39 Weeks! Final Pregnancy Post!!

Well, this is my final pregnancy blog post, since I am being induced on Tuesday morning. The next time I write, it will be "all about Blake"! I have a mix of so many emotions right now... Most importantly, I am excitedly anticipating her arrival! I know our lives are about to change for the better, and soon we will no longer be able to imagine what life pre-Blake was once like. I can't wait to be a Mommy and take care of this precious, little life. At the same time, I am nervous and quite terrified! Those particular emotions come from a place of pure irrational thought and selfishness. When I think of all the stories I have heard from veteran parents about sleeplessness, God-awful messes, lack of control, etc., those things scare the poppycock out of this control freak! But, at the root of it all, I am just ready to embrace the excited-Mommy emotion. What kind of life would I have if everything was perfect and mess-free? It's the unexpected moments that make life so interesting and rewarding. And I have known all my life that I wanted to be a Mommy, more than anything else. I've had 35+ years now to sleep as much as I want and live by my own schedule. It's time to move to the next chapter of my life, and I am so thankful to God that He has brought me to this place. I'm ready! Let's do this!!

Blake, There are so many people who are excited to meet you! They all love you so much. There are so many babies out there who weren't even planned and aren't really wanted.  We prayed for you, planned for you, waited for you, and God gave us our miracle. You are our greatest blessing. I can't wait to meet you!! Love, your Mommy

How I’m Changing

Total weight gain: 12 lbs (3 lbs lost since last week, according to OB's scale on Thursday)

Maternity clothes? yes, but not for much longer! (although they *are* pretty comfy, so we'll see...)

Stretch marks? not one!

Sleep: I have been exhausted! Lately I've been sleeping very hard. One night, Shawn said I was sleeping so hard that I was snoring really loudly. He tried to wake me up 3 times, and I have no recollection of it.

Best moment this week: Finally getting confirmation that I will be induced on February 12th!

Miss Anything? yummy food!

Movement: lots! she's ready to bust out of there!

Food cravings: not really -- unless it's something I'm not allowed to have at that moment (sugar, bread, pasta, etc.)
Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Gender: girl

Symptoms: swollen feet, some lower back pain (from sitting or walking), some mild period-like cramps (intermittent), mild cervical cramping at times, pink spotting, irregular Braxton Hicks contractions (tightness), mild carpal tunnel from sleeping, may have lost part of my mucus plug this last week but not quite sure

Belly Button in or out? the top part is out, bottom part still in

Wedding rings on or off? off

Happy or Moody most of the time: anxious, but excited

Looking forward to: BLAKE'S ARRIVAL this week!!!!!! :-)

I thought I would share a few pictures of my swollen feet, since I've been talking about them for about 27 weeks now. I have heard that they should go back to normal within a few days after delivery. I don't think I will be able to recognize my old feet, but I welcome them with open arms!

Swollen feet and "cankles"... these are not my normal feet! :-(

Looking a bit more normal, but with flip-flop indentations

Lastly, we finally got the nursery chandelier installed!! I'm so excited! The princess room is now complete. Yay! Also, we made two very important safety improvements: 1) We purchased fire extinguishers for both the downstairs and the upstairs of our house, 2) We had the corner bookshelf (as seen in the far right of the pic below) anchored to the wall. You can never be too safe!!

Another angle...

Blake Alexis Kirby Week 39 Update:

Your baby's the size of a watermelon! Baby keeps growing, despite being so crowded in there. She probably weighs around 6.2 to 9.2 pounds and measures about 18.9 to 20.9 inches. She's probably able to flex her limbs now. Her brain is still rapidly developing -- she's getting smarter by the week! Her nails may extend past her fingertips.

38w5d Final OB Appointment!

Today was my final OB appointment! We graduated! When the OB checked me, I was still only 1cm dilated. She also tried to get a current weight on Blake, but was unable to take a good head measurement since it was down so low. The estimated weight she got was right around 6 lbs 12 oz, so she said to go with the 7-lb weight estimate from the MFM on Tuesday since they have better equipment. Not too big, not too small -- just right. :-)

She then told me that we would proceed with an induction next week. My instructions are to check into the hospital at 6pm on Monday, February 11th so they can administer Cervidil, which is supposed to further ripen my cervix. At that time, if I am dilated more than 1cm, they will go ahead and induce me that evening. If I am still only 1cm, they will wait to administer the Pitocin at 5:30 the next morning to begin the induction. I am really hoping that I will be dilated more when we check in so we can get the show on the road. It's hard to tell family when exactly to be at the hospital when we don't know how soon Blake will arrive. But I guess we will just play it by ear. I'm sure the nurses will continue to check my dilation and progress so we can keep the families updated throughout the day (or night).

I feel like my anxiety has been relieved a little bit, now that we have a plan in motion. But it seems that a whole new set of worries have taken over. Who will check on the dogs while we're in the hospital? I know there will be plenty of family to help, but I don't' want anyone to miss the big arrival. Although, the hospital says they like to allow the parents and baby to spend the first hour together before family visitation begins. So technically, even if she has been born, there is still plenty of time for someone to run home to check on the dogs if necessary. I know it will be ok. I'm just a worrier. Before I become a mom to Blake, I was first a mom to our furbabies. So it's just natural that I will worry about them. But I know they will be fine.

Ok, so 4 more days and counting until this party gets started! I hope I can keep myself busy so the days don't drag on and my anxiety doesn't build too much more. This will be our last "free" weekend as a family of 2! (Well, ok, a family of 5 if you count the furbabies.) Nothing crazy planned -- too tired! Haha! We'll probably just try to enjoy relaxing and sleeping in as much as possible. It'll be a LONG time before we'll be able to do that again!

38w3d MFM Update and More Nesting

This morning was my final MFM appointment to see how Blake is developing. The day got off to a rocky start when I had to wait 1 FULL HOUR after my appointment time to be seen. Needless to say, it put me in a pretty foul mood. But it was my last appointment there, so I decided to just let it go. Blake is currently weighing in at 7 lbs 0 oz and measuring at 37w5d. This puts her in the 37th percentile, which is considered normal and average. The MFM even reviewed my blood sugar levels and was relatively pleased. Although they could be better, she commented that they could also be much worse. Overall, she said that Blake is developing very nicely and that I graduated today!

After leaving the MFM office and getting some lunch (Pei Wei lettuce wraps -- what else??), I swung by Michael's to pick up some supplies. I ordered an unfinished wood monogram for Blake's nursery a few months back and wanted to get it painted at some point this week. I know if I don't do it before the baby comes, it won't happen! As soon it's completed, I'll make sure to post a pic. After that, I picked up some diet dog food for Sadie at the vet's office. If we are in the hospital next week, I want to make sure she has plenty of food available to whoever will be feeding her. (The boys' food comes from the grocery store and we buy it in bulk, so they are all taken care of.) Next, I went to the grocery store to stock up on necessities for the house and hospital snacks for Shawn. Once I got home, I put all of the groceries away, hospital snacks stowed away in my car, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, and started dinner (chili). By that point, I was exhausted! Doesn't take much these days. But I feel so much better to have those things checked off of my to-do list for the week. Nothing like a productive day! Ahhhh! :-)

38 weeks! and Nesting

This weekend was very productive. Saturday morning, we met Eric, Melissa, Ruby, & Mable for brunch. It always makes my day brighter seeing those pretty little girls! After that, I went to get my roots touched up. Thinking ahead, I may be forced to take some pictures in the hospital once Blake is born. Gotta look my best! *wink wink*

I then decided that Shawn deserved a special treat, so I agreed to go see an afternoon showing of "Zero Dark Thirty" with him. I should have known better, but the movie ended up being over 2.5 hours long (including previews). Like an idiot, I let him pick the seats -- smack dab in the middle of the row. After a while, I got a little concerned that I might have to get up and pee a lot. So I tried not to drink very much. About 2/3 of the way through the movie, I got a terrible pain on the right side of my lower-middle back. It was so intense that I started feeling hot, sweating, had lots of abdominal tightness, and got very nauseous. I really wanted to get up and walk it off, but didn't want to disturb the people on our row. I also didn't want Shawn to miss the movie. So I sweated it out. He fanned me off with his hat, not missing a moment of the movie (ha!). This lasted for about 5-7 minutes and happened twice. The pain subsided by the end of the movie, but I was still pretty hot and nauseous until we got home. By that point, I was exhausted. It happened one more time once we were home, but eventually went away completely. If that's any indication of how things will feel once labor begins, I'm in big trouble! I sure hope they can get the epidural hooked up fast!!

On Sunday, the urge to nest finally kicked in! We cleaned up the house a little, did laundry, set up the pack n play, packed Shawn's hospital stuff (mine stuff was already packed), and installed the car seat. The carseat installation was interesting... ha! We have always heard how confusing it is and how most people end up doing it wrong. So I pulled up an instructional video on youtube, and it helped a lot. But, after further reading, I still think we may have done it incorrectly. So, I'll be going by a local carseat inspection event on Friday, just to make sure it's installed correctly. Better to be safe than sorry!

Carseat installed

Hospital bags packed

Trunk full of Blake's "stuff"...

How I’m Changing

Total weight gain: 15 lbs (0 lbs gained since last week)

Maternity clothes? what else??

Stretch marks? nope! :-)

Sleep: The last few nights have been pretty restful. (Hope I'm not jinxing myself!) Still lots of getting up to pee and re-positioning to get comfortable, but I'm getting used to that. 

Best moment this week: My OB telling me that I may possibly be induced on February 11th or 12th! Will know for sure at my next appointment on February 7th.

Miss Anything? sweets

Movement: oh yeah!

Food cravings: no-sugar-added frozen yogurt
Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Gender: girl

Symptoms: swollen feet, low-to-mid back pain (intermittent), some mild period-like cramps (intermittent), mild cervical cramping at times, pink spotting, and irregular Braxton Hicks contractions (tightness), mild carpal tunnel from sleeping (I've had this for several months, but forgot to mention it before)

Belly Button in or out? the top part is out, bottom part still in

Wedding rings on or off? off

Happy or Moody most of the time: anxious!

Looking forward to: My (hopefully) final OB appointment on Thursday (2/7) to find out when we might be able to expect Blake's arrival!

Blake Alexis Kirby Week 38 Update:

Your baby's the size of a pumpkin! Baby is about 18.9 to 20.9 inches long and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. Her head is now about the same circumference as her abdomen. She may have about an inch or so of hair already. She's slowly shedding that white goo on her skin (called vernix caseosa) but you might see some of it at birth.

Just for the record...

I remember my sister-in-law, Melissa, telling me how I should take a picture of my bare belly at least once during my pregnancy. That way, I would have a record of it, even if just for my own eyes. Well, I took her advice and am posting them below, just so I can look back on them one day. I love that I didn't get stretch marks. Any visible lines you see are either veins (from extra blood flow, not varicose veins) or are indentions from my pants. But, the most important detail is that there is a precious little girl in there, who we will get to meet very soon! :-)

On another note... about an hour ago, I started having some new symptoms. I got a sharp pain in my mid-to-upper abdomen, which wrapped all the way around my back. It's irregular -- comes and goes. It's a stabbing feeling, and it's still going on intermittently. Also, I started having tightness in my lower stomach tonight, rather than the tightness in my upper stomach that I've been feeling for the past few weeks. I'm thinking, since they are not real regular or time-able, maybe my uterus is just doing some practice contractions. I guess we will see what the night brings. Hopefully they will subside so I can be well-rested for my last day of work tomorrow. And hopefully it wasn't just bad pot roast that I ate tonight -- haha! Stay tuned...

37w3d OB Update

I had my 37-week checkup today. My blood pressure was normal, as usual. The NST machine was out for repair, so they were not able to monitor the baby's heart rate and my contractions as they usually do. So the OB did a more detailed ultrasound instead. As of today, Blake is weighing around 6 lbs 12 oz -- still very average for 37 weeks gestation. Everything looked great and normal on the ultrasound: amniotic fluid level, anatomic measurements, breathing pattern, etc.

She also did another pelvic/cervical exam... ouch! Man, those are pretty uncomfortable. I am still only 1cm dilated and my cervix is still soft. She didn't really comment on effacement, so I'm not sure where I stand there. I'm guessing it's the same as last week -- not effaced. She said that, depending on my progression and blood sugar levels at my appointment next week (Feb. 7), we may be scheduling a February 11th or 12th induction. It was so nice to finally hear actual dates -- even if they are only tentative. And nice to know it will be prior to my due date! Of course, the date could also change if Blake decides to arrive before then, on her own. Time will tell!

I also asked my OB if it would be ok for my mom to be in the delivery room, along with Shawn. She said 'yes'. I'm thinking it would be nice for her to be there for moral support and encouragement, considering that she's been through it twice before herself. Also, I'm hoping that she'll be able to capture Blake's birth on video so we can go back and watch it later. I know I'll be very tired and overwhelmed when she arrives, so I'd like to be able to watch it later and have it on record for memory's sake. It's going to be the best moment of my life thus far! But, don't worry, she'll only video from a distance... nothing I wouldn't want to be seen by anyone else or on tv! ;-)

I still have 3 more days of work until I  become a stay-at-home mom! I must admit... I am a little sad about leaving. I never thought I would say that. I guess I am just sad about not seeing some of my friends everyday, and it's the end of another chapter in my life. But I'm excited about starting the new chapter, so I'll get over it fast! I also have appointments every day next week through Thursday. Monday, our homebuilder is sending over a plumber to check the pipes to the master bathtub. For some reason, we can't get any hot water to come out. It sure would be nice to take a nice, hot bath in our garden tub before I deliver! Tuesday, I have a followup appointment with my MFM for a final growth and development scan in Kingwood. Wednesday, we have a meet-and-greet with our pediatrician. Then, afterward, I plan on getting a pedicure -- which is my way of letting Blake know she can come at any time! And, Thursday, is my 38w5d OB appointment -- hopefully the last one! On that day, we will know if an induction will be scheduled for February 11th or 12th. So stay tuned! :-)

In the meantime, I am TERRIFIED of going into labor! Not knowing when and where it might happen is like a sneaky snake ready to strike at any unknown point in time. I have read that the majority of women's water breaks in bed. So, every time I lay down for bed at night, all I can do is notice every little twinge and slip swiftly into panic mode. Ugh, this control freak hates not knowing what this baby's agenda is! Part of me is scared of labor pain -- darn those nutty childbirth videos! (Note: I WILL be requesting an epidural!) Part of me is nervous that we will not make it to the hospital in time, even though we only live and work within 10-20 minutes of the hospital. How long will I be in labor? Will the induction slow the labor process down? Will the epidural wear off? So many worries! But, most importantly, I worry about Blake's safety and well-being. I was born with the cord wrapped around my neck and my heart rate dropped. They had to pull me out with forceps. Obviously, I turned out ok. But I don't want to have to worry about that with my own child. Another legitimate concern is that I am being treated for gestational diabetes. It can cause Blake's blood sugar to be low at birth, which is only a short-term concern. But it can cause her to have a seizure, if not monitored carefully. To me, there is just something about labor that makes me feel like I have no control. And I really, I have none. But the OB and nurses do. And, most importantly, God does. I have to keep reminding myself that I am in very good hands. In the next 2 weeks, I will have to figure out how to embrace the unknown and learn to let go. And, if you know me at all, that will be very hard to do! But, for my sanity's sake, it has to happen. God has seen me through the last 9 months, and I have been so blessed. I know He will see me through the next few weeks as well!

37 weeks! and Final Nursery Pics

So the nursery is finally finished, and all of our hospital bags are packed! Of course I made a list of last-minute items to pack that we use every day. I have 5 more days of work this week, and I'm really excited about that. Other than a few appointments the following week, I am ready for Blake to come at any point! Here are the final nursery pics. Enjoy!

How I’m Changing

Total weight gain: 15 lbs (0 lbs gained since last week)

Maternity clothes? of course

Stretch marks? still nothing!

Sleep: I usually have 2-3 restless sleep nights and then 1 really good sleep. Between lower back discomfort and peeing a lot, it's hard to get continuous sleep most nights. Then, once I am awake, I have trouble going back to sleep.

Best moment this week: hearing that I am 1cm dilated and cervix is soft... making progress!

Miss Anything? good, restful sleep (won't be seeing that for a LONG time!)

Movement: kicking, poking, hiccups... you name it!

Food cravings: iced tea sweetened with splenda
Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Gender: girl

Symptoms: swollen feet, low-to-mid back pain (intermittent), some mild period-like cramps (intermittent), mild cervical cramping at times, very slight pink spotting, and irregular Braxton Hicks contractions (tightness)

Belly Button in or out? starting to pop! (but not completely)

Wedding rings on or off? off

Happy or Moody most of the time: neither... just tired all the time

Looking forward to: 37-week checkup on Tuesday... finding out weight, dilation, and effacement!

Blake Alexis Kirby Week 37 Update:

Your baby's the length of swiss chard! Yay! Baby has reached full term. She likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. She's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day.

She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. She's getting his first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for her first diaper.

Braxton Hicks

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I've been having mild contractions (apparently) lately. It's not often and just feels like Blake is squishing herself into a ball in the top part of my belly. The whole area gets really hard & tight. Well, today around lunchtime, I started having them constantly. It was really hard for me to even track when one contraction stopped and another started. I guess it's hard to tell because they never got super intense enough for me to notice when I was completely relaxed again. And, just as soon as it was over, another one started back up. But I know all of these are practice contractions for "the big game". And, so far, they don't hurt. So it's really more of a mild annoyance and discomfort than anything. My gut tells me that I have several more weeks to go before Blake will arrive. But it's kind of nice to see that my body is starting to prepare already. Let the games begin!