Being the first appointment after lunch definitely has its advantages! The wait was pretty short, and I was in and out of there and back at work within 30 minutes!
The normal procedures happened again… urine sample, blood pressure (129/87) and weight were all checked. Then it was back to an exam room to undress from the waist down and wait to be “checked” again. Dr. Shelley came in, measured, and listened to the heart-rate with the Doppler. After saying that everything looked good… she got ready to check my cervix.
There was still “a little pressure” this time around… but it didn’t feel as uncomfortable as last week. When she finished she reported that I was 1 cm, 90% effaced, and the baby’s head was at -2. I kindly asked her to explain… to which she said that I had completely dilated to 1 cm; my cervix has thinned out to nearly nothing, and the baby’s head has dropped significantly and is in the pelvic area. So there has been great progress since last week! My follow-up question was… when’s she coming? Dr. Shelley laughed and said she didn’t know, but it could be any time. She reported that she told a patient the same thing yesterday at 2:30, and this morning when she checked charts online, she noticed that same patient had delivered overnight!
Before I left, I had her look over my birth plan. Most everything on there seemed fine, and she even gave me a suggestion for a birthing position that seemed to work best for alleviating pain. With that checked, she said she would go ahead and make an appointment for next week. But we somewhat joked about her coming this weekend! I told her that I have guessed she would come October 1. So, she mentioned that it would work well for her schedule, but if baby didn’t come by then… she would see me next week at my appointment.
Here’s hoping that the current tropical depression and low pressure it brings will allow us to meet sweet pea this weekend as opposed to possibly needing to be induced later!
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
9.24.2010
1st "Check" at 38.5 wks
The first day of fall (and a full moon) had many people predicting that Baby Harrison would make an early appearance. So, when I went to the doctor’s office for my appointment, I hoped that I would have some good news!
I may even like going in the afternoon better… because I certainly didn’t have to wait very long to be called back. I had my weight and blood pressure checked as usual. Then I waited in the nurse’s office area for a room instead of going back out to the waiting room. A few minutes later I was led to an exam room and asked to undress from the waist down because Dr. Shelley would be “checking” me at this appointment.
When she came in, she mentioned that I had lost .5 a pound since last week… but that everything else looked good. She started by measuring (38 cm) and listening to the baby’s heartbeat (both were normal). Then she explained that she was going to check my cervix… It would just feel like a little pressure. I’m not sure what her explanation of pressure is – because it’s certainly not the same as mine! It wasn’t that it was painful, but it was very uncomfortable! She concluded that I was “a fingertip, 50%, and a little high.” Obviously, I had to ask for an explanation. A fingertip describes the dilation of my cervix – had she been at the knuckle… I would be 1 cm, but I’m not quite there. I understood the 50% – that is the softness or ripeness of my cervix. A little high describes the location of the baby’s head. I could have probably told her that she was a little high before she checked because I can clearly still feel where she is located (just under my ribs).
So, unless my water were to break, it was very unlikely (in her opinion) that my baby would come on this full moon. I will see her again on Wednesday September 29 (in Clemson) to be checked again and see what progress I’ve made. But until then… we continue to wait. I am excited that “something” is happening, and while I would love it if she decided to come on out… I’m okay that she’s not here quite yet. She will come when she’s ready, and if she’s not ready yet, that’s okay. I mean, it’s not like she’s past her due date yet. So, I have no reason to worry. And knowing that my body is making some progress to get her here is pretty encouraging.
I may even like going in the afternoon better… because I certainly didn’t have to wait very long to be called back. I had my weight and blood pressure checked as usual. Then I waited in the nurse’s office area for a room instead of going back out to the waiting room. A few minutes later I was led to an exam room and asked to undress from the waist down because Dr. Shelley would be “checking” me at this appointment.
When she came in, she mentioned that I had lost .5 a pound since last week… but that everything else looked good. She started by measuring (38 cm) and listening to the baby’s heartbeat (both were normal). Then she explained that she was going to check my cervix… It would just feel like a little pressure. I’m not sure what her explanation of pressure is – because it’s certainly not the same as mine! It wasn’t that it was painful, but it was very uncomfortable! She concluded that I was “a fingertip, 50%, and a little high.” Obviously, I had to ask for an explanation. A fingertip describes the dilation of my cervix – had she been at the knuckle… I would be 1 cm, but I’m not quite there. I understood the 50% – that is the softness or ripeness of my cervix. A little high describes the location of the baby’s head. I could have probably told her that she was a little high before she checked because I can clearly still feel where she is located (just under my ribs).
So, unless my water were to break, it was very unlikely (in her opinion) that my baby would come on this full moon. I will see her again on Wednesday September 29 (in Clemson) to be checked again and see what progress I’ve made. But until then… we continue to wait. I am excited that “something” is happening, and while I would love it if she decided to come on out… I’m okay that she’s not here quite yet. She will come when she’s ready, and if she’s not ready yet, that’s okay. I mean, it’s not like she’s past her due date yet. So, I have no reason to worry. And knowing that my body is making some progress to get her here is pretty encouraging.
9.20.2010
T-minus 13 days (and counting)
We have made it to the last 2 weeks until our due date! It’s really kind of hard to believe… but here we are. Now the anticipation of sweet pea’s arrival is building at an incredible rate! I think that the unknown is the hardest part of the process.
As the next couple of weeks approach, I find myself wondering when she will make her debut. How and how long will labor and delivery go? What date and time will she choose to make her arrival? What will she look like – from hair and eye color to facial shape and hair length? How much will she weight and how long will she measure? I’m certainly ready to meet her!
I find myself thinking about the next steps too. Is there anything else that needs to be done before baby is born? Dusty would say that I have definitely been nesting in the last week or so. But when I’m cleaning and rearranging, I don’t know that it’s completely necessary. So, does that mean we’re ready!? I know that no one can really prepare us for what it will be like to be parents. It’s a huge life change… we know. But it’s not even something that can really be prepared because there are still so many unknowns.
I’m definitely a “type A” personality, so the waiting and unknown isn’t something that I’m a fan of by any means. But I am trying to tell myself to relax and let that whole control thing go… it’s not like I have much of a choice. I know that she will come when she’s ready; I would just like to have an idea of when that is going to be.
She certainly hasn’t calmed down in there at all! She obviously doesn’t have the space to kick and punch like she used to… but that hasn’t stopped her from squirming and trying her best to stretch out in there! I’m still very thankful she’s active, but I am not enjoying her recent activity as much as I did in the beginning. I have felt much more movement lower down, even though she hasn't committed to dropping yet. And I am feeling some cramping from time to time... usually it's not very painful. But from what the doc said last week, that's what I want to feel. Her movements make my ribs hurt though. Even when she isn't pressing against them, they feel kind of sore thanks to the continuous pushing she tends to do.
Sleeping is becoming something that only happens every other day or so. I typically fall asleep with no problems, but several times a week, I have problems falling back asleep after getting up to use the bathroom during the middle of the night. I have had several nights where I lay in the bed for 3 hours or so without being able to sleep… and the tendency is for that to happen every other night during the week. This pattern of course doesn’t help me out. I’m already tired and not sleeping makes me a little more on edge than I would be otherwise.
The swelling also continues. My feet and ankles have been particularly puffy lately. And my poor fingers continue to be sore from the extra fluid that has taken residency in my knuckles. But I know the end is in sight! I even got a preview of it this morning! Yesterday, I wore tennis shoes all afternoon and evening (I even had to tighten the laces at one point). At small group, I kept my feet propped up on a stool the entire time I was there. And when I went to bed, I put 2 couch pillows under the sheets and kept my feet up all night. This morning… I woke up and looked down to find the skinniest ankles and feet I have seen in months! I was so excited about them I took pictures! For those who don’t understand… I’m posting the comparison of what I have been used to and what I have missed.
"the Norm" (these days)
"the missed"
I know that sweet pea could come anytime at this point. But I also know that first babies don’t tend to be early. However, I am holding on to the hope that maybe she’ll want to join the rest of us September babies and make her entrance into this world a few days early. Whenever she gets here, one thing's for sure… I’ll be ready and ecstatic to meet her!
As the next couple of weeks approach, I find myself wondering when she will make her debut. How and how long will labor and delivery go? What date and time will she choose to make her arrival? What will she look like – from hair and eye color to facial shape and hair length? How much will she weight and how long will she measure? I’m certainly ready to meet her!
I find myself thinking about the next steps too. Is there anything else that needs to be done before baby is born? Dusty would say that I have definitely been nesting in the last week or so. But when I’m cleaning and rearranging, I don’t know that it’s completely necessary. So, does that mean we’re ready!? I know that no one can really prepare us for what it will be like to be parents. It’s a huge life change… we know. But it’s not even something that can really be prepared because there are still so many unknowns.
I’m definitely a “type A” personality, so the waiting and unknown isn’t something that I’m a fan of by any means. But I am trying to tell myself to relax and let that whole control thing go… it’s not like I have much of a choice. I know that she will come when she’s ready; I would just like to have an idea of when that is going to be.
She certainly hasn’t calmed down in there at all! She obviously doesn’t have the space to kick and punch like she used to… but that hasn’t stopped her from squirming and trying her best to stretch out in there! I’m still very thankful she’s active, but I am not enjoying her recent activity as much as I did in the beginning. I have felt much more movement lower down, even though she hasn't committed to dropping yet. And I am feeling some cramping from time to time... usually it's not very painful. But from what the doc said last week, that's what I want to feel. Her movements make my ribs hurt though. Even when she isn't pressing against them, they feel kind of sore thanks to the continuous pushing she tends to do.
Sleeping is becoming something that only happens every other day or so. I typically fall asleep with no problems, but several times a week, I have problems falling back asleep after getting up to use the bathroom during the middle of the night. I have had several nights where I lay in the bed for 3 hours or so without being able to sleep… and the tendency is for that to happen every other night during the week. This pattern of course doesn’t help me out. I’m already tired and not sleeping makes me a little more on edge than I would be otherwise.
The swelling also continues. My feet and ankles have been particularly puffy lately. And my poor fingers continue to be sore from the extra fluid that has taken residency in my knuckles. But I know the end is in sight! I even got a preview of it this morning! Yesterday, I wore tennis shoes all afternoon and evening (I even had to tighten the laces at one point). At small group, I kept my feet propped up on a stool the entire time I was there. And when I went to bed, I put 2 couch pillows under the sheets and kept my feet up all night. This morning… I woke up and looked down to find the skinniest ankles and feet I have seen in months! I was so excited about them I took pictures! For those who don’t understand… I’m posting the comparison of what I have been used to and what I have missed.
"the Norm" (these days)
"the missed"
I know that sweet pea could come anytime at this point. But I also know that first babies don’t tend to be early. However, I am holding on to the hope that maybe she’ll want to join the rest of us September babies and make her entrance into this world a few days early. Whenever she gets here, one thing's for sure… I’ll be ready and ecstatic to meet her!
9.15.2010
37.5 Week Appt
This morning, the doctor’s office waiting room was only half full! There were a couple people ahead of me, but they were called back fairly quickly. So, the initial wait wasn’t that long. By 10:30, I had been called back to give the normal urine sample, weight, and blood pressure checked and had been asked to go back to the waiting room to wait for an exam room to open!
Again, the wait for a room wasn’t very long, but the wait for Dr. Shelley to come in was about the same. Dr. Shelley came in and let me know that the strep culture came back negative (so no antibiotics during delivery) and asked me if I was planning on getting a flu shot soon… I told her I was going this Friday. She just reminded me of the importance of protecting me and the baby with it, but that it was necessary to get it 2 weeks before she gets here.
She then measured and commented that we were all the way up there (I guess that’s normal/good). And the baby’s heartbeat sounded strong and steady (as usual) with the Doppler! I thought that she would check to see if my cervix had softened or if I had dilated any, but she said that she would check me next week. Before leaving, she asked had been having any contractions or cramping. I told her that I wasn’t sure about contractions (at least not anything painful yet), but yesterday I had a pretty bad cramp for about 20 seconds in my pelvic area. Dr. Shelley told me that was a good sign! She explained that small cramping is usually how the cervix ripens (softens), and especially with first babies, you want to feel small cramping in the lower abdomen area instead of the intense all-over contractions that don’t do much to soften the cervix. One more good thing she mentioned was that she thought the baby's head was down because her heart rate was found lower on my belly… to which I commented that I was pretty sure her rear was just under my ribs. She laughed because she experienced the same thing, with kicking and movement on the right side of her body. We joked about sitting with our hand(s) resting just under our ribs for the majority of the day because of those movements and at least attempting to keep them under control!
But that was it. I have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday September 23 (the first day of fall and the next full moon) at the Anderson office (which is also at the hospital)! I would love to walk in and hear that I’ve dilated enough to be admitted and have the baby, but I’ll try to keep myself in reality and know that it’s not very likely! Until then, we continue to wait for Sweet Pea to arrive!
Again, the wait for a room wasn’t very long, but the wait for Dr. Shelley to come in was about the same. Dr. Shelley came in and let me know that the strep culture came back negative (so no antibiotics during delivery) and asked me if I was planning on getting a flu shot soon… I told her I was going this Friday. She just reminded me of the importance of protecting me and the baby with it, but that it was necessary to get it 2 weeks before she gets here.
She then measured and commented that we were all the way up there (I guess that’s normal/good). And the baby’s heartbeat sounded strong and steady (as usual) with the Doppler! I thought that she would check to see if my cervix had softened or if I had dilated any, but she said that she would check me next week. Before leaving, she asked had been having any contractions or cramping. I told her that I wasn’t sure about contractions (at least not anything painful yet), but yesterday I had a pretty bad cramp for about 20 seconds in my pelvic area. Dr. Shelley told me that was a good sign! She explained that small cramping is usually how the cervix ripens (softens), and especially with first babies, you want to feel small cramping in the lower abdomen area instead of the intense all-over contractions that don’t do much to soften the cervix. One more good thing she mentioned was that she thought the baby's head was down because her heart rate was found lower on my belly… to which I commented that I was pretty sure her rear was just under my ribs. She laughed because she experienced the same thing, with kicking and movement on the right side of her body. We joked about sitting with our hand(s) resting just under our ribs for the majority of the day because of those movements and at least attempting to keep them under control!
But that was it. I have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday September 23 (the first day of fall and the next full moon) at the Anderson office (which is also at the hospital)! I would love to walk in and hear that I’ve dilated enough to be admitted and have the baby, but I’ll try to keep myself in reality and know that it’s not very likely! Until then, we continue to wait for Sweet Pea to arrive!
9.08.2010
Baby and belly update!
To start with... I guess I could update the world on last week's doctor's appointment. The wait was longer than normal... so bad that they took me back to check my weight, b/p, and get a urine sample, and then sent me back to wait some more. This was the dreaded strep b test too. So, they did that... which was definitely NOT pleasant! Other than that... I am still measuring where I'm supposed to be, and the baby's heart rate still sounds good and steady.
For the second appointment in a row, I had questions about some symptoms that I have had. I have started to wake up during the night and in the mornings with pretty bad pain in my fingers. I would guess it's almost like arthritis in my knuckles (even though I am not really sure what that feels like). So, I asked if that was normal... and come to find out – it is! Dr. Shelley told me that it was possible I was experiencing carpal tunnel (brought on by pregnancy). She shared that she had it when she was pregnant and that it got so bad that she had to have injections in her wrists because she couldn’t feel her fingers. She suggested that I sleep in wrist braces at night. I tried to explain that I hadn’t lost feeling in my fingers, I just had really sore joints (much worse in the mornings but as the day went on, they got better). She said that it was possible that it was just from the fluid that was pooling in my hands. And that if that was the case, massage would really be the only thing that would help it. So, her final words were to try the braces and we would check on it at the next appointment. Well, as much fun as it sounds like to buy and try braces that may not even help, I decided to try sleeping in an ace bandage one night to test out her theory. If it helped, I would be willing to get the braces, but why spend money on something that might not work. Good thing I went that route! I woke up during the night to use the bathroom (as usual), and my fingers were so swollen on the hand in the bandage that I could barely make a fist. And you talk about pain… it was much worse than the hand that wasn’t wrapped. So, I have self diagnosed that it’s just the fluid that is causing them to ache. And I’ll just have to suck it up! The good news (according to Dr. Shelley) is that in 4-6 weeks, I won’t have that problem anymore.
Baby has been kind of crazy lately! At least, she’s been making my belly look like it’s holding an alien in there! I no longer find it “fun” or even comfortable to feel her moving around. She is getting kind of rough on my insides, and as she runs out of space to move around, I find her trying to push (or kick) out of my right side – just under my ribs. There seems to be a foot about half way down my rib cage that won’t stay where I try to encourage her to keep it. And a big rounded something (my guess is her backside), sits slightly to the right just under my chest bone most of the time, gets shoved into my ribs and often times it makes me short of breath as she tries to stretch. Obviously she hasn't figured out that my side is NOT an exit. But it makes me feel good to think that she is at least wanting out!
I never understood women who wanted their child to be born early. It was mind-blowing to me when women mentioned wanting their body back and counting down the days more for the pregnancy to be over than for baby to actually be here. But in the last week or so, I have found that I am getting to that point. I would be perfectly fine (and happy) if this little one decided to arrive early (as her mom, aunt, and dad did) – even though I know it’s not likely. And while I wouldn’t say that I am looking forward to the pregnancy being over more than I am to welcoming baby… I am ready for my body back. I’m ready to sleep and move around easier again. And this morning was the first time I thought to myself just how exciting it would be to wear my normal clothes again (even though I know it may not be for a while still)!
From what I hear from others, it’s normal to feel this way (so that’s good). So with 3.5 weeks until d-day, I can confidently say I’m ready! But while I wait, I guess we could finish up the nursery and getting the house ready (more on that next time).
Until then… here are updated belly shots (as requested) from 30 and 36 weeks.
For the second appointment in a row, I had questions about some symptoms that I have had. I have started to wake up during the night and in the mornings with pretty bad pain in my fingers. I would guess it's almost like arthritis in my knuckles (even though I am not really sure what that feels like). So, I asked if that was normal... and come to find out – it is! Dr. Shelley told me that it was possible I was experiencing carpal tunnel (brought on by pregnancy). She shared that she had it when she was pregnant and that it got so bad that she had to have injections in her wrists because she couldn’t feel her fingers. She suggested that I sleep in wrist braces at night. I tried to explain that I hadn’t lost feeling in my fingers, I just had really sore joints (much worse in the mornings but as the day went on, they got better). She said that it was possible that it was just from the fluid that was pooling in my hands. And that if that was the case, massage would really be the only thing that would help it. So, her final words were to try the braces and we would check on it at the next appointment. Well, as much fun as it sounds like to buy and try braces that may not even help, I decided to try sleeping in an ace bandage one night to test out her theory. If it helped, I would be willing to get the braces, but why spend money on something that might not work. Good thing I went that route! I woke up during the night to use the bathroom (as usual), and my fingers were so swollen on the hand in the bandage that I could barely make a fist. And you talk about pain… it was much worse than the hand that wasn’t wrapped. So, I have self diagnosed that it’s just the fluid that is causing them to ache. And I’ll just have to suck it up! The good news (according to Dr. Shelley) is that in 4-6 weeks, I won’t have that problem anymore.
Baby has been kind of crazy lately! At least, she’s been making my belly look like it’s holding an alien in there! I no longer find it “fun” or even comfortable to feel her moving around. She is getting kind of rough on my insides, and as she runs out of space to move around, I find her trying to push (or kick) out of my right side – just under my ribs. There seems to be a foot about half way down my rib cage that won’t stay where I try to encourage her to keep it. And a big rounded something (my guess is her backside), sits slightly to the right just under my chest bone most of the time, gets shoved into my ribs and often times it makes me short of breath as she tries to stretch. Obviously she hasn't figured out that my side is NOT an exit. But it makes me feel good to think that she is at least wanting out!
I never understood women who wanted their child to be born early. It was mind-blowing to me when women mentioned wanting their body back and counting down the days more for the pregnancy to be over than for baby to actually be here. But in the last week or so, I have found that I am getting to that point. I would be perfectly fine (and happy) if this little one decided to arrive early (as her mom, aunt, and dad did) – even though I know it’s not likely. And while I wouldn’t say that I am looking forward to the pregnancy being over more than I am to welcoming baby… I am ready for my body back. I’m ready to sleep and move around easier again. And this morning was the first time I thought to myself just how exciting it would be to wear my normal clothes again (even though I know it may not be for a while still)!
From what I hear from others, it’s normal to feel this way (so that’s good). So with 3.5 weeks until d-day, I can confidently say I’m ready! But while I wait, I guess we could finish up the nursery and getting the house ready (more on that next time).
Until then… here are updated belly shots (as requested) from 30 and 36 weeks.
8.25.2010
33-week Appt, Maternity Pics, and Baby Shower #1
I had my first bi-weekly appointment last week. Although the wait was longer than normal, the appointment itself wasn't. It was still pretty routine. The only real difference was this time when the nurse asked how I was feeling. Usually, my response is fine. But this time, I responded by telling her I had beed tired, and I had started to experience some swelling in my feet and ankles. So, when I finally got to see the doctor, she measured and listened (as usual), and then we discussed the swelling.
I had my first bi-weekly appointment last week. Although the wait was longer than normal, the appointment itself wasn't. It was still pretty routine. The only real difference was this time when the nurse asked how I was feeling. Usually, my response is fine. But this time, I responded by telling her I had been tired, and I had started to experience some swelling in my feet and ankles. So, when I finally got to see the doctor, she measured and listened (as usual), and then we discussed the swelling.
One thing I really like about my doctor is that she has been through it before, so she has practical experiences and advice to share. She had one of her sons on October 9, and she experienced the same swelling in her last month or so of her pregnancy. She told me that it's normal, and since my blood pressure was still normal, I didn't have anything to worry about as far as health goes. But she gave me several suggestions to help with the swelling. She mentioned the ones that I had heard several times before (drink lots and lots of water, prop your feet up at night, sleep on your left side, try to move around some during the day instead of sitting all day). But she also mentioned a few new suggestions. Apparently, if you tap your foot and keep your calf muscles moving, it will also keep the fluid moving throughout the body instead of allowing it to pool in the feet. She also said that I needed to wear shoes that would cover the top of my foot... by doing this, the fluid wouldn't be able to settle in my feet. However, it may start to settle in my ankles and calves instead. Hmm, just a thought, but I think I would rather have swollen feet than cankles! Dr. Shelley also warned me that the swelling could come back after the baby is born. So, if it happens, I shouldn't be alarmed, it's normal and will eventually go away. To help easy my worries, she said that she would continue to check it but that it really wasn’t anything to worry about at this point. At least she’s aware!
For the first time since Mother’s Day (and the last time before baby), I got to spend the weekend in Roanoke Rapids with family! It was nice to be “home” again, but it wasn’t what I would have called the most restful weekend. Saturday was a very busy day, but it was both productive and love-filled.
It all started with Dusty and I having some maternity photos taken by my cousin. We had done some research of different poses that we liked, and the night before, we came up with an idea of where to go and what poses to do at each location. With that in mind, we were under the impression it wouldn’t take very long to knock it out. Well, the wardrobe changes and the travel time between locations helped to extend out the time it took to get them done. Thanks to my cousin Warrie for being patient with me in my grumpy spells. I know that being in the heat didn't bring out the best in me. But she did great, and I think that there are some great pictures! Some of our favorites are posted on facebook (you can try this link). After finally getting some lunch and resting a little in the A/C, it was time to get ready for my first baby shower!
My sister was the official hostess (I think), but my mom, grandma, and aunts all pitched in. The room looked great… with the absolute cutest “sweet pea” cake and most useful, beautiful diaper cake I think I’ve ever seen! There was a great turn out too. I had friends and colleagues that I had worked with when I lived in Roanoke Rapids along with family (close and extended) and family friends. We were blessed with everything from a bassinet to a stroller/car seat set and everything in between (bouncy seat, carriers, clothes, diapers, and some toys). This little girl is going to be set! And we felt so loved and cared for by the amount of things people were kind enough to get us. Now, I just have to work on getting out all those thank you notes!
Before wrapping it up, I might as well add a little baby update. I don’t know if I have mentioned this or not, but sweet pea has been hanging out on my right side. I don’t know if that’s something that is normal or not. But that’s what she does. At night, and sometimes during the day, there is a bulge on the right side of my stomach. I often feel boney nudges under the ribs on my right side too. And in the last few days, it’s as though she is pushing herself out as much as possible. I have heard that it’s good that she’s active, but her movements aren’t the most comfortable things to feel all the time. And at times, I notice that I feel short of breath… thanks to sweet pea of course! I am obviously thankful for an active, healthy baby. But I must admit that at this point… if she wanted to come on out, I’d be good with it. :)
I had my first bi-weekly appointment last week. Although the wait was longer than normal, the appointment itself wasn't. It was still pretty routine. The only real difference was this time when the nurse asked how I was feeling. Usually, my response is fine. But this time, I responded by telling her I had been tired, and I had started to experience some swelling in my feet and ankles. So, when I finally got to see the doctor, she measured and listened (as usual), and then we discussed the swelling.
One thing I really like about my doctor is that she has been through it before, so she has practical experiences and advice to share. She had one of her sons on October 9, and she experienced the same swelling in her last month or so of her pregnancy. She told me that it's normal, and since my blood pressure was still normal, I didn't have anything to worry about as far as health goes. But she gave me several suggestions to help with the swelling. She mentioned the ones that I had heard several times before (drink lots and lots of water, prop your feet up at night, sleep on your left side, try to move around some during the day instead of sitting all day). But she also mentioned a few new suggestions. Apparently, if you tap your foot and keep your calf muscles moving, it will also keep the fluid moving throughout the body instead of allowing it to pool in the feet. She also said that I needed to wear shoes that would cover the top of my foot... by doing this, the fluid wouldn't be able to settle in my feet. However, it may start to settle in my ankles and calves instead. Hmm, just a thought, but I think I would rather have swollen feet than cankles! Dr. Shelley also warned me that the swelling could come back after the baby is born. So, if it happens, I shouldn't be alarmed, it's normal and will eventually go away. To help easy my worries, she said that she would continue to check it but that it really wasn’t anything to worry about at this point. At least she’s aware!
For the first time since Mother’s Day (and the last time before baby), I got to spend the weekend in Roanoke Rapids with family! It was nice to be “home” again, but it wasn’t what I would have called the most restful weekend. Saturday was a very busy day, but it was both productive and love-filled.
It all started with Dusty and I having some maternity photos taken by my cousin. We had done some research of different poses that we liked, and the night before, we came up with an idea of where to go and what poses to do at each location. With that in mind, we were under the impression it wouldn’t take very long to knock it out. Well, the wardrobe changes and the travel time between locations helped to extend out the time it took to get them done. Thanks to my cousin Warrie for being patient with me in my grumpy spells. I know that being in the heat didn't bring out the best in me. But she did great, and I think that there are some great pictures! Some of our favorites are posted on facebook (you can try this link). After finally getting some lunch and resting a little in the A/C, it was time to get ready for my first baby shower!
My sister was the official hostess (I think), but my mom, grandma, and aunts all pitched in. The room looked great… with the absolute cutest “sweet pea” cake and most useful, beautiful diaper cake I think I’ve ever seen! There was a great turn out too. I had friends and colleagues that I had worked with when I lived in Roanoke Rapids along with family (close and extended) and family friends. We were blessed with everything from a bassinet to a stroller/car seat set and everything in between (bouncy seat, carriers, clothes, diapers, and some toys). This little girl is going to be set! And we felt so loved and cared for by the amount of things people were kind enough to get us. Now, I just have to work on getting out all those thank you notes!
Before wrapping it up, I might as well add a little baby update. I don’t know if I have mentioned this or not, but sweet pea has been hanging out on my right side. I don’t know if that’s something that is normal or not. But that’s what she does. At night, and sometimes during the day, there is a bulge on the right side of my stomach. I often feel boney nudges under the ribs on my right side too. And in the last few days, it’s as though she is pushing herself out as much as possible. I have heard that it’s good that she’s active, but her movements aren’t the most comfortable things to feel all the time. And at times, I notice that I feel short of breath… thanks to sweet pea of course! I am obviously thankful for an active, healthy baby. But I must admit that at this point… if she wanted to come on out, I’d be good with it. :)
8.13.2010
Wedding, Vacation, and Swelling... (not necessarily in that order)
This past weekend, we were honored to be a part of an amazing event! Two Clemson Greek IV alum were married at Pawleys Island. Dusty was asked to read scripture in the wedding, so we got to see part of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The couple (Robert and Adrienne) met and served on the Greek IV leadership team. So, it was cool to be there as they joined their lives together. But the love that they both share for the Lord and for each other spoke volumes to those in attendance.
The rehearsal was a normal rehearsal... complete with emotions and run throughs for the next days wedding. But the rehearsal dinner was a little different. Since the rehearsal ran over a little, and the rain maybe held a few people up, we started nearly an hour late. They also had an after rehearsal party planned (after the dinner). So, we started dinner and about half way in they started toasting. The cool thing was just about everyone who stood up to speak spoke of the witness that their relationship had been. People spoke of the amount of love they shared, but also the amount of love that they each shared for the Lord. It was really quite moving to be in a room where the Spirit was so clearly there. And it was amazing to see how two young people uniting their lives together had touched the lives of their family and friends so deeply! The wedding the next day was absolutely breath-taking. The service, the dresses, the decor, the reception, the couple... everything was simply stunning. And like I said before, it truly was an honor to have been a part of it.
Since we were traveling about 4 hours to get to Pawleys for the wedding, we decided we might as well make a vacation out of it! Our thoughts were that we haven't had a real vacation this summer (certainly not at the beach) and this will be the last opportunity to really vacation before the baby gets here! So, with that in mind... we headed to the wedding festivities with the "vacation" mindset. We were fortunate to stay at the home of a different Greek IV alum. The Poston family were extremely gracious and made sure we were well fed and provided for the entire time we stayed with them. They even offered to let us stay at their home for the few days we planned on staying after the wedding. But we had already made reservations and paid for a hotel, and we didn't want to impose on them, so we thanked them and spent the remainder of our time alone.
We really enjoyed our time at the beach (even if we did come back with some pretty bad sunburn). And before we left the Postons, we were given a gift certificate for 2 free boat tour passes. So, before we left on Tuesday... we enjoyed a boat tour of some plantations and were then dropped off on the lighthouse island to explore and collect shells. Dusty went out in hopes of finding TONS of sand dollars, but he came back with several big conch shells! I was impressed with his findings! And although it was pretty hot outside... it was a fun (free) way to wrap up our time at the beach.
Finally, as previewed in the title... swelling. I think I mentioned some swelling in the camp post. So, it's not something that is completely new to this pregnancy. However, the swelling that has started happening over the past week has been pretty miserable (to look at mainly). I have had some slight swelling in the afternoons, but usually by the next morning (after sleeping on my left side and propping my feet up) it's gone. Well, since this past wedding weekend... it hasn't really gone away. The swelling is primarily happening in my feet and ankles (and somewhat into my calves -- suddenly cankles comes to mind). And while it goes down some at night... it isn't going away! And it's getting worse as the days go by. I have read that I should drink lots of fluids to help flush out the water my body is retaining, but that hasn't helped. I have also read that propping up my feet when sitting and moving around some should help... but it doesn't. I even called the doctor today because I was worried about it... and the nurse said it's normal but there isn't much you can do. So, I guess I will ask the doctor when I see her on Wednesday. A little swelling is one thing... but I don't think this is normal!
Otherwise, the baby is still moving all the time and other than being tired... I feel fine. Let's just hope with a weekend ahead and rest (hopefully) in my future this too will pass! :)
The rehearsal was a normal rehearsal... complete with emotions and run throughs for the next days wedding. But the rehearsal dinner was a little different. Since the rehearsal ran over a little, and the rain maybe held a few people up, we started nearly an hour late. They also had an after rehearsal party planned (after the dinner). So, we started dinner and about half way in they started toasting. The cool thing was just about everyone who stood up to speak spoke of the witness that their relationship had been. People spoke of the amount of love they shared, but also the amount of love that they each shared for the Lord. It was really quite moving to be in a room where the Spirit was so clearly there. And it was amazing to see how two young people uniting their lives together had touched the lives of their family and friends so deeply! The wedding the next day was absolutely breath-taking. The service, the dresses, the decor, the reception, the couple... everything was simply stunning. And like I said before, it truly was an honor to have been a part of it.
Since we were traveling about 4 hours to get to Pawleys for the wedding, we decided we might as well make a vacation out of it! Our thoughts were that we haven't had a real vacation this summer (certainly not at the beach) and this will be the last opportunity to really vacation before the baby gets here! So, with that in mind... we headed to the wedding festivities with the "vacation" mindset. We were fortunate to stay at the home of a different Greek IV alum. The Poston family were extremely gracious and made sure we were well fed and provided for the entire time we stayed with them. They even offered to let us stay at their home for the few days we planned on staying after the wedding. But we had already made reservations and paid for a hotel, and we didn't want to impose on them, so we thanked them and spent the remainder of our time alone.
We really enjoyed our time at the beach (even if we did come back with some pretty bad sunburn). And before we left the Postons, we were given a gift certificate for 2 free boat tour passes. So, before we left on Tuesday... we enjoyed a boat tour of some plantations and were then dropped off on the lighthouse island to explore and collect shells. Dusty went out in hopes of finding TONS of sand dollars, but he came back with several big conch shells! I was impressed with his findings! And although it was pretty hot outside... it was a fun (free) way to wrap up our time at the beach.
Finally, as previewed in the title... swelling. I think I mentioned some swelling in the camp post. So, it's not something that is completely new to this pregnancy. However, the swelling that has started happening over the past week has been pretty miserable (to look at mainly). I have had some slight swelling in the afternoons, but usually by the next morning (after sleeping on my left side and propping my feet up) it's gone. Well, since this past wedding weekend... it hasn't really gone away. The swelling is primarily happening in my feet and ankles (and somewhat into my calves -- suddenly cankles comes to mind). And while it goes down some at night... it isn't going away! And it's getting worse as the days go by. I have read that I should drink lots of fluids to help flush out the water my body is retaining, but that hasn't helped. I have also read that propping up my feet when sitting and moving around some should help... but it doesn't. I even called the doctor today because I was worried about it... and the nurse said it's normal but there isn't much you can do. So, I guess I will ask the doctor when I see her on Wednesday. A little swelling is one thing... but I don't think this is normal!
Otherwise, the baby is still moving all the time and other than being tired... I feel fine. Let's just hope with a weekend ahead and rest (hopefully) in my future this too will pass! :)
7.13.2010
28-week Appt
This will be relatively short.
I had normal prenatal doctor's appointment this morning. My blood pressure was low (that's good), my weight had increased (I guess that's good), my belly measured 29 cm (which is a cm ahead of the week I'm on... so that's normal), and the baby's heart was steady (that's great).
I also learned that my glucose screen came back just fine. And my iron count was excellent. The doctor wondered if I was taking suppliments or craving red meat since my blood count hadn't really dropped like most women's tend to do. Lucky for me, my prenatal vitamins from Walmart (along with my normal diet) are working wonders for my iron!
Next appointment will be in 3 weeks... from that point on, my appointments will come every 2 weeks until the last month I think (when they will be scheduled every week).
So, I guess that just proves that the beginning of the third trimester is going well for me and our sweet pea! :)
I had normal prenatal doctor's appointment this morning. My blood pressure was low (that's good), my weight had increased (I guess that's good), my belly measured 29 cm (which is a cm ahead of the week I'm on... so that's normal), and the baby's heart was steady (that's great).
I also learned that my glucose screen came back just fine. And my iron count was excellent. The doctor wondered if I was taking suppliments or craving red meat since my blood count hadn't really dropped like most women's tend to do. Lucky for me, my prenatal vitamins from Walmart (along with my normal diet) are working wonders for my iron!
Next appointment will be in 3 weeks... from that point on, my appointments will come every 2 weeks until the last month I think (when they will be scheduled every week).
So, I guess that just proves that the beginning of the third trimester is going well for me and our sweet pea! :)
7.12.2010
Childbirth Education Class
Saturday, Dusty and I attended our childbirth education class. The classes are not a requirement, but since this is our first child, and since we don’t have much of a clue about the labor and delivery process or newborn care... I thought it would be in the best interest of our child (and our sanity) to take the class.
The options for taking classes included... 4 weekly classes that met on either Tuesday or Thursday nights OR an all day Saturday class. Because of our busy schedule, we decided that the Saturday session would work out much better for us. So, we showed up to AnMed (the hospital where we plan on having our baby) at 9:00 to be informed on whatever they thought we should know. We didn't have a real idea as to what to expect. I knew that a tour of the "labor and delivery" hall and the "mom& baby unit" would be included, but I wasn't sure what information we would be told. So, with little real expectations, I would say that it was a good class.
The instructor informed us on all kinds of things from the anatomy of pregnancy, to different interventions that may be used during the labor and delivery process, to infant care. We learned about the signs of labor and went over when to go and when to wait. Having never done this before... it was great information and extremely helpful! We also watched 2 birth videos -- 1 of a woman giving natural birth and 1 of a hospital delivery (including the use pain medications and an episiotomy). Although the videos weren't the most "pleasant" things to watch... getting some ideas about pain management techniques (as opposed to drugs) was quite helpful since at this point, it's my preference to not have pain meds.
The tour of the hospital rooms was one of my favorite parts of the day. We went into a labor & delivery room, and a nurse came in and explained the equipment in the room and the "rules" as to what is allowed and what is not (examples include cameras are allowed, but no videos can be taken of any medical procedure). It was helpful to just be in the room ahead of time, and the nurse showed us the way that the bed maneuvers and lights position and change for the delivery. It was also nice to walk from the delivery room, past the nursery (which will be baby's next stop), to the mom and baby unit where we will spend the remainder of our time.
The infant care section was especially helpful. I mean, I have held a newborn, and I have fed a newborn, and I changed many a diapers... but there are things that I haven't done with babies. So, I was very appreciative to be shown how to sponge bathe a baby and told how often this should be done. It was also helpful to hear about different skin conditions that babies may naturally have so that we don't freak out over everything that may not seem normal to us! While I have at least a little experience with babies, Dusty does not. So, even if he doesn't admit it, I think he was glad that he attended the class to see how you hold a baby and change a diaper (we will probably practice this at home some before she arrives). And I hope that he at least feels a little more comfortable with what his role in the delivery room is going to be as a coach.
I would say that besides being pretty informative... it has made us think a little more about what we would like to happen. We obviously know that we can't really "plan" the delivery, but we can have preferences. And making a birth plan is something that we will be thinking about over the next couple of months, so that, when the time comes, we are prepared to at least speak up and have an opinion about the whole thing.
It's hard to believe... but I'm now only 12 weeks away from my due date! The third trimester is officially here, and glancing at the busy calendar ahead of us, I am sure that the next several weeks will fly by! It's certainly exciting, and at times a little overwhelming. But regardless of if we feel ready or not, we are definitely looking forward to meeting our little sweet pea whenever she decides to arrive! :)
The options for taking classes included... 4 weekly classes that met on either Tuesday or Thursday nights OR an all day Saturday class. Because of our busy schedule, we decided that the Saturday session would work out much better for us. So, we showed up to AnMed (the hospital where we plan on having our baby) at 9:00 to be informed on whatever they thought we should know. We didn't have a real idea as to what to expect. I knew that a tour of the "labor and delivery" hall and the "mom& baby unit" would be included, but I wasn't sure what information we would be told. So, with little real expectations, I would say that it was a good class.
The instructor informed us on all kinds of things from the anatomy of pregnancy, to different interventions that may be used during the labor and delivery process, to infant care. We learned about the signs of labor and went over when to go and when to wait. Having never done this before... it was great information and extremely helpful! We also watched 2 birth videos -- 1 of a woman giving natural birth and 1 of a hospital delivery (including the use pain medications and an episiotomy). Although the videos weren't the most "pleasant" things to watch... getting some ideas about pain management techniques (as opposed to drugs) was quite helpful since at this point, it's my preference to not have pain meds.
The tour of the hospital rooms was one of my favorite parts of the day. We went into a labor & delivery room, and a nurse came in and explained the equipment in the room and the "rules" as to what is allowed and what is not (examples include cameras are allowed, but no videos can be taken of any medical procedure). It was helpful to just be in the room ahead of time, and the nurse showed us the way that the bed maneuvers and lights position and change for the delivery. It was also nice to walk from the delivery room, past the nursery (which will be baby's next stop), to the mom and baby unit where we will spend the remainder of our time.
The infant care section was especially helpful. I mean, I have held a newborn, and I have fed a newborn, and I changed many a diapers... but there are things that I haven't done with babies. So, I was very appreciative to be shown how to sponge bathe a baby and told how often this should be done. It was also helpful to hear about different skin conditions that babies may naturally have so that we don't freak out over everything that may not seem normal to us! While I have at least a little experience with babies, Dusty does not. So, even if he doesn't admit it, I think he was glad that he attended the class to see how you hold a baby and change a diaper (we will probably practice this at home some before she arrives). And I hope that he at least feels a little more comfortable with what his role in the delivery room is going to be as a coach.
I would say that besides being pretty informative... it has made us think a little more about what we would like to happen. We obviously know that we can't really "plan" the delivery, but we can have preferences. And making a birth plan is something that we will be thinking about over the next couple of months, so that, when the time comes, we are prepared to at least speak up and have an opinion about the whole thing.
It's hard to believe... but I'm now only 12 weeks away from my due date! The third trimester is officially here, and glancing at the busy calendar ahead of us, I am sure that the next several weeks will fly by! It's certainly exciting, and at times a little overwhelming. But regardless of if we feel ready or not, we are definitely looking forward to meeting our little sweet pea whenever she decides to arrive! :)
6.28.2010
My NEW Favorite Pastime!
I guess it started shortly after I could feel the baby moving around. But as she has grown and gotten stronger, I am falling more in love with watching my belly move!
Now granted -- I am not seeing a foot or hand pressing out yet, but she is a strong little girl. And at this point, she is moving with enough "gusto" to make my stomach bounce around quite a bit!
Last week (week 25) was the first time that I thought: you know, it will be nice to have my body back... to not have this ever growing belly, and not have something slowing me down and keeping me so dang hot this summer. But even with that thought going through my mind from time to time, I still can't get over how cool it is to see her move. I know it will be much different when she gets here, but she is already amazing me with how she seems to be all over the place!
Most of the time she moves a little higher than my belly button (usually towards my right side). But she also squirms around in my lower abdominal area, and at times, it feels like she is using my bladder as a punching bag. I wish that I could see her moving around. Because while it is sometimes pretty obvious that she's punching or kicking, there are other times when I can't decide what in the world she could be doing in there... it's as if she is dancing around doing the worm or simply shaking her whole body. I am anticipating a time in the next few months when the movement will be less "fun" for me -- more of a pain than a joy. But until she starts making my insides hurt... I'm going to enjoy every moment of it!
I know it may not seem that cool to most people that my new pastime is watching my belly to watch my baby move. But to me, I can't think of a more enjoyable way to spend my spare time. :)
Now granted -- I am not seeing a foot or hand pressing out yet, but she is a strong little girl. And at this point, she is moving with enough "gusto" to make my stomach bounce around quite a bit!
Last week (week 25) was the first time that I thought: you know, it will be nice to have my body back... to not have this ever growing belly, and not have something slowing me down and keeping me so dang hot this summer. But even with that thought going through my mind from time to time, I still can't get over how cool it is to see her move. I know it will be much different when she gets here, but she is already amazing me with how she seems to be all over the place!
Most of the time she moves a little higher than my belly button (usually towards my right side). But she also squirms around in my lower abdominal area, and at times, it feels like she is using my bladder as a punching bag. I wish that I could see her moving around. Because while it is sometimes pretty obvious that she's punching or kicking, there are other times when I can't decide what in the world she could be doing in there... it's as if she is dancing around doing the worm or simply shaking her whole body. I am anticipating a time in the next few months when the movement will be less "fun" for me -- more of a pain than a joy. But until she starts making my insides hurt... I'm going to enjoy every moment of it!
I know it may not seem that cool to most people that my new pastime is watching my belly to watch my baby move. But to me, I can't think of a more enjoyable way to spend my spare time. :)
6.23.2010
glucose screen and the requested belly shot
Monday morning I went in to have my glucose screen done before work. I have yet to hear anything back, so I hope that means that my sugar levels were normal. The test itself wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be.
Thankfully, there is a lab in Clemson that I am able to go to instead of having to go to the hospital in Anderson to have my lab work done. The best thing about the Clemson lab (other than being so much closer) is that the wait time is much less. In fact, when I went in, I only waited about 5-10 minutes before the technician came out to get me my "drink." I had been warned that it would taste like flat Sprite, but when she came down the hall with a red bottle of liquid, I knew that it wasn't going to be the flat Sprite I had prepared myself for. Instead, I was given a "fruit punch" flavor drink. The tech poured part the liquid into a cup for me, but there was still plenty left in the bottle as she explained that I had 10 minutes to drink the entire thing. To prepare myself a little better, I asked what it tasted like. She kind of laughed and said she didn't know, because she had never had it. But she had been told that it tasted like watered-down kool-aid. With that, I started drinking! I drank as quickly as I could... probably finishing the bottle in 3 minutes. And watered-down kool-aid was not exactly what I tasted! Instead, it was more like fruit punch flavored soda, but without the carbonation. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't what I would choose to drink first thing in the morning.
The next hour consisted of me simply waiting in the lobby area. At first I felt a little queasy from the extremely sweet drink, but after about 10 minutes, my body adjusted to it I guess. I had been advised to take a book along, since I would have to wait between the time I was finished and the time they could take my blood. But the lobby wasn't the quietest place I've ever been. The lab is actually in the same building as a doctor's office. And apparently, it's a very busy office! With 3 different ladies around the front desk the majority of the time... I think only one was answering the phones that never seemed to stop ringing! So, while I seemed to be "reading" my book, I don't feel like I made it very far! It felt like I waited for at least an hour and a half to be called back to the lab area to have my blood drawn, but when I was called back, I noticed that it had only been an hour. The drawing blood part was a breeze, and didn't take any time. So, now I guess I wait some more.
Dr. Shelley told me at my last appointment that as long as my sugar levels were normal, I won’t have to go through any more testing. But if anything was abnormal, she would need to send me back for a longer screening. IF I have to go through the glucose tolerance screen, I will need to be there for 3 hours… and I have already decided that I will be taking a portable DVD player with headphones because I am don’t think I can handle the waiting again unless I have a serious distraction!
Other than that… things are still going well. Sweet pea is moving a lot! And I have noticed that one of my favorite evening activities is laying down on the couch and watching her move! For some reason, it never gets old to me. I mean, I obviously feel her moving on the inside, but to my belly “bounce” around because of her movements is better than watching anything else. It just makes me think of how blessed I am that God has given me the opportunity to carry a baby and experience all the miraculous development stages she goes through. How cool to be a woman and get to experience that great privilege!
In other news, I have been asked to post “belly shots” by a couple of different people. And while I have been trying to take them every 4 weeks… I don’t LOVE the 24 week pictures. This actually 24 weeks and 5 days… and this picture was taken close to 10:30pm. I’m also not crazy about the outfit because the shirt is too big, and I don’t think it does the best job of showing what it’s supposed to show. But with all that said… I’m posting anyways! And I'll try to do better with the 28 week shot. Enjoy!
Thankfully, there is a lab in Clemson that I am able to go to instead of having to go to the hospital in Anderson to have my lab work done. The best thing about the Clemson lab (other than being so much closer) is that the wait time is much less. In fact, when I went in, I only waited about 5-10 minutes before the technician came out to get me my "drink." I had been warned that it would taste like flat Sprite, but when she came down the hall with a red bottle of liquid, I knew that it wasn't going to be the flat Sprite I had prepared myself for. Instead, I was given a "fruit punch" flavor drink. The tech poured part the liquid into a cup for me, but there was still plenty left in the bottle as she explained that I had 10 minutes to drink the entire thing. To prepare myself a little better, I asked what it tasted like. She kind of laughed and said she didn't know, because she had never had it. But she had been told that it tasted like watered-down kool-aid. With that, I started drinking! I drank as quickly as I could... probably finishing the bottle in 3 minutes. And watered-down kool-aid was not exactly what I tasted! Instead, it was more like fruit punch flavored soda, but without the carbonation. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't what I would choose to drink first thing in the morning.
The next hour consisted of me simply waiting in the lobby area. At first I felt a little queasy from the extremely sweet drink, but after about 10 minutes, my body adjusted to it I guess. I had been advised to take a book along, since I would have to wait between the time I was finished and the time they could take my blood. But the lobby wasn't the quietest place I've ever been. The lab is actually in the same building as a doctor's office. And apparently, it's a very busy office! With 3 different ladies around the front desk the majority of the time... I think only one was answering the phones that never seemed to stop ringing! So, while I seemed to be "reading" my book, I don't feel like I made it very far! It felt like I waited for at least an hour and a half to be called back to the lab area to have my blood drawn, but when I was called back, I noticed that it had only been an hour. The drawing blood part was a breeze, and didn't take any time. So, now I guess I wait some more.
Dr. Shelley told me at my last appointment that as long as my sugar levels were normal, I won’t have to go through any more testing. But if anything was abnormal, she would need to send me back for a longer screening. IF I have to go through the glucose tolerance screen, I will need to be there for 3 hours… and I have already decided that I will be taking a portable DVD player with headphones because I am don’t think I can handle the waiting again unless I have a serious distraction!
Other than that… things are still going well. Sweet pea is moving a lot! And I have noticed that one of my favorite evening activities is laying down on the couch and watching her move! For some reason, it never gets old to me. I mean, I obviously feel her moving on the inside, but to my belly “bounce” around because of her movements is better than watching anything else. It just makes me think of how blessed I am that God has given me the opportunity to carry a baby and experience all the miraculous development stages she goes through. How cool to be a woman and get to experience that great privilege!
In other news, I have been asked to post “belly shots” by a couple of different people. And while I have been trying to take them every 4 weeks… I don’t LOVE the 24 week pictures. This actually 24 weeks and 5 days… and this picture was taken close to 10:30pm. I’m also not crazy about the outfit because the shirt is too big, and I don’t think it does the best job of showing what it’s supposed to show. But with all that said… I’m posting anyways! And I'll try to do better with the 28 week shot. Enjoy!
6.17.2010
We're having a HEAT wave... and I'm not a fan!
I will start by saying that things are still going well. The heat, however, is not a friend of mine! The high temperatures have not fallen below 90 in over a week now... and it looks like they are going to stick around even longer (another week at least). Obviously the humidity here in SC does not help ANYTHING! And I am doing my best to stay inside and hydrated... but it's still HOT! The scary part to me is that we aren't even officially into the summer yet. And these temperatures are a lot more common in the "dog days" of summer -- typically in mid-late July through mid-late August. With June highs now in the 90s (about 10 degrees higher than the average), I think I will need to invest in a lot of tank tops and shorts/skirts to prepare for the July-August months... especially since I will enter and sweat through my third trimester around that time!
So I guess that the opening sentence should be changed to read... except for the heat, things are going well! :) I had another doctor's appointment last week. It was fairly short, and pretty basic. I gave the normal sample, blood pressure check, and weight check. I was given "homework" at this last visit -- a glucose test that should be performed between now and July 11. I was told that the test is a normal procedure at this point in the pregnancy, and I should allow 2 hours to complete it. Hopefully, it won't take THAT long. But I'll keep you posted! The rest of the appointment consisted of listening to sweet peas heartbeat. The difference was that this visit didn't require any searching to find the swooshing of her heartbeat, and it sounded much stronger/louder than the previous visits. And I had my belly (or uterus) measured. Dr. Shelley explained that at this point, the measurement taken (in cm) should be within 1-2 cm of the week of the pregnancy. So, at the visit, I was 23.5 weeks along and measured 25 cm. According to Dr. Shelley, that's perfect! So, I'll go with it!
I'm so thankful for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby thus far! May the next 3.5 months be just as enjoyable! :)
So I guess that the opening sentence should be changed to read... except for the heat, things are going well! :) I had another doctor's appointment last week. It was fairly short, and pretty basic. I gave the normal sample, blood pressure check, and weight check. I was given "homework" at this last visit -- a glucose test that should be performed between now and July 11. I was told that the test is a normal procedure at this point in the pregnancy, and I should allow 2 hours to complete it. Hopefully, it won't take THAT long. But I'll keep you posted! The rest of the appointment consisted of listening to sweet peas heartbeat. The difference was that this visit didn't require any searching to find the swooshing of her heartbeat, and it sounded much stronger/louder than the previous visits. And I had my belly (or uterus) measured. Dr. Shelley explained that at this point, the measurement taken (in cm) should be within 1-2 cm of the week of the pregnancy. So, at the visit, I was 23.5 weeks along and measured 25 cm. According to Dr. Shelley, that's perfect! So, I'll go with it!
I'm so thankful for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby thus far! May the next 3.5 months be just as enjoyable! :)
6.01.2010
Our Baby is no longer an "It"
Well, we're officially PAST half way at this point... and we know what we're having. It's a girl! :)
We hit the 20 week mark on May 16, and to "celebrate" we got to have our mid-term ultrasound on that Wednesday (May 19). It seemed more like a celebration that Dusty made it back safely from camp. Dusty had been at Rockbridge (a YoungLife camp that InterVarsity rents out for several weeks to hold camps for college students) for 2 weeks. While he was away, we kept reminding each other that we would get to find out what our baby was when he got back! So, while Dusty was away... it was something to help pass the time and look forward to his return and the actual appointment (of course).
The morning of the appointment was much calmer than I thought it would be. Our last appointment in Anderson (as opposed to Clemson where all our other appointments have been) was quite rushed. We slept in and had to rush to get to the doctor's office, then since we were late... we had to wait. This time, Dusty got up for a meeting at 7:00 am, and he came back to get me a little after 8:00. So, we were on the road by 8:15 to make our 8:55 ultrasound appointment.
As soon as we walked in, the tech asked if we wanted to find out the gender of the baby. When we said yes, she asked what our thoughts were... I mentioned that I thought it might be a girl but only because that was the only thing that I had sort of felt the whole time, but I wasn't positive one way or the other. Dusty only asked how often those feelings were right. With that out of the way... we started the ultrasound.
The image was amazing from the start! The last time we saw the baby... it looked like a little teddy bear almost with very short limbs. This time, the first image revealed very long legs and a backside. I was pretty sure at that point... it was a girl. But the technician said that she hadn't determined yet. She took several measurements... head size, length of the legs, looked at the spine (and noted how beautiful it was), and then listened at her heart rate (a perfect and very stead 156). After the "work" part of the ultrasound was done... she went back to the legs and asked if I wanted to call it. It's a girl -- no doubt about it!
She then pointed out her arms face and arms which were facing us, making her face look like the scream painting. She wasn't very active for us, but she seemed to be very comfortable and cozy laying on her side. The tech tried for 5 minutes (literally) to get her to roll over on her back so we could get a catch of her profile. She had me roll on one side, then the other, and back to my back. And the whole time, little big continued to cuddle up and squirm around on her side. At one point, she seemed to get somewhat frustrated by moving her hands in front of her as though she was saying, "I'm trying to look cute for you, and I already showed you what you wanted to see -- what else do you people want from me!?" Shortly afterwards, she slowly rolled back and gave us a glimpse of her sweet profile! Here are some of her pictures:
The doctor's appointment followed, and we learned that this one is growing well! She was in the 92% when we had the ultrasound. According to her size, the ultrasound tech estimated her due date a week ahead of when she is schedule to be here. But Dr. Shelley didn't change our due date. She just suggested that I mentally prepare for a little bigger baby than we had originally thought I might have. The dr. said that her size is fine, but it would be easier if I were a few inches taller. But she looks great and she is obviously getting everything she needs to be getting.
The past few weeks have been pretty cool, as far as her developement goes. She has been moving around on a pretty regular basis. I first really noticed her movement the last week that Dusty was gone. I just noticed that it was the first time I was certain it was baby movement, not gas or stomach stuff. Since then, she has almost gotten in a schedule of moving. About 30 minutes after I eat, she starts getting pretty active. And Dusty got to feel it too! Friday afternoon, I sat very still on the couch and watched my belly move a little as she kicked. Saturday night, I asked if he wanted to try to feel her moving around. He laid beside me on the couch, and within a couple of minutes, she let him have it! It was one of the stronger kicks I've felt so far.
It's really quite amazing. And while I know that we're 5 months along, so it's certainly real. Knowing that I'm carrying a SHE and no longer an it, and feeling and seeing her move around, really makes it very real! Now the name game begins, and shopping and nursery planning will be a fun summer project as we wait for the remaining 4 months to meet our little sweet pea! :)
We hit the 20 week mark on May 16, and to "celebrate" we got to have our mid-term ultrasound on that Wednesday (May 19). It seemed more like a celebration that Dusty made it back safely from camp. Dusty had been at Rockbridge (a YoungLife camp that InterVarsity rents out for several weeks to hold camps for college students) for 2 weeks. While he was away, we kept reminding each other that we would get to find out what our baby was when he got back! So, while Dusty was away... it was something to help pass the time and look forward to his return and the actual appointment (of course).
The morning of the appointment was much calmer than I thought it would be. Our last appointment in Anderson (as opposed to Clemson where all our other appointments have been) was quite rushed. We slept in and had to rush to get to the doctor's office, then since we were late... we had to wait. This time, Dusty got up for a meeting at 7:00 am, and he came back to get me a little after 8:00. So, we were on the road by 8:15 to make our 8:55 ultrasound appointment.
As soon as we walked in, the tech asked if we wanted to find out the gender of the baby. When we said yes, she asked what our thoughts were... I mentioned that I thought it might be a girl but only because that was the only thing that I had sort of felt the whole time, but I wasn't positive one way or the other. Dusty only asked how often those feelings were right. With that out of the way... we started the ultrasound.
The image was amazing from the start! The last time we saw the baby... it looked like a little teddy bear almost with very short limbs. This time, the first image revealed very long legs and a backside. I was pretty sure at that point... it was a girl. But the technician said that she hadn't determined yet. She took several measurements... head size, length of the legs, looked at the spine (and noted how beautiful it was), and then listened at her heart rate (a perfect and very stead 156). After the "work" part of the ultrasound was done... she went back to the legs and asked if I wanted to call it. It's a girl -- no doubt about it!
She then pointed out her arms face and arms which were facing us, making her face look like the scream painting. She wasn't very active for us, but she seemed to be very comfortable and cozy laying on her side. The tech tried for 5 minutes (literally) to get her to roll over on her back so we could get a catch of her profile. She had me roll on one side, then the other, and back to my back. And the whole time, little big continued to cuddle up and squirm around on her side. At one point, she seemed to get somewhat frustrated by moving her hands in front of her as though she was saying, "I'm trying to look cute for you, and I already showed you what you wanted to see -- what else do you people want from me!?" Shortly afterwards, she slowly rolled back and gave us a glimpse of her sweet profile! Here are some of her pictures:
The doctor's appointment followed, and we learned that this one is growing well! She was in the 92% when we had the ultrasound. According to her size, the ultrasound tech estimated her due date a week ahead of when she is schedule to be here. But Dr. Shelley didn't change our due date. She just suggested that I mentally prepare for a little bigger baby than we had originally thought I might have. The dr. said that her size is fine, but it would be easier if I were a few inches taller. But she looks great and she is obviously getting everything she needs to be getting.The past few weeks have been pretty cool, as far as her developement goes. She has been moving around on a pretty regular basis. I first really noticed her movement the last week that Dusty was gone. I just noticed that it was the first time I was certain it was baby movement, not gas or stomach stuff. Since then, she has almost gotten in a schedule of moving. About 30 minutes after I eat, she starts getting pretty active. And Dusty got to feel it too! Friday afternoon, I sat very still on the couch and watched my belly move a little as she kicked. Saturday night, I asked if he wanted to try to feel her moving around. He laid beside me on the couch, and within a couple of minutes, she let him have it! It was one of the stronger kicks I've felt so far.
It's really quite amazing. And while I know that we're 5 months along, so it's certainly real. Knowing that I'm carrying a SHE and no longer an it, and feeling and seeing her move around, really makes it very real! Now the name game begins, and shopping and nursery planning will be a fun summer project as we wait for the remaining 4 months to meet our little sweet pea! :)
5.13.2010
Almost half way there!
As the title of the post says... I'm almost half way through this pregnancy! Sunday officially marks my 20th week, and it's really kind of hard to believe!
As the halfway point approaches, all I can do is be thankful! I'm thankful that I haven't had any morning/afternoon/evening sickness thus far. I'm thankful that I haven't had any "growing" pains yet. And I think I'm thankful that I have (only) gained about 10 pounds at this point.
I will admit that I am still awaiting movement. I know that I wrote before about possible movement, but since that was weeks ago and I haven't felt anything since then... I have decided that what I felt wasn't what I thought. At my last appointment (a couple weeks ago), Dr. Shelley said that it may be another month before I would feel anything. Even if I only have a couple of weeks left before that "month" she spoke of is over, I'm getting excited about feeling it. Then again, Dr. Shelley also said that I should try to be thankful that I'm not feeling anything too soon either, mainly because she has had several women come in and ask if it were any way to get their babies to stop moving around so much! So, I guess I will just continue to wait... patiently (or as patiently as I can).
The excitement continues to build for other reasons too! Next week, we are scheduled to have our mid-term ultrasound. This ultrasound is a time for the doctors to make sure that everything is developing like it should, and it's a time for all of us to find out what gender baby we're having! I have heard that women have an instinct about that, and from what I have heard, that's true for some women, but not for me. Maybe it's that I don't have a preference, so that makes my "instinct" less noticable. But it's true... I don't care what it is! I am just getting excited to see what it looks like at this point! When a friend had her ultrasound, she brought the DVD back and showed us at work. It was truly amazing to me to see how her soon-to-be son moved and showed personality at just 19 weeks! It was also pretty surprising to me how clear the images were and clearly you could point out features and fingers and toes. So, with her ultrasound images in my mind... that's what I am looking forward to! I just want to see how this little one is moving and developing!
In other news... I'm ready for Dusty to come home! He's been gone for the past week and a half for InterVarsity. It's not like these 2 weeks away are anything new. It's just that this year, I have missed him being here more than normal. As a friend said last night... pregnancy makes the heart grow fonder! :)
I'll be sure to post something next week after we find out what this "critter" (as my mom called it) is. But until then... anyone wanna take their guess as to whether it's a boy or a girl?
As the halfway point approaches, all I can do is be thankful! I'm thankful that I haven't had any morning/afternoon/evening sickness thus far. I'm thankful that I haven't had any "growing" pains yet. And I think I'm thankful that I have (only) gained about 10 pounds at this point.
I will admit that I am still awaiting movement. I know that I wrote before about possible movement, but since that was weeks ago and I haven't felt anything since then... I have decided that what I felt wasn't what I thought. At my last appointment (a couple weeks ago), Dr. Shelley said that it may be another month before I would feel anything. Even if I only have a couple of weeks left before that "month" she spoke of is over, I'm getting excited about feeling it. Then again, Dr. Shelley also said that I should try to be thankful that I'm not feeling anything too soon either, mainly because she has had several women come in and ask if it were any way to get their babies to stop moving around so much! So, I guess I will just continue to wait... patiently (or as patiently as I can).
The excitement continues to build for other reasons too! Next week, we are scheduled to have our mid-term ultrasound. This ultrasound is a time for the doctors to make sure that everything is developing like it should, and it's a time for all of us to find out what gender baby we're having! I have heard that women have an instinct about that, and from what I have heard, that's true for some women, but not for me. Maybe it's that I don't have a preference, so that makes my "instinct" less noticable. But it's true... I don't care what it is! I am just getting excited to see what it looks like at this point! When a friend had her ultrasound, she brought the DVD back and showed us at work. It was truly amazing to me to see how her soon-to-be son moved and showed personality at just 19 weeks! It was also pretty surprising to me how clear the images were and clearly you could point out features and fingers and toes. So, with her ultrasound images in my mind... that's what I am looking forward to! I just want to see how this little one is moving and developing!
In other news... I'm ready for Dusty to come home! He's been gone for the past week and a half for InterVarsity. It's not like these 2 weeks away are anything new. It's just that this year, I have missed him being here more than normal. As a friend said last night... pregnancy makes the heart grow fonder! :)
I'll be sure to post something next week after we find out what this "critter" (as my mom called it) is. But until then... anyone wanna take their guess as to whether it's a boy or a girl?
5.04.2010
Dr's Appointment and Mini-Vacation!
We seem to be moving right along with this pregnancy. This week, I'm 18 weeks along, and we as far as I can tell... things are still good.
We had another doctor's appointment last week. Dusty was able to make this one, but it was pretty basic. Again, we listened to the heartbeat with the Doppler. And again, it took a minute to find it. Just about the time Dr. Shelley found it, the sound stopped because the baby moved away from it. But for the brief moment we did have sound, it was reassuring! Other than that, my blood work came back as all negative except my A+ blood type, which is what was supposed to happen. I'm still not really sure what all they did, but apparently I don't have any diseases that I can pass on to my unborn child. So, that's good.
Along with doctor's appointments, life is good too! Dusty and I were able to take a mini-vacation to Asheville last weekend. It was nice to get away and spend time with each other, especially with work and other commitments keeping us pretty busy. We had some good suggestions of things to do, so we stayed entertained but not too busy while we were gone! We joke that we did nothing but eat, and looking back, it kind of seems that way, but what we ate was good and what we did was fun and relaxing! For example, our first night there, we saw Avatar while having pizza (and beer for Dusty) at the Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company. The next day, we walked around Biltmore Village and stopped in to the Biltmore McDonald's (as seen on the Food Network, but was somewhat disappointing in person) to split a small Happy Meal before a real lunch at Papa's & Beer (again, just beer for Dusty). Friday night was a fun evening downtown with Wes (Dusty's brother) and Valerie (his girlfriend) watching the "live entertainment" as we waited to be seated for dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe. Saturday was a little different as far as the day goes... after breakfast, we headed to the west side of town so I could enjoy a prenatal massage -- that was great! After meeting back up with Dusty, we had a quick lunch, and then enjoyed an hour or so riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway! I think that the parkway is one of my favorite places to be and driving it is one of the most relaxing things on earth! The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping, which was pretty fun since the things we bought were some maternity clothes for me! And to kind of wrap up our weekend, we had a nice dinner out at the Corner Kitchen back at Biltmore Village.
All in all, it was a great weekend! And we had lots of wonderful time to spend together before the summer travel and fall baby get here! Back to baby... our next appointment is in 2 weeks when we will get the opportunity to find out the gender of the baby! :) I think I'm most excited about seeing the updated version of what the little one looks like at this point! We're pretty excited, and I guess that the next post will be one that you'll certainly want to tune in to! Maybe we should start taking a poll to pass the time... :)
We had another doctor's appointment last week. Dusty was able to make this one, but it was pretty basic. Again, we listened to the heartbeat with the Doppler. And again, it took a minute to find it. Just about the time Dr. Shelley found it, the sound stopped because the baby moved away from it. But for the brief moment we did have sound, it was reassuring! Other than that, my blood work came back as all negative except my A+ blood type, which is what was supposed to happen. I'm still not really sure what all they did, but apparently I don't have any diseases that I can pass on to my unborn child. So, that's good.
Along with doctor's appointments, life is good too! Dusty and I were able to take a mini-vacation to Asheville last weekend. It was nice to get away and spend time with each other, especially with work and other commitments keeping us pretty busy. We had some good suggestions of things to do, so we stayed entertained but not too busy while we were gone! We joke that we did nothing but eat, and looking back, it kind of seems that way, but what we ate was good and what we did was fun and relaxing! For example, our first night there, we saw Avatar while having pizza (and beer for Dusty) at the Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company. The next day, we walked around Biltmore Village and stopped in to the Biltmore McDonald's (as seen on the Food Network, but was somewhat disappointing in person) to split a small Happy Meal before a real lunch at Papa's & Beer (again, just beer for Dusty). Friday night was a fun evening downtown with Wes (Dusty's brother) and Valerie (his girlfriend) watching the "live entertainment" as we waited to be seated for dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe. Saturday was a little different as far as the day goes... after breakfast, we headed to the west side of town so I could enjoy a prenatal massage -- that was great! After meeting back up with Dusty, we had a quick lunch, and then enjoyed an hour or so riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway! I think that the parkway is one of my favorite places to be and driving it is one of the most relaxing things on earth! The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping, which was pretty fun since the things we bought were some maternity clothes for me! And to kind of wrap up our weekend, we had a nice dinner out at the Corner Kitchen back at Biltmore Village.
All in all, it was a great weekend! And we had lots of wonderful time to spend together before the summer travel and fall baby get here! Back to baby... our next appointment is in 2 weeks when we will get the opportunity to find out the gender of the baby! :) I think I'm most excited about seeing the updated version of what the little one looks like at this point! We're pretty excited, and I guess that the next post will be one that you'll certainly want to tune in to! Maybe we should start taking a poll to pass the time... :)
4.23.2010
Movement?
As the pregnancy continues, I have noticed that I am really looking forward to new milestones! The newest one that I am extremely anxious for is feeling movement!
According to everything I have read (from books to online articles), the first movements can be felt anywhere from 16-22 weeks. I have also read all of the different descriptions of what it feels like too... it feels like butterflies fluttering, fish swimming, gas bubbles, etc. But I wanted to make sure that when I feel it, I know what it is! So, all week, I have been anxious to feel SOMETHING!
While I know that it's not very likely that I will feel something this early (even if some do), I still think that I might have felt some movement on Wednesday evening! When I got home, I laid on the couch and started talking to Dusty about the day. Just before getting up to fix dinner... I felt something. It was sort of like fish swimming or gas bubbles. It felt like my stomach feels when it rubbles and growls, but it was different then a stomach growl, and it was in the same location that the heartbeat was heard at my last doctor's appointment.
Whether it was movement or not, I still don't know. I haven't felt anything since then, but I will have a much better idea as to if that feeling Wednesday night was the baby or not when I start to feel stronger, more consistent movement!
For now... I'm going to say that I felt it! :)
According to everything I have read (from books to online articles), the first movements can be felt anywhere from 16-22 weeks. I have also read all of the different descriptions of what it feels like too... it feels like butterflies fluttering, fish swimming, gas bubbles, etc. But I wanted to make sure that when I feel it, I know what it is! So, all week, I have been anxious to feel SOMETHING!
While I know that it's not very likely that I will feel something this early (even if some do), I still think that I might have felt some movement on Wednesday evening! When I got home, I laid on the couch and started talking to Dusty about the day. Just before getting up to fix dinner... I felt something. It was sort of like fish swimming or gas bubbles. It felt like my stomach feels when it rubbles and growls, but it was different then a stomach growl, and it was in the same location that the heartbeat was heard at my last doctor's appointment.
Whether it was movement or not, I still don't know. I haven't felt anything since then, but I will have a much better idea as to if that feeling Wednesday night was the baby or not when I start to feel stronger, more consistent movement!
For now... I'm going to say that I felt it! :)
4.20.2010
The news is out...
We're expecting! We waited to break the news to the world when we reached the second trimester... which just so happened to be Easter Sunday! Though our immediate family was in the loop long before the 14 week mark, it was exciting to get to tell other friends and the rest of our extended family. And it was pretty significant to us that we were able to share our news on such a significant holiday!
In an attempt to keep track of this pregnancy (since I've never been through this before), I plan on using this as a place to keep up with doctor's appointments and momentus occasions that will happen along the way. With that being said... I'll start by saying that my LMD was December 27, so based on that date, our expected due date is October 3. We have now had 2 doctor's appointments that I will give more detail on in a bit, and we plan on finding out what we are expecting in about a month. This will be the first grandchild for both of my parents, and the second for Dusty's mom (though it will be the first one in a while for her since Sophia is 8), but still kind of the first for Dusty's dad.
To back track a little... we officially quit "preventing" at the end of October. So a few months passed and no news. By January, I felt very hopeful, but didn't want to set myself up for disappointment. But around the same time I accompanied friends to Orlando to pick up the Haitian boy they were adopting, I realized that I hadn't started yet. I was pretty tired all week, but I blaimed that on the fact that I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep in over 40 hours earlier that week. Well, once I realized that the dates lined up correctly, and nothing was happening, I decided to take a pregnancy test. I took it first thing when I got up on January 28th, and before I could put the test on the counter to wait for results, the "pregnant" line started showing up. I jumped in the shower and started getting ready as normal, but the thoughts going through my head were anything but normal. When I got out of the shower, I checked the test again to confirm that it was a positive result. I wasn't sure what or how to tell Dusty. But when I opened the bathroom door, I called to him (he was still asleep) and simply said... Honey -- I'm pregnant. He quickly picked his head up and replied with "Really?" The next few minutes are kind of a blur... I think it was a mix of excitement and nervousness. And while we wanted to call everyone we knew, we tried to contain ourselves because we didn't want to get too excited too quickly, especially since we were only 4.5 weeks along.
The next several weeks slowly moved by. And though I was a little tired, I didn't really experience many of the "typical" pregnancy symptoms. I called to make an appointment when I was about 6.5 weeks along, but the appointment they gave me was still 3.5 weeks away. I will admit that those 3.5 weeks felt like they would NEVER pass! When the time finally came for our first appointment, I was 10 weeks along, and eager to see the doctor. Still not experiencing any symptoms, I wanted to make sure everything was okay.
Our first appointment was scheduled for March 8, and it started a little rough. I had set my alarm the night before to allow us PLENTY of time to make it to Anderson (about 25 minutes away), but I had silenced my phone the night before at church meeting and didn't even think to unsilence it. So, when I woke up on that Monday morning, I saw realized that we needed to be leaving in 10 minutes! Obviously, I felt the need to shower, espcially since I wasn't sure what this first appointment would entail. Dusty was great... he quickly got ready and tended to the dogs while simply waiting for me to finish up. Because we were running late, I called the doctor's office, and was told that they would still see me, but since we were late we would have to be worked back in to the morning work scheudle. We waited for what seemed like (and may have been) an hour before I was called back to answer some questions and have my blood pressure checked. I was also informed that I would be having an internal ultrasound that morning to confirm the pregnancy, but the wait would continue since the ultrasound rooms were backed up.
I guess it was another 30 minutes passed before they called us both back. Once in the ultrasound room, I changed into the lovely papertowel-like sheet and waited some more! Waiting for the doctor made me start to get anxious. What if things weren't okay? What if the baby wasn't as developed as it should be at this point? What if there were multiple babies? I expressed my anxiety to Dusty and he pointed out a verse on the wall... Philippians 4: 6-7: Do not be anxieous about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Very shortly after being comforted from reading that the doctor came in!
The ultrasound got underway, and the most adorable image instantly popped up on the screen.
In an attempt to keep track of this pregnancy (since I've never been through this before), I plan on using this as a place to keep up with doctor's appointments and momentus occasions that will happen along the way. With that being said... I'll start by saying that my LMD was December 27, so based on that date, our expected due date is October 3. We have now had 2 doctor's appointments that I will give more detail on in a bit, and we plan on finding out what we are expecting in about a month. This will be the first grandchild for both of my parents, and the second for Dusty's mom (though it will be the first one in a while for her since Sophia is 8), but still kind of the first for Dusty's dad.
To back track a little... we officially quit "preventing" at the end of October. So a few months passed and no news. By January, I felt very hopeful, but didn't want to set myself up for disappointment. But around the same time I accompanied friends to Orlando to pick up the Haitian boy they were adopting, I realized that I hadn't started yet. I was pretty tired all week, but I blaimed that on the fact that I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep in over 40 hours earlier that week. Well, once I realized that the dates lined up correctly, and nothing was happening, I decided to take a pregnancy test. I took it first thing when I got up on January 28th, and before I could put the test on the counter to wait for results, the "pregnant" line started showing up. I jumped in the shower and started getting ready as normal, but the thoughts going through my head were anything but normal. When I got out of the shower, I checked the test again to confirm that it was a positive result. I wasn't sure what or how to tell Dusty. But when I opened the bathroom door, I called to him (he was still asleep) and simply said... Honey -- I'm pregnant. He quickly picked his head up and replied with "Really?" The next few minutes are kind of a blur... I think it was a mix of excitement and nervousness. And while we wanted to call everyone we knew, we tried to contain ourselves because we didn't want to get too excited too quickly, especially since we were only 4.5 weeks along.
The next several weeks slowly moved by. And though I was a little tired, I didn't really experience many of the "typical" pregnancy symptoms. I called to make an appointment when I was about 6.5 weeks along, but the appointment they gave me was still 3.5 weeks away. I will admit that those 3.5 weeks felt like they would NEVER pass! When the time finally came for our first appointment, I was 10 weeks along, and eager to see the doctor. Still not experiencing any symptoms, I wanted to make sure everything was okay.
Our first appointment was scheduled for March 8, and it started a little rough. I had set my alarm the night before to allow us PLENTY of time to make it to Anderson (about 25 minutes away), but I had silenced my phone the night before at church meeting and didn't even think to unsilence it. So, when I woke up on that Monday morning, I saw realized that we needed to be leaving in 10 minutes! Obviously, I felt the need to shower, espcially since I wasn't sure what this first appointment would entail. Dusty was great... he quickly got ready and tended to the dogs while simply waiting for me to finish up. Because we were running late, I called the doctor's office, and was told that they would still see me, but since we were late we would have to be worked back in to the morning work scheudle. We waited for what seemed like (and may have been) an hour before I was called back to answer some questions and have my blood pressure checked. I was also informed that I would be having an internal ultrasound that morning to confirm the pregnancy, but the wait would continue since the ultrasound rooms were backed up.
I guess it was another 30 minutes passed before they called us both back. Once in the ultrasound room, I changed into the lovely papertowel-like sheet and waited some more! Waiting for the doctor made me start to get anxious. What if things weren't okay? What if the baby wasn't as developed as it should be at this point? What if there were multiple babies? I expressed my anxiety to Dusty and he pointed out a verse on the wall... Philippians 4: 6-7: Do not be anxieous about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Very shortly after being comforted from reading that the doctor came in!
The ultrasound got underway, and the most adorable image instantly popped up on the screen.
As Dr. Shelley zoomed in toward the head and hands, our precious little one waved its little arm! Dr. Shelley asked it if it was going to wave at us, and then made the comment that she had never seen that so early. Then she said she would listen for the heartbeat. It took a minute to come up, but she centered on the heart and the swooshing sound quickly came out. The heartbeat was right around 160, and Dr. Shelley said it sounded good. Once measured, she said that the baby was on track (technically 4 days ahead of where it should be).
The appointment was a joyous time for us, and we were so pleased with how things were going. Since, then I have had another appointment, where again they checked my weight and blood pressure, but also asked all kinds of health questions and had me give a urine sample. By the time I saw the doctor, all she need to do was use a doppler to hear the heartbeat again. An assistant (who was in training) used the doppler, and about gave me a heart-attack when she couldn't pick up the heartbeat. Thankfully, Dr. Shelley advised her to try in a different place, and once she landed on Dr. Shelley's advised spot... instant swooshing sound (in the 160s again). :)
As for now... I guess it's so far so good. I am now 16 weeks (and 2 days), and I go back again April 28. Still no symptoms, and until the last week or so, I haven't really been looking pregnant. When I take some pictures this week, I will try to post them. Other than that, we are very excited and the fun of guessing what it will be has already started. Dusty is rooting for a boy (of course), but I really don't have a preference! I am just getting excited about seeing the little one again.
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