Baby bump - 31 weeks / Boyd update

My 31 week appointment took place at my OB's office today - we had quite a bit to talk about after my last ultrasound with the specialist.

165 BPM - baby's heartbeat
31.5 cm belly measurement
126/67 blood pressure for me

My torpedo belly. 

Polydramnios level (amniotic fluid index/AFI) was 22 cm last week. On the graph that my ANP showed me today, I'm above the curve (8-18 cm is normal for 31 weeks) and she says that's why it feels like I'm carrying twins instead of a petite little baby girl. I told her how I've been sleeping upright for the last 3.5 weeks and she was shocked that I haven't been able to lie down at all this whole time.

In a mild case of polyhydramnios like mine, the course of action is to perform a 20-minute non-stress test/biofeedback profile twice a week until I give birth. I also have weekly appointments with ultrasounds until the baby comes. So that is 2 appointments a week (Tuesday and Friday) until baby girl shows up - I have never seen the doctor so much in my whole life!

I'm definitely struggling with this pregnancy and feel guilty for wishing that it would hurry by so I can feel normal again. Last night was difficult with just 3.5 hours of sleep - not being able to breathe deeply, get comfortable or feel calm is wearing on me. I'm exhausted by taking care of a toddler, fending of panic attacks, and still working 32 hours a week. Lots of complaints today, but I am thankful that our baby seems to be doing well despite all of these issues. Just come out healthy, little one!

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At drop-off this morning, Boyd's teacher told me that she had to tell him to quiet down in class yesterday. I said, "Really? That's great!" She was like, "I know! He is really coming out of his shell." It is a relief to know he is happy and thriving in preschool. He can count to 6 in Spanish (that was a surprise to us!) and seems to really enjoy music time in class. They are studying planets and the solar system now, so we've heard some mentions of outer space and neptune, etc. lately.

Anchorage received the first major snowfall of the season, and Boyd helped D make a snowman out in the front yard. This kid still loves being outside.

We went to Lowe's a few weeks ago to pick up some house stuff and look at new refrigerators. 

Fun news! & Boyd 3.5 year update

Hello friends!

I'm back with a big announcement - we are expecting baby #2! And...this time it's a sweet little girl. We're obviously pretty thrilled, especially since it took us 8 long months to get pregnant again. My due date is December 5, 2015 but who knows, she could end up coming early (around Thanksgiving) or late (around my dad's & grandpa's birthdays of December 13). I haven't taken any weekly belly photos yet (second baby syndrome!) but will start to do so this weekend. This baby will be 21 weeks along as of this Saturday.

I've been seeing two doctors throughout my pregnancy: my regular obstetrician and then a fetal/maternal specialist (due to my "advanced maternal age" of 37). So far I've been going every month to my OB and then every 2 months or so to the specialist. My ultrasounds are looking pretty good and she seems to be progressing well. Lots more tests this time around! That means more blood work, which I'm not a big fan of, but I haven't passed out once yet which is progress for me!

In terms of tests, we have a very low risk of any of the trisomies (like down syndrome) or genetic anomalies, which is great to know. My blood pressure readings are all normal, baby's heartbeat is right around 150-160 each time, my fundal (belly) measurement is currently at 20 cm (should match up the the # of weeks), and no extra protein detected in my urine - so all good! At my next OB appointment we will do the 1-hour glucose test to determine if I'm at risk for gestational diabetes.
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Boyd is doing super great, as usual. At almost 3 and a half years old, his is developing right on track and really entertaining us with his antics. He loves talking but is still takes a little while to warm up to people he doesn't know. It makes us laugh to hear what comes out of his mouth. Yesterday I gave him a little bit of mint chocolate ice cream and he said, "Mom, mmm, this is my new favorite treat!" And my mom gave him a juice smoothie and he told her, "This juice is delicious, Halma - thank you!"

Boyd is truly a very sweet, sensitive and caring little boy. He likes to be silly, especially with his dad (who he adores) and will follow D around like a puppy. Speaking of canines, he loves Gabe & Risha's dog Riggs - lots of hugging and snuggling when he over at their house. He also can't get enough of being on our boat. Whenever D has to work on it or when we are out on the water, Boyd is content to just play inside the cabin or on deck.

His favorite programs are currently Paw Patrol, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, as well as the movies Despicable Me and Toy Story. Plus Lego Movie - we hear a lot of movie quotes from that one. He is like a sponge...he'll bust out with lines from movies or tv shows, or start singing songs that he has heard a couple times.

He'll start up at the montessori school again in late August, this time going 5 days a week from 8:15 until 11:15 a.m. It's a wee bit more expensive since we're adding 2 more days but they don't have a 3 day option for the 3-6 year olds. Boyd will be in a new class with a new teacher this year, so I'm a little nervous for the first day of school to arrive! He came to love his last classroom so we're confident that it'll be the same for this one too.

Ok, I think that is all for now. Thanks for sticking with my blog!

Easter 2015

Easter was an all-weekend affair at the Patrick household. We began dyeing eggs on Saturday and everyone got into the action! On Sunday we had a nice breakfast, Boyd checked out his Easter basket (wooden play food, books and a Tegu magnetic block set) and then we set out for the Learning Farm, a local educational farm near our house. There Boyd rode a horse named Tara (but he renamed her Bullseye - from Toy Story!) He giggled and giggled when she sneezed and then imitated her with some fake sneezes of his own. He held on to the pommel all by himself and I just walked alongside, pretty proud of our little horseman. My mom joined us and we fed many sheep, goats, horses with saltine crackers, petted bunnies, ate cupcakes and looked for eggs. Sunday evening we made a ham and my mom and sister over for dinner.

September PWS Trip

Oh friends and family, I have no good excuses for my neglect of this blog...just the same old stuff. Please don't be mad and I hope you're still reading!

Now here are some photos from our last boat trip of the season - we had to go out and retrieve shrimp pots that were left out in the Sound for a week. We had a doozy of a weekend during the prior trip with crazy weather.

Early morning boat launches make for pretty amazing sunrises...

Icebergs all around - D fished in this area for a while and had to push the big ice chunks away from the boat!

Tree stump that had grown around a rock - it wouldn't budge. 

Ah, my very favorite: an intact sea urchin shell. 

"Love your legs, mama."

My helper holding the bag open so I could toss in shrimp. 

Playground Fun

The Anchorage Parks Department has been doing a wonderful job lately of improving the playgrounds and parks in town by updating and adding new equipment. On one of our Mondays together, we explored two playgrounds. The first was redesigned to resemble a tree house and while I thought it was well done, the equipment was geared towards kiddos aged 5 and up - a little much for my almost-3 year old.

The next park was in Oceanview and we both loved this one. Along with the existing slides and play structures, a zipline and rock climbing wall were installed. We both had a lot of fun at this park. Boyd so loved the toddler zipline - he asked to do it over and over again!

Super happy kid! 

Potter's Marsh - September 2014

Potter's Marsh is a protected area along the Seward Highway that is home to waterfowl, fish, small critters and sometimes moose. It's part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and a great place to see birds in Anchorage. Boyd and I strolled along the boardwalk on a Monday in early September. 

Salmon ready to return to their creek to spawn.