40 Weeks!

I had my 40-week doc appointment today and I am still 3 cm dilated, but the baby's head is down there. He's somewhat dropped down and it seems he's moved because the swelling in my feet and ankles have gone down a lot. Unfortunately my hospital's policy is to not induce until 41 weeks which would be April 16. Sooooo...let's pray he comes before that. This weekend would be perfect since my mom arrives on Saturday afternoon. I of course would prefer him to come on his own and not induce.

I guess I need to start doing some walking to make this little man appear. Tomorrow Jeff is off work, so maybe we can do some shopping and get out and about to make things progress.

This gall bladder "bland" diet really sucks! Here I am going past my due date and I can't eat pizza or ice cream. What the heck?!? Basically, I should be avoiding high fat foots, fried foods, ice cream, eggs, pork, nuts, etc...those are the main things and there are other things I should be avoiding and keep in low moderation. So annoying when you're 10 months pregnant!

I hope I can post baby pictures very soon! Please baby Andrew, I would really like to meet you this weekend!

The waiting continues at 39 weeks and 6 days

Well, I went to the hospital on Monday night, but we didn't come home with a baby ... just found out that I have a gall stone and that is what was giving me the major heartburn and back pain practically all day on Monday!

It had been bugging me all day and I thought it was just major heartburn, but by the evening I still couldn't sleep and I was beginning to get worried, so I called the doctor around 11:30 p.m. She said to head over to the hospital to be evaluted because it could be my gall bladder. I know I woke her up because I could barely hear her on the phone...sorry Dr. Kramer! :-) Anyway, I woke Jeff up and told him the doc said we needed to get to the hospital. He is such a light sleeper that it's easy to rouse him. He got right up and got his clothes on in minutes and we were at the ER by midnight.

They hooked me up to all the machines and checked the baby and everything was good there. I still was in pain, but we had to wait for the gall bladder ultrasound tech to arrive. Cheryl, our nurse, was very nice so I hope I get her again. The ultrasound tech said his wife was due with their 6th girl on April 9. Yikes! I told him he was crazy and Jeff said what are the chances of having SIX GIRLS?! Anyway, he was happy to hear about our boy!

He found a 1/2 cm gall stone and said that was the problem. They may take out my gall bladder after the baby is born, but maybe not if it doesn't bother me again. They gave me an Ambien to help me sleep and sent me home. However, I think that Ambien didn't agree with my stomach because I vomited in the sink pretty much as soon as we got home! I ate a piece of bread and e-mailed work and told them I'm officially starting my maternity leave. This is just too much! Luckily, I was able to sleep and woke up feeling much better. Thank God!

It's now the day before the due date and everyone and their dog is texting and calling to see if we've had a baby yet. It's nice to have so many people who care about us. Jeff is at work and already called to see how I was doing. He wants Andrew to arrive on Good Friday, which is April 10. That's OK I guess, but I'll take today or tomorrow!

I have my final doctor's appointment tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. Jeff is working, so he won't get to be there. Maybe I'll be more dilated, but I'm not betting on it. I think I may try to convince the doctor to induce me on Friday or the weekend if she will. Mom is gonna be here Saturday and she's chomping at the bit to get here and meet Andrew like everyone else. She does NOT want anyone else to see him before her :-) I don't think I'll be able to control that, though. Sorry Mom!

Still waiting ...

My appointment on Thursday was exciting because the nurse practitioner said I was 3 cm dilated. I wasn't expecting that at all because I've had no contractions that I am aware of, but she said my cervix is definitely softened. So ... at 39 weeks and 3 days I am still here waiting. My last day in the office was Friday and my department took me out to lunch to celebrate my maternity leave and let me know they'll miss me :-) I am still planning to work at home next week until something happens. I hope it happens soon.

I have actually enjoyed being pregnant and I'm still feeling pretty good, so I don't know when Andrew plans to arrive. Not knowing when is so hard! I went to lunch with friends yesterday and did a lot of walking around while shopping. Did some laundry, practiced putting the swaddling blanket on a stuffed animal, etc. Just a normal Saturday afternoon. LOL!

Jeff has guard duty this weekend, so he is in Phoenix all day again today. Only 25 minutes away, so that's good. However, he is back to being sheriff's deputy tomorrow where he'll be an hour away from home. Good thing he has the police car to drive home in! He is on first shift (6 am - 4 pm) until the baby comes. How am I going to focus on work?! Guess it will keep my mind off the waiting game.

April 9 is a full moon, so I'm banking on that to help me out if Andrew hasn't arrived by then. Really, Thursday or Friday would be ideal because Jeff will get another week of work in and so will I. Plus, my mom will be here on April 11 around 4 pm and she really wants to visit us in the hospital.

Think good thoughts for us and pray that everything goes as smoothly as possible!

For Andrew

Well, time is now officially going slow ... I'm looking huge (at 38 weeks and 3 days) and starting to wonder how it's possible to be my normal size EVER AGAIN! It's amazing how women's bodies can be transformed and return to their (somewhat) normal state after giving birth. I've seen it done and I know it takes some work, but I have a lot of motivation--namely my sister's wedding where I'll be standing in front of a church of 300 people which will include almost everyone we've ever known. Good thing probably 75% of those are her fiance's friends and family who don't even know me!

I have these thoughts about my body, but not too often. I know once our baby boy is here, I won't care a darn bit what I look like! I am getting very exciting to meet this little boy who is a creation of me and the man I love so much. I really hope he has a lot of his dad's features (big blue eyes, perfect Roman nose, fuller lips and the heart of a soldier).

Baby Andrew will also hopefully inherit his Grandpa Burchfield's full head of hair and more quiet disposition (as opposed to his dad's sometimes overly loud and boisterous personality, as much as I may love it sometimes. Hey, I can only handle so much BOY!) :-)

Either way, this little boy is going to be loved a lot and that's all he really needs for now. Hope to see you soon, Andrew! (can we try less than two weeks?!?)

Love,

Mom

More Nursery Photos

It's Saturday which means I can lounge around and get more baby stuff done while Jeff sleeps (still working 3rd shift). My doctor's appointment on Thursday was quick - nothing to report because I'm not dilated yet. Anything can happen now within the next 2 weeks. Hopefully Andrew wants to arrive around his due date. He could even be born on Easter. I don't think he'll be early because I still feel OK. Plus, I still have a lot of training to do with my replacement at work and she is getting worried that she won't have time to learn everything.

Here are a few nursery photos from this morning. I am going to add some shelves on one wall and also some more stick-on designs around the window. We also have to hang Andrew's initials that Melissa and Ben made.

Rock-a-Bye Baby . . .

Our new rocker/glider arrived this week and we've both enjoyed testing it out. It is SO comfortable and the cats agree. Jeff started singing rock-a-bye baby to Chai. LOL! I also put up a quote above Andrew's crib, so the decorating continues.

The FOURTH Baby Shower - 37 Weeks

We are so lucky to have so many good friends! The girls (and guys) from my Pure Fitness class decided to throw us a shower on Saturday and Jeff got to attend this one. He had a great time meeting everyone and getting to see all the fun gifts. I'm in such shower mode after having one every MONTH since December, I didn't even think to let HIM open a couple gifts. He helped and enjoyed looking at everything while I unwrapped :-) He really likes this onesie from Bill.