Let It Snow!!!

On Dec 7th and into the morning of the 8th, we received 10 inches of snow!!! It was really pretty for about 48 hours, and then it warmed up a bit and the mud set in. Everything was canceled Thursday & Friday....including the baby shower that our congregation was throwing for us =( I believe its been rescheduled for Feb 18th...so Sydney will be able to enjoy it also!

Last 2 Doc Appointments

I've procrastinated enough that I have 2 visits to update you on. I saw my OB on the 12th. We had the normal weekly ultrasound test and non-stress test, and everything was good. Syd had the hiccups during the ultrasound and it was pretty cute to see her little chest and abdomen jerking rhythmically. Apparently I registered as having some mild contractions, but I couldn't feel anything. Dr. Estrin said that even the slightest movements, like talking, will register on the monitor...so my guess is that's what they probably were. Jeff asked her how positive she was that I would have Syd in '06 and not '05 (it makes a $4,000 coverage difference on my insurance!!) and she felt fairly confident that I would make it into January. Then she surprised me by saying that she wanted to make sure I delivered by the 11th. I was so dumbfounded that I didn't even ask why. Jeff and I just sat there staring at eachother. The 11th was less than a month away!!! Yikes!! I was totally planning on her being late, like around the 25th or so. So, in my head, I'd just lost 2 weeks of preparation time. My external measurements were at 35 cm for the 3rd week in a row, which is normal for this stage of pregnancy. Babies don't get much longer now, just fatter so the growth is less noticeable externally. I was also tested for Group B Strep.

I saw Dr Estrin again on the 19th. Again, we had an ultrasound and we passed both that test and the non-stress. No contractions registered this week. I received some mildly bad news...I failed my Group B Strep test. But really all that means is that I'll receive an antibiotic when I go into labor. And since 25% of women are positive for Group B Strep at time of labor, its a pretty routine and normal thing. I asked her more about why she wanted me to deliver no later than the 11th (39 weeks) and her reasoning was that its better safe than sorry. Hypertension becomes more of a risk later in pregnancy, so she doesn't want to take any chances. She was hopeful that I would go into labor on my own between now & the 11th. I mentioned to her that no female in my family had ever had a baby ontime....so she thought for a minute and then said she might, stressing the "might", let me go until the 18th (40 weeks) depending upon my blood pressure, but absolutely no later than that. My pressure has been consistent since the beginning of my pregnancy, so that is a great sign that my body is handling the extra load well. And I haven't spilled protein in my urine, so that's a great sign. I'm really hoping that I go into labor on my own before being induced...so add that to your prayer lists. My external measurements were 37 cm, or 37 weeks, this time. I gained 2 more pounds, but I've lost track of what the running total is. I think I'm at 26 or 27 lbs. I'll just pretend that I would normally be gaining weight during the holiday season anyway, so I'll just get on the ball in '06 to get it off. Jeff has a head start on me...he's lost about 20 lbs since I got pregnant!

36 Weeks Pregnant!!!

I'm nearing the finish line....they consider you full term at 37 weeks (yikes!)

I have TONS of blogging to do. Several of my good friends have had babies this month....we've had gobs of snow...I'm enormous...and I've got shower picts to post. Can't do it all now, but I will get back to this tonight.

In the mean time, here is what babyfit.com has to say for this week:

Your Baby's Development This Week
Age of Fetus—34 weeks
You are probably feeling as big as a house and that you've run out of room for the baby to grow any more! You're close to the finish line, but there is still time and room for the baby to grow.
Other changes that are happening:
Limbs are dimpling at the elbows and knees as fat deposits continue.
The baby's gums are rigid and it may seem like teeth are about to come out.
The baby's body fat has likely increased to about 8% and may reach as high as 15% by the end of your term.
Baby's Size and Weight this week:
Size: 13.5 inches (head to rump)
20.75 inches (head to toes)
Weight: 6 lbs The baby's weight is about that of a bunch of large bananas.

Week 35 from Babyfit.com

(I included the fitness part because I'm always huffing & puffing my way around the house!)

Your Pregnancy Fitness This Week
I’ve stayed fit – why am I short of breath?
Once you are in your third trimester, even if you were a marathon runner and in the best cardio shape of your life, you may experience some shortness of breath after taking only a couple of steps. Stay calm – even the fittest women feel this symptom of pregnancy and it is not due to what kind of “shape” you are in. It is a fact that by the time you reach your 36th week, your uterus has expanded to about 1,000 times its normal size. Logically, this gives the rest of your organs, including your lungs, less room to move. So the shortness of breath you may be experiencing is likely due to the overcrowded conditions inside your body. The best you can do is to maintain good posture and know that some relief will come when the baby drops down into the birth canal.

Your Baby's Development This Week
Age of Fetus—33 weeks
The baby's growth is still going and many women notice a “drop” when the baby shifts into the pelvis. The baby almost always settles into the pelvis in a head down position. The baby's arms and legs are growing and getting longer.
Other changes that are happening:
A baby delivered at 8 months will lose weight because it has not fully developed its digestive system. It has, however, stored fat in the event of an early birth to survive the ordeal.
By weeks 36-40 your lungs capture 15-20% more oxygen.
Baby's Size and Weight this week:
Size: 13.25 inches (head to rump)
20.25 inches (head to toes)
Weight: 5.5 lbs

(however, they estimated she was 5 lbs 6 oz at my last ultrasound, on 12/5)

Our Address

A few people have asked for our address, and I see no harm in posting it to this blog:

21611 W 122nd Terrace
Olathe, KS 66061

I've got tons of updating to do....and no time to do it!! I'll catch up on blogging tonight!

Brenna

From Babyfit.com

Age of Fetus—32 weeks
From this point on your baby has the level of development necessary to survive outside the womb. The baby's eyes are opening and closing in conjunction with its activity and resting periods. The eyes are nearly fully developed but will require a few weeks exposure to light to complete the pigmentation process. Over the final weeks of pregnancy, in anticipation of blood loss with the birthing process, your blood volume will add 2-4 pounds of weight to your body.
Other changes that are happening:
The baby is developing its own immune system to fight mild infections.
The baby's fingernails will reach the end of the finger tips this week.
Baby's Size and Weight this week:
Size: 12.75 inches (head to rump)
19.75 inches (head to toes)
Weight: 5 lbs

My sneaky family...

The entire premise for our trip to St Louis this weekend (going to a Ram's game) was a hoax. It turns out that Christy had been planning this elaborate scheme to host a surprise baby shower for us. I was completely surprised, as you can tell from the pictures, and totally impressed that they pulled it off so well. So while Meghan and I were out Christmas shopping on Sunday morning, Christy, Ryan & Jeff went into action. When we returned from shopping the family was waiting for me in the living room with a loud "SURPRISE"!! It turns out that Jeff and Ryan did go to the Ram's game while us women folk stayed back and partied baby style.

So props to Meghan & Jeff for keeping the secret because I know it is so hard for them to do. And even bigger props to Christy for pulling the whole thing off.

It was a wonderful shower & Sydney received tons of beautiful and essential gifts.

The moment of "Surprise!"

Mastering the art of smelling diapers filled with melted candy bar to identify the type. Apparently I've had quite a few candy bars lately because I got them all correct!Yum! Meghan's looks delicious!!

Surprise Shower

Sharon & Meghan watching me open a gift from Terri & Joyce
Carol & Lucy catch us up on what's new with the Morgan's
Sharon, Nana, and Maura
A beautiful outfit from Carol

Doctor Appointment @ 33 Weeks, 5 Days

I was a little worried going into today's visit. We drove to St Louis on Friday night and after 4 hours in the car my ankles were a bit puffy. I know pregnant women retain water & get puffy, but it hadn't happened to me yet so I was a bit caught off guard. Also, my wedding ring felt a bit tight. I took it easy on Saturday & mostly just rested hoping the swelling would go away. I felt fine-no other symptoms. On Sunday I went Christmas shopping with Meghan and my ring felt even tighter. So....I was very happy that everything was fine at today's visit. My swelling is down and I took my wedding ring off just in case it happens again. No protein in my urine. My BP was elevated a bit the first time, but normal on the 2nd reading. My external measurements were at 35 weeks, the same as last week. The ultrasound measured her at approx. 5 lbs 6 oz today, which is a little bit above the 50th percentile. However...they are known to be way off on these estimates. Apparently I was having some contractions while I was being monitored, but I didn't notice them at all. This was the first time anything like that had registered, so I was a bit surprised. Wouldn't it be nice if all my contractions were that unnoticeable!!!!

I went to the gym earlier today, so please excuse my attire, but here's my belly today:

Fetal Progress

From babyfit.com:

Your Baby's Development This Week
Age of Fetus—31 weeks
The baby continues to grow at an amazing rate of development. The baby may be sucking its fingers and thumbs, preparing for the process of breast feeding. Your baby is making its greatest demands for protein and fat in the later stages of pregnancy so your nutrition is, as always, very important to your pregnancy and the baby.
Other changes that are happening:
The volume of amniotic fluid has reached its maximum amount. You will have 2-6 cups of this fluid by the time the baby is born.
Your breasts may now be going through a great deal of change preparing for the newborn.
Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: 12 inches
19.5 inches (head to toes)
Weight: 4.5 lbs The baby's size is the length of a ruler.

3D Ultrasound

We had a 3D ultrasound done, just for fun, separate from our OB appointment. Here are a few pictures (if you haven't seen these before, the blurry spots are where she's pressed up against the placenta):

I think she looks like she has Jeff's lips in this picture-She has her tongue sticking out in this picture. The bubble in front of her mouth is part of the umbilical cord. The u/s tech though she might be trying to lick it....how funny!Jeff and I laugh at this picture because for a sec we though she was going to pick her nose! Now it just looks like she's impersonating Dr. Evil from Austin Powers.Its pretty cool, and a little spooky...but, she has her eyes open in this picture. She opened them for us quite a bit during the ultrasound. This is also one of the only moments when she didn't have her hands all over her face.She loved to have her little head resting on her hand. She had it propped on her temple nearly the entire hour! Her nose is pressed up against the side of my uterus, so she looks a little pug in this one.

I've still been feeling great (knock on wood!), so I hope it lasts another 7 weeks (or 8 or 9 if she's stubborn like her mother). She gets me pretty good in the ribs sometimes, ever since she went head down. Its a bit uncomfortable, but it also makes me laugh to think of her all squished inside there! I haven't posted a belly picture in quite a while, so when Jeff gets home from practice I'll have him take one so we can post it.

33 Weeks Pregnant....

Its only been a week and half since I last posted, but I feel like so much is happening so fast now that its hard to keep up. I might have to do 2 posts this time in order to fit all the pictures on here.

Some more of the nursery furniture came in. We're still working on the details of the room, but this is what we have so far....

We're still waiting for the rocking chair to come in before we finalize everything else. Hopefully that will be here before Christmas.

We spent Thanksgiving in St. Louis. Ryan & Christy hosted a grand feast at their place. We didn't get any pictures of the rest of the family...but Trevor was adorable so we have a few shots of him...

I had my weekly OB visit on Monday and all was well. They did another ultrasound on the baby & we past with 10 out of 10. They check for things like her heart rate, movement, practice breathing, fluid levels, and blood flow through the placenta. I'm very happy that we're both hanging in there! My chart was messed up a little & they didn't get any measurements on her, so I'll have to wait until this coming Monday to report that to you. However, my external measurements are still ahead of schedule. I measured at 35 weeks when I was 32 weeks and 5 days. Its really just a difference of 2cm in my uterus, so nothing to get too excited over. But it is reassuring that she's not under-sized.