38 Weeks!

Another Saturday has come and gone which means another week on the ticker has passed. I'm officially 38 weeks along, I can't believe it. However, as the days go on I'm getting more and more sorer. I'm sure it's due to contractions and her trying to find her way out of there (lets hope).

I went to the doctor last Wednesday and I was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated. I go back this Wednesday and I'm hoping for more progress. If no progress is made I want to know what in the world all of this pain is for :)

This Wednesday's appointment will determine if we will really go ahead with the induction or not. I'm pretty sure with me already being dilated the doctor is going to say it's a go. She really hasn't dropped too much however I can tell she's lower mainly because I haven't had to use my breathing machine in 3 weeks now. However, the reflux has still not wavered.

Rex is ready for her to be here (or so he thinks). From what I gathered there are lots of people in Iowa betting on April 1st as the day she'll make her appearance. I'm not sure having an April Fool's Day baby is a good idea with a father like Rex. The poor girl will be tortured for life. Bree thinks she'll come on the 6th just so that I won't be there for TAKS on the 7th. The family in Oklahoma an I are hoping for the 9th :)

Spring Break!

Unfortunately, spring break is now half over. It's been a great week! Mom, Mere and Olivia came down to Texas to help us continue getting our house ready for baby. The days were busy as usual when they come to visit. Saturday we visited IKEA. I love that place. Sunday we went to a quilt show with Rex's mom. It was fun but a lot of walking. Luckily Mere and I found a great place to sit and people watch. Monday, hmm, I can't even remember what we did on Monday, that's bad, oh wait we filled the newly constructed shed Rex got finished. I just about have a garage once again! This next weekend will be spent organizing all of the tools we've acquired. Tuesday we cleaned out my kitchen since apparently Astoria will be needing her own cabinet. Then a doctor's appointment and a much needed pedicure for Meredith and I. Today we actually slept in till 10 and then went to goodwill to drop off all of my discards from the kitchen and garage. They finally got on the road about 1:30.

As for the doctor's appointment everything is going fine. I'm still measuring big which we think is still due to all of the fluid not really a big baby (hopefully). I'm officially 36 weeks as of Saturday and they have scheduled an induction date for April 9th. However, since she is still sitting so high that date is really up in the air. I'll be checked on the 8th and we'll see if she's ready to make her way into this world, if not, and she's still just hanging out likely I'll let her go until the next week. I'd rather not attempt induction if it might lead to a c-section. My doctor will allow me to go up to a week past our due date of April 11th. After that she gets booted one way or another. April 9th is only 2 days before our actual due date but would allow me to go back to school the last week. If she goes later I may decide not to go back that last week. It's all up to her at this point!

My feet are doing a little better (although in the picture taken this morning by Mere (above) they don't look so hot!). These next few days will be spent relaxing at home and keeping them propped up.

We might have found a caregiver for Astoria starting in August. I'm hoping to get to meet with her this weekend and Friday morning I'm going to meet with a pediatrician. Things are starting to line up!

Astoria's Room

Well at 35 weeks things are slowly getting finished. Mom has the blanket done (she's quickly finishing the curtains, dust ruffle, and bumpers). I've bought nearly everything my sister has told me I'll be needing and my shower was amazing. I got lots of wonderful gifts. My sister really out did herself in preparing for the wonderful day. I also have wonderful friends who supplied me with lots of great things. Meredith even sent out a note with the invitations to have people include a book with their gift instead of the usual card since books will last a lifetime. She also sent out onezies and bibs for people to decorate. We had two winners in the onezies category: the one with the bikini top and the frog in an Easter Basket. The bib category was all about Astoria's Aunt's bib! Here are a few pictures of the day.

I went to the doctor last week for my 34 week check up and everything is pretty good. I'm suffering from a edema in my feet. She said I needed to stay in my seat as much as possible at school, come home and let Rex fix dinner, increase my water intake, and decrease my salt intake. None of which I'm going to like doing but all of which I have done since the appointment. I do not want to be on bed rest! I also mentioned I'd experienced what I believe to be some Braxton Hicks contractions. She checked me (ouch!) but everything still looks like it should (cervix is not dilated and is still high). She said likely the contractions were due to fatigue and I needed to slow down a bit. UGH!!!!

Anyway I've been trying really hard to do that but the nesting stage I believe is here. I worked on her room some today as well as went shopping to get a few little things. I'm so proud of her room. I love that my mother passed on her creative gene to me! This is one wall with the letters I made as well as the layette mom made. She is wonderful!