All is Well

We are safely and soundly at home! Thank goodness! Your dad said he is glad because he wasn't quite ready. :) I told him that he better get ready!



I jokingly call this my morgue ID tag. I hate when they put these on you. It's like assuming you can't tell them this info. I know, I know...it's for ID and all that and it probably is a really good thing but I still don't like the concept.

At about 10am the nurse came back in and said that we could go home. She said that my contractions were pretty sporadic and nothing really progressed while we were there so it wasn't really it. My blood pressure looked great. She also said that you, Ella, looked fantastic. No problems at all with you. They think it might have been bleeding from capillaries breaking when my cervix changed a bit.

I came home and did what I do best, took it easy. :) I ate some lunch, took a nice long nap and then took Mr. Niko to go get his shots. When I got home, Jase had dinner all ready on the table. He even did the dishes. <3

I'm still having really mild contractions that are just more annoying than anything. Luckily, no more bleeding. I might have to partake in a nice whirlpool bath seeing as how I have only used that thing 2 times since we have moved in. Shall I remind everyone of the last time I got into the tub??



Woops! I swear it was only a TINY bit of bubble bath soap. Swear!

Triage was a tiny little room. Hopefully when we go in for the real deal, we won't be in there too long. They had a TV but it was pretty small. We played with our cell phones the majority of the time. This is a picture of your dad trying to figure out why my breakfast tray wouldn't work like it was supposed to. :)




I realized that none of Nikos stuff is ready to go on the actual day. I got all his food and such ready tonight for his stay at Tail Waggers while we are in the hospital. He just loves it there! It will get him all nice and worn out for when we bring you home.

When the doctor told us to pack our bags she didn't realize that I am so ready for this and have had my bags and your bag in the back of my car for the last week. I wouldn't let Jase take the carseat though. I told him it was bad luck! We NEED to remember to bring our cell phone chargers when we go on the big day. We both ran our batteries down to about 50% while we were sitting there playing on them. I told Jase we needed to both download Monopoly so we could play over wifi right next to each other. He didn't agree. :)

Stay in there a few more weeks, give your daddy some time. :) I'm ready but I want to make sure you make it 13 more days at least so you are full term and don't have to spend any time in the NICU!

Scare #1

Well, I'm writing this to you from triage. We woke up at 6am. Jase had a big meeting this morning and had to get up early. I went into the bathroom and saw that I had bright red blood as compared to the dark blood I had a few days leading up to today. I told Jase that I thought we needed to call the doctor ASAP.

I called and the doctor on call said to go ahead and come into labor and delivery to see what is going on. I, of course, decided that we needed to take showers and get ready first just in case this was it. While we were getting ready Niko decided that he would throw up two times on our bathroom floor. Sheesh! I guess he knew something was up with his momma! :) Jase was sweet enough to clean it up. :)

We got in my car to drive here. Jase made me sit on a towel so I didn't mess up my seats in case my water broke. Ha! I must have been having contractions on the way here because I was having semi rhythmic cramping while we were driving. Nothing terrible.

We got here, they checked us in, and my doctor came in right away! It happened very quickly. The nurse asked me a million questions and hooked me up to monitors. We can hear your heartbeat nonstop now. After she asked me all the questions, she said that I had a contraction while she was reading them off to me. I was really suprised. She said I was having another one after that and touched my belly. I felt a bit of a tightening then. Nothing huge. I just felt tight and crampy.

They also gave me a menu to order food. I jumped on that of course. My meal of choice? A banana, grape Gatorade and a bagel with cream cheese!

When the doctor was here she checked me to see how dialted I am. I was 1cm at 8am and you were in a -1 position. It hurt pretty bad to be checked! Hopefully that will be the worst of the checking since you will get lower every time. :)

Anywhooo, now we are just sitting here being monitored until 10am. The doctor thinks this is not the real deal but she said the real deal could definitely happen in the next week or so and to pack my bags! Crazy!

Your heartbeat is hovering around 140. I'm watching it go down and back up every time I have a contraction.

We will probably be sent home at 10am so I will update later!

A Few Random Thoughts

I made a huge mistake today. I went to White Castle and attempted to eat two cheeseburgers, extra pickle, no onion. I also ordered fries. I got about half way through and had to throw it away. I felt sick for a while afterwards. The food is so cheap and disgusting. Ack! Never again! I blame it on you, Ella! It must have been your idea because I never ever go there!!

I turned the air conditioner down to 70 and opened our bedroom window. I'm trying to sneak in all the cold air before your dad comes in because he will flip! This is definitely a pregnancy thing because I was always so freezing cold before!

I almost can't get to my toes! I took the old nail polish off last night and I'm going to try and get the new stuff on tomorrow before it's too late!

Keep growing! 15 days!

Ciao!

The Last of the Maternity Pictures

Okay, I promise these are the last of the maternity pictures. We got the final CD in the mail today. They are great!


Isn't this one cute? You have to look closely but Jasons hand it on the bottom of your name and my hand is on the top.




I think your dad must have been talking about how much he loved having his pictures taken! :)




We had to capture one of your big brother. This picture is everything he is in a nutshell. He always wants visitors to play with his toy. He carries it up to people with those wide eyes and begs for play. Too cute.





Just you and me.

Last 2 Week Appointment

Today I had my last "every two weeks appointment". I can't believe that. It seems like I just started them.

Your heartbeat was great. 152. You also are measuring right on track. I have a Strep B test at my next appointment on April 6th. Your dad hasn't been going to the every two week appointments because they have been so routine and he has a lot to do at work. However, he will start coming to the once a week appointments *just in case*! :)

I asked Dr. Hilliker when she likes to start checking to see how dilated and such you are. She said that she can do it whenever I want but it hurts for first time moms. I am pretty sure I don't want to know. She said that she only for sure checks at 39 weeks so she can have a good idea of everything going on with her patients as they get closer to their delivery date. She said that it doesn't make a difference if you get checked or not because you could be walking around at 3cm for 3 weeks and not even know or you could be completely closed up and have the baby the next day.

So far, no signs of anything, thankfully! 18 Days! Keep growing!

Oh and your bags and my bags are in the back of my car from here on. *Just in case!*

Flowers

Ella,

Today and yesterday were the first really warm days of the year. It has been fantastic. Niko and I went for a long walk today. It was so nice to get out and get moving. It's been hard at times to be stuck inside all winter with you in my belly. I'm glad that the weather is looking up from here! By the time you get here, it will be warm enough to go for walks nearly every day. Then, when you get older, bike rides. I love riding my bike!! I've already found the seat and infant helmet for you! Now I just need to get the tires on my bike fixed.

I planted a bunch a bulbs last fall when I found out I was pregnant so they would be blooming in the spring when you come! Look what popped up in the past week or so. :)
There are many more starting to appear...




Keep growing! Just like the flowers!

Movements

You being in my belly has become about 100 times more real in the past two days. I have always known you are in there...obviously. However, while sitting in church, I was getting a little crampy on my left hand side. I reached over to touch that spot and I felt a leg/knee/foot (?) and it jerked away as soon as I touched it. To feel you move like that was amazing. It just made you seem so much more real. I have been poking, prodding and moving you around ever since then. :)

I got some more shower pictures in from one of Jasons co-workers Dana. He was nice enough to come to the shower and get various pictures for us!


Look at the belly! You sure are growing! Of course, I picked a dress to accentuate the "bump"!




Your Grandma Jill and Aunt Becca.






Your first makeup bag. :) Your Great Grandma Patti got that for you!




Grandma Jeanie and Great Grandma Patti.



This is Gail and her daughter in law. She is the one that made the wool blanket for you with her very own wool!




This is your Aunt Megan and Brittany Anderson.






Aunt Olivia.








Your two boyfriends just awaiting your arrival. :)


It was a very fun day!

More Maternity

Hiccups galore! It happens at all time during the day and night now. I felt them from the outside last night.

It's like Christmas every time I get more edited pictures from the photographer. Here are more. I think this might be it. :)




See Niko loves you already...or it may have been the peanut butter we put on my belly...I guess we will never know. :)












Your dad has already picked out the song for your "premier" Pantello Films video. I can't tell what it is yet! We must keep it a surprise. I think he is excited about making videos for you and he is also going to make your birth announcement.

We go for our next appointment this Wednesday. It should be another quick in and out one. That is our last one before the once a week appointments.

We went to my cousin, Anna's, wedding tonight and I got talk to to some women who have had numerous babies already and I also got to talk to my cousin who is 22 weeks pregnant. It was great to hear peoples reactions when I told them I was 35 weeks pregnant. (Technically tomorrow starts the 35th week) It finally sounds like I am getting close and everyone responds that way. I'm ready! Bring it on! My bags are 99% packed. I have a small list of last minute things and where they can be found in the house just in case someone else has to grab them for me. I'd say I might be a little over-organized. I have already put my favorite anti-bacterial solution in your room with her diaper changing items. That's how prepared I am...

I also remember when I first heard the date for Annas wedding that by March 19th, 2011 I would be a huge pregnant lady and be so close to my due date. I remember thinking how excited I would be! Here we are, it's actually March 19th. At the time, it felt forever away but now I can't believe how fast it snuck up on us!

Today I got a bagel with cream cheese and a drink at Einsteins with my mom. I won a free bagel with that instant win type of game from the drink. I went back up to the counter and ordered that bagel right then and there because I was still hungry. I am a bottomless pit right now! Good thing that has only hit me in the past 4 weeks or so or I would have gained a tremendous amount of weight by now. I'm a little afraid of my weigh in this coming Wednesday. Haha!

Lamaze and Maternity Pictures

Tonight, at Lamaze, we are going to spend the whole night talking about newborn care! We are all done with labor classes thank goodness. No need to carry the pillow and blanket into the hospital anymore, no more talk of epidurals either! We spend this week on newborn care and next week on breastfeeding.

I have a bit of a sore throat. I hope it goes away asap. I have been so lucky to not get sick this entire pregnancy. Body, don't fail me now!

I am losing all traces of good sleep. :-\. I wake up about 5 times in the middle of the night to use the restroom or various other reasons. Fortunatly, I can nap during the day which takes all the stress out of sleeping through the night. I am very very grateful for that.

Last night, I was changing into my pajamas and noticed that I had elephant legs! They were humongus!! I can't even explain to you how strange they looked. I have never seen them like that. I went and showed your dad. His eyes got all big and he said, "Well, you are pregnant. What did you expect?" Haha! Most days I feel like I am half pot-bellied pig and half elephant. I might try out for the circus. :) All worth it though!

Your Uncle Brenton is in Frankfurt, Germany until early June. I am shipping a nursing cover and XS little swimmers to him. I can't believe it, but they don't sell XS little swimmers in the US. His fiance, Olivia, is going to visit him in a week and she will bring them back with her! Yahoo!

Well, we got more maternity pictures! I am in love with them! I think these might be the end of them but I am not 100% sure. I hope you love them too. I'm so glad that we (or rather I) made the decision to do them. We also got to document your daddy touching you for the first time with these pictures. :) Here ya go!