So I wrote my last post the day before I was due to go on holiday.  Thankfully, my car got fixed & we got to go to Hopton on Sea.  It was a lovely break.  I slept really well in our little caravan and chilled out lots.  Unfortunately, within hours of our return I felt like the holiday had never happened!  I’ve only been back 2 weeks and it’s already a distant memory…

We got back about 3.30pm on the Friday and after unpacking and having something to eat, I made my way over to Nan’s.  It was then I found out that she’d ended up back in hospital the day I went on hols.  She wasn’t ill as such but in desperate need of a transfusion.  Because she needed so much (4 bags of red bloods cells and a bag of platelets) they had to admit her.  Nan wasn’t very happy about this and then when she got let out a couple of days later, there was a lot to sort out.  Her care package started so her and Mum had to explain all her illnesses and requirements to every carer that came in.  Nan’s also on a lot of medication and Mum has to sort all that out.  It was basically a really stressful week for them both and they’d had enough.  After being away from it all f or a few days and feeling particularly hormonal, it affected me even more than usual.  They were both snapping at each other and getting upset over little things, it was awful.  I just wanted to cry my eyes out.  I somehow held myself together because me crying would have just made things worse.  By the time I left, I was an emotional wreck.

Since then, Mum has been home for a break & Nan managed to stay out of hospital until last Saturday.  She’s come down with a chest infection.  She was also severely dehydrated through not drinking enough.  We really thought she was gonna die again on Sunday as she was in a bad way.  She’s on antibiotics and has had bag after bag of saline to rehydrate her.  She has to have a nebulizer and oxygen every day though as her breathing isn’t great.  The docs have said today that she might be allowed out Monday or Tuesday but we’ll see.

After a chat with Mum and her Sister, Nan’s finally realised that she’s not gonna get better and that she needs 24 hour care.  I never thought this would happen as she’s been saying ‘When I get better’ and even asking how long the carers will be going in for.  She got very upset but told Mum to start looking for a good nursing home.  It’s so sad but absolutely necessary.  Even though she has carers and nurses going in twice a day, she’s still on her own for quite a while and is in charge of her own nutrition and medication.  She’s not eating and drinking enough and half the time, she doesn’t say if she’s not feeling too good.  She always seems to leave it until she’s at death’s door and gets sent to hospital.  Mum can’t stay with her all the time and when she’s not there, we worry so much.  We don’t want her to go into a home but know it’s for the best.

Baby wise things are good.  I’m suffering a bit but baby is OK and that’s the main thing.  I went to see my consultant last week.  I had my blood pressure taken (which was normal as usua)l and my urine tested.  They said it was showing sugar and needed to be sent off.  I got sent back to the waiting room expecting to see the consultant next when I was called in for a scan.  I had no idea why I was having a scan and neither did the sonographer but I wasn’t complaining!  It was amazing to see baby again.  She said it was being a wriggler but still managed to get all the measurements.  I asked if she could tell me how much baby weighs and give me an approximate birth weight.  After a few calculations she informed me that baby was about 3lb 2oz and if it carried on growing at the same rate and I went full term, the birth weight could be around 8lb 12oz!!!  I’d convinced myself baby was gonna be 7lb max because of the measurement the midwife did at 25 weeks.  When I finally went in to see the consultant I found out that’s why I’d had a scan.  She saw where the midwife had plotted baby’s growth on the chart and was concerned because it wasn’t even on the below average line.  It’s now on the above average line

A few days after my appointment I received a letter from the hospital saying that they’d found ‘mixed growth’ in my urine.  They wanted me to send another sample in.  I went to see the midwife yesterday and showed her the letter.  They tested my urine again and it showed blood & protein this time which means I definitely have some sort of infection.  They’ve sent my sample to the hospital so I’ve just got to wait now.  It’s made me feel a bit unsettled because  UTI’s can bring on premature labour if they’re not treated.  I just want to know what it is and get on antibiotics. 

I’ve finally been cursed with the dreaded swollen feet.  I know it’s just the heat and/or fluid retention and not pre eclampsia because my blood pressure is fine.  It’s not causing me any pain at the moment it’s just not a good look.  My beloved has just informed me I have cankles!!!

I’ve been buying some more bits & bobs.  I got some cute vests & sleepsuits and that’s me pretty much done clothes wise.  I’ve found the monitors I want and will be ordering them shortly.  There’s a few more things left on the list which I’ll hopefully get over the next few weeks.  I need to sort my hospital bag too!

The nursery is finally in progress.  Andy started stripping it last weekend and is finishing it this weekend.  His Brother has booked a plasterer to skim the walls on Monday.  Once that’s done and dry, painting will commence!  The floorboards are OK but not brilliant so we can’t decide whether to mess around making them brilliant or just get a new carpet. 

I thought the last trimester would drag but at the moment, it’s flying by.  I’m 30 weeks pregnant on Saturday!!  Baby could be here in as little as 8 weeks, OMG!!  I’m dying to meet baby now and know what sex it is and what it looks like.  I managed to convince myself that I’m having an ugly baby last week!  Stupid I know but a couple of friends have both had gorgeous babies recently and I started thinking ‘What if my baby is really ugly?!  People will expect pics and won’t know what to say if mine’s an ET look a like!’  Andy said it will be beautiful just like it’s Mummy.  He knows all the right things to say.  Apart from the cankles comment lol.

I’m generally feeling a bit low at the moment.  I find myself wishing that life was more normal and that I could concentrate on looking after myself and getting ready for baby.  Then I feel really selfish for thinking that way.  I’m probably just hormonal so will stop boring you and leave you with some new bump pics…