20 weeks

Well, we are officially half way there! My last check-up was at 17 weeks and my next will be at 22 weeks, but here is the scoop on my last check-up. A blood test several weeks ago showed that I am a carrier for Strep B bacteria in my bladder. This is a fairly common condition (1 in 3 pregnant women can have it at any given time.)There are no symptoms, and it is not dangerous during the pregnancy. It can however be dangerous if the baby contracts it during the birthing process, so I will be on an I.V. of antibiotics as soon as labor begins. The doctor put me on a one week cycle of antibiotics to see if I can get rid of it now. But, low and behold, it turns out that I am allergic to Penicillen and developed hives. I will have to be on a different antibiotic during the labor, but my doctor assures us that there is nothing to worry about(his own wife also had Strep B during her pregnancy.)
The normal weight gain at this point should be between 10-15 pounds. I have only gained 5-6 pounds, but the doctor says that is normal considering how sick I was during the first trimester and the fact that I had a physical job. The baby is growing and measuring just as it should and I am constatly reminded of it with my ever expanding waistline and the baby's constant kicking. We were given several more ultrasound pictures and it is clear to me that this baby has it's daddy's lips!
We are excited to start decorating the nursery. We have just been holding off until the new carpet goes in, which should be the weeek following Christmas. But so far we have been gifted a swing and inheirited Bryan's old baby changer. We are going to use a dresser that we already have, we just added new hardware to it. We purchased a crib which I am absolutly in love with as well as the crib bedding. We are off to a great start, but I am so excited to really start working on it!