39 weeks!

I just got back from my 39 week Dr. appointment. It was relatively uneventful. I am still 1cm dialated, 50% effaced, and Brandon is still at a -2 station, so pretty high up. Basically, I've made no progress in the last week. The doctor stripped my membranes, but last time that was ineffective, so I'm not getting my hopes up that it will do much this time around. Boo. That sucks. There isn't really anything new to report except I have scheduled my non-stress test and induction in case he isn't here by next Saturday. At my non-stress test, they will monitor Brandon and make sure that he is doing ok in utero and that the fluid levels are ok for him. That is scheduled for January 25th. If Brandon STILL hasn't decided that he is ready to meet the world, I will go in on the 29th at 6am for induction. We are really hoping that he decides to come before then because we have to meet my family at the airport on February 1st, and I will not be released from the hospital until the 31st, so that doesn't give us any time at home with Brandon before family comes to visit for the next 3 weeks. My 40 week appointment is Thursday January 17th. I'm kind of hoping that I don't make it that far. That's all for now!!! I will update again after my 40 week appointment, if I make it until then. (Hopefully I won't)

38 week dr appointment....

I had my 38 week dr appointment today. It went well. My GBS came back negative and my thyroid level is staying constant, so that is good. My blood pressure was high when I went in (155/80) and so the dr was a little concerned, but said that she would recheck it after the exam. We listened to Brandon's heartbeat and it was in the 150s, so very good. Brandon is still head down and when I asked her to guess his weight, she said between 8 and 8.5 pounds! Eeek!!! He's going to be a big boy!!! Then came the fun part. It was my first internal check, so I was VERY excited to see if I had made any progress. It's not much, but I am 1cm dialated, 50% effaced, and he is at a -2 station. So, he's still pretty high up there. The progress is decent. She stripped my membranes (without asking or telling me first) so we'll see what happens from that. I'm a little crampy, but nothing major. I doubt that it is going to do much. I was kind of hoping to wait until next weeks appointment do to any membrane stripping because tomorrow we have to drive an hour and a half away to pick up some friends at the airport. Oh well, I guess we'll figure it out, but I doubt anything is going to happen, especially with him being so high. So, overall, a good appointment. Oh, and my blood pressure went back down to 127/70-something after the exam, so all is good with that. I will post another update next Friday after my 39 week appointment unless something happens before then!!!

I just want to remember this....

Considering how much my life is about to change, I just wanted to take a moment to focus on the wonderful things that I have in my life before our son is born. I really do have so many things to be thankful for, and I don't ever want to forget these things. I know that once Brandon gets here, my life is going to be so consumed with him and being a Mommy, but right now, I am so blessed just being Becky.

First off, I have my husband. I am seriously so blessed to have such a wonderful, loving, and supportive husband. Sure, he has his "man moments," but overall, he is phenominal. He works so hard, and asks for nothing in return. It is truly amazing to know that I am loved so much by this wonderful man. He really knows me, and wants to know me, and is happy with just me. I love that we can sit in the same room and not have to speak to each other, yet we are completely comfortable and know that no words need to be spoken. Our relationship is the perfect definition of home. He genuinely cares about my well-being and my happiness. For him, I am truly blessed.

Next, and this may sound ridiculous to some, but I have the best pets on earth!!! I know that some people do not value their animals as much as I do, and that is their own choice. My pets are my babies, and I love them more than anything!! I absolutely love waking up and snuggling with my Emily. She is the kindest, most gentle dog I have ever met. My heart melts when I look at her. She is just so sweet and loving. Then, there is Kitters. Heh, she is a fiesty and fat kitty and I wouldn't change a thing about her. It is amazing how much personality a cat can have. I love snuggling up on the couch with her and taking our naps. So, yeah, my pets are awesome.

I have some great friends!!! Granted, some friends are better than others, but overall, I have amazing friends. I know the friends that I have I can count on, and will always support me. It's amazing how close you can become with someone in such a small amount of time. I have friends that I know will be there for me regardless of the circumstances. It's such a relief to know that no matter what happens, people will be there to help you and give you all the support needed. To these people (you know who you are) I am forever grateful and I love you all dearly.

My family....wow. This one is suprising to me. As I have gotten older, I have grown to appreciate my family so much more. I have a great Mom that has become more a best friend than a mother. My sisters are miracles. Suprisingly, I have started to rebuild a relationship with my Dad and that is something I never thought would happen. My In-laws are fantastic as well. I could not chosen better in-laws. Everyone in my family is so supportive. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful support system.

I just wanted to take a quick look at the things in my life that I am grateful for right now. I am so blessed to be pregnant, and to have a healthy baby boy on the way; however, I was blessed before I became pregnant. I just wanted to remember this fact.

Holy Nesting Batman!

Anywho, I have been cleaning ALL day!!! The house wasn't even that messy, but I have been cleaning non-stop since I woke up. Plus, I cleaned alot yesturday too. Aparently, the nesting bug has hit me and I can't stop cleaning. Yesturday I didn't do a whole lot of cleaning, but I did manage to get some stuff done. Let's see....what all have I done??

Yesturday I...

Washed/dried/folded and put away 5 loads of laundry,

Cleaned out the fridge and freezer,

Cleaned out the toaster,

Cleaned the microwave,

Cleared off the cabinets and washed them down,

Cleaned the fans in our bedroom,

Wiped down the tv and computer.

Today I have.....

Wiped down the canisters in the kitchen,

Wiped down the Culligan water thingy,

Pledged the entire dining room set including the chairs and sticky rolled them to get the cat hair off of them,

Swept and mopped the kitchen and living room,

Dusted the entertainment center and coffee table,

Sticky rolled the couch and loveseat to get the pet hair off of them,

Cleaned the oven,

Cleaned the window sills,

Cleaned the bathroom,

Organized the laundry room and washed off the washer and dryer.

I am getting ready to.....

Sweep and mop the hallway and laundry room,

Do another couple of loads of laundry,

Clean up our bedroom,

and Vacuum the rug in the living room and the rug in the hallway then spray them with carpet spray.

That's all I can think of for now. Sometime this week I have to manage to find a way to get Brian to put all of his Army stuff away because it is all over the guest room. Once that is done I can straighten that room up again. Oh, and I also have to take down all of the Christmas decorations later this week. Sheesh....I should be exhausted, but I'm FULL of energy. They say that once you start nesting that you go into labor within a couple of weeks. I think this is an old wives tale, but I can't say I'd be dissappointed if it weren't!!! I can't WAIT to meet this little guy!!!! Only 26 days until D-day!!!!

Dr. Appointment!

Hello everyone!! It' Dr. Appointment update time!!! We saw Dr. Holland yesturday for my 36 week appointment (I am actually 35 weeks and 4 days). It was another great appointment. Brandon is doing great. His heart rate is excellent. I am measuring at 37 weeks, which is a little ahead, but completely normal. We asked Dr. Holland if he could tell what position Brandon is in. His exact quote was, "Oh yeah. He's head down, big time." I wonder if that is any inclination that Brandon is going to have a big head. Eeeek! I had my group b strep test done, and should get those results at my next appointment. We duscussed induction briefly because I would like to avoid being two weeks late since my family is coming to visit exactly two weeks after my due date. Dr. Holland said that at my next appointment, which will be my 38 week appointment, they can do an internal check to see if I've made any progress and if my cervix is favorable (meaning dialated to at least a 2 and starting to efface) then I can choose to have my membranes stripped. I doubt that I will be dialated enough to have that procedure done, but if I am, I will probably wait until my 39 week appointment because we are supposed to pick up the Roberts family from the airport the day after my 38 week appointment, so I don't want to leave them hanging. Plus, I don't mind waiting until 39 weeks to get things moving. The stripping of the membranes does not ensure that labor will start, but it does encourage the body to start dialating. So, that is pretty exciting. They went ahead and scheduled my next 3 appointments. The 38 week, 39 week, and 40 week appointments, so that is really exciting. It is so nice to be getting down to the wire. We are both so excited and cannot wait to meet little Brandon. As far as I am concerned, all I am waiting on is our travel system to come in the mail, and Brandon can show up any time after that. I am SOOOO ready to meet this little guy. That's about all the updates I have for you all. I will post another update after my next appointment, which is on January 4th. 30 days left!!!! Eeek!!!

38 days left...planning, planning, planning!

So, yeah, the title is correct. We have 38 days until our due date (and today is half over!!). We are SOOOO excited, anxious, and nervous to meet our baby boy. We are in the last stretch to finish any planning and preparing for Brandon's arrival. We don't really have that much to do, so I guess that is a good thing. We have our room set up with a pack and play and changing table. We would like for him to have his own room, but with family coming for 3 weeks after he is born, the extra room has to be saved for family. I'm sure that we will want him close to us the first couple of weeks anyway. We have lots of clothes, his swing, bathtub and toiletries, blankets, bottles, breast pump, diapers, wipes, etc. for him. The only thing we are waiting on is his stroller, car seat, bouncer, and some crib sheets which are in the mail. So, they should be here in the next couple of weeks. The only thing left to buy are some hooded towels, a diaper genie, and maybe some more blankets. Other than that, we are good. We start Birthing Classes tomorrow night, so that is exciting!!! Every Thursday night from 7-9 for the next 4 Thursdays we will be learning all about giving birth and the arrival of our little blessing. I can't wait!!! I've been saving some things to do so I can help prevent the insanity that comes with waiting to go into labor. I still have to wash his clothes. That's about it. I should have saved more things for me to do, but I have been so bored. I finished filling out the baby book up to this point, and I wrote my letter to Brandon. I need to order some pictures for his baby book, so I will do that this weekend. Brian has a longer to do list than I do. He has to clean out the car, give Emily a bath, and write his letter to Brandon. He's been in the field, so he hasn't been able to do these things, but since he is home, he needs to get cracking!! Don't worry....I'll stay on top of him!! :) So, yeah, these next 38 days are going to either fly by, or drag. I'm sure that it will be a combination of both, but it will all be worth it when we hold Brandon for the first time. Life couldn't be better.

I'm ok.

I figured after the novel of a blog that I wrote last time, I'd give you all a little update. Don't worry, it will NOT be as long.

Things are still the same with the majority of the situations that I was stressed about in the last blog. There really isn't much that I can do to solve them except wait. For anyone that knows me, that is extremely difficult for me to do. I don't have a choice in the matter, and I realize that, so I'm choosing to focus on other things at the moment. So, blah to all the negative crap that I can't do anything about.

I'm missing Brian like crazy. It sucks. Plain and simple. It's so lonely at night and during the day knowing that he isn't going to be home for another couple of weeks. 18 days to be exact. I'm doing a good job of staying busy though. School has me completely occupied. Any free time that I have, which isn't much, is spent with my dear friends. So, I guess the time is going by as quickly as it is going to. School ends on the 16th for me, and Brian will be back about 5 days later, so that's my light at the end of the tunnel. Just make it through school and spend the next 5 days preparing for Brian to come home and THANKSGIVING!!!!

Speaking of....have I mentioned that I am having the most bomb ass Thanksgiving EVER???????!!!!!!!! We're going to have a full house! It's going to be Ginny, Brent, and Dono Roberts, Sarah, Tim and Justin Cannon, Missy and Adam Donaldson, Sacro, and Brian and I. I'm SOOOO excited!!!! I can't wait to have a bunch of friends over to eat some yummy food and hang out. Yay for holidays!!!!

That's about it. I just felt like reassuring everyone that I'm not still depressed or anxious. I'm ok now. I just got a little overwhelmed and had to get everything out. So, no worries.

Brandon and I are doing great. He is kicking more than ever and I just LOVE it!!! He actually kicked so hard and so much today that it tickled and I couldn't talk because I was so distracted by his kicking. It was great. Everything about this pregnancy has been incredible. I really am so blessed. WE really are so blessed.

Ok, so I'm really going to go now. It's midnight and I need to get this little guy and myself to bed. I have A LOT of homework to do tomorrow. Goodnight world.