28 and one half weeks. I am now officially in my last trimester. Didn't know if I was ever going to get to this point or not and now I feel like time is flying by.  My free time is filled up with researching car seats, strollers, pumps and pediatricians. Cloth diapers or disposable?

Fortunately, I have made it up this far without people trying to touch my stomach... until recently. Perhaps I should be thankful that those that attempt with their lives are not perfect strangers, but at the same time, do you not know me??? You don't touch me, not before, and not now!  Just because there is a parasite growing inside of me does not give liberty to touch it. I will take your head.

Playdough. It seems a harmless enough of a word, until you pair it with ankles. Playdough ankles. ewww. Two weeks ago I found that I had pitting edema around my ankles/sock line.  Knowing that pitting edema can be a sign of pre-eclampsia I, of course remained calm (ha!). Since I didn't have a stick to pee on to see if there was protein, I frantically tried to take my own manual blood pressure while dressed in my running clothes before I made it out for a quick....err i mean slow... run...jog(?)  My blood pressure was normal, and Google made me feel better about it so off I went. When it came time for my monthly doctor's appointment I spent the entire time while I was in the waiting room and office room waiting for the doctor trying to remember what the condition was called.  All I could think to say was "Dr, I had an issue with playdough ankles".  Fortunately, pitting edema came to me just before the doctor knocked on the door.

Aside from "playdough ankles" I had been doing fine. Today I hurt. My lower back just hurt.  My run (cough *jog* cough) yesterday made me feel like I was trying to accomplish a marathon, and I swear Spuds was trying to brace himself in there!  Today's venture wasn't as painful but definitely slow and actually made me question how much longer I might be able to keep up with it.

The dresser arrived the other week!  Sunday, Chris and his dad worked very diligently on trying to put it together while I rested in the other room. Listening to their conversation made me very thankful I was not involved.  Unfortunately, they forgot to send us a piece so that the last drawer could be put together. After attempting Home Depot on Monday, I just called the company to ask for one to be sent to us. 

It's not the same color as the crib, but it's pretty close.  I am anxious to finally put the room together and hang up some of the decorations.

26 weeks.  When you think of it that way 26 out of 40 weeks doesn't seem like that much. Now, when I think that I only have 3 months and some change left, then my heart starts to race a little bit. What if I am not ready? And by ready, I probably mean more mentally than by the collection of stuff.

I have found that many people love to make grand generalizations for every one. While some of these generalizations might be true for them and maybe also for me, I also know that reality is not about that but about individuals. While everyone has the same type of chemicals, they do not always have them in the same ratios as everyone else. It is amazing how a slight change can make a difference (water vs hydrogen peroxide? H20 vs H2O2). Not every mother/father loves their kid. If they did, the foster care/adoption system wouldn't be so over run with children needing a home. (That's not to say that giving your child up for adoption is always due to a lack of love, sometimes that may be the most loving decision you can make, but many of them are from abusive hell holes.) So far from what I have witnessed, every parent reacts differently and yet similarly when faced with similar situations. Either way, it will be interesting to see how I will react.

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that when I see his face that I will automatically fall in love with him.  I already feel like he pulls on the heart-strings when I look at his ultrasound picture. Yes, the 3D images can be creepy, but for some reason I just find myself more enamored with him.

aww, look at the baby! :)

With 14 weeks left to go, we have decided on a dresser (that we still need to order) and most likely a car seat.  My father had ordered us the crib and mattress and it arrived this past week.  It is still sitting in its box, but we have it!

Also, notice that we have finally put up the blinds on the window and the window valance!  PROGRESS! haha.

Today, Chris' dad came over to watch Chris play video games and then offered to help put the crib together!  This will not be its final location, but I think it's beautiful.

My current  stressor is finding daycare.  I have contacted a couple different people with a couple of responses so far.  Some seem hopeful, but trying to find a non-smoker (which is a must) seems to present a challenge. I do have one lady, however, that I will be setting up an interview with and feel rather hopeful about.  I will feel so much better once I have the daycare situation set up.