Month 7 (week 28-31) and today's L&D scare

What a crazy and busy month this has been!   It feels like January went by in a blink of an eye.  For a number of reasons, Maia's arrival has been feeling more "real".   

Most of the month we spent doing small things to get ready: organizing the clothes we had already received by size (newborn, 0-3 months, etc) and washing the cloth parts of items we had received from friends and family.   I will organize them more neatly when all the showers are over, but at least the sizes are all organized :)    

Josh also decided to paint her room about a week ago.  We both had a favorite "theme" that we couldn't decide on and registered for both, but both had green and pink as a common set of base colors, so he went with green for the walls, so that in the future a boy could  occupy the room as well (if we are blessed or destined to have another:)).   He worked so hard and got it all done in one day to surprise me.   The brown curtains are temporary :)

Here's a belly pic from week 29

She was approximately 17 inches long, crown to feet, in fetal position.  

Week 30 came and went as well, but hitting the "30's" made her arrival seem so much closer.   

My belly seems to have really "popped" out the last 2 weeks or so.   I cannot fit in most booths at restaurants, definitely not in class at Stan State, and I'm constantly running into counters and other belly high items LOL :)

Baby shower #1 was also this past weekend, thrown by my sister in law Anji, my bro-in-law's gf Jen, and Josh's stepmom Lynette.  They really went all out and everything looked great.  My nephew's girlfriend also made some really awesome cupcakes.  

 Clothesline for a memory game

Close up of some of the clothes

Gifts and diaper raffle table

gift bags for the guests :) 

Food table

Jordan's flower and vase cupcakes :) Yum!!!

Toby's cotton candy martinis :)   I heard they were good :)

The letters on the table were later put up in her room over her crib.  Josh couldn't wait to put them up :) 

Josh's mother also sent a package for Maia :) 

My dear, dear long time childhood friend Carisa has also been very generous in letting us use her stroller :) I am constantly amazed how blessed we are to have such great and wonderful people in our lives :) 
We went to Womb with a view again on the 1st, but Maia refused to uncover her face, other than her big cheeks, and then eventually turned her back to us, so we will be going back again this Monday.   We did see she was in the transverse position (laying left to right) and at her appointment yesterday she was in breech position (head up and feet down).   I am hoping she will turn head down before she decides to come out, however the added fun of having a bicornute uterus means that she may have a harder time with the narrower part of the "heart" shape part of the uterus at the bottom.   I guess we'll see :)    

Which brings us to today's adventure....
I woke up this morning to bright red spotting-not a lot, like we saw back in September or in previous pregnancies, but since the bright red color is a warning sign, because it indicates fresh blood, I thought I'd better call my perinatal nurse that checks in with me once a week from the premature clinic in Santa Clara.  I had also had some pinching type pains that I thought were round ligament pain/stretching pains.   Apparently the combination of these two, with my background urged them to send me to labor and delivery right away.   I went to the restroom again and the bleeding had decreased so thought I'd hold out to at least my work lunch and see how I felt then.   The bleeding continued to decrease but when I called she even more urgent that I go immediately to labor and delivery to be monitored and checked out.  Even if it was nothing to worry about, she wanted to be safe than sorry.   So, in the space of about 10-15 minutes, I had to alert work, the office, and Josh as to what was going on and leave quickly to get to Modesto within the time I told them I'd be there.   
On the ride from Tracy to Modesto, I felt pains going up my spine and a tightening in my stomach like a metal ball trying to push through my skin.  My whole lower abdominal area started to get a dull ache and I could feel pressure from the inside side of the cervix.   I started to get more and more worried as I got closer to home.   I have never made it this far, and my only experiences with pain in that capacity all had to do with miscarriages-but I could still feel her moving around :)
We checked into Labor and Delivery and got signed in and got a room.   My vitals were taken and the fetal monitor went on my tummy to track contractions and movement and Maia's heartbeat.  There were definitely a couple of uncomfortable, slightly painful contractions happening about every 30 minutes or so.  After being monitored and an exam, it was shown that the cervix was still closed *yay!* and that what I was experiencing was most likely practice contractions/Braxton Hicks.   I was relieved that Maia was okay and that she wasn't coming today (the to do list that was running through my brain).   My crazy brain remembered to bring all the paperwork with us (birth plan, preadmit forms, etc.) just in case.   I did have a slight elevated fever probably related to the congestion I've had, but nothing to be worried about.  
This whole experience today has made me realize just how close we are and I am even more determined to finish the last couple big "to Do's" on our list.   It was kind of like a practice run or drill for the big day.   Josh was awesome the whole time-keeping me from freaking out, making sure things at home were taken care of in case we were not there for awhile while he waited for me to come home from Tracy and even talked to Maia during the whole process :)   
I will be 32 weeks on Monday and will be full term *37 weeks?*  in just over a month.   Here's hoping February and March go by quickly.    

Week 26 and 27 start of the 3rd trimester!

What a crazy couple of weeks!   Right before the new year we found out that my grandfather had passed :(  Kind of an odd feeling-I know he was in pain and is at peace now, but there was an odd feeling of the last of that generation (he was my last living grandparent) passing and having the newest generation in my belly. Like a change in the family tiers or something...

Anyway back to Maia...She has been getting huge the last couple of weeks.   She's also moving like crazy.  Last night Josh and I saw my belly move like there was an earthquake going on inside.   So cool to watch :)  I've been confined to either sleeping on my side or in a recliner.   
We enjoyed the holidays and actually getting in all those pregnancy naps, however returning to work was a little hard to make it through the day without those naps :).  It's getting better though :)  These last couple of weeks, I've realized I've lost the ability to do some basic things: tie shoes without sitting on the floor or asking for help, sit in restaurant booths, use a laptop on my lap, play trumpet without some discomfort (I had to stop playing in December :().   

We are officially now in the 3rd trimester and getting so excited (and scared as everything becomes more real).  We have two baby showers coming up; I went to a breastfeeding class last week, we went to the Kaiser childbirth class yesterday, and have the Hello baby newborn class in another couple of weeks.  In week 30 we are also going back to Womb with a view for 3D/4D pictures with the family.  I'm excited to be headed towards the end and can't wait to hold her in my arms.   Josh is also really excited and talks to her everyday and tries to listen to her move.   
So many friends and family have been so generous and we can't thank you enough :)   

Here's some pictures from this week: 

 Week 26 belly shot

Week 26 about 16 inches

 Our Christmas "don't open till Easter" picture :) 

 Week 27 belly shot

Week 27, the width of a cauliflower (however this one was a little on the small side).  

Getting close to the end!   Thanks for following our journey to parenthood!

Week 24 and 25 :)

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Luckily I've had the last two weeks off for winter break :)    My belly seems to have grown so much the last week or so!
It was very nice to catch up on the sleep I've needed and to put my feet up when I needed to during my time off.   This Christmas was also very fun because Maia had her own stocking at Grandma and Grandpa Stime's house and even got a couple of gifts! 

 My sister in law AnJi also brought down some hand me down items and a BAG full of little girl clothes (so cute!).   We also attended our second wedding pregnant 

 WEEK 24

 WEEK 24, AS LONG AS A EAR OF CORN, ABOUT 8.5 INCHES

 SORRY FOR THE UGLY PJ PIC :)  WEEK 25 BELLY PIC!

 WEEK 25, AS LONG AS A 9 INCH EGGPLANT, HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE BIGGEST ONE WE COULD FIND, JUST SHORT OF 9 INCHES :)

 THE PAC N PLAY THAT AUNTIE ANJI PASSED ON TO US :)

 AUNTIE ANJI  ALSO BROUGHT THIS ROCKER :)


SOME OF MAIA'S CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM UNCLE TOBY AND COUSINS MATT AND JACOB, AND GRANDMA AND GRANDPA STIME

Aside from the holidays, it's been exciting to hit this point of the pregnancy because although it is not good to be born premature, the youngest of the preemies that have a chance of making it are about 24 weeks old.   I want her to make it as far as she can, but it is somewhat of a relief that she's at a viable age to live outside the womb.  
As for me, I've been getting more tired, falling asleep at the drop of a hat, and if I'm on my feet for even a  little while my legs feel like I ran at the gym the next day :(  I did have some very minimal spotting start again a couple of days ago, but after a check up, everything looked fine ( baby's heartbeat was fine, cervix is closed, etc), and they are doing a more in depth test to make sure I don't have any infections.   
As we make our way to the last trimester and the 7th month it's getting  to the exciting/scary part of the anticipation of what's to come.   Some of my showers are starting to be planned and at our last appointment we had to start filling out our pre-admit forms for labor and delivery, our birth plan and we are signed up for a childbirth class, nursing class, and a "Hello Newborn" class .   

Here's to hoping that this last trimester goes smoothly and that our little Maia makes it as far as she can.   Thanks for checking in on me :) 

Week 22 and 23

What a busy 2 weeks!   Tis the season for concerts-after my own at Stan State, I ran the two winter concerts at my school last Wednesday and Thursday, and then ran a booth for the music department at the GKE Winter Wonderland.   Baby girl was not happy with all that running around.   In the past, when I tried to wear anything but flat shoes at a concert I knew I could expect sore feet after the 2 hours or so of running around before, during, and after a concert.   This time I wore my comfiest flats and my preggo feet swelled so much I had to go barefoot afterwards and on the way home :(.

We also had Beauty and the Beast rehearsals this week that (thank God) our choreographer Heather was running/leading: 

   During this crazy week we also found out my car was pretty much a "walking dead" situation and spent most of Saturday looking and buying :) a new car.   I finally got to see most of my side of the family on Sunday.  All great, but the constant go, go, go, left me incredibly tired.   

This week was just a blur of trying to catch up on everything that I didn't have time for during last week's blur and THANK GOD tomorrow is our last day before winter break.   

Last week was week 22 (can you believe it's already this far along!), and I'm starting to feel VERY round and she's definitely made her presence known.  I am definitely feeling little thumps and squirming around in there :)  
Here is my belly shot from 22 weeks:

During our last anatomy scan they couldn't get a good picture of her spine because she was moving around so much, so we got to go again last Saturday (before our car adventure) for our 2nd anatomy scan.   We got to see her cute little face, yawning away and rubbing her eyes.   Josh was able to see a little better than I, and said he was able to see her heart chambers working away.  Josh does have a video from this appointment.   Our results just came back and everything looks okay so far :)   
Below are two of her ultrasounds from this visit:

In this one she is looking at you with her face on the left.  Her mouth was open and she was rubbing her eye.   

This one is in profile with the head again on the left.  


Week 23:
Aside from the business of the work week, the most exciting news is that we got to see her move slightly on the outside of my belly!  I was sitting watching TV and I saw a little thump from the outside of my belly.  We tried to videotape it but she apparently became shy all of sudden and stopped, but I'm sure there will be more opportunities to catch that on film later :).    

We have been not only blessed with her healthy pregnancy so far, but also by our loved ones around us.   So many of you have been so nice and want to lend/give us baby items.   I have been blown away by the generosity :)   A big thank you to all of you from the 3 of us :).  Even most of the items we have from previous pregnancies were gifts or hand me downs from family and friends :)

Here is my belly shot this week.  She is apparently the length of an ear of corn, about 8.5 inches, and weighs a little more than pound!  I've had little growing pains these past two weeks, but no spotting, so I believe (from what the dr. has told me and what I've read/heard) this is normal.  We are almost done with the 5th month and about 3 or 4 weeks away from the last trimester!!!!   We are so excited!!!!

Side shot (m), and front shot

 a pink sock monkey :)

and a Rubber duckie for Hanukkah :) 

We also picked up a couple of little things over the last couple of weeks for her:  

Thanks for checking in, Week 24 starts on Monday!  Officially in the 6th month :) 

:)

Week 21 :)

I am actually in week 22, but these past couple of weeks have been so busy I got behind!

Last week we had two appointments.  We had our anatomy scan on Monday the 26th, which was about a 45 minutes ultrasound session where they take like 90-100 ultrasound pictures of the baby-each organ, skeletal system, etc.   The tech was guessing a girl as well :)    We received about 13 of these ultrasounds.   I haven't had time to scan them all, but here is one of her looking directly at the screen.   She was moving a lot an kept putting her hands above her head.   She was actually moving so much that we have to go back on Saturday, the 8th to get another anatomy scan done of her spine, because they didn't get a good picture of it.  

On Wednesday we had our normal prenatal appointment where they listened to her heart and started us on the info packet for the labor and delivery!   It was so exciting just to have reached the point where it starts becoming something that is ready to planned :) We will also be taking some of the classes as well because I've never been through full term labor before.   We're doing the newborn class as well because although  I've babysat since I was 12, have 3 younger brothers I watched over the years, and worked in a daycare , Josh has never babysat or even changed a diaper before in his life.

So week 21 went by smoothly and she continues to grow.   I didn't have the right food to picture with :) but in week 21 she was as big as a spaghetti squash, about 8 inches and is supposed to weigh about a pound.   In her anatomy scan, they estimated her at about 401 grams or about 14 oz.   Here are some belly shots at 21 weeks :)  I am actually starting to feel "round" and pregnant :)    

Week 22 is almost half over so I'm sure we'll update again soon after Saturday's ultrasound ;)


Thanks for checking in!