Cabbage Patch Kid

At 28 weeks, Charlotte Grace Stiers is about the size of a Chinese cabbage! She's growing like a little weed in there - measuring roughly 14.8 inches long and weighing somewhere around 2.5 pounds (according to www.babycenter.com).

I'm just barely into the 3rd trimester and I'm actually feeling quite pregnant. Not to brag, but I've had such an uneventful and "easy" (I'll regret that later) pregnancy so far. It's been smooth sailing - sneaked through the morning sickness phase, have been able to eat whenever and whatever I please, have been able to keep up with almost all of my regular routines... I'm just waiting for some giant hook to pull my perfect pregnancy off the stage while the audience boos disapprovingly.

28 weeks

Don't get me wrong, I have had some typical pregnancy symptoms flare up in the last month or so. Acid reflux, far more trips to the bathroom, and some leg circulation issues have been at the top of the list lately. And, as expected, weight gain and mild difficulties sleeping have been a battle, too. But, going back to a previous post - THERE'S ANOTHER HUMAN BEING LIVING INSIDE OF ME!! Of course things are going to be different! However, it is hard to maintain dignity and authority in the classroom when I'm waddling around like a penguin all day!

Last weekend, Ben and I made the drive to IL for his brother Joey's high school graduation. After not making it even to the freeway until 7:30 or so, we decided to divide the drive into two 3-hour chunks. We stopped in Indianapolis for the night, which turned out to be the best idea ever! It was 10:30 by the time we got there, and would have been nearly 2:00 in the morning before we got to his parents' house. Instead, we slept like babies and finished the drive on Saturday. While the drive up there seems to get longer each time we make it, I'm so glad we got to be there to celebrate with Joey and the rest of the family! 

Joey - getting ready to walk into the gym

We were sitting at the very far side of the gym from the stage, so my photo of Joey receiving his diploma (holder) is hard to make out. They don't actually receive their real diplomas until after they've behaved themselves during the graduation ceremony. The diplomas were handed out as the kids walked back out of the gym.

Finally, for those of you wondering, Donny is doing great! The staples in his belly came out last Friday and he seems to be healing up nicely. He doesn't seem to be favoring his paw at all like he was last week, and has been running around, jumping, eating, and doing typical "Donny" things!

The only thing that hasn't returned to normal is the relationship to between Donny and Marie. For a whole week after Donny came home from the vet, Marie hissed at him. She never acted aggressively, but she'd walk right up to him, sniff his face, and then hiss! Well, I haven't heard her hiss at all since this weekend, but now Donny is growling at her!! They usually do everything together - play, bird-watch, and sleep. But now they are very cautious around each other and I had to separate them twice last night! I think Donny is feeling good enough now that he can get back at Marie for hissing in his face when he wasn't feeling well!

School is wrapping up - 12 days left! Ben came to school today to help me start packing up my room. The building is undergoing renovations starting this summer, so we have to take all of our personal stuff home and put EVERYTHING else into boxes. Yikes - what a huge undertaking!! So thankful he got out of school before me and has some free time to help me - and that he's nice enough to do it!!