Week 38 Pictures

Here is a couple quick pictures of Travis and I during week 38. It shows how big I really am getting!

No baby yet, we just keep ticking off the days. I think my doctor would induce me now if I wanted him to but I'm feeling pretty good so I see no reason, especially since I'm a couple of weeks away from my official due date.

Week 38

Well, as of Monday morning we've made it to Week 38 and the 2 weeks that Dr. Radpour predicted I wouldn't.

I was a bit anxious going into last Monday's appointment just because I wasn't sure if I had progressed or not. When I pulled up to my clinic I saw my doctor sprinting across the parking lot to the hospital. I figured he'd be a bit late. Sure enough, his nurse told me that he had dashed over there to deliver a baby. His speediness back just confirmed that the nurses do about everything except catch the baby. I was back in my car in less than an hour and he had seen another women before me AND delivered a healthy baby boy.

Everything seems to be moving along on schedule. By Dr. Radpour estimated that the little one probably weighed about 6 1/2 to 7 lbs last week. This is just by an external exam and his feeling of the baby. My blood pressure was well within the normal range and the baby's heartbeat was at 140 bpm. Last Monday I was a full 2 centimeters dilated and 90% effaced.

I continue to feel pretty good and am able to do about anything I want although squating and putting on my tennis shoes is getting harder. Sunday was a clean the house, do laundry, do dishes day. One of the last tasks I tackled was a light cleaning of my car. Travis commented that I sure didn't act pregnant. I told him I wasn't sure what that meant. I will admit I tire much easier and I don't walk (waddle) nearly as fast.

We've always known that the little one could come at any time but now it REALLY could be at any time, it's kind of weird to live your life like that. Travis and I were talking that we hadn't been to Cracker Barrel for breakfast in a long time. We decided to go in 2 weeks - we decided you should go ahead and plan - who knows what will happen.

Because so many people know that we are close to delivering we have had friends sure we are at the hospital when we don't answer our phones. My parents are sure I'm in labor every time I call (they are on "baby watch" as they call it) and I'm nearly afraid to skip an outing just because people will think something is happening. We've assured everyone that they will receive a phone call when it happens (but not during the middle of the night).

This Friday is supposed to be my official last day of work - an agreed upon date with my boss so that they could find someone to replace me and I would have time to train them. Well, they don't have anyone yet so we will see how long I'll actually work. If I don't have the baby this week I'll discuss it with my boss. I'm afraid I'll go crazy at home if I am not working.

Until next week or the baby comes....

Week 37

Week 36 started off with a bang. I had my doctor’s appointment Monday afternoon. My blood pressure was basically the same, I actually lost a pound and the baby’s heartbeat was lower but well within the “normal” range. Things were going along quite smoothly until Dr. Radpour checked me. We were both very surprised to find out that I was 1-2 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced (my cervix is 80% thinned). At that appointment Dr. Radpour guessed I would only last 1-2 more weeks (Monday is the completion of week 1) and I probably won’t make it to my due date although as he said, women have proven him wrong before.

Dr. Radpour was able to feel how the baby is laying and we are very thankful that it is presenting head down with its back towards my left (if you were looking from my angle) with its feet (which I feel all the time) on my right.

Right after my doctor’s appointment I called Travis and luckily he was near the mall. He agreed to meet me there so we could pick out the going home outfits for the baby. We picked up both a boy and a girl outfit and saved the receipts! I have tried to take it easy as that’s the only thing that could possibly slow things down from here but it’s been hard. It seems there is something to do every night and this coming week is no exception.

I continue to feel great and get along well. Sabbath we went with our friends Dale and Abbe and their children to Cloudland Canyon. Although the best part of the park is the trek down to the waterfalls we didn’t make it. We took a nice stroll around the top and watched the kids play on the swing sets.

We’ve officially quit shopping for the little one and even have the majority of our bags packed (although no decision on a girls name). When the moment comes we just have to throw in those last minute things. I guess we’re ready as we’ll ever be.

My next appointment is again on Monday afternoon. Maybe nothing will have changed since last week.

Week 36

We attended our last class this past Monday. It was a class on breastfeeding which they encouraged the husbands to attend. Poor Travis was bored to death during the whole thing but survived. While at the class I thought it was very beneficial and helpful although now I’m not sure I could point out one specific thing that I learned.

Although I didn’t have an appointment last week I have one today, Monday, and a weekly appointment from here on out. A friend called on Friday night hoping I had gone to the doctor on Thursday and I had already begun to dilate. As far as I’m concerned the little one can wait until week 40 to make its arrival. I should find out today if I’ve started to dilate at all but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything - women can be dilated 1-2 centimeters for weeks.

Everyone continues to ask how I’m doing and I’m doing just fine. As you may expect, I have my “good days” and “bad days” when I’m more tired and wiped out then others but I am taking care of myself and not pushing it. Sabbath was a beautiful day (it hit a record high of 81) so we took a short walk on a nearby greenway, but only a portion of it was I didn’t want to overdo it.

Friends have asked if we are going to be around in a week or two so we can get together. I assure them that we're on the down hill slide and we are going no where.

Travis and I decided to take one last opportunity to have a "date night" last night and we splurged and went to see a movie ("Failure to Launch" which we both thought was good). We think our opportunities to do that are numbered.

I think I’m finally finished shopping for myself and the little one so all we have to do now is pack our bags – something we keep putting off along with deciding on a girls name.

Week 35 Already!

This week was yet another doctor’s appointments. I am feeling real familiar and at home in the doctor’s office and I know that there are many appointments to come.

Everything still looks great. The little one’s heartbeat was at 150 and we heard it speed up a bit while counting. My uterus is stretched to the top so I am guessing that I will really start filling out up front as there isn’t much room left otherwise. My next appointment is on the 13th when I’ll have the Strep B test and then I’ll start going every week.

While at the clinic I asked my doctor the proper procedure once I go into labor. We are to call the clinic day or night and they will get in touch with Dr. Radpour and he will determine if we need to come in or hold off a bit. Travis laughed at me but I made sure he had the clinic’s number, the nurse’s name and what we’re supposed to do. Dr. Radpour said that in the last four years he has delivered about 90% of his babies. He will deliver me unless it’s a weekend when he’s not on call or a Tuesday – his day off.

This week our friend Scott gave Travis a gift - the Diaper Genie! Not only did he get the Diaper Genie but he got other "essential" items to go with it - gloves, a mask and good 'ole Duct tape for when all else fails. Thanks Scott, now Travis will have no excuse for not changing those diapers!

Sunday Travis and I hung the things that we have for the nursery. It makes a world of difference and I am satisfied with what we have done. For now the nursery will have to double as a nursery and guest room (we’ll put the cradle in our room while guests are here) so we still have the double bed in there but it looks good otherwise. I’ve tried to put away as many things as possible that we won’t be using right away. Luckily our storage isn’t far away and we can just run down and get something if we need to.