32+2

OK, so i have been yet again failing miserably as a blogger. Since finishing work iv been trying to keep myself busy, and get out somewhere at least once a day. Most days iv been seeing friends, walking round town etc, often being out of the house for most of the day. As nice as its been to see people and keep busy, i think I'm going to have to slow things down considerably now. I can literally only walk for a couple of minutes now and I'm in agony. The underneath of my bump really hurts and my feet swell up. The past couple of days i feel like my energy levels have gone back down to 0. Today is the first day i haven't left the house. I got up at 10am and had some toast, then felt like i needed to lay down again. I went back to bed and didn't get up until past 3pm! I feel so weak. I got something to eat and tried to do some jobs around the house but i feel awful, i just want to go back to bed. I think I'm going to have to really start taking it easy now. I ended up rushing off to the hospital last week too. I didn't feel Button move very much for a couple of days, and my hands and feet had swollen up loads, that on top of knowing there's been protein in my wee for several weeks i thought i should ring the hospital. They told me to go straight in. So after a bus ride, taxi ride, train ride and a rather unpleasant uphill walk, i arrived at the hospital. They took a urine sample and strapped me to two monitors on the bed. They had to try and get the baby moving, so the midwife examined me and grabbed hold of the baby's head (which wasn't exactly comfortable). I don't think Button enjoyed it either, as he/she didn't stop moving after that. They tried to get a clear monitor of the baby's heart, but as baby wriggled, he/she kept kicking the monitor off. The midwife told me that we needed to have two clear 40 minute readings of both baby's heartbeat and movement before i would be allowed to leave. She tested my wee, and there was still protein in it, she did my blood pressure and it was high, and she took my temperature and it was also high (All signs of Preeclampsia). They monitored me for two hours before they decided i was OK to leave.

I was back to see the consultant the following morning. She did my blood pressure etc again and it was still high, she said she was going to do an extra blood test just to check everything. She tested my urine, there was no protein, but Glucose!! She said they would have to monitor this over the next few weeks, and if it kept appearing i would have to have the Glucose test again! She called another doctor in for a second opinion, and explained her concerns. He didn't seem to be that worried, so i managed to get out of the extra blood test! They booked me back to see the other Doctor on the 1st September!! (If the baby isn't here before).

I went to my midwife on Wednesday and there was no trace of anything in my wee! So that's a nice relief!

I have noticed some definite changes in the pregnancy over the past week. My bump has become rock solid and the movements have changed lots. Its not little kicks anymore, i can actually feel (and see) the baby turning and changing positions. Its amazing! Also, i have now noticed the baby having hiccups! Its incredible! I always rub his/her back to try and help. Its really cute!

In other news, my hospital bag (suitcase) is almost finished. I just need to pick up a couple more bits next time we go shopping then it'll be done. I found it so exciting, washing, ironing and packing the first few outfits that Button will ever wear!

I went to Kelly's baby shower last Sunday and it was awesome! It was so nice to have a load of ladies together, for girly chats and some great games! I really enjoyed it. I decided to hurry up and get mine organised. Once if written a list of who i wanted to invite, i had over 60 names written down, none of which i would want to leave out! So i have booked a lounge and conservatory at a local club, which will be lovely. I've planned lots of games and decorations which I'm really excited about. We now have just over a week to go and i have a grand total of 8 people attending. I'm currently feeling rather embarrassed and let down. People just aren't replying, and i don't want to hire the club for only 8 people! If not many are going to come I'll do it at home but I'm just not getting any answers. Also, its making it so difficult to organise food as we have no idea how much we're going to need!

So, less than 8 weeks until we become Mummy and Daddy. I cant wait to cuddle my little person now!

Heat and fat feet! 30+5

I am now heading towards 31 weeks pregnant and Summer has certainly arrived. Its been 33 degrees today, which when your the size of a double Decker bus, is quite a challenge.

So i have officially left work, it feels so strange that I'm not going back for months! I can see there being several occasions where i wake up in a panic thinking I'm late for work! Leaving work has proven quite an emotional experience. I was rather overwhelmed to receive several wonderful gifts and cards from all of my friends ( I'll put pictures on later). I really am going to miss them all. I'm arranging a 'leaving meal' for Friday night, we always have a good time when we all get together so I'm really looking forward to it!

Iv tried to make contact with a few friends to try and arrange some get togethers, but only heard back from one so far, so I'll try sending some messages out on facebook and see what i can do.

Pregnancy-wise there isn't a lot to report at the moment really, baby is still in there, and still wriggling away. The kicks and wriggles are really quite strong now too :)

My feet are beginning to swell which isn't pleasant, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get in and out of Adams car unassisted. The sleep situation still isn't brilliant, but at least now i don't have to be getting up for work, so i can pretty much snooze whenever i feel like it.

This week is proving a bit of a challenge as Adams gone to Portugal to referee a huge football tournament, which is a really big deal in his career. There are teams from all over the world, and he's getting to meet some pretty important people, so its really exciting. However, its the longest we have ever been apart and I'm finding it really difficult! He's only been gone for two days and i feel like its been a lifetime. Not that i have ever not valued him, but its really making me realize how much i depend on him, especially at the moment. He's my best friend and I'm feeling completely lost without him. It was quite worrying this morning too, i received some messages from him and he was really not enjoying it to begin with, they weren't feeding him and his accommodation is what can only be compared to that of an animals! I hate knowing that he's being treated badly over there, it makes us being apart even more unbearable. He's text me again this evening though and he seems to be settling in a lot better now. He's done 5 matches today so he's going to be exhausted! Apparently a lot of the Portuguese Referees have left, and most of the Italian ones have gone on strike, so i think they are going to have to really look after the ones who remain! I'm so proud of him and cant wait to have him back, only 5 days to go!

I'm trying to find little things to do each day to keep me busy and stop me getting bored. I had a wander into a little nearby town today and picked up some things for my hospital bag.

* 30 Maternity pads (ew)

*200 nappy bags

* 40 Breast pads

* A roll of cotton wool

I'm just trying to pick up little bits at a time now, but i get paid tomorrow so might be able to pick some more stuff up then. Iv got a nice little pink suitcase, so I'm going to start putting things together tonight.

My mum and I went to a car boot sale yesterday morning and got some incredible bargains!

*An 'I love my bear' moses basket and stand

*Sheets and blankets

*Toys

* Tiny baby vests.

So we are getting more and more prepared now! We had the nursery carpet fitted on Thursday too, it looks beautiful and i cant wait to get everything in there (even though the furniture could be another 10 weeks!) I've got a nice day planned tomorrow, I'm getting up earlyish and heading off to my friends baby shop. I'm going to have a look for some of the things we still need and hopefully have a nice catch up with her. Then I'm heading into town to meet another friend for a drink.

I'll pop more photos on later :)

Love love love xxxx

The end is near. 29+5

Well i have finally come to some decisions. Deciding when to leave work has proven pretty tough for me. I've decided to just do what everyone's telling me to and call it a day. I'm at the hospital for another scan tomorrow, so wont be getting to work until between 12:30-1:30, then I've got two full days, Wednesday and Friday, then two hours on Saturday, then I'm done!

Iv got my three weeks holiday starting on Monday, then my maternity following straight on from the 19th July. I will be 34 weeks pregnant when my maternity starts, so using 6 weeks before my due date, which is a lot more than I'd originally hoped. Two main things I'm trying to focus on though:

1) There is a very high chance that the baby is going to be early, so i might not end up using 6 weeks before the birth anyway.

2) This is the most important time for me to be looking after Button. As nice as it would be to have lots of time with together after he/she is born, its more important that i take care of us now.

I have been looking forward to this time for ages, finally coming to the point where i can finish work for potentially a year, and have lots of exciting time getting things ready, and spending time with my little person. Now its coming down to it, i actual feel quite sad about leaving work. I really do love my job and the people i work with, and I'm just realising I'm going to be spending a lot of time alone over the next few weeks. I'm really going to miss all my friends from work, and i know that some of them aren't going to be there when i get back, which is hard.

I've been thinking a lot over the past few days though, and I've decided that I'm going to try and spend a lot of the time before the baby arrives, visiting friends and seeing people i haven't seen for a long time. I'd like to try and rebuild relationships that have fizzled slightly over the past few years. It would be nice to have plenty of people to spend time with while I'm off, especially as i have a few friends who have babies too. I want to aim to try and get out of the house at least once a day with Button, even if its just for a walk round the village. I plan to do lots of little trips, into town, swimming, to the library and parks etc. It'll be good exercise, and good to socialise and teach Button lots. I don't want to be just stuck at home whenever i can help it.

So, approximately 21 hours of working left, before i officially become a full time mummy :) Exciting/Scary/Amazing times ahead :) xxx