Today, One Year Ago

I was just reading Heather's blog, "Mommy Only Has Two Hands" and saw she has a "Today A Year Ago' Thursday Blog Hop" going on and of course wanted to jump on in!

33 weeks pregnant.

This is my post from a year ago: The light at the end of the tunnel. Things were so crazy then, we were waiting to get a set date to be kicked out of our beautiful rental home as it was in foreclosure. I was working full time and Tom was home all day helping me with the kids, and took care of them while I worked at night. We had a roommate, I was 33 weeks pregnant and had been contracting on and off for 15-16 weeks already. We were getting ready to send Thomas to preschool. I was a nervous, psychotic, wreck!

39 weeks, appt and belly pic

Another week gone. Due date is Saturday/Monday, depending on what you want to go by. Yep, I found out my doctor had changed my due date to the 5th at some point. No clue when. It sucks when I was originally due on September 22nd. I am so over being pregnant right now. I hate saying this since I know very well after the 1st few days or week or so, I will definitely miss having Miss Bailey all to myself, the kicking, and the belly..but, for now, I am over pregnancy. I have done everything I could find on naturally inducing labor, except eating pineapple and acupuncture. And if I could do acupuncture at home, I would have done that as well.

Other than finding out my due date was changed again, my appointment was totally uneventful. I had another ultrasound 1st. Bailey is measuring 7 lbs 15 oz. To me, I thought that was strange since two weeks ago she was measuring 7 lbs 11 oz and I had *thought* babies were supposed to gain 1/2-1 lb per week in the last month. I am not complaining, the thought of pushing out an eight lb baby scares the bejesus out of me. We got a good face shot, unfortunately I can get a good photo of it and don't own a scanner. She looks just like me when I am miserable. Frowny face and all. Fluid is still borderline. Consistency is a good thing here. Heart rate was 128 BPM.

Then I went on for the appointment. Urine fine, BP was up but "normal" 128/72. No changes in my cervix, still 1cm dilated and 50% effaced, just like the last two weeks. Again, very soft. He said it feels a lot different than last week. I guess that is a good thing? I don't know. Bailey is just comfortable in there. I mentioned that her movement has decreased by at least 50% in the past week, which I had attributed to lack of space. So he scheduled me for a non-stress test on Friday morning. I was told to make sure I have a good breakfast first. Monday, my new due date, is my next appointment and another ultrasound to make sure she is still content in there. Sadly, I will not be seeing my OB that day. I will be seeing the on call OB, Dr. Farrentino.

Yep, my OB is on vacation as of today. If I deliver between now and October 11th, he will be delivering Miss. Bailey. If I make it to the 12th, which I hope I don't, I will get Dr. Sharpe. He is on vacation until then. The man only takes one vacation a year and this is just my luck...

I was very upset this entire pregnancy about the possibility of him not delivering me, was excited when I learned he would be, let down when told Bailey would be transferred, excited again when told how we would handle that, and now let down again since he is on vacation and Bailey has yet to make her appearance.

I am now okay with Farrentino delivering. He is one of my cousin's OB's and is known for having the birthing partner help deliver/"catch" the baby. My cousin actually was the one to hold onto his son's head and help guide him out as his fiance pushed. He was the 1st person to hold the baby, even before the OB. I think that is awesome. Tom is a bit apprehensive about the whole idea of "catching" Bailey, but is starting to come around.

I guess that's everything.. I have finally at 6:41 pm on September 30th, given up hope of having another September baby.

Lastly, here is my latest belly picture, hopefully my last, as 39 weeks was the last with both boys:

38 wk appointment, ultrasound, and belly picture

Made it to yet another appointment.

Ultrasound was fine, we didn't measure Bailey, but just checked the fluids. Still borderline low. Bailey is still head down as well. She looks very cramped in there.

Appointment was normal. Urine fine, BP 112/70, weight down 1 lb from last week. Total gain: 11 lbs. I am the same as last week. 1 cm dilate, 50% effaced. Today he added that my "cervix is very soft, and ready for labor to begin." He also added some really crappy news. If I make it past my next appointment he may not be delivering. He will be on vacation from Sept. 30th-Oct. 7th. I know who will deliver if I go into labor during that window of time, but 1. I do not want to make it that far along, and 2. I have said this entire pregnancy I really want Dr. Sharpe to deliver my 3rd child. We were told this same thing when pregnant with Collin. My OB was going on Vacation on Jan. 19th, was going to induce on the 18th, but I had him on the 17th.

So I guess we will see...I hate not knowing what is going to happen.

Here is my latest belly picture:

Amateur Maternity Photo's

Can't afford the real thing, so here is what my hubby and son did for me.

37 , 1, and 50!

So had another OB appointment today with ultrasound. The ultrasound was fine. My fluid was borderline low again, but since it was an early appointment there is nothing to worry about since I throw up all morning and don't have any fluids in me. Bailey's heartbeat was 128, same area as always lately. She is also measuring bigger than both my boys were when born. 7 lbs 11 oz! Here's to hoping its way off if I go to 40 weeks. If I go until 40 weeks She should be 9-10 lbs.Yea. I don't really want that lol!

As for my appointment itself, I had my GBS swab done and am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Dr. Sharpe doesn't think I will follow in the boys pattern and deliver at 39.5-40 wks. I hope he is right. I definitely think the EPO I have been taking is working.

As for my delivery concerns. I will be delivering in Milford. If my delivery goes as perfect as it has in the past, I will be discharged when Bailey is transferred. If, heaven forbid, there are complications or I have a c-section, which we both highly doubt, I will be transferred with her to Yale. I couldn't be happier. I get to have my OB deliver, and will get to be with my daughter. No, I am still not happy or even content about her staying in the hospital, but I am now content about what will happen with me.

So now, here's to hoping I go into labor A.S.A.P!

And now, here is my 37 week photo.

36 week belly picture

I almost did it! I am just 3 days away from full term! Despite being so miserable physically, I am psyched!

35 week photo!

Less than 5 weeks until D-day is here!

Appointment, ultrasound, and belly pictures!

Tuesday afternoon was my 34 weeks appointment. Just a regular visit plus an ultrasound since my last OB visit my uterus was measuring smaller than my Dr. expected.
Unfortunately Tom had to miss the entire appointment due to being back at work, and will miss my next one as well. We are both upset about it, as he always has come to all my appointments. I swear between all three children, he has only missed 5 appointments so far, 3 of them being an ultrasound for each kiddo.

The ultrasound was first. Since it was to measure growth, we got an estimated weight, which is 5 lbs 13 oz. I know very well ultrasounds can be way off, but still it makes me feel really good knowing she is growing very well, considering she is supposed to be small based on all the research of I have read about methadone babies. Bailey was hard to see, as my amniotic fluid is low. I don't recall the number, but Dr. Sharpe said it was in the gray area. It was exactly where I remember it being with Collin. With Collin, the Dr. just told me to increase my fluids. I am not sure why, but this time he was more cautious. He told me to increase fluids, stay off my feet as much as possible, stay in air conditioning during the day, and to limit my activity. He told me if it drops much more I will be on bed rest. Then he asked if I was still working, I told him Sunday is my last day. He then told me, if I was still planning on working, he would have me stop now. I am of course a nervous wreck trying to figure out why with Collin it wasn't nearly as concerning as it is this time, at least this time she is head time and I am feeling her move constantly.. Oh, and the biggest reason I am so concerned and worried now..

He wants me to come in for weekly ultrasounds and ob visits. This is so new to me as I am used to not seeing him weekly until 38 weeks....

As for the rest of the appointment, urine was fine, bp was 100/60 as always, and my weight hasn't changed since my last appointment, so I am still up 8 lbs total.

I haven't posted belly pictures in a bit so here are the ones you all have missed:

Weeks 30 and 31:


Weeks 32 and 33:


Lastly, week 34:

29 Week Belly Picture

Another Comparison

Here is 27 and 28 weeks with Thomas and Collin. Baileys photo's are in the previous posts!

28 weeks and the glucose screening

Well this week I am 28 weeks. My BFF Katie, had her son at 37 weeks early Friday morning. David Gordan the third came into the world at 5 lbs 12 oz.
Before she had him, I was happy being pregnant. No where near ready for Bailey to make her way into this world. I was happy having her all to myself, in utero.
Now.... I am anxious and somewhat ready to have my little girl here. I am so excited about going into labor, delivering, and seeing my daughter. My daughter.. That still seems so weird to say. I have been a mother of boys for almost 4 years now. I am beginning to worry about raising a girl. My two biggest concerns are changing a female diaper and her growing up. The diaper changing thing may sound funny but I am so beyond serious. I mean, boys the biggest concern is the circumcision healing. After that it is all just wiping the outside. There are no folds to worry about getting poo in. I am petrified of changing my daughter.
Then there is the fact that she will be a teenager one day.. I think about how I was pregnant at the young age of 13. I think about all the wrongs I was doing at 13, running away from home, being a whore, dating 20+year old men. Man.. No wonder my parents kicked me out when I was 13.. I put them through hell. Granted if it weren't for my behavior and getting myself kicked out, I would not have began dating my husband, 20 years old at the time, but I would not have been given the children I have, and am about to have. I truly hope we raise her right and with more morals and respect for herself than I have had.

Today I did my glucose screening. My morning sickness is at its worst since the 1st trimester, so it was a real challenge to keep that gunk down for an hour. I threw up the minute I got home. Eww. Thursday is my next regular OB appointment. After that I will be going in every two weeks.

I guess I am in the home stretch now huh?

26 week belly and a random rant

I cannot believe it. In just a few short days I will be in my 3rd trimester already. Where did the time go? I am not ready for this baby in any way shape or form. As much as this pregnancy totally sucks physically, I do not want it to be over. I really, truly love being pregnant. I love having a reason to have the big belly. I love the attention. I love having people be there to offer help and what not. I am obsessing about my weight in severe ways. I am so petrified about not losing the weight after the baby. I am still weighing less than I did when I got pregnant with the boys, but only by a couple lbs. I know one sure fire way to drop the weight quickly and to get back to my happy place, but that is not even an option I can think about. I have to do things the right way this time. I will need a lot of support after Bailey comes. I will need a lot of motivation and will power after she comes as well. I will get down to 150 lbs again. I hate being the fat chic. I hate being the one with the thunder thighs, double chin, and gushy, jiggly stomach. Which makes me so not make any sense, as I love the way I look while pregnant. Especially near the end.

Does that even begin to make sense?

100 Days to go!

24 and 25 weeks.
Just 100 short days until my due date. I cannot believe I am already almost 26 weeks. 1 weeks 2 days until the 3rd trimester! Lucky me.

Bailey is all of a sudden a very active little girl. Boy 0h boy she does not stop! I cannot believe her little toes are already way up near my ribs. I cannot believe how much higher she is than the boys. It is crazy that just 2-3 weeks ago, I was worried I would never feel her move, just like Collin, but instead she is just as active as Thomas. It just took her longer to make her presence known. Between her sharp jabs and kicks, and the constant hiccups, I really am in heaven. I am loving every single moment of feeling my little girl inside me. At night, when everyone in the house is sleeping, I cannot help by lay there with my hands on my tummy, smile wide across my face, just falling so deeply and madly in love with this being I have yet to meet.

Thomas is getting more and more anxious as the weeks go by. He really wants to meet his baby sister. He asks almost daily if she can "come out now." It breaks my heart to see him lower his eyes to the ground and say "oh."

Tom and I are really having a hard time with this pregnancy. All I ever want to do is sleep. All day, all night. I do not want to be on the computer. I do not want to watch television. I do not want to do to work. I do not even want to play with my boys. Tom has been doing a lot of side work. Then when he comes home, he has to cook, clean, take care of the kids, all because I do nothing. If I am not at work, I am sitting on the couch trying not to fall asleep or in bed sleeping.
Between the fatigue and the morning sickness still kicking my butt..well, lets just say, I am not someone my kids or husband want to spend time with. Fortunately my wonderful husband has been just that. Wonderful. He barely complains at all, which is causing my feelings of guilt to grow even larger and to begin taking over my thoughts. I know things will get better, easier, I just happen to be the worlds most impatient person and I want to be "normal" again now.

23 weeks

I have been waiting for me to be far along where I have a belly picture from Thomas, I do not have many at all ;-[ I am devastated about not have many with him, like I do Collin and Bailey. Anyway now I can finally compare my bellies with all three pregnancies.

Thomas:Collin:


Bailey:

22+ weeks

Had an ultrasound yesterday, still trying to find the cause of the cramping. Still cannot figure it out. Today is really bad, as in I don't even want to move. The morning sickness is not helping at all. My ultrasound tech told me to try stretching, maybe my uterus is pinching my intestines or something. Whatever I am getting really annoyed now. I just want to know what is going on with my body. According to the monitor at Yale, there are real contractions going on with the intense cramping, so excuse me for being worried. Anyway of course the photo posted along with this is me at 22 weeks. I feel huge. Be on the look out for a comparison of all three of my baby belly's at 23 weeks!