The Third Trimester Is Here!

I have no doctor's appointment until Thursday, and even then, it will be just checking to make sure I have no infection, my stomach is growing, Luke's heartbeat is strong, and to bring my OB's office some goodies. Luke is moving a great deal still and definitely growing as I feel him going further and further on my sides, so I think all will be well Thursday. We'll see Dr. Sweeney a week from now and then from that point on, every week until we get even closer. Which is not too far--10 more from today. Very, very hard to believe.

Google Reader HATES me. It told me it was going to drop me because it was getting tired of keeping track of the posts I need to read. Last night, when we got home, the count was 492. I am trying, trying, TRYING to keep up with blogs, but I don't like just doing the cursory reading and moving on...I get a lot of support out of comments, so I try to give it. Therefore, I don't read posts when I don't have the time to comment as I might like, and I've just been overwhelmed with so many other things I have to do. Or want to do...like make baby hats for our my hospital and Georgetown for Matthew's birthday. A sweet friend taught me how (who knew?) and now I'm a baby hat fool! Of course, it's just on a loom, so there's not TOO much diversity, but I have to say that even I am impressed with myself and my ability to make something that actually could be used.

In any event, I am so, so, so far behind in blogs. I think I am just going to have to schedule a day this week and just catch-up. Trying to catch up on a couple a day is still not working because there are so many and I just want to read them all. Thank goodness for Facebook--it at least helps me a good bit--so, if you are a blogger AND on FB, please let me know so I can somewhat keep up!

I'm still about 38 inches around, and 113 pounds. That's 13 pounds and I'm fine with that...think the doctors wouldn't mind seeing a few more on me, but if you actually see me in real life, you can see it's pretty much all baby. And baby food, if you know what I mean! I'm about 7 pounds less now than at this time with Matthew, but I attribute that to the fact that so far, still no swelling. Hooray. I'm trying very hard to keep that down! Luke seems to love the right side of my body (so did Matthew!) and I can feel body parts moving further and further around my side each day. This is something I really remember vividly with Matthew--I of course had no idea of how long he actually was, but I could certainly tell he was getting bigger because body parts seemed to just wrap from my belly button (which is still half-in/half-out!) all the way to the middle of my back more and more each day. Luke is following suit.

My back isn't hurting quite as much as it did with Matthew, but the round ligament pain on the right side, coupled with my scar pain on the right side are REALLY hurting. What's worse is the sacroiliac pain in the right side of my hip. I hobble like I am about 100 years old and hope that the chiropractor and acupuncture this week help some. Like my chiro says, it's all damage control because I just fall out of adjustment the minute I walk out the door, but it helps for a few days, so I'll take it. I had a lot of Braxton Hicks on Saturday (it was a busy day!) and think I really just need to monitor how much I attempt to do. I WANT to do tons, and actually have the energy to do so...but the body is not cooperating as much so I have to just stop myself from trying. I think I'm starting to worry John some because he sees me hobble or wince (or even cry) and tells me to sit down/stop doing whatever I'm doing/take it easy/etc....

He's usually NOT like that!

I'm getting up in the mornings with John (my effort to get more done with the day, but unfortunately I just tell myself that I have a little more time, so I can catch up more on the computer. Oh, the things we trick ourselves into believing....) so I'm falling asleep fairly easily at night by 11 at the latest. I wake up, however, about every hour and a half turning from one side to the other, and each time, Luke bounces around to see what's going on. He still likes the 3:00-4:00 am time period and I stay awake the most during that. It will be funny to see if he sticks with that. Well, maybe not funny, but interesting!

I tried a hamburger on Friday night. I was a hamburger-a-holic with Matthew. I have not wanted to LOOK at one since April. But John wanted to try the new Red Robin here, so we went. I asked for well-done, got raw, and basically don't want hamburgers anymore/still. They were very nice about it all, but it just killed an already weakened desire for a hamburger. Different pregnancies are SO VERY DIFFERENT. Everyone says it, and it's true.

We had a great day yesterday! A sweet friend and sorority sister is an amazing photographer in Charlottesville and was doing some shoots in NOVA. We went out to Meadowlake Gardens (beautiful) and couldn't have ordered a better weather day for pictures. John and I are SO NOT the "Look at each other lovingly" couple but that turned out to be just fine because in our attempts to do so, we laughed and laughed. Laughing has always been one of my favorite things, and it's so nice to be able to do so. I miss laughing without feeling guilty and yesterday was a day that I had lots of that--a day to remember our blessings and enjoy the sweetness of Luke. To feel guilty about that is just not fair to Luke and certainly not disrespectful of Matthew.

If honest, though, those are not easy words to say or type.

No pictures today, but I have two from the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Walk we went to on Friday. It was really a sweet, sweet event and for it being the first one in our area, was a good turnout. Which is sad, isn't it? There was a reading of the names of babies lost and remembered, and I didn't know that we'd be asked to go up to get flowers when our baby's name was called. I was doing ok for the most part, but when Sherrye said, "John Matthew Ennis," I just lost it. Sort of like I am now in remembering. I just did NOT WANT TO BE TAKING THAT WALK.

I know I wasn't alone.

Before we began the walk, we had a beautiful balloon release and they played a song that made both John and me cry. John and I have been 'together' since May of 1993. That's over 17 years! One of the sweet and endearing things from our early dating days was John either singing or leaving me the words to "You Are My Sunshine." Throughout the years, that's been a special little song between us. When we were adopting, the day I sent our dossier off, I bought a little sunshine crib toy. The toy has a pull-down that plays "You Are My Sunshine," and I couldn't wait for our little Emma to hear that every morning.

When that fell through, it went with all the baby things waiting....and when learned of our Matthew, I decided that HE would hear that song every morning....any and every child we held in our hearts was like sunshine to us.

It still is attached to his crib. I just pray every single day that his brother will get to hear it.

The song that they played as the balloons were released was "You Are My Sunshine."

I can't describe my heart.

I brought the camera, but really couldn't take pictures--John took a couple as we walked. It was two miles, but I only did about one because I didn't want to push it. Here are two he took...they aren't great belly shots, but they are with Luke at 27w4d:

You can tell my photography class is teaching me something because I am totally aware of the difference the lighting makes in each picture--the tones (again, who knew I could use that word with photography??) are very different and it's obvious one is facing sun and one is not!

Here's what's new with Luke this week:

Week Twenty Eight: May recognize your voice

You are 28 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 26 weeks) The fetus has its own regular intervals for sleeping and being awake. The weight has increased to 1000 grams and is 37.5cm in length. 2.2 pounds weight and is 14.8 inches in length from head to heel. The feet are just over 2 inches (5.5cm) long. The hair on the head is now clearly visible. The milk teeth have developed under the gums. The eyes are starting to move in their sockets. Brain waves show rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which means your baby may be dreaming. Eyelids are opening. Eye color may change within the first six months of life especially if your baby's eyes are blue or gray-blue at birth. Remember to talk to your baby often; reading stories, singing songs has been seen to slow the baby's heart rate. He or she can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later after birth. Your uterus will be about 3 inches (7cm) above your bellybutton. During this time of your pregnancy, your belly will grow about half an inch (1cm) each week. If you have been following a nutritious, balanced meal plan, your total weight gain is probably between 17 and 24 pounds (7.5 and 10.5 Kg). Branches of lungs are quite developed now, so there is a good chance that baby would survive if born prematurely now. If your baby is born this week, the chances of survival is now at least 90 percent. However, some complications are still possible.