35/35!!

I finally get to make this post!  Of course, I don't have 35 days left, but still....I made it to 35 weeks!  A little over 2 weeks to go.   I started Ursodiol on Friday to help the Cholestasis, but it takes 2-3 days for it to even begin working so I haven't noticed much difference.   Last night I had to sleep with an ice pack pressed between my hands because that was the only thing that calmed the itching (itching comes from bloodstream, so ice slows blood flow and lessens itch).   I called the nurse this morning to ask if my levels should be retested and if I should continue p17 injections if they want to induce in 2 weeks and she actually wasn't very helpful.  Usually they are pretty good about answering questions but this time I don't think she even conferred with my OB.   I do have my mid-wifes direct number but I don't think my questions are that critical since my MFM appt was moved to tomorrow and my OB appt is Thursday.

34 weeks!

As is usual, the week got away from me, so now I am technically 34 weeks 4 days....the same gestation I was admitted with Colton.  The good, actually fantastic news, is that there has been little to no change since last week.  My midwife said I am probably a little more thinned out than 50, but still holding strong between 1 and 1.5cm.    I would have guessed around a 2 and 80% based on the number and strength of contractions these last 3 days, so I am very relieved.   On the bad news end of things, my blood work came back showing elevated cholic acid levels, so it is probable that I have developed Cholestasis.  My mid wife is going to talk to my OB and get back to me by tomorrow morning, but if she agrees they will induce at 37 weeks if I make it that far.   Obviously that raises some other questions about delivery, but we'll get there when they make a definite call.    At least she said they can prescribe some meds to help relieve my itching.

On a different note....we bought a car!  Last night my mom watched C so we could go test drive a few more, which always ends up taking longer than you think.  We basically looked at 2 cars, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander, and from walking on the first lot to the point we decided to buy was close to 3 hrs (and the dealerships were minutes from each other) and then another 1.5hrs for paperwork.  So to that point....it was a bad, BAD idea to time things like that.   Silly us thought we'd do some quick test drives and then get dinner.  I didn't eat until we got home at nearly 11 and I was contracting majorly.  I was almost in tears from the pain, but thankfully they stopped as soon as I ate and lay down.    Anyway...we picked up my car today and I love it.   Still hanging on to my trusty old jetta as good mileage get around car, but I'm so glad to have something with so much space that doesn't drive like a tank!



Aaaaand....since Internet explorer has decided to be a dickbag and crash every time I upload pics, I guess I'll once again be adding those later.

It's here! It's here!

My super awesome stroller arrived today!   Very happy with the color and glad that my carseat fits well in the adapter.  I have the 2nd seat too, but we are keeping that in the box for now.

Isn't it wonderful?

It is really easy to steer with one hand and has a ton of options for seat positioning.  And unlike a lot of other tandem strollers, the stadium seating allows for great storage underneath rather than losing half or most of it to another seat or needed foot room.

And while I'm AWing out pictures....here is a sneak peek of the curtains that I have finally finished!

Pink sheers with ruffles at the top and bottom of panels for her room.

And transportation themed valances with dark blue panels for C's room. (plus the mod podged switch plate).

Left on our/my to do list:
Finish and hang her name letters.
Pack hospital bag.
Put away her clothes.

Getting so close!

the beginning of the end?

I had my regular OB appt. yesterday and I asked for a cervical check because I had some contractions Tuesday night and even a few while sitting in the exam room waiting for the doc.   I just had a feeling things were changing and I was right. I am about 1-1.5cm dilated and 50% effaced.   Not a big deal at all in the world of normal pregnancies, and my OB still wasn't really concerned, but we are moving to weekly appointments now, rather than the usual 36 weeks.  I will also be stopping baby aspirin on Monday, to reduce the risk of excess bleeding during delivery.   While I was never diagnosed with Pre-E while pregnant with C,  I think I was showing preliminary signs of it when I went into PTL, and I know the aspirin is helping keep my blood pressure down and the swelling better, so that stuff will be coming back into play in full force soon.   I am also getting tested for Cholestasis, because I've had horrible itching on my hands and feet in the past week.   There isn't a whole lot they can do about that, other than add frequent blood tests to monitor my liver function, but it will mean full term is off the table entirely, because it increases the risk of fetal death after 38 weeks.    But I'm not stressing about that until I actually have my blood work results.   Right now I just want to make it until my appt next Thursday, which will be 34w4days....where I was when I was admitted to L&D with C.

33 weeks

Some days I feel like the end is almost here and others full term seems like an impossible goal.  Overall this week has been better than last week, though the last 3 days I've felt off.    Even though you can't tell by looking at me, I think she has moved down.  So I can breathe better now, but it feels like she is trying to punch her way through my cervix.   I think I'll be opting for a cervical check tomorrow at my check up just to be safe.

Still making fairly steady progress towards being baby ready.   I got my stroller! (well, it is ordered...still waiting for it to ship).  The registry event was so, so much better than what I expected.   I expected it to be a crowded ass mess like the big children's resales I've been to.   Instead, it was well run and no more crowded than a regular shopping day...with plenty of sales people on hand to help.   The downside to that is I spent much more than I planned to because it turned out the 20% off could be applied to things not on my registry, so I picked up a few nursing tanks, some clothes for C, and even a Sharper image humidifier I swore I was going to buy from Bed Bath and Beyond all winter but never did.   All I need (ok, want) now are few things that only BRU carries...like another sound machine since C still uses his.

We are on night 4 of C sleeping in his new room and I think he is all settled in.  The first two nights were rough, but still better than I expected.  We are beyond lucky that, at this point, he sits in his bed and cries for us rather than getting out.  Yesterday at naptime was the first time I didn't have to go back in to soothe him, and we've had no crying before going to sleep since, though he still wakes up sad.  I've been napping when he does most days, and today I was jolted awake by a cheerful "Hi Mommy!".   So we've breached the limits of the toddler (though he knew how to get out before, I just don't he is comfortable doing it when sad).   Very proud of my little man.

I've finally got the 0-3 month clothes pulled out and amazingly they haven't yellowed at all, so I just to do a quick re-wash and get those sorted.  Beyond that all that is left are her curtains and name letters, I'd like to borrow my MILs carpet steamer and run that before putting new stuff in the nursery, and finishing packing the hospital bag.  Oh, and at some point deciding if we want to set up the pack n play downstairs and get the swing out yet.

32 weeks

I had a moment this morning.  One of those OMG things are really going to change soon moments.  C woke up early but was in a pretty good mood so I just went in and got him rather than giving him the usual 5 minutes or so to go back to sleep.   I was promptly instructed to hold Cookie Monster while he held Teddy and then carry everyone downstairs to get milk.  Most mornings he takes off around the kitchen while I get his milk and start fixing breakfast, but this morning he wanted to keep being held and was just super snuggly.  I know I won't always have that option soon and it makes me a little sad.   I hope I can find a good balance quickly.

On the physical front I am struggling....a lot.  I don't know if it is the heat, her size, my lack of exercise or what, but I feel like crap much of the day now.  I am out of breath all the time and I feel weak/shaky if I stand too long.   Swelling is here more often than not, though still not super visible.   I don't think it is blood pressure related, because so far that has been really good, but I'll bring it up at my appt next week.

I finally got ahold of someone at Buy Buy Baby about their registry event.  I made registries this time in order to get completion discounts, but BBB has an event that gives you 20% off instead of 10.  Apparently I made my registry just after the invites went out, but after 3 phone calls I got  a manager that said it was no problem for me to attend.  I'm sure it will be a crowded clusterfuck, but I hope to walk out of there with about $125 off my City Select double, plus some diapers and other things I could use a discount on (that are normally excluded from coupons).  We will see.

I am so, so close to finishing up my curtain sewing projects.  C's are done and I'm pretty damn proud of them.  R just has to put up the hooks for the tiebacks and they'll be set.  Then it is just a matter of mounting the video camera on the wall and getting the power strip for the sound machine in place behind the anchored dresser and we are set to move him over.

31 weeks and triage AGAIN

And I was about to write up a post saying I feel like I make the same updates every week.  Thank you body, but I'd prefer that over something new to report.   Yesterday morning was my MFM appt and I had a contraction before even getting there at 8am.   Since I'm beyond 30 weeks I won't check any more cervical length checks, but when it comes down to it, things can change pretty fast.    Baby looked great and is estimated to be about 4lbs12oz!!   So still 2 weeks ahead, but the tech said she wasn't so big they'd consider her outside the normal range.     The sporadic contractions continued throughout the day, but that has been pretty normal lately so I tried not to worry about it.   Damned if the stupid things didn't ramp the hell up as soon as it was after hours.   Between 6pm and 7pm I easily had 20.   These were also more painful and just felt different than the past 2 times, so I was more nervous this was it.   Thankfully it wasn't and the trip was more or less a repeat of the 2 times before, but I did get an IV for fluids and based on partial urine results a UTI was the culprit.   I started antibiotics since the holiday means I won't know results for a few days, but I've had about 13 contractions over the course of the day so I hope they help soon.     The fFN was once again negative, so at least I know I've got less than 1% chance of delivering in the next two weeks, but it is hard to believe with all the discomfort and pressure I've been feeling.  My guess would be I'm starting to have some shortening at this point.