I haven't blogged in a while but here's the latest!
On Sunday, February 22nd my very best friends Raven and Heather hosted a baby shower for me! It was so much fun and Caroline received so many cute, wonderful, and much needed baby items such as adorable clothes, books, mittens, socks, hats, bathtub, diaper genie, boppy, umbrella stroller, blankets, stuffed baby animals, changing pad cover, sleep positioner, pink and white polka dotted rubber ducky (it's just so cute- I've included a picture), towels, washcloths, letters for her name and much more ! It was also very nice to just get together with family and friends to celebrate this very special time in my life! Here's some photos! Doesn't the food look yummy! Raven even made homemade chicken salad and it was out of this world! Thanks girls!

Week 36!

On Wednesday, February 25th I had my 36 week appointment. This was the first time that I would be checked for any signs of progression- dilation or effacing. As usual, Sheron took my vitals- BP- normal, urine- normal, weight- stayed the same- I couldn't believe that I didn't gain any weight this time. I am eating less in my opinion, though not on purpose but I'm just not that hungry. So after my visit with Sheron it was time to get "checked". I saw Dr. Salley this time and he like all the other doctors in the practice was fabulous! When he first walked in and made introductions I felt like I already knew him (he took very good care of my friend Heather during her pregnancy even though she delivered at 25 weeks gestation- Morgan Kate, her daughter is now 6 months old and thriving). He first asked me if I had any labor questions. I told him that we'd just completed the birthing class (the one offered at the practice) and he said great! He then handed me information on labor-guidelines for when to know if you're in labor- and another on being induced. He said the practice does not believe in inducing women just because they're tired of being pregnant but they do induce if you're over your due date of course and for other health related issues! For an induction to take place you have to be "favorable"- showing some signs of progression. I thought this information was pertinent and even further believed that this practice believes in being very professional and medically sound when making decisions about their patients. After all of this it was time to get "checked". I was dreading it a little because I'd heard stories of how uncomfortable it was to be checked while pregnant, but it didn't bother me a bit. I was also swabbed for B strep, (normal procedures for being 36 weeks) and we'll get the results when I go this Wednesday for my 37 week appointment- this too didn't bother me. I asked Dr. Salley how much he thought she would weigh at birth and if she was head first. He told me that indeed she was head first and that she would weigh between 7 and 8 pounds at birth (he assured me though that the weight was a guess since she wasn't on a scale- funny). I measured at 35 weeks and questioned this because if I'm 36 weeks I should be measuring 36. He said this was fine and that he'd rather see me measuring a little small than big- he commented that there are too many big babies being born. I took a sigh of relief because I was beginning to worry that something could be wrong. After he wrote down the notes in my chart he commented that I had only one page of notes in my chart and that was good (meaning I was in good health) because some patients have lots of pages with lots of notes. This got me thinking and praising the Lord that I've had a great pregnancy and that my body has handled these new changes very well. I'll be going back on this Wednesday- so I'll post more then!

Caroline's first Build-A-Bear!

Finally, my coworker and friend, Lynn, and I went to make our Build-A-Bears for our babies on Friday, February 27, 2009! This was so much fun! We got their heartbeats recorded on special Build-A-Sound devices at one of our doctor's appointments. Today we took the devices to Build-A-Bear where we picked out the bears and then had the sound devices inserted inside of the bears so that when we mashed the paw we can hear their heartbeats! We had a lot of fun making the bears- naming them was the hardest. We called our husbands for "cute" bear names but they couldn't think of any. After some thought we came up with "Moo" for Caroline's bear and "Huggs" for Matalyn's bear! I've started to give Caroline the nickname of Missy Moo so this is why I chose it for her bear! I'm sure the nickname won't stick but the name will still be cute for the bear although she'll name it what she wants I'm sure! Lynn treated me with Caroline's bear and that was so sweet of her! We had a lot of fun and we recommend it for any expecting parents!

Baby shower at WKE!

Today, my school gave me a baby shower! We had such a great time! My team did an awesome job preparing for my special day! I had several friends that I use to work with but are now in other schools in my district come to the shower and it was so nice to see them- thanks Jenna and Kelly! Caroline got so many things like onesies, sleepers, clothes, diaper warmer, toys, receiving blankets, socks, baby legs (Heather I'm so excited about these baby legs), hamper, wipes, handmade monogrammed diaper bag with matching monogrammed changing pad, tummy time boppy mat, gift cards, books, bibs, etc, etc. I am so appreciative of all the things we got today. I can't wait to organize all these new baby things in Caroline's closet!

Today was some kinda day- let's call it bittersweet. It all began when I woke up at 5 am with a yucky stomach bug. It was also Sam's 32nd birthday! I stayed home from work and he decided to stay home and take care of me (he's such a sweetie). After watching Madagascar 2 (again) and getting some rest I decided that at 3:00 I needed to meander out of bed. By 4 I felt like a human again and decided that I was going to try and make it our first lamaze class! This class was very interesting- Tammy- my OB's nurse led the session and gave us along with a room full of other expecting parents very good information on how this whole birthing process WILL WORK. I was a teensy bit nervous seeing diagrams, (especially when she first walked in the door and asked "Whose doing natural birth"- not a girl in the room raised her hand), pictures, brochures, and handouts on how my body will somehow birth a baby but afterward I thought that it was useful- after all I might just somehow remember this one session when I'm in the second stage of labor and remembering how Tammy taught me to breathe through a 90 second contraction- just think 2 commercials! Tammy was wonderful in her presentation and left no one in the dark so to speak about what would happen in each stage and phase of labor- somethings however were very interesting like: most women will only be in labor 15 hours (I'm thinking false I know people that have labored nearly 2 days), some women come into the doctor's office needing/wanting to be checked and they'll say "If I take my pants off I'll have to push", you'll get a second dose of an epidural after your baby's head and shoulders have entered the birth canal (we'll turn down the first epidural so you can feel when you have to push), husbands- don't let your wife hold your hand just make a fist and tell her to clench it, and so on and so on. After the posters were shown and presentation made some dad's to be looked white as ghosts- I'm sure they were thinking about the part when Tammy said some dad's- the biggest ones- just pass right out after seeing their wives give birth.
Seriously, it was a very good session and we have one more next Tuesday where we'll learn about c-sections, more breathing techniques, and tour the hospital. It just seemed like what she explained in an hour an a half- all the stages and phases of labor/birth would take a woman in labor forever to accomplish- but I keep reminding myself that God made our bodies so that we could do this miraculous thing- give birth.
Tomorrow makes five weeks from our due date- Tammy mentioned that most women give birth seven days before their actual due date- again interesting! Sam and I have bets as to when Caroline will be born and how much she'll weigh, etc. We are just so excited to be going through this experience and think that its the most wonderful thing ever.
I'll be posting more later!

Happy 32nd Birthday Sam!

Tomorrow Sam turns 32! So let's all sing to him:

H-B-T-Y

H-B-T-Y

H-B-D-S

H-B-T-Y!

We went out to eat tonight with our neighbors to celebrate Sam's birthday early because tomorrow night we have our very first lamaze class! We are very excited about the class! After Wednesday we have five weeks to go! According to this man at church when told that I was having a baby in five weeks he commented that I needed to grow! As you can see from the photos- the new one at the top (Raven- he, he) I have certainly grown! These past eight months have gone by pretty fast! I hear however that the last month is the hardest! Caroline is so busy now- yesterday was the first time that we actually saw the outline of her body parts through my stomach- I think it was her elbow- this was very painful but funny to watch! Sam was so amazed! He says that she's getting anxious to meet us as we are her!

This past weekend was a treat! This weekend we kept our 15 year old niece Courtney! Sam had 2.5 dates all day long for Valentine's! We had so much fun together! For our valentine's dinner Sam cooked us steaks and the fixings!

34 and Still Growing!

Today makes week 34! I had my 34th week appointment today and everything is still looking great! This includes blood pressure, weight, and measurement! Yes, this time I did say weight- I only gained 1/2 pound! I was so happy when Sheron told me this bit of news! Today ends my two week appointments- I do go back in two weeks for my 36th week appointment but then after that I'll be going weekly until Caroline's born!
On rotation today was Dr. Stands- next to Dr. Holladay he hangs the moon! He's so nice and will spend as much time with you as you need him to! I had two concerns/questions today for him. One, I'm so thirsty all the time- just like I was in the first trimester- he said I could be dehydrated- I don't see how this could be for someone that drinks over 60 oz. of water a day but we'll increase the water intake! Two, could he tell already what position she was in. After checking her heart rate he said he found it on my left side so that means she's getting into "the position" so he felt around my belly and noted that he didn't feel anything hard at the top of my belly (her head) but thought that she was in the transverse position- head on one side of my body feet on the other. He told me that she had plenty of time to move into the birthing position! I was happy to hear the latter.
We begin our birthing class on Sam's 32nd birthday- Feb. 17th! We're very excited about taking the class and I'm sure we'll be loaded with lots of information from general hospital info to relaxation techniques (hopefully for the both of us!!).Here's also a picture of the polka dots! They are finished and Sam's so proud!