way to go cervix!!

This is the last week of the second trimester and my cervix is holding strong with good measurements! yay!

Baby girl is also doing well, she is measuring right on track size wise but weight wise she is in 75th percentile! Chubby baby. Last estimated weight at the ultrasound last week was 1 pound 14 ounces which is exactly double her weight from 4 weeks previous.  Heart rate was a little high at 179 but tech said it goes up and down.

After all the measurements were done I fished a little and the ultrasound tech (nicest one EVER) turned on 4d for us! We got to see her in 3d but LIVE, it was SOOO freaking cool!  She kept putting her hands up in front of her face but we got a few good pics.

If everything continues to be good I won't have to go back to the Maternal Fetal Care center anymore, I have another appointment with the MFM in September so technically I'm still high risk but all the docs are pleased with how everything is going. 

Pain wise, well that comes and goes, I have days where I feel almost normal then I have days where walking is almost impossible. I have found that I can't be on my feet for more than 20-30 minutes at a time and I can't bend from the waist, both of those things trigger pain.  I have Yoga tonight, I'll have to tell teacher I can't bend from the waist but I think the yoga actually helps so I want to keep going.  I need to start walking on the days I feel good but I'm kind of concerned with getting very far from home and having a bad pain episode with no where to sit down. 

Other symptoms, my hands have started to swell a little, blood pressure is holding steady and I drink tons of water so must just be pregnancy.  Its not bad, just enough to make my rings tight once in awhile.

I do seem to be on an upward trend for my weight, I have days where I am starving! Last night 2 hours after dinner I ate a bagel with cream cheese, a pickle, some grapes and a handful of nuts and then was hungry again before bed but didn't eat again. Guess little girl doubling her weigh every month will do that!

How far along?  26 weeks!  

Total weight gain: -7.6lbs!   

Baby is the size of: bowling pin

Maternity clothes:  bought a few new shirts last week

Stretch marks: None that I didn't already have

Sleep: what's sleep? I toss and turn a lot from back pain

Best moment this week: I was sitting in a meeting with my hands crossed across my stomach and she was kicking so hard she was moving my hands

Miss anything? Beer

Movement: She's quiet when I'm up moving but if I sit down and get quiet she starts dancing

Food cravings: green grapes

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really

Labor signs: Nope.

Symptoms: Back pain, gas, heartburn, pelvic pain 

Belly button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Getting the stuff cleaned out of the nursery room

Oh and here is a quick reference on the months/weeks thing

22 weeks

Not much new to report other than back pain.  Every morning I wake up with my lower back in extreme pain. I did something I never thought I'd do, I made an appointment with a chiropractor. I know this pain is only going to get worse and I have to do something. I found a Chiro who is familiar with EDS and is willing to work with me.  My appointment with him is Thursday, I'll report back.  I also signed up for a prenatal Yoga class that starts next week, hoping that will help as well.

My only other complaint is the heat. A full on St. Louis summer plus being pregnant do not mix. I get overheated at the drop of a hat, I can't be outdoors for more than 5 minutes without getting sick.  It was 106 when I got in my car yesterday after work.  My remote start is broken so I can't even cool it down before I get in (yeah, first world problem, I know). I have an appointment on Friday to get that fixed.

I've started the process to find a daycare and WOW is that a process! Apparently 7+ months out from needing care is too late to start looking.  So far I've contacted 4 of the 6 centers that take infants and would not be a complete pain in the ass to drop/off pickup at.  I've visited 2 of the 4 so far. One has no availability until April, the other has an opening in mid-February.  I'm going to see what comes from these 4 visits then contact the other 2 if I need to.  I spent an hour and a half at KinderCare yesterday, the babies are so cute!

Weight wise, I gained a couple of pounds last week and figured that was the start of the upward trend, but then I lost it again this week, so still holding steady pretty much.  Here is the 22 week bump.  I still have days where I just look fat and not pregnant, actually most days.

I've had a couple dizzy spells, I'm going to have to be more diligent about my fluids as my BP has dropped again.  3 quarts is not enough, has to be a gallon apparently. Good to know, I can handle that. 

Her movements are getting stronger, not able to really feel from the outside yet but I am hoping soon so hubs can feel her.  

I thought I didn't have much to say this morning but I ended up rambling like usual, that's about it for now though. 

Here is a progression pic for the past month