28 Weeks

Welcome to the third trimester. For pretty much all of the first and second trimesters I was symptom free. Well, about two weeks ago my body decided it hates when I drink water or my body is really craving tums. I can no longer drink two nalgene bottles of water while working. I struggle to drink even 16 ounces.

Oh, it is apparently obvious I am pregnant. Even the UNC Men's Soccer team can tell. Darn, I guess my secret is out. It is funny when I attend meetings at work with folks from different sections of the athletic department b/c there is always someone who must have missed the pregnancy memo. I am happy to say a lot of people think I am due in late December versus the first part of November. I think I owe this all to be 5'10" and still working out. I told my ladies from the coaches workouts if I am still pumping iron at 30 weeks that I expect them to do the workout wearing a 20 pound weight vest so they know how difficult it is to do push-ups.

Friends are asking to see pictures of the nursery. I don't think anyone would "oh and ah" over pictures of furniture in boxes.  We have yet to paint because we are still waiting on the bedding. I have gotten three emails letting me know my order is delayed later and later. Delivery is supposed to be September 3rd. I've yet to harness the power of pregnancy hormones, but if the bedding doesn't show up by next week...PBK will be feeling my wrath.

Bean's future best friend was born on Thursday morning.  We can't wait to see little RJ. I'm sure it will be sooner than later since I'm holding his daddy's UNC football tickets as ransom.

RJ Langley

I went to the Spike for a Cure Cause volleyball tournament on Saturday. The last tournament I played in was back during the first part of the summer. Since I moved to NC almost ten years ago, my weekends have been consumed with playing volleyball. It was great to see everyone playing volleyball and raising money to support others. Again, people must have missed the facebook posts about Daren and I expecting a baby in November. I do miss playing volleyball. I'm hoping to play some indoor ball this winter after I recover from the c-section. Maybe I can find a bronze team who will want me.

Daren and I are off to Pennsylvania this weekend. Daren has a high school classmate getting married. Sending good vibes her way that Tropical Storm Issac doesn't interrupt her outdoor wedding. This will also be the first time we have seen Daren's family since announcing the pregnancy. I'm sure to have lots of pictures to share when we return.

Our next doctor's appointment is September 7th.  I think it is only an ultrasound and a visit with the high risk OB.

Lots of Doctors

On Friday we had a long appointment at UNC hospital. We were there from 11am until almost 430pm. Thank goodness we had our case worker Maya with us every step of the way to bring us to where we needed to be.

First up was a meeting with one of the pediatric surgeons. Dr Erickson us told about their side of the practice and what their role with be with Bean's omphalocele (om.). She explained a lot of possible options for surgery if certain factors are present. Again, it was a lot of hypotheticals because we won't have a true picture until Bean is born. UNC employs the "paint and wait" procedure. The organs contained within the om. will have a membrane covering. The "paint and wait" is a method of encouraging skin to grow over the om. and also is a way to bind everything.

Our second appointment was with Dr Bose, one of the heads of the NICU. I liked this man a lot. He reminded me of my late Uncle Charlie. Dr Bose said the  NICU staff will be focused on Bean at the time of birth. He also assured me there would be doctors taking care of me and not to be worried by the number of people in the delivery room. Daren has a very important job as well. He needs to make sure I start pumping as soon as possible. If there are any breathing problems, Bean will be put on a ventilator. If there are digestive issues, there will be an IV placed for nutrition. I was fine as we discussed all of the medical details. It was when Dr Bose started bringing up the emotional side it got tough for me. The estimated minimum amount of time for Bean's stay in the NICU will be two weeks. Dr Bose said it would be hard for us to leave the hospital knowing Bean can't go with us. Also, Dr Bose wanted to stress it was nothing I did, ate, drank, or was exposed to which caused the om.

Our third stop was a tour of the NICU which was led by Maya. We will have 24 hour visitation capabilities. Friends and family have the same ability, but they need to be signed in by either Daren or myself. We are limited to only two visitors at a time. The hospital supplies everything while Bean will be in the NICU. We don't need to bring clothes, diapers, bouncy chairs...they have it all available to us. I inquired about needing a larger sized car seat due to the supporting of the om. Maya gave us two suggestions - wait or purchase a car seat and leave it boxed up for potential return. If we need a bed to transport Bean home, it will be provided by the hospital.

By this time it was after 230pm and so we headed for our third anatomy scan. I think this tech was my favorite. She had some spunk and was not happy with Bean's decision to hide from pictures. Everything looked good during the scan. Bean weighs an estimated 1 pound 10 ounces.

Our final stop was meeting with Dr Vora, our high risk OB. Nothing much new. She did ask a lot of questions about my heart condition and how it was initially detected. The estimated date for the c-section will be 39 weeks. That is around the end of the first week of November. I'm heading back to the hospital on Wednesday for the gestational diabetes test and we have another ultrasound scheduled for September 7th.

We snapped a quick 26 week picture before heading out the door for church. So far, I've gained around 16 pounds. I'm still participating in the coaches workouts at UNC and the doctors have said I'm fine to continue.

26 weeks

Home From Vacation

Daren and I returned from All Inclusive Vacation II on Sunday evening. The trip home to NC was much less eventful than the trip to IA. Driving a rental car from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls was not in our original plans. Oh well, we made it safe and sound.

It was great to see my family and an assortment of friends. We had lots of visitors stop  by.  I'm not sure I can even remember them all. Thanks to...
- Bill and Bailey Goebel for the taking kids tubing and boat ride.
- Margie Leusink for the paddle boat and large float.
- John and Peggy Olson for the life vests.
- Bob & Rhonda Netten and Sue Reimers for taking the kids tubing, dumping Sue & Avery out of the tube, and the sunset boat ride.
- Amber, Andy, and Lincoln Wolf for saving the day on stromboli night by bringing us a rolling pin. Gabe loved playing with Lincoln.
- Joell Walgenbach for bringing Halle and Merrick to the lakes for my nieces to play with.
- Jack Daniels for the use of your corn hole boards so I could display my sheer dominance.
- Gary Green and grandkids for allowing Stella and Avery to ride their first horse. As Avery said, my biggest dream in life has come true.
- Mom and GABS for footing the majority of the house rental.

Stella's first time on a horse

Sheila and Regan in the boat

Daren and Avery tubing

Log ride at Arnold's Park - Brad, Stella, Avery & Gabe

Bean was too short for any fun

Amber Wolf and family came for a visit.

My goddaughter Halle with Avery and Stella

I had a much less eventful vacation than everyone else. Being 25 weeks pregnant limited my activities. I was the picture taker from the boat while everyone else went tubing. I went on the beer runs when supplies ran low. I got to hold the water bottles and take pictures in Arnold's Park while everyone else rode the rides. My mom said I had to ask my husband if I could ride the horses...I knew not to ask. My trip may have sounded a bit less exciting than everyone else, but I still had a great time. I think it is time to start planning All Inclusive Vacation III.