38 Weeks Today!

Sorry -- it's been a while since my last post!

I can't believe my due date is only 2 weeks away!  In some ways it seems so unreal that it's already almost here, but in other ways, my body is screaming to get this baby out!  I'm STILL not dilated, but Natalie's head has come down further in the past week.  I go to the doctor again on Monday (June 2nd) for my 39 week appointment, so we'll see what happens!  Maybe I'll be at least a little dilated...

Mom is coming in tonite and I am SO excited.  She will be here for several weeks -- until and after Natalie is here and we get settled in at home.  Derek is on his way to the airport now to get her.  I am excited she is able to come in time for my birthday tomorrow, so that should be lots of fun!

Derek gave me my birthday present a little early today -- a beautiful drop-down emerald necklace that I saw at the jewelry store not too long ago and loved!  I know I'm not much of a jewelry kinda girl, but this necklace is SO pretty -- and I really love my birthstone!

Hopefully Natalie will be here soon, but I know she will come when she's ready, so I may be waiting a while!  It is getting more and more difficult to sleep at night, but I guess that's just practice for when she arrives!  I've started getting a few signs and symptoms that labor is coming sooner than later (in the next few days to weeks), but I'm not sure the details are appropriate for the blog...haha!

36 weeks and NOT BREECH!

I went to my 36 week appointment yesterday and had an ultrasound which revealed 2 things.  Number 1 -- Natalie has flipped around and is in a head down and ready-to-go position.  Number 2 -- Natalie is a BIG girl!  The ultrasound estimates her to be about 7 and a half pounds already, and if I go until close to my due date, the doctors say she will be 9 pounds or so.  Wow!  Now I kinda want to have the C-section so I don't have to push her out!  Just kidding, but it is nice to know that I might end up avoiding a C-section!  In other news, mom is coming up on May 27th in time for my birthday on the 28th to stay with me until and after the baby is born for a while!  I am so glad she is willing to do this -- I know it makes Derek rest a little easier having her here and ready to help out when I go in labor.  And I'm just excited to have her here so we can hang out and have some mom/daughter quality time!  Derek is in Louisiana now for a few more days for Casey and Bridgett's wedding, so hopefully Natalie won't try and appear while he's gone.  I'm not worried -- I got checked yesterday and I am not really dilated at all.  I should be good to go!

35 week appointment

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 35 week appointment...everything was pretty good!  My blood pressure was high when I first got there, but they re-took it a few minutes later and it was back to normal.  I am still retaining water, but not as much as last week.  Natalie is doing great....but she is still breech!  At my next appointment (next Thursday), I am getting an ultrasound to confirm her position.  If she is still breech, then I will probably be scheduled for a C-section, somewhere around June 5th.  I got "checked" for the first time (to see if I'm dilated), and I'm not dilated, which is normal for 35 weeks.  It also makes me feel better about Derek going out of town next week!  Hopefully she won't show up early!  

Me and Mom!

Here is a picture of me and mom on Saturday night at Mitchell's Fish Market!  Yum!

A Trip To The Hospital and Partial Bedrest

Wow!  A lot has happened since the last post!  On Wednesday night (April 30th), I started feeling TERRIBLE!  I had a horrible headache with blurred vision and my face was incredibly flushed.  After laying down for a few hours along with Tylenol, it just kept getting worse.  We called the doctor and because of my recent swelling and high blood pressure, she wanted me to come in to the hospital to get checked out.  After a few hours of monitoring the baby and my blood pressure, along with some blood and urine tests, they let me go home.  My blood pressure was high, but not too bad, and got better when I layed down.  All the blood work came back great and I was told to take it easy over the next few days.  My 24-hour urine test meant for this week was moved to the very next day (May 1st) and I was ordered not to go to work for a few days.  After relaxing all day Thursday, I had another doctor's appointment Friday morning (just for follow up after the hospital visit).  I felt SO much better Friday morning and the doctors were very happy with what they saw!  My blood pressure was completely back to normal and all 8 pounds of swelling I had gained previously were gone!  The conclusion:  take it easy, put my feet up, drink lots of water, and relax!  I had MORE blood work done on Friday.  The results of that and my 24-hour urine test should come in this week! 

I can still work, but now I am no longer on call (ever) and only working a few hours a day doing very easy tasks!  

Mom came in town Friday afternoon and we had so much fun!  She helped me get everything ready for Natalie's arrival and we spent a lot of time washing her clothes, putting her bottles in the kitchen cabinet, putting batteries in all of her contraptions, and packing hospital bags!  I couldn't have done it all without her!

Tomorrow is my first day back to work since last Wednesday, and I plan on taking it VERY easy!  A new picture of me is coming soon....I promise.  Tomorrow is 35 weeks!  I have another doctor's appointment Wednesday afternoon -- the first of several in which I get "checked" to see if I'm dilating....guess we'll see!