Friday, August 31, 2007

Tick Tock . . .4 days past due

Do you have to even ask??

Just got back from OB. Cervix still closed, long, and thick. Did an u/s and fluid levels are fine. I have a non-stress test again tomorrow at the hospital. And if I'm still pg on Monday, I will meet her on the Labor unit while she is doing rounds at about 10am so she can check me again. If cervix is still pretending to be a virgin, I will check into the hospital on Monday night for "cervical ripening" and then they'll start pitocin on Tuesday morning. If by some miracle my cervix is somewhat "favorable" for induction, I will skip the Monday night step, and just show up Tuesday morning for induction.

So, at most, it will be 4 more days. Are you all up for it?? Its gonna be a loooooong and whiney weekend!!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

3 days and counting

Still here.

My hair is colored and cut.
My toenails are red, and my fingernails are sheer pink.
I am waxed in all important places.
I've walked 8 miles in 3 days.
I started and finished a novel over the past 2 days, and am 1/2 way through another.
Camera batteries are charged, hospital bag is in the car.
Car seat is installed, and even cleaned J*'s seat again yesterday.

I've got nothing left to keep me occupied.

I guess I'll take a nap . . . again.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Monday, August 27, 2007

Never gonna happen . . .

Still shut tight. Unbelievable.

Induction scheduled for next Tuesday morning, 9/4, if needed. I have to go for an NST on Wed and Sat, and an OB appt on Friday. At least I'll be busy. Hair and nails tomorrow.

Stay tuned for a miracle . . .

Sunday, August 26, 2007

No double birthdays . . .

I get to keep the b-day all to "myself". For the record, I was willing to share!

We didn't do much yesterday, since J* woke up with a fever of 103+ and was cranky most of the day. Also, we had a small trip to L + D, because I was freaked out that Doo Doo hadn't moved since the night before, which has never happened this entire pregnancy. But after an hour of monitoring and some peanut butter crackers, he started rocking and rolling, so all was fine.

We spent the rest of the day laying around, stimulating my acupressure points, taking evening primrose oil, and a few other "natural induction" techniques that have also failed to work. So much for that. We did go out to dinner for spicy Thai food, which was really yummy.

A quiet birthday come and gone. Now let's get this show on the road! Look for an update after my OB appt tomorrow afternoon!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Still nothing doing . . .

Appointment yesterday at 39w2d showed no dilation, effacement, or softening. Still haven't dropped either. Next appointment on due date, Monday 8/27. Last day of work is tomorrow, which is about all I have to look forward to at this point. Oh yeah, and my birthday is Saturday. Sigh.

Not. Happy. At. All.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Another Mother-in-law Vent

Please skip this if you're sick of hearing about it. I just need to vent it out, b/c poor hubby is the only one to hear it right now, and I know he feels stuck in the middle. So, you guys indulge me if you please!

Some of you know today is her birthday. I have spent way too much time during this pregnancy obsessing over NOT giving birth today. It would just make my life that much worse having a son born on her birthday. Knocking wood that this may have been avoided by now (it's after 10am, so even if labor starts now, I wouldn't give birth in 14 hours, right??).

So, MIL is all about her. In every way shape or form. Nothing matters but what she wants. She is now realizing that she has met her match in me. She expects her sons to gather round her for every occasion, but she saw this past Mother's Day that its not going to happen (we spent Mother's Day with My parents, and boy did that piss her off!).

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon. It was 1 1/2 days until her birthday, and we had not heard a peep about any plans. Mind you, most family gatherings occur on Sundays, since they are off Sunday and Monday from work. So I call FIL to find out what the hell was going on, whether we were expected for anything on Sunday. They always seem to forget that Hubby works Monday night (for the past 8 years). Well, plans (never relayed to us) were that Monday night, my BIL and Hubby's grandmother, aunt and uncle were coming for dinner. Maybe hubby can switch work. Uh, I doubt it. I call hubby to tell him, and have him deal with the plans.

He doesn't do anything until Sunday morning at 9am. When he finally calls his mother, she asks him to switch work nights. He tries, but couldn't. We agree to go over for dinner last night (I immediately call my parents and ask the over for Monday night, so I have an excuse to not have to go again on Monday without him, LOL). By 4pm, MIL has rounded up 8 more people to make a party for herself. We go. Done deal, right? HA!

After dinner, I tell her not to pick up J* from school on Monday (our usual routine), b/c my parents were coming over to celebrate my birthday. My bday is Saturday, so my parents said we should celebrate my bday now, since maybe a certain someone's birth might interfere with a Saturday celebration. Aren't my parents wonderful to even think of that?? Anyway, MIL immediately says why can't they come another day, b/c her birthday was tomorrow, and so and so will be there (she obviously needs my son there to validate herself) . . . I STOP in my tracks. Oh, so her birthday is more important than mine, and we need to celebrate hers twice, and mine perhaps not at all?? Fuck her! I tell her no, they can't come any other day and I leave the room to find my shoes and get ready to go. Turns out she started crying about it . . . yeah, boo hoo . . . I'm ruining her birthday. UNBELIEVABLE!

So, tell me honestly. Am I wrong? Is my birthday not as important as hers? Tell me . . .I can always blame it on my hormones.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

For your viewing pleasure . . .

. . . while we all patiently wait for the next action-packed adventure! There hasn't been much change in the belly, and its glaringly obvious he has not dropped.

36 weeks
38 weeks

At least the room has changed . . .

From this:

To this!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

38 week update -some drama included

The appointment started off fine, as usual. BP was fine, weight gain 20lbs total. And, of course, no dilation at all. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Then she checked the heartbeat and it was only 110-115. She decided to send me to the hospital for monitoring just to be safe. She was going over too, to deliver some one else's baby, so she said she'd meet me there. That was an unexpected development to be sure!

Well, I had J* with me since my appointment was so late in the afternoon. Hubby was working, so I called FIL to meet me at the hospital to help with J*. I think I scared him a little but he was great, and came in 5 minutes after me. They hooked me up to the monitors for an NST, and said it would only be about a 20 minute test. WoW, that was a long 20 minutes, LOL. The heartache looked like it was all over the place, sometimes below 100, and sometimes above 165. It was nerve wracking, but it all turned out fine. My doc said the baby was doing super, and was in no distress at all. My level 2 ultrasound to check growth is scheduled for Thursday at 4pm. I'll update more then. I'm gonna go crash now!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Reflections

Wow. I am at the end of this pregnancy. Almost. So much has occurred, and so much more still to come. I was enjoying a few minutes alone yesterday floating in the pool as J* took a nap and hubby vacuumed my car. As I was basking in the quietness of the water and watching the sun go down behind the tree-line, I became extremely emotional at the enormity of this journey, and well, frankly, just started to SOB. The real thing . . . heaving chest, tears, moans . . . I just let loose. And it actually felt good to cry. Cleansing.

I think I am ready for baby. I'm terrified of labor, but ready for the changes in our family that are inevitable. We spent yesterday as a family of three, from the time we woke up till we all went to sleep, probably for the last time. Just us . . . no inlaws, no family or friends . . . I don't even think the phone rang once . . . it just sort of happened that way. We were able to say goodbye to our old life and realize we are ready for our new life, plus one.

One thing I have to mention . . . all last week I felt incredibly good. Much better than any week I can remember in the 3rd tri . . . not overly tired, irritable, or uncomfortable Maybe it was from starting to walk on my treadmill again, or maybe its just the calm before the storm. Either way, I am grateful for it, because I feel well rested and more ready than before.

So now all we need is labor pains!

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

37 week update

Had the ob appointment yesterday afternoon. BP still good, no weight gain this week, and cervix still shut tighter than corked wine bottle. Lovely.

I have been walking almost everyday, but perhaps I need to walk more. Or, it's not working, and my body just has to do it on its own. Then I remember I am only 37 weeks, and should just be prepared to go closer to the due date, or (gasp!) later. I inquired about the "philosphy" of the ob practice for inducing when you are late. The ob (the evil partner, btw. My doc was running way behind and I had to pick up J* from daycare) said usually just 7 days, but it could be earlier if the patient is ready (favorable cervix, blah blah).

Then Evil Partner did the long awaited growth u/s. After I had to ask if it was going to be done, since it was postponed last week. She obviously didn't read my chart before coming into the exam room. "Sure, we can do that, but why were you to have one?" Excuse me, but you're the fucking doctor!! Now I am in charge of my medical care?? I took a deep breath and told/reminded her I was seeing the perinatologist for the placenta thing (the look on her face indicated she had no recollection), and the peri referred me back to the ob after all was resolved and suggested a growth scan between 36-38 weeks. So she turns on the machine. I relax a little.

First thing out of her mouth is "why is this baby measuring small?" WHAT!!! Baby Doo Doo has always measured right on . . . like exactly on . . .at every u/s. But the measurements she was getting were 2 weeks behind. Of course, in her lah-di-dah way, she says "oh, its fine, as long as its within 2 weeks, but you should see the peri for another u/s next week to be sure." BTW, she said his estimated weight was 6 lbs. Doesn't sound to small to me!

As I was getting off the table, I told her my son was 6lb1oz at birth, so this baby will be definitely bigger than him (FYI to the readers, the pg books say that the fetus gains an ounce a day from 37 weeks on) . Dare I tell you what Evil Partner says next?? Are you sure you want to hear?

She says, "i guess you just make them small". So I looked her right in the eye and said, "no, his BIRTHMOTHER made him small. Its in my chart that my son is adopted." And I walked out.

Please pray Evil Partner is not on call when I deliver!!!!

Monday, August 06, 2007

Rain down on me . . .

. . . showers of friendship, that is! My baby shower was yesterday, and I am still smiling from the wonderful time I had! It was a really great time and memorable afternoon. I never had a bridal shower or baby shower before, and seriously don't like being the center of attention (ok, unless I'm drunk). Also, I have one-on-one friends . . . meaning, I don't have a group of friends that are friends with each other. They've all met at J*'s b-day parties before, but they don't know each other otherwise. So I was kind of nervous about the whole thing! But, it worked out great, and everyone had the opportunity to get to know each other better, since it was a small gathering. And it was only my cousins and aunts (no inlaws!), so I could spend more time with each of them too.

The most fun part was the creative idea for a shower craft my friend Robyn brought along. She bought several packs of Gerber white onesies in 3 different sizes, along with fabric paints, fabric markers and stencils, and every guest made a unique onesie for the baby! So I have very special onesies for baby's first year! Here is a pic of them all done . . . my 7 year old niece, 7-year old cousin, and 3 1/2 year old nephew did a few too . . .some of theirs were artistically better than the "adults"!Will post tomorrow night after my 37 week appointment!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

36 week appointment update

I was so looking forward to this visit, but just as I checked in, my ob got called to assist in an emergency c-section. That meant no ultrasound for me this week. I had to see the PA, who did my group B strep culture and an internal exam. My cervix is shut tight . . . nothing doing down there. For some reason I was so disappointed. In reality I know that 36 weeks is early for dilation, but I was looking for a glimmer of hope that Baby Doo Doo might come a little before his due date. And he is head down again, so that means its all up to my body at this point.

I took a walk with J* last night, and I am writing this entry as I walk on my treadmill, in hopes of getting things moving. I realized how much I sit all day (2-hour round trip commute to work, and lots of sitting at my desk), so now I am motivated to be more active during the day. Don't worry, I won't overdue it. I don't think I can . . . at my cousin's wedding this weekend, I danced for all of 1/2 a song before becoming winded.

On the construction front, the room is just about done! The floors were finished yesterday, so hubby just has to install the baseboards (already cut to size!) and touch up some trim. Furniture will be moved in Friday morning! Just in time, b/c my bro, SIL, and the kids are coming Friday night!