Stinker

This is Greg's new favorite picture of Gage. Gage is a little stinker now when changing his diaper or his clothes. He wiggles all over the place and tries to get away. He doesn't like being slowed down for even a second.






If you look closely you can see a bite mark/hicky on his arm that he recieved from a little girl at the sitters. She decided that he would be fun to chew on.

Caught Ya

Back in February, I caught Gage teething on Daddy's nose.

Here he is in February with Uncle Matt

He had fun cuddling with Auntie Dana

Gage is getting so big now. He has grown out of all of the clothes in the above pictures. He wears 12 months clothing and even some of those are starting to become a little short. I think we are going to have a tall boy on our hands.

Fun With Teddy

These pictures are a little old, but Gage still loves to play on our bed in the mornings with our old stuffed animals.

As you can see I am finally working on updating my blog.

Gage is getting so big and is getting into everything he can reach. Greg snapped this picture while Gage was playing with a shoe box.

Stupid Doctor

I had a funny experience that I thought I'd share. I went to the clinic that my new job sent me to for my physical last Thursday. The doctor that conducted the physical kept asking me questions about my bladder and bowls. I replied that they were fine and I was having no problems, but the doctor was insistent about asking again and again. I denied having any problems and the doctor finally looked at me and said "then why is your belly so distended?" At first I thought that he must be joking, but he wasn't. I told him that I was pregnant and he replied that that made sense. He honestly didn't know that I was pregnant. Now the doctor was a little older, but how dumb could he be to not know that I am pregnant? How funny.

Today I had my 3 hour glucose test at the hospital. I had to fast last night. The fasting was not the hard part, the not drinking water was horrible. I got in to the hospital right before 11am and they drew my blood. They then gave me the glucola to drink, but it was not the orange flavor it was cola flavored. I thought I was going to die right there. It tasted so bad and made me so sick. I spent the next 3 hours fighting the urge to throw up, but I knew that I would have to do the test over if I did. They took more blood from me every hour for the next three hours and then I was free to go home around 3pm. I spent a few hours in bed, but have felt bad ever since the test. Thankfully that is the last time I have to take that horrid test.

This evening I have been having pretty painful contractions. I don't know if it has anything to do with the glucose test or not. The contractions were about 5 minutes apart and I was getting a little worried. I laid down and drank a lot of water and they are getting better. They are now only every 40 minutes or so. They should go away by morning. I'm not too worried now.

Ultrasound & a Job

Today was a busy day. We had our ultrasound at 8:00am this morning. Thankfully I didn't have to drink water as I am far enough along for them to easily see Gage. Gage still has the calcium deposit in his heart, but the doctor said again not to worry as nothing else is wrong and it will probably go away before birth. Gage was sleeping when we began the ultrasound and the tech kept laughing at his position. He was curled up with his feet folded over his head and his arms tucked inside. He did not want to wake up, but once he did he was very active and showed off for the camera.

The only bad part about my appointment is that my doctor is sending me in for a 3 hour glucose test. I passed the 1 hour glucose test, but I have gained 10lbs in the last month and Gage is measuring big so the doctor is worried that I may have gestational diabetes. Gage is weighing in at a whopping 3 pounds 1 ounce. He is measuring at 29 weeks 5 days (not 28 weeks). I know that the doctor's due date is wrong so his weight would fit in ok with when I think I am due, but the doctor won't change the due date. Oh well, Gage will come when he is ready and I can't really help how big he is so no point in worrying.

After my appointment I received a call from University Park Nursing and Rehab Center. They wanted me to come in for an interview today at 2pm. I was a little surprised as I just faxed over my resume yesterday. It only took me about 10 minutes to get there and everyone was really friendly. The man interviewing me was the Executive Director and he was very outgoing and talked non-stop. He liked the fact that I graduated from Malone as his daughter is currently attending school there. I was honest and told him that I have no experience working with the elderly in a social work setting. He said that it was fine as long as I was a quick learner. He brought the full time social worker in and introduced me. After she left, he asked me how much I wanted to be paid for the job. I said I had no idea, but told him what I made working at TBF. He figured out what I had been making an hour and offered me a little more. I couldn't believe it. I walked in and had a job 10 minutes later.

The job is only part-time which is exactly what I wanted. The hours are flexible and I can pretty much work when I want after I am trained. They just need someone that can help out the full-time social worker as she is stressed out with too much work. I'll probably work about 3 days a week. I am so excited! I really want to stay home as much as I can with Gage and this job will help make it possible.

I had my FBI fingerprints done after the interview and tomorrow I have to have a physical and drug test completed. I also have to have a TB test, but I don't think that I can have that done while I am pregnant. The nursing home told me to check with my OB and just to get a note if I can't have it done.

Here are a few pictures of Gage from the ultrasound today.







My little guy is looking a little less like an alien and more like a baby. My niece Anna has taken to calling him Gator (see my post about Gatorade) as his nickname. I think it is cute. I can't wait until he gets here.

I had to go into Labor and Delivery last week. I had not felt Gage move from 10am to 4pm and called my OB to ask when I should become worried. He sent me to L&D. They hooked me up to monitors and Gage began moving all around. I felt so stupid for going in but the doctor told me that it happens all the time and better safe than sorry. They told me he was just being lazy. Thankfully he was fine.

I've been busy painting all week. I finished painting the base color in the nursery. The green is now on the walls. I just need to put the stripes on 2 of the walls and I will be done. I finished up the paint in the hallway and began taping the bathroom so I can finally finish in there. Greg helped me paint the bathroom a little. He has been working on the kitchen. His dad came over on Saturday and Sunday to help out. Saturday they sanded the walls all day and Sunday they put more mud and tape up. It's going to take a little longer than we though to finish as they now need to lower one of the beams in the ceiling to make the wall straight. Greg promises it will be finished before Gage is here.

As you know Sunday was Mother's Day. Greg really surprised me with my gift. I thought he would give me something practical, but he put a lot of thought into it. He went to Hallmark and bought me one of the Willow Tree figures for my collection. He bought the figure titled "New Life." It is a mother, father, and new baby. I love it!

Gage's New Nickname

My sister (Elizabeth) called me today to tell me a funny story. My niece Anna(5) found a little outfit that Elizabeth had bought for James yesterday. Anna held it up and asked if it was for our baby. The funny part is that she couldn't remember what his name was so she stuttered around and finally asked if it was for Gatorade. Elizabeth laughed and asked if she meant Gage. Anna said she did, but that Gage did sound like Gatorade. I laughed so hard when Elizabeth told me the story. Kids say the cutest things.

Yesterday I went out and had my hair highlighted with blond highlights. I absolutely love it! I really needed to do something to make myself feel pretty as I have been a little down about my body shape lately. Greg was so sweet and made a point to compliment my hair several times after he got home from work.

I received a phone call yesterday about a job. I sent my resume into Coleman Professional Center in Kent a few months ago. The woman called while I was at the hair salon so I didn't actually talk to her until this morning. She said that they had filled the position that I had originally applied for, but wanted me to come in for an interview for a Case Manager I position. I would really love to get back into social work, but don't know if this would be a good job for me or not. I would be paid a lot less than I made at TBF (20K compared to 27K), the hours would be Sunday-Thursday from 12-8pm, I would have a caseload of about 40, and the office is on the other side of Ravenna. My interview isn't until May 16th and I don't know if I should go or call it off. I guess anything would be better than nothing, but I would feel like I was being ripped off only making 20K, especially since county workers make around 35K to start. I also don't know if I want to drive that far everyday. Oh, what to do?

Well, there really isn't anything too interesting going on here right now. Greg and his dad worked on the kitchen this weekend and it is looking better. Greg heard back today about the job. He didn't get it. The company liked him, but wanted someone with more management experience. He was crushed (I guess I was too) as he thought it would be the perfect job for him. We'll keep looking and hopefully find something soon.

It was so nice outside today that I went on a really long walk and mowed the grass in the front yard. Too bad I didn't think to put on sunscreen. Oh well, I'll remember next time. My shoulders are bright pink and nicely match the shirt I am currently wearing. It felt so good to exercise today for some reason. I have been trying to stay active and Greg has been walking with me a few days a week. My belly had been tightening up too much when I walked lately so I cut back a little. Today I was able to walk for about an hour with no pain. I felt slightly normal again and not quite like a big stuffed cabbage.

I had Greg take a few pictures of my belly yesterday. The flash on our camera doesn't work anymore so all of the pictures are blurry. I was 26 weeks exactly.




I love my baby bump! Gage should be about 2 pounds now. My little man is getting bigger. We will see him at our next ultrasound on my brother's birthday (May 17th).