32 Weeks and Counting

I had my 32 week check up yesterday, and everything is going well for Max and I. His heartbeat was strong and he has now turned so that his head is down. Things are starting to get serious around here... Curt and I start our birth classes at the hospital this week. Until now I had sort of ignored the "birth" part of the scenario, but no more. We had a meeting with our doula last night to start going over our birth preferences. If you don't know what a doula is, stay tuned because I plan to do a blog about it at some point.

Busy, busy, busy

I haven't had a lot of spare time lately to write on my blog, plus I don't know that I have anything new and terribly exciting to report. Mainly I have been incredibly busy with school work and things just seem to be snowballing through to the end of the semester. I just finished a paper for one of my classes, but I did not get that sense of relief that comes along with turning in a major assignment. Probably because I have two more big grades nipping at the heels of this one. It does help the time to pass quickly, but I wonder if I am shorting my enjoyment of the last few weeks of pregnancy by being so stressed. But how enjoyable are the last few weeks supposed to be anyway? I am really getting to the point where I am having frequent back pain and my stomach is often sore. Max has also found a fairly tender spot on my right side, and continues to kick it! Fortunately I am still sleeping well (knock on wood) and I have a good amount of energy. Needless to say, my blogs may be few and far between until the end of the semester but maybe Curtis will step in and write a few from his perspective. I will however step in and continue to update after I have a check up so everyone knows how Max and I are doing.

On a high note, my trip to Camp Quality reunion in Dallas was wonderful. I had such a great time seeing the kids and their families, plus a few that were not able to make it to camp this year. I also have so many incredible friends and I wish I would have had more time to really visit with each of them. My favorite moment from the weekend was when one of our blind campers was sitting next to me and was feeling the pregger belly. I moved her hand to where his feet should be and he kicked her hand. That was such a joy for me and she seemed to enjoy it as well. I have also taken a position on the planning committee for next year and hope I will do a good job. It will be my job to recruit volunteers for camp, especially now that we are moving to a new campground that will accommodate more kids. Be prepared to be recruited!!!

I guess that is all for now. I will try to take another belly picture and post for your viewing pleasure soon. My next appointment is this coming Monday, so if nothing else I will update after that.

The Big 3-0

No, this entry is not in reference to my age, I have left that number behind me. It's how far along I am in my pregnancy as of today. I had a check up with my doctor earlier this afternoon and he said that everything looks good and that Max's heartbeat sounded strong. My next appointment is in two weeks and soon it will be every week which means it's getting close to the end for us! He did palpatate and tell me where Max's head is... and it's where I guessed it is, under my ribs on the right side. Max must be getting a little cramped in there because within the last week he has been stretching out and putting some pressure on my pelvic bones, which makes me a little uncomfortable! The doctor expects that he will flip around within the next couple of weeks and start to "assume the position". Overall though I am still enjoying my pregnancy although I am still more than a little nervous for what is coming next. I asked if we would have another ultrasound before he was born, and the answer was no. The next time I see Max it will be in the flesh! I guess it's a sign that everything is going well and the doctor has no reason to look in on him again, and I took that as good news. I did however opt to get my seasonal flu shot today but I have to wait for the H1N1 as it is still not available here. I typically don't get the flu shot, but I am trying to do what is best for myself and Max.

Oh the Places You Have Been! part 3

Trip #5, Camp Quality July 2009-

So the next trip on my list was one that Max and I went on without Curtis, who unfortunately he had to stay home and work off the debts from all of our other travels! I started volunteering with CQTX last summer when my friend Sara asked me to be the camp photographer. I sort of reluctantly agreed, but I am so glad that I did. I have enjoyed being affiliated with this organization so much that there was no way that a little thing like being pregnant was going to keep me away from seeing our campers and all of my friends. The theme of camp was "Superheroes" and the whole week was filled with lots of fun activities. Some I participated in (Max and I both had our first hot air balloon ride) while others I gratefully passed up (zip-lines have NEVER appealed to me!). Plus, it was during camp that I felt Max move for the first time, and that so special. All in all it was a terrific week and I was grateful to have the camp nurses as well as so many other friends looking out for us, and I am looking forward seeing most everyone at reunion next week.

Max, Sara and I riding in the hot air balloon. Sorry I don't have more pictures here, but that is one of the perks of being the photographer!

Trip #6, Great Wolf Lodge, September 2009-

So now we are up to the last trip of the summer. My extended family tries to get together every labor day weekend and this year we chose a hotel/waterpark for this trip. This was the second trip to GWL for my immediate family. I had a great time on the last visit riding on the big slides and splashing in the pools with the kids, but it was not quite the same this time... at least in the park. I did however enjoy visiting with family and eating out at a couple of my favorite restaurants. The highlight of the trip was a wedding (my cousin married his long-time girlfriend) and a surprise baby shower for Max. Everyone gave us so many wonderful gifts, but I was/am especially grateful for their love and support for Curtis and I over the years. Sorry that I don't have any pictures from the shower, I didn't know I needed my camera!

Well, other than heading for Dallas in a week for camp reunion, I think I am done with most of my traveling until after Max's arrival. It has been nice to relax without packing a bag every couple of weeks, but school has taken over keeping me busy and a little stressed. Maybe Max will arrive early and save me from finals!

Oh the Places You Have Been! part 2

Trip #3, Mexico 2009-

This was our BIG trip of the summer, one of those types of trips for which you have to break out the passports. We went with our good friends Byron and Letha to Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. The trip made me a little apprehensive as this was just a few weeks after the swine flu had started to spread and it was all the American news stations talked about. However my doctor assured me that I (and Max) would be fine and I believed him, especially since his daughter was there on her honeymoon the week before us. We flew down and met our friends at our resort called the Mayan Palace. It was a busy trip and we split our time between diving (Curt and Byron) and snorkeling (all of us) and touring some of the amazing Mayan ruins in the area. Tourism was way down for that time of the year probably due to the flu scare, and that was fine with me. Still seemed like a lot of people in some areas, but I realize how much worse it could have been. It was also very hot! I never went far without a bottle of water or two with me. Overall the trip was a lot of fun and Max didn't slow me down too much, I was just careful to alternate strenuous days with relaxing pool days!

This is Chichen Itza, one of the ruins we visited. It seemed to me that there were a lot of tourists there on that day, but according to tour guides the numbers were way down. They don't let you climb the ruins anymore, which was FINE with me! The stairs are steep and the ledges on each step are tiny.
Our friends Byron and Letha posing in front of the Caribbean.
Here we are in front of Tulum which is another Mayan ruin. It sits in a cliff overlooking the Caribbean ocean.
Trying to stay cool and shady at Chichen Itza.

Trip #4, St. Maries, ID June-July 2009-

No rest for the weary! We were home from Mexico maybe three full days before heading back to Dallas and hopping on another plane and heading for Idaho. This was part of the overall scheme to get Curtis' whole family together as a surprise for his dad's birthday, and surprise them we did! We had not told anyone in his family about our pregnancy yet, that is just the sort of news you want to tell in person and this was the perfect opportunity. We had to divulge our secret right away because our first activity of the trip was... another amusement park! Aaack. This time it was Silverwood which is just outside of Coeur d'Alene. Again I watched as everyone else went on lots of fun rides and some others that would have made me vomit pregnant or not! My niece Anika and I eventually made it around to the lazy river and floated for a good part of the afternoon. That I enjoyed very much. The rest of the weekend was spent at Curt's house eating, playing games and setting off a ridiculous number of fireworks. The nephews were in heaven. It was a great trip, but I was ready to get home and stay put... if only for a short time!

Curtis and his dad throwing some horseshoes in the back yard. That do A LOT of that when we are home!
Our niece Emma playing "tea party" in her swimming pool. It was warm for the northerners that weekend, but it felt great to us, especially at night!
My niece Anika hanging out and watching the boys on the slip and slide. She spends a lot of time now texting and talking to her friends on the phone. She is a true teenager! Yikes, that means we are getting older too.

Grandpa with all of his grandkids (well the ones that have been born anyway!) We had delicious red velvet cake that night (my favorite) and played games after. I hope he had a wonderful, and surprising birthday!

Stay tuned for the conclusion of our travels!