One Years Old...

TODAY!!!

Happy Birthday to my Trippy Girl!

Oh my how you've grown! I love you!

Here we go again...

I woke up Friday morning realizing that we didn't have school, we had Teacher Institute Day and I'll be at Neuqua Valley High School in the morning and Metea Valley High School in the afternoon for meetings...ugh...what am I going to do now?

I remembered that my dad has a blood pressure monitor at home, so I brought it along, figuring I'll just take my blood pressure at lunch.

My friend and co-worker, Leah and I had some delicious Portillo's as we tested my blood pressure:

My left arm was 140/92 and my right arm was 150/99...yikes. I called the doctor and left a message.

I was already in my afternoon meeting when I was finally able to talk to the nurse. She wanted me to come in the office as soon as possible. She also told me that if my blood pressure continues to be high, then I should be aware that they were going to send me right to the hospital.

I left Institute Day, by now I'm not paying any attention anyways, and I'm starting to freak out. I called my mom and Brian. My mom met me at the Dr.'s office.

While there, the nurse took my blood pressure again - 173/96, highest it's been yet

She had me give another urine sample in order to check for protein....there was none...and then told me to lay down on my side for about 5 minutes and they'll take it again. Did that...this time - 156/98

Off to Edwards Hospital.

They sent me to the Labor & Delivery department (which I joked with Brian that we don't need the OB tour now, we've had our own personal tour)

They immediately took a urine sample, hooked me up with a fetal heart rate monitor, a contraction montior, a blood pressure cuff that took my blood pressure every 20 minutes. The nurse also drew two vials of blood.

While we were there, McKenna's heart rate maintained an average of about 145bpm, I was having small contractions, and my blood pressure was high, but steadily came down throughout the day.

My blood work came back fine, but the nurse wanted to send us for a biophysical profile before they sent me home. A biophysical profile combines an ultrasound evaluation with a nonstress test (NST) and is intended to determine fetal health during the third trimester. This test is performed if there is a question about fetal health and well being resulting from either an examination, maternal/fetal symptoms, or if the pregnancy is considered high risk.

When the baby moves, their heart rate should increase by about 15 beats. McKenna's heart rate wasn't increasing consistently enough, so they sent me for the test in order to make sure everything was okay.

The ultrasound tech checked the amniotic fluid, her breathing, the placenta, and her movement. McKenna scored her first 100% - everything looked just fine! Thank God.

When we got back to the room, the nurse said that we were free to go home, but not without instructions first. I have to make an appointment to see the doctor on Tuesday and I'm on modified bed rest until then. I also have to do a 24 hour urinalysis - which means from 7:30pm Friday night until 7:30pm Saturday night I have to collect my urine, all of it.

The excitement and drama is over for now, update to follow on Tuesday.

Week 32

Now that we live at my parents house, we don't have to worry about scheduling our weekly family dinner...we eat dinner together every night! Ahhh, right back to the good 'ol days!

starting to really get huge or it's the striped shirt...let's go with striped shirt!

Week 32 info: By now, McKenna weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

On Thursday night we had a doctor's appointment, this time with Dr. Martin. He was just as wonderful and nice as the rest of the doctor's have been. I couldn't be happier with DuPage Medical Group. It brings me great comfort to know that I'll be okay with whoever happens to be on-call on McKenna's birthday.

The appointment was pretty typical. Nothing totally out of the ordinary. My belly measured 32 inches, they tested my urine, I gained weight, he answered a couple of questions we had, and...my blood pressure was 140/90...

140/90...not good...high

Dr. Martin tested my blood pressure again in my right arm - still high...then in my left arm - still high...hmm...

He said that he was a bit worried about my blood pressure being high, but that it was good that there wasn't any protein in my urine....that might have meant that I had preeclampsia.

My blood pressure was high enough that he wanted it to be monitored. He asked if it was possible to have the nurse at school take my blood pressure on Friday and then call back with what it was.

Yeah sure of course...no problem...talk to you tomorrow!

Week 31 and the Big Move

Whew! What a weekend! The best word used to describe it would be : FULL

The fact that I have now moved into my 31st week of pregnancy was actually the the last thing I thought about...we just had way too much going on.

Here is a rundown of it all...

First...the Week 31 info: This week, McKenna measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Our weekly dinner was on Thursday night...my mom came over and brought KFC. We worked on packing up the house and stayed up late watching Naperville's Evan Lysacek win Gold! (Lizzie sat next to him in advertising class at Neuqua her senior year!)

getting bigger and bigger...

Trippy kissing her sister

so tired from packing

my sweet girl

I no longer have ankles...as of Friday night...I now have cankles

UGH...this picture is awful

nothing like a little fluid in my ankles...

...so much that divots can be made...

Moving Day came on Saturday the 20th. We were very lucky to have both sets of parents and Brian's brother, Eric, come and help us finish moving and packing up the POD. The POD arrived bright and early at 7:45am. It was pretty amazing how they manuevered it onto the driveway...

Here's Dad arriving with coffee and McMuffins!

Rich, my father-in-law, filling up the POD!

Dad and Rich discussing the placement of boxes

the POD getting more and more full...
you never thought that two people could have so much stuff

3156 O'Brien Dr.
our first home

After packing/moving all day, we headed over to our friend's, the Tokarz's, house for dinner with the Bea family. Deana made an absolutely delicious dinner and dessert. She is definitely the hostess with the mostess!

the Dad's, Brad & Tim, playing with their babes, Kailey & Tucker

Kailey & Tucker...getting so old!
Kailey is 9 months and Tucker is 7 months

check out the new toofers!
me & the Kailey girl

Thanks Tim & Steph and Brad & Deana! We had such a great time, as always. We can't wait to add little McKenna into the mix! Tucker, Kailey & Kenna will be the best of friends, I just know it! We love you!

We are officially moved into my parents house and it's been great so far. It's definitely funny to be back into my old bedroom and getting ready in the morning next to Lizzie in the bathroom. But, I love being with my family, and I know that I'm really going to appreciate this time. Remember that it's only day 2.... :)

We are so so so excited to announce that...

WE GOT OUR HOUSE!!!

We'll be under contract tomorrow! Wahooo!!!

Boxing Day

Moving. Let's just say that it's not my most favorite thing to do.

I've done it quite a bit in my 30 years of life.

5 states, 6 houses....friends all over the country

It was the family meeting I most dreaded...always beginning with the words "We're moving."

Everytime I seemed to get settled into the new state, new school, new soccer team, and new group of best friends...mom & dad would call a meeting and oh how I would cry. I would just cry and cry and cry. Would I ever find another best friend like Erin Fatica or Kristen Normann???

It just never seemed likely. It always seemed like the end of the world.

But, each and every time, it wasn't the end of the world. Things always worked out just fine...Yes, I was able to find a group of friends. Yes, I joined a soccer team. Yes, I was just fine.

...and Yes, if we hadn't moved to Illinois, I would never have met Brian.

Moving helped me to grow as a person and actually as a teacher too, no one knows better than me how it felt to be the new kid at school and how important it was to get in with the right group of friends....oh how that can make or break you. Right, mom?

Although it's not on quite as big a scale as say, moving from Michigan to Florida or Florida to Pennsylvania....but....Brian & I are moving!

We have sold our townhouse and we are closing on Friday, February 26th...which yes, is only 10 days away...and no we don't have a house YET.

So...we're moving in with my Mom & Dad (...and Kris and Lizzie) for the time being. We put an offer on a house in Plainfield, IL and we're still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, we're broadening our search to include Oswego, IL and we'll just keep looking until we find our house.

Will this house be McKenna's one and only? Hmmm...only time will tell!

Let the packing begin!

Uh...only crazy beagles try to jump up on top of a mattress leaning against the wall...I'm not kidding she jumped high enough to be hanging by her paws...Brian helped her the rest of the way.

Guest bedroom, done!

I am limited in what I can do, so my Momma came on Monday to help pack up our kitchen. What a blessing!

moving mess

lunch break!


they were a big help...Krissy reading her book on her iPhone and Trippy all snuggled up

this is what can go wrong when you're throwing a ball for the dog in the house

my Tripsy girl likes her Starbucks just like her Momma does

a grande, nonfat, decaf, caramel macchiato, with whip!

what a great Valentine's Day treat!
don't worry, I had already finished the drink, she was just licking the cup clean!