41 Weeks

The latest is this:

I have managed to pull my levels of amniotic fluid back up due to the gallon of water I have been drinking per day.

If I do not go into labor tonight or tomorrow, I will be seeing my midwife for a final check up at the office tomorrow afternoon.  Then, Brian and I will head to the hospital, where I will be given Cervidil, just as I was with Caleb.  This goes directly onto the cervix in the hopes of triggering labor to start.  If that doesn't work, Tuesday morning I will be given Pitocin.

I am definitely weary of being pregnant.  My back is killing me, I'm tired all the time, and enough is enough.  Forty-one weeks seems to be the point at which I've had enough, for both of my pregnancies.  I could barely sleep last night because my belly hurt in any position, and it wasn't due to labor pains!

Please pray for a smooth and uneventful labor.  Hopefully within the next couple of days, we will be kissing our baby's face!

Thank you!

Pregnancy Update: I'm Still Pregnant!

This is just a brief update letting you know where we are at these days.

My due date was Sunday, so as of writing this I am 40 weeks, 5 days.  I had an ultrasound yesterday and learned that my amniotic fluid was on the low side- 7.1- and if it goes under 6 it is clearly in danger zone, and I would immediately be induced.

I was told to go home and down water like there was no tomorrow, and if you know me at all, this is not an easy task.  I have been trying my best, but I still have not reached a gallon today.  Close, but still not quite.  Still, it is more water than I have ever drank in one day ever before in life.  I think that counts for something.

I have two more ultrasounds:  one tomorrow, and if it is still needed, one more Monday morning. Both of these are to check the fluid level.  If my level remains above a 6, they won't induce just yet, but if it goes below, I will be heading to the hospital immediately.

If I don't go into labor on my own, I will be induced Tuesday morning, first thing.  My midwife already put me on the books for a 6:30 a.m. induction at the hospital.

It is so strange that this has happened to me AGAIN.  Caleb was late, and my fluid was getting low, and I was induced with him exactly one week after the due date.  In this case, if we wait until Tuesday, I will actually be induced one week and two days after my due date.

My poor mom came up here to support me/watch Caleb when we zipped off to the hospital.  She took two weeks off of work.  I have apologized to her over and over again, because she came up here for nothing.  I haven't gone into labor, and she needs to get back to work.  She won't even get to see the baby!  All that time given up, for nothing.

Brian's mom is graciously heading here tomorrow to take her place.  As my dad arrives to pick up my mom, Brian's dad will be dropping off his mom.  We are so thankful she was willing to come here with such short notice.  The good news is she won't have to wait around as long as my mom, because no matter what, the deadline is this Tuesday!  (My midwife is heading out-of-town Wednesday, so she wanted to make sure the baby was here by then.  I am more than grateful, because I am very ready to have this baby.)

So that's where we are at!  We are praying for safe travels for both sets of parents as well as God's perfect timing for this baby's arrival.  I am at peace with going on Tuesday, and I have sort of gotten used to the idea.  Now that there is an "end date" so to speak, it makes this so much easier.  I still could go, of course, before then, so all the better that we get Brian's mom down here as soon as can be.  I am dreading labor, and the longer a woman must wait, the worse it becomes in her mind. Please keep me in prayer, if you remember it.

Stay tuned... and thank you for your prayers!

40 Weeks

Couldn't let the day go by without a pregnancy photo on my due date!  Of course, as we all know, due dates mean nothing to the baby!

Brian and Caleb both have a stomach bug, so that has made our time of waiting a bit more dramatic. I am glad to be spared the torture myself, because I have enough discomforts already.

I am tired.... I feel like I could sleep for ten years if only given the chance.

Since I was induced with Caleb one week after the due date, and he was born one day after that, I was hoping this baby would surprise us all by coming a wee bit early or on the due date.  It makes the waiting game a bit easier, I think.

I keep reminding myself that somewhere in the next two weeks, this baby will come.  After all, they don't let women go beyond 42 weeks.

Needless to say, I am beyond ready to have my fears, worries, and anxieties all resolved nicely in the form of a cute little bundle in my arms.  One of these days.... stay tuned.

Any Day Now

Just a brief update to say that we are alive and well, and we are still waiting for Baby #2.

Suffice it to say that I have been exhausted and weary.  Ever since my fall on the stairs one week ago today, I've really been struggling with my back and my foot.  It's not easy for either to get a reprieve with all this extra weight I am lugging around.

Other than this, we are patiently waiting for the big moment to arrive.  I am a bundle of nerves- constantly reading about labor and childbirth techniques, especially since I am still hoping to go natural.  I am anxious over the long car ride, fearing that we will leave too late and Brian will be forced to deliver our baby in the car.  (My sister encouraged us to pack a couple of towels and a large garbage bag... just in case... and told me she'd talk Brian through it if this nightmare scenario happened.)

I already have my appointments scheduled if I go past my due date.  My midwife wanted me signed up early, because apparently there are many women in this practice due around the same time I am. So, if I am still pregnant, I have an ultrasound scheduled for next Thursday to check my amniotic fluid (which with Caleb was very low and I had to be induced), and then for Friday for a follow-up with my midwife.  I am truly hoping to not need these appointments!

We have been laying low otherwise, and I feel badly for Caleb, because it is just impossible to go gallivanting about town doing fun things.  I am tired, and simple trips are wearing me out.  The heat and humidity, of course, do not help.

Please keep us in your prayers!  We appreciate it!

Nearing the Finish Line

Well, folks, here we are.  We've finally arrived at 39 weeks.  My mom is here.  My long to-do list is basically done.  (Of course, daily chores go on and on.)  My suitcase is nearly ready, with the exception of things like my glasses and makeup bag and the like.

On Friday night, I took a stumble down the stairs.  Brian was throwing the bags of recycling out, and I was trying to help him carry the excess down the stairs.  I don't know what happened, exactly.  All I know is that my foot missed a step and went sideways.  I fell on my rear, so I ended up hurting my foot badly, and my back, too.  It hurt!  I didn't even know what to do, it hurt so badly.  I thought I broke it or sprained it at the very least.

Brian set up Caleb's pool on the deck, and I soaked it in freezing cold water while he drove down to Rite Aid and picked up an Ace bandage for me.

I wondered how in the world this would affect labor if I lacked the ability to walk around.  The next morning, I dragged my battered self to the chiropractor, where he declared my back to be in pretty bad shape.  I got an adjustment and went home, where Brian demanded that I soak my foot again in Caleb's pool.  During that time, my parents arrived.

I'll fast forward a bit to say that my foot is doing much better.  It still hurts, and forget about touching it, but I can walk on it and I don't believe it will be a hindrance in labor.  I have to treat it gingerly, but it could be much, much worse.  If I am on the floor with Caleb, I feel a mess, between my huge belly, my sore foot, and my aching back.  It's a wonder I can get up at all without a forklift.

Other than this, we are doing well here, just waiting.  I am loving having my mom here, of course. Moms make everything better.  (My dad went back home, but will be back to pick her up.)  Today, we teamed up and she made homemade pasta sauce, and I made the meatballs.  We threw them together and had a wonderful spaghetti and meatball dinner. She's been a huge help in the kitchen, helping me keep it clean and orderly.  She vacuumed under my stove and washed my kitchen and hallway floors.

Caleb has done very well with her.  We gave him a dry run today and left him with her alone... the first time we've ever left him with anyone.  We figured it would be a good practice session before the hospital.  I had another chiropractor appointment, and then I had to go grocery shopping, while Brian had to get his oil changed.  Caleb did great!  He wasn't upset at all; he seemed to have fun with my mom and didn't even fight her when she needed to change his diaper.  (He often, but not always, fights me.)

I was very encouraged by this, and so far my plan is working.  I expect he may struggle over the course of the two nights Brian and I will be at the hospital.  We were, after all, only gone a little over an hour this morning, so this will be a huge difference.

My midwife is out-of-town beginning tomorrow through Sunday, which is my due date, so we shall see what will happen with all of this.  I am hoping the other midwife in the practice will come for the delivery should I go into labor this week, but it is in God's hands.  I pray daily, several times a day, in fact, for God to orchestrate everything according to His plan.

I am nervous, of course.  This is the most nerve-wracking time of pregnancy.  I am anxious to be done with it all and back home again with our Caleb.  I am a flutter of different emotions, so excited to meet our new baby, but dreading the lack of sleep and nightly nursing sessions, and being back up early again to take care of Caleb.  I do hope it won't take too long to get into the new routine.  I want to be the best mom I can be- to both of my children.

Please keep us in your prayers as we wind down these final days as parents of one!  We so appreciate all your prayers on our behalf!

My Birthday

Today is my birthday, and this fortunate girl had two handsome men escorting me about town!

We began the day by going to breakfast.  It has become sort of a tradition that Brian takes me out for breakfast on my birthday.  I usually always order the same thing, but this year I got something different, since I was afraid that the breakfast meat might have some sort of sodium nitrates/nitrites in them, and that is a pregnancy no-no, so I went with a simple fried egg and cheese on a roll with a side of hash browns.  Brian, wonder of wonders, got French toast, and since there was no children's menu, we simply got Caleb a chocolate muffin.  He loved it, so no complaints there.  (He did already eat his regular oatmeal/yogurt at home.)

Then, Brian had a big surprise for me later in the day.  He had secretly purchased a new patio table and chairs for our deck.  Our old plastic thing was looking rather hideous.  (No, I'm not exaggerating.)  My husband is too, too good to me!  (He got me a couple of other things I wanted, too, but the table was the major surprise!)

(Sorry, three of the chairs were still stacked when I took this photo, but you get the idea.)

And finally, here I am at 38.5 weeks.  We're in the home stretch!  

Church Baby Shower

Our church very graciously threw us a baby shower/barbecue yesterday, in honor of our second child's upcoming birth.  This was very kind of them, considering it is our second child, and of course, there isn't tons we need. Little things here and there, yes, but not a lot.

It was a nice time of fellowship, even though it was very, very hot.  The shower was meant to be outside at a state park, but since it downpoured in the morning, a family from church spontaneously opened their home, which was beyond nice of them.

I always, always, always feel awkward opening gifts in front of people, especially people I do not know VERY well.  I hate being the center of attention, too.  I was glad that Caleb was busy pounding on the balloons attached to my chair, and I was hoping that took some of the spotlight off of me. Wouldn't you rather look at a cute toddler then a woman appearing as though she swallowed a watermelon whole?  Yes, I figured.

I got tons of disposable size one diapers.  I guess they are not aware that I primarily use cloth. (Don't worry- no one from church knows about this blog, and our last name is not attached to it.  I did that on purpose since Brian is a teacher.)  I do like to use some disposables in the beginning because, let's face it, newborns are going pretty much all the time, and it just makes it a bit easier early on when mama is exhausted.  However, I received way more diapers than I will probably use, so perhaps I will donate the rest.

It was a fun time with our church family, who has been very good to us.  I truly think more than wanting to give us gifts, it was a time to simply celebrate a new life about to come into the world. What a blessing, and what a joy!