I have been waiting a long time to be able to relax and just say "Okay baby, you can come anytime!" For so long it has been because of Eric's school that we've hoped baby would stay put. No sooner had Eric completed his schooling, though, than Hannah got very sick. High fever, stomach ache, ear aches...and it did not get any better by the second day as we'd hoped, only worse! And in the midst of her illness I started having contractions. Very hard to feel "nesty" and anticipate the birth of baby when your firstborn is so ill. Thankfully the contractions subsided, and one trip to the clinic later, 2 doses of antibiotics, a good night's sleep, and we have a Hannah that is somewhat back to normal. An ear infection and possibly strep (which we won't find out about until later today), but whatever it is, she's feeling better and that's a relief to this mother's heart.
Not only did I hate the thought of leaving Hannah behind (in the event I should go into labor), but I hated the thought that if baby came while she was so sick Hannah would be unable to visit or snuggle with her new sibling. No fun! So we're very happy she's better and baby is still baking away!
In the meantime I've progressed quite a bit. As of my doctor appointment yesterday I was 4cm. The doctor exclaimed so much about my progress that we did not get exact numbers on effacement or station, just that the baby's head was lower than it had been (so in a positive station--yikes!) and a warning that it could be at any moment. She was wary of checking me any further for fear of setting labor off, which we didn't want yesterday since Hannah was still so sick! We go back in tomorrow to be rechecked and then she'll strip my membranes to see if she can't get labor going on its own. We'd love to have my own doctor on call so that is the reason we're willing to try. And nothing will happen if my body isn't ready yet and it certainly seems to be. The idea is just to stir things up a bit...sometimes baby just needs a nudge :-) I would rather have baby before this weekend than to go into labor on Easter when my doctor isn't on call...blah.
In the meantime I am literally waddling about feeling like baby is about to fall out anyway (as if it would be so easy!). And I'm tentatively allowing myself to feel excited about the prospect of our baby joining us so soon, although I will be fine if he/she chooses to wait a bit, too.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
37 Weeks
Not much to report on the baby front and I guess that's a good thing. Had a good doctor appointment today and while there hasn't been much more progress, my blood pressure is great. That is really encouraging since I've never made it past 37 weeks without some issue arising. With Elaina they had just begun to express concern when I went into labor...which prevented it from becoming a problem! I monitor it daily and have been pleased to see the low trend.
I've been sick on an off all last week so even my weight gain was minimal! That's a first!!
Eric is hoping to have most of his schoolwork wrapped up tonight and once that's all submitted we'll be free to concentrate on last minute preparation. Almost everything is done at this point but we do have a few little things left. Particularly practice our breathing...something that has fallen by the wayside with Eric's last big push to get done!
This pregnancy has been a delight as far as the girls' go. When I was pregnant with Grace, Hannah was just too young to really understand what was going on. She seemed to get it a bit more with Elaina, but was still fairly disinterested. She participated by having babies in her own belly :-) At that time Grace was really too young. This time around, however, Hannah has been excited from the beginning. Grace is just naturally more into babies and that sort of thing, so she's also been very interested. Elaina is absolutely oblivious and has, after all these months, finally started pointing to my belly and saying "baby". Does she get it? I'm guessing not.
Hannah won't leave for school without her good-bye kiss to the baby, and they both love to kiss the baby goodnight. I told them a few months ago that the baby could hear them so they should talk to the baby, read books, etc. It was only a few days after that, while I was painting the baby's room, Grace came running in with a pile of books to read to the baby, sure that the baby was bored! I hope their enthusiasm continues once the baby is actually here!
I've been sick on an off all last week so even my weight gain was minimal! That's a first!!
Eric is hoping to have most of his schoolwork wrapped up tonight and once that's all submitted we'll be free to concentrate on last minute preparation. Almost everything is done at this point but we do have a few little things left. Particularly practice our breathing...something that has fallen by the wayside with Eric's last big push to get done!
This pregnancy has been a delight as far as the girls' go. When I was pregnant with Grace, Hannah was just too young to really understand what was going on. She seemed to get it a bit more with Elaina, but was still fairly disinterested. She participated by having babies in her own belly :-) At that time Grace was really too young. This time around, however, Hannah has been excited from the beginning. Grace is just naturally more into babies and that sort of thing, so she's also been very interested. Elaina is absolutely oblivious and has, after all these months, finally started pointing to my belly and saying "baby". Does she get it? I'm guessing not.
Hannah won't leave for school without her good-bye kiss to the baby, and they both love to kiss the baby goodnight. I told them a few months ago that the baby could hear them so they should talk to the baby, read books, etc. It was only a few days after that, while I was painting the baby's room, Grace came running in with a pile of books to read to the baby, sure that the baby was bored! I hope their enthusiasm continues once the baby is actually here!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
36 Weeks
The last weeks have been busy getting ready for baby. Dragging little yellow and green outfits out of storage, washing, and putting them away. Folding blankets while tenderly remembering how my little girls looked wrapped in them. Pulling the bassinet out of storage and situating it by our bed. Moving the rocking chair up to our bedroom and getting it all set up for late night feedings. Practicing breathing exercises and hoping I'll actually remember them when the time comes...yep, lots of preparation going on here!
It seems like most everything is done and so now we wait. Of course the biggest thing we are waiting for is Eric to be done with school. He is officially done April 16 so we are hoping that baby does not make his/her arrival until after that time. However, this is his last week with homework due. Next week he'll probably be scrambling to put the polishing touches on his final project. I'm hoping that he'll have it done enough in advance that there won't be any conflicts should baby wish to appear, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Things are looking good so far...no blood pressure issues yet. Hoping that remains the case. Things are moving along. I've been checked for progress the last two weeks at my doctor appointments...today I was almost 3cm (out of 10), 80% effaced (out of 100%), and baby's head was at 0 station (+4 being the goal). Last week I was at 2cm, 70% effaced, and baby's head was at -1. Sooo...things are moving forward slowly. And that's good since I'm not in any hurry, as much as I'm eager to meet this little one.
I am still hoping that this baby will hang out until at least the 19th, preferably until after Easter. Your prayers that baby will at least wait until Eric is done with school are appreciated. That would be an amazing blessing on our family...
But God is the master of all timing, so we shall see what He has in store for us this time around!
It seems like most everything is done and so now we wait. Of course the biggest thing we are waiting for is Eric to be done with school. He is officially done April 16 so we are hoping that baby does not make his/her arrival until after that time. However, this is his last week with homework due. Next week he'll probably be scrambling to put the polishing touches on his final project. I'm hoping that he'll have it done enough in advance that there won't be any conflicts should baby wish to appear, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Things are looking good so far...no blood pressure issues yet. Hoping that remains the case. Things are moving along. I've been checked for progress the last two weeks at my doctor appointments...today I was almost 3cm (out of 10), 80% effaced (out of 100%), and baby's head was at 0 station (+4 being the goal). Last week I was at 2cm, 70% effaced, and baby's head was at -1. Sooo...things are moving forward slowly. And that's good since I'm not in any hurry, as much as I'm eager to meet this little one.
I am still hoping that this baby will hang out until at least the 19th, preferably until after Easter. Your prayers that baby will at least wait until Eric is done with school are appreciated. That would be an amazing blessing on our family...
But God is the master of all timing, so we shall see what He has in store for us this time around!
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