I'm officially the most pregnant I've ever been. Yea for baby #3!!
We had our 37 week check-up today. There is more progress to report--yea!!
I am now dilated to 4cm, which is the minimum they like to see before they'll admit you. I'm 80% effaced and the baby's head has now lowered into the 0 station. It is exciting to see so much progress in a week.
The doctor stripped my membranes today (they do this in attempt to trigger labor) and said that if anything is going to happen it will within 24 hours. Other than some extra crampiness I haven't had anything happen yet, so we'll see. Of course we are also going to have a snowstorm tonight and a change in barometric pressure can sometimes trigger labor. I'm not crossing my fingers, though.
My blood pressure was still okay, but slowly rising. This is often a step toward preeclampsia, a slow upward movement. I mentioned to the doctor that Grace's birthday (the 8th) is next weekend and since my next appointment is two days prior (6th) to Grace's birthday, I'm concerned that if my blood pressure is high they'd want to induce me on the 6th. My doctor was very understanding and is going to have me come in next Tuesday for a blood pressure check. If it is showing an increase, they'll induce me that very day.
I'm of the opinion that I don't want my blood pressure to go up, but if it is going to I'd rather they do something about it before Grace's birthday rather than wait for it to get worse and then have to be in the hospital for it.
Looks like it might be soon!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Progress
We had our 36 week doctor appointment (although I'm nearly at 37 weeks, oh well) today. This is the first time that they checked to see what progress has been made. That's always exciting because you know the end is near. The baby will hopefully be born sometime in the next 3 weeks or so.
My blood pressure looked completely normal, so it appears that I may actually have a baby on his/her own schedule (but please, please not on Grace's birthday!!). Although with Grace it was actually rather nice to be induced since she was considered full-term and that allowed my parents to get here in time without all the rushing to the hospital business. But it would be nice to deliver without the benefit of a blood pressure cuff strapped to my arm.
Anyway, for those who are interested I am dilated 3cm (out of 10) and 70% effaced (100% is the goal) and the baby's head is in -1 station (0 is considered engaged and +4 is when the head is leaving the body). Relatively good progress for how far along I am. Technically speaking the baby could arrive at any time. Or I could remain the same for the next few weeks. What will be more telling will be seeing whether there is any change between now and my next doctor appointment. Or, I suppose, if a baby shows up before then :-)
My blood pressure looked completely normal, so it appears that I may actually have a baby on his/her own schedule (but please, please not on Grace's birthday!!). Although with Grace it was actually rather nice to be induced since she was considered full-term and that allowed my parents to get here in time without all the rushing to the hospital business. But it would be nice to deliver without the benefit of a blood pressure cuff strapped to my arm.
Anyway, for those who are interested I am dilated 3cm (out of 10) and 70% effaced (100% is the goal) and the baby's head is in -1 station (0 is considered engaged and +4 is when the head is leaving the body). Relatively good progress for how far along I am. Technically speaking the baby could arrive at any time. Or I could remain the same for the next few weeks. What will be more telling will be seeing whether there is any change between now and my next doctor appointment. Or, I suppose, if a baby shows up before then :-)
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Plague
I've been MIA for far too long, I know. But bear with me, I do have a good excuse!!
Just after my last post we discovered that our brand new kitty had brought more than love into our home, but also ringworm. I'd heard of it, but never realized what a horrible thing it is to deal with.
Apparently there is no "cure" for ringworm, just treatment. And it takes a long time. We are going into our 6th week of treatment for Callie, and our dog Marcy also caught it, and she's going into week 5 (although only 4 for both with oral medication). Daphne has escaped unscathed so far, and we're hoping it will stay that way. Apparently ringworm will usually resolve itself in about 3-4 months, but if you want to shorten that, you must treat it aggressively.
Every week we give the animals two lime dips (a foul-smelling rinse that stains everything it comes into contact with and threatens to suffocate you with its stink!) and two anti fungal baths (that we have to let sit on their skin for 10 minutes before rinsing off). We are also giving them daily oral meds which costs a ridiculous amount of money. It has been an ordeal, to be sure, and all of this in my last trimester of pregnancy.
The vet told us that Callie is a carrier, and doesn't have any actual "spots", so there is no visual way to see if she is recovering. Marcy has spots on her nose which are pretty much gone now. We're taking a gamble and releasing them this Saturday when they are done with their medication. The vet said that they are usually clear two weeks after hair starts growing back into their spots. Marcy's started that two weeks ago and Callie never had any. However, the only 100% sure way to find out whether or not they are cured is to do a fungal culture, which can take up to 3 weeks to show results. Since we don't have the money, nor patience, to treat them for another 3 weeks while we wait for the results (when they are probably fine), we are just going to pray that they are cured and let them out of their cages and back into our lives.
Of course is they are not cured, we risk the chance of reinfecting everyone, including a newborn baby. It is a struggle for me to trust that the Lord can take care of us, and that all will be well. I am frequently tempted to do just "a bit" more treatment just to make sure, even though we've been reassured that they will probably be fine, and it is costly and time consuming. I'm also literally at the end of my strength when it comes to dealing with this. At 36 weeks of pregnancy I want to rest, not give my cat a bath!!
Please keep our family in prayer this weekend as we go ahead and release our pets and reenter "normal" life. And pray that the ringworm truly is gone so that we don't have to deal with this all over again after the baby is born.
Check back soon...we hope to have news on the newest addition very shortly!
Just after my last post we discovered that our brand new kitty had brought more than love into our home, but also ringworm. I'd heard of it, but never realized what a horrible thing it is to deal with.
Apparently there is no "cure" for ringworm, just treatment. And it takes a long time. We are going into our 6th week of treatment for Callie, and our dog Marcy also caught it, and she's going into week 5 (although only 4 for both with oral medication). Daphne has escaped unscathed so far, and we're hoping it will stay that way. Apparently ringworm will usually resolve itself in about 3-4 months, but if you want to shorten that, you must treat it aggressively.
Every week we give the animals two lime dips (a foul-smelling rinse that stains everything it comes into contact with and threatens to suffocate you with its stink!) and two anti fungal baths (that we have to let sit on their skin for 10 minutes before rinsing off). We are also giving them daily oral meds which costs a ridiculous amount of money. It has been an ordeal, to be sure, and all of this in my last trimester of pregnancy.
The vet told us that Callie is a carrier, and doesn't have any actual "spots", so there is no visual way to see if she is recovering. Marcy has spots on her nose which are pretty much gone now. We're taking a gamble and releasing them this Saturday when they are done with their medication. The vet said that they are usually clear two weeks after hair starts growing back into their spots. Marcy's started that two weeks ago and Callie never had any. However, the only 100% sure way to find out whether or not they are cured is to do a fungal culture, which can take up to 3 weeks to show results. Since we don't have the money, nor patience, to treat them for another 3 weeks while we wait for the results (when they are probably fine), we are just going to pray that they are cured and let them out of their cages and back into our lives.
Of course is they are not cured, we risk the chance of reinfecting everyone, including a newborn baby. It is a struggle for me to trust that the Lord can take care of us, and that all will be well. I am frequently tempted to do just "a bit" more treatment just to make sure, even though we've been reassured that they will probably be fine, and it is costly and time consuming. I'm also literally at the end of my strength when it comes to dealing with this. At 36 weeks of pregnancy I want to rest, not give my cat a bath!!
Please keep our family in prayer this weekend as we go ahead and release our pets and reenter "normal" life. And pray that the ringworm truly is gone so that we don't have to deal with this all over again after the baby is born.
Check back soon...we hope to have news on the newest addition very shortly!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Merry Christmas!
This post is long overdue. I had intended to post Hannah's debut in a Christmas program, but I've yet to get the clip to work. The live-in computer guru hasn't had time to look it over, so alas, you have to miss out on that lovely singing (or pretending singing).
Christmas this year was a lot of fun. We weren't sure we'd all be healthy to enjoy it, but we got healthy just in time! Hannah is finally at the age where she adores everything about Christmas, and of course that's fun for us.
A few pictures of Christmas morning:
We decided to get the girls a kitten for Christmas. Since the baby is going to arrive in a few months, and I didn't want to be adjusting our family to a new cat too near the arrival of our baby, and I felt that summer was too long to wait, we decided that if we were going to get a new cat, it should be at Christmas. Since I can't say that I was really emotionally ready for the arrival of a new cat, we felt a kitten might be easier. Something completely different than Aurora. So we have Callie :-)
Unfortunately I now have a swollen eye to celebrate the arrival of a new allergen into the family. I'm allergic to cats, but once they are in the home I usually adjust. I must've touched my eye, I figure, since it is just one eye that swelled. I keep hoping each morning will bring relief, but I'm going on day three with no relief in sight. I guess I keep waiting! In the meantime I try to avoid Callie as much as I can, but she is determined to be as close to me as she can be. I may spend the rest of my life with a swollen eye!!
We hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and that you enjoy your New Year!
Christmas this year was a lot of fun. We weren't sure we'd all be healthy to enjoy it, but we got healthy just in time! Hannah is finally at the age where she adores everything about Christmas, and of course that's fun for us.
Our Christmas Card
A few pictures of Christmas morning:
The Girls Favorite Present
We decided to get the girls a kitten for Christmas. Since the baby is going to arrive in a few months, and I didn't want to be adjusting our family to a new cat too near the arrival of our baby, and I felt that summer was too long to wait, we decided that if we were going to get a new cat, it should be at Christmas. Since I can't say that I was really emotionally ready for the arrival of a new cat, we felt a kitten might be easier. Something completely different than Aurora. So we have Callie :-)
Unfortunately I now have a swollen eye to celebrate the arrival of a new allergen into the family. I'm allergic to cats, but once they are in the home I usually adjust. I must've touched my eye, I figure, since it is just one eye that swelled. I keep hoping each morning will bring relief, but I'm going on day three with no relief in sight. I guess I keep waiting! In the meantime I try to avoid Callie as much as I can, but she is determined to be as close to me as she can be. I may spend the rest of my life with a swollen eye!!
We hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and that you enjoy your New Year!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Just Be Glad
We've been teaching Hannah a Bible verse each week before bed. We go until she gets it and then start a new one. Her latest is Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
She's pretty much got it down, but gets hung up on the Psalms part. We try to incorporate not only the verse, but explain in 3 year old language what the verse means so she can understand what she is learning. It is always good to see that she is absorbing what we teach her.
Yesterday Hannah and Grace were playing in a clothes basket while I was in the kitchen. Hannah was being quite bossy telling Grace to "Sit down" and I heard a lot of "No, Grace". I was getting irritated with her and reminded her several times to stop being so bossy, that Grace doesn't always have to play the way Hannah wants to. Needless to say, I was surprised when I overheard what Hannah's next command was.
"Just rejoice and be glad, Grace."
Now that's memory verse application. I think we should probably work on it again!
She's pretty much got it down, but gets hung up on the Psalms part. We try to incorporate not only the verse, but explain in 3 year old language what the verse means so she can understand what she is learning. It is always good to see that she is absorbing what we teach her.
Yesterday Hannah and Grace were playing in a clothes basket while I was in the kitchen. Hannah was being quite bossy telling Grace to "Sit down" and I heard a lot of "No, Grace". I was getting irritated with her and reminded her several times to stop being so bossy, that Grace doesn't always have to play the way Hannah wants to. Needless to say, I was surprised when I overheard what Hannah's next command was.
"Just rejoice and be glad, Grace."
Now that's memory verse application. I think we should probably work on it again!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Introducing...???
A baby!! We don't really know who we are introducing yet. We don't know if it is a he or a she. We don't even have a cute nickname that has really caught on. What we DO know is that the baby is due March 17 (but if the previous two hint at anything, we'll see him/her before then), is seemingly healthy, and if the amount of wiggling is any indicator of happiness, our baby is ecstatic to be on the way!
From here on out we shall refer to the baby as a he. This is not in anyway to suggest that the baby IS a boy. We don't know. We asked to not find out, the ultrasound tech didn't utter a word about it, and we didn't see anything to give us any clues. We referred to both Hannah and Grace as "hes" in the womb and they are both secure in their femininity (at least so far!) so we'll keep the trend going and just call the baby a he!
My favorite. Baby's whole body profile. He literally has his legs up by his face!
This was the first profile we saw. The "growth" by the baby's mouth is his hand. He had his hand up by his mouth for most of it. I suspect this is why I feel near constant "tickles" in that area of my belly.
And the classic picture of the foot. I can't wait to tickle them!
So this is our newest pride and joy. Since this baby wasn't necessarily "planned", I've found that I've taken to thinking about the baby as the blessing that God wanted us to have. We were planning a baby in "our" time, and God said "Hey, wait, I have this special little one for you NOW." It took a little bit of time, but I'm very exited to meet him (or her!) I view him as a surprise from God! And I'm always one for surprises!
From here on out we shall refer to the baby as a he. This is not in anyway to suggest that the baby IS a boy. We don't know. We asked to not find out, the ultrasound tech didn't utter a word about it, and we didn't see anything to give us any clues. We referred to both Hannah and Grace as "hes" in the womb and they are both secure in their femininity (at least so far!) so we'll keep the trend going and just call the baby a he!
Baby's face profile. We got to see lots of this and I can't complain. We never find out the gender, so the face is the thing I always look forward to seeing the most!
My favorite. Baby's whole body profile. He literally has his legs up by his face!
This was the first profile we saw. The "growth" by the baby's mouth is his hand. He had his hand up by his mouth for most of it. I suspect this is why I feel near constant "tickles" in that area of my belly.
And the classic picture of the foot. I can't wait to tickle them!
So this is our newest pride and joy. Since this baby wasn't necessarily "planned", I've found that I've taken to thinking about the baby as the blessing that God wanted us to have. We were planning a baby in "our" time, and God said "Hey, wait, I have this special little one for you NOW." It took a little bit of time, but I'm very exited to meet him (or her!) I view him as a surprise from God! And I'm always one for surprises!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Belated Halloween
I had intended to post pictures of our Halloween festivities right away after Halloween, but the unexpected loss of Aurora threw away that ambition. But since I think the pictures are still cute two weeks later, I will post the pictures!
Hannah was much more into the carving of the pumpkin this year. She helped scoop out the insides and once she overcame the general "yuck factor" I think she enjoyed herself. Grace was thoroughly disgusted by the entire thing, but she was really excited to sit on the table!
Our grumpy bumblebee and beaming bride. Grace was just bemused by the entire thing. "Why do I have antennas, again?" seemed to be the question in her eyes. Hannah adores dress-up on any day, so dress up that involves getting candy was just pure childhood heaven for her!
When asked to pose for a picture Hannah gracefully settled herself beside her prized Jack-o-Lantern and smiled. I couldn't have set up the picture better myself!
Grace just would not smile in the bee costume. At least not until we asked her to go and get candy. Then she was all smiles! But unfortunately by that point I didn't have the camera!
We had a lot of fun. Next year will probably be the first year that Hannah will specify what she gets to be for Halloween. Usually we use whatever costume we have laying around. That should be interesting!!
Hannah was much more into the carving of the pumpkin this year. She helped scoop out the insides and once she overcame the general "yuck factor" I think she enjoyed herself. Grace was thoroughly disgusted by the entire thing, but she was really excited to sit on the table!
Our grumpy bumblebee and beaming bride. Grace was just bemused by the entire thing. "Why do I have antennas, again?" seemed to be the question in her eyes. Hannah adores dress-up on any day, so dress up that involves getting candy was just pure childhood heaven for her!
When asked to pose for a picture Hannah gracefully settled herself beside her prized Jack-o-Lantern and smiled. I couldn't have set up the picture better myself!
Grace just would not smile in the bee costume. At least not until we asked her to go and get candy. Then she was all smiles! But unfortunately by that point I didn't have the camera!We had a lot of fun. Next year will probably be the first year that Hannah will specify what she gets to be for Halloween. Usually we use whatever costume we have laying around. That should be interesting!!
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