Monday Appointment Info

Justin & I went to my appointment on Monday with the thought that WE would be able to choose when and if we'd want to induce.  Well that came to a crashing halt!  My blood pressure is still up, but not enough to cause great alarm.  All other tests that I have had have come back normal so the doctor isn't interested in inducing quickly.  I was actually upset at this point because I am really uncomfortable!  My ribs and sternum feel like they are continually being stabbed...it isn't a good feeling!  The doctor again checked my cervix and I am still at zero cm dilated.  The doctor said we could schedule an induction for Sunday October 16th.  We would go into the hospital on Sunday evening at which point they will start the process of inducing.  The hope is that the body will respond but also be able to relax and get some sleep during the night before the fireworks start.
So at this point, we are scheduled for another doctor appointment on Friday the 14th to repeat the same tests done last Friday which are an ultrasound and a non-stress test.  I guess this is just to make sure the baby is still doing well in her environment...I'm assuming if anything changed they'd admit me to the hospital ASAP.
For the moment, I am done with work and just hanging out at home with my pup.  Ollie has also been over so I have plenty of company!  I am trying to relax and also hoping mother nature does her thing before Sunday!

Ol sprawled across my legs, Brinkley at my feet...so precious!

Week 40!

Well, when I logged onto BabyCenter.com today it said, “This week, reality sets in — you have a baby!”  Um, not quite yet!  Baby Crooks has yet to grace us with her presence!  We are trying to be patient, but I am starting to lose it! 

I am changing this weeks format…I am just going to mesh everything together. 

My Monday morning (October 3^rd) appointment went well.  My 24-hour Sunday urine sample came back normal and then my urine sample from that day came back normal.  Apparently it was just a one-time thing with me to have that extra protein in there! 

Sooo, the doctor decided he wanted to see me on Friday and do an ultrasound and a non-stress test. 

The ultrasound on Friday (October 7^th) was to make sure there is enough fluid surrounding the baby and the non-stress test is to make sure the baby is still responding well to her environment.  There were plenty of fluids still surrounding the baby and the non-stress test I took came back normal as well.  Everything is just fine with Baby C.  My blood pressure seems to have gone up though.  They said they’d keep an eye on it.  Again, no dilation!  They scheduled me for another appointment on October 10^th to see if anything had changed…so far, nothing has changed.  I still have the same aches & pains and have had no feelings of contractions. 

Basically at the Monday appointment Justin & I can plan if we want to be induced.  We have been going back and forth, but at this point I am totally for it.  If my sternum/chest/ribs didn’t hurt so badly, I would be ok, but they really are unpleasant feelings!  My last day of work was Friday; so at least if the baby doesn’t come for a few more days I can just relax with Brinkley.  That’s it for the moment, but I’ll be back on Monday afternoon to recap my appointment info!

Here is the last pregnancy picture I am taking!  I am wearing a non-maternity shirt and non-maternity pants, which is why my belly is showing slightly!

Week 39!

One more week til our actual Due Date!! Will we make it to October 9th or will we go beyond that date is the question!?  I feel like a ticking time bomb at the moment!  Right now I am collecting urine for a 24 hour period because my urine results at my appointment on Friday showed that there was protein in my urine.  This is a sign of preeclamsia.  Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition in which high blood pressure and protein in the urine develop after the 20th week (late 2nd or 3rd trimester) of pregnancy.  I don't have high blood pressure (thankfully), but I have some of the other symptoms, such as swelling in the hands & feet and pain under my ribs.  The doctor didn't seemed overly concerned, but they will keep a close eye on me.  They will test my 24 hour sample of urine on Monday morning and then we will see what those results bring.  The doctor said that if things don't get better, then they will probably induce me!  They said since I am in my 39th week, they see no reason for me to wait around and see what this condition might bring.  Moving on...could this be the last post before Baby C arrives!?

Baby's Size: Our baby is waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds - a mini watermelon.  (I'm carrying a watermelon!?)  The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
My Weight:  Surprisingly I lost 2 pounds from the week before.  The doctor said this is normal and he wasn't concerned at all.  My body has been hungry, but I don't really have much an appetite for anything lately.  I can't wait to be normal again and enjoy food!
Maternity Clothes: I actually went to a friends house yesterday to grab a few maternity items for the colder weather.  Jessi had some long sleeve comfy shirts for lounging and they came in the nick of time.  This weekend the temperature dropped to the 60's and I pretty much have nothing for weather that cold!  It is supposed to get back to the 70's this week, but I don't know how long that weather will hold out. 
Movement: Lots of movement...she is a squiggly girl!
Sleep: I miss sleeping comfortably...still lots of pillows, still waking up lots of times for a bathroom run, still can't get cozy, yadda, yadda, yadda.
What I miss: I still really miss the feeling in my hands!  They tingle 24/7 and my palms and wrists feel as if they are sprained or something!
Best Moment this week: No real "best" moments of the week.  We are just trying to wait patiently for our little one to arrive! 
Looking forward to: Having the baby!!  Not the actual labor part, but the after labor part when the 3 of us can be together!  I'm also looking forward to spending lots and lots of time with her and not having to work for a little bit!
Cravings:  Still nothing....more of the opposite, nothing sounds good!
Symptoms:  Still the same symptoms...I ran down all my "problems" the other night with Justin and don't really want to go into all of them again!  It's so hard not to complain but I feel like I shouldn't be knowing I should just be so thankful that we actually were able to finally get pregnant!! 
Pictures: I haven't had my picture taken yet today.  Justin is currently slaving away in the kitchen making homemade sauce & meatballs.  I'll post one later after he cleans up his mess!

Ok, sauce is made and simmering, meatballs done, now here is this weeks pic!

It looks like I am smuggling a basketball!