sneak peek

if you don't have a Facebook page, you haven't gotten to see these pictures of the little girl.  I am working on a HUGE post to let you know all the details surrounding Lorelei's arrival...  It's taking me much longer than I anticipated.

Until I have that ready - here are 2 pictures for your enjoyment. 

this one was taken Monday, Dec 28th. 

this one is from today (Dec. 30th)















more to come!

- mama g

"not ideal, but okay"

that's the official line from our doctor today. 

okay - let's go in order...  first - the blood pressure is still up.  swelling is down, as is my weight - I lost 2 more pounds this week.  but I'm spilling more protein in my urine than I was even last week - which is a symptom of the blood pressure issues.  he said that my preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) is not severe enough to be SUPER concerned, but we're wanting to keep a close enough eye on it that I'm now going to be having 2 doctor visits per week instead of 1.  so I'll be going back to the doctor this Thursday.

next up, they did my Group B Strep test today.  It takes 3-4 days for the results, and frankly if I have Group B Strep...  I'll have an extra IV drip in the hospital when I deliver, and that's about it.  So - either way, it's no big deal.  then - he checked my cervix.  and guess what!  I'm already dialated to 1cm.  I've completed 36 weeks of pregnancy, so I'm officially 9 months pregnant - officially 1 more month to the due date - but we will not be making it that far.  it looks like in the next 2 or 3 weeks - I'll stop being a pregnant woman, and start being a Mommy!

they also did a blood draw to check my iron levels again.  I imagine the results of that will be just fine.  I've felt pretty good in that department since they put me on the iron supplements.

so... aside from all the doctor stuff - things here are going well.  marmee came over Saturday and cleaned our house.  It looks like a whole troop of Merry Maids came through here!  she is just incredible, and alex and I are so thankful for everything she has been doing for us the past few weeks.

it has to be said - yet again - how blessed I feel to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who are so willing to help...  laura came over last night and made me some cookies, jsut because I've been craving sweets, our friend john delivered a box full of cookies, bread, chocolate dipped pretzels, and fudge...  it's been a parade of people wanting to help - and we have felt humbled AND thankful!!

for me - it's back to laying down.  I'll update again after my next appointment (if not sooner).

- mama g

doctor day - or as I like to call it... "yard time"

I got to get out of the house today to go to my weekly OB checkup.  I may have gotten a little over excited...  I woke up at 430 am, and then once I did shower & get dressed - I decided to straighten my hair.  (hey - it's not everyday I get to see the outside world, you know?)  Today I was particularly excited because not only was the OB appointment on the schedule, but there was also the prenatal pediatrician appointment - and they were 2 hours apart, so that meant LUNCH OUT!!!  (It was Panera, it was DEEEELISH, and if you haven't been there in a while, GO AND GET THE MAC & CHEESE...  it's WAY WORTH IT!)

Ehem..  Sorry - I got distracted by non-takeout/delivery food.  :)

So, the OB appointment went well.  My blood pressure is still "creeping up" so I am going on medicine now.  The Dr was pleased with everything, though - even the blood pressure, because there's really not much else he or I can do to control it - and it's not SUPER CRAZY or anything.  My blood sugars have been great, and he complimented me on my diet, telling me to "keep up the good work"...  The sycophant in me loved the metaphoric gold star!  All my measurements were on target, and I did not gain any weight this week - which made me very happy.

At 35 weeks, we have very little to fear...  If Lorelei were born today - she'd be fine.  She should weigh approximately 5-5 1/2 pounds at this point, and should be about 19-20" long.  We are just trying to give her a couple more weeks for lung development and a bit more weight gain. 

The pediatrician is going to be great.  He's super laid-back just like the OB, and very friendly.  He gave us 15 or 20 minutes of his time today to just talk to us and make sure we didn't have any questions - which we did NOT expect, but MUCH appreciated.

So - things are set in motion, and I just have to focus on laying down as much as possible. I'm reading the new Dan Brown book today.  It gets uncomfortable to read too long while laying on one side or the other.  Whichever arm is on bottom inevitably falls asleep, and that gets way uncomfortable pretty quickly.

I'm getting yelled at (not really) by my husband that it's time to put the computer away and lay down - so I'll end here for now.

Thanks to everyone for your supportive comments, emails, phone calls, etc...  :)  You are making it easier for me to endure this (much improved) version of confinement.  (never heard of "confinement"??  Look it up!!!  People used to make pregnant women do CRAZY stuff!)

- mama g

greetings from the green corduroy sofa

As has been the case with every major piece of furniture we've purchased together - I am so thankful that Alex and I chose an extremely comfortable sofa. We rearranged our living room to make it more conducive to my laying on my left side and still being able to see the TV, and be part of any conversation that might be going on. 

I am starting to get used to not getting up and doing things.  I think this might be a problem later when I am fully capable of doing things myself - but we'll worry about that later, shall we?  :)

Aside from becoming a baker and making me a delicious batch of sugar cookies on Sunday...  Alex has blossomed into quite the homemaker.  He went to the grocery store on Tuesday - and came back with everything that was on the list.  He said he didn't even mind doing the shopping.  He made dinner the past 2 nights, and then for lunch, we eat whatever is leftover from the night before.  He has been Johnny on the spot for everything I've needed during this past 2 weeks of bed rest.  What an amazing husband!

I am approaching 35 weeks.  This is wonderful news.  Any day past 37 weeks will be icing on the cake, and since I haven't even been started on blood pressure medication yet - I'm thinking we'll be able to get to 37, and possibly even go a bit further! 

Lorelei is still very active.  She kicks quite a bit - but her new favorite trick is to push out on my tummy as hard as she can.  It's normally her little butt that she's pushing out.  I wish I could look in there and see how she's doing it - what she's pushing against...  But I'll feel my tummy stretching, and look down - and there will be a huge mountain on one side of my tummy or the other.  I think it's pretty funny - and I'll tell Alex "She's trying to escape again".  He responds by telling her "It's not time yet...  Gotta stay in there a little bit longer."

I think about the strangest things.  WTE says that babies at this stage have REM sleep.  Does she dream?  If so - what about?  Does she feel cramped in there at all?  Is she aware enough to feel cramped - or is she like an amoeba in a petrie dish, just used to the surroundings she's always known, and not apt to question?  She has to be aware enough to realize that she has less room in there than she did, right? 

According to WTE - she's grown as long as she's going to before birth, and she is gaining half a pound each week.  This I believe.  My belly feels heavy.  I can't imagine being on my feet all day long - I think my back would die!  I also feel a bit off-balance most of the time.  My center of gravity is NOT where it used to be, and I'm definitely front heavy.  :)

With all this bed resting, I've been trying to heed my friend Lindsay's advice...  I've been trying to take some time to just enjoy being pregnant.  This is easiest to accomplish when Lorelei is kicking.  I focus on feeling her little kicks - and knowing that this is like a little secret that just she and I share.  I think about the possibilities that lay ahead of her.  I think about what she'll look like.  I think about what kind of a Mother I'll be.  I think about Alex as a Father.

It's true that not everyone gets everything they've always wanted.  But, I have to say...  right now, my life is coming pretty darn close.

- mama g