Updates

(This post was written over two weeks...weeks 31 and 32 because I was waiting on some maternity pictures to post!)

Wow little Ella! We are almost through our 31st week! Time is flying again! It really has never slowed down.

Today, I gave in and finally cleaned up the yard from a full winters worth of Niko's droppings. Ack! I can't believe how something so simple can make my body feel like I have run a marathon. Every muscle aches with every step. It will be very nice to crawl into bed tonight. :)

I am starting to enter the wonderful deep, productive sleep stage of the third trimester. When I fall asleep at night, I sleep like a rock. After 30 weeks of getting up at 2, 3, 4am I can finally sleep peacefully through the night and wake up refreshed. I know I can't get used to it though since it will probably be gone in a few weeks when I get really uncomfortable. It will definitely be gone when you get here...:) I will just enjoy what I can now.

I had my 30 week appointment and all was well. Your heart rate was 156 bpm. I think you got a little excited because I stole all the diaper coupons from the magazines in the waiting room. :) I have found the BEST way to get diapers. Amazon. I got 15% off for being in their moms club 15% off for signing up for a subscription to get diapers every so often (which you can cancel right after your first box comes) and 20% off with the coupon. I also get free overnight shipping on them since the plant they come from is in Plainfield. It's fantastic. They are, by far, cheaper than anything I have found around here. Yay!

We got our maternity pictures done! I'm going to wait and post this blog post when I get all of the pictures in. We took tons. I was really hesitant to do them because I had seen so many cheesy ones but now I am glad that we did do them. The photographer was great as is going to be the one who does your newborn pictures. I can't wait for those. She has some super cute props! Jase touched you for the first time in all these pictures. I'm glad we got to capture it with a professional photographer. Maybe it was worth waiting for. :) I was trying to tell you to kick him but you never did! You were as still as can be when he had his hands on you. I'm sure you will get him when you arrive.








Lamaze is going great! Jase had to do an exercise to carry all the weight that I am carrying with you. It was pretty funny. We did a lot of hands on massage techniques and just general relaxation techniques in our last class. We also got to see the labor and delivery rooms where were very nice. We stay in there 2-3 hours after you are born and then it's up to the 4th floor for recovery. Next week we get a tour of everything else and we get to talk to an anesthesiologist.




I have a chiropractor appointment tomorrow. I think she has helped me so incredibly much to be comfortable during pregnancy. I don't believe that I will ever go through a pregnancy without chiropractic care. I have had very minimal to no back pain, hip pain or round ligament pain. Let's just pray that the rest of the pregnancy is as uneventful and smooth as the first chunk.

I got my gluecose test results back and my blood sugar was 69 one hour after the glucose drink. The doctor said I definitely passed. Good thing after all that blood work pain drama! Sheesh!

The good news is that there are no more tests besides the Strep B test which isn't bad at all (or so I hear). :) I think I can make it through that. Then labor! I'm still excited, not nervous at all. I think Jase is actually going to be great. He always pulls through and never lets me down. He is a star player in Lamaze class. I feel like he knows a lot about birth and will know exactly how to help me. In case he doesn't, I am going to make him a list of helpful things for me. :)

The baby shower is in 10 days! I remember when it was 60 days away! Feels like yesterday! We are at 43 people now I believe. I feel loved! :)

Well, happy growing until the next post!

Jase says that I am considered far along at 32 weeks because that is 8 months. I think 31 weeks but I keep changing that number. Now that I am 31 weeks, I feel like it's more like 35 before I am far along into the pregnancy. :)

Toodles!

Okay, back for more. I have some pictures! Niko and I were working on distinguishing between his toys and your toys for the first time last night. He is not doing too well. He really, really, really likes your stuffed animals. He could care less about all the other kinds of toys. He is particulary insterested in Mr. Snuggs which was the bear and I had when I was little. :)




I purchased a sterling silver lamb charm from an artist on Etsy to represent you. I have done gone with the lamb theme since I was first pregnant so I decided to get a little reminder to wear of you! I also like that it is a Christian symbol. It's very sweet!

28 Week Ultrasound

At the risk of you thinking your mom is a complainer, I am going to write to you about my day...haha! Okay, it wasn't all that bad and I got a lot of good news but I can't say that it was fun. :)

I couldn't sleep the night before because I kept thinking about the shots I was going to get. I got myself all worked up and I completely blame your dad for it. Prior to him, I had never thought anything of shots. It's all his fault for even placing the idea in my head! :)

I took the glucose drink at 7:40 this morning. I took one sip, two sips...okay it wasn't so bad. It smelled like orange soda, it was cold. Sip three came...starting to get nasty. It was the consistency of cough syrup. I decided to chug the rest. That was a much better game plan. I could hardly taste it when I chugged it and it kind of just slid down the throat. Eck! Okay, step one was over! Yay!

I then went into the ultrasound room and had my ultrasound! Yay! That was the fun part. We got to see you again. The measurements were great. You are actually measuring one week ahead and you weigh 3 lbs. You are in the 64th percentile. Your heart beat was 140 and you still had the little echogenic focus on your heart. They are 100% not worried though and will do nothing else in terms of the dot. The best news is that my placenta has moved up! It was at 2.5cm and they said that they just want it to be over 2cm! Yay! You can now officially, and safely navigate your way out of me without massive roadblocks! :) You are also in the head down, ready to go position! Now, you just have to stay that way. :) The 3D ultrasound didn't work out so swell. The technician, Kina, who is fantastic, said that you want to get as much fluid in front of the object that you are wanting to see and your face was smashed up against my uterus so she couldn't get hardly any fluid in front of your face. Your dad is conviced that you have a bee sting on your cheek. :) I don't think a bee would be a very good friend to have in your temporary home for 9 months. There is one really good profile shot that we got of you! I now have 16 photos for my little brag book in my purse. Perfect!








Fast forward to 8:30am and we are now back in the doctors office. The nurse weighs me (total weight gain thus far 13 lbs, 7 lbs in one month woops! :) ), listens to your heart beat again (150 bpm now) takes my blood pressure (110/60) and calls the terrible, no good, very bad, blood drawing lady to come over and take my blood for the glucose test. I thought I was going to pee my pants, cry and die all at the same time when she took my blood. I have had my blood drawn a handful of times and it has never left a mental scar on me. This lady was brutal. It hurt so so bad. :( Let's just hope that those tubes of blood she drew say that everything is perfectly fine and that I won't have to have another single thing done by her!! Sheesh!

The exam with Dr. Hilliker went well! I was measuring right on as far as my uterus goes. We talked a little bit about my birth plan and she said to bring it on in when I get it done! No problems there. I start going to the doctor every two weeks now! Crazy how fast time in flying! I asked her how many tests we have since it seems like I have been having a lot recently. She said that we have just one more left which is a Strep B test at 36 weeks which is no biggie at all.

Then came the RhoGAM shot. Ha! I was nervous. Everyone on the What To Expect Forums was saying that it hurt bad! The nurse came in, told me to expose my back hip, stand up, and bend over on the counter...it already doesn't sound good, does it?? After my blood draw I had to think quick of a new plan of action for pain management. What did I come up with?? More pain!! Jase came around to the front side of me and pinched my finger as hard as he could so it would take my mind off the shot. He said that the nurse pulled the needle back like she was going to shoot a bow and arrow and slammed it into my hip! He said the needle was huge too! However, after all that, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as really any shot I have gotten. I think the more pain trick worked. It made my mind split up two pains to make both of them half as bad but somehow not combine to as bad as one. Get it? Nah, I don't either...but it worked. :)

Well, you have been kicking away all day. Perhaps it's a result of your Glucose drink this morning. I read online that it is 100 grams of sugar in 4 oz. Can you believe that? Woo!

Okay, it's nap time. Your dad and I are going to our very first Lamaze Class tonight at 6:30. One of 7 classes. They told us to bring a pillow, blanket and food (if we are hungry). Sounds like more nap time to me. :) Your dad isn't too excited to say that least but I am sure he will be just fine.

See you in 11 weeks! <3

Snow/Ice Storm 2011

It's been a while since I have written. We have been in cruise mode with you just growing away. I remember my friend Maggie saying, "I feel like my belly is growing every single day!" at one point during her pregnancy. That comment in resonating through my head because I feel just like that right now. It's a great sign though and it reminds me of how much you are growing. It's continuing to get harder to get comfy at night and when I am sitting or standing for a while. I have been a lot more lightheaded recently due to all the blood going to you. Totally worth it!

Only 29 days until your shower where all friends and family will gather to celebrate YOU! I've invited 76 people. Woops! My fault. :) Your Great Grandma Patti is throwing it and she is going ALL OUT! I can't wait to show you all the pictures of it. She has already told me a lot about it and it sounds like it's going to be a blast. She even sent out save the dates!




Your Grandma and I went to register at BuyBuy Baby. It was pretty crazy. They have everything you need and more for a baby or toddler. I bought you this cool nipple attachment that screws onto a water bottle so you always have fresh water when we are out and about. Pretty cool, yeah? I am afraid I will have so many of those cool little trinkets that I will forget to use all of them. :)

I made a dress to wear to your shower. I thought the fabric was a little more stretchy than it actually was so I am going to have to make another dress. You see, you are in my belly, but you being in my belly begins very very high up so you have increased all my belly measurements greatly. :) No worries though, it is a super simple and cute dress. I will make another one for the shower and save the one I just finished for my post baby, StrollerFit body. They actually have classes that you start six weeks after you are born where I exercise with you in the stroller! How fun! I just hope it still sounds fun when it is actually time for it!

About two weeks or so ago you decided that it was time for an all out dance party when I laid down in bed to read. Your dad got to see it which was pretty cool. You were flying all over my belly, kicking, jabbing, punching, rolling. I have never felt you move that much before and still haven't to this day! I can hear your heart beat now with the cheap monitor that we bought a long time ago at Walmart. It's usually in the same spot, pretty low but it's very distinct now.

We are only 85 days away from May 1st! I'm still not nervous about labor and delivery. I'm more excited than anything. I'm excited to meet you and become a Mommy! I just finished my second hospital gown and I also made a little tiny pair of bloomers to go with it. Yes, I will be that super cheesy mom at the hospital. I figure I will wear the hospital gowns that I have made the two days we are in the hospital after you are born. I hear they will get pretty messy so they are pretty much just going to be thrown out at the end of the day. They are definitely hospital gowns in that they open in the back, and they have a button and Velcro at the shoulders. The pattern even had an option to add an opening for a heart rate monitor. I didn't add that because I'm hoping that won't be necessary. :) They are definitely hospital gowns, not all that cute but better than what the hospital has!








We have decided that Niko is going to be boarded as soon as we leave for the hospital and stay there to play with his friends and get totally worn out for when you come home. We are going to have someone pick him up and bring him back before we get home so he doesn't feel like things changed while he was away. We want to bring the baby into his territory, not bring him into his territory after the baby is already there. He's going to love you. It's going to be great.

We have scheduled our maternity shoot with Nature's Wonder Photography. February 20th! I'm excited but still a little unsure. I have seen so many maternity shoots that I didn't like. They can get very very cheesy. I felt like I would want them done though so I didn't have you and then wish later on that I would have them done. I also have your newborn pictures scheduled with her that we will get done in the first week or so that you are born.

Early this week we had a huge ice storm. It is a skating rink outside. Literally. Our neighbor was outside with ice skates skating on his back yard. I have never seen anything like it. Niko has hated going outside because he can't keep traction. I was stuck in the house for three days and was going stir crazy! My mom and I finally got out for a few days and it was sunny and beautiful. I had big plans to go to a party my friend was hosting this morning. I got up and started to get ready and realized it was snowing like crazy! We probably got 4-5 inches of snow. Now we have all the ice and then tons of snow on top. I'm ready for spring. Anyways, the point of the story is that your dad thought I was going to have to walk on the ice to get to the party I was going to so he made the wheels start turning in his head and he modified a pair of shoes for me that you can see in the picture below. :) He has forbid me to walk on the ice due to my clumsiness and the fact that I have already fallen twice in this pregnancy. I'm not even allowed to get the mail! It really is that bad.




On Wednesday February 9th we go to your 28 week appointment. I'm excited! It's going to be a very involved appointment. I go in at 8am and drink the dreaded orange glucose drink. Then I go to the ultrasound room and get another ultrasound done to make sure my placenta has moved up. The technician told us during our twenty week exam that we would be able to get a few 3D shots. That will be fun! I'm so excited to see them. I then scurry over to the doctors office (same building) and have my 28 week exam. Then I zoom back over to the lab where they will draw my blood at 9am exactly and also give me the lovely RhoGAM shot in the butt cheek (ouch!). I might need a few cookies from Paradise Bakery after that one! :)

I started writing my birth plan. By started I mean that I have the first draft all the way done. I'm pretty excited about it. I think this whole pregnancy, labor, delivery and after is going to teach me to be more assertive...starting with my birth plan! My chiropractor (who is wonderful by the way) let me borrow a book called "Creating Your Birth Plan". She also printed off hers to let me see what one looks like. I used both of those tools, the movie "The Business of Being Born", previous research and talk with friends that have been through it to create mine. I debated on putting it up here or not but I figure I will since this is a blog to Ella and anyone I wouldn't want seeing it, isn't reading this blog anyways. :)

Our Wishes for Birth
Due Date: 05/01/2011
Patient of Dr. Catherine Hilliker, M.D.
Scheduled to deliver at IU Health North Hospital


My husband and I have compiled this list as a guide to how we would hope that our labor would go. We understand that if there are any signs of fetal distress things could and should change. Please keep us both informed of anything that is going to be done every step of the way. Our biggest hope is that there is open communication between everyone involved.

Labor
• I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
• I would like to be able to have light food and snacks throughout labor.

Labor Augmentation/Induction
• I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
• I would prefer to not use any sort of medicine to speed along the labor unless there is a definite need.
• Under no circumstance should I be given Cytotec.

Anesthesia/Pain Medication
• I would like to have a standard epidural.

Cesarean
• Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean.
• I would like my husband, Jason Pantello present at all times if my baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
• I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia.
• If my baby is not in distress, my baby should be given to my husband, Jason Pantello immediately after birth.

Delivery
• I would like to have my baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.

Immediately After Delivery
• I would like to have my husband, Jason Pantello cut the cord.
• I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.
• I would like to have my baby evaluated and bathed in my presence.
• I plan to keep my baby near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of my baby can be done with my baby on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless there is an unusual situation.
• I do not want a routine injection of Pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta unless medically necessary.
Breastfeeding
• I plan to breastfeed my baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
• Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to my baby (including glucose water or plain water).
• I do not want my baby to be given a pacifier.
• I would like to meet with a lactation consultant.


Thank You!

Stephanie Pantello________________________


Again, rough draft. You get the idea though.

Well, I will be posting again very shortly with some super cute pictures of you and all sorts of news from the doctor. I can't wait!

Happy 28 Weeks!