Archives for 2005

How can you stay mad at a doctor who tells you that you’re almost 75-percent effaced and 2-cm dialated? You can’t!!! :o) Well, that’s what we found out today at our long-awaited appointment — definitely worth it! Jeff and I were a little surprised, but VERY excited. It was so weird to hear the doctor say, “Well, if you don’t deliver by next week, I’ll see ya at your appointment.” What?! Did he just say that?! Jeff and I looked at each other in total disbelief as we shook his hand goodbye.

Other less exciting details… I lost another 1/2 pound. So that’s 2 pounds in the last 2 weeks. The doctor isn’t too worried since the baby is still extremely active (he could barely get a heartbeat), so my fluid levels are most likely okay. I am measuring a little small for my dates, but the baby has dropped, so that often happens. Still, we’re having our last ultrasound on Saturday just to be sure all is well. I’m not worried though. Just to know that things are already moving along this early on makes me happy. As the doctor said, the longest part of labor is getting from 0 to 4 cm, so if I’m already at 2 cm, hopefully that will make it that much shorter! :o)

So when do I think I’ll go? No clue, but I’m not totally shocked that I’m dialated. I had a lot of contractions on Saturday and really felt the baby had dropped, but then again, I was trying not to get too excited so I wouldn’t be disappointed. I am having quite a few contractions today, but I don’t think they are the real deal. I’m sure I’ll know when they are. I have to say next week is a possibility in mind at this point, but odds are we’ll go to our next appointment on Tuesday and we’ll hear the same measurements as today, especially now that I’ve got you all excited… :O) I guess it’s all a waiting game from here!

So say a prayer for us as we continue on our little journey to parenthood. The ride is about to get a lot more exciting! Love you all!

Unfortunately, our long-awaited doctor’s appointment got postponed…again! If you recall, last time we had a quickie with a nurse — no internal and no measurements taken, but some questionable weight loss reported. So, as you can imagine, we were really excited/anxious about this next appointment, which was scheduled to happen yesterday (Tuesday). I was supposed to have my strep test done, which means a definite internal exam that will check for some sort of bacteria, but more importantly, it will tell me if all is moving along “down there.” Any effacement? Have I dialated? These are key pieces of info that keep a pregnant woman going in these last weeks! Well, the doctor had some sort of emergency and called to cancel right before my appt. yesterday. I was not happy. I reminded the nurse that I am full-term and that I haven’t seen a doctor in 3 weeks, and I’m supposed to be seeing him once a week. Plus, I haven’t had my strep test done yet, which is supposed to happen before you deliver. She said, “I know, you’re pretty far along, sorry. We can take you Thursday.” So, Thursday it is. Frustrating, yes, but what else can we do?

The good news is the baby is moving a lot (as usual!), so I assume all is well, but I’d like to know what’s happening, especially since I could officially go any time now. I’m sure I won’t deliver too early, and I know it’s all a guess anyway (even if you ARE dialated), but I’m looking for some sort of info to get me through the week, ya know?

On the bright side, today will go by fast since tonight is my last shower. It is being thrown by one of my good work friends, Norma. It will be a small gathering of women colleagues, so it should be nice. I’m really looking forward to it because it will also kind of be a “going away” shin-dig since I won’t be back in the office full-time once Baby B is here. I’ll still go in once a week for a few hours, but it won’t be the same. I’m going to miss everyone, but I know I could also list about a thousand responsibilities I won’t miss! :o)

This last week has been a lot of fun as Jeff and I get everything ready for Baby B’s arrival. :o) I bought some nursing clothing for the hospital and have my bag almost packed, so I feel pretty organized. Plus, Jeff installed the car seat last night, and I have an appt. set up to have it inspected (in spite of Jeff telling me it isn’t necessary), so if something does happen, we can pick up and go!

The baby’s room is also almost ready. We’ve hung the window valence, and I started organizing the armoire and the baby stuff that needs to be washed. Jeff has put together most of the baby gear, so we are fully equipped! It is so fun to have it all sitting around our house… it makes it so much more real to think that a baby will be using it all before we know it! We can’t wait! :o)

As we get closer, I am thinking of taking a few vacation days off before my due date to make sure all is in order, but we’ll see. I wanted to take those days off sporadically throughout the next few weeks, but I’m not sure that will work as I try to wrap things up for our next issue. There’s too much to do before I go; yet, at the same time, it would be nice to ease into this whole mommy job. :o)

I will post updated belly pics soon and will give the doctor update once we know something (anything!). Until then, we wait and thank God for our little miracle on the way…

Well, today I’m officially 36 weeks or 9 months pregnant. It always amazes me how you are really 10 months pregnant, but no one really tells you that. Well, technically it’s 9.5 months, but we won’t get into all that goofy counting stuff. Anyways, 40 weeks is right around the corner, and technically I could “go” anytime after next week, so the countdown is beginning. How crazy is that!??!

By the way, either you guys have a major connection with The Man Upstairs or He was sick of hearing me complain! :o) In other words, I feel much better these days. Seriously, after my rant on Friday, I started to feel better and after this weekend, I am actually walking without pain. I still feel tenderness and numbness when I bend, sit, or walk too fast, but heck I’ll take it. Anything is better than last week. I have a feeling my back will be tender until I deliver, so I’m just going to have to continue to “take it easy,” which I’m learning to do. As long as I’m mobile, I will NOT complain!

You know, this whole experience has made me aware of just how insensitive I am and how much I take for granted. People live with diabetes EVERY DAY, and here I am in the last months of pregnancy, complaining that I can’t have my chocolate fix until after the baby is here. I never realized what an emotional issue diabetes can be. I have a totally new outlook on the condition. I also know a lot of people with back problems, yet I never realized just how painful and frustrating it is. Now more than ever, I am grateful for my health and vow to be more sympathetic to those dealing with health issues. As horrible as it sounds, I have a tendency to think that people should just “suck it up,” but I no longer think that way. Health is a gift and people who don’t have it really need love and support. An obvious revelation, perhaps, but as usual, God has really humbled me through this experience, and I am thankful that He did.

So how is Baby B you ask? Well, according to our latest doctor’s appointment, just fine. Unfortunately, our last appt. was a little disappointing because it was so uneventful. One of our doctors is on vacation and the other one had four women go into labor right around the time of our appt., so we just saw the nurse. That would have been fine, except I had a million questions to ask. First, I was supposed to have an internal exam, which may not sound fun, but I’ve had about 20 people tell me I’ve dropped, so I was curious to see if I did.

I was also curious to see how much weight the baby has gained since our last ultrasound, but the nurse told me I actually lost 1.5 lbs! This really freaked me out, but she said it was normal. I don’t quite get that since the baby is gaining weight quicker than ever now, but I did read in one of my books last night that it is common for women to stay at the same weight in their last weeks. I just really expected to gain weight since I was so inactive since the last appt. Still, I guess I won’t worry until I have to. We see the doctor on Tuesday (we’re up to every week now), so I can ask him then. I also think we’ll get the order for our last ultrasound, so we’ll get another weight measurement soon. There’s that whole patience thing again… :o)

Well, that’s it for now. Thanks again for all your love and support. New belly pictures to come soon and hopefully some more nursery photos. We’re supposed to get the armoire on Thursday (finally!), and I can’t wait to fill it with all of our cute baby stuff. We’re also going to put up the window valence and some wall hangings (thanks, Cara!), so it will really look cute in there! Until then…