Katie at 31 weeks (Birthing Classes, Showers, Bachelorette parties)

Katie looking a little exhausted

Amber, Katie (Beckton) and Carla

Above are a few pictures of me at a Bar in Columbus. I ventured out with some friends for my our friend Stephanie's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party. Let me just point out that party buses are not as exciting when you drink water. However Beckton really seemed to enjoy himself as he was moving all over the place the whole night! He must have been dancing to the loud music! Guess he likes the same music as Mom!

Last week our friends and co-workers at LexisNexis through Scott and I a little baby shower! We had cake, told some funny stories, and they gave us an adorable card and very generous gift! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Beckton is starting to get lots of things! - THANK YOU to my sister and my Mom - who boxed up AJ's things from 0 - 12 months and sent to Beckton and I to enjoy! Thanks sis for all of the adorable things! All I had to do was separate and wash! It's very exciting to have things for him already! We continue to receive little gifts here and there from family and friends and it's just so nice.

The other major event from last week was that we actually started our Childbirth classes. Not much to be told, except that after some introductions, diagrams and watching some birthing videos Scott announced that he will most certainly be out of town the week I go into labor.! His exact quote? "Nothing should be that hard for anyone ever. It's completely ridiculous." I'm just glad he agrees with me! Needless to say we've paid for the classes and we did learn some things, so we will be going back weekly. Next week we're hoping we don't have to watch any horror movies though.

Beckton seems to be doing well (we're looking forward to our next appointment on March 11th when we get to see him again!)

Katie at 30 weeks (Binkies and Boppies and Bumbos oh my!)

I am officially 30 weeks. 10 weeks to go! The pictures above were taken just 4 days apart!

So I'm getting bigger! Scott and I both think that I will go early, for a few reasons...

1. We just have a funny feeling.

2. Sometimes babies with two-vessel cords are delivered earlier.

3. We think Beckton has been through enough and might decide he's ready to join us soon!

I'm feeling alright. I'm hardly sleeping at all (not that much has changed) but either I cannot get comfortable or I'm going to the bathroom. Either way I'm up every hour which makes it tough to feel refreshed in the morning! Beckton is definitely getting bigger. My belly is bigger and his movements are much more pronounced. In fact, the books say that if a friend puts their ear up to my stomach they can actually hear the heartbeat. So, Scott decided to try this for himself. We got everything all quiet and Scott pressed his ear up against the baby ... he didn't get to hear the heartbeat because instead Beckton gave him a swift kick right in the ear! It was too funny.

We're still trying to find the time to get the nursery painted but we're just both so busy. We've also updated our registry and though we're a little overwhelmed about how much stuff something so small will need, it feels good to have that done! A big thanks to my friend Jenn for going with me to register! She had all kinds of tips and tricks for me that I would have otherwise not known! Scott is still wondering what on earth, binkies, boppies, and bumbos are but I guess he'll get it soon enough since we have showers coming up! We've also started to receive some fun gifts from friends, family and co-workers. My sister boxed up maternity and baby clothes for us and we're so thankful for that! Thank you to everyone who has wished us well with cards, gifts, hugs etc! I also seem to be finding bargains on baby clothes that I "have to have". I am a sucker for little boys outfits.

Finally, I am really eating more now. Mr. B is getting bigger and I have noticed an increase in my appetite. I don't necessarily eat huge meals but I seem to eat pretty frequently! Let's just hope I don't gain 20 pounds during the last two months!! It's getting closer now!

29 weeks (Dr. Altman tells us to stop worrying!)

Well, I forgot to take a week 29 picture so instead here is a picture of Scott painting the nursery. It was blue and we moved to yellow (notice his belly is flat). We had our 29 week appointment with Dr. Altman this week. When we arrived at the office we were told we would have to wait because Dr. Altman had a delivery! So I asked the nurse if we could review my chart while we waited and she said we could. After the things we've been through (2 stomach flu's, fluid around the heart and the missing vessel in the umbilical cord we wanted to see if there was anything else we were missing). We reviewed all the ultrasounds and got to read the notes written by the doctors. Unfortunately most of it looked like it was written in Japanese but it was really nice to see the word "NORMAL" in most instances.

When Dr. Altman arrived he went over the ultrasounds with us and answered our many many questions. He reassured us both that the baby has passed the major tests and that he delivers babies with 2 vessel umbilical cords all the time, so we shouldn't worry. We both feel a lot better but we still have a little bit of doubt. We'll also be seeing our little guy a bit more frequently to make sure his growth stays on track.

Other than that work is crazy for both of us and we're just trying to manage that, with house work, Scott's school work and entertaining the thought of becoming parents for the rest of our lives!

Oh - and we have some roommates. Scott's parents have moved in with us until their new house is ready! It's so nice to have some extra help and entertainment (as they are both hilarious and lots of fun to have around!)

Katie at 28 weeks (Beckton and I do not travel well)

This is a photo of Beckton and I at our friends Jodie and Joey's wedding on Valentine's Day! Thanks to Aunt Michelle for letting us borrow her outfit ... Beckton and I apologize if it's all stretched out by the time you get it back!

This year on Valentine's Day I woke up to breakfast in bed! Scott made me heart shaped waffles from scratch (literally) with fresh fruit, syrup, and the most adorable homemade card with a picture of him, Lily and Winston. It was the BEST surprise and I loved it! He was not as lucky -but I did get him a few fun gifts and a card that I had picked out weeks before because it was perfect for him.

Valentine's Day was fun - especially the wedding. The next day Scott and I headed to North Carolina for a business trip. Scott went with me just in case anything went wrong (yes I might have psychic powers). We had hoped for a little relaxation time as we had Monday off of work but we weren't so lucky. We did do a little sight-seeing though to Duke, UNC and NC States campuses which was fun but I wasn't feeling so hot. The best thing we got to do was see the Duke Chapel and I fell in love with it! It's beautiful and breathtaking and so calming. I said a little prayer for Mr. Beckton while there. Thinking I was simply tired from travel and tourist activities we headed back to the hotel for a nap. When I woke up I was vomiting pretty uncontrollably and having some contractions. Luckily there was a hospital next door to our hotel (must have been fate). They checked me in, told me I was going to have a North Carolina baby, hooked me up to monitors, IVs and did lots of tests. They couldn't figure out much except that I must have had a stomach bug and an infection on top of that because I had a rising fever and my white blood cell count was really high. They kept me overnight and although Scott did not enjoy sleeping on the world's most uncomfortable chair, he didn't leave my side. The next day they continued to monitor me and the baby and kept me until 8:00PM! I couldn't wait to get out of that hospital but I was advised that I definitely did the right thing, to get myself hydrated and medicated so now complications would arise. The trip will go down in our books as one of our worst travel experiences ever ... but that little Beckton is a fighter. We've both been through so much during this pregnancy and I swear nothing phases him!

Katie at 27 weeks (Beckton is the size of a head of cauliflower!)

This is a picture of me at 27 weeks. Beckton and I are doing well. He's doing a lot of kicking and I'm doing a lot of praying (in hopes that all these little issues turn out to be nothing). I'm also busy trying to keep myself busy and turns out there is a lot to do! This weekend Scott and I finally settled on a paint color for Beckton's room. We chose a very pretty light yellow that will match well with the accessories I've already picked out. I wanted to help as much as I could so I taped and he will paint. Scott can't quite comprehend why we would paint a room that's already blue a different color when we're having a boy, so I'm lucky he's participating! Next I have really got to find some crib bedding that I like. I thought it would be pretty simple but there is so much to choose from! I've also started helping my friends and family with the showers they are planning. I'm so lucky to have such great family and friends who want to include me in the plans and make this a special time for me (and baby B).

Katie at 26 weeks (one issue solved, one issue that's hopefully not an issue)

Here I am in the snow! It was pretty chilly for this picture but I wanted to capture our winter wonderland! This week started with nothing much new to report ... as I was still waiting on feedback from my doctors. I had what's called a level two ultrasound to check for any issues related to the fluid that the doctors and nurses "thought" they saw when I was in the hospital. Luckily we got some good news - no fluid around the heart. This made me breathe a heavy sigh of relief. However, we're now on to the next complication which is called a two vessel cord. In simple terms the umbilical cord is supposed to have three vessels (2 arteries, 1 vein) however my umbilical cord only has two vessels (1 artery, 1 vein). They did as best as they could to reassure me that baby B is growing and developing normal despite the missing artery, but we're all still a little worried. I do my best to think positive, pray and relax but it's all easier said than done. What I MUST do is listen to what the doctor told me which is - I don't have anything to worry about. So I feel a lot better about most things but there's still a chance that something could be wrong - so I'll have to go for some follow up appointments. The best news of all is that Beckton is growing ... this week he measured 2.1lbs and he's moving and kicking like crazy. Sometimes I poke at my stomach and say "Is everything ok?" it totally reassures me when he pokes or kicks back!

My sister tells me this is only the beginning of the worrying that comes with motherhood. So maybe he is preparing me!

Beckton at 25 weeks (No little guy you can't come this early)

Beckton - 25 weeks/1lb. 14 oz./140 Heart-rate

Beckton update. On 1/26 I was sent to labor and delivery due to cramping and discomfort. When I called the doctor, he asked me to head to Kettering Hospital ASAP to make sure everything was ok. When Scott and I arrived they put us into an actual labor/delivery room. That part was a little scary as I had never seen the inside of one before. Then the nurse hooked me up to monitors, asked me tons of questions, did some tests and said she would have the results to discuss with me after the doctors discussed. She said I needed to start drinking a lot of water and Scott got me a huge cup. The cool part was that I could hear Beckton's heartbeat the whole time and the nurse said he looked and sounded great! Then the nurse returned with some not so great news ... I was 1cm dilated, the machines had monitored a few contractions, they to do an ultrasound, and a test to determine whether or not I would deliver in the next 10-14 days. Scott and I both got pretty nervous at this point. When the test was over the ultrasound techs came in put our little man up on the screen. They said his heart rate, size and measurements were right on for 25 weeks. They printed a few pictures for us and were on their way. About two hours later a different nurse came in with an antibiodic letting me know I had a UTI infection on top of everything else! Finally the doctor came in at the end of the day to discuss everything with me. The test to determine whether I would deliver in 10-14 days was negative, I was instructed to drink 8-15 glasses of water daily to combat the pre-term labor, to continue taking my meds for my UTI, to take an iron supplement because I am anemic and to be on bed rest for most of the week. Lesson learned: if you don't drink enough water you could go into pre-term labor and have a whole slew of other problems. Then, they discussed something they noticed on the ultrasound and how I would have to be sent to a special radiologist to get a closer look. So, completely freaked out we were discharged from the hospital. The good news is I'm resting and we're trying not to be nervous.

Thanks to everyone for the get well thoughts and wishes.