- 30.4 pounds gained
- 7+ pounds, Ella's approximate weight currently
- 120/85 my blood pressure last night
- 4 more scheduled doctors appointments (though I could deliver early and miss half of them!)
- 23 days until my due date
- 16 days until the doctor is considering inducing me!
- 10 more work days until my possible induction
- 2 days until Ella is full term (the point at which I delivered Betsy)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Pregnancy by the numbers- Week 37
Another Tiffany and Hudson update!
Tiffany was discharged from the hospital on Monday night and got a good night's rest in her own bed! My mother-in-law Jane is staying with JD and Tiffany to help around their condo and because Tiffany needs to be around someone constantly in case something goes wrong and she needs to go back to the hospital. It's great news that she's home, but she is taking lots of medications that make her sick. I know we all want so badly for her to feel well. I remember being sick post partum and forgetting what 'feeling good' felt like, so when it finally happened I felt like I could do anything.
Hudson is a strong little guy! He's up to 4 pounds 14 ounces and he has been alert and eating well. I think his discharge is right around the corner!
Please keep praying for Tiffany, JD and Hudson. In my ninth month of pregnancy I've been up all night tossing and turning because I have to use the bathroom, or I have to change positions and every time I wake up I think of them. Tiff, if you read anytime soon we love you, we think about you every day and we are here for anything you need!
Hudson is a strong little guy! He's up to 4 pounds 14 ounces and he has been alert and eating well. I think his discharge is right around the corner!
Please keep praying for Tiffany, JD and Hudson. In my ninth month of pregnancy I've been up all night tossing and turning because I have to use the bathroom, or I have to change positions and every time I wake up I think of them. Tiff, if you read anytime soon we love you, we think about you every day and we are here for anything you need!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Betsy's Second birthday party
While Betsy doesn't actually turn 2 for another three weeks, I decided to throw a little birthday party early in the chance that her sister makes an early arrival, or if I'm still pregnant I doubt I would feel up to hosting a party 40 weeks pregnant! We kept things simple, I ordered pizza and I made cupcakes, as well as a few snack foods that are kid friendly (apple slices, Gold Fish and Teddy Grahams). We just invited our local family and friends and had a nice turn out of 18 people!
The morning of the party Betsy woke up to see everything set up and ready to go. All she cared about was seeing my giant cupcake carrier full of "Cuh-Cakes". Ben decided to set up our badmitton net which turned out to be a huge success, as we had badmitton games outside and the Cowboys-Giants game inside!
Here's a few pictures from the party, we had lots of fun :)
The morning of the party Betsy woke up to see everything set up and ready to go. All she cared about was seeing my giant cupcake carrier full of "Cuh-Cakes". Ben decided to set up our badmitton net which turned out to be a huge success, as we had badmitton games outside and the Cowboys-Giants game inside!
Here's a few pictures from the party, we had lots of fun :)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Pregnancy update week 37!
Week 37 starts today...we're in the homestretch.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I was a little disappointed to hear that I haven't made much progress toward Ella's arrival. My blood pressure looks good, it's starting to go up but that is typical during the last month of pregnancy, and I have no traces of protein in my urine nor is my swelling too bad. The doctor gave me the go-ahead to keep working if I want to, as long as I lie down three times a day and I promise to come home and get off my feet. Ben has been making sure I do this for several weeks now so it's not hard to agree to these conditions!
I'm really happy to not bed rest, to save my paid leave for time with the baby.
Dr. Greene also pointed out that I'm growing a 'VERY healthy baby'. She meant she's pretty large. Most babies at this point are about 6 pounds but Ella is probably closer to 7 pounds already and if she doesn't arrive until her due date we could be looking at "a nine or ten pound baby". The doctor pointed out that with my last pregnancy I had high blood pressure which tends to cause smaller babies. Without having high blood pressure I'm growing a big girl!
We won't talk induction until I'm in my 39th week if I haven't had her by then (unless I take a turn toward developing preeclampsia).
So that's the update! We both look perfectly healthy, we're just not seeing any signs of Ella's arrival anytime soon.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I was a little disappointed to hear that I haven't made much progress toward Ella's arrival. My blood pressure looks good, it's starting to go up but that is typical during the last month of pregnancy, and I have no traces of protein in my urine nor is my swelling too bad. The doctor gave me the go-ahead to keep working if I want to, as long as I lie down three times a day and I promise to come home and get off my feet. Ben has been making sure I do this for several weeks now so it's not hard to agree to these conditions!
I'm really happy to not bed rest, to save my paid leave for time with the baby.
Dr. Greene also pointed out that I'm growing a 'VERY healthy baby'. She meant she's pretty large. Most babies at this point are about 6 pounds but Ella is probably closer to 7 pounds already and if she doesn't arrive until her due date we could be looking at "a nine or ten pound baby". The doctor pointed out that with my last pregnancy I had high blood pressure which tends to cause smaller babies. Without having high blood pressure I'm growing a big girl!
We won't talk induction until I'm in my 39th week if I haven't had her by then (unless I take a turn toward developing preeclampsia).
So that's the update! We both look perfectly healthy, we're just not seeing any signs of Ella's arrival anytime soon.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Update on Tiffany, JD and Hudson
My sister-in-law Tiffany was discharged from the hospital on Monday, to return Tuesday because she was having intense chest pains. It is SUCH a good thing that when this started Tiffany got straight in the car and went to the hospital. Tiffany has an aortic dissection which can be fatal if not caught and treated immediately. This means she has a tear in her aorta, which is the largest blood vessel to the heart.
When I heard about this I googled it and freaked out about what I read. We are just SO glad Tiffany went strait to the hospital. Tiffany has been in the Intensive Care Unit since Tuesday but was finally allowed to visit Hudson in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit yesterday. The doctors decided against surgery at this time, opting instead to try to get Tiffany's blood pressure down and try to let nature do some good work and start healing the tear.
This condition presents itself most often in older men. Over half of the cases in women under the age of forty occur late in pregnancy or in the early post partum period.
So Tiffany is healing but I have so much sympathy for her as this is her second week in the hospital and there is no sign of when she's going to get to leave. It has to be frustrating, being separated from your newborn, fearing for your life, and feeling a bit helpless in all of it. The same goes for JD, Tiffany's husband. What a hard position to be in, seeing your wife in the ICU and your baby in the NICU. Ben is beside himself not knowing what to DO for JD, but right now all we can do is pray, and ask for others to pray for this family as well.
The good news about Hudson is that he is getting stronger every day. He had lost weight down to 4 pounds 1 ounce but is back over 4.5 pounds now (and that was a couple of days ago, I'm sure he has gained since then).
I know many of my blog readers do pray and I hope you will keep Tiffany, JD and Hudson in your prayers. My prayers have been for healing for Tiffany, strength for JD in this tough time. I pray for patience and wisdom because feeling so helpless and now knowing what tomorrow will bring can just drive someone mad. I pray for continued improvements for Hudson. And I pray that Tiffany and JD will feel some comfort knowing how much other people are thinking about, praying about them right now. I pray for guidance for their extended families to know what we can do to comfort and support them.
When I heard about this I googled it and freaked out about what I read. We are just SO glad Tiffany went strait to the hospital. Tiffany has been in the Intensive Care Unit since Tuesday but was finally allowed to visit Hudson in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit yesterday. The doctors decided against surgery at this time, opting instead to try to get Tiffany's blood pressure down and try to let nature do some good work and start healing the tear.
This condition presents itself most often in older men. Over half of the cases in women under the age of forty occur late in pregnancy or in the early post partum period.
So Tiffany is healing but I have so much sympathy for her as this is her second week in the hospital and there is no sign of when she's going to get to leave. It has to be frustrating, being separated from your newborn, fearing for your life, and feeling a bit helpless in all of it. The same goes for JD, Tiffany's husband. What a hard position to be in, seeing your wife in the ICU and your baby in the NICU. Ben is beside himself not knowing what to DO for JD, but right now all we can do is pray, and ask for others to pray for this family as well.
The good news about Hudson is that he is getting stronger every day. He had lost weight down to 4 pounds 1 ounce but is back over 4.5 pounds now (and that was a couple of days ago, I'm sure he has gained since then).
I know many of my blog readers do pray and I hope you will keep Tiffany, JD and Hudson in your prayers. My prayers have been for healing for Tiffany, strength for JD in this tough time. I pray for patience and wisdom because feeling so helpless and now knowing what tomorrow will bring can just drive someone mad. I pray for continued improvements for Hudson. And I pray that Tiffany and JD will feel some comfort knowing how much other people are thinking about, praying about them right now. I pray for guidance for their extended families to know what we can do to comfort and support them.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shutterfly.com
Shutterfly is offering 50 free photo cards if you post a blog about it!
I enjoy using shutterfly for their photo books, holiday cards and prints. I order through Shutterfly and pick the pictures up at my local Target and it's really convenient.
So go to Shutterfly.com and check out their great products or participate in the promotion to get your own 50 free photo cards.
I enjoy using shutterfly for their photo books, holiday cards and prints. I order through Shutterfly and pick the pictures up at my local Target and it's really convenient.
So go to Shutterfly.com and check out their great products or participate in the promotion to get your own 50 free photo cards.
Pregnancy countdown/ by the numbers...
•6 pounds, Ella's approximate weight currently
•128/85 my blood pressure last night (it's getting a little higher but not high enough to be concerned)
•5 more scheduled doctors appointments (weekly until my due date)
•32 days until my due date
•11 days until Ella is full term
•4 days until I'm 36 weeks pregnant. This is the point I was put on bed rest with Betsy and has been my goal this pregnancy, to work at least up to this point.
I got a couple of things accomplished this weekend.
- I filled in Betsy's birthday party invitations. It's in a week. I purposely did this at the last minute so if I was having signs of pre-labor or indications I may be put on bed rest I could cancel. But all signs are go that this weekend I'll be ready to party! I also made goody bags for the other little guys who will be attending the party!
- Betsy has finally hit a growth spurt (though she hasn't gained a pound in 4 months!) and I cleaned the 18 month clothes out of her closet. They filled a huge bin, Betsy has been in 18 month clothing for about 10 months. Her closet looked so empty and forlorn that I made a trip to Target for some essentials. She needed more play clothes (and that cute argyle sweater I couldn't pass up).
- AND my hospital bag is PACKED! I was delighted to find some nightgowns on clearance at Wal-mart that met the criteria for what I wanted in the hospital... short sleeved so that the blood pressure cuff wouldn't be in the way. On clearance so I don't mind if they get destroyed. Comfortable and modest.
Last week I bought lots of travel toiletries for Ben and myself so that I don't have to pack those at the last minute to go to the hospital. I also packed our twin blow up mattress, air pump, sheets and a blanket for Ben. I have the diaper bag packed and a little present for Betsy from Ella, for when the big sister comes to meet little sister in the hospital.
All we need to grab at the last minute is my camera, and our various chargers (cell phones, camera, Kindle).
That's all for my pregnancy update!
•128/85 my blood pressure last night (it's getting a little higher but not high enough to be concerned)
•5 more scheduled doctors appointments (weekly until my due date)
•32 days until my due date
•11 days until Ella is full term
•4 days until I'm 36 weeks pregnant. This is the point I was put on bed rest with Betsy and has been my goal this pregnancy, to work at least up to this point.
I got a couple of things accomplished this weekend.
- I filled in Betsy's birthday party invitations. It's in a week. I purposely did this at the last minute so if I was having signs of pre-labor or indications I may be put on bed rest I could cancel. But all signs are go that this weekend I'll be ready to party! I also made goody bags for the other little guys who will be attending the party!
- Betsy has finally hit a growth spurt (though she hasn't gained a pound in 4 months!) and I cleaned the 18 month clothes out of her closet. They filled a huge bin, Betsy has been in 18 month clothing for about 10 months. Her closet looked so empty and forlorn that I made a trip to Target for some essentials. She needed more play clothes (and that cute argyle sweater I couldn't pass up).
- AND my hospital bag is PACKED! I was delighted to find some nightgowns on clearance at Wal-mart that met the criteria for what I wanted in the hospital... short sleeved so that the blood pressure cuff wouldn't be in the way. On clearance so I don't mind if they get destroyed. Comfortable and modest.
Last week I bought lots of travel toiletries for Ben and myself so that I don't have to pack those at the last minute to go to the hospital. I also packed our twin blow up mattress, air pump, sheets and a blanket for Ben. I have the diaper bag packed and a little present for Betsy from Ella, for when the big sister comes to meet little sister in the hospital.
All we need to grab at the last minute is my camera, and our various chargers (cell phones, camera, Kindle).
That's all for my pregnancy update!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)