Liam's Latest Update

Today's 35 week appointment went well. I am now at 2 cm and still 80% effaced. So I have progressed half a cm over the past few days but nothing else. The doctor also suggested that I get off of the pill I've been on because of how lousy it has been making me feel. She says the pill won't stop labor it will just ease the discomfort, but I am not in active labor at this point. She seems to think that I may feel better without the pill and so I'm going to try and stay off it and see what happens. The contractions and cramping may come back but she has had women deal with those kind of things months before labor. She said that if I was earlier than 35 weeks she would be concerned but that she isn't concerned at this point and to take the pill if I didn't want to deal with the nagging idea of "should we go in" or "should we wait it out."

The ultrasound was perfect and Liam looks perfect in every way. I couldn't make out much in the pictures but he was keeping his hands in front of his face and wouldn't cooperate. Right now he weighs 5.8 lbs and she said that even if I carried him full term he would only be around 7 to 7.5 lbs. She also said that if I still felt this way at 38 weeks she would induce and he would be around 6.5 or a high 6 lbs baby. I was thrilled with that. Small baby :). . .

So now we wait. I'm not technically on bed rest. She just suggested that I take it easy and call if I can't handle the discomfort. Its hard to play a waiting game and not have any control over what your body is wanting to do. We are just praying he stays in a few more weeks and that I can handle the discomfort that comes along with it.

On a funny note she did say that there was a lot of amniotic fluid around him which was wonderful but that when my water broke it would be a huge gush not just a small leakage. So here I am a ticking time bomb just waiting to feel something or feel nothing. Being pregnant is a strange and wonderful thing all at the same time. So here's to waiting. . . .

The Latest

I thought I would share quickly what has happened over the past few days. I started having some minor cramping Wednesday night that continued all day Thursday and into Friday. I had both showers this past weekend and was a little nervous about the cramping I was experiencing. So after I called the doctor she suggested I go into Labor and Delivery and get checked out for peace of mind. I debated it ALL day and finally decided around 5:00 that we should go in. Once we got there and got settled, I was hooked to a fetal monitor and found out I was contracting every 3 to 5 minutes. I then got checked and was almost 2 cm and 80% effaced. To my shock they told me that I needed to get the labor stopped seeing that I was not even 35 weeks yet. After a series of three shots of, a drug that stops labor, I was sent home but not before a long visit with the trash can on the way out. Needless to say it was no fun. I was terribly upset seeing that I had two showers upcoming.

Saturday morning I woke up with the same cramping and called the doctor. They prescribed me the pill form of the shots I had been given. The shots/pill both cause shaking, dizziness, and heart racing. I was not feeling to great but managed to make it to my shower with my high school friends hosted by Jessica Van Trease. It was an amazing shower and I am so blessed to have them. Then yesterday I had my TDF shower and was beyond overwhelmed with everything I got. I even had to leave the shower for a bit because I was feeling so bad, but I managed to make it through. Thanks to Jenny and Jess everything got put away washed and organized all while I watched from the couch. I've been told to rest only.

So today I've had a few contractions here and there but I go in tomorrow for my ultrasound and to get checked again. We will see how big Liam is and go from there. Hopefully he will be big enough that my labor won't have to be controlled by the pill. I"m just really praying the Lord watches over both of us and that everything will work out.

There's the quick update. Not to formal just needed to get it down so that I can remember this. I'll update after the appointment tomorrow.

34 Weeks

I am officially only 6 weeks off from my due date. Last doctor appointment went well. Gained 2 more pounds putting me at 25 pounds now. I'm still thinking I'll top out at around 30 pounds. We took the tour of Summit and got to see the baby floor and where we would be staying. It made everything seem a lot more real. As far as symptoms go at this stage. I'm getting tired. I really don't want to stand for long periods of time and it's really difficult to breathe. Liam still moves constantly and has the hiccups sometimes four times a day. She said he will most likely have them that many times out of the womb too. FUN :)! It's hard at night now. I'm waking up almost every two hours from discomfort. It seems like every way I try to lay I get sore, have to use the bathroom, or can't breathe. I'm continuing to have my Braxton Hicks and I go in next week for our last ultrasound. My two baby showers are this week too on Saturday and Sunday :). I'm excited and thankful for those who love me enough to help. Once I have those things cleaned and put away, I will feel so much better about things. Things are moving along. I can't believe I'll be having a baby next month! :) I can't wait to see you Liam!

Richard continues to be very sweet and supportive. Everyone is overly protective and Richard still talks constantly to Liam calling him his buddy. :) I'm starting to get the "wow your really showing now" "that belly is sticking out" "I think it's grown in a few days". Oh the things people say. I have learned what not to say to someone who is pregnant!

8th Month Mark!

Today marks my 32 week and the beginning of my 8th month. I only have 5 more weeks until I reach the full term mark. Then Mr. Liam could come at anytime and be healthy! 5 weeks seems so close to be FULL TERM! I'm ready for it though. I can honestly feel my body getting more and more uncomfortable. I can definitely tell that this extra 23 lbs is taking it's toll one me. Symptoms are still the same just more intensified. I get tired just moving around which is not fun for me because I always like to do projects and clean. The breathing is getting harder and sleeping you can forget a full nights sleep. I woke up at least 5 times last night. The indigestion and heart burn is rough and I'm starting to wonder if this will ever end :). I know it's only going to get worse too. Hopefully if I gain a lb a week I'll be right at 30 lbs. That is if he takes 8 full more weeks. I really want to meet him. He is still actively rolling and moving from one side to the other. The kicks are slowly starting to dissipate but he definitely likes to roll and move. His hiccups happen about twice a day still and I can really tell he likes music and our pastor Rob's voice. He constantly moves when he hears either.

Next week we go in for a normal OB appointment, and we are also taking the tour of the labor unit. Then our next appointment will be his final ultrasound. This is the appointment I'm anxious for. We will see how big he is, what she thinks will be the best route for delivery will be, and if I've dilated any. Richard and are just anxious to see him one last time on the ultrasound :). He'll be so big.

I finished up the nursery as much as I had hoped. My showers are in a few weeks and I'm going to wait and see what I get there before I try and finish up a few last things in his room. But I feel prepared in that sense.

That's my update. Everything seems to be going as planned. I have truly been blessed in my pregnancy. Everything has gone smoothly and hopefully it will continue to do so. I'm just praying these last 7 or so weeks will go by quickly. My body might not be able to stand much more :)! I want to meet him too!

10 Weeks and Counting

Today marks my 30th week! I can definitely tell my body is changing. I'm reacting to the heat with swollen ankles and feet. I'm starting to feel nauseated after I eat things. I am having a much harder time sleeping and taking deep breaths, and I am getting A LOT bigger. I think the uncomfortable stage has successfully set it and I will still have 10 weeks OR LESS left or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

I know it doesn't sound fun but I'm trying to remember everything so I can look back on this the second time around and remember even the negatives. I went to the doctor on August 5th and everything looked great. My glucose test came back negative and I had gained right at about 20 pounds. I still can't believe I have room to gain anymore but hopefully I can stick right to 30 pounds by the time he gets here. I think a lot of it is fluid seeing that it's so terribly hot. I start going to the doctor every two weeks now. After mid September it will be every week. I'm getting anxious but can only imagine how ready I'll be to have this child out of me!! I'm ready to meet Mr. Liam.

The nursery furniture is in and set up. The hutch comes in today to the top of the dresser and then I can decorate. After my showers I'll hope to feel better about being prepared. We've registered at Target and are thankful for friends and family who giving our showers upcoming in September. I guess this all is really going to happen.

Liam is still supper active. He rolls and pushes and stretches now more than anything. He still pushes his butt and back up toward my belly button all the time, causing me to breath, and he gets the hiccups about three times a day. I so often wonder what he looks likes. It's still so hard to believe there is a human child inside me. What a God we have!

Well that's the latest update. I get his last ultrasound in 5 weeks and will know then just how big this baby is going to be :)!

Moving Right Along

It's been a month since I've updated and things are definitely changing. My last doctor's appointment went well. I had my 6 month glucose test and had to drink a sugary liquid to test for diabetes. That was no fun. After waiting an hour, I had my blood drawn, weighed in (16.5 pounds total), and met with Dr. McGuire. Liam's heart rate was at 153 and he measured perfectly. She answered a few of my questions about epidurals and concerns and said after this next appointment in August we would be in there every two weeks. I'm already at my two week appointments with only 13 weeks left to go. I know these last few months will go by so quickly. I'm ready to meet him. I can't get Karen's statement out of my head "It's like meeting someone new that you've already known."

In the past few weeks I've been feeling fairly normal. I haven't been extremely tired or fatigued. It is getting harder to breathe when Liam pushes himself toward my belly button, my back has started to ache after sitting for long periods of time, and it is getting challenging to find the perfect position to sleep in. I have had a few days of feeling miserable as far as stretching and aching goes and have learned that on some days you just feel off.

His movements have now turned to rolls and full blown rotating. He isn't just kicking anymore he is definitely growing out of room. I still can't make out exact body parts but I can definitely feel where he is and can't mistake a foot, elbow, or knee traveling from one side of my belly to the other. I can feel him kicking on my right side and all the way to the left. He is 2 lbs and 14.5 inches long. That's one skinny long baby. My belly is unmistakably pregnant now. People have started giving me the sympathy sweet smile when they notice I'm pregnant and I'm sure I'll be getting the questions soon enough. I can't believe I'm going to be entering my 3rd trimester in a week. The idea of growing a human life inside of me still blows my mind. I can't believe half of me and half of Richard have creating this miracle. I'm getting the itch to hold him now. I can't wait to just stare at him. I had my first nursing dream on the 11th. I don't remember his exact looks but I remember how elated I was. Soon enough he'll be here.

The room is officially painted and furniture is getting delivered tomorrow. My hutch is on backorder but the rest of the furniture will be put up as soon as we get home from vacation. I've picked out my fabrics for the baby bedding. Maria Murdock and Debbie Mynster are so graciously are gifting me with beautiful hand made items for his crib. My shower is on September 13th, and RIchard and I are looking forward to registering when we get home. Things are moving along quite quickly.

Emotionally I'm trying to cherish every second that I have now. I know it will never be the same, people have made that clear, so I am trying to cherish the now. Richard and I are ready to share the love we've found in each other and developed for the past 10 years with someone else. I think it will only draw us closer. I still just can't believe I'm at this stage in my life. It's where I have always wanted to be.

P.S.-This picture is at the last day of my 26th week. I wouldn't normally post my bare belly but since this blog is for my own record I decided only a choice few would see it.

June 17th Check Up

I went to the doctor last Wednesday. It was just a routine 15 minute check up. I weighed in and have gained about 12 pounds to date. Supposedly your suppose to gain in between 10 and 15 pounds so I'm right where I need to be. It still is no fun getting on that scale when you know the numbers can jump so drastically from the month before when you came in, but she did say the baby would double from last visit to this visit so that accounts for the extra 5 and a half pounds. We discussed c-sections and birthing classes and also got to hear the heartbeat. She said that as of now I look good for a vaginal birth but we would reconsider towards the end when we saw just how big Liam is going to be. She also said she didn't feel the birthing classes were necessary so I'm not sure that Richard and I will attempt those. We will see. My next visit is in three weeks. I'll have to drink the sugar drink and get my blood drawn for the glucose test. I'm not looking forward to it, but again it's part of it. His heart beat was at 159, she said he was excited. I think he always is. I can almost constantly feel him moving now even standing up, that is until someone wants to feel him kick and then of course his stops. It is such a surreal feeling to have a living being constantly moving in your body. It's just to hard to explain to someone who hasn't felt it.

This week we got the room painted with taupe and cream stripes. It's so cute. We went furniture shopping and I found exactly what I want from JCPenny but when we went to order it the shipping cost an extra 250 dollars so we decided to put it off for a bit. I don't know what I really want now but we will figure something out. I'm just glad the guest room and his room are semi-complete and painted now. I have 17 weeks left if I go full term which is really just 4 months. Ready to see what this baby looks like. I really would love to have a maternity photo session around 30 weeks or so. I have to capture this big belly, even though it's not my favorite :). There's just a lot to think about.......