dear king soopers

i do not normally shop at your establishment, but dang if you aren't my new best friend. i literally shed a tear when i found out this was available just a few miles from my freezer.

(this kroger-linked company distributes pints of my favorite [and really the only] ice cream in every c.springs and denver store.  drool)

39 wk update

How far along: 38w, 5d

Best of the week: being homebound
Worst of the week: being homebound
Symptoms:  headache, lower back pains, cramping, swelling, sore hands, leaking, reflux

All About Amelia
Movement: active after meals, but lots of sleeping
Position: head down, +1 or +2 station
Last weight: 6lbs, 12 oz! (taken 9/2)
Growth developments: putting on fat.
Last heart rate: baseline 145, accels to 160s

Mamacita's Details
Weight: -2.5 from pre-pregnancy weight (lost 2.5 lbs!  sigh) (taken 9/15)
Cravings: water, cold things
Fundal height: 33 cm (taken 9/15)
What I Miss: Chris, sleeping a full night
Sleep: 2-3 hrs at night - no fun!
Been researching: recipes
What I purchased this week: didn't leave the house
Big news this week: Chris coming home

Coming Soon...
What I'm looking forward to: Chris coming home!
Next on the medical horizon: non stress tests 2x/wk
Dates: Chris home: ~9/18, Induction: 9/21, Due date: 9/24

Today, I saw Dr Silver again.  My BP was still the highest it's been all pregnancy (as it has been for the past week), but I am not spilling protein.  This is important because it means I have not developed pre-eclampsia.  If I were to spill protein, they would induce me rather quickly.  I have lost 2.5 lbs this week, which is surprising because I haven't left the house and have been eating Graeter's ice cream each day.

The pelvic exam revealed I was 50-60% effaced and between a 1 & 2 station, but still only dilated to 1cm.  This was welcome news because Chris isn't scheduled to get in until early Saturday.  Dr Silver was very surprised at how low Amelia is sitting - he poked her in the head again. 

The biggest news is that, due to my continued high BP, ripened cervix, and other factors, I will be induced this coming Tuesday, September 21, if I have not gone yet.  Yes - no later than Tuesday night, there will be a baby!

I cannot believe it is coming to the end of my first pregnancy.  While I have enjoyed the new experiences, I wish Chris would've been here to go through it all with me.  I am forever grateful to the inventor of Skype and to Basra's MWR & USO, as we have been able to talk daily.  However, we are 99.9999999% sure this is just the beginning of our family and hope to plan the next one a little better (or really plan it to begin with...wink).
Once Chris arrives, we plan to try all the wives tales out there to get Amelia to come out.  For the time being, I am still on house arrest except for dr visits.  However, I'm starting to crave a salad, which is problematic when you have no ingredients...

Chris Travel Update: Chris will be leaving post late Thursday morning, America time.  He will travel via Kuwait, Germany, Dallas, then C.Springs.  He hopes to get here late Friday night, but will likely be here Saturday morning.  Dear Lord, please let him get here in time!

38 wk update

How far along: 37w, 5d

Best of the week: the gorgeous CO weather
Worst of the week:
Symptoms: severe headache, lower back pains, cramping, LOTS of swelling, sore hands, leaking, reflux

All About Amelia
Movement: active after meals, but lots of sleeping
Position: head down, +1 station
Last weight: 6lbs, 12 oz! (taken 9/2)
Growth developments: she has dropped!
Last heart rate: baseline 144, accels to 160s

Mamacita's Details
Weight: +0 from pre-pregnancy weight (gained 0.5 lbs!) (taken 9/8)
Cravings: water, cinnamon, chocolate
Fundal height: 34 cm (taken 9/8)
What I Miss: Chris
Sleep: 1-6 hrs at night with one 1 hr nap.  
Been researching: early labor stages
What I purchased this week: fall decorations, nursing tank
Big news this week: Balloon Classic in C.Springs, some of my wonderful friends got us baby stuff

Coming Soon...
What I'm looking forward to: Chris coming home!
Next on the medical horizon: non stress tests 2x/wk, regular (to me) urine/bloodwork
Dates: Dr appt: 9/15, Chris home: ~9/18, Due date: 9/24

Today, I went in for my 38 wk appt.  I saw Dr Silver, who will be my doctor for the duration.  He was very nice, asked lots of questions, and was calm.  Vitals are good (although BP still up at 134/95).  I am positive for Group B Strep, which means I will receive IV antibiotics when admitted.

I had my first pelvic check and whoa was I unprepared for it.  Let's just say that area has been closed for business for awhile and I hadn't mentally prepared myself.  He laughed and asked if I realized I'd be giving birth soon.  Afterwards, I had some mild cramping, but nothing too bad.

Turns out, I am 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and at a +1 station.  He couldn't quit remarking how low she was and he felt the top of her head.  Apparently, she's dropped (as both Chris and my dad had suggested), but I haven't noticed.  This would explain the sharp, shooting pains I've been feeling in my cervix - she's a headbutter.  I could stay like this for weeks or she could come today.  Due to my vitals and high-risk status, I will be induced b/t 39-40 wks if I haven't given birth yet.  Dr Silver does not want me to develop pre-eclampsia (and frankly, can't believe I haven't yet with all the symptoms I have).

So now, we wait.  
Chris is due to leave in 8 days...so I really hope to cook til then. 
Until then, I will continue to putter around the house, watch the West Wing (on loan from a friend and I LOVE it), and cheer for the Reds from afar.

freezer meals

using the apple peeler on 10 lbs of potatoes

upon doing some research, i decided to make some freezer meals for when chris is here/my parents are here/when i'm tired out of my skull and don't want to make dinner.  little did i know what a large community there is for this type of cooking.

i started slow, making 2 entrees and a side, but plan to do more as time allows.  my logical/mathematical mind LOVED creating lists for this project, including a protein list, ingredient list, and shopping list.

i made kerry's baked spaghetti, hashbrown casserole, and (10 lbs of) mashed potatoes.  it didn't take much longer than regular baking and it's comforting to know i've got several dinner options.  i still plan to make bleu cheese burgers, jerk chicken, cheesy rice, and some muffins.

here are some of the best links i've found.

Everything Mom

Freeze*Happy

Mom's Budget

Once a Month Mom

Recipe Link

i hope to continue this process in the future, including with baby food.
anyone have any other good recipes/links for freezer meals?

Aug 2010 Pictures

36 wks - SkySox game

Lilah, Amelia, and I watching Chris' video

Making freezer mashed potatoes

Drying prefolds on my clothesline

 

37 wk update

How far along: 36w, 6d

Best of the week: relaxing
Worst of the week: BP scare
Symptoms: severe headache, nighttime contractions, cramping, LOTS of swelling, sore hands, leaking, reflux

All About Amelia
Movement: decreased
Position: head down
Last weight: 6lbs, 12 oz! (taken 9/2)
Growth developments: considered full term
Last heart rate: baseline 150, accels to 180

Mamacita's Details
Weight: -1 from pre-pregnancy weight (GAINED 3 lbs!) (taken 9/1)
Cravings: water, cinnamon, chocolate
Fundal height: 35 cm (taken 9/1)
What I Miss: Chris
Sleep: 4 hrs at night with one 1 hr nap.  
Been researching: how to keep baby in until your husband comes back
What I purchased this week: stuff for freezer meals, dresser
Big news this week: Reds take huge lead in NL Central

Coming Soon...
What I'm looking forward to: Chris coming home, fall shows starting
Next on the medical horizon: NSTs, regular (to me) urine/bloodwork
Dates: Dr appt: 9/8 & 9/15, Chris home: ~9/18, Due date: 9/24

It's been an eventful few days.  I have been having some cramping and, at night, lower back pain.  I went in for my 36ish appt on Weds with a different doctor.  I had gained 3 lbs in 3 wks, baby's heart rate was good, and the nurse administered the routine Strep B test.  All good news, except my BP was 149/101 and 152/101!  (It has been baselining around 135/90).  The nurse was kinda freaking and, after a quick vitals check, went to get the dr.

I mentioned my new symptoms to the dr: increased swelling, headache lasting for 29 days, cramping, etc. and he asked "Are you just trying to get yourself induced?"  I informed him it was quite the opposite...that I was trying to NOT give birth for two more wks.  He was worried about my headaches and hypothesized it could be cranial hypertension.  He sent me over to the head of ophthalmology to be checked.  Thankfully, I passed all his tests and ruled that out.

I was sent straight to antepartum testing for a non-stress test a day early.  After sitting for an hour, my pressures came down to my baseline and Amelia didn't seem to be in any distress.   Like Monday, though, she did not want to wake up.  (The nurses establish a baseline and the baby's heartrate is to accelerate at least twice and she is to move at least twice within the time frame.)  We tried moving me, eating, and drinking, before the nurse buzzed her awake.  She wasn't too fond of that.  I also had blood/urine labs done - which all came back normal.  I'm doing another 24 hr pee test (my fave!) currently.

The doctors are watching very closely.  I had to start preparing my brain yesterday for the potential of giving birth without Chris.  Even typing those words brings tears to my eyes.  Hopefully, my pressures continue to stabilize and Amelia simmers for two more wks. 

Today, I had a biophysical profile (aka: big fancy ultrasound) to check her growth.  She is head down, with a head circumference of ~32 cm, a femur length of ~7cm, normal amniotic fluid levels, and is still a girl.  Her bottom lip was pouting out and she had a full bladder.  Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her hand was resting on my placenta.  Her estimated gestational age was 36w6d, which is a rare perfect "score".

All in all, some good news and some kind of eh news.