Justin rocked Keifer's body! LOL

Saturday night, after the big, exciting ultrasound, my friend Allison and I met up for the Pink/Justin Timberlake concert! WHOA! Good times were had! She is also PG, so we were a couple of mamas rocking out - although I did see a few other PG ladies around us. The majority of the concert was female (imagine that), and we both thought JT and Pink did awesome jobs performing. I've heard from a friend that he heard that JT wasn't very good, but Allison and I would have to disagree with that. He performed songs from the majority of his new album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, along with some of the hits from his Justified album, and when he was in N'SYNC.
I could NOT stop my body from grooving the whole night, so Keifer sure got a work out, along with a blast to her developing eardrums! LOL. I'm curious to see how she reacts to the music of the concerts she's been so far (Jordis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, JT). My feet were like water balloons when I finally got home late on Saturday night, but it was so worth it! YAY for a fun show! If you have a chance to see him, GO!!

Utrasound: 3/4 D! 30 weeks.........

We had a 3/4D ultrasound Saturday AM. It was utterly amazing. My parents came down Friday night to come with us - they have never seen an ultrasound. My mom and I were both in tears - it was so surreal to watch. The place we went to put the whole U/S on DVD (like a movie!) along w/soft music, and we have a CD w/all the pics. Keifer once again was called "a wild girl" and it appears she does not like to be bugged! LOL. She was not very cooperative in showing herself, even after we took a quick break and had me lie on my side in hopes of getting her to move. She moved A LOT and had her face smushed right into my placenta most of the time.
It appears that she enjoyed grabbing at her feet , scratching her nose, and she looks VERY much like her daddy's girl. His nose, cheeks and forehead for sure. However, the second I saw her mouth it hit me: she has her egg angel's mouth! YAY! She may end up looking like me in the end!

Without further adu, here is Keif!

Profile (her daddy's nose?)

Scratching her nose (her fingers clasped and thumb tucked under)

Hard to see, but she has her arm covering bottom of her face, grabbing at her feet, which are up in the air, crossed at the ankles.

This one almost freaks me out - here is Keifer and then its Maddie as a newborn (her egg 1/3 sibling). Amazing.

Watching the kicks and waist measuring.....

There was a tape measure in our staff lounge this AM. I picked it up and measured the biggest part of my PG belly. 41 1/2 inches. WOWZA. LOL.

Last night was so fun. CJ and I sat and watched Keifer kick (little nudges, barely visible) on my tummy and CJ was able to feel her dancing around in there, she pushes back on his hand. It was also the first time last night - when I laid down to sleep - that I've felt movement in two different areas at the same time! She was dancing where she usually does, down in my lower left area, and also I felt something up on my right side, under my ribcage -very subtle, but there. My little monkey girl is getting taller! I love it!
I can't wait for a few more weeks when we'll REALLY be able to see her nudging from the outside!

30 weeks! The final countdown has begun!

Yesterday marked the countdown: 70 days to go (well, 69 today). I am officially 30 weeks PG. Unfriggingbelievable. I have 10 weeks left. *insert silent scream* Holy CATS, where did the time go? Oye, the things we have to do......

I had my 30 week check up today and I'm measuring (with the tape measure, pubic bone to top of uterus) 29 1/2 weeks exactly. The doctor said the good thing about having the Gestational Diabetes (as I do apparently) is that they won't let me "go over" in case Keifer decides she is really snug inside me. My blood pressure was 120 / 80 , which is apparently a bit higher than average for ME. I wonder if the Gestational Diabetes has to do with that? And maybe THAT is why my ankles are a bit more swollen lately and my right ankle is VERY sore for some reason. And the other nice thing: I've only gained 2 pounds in the last 2 weeks, which is right on for what I "should" be gaining.

When the Doctor went to listen to Keifer, there was no kung -fu kicking the doppler today, LOL; however, she did squirm around as soon as the doppler hit my belly to listen to her heartbeat (I could feel her squirming) and the doctor said, "wow, you've got a wild one in there". Oh boy! Ha! I guess she is tired of that doppler -even though we shipped the one we rented back a few weeks ago.

I've been hacking my lungs out for a week and a half now - and every night is an adventure in sleeping, as I keep waking myself up to *cough cough cough* after the Robitussin I've swigged has wore off. I actually feel like the right side of my ribcage has muscles that are pulled! Ouch. So, the doc prescribed me some cough medicine with Codeine to take at night to help with that. He said having higher blood sugar levels and a cold as nasty as I do is sort of like the chicken or the egg: the sugars can cause the virus to hang around more, and the higher sugars can lead to a virus. So it's a no -win situation. Luckily, my head has been fairly "clear" , other than the usual forgetfulness that has been happening with me more and more frequently. LOL.

Tomorrow, CJ and I go to the Diabetes clinic up in a different area of town for a 2 1/2 hour appointment. So we'll see what my protocol for this end up being.

(*and in daycare news, I have 2 potential leads for in-home daycares. CJ and I will be meeting with both of them, and figuring out how we feel. We visited a center yesterday and walked out feeling sad for the infants that attend there. **sniff** We're also touring another center on Monday after work. So keep praying for us that we find something we both really like and feel good about sending our precious angel to in the Fall when mommy has to go back to work*).

Here are some 30 week (exactly!) belly shots:

Here is how I go to bed every night: yes, I'm a pillow whore these days! LOL. I need one (or two) under my head, one behind my back so I don't roll over onto my back (dangerous for baby!), one between my knees, and two at my feet, so I can elevate my "cankles" and hope for no swelling in the mornings - LOL. Good thing CJ and I got that King size bed, huh?

2 things: Happy Belated Bday wishes - and a prayer request

I hope my egg angel, Mooshie, doesn't mind this - but I wanted to send out a belated Happy 2nd Birthday wish to our favorite 2 year old on the West Coast: her daughter, Maddie!!! Last week was Maddie's 2nd birthday - and judging by the pictures Mooshie just posted, she is rapidly changing from a toddler into a beautiful little girlie. *sigh*. Uncle ("Un-ca") CJ and I just love this little peanut so! We haven't even sent her her 2nd birthday present yet (bad auntie and uncle) but we send her many thoughts of love and happiness for the year to come. She is getting a new baby sister or brother in July and a "1/3" sister (Keifer Lynn) this spring! LOL.

Maddie- you are gorgeous and we miss you. We love you so and wish you the best for the year to come. Your auntie and uncle send you and your mommy and daddy love and hugs. Have a fun time for the next few weeks in Florida!

Here is her birthday party picture:

Look! It snowed outside! WOW!

Maddie last summer saying bye bye to Uncle

Keeping Auntie company on her 2 day bed rest after the embryo transfer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, I'd like to request a prayer request be sent out if possible for my friend, Kirsten. Her blog is listed on my links. Kir and I have spent years going through infertility together - we met on an online message board. She lives on the East coast and still hasn't been lucky enough to get PG yet. She is in the last few days of waiting to see if her final IUI (insemination) has worked, so you can imagine the stress and nerves she is feeling right now. I'm sending her all my love and prayers and if you could sneak a quick prayer for her, that would be great. If this doesn't work, her hubby and her will be checking into IVF, which is a huge step and a scary one at that. Good luck, sweetie!

Hospital tour scheduled - CHECK! Daycare preparation - CHECK!

Since I'm coming up on the 30 week mark this week (*gulp, honestly, where has the time GONE?*), I made a checklist this weekend of things to have done by baby Keifer's arrival. It includes such things as getting the nursery painted, decorated, etc., and getting a new camera picked out, sending in my hospital pre-registration, scheduling a hospital tour, and other odds and ends that are lingering out there in space.
Well, the hospital tour in now scheduled. (CHECK!). CJ and I decided not to do a birth/labor class, simply because the times offered weren't the best for us - sit in a class 3 hours at night for a few weeks, after working all day (and leave the fur kids at home? no thank you). We have no weekends to spare,and have heard that the weekend classes aren't the best to cram it all in. I've borrowed 4 different labor and birthing books from friends online, and have 2 DVD's of birth to watch to 'prepare' for this miraculous end to our pregnancy journey. But we do need to tour the hospital.
We are scheduled for Saturday, February 10th, at 11:00 AM. Whew. Now I have butterflies in my stomach! This is becoming all too real. Ugg. My tummy! My nerves! LOL.

And - I've been researching, visiting, and calling a variety of daycares around our work and home. I've already toured one fabulous center (but CJ said he'd drive to Duluth and back for that kind of money a day), and we have 2 more center tours set up. I've also gotten a few referrals from teachers that I work with, and a friend online's cousin for some in-home daycares to check out. Its amazing - I've already called about 5 different in-home daycares around here and they have no infant spots for next Fall. It's JANUARY - can you believe I'm looking for daycare now - for August?? *cry* I really don't want to be doing this- but I carry our health insurance (better benefits, being a teacher), and I don't want to leave Keifer with just anybody. So CJ and I will tour all the places we can and decide with our gut feelings - which place do we feel the best about sending her? Ugggggg. This search is probably (to me) one of the most important searches ever!

Good friends and a new diaper bag!

Well, after months of "research" on line and out in the field (LOL)looking for a diaper bag to strike my fancy, after lunch today with my good friend Faye, I found one!
Faye moved to Iowa almost 2 years ago - another wonderful friend from MN that I met online. She was in town visiting her parents and friends, and we met for lunch and some chatting (like 2 hours worth of catch up!). Damn, did she look good -she just had baby boy #2 Ryan in November. I hope to look as good as SHE does after baby birth #1!~

But I digress-- so after 2 hours of catch up - we wandered over to Border's books where I bought myself "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (because I already own "Babywise" and "The Happiest Baby on the Block"), we cruised over to Babies R Us, so I could add a few things to our registry.

Well, I as we were passing the diaper bags, this bag caught my eye: it was the first time I've been 'sold' on a bag in person - it looks very much like a big purse. Faye and I examined the inside of it, and it comes with a ton of little bags and accessories, and "seems" to be a good size to start. So, for my baby gift, Faye said she was buying it right then and there! FAYE! I was so surprised and so touched! She also bought Keifer Lynn 3 of the cutest plastic bibs for eating. What a sweet pea. *sigh*.
As we said our goodbyes in the parking lot, I honestly got teared up. I miss my buddy, Fayedawg. *sniff*

So here is the bag -from Babies R Us. The brand is Kathy Van Zeeland - I've honestly never heard of her, but then again, I'd never heard of many diaper bag brands until this new adventure in our life.
CJ and I are thinking that for our "unisex" bag, we still might end up getting the Skip Hop diaper bag -I'm just not sure which model yet. YAY.

Grow grow grow, Keifer -29 weeks - and I failed my 3 hour blood test

The good news: I made it to 29 weeks with Keifer strong and kicking away inside me. She continues to grow - I know this because my belly is starting to hop around in all different areas, all times of the day and night. I still love each and every kick. I LIKE having my placenta in the front - I don't feel those kicks that some women say really hurt them. So far, so good *knock on wood*.
CJ and I scheduled a 4D ultrasound for January 27! Its at an outside agency here, and will cost $$, but I think it'll be worth it. We'll get to almost "meet' Keifer!

Babycenter.com tells us: How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to accommodate his brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and him well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)

I am always hungry! LOL. So when I'm eating, I'm' hoping all the nutrition is making Keifer big and strong. But not TOO big. HA!

The bad news: I sat at the doctor's office lab all AM today from 7:30 AM until almost 11 AM. I re-took the glucose 3 hour test. I failed. *cry* So now we're waiting for the Diabetes center here in the cities to call me for my appointment. Funnily enough, I eat less sugar/sweets than the majority of the people I know. Oh well - Keifer is worth it. Considering I may never have an opportunity to be PG again (since we used Donor eggs), maybe I'm experiencing all the side effects for the sake of being able to: the morning sickness until 15 weeks, the carpal tunnel in my wrists and pain in my fingers, the gestational diabetes. If the stretch marks continue to stay away, I'll be very happy, though! HA!

What a haul! WOW!

I won't get too crazy and share everything, but I took pics of the gifts all spread out today. Its currently 5:30 PM and I still haven't showered or brushed me teeth today (*EWWW*), as its been "organize Keifer's room" day! LOL. I love it!

Here are SOME of the soft blankets she has - stroller and home blankets. *sigh* CJ already loves all the "softies" himself! The green and white one in top is a genuine Scandinavian wool blanket from my MIL! And my friend Danise MADE that adorable duckie bath blanket in the middle - with the awesome "silky" edging! *sigh*

This frame brought me to tears (literally) because we all know Keifer truly IS a miracle baby!
some of the bath stuff
my friend Missy works for Manhattan Toy: can you say YAY for WHOOZIT? (and Treble & Sage are already going nuts for that Lamaze brand "musical doggie" on the right!)
Yay for the Baby Einstein play mat and the portable "Miracles and Milestones" play gym (for taking to visit the cousins and friends!)
baby socks just "get me" LOL (esp. when they have puppies on them! )
bedding, stroller toy, towels......
and hello PINK CLOTHES! LOL - just SOME of the many piles of clothes we were gifted! WOW!
more stuff- the Jumparoo, the Diaper Champ, the crib "baby Einstein crib turtle", etc.
and yes, the girl has a closet full. This was BEFORE I cleaned out one huge, packed bin of Aubrie's clothes. So yeah, we do not need any more clothes until 9 months of age, or so. WOW.

The generosity of people - our friends and family, honestly had me in tears. I thank you all for being the best. Keifer and CJ and I are so thankful and blessed to have you in our lives. *sniff*

Baby shower #1! Wow!

Two of my wonderful friends, Allison and Missy (whom, ironically, I met online! ), threw me my first (ever!) baby shower yesterday! It was a wonderful day, full of lots of smiles, good food, good friends and overwhelming generosity! Little Keifer is going to be a spoiled little girl!

Here's Missy , me and Allison

The delicious chocolate, whipped cream frosting cake (thanks, Allison, for asking what my fave was!) My friend Natasha trying to feel the Keifer kick!
My mom practicing being a Nana, holding Missy's little 9 week old Macy
The Grandmas!! My mom and CJ's mom!
My niece Abby played helper with my opening gifts. Here is HER gift - a 2T "Ariel" (aka Little Mermaid) swimsuit and matching cover up, she insisted on getting for Keif because Ariel is her favorite!
CJ's loving, generous aunts, uncle, and cousins not only showered Keifer with gifts galore, but they even made sure that Treble & Sage were taken care of:

a note from Bethany's dog, Max, to my fur kids: and the matching sleeper (best friends, of course)
CJ's uncle Kermit had HIS special gift, too, of course! (*wink wink*) ~ the froggy sleeper! LOL

Picture post - - call me an AW (attention whore) - 28 week belly shots and more!

28 week belly shots, not sure if you can see, but in the front view- the belly button is crooked

Treble resting with his paw protectively on Keifer - LOL

Instead of "Where's Waldo", this is "where's the furkids?"

oh, they love their new blanket from Nana (which ironically has puppies on it!)

Mommy in her new Milkbone PJ's, the puppies checking her out
CJ has Mason testing out his new stroller!

I failed :(

I failed my one hour glucose gestational diabetes test. *sigh* Results were "low elevated". Now I have to go back next Thursday and sit for 3 hours in the lab. *another big sigh*. I hope I pass that one. Dammit.

Future Mia Hamm?

The similarities between my PG and my egg donor, Michele/Mooshie's PG with her first child, Maddie (whom will be 2 next week, YAY!) -- well, it's just crazy. I am more and more convinced the more I hear about things that this was a meant to be thing in both our lives. And now, apparently Keifer is living up to her 1/3 sibling Maddie with her kicking the doctor. I just received this email from Mooshie:

Carrie, these similarities between Maddie and Keifer are incredible.
Do you remember that Maddie KICKED THE DOPPLER RIGHT OFF MY BELLY?
She's legendary at my OBGYNs office. They called her Mia Hamm, and still refer to her jokingly as "How's Mia?"
She literally kicked the doppler so hard it flew out of my doctors hand and onto the floor.
Uh, sounds like Keifer might be a little bit of my fault.... LOL