We made it to 36 weeks! Monday I was back at the doctors office for my weekly appointment. My doctor has decided to keep me on the procardia(anti-contraction) medication another week. The main reason is just to let the baby's lungs develop a little more. Plus she's pretty positive once I come off the medication I'll start contracting regularly.. and the baby will soon follow. She did say the baby weighs between 6.5 - 7lbs. I make big babies!
Over the weekend I had a lot of problems with my hands and feet swelling but that seems to have subsided. It's common with the medication, thankfully my blood pressure has barely risen since my first prenatal visit so the doctor isn't worried about pre-e or hypertension. I'm still betting this kid will show up next Wed 10/22 but we'll just have to wait and see.
It was my birthday this past weekend so my Mom and Marty came down for two nights. She did a lot of cooking and cleaning for us. She kept telling the baby he/she could make an appearance, but no luck. But it was great to have someone else clean and cook!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Three Labor and Delivery visits, and still no baby
All day yesterday, Peggy was having very strong contractions. Last night, just after we went to sleep, Peggy woke me up, saying that they were getting much more frequent. So, we started timing them. She had 4 in 10 minutes, but not consistent. Some were 45 seconds apart, others were 5 minutes apart.
We called the hospital, and they told her to take her anti-contraction medication early. That seemed to do the trick for the night.
But at work this morning, she continued having the contractions. She called her doctor when she got off of work, and they told her to go to the hospital.
So, today at work, I got "the call." The call that I've been dreaming of for a while. It was finally happening. We're all ready, or as ready as we'll ever be. Luckily one of my fellow science teachers has a student teacher. So, she was able to watch my students for me until my substitute arrived (thank you Kirsten!).
So I went home, and finished getting the things together for the hospital (the bags were almost totally packed already from previous visits). It just felt like the time. We even took some video before we left.
On the way to the hospital, I was very upbeat, but "fidgety" as Peggy said. I was just taking over the daddy role, and making sure my wife and baby were ok. But that required me going a "million miles an hour."
We checked in, per the normal routine. Almost as soon as we got there, they told us "we don't want this baby coming out yet." I just groaned (probably out loud). They hooked Peggy up to the monitors and checked everything out. She was not dilated AT ALL!
So they sent us home. They did increase the dosage on Peggy's prescription, but that's all they did for us.
Getting the medication was another whole story which I won't bore you with the details about. But, in summary, her vitamin price doubled, and we went to two pharmacies, both of which did not have her new anti-contraction medication....ugh.
Oh, did I mention that it's our anniversary?! Happy anniversary to us! It was such a crazy day that we didn't even get to eat dinner together on our anniversary (Peggy was sleeping).
So here we sit, waiting until next week when Peggy hopefully comes off of the anti-contraction medication.
Peggy, looking like she owns the place (we've been there so much, we just might by the time this is all said and done)
And me trying to get comfy on one of those impossible to get comfy couches (that's actually the name of the manufacterer, I checked)
We called the hospital, and they told her to take her anti-contraction medication early. That seemed to do the trick for the night.
But at work this morning, she continued having the contractions. She called her doctor when she got off of work, and they told her to go to the hospital.
So, today at work, I got "the call." The call that I've been dreaming of for a while. It was finally happening. We're all ready, or as ready as we'll ever be. Luckily one of my fellow science teachers has a student teacher. So, she was able to watch my students for me until my substitute arrived (thank you Kirsten!).
So I went home, and finished getting the things together for the hospital (the bags were almost totally packed already from previous visits). It just felt like the time. We even took some video before we left.
On the way to the hospital, I was very upbeat, but "fidgety" as Peggy said. I was just taking over the daddy role, and making sure my wife and baby were ok. But that required me going a "million miles an hour."
We checked in, per the normal routine. Almost as soon as we got there, they told us "we don't want this baby coming out yet." I just groaned (probably out loud). They hooked Peggy up to the monitors and checked everything out. She was not dilated AT ALL!
So they sent us home. They did increase the dosage on Peggy's prescription, but that's all they did for us.
Getting the medication was another whole story which I won't bore you with the details about. But, in summary, her vitamin price doubled, and we went to two pharmacies, both of which did not have her new anti-contraction medication....ugh.
Oh, did I mention that it's our anniversary?! Happy anniversary to us! It was such a crazy day that we didn't even get to eat dinner together on our anniversary (Peggy was sleeping).
So here we sit, waiting until next week when Peggy hopefully comes off of the anti-contraction medication.
Peggy, looking like she owns the place (we've been there so much, we just might by the time this is all said and done)
And me trying to get comfy on one of those impossible to get comfy couches (that's actually the name of the manufacterer, I checked)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The one time a dropping baby is ok....
Yes, thats right, ladies and gentlemen, it appears as though Peggy is "dropping". Well, actually, the baby is dropping, but I digress.
On thursday, Peggy was home all day (it's sunday to her), and she noticed that her belly was strangely soft all day. So I felt it when I got home, and sure enough, almost everywhere was much much softer than normal. For the past month or so, her belly has been hard as a rock as the baby grows to fill what little space there is.
So we didn't think much of it, and were laying in bed watching TV later that night, when I had a realization. What if the baby's head made its way downward finally? Pretty much the entire pregnancy, the baby has been laying transverse across her mommies belly.
So I pushed and prodded a little bit, and sure enough, it seems as though the head is finally down. There is a large hard object just below Peggys belly button, and the rest is all soft.
Later that night, Peggy was feeling kicking on the bottom middle of her ribcage, where she never has before.
So, we're no doctors, but we're thinking that the head is finally down and thinking about making an appearance soon.
Peggys contractions have been really strong today, so maybe the head pushing on her cervix is going to increase the contractions? Again, we have no idea, but it makes sense to us!
I do know that as the contractions increase, the baby's head pushes on the cervix more. Pressure receptors in the cervix tell the brain to produce a hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin then triggers more contractions. It's one of very few positive feedback mechanisms in biology. Sorry, couldn't help but give you a biology lesson (I don't get to teach it!!! :-)
Since we now believe the head is pushing directly on the cervix, the extra contractions today seem to make sense.
We're pretty much ready now (or as ready as we'll ever be I should say)....we bought some wipes from sams club the other day and got the car seat bases installed in both of our cars.
Now we just wait!
I (David) am launching my official prediction of October 15th. So there you have it folks (it just so happens to be a day after we think they're taking Peggy off of the anti-contraction medication, but that's not cheating, that's just being smart :-)
Peggy's official guess is October 22nd.
On thursday, Peggy was home all day (it's sunday to her), and she noticed that her belly was strangely soft all day. So I felt it when I got home, and sure enough, almost everywhere was much much softer than normal. For the past month or so, her belly has been hard as a rock as the baby grows to fill what little space there is.
So we didn't think much of it, and were laying in bed watching TV later that night, when I had a realization. What if the baby's head made its way downward finally? Pretty much the entire pregnancy, the baby has been laying transverse across her mommies belly.
So I pushed and prodded a little bit, and sure enough, it seems as though the head is finally down. There is a large hard object just below Peggys belly button, and the rest is all soft.
Later that night, Peggy was feeling kicking on the bottom middle of her ribcage, where she never has before.
So, we're no doctors, but we're thinking that the head is finally down and thinking about making an appearance soon.
Peggys contractions have been really strong today, so maybe the head pushing on her cervix is going to increase the contractions? Again, we have no idea, but it makes sense to us!
I do know that as the contractions increase, the baby's head pushes on the cervix more. Pressure receptors in the cervix tell the brain to produce a hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin then triggers more contractions. It's one of very few positive feedback mechanisms in biology. Sorry, couldn't help but give you a biology lesson (I don't get to teach it!!! :-)
Since we now believe the head is pushing directly on the cervix, the extra contractions today seem to make sense.
We're pretty much ready now (or as ready as we'll ever be I should say)....we bought some wipes from sams club the other day and got the car seat bases installed in both of our cars.
Now we just wait!
I (David) am launching my official prediction of October 15th. So there you have it folks (it just so happens to be a day after we think they're taking Peggy off of the anti-contraction medication, but that's not cheating, that's just being smart :-)
Peggy's official guess is October 22nd.
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's done!!!!!!
Well, the nursery is finally finished! Hooray!
But, before we get to that, let's get to the more important news. Peggy had a doctors visit today. The baby's heartbeat was 144 (which is perfect!). The baby is still laying horizontal across her abdomen....hasn't quite figured out the head down thing yet. I keep telling the baby it's easier that way, but she doesn't listen.
The doctor says that she will take Peggy off of the anti-contraction medication at 36 weeks (2 weeks from tomorrow). She says that she expects Peggy to either go into labor the next day or for the contractions to stop altogether. How weird would it be if the contractions go away once she stops taking the anti-contraction medication? Anyways, she makes it sound like a 50/50 shot....so we'll see.
But, overall, the baby appears to be healthy and growing well. Based on measurements of the belly, the baby should be a little under 5 pounds! (Don't tell Peggy, but based on my measurements of the belly, the baby should be closer to 8 pounds!!!) Hahah, just kidding!!!!!!!!!
On to projects on the house. I spent a good majority of the weekend fixing the insulation in the attic. Let me tell you, that is an AWFUL job! I can't imagine doing much worse work on the house. Anywho, to keep a long story short, there is not insulation everywhere there should be. I have to peel the backing off of two layers of insulation, bring the blown in insulation to the top, and cover areas in the "corners" of the attic where there is none. It's a HUGE job. I got the hardest part done this weekend, and I figure I can finish the rest in two more weekends of work.
The nursery also kept me busy this weekend. We used our gift cards to get some final things we needed (the mattress, monitors, some sheets, etc.)
Oh, and we also got our first shipment of cloth diapers! Wahoo! Maybe I'll have an entire post about those later on to explain everything about them.
Here are some pictures of the awesome wall hangings we got at the last baby shower. They look fantastic on the walls!:
Soon we'll have our own baby to put a picture of in the frame!
And a picture of the beautiful rocking chair that Peggy's father Tom gave us (he made it over 30 years ago)
But, before we get to that, let's get to the more important news. Peggy had a doctors visit today. The baby's heartbeat was 144 (which is perfect!). The baby is still laying horizontal across her abdomen....hasn't quite figured out the head down thing yet. I keep telling the baby it's easier that way, but she doesn't listen.
The doctor says that she will take Peggy off of the anti-contraction medication at 36 weeks (2 weeks from tomorrow). She says that she expects Peggy to either go into labor the next day or for the contractions to stop altogether. How weird would it be if the contractions go away once she stops taking the anti-contraction medication? Anyways, she makes it sound like a 50/50 shot....so we'll see.
But, overall, the baby appears to be healthy and growing well. Based on measurements of the belly, the baby should be a little under 5 pounds! (Don't tell Peggy, but based on my measurements of the belly, the baby should be closer to 8 pounds!!!) Hahah, just kidding!!!!!!!!!
On to projects on the house. I spent a good majority of the weekend fixing the insulation in the attic. Let me tell you, that is an AWFUL job! I can't imagine doing much worse work on the house. Anywho, to keep a long story short, there is not insulation everywhere there should be. I have to peel the backing off of two layers of insulation, bring the blown in insulation to the top, and cover areas in the "corners" of the attic where there is none. It's a HUGE job. I got the hardest part done this weekend, and I figure I can finish the rest in two more weekends of work.
The nursery also kept me busy this weekend. We used our gift cards to get some final things we needed (the mattress, monitors, some sheets, etc.)
Oh, and we also got our first shipment of cloth diapers! Wahoo! Maybe I'll have an entire post about those later on to explain everything about them.
Here are some pictures of the awesome wall hangings we got at the last baby shower. They look fantastic on the walls!:
Soon we'll have our own baby to put a picture of in the frame!
And a picture of the beautiful rocking chair that Peggy's father Tom gave us (he made it over 30 years ago)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Another day, another dollar!
So, when we were going through all of the contractions a couple weeks ago, I made a promise to the baby that I will give him/her a dollar for every day that he/she stays in mommy's cozy little home.
So Peggy has been keeping track, and the baby has already made $30. The kid is already making money, and hasn't even been born yet! Of course, this money will be the start of a college fund for the child, but still their money nonetheless.
I also said that if the baby makes it the full 40 weeks, then he/she gets a $10 bonus. BUT, I've added a new rule, which I think Peggy will like. For each day that the baby goes past the due date, I take a dollar away. As I write this, Peggy is yelling "NO". Apparently she thinks that she should get the dollar....we'll see.
So, every night for the past month, we've been having mini celebrations each night before bedtime. I say "another day" and Peggy follows with "another dollar." And then we clap for the baby. Kinda silly, but it's one of our routines now.
If the baby does make it to 40 weeks, I don't think Peggy will be clapping anymore!
So Peggy has been keeping track, and the baby has already made $30. The kid is already making money, and hasn't even been born yet! Of course, this money will be the start of a college fund for the child, but still their money nonetheless.
I also said that if the baby makes it the full 40 weeks, then he/she gets a $10 bonus. BUT, I've added a new rule, which I think Peggy will like. For each day that the baby goes past the due date, I take a dollar away. As I write this, Peggy is yelling "NO". Apparently she thinks that she should get the dollar....we'll see.
So, every night for the past month, we've been having mini celebrations each night before bedtime. I say "another day" and Peggy follows with "another dollar." And then we clap for the baby. Kinda silly, but it's one of our routines now.
If the baby does make it to 40 weeks, I don't think Peggy will be clapping anymore!
We're still cookin!
Life has been quite busy since school started. Peggy's even got in on the act and done some grading for me! Wahoo!
Unfortunately I haven't been able to use my new camera very much! I want to figure it out more, but I just don't have the time! (maybe after the baby is born I will....hahahah, yeah right!)
Anyways, we had our couples baby shower about a week and a half ago. We got to see all of our friends and family which was fantastic. We also got so much stuff that we needed before we could bring the baby home!
We swung by Babies R Us to pick up the mattress (we figured that the child didn't want to sleep on metal) and a few other small things.
Peggy's been feeling pretty good lately. She's still having contractions, but not nearly as many as before. We're hoping to make it until at least mid october. We are 33 weeks today. It sounds like the doctor will take her off of the medication to stop the contractions at week 36.
So, who knows, maybe when she comes off of the medicine, we will have a baby shortly thereafter. But, there is also a possibility that she could go the full 40 weeks (or more!)
And finally, here's a picture I took of our sedum plant (thanks Jeanette, it still looks fantastic!). There are constantly bees on the plant. Proton goes crazy over them!
Unfortunately I haven't been able to use my new camera very much! I want to figure it out more, but I just don't have the time! (maybe after the baby is born I will....hahahah, yeah right!)
Anyways, we had our couples baby shower about a week and a half ago. We got to see all of our friends and family which was fantastic. We also got so much stuff that we needed before we could bring the baby home!
We swung by Babies R Us to pick up the mattress (we figured that the child didn't want to sleep on metal) and a few other small things.
Peggy's been feeling pretty good lately. She's still having contractions, but not nearly as many as before. We're hoping to make it until at least mid october. We are 33 weeks today. It sounds like the doctor will take her off of the medication to stop the contractions at week 36.
So, who knows, maybe when she comes off of the medicine, we will have a baby shortly thereafter. But, there is also a possibility that she could go the full 40 weeks (or more!)
And finally, here's a picture I took of our sedum plant (thanks Jeanette, it still looks fantastic!). There are constantly bees on the plant. Proton goes crazy over them!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Doctor Update
Hey everyone - We've made it another week, yeah!
On Monday I was back at the doctor's office for a regular appointment, the biggest concerns right now are contractions and the fact that my mucus plug fell out this past weekend. The doctor says even with the plug out I could potentially still go 40 weeks, which is great news. I'm still high and dry and not dilated but she reminded me that could change at a moments notice. The bigger concern is the contractions I'm still having 4 or 5 an hour off and on all day everyday. So they finally put me on some meds to help with those. The side effects include dizziness... and I've definitely been suffering from that. The doctor says I should adjust to it in a few days and it will go away. So far it hasn't slowed down the contractions hopeful it just takes a few days to adjust.
The baby is still very active, the meds don't seem to affect him/her at all. She is most active right after I get to work at 2a and at night around 8pm. He/She has had the hiccups a lot lately. Its great entertainment to watch my belly dance around.
I'm still on restricted activity, I am going to work at least another week. Her concern with putting me on bed rest already is the fact I could still be anywhere from 3-9 weeks from delivering and just be sitting at home wasting my time off saved for the baby.
I should be on every two weeks to visit the doctor but with all of the complications I'll be back in her office every week until the little one makes an appearance.
In other news we are getting a new cement poured today, a new driveway, patio, and sidewalks! The driveway is a double wide making for a lot of space, so stop by, you won't have to park on the street!!
On Monday I was back at the doctor's office for a regular appointment, the biggest concerns right now are contractions and the fact that my mucus plug fell out this past weekend. The doctor says even with the plug out I could potentially still go 40 weeks, which is great news. I'm still high and dry and not dilated but she reminded me that could change at a moments notice. The bigger concern is the contractions I'm still having 4 or 5 an hour off and on all day everyday. So they finally put me on some meds to help with those. The side effects include dizziness... and I've definitely been suffering from that. The doctor says I should adjust to it in a few days and it will go away. So far it hasn't slowed down the contractions hopeful it just takes a few days to adjust.
The baby is still very active, the meds don't seem to affect him/her at all. She is most active right after I get to work at 2a and at night around 8pm. He/She has had the hiccups a lot lately. Its great entertainment to watch my belly dance around.
I'm still on restricted activity, I am going to work at least another week. Her concern with putting me on bed rest already is the fact I could still be anywhere from 3-9 weeks from delivering and just be sitting at home wasting my time off saved for the baby.
I should be on every two weeks to visit the doctor but with all of the complications I'll be back in her office every week until the little one makes an appearance.
In other news we are getting a new cement poured today, a new driveway, patio, and sidewalks! The driveway is a double wide making for a lot of space, so stop by, you won't have to park on the street!!
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