34 weeks!

I was originally going to split this blog into three different entries, but you'll most likely read all three of them, so why not just cram them all together? :)

Let me start by briefly describing my second day of work last thursday: crazy. Not busy, but just full of crazy. Crazy people, crazy situations, and it was enough to drive me a little crazy, too. I can't get into details, because that would be a HIPAA breach, but let's just say that we should have had a psych consult on one patient and the sheriff's office for another patient. Yikes.

Second, my belly button popped! It's still not cute-looking, it's dark, lumpy, and has an off-center linea nigra. But here's my little peekaboo:

Hopefully it doesn't poke out any further than that. I wouldn't want it to look like I was stowing a vienna sausage for a snack later!

Finally, our weekly update.

I've been sleeping okay for the most part. When I don't do a lot to expend energy during the day, usually I'm up with my mind racing from 2-4am. But since starting work and tidying little odds and ends here and there in the house and the nursery, I sleep better. I still get up with punching bag fullness at 2am, but then I zonk back out right away after it's been emptied. However, I do see that the sleep disturbances are showing on my face, under my eyes. Also, I've heard that a lot of women notice their nose gets wider during pregnancy (not sure if it ever goes back to normal, or stays wide), and I've noticed that on my face as well. Who knew an asian nose could get any more wider? Here's tired me, after Palm Sunday mass and running errands on base today:

 See what I mean about my nose looking wider?

Here's our 34 week developmental update:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

I'm definitely aiming for a full-term baby! But just in case, I packed my hospital bag this weekend. The only thing that needs to be tossed in it as we head out is my makeup. And even if that's forgotten, I'll still survive (I may whine about not having concealer, but I'll pull through). 

Thanks for stopping by! Wish me a better work week to come!