37 Weeks and Nature's Natural Beauty

I was able to get my camera to download pictures again so I am all set...for now. So here are my 37 week photos. I am getting more uncomfortable and am back to "just feeling fat" versus pregnant. However, seeing that I have 19 days left at the most, I am enjoying every minute of keeping my little boy inside me. I already hate the idea of not feeling him move inside me :(

And here is a photo I took today. Outside our office window I have looked at this site for over a month now. For some reason the leaves on the bush fall in the shape of a butterfly and they are the only ones that have changed color on that bush so far. I just had to capture it on camera. Can you see it?

Poll Results: Abortion

I must say that I was very surprised by the poll results. I thought there would be a lot more people who did not support abortion. I am one of those people who supports it "depending on the situation." I thank God every day for this miracle he has allowed me to have inside me and pray each day for the continued health of Cole and myself to carry and deliver him. Imagining myself having to think about aborting him isn't possible...I just love him so much already. However, I feel that every woman has a right to choose what she wants. It is her body, her life, and depending on the situation, I might do the same as her. For example, if I were a rape victim, I don't know that I could birth that man's child. So, again, having this miracle of life grow inside me does make me feel like I can't imagine it any other way but at the same time, I (thank God) have not been put in a situation such as the one I just described and do not feel I have the right to speak for those women. Thus, that is where I stand (Sarah, this was something Ben and I ALWAYS debated about!)

On a side note, I have pictures to post but my camera is not downloading the pictures to the computer for some reason. I don't know what is going on. I am not very technologically savvy so I will try my best to figure it out but until then...sorry everyone! I guess you will have to base your poll choice on the last photo of myself and Cole I posted :)

Results of Thursday

Below are the results of Thursday's appointments.What is this above picture you may ask? My new blood sugar testing supplies and five of the fingers that will be tortured by it (actually it really isn't that bad...yet.) I am impressed with how small the whole thing is. I got to pick out what color meter I wanted (nice of them to make something about this fun.) Then the blue and white thing is my unit for pricking my finger (I must say changing the lancet in it each time takes nimble fingers and my swollen ones can sometimes pose a challenge but I wonder how elderly people with arthritis use it. The little bottle has my testing strips, which I am happy to say I have four bottles all of which have the same number so until I get a new set of four (hopefully no need for that as there are 100 strips in a set of four) I don't need to recalibrate the machine (which really isn't that hard.) Thankfully my "purple monster" as I have already named it has a memory of up to 500 tests so if I forgot the reading or forget to record it (which can happen easily for me at this stage in my pregnancy) I can look it up easily in my meter.

Enough about my testing supplies...why do I have to you may ask? Because they still say Cole is a big boy and my OB wants to make sure my blood sugar isn't creeping up late in pregnancy. Yesterday and so far today all is looking good though. However, my PCOS causes insulin issues which can lead to diabetes so even if my blood glucose is fine my insulin may not be (which may also be what is aging my placenta faster than we would like...along with the higher than preferred BP.) So, my OB said I may have to increase my Metformin to help with insulin so I don't end up with a 10 lbs baby! I don't like this idea. Nobody knows the impact of Metformin on babies and really had a hard time just staying on it at all but since we dropped it to 500 mg I compromised. I am not sure I like the idea of increasing it again. However, the other option may be induction at 39 or 40 weeks (I don't really like this idea either.) So I don't know. We shall see I guess.

Besides the worry of how big Cole will be my OB says my BP is good (I take that in stride as we have heard that before!)Cole's heart rate is good and he passed his biophysical again after being a little stubborn about waking up and moving for the tech :) We got several pictures from this ultrasound and the tech was great about trying to get a good 3D for me (my first opportunity for this.) However, as usual, Cole didn't want to cooperate. The picture below was the best we could get.
As you can see his face is pressed against my placenta (the blob on the left, which interestingly looks like it has a little heart shape in it.) To the right is Cole, starting at the top, his forehead, eyes (the right eye is partially blocked by the placenta), his nose in the middle and the dark horizontal strip below his nose are his lips. The tech said he really is folded up in me and has his legs right up in my rib cage (she felt sorry for me...) and said he is ready as he was practice breathing the whole time (what a good boy!) She tried so hard to get a good picture of his face or a foot or something but he would have none of it. She did get a good look at his "boy parts" so that is two ultrasounds in a row confirming a boy. (Thank God since we just had our shower and got a lot of boy stuff!) Anyway, all continues to look good.

Everyone yesterday kept asking me if we were all set for his arrival. I am not. His room is still a mess (we finally got through all the shower gifts last night), we don't have a mattress, and I still haven't packed my bag! I think I am in denial. Although I have been more uncomfortable lately I still enjoy the fact that I am pregnant and the thought of giving birth to him still freaks me out! Let alone bringing home a baby! I know, I know, ready or not, here Cole comes! I told Tony I wanted to make it to 37 weeks (this coming Sunday) but really would like 38 weeks because that is really full term. However, I am now really hoping for 40 weeks :) Yes I know the longer he is in the bigger he will get. However, I have heard they can be way off on estimating weight so I think I am in denial about that too :)

36 Weeks

So here I am at 36 weeks. I apologize that the photos are a little dark but I had to take them in our hallway, as Cole's room (which gets good light) is very full right now (as you will see in another post.) However, my belly is big enough that I think you get the picture.

And here is Cole at 36 weeks. I have to go for twice weekly ultrasounds (sometimes they give me a picture and sometimes they don't.) We got a great look at his face at this last ultrasound (I even saw him blinking!) but she didn't print that. Instead she gave me this profile shot, which really isn't the best but hey, I will take what I can get. He passed his exams again and they now say he is in the 87th percentile and is about 7.5 lbs right now. I take it all in stride because it is a different tech each time and they all get different measurements. The important thing is that he is growing and doing well.

I hopefully see my OB tomorrow (if she isn't sick, delivering a baby, and all the other reasons I had for not seeing her for two months.) At that time I have my first internal. UGH. You ladies who have had babies know what I am NOT looking forward too. I also will be tested for GBS, which I hear isn't a big deal (if I have it I just need IV antibiotics during delivery.)

Here is praying I have another great ultrasound and a great OB appointment tomorrow. Here is also praying I make it to 37 weeks since Cole is considered full-term then so his lungs are supposed to be developed by then (I of course would like to make it to 40 weeks but I take it week by week...actually day by day at this point.)

Bed Rest Buddy

So this week starts my first full week of bed rest. I am telling you it sure is hard. I have a really hard time knowing all that needs to be done (change bed sheets, do the dishes, get Cole's room reorganized (pictures of room following this weeks shower to follow in a later post), and the list could go on. Plus I know my husband puts on a happy face (most of the time) but I know he hates the fact he is the source of income right now AND the house maid (aside from the help my mother has provided but she runs me to ALL of my twice weekly ultrasounds and once a week office visits right now as well as makes dinner for Tony frequently so she already does plenty.) I find myself looking back over the day and realizing I was on my feet way more than I think I was supposed to be each day. It sure is hard. However, the first day of my bed rest I looked out the window and this what I saw


I sat there and watched him for a good 5 minutes I would say. He let me take his picture and then looked around and even sat down on the railing for a little bit (please excuse the chipped railing by the way...one of the many house projects we haven't gotten to as we had hoped.) It was a little bit of "everything will be all right" among the chaos I have felt lately. Thanks little birdie...you made me smile.

Poll Results: If You Had To Vote Now...

All I can say is wow. For two reasons: I didn't know I had fifteen people checking out my blog and secondly, what a close poll! I didn't know a political poll would be so interesting to others. As always, here are my comments on why I voted the way I did (at the risk of stirring up a debate with such an apparently hot topic!)

If I had to vote right now, I would go with McCain. So why McCain then? At this point in the game all I can say is that it is because there is something I just don't like about Obama. He seems to have an aura of arrogance around him. I think he is a great speaker (something I hate about Bush...I think he is terrible) and I really think he wants to bring change (which I believe we really need.) However, too much change a once can be scary. Thus, McCain appeals a little more to me for those reasons (as slight as they may be.) McCain however seemed to once present himself as a more liberal Republican (which I appreciated) but seems to be headed the other way now (which I don't like so much.) One issue that always seems to drive me in voting is abortion. (Sarah if you are reading this, Ben and I used to have heated discussions on this one!) I am going to save you my opinion on abortion because that has led me to think it is a good topic for the next poll. So get to my poll and vote :)

35 Weeks!

So here I am at 35 weeks (last Sunday.) It has been crazy since last Thursday so I am just getting to this. People are really noticing I am pregnant now and I am feeling it. I am more achy and I bump things with my belly (I just knocked over a cup on the desk when I walked by) because even I don't know how to work with this belly :)

Here is a front view. Cole is measuring about 2 weeks ahead still and is about 6 lbs. and some change they think so he falls in the 70th percentile right now. They say he has a lot of hair on his head now. I am officially on strict bed rest and have once a week appointments and twice weekly ultrasounds. I will explain all of that in more detail later. I must go put my feet up now.

34 Weeks

Here I am from the side.

And here I am from the front.

Here is a "view from the top" :) See to the top left of my belly my toes barely showing? They look so small and far away AND I had to stick my leg out and lean over to even get this peak at them!

And here is my belly when I lay down. As you can see, it could be a shelf. (This is Cole's first stuffed animal by the way...thanks to his Auntie Kristi.) I use my belly sometimes when sitting to balance my plate :) Cole often kicks then...he doesn't like being squished even a little.

You're Kidding Right?!

I get to the office today for my 8:45 appt. excited that finally after two months I get to see my OB and get answers. I walk in and they immediately swarm me (no joke) and ask who I am supposed to see today. My heart immediately sinks. Long story short, my OB is out sick today. I drove 40 minutes, missed work (which is very precious time at this point...trying to save up my time for baby) and I STILL don't get to see my OB! I immediately say I have a list of things I need to run by her, I see other docs and they give me all different answers and my most recent ultrasound said my placenta was aging too fast and I was supposed to find out today if I had to have one tonight or not. The nurse decides she will "confir" with me and checks BP, wt, and urine. BP is supposedly fine but slight trace protein now in my urine. She says keep the ultrasound just in case and call with a BP result from work this afternoon. She will then call the OB at home to see what to do. I also get an appt. (supposedly) with OB next week. The nurse says I can go out of work if I want. I say I don't want to but want what is best for me and Cole and assume my OB should decide that! Sigh....even my poor husband is starting to get frustrated. I am beginning to think that the OBs office is what is raising my BP not work!

Seriously....

Are Cole and I okay or not? I just got a call from the OB's office and the secretary said, "So sorry to take so long to get your ultrasound scheduled but it is tomorrow at 5:00." I said, "I didn't know I needed one." I had two last week and one said I am great and the other said my placenta was "oldish" but I didn't have to come back for a month. Now I need one just a week later? I see my OB (hopefully) tomorrow at 8:45 and hope to get some answers then. This is getting ridiculous. Everyone seems to think something different and I haven't actually seen my OB in over a month! My little guy is moving around inside me though so that is the only assurance I have that all is well right now (keep up the good growth and movement Cole!) Looks like I might spend most of my day tomorrow back and forth from the hospital that is 40 minutes from my house! I'll keep you all posted!

Is This True?

Is this really what people are thinking when they look at me? I told Tony that I have been getting more "looks" lately and I swear I was hit on the other day. I am a very self-defeating person when it comes to body image so I would normally not think I was being hit on but this guy was obvious and when I told the story to Tony he said, "Sounds like it to me!" I wont get into details but the summary of it was the guy was telling me he had a feather duster (which he showed me) and he knew of over 100 ways to use it, which couldn't be shown in public. I am now obviously pregnant and I get weird looks from men and hit on. Do they seriously find a pregnant woman THAT attractive? I am starting to feel like a beached whale at this point so I feel my least attractive right now and that is when they find me most attractive? Well now judging by this cartoon I guess I was wrong. I now see what they are really thinking :)

32 Weeks

Even though I am now officially 34 weeks (I took photos today), I haven't posted my 32 week photos so here they are.Looking at this picture I am amazed that my chest actually looks small compared to the rest of my body. I have always been big chested and never did I think my chest would not be the thing that stuck at past everything else. My Mom really likes this shirt on me (I think this is the one you liked Mom) so I put it in this picture. However I am noticing I don't think it fits as well as it used to; I think I just look like a round ball now.

Hence this picture from the front...seriously, doesn't it look like I am just holding a ball in my hands? I must be getting big because I got my first comment yesterday about my pregnancy from a cashier without even a hint of baby stuff with me. Also, an MD I work with said I was hiding my "occupant" well until now. Someone at the grocery store also said, "You must be due soon" and when I said 4-6 more weeks she said well you look like sooner! I have officially gone from, "You are not that big at all!" and "Are you eating enough?" to looking like I am due any day I guess! 34 week pics coming soon!

Poll Reults: What is Your Biggest Concern?

If any of you really look forward to the polls I apologize for not getting to changing it sooner. I try to do one a week but have had so much other stuff to share it got pushed aside. I do have more stuff to share but felt it was time to stop neglecting the poll. So here we go...

Most of you seem to be worried about the cost of heat this Winter. I totally agree but am at a little more ease because Tony and I "lock in" a price each year and we do the one that if the price should go down (yeah right) we get that price. However, no matter what, heat will be more expensive and I can't help the feeling that it is going to be a long cold one this year (not the greatest for a newborn in the house!) Luckily we bought a generator this year in preparation for some of that because with a newborn and no alternate source of heat, we need something should the power go out.

I voted for paying bills in general because cost of heat, gas, and food are so outrageous so I worry about just being able to pay for it all. Tony assures me we will be fine but bringing a new guy into the house will surely add some new expenses. I do however worry about those who are less fortunate than us. I don't know how, for example, my neighbor is going to afford to heat her house this winter as I know finances are tight for her anyway. Sigh...lets hope with a new election coming some good change will happen. So with that, comes my next poll. Check it out and vote :)

The Good and The Bad- Take 2

So Tony and I had a rare full day together again yesterday. It was wonderful. He took me out to breakfast (later start to the day than he wanted...he wanted to leave at 7 I couldn't get out the door until 8:15) and then I made him very angry because I spent 1.5 hours in the maternity store called Motherhood. We were then off to our ultrasound after looking around an unfinished furniture store to try to find something we could use for a changing table in the baby's room....no luck still.

The ultrasound started out shaky as the ultrasound tech said, "Oh no!" during it and ran out of the room! Turns out she had been feeling dizzy I guess and had a spell during our ultrasound. A student was there and he didn't seem to know what to do! Anyway, another tech came in and finished the ultrasound. She said all looked good but then the MD poked his head in (never a good sign) and said my placenta looked "oldish." How is that for a technical term? Ha ha ha. So no water on the brain, thank God and Cole is looking good right now; again thank God. However, since my placenta is "oldish" it could lead to problems with Cole's growth (and everyone kept thinking he was going to be big because I keep measuring ahead!) We need to go back in a month to see how he is doing and go from there. I have an appt. next week with my OB and will get more details then. However, Tony and I both thank God for the health of our little guy right now and pray that he continues to grow healthy and full-term!

Tony was so good and wandered Babies-R-Us with me without complaint and then drove the rest of the time so I could lay down in the back seat (I have been having cramping lately.) He then surprised me by driving us to Coldstone Creamery as I kept saying I wanted to try it after seeing it on Oprah :) However, we didn't end up going because he kindly took me to Bath and Body Works to buy stuff so we just swung over to Friendly's for an icecream there before our last child birth class (we sat outside in the wonderful weather eating our icecream.) During class Tony actually watched some of the birthing video...so proud of him and diapered and swaddled a baby with little difficulty. Despite the fact that I pissed him off earlier in the day he sure stepped up knowing I was nervous following our ultrasound results and took right care of me. I know I have said it before but he is my rock and is so good to me. I am getting teary just writing that. Damn pregnancy hormones!

Unexpected Trip to Maternity Ward

As those of you following my blog know, my blood pressure has been elevated. I was told last week to check it every day and then call in or come in this week. I chose to come in because I felt like it would be better to be seen than to discuss over the phone what "the plan" for me would be. I went in and my blood pressure was really high as was my heart rate. I wasn't surprised though because I was nervous. They had me "relax" for a little bit and then it went to its usual high. The nurse practictioner (my OB is STILL on vacation) left to discuss what to do next with "the others." To my surprise she came back and said I was going to be admitted to the maternity ward for a non-stress test, complete blood work up and biophysical ultrasound. I immediately got emotional as I was not expecting this and was at this appointment alone. She said she just wanted to make sure there was nothing going on with Cole. God was looking down on me because I was able to get ahold of Tony on his cell (unusual) and that calmed me some. I told him no need to come in as if all was well I would be released following all tests. Anyway, long story short my BP was excellent during monitoring (however they used a larger cuff there and the one time the OB's office did that it was good...so I am not sure what to make of that), Cole's heart rate was good (althought he sure made the nurse chase him around my belly to get a good reading) and he passed his ultrasound and non-stress test. I passed my blood work but was sent home to collect a 24 hour urine so I am home from work (which my parents would be thrilled to know) for the next 24 hours to do that. I got a good look at Cole's face from the ultrasound too. Here are the pictures. I know many of you may not be able to figure out what you are seeing so I will attempt to tell you. The black spot to the left is Cole's right eye and just below that the two smaller circles seperated by a verticle line is his nostrils then the darker area just below that are his lips. I am told he has quite a bit of hair too!

Here you can see the eye to the left much more defined then his nose is centrally located with the lips just below. I know he probably looks more like an alien to all of you but of course to me he is beautiful even in these pictures. If the 3D machine had been available the nurse said she would have given me a 3D look at him and said if I should have to come in again (hopefully not though!) she will try to get the 3D machine. Tony was jealous I got to see our little boy. He was practice breathing, which was so cool to see. His testes have dropped and he is head down...so proud of my little guy! He is an active little one and every nurse that saw me asked if he was always so active. I said yes, he takes after his Daddy!

All for now. I am off to collect my urine for another 19 hours.