More at http://picasaweb.google.com/jooniper/BabyDanielII
Physically Impossible
4 hours ago
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A few new photos
So the other photos jsut weren't cutting it, so we took some more. Here are the "highlights" (the ones that seem to best represent what he really looks like):
More at http://picasaweb.google.com/jooniper/BabyDanielII
More at http://picasaweb.google.com/jooniper/BabyDanielII
We've got a baby!
As Lori so kindly posted, Daniel Jackson arrived last night, April 26th, at 8:13 pm.
(more pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/jooniper/BabyDaniel)
The basics:
-7 pounds, 11 ounces and 19 inches long
-Technically a premie because he was born before the 28th
-9 on his APGAR
-His name is Daniel Jackson. Daniel, because it's a good name:) (though perhaps a little common), and Jackson is a family name on the Kunz side (from his Grandma Laura Kunz's maiden name and also Kenny's father's middle name). I'd imagine he'll be a Danny, but not a Dan.
-He was born after 6 hours of "active" labor, after 13 hours in the hospital, and after almost exactly 2 months of prodromal labor.
-I went all natural, aside from some local anastethic for stitches.
-We've gotten a good hour of breastfeeding in, but the silly kid is very content to do nothing but sleep
-He's got a crazy cone-head from the delivery (should round out in just a couple days) and no birthmarks that we can tell
-He has very sparse blondeish hair and beautiful blue eyes (all 3 times I've seen them open)
So, the whole story (very long, including some perhaps gross details):
As I posted in my last post, we went to the hospital Friday and found out I was 7.5 cm dilated. We made history by being discharged while being that far dilated. I was REALLY hoping that this weekend would be it.
Friday night nothing seemed to be happening. About 5 in the morning on Saturday both Kenny and I woke up and I was bleeding pretty bad (and it looked like it might be mixed with amniotic fluid), so I went and chilled in the empty bathtub while Kenny made some breakfast (pillsbury cinnamon rolls) and got all our final preparations out of the way. We then headed to the hospital around 7 am. I was finally having regular contractions I could feel (though they still didn't really hurt per se) and was dilated to an 8, so they admitted me. They couldn't get a good test on whether or not I was leaking Amniotic Fluid.
I had a GREAT nurse. While she herself was all for medical interventions and such, she fought hard for me to get the natural experience I wanted. My doctor had wanted me on an IV and monitors the whole time which would have kept me in bed on my back, but I wanted to be able to move around and do whatever helped me get through the pain. Apparently the nurse told my Doctor (who's still fairly young, and nice enough) that "such-and-such a doctor let's their natural patients do this all the time" and convinced her it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't have an IV and they only monitored the baby intermittently.
We asked them how many women went natural and they said "um, just you:)" We hard some screams of bloody murder from the room next door and I'll admit, I was surprised to learn that that woman had had an epidural and was still screaming like that. Yikes.
Just after they admitted me and got me my own room(which happened to be the same room I had in fFebruary), contractions stopped altogether for a while. It was pretty disappointing. They weren't gonna let me go home at 8 cm dilated and with a (perhaps) broken water, but I didn't want pitocin or anything like that to get labor going, though I wasn't dead set against it either, since I was already at 8 centimeters and had so little to go. At about noon, the doctor went ahead and broke (or finished breaking) my water to get things moving. It took a couple of hours, but by 2 pm I was having some crazy contractions.
We watched Newsies and I sang along through my contractions while bouncing on the birthing ball and eating Popsicles. That makes it sound much funner than it was:). Around 5 the contractions got to be really strong and I'd grab and squeeze/rub Kenny's hand as hard as I could. He was great. The baby was turned to the side a bit so we tried various positions and stuff to make him turn- all of which seemed to make the contractions more intense. At 6 I started pushing. It took two nurses and the doctor- the nurses held my legs up for me which really helped. To the point I freaked out any time a contraction came and they weren't both right there.
Pushing was REALLY intense. I don't know why I thought it would go faster. It was frustrating because I couldn't really tell what progress was being made. They set up a mirror so I could see, but it wasn't like I pictured- I couldn't see too much because for most of it, it's still all pretty internal. I could just see myself get more frightfully torn up and messy down there... in the future I think I'll opt for no mirror:)
Still, the pain wasn't unbearable. Really, the worst part was the relentless of it. To any woman who's labored for longer than 8 hours, KUDOS to you. I can't fathom having to keep at it for longer than I did. It wasn't the painfulness, it was the lack of an escape, even a temporary one. Because the baby was turned sidewise, there was always some pretty intense pressure in my back. I never did get too loud but I'm sure I made all sorts of funny sounds.
Towards the end the doctor said "we're going to go ahead and make this opening a little bigger for the baby" and I said "um, what?" I told the doctor I'd rather not have an episiotomy, so she backed off. Sure enough, I have a third degree tear going backwards that's going to take some serious healing. Still, I feel content having torn rather than having been cut- now I can always know that what happened was exactly what needed to happen. The tear didn't hurt too bad at the time and I never had huge problems with the "ring of fire" so many women describe- most of the pain I felt was just the pressure of having a baby right there.
Kenny was AMAZING. HE was in charge of ice cubes for me:) and did a great job. He did need to leave the room once for some fresh air and grape juice right at the end, but that's better than an uncomfortable (or worse, unconscious) Kenny. He was there for the delivery and teared up a bit. It was so sweet.
When Daniel finally came out, they immediately placed him on my chest and we snuggled. He was big and healthy and snuggly. He rested right on my breast and apparently inhaled a bit much of it and his little feet and hands turned purple (the reason he didn't score a 10 on his APGAR). He got to rest with me for a long time while the doctor stitched me up.
I've never known an exhaustion to be so deep. I shook like mad for the whole following 12 hours or so. But I've never been so happy or proud, either. He's my beautiful little boy and I wouldn't change a thing.
He's spent probably 75% of his time with us and the other 25% in the nursery being checked for various things. We'll probably be at the hospital until tomorrow at this time. Thanks everyone so much for the prayers and well-wishes!
(more pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/jooniper/BabyDaniel)
The basics:
-7 pounds, 11 ounces and 19 inches long
-Technically a premie because he was born before the 28th
-9 on his APGAR
-His name is Daniel Jackson. Daniel, because it's a good name:) (though perhaps a little common), and Jackson is a family name on the Kunz side (from his Grandma Laura Kunz's maiden name and also Kenny's father's middle name). I'd imagine he'll be a Danny, but not a Dan.
-He was born after 6 hours of "active" labor, after 13 hours in the hospital, and after almost exactly 2 months of prodromal labor.
-I went all natural, aside from some local anastethic for stitches.
-We've gotten a good hour of breastfeeding in, but the silly kid is very content to do nothing but sleep
-He's got a crazy cone-head from the delivery (should round out in just a couple days) and no birthmarks that we can tell
-He has very sparse blondeish hair and beautiful blue eyes (all 3 times I've seen them open)
So, the whole story (very long, including some perhaps gross details):
As I posted in my last post, we went to the hospital Friday and found out I was 7.5 cm dilated. We made history by being discharged while being that far dilated. I was REALLY hoping that this weekend would be it.
Friday night nothing seemed to be happening. About 5 in the morning on Saturday both Kenny and I woke up and I was bleeding pretty bad (and it looked like it might be mixed with amniotic fluid), so I went and chilled in the empty bathtub while Kenny made some breakfast (pillsbury cinnamon rolls) and got all our final preparations out of the way. We then headed to the hospital around 7 am. I was finally having regular contractions I could feel (though they still didn't really hurt per se) and was dilated to an 8, so they admitted me. They couldn't get a good test on whether or not I was leaking Amniotic Fluid.
I had a GREAT nurse. While she herself was all for medical interventions and such, she fought hard for me to get the natural experience I wanted. My doctor had wanted me on an IV and monitors the whole time which would have kept me in bed on my back, but I wanted to be able to move around and do whatever helped me get through the pain. Apparently the nurse told my Doctor (who's still fairly young, and nice enough) that "such-and-such a doctor let's their natural patients do this all the time" and convinced her it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't have an IV and they only monitored the baby intermittently.
We asked them how many women went natural and they said "um, just you:)" We hard some screams of bloody murder from the room next door and I'll admit, I was surprised to learn that that woman had had an epidural and was still screaming like that. Yikes.
Just after they admitted me and got me my own room(which happened to be the same room I had in fFebruary), contractions stopped altogether for a while. It was pretty disappointing. They weren't gonna let me go home at 8 cm dilated and with a (perhaps) broken water, but I didn't want pitocin or anything like that to get labor going, though I wasn't dead set against it either, since I was already at 8 centimeters and had so little to go. At about noon, the doctor went ahead and broke (or finished breaking) my water to get things moving. It took a couple of hours, but by 2 pm I was having some crazy contractions.
We watched Newsies and I sang along through my contractions while bouncing on the birthing ball and eating Popsicles. That makes it sound much funner than it was:). Around 5 the contractions got to be really strong and I'd grab and squeeze/rub Kenny's hand as hard as I could. He was great. The baby was turned to the side a bit so we tried various positions and stuff to make him turn- all of which seemed to make the contractions more intense. At 6 I started pushing. It took two nurses and the doctor- the nurses held my legs up for me which really helped. To the point I freaked out any time a contraction came and they weren't both right there.
Pushing was REALLY intense. I don't know why I thought it would go faster. It was frustrating because I couldn't really tell what progress was being made. They set up a mirror so I could see, but it wasn't like I pictured- I couldn't see too much because for most of it, it's still all pretty internal. I could just see myself get more frightfully torn up and messy down there... in the future I think I'll opt for no mirror:)
Still, the pain wasn't unbearable. Really, the worst part was the relentless of it. To any woman who's labored for longer than 8 hours, KUDOS to you. I can't fathom having to keep at it for longer than I did. It wasn't the painfulness, it was the lack of an escape, even a temporary one. Because the baby was turned sidewise, there was always some pretty intense pressure in my back. I never did get too loud but I'm sure I made all sorts of funny sounds.
Towards the end the doctor said "we're going to go ahead and make this opening a little bigger for the baby" and I said "um, what?" I told the doctor I'd rather not have an episiotomy, so she backed off. Sure enough, I have a third degree tear going backwards that's going to take some serious healing. Still, I feel content having torn rather than having been cut- now I can always know that what happened was exactly what needed to happen. The tear didn't hurt too bad at the time and I never had huge problems with the "ring of fire" so many women describe- most of the pain I felt was just the pressure of having a baby right there.
Kenny was AMAZING. HE was in charge of ice cubes for me:) and did a great job. He did need to leave the room once for some fresh air and grape juice right at the end, but that's better than an uncomfortable (or worse, unconscious) Kenny. He was there for the delivery and teared up a bit. It was so sweet.
When Daniel finally came out, they immediately placed him on my chest and we snuggled. He was big and healthy and snuggly. He rested right on my breast and apparently inhaled a bit much of it and his little feet and hands turned purple (the reason he didn't score a 10 on his APGAR). He got to rest with me for a long time while the doctor stitched me up.
I've never known an exhaustion to be so deep. I shook like mad for the whole following 12 hours or so. But I've never been so happy or proud, either. He's my beautiful little boy and I wouldn't change a thing.
He's spent probably 75% of his time with us and the other 25% in the nursery being checked for various things. We'll probably be at the hospital until tomorrow at this time. Thanks everyone so much for the prayers and well-wishes!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Daniel Jackson is here!
Hello! This is Jen's siter Lori here to let you all know that their boy has finally arrived! No pics yet, but here are the stats:
Daniel Jackson
Born at 8:13pm
7 Pounds, 11 ounces
9 on his apgar
Jen would have hit 37 weeks gestation on monday, so he was a good-sized baby boy.
So jen started her laboring at 5am or so, spent most of the day trying to get things to really pick up (she was dilated to an 8 nearly the whole time), and had really active labor for probably 5 hours with 2+ hours of pushing. Poor girl did manage to get heavy 3rd degree tearing, so she'll be feeling that for a while. Other than that, everyone's healthy and happy. Her husband managed through the birth well, no passing out, so that's great.
Congratulations to jen, kenny, and their baby boy!
Daniel Jackson
Born at 8:13pm
7 Pounds, 11 ounces
9 on his apgar
Jen would have hit 37 weeks gestation on monday, so he was a good-sized baby boy.
So jen started her laboring at 5am or so, spent most of the day trying to get things to really pick up (she was dilated to an 8 nearly the whole time), and had really active labor for probably 5 hours with 2+ hours of pushing. Poor girl did manage to get heavy 3rd degree tearing, so she'll be feeling that for a while. Other than that, everyone's healthy and happy. Her husband managed through the birth well, no passing out, so that's great.
Congratulations to jen, kenny, and their baby boy!
Friday, April 25, 2008
This is getting ridiculous
7.5. I'm now at 7.5. My doctor called all morning to get me to come to L&D just to be measured- she's very worried that once labor starts it'll happen so quickly that Kenny will be stuck catching a baby at home.
I had had some contractions over the night, but they were gone by morning. I called Kenny at work anyways and had him come home to drive me to the hospital. If nothing else, it was worth hearing his class's reaction to my call- they were all very excited:). It's going to be very awkward if there's no baby, come Monday.
So anyways, we packed our bags (I knid of considered it a "dry run") and headed in, and sure enough I'm now at 7.5 cm. I'm having a contraction once every 6 minutes or so- but still not feeling them. The doctor was much cooler about it this time and told us we could go home since I'm still not in active labor, but first, could we please walk around the hospital for a few hours to see if we could get things going. So we did, we walked circles around the maternity ward for two hours. It didn't seem to make a difference, so they sent us home.
So here I am, 7.5 cm dilated, just chilling at home and actually about to head to the store, I think.
My real fear at this point is I'm going to stall and be stuck at 7.5 for weeks. I don't know how well I'd handle that... right now, every little twinge I feel I think "oh, is that it? do we need to head back to the hospital now?" It's very nerve wracking.
Still, I've made it really far without hardly any pain or discomfort... it's almost unbelievable.
Pray for us that this baby will come this weekend (for my and my doctor's sanity) and th
at we'll know when to go to the Hospital.
I had had some contractions over the night, but they were gone by morning. I called Kenny at work anyways and had him come home to drive me to the hospital. If nothing else, it was worth hearing his class's reaction to my call- they were all very excited:). It's going to be very awkward if there's no baby, come Monday.
So anyways, we packed our bags (I knid of considered it a "dry run") and headed in, and sure enough I'm now at 7.5 cm. I'm having a contraction once every 6 minutes or so- but still not feeling them. The doctor was much cooler about it this time and told us we could go home since I'm still not in active labor, but first, could we please walk around the hospital for a few hours to see if we could get things going. So we did, we walked circles around the maternity ward for two hours. It didn't seem to make a difference, so they sent us home.
So here I am, 7.5 cm dilated, just chilling at home and actually about to head to the store, I think.
My real fear at this point is I'm going to stall and be stuck at 7.5 for weeks. I don't know how well I'd handle that... right now, every little twinge I feel I think "oh, is that it? do we need to head back to the hospital now?" It's very nerve wracking.
Still, I've made it really far without hardly any pain or discomfort... it's almost unbelievable.
Pray for us that this baby will come this weekend (for my and my doctor's sanity) and th
at we'll know when to go to the Hospital.
This weekend is it?
Well, looks like Margie, Jolayne and Steph have a good chance of winning!
I played a mean trick on my OB yesterday by being a full 6 centimeters dilated! That was one surprised and scared doctor. She wanted for us to immediately go to L&D and she would meet us there and we'd get this show on the road.
However, I'm very much shooting for a natural childbirth and know that there is little they could do at this point that doesn't have a chance of me losing that goal. My doctor really wants to break my bags of waters (which, she says, she is surprised isn't already gone), and odds are that would set off labor for me (hopefully similarly to what happened with Lori). BUT, if it didn't set off active labor, they'd have to induce me and put me on pitocin, because a broken bag of waters has an expiration date, so to speak. By breaking it, they'd be starting a clock of how much longer the baby could be inside me.
And, if they put me on pitocin, I'm pretty sure I'd get an epidural. Pitocin makes for stronger, more intense contractions, often forcing your body to do something it wasn't ready to do on its own. This is generally ok if you're already numb from the waist down, but I'd really rather not be. Mind you, inductions and pitocin have their place in childbirth- I just don't see it being necessary with me, with how determined this baby is to come.
Worst case scenario is they give me pitocin and it STILL doesn't start active labor, in which case I'd get an emergency c-section. No thanks.
That, and we aren't even technically full term- that's not until Monday. So, we talked with the doctor a bit (she pretty much BEGGED us to get my bag of waters broken) and decided we'd go home and see if we can't get labor going on our own. We took a nice walk around Target and the Mall, then came home and took Lucy for a walk (her first walk in months, I swear). I don't know if that made any difference, or if I was already at this point, but I'm definitely feeling different. My contractions hurt now, my back is aching, I couldn't sleep a wink... so while I think we are close, there wasn't anything that said "go to L&D now". Our biggest hope is my water will break on it's own, hopefully tonight.
It is a little tempting, now, knowing that at any moment we could head to the hospital and have them break my water and be sure that this is the end of it. It gives me some feeling of control, of having a plan... BUT, I finally realized after debating it for some time, that the only part in my control would be the breaking of my water, and nothing that followed.
With all these recent developments, we've decided no matter what today is my last day at work for at least 8 weeks. Now THAT is a great feeling.
I played a mean trick on my OB yesterday by being a full 6 centimeters dilated! That was one surprised and scared doctor. She wanted for us to immediately go to L&D and she would meet us there and we'd get this show on the road.
However, I'm very much shooting for a natural childbirth and know that there is little they could do at this point that doesn't have a chance of me losing that goal. My doctor really wants to break my bags of waters (which, she says, she is surprised isn't already gone), and odds are that would set off labor for me (hopefully similarly to what happened with Lori). BUT, if it didn't set off active labor, they'd have to induce me and put me on pitocin, because a broken bag of waters has an expiration date, so to speak. By breaking it, they'd be starting a clock of how much longer the baby could be inside me.
And, if they put me on pitocin, I'm pretty sure I'd get an epidural. Pitocin makes for stronger, more intense contractions, often forcing your body to do something it wasn't ready to do on its own. This is generally ok if you're already numb from the waist down, but I'd really rather not be. Mind you, inductions and pitocin have their place in childbirth- I just don't see it being necessary with me, with how determined this baby is to come.
Worst case scenario is they give me pitocin and it STILL doesn't start active labor, in which case I'd get an emergency c-section. No thanks.
That, and we aren't even technically full term- that's not until Monday. So, we talked with the doctor a bit (she pretty much BEGGED us to get my bag of waters broken) and decided we'd go home and see if we can't get labor going on our own. We took a nice walk around Target and the Mall, then came home and took Lucy for a walk (her first walk in months, I swear). I don't know if that made any difference, or if I was already at this point, but I'm definitely feeling different. My contractions hurt now, my back is aching, I couldn't sleep a wink... so while I think we are close, there wasn't anything that said "go to L&D now". Our biggest hope is my water will break on it's own, hopefully tonight.
It is a little tempting, now, knowing that at any moment we could head to the hospital and have them break my water and be sure that this is the end of it. It gives me some feeling of control, of having a plan... BUT, I finally realized after debating it for some time, that the only part in my control would be the breaking of my water, and nothing that followed.
With all these recent developments, we've decided no matter what today is my last day at work for at least 8 weeks. Now THAT is a great feeling.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Congratulations and Hooray
To Lori and Sam and their new daughter. I couldn't be happier.
Honestly, I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep for 3 hours after I found out her water broke. I'm am SO excited and so proud of her all-natural birth. Can't wait to see pictures!
Now it's my turn, right? I have an appointment today and I'm hoping for good news... contractions have picked back up and I'm definitely getting less comfortable.
Honestly, I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep for 3 hours after I found out her water broke. I'm am SO excited and so proud of her all-natural birth. Can't wait to see pictures!
Now it's my turn, right? I have an appointment today and I'm hoping for good news... contractions have picked back up and I'm definitely getting less comfortable.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The list-
So, everyone claimed their dates. I suppose the polls are technically not closed, since there are a few dates left. Here's the list:
April 21st- Melanie
April 24th- Ben
April 25th- Margie
April 26th- Jolayne
April 27th- Stephanie
April 28th- Mom
April 29th- Rachel
April 30th- Candace
May 1st- Chelsy
May 2nd- Lori
May 3rd- Kenny
May 4th- Becky
May 5th- Melea
May 6th- Sam
May 8th- Marybeth
May 9th- Sarah
May 10th- Heather
I liked Melanie's guess best, but we already passed that date, so now I'm rooting for Ben:). I've been having some more contractions this morning and they've been a little owy, but nothing to make us get our hopes up. Besides, I still have a couple things I need to wrap up for work.
April 21st- Melanie
April 24th- Ben
April 25th- Margie
April 26th- Jolayne
April 27th- Stephanie
April 28th- Mom
April 29th- Rachel
April 30th- Candace
May 1st- Chelsy
May 2nd- Lori
May 3rd- Kenny
May 4th- Becky
May 5th- Melea
May 6th- Sam
May 8th- Marybeth
May 9th- Sarah
May 10th- Heather
I liked Melanie's guess best, but we already passed that date, so now I'm rooting for Ben:). I've been having some more contractions this morning and they've been a little owy, but nothing to make us get our hopes up. Besides, I still have a couple things I need to wrap up for work.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Ladies and Gentleman...
Place your bets! Looks like the show is getting started.
So, last week I was 1 cm dilated (after 7 weeks on bedrest, there had been no significant change). This week I surprised the doctor and am at 4 cm dilated and very soft, and my bag of waters is "bulging!". This didn't surprise me much, since my famliy is full of laboring oddities, apparently.
Whats surprising to me is I haven't felt a thing. Some minor back pain, some "twinges" in that area, but no contractions (and I like to think I've gotten pretty good at feeling contractions, painless though they are). Sure enough the Doc asked me to hang around so they could monitor contractions, and they watched me for a half hour- nothing. So they sent me home against their reservations, since I'm not really in active labor.
I am luckier than my sister though in one respect: I'm still fairly comfortable. I'm pretty sure I'm jinxing myself, but at least I'm not contracting painfully at all.
My big worry is that if I can get over 4 centimeters without knowing it, how am I going to know when to go to the hospital?
I'm also very worried I'll go before Lori does- that wouldn't feel right. She's been in such pain and she's been such a trooper. That and she's been forging the way this whole time, I'd kind of like to have a close example to follow since my labor seems to be mimicking hers. I'd happily go a few more weeks if it meant she could have hers now. Not only that, but our family (10 nieces and nephews) has a good boy-girl pattern going... and we had a nephew in January, so we need a girl (Lori's) next.
So what do you all think? We can't give as fancy of a prize as Lori and Sam, but we'll give a ten dollar movie rental gift certificate to whoever guesses the right day.
So the facts up until now:
-As of Monday, the 21st of April, I will be 36 weeks along (typical gestation is 40 weeks).
-I've now been on bedrest for 8 weeks. We're slowly lightening up and will probably still "take it easy" until my next appointment on Thursday.
-My technical due date is May 20th.
-I will not do anything to try to induce labor before I hit 38 weeks, or Lori has her baby and it's healthy (whichever comes first). See, Lori's kind of my case study right now- I'll feel more comfortable if she forges the way and shows me how its done.
-In the course of the last week, I went from 1 cm dilated to over 4 cm.
-One week ago, the baby measured 6 pounds, 12 ounces in an ultrasound.
-I have a "bulging bag of waters" but it's still intact.
-My plug is still intact.
-I'm not having noticeable contractions (nor did I have any I'm aware of over the last week).
Please comment with your guess- first come, first serve. Kenny is claiming the 3rd of May (it's most convenient for him:))
So, last week I was 1 cm dilated (after 7 weeks on bedrest, there had been no significant change). This week I surprised the doctor and am at 4 cm dilated and very soft, and my bag of waters is "bulging!". This didn't surprise me much, since my famliy is full of laboring oddities, apparently.
Whats surprising to me is I haven't felt a thing. Some minor back pain, some "twinges" in that area, but no contractions (and I like to think I've gotten pretty good at feeling contractions, painless though they are). Sure enough the Doc asked me to hang around so they could monitor contractions, and they watched me for a half hour- nothing. So they sent me home against their reservations, since I'm not really in active labor.
I am luckier than my sister though in one respect: I'm still fairly comfortable. I'm pretty sure I'm jinxing myself, but at least I'm not contracting painfully at all.
My big worry is that if I can get over 4 centimeters without knowing it, how am I going to know when to go to the hospital?
I'm also very worried I'll go before Lori does- that wouldn't feel right. She's been in such pain and she's been such a trooper. That and she's been forging the way this whole time, I'd kind of like to have a close example to follow since my labor seems to be mimicking hers. I'd happily go a few more weeks if it meant she could have hers now. Not only that, but our family (10 nieces and nephews) has a good boy-girl pattern going... and we had a nephew in January, so we need a girl (Lori's) next.
So what do you all think? We can't give as fancy of a prize as Lori and Sam, but we'll give a ten dollar movie rental gift certificate to whoever guesses the right day.
So the facts up until now:
-As of Monday, the 21st of April, I will be 36 weeks along (typical gestation is 40 weeks).
-I've now been on bedrest for 8 weeks. We're slowly lightening up and will probably still "take it easy" until my next appointment on Thursday.
-My technical due date is May 20th.
-I will not do anything to try to induce labor before I hit 38 weeks, or Lori has her baby and it's healthy (whichever comes first). See, Lori's kind of my case study right now- I'll feel more comfortable if she forges the way and shows me how its done.
-In the course of the last week, I went from 1 cm dilated to over 4 cm.
-One week ago, the baby measured 6 pounds, 12 ounces in an ultrasound.
-I have a "bulging bag of waters" but it's still intact.
-My plug is still intact.
-I'm not having noticeable contractions (nor did I have any I'm aware of over the last week).
Please comment with your guess- first come, first serve. Kenny is claiming the 3rd of May (it's most convenient for him:))
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Hooray for Brothers
I'm feeling very lucky and loved right now. My brother Chris, when he heard about my bedrest plight along with how hot it's already gotten here in Houston, asked if we had a bedroom ceiling fan (and we didn't). He then decided that his gift to us for the new Babyness would be to get us a nice ceiling fan. Onesies and receiving blankets are great and all, but his ceiling fan idea is pretty much the nicest most thoughtful gift we could have gotten for this new phase of our life, and it's something we hadn't even thought of.
Better yet, he enlisted our local brother, Kevin (naturally a very helpful fellow anyways), to help us pick one out and install it. It took us a few weeks to get both Kenny and Kevin free, but on Sautrday they went ahead and got this fan:
It's reversible- we went with the mahagony side, then the other side is black. Since all of our bedroom furniture is hand-me-downs from Nama, who had an obsession with cheap "natural oak" wood, I think the fan is now the classiest item in our bedroom.
Better yet, it WORKS. Even on it's lowest setting (which supposedly only needs 7 watts of electricity) it really pumps air. For the first time in over a month, Kenny and I have been able to sleep with our comforter and without having to worry about getting too close to each other because it's too warm. I had missed cuddling.
So this whole post comes down to me being very grateful for my brothers. I always knew Kevin was a pretty amazing guy, but I had forgotten just how nice it is to just sit and chat with him. And we're so grateful for his help with helping us get settled. We love his family and we appreciate Jeremy and Jonathan also helping install the fan (by keeping the puppy entertained):
And Chris, with his kind gift... I'm so happy that he and I are slowly getting to know each other again through the world of blogging, and as I slowly slide into my adult life. Before he left on his mission (which was in... what? '95?) he and I were pretty good friends, despite my being 9 years younger. Ever since then, it's been hard to catch up enough for us to have something in common, but I think the last year or so has helped a lot. I love his family, his beautiful girls and his amazing wife Jolayne. I'm just hoping I get a chance to see them sometime soon-ish.
Anyways, thank heavens for great brothers!
Better yet, he enlisted our local brother, Kevin (naturally a very helpful fellow anyways), to help us pick one out and install it. It took us a few weeks to get both Kenny and Kevin free, but on Sautrday they went ahead and got this fan:
It's reversible- we went with the mahagony side, then the other side is black. Since all of our bedroom furniture is hand-me-downs from Nama, who had an obsession with cheap "natural oak" wood, I think the fan is now the classiest item in our bedroom.
Better yet, it WORKS. Even on it's lowest setting (which supposedly only needs 7 watts of electricity) it really pumps air. For the first time in over a month, Kenny and I have been able to sleep with our comforter and without having to worry about getting too close to each other because it's too warm. I had missed cuddling.
So this whole post comes down to me being very grateful for my brothers. I always knew Kevin was a pretty amazing guy, but I had forgotten just how nice it is to just sit and chat with him. And we're so grateful for his help with helping us get settled. We love his family and we appreciate Jeremy and Jonathan also helping install the fan (by keeping the puppy entertained):
And Chris, with his kind gift... I'm so happy that he and I are slowly getting to know each other again through the world of blogging, and as I slowly slide into my adult life. Before he left on his mission (which was in... what? '95?) he and I were pretty good friends, despite my being 9 years younger. Ever since then, it's been hard to catch up enough for us to have something in common, but I think the last year or so has helped a lot. I love his family, his beautiful girls and his amazing wife Jolayne. I'm just hoping I get a chance to see them sometime soon-ish.
Anyways, thank heavens for great brothers!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Big ol baby
First, let me say this last week hasn't been so bad at all. Kenny did not burn out, nor did I get too lonely. So I was just being pessimistic last weekend I guess.
Next, I've got a big baby inside me! I got an ultrasound on Thursday. Nothing much has changed: baby is still at -1 station, I'm still dilated to just under a 1, and my cervical length is still 1.4 cm. There was one big change though: all of my ultrasounds I've had since L&D, my baby has measured 3-4 pounds. I was worrying he wasn't growing right. Well, this time he measured a whopping 6 pounds and 12 ounces- only a few ounces less than I was when I was born, a week LATE. Albeit, ultrasound measurements aren't always that accurate, but still, it's nice to know he's growing, as is my belly:
Tomorrow I hit 35 weeks. I'm still pretty comfortable and happy. I always thought by this point of my pregnancy I'd be more miserable, but really, I'm happy with how my body looks, and I'm not too uncomfortable (I think most my discomfort comes from being in bed all the time).
I had figured once I got to this point, I'd lighten up the bedrest. Sure enough, Thursday we ran some errands and Friday we went to dinner with Kevin and his family. Apparently it was a bit much and my painless contractions started back up. I would have been ok with that (heck, I'm ready to meet this little guy!) except my reasonable sister Becky made me compare pics or her baby born around 35 weeks and her baby born around 36 weeks. Dylan was gray and floppy, Katelynn was pink and active. Becky convinced me it was worth waiting one more week to avoid a gray, floppy baby. So, more bedrest. But, this is MY LAST WEEK of it. 8 days from now, I'm free!
Next, I've got a big baby inside me! I got an ultrasound on Thursday. Nothing much has changed: baby is still at -1 station, I'm still dilated to just under a 1, and my cervical length is still 1.4 cm. There was one big change though: all of my ultrasounds I've had since L&D, my baby has measured 3-4 pounds. I was worrying he wasn't growing right. Well, this time he measured a whopping 6 pounds and 12 ounces- only a few ounces less than I was when I was born, a week LATE. Albeit, ultrasound measurements aren't always that accurate, but still, it's nice to know he's growing, as is my belly:
Tomorrow I hit 35 weeks. I'm still pretty comfortable and happy. I always thought by this point of my pregnancy I'd be more miserable, but really, I'm happy with how my body looks, and I'm not too uncomfortable (I think most my discomfort comes from being in bed all the time).
I had figured once I got to this point, I'd lighten up the bedrest. Sure enough, Thursday we ran some errands and Friday we went to dinner with Kevin and his family. Apparently it was a bit much and my painless contractions started back up. I would have been ok with that (heck, I'm ready to meet this little guy!) except my reasonable sister Becky made me compare pics or her baby born around 35 weeks and her baby born around 36 weeks. Dylan was gray and floppy, Katelynn was pink and active. Becky convinced me it was worth waiting one more week to avoid a gray, floppy baby. So, more bedrest. But, this is MY LAST WEEK of it. 8 days from now, I'm free!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Boring
First, I'm sorry about the lack of updates. Needless to say, bedrest is NOT very exciting. We did sneak out to the movie theater to see "21" and quite enjoyed it. I have an appointment and an ultrasound on Thursday, and I'm not sure what I'm hoping to hear at it. I'm hoping at least to have some of the bedrest restrictions lifted.
And I'm VERY eagerly waiting for my sister Lori to be delivered from this state of confused half-labor. I'm so excited for her little girl to come into the world. It could happen any day now, and then it's my turn!
First, I was asking Kenny if there's anything about Math that he just can't grasp. I asked: "Is there a math question you'd like to ask God when you first get to heaven?" He responded: "Yes, there is. It's Am I ever going to use this in real life?" Apparently Kenny gets that a lot in his classes and for most of the stuff he teaches, there doesn't seem to be a good application. Anyways, that cracked me up.
Kenny seems to be getting in the swing of things as a teacher, though the next few weeks will be rough as his school goes overboard preparing for standardized testing. We're anticipating Kenny getting a bit burnt out and me getting a bit lonely. I'll need to go buy a new video game or something.
And I'm VERY eagerly waiting for my sister Lori to be delivered from this state of confused half-labor. I'm so excited for her little girl to come into the world. It could happen any day now, and then it's my turn!
First, I was asking Kenny if there's anything about Math that he just can't grasp. I asked: "Is there a math question you'd like to ask God when you first get to heaven?" He responded: "Yes, there is. It's Am I ever going to use this in real life?" Apparently Kenny gets that a lot in his classes and for most of the stuff he teaches, there doesn't seem to be a good application. Anyways, that cracked me up.
Kenny seems to be getting in the swing of things as a teacher, though the next few weeks will be rough as his school goes overboard preparing for standardized testing. We're anticipating Kenny getting a bit burnt out and me getting a bit lonely. I'll need to go buy a new video game or something.
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