Our week 37 appointment

I went in yesterday for my 37 week check up. My OB, Dr. Campbell, wants to do non-stress tests (NST) at every appointment until I deliver to check on the baby's heartrate and activity levels. Basically, you lay hooked up to a monitor like you were in the labor and delivery, and push this hand-held button at every movement you feel. A "reactive" study means that he had at least two accelerations (in heartrate) during the test period, "non-reactive" means they didn't see any accels (which you do want to see) but the baby might just have been asleep.

Anywho, no chance of my little man being sleepy...he's always moving! The test turned out fine, and Dr. Campbell checked my cervix again, so I'm now 1.5 cm dialated and 50 % effaced! It's not much, but at least I'm progressing. My BP was still a little elevated (140/85). She explained that I'm still at risk for developing late pre-eclampsia (which I don't think is going to happen, but I'll take her word for it) so if my cervix becomes more "favorable" (i.e. >3cm or fully effaced) that she might wanted to still induce labor early.

I really have been against early inductions, (labors last longer and rates of c-sections increase), but at this point, I'm ready to get this kid outta here! I've been in so much pain from my rib/chest muscle and lower back pain that I almost can't stand it! Plus, I've recently developed carpal tunnel in both hands, so now my fingers ache too. I know I'm complaining, and I'm holding back, really...

So maybe we'll get some more information at next Wednesday's appt. Hopefully, I'll go into labor any day now and I won't have to worry about it...

Stormy Night at the Mountain

So about twenty of us from our FBC Sunday school class took a trip to Stone Mountain Saturday night. After figuring out who was riding in what van, stopping for gas and buckets of fried chicken, and stopping again when we dumped a whole cooler over in the back, we finally made it to the park around 7:30...right in time for the rain! Good thing we had plastic tarps to sit on, because we had to use them to cover up all our blankets, food, bags, etc. Everyone looks a little damp and frizzy in all my photos, but oh well :-) After about ten minutes, the downpour ceased and we were able to spread out our picnic dinner and have some fun. I have sat through the entire laser show before in the rain so we were blessed that it only really poured for that long. However, we were also blessed with the smell of wet people for the rest of the evening. (Yum...)

Rusty and Angela, with their KFC

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that church vans are allowed into the park for free! They don't advertise it that way, but we were very glad we decided to take two vans instead of extra cars at the last minute. We also had a nice surprise when a couple in the group behind us on the lawn got engaged right there on the wet grass... it was very sweet. We clapped. :-)

Two kids in our group, Gage Gonzalez and Moriah Howard are both turning 9 years old in the next week. We brought brownies to the lawn and Brad brought a big number Nine candle. So we all got to sing happy birthday...even though I think they were a little embarassed :-) Moriah got to blow out the candle somewhere around five or six times, only because Brad kept relighting it...

The laser show itself was just OK, this is supposed to be their 25th anniversary show. However, because of all the extra fireworks at the beginning and during the middle of the show, there was so much smoke in front of the mountain that you couldn't barely see the actually "laser" designs. Plus, they shortening the show considerably and took out the Lee Greenwood "God Bless the USA" from the end, when was always my favorite part!! Plus, when your nine months pregnant, its hard to get comfortable sitting on the ground when you can't lay down, but I'm not complaining. I was just happy to hang out with everyone and see the fireworks if nothing else!

Myself, Morgan and Leigh

Brad, light sword-fighting with Gage

Gonzalez and Thompson families

Bare bellies...

Here is my 36 week belly photo...as soon as I figure out the slideshow feature of this site, I'd really like to make a montage (sp?) of all my belly shots over the last eight months.

Today's appointment

I went in for my 36 week appointment today and had an ultrasound. The tech at the office, Alli, had a student with her and asked if I didn't mind letting her scan me. Of course I didn't, because I know all about being a student in healthcare and needed to get all your requirements in. However, she did have a tough time with the scan (my baby is not cooperative) so Alli had to step in.

Everything looks really good. His weight is estimated at around 6 lbs 7 oz right now (give or take a few oz either way). Babies generally gain about 1/2 lb a week at this stage of pregnancy, so if I make it to 40 weeks, we're looking at around 8 lbs or so. I was so worried that he would be a 10 lb baby like his daddy (Robert was 10 lbs, 11 oz), so now I feel much, much better. His O2 and fluid levels looked great, so there's no talk of needed to induce early. Yeah! We got to watch him taking "practice breaths" and moving around alot, but we didn't get any pictures of his face. He's so far down in the vertex (head down) position that they couldn't get around my pelvis to see his cute little face... oh well, so no new pictures to post today...

Now if this little man would just come out all on his own, I'm ready anytime. My hospital bag is packed and waiting...

WCHS Class of '98!!

So this past weekend, Robert and I made the five hour drive to Waycross, GA for Robert's 10-year class reunion. I was given the OK by my OB to travel that far from home...but I did keep my fingers crossed all weekend that there would be no water breaking, funny feelings, etc. We were able to meet up with a few old friends of Robert's, including Greta Lowry Thomas (who came to our wedding) and James Character. We were very sad that more people did not come, especially those who still live in Waycross! Rod, the class president who organized everything, was very enthusiatic but because of budget limitations, had to restrict the reunion to dinner at a seafood restaurant on Friday and a cookout on Saturday.

Robert and Greta

Class President, Rod

James Character

The cookout on Saturday was fine, except that it was about 98 degrees...100% humidity...and me, 8 months pregnant. And oh, the gnats, the gnats were everywhere! The food was definetly worth the wait (more food than was necessary for the amount of people who showed) but I wouldn't do it again. We got to catch up with Robert's friend Tray Brantley and his wife Valerie, who drove all the way down from Ringgold, GA for the reunion. They, too, were disappointed at the amount of participation.

Instead of going to the party planned for Saturday night (at someone's house we did not know) we went to see "The Dark Knight" instead...awesome movie!! However, the movie theater's A/C was not working properly, so we were hot and sweaty yet again. At least the movie was worth it! Heath Ledger was such an awesome Joker that I had nightmares about him all night!

Now that Robert is done with his Master's degree, we have more time to spend at home with each other before I go to work. We are planning on enjoying this free time before our baby boy arrives any week now. Tomorrow we will have an ultrasound of the baby to check his size, amniotic fluids levels and blood supply. Hopefully, everything will come back normally, but if not, we might be looking at having to induce labor around 38 weeks! Good grief, that's the week after next! Are we ready for this??

More updates after our appointment tomorrow...

Let's Try this Out...

I guess I'm feeling left out since everyone in my family seems to have a blog...so here we go. I'm at work right now and feeling very bored, so this seems like something fun to do. When I get home I'll add some pictures and stuff!