30 weeks and all is well

We finally made it to 30 weeks!  I don't know why it feels like such an accomplishment, but it does.  Here are the pics:

Pardon the background, I had Mark take the pic at his work when I dropped his lunch off.

I never thought that all it would take is a very large pregnant belly to make my butt look smaller!

 At the last doctors appointment a week and a half ago, Max was still measuring big.  So I would say that I have 10 more weeks of this, but I honestly hope I don't go all the way to 40 weeks.  I am already feeling quite large, and recently I have been feeling much heavier, even though I haven't gained any weight.  I guess it's just because all the weight is moving to my abdomen, and I'm not used to that.  The Braxton Hicks definitely don't help any, either. 

At the last appointment the doctor made it pretty clear that I will be waiting until 36 weeks to remove the cerclage.  He also said that it usually takes around 2 weeks after that for the cervix to open back up, so Max will most likely be here between 38-40 weeks.  Let's hope for 38, especially since he is measuring two weeks bigger than normal!

I am getting excited for the all-day labor class in a few weeks.  I plan on pushing this guy out naturally, but I have been feeling nervous about whether or not I will remember all the coping techniques.  So I am glad for the class because it will be an entire day when Mark and I can focus on learning how to do this labor and delivery stuff.  I am also REALLY nervous that he ends up being too big for me to push out, as is not uncommon in my family.  I absolutely don't want to have any kind of medicated birth, since I hate how it makes me feel.  Of course, I will do what it takes to make sure he gets here healthy, but I am definitely determined to do this without medication if possible.  I never thought that I would be thinking about my own labor and delivery!  8 years in the making, we are so excited to meet Miracle Max!

27 weeks and Graduate

We are at 27 weeks today.  Yay!  I had an appointment with the doc on Monday, and it didn't go too well.  My blood pressure was high, and Max is still measuring big.  I have never had high blood pressure, so that was a huge shock to hear.  Because my blood pressure was high, the doctor said to increase my resting to try to avoid developing pre-eclampsia.  So Mark bought a blood pressure monitor from work, and we have been taking my blood pressure every night.  Normal every time.  Mark thinks it was a case of white coat syndrome.  Since the last "routine" check-up was such a disaster, he thinks I stress now when my doctor's appointments come around.  I definitely do dread them now, as I am expecting more bad news. 

The good news is, when I have the cerclage taken out it won't be a big deal.  I was thinking they would be numbing me up again, which I HATE, and it would be like surgery all over again.  So I asked Doctor Johansen about it, and he said it was a procedure that they just do in the office at one of my routine check-ups around 36 weeks.  They just clip the thread and pull it out.  Hardly worse than a Pap Smear.  Yay!

I also was informed that there will be no travel for me until this little guy comes.  Thank goodness we had already cancelled all of our travel plans.  Next week I will be doing the 1 hour glucose test.  It makes me nauseated just thinking about it.  I had to do one during my stay in Phoenix, and it was horrible.  Because Max is measuring so big, they were worried about gestational diabetes.  This time it is just a routine test since I will be 28 weeks. 

Max's update: the kid never stops!  Last week I was in a bit of a panic because I hadn't felt him move very much for 2 days.  I called the doc's office, and they said that at that point in pregnancy it's pretty normal for kiddos to take a few days off from the huge kicks.  The call was definitely premature, as the next day I woke up to him thumping away, and he hasn't stopped for more than a few minutes since.  It's still weird to look down and see my stomach moving.  This morning it felt like there was gerbil in there running around and around on a wheel.  It already seems, though, that Mark's voice is soothing to him.  He has been reading Winnie the Pooh to Max every night, and after a few minutes of reading he calms down.  I like that! 

Also, today I received my diploma from University of Nebraska.  I am officially a graduate, with a Bachelor's degree!

And without further ado, the prego pics...