HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAN!

Today is Dan's birthday so I wanted to wish him a very, very happy birthday!

Alexander & I hope you have a wondeful birthday and that it's a very happy day.

We both love you very much!

Love,
Me & Alexander

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Obviously I jest...but not really. :)

HELLO!

Mom here checking in while we have a quiet moment. Currently Alexander is napping right next to me in his pack & play while I try to go through our 100+ photos and start to download them.

Dad & I had an relatively calm day after a night where Alexander did not want to stop eating. Nor did he want to be put down to sleep. But we're hopeful that we'll be able to get a solid routine down (which has been working since 11am today).

Here is a link to his official hospital photo: WebNursery
(You do have to search the Month of March for him)

Here's a picture I took of us getting ready to be discharged from the hospital - as you can see his "home coming" outfit was just a WEE bit too big for him. Guess that happens when you have such a small little guy.

There will be a blog just Alexander - complete with stories, updates & of course, pictures! I'm working on uploading the pictures now and it's a matter of finding the time to type out his delivery and the rest of our hospital story.

Here's the direct link:
http://alexanderchristopher.blogspot.com/

More to come, I promise!

Alexander: Day Three

(PS - I started this post yesterday but the wonderful world of Alexander took over as well as a plethura of guests, so this was put on hold!)

Hello World ...

Here we are sitting in the solarium at the Hosptial... Dad (Mel's Dad) brought in a computer so I could upload more wonderful pic of Alexander. Which is what people want to see anyway...

So far life with little Alexander is absolutely fantastic! I can't believe how wonderful life is and how amazing he is! He is gorgeous - and I'm not just saying that because he's my baby... he really just is.

So far all of his vitals have been fantastic and he's doing very well. He really is a good baby.

We head home tomorrow and once I upload my 100+ pictures, I'll definitely have more to share. In the meantime, here are a couple more to enjoy!

Also, thank you to everyone for your well wishes, thoughts, gifts and visits! We greatly appreciate them all!

Alexander Christopher Chiocco Has Arrived!!!

So the moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived

Alexander Christopher Chiocco came at 2:08pm at a

whopping 5lbs 14ozs and 19 inches long! Mom, Dad

baby are doing excellent..Pictures to follow more pictures

once Mel's is up on her feet! :)

By the way this is Auntie Alyson posting....

Appointments: Complete & Now we wait...

We've made it... we've made it to the end. I survived all of these appointments and now we only have one more to go. It just so happens that it's the most important appointment of all.

I met with the pre-op nurse today to go over the details for tomorrow, take some blood, and fill out some paperwork. Although she was go over information I already knew, it was a bit overwhelming. I think because I was sitting in the Birthing Unit and I was listening to a woman get hooked up to a monitor as they were going to induce her, it all became truly real.

Pam was very nice and helpful. We went over paperwork and medical history. She took some blood and my bloodpressure. It's still a bit high, but she said she wasn't concerned and due to the anxiety, it's expected.

Then she pretty much walked me through exactly what was going to happen tomorrow. We would come in, register, and then get set up. We would have the last ultrasound for Alexander to get his final position and to confirm if he's still breech. Then they will bring me into one room to prepare and give me the spinal while Dan is getting into scrubs in the other room. Along with a spinal, I'll get IVs and a catherter put in. They'll bring me into delivery (and I can't remember if Dan will be there first or not but as long as we both end up in the same room, it's okay!) and then put up the screen.

Once the doctor starts the surgery, we'll have our little guy within 15 minutes! Can you believe that - just 15 minutes! Then while they're cleaning him up, checking him out, weighing him, etc, they'll be stitching me up. They will then hand Dan the baby and he'll get to bring him over to me. She said that whole process will take about an hour from start to finish. From there, they will bring us to recovery where we will be for a few hours. While we're in recovery, my mother and sister are allowed to come in to visit and see how things are going. However, Pam said because of how Recovery is set up they do not restrict visitors they just don't necessarily have the room for a full blown visiting section so hence the small visit to check in. (Which by the way, the waiting area is small enough)

But by the time they come in to say Hi, we'll almost be ready to move to our room so it won't be that long of a wait.

So ... that's that. Around this time tomorrow we'll have our little guy. It's just a matter of getting through the next 24 hours of anticipation. I was told I can't eat or drink after midnight tonight and since our c-section is not scheduled for the crack of dawn, tomorrow is going to be hard if I get hungry. I'm just going to make sure I graze all day today so I fill myself up.

I hope to have an update for you tomorrow evening - Alyson or my parents will update the blog with Alexander's details and if they take any pictures. See you on the flip side...

39th Week Journal...

Wow - can you believe that this is the final week?? This time next week, we will be getting to know Alexander and learning all the joys that come with him. Of course, we'll also have the moments of "what the hell are we doing?" but as first time parents, that's expected.

This entire pregnancy has flown by and I have to say that I've been extremely blessed with this pregnancy. Of course, there have been a few moments of annoyance or crap but overall it's been wonderful. Plus, the reward that comes at the end of this will all be worth it.

How far along? 39 wks today
Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs over what my personal target
Maternity Clothes: My limited wardrobe is getting annoying but I did wear a normal non-maternity shirt for St Patrick's Day
"Morning" Sickness: N/A
Signs of Pregnancy: Braxton Hicks Contractions, aches in my hips & groin, dry skin, & swelling in my fingers at nighttime
Stretch Marks: Definitely
Sleep: I've been told that sleep in the last few weeks is horrible and I have to say that I think I've been blessed. I think it's because sleep during the majority of this pregnancy has been the worst thing for me but these past weeks, it's been good & I'm actually getting quality sleep. Now if I can just get past the plastic making the sheets bunch up and stick to me...
Best moment this week:
*Completing all of my reviews & giving them to my boss (let's just hope he doesn't want a ton of revisions)
Worst moment this week:
*Multiple Appointments that were frustrating with no new information & dr/technicians not reading charts ahead of time
Gender prediction: He's a BOY - Alexander Christopher
Labor Pains: Contractions, but nothing consistent
Belly Button in or out? Surprisingly still in
Wedding rings on or off? On but tighter
What I'm going to miss/What I can't wait for:
Miss: His movements & talking to him
Can't Wait for: Normal clothes & HIM
Weekly Wisdom: Get some sleep & go to the grocery store so you have food in the house
Milestones/Fun Moments:
What we need to do:
*Put last minute stuff in the car
*A couple more tests (NST, preop)
*Alexander's BIRTH!

39th Week Growth...

The last growth update...

How your baby's growing: Your baby's ready to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) Your baby's organs are fully developed and in place, and the outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

He's reached his birth weight (typically between 6 and 9 pounds) and length (18 to 22 inches), and all systems are go! Since only about 5 percent of women give birth on their due date, baby could be making her appearance at any moment. Labor may begin in several ways: mild cramps (the most common scenario), a painless trickle of straw-colored fluid caused by the rupture of the amniotic sac, or a scheduled induction or cesarean section.

Even as late as the 39th week, there is one part of your Baby's body that hasn't quite finished developing: the two soft spots on your baby's head called the fontanels, where the skull bones haven't yet joined together. These areas allow the flexible skull bones to bend, without damaging the brain, as Baby travels down the birth canal. Because of the strength of the contractions during labor, many newborn heads look elongated or cone-shaped right after birth. The bones will return to their round shape within a few days after birth. During Baby's first year the skull will harden; by 18 months, the soft spots on Baby's head will have completely disappeared.

Other last-minute developments continue:
*Baby's skeleton continues to develop. Your baby now has 300 bones (about 100 more than an adult does, since some bones fuse together as the child grows).

How your life's changing: You're almost at the end of your pregnancy. Your pregnancy weight probably won't increase too much more from this point forward.
At each visit, your midwife or doctor will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether you've started effacing (when the cervix thins out) or dilating (when the cervix opens). If the week passes and your baby stays put, don't panic. Only 5 percent of babies are born on their scheduled due date. And your baby can't make you wait indefinitely for his arrival. If you go past your due date, your provider will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue.

Pregnant women on television sitcoms always have their water break dramatically — in the middle of a crowded room, of course — just before going into labor. Don't worry about a similar scenario happening to you. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in less than 15 percent of pregnancies, and it's not normally an enormous gush — usually a small gush or a slow leak. In any case, if your water does break (or you even suspect you might have a leak), call your doctor or midwife right away, but stay calm — it may be hours before your first contraction. (If you're a GBS carrier, you'll be asked to go to the hospital so you can start getting IV antibiotics and will likely be induced at the same time if you don't start contracting on your own.) Also call your practitioner right away if you notice that your baby's movements have slowed, whether or not you're leaking fluid.There are more common signs of impending labor than water breaking. You may notice your mucus plug — the small amount of thick mucus that blocks your cervical canal — in your undies or in the toilet. It might be tinged with a small bit of brownish, pink, or red blood (which is why it's called "bloody show"). (If you have vaginal spotting or bleeding other than mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood, call your caregiver without delay.) Labor usually starts within a day or two of seeing the mucus plug.

Another sign of labor is contractions at regular — but increasingly shorter — intervals. If you've been having Braxton Hicks contractions, you'll now realize that these were just practice. Your doctor or midwife will tell you when to give her a call, but it will likely be once your contractions last about a minute each and arrive every five minutes for about an hour. (Time the contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next one.) If you're unsure about your progress, go ahead and give your practitioner a call.Your practitioner may have you count fetal movements. Even if you aren't asked to formally count movements, call her immediately if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity. Your baby should remain as active as ever right up to delivery, and a decrease in activity could be a sign of a problem — meaning that you need to deliver now rather than later.

Your body is preparing itself for labor and you may begin experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, which can be as strong as real contractions. Unlike real labor, however, these contractions are irregular and tend to stop and start. These contractions help to trigger the pre-birth process of effacement and early dilation. Although false contractions feel real, they aren't strong enough to make the cervix start thinning out or dilating. They may wax and wane for days or a few weeks before the onset of true labor.

Another sign of labor — the rupture of your amniotic sac (water breaking) — could happen at any moment. When water breaks, the sensation you may feel can range from a startling gush of water to a steady trickle. Some women never notice their water breaking at all.

Happy St Patrick's Day...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Countdown begins...

The countdown until Alexander's arrival begins...

T Minus 7 days

and counting...

Update on Today's Appointments...

I swear – I should be my own doctor. I had two back to back appointments this morning and they were both quite frustrating. It was 2 complete hours of nothing-ness. No new updates, no new information, no new anything. There was not one word uttered that was helpful today.

After waiting 20 mins in the room with no pants on (and after a nurse opens the door while I'm changing even though I said "one moment" to ask if was able to leave a urine sample), Dr J. comes in and basically asks the size of the baby, the position, and that if he doesn’t move that maybe we should look into scheduling a c-section. UMMM hello – she was the one who scheduled the c-section last week! I understand she sees lots of patients, but at least review my chart before coming into the room! Then she asked about other appts and I told her I had a NST after meeting with her and then another one next Tuesday and she said “that’s silly – why are you doing those”… UMM again, she was the one who ordered 2 NSTs a week! SHOOT ME NOW. Dr. J asks if I've had another ultrasound, I told her that I had one this past Monday and that the technician said he was fine and fluids & placenta were also fine. She said that I could schedule another one if I wanted to but I don't have to. Who would have thought that a pregnant woman would have the ultrasound paperwork in her hand and actually not want to schedule one??

She checks me and says I haven’t begun dilating. She feels around my belly for the baby and says “oh yes, he’s breech”. Oh really?!?! Then she looks at something and says “oh yes, it’s all back to me now, I remember – we scheduled it with Dr E., right.” UGH.

Then I went over for my NST. Now I was just there on Tuesday, remember the whole 'scheduling two NSTs a week' deal… well the technician asked why I had to come back. And she was the one who made me schedule two when I was all set to just schedule one. She asked if I knew the position of the baby. Again, shoot me as she & I discussed it on Tuesday for about 2-3 mins. After I sat there for 30 mins, she says to me "yup, good movement and since you’re not having severe contractions and are not dilated, I don’t see you going into labor at all in the next week." Oh Okay Dr NST…

It really felt like a waste of 2 hours because I didn’t get any new information and I felt the baby move around so I knew he had good fetal movement. It’s appts like this that add to my frustration of having to go to so many appts these last 2 weeks because we’re getting absolutely NO information AT ALL! And as silly as this sounds, I’d rather be in work getting stuff wrapped up than spending 2 hours at a doctor's office with no new information. And to top it off, I spent 20 mins of that time with no pants on yet sweating because Dr. J likes to have space heaters in her rooms.

Oh and the topper of the day… South Shore called to preregister me for my appts on Weds & Thurs. A woman named Susan left a voicemail yesterday. So after my appts today, I called her and when Susan answered the phone she told me “oh that wasn’t me, it was Cheryl” and transferred me over. Cheryl wasn’t there so I figured I’d call when I got home. I got home and there’s another message from the SAME Susan asking me to call her back. I call back and she said “nope that’s Cheryl” and transfers me again. I speak to Cheryl and she tells me that she didn’t call me. OH GREAT! I told her that a Susan left me two messages and the Susan I just spoke to transferred me to you. She put me on hold for a while. She came back and said “we’re looking for you in the system”. Now I’m thinking – great my c-section is not scheduled and they won’t have time now. She comes back and tells me that they think they found me but not sure and wants to know when the c-section was scheduled and with who. I’m put on hold again. She finally comes back and tells me that they found me but that I was scheduled under Spaulding. All of my information was there and correct except for the last name. Susan apologizes but confirms that we are all set for our appointments. She tells me that it must be fate that it was under my maiden name. I told her that although I'll always be Spaulding and I've used that name far longer that my married name, I haven't legally used it in almost 4 years. She continued to tell me just how wonderful maiden names are and we should never forget them or where we came from.

Okay, I didn't know I was going to get a lesson about maiden names, I just wanted to make sure we're all set for next week.

It's not the aches, pain or sleeping but is this almost over??? In the grand scheme of things, it was only 2 hours worth of crap and next week we'll have our little joy but man it was annoying. Out of all of this drama - everything is fine.

Appt Update...

I had my NST this afternoon and all is well. Fetal movement is excellent, heartbeat is strong, and the test shows that he's doing exactly what he should be doing and that he's getting enough oxygen and nutrients.

Since Thursday - we've had the normal appt, an ultrasound and 2 NSTs and everything is just fine. Yes, he's still little but he's perfectly healthy. My blood pressure wasn't so high that it's something to worry about but just something to keep an eye on.

I think the thing that's going to get to me is just what has to be done within the next week. Another appointment, 2 more NSTs because that was the original order from the doctor (2 NSTs a week) unless after I talk to the doctor and see if they're still needed. The technician told me to check on that. Potentially another ultrasound, and then the pre-delivery appts. All within a week while trying to get stuff done at work. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! And there are certain things that are just not making it easy to finish things up at work to make for an easy transition.

All is well and we're just now in the waiting game and hoping (hoping hoping hoping) that all these extra appointments and trying to get work stuff completed won't be too overwhelming.

And now I'm off to bed...

Baby Plan & New Photo...

So I had my weekly appointment last Thursday and a game plan has been delivered - no pun intended!

Everything is fine but my blood pressure was slightly higher than it had been all pregnancy so because of that they want to monitor me & the baby, yup that means more Non-Stress Tests (NST)! The first NST was on Friday afternoon (which I then had to make sure I got back to work in time for our Baby Shower), then another NST on Tuesday for comparison sake.

I also had another ultrasound yesterday (Monday) to check the baby's position, the doctor is highly confident that he won't move because of his size and how he's positioned himself where he's all snuggly. And it was confirmed that he is so snug that he didn't move an inch. He did grow a little but because we weren't there to check weight and they don't officially check weight every week, it's an "unofficial" growth, but he still is under 6 lbs. There was no way she could check length due to how he has himself all folded together. Alyson went with me to the ultrasound and at first she was smiling, but you could see her face change mid-way through. And she told me at dinner that she had a "Rachel Moment" and had no idea what she was looking at! I thought her reaction was pretty damn funny. She also said that when the technician showed his face, he looked alien-like, and as you can see from the photo, she's not that far off.

I asked what our options are in regards to delivery and she basically said that she would not try to manipulate the baby for many reasons. She doesn't want to disturb the cord or placenta and it's far too much unncessary pain for me that she didn't even want to risk any unncessary harm to either of us. We can wait to see if he turns on his own via ultrasounds and then see if he drops. She said due to all of the current situations and positions, she feels more comfortable scheduling a c-section so there are less surprises. Of course, he could come earlier and then depending on his position, it will still end up being a c-section with the added bonus of contractions but no pushing.

So the c-section is scheduled for Thursday, March 22nd - a little over a week to go! She gave me a few potential dates but was ultimately letting me choose. She told me that she (Dr. J) was at the hospital on the 14th & 28th. The 14th was too soon (and it was a date I didn't want for personal reasons) and there was no need to go on the 28th, beyond my due date. She gave me other dates but the doctors who would be at the hospital those days were not doctors I had seen or familiar with. She then said March 22nd which is when Dr. E is scheduled. I told her I would like to schedule it for that day. It works out very well because a) I've seen Dr. E just as much as I had see Dr J. (The one I met with on Thursday) and b) that was the day that Dan had in his head as the actual due date so in reality he had ESP. Plus, the 22nd is perfect because it's no one else day and it can truly just be his birthday!!

So that's the plan... and the fact that I have so many appts within the next week while I'm trying to get things finished up here - oh yeah, no stress at all! Actually I'm stressed but I do well under stress so I'm not truly stressed out. :) I'm more than halfway through review writing and I'm planning on working from home a couple times this week so I have minimal interruptions. It's a good thing that I do work well under deadlines and stress.

At the latest, we will have baby Alexander in less than a week and a half!!

38 Week Journal...

Two weeks and counting...So much as happened in a week and so much will happen in the next week and a half. It's so exciting to think that this time, two weeks from now, we will have our little baby that we've waited for so long for. This pregnancy has really flown by and although I still have things to do at work, I really hope the next 2 weeks go by just as quickly!

How far along? 38 wks today
Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs over what my personal target was, however it is all in the belly and at Thursday's dr. appt I did not gain additional weight
Maternity Clothes: My limited wardrobe is getting annoying
"Morning" Sickness: N/A
Signs of Pregnancy: Same as last week: Braxton Hicks Contractions, aches in my hips, groin pain, bloody nose, dry skin, swelling in my fingers
Stretch Marks: Definitely - I found two more that are below the belly that are much darker than the others
Sleep: I've found that I'm able to sleep soundly when I am in fact sleeping, but it's the waking up for no reason many times during the night. Saturday night, Dan & I put plastic under the sheets & under the mattress pad to save the mattress in case my water breaks during the night and it wasn't necessarily loud but it definitely made me hot & sticky.
Best moment this week:
*Ultrasound on Monday: confirming he is a boy, finding out his weight & position. And although it's not the ideal position, at least he's healthy and the fluids & placenta are perfectly fine.
*Doctor Appt: So much came out of the Dr. Appt - we now have a plan! (I'll post that separately)
*Group B Strep culture came back negative
*Chris came over for our Photo Shoot
Worst moment this week:
*Trying to make sure everything gets done for work since I found out I'll be leaving 2 days sooner than I expected.
*My toothache came back
Movement: I have been able to figure out when I'm going to have a contraction because he'll move right before. And since he's breech, all this while I thought he was kicking me or using his hands, turns out he must be wiggling his bum
Gender prediction: He's a BOY - Alexander Christopher (I asked the ultrasound technician if she could confirm that he was a boy)
Labor Pains: My contractions are a common occurrance but there have been no pattern or any type of frequency. Also, the contractions make my belly contorted in a odd, scary shape.
Belly Button in or out? Surprisingly still in
Wedding rings on or off? On but tighter
What I'm going to miss/What I can't wait for:
Miss: His movements & talking to him
Can't Wait for: Normal clothes & HIM
Weekly Wisdom: Get some sleep, relax & if you have the smallest interest in having a friend over for a photo shoot - do it!
Milestones/Fun Moments:
There were so many things that took place this week
*An ultrasound
*Weekly Dr Appt
*Non-Stress Test (NST)
*Baby Shower @ work
What we need to do:
*Nothing! We are ready & waiting to go. It's all up to Alexander and when he decides to arrive
*We do however have to be ready for a very busy upcoming week and a half and I feel as though I'll be spending so much time at the doctor's office for the various appointments.

38 Week Growth...

How your baby's growing: Your baby has really fattened up. She likely weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds now (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's probably between 19 and 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test with your pinky! Her organs are fully developed and in place, but her lungs and brain — though developed enough for her to function now — will continue to mature right through childhood.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If your baby is born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

This is the week in which Baby begins to outgrow the watery home where she's been developing these past nine months. Baby should weigh almost seven pounds this week, but at a length of about 21 inches, Baby hasn't grown much taller. The average full-term newborn weighs between six and nine pounds and is 18 to 21 inches long.
Here are a few other developments this week:
*Although Baby's growth is slowing, fat will continue to accumulate to help insulate Baby even more for her entry to the outside world.
*Meconium (Baby's feces) will continue to build up in her intestines.
*By now, the circumference of baby's head and abdomen are about the same.

How your life's changing: It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. Take it easy through the day — this may be your last opportunity to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too. Though she's crowded, she should still be active.Swelling of your feet is normal in these last weeks, but if you notice any swelling of your hands or face, sudden weight gain, persistent or severe headaches, blurry vision or spots before your eyes, or upper abdominal pain, call your practitioner right away, because these are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Encourage your partner to relax and enjoy some activities he won't have time for after the baby arrives. Also, have him check out the inspirational reading section in our bookstore. He might find some good materials for labor day.

As baby puts more pressure on your bladder this week, your need to urinate increases.
Since you're probably visiting your doctor on a weekly basis, you can ask your doctor for an estimate of the exact size of your baby. However, these estimates are only educated predictions — no one will know Baby's precise size until birth. Ultrasound is fairly accurate at this point in estimating fetal weight by measuring diameter and circumference of Baby's head and abdomen, and length of the leg bone.
Even an accurate fetal-weight estimate can't predict how easily the baby will fit through your pelvis and the birth canal. Your doctor usually won't be able to tell whether your baby will move easily down the birth canal until labor begins.

Photo Shoot...

Chris came over today for a little visit and to continue with her role as Official Photographer.

I believe the quote of the day was "that's a goofy face". And she was quite right ... I kept making these goofy faces because I had no idea what kind of face to make.

All in all she took about 70 pictures with 3 small wardrobe changes, it went pretty quickly I thought and that's probably because we were having fun with it. And, we were also able to get Dan involved for 2 small sections. However, I can't wait to tell her she's making goofy faces when the time comes for her to be 9 months pregnant!

Of the 70 pictures, I went through them and picked out 44 that were the best. I'm sure I could have taken more out but I ended up liking each of those 44 for one reason or another.

Here are a few of my favorite ones:





A daddy & his baby's shoes...

The little one growing inside is equal parts Dan & equal parts Me...

Getting in some practice with Grover...

Wherever did you get the impression that I was Irish?

This one was all Dan's idea...

This is what he looked like 17 1/2 weeks ago...

Love...

Dan's Sketch...

Here is the latest sketch displaying Dan's artistic talents. And as you can see, the belly has definitely grown since the last time he sketched my torso.






Here is the final result:




I love the fact that we'll be able to look back and see the growth, however I'm not really sure how or where we'll display these just yet. And the fact that it was Dan's idea just makes it all that more special for me.

Ultrasound Appt...

We had our ultrasound appt last night because the doctor wanted to check the baby's size, position and fluids. Fluids are fine which was my biggest thought going into the appt. I was waiting for the technician to tell me "your amnio fluid is low so you should go to the hospital now". But fluids are good. However, he’s very little – he is weighing at approximately 5 lbs and at the max will gain another pound at the most. And to top that off, he’s ‘Frank Breech’ where his legs & arms are up in front of his face and his butt is down rather than his head. So if he doesn’t move positions, we’ll have to have a caesarean.

But the technician talked to the doc and she said the fluids & placenta are all fine and doing what they need to do so there is no urgency to deliver him until labor starts. However, I will probably be monitored closely with potentially weekly ultrasounds. Which is a good thing providing I can get a photo... I didn't get one last night, but the important thing is making sure he's ok.

I did ask the technician to see if she could verify he's a boy and low & behold the scrotum and penis are present. He did have a fist clenched near his mouth and was chewing, which is a motion I do when I'm sleeping or VERY comfortable. Alyson hates it! Sorry, Alyson...

When I go for my appt this week, I’ll find out what the doctor wants to do in regards to see if he moves on his own, they’ll try to coax him to move, or just have the caesarean. It truly is now a waiting game...

37 Week Journal...

How far along? 37 wks today... it's hard to believe that we're now full term and that we have about 3 weeks to go.
Total weight gain/loss: 8.5 lbs above target at last check
Maternity Clothes: I'm looking forward to normal non-pregnancy clothes, just in time for spring/summer too
"Morning" Sickness: N/A
Signs of Pregnancy: Same as last week: Braxton Hicks Contractions, aches in my hips, groin pain, bloody nose, dry skin, my fingers have started to swell up a bit
Stretch Marks: I'm up to 8-9 stretch marks and they're getting darker in color
Sleep: I've been able to get solid sleep when I do sleep but it's the number of times I wake up at night to either reposition myself or go the bathroom. And those are the moments where the aches & pains are the suckiest.
Best moment this week:
*Doctor Appointment (however not dilated but efaced a bit)
*Being able to schedule another ultrasound
Worst moment this week: *Work was insanely busy & sometimes stressful and will be until I go into labor
*How my body felt after 8 hours of cleaning our house, spotlessly. (nothing like a spotless house - well maybe giving birth)
*Seeing the "Check Engine" light come on in my car - yah, that's not nerve wracking. But it's all fixed and so we're good!
Movement: He's positioned himself on the right side and is now poking me in my sides rather than in the front
Gender prediction: He's a BOY - Alexander Christopher
Labor Pains: Braxton Hicks Contractions are becoming more frequent and my stomach gets tighter & is sometimes uncomfortable
Belly Button in or out? In but getting short on room
Wedding rings on or off? On but not nearly as loose, especially towards the end of the day
What I'm going to miss/What I can't wait for:
Miss: His movements & talking to him
Can't wait: Normal clothes & HIM
Weekly Wisdom: Try to make sure everything is done so you don't have to rush at the end
Milestones/Fun Moments:
*We've entered the 9th and final month
*We have a baby shower this coming week at work and since we both work at the same place there's an insane number of people
What we need to do - We pretty much have everything done - WHOOO!!:
*Pack the car (but the bags are packed)
*Sterilize bottles

37 Week Growth...

Full Term!

How your baby's growing: Congratulations! Your pregnancy is now considered full term — meaning your baby is developmentally ready to handle life outside the womb. (Babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 weeks are post-term.) Your baby probably weighs a little over 6 pounds at this point and measures between 19 and 20 inches, head to heel.Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children are born blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Now Baby weighs almost 6.5 pounds and her total length is about 21 inches long. But she hasn't stopped growing yet; she'll continue to develop about a half-ounce of fat a day. Still, overall growth does slow from here on out. That's fortunate, since there is very little available space left in the womb as it is.
Here are a few final developments taking place in week 37:
*Baby's immune system continues to strengthen. Her immune system will continue to get stronger after birth, and will not be completely functional until early adulthood.
*Baby can now grasp with her fingers as dexterity improves

How your life's changing:
The next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps and catch up on your reading while you can.Have you noticed an increase in the frequency or vividness of dreams lately? Anxiety about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange pregnancy dreams.You may be getting a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions now, and they may last longer and be more uncomfortable. Sometimes — when they start to come frequently — you may even think you're in labor. You might also notice an increase in mucus discharge from your vagina. If you see some "bloody show" (the mucus plug tinged with a tiny amount of blood), labor is probably right around the corner! (If you have other spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.)

You may experience heavier vaginal discharge this week, with more cervical mucus in it. Sometime during this week, as the cervix dilates in preparation for the labor you may experience "bloody show." This thick, yellow blood-streaked mucus plug had sealed off your uterus from infection and bacteria. As your cervix thins, it may drop out. Although some women never notice its departure, you may see thick discharge or stringy mucus tinged with blood. This light vaginal bleeding is considered to be an early sign of impending labor and can occur a few weeks, days, or hours before contractions begin. You may want to visit the doctor just to make certain that everything is alright.
At about this time, your doctor may also perform a pelvic exam to evaluate your progress. To check for impending labor, some doctors may look for leaking amniotic fluid and will examine your cervix to see whether it has softened or thinned out.

Only three more weeks to go (can you believe it?). Actually, now that you're 37 weeks, your pregnancy is technically considered full-term — which means you can safely go into labor any day now. The big mystery, of course, is just when labor will actually begin. It's anyone's guess when your baby decides to make his or her appearance (sociably early, or fashionably late — or precisely right on time?), but that doesn't stop your practitioner from taking a shot at it. Unless you specifically request otherwise, most practitioners will perform internal checks of your cervix to assess your readiness for labor. Just what is he or she looking for? First, for dilation, or how far your cervix has opened (it needs to open to ten centimeters for the baby to pass through into the birth canal). Next, for cervical ripeness (making you wonder, perhaps, is this a cervix or a peach?), which is the consistency of the cervix. (It starts out being firm like the tip of your nose and softens to the same texture as the inside of your cheek.
Next he or she will check for effacement, or how thin your cervix is (it'll be 100 percent effaced before you push your baby out). The position of your cervix (it moves from the back to the front as labor approaches) will also be assessed, and last but not least, your practitioner will measure the station (or position) of the baby in relation to your pelvis (the lower down your baby is, the closer you are to delivery). Although it all sounds very scientific, it's actually not at all. Having a cervix dilated to three centimeters or being 50 percent effaced is no indication that labor is imminent. You can be very dilated and not have your baby for weeks. Or your cervix can be high and closed during an exam one morning, only to be open and ready for business — and labor — by noon.

I Blame Patrice...

For the record, I blame Patrice if my belly button pops out. (hee hee)

Patrice & I work together and she's been great about listening to my daily raves & rants of pregnancy. We discuss if my belly button has popped or not and I've always had the same answer - it's not even close to popping. In fact, I felt so confident that I would go through this entire pregnancy without a popped out belly button.

Well ... I got home the other night and I noticed that I'm definitely running out of room in my belly and that if my belly continues to grow at the rate it has been, I could pop out. I haven't popped but there is now the possibilty. And the reason I will blame her is that she's been asking me a lot more frequently so I think it's listening to her.

So Patrice, I say to you dot dot dot ...

The Hospital...

The other night I had a prenatal class at the hospital where I hope we deliver the baby. I have to say being there made me feel so comfortable and ready. My class started @ 7p and because I had my doctor appointment earlier that afternoon, I got there much earlier than the class started. Dan was hoping that I would go into labor that night since I was already at the hospital and he wouldn't worry if we would make it or not.

On the way upstairs, I was talking to a nurse who was in the NICU and said that she loves to take care of the little ones who are born too soon. It help gives her job purpose. She also said I looked amazing for being about 3 weeks away. I had an urge to give her money.
I walked to the maternity area and double checked as to where the class would be and it was so nice to see so many people there. There were new dads, grandparents with the new big siblings, friends with flowers, and packs of people walking back & forth from the maternity area to the elevators/cafe. I completely imagined that being us in a few weeks - with our family & friends doing the exact same walk.

I sat in the cafe, read a magazine with Mark Wahlberg and watched the different doctors & nurses on dinner and the different types of visitors. Have I mentioned that I love people watching?

The class was okay and I don't know if I learned so many new things that I hadn't already read before but again it was very nice to be at the hospital and have the feeling that this is where we're supposed to be.

Appt. Update...

I had my 36 Week doctor appointment this past Thursday but work has been so busy that I haven't had time to update the blog. And when I get home, I just want to crawl into bed.

It was a fairly quick appointment and I was seen & out of the office within the hour. We did the usuals of bloodpressure & weight. I had a new nurse so she checked my bloodpressure prior to using the restroom so I was already thrown off. Then she checked my weight. Hello!! She is a female, isn't she?? You don't check weight prior to using the bathroom - I thought every woman knew that trick! I don't like my weight but the doctor seems to think it's just fine. I also forgot to ask what my blood pressure was, but again the doctor said that she was happy with what it was and that everything was good.

Dr. J checked the heartrate and it sounded good & healthy; she was also able to find it right away this time. She also measured my belly right before doing the culture for the Strep B Group. She said that I was actually measuring a bit smaller than 36 weeks. How is that possible??? Has she seen my belly - it certainly has GROWN out in the last 2 weeks!

She did the culture for the Strep B which was so much easier than I was expecting. It was actually a lot less painful/annoying that the normal annual exam, and I don't think those are painful at all. That was a nice relief.

Because I was measuring differently she did an internal exam to see if I had started to dilate or any effacing had begun. She said I was negative on the dilating but the cervix has become softer and there is a bit of effacing (where the baby makes his way down) happening. So ... because of this... she gave me happy news! She wants me to go in for another ultrasound. YAY! She wants to check for size, position, and fluids. Dr. J was very nice and happy this week. She said she can't wait to see how the next 3 weeks plays out and that she's excited to see me next week whether for the regular visit or the better reason.