Week 37 and Baby Poll

Holy Moly!  We are almost to the end of this pregnancy...here is what I'm looking like these days.

When people ask how I'm getting along, my typical response is that I'm "hanging in there."  I don't feel bad, but I don't feel great.  The baby has really slowed down on its movement in the last week, and I have slowed down as well!  I am having contractions here and there, and I'm having quite a bit of back pain.  I'm also experiencing pain/pressure in my upper inner thighs (sorry if that's too much info), but I don't remember this same pain/pressure with the other pregnancies.  I started feeling this particular pain while at the Kentucky Fair, but then it went away after 2-3 days.  Then, other day my foot slipped out from under me when I stepped on the garage floor with a somewhat wet shoe.  I didn't do the splits, but it was the start of them.  I was able to catch myself, but it definitely flared up this pain again.

Last week, at my check-up, I saw the Nurse Practitioner, Ashley, because Dr. Alvey was on vacation.  Ashley did the Strep Group B test (and I found out today that it came back negative).  She also checked my progress, and said that my cervix was beginning to soften, but she would not call it dilated to a 1.  She also made no mention of effacement.  

Today, I had my weekly check up with Dr. Alvey.  She checked me and said that I was dilated to a 1 or 1.5, and that I was 60% effaced.  She also brought up the topic of induction, and how I felt about it.  I said that we (Doug and I) have no objections to being induced...seeing as the first 3 all came that way!  Dr. Alvey did say that she can't induce labor before 39 weeks, so we still have 2 weeks before we can consider that route.

Lastly, while Dr. Alvey was checking the heartbeat of the baby, it was rather fast.  It was up around and above 180 beats/min.  Typically the baby's heart rate has been around 150.  Dr. Alvey listened for a bit longer, and it didn't really slow down.  She ordered for me to have a non-stress test where I was hooked up to a monitor for about 20 minutes to record the heart rate and movement.  During that time, the baby's heart rate had returned to normal.  The monitor even showed I had a contraction during the test! 

I did feel like I was on Jeopardy, because I had this cool little button to push each time I felt the baby move.

Alright...So, enough of that...

I did dig out a particular shirt this morning for my 37 week picture!  I had to wear it to give you all a good comparison of each pregnancy.

With that...I'm going to open up the Baby Poll!

Here's how you play...

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Number 4 will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Number 4's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Number 4's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Number 4 is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous.

If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Here are some helpful tips when thinking of your guesses. My due date is Oct. 7, and this has changed.  I originally thought I was due at the end of October.  With Julianne, my due date was Dec. 5, and did not changed during the pregnancy.  She was born on Dec. 6th - by induction.  Julianne weighed 7 lb 12 oz and was 21 in long.  With Reba, my due date was Nov. 19th and did not changed during the pregnancy. She was born on Nov. 17th - by induction.  Reba weighed 7 lb 4 oz and was 20 in long.  With Dallas my due date was originally March 24th, then it was moved to March 4th. Dallas arrived March 11th - by induction. Dallas weighed 8 lb 8 oz and was 21.5 in long.

Until next time...

Baby Poll

Today marks the start of week 36 in this pregnancy...meaning we are only 4 weeks from Baby B#3's due date!  With that being said...it is time to start submitting your guesses for the Baby Poll!  I really enjoyed doing this while pregnant with Dallas (Buckwheat) and Reba (Gertie), and I hope you all will join in on the fun once again.

Here's what you do...

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Baby B#3 will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Baby B's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Baby B's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Baby B is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous.

If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Here are some helpful tips when thinking of your guesses. My due date is Dec. 5, and has not changed with this pregnancy.  With Reba, my due date was Nov. 19th and did not changed during the pregnancy. She was born on Nov. 17th - by induction.  Reba weighed 7 lb 4 oz and was 20 in long.  With Dallas my due date was originally March 24th, then it was moved to March 4th. Dallas arrived March 11th - by induction. Dallas weighed 8 lb 8 oz and was 21.5 in long.

I am off to this week's prenatal check-up later this morning, so I will update (hopefully) with the current baby bump photo this afternoon.

Until next time...guess away!

Baby Poll Winners and Reba's Birth Story

I will first start with the "winners" of the baby poll...that way, you can stop reading if you have no interest in the details of Reba's birth.

Winners of Date of Arrival: (they all guessed the 17th)
GG (Great-Granny)
Aunt Katie
Christine Manges
Aunt Carol Shaw

Winner of Weight:
Molly Smiley ~ she guessed 7 lb 5 oz (Reba was 7 lb 4 oz)

Winners of Length: (they both guessed 20 inches)
Aunt Lisa
Jennifer Foxx

Winners of Sex:
Jennifer Foxx
Aunt Katie
Christine Manges
Stacia Luh
Aunt Josie
Molly Smiley

Thanks again to all who played!

Now for Reba's birth story...

First, I will back up to the 6th of November. At that appointment with Dr. Smollen, I had began dilating some. Dr. Smollen said that if I made progress by the next Wednesday, she would be able to induce me on Friday the 13th. When I went for my appointment on the 11th, I was still only dilated at 1. She suggested I move my next appointment from the 18th to the 16th because she would be at the hospital on the 17th...if I made progress by the 16th - she would be able to induce me on the 17th!

Doug and I had already decided that if given the chance to be induced early, we would take it giving us the better chance of making it to Indiana for Thanksgiving. When I went to my appointment on the 16th, I had in fact made progress and Dr. Smollen gave us the go for induction.

We arrived at the hospital at 8 am on Tuesday, November 17th. After getting signed in and changed, Dr. Smollen came in to strip my membranes and to break my water. I was dilated to a 3 at that point and about 80% effaced. Contractions started right away! They were about 5 minutes apart, and pretty bearable. By 11:30 a.m. Dr. Smollen wanted the contractions to be closer together, so they started me on a small amount of Pitocin. The contractions slowly got to 2-3 minutes apart.

Dr. Smollen checked me at 4 p.m., and I was dilated to a 4 and 100% effaced and baby had moved down the birth canal greatly. I decided at that point to get some Nubain to help with the contractions. I was then able to sleep for about an hour. When I woke at a little after 5 p.m., I decided I wanted an epidural. The anesthesiologist got to the room around 5:30, and the epidural was in place around 6 p.m. As soon as Dr. Thomas (the drug lady) left the room, my contractions got dramatically stronger and longer! I was like, "I thought the epidural was to take care of this!" The nurses said it would take about 20 minutes to take full effect.

Doug helped me breathe through those 20 minutes, but the pain was still very intense. I then had Doug get the nurse again, and she called Dr. Thomas back. It took 20 minutes before Dr. Thomas got back to the room. Thankfully, Doug was still there helping me breathe through those contractions. She asked the nurse if I had been checked recently. The nurse said no, and proceded to check me. It was 6:45 p.m. and I was dilated to a 9! Dr. Smollen came in at 7 p.m., and I was dilated to a 10 and ready to push. Dr. Smollen left to scrub, dress, and call in the other nurses. We had to have extra on hand since I was delivering vaginally after a previous c-section.

I was able to start pushing about 7:05 p.m., and Reba was born at 7:19 p.m.! I did tear some during the birth and therefore have a few stitches, but all in all things went very smoothly and I have recovered very well.

Hopefully, I haven't turned away too many readers with my story.

Until next time...

Baby Poll!

Can you believe it? Gertie's due date is only 3 weeks away! S/he will be here before we know it. Once again, I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and support through this pregnancy. I feel so blessed in all that I have. Since we are getting close to the arrival, I thought I would start the baby poll.

Here is how you play:

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Gertie will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Gertie's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Gertie's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Gertie is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous.

If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Here are some helpful tips when thinking of your guesses. My due date is Nov. 19th - this has not changed during the pregnancy. With Dallas my due date was originally March 24th, then it was moved to March 4th. Dallas arrived March 11th - by induction. Dallas weighed 8 lb 8 oz and was 21.5 in long.

Hope you enjoy this! I will be excited to see your guesses!

Until next time...

Week 33

Warning: My hair and make-up lady were on vacation today.

How I am feeling: Pregnancy wise, I'm still doing good. My leg cramps in the middle of the night have not been happening near as much, and I'm only having to get up once to go to the bathroom. In general health, I'm not 100%. I have had a scratchy throat and cough for over a week now. At my OB appointment on Monday, Dr. Smollen did a strep test, but it came back negative. I have an appointment tomorrow with my family doctor to see if there is something else going on. I do not have a fever, nor do I have aches...just the cough and sore throat. It has not gotten worse, but it has not gotten better. Thankfully, neither Doug nor Dallas has picked it up!

As far as Gertie news, s/he is still very active - especially at night...s/he has been waking me up in the middle of the night with kicks and rolls and what not! Doug and I are still undecided on names. I guess when we hear the perfect one, we will just know!

I will be starting the "baby poll" in the near future. So, start thinking about weight, length, date, and gender!

Until next time...

Bump Picture and Baby Poll

It's time for another baby update. Buckwheat is still growing and moving all the time. I think s/he gets that from Dad! Anywho...we go back to the doctor tomorrow for our weekly appointment. Doug is hoping that there has been tons of progress and that Dr. Smollen will say "any day!" Until then...here are a few pictures Doug took today...

38 weeks and 5 days

Fred loves to get in pictures!

In addition, since we are getting so close to the due date...I'm going to give you a few more days to submit your guesses for Buckwheat's game. You can find the post by simply clicking here. I'm going to make the cut-off for guesses Tuesday, February 26th, mid-night.

Until next time...

Baby Shower

I got a nice surprise today...a baby shower from our friends at work! Doug called me this morning saying that a bunch were going to lunch at the Golf Course, and he wanted to know if I would like to go. Of course, I said yes! I really haven't been out of the house here lately. (We finished up the inventory work last Friday, and I haven't been back since there isn't that much for me to do...plus, I've been getting tired more quickly lately.)

Anywho...Doug came and picked me up a little before noon. Ours roads are still a mess and neither of us like to drive the car when they are like this. When we got to the Golf Course, everyone from the Pre-Foundation department was there! Plus, there were balloons, gifts and cake! I was very surprised to say the least. I told Doug I was glad he called and gave me time to get ready...I would have been upset if he had only given me a 15 minute heads-up!

We had lunch, opened some gifts, and ended with some cake. It was great. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the cake, but no one thought to bring a camera. It was decorated with little plastic rattlers, pacifiers, bottles and baby shoes and had "Welcome Buckwheat" wrote in the middle.

Here are a few pictures I took when I got home. Enjoy!

Until next time...

P.S. Don't forget to submit your guesses for Buckwheat's arrival...just scroll down a few posts and you will find instructions there!

Officially Two More Weeks!

Can you believe it? Buckwheat's due date is only 2 weeks away! S/he will be here before we know it. And, believe you me, Doug was ready last week. He is so excited (as so am I) to meet our little one. I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and support through this pregnancy. I feel so blessed in all that I have.

Since we are getting close to the arrival, I thought I would post a "game" - if you will - for Buckwheat. I am taking the idea from Missy's sister-in-law's blog page. Michelle did this for the arrival of their newest daughter, and I thought it was a lot of fun to see everyone's guesses. Here is how you play:

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Buckwheat will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Buckwheat's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Buckwheat's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Buckwheat is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous. If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Hope you enjoy this! I know we will be excited to see your guesses!

Until next time...