38 weeks, 4 days!!!

So..we went to the doctor today and he scheduled an induction for this WEDNESDAY the 20th!!!  He thinks it's best to induce not only to control bleeding and to give me the chance to get an epidural (otherwise impossible), but also because Nathan is measuring nearly 9 pounds and this way he can make sure he's there since he's the one that knows the most about my case and won't be in the hospital over the Easter weekend.  I have to go to the hospital tomorrow to reserve blood for a transfusion, which definitely shouldn't be necessary, but this doctor prefers to play it safe.  The baby is still high, but the doctor's confident that I can do this naturally.  I want to try without an epidural, but we'll see how that goes.  My parents are on the plane on their way here now and we're so excited that they'll make it for the birth.  We have everything ready for our little boy (well, except for the crib mattress that we had to order because it's a special size).  My last day at school was this Friday.  It was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I was happy because it meant that my baby was coming that much sooner.  We're so excited to meet him!!!  Please be praying that everything will go smoothly and I won't end up needing a cesarean.  My next blog will be of my precious baby boy!  Woohoo!

36 weeks, 2 days

Here we are in Siguenza celebrating our 3rd anniversary and last anniversary without babies.  This day I still had the pinched nerve in my back, but managed to hobble around pretty well.  The day before they had a surprise baby shower for us after church and they got us some things that we still needed.  The next Monday Moi's parents came to visit for a week.  My back pain went away completely and I've had a lot more energy since then.  I've felt great!  I've had a little more pressure down there, but the contractions haven't been any stronger or more frequent.  The doctor at the private hospital wanted to induce on April 13th because Nathan was already measuring eight pounds the week before, but I convinced him to wait one more week so he could have a little more time to cook.  We also went to the public hospital and it sounded like they didn't want to induce until the last minute.  They wanted me to go in the 20th and the 27th for revisions (monitorization of contractions).  This made us a little nervous with the heparin issue and all.  So,  we decided to go with the private hospital after all and the doctor there lowered my heparin dose from 60mg to 40mg.  He wanted to see us the next week to see if I was having any contractions yet and to look at a date for the induction to stop the heparin 48 hrs before. The nursery has come together pretty well and I have our bags packed for the hospital.  We're also getting excited about my parents and Kim coming...yea!!!

34 weeks, 1 day

 

Hi Everybody! Only about 5 weeks left!  So excited!  Well, everything's going well.  I've had a pinched nerve in my back all week, but it's feeling a lot better today.  I think I just over did it walking on Monday.  We're still trying to decide where we want to have our little nugget...at the private hospital or the public.  We really like the doctor at the private hospital.  He said that he would induce so that they could have me go off the heparin 48 hours before and be able to control any excess bleeding.  Moi really wants to have the baby there because he really liked the hospital and how informed about Factor V the doctor seemed to be, and the fact that he told us his plan right away. At our next appointment with him he should tell us when he'll induce exactly (a week early?).  He also sent us for a pre-anestesia test, a vaginal strep B test and some bloodwork.  I've had to do all the bloodwork twice (for the public hospital and the private).  I look like a drug user right now from all the bruises from the blood withdrawals and the injections in my belly.  I have an appointment this next Friday at the public hospital, so I want to see if they finally tell me what they want to do exactly (induce or not) and can tell me possible risks, solutions and then I'll make a decision.  Baby Nathan is getting really big and has been in a head down position for about a month now.  At our last appointment which was almost 2 weeks ago (I was 32 weeks) they said that he was measuring 37 weeks and weighed about 6 pounds, already!  The doctor seemed really pleased though and said that I seem to be taking good care of myself.  People keep telling me that it doesn't look like I've gained that much, but I've gained a lot though...about 28 lbs!  I'm really trying to walk and watch what I eat, but I'm ALWAYS hungry.  Not that that is too much different from before I was pregnant :D  We really like the name Nathan (which means, "given by God" or "gift of God"), but people here have a really hard time pronouncing it in English and always look at us weird when we tell them.  I'm sure they'll end up calling him Natán (in Spanish), well..not if Moisés has anything to do with it:)  Well, tomorrow Mom is having a shower for us and we'll make an appearance through Skype, so that should be fun!  Hopefully by the next time I blog we'll have the rooms switched around and have the nursery pretty well organized.  Hope you're all doing well!!! Thanks for reading!

32 weeks!!!

This is me a couple days ago.  Today we went for another ultrasound and they said he's pretty big.  He's measuring 34 weeks, 5 days.  He weighs almost 5 pounds, about a pound more then he should, and he's measuring about 18 inches long.  They showed us his hair, he has a ton! Must be Moi's:) He's also still head down and has been for 3 weeks now. My blood pressure and everything was good.  I have to have the third trimester blood tests done next week and we're also having another ultrasound done at the private hospital on Wednesday, which might be 3D.  We'll also tour the hospital so we can decide which one we want to have him at.  I've only gained about 1 pound since my last post (about 24 total).  I'm feeling really good.  I'm a little tired and have started feeling what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions every once in a while.  My lower abdomen gets tight and I get light, menstrual-like cramps.  Another strange symptom is that sometimes I can hear my heartbeat in my right ear.  I asked the OB about it today and she said it's normal, it's just from all the extra blood flow in my body.  We also asked her if she thought they would induce since he's so big and she said that they weren't able to tell us yet.  We're so excited to meet Nathan!

29 weeks + 4 days

Our last ultrasound was last Wednesday and the doctor said he's big and healthy.  I also got back another glucose screening and some other bloodwork and everything looked great.  Well,  my iron was a little low, but now I'm taking another supplement for that.  I've also gained about 23 pounds so far, but I'm trying to be careful.  We've bought some things for him, such as a fancy thermometer, humidifier and the stroller/carseat.  Moi's sister gave us a ton of clothes and blankets and such and some girls from work threw me a little shower, so things are coming together.  This little guy is moving around a lot and it's so cool!  We're so excited to meet him!

26 weeks!

Wow!  Looks like I'm going to pop out of that sweater!  Ate a little too much at Christmas, but I enjoyed it, so it's all good.  I've gained about 20 pounds so far, yikes!  The doctor didn't seemed too worried.  She said just to be careful to not gain too much more.  Our trip to the states was great!  No problems on the flights (except that we couldn't bring back everything we wanted to).  It was so nice to spend such precious moments with my beautiful, loving family and friends. Miss them :(   Well, I've had 2 more ultrasounds since coming back and both doctors said that he's perfect.  He's big and chunky and has everything in the right place and the right size.  I also got back my glucose screening and bloodwork and everything was good.  I feel great and love feeling this little guy move around.  It's fun having some clothes and other things for him now.  Excited about getting more things and setting up his nursery.  Also, to pick the name...  Can't wait to meet him!!!!!!

It's a Boy!!! 22 weeks, 5 days

On Tuesday Dec. 14,  before heading to the States, we found out that he's a BOY!  It didn't matter too much either way to me, but his daddy was pretty excited.  At the ultrasound they told us that he was a good size, but one of his kidneys was a little dilated, but not to worry that it often happens with boys when they're still developing.  We had another ultrasound the Thursday after at a private doctor's office and they did a 3D ultrasound.  They told us he was perfect.  His picture was so funny!  He looked just like Mr. Burns.  I'm sure he'll be a cutie though.  

We really enjoyed our time in the states seeing family.  Love this pic of me, my mommy and my sisters at the 40th anniversary celebration.  So sweet!  We had such a nice time!