Week 38

08.27.08
38 Weeks

Before I start with the doctor's appointment yesterday, I looked back over the blog and noticed that I had mentioned that LA and I were getting together with her brothers for a party/family get together but had not mentioned anything else about it in the blog. We had a great night at Waylon and Amy's in St. George. It was good to get together and laugh. Mike you can fry me anything you want - If it's got grease, flour and a surprise inside you can't go wrong and you're talking my language. Anyway, LA's brothers and their families gave us a pack-n-play that has a changing table/bassinet that Baby Carter will be sleeping in when he/she comes home from the hospital. It should fit perfectly on LA's side of the bed. We have assembled it and I am not sure how quickly it will disassemble but if assembly was any indication...unassembling the crib might be faster. When you read the words pack-n play to me it just implies push a button and your ready to pack it in the car. I will let you know exactly how long it takes and if it will ever fit back into the carry case (I might have to call Marty and Danielle to figure it out. I know they are experts with them.) That was super nice of them to do something for us.

Fast forward...

We had our weekly Doctor's visit today. We started off the visit with an ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby...I mean to make sure the baby was not breech. The ultrasound tech was super nice and after making sure the baby was not breech - the head is down. She let us look at the monitor and see the baby's face. I have attached the pictures below. If you have trouble determining what you are looking at don't feel bad it took me awhile also. I felt pretty silly. It was almost like looking at one of those hidden pictures where you have to un-focus your eyes to see the hidden picture. I'll give you some help the first three pictures are of the babies face looking at you. The last picture is a profile picture of the baby looking up....good luck. She checked out the baby's heartbeat and we looked at it - 125 bpm. She told us to turn away while she checked out the rest of the baby. I covered LA's eyes but I sneaked a peak...just kidding or did I - I told Heather last night what we were having. Heather, if I am right won't you wonder, if I really did find out. Just think Heather and I know what were having but do you believe/trust it. So for everyone else, we still don't know...

We had a good visit with the PA today. She repeated the good news about the baby not being breech and told us that we weren't going to be having a baby in the next seven days. The baby is still pretty high and all the baby signs of impending birth were not present. We went over a couple of "what ifs" - How long will they let LA go past the due date? - A. At 40 weeks they will do another ultrasound (to confirm what Heather and I know were having) to make sure the baby has enough fluid, if no they will start the delivery process (natural or c section, depending on her Bishop score - she has to meet with the Bishop to see what he thinks, see below) - if yes (fluid and baby is not in danger) they will let her go to 41 weeks. That is the maximum they will require her to go but if the baby is still healthy and has enough fluid then we could decided to go 42 weeks. At 42 weeks the baby is coming out one way or the other. The PA is not concerned at this point. We still have two weeks. If we were at 40 weeks and LA was where she is today, she would be more concerned. She assured us that LA's body and the baby will know when it is time. For me it seems like we are so close, let's just get it over with (I don't know how much longer I can stand my back hurting from doing all the work around the house.) When the PA measured LA she thought she noticed the baby was lower than the previous week, maybe it is starting to move down. She talked to us about the Bishop scale that is used to score whether you will deliver naturally or c-section. If LA's water was to break today, she would be looking at a c-section.

LA's feet are still not swelling as a result of blood pressure or proteins and her and the baby are not in any danger. It is still a direct result of being pregnant. The PA gave LA an option that would help- she could assign her to bed rest. LA determined she wasn't to that point. It's all about the number of hours on her feet vs number of hours with her feet above her head and sleeping doesn't count - that's only neutral.

So a few take aways from today's office visit:

*Patience
*Doctor K is cautious (that's good...that's what I'm telling myself)
*Clemson game is still a possibility
*LA need to relax and stay off her feet
*The blog will continue for one more week (ya'll are so lucky)
*Heather and I know what were having





Sorry about the posting being one long continuous post and having to scroll...I didn't really think I would have done much more than a few weeks before quiting with it. If I have time, I might try to reorganize the posts. That sounds like a lot of work so don't expect it but maybe.

I just wanted everyone to know that Greg H and I will begin working on a guide book shortly after baby carter is born that will be focused on the pregnancy and delivery for the male. It is going to be good - NY Times bestseller.

PS - I am still hoping for a delivery on Monday, September 1, 2008 - LABOR DAY. If that isn't a day for having a baby, I can't think of one. I made a joke about having a baby on Labor Day at a counselor party for Mike and Deann and for all these years I have been ridiculed and picked on for it but everyone knows it was funny! I still laugh at it today as I am typing. I was even semi-redeemed when LA read the same joke on a Laffy Taffy and it was MY Labor Day joke. So if there is such a thing as victory, LA is going to have the baby on Monday. It is meant to be. I know the doctors said "not this week" but I believe that it's going to happen so I can have the last laugh.