Week 38 - ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!!

Oh my goodness my sweet little baby girl....this is probably the last post before we SEE you...HOLD you...MEET you!  I am so stinkin' excited and that's an understatement!


First things first - I went to my last OB appointment today (and had an AFI and NST - you looked great on both of those - fluid was up even to a 12.7 - and the tech thought you were a lot lower in there too!).  The OB told me I was all scheduled for next week - November 30th - at 7:30am!  That's our time!  We check in and get the ball rolling from there.  I am so happy that we have a morning slot too...it'd be waaay too painful to wait until any later!


We have a few things left to get done before you get here - but honestly - it isn't that much.  I feel like I did back in high school or college when I had a major test to prepare for.  And I did all I could for it, and the night before the test I felt like I should be studying more, but I knew everything I thought I should...and that almost made me more nervous because I felt like I forgot something major and didn't prepare right in the end for it!  I feel like that now with you - I have prepared for you intensely all along the way - and all the stuff around the house is in good shape too (I even have several frozen meals ready to go in the freezer!).  So...what's left?  Did I forget something?  I don't think so, and even so, I am still pretty nervous for all of this to happen.  I am sure this is normal....the little tiny amazing thing that I have been waiting for FOREVER (it seems) is finally coming and scheduled to come, at that, and I am nervous?  I truly can't wait and am nervous all at the same time little girlie!


Thanksgiving is this week - and usually I am all about thinking about food and family - but to be honest - I haven't thought much about anything at all but you.  You are overriding everything this week!  Plus, we don't have your Sisters this Thanksgiving, so your Daddy and I are on our own really.  Without much to do on a major holiday, we thought it'd be great if you just came along and we could celebrate in the hospital with you?  What do you think?  =)


This is a week all about "lasts".  Will this be the last time I get to the grocery store before Avery is here?  Will I fill up my car with gas another time before Avery comes?  This will be my last weekend to walk and exercise for a long time before you are here!  It may sound crazy, but I really do think about all of this now!  Your Sisters are dying to meet you too.  Kyndall has made it clear that I need some really good contractions (bigger and badder than the ones I always have) to get things rolling soon or she's going to go crazy.  =)  Megan still loves to feel you rolling in my belly.  I love how excited they are.  They already love you so much too!


Speaking of your Sisters, we put up the Christmas tree tonight!  Another "last"...the last time we will put a tree up for Christmas without you with us!  Here are some pictures....

 The start of the tree - we got this tree from Pa and Mimi and it's HUGE - 8 foot!

 Whew!  All the branches are on!

 The girls decorating

And your Daddy finishing it off with the star!

Putting up the Nativity set too

Our new Christmas stockings - handmade by Renie - an old family friend.  They are so cool!

Here's the final product - how good does it look in our living room?!  There's even a couple wrapped gifts under the tree already - from your Daddy to me!

The other half of the family room/dining room with the stockings and Nativity set - we are not only ready for you, but ready for Christmas too!

Drum roll please!  Here it is Avery Jo...The FINAL piece to our countdown! In honor of ONE week until we see you, here is the #1 best thing about you!  (And your Daddy and I both came up with this one together!)

You are the unifying piece to our family.  You will be the ONLY person in our family that "shares blood" with each of the other members.  No one else can say that.  You have a little of each of us in you - how cool is that?  Me...I just share you.  Your Daddy shares you and your Sisters.  Your Sisters share each other and you and your Daddy.  But you, my darling, you have a little of us all in you!  We love that thought.  You are the piece that molds us officially into ONE.  You combine us ALL together!  And for that reason, we cannot wait to meet you and love on you!  We can't wait to see what you look like - WHO you look like!  We can't wait to know your little mannerisms and if that was more like me, your Daddy, Kyndall, Megan....I'm sure we will all be fighting over who you most resemble in cuteness!  Whomever that is, the bottom line is is that you will have a little of all of us represented in your personality, skin, face, hair/eye color, genetics and temperament!  


If I could choose - I would give you your Daddy's passion and love for people and things you believe in.  There is no one else on this earth that has more love and fire in his heart than your Daddy. And his ability to learn and grow, especially in God.  I truly hope you get that from him.  And also, his amazing green eyes of course!  I would give you your Sister, Kyndall's ability to reason things out.  I would love for you to have her maturity of the heart and always be able to have that great perspective on life, especially in tough situations.  From Megan, I would give you her gentle, joyful nature.  I would love for you to always be a kid at heart, just like your big sister.  And then, at the same time, grow up to be an amazingly, mature woman...but always have a little naivety about you.   From both girls, I pray for your heart to be God's, just like theirs is.  Your Sisters amaze me with their love for the Lord and how they are so ready and willing to stand up for what they believe in at their age (they get that from their/your Daddy!).  And if you could have their Hispanic skin, that'd be amazing too!  From me...I'd give you my balance.  Your Mimi always told me growing up that this was one of my best qualities and I have realized what that means as I get older.  Just to be the balance in any situation and think logically...whether it's easy, tense, tough, etc. situations...to be able to see things from all points of views.  And if you could have my "good sleeper" trait as well....I'd love that!  =)


You see baby girl, you are The Marin melting pot!  You get to be a part of each of us.  A role that no one else in this family has.  And that's a big job, but I have a feeling you will be more than great in this role.  And one more thing, if you could NOT have the "stubborn" trait that seems to run rampant in this family and we all possess...that would be best for all of us!  =) 


We are ready sweet girl...I know that God has this all under His wings.  I am nervous, but letting God have all of that instead.  I am going to enjoy this last week with you in my belly and all the kicking and turning.   I have seriously LOVED being pregnant with you.  God was so good to me and gave me a great pregnancy with you - even though I had to deal with all the diabetes stuff - He really have me a great nine months with you.  He knows what He is doing!  He loves you already, baby girl....and I know without a doubt that His love is already tucked away in that heart of yours.  I can't wait to see what God created in you!

You Are Scheduled To Arrive!

Hey baby!  I wanted to update you on yesterday's doc appointment.  First of all, we had a growth scan and saw your chubby cheeks up there on the screen.  Good news is that your belly isn't measuring too much bigger than your head!  You weighed in at 7 lbs and 14 oz!  You are definitely on track to be the 9 lb baby that your Mommy and Daddy were!  The tech told us (again) that you had chubby cheeks.  Old news to us by now.  =)  Your amniotic fluid level was back up to 11.5, which is a great spot for you to be in!  Here's a couple of pics.  You don't "photograph" as well as you used to since all the space is being used up in there now...but hopefully you can make these out pretty well.

This one has your forehead on the right side - but you umbilical cord is right in front of your forehead actually. So you can't really see your eyes or forehead, but move to the left a little and there is your cute nose, mouth (which is open a little), and yes - your chubby cheeks! 

Profile shot - your lips are all puckered up because your face is all smooshed and out of room in there!

Your Daddy and I were hoping we would get your inducement or c-section scheduled while we were in the office yesterday...and we were so happy that is exactly what happened.  First though, after the growth scan, had your non-stress test, which you passed with flying colors - you were a mover and a shaker yesterday!  Then, we had the OB appointment.  We met with the nurse practitioner again (which I like, because, well, I like her and she spends a lot of time with us).  She looked over your growth and said that you looked great - not even that big!  I mean, you are on the bigger side obviously. But, in terms of diabetic mama's, you are on the more normal side for what they see.  And, your belly hadn't grown bigger than your head - it was a little bigger - but not significant enough for them to schedule a c-section instead of being induced.  Good news baby girl!  We are scheduled to start the inducement on Nov. 30th!  Although, some parts of me want to just have a c-section and know that you would be in my arms for sure on Nov. 30th - no long labor, etc.  But, My body will love me later if we can avoid it as well.

Depending on how my cervix was (dilated, softened, short vs. long) looking (or feeling, I guess) the inducement would happen in one of two ways.  If it looked dilated and soft (in other words, ready to give birth), they would just schedule me with pitocin to induce the labor.  If not, then it would start with a cervix-softening gel (cervadil) and then that would take some hours to "work" and then pitocin would be started.  The nurse practitioner checked my cervix and I am definitely in the later category.  Even with all the contractions I have been having and continue to have...it doesn't look like it's doing much to my cervix.  So, she is arranging with the hospital an exact time on the 30th to go the cervadil route.  We will know the exact time we are scheduled this Monday (I have another OB appointment and NST then).  I'm crossing my fingers for an early start!  

I also mentioned again my blood sugars dropping a bit still (concern with the health of the placenta).  She said to keep watching and report back at the appointment on Monday.  So, I guess there is a slight chance (depending on how drastic things get with the blood sugars over the weekend) that you could be here sooner, but at this point, you will be born my 39th week.

One more picture - one of my Mom's (your Mimi's) old friends, Renie, was super duper sweet to us and made us all Christmas stockings.  We just got them in the mail today and I had to share.  I am so excited to have hand made stockings for Christmas now!  I just think they are so cool.

That's about it, baby girl.  You are moving around as usual in there like crazy.  Keep it up!  I can't wait to meet you and have your skin finally touch mine!  Oh, and see in person those chubby cheeks!

FULL TERM!!!!!!!!! 37 Weeks and TWO To GO!

BABY GIRL!!!!!  This week is BIIIIIIG.  HUUUUGE.  You are full term now!  Something I didn't know before I got pregnant was that a baby's due date is 40 weeks (yes, I think we all knew that)...but being "full term" can be anywhere from 37 - 42 weeks.  So...it's not an exact time to be "term", it's a five-week range.  And thank goodness I get the luxury of NOT testing the back end of that five-week range - you go to 39-ish at the most and no waiting around for us!

I don't have too much to post right now (although, watch how long this post ends up being - I bet it'll be longer than I think it'll be right now - I have a tendency to be a little wordy!).  I will be sharing a BUNCH of information after our Thursday's doctor's appointment.  From my understanding, you will get all figured out that day.  So, we will first have another (final?) growth scan and see how big little Miss Linebacker has become in the last four weeks.  After they know this, I meet with my OB and we set up a PLAN.  That's right....we get to have a plan on Thursday as to how all of this goes down!  Your somehow-now-a-Type-A-personality-but-used-to-be-Type-B Mama has been waiting for this so it makes her very happy!  I don't know QUITE what to expect with this visit, but from my understanding, a lot of the when's and how's will be set in stone on Thursday...but I am fully bracing myself if all isn't figured out that day too.  All that to say - I will have some good information to share after that happens on Thursday morning.

What has happened this week?  For us, your Sisters, Daddy and I had our last weekend as a family of four.  And for some reason the realization of that was a little sad to me.  I know it's just the whole thought of it all changing and saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new - which all of us are COMPLETELY looking forward to.  It's just the "end of an era" kind of thing.  We just had an awesome weekend, though.  It was one of those where nothing spectacular was planned, no big deals happened, we just really enjoyed each other and had such a good weekend together.  Your Sister, Kyndall had a cross country banquet that we all went to...and she won an award!  It was called the LionHeart Award.  She got this because even though she was only able to run a couple of the first races before she was sidelined with her stress fracture, she was still a part of the heart of the team - going to practices, doing what she could, and just being a part and adding to the family feel of the team.  I think the coach said that typically, runners that are hurt easily just slip away, but Kyndall stayed an integral part of the "family" even with being hurt.  Needless to say, we were soooo proud of her!  What a cool surprise to get in front of the entire team and their families!

 Kyndall with her CC friends at the banquet

All the kids and families at the banquet

Then, on Sunday, we decorated for Christmas already - yes, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet!  But, you are coming just around the corner, silly, so we had to get a head start.  Especially with your Sister, Megan loving holidays and decorating like she does.  She was in Christmas Heaven!  We don't have the tree up yet (next week?) and no outside lights either (Daddy and Megan can do that even when you are with us)...but I have to say - the inside of our house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Your Daddy and I even have 95% of the Christmas shopping done!  We are good, aren't we?  He's such a good Daddy - he really helped me get everything this year - which is much appreciated when you are verging on being nine months prego!  We just need to wrap stuff...maybe this weekend?

Your Dad and Sister, Megan getting into the Christmas spirit at the movie theater!

Alright...here's your update this week...probably a little boring!

Like I said above - huge news this week: I am carrying a full-term baby - YOU! If I were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! But, even though I can't wait for my little bambino to quite literally rear your head, I still keep in mind that you benefit from every day in the oven.

Your growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for my birth canal. Your bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after you are born. More great news for my birth canal!

So if you are all cooked and ready to go, what the heck are you still doing in there?! You are busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on your breathing (you still get the hiccups 2-4 times a day!), sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing you can't practice yet is your ability to scream at the top of your lungs when you're hungry—but you'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is around 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6.5 or so pounds.


You are still moving like a champ in there.  This past weekend you were REALLY active - like - it-kind-of-hurt active!  And then the next couple of days you will chill out a bit and still move, but not karate chop movements or throwing yourself against my uterine wall kind of movements.  And then, after a couple days of rest, you'll be back at playing ping pong with your body in my womb again!


Your Mommy has swollen feet, of course.  That's old news by now...and yes, they are still here.  My belly button is more officially "popped" now.  It definitely shows through the shirts.  Everyone says it's cute, but I'm not so sure.  =)  And I still have contractions pretty regularly.  Sometimes as much as six per hour.  They are definitely getting stronger too.  It's crazy how the belly just tightens right up into a ball!  One additional thing that just hit in the last day or two is some indigestion/acid reflux.  It hurts!  So strange that I haven't felt this at all up until now, but again...for a Mama that hasn't had many symptoms of being prego at all (except for the massive belly!), I can't complain!  The end is in sight, so I can deal with this!


And  speaking of massive belly - here's some belly pics at week 37.  I put week 33 next to it to compare.  I don't think I look all that much bigger - and you have moved down a bit too.

 Week 33 - high and out there!

Week 37 - a little lower and still out there!

Oh...we meet with two pediatricians this week.  I'll let you know how that goes too later.  Both are open house events where we will just go and talk with them and see how we like them.  That will be one of the final pieces to be nailed down before you get here!


See - I told you this would still be long!  Oh well...that's your Mommy!  Okay, to wrap this all up - here's the countdown for the week.  In honor of TWO weeks left, here are the top TWO things that I never knew about pregnancy until I actually went through it myself!

2.  I never knew that contractions feel like menstrual cramps.  I know they will get worse and worse...so it won't be as "easy" as normal period cramps were before...but that general feeling is the same at least to start with.  I think I expected contractions to be sharper pains - and definitely didn't expect my whole belly to tighten up into a ball!


1. That you would move SO MUCH and I would feel it all!  I had absolutely no idea it would be so feel-able!  Or even view-able!  I know that maybe you are more of a mover and a shaker than some, so that might be some of it...but still...I will never forget the feel of you waking up in the morning and stretching out in my tummy.  Or, when you push back with your butt up in the air.  Or, when you are a crazy baby and bouncing off the walls!  I love them all - and will miss them even when you are in my arms!


Alright baby girl...your Mama is out!  We can't wait to know more on Thursday - we'll keep you in the loop.  Love you!

A Little Labor & Delivery Visit Anyone?

Yes, that's right, little one...we had a little visit the other night to L&D.  Your Mommy was having contractions from about 8pm - 11pm every 8-10 minutes.  So, your Daddy and I decided I should call the on-call nurse at my doctor's office.  The nurse was my wonderful CDE, Val, which is great since I have worked so closely with her this pregnancy...and I really didn't want her to tell us to go into the hospital (30 minutes away at 11pm), but she did.  All it took was for her to say, "Dani, you've worked so hard at this for so long, it would be a shame to not go in and have really needed to," and that was pretty much it for me...completely  made sense.  So,after a frantic, bag-packing moment (guess I should've already done that!), we went in, admitted to OB Triage and was hooked up to the heart rate monitor for you, and the contraction monitor for me.  You looked great and my contractions were coming A LOT.  These contractions didn't hurt, exactly...they were really uncomfortable though - lots of tightening.  There was a Really Nice Nurse that took care of us and she told me I was contracting every 2-ish minutes.  Yikes.  She checked my cervix out, and it was still very high and only 1 cm dilated...so, barely anything to warrant having a baby.  She went and talked to the doctor and they decided to collect some blood samples to make sure that I wasn't experiencing an abruption-something-or-other.  Basically, what that meant was, if I was, I think they would've gotten you out ASAP.  They didn't think so, but they needed to rule out the worst case scenario as to why my uterus was going crazy.  After a several hours (me still contracting like a crazy woman...and actually had to start breathing through some of them...plus those beds are soooo uncomfortable!), she got the blood results and they were good - no abruption-whatever-it-is.  I was a wee bit disappointed, I will admit, because the thought of meeting you that night was wonderful!  She checked my cervix again, and there was no change.

The bottom line was this.  Since we are at 36 weeks, they don't give anything to stop contractions....but also since it's only 36 weeks, they don't do anything to get them going more (like pitocin, etc.)....so we were in no man's land, week-wise.  This meant, I just deal with the contractions for the next week or so as long as they stay on the mild side.  This is basically just early labor.  Now, from what the Really Nice Nurse said, if I was in there a week later, they might have helped me out with the labor process and admitted me (since 37 weeks is full term).  I just need to keep an eye on these contractions and obviously go back in if anything intensifies.

So, your Daddy and I headed home about 5am and passed out for a few hours.  Luckily, your Sisters weren't with us that night, or else I don't know what we would've done!  In the end, I am glad we went in...first, it made me feel like I wasn't crazy and crying wolf.  They were pretty concerned at the hospital why I was contracting so much.  Secondly, we ruled out the whole abruption thing, so that was a good thing to know.  And, above all, you looked awesome on the monitors...and that's the most reassuring thing of all.  This all makes me wonder if we will make it to 39 weeks - and let me tell you - your Daddy and I are hoping not!  We are ready whenever!  At this point, you are in the clear with being fully developed, so feel free to come out and meet us baby girl!

The next day, I had a doctor's appointment already scheduled and we went in for that.  Saw you up on the sonogram to get your amniotic fluid check (you were a little lower this time at 8.5, but they weren't concerned) and breathing check.  The tech talked about your chubby cheeks - and you were really squished in there!  It was like your face was all scrunched up like when someone grabs your cheeks with their hands and squishes their fingers together!  It was cute!  Your mouth was all puckered up too.  I just feel bad for you in there - there really isn't much room left!  I think I heard her say something about how cute your face was too.  Your Mommy liked to hear that.  =)

We met with the Nurse Practitioner too and talked through a few things.  Val had noted in my charts about the night to L&D the night before, so we talked through that.  She said the same thing...since it's 36 weeks, you are free to come whenever and they won't stop you...but they won't help it out quite yet either.  We also talked about my blood sugar levels - how Val and I have lowered my insulin needs in the latest review - so I am taking less insulin in week 36 than in week 35.  This trend, if continued, would make them wonder about the health of my placenta.  Good news about this?  I would probably have you during week 38 instead of 39 so that they can be on the safe side - in other words, you'd be full term and might as well be out in the real world if the placenta is declining. I think I could handle that!  =)  So far, the trend seems to be about the same, so I will really be watching this over the next several days too.

We have a growth scan next week for you....to see how chubby those cheeks of yours really are!  Next week is the big week in my mind - I think we will finally have a "plan" as to when you will be here.  Oh, the joys of being high risk!  I love it that I get a plan!  Unless you decide to come sooner....and like I said above, feel free baby girl!  I promise the bag will be packed the next time!  I love you!

36 Weeks - THREE to go!

Hey baby girl!  That's you in there!  Your Daddy and I had a photo shoot yesterday - didn't he do an awesome job?  He's so good.  Exactly what I wanted.  My poor little belly button looks like it can't decide whether to be in or out though!  We make fun of it all the time.  =)  I will post a few more pictures that your Daddy took in a bit too!


You are 36 weeks!  Yay!  People ask me if I am scared or nervous - and maybe I am living in denial right now, but I'm not.  Of course, I know that there most certainly be moments during the hard parts of labor or recovery that I will question what the heck we were thinking to get pregnant.  I would be surprised if I didn't think that during the hard moments.  But that's just it - they are moments.  Fleeting moments.  You will be in my arms soon and that's all I can focus on - there is such an incredible means to the end with labor - YOU!

Oh, and did you see the video I posted a couple days ago?  You rolling my belly around?  If not, check it out below this one.  You have definitely taken over the tummy space!  It's crazy to think that your movement inside of me has gone from - was that flutter her? - to - oh, there's a kick - to - wow, she's dancing and flipping in there! - to, finally - dang, I think she wants out!  That's how it feels lately - like you want to be out of there as much as we all want you out of there! 



So this week - although we may have a few more weeks to go, you are considered full term at the end of this week. Woot woot!  The only organ that still needs some time to mature is your lungs. While I am completely  ready to be NOT pregnant and have you in my arms (already!), I have to remember that every day you spend in the womb increases your chance of the prevention of breathing difficulties.

This week you have dropped further into the birth canal in preparation for delivery.  Your Daddy has even noticed my belly is lower.  You startle me a bit when you stretch into my ribs and bang your head against my cervix! There is definitely a lot more pressure and activity in the lower half these days!  I can tell that you are beginning to run out of room in those cramped quarters!


The average size of babies in the 36th week is 19-20 inches long and 6.5 pounds in weight. You are gaining more fat every day, about a half pound a week from here on out.  Your gums are very rigid, and you will be ready to nurse when you are born.

So, your Daddy and I went Christmas shopping this weekend.  Yes, already.  You, my little one will be here right when Mommy normally does her shopping, so I thought it would be best to get most of it done.  And we did...your Daddy is a trooper!  While we were out...and actually each day I realize this a little more....that I think I make strangers nervous.  I am at the point with my belly that I think that others are looking at me wondering if the whole going-into-labor-thing will happen right then and there.  I think I am making people a little nervous nowadays being in public!  You should see them stare at you and then all of a sudden realize that they shouldn't be gawking at the belly that much and give me an apologetic smile.  Kind of funny to me, actually.  Also, while your Daddy and I were at Target, there was a little voice yelling, "Baby!  Baby!  Baby!".  Once I realize it may have something to do with me (there were no babies around!), I look and it's a little 3-4 year old girl with her dad.  She was pointing to you in my belly while she was yelling "Baby!".  Too cute.

To finish off (almost)...here is the countdown for the week.  Three things I already love about you, even if I have never seen you!

3.  You are never boring!  You are a little mover and shaker - you like to be active, but you seem to sleep well too - let's hope that continues!
2.  You love your Daddy - you love his voice and I can tell you know him already, especially when he's being his normal loud, outgoing self!
1.  I love the way you wake up in the mornings.  You are quiet all through the night (and I am up a couple times at least to take my blood sugar and go the bathroom!) and then in the morning, once I have woken up and moved around some, I can slowly feel you coming to life in there.  Even though I can't see you, I can only imagine how cute this will be!


Alright baby girl...time to sign off.  But I will leave you will some of the belly pictures your Daddy took the other day.  A couple have been edited, but most are just the raw shot. And yes, my belly button can't decide whether to stay in or pop out.  =)  Enjoy!  Love you girlie!

Crazy Baby Belly!

Just had to post this real quick for you....when you grow up and we tell you about how you used to move in Mommy's belly all the time...this is just a small, small, SMALL example of what we mean!  Last night you were a crazy baby in there and I luckily got a bit of it...although I wish I could've captured it all because it was a lot crazier than this at times!  It'll be interesting to see if you are a lefty because you LOVE the left side of my belly!  And last night, it was like you were testing how far my uterus and belly would go by shoving yourself over to the left.  I think you like to stick your butt up in the air too.  =)  Anyway, here's a small piece of your performance last night.

So...the video doesn't work on this site.  Not sure why...but this link will take you to the same thing!  Enjoy!

Wow! You Will Be Born This Month! 35 Weeks and 4 To Go!!!!!

It is November 1st, so that means it is YOUR month baby girl!  Don't know exactly if that will be November 30th yet (or sooner, or if the inducing is stubborn, then maybe December 1-2)...but this is the last month for sure!  In two weeks at our 37 week appointment, we will be a little more certain!

Things are starting to come down to the wire now - especially in regards to how the diabetes will be managed through labor and all those surrounding details.  Lots of stuff to think about and figure out - wear my insulin pump or insulin drip,the  major decrease in insulin needs immediately after deliver, c-section or inducement...my list goes on.

Something interesting happened yesterday at our non-stress test (NST).  Well, first of all....you were being a lazy baby again.  I find it so humorous that you are a mover and a shaker all other times of the day and when I plop into that reclining char and strap the monitors to my belly at the doctor's office, you get lazy.  Anyway, you eventually flopped around for them so I could get the "okay" to go.  In fact, I think you were showing off a bit in the end....like, you were in there being lazy, listening to the nurse and I talk about it...and then she leaves the room and you go, okay, fine, you want movement?  How about this roll, and this kick, and I'll flop around like this?  Does that work?  Or, it could be the full glass of ice cold water I drank to wake you up.  =)

Anyway, so you passed, but your Mommy's uterus didn't.  Since it also monitors contractions, they ask me every time if I feel the contractions I'm having.  I do sometimes, but there were a few that were getting bigger than I've had before....so they put me in an exam room and had the doctor come in to check my cervix just to make sure nothing too much was happening in that arena since that is what contractions are designed to do - soften the cervix and get it ready to get you out of there!  One of my favorite docs came in and checked me out and said I was dilated to a 1.  Which, was actually good news.  Now, if she said 5, I'd probably be in the hospital right now, but they want to see some change in the cervix at this point, so she was happy that I had some change going on in there.  And that was that.  She sent me on my way.  And I was kind of happy she checked - it's nice to know my body is getting ready for your arrival!

Here's your update:

At about 20 inches and 5.5 - 6.5 pounds (but with about five more weeks to grow), most of your growth over the next month or so before we meet you will be in weight (with a gain of anywhere from one pound to several), not height (you have pretty much reached the in utero limit in that department).  Accordingly, fat continues to accumulate at a rapid pace these days. Back in the middle of this pregnancy, your weight was made up of only two percent fat; but at this point, that percentage has soared to closer to 15 percent (and will increase to 30 percent at term). Which means your once skinny arms and legs are now quite plump…and irresistibly, squeezably soft. 


Your Mommy has a few more minor issues these days.  My feet, of course, are swollen...and I think that is contributing to my heel (especially the left one) hurting.  It's the the bottom of my heel is swollen as well, so it hurts to walk on it in the morning (before I've gotten out of bed and stretched it out) and then at night after I've walked on it all day.  Also, just today, I've experienced this whole breathlessness thing that others have talked about for several weeks.  I have a stuffy nose too...so that adds to the breathing issue I'm sure.  My lungs are just getting squished by your little tootsies I think!  You really like to push up on my rib/lung area and it's like you grew another inch in length this week and so it just cramps everything up near my ribs.  And to top it all off...I'm just getting more and more tired.  Not just sleepy tired, but physically tired - especially by the end of the day.  My body is worn out.  Which is another reason why it'd be great if pregnancy was an eight-month process instead of nine.  =)


My blood sugars have been really good - almost scary good actually.  Makes me wonder if my placenta is functioning correctly.  I have talked to my wonder woman CDE, Val, about this...and she doesn't think there is anything wrong - she still sees slight trends up with my insulin needs - but at the same time, she told me to pay attention to this.  This is a concern, especially with diabetics, as our placentas may "wear out" a little sooner than most, for some reason.  So, if I do see my blood sugar dropping a lot, I need to call the doctor and make sure they know.  Worst case scenario is they would take you a little earlier than 39 weeks (okay by me!).  I also talked to her about how you are a bigger baby at this point - with the abdomen being a little bigger too.  She couldn't believe that since I had such "tight control" through all of this.  That was nice to hear. Just reiterated my thought that I have done so much on my end to care for you, so what's there to feel bad about if you are a little chubby.

Oh...and I hit a milestone about a week ago.  Your Daddy and I decided it was better safe than sorry to remove my wedding rings.  I got a good sturdy necklace, so they are now on a chain around my neck instead.  I was a little stubborn, not wanting to do this....but this is truly better than having to get them cut off in case there is too much swelling!



A big deal happened this past weekend!  Your Sister (Kyndall) celebrate her 16th birthday!  It was early (her birthday and your birthday will be really close!), but we combined halloween with her celebration and had a bunch of her friends over for a costume party.  We just wanted to make sure she had something memorable for her 16th birthday since you would be arriving very close to it.  Your Daddy and I went all out with decorations and food.  In fact, if I have to be honest, I think I overdid it a bit.  My feet were really swollen and hurting after a couple days of prep for this event...but, in the end, it was all worth it.  She had so much fun - and so did her friends.  Megan got to have a few friends come too - and you will learn soon - she LOVES holidays (we are already singing Christmas music around here).  We don't usually decorate too much for halloween, but this year we did because of the party - so she was in heaven.  We had several games for the high schoolers to play - like bobbing for apples.  They all loved it actually (we weren't really sure how they would go over!).  The kids hung out mostly in the backyard, and even had a little fire going too.

And, on top of all of that, your Aunt Mac and Uncle James (okay, they may be your 5th cousin, three times removed or something) came for the day and night (James coaches football and had a game in Glendale).  They didn't get to dress up or come to the party since they had the game to go to...but we had several hours to catch up with them before the party and then after the party too.  They spent the night and left the next morning for the three hour trip back to southeast AZ.  So great to see them - can't wait for you to meet them!  Here are some pictures from the night.  Your Sisters were "Sleeping Beauty" and "Lady Gaga".  You even made the pictures.  Your Daddy and Mommy dressed up as rednecks...and got a lot of looks from the high school kids over here for the party.  =)

Kyndall and her friends Brooke and Charlotte

Megan and her good friend Tristin (Mad Hatter)

A look at our backyard - we had a fog machine and strobe lights!

Yep - there you are!  How redneck are we?

A couple of the funnier outfits the kids had on

Megan's friends

Kyndall - literally dove in to bob for apples and came up on the first try with the apple in her mouth!

Your redneck Daddy and your Sis - birthday cake time!

We did several jello molds of skeleton faces to put in the middle of the food plates - turned out pretty cool

This was the "donut on a string game".  The kids had to try to get a bite out of the swinging donut.

Your Sis, again, going for it!

Kids around the fire

End of the night - Kyndall opening gifts (and Megan organizing them on the side!)

And to close out this week - the countdown is still on!  Four weeks to go - so here are the top FOUR ways that I can get the swelling in my feet to go down!

4.  I don't - I just walk around with chubby sausage feet feeling like I have Jell-o nailed to the tops of them!

3.  Lay down - and if I can - on my left side (and play Bejeweled - hopefully I have kicked this habit by the time you are around!)

2.  Go for a good brisk 30-45 minute walk - works like a champ!

1.  Your Daddy giving me a nice foot massage!!!!!


I guess that's it for this week - I have an OB appointment (along with another NST, Fluid Check, etc.) on Thursday.  If anything big happens, I'll let you know!  In the meantime, keep moving around in there, I love feeling you and knowing that you are healthy!  Love you baby girl - we can't wait to meet you!