Whew!

Okay, the appraisal guy has come and gone. He was super nice, seemed to like the house, had favorable things to say about the various features. We should find out on Monday how it went. In other news, we're now having to deal with a flood insurance snafu. First of all, our house is not in a flood zone. The back of our property is, but the structure itself is not, and we're not required to have flood insurance. In fact, when we bought the house 8 years ago our realtor was literally in the back yard with her son and a tape measure getting proof of it on the morning of closing. A few years ago our first mortgage holder sent us a letter stating that we needed the coverage, and after many hours on the phone, we got it all straightened out and they listed the house properly. Now that we're trying to modify our HELOC, our second mortgage holder (incidentally also my employer) is saying that we need flood insurance. Urrrgggg! So now I have to get it straightened out with them as well. But I know that God will work it all out.

So anyway, how are you guys doing? It seems like between work and housework and pregnancy I've hardly had time to look at the computer.

I went to the doctor on Thursday and had my glucose test. Results for that should be back on Monday as well, and I'll find out whether things were good or I have to take the dreaded 3 hour glucose test. For those of you who have never been pregnant, this is a test where you fast for 12 hours, then they give you this awful, gag-inducing drink to chug. After an hour they test your blood sugar, then again an hour later, then once more an hour after that. I had to do this with Morgan, and it was AWFUL!. In fact, I threw up before the test was over and had to come back and do it all again. Yuck! So I'm hoping and praying I don't have to go that route this time.

Everything looks good so far. I've gained a total of 11 pounds, which is good. I also start going for visits every two weeks now. I can't believe I've only got 92 days till my due date! My parents came over last night and helped us do some stuff on the house to get ready for the appraisal, and the baby's room is all ready to paint now. This was the baby email I got this week:

Fetal Development This Week
Week 27 of Pregnancy: Baby's Sense of Taste and Sound
Beginning at this stage of fetal development, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over two pounds, he or she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago. Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position"). Even so, beginning at this stage, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over two pounds, he or she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago. Your baby's auditory development (hearing) is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. And even though the sounds your baby hears are muffled (thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering those ears), he or she may recognize both yours and your partner's voices. So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your belly) — and a good chance to start boning up on those nursery rhymes and lullabies you'll need to be repeating (and repeating) pretty soon. And while you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun at 27 weeks pregnant: If your partner presses his ear to your belly, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.
Your baby's taste buds are very developed now too (with more taste buds than he or she will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food (you hot mama, you), your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with your baby's coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing to your baby, he or she isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation that babies need to get used to.

I felt hiccups with Morgan, although not yet with this one, but I'm eating General Tso's chicken right now, so maybe in a couple of hours!