OUR BLESSING - Kenna Grace Dugan!!

Holy cow… where is the time going?? It seems just like yesterday that we found out we were having a little one and now she’ll be here in  about 6 weeks!!  I haven’t even thought about putting together a “hospital bag” because it hasn’t been close enough, but I guess I should start thinking about it now.  

I had an OB appointment today and all is well.  Once again, my blood pressure was at a good level for me but still high compared to the normal range.  In two weeks, I start going to see Dr. Smith weekly!  I will get another ultrasound in two weeks and then get a weekly non-stress test after that.  The non-stress test will consist of constant monitoring of the baby for about 30 minutes, just another precaution due to my “mild hypertension”.  Although I don’t consider my slighty high blood pressure to be that big of a deal comparatively speaking, I am glad to know Dr. Smith is taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of the baby and I are closely monitored.  I also know for a fact it makes Jake and my mother feel better as well! 

Lauren (my SIL) and I put together Kenna’s crib Friday night and it’s beautiful!!  Massive… but gorgeous!  I was nervous because we ordered cherry wood and I was afraid it would be too red, but it’s a perfect cherry color.  Unfortunately we don’t have a mattress for it yet (hoping to get it at a shower… wink!) so we couldn’t put all the bedding in, but I am finding myself walking to her room to look at it all set up. 

Lauren, Carrie and Erin hosted a baby shower for me on Saturday and it was wonderful!!  It was for the Mathews side (my dad’s family) and I had a great time!  The food was excellent, the games were fun (especially when I dominated!), the gifts were generous, and the company was even better!  The girls made it seem like there had been a ladybug explosion… and I LOVED it!!  Everyone was told to bring a book in lieu of a card and so now we have a big ol’ stack to read to her for years to come.  Although it’s hard work being the “guest of honor” especially with no nap, I really enjoyed myself and wished it could have lasted longer.  I have two showers this weekend and considering how much fun I had at this last shower, I know I’m in for a good time!! 

I promise you I had not been crying at the shower on Saturday… although I was sweltering hot with my hair down!!  I’ve heard before that little baby girls suck all the beauty out of the mother… and I now believe that.  My poor nose!!  The adorable little Cardinals outfit is from Kenna’s cousins, my niece Julie and nephew Logan.   

Unfortunately I don’t have any more pictures to add to my previous post but I doubt I’d be able to top them.  Just looking at those two pictures warms my heart and makes me smile instantly.  I LOVE that she has her Daddy’s smile… but with my dimples!!  Although it appears she has a pointy nose, her umbilical cord was in front of her face therefore distorting any good pictures of her nose.  We may have to wait to find out who’s nose she has. 

So last week at my appointment my blood pressure is still holding it’s own… still mildly high but not better or worse.  Because of this, I am scheduled for another ultrasound (Yay!) at 36 weeks.  Dr. Smith informed me that she would “ideally” prefer I not go past my due date because of my blood pressure.  I “ideally” would prefer to NOT be induced but I think this will be better for many different reasons.  For one, I found out recently that SLUH is switching insurance carriers January 1st so this would eliminate having to deal with two different companies.  Plus the tax deduction… hello!!  Dr. Smith is thinking about inducing me between Christmas and New Years as long as everything is going well. 

The baby is now approximately 3 pounds 10 ounces.  I’ve noticed more back pain at the end of the day… along with more pronounced elephant ankles.  Eek!!  I’ve also been having problems with carpet tunnel mainly in my right hand and my fingers are constantly tingly.  And I am not able to sleep any longer… which is a severe problem for me.  This entire pregnancy (and my whole life really) I’ve been able to easily sleep 10-12 hours at a time.  Now I’m wide awake after 6-7 hours… and I wake up every couple hours.  I know this is my body’s way of “preparing” me but c’mon… let me sleep while I can!! 

Our beautiful (and happy!) baby girl at 32 weeks!!

UPDATE:  I forgot to mention that Kenna means “beautiful”. 

This pregnancy is moving along quickly and it’s starting to freak me out!! The next 10 weeks are jam packed with baby showers (We’re extremely blessed!), doctor’s appointments, moving, and the holidays. I should probably try to catch my breath now because it could be 18 years before I get another chance!!

Our daughter is healthy and growing like a weed. My blood pressure was at a good level last Wednesday at my appointment. Yay! The baby likes to be way up high… practically in my rib cage. In fact, she thinks it’s a fun game to push my lower ribs up and out… which is quite uncomfortable and almost painful. But she’s been a good girl lately since Jake told her to “Be nice to your Mom!” No joke! Every once in a while she decides to stretch or move around and pushes her butt out… and I swear one of these days she’s just gonna bust through my belly and say Hello. She gets the hiccups occassionally and I find them hilarious! I just imagine her in there as her whole body twitches with each hiccup… cuz that’s what it feels like. Now that I write that, it feels like she’s got them right now. HA!

OH!! I ordered Baby’s crib last week!! It is absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to have this heirloom piece in the family for many years. Of course, I’m in love with this crib and I ask Jake about it and he says “It’s fine”. Grr… men! This is the exact cherry crib we’re getting but not that bedding.

This is a horrible picture of me, but it was taken on Thursday at 28 weeks. 

Yesterday morning, Devonna and I sat in a waiting room for four hours for my extended glucose tolerance test. I definitely appreciate your prayers because I did amazingly well! I didn’t throw up or pass out and aside from extreme hunger, I felt pretty good the entire time! Still, I was extremely thankful to have Devonna there with me. She put my mind at ease in case I did start getting symptomatic from the test, but she also helped make the time go faster. Like I said, we were there for four hours but during that time I only looked at one magazine. We just sat there and chatted the entire time. She brought two books with her but didn’t even open them once.

I was told I wouldn’t get any results until Monday but my OB’s nurse called me with results today. I didn’t get to talk to her but she left a message. Apparently she wanted to make sure to call me today because she wanted me to have good news for the weekend! The test came back normal so I don’t have gestational diabetes!! I am beyond thrilled because I thought for sure I would have to deal with GD due to my wacky blood sugar history and since my father has diabetes (and not even close to “borderline” like he tells everyone). So we are extremely thankful and blessed that God continues to protect me and the baby during this pregnancy!!

There is a very good possibility that Jake and I have finally come up with a name for our sweet baby girl!! I am very happy with the name but now I want to rule out every other possibility just to make sure. Jake is just ready to have it decided upon and be done with it. HA! Hopefully before my baby showers I will be able to officially announce her name to everyone.

And finally… I am in my third trimester.  Eek!!  This is quickly becoming so surreal that in approximately 12 weeks I am going to be a Mommy!!

I found out Monday morning that I failed my glucose screening test.  BOO!!  I was starting to believe over the weekend that I had passed because I hadn’t heard otherwise and I took it on Wednesday.  I got all excited because I wouldn’t have to limit my consumption of sweets (as much) during the holidays.  So now I have to take the three hour test while fasting overnight (eek!) sometime this week.  Devonna has graciously said she will go with me because I’m quite apprehensive about it.  Right now I get nauseous if I happen to go too long without eating, so I’m wondering what will happen if I’m not allowed to eat besides a small bottle of sugar water?!?!  Please pray for me as I take this test Thursday morning!  I think I’m more worried about it than the delivery!!!!  At least for now…

Jake and I have been wondering for over 7 years what our children will look like.  Well we are quickly finding out and it is amazing!!  Every time I get a new picture of her, it’s so miraculous.  I just sit and stare at her pictures as I am awed by her beauty.  There are times when I forget the correlation that the little baby in the pictures is the one kicking me in my belly.  But then it hits me and I am overcome by emotion… on so many wonderful levels.

I did alright with the glucose challenge test.  I had to really concentrate to not throw up the “glucola” while I was drinking it but I breathed through it.  I was pretty jittery from it but I expected at least that.  My blood pressure was almost normal yesterday!  The nurse did take it from my “good” arm but my OB seemed pleased.  Dr. Smith told me to start looking for a pediatrician (eek!) and the swelling I had in my ankles the night before would be occurring more often (boo!).

My ultrasound went well yesterday.  Baby girl was quite the sleepy head though but probably because I also had my glucose test done.  So she had a sugar buzz on the drive there but then once the ultrasound started she was asleep face down in my bladder (thank you for that).  She still looks really good.  All vital organs are working properly and she’s in the 40th percentile for size.  After I got up to get my blood drawn, she finally did decide to turn her head to use my bladder as a pillow instead of having her face planted in it.  So we did get to see her little face and she’s so beautiful!!

Our sweet baby girl was sleeping so peacefully although the ultrasound tech kept poking her in her bottom to get her to wake up and roll.  But I personally (and I’m way biased) think her features are quite beautiful already!!  Actually I think she looks like my niece here.

I think this is a cute picture too!  If you can see, she’s got her left wrist up by her eye (looks like she’s rubbing her eye) which is how she sleeps (refer to pictures at 19 weeks).  Plus it looks like she’s swallowing or sucking causing her mouth to look funny.  And I am now wondering if it’s possible to see dimples already??

And finally, she still has my toes!!  But is it just me or does her foot look huge here??

I can finally say (at 26 weeks) that I officially look pregnant… and not just plump!  It’s rather strange having this protrusion coming directly out of my belly… but I think it’s very beautiful.  I’ll try to find a time when I don’t look like death warmed over and someone is around to take my picture, then I’ll post it for all to see.  Those opportunities are quickly becoming few and far between. 

I am now dependent on my body pillow at night and I really miss sleeping on my back.  I’ve also noticed that when I do sleep, it’s not a deep, uninterrupted sleep like before.  Now I’m waking up multiple times and rolling back and forth switching sides.  I know this is only the beginning… *sigh*. 

And this kid continues to be nameless… I promise we’re not holding out.

I did get her ladybug crib bedding in the mail a little over a week ago and it’s so super cute… I still love it!  I was able to get a good deal on it so even better!  Oh and my SILs (Shanda and Stephanie) have started planning a baby shower in Jacksonville and I’m super excited!  I have to wait almost two more months for that but I’m already really looking forward to it!  I know it’s going to be a blast celebrating this little girl with close family and friends… while eating homemade cream cheese mints and sherbet punch (mmm!!)! 

I have a doctor’s appointment this Wednesday (27 weeks) and I’m getting anxious about it.  I have to have my glucose tolerance test while there.  I’ve recently (within the last two years) had issues with my blood sugar so there’s a very good possibility that that has continued and/or worsened with this pregnancy.  My older brother Brett (who’s currently in town on leave… yay!) is going to go with me as my chaperone because I don’t want to be there by myself if I don’t do well with the test.  I also get a quick ultrasound to check for growth so he’ll be able to see his niece while we’re there!  I’m really looking forward to getting to “see” her again.  After that we have to wait until November 6th for the big, fancy 3D ultrasound but I know it’ll be amazing!!

Our baby girl (who still remains nameless) is getting so big and strong!  Three weeks ago while lying in bed, Jake was able to feel her kick for the very first time.  She was going crazy and so I had him place his hand on my belly.  Well she then took a good swift kick right to his palm!  It was really special for both of us!  And now these days pretty much all of her kicks can be felt “from the outside”.  And this weekend I was lounging in our recliner and I could actually see her kicking and punching!  It’s really freaky looking but very magical! 

We’ve only had one doctor’s appointment since my last post.  After my next appointment on October 1st, I start going every 2 weeks!  Seriously!?!?  But she continues to dislike the doppler (used to listen to her heartbeat) because she kicked it so square on this last time I knew she was well aware of what she was kicking! 

I went to a couple stores last week with Shanda and registered!  Aside from all the cute and fun items (like clothes and toys) it quickly became extremely overwhelming!  But thank heaven that baby showers exist for new mothers like me otherwise we might be in trouble! 

I am trying to come up with a good day to schedule my 3D ultrasound so that all parents will be able to attend.  I’m really looking forward to seeing her again when she’s “fattened” up a bit.