37 weeks....

I had another appointment this afternoon at 37 weeks 3 days. Baby is growing and sounded great. My doctor said that they will probably have to do a csection anyway to get this baby out of me! So, I guess we are still waiting for May 12. I'm not too sure he is going to be coming sooner than that. So, exactly 2 weeks from today we will be holding our little boy for sure.

I am feeling ready. Physically, emotionally....just ready. I'm tired of being tired (have I ever mentioned that before??), tired of the contractions that aren't doing anything, tired of people I don't know constantly making comments about the belly (A BIG thank you goes to the lady at McDonald's today who stated, and I quote" WHOAAAAAAAA lady! You are BIG!!" that is always what you want to hear), tired of being so stinkin' grumpy all the time.

I just don't feel like myself. My doctor said that even though we want this baby out so bad.....a newborn isn't all it's cracked up to be. (She just had a baby around the same time my sweet little nephew was born, so I think she is still going on few hours of sleep...). But I don't care about all that newborn stuff.

I can't wait to get up and see his sweet face and hold his sweet little body. And just smell him.....well the good smells if you know what I mean. I'm ready. We're ready. He's not. *sigh*

So we wait. Knowing God's timing doesn't necessarily have to be our own. This pregnancy has taught me a lot about being faithful and trusting. (Not that I had a hard time before with it....but God has opened my eyes to how much more I need to just lean on him)

Funny that that name we have had picked out for him means just that..."faithful"

Eventful week

34 weeks 6 days till now has been very eventful. With 4 trips to Labor and Delivery and one regular OB appointment, this peanut has kept us on our toes. We know he is doing well, is healthy and strong (as he HATES to have the contraction moniter sitting on top of him...he has literally almost kicked it off every time) and definetly has his own timing for when he will make his debut into this world. :)

My 36 week appointment went well yesterday. She checked me again, (for the 5th! time this week) and has said their hasn't been any change in my cervix. I am still a loose 1cm, 75% effaced, and at 0 station. Which is good of course, because we didn't want this baby to come and have to be automatically admitted to the NICU because he was under 36 weeks. But at the same time, it's getting really difficult to be having contractions all day long, every day, and know they are just not sufficient enough to make anything happen. *sigh*

I just feel ready physically and emotionally. I want to be able to get up in the middle of the night and hold this sweet stubborn boy instead of make my drowsy, dizzy way to the bathroom 3+ times. I want to see Luke hold his baby brother instead of kissing my belly and hugging my belly button. I want to see Brandon hold both his boys and love on them. I am soooo ready to be a mommy to two.

Like my doctor said yesterday, good news is, is that this pregnancy MUST end. It's just whether it's going to be this week, next week, or that final 3rd week on my scheduled day. She said she doesn't think I will make it to May 12, but the other doctor in her practice didn't think I would make it to my appointment yesterday! It's just a waiting game now. :)

At the appointment yesterday, she was taking measurements of my belly and listening to the heartbeat when Luke shouted, "no no no no Guke's baby!!" and lifted up his shirt. So my doctor went over and pretended to measure his "baby" and put the doppler and gel on his "baby" to listen to it. He just thought that was the coolest thing. So that made him feel important. It was hilarious though.

so, this baby will be here, regardless, in 3 weeks. Which really....isn't that far away. We just hope these contractions that aren't making me make any progress actually stop...or slow down enough that I don't feel so tired!

34 week appt

I had my 34 week appointment today...and everything is looking great. I had been having some pretty intense contractions this week. Sunday evening I had them about every 7-9 minutes for about an hour and half, but they ended up slowing down, so I didn't put a call into my doctor. But today when I told her about them, she wanted to do our first internal exam as well as a Fetal Fibronectin Test.

I am not dialated and the cervix looks good. So that is great news. And the results of the FFN test came back negative. So that means more than likely this little peanut will not be here within the next 2 weeks. (she said that test is about 98% accurate). Which is good because in 2 weeks, I won't quite be 36 weeks yet, so it makes me feel better to know he won't be here before then, and more than likely won't have a NICU stay. I have been so worried this time around, especially with Luke coming at 36 weeks and having as many contractions as early as I have, that he would be here, like, NOW. But God is good and I know he is ultimately in control of this situation. Just as He had His hand in Luke's birth.

So we are still playing the waiting game. And we are getting very eager to hold this new little man in our arms very soon.

32 week appt

I had my 32 week appt and Peanut is doing well. My belly measured in at 30 cm...which is an increase of 3cm in just 2 weeks! Which is good because now I am only about a week and half to 2 weeks behind as opposed to a whole month. His heartbeat sounded good and everything looks great.

I have been having some pretty intense pubic bone pain. (is that tmi??) and my doctor said it's because I have Pubic Systemasis Disfuntion. I don't know if I spelled that right. Basically it just means that my pubic bone hurts really bad. But it's really very common and the only cure for it is birth. great. That is at least 5-7 weeks away! So until then I have to start physical therapy and wear one of those pregnancy support bands to help ease the pain. Because really, it is pretty intense at times. Like I can't even walk or get up from where I am sitting. So at least I know why now. Anyone have any experience with this?? Just wondering how you handled it and if it really went away after you had your baby.

Also all the Braxton Hicks contractions I have been experiencing are normal. But she did say that I need to time them when I am resting because I will have to call her if I have more than 4-6 in a hour at rest. Which I haven't done before, but I still definetly have them when I am sitting with my feet up. I am just so nervous this little one is going to make an early experience that I think I am noticing them more and more.

So, other than that. Things are going well and we are still just playing the waiting game for when he gets here.

And, this may sound crazy, because we have already ordered a crib, set it up, and put his bedding in it, but we are going to be ordering a different one! HA! We found on we liked better that actually goes with his other furniture in his room much better. And we figured since he will have this furniture for a while, we might as well be happy with it. So....hopefully it will come in on time!

Appointment

I had another appointment today. And things continue on going well. Dr. G said that his ultrasound did come out very well and that he is actually measuring a week or 2 ahead! I gained 3 lbs since 2 week ago and his heartbeat was in the 150's. My belly is also growing....27 cm! That is good news. Means baby is growing and doing great in there.

I did remind her of those really intense contractions I had on 2 different nights...and she said that I shouldn't feel them like that. And if hydrating myself, and taking it easy) Which she said I absolutely have to do now and not pick Luke up as much as I do :( ....) doesn't work and I have another round of them before my next appt in 2 weeks, then she will probably want to see me and check me to make sure nothing is going on. Scary a little, because even though Luke was about 4 weeks early, I don't want this baby to come any earlier than that.

So that is all the news for now. We just continue to play the waiting game!

29 weeks!

Well, I have made it to 29 weeks. Feels good to know that in exactly 10 weeks from today we will definetly have met this little man. I am feeling good, except for a few feelings of a bruised belly from this kid kicking me so hard from the inside. I swear he drags his entire heel across the length of my entire belly. Luke never ever kicked as hard as this one does, and I always felt him more up in my ribs, where this one I sometimes feel there, but it's usually always on the my far right side of my belly almost all the way towards my back. It's crazy how far back I can feel him move. My belly button is pretty much gone....and I really don't know if it will ever come back again. It is so stretched that it's hard to believe that this belly is going to have to stretch even more in 10 weeks.

I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow. I like when you start having them closer together....it makes the time go by faster and you get to hear his heartbeat more often.

I'll let you all know how it goes!

He's a little bigger than a peanut now...

Our ultrasound this morning went great. Peanut is measuring right on track for 28 weeks. And is about 2lbs 10 oz. Apparently I am just measuring small....why? I'm not 100% sure yet. I won't see my doctor until a week from next Wednesday to find out for sure. But the ultrasound tech and the doctor on call there said he measured fine and so did everything else. As in the fluid around him and the placenta. So that is all great news!

Luke enjoyed seeing "baby" too and got excited when his pictures came up on the big screen he could see. If only he knew that this "baby" was actually going to be coming out to stay around....he might think differently. :) But it's still neat to see him getting excited to go to the baby appointments.

If this baby comes around 36 weeks like Luke did, he could be here in 8 weeks! YES...2 months or less. If not, it could be up to 11 weeks till we meet him. We are getting so excited to finally hold him in our arms!

Here is a sneak peak of his bedroom...

We aren't quite done with it yet. But hopefully it will be completely done very soon.

28 week appt

I had my 28 week appt today. And it went well. Gained 2 lbs. Which is no fun to see those numbers on that scale just keep going up and up and up..... Baby is good. We heard his heartbeat, but the thing that caught me off guard is that I am measuring a month behind. so at 27 weeks 4 days I am measuring 24 weeks. (my doctor said she could fudge and maybe say 26...but I told her not to fudge....even though i wish i was bigger...only because it makes me worried)

so, because I am measuring a month behind, she wanted me to go in for an ultrasound to check up on this little peanut. She said she isn't worried by any means and that a smaller measurment can happen, but to just ease my mind and be safe to have an ultrasound done. and seriously, who would turn down an ultrasound?? we get to see him again! So we go on Friday at 9am to check up on him...and see why in the world I am measuring the way I am. Good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated to ease my mind that he is okay. Dr. G said that everything else looks good and he was measuring right on at my 20 week scan (even though i was almost 18 weeks) so that is good news.

Other than that, I passed my 3 hour glucose test! It was a long and very tiring day, not to mention how nasty that orange drink tastes...but I passed. and so it was all worth it to make sure he is doing fine.

I will keep you posted on the results of the ultrasound...stay tuned for Friday!

another appointment 25 weeks 3 days

I had another appointment yesterday and it went well. My doctor said baby is going really good and felt like he was head down. Which I am sure will change as time goes on as he is flipping and flopping as I type.

We also were able to schedule the remainder of my appointments...which seems so unreal that it is getting so close now. So I am starting to go every 2 weeks now, because she wants to see me close to 28 weeks...which is really only a few weeks away...and then after 28 weeks you go every 2 weeks until 36 weeks when you start going every week.

We also scheduled my csection! Tuesday May 12 at 8am. We are so excited. I will be 39 weeks 3 days then, so hopefully I can make it that far. But she said regardless of when this little peanut decides to come they will do a csection anyway. That made me feel better. It has been a hard decision on whether or not I should opt for a csection this time around but have finally weighed all my options and decided on a planned csection. My doctor and the nurses have said it probably would be a good idea to do it too. So that made me feel even better with the decision.

His heartbeat was 145, and she measured my belly at only 22 cm! which shocked me...but she said it is okay because of my size. On top of that though, I gained 8lbs in one month! Which seems like a lot to me...but I have really only gained 8.8lbs this whole pregnancy so far because I lost 6 lbs in the beginning.

So overall it was a great appt and Luke really enjoyed hearing "baby" over the doppler and even wanted to help wipe the gunk off my belly when my doctor was done. He seems to really be interested in what's going on with me and this baby. But we will see what he thinks once this little man actually gets here. I bet he loves it.

went back in the same week!

After I had my appointment that week, I began to feel this little man's movements slow down a bit on Thursday. I tried not to think much of it especially since I was almost only 22 weeks. But, as the day wore on, and I didn't feel him like I normally did, I got a tad bit worried. I waited until Friday morning when I had to call for some results from some tests anyway and asked them about the movements. They told me if I wanted to I could go right on in and they would listen for the heartbeat. So, in I went! Better to be reassured right? Especially since the weekend was coming up, I didn't want to have to wonder all weekend long.

It's not that I didn't feel him at all. I just didn't feel him like normal. He is a crazy guy in there...and his movements have definetly gotten strong and more consistent, especially since when I first really felt him at 16 weeks. So, I just wondered why he had slowed down so much.

When I went in, he checked my stomach, and said everything felt really good. And then as soon as he put the dopper on my tummy, there it was! His little heartbeat. So then I felt stupid. BUT at least I could ease my mind about his movements. Apparently, the doctor said at least, I am feeling him like a "normal" 21 week person would feel him. And that is rare for me to have felt him consistently for so long. But I think the doctor was just trying to come up with some reason why he slowed down so much for that 24 hour period. So who really knows. All I know is his little heartbeat sounded great! and reassuring!!!

And of course he has more than made up for those 24 hours I didn't feel him that much. Now, he is back to his normal routine of rolling and wiggling in the belly. I love it though. It reminds me he is okay and I love feeling him.

oh, and Luke was very well behaved at the doctors office. He sat there in the chair and listened to the heartbeat and was so good. I was so proud. At least now I know I can take him to the routine appointments by myself without having to worry about how he will do. So that's nice!

5 month check up

I had my 21 week appt today. And things went very well. Baby is doing well and measuring good for 21 weeks. Actually, my belly measured at 20 cm today, which is fine by me! I always measured a week behind with Luke too so that is normal for me. She went to listen to his heartbeat, and couldn't get a clear sound of it because he is moving like crazy!! He kicked her several times and made her lose her spot to hear him. Crazy kid!!! She didn't tell me the heartbeat this time, but I can find out next month I think. All the other symptoms I am feeling are normal right now, which is always reassuring to hear.

I am pretty sure she is leaning towards the direction of a csection with this one. Which is fine by me, my recovery with Luke was pretty difficult and I still experience a few side effects from his delivery. Their is one main thing she is worried about for me with another vaginal delivery, one that is a little TMI for me to mention on here! ( I know me? yep...some things can be a little embarrassing) and it's definetly something I never want to experience in my life if I can help it, so I am totally leaning towards a csection too. And I'm sure if I told her that is what I wanted she woudn't even think twice about doing one. But I didn't tell her I was 100% on that yet, (even though I think I am) so we are just going to moniter the growth of this little peanut as the D Day draws closer. My guess is he will be over 6lbs, which, in my case, would probably give a definete reason to do a csection. (Luke weighed 5lbs 14 oz at 36w 2d)

She told me at my next appt on Feb 3, I need to schedule the remainder of my appointments! Can you believe that??? The remainder of my appointments! We can't believe we are only 4 months away from meeting this little man. It seems surreal that we are having another baby....and there are moments we think...OMG, we are going to have 2 kids! count them....2!! But it's great and we are so looking forward to holding this little guy in our arms. and never putting him down....people will have to knock us to the ground to hold him. Just kidding....but seriously.....

We by no means want to rush this time with Luke. He is our first. He made us parents. and this time we have with him now we know we will never ever get back...and that's a little sad to think about it. But then we think about all the fun times these 2 brothers are going to have together, and we just smile and get excited for what God has in store for us in the next few months....and years! It will be a great time.