We are well into the 3rd trimester now and less than two months to go. Lots to update. So the second sonogram that I had in December showed that the Choroid Plexus Cysts had "resolved themselves" or disappeared. The radiologist still thought the baby's stomach looked large so after some back and forth with my doctor, they decided to have us go see a perinatologist. No one sounded too concerned (if there was a blockage of some sort, the fluid levels around the baby would be lower than normal and they weren't). Yet, they still recommended the further testing. The perinatologist happens to be the same doctor that gave us the second opinion when we got Joshua's initial trisomy 18 diagnosis. I think my mind just blocked out the fear and I told myself to not worry until we had something to worry about. On January 4th we went to the appointment and the sonographer and the doctor said the baby's stomach was on the larger end of the normal range but still normal and nothing to be concerned about especially since the fluid levels around the baby were still fine. The perinatologist did recommend however that I have weekly baby heart rate checks and another sonogram at 35 weeks because of my "advanced maternal age." Not sure what my doctors (who see lots of Catholic (and otherwise) women having babies well into their 40s) will want to do with that. But basically the issues from the 20 week sonogram have all been resolved and there's no out of the ordinary concern with the baby. And I passed the glucose test.
Our trip to PA and FL went well - no milk spills or throwing up in the car and the ride from FL to home on the 31st was really quick. The drive from PA to FL on the 26th was longer than expected due to traffic since lots of folks were traveling that day. My ankles swelled up a lot and then kept swelling up most every night we were in FL (but the swelling would go down while I slept). We had a great time visiting, celebrating Christmas in PA, and going to the beach and alligator farm in FL. Our van was so packed we had to leave some gifts and things in PA so we'd have room to bring everything home from FL. When my parents come when the baby's born we'll have those boxes to open again!
People keep giving us stuff - both our stuff back and other stuff. Got our Bumbo seat back, some of our girl clothes from a friend and some from a neighbor, and I found someone who is going to let us borrow the stroller frame I was going to try to get from Craig's list.
Still going to Jazzercise (and now everyone can tell that I'm pregnant) but it's still so infrequent with the kids' activities and cancellations. Then one night I got locked out of the car temporarily (key fob didn't work and it took us too long to figure out there was a key in the fob) so missed going. I will cancel my membership but I hope I can keep going until the end of March because it does make my hips feel better.
Speaking of feeling better, I'm FINALLY getting my haircut this week. It's been almost 9 months and I need it shorter so I don't have to spend so much time on it with the baby coming.
It's still hard to believe we are having another baby but I rarely forget I'm pregnant now because I feel big and have all those fun pregnancy symptoms like sciatic nerve pain. And the baby is kicking a lot now, but that's fun. I think I've moved on from stressing about all the stuff to how are we going to keep up with the kids' activity schedule with a toddler and a newborn. Everyone always says the younger ones just come along for the ride, which they will, but the mental energy just to get everyone out the door and to figure out when the baby will eat (can't happen while I'm driving!) is what seems overwhelming at this point. I remember what it was like with Levi and I didn't have a toddler and it was summer so it was a little slower. This time it will be baseball season for crying aloud! Even without a newborn I usually tell people, talk to me in June because of the craziness. Just going to have to let some things go I suppose. I think the hard thing with having a big family though is that some of the things that I may have to let go are for the kids or are watching the kids do stuff like play baseball, which is one of my greatest joys in parenting. But feeding a newborn/baby brings me great joy too and I want it all because these kids are going to be grown up before we know it (did I mention Dylan will need braces before the end of the year?) But I guess I can't get worked up about missing a game here and there or not being there for everything. Maybe I thought when I quit work that I wouldn't have to make those hard decisions anymore but anyone with more than one kid or a job has to so this shouldn't be so surprising.
