11 Weeks Left!

Last week Tuesday I took the infamous glucose test, drinking a liquid that tasted like flat orange pop with a cup of added sugar. From this test they can see if my blood sugar is too high. This was the case for me. I was at 151 which is slightly over their 140 cut off point. Needless to say, I was a little upset about the prospect of having gestational diabetes, changing my diet and poking myself more. So then I had to schedule the 3 hour glucose tolerance test at the hospital. I did that yesterday. For this test, I had to fast for 8+ hours. They drew blood right when I got there, then I drank an even sweeter version of the glucola, tested my blood again in a half hour, then in another half hour after then, then another 2 times every hour for a total of 5 times. This is so they can see if it my blood sugar peaks and goes back down to see if I really do have gestational diabetes. I probably will find out the results today. If I do, it's not the end of the world to do these things for the next couple months, but it's not something I'm looking forward to either.

The baby is moving all the time, rolling, poking, even doing some weird shakes like Gary does when he stretches. I don't really have a reason, but I feel like this is a boy. I did have a dream the other night that I went into labor and we had a boy. I'll be pleasantly surprised if it's a girl, but I feel like we're bringing a little guy into the world. Either way, as long as it's healthy, I'm excited! It's about 2 1/2 pounds now, 14-15 inches or so and gaining about a half pound a week. It's still crazy what I'm doing here, that God has made our bodies capable to sustain another life and how each element of their bodies develop throughout the 9 months. Amazing.

The baby's room is coming along slowly but surely and very cute. That's the way I planned it, not to stress out too much about it. I have the sky in and the first layer of the clouds. I'm planning on working on it awhile each night. Tonight I'll add some dimension to the clouds and finish out the week getting the butterflies and bird in, maybe some more elements, but we'll see how far I get.

I'm feeling good, getting a little bigger each week. Work is going well, keeping busy there. Gary's job is going well, still on the hunt for a permanent position, but has had/will have some interviews. We know God will provide the right job for him, we just have to be patient. We've also been getting some new side work coming in and we've started to plan out our next phase with our own side businesses. Exciting stuff! We also were able to be apart of Ryan and Angela's wedding this past weekend in Wisconsin. It was a lot of fun to see all the planning and preparation come together! It's cool to have Angela officially apart of the family as the step-sister-in-law! Congrats you guys!

Keep us in your prayers in regards to the test results for me, for Gary's job prospects and that the baby continues to grow healthy.

Stay tuned!
Love,
Gary and Christie

Only 12 weeks left!

Time has certainly flown by since we found out we were pregnant back in February. We're down to the final trimester and have reached the every 2 week doctor's appointment. I had my glucose test today (checking to see if I have gestational diabetes) and will get results in a few days I'm sure. If my levels are higher than their cut off, I have to go back for a 3 hour test to check to see for sure. If from there I am still high, then I have gestational diabetes. I'll have to monitor my blood sugar and change up my diet for the time being. Not horrible as I already am a human pin cushion, but what are you going to do? I asked how much I've gained so far.... don't hate me current and past pregnant woman.... and I've only gained 5 pounds. Hehe. I'll take it! My blood pressure is good, the baby's heartbeat is strong and was found right away and we're all set up for an all day birthing class in September. So we're moving along quite well.

I still don't look really pregnant, but you can tell a lot more now. I got a slight case of the pregnant waddle and do take frequent trips to the bathroom. The baby's room has yet to progress in terms of the mural, but that's changing tonight! The baby is definitely getting bigger and moving around a lot! There are pokes, jabs and worm like squirms quite often now. They say it's about 2 pounds and about 14 inches long. From here on out it'll gain more rapidly than it has.

Gary's job is going well and he's been applying for quite a few positions with an interview lined up for Thursday. Hopefully he'll land that job and we'll sigh a bit of relief. My work is going fine. We're both starting to pick up side work which is welcomed.

We're off to Wisconsin this weekend for Ryan and Angela's wedding. Should be a lot of fun. We also just visited the newest addition to Marc and Nisi's family, Mason Jay. He was born July 22, 3 weeks early but a healthy 7 pounder. That made us that much more excited (and nervous) to have a little guy/girl around like that.

Have a great rest of the week and stay posted as we approach the finish line!

Love,

Gary & Christie

Round 1 Complete

We got the baby's room painted for round one this past weekend. The color is green teapot and is slightly more green than I thought it would be. But it's really growing on me and I know the room will turn out very cute! Gary and I sat in the room last night planning out where the mural and all it's elements will sit. What I'm doing is slightly ambitious, but it's going to be a lot of fun and hopefully turn out that way I think it will. I'm doing a whole mural of a pond with fish, a turtle, ducks, frogs, a big willow tree and a bunch of little things like bees, butterflies, dragonflies and birds. I'll scan in a picture of what I'm doing and post that in the next day or so. For now, enjoy the pictures of the room. :)

Wiggle Worm

The baby is certainly making it's presence known these days. I'm definitely starting to look and feel pregnant now. I don't walk normal anymore and it's getting harder to get in and out of bed. The baby is growing quite a bit now, about 14 inches long and almost 2 pounds. It's moving all the time, kicking, rolling, poking and everything in between. It's really amazing.

I'm 26 weeks along tomorrow, only about 14 weeks left! It's exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time. There is a lot to do yet.... showers, painting the baby's room, birthing classes, finding suitable baby care, finding Gary a job.... whew. I know it'll all fall into place, just a little overwhelming when you look at it like that. We'll make it. :) It's going to be so cool to actually see and hold what comes of all the hoopla of doctor's visits, shots, buying maternity clothes, asking how you're feeling, the kicking, poking.... So exciting.

Otherwise, we're doing well. Work is going fine for me, Gary's job is good and is currently looking for a permanent position after the internship is up, the house is coming together nicely, and we registered last week at Babies R Us (changes to be made to the registery, but you can look). Hehe. I had a nice long 4th of July weekend, did a lot of shopping, cleaning and was on my feet way too much.

Here are some links to some new pictures for your enjoyment: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3039&l=819c6&id=501622976
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009&l=6ffc8&id=501622976
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3038&l=d884f&id=501622976

Next appointment is July 24 for a glucose test. Pray all goes well there! Until then, I'll try to post more often and with pictures.

Love to you all!
Gary & Christie

Four years ago...

Today marks 4 years since we took the plunge, walked down the aisle, started a new chapter or whatever you'd like to call it. Four years ago, Gary and I spent the day nervous, excited and ready to spend the rest of our lives together. It was a beautiful, somewhat warm June weekend back in SoHo. Family came in from out of town, vowing never to return to Chicago b/c that day just had to be the worst day for traffic and accidents in all the years I can remember. Either way, they were happy to arrive and start the festivities. Flowers were being delivered, hair and makeup being done, getting into our monkey suits as Gary called this morning and everyone trying to get to the church on time!

Gary and I did pictures before the ceremony, so we had our special moment together (mostly alone) right after lunch. It was the only time during the day that we would be alone and ourselves. It was amazing and a moment I'll never forget. From there we proceeded to get all the pictures in, gave hugs to family and friends and got in our positions.

I'd say the rest of the day was a blur, but it wasn't. It just went by really fast. We had amazing ceremony with all the sentimental meaning necessary needed for such a day, my mom's quilt representing her presence, flowers to honor those who've passed on. Friends and family filled the sanctuary witnessing our nuptuals and participating where their talents deemed fit. It was beautiful. On our way to the reception, we stopped by the cemetary to say hi to mom. I knew she was proud that day, I knew she was happy for Gary & I, I just wish she was able to know what an amazing man, husband and soon to be dad Gary is. Someday she will.

Our reception was so much fun! Good food, great company, delicious cake and lots of dancing! Our DJ was awesome, everyone was out there dancing all night long having a blast. We were able to catch up with friends that moved away, family we haven't seen in a long time and everyone in between.

I wouldn't change that day for anything.

So much has changed since that day, but so much has remained the same. I couldn't ask for a better marriage and never imagined it to be as amazing as it is.

It's been awhile, sorry!

Sorry it's taking me so long to update this thing. We've been busy getting the house and yard ready for our big shindig this weekend so we've spent minimal time on the computer in recent weeks.

I just had another doctor's appointment on Tuesday. She said that everything looked good from my Ultrasound (she doesn't know what it is either, so you can't call her and find out, hehe), everything is growing properly, heart rate was good then and it was good at the appointment. I think it was in the 160's. At the next appointment is when they will check my blood sugar levels to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. If I did, then I would have to change my diet which isn't horrible, but not something that would be fun. So let's pray all goes well there.

The last few weeks the baby has really become active. At first it was just little butterfly pokes here and there. Last week Gary was able to feel it move for the first time and this week he was able to feel it actually kick and move his hand up and down. It's been kicking a lot and rolling around quite a bit. It's really cool and amazes me everyday what I'm actually doing. It seems to have a bit of a schedule. Usually on my way to work, around 10, around 1-2, on my way home and 9-10 is when it's most active. I guess it's when I'm finished eating or when I'm about ready to eat. I like schedules. I hope that it'll have one when it's born too. :) Fat chance, but I can wish can't I?

After the party, we're going to start focusing on the baby's room and registering for the showers. I have a book what what I'm going to do in the room, keeping it gender neutral with nature colors and a pond theme (light yellows, greens, blues, purples, pinks, browns). That'll be a process throughout the summer as I'm doing the whole room. On top of that, we're doing the 2nd bathroom upstairs in frogs, but more bolder, fun colors. I'm excited to get started on that, not only b/c it's for the baby, but because we can finally put our touch on the house. Don't get me wrong, the colors in the house are great and not just beige, but putting your own spin on things always makes it that much more, yours.

I haven't posted many pictures and for that I'm sorry. I will, tonight, take pictures of our clean house with stuff in it, my gardening bench in the garage, tomorrow's festivities and post those soon. I would post my prego pictures, but I'm about 90% there. I'm showing in terms of what I see each day, but to others I may not. But I will document that as well so you can see our beautiful faces. :) What it all comes down to is that I'll post a lot more pictures this summer, promise!

Gary and I are doing well in our jobs. Family is doing good and we're excited to hang out with a lot of them this weekend!

Stay posted for pics and have a great weekend!

Love to you all!
Gary & Christie

Half way there!

We're over half way done already! Yesterday marked 21 weeks. Everything is going well as fas as we can tell. We didn't hear anything back from the doctor in regards to the Ultrasound last week, so consider no news is good news. The baby has become very active this week. Every few hours I get 15-20 minutes of what I can only describe to those who haven't had kids or men, as bubble pokes. They aren't like a finger poke on the arm, just little bubbles (like gas I suppose) in my stomach. After awhile of all these little pokes, I say, ok I know your there now. Hehe. It's really neat to feel and can't wait for Gary to be able to feel the baby move. I'm almost ready to look pregnant. I'm guessing in the next few weeks there will be a big difference. I'm hoping to fill out the maternity dress I bought for Ryan & Angela's wedding.

Most guys won't care about this, but I orginally bought this dress at Old Navy for $40, brought it back for reimbursment from the internet price of $25, found out it went down in 2 days to $7! Talk about an amazing deal. I told Gary I can get expensive shoes now. :) Hehe. Just about ready to buy some new clothes, but still not quite there.

We're doing well otherwise. Bought blinds to do all of the 2nd floor and the basement last night. That should be a great time putting them up. Work is slow right now. Yay! Gary's work is going well. The house is coming along nicely. We're just preparing for the grad party in a few weeks right now.

Next doctor's appointment is Tuesday, June 19. Until then, I'll update with any other new things going on. Have a great weekend everyone!

Love,
Gary & Christie