34/35 Week update

I have been totally behind with blogging on time.  Most of the time, in the evenings, I am far too exhausted to even think about blogging.  I am just tired and want to put my feet up. 

Here is a recap of the last 2 weeks. I am going to go ahead and do the 35 week update since I haven't posted that yet either!

First I will post a photo of me at 20 weeks with Teacup (in pink) and 20 weeks with Piper (blue) -- Piper was 8lbs even -- how big is Teacup going to be?!  (This photo from piper just showed up on my news feed from a few years ago, hence the comparison for 20 weeks)

At 34 weeks pregnant, I thought it would be a great idea to hop into a 5k!  I used to run prior to this pregnancy but really did take it easy after the physical therapy on my hips.  Kurt got free bibs through this work and was going to take all 3 kids but I decided that morning to lace up my shoes and at least walk it!  We enjoy doing races together as a family but Kurt is much faster than me anyway, and especially when I am pregnant.  Leah & I walked the race while Kurt, Weston, and Piper ran it -- in less than 34 minutes.  Not too bad for a 5 year old running the whole race!  Along the route, we were the last people.  The sweeper car was behind us, but you know, it didn't bother me.  Eventually we started walking with a really nice woman.  She inspired me.  She had lost 200 lbs and she was telling me that I inspired her because I was walking this race.  We got to know each other and I told her I was a surrogate.  She is the mother of a teenage girl but had many miscarriages along the way and eventually, her and her husband could not fathom another loss so they stopped trying.  When people ask me what made me become a surrogate -- stories like that!! 

Good thing I got a large Turkey Trot Shirt -- This is my belly in my shirt post race!

After the race, we went home, rested some then went to the National Harbor that night for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.  It was nice but crowded and I would be lying if I said I was not the slightest bit nervous in that crowd.  The Paris terrorist incidents had happened the night before and the Harbor had the Ferris Wheel lit like the French Flag. 

Here is my 34 week belly shot!

The week before my 34 week appointment, I went to the doctor because I had contracted a really lovely illness called Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease.  I will spare you the photos but first Piper had it, then with my compromised (Pregnant) immune system, I got this childhood illness as an adult too.  The virus comes out of your body through blisters on the soles of your feet, the palms of your hands and in your throat.  Luckily, I did not have any blisters in my throat but the feet and hands were absolutely miserable.  It felt like constant infected splinters or papercuts.  So I went to the doctor after I started getting these blisters in other places (Insides and outsides of thighs, sides of belly) to make sure that everything was okay.  As I was sitting in the doctors office, my pulse was 135, then 105, then 128 -- all while sitting.  So there is me and Piper in the doctors office and the doctor orders blood work, EKG and heart monitors.  I am so fortunate that my doula/friend Melissa was around and she came and got Piper for me so I could do some of this without a toddler.  All is good with my heart -- it is just MY normal but right now, I am sitting with a 24 hour heart monitor on me to monitor why my heart is beating so fast.  I have had a heart monitor all 3 pregnancies and it always shows up as runs of sinus tachycardia and all is good. 

Then I had my next OB appointment with nothing significant to report.  Had the group B strep test to make sure I don't need antibiotics during the labor to prevent it from being passed to baby (a routine test in the States).  Also she talked about delivery plans and what my ideal delivery looks like.  Cervical exams will start at 37 weeks (if requested and I will since we are dealing with a pretty substantial distance for E&L to come).  My blood pressure was good in office but it has been creeping up to a much higher than my normal and borderline high for other people as well so we will keep our eyes on that.  I also have significant swelling in my ankles/feet and its making me a little miserable. 


Last weekend we had absolutely nothing to do -- no shopping, no visits, nothing planned.  So we set up Christmas decorations!

For Thanksgiving, we went to my godparents house and there, I just felt crummy pretty much the whole time. I did a whole lot of sitting around and whining about how bad I felt!  Luckily, everyone told me to just keep sitting and kept bringing me food!  LOL 

I also got this email from E&L -- I hope they know that I feel as blessed as they do this year as well!

Tonight, we came back home and I took the older two kids to see The Nutcracker with the Girl Scout Troop and we had a lot of fun.  I wasn't sure how Weston would feel about it but he definitely enjoyed it!

 

Since I was dressed in real clothes, I decided to do my 35 week photo today too! 

 Finally -- A funny little graphic to show the stages of pregnancy. I am somewhere between 8 and 9 months pregnant and feeling quite uncomfortable. 

Off to bed now!!! Hopefully I will do a better job at updating at 36 weeks!!