I am ready to have this baby. At 32 weeks, I feel as though I've been pregnant for years. Sleep has become impossible. Along with a list of other things! If it weren't for Chris, I wouldn't survive this baby.
Due to carpal tunnel and joint pain in my right hand, I have become useless. I can't sleep, knit, cook, I can't even handle a knife. I stop short of asking Chris to cut my food for me. I have limits. But he does all the chopping when I'm cooking. Actually, it should be "cooking", he does almost all the work. I supervise. Soon. That's what I keep telling myself. It'll all be over before I know it.
On a bright note, the baby room is pretty much done. All it needs is some blinds. Chris worked really hard, and it looks great. I sit in the glider at night and just rock. For almost nine years we've been a family of three. It's really strange preparing for another baby.
We had an ultrasound on Saturday. Sumo baby is measuring a week ahead. Big boy! I wonder what he'll look like. I have my fingers crossed for a ginger. We are both Scottish and Chris has a glorious rust colored beard that gets redder every day. A girl can dream!
On Monday I was put on modified bed rest. I had to do a second one hour glucose test. And I failed. Today I had to do the three hour glucose test. It was horrible. Fifteen hours without eating and four blood tests.
You have to drink double the concentrate glucose on an empty stomach. It gives you a splitting headache and intense nausea. I had to lie down between blood draws. They made it clear if I threw up, I would have to do the test over again. No. Thank. You. My arms are bruised.
Hopefully the results will be in tomorrow. On Saturday I'm having a growth ultrasound. The doctor believes I'm having a sumo baby. Which is why I was rechecked for gestational diabetes. And part of the reason I was placed on modified bed rest. My blood pressure has been elevated, also not good.
I am not worried. At this point, all we can really do is laugh. It's always something! This baby is putting us through our paces. And we still choose hope. It's just another bump in the road.
FREEDOM!!! Ok, mostly freedom. Little man has moved off of my cervix, and today, the doctor gave me the go ahead to return to work on Monday. It's only part time, I can only work up to four hours, but that's better than nothing!
Chris isn't happy about it. He worries. A lot. If he could keep me in a plastic bubble, he would. I have graciously accepted his work restrictions. I am only allowed to vacuum, fold laundry and wipe counters. We will discuss cooking/baking on a case by case basis. I love that man. I love that he worries and fusses over me. He's pretty spectacular.
In celebration, I ordered seeds for the garden. This year, we plan on doing a lot of canning, preserving and freezing. We choose to grow non GMO produce. This is the second time I've order from this farm. I am itching to start growing!
Overall, it was a good day. Yes, there's still a chance baby boy will make an early escape. But I simply refuse to spend my day worry about something that may or may not happen. I will take it easy, relax, and not over do it. Whatever happens, happens. All we can do is pray and hope.
It's almost Thursday. Chris still says I'm going to be kept on bed rest, but he very well could be wrong. At this point, I'd be happy with modified bed rest. At least I would have a little more freedom. The baby would probably really enjoy a yoga session right now.
Monday was a rather lovely day for me and Grace. We watched Lemony Snicket, we did some knitting, made play doh ice cream, and she painted me lovely pictures. There was even some quiet reading time. Grace helped me make breakfast and lunch, and ate her weight in fruits and veggies for snacks. I wish I could've been more involved and hands-on, but oh well. We had a wonderful day together, that's all that matters.
Tonight, I'm going to have Chris haul my sewing machine upstairs. There's a headband I want to make G, and also some hair rollers. No, seriously. How cute are those?! They look really simple and quick. I have all the required supplies. The only problem I forsee is being able to sit in a chair long enough to sew them all. I may have to do a few here and there. I can't sit upright for very long. It gives me horrible abdominal cramps. I usually don't even eat at the dinner table.
I will give it a whirl, if it's too painful, it can always wait until I no longer get cramps. Or until the baby arrives, whatever happens first! For now I have my knitting, and cross stitching. It's enough.
This was a pretty great week. On Thursday, my lovely friend, Anne, stopped by for a visit. She brought lunch, cookies, crafts, books and dinner! We spent a few hours chatting and laughing, it was wonderful. Last night the Bells stopped by with more laughter and bright moments. Faye and I knitted the night away while she planned my baby shower.
It was great to spend time with amazing people. Our hearts were lightened. Hopefully, this week will be as nice. On Thursday I have another ultrasound. Chris told me it's time to accept the fact that I'll probably spend a few more weeks on bed rest. I know he's right. I can barely sit up right, let alone stand or walk for more than a few minutes. But I can hope.
Tomorrow Grace will be home with me. Poor kid. I wish we could go paint pottery or bake cookies. Hell, I'd be happy to simply sit at the table and do puzzles. Maybe we can play battleship, or knit and watch a movie. Grace will most likely end up taking care of me. She is such a wonderful helper.
Here's hoping for good news at the doctor!
The bed rest continues! It's insanely boring. I do my exercises, (this lady doesn't want blood clots) I knit, watch Netflix and read. All day. Every day. Wash, rinse, repeat. I watch helplessly as my husband does everything. Work, cook, laundry, chores, take of G and the dogs. I can't help with any of it. Oh, wait, I can fold laundry. I fold the hell out of it, too!
Went to the doctor on Friday. We were informed that if baby is born between 22 and 26 weeks, (I'm 21 weeks now)baby has a chance of surviving. But. Baby could be born just fine, in need of lots of care but otherwise ok,or he could be born with serious health issues. Like severe brain hemorrhaging. The doctor wants us prepared. She wants us to discuss how far we want the medical staff to go in order to try and save our baby.
Chris is overwhelmed. He's a tad broken, we both are. It's one thing knowing that I'm at risk for preterm labor. It's one thing knowing that we could lose the baby. It's a whole other kind of devastation having to seriously talk about the possible death of our child. And being the one to make that choice. Under what circumstances are we willing to fight for our son's life, and what will make us say, "Let it be." Let him rest.
We are hoping for the best, but we are not ignorant of the worst. We continue to hope, we continue to put our faith in Him. I remain ever hopeful that all will be well in the end.
These next few weeks are going to be very interesting. I can't do any cooking. So, it's all up to the hubanero. He's already made it very clear there's going to be a whole lotta mac'n'cheese in this house. Ho boy.
So far, I'm exceedingly bored. Bed rest is the absolute pits. I want to read, but I don't know what to read. Knitting is starting to feel like actual work. I want to bake cookies. Am I allowed to bake cookies? I have a standing mixer, I can pull a chair right up to the counter. You know what? Screw it. I'm baking cookies.
The really sad thing about all this? Today was only my second full day on bed rest. Holy crap, this truly is going to be hell.....
Also, I want to bake this bundt cake again....
Oh the joys of pregnancy! After spending yesterday morning in the emergency room, I am now on bed rest. Later today I have an appointment with my regular doctor, hopefully she tells me I no longer need to be on bed rest. I have total placenta previa, which means my placenta is completely covering my cervix. This is a complication I truly don't know much about. Even with my obsessive googling. My baby could move higher as it grows, but I have no idea if I have to remain on bed rest until that happens. It's killing me, not knowing. And having to wait to find out! I'm also feeling pretty worthless, my body is failing me. Trying to stay positive. The baby is doing great so far.
On the plus side, I'll get a lot of knitting done! It's too bad G-funk can't stay home with me. I love knitting with her.
Isn't she so dang adorable?! G is determined to finish a washcloth for Grandma for Christmas. She just might do it!
Well, I'm going to leave off here. I need to knit the pain away. Here's hoping bed rest won't last long!!!
