The Details - Our 2nd Ultrasound and 35 1/2 Week Appt.

The ultrasound results were great! It appears that Reese is weighing 6 1/2 lbs now, so depending on when she arrives she could weigh 8 lbs or so. The sonograhper confirmed Reese is still a girl! Whew...all that pink and monogramming will be perfect for her. As you can see in the pictures below, she had her hand near her face the entire time. I honestly cannot tell who she looks like, but she is very cute if I do say so myself. Look at those cheeks and that sweet little nose. The radiologist said Reese is a healthy baby. They checked all of her organs again and everything looks good. Yay! This makes Mommy and Daddy very happy.

We met with Dr. Firpo afterwards. We were running late for the appointment with her, so Matt had to go ahead and go to our car seat installation appointment while I waited for the doctor. It worked out that he was able to get back just in time to here what she had to say. Reese is in the 73rd percentile for weight right now, so she's not too big or too small. My cervix is 80% effaced (this indicates how much the cervix has started to thin out) and I am 1-2 cm dilated. My blood pressure is good at 120/70.

Dr. Firpo did say that I tested positive for Group B Strep which is a bacteria that 35% of adults in the U.S. carry. It lives harmlessly in the body, but pregnant women can pass it on to the baby during labor and delivery. If the baby is infected they can become seriously ill (per my Mayo Clinic book). So as soon as I go into labor they will add antibiotics to my IV in order to mitigate this risk. This give me another thing to worry about, but I will stay positive and pray that Reese does not contract the bacteria.

She also said that I can "return to light duty" at work starting next Monday. I've already discussed it with my employer and everyone agrees that I should continue working from home as I feel up to it.

In addition, Dr. Firpo said to get my bags packed if they were not already (and they are not), so I'll get right on that. I think I have everything we'll need, I just need to sort it among two suitcases (a small one for labor and delivery and a big one for the postpartum stay).

Finally, I'll continue taking my medication through Sunday and then let nature take its course. Dr. Richter will return next Monday, and I have an appointment with her that morning.

Please keep all three of us in your prayers as we prepare for Reese's arrival.

Love,
A, Matt and Reese

More Pictures

Here are some pictures of Reese from the ultrasound (weighing in at 6.5 lbs).

I will add more detail later this evening about the doctor visit (no worries).

Cooking Dinner and Meeting the Neighbors

Matt and I went to Kroger on Sunday morning before the crowds hit to buy all the stuff you need when you move into a new house and have no food. Yes, I drove the mart cart again and got a few stares, but not too many.

$200 something later we were ready to each lunch and cook our first dinner at home! It was nice to be able to cook a meal instead of running out to grab something.

We also made more progress this weekend on the house. Mom and I worked on Reese's room, so it's almost in order. Her crib will arrive tonight, so Matt can start assembling. Once that's done; I can post pictures!

Joe and Pat (Matt's parents) came over on Sunday to help with the wall patching. It's all starting to come together, and soon we'll have before and after pictures to show you.

Since I've been home resting I've noticed that the neighborhood kids come out to play between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. I'd been meaning to go out and say hello to all of the neighbors who are also out and about. Today, I was finally able to get out and meet some folks. I met lots of Moms and a few guys who were walking the dogs. I also discovered that we have 2 infants on our block (Addison - 6 months and the other baby I didn't meet but is approximately 2 months), so Reese will have playmates. I am so excited! One of the things we love about this neighborhood is that the kids come out and play, but I was not sure how many kids were going to be Reese's age. Today I saw lots of kids ranging from age 5 to 11. It's good to know Reese will have playmates too.

Tomorrow will be a busy morning as we have our ultrasound at 9:00, appt. with Dr. Firpo at 10:10 and car seat installation at 11:30. Luckily, all appointments are at Texas Women's so it'll be convenient. I'll be posting new pictures of Reese afterwards!

Driving through Lowe's

Matt and I went to Lowe's last night to get supplies for patching the holes in the walls. My ankles were super swollen because I had started the day with a trip to Babies R Us and Target getting last minute items for Reese and I think I over did it. I am trying to get everything done just in case Reese decides to arrive when I stop taking my medicine next week.

I told Matt that I would drive the cart when we got there. I've been threatening to do this (when I go to Target or Kroger) since I've been on bedrest, but haven't actually done it until now. When we got to Lowe's Matt had to back the cart out manually as it was stuck between the huge tower of Ozarka bottled water and a gate. They don't make it easy to access that's for sure. At first we couldn't figure out how to make it move, but realized that you have to be sitting in the chair before it will go. As soon as I sat down and hit the forward button off I went. The one I rode it was labled "Mart Cart", so I guess that is what they are called. Matt was making laps around me at Lowe's because those things are pretty slow. I just followed and caught up to him on each aisle when visited. It was actually pretty fun and people didn't stare at me like I feared they would. When I had to back up, the cart would beep like I was driving a big huge truck or something. It seemed to be saying, "Watch out, the pregnant lady is driving!"

I felt nice to be seated as we shopped, and I could tell Reese was happy too. I only had a couple of Braxton-Hicks contractions while we were there, so that was a great idea. I'll have to do that again when we go to Kroger!

I'll be 35 weeks on Thursday and am almost 1 cm dilated today!

My doctor appointment went well today. Dr. Firpo has asked that I continue taking my medicine twice a day for at least 10 more days (I'll be 36 weeks in 10 days). I guess once I hit 36 weeks; they will let nature take its course. My blood pressure is good and Reese's heartbeat is in the 150's. I only gained 1 pound since last week, but I had gained 6 pounds then. I think my total gain is near 27 pounds.

I am almost dilated to 1 cm. This didn't seem to concern my doctor, but makes me think I need to rest more and get the house ready just in case Reese comes sooner than February 14th! We'll know more after my ultrasound next week. That will tell us how big she is and how well her lungs and kidneys are developed. Hopefully we'll get some more pictures too.

Dr. Firpo says Reese has not dropped yet. The pressure I'm feeling (noted in my last post) is just a part of the process. Reese is still moving a lot which is great! I'd better enjoy it while it lasts; before we know it she'll be out of my belly and in our arms. Her Daddy cannot wait to hold her! He says this everyday!

Here's how I'm looking these days...Matt thinks I am getting big (in a good way). He's right!

As compared to 19 weeks back in September! And I thought I had a belly then. Hey the shirt still fits!