Well, not too much news on the babe, but I had a doctor's visit this morning and he said that my cervix was definitely thinned out and very soft, I just haven't dilated yet. On a comforting note, though, he said that could change in a matter of hours or a matter of days, so I am not going to get my hopes up. However, I have been having contractions on and off, pretty intermittent now and nothing regular and he said hopefully those get regular soon - agreed! He said the pelvic/groin pressure will continue to get worse, including the lower back pain, but I am just excited that my body is actually progressing along. And I have 15 days left until the official day, so whether or not it comes and goes, 15 is a small number, plus, I already got through my 2 toughest days this week schoolwise, so after the weekend, they'll only be 11 days left and that's just crazy!!
Travis saw a P.T. this morning for his hip - I am glad that after this ironman is over he will be cutting back on working out, bc regardless of what the human body is capable of, I don't think it's good to be doing so much that you get hurt often or have to go to the doctor all the time. It's like a chiropractor addiction. So he's got less than a month till race day - so we both have a body getting ready for a big event, lol. He did a super hard swim workout last night and it just blows my mind how much he's improved in the swim and even his stroke, so I wish he hadn't had the running problem and I wish he was able to run better right now, but I'm sure his biking and swimming cardio will pay off during the run too.
Well, that's about it for right now. I need to get back to grading exams!! Happy Wednesday!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
37 weeks!
The baby is between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds and is over 19 inches! According to babycenter, many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blondes or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
I am sleeping well about every other day, so I will take what I can get. I guess my body is trying to slowly get used to less and less sleep, right? I bought a pair of maternity jeans last Sunday and I have rocked them twice. People keep saying I won't get much use out of them and I hope they're right. But with the weather cooling down (LOVE it) and the fact that I am not going to walk out of the delivery room as a size 4, I think I'll be able to use the jeans a little bit longer. And hey, they could probably double as a new pair of "fat" jeans for those "fat" days.
Travis is hoping the baby waits 2 more Saturdays so he can be done with the super long bike rides. I am hoping for this Thursday, October 28th, so I get my full 6 weeks of parental leave, but I'll take November 3rd or 4th too. But the baby will probably be opting for a late check-out, so I am not going to get my hopes up.
Not too much else new. The last 2 days haven't been bad at all. I still have a lot of pelvic pressure, but I am getting more used to it. Travis is training away. We got him a road bike... so now we'll have 3 bikes hanging on the walls. I love how he always tries to "sell me" on how good of a deal it is. I'm glad we got the bike for a "good" deal, but let's just remember that no matter how much money you save, you could've saved more by not buying it. However, he wants to try road races and just bike around town and cut back on the triathlons next year. Who can argue with that? And I went to Peru for a month. Plus, he can pull the baby behind him in a burley when the time comes. I expected it to be prettier than it is. I'll get a picture up. I don't think Travis really cares about the color of the bike, but I was expecting something flashier...
We are making a top 5 baby name list this weekend. It gets harder and harder. I see so many names that I like that I can't narrow them down. And every name I seem to like or suggest, Travis doesn't seem to like as much. It's like when women were jealous that Travis (as a groom) had an opinion about most things for the wedding. "That must be nice." "Wow, I wish my fiance would have an opinion." Really? No you don't people. Trust me, it's better if they don't have an opinion, well, maybe an opinion or 2. Pretty sure this baby's name will be decided during the drive to the hospital.
That's about all from us. Have a great weekend! Thanks again for all the messages and support, we really appreciate it!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
36 weeks and pre-term labor (again)
Well, we have successfully made it to the 36 week mark! According to babycenter, the baby is about 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long! He's shedding the downy covering of hair and the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin from the amniotic fluid (the combo of this is the black meconium, which is in baby's first bowel movement). And at the end of this week, the baby will be considered full-term, which is great! So maybe he'll come early :)
Anyway, so Wednesday I was experiencing a lot of pelvic and groin pressure with regular pain in my lower back and lower abs, so I called my nurse twice and I learned that contractions don't just have to be in your stomach... umm... I have a read a LOT of literature, gone to baby classes, etc, and how did I miss that?! I figured that your stomach would always bunch up and it would be very easy to tell if you were having a contraction. WRONG. So after it became more painful to walk around, I called the nurse and she told me to get myself into the hospital and it's a good thing I did because as soon as they hooked me up to the monitor I was having real uterine distress and real contractions. The uterine distress contractions are more like "little baby" contractions versus the real contractions, which I was having as well, which are much more of a distinct spiked line on the monitor. Well, they couldn't figure out what was causing all of this, and (un)fortunately I have always been prone to bladder infections and when you're pregnant obviously your chance of that goes up. So when the urine came back, they realized I had another infection. Bladder and vaginal infections are the #2 cause of pre-term labor (at least down here), #1 is dehydration, so that's why my body was contracting and trying to get the baby to move it along to fight the infection, so I'm told.
So what did this result in? A huge shot of rocephin into my hip - even though it was mixed with a numbing medicine (lidocaine), I was pretty sore the last couple of nights and during the day in that area :( Not a big shot fan, so when that epidural needle goes into my back, pretty sure I don't even want to see the needle or anything at all. Afterwards, the nurse told me that it was good I had come in, otherwise, the baby probably would've progressed and come out (note to self, next time, don't go in... just kidding).
I'm still having the pelvic pressure and back/groin pain but that's probably just round ligament pain, etc, the baby moving down and getting ready for his big debut. There is a reason they say the last month is the worst month and that no one thinks the actual labor is really that bad by the time it comes around...
Oh, and regarding cervical exams, talk about the pain of a lifetime! No one ever told me how much "fun" those were!! Having someone stick 4 fingers up as far as they can hurt like none other and those nurses have no mercy. Can't wait till my Wed appointment when I get to have that done again.
Please keep praying for us, especially me, so that my patience doesn't run out... as some of you know, getting advice and lectured and other situations become a little bit annoying and frustrating at this stage in the game when you feel like a house and really tired of being pregnant - especially when everyone else around you complains about how tired and worn out and busy they are too :) But as the song goes, mama said there'd be days like this...
Tri update - Travis and I have still been swimming a lot together - he's really improved a lot! I'm kind of alternating between swimming and pool running/walking now, but at least I'm getting in that pool, plus, it makes my back feel so much better. I think we're both getting anxious for his race, he's really put a lot of time/effort into training and I am excited to see him put it all together in the race.
And I got to have lunch with my friend, Rebekah, today. Her baby came 4 weeks early and will be one month old tomorrow!! It always makes me feel better to talk to her and to hear how life after baby is going (and ask a bazillion labor/pregnancy questions) - plus, she's much more grounded and not as extreme as some people are with pregnancy, which really helps :)
Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!
Anyway, so Wednesday I was experiencing a lot of pelvic and groin pressure with regular pain in my lower back and lower abs, so I called my nurse twice and I learned that contractions don't just have to be in your stomach... umm... I have a read a LOT of literature, gone to baby classes, etc, and how did I miss that?! I figured that your stomach would always bunch up and it would be very easy to tell if you were having a contraction. WRONG. So after it became more painful to walk around, I called the nurse and she told me to get myself into the hospital and it's a good thing I did because as soon as they hooked me up to the monitor I was having real uterine distress and real contractions. The uterine distress contractions are more like "little baby" contractions versus the real contractions, which I was having as well, which are much more of a distinct spiked line on the monitor. Well, they couldn't figure out what was causing all of this, and (un)fortunately I have always been prone to bladder infections and when you're pregnant obviously your chance of that goes up. So when the urine came back, they realized I had another infection. Bladder and vaginal infections are the #2 cause of pre-term labor (at least down here), #1 is dehydration, so that's why my body was contracting and trying to get the baby to move it along to fight the infection, so I'm told.
So what did this result in? A huge shot of rocephin into my hip - even though it was mixed with a numbing medicine (lidocaine), I was pretty sore the last couple of nights and during the day in that area :( Not a big shot fan, so when that epidural needle goes into my back, pretty sure I don't even want to see the needle or anything at all. Afterwards, the nurse told me that it was good I had come in, otherwise, the baby probably would've progressed and come out (note to self, next time, don't go in... just kidding).
I'm still having the pelvic pressure and back/groin pain but that's probably just round ligament pain, etc, the baby moving down and getting ready for his big debut. There is a reason they say the last month is the worst month and that no one thinks the actual labor is really that bad by the time it comes around...
Oh, and regarding cervical exams, talk about the pain of a lifetime! No one ever told me how much "fun" those were!! Having someone stick 4 fingers up as far as they can hurt like none other and those nurses have no mercy. Can't wait till my Wed appointment when I get to have that done again.
Please keep praying for us, especially me, so that my patience doesn't run out... as some of you know, getting advice and lectured and other situations become a little bit annoying and frustrating at this stage in the game when you feel like a house and really tired of being pregnant - especially when everyone else around you complains about how tired and worn out and busy they are too :) But as the song goes, mama said there'd be days like this...
Tri update - Travis and I have still been swimming a lot together - he's really improved a lot! I'm kind of alternating between swimming and pool running/walking now, but at least I'm getting in that pool, plus, it makes my back feel so much better. I think we're both getting anxious for his race, he's really put a lot of time/effort into training and I am excited to see him put it all together in the race.
And I got to have lunch with my friend, Rebekah, today. Her baby came 4 weeks early and will be one month old tomorrow!! It always makes me feel better to talk to her and to hear how life after baby is going (and ask a bazillion labor/pregnancy questions) - plus, she's much more grounded and not as extreme as some people are with pregnancy, which really helps :)
Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Top 10 things I can't wait to experience ("normally") again
Well, since I decided to put off doing some homework, I am going to make a top 10 list of things that I can't wait to experience again or experience "normally" again... Here we go:
10. Eating chicken - it's so good for you and yet, it grosses me out now
9. Sitting in the desks at school comfortably - you all remember the desks at school, enough said
8. Sleeping on my stomach or my back
7. Sitting on the floor and getting up without needing adult assistance - I love sitting on the floor!
6. "Frontal" hugs with Travis - my stomach gets in the way of just a regular hug!
5. Lifting/running/swimming - let's just say working out
4. A glass of Riesling - aaaaahhhh
3. Peeing at normal intervals - even though that's still a lot down here in the valley of the sun
2. Feeling confident in a 2 piece swim suit - this one might take a little bit, I need to stop looking at pre-pregnancy swimsuit photos...
1. Intimacy - (is that PG enough for everyone?)
10. Eating chicken - it's so good for you and yet, it grosses me out now
9. Sitting in the desks at school comfortably - you all remember the desks at school, enough said
6. "Frontal" hugs with Travis - my stomach gets in the way of just a regular hug!
5. Lifting/running/swimming - let's just say working out
4. A glass of Riesling - aaaaahhhh
2. Feeling confident in a 2 piece swim suit - this one might take a little bit, I need to stop looking at pre-pregnancy swimsuit photos...
Thursday, October 7, 2010
35 weeks, which means approx 35 days!
According to babycenter: Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
Well, we're definitely getting closer to meeting the baby! And I am definitely starting to feel more uncomfortable. I had an appointment yesterday with the doctor and he wasn't very encouraging about the back pain and the lack of sleep, just telling me that it would get worse as time progressed. (Not to mention how many people have told me the last month is horrible) He also pointed out that I have no distribution anywhere but right in front, like a medicine ball, which is probably the reason I have so much back pain. But we are going swimming tonight, so at least I will have some relief there. I feel bad because I know that my rolling around is affecting Travis too, but this will be over soon, hopefully! I am trying to stay positive, but it gets a little discouraging hearing from so many people about how bad the last month is going to be.
Not too much going on over here the last few days, we're just plugging along, Travis with training, me with school and both of us with the pregnancy.
Hope everyone has a good rest of the week and enjoys their weekend!
Well, we're definitely getting closer to meeting the baby! And I am definitely starting to feel more uncomfortable. I had an appointment yesterday with the doctor and he wasn't very encouraging about the back pain and the lack of sleep, just telling me that it would get worse as time progressed. (Not to mention how many people have told me the last month is horrible) He also pointed out that I have no distribution anywhere but right in front, like a medicine ball, which is probably the reason I have so much back pain. But we are going swimming tonight, so at least I will have some relief there. I feel bad because I know that my rolling around is affecting Travis too, but this will be over soon, hopefully! I am trying to stay positive, but it gets a little discouraging hearing from so many people about how bad the last month is going to be.
Not too much going on over here the last few days, we're just plugging along, Travis with training, me with school and both of us with the pregnancy.
Hope everyone has a good rest of the week and enjoys their weekend!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Baby shower & baby room
I've been updating a lot lately, I feel like! Anyway, the TA ladies that I work with threw me a baby shower this last weekend and it was a total blast! I even ended up winning the final showcase in the price is right with baby items! I almost lost out to Ashley, though, we ended up having a tie breaker - good thing I'd done some shopping for baby items recently! Here is a group shot:
Hope everyone has a great week - I'll give a 35 week update in a couple of days now. I know we're in the "home stretch", but I am definitely having anxiety attacks every once in a while wondering if we're really ready for a baby! I know we're both excited and Travis has honestly been the greatest/best support in the entire world (and he ALWAYS gives me a back rub if I ask), but it's still a little scary to think about. However, I know it's going to be awesome and we're going to have a lot of fun making memories and even when we make mistakes (not that our parents ever made mistakes with us...) :)
The baby is definitely going to spoiled and he's going to have a lot of super cute outfits - I have to admit, I really love the onesie with the fox on it that says "my mom is a fox". I definitely don't feel like a fox right now, but I'll get back to my foxy self soon enough, LOL. But I laugh everytime I look at it. And the baby also has lots of baby sitters lined up! We also got some baby books, even some bilingual and Spanish only books, so I am super excited to do lots of reading with the baby! All in all, it was an awesome shower and I am so grateful and blessed for all of these awesome friends and to have all of these women in my life!
And in other news, I found a place to hang up Aunt Lindz' quilt she made the baby! I was able to hang it and pin it right over our huge hanging picture frame of lots of photos (that didn't really fit in that room, but we didn't want to find a place to put them). And it's right by the ottoman/glider where we'll be feeding/sitting with/rocking the baby and he'll be able to look at the animals and see the contrasting colors! It looks great!
Friday, October 1, 2010
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