...

It's Sunday night at 8:50pm, we have to be at the hospital at 6:00am tomorrow morning. Today has been a whirlwind, I've been extremely tired and spent the majority of the day on the couch. I think we are finally "ready" to go. My bag and BS2's bag is packed, Chris is half-packed and Jack's bag is packed. The house is clean and laundry is done and folded.

I have to admit I'm starting to get anxious/nervous...there are just so many "unknowns" when it comes to labor and delivery and I feel in our case there are a few extra "unknowns" that have started weighing heavily on my mind this past week. I think knowing a week ahead of time of our induction date has almost hindered me in that I've had too much time to think and dwell and I'm not really liking it.

Tomorrow will no doubt be a long day, but also a telling day. Will BS2 be healthy? Who will she look like? Will she have hair? Will Jack hate her at first sight? Etc. Etc. Etc.

Our last weekend as a Family of Three had been enjoyable for the most part, but my emotions have taken over a few times and I've been angry and mean and anxious so I'm just ready for tomorrow to come and finally get the answers we've been wondering about for the last 4-5 months.

I'll update as I can, I added Twitter back on my blog since the tweets will post automatically to my sidebar. I'll also be on Facebook I'm sure, especially if the day moves SLOWLY! I'm going to miss Jack alot while we are at the hospital and I'm going to be so ready to come home BUT then I'm already having anxiety about how life is going to be so different with a newborn and Jack. I already have guilty feelings that Jack will feel replaced or like he isn't as important - he is quite attached to his Momma and I'm very attached to him. This also makes me nervous about how I will do with her, will I love her just as much or will I prefer one over the other? I know people have multiple kids and it just works and you love them both just as much as the other, etc. but I still can't help but wonder...I think that's understandable!?

So wish us luck, I can't wait to see my little girl tomorrow! xoxo

January 30, 2012

I had my doctor appointment with Dr. Shaw this morning. She checked me again and said that I was a good 2cm and still a little thick, but that I had definitely changed/made progress from the week before. So she said, I think we can for sure induce you next week..."How does Tuesday sound?" I was like sure thing! She told me she needed to call over and make sure she could schedule it for Tuesday, well when she came back she said, "Well you are in luck, you get to go Monday!" I guess they already had 3 c-sections scheduled for Tuesday!

So we are to report to the hospital @ 6am Monday morning...January 30th!

On a side note I lost another pound (last week I had lost 2 pounds) and I even had my big fake ugg boots on! That brings total weight gain to 18 pounds! Much better than the 55 I gained with Jack!

Little girl seems to be running out of room lately and is really starting to develop patterns, she is extremely lazy or increadibly active these days! Although it seems she is active when I'm quiet, laying down or watching TV - this could be a bad sign! :-)

Oh, and on another side note - Jack has his first flu! He woke up around 9:30 last night and had thrown up all over the bed! Chris threw him in the bath (the 2nd one of the night) and got him all cleaned up and we made him a little palet on the floor. He only threw up 2 more times, the second time was just stomach acid stuff. The third time was water that he insisted on drinking after he threw up the second time!

He hasn't thrown up today, but I can tell he feels crummy. He drank maybe an ounce or two of water and had a hand full of fruity pebbles (that was Dad's doing), but he hasn't thrown up. I picked up some Pedialyte on my way home from the doctor so I'm hoping once he wakes up a little he will drink some of it! He has to get better before BS2 gets here! :-)

xoxo

37 Weeks...

Yesterday marked 37 weeks! The plan has been to induce at 39 weeks (at the latest) so here's to hoping only 2 more weeks at most! I had my weekly appointment with Dr. Shaw on Monday and she checked me and said I was 1.5 cm dilated BUT that baby was still VERY high! She assumes because of the extra fluid she isn't being forced to drop and is just as happy as a clam still bouncing around. She is head down, but not dropping into my pelvis or whatever. So...this leads to a whole new set of things to consider. If she doesn't drop then we might need to consider a c-section, there is concern that is my water breaks on it's own or if we induced and Dr. Shaw broke my water and her head wasn't engaged yet that the cord could get under her head and come out first or be compressed as the head did come down - neither of these situations are good.

I had never heard of this before, but when I got back to work I was emailing with a couple friends and one of them said that this just happened to a girl she knows. That when her water broke the cord came out so they had to do an emergency c-section! Scary! So I'm not sure how we are going to proceed. I have another appointment on Monday and Dr. Shaw will check to see if I've made any progress or not and probably make a plan then, so be on the look out for an update Monday!

2011 - Year In Review

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Well, I've been pregnant before, but this is the first time I'm pregnant with a baby GIRL!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My 2011 resolution was to "Enjoy The Moment" and stop stressing over the little things...well I'm not sure that really happened. This year has seemed to be FULL of stress - selling a house, buying a house, getting pregnant, not having a very stress-free pregnancy, etc. If I had to make another resolution for 2012 I'd say 1. Deliver a happy, healthy baby girl, 2. Stop using horrible language in front of Jack, 3. Complete the Warrior Dash in May, 4. Enjoy my family, 5. Get back in shape. I actually saw a picture of a FB friend's yesterday that said "Work Hard, Eat Clean, Talk Dirty" - that might be my motto for 2012 as far as getting healthy and working out.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, Kortney had Saylor in June and Brandy had Preslee in August.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit?

Zip, Zilch, Zero
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Zero credit card balances - this is definitely a big goal of ours this year.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I'm stealing this from a friend, May 22nd - the day of the Joplin tornado.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting out and making new friends. I was invited to join a Bunco group after we moved to Frontenac this past summer and I was hesitant at first, but now I love it and I've gained 11 new friends!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Probably using the TV as a baby sitter for Jack. I've been so tired and on edge this whole pregnancy that it's just easier to let him watch cartoons all night then for me to be an active participant in his play.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our new house! Love it...although we might be having a bad tile job issue that has just cropped up, ugh - it's always something!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

IDK
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Who cares...I definitely learned this year that relationships should not be one sided and if they are they aren't worth your time - so I've moved on.
14. Where did most of your money go?

House, Bills, Decorating
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting pregnant!
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Any of Adelle's songs, she was ALL OVER THE RADIO
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier, Fatter, Poorer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Sleep
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worry
20. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve in Columbus, Christmas morning in Columbus, Christmas Day in Chanute
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Not really...
22. What was your favorite TV program?

Criminal Minds (still - I love that show)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone, but I have evaluated some relationships and decided they weren't worth it.
24. What was the best book you read?

The only book I read this year was Jaycee Dugard's book - it was pretty good.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

IDK
26. What did you want and get?

We sold our house and bought a new one in the exact neighborhood I wanted!
27. What did you want and not get?

A million dollars.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Oh gosh, we watch so many movies I couldn't pick a favorite.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I honestly can't remember, probably didn't do anything on the actual day - probably dinner on the weekend.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

The year has been pretty good, I can't complain too much.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Maternity Clothes, ugh!

32. What kept you sane?

Friends - the few that are always available to talk (meaning text or email - who actually talks on the phone anymore?) and listen - they are the best!
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Kind of funny, but I love the crew of the Kidd Kraddick morning show! Haha!
34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I'm not really informed about politics much, but I guess the whole "The War Is Over" and all the troops coming home would be the one I heard about the most?
35. Who did you miss?

Charlie and George, we gave them both away to new homes, great homes - but I still miss having a little dog around for company!
36. Who was the best new person you met?

Cassie - at work, she is great!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Time is precious, don't waste a minute.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I'm going to claim pregnancy brain and say IDK?

KC Appoinment

Yesterday my Mom and I went up to KC for what I thought was my last appointment at Childrens Mercy (more on that later). Chris had to be in Tulsa for meetings so I asked my Mom to go because I thought she would find it neat to see the ultrasound and stuff.

The scan went well, nothing really new to report. The ecogenic focus on her heart is still there and it might stay forever or it might dissolve at some point, the key point is that it isn't effecting the heart's function and it never will. It won't get bigger as she gets bigger either. The other item we have been monitoring is my amniotic fluid levels and they were still just above the "normal" cut off, but definitely at a lower level than it was earlier in my pregnancy (which is to be expected b/c normally as the baby gets bigger there is less fluid). The level isn't anything concerning either. Dr. Bennett just explained that it makes him a little nervous/concerned b/c there are a few things that have shown up, but that he can't find a reason for any of it and I think that drives him crazy!

BS2 is a big, chunky girl with hair! :-) Well she at least has hair on the back of her head, I'm not sure about the top! She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces and was measuring exactly one week big. I was 35 weeks and 4 days and she measured 36 weeks and 4 days, although some of her measurements were in the 37 and 38 week range - her belly and her head - which freaks me out b/c those are like the biggest parts! Eeek!

Dr. Shaw and I talked last week about when we should get her out (of course this was initiated by me) and she said she would be fine with inducing at 39 weeks again and that I wasn't going to be able to talk her into anything any earlier, but then she did say she would be interested in seeing what Dr. Bennett thought after my appointment with him. So I presented the question to him yesterda and he asked how big Jack was when he was born and whether or not I delivered him vaginally, so when I told him Jack was 6 pounds 15 ounces he kind of laughed and said, well I think if you have made any progress by 38 or 39 weeks that I think that it would be fine to go ahead and induce at that point. I must have smiled pretty big because then he said, well I'm going to say 39 weeks because I know you will tell Dr. Shaw I said 38! So we might just end up with a January baby after all!

We got a few more 3D/4D pictures, like we do everytime and I just haven't shared any of them on here, but she has ALWAYS had her right arm up in front of her face so we can never get a clear shot. I have tons of half-face shots and it drives me nuts! Maybe after she is actually here I will post some of the pictures and compare them to her actual pictures after she is born and see how close they look!

That's about it for now, I have my weekly bio-physcial profile at Dr. Shaw's office next Monday so we will see what she says about inducing. Oh, and Dr. Bennett scheduled me for one more visit with him on January 30th, but also said - I doubt I'll be seeing you though! :-)

34 Week Update

34 Weeks Today!

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted! Work has been nuts and I'm just plain tired to do anything that isn't 100% unnecessary these days. There isn't much new in BS2's world. She is a big girl and she likes to be on the move! She gave me a bit of a headache the last couple weeks as she decided to flip around and become BREECH! Thankfully on yesterday's ultrasound, she was back to being head down, let's just hope she stays that way. I started having weekly Bio-Physical Profiles (BPP) done at 30 weeks, which is basically a quick ultrasound that looks for certain things and is kind of like a pass/fail test. They look at baby's measurements, breathing, movements, and fluid levels, you want to score an 8 out of 8 (2 points for each item) and so far BS2 has scored perfect each week.

I go back for one final appointment with Dr. Bennett at Childrens Mercy in KC on January 9th. I'll be interested to see how big she is by then. The last time we were there at 30 weeks she was in the 76th percentile and I can't remember how much she weighed, but it was alot! On my weekly ultrasounds she keeps creeping up in the 80-some percentile for her size. My mom is going to get to go with me for this last trip to KC because Chris will be traveling, I think she will like getting to see the ultrasound. I'm not even sure they had them when I was born? And the ones in KC are so good and clear and they do the 3D/4D stuff, I'm pretty excited she will get to go and see it!

It looks like we will induce at 39 weeks, unless she comes earlier than that on her own...I was really hoping for a January baby, but oh well - Dr. Shaw said there is no way I'm talking her into inducing before 39 weeks...but I'll keep trying each and every time I see her!

Jack enjoyed Christmas so much this year, it was great! He was really into opening the presents and his canned response was, "That's Awesome!" It was pretty cute. I'll try to do a Christmas post if I can get some pictures from the day from a few people because of course I didn't take any...mom fail!

And now...pregnancy highlights!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Weight Gain: 15 Pounds

Maternity Clothes: Pants - Yes, I can still wear my regular dresses and most tops though.

Gender: Girl

Movement: Constant, she rolls and rolls...

Symptoms: The tiredness is back with avengence

Cravings: Jalapenos, McD's, Diet Dr. Pepper

BS2 Stats

Food Size: Cantaloupe

Weight: 4 and 3/4 pounds

Length: 18 inches

Developmental Info: Her fat layers are filling out, her nervous system and lungs are also both continuing to mature.

Week 27

It's getting closer and closer, week 27 starts today! We had our 2nd ultrasound in KC at Childrens Mercy with Dr. Bennett on Monday, unfortunately we didn't really hear anything new or different.

Remember there are 3 issues:

1. Ecogenic Focus on her Heart

2. Elevated amniotic fluid level

3. Placenta Previa

The focus is still on her heart, Dr. Bennett said that it might stay forever or it might go away on it's own, but either way it isn't something that should ever affect the function of her heart.

My amniotic fluid level was about the same as it was a month ago, which I guess is good that it hasn't increased. They still don't see a reason for there to be the extra fluid - they watched BS2 swallow the fluid, then watched her stomach fill up, they saw fluid in her intestines and bladder too, so it seems like that whole process is working correctly. Dr. Bennett said sometimes there isn't reason for the extra fluid so who knows.

The one good thing we found out is that my placenta has indeed moved up and is out of the way so I don't have to have a c-section, also she is already head down.

Dr. did discuss that the extra fluid could lead to pre-term labor and he gave me some things to look out for and instructions for if I start having contractions and when to call Dr. Shaw, etc.

A month ago BS2 weighed 1 pound 4 ounces and Monday she weighed 2 pounds 4 ounces so Dr. Bennett was quite pleased with her growth! :-)

That's about it for now. I have my next appointment with Dr. Shaw on December 1st and then after that will go see her every 2 weeks. Dr. Bennett also wants to continue monitoring me so I have an appointment to go see him on December 5th for another ultrasound.

Halloween Continued

I got a few more pictures from Jack's Halloween Party at daycare from Tonya and thought they were just too cute not share! Enjoy!

xoxo

26 Weeks!

26 Weeks

Yesterday was our 26 week mark, woo-hoo! Another exciting achievement was that we hit the double digits on our baby countdown! As of today 97 days to go! :-) I had my monthly check in with Dr. Shaw yesterday and also had my glucose test done, you know, that Glucola really isn't that bad if you just make sure it's cold! Also while I was there she talked me into a flu shot, the only other time in my life I have gotten a flu shot was the year I was pregnant with Jack - heck Jack or Chris haven't had their flu shots this year either, but since it was there and available and my insurance covers them 100% and she made the stern comment, "Well, you are due in the middle of flu season so I would get one..." I decided to just go for it! So I had blood drawn and a shot all in the same arm, sorry lefty.

We have an appointment in KC again on Monday with Dr. Bennett to do a growth scan and make sure BS2 is growing appropriately, check the heart, my placenta and my amniotic fluid levels - have you noticed the list keeps getting longer...ugh! I will try to update after the appointment.

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 26 Weeks

Weight Gain: 8 Pounds

Maternity Clothes: Pants

Gender: GIRL

Movement: Constant and getting stronger

Symptoms/Complaints: Just tired and some slight swelling at the end of the day

Cravings: Soda

BS2 Stats

Food Size: English Hothouse Cucumber (?)

Weight: 1 Pounds and 2/3

Length: 14 inches head to heel

Development Info: BS2's network of nerves in her ears is more developed and she may be able to hear our voices! She has also started to inhale and exhale amniotic fluid which helps develop her lungs!

xoxo

Happy Halloween

Jack had an AWESOME time Trick or Treating! He ran from house to house saying "More Candy!" and he would promptly say "Tick or Teat" and "Tank You" at each and every house! He was a bit scared of the scary costumes - werewolves, dinosours, anything with a scary mask, etc. but overall he loved it and this morning said, "Momma, I wanna go Tick or Teating!" I had to explain it was a once a year thing and that DID NOT make him a happy camper! :-)

xoxo