married-life

Lucas James is here!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:27:08 +0100

Well, first of all let me apologize for it taking me so long to make a post on here… I have had little to no energy to keep up with things at home, let alone typing a blog entry.

Let me start from the beginning…

Monday, February 8, 2010 – after having several headaches over the weekend, along with some VERY swollen feet, I called my doctors office. My doctor was on call at the hospital that day and he wanted me to go over to the hospital and be put on some monitors. YIKES… I went over there about 11:00 am and was hooked up to the fetal monitor. Things looked good there… the heartbeat was very strong and he was moving around the way he should have been. However, my blood pressure was elevated. While I can’t remember the exact numbers, it was something like 155/90. Enough to tell my doctor that things were not looking good. He came and told me that I was not going home, and he was trying to decide what to do… if he just wanted to induce me or wait it out. They had me lying on my left side and were taking my blood pressure every 10 minutes. And by lying on my left side, my blood pressure did not go down, it continued to read high. And I was very swollen…

I was moved to a labor and delivery room about 4:00… they told me they were going to start by giving me cervadil that night and they would start the pitocin the next morning. (the cervadil would soften my cervix and the pitocin would induce uterine contractions). The strange thing is, I had started contracting on my own by this time… they were not regular – but boy they were painful. But I was not effaced at all (meaning my cervix was not softened for delivery), nor was I dilated. The cervadil was to be placed about 6pm and had to run for 12 hours, so it would be taken out at 6am and then they would start the pitocin. I was then started on a magnesium drip to try to lower my blood pressure. They actually use magnesium to stop pre-mature labor, therefore, the contractions that I was having had stopped. Because magnesium causes muscle weakness and because I was so swollen and my blood pressure was still not coming down – back to my left side I went and was put on strict bed rest. In went a cathedar. Since my blood pressure was not coming down, I moved from a labor and delivery room into a special care labor and delivery room.

They came to insert the cervadil about 7pm, after they did an ultrasound to verify that the baby was head down, ready to deliver. That’s when they told me that he was only at -2 pelvic station. What that means is that he had not even dropped into my pelvic bone. Let me get this straight – I am not dilated at all, my cervix is not softened and he’s not dropped into my pelvic bone yet and you want to induce labor? The best thing I can do to get him to drop is use gravity… but I’m confined to the bed! Now what?

I had not eaten all day and I was told that I was only allowed a clear liquid diet. They did bring me some things to eat – a Popsicle, broth, apple juice… etc. Nothing of substance. I tried to sleep, but I was so uncomfortable, that wasn’t happening. They even gave me a sleeping pill, and I still couldn’t sleep. And at about 2am, I lost everything that I had eaten several hours earlier. So I was back to having nothing in my stomach.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - They came in about 8am and removed the cervadil and at that point I was told that I was still not dilated… the doctor told me that she thought given the fact that the cervadil didn’t dilate me that she wasn’t sure the pitocin would induce labor enough, therefore she was going to start the pitocin on a very low dose and see what happens. They started and I guess I was having contractions, the monitors were telling me I was, but they were not regular and I couldn’t even feel them. The doctor had been back a few times throughout the day and continued to check to see if I dilated… which I had not.

After all day of this, we decided that a c-section would be my best option. As much as I knew that’s not what I wanted to do prior to this, I knew there was no way I could handle labor. I was exhausted and had nothing in my stomach for almost 48 hours and he was not dropped which would have meant more work pushing him out…

It was a busy day at the hospital that day and the doctor already had 3 scheduled c-sections and there were several women there in labor. It got to be pretty late in the day… like 7:30 and I was told that it probably wouldn’t happen till morning. Really? I have to spend another night like this? My mom and sister left to go home… and about 9:00 the doctor came back in and told me that they were going to take me back at 9:30. Oh good… I don’t have to spend another night being so uncomfortable.

They were there to take me pretty much on time… and since it was so late and Tom would be the only one allowed in the operating room and the weather was very nasty, my mom and sister decided they would just come back in the morning.

I was taken into the operating room and they wouldn’t let Tom in until they got the spinal put in place… It was really only about 10 minutes, but it seemed like forever until they went to get Tom. The spinal was put in place and I was laid back and almost immediately, I was vomiting. The doctors in the operating room told me that was very normal and it was probably just nerves. Tom sat up by my head and I continued to vomit pretty much throughout the entire procedure.

My baby boy was born at 9:59pm weighing 7lbs, 12oz and was 19-1/2” long. I know it was very hard for Tom to leave my side since I continued to vomit, but he did go with the baby while they performed the APGAR scores, which were 8 and 9. Tom was very good with the camera – he took pictures every step of the way and even recorded a few videos. Since they were stitching me up at that point, I was unable to actually see any of this taking place, so having the photos and videos were awesome for me to watch later.

The one bad thing about a c-section is the fact that I was unable to hold my little boy right away. Daddy got to hold him – which was awesome, but my heart hurt that I was not able to hold him right away. They finished stitching me up and I was taken into recovery. Once I was in recovery and they got me re-positioned, I was finally able to hold him. My heart melted. I was still feeling a little on the queasy side and I was still a little out of it. Unfortunately, they had tested his blood sugar and it was a little low, so I had to give him a bottle to feed him for the first time instead of being able to breast feed him.

I was in recovery for about an hour and then I was taken back to my room. We got to enjoy Lucas for a little while and shortly after midnight, the nurses came to get him to take him to the nursery for his nightly assessment. I was simply exhausted… trying to get some sleep was easy and a challenge at the same time. I was told that I would not be moving to a post-partum room until the next day so I remained in special care. My blood pressure was still elevated but it was slowly starting to come down.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 – my breakfast arrived – FINALLY… I was starving. Unfortunately, I was having trouble keeping my eyes open to even eat it. I was literally falling asleep trying to eat. I eventually gave up and just slept. The magnesium drip was making me sleepier. I was still confined to the bed and would remain there until the magnesium drip was discontinued. The doctor came to see me and told me that they were leaving the magnesium drip running today because my blood pressure was still elevated. They were taking my blood pressure every 15 minutes.

While most of the day is sort of a blur, as I was in and out of it all day long, I do remember finally getting something to eat at lunch time. The nurses told me that the magnesium drip would remain running for 24 hours after surgery… which meant well into the night before they stopped it and then at that point they would try getting me up out of bed. YIKES. The thought of that scared me! Lactation came in to help me get started on breast feeding. That was everything I expected and everything I didn’t. I don’t know how else to explain it.

About 9pm, they came in and stopped the magnesium drip… they left the IV running however. It took quite a bit of time – and energy to get out of bed. After all, I had been confined to the bed for excess of 48 hours. But once I got out of bed, I walked to the bathroom and then back to bed. I then crashed.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 – I was finally moved into a post-partum room about 4:00pm. My blood pressure had started to go down but then started to go back up once I was allowed out of bed. I was placed on medication to help lower it… The doctor told me that he wasn’t sure if I would be going home Friday or Saturday…

Our first night in our new room was a little on the rough side. About 3:30am, Lucas woke up and was absolutely starving… I tried to feed him, however, he was having nothing of it. No matter what I tried, I could not get him to latch on. After about 30 minutes, we ended up calling the nurse in for assistance. The nurse stripped him of all his clothes, and I did the same and had to go skin-to-skin. He finally ended up latching on and boy did he ever! That child ate and ate and ate. We never really had anymore issues after that. They began weighing me every night to be sure I was “disposing” of the excess water weight. That night I had weighed in for the first time in post-partum, so we would wait and see what I weighed in at the next night.

Friday, February 12, 2010 – I had a very rough morning. I woke up very queasy. I was vomiting (which was not fun – that really pulled on my incision!) The doctor came in and told me that he didn’t believe I was ready to go home… I was to stay another day. As much as I wanted to go home, I didn’t argue because I really felt awful. My blood pressure remained elevated throughout the day. I got some sleep and that helped me a lot. I took my first shower since my surgery and that made me feel so much better! My weigh in that night showed that I had lost close to 5 pounds – in a 24 hour period! I was definitely urinating out the water and the swelling was slowly going down.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 – I was waiting anxiously for the doctor to come in and tell me that I could go home… The nurse convinced me to get up and walk the hallway to try to help me loosen up my muscles. After I walked the halls, my lunch arrived. I was able to sit in a chair to eat instead of lying in the bed – that felt great. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was still elevated. The doctor came in to see me shortly thereafter and she told me that she wanted me to stay another night. And the reason that she gave me was because it was the weekend and if I had gotten home and something happened, I would have to come back through the ER. As much as I still wanted to go home, I knew she was right so another night in the hospital!

Later that evening is when I realized for the first time that my milk had come in! Lucas was very happy with that and he really began healthy eating. My mom and my sister came to visit us that night and that was nice – took my mind off of things for a while. When they weighed me this time, I had lost another close to 7 pounds in a 24 hour period. Which means that 12 pounds of water weight came off over a 48 hour period! The swelling was still there, although it had gone down quite a bit…

Sunday, February 14, 2010 – the big day! I saw the doctor fairly early that morning and he finally released me. He told me that I had to call the office and schedule a BP check for the first part of the week and I would have to go every week until my BP was back to normal. It was still elevated that morning, but the doctor adjusted my medication.

We got to leave about 2:00pm. We arrived home to find family awaiting our arrival. It was very nice just to be home. Our first night was an adjustment. I just wanted to sleep! Luckily my sister was here which was nice, because she was an enormous help. I really don’t know what I would have done without her!

The next few days were quite an adjustment… not only to having a newborn in the house, but I was also still recovering from major surgery. I was getting around very slowly, but the more I moved around, the easier it got.

My sister went home on Saturday (February 20) and we are now adjusting to being home by ourselves. On a selfish note, I am very sad that she is gone because I had gotten used to having her here. She is planning on coming back the first week of March, but that’s not soon enough for me!

I will try to keep this updated as much as I can… As those of you mothers know, having a newborn baby in the house takes priority and takes all the energy you have!

37 Week Update

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:17:51 +0100

Well, here is the latest:

I went to the doctor yesterday for another NST, an ultrasound and then to see Dr. Judis.

The NST, as usual, looked great. He was very cooperative and was moving around just as he should have been, which allowed for a "perfect" reading.

The ultrasound also looked very good. He is growing the way he should be, although he was being a little shy (just like last time) and had his hand in front of his face for most of it. My fluid level looks great and my placenta still looks very healthy. You could very easily see that this boy is going to be born with a head full of hair! Which I guess is a good thing - that explains my heartburn - CONSTANTLY! Actually, I'm not really sure that's true - I think that's just an old wives tale... but it sounds good, doesn't it? He measures right on target... and the estimated weight of him today is 7lbs, 5oz. If you remember, the last ultrasound I had was January 5 and he weighed 4lbs, 15oz... and they say that a healthy weight gain is 1/2lb per week, so as I said, he's right on target. And if I go full term, I'm looking at 8-8.5lbs easy. YIKES. They were also able to confirm what I already knew - which is that he has not dropped - yet.

Next was to see Dr. Judis. My blood pressure last week was 138/84... this week it was 136/80. So, it did go down a little, but it is still slightly elevated. The protein level in my urine, once again, did not increase or decrease - it was +1.

Due to those results, he is not OVERLY concerned... he does want me to come in twice per week for NST's, just to be on the safe side and I will have my blood pressure checked and if necessary, I can see him both times. If things look good, I will only need to see him once per week.

If things stay the way they are, he says the best thing is to wait and let my body go into labor on it's own. But he did tell me to be prepared for anything, because there is always that possibility that I might go in one day and he tells me that we have to get the baby out. We're hoping and praying that doesn't happen... He once again reminded me that I am a week farther along than they initially thought, although my due date was never technically "adjusted" due to that fact. So, in all actuality, I am due February 20, not February 27.

So, summing it up, we are just "waiting". It will be a play it by ear from week to week and see what happens. Please keep me in your prayers that the protein level and my BP stays "leveled off" (or goes down - that would be even better!) so we can just let my body go into labor on it's own...

I go back Thursday this week for another NST, but I am not scheduled to see him unless it's necessary at that point... I will then go for another NST next Tuesday and then I'll schedule another appointment for my 2nd NST next week, of which will be followed by seeing Dr. Judis for the end of next week. He told me that he sees no reason that anything should happen before the end of next week, so that's good!

36 Week Update

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:30:23 +0100

Well, here is the latest from the doctor:

Once again, everything looked perfect on the NST. The movements are great and right as they should be. The NST shows no signs that he is in any distress.

The protein level in my urine did not increase from last week, nor did it decrease. It is still at +1. Which, as I stated last week is not terrible, but it's not great either.

However, this was the first week that the protein in my urine was combined with elevated blood pressure. My BP today was 128/85. That alone in itself is not the worst ever, but it's not great either. And with the protein still in my urine, that is cause for concern. The nurse and the doctor both told me that my face seemed to be puffy and I've noticed the swelling has gotten worse in my fingers lately.

So, I go back Monday for another NST and I will have an ultrasound to check my fluid levels, the placenta placement and the size of Lucas. I will then see the doctor and we'll go from there, depending on my protein level and BP at that time.

Basically, he told me that he will not let me go till my due date and even if my blood pressure and protein level stabalizes, if I do not go into labor on my own in the next 2 - 2-1/2 weeks, we will schedule me for an induction.

I'm not really sure what the chances are of me going into labor on my own by then is, the only premilary sign of labor I've experienced are braxton hicks contractions. And that is only 1 of 6 signs. I am going to ask him what he thinks my chances are when I see him on Monday. Because I really don't want to have to be induced if at all possible.

He did tell me that if I was at 37 weeks we would have been talking about scheduling me already. But he really wants to get me to 38 weeks... so we'll just have to wait and see what happens next week.

Tom and I took a tour of the maternity floor of Toledo Hospital last night so we have a good idea of what to expect once we get there.

Please keep me in your prayers!

35 Week Update

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:00:57 +0100

I saw Dr Judis yesterday for my weekly checkup. And the word is:

The baby looked "perfect" on the NST test. He was very alert and was definately moving around and they were able to get a good read.

My blood pressure remained good - 128/71. Still a good sign.

However, they found just a TRACE of protein in my urine last week, but this week, the protein level had increased. It was +1. Which is not horrible, but it's not great either. Dr Judis was just baffled and said that he could not make any sense out of it. When I first got pregnant, there was not even the slightest trace. Then about a month ago, they found some and it increased and got very high. Then it suddenly went down and then down again and now back up again. He said that pre-eclampsia doesn't do that - it doesn't flucuate... I told him that is what Dr Folley said... so he basically said that we will continue to monitor it on a weekly basis...

I asked him what he thought about making it to my due date - which is Feb 27. He told me that he didn't believe I would make it that far. I will probably go a week or two early...

That's the latest right now... stay tuned!

34 Week Update

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:09:39 +0100

Well, the official word from the (new) doctor is this:

There is only a TRACE of protein in my urine – so that’s even better than last week. His take on it is this: because of the history of pre-eclampsia in my family, he wants to continue to monitor me on a weekly basis and continue to do non-stress tests on a weekly basis.

He did tell me that there may be something else to blame for the protein in my urine… since there was not even a trace of it up until a couple of weeks ago, there is no way to know exactly what’s going on. He will continue to monitor it and if the trace remains there, we will look into other reasons for it after the baby is born.

My blood pressure remained good – it read 128/68. And he also told me that my non-stress test was “perfect”. The nurse had to wake Lucas up, because no matter what I did – he was just not waking up for it. He was not too pleased with the buzzer that she used to wake him up, because he was pushing up behind my ribs… probably trying to hide!

All in all, it was a good report and I am just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing and just pray that the protein level stays down and I can carry this baby to term!

On another note, please visit Caylee’s page for an update on her!

32 (actually 33) week update

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:14:08 +0100

Well, if it’s possible at this point… I got some GREAT news from the doctor today.

It started with an ultrasound to make sure the baby was growing the way he should be and to check my fluid. Well, everything looked REALLY good on the ultrasound… baby weighs 4lbs, 15oz! He is in the 77^th percentile for fetal growth – which is a really good sign. There was no detachment of the placenta, which is one thing that can happen with pre-eclampsia. They measure the fluid level on a scale of 5-20. My level is at 17… can’t get much better than that. Baby is getting plenty of fluid! With the measurements, they tell me I am 33 weeks and 3 days pregnant today.

Next was my blood pressure check. While I’d been monitoring it at home, it was for the most part, looking pretty good. It was elevated over the last 2-3 days, but today it was 128/76. Really good.

I then had a non-stress test. For those of you that don’t know what that is, they hook me up to a fetal monitor and monitor the babies heartbeat and I have to push a button every time I feel any movement or kicking. They watch for the heart rate to accelerate with the movement. The nurse told me everything looked perfect for that.

And finally, I saw the doctor. The first week they found protein in my urine, the level was +2. Last week I guess I was just shy of +3. Well, this week, I was just over +1!! It actually decreased! Dr Folley said this kind of thing usually just doesn’t reverse itself, so my case is extremely mild.

I am OK to remain working and he told me that with the report today, getting me to 36-38 weeks should not be a problem. Unfortunately, he doesn’t think I will make it to my due date and carry all the way to 40 weeks, but anything after 36 weeks is not considered “dangerous”.

I go back on Thursday for another non-stress test, a blood pressure and a urine check. I then go back to see the doctor next Tuesday, and will decide from there if I need to continue to come twice a week or it once a week will be enough. I will probably have to have a non-stress test done once a week until delivery and he told me I will probably have to have another ultrasound in the next couple of weeks to check the growth again.

Basically I just need to keep doing what I have been doing. Staying off my feet when I’m not at work as much as possible and continue to take it easy and hopefully the protein level will not increase anymore and carrying till 36-38 weeks is a definite possibility!

I am now even much more of a believer in the power of prayer, because Dr Folley saying that this kind of thing doesn’t usually just reverse itself lets me know that there is somebody upstairs in charge! I want to thank everyone for all the prayers over the last couple of weeks – we know now that it helped. Please keep them coming, we need to keep the baby in the belly for a minimum of another 3 weeks!

In a related matter, I saw Dr Folley for the last time today. He is moving to Texas and Friday is his last day. I will be seeing a different doctor from now on, Dr Judis. I have seen him a few times in the past and he seems to be a pretty good doctor. He was Dr Folley’s first recommendation for a replacement… although I am very happy for Dr Folley’s reason for leaving (he is going to work in a low-income area at a hospital) I am very sad that he is leaving. He has been my OB/GYN since I was in my early 20’s… and for him to be leaving so close to my due date. So my care has now officially been turned over to Dr Judis.

On another note, Tom and I met with a good friend of mine this evening, who has been certified as a doula. She very graciously offered to volunteer her services to us. I was not really sure what a doula did at first, but the more I researched it, the more my interest was peaked. She is basically there as a support system for both Tom and I during labor and delivery. She is also a liaison between myself and the doctors and nurses at the hospital to be sure that my wishes are followed during labor and delivery. Her training, knowledge and experience will allow her to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, communication with the staff to make sure that I have the information that I need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor. She can also provide suggestions for labor progress, help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort.

I am to call her when I go into labor and to the best of her ability, she will remain with us throughout the entire labor and delivery. She will then stay after delivery up until initial breast feeding has taken place. She then contacts me 24-36 hours after delivery to see how I’m doing and to set up a post partum visit.

Considering I am seeing a different doctor now and there is really no telling which doctor from the practice will actually be doing the delivery, I think it would be a good thing to have a friendly face in the room with me. I’ve known her for quite some time now and that definitely helps. And this is something that she’s been through before and knows things about it that I have no experience with. And from the research I’ve done, statistics prove that moms who have doulas present during labor and delivery show to be much more relaxed and the request for epidurals go down and the chances to having a c-section also decrease. Mostly because the moms are much more relaxed knowing that there is somebody there making sure their wishes are followed. I am very excited about this and if anybody reading this has ever used a doula, please let me know… I’d like to hear what you thought of it. Send me an email at amber729@bex.net.

31 Week Update

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:52:39 +0100

Well, where to start! So much happened today, I really don't know where to start.

Let's start with the weekend. I woke up Saturday morning and had caught the flu! How exactly that happened considering I had a flu shot - I'm not really sure! Anyway, it got the best of me for 3 days and I was not able to keep ANYTHING down.

I went for my check up this morning... First off, I had lost 2 pounds since my last visit - no doubt due to the fact that I was not able to keep anything down for 3 days. My blood pressure read 128/90. Top number = good. Bottom number = not so good.

Dr Folley was not too pleased with the fact that the protein level in my urine had increased since last week. I am still not showing any physical signs of pre-eclampsia persay, I am still not swelling at all, nor do I have excessive weight gain. However, since the protein level has gone up, he sent me accross the hall to the lab to give them another urine sample to do further testing on. And I now have to go twice a week. Once to see the doc and another for a blood pressure and urine check.

I am scheduled to go back next Tuesday, the 5th for another ultrasound - to make sure the baby is growing the way he should be and to have my fluid checked... Then back on Thursday for a blood pressure check.

He gave me the go ahead to work for another week, but in a round about way told me that would probably be it. He flat out told me that I would not make it to my due date of February 27 and he would be surprised if I could make it until the end of January! That really freaked me out...

My shower is scheduled for January 9 - which is 10 days from now... and I really just need to make sure I can hold on that long... My sister went downhill so fast, and Dr Folley says that's what happens, so there is really no telling what will happen next.

Please keep me in your prayers, I could really use them! The BEST thing would be to not have to deliver until 36 weeks so his lungs are fully developed... that means I need to hold out for another 4-5 weeks.

Check back for the lastest!

30 week update

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:17:05 +0100

I went to the doctor this morning for my check-up… The last two visits to the doctor, my blood pressure was slightly elevated. Today, my blood pressure looked good, it read 132/70, so there was no cause for concern there. However, I do have a little protein in my urine. What does that mean? That means I have the start of pre-eclampsia.

I do not have the swelling like I did when I was north visiting Tiffany a couple of weeks ago and Dr. Folley said the swelling then was probably just from traveling. I do have a little bit of swelling now, but nothing that is “not normal”. My fingers are more swollen than anything, I cannot even get my wedding rings back on – they won’t go over my knuckle! I feel so strange without them!

Dr. Folley wants to see me every week from now on, which isn’t typically supposed to happen until 35-36 weeks. He told me that if I come in every week, he will keep me working as long as possible. He told me that he will let me keep working until/unless it becomes dangerous. And while I’m not working, I am to be off my feet!

Tiffany was already put on bed rest at this stage of her pregnancy and she did end up delivering at 31 weeks, and I am at 30-1/2 weeks right now. My goal is no longer 40 weeks, it is now 36 weeks. Which means the end of January - not February 27.

Please keep me in your prayers, as financially it would be really difficult for me to be taken off work. Don’t get me wrong, if the doctor tells me that’s what I have to do, then that’s what I’ll do! But it would be a struggle for me to not be bringing a paycheck home.

The one “good” thing that there is right now, is with the exception of the lungs, the baby is fully developed. So right now, him still being in there is really just for lung development and weight gain. I will probably have another ultrasound in the next week or two to be sure the baby is growing the way he should be. My sister had that problem near the end of her pregnancy, the baby hadn’t gained any weight from one week to the next… we don’t want that to happen.

Statistics show that pre-eclampsia only affects 9-13% of pregnant woman and if your mother or your sister had it, you are twice as likely to develop it. Well, my mom didn’t have it, but since my sister did, that automatically put me at a higher risk for it and the doctor has been watching closely and confirmation came today. I had a feeling it was coming a couple of weeks ago, this is just the first time I’ve seen the doctor since then for him to actually tell me that.

We will need to really get moving on the nursery, because there is really no telling now what’s going to happen. At the very latest, I will be induced at the end of January. I am going to have to rely very heavily on my husband and family to help get things in order for us to bring Lucas home. My baby shower is scheduled for January 9^th, so hopefully I will have a room ready to put things into by then, but that remains to be seen. While we know we are doing a care bears theme, we have nothing else done. The room needs to be painted and the ceiling fan needs to be hung. Lots of work to do and a very short time to do it in!

If you could keep me in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. I know that whatever is going to happen is going to happen, no matter if I am ready for it or not or if I want it to or not. Someone much higher than me is in control of this situation! I will do my best to keep updates here, so check back.

Update

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:36:47 +0100

I know it's been a while since my last post, and I have to apoligize for that. Things have been crazy and I just haven't had the change to get on here to type an update.

We are up north visiting my sister this week, as this is our anniversary week. And since we spent our honeymoon up here in the cold, we figured it was only appropriate. We were snowed in yesterday and when the snow plow went by, they put a 3 foot snow drift at the end of the driveway! It was ok though, it was very cold and continued to snow so nobody minded not going out. We are hoping to venture out today though, but we'll see.

On another note, I went for my check up earlier this week and the doctor told me that my blood pressure was "slightly eleveated" but he wasn't too worried about it. I didn't think anything of it until I got up here and my sister made a comment to me that my feet looked swelled up. I told her they had kind of been like that and she told me that was exactly the way her symptoms were at this stage in her pregnancy when she was diagnosed with Preeclampsia. I noticed that my hands were a little swelled and she took my blood pressure and it was like 160/80. My blood pressure has always been right where it's healthly - around 120/60. She was explaining to me that her blood pressure did the same thing and her hands and feet were only slightly swollen and she ignored it and it got to be too far out of hand which is how she ended up having to deliver at 31 weeks.

I am going to call the doctor today and let them know and see if they want me to come in when I get back into town. I really cannot afford to be put on bed rest - we cannot afford for me not to be bringing home a paycheck. I am very freaked out by this because I don't know what's going to happen. If I hadn't seen my own sister to through this first hand I probably wouldn't even be worried about this.

So I am asking that you all please pray that this is just a normal thing and that everything will be fine and that I will make it to 40 weeks!

Thanks!

Week of November 23, 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:04:30 +0100

Tuesday, November 24,2009

I am 26 Weeks Pregnant!

Well, so much for the hope that my morning sickness was no more… that officially flew out the window this morning, when I woke up very nauseous. Off to the bathroom I went and for the first time in nearly a month, I had real morning sickness. It was not fun.

I did have a round of throwing up last week as I had been having some issues with what I thought was just heartburn and one night it was so bad, it actually caused me to throw up. Well, what I have since found out is that it is not just heartburn but acid reflux. And it has gotten really bad. Every time I eat anything and it is always bad at bedtime. Tiffany had some of the same issues and suggested that I try taking Zantac before I eat. I have done that a couple of times and although I can still feel the reflux, it is definitely not as severe or nearly as painful. Really makes me sympathize with what poor Miss Caylee was going through all those months!

At 26 weeks:

According to babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

How your life's changing:

Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)

Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.

According to Gerber.com:

Your baby’s growth: Eyelashes!

Between now and week 29 your baby will have a growth spurt and gain another pound. As your baby grows, space gets tighter inside the womb. Your baby now measures about 12.8 inches tall and probably weighs almost 2 pounds.

Most of this weight is bone and tissue because she still doesn't have much body fat. In fact the main development of body fat doesn't really occur until late in the third trimester.

Developments that occur this week:

· Eyelashes. These begin to grow as your baby begins to blink and open her eyes.

· More hair. Hair continues to grow on her head.

· Spine. To support her growing body, your baby’s spine is getting stronger and more flexible.

· Plumping up. Although she hasn't put on much fat, she is beginning to look a little plumper.

What’s happening with you

· Weight gain. You've probably gained from 16 to 20 pounds by now, which includes your baby's weight, plus the weight of the placenta, enlarged uterus, amniotic fluid, and excess blood volume. There is also fat storage in the maternal body (largely during the second trimester) that averages 4 to 7 pounds.

· Additional isolated pain. As the uterus enlarges and your baby gets bigger, you may notice more back pain, pelvic pressure, leg cramps, and headaches. Be sure to report any pains that even remotely feel like contractions to your doctor. Preterm labor (beginning before the baby is fully developed) is much easier to stop in the early stages.

· Your baby’s moving around. By now you can probably feel your baby moving every day, although not all babies are equally active. If you become concerned during those moments when you can't feel your baby move, try lying on your left side and being still. It's usually easier to feel fetal movement in that position.

According to fitpregnancy.com:

Your Growing Baby

Your baby weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and has undergone a growth spurt in the past few weeks. From weeks twenty to twenty-eight, she almost doubles in height and now would be about a foot tall if she could stand. This week marks a major milestone in your baby's hearing and sight. Your baby's hearing system (cochlea and peripheral sensory end organs), which began fine development during week eighteen, is now completely formed, and over the next few weeks, she'll become increasingly sensitive to sound. In about a month, you'll feel her jump if she hears a sudden loud noise. Sound passes easily into your uterus, which helps her ears develop. Her eyes are almost fully formed. Did you know that all babies have blue eyes in the womb, no matter what their genetic inheritance is? A baby's eyes don't get their final color until a few months after they are born. The air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli, will be developed by the end of this week and will begin to secrete a substance called surfactant that keeps the lung tissue from sticking together.

Your Changing Body

Sleeping is definitely getting uncomfortable. Try sleeping on your left side. Your baby has to battle with your backbone when you're lying on your back, and sleeping on your back will also position your uterus over a major artery, cutting off blood flow. Between now and the next three weeks, you may be tested for gestational diabetes with a glucose tolerance test. This test requires you to fast for twelve hours and then drink a glucose-rich liquid usually in the form of a syrupy orange-flavored drink. After an hour, a blood sample is taken. If you do have gestational diabetes, you'll be advised to adopt a low-carbohydrate diet. Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition, which goes away after the baby is born.

The Nursery

Well, we are still undecided.

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Kimberly House

Tiffany and Caylee arrived in Toledo this past Sunday, November 21 and they will be here until this upcoming Sunday. I am super excited to have them here, and I was right - Caylee shot up like a weed since I saw her last.

We are going to have a house full of people to feed this holiday. We are expecting 24 people the last I counted. I am excited to have everyone over to the house. We are hosting it as a potluck, so there is no extensive work for anybody.