Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Baby Update {Just another Manic Monday}
Hi all! Wanted to give you a quick update. I had another appointment yesterday with our wonderful midwife, Jan {she's sort of my favorite} and we had a NST along with the regular midwife's appointment. And we got some GREAT news.
My 24 hour urine results came back and the protein levels were much more acceptable so that means, no early preeclampsia. {Wouldn't have it just been easier to tell us on Friday that it wasn't a definite thing??}
Anyways...since it is not preeclampsia, that means it is just Pregnancy Hypertension or high blood pressure. Bed rest is still key but Jan does not think we will even go to 39 weeks. She basically told me that Thursday will be very telling and that I need to have my hospital bag packed because at any of these appointments they could be sending me straight over to the hospital to get bebe Hud out.
The surprising thing? For once, I didn't panic. I called J and he was supportive as ever....I think we were both relieved that it isn't preeclampsia {yet...although there is a chance this could develop into preeclampsia}.
I was able to talk to Jan about induction options. I have been against pitocin from the beginning and knowing now that I will have no choice but to be induced {unless he comes early on his own accord} I want to know my options. We spoke about a foley bulb {inserted into the cervix. The inflated end of the catheter applies pressure to the cervix which helps the cervix open or dilate. When the cervix opens to 3 cm, the catheter will slide out on its own and the labor may start without any medicines.}Obviously the non medicine route is the one we would like to take but know that every L&D is different so we are keeping our options open. We want what is going to be best for Hudson.
Next appointment is on Thursday, we'll have another Ultrasound {maybe he'll cooperate and we can see his face!} so I'll try to do another post that afternoon or next day. And one of these days I promise I'm going to get an up to date bump picture {it doesn't seem like there has been much progress on that front so I haven't taken one}
Until then....
Sunday, December 16, 2012
36 Weeks {Just another P}
I have been dragging my feet on this post a little bit because at first I wanted to wait until after our 36 week appointment with our midwife, but Thursday's appointment came and went, and 2 midwife appointments and 3 days later I think I am finally ready to talk about what we learned.
Remember all those other P's I talked about...wayyyyy back at 18 weeks? Well I was thinking once the Previa went away we would be free and clear of any complications.....a girl can hope...right?
Thursday's appointment started off without a hitch, until they took my blood pressure. Normally my resting is around 114/68 or so and this week? 132/92...they were a little concerned but my midwife told me that baby's heartbeat sounded great {still in the 130s} and that maybe it was just a little raised because of a stressful day. She said...We will just check it again at the end of your appointment--perfect. She did the Beta Strep swab and cervical exam {1cm dilated and already 80% effaced....Off to a great start!}
She takes my blood pressure again and I'm back down to 118/76...much better. We'll just keep an eye on it and check you at your next week's appointment {once a week now..in the home stretch!}. So I get dressed and am putting on my shoes when she rushes back in, so glad she caught me...
....I think...this can't be good. And ask her what's up. I have proteins in my urine and coupled with the high blood pressure she is concerned I may have early preeclampsia.She tells me I need to stay home from work on Friday, in bed as much as possible and do a blood panel and a 24 hour urine, then come back to see her or one of the other midwives. {24 hour urine test is super gross, basically you pee into this jug for 24 hours then take it in to the lab and they test it for proteins}
Thursday night J was closing at work and luckily someone was able to come in. I was a little bit of a mess because everyone kept asking me if I was feeling okay, like they expected me to fall out on the floor right there. J rushed home {picked up dinner} and did an amazing job spoiling me and being my rock. Although he is usually the worry wart but throughout this pregnancy whenever something happens, he has been the level headed one who keeps me grounded.
Friday we were both home from work, and since the midwife stressed that I take it easy on Friday, J was doing all the last minute things to pick up the house {my mom and sister, conveniently, were coming into town!}. So I basically laid around and peed in a jug-I was so bored. I prayed that it was a freak combination and that maybe I just spilled some protein-something the midwife said was a possibility.
We went back to the midwife around 3, my bloodwork looked great, urine was a protein +2 {which is not high at all...just high enough} but my BP was again at 138/92...
Hallie, one of our midwives, listened to baby again {BP still around 130s and where he should be} then talked about my lifestyle. What do you do for work? I told her I was an event planner, but mostly sat at a desk all day, not running around and I didn't consider it really stressful. Unfortunately, she did not agree. Event planning=Stressful Profession. Hudson will not be making it to the full 40 weeks, but hopefully to at least 38 or 39.
Even though my preeclampsia is early and very mild, it will only get worse. And ideally, Hudson will be able to stay in as long as possible...as long as it's safe for the both of us. The positive side of Friday's appointment? We got to have another ultrasound. Although, he was very uncooperative and did not want to be messed with. She tried so hard to get him to show us his face and he was just not having it. Hands covering his face and feet covering his boy bits he hunkered down in a baby cannon ball. Good news? He is still head down, facing my back bone {probably why I keep getting his hiney poking out} and growth is right on track. Measuring at 5 lbs 7 oz {obviously give or take a lb}.
With the preeclampsia, I'll start going twice a week to see our midwives. Tomorrow I will go for a NST {Non-stress test} then Thursday for another ultrasound, both days meeting with my midwife to check my blood pressure and talk about a plan.
The worst part? I am officially on bed rest, only supposed to be getting up and moving around to shower, use the bathroom and eat. This is going to be the biggest challenge for me, I am not good at sitting still and hate making everyone else do the things I can't. My mom and sister are here, mom went to the store and cooked up close to 20 meals to freeze for J and I, since I won't be cooking. All I could do was sit there and watch {mom let me chop onions....woo hoo?} Already not a fan of bed rest and I'm only on day 3....
How far along? 36 WeeksThursday night J was closing at work and luckily someone was able to come in. I was a little bit of a mess because everyone kept asking me if I was feeling okay, like they expected me to fall out on the floor right there. J rushed home {picked up dinner} and did an amazing job spoiling me and being my rock. Although he is usually the worry wart but throughout this pregnancy whenever something happens, he has been the level headed one who keeps me grounded.
Friday we were both home from work, and since the midwife stressed that I take it easy on Friday, J was doing all the last minute things to pick up the house {my mom and sister, conveniently, were coming into town!}. So I basically laid around and peed in a jug-I was so bored. I prayed that it was a freak combination and that maybe I just spilled some protein-something the midwife said was a possibility.
We went back to the midwife around 3, my bloodwork looked great, urine was a protein +2 {which is not high at all...just high enough} but my BP was again at 138/92...
Hallie, one of our midwives, listened to baby again {BP still around 130s and where he should be} then talked about my lifestyle. What do you do for work? I told her I was an event planner, but mostly sat at a desk all day, not running around and I didn't consider it really stressful. Unfortunately, she did not agree. Event planning=Stressful Profession. Hudson will not be making it to the full 40 weeks, but hopefully to at least 38 or 39.
Even though my preeclampsia is early and very mild, it will only get worse. And ideally, Hudson will be able to stay in as long as possible...as long as it's safe for the both of us. The positive side of Friday's appointment? We got to have another ultrasound. Although, he was very uncooperative and did not want to be messed with. She tried so hard to get him to show us his face and he was just not having it. Hands covering his face and feet covering his boy bits he hunkered down in a baby cannon ball. Good news? He is still head down, facing my back bone {probably why I keep getting his hiney poking out} and growth is right on track. Measuring at 5 lbs 7 oz {obviously give or take a lb}.
With the preeclampsia, I'll start going twice a week to see our midwives. Tomorrow I will go for a NST {Non-stress test} then Thursday for another ultrasound, both days meeting with my midwife to check my blood pressure and talk about a plan.
The worst part? I am officially on bed rest, only supposed to be getting up and moving around to shower, use the bathroom and eat. This is going to be the biggest challenge for me, I am not good at sitting still and hate making everyone else do the things I can't. My mom and sister are here, mom went to the store and cooked up close to 20 meals to freeze for J and I, since I won't be cooking. All I could do was sit there and watch {mom let me chop onions....woo hoo?} Already not a fan of bed rest and I'm only on day 3....
Countdown: 1 month {hopefully}
Size: Up to about 5 lbs 7oz {says the ultrasound we had on Friday}
Total weight gain: +25 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yes, but still mixing them with some of my regular clothes
Stretch marks? Getting worse but they're mostly skin toned so only I notice them
Sleep: Sleeping in the guest room is helpful because the mattress in there is firmer and I don't have to battle with a wiggly husband who can never get comfortable.
Best moment this week: Seeing our baby {even if he didn't cooperate and show us his face}
Miss Anything? Definitely wine
Movement:Shifting positions but no real kicks/jabs/punches
Food cravings: Wanting "fresh" things. Smoothies, veggies, fruits
Anything making you queasy or sick:Nope!
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks with back pain...especially when I have been too active. Which apparently I'm not allowed to do anymore so I'm sure some of these will stop
Symptoms: High blood pressure {for me}and peeing every 5 seconds.
Belly Button in or out? Barely in...I don't think it's going to pop though.
Wedding rings on or off? I'm down to wearing just one band...I'm getting sick of taking them on and off at night
Happy or Moody most of the time: Getting a little more moody, but I think that has to do with the whole, not having a plan thing.
Looking forward to: Thursday when we get to have another ultrasound
Next Appointment: Monday....twice a week from now until he comes!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mini Series: Wedded Bliss...{Intro & The Proposal}
So a few bloggers I follow are getting married soon and I can't help but think back to that stressful time in life.
Because let's be honest...it is really stressful.
Do you hire a planner, what do you splurge on and where do you cut corners, what really matters and what do you obsess over because you think that part has to be perfect?
There are a billion questions and details that run through your mind and for me, that happened meer hours after I said "yes" while bawling my eyes out on Christmas Eve 2010 standing under that spotlit tree, in the snow, with the most beautiful diamond I had ever seen. {Of course I am biased}
So I was thinking...I should do a mini series on weddings since it is an obsession a love of mine. If I weren't an event planner for larger events I would be planning weddings every day for the rest of my life.
Without further ado, I'm going to start at the beginning. The proposal, of course!
Here is our proposal story. Since I am a control freak, when J took me ring shopping after visiting almost every store and trying on every shape and setting possible...I said "I want that one, and I want you to buy it right now" and so he wouldn't lose the ring of my dreams...he did just that.
The ring is so important and you really have to stay true to what you love. I had always dreamed of a Tacori 3 stone ring with tons of detail and when it got down to it, I put that ring on and had zero connection to it. My heart was pulled to a simple, classic, round cut solitaire with a high setting---a ring that sparkled. Something so simple and classic that if I decided to, I could pass down to our children one day and it would still be in vogue. Two years later....that ring was presented to me and I still loved it then as much as the day I picked it out.
Gents....stick with the surprise. Even if she says she doesn't want a surprise {like me-I almost ruined it by trying to cop out of the family tradition} it will mean so much to her than you went to such lengths to keep it a secret and make it memorable--FOR HER.
It isn't about extravagance. You need to focus on what's important to you all as a couple, for us...it was family. And to be honest, although I said I wanted it to be some extravagant thing in public where our friends and family popped out at the end...it was so much more special the way that it happened....it was us.
Girls....Don't play detective!!! I got my hopes up so many times thinking he was going to do it {since we had the ring for 2 years, I knew where it was "hidden" or in our case...where it was taunting me} and before any big occasion or date night I would check. just don't do it. It will ruin the night or occasion because you will be wondering when it will happen. Let the man be the man!
{Photo Creds: www.bethanyboone.com}
Mini Series: Wedded Bliss {Our proposal}
I started a mini series and realized...I never told our story! And I may be biased...but I think it's a pret-ty good one.
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| The top to said very unattractive outfit. |
Rewind to Christmas 2010. Our years old Christmas tradition is to get together with his cousin E {she was a Jr. Bridesmaid in our wedding} and do some sort of fun craft. This year? We chose to make Hard Candy. So the three of us, along with J's younger brother and his girlfriend came over and we spent all day goofing off, making candy and getting excited for that night. See J's family has a tradition of their own, every Christmas Eve they all get together at his grandparents' house and play BINGO for money, lotto tickets and other fun prizes {everyone brings a thing or two}.
Once everyone left I started to feel really bad, overtired, and just dragging I sent J and text message asking him... "how bad would it be if I missed BINGO this one time? I feel like death and I never win anyways" and we went back and forth..."they never get to see us since we live in North Carolina...you need to come" was the final verdict. I complained to my parents that I really didn't want to go and my dad made a comment "Maybe this will be the best game of BINGO you have played in your life" I told him not to be an asshole {joking of course, I wouldn't ever purposefully be disrespectful to my parents} and went upstairs to take a quick nap.
After said nap and throwing on the most unattractive outfit I could have packed, headed to J's parents' house to help carrying things over {his parents, grandparents and aunt/uncle all live within walking distance} so instead of driving over we decided to walk since we hadn't had any time to ourselves and I wasn't feeling the best.
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| My rigged BINGO card |
We got to his grandparents' and visited with everyone, ate then all hunkered down in the living room to play BINGO. 8 rounds we played that year {me with another crappy card that I continued to flip back and forth even though it was against the rules}....and by the 9th round we were all ready to go to bed, stomachs full. But his Memaw said this would be the last round, and that we wouldn't be playing for the normal prizes....there was a special surprise outside that was too large to carry in.
This new development had us all wondering what it was....I was thinking...it has to be something like a TV! She is stumbling through the numbers {J's uncle and cousin usually control the announcing but she said they were moving too slow and she was taking over} and we're all complaining that we just want coffee and dessert. Then BAM it happened...I WON!
And like a complete fool I start jumping up and down. Y'all I wasn't kidding when I said I NEVER win at BINGO....like seriously never. And hello....I had just hit the jackpot! I was so deliriously excited that I didn't even see J duck out of the room. I race to the front door and turn to see that no one has followed me...I say "Uhm hello....y'all don't want to see what I won?!" nope, no one was interested....
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| This is a cell phone picture but the only one I apparently took... |
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| The ring |
Don't ask me specifics on what happened next because all I can remember is J on one knee saying something, me shaking and bawling--saying YES, us kissing, running inside {where of course everyone already knew} and texting/calling everyone we knew. Bless his heart because I had been flipping my card every single round, completely oblivious to the fact that J had memorized the numbers on one side of my card-gone to the kitchen-done some 007 sneaky number swap with his Memaw and had rigged the game...I almost blew it
In the end, I am glad that this one holiday, this one big occasion I steeled myself and didn't check the ring before we left our home in Charlotte, NC. I am so glad he chose to propose around our family, and that he put so much effort into making the proposal something I would never forget...
I can admit I am very biased...but I caught a keeper. A man who knows what I like and what I don't and what is best for me even if I don't agree...
Thank you, dear husband, for making this night one I will never forget, and for bearing with me when I almost ruined the surprise....on multiple occasions :)
Sunday, December 9, 2012
35 weeks
I need to start this post by saying...bless my hubby's heart. He's a good man who puts up with my crazy schenanigans. In this case? It was a serious case of "nesting" completely out of the blue. Yesterday morning I got up and decided I needed to do some laundry, then got downstairs and decided I needed to wipe EVERYTHING down with Clorox wipes. I'm talking walls, doors, floor trim and any non fabric accessory within reach. While obsessively cleaning I got the idea that the family room furniture HAD to be moved and it had to be done right that minute.
And I must say, a deep clean, new arrangement and holiday decorations had me sleeping like a baby last night {except for the 3 dreams that woke me up panicking thinking that I was in labor}.
Pictures of the new set up are below and the 35 week baby bump is on its way, but until then...here's the update!
How far along? As of Wednesday, officially 35 weeksCountdown: 5 weeks left!
Size: Up to about 5.8 lbs and around 18.7 inches, and he is right on track. No longer measuring big! Coconut size?
Total weight gain: +25 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yes, but still mixing them with some of my regular clothes
Stretch marks? Same
Sleep: Sleeping better...it's the avoidance thing...I'm telling you
Best moment this week: My work family threw me a baby shower!
Miss Anything? Definitely wine
Movement: I think he is definitely running out of room. Much less movement {flips/kicks/jabs} and more of the fluid...I can't move my arm anymore
Food cravings: None.I'm back to...nothing sounds good.
Anything making you queasy or sick:Nope!
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks with back pain...especially when I have been too active.
Symptoms: Lower back pain...pretty constant and just uncomfortable.
Belly Button in or out? Barely in...I don't think it's going to pop though.
Wedding rings on or off? I'm down to wearing just one band...I'm getting sick of taking them on and off at night
Happy or Moody most of the time: Getting a little more moody, but I think that has to do with the whole, not having a plan thing.
Looking forward to: Appointment next week and my Momma coming down! Next Appointment: Next week! December 13th...we're going to ask the midwife if we can drive home to Virginia for Christmas...cross your fingers?
Thursday, December 6, 2012
What's the plan...
Wow...I am that horrible blogger who has come to the point in the road where I am only blogging once a week....when I have to do my weekly bump update???
How did it come to this?!
Unacceptable
Here I am world...turning over a new...diaper?
It seems like all my brain is filled with these days is avoiding thinking about the fact that my son will be here in around 5 weeks. Granted we are completely and totally ready but I would also be completely and totally lying to you if I told you it didn't freak me out just a little bit.
See, as many of you know...J and I live right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Our parents? Live 5 minutes apart from each other....5 hours away...from us.
Sucks, right?
This makes it really difficult for me to even think about how it is going to be when I go into labor. And if you have read anything in the About Me section...you know how anal retentive I am about having a plan. My poor husband still doesn't quite grasp the concept that I have to have something in writing outlining exactly what is going to happen. And that whole...outline thing...HASN'T HAPPENED YET.
I realize I still have 5 weeks but still, any time I think about it....well we just aren't going to go there.
When will everyone come down? Where will they all stay? Will they be offended if I only want immediate family at the hospital? What if I want them to leave their beloved pets {who they always bring with them} at home? What if I get home from the hospital and completely lose my shit on someone because I'm exhausted from pushing a 6-9lb baby out without drugs??
These questions....this is why I haven't been blogging. Avoidance, my friends...avoidance.
What advice do you have for a plan? And please don't tell me..."Don't make one" because then I might really lose it....
.....just kidding!
But not really...
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