Christmas Came Early!

I've been "off the grid" for the past month, and I have a really good excuse!  Baby Bossy Bud arrived one month early on December 3rd at 7:59 pm.

Let me explain what happened......

I went in for a routine doctor's appointment after work on Monday, December 3rd.  I gave my urine sample and waited to be called back to see my OB.  I saw the nurse first who weighed me (+ 5 pounds in two weeks) and took my blood pressure.  She commented that my blood pressure was a little higher than they liked to see.  She said that my doctor was probably going to admit me that afternoon.  Wrong thing to say to a pregnant woman who thinks she has 5 more weeks!  Mr. Bossy was at work, and I was alone at this appointment.  Tears started streaming down my face.  I was scared out of my mind.

My OB came in and discussed a few routine things with me.  Then she confirmed that she was admitting me to the hospital.  I was to drive straight there.  She explained that I possibly had pre-eclampsia.  She was ordering tests be done when I arrived, and she would come later to make the decision if our bundle was going to be born that night.  I left the clinic in tears and phoned Mr. Bossy with shaking hands.  He left work immediately to meet me at the hospital.  I called my mom next, but couldn't reach her.  Dad was next on my list.  Once I explained to him what was happening, he said that he would get in touch with my mom.

The nurses at the hospital assigned me my room, and I was instructed to get into a hospital gown.  They hooked me up to some machines and began monitoring Baby Bossy's heartbeat.  Mr. Bossy and my parents arrived right after me.  I was so scared; I couldn't stop shaking.  The nurses were fabulous, though.  They took great care of me and assured me that everything was going to be fine.  Blood was drawn to determine if I did indeed have pre-eclampsia.  I was told that we were waiting for one specific test result to decide if Baby Bossy would in fact be a December baby. 

My doctor arrived about an hour and half after I did.  She walked into my room and explained that she had my test results.  I had pre-eclampsia, and Baby Bossy was going to arrive via c-section within the next hour.


To be continued........

Bossy Bud

35 weeks 1 day

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted...we've been trying to get baby ready!  =o)


How far along: 35 weeks 1 day.  Yesterday was 35 weeks with 35 days left!  It's so hard to believe how quickly the time is passing.  So much to do yet...

Total weight change: I haven't weighed since my last appointment but am trying to not get myself in trouble with the doctor on Tuesday for my next appointment Tuesday.  BTW - this next appointment Doc will be checking my cervix and testing me for group B strep.

Maternity clothes: No change...although I will inform you ladies that my maternity tops have become a little too short!  My belly tries to peek out the bottom!  Hahahaha...

Stretch Marks: Still no new ones.

Movement: He's still going crazy in there!  I have noticed him moving more around 3-3:30 in the morning, so I'm seeing that being an interesting time for us in the near future!

Sleep: Surprisingly, I'm actually getting some decent sleep some nights even though I don't feel like I ever get enough.

Best Moment This Past Week: We FINALLY started on the nursery this week!  I remember sitting on the floor (since I'm not much help these days) thinking how it doesn't feel so surreal anymore and I'm so excited to start decorating the nursery!

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Momma's had a pretty good week! ~> Although I will say I officially cannot wear my wedding rings anymore.  =o(  The swelling is getting pretty bad and my hands, feet, ankles, and (just recently) calves are getting tight.

Belly Button In or Out: Still an inny, though the top is trying to pucker a little bit.

Cravings/Aversions: Definitely craving the sweets lately.  And totally NOT feeling meat!  I like the occasional burger and have had fried chicken once.  Other than that...BLAH to the meat.

Symptoms: Swelling is still number one, but the fatigue has definitely set back in, nipple soreness again, BAD heartburn and reflux, cramping/Braxton Hicks, hot flashes that never go away.

Baby SB is Here! Part I

Yes, you read that correctly.  Mr. William decided to come 4.5 weeks early on May 10, 2012.  He weighed 6 lbs 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.  Amazingly, no NICU was required.  He came out perfect and I cannot even begin to tell you how lucky I feel.

I must warn you though - reading my birth story is not for the faint of heart.   Even though I had a wonderful outcome, my labor and delivery was kind of a train wreck and probably would scare the curap out of me if I was reading it having never gone through the experience.  So please read at your own risk.

I woke up the Monday before my delivery and immediately took my blood pressure as I had every morning for the past three months.  It was then that I knew something was wrong.  Usually in the morning it is between 115-120/70 or 80s.  That day it was 142/84.  Even though it was a reading that was not in the danger zone for my blood pressure, I knew it was not normal for me.  I called my doctor's office to inform them, and they told me to sit tight and if any other symptoms came about, to come down to triage.  Sounded like a plan.

I continued about my day, but around 5 pm I became extremely dizzy and light headed.  A call was placed once again to my doctor's office and Mr. SB and I made our way down to triage at our hospital.

**Side Note** Even though my water didn't break and I was no where near delivering, Mr. SB still treated our trip to the hospital as though I was in active labor.  He drove like a maniac, almost plowed over some poor old lady in the elevator with a walker (he claimed she blended into the wall) and I was told to "hurry up and walk faster."  I thought this was hilarious.

Once in triage, my blood pressure numbers were high.  Again, not extremely high, but worse than what they were.  For the first time ever my labs were slipping as well.  Kidney function was getting worse and my platelet numbers were dropping.  After surviving over 8 weeks since my diagnosis, pre e was starting to rear its ugly head.

I was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation and was sent first thing on Tuesday morning for a growth ultrasound.  Little SB was measured to be 6 lbs and 14 ounces at 35 weeks and 3 days.  I knew at that moment they were going to push for delivery.

After my ultrasound as I had predicted, a few doctors came in to talk to me about my options.  They recommended delivery.  My labs were getting worse and although I was not in danger yet, it was around the corner (pre e can go from mild to scary pretty quickly).  They said that if I wanted, I could stick it out in the hospital and see how much my body could take, but that was not worth the risk to me and my baby.  I agreed to go in for an induction and a few hours later I was whisked away to labor and delivery.

Stay tuned for my next installment :)

One Month To Go

I seriously can't believe that a month from today is when my EDD is. Granted he'll come whenever he pleases, but it is so crazy to be able to say "next month" when people ask when I'm due.

We're doing pretty well in terms of being prepared for him to arrive. I still have to pack my hospital bag, but the last few things we'll need for him (diapers...kind of an important detail) were purchased today. I've also had to stock up on feminine supplies for me for afterwards...something I didn't think about until the other day. I've liked getting to skip that aisle for almost all of the year so far.

I had another trip to L&D yesterday. The long and short of it is that my super fun 35 week appointment (2 hr GTT, GBS and my very first internal exam all in one appointment) left me spotting courtesy of my lovely sensitive cervix. Not surprising AT ALL given how I'd spot at the drop of a hat with any disturbance in 1st Tri and that internal check involved my cervix being all kinds of irritated (um, ouch!). Anyhow, spotting went from pink to red then to brownish red. Doctors heard the word red and sent me to L&D. Four hours at L&D later we were told it was exactly what I tried to tell them was going on in the first place. Gotta love that. On the plus side though, we got to hear babies heartbeat for over an hour AND got a quick glimpse of him yawning on the ultrasound.

Might as well do the check in now since I'm here:

How far along: 35 weeks and 5 days. Due date is exactly a month from today!

Total weight change: Going by the doctors scale at my 35 week appointment on Tuesday, +28. Not liking this 2 lbs in a week thing...

Maternity clothes: Always. I've pretty much moved into dresses at this point. It kills my hips to get pants on and off.

Stretch Marks: No new developments since last week.

Movement: I've got a wriggler in there. He gets hiccups 2-3 times a day. Just last night he discovered he can stretch his leg out and pretty much hit my kidney. Thanks kid.

Sleep: Hit or miss. I seem to be pass out tired at bedtime, sleep for a few hours and then have to put myself to sleep again when I wake up to pee. I'm getting good at napping anytime the opportunity arises as well (good practice for when baby is here?)

Best Moment This Past Week: Seeing the baby yawn on the ultrasound yesterday. Finding out I don't have GD after all was also pretty sweet.

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Pelvic exams are downright painful and I've managed to get two in the past two days.

Belly Button In or Out: Still an inny.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing major.

Symptoms: Stupid sensitive cervix acting up again after the internal. The Braxton Hicks are increasing in frequency and sometimes intensity and the little guy is sometimes putting pressure on my cervix. He's still not dropped yet though.

35/35!

Another milestone to add to the list of ones I never thought I'd see:

35 Weeks Along, 35 days to go!

Granted the 35 days left is approximate...but its still amazing to think that in about a month the little guy should be here.

Since it's been awhile since I've done a belly pic, here is one I did today.

35 Week Update

Today marks the next milestone on my pregnancy checklist: 35/35! Meaning I'm 35 weeks today, with 35 days to go until my due date. Wow! The only two milestones I can think of to hit going forward are full-term and my due date...kind of scary, but very exciting at the same time! So I'll give a quick update in this post, and then update separately about a few things that I want to give more attention to.

How far along: 35 weeks!

Total weight change: Um...too much. About +37 as of last week's appointment. I guess this is what happens when I go from avid marathon runner to occasional pool walker.

Maternity clothes: Definitely! I still have a few pairs of really comfy pre-pregnancy pj pants that fit, but otherwise I'm in maternity clothes exclusively. I have a couple pairs of pants and a button down shirt that don't exactly fit so well. Thankfully, it's still in the 90's here so I can wear my arsenal of summer dresses every day to work unless I have a meeting that requires something with a jacket.

Stretch Marks: Not really! I'm an avid cocoa butter user, and put it on my hips, low back, stomach and chest every day. Just in case!

Movement: Baby Magnolia Bud's kicks and punches have turned into rolls and shifts. It's gotten a little more uncomfortable, but that's to be expected now that he/she is running out of room...

Sleep: Not great, but I'm at least sleeping a few hours at a time. I get up about twice a night to pee, and am constantly turning over, shifting positions, etc. This week I'm traveling for work 2 nights, so I'm excited to see if a bed filled with pillows is any help.

Best Moment This Past Week: There were several! Our 34-week appointment last week was great, we had our last baby shower, we finished buying from our BuyBuyBaby registry, we washed and put away all the baby clothes, we prepped our first load of cloth diapers (Bum Genius 4.0 pockets and newborn AIO's), and the nursery is almost done!

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: I've been having a lot of upper back pain that starts around noon every day and lasts until I'm lying down at night again. I'm also starting to just be uncomfortable a lot of the time.

Belly Button In or Out: More flat than innie or outie. Mr. Magnolia Bud thinks it's hilarious.

Cravings/Aversions: Not much, if anything. I have started needing my drinks to be ice-cold, and still am turned off by most meats.

Symptoms: From the head down--leaky boobs (every now and then), braxton hicks a couple times an hour when I'm awake, crazy back pain in my upper back (and a really tight lower back/butt), and knowing that if I look at my feet, my feet and ankles look like there's a baseball where my ankle bones used to be. I'm hoping a pedicure next weekend and a massage and facial the week after will help :)

What I'm Looking Forward To: We're finishing buying things from our amazon and BRU registries this week, and will finish prepping our cloth diapers, pack the birth center bag, and order the nursery art this week/weekend too.

35/35!

I know I am always amazed at how far along I am, but really?! 35 days?! I am having a baby next month.

A year ago at this time we had just gotten our MFI diagnosis and I felt hopeless. I didn't want to go through IVF and was ready to just forget TTC for a while. Now, we are having a daughter- next month.

The past few weeks have been pretty rough on me emotionally. I am still in school until August 1st, and I was taking 3 classes. It just ended up being too much so I dropped one of them. I am still battling to avoid a "failing" withdrawl on my transcript since the reason I couldn't finish it was because I am pregnant, not because I am lazy or just didn't feel like doing it. I think I will be successful in getting it removed.

In the past few weeks I have been gearing up to welcome baby Brynn. I washed all her newborn clothes and finished organizing her room. I still need to put up her closet organizer, put together the swing, and prep her newborn cloth diapers.

I'm still feeling pretty good besides random bouts with swelling. I have a birthing class next weekend, so hopefully I feel a little more prepared for this labor thing, because right now I am pretty nervous!

35 Weeks, ANOTHER night in L&D, ANOTHER missed baby shower, and Bedrest

From the title of my post you can tell its been fun huh? So when I was 34 weeks on a Friday I called my doctor because I was having a headache that would.not.go.away. It hurt so very very bad. I tried everything. I decided to take my BP since its been going up and low and behold it was up there in the 140s. I decided then to call my doctor normally when resting it never got up that high. The on call doctor asked me to try to get rid of it with caffeine and Tylenol and if it didn't go away go into the hospital. Don't worry he said, you won't stay over night. YEAH RIGHT.

We got in and my BP was in the upper 150s. I blamed nerves. Once I rested and the nurse went out it went down dramatically. They had be start the 24 hour urine collection and did some blood work. I thought I would be discharged and go home. Not the case. The nurse said they wanted to hold me over night and watch me for 24 hours. That meant I would miss my baby shower.. AGAIN. WTF I wanted to cry but I knew there was no use. By now it was just hilarious. Apparently my daughter is shy and hates attention on her.

I called all my friends and the girls hosting the shower to let them know of the news and like great friends they are they were all understanding and considerate. We decided to have people come up to the hospital and eat cake.. YUM!

Overall it was a WONDERFUL shower. I have some wonderful friends who were very considerate and generous. I got released after the shower and told to follow up with my doctor on Monday and continue with the 24 hour urine collection. Oh and bed rest for the weekend.

I checked up with my doctor and my BP is slowly rising and looks like I'm developing Pre-Eclampsia. I know I'm super close to being full term so I'm trying not to worry about this at all but I did have to stop working and got put on bed rest.

While bedrest sounds wonderful for the first hour it sucks. Let me tell you. I know what I am doing is for the best but the nesting urge is ridiculous and I want to do so much but can't do anything. I can go from bed, couch, bathroom, back to bed, couch. I have one day a week I can go to dinner with Mr. OB or to a movie but he has to drop me off as close as possible to the entrance and limit my walking.

It looks like my BP is doing okay while I'm resting but if I get up and do anything it goes up to the 140s/80s. My doctor is hopeful I can make it to 37 weeks (FULL TERM!!!) and we can induce. We were planning on inducing anyways because little Pepper (or shall I say BIG) is measuring 3 weeks ahead.

So right now I'm just laying here and playing on the internet. In the past week I have watched so much TV and I feel like a bum. I'm not going to lie I'm envious of those women who can still do things at 35 weeks. I hate that I'm stuck here but I know its for the best for ME and PEPPER. And I also know in a couple of weeks I'm going to be WISHING I could lay on the bed and have nothing to do.

I could use many prayers right now that my BP stays low and that Ms. Pepper stays in me until I'm at least 37 weeks. I'm so close I can taste it!

And here is a 34 week photo of my belly. It sucks because now I don't really get dressed now but I told Mr. OB I promise to keep up with the photos. This was a photo I took of the dress I was GOING to wear to my shower. Boo! Instead I wore an awesome nursing nightgown.

35/35

That is... 35 weeks down - 35 days to go!

35 Days???? eeeeek!!!!

That's just amazing to me. It's FLOWN by! I was thinking today about what we have left to do?! This was my preliminary list... I'm sure I'm forgetting something!

1. Tour labor & delivery with Mr. GB - make sure he knows how to get to the hospital :)
2. Pre-natal massage (I still haven't fit this in to my appt rotation although it is MUCH needed!)
   
3. Pre-register at the hospital
   
4. Pack my hospital bag
5. Finalize birth plan with Dr. C
   
6. Arrange for our neighbor to come feed our dogs while we are at the hospital
7. Finalize maternity leave paperwork and plans
8. Finish washing Baby GB's newborn and 0-3 month wardrobe
9. Finalize plans for induction (if Baby GB doesn't decide to come on his own!)

Hmm... yup - I'm sure there's more! Feel free to leave me comments with anything and everything that helped you other mom's-to-be in planning for your delivery!

I'll leave you with what Baby GB is up to this week!

Baby's now the size of a honeydew!
From now on, baby's growth is mostly in the plumping up department -- though he won't get much longer, he'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. (He's about 15 percent right now and will be about 30 percent by full-term.) His hearing is totally developed (tip: baby responds best to higher pitches), and if he really is a "he," his testes have probably completed their descent.