Hmmm

I went to my regular weekly midwife appointment on Thursday. The nurse asked if I wanted to be "checked" and I said sure.... the week before there was no difference from the previous week---still 3 cm and 70%. I'd felt a little more crampyness in the past week though, so I had her check me. When the midwife Jennifer came in, she said since I'd be 39 weeks the next day, she'd be willing to strip my membranes to try and get things going if I wanted her to. ....?! I hadn't really thought about or considered that. Do I want her to do it? Aggh, I don't know! It would be a whole lot more convenient for Jack's schedule if we could have this baby on the weekend. And Mom is just waiting around here and can't stay forever.... She said she'd check me and see where I was, and then I could decide. Ok. So she checked and said I was 4.5 to 5 cm and 90% effaced. Wowza! I had her go ahead and strip the membranes. I was concerned that it wouldn't feel to great because I've heard it's quite uncomfortable, but I used my hypnobabies stuff and it really was nothing.

She also said since I was so "favorable" (as far as being dilated and effaced and stuff) that I could do in the next day and be induced if I wanted to. I don't really want to do that since I'm "going natural" so I'm not going in.

I've felt crampy since yesterday, but nothing huge. My pubic bone & hips have been sore for the past few days, and that's continuing. But my biggest complaint is that my tongue hurts. Unrelated to baby stuff, but it hurts. I don't know if the membrane stripping helped things to progress or not. I'm a little concerned that I won't know when to go in to the hospital. Since I'm group B strep positive this time, I'm supposed to get to the hospital 4 hours before baby is born so they can have time to administer the antibiotics. I was really planning on not being in the hospital for that long before baby was born, but I guess if I have to, I have to. Anyway, I've been feeling crampy, kinda coming and going...but I don't know that it is necessarily pressure waves (contractions). I've heard lots of people who do Hypnobabies/Hypnobirthing go pretty quickly, so we'll see.

Jackson's 2 year pictures

We took Jackson to get his 2 year-old pictures taken last week... sure it is 1 1/2 months past his birthday, but better late than never! He sure is one cute kid!

Nope.

No baby yet, just for those of you who are wondering :) I'll let ya know when that changes.

Your family's favorite grocery store

Jackson, after a trip to Walmart:

"I want Macey's! I want Macey's!"

Yep, me too kiddo. We'll go there tomorrow.

tick. tick. tick. tick.

I guess I should backtrack to Tuesday...

I posted about the low amniotic fluid level problem we were having, and I how I was supposed to stay well hydrated and rested. Well, I tried, but I was sick all day. As most of you probably know, I have not thrown up since I was 4 or 5 years old... That was over 20 years ago. Well, that record was broken on Tuesday. For the first (and second, and third, and fourth) time, I did it. So much for staying hydrated, right? So on Wednesday morning I called in to the midwives' office to see what they thought I should do, and they wanted me to go into Labor & Delivery to have my fluid levels checked and do another NST and stuff... so we went as soon as Jack was done with class around 4:00. Everything looked great and my AFI was up from 7 cm to 14 cm, to a totally normal and safe level! The nurses said to keep up whatever I had been doing because it was working to get my fluid levels up. Well, I don't exactly think being sick and throwing up is a great way to get any fluid levels up and I certainly don't want to continue it. But really I attribute it to a priesthood blessing from Jack and prayers from lots of family members. So, we went home again and I've been feeling a lot better, until the past few hours. Not so great now, but I'm hoping it passes soon.

I went in for my regular weekly midwife appointment today. They did the group B strep test and she asked if I wanted to be "checked" too... sure. So, she did and the first thing she said was, "Wow, this baby is low!" Yep, I thought so too. She said I was at a 0 station! Then she said I was 70% effaced and dilated to 3 cm! Yike! They had talked about inducing me at 39 weeks (which I didn't want to do) if the fluid levels are still low, but then she said I probably won't even make it that long so we don't have to worry about it. She said I could possibly be having a baby in the next day or two, though I don't think it will be that soon. And then as she was leaving she said, "See you back next week, unless we see you at the hospital before then!" Ahhh! Really!?! While I am excited to meet this little baby boy soon, I was kinda planning on having another three weeks or so! My mom doesn't get here until Oct 4th. And I am just not ready!

I called Jack after my appointment and told him the news, and then called and talked to my mom. She looked online and found a decent price on a one-way ticket to come out here on Saturday. Whew! I'm feeling much better about things now, knowing she'll be here. I just can't imagine bringing home a new baby AND having a Jackson to take care of still and trying to do it all myself. And even if it is a week or more from now, it'll be nice to have her here, especially if I'm still feeling as yucky as I have been and am now. My house is a little less than clean, and I don't even remember the last time I cooked a real meal.

I think Jackson has sensed that something is changing around here. We've talked about having a baby and read the "I'm a big brother" book and everything, but I'm sure he doesn't really get it... and he certainly doesn't get the implications of it all. But I think he knows something is happening. He has been way more clingy than normal lately. It could have something to do with me leaving him for different appointments almost every day. He's generally ok at home, but as soon as I mention him going to play with friends or we go to a place with other people, he clings to my hand or arm or leg and says over and over and over and over, "Mom right here? Mom right here? Mom right here?" as if he wants me to assure him that Mom is right here and is not leaving him. He does the same thing at bedtime when I am cuddling him and when I go to lay him down in his crib. Fortunately the crying doesn't last more than a few seconds after I leave the room (crossing my fingers that it doesn't get worse!), but it is still sad. I'm still here, kiddo! And you'll always be my baby!

So things are going to happen, and possibly soon. I've decided that I need to change my attitude (a lot easier to do now that my mom is coming sooner). Baby will be born on his birthday, whenever that may be. I am ready and excited. Pretty sure it won't be tomorrow or the next day, and I'm just fine with that. But come on baby, I'm ready when you are!

Baby updates

Last Thursday I went in for my regular midwife visit (I'm on the weekly visit schedule now) and the fundal height was measuring 3 or 4 weeks behind. That was nothing new; I've been measuring small all along and was small with Jackson too. I had an ultrasound a month ago for the same reason, and as I suspected, baby boy was measuring exactly on and nothing was wrong. The midwife insisted that I have another ultrasound along with a non-stress test to make sure everything was still ok. I tried to get out of it, but I lost the fight.
So I went in on Friday for an NST and everything was fine. They look for a good, steady heart beat (check!) and for baby moving at least twice during the twenty minutes of monitoring (I had at least two movements each minute during the twenty minutes, so big check!). They also check the amniotic fluid level and that was ok too. Between 5 cm and 25 cm is normal, and I was at 12 cm. But I still had to go back in for an ultrasound on Monday.

Once again, baby boy was measuring exactly on time (between 36 and 37 weeks), was moving around great, heart beat was great, and we even saw the lungs "breathing" on the ultrasound. But this time the amniotic fluid level was lower, around 7 cm. Soooo...I had to go for yet another non-stress test (the results were just fine) and have to go back twice a week to do NST's.

Also, the perinatologist who did the ultrasound said that I need to drink as much water as I can to try to increase the amniotic fluid level and to lay down on my side during the day as much as I can. After day one of trying to do that, I don't know how I'll be able to keep it up for a few more weeks. I feel bad for Jackson having such a lazy mom. Perinatologist said that if the fluid levels don't go up, they may have to induce me early. I reeeallly don't want to do that, but if we need to I guess we will! If there is too little fluid, there is risk of cord compression and baby not getting enough oxygen, either en utero or during delivery. So we want to avoid that!

So that's the latest... I'll have my regular weekly appointment on Thursday and then do the NST thing on Friday. I'll update after that. Until then, I'll be folding and putting away baby clothes, packing hospital bags, and installing an infant car seat... all while laying on my side :)

Oh Baby

I feel like I haven't done nearly as good of a job of documenting this pregnancy as I did with Jackson's. And I'm feeling that way for a reason--because I haven't.
I am not any less excited for this baby or any less in awe of the miracle that is growing inside of me, I am just busy and a slacker.
Things really have gone by so quickly, I can hardly believe we're so close to the end. 33 weeks and 5 days along...44 days left. A little more than 6 weeks. How did that happen?? Where has the time gone?? When I was pregnant with Jackson, I was working, sitting at a computer all day, and not really all that busy at work most of the time. I had a lot of "down time" to think about baby, read baby-related articles online, and make a million lists of things to buy and to do. And I was not only counting down until baby boy came, but also counting down until my working woman days were through.
This go-round, my days are filled with choo-trains, animals, trucks, nap times, walks outside, and all the other fun things that two-year-olds do to keep their moms busy. I don't constantly think about being pregnant or about the big change that is coming very soon. As my belly is getting bigger, it is a little easier to remember that I'm pregnant---it's harder to get up and down, sitting on the floor is less comfortable, and I go to the bathroom about 20 times a day, but it is still just one part of my life. Jackson really does a good job of keeping me occupied.
Even though I may not constantly think about being pregnant, I really do enjoy it. I am very blessed to have relatively easy, comfortable pregnancies. No big health concerns or complications and the typical pregnancy symptoms or complaints are pretty mild for me. I think heartburn is probably the biggest "problem" I have these days. But I love the feeling of being pregnant. I love feeling a little life inside of me---feeling him kick and move and hiccup and squirm. Knowing that we have helped to create this new life and have been entrusted to teach and raise this child well. Feeling the growing roundness of my belly. It's all pretty great.

I've already gotten a few "I bet you're ready to be done!" comments and I know there are more to come. But I'm really not. It was the same way last time...I never really got to the just-ready-to-be-done stage. I'm feeling that way for a couple of reasons. Yes, I like being pregnant. But as soon as I'm done being pregnant, I have another little person to take care of. I'm excited about it, yes. But life is going to change! How to you do life with two little people? I know I'll manage, but right now it just seems like it'll be a pretty big adjustment.

What do I need to do in these remaining weeks? It seems like I should be busy getting ready for baby, but I really don't even know what to do, aside from sorting through Jackson's old clothes and washing them. I guess what I really need to be doing is not necessarily stuff for baby, but other stuff around the house that needs to be done and would be a whole lot easier to do now than later... but that doesn't seem nearly as fun or exciting. You know... finish unpacking boxes and setting up our new place, stuff like that. We did buy a new crib the other day. We decided that our old one that Jackson has been using is not really all that safe. The metal frame that holds the mattress is bent and has to be straightened out every once in a while. A kid could potentially get trapped in there. So a new crib is on it's way. I also want to make a new nursing cover and car seat cover thing. We'll see.

So, that's that. We're having a baby. And the time is getting closer and closer!

Thanks, friends!

I turned 25 last week. I was a little bit bummed that I'd be spending a momentous birthday in a place where I didn't really have any friends or family to celebrate with...besides Jack and Jackson, of course. Never fear, my wonderful husband planned a virtual surprise party for me! He sent out an email to people and had them leave me birthday greetings on a blog he set up for my day :)
This is just a big thanks to Starla, Mary Kate, Jordan, Tiffany, Betty, Karen, Amber, Grama & Grampa Wilson, Grandma & Grandpa West, Ben & Allyson & kids, the whole Shirts gang, Lori, Becky & Brady & kids, Don & Kris & kids, Dave & Leslie, Jaime, Bekah, Aimee, Lindsey, Drew & Amy & kids, Suzanna & Mark & kids, Dad, Alicia, Aaron & Maren, Shannah, Breanne, Mollie, and Mom! And thanks to everyone for all the many facebook birthday wishes too!
Thank you all for your kind words and birthday wishes! It made me very happy to know that I am so loved even if I'm in the forgotten land of Ohio.