Should I Be Admitted?

I think my hubby was about to admit me yesterday...to the mental ward!!! :o)

What do you think? Was I behaving normally, or would you describe it as last-ditch efforts to go into labor?

I laundered 3 loads, I vacuumed both floors, I mopped the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. I thoroughly washed the living room window, inside and out (Yes, it was 32 degrees outside, but I had an extension handle thingy for that part with a sponge and squeegy so it took only 5 minutes!), and dusted our bedroom.

Verdict?

Hanging In There

"How low can you go?" is how I would describe the state of my belly these days. Though according to my doc yesterday, this little boy still has room to drop...that's hard for me to imagine.

Anywho--she did have some good news for me! Apparently I went from not being dilated at all last Friday to being 2 centimeters! YAHOO! Of course, that's not indicative of labor in the next day or so, but you never know! I was 2 1/2 the day I went into labor with Natalia, but that was 2 days past 40 wks.

When Pete heard the report and came home from school yesterday, he asked if I wanted to go to BOSTON MARKET for dinner. Why there? Well, that was our "last meal" before going to the hospital to have Natalia. (It didn't work...nice try though Honey!)

All in all, everything is ready for the big day and I'm just going about my normal routine. I'm finding my anxiousness is a bit less than last week after not being dilated at all. Now, I'm just trying to enjoy each moment before the big transition to being a family of 4.

We'll keep you updated...

Waiting

Cramping, Softening, But Not Dilating.

That's probably enough information.

I'm praying this Friday's doctor's appointment yields some news of the latter of those categories.

The Latest Development

This morning I had my much-anticipated doctor's appointment with the specialist, and...the news was good.

My placenta is completely normal, the lakes I've referred to earlier haven't grown and there's enough room (though Adam and Momma may debate it) for this little man to grow as much as he needs. According to his measurements today the specialist was guestimating that he could be a 9 pounder. (I'm not surprised since Natalia was nearly that at 2 days late.)

I got another glimpse of his face today at the specialist's office--ahhhh, the wonders of technology these days. Albeit there was usually a fist in the way or some unexplained blob, but what I could see made my heart skip a beat...he has the same squooshed nose and plump cheeks as his big sister!

I'm already eating him up... :o)
(Some of you may remember how we wondered if Natalia even HAD a neck for the first few months, her cheeks were so big and delicious.)

Now we just have to sit back and wait since it looks like we're just letting nature take it's course--no early induction plan at this point.

What A Load!

This is for you Rebecca! :oD

...and for all of you out there who haven't seen my belly lately. There's plenty of it!

Ya' think I look 8 1/2 months pregnant?!!!

Our Little Boy

I had another ECHO/3-D ultrasound last week, and everything looks good. Adam's heart and vital organs continue to appear normal. (We actually got to see he's all boy--up close) :oP

And, at one point the doc even caught this little smirk (reflex? gas? who knows?)


From the measurements they took they determined he's about 3 lbs. now, which is within the normal range.

The only thing the specialist mentioned, which I asked him to clarify, was that I had a few placental lakes.


OB HEALTH LESSON 101: Placental lakes are enlarged spaces in the placenta filled with maternal blood. These spaces are also called intervillous spaces because they are found between the placental villi (the finger-like projections of the placenta that contain fetal blood vessels). The placental villi float in the intervillous spaces and absorb oxygen and nutrients from the maternal blood.


Most docs don't even mention these because more likely than not, they pose no problems to the mother or the baby, but they can result in slight prematurity and/or low birth weight. And, with the way ultrasounds and imaging are constantly improving, they're discovering that most women develop these in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. So the mere presence of placental lakes is quite normal.


My doctor isn't concerned, but they do want to see me again in 6 weeks to take Baby Adam's measurements. It still befuddles my mind what they can do these days!


On a personal note, I'm pretty much the same. Sleeping is becoming more and more of an issue, but thanks to more pillows, my leg numbness hasn't been too bad, just alot of flipping from side to side. (more like rolling)


My appetite has been in a bit of a slump. I eat when I'm hungry (which is every 2-3 hours) but I find things just taste differently again. I'm hoping the nausea that some women get again in the last trimester will pass me by. Other than that, my belly just feels really heavy (like a bowling ball) and my ribs are starting to feel smooshed and sore. No kicks to the ribs yet--just everywhere else! :o)


I've said it before I think, but this little boy is giving every indication that he is going to be one-on-the-move! Hmmmm...that sounds familiar. :o)

Aren't They Pretty?

Well, we'll see if my first attempt works...so far nearly all of my lids have "popped". That's a good thing though--it means the lids have sealed properly.

My mom came over yesterday to help me with my 1/2 bushel, which yielded 18--16 oz. jars of small diced tomatoes. It's a good thing she did too because SOMEONE, who will remain nameless, did not nap yesterday despite many attempt on Mommy's part prior to starting the project. And it is a project. Canning is one of those things that once you start, you've got to keep going. Time is of the essence!

I asked my mom, how did you do this when my siblings and I were young? "You relied on them taking a nice long nap!" she said. :o) I'm so glad she was here. By the end of our 2 1/2 hour project I was exhausted...still hoping for that increase in energy!

Here is the end product. Aren't they pretty?

On another note, tonight Natalia and I are headed into the mall. I am still searching for a decent fitting pair of maternity jean capris. It's difficult enough for me to find the non-maternity kind, but I've decided to go to Motherhood Maternity. I'll bite the bullet and hope for a sale! (I just despise spending alot of money.)

I know I've got it pretty easy since a wide selection of maternity things are readily available these days, unlike when my mom would make her own--but it's ridiculous what they charge sometimes! One nice thing is that at least the current style for regular T-shirts is the long length--great for pregnant bellies and less costly than "maternity" T's.

Pray for success-I'm such a run in and run out shopper these days!

Cravings

Strange things are happening...

I tell ya, pregnancy is a marvelous and PUZZLING phenomenon!

Those who know me well, and know my extreme adversion to pretty much all seafood, know how much I dislike fish. The smell of fish, the taste of fish, even the thought of fish will turn me green most days. Not today.

I craved...and I mean CRAVED a fish sandwich.

Mind you it was fried and topped with cheese and tartar sauce...it was wonderful. :-P

Other recent cravings haven't been so wierd. Steak! (must need more protein) Salad! (I know I always need more veggies) and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream (who doesn't need that???) Those complex carbs I practically lived on during the first two months hold little appeal now. Really! How can crackers and toast compare to steak? You tell me.

Coming Out Of Hibernation

Oh, what a breath of fresh air and warm sunshine will do!

This morning I awoke with a pounding headache and every muscle felt sore--must have been having some wacky dreams! But, after 2 Tylenol, tea and toast, I was determined to power through and actually try to accomplish the grocery shopping before lunch.

With feeling so completely wiped out these last 3 weeks ENERGY was part of the issue--but the even greater reason was all of the combined smells of the place. (And it's a very clean, well-kept store!) As I told my mom last night, I've had trouble even walking through the cereal aisle. That's how keen my smeller has been. Hmmm...under different circumstances I could replace the drug-sniffing dogs, but I digress.

Well, I am happy to report that Natalia and I were victorious this morning. No hurling or collapsing. :-P Praise the Lord!

Maybe the nausea is lessening just a bit. Wierd, since I stopped taking the ginger root and Vit. B6 last Friday. Just didn't feel they were making that big of a difference and I wanted to see what stopping them would do. Maybe I'll be one of the fortunate ones this time and this yucky bout will be short-lived.

All I can say is, I feel like a bear coming out of a long hibernation. And after so many rainy days, the sunshine was calling to me...