Hello Abby

Abigail Elizabeth Grace born on November 4th, 2009 weiging in at 6 lbs 14 ounces.

Julie had to endure a c-section, so needless to say she is still sore.

Abby is being monitored because her blood sugars were low, but she is doing great other than that.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts, it was a hard journey, with an unexpected last path, but a great, beautiful ending.

Day two

As we reach the next 24 hours of Abby's birth, there is progress. Julie had an epidural in the middle of the night after having some nasty contractions. As of 930 this morning she is about 5 centimeters dilated, so we are hoping Abby gets the hint to come on down since we all can't wait to see her!!

at the hospital now

This is Dan, Julie and I are at the hospital now. Julie went in for a check up and her fluids were low, so the doctors said today is the day!

So we are waiting now to see what the plan is, but Abby will be on the way soon!!

todays the day

Nesting...full moon...one baby's room complete

Remember you should be able to click the image to inlarge it...

One baby's room done!

Well except for the big ticket item...Abby :)

36 Weeks or can you believe we made it this far?

And according to Dr. Go.ggle:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.




How your life's changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!


And according to Julie:

The words have been uttered this week... it feels like a bowling ball is pressing down between my legs. I laughed when I read that today because I have definitely felt that pressure and the lovely back pain that seems to accompany it.

So... lets see. We moved. We both got a lovely cold. We didn't have Internet for bit so that is why we haven't updated but all is well. Colds are almost gone. We've had many a doctors appointments.... highlights are:

• baby Abby is measuring 36 weeks on the nose
• estimated weight as of yesterday is 6 lbs 9 oz
• fluid level is dropping from an 11 last week to a 7 this week so if it goes lower (below a 5)next week we might end up being induced before we expected - watch for an update Tuesday
• she passes her non stress tests with flying colors - which is twice a week now
• she has moved in position for birth - head down and facing my spine - and she has dropped into the pelvis - hence the bowling ball effect
• blood pressure this week has been the lowest its been in my pregnancy - actually in the normal range
• blood sugar has been excellent the last few weeks
• Cervix is getting ready...moved forward and soft... so at least something is happening!
• her room is ALMOST ready - most everything is washed - the crib is put together (great job Daddy!) just a bit more work
• There can not be one single thing this child needs...seriously we've covered it all! Or it seems like it!
• Mommy might be nesting - organize and make things perfect...is it too late to paint?
• Mommy says Abby LOVES chocolate ice cream and she must have it every day (smores or rocky road are recommended choices)
• Bad news that the cousins can't visit at all at the hospital - thank you h1.n1
• Probably not more than three weeks to go!
• Mommy cries a lot when she thinks about that!
• Both Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see, hold, snuggle, kiss and just love on baby Abby!
• Daddy is still the champ of getting a response from Abby - even better than the buzzer to wake her up at the doctors office...all he has to do is start talking to her and she reacts.
• Mommy's favorite nurse is working tomorrow night...and she likes the idea of a Halloween B-day (what fun b-day parties!) So maybe Abby wants to be born tomorrow?

Week 34

Dr Goggl.e says this is what is happening in week 34:

You're not seeing things — at least not as well as usual. That's because your eyes are yet another part of your body that falls prey to those pesky pregnancy hormones. Not only can your vision seem less sharp these days, but a decrease in tear production can leave your eyes dry and irritated, especially if you wear contact lenses. Plus, an increase in fluid behind your eyes' lenses can temporarily change their shape, making some women more nearsighted or farsighted than usual. Happily, these vision changes during pregnancy are all temporary. Things should clear up as your eyes return to normal after delivery (so there's no need to change your prescription just yet).

What's new with your baby? He's clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now. This week, a boy's testicles start making their way down from his abdomen to their final destination: his scrotum (look out below!). While about three to four percent of boys are born with undescended testicles, it's nothing to worry about — they usually head downtown before junior turns a year old.

In other baby-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now — and getting ready for that first postpartum manicure.

From Julie:

I have noticed the vision changes at times, it doesn't seem to be a constant change for me at this point. Sometimes it seems to be distance and sometimes when I am reading a book - which is only when I am in the bath these days. Ahh, the bath. I am going to miss this bath tub a lot. I've taken a bath pretty much daily for the last 4 months or maybe even longer. Some days - if it was a bad day - I could take 4 baths in a night. I guess baths have always been my feel better thing - when I am sick with a cold or something baths always seem to make it feel better. Anyway I am quite sad to be leaving my soaker behind. Only one more night. I wonder how many baths I have time for?

Overall feeling ok, there are times when exhaustion hits but I think there have been some bursts of energy where I feel almost normal. Nothing really feels normal at this point. LOL. If I over do one day I am useless the next so now I am going for the work a while then go relax and to listen when I need to take a nap. There just is much pressure to get stuff done with the move (self inflicted of course). But after tomorrow it will be over - and all that's left is the unpacking! Ugh.

Belly has finally (or I just noticed) reached the point where it feels super hard at times. I can tell where Abby's space is and the little that is left for me. Movement has changed a bit - less dramatic big movements and more kicks and swishes. I've had cramps a lot in the last two weeks so it will be interesting to see what the Dr says about that tomorrow. My guess is we'll be having the first internal exam. We have ultrasound, NST and MFM appt tomorrow - well baby and I do - Dan is with the movers at that point. And will she be closer to 6 lbs this week (based on the 1/2 lb a week rule?)

Coolest thing is that every time and I do mean every time Dan talks to the belly Abby starts moving around. I love that she recognizes Daddy's voice and reacts to it. I can't wait to see them together. Best Episode Ever! (OK, that is probably the result of too many nights of falling asleep to the Simpsons :))