Hello, third trimester

I'm currently 28 weeks PG today. Again, this week just flew by in the blink of an eye, a truly amazing feeling. Keifer continues to kick me at all odd times of the day and night, and I really feel her flipping around more so than kicking. Yesterday, while we were doing snack time at work with the kids, I felt the oddest sensation under my right ribcage. I paused, looked at my assistant Jane, and said "I think she just kicked under my ribs!". *big smiles* It was a cool feeling. She likes to give little taps and occasionally will give me a big ol' jab that makes me gasp out loud and then laugh.
Once again, I've been feeling sick in the AM's and today it took me a bit longer to get moving. I had to stop and sit for a few minutes, for fear of throwing up my breakfast. I'm not sure if its the morning sickness, making its reappearance after such a nice holiday off, or if its my nerves - because my first baby shower is this coming weekend, and I've also been stressing about daycare issues. I'm a nerd like that - the 3 months before my wedding, I had the poops so bad I lost a ton of weight and thought I had a parasite. As soon as our reception was over, WHAM, I was back to normal, so it could be the nerves and stress I'm internalizing for the upcoming events. Plus, I have to admit, I am freaked OUT that I'm going to be a real, live mommy in just a few months. It is heart-pounding scary to me.
My hormones are as whacked as ever. Three times in the past week, I've wanted to cry for no real reason. I'll start getting teary-eyed just driving into work listening to a sweet song, or daydreaming about the goodness and love and support CJ and I have in our lives regarding Keifer. My friends Allison and Missy are throwing my baby shower this Sunday, and it makes me almost weep at the kindness and love they have shown me throughout all my battle with infertility and by planning this for me. And, my friend Taryn has made my shower invites for both this shower and my February family baby shower, and her kindness in sharing her talent with me is again making me very choked up! (*and to think, I met all three of these fantastic women on the internet! Where would I be without the computer and internet in my life? No CJ, no doggies, not egg donor Mooshie, and no loving, supportive friends who are there for me whenever I need it*).
My fingers continue to be sore and swollen and my ankles have started turning into "cankles" last night. I've been sleeping with them (my feet) propped up on two pillows at night, along with the pillow behind my back, the pillow between legs and the optional "hug" pillow.I'm a pillow whore. LOL. I had a massage last weekend, but I'm in desperate need of another one, as this looming belly is taking its toll on my bad back. CJ said he'd buy me another one sooner than later, that sweet man of mine.
I'll post belly pics later. My belly button is almost stretched to the max, and the linea negra has started to faintly come out. The other night, CJ and I were studying my belly, as it has started to pop out more from underneath and my belly button looks crooked, so Keifer must be heaving to one side more than the other.
I have my 28 week check up this afternoon, and my gestational diabetes test before hand. Pray that I pass it!
And pray that this daycare issue I have going on in my mind comes to a peaceful resolution sooner than later. I know it seems early to look, but one of the centers I "really" like (which is way $$ in CJ's opinion) has a 5 page waiting list. I have recommendations coming from other teachers in my school district and other in -home day cares I've found on the child search to look at, but truthfully I'm already freaked out about placing Keifer in the hands of somebody else while I have to go back to work in August. *(sniff)*.

Babycenter.com tells me this week: How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures about 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open her eyes — which now sport lashes — and she'll turn her head toward a continuous, bright light from the outside. Her fat layers are beginning to form, too, as she gets ready for life outside the womb.

How your life's changing: You're in the home stretch! The third trimester starts this week and lasts until 40 weeks. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.Do your legs feel creepy-crawly at night? Tingling in your lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them is known as restless legs syndrome (RLS), and it can make it hard to relax when you're settling in. No one knows what causes RLS, but it's common among pregnant women. Try cutting down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse, and massage your calves when they feel tense. Some studies also show that taking iron supplements helps ease your discomfort.At this point, you may visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks; then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending upon your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis, plus cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea during your third trimester, to be certain of your status before delivery. (Identifying and treating these infections is crucial for your health and your baby's.) And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll receive an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. If your baby's biological father is also Rh negative, the shot isn't necessary, but most practitioners will do it routinely rather than test the father. (You'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth if your baby is Rh positive.)Many dads worry about watching childbirth. "We don't like childbirth," writer Rick Epstein says. "It's spooky and iffy and it takes too long. Also it hurts, and we don't like to see that."

How crazy is this? I was just telling CJ last night in bed that I had the "jimmy legs". The past few nights I've been completely exhausted but have had a hard time falling asleep due to the "jimmy" legs aka restless legs! Crazy - I've been fitting all the stereotypes of PG so far! LOL. And as for the labor part of my upcoming birth, I've been borrowing books on labor and delivery and different philosophies from my online friends. I even have a DVD for CJ and I to watch, as we aren't going to go to a labor class. We're going to tour our hospital soon, though.