Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Well, we have had a wonderful Christmas, and Gavin was very spoiled as usual, and we haven't even had our time with Chad's family yet! Our big family gift to ourselves was a Nintendo Wii, and it is a big hit. Gavin, it turns out, is awesome at the bowling and boxing. We'll post some pictures soon. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent at Gamma Jamma's, Xmas Eve Jodie's boys were there, so Gavin had a couple cousins to play with. Saturday we are going back because Krista and her boys will be here, and Gavin is very excited to play with Nolan and Aaron again.

Good news, I passed the 3 hours glucose test, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I also don't have to see the high risk doctors anymore, and will see my regular doctor every two weeks. I am scheduled to have my stitches removed Feb 23rd, and at that point they will give me an idea of how close they think I am to delivery.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Getting Settled

Well, we are moved in, and pretty well organized for the first weekend. All our storage stuff is in the garage, but most of the stuff from our apartment is unpacked.

Here are some pics from Gavin decorating cookies at Gamma's yesterday.



Monday, December 15, 2008

MILESTONE!

Well, I've almost made it through the day, and this day in my last pregnancy was the day Gavin was born, at 5:35 AM. So I am already 12 hours ahead! I definitely took time to appreciate still being a functioning person today. With Gavin I had spent the prior 3 weeks in the hospital, and the 3 weeks before that on bed rest at home. I was only allowed up for long enough to make a sandwich.

In the hospital I was drugged up to try to stop the preterm labor, and every day we wondered if this was going to be the day they couldn't control it. One night they had me so heavily medicated, Chad spent the night in the chair beside me, and the next morning I demanded to be taken off the medicine because it was making me crazy. They put me on an alternative medicine that hadn't been proven to work, but we thought we would give it a try. And it worked! Just as I was set up with equipment to give myself shots of medicine and hook up to monitors from home, my water broke. A week later I went into labor.

Not the mad drive to the hospital, just a walk down the hall to a delivery room. I wasn't able to have many of the pain medications. I was terrified wondering if this baby would be strong enough to make it, and what kinds of problems he was sure to have from being so premature. I was also relieved that the daily stress of wondering when this day would come was over.

There must have been at least 12 doctors and nurses in the room, a station set up beside me to intubate Gavin as soon as he came out. They wheeled my bed over to him and Chad and I each held one of his tiny hands as they worked on him. And then after all the fanfare, everyone was gone, wheeling the isolette out of the room with Chad in tow.

I so often forget how precarious a start Gavin had to life. I don't know why or how he turned out so "normal" when he had so many odds stacked against him. And with each day that passes, I am so happy to be filled with the hope that this time around I get handed a baby and we get to walk out of the hospital with him two days later. Only 3 more months to go!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

See a Resemblance?

At the ultrasound today, the technician offered me a 3D view - I'm convinced he's going to look just like Gavin.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

First Bump in the Road

I flunked the glucose test yesterday, so I have to go back on the 22nd and take a 3 hour test. I can't eat for 12 hours, then drink 100 grams of super sugary liquid and have my blood drawn three times.

Not too worried as I know 3 out of 3 people who failed the first one and were fine. This test looks at how fast your body metabolizes blood sugar, and is a test for gestational diabetes. Of the 7 or so risk factors, the only one I have is that I am over 25! So I am not stressing about it, just irritated because I know the 22nd is not going to be a fun day. I don't even know if I can go that long without eating without passing out!

I actually have a detailed ultrasound with the high risk doctors tomorrow to check on the growth of the baby, so I will mention it to them as well.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The honesty of a 4 year old

The other day Gavin was marveling at the size of my tummy, when all of a sudden he pointed to my back and exclaimed excitedly "Mom - your back is getting bigger too". Pointing to the area I would refer to as "back fat".

Sigh

But at least things are going well. We are into week 26 and so far all still looks good. I have another appointment with the high risk doctors on Thurs.

The other exciting news is that we are planning on moving on the 19th!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Thanksgiving, etc

We spent Thanksgiving at Jen & Bridget's house this year (I didn't want to travel to the farm) and Gavin had so much fun playing with Jen's nieces. We were there 6 hours and didn't hear him whine or cry once! He also insisted on sitting by them and wanted me at the other table (guess I would have cramped his style with the ladies). So double bonus, I was able to eat a meal in peace!
Saturday we congregated at Gamma's house because Krista and Ben (Bridie's cousins) were in town. We had 6 out of the 7 great-grandkids in one place. And all age 4 and under! It was pretty loud, but the kids all got along well. We may have established a new family tradition of the "kids table" being eating on the floor. Literally. Paper plates and we sat on the floor - it was perfect! Somehow the only one to make a mess was me when I knocked over my drink!
So Gavin now talks non-stop. Last night the conversation went down a path I wasn't entirely sure how to answer. But he's a smarty - it must have dawned on him that since I have a baby in my tummy, at some point the baby has to get out. So he started asking me all about how the baby is going to get out, and will it hurt, and can he come ("I'll stand right by Dad"). He was very curious as to how it will all work, so I guess I need to find a book that explains all that to toddlers. I muddled through but don't think I gave him a straight answer on any of it!
Here are some random pictures:

Helping Grandma Lois with her birthday candles

Penelope (Ben's daughter and the only girl of this generation), Hayden and Romeo (Jodie's sons)

The back of Gavin's head and Dylan (Krista's youngest boy)

Chris and Aaron (Krista's middle boy)