3...2...1 - THURSDAY!!

each day is a day that our baby boy is growing and we are THANKFUL! this upcoming thursday {december 2, 2010} is a big day because he will be 34 weeks!! dr's told us that at this point in the pregnancy, they will not stop labor. this is because all is developed and long term effects are not typically a problem at this point. he would still be put in nicu because he wouldn't have accumulated enough fat on his little body and because of other reasons but developmentally we will have reached a big milestone. so we're rooting for this thursday...!!

i am having more contractions and other things that indicate a possible early delivery...i've been trying with all my heart to have my prayers be more like: God, help me not to pray for our baby to stay in longer...but more that i will trust in His timing and know in my heart that He already has our son's birthday set in His birthday book.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<...UPDATE...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

{wednesday, december 1, 2010}

had an appointment with the perinatal side for a fetal non-stress test. baby did not show enough heart acceleration in the 20 minutes i was hooked up to the monitor so they scheduled an unexpected ultrasound. baby still chose not to move even with all the belly shakes and buzzing they did...he did however showed off his hiccuping skills! anyways, i guess they rate the baby on a scale of 1-10. he received a 6. dr. said he ALMOST passed but i think they monitor mom's that have gd very closely so i have to go again tomorrow morning to repeat the same tests. IF baby doesn't pass then i go to labor and delivery which is in the hospital at st. vincent's {purple elevators for family and friends that will come visit after he's here!!} to be further monitored.

now that i've been home and had several swigs of my diet coke the little guy has decided to do a kick party in my belly - NICE. scott and i laughed and he told me i should blog about this...my hopes in partly keeping this blog is that our son will read this when he's a grown man, maybe before he's about to have his own and get a good chuckle out of what a little rascal he was!

we love you son...no matter how much you worry us - now & later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

give thanks

we had a big ultrasound appointment yesterday {november 23, 2010} with dr. pandipati. we learned that our baby's kidney's were at normal fluid levels {praise God!} and that he has grown since our last appointment and is now 4 pounds 5 ounces...yayy baby!! we have been praying for his kidney's to be at normal levels and we are so thankful for this answered prayer. dr. pandipati said i was doing a good job but that i needed continued bed rest. the next goal is to get to 33 weeks {which is tomorrow...thanksgiving day!!} and a bigger goal is to get to 34 weeks {december 2, 2010}.

i am now on the mildest dose of medication for my gestational diabetes to prevent any long term effects it could have on our sweet baby. my numbers first thing in the morning, and after breakfast and lunch have been great...after dinner numbers have been slightly higher which they'd like to see come down a little bit. if this doesn't get addressed now, the long term affects basically would effect long term metabolic issues with our boy. i dislike taking all the medication but if it helps in any way with the development and growth of our baby...i'll do it.

scott and i have started to pack our hospital bag. i doubt we'll have everything ready but at least we'll have the necessities. i think the biggest thing we are thinking and praying about is the possibility of giving birth to our baby boy but not being able to bring him home right away. my sweet friend sarah had her jackson at 26 weeks and told me that the day she was discharged from the hospital and wasn't able to take her boy home for 3 months was one of THE toughest days of her life. i'm trying to wrap my mind around this possibility...you have this idea-dream of being pregnant. you carry this little life inside of you and go through the process of intense labor and you see new mom's all around you leaving the hospital with the precious little one while you leave empty handed - devastating. i know that this is a good possibility but i hope that i turn to my Jesus who has held me so close during this time if this happens to us.

during the past insanely cold days i have enjoyed my appointments {leaving the house is amazing!!} and seeing the snow...i'm hoping for lot's of snow this year and the chance to be a part of it! i'd love to tell our baby that it had snowed so much the year he was born...what wild stories we would have!!

for thanksgiving day, we are spending it with my family...i got the ok from dr. stewart to make the drive over and lay on the couch. it's been several weeks since i've seen my dad so i'm excited to spend some time over there...i'm hoping the little guy is active for grandma, grandpa and uncle bobby to see and feel him move. i am excited for good friends to come and visit...i love this time of year that brings family and friends together to celebrate life and the things we are most thankful for. i know that i have much to give thanks for this year.

{via: etsy}

pregnancy update

here's an update of my appointments from the past 2 weeks:

i failed the 4-hour glucose test. after getting blood drawn SIX times, i failed it miserably. i later learned that i had my ethnicity and genetics going against me {my grandmother had diabetes}. so i got educated on gestational diabetes and now i draw blood four times a day and am on a pretty strict timed diet and the only thing i need to watch are my carb intakes. the roughest day by far was the day of my baby shower...other than that its been good. what this means is i test my blood sugar levels first thing in the morning. then i eat breakfast and wait two hours to recheck. then i have a snack and this is the pattern for the rest of the day. i HAVE to eat three meals with two snacks in between. i also have to have a bedtime snack which usually entails a 1/2 cup of tillamook's peanut butter chocolate ice cream...

i met with dr. stewart last monday {11/8/2010} and he said my cervix had thinned a bit more. he felt around my belly to find baby's position. then he asked me, "at the ultrasound, did they say where he was positioned?" told him that baby was ready and in the right position to pop out!! so, he sent me on my way with continued bed rest and asked when i saw him next. i said not until the day before thanksgiving...he said, "why don't you come see me next monday...it can be your outing for the week!" THANK YOU DR. STEWART FOR KEEPING MY SANITY!!

so i had my most recent check up yesterday {11/15/2010} and i feel that i'm a "regular" at the doctor's office now since i go every week. candace checked me in and had me do the usual: pee in a cup and a weigh in. MIRACULOUSLY i am still under the 25 pound range in which mom's to be expect to gain...woooohooo!! then she mentioned something about getting close to 34 weeks...i was a bit confused but she continued on to say that her and dr. stewart had been talking earlier that day about how he thinks we might have this little guy at week 34. friends, do you realize that that is just TWO AND HALF WEEKS AWAY??!? of course no one truly knows but by golly...we are not ready!! my cervix had not thinned {which is good news} but is softer and i am still 1 cm dilated. he told me that after 32 weeks A LOT of problems in which things can occur in a baby that comes that early are not concerns typically after that...and we get to that huge milestone this coming thursday. if we reach 35 weeks they will lessen my bed rest to level 2 and then by week 36 {which is the week before Christmas} they will completely take me off ~ WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!

i pray that this little guy who is SO incredibly active these days, continues to think that being in my belly is warm and comfy for at least the next 2 1/2 weeks. i've been having more mild contractions and lot's of braxton hicks contractions. i feel him hiccuping and at times it feels like he is tickling me with his toes and fingers. he occasionally will kick me hard as if he is making the winning goal in his soccer game and it is those moments that reassure me that he is happy and content.

baby boy you are so loved already but i CAN wait to meet you...xoxo's to you my sweet little boy...

i've had better days...

where do i begin...so much information was given to us today that my head is still trying to process it all...

well, the best part of today was the ultrasound. our little boy is STILL a boy . his little feet are measuring in at 6 cm, we saw that he has hair (thank you JESUS!) and he is weighing in at a whole 3 pounds!! this puts him in the 46% percentile which is good! he is positioned head down...perfect for labor the nurse said...but don't come just yet little guy!

now for the facts of where i'm at with this pregnancy:
~ during the ultrasound they noticed a millimeter over of fluid in his kidney's. dr. pandipati says it is not severe at this point but will re-check this at my next ultrasound. if the fluid level continues to increase, this could mean potential issues in baby's kidney/bladder.
~ at this point, my cervix has thinned since last thursday...it has now thinned 70%. it was previously at 50%. thinning typically leads to the cervix dilating which of course signals labor. at this point, it's too early for that...
~ i am having mild contractions but they are sporadic...i need to watch for the consistency and intensity.
~ there are 4 levels of bed rest. i am on level 3...i DO NOT want to get to level 4 since that would mean i would be on hospital bed rest. i am on full bed rest until our baby comes unless something changes.
~ dr. pandipati IS concerned about pre-term labor. i will be monitored closely by him and dr. stewart. my next appointment with dr. stewart is november 8th and november 23rd with dr. pandipati.

i keep hearing..."let's try and make it to 34 weeks." basically they say they will NOT stop labor if it begins after week 34...the drugs to help develop baby is not effective after this point. did i ever mention i had a dream that i went in to labor the week of Christmas? this would put me at week 37....hmm...i wonder if these are visions and not dreams...?

for myself - i've been an emotional mess. i'll feel fine one minute and then saddened the next - by the thought of not being able to bring our baby home right away...or holding him after he's born. i can't help but think that i have not provided the BEST home for our baby to grow in...i think about the holidays coming up and how i won't be able to participate the way i've imagined. i am however, thankful for EVERYONE that has brought over yummy meals and have gone out of their way to come and visit...thank you SO much for your love for me, scott and our little baby. i tell him everyday what a lucky and blessed duck he is...

gtt redo

candace (my favorite nurse) called with news this morning...surprise surprise - i DID NOT pass the glucose challenge screening. so not only do i have to drink the very gross drink again, i have to drink DOUBLE the amount and sit at the hospital for 3 hours...i also have to go on an empty stomach. they will also draw blood three times to check for abnormalities. this will be done on thursday...
i have my appointment with dr. pandipati tomorrow at 10:00am. i am praying for good news for at least this appointment.