First Few Days / Pictures from Monday

Hi everybody!  We're finally home and getting settled.  Everything is going GREAT!

We were in the hospital until yesterday afternoon.  You have to stay a little longer for a c-section, so we were there a day longer than expected.  I could have stayed until today, but we were ready to be home!  Something nobody tells you about the hospital - it is NOT restful or relaxing.  Between people being in and out of your room constantly, having to keep track of every little detail of every little thing you do, trying to settle into a routine with the baby, and just not being in your element, I thought the whole hospital thing was a little exhausting.  We had some great people taking care of us, but as soon as it was safe for us to go, I was OUT of there! :)

We're settling into our new lives now...and it's going great. :)  Emma Ramey is SUCH a good baby.  We seriously couldn't have asked for her to be better.  She's got a pretty good schedule going, she eats well, and she's not really all that fussy unless she needs something.  It's so much fun learning her little personality and figuring her out!

Ok - so to say we have a few pictures of this week is an understatement.  There's NO way I could do it all in one post, so I figure I'll do a day's worth of pictures each day for the next few days until I catch up!

Here are the ones from her birthday...

About 4am on Monday morning, getting ready to go to the hospital...I was a HOUSE!

Saying goodbye to Hardy. :)

All ready to go at the hospital!  With all of our family that was there.

So 16 hours later...I had made no progress in 4 hours and didn't seem to have any chance of making any more.  So we went in for the c-section.  Before labor, I said I didn't want one, but I was SO relieved at that point to be getting one!  And we found out a little bit later that it was inevitable.

She's finally here!

Finally getting to hold and see her!







Meeting everybody else













With Noah's dad



With my dad...you think her grandfathers like her? :)



After a VERY long day



My first time to hold her!

 

The Rest of the Story

Ok, as promised, here's what happened after 4:00 yesterday!

So I'm trucking along just fine with my epidural until about 4.  The small hot spot I thought I had slowly turned into feeling pretty much everything in my abdomen and back.  We called in the anesthesiologist again to up it, and he told us at that point that we couldn't add anything else after this until probably 7.  Between the pain, knowing that this was all I could get (and that it might not work either), and just everything, I started just bawling.  And, at this point, I'm fighting through contractions coming about every minute and a half.

Well apparently the last dose of epidural wasn't enough for pain, but was enough for the rest of my body.  I started throwing up, shaking, and still couldn't stop crying because of the pain.  It was not the prettiest part of the whole process.  I'm talking ugly cry, on top of being sick...it's a good thing my husband loves me. :)

My nurse came in, and after seeing that the last epidural upper wasn't doing much, offered me Demerol.  I got that, and within maybe 2 minutes, I was OUT.  I had never had Demerol before, and just assumed it was a milder pain killer than the epidural.  I assumed wrong.  That stuff saved my life!

Apparently while on said Demerol, I was quite a show.  At one point I was mumbling to Noah, and all he knows was that I said something about Dan Aykroyd...haha!  Also, at one point, my mom came in and asked how I was doing, and I looked at her and very rudely said "I'm in LABOR."  So just be warned, if you ever need to take Demerol, it don't play.  You will become a side show.

When I wasn't entertaining everyone, I was asleep.  I really needed it - I hadn't had over 5 hours of sleep in 2 days, and it just all caught up with me.  I woke up when my doctor would come in and check me though.  She checked me at about 6...I was at 7cm.  Checked again at about 8...8cm.  She told us at this point that if I wasn't ready to push by 10, she thought it was best to call it and do a c-section.

Well 10 rolls around, and I was still stuck at 8.  The Pitocin was still pumping, but I just couldn't get in a good contraction pattern, and they never got super strong.  So we made the call at that point to do a section.  It really was the only option at that point.  I was SO weak from fighting through contractions for 16 hours, and knowing what we know now, there is absolutely no way I could have gotten her out on my own.

So, within a few minutes, they're getting me ready to go to the operating room.  I was in there by 10:20, and they had her out by 10:33.  The section was not bad AT ALL...just a lot of pressure.  I was so worried that I would feel it, but besides the tugging and pulling, didn't feel a thing.  It's amazing that they can have you in surgery, doing everything they did, and you're still awake!

She came out with a little whimper, which was good...since she had meconium in her fluid, they wanted to get her good and suctioned before she really started screaming.  Hearing that whimper was one of the best moments of my life...I immediately starting crying.  Noah was right there with me too!  After a few minutes, they weighed and measured...I was SHOCKED when they called out 10lbs, 5oz!  We figured high 9's, but never that much.  Girl is a CHUNK!  She honestly weighs more than she looks though.

After NICU checked her out and everything was fine, Noah was able to take her to see family while they got me fixed up.  That was actually probably the most painful part of the whole c-section - they had to give me a little more numbing medicine because I started feeling a tiny bit of what they were doing.  I haven't taken the bandages off yet.  That's my project for after breakfast - taking the dressing off and getting a shower.  I'm in some pain right now, but nothing too extreme.  They took me off morphene this morning so I could eat, but I'm still taking some other medicines to help with the pain.

I went to recovery after that, and Noah came in a few minutes after I got there.  Emma Ramey stayed in the nursery with the grandparents.  They are in love!  I have some of the sweetest pictures of them.  The internet connection here isn't so great, so I'll post a bunch more pictures when we get home!

After about an hour in recovery, they got me in my room and brought her in.  I hadn't gotten a great look at her in the OR, so this was my first chance to really see her.  Y'all - I know she's mine, but she is BEAUTIFUL!  I can't get over it.  She looks a lot like Noah when he was a baby.  I was able to nurse...for the first time, she did a great job!

I was able to feed her once I got in the room, and the grandparents got to see her for a few minutes before they went home - it was 1 in the morning at this point, and they had had a long day too.  We kept her in the room for just a few more minutes, and she went to the nursery for a bath.  We went to sleep after a wonderful, but LONG day. :)

I fed her again at about 5 this morning.  Noah and I sent her back after about an hour so we could get a little more sleep and get everything done that we can't do with her in here, but she should be coming down here in a little while!  I am rushing through everything trying to get her here right now, so if this post was rambling, that's why. :)

I can never thank y'all enough for the sweet words, prayer, well wishes, and advice you've sent our way over the past few days!  My phone has been buzzing constantly from all of it, and I love it.  What a great support team we have!

Introducing...

 
Emma Ramey Lambert
Born March 26, 2012 at 10:33pm
10 pounds, 5 ounces
21 inches long

I apologize for being super sketchy after about 5pm yesterday...our birth story took an interesting little turn about then, and it just wasn't possible to update.  I'm going to update it Tuesday morning when I get a chance, before I forget it!

Birth Day

Hi from the hospital!!  I'm going to use this blog post as kind of my journal for the day.

8:00am - We're here and settled!  I've been up since about 1.  I went to sleep about 10, and was having contractions the entire time I slept.  They weren't regular, but strong.  I finally couldn't sleep through it about 1am, so I watched some TV and fought through them until Noah woke up about 3.

We got here about 5, checked in, and got my IV.  They had started the Pitocin by 6.  I'm having contractions about every 6 minutes now...that's one good thing about the Pitocin, it's making them much more regular.  They're still really in my back, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm currently waiting on anesthesia for my epidural, so that should be any minute now!

My doctor broke my water about 7.  I had a little bit of meconium in the amniotic fluid, so the NICU will have to be in here when I deliver.  My doctor said it's pretty common for babies that go past their due date to have it.  It was also pretty difficult for her to break my water, which she said may be one reason I never went into full labor on my own.

9:30am - I've got my epidural!  Let me just profess my undying love for the person that invented these. :)  I was starting to get to the point where I couldn't deal with the pain, and there are 5 inductions at the hospital today, so we went on and got it so I wouldn't wait too late.  The actual epidural wasn't bad, but I started having really bad contractions really close together while I was getting it.  The position you have to sit in while you're getting it was not comfortable for contractions either, so that was pretty rough...definitely the worst pain of the whole thing so far.

But I'm on cloud nine right now!  No pain at all.  I'm about to take a nap so I've got the energy to get this girl out later on!

11:20am - Tried to take a nap and just couldn't...too much going on!  I'm completely and totally pain free right now though, and got some nice rest.  I've got one little spot that I can feel...it's not painful and doesn't have pressure, I can just feel it.  Let's hope it doesn't turn into a hot spot!

I was still at 4cm about an hour ago, so they upped my Pitocin.  They just upped it again because my contractions aren't developing a great pattern.  We're both hanging in there great though!  I'm pain-free, and Emma Ramey's heart rate is still looking really good.

1:20pm - Still just hanging out!  They checked me not long ago - I'm at 5cm, almost 6.  She's still sitting really high, so they've got me trying to sit up to drop her a little...besides that, we're making good progress!  The nurse just told me that they expect you to make about 1cm an hour progress, so we're maybe looking at delivering around dinner.

Still having to up the Pitocin.  My contractions will get consistent for awhile, then get sporadic, and they're still not as strong as they want them.  So I'm at a 14 on the Pitocin right now and increasing every 30 minutes until we get a good pattern.  The highest it can go is 20.

3:35pm - Had a little action since the last update.  About 1:45, I started feeling the contractions again in my right hip.  It progressively got worse with each contraction, until I could just about feel all of it, so the nurse called the anesthesiologist to up my epidural.  She turned me on my right side to try to get the medicine into my hip better, and missy decided she didn't like it...her heart rate went way down.

They immediately turned me over to my left side and got an oxygen mask on me.  Luckily, my doctor was nearby.  She came in about the time that Emma Ramey was evening back out...ER only freaked out for a minute or so. After that, they put a heart rate monitor on her scalp to get a better idea of what it was.

She's been fine ever since!  They had to cut off the pitocin for a little bit to help her catch back up, and they are in the process of bringing it back up right now...so my contractions got a little weaker for awhile.  I'm still making progress though - we're at about 6cm as of when they put the monitor on her scalp!

Oh, and all of our family and Noah had gone to lunch when all of this happened. :)  Of course.  So Noah walks back in to a bunch of people and me in an oxygen mask.  Freaked him out a little.

But we're doing great now!  I tried to nap a few times and just can't make it happen.  I've got another little spot right in the middle of my belly that's giving me some problems, but I can control it with the epidural button they gave me.  And I'm snacking on a popsicle right now...it's a GREAT popsicle. :)

T'was the Night Before...

(I think) we are all ready to go for tomorrow morning!  We've spent the day cleaning the house, getting bags in the car, and finishing up a few last minute chores we meant to do.  As of right now, I don't know of anything else there is to do except have this baby!

I really thought we were going to be going to the hospital a little early this morning.  I just didn't sleep well last night.  I couldn't fall asleep until about 1:00, then I woke up about 3:00 with really, really intense back pain.  After timing it for a few minutes, I realized I was having contractions, but they weren't very consistent...maybe one every 10 minutes, then one every 6, then one every 12...so on and so forth.  So I figured the best thing I could do was go back to sleep for a little while, and was out again by about 5.

I woke up about 7 with a little more consistent contractions.  This time, they were coming every 8 or 9 minutes, and were a lot stronger than they were during the night.  I told Noah we probably needed to get everything taken care of this morning, just in case they turned into something.  After I got up and had breakfast, they ended up going away.  I'm having one maybe every 30 minutes to an hour right now, so much, much slower.  But that gives me hope that maybe we're really close to natural labor anyway, and the pitocin will only help things along in the morning!

One thing that does worry me is that ALL of the pain with those contractions was in my back.  I don't know if I mentioned this yet - Emma Ramey is currently face up, which is not what you want for an easy or comfortable labor.  It can cause back labor (since she puts a lot of pressure on my spine in this position), which was definitely proven this morning.  I'm hoping she decides to turn her little self around (which usually happens in labor) before tomorrow!

So we're all set to arrive at the hospital at 5am in the morning!  We're going to sleep shortly after dinner, which won't be a problem given my current lack of sleep. :)

I'm planning on bringing my computer, so I'll update you guys as soon as we get all set in the morning!  Thank you SO much for the sweet words, prayers, and advice you've given us over the past few weeks/months/years!!  We're so excited!

41 Weeks

Woah...did not think I'd be writing this post.  But we all know how plans work out...you would think I would have learned this lesson by now. :)

Size of Baby: BIG.  As of last Friday, she was measuring 8 lbs, 15 oz on the ultrasound.  Now those aren't perfect (they can be about a pound off either way), but that gives us a good idea of what she will be.  And the ultrasound tech told me yesterday that they can gain 1/2 to 1 pound a week...so we may be looking at a 9-10 pound baby easily.  Yeah...I know.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I was still up like 25 pounds as of yesterday...to be honest, I've quit paying attention. :)

Maternity Clothes: I've been pretty much living in Noah's shirts (the big ones, mind you, not his normal ones) and Nike shorts, since I'm at home.  I have one pair of jeans that still fits (see picture), and if I wear an undershirt under my maternity shirts, I can get away with those.

Gender: It's a GIRL!  Emma Ramey.  They actually "confirmed" this with the ultrasound Wednesday, which they said is pretty rare to be able to do at this point!

Belly Button In/Out: Just barely out.  She still likes kicking it way out every once in a while too.

 Stretch Marks: Well my belly button's just a hot mess by this point...I am scared to see what it looks like after this.  But I'm still holding out with no stretch marks besides that!  I do have one weird thing...my tummy got really itchy a few nights ago, which happens every once in a while. I scratched it, just like normal, for maybe 5 seconds, and went on about my business.  Well I'm changing later on, and I have these weird red bruise looking things where I scratched now!  They're underneath the skin, so it just looks like I broke blood vessels all around my belly button.  It's strange - I'm guessing my skin is just so stretched and sensitive?  And my stomach's peeling now...very weird, because it sure hasn't seen sun in 9 months.

Labor Signs: Still next to nothing.  Occasionally I'll have contractions, especially in the late afternoon and night, but nothing consistent at all.  This child has every intention of graduating high school in there. :)

Movement: Her or me? :)  For her - slower.  Every few days, she has a really active afternoon where she kicks and kicks...then she's a little slower for a day or two after that.  She has found my bladder, and it HURTS when she kicks it!  And her little bottom is in my ribs.  If she gets in the right position, it puts a lot of pressure on those.  Poor baby - Momma just has a small torso and she's a big girl! I will definitely miss the kicks, but they have gotten painful in the past week or two.  For me - movement doesn't exist anymore. :)  I am slow getting around, I can't bend over, standing up after laying/sitting is a workout, even rolling over in bed is a challenge.

Sleep: For 41 weeks pregnant, not too bad now...it goes through its phases.  I can only sleep 7-8 hours max before I'm wide awake...I've tried sleeping in, and it just doesn't work.  I'm still waking up every 2 hours or so to use the bathroom and roll over/change positions in bed.  But it has gotten a little better over the past few days!

What I miss: See previous posts...still all of that. :)

What I am looking forward to: MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY!!!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really big.  I've been back on the fruit/veggie kick in the past few days, and have been thirsty...if I don't get enough water, I just don't feel good.

Symptoms: Just not being able to function.  If I'm on my feet for more than a few minutes, I will definitely feel it the next day...it feels like I ran a marathon I'm so sore.  Occasional contractions (mix of Braxton Hicks and painful ones), tiny bit of nausea every once in a while, still a little acid reflux if I eat something spicy, back aches pretty much constantly.  Nobody said being this pregnant was fun...it's not.  But TOTALLY worth it!

Best Moment This Week: Being able to be at home!  You deserve some kind of award if you try to work after your due date...seriously.  I feel guilty that I'm not working, but there's just no way I could do it right now.  I feel like I've been hit by a truck if I do anything for more than 10 minutes - I can't imagine being on my feet all day.  So I have been doing LOTS of sitting on the couch and lots of naps...it's really nice!

Quick Update

Everything is looking great (but still the same) as of this morning!  This little girl is healthy as a horse...stubborn, but healthy. :)

We went in for another round of tests to make sure Emma Ramey's holding up in there.  We actually had a 30 minute ultrasound this morning to test for a few indicators.  She showed every one of them (I know they were looking for movement, stretching, practice breaths, etc).  In the 30 minute test, it took her 27 minutes to show practice breathing...not a problem, she was just sleepy and not moving around much.  But she showed everything else within a few minutes of the test starting.

So we're a go for Monday!  I'm really thinking I'll make it until then too...the few contractions I was having have basically stopped since I'm off my feet.  Now, I know it can happen quickly, and who knows, that might happen...but I just don't see it.  And really, as long as I can get comfortable and she keeps moving around to let us know she's ok, I'm ok with that now.  I would prefer to go into labor naturally, but this lets all of our family be in town, let us know that my doctor will be available, and just gives us a little bit more control over the whole thing.  So it has its advantages too. (Once again, I don't want to start a natural vs. induction debate...I think different situations call for different solutions, and no one but your doctor and you can make the call on that!)

And thank y'all for your sweet words yesterday...my family appreciates it so much!  The funeral is going to be tomorrow.  I'm not going to go because we don't want to chance me going into labor there, but the rest of my family will be there.

Change of Plans...

Last night around dinner, my mom called and told me that they thought my uncle might have had a brain aneurism, and was in the hospital.  A few hours later, she called back to let me know that he had passed away.  He had cancer that was in remission, but the cancer drugs had taken a toll on his body, and we're thinking that is probably what caused multiple aneurisms.  He would have been 70 years old today.

I wasn't super close to this uncle, but it is hard to hear that a family member has passed.  It is actually my dad's half brother.  He had two children and four grandchildren...so any prayers for their family would be greatly appreciated.

So...not only is it sad and really hard to hear about a family member passing, but it throws a little bit of a kink in our plans for this week.  The funeral is more than likely going to be Thursday, and I don't want my dad to miss his brother's funeral if we can help it.  So we made the call this morning to push the induction back to next Monday, which is another option my doctor offered us last week when we originally scheduled.

Yes, I will be almost 42 weeks pregnant at that point.  But one advantage...it does give my body time to see if I can go into labor on my own, which is something I'd like anyway. (No signs of anything new as of right now, by the way...hopefully giving it a few more days will help.)

I'm going in for another NST/ultrasound first thing tomorrow morning to make sure everything's still ok to wait.  Our big concern before pushing the induction back another 4 days was that everything was still healthy enough to wait that long.  As long as she is still fine and I'm still fine, we'll plan on going in Monday morning (if not sooner on my own).

Lots going on right now...some I haven't discussed on here just yet, but to say that life is crazy right now is an understatement.  Just keep saying it with me...she has to come out sometime...

Monday Miscellany

No, no baby yet.  

I can definitely feel some changes going on...in particular, lots more contractions and a little more pain.  But every time I change positions or give it a little time, they stop.  I'm taking it as promising that at least I'm seeing something though!  Still hoping to go into labor naturally before Thursday - and yes, I'm following every old wives' tale in the book (within reason) to try to make it happen.  So far, no good.

This is my first "official" day of maternity leave I guess - last week was Spring Break for our schools, so this is the first day my kids are at school and I'm not.  They are in EXCELLENT hands, but I'm still sitting here a little nervous that everything is going ok!  It's hard to turn over a class you've worked with all year, particularly in the middle of the year.  But I'm sure that they are well taken care of.  I (very, very briefly) thought about going back today, until my mom and my husband told me I was crazy and reminded me I would probably go into labor in front of 16 six-year-olds if I did.  I'm not sure if that would traumatize me or them more.  So I'm just going to eat a few sick days and enjoy the last few days of peace!

Sleep has probably been the worst part of being overdue.  I can't get any!  I'm waking up every hour and a half to two hours to use the bathroom and change positions.  But by about 6 or 7 hours in, I can't make myself fall back asleep!  Then, I try to take a nap in the afternoons, and that's about the point that my contractions for the day start...so no sleep there either.  I know this is the Lord's way of getting me ready for what's about to come...but I'd like to get some sleep while I still can!  

Last night, Hardy decided he wanted to bury a bone at about 2:30 in the morning.  Let me describe Hardy burying a bone to you - he finds an old rawhide bone in the backyard, brings it in the house (and whoever lets him back in is usually too sleepy to notice), then tries to bury it in a piece of furniture or his bed, which obviously doesn't work.  So he barks at it because he's mad.  Loudly.  Until one of us gets up and hides it from him.

That woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep.  So I get up to use the bathroom...come back to bed, and this is what I find.

I'm too big to move a 50 pound beagle right now (and he knows it), so I just gave up.  I did LOTS of catching up on middle of the night TV last night. :) I finally broke down and took a Tylenol PM about 4:00...I hate taking those because it makes Emma Ramey not move as much the next day (which makes me so nervous, especially right now), but I had to get some sleep.  I finally went back to sleep around 6, and slept until 9.

So, in summary, still here, still waiting, and a little sleepy. :)

The Bib

Around Christmas, I was shopping and found this bib, and HAD to have it.  I just knew she would be here by now, and it would make for some cute pictures!

Well, y'all know the story...no baby as of this afternoon, so probably no St. Patrick's day baby.  But the bib did make for some fun around here today. :)

A few days ago, Noah and I made a fun little wager with the bib.  He was just sure I wouldn't go home from my doctor's appointment yesterday - I was sure I would.  So if I was right, he had to wear the bib all day today - at least I could get one Lambert in it!  If I was wrong, he didn't have to bring me sushi in the hospital (which I've said I wanted this whole pregnancy).  

So, guess who won?

Ok, I'll be honest...I only made him put it on for the picture.  He didn't have to wear a bib all day.  But guess who took up his end of the bet?

And he loves it...he's worn it all day!

So no, no St. Patrick's day baby...but I appreciate my guys getting some use out of the bib today and making me laugh a little. :)

The Waiting Game

Sorry I'm just now posting this...I was exhausted when I got home.  The doctor's appointment went really well!

We were there pretty early for a NST.  You're basically just making sure the baby's heart rate goes with their movement, and that you're not in active labor with one of these.  I was hooked up to monitors for 20 minutes while they measured both.  Both were looking really good!  Her heart rate went up every time she started moving.  I had several contractions, but most of them I couldn't feel...no active labor though.

They also got us in for an ultrasound. It wasn't one where we could really see her - she's just too big at this point to see anything, so no cute pictures this time.  According to the ultrasound, she's measuring 8 pounds, 15 ounces...honestly, about where we expected, since her daddy was a big baby (almost 11 pounds!).  Those aren't super accurate, so she could be anywhere from 8 to 10 pounds, but not TOO big.  Her head and what they could tell about her height was pretty much right on average for 40 weeks too...so no need to get her out because she's "too big!"

I've made just a tiny bit of progress this week.  I'm at about 1.5-2 cm dilated right now, and about 50% effaced.  So, no need to induce today, but we went on and made the appointment to induce next Thursday...so we'll be meeting her by then!  That will put me right at 41 weeks, which is the maximum my doctor recommended going for both of our safety.  Honestly, I don't think I'll make it to then, but it is nice to see a little light at the end of the tunnel!  I go in at 5am on Thursday, March 22nd to start the induction.

So we're back in the waiting game pattern...constantly analyzing symptoms to see if I'm in labor (I've had a couple today that make me seriously doubt I'll make it through the weekend, much less to next Thursday), but at least we know now that we're in the last stage of this!

After we left, I felt that I deserved a cupcake. :)  So we ran by Gigi's and got this beauty...

...and ran to Chick-Fil-A for lunch.  I've mentioned before that I LOVE Chick-Fil-A...it just puts you in a better mood when you go (plus it's really good!).  We got to talking to the lady at the check-out line for a minute while we waited on the food, she asked when we were due, etc, etc.  Noah goes to give her the credit card to pay, and she told us that lunch was on her today, and to have a blessed day. :)  I thought it was SO sweet!  I don't know if she was taking pity on me because I'm so huge or what, but it was just the nicest thing that's happened in a few days. :)

I'll be updating here and on twitter if anything changes...but no baby yet!  And I'm glad - as long as I'm having a healthy pregnancy, I can stay big and uncomfortable for a few more days. :)

40 Weeks!!

 

Happy due date to us!!!!  Yes, I'm not looking too hot today...I'm at home this week anyway, so this pretty much describes how I've looked all week - no makeup, Noah's t-shirts, and shorts.  Aren't you jealous of Noah? :)

And no, no sign of baby yet.  See below for further explanation...

Size of Baby: No way to know for sure, but she's (according to Babycenter) about 7 1/2 pounds and around 20 inches.  We'll know a lot more tomorrow!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: As of Monday, I was up 24 pounds at the doctor...so we'll stick to that.

Maternity Clothes: Barely any fit anymore.  Noah's t-shirts are my friend. :)

Gender: It's a GIRL!  Emma Ramey

Belly Button In/Out: Still just a little out.  She thinks it's fun to kick it way out though...it's kind of entertaining to watch!

 Stretch Marks: Besides the belly button scar and "the line," nothing!

Labor Signs: Barely anything.  Some contractions (I've had a few this morning that have been a little stronger than normal), but nothing big.

Movement: Definitely slower...I just figure she's out of room.  I've been doing kick counts just to make sure, and everything's fine.  Sprite still gets her going though...if I ever get worried, I can drink a little and she's starts moving a ton!

Sleep: Waking up a few times a night to change positions still, but besides that still really good!

What I miss: See previous posts...all of that. :)

What I am looking forward to: This girl coming to meet us!!!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing in particular, just food.  I can't really eat much right now, so I've been kind of a "grazer" lately...eating all the time, but not really that much.

Symptoms: A new one this week...acid reflux.  Not fun.  I've heard of pregnant women getting this, and I didn't realize I had it until I described it to Noah and he told me that this is what it was.  It's been waking me up at night!  So no more spicy food for me.  Besides that, just unable to move, achy all the time, some Braxton Hicks.

Best Moment This Week: Getting some rest!  I'll admit, I'm starting to go a little stir crazy, but I'm really glad I was able to rest for a few days before D-Day!

Appointment is at 8:45 in the morning...I'll keep y'all updated!

New Smartphone Apps

I haven't done one of these posts in awhile, but we've found a few money-making apps over the past few weeks that we LOVE!  Since I've got nothing but time on my hands right now, I thought I'd share them. :)

(You might want to open this post on your smartphone...it'll be easier to download the apps with the links I've given below!)

-Viggle is one that we just found this weekend, but is really easy and is paying out a lot!  With Viggle, you let your phone listen to your TV (kind of like Shazam, if you've ever used it), and it detects what you're watching.  Once it detects what show you're watching, you get paid to watch TV!  Pretty much every show you could watch is detectible with this app, and it pays you with points (that you trade in for gift cards) for the amount of time you watch a show.  You can also watch a TON of videos for points.  I've only had it a couple of days, and I've already got a $5 gift card!  You can go download it here, and start checking in to shows! (Just FYI - you need to be 18 and a US citizen to use this one per their terms of use.)

-JunoWallet is another fun new one we've found.  You get paid for downloading apps to your phone...all you have to do is open the downloaded app to get paid!  You can go here to download it, and put in the referral link 'LL731974' when it asks for a referral code...you'll get $0.25 automatically when you download this!

-Field Agent is one I think is pretty cool.  You're basically doing quality checks for stores.  Once you download it, you will have any opportunities to do these checks pop up on your main page.  Once you accept the check , you go to the store it says, take a picture of what it says (usually a shelf or a product at the store), and they pay you for doing it!  You have to be quick though - these go fast!  But they pay really well - we usually get anywhere from $3-10 per check.  And if you're going to that store anyway or it's on your way somewhere, that's easy money!  Go here to download Field Agent on your iPhone.

-We're still using and loving WeReward.  It lets you "Check In" at lots of different businesses for 5 cents a check-in...that really adds up when you're doing lots of check-ins a day!  You get 10 cents if you take a picture of a business, and 25 cents if you take a picture with a purchase from a business (usually restaurants).  You're going to these places anyway, you might as well get paid a little extra for it!  I've made probably $20 a month off of this app for the past few months by just checking in!  Go here to download this one.

-Checkpoints and Shopkick are both old favorites.  They are similar - you get points for checking into places, and for scanning certain items at stores.  Once again, we usually make around $10 a month in gift cards from these for doing basically nothing!  Click here to download Checkpoints and here to download Shopkick.

None of these are a get rich quick scheme, but they are a great way to make a little extra money!  Hope they help you too!

Doctor's Appointment and The Plan From Here

We went to the doctor again this morning...

Let's just say this child is nice and comfy in there.  No change.  Again.

I am actually really surprised.  The past couple of nights, I had some pretty intense contractions that I thought SURELY had done something.  But nope!

So we talked to the doctor about what we should do from here.  She doesn't like to let her patients go more than a week past the due date, because of a risk that the placenta can get old and stop working.  So, as long as there's no change (which I really don't think there will be), I'm going to go in Friday morning for a Non-Stress Test and an ultrasound.  This will make sure my fluid levels are still good, the placenta's still working, and she's in a good position/doing fine.  As long as that looks good, we'll go through the weekend and see where we are after that.

I've said this whole pregnancy (and before it, really) that I don't want to be induced unless it's medically necessary.  I DON'T want to cause a big debate over this, but I've just seen that induction, while it can be really good when needed, can cause a lot of unnecessary issues when not needed.  So, as long as I'm good and she's good (which we both are at this point), I don't want to be induced.  Simple as that.

But, now we're starting to look at the point when it might be necessary.  The placenta not working is scary, and I'm definitely going to take my doctor's advice if she doesn't want to go more than a week past my due date.  So, that means we will more than likely meet this little girl (at least) before next Thursday!  And, right now, I can't really complain...I'm not comfortable by any means, but it could be a lot worse. I could be swollen to no end, and I'm not.  I could be having round the clock contractions, and I'm not.  I could be sick, and I'm not.  So it really isn't that bad in perspective!

I'm trying to enjoy "the calm before the storm" in the meantime.  Like I mentioned earlier, I'm on Spring Break this week anyway, so I literally have NOTHING to do.  My house is clean, all of my sub plans are more than done, I'm not doing blog designs right now since I don't know if I could go into labor at any time, so I'm just here, hanging out with Hardy and watching LOTS of TV. :)

She's got to come out sometime.  I keep telling myself that.  Over, and over, and over. :)

A Baby Shower From First Graders :)

In quite possibly the SWEETEST thing I've ever seen done, my first graders threw me a shower Thursday (with a little help from their parents). :)  It was so cute!

The "spread"...complete with cake and punch!

This was my gift...they had made a book of parenting advice for me!  Each child did a page of what they thought was the most important advice I needed.  It is PRECIOUS!  They also each gave me a diaper with a sweet message in it...but according to them, I'm not allowed to open those yet. :)

Me opening the gift. :)

The kids even decorated for my shower!

As of today, I am officially on maternity leave!  This upcoming week is Spring Break for us (yes, I was due during Spring Break...worked out pretty well. :)), and I'll be taking 9 weeks after that.  I'll go back for the last few days of school!

39 Weeks

Size of Baby: According to Baby Center, we're pretty much at her birth weight...about 7 pounds and 20 inches, or the size of a mini (haha...right!) watermelon!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I actually either lost some weight this week, or it was because I weighed early in the morning...so now up around 22 pounds total.

Maternity Clothes: Still have my select few that fit.  Pants actually aren't too bad since I'm all belly, but shirts are a challenge!  I'm definitely more comfortable in a huge t-shirt and very roomy shorts. :)

Gender: It's a GIRL!  Emma Ramey

Belly Button In/Out: The slightest bit out.  Like, only part of it.  You can't really tell unless my shirt is tight!

 Stretch Marks: Besides the belly button scar and "the line," nothing!

Labor Signs: Still nothing...little miss is very comfortable in there. :) Some Braxton Hicks in the afternoon/night, but nothing big.  Still 1 cm dialated and 25% effaced as of Monday.

Movement: She had one night this week (I think Sunday?)  where she was SUPER active...like punching me in the pelvis, kicking me in the ribs, turning all kinds of circles, CRAZY active.  We haven't had another night like that.  She was a little bit slower the couple of nights after that...I think she wore herself out!

Sleep: Really not bad at all!  I don't like sleeping on my side, but that's only temporary.  If that's the worst part of it, I can deal with that!

What I miss: Still just looking forward to functioning normally.  I can't wait for sushi either...I've told Noah which specific kind I want in the hospital! :)

What I am looking forward to: I only have one more day of work, then I (hopefully) get to take it easy for a few days before she comes!  I can't wait!

Cravings/Aversions: Sort of wanting spicy food, still really thirsty, wanting a lot of fruits/vegetables.

Symptoms: Just unable to move. :)  Waddling, some Braxton Hicks at night, and a little nauseous first thing in the morning/last thing at night...I don't know where that's come from.

Best Moment This Week: My sweet kids at school threw me a shower today!  It was SO SO sweet...they even made me a book of parenting advice. :) I loved it!

Random Pregnancy Thoughts...

 

(All of my weekly belly shots, 9 weeks to 38 weeks)

 Warning: Random post...are you noticing a trend here yet? :)

 Ok, I feel like I've done enough of this pregnancy business to finally have an opinion of it. And even at almost 39 weeks, even swollen and unable to move, you know what I think?

I think it's still an absolute miracle.

I feel like I've been complaining a lot in the past few weeks, and I regret that.  Just being completely honest here, even though this is the most absolute amazing thing ever, it's not all pretty.  You can't function.  You're in pain a good bit of the time.  You don't sleep very much (I know, I know, I haven't even started...).  But it is SO worth it in the end!

I think I've kind of gotten a wake-up call as to how blessed I am this week.  I was at the doctor's office Monday morning (just for my weekly check-up), and my chart was laying out on the table.  When the nurse opened it, there was a post-it note on the inside that was from my D&C I'm assuming - it had some details of it I'd rather not have known.  I try not to think about the miscarriages very much, but that just hit me.  Yes, I'm not feeling too hot right now.  But this time last year I would have given anything on this earth to feel like this! 

I am trying not to take a second of this process for granted.  Even though I'm uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable because there is a human growing inside there.  Not just a human, but a perfect combination of Noah and me.  I still just can't even wrap my mind around that.  I am so grateful.

And I realize there are a lot of you out there that might be reading this waiting on your time.  Just know I still pray for you all the time.  I remember how hard it is to wait, and how hard it is to lose.  Just please keep hoping that your time will come!

It's almost time to have this little girl, and I realize I'll go back to normal soon...but right now?  I'm trying to enjoy every second of this while it lasts.  Painful or not.

Weekend and Doctor's Appointment

Warning:  This is a sort-of rambling post, because I'm in a sort-of rambling mood. :)

We've really gone into maintenance mode at this point.  I worked like a CRAZY woman for the past two months to get my house ready, school ready, etc. for what's about to come, and I think everything's done...so honestly?  We're getting a little bored around here.

Yes, you can laugh at me.  I will EAT those words here in about 2 weeks, I'm sure.  But there is nothing left to do!

We did wash everything in the nursery and all of the baby clothes this weekend, something I've been meaning to do.  But my house is clean, work is ready to leave at any given time, bags are packed...now we just need a baby!

We took it easy this weekend.  It's going to be a LONG time before we get just be lazy and watch movies, take naps when we want to, and lay around and do nothing, so we did.  We're just trying to enjoy this time before it's gone, and soak up every last little bit of being pregnant while I still am...even if it is getting to the uncomfortable point.



I did make this for a work meeting today...red velvet cheese ball.  Yeah, you read that right.  Heaven!  Here's the recipe.

I had my weekly check-up with the doctor this morning.  I was really convinced I had made some progress...I had a ton of big (and somewhat painful) contractions yesterday afternoon, so I thought, surely those have done something.  Nope.  Nothing.  Apparently we have a little girl that is very comfortable and not looking to make her appearance any time soon.  Y'all just pray she doesn't take after her daddy - I think I've mentioned this before, but he was 2 WEEKS late when he was born.  Not days, weeks.  I just hope that's not hereditary. :)

I'll let y'all know if anything changes - I know we have a lot of sweet people out there following our story that will want updates!  But as of right now, nada.  Which is great until Friday...I wanted to work until then anyway.  Then it's game on. :)