24 Weeks: Take Me Out To The Ball Game

How far along? 24 weeks

How big is Audrey? According to the Doctor yesterday she weighs 1lb 9ounces.

Audrey's Health? Audrey's just cooking right along. Doctor says her growth looks good.  She does still have fluid in her kidneys but as long as it's going down and not up the doctor says it will resolve itself by a few days after her birth.

Health of Momma? Doctor says my blood pressure is fine.  My cuff isn't measuring high, it really is in the 130s/90s.  He doesn't think my dose needs to be adjusted at this point.  He'll keep an eye on it though.  I have lots of test at our next visit.  I'll do my Glucose test, a kidney test, and some other blood test.  The glucose test is the standard gestational diabetes test.  I'll drink the sugar drink and then have my blood drawn to make sure my body is doing what it's suposed to do with all that sugar.   I have no reason to think it wont go well.  I also have to do a 24 hour urine collection.  They are looking for protein, that is a sign of preeclampsia.  The doctor isn't worried about preeclampsia now but he'd like to get a baseline before I'm in my third trimester because high blood pressure can trigger it.

Weight gain? 10lbs

Weird Cravings? I stumbled upon some research today that indicates that more choline in the mothers diet while the baby is in the womb can help decrease the impact of down syndrome on the brain.   I also found out that one of the foods containing the most levels of choline is none other than eggs!  I wonder if that's why I've been craving them so much!  Bizarre.  So I'll continue to eat as many as I want and I'm also looking into a choline supplement.  The research I read said it can't hurt so I might as well add another supplement into my routine.  I'm not talking about ODing on the stuff but I want to make sure I'm getting at LEAST the recommended dosage.    

Stretch Marks? Still none.

Skin?  The gross is spreading to my back.  I had J scrub my back with sugar scrub the other day but I did't notice a difference when I got out of the shower.  I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle here.

Hair? Getting thick!  I'm afraid my hairdresser might charge me double next time I go in for a trim!

Sleep? As well as can be expected I guess.  It has been getting more difficult to fall asleep.  I need to figure out a better way to support my belly.  

What I miss? Being able to be on my feet for longer.  I just get tired and swollen so quickly these days!

What I am looking forward to? The fall!  The weather, the holidays, football season, and of course doing all those things with Audrey!

Weekly wisdom? We aren't ever going to be "ready".  Accepting Audrey's diagnosis is never going to be easy, it's a process.  We've been putting off some things until we are "ready".  I think we are going to have to start just ripping off the band-aid.  There is a meeting this weekend for our local ds mom's support group.  I think I'm going to go...unless I chicken out....50/50.  

Milestones?  We went to our first DSA (Down Syndrom Aliance of the Midlands) event.  As predicted we were creepy lurkers.  I recognized a few of the women from the facebook group I joined but couldn't work up the nerve to introduce myself to any of them.  It was nice though, to just sit, relax, enjoy the beautiful weather, and watch the families.  Everything was so normal. Normal families watching a baseball game, eating snacks, cheering on the home team and enjoying the company of those around them.  I think that was good for us to see.  It's one thing to hear it and think it but actually SEEING it was huge.  We even managed to snap a quick selfie.

Fears?  It dawned on me the other day while J and I were watching TV that I am going to have to go through labor.  A woman on the show we were watching was getting ready to give birth and I caught myself thinking, "Wow, that looks awful.  Thank god it's not me!....oh wait..." I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to come to this realization but I'm pretty terrified.  I remember before we got Audrey's diagnosis I had started to do research on birth plans and the like but that all kind of fell to the wayside.  Guess I'm going to have to circle back a bit.

Thing I'm thankful for?  Epidurals and modern science!

Week End Review:  Boring errands.  We did register so that was kinda fun but we aren't big shoppers so it was more of an errand.  I did find a diaper bag I LOVE but don't need.  We still have two we used with MB.  I hope somebody gifts it to us because I'll never be able to justify spending $60 on something we absolutely DON'T need.  This weekend though J is i na wedding so we have that to look forward to!  I'll be sure to take some pictures of him all dressed up and handsome!