So I'm beginning to feel a little like a really run down Energizer bunny these days. I have to keep going and going but the batteries are starting to run really low.
Today's doctor's visit was more of a pep talk from the doctor to me, reminding me that I am less than 2 weeks away from my due date and that she understands that I am ready to be done. When I walked in the exam room, it was very obvious that I was tired and that I have not been sleeping good at night. I have started taking naps on a daily basis and that seems to help get me through the day.
Baby's heartbeat was strong and easy to hear. There was a student nurse following my nurse around today so I was used a little like a guinea pig for her to be able to get some experience in an OB office. No big deal, just more people in the room.
Since my blood pressure has been consistent with its ups and downs during a visit, the doctor decided to go ahead and do some blood work just to make sure there is no preeclampsia lurking around and just do a baseline check on all of my levels.
I'm still not dilated at all, however, as part of the pep talk my doctor tried to reassure me that with a lot of first time babies that there is no dilation until labor actually starts.
Final thought - it is a full moon on Friday. Place all the bets you want but I'm not convinced that the feisty one is anywhere near ready to make an appearance. Paul would like him to hold out over the weekend so we can get some more work done on the nursery. We shall see...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
A little humor in honor of St. Patrick's Day
As soon as she had finished parochial school, a bright young girl named Lena shook the dust of Ireland off her shoes and made her way to New York where before long, she became a successful performer in show business.
Eventually she returned to her home town for a visit and on a Saturday night went to confession in the church which she had always attended as a child. In the confessional Father Sullivan recognized her and began asking her about her work. She explained that she was an acrobatic dancer, and he wanted to know what that meant.
She said she would be happy to show him the kind of thing she did on stage.
She stepped out of the confessional and within sight of Father Sullivan, she went into a series of cartwheels, leaping splits, handsprings and backflips. Kneeling near the confessional, waiting their turn, were two middle-aged ladies.
They witnessed Lena's acrobatics with wide eyes, and one said to the other: "Will you just look at the penance Father Sullivan is givin' out this night, and me without me bloomers on!"
Eventually she returned to her home town for a visit and on a Saturday night went to confession in the church which she had always attended as a child. In the confessional Father Sullivan recognized her and began asking her about her work. She explained that she was an acrobatic dancer, and he wanted to know what that meant.
She said she would be happy to show him the kind of thing she did on stage.
She stepped out of the confessional and within sight of Father Sullivan, she went into a series of cartwheels, leaping splits, handsprings and backflips. Kneeling near the confessional, waiting their turn, were two middle-aged ladies.
They witnessed Lena's acrobatics with wide eyes, and one said to the other: "Will you just look at the penance Father Sullivan is givin' out this night, and me without me bloomers on!"
Sleep... or the lack thereof
Sleep these days is quickly becoming a fleeting memory - or at least good sleep is. Being able to sleep, wake up, and move to a different position with little to no pain is something that just doesn't occur now. Not only is it painful to move positions but it takes a very slow and coordinated effort to do so. My hips now start to cramp up in the middle of the night from sleeping/laying on that particular side too long. So then it is the 10 minute changeover to laying on my other side with that hip cramping after about 1.5 - 2 hours of sleep.
I have to keep telling myself that it will all be over soon; however, I have the distinct feeling that I am just kidding myself into believing that and sleep as I once knew it is gone forever.
Since I am working from home from here on out, my alarm clock has officially been turned off. Now if I could just figure out how to turn off the dog's alarm clocks, I would be in great shape. They will both harass me (not Paul for some odd reason) until I get out of bed and then they go back to sleep. They have such an easy life...
I have to keep telling myself that it will all be over soon; however, I have the distinct feeling that I am just kidding myself into believing that and sleep as I once knew it is gone forever.
Since I am working from home from here on out, my alarm clock has officially been turned off. Now if I could just figure out how to turn off the dog's alarm clocks, I would be in great shape. They will both harass me (not Paul for some odd reason) until I get out of bed and then they go back to sleep. They have such an easy life...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Today's update
This one will be quick.
Checkup went well today. Since I was only seeing the nurse practitioner, there wasn't as much done and I was in and out of the office fairly quickly.
The feisty one's heartbeat was easily found today and came through very strong. You could hear it speed up and slow down while we were listening. Seems to be something they (OB) likes to hear. He is measuring on target again and the comment was made that he seemed to be in a tight ball. I'm not sure I agree with that comment because he seems to take every chance to see how far he can stretch out. My blood pressure kept up with its status quo of first measurement high then the second one in line.
No other checks were done so stay tuned for next week's update. Same Bat time, Same Bat station.
Checkup went well today. Since I was only seeing the nurse practitioner, there wasn't as much done and I was in and out of the office fairly quickly.
The feisty one's heartbeat was easily found today and came through very strong. You could hear it speed up and slow down while we were listening. Seems to be something they (OB) likes to hear. He is measuring on target again and the comment was made that he seemed to be in a tight ball. I'm not sure I agree with that comment because he seems to take every chance to see how far he can stretch out. My blood pressure kept up with its status quo of first measurement high then the second one in line.
No other checks were done so stay tuned for next week's update. Same Bat time, Same Bat station.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
19 days and counting
So I've now reached the point that I am sick of being pregnant. Yes, I did say that. My morning routine is now interrupted fairly regularly with contractions, forcing me to go chill out for about 10 minutes before continuing on with my day. But like I said before, all these contractions, yet no progress. They do a great job of zapping my energy and killing my motivation for the day. Getting to be a little on the been there, done that side.
We are still working on thoughts regarding baby's room. We have been so consumed with other things (house plans/permitting, marathon training, etc.) that this has not really been a priority until now. Goal is to clean out the back (master) bathroom and make it the temporary baby's room. Since there is no plumbing or other things to work around (other than boxes of stuff) it should be fairly easy. (Should being the operative term there.)
As far as work now goes, I'm in the office today but I have a strong feeling that I am working from home for the remainder of the pregnancy. See note above about morning routine. I have to set up my voice mail today with the message of don't leave one or you may not get a call back until early August.
Tomorrow is yet another full day and does include a visit to the doctor's office. I will not be seeing my OB since she is taking vacation this week but will see one of the nurse practitioners to do a progress check. More news on that tomorrow. All I can say is GET OUT!!!
We are still working on thoughts regarding baby's room. We have been so consumed with other things (house plans/permitting, marathon training, etc.) that this has not really been a priority until now. Goal is to clean out the back (master) bathroom and make it the temporary baby's room. Since there is no plumbing or other things to work around (other than boxes of stuff) it should be fairly easy. (Should being the operative term there.)
As far as work now goes, I'm in the office today but I have a strong feeling that I am working from home for the remainder of the pregnancy. See note above about morning routine. I have to set up my voice mail today with the message of don't leave one or you may not get a call back until early August.
Tomorrow is yet another full day and does include a visit to the doctor's office. I will not be seeing my OB since she is taking vacation this week but will see one of the nurse practitioners to do a progress check. More news on that tomorrow. All I can say is GET OUT!!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
House Update
Tonight was the hearing with the RDCC on our request for a waiver to the McMansion ordinance.
The commissioners could not have been more cordial and complimentary of the fact that our application had 32 letters of support from neighbors. The request was a unanimous 8-0 vote in favor of approving the waiver.
Next steps are to work with an architect or structural engineer to get the plans stamped and made official for the permitting process. Then the final permit application can be made and the house as we know it starts changing dramatically.
Now the money starts flowing out the door.
The commissioners could not have been more cordial and complimentary of the fact that our application had 32 letters of support from neighbors. The request was a unanimous 8-0 vote in favor of approving the waiver.
Next steps are to work with an architect or structural engineer to get the plans stamped and made official for the permitting process. Then the final permit application can be made and the house as we know it starts changing dramatically.
Now the money starts flowing out the door.
Week 37 Update
After Monday's visit to the doctor's office due to a fast developing rash on my abdomen, all has calmed down on the baby front... sort of.
Today's checkup started out eventful with the nurse coming in to check the baby's heartbeat. She got to hear it for a second then it disappeared.... She tried for several minutes to find it again but to no avail. In comes the doctor with the ultrasound machine to see what he was up to. We were able to see his little heart pumping away and his chest moving in a breathing motion. Good news!
Since the norm for my blood pressure seems to be high when first checked then fine after they have had me lay down for a few minutes, they decided to then hook me up to the fetal monitor to see how fast his heart was beating and to see how my contractions were going. Little one was NOT happy about that fetal monitor. He did his best to kick and stretch to get rid of it, so since he couldn't get it to move, he got peeved enough to have a long (4 minute) bout of the hiccups.
Contractions are becoming a normal part of my morning routine now. I keep hoping they are helping me make some progress however, I'm still at 0 on the dilation scale. UGH!! I also got the lecture today that I am not resting enough so it will be interesting to see how I am able to move around my work schedule to accomodate some more rest during the day.
Oh, and the rash... Doing much better today after some benadryl and cortaid cream treatments however this is part of my new routine from here on out.
Today's checkup started out eventful with the nurse coming in to check the baby's heartbeat. She got to hear it for a second then it disappeared.... She tried for several minutes to find it again but to no avail. In comes the doctor with the ultrasound machine to see what he was up to. We were able to see his little heart pumping away and his chest moving in a breathing motion. Good news!
Since the norm for my blood pressure seems to be high when first checked then fine after they have had me lay down for a few minutes, they decided to then hook me up to the fetal monitor to see how fast his heart was beating and to see how my contractions were going. Little one was NOT happy about that fetal monitor. He did his best to kick and stretch to get rid of it, so since he couldn't get it to move, he got peeved enough to have a long (4 minute) bout of the hiccups.
Contractions are becoming a normal part of my morning routine now. I keep hoping they are helping me make some progress however, I'm still at 0 on the dilation scale. UGH!! I also got the lecture today that I am not resting enough so it will be interesting to see how I am able to move around my work schedule to accomodate some more rest during the day.
Oh, and the rash... Doing much better today after some benadryl and cortaid cream treatments however this is part of my new routine from here on out.
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