I think pregnancy has really warped my sense of humor...

for those of you who are long time friends, I know this statement has you scratching your head and saying "But it was warped before." I think pregnancy has made it even more warped than normal...or maybe its like gallows humor...it is what allows me to cling to the small amount of sanity I have.

You may ask why I think my sense of humor is warped. Well, I don't know what hit me the other night but I decided that I need to take a washable marker with me when I check into the hospital. Right before they wheel me to the operating room to do the c-section, I am going to draw an arrow pointing to my old c-section scar and label it INSTALL ZIPPER HERE. I think I will have to let one nurse in on the joke so she can get a pic of the look on my OB's face...ROFL!

And, a miracle occured today. I was actually able to shave my own legs and paint my own toenails. Not bad for someone over 38 weeks pregnant.

New Belly pic and an update...

First of all, here is the latest belly pic. I look and feel huge...LOL.


Gabe is still as contrary as ever...during my NST yesterday, he was hiding from the monitors in L&D. I don't know how a kiddo as big as he is manages that but he surely did. At this point, I am not having any contrax and there is no dialation or effacement. I finally made it back up to the wieght I started this pregnancy at...LOL...not bad for being 37 weeks. My BP was 138/65...not wonderful but definitely acceptable.

And....I now have a time for my c-section in addition to having a date. My c-section is scheduled for 7:30 am on Dec 2nd. That means I have to be at the hospital between 5:30 and 6 am...UGH. My parents and my sis are going to come up the night before...my parents will be going to the hospital with us and my sis and her girls are going to take care of the boys until they can all come tot he hopsital (around lunch time probably).

I think thats about all the update I have :)

Only 3 weeks left!!!

Had my weekly appointment and non-stress test today. Gabe did great on the NST but he was being particulary contrary. He was moving around soooooo much that he even disappearred off the monitors in L&D...ROFL. My belly is measuring at 40+ weeks (no wonder I feel huge) and I am still 2 1/2 pounds below the weight I started this pregnancy at. My blood pressure was behaving fairly well today and, after lying down for the NST, it dropped all the way to 122/53. Had to have that lovely internal exam today so they could do all the necessary cultures (test for group B strep, etc) before I deliver. Cervix is high, long, and completely closed (could have predicted that since I am having NO contrax...LOL).

I can't believe my baby boy will be here in only 3 weeks.

3 weeks 5 days until Gabe arrives...

and I truly can't believe it. As much as he moves around in there, I know he's doing well. However, I still have trouble believing there will really be a happy, healthy baby at the end of all this. I truly am enjoying every little bit of this...even the movements and flips that are strong enough to make me catch my breath.

As of my appointment last Wednesday (Nov 2), I am still 2 pounds below the weight I started this pregnancy at. However, I think I like the scale at the perinatologist's office better. It measured me a full 3 pounds lighter. My blood pressure still is up a bit at the beginning of my appointments but its not too bad. But, after lying on my side for the NST, my BP was only 105/54. As long as it still drops like that, neither my OB nor I will worry.

Also, my OB talked to the doctors in the hospitals anesthesia department and they do not see any reason to admit me a day early. Because I don' have a classic presentation of a clotting disorder and because it has never affected my health, they are sure it will be more than enough to just discontinue the heparin 24 hrs before surgery. And, they do not see any reason I would not be able to have a spinal for the c-section. My next appointment is on Friday the 11th and I will be filling out all the paperwork for my c-section that day.

As promised, here are some belly shots...



You can see more belly pics taken at the same time at this link http://home.earthlink.net/~chfdcpt/SIGNATUREPICS8.html

I know, I know...

I've been slack with the updating. I will post more extensively tonight (and, yes, that will include a belly pic Penny). Right now we have a friend's birthday party to get ready for and this afternoon we are meeting with the other kids in Marty's first communion class to bake the communion bread for tomorrow.

Love you all and I appreciate the support more than you can possibly imagine.