Panama City Beach, FL

Welcome back to reality! :(

Nate and I ventured down to PCB last week for one last vacation before Peanut joins us in the world! We call it the "calm before the storm." I was a little hesitant about being in the car 13 hours at ~7 months pregnant! After talking with Katie M, she quickly reassured me the drive wasn't bad pregnant and she thought it was a killer idea!! So, I told Nate, let's go for it!! We packed our suits, towels, sunscreen, and books and headed south for a little "2nd honeymoon" as Nate likes to call it!! Oh yeah, Nate reminded me to make sure to pack Peanut too! :) I told him that shouldn't be a problem this time around. She is pretty low maintenance! :)

We left at 5:30am Saturday morning and headed south! The drive actually went pretty quick until we had to get off I-65 and travel 3 hours on country bumpkin roads!! I was a little anxious to get there and you just can't go 70 on those roads to get there quicker!! We arrived to our bargain deal condo that was across from the beach!! It totally rocked!! We had a little "Studio" with a mini kitchen!!

Sunday through Wednesday we basically did the same thing -- Up at 5:30am, breakfast, Worked out (Nate ran the beach, I worked out in the fitness center), showered and "suited up", headed to the beach for a few hours, in for lunch, out to the pool for a few more hours, in for dinner and The O'Reilly Factor, and then to bed at 8:30pm! It may sound boring, but we thoroughly enjoyed reading, relaxing, and swimming!!! Peanut really likes the ocean and the pool! Maybe she will be a little swimmer like her mama!!

I LOVE READING on the beach!!! I have to say that I finished 3 books! One of which being a 250-page breastfeeding book!! Now how many of you can say that you took a breastfeeding book with you to FL on your last trip??? I bet I can count on one hand huh? It was a great book and very informative!! A lot more info than I ever thought I would need to know!!! Nate tells me that we are going to be "know-it-all's" in our Breastfeeding Class in November. Should we be that annoying couple that sits at the front of the classroom and answers ALL the teachers questions?? Those of you that know me well -- I would NEVER brown-nose would I??? :)

Below you will find some pictures from our little getaway!! I have to tell you now that I was not about to purchase a $50 maternity suit to wear for 4 days so I made due with what I had!!! You might want some sunglasses for my pasty white stomach!!













My "hunk" of a husband checking out the beauty of the ocean!













One of our sunset photo shoots! Does the outfit look familiar?













My new-found appreciation for beach umbrella's! However, I learned you still need to wear sunscreen while sitting under one b/c the light is reflected up from the sand!! My whole left side was bright red after 3 hours of sitting there!!










Yes, I am "that" tacky person on the beach in a bikini that probably shouldn't be!!! Who needs maternity suits?? My policy -- no need to cover up that baby bump! Wear it proud!!! I told you that you needed some sunglasses for that white belly! :)










The beautiful sunset from our balcony! How amazing!!

Nate sitting on a sailboat at the end of one of our many beach walks!! It isn't as easy walking on the beach at 7 months pregnant! The uneven surface will really do a prego-mama in with some quality back pain!!!


Hope you enjoyed some of our many pictures from our trip! :)

Back to the grind of daily life! :( Boo Hoo!!! Anyone know how many days left till I get to be a mom and stop working as a pharmacist for awhile??? (I know the "work" I am looking forward to will be harder than any day at the office -- but I can't wait for it!) All I can say is "Bring it On Baby!!!"

Allyson and Peanut

26 weeks down, 14 to go!!!

Break out the sparkling apple juice—Peanut has now completed two-thirds of her stay in Hotel Ally-Mama Womb. How exciting!!!! We have also finally broken the 100 day mark!!! Nate and I celebrated with our favorite No-Pudge Brownies and Double Churned Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream! YUM!! 2 servings for mom and dad this time!! We both have to feed two! (Or at least Nate thinks so when it comes to brownies!)

This week in the news:

-Peanut’s nerves in her ears are better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both my voice and Nate’s as we chat with each other. Research has shown that newborns actually recognize familiar sounds after birth. Guess we better keep it PG huh?
-Peanut continues to inhale and exhale small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs.
-Air sacks are developing in Peanut’s lungs, which means it just might be possible for her to take a breath at the end of this week. That is a good thing huh?
-Peanut continues to pack on the baby fat!
-She should weight almost 2 lbs and measure 14 inches
-Her retina completes the development of its normal layers this week, which means her eyes are now fully developed! Always good – wouldn’t want to have an alien child with weird eyes!
-Brainwaves for the auditory and visual systems are detectable in Peanut’s noggin this week.

We made it back safely from PCB, FL!! We had a blast! Peanut really liked playing in the ocean!! She also enjoyed the sunlight, but don't worry -- we didn't get too much!!! Stay turned for a vacation post with lots of fun pictures!!! You know daddy has to work on photoshop before this mama is allowed to post them!! :)

Allyson and Peanut

Headin' South...

Mama and Daddy and lil Peanut are heading South for a little fall getaway!! We will be back shortly! Hope you don't miss us while we are gone!! We will be relaxin' by the beach with some good books and good food!! Gotta enjoy the calm before the storm!!

Love,
Allyson, Nate, and Peanut

"My cup runneth over..."

My weekly emails tell me that "my cup should runneth over" right now... that is my bra cup. Well, I have news for them... I don't think my cup will EVER runneth over!!! They also tell me that I should sign up to be a Victoria's Secret Model with my new "cup" problems! Unless Victoria secret is coming out with a new training bra line, I probably won't be on their A-list! :)

In the news this week:

-Peanut's hands are fully developed
-She spends most of her time moving around in the darkness of my uterus!!
-Peanut's brain and nerve endings are developed enough now so that she baby can feel the sensation of touch. I guess I should stop pushing down on my stomach trying to illicit a kick huh?? Poor peanut!
-Peanut's arms and legs have grown to almost the proportions they will be at birth
-Peanut's nostrils which used to be plugged up, now have cleared out so she can practice breathing through her nose! Hum... isn't that interesting??
-Peanut's spine is made up of 150 joints, 33 rings and some 1,000 ligaments
-Peanut's capillaries are forming in her body right now to give her skin a "pink glow"
-Her blood vessels in the lungs are developing this week! (That is a good thing huh?)
-Peanut should be about 13.5-14 inches long which is about the length of a elementary school music class recorder! Random huh?
-Peanut should weigh over 1.5lbs (which means our lil peanut probably weighs over 2 lbs)

Peanut has just restarted her Zumba classes again this fall. She only got to do Zumba for the first 4 weeks of her life and then Zumba was over!! She was quite upset (I imagine), but we have remendied the problem with the new fall classes!! I think she likes dancing all around, swinging those hips, and doing the cha-cha steps!!! :) Although, she has been missing her friend Apryl and hopes she comes back to join her again soon at Zumba! :)

Love, Allyson and Peanut

Random piece of information...

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Things that make you go hummmmm......

Relief for Mama Al/Updated Picture

19 weeks AND 25 weeks

How about that growth??? When I look at myself from a side view, I don't appear to look nearly as big as I feel when I look down at my stomach!! 13 lb weight gain in 25 weeks! YIKES!

After almost 3 LONG weeks, I believe that my taste buds have returned to almost 90% normal. My ear infection and cellulitis has pretty much cleared up. I still have some lingering ear pains at night especially while I am trying to sleep -- but it is much better than it was 2-3 weeks ago! Let me tell you this is a huge relief for me!!! I was begining to think all my favorite foods would be no longer my favorite foods! Eating fruit that tastes like pennies is less than desirable! Thanks for all who prayed for me and encouraged me during this time! It was a very hard and trying time!!

In other news, little Peanut is getting more workouts in than her mother these days -- which some say is hard to do! She has figured out that her mom and dad really enjoy watching her kick mom's stomach! Sometimes I will just sit and watch my stomach for 15 minutes.... I find myself laughing and smiling!! What a joy it is for me to see her moving around!! Sometimes I think she thinks my stomach is a punching bag b/c the punches/kicks come one right after the other!! I do have to say, this is by far the BEST thing about being pregnant!!!!

We are getting close to breaking the 100 day mark --- there will be a huge party and celebration once we hit "99 days left!" Stay tuned!!

Allyson and Peanut

Leave her alone...

This blog post will be a little different than any that have come before it, but I feel it necessary to address some of the issues arising in our country right now. I hesitated to write this post b/c I know that I have democratic supporters that read my blog. I do not mean to offend anyone -- these are just my thoughts and feelings on this issue!

I am so sick and tired of people bashing Sarah Palin! Some members of the left-side are completely OUT OF CONTROL!!! They are bashing her character, her family, her lifestyle choices, her experience, and the list goes on and on and on... There are "30" lawyers and scum-seekers headed up to Alaska to try to dig up as much dirt on this poor woman as they can find -- and since they probably won't find much or ANYTHING, they will make stuff up! Just like the Daily Kos that made up the lies about her baby boy Trig being the son of her 17 year old daughter and Sarah is just "covering up" for her! Give me a break people? How dare you say something horrible like that? Why would you say something like that??? That is a straight LIE!!!

Why do people keep referring to her as the "former mayor of a small town?" She is the current governor of the state of Alaska!! Give credit where credit is due!! If she were a male, this would NOT even be an issue. Heck, she has way more on her experience list than the Democratic nominee for president!! But you don't hear the media talking about that, do you???

Why are they questioning her ability to raise her children? Obama has two young children at home and this has never once been an issue with him!!! Raising children is a joint effect b/w the husband and wife in the house! It is not only the responsibility of the woman to raise the children!! Palin has a very supportive husband and continues to show involvement in her children's lives -- who are we to say what she can and cannot do as a mother and potential VP? I don't think we (or the media) have any place to judge her in that area!! That is just wrong!!! If she were a man, once again, this would NOT be an issue!!!

I was very upset to see the cover of US Weekly this past week with Sarah Palin on the cover and it states "Lies, Sandals, and Babies" or something of that nature. How misleading and what a bunch of crap??? The article is poorly written and is not "fair balance" as one would think a "Trash Magzine" would at least be. Nothing in the media is "fair balanced" these days! Don't get me started on the fact that the media wants Obama elected and that is clear to anyone in the US.

I will tell you why this is happening --- (or at least my opinion for what it is worth) -- She is everything the Democrats feared in a Republican candidate for vice president and then some!!!! They are so scared about the damage the McCain/Palin ticket is going to do, they are trying to find anything out there to discredit her character!!! For the first time, I think they see that they CAN be beat and they are scared! No longer is the "hailed chief/the one" a shoo into the White House. There will be a fearse battle!

I wish the Democrats would rather spend their energy telling Americans what "CHANGE" they will bring about instead of just preaching the word "CHANGE." Change is not a destination!!! The American people need to know specifics of what will be changed. Not the "hope" that change will occur. Hope is not strategy. I find it hilarious that CHANGE is their central message and Obama picked Joe Biden for his running mate!! Joe Biden is the furthest thing from change in the world. Biden is so intertwined with every lobbyist in Washington and sweats "Washington" blood. He is not change at all! He is the same that we have and then same that we have always had!!

Well, I have said enough... I just wish this election would become a more positive race to the White House with the main focus on the American people and what would be best for America!! I wish the focus would be on telling Americans what specifically will be accomplished when victory is won!! Why can't we stop character bashing and start actually talking about what matters????

Allyson

"Little Wiener Schnitzel"

Now why in the world would the weekly emails refer to our baby as a "little Wiener schnitzel." That is actually a bit disturbing to mama Al!!! Does that disturb anyone else?? YIKES!!!

Peanut's growing rapidly --- see her growth below...
-- She should have gained over 4 oz since last week.

-- She should be about a foot long or in their words "Foot-long Chicago hot dog." You all know that I wouldn't refer to our child as a hot dog, rather a turkey dog! :)

-- Her body is filling out proportionally and starting to plump up! However, I am convinced by the ultrasound pictures that she is already quite "plump."

-- Her taste buds are developing and let's hope she isn't tasting the metallic, copper tastes right now that her mother is b/c it is HORRIBLE!!

-- Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant! Yeah for surfactant -- right EEP???

-- Her ears are supposed to be fully functional right now which is why when daddy rocks out with his amp and electric guitar, she starts doing flips in my stomach!!

-- Her inner ear is fully developed now too to give her a sense of balance!! Hope she will forgive me for all our workouts at the gym!! Maybe that is why she remains in the breach position -- she doesn't want to be bounced around upside down!

Now, for an update on mama Al! Well, after 7 days straight of horrible ear pain, I finally had to do something about it. I went to an ENT today and he said that I have an external ear infection (basically an ear infection in my outer ear canal) with external lobe cellulitis! Umm... isn't that fun? Long story short, I had started Keflex on Sunday and he started me on some antibiotic ear drops (Floxin otic) today to help combat my issues. The Keflex "should" treat the cellulitis and the lymph node involvement, whereas the Floxin will HOPEFULLY treat my external ear infection and the pain associated with it! I asked the ENT about giving me something to treat the pain and he asked me what I was taking.... My response, "Well, just Tylenol which isn't helping at all!" He said with a VERY hesitant voice, "Well, I guess I could give you something stronger to help you sleep at night for the pain, but I don't think you want to take that being pregnant." I was like, "Oh no, I wasn't talking about anything ORAL, only some pain relieving ear drops (ie. Auralgan). He said, "Oh, I see." (Personal interjection -- I think he thought I was a drug seeker looking for some street drugs the way he said what he did. However, I already had in the back of my mind what I thought might be appropriate therapy before even entering his office. Guess that is the trouble I get myself into "knowing too much." I think I wanted him to read my mind and recognize what the best option might be! Does this sound familiar to any of you other health care professionals, especially pharmacist??) So, he said he didn't like to use those pain drops b/c they could irritate my infection more and that it will heal on its own!! Boo Hoo!! Guess I will have to spend at least another 36-48 hours with this stupid ear pain!! Also, he didn't seem phased by my change in taste buds!! Guess it really only bothers the person that has to eat the food!!! Let's hope it goes away when I get better!!! Or I might just die!!!!!!

Lesson Learned: He said, "Don't stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow!!" Or, my translation of that ridiculous statement is "Don't use a Q-tip so hard that you break the skin! Q-tips are meant for light cleaning, not "deep" cleaning if you know what I mean!!

Allyson and Princess Peanut

A solution or answer for my problem?

Thanks for many of you that shared opinions and guesses for my mysterious problem that arouse overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.

One very intelligent girl (EA), might have come up with an explanation to my problem...or at least an explanation that makes the most sense taking into account all my circumstances....

We think I might have somewhat of a viral ear infection (thus the pain and heat radiating out of my right ear for 3 days now). The right side of throat is very red and my right side lymph nodes are very swollen. However, the good thing is that there is no pus or fluid behind my eardrum (thank heavens!) My outer ear canal is very red and inflammed!!

A very wise EA found :"Many naturalists believe that the metallic taste is toxins being released by the lymph glands. These naturalists believe that the toxins are being released to protect the fetus from the side effects of exposure to the toxins."

So, doesn't it only make sense that my swollen lymph nodes and viral infection could be to blame for my immediate change in taste buds overnight? One doctor also stated that the viral infection could infact change the normal flora in my mouth as well!!

So, the grand prize of $1 goes to EA!

Allyson (in pain) and Princess Peanut (enjoying the easy ride)

Tongue Tied...

The strangest thing has happened to me...my taste buds changed over night for the worse!!!! On Wednesday morning I woke up with this HORRIBLE taste in my mouth. I had breakfast and my oatmeal just seemed to taste bad... it wasn't the same as it used to be, but I couldn't put my finger on what was different. I brushed my teeth and tongue(well, actually scrubbed VERY hard) and the Crest toothpaste created a worse taste in my mouth. I thought, well, I better whip out the Listerine. I swished Orange Listerine around in my mouth and even gargled -- no change. I was total disgusted the whole way to work and put a peppermint in my mouth to try to get rid of the horrible taste! NO DICE!! I couldn't take that for but 2 minutes. I started panicking... what is this awful taste in my mouth that I can hardly describe???

For my morning snack, I opened my yogurt, and it tasted horrible too!!! Ahh!!! I had a turkey sandwich with plain baked lays for lunch and was OK. So, I thought I would wash it down with small piece of chocolate -- WRONG!!! That brought the horrible taste out the worst!!! I was only able to eat veggies and meat at dinner last night as well!!! I even tried to use the end of a spoon to scrape off my "cells" to allow new ones to be on the surface, but this didn't work!!

I went to bed with HIGH hopes that my taste disturbance would vanish overnight like it came, well, I was WRONG again... today was just the same. If I attempt to each anything with sugar, even wonderful FRUIT... I get this horrible taste in my mouth at the back of my tongue.

So, you may be asking yourself... what exactly does it taste like? Well, for anyone that has taken Biaxin before and know the metallic taste that comes with it... When anything somewhat sweet (even natural sweetness like fruit) touches the back of my tongue, the only thing I can taste is "copper" and "metals." When I chew up a banana, it feels like I am chewing on copper pennies!! This is THE MOST REPULSIVE taste in the whole world!!!

What in the world am I going to eat??? I can eat turkey, plain bread, cheese, cottage cheese, cheerios, rice, some veggies, and meat -- no fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, or sweets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love fruit so much and can't imagine living without it for 16 more weeks!!!!

Does anyone have a solution to this problem? What on the earth is going on??? I know that anything can happen with pregnancy, but heck -- you don't hear of taste disturbances in the second trimester -- usually just the first, right??

Of note: I woke up on Tuesday morning with a horrible earache and my lymph nodes on the right side below my jaw are swollen. I had one of my docs check my ear out today and she said, no infection, your inner ear looks perfect. However, my outer ear is somewhat inflamed and red. I still have the horrible earache!!

So, 1 million dollars (well, maybe $1 instead) to the person that can solve AND eliminate my problem!!!

Any takers???

Allyson and Miss Peanut

Princess Peanut...

Greetings everyone to the month of September!!! We are getting another month closer to the arrival of our 'lil Princess Peanut!! Nate and I had a great "LONG" weekend -- 5 days off in a row to be exact!! We have gotten lots accomplished! Not to mention found some AWESOME bargains on the Kohl's baby clearance racks for next summer's clothes!! I have also been knee deep in researching baby products, what is needed, what isn't, what is safe, what is not, etc... WOW, you can spend hours at the computer surfing to figure these things out!!! It is also very difficult to prepare with registry items that you know NOTHING about!! It is sure a great thing to have friends that have already been down the first-born baby road to impart EXCELLENT wisdom to me about these "mysterious" items (AS and EEP)! Thanks again girls!!

Nothing too exciting in this weeks posts ... I have included week's 23 and 22 b/c I was too excited about the UFO mystery last week, I forgot to post the weekly updates on Peanut's growth!! But you all have to admit that the UFO game was more fun!!!

Week 23

- They tell me that if I pump up the music and start break dancin' that Peanut will be able to feel me dance b/c of her heightened sense of movement! Interesting tid-bit huh? Can't say I would have thought of that?? Maybe they are just grabbing at anything to fill in these weekly emails!
- Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing.
- The sounds that Peanut's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as Nate rocking out with his new amp and his electric guitar — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. (Let's hope so or we are in trouble!)
- Peanut's fat production is in overdrive at this point. Peanut will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! Sure hope that doesn't apply to me!

(Sorry these didn't get posted last week)

Week 22

-Peanut’s hands are growing bigger and stronger
-Peanut is developing her sense of touch due to the nerve endings in her fingers
-Peanut probably likes to touch her face and grab the umbilical cord!
-Peanut’s brain is continuing to develop and she is turning into “little baby Einstein.”
-Peanut’s hair is pretty much white – no pigment has appeared yet to give it its color!
-Peanut’s taste buds are developing and Peanut is more than likely smiling with each fruit and veggie that mama Al eats!!!
-Peanut’s pancreas is developing right now. I want to know, when does it start kicking out insulin? Or does it wait until it actually starts consuming food (ie. Breastmilk?) Anyone know the answer?
-Peanut should weigh over a pound (Or based on our first US, Peanut might be up to 1.5-2 lbs)
-Peanut should be about 11 inches long, head to heal… one weekly email refers to this as “long as a package of Oreos” while one refers to it the size of a spaghetti squash. I think I like the Oreo one better, right LM???