Full Term

We had two doctor appointments this week, as we have for the last 10 weeks... Monday was another NST followed closely by an ultrasound since Alyssa and I can't seem to pass NSTs. The ultrasound showed a fantastically healthy little girl who keeps practicing breathing on her own. After a check from my doctor it was revealed that I am still not dilated. After we failed the NST I suggested to the nurse that perhaps we could just go on over to the hospital and do a c-section but she was not agreeable to this idea. After my doctor checked my I, in my wise and now medically advanced way said "How about we induce today" Of course this was a no go but she did say, "at 39 weeks we'll call it a day. Until then, take it easy and I'll see ya back here on Thursday for an ultrasound."

On Thursday, Nick and I saw yet another ultrasound of our sweet girl as scheduled. The fantastic news from this ultrasound is that she weighs 7lbs 2 oz. The amniotic fluid is back down a bit so we have another ultrasound on Monday at 1pm.

So for now, we wait...We've been given all the instructions on "what to do if you're in labor." We've installed the carseat. My bag is in the trunk. Now it's all up to Alyssa. I checked the lunar calendar and saw that there is a full moon on March 30th so perhaps that will get things going. I really haven't had any BH contractions to speak of this week and none of the other "signs" have been noted.

I am still hopeful she'll come on Good Friday, April 2nd (since I was born on Good Friday back in 1984). I'll keep you all posted on anything new/exciting that might occur in the coming days. At this point it's just swollen feet and a stretching stomach.

Blooming Bows!

BloomingBows.com

Check out this website for amazingly cute hair bows, Alyssa has one waiting for her!! :)

Berlin Wall

Okay folks, I've been patient (kind of), and I've been positive (most days). Today though...I was annoyed. Every appointment that I've gone to for the last month there has been something that has caused the doctor to say "we'll monitor that." Last week, as I mentioned, my amniotic fluid was "on the low side of normal" and so I've had ultrasounds instead of non stress tests. We also discussed last week that she would check me to see if my cervix had softened at all. She mentioned that if things were progressing positively she would likely induce at 37 weeks (NEXT MONDAY!!).

So today, I was REALLY excited to go to the doctor. I was hoping that either I'd be having Alyssa today or next Monday. I'm such a loser I even put my hospital bag in the car!! Nick warned me that I didn't FULLY listen to the doctor last week, the truth is I only listened to the part that I found interesting. What the doctor had ACTUALLY said was to drink lots of water and the fluid level could go up! Well of course, this is exactly what happened. Not to mention my cervix was closed. I called my friend who is a nurse and told her that it was the Great Wall of China down there and she corrected me stating that I should instead refer to it as the Berlin Wall because that one at least did crumble down, which mine is bound to eventually do.

I guess I feel silly being disappointed because as you can see the appointment went PERFECTLY today. My blood pressure was even 122/76!! I just am SO excited to hold Alyssa and have her here that it's hard not to feel bummed that she is so cozy and comfortable in there. I of course will keep you guys posted as I have another appointment on Thursday. I've been threatening to do jumping jacks and the football tire drills and relays to shake things up a bit for little Miss Alyssa.

35 WEEKS!!!

Sunday was my baby shower and it was so much fun. There was a delicious chocolate fountain and lady bug cupcakes and don't forget the yummy punch that was in a baby bathtub! Lindsey did such a BEAUTIFUL job with the decorations and organizing!! You're the best!! There was a fantastic turn out and I got to see so many of my friends and family that I haven't seen in forever!! The outpouring of love is more than I can take sometimes! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

I had quite the thrilling appointment on Monday (most of which was my own fault due to failing to grab breakfast before I left the house) I got all hooked up to the NST test, which takes a few minutes to get set up. Then the nurse left the room. I instantly began to feel a little light headed and then the shaking began...the problem with this is that the nurse wouldn't be back for 20 minutes. The more I tried to convince myself that I could wait the more intense the shaking and sweating became. There was no way to contact the nurses without going into the hallway... So, I unhooked myself and went out of the room where I asked for Mills' nurses. The nurse who I first talked to went to get me a coke and my nurse. Both of Mills' nurses came running down the hall with a fan and ice pack. (I felt like a total loser but such is life. They were super sweet and one of the nurses even gave me her personal granola bar) I got set back up on the NST machine with a fan blowing on me and felt MUCH better almost immediately after getting some coke in my system. For those of you who know me you will be VERY surprised to learn that the granola bar was PEANUT BUTTER and I was so desperate I ate it...(I must admit it was pretty tasty, I'm not going out and buying a container of peanut butter any time soon but I'm broadening my horizons.) The NST revealed that I've started to have some slight contractions (just braxton hicks but it is movement in the right direction) Due to Alyssa not cooperating as well as the doctor would have liked I had an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed that the amniotic fluid is lower than desired so we're scheduled for another ultrasound on Thursday at 1. I'm glad Nick is going with me to that appointment. On a good note from this appt my BP was super low (the almost passing out helped with that) and my labs from this weekend came back better than they had the week before.

I've been having BH contractions off and on since the appointment nothing painful or consistent, these can last for weeks so it's nothing to be really excited about! I have assembled the swing, bouncy seat, and diaper genie. Plus, the dryer just went off signifying that the last of the new baby clothes are clean.

I guess that about sums up this week so far, and it's only TUESDAY!

Levels are back up...

Well, after my doctor appointment today I was inspired to wash Alyssa's bedding and call to schedule our hospital walk through visit. My blood pressure and Alyssa's NST were within normal limits but my weekend labs came back high. My protein levels were 398 (that's up about 200 from where they were 3 weeks ago.)

My doctor said that for now we will go ahead as scheduled with Thursdays ultrasound and she wants me to do labs again this weekend. From there, as long as things aren't too out of whack she'll just re-evaluate on Monday. I'll be 35 weeks pregnant a week from tomorrow which truly is a blessing considering how early my preeclampsia was detected.

Needless to say, I am trying not to get too wound up while still understanding that she may be here soon! Thursday will be a busy day because as I said we have a morning ultrasound then in the evening we have breastfeeding class and the hospital walk through after that.

In a totally irrelevant life update I finished the Twilight series (LOVE LOVE LOVE the 4th book Breaking Dawn) and have now started a book called Tomorrow's Promise by Sandra Brown. I can already tell it's going to be a quick read, gotta love a little romance novel to pass the time.

NST appointment

So, I had an appointment today that started with a Non-Stress Test. The nurse got me all hooked up to the machine and left for 10 minutes. When she came back in to check on me she realized that the machine had not been recording and we'd have to start over. I was okay with this because, as we all know, I didn't have anywhere else to be! Plus, as I've described before it really is enjoyable to hear Alyssa's heartbeat and be completely focused on her, pushing the button each time she moves. Once the nurse was sure we were back on track she left the room and I continued reading the "Parent" magazine she'd provided for my entertainment. After 10 more minutes the nurse checked on me and said that she needed to "buzz" Alyssa to get her moving more. Alyssa of course jumped and kept on moving around. The nurse left and as Alyssa beat me up from the inside I smiled thinking about how lucky I am to have such a great medical team watching over us both.

After the 20 minute session the nurse came in took the results and left. She returned in just a few seconds and stated that Alyssa was considered "non-responsive per the results of the non-stress test" and that I would need an ultrasound. I immediately freaked out not knowing what this meant but having the constant reassurance from Alyssa due to her movements. I had to wait about 10 minutes to go in with the ultrasound tech and I was pretty anxious. The tech relayed that this happens often and she isn't really sure what they mean by "non-responsive" since I was feeling and seeing movement. She got started with the ultrasound and Alyssa was on the go throughout. The tech said that everything looks great and that Alyssa is very active. Alyssa even opened and closed her eye. The tech said she had never seen that occur before and she played back the footage as we both laughed at her. Alyssa also yawned and waved during the ultrasound.

I was then taken back to meet with the doctor. The nurse took my weight (blah) and blood pressure. My blood pressure was 128/60 (which is AWESOME). Dr. Mills came in and said things look great and that she'd see me on Thursday for another Non Stress Test. I still find it interesting what they choose to name things...

What. A. Day.

It all started out with me thinking that Liz and Mom had a "surprise" prenatal massage scheduled for me. (Early in the week I had attempted to schedule massages for all of us but had failed and as a result they had a special surprise that would require me to be in a blindfold and the "appointment" was set for 11 so I had to be ready to go). We stopped by Kohl's because I was in need of some "unmentionables" as my Mom has been calling them today. After we'd been there a while Mom and Liz said it was time to get going to my "appointment" We left Kohl's on our way to this undisclosed location and the blindfold was strategically placed on my eyes. I'd like to say that I'm good with things like this but, alas, I tend to like to be in control. We drove and drove to what I thought was Coldwater plaza...I was not yet allowed to remove the blindfold and Mom guided me inside (hitting my arm on various objects like car mirrors and walls) I was then placed in a chair and Mom said "Are they open yet?" I could tell that my picture was being taken which I found to be a little much, since in my mind we were at a spa. Surely the other guests wouldn't want to be bothered by a round pregnant woman in a blindfold. The time came for the blindfold to be removed...much to my surprise I WAS SITTING IN THE TRAINING ROOM AT WORK surrounded by my lovely co-workers. Needless to say, I was elated and honored that they would do this for me. Apparently, the surprise had been scheduled for quite a long time. My co-workers had enlisted Mom's help to get me there since my bedrest has resulted in me being home all the time. It was such a fun celebration and I am blessed to work with such caring and fun people!! This afternoon I had a doctor appointment where I had an ultrasound to ensure Alyssa was still head down and to do some more measurements. Alyssa got an 8 out of 8 on the scale for movement and size that the technician used. The tech even turned on the 3-D mode for a few minutes while we watched Alyssa suck on her big toe, that's right, she's a little monkey baby!! Dr. Mills said that Alyssa now weighs 4.5 lbs which is great for 32 weeks. My blood pressure was on track and so, as a result, I don't have to go back this week AND I do not have to do the weekly lab work/urine collection. SUCH GOOD NEWS!! As I look back at this day I am just so reminded of what a truly blessed and lucky woman I am. I have so many amazing people in my life and Alyssa is already so loved. Life is good.