36 Weeks

Baby Shower in a Box

Yesterday I was surprised to find this at my door:

It was a "Baby Shower in a Box" put together by Sami and Chelsey for the new baby.  It was so sweet, thoughtful and special.  We are so blessed to have great friends, who despite the distance still through awesome baby showers!!!

34 Weeks

Still feeling boy, based on the feeling that I have, the lower heart rate (130s compared to the girls in the 160s) and the fact that the fetal movement is nonstop (my ob told me that boys tend to move more than girls during pregnancy).  The names we've picked out are Jude Abbott and Alice Caroline or Alice Josephina.  I am starting to think about getting my bags packed and ready and getting the carseat installed.  The room is as ready as it is going to get.

30 & 32 Weeks

28 Weeks

Still feeling generally pretty good.  At my last OB appointment I had another CBC and my platelet count is still over 100.  It was down from 165 at the start of the pregnancy, but I am still happy it is higher than it has been in the past.  My sugar levels are decent.  Not too high.  I have noticed that I am having to watch my diet a little more closely though (which I knew I would as the pregnancy progressed).  Baby is measuring just ahead of schedule by about a week and the heart rate is consistently around 135 BPM.    This little one is a big mover, always rolling around, kicking and jabbing me to death.  Hoping it gets all the crazies out in there and is an easy going baby out here :)

We are getting things ready.  We got our new stroller put together, the swing is put together, Owen is transitioning out of the baby room things are moving along.  April doesn't seem so far away now.  

26 Weeks

Baby Sikora & Mama (24 weeks)

We had our anatomy ultrasound today.  Everything looked perfectly normal (which was a relief, considering the abnormalities that have been present on ultrasounds of the other kids).  We chose not to find out the sex of the baby, although I have a strong feeling that it is another boy.  The heart rate was 135 BPM, the lowest of all the kids so far.  Baby was measuring at 25.4 weeks and according to our due date we are 24.2 weeks, so pretty much on track!  The baby has been quite active and even the girls have had the opportunity to feel the baby moving around.  We haven't made any solid name choices yet but a few names that have been thrown around are: Abbott, Oscar and Jacob, and for girls, Alice, Matilda, Grace, & Violet.  Most of our family and friends think that this baby is going to be another girl.  Annie is hoping for a girl and Millie wants another brother.  I think Owen would be thrilled to have a little brother.

Baby's hand (I was assured that there were five fingers)

Little kicker!

 I have been feeling pretty good this time around.  Just beginning to feel little aches and pains, but nothing that keeps me from doing what I want to do yet.  Putting on sox and boots is becoming a bit of a challenge and my toe nails are in desperate need of a polish change.  Carrying Owen up the steps has me completely out of breath these days and I am much slower at everything.  Just the other day I had to chase Owen down in a parking lot and I almost couldn't catch him.  I am sure that was a sight for onlookers.  Many of my glucose readings have been normal, just a few slightly elevated, but I haven't been watching my diet as strictly as I probably will have to during the third trimester as the baby gets larger.  My platelet count is higher than normal and will probably stay that way until baby is born.  We have chosen not to use steroids to attempt to raise it since that hasn't worked in the past.  Just preparing for another natural, non-medicated delivery.