8 Months and Counting Down

Okay.  I suck at blogging when things are going well.   Other than the heartburn (constant for the past two months), the peeing myself every time I sneeze or cough, and the rather strong Braxon Hicks contractions I am just peachy!

The baby seems to be exceptionally strong and has been for a very long time, according to ultrasound techs and my doctor.   It is slightly more than very uncomfortable when he bunches up and then pushes with all his might against my already strained and pulled stomach muscles.  For two hours.  Straight.  And I feel the kicks all over somehow.  I wonder if I'm giving birth to an octopus.  How he kicks under my right rib and then along my left hip is kind of a mystery, unless he's kicking by his head and then tucking his feet under his bum to kick again.

I have to admit that even though the movements are close to painful and distracting, even to the point of near annoyance at times, I would not trade them for the world.  I feel tremendously full, wrapped around him, as if my body has trapped him deeply inside with no way out.  At least not yet.

I've found it easier to breathe lately, and it doesn't hurt so much to walk.  I never realized how important drinking water is when you're pregnant.  I've been threatened with premature labour twice because of dehydration.  So I drink a couple more glasses of water each day.  I try to walk a little more than I want to, and I put in eight hour days instead of ten hour ones.  The doctor keeps threatening me with bed rest, but each passing week makes a possible early delivery a lot less risky, and the doctor a lot less grouchy.

I haven't gained a lot of weight.  About 20 lbs in total.  I had set myself a goal of 35 and there's no way I am going to gain more weight at this point besides that which the baby puts on, so I'm rather thrilled about that.  Hopefully I'll only have a few pounds to get rid of this summer.

Renos are beginning to take shape of rebuilding the house instead of tearing it apart.  We literally had nothing but hanging wires, exposed rafters and open framing along the entire first floor of the house.  Living in our downstairs den has been a challenge but my amazing husband put a lot of work and effort into making it clean and functional.  It's still... a challenge.  My kitchen is a tarped in section on our back deck - water is available down at the far end of the house from a rough pipe going to my bathtub!  It all works, but after nearly seven weeks I am starting to really look forward to my home being livable again.

The other bit of news is that David's new employers have asked him to report to work a little early.  Beginning of June early.  It's awesome that he found work without even looking, but a little difficult to digest that he will be seven hours away during my last month of pregnancy.  I know it's horrible to consider but we are going to inquire with our doctor about a possible scheduled induction so David can be here for sure.  I know there are some risks (mostly that labor will not progress and a C-Section will be needed).  However, we know the exact time of conception so there's no issue with a premature delivery and we know baby is super strong and healthy.  I've been induced before with no issues.  We'll know more on Wednesday when we get our 34 week check up.