Abby Update-26 weeks

So for all of you who are asking about me, well the "mommy" part of me, here is a little update.

I can NOT believe I am 26 weeks pregnant. That's like 6 1/2 months! It really does seem like yesterday when we were adjusting to the news of being pregnant, suppressing our fears and adjusting to a progesterone and lovenox medicine schedule. Things have certainly worked out well for us and we can not be more happy or feel more blessed!

I must say for the most part I am LOVIN the 2nd trimester. I no longer feel like I want to ick all the time, I actually like food again and I can stay up past 6pm. I think a some point in the first trimester I quite possibly resembled a zombie from "The Night of the Living Dead".

I am convinced that no matter how many books and websites you read, or how many stories you hear from your friends and family, NO ONE can prepare you for the things you experience during pregnancy. I have found all the, lets call them "symptoms", of pregnancy to be quite text book, however, the way these "symptoms" make you feel is far beyond anything you will read in a text book. For example, you know you stomach is going to grow rounder and bigger with each month but one can ever really grasp just how round and big your stomach gets in such a short period of time. I kid you not, I went to bed one night and I could see my feet...I know this because I had just got a pedicure. Then the next morning as I walked to the bathroom...NO FEET! Overnight I literally lost the pleasure of seeing my toes...the one body part I have always liked and can count on to look good...they were gone. Now the only time I see my feet is when walking and I catch quick glimpse of my toes when taking a long stride. Though I would not recommend walking and looking down trying to find your toes pregnant due to another little symptom they call balance. Fact of the matter is, you loose it.

Another symptom that I have encountered is what I will refer to as the "sam"...sorry dad but this one is for you. Now when sitting down, getting up, or simply changing positions I make uncontrollable grunting and sighing noises as I feel the need to express my difficulty in my movement. I swear it is a reflex and at times I don't even realize I have just grunted so loud Brian quickly turns and asks "do you need help?". Not going to lie, the help is often required and much appreciated!

Some more facts regarding my "symptoms":

* If I made money every time I used the bathroom, I'd be rich!

* When pregnant a "bathroom finder chip" is automatically installed in your brain. I can now spot a bathroom with in seconds of entering any building.

* I have learned what HEARTBURN is and invested in the stock of TUMS

* Maternity cloths are so comfortable you could wear them to bed

* Every pregnant woman should be issued a "picker upper" in the second trimester (you know the little stick thing with a trigger at the top) so when you drop something on the floor you can one-see it, two-reach it with out trouble, and three-are not be faced with the conflict of just leaving the item there until someone more bendable comes along and can help

* The "pregnancy card" was invented for a reason...when in need have no guilt in using it. i.e. we were at dinner the other night with friends, the wait was 45 minutes to an hour. After a bit of a wait, Brian did is daddy duty and went to the hostess stand and asked "can someone get a glass of water for my "pregnant" wife? Needless to say, I had my water but all the poor men at the bar were still waiting on their beers.

* "Pregnancy Brain" is no joke! I have left a friend at work, forgot to pick up a friend for work, put things that go in the fridge in the pantry and vice-versa and the list goes on

* Life starts to become about comfort and simplicity, not about image and cramming as much into a day as possible

* Hormones, Hot Flashes, happy moments that should make you smile make you cry, sad moments make you cry, indifferent moments make you cry. Then there is the RAGING hormones, these are the hormones that really piss you off...and for no good reason.

Most of all, my favorite "symptom" is this little guy that is growing inside of me! We are learning so much about him and he's not even here yet. My favorite part of my day is when Brian and I can sit on the couch together and rest our hands on my tummy and feel him moving. Lately we not only get to feel him but get to watch him kick his little hands and feet so hard he makes my tummy move. A bit alien like but so cool. I can not wait to meet him and for him to meet all of you! The holidays will fly by and before we know it February will be here and the clock will start ticking!

As promised I will post a "belly" picture soon so stay tuned!

Grayson Update-26 weeks

This morning I had my 26 week regular follow up doctor appointment. I saw Dr. Kil only, no specialist this appointment. Everything was routine...

Urine Test-check
Weight-check
Blood Pressure-check
Baby Heartbeat-check
Tummy measurement-check
Prescription refill-check

Dr. Kil said Grayson is growing perfectly of course he said this as he whipped out a miniature tape measure and measured my stomach...I'm glad to see someone is happy with my ever growing stomach. We listened to Grayson's heartbeat, it was 144. It was a bit of a challenge at first as they attempted to get his heartbeat he (as he has always done) decided to move around and make it a bit difficult for the doctor. At one point the nurse was close and got just a beat or two when Grayson decided he'd take control and litter ally kicked the heart beat "wand". I don't know what they call that thing they rub all over your stomach with the gel and stuff..a monitor? Anyway, he made the nurse jump when he kicked, I think it took her a little by surprise. It surly made us both laugh! Dr. Kil then scheduled me for my next appointment and my glucose test and that was the end of the appointment. Our next appointments are on December 11 in the morning, the first one is with the specialist (new sonogram pics) and then after seeing him we'll see Dr. Kil for my glucose test results. Then it is my understanding we will be back to seeing the doctor every 2 weeks instead of 4!

Calling all voters

So the gender vote is over and those who voted boy took the win. Next on the list seems to be the date and time Grayson will make his appearance. We put up two polls, one for the week you think Grasyon will decide to arrive ranging from mid February to mid March. The second poll is for the time of day AM or PM.

Let the Voting begin!

Baby Furniture

Who knew baby furniture could be so hard to find! Ok, maybe it is just me but I found it nearly impossible to find baby furniture that we liked, was the right price and the right color. But in the end after 4+ mo. of looking we finally settled on Grayson's furniture. We traveled all the way to Richmond to USA Baby. What a great store they have and great customer service! We went back in forth between our wants and needs and this is what we ended up with.

4+ Months of Shopping
8 Stores
What seemed like 3530975309457349075 hours of deliberation

Finding Grayson's bedroom set....PRICELESS!

What is in a name?

For those of you who have asked, Brian picked the name Grayson. It has always been a joke of ours that if we have twins Brian would get to pick the name. I agreed to this (only because I was so convinced this would not happen). He being the ultimate Ohio State Buckeye fan decided he would name the twins Scarlet and Grayson, with a tribute to the Buckeye colors Scarlet and Gray. Thankfully, no twins..don't get me wrong, a blessing it would have been, but I think I will enjoy maintaining my sanity with just one. So in the end, I had still fallen in love with the name Grayson so it stuck. Henry, is my grandfathers name on my mother's side. I knew I wanted our son to have a name of one of my grandfathers, so it was just debating between the two, but I picked Henry because it fit best with Grayson and Grandpa Hornak's name had already been used when naming my father. No one that I know of shares Grandpa Drazba's name. However, should we have more then one child and it be a boy again, I hope to be able to tie in my grandfathers name on my dad's side.

Here he is...

GRAYSON HENRY RAPP
21 weeks and 2 days

October Baby Update

Our last regularly scheduled Baby doctor appointment was October 23rd. We had two appointments scheduled for that day, but only made it to the first due to the how long the first appointment took. We saw the specialist Dr. Issada. The appointment was scheduled to find out if we were having a boy or girl and to check in on the baby.

We showed up a few minutes late but were seen right away. (There is never a wait at Dr. Issada's office..so love him for that). We were late because we stopped by McDonalds on the way the appointment to get me a few bottles of water as I was told by a few friends you have to consume a great amount of water for the appointment so they can see the baby well. The more water the better. I knew this was our one shot at finding out if "it" was going to be a boy or girl and did not want to have to reschedule..so I drank, and drank, and drank and drank....and by time we made it to the appointment I thought I was going to ink if I took another step!

Back to the room we went. It was only moments before they had the slimy gel all over my tummy and there the baby was on the monitor. Right away the nurse asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. We said "yes" and she replied, "that's good..I think I have a good idea as to what it will be". Brian and I looked at the monitor and then at each other, not sure what he was thinking but after seeing the baby on the monitor I INSTANTLY knew what the nurse was referring to. Lets just say the "apple does not fall far from the tree"...the baby's little hand was down between its legs. The nurse had to shake the ultrasound wand on my tummy to get the baby to "let go" of it's parts so she could confirm her thoughts. For just a moment the baby moved its hand and there "it" was!

I say "it" only because I am still not sure what "it" is supposed to be called when referring to an infant. The 'p' word just seems so grown up and well, weird to me. I know it's the official word but I just can't get myself to say it. Perhaps too much information, but a bit funny, this has been an ongoing conversation of Brian and I. There are many options I have heard others say, pee pee, thingy, dingy, wee wee, privates, junk, man hood...get my point. One might think this is an irrelevant thought but at some point this child is going to be running around the house with out a diaper or goodness only knows the situation, I just know, at some point I will have to make the statement in a motherly tone, "Stop touching/playing with your...."

We had a name picked out well before this appointment, so as soon as we knew we were having a boy, "it" was instantly...Grayson Henry Rapp. What a feeling to finally be able to call him by name!

The BIG GAME

OHIO STATE
VS.
MICHIGAN


need I say more....
GO BUCKS!!!!!!

Confession of a Slacker

Thanks to the friendly reminder of my father in law..I have not updated the blog in over a month. Not to mention the other things I have put off for a month, like the laundry pile that is growing vs. shrinking, the to do list that is growing instead of shrinking...see the pattern. So I promised the parents I would get this thing updated and back on track, so here we go...