Fashionably Late

I heard that term today in regards to "overdue" babies, and I love it!  Apparently my babies like to be such. It sounds so much more positive than "late" or "overdue" which sound like something is wrong.  It's all about perspective.

I thought I would post a little update about what's been going on since going this far past your due date can keep everyone on pins and needles. Plus, it's one more thing to do to keep me busy. I like distractions at this point. Apologies in advance if this post is long and rambling, but I don't want to forget all of it after I'm bleary-eyed nursing a newborn around the clock.

So, backing up to my due date, 7/26/11, which seems forever ago now, I consented to my midwife (MW) doing a cervical check since we have an hour drive and it would be nice to know where we were starting from. Contrary to popular belief, dilation isn't really a good predictor of when you'll go into labor or even how fast it will be. As many moms know, you can walk around several cm dilated for weeks on end or be 0 cm and go into labor that night. But, we (Davey, MW, and I) agreed that with our distance from the hospital it wouldn't be a bad idea to check. I was 1-2 cm and 70% effaced.  Hooray for something!  I know I know, silly to be excited after what I just got done saying about dilation not being a good clue...blah blah blah, it still felt nice to know my body was doing something.  To celebrate the due date (okay, it was just a good excuse to go get some really awesome sushi), we went out to dinner and a movie while Lailey spent the night with Grammy and Grandaddy.


Since a little before my due date, I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions (BH ctx) off and on, and they seem to increase a little every day.  I made it to my 41 week appointment (8/2/11) and decided it would be okay to get checked again.  While my BH ctx had increased, I set myself up to not be disappointed if I wasn't any more dilated.  Good thing, because it was the same = 1-2 cm.  I had to be honest with myself after that and admit that I was in fact disappointed, but Davey encouraged me and snapped me out of my pregnancy hormonal emotional-ness.  Thanks to grandparents again, we got another date night.

At that appointment, we discussed with Anjli, our MW, about being overdue and how long she would advise us to go.  She said as long as baby is doing fine she's fine with us waiting for as long as I want. Davey asked her how long any of her patients have gone before labor and she said 42 wks + 4 days. Since we are definitely not comfortable with an induction except for extreme medical reasons, I was so happy to hear this. She did set us up for our ultrasound for Thursday, 8/4/11, to have everything checked. I asked her what could show up on the test that would make her want to induce, and she said primarily low amniotic fluid.  Well, the more I thought about it that night I got anxious.  This was exactly what sent us into an induction with Lailey, and while everything turned out great, it was not what I wanted at all. I hated being on the monitors, not being able to move easily, having to drag a stupid IV pole with me to go to the bathroom all the time, having really intense back labor and only being a little dilated, not being able to eat or drink, pretty much everything. If you ever read my birth story, you will know my disdain for the IV pole. Anyway, I had to think and pray a lot about the possibility of low fluid and what we'd do if faced with that decision again.

This morning we went to the ultrasound (u/s) and monitoring. We were so thrilled to have baby pass with flying colors!  I told Davey that if I could do a backflip I totally would. This is exactly what we prayed for.  While I totally feel like baby is completely healthy since the kid is SOOOOO active, it's nice to have that confirmed. My main worry - low amniotic fluid - was not even a concern.  Not even close to borderline, which would be about 5-9 cm. (sidenote: I believe this is measured by measuring 4 pockets of fluid using u/s). We were at 22 cm, which is completely within the normal range. I did drink about a gallon of water in the previous 24 hours because that can keep the levels up, but with it being that good of a measurement, it's not even necessary. The OB said that he didn't even need to see us back.  Hooray! I like him, but that's exactly what I wanted to hear. No more tests to make me anxious. Other stats from the scan:

Baby's approximate size: 8 lbs, just like Lailey at this point, so unless I binge like crazy on donuts (a no-no from my doula :) we're not looking at a "huge" 9-10 pounder.

Head size - normal (no huge Akin head!)

Fluid - great at 22 cm.

Movement - active little booger

Heart rate - average of 144 bpm and goes up with activity which is what you want to see

Gender...haha, just kidding! Bazinga!

So now what do we do?  WAIT! My next appt. is next Monday morning (41 wks + 6 days), but I really think I'm going to go before then.  Statistics are on my side, and no one stayed pregnant forever. I won't sugarcoat it. Yes, I'm uncomfortable. It's hot, SUPER hot, and I don't even like to go outside to get the mail. Lifting Lailey is getting very difficult, and I think she's tired of hearing me apologize for not being able to do things with/for her. Davey has been such an amazing help, so he's saved me from myself a few times. I told him a month ago that he had to take over her bath time until after the baby comes. Just can't bend anymore. But whenever I start feeling frustrated about being SO pregnant, I just remind myself that it could be a lot worse. Until the last 6 weeks or so this pregnancy has been super easy.  I mean, boringly easy. In a good way of course. I've slept well, had no heartburn, very little back pain, very minor nausea in the beginning, excellent blood pressure, no ankle swelling until after my due date (which still amazes me with this heat) and no major problems in general. Baby's healthy, which makes me happy. There are many things to thank the Lord for. So we're just gonna keep on truckin'!

I know we'll have baby here before we know it and all this will be forgotten, so I have to blog about it now before I forget. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. They mean a lot!

We have decided that if I make it to my appointment Monday, then we are totally going to lunch at this restaurant in ATL famous for their legendary labor-inducing eggplant parmesan. I checked it out today and was totally intrigued.  Sounds like it would make a great story.

More Pool Time

Based on my blog posts and pictures from the last month or two, it would seem that all we do is swim.  But today's pictures from my dad's camera (Grandpa Jim) were so cute I had to post them.  Plus, Lailey loves the water and it makes me feel so good to swim.  

I love this pic!

Lailey's newest self-taught skill - backfloating

Drinking from the hose 

Spraying Mommy and loving it

Love this girl!

Getting launched

Much higher when Grandpa does it

You Know You're 9+ Months Pregnant When...

- You walk past the bathroom and decide to go even if you don't feel like it because you know you'll have to go in the next 15 minutes anyway.

- You use the restroom more than your 2-yr-old.

- You ask your 2-yr-old to pick up things off the floor when you drop them because it's too difficult to bend over.

- You overhear your 2-yr-old commenting "I can't reach it! I can't bend over!"  Yikes!

- You cry... for no good reason.  Then you cry about crying because you feel bad.

- Your husband smiles and lovingly puts up with all the emotional-ness.

- You grunt and groan when sitting down, getting up, rolling over in bed, changing positions, and reaching for things.

- You get out of breath just putting socks on.

- You wear the same flip flops everyday because it means you don't have to reach your feet.

- People look at you warily, hoping you're not going to go into labor "any second."

- Taking a trip to the grocery store wears you out so much you can't even imagine cooking afterwards and need to take a nap to recover.

- Grocery shopping takes twice as long because you're waddling.

- You feel like a contortionist trying to shave your legs.

- You can put a plate on your belly and use it as a table.

- You have to begin phone conversations with "Hi, I'm not in labor."

- It's more comfortable to wear your husbands clothes...and not just for pajamas either.

- People at church chuckle sympathetically when they see you... yet another week.

- You know that, despite the discomfort, it's all worth it in the end and you'll miss being pregnant...eventually. :)

I know all the mamas out there can sympathize with these!

The Greatest Test of Willpower

Most people know by now I like my baby gender surprise at the end, on delivery day.  Davey has kept his secret the whole time.  Now that we're getting close (10 days from our estimated due date as of today, but who's counting?) I wanted to buy a going home outfit for baby.  

The other day Davey and I had a date night and enjoyed some great food at The Village Cafe (thank you, Groupon!)  After eating, we went to Babies 'R' Us to shop for a going home outfit for baby.  I have purchased very little for this baby, mostly just newborn cloth diapers, because we have plenty of everything else from when Lailey was born.  However, Davey and I agreed that the new baby should have a special outfit all his/her own.  I should note that we would have used our boy outfit from last time but it is way too warm for July.  Back to shopping: I felt like a kid at Christmas!  It was so much fun.  However, I didn't want to buy and wash two outfits if I knew one wasn't going to be used.  So, how did we remedy that?  We picked out 2 outfits, one for a boy and one for a girl.  Then, at the end of our shopping trip, I headed to the restroom, and Davey checked out, purchasing only the outfit we'll need!  He had the cashier bag it and wrap it several times to ensure I couldn't see through the bag.  Not that I was looking, but just in case.  We got home and he put it under our bed so he can wash it sometime and then wrap it up in our hospital bag.  I am still excited to wait, but I will admit, knowing I have access to something pink or blue that will change my life is a big test!  And no, nobody is allowed to do our laundry.  Although this was a hilarious and kind suggestion from my mother-in-law. :)

Davey had to be reminded a few times just who we were shopping for!

38 weeks!

For those of you who are curious, I've had no real labor signs yet.  Just Braxton-Hicks contractions which don't hurt at all.  Baby's still content to cook!

Surprise 30th Birthday for Davey

Last Saturday, I threw a surprise party for Davey's 30th birthday.  The story I told him was that our families were throwing us a baby "sprinkle" (like a mini baby shower) at our church.  It's pretty tough to pull the wool over someone's eyes, especially a someone who asks a million questions and thinks too hard about things. Well, even though he suspected something was up, he didn't anticipate the 40+ family and friends being there to celebrate, as well as the theme.  What other theme party would I do for him except Ghostbusters?  

                                            

Proton packs, green ribbon ("slime"), and twinkies were just a few of the decorations

37 wks prego!

Davey's birthday is not actually until August 3rd, but my due date is about a week before that.  I knew if he was going to get any birthday celebration, I had to do it early to minimize the chance of being in labor or just too plain tired to do anything.  Thankfully, it all worked out beautifully.  He had commented a few times that he "wasn't going to have much of a birthday this year," which made me even more excited to surprise him.

Amy is a little too happy about spraying her brother-in-law with silly string. :)

 A good friend of ours, Tim, had asked Davey to help with a youth event for the church that day, so I knew he'd be gone for the afternoon.  Right before he pulled up to the party, a monsoon-like storm hit!  He was telling me he was going to "wait it out" in the car.  All of us were waiting for him to make the grand entrance, so this was pretty funny.  He finally made it in the house and got attacked with green silly string (green "slime") and a huge surprise!

The little Ghostbuster enjoying her pizza

Since many people asked the significance of the Twinkies, here is the quotation from the movie:
Egon: Let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Based on this morning's sample, it would be a Twinkie... thirty-five feet long, weighing approximately six hundred pounds. 
Winston: That's a big Twinkie. 


Davey got the joke right away of course and laughed when he saw them. 

Amazing cake from The Cake Box

Happy Birthday!

Lailey's GB shirt that I made her

Davey is the best husband and dad I know.  He works incredibly hard for us, especially so that I can take time off for our next baby.  I love him so much and wanted him to know how special he is.  He is a blessing to those around him.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to give him this party to show him how much we love him.  Happy (almost) 30th Birthday!!!

New Smyrna Vacation 2011

Last week we had a fantastic time in Florida.  I don't think a day went by when we didn't swim for a couple hours either in the ocean or the pool, and most days we were in both.  We got some relaxation in too, which was really nice.  Here are some pictures to highlight the trip.

Swimming buddies

 The first day, Lailey really liked swimming in the ocean with Davey.  I think the waves were the calmest that day.  On the following days they seemed to be more rough.

Snuggling with "miney" (her blanket) and listening to Uncle Eli sing and play

Grammy with her two girls

Yes, my insane husband is reading Jaws...at the beach.

Swimming with Grandaddy

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a...Lailey!

No fear

Backfloating with a huge tummy

Pull-ups with Daddy

I could not get a good video of Lailey jumping in Florida, but this one from the Fourth of July is great.

That's Sadie in the background counting off for Lailey.  She must have jumped 20 times at least that day.  I have a feeling we'll be without the floaties next summer.

37 weeks

Wow.  Made it to 37 weeks.  It's been flying by.  I want to get around to posting pictures from our vacation last week and 4th of July, but will save until later.  I went to my MW appt. this morning and everything looks great.  No signs of labor yet, which is GOOD because I have too much to do.  Baby's heartbeat was excellent, my blood pressure great, and the MW said baby is in a really good position.  This is nice to know since Lailey was face up and I had a lot of back labor and didn't dilate a lot in the beginning.  Of course, it's no guarantee that I won't have back labor, but since this is my second hopefully things will go a little more smoothly.  Everyone seems to think so.

Besides feeling huge and looking like I ate a whole watermelon, I don't have any major complaints.  I feel really blessed to have a non-complicated pregnancy.  I'll take the temporary stiffness, awkwardness, and frequent bathroom trips for a few more weeks since I know baby isn't quite done baking.  The other day I held out my hand to Davey for him to help me off the couch, and he asked me "can you really not get up?" I glared at him and did it quickly by myself, and then he felt bad!  He wasn't really being mean, just curious.

I've been waiting for the nesting instinct to kick in, but for some reason I haven't gotten it yet.  Not that I'm not preparing, but I don't have that drive.  Maybe because I'm already chasing a toddler all day and don't have time to think about other things.  Perhaps it will come soon and all the work will send me into labor.