If you've been pregnant, you know that there's always at least one "fire drill" at the end of pregnancy where you go to the hospital and end up in L&D. That happened with Corinne when I had some weird sharp pain near my naval around 30 weeks. They thought that the placenta could be separating from the uterine wall, so off I went. Well, last night I had my weird pain with Ben and ended up in L&D.
Around 9 PM I was laying in bed (since it takes me forever to fall asleep, and who am I kidding, I'm not a night owl) and started to experience strong, dull pains way down low around my pubic bone. Changing positions didn't help, and I knew I wasn't dehydrated since I had made a good effort to drink a ton of water yesterday. After 75 minutes, the pain was still there and I couldn't sleep, so I called my OB. She advised me to head to the hospital - it was either early labor or a UTI (huh?!?) And since I didn't want to be that person who waited thinking I was fine, only to deliver my baby on the side of the road.... or worse yet have something happen to the baby from my lack of actions.... we headed in.
It was a little scary since I didn't know what was going on. I didn't think it was labor - it didn't feel like the labor pains I had with Cori. But my water broke with her and since every labor is different, and since I'm no OB..... I was most worried that in the end I'd waste everyone's time. But I'm a good patient so there we went.
Hooked up to the monitor, the baby was obviously fine and my contractions were sporadic. No sign of a UTI, and the internal examination showed that Ben decided to descend quite a bit into the birth canal. (And I'm dilated - hurray!) The descent and pushing was the pressure I was feeling; the doctor knew just where to push to say "does it hurt here?" and that cinched it.
My visit was about 2 hrs (not too bad) though it ended around 1:15 AM and Dave and I were both exhausted when we got home close to 2 AM. The good news is that baby and my body both are getting ready. I have my own guess as to what day he'll be here - leave your guess in the comments! The bad news is that the sleeplessness, bad heartburn, and general pain are getting to be quite taxing.
I used to feel guilty that I wasn't enjoying the pregnancy like some women do, especially since we struggled to have kids. In the back of my head I thought I didn't really have a right to complain since we wanted this so badly. But you know what? I've re-evaluated and have come to the conclusion that I have every right to feel the way I do. This has been a hard pregnancy, compounded by the fact that I have to chase a toddler. And besides, it's not about the journey, but the final product in this case. No one said I have to love the ride; I know I'll love my child. So what if I am honest and say I can't wait to not be pregnant any longer. That doesn't make me a bad person or a bad mother.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Living Treasures mini-zoo
Last weekend we took Corinne to Living Treasures up in New Castle, so about 30 mins away from us. It's a combination of a petting zoo but with bigger animals. Some of the animals you can't pet (with good reason) like the tigers and leopards and bears. But you can feed them through tubes, and Cori LOVED that.
Her favorite though were the deer (which she calls Rudolphs) and she wasn't shy at all about putting feed or carrots into her hand and offering them to the animals. That was awesome to see, cause I really hope that she continues to enjoy animals as she gets older.
Definitely recommend this place to those with kids! While the Pgh zoo is awesome, the interactions between the animals and kids here are much more and it creates a unique experience. The admission prices aren't bad either, but right now at WPXI, they are offering a half off deal. You get 5 tickets for $19.99 instead of $42.50. I know we'll put those tickets to good use in the future.
Her favorite though were the deer (which she calls Rudolphs) and she wasn't shy at all about putting feed or carrots into her hand and offering them to the animals. That was awesome to see, cause I really hope that she continues to enjoy animals as she gets older.
Definitely recommend this place to those with kids! While the Pgh zoo is awesome, the interactions between the animals and kids here are much more and it creates a unique experience. The admission prices aren't bad either, but right now at WPXI, they are offering a half off deal. You get 5 tickets for $19.99 instead of $42.50. I know we'll put those tickets to good use in the future.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Almost 34 weeks
Not a whole lot has been happening, aside from 2-3 visits to the OB each week. Thanks to the gestational diabetes, I now seem to have a home away from home at my OB's office. Every Tuesday and Friday I get hooked up to a fetal heartbeat monitor for a non-stress test.
Basically they are looking for regular accelerations and decelerations in the baby's heart beat. How long I am there depends on how awake the baby is. If he is sleeping, not much happens and we need to poke him and zap him awake with some sound waves. If he is awake, the heartbeat increases and decreases more.
Throw in the occasional ultrasound to check for baby's growth and practice breathing and sometimes I'm at the doctor's three times a week. Right now baby is head down and measuring a little over 5 lbs, about the 62nd percentile, so right on track. I'm also measuring 34 weeks, so there isn't excessive size to worry about.
While I've had to increase my diabetes medication, the meds are keeping my sugar levels in check. If things get out of control with the diabetes, that is the only reason I'd be induced earlier than 39 weeks, but it doesn't look like things are headed in that direction at all. At 36 weeks I'll have my first internal and see if I'm showing any signs of dilation, etc. Together with my doctor, we'll look at a calender and talk about an induction date for 39 weeks.
While there is a good chance I will have spontaneous labor prior to then, they will induce at 39 weeks, just not any earlier. I'll be aiming for the 22nd since Cori isn't in daycare on Fridays. But you know the old saying - people plan and God laughs - so we'll just have to see.
Basically they are looking for regular accelerations and decelerations in the baby's heart beat. How long I am there depends on how awake the baby is. If he is sleeping, not much happens and we need to poke him and zap him awake with some sound waves. If he is awake, the heartbeat increases and decreases more.
Throw in the occasional ultrasound to check for baby's growth and practice breathing and sometimes I'm at the doctor's three times a week. Right now baby is head down and measuring a little over 5 lbs, about the 62nd percentile, so right on track. I'm also measuring 34 weeks, so there isn't excessive size to worry about.
While I've had to increase my diabetes medication, the meds are keeping my sugar levels in check. If things get out of control with the diabetes, that is the only reason I'd be induced earlier than 39 weeks, but it doesn't look like things are headed in that direction at all. At 36 weeks I'll have my first internal and see if I'm showing any signs of dilation, etc. Together with my doctor, we'll look at a calender and talk about an induction date for 39 weeks.
While there is a good chance I will have spontaneous labor prior to then, they will induce at 39 weeks, just not any earlier. I'll be aiming for the 22nd since Cori isn't in daycare on Fridays. But you know the old saying - people plan and God laughs - so we'll just have to see.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Sneak Peak
This past weekend we had our rescheduled photo shoot; I had won a free session on Facebook from Mary Beth Miller Photography and we decided to use it for Cori's third birthday pictures. MB is really sweet and I'd heard good things about her, as well as liked many of her children's photos. We picked Hartwood Acres for the photo shoot since the grounds are kept so nicely and it is free to walk around the mansion. The only "downside" is that on weekends, there are usually lots of photographers there, so you have to stay out of each other's way.
Cori was fairly cooperative (esp given the hot and humid weather) but things got a little rough towards the end of the session. The photographer told Cori that a princess lived in the castle, and from that point on Cori was obsessed with trying to go inside and look in windows, etc. When it came time to leave, there were tears and tantrums. Oi - three year olds - drama!
Without further ado.... photo sneak peaks below. The rest of the pictures will be ready in 2 weeks and we're looking forward to them!
Cori was fairly cooperative (esp given the hot and humid weather) but things got a little rough towards the end of the session. The photographer told Cori that a princess lived in the castle, and from that point on Cori was obsessed with trying to go inside and look in windows, etc. When it came time to leave, there were tears and tantrums. Oi - three year olds - drama!Without further ado.... photo sneak peaks below. The rest of the pictures will be ready in 2 weeks and we're looking forward to them!
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Product Review
I've never been shy about using paint - be it paint for my home's walls or paint color for my hair. After all, why be scared.. it's just color! If it doesn't look right, try, try again!
For the past few years I've gone back and forth between brown and blonde (and everything in between) as well as long hair to short hair. (I'm now on a longer hair kick and am attempting to grow mine again, which I am sure will result in chopping it all off again in a year or so.
In the past few years I've trusted my salon to color my hair. It's just easier and I know the results will be good. I have a lot of red undertones in my hair, which I don't like, and the wrong color can easily bring them out. But while I love my salon, I don't love the price. And with baby on the way, I'm trying to find ways to trim the budget.
Enter Nice and Easy Color Foam... thanks to a $3 coupon in the Sunday paper recentl
y, I thought I'd give it a try. The product was really easy to use, though I'd like to share some pointers:
For the past few years I've gone back and forth between brown and blonde (and everything in between) as well as long hair to short hair. (I'm now on a longer hair kick and am attempting to grow mine again, which I am sure will result in chopping it all off again in a year or so.
In the past few years I've trusted my salon to color my hair. It's just easier and I know the results will be good. I have a lot of red undertones in my hair, which I don't like, and the wrong color can easily bring them out. But while I love my salon, I don't love the price. And with baby on the way, I'm trying to find ways to trim the budget.
Enter Nice and Easy Color Foam... thanks to a $3 coupon in the Sunday paper recentl
y, I thought I'd give it a try. The product was really easy to use, though I'd like to share some pointers:- Like wall paint, apply in a well ventilated area! Man this stuff stinks!
- It's a good idea to actually do as instructed and use a towel as a cape. One set of PJs is now spotted... whoops!
- If you choose to ignore pointer 2, or if you're really messy, have some wet paper towels on hand to wipe up. A hand mirror to see the back of your neck in a stationary mirror is also very helpful, esp if you don't want spotted skin.
Other Misc. Updates
- The Binky Fairy came on Cori's birthday and took all the binkies and left a bubble mower. Cori is doing fine; sleep was fine and so are car rides. She will still ask occasionally where her binkies are; we remind her that the fairy took them and she seems fine with that.
- 32 weeks pregnant and I'm feeling really ready physically and mentally (aside from no hospital bag packed and forgetting what I even need to take). The diabetes seems to be holding, though I did have my meds increased yesterday. Due to the heat I have had a lot of swelling in my hands and feet. Ben has been really active still; the kid moves non-stop. I know it's a bit early (just a bit huh?) so I'll wait another month, but bring on the baby soon!
- Cori's 3 year well visit went very well. The doctor declared her very healthy and progressing excellent. Cori weights 33 lbs and is 39 and 1/4 inches tall. What a big girl!
- We have grass in our yard! After months of waiting, and lots of watering, we're getting there.
Birthday Party
Last weekend we had a small birthday party for our big girl. The weather was beautiful - sunny and 80 degrees - perfect for this time of year!
Birthday cake!
Enjoying her water table:
Playing with 2 of her favorite cousins:
The microphone was a big hit!
Going for a ride with Pap
Birthday cake!
Enjoying her water table:
Playing with 2 of her favorite cousins:
The microphone was a big hit!
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