26 weeks....and a few days.

How far along? 26 weeks and a few days.  I've been working non stop for 5 weeks and literally haven't had a second to even think about posting!
How big is the snowman?  a package of Oreos lol
Total weight gain/loss? I think I'm finally back up to where I was when we transferred, or within a pound or two. 
Maternity clothes? love em.  Might never give the pants up. 
Sleep?  So far I've been able to sleep pretty well, I'm up about once a night to go to the bathroom, but usually don't have any problems falling straight back to sleep.
Best moment this week?  Tomorrow, when I have my first day off in 5 weeks lol.
Symptoms? my main symptom is still the ever present "bathroom issues".  Since getting back from TX and not standing around in the 100 degree heat my ankles have (blessedly) stayed their correct size.  HOWEVER, next week we're going to be on vacation in NYC and I'll be doing a lot more walking/standing, so we'll see!

Food cravings? no cravings yet.  Eh, maybe we can say quesadillas, cheese only please.  I don't think I'm "craving" them per say, but if nothing else sounds good I can be persuaded to eat one lol.

Food aversions? I don't really want to eat veggies, but I think I'm gonna have to be a real live grown up and do it anyway....

Gender? team blue!
Labor signs? nope, but I have been told that Braxton Hicks contractions can start at any time....
Belly button in or out? in
What I miss? its still raw fish and booze.  I don't really see this changing.  
What I'm looking forward to?  Now that we've replaced the carpet in the nursery we can start to actually decorate! --- HA HAHAHAA this was my answer 3 weeks ago and thanks to my work schedule we still haven't even attempted to start the nursery....
Milestones?  Spence was able to feel him move last week, it was the coolest thing.  Last night while I was trying to go to sleep the tiny terrorist (little mans nickname b/c when he wants or doesn't want something I'm basically a hostage and have to give in)  was just kicking away, Spence just laid there with his hand on my stomach and felt him while I drifted off, it was the cutest.
Bump? it's not going anywhere lol.   Here are pictures from the last 3 weeks!

 

 

Pregnant and on the road

....for work that is.  Thanks to Hurricane Harvey kicking the crap out of the Gulf parts of TX I am currently hanging out in Houston, TX.  I'm not doing inspections (thank God), I'm working at one of our MCC's or Mobile Claim Centers.  We have 3 huge luxury busses that are outfitted with all kidns of awesome technology, grills, coffee makers, awnings etc that are driven cross country for events like this and set up to help our customers.  We file claims, answer questions, cook food give out drinks, charge phones, direct people to where they should be if its not with us (FEMA for example) or anything else we can do to make this really trying time slightly less awful.

The real fun for me is that the bus is staffed by volunteers from all over the company and country.  You get a chance to meet coworkers that you'd never interact with on a normal basis.  For example this time one of our execs volunteered, in his real job he's an attorney and in charge of claim litigation out of AZ, but for the last 6 days he's been cooking hot dogs and greeting our customers as they walk into the bus area.  We have people from our antique auto department, contents valuation and even direct services (they deal with internal customers and policy info).  This event we have also started to have therapy dogs come up to the bus for people to pet and help them process all the emotions that go into this ordeal.  It's been amazing to see the impact it has on some customers (and on the workers too, we get as much out of the dogs being there as anyone). 

Now normally I'm used to working 12 hour days and just rolling with it.  However, being 22-23 weeks pregnant has made this a different situation.  For one thing edema has kicked it, my ankles start the day normal sized but the combo of being *this* pregnant, 100 degree heat, standing and walking all day and just bad luck all combine to make them the same size of my calves by about noon.  I'm also not used to people fussing over me...like at all.  I'm an adjuster and used to hauling my ladder around, climbing roofs, wading through flood muck and just taking it all in stride.  I've never had so many people tell me to take a break, go sit in the bus with the AC, put my feet up, force Gatorade on me/tell me to drink more water and make sure I've eaten in my life.  Its all done in a nice way, and from a good place and I truly appreciate it, but its definitely a change!   One big perk though is that when we move to Houston tomorrow the rest of the bus crew is all staying in "Farmers Village" or as I like to call it "tent city".  Which we set up because we have a ton of people in an area where there aren't a lot of hotel rooms, they basically set up army style barracks and its like low level glamping (with cold showers) from what I can tell.  Thanks to the tiny terrorist (my current fav nickname for the baby) I get an actual hotel room and that is one perk I have no interest in turning down! 

This is likely my last deployment before I (hopefully soon) find a new job within the company and I'm really enjoying it!  Getting to work the bus is something I wanted to do before I roll off CRT and it's been as much fun and just as fulfilling as I imagined!

Our group in front of the Mobile Claim Center

 

This is legit the size of the mosquitos.  I've been spraying myself with 40% deet every few hours when I'm working to try and avoid bites.  There haven't been any zika cases from local mosquitos in Corpus Christi or in Houston but I figured better to be safe than sorry.

We did get to see some beautiful sunrises on the way to work in the morning.

This is a house in Rockport TX, the wood shakes are literally blown upright by the wind but didn't break off (my guess is due to the humidity?)

The hurricane bent these trees in half but they didn't break.

The car made my belly look bigger than normal and I thought it was HILARIOUS.  I wonder if this is what it'll look like in a few months?

23 weeks

How far along? 23 weeks....I missed a few weeks of posting
How big is the snowman?  this week it's a banana or a large grapefruit
Total weight gain/loss? When I left home last Tuesday I was still down 4.5 from when we transferred, I haven't weighed myself since I've been here and probably won't until I get home from this work trip
Maternity clothes? I'm 100% in maternity pants now.  Regular pants are kind of the devil. 
Sleep?  I've been working outside in the TX heat for the last week and it shows!  I've been in bed and sound asleep before 9pm most nights and sleeping hard until about 5am, then light sleep until my alarm goes off around 6.
Best moment this week?  I feel him move ALL THE TIME and I just LOVE it.
Symptoms? my main symptom is still the ever present "bathroom issues".  This week with the standing in the 100 degree heat I can add swollen ankles to the list....oh joy!  I bought some socks that say they are compression socks so I'm hoping that helps....

Food cravings? no cravings yet. 
Food aversions? I don't really want to eat veggies, but I think I'm gonna have to be a real live grown up and do it anyway....
Gender? team blue!
Labor signs? dear lord I hope not
Belly button in or out? in
What I miss? its still raw fish and booze.  I don't really see this changing.  
What I'm looking forward to?  Now that we've replaced the carpet in the nursery we can start to actually decorate!
Milestones?  I feel all the moves he makes I think and I just love it.  I can't wait until Spence can feel him too!
Bump? yea....it's there.  It keeps growing which is a very good thing!  It feels hard when I push on it and I think its "rounding" out a little bit more too. Here are pictures from the last 3 weeks!

 

4:30am in my hotel room in Corpus Christi.....I have no idea why I'm smiling!

 

Leaving Corpus Christi and heading to Houston to work with Hurricane Harvey customers