Annabelle decided she wanted to come a little early! We'll share more later, when there is a little more "time!" But here are the stats:Annabelle Kate was born on August 23rd, 2011 @ 12:02 am. She weighed in @ 7 lbs. 8 oz and 20 in. long. She was born @ 38 wks. gestation. Like Mommy, she likes to get the show on the road!! Lucy is a wonderful big sister, who loves to give lots of hugs and kisses, but heads for her bedroom or basement when the screaming begins. (she hates loud noises!) We are all doing GREAT!!! Birth story to come soon!
I met Kristi in 2007 on a website called Babycenter - from there I joined a group called Christian Mommies 2007. Since then, we've had an amazing group of women on there that truly love and support one another - and yes, we even meet up in real life! Kristi (or KK as we call her) is such an amazing mother and friend - always ready with advice (she's a nurse) or a witty comeback, and has been my prayer partner now for a few months. Right now - Kristi and her family - esp. baby Caleb - really need your prayers. I'm always surprised how this girl can always keep it together - but even the best can break down at times. There's so much info to share - but for now - if you can go to her son Caleb's Caring Bridge webpage, please read up on what's going on and how you can pray for them.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebelston
So I've had a bit of a change since last week - now 3 cm and 80% effaced. I'm guessing 30% more is good?? My OB told me that she did not think I would go over as I did with Lucy. (very promising to me) I'm feeling pretty awful! Since everything looks favorable, she gave us the option of scheduling an induction. So Matt and I have a lot to think about - and I'll talk more with my 'favorite' OB next week about it. I've had some friends share their induction stories and both had great experiences with it.
Physically - feeling pretty awful! Lots of nausea and headaches which is something I didn't experience with Lucy. I try to go to bed around 9:30 - but I tend to lay there for about 2 hours before I finally fall asleep. AND I definitely cannot sleep without using ear plugs anymore. Sadly, I'll have to give those up when Annabelle gets here! When I swear she cannot get any lower, I feel more and more pain and pressure in my lower pelvis, making it so hard to walk at all - esp trying to keep up with Lucy or even going up the stairs for the millionth time to use the bathroom. BLAH! All Matt and I pray for most days for me is getting through just ONE more day - just ONE more day.
Tonight we had Pre-Annie Girl's Night Out at the Melting Pot. Just what I needed - to be with some of my best friends (just needed Kathy there -boooo). I really should have paid for everyone - because these girls have been amazing and helping me out more than anything the last few months. Yummy food - but cannot wait to do more fun things like this and NOT be so uncomfortable!! (and to be able to partake in the drink deals!)
One more joyful PLUS of this week - Sandra is back from her summer in MI! Finally got to see her tonight at our girl's night. She's the one that holds it all together for me!! Rejoicing that she is back in the same state!!
This pic is for my friend Kathy who's been asking for a belly shot! Here she is! I feel my belly looks a LOT bigger due to the fact that I'm not wearing a maternity shirt. I had 2 people look at me today and say, "Wow, you're ready to pop!" No - not yet.....but hopefully. I had a witty comeback that someone told me to use - but I didn't really want to look at this gentleman and say, "yeah? Looks like I'm not the only one!"
Thank heavens! the weather has gotten better. It's been so nice to be outside more - even if it's just sitting on the front porch. Matt and Lucy keep active in the front yard while I swing. Tonight our neighbor across the street brought over her 2 granddaughters. They are the sweetest girls - and the 3 of them ran around our front yard for 30 min. yelling "pixie dust!" and doing tumblesets in the grass. (I'd give my right arm to do a tumbleset right now!) I walk as much as I can - but due to the way Annie is laying (not sure what body part it is) I get an awful cramp in between my thigh and lower abdomen and crouch over in pain multiple times while I'm walking. I could barely get through Bigg's today - people look at me in a frightened way thinking I'm heading into labor right then and there.
Monday's appointment didn't show much change - and my OB didn't gladly lie to me and tell me how I'll most likely go early. I didn't need to hear that I was still 3 cm. but now 50% - but that didn't mean anything - I could go overdue also. BLAH! Sis is coming next week to help out - so I'm hoping I'll get some more walking in (without the doubling over in pain).
So anyway - this week we got a few things out of the way. We had been wanting to get Lucy a big sister gift - and something for her to have while Mommy and Daddy have to be away from her. So, we bought her a recordable book from Hallmark called "All the Ways I Love You." Very sweet - Matt and I got to recording that this past weekend and wrapped it up for later. Yesterday, her "gift" from Annabelle came in the mail. Lucy always wants to play with our camera - so we got her a kid's digital camera which is pretty neat (I played with it for about a 1/2 hour last night!). So when she comes to visit Annabelle in the hospital, she'll get a gift from her little sister and get to take pictures.
Lots of things to keep us busy the next few days - then sis and niece come for a few days. It'll be nice to have people around to keep Lucy busy and just to chat with during the day since most of my gals are heading back to school here next week! How is it that all my helpers this summer were teachers??! A blessing for sure - but sad that it all has to end! :)
I knew Annie had definitely dropped - I'm in the bathroom constantly and suddenly in the last few days I've had zero heartburn. But then yesterday, I had pretty awful cramps and a back ache. Annie also wasn't moving much from 2-4 pm. I called my OB and was told to head to triage. All was well with Annabelle. She sounds great and healthy. I was almost discharged when one of my OBs told the nurse to check me out before I left and then let me go. We discovered that I am already 3 cm. and her head is down super low. So I had to wait a little longer until my OB came in to see me and talk to me a bit. If labor starts, she said they won't stop it. I'm really ok with it! Not anxious or anything - just want to make sure she is as healthy as she can be. I'm sooo uncomfortable, though! I've got worse than a waddle now! :)I'm home! I can't do much of anything but lay around. Very hard with a 3 y.o! But she's been a trooper all day - and Miss Bethany came this morning to hang out, check up on us, and bring Lucy a cute craft. So, we could go at any moment or I could walk around for 3 more wks. this way. I'll know more at my appointment on Monday (oh yes, in my last post I mentioned that I had to wait 2 more wks. to see my OB? That's changed!). More next week!
Officially 35 wks. today - and gotta' say - I am cooked, done, maybe even overdone! I applaud women who have 4 kids with another on the way! I have only one here at home and it's been a lot for me lately. Lucy is such a great little girl - but my I've noticed more so these past few days (didn't notice it a whole lot before) how much she chatters, and chatters, and chatters and moves from one thing to the next. She's also showing us a lot of signals that she is in need of a sibling! We are constantly saying how Annabelle is going to rock her world. But she is so fun - and definitely keeps me on my toes!!Had my 35 wk. check-up yesterday and all went well. At this point, the OB sees me for maybe 5 min. and is out the door if I don't have any questions. (Well, I should say he/she may be able to get out the door in 5 min. so long as Lucy doesn't have a million questions for them or if she "just wants to tell them something.") They are great, though, and just listen to all she has to say. I was supposed to start going for weekly checkups starting next week, but since they already know that I tested positive for GBS my OB gave me the "week off" for good behavior. ???? WHAT?! I was really looking forward to weekly appointments - it really just gives you something to look forward to and tracks more of your progress. In my hormonal state, I called Matt and cried for 15 min. How dumb is that? But it was cleansing for sure - at least for me (poor Matt). Physically- doing ok - having a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions where I get super flushed. They even wake me up at night. Do I dare try to think she may come a bit early?? I'd definitely take 2 wks. early! But even though I am so super uncomfortable right now - and definitely waddling like a duck - in my heart I truly want Annabelle to come on her own time and trust God is going to continue to "knit her together" for a few more weeks. If I stop and think of that, I always feel much better. But back to how I'm feeling physically - I'm very, very tired. If I don't get enough sleep - I'm a mess the next day. I'm up maybe 5x a night to use the bathroom - I drink a crazy amount of water but always try to end by 7:30. Doesn't help. Annie has definitely dropped - my lower pelvis is aching and so my wonderful mini-cradle support belt isn't even helping that much. I love, love, love laying down! That is where I find my most comfort.Emotionally I'm good - as long as I can lay down a bunch and get enough sleep. That's the big one. I had a great night's sleep last night - so today has been a good day. And it helps to have friends that come over and entertain me (and Lucy). It's so good for the soul. I don't know what I'd do without friends. True blessings from God.Otherwise, we are just cruising along here! Lucy is doing well and she's super fun (when I've had enough sleep!) ;) Nanny and Pappy sent her stickers in the mail the other day and she just had to make a sticker book. So we got out the construction paper and ribbon and made a fun book. She put her stickers in her book and then went to her little table and was so quiet for a long time. Suddenly she ran over to me and said, "Mommy, I drew Jasmine!" I thought she had draw a picture of the princess, but when she showed me the page there was a sticker of Jasmine and then next to it was "G.A.Z.M.I.N." I was super proud of her! :) She said, "Oh, that says Gazmin." I asked her what she could have used instead of a "g" and she said, "J!" She is also in love with putting together a United States puzzle with Daddy each night - it's special to us since Matt's grandma gave it to us on one of our trips out to see her before she passed away. She knows about 15 states - their shapes and locations. Totally another Daddy thing - those who know Matt well know his love of maps - it's rubbing off on our daughter. And I just love watching those moments between Lucy and Matt. She is about to start ballet again and cannot wait to get back "on stage!" No fear in that department. And also, I cannot believe preschool is around the corner!Getting down to the wire here! We'll definitely do our best to stay connected in the final weeks of the pregnancy!
Annabelle decided she wanted to come a little early! We'll share more later, when there is a little more "time!" But here are the stats:
