36 weeks- 9 months pregnant!!

How far along: 36 weeks!! 9 months pregnant!! The most pregnant I've ever been by a few days!

Obviously my most attractive look. 

My besties who planned the cutest shower! 

Sleep: Not good, haha, but I've come to terms with it. Every time I roll over I have to get up to use the bathroom...which is a lot of times. Sooo im just trying to keep the mindset that my body is preparing me for a newborn again. And I usually get to rest during the day when Tucker naps, so that helps.

Movement: This baby has always been such an active little guy. It's going to be so weird when I don't have him constantly moving in my tummy anymore!

Food cravings: I really have just been loving milk.

Aversions: Not really!

Queasy/Sick: My congestion came back along with a cough. As soon as I'm not pregnant, I'm sure that will ease up. Tuck woke up a little sick yesterday so I'm hoping he will feel better by the time we bring the baby home!  

Other Symptoms: Heartburn has been better since I stopped eating things that made it bad. My back absolutely kills! I carry my stress in my shoulders and back and so I've been having Taylor press really hard on the sore spots and he says he can feel big knots. I have been using an ice pack and that helps a little.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: Some contractions but hopefully nothing “real” for at least a week!

Belly button - in or out? Flat and the top pokes out!

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably. Being comfortable, period.

What I am looking forward to: Leap Day! ;)

Milestones: 9 months pregnant and made it to my baby shower!

So today I had my regular Monday NST appointment and met with my OB afterwards. The NST went great and the fluid looks great- all positive things!

My vitals were also really good, my blood pressure looked great and weight is great too.

The doctor came in and reaffirmed what the perinatologist and OB had said the previous week with wanting to induce me at 37 weeks. SO the hospital will be calling us Sunday evening and telling when to come in Monday morning! The doctor said if they haven't called me by 8 Monday morning to just give them a call. Buttttt I know that if they haven't called I won't be waiting that long haha. So hopefully there aren't any crazy mommas who try and put themselves into labor for leap day! Otherwise, they might actually be busy and forget to call. I hope and pray they don't! But when they call, the doctor said they most likely will ask us to come in around 6 or so in the morning- early! I am totally fine with that. So if everything goes smoothly, we could have a baby in the early afternoon! And when they checked me today I was 3 cm dilated and almost 80% effaced, so that means things could go very quickly!

We have a list of things we want to get done and I'm hoping I don't go into labor before Monday because I really want to get them accomplished!

So excited for our Leap Day Baby!!!

Also. I finally got to have a baby shower! I feel like a real mother! ;)

My friends Tessa and Hillary and Laura helped with everything and they are amazinggg. You should hire them to plan any party you need. Everyone raved about how cute it was and I really feel lucky to have such loving friends who would spend so much time planning something for me and this sweet babe.

The theme was black, white and gold and “where the wild things are” inspired. There were tons of cute balloons, gold crowns, real oak wood rounds from Tessa’s grandpa's property in California, a cute cake that looked like a tree made by Hillary, delicious waffles made by my mother in law, yummy toppings made by my sister and mom, and fun games!

I was soooo spoiled and can't believe all the kindness that was shown to us! Actually, I can, because I have some pretty amazing people in my life. There are some darling pictures- some taken by Hillary and some by Tessa that I will post when I figure out how to download them and get my computer to work.

Thank you so much to anyone and everyone who has helped us out the last 9 months- time has flown and I can't believe our baby will be here in 7 days or less! 

35 weeks!

How far along: 35 weeks! Tucker was born this same week!

A silhouette picture is required when you haven't washed your hair recently enough. Haha. That belly is all baby! I swear the top is a built in shelf, too. Taylor and I are always talking about how crazy it is that there is a baby in there. 

Sleep: Not good but not terrible! I have to have about 5 pillows supporting this large pregnant body of mine plus I am always hot so I lay there with no covers. And then add in the 5-6 (one night 10!) times to pee and it makes for an adventure. But luckily I get to sleep until Tucker wakes up, which is usually around 8:30 or so, sometimes later.

Movement: I am really thankful he is such an active baby. It puts my worries at ease for the most part. I love watching my belly move the most probably. And seeing Taylors reaction to it contorting and stretching.  

Food cravings: Milk, I love all the milk. And we got some of those yummy sugar cookies for valentines and they are sooo yummy.   

Aversions: Nope!

Queasy/Sick: I am over being sick for the most part but I still have the congestion. Just pregnancy congestion, I'm sure.  

Other Symptoms: Heartburn has gotten better but mostly because I cut things out of my diet that were causing it. I get a really swollen ankle (yes, just one) when I'm on my feet too long. Taylor makes me put my feet up as much as I can. And the last few days I've been getting some lower back pain and cramping but luckily it isn't constant or even consistent.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: A few, but hopefully he will hold out!

Belly button - in or out? The top pokes out and the rest is flat.

What I miss: Sleeping all the way through the night.  
What I am looking forward to: Baby shower this weekend! Baby boy coming very soon!

Milestones: We are at the week when I had Tucker! If I make it past Thursday, it will be the longest I've ever been pregnant!

I took out a few questions and thought I'd just give a general update here.

Over the past week I've been nervous about my insulin levels decreasing. So at my appointment today, I made sure to cover everything I have been worried about.

My NST went great as usual. Baby boy was moving nonstop and his heart rate was responding perfectly.

I met with the doctor and explained how I had been to the hospital already for them to stop labor and they had to give me a steroid shot. Ever since that time, my insulin needs have lower than what I think they should be and what they have been. What he explained to me is this- there is a possibility that the placenta is sending out so many hormones and my pancreas could even be making some insulin and so this steroid shot actually caused a spike in insulin production which has been giving me more lows. He also said it is common towards the end of pregnancy for woman to use less insulin and that I might just have a new normal for the next couple weeks.

The risk involved is the breaking down of the placenta, or its calcification, which can lead to stillbirth. This is not something that they are worried about right now.

He said they wouldn't just induce me right now because of a slight decrease in insulin usage. The risks of that are greater now. And with the NST, which is the best predictor of how he is actually doing, they know that he is thriving at this point. And we don't want a baby in the NICU if we can avoid it!

So this is the plan- the perinatologist told me she wanted me to be induced in the 37th week. I told this to the doctor I saw today and he said he agreed completely with that. So when I have my first NST of the week next Monday, they will go ahead and schedule my induction for the following Monday, the 29th! And he said because I am high risk with my diabetes that I would get first priority that day and I would get to go in first thing in the morning to have our baby! How crazy exciting is that!? So assuming labor goes quickly like it did with Tucker, we will be having a baby on leap day! It's pretty funny actually, because Taylor has been saying from day 1 that he thinks this baby is going to be a “leap baby” and hopefully he is right!

So now that we have an actual date, we are getting things ready and crossing things off our list every day!

This week, on Friday to be exact, I will be the most pregnant I've ever been! So this is uncharted territory for me, but I am feeling pretty good (all miserable pregnant things aside) that I am going to make it to the 29th. Please please pray this baby and my body let's me stay pregnant that long. This gives us the best possible chance of him being healthy and getting to come home with us!

WE WILL HAVE A NEW BABY IN TWO WEEKS! 

We are so beyond excited! Let the countdown begin! 

34 weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks! 

A true depiction of how I feel most of the time. Haha. 

Maternity clothes: Oh yes. I finally got larger garments as well, so now my belly isn't poking out.

Stretch marks: No new ones.   

Sleep: Really rough this past week. I finally went to instacare and they said I have an upper respiratory/sinus infection so I've been taking lots of drugs and I'm finally starting to feel a little better. But I pulled or strained a muscle in my back from coughing and so sleeping on my right side kills. But sleeping only on one side is hard, too. Nights are long. Ha.

Best moment this week: It was an extremely eventful week to say theeast, but I think what really touched me is how much people have reached out and served us. It's so comforting and humbling to know that we are cared about so much.

I also got to see my girlfriends this week. They all came over to my house and we had pizza and cake and I got to say goodbye to one of my best friends, Andi, who is leaving on her mission next week!

Worst moment this week: Being sick still sucks. But this week our baby got a little antsy and we thought he might be joining us! Tuesday I was pretty miserable so I just rested as much as possible after I went to instacare and got my drugs. Taylor took Tucker with him to the scouting activity so I could have a shower/bath and relax. While I was having a hot bath I noticed my Braxton Hicks were pretty regular and getting pretty uncomfortable. I got out and got dressed and decided to lay down and relax and time them. I watched a show and timed them for about an hour and a half until Taylor got home. They were coming every 2-2.5 minutes for about a minute at a time and the pressure I was feeling was crazy. I let him know what was going on and we decided to wait if out a while longer and time them. We bathed and put Tucker to bed and talked to some family and they still were coming and I just didn't feel comfortable not going in. We called my mom and she came over, since we had just put Tuck to sleep. We left for the hospital and got there around midnight. They checked us in and we got registered. They ran some labs, got an IV started, took some blood and checked to see how dilated I was. I was at a 2 and 60% effaced- at only 33 weeks! They also ran a test called a “fetal fibronectin” test. It was pretty stinking uncomfortable to say the least, but the results came back negative which was good and meant that I wasn't at risk for preterm labor within the next week to two weeks. But contractions were coming! They gave me some pills that were supposed to help stop contractions. That didn't work so they went to the next method- three rounds of a shot in the arm. They are given about 15 minutes apart and they make you feel like you just ran a mile- racing heart and shaking hands and arms. I didn't like that feeling at all. They have me some fentanyl for the pain and that made me super dizzy and nauseous- I just don't tolerate pain meds well! So then they gave me some zofran. So many drugs!! The shots ended up slowing labor eventually, thank goodness. They had given me a steroid shot close after I got there as well. This was in case he decided to come early, it would help boost the development of his lungs a bit.

Steroids have sugar in them and so naturally, it made my blood sugar spike. They ended up keeping me till the following afternoon even though contractions stopped at 6 in the morning. They were worried about how high my blood sugar got and I kept reassuring them I had been on steroids before and knew that it would take a little time to come down and that I would be fine to handle it at home...but noooooo. Anyways, it was frustrating to say the least. Especially because I hadn't slept in over 30 hours and was absolutleu exhausted at this point.

They sent me home on modified bedrest and I've been doing my best to relax as much as possible. So many people have helped us out since this incident and I just get really overwhelmed by all the love I feel! Being pregnant and suffering from lack of sleep has definitely made me more weepy this week ;)

Movement: So much all the time! He pushes so hard on my left side under my ribs that I am constantly numb and tingly. Chill out, baby!

Food cravings: Milk. Bread. Peanut butter.  

Aversions: Not really.    

Queasy/Sick: I feel like I am almost done being sick with this crud- hopefully!

Other Symptoms: Heartburn from you-know-where. (When my girlfriends came over they brought the giant chocolate Costco cake (yeah, that crazy delicious one) and I only had half my piece and I was up ALL NIGHT with tear-jerking Heartburn. So sad! So I steer clear of chocolate and any other spicy thing that might give me Heartburn. Not worth the pain at this point.) Swollen ankles. (They aren't too bad but I've been having to remember to keep my feet elevated as much as possible and drink a ton of water.)

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: Yes but hopefully he chills out and stays a while longer.

Belly button - in or out? Pretty much flat!

What I miss: Sleeping all the way through the night.  
What I am looking forward to: Baby shower! Baby boy coming!

Milestones: One week off from when his brother was born!

Today I had my last growth ultrasound and everything went really well. I was super nervous going in about what would happen and what they might say but my perinatologist was so happy and positive with where I'm at.

Baby boy is measuring 7 pounds at this point, which yes, seems big, but isn't a cause for concern for them. It is still on the normal scale! His head and his belly are measuring proportionate to one another so it is not something I “caused”...he is just a big boy! All of his organs and whatnot look perfectly normal as well. And she said she was able to see that he had hair! How cool!?

Ever since I got home from the hospital, my insulin needs haven't been normal or what they should be at this point- especially after having a steroid injection. I had a conversation with my endocrinologist this weekend and we changed a few rates and things because i kept getting lower-than-normal readings. This is something that worried me because it is a sign of placenta breakdown, something that also happened with Tuck. So I mentioned this to her. She isn't very worried now, since I am still giving insulin. We decided that I would keep a close eye on my numbers and if it continues to be the same as it currently is, we are just going to plan for induction in the 37th week- three weeks from now!! Holy cow. But, if my numbers happen to get lower or worse, then I would obviously go in sooner to be induced. It is definitely not something to mess around with.

She really calmed me and reassured me that I can do this and I can make it long enough to have this baby and for him to be healthy. I feel pretty confident that I will be able to deliver vaginally as long as my body cooperates, of course. I talked about last week how they worry about the shoulders getting stuck and the risks involved. But after discussing this with the doctor, she reassured me that there are ways to know that something would go wrong before it happens. So the plan is to induce for a natural delivery and as long as my body is progressing and dilating then I think this baby will be just fine!

This is such a long post, but I know some people will want to know what's going on, and this is the easiest way for me to remember what's going on as well.

We so appreciate everyone who has called, texted and sent messages of encouragement this week. We have had angels make us dinner, watch our sweet Tucker and pray for us- it truly means more than I can say! I have been so overwhelmed and happy with this little life we have and the kind people we know and I cannot wait to meet this new sweet soul in just a few short weeks! He is so loved already. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers if you can! 

33 weeks!

How far along: 33 weeks! Tucker came two weeks from now!

Maternity clothes: That or my “mom uniform” aka sweatpants. ;) haha.   

Stretch marks: No new ones.   

Sleep: Getting worse but that is to be expected. Maybe somehow I'll get over this sickness before baby boy comes and I'll actually get some restful sleep.

Best moment this week: Hmm. It was a long, hard week. It was nice to know our baby is healthy at the appointments I've been having. And we had some fun play dates and things like that!

Worst moment this week: I have been having a hard time getting over this sickness I've been having. This past week was particularly awful. I asked my OB to write me some prescription and if he doesn't then I'll get my endocrinologist to do it. I forgot what it's like to be healthy!  

Movement: Supposedly he is running out of room and I should be feeling him move less but that isn't quite the case yet. He is an active little (big) guy!

Food cravings: Silk chocolate milk. Peanut butter. Bread. Sour stuff.

Aversions: Not really.    

Queasy/Sick: Just perpetually sick with something!

Other Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom (especially at night). Heartburn. Dry skin. Itchy belly.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: Having some Braxton Hicks.

Belly button - in or out? Top is out!

What I miss: Being healthy!

What I am looking forward to: My next growth scan next Monday! Baby shower! Baby boy coming!

Milestones: Baby is supposedly unlikely to move positions at this point. He is huge so I'm sure that would be hard for him!

NST this week and all last week went well. And my doctor visit went well and was reassuring too. The doctor I saw today helped put my fears at ease about what's to come and the unknowns. At this point, by fundal height measurment, I am quite a bit ahead. But I am also convinced the baby is spread eagle in there and is always stretching out. So, this way of measuring isn't always 100% accurate but pretty darn close most of the time. So regardless of that, baby boy is big. My amniotic fluid level is normal (on the higher end but still normal).

I have a growth scan next Monday, so this will give us a better idea of what the next few weeks will bring. We don't want to induce before 37 because that leaves more risk for baby. But if we get to around 36-38 weeks and baby boy is reallllly big, we will discuss inducing and a scheduled C-section between 38-39 weeks.

If he is big but it is still a feasible option to deliver vaginally, at that point it would be “rolling the dice” as he put it. My body has been proved to deliver up to an 8 pound baby. But at a later point I'm gestation, this baby will probably have put more weight on in his shoulders (very common in diabetic mama’s babies) so the risk of pushing is the baby getting shoulder dystocia. The risks, although rare, can be life-altering. So if it came down to it, I definitely would choose our baby being safe and healthy than trying to push him out- as much as I want to do that. I would rather have a scheduled C-section than an emergency one.

I'm headed into uncharted territory with this baby, and soon I'll be more pregnant than I've ever been. I'm seriously getting uncomfortable (mostly sitting and  walking, ha!) but I love feeling him move and knowing he is safe and healthy. I can't believe the time for him to come is already so close! We still have a few things to check off our list before he is allowed to come- baby shower, finishing his room, packing a bag, deep cleaning the house and having a little getaway for a day. So he better stay in till we do all that!

And a lot of people have asked and no, we do not have a name yet! We have chosen four or five we like but decided we will wait until we meet him to pick. Here's hoping we have a better idea by that point!

We appreciate everyone’s love and concern for me and this baby and our whole family throughout this entire pregnancy. He is already so loved and we can't wait to meet him!