Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Happy Birthday to the best Daddy in the whole world!!! I gave you a present today...I waited for your special day to roll over!!!
I love you Daddy!!!!
Love,
Your little man

31 Weeks

I went to the doctor's office today for an ultrasound. Isabel looked absolutely beautiful!!!! She is going to be quite photogenic!!!! I told Joel I thought she had my feet for sure!!! I will post pictures of her tomorrow. They are estimating that she weighs about 3 pounds 12 ounces right now. Believe it or not, that is right on target for where she should be. I actually thought she might be measuring bigger, but I guess not. I go to the doctor Friday, so I am anxious to hear what she says about the amniotic fluid. I would think if it looked to be low, they would have said something while I was there today.

Garrett is doing great. He is actually enjoying bath time right now. He loves to play with bath toys and his favorit thing to do is swim!!!! Joel puts him on his belly in his little seat and he splashes like crazy!!! I love to hear Joel tell him that he "isn't splashing enough if he isn't getting wet". I am not sure how he isn't getting wet because the wall and the floor are getting plenty wet!!!

Our great friends Greg & Laura brought us a fantastic pasta dish to have for dinner last night. Oh my goodness...it was so good. Joel tells me that I need to definitely get that recipe!!! Thank you guys so much...and you were right...it weighed about 10 pounds.


31 Weeks
~The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, but even though she doesn't get much longer, she will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy.
~Fat continues accumulating. This layer of fat turns her skin from red to the rosy pink she will have as a newborn.
~Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening.
~Your baby is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm)
~His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing!
~She may move to the rhythm of music. Studies with heart rates show that she also prefers some types of music to others -- already!
~Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Remember, that while you may be anxious to meet your little one that these last few weeks can be vital - with each day increasing your baby's ability to breathe on her own.

So Blessed

Joel and I are so blessed with such wonderful friends!!!! Our dear friends Greg and Laura came over last night and kept us company, fed us, ... They were wonderful enough to bring us Chinese for dinner, and then they also brought a huge pan of pasta, a bag of salad, and a loaf of garlic bread. We will definitely be eating that tonight!!!!! Not only did they bring us food (considering we have been living on peanut butter and jelly or lunch meat sandwiches), they also brought some DVD's, magazines, a Tetris handheld game, and a word search book for me. I have already played Tetris this morning and done 3 word searches!!!!!

Thank you guys so much for everything!!!!!

Isabel's bedding should be here tomorrow. Greg and Laura have graciously offered to paint the nursery for us...considering they are PROFESSIONAL painters!!!! I have to call an electrician today to have a phone jack put in so we can move the computer and actually turn the computer room into a nursery!!! I guess I thought I had more time, but as it turns out I am beginning to panic!!!

I will let you know how the ultrasound goes tomorrow!!!!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support.
Love To All!!!

Come visit me!!!

Does that give you any idea what the doctor told me??? I am now officially off work until Isabel makes her appearance. My blood pressure was still up and I also had protein in my urine. These are all signs of pre eclampsia. I have been put on bed rest in hopes that I will be able to go full term.

I have another ultrasound Wednesday to make sure the baby is growing properly and that she has enough amniotic fluid. I then go back to the doctor on Friday. It seems that I am not on a weekly visit basis. I should only be going every 2 weeks, but I guess she is wanting to see me more frequently to make sure my pressure doesn't continue to creep up.

Chad had surgery Friday to repair the tendon in his finger that had been completely severed. It appears that everything was repaired and he will heal totally. Thank goodness!!!!!

Keep checking back to see how exciting my life is while I am hanging out at home...watching TV, watching movies, and reading books!!!!

Tomorrow is the Day

I go to the doctor tomorrow. I am very, very hopeful that my blood pressure will be down and she will release me to go back to work Monday!!!! I feel like I sit around on the couch like a HUGE humpback whale!!!!

I have been so bored at home. My mom came over today and did some laundry and a little picking up. Other than that, I haven't had any adult company except Joel!!!! I soooooo look forward to Joel coming home with Garrett!!! There is no sweeter sound than the garage door opening and knowing that my 2 favorite guys are coming inside.

I talked to my brother earlier, he had been at the doctor's office. He cut his hand the other day and now is unable to control his middle finger. I told him it is a good thing that it is limp...thus he can't give anyone the finger!!!! HaHa!! He has cut a tendon in his finger and has to have surgery tomorrow to try and repair it. I hope they are able to repair the issue and that he heals!!!

Pray that the doctor's visit tomorrow goes well and I will give you a report tomorrow afternoon!!!!

30 Weeks

10 more weeks to full term!!! It is amazing to think that in 2 1/2 months our little girl will be here!!! I have been on bed rest since Monday and I am totally bored. I am hopeful that when I go to the doctor Friday she will tell me that my blood pressure is down and I can go back to work!!! I would hate to use all my sick/vacation time before she even arrives.

Garrett is doing great. He now has 3 teeth, 2 on the bottom and 1 on the top. He started out with one on the bottom, Saturday morning I checked and he still only had one, by Saturday afternoon he had another tooth that had come through!!!! I now rub my finger on his gums all the time. I checked his mouth Monday evening and he still only had 2 teeth, then last night I checked and he had another one!!! He amazes me with how great he has been with his teething.

I told you I would let you in on a little secret.....baby girl's name. Joel and I had a really hard time deciding on a name. We had Garrett's name picked out from the beginning. We had his name picked out before we even knew we were getting him!!!! We actually had a name picked out if it was a girl, but once we decided she was a girl, we weren't set on the name. I told Joel that we had to get a name picked out for a number of reasons...She could technically make her appearance and we didn't have a name, it was driving everyone crazy not having a name to call her, Joel's sister started calling her "fetus"...Jennifer tends to come up with nicknames and they stick (Garrett is Pedro to her) and I didn't want "her" being called fetus!!!!

I didn't get any painting done over the weekend. I guess that is good because I was online today and found different bedding that I like even more than what we have. I have called to get the return instructions and I am going to be ordering the new bedding.

30 Weeks

~Did you know your baby is nearly three pounds now?
~His head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to him.
~A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him. As he grows and fills your uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease. Funny, you certainly won't feel any lighter!
~She spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. Her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. She may even reach out to touch the light.
~Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect your baby's skin from the water in the womb. Your little one's own hair may begin to appear.
~Toenails are entering their final growth stage.
~Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).
~Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.
~By the end of this week, your baby is now 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weighs 2.91 pounds (1319gm).

How's Mom

As for the ongoing joys of being in your third trimester: your not-so-fun symptoms are just intensifying this week, so it might not hurt to slow down a bit and focus on yourself. If you’re feeling extra fatigued, you’ve probably joined the sleeping shouldn’t be this tough when I’m this tired club, especially if you’re experiencing a lot of back pain and general discomfort. If you’ve been pushing the exercise thing, then this is the time perhaps to cut down on the physical activities and focus more on getting proper sleep (if this means buying a pregnancy pillow, then do it!). Oh and all that moodiness? Just go with the flow emotionally. This doesn't mean letting the hormones win and becoming a complete psychotic. Instead, feel the feelings, but know that the drama you’re feeling is largely a result of increased adrenaline thanks indirectly to hormonal swings—not because things really are that dramatic and merit adult temper tantrums. The clincher symptom for this week: it’s highly likely your libido has gone on sabbatical. This, as far as we’re concerned, is perfectly natural in your condition.

I hope you have read the entire post or you will have missed this little tidbit.....Baby Girl's name is.......Isabel Grace!!!!!!

Love to All!!!!

Just Great

I thought I would post a quick message. I woke up this morning not feeling well....headache again (I went through this last week), and called the doctor. I felt like a total idiot and I told the nurse as much!!! I am not the kind of person that calls the doctor for every little ailment, but after my blood pressure being up at my last visit, I have been told to watch for some warning signs!!! The nurse talked to my doctor and she asked that I come in (again) and have my blood pressure taken. I went in and sure enough it was up again. (At least they didn't make me go to labor and delivery again!!!!!) I am not on bed rest until I go back to the doctor on Friday!!! That is not what I had hoped to hear, but I am hopeful that my pressure will go down and I will be allowed to go back to work next week. I don't think I can handle staying home, laying around on the couch for 2 months!!!!

Please keep our family in your prayers!!

28 Weeks

Things have been pretty steady and normal for us lately. Garrett continues to grow my leaps and bounds. He has reached a number of milestone. He can now sit up on his own for a little while before toppling over, he can sit in a big boy highchair (like at a restaurant), he wants to play with things in the tub, and...........his first tooth is coming in. It has actually broken through his gum and is now just coming up!!!!! Believe it or not, he doesn't mind the tooth thing. He isn't like most kids; he doesn't have a fever and isn't fussy. He likes to play with his little tooth nub with his tongue though. Tonight his shirt was so wet, it looked like we had poured water on it. I am not sure that he is swallowing any of his slobber!!!!

I am doing pretty well. I am beginning to have some yucky swelling in my feet, ankles and legs. Actually, I am not sure I have ankles anymore!!!! I about ready to break down and wear flip flops to work. I have 3 pairs of shoes I can get my feet in right now!!!! I went to the doctor today. She said everything appears to be fine. My blood pressure was a bit high, but not something for us to worry about right now. She told me some foods to avoid, but they are items I don't generally eat anyway.

Did you know that Baby Girl has a name????? Maybe I will let you in on that next week!!! I ordered her bedding tonight. I am anxious to get it, so I can take a piece of it and buy paint. The bedding is suppose to be in next week, so maybe I can get the painting done next weekend.

28 Weeks

~Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable!
~Hair on baby's head is growing longer. Some babies are born with almost none at all, while others appear to be ready for their first haircut!
~Eyes are completely formed now. Quite a view from inside!
~Your baby's body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester.
~Muscle tone is improving. Preparation for the Olympics feels like it is taking place in your womb!
~Lungs are capable of breathing now (but baby would still struggle and require medical attention if born now)
~Talk to your baby often, reading stories, singing songs and more. He or she can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later on!
~Your baby weighs in now at 2.2 pounds (1005gm) and is 14.8 inches (37.6cm).

Love to All!!!!