December 1st marked Day 1 of Trimester 3 at 28 weeks.  Baby’s Hb is 153 Bpm. Currently weighs 2.5 lbs and is in the 30th percentile for growth.

my phe levels for all over November where under 2. From 1.1 to 1.8 mg/dl.

I am still doing blood tests 2 to 3 days a week.  My last level was 1.3 mg/dl.

My tolerance has gone from 350 mg phe to 900 mg phe as of yesterday!!

I am now adding instant brown sugar oatmeal, regular bread, and regular rice to my diet. I have never been able to eat this much food! It is really surreal. I am not sure what to eat most days. I still need my low pro omelets and low protein mushroom sausages every single morning for breakfast.  Dinner I make a rice stir fry. Lunch is a challenge and where I am adding the new food.  I need to find some higher protein foods that I like and can eat but also be able to give up after baby is born.  I am thinking about trying yogurt.  My tolerance is still climbing to and i have 3 more months left to go!

I am now back to my pre pregnancy weight.  I lost 10 lbs at the beginning of my pregnancy and have now gained it back. Everything I gain from here on will be considered positive gain.  I can’t believe I am entering the third trimester with no weight gain and my screen for gestational diabetes came back normal. I do not have it. That was a fear of mine with my diet that is rich in carbs, sugars and calories.

my daily calorie intake fluctuates from 2300-2800 kcal.  Even without the weight gain I definitely have a baby bump. I am feeling larger every day. I am feeling my skin stretch and my belly weight pulling me.  It is getting harder to move around quickly, roll out of bed or stand up from sitting.

I woke up with charley horses in both my legs sunday morning screaming and crying. Woke Cole and Copper and our whole house up. Worst pain ever.  They would not release either for a good ten minutes.  Despire everything Cole tried. For the rest of the day, I could barely weight bare or walk properly. Very common in pregnancy and really hoping it does not happen again!

My iron is a bit low so I have to increase my vitamins. I am drinking plenty of water and I still go for walks or swims occasionally. I am definitely slowing down though.

Baby is very active between 3 and 5 am, after breakfast and in the evenings after dinner before bed. When I am sitting on the couch with cole watching tv after dinner , or when I am having a bubble bath I can actually see my belly move and roll with the movements. Baby has daily hiccups and shakes my belly.  Cole has yet to feel baby move.

Every day it’s becoming more and more real. I cant believe how far we have come!  3 more months!!

I am planning on giving birth normally with an epidural due to my back injury. I plan to breastfeed.  My goal is 6 months exclusively if I can. I have been reading a lot and doing my research.

I am reading about breastfeeding, delayed cord clamping, skin to skin care and everything I can. I am learning what is important to me and what I want.

We are taking december to relax and enjoy the holidays with family and try to be stress free. January we start our prenatal classes and have one more trip down to vancouver for a 32 week scan.

I get the rogram shot next week since I have negative blood and cole has positive.

I have been so blessed this pregnancy and have had a pretty easy time. ( knock on wood) I know how lucky I am things have been going so well . My body was truly meant to do this. I had so many fears. Such as pain with my back injury, and GD.   for the most part I feel pretty good. I do have some acidic nausea that begins about 2 pm and goes till I go to sleep. Sometimes are worse than others. Could be heartburn or  Acid reflux. Both are totally normal.

I have met new people and made new friends along this journey including some wonderful “mom friends” who I am so thankful for and have come to treasure and look forward to them being apart of our lives and us apart of theirs.

I can’t wait to hold my baby. To see my baby, feel its skin, breath it in, feel the softness, kiss its nose and fingers and toes.

I am scared to give birth and hope I can do it. I am scare of the pain and the damage in my back. I don’t want a c-section if I can avoid it. I just keep telling myself, it doesn’t last, we will get through it and we will get to meet our baby and finally know if its a boy of girl ( although I think I have a pretty good guess now!)

We are still trying find a couple boy and girls names we life for our list . We can’t agree on any names yet!

My office is finally emptied out and ready to be painted and become a nursery hopefully in january.

All in all, I am very happy and excited.

Thank you to everyone who has been apart of this journey! it is not over yet! I will continue to post and share for as long as I can <3