39 weeks...a little late

Baby James is here! But I wanted to finish this survey I started so I had it for my journal. I planned on finishing it Monday night in the hospital but that obviously did not happen...now 2 weeks later...

How far along: 39 weeks!  

Size of baby: A watermelon!

  

Maternity clothes: Yes, of course.

Gender: Sweet baby boy! James Austin Green! 

Movement:  Lots and lots. I know I'm going to miss it so much once this is over! 

Sleep:   Isn't great but I do get a solid 8 hours each night. 

What I miss: Missing it all but trying so hard to enjoy it until the last second.      

Cravings: Loving fruit and still love dairy...back on the orange juice kick too. 

Best moment this past week:  Setting a date of our induction... 39 weeks, April 15th, 2013! 

Symptoms: Same ol' same ol'. 

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby! 

Milestones: He is a real life baby now! 

Mood: Getting really anxious about this induction and how it's all going to go down. 

Labor Signs: Still having BH contractions like whoa. 

Wedding rings on or off: Off. Hopefully back on soon!  

Here it is...the last chalk board pic! So glad we made it this far Baby James! 

Sweet baby James' birth story is coming up next! 

38 weeks...days to go?

How far along: 38 weeks!  

Size of baby: A watermelon or pumpkin, depending on the website. I''m guessing he is close to 8 lbs! Can't wait to find out for sure!! 

  

Maternity clothes: Yes, of course. I wear a lot of Austin's clothes too...does that count as non-maternity? ha!  

Gender: Sweet baby boy! James Austin Green! A lot of people have been calling him JAG and I like it! 

Movement:  Lots of movement, I can really feel how big this boy is! 

Sleep: Sleep the last couple of nights has been awful. I finally experienced the pregnancy insomnia that people talk about. Totally just laying there wide awake watching the minutes go by on the clock. Annoying. So many feelings and emotions fill my brain! And when I do finally fall asleep I 'm having some crazy ass dreams. Last night baby James was born and looked just like Austin. Like in a freaky way, like Austin's adult face on James' little body. hahahaha   

What I miss: Missing it all. Pretty much 100% over being pregnant. I hurt all over when I've been still for a little bit and get up to move around and I'm so swollen it's hard to bend over or do simple tasks. It's time, time is near.     

Cravings: Loving fruit and still love dairy...back on the orange juice kick too. I swear I drink it so fast in the mornings I almost choke myself. 

Best moment this past week:  Had a little baby shower today at Austin's work and that was pretty fun. It was so sweet of them to throw that for us and it really meant a lot to us! 

Symptoms: Same symptoms. Nothing new here. Going to the doctor tomorrow (Tuesday) to check on things and maybe get a plan. I"m kind of hoping we get a plan tomorrow. I'd honestly love for them to get things started this weekend. Friday at 5:00, perhaps? 

What I'm looking forward to: Tomorrow's appointment and maybe having a game plan! 

Milestones: He is full term and packing on the pounds. He might even have an inch or so of hair now! My guess is he has a little hair, light brown, that will lighten up as he get's older. I bet we have a curly headed blondie toddling around in the future! 

Mood: Getting really excited. I go through phases of "oh my gosh I am SO ready for this. bring it." and "oh my gosh no. not yet. it's not time. I still have so much left to do." 

Labor Signs: Still having BH contractions. I don't know if he has dropped yet or not? He just seems huge all of a sudden. 

Wedding rings on or off: Off. Hopefully back soon, although I hear it can take 1-3 months for the swelling to go down. omg. and this summer heat will not be in my favor. 

It is crazy to me how big my belly is getting. They weren't kidding, the last month, holy cow. Check out 34, 36 and now 38 weeks. It's time sweet baby James, it's time.

Update on Baby Green

So we went back to the doctor this morning and everything looked really great...I guess bed rest is paying off a tad! My blood pressure was the same, a little better even, 132/84. They did an ultrasound to check baby and his movements and she said he was totally fine and not showing any signs of distress. We saw him opening and closing his hands and picking up his cord and dropping it (so cool/weird!) She said if he was distressed in the least bit he wouldn't be acting like that. So that was really reassuring. During the ultrasound she kept going on and on about how much fluid I had. She was like holy cow, holy cow! She said girlfriend when your water breaks you are going to have a mess! haha, awesome. She said we should be prepared for an average size baby with a ton of fluid...she also said get ready because this boy pees a lot! 

I did have more protein in my urine than last visit so she sent me home to do a 24 hour urine collection (I pee in a jug for 24 hours and then bring it back to get tested for the protein level). I'll bring that in Monday morning and then have an office visit Tuesday afternoon to see the results. If the results are really high we will set an induction date. If not, we'll keep on trucking. She checked my cervix and said I was still closed and not effaced at all. So she said if we did induce me now the chances of c-section are increased, which we want to avoid. So basically my body isn't ready yet and James is content so there is no need to evict him. She said we definitely want to get to 38 weeks but maybe even 39 weeks. I'm 37.5 weeks now. 

So, more waiting for us. I feel better and feel a lot more relaxed. I feel like we have some time....probably a good week or 10 days even. Keep on cookin' sweet baby boy!

 

37 weeks

How far along: 37 weeks!  

Size of baby: They said he is probably 7 to 8 pounds now!  

Maternity clothes: Yesss. Duh.  

Gender: Sweet baby boy! James Austin Green!

Movement:  Lots of movement and it sometimes hurts. I can feel his whole body turn and flip. Such a crazy feeling! 

Sleep: Sleep is hit or miss. Last night I slept pretty amazing but for the most part sleep is annoying and I toss and turn all night. I have to get up to pee every 2 hours or so but I fall right back asleep after. Austin is definitely getting anxious too because now when I get up he asks "are you ok????" every time, haha.   

What I miss: Missing everything it seems. Today is my first day of bed rest and I am already over it. It's so hard to lay around and do nothing all day! Ugh!    

Cravings: Loving fruit and still love dairy...yogurt, ice cream and milk, definitely my biggest cravings.    

Best moment this past week:  Went to the doctor yesterday and got some exciting and scary/overwhelming news. Looks like we are probably going to have a baby next week! They said they would like me to go another week or so (get to 38 weeks ish) and then they will induce me. More on this below. 

 

Symptoms: So back to the doctor I went yesterday for my 37 week check up. Everything was pretty much the same as last week, my blood pressure was a bit elevated (132/85) and I had trace protein in my urine. She said all my labs were prefect though and I don't have pre-eclampsia. So that was good news! She said my blood pressure is just hovering on that borderline level of doing something or just hanging tight. She said she would really like to see me go another week or so. Said although baby is full term and it is safe for him to deliver he will be much stronger in another week or so. So the plan is for me to go back on Thursday and reassess and see how things are. Then I'm guessing I'll go back next Monday when I'm 38 weeks and we'll set an induction date. Exciting! Scary! Oh my! In the meantime she told me I needed to be on bed rest and not doing anything but getting up to eat, shower and potty. Awesome. She also did a non stress test to make sure James was ok and not in any distress. I was hooked up to the monitor for about 20 minutes and once that was finished she read the strips and said "beautiful. perfect. baby couldn't be better" so that was music to my ears! So today is Day 1 and I'm already over it. Thank goodness this is my first kid! How would a mama do this with another kid at home too? Geez! Anyway, I am taking it easy and being a good patient...hoping James will stay put for another week or so. I'd really like to go to 38 or close to 39 weeks. I'm thinking a next weekend induction sounds perfect! I will update again after Thursday. 

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby, so so soon now! And Aus coming home from work to entertain me!  

Milestones: He is FULL TERM! What a big milestone! I was so worried about preterm labor my whole pregnancy so I'm glad to make it to this milestone.  

Mood: Definitely getting anxious about labor. I am scared of the pain! And I'm just anxious about how different life is about to be...it's so hard to imagine! But I hear it's pretty wonderful. :)      

Labor Signs: Lots and lots of contractions. Lots of googling "real labor" and "how to tell when you're really in labor" haha. My OB reassured me this was all normal and that I would have lots of BH contractions from here on out. But that I will know the difference with the intense pain that comes with real labor. These contractions are just annoying and uncomfortable. They do wake me up when I'm sleeping though. 

Wedding rings on or off: Off and I still miss them! haha 

37 weeks and swollen up like a balloon! 

My sweet girlfriends came up for a fun night before baby James takes over my life! LOVE these girls!! (maybe I should of posted the leg pic? no?) :) 

This was Easter Sunday before we headed to Charlotte for Caroline's baptism. And yes, those are bed room slippers, the only thing I can get my feet in. 

36 weeks...the count down is on!

How far along: 36 weeks!  

Size of baby: We had an ultrasound today and they estimated baby to weight 7 lbs 6 oz! My how he has grown!! 

Maternity clothes: Yesss. Duh.  

Gender: Sweet baby boy! James Austin Green!

Movement:  Lots of movement, nothing new to report here.  

Sleep: Sleep sucks. I almost dread going to bed because I know all I'm going to do is toss and turn and hurt. I feel like humpty dumpty stuck on his back trying to move from side to side.  

What I miss: Starting to miss everything. I guess these last weeks are really where it gets tough. I miss all the little tasks you take for granted when you don't have a watermelon belly!   

Cravings: Loving ice cream!! And still loving peanut butter toast and milk. mmmm   

Best moment this past week:  Seeing our sweet baby again today. He was sticking his tongue in and out and it was so cute! They confirmed his head was still down and engaged in my pelvis. Whoa that sounds like serious talk to me!! 

 

Symptoms: So I went to the doctor today and my blood pressure was a bit high. 132/82 and then they rechecked it after my appointment and it was 142/84. So thats not good. My BP is normally in the 110/70 range so this was a big jump. I also had protein in my urine and have this crazy crazy foot/ankle/leg swelling. They think I might be pre-eclamptic and drew blood to confirm this. SO, the plan for now is for me to stay out of work for a week and stay off my feet as much as possible. I go back to the doctor next Monday to reassess how things are, and if things are better I can go back to work for a few weeks. If not, I will be out of work for good and I'm guessing they will induce me around 38 or 39 weeks...depending on where my blood pressure goes. She said the only cure for pre-ecampsia is delivery so that might be happening sooner than later. 

What I'm looking forward to: All the obvious. Getting anxious about labor and delivery and just can't wait to meet our sweet baby and bring him home! 

Milestones: His skin is smooth and soft now, his liver, kidneys and immune system are all good to go. He is pretty much ready to enter this world!!  

Mood: Pretty happy for the most part. A little irritable and mostly just sick of being preg and ready for D-day! the countdown is on...28 days or less to go!    

Labor Signs: Nope. But lots of BH contractions still. She checked me today and said my cervix was still closed, so that was good. She did say people that have high amniotic fluid levels will commonly have more contractions. 

Wedding rings on or off: Off and I miss them! haha 

My face is totally swelling too...awesome. 

My belly looks so big to me in this pic!! Whoa! 

35 weeks...holy moly!

How far along: 35 weeks!  

Size of baby:  A coconut...we find out next Monday how much he weighs exactly. 

Total weight gain/loss:  Haven't weighed this week...probably another pound or two. 

Maternity clothes: Yesss 

Gender: Sweet baby boy! James Austin Green!

Movement:  Oh yea lots of movement, and lots of hiccups...about 3 times a day usually. 

Sleep:   Sleep isn't great lately. I just can't get comfortable and constantly feel like something is ripping on the inside no matter which position I'm laying in. It's quite lovely. 

What I miss: Miss feeling comfortable and moving around with ease. Miss being able to breathe.  

Cravings: Loving ice cream!! And Mexican food...oh how things have changed.   

Best moment this past week:  We have pretty much everything set up now! Got the car seat out of the box and the base in my car. Set up the swing, bouncy seat and the pack n play. Our den just got verrry tiny.  

Symptoms: My ankles have gone to another level. The swelling is ludicrous! My hands, calfs, my whole body is swelling and I bet it is going to get sooo much worse.  Also, I'm just so sore and achy all over. I feel like my stomach is about to rip apart. I'm definitely getting to the point where being pregnant isn't totally fun anymore and is starting to straight up hurt! OH and I am HOT all the time. Like total fireball...especially running around work, sometimes I can wipe the sweat off the back of my neck! Sick! 

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby. I can't wait to see what he looks like...it is all I can think about! 

Milestones: Baby's hearing is completely developed and his testes have fully descended. 

Mood: Pretty emotional and easily irritated. Hormones are so lovely.   

Labor Signs: Nope. But lots and lots of BH contractions. Maybe something is going to happen soon!!  

Wedding rings on or off: Off! Took them off last week...Dawn Soap, WD40, Austin pulling and me screaming...good times and glad those guys are off!