Ella's room is starting to come together...

Some photos of me before I deliver!!! 39 weeks and 1 day

Our FINAL Appointment!!!!!

Oh boy - so now it's starting to hit me and I'm feeling nauseous! Haha...So we had our 39 week appointment this afternoon and the NST was normal, although I think I was hooked up to the machine for about 45 minutes because the baby decided she wanted to sleep during the first part of the test. So then we went in to see the doctor and she checked me to see how far dilated and effaced I am. I am currently 2cm dilated and 80% effaced. However, if she doesn't come sometime this week, they are going to have to induce labor because they don't want the baby to get too big because of the gestational diabetes. So, we will have a baby in our arms sometime within the next week!!!!! Am I nervous - YES! Am I excited - YES! Haha...So many emotions...I'm most nervous about the actual labor part but Mike keeps reminding me that they're going to induce me so I'll be all drugged up, etc...So we'll see what ends up happening!! Keep a lookout for pictures!!!

Oh yeah - and we have the crib up and Mike's going to work on putting the changing table together tonight!!! Will post some pics soon!

Love Vickie and Mike

Signs of Early Labor???

So last night, I woke up around 3am and from 3am - 3:30am I laid awake in bed wondering if I was starting to have signs of early labor...Well I definitely know she has to be close down to my bladder because everytime I go, I have to go again 5 minutes later (if even). Walking sometimes hurts mainly because she's pushing down on my bladder but also because my leg hurts (I think it's my sciatic nerve)...Then last night I woke up to what felt like stronger cramps/upset stomach and then had some tightening....So could this be signs of early labor?? My guess is yes, but who knows!! We'll find out tomorrow what the doctor has to say (if she thinks I'll be in labor sometime this week - which I think I will be)...

Well, that's all I have to say about that! Will post more after my 39 week appointment tomorrow!!!

Love Vickie and Mike

Week 38 Appointments

On Monday I had my 4th NST appointment and although they had to clap, give me ice cold water and then use a vibrator thing on my stomach to get Ella moving around, she was unphased. I think she's getting used to the dogs barking that little things like that may startle her but that's about it...When she's sleeping, she's sleeping (just like her mommy)! :) I didn't have any contractions (not even close) this time around but when I met with the doctor she said that everything looked great and that the baby was doing good. She also checked to make sure that her head was down (which it was). I put on 2 pounds since my last appointment so my weight gain is up to 11lbs now...

On Tuesday I had my follow up appointment with the diabetes doctor, Dr. Debbs. They said my blood sugar levels were great (I test my sugar levels 4 times a day - can't wait for that pain to end) and they took an ultrasound to see how the baby was growing. They are guessing that her current weight is around 8lbs (give or take 1-1/2lbs) but said she looks great...He said that she has a chubby belly so I guess she's trying to really look like mommy now! :) Then they tried getting us a profile shot of her face but she was stubborn (like mommy AND daddy) and had her hand up to her head (seems to be her signature position). So all they could get us were shots of her looking up, so the pics aren't that great...But that's okay because we'll get to see her outside the womb within the next couple of weeks!!!! :)

Next appointment is on Monday so we'll see if I'm any closer to going in to labor then!!!

ALSO, had a crazy dream last night...Well I guess I've had crazier dreams but this one was about me having Ella (haven't had one of those dreams yet, so I think she'll be here sometime next week)...For some reason I had to wait in some line for them to deliver Ella...So when it was my turn, all I remember was going in to the room and blank...I don't remember going through the labor process or anything. The next thing I know I woke up and had a baby!! I dreamt that she had dark hair and when she saw me after she woke up she smiled!!! :) Haha...We'll see what happens and we'll keep everyone posted! Be on the lookout for a text from Mike!!!

Love,
Vickie and Mike

Oh and for funzies, Mike only told a few people at work that he was going to be out Tuesday (so he could come to the doctor's appointment with me)...So his one co-worker said that she was going to show their students (they team-teach) the picture below (he figured that if he was out of work that people would be speculating that maybe we went in to labor, yaddi-yadda) so this was Mr. James' baby! Haha...

Week 37 Appointment

So I had my follow up visit today and another Non-Stress Test (NST) done this afternoon. Everything went well. Ella was more active last week during the NST than she was this week, but I think she had exhausted herself this morning during a meeting I was in (she wouldn't stop moving - probably the guy's Irish accent - haha)...Anyway, no MAJOR contractions, so I guess I'm still not in labor.

Met with the doctor after the NST and she heard for the heartbeat again (you hear the heartbeat throughout the NST) and measured my belly. Measured at 37cm which is right on track with how many weeks I am! What else...Oh so next week's appointment will be about the same as today's and then next Tuesday I meet with Dr. Debbs (the Diabetes doctor) where they'll do another ultrasound to see how much the baby has grown (fingers crossed she's not too too big!). Also, I asked the doctor what to expect if I don't go in to labor before the due date. She said that they will not keep her in past my due date because of the diabetes (baby's tend to be larger if they're kept in too long and there are other medical conditions she could run in to as well)...So she said that if anything, they'd induce me at night and then the next morning they'll try to put me in to active labor (last resort is a C-Section)...

Hmmm...Other then that, I have 4 more days of work and then I'm on maternity leave...Excited but don't know what I'll do with myself until the baby comes...If anyone's going to be around, give me a call! :)

I will post another update after my appointments next week!!!

Vickie, Mike and Ella