Friday, March 30, 2007

A "Big" Week

Well, we made it to week 34 ... one week past when Emma was born. How exciting! And, I've been able to stay home this whole time, for which we are so praiseful. Of course, I would love to have a normal pregnancy and be up and about enjoying this time ... but, I must say I have preferred the comforts of my own home over the hospital like last time!

We went to see the perinatal dr this week. We got to see Little G bouncing around ... ok, not bouncing quite as much as space gets tighter! Interestingly, Little G has had a sudden growth spurt and is now measuring 1.5 weeks ahead!! Little G is around 6 lbs now!! That was exciting news, but struck some concern. The dr discussed my late diagnosis of gestational diabetes with Emma and suggested that I cut back on carbs and increase my protien intake. How great that Little G is measuring big if I do still deliver early. I did have a quick thought, though, that there was one advantage to delivering early last time ... smaller baby to push during delivery. The next day during one of Little G's "exercise routines", Tom was feeling my belly and said that he didn't remember Emma kicking like that. I told him that maybe it was because Emma never got this big on the inside! So, we are enjoying some new adventure and fun that we did not get to explore last time.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Catching you up ...

Here is a rundown of the past 7 months to catch you up on what's been happening with us ... sorry for the length of the first post. I had hoped to do this sooner, but I've been busy ... laying down. ;-) (from Amy)

Sept 06
A great start to our vacation ...
On the first day of our vacation, we learned I was pregnant with #2 ... we are excited and nervous.
At 7 weeks, we visited my OB and saw our baby. How can something so tiny have a heartbeat?!?! It is so incredible! We also saw the perinatal dr who measured my cervix (I'm short already), and we discussed the possibility of putting a stitch (cerclage) in my cervix.
We closed on our new house and planned to move in Oct.

Oct 06
A baby brother or sister ... And surgery
We shared the news with Emma and she cried ... which, of course, made me cry! But, she slowly warmed up to the idea talking about how she's a big sister!
With the help of several friends, we moved into our new house. Tom recruited several guys from work and from our community group to take most of our big things and main necessities from the old house to the new one. I have a good excuse this time for not unpacking and organizing right away ... I'm not allowed to lift anything or exert myself .... although it's hard not to want to get things in order.
On Oct 24, I had my cerclage surgery. Everything went well and the dr was pleased. We are hopeful that this will help me to carry the baby longer this time and maybe help avoid bed rest.

Nov 06
I saw the perinatal dr three times this month, includinf my follow-up visit from the surgery. The stitches look great, and my cervix is longer than we've ever seen it! I also saw the OB twice, including one visit for exposure to Hand, Foot, & Mouth disease (one of those things to avoid when pregant.) When my OB found out about the HFM exposure, she said, "Your pregnancies just aren't meant to be easy, but you make good product." (as she looked at Emma who was with me!!)

Dec 06
Bed Rest again!!
On the night of Emma's 3rd birthday (how did my peanut suddenly get to be three!!), I talked to the OB on call after feeling some abdominal pressure (with Emma I never felt any contractions, so I knew I couldn't be too careful about it again). They sent me into the OB office the next day. My OB sent me to my perinatal dr's office where I had an ultrasound and cervical measurement. I had shortened significantly, so I was sent directly home (don't pass go, don't collect $200) ... go directly home and lay down. I was pretty disappointed after Tom and I had our date day planned that day. One of the first thoughts ... "Why did I have the surgery?" Tom brought home lunch and movies ... we didn't talk for a long time, didn't feel like there was much to say. Several days of lots of tears and worries and "why's".
But, we did have something fun to celebrate ... our little nephew Lukas Robert Gerborg was born on Dec 31.

Jan 07
Bed rest, new job, & Grey's Anatomy
After one week of bed rest, I returned to the perinatal dr and got great news ... my cervix had lengthened!! I visited the perinatal dr twice this month and the OB two times as well. I took the glucose test a 2nd time as I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes late in the last pregnancy. Passed both times. My iron has been fine and Little G continues to grow on track.
Nana arrived in early Jan. She will be a huge help around the house and with Emma, and it's great to have her company.
We are all hooked on Grey's Anatomy and have now finished seasons 1 & 2!
Tom started his new job with globalX, our missions team. We have now successfully been involved in three of the top five most stressful life events ... new house, baby, new job!!

Feb 07
"You grew a cervix!" .... and "24"
We make it to 30 weeks, and we are quickly approaching when Emma arrived, which causes a little anxiety. The drs talk about really monitoring my body, any contractions or changes, as the body can "remember" when delivery occurred last time.
After a month or so of bed rest with some cervical shortening, I get good news that my cervix lengthened again and Marisa, the tech, exclaims, "You grew a cervix!"
Tom travels to Spain, and while he is there we receive three contracts on our old house. We sign a deal and close in less than two weeks. Quite a hectic time, but thank you to friends, especially our community group, everything worked out just fine. What a burden lifted ... only one mortgage now.
Tom and Emma attended a Baby & Me class at Northside Hospital for soon-to-be siblings. Emma did great changing diapers and holding the baby.
Nana went home to PA for a week to take care of some things. We sure missed her. She is great with the laundry and cleaning (especially the dishes) ... a few of Tom's not-so-favorite tasks!! And, she is a huge help with Emma.
Emma started wearing panties ... she made the switch more or less on her own ... and she's done great at home and at school. What a big girl!!
Ok, after everyone saying how we have to watch "24" and since we had no more "Grey's Anatomy" left, we are all now watching the first few seasons of "24."

March 07
We make it to 34 weeks ... still at home, no medications, and a week past when Emma would've arrived! We are celebrating! Signs of spring are in the air ... and even a little taste of summer.Flowers are blooming, everything is covered in pollen, and mommy is SO hot ... yes, we have our A/C on already!!
I visited the perinatal dr twice in March ... once at the hospital to monitor for contractions. All three appointments show that the stitches are holding strong, cervix is stable and Little G is growing on track. Two OB visits also indicate that mommy and baby are doing fine. Tom travels to South Africa for work for a week, and Emma gets a bad cough and chest cold while he travels.
Emma went to one ultrasound appointment. She really liked when they let her hear the heartbeat. She kept saying "Do it again!!" After the tech told us to close our eyes, I asked Emma if she had ... and she said, "no." Hmmmm ... does she know now??? :)