Less Than 24 Hours

Jack took some pictures of my belly this morning.  I guess it is evidence of how much bigger I got this time than with any of the other kids.  (At least it feels that way!)  I looked at these pictures and thought I looked bigger than I realized I did.  It makes me wonder about those people at church today telling me how small I looked and how they didn't think I looked big enough to be having a baby tomorrow...

The Moment of Truth

When I went in for my 25 week appointment when I was expecting Joseph, I was anticipating it would go like every other appointment.  Just go in for an ultrasound to make sure baby is growing and there is plenty of fluid, and then see the doctor for a few minutes before going home.  Unfortunately, it didn't quite go as planned.  I went in to the ultrasound and mentioned that I had been having a lot of contractions, which the doc explained away as Braxton Hicks.  So the ultrasound tech checked my cervix and found that I was nearly completely effaced.  Not good at 25 weeks gestation!  And thus ensued 10 weeks of bed rest and medication.

This pregnancy I have been plagued with worries of repeating this fate.  I actually started having contractions 5 weeks earlier this time than last, so for a while I felt resigned to my fate.  But I have felt my faith renewed, and feel that the Lord really is aware of me and watching over me.  I feel strengthened to deal with the challenges that come.  I know that I will be fine, one way or the other.

This week I had my 25 week appointment.  When the doctor checked my cervix, there are no changes yet. What a huge relief!!!  She was a little concerned about the size of the baby because I didn't gain any weight since my last appointment, so she did all the measurements to size the baby.  The baby is measuring right on 25 weeks and weighing 1 lb 11 oz-- the 33rd percentile for weight at this gestation!

I feel so blessed at this time.  I am so grateful that things are going well and that my efforts to take it easy are paying off.  We still have the next appointment in a couple weeks, but every week I avoid bed rest from here on out is one less than I spent there last time!

Finally!!!

At our last ultrasound, the doctor couldn't tell what sex the baby was due to the position.  Luckily today the baby was cooperating with us, and we were able to find out that we are having a girl!!!  We are very excited, although Jack thought 4 to 2 were rather overwhelming odds.  The girls were hoping for another sister, so they are very excited.  Joseph doesn't really understand what's going on, so he seemed fine with the announcement.

Everything else on the ultrasound looked good, as well.  We are so grateful for how well things are going!

No News and Good News

Last week I had an ultrasound.  I have a lot of those during my pregnancies.  People often tell me I'm so lucky that I get to see the baby so many times, but for me, this isn't exciting.  It's stressful.  These aren't simply exciting times to see if the baby waves at you, or to find out what we're having.  It's a time where the doctors are checking for problems.  So I have to imagine all the problems they might find so I will be prepared for it.  I know.  Crazy.  I try not to do this, sometimes more successfully than others.

So this last week I had an ultrasound with a perinatologist.  This ultrasound was pretty similar to one with a regular doctor, except he seemed to look at the heart and placenta a lot more than ordinary.  These all looked great.  But this being the 20 week ultrasound, we also asked him to look at the gender of the baby.  And out of all the ultrasounds I have had, this is the first time that the baby was in such a position that they couldn't tell what the baby was.  A little frustrating since we don't start discussing names until we know what we're having.  (Cuts your work down by half, you know...)  But luckily we already have another ultrasound scheduled for July 14th, so we will get another shot at finding out then.

Since I have been having so many contractions, I was very interested in what was going on with my cervix.  We were very relieved to find out that so far there are no changes in my cervix.  Of course, this doesn't mean we are out of the woods, just that I have more time that I can lead an unmedicated, semi-active life.

And I'm glad that I get another ultrasound to take a look at this shy baby!

A New Life

We are planning and preparing for a new life to enter our family this fall. My official due date is November 7, 2010. But really, I am planning for a mid-October baby. We are expecting some ups and downs along the way, but are excited to welcome a new little one into our family!