Oh Yea...

Thanks to everyone who voted for Jasper and Rosie in the Bissell MVP contest. I'm sad to report that other's don't find our doggos as darling as we do and neither one made it into even the top 5 for their week. It's okay...we all know the truth...even if the masses don't see it!

37+ Weeks

I know, I know. I promised I would post after my doctor's appointment LAST Friday but, there is a very valid reason I didn't...What I would have posted was this...

"The nurse midwife has decided that I need to go back to the ortho on Monday because of the pain in my back and weakness in my legs and implications for delivery. I've scheduled the appointment but I won't really know more then. I'll post again after that..."

Then after the appointment on Monday I would have posted this...

"I'm so frustrated right now I can't see straight. The ortho wouldn't really give me any straight answers about what he thought we should do as far as delivery is concerned but he did say that since my previous injury is degenerative that it's likely I've done more damage throughout the pregnancy. In addition, he said that any concerns I have about laboring are very valid, that I could sustain further injury AND that it's possible an epidural wouldn't be as effective as normal because of the scar tissue in my back. He gave me another cortisone injection on the right side and I'm supposed to go back in 10 days for another on the left."

SO, you can see why I didn't post...There wasn't really any information that I could provide that would satisfy anyone's curiosity, especially mine, and it probably would have just frustrated me further. So what's been happening?

Well, after my appointment with the ortho on Monday I called the OB's office to tell the midwife what I was told. After discussion with her I suggested that perhaps she should call his office and try to consult with him directly as opposed to me being the go between. Luckily for me, she was willing. I didn't hear back from her until Tuesday, at which point she left me a message saying that she had spoken with him and that he supports delivering by c-section and supports delivery earlier than 39 weeks if my pain gets too severe or if my sympotms get worse. Now tell me, why couldn't he just tell me that?

Anyhow, I followed up at the OB's office on Thursday and here's where things get the tiniest bit complicated...My actual OB is out of the office until Thursday the 5th, at the EARLIEST. She was out on vacation and now is apparently out on surgical leave. (Of course it's my luck that this would happen) Anyway, the midwife, who I just love, said that she can't see any reason that the doctor wouldn't agree with the ortho's recommendations but that there is a possibility she won't. I guess in the past she's been a bit unpredictable. Now, what the midwife noted in my chart from her conversation with the ortho was that I wasn't to labor much longer than 2 hours (HA), that I needed to refrain from extensive pushing, and that he's recommended c-sections for patients who's injuries are far less than mine. Seems like a no brainer right? Well we think so but just in case...

Just in case my doctor doesn't come back on the 5th like she's supposed to (because that day I'm 38 weeks) and just in case she doesn't agree to the need for a c-section, the midwife recommended that I consult with another doctor who used to be in my practice. She just recently branched out to private practice but she's also covering for my doctor while she's out. Ultimately, this consult doctor, who I had seen in my practice before she left, agress with the ortho and the midwife and said at my appointment Thursday that had I been 39 weeks instead of 37 she would have taken me over to the hospital that night to deliver. So, we have a back-up which is reassuring.

So...when is she coming? Well, we still don't know an exact date. The consult doctor said that she could send me back to the perinatologist for an amino to determine lung maturity and if they came back mature that she would deliver me right away. I told her I'd rather not have an amnio if I can avoid it, that the midwife was writing a note for work, and that being at home I would better be able to manage my pain. I told her to give me a goal date and that I would make it to that. She said I'm 39 weeks on the 12th so she'd like me to make it till then but she would be comfortable if I made it at least to the 10th. However, if my pain becomes more severe or if my symptoms get worse they would deliver earlier. Additionally, I have an appointment with my doctor this Friday and if she agrees that a c-section is what's best then she will be the one to do it, probably around the same time since they like to do planned c-sections at 39 weeks to reduce the chance of me going into labor on my own. If I do go into labor on my own between now and then it will be a c-section and it will be either the consult doctor or whoever the resident is to deliver Little Miss.

So we don't have an exact date but somewhere between the 10th and 13th (because if I can make it Brett would love for her to be born on Friday the 13th)...I may know more after my appointment this Friday (the 6th) if my doctor is back from her leave.

That's the synopsis...there is probably more that I left out but that's all the important stuff...I'm trying to decide if I am going to follow up with the 2nd cortisone injection this week because the one I got on Monday has been far less effective then the one I got at the beginning of my pregnancy and I'm just not sure that I want to go through the pain of the actual injection if it isn't going to be effective. I'm still going to physical therapy but I think my appointment this week will likely be my last until after I deliver (I don't imagine it's all going to disappear after she's delivered). I'm also considering finding a new ortho in the Fredericksburg area, because it's closer to home but also because I'm not sure how I feel about my ortho anymore after Monday. I am going to need more X-rays and a new MRI and possibly bone scan after delivery and it likely just be easier to have it all done down here.

As promised here's the 37 week belly shot...

I think that's it for now...if I think of anything else I'll let you know...and this time, even if it is frustrating, I will post after my next doctor's appointment...it's hard to believe Marley could be here in as little as 10 days!

Terrible...

I'm terrible...I've been told that I'm slacking...which I suppose is true. HOWEVER, as we approach closer and closer, trying to keep Little Miss in until March, isn't no news good news? Although I suppose I can see, at the same time, how no news might be concerning...Are they at the hospital? What's going on? Is she on her way?

Rest assured all, Marley is still snug right inside where she belongs, hopefully for the next 4 weeks. I'm feeling confident she will not arrive before March. I'm not necessarily as confident in saying she will go all the way to March 18th, but I'm also not as confident saying she won't go PAST March 18th. She has definitely proven all along that she has a mind of her own so I imagine she will come when she so chooses.

Updates since last post...The lovely ladies, Alicia, Janet, Mia, Jenny, Paige and Courtney threw Colleen and me a baby shower last Friday! It was fantastic, Colleen was in on part of the surprise...she knew they were throwing me one because they enlisted her to get me there...little did she know there were gifts there for her as well...I wish I had known, I would have had a gift there for Colleen myself. Don't worry Colleen, it's coming, and it's gonna be good! Thanks again for the toy phone and the cute 6 month outfit! I'm sure she (and Heather) will be darling crawling around in a heart studded butt. Anyhow, Courtney couldn't attend because she was home sick along with her girls but I know she wanted to be there and was there in spirit! Thanks Paige and Courtney for all of the bottles, the dishwasher basket, bottle brush and drying rack! Alicia, Janet, Mia and Jenny, along with the other staff at Courthouse put together the cutest basket full of bath goodies, Desitin (which will surely come in handy), diapers, wipes, rattles and toys. Thanks everyone!

Other updates...I had a doctor's appointment last Thursday and all is good. They were shocked though because I lost a pound instead of gaining 2 or 3. They've decided they are going to monitor me and have me go weekly from here on out because my blood pressure seems to be slowly creeping up (although work the last few weeks was incredibly stressful due to one particular little gem) and because I'm really starting to have a lot of back pain. This was to be expected because of the previous surgery I had, and I've been lucky that it didn't start well before now, but now it is pretty bad. I've got the general low back ache, accompanied by a lot of swelling around my scar, a tightening all throughout my upper back and shoulder blades and I'm starting to have residual pain down my left leg. It is what it is...I go back on Friday this week so we'll see what they have to say then. In the meantime, I continue to attend physical therapy at least once a week. I go again tomorrow so we'll see if the therapist has any new information that they want me to pass along to the doc on Friday.

Other than that we're just twiddling our thumbs (which we don't mind at all). There are a few more things that I would like to get done in the nursery before Little Miss arrives so I think that will be this weekend's project. There are a few things to hang on the wall and I'm gonna see if I can convince Brett to install the ceiling fan :)

I PROMISE to post a belly pic after the doc on Friday (maybe if I promise I'll actually do it). Until then all...

What a Wonderful Weekend!

So this weekend was wonderful! It started on Thursday. Brett and I had childbirth class till late so Sarah was supposed to stay with the dogs. When we got home she wasn't there, which I thought was a little odd, but she showed up a little while later with my Best Friend Erin who flew in from California to surprise me for my baby shower! I've been told the look on my face was priceless...apparently it took a little while to register that she was actually standing in front of me in person. The surprises continued when my sister informed me that they had spoken to my boss about me taking comp time Friday afternoon so I wouldn't have to work a full day knowing that Erin, Sarah, my mom and Aunt Chris were out partying without me. Colleen, I'm still shocked you kept it a secret, but I do understand now why you were asking me repeatedly how much comp time I had left :)

So Thursday was a really late night because Erin and I just HAD to stay up talking (but I only had to work a half day on Friday so it was okay). Then Friday afternoon we went out and about running errands and picking up food in preparation for Saturday. Friday night was dinner at Bonefish Grill. Brett was a lucky man to be sitting with 5 such lovely ladies! And then came Saturday...

Saturday was so much fun! Erin took me out for a manicure/pedicure (to get me out of the house on my Aunt's orders) and when we got back the party was already swinging. Here's a glimpse of what I walked in on...

Isn't the clothesline darling? Aunt Chris said it was a surprise all the way from New York! And what party is complete without a cake courtesy of Momma Lock (for those of you who have not been fortunate enought to enjoy a piece of her cake I feel sorry for you!)

We played a few of the traditional baby shower games including guess how big Bethany's belly is...no we didn't really measure...but congratulations to Cathy S. who won that one, her ribbon was just about exact! There was also guess how many jelly beans in the Texas Longhorns baby bottle...Congrats to Erin L...and of course the Dirty Diaper game where you melt the candy in the microwave and then try to guess what kind of candy bar it was...the winner is...Diane! Then there was a new game I had never heard of called "OOPS my water broke." This one was really cute; everyone got a cup with a heart shaped ice cube and within the ice cube was one or two little plastic babies. If your ice cube was the first to melt you were supposed to yell "OOPS my water broke" but you weren't allowed to assist your ice cube in melting in anyway. Anyhow, even though she refused to shout "OOPS my water broke" (so I shouted it for her) the winner was Marina! Congratulations to all of you lucky winners...here is Erin L. and Marina with their prizes...Then began the opening of presents! It made me feel very special to see how much Marley, Brett and I are loved...I could run the list of what everyone got us but I thought I would just share a few pictures...

This is the darling diaper cake that Loretta made for us! Yes, the topper is a dress that says "flirt" which I have no doubt Little Miss will be!

Here is Erin and Erin, my gift passer-outers, I thought it was a really cute pic!

This is the fleece quilt Kelley made for Marley with the ABC's on it. She also made some delicious iced sugar cookies that were a surprise for me!This is the darling outfit from Gymboree that Colleen got for her. I had seen this in the store and wanted it badly! Yeah, I know, the hat doesn't really fit...The georgeous Chenille Quilt that Harla had the Quilter's Guild make for us. Isn't it beautiful!

Erin and Justin, along with the Lockhart fam got us an exceptional bag of goodies but this is a turtle that projects stars on the ceiling for Marley's nursery. How cool is that? You can even change the colors from blue to amber to green...This is "A Bunny Named Bob" made with love for Marley by her Great Aunt Chris. Aunt Chris also co-hosted the shower with my mom and my sister, made the clothesline and gave us the much needed Port-a-Crib that Marley will be sleeping in, next to mom and dad, for the first few weeks.

Diane, Carissa and Rachel gave us the high chair, diaper champ and a plethera of diapers and wipes!Along with my surprise of Erin from California came a hand-made blanket from her mom, Mom Howarth...And here's Erin with one of the many TYR suits that she gave us for Marley for as she gets bigger. Of course it's TYR...do you think we'd put her in SPEEDO??This is my present opening helper Caroline modeling Marley's first Longhorn t-shirt also from Erin...And one of the two "Taggies" outfits Erin got her. These are great...they have tags on them and all different tactile stimulus on the front...perfect for a mom who works in special education!A few other special thank you's to Aunt Sarah who gave us a mother/daughter baby book and some clothes, Grace and Jessica who got us the Baby Bjorn (to which I was especially grateful since I already had many plans for it!), to Uncle Christian and Aunt Natalie who got Marley her bath sling and a cute butterfly towel/wash cloth combo, to Momma Mazurek for the Travel System, Great Grandma Endicott for the fleece cover for the Baby Bjorn, Great Grandma and Grandpa Lindberg for the monitors, and to Momma Lock who made sure we had all the necessary medical supplies, thermometers etc., so that we could exhaust all of our options before calling on her nurse expertise at 3:00 am.

And what would this post be without a Thank You to Marley's GrandNan, also known as Fancy :) She has done so much for both me and Marley since the day we found out that we were pregnant. She has gotten us clothes, much needed nursing supplies, everything for the nursery and this weekend Marley's bouncer, and embroidered burping cloths! I know I'm missing a ton but I wanted to make sure I mentioned how grateful we are for everything she has done for us! Love you Mom XOXO

I also can't leave out Marley's daddy...he was such a great sport when he walked in on Saturday evening and saw the piles upon piles of "stuff" (which we all know he doesn't enjoy nearly as much as I do). Then he bought Mommy and Marley a really huge gift...

Isn't it pretty??

What a wonderful weekend it was! There was so much love and thought put into the weekend to make it special. I appreciate everyone who had a hand in it and spent the day with us!

A few other updates...things are going very well...Marley is minding her mommy and staying in nice and cozy where she should be. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday (35 weeks) so I'll update again after that. I'm fighting a bit of a sinus infection right now but the antibiotics should kick in soon...and for those of you who didn't get enough of my belly from all the baby shower pics here's and updated belly shot...

OH and don't forget...this is the week to vote for Rosie in the Bissell MVP contest. (We find out tomorrow how Jasper did). You can vote for her by clicking the link to the right or by searching for her alphabetically on the website. She is listed under her official name "Texas Rose"

VOTE FOR JASPER AND ROSIE

Hey Y'all! I've entered Jasper and Rosie in the Bissell MVP Contest to try and get their pictures on Bissell packaging. Jasper's picture is up for voting this week and if he doesn't win I will resubmit his photo next week for future voting. Rosie's picture was submitted this week and will be available for voting next week. I can only submit one pet per week so I will be updating the links as the contest continues...hopefully one of them will win! Thanks for the votes!!