36-Week Checkup

I had my 36-week checkup today, and baby is doing very well. I had another stress test and although I felt she wasn't as active as normal the doctor was very pleased. He said her heartrate goes up when she is active, and that's what they're looking for -- the fluctuations in the test are good. He advises pregnant women to count ten movements in six hours, and I had more than that in the twenty or so minutes I was hooked to the machine! Lauren is quite active, and loves rolling from side to side to poke out! Matt says that my belly looks possessed with how she moves sometimes.

I had my beta strep test today and will get the results at my appointment next week. He also checked my cervix for the first time -- it was soft but not dilated, which is what he expected with four weeks until due date. He didn't measure my belly today, but feels that she is still growing well (and I concur -- I have new stretch marks... thanks, Lauren!). I'll have an ultrasound next week so we can get an idea of her weight at this point. I'm excited to see what she looks like this close to being due!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

First things first: I went to the doctor today for another checkup -- I'm 35 weeks, 2 days along. I had another stress test, and everything looks great. She was busy moving around the entire time, so her heartrate jumped up and down. The doctor said that's good, as they can see that her heartrate is moving when she is. No contractions either, which I guess is a good thing. I am measuring two weeks ahead, and doctor said hopefully my body will be nice and she'll come out two weeks early! Let's hope so... He doesn't think she'll be as big as Carter (who was 9 lbs, 12 oz) but that she will be good size. I don't know if I believe him -- he thought Carter would be in the 8-lb range! We'll see... I go every week now and will be starting the cervical checks, so those will give a better understanding of where my body is in preparing for her to come. Of course, she'll just come when she's good and ready!

For all of you who keep asking -- NO, WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON A MIDDLE NAME! Remember how long it took to have a first name for Carter? Yeah, it takes time sometimes! Matt has his favorite and I have mine, and since they're not the same we're still working on it. Don't worry... she'll have one by the time she's born.

My parents were here for a few days this past weekend and we really got things done! We had to empty out the guest room and Carter's room to rearrange the furniture and get a nursery started. Carter now has a big boy room, complete with a full-size bed! He's been sleeping great in it and loves his new room. He's even climbing under the covers now! The nursery is pretty much done -- it's amazing what you can accomplish in two days. My mom painted the room Sunday, and we got all the furniture, curtains, light, etc set up on Monday. I still have a wallpaper border to put up and the accessories to finish, a well as putting the rest of her stuff away but at least we'll be ready if she decides to make a really early arrival. I have some pictures posted, but will get some up once it's completely done. You can see them here: http://picasaweb.google.com/hoosier.nik/LaurenSNursery. Let me know what you think! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all the hard work!! I promise next time you visit you can just relax.
Now that the nursery and Carter's rooms are set, I have all this stuff around my house that I need to organize. Oh, why couldn't our house just sell so I got all my new storage space?!? Such is life... It's driving me crazy, though, because I got used to the house being extra-specially clean while it was for sale! It will eventually get done, I suppose...

Speaking of Carter being a big boy, we've started potty training more intensely. He's known what he's supposed to do, mimicking me going to the bathroom, he just hasn't had any desire to actually do it. So now that we're more settled (not trying to sell a house or travelling) I got some pull-ups and have been taking him in on a regular basis throughout the day to try and go potty. He is still a little hesitant, but he is doing it! I think he's just too busy to stop and try, but I have to make him. He gets really excited when he does it, and we're hoping he catches on real quickly. I don't think he knows the sensation of when he has to go yet either... We're not pushing him -- he has to go at his own pace or else we'll all just get frustrated!

Matt is gone again for a couple days. I think I'm going to have to have a word with his boss -- what is he thinking sending him away when I can barely walk?!? He was in Boston all last week, and now he's on his way to St. Louis. It's not a long trip this time -- he'll be home Friday afternoon. But still... there's lots of stuff to get done around the house (and I can't move things) and with the weather nice Carter wants to go to the park! I can't take him to the park alone since I can't chase him around very well! We went last night and he found a friend named Maya. She was about 4 1/2 months younger than he, and they played the entire hour or so we were there. They were so cute together! Maybe we'll see her around when we go back.
I've been busy with my friend Mandy's baby shower and it will finally be here on Sunday! I can't wait, and hope things go as well as I've been planning! She is five weeks behind me (due June 25th) and also measuring 2 weeks ahead and I think she's more uncomfortable than I am! Hopefully we'll both have early babies.

Hmm... I think that's all the major stuff for now. There will be another update next week after the next baby appointment! Oh, and we won't be travelling until after Lauren is born (and we feel up to it after that), so everyone come visit me sometime!

Quick Baby Update

Went to the doctor this morning for my bi-weekly checkup. I'll be 34 weeks along on Monday. I had my first stress test done today, and I think it was more stress on me! They hook two things up to my belly -- one measures baby's heartrate and one measures if I have any contractions. Lauren cooperated very well and they got a good readout in 15 minutes (it can sometimes take 45 minutes). Her heartrate was 153 most the time and she was moving around during most of the test. I, however, did not do so well! The nurse had me on my back and my blood pressure dropped making me hot and lightheaded. The doctor came in and said that I should have been put on one side since this happens, gave me some cold water, and did the rest of my exam while I was lying on my side. She said I'm still growing well, and doesn't think that the cord only having two vessels is going to be a problem at all. I go back in another two weeks, and then most likely every one week after that. I'll have a stress test done each time, but now I know to make them have me lie on one side!!

Some very good news is that the doctor is pretty confident that Lauren is head down because of where they found the heartbeat. She's been this way for the past couple weeks, and I thought she had turned because of how her movements had changed. That makes me feel great because it means she's getting more ready to come out!! Six weeks (maybe less) to go!!

House News

I just want to let you all know the latest news on our house. Our contingency was up on March 25th. Our current house didn't sell by then (but we had potential buyers), so our contract with Beazer was up. We still could've received an offer and then made one on the new house, so I was giving us this week for that to happen. Our current house went off the market on March 30, and we had a showing on March 31. Those people didn't like the floorplan, but we still had the couple who were at the last open house. Their realtor went out of town this weekend so we were waiting to hear Monday from them.

We signed our cancellation papers with Beazer today and found out the new house was already sold. It took less than a week! We knew it would sell fast, but not that fast. So now I'm completely bummed, feeling like the last nine months of getting this house ready (and seven on the market) were a complete waste of my time. Yes, the house is more organized and cleaned out, but it could've been spent making the house better for us rather than trying to appeal to other people. There is no nursery and I'm due in seven weeks. I just worked my butt off, cleaning the entire house and the floors (on my hands and knees) once or twice a week. Trying to keep this house clean with two dogs, a toddler, and a bulging belly? Yeah, not so easy...

Please don't tell me that it just wasn't meant to be or not in God's plan... I know that may be true and that things happen for a reason, but I just really don't need to hear that. I've already dealt with that kind of pain this last year with my miscarriage, and after finally convincing myself that it did happen for a reason I don't need to go through it again. I had a plan too and I hate that it didn't work out.

So now onto trying to figure out how to make this house work. There just isn't enough storage, especially since we're losing the guest room (and the closet we use for the office). It is big enough and is a great house, I was just looking forward to much more extra space... especially the third car garage, extra living room, and walk-in closets in every bedroom! BUT it's too close to baby time to keep our house on the market with no potential house... and by the time I'll be ready to deal with trying to sell again it will be bad selling months again, so looks like we'll be here another year. :( I was so ready to move...