I'm now 38 weeks! Wow! She's due in 2 weeks, but could make her appearance at any time. I had an OB appointment yesterday and everything is still looking good. I'm showing the same "progress" as the last appointment except that she has dropped down more and is now at -2 station. Everything seems ready, so I'm preparing myself for the possibility of labor starting any day or not until weeks from now.
Today was my last day of work! I was just working from home, but it was still keeping me really busy and admittedly stressed. My doctor's office strongly recommended that I not work up until my due date if I could avoid it, so I decided to take their advice. It feels odd to turn everything over and "sign off" of work, but I think it's a good thing. The hard part is going to be keeping myself from logging in and working on things anyway. We'll see how that goes.
((Photos to follow. I need to upload on my other computer.))
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Full Term!
Wow!! WOW!! Wow... I'm full term today. 37 weeks. That's pretty amazing. Theoretically Maddie could be here any day now and she'd be a fully-grown, thriving, infant. :) What an exciting thought! No more worry about a premature little one and the fact that she's going to be here soon is amazing. I cannot wait to meet her. To kiss her little face and play with her little fingers and snuggle her tiny body!
I had an OB appointment this morning. Everything looks good. I'm a "fingertip" dilated (just under 1cm), 50% effaced, and softened. So my body is starting to prep! No telling how long it will be, though. I definitely don't want to go down the emotional roller coaster of trying to guess when I'll go into labor, so I'm just going to go with the flow, see what happens, and not take any of the "signs" too seriously since they can be kind of meaningless.
I talked to the nurse today about when I should go into the hospital and was a little disappointed with the answer. They want me to come in right away if my water breaks, or if my contractions are 4 minutes apart, last 1 minute, and have been that way for a few hours. I am hoping to stay home as long as possible to avoid intervention of any kind. If I labor for a long time at the hospital, they will want to speed things up... which I definitely don't want. The Bradley Method recommends that contractions be 3 minutes apart and at least 1 minute long to avoid intervention and ultimately a c-section. That doesn't differ too much, but I'm concerned about "having" to go in right away when my water breaks even if I haven't progressed much. They will automatically put me "on the clock" and try to force my labor along if it isn't speedy. :-/
Anyway, here are some new photos (technically from 36 weeks.)
I had an OB appointment this morning. Everything looks good. I'm a "fingertip" dilated (just under 1cm), 50% effaced, and softened. So my body is starting to prep! No telling how long it will be, though. I definitely don't want to go down the emotional roller coaster of trying to guess when I'll go into labor, so I'm just going to go with the flow, see what happens, and not take any of the "signs" too seriously since they can be kind of meaningless.
I talked to the nurse today about when I should go into the hospital and was a little disappointed with the answer. They want me to come in right away if my water breaks, or if my contractions are 4 minutes apart, last 1 minute, and have been that way for a few hours. I am hoping to stay home as long as possible to avoid intervention of any kind. If I labor for a long time at the hospital, they will want to speed things up... which I definitely don't want. The Bradley Method recommends that contractions be 3 minutes apart and at least 1 minute long to avoid intervention and ultimately a c-section. That doesn't differ too much, but I'm concerned about "having" to go in right away when my water breaks even if I haven't progressed much. They will automatically put me "on the clock" and try to force my labor along if it isn't speedy. :-/
Anyway, here are some new photos (technically from 36 weeks.)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Earthquake??
Last night I went to bed early. When Jase came to bed I didn't even wake up. He got comfortable and was laying still to fall asleep when all of a sudden the bed went *shake shake* *shake shake*. California earthquake? Nope. Just "earthquake" Maddie kicking so hard that our thick, solid wood, 4-poster bed was shaking!!
It amazes me that I can actually sleep through that! When I first started feeling her kick, she woke me up often. But now that I'm used to it, I don't think she's woken me up with kicking once (well unless we count kicking my bladder... that'll spring a woman out of bed.)
I'm proud of my strong girl. She's going to be a real firecracker!
It amazes me that I can actually sleep through that! When I first started feeling her kick, she woke me up often. But now that I'm used to it, I don't think she's woken me up with kicking once (well unless we count kicking my bladder... that'll spring a woman out of bed.)
I'm proud of my strong girl. She's going to be a real firecracker!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Nursery (Almost Done)
There are still a few things I want to add (like wall decals and a framed print of one of our maternity photos), but here it is almost finished.
This was Jason's changing table when he was a baby.
This is the blank spot I want to fill. Up high I want to do some kind of vinyl branch (like this.) And then a little lower I'll hang the maternity photo print. I also want to do another vinyl design above the crib.
And her closet!
This was Jason's changing table when he was a baby.
This is the blank spot I want to fill. Up high I want to do some kind of vinyl branch (like this.) And then a little lower I'll hang the maternity photo print. I also want to do another vinyl design above the crib.
And her closet!
Baby's Mooning the Camera!
Maddie likes to stick her butt out. It's pretty strange how it completely morphs the shape of my tummy to one side or the other. I finally caught it on camera.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Amber Update
She's finally getting better!!!
Things were pretty rough for a while. She was going to the vet daily (HOLY VET BILLS, BATMAN!!!!!) to try to diagnose her and to receive medication and fluids. She wasn't drinking anything and was having a tough time eating. One of the days they almost kept her for the day on an IV. That's what the plan was when I was driving her over and I just broke down in tears at the thought of leaving her alone in a scary place while she's sick.
But now she has finally stopped vomiting, she's eating better, she's drinking, we're getting her meds down her easier, she's acting more like herself, and things are starting to work themselves out on the "other end." Jase and I are SO HAPPY!!! I swear we were about to have a party to celebrate. There were times where we weren't really sure what was going to happen to her. :( I love my little girl so much and am over the moon that she's going to be okay!!!
Last night was our 5th night of sleeping in shifts and hopefully our last. I'm just hoping we don't have any set-backs. One thing we still need to do, though, is go back in on Monday to re-test her for the muscle enzyme level to make sure it's decreasing. That result is still un-explained and worrisome, but I'm trying not to think about it too much.
Thanks for everyone's "Get Well" wishes! I really appreciated it.
Things were pretty rough for a while. She was going to the vet daily (HOLY VET BILLS, BATMAN!!!!!) to try to diagnose her and to receive medication and fluids. She wasn't drinking anything and was having a tough time eating. One of the days they almost kept her for the day on an IV. That's what the plan was when I was driving her over and I just broke down in tears at the thought of leaving her alone in a scary place while she's sick.
But now she has finally stopped vomiting, she's eating better, she's drinking, we're getting her meds down her easier, she's acting more like herself, and things are starting to work themselves out on the "other end." Jase and I are SO HAPPY!!! I swear we were about to have a party to celebrate. There were times where we weren't really sure what was going to happen to her. :( I love my little girl so much and am over the moon that she's going to be okay!!!
Last night was our 5th night of sleeping in shifts and hopefully our last. I'm just hoping we don't have any set-backs. One thing we still need to do, though, is go back in on Monday to re-test her for the muscle enzyme level to make sure it's decreasing. That result is still un-explained and worrisome, but I'm trying not to think about it too much.
Thanks for everyone's "Get Well" wishes! I really appreciated it.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
35 Week Belly Pics
Here are a couple photos from 35 weeks and 5 days. (I'm actually 36 weeks along now!! Eeee.)
I've actually been feeling pretty great most of the time. I definitely have short phases of fatigue, back pain, etc... But for the most part, I'm surprisingly comfortable for being so far along. I was much more uncomfortable around Thanksgiving, but a lot of that passed. :)
I've actually been feeling pretty great most of the time. I definitely have short phases of fatigue, back pain, etc... But for the most part, I'm surprisingly comfortable for being so far along. I was much more uncomfortable around Thanksgiving, but a lot of that passed. :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
As my due date approaches (less than one month!!), J and I are getting really anxious for her to be here. One thing we didn't quite anticipate, though, is being so busy in these last weeks.
I decided less than a month ago that my goal is to have a completely un-medicated delivery of our daughter. Jase is really excited about the idea, also, and has been amazing in the preparation process.
We decided to go with the Bradley Method because of it's focus on a husband-coached birth. It's a way for him to be a true part of Madison's birth. :) Many of our evenings are now spent reading the material, doing the exercises, and role-playing the relaxation techniques and coaching methods. Typically preparation is started LONG ago, so we have a lot of catching up to do.
The interest that Jason has taken to doing everything he can to ensure that I have the birth experience I want and that Maddie gets brought into this world safely just shows what an amazing husband he is and what an outstanding father he will be. I can't wait to see our daughter in his arms.
I decided less than a month ago that my goal is to have a completely un-medicated delivery of our daughter. Jase is really excited about the idea, also, and has been amazing in the preparation process.
We decided to go with the Bradley Method because of it's focus on a husband-coached birth. It's a way for him to be a true part of Madison's birth. :) Many of our evenings are now spent reading the material, doing the exercises, and role-playing the relaxation techniques and coaching methods. Typically preparation is started LONG ago, so we have a lot of catching up to do.
The interest that Jason has taken to doing everything he can to ensure that I have the birth experience I want and that Maddie gets brought into this world safely just shows what an amazing husband he is and what an outstanding father he will be. I can't wait to see our daughter in his arms.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Our Poor Kitty
Our little girl kitty, Amber, is really sick. :( It started with just a head cold kind of thing with tons of sneezing... But now she hasn't been able to keep any food down and has been getting sick to her stomach even w/o food.
So DH and I have been sleeping in shifts to keep an eye on her the last two nights. When she vomits she tends to pass out (terrifying!) and handle it really badly so we're too worried not to keep an eye on her.
We took her to the vet yesterday morning. They did xrays to make sure there weren't any masses or blockages. Nothing bad showed on the xrays, so they gave her fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea meds, and ran blood work.
She was still pretty miserable all yesterday and got sick again despite the anti-nausea meds. :( I am taking her in at 10:20 today to get the results of her blood work and to make sure she isn't dehydrated.
We've been watching her every move and I'm pretty darn exhausted, but I just want to make sure she's alright. I've never seen a kitty go through something like this. :(
I'm hoping the blood work looks good and that she keeps getting better. Thank goodness I'm working from home today.
And just for kicks: a pic of our little monkey.
So DH and I have been sleeping in shifts to keep an eye on her the last two nights. When she vomits she tends to pass out (terrifying!) and handle it really badly so we're too worried not to keep an eye on her.
We took her to the vet yesterday morning. They did xrays to make sure there weren't any masses or blockages. Nothing bad showed on the xrays, so they gave her fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea meds, and ran blood work.
She was still pretty miserable all yesterday and got sick again despite the anti-nausea meds. :( I am taking her in at 10:20 today to get the results of her blood work and to make sure she isn't dehydrated.
We've been watching her every move and I'm pretty darn exhausted, but I just want to make sure she's alright. I've never seen a kitty go through something like this. :(
I'm hoping the blood work looks good and that she keeps getting better. Thank goodness I'm working from home today.
And just for kicks: a pic of our little monkey.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Maternity Photos
Yesterday Jason & I headed to Baker Beach in San Francisco to do a maternity photo shoot with Kelly Marie! She was wonderful and we already love the few sample shots she emailed over yesterday. Take a look!
Kelly M Photography
Kelly M Photography
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