Are we there yet???

So it's been 28 weeks and time has hit an ultimate slow...And all I keep thinking is how in the world am I going to last another 12 weeks?  Time was flying by and then all of a sudden it seems to have come to a schreeching halt.  Life is so strange that way.  By this week, Madelyn weighs on average over two pounds, approximately the size of a Chinese Cabbage and measures almost 15 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes (long ones hopefully)!!
My appointment this week was dreadful.  I had my glucose screening test for gestational diabetes.  First thing this morning, I had to drink a super sugary drink that tasted like the syrup used to make Sunkist soda with twice the sugar!!  It was disgusting!  After having to "chug" it down, I had to wait one hour until they could....you guessed it - my favorite thing - draw 5 vials of blood!  While waiting I started to get a headache and feel naseous from the sugar rush.  So, riddle me this....do you really need a separate vial of blood to test 5 different things?  Why can't you take one vial and test everything?  I'm sure all will come back good, but I'm just a little worried about the test for anemia since I've been so tired.  However, it could just be one of the many characteristics of reaching your third trimester.  If all my tests come back good, guess what I win......a shot next week  YAY!!!  As long as everything comes back clear, I will be given a rhogam shot which is necessary because I am blood type O negative and Ryan is blood type O positive.  If you're Rh-negative and carrying a baby who is Rh-positive (like the father), the baby may be at risk for a serious disease. When your immune system (which fights off invaders to keep you healthy) is exposed to your baby’s Rh-positive blood, it will begin producing antibodies that are "sensitized" (designed specifically) to destroy these “foreign” blood cells.  Essentially begin attacking the baby, so this shot will help to prevent that.
Blood pressure was good and thus far I've gained 16 pounds, so everything is right on track.  We met with the doctor to measure my belly (only the second time) and listen to her heartbeat.  Since my last appointment my belly increased 5 centimeters to a whopping 29 centimeters.  What is funny is that Ryan said at Thanksgiving my belly just popped up out of nowhere and it seems to be true.  When we listened to her heartbeat, it was beating so fast because of the sugary syrup it was funny.  Not to mention, while waiting Ryan was able to see for the first time my stomach doing the surfing wave from all her moves!

As far as the new house goes, we finally moved the weekend of Thanksgiving.  Ryan's parents were able to come down, pack up and help move all of our small personal items.  We did such a good job that when the movers came the next day to move our furniture, they said this was the lightest move they've ever done!  He said usually when people say it's just furniture that it really isn't.  Hopefully, we made their day!  The following weekend was spent unpacking the remaining items and getting settled in.  We even made time to go pick out a REAL tree and decorate it for Christmas.  It was so exciting to put a full sized tree up and a real one at that!!  We usually have a small one on the counter because of the dogs.  The only thing I wished is that we would have little Madie (or Gidget as my grandparents have nicknamed her) here!  The past weekend my grandparents helped move our last piece of furniture, a dining table and china cabinet given to us by my great-grandmother.  We were finally able to see our china that has been in storage for 5 years!  It is so pretty and now the dining room is just beautiful!!  The dogs also came to the new house for the first time and they were absolutely lost!  They are really hesitant to use the doggie door, but love the big porch.  So funny they are scared of the doggie door because they love the one at Ryan's parents.  In time I'm sure they will adjust.  So I put in a picture of the Chrsitmas tree and will post final pictures of the house after the Madelyn's room is finished.  So until then, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!