Since our little guy can come anytime now, Paul and I decided that we needed one last nice date night together. So last night we went out to Maggiano's and had a lovely dinner. The food was great, the restaurant was decorated so pretty for Christmas, and we just had a really good time together. I'm very glad we had a chance to do that before our baby arrives.
A new pattern has begun at work. When I leave work at night, I just say, "Good-night, I hope I don't see you tomorrow!" And every day I show up to work, everyone smiles and says, "still here huh?" and gives me a sympathetic look. My work has all been reassigned to Jackie and Julie for my maternity leave. The changes went into effect starting this past Monday so that I would be around to answer any questions as they came up. It's a good plan. So I have finished up pretty much all of my outstanding projects this week, which is great! But now I kind of feel like a paperweight and I'm not really sure what to do with myself here. I just answer questions if they come up and then wait around for the next one. But with how tired I am these days, it's really nice to be so unstressed at work.
I'm having some contractions, but they're pretty irregular. They started as I was leaving work last night. But then they stopped all together aside from a couple that I felt in the middle of the night. I just keep hoping that they're at least helping to make some progress. They're back again this morning, so hopefully they're more than just Braxton Hicks. Only time will tell I guess.
In my head, I play over and over again how I'll tell Paul that it's "time" all day long. I just can't wait to tell him that it's time to go have our baby!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Oh Baby... (Mom)
Okay my dear little one... I love you and I am so glad I have gotten to experience this whole pregnancy thing, but you really need to come out now.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Doctor's update today!
Hello Again Everyone!
Went back to the doctor this morning. Baby Bishop doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to get here, but we all know that can change in a day (I have to tell myself this not to freak out that he won't come out). :) I met with a different doctor in the practice this morning and he seemed to think that I had no greater risk than anyone else for having to deal with shoulder dystocia. He thought that if we preferred having a natural birth then we should go ahead and try for one. We can always change our minds if we still have no progress or get concerned.
So again we are here hoping that I will go into labor on my own… and the sooner the better!
Thanks for your continued support and prayers!
Love,
Danielle & Paul
Went back to the doctor this morning. Baby Bishop doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to get here, but we all know that can change in a day (I have to tell myself this not to freak out that he won't come out). :) I met with a different doctor in the practice this morning and he seemed to think that I had no greater risk than anyone else for having to deal with shoulder dystocia. He thought that if we preferred having a natural birth then we should go ahead and try for one. We can always change our minds if we still have no progress or get concerned.
So again we are here hoping that I will go into labor on my own… and the sooner the better!
Thanks for your continued support and prayers!
Love,
Danielle & Paul
Monday, November 30, 2009
November 25th Update
Good Morning Family & Friends!
We went in this morning for our 37 week ultrasound to see how the baby is measuring. Again we were told that he is measuring ahead of schedule, though not quite as far along as before. They think he is already at the 7 lb. 10 oz. mark. My doctor called me shortly after our ultrasound to go over the findings. She is concerned about something called “shoulder dysplasia” because the baby is so large, especially in the belly (so he’s a little chunker!). From what I understand, if you deliver naturally with a baby that is measuring this way, there is a chance of this problem. The baby’s head comes out fine, but then they have trouble getting the rest of the baby out. This can cause permanent damage to his shoulders and it can also cut off his oxygen. It often leads to an emergency C-section or other complications in the delivery room.
So we may have some decisions to make. They can schedule a c-section for one week before my due date. Or they can schedule to induce one week before my due date. (And with inducing, there is a greater chance of having to do an emergency c-section anyway).
We are of course concerned with the situation, but not completely freaked out. The best possible thing that we can see happening at this point is if I went into labor NOW on my own. My doctor said if that happens, she doesn’t think we would have a problem at this point.
Please keep our little guy in your prayers and also that we will be able to make the best decision possible if we need to.
In the meantime, we have attached the latest pictures of our little man! :) Enjoy!
Love,
Danielle & Paul
We went in this morning for our 37 week ultrasound to see how the baby is measuring. Again we were told that he is measuring ahead of schedule, though not quite as far along as before. They think he is already at the 7 lb. 10 oz. mark. My doctor called me shortly after our ultrasound to go over the findings. She is concerned about something called “shoulder dysplasia” because the baby is so large, especially in the belly (so he’s a little chunker!). From what I understand, if you deliver naturally with a baby that is measuring this way, there is a chance of this problem. The baby’s head comes out fine, but then they have trouble getting the rest of the baby out. This can cause permanent damage to his shoulders and it can also cut off his oxygen. It often leads to an emergency C-section or other complications in the delivery room.
So we may have some decisions to make. They can schedule a c-section for one week before my due date. Or they can schedule to induce one week before my due date. (And with inducing, there is a greater chance of having to do an emergency c-section anyway).
We are of course concerned with the situation, but not completely freaked out. The best possible thing that we can see happening at this point is if I went into labor NOW on my own. My doctor said if that happens, she doesn’t think we would have a problem at this point.
Please keep our little guy in your prayers and also that we will be able to make the best decision possible if we need to.
In the meantime, we have attached the latest pictures of our little man! :) Enjoy!
Love,
Danielle & Paul
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Breastfeeding and Other Awkward Activities (Dad)
Just a foreword, instead of having to decide between writing "breasts" or "boobs" or "bazookas" throughout the following description, I think I'll just abbreviate the term as "BB". It doesn't really stand for anything. It's just a lot less embarrassing to type than, say, "jahooblies" or "kazangas" or "nunga-nungas."
Anyway, let's continue. So last night we went--
Wamjanglers!
Sorry, just had to get that last one out of my system. As I was saying, last night we attended the last of our five prenatal courses, and I'm glad we took it last. After seeing birth videos and baby crash test videos and baby choking videos, watching a mother with rather misshapen assets attempt to nurse her child didn't even make me flinch. I mean, it was basically a two-hour introduction to every single shape and size of BBs one can imagine. What I never realized before is that it's so complicated. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense. Little babies have certain instincts that will help, but ultimately, the mother has to make herself compatible with his particular nursing habits. To demonstrate why a class exploring one of the most natural events in life was so awkward, I'll just say that the instructor's advice for helping a small baby nurse was to "squish the BB like you would a sandwich so that the baby can get it in his mouth."
First of all, I would just like to say that I don't squish my sandwiches. And sandwiches come in all shapes and sizes. Do we squish the BB like a subway sandwich which is kind of round? Or do we squish it like a grilled cheese which is very flat? Be specific, Lady!
So maybe it would have been more helpful to say something to the effect of "you need to squeeze your BB so that it flattens out like an Almond Hersheys bar." Almond Hershey bars are ALWAYS the same size. That's what's so cool about them. Or she could have even said something like, "flatten your BB so that it assumes the approximate shape and size of a Chipotle quesadilla with meat and cheese only and not even those leftover little lettuce bits that always get on my quesadilla from the guy's burrito before me". THAT would have been much more understandable to me.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough about breastfeeding. I'm sure we're better for taking it. I know Danielle will do just fine. So yay, classes all done. Time to put our education into practice.
Oh, and one more thing...
Badoinkies!
Anyway, let's continue. So last night we went--
Wamjanglers!
Sorry, just had to get that last one out of my system. As I was saying, last night we attended the last of our five prenatal courses, and I'm glad we took it last. After seeing birth videos and baby crash test videos and baby choking videos, watching a mother with rather misshapen assets attempt to nurse her child didn't even make me flinch. I mean, it was basically a two-hour introduction to every single shape and size of BBs one can imagine. What I never realized before is that it's so complicated. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense. Little babies have certain instincts that will help, but ultimately, the mother has to make herself compatible with his particular nursing habits. To demonstrate why a class exploring one of the most natural events in life was so awkward, I'll just say that the instructor's advice for helping a small baby nurse was to "squish the BB like you would a sandwich so that the baby can get it in his mouth."
First of all, I would just like to say that I don't squish my sandwiches. And sandwiches come in all shapes and sizes. Do we squish the BB like a subway sandwich which is kind of round? Or do we squish it like a grilled cheese which is very flat? Be specific, Lady!
So maybe it would have been more helpful to say something to the effect of "you need to squeeze your BB so that it flattens out like an Almond Hersheys bar." Almond Hershey bars are ALWAYS the same size. That's what's so cool about them. Or she could have even said something like, "flatten your BB so that it assumes the approximate shape and size of a Chipotle quesadilla with meat and cheese only and not even those leftover little lettuce bits that always get on my quesadilla from the guy's burrito before me". THAT would have been much more understandable to me.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough about breastfeeding. I'm sure we're better for taking it. I know Danielle will do just fine. So yay, classes all done. Time to put our education into practice.
Oh, and one more thing...
Badoinkies!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Under a Month! (Dad)
Our countdown timer is under the one month mark now - 30 days to be exact. And that doesn't take into account the doctor's recent prediction that our son may come closer to December 4th than the 17th. That's two and a half weeks away! Either way, Danielle and I are in hardcore nesting mode now. The house is pretty much ready, particularly the nursery and guest rooms which look to get quite a bit of use this winter.
Danielle has packed her hospital bag and I just need to add a couple of my own things, but the important thing is, she's ready. I still would like to take a video of her stomach moving before it's too late. I never want to forget how cool it is to see our little guy sticking his hands and feet up against mama's uterine wall. And let's be honest - Danielle just wears that belly like nobody's business! I need to document that for future generations who fail to believe that pregnant and sexy are not mutually exclusive.
Lately Junior and I have been playing the flashlight game. Danielle's belly is stretched thinly enough that when I shine a light against it, the baby sees and reacts to it. This is a wonderful experience for two reasons: 1) it means the baby can see!; and 2) it means the baby can react! I briefly considered teaching our boy Morse code but then decided this was silly, again for two reasons: 1) nobody knows Morse code any more; and 2) my son's first two languages have already been agreed upon: English and C++. I want to have the world's first computer programming toddler. Anyway, the flash light game is the first of many games I anticipate over the next 18 years until our son ultimately rejects us and moves to Southern California to pursue a career in post-modern film and surfing.
Danielle and I have gotten a jump on Christmas shopping for the year so that we don't have to waddle through the crowded stores come Christmas time (or even worse, tote a two-week old around). This has been an eye-opening experience for a procrastinator like myself. I didn't know you were allowed to do your Christmas shopping early! But what a novel idea to try to have all our presents bought and wrapped by Thanksgiving! Danielle's been far more successful than I have, but still, even having one present bought before December 20th is progress for me.
Anyway, here comes the homestretch! This is where the Lamaze (what I remember of it) and the yoga (which we've only done once) and all the books (I skimmed a couple of them) should come in handy. In one month from now, if all goes well, we're going to have a little baby.
Yay!/Yikes!
Paul
Danielle has packed her hospital bag and I just need to add a couple of my own things, but the important thing is, she's ready. I still would like to take a video of her stomach moving before it's too late. I never want to forget how cool it is to see our little guy sticking his hands and feet up against mama's uterine wall. And let's be honest - Danielle just wears that belly like nobody's business! I need to document that for future generations who fail to believe that pregnant and sexy are not mutually exclusive.
Lately Junior and I have been playing the flashlight game. Danielle's belly is stretched thinly enough that when I shine a light against it, the baby sees and reacts to it. This is a wonderful experience for two reasons: 1) it means the baby can see!; and 2) it means the baby can react! I briefly considered teaching our boy Morse code but then decided this was silly, again for two reasons: 1) nobody knows Morse code any more; and 2) my son's first two languages have already been agreed upon: English and C++. I want to have the world's first computer programming toddler. Anyway, the flash light game is the first of many games I anticipate over the next 18 years until our son ultimately rejects us and moves to Southern California to pursue a career in post-modern film and surfing.
Danielle and I have gotten a jump on Christmas shopping for the year so that we don't have to waddle through the crowded stores come Christmas time (or even worse, tote a two-week old around). This has been an eye-opening experience for a procrastinator like myself. I didn't know you were allowed to do your Christmas shopping early! But what a novel idea to try to have all our presents bought and wrapped by Thanksgiving! Danielle's been far more successful than I have, but still, even having one present bought before December 20th is progress for me.
Anyway, here comes the homestretch! This is where the Lamaze (what I remember of it) and the yoga (which we've only done once) and all the books (I skimmed a couple of them) should come in handy. In one month from now, if all goes well, we're going to have a little baby.
Yay!/Yikes!
Paul
Friday, November 13, 2009
Braxton Hicks (Mom)
So... had a little excitement yesterday. I started having Braxton Hicks contractions, which I've had in the past, but I was suddenly able to feel them. It was just a slight discomfort. So I started tracking them only to find that I had 5 in an hour, which is more than I should be getting. So I called the doctor's office and spoke to a nurse. She told me that it was probably nothing to worry about but that it might be a sign that I was doing too much. She told me to go home and lay down and drink lots of water and then track them again. So I did that, and they got better. I was still having them, but they had slowed down substantially.
I think I've got everyone on high alert now. haha Good practice run though!
I think I've got everyone on high alert now. haha Good practice run though!
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