The Date!!!

Sean and I will be checking into Hotel Spectrum 8:30 PM Thursday, October 25! My prediction is that the young lady will make her appearance the afternoon of the 26th.

Everything else is going fine...just waiting...and waiting...

At this rate she'll come just a few days before her due date, which is great by me. I had been hoping they'd decide to do it yet this week, but the 25th is great. This gives Sean's jobs enough time to plan and grandparents have the weekend off....perfect!!!

A View to a Wedding...

Some of what we saw tonight...

And the young man toasting his second cousin...

Congratulations from your cousins in GR....wish we could be there with you guys!!!

Latest Ultrasound

Grandma R was right....Linnea's got a lot of hair! I couldn't believe how well you can actually see it in the ultrasound! They think she's 7 1/2 lbs now, but I understand that they can be off by as much as a pound or two sometimes.

Nothing really new to report....the induction isn't going to be scheduled until Monday the 15th. Mom is going with me to this appointment, as Sean is working 2 jobs now and keeping VERY busy. I need someone with me to ask all the important questions I forget!

News!

I'm going to be induced in two weeks!!! No date yet, hopefully I'll have it to post tomorrow with ultrasound pictures.

Feeling....excited, relief....and nervous!!!:)

Baby Bumps

Cousins at the baby shower today in Lansing.

Good This Week

Nothing new at my appointments today. The non-stress test went well and no changes at my ob appointment! Yippee!!!

I think tomorrow will start my official....ish count down to baby. (36 weeks tomorrow) So....28-ish days until Linnea's here!

Mom thinks/wants her to arrive Friday, November 2, so that she'll have all weekend off (and maybe labor will last that long...I figure I have to prepare myself for all possibilities)...(but I have heard short labor is hereditary...thanks, Mom!)

I think she's going to come really close to her due date, October 30...or maybe it'll happen on the 31st, just because I DIDN't want her to have a holiday b-day, but again, I've prepared myself for that possibility.

I am a little concerned about my weight gain....after faithfully gaining 3 pounds a month since the 4 or 5 month...I've gained FOUR in two weeks. Doc said give it another week before getting concerned about it (ultrasound is next week Tuesday, plus a short one this Thursday to check amniotic fluid....maybe I can convince the tech to take 3 tiny little measurements to see how big she is!) But the way I see it...either option is not good...I'VE gained 4 pounds or SHE'S up to 9 pounds! (Or I guess it could be both of us gaining:)

Oh, well. What would I do if I didn't worry about something new each week? Ummm....labor?...delivery? Oh, man....

Non-stress Test

I just got back from our first non-stress test. At the office, I sat in a recliner for about 20 minutes with two monitors positioned over Linnea. I listened to her heart beat the whole time. Man, was she moving! BPM would get as high as the 170s when she was active and down to 140 resting. It was pretty neat to actually hear her moving around in there.

We're at 35 weeks tomorrow!!! After this week I'll go to 2 non-stress tests a week and still have my regular Monday appointment at the ob/gyn.

My sugar readings have been ok, but I'm already up to 3 pills a day (just one when I started them last week). What a pain. How do take a pill 2 hours before I eat breakfast and dinner? I think I'll have to start setting the alarm so I can still have breakfast when I wake up!

NO cankles today! (I knew fall was my favorite time of year!)

What a good way to start the day! ALmost skinny ankles! (At least, compared to how they have been) It was 62 degrees at noon and it's been windy....lovin' it!!!!

Today was my first appointment at another Spectrum office for an ultrasound. The objectives were to check on Linnea's kidneys and her size....5lbs. 6 oz! This weight is just a little larger than average, a 34 week measurement instead of the 33 weeks she is today. Because of the gestational diabetes, I'll have another ultrasound 4 weeks.

The doctor I talked to afterwards went into more detail about the hydronephrosis than about how big she's getting. This is the third ultrasound that has shown extra fluid in her kidneys, but, as with the others, just a little more than what is considered normal. They'll check on them again at the next ultrasound and if it's still a problem, will mean an ultrasound for her and possibly an x-ray (a better way to check for blockages) after she is born.



She's positioned head down and to my left with feet at my right rib cage...which I SURE can tell! Unfortunately this didn't make for great pictures. But Sean and I got to see her sucking or drinking...and HAIR! While the tech was taking head measurements we saw the outline of what looked like a significant amount of hair. Just as several people have predicted. Mom said she wishes you could tell the color from an ultrasound.:)

I have what may be my last Circle of Care appointment tomorrow (they don't do high risk and it sounds like my care is going to be down at Spectrum from now on). And Monday is my next visit downtown, so I'll have another update soon!

My New Best Friend

Last Wednesday I got this glucose monitor and have been checking my blood sugar 4 times a day. Just yesterday I had another 3 hour glucose test. My fasting test was low, the next 2 high, and the last one is normal. These results have been sent to a high risk OB at Spectrum. The doctor there will decide if I need to be seen by them, or if I continue to be seen by the nurse/midwife at Booth (they don't deal with high-risk).

I'm just going with the flow for now. I want to continue with Circle of Care, but I want the have the proper care too! Hopefully I'll know before the weekend what's going to happen. Another plus(since I have to find some positive with this)....I think I might have another ultrasound!

Appointments this week

Monday:

Today was our first day at "Preparing for Childbirth" class at Spectrum. We're in a group of 9 other couples. Sue, our instructor, is very nice. We talked about relaxation and practiced exercises and breathing techniques, which is our homework.

I TOTALLY spaced the fact that Sean has a minor medical procedure scheduled for the same time as our next class!!!:( I'm VERY disappointed...haven't gotten a hold of Sue yet, but the registration lady for class assured me conflicts happen all the time and that Sue will have no problem getting us the information that we'll miss....important stuff....like medications for labor and delivery!!! Oh, well....

The last two classes will be about caring for Linnea after her arrival, review of relaxation, postpartum and the tour!

Wednesday: Circle of Care

My 3 care group was a little different this time as 5 women were no-shows! (I'd hate to miss...you discuss important things, you can share all your new aches and pains, and there's great snacks:)) There were 3 new additions plus 2 other guys came, so Sean was not the only man in the room this time.

I got a double dose of relaxation this week. We got massages and practiced whole body relaxing, where you start at your head and work your way down. After discussion, I made a heating bag out of rice and a tube sock, which has already come in handy, and picked out some nice lotion to take home.

The last half of group is busy time. I took my own blood pressure....110/70ish, normal and good. Took my weight; I've gained 3lbs this month for a total of 15.4! What a relief! I was worried about gaining too much, but as long as I keep it at this rate, I'll be very satisfied. Linnea's around 3 pounds now, so most of the weight I gain these last 2 1/2 months will be mostly her!!!:)

Friday:

Today wasn't a set appointment. I rolled out of bed this morning and was out of the house within a half hour. My first stop was the farmer's market (only a block from the clinic). I checked out the whole thing and went back to a stale for nectarines and big banana peppers (for stuffing with cheese and baking).

I didn't dawdle too much...didn't know how long clinic visit would take and they close at 12 for lunch.

I had my 3rd and HOPEFULLY last glucose test. This one was just another one hour test, so I drank their nasty orange stuff and had an hour to catch up on gossip in Us Weekly. Then, 2 tubes of blood for the test. She also took a titer for Rh antibodies and gave me a shot! Yuck. This was because my blood is Rh negative. The shot is called Rhogam and is to protect my body from making antibodies against Linnea's blood if she's Rh positive.

And that's it! I can't believe now time is flying! Just think....I might only attend 2 more Circle of Care meetings before she's here!