Unless Baby makes his debut today, this will be my longest pregnancy. Weird. Apparently Baby knows that he needs all the time he can get to make his lungs strong before he appears.
Today's ultrasound showed no significant change in the mass. We are keeping an eye on a small pocket of extra fluid around the heart. This is something we've seen for a few weeks now and it hasn't changed. It looks like it's a result of stress on the heart and they aren't worried about it. Baby will have an echo-cardiogram after delivery to check up on heart function just to be sure. This is something we were planning on doing even before seeing the fluid. We did full measurements today and Baby is weighing in at 5 lb. 15 oz. (give or take a pound, since it's hard to see anything accurately at this stage). I'm convinced that he will be over 6 lb. at birth, which would make him my biggest baby. He hasn't grown as much as he "should," which concerned them a little. I told them we went through this with Logan and I just have small babies. The doctor agreed that there is probably nothing to worry about, but she wants to do a little checking just to be sure. So we'll go in on Tuesday for a biophysical profile (BPP), and I think we'll do another one along with our regular ultrasound/OB visit next Friday. That is, of course, assuming that Baby doesn't decide to come before then.
Thanks for your prayers for my grandma. She is still much weaker than before she got sick, but she is eating and talking now. My dad's brother and sister are both with her now, so my dad came back here to wait for Baby. We're so glad things are going better for her and hope she continues to improve.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
A Different but Related Prayer Request
God's timing is perfect, yet often annoying. We don't understand what he's up to most of the time. So as we wait for Baby to arrive, we wonder why it has to be now that my 99-year-old grandma has taken a turn for the worse.
It started with a bladder infection that probably caused her immune system to weaken enough for her to get the shingles two weeks ago. She was hospitalized for a while, and when my mom came to stay with us last Monday, my dad stayed behind to be with Grandma. By Thursday, she had been out of the hospital and back in the nursing home for a couple of days. She was weak but doing well, so on Friday morning Dad made the four-and-a-half-hour drive up here. (The weather didn't end up being a problem.) While he was still en route (without a cell phone) we got a call that Grandma was lethargic and unresponsive. Dad stayed here on Friday night, but when we heard that Grandma was doing no better on Saturday morning, he left for home, fearing that she might be slipping away.
When he got there on Saturday, she seemed to improve some. I wonder if it was just because he was there. Now she is still weak, but is at lease responsive. My dad's sister and her husband are on their way to SD, so it's great to know that someone else will be with Grandma, too.
Please pray for comfort for my grandma. Her dementia has almost completely clouded her mind and she is often scared and confused. And I would also ask for prayer for peace for my family and wisdom to know who needs to be where and when.
It started with a bladder infection that probably caused her immune system to weaken enough for her to get the shingles two weeks ago. She was hospitalized for a while, and when my mom came to stay with us last Monday, my dad stayed behind to be with Grandma. By Thursday, she had been out of the hospital and back in the nursing home for a couple of days. She was weak but doing well, so on Friday morning Dad made the four-and-a-half-hour drive up here. (The weather didn't end up being a problem.) While he was still en route (without a cell phone) we got a call that Grandma was lethargic and unresponsive. Dad stayed here on Friday night, but when we heard that Grandma was doing no better on Saturday morning, he left for home, fearing that she might be slipping away.
When he got there on Saturday, she seemed to improve some. I wonder if it was just because he was there. Now she is still weak, but is at lease responsive. My dad's sister and her husband are on their way to SD, so it's great to know that someone else will be with Grandma, too.
Please pray for comfort for my grandma. Her dementia has almost completely clouded her mind and she is often scared and confused. And I would also ask for prayer for peace for my family and wisdom to know who needs to be where and when.
Still Pregnant
I feel overdue. I'm not. Not even close. But I think I've been so worried about going early that now that I've passed 38 weeks, I feel like I should be done by now. I'm not mentally prepared to go a full 40 weeks.
Neither is anyone else around here, apparently.
My parents were supposed to come for Easter and then stay until Baby arrived. But last week's forecast in South Dakota was pretty rotten all week--snow/rain every day from Tuesday on. So my mom called me on Monday morning and said she wanted to take advantage of the one nice day in the week and come early just in case this guy decided to come even earlier than Logan. I had been having strong braxton hicks contractions, so I was sure I was going into labor any minute and told her to come. Her early arrival turned out not to be necessary, but it's so great to have her here. Not only do I not have to worry about rushing the boys to a friend's house en route to the hospital, but I've been doing about half as much around the house and twice as much is getting done. :)
On Friday, Jeff packed stuff for himself for the hospital--right down to his toothbrush. He's been living out of the suitcase (as far as toiletries are concerned) since then, just so our departure can be that much faster. He also checks on me periodically if I'm by myself reading or working on the computer to make sure that I'm not in labor and not telling him. It's not very like him to be this nervous.
Everywhere we go, people who know us express surprise that I'm still pregnant. I tell them I'm surprised, too. Every time I call someone, they ask if I'm calling to report big news. I guess the fact that baby is waiting to come is sort of big news.
So at this point, please pray for patience for me (just in case you've stopped praying for that since the last time I asked). I'm uncomfortable and the braxton hicks are annoying. If this baby decides to wait for week 40 or beyond, it could be a long wait for this little guy.
Neither is anyone else around here, apparently.
My parents were supposed to come for Easter and then stay until Baby arrived. But last week's forecast in South Dakota was pretty rotten all week--snow/rain every day from Tuesday on. So my mom called me on Monday morning and said she wanted to take advantage of the one nice day in the week and come early just in case this guy decided to come even earlier than Logan. I had been having strong braxton hicks contractions, so I was sure I was going into labor any minute and told her to come. Her early arrival turned out not to be necessary, but it's so great to have her here. Not only do I not have to worry about rushing the boys to a friend's house en route to the hospital, but I've been doing about half as much around the house and twice as much is getting done. :)
On Friday, Jeff packed stuff for himself for the hospital--right down to his toothbrush. He's been living out of the suitcase (as far as toiletries are concerned) since then, just so our departure can be that much faster. He also checks on me periodically if I'm by myself reading or working on the computer to make sure that I'm not in labor and not telling him. It's not very like him to be this nervous.
Everywhere we go, people who know us express surprise that I'm still pregnant. I tell them I'm surprised, too. Every time I call someone, they ask if I'm calling to report big news. I guess the fact that baby is waiting to come is sort of big news.
So at this point, please pray for patience for me (just in case you've stopped praying for that since the last time I asked). I'm uncomfortable and the braxton hicks are annoying. If this baby decides to wait for week 40 or beyond, it could be a long wait for this little guy.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
37 weeks, 3 days
No major news to report from yesterday's ultrasound/OB visit. Everything is looking pretty much the same and as of right now they are still planning to let me go into labor naturally. I expected them to be a little more concerned about an Easter delivery and want to induce early just to be sure that doesn't happen, but they seemed unconcerned, so I'm trying to be, too. I know it's a little early to be so concerned about labor being imminent, but as I've mentioned before, having my first baby at 38 wks/5 days and my second one at 37 wks/5 days certainly gives me cause to believe I won't make it to 40 weeks with this one either. The lady who checked my progress (I don't remember her title; I see so many people there. Was she a resident? a fellow? a student? a doctor? a lady just wandering through?) ventured to guess that I have about a week to go. Only time will tell. I'm going to pray that I get through Easter and after that pray for this baby to come ASAP! Only not in the middle of the night. And not during rush hour. Not that I'm picky.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I can't wait...
It feels strange to have gone over a week without an appointment and it's also strange to have not updated the blog in as long. So in the interest of avoiding other more important things I have to do right now, I'm compiling a list of things I can't wait to do.
I can't wait...
...to hold tiny little hands in mine.
...to see what Baby's eyes look like. (Will he have Daddy's eyes like the other two?)
...to feel that awesome sense of accomplishment that follows bringing a baby into the world. (Until I realize that I need help walking ten steps to the bathroom.) :)
...to be able to get socks from the back of the dryer.
...to be amazed at how light Baby feels compared to my two big boys.
...to see how Carter handles being a big brother again. (Logan is another story--not sure I want to see how he handles being a big brother!)
...to be a little spoiled by my husband as I navigate the first couple weeks of recovery and sleepless nights. (Shhh...don't tell him I'm on to him.)
...to have labor and delivery behind me and not wonder whether or not I'll make it to the hospital on time or whether or not I'll be induced or whether or not...
...to know how Baby's lungs are functioning.
...to know when he'll have to have surgery.
...to snuggle a sleeping baby on my shoulder.
...to be able to chase my boys around the couch again.
...to not feel braxton hicks contractions every time I walk up the stairs.
...to write a blog announcing his arrival.
In spite of the discomforts of pregnancy and all that I am eager for in the future, I'm trying to enjoy my last weeks of pregnancy. It's quite possibly the last time I'll get to be pregnant. To feel a little person kicking and rolling around inside of me is a most amazing thing.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future." Who wrote that cheesy line? I don't know, but I can identify. Since I'm not in control, I'm glad I can say that I know God is. So I guess I can wait for all these things for just a little while longer, trusting that God knows how and when each of these things will come about.
I can't wait...
...to hold tiny little hands in mine.
...to see what Baby's eyes look like. (Will he have Daddy's eyes like the other two?)
...to feel that awesome sense of accomplishment that follows bringing a baby into the world. (Until I realize that I need help walking ten steps to the bathroom.) :)
...to be able to get socks from the back of the dryer.
...to be amazed at how light Baby feels compared to my two big boys.
...to see how Carter handles being a big brother again. (Logan is another story--not sure I want to see how he handles being a big brother!)
...to be a little spoiled by my husband as I navigate the first couple weeks of recovery and sleepless nights. (Shhh...don't tell him I'm on to him.)
...to have labor and delivery behind me and not wonder whether or not I'll make it to the hospital on time or whether or not I'll be induced or whether or not...
...to know how Baby's lungs are functioning.
...to know when he'll have to have surgery.
...to snuggle a sleeping baby on my shoulder.
...to be able to chase my boys around the couch again.
...to not feel braxton hicks contractions every time I walk up the stairs.
...to write a blog announcing his arrival.
In spite of the discomforts of pregnancy and all that I am eager for in the future, I'm trying to enjoy my last weeks of pregnancy. It's quite possibly the last time I'll get to be pregnant. To feel a little person kicking and rolling around inside of me is a most amazing thing.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future." Who wrote that cheesy line? I don't know, but I can identify. Since I'm not in control, I'm glad I can say that I know God is. So I guess I can wait for all these things for just a little while longer, trusting that God knows how and when each of these things will come about.
Friday, April 8, 2011
35 Weeks and 5 Days
If this pregnancy follows the course that Logan's did, we could be meeting this little guy in two weeks. Logan was born at 37 weeks and 5 days. I know that this pregnancy is unlikely to follow the same course, but I'm nervous about him coming early anyway. And yet, I'm so ready to be done. I'm stressed out by just about everything; I'm emotional; I'm impatient; I'm so uncomfortable. I want this delivery behind me.
We had our first official appointment at the U of M today. It was a long appointment, but it was good. Ultrasound results showed the mass is pretty much the same size as last week. Baby is weighing in at an estimated 5 lb. 4 oz., which is what Logan weighed at birth. At this rate, Baby could easily end up being our biggest newborn. The doctors and nurses that we met today were great. They really made us feel like they cared not only about our medical status, but how we were doing emotionally as well. I really feel good about our choice to go with the Maternal and Fetal Medicine staff rather than the midwife team. We're in good hands.
Because Good Friday messes with our schedule, our next appointment isn't until the Tuesday before Easter. It makes me nervous to go that long in between appointments, but I'm glad to have an appointment close to Easter and hopefully at that appointment I will be reassured that my going into labor over Easter weekend is unlikely.
We had our first official appointment at the U of M today. It was a long appointment, but it was good. Ultrasound results showed the mass is pretty much the same size as last week. Baby is weighing in at an estimated 5 lb. 4 oz., which is what Logan weighed at birth. At this rate, Baby could easily end up being our biggest newborn. The doctors and nurses that we met today were great. They really made us feel like they cared not only about our medical status, but how we were doing emotionally as well. I really feel good about our choice to go with the Maternal and Fetal Medicine staff rather than the midwife team. We're in good hands.
Because Good Friday messes with our schedule, our next appointment isn't until the Tuesday before Easter. It makes me nervous to go that long in between appointments, but I'm glad to have an appointment close to Easter and hopefully at that appointment I will be reassured that my going into labor over Easter weekend is unlikely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)