We've made it to 36 weeks!!! This BIG guy appears to be comfy and cozy at times, and ready to bust out of my gut at other times! We've had to make a couple more trips to the hospital since the first contraction visit, but with medication administered from weeks 33 - 34 we were able to calm things down enough to allow him more time to grow and develop!
The office visits to the ob/gyn are weekly now, and since 33 weeks have resulted in relatively no change. I'm still dilated to 1 1/2 and 50% effaced which could mean I'll sit at this spot for awhile longer, or I could start changing quickly with contractions.
I am now visiting the hospital 2x a week until delivery for non-stress tests on Steve. These are completely precautionary, but a way for my doctor to monitor his movements and heart rate. While this test is supposed to take only 20 minutes, yesterday's visit ended up being over 1 1/2 hours due to Stephen's heart rate dropping to 120 (rather than the typical 140-160 it's generally around) for a good 30 seconds. After moving my position he "leveled out" again and all is well. The nurse thought he was probably pulling on the umbilical cord to play with it, thus cutting off some of his blood supply and causing his heart rate to drop.
Stephen is definitely a mover almost 24/7 and I don't mean a little kick or poke here or there. He is ALL OVER the place and Brett said my stomach looks like I have an alien trying to get out! I showed Heidi his movement (clearly visible from the opposite end of the couch!) the other night to which she replied, "Oh I can't even look at THAT! That's excactly why I'm adopting!!" Connor on the other hand, absolutely loves to watch and feel his brother move and will give my belly kisses trying to calm him down!
Our goal from the beginning of this pregnancy was to get to the 36 week mark and now that we've made it, the entire family is more than ready for him to be in our arms instead of my stomach! He's guesstimated to be weighing in at over 6 pounds now (Brett still thinks he's already closer to 7 pounds!) and the doctor as assured us all development has taken place so chances of being in the NICU are practically non-existent. So...we are ready and just anxiously waiting for him to decide which day will indeed be his birthday!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
School has begun!
I'm not sure who is more excited the kids are back in school - Heidi and Connor or myself!! :)
Heidi and Connor started 7th and 6th grade on August 18th at Pioneer Ridge Middle School. Both kids seem to be making many friends and enjoying the "middle school life" very much! Connor has struggled with his locker a little as it's a new process for him, but I'm confidant with more practice he'll get it figured out in no time!
The homework has already started to trickle in for both of them, but thankfully it's been manageable in the evenings and Connor actually enjoyed doing one of his assignments typing a "report" on the computer!
The kids joined the before and after-school club programs known as "Latitude". This opportunity gives them time before school starts to spend time with friends not in their regular classes and participate in fun, miscellaneous activities. Their after-school clubs include 3 days of "Homework Zone" so they can receive assistance with their daily homework from an adult besides Brett I making the evenings more enjoyable! Connor is looking forward to participating in other clubs such as Drumline, Robotics, and Wii Fit while Heidi is anxious to start cooking in her club and creating art projects not part of the regular curriculum for art. Overall, we're off to a good start with middle school!
Heidi and Connor started 7th and 6th grade on August 18th at Pioneer Ridge Middle School. Both kids seem to be making many friends and enjoying the "middle school life" very much! Connor has struggled with his locker a little as it's a new process for him, but I'm confidant with more practice he'll get it figured out in no time!
The homework has already started to trickle in for both of them, but thankfully it's been manageable in the evenings and Connor actually enjoyed doing one of his assignments typing a "report" on the computer!
The kids joined the before and after-school club programs known as "Latitude". This opportunity gives them time before school starts to spend time with friends not in their regular classes and participate in fun, miscellaneous activities. Their after-school clubs include 3 days of "Homework Zone" so they can receive assistance with their daily homework from an adult besides Brett I making the evenings more enjoyable! Connor is looking forward to participating in other clubs such as Drumline, Robotics, and Wii Fit while Heidi is anxious to start cooking in her club and creating art projects not part of the regular curriculum for art. Overall, we're off to a good start with middle school!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Practice run!
Friday night, baby Stephen decided to make a practice run for what labor will look like! With painful contractions coming between 3-6 minutes apart for over 1 1/2 hours, Brett and I decided to make a trip to the hospital.
By 10:00pm, we were hooked up to all the monitors confirming Stephen's heart rate was healthy, but spiking as each contraction came as close to 2 minutes apart, so the doctor was called in to check me. Thankfully Stephen was still "playing games" as there was no dilation and an ultrasound showed while he is finally in HEAD DOWN position, he is very healthy at 33 weeks and having fun just riding out the contractions!
After 2 hours of being pumped with fluids through the iv, the contractions slowed to be only 16 minutes apart. Since no dilation had occurred, we were discharged and allowed to come home to sleep in our own beds - finally being able to fall asleep by 3:00am! Strict instructions were given to rest, rest and rest as well as drink plenty of water and take magnesium oxide as I had been beginning at 22 weeks. If the contractions come back to 5 minutes apart, it'll be back to the hospital we go!
Saturday proved to be thankfully uneventful with the exception of only a handful of painful contractions, a 3 hour nap, and being so sore from all the activity that I felt like I'd been hit by a train! With a guesstimated weight of just under 4 pounds, the ultimate goal is to keep our little guy snug and as comfortable as possible for at least another week if not longer! He is expected to make his biggest growth spurt this week which will absolutely help his development and weight, so following doctor's orders is all that is important on the agenda for the rest of the week!
Daddy got the test run for what labor will look like! His little "dances" to the sound of Stephen's heartbeat may have helped ease his nerves, but didn't help me get through the contractions any easier! :) We both quickly found out the benefit of taking our own pillows when the actual time comes, as well as Advil for Daddy and Tums for me! Now our hope is that we'll be even more prepared than we were Friday night when Stephen decides he's done riding the contractions and would rather be in our arms - hopefully after gaining another pound or 2 before he makes that decision!
By 10:00pm, we were hooked up to all the monitors confirming Stephen's heart rate was healthy, but spiking as each contraction came as close to 2 minutes apart, so the doctor was called in to check me. Thankfully Stephen was still "playing games" as there was no dilation and an ultrasound showed while he is finally in HEAD DOWN position, he is very healthy at 33 weeks and having fun just riding out the contractions!
After 2 hours of being pumped with fluids through the iv, the contractions slowed to be only 16 minutes apart. Since no dilation had occurred, we were discharged and allowed to come home to sleep in our own beds - finally being able to fall asleep by 3:00am! Strict instructions were given to rest, rest and rest as well as drink plenty of water and take magnesium oxide as I had been beginning at 22 weeks. If the contractions come back to 5 minutes apart, it'll be back to the hospital we go!
Saturday proved to be thankfully uneventful with the exception of only a handful of painful contractions, a 3 hour nap, and being so sore from all the activity that I felt like I'd been hit by a train! With a guesstimated weight of just under 4 pounds, the ultimate goal is to keep our little guy snug and as comfortable as possible for at least another week if not longer! He is expected to make his biggest growth spurt this week which will absolutely help his development and weight, so following doctor's orders is all that is important on the agenda for the rest of the week!
Daddy got the test run for what labor will look like! His little "dances" to the sound of Stephen's heartbeat may have helped ease his nerves, but didn't help me get through the contractions any easier! :) We both quickly found out the benefit of taking our own pillows when the actual time comes, as well as Advil for Daddy and Tums for me! Now our hope is that we'll be even more prepared than we were Friday night when Stephen decides he's done riding the contractions and would rather be in our arms - hopefully after gaining another pound or 2 before he makes that decision!
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