Still here.  Nothing's going on.  I have several long posts to write but can't seem to find the motivation or energy. I promise I WILL write something if the baby comes.

update

Oh my what a boring day!  Julianna is NOT doing better.  She is actually very sick and we are going to get her back to the doctor tomorrow morning.  Friday they tested her for strep and the flu but both were negative.  I don't know that anything will come of it but because since she hasn't gotten better at all, we are going to have her seen again.

I am starting to feel really icky myself and I don't know if it's just paranoia or what, but I called the doctor and they put me on Tamiflu immediately because Jules has all of the H1N1 flu symptoms.  They said that I need to notify them immediately if I start running a fever or have coughs and body aches.  I already feel so gross anyway, but I don't know how much is because I am 38.5 weeks preggo or how much is actually an illness.  I am going to try to get an earlier weekly appointment with my OB tomorrow morning instead of my scheduled appointment on Thursday.  I know it's possible, but I would be surprised if despite all of these contractions that I haven't progressed further from the 5cm I was dilated on Thursday.  We'll see!

no baby yet

At lunch time yesterday I had a very strange contraction that didn't seem to want to go away.  This was after a morning full of irregular contractions.  Then I felt a small trickle and thought my water had broken.  I called the doctor and they wanted to see me whenever I could get there.  Mom and I called Jonathan and met him at the doctor's office.

When the PA there checked me she said there had definitely been some change in my cervix.  She didn't say exactly how thinned out it was but she did say that the baby's head had come way down and that I was now dilated to 5cm.  She said they would do a test to see if my membranes had ruptured and that she thought they might be sending me on to the hospital.

Well, the test was negative.  She checked with the doctor on call and he said that I should go home and wait for the contractions to become regular.  I was disappointed but I guess not too surprised.  I was more irritated at the PA who told me on the way out the door, "See you next week!"

I apologize to those of you who heard we were headed to the hospital.  We weren't ever told to go on to the hospital, probably because I'm not 39 weeks yet and also because my water hasn't officially broken.

From the minute I got in the car I started having a lot more contractions.  They became regular and were starting across my lower abdomen and back then spreading up to the rest of my belly.  They were a lot stronger than what I had previously been experiencing and felt like bad menstrual cramps.  Again, I started thinking, "This is the real deal" and I was just waiting for my water to break.

This continued until I decided to call the doctor's office again before they closed.  I called around 4:20 and the nurse said they'd seen the last patient for the day already.  She asked many questions and couldn't determine if I was in true active labor or not and she told me that it was my call about going to the hospital or not.

I knew that I didn't want to get to the hospital and then be sent home and I also know that I don't want them to have to give me Pitocin to speed up my labor so I decided to wait some more.  We went to the fair to walk around some and then entire time I was having strong contractions about 5 minutes apart.  They definitely felt better when I was walking as opposed to when I was sitting down so I kept walking.

On the way home Julianna started saying she felt sick.  I immediately assumed it was a ploy for a little attention since she certainly knew that something was going on with mom, but instead when we took her temperature at 9pm last night it was 103 degrees.

After a rough night of vomiting, fever, motrin, tylenol, and me trying to avoid close contact with my baby girl we decided to ask my mom to take her to the doctor this morning to get checked for the flu.  She has not had the flu shot yet and although I have, I have not had the H1N1 vaccination yet and the doctors keep stressing to me that I need to get it as soon as it is available and to call them if I think I've had any exposure to the virus.  We figured it would be better to find out for sure if that's what Julianna has or not.

Jonathan wins the dad of the year award for going to the fair when he most certainly didn't want to after a long day of work where his wife made him run around the country after another false alarm and also for getting up and tending to the sick 3.5 year old.  My mom wins the mother of the year award for taking a sick grandchild to the doctor so I could stay away.

Now I've had regular contractions for many, many hours (even though they do slow down when I lay down) but no ruptured membranes so the waiting game begins again.  I'll be posting anytime something happens around here so stay tuned!

another pregnancy update

I'm still here.  I am getting aggravated to say the least.  I always thought I'd be prepared for the baby to come late just like Julianna did, but this time around things have been so different and I have gotten my hopes up about going into labor early so many times now that it's a lot harder to be patient than I thought it would be.

I have been having so many contractions and I have thought a handful of times that "this is it" and I'd be heading to the hospital soon.  Unfortunately, every time the contractions have stopped before anything else has happened.  We walked around the fair for hours on Monday and then Monday night I had contractions for five hours straight.  They were irregular, but some as close as 3 minutes apart.

Last night (or early this morning rather) I had strong contractions from 2am-3:45am.  I would have one and the pressure on my bladder was unreal.  I would have to jump up to pee and then just as I laid back down and got comfortable enough to drift back off to sleep I would have another.  I kept thinking that I was going to have to go to the hospital, but then apparently it all stopped because next thing I know I was waking up again around 5.

The contractions don't hurt, I just feel a little lightheaded or something like that.  I can feel the heat rise up my neck and my belly gets super tight.  It even takes on a new shape and I feel pressure everywhere.  When I walk or stand up sometimes now I feel a shooting pain go up my inner thigh as if I've pulled a groin muscle.  Yeah.  It's about as fun as getting an eyelash stuck under a contact lens.

I don't really like all this.  With Julianna, I didn't really have contractions until the night I went into labor.  I wasn't even sure then that it was a contraction I was feeling.  I just felt bloated and went to the hospital to be checked.  My water broke on the way.

This time around all of these contractions and timing them and just the whole process has been more anxiety inducing.  I have finally just decided to try to stop paying attention to them.  I figure I will know to go when my water breaks and that is better than sitting around nervous.

My parents were in the mountains this week and due to come home Saturday but came home last night instead.  So now that childcare is easily available and nearby I can relax more.

I went to the doctor Tuesday morning and I have gained a total of 42 pounds and everything they routinely check was normal (blood pressure, belly measurement, urine, etc).  When he checked me, he said I was already 4 cm dilated but only 60% effaced.  Progress, obviously, but the baby's head was still pretty far up so not enough progress.  The doctor offered to strip my membranes and get things started (and since they did this for me with Julianna I strongly considered it), but he also said that it wouldn't hurt to give the baby another week just to make sure that there would be no respiratory problems or anything like that with the baby.  We decided to wait another week to do anything and he said that I could go into active labor at any time so that was encouraging.

I am very ready.  I really didn't expect to have this little patience towards the end this time since Julianna was late and I even bet on 10/23 as the birth date.  I'm just very ready to have my body back.

I had also forgotten what it was like to have everyone calling to check on you a hundred times the last few weeks.  It's so nice, but at the same time it gets annoying when there's nothing to report.  It will be the same way once we have a baby to bring home from the hospital.

Jonathan has said that all of these false alarms have been good for him because it's made it seem more real and made him feel like he really needs to get ready for a baby.  Julianna is as ready as I think she'll ever be.  The other day when I was helping her out of the car at dance she asked the funniest question.  She said, "Mama, when is that silly baby EVER going to get out of your belly?"  It was so cute that I 'bout died.

We are going to the fair again tonight partly because we still have tickets left and partly because it's seemed to do the trick in getting my contractions going both times that I've been already.  And besides, it's been so nice to spend some fun times with Julianna these last few days.  (I have a post coming on the preschool day at the fair, complete with pictures of her and her little "boyfriend.")

I think that's about it.  I'm sure there's more, but I can't really concentrate well these days.

it's finally here

Overheard just now at the Dixie Classic Fair: "I bet that was an NC State graduate that grew that one."

The largest pumpkin was almost 1300 pounds.  Amazing.

another pregnancy update

I went to the doctor again today.  They didn't even check me for dilation or anything so it was a pretty uneventful visit which I guess can be considered a good thing.  I am still measuring normal and have normal blood pressure.  The baby's heart rate was down again this week to 140 bpm which the nurse told me could mean that the baby is descending into the birth canal.  Sometimes the heart rate drops at the end.  I've definitely been feeling some lower movements and more pressure... yippee...

I also found out the results of my group b strep test and this time it was negative.  It's rare that a woman tests positive for the first baby and then negative for the second, but after talking the options over with the doctor, I asked not to be put on IV antibiotics during delivery this time unless it was truly warranted (like if I had a fever or something).  If at all possible I want to avoid ever facing c diff again (I'd link to my blog post about that but I still haven't transferred it over from the old blog yet).  Anyway, he was very agreeable and I am so thankful.

Nothing else really to report except that I am feeling irritable and exhausted (what's new, right?).  I haven't been sleeping well AT ALL and I feel really yucky from my flu shot yesterday.  I am also really tired of working but know that we need the money so I keep taking jobs anyway.  The earliest date in our baby pool is October 15th and I don't even want to think about how I'll feel by then.

I just read Moxie's post on how to know when you're about to have a baby and am fascinated by the comments.

pregnancy update

Two Saturdays ago I started having contractions all throughout the day.  They were not really strong and definitely not regular, but I could tell that something was going on.  We had a really busy weekend that weekend, with something like a zillion places to be.  Everyone joked that I would miss my baby shower on Sunday, but fortunately I didn't.

The contractions continued pretty frequently throughout Saturday and Sunday, even getting as close as every 15 or 20 minutes.  I could feel my belly tighten and when I touched it it would be as hard as a rock.  Then the back of my neck would get warm sometimes.  By Monday and Tuesday the contractions had slowed down a lot.  Yesterday and today I haven't had any that I know of.

When I went to the doctor last Wednesday I had to get the group B strep test done so they just went ahead and checked me as well.  I was 2 cm dialated and 50% effaced.  Of course, that means that I could go into labor at any time or I could still be walking around pregnant past my due date.  Who knows?  My belly was still measuring pretty normal size-wise and my blood pressure was fine.  I will admit though, that it was exciting to hear that the contractions had caused some progress.  When I described the contractions to the doctor she confirmed that they were just false labor contractions, but I never felt Braxton Hicks at all with Jules so it's all new to me.

I go again on Wednesday.  I have about three weeks left and I am ready.  I am beyond ready.  I have no desire to cook a thing.  I am so ready for fall weather I can hardly stand it.  I couldn't take one more second of my long hair being down my neck so I had it all chopped off.  I would love to be able to see my feet again and not feel like a double-wide trailer walking around.  I can definitely tell that being on my feet all day at school makes a difference in how many contractions I have and how badly my body aches that night.  Needless to say, I am enjoying the flexibility of being a substitute so that's one good thing.

Anyway, that's about it.  More news after my appointment tomorrow and every week until we have a new baby to coo over.

Ellie/Josh update

Five weeks and one day to go.  Bullets this morning because I'm too lazy and tired.

Pregnancy news:

• I have no dark line down my belly, but I do have an outtie belly button now.  When I was pregnant with Julianna I got the dark line but my belly button never popped out.
• I've gained about 37 pounds. With Jules I gained 39 total.  Have I mentioned that there are still five weeks to go?  Someone help me please; I am miserable.
• I've had less leg cramps this time around, but much more trouble with the peeing too many times at night thing.
• This time I've noticed that the baby is moving less at is grows. Well, not really moving less, just differently. Like it is stretching instead of flailing around in there. I didn't notice that before.
• I've also had less nosebleeds this time, but I'd imagine that's because it's SUMMERfreakin'HOT and not dry winter like it was when I was preggo with Jules.
• This baby definitely likes to lean off to one side, my right side, and I don't remember Julianna doing that.
• Oh yeah, this.  I am tired of eating my nightly Tums tablets, as I was when pregnant the first time.
• I go to the doctor today and every week until the baby arrives.  The past few times the baby has been measuring closer to just-slighter-bigger-than-normal instead of OMG-a-lot-bigger-than-normal.
• My sister started a baby pool for everyone to guess the baby's birth date.  The tie-breaker will be the weight and sex.  It is interesting to see what people think and it will be even more exciting to see who's right.  Most people have bet on a 9+ lb baby boy and most people are guessing that I will deliver before my official 10/22 due date.  If you'd like an invitation to join the pool, leave me a comment.

Ellie/Josh update

I had an OB appointment on Wednesday and my parents and sister were kind enough to take Julianna to Chapel Hill to a few shows at the Planetarium. (Don't worry. We'd given Jules specific instructions before she left to make the Wolfpack sign and howl plenty whenever she saw or heard the word "Tarheel.") I knew the appointment was going to be a little on the long side since I had to do the one hour glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes so it worked out well for them to have Jules for the day.

Well, we had another ultrasound scheduled since last month the baby was measuring a little on the big side so after straightening out some confusion with the u/s techs and nurses we got to go back and do the scan.

It's always nice to get another peek at the little babe who was still measuring a little big at about 30w2d (supposed to be 28w6d) and 3.5 pounds (average for that gestational age is 2.5 pounds). It's not anything to worry too much about now, just monitor.

My blood pressure was back to a nice normal number (120/70) and I'd only gained 2 pounds in the last four weeks so that was great. I have about 10.5 weeks left now and I am hoping to not go over 40 pounds total weight gain. I think I can do it but it's going to be difficult. I've already gained around 28 I think.

I spoke with a nurse on Thursday who called to tell me that my glucose test score was 142 and their cutoff is 140 so now I have to go back on Monday to do the three hour glucose test. That means I'll have to arrange yet another babysitter which is frustrating because I feel like I keep having to inconvenience other people, but anyway, she said that I'd have to drink the glucose stuff and then have my blood drawn every hour for three hours afterwards. I won't be able to leave the waiting room in between draws and I can't eat or drink anything besides water from midnight on the night before.

I'm not looking forward to it and I'm hoping that everything comes back OK with this test. The nurse acted like this time it would probably be fine since my results were only 2 points over the limit, but she said I still had to come in and do it because I was over their cutoff number.

I also have to get the darn Rhogam shot that they forgot to give me on Wednesday because of my O negative blood type.

Sometimes I think pregnancy can be such a hassle and then I realize how easy I have it compared to others who've had much greater complications during their pregnancies.

I am still thanking God regularly for the blessing of this baby and praying for it's health. I know that we are truly fortunate.

pickles for the pregnant girl

My daughter, sick as can be, told me tonight, "Don't worry Mommy. We can get you some more pickles."

pregnancy is like a box of chocolates

Last week I had a routine doctor's appointment to check the baby and the progress of my pregnancy.  It was also time for me to have the AFP testing done which is a totally optional blood test that checks for neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities in the baby's development that lead to things like Down's Syndrome or Spina Bifida.  I opted to have the blood test done figuring that it was better to have more information than not enough and hey, it was free so why not? 

 

When we got the results Sunday evening the doctor told my husband that the hormone levels showed a slightly elevated risk for us having a Down's Syndrome baby.  He explained that we had a couple of options.  One was to do nothing and carry on with the pregnancy as usual with the elevated risk.  Another choice was to get a Level 2 ultrasound done and meet with a genetic counselor to discuss the findings that they see during the scan.  The last option that the doctor gave us was to go ahead and do an amniocentesis which is where they insert a needle to draw out amniotic fluid and give us a 100% answer as to whether or not the baby would have Down's Syndrome. 

 

The first two options carry no risk to the pregnancy, but the amniocentesis poses a small risk of miscarriage or even minor complications for the pregnancy like bleeding or leaking amniotic fluid.  The doctor also told us that because I had had a previous miscarriage my risk might be slightly higher of a repeat miscarriage. 

 

Jonathan and I briefly discussed the call (as he was out of town working) and both knew immediately that even if it was going to be a Down's baby we wouldn't terminate the pregnancy.  My gut instinct was also to not do ANYTHING that would put me at risk for a miscarriage.  I figured that if God wanted us to have a special needs child, then that's what we'd have and He would equip us to handle it.

 

As far as the Level 2 sonogram went, I had never heard of it, but I'm all for getting the most information possible if there's no drawback to that and since this is what the doctor recommended, that is what we decided to do.  Our appointment for the scan was yesterday and honestly, I really wasn't even nervous.  I knew that the risk was very small.  The doctor had said that a normal woman my age would have a 1 in 700something chance of having a baby born with Down's Syndrome but my chance was 1 in 265. 

 

We had to go to a different office since my regular OBGYN didn't rountinely do Level 2 ultrasounds.  When we got there we had to fill out tons of paperwork and then wait for the genetic counselor.  She finally called us back and we talked with her about our family history in detail and about the results from my bloodwork.  Then she told us a little bit about a normal baby's development and the development of a Down's Syndrome baby.  I actually learned quite a bit and found it all pretty interesting. 

 

After talking with her I realized just how low a risk I had of having a DS baby and also how low a risk there was of miscarriage from an amniocentesis (0.3% - 0.5%).  I knew the scan would tell us more so I was anxious to get that done.

 

Then we had to go back to the waiting room and wait for the ultrasound technician.  Did I fail to mentionthat we decided to bring Julianna along for this appointment?  Well, we did.  I wanted to give her a chance to see a "picture of the baby" and if the rest of the pregnancy was normal then I knew this would be the last chance.  Anyway, it was a long, long, long, wait for a 3 year old to hang out in a doctor's office waiting room and idiot that I am, I had forgotten to bring any type of snack or toy for her to help pass the time.  Considering that the appointment was the first one of the day, I had no idea we would be there for 3 hours.  I assumed wrong.

 

Once we were called back for the Level 2 ultrasound I was so thankful.  It was actually a friend of ours who did the scan which made me very comfortable and because she was getting so much information for the doctor to analyze, it was a very long ultrasound.  We saw every side of the baby and what seemed like from every angle.  We told her that we didn't want to know the sex of the baby and she said she could tell which it was but she did not tell us.  I am excited about having a surprise since I know that this will be my last baby.

 

Julianna was pretty interested in the screen the whole time (and she took about 30 minutes to do the whole thing).  I think it made the idea of a  baby brother or sister seem a little bit more real to her so that is good.  We also got lots of cute pics of our babe. 

 

After the u/s tech left the room we waited for the doctor to look over the pictures and then come talk to us.  When she came in the room she didn't even sit down and Jonathan says that's how he knew that there wouldn't be a whole lot for her to say to us.  She told us that everything looked normal - no holes in the heart, normal neck thickness, normal kidneys, etc - and she said the baby seemed to be developing normally.  I had to sign some paperwork saying that I didn't want an amnio after that and then we were good to go.

 

It was a great appointment despite it taking three hours and I was really proud of my daughter for hanging in there for so long having to be quiet and sit still.  She wasn't perfect, but she did a great job waiting for that long considering the fact that she's only three and hadn't eaten since 7:30 that morning.  We got some really nice clear pictures of the baby and even a couple in 3D and most importantly the reassurance that we will likely have a healthy baby in October.

 

Yay for babies!