A Castle fit for a Princess....

We promise that the next time we post pictures, they will be of Abigail...

The mural is complete, and Pete and I are thrilled. My girlfriend Carol did a great job--see pics below.

If you think we posted alot of pics now, just wait until Abigail arrives........

You can click to make pics bigger.

The Waiting Game

Isn't it funny how things come full circle? When you conceive via assisted reproduction, there is a common term used to describe the timeframe between insemination, implantation, etc to the time you can officially test for pregnancy. It is called "the 2 week wait" also referred to as "2ww" on message boards and other blogs.

Well, as we sit here 2 weeks from my official due date--we are back at our 2ww. During our first 2ww, I tested on a few hundred home pregnancy tests to help pass the time. I don't think there is such a test for impending labor--is there? Let me know ASAP if there is--and I've missed reading about it.

I can't believe that 9 months are coming to a close--so much has happened, not the least of hosting a human life inside of me. When I stop to think about it--what a cool experience it has been. Sure, I've had my moments, but overall, the ability to conceive (something I will NEVER take for granted after our difficulties)and nurture a life inside of me is truly a GIFT.

I'm sure we are deluding ourselves that we are prepared for Abigail--but her nursery is pretty much complete, (the mural is coming along beautifully--be prepared for even more pictures) a diaper changing area has been set up for the 1st floor, laundry has been done, drawers set up, car seat installed, snap-n-go put together. I wonder if we are warding off an early delivery by having done all of this over the past week. I am happy for Abigail to continue to bake another 2 weeks, and am even happier to be "prepared" for her arrival.

We did have a false labor alarm on Wednesday morning that seems to be a result of a UTI. I am told that the baby's head is fully engaged and so low they can't even get an accurate ultrasound measurement. I am 1 cm dialted, 50% effaced and -1. To me, all this means is that it hurts to get out of bed and in and out of the car--and walking is becoming more difficult. From the measurements they COULD get this week, they estimate somewhere around 6lbs,12oz at this point.....

So here's to the 2ww.

DH no longer on the DL

DH is in the house! Well, Jenn finally let on that she had created this amazing site over the weekend, and I think it's turned out great - just like the nursery!

I have to give it up to Jenn - she has endured a lot, starting when we started our arduous journey to get pregnant, and throughout the pregnancy itself. And I wouldn't have wanted to go through it with anyone else - she's my one and only. :)

Hey - baby-related side note - if any of you (or anyone you know of) belong to the Pampers Gifts to Grow On Reward campaign - tell everyone to get the Sesame Street DVD packs - I sold 'em to Pampers, and DH needs to bring home a bonus check for his little girl! :)

That's all for now. Drop us a line!

And Even More Progress

For those of you who can't get enough of nursery pictures, we have made even more progress this weekend. After learning that I could, in fact, have this baby at any time, we kicked it into high gear this weekend. Car seat was installed, snap-n-go stroller put together, crib bedding put into crib, wall hangings hung, onesies and clothes put away, changing station set up in kitchen, family heirloom bassinet re-ribboned and dropped off by my sister and all that fun stuff. All that needs to be done is a mural painted on the wall in the nursey adjacent to the crib by my friend who is a very talented artist (by hobby). She is coming tomorrow to sketch it out and should have it completed by the end of the week (hopefully). Oh, we also need to swap out the mattress that was delivered with the crib for the upgraded coil mattress that we ordered but wasn't delivered,(that is why the mattress in the pictures still has the plastic on it and not a sheet) and we also bought a new bassinet mattress for the family heirloom bassinet.

Of course, now that all this is done, Abigail is sure to go full term..... Well, we'll have to see about that. My contractions are getting stronger and stronger every day-and these are not the Braxton Hicks kind I'm talking about--these are the real thing. For now, they are VERY irregular and short-lived but are getting more regular and longer as time goes on. My swelling is still there and doesn't seem to getting better, but not worse either. My second set of tests from Thursday indicate a stabilzation in my bloodwork, bloodpressure and weight gain. I see the doctor again tomorrow, so we will see what happens. I should be getting an ultrasound to confirm presentation of the baby and an estimate of weight....should be interesting. I am just about 38 weeks--so I am hoping she will continue to bake another 2 weeks.

Now, for more updated pics: (You can click on them to make them bigger)

Would you like your site included here?

I've decided to spruce up the blog a bit and pay respect to all the lurkers and commentators out there, as well as the blogs that I faithfully read. I have finally taken the time to put up my links. Bedrest will do this to you...

If you are interested in having a link to your site here, don't be shy! Feel free to email me at jc5854@yahoo.com. Be sure to put "link" in the subject line, as I get a TON of spam and junk mail to my yahoo account and I want to be sure not to delete your request.

Abigail's furniture has arrived!!

So the nursery is definately coming around. The furniture arrived yesterday and am so thrilled!
Abigail certaintly has the nicest room in the house. My girlfriend is coming next week to paint a small princess mural on the wall and all the decorative details still need to be done but even if the baby makes an appearance this weekend, I think we will be ok.
You can click on the pics to make them bigger.

Medical Update

As a result of my bloodwork earlier in the week and my 24hr urine--I am borderline pre-eclamptic. My doctor will not officially classify me as pre-eclamptic, but, rather being treated for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension.
What this actually means is that I am to officially stop working and be off my feet as much as possible, and be on 2x/week visits to the OB to monitor my bloodpressure, weight gain and edema. It turns out that I've gained 7 lbs in the last 2 weeks (I was up a total of 21 lbs prior to that) and my hands and feet are completely swollen with carpel tunnel pain in my wrists. This along with the borderline blood test and 24 hour urine results for Pre-eclampsia has resulted in a bit of concern.
The baby is head down, my cervix is very soft and I am 1cm dialted--leading my doctor to believe that I will most likely labor on my own at any time now. I had to repeat my blood work this afternoon and start another 24 hour urine--if these results come back worse than this week's then I will be induced. I DON'T want to be induced--because if I am, then they will be putting me on the Magnesium stuff--which I heard is horrible. I asked the Dr. if I had to be induced if they could just give me a C-section, she said not likely and that I would still need to be given the Magnesium anyway. Anyone know how bad the Magnesium is?
The good news is that I am 37 weeks--and if I went into labor or was induced, I would not need a steroid shot for the baby--and she seems to be fine.
So, overall, not the worst news, and not the best news. I am trying to stay calm and hope to labor on my

Being tested for PIH

Well--after a long weekend of intense swellling in my ankles, feet and hands with a touch of the runs--I called the doctor today and went in a day early for my appointment.My blood pressure was ok and they didn't detect any protein in my urine at the office, but I am going first thing in the morning to get a blood screen for pregnancy induced hypertenstion (PIH) and I am to start a 24 hour urine collection tomorrow, as well.I suppose the concern is that my feet and ankles are VERY swollen and I've had some stomach discomfort--but I think this might be more a case of the doctors covering their you-know-whats then a real case of PIH. WDYT? Also--does anyone know the clear difference, if there is one between PIH and Pre-eclampsia?I also got a Group B Strep test today and they won't do a pelvic until 39 weeks. The baby's heartrate was in the 140's--and they don't tell what the presentation of the baby is until 38 weeks.In other news--my baby shower was Satuday and boy, did we get a lot of stuff! There is practically nothing left on our registry and we received some very beautiful clothes and keepsakes. Abigail is soooo loved already--we feel very fortunate.

This is Progress!!

So--we are slowly getting the nursery together. We moved into our house at the end of June. While it may look like we HAVEN'T done much, please let me tell you, we have!!
We had the wall-to-wall carpets ripped up, and the floors re-done, chair rail molding put up and the room painted. The ceiling fan was put up, and we replaced the 2 windows.
Last nite, we unrolled our new area rug and put up one set of the drapes. I got the drapes and the area rug from Pottery Barn Kids. I have room darkening shades underneath to pull down for naps and evenings. They cut them a 1/4 inch too much on the sides--so we will need to replace them. Luckily they were only about $4 each at Home Depot.
Tonite DH will hang the other set of drapes--my shower is tomorrow and I hoped the room would look a bit more together.
Our furniture is being delivered on the 23rd and all should be set aside from last minute hanging of decorations, and quilt.
WDYT? You can click on the pics to make them bigger.

Is this normal?

I've posted this question on a pregnancy board with no luck. Maybe a few of you out there will be inclined to de-lurk and possibly provide some insight.

Whenever I have a Braxton Hicks contraction, it corresponds to a tightening in my head along the temples. It feels like my head is in a vice with the intensity matching the intensity of my contraction. When mentioned to my OB, there was no concern upon her part and a vague explanation that it is physiologically possible and nothing to be concered about. BUT, why haven't I heard about this before? With all of my (google) research and knowledge, surely I would have heard of this?

I go for my 35 week appointment tommorrow. I hope they check to see how the baby is presented--I'm curious. The baby's room is completely painted, the floors refinished, ceiling fan hung, windows replaced. I need to put up some shades, maybe a simple window treatment, find an appropriate area rug and change the switchplate covers. The furniture has been ordered and is scheduled to be delivered on Aug. 23rd.

My girlfriend is painting a small mural on one corner for Abigail with a Princess theme. She should be doing it next week--and we decided to not do a border because it will look too busy with the border.

I suppose I should be thinking of packing my labor bag--but I am in denial that this baby is coming out of me shortly.