TEN ultrasounds!! What do you think - would I make the Guiness Book of World Records? :)
Jeff got the nursery painted today - pictures to follow once the dresser and the window treatments arrive!
Happy New Year to all - be safe, and may many blessings come to you in 2008!!
12.31.2007
12.29.2007
Hiccups & Braxton-Hicks
BabyW and I had two new experiences this weekend.
Thursday night as I was going to bed, I started having bad pains in my abdomen, I wasn't sure what was going on. The next day, I happened to be reading What to Expect When You're Expecting.... I read it about once a month, just to see what might be in store for me over the course of the upcoming month. Lo and behold, I think I was experiencing Braxton-Hicks! Well, my theory about my low tolerance of pain was tested, and was correct. Thank goodness for epidurals, because I know B-H contractions aren't even as bad as "real" contractions! They didn't last more than about 30 minutes or so, so no big deal, but an interesting new experience that I'm sure will repeat!
Then, Friday when I got home from work, I was hanging out with Jeff & his parents, when the baby was having very steady, paced movements - everyone could feel them. Someone suggested they may be baby hiccups - they didn't feel strong enough necessarily, but it was definitely a possibility. Later that night, they came back even stronger, so I think BabyW had his/her first case of hiccups! I remember Charlie having them a lot before he was born, what a funny phenomenon!
Thursday night as I was going to bed, I started having bad pains in my abdomen, I wasn't sure what was going on. The next day, I happened to be reading What to Expect When You're Expecting.... I read it about once a month, just to see what might be in store for me over the course of the upcoming month. Lo and behold, I think I was experiencing Braxton-Hicks! Well, my theory about my low tolerance of pain was tested, and was correct. Thank goodness for epidurals, because I know B-H contractions aren't even as bad as "real" contractions! They didn't last more than about 30 minutes or so, so no big deal, but an interesting new experience that I'm sure will repeat!
Then, Friday when I got home from work, I was hanging out with Jeff & his parents, when the baby was having very steady, paced movements - everyone could feel them. Someone suggested they may be baby hiccups - they didn't feel strong enough necessarily, but it was definitely a possibility. Later that night, they came back even stronger, so I think BabyW had his/her first case of hiccups! I remember Charlie having them a lot before he was born, what a funny phenomenon!
12.28.2007
Record Number of Ultrasounds
I may have a new world record for the number of Ultrasounds performed during a pregnancy!
I had a routine doctor appointment scheduled yesterday - Thursday, so I asked Jeff's mom to come along to hear the heartbeat. The appointment was with another doctor in the practice I'm using; he was very laid-back, and just chatted for a while. He gave me some ideas of how to get this kid out of my ribcage, and I'm feeling better today. At the end of the appointment, he said, "well, if you want, I'm not too busy today - want an ultrasound, since your mother-in-law is with you?" Um, yes, please!
So, Diane, Jeff, and I got yet another glimpse of BabyW, who is doing just fine swimming around in there. He took the time to walk through a few additional areas that my doctor hasn't done (although the ultrasound technician has spent the time to go through), and Baby is just fine. Actually, he/she has slowed down the movements a little since the ultrasound, which is pretty okay, because it was nonstop action there for a couple of days. I LOVE the movement, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it (what will I do when the baby comes out and I can't feel it move all the time?!) - but it is okay if it wants to slow down a little bit for a few days and give my rib a break.
So, I'm going to have to count up the # of ultrasounds I've had, but including my 20-week appointment when we could've learned the gender, I've had 5 - and there were a few before that 20-week appointment.
30 weeks, 3 days - more than 75% of the way to the target!!
I had a routine doctor appointment scheduled yesterday - Thursday, so I asked Jeff's mom to come along to hear the heartbeat. The appointment was with another doctor in the practice I'm using; he was very laid-back, and just chatted for a while. He gave me some ideas of how to get this kid out of my ribcage, and I'm feeling better today. At the end of the appointment, he said, "well, if you want, I'm not too busy today - want an ultrasound, since your mother-in-law is with you?" Um, yes, please!
So, Diane, Jeff, and I got yet another glimpse of BabyW, who is doing just fine swimming around in there. He took the time to walk through a few additional areas that my doctor hasn't done (although the ultrasound technician has spent the time to go through), and Baby is just fine. Actually, he/she has slowed down the movements a little since the ultrasound, which is pretty okay, because it was nonstop action there for a couple of days. I LOVE the movement, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it (what will I do when the baby comes out and I can't feel it move all the time?!) - but it is okay if it wants to slow down a little bit for a few days and give my rib a break.
So, I'm going to have to count up the # of ultrasounds I've had, but including my 20-week appointment when we could've learned the gender, I've had 5 - and there were a few before that 20-week appointment.
30 weeks, 3 days - more than 75% of the way to the target!!
Christmas
We had a great holiday with all of the family! We went to Chicago Saturday through Monday, and spent time with Randy, Cory, Charlie, Ron, Diane, Rick, Sandy, and Becky (think of anyone you know with the last name Worzala - they were there!) - and we were more than entertained by Charlie all weekend long! That kid has two speeds - asleep and 100mph. His personality is really coming out, and it's an awesome one :) The best Christmas gift we received was learning that Charlie is going to be a big brother in 2008! This was not Charlie's best Christmas gift, though. We also got to meet Carolyn's almost-five-month-old, Sadie, and despite being on the verge of a fever, she was precious!
We got back to Indiana Monday, and had dinner at our house with all of the Doans - my parents, Julie, and Matt. Pregnant lady needs to figure out how much I can eat in one sitting, because I almost exploded afterwards! Christmas day was spent in Frankfort, until Jeff got sick and we headed home mid-afternoon. Another great Christmas gift, I was asked to be in a great friend's wedding - Jenny Shaffer's - next fall. Next fall is wedding season! I have at least three weddings, and I'm in one and am going to Florida for one. What awesome motivation to lose the baby weight!!
Jeff's parents have been visiting since the day after Christmas, so it's nice to spend some down time with them, too. They've been put to work around our house - standard operating procedure any time they come down :) Rumor has it that there is painting going on today; which would be awesome!!
Yet another great Christmas gift, my cousin Megan gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday (December 27), Lily Taylor. Lily weighed in at 7lbs, 9oz, and is precious. She didn't cry the whole time I was visiting (although I'm sure she'll make up for it later!) It was nice to hold a baby that wasn't intent on putting her foot in my right ribcage!
We are very blessed to have such a great family, and to be given the opportunity to spend time with everyone at the holidays, and all year round! BabyW is looking forward to meeting all of these great people!
12.16.2007
6.5-month belly shot
How does this look for the front of our Christmas card? Kidding, of course; but I'm to the point where perfect strangers are asking me when I'm due. I haven't yet been mean enough to deny that I'm pregnant. The "winter storm" hit yesterday and overnight; here is a picture of what I did all day; with the fire going and the Christmas lights lit, I wore the DVD player out yesterday (literally. We now don't have a working DVD player. We got a good five year run out of the great gift from Kate's wedding, though! )
Hope you're staying safe, warm and dry where you are - I haven't been out of the house since Friday night, but I'm going to try to brave the one-mile trip to church this morning.
12.14.2007
Yet another Dr visit
Nothing to be concerned about.... since my ultrasound on Wednesday was supposed to include a doctor visit, and the doctor was called into delivery, I had a follow-up appointment on Thursday. I confirmed why I was getting the ultrasound in the first place, and learned some new things.
The doc was concerned about how small I was measuring for how far along I was; plus that I was carrying so low. So, the results.... the baby is measuring bigger than 28 weeks, but mommy is measuring smaller than 28 weeks. No, not by weight gain, but by fundal height. My official weight gain is pushing 25 pounds, and that's without taking into account that I was heavier than my ideal weight when I got pregnant! The target weight gain is 25-35 pounds, so looks like I'll be working on losing this for a long time to come :) That's okay, though - it's worth it!
Baby's head is down, probably will stay that way - everything looks good, and I'm finally to the point where sleeping on my back actually does affect my breathing. It hasn't up until now, and so I just keep sleeping on my back, despite hearing I'm not supposed to (some things can't be helped!). I was concerned that somehow it was hurting the baby, even if it wasn't affecting me. However, now it IS affecting me, and I'm even dreaming about it (dream about swimming the butterfly leg of the Medley Relay and losing my breath....If i could even swim the butterfly at month 6 in my pregnancy, I think I should win a medal). So, bring it on, left side!
That's my udpate for the day. I'm to the point where I'll be seeing the doc every two weeks for a while, until the point I go to weekly visits. I've visited one pediatrician, who I liked, and I have an appointment with a second (who will probably be the winner, from what I've heard....)
Have a great weekend! Be careful out there, if you're somewhere that they're predicting all this snow!
The doc was concerned about how small I was measuring for how far along I was; plus that I was carrying so low. So, the results.... the baby is measuring bigger than 28 weeks, but mommy is measuring smaller than 28 weeks. No, not by weight gain, but by fundal height. My official weight gain is pushing 25 pounds, and that's without taking into account that I was heavier than my ideal weight when I got pregnant! The target weight gain is 25-35 pounds, so looks like I'll be working on losing this for a long time to come :) That's okay, though - it's worth it!
Baby's head is down, probably will stay that way - everything looks good, and I'm finally to the point where sleeping on my back actually does affect my breathing. It hasn't up until now, and so I just keep sleeping on my back, despite hearing I'm not supposed to (some things can't be helped!). I was concerned that somehow it was hurting the baby, even if it wasn't affecting me. However, now it IS affecting me, and I'm even dreaming about it (dream about swimming the butterfly leg of the Medley Relay and losing my breath....If i could even swim the butterfly at month 6 in my pregnancy, I think I should win a medal). So, bring it on, left side!
That's my udpate for the day. I'm to the point where I'll be seeing the doc every two weeks for a while, until the point I go to weekly visits. I've visited one pediatrician, who I liked, and I have an appointment with a second (who will probably be the winner, from what I've heard....)
Have a great weekend! Be careful out there, if you're somewhere that they're predicting all this snow!
12.12.2007
3 Ultrasounds, 3 Weeks
Today was my scheduled ultrasound with the technician. This is the one that was scheduled two weeks ago when my doctor was "concerned" about how low I'm carrying, and I made him go ahead and do one that day - he still wanted me to get in with the tech for more accurate measurements. In the meantime, I've had yet another ultrasound, since I had some weird things happen last weekend.
Today's was a good ultrasound; we got to see things more clearly with the technician driving. We even saw hair! (well, I would have had no idea it was hair, and am still shocked that anyone could TELL it was hair, but that's what she said....)
The scariest part? When she said that the baby was measuring for a March 28 delivery! What?!?!?! "Um, I mean FEBRUARY 28, sorry!!" So, either I'm going to go earlier than anticipated, or I'm going to have a huge baby. Jeff asked if it was "bad" that the baby was measuring big. She said no, big babies are better than small babies. I pointed out that sure, that's easy for everyone ELSE in the room to say, since this "big baby" is not coming out of their bodies!! However, of course I want a healthy baby above all, and if that means 10 pounds, bring it on! I'll be on drugs anyway.
Heart rate was in the 150s. They still say it's an old wives' tale, being able to determine gender based on the heart rate, but for curious minds, I wanted to let you know.
She did say that I don't necessarily look six months pregnant. I hope that pays off after the baby is born, but I doubt it with the amount of chocolate I have been eating for the past 28 weeks! Baby is moving quite a bit more now than it was at the end of November, Lucas is starting to figure out something is coming up, and I think we may finally have names picked out for a boy AND a girl. Now if we could just pick paint colors for the nursery!
Today's was a good ultrasound; we got to see things more clearly with the technician driving. We even saw hair! (well, I would have had no idea it was hair, and am still shocked that anyone could TELL it was hair, but that's what she said....)
The scariest part? When she said that the baby was measuring for a March 28 delivery! What?!?!?! "Um, I mean FEBRUARY 28, sorry!!" So, either I'm going to go earlier than anticipated, or I'm going to have a huge baby. Jeff asked if it was "bad" that the baby was measuring big. She said no, big babies are better than small babies. I pointed out that sure, that's easy for everyone ELSE in the room to say, since this "big baby" is not coming out of their bodies!! However, of course I want a healthy baby above all, and if that means 10 pounds, bring it on! I'll be on drugs anyway.
Heart rate was in the 150s. They still say it's an old wives' tale, being able to determine gender based on the heart rate, but for curious minds, I wanted to let you know.
She did say that I don't necessarily look six months pregnant. I hope that pays off after the baby is born, but I doubt it with the amount of chocolate I have been eating for the past 28 weeks! Baby is moving quite a bit more now than it was at the end of November, Lucas is starting to figure out something is coming up, and I think we may finally have names picked out for a boy AND a girl. Now if we could just pick paint colors for the nursery!
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