20 Weeks down...

20 to go! Ok I'm a little late but I was too tired to blog yesterday - it's actually 20 Weeks and 1 Day now... oops!? Anyway - the halfway point - such a good feeling! I can't say that I've enjoyed every moment of it but I sure am having a good experience so far... so far being the key word. I had kind of a bad experience at my monthly check up yesterday.

Here's the recap:

To start, I could have sworn my appointment was at 11:30am so I walk in at 11:25am and the receptionist informs me that I've missed my appointment because it was at 11am. What a fabulous feeling...

Great.

My appointment was to meet with the other doctor in the practice just in case Dr. C isn't available at "go time." Great first impression! So the receptionist calls back to the doctor who so kindly agrees to still see me if I'm willing to wait about a 1/2 hour. Thank goodness! So I finally get back to the room and meet Dr. W - she's nice - however I definitely prefer Dr. C. No real particular reason other than she just gives off a different vibe, if that makes any sense. She kept talking about doulas, yoga, and natural childbirth... PSH!!! I make it to the gym lady and when I ask for the effing epidural it better be on standby! ANYWAY!

We do the usual: pee in a cup, blood pressure, any new concerns... etc, etc. Then she starts to tell me that they've looked over the results of my ultrasound from 2 weeks ago and they need to schedule a follow up. What? So what do I do? I FREAK THE EFF OUT!!! I think I went into panic mode instantly - already flustered from being late - I start to ask all kinds of questions. Dr. W kindly calms me down and clarifies that I shouldn't worry that they just have to do a follow up ultrasound - all the measurements that they did get looked good and right on track where they should be. It just appears that Baby GB was quite active and was moving around so much that they didn't get everything that they wanted.

Hmmmm... I just have a weird feeling - I hate it - and I'm really nervous. My follow up ultrasound is scheduled for Thursday and while I'm really excited that I get to see Baby Schultz for a second time, I'm really hoping that what Dr. W told me is true and that I don't need to worry about anything. I am debating on whether or not to call Dr. C tomorrow just to get some reassurance that really they just didn't get all their measurements.

Anyway, today was also the first time that I've had my belly measured. Apparently, from the top of your uterus to the bottom should measure the number of weeks you are + or - 2. So at 20 weeks my belly should measure 18-22 inches... Guess what we're at? 22 inches baby! Normal - but on the large end of the scale :) Slow down Baby Schultz - this isn't a race here!!!



(NOT my belly!!!) :)
Photo Credit

AND - last but not least - again, Dr. W had the same tact as Dr. C when talking flu shots and I was again bamboozled. I left with the h1n1 shot. I feel good about it though - granted 2 months ago I was 100% against EITHER shot, I ended up getting both.

Wow... that was quite the update! I'll leave you with what Baby Schultz is up to this week from thebump.com:

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe!
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Cheers all!!!

You guessed it - We are officially Team Blue!!!

When we first went in the tech asked if we wanted to know the sex. Of course we said yes! She then said that only if she's 100% sure will she say either way. Then Baby Schultz decided to spread eagle!!! And she said - we've definitely got a boy! Adam of course needs to be sure before he gets excited so he asked the tech again how sure she was. Her response was really funny - she said (in really technical terms) that they say a boy looks like a turtle head and a girl looks like a big mac... she points to the money shot and says "THAT, is a turtle head." Haha... here's proof:

Then we went through about a zillion other angles and shots - all of which she said seemed to look ok. I guess Dr. C gets to go through all of them and only if she see's something out of the ordinary will she call... let's hope for no call! :)

The heart had all 4 chambers and the heartbeat was at 156 beats per minute. Baby Schultz's kidney's were functioning and his bladder was full (as was mine! I had to get up and pee 1/2 way through). The spine looked straight and the head was measuring right on track. I can't remember exactly but I think she said he was about 9 ounces based on all her measurements.

The rest is kind of a blur but I have ton of pictures! This one's my favorite:

I think that's all the excitement for today - our next appointment is Nov. 7th and we get to meet our alternate doctor, Dr. W - just in case Dr. C isn't available. That should be fun, I hope she isn't planning any late March vacations!!!
Cheers everyone!

Baked Potato Soup

THANKS PEPPER!!! :) Tonight's dinner was fabulous!

Adam went out hunting all day so I made this while he was gone. He also added rotisserie pheasant and hungarian partridge to the menu but I decided to pass on that one.

Baked Potato Soup
* 12 slices bacon
* 2/3 cup margarine
* 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 7 cups milk
* 4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
* 4 green onions, chopped
* 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 teaspoon chili powder


DIRECTIONS
1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2. In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
**At this point I put everything in my crock pot until Adam got home.
3. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, chili powder, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
**I omitted the sour cream because Adam doesn't like it, but added a dollop to the top of mine when I served them. Still oh so good!

YUM-O!!!! :)

Dirt Cupcakes!

Happy October everyone!
So we're having a potluck tomorrow at work and I got a little creative tonight. I decided to try some dirt cupcakes! haha - here ya go!
I have yet to try them but I'm sure they are nice and yummy :-) ENJOY!

• 1 pkg. (18 1/4oz) chocolate cake mix
• 1 can (16oz) chocolate frosting
• 20 cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
• 24 gummy worms or other gummy bugs
  

1. Prepare and bake cake batter according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool completely.
2. Set aside 1 Tbsp frosting. Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting; dip each into crushed cookies.
3. Place a dab of the reserved frosting on the bottom of each worm or bug; place on each cupcake.

Recipe courtesy of: Taste of Home - Simple & Delicious, Sept/Oct 2009

19 days and counting...

We had our monthly appointment today, we are 15 weeks and 2 days - all is well with Baby Schultz!

I got to hear the heartbeat again and it was a strong 140 beats per minute! I found out we are going to be delivering at Sacred Heart Medical Center and I think after the holidays I'm going to drag Adam over there to take a Childbirth class and take a tour... he's thrilled! Not so much.

I also... yes... got a flu shot. Contrary to everything I've been saying for the last 3 months, Dr. C talked me into it. Actually, she had a very sneaky way of telling me that I was getting one after our consultation. I walked out asking myself if I had said yes or if I had just been bamboozled?! Anyway, in 3-4 weeks apparently the H1N1 vaccine will be available and I have a feeling I'll leave my 19 week appointment feeling a little bamboozled as well?!

And last but not least... Dr. C scheduled the BIG ULTRASOUND!!! So... in 19 days, as long as Baby Schultz cooperates, we'll know if we are:

Team Blue or Team Pink!!!

What's your vote???? :)

White Chicken Chili

Oh fall - we meet again! And how I LOVE you! While the weather turned cold about a week ago, today marked MY first official day of fall.

Back in college the one thing I always remember about the first few weeks of school is walking from my apartment up to the EWU campus through the swarms of little white nat-like bugs. SICK! Today as I was leaving my office for lunch and walking to my car, there they were... it's officially fall. And so was the inspiration for my dinner!

No, not the bugs... but my favorite fall food! Chili - not just any chili:

White Chicken Chili

- 16oz can of white kidney beans - 2 medium onions, chopped - 1 stick butter - 1/4 cup flour - 3/4 cup chicken broth - 2 cups 1/2 & 1/2 - 1 tsp tabasco - 1 1/2 tsp chili powder - 1 tsp cumin - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp pepper - 1 4oz can green chilis - 1 4oz can jalapenos (optional for more spice) - 1 lb chicken breast - 1 1/2 cup montery jack cheese - 1/2 cup sour cream

Boil chicken in large pot 15-20 min. Remove, let cool and shred with fingers or between two forks. Saute onion and butter, whisk in flour. Slowly add broth and 1/2 & 1/2. Bring to slow boil, stir in tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Add shredded chicken, chilis, beans, cheese and jalapenos if desired. Cook over moderately low heat for 20 minutes. Add sour cream. Serve immediately, freeze or keep warm in a crock.

YUM-O! I wish I could remember where I originally got this recipe so I could give them credit but it's been in my recipe book for some time! The usual cornbread staple didn't sound the greatest with this kind of chili so I just made some quick garlic bread for dipping! Enjoy!!!!

Craving...

BACON... that is all.