37w4d Appointment - I'm getting sick of this place

Back to the Lank today for my 37w NST, Part Deux.  Aidan did well although it was a rocky start and he needed about 45 minutes instead of the usual 20.  But ultimately he rocked out around 150 most of the time and got the accelerations they required.  The Peri's nurse was excited for me when she pointed out the contractions it recorded.  I told her I'd be excited when there was a baby exiting this here place.  Until then, you can keep your useless contractions, TYVM.

I just about passed out (sleeping) during the test.  I may have to take Dr. B up on his offer of Ambien if I don't start getting more than 2 hours of sleep at night.  He also suggested wine and benadryl (though not necessarily together).  I have none of these things in my house today, but I'm hoping to be able to get some sleep anyway.  I don't know what the issue is.

Whatever will I do with myself - two whole days without having to drive to Lankenau.  Nothing on the books until Monday's NST and ultrasound.  I'll have to find some other entertainment.

37w3d Appointment - Fun with Anesthesia!

Today's trek to Lankenau was all kinds of fun with anesthesia.  Traffic was inexplicably insane today, soso it took a really, really long time to get there.  When I finally arrived and got myself to Outpatient Testing, I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork that didn't seem to apply to me in the slightest.  Clearly this stuff is meant for people having planned surgeries.  Which I'm not. 

Eventually, I filled things out enough to be allowed to speak to the doctor.  The man is old and insane, and I desperately hope that anyone but him does my epidural.  He seemed entirely unable to finish a sentence without forgetting what he was saying.  Mildly terrifying, not going to lie.

The consensus is that I **should** be able to get the epi, it just may take a few tries to get a placement.  Yay.  I also need to bring my films to the hospital so that the anesthesiologist on call can take a look.

Keep those fingers crossed for me.  I have no interest in a drug-free birth.

37w2d Appointments

We had this week's NST this afternoon, and Aidan looked fabulous as usual.  Tom got to see him on the ultrasound for the first time since 24w.  He really was mesmerized by that little heartbeat.

After the NST, it was time for my regular weekly funfest at the doctor's office.  My blood pressure is under really good control with the bedrest and the meds.  I lost another 3lbs this week (lost 1lb last week), bringing my total gain down to 26lbs.  I'll go ahead and chalk it up to all that throwing up I did this morning.  Which Dr. B says could be my body "trying to go into labor."  Try harder, body.

I am GBS negative, so yay, at least something went right.  Dr. B declared me 2cm/80%/-2 and seems ever so positive that Aidan will show up early.  I wish I shared that optimism.  I don't though.  It sort of bothers me actually, because if I didn't know all these girls online, I'd assume from what he told me that I'd be having this baby any second now.  He even semi-jokingly told me to "hold out" until new years day, because he's on call then and he knows how badly I want him delivering Aidan.  And when I hopped off the table and said I'd see him next Wednesday, he responded "oh, I think I'll hear from you before then..."  Don't get my hopes up, old man.  It's just not fair.

I am a little confused on this next part.  The NST went well and my BP is under good control with the meds.  So Dr. B has decided I now have to have two NST's per week instead of one.  Sigh.  Fine.  Apparently this is the price I pay for being written out of work.  Though driving an hour each way to the hospital three times a week until I deliver can't actually be anyone's idea of "bedrest" - can it?

So my next week looks like this:
Tomorrow: have to be at Lankenau at noon for my appointment with the anesthesiologist
Friday: have to be at Lankenau by 11am for a NST and ultrasound
Monday: have to be at Lankenau by 11:15 for a NST and ultrasound
Wednesday: have to be at Lankenau by 10:30 for an internal with Dr. B
Thursday: have to be at Lankenau by 11am for a NST and ultrasound

I haven't tinkered with the following week's schedule yet.  I can't think that far into the future.  My head hurts.  But it will probably be a similar Mon/Wed/Thurs setup.  And at the end of all that, if Aidan hasn't shown his little face, I guess I'll get an induction date (please, no)

Christmas Jammies!

People are having babies...

Like, real people!  My labor buddy Missie is in the hospital, in labor, right now.  Makes all of this feel so... imminent.  At the same time, I am **so positive** he'll be late that I've already scheduled my "overdue" doctor's appointment.  With my blood pressure all wonky, I don't know how overdue they'd really let him go.  Probably worth asking.

Best of luck to Missie and Mike!

EDIT: Welcome to the world, Carina Shannyn Giuliano!  Born at 8:27am on 12/28/2010 - 6lb 14oz and 19 inches long.

CONGRATS, GIULIANOS!

Obscene toys I buy my son...

Please tell me this thing doesn't look like it's wearing a nipple.  A nipple from the movie Avatar.  You can't.  Because it does.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, with all kinds of love and whatnot.  Because nothing says "Love" like tortured animals.  See above.

This is officially our last Christmas without our little boy.  I can't believe how much change this year has brought, and how all of it will be blown away by the change next year brings.

It's also our first married Christmas - so we've been trying to decide what our "Christmas Traditions" will be.  This year, we both got to open our new Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve so we could wear them on Christmas morning when we plow into the presents.  Daddy got some plaid fleece pants and a warm fuzzy robe.  Mommy got pink fleece button down jammies with peppermint candies all over them.  Daddy won't allow pajama photography, but Mommy will get a picture taken and add it to the scrapbook.

In other news, I am done with work until Aidan comes.  Dr. Belden has me out on bedrest, as I suspected he would, until I deliver.  The way things work with Short Term Disability, I will still be able to get six weeks of leave after Aidan is born - plus there's room for another couple of weeks unpaid if needed.  I'm really relieved to have things squared away - although I'll be MORE relieved when the doctor's office follows through with sending over the documentation.

Music to my Ears

Belden's nurse called to give me the exciting results of my 24h pee jug.  I missed the call, but she left a message, telling me that my protein levels were "less than 300" so I don't have gestational hypertension. 

Um, okay.  So this is good news, right?  So now I can stop taking these pills twice a day, I can get off bedrest, I can go back to work, and life is good.  Right?  Right?? 

I decide the only reasonable course of action is to call back and clarify.  Nobody seemed to remember calling me.  I finally find someone who remembers making the call (Thank you, Nurse Candy) and ask her what's up.  Oops, she misspoke.  I don't have Pre-E.  I do have Pregnancy Hypertension.  I do need to keep taking my pills, doing the NST's every week, having two BP checks per week, and staying on bedrest.  Rats.

I figure this is the time to mention that I still haven't been given any documentation for leaving work.  I ask for it, and Nurse Candy acts like it's the most bizarre request she's ever gotten.  "What should it say?"  Seriously?  Have you never had to write one of these?  Does no other pregnant woman on bedrest need to provide anything to their disability provider?  Really?

Anyway...  uneventful day, except that I just noticed that it's only 25 days until Aidan is due.  So that feels like some sort of milestone.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve - our last Christmas Eve without our son.  Then Christmas Day.  Then I guess Sunday or Monday I need to venture out of the casa to get a BP check somewhere shady, because I'm not back at Lankenau until Wednesday.  Not much else going on for the next few days - here's to hoping all is uneventful! :)

Update from a morning in Perinatal...

It was a good morning at Perinatal Testing.  Aidan looked great throughout the NST.  This means that there's a "very low risk" of stillbirth within the next seven days.  But of course since the test is only good for seven days, I will have to go back in and do this again every week until I deliver.  We have three more NST's and fluid checks scheduled before his due date.

It was wild to see Aidan on the ultrasound.  No pictures, because he's head down, low, and facing my spine.  We did catch a glimpse of the back of his head - he's not bald!  He looks huge, although we didn't do a growth u/s because for the time being we're not concerned about his growth or size.

After I left the Peri's office, I headed back to my OB for a BP check, weight check, and chat.  I lost a pound, although to be completely honest, I just don't care what I weigh at this point.  The BP was elevated but definitely lower than it was on Monday.  So the Labetalol is doing its job.  My labs came back pretty good, indicating that I'm just hypertensive and not pre-eclamptic.  Which is great news for Aidan - he gets to stay in for at least another week until things are evaluated at the next NST - at which point I'll be 37w2d and my wimpy white boy will be slightly less wimpy and actually full term.

Time to figure out what to do about work.  I'm officially ordered out on bedrest for the duration and need to figure out how this is all going to work.  I wasn't expecting this and wasn't prepared for it.  I anticipated working up until I went into labor and know that this is going to seriously limit the time I can afford to take off once he is born.  This breaks my heart but I don't have a choice.  Ignoring the doctor's orders would be pretty stupid.

My day at the APU

What a day. 

Went to the OB today for my routine 36w checkup.  I only gained 1 pound in the past two weeks - woo hoo! - although if we're being honest, I'm so far past the point of caring about weight gain, it's not even funny.  At this point, I'm rarely even hungry, so when I do want to eat, I go for it.  I digress.  The nurse was having trouble taking my BP.  She just kept saying "I don't hear it..." - but she's kind of old and potentially hearing impaired, and she clearly knows this, so she called in another nurse.  Nurse #2 took my BP.  Then took it again.  Then took it again.  Then took it in the other arm.  And said "hmm.  Weird..." and left.  Enter Dr. Belden, who says the nurses are giving him weird stories and he'll just take my BP himself.  Which he does, remarking "hmm.  I can barely hear it..."  Then he tries the other arm and just looks sort of... perplexed. He starts asking questions like "do you have a massive headache/blurry vision/the biggest cankles ever?" (no/no/no).

So we move on to the rest of the exam - fundal height continues to be dead on.  Rock on, perfectly-sized baby.  Do I have any questions or concerns?  (Nah.)  How am I feeling?  (As good as anyone ever feels at 36w...).  Then the "sorry, my hand is cold" and without so much as dinner or a movie, I'm violated, then swabbed for Group B Strep.  GBS test will come back later.  I'm 1cm dilated and 50% effacted.  Dr. B is encouraged, and I take this as feeble hope that he won't be humanity's most overdue child.

I'm now expecting a pat on the head and a "see you next week." - but I won't be getting it.

We are concerned about my blood pressure.  It's very high.  My urine tested negative for protein, and I have no other pre-e symptoms, but it's just so very high.  Normal for me is 90's/70's.  Pregnant normal is 110's/80's.  I'm consistently running in the 160's/110's.  Eeks.

So I was sent up to the antepartum unit for an NST, more BP checks, another urine check, and some bloodwork.  I was there for about five hours before being discharged with the following decisions made:
- I am doing a 24 hour urine catch.  Bringing that in tomorrow afternoon and having more bloodwork done to examine my liver and kidney function, plus another CBC.  They'll use all of this to determine whether it's just PIH or Pre-E.  We think it's PIH (pregnancy-induced hypertension) but they want to be very sure it's not Pre-E.
- I will be having weekly NST's until Aidan is born, starting on Wednesday morning, after which I'll be back at Belden's for a follow-up appointment.
- I am on BP meds twice a day until Aidan is born
- Assuming it's PIH, I am on modified bedrest (I am allowed to get up for eating, peeing, and showering.  Otherwise I am restricted to lying around on my left side, trying not to lose my ever-loving mind.
- If they decide it's Pre-E, we'll talk about inducing early.  We are all extremely hopeful that this is not the case.

Long stressful day, but the important part is really that Aidan's doing great and we're going to get mommy's issues all patched up.

A stocking stuffer

I got these for Aidan's stocking.  Resistance was futile.  They were just too cute.

Goodies from Great Grandma

Sitting on my doorstep today was a gigantic box.  I mean seriously gigantic.  It was goodies from my grandma, and good god, is Aidan a lucky boy.  Grandma's been sewing.

First - not for Aidan at all actually - a new baby gift for my handsome new nephew, Cameron.  I need to get this in the mail ASAP.  It's a gorgeously soft blanket and a sweater/hat/bootie set.

Next, Aidan's play quilt.  Perfect for tummy time.  My mom bought the fabric in Alaska and brought it back to Florida so that my grandma could make something fabulous.  The quilt came out great - nice and soft and thick - Aidan's going to LOVE it.  I have a thing for otters, as you can tell by the man-sized otter in the picture :)

Onward!  Grandma crocheted up a small blanket for Aidan's newborn pictures.  I am in love.  The pattern is so gorgeous and unique - I just love it and I know it's going to photograph really well...

Still onward!  Accessories that really finish out the bedroom.  Like, a monkey-pattern window valance:

And a monkey-pattern changing pad cover (with a spare for accidents...)

Monkey and coordinating burp cloths (prefold cloth diapers with flannel strips sewn in so they coordinate with the room)

And last, but CERTAINLY not least, his quilt and a matching pillow for the rocker:

Here's a picture of Aidan's recliner, loaded up with Great-Grandma Goodies.  I should mention (and thank grandma for the fact that) I got an AWESOME pair of pajama pants for myself in the same fabric used for the spare changing pad cover and some of the burp cloths.  I match my little boy's room!

More Pictures of Things

The BJCM and the Snugride 35...

Missie, these are for you :)

32 Weeks

Good appointment today - busy, but good.  My weight and BP are allegedly good, although both are higher than I've ever in my life seen (or hoped to see) them.  Our lazy little boy (honestly, his most dramatic form of movement pretty much just entails hiccuping) is measuring perfectly (we're going to go ahead and ignore that ultrasound that would have us believe he has a comically large head) and has a nice quick heartbeat (I choose to believe he's just excited about this whole "existing" thing, not that I caffeinate him too much).

I've been pretty on the ball with the things I needed to get done.  We picked a pediatrician that I'm very excited about, and confirmed that I'm all registered and ready to rock and roll at the hospital whenever Aidan wants to make his debut (not yet, please). 

I still need to go through some of the maternity/disability paperwork with my HR department - she dropped it off, but it's all complicated and I don't understand how I can fill any of it out now.  Maybe I don't have to?  I have no idea.  I need to corner someone and get some answers.

I've been officially sternly warned that if I can't handle "going to work, and then going home to bed" I'll be put on bedrest.  Aidan is anxious for his cameo and evidently if I don't want "random intermittent contractions" to turn into something serious, I need to take it far easier.  Oops.  So...  I...  shouldn't go Christmas shopping after work today?

I am scheduled out at the OB's through the day after I'm due.  12/6 with Belden, 12/20 with whoever is unlucky enough to be working Christmas week, 12/28 with Finnegan, 1/4 with Finnegan, 1/10 with Belden, and 1/18 with Finnegan.  I hear Finnegan's cool and everything but I don't know how I feel about the fact that I'm changing things up right when internals start.  I'll let it ride for now and see how the first one goes at 37w.  Or, rather, 37w1d - since THE WHOLE OFFICE IS ON VACATION on the Monday after Christmas.  Must be nice.

I have a consult scheduled for late December with the Anesthesiologist, who apparently just caught wind of the fact that my epidural placement could be "challenging" and wants me to bring in my films.  I'm going to have to do some digging - I don't think I ever actually got FILMS from the last radiology work - just reports - but I'll bring whatever I've got.

1 Month and 25 Days until Game On.  Stay put, little A!

Baby Shower

We had our baby shower last weekend.  Because the blog doesn't abide drama llamas, I'll focus on the positive.

We had an awesome group of friends and family that came out to celebrate with us.  Friends that I haven't seen since before I was pregnant - family that I haven't seen in 8 years - colleagues that mean so much to me that I'm not sure how I'll deal with being out on leave (luckily, I won't have the sanity to remember any of it).  We got so many beautiful, useful, helpful, wonderful gifts - we feel so, so lucky.

Boobie Class: We did it

We took our boobie class.  It was a while ago, I just totally forgot to post my anxiously-awaited review.

I knew from the get-go that I wanted to take a breastfeeding class.  Not because I thought there would be a ton of brand-spanking-new information (there wasn't) or because I thought they'd have some super crazy secret tips (they didn't), but because I thought it would be good for my husband to experience.  And it was.

The instructor was the most upbeat breast advocate I've ever met.  In seriousness, she was a little much even for me, but her excitement was contagious and I did leave there feeling like I can do this.  I do wish that I'd been a little more attentive, asked more, thought more...  But it was a really large class and I was shy.

Still, I feel very positive about things.  My goal (1 year) is tough but doable. 

Monkeys and Monkeys and Monkeys - oh my!

Have I mentioned lately how lucky my son is to have so many people thinking of him?  No?  Well he's lucky.  Darn lucky.

This week's mail has brought the following ADORABLE footie pajamas and burpcloths (monkey and monkey, of course) from Johanna

We (The Bump January Mamas) also exchanged gifts via Elfster this year.  Check mine out!  A super adorable, handmade by a very talented Etsy seller, personalized burpcloth set for Aidan!

Happy Halloween!

Go Sox!

Look what came in the mail for Aidan today!  Aidan's Great Gramma Pat and Great Grampa Paul in Connecticut sent this wonderful Red Sox bib/binky/bottle set.  Tom loves the Phillies so much, (and they've grown on me too, don't get me wrong), but I really want to share my lifelong love of the Red Sox with Aidan.  Actual tears came to my eyes when I opened this.

Aidan is a lucky, lucky baby :)

A present came in the mail, and I had no idea what to expect.  I usually am at least AWARE that something's on its way - but this one was a total surprise.

Alexis and baby Eric got Aidan his sound machine - which is even more awesome than I pictured that it would be.  It's a little sad how exciting baby electronics are these days.  But this thing is seriously cool.  There are three different discs that project pictures onto the wall/ceiling, and there are a bunch of different sounds (heartbeat, ocean, rain, and three different lullaby tunes).  Tom and I set it up immediately to listen.  The heartbeat creeped him out.  Watch that be A's favorite...

I seriously can't get over how much I love this thing.  I kind of want to sleep with it in my room.  The rain track is really, really soothing.

A gift from Maeve :)

Dear Aidan,

Maeve sent these for you.  I cannot believe your teeny little feet will fit in these in the near future.

much love, Mommy

Fun with Lankenau

Woke up late, and hit grotesque traffic on the way to the hospital for my 3rd tri bloodwork and 1 hr GTT.  Fun.

Got to the hospital around 8am.  Had to wait to "register" for my labwork until about 8:45.  The room has 24 chairs.  There are six of us waiting to register.  Somehow, sickly looking people feel the need to sit RIGHTNEXTTOME.  Waiting room etiquette, anyone?  Finally registered, and off to the lab.

Waited around the uber full lab until 9:15 just to GET my 10 ounces of syrupy deliciousness.  Drink it down, and sit around. It's not as bad as people say it is.  I just didn't expect to have to refill my styrofoam cup three times to drink it all.  Ten ounces is quite a bit, as it turns out.

I feel bad for myself, but worse for the HUGELY pregnant lady clearly there doing a 3hr test.  This room is also full of sickies, and we're packed in like sardines.  A fairly healthy older lady sits next to me.  Score, right?  Totally - until she whips out nail clippers to painstakingly clip each of her nails (that sound skeeves me out BIGTIME), then starts flossing her teeth and picking away at her face.  Foul.

10:15.  Oh god, finally, it's my turn.  I don't wait to be called - I know I need my blood drawn, so I get up and stand in the middle of the lab doorway until they take me back.  Good thing I did.  Random pregnant lady sitting nearby gets called around the same time, and it is realized that they have forgotten about her for too long.  She drank her glucola 90 minutes ago.  Sorry, pregnant lady.  Better luck next time. (I'd be murderous, but it's kinda her fault for letting them forget her there.  They're pretty clear that you should make yourself obvious in exactly one hour)

My blood is drawn - 6 vials?  WTF?  It takes another 25 minutes to have them properly label my vials.  Apparently someone in registration didn't print out labels.  So my 45 minutes there ultimately proved pointless.

I'm not feeling so great. I should probably eat.  I stop at the hospital giftshop for sustenance.  The pickings are slim.  Chips or candy.  I choose cheesy popcorn, because I love that stuff.
Construction on the hospital's parking garage means I don't even get to the street until 11.  I am preposterously late for work.  I somehow thought I could be there by 9.

I drive by my alma mater and think to myself "I could totally have GD.  I should have a last hurrah while it's still not terribly irresponsible."  So I stop at Hope's cookies for my favorite oatmeal raisin treat.  I make a mental note that I will beg anyone who comes to visit me to stop at Hope's for more of these.

I'm in a good mood now.  I'm off to work, I'm eating popcorn and cookies.  Life is good.  Life is so good, I think I'll hop on the highway instead of backroads.  How trafficky could the highway be at 11am?

Famous last words: I spoke them.

As soon as I get on 476, I see a sign.  It just says "Expect Major Delays."  Le Crap.

The delays, they are major.  A normally 15 min stretch of highway takes me 90 minutes.  Shoot me, please.  All I have for entertainment is a book on tape with a terrible, terrible reader.  And Ryan Seacrest on the radio.  I ponder driving into oncoming traffic, but the median prevents this.

12:30 - I'm home!  And holy crap, I'm late for work like it's my job.  I grab my laptop and head in. 

1pm - I'm at work. Glucola, popcorn, and cookies was not the brunch I had in mind.  I think I may throw up.  I have no idea what to eat to counteract this sugar high.  And my poor son has been spazzing out since I drank the orange ridiculousness.  I'm sorry, Aidan.  I didn't like it either.

Happy first Pumpkin, Aidan!

Dear Aidan,

Daddy made you your very first pumpkin!

Love, Mommy

Aidan's Door Letters Came!

Yay for more nursery progress!  The letters for Aidan's door came!

My little firefox

The first of Aidan's (two) newborn photo props came today.  I could have made this myself, but I'm lazy, so a lovely girl on etsy made it for me.

Aidan will be the cutest firefox that ever was.

outdone: I can't be!

I'm inspired to AW my Swagbucks achievements by Missie's swaggy post.  I joined on 9/21 and have already earned $25 in free amazon.com giftcards.  They take some time to actually show up, but when they do, I am buying something SWEET.  And it won't be for my little freeloader, either. 

I think you should join.  Free stuff is pretty sweet, free stuff for minimal effort is even sweeter, and if you join with my link, I get credit for it.  It all sounds like win to me.

Happy 99 days to us!

Double digits now until we meet our little boy.  We're excited!

Another box of happiness!

Huge thanks to Brittany for the ridiculously thoughtful baby gift.  Boy do I have a lucky kid...

We got our "must have" giraffe - and though I personally think it looks and sounds EXACTLY like a dog toy, I'm told it's the thing to have.  Baby Crack, they say.  My child clearly needs some crack.

Brittany also listened up as I worried about what kind of products to use on Aidan's skin.  I have so many skin allergies, I just wasn't sure what to try for him.  Brittany sent her best recommendation, in the form of a Burt's Bees Baby Bee gift basket!  I love the things of Burt's that I've tried and I'm sure Aidan will too!  My picture of this is kind of lame, but the basket is actually packed full of awesome loot (shampoo/body wash, a comb, lotion, dusting powder (?), diaper ointment, and apricot baby oil) in an adorable lined basket.  I fear unwrapping it for a better picture because I'm at work and I'm envisioning everything rolling around the floor of my car as I drive home tonight. 

 
Thank you so, so much Brittany :)

Aidan's room - Progress!

The pictures are really, really dark.  Sorry.  Cameraphone pics at night aren't the best idea, I guess.

All of the furniture is in.  I think the photos make it look more crowded than it is - there's actually a really decent amount of floorspace.

There are some touches that still need to be done - Grandma is making a valance for the window and a cover for the changing pad - once they are here, I'll get out the good camera and take some nice pictures :)

Jan Moms are the very best Moms :)

We got a surprise package from a fellow Jan '11 mom today.  Holy cow, the things I registered for are even cuter in person.  I did NOT notice when registering for that wipes case that it's COVERED IN MONKEYS!!  Preposterously cute.

Thank you so much, Johanna.  I wish I lived closer to VA so I could meet up with you and your little girl.

A really, really happy package :)

The first registry purchase that wasn't made by me showed up in today's mail.  Today, of all days, I really needed the pick-me-up. 

Missie, Mike, and Carina gave us Aidan's baby bed, which he will use *everysinglenight* until he goes into his crib.  They also gave us a book that I have wanted to buy myself since the day I found out I was pregnant, but held off for reasons unknown.  What a wonderful surprise :)  Thank you, Giulianos :)