Turner Twins: 15 weeks

NOTE: These post will be a week later than my current week of pregnancy to better give you an idea of what the week has been like on my end.  For example, if I posted 12 weeks pregnant, I would really be 13 weeks.  Also, this blog when viewed on a computer will give you lovely music in the background so don't have your volume turned up to maximum levels, don't forget to click on the twin icon in the left-hand side of the page, and when this is viewed on a cell phone or device it will not have those features (that I am aware of).  

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So now that I have been out of the months of morning sickness and shock of finding out we are having multiples, I have been feeling a little more like normal self these days.  I am still extremely exhausted and my nose is still pretty sensitive to the scent of cooking meat.  After finding out we were pregnant and having TWO, my pregnancy symptoms started making themselves known, and they were like a repeat of when I was pregnant with Graison but with more sickness than ever.  I don't think I have ever thrown up more in my adult life than I have in the first trimester with this pregnancy; it still wasn't as horrible as I anticipated it would get since finding out there are twins in here!

I have definitely been showing for a while now, and couldn't really tell you when it started just that I've got myself a bump.  At 11 weeks we decided that I was looking similar to that of a pregnant gal 3 weeks ahead of me when standing side by side with her, and we even have a body type similar to each other along with the fact that this was pregnancy number three for both of us, I just have twins.  The fact that there are two is still pretty shocking, although I'm starting to get used to the thought now.

We had a check up at the beginning of this week and the babies are looking great!  Heartbeats are steady at a bpm of under 142; one baby was for sure at 138 bpm. On March 23rd, we get the anatomy scan done and will be having the twins' genders placed into an envelope so that we can do a fun reveal at a later set date, so keep an eye out for that being posted either on here, Facebook, or both!! With this post putting a close to my week 15 of pregnancy, I've just noticed the size of the bump along with some other things such as:

• Continuous exhaustion - I am adding in the factors of having two older children and being pregnant with multiples.  I am literally ready for a nap I will never get with Cowen running around at about 10:30 AM!!
• Even though trimester two is supposed to be a break from a lot of pregnancy symptoms, the boobs are still endlessly sensitive and sore.
• The frequency of having to use the restroom is there, however, I have found I am able to hold it in better at nights this time around; knock on wood.
• I want sweet everything and making sure there's fruit lying around helps.  Sweet tea is life.  My pregnancy grapefruit kick came back and that has been DELICIOUS!!  Although the sweet tooth has been a constant need in the back of my mind, I still wouldn't pass up something sour if given the chance. Like salt n vinegar chips or lemonade, or lemon on my shrimp from Red Lobster...mmmm.
• I have had feelings of movement but they are powerfully weird in a way I could not describe properly and I can not decide if it is the movement of the babies or just me being in an odd position.

I am sure I'm missing many more details of this past week, but I haven't been motivated to write up a blog post to update you guys let alone write down some symptoms I've been noticing.  Below I am including some of the things the babies have been developing this week along with some pictures.

MILESTONES:

• Development of sex organs
• Movement and hiccups
• Breathing (yes they breathe while in amniotic fluid)
• Being able to sense changes in light.

Update Coming Soon!!

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!

An update on our pregnancy blog will be coming soon!

Thanks for your patience!

With Love,

Candice T.

Birth Story

Okay so I have prolonged this post far too long haha!  So here it is....

Monday December 1, 2014, Sheyden and I woke up at 5 am so that we would be ready to undergo our induction at 7 am meaning we had to be at the hospital at 6:45 am for check in.  As we were waiting for Graison's sitter and getting ready to leave the house (temporary lodging on Fairchild AFB) I got a phone call from the hospital CANCELING my induction!!!  I handled it as cool as I could, and the person on the other end sounded as though he was anticipating a huge blow out.  I did have some irritation in my tone, but who wouldn't especially over something as important as the day we were having our baby.  They told me they would call back by 9 am to reschedule the induction.  The reason I was cancelled is because everyone and their dog had been going into labor since the night before.

So 9 am rolls around and I had been trying to get some rest in as Sheyden and I could not fall asleep again and Graison luckily was able to sleep in a little longer than anticipated but he was on edge as well.  I ended up calling my doctors office and asking who I needed to talk to about the rescheduling of our induction....they transferred me to a voice mail system.  I was a ball pf stress!!  Not only had I been having anxiety about Graison's sitter situation the weekend of having our baby, but now I had to deal with the possibility of not being able to get our day in where Sheyden would be there for the birth.  Thankfully Heavenly Father was watching out for us and had a plan.  The charge nurse called me back around 10:15 or 10:20 and told me I "might" be able to get in by noon, then after getting off the phone called me back about ten minutes later telling me to come in at 11 for sure for our induction.  That left us little time to work with in letting the sitter know what the situation was and also getting our exhausted selves ready and out the door.  The only thing I ate was part of Graisons apples and peanut butter snack.  Yes, I did eat a breakfast but I should have fit in some more food at some point, but hey I was tired and stressing out!

We finally got to the hospital and checked in at 11:08, ten minutes after the time we were supposed to be there and it was all traffic and parking's fault!  Once we got there, I ended up feeling a little irritated because one of the nurses commented on how many inductions were happening that day and all I could think of was WHY did my morning get cancelled then and WAS THERE REALLY even enough pregnant ladies naturally going into labor or was someone lying and pushing back a morning induction or two.  I ended up getting over myself because we were finally there and finally about to get started in the end part of our journey. [pictures of my belly just before heading to the hospital].

So we got into our labor and delivery room and prepped to start the induction.  The nurse blew 2 of my veins trying to put my IV in and had to call another to come in and try.  He blew one vein before finally finding a taker....I was abused but found it humorous, after all I was just happy we were finally starting something.  We finally saw my doctor a little after noon, he checked me and I WAS STILL ONLY 3 cm (3.5 to be exact) and had increased to 90 percent effacement, station (babies head position) was a -1 or in other words he was just above the crowning point; so he was pretty low.  We broke my water at 1:54 and waited.  They started my pitocin with a dose of only 2 ml, the nurse who had blown my veins had told me before we started pitocin that I was having regular contractions 5 min apart; I thought it funny and told her I was not noticing any of it, because I wasn't I only felt hardening here and there and without any pain.

The nurse that blew my veins with the IV, switched with a different nurse and she stayed the duration of the labor and delivery.  This nurse is the one that started my pitocin and she only gave me that one dose.  My body decided it wanted to dilate itself.  The only thing I feel that the pitocin did for me was make my contractions more painful.  An hour after starting my labor with breaking the waters, I was checked and I had reached full effacement and was dilated to a 4.  My labor pains were in the front with this one, but gradually started turning into back labor and started hurting worse and worse with each contraction getting closer and closer together.  I held out on getting an epidural for as long as I could because I really wanted to experience a non medicated birth again.  Given my labor with Graison was really fast, I still felt pain and had no time for the epidural I wanted and having him un-medicated was way better than I had imagined.  I ended up having an internal argument with myself on the idea of the epidural.  I asked the nurse to check me again, this was about 40 minutes after having been checked previously.  The nurse granted my wish and checked me again, I had dilated to about 6 cm.  So I decided on getting an epidural before it was too late and as a precaution for more intense contractions.  The pain was still tolerable to me but I wanted that insurance of relief in case they became unbearable.  This was around 4:30 pm and my epidural started kicking in around 4:45.

I felt amazing after my epidural kicked in!! I was no longer feeling down about getting it and only looked forward to being able to experience the birth of my baby differently than that of Graison's.  By the time 5:30 rolled around the nurse checked me again because my contractions were becoming really close and I had started to feel some pressure.  When she checked me she commented "I see some hair" and proceeded to tell me I was between 8 and 8.5 cm dilated.  She got her phone out and called my doctor out of his meeting and told him we were going to start some practice pushes as he made his trek to my delivery room.  We started the push process and in between pushes I was appreciative about my decision of the epidural as I was able to focus on my job and all I needed to do to get this baby here.  Sheyden was very encouraging and supportive and I was and am so thrilled he was able to be there with me.  I could not imagine how hard it would be not having your rock be there for you and Sheyden is my rock.  My doctor finally got there, within 10 minutes, and more pushes began.  I don't want to get too graphic but will share that I noticed when I re tore the spot I tore when having Graison, because I noticed the change in pressure and shortly after I heard my doctor quietly say "Oh Shoot".  I don't remember if Sheyden said he heard Dr. Zwiesler say that or not but Sheyden had a different experience with this baby than with Graison as well.

Sheyden ended up needing a chair to sit in shortly after seeing baby's face, as he continued to support me.  Cowen Brooks Turner was born at 6:14 pm and weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces measuring 19.5 inches long.  With Graison, I only got to see him for a few seconds in which a photo was quickly snapped and then if he and Sheyden went with nurses and doctors up to the NICU.  This time with Cowen I was able to cherish the moment of bonding by being able to hold him immediately after birth and just stare at him with Sheyden.  I am so grateful to have had that experience and I'll never forget it.

Both of my babies I have been able to cherish precious moments with them in the hospital.  Whether it was somewhat stressfull or as chill as can be, I have been given such great blessings from our Heavenly Father and I am so honored to be able to cherish and experience being a mother, especially with my rock (Sheyden) by my side.  As Cowen and I go through the trial of being separated from Graison and Sheyden, they are going through it too and I thank our lucky stars that we have the technology we do today to be able to speak with and look at them through programs like Skype.  It makes me appreciate those who lived through the times where even "snail mail" took forever to make it to their loved ones even more than I already do.  I know our Heavenly Father has a plan set for us and that we are living it out and will be together as a whole soon.  For now I have to be a rock for Cowen and Sheyden a rock for Graison, without eachother, family, faith, and especially love I don't know where we would be.  I  thankful for all I have been given and for all I have to share with others. I'm so ecstatic to see what Cowen has to offer us as he grows and so excited to see the bond between brothers in my sons!  

38 weeks

First things first, I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays this week and had a safe Black Friday!  Hopefully nobody got brutally injured or murdered in the process of getting their Christmas shopping done.  Anyways, back to my post!

This week was LO-ONG! Monday we started the process of packing up the house and the movers arrived around 8:00-8:30 in the morning.  Tuesday gave us the same start and they finished the boxing up of belongings. Wednesday brought the big ol moving truck and they packed everything into the crates that will go on the ship to Japan. Although it was fast, it was long and exhausting.  Very nice people helping us get our house packed up though.  Definitely weren't drinking on the job like I remember (scent memory) one crew doing with one of my family's moves in my youth.

WEDNESDAY ALSO BROUGHT my 38 week check up.  We found out I have not dilated at all in about a month.  Because this is a second pregnancy, going so long without seeing any progress usually means that the labor and delivery of the baby will be like having your first baby--lots of work into the push phase.

My doctor was mentioning and warning us to be prepared in seeing a good amount of work in pushing and also preparing us for having a baby that is close to or just over 8lbs.  I honestly am not surprised or discouraged by that fact.  I was 8 lbs 3oz, Sheyden was somewhere in the 7's, and if graison would have made it to full term he would've been around 7-7.5lbs.  So I am not scared about having a bigger baby.  I'm going to mentally prepare myself for anything and stick to my plan.  Natural, epidural if I really am having a painful time and if I am able to still get it, and cesarean as my last resort or emergency option.  It's easy to work with and gives us a goal of getting the baby here somehow safely.  I have a lot of faith that I can get this little guy out and Sheyden is truly an amazing and strong support for me.  What more can a girl ask for than a husband who is there for them in the moments that she needs him to be the most!! 

Although we are ready this little man in my belly is happy where he is and will have his own special day to celebrate his birth!  On Monday we have to be at the hospital at 6:45 am to check in and get any missing admittance done; which should be fully covered as I already talked to the RN in a phone appointment.  At 7:00 am we start the induction and my doctor thinks the baby should be born within 5 hours of that start time.  I'm hoping things will move swiftly and the process in getting little monkey boy two here won't be as exhausting as we are being warned and are preparing for.  

THIS IS MY LAST POST ABOUT MY PREGNANCY Y'ALL!!!  The next time I post on the blog, will be when our little guy is here and will bring details of how his birth ended up going!  Sheyden will be posting his arrival in facebook once immediate family have been notified and we have rested a little.  I'm sure both of us will be overwhelmed with exhaustion and overjoyed with a new love in our lives!  I am sooo excited to see Graisons reaction to meeting his brother and am so curious as to how things will go in that first meeting!! 

UNTIL NEXT TIME !!

37 weeks update (posted at start of 38 wks)

We are at the end of my 37 weeks today!! This week has been long, not only because my boys have been out of town but because I FEEL READY for this o come at anytime!  My body aches, I move around like a zombie, a few other unmentionables, and I get weird spurts of energy that give me the ability to get some things done but only for brief periods of time haha!  My tailbone literally feels like when you slip on ice, fall down, and crack it, yet I don't recall slipping on ice and landing on my buttocks! I believe we only got snow for a good day and now it's melted haha!! 

Yesterday was my doctors appointment.  While there we checked for dilation as usual, got my weight done, blood pressure done, and of course got to listen to this little boys strong heart!  

We found out I am still 3cm, but he said I'm really softened and he can feel baby's head and to make an appointment for Wednesday or he'd see me sooner! Who knows, it's all baby and the man upstairs in play right now because we are ready. 

All of this happened as my husband was driving his way back home, WOOHOO! My boys are back!! I've missed them, it will suck having to endure some time without them in the same country as I am, but I will have my hands full of a cute little somebody to keep my mind occupied and I will have family around me, as soon as I am cleared to go back home by my doctor.  I'm contemplating having someone meet me from Dillon to drive down with me as a precaution and a peace of mind.  

Well that's all for now. 

35 Week Update

This week was the start of my weekly appointments.  While we were at the doctors today we got my Group B swab test done and are waiting for the results.  Also found out that I am 3cm dilated and 70% effaced (thinned in cervix).  I am just barely that dilated and my effacement still has some thickness to it; the doctor says I could be stuck at this far dilated for a few weeks or I could start furthering, its a waiting game but it doesn't surprise him that I am this dilated based on my history in pregnancy.  We are at the point where he feels that the baby will be perfectly fine whenever he comes and is happy that we have made it to the end of 35 weeks and the start of 36 tomorrow, of course as always our goal is making it to our induction date.  I feel like 37.5 to 38 weeks is probably when we will see this babys arrival, but who knows he may be a trickster!!

Earlier this week, I got the baby's memory book (baby book), a big brother gift, and a faculty gift for when we have the baby.  I wanted to do something special last time for all those who were part of our special day becoming a family, but we ran into the surprise of Graison coming early and no time for me to plan it.  After Graison was released, I saw this dum dum topiary and decided if we ever had a baby again, that I would create it for the nurses and staff that helped bring our baby safely into the world. 

We have also received news that our orders have posted as finalized and Graison and Sheyden will be heading to Japan December 3rd.  THERE IS NOTHING we can change about this.  We thought that there could be something we could try to change still but found out that because they are finalized we can't.  We were going to try to move Sheydens report date so we could go as a family or see what we could do about Graison going without me but our situation is a unique one.  Everyone we have talked to while we were waiting to hear about the status of our orders told us that normally you do not see this happen *(meaning a separation such as ours)* and that you normally have 8 months at the least to prepare for a move.  We only got a few months to prepare for this and because of my medical status our orders went to magcom status, which is a status above anyone on either of the bases we have been dealing with.  We were warned of this possibility as a preparation for us hearing it in a "no matter what" kind of way and so we have just been preparing for anything. We have been told that it should take no longer than my six weeks postpartum recovery for me and the baby to get to Japan, that normally the only thing that would hold us back is an issue with passports or if one of us ended up in a critical medical state that the base in Japan could not help with.

Everyone we have contacted at Sheydens squadron in Japan, has been extremely helpful and have already set up a place for him and Graison to stay until we can contact the housing office, and also have been dealing with the daycare situation for Graison until I am able to get there.  If daycare is not available, we have some good friends that moved over there earlier this year that are offering to help with him while Sheyden is working, and they have been around Graison enough to know him.  They also have two boys that Graison will absolutely adore now that he can actually play with them. 

RIGHT NOW it is TOO LATE to change anything or cancel orders as they are set in stone; the only way it could change is if Sheyden did something extremely stupid and got kicked out of the military and that is not something we need as a family.  WE BOTH THINK AND AGREE that this is something that will be good for our family, ALTHOUGH the separation will suck horribly it is something we will have to endure and get past.  There are some elements to this move that will make this separation a bit more difficult than just being a split family but we are trying our hardest to get past them as healthily and safely as we can and as a team.  We just hope that everyone can understand that our situation is not a normal PCS situation but is a very unique one, and one that because of medical status and period of time getting to Japan being so short, is a situation that made things difficult in moving dates around and changing once they were already accepted.  Any questions, ask Sheyden as he is the one dealing directly with it and I am hearing it secondhand; Plus I DO NOT NEED any excess stress ESPECIALLY being 3 cm dilated already!!  

Thanks for understanding!

So for this week that is all that has been going on, here are some pictures to enjoy until next week! 

34 Weeks Along

This week was a milestone for us!! My transition day is in Saturday's and Monday was the official gestation day I had Graison, or 34 weeks 2 days.  I am so elated that we made it clear into the rest of this week without any signs of going into labor; though I didn't even notice with Graison I was actually in labor, I know now for this one what symptoms I had with Graison that I could keep an eye out for.

Today was my doctors check up for 34 weeks and now I start weekly ones; so the next appointment is a week from today!!  If it sticks to every Friday, like they scheduled my 35 week, then I will be posting every Friday!  I am weighing 139 and my girth is 40, my uterus is as big as one of the pumpkins on our porch measuring right at 35 weeks because I am starting that week tomorrow. Baby's heartbeat is perfect!  I have heard a clicking sound coming from him the last two weeks and have heard it 3-4 times within that time span, Sheyden heard it once; it sounds like toes cracking, clicking of artificial nails, or how I like to say it "when you pop your ears at high elevation to relieve that pressure and the sound you hear while doing it."  We asked Dr. Zwiesler if there was concern and he couldn't really say.  Since it doesn't hurt me at all and I only feel it when baby moves, we are saying it is just his joints moving around.  Babies in the womb are so fragile yet flexible, and they have to be wouldn't want his bones extremely hard already or we won't come out vaginally; all babies bones in the womb are soft for there to be an easy exit for them.

WE HAVE A SCHEDULED INDUCTION....Since I am in uncharted territory now, yes uncharted, we have set up a day for induction, in case I end up going ALL THE WAY!!  Dr. Zwiesler isn't extremely concerned if he comes after 35 weeks though, but obviously we all want to make it to full term.  Our next set milestone is to finish my shots, I have 2 left!!  Next OB appointment is my Group B Strep swab test, and I don't know if we are checking for dilation that day either....its a possibility and the "routine" time for this clinic to do that is at 36 weeks, so we shall see.  ANYWAYS, if this little boy decides he is snug as a bug and nice and toasty in his womb, then his birthday WILL BE.....drum roll please....DECEMBER 1st or 2nd depending on how long that delivery will take.  We are scheduled to go into labor and delivery on Monday, Dec 1st at 6:45 AM and who knows how long it will take for my contractions to start up and get going to delivering that baby.  Of course that is still about 4 weeks away, and I have no idea if I have any dilation going on yet HA HA.

Anyways, Mr. Graison is HULK today and I will be posting tons of pictures on our family blog later.  You may also be seeing them on Facebook, of course!  I am so excited to see him out there saying "TRICK or TREAT" in his cute little 2 yr old voice.  He is so excited to go out and get some candy, especially being The Incredible HULK.  That's gotta be his absolute favorite superhero, and that goes in thanks to my mother Cheryl, who got him in believing daddy is Hulk because of his muscles!!  Maybe we will get some videos of Grasion saying some phrases!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL AND BE SAFE!!  HAVE A BLAST AND DON'T ROT THOSE PEARLY WHITES TOO MUCH!!

Love Always,

Candice and them Turner boys!!

33 Weeks

This week feels just the same as others so far for this pregnancy.  Although I have realized that it's going by fast, Saturday marks my 34th week and Monday marks the exact length in pregnancy I was when I had Graison.  It's the first milestone I wish to reach for this pregnancy and I'm curious, very curious, as to what will transpire next week or what may not transpire.

As far as I know and can feel, the baby is doing well.  I have 3 shots left to get and I get a OB check up on the 31st.  I really hope my doctors plan is to start checking me for dilation and if not I'm going to ask because I want to know. 

I've got the baby's section of the hospital "GO" bag ready, now just for myself and Sheyden, and whatever we do about Graison haha.  On Saturday I've got 6 weeks until our due date but again I'm sure this baby will be here within the week of Thanksgiving or after for sure.  Just so Sheyden won't miss the baby coming.  We are still waiting on his orders to finalize too, it's stressful and Sheyden definitely is handling that load for us. I'm more than likely being split from Graison on top of Sheyden and we're just waiting to hear if that's the only option, were preparing for everything and anything at this point in the game. Obviously, as always, I will keep everyone updated.

PICTURES!  Took them with my own dslr and edited myself, pretty proud of myself. 

32 Weeks

I'm  This week went by fast!  Mostly because part of it was spent with my mother in law, Stephanie and my little niece Isabella.  Tuesday we went to the bowling alley on base and got some bowling in, Sheyden won and Graison got to try his hand at it.  It was pretty interesting to do while pregnant and I did surprisingly well.  Wednesday we got to go to a pregnancy check up with them, and they got to hear this little boys heartbeat.

I am weighing 140.8 pounds now and my uterus measures as I should at 32 almost 33 weeks along.  My girth measures at 38.5 inches around. 

This week I realized that I am about 1.5 weeks away from when I had Graison.  So I'm preparing my hospital bag and hoping my shots work haha!  The time is closing in and closing in fadt for this baby to get here.  I still got some though...hopefully.  

Today I had my hair done, went closer to my natural color with some highlights so that if I get grow out it won't be extremely visible and I can wait a while to get it done again.  I also got some layers thrown in to give it some style and texture while making it a little bit lighter.  Looking back at Graison's newborn phitos, I wish I would've got my hair done so that the pictures didn't have any visible grow out.

The baby is still head down and in position to come out, which I'm fine with, we don't want him going breech or anything.  I am still opting for a vaginal delivery and no pain meds, unless I am in labor much longer than with Graison and or/if I am in need of emergency cesarean delivery.

I have off and on days where I am more exhausted physically than the other and I haven't been sleeping well, somehow I still get rest though.  Other than all of that, I am trying to keep busy to help time pass. Pictures:

31 Weeks

So before week 31 turns to 32, I figured I should put up my weekly post! Which I'm sure most of you will see Saturday anyways haha! 

This week went kind of fast for me! I'm also dismissing this weeks pictures cause I feel like poo!  Well atleast I feel like I look like I'm not at my best lol.!  

As for my week, I got my shot done so now I've got 4 to go!  I also got my house somewhat organized with Sheyden's help for my mother in law, niece and her momma Stephanie to visit us a few days.  I'm still going through some small contractions and today I felt the worst with it but I've dumbed it down to moving around a lot more than usual. 

Baby is supposed to be around 3.2 lbs but considering he was around that last week I am going to say he's probably closer to 3.5lbs, but who knows!  He's also supposed to be approaching his birth length before he packs on a few more pounds and he is now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. He's also putting in longer stretches of sleep and losing that white coating on his skin in preparation for "D" day! 

I have about (as of tomorrow) 8 weeks until my due date but I am feeling more and more certain his arrival will be before that sometime in November, all I can hope for is that we make it to my last progesterone injection and his lungs are fully developed so we don't have any long NICU stays or any NICU at all.  I really don't know how this time is going to workout based on my experience with Graison and the fact I'm on shots to prevent a reoccurring preterm labor, however I have been cleared to do everything like I want to naturally unless I end up in dire need of emergency cesarean.  All I have to do now is wait until we start checking for dilation and plan for an immediate, clear, and safe pathway to the hospital along with what is Graison going to be doing when we have to go.

Until next time...bye!

30 Weeks

Today was our 30 week check up!  Everything is going well.  We had an ultrasound on Monday and baby is head down and weigh 3lbs 1oz.  Our doctor said he's on the smaller scale but looking perfectly normal and going his own pace.  His heart rate is steady at 130/131 bpm. The ultrasound lady was saying something about a short cervix and I wanted to wait until my doctor talked to us about that.  It's at 3cm and is absolutely measuring as it should.

The hardening I have been feeling are contractions but if they aren't happening every 10 minutes or more than six in an hour I am good to go.  I have 5 shots left, I stop those at 36 weeks!  We also talked about inducing at 39 weeks, if I make it that far, so that Sheyden can for sure be there for our baby's arrival.  Obviously he will be there if we have him a little early, but as I keep saying we hope to make it through to the last shot.

I am weighing 136.4lbs, started at 120 dropped to 114 and then started to pack on the pounds so I've gained a good 22 from that little drop.  

I have been exhausted, but every once in a while I have a teeny little spurt of energy.  Sleeping is becoming extremely difficult as far as finding a position that I feel most comfortable in, but I manage.

Not much else is going on other than the figuring out what our next step is for the move and if we get to keep it.  Working on the appeal and making our plan for after I have the baby and what I am doing for the time after discharge and time I have to fly (if that is what is happening for sure).  We will get it figured out and I will keep people updated on our family blog! 

29 Weeks!

Closing in on my 30 weeks mark on Saturday....which means this week is week number 29! 

I have been feeling SOOO tired and unmotivated to do anything since last week, but the other day I am glad some nesting kicked in so I could get some housework done.  I have also been feeling a tightness in my midsection but can't decipher whether or not it's just the baby stretching or if the Braxton Hicks are starting or not.  It doesn't hurt just a brief period of tight and then goes away a few seconds later and only happens like twice a day.

Had my shot today, and have a busy week next week.  Another ultrasound on Monday to check and see if my placenta has continued to move as its supposed to.  Following that comes my checkup on Wednesday and then another shot on Thursday.  Who knows what else we will have come up next week.

My girth is measuring at 38 inches around, seems like I've grown an inch in a week haha. I do feel like I'm eating a lot of food again, however my appetite is smaller.  It's like I'm back to graizing but with each time I eat or feel the hunger it's hunger. 

We have a name picked out but nobody gets to know what we have picked until D-Day gets here.  I will however, keep you intrigued with the list we had to choose from and some pictures to enjoy!

Jaxten Keane Turner

Ryker Aden Turner

Cowen  Brooks  Turner

Soren Ash Turner

28 weeks

Monday was my glucose test and it went very well!  I passed, though I wasn't worried that I would have gestational diabetes in the first place but ya know it's normal procedure while pregnant.  I'm closing in on 134lbs and I read somewhere that I'm supposed to gain atleast a pound a week now or something, we will see what happens though.  My waist line is 37 inches around now.

Talked to our doctor about our orders to move and all though I am cleared to fly things could still happen that would prevent me from doing so.  Let's hope that this baby stays in and does not decide to make me dilate any until I've made it to Japan and have a medical situation figured out over there.

I am to have another ultrasound sometime in the future to check on my placenta again and make sure it was continuing it's move upwards, and I hope it did because I want to experience having my baby vaginally again...however painful that sounds to some I didn't mind it at all when having Graison, and I don't care whether he was early or not you are still pushing and experiencing something bigger than whats down there coming out of you....yes there's pain but to me it wasn't anything I was anticipating it would be and I look forward to being able to experience it again without medication again.  I do believe, however, that I can tolerate pain a lot easier than others can, so maybe that's part of why I was able to enjoy the experience as it was. 

I also believe that if you are listening to what the nurses and doctors tell you to do and listening to your partner helping to be supportive and coach you through it, that your experience is going to be a wonderful one.  All those "horrible" and "worst-ever" labor experiences you hear or read, I think are in part of the patient not listening to the doctors and listening to themselves.  Trust me, you're exhausted, stressed, excited, worried, all of these emotions and more are running through you're brain and I highly believe that listening to your doctors can help you to shut out those feelings and do what you need to bring that baby into the world! 

As for this little pumpkin in me! Healthy heartbeat about the same as last time and my uterus measures as I'm supposed to in terms of gestation.  He is a kicker and sometimes kicks really hard! I am still counting the kicks as 15+ Within 15 minutes and as long as there's at least 10 and hour we are doing great! 

I have yet to experience Braxton Hicks and only recollect having two noticeable ones with Graison, contractions the day of my 34 week appointment with him then boom baby Graison two days later.  So based on previous experience I have no idea what to look for other than feeling not normal, excessive trips to the bathroom feeling like #2 is happening even after it stopping, and then of course checking to see if all that leukorreah is as normal as it has been the entire pregnancy.  Who truly knows though, this is a different pregnancy and every pregnancy is different. 

The goal is to make it past 34 weeks.  During that check up, if it wasn't already planned, I will be insisting on undergoing a cervical check for dilation.  I literally will be flying the day I change to 35 weeks pregnant, so taking that precaution in hopes that I have no sign of labor down there is what we're praying for.  After that we have a secondary goal of making it to Japan, and then a third of making it to term or 37 weeks. 

I'll be and have been doing what I can to not stress out, and over exhort myself.  I have been trying to reflect on the last few weeks of pregnancy with Graison to see if I had been doing or experiencing anything that could have caused early labor, so that I could avoid doing any of it once I get closer and closer to that mark with this one.  At least I have an amazing two year old keeping me and my mind busy and of course the trying to remember all of the appointments and making lists of what I need packed and what were selling at our yard sale and what we are designating to each room to make it easier for the movers to pack things and have them labeled. 

I've been having intense acid reflux at night and I've been pretty good with not needing to take tums but it feels like I'll be needing to soon as it just keeps staying the same or slightly worse.  That was very normal for me with Graison.  I have been peeing a lot more frequently at night so I'm thinking that is something that is just coming back again now that I'm in the third trimester.  Shortness of breath and exhaustion have been my life lately too haha.

Other than that not much for this week just a lot going on with getting stuff done for moving and doctors appointments. Here are my weekly pics!