Great to have slept in today. My body needed the break from the running around in the heat. It was great to have lunch with Erika and family at Bambu. Pretty good food. Good to catch up. They got a high fangled 2009 black Suburban. I hope they love it. Tony is in love with our Suburban. He just cannot get enough. He wants to drive it everywhere. Boy, Isaak grew 3 inches. How time flies. He turned 13 and his brother Jakob turned 16 this year. I just cannot believe I knew them at 1 and 3 years old. Amazing.
Dinner with Rich & Greta & the in-law parents. Love to have dinner with Rich & Greta. They are so full of good stories, analysis and perspective. Love that they do not have a computer, the internet or many digital gadgets. The most they have is a digital camera and even that they take into a Walgreens, or somewhere, and have a worker print out the pictures for them by just handing over their whole camera. Fun to have a different perspective, but still be very successful in business and life. Amazing.
I am hoping for sweet dreams. I had some last night, maybe 2 nights in a row :) G'night
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July Is Almost Over!
I can NOT believe that July is almost over?! This month has flown by and I'm 6.5 months along already. Crazy business. I know things with having the baby and preparations are going to take off like a rocket in the next month. The weather has been unrelenting with the heat and humidity since the 4th of July. I thought with the start of this summer that we would never see warm enough temperature of Lake Superior to go swimming nor the humidity that is just looming all the time. I cannot wait for a heat break. Seventies without humidity would be a God send.
Thank goodness for my pressure socks! I wish they made something for my swollen and numb tingling hands! My sinuses have not let up with the drainage and congestion either. After that smoke that looked like fog from the fires in Canada, I think the particulates in the air are still lingering albeit less visible these days. The smoke made for good sunsets and terrible sinusitis.
Ready for my baby shower. It is a milestone for me and I am really excited about it. It is difficult to please everyone with such events and to have so much attention, but I am so happy that it does not matter. We are having just desserts! Our door prizes will be fudge, jam and Nisu bread, all locally made. We will not be playing games per se. I want just a laid back gathering of sweet treats and women talking about current events and possibly baby related stories. I am tempted to ask for top 3 baby names from everyone, but that opens up a whole can of worms and I am going to just avoid that. Fun, fun, fun.
I have a safari animal theme for my baby room. Monkeys, tigers, alligators, giraffes and zebras. I love it. I already sewed the drapes and hung them. I have two wall hangings and cling stickers for the walls. I am going to look for a rug or carpet remnant and get the crib. Tony is refinishing a dresser and changing table. Things are coming along. Glad Tony is a trooper and hanging in there with me.
26 WEEKS!
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.
Thank goodness for my pressure socks! I wish they made something for my swollen and numb tingling hands! My sinuses have not let up with the drainage and congestion either. After that smoke that looked like fog from the fires in Canada, I think the particulates in the air are still lingering albeit less visible these days. The smoke made for good sunsets and terrible sinusitis.
Ready for my baby shower. It is a milestone for me and I am really excited about it. It is difficult to please everyone with such events and to have so much attention, but I am so happy that it does not matter. We are having just desserts! Our door prizes will be fudge, jam and Nisu bread, all locally made. We will not be playing games per se. I want just a laid back gathering of sweet treats and women talking about current events and possibly baby related stories. I am tempted to ask for top 3 baby names from everyone, but that opens up a whole can of worms and I am going to just avoid that. Fun, fun, fun.
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| Today before getting ready to go to a Sarazin cousin's wedding |
I have a safari animal theme for my baby room. Monkeys, tigers, alligators, giraffes and zebras. I love it. I already sewed the drapes and hung them. I have two wall hangings and cling stickers for the walls. I am going to look for a rug or carpet remnant and get the crib. Tony is refinishing a dresser and changing table. Things are coming along. Glad Tony is a trooper and hanging in there with me.
26 WEEKS!
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
HOT and other things
WOW the heat has been tremendous on top of the humidity. This pregnant girl could go for some 70's or even low 80's at this point. Do not get me wrong, I do love swimming in the warm Lake Superior water, but I would like my house to cool down during the day so it is not sweltering when we get home. I would like to take walks outside without feeling like I would pass out. I think the heat will break at some point, but you never know if this is a staying trend. Only time will tell. The swelling in my hands, feet and calves are really unfortunate with the symptoms that they bring me, but I know they are for a good cause. I just hope my check up tomorrow turns up no blood pressure problems to top it off. Glucose test is not for another few weeks, thankfully. Not looking forward to that yummy test.
I finished the latest Sookie Stackhouse book. I can tell you the book did not have any closure that I was expecting, but left the possibilities for the future wide open again. I did not think that was possible, but here we are. Sookie in choosing her current vampire boyfriend is torn between love, fun, a quiet mind that a mind reader cannot read, a powerful man with great attraction versus a human (which she could read every thought), a fairy (may not be a possible match) or a shape changer (which children may or may not be possible, but children would be possible with the fairy and human just not a vampire for sure). Life choices every woman has to make when choosing a mate. Do I want to live with this person forever or just for now? Do I want babies? Do I want this particular mate's babies? Can this mate give me what I need and want? Is this person worth the lifestyle I have to lead to be with them? Like with a vampire you have to be alone all day long and spend fleeting tired hours with them at night. Etc.
This book had good action and ended with an action packed sequence that was worthy of a movie that ends with, "To be continued." I am happy with the inclusion of many familiar characters in new scenarios and the delving into the deeper aspects of Sookie's relationships with established characters. I liked the internal struggle we get to hear and with the physical struggles that were all of the fight and flight scenes. This book lends itself to fleshing out the next book already. I want some decisions made from her, but some decisions were taken away out of her hands with external forces at work. I like that the author included the external forces because that is really how life works. Despite being able to make the choice ourselves, there are so many decisions made before we get to that we cannot control the circumstances. We just have to play the hand that we were dealt and roll with the punches for everything else. Glad I read it. I love Eric Northman. Would not mind meeting his real life counterpart for an autograph either.
Another week has gone by in this fastest moving year ever. I am 25 weeks along and cannot believe it. I know my hard working husband will never complete all the tasks he has planned prior to the baby arriving, because that can happen unexpectedly also. I just hope he gets most of it done because it will weigh on his mind if he does not get through his to-do list. He is so ready to be a father. So excited. I am excited for many reasons, one being to get this baby from sitting on my bladder every day anymore ;)
25 weeks
How your baby's growing:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.
How your life is changing:
I finished the latest Sookie Stackhouse book. I can tell you the book did not have any closure that I was expecting, but left the possibilities for the future wide open again. I did not think that was possible, but here we are. Sookie in choosing her current vampire boyfriend is torn between love, fun, a quiet mind that a mind reader cannot read, a powerful man with great attraction versus a human (which she could read every thought), a fairy (may not be a possible match) or a shape changer (which children may or may not be possible, but children would be possible with the fairy and human just not a vampire for sure). Life choices every woman has to make when choosing a mate. Do I want to live with this person forever or just for now? Do I want babies? Do I want this particular mate's babies? Can this mate give me what I need and want? Is this person worth the lifestyle I have to lead to be with them? Like with a vampire you have to be alone all day long and spend fleeting tired hours with them at night. Etc.
This book had good action and ended with an action packed sequence that was worthy of a movie that ends with, "To be continued." I am happy with the inclusion of many familiar characters in new scenarios and the delving into the deeper aspects of Sookie's relationships with established characters. I liked the internal struggle we get to hear and with the physical struggles that were all of the fight and flight scenes. This book lends itself to fleshing out the next book already. I want some decisions made from her, but some decisions were taken away out of her hands with external forces at work. I like that the author included the external forces because that is really how life works. Despite being able to make the choice ourselves, there are so many decisions made before we get to that we cannot control the circumstances. We just have to play the hand that we were dealt and roll with the punches for everything else. Glad I read it. I love Eric Northman. Would not mind meeting his real life counterpart for an autograph either.
Another week has gone by in this fastest moving year ever. I am 25 weeks along and cannot believe it. I know my hard working husband will never complete all the tasks he has planned prior to the baby arriving, because that can happen unexpectedly also. I just hope he gets most of it done because it will weigh on his mind if he does not get through his to-do list. He is so ready to be a father. So excited. I am excited for many reasons, one being to get this baby from sitting on my bladder every day anymore ;)
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| Tony's Water Angel from last weekend landing off of the zip line his cousin rigged |
25 weeks
How your baby's growing:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.
How your life is changing:
Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.
You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.
When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.
Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Motivation, Exercise, Reading & Sewing
So I have this problem. Well it is a set of them really. Today was encompassing a few all at one time and then I do not get much accomplished. I have NO motivation to exercise or stretch. I NEED to as I woke up this morning with a really bad charlie horse in my calf that would not go away easily. I have had cramps in my calves for weeks now, but as soon as I feel the improper orientation of my leg and foot that leads to this I usually can move to avoid it. Last night, however, I woke from a dead sleep because of it. This stems from muscle tightness that is unresolved due to my lack of exercise and stretching. Both of which I was doing regularly prior to getting pregnant.
Last night I woke up twice with numbness in my arm and hand, once with both arms and hands numb, tingly and swollen. Today the swelling was constant in my right hand and the tingling and numbness was frequent, almost constant. The swelling will just get worse, but there are no exercises and nothing I can do to make it go away. My ankles were not swollen today at least.
When I go to Curves, of which I am paid for until November, I get round ligament pain each time so I stop. The stretching always feels heavenly however. I just do not want to have to get up and down from the floor anymore with the difficulty factor increasing daily. I know I will feel better and my body will thank me, but I just cannot make myself do it for some reason.
This goes for sewing as well. I have been procrastinating with the sewing project I was ready to do right before I got pregnant. It seems I cannot just sit still long enough to do the work. I get in a groove and throw myself into a project and I go days in a row until completion. I just need to get the start and I can make it fly. I just purchased fabric for drapes to sew and now I want to get into the mind set of sitting and getting it done.
I have 6 books I have been starting, but not finishing. I now have a due date of completion coming as they are borrowed books. I am going to see the owner within 2 weeks. If we get all the thunderstorms they are predicting, I feel I will likely take advantage of the having to be inside time. We will see if the forecast is correct or not though.
I wish I had a motivation buddy or exercise buddy that would call me up and make me go. My sister could do that for me, but not all the way from Arizona. Too bad. Maybe Taylor could also, but still, she has the same location problem. Ah, I miss my softball days when the field would call my name everyday. The smell of the dirt. The feel of running the bases. The bat connecting with the ball. Catching the ball before launching it to throw the runner out. Warming up, stretching and throwing. The post game hanging out and dirt that needs to be cleaned off before hitting the sheets. The clean feeling after the shower when hitting the sheets. Ah well, those days are behind me. What is my next love of sport or exercise? Hmm...
Going to see the final Harry Potter installment in the theatre tomorrow. Should be fantastic. I am watching the Grifters right now, but I'm going to go read some Sookie Stackhouse before bed. Fantastic sunset right now. Here's the picture from right outside my window right now.
Last night I woke up twice with numbness in my arm and hand, once with both arms and hands numb, tingly and swollen. Today the swelling was constant in my right hand and the tingling and numbness was frequent, almost constant. The swelling will just get worse, but there are no exercises and nothing I can do to make it go away. My ankles were not swollen today at least.
When I go to Curves, of which I am paid for until November, I get round ligament pain each time so I stop. The stretching always feels heavenly however. I just do not want to have to get up and down from the floor anymore with the difficulty factor increasing daily. I know I will feel better and my body will thank me, but I just cannot make myself do it for some reason.
This goes for sewing as well. I have been procrastinating with the sewing project I was ready to do right before I got pregnant. It seems I cannot just sit still long enough to do the work. I get in a groove and throw myself into a project and I go days in a row until completion. I just need to get the start and I can make it fly. I just purchased fabric for drapes to sew and now I want to get into the mind set of sitting and getting it done.
I have 6 books I have been starting, but not finishing. I now have a due date of completion coming as they are borrowed books. I am going to see the owner within 2 weeks. If we get all the thunderstorms they are predicting, I feel I will likely take advantage of the having to be inside time. We will see if the forecast is correct or not though.
I wish I had a motivation buddy or exercise buddy that would call me up and make me go. My sister could do that for me, but not all the way from Arizona. Too bad. Maybe Taylor could also, but still, she has the same location problem. Ah, I miss my softball days when the field would call my name everyday. The smell of the dirt. The feel of running the bases. The bat connecting with the ball. Catching the ball before launching it to throw the runner out. Warming up, stretching and throwing. The post game hanging out and dirt that needs to be cleaned off before hitting the sheets. The clean feeling after the shower when hitting the sheets. Ah well, those days are behind me. What is my next love of sport or exercise? Hmm...
Going to see the final Harry Potter installment in the theatre tomorrow. Should be fantastic. I am watching the Grifters right now, but I'm going to go read some Sookie Stackhouse before bed. Fantastic sunset right now. Here's the picture from right outside my window right now.
These are roses from my yard that come back every year with no tending at all.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
What a Pain Computers Are & Studio Belly Pics
I am so sick of my AT&T modem and Linksys router. They keep resetting themselves and it takes 2 hours on the phone with support to make them work again. Here we are, without wifi again. I am going to attempt to do it myself right now. I really do not want to call support again. I am ready for something simple already. I love the wireless internet, when it works. AT&T can just go away as far as I'm concerned, however, they have the cheapest rates for me right now. Boo.
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6890
I had belly pics taken at the studio today. So fun. It is just the beginning of pics really. I love pictures. Anyone who knows me, knows what a picture hound I am. Here are the proofs.
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6890
I had belly pics taken at the studio today. So fun. It is just the beginning of pics really. I love pictures. Anyone who knows me, knows what a picture hound I am. Here are the proofs.
I will get more pics in about a month. That way my belly will be even bigger and Tony can come with me for them. Oh, Tony just loves pictures. Especially when he does not have a choice in the matter. Wink, wink. Twenty four weeks today. Champion kicker again today. It is foreshadowing for what is to come.
24 WEEKS
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
How your life's changing:
In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.
Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.
Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned below.
Q1.
What are the signs of preterm labor?
Call your midwife or doctor right away if you're having any of the following symptoms before 37 weeks:
- An increase in vaginal discharge
- A change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody (even if it's pink or just tinged with blood)
- Any vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in one hour (even if they don't hurt)
- An increase in pressure in the pelvic area (a feeling that your baby is pushing down)
- Low back pain, especially if you didn't previously have back pain
These symptoms can be confusing because some of them, such as pelvic pressure or low back pain, occur during normal pregnancies too, and early contractions may just be harmless Braxton Hicks contractions. But it's always better to be safe than sorry, so call your midwife or doctor right away if you're experiencing anything unusual.
Q2.
What should I do if I think I'm going into labor prematurely?
If you have signs of preterm labor or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, call your practitioner, who'll likely have you go to the hospital for further assessment. Once there, your medical team will monitor your contractions, watch your baby's heart rate, and test your urine for signs of infection. A doctor or midwife will do a speculum exam to see whether your membranes have ruptured. She may swab your cervix and vagina and send one sample to the lab to check for an infection and another for a fetal fibronectin (fFN) test. This test analyzes your cervical and vaginal fluid for the presence of a protein that helps bind the amniotic sac to the lining of your uterus. Between 24 and 34 weeks, elevated levels of fFN mean that this "glue" is disintegrating ahead of schedule (due to contractions or injury to the amniotic sac). A negative result means that it's highly unlikely that you'll give birth in the next week or two, which can set your mind at ease and allow your practitioner to hold off on treatments that may prove to be unnecessary.
Q3.
Will my baby be okay if he's born early?
The closer your baby is to full term at birth, the more likely he is to survive and the less likely he is to have health problems. Premature babies born between 34 and 37 weeks generally do fine, although they are still at higher risk for short- and long-term problems compared to babies born full term. On the other end of the continuum are babies who are extremely premature: These days, some babies born as early as 24 weeks (or even a bit earlier) may survive thanks to advances in neonatal care, but these extremely preterm infants require significant medical interventions and long stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and the survivors often have serious long-term problems.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Kicking Frenzy
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| In Clear Lake, Iowa |
When I was hot and moving around in Iowa I started swelling so bad my ankles were unidentifiable. The pressure socks are so wonderful. Really, I get swollen when I walk or stand for a while and get hot. My hands and face are swollen too. I know I will be dealing with this until I give birth. However, I am glad to report that on my annual trip to Iowa, which I usually gain from 5-10 pounds, I only gained 2.5 pounds! So happy about that. Happy about successful maternity shopping at the Mall of America too. I laundered all of those clothes the last 2 days and it looks like I will have a good supply for the next 4 months. Sweet. I am off to watch the Office while putting clothes away. Someone has to do it.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Another Summer's Day and an Ultrasound
Wow, what a boomer thunderstorm this morning at almost 7 AM. Lightening, thunder and sheets of rain coming down. The rain nicely watered my thirsty and neglected garden. Very appreciated. Plus it cooled the temperature down some. After it left, the temp. sky rocketed to summer levels and it is still a little humid and hot. We broke out the A.C. last night and that made for comfortable sleeping.
Another ultrasound today. The baby was nestled on my right side facing left and their legs are low to my pelvis, meaning many bladder kicking opportunities. The tech did say she thought the baby is a boy, which is a nice confirmation to double check. Much more calm today, so pictures were easier to get, not that they had stocked their ultrasound paper yet. No pics this time. Poo. I got so much done today, I am on to the laundry and cleaning portion of my day. Sweet!
Another ultrasound today. The baby was nestled on my right side facing left and their legs are low to my pelvis, meaning many bladder kicking opportunities. The tech did say she thought the baby is a boy, which is a nice confirmation to double check. Much more calm today, so pictures were easier to get, not that they had stocked their ultrasound paper yet. No pics this time. Poo. I got so much done today, I am on to the laundry and cleaning portion of my day. Sweet!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
4th of July Wonderful in Iowa
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| At our Lake Superior property today before the fog burned off |
Where to begin? We drove to Iowa for my family's annual family reunion. We picked up my sister and her family on the way down. We had a fun filled and action packed visit. We stopped at Cabela's, went to a concert at the Surf ballroom, saw storm damage, ate grilled foods, went swimming, got Walnut taffy, went to Arnold's park, got to pet mules, went to the Mall of America, listened to music in the park amphitheatre, watched the fireworks above Clear Lake on the 4th of July, watched the parade with Michelle Bachman and Newt Gingrich, saw all kinds of family, went to a carnival, shopped at the art fair, some rode rides and got to spend all kinds of quality time. Up for breakfast and bed by 1-2 AM every night.
I loved every minute with my sister and her family. It is such a rare occasion to spend time with them, let alone all of them at one time. Great fun. I got really swollen from the heat, salty and sweet foods, constantly on my feet and all the hydration for the heat and humidity. Saw T.R. Knight (George O'Malley) from Grey's Anatomy in the Legoland of the Mall of America. Loved the celebrity sighting. LONG ride home. My back side hurt half the ride home, but we made if home safely despite all the deer we saw. It's the deer you do not see that gets ya.
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| Arnold's Park home of the Nutty Bar and Walnut Taffy |
Had no spare time for reading, but we listened to the Da Vinci Code on CD for the ride back. Love it. I want to get Angels and Demons on audiobook next. We are going to fall asleep watching some movie now. Not sure which one, but we watched nothing but a handful of minutes of the weather channel in the last 10 days. TV deprived, we must catch up a little bit. I have an action packed day tomorrow and must go to bed soon. A much needed massage, work, picking up my CPL license, calling a client to set up a meeting and an ultrasound, not to mention the laundry and cleaning ahead of me. I am enjoying my blueberries and cherries before I take my vitamins. Gotta feed the belly. Taco Bell for dinner again tonight. Quick and easy for beating the heat to stay out of my kitchen today. The AC is already calling my name. Ah, summer is finally here.
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| At Rich and Greta's house in Onalaska, WI |
23.5 Weeks!
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