does somersaults not really kicks yet, but it’s cool just the same!  I don’t feel them often, and she almost always catches me off guard.  I have started to notice that she likes to be active around 7:30-8:30pm.  Maybe I am just paying more attention as we sit down after dinner.

            One last thing, I have finally, officially gained 4 pounds from my starting weight!  The first trimester was pretty tough on me, so I had to gain back quite a bit once I could eat again.  I am quite positive that this will be the ONLY time in my life I will be happy to see the scale increase, so I thought it was blog-worthy.