Monday, December 3, 2012

37 Weeks: Thanksgiving

37w0d: This Thanksgiving, I reached full term status at 37 weeks! I have so much to be thankful for. I have a happy and loving marriage to a man that makes me laugh and strive to be more like him (he is so kind and forgiving!). I have my sweet Eva, who shows me every day what my purpose in life is. I have a home I love in a community I feel safe to raise a family in. I have a job that allows me flexibility and will afford me time with my girls. But, this year, I am most thankful for third chances.  I cannot wait to hold this baby in my arms and wish her a happy birthday!

36 Weeks

36w0d: I had my biophysical profile ultrasound along with a Level 2. Baby girl is measuring 5lbs 12oz currently and is perfectly healthy! She is doing all her practice breathing and kicking me like a champ in the ribs!

36w1d: I was supposed to get my last hydroxyprogesterone shot today (YAY!), but the nurses were all pulled into an emergency meeting or situation or something so I either had to forgo the last shot or go to maternity triage to get it. Well, we all know how I feel about triage, so I skipped the last shot.

36w2d: I went with close friends to see the last Twilight movie today. It was very ominous for me because we had planned to go see the last Harry Potter movie the day that Eva was born preterm. I was very conscious all day of the intensity and consistency of my braxton hicks contractions.

36w4d: I had another biophysical today because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Still breathing and kicking and got some great 4D photos of her! Can't wait to meet her and kiss those cheeks! I am convinced she will have a TON of hair because I continue to have fireball acid reflux.

36w6d: My mom came up to spend Thanksgiving with us today. Eva is always so excited to have her Grandma come to visit and I am so happy to have Thanksgiving come to me with someone else willing to cook the turkey!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

35 Weeks

35w0d: I had my weekly biophysical profile ultrasound today and everything went well. I got to see great shots of her in 4D, which is always a treat! Was given my second to last progesterone shot as well. I was so exhausted after poor sleep this week and the 50mgs of benedryl that it was super lucky that Matt drove Eva and I home because I completely passed out in the car!

35w1d: Eva was born on 35w1d, so this is a milestone day! Eva went to a friend's house for dinner so Matt and I could go on a date--our last date for awhile I am sure! I wasn't the sexiest date though as I totally peed myself at one point! Luckily it was dark in the restaurant so you couldn't obviously see the wet spot on my pants! I cheated/treated myself to dessert after a high protein/fiber meal and we got chocolate cake. It was amazing AND my numbers still came in under!

35w2d: I am officially more pregnant than I have ever been! :-)

35w3d: I went to a friend's baby sprinkle today. She is due just a week after I am! There were tons of pregnant women at this shower, but I am the one on deck to have the baby first! That's an exciting place to be!

35w4d: It was unseasonably warm and gorgeous today! Eva actually said she didn't want to go to dance class because she wanted to play outside instead. Once we got to dance, however, she was super happy to be there as always.

35w5d: We got some baby gear items assembled today, which made me feel good to be able to cross at least something off of our to-do list!  I went to class tonight and had to tell my students that if I go into labor at this point, they will not see me again this semester! I guess I really need to catch up on grading!

35w6d: I had my regular OB appointment today. Baby's heartrate and my belly measurements were all great. I am still about 1cm dilated, maybe a little more, but not enough to say 2cm.


Thursday, November 8, 2012

34 Weeks

34w0d: Happy November and happy mommy for reaching her goal of 34 weeks!! I had my BPP and shot today. Grandma got to see the baby during the ultrasound, which was a special treat for her and then she drove me home to take my post-shot coma nap!

34w1d: Eva had her school Halloween parade and party today. She was very weirded out and uncomfortable about seeing her teacher and her friends all in costume. She eventually settled in, but it took her an hour to do so!

34w2d: Grammy came out to play with Eva while Matt and I did some Christmas shopping. We got everything but a few stocking gifts for Eva from Santa and a few things for some other people on our shopping list. While at Home Goods, I suddenly started to trickle and became concerned that my water had broken. We went home to let me rest.  Later, Matt's brother and his fiance came over to watch the Irish and I ended up having to be so rude to go lie down because I was getting really strong and regular contractions that came with lots of nausea as well. They did eventually stop and there was no further trickles or gushes of fluid so I am still pregnant, but I definitely was thinking it was go time for awhile there!

34w3d: We crossed of a big "to do" off the before the baby comes list today by going to tag this year's Christmas tree. Eva was very excited to choose her sister's first Christmas tree! It was FREEZING!!

34w4d: It was "bring a friend" week at Eva's dance studio so she brought one of her friends and was so proud to introduce her to her teacher!

34w5d: Election Day! I took Eva with me to vote at the township building and the A-L line was 2.5 hours long! M-Z was in and out in 35 minutes, thankfully! Eva was very disappointed though because she was under the impression we were going to choose our new "presents" not "president"!

34w6d: I had a regular OB appointment this morning. She checked me to see if I am dilated at all due to all the contractions I have been having= 1 cm! I told her that the baby has been quiet the last few days, but that I am still feeling her of course. She sent me to get a BPP to be sure that baby was good and that there was no additional need to consider bed rest. The BPP went well, but they still put me on a mini bed rest where I can still go to work, but I am supposed to rest as much as possible while home, which is much easier said than done when you are an at-home-mom of a 3 year old!

33 Weeks

33w0d: Watched a friend's baby this morning. Eva is a great helper, but I am definitely becoming less available to provide baby comfort considering I have a baby in the way of where you would typically cradle a baby! Also had a BPP ultrasound and got my progesterone shot today. BPP went well! Baby girl has been super cooperative with them and does all her movements and her breathing really quickly!

33w1d: Took Eva to her friend's house for a playdate and dinner. Eva is really starting to play with other kids her age cooperatively rather that just playing alongside them, which is so fun to see!

33w2d: Went to get myself and Eva fitted for my brother in law's wedding party this afternoon. Eva was so thrilled to try on the flower girl dresses and although she was shy coming out of the dressing room with each change, she couldn't get enough of herself in the big mirrors as she twirled!! Getting myself sized for a bridesmaid dress was interesting, considering it is hard to predict what size I will be in a month, let alone in June! Eva was devastated to leave without the dress so we went over to Sears for her to pick out a new dress to bring home. Her choice? A velvety Santa dress!

33w3d: Did some work on the nursery today by hanging up some decor and organizing some clothes. Still lots to do! We also prepared for Hurricane Sandy to hit our area by freezing lots of ice bags, doing laundry and running the dishwasher, filling up our cars with gas and taking hot showers!!

33w4d: Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast fiercely! We were very lucky that the worst of it missed us entirely. We never lost power and no trees went through our roof, which was really our main concern about the house. Bigger than that, I know that big storms can send women into labor so I was very nervous that I would be traveling out to the hospital in a Hurricane in preterm labor! Luckily, baby girl made it through safe and snug inside!

33w5d: Everything was closed in the area today for Sandy recovery. Matt was home and we got some things crossed off the baby list, but for the most part, we just caught up on rest and play time with Eva.

33w6d: Happy Halloween! Grandma came today to spend the next few days with us. Eva wore her cowgirl costume proudly all day and as soon as her friend arrived to go trick or treating in a princess dress, Eva wanted to change into her Sleeping Beauty costume! She had a great time trick or treating in the neighborhood as a princess wearing cowgirl boots! I stayed behind to give out candy with Grandma because I was contracting regularly.



Thursday, October 25, 2012

32 Weeks

32w0d: Level 2 ultrasound and Biophysical Profile today. Baby girl weighed in at 4lbs 10oz, which seemed HUGE to me considering Eva was born at 35 weeks weighing 5lbs 8oz, but apparently it is right along the 50th percentile line. She was very cooperative and did lots of deep practice breathing and all the movements they were looking for her to make. We got some great pictures, including one 4D shot that looks just like Eva shortly after she was born!

32w1d: I had my regular OB appointment today. Those appointments are seriously ridiculous when I am having all these ultrasounds.

32w2d: We took Eva to the Fair Hill International Horse Festival today because she is simply OBSESSED with horses. It was much better than we were expecting it to be and Eva had a wonderful time watching the horses jump, petting miniature horses and doing all sorts of crafts! She loved getting a unicorn painted on her hand and making a sand art horse necklace! She even got to ride a school bus, which she has been dying to do since the neighborhood bus stop is right outside our house.

32w3d: We got family portraits taken today at Carousel Park, which is a horse farm in addition to a state park. Eva was more cooperative than I expected her to be and we got gorgeous pictures! I am so happy with them!

32w4d: We hung the large tissue paper flowers I had custom made on Etsy for a mobile above the crib today and I love them!

32w6d: Baby girl was super quiet today so I had to pay close attention to my kick counts. She started bouncing all around when I had a bit of ice cream though!

31 Weeks

31w0d: I took Eva back to the pediatrician to have her urine rechecked following a 10 day course of antibiotics for a UTI. She is getting very good at peeing in a cup and now wants to do it every time I have to at the OB! I got my haircut for the first time in almost a year today at a new salon and I love it!

31w1d: My mom and sister came for the weekend and met Eva and I out for lunch and then drove me home after my weekly shot. It was glorious to come home in my benedryl coma and get to go straight to sleep myself rather than wrestling my 3 year old down for a nap first. Aunts and Grandmas are the best!

31w2d: Sprinkle Day! My mom, sister and closest friends planned a baby sprinkle for me and this growing baby girl. Our host got really sick at the last minute so my sister ended up hosting it at our house, which was fine with me because I didn't have to lug gifts from one place to another. It was a "Little Pumpkin" theme and it was a really special day! Eva was simply head over heels that it was finally her "baby party" day! All the guests contributed to a Big Sister gift basket for Eva so she really got to feel like the guest of honor, which she totally was!

31w3d: My mom, sister, Eva and I went shopping and to lunch before they had to leave. We picked up some much needed newborn sized clothes that will work for this little one for the winter.

31w5d: Seeing the inside of your typically very innie belly button is really freaky! It never popped out when I was pregnant with Eva so this is new to me!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

30 Weeks

30w0d: We viewed this as a MAJOR milestone. After two miscarriages, a tricky 29 weeks of pregnancy that included 2 trips to triage, crossing over into the 30s provided a sense of ease. If baby girl is born now, this list of complications has dramatically decreased. I have no plans to let her come this early, but I do have greater peace of mind. I had my last cervical length ultrasound today. They stop these at 30 weeks so I am a graduate! Cervix remains long and thick even with all these painful Braxton Hicks contractions.

30w1d: I went to a different office to get my progesterone shot today and it was a ridiculous disaster. I rushed out of a wonderful lunch with friends to get to the appointment and took my 50 mgs of benedryl on the way in and sat in the waiting room for an hour and 20 minutes! I had to drive from the doctor to pick up my husband for him to drive me home. Luckily it is only across the street because I was so looped out and half asleep by the time they finally called me for the shot. We all got home safely and I was out cold in bed as fast as lightning.

30w2d: We took Eva to pick out this year's crop of pumpkins. She made some great choices and made sure to get one for her little sister too!

30w4d: I don't know what it is about Mondays but I drag all day! I am exhausted by noon and can't seem to catch a second wind. Mondays seem to be the day of the week that I really feel as pregnant as I am!

30w5d: I watched a close friend's 4 month old this morning and Eva was so sweet with her. It is definitely interesting for me to try to hold her though because there is a big belly bump in the way!


Sunday, October 7, 2012

29 Weeks

29w0d: Had Eva's Grammy and Pappy over to spend the night to come with her to Grandparent's Day at preschool tomorrow. She was so excited when they arrived! Eva had 3 pee pee accidents today and seems to be peeing constantly.

29w1d: Grandparent's Day was a huge hit with Eva. She was so proud to have them there to show off at school! We all went to lunch afterwards and it became incredibly clear that Eva is having trouble holding her urine. She had been doing so well and seems to have accidents everyday now, wakes up in the middle of the night to go and has to go constantly. My mind starts to panic out of concern she may be diabetic. I get my shot today and am asleep in the car before Matt gets me home. Passed out in bed in a 4 hour benedryl coma.

29w2d: Asking everyone I know their opinion on Eva's pee situation and diabetes. Get mixed reviews. Someone suggests that she may have a urinary tract infection. Apparently they sell at-home test kits for UTIs so I send Matt right out to the pharmacy and within 20 minutes from the time he is out the door we know that Eva has a raging UTI. I am so relieved I can't even stand it! And yet I feel like dirt for having given her a time out for peeing in her pants for the third time earlier that day. Called the on call doctor and they agreed to see her Sunday morning.

29w3d: UTI confirmed and zero sugar markers in her urine. THANK THE LORD! When given the choice between a flu shot in her arm and the mist up her nose, Eva shocked the world by choosing the shot! She was such a trooper and asked for daddy to hold her while she got it, which was A-OK by me because daddy is never there to be the shot person! She earned a pack of M&Ms out of and all was well with her world! She is so good about taking her UTI medicine!

29w4d: I had a chicken cobb salad from Panera today for lunch and skipped the bread. After an hour I took my sugar, which they want under 130 after meals and it was 49. FORTY NINE!! Felt sick to my stomach for hours as a result of that low sugar. I simply can't win!

29w5d: Matt's 32nd birthday has come and gone and so has one slice of his delicious chocolate cake! It messed my sugars up for an entire day, but it was amazing!!

29w6d: I had my regular OB appointment. Gained a pound so they were pleased with me! I say thank you to the slice of cake!

Saturday, September 29, 2012

28 Weeks


28w0d: Cervical length check and ultrasound. Cervix looks great and so does baby girl! Measuring 2lbs 14 oz now and starting to look a lot more like Eva in the 4d pictures! Today, she opened and closed her mouth a few times while we watched, which Eva thought was just the coolest thing ever! 

28w1d: regular OB appointment. Got pressure about my lack of weight gain again. Was asked, "are you dieting" and replied, "absolutely. I am 100% actively dieting...because you tell me I have to be!". In the end, she wasn't able to give me any new ideas for what I could eat that would add calories without adding carbs. Frustrating. Got my progesterone shot and itched within a few hours even with the 50mgs of benedryl.  Rats!

28w2d: Went to my niece's 5th birthday and my nephew's 1st today! Eva is over the moon for her big cousin and had so much fun at her Wizard of Oz party, which was on a horse farm--our girl is obsessed with all things horses right now! Started to grow concerned while we were there that she has been having so many pee pee accidents lately. She can't seem to hold it. Concerned about diabetes...

28w4d: Was a little nervous today because I wasn't feeling the baby as much as I have been recently. I could rationalize that she may have flipped over and was facing my back, making it harder to feel, but I was still hyper aware of it.

28w5d: Was woken up out of a deep sleep at 3:30 am because baby girl started tap dancing on my bladder. Guess I don't have to worry about how she's doing anymore! She is active and strong as usual! 

28w6d: I had to take my engagement ring off today. You would think at almost 29 weeks that would be due to swelling, but no. This stupid GD situation has made me lose so much weight that the ring flung off while I was towel drying after a shower.  So stupid.