Slacker, That's Me

Well I will post about my 36 week update soon. I promise. This is from my iPhone and my set questions are on my laptop.

I went to my 37 week appointment yesterday and everything went great. Elli Kate is growing and apparently perfectly continent in my tumm! Dr P did suggest I start maternity leave so today is day 1. I'm not on bedrest but I'm "resting". He decided to suggest that since the beta blockers they put me on lowered Elli Kate's fetal movement and stressed me out. Remember TB, she all of a sudden quit moving so I'm a fetal kick monitor. I asked Dr P about moving up DDay and he very politely reminded me that at the beginning of my pregnancy I asked to go the full 39 weeks. This is true but at the time I never thought I'd make it to 37 weeks. But, as long as she is healthy and doesn't have to spend two weeks in the nicu I'm fine waiting.

Two weeks from yesterday and we will meet our little girl! That's 13 days, 2 hours and 6 mins to be exact :)

35 Weeks

Please excuse the way I look...  This was taken at 9pm (an hour after my bedtime) and after a long, rough day!  But I am huge!!!  I really hope my tummy goes down fast after delivery! Ha... Who am I kidding?! It took 3 years to loose TB's weight and she is 4 now :)  

Size of Baby: At my appointment on Tuesday she weighed 6 pounds even.  That could be off a pound or so either way... Looks like EK is going to be chunky :)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Apparently my computer forgot I deleted this question... Enough.

Maternity Clothes: Yes and even most of my maternity shirts are getting a little too short.  But I am not buying new ones to wear for a couple of weeks.

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: All the time, Thank the Lord!!!

Belly Button: Flattening out and will still poke out some when she rolls across it.  Foe the most part it is an innie still.  

Interesting Facts: EK's kidneys are fully developed and her liver can now process waste.  I'm thinking this means lots of diaper changes in our future.  

Sleep: What's that?  Its really not that bad.  I'm getting between 3-4 hours a night.  Guess God's preparing me ahead of time.  

What I miss: This week nothing.  I have absolutely soaked up being pregnant this week and loved it.  

What I am looking forward to: Meeting Elli Kate of course!  

Cravings/Aversions: Water, Pepsi the same...

Symptoms: The same heart flutters, shortness of breath, indigestion, fatigue...  The normal 35 week symptoms :)

Best Moment This Week: Seeing EK and knowing that she is still chugging along healthy in my tumtum. 

32 Weeks

Size of Baby: Per Baby Center (which is where I get my info from) EK should weigh 3.75 pounds. However, because I am having BPPs every week we know she weighs albs 8 oz :)  

Total Weight Gain/Loss: We aren't going there.  Remember...?!

Maternity Clothes: Um, Yes!  I have been wearing smalls and mediums but now my smalls are a little too short for my big 'ole belly.  My mediums still fit as long as they are ruched on the sides.  I have borrowed four or five shirts from a good friend that are larges and unfortunately they fit perfectly around the tummy :(  

Gender: GIRL

Movement: Yes, about that.  If you recall, TB was SIX weeks early.  One day she quit moving and I went to the dr to check because my mom was freaking her freak and two days later I had an emergency c-section.  You see, TB's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck (tight!) and in two knots!!!  So I am little freaked if I do not feel constant movement.  Which brings us to now, EK is running out room so I no longer feel kicks, thumps and punches.  I am feeling her move but not like I want to.  I can feel her repositioning her arm or leg but that's all.  Dr. P told me to try and stay calm and when I don't feel her move for more than thirty mins to an hr lay down and count.  He has been so awesome through this whole process and completely understands (or pretends to at least) my fears and concerns.  

Belly Button: Is starting to flatten out and at times the top part pokes out :)  Makes me smile because I know it means EK is a growing girl.  

Interesting Facts: Elli Kate is gaining half a pound a week from now until birth!  She also has fingernail, toenails and hair!

Sleep: Well... Me and Mr Sandman don't see eye to eye.  He won't let me sleep and it seems when I do my alarm goes off :(  BUT, I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

What I miss: Nothing!

What I am looking forward to: My baby shower this weekend :) :) :)

Cravings/Aversions: White Chocolate Oreos, Water & Pepsi.  Oh and anything spicy!!!

Symptoms: Heart burn like crazy 

Best Moment This Week: EK passing her BPP in under five mins!  You see, that's what TB failed and caused her to be born early.  I haven't had one since (seeing as if I haven't been this far along since) so I was extremely nervous!  Baby Girl is growing and as healthy as can be!

Weekly Wisdom: Love on your children!!!

Labor Pains & Dr Update

Sorry this will be long and a bunch of rambling!

Wednesday afternoon I was working my busy little bootay off at work and realized I had a few more Braxton Hicks contractions than I normally do. I didn't really think much of it at first because I was slightly stressed out and chalked it up to that. But luckily my BFF at work decided since I was stubborn and not timing them she would and instructed me to call the drs office. Sidenote here: I LOVE my doctor and all but one of the other doctors!!! I love most of his staff!!!! But whoever answers the nurses line needs to find a new job not working with pregnant people!!! So, back to calling dr office. I told the girl I was 30 weeks and I had 5-6 contractions in an hour and a half. My dr wants me to come in if I had 3 or more in one hour sine in high risk but homegirl didn't want to hear that part :) She instructed me to go home, lay down and start really timing the contractions and she would call me in 45 mins to check... Did she? No!!! I got home and within less than an hour I had 5 more. So off to Labor & Delivery I took my hiney! My awesome boss met me there and was planning on staying until my mother-in-law got there but I wasn't even there long enough! Apparently, once being hooked up to the monitor all contractions will most likely stop! I felt silly :) The nurse checked me and I was a fingertip to one centimeter dilated. Maybe I'm not as crazy as I thought, my body is doing something. I was sent home on bed rest and as long as contractions held off I could resume normal activity the following day.

The next day, Thursday, I had my lovely 4D redo and drs appt! I just love getting to see my dr!!! He is pure awesomeness!!!! The Hubs says there is a secret love affair between the two and secretly I'm holding out for that :) Okay, I'm kidding!!!! Well apparently EK is JUST like her daddy STUBBORN!!!!! This redo was worst than the last and we saw nothing! It could be for the fact that she's already face down and ready to go but I'm blaming it on being part daddy :) Then I saw Dr P! He measured my tummy, mashed around a bit and told me "chill out"! Sidenote: I'm a planner, an OCD planner at that. TB was six weeks early and that was okay but I'm really stressing out here with EK! He said for me to come back in a week and a half, he wanted to see me March 5th to be exact, and then we will start the non-stress tests and biophysical profiles from there on out weekly! Eeek!!!! Weekly appointments are here friends :) I never made it to the weekly appointments with TB so now I'm in the unknown. I'm so excited that Dr P is monitoring me so much more closely this go round though because it really does help to calm my nerves.

Elli Kate weighed 3lbs and 8ozs and was right on track! I would personally like for her to hold on at least 4 more weeks but she is welcome to continue her lease with my uterus for 8 more weeks and this momma will be just fine!!!

29 Weeks

You lucked out this week and you don't have to endure a horrible picture of me :)

Size of Baby: At my appointment last Thursday EK weighed albs 11oz...  Although Baby Center says 2.5 lbs and 15 inches long.  Like a Butternut Squash...

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Yea... We aren't going there!

Maternity Clothes: All the time!

Gender: Sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Yes, all the time and I LOVE it!!!  She has also had the hiccups a few times.  LOVE my sweet baby!!!

Belly Button: Is starting to flatten out a bit at the top.  My sweet little Hubs said I had a hood covering my button.  Isn't he sweet?

Interesting Facts: EK's head is getting bigger and bigger to accommodate her growing brain.  

Sleep: If I take a benadryl or Tylenol pm I'm all good... If not then it varies.  

What I miss: Nothing.  Well, okay maybe some things.  Like being comfortable but no matter how uncomfortable I am I wouldn't trade it for a thing!!!

What I am looking forward to: Redoing our 4D ultrasound next week and seeing Dr P!  

Cravings/Aversions: Water, Milk & Pepsi.  Oh and White Chocolate Oreos!!!

Symptoms: Indigestion, Braxton Hicks, there are a few more but I can't remember.  

Best Moment This Week: My sweet hubs making me take a bubble bath all alone!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Im fresh out this week...  I'm tired!

Bi Weekly Check Up & 4D US

On Thursday we had our apt. I was 27 weeks so it was time for the glucose test! Which I passed with flying colors :) This momma was at 117!!! I was so incredibly proud of myself. Dr P said for me to keep trucking along that I was right on schedule (even though two weeks ago I was two weeks ahead, I was confused about that) and he would see me soon!

We then had our 4D! And realized that what we could see of EK she looks JUST like her daddy and she acts like him too :) She put both hands and her foot in front of her face the whole entire time! I was over her acting ugly! She would not move or cooperate with us at all!!! My MIL said she's as stubborn as a mule... Just like her daddy :) When we go back for our next apt we will retry the 4D so pray she cooperates!

27 Weeks & Elli Kate's Nursery Sneak Peek

EK's Crib :)  LOVE!!!

EK's Dresser & Changing Table

EK's horribly, disgusting Mommy

Size of Baby: 2 lbs and about 14.5 inches long - head of cauliflower 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Probably up 20 lbs...We shall see Thursday!

Maternity Clothes: Yes!

Gender: Girl, Ellison Kathryn

Movement: Yes, I just love feeling her move.  And she is now getting big enough that T can watch her move!

Belly Button: Is starting to come forward but its still in.  

Interesting Facts: EK is sleeping and waking in regular intervals, opening her eyes and sucking her fingers, even though her lungs are immature she could survive with lots of medical help!

Sleep: Is pretty much non-existent but I look at it as practice for getting up all night. 

What I miss: Nothing really... I LOVE being an incubator for my precious baby girl! Couldn't be more blessed!!!

What I am looking forward to: My Dr apt Thursday!  4D & Sugar test... Okay maybe just the 4D :)  My mom is coming in to town to go to the apt with us and I am super excited to see her.  I have missed her!!!

Cravings/Aversions: Water, Pepsi... White Chocolate Oreos

Symptoms: Swelling and some slight cramping

Best Moment This Week: Cleaning out EK's room, Painting EK's room and getting her furniture in and put together!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Take it easy!  Put those footsies up!!!