Tuesday, March 24, 2009

April 2

We had another doctor's visit today. I saw the midwife again (my doctor had two deliveries this morning), but after another ultrasound, we are holding steady. But...given my rather precarious situation (and the fact I had a c-section with Sarah), I am "on the books" to deliver Natalie via c-section next Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 a.m. So we now have an official end date to this pregnancy and anticipated birth date for Natalie. I could go into labor on my own before that time, should God see fit to do that, but I definitely won't be going past that point.

So...the countdown begins! Miss Natalie, we look forward to meeting you soon! :)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

miscellaneous Natalie updates

Many readers will already know the whole "scoop" regarding last week. Some may not. And there are a couple of new tidbits at the end, so here goes....

Tuesday (March 17) I went to my doctor for what was supposed to be a routine office visit. Sarah was of course with me, as always. She hadn't slept well the previous night, so I was planning to head straight home from the appointment for lunch and an early nap. I knew an ultrasound was scheduled, but I've had several of those and didn't think anything of it. I also knew my doctor was on vacation and that I would be seeing the midwife. Again, no big deal, right?

Wrong.

Nothing really went right that morning, and things quickly went from bad to worse. Sarah, who has been successfully drinking from a cup for ages now, and who never needs a change of clothes during the day, decided she wanted a cup of water. I got one. While the technician did the ultrasound, Sarah managed to spill that cup of water not once, not twice, but three times! Once she dropped the cup completely, sloshing most of the contents on herself. She was soaked. And if you don't know Sarah, she doesn't like to be wet or messy AT ALL.

Ultrasound finished, we got to an exam room to wait for the midwife. I'm thinking it will be good to get home, get Sarah into dry clothes and then have that lunch and that nap. But no. The midwife comes in with the news that the ultrasound has revealed a drop in my amniotic fluid levels. Before I even have a chance to ask exactly what that means, she continues, "You need to head on over to Labor and Delivery and get checked in. I hope you have someone who can come take your child. I've talked to your doctor, and he's thinking whether he wants to come in tomorrow evening or Thursday morning to do a c-section."

I am reeling by this point. There are no other words for it. She just launched into this little speech, and I wasn't even sure at first that I was hearing her correctly. I think I sat there just gaping for a moment. "Check in?" I think I finally managed to ask. "To the hospital? I'm not going home?!"

No, not going home. So Sarah and I walk over to get checked in, pausing long enough to make two rather frantic phone calls. One was to my parents: "Can you please come get Sarah?! I'm apparently having a baby either tomorrow or the next day!" One was to Nelson: "We're apparently having a baby tomorrow or the next day!" Poor Nelson; chaos was reigning at work that day, with servers crashing and another IT co-worker already out with his wife's medical crisis. So Nelson wasn't going to be able to leave right away. He spent most of the day not really knowing what was going on with me (not that I knew much either!), but not able to leave and come find out!

As we were taken to what would be my room, Sarah is getting more and more unhappy with this turn of events. Five nurses were in with us at one point, all trying to engage Sarah in conversation. Normally friendly, she was freaked out enough this day that she backed away in the corner. She protested when I changed out of my clothes and put on a hospital gown. "No, Mommy! I like your clothes better!" When it was time for a nurse to draw blood, Sarah yelled at her, "No! Don't do that!" Poor kid. She's already exhausted, wet and miserable, and now all these crazy things are happening. Fortunately, a nurse turned on the TV and lo and behold, there were the Wiggles! Whew!

I was placed in bed and hooked up to a fetal monitor. Around 12:30, a nurse told me that the midwife would be back to talk with me "soon." There was now a possibility that I might be sent home that day and told to come back Thursday for another ultrasound. However, I couldn't eat lunch, "just in case." The anesthesiologist came to talk with me "just in case."

My parents came and Dad took Sarah to lunch. Mom waited with me. By 2:00, I still had not seen the midwife again. Now I was told that the other doctor in the ob/gyn practice would be the one coming to talk to me, and that he would make the decision. He would be there "soon." By 3:00, I still hadn't seen him either, but I was allowed to eat lunch. I ate, and waited some more. My parents left with Sarah. Nelson came when he got off work. I ate supper. And still we waited.

The doctor came in at 8:40 that evening. He said he wanted to keep me overnight and do a biophysical profile in the morning. If that went well, I could go home, and come back Thursday to see my regular doctor, have another ultrasound, and make a game plan depending on those results.

The biophysical profile Wednesday morning went very well. I was even showing increased fluid levels. I was discharged and went home to rest. Thursday morning's ultrasound also showed normal levels of fluid. They also did a non-stress test (more with a fetal monitor), but that was fine was well. My regular doctor laughed at me, saying that Natalie and I were just trying to cause trouble while he was on vacation.

So I am still pregnant, and Natalie seems to be doing just dandy. I go back for another "routine visit" on Tuesday, but I think I'll take Nelson with me...just in case. :-p

I am currently at 37.5 weeks. And boy, am I uncomfortable. I am having Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel a lot of pelvic pressure and soreness. It's a bit painful to walk. Or stand up. Or climb stairs. I feel the urge to "nest", but I lack the physical ability to do so. Nelson's happier with me resting anyway (I joked at one point that even though my doctor had not put me on bed rest, my husband had!). My due date is April 8, but I'm not entirely sure we'll make it that long.

I did have a baby shower at church today. :) That was fun, and I got some wonderful, practical gifts. A friend of mine is already lining people up to feed us after Natalie comes. She even has the list of my food sensitivities, and is passing them along. I think we're as ready as we can get. I would like to get the house more organized...but I'm not sure how much of that I'm going to be able to do. I am exhausted, and I hurt. Natalie may have to live with disorganization for a bit. I think we've got the essentials though. :)

Soooo...how was everyone else's week? :)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

tidbits from today

It's been a long, busy week, but I did want to document a few moments from today. Again, since this blog serves as something of a scrapbook, these are things I know I'll want to remember one day. :)

The first is from the this morning. I had just finished my shower, and I was applying Palmer's Cocoa Butter to my skin. Sarah decided that she wanted to pamper her mommy a bit. It was very sweet, having her gently rub lotion into my belly. Yes, all together now: awwww....

Later this afternoon Sarah was having an attack of "daddyitis" (she really wanted him--right then). Of course, Daddy was at work. But we talked about him. Sarah said she really loved her daddy. I agreed and said that she had a very good one. She said, "Yes, God gave him to me. He gave me you too." And she snuggled in for a hug and a kiss. Yes, more warm fuzzies!

My marvelous sister-in-law sent me these terrific cloth diapers. They are so adorable that one almost hates to use them for their intended purpose (not that I'm going to let it stop me!). Sarah oohed and aahed over them. Then she got one of her stuffed animals, a monkey, and snapped the diaper on him. Then she proclaimed he had a "stinky" diaper, and she changed it and "washed" the dirty diaper. Oh, that she would do this for real when Natalie arrives. Somehow, I'm doubting it though....

Finally, sometimes Nelson is able to instant message with us while he is at work. Sarah LOVES this. She mostly types gibberish to him, but sometimes she will ask me how to spell words and she will carefully find and type the letters I say. She is also really fond of the emoticons. During today's chat, Nelson typed "lol" at one point. Since Sarah was having me read his responses, she asked me what "lol" meant. I told her that meant Daddy was chuckling. Sarah liked this...and she immediately begin using the letters herself...at appropriate times, even!

Here is a record of their chat. Everything listed under my user name (karegrace) is actually Sarah typing. I did not type any of it, although I did tell her how to spell some words (lol not being one of them!). :)

(3:25:40 PM) karegrace: 4233576777
(3:26:20 PM) karegrace: hi
(3:32:24 PM) karegrace: daddy
(3:32:58 PM) karegrace: 2120254
(3:35:23 PM) NlsnBttrwr has gone away.
(3:35:23 PM) NlsnBttrwr has become idle.
(3:37:26 PM) NlsnBttrwr is no longer away.
(3:37:26 PM) NlsnBttrwr is no longer idle.
(3:37:47 PM) NlsnBttrwr: good job, sarah
(3:38:53 PM) karegrace: karen
(3:40:31 PM) karegrace: hggfhjhgjkhgjkhgjkfhgjkfhgkjfdhgkhgfhghfkghfdkghgkhfkg ggfjdg gghdfgh gsgh fg fhd gfhd fgdf fgfgf fff fgdfdghfdsdghfdgfdsghfdgdgfgsdfdsgfsdghfdgf fdsgfdghfffffdgfgdfff gdfgdfgdsfgdsfgdfsagdfdfgsadfsgfdgasdfgadfgdfgashfdhsad fd df dfgd sfdgsafdf dsfd dsgfd fdgsfdgs gdfsgh gddfs dgdf gdfsghdf dgfsdg dsfsgff d fg f dsgf ds gdsg fgdg hd
(3:40:34 PM) NlsnBttrwr: lol
(3:40:50 PM) NlsnBttrwr: i'll be right back
(3:41:09 PM) karegrace: lol
(3:44:26 PM) NlsnBttrwr: aback
(3:44:47 PM) karegrace: fjgdsgfg
(3:44:58 PM) karegrace: czvz
(3:45:09 PM) karegrace: zoo
(3:45:20 PM) NlsnBttrwr: zoo? you're an animal?
(3:45:41 PM) karegrace: 8-)
(3:45:58 PM) karegrace: jjfhfdhd
(3:46:16 PM) karegrace: =-O
(3:46:24 PM) karegrace: fhghjhgdhgdkhgdkj
(3:46:39 PM) karegrace: O:-)
(3:47:14 PM) karegrace: crown
(3:47:18 PM) NlsnBttrwr: lol
(3:47:28 PM) karegrace: lol
(3:47:43 PM) karegrace: :-$
(3:48:12 PM) karegrace: gdhdghsdgfs
(3:48:34 PM) karegrace: :-*4gd6
(3:48:54 PM) karegrace: hhggyyhyfgtyrrtytyrreef
(3:49:18 PM) karegrace: :-!
(3:49:46 PM) karegrace: hjttj
(3:50:35 PM) karegrace: gfggttggyeyrthjggftyhfggdgft
(3:51:10 PM) NlsnBttrwr: you're quite the prolific writer today
(3:51:27 PM) karegrace: lol
(3:51:46 PM) karegrace: :)
(3:52:24 PM) karegrace: fffggfghbv
(3:53:22 PM) karegrace: zxcvbnmasdfghjklqwertyuiop1234567890
(3:54:03 PM) karegrace: degfgrghgtgrg54444rrrrrrrrrtrygty33tyeyrtyyyr
(3:54:47 PM) karegrace: 1112122222345657890qwertyuiopasssssssssdfghjlzxcvbnm

for a quick chuckle...

I've already posted this to Facebook (it was one of those Facebook type things people do), but I'm aware that I do have a readers who aren't on Facebook (imagine!) who would probably get a kick out of reading this. So for their enjoyment, I am posting here as well. (Plus, this makes such a good scrapbook--and the following is SO scrapbook-worthy!). :)

The idea is to ask your young child questions about you and see what responses you got. So here are Sarah's answers to questions about her Mommy.

1. What is something mom always says to you:
I should obey.

2. What makes mom happy?
Making you happy is me loving my mom!

3. What makes Mom sad
Not loving my mom makes you sad.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You say I should laugh.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
That was a long time ago.

6. How old is your mom?
Hmm. Let me think. How old are you? Are you 28?

7. How tall is your mom?
Let me think. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10--you're 10 inches tall!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
To clean and pack.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Cry.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
It would be if I was around!

11. What is your mom really good at?
You're really good at typing.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
You're not very good at taking pictures. I like Daddy's pictures better.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
If you turn on a lamp, that's a job.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Your favorite food is macaroni!

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
What makes me proud is that you tell me to clean up.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A clown!

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We do activity together.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both magic.

19. How are you and your mom different
Our shoes are different.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
God tells me.

21. What does your mom like most about your Dad?
Daddy does tricks!

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Celebration Church.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

updates on our move, new house, and baby Natalie

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted, but we DID move to a new house in there! And we have been working fast and furiously on unpacking here at our new home ever since. I am hoping to have everything in its place by the time little Miss Natalie makes her appearance, but we'll see. It is sloooooow going.

I have to say, moving when one is more than 8 months pregnant is neither easy nor fun. Actually moving day itself was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Ugh. It took longer than I ever imagined, and it wore me out more than I ever dreamed possible. I know Nelson was exhausted too, since he had to take up a lot of my slack. Fortunately, we are blessed beyond measure with wonderful friends from church who helped us out that day. I have no idea what we would have done without them. A couple even went "above and beyond," and we are so very grateful.

Unpacking is rough. I still wear out easily, but I think I must be nesting because I feel compelled to keep working past the point of all reason. I've been left sore and achy and needing to prop up my swollen feet more times than I care to think about. We're making progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I confess, I am not good about pacing myself--I just want to get it done!

The house itself is wonderful though. We love it. The location is beautiful. We have a fantastic view of the sunset from the deck (or our master bedroom!). We may even see some deer from time to time, our landlords tell us. It is private and feels isolated, but we are close to all the city conveniences. We are also very close to a local park that has a playground, swimming pool, and bike trail. Sarah loves that! Sarah is also excited over having a yard, a hill, trees, and birds. The layout of the house inside is great as well. We don't technically have more space than we did previously, but it seems bigger because there is more usable space. And we have a ton of closets! :)

I have been promising Tara pictures (I haven't forgotten!), but I really do want to get things more organized before I start photographing! (Plus, although I have unpacked the camera, I have yet to come across the cable that enables me to upload photos to the computer). I may start with some scenery shots though. :)

Tomorrow I will begin my 36th week of pregnancy. Yes, I am entering the ninth month! It's almost time for Miss Natalie to make her appearance. I start visiting the doctor every week now. At today's visit, they performed an ultrasound. Natalie is currently measuring at about 6 pounds (which is funny to me, because that's how big Sarah was at birth. Natalie's currently in the 42nd percentile--something we've never seen with Sarah, who's always been 5th or 10th!). Everything looks good, and Natalie appears to be healthy and thriving. It may be an adjustment though, having a bigger baby this time around! :)