Should I be worried?

1/27/12 –

36 weeks

I walk by my packed hospital bags (my large vera bradley tote and Lincs' Vera Bradley Baby Bag) in my bedroom at least ten times each day and can't help but wonder when the day will come for him to be born. Will he be as scheduled on 2/17/12 or will my water break and contractions start to come earlier than planned. I really hope its’ as planned, since I am such a scheduler, but I am trying my best to be prepared for both.
I'm NOT ready to not be pregnant anymore- but I am ready to see my boy! In fact- I know I will miss being pregnant- it has been such an amazing learning experience for Chris and I. I will miss rubbing my belly and feeling Lincolns head, hands, feet, etc. sticking out!
However, we are both ready to take on the learning experience that many say will change our lives forever. Don't worry, we plan to remain the fun loving happy couple that we always have been. We will still take our vacations, try not to miss a family gathering, have our usual gatherings, but this time we will have someone extremely special to share all those moments with!  

 I greet Chris with a hug and a kiss when he gets home from work and can't help but think in less than two and a half weeks our usual greeting will change so much. He may no longer be coming home to a quiet house that smells like our oatmeal cookie scentastic plug in ;).It will be a much different smell and sound with a newborn in the house. 

 1/29/12 – 36 weeks three days
I had a reality check today and realized that I’ve never changed a newborns diaper, in fact I think I’ve only changed less than 10 diapers in my lifetime. Should I be worried?
And, then Chris wakes up on Saturday morning and says we only have two Saturday wake ups before our Saturdays’ change forever. Should I be worried?
My pregnancy dreams have been becoming more dramatic as the days goes on. Last night (1.30.11)  I dreamt that Freddy Krugger was going to steal me from bed and that Chris was going to be alone in the room with the basinet. And, I could hear my best friend Jen yelling the background. Freddy stole Cathy, he stole Cathy!. I always knew I hated Freddy Kruger!  Then I kept on hearing or thinking I was hearing crinkle noises in the bedroom and I felt like someone was in the room scratching on the walls. I hesitated to wake up Chris, because he already thinks I’m a little crazy. Lets’ hope my dreams stop being so vivid. I’m worried!

Me and Chris with the presents

Cucumber Game, on the left Tanya  & Anna

printed out and am about to send over 75 thank you cards as a result of our very successful third baby shower! Lincoln is really set now! Thank goodness for computers, I do not think my penmanship could have handled this many thank you cards! The shower was great fun. I enjoyed seeing all of my family in the same place. That doesn’t happen much- we had over 90 people in attendance and were set for 78 ppl. I managed to follow the doctors’ orders and stay seated as much as possible. I made the day of itinerary but left it in the hands of my family to handle. The games were actually a great success and proved fun to watch. There something crazy about watching girls pass a cucumber through their knees! We had some very coordinated and fit young ladies. I didn’t think the game would last long, but it did. It took about 15 minutes to get from 20 ladies to the top three!  Pin the rattle on the belly button was successful. We blew up a picture of myself with my bare belly and had guests place the rattle as close to my belly as possible! A fun game for sure!

Us with my parents - and the cake was awesome.. they ate it all!

Currently, Lincoln is enjoying curling up like a ball and placing his entire body on one side of my tummy  .. a lob sided tummy very funny to look at… I’m not worried, I kind of love it.

And, the greatest news of all, I was diagnosed as NORMAL (1/27/12) for fluid levels by my specialist. I am at 10.6, so from a low 1.8 at 32 weeks and 4 days to 10.6. She has cleared me from seeing her and given me her blessings. The last time I will see her is my last sonogram on 2/15/12.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers, they have worked so far. I made it from thinking I could deliver as early as 34 weeks to a scheduled 39 week delivery. I am indeed very grateful! I’m still on bedrest but that is the least of my worries.

My next post will be the two week count down, I probably won’t post it until the day before scheduled delivery or maybe even after, depending how soon..  I’ll try to write every day for the last 14 days of the pregnancy. Do you think he will come before 2/17/12? I’m not sure what I think.. Should I be worried?

...and he has a new Birthday & a Nursery waiting for him at home!

33 weeks 5 days 1.11.12 – My second appointment with the specialist was yesterday and it went well again. Fluids at 5.28, so a slight increase and I can’t complain. Saw Dr. G. on Monday, and she cleared me to work from home 4-6 hours a day. She also said at next appointment we would discuss baby birthdays (c-section) because she is pretty sure the baby will stay breech. However, she still said anything can happen!  I was pretty excited to be cleared to work some and to soon pick out a birthday. I mean it will be minimal work, answering emails, keeping my inbox clear (something I would never be able to do if I was actually in the office) and maintaining everyday paperwork for as long as I can. I also am working on a project to try and find a Communications intern to be a mini-me during the summer. Since, if all goes as planned, I will probably be working reduced hours at that time as well. Meanwhile, I am at home, watching my inbox, watching the price is right, and searching for the perfect take home outfit for Linc. I was going to use the gifts I’ve already received from my smaller showers, but then I thought what kind of a mother am I if I don’t buy him something new. But, seriously this task is harder than I imagined. My baby taste is more of a preppy/cheek and its’ hard to find just the right thing.. So, I may just end up going with something basic that I already have.
I did order a handful of outfits from both kohls.com and macys.com, so we shall see what I like if any at all.. If not, I can return.

Oh- and before I forget my lovely mother came over this week (Wednesday January 11^th) and with my direction she completed the nursery! I am super relieved.  I am missing a few items for the finishing touches, but the basics are covered for sure. Hope you like it.

Third appointment with the specialist went well. Appointment was on Friday the 13^th, and fluids were up once again, 6.23. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts, and blessings. They have been working. We will continue to pray!
Lets TRY to get our minds off the other items and move to some more FUN pregnancy stuff.  I failed to mention earlier in the blog, but I did develop the infamous “vertical line” on my tummy, its not too bad and seems to be getting lighter as I get closer to pregnancy. They say it all has to do with hormones, some women get it and some do not.. I think it developed somewhere around week 24 or so… On the plus side, my belly button has not popped out and doesn’t look like it will anytime soon. I am enjoying touching my tummy as the pregnancy draws closer and closer.  It really is quite odd to the touch. I mean never did I imagine I would actually be able to feel a head, a hand and a foot in my own stomach. Scary, but pleasant.

He moves constantly, sometimes his head is literally sticking out of my tummy and other times I can’t see or feel anything. At our last appointment his feet and hands were up over his face, so I think when he has them over his face is when I can feel the bulge and when he has them down, I don’t feel or see the bulge.  Chris says there is not a bulge on my tummy, but I think he’s just being nice.

My mother says, my stomach hasn’t “dropped”. I was like what does that mean is that something from the old times? She explained it to me, but I'm still not sure what it means. Currently, I’m at two fingers? I’m sure many of you already knew the “drop” story, but not me..

Yesterday (1.17.12) was the best specialist appointment yet. The fluids have increased to 8.1! Which is considered normal! Yay. Of course it is in the lower percentile right at 5%, but 5% for fluids is what they consider normal. Its not the same as growth percentile. And, today I experienced my first “real” pains in the tummy. They seemed very similar to Braxton Hicks contractions, because when I altered my laying position they would go away. But it hurt above the belly button, tummy got really hard, and then it felt like someone was punching me in the stomach and scratching at the same time (it kind of stung) but the punch lasted for at least a minute! And, I know this is only the beginning! But, happy to know my baby is active!  Doctor said these are normal and if they last longer than a minute more than five times in an hour then I should worry.
(1.18.12)( 34 weeks 5 days) is a great day! We received great news from my OB. She said she is going to take me to 39 weeks! Since the fluids have continued to increase, she feels confident that 39 weeks will be safe. So, 2-17-2012 is Lincolns’ birthday!! Unless of course, he comes earlier on his own. Super excited.  I cannot thank you all enough for all your support and prayers. Keep them coming!
(1.20.12) (35 weeks) Appointment with specialist this morning and all is still on the up & up. Fluids at 8.5, and I can now see specialist once a week instead of twice.

Today is Lincoln’s large baby shower thrown by Mom, Dad & brothers.  It will be a typical Rodriguez party, adult beverages, DJ music, fun games, and great food. But of course I will be seated as much as possible and follow doctors orders. Oh, and we are celebrating Chris’ 33^rd birthday as well, which is on 1/22.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone. So I must sign off to go get ready for the gathering!   

God is Great: Hospital round two and 1st Appointment with Specialist

33 weeks and 2 days I woke up this morning in tears and I couldn’t figure out why I was crying- I decided it was because I was bored. I’ve never felt quite like this. I am a complete optimist at heart, .. but I am far from the sitting at home in bed type of person. However, I take my own advice and I know it could be much worse.

I stopped crying, pushed myself out of bed and found my husband in the garage running his scooter because he said it hadn’t ran for a while. He’s at a kickball tournament for the majority of today, which I am super glad he is out there with good friends, being active for us. So, I sit here, and pretend I am still making myself useful from the couch. I am multitasking, writing this blog, watching a red box movie, drinking water, drinking decaf coffee and looking at the sun shine bright through our French door windows.
I had my follow up appointment the Tuesday after I was admitted to the hospital (1/3/12).  They first monitored the heart rate and it looked great, Linc had the hiccups for the very first time, and he was on speaker for Dad and grandma to hear.

Next was the fluid test, fluids looked really low on the monitor, so Dr. G sent me back to the hospital to have a full sonogram and get a more accurate measurement. She said it would be decided if I needed to stay the night after the sono. So, I was on my way to the hospital admitting desk for the second time in less than a week.  Checked in, walked to the room and repeated the routine, changed into gown, put my clothes in the white drawstring bag and went to the bed to wait for the nurse. Nurse came quickly, asked the routine questions and then the heart rate monitors were placed back on my tummy to monitor Linc.  Then I was on my wait for the sono tech to come in. She came in did thorough measurements and placed me at a 6.8 for fluids, so better! Then, I was told I had to wait for the specialist to come in to do another measurement.

Meanwhile the time was about 1pm, and I hadn’t eaten since 9am! I continued to ask for a snack to eat, but they wouldn’t feed me! The nurse said, if they were to deliver today I couldn’t have anything in my stomach! She was told to wait to confirm my fluids with the specialist before they made the call for me to eat!  I was a little un easy, deliver today I though? Gosh, I really have no idea what the heck to expect! (but as of today 1.8.12, cousin April gave me the low down on a C-section)

About an hour later a Maternal Fetal Specialist, Dr. Aerichs came in and did another sonogram. However, this time only saw a 3 for the fluids. Dr., Aerichs said the fluid varies based on the position of baby and his bowel movements at that current time. The fluids are the babies urine, which he recycles throughout his time in the womb. So the change in number could have been that he swallowed some in that time frame and had not released.  The specialist then gave her diagnosis for why the fluids can be low. And, of course had to offer the worst case, which was very hard to hear. I felt like a mom for the first time.  My mouth dropped as soon as the words came out of her mouth. I felt helpless, confused, and more worried than I think I ever felt in my life.

Dr Aerichs left the room and I my mom wiped away my tears and reassured me all was going to be fine and we would continue to keep everything in the Lords’ hands. I was very sad and very hungry! The nurse came in shortly after with not much of a tray. A sandwich or what they called a sandwich- one thin slice of turkey and one piece of cheese! One bag of baked lays and some tea! That was it! Seriously, I swallowed the food in less than two minutes! My mom was not pleased with the servings so she rushed to the hospital cafeteria to get us some real food!  A hamburger, fries and a chocolate pie it was from the cafeteria.. Thank goodness my mom was there or else I would have been in trouble. I am a need to eat lots type of gal!  Oh, and Dr. G decided that I needed to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring.

Dr. G. came in the next morning and gave us her plan. I would continue to be on bed rest, would have two visits w/ the specialist per week and one with her. They would continue to closely monitor and try their best to take me to 37 weeks. She also said she really really thinks the worst case scenario presented by Dr. Aerichs should be the least of my worries. She felt that I have been monitored very closely and it was highly unlikely his fluids were low for a long period of time.  Especially since his 2^nd sono at 17 weeks showed the fluids were great. I can’t help but think about it though, but I know it is best not to stress because stress is not good for Lincoln. I shall leave it in Gods’ hands and know that all will be taken care of as it should be.

The overnight stay was not as bad this time, I was not attached to an AV, only strapped with heart rate monitors . So, it was not nearly as difficult to get in and out of the bed to the potty overnight. I was released on Wednesday Jan 4^th around noon time.

I had my first visit at the specialist, Dr. Aerichs office on Friday January 6^th at 8am. It was quite the busy office, probably about thirty seats around the perimeter of the office and they were all filled constantly. Lots of women had their parents, friends and spouses with them. Chris and I signed in and we waited.  They called me in for my vitals, Blood pressure was great and I weighed 166.4. Lost one pound in the last two weeks but I think it was because that was my first morning appointment EVER! They then took us to a small room with a recliner, laid me down, put the straps over my tummy, and monitored the heart rate for about 10 minutes. His heart rate was great and he started hiccupping towards the end. I think he knows when he’s on the loud speaker so he hiccups to let us know that he’s doing well and wants to see us soon!  We went back into the waiting room to be called in for the sono. And, to my surprise, my mom, dad, Aunt Elvira and Uncle Albert showed up in the waiting room. A big grin formed on my face. I was expecting my mom and Aunt, but not the others. My dad is not the type of person who enjoys waiting in doctors offices, especially if the appointments are not his. I was happy they were there, family always makes everything better! Not sure if the others in the room liked that we now took up 6 out of the 30 chairs in the room, but oh well, they should perhaps get a larger office : ) . 

We waited and waited and waited and an hour after the scheduled appointment they called us in for the sono. (my poor dad).  Sono showed 5 for fluids. This sono machine was by far the best we had seen throughout the pregnancy! I was very happy and grateful. The more I could see of Lincoln, the better. We even were able to get it on DVD!  Dr. Aerichs said overall all looked good, and since the average of my fluids has been around a 3 (during the low periods), that her worst case scenario has fallen lower on the scale than it was before. She said that 3 is really what he needs to develop properly and if the average has been three, then she is pretty confident that Little Linc had what he needed to develop properly during the crucial development times.  Testing would continue twice a week, and the reasons for an early delivery would be if the fluids drop really low, if my blood pressure drops, if his heart rate is not normal, and if I go into labor on my own. Basically, any distress on me or baby will take us to delivery. So, I pray that we can go to 37 weeks!  Oh, and they were able to see boy parts again.. so I think its officially a boy! And he is still breech. I felt a tad relieved, this was the first time I felt completely confident. I know we have many more appointments to go, but I was grateful to be blessed with positive comments from the doctor.

Meanwhile, Lincolns’ house is almost complete. The crib, changing table, play pen, and bassinet are all waiting for him in his room when he arrives. The crib mattress arrived on Friday, and the sheets are in the wash as I write. We are also washing all the clothing items that we will pack for his big debut!  I love baby clothes, they are so small and cute! I cannot wait to meet him.
Thank you all for your continued thoughts, prayers and support. Being pregnant has taught me to always prepare for the unexpected (more than ever) and things you think could never happen to you, can. You have to roll with the punches and continue to stay positive.  (which are two very hard things to do) But, I am strong and we will survive. I love you all!