March 13, 2008 - I had my baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HI everyone I had my precius baby boy! Richard James was born Thurday March 13, 10:42 p.m!!! 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 and 1/2 inches long. I went in to be induced at 6:30 am that morning and actaully did it without pain meds, and I screamed my head off and scared the other 2 girls in labor and delivery! We had to stay an extra 10 hours or so in the hospital he had a touch of jaundice and as a precaution they had him under the lights for a while, but he is doing great! I will post pictures and detailed story later.

November 1: Week 19 -Hi everyone! This is my first pregnancy and I am super excited! I can't believe how fast things have gone, it feels like just yesterday I took the at home test and now I am already 19 weeks along. I had all the common symptoms early on, morning sickness, headaches, and I was tired all the time. I am doing better now and really getting to enjoy being pregnant. It seemed like a really long wait to find out the sex of the baby, and then we found out it's a... BOY!!! To say the least Daddy -to -be was very excited, I was flat out suprised! Getting to feel my little boy kicking and wiggling around in there is amazing, I feel so close to him already. Congrats to all you other moms out there!

November 8: Week 20- Wow my back has been killing me lately! Walking is the only time I don't notice it. But no matter if I sit, stand, or lay down there it is.. and I have never had back pain before the pregnacny. But I am definetely showing and have gained 10 pounds.

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November 13: Week 21- Wow time is starting to fly by now. We decided on the name Richard James for the baby, Richard is my dad's name, and James is my husband's dad's name. He is geting to be such an active litle man! It seems like he enjoys rolling around more than kicking me, so I think he will be a lover not a fighter (o: My back pain has gotten a lot better, maybe the rest of my body is getting used to carrying all this extra wieght around!!

November 20: Week 22- I went to the doctor yesterday, I was right at 21-22 weeks. Baby Richard looks great! The ultrasound looked good and his little heartbeat is 164 bpm. When I layed down I could feel him on the right side of me belly (where he usually likes to hang out) and the doctor placed the doppler right where I pointed and was listening and said "It doesn't get any better than that" and I was so happy. I only gained 1 pound this month! Last month I gained 5 so I was a little scared but the doctor said she is looking at overall weight gain, I am at 11 pounds so I am all good.My appetite has been HUGE lately I eat all the time. But I have been trying to watch what I eat, last month I ate McDonalds once or twice a week because of that Monolpoy game. This month I have only eaten McDonalds once the whole month ha ha.

November 26: Week 23- So I made I made it through my first holiday being pregnant. I did good I didn't eat too much Thanksgiving (which the doctor warned me not too). I did however get up at 3 am the next morning to go shopping!!! And out of myslef, my sister, her freind, and my mom I was the most awake person and didn't even get tired. My feet were absolutely killing me by the afternoon though. -------------------This morning I had a scare. I woke up and rolled over to my back, like I do every morning to srectch out. I think I pinched a nerve, I had a stabbing pain from my lower right back to the side of my belly. I literally had to be rolled out of bed, moving my right leg was making the pain worse. Well here it is the day is almost done and I am still in pain. Getting in and out of my chair at work is horrible!!! If I still feel like this tomorrow I will call the doc... -----------------------Little man is still mostly active at night and hangs out on the right side of my tummy. While I was Christmas shopping I kept thinking of him, and how different next Christmas will be. I can't wait!

December 3: Week 24- I am married now! It's official - November 30! I am excited, couldn't be happier with the man that I love and the little man in my belly we made together. -----------------I am getting really emotional lately, the year before this had been very rough and sometimes I feel this is all too good to be true. I thank God everyday for the blessing I carry and the last few days I keep playing back the day I found out I was pregnant, what a life changing moment! I didn't think I was actually pg- just late. I ended up taking the test about 4 days after my missed period and there it was satring me in the face - two litle lines that changed my life! I will never forget that morning and that feeling. My hubby was completely calm and excited, and my parents were so supportive, it's been great. It has been a journey, one that I have learned to treasure everyday. My life has completely changed since then, and all for the better. Reading some of the posts on this site and hearing of other mommies losing their little angels is heartbreaking and reminds you to be thankful everyday.

December 11: Week 25- I have been so busy lately with getting ready for Christmas and holiday parties, everything is so different being pregnant. It seems like it takes twice as long for me to finish things! Baby Richard kicks me really high now, almost up to my ribs! He is being active during the day. I also feel out of breath easily and have a constant feeling of being full, so I can't eat too much and I go to the bathroom every hour on the dot! I am still enjoying being pregnant, but I am already starting to feel anxious about the birth. Only 15 weeks left to go...

December 18: Week 26 - Just got back from the doctor, thankfully everything looks good with the baby. I am measuring 27 weeks and I am actually 26.3 weeks along. Total weight gain is 16 pounds now! (Doc did mention the scale may be off a pound or two...) As long as the baby is healthy I am fine with whatever weight I gain or anything else I have to go through. I did mention that I had 3 contractions in one hour and she said if I ever have 4 in an hour I need to call her. But everything looks good. Now I just have to find somewhere to do the 3D ultrasound !

December 26: Week 27 - This week flew by. Had a wonderful Christmas and of course there were presents for the baby from his grandparents and great grandparents. He is so loved! But then it hit me, the next "big" event I have to plan for and look forward to is him being born. I am excited, but I got SUPER nervous! I mean, I have to register for baby things, my shower is Feb 2, I have to take birthing classes, and then he will be here. 3 months to go is not long at all.

January 1, 2008: Week 28- Happy New Year! This is the year my little man will be born, and so many good things will follow. Time in general is flying by now. I went and started registering for the baby shower, that was a little overwhelming. There are so many things the baby needs, but they are soooo cute! I am getting excited now. I am starting to get really tired again, I hadn't missed that! I could only stay up untill 9:30 on New Year's Eve, but we just stayed home. I am going for my glucose test this week, fingers crossed.

January 4 - So I went in for my glucose test today. It wasn't too bad actaully! The drink only made me queasy for about 5 minutes, then 30 minutes later Richard was dancing in my belly from the sugar. I hope I passed, my mom had gestational diabetes, but she was in her 40's, and I am only 23!

January 9: Week 29- Nesting has officially set in! Everyhing has to be reorganized, deep cleaned, and I keep going thru the house asking "Do we really need/use/want this and where will we keep it once the baby is actually here?" I just want it all to be perfect for the arrival of baby Richard James. Also I am getting way excited for the baby shower, I can't wait to get all the baby things organized and wash all his little clothes. Gosh 11 weeks is going to fly by!!!

January 16: Week 30- Wow we are already 30 weeks along, time is flying! I have been feeling great lately, and was suprised to find out that I failed my 1 hour gestational diabetes test! I am a little upset with my doctor's office, my results were not even in my file when I went in for a routine exam. Luckily I asked how the results looked, and then the doctor had to go get a nurse to find the results. So I go back for the 3 hour test next week. On a lighter note, I start childbirth classes tomorrow and I am really excited for that.

January 25: Week 31- Bad news, I have gestational diabetes. I just found out and I am really shocked, I feel great and never would have guessed it! I am really nervous to just get to the specialist and get my game plan going. I hate waiting! My mom had it and she can give me pointers so I have already started to modify my diet. I am just praying for a healthy baby and mom to come home from the hospital. I have 3 appointments in the next week and a half so I will be very busy. In birthing class last night we pracitced breathing (felt relly corny) and then got massages from our labor coaches, I love my tummy being rubbed, I think Richard likes it too. Ok anyone reading this keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

January 30: Week 32- So I met with the diabetes specialist at the hospital, started me on a food plan and testing blood sugar 4 times a day. So far my sugar seemed a little high. And the 3 hour test I faied the 2 and 3 hour part. So I go to the dietician Monday to fine tune my diet. I just want everything to be ok with the baby!!! He moves around a lot and I can't wait to see his precious little face.

February 7: Week 33- I have been sooo busy lately! My birthday was February 5, I was pretty emotional that day and did not even feel like it was my birthday. I had my shower Saturday and it was so much fun! I got lots of nice things for the baby and took lots of pictrues so I can do a scrap book. I have to sort through all of his things and finsih getting his room ready. I had another ultrasound and got to see my little man, that made my week! This was the day after my not so super birthday and all my other worries went away once I saw my babies face. He is gorgeous! He has chubby cheeks and pouty lips and I CAN NOT wait to meet him!!! He has 10 fingers and 10 perfcet toes. I also saw the dietcician who said my blood sugar numbers are doing great, yay for me! And I had my non stress test and that looked good as well, he is an active little guy in there. I thank God for letting all my recent tests and checkups be good. I was really down about having gestational diabetes, but hopefully I can continue to keep it under control and have a healthy little baby. I can not believe in about 5 weeks my husband and I will have our son!!!

February 14: Week 34- went to the doctor today and I was in for a shock. I was having an NST done first before my appointment and the nurse noticed I was contracintg every 3 minutes. ( I have gestational diabetes so I have a weekly non stress test done in the doc's office) So they left me on the machine for 20 minutes and they stayed very regular. So the doc checked my cervix and my cervix is all the way thinned, I am in early labor! What the heck!!! I had been feeling achy that day but I brushed it off and I always get lots of braxton hicks so I ignored those too. So I had to go get a prescription fiilled, some medicine to stop contractions and I have to drink literally a gallon of water a day and limited physical activity. If I have more than 3 contractions an hour I have to go to the hospital. And I go back to the doc on Monday as long as I make it through the weekend still pregnant (her words not mine). Ahh!!! I have so much to do before the baby comes it is not even funny! The only issue my doc feels is necessary to watch is the lung development. He is already 5 and a half pounds and on the NST his heart rate is great and he is already head down and way low. But keep your fingers crossed she wants him to wait at least 3 more weeks to be born, and so do I!!!

February 16 ~ Still week 34: Well I didn't exactly make it thru the weekend without seeing my docotr. I am still pregnant, but I have been put on complete bed rest. I was not happy to hear that. Wednesday I was at the doctor and given medicine to stop contractions. It slowed them but they did not stop. I had Thursday off work, and Firday I went back. Well I started having contractions more frequently and called the doc and was told to go to the hospital. So around 1:00 yesterday I go to the hosptial. Wednseday I was 70% effaced and now I am 80%. Just to be safe I was monitored for 2 hours and baby is fine. I am on strict bed rest now, and cotintuing the medicine. I am still having contractions, they are mild and maybe 2-3 an hour. But I am usually such a busy body and there are still things I need to do for the baby, I feel horrible. My parents are coming over today to help my hubby put up the crib and my mom is going to organzie baby clothes. I am trying to stay positive as it is only for 2 and a half weeks, then I will be 37 weeks and much safer for me to deliver. And like the nurse told me, it is such a short period of my life that can be effect the rest of my baby's life.

Feb 20: Week 35- Yay I made it another week! Each day that passes and Richard stays growing inside of me is a good day! I had a doctor appointment today and had good news, which was a nice change from last weeks events. No change in my cervix, bedrest is working. I had to have an NST done because when I went into the doctor Monday his hear rate was high (as high as 200 and resting in the 180's and 190's). So today he looked better. The doctor is not concerned by it being a little fast because he shows no signs of distress. Also the doctor knows me well and I am a nervous person and my heart rate is always high, on top of that the medicine I am on can affect the heart rate a little. So I can stop obsessing over that now. I have been watching all the baby shows on TV, I have never watched them before and they make me cry, I don' t know if that is healthy to do everyday. Only 13 more days of bedrest, I have this in the bag baby!!!

Feb 26: Week 36- Go me!!! We made it another week, I hope the baby is enjoying his time inside because it won't be long and he will be here to meet his family. I thought I was going to have him on Sunday, I would have been 35 weeks 5 days. I woke up very achy and had an upset stomach. Then I noticed I was having contractions every 15 minutes. I also had what felt like a very sharp gas pain in my left side. This lasted all day, even my mom thought I may be having this baby!!! But I woke up the next day feeling fine, and barely had any contractions at all that day. So I made it to 36 weeks, I am so happy. I go to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully everything still looks good, I will get the results from my ultrasound last week. I still can't beleive that in 1 to 2 weeks I will be having my baby! Being on bed rest is going ok, I am having day dreams of going to the mall and eating mall food (a pretzel, a cookie, and a smoothie). I will make it though!

March 4: Week 37- I am so happy to have made it to week 37 and now I am off bedrest! This will be short and sweet, there are so many things for me to do before the baby comes. Just happy to have made it this far.

March 12: Week 38- Well here I am ONE DAY before my induction. Kind of funny that I was on bedrest for pre-term labor and now the last 9 days have brought nothing. But it's ok, he has had a little extra time to bake and get stronger. I have such a rush of emotions right now. It still feels very surreal to me, I am not even nervous yet like I was sure I would be. The only thing I can think about is having a healthy baby. (and a clean house to bring him home to ha ha ha) I have spent the last 9 days off of bed rest really busy, cleaning, running errands, getting my hair done, just genearally getting ready for this baby. And now; here I am, in 18 hours I will be on my way to the hospital for a life changing event. I can't imagine what it will be like to hold my son for the first time. To hear his cry, to feel his soft skin. I can't wait for my husband to become the great daddy I know he will be. And the rest of my family anxiuosly awaits there first grandson and nephew. Tomorrow I pray will be the day I have dreamed of. A healthy baby and mom and happy family. Wish us luck!!!