I visited my doctor today for a routine check up.
All is well.
Good news! I am dilated to a 3 and 70% effaced!
Do you even KNOW how excited I am???
My dream is to go into labor myself in the next day and a half.
If not, I check in to the hospital Friday morning at 6am.
Everything looks great.
We're just trying to get everyone healthy before baby comes and get the house in order.
Doctor's prediction: 9lb 12oz (without ultrasound)
(Julee- Happy Birthday!!!!! ... and I know what you're thinking... April 16! April 16!) Ü
Another baby update... but not much to report.
All is well.
I'm not even 35 weeks yet, but measuring at 39! (No surprise, really.)
We have been given the go-ahead from the doctor to travel next week. He smiled and said, regarding the hospitals in California, "They have good healthcare down there." Ha. As if I'm EVEN going to give birth away from here. Yeah, right!!
He did say that we're in control with the travelling since we're driving to be able to stop periodically and move around to avoid blood clots. Hmm... looks like we'll be stopping LOTS! You don't need to tell me twice.
Once we get back from our vacation, I'll be visiting the doctor once a week. I can't believe I'm already to that point in this pregnancy. Crazy.
My dear husband (who was SO embarrassed by my last post!!!) surprised me and showed up for this appointment. I was so touched. I told him not to bother... it was one of those real quick, in and out visits. But it meant so much that he cared enough to take the time to join me. Thanks, Honey!
So anyway, there's my baby update (mainly for my Momma). Everything is looking good.
Happy Day!
Martin and I went to my 28 week check-up today and as he promised, Dr. Cooper did an ultrasound to see how baby is growing. I was a bit nervous she'd be a bit on the smaller side after all this umbilical cord talk, yet had a feeling all was well by looking at my GROWING belly.
We were able to see her face so clearly today. She has a furrowed brow just like all three of our other babies did at birth, which was so incredible to be able to actually see that through the ultrasound. She was chewing on her arm... she was opening her eyes... Dr. Cooper said that it looked as if she knew we were watching and was showing off. It was just great!
An average fetus at this point weighs about 2 lbs. Our little one is already at 2 1/2 lbs, which graphs at the 95th percentile!!! Dr. Cooper said to us, "Well, looks like you're right on track... the {H} track!"
I was thrilled. I was so relieved to hear this, even though we're on our way for another big baby. I got in the car afterwards, looked at the pictures again, and was so overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity to bring another choice spirit into this world and to be able to be her mother. I just sat there and wept. We have so much in this life, so many blessings, and for that I am so grateful.
SO. No more worries. All is well. Bring on baby!
((((sigh))))
91 days just seem so loooong still before I have this baby. I watch that ticker tick down every day and it just isn't seeming to tick fast enough. I am going to be HUGE again. ((((sigh)))) What else is new, right??
Do men realize the ordeal our bodies (and our minds!) go through being pregnant? I mean heartburn alone lately is enough to scare a man away from ever even thinking of doing this for their wife. Then you've got the exhaustion. And the weight gain and loss and gain and loss and GAIN! Then there's the water retention. And the aches and pains as our ligaments start stretching for what's to come. Or the turning over in bed with this huge watermelon attached to our bellies. Yeah. That's a sight to see. Or the getting up in the middle of the night to pee and not being able to go back to sleep. Did I mention heartburn already? Yep, but it's worth mentioning again. Woke me up at 4:30AM this morning. Thanks a lot heartburn.
Ok. So yeah. There's the physical changes our bodies have to endure with each pregnancy. BUT I have YET to mention the MENTAL & PSYCHOTIC episodes that come with this blessing. Oh boy Oh boy... I am living proof of this one. I won't go into detail, but let's just say something takes over my mind and body and I say things I wouldn't normally say in tones and volumes I am not proud of. Scary stuff, people.
And I have 91 days to go! ha!
Ok, now I just have to say, this post is in NO WAY a complaint. I really hope it's not read that way. I LOVE being pregnant. I LOVE the fact that in a mere 91 days (ahem) I will be holding a precious little slice of heaven in my arms that I love instantly and eternally. It is ALL so worth it, it is. And it can't get here soon enough.
I have kept this pretty quiet the past month since my last doctor's appointment and ultrasound. Reason being, I am too emotional of a person to talk about it. Every time I would either think about it or tell someone (which was just a small few of you), I would tear up with emotion. But yesterday after going to this month's appointment, my sweet doctor really put me at ease with the situation.
He informed Martin and me last month that I (and the baby) have a 2 vessel umbilical cord instead of the normal 3. The main thing he told about it us was that it may affect the birth weight of the baby, causing her to be smaller, which with our history may not be such a bad thing.
I then come home, jump on Google, and freak out from what I find. If you're interested in learning more about 2 vessel cords, be prepared to hear the worst when you search online. According to my doctor, it's not as rare as we think. (He even had another mom-to-be in earlier that day with a 2 vessel cord.)
He asked me what my biggest fears/concerns were with this... I told him chromosomal abnormalities and kidney issues. Bless his heart, he then went into detail on the signs to look for in the ultrasound and how EVERYTHING looks healthy and well and that two kidneys are present... I was so happy to hear this. He really took his time explaining why he wasn't worried and how all the findings in my ultrasound pointed to a healthy baby.
I go back in three weeks and we'll begin the growth scans to monitor the baby's growth from here on out. Hey! One positive spin to this all: I may not have a 12 pound baby after all!!!
My dear friend Emy is due on the 18th of this month and so a VERY well attended baby shower was thrown for her last Saturday. No one, and I mean NO ONE, is more deserving of the blessing of a new baby girl as this mama. She's gone through alot and I am so proud of her and her strength. What an example she has been to me and many others.
Emy, Nicole, Me and Kirsten... As Emy called us, "The Party Planners".
In our ward at church, there are EIGHT pregnant women! Here are six of us that were at the shower with our growing bellies in order of due dates.
Ok, people. I promise promise promise to post our news on here as soon as I can. BUT our ultrasound appointment isn't until 3pm, then on to our doctor's office at 4:20. So... be patient. It's coming! And no one's as anxious as ME! ☺
There are several milestone days in a woman's pregnancy... one of which is coming up this Tuesday for me (and the family, of course!). It's the day we finally get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl - if I get to use ALL Christian's boy clothes again, or completely start over for a baby girl - if Christian gets to share a room with a little brother or if we need to figure out a new bedroom option, etc.. etc...
I am SO ANXIOUS I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!! I just want to know NOW! I suppose I can make it another 2 1/2 days... but I'm just itching to know.
As every expectant mother says, I will be thrilled with either a boy or a girl. I truly will. And I can't wait to find out and get the planning underway. ♥
