Thirty-seven weeks

How far along? Thirty-seven weeks - 4/29/11

How big is baby? 

 Swiss chard.

Okay...?? 

Next appointment: May 3. 

Symptoms: I look like a hippo. Even my face is swollen. I had Nathan take a picture of me on Easter Sunday (mostly because I wasn't wearing pajamas and had actually brushed my hair), and I realized how horrible I look these days. Someone should have told me! Sorry, guys...won't be posting that photo.

 

Reflections on this week: My 36-week appointment on Tuesday went fairly well. Apart from having an extremely crappy ultrasound because the tech had a stick up her butt (traumatic childhood, perhaps?), we got a lot of good information. Baby is doing well, in almost the 80th percentile for overall growth, and is head-down, lined up and ready for delivery. Her head was measuring at 38 weeks and her belly at 37 weeks! As for Mommy, I am sitting at 2.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Yay for progress! 

What I'm looking forward to: This weekend is my niece's third birthday party, so we'll get to see lots of family and have some fun. I'm excited to get to spend time with everyone! Also, I'm looking forward to having a little down time at some point. Maybe some time to chill out with my feet up and watch a movie? :) That would be awesome. Sunday is already the first of May, which means we are approaching the Baby finish line! Yay! 

More about baby: Baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Baby weighs approximately 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads (oh, really?), and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. 

I think, at this point, having a brunette would be shocking. :) 

***NOTE***
This is being published a week late because I was not feeling well last week and didn't get a chance to finish the post. I know you were all holding your breath, waiting to hear about my cervical progression.

Easter Weekend 2011

Yeah, I'm a little late. It's the story of my life these days. :)

The festivities started on Saturday morning, when I had the brilliant idea to take our children to one of the large community Easter egg hunts. Yeah, we won't be doing that again. Not only was it totally overwhelming for the kids, but we managed to score a grand total of about six eggs from all three of their baskets combined. I have never seen insanity like that in my life. I wasn't even aware that there were that many children in Bastrop county. Seriously!

They did get to see a big helicopter, though. That was cool.

I think Nicholas was still a little confused at this point.

There's nothing quite like traumatizing your children during a religious holiday, let me tell you.

We headed back to my parents' house after the initial chaos was over for lunch and a (much calmer) egg hunt. My grandparents and my aunt also came to watch the kids, and it was good to visit with them. 

 Examining their haul.

Thanks to Grammy, they didn't get much sugary stuff.

Sunday morning, we got up and dressed for church. I wanted to try to get some pictures before we left, since the kids always seem to get messy at some point during their morning at Sunday school, and they're usually in the best mood before 10:00 hits. Thank goodness we were able to get a few decent pictures!

The "serious" one.

The "not-so-serious" one.

I think Nicholas is a T-rex.

 

Daddy and his little girl.

 The boys.

They don't always hate one another.

Daddy and the kiddos.

Where's Mommy? Well, after seeing recent pictures of myself, I should have been hiding behind the nearest clump of trees in shame. 

After church, we went to the Alexanders' for lunch and more egg hunting.

 Teamwork.

I found one!

Are they still in there?

Our attempts to get a family picture fell pretty flat, so we'll have to try it again after Baby comes (and I'm not so puffy). It was also really hot, and most of the grass is completely dead from lack of precipitation, so we'll wait a little while to see if we can get a better outside shot. Come on, Texas...we need some rain!

It was a good weekend, and I think the kids had lots of fun. We kept the candy scarfing to a minimum, thank goodness. These guys do not need any more energy! Hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Thirty-six weeks

How far along? Thirty-six weeks - 4/22/11

How big is baby? 

 A crenshaw melon.

What's with all the melons lately?

Next appointment: April 26th.

Symptoms: I think I'll just start leaving this one blank. Everyone knows my complaints by now. I will say that I'm going to be grossly disappointed if I go for my appointment next week and I'm not already dilating, because I've been having big contractions like crazy.

Reflections on this week: We were busy this week, but I managed to accomplish quite a bit around the house. I got my hospital bag 90% packed, and put together some things in a small suitcase for the kids' trip to Grammy's house when Baby decides she's ready to come. I also took apart the pack-and-play (bassinet) and scrubbed it like crazy so it's all clean and ready for Baby. That's eased my mind quite a bit. I still have a couple of things to do, but I'm making progress. We also got two huge grocery trips done, so maybe I won't have to deal with that for a while.

What I'm looking forward to: I need one free day during the week, without children, to finish crossing things off my list. I have an expired driver's license that I need to renew, a package to mail at the post office, I'd like to cut my ratty hair, and several other things. One of these days, I might get to take care of all this stuff. I just hope I don't get pulled over in the meantime.

 
More about baby: Baby is still gaining weight at a rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. At the end of this week, she will be considered full-term. Wheee!

One of "those" families

I can remember trips to the grocery store when I was actually able to go by myself and get everything I needed in under an hour. Yep, I know. It's hard to imagine now. I used to walk the aisles independently, grabbing only the things I needed or wanted, without having to worry about noisy interruptions, trips to the potty, fights breaking out, or little unnecessary odds and ends landing in my shopping cart.

I can also remember watching other shoppers, particularly when I was waiting in line to pay for my groceries. There were many times when I would see a mother with several children, buying huge bulk items: two gallons (or more) of milk, giant bags of fruits and vegetables, several dozen eggs, multiple loaves of bread, etc. My thought process at the time was, "How is it possible to go through that much food before it all goes bad?" When we were first married, Nathan and I barely went through a dozen eggs in a month, and it took us over a week to consume one gallon of milk. Produce got rotten and had to be thrown away before we could even eat it all, and all our meat and cheese had to be frozen so we could have a chance to use it before the expiration date.

Well, guess what? My day has arrived. It totally crept up on me, because I don't remember an immediate, overnight change, but it's official now. We have become one of "those" families. I am the woman standing in front of you in the checkout line with two gallons of milk, two dozen eggs, massive jugs of laundry detergent, and multi-packs and family sizes of everything else you could imagine (and don't forget the tired, screaming children). The bad news (for us)? This happens weekly, usually. We go to the store and load up, then it seems like we have to go back for more just a few days later. I feel like I should just set up house at Wal-Mart and HEB because I'm there so much. 

Anyone hungry? I just went to the store yesterday, so we should have some yummy stuff around here for another 24 hours or so. :)

Thirty-five weeks

How far along? Thirty-five weeks - 4/15/11  (Did everyone file their taxes?)

How big is baby?
 

Yeah, I don't like honeydew melons, either.

 

Next appointment: April 26th. Final ultrasound and beginning of checks for dilation and effacement. Maybe we've made some progress!

Symptoms: PAIN. Lots of pain. On Wednesday, I had so many contractions and felt so horrible I considered going to L&D to get checked out. I think it's just been a long week and I overdid it. My allergies are bothering me, too, so that's just added to the joy. Whine, whine, whine...okay, I'm over it. 

Reflections on this week: Ahhh...yes...reflections on the week. I'm just glad it's over. In related news, my reflection isn't looking so great these days, I gotta tell you.

My doctor's appointment went well on Tuesday. We got confirmation that she's still a she, thank goodness. That heavy box of girl clothes was not going back up into the attic anytime soon. Also, we discovered that she flipped, so unless she turns another dramatic somersault, we don't have to worry about a breech baby. Good heartbeat, and my blood pressure and vitals are all still very normal, so nothing interesting to report. We're past the point at which they would try to stop labor if it started, so she can pretty much come whenever she wants, and she would be totally healthy and capable of functioning outside the womb. Good news!

What I'm looking forward to: A time several weeks from now, when I can climb into my bed, choose a position that's actually comfortable, and fall peacefully asleep for more than ten minutes (without someone pummeling my internal organs). That first huge meal after I deliver the baby, and being able to eat it (all of it) without an accompanying acid reducing medication. Walking and breathing normally. Things we take for granted on a daily basis.

Sorry, I'm really tired and I've had a long week. Just ignore me. :)

(I'm happy and grateful, I'm happy and grateful, I'm happy and grateful... )

More about baby:  Baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. She isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Thursday Nostalgia: The Baby Powder Incident

My mom is going to love this one. 

One of the favorite family stories about my childhood goes along with the following picture:

 That would be me, at about age four, standing in a room covered in baby powder.

Yep, guilty as charged.

Apparently, I wandered into Brandon's bedroom one day and discovered the container of baby powder. I decided it would be fun if it "snowed" in my room, so I coated everything in sight. My mom says that she started smelling something really nice, so she came to investigate. After she followed a series of little white footprints on our dark brown carpet, she found the mess. The best part? I didn't get into trouble, because everyone was too busy laughing and taking pictures. Hee hee...

I'm about to have four small children, the oldest of which is the age I was when this photo was taken. This makes me a little nervous. I'm so glad we don't use baby powder.

Thirty-four weeks

How far along? Thirty-four weeks - 4/8/11

How big is baby? 

 

 Have I mentioned that I don't like cantaloupe?

(I don't like cantaloupe.)

 

Next appointment: April 12th.

Symptoms: I've been in denial about it, but I'm starting to swell a little bit. This wouldn't be so bad, except it's causing painful cramping that's been keeping me up at night. I only had swelling with my first pregnancy, so it's weird that I'm having it this time around. I had forgotten what it felt like. Other than that, just the usual stuff, accompanied by some pretty intense, frequent Braxton Hicks contractions. This is the "fun" stage.

(Side note: I'd like to travel back in time and punch Dr. John Braxton Hicks right in his ugly face.)

  

Reflections on this week: Had a lot of discomfort this week, but it was pretty decent, all in all. I don't really have much to report. That's probably a good thing.

What I'm looking forward to: My appointment next Tuesday falls on a pretty special day, which we will refer to as "Black Tuesday." I'm hoping my appointment goes well and that Nathan and I will get to do something fun afterward. I wonder if we qualify for senior citizen discounts yet? Anyway, I think I might put some thought into starting to pack up for the kids' inevitable overnight stay at my parents' house and my stay in the hospital. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. After all, Zoe came almost two weeks early, so I'm ready for anything. The rest of the month will be pretty busy, so it will make me feel more prepared if I can take care of some things now. 

More about baby: Baby now weighs about 4.75 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Thursday Nostalgia: A baby story

My mom has approximately five billion pictures of my brother and me. I've been able to borrow a few of them to scan, in hopes that I can keep them forever and reproduce them if I want to. I was thinking about them this week, and decided that I would try to post one here each week. We'll see how diligent I can be about that. You never know what's going to happen over here!

Since I'm about to gain another year (yep, the big 3-0), I thought a birthday picture would be perfect for starters.

April 12, 1981

I hope my mom doesn't feel embarrassed about the picture, but I think she looks beautiful! This picture means so much to me, for so many different reasons. I was a little emotional when I pulled it up to post. Look at my mom's face - she's in love! (Either that, or she's plotting her escape...as soon as my dad puts down the camera.) My relationship with my mom is one of the best things about my life, and this is where it all began! Now that I have children, and am about to have another, I understand exactly what she was feeling when this picture was taken. I also have so much respect for my parents in general, because raising children is no easy task!

I won't post her labor and delivery story here, but there are some really funny bits. For example, when they arrived at the hospital, my dad took the time to stop and show the nurses that his socks matched (so they couldn't tease him about rushing and being frazzled). Also, I didn't cry when I was born. I was too busy sucking on my fist, which I had shoved into my mouth at some point during delivery. Just like in the picture.

I love you SO much, Mom!

A big surprise!

So, Sunday wasn't quite what I expected it to be. The kids had gone to bed a little late Saturday night, and didn't have naps during the day, so we assumed they would sleep later than usual. Sunday mornings are always a little hectic, with two parents trying to get three rambunctious children fed, dressed, and ready to go to church in addition to getting ready themselves!

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the clock. It read: 8:23 AM (we have to leave for church at about 8:45). I just about had a heart attack, and asked Nathan, "Is that the right time?!" He said that the clock reset itself (it's possessed), and that it was really an hour earlier. Whew. Okay, so I dragged myself out of bed and starting getting everything ready to go.

Zoe didn't wake up until around 8:00, and we actually had to open her bedroom door and make a bunch of noise to rouse her. This didn't leave much time for breakfast, etc., so we were literally running out the door to make it to church on time. I almost didn't go...I figured Zoe and I could just stay home and rest, if nothing else.

We dropped the kids off at their classrooms, and we made it to ours. I was totally oblivious while walking in, because I was just focusing on making it to my chair so I could get off my feet. Once I sat down and Nathan came in, we realized that there was a ton of food set up on a table and a pile of presents sitting on the floor at the front of the room. Umm...surprise!! Our Sunday school class had planned a secret shower/party for us, and we were totally clueless. I was so embarrassed, and a little overwhelmed, but super excited! The funniest part was that I had to walk right by the food and gifts to get to my seat, and I never even noticed! Talk about distracted. Now I know why everyone was so quiet when I came into the room. Awkward!

So, we ate, visited with everyone, and opened presents. It was a good morning, and a happy departure from the normal chaos that Sunday usually brings. We have such a wonderful church family! Everyone gave so generously, not just when it comes to the gifts, but also with their time. They planned this for a while, and had to organize the whole event under our noses.

I wish I'd had a camera, so I could have snapped a few pictures, but I obviously didn't know that I needed to bring one! I did take a picture of the gifts once we got home, so at least I'll have something to put in Baby's book.

Look at how many great things we received!

We have enough diapers to last us a very long time!

Thank you so much, FBC Bastrop! We know how blessed we are to have so many incredible people in our lives!

Thirty-three weeks

How far along? Thirty-three weeks - 4/1/11

How big is baby? 

 A delicious pineapple.

 

Next appointment: April 12th.

Symptoms: More of the usual. Why repeat it all?

  

Reflections on this week: Well, my appointment on Tuesday was actually a bright point in the week. It was a lot better than my last few. Basics? Dr. P is not worried about gestational diabetes, so I don't have to worry about any additional testing. He's not too terribly worried about my iron levels, although he suggested that staying on a supplement would probably help the fatigue and heart palpitations a bit. He's concerned mostly about my back/butt/hip pain. My right hip is popping with each step, and if I tweak it the wrong way or move too quickly, it's excruciating. So, he wrote orders to send me to physical therapy, and gave me a disabled parking permit. Yes, I'm serious. He said that, although the pain probably won't go away until I deliver the baby, he can try to make the remaining weeks somewhat bearable. I almost kissed him.

What I'm looking forward to: Possible pain relief from physical therapy (once I can check out where to go, how often I have to show up and what I'll be doing). This weekend, my mom and I are having a huge garage sale, and I'm excited to get all the clutter out of my house and possibly pocket a little cash in the process! That reminds me...I need to do another once-over of my closets and cabinets to make sure I've gotten everything out. Time to get to work!

More about baby: She weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. Her skeleton is hardening. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course. Yeah, I noticed. :)