Luke is On His Way!

We are scheduled to be induced at 6:00 am Thursday morning...We're out having a baby!!! How crazy is that?! Please pray for us!!! Will be in the hospital for 48 hours after he's born!

Stay tuned for pictures and more info on little Luke :)

P.S. Happy anniversary to mom and dad...celebrating 37 years of marriage today!!! YAY!

BVOTD: "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." John 16:21 NIV

Waiting, Waiting, & More Waiting

So, I have had a very interesting last couple of days waiting for baby Luke to come. Brad took our laptop into the shop to get it worked on so I haven't been able to update the ole' blog lately (and I am incredibly bored at home with ghetto TV and no computer).

Last night my contractions were coming really close together. I had been having them all day long (usually I only get them in the evening) and I even woke up almost every hour during the night on Saturday night feeling them (I usually either don't have them at night or they aren't strong enough to wake me).

Vicki, Brad, and I were timing them and they were 9 minutes apart, then 8 minutes, then started getting around 4 or 5 minutes apart so we called in Perez. We had her looking up information for us from her nursing textbooks. I took a shower (because Perskys always go to the hospital clean, lol) and Brad did some nesting (he started shredding a ton of papers). It was quite funny.

We decided to wait a bit before going to the hospital so we stopped at Monument for dinner (I got tortilla soup and a chocolate milkshake, lol...they thought I should have liquids). Then we headed over to the hospital. I wasn't really sure that it was time to go in but the contractions were so close together! My doctor had told me to come in when they were 5 minutes apart for an hour.

They ended up hooking me up to the monitors for an hour to check my progress. The nurse said that I was 2 1/2 cms but was concerned about my blood pressure. When I first went in my diastolic was around 100 (dang!). It continued to go down from there. By the time we left my BP was like 121/82! My contractions were still 2-3 minutes apart but since I didn't dilate anymore (or so nurse Veronica said) they sent me home. It was a good practice run through though.

We tried telling Luke he would have no nightly storytime until he came out but it didn't work! I enjoyed getting to hear the baby move around in there. At one point we were watching the monitor and Luke's heart rate was 150 and then Brad leaned over and started talking to him and it shot up to 180...we enjoyed that :) We were so wishing he would have come last night!

Had my 14th doctor's appointment (my 40 week checkup) this morning. My blood pressure was a little bit high once again (whose blood pressure wouldn't be at this point, though?!)...124/93 I believe...the first number might be off though? I am actually down 2 pounds from last week so I am back to 170 with a grand total weight gain of 40 pounds. My belly measured 37" once again...she thinks he is still getting lower.

The doctor said that I am 3 cms (only 7 cm to go!) and 75% effaced. (And I do not believe that I gained that 1/2 cm overnight). She did an ultrasound and measured him...she thinks he is around 7 pounds and 2 ounces but said that it could be off by as much as 1 pound and 2 ounces. She said the amniotic fluid level is going down in there...it was at a 14 a few weeks ago and now it is at an 8. The placenta is geting some calcifications since it is getting old.

She set an appointment to induce me on Thursday at 6:00 am if he has not come by then. So we will have a little one by Friday at the latest! Crazy!! :)

P.S. Vicki took some more pictures of us yesterday but they are not on my camera so I will have to post them later :) And I have his birth announcement all planned out...just need my laptop to start working on it!! :)

BVOTD: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

YAY! Some Progress!!

I had my 13th doctor's appointment (my 39 week appointment) today. It was a good appointment...good news from the doctor! It was also the 8th anniversary of our first date...hard to believe time flies so fast! It seems like just yesterday in some ways. We went to Macaroni Grill tonight to celebrate. I thought today would be a wonderful day to have Luke but he opted not.

The doctor said my blood pressure was 141/86 which is good since they look at the second number and it is down from last week (91 down to 86). I don't know how my heart rate couldn't be up right now just sitting around waiting to have a baby! Hello, anxiety!

I am up 2 pounds for a grand total of 172 pounds (up from 170...a total of 42 pounds gained in all). My belly measured 37" once again. Luke's heart rate was 150.

The best news of all was that I am now dilated 2 centimeters (only 8 centimeters to go!) and I am 60% effaced (100% effaced is like paper thin). I have been having a lot of contractions but wasn't sure if they were making a difference or not. One night I had them 10 minutes apart for a few hours. I guess what she did last week made a difference!

She wants us to come back on Monday if we haven't had him by then and she will decide if she needs to induce later next week. We shall see if he comes on his actual due date...January 24th. Maybe he will come on his grandparents' anniversary! Mom and dad celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary on the 30th! :) (Not sure if I can wait that long though!)

In other news...I now have carpal tunnel in both of my hands and not just my right hand. Lovely. I don't think I will invest another $17 in a brace for my left hand...am really hoping it goes away after Luke is born! I am having some serious hip pain, too. Kinda rough getting around sometimes. (I think that is the reason why pregnant people waddle!!) Still suffering from heartburn. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and had to take some Tums because it was so bad. I am extremely swollen and retaining fluid everywhere. Luke is still moving a lot. I am pretty sure he is really happy in there and has no intentions of coming out where it is extremely cold and not welcoming. I know there are a lot of people who getting pretty impatient waiting for him to come out...

I am spending my days watching stinky daytime TV, eating with Bradley, working on Luke's baby album, cleaning the house, getting some extra sleep, baking cookies (I am going to make Neiman Marcus cookies very soon...my labor supporters will have something to eat if I go into labor at the right time ;) , and going to work half days (sometimes less)...when Gene sees me at work he always says, "You're still here?!" to which my response is, "Yup! I have to do something to pass the time...just waiting to have a baby!"

Keep praying for us! We appreciate all the prayers we can get!!

BVOTD: "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

A Rough Appointment

I went in for my 12th doctor's appointment (my 38 week appointment) today. Had a bit of a rough appointment. My blood pressure was up from where it normally is...usually I am 130/80, 130/82, 130/84...somewhere in there...but today I was 130/91. She seemed a bit concerned about it but not enough to take any action. She basically said that she would just keep an eye on it and intervene is she needed to.

I am still only dilated 1 cm and 25% effaced...kind of a bummer. All these stinkin' contractions for nothing! I gained 4 pounds in one week...not sure why. I am 170 (up from 166). My belly is up 2 inches from last week, 37" (up from 35" last week).

The doctor said to come back in on Tuesday (the 22nd) and that she would induce labor eventually if things are not moving along...especially if my blood pressure is getting worse or if there is less fetal movement.

The pelvic exam was terribly painful (and like twice as long as normal...ugh) as she said she was "trying to move things along"...definitely not looking forward to labor if it feels like that!! I am such a wuss!!!

Working less hours these days and starting to realize home is kinda boring. There is nothing at all on regular TV during the day. I am working really hard to convince Brad to get me cable or satellite (and DVR too! Lord knows I am going to need to be able to pause live TV to change diapers soon!).

I try taking naps in the morning but usually get calls and can't sleep...either that or my left leg hurts from laying on it (since I am only supposed to sleep on my left side for the best blood flow...just FYI in case you didn't know...if pregnant women sleep on their back or left side their blood flow is restricted because the baby is squishing one of their main arteries). It's a lot of work to even turn over in bed these days...I feel like a beached whale!

Hopefully our next appointment will be better!!

BVOTD: "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming." 1 John 2:28

He's a 7 Pounder!

I went in for my 11th doctor's appointment today (my 37 week appointment). We're getting down to the nitty gritty here! Only two more weeks till my due date! Can you believe it?!

I didn't gain any weight this round (my appointments are now 1 week apart)....still at 166 (36 pounds gained in all...though I am kinda confused why I didn't gain any more because I seem to have even more fluid these days. I am even retaining fluid in my hips now!). My belly measured 35" again (like the last two doctor visits). She says that is because he is lower (not that he is not growing).

My blood pressure was pretty much the same as it has been 130/80. I am still dilated to 1 cm. She said I am 25% effaced (whatever that means). She did an ultrasound and thinks that he is around 7 pounds. It is so hard to believe that I have 7 pound baby in my belly! (Though it definitely feels like it when I try to bend over! lol) He is where he is supposed to be...head down facing my back...ready for delivery :) She says that he has longer legs then most babies and a smaller tummy. She thinks he will grow around 1/2 pound per week and so she thinks he will be around 7 1/2 or 8 pounds when he is born. Sounds much better than a 9 or 10 pounder! :)

She says that my fluid is good. On a scale of 7-20, I am a 14 on fluid. She said I had a couple of good pockets of fluid in there. That means that he has some room to move around in there. :)

When she did the ultrasound she could see him breathing amniotic fluid in and out...she said that she always smiles when she sees that because it means that he is a healthy baby and is working on learning how to breathe :)

She told me to get a wrist brace to try to help with the carpal tunnel in my right hand so I bought one today at lunch. We'll see if it helps.

I am still suffering from terrible heartburn but finally invested in some Tums and they seem to help!

As for being prepared to go to the hospital...we signed all the papers we could for the hospital on Monday and toured the facility (really we just saw the waiting room, the bathrooms, and one of the labor & delivery rooms). I am hoping that the one that we get will be bigger because the one we saw was pretty teeny. They are having a problem with lady bugs and put poison in the rooms to kill the lady bugs...kinda sad, no?! And seems a little gross to have poison and dead insect bodies in the room that I am going to bring my new baby into the world in!! Hopefully the room we get will be bigger and cleaner!

My bags (one for the labor and one for after delivery), Brad's bag (it has clothes, vending machine money, and snacks for the proud papa), and Luke's bag are all packed and ready. We have the car seat and base sitting in my car but the base is not yet attached.

Audrey painted my toenails today so I will have cute toes for labor :) Brad's mom thinks I won't care about my toes at that point but I believe I will whine and cry one minute and the next minute say, "Look at how cute my toes are!" At least I know one thing will be cute on me ;)

We have the co-sleeper set up in the bedroom but not anchored to the bed yet...will have Brad work on that one this week. Brad put the baby rocker together the other night. I think Luke will like that little seat :) All our Christmas stuff is taken down and in boxes but is not put away yet. Slowly but surely the house is getting ready for Mr. Luke. Can't believe we will be meeting him soon!!!! Hope he looks like his daddy!!! :) And has the temperament of his daddy too!

BVOTD: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

Doing a Little Nesting...

and having a lovely evening at home while I await Bradley's arrival.

Just thought I'd share with you what I've been up to today...boy, do I love my Fridays off work!!

Did a little shopping today. Went to pick up some necessary items for our hospital stay. I got some candy for Bradley to snack on while I am in labor (I told him he better not eat it in front of me, though!!!). I also got a gown that I would like to wear during labor. I hate hospital gowns (but who doesn't?!). I also picked up some lotion and a back massager and the game Uno (I need something to keep me entertained during labor, right?!).

I went to Target and picked out an outfit for Luke to go home in. It is a newborn outfit but somehow seems so big I am not sure if he will be able to wear it or not. I have been debating whether or not I should get a preemie outfit for the hospital...but nonetheless, here it is...

I just made myself a lovely dinner of cinnamon waffles with peanut butter, bananas, and a little syrup (don't mock it till you try it!) with a glass of milk. I am determined that it is the best thing since sliced bread.

I could live on Special K Fruit & Yogurt cereal (thanks to Dayna!), the Oven Roasted Chicken Breast sandwich from Subway (with cucumbers, lettuce, American cheese, a lot of black olives, & a little spicy mustard), and peanut butter & banana waffles these days. Love them!! They never get old!!

And lastly, I finally figured out how to put the "baby" (otherwise known as a little Aggie bear) in the car seat, how to attach the car seat to the base, and how to attach the car seat to the stroller tonight. We were getting really frustrated trying to read the directions the other night. I am totally feeling like I am ready to take on the world now! :) Now if we can just get the booster seat installed in the car... :) Little Luke is going to love his Snuzzler!! :)

BVOTD: "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." Psalm 91:14

1 Cm Down, 9 to Go!

I went in for my 10th doctors appointment (my 37 week appointment) today. I gained 2 pounds since my last appointment two weeks ago (over Christmas & New Years!!!) for a grand total of 36 pounds gained thus far. (164 to 166 pounds.) I feel pretty good about that considering how much fluid I know I am retaining (I look like a blimp!)!

The doctor says I have dilated 1 cm (only 9 to go!). My belly was 35" which is down an inch from last time...she says Luke has dropped a bit more (she could put her hand between my rib cage where Luke used to be). My doctor thinks that I probably won't go beyond my due date.

My blood pressure was a little higher than usual, but the doctor says it isn't enough of a difference to be concerned about.

I tested positive for Group B Strep which basically means that I have to take a couple of doses of penicillin before Luke is born.

I was supposed to get another ultrasound today but it didn't happen, so I will get one at my next appointment next week. All in all, things are progressing along quite nicely. :) I have another appointment set up for January 10th.

Feeling okay this week except for feeling tired and big as a house and suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. Who knew carpal tunnel was so terrible??? My fingers on my right hand (except for the pinky and half the ring finger) are all tingly all the time (it feels like I slept on my hand). I need to go get a wrist brace to see if that will help. It stinks to write which is such a bummer because I need to be working on Luke's baby album before he comes!! Not to mention I still have to type while I'm at work!

Speaking of work...I am hoping to start taking off more days soon. I believe the inlaws are in denial and think that I can be there everyday till Luke comes (and then I think they believe I will be back the day after he comes, lol!!). It is getting so hard to get around at work and I am getting so lazy it is not even funny.

Write up a refund? Eh.

Lower my legs and get up out of my comfy chair to answer the phone? Not so much.

Enter gazillions of invoices? No, thanks. I'd rather not.

Somehow it is so much more difficult to do everything. I just feel like laying around and sleeping all day. I also really want to clean the house because it's such a mess...though it is improving every day. We are down a sofa, big chair, ottoman, and Christmas tree (yes, ladies and gents, we finally took down the Christmas tree!) and the place is starting to look a little roomy even! :) I just really need to attack all the piles of clutter and throw things away!! Wish me luck! I need to work efficiently to get it all done before Luke arrives! :)

BVOTD: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8