At Last...

Elias arrived Thursday, August 28, @ 3:55am.

He was 7lbs3oz & 18.75 inches long with a full head of hair! :)



We're doing great & in so much love!

Baby Update: 38wks (Still Knocked Up!)

Since I didn't get my post done in time, I thought I'd update a bit here. Can't upload pictures with our internet connection... so I'll add the fruit/veggie of the week later. I think it's a LEEK that Elias is now as long as.

Thoughts/Happenings:
** This week, we had a procedure performed to see if Elias's lungs were mature enough to induce labor a bit earlier than normal. Have I mentioned that the closer we get to his due date, the more overwhelming the anxiety I have about actually bringing home a live baby? I think I've cried at least once every single day since hitting the 37wk mark because I'm so nervous that something horrible will happen. Yes, it's irrational & illogical & probably unjustified... but I can't help it. I'm worried & stressed like nothing else. So, after discussing this with my OB, he agreed to induce if Little One's lungs were developed. Since we know his exact gestational age... I didn't think there would be any problems at all. Well, his quick results (on Wednesday) showed immaturity. At that point, they wait for an (almost) 48hr return test that *could* reflect lung maturity. Got the call this morning, that that test also agreed with his lungs not being mature. I was shocked. Still am. Oh, and even more nervous. The Specialist did say that we can safely assume if my body goes into labor on it's own, that his lungs should be fine by then. And, every day he's still "in the oven", his lungs get more & more mature. So, my next appt with my OB is Wednesday... a day after they'd induce any other patient... but, I obviously have reservations about it. I'm very much looking forward to being able to discuss all this with my OB. Oh, and my Fall semester starts back up Monday. This will be fun... and probably not possible.

** As of Tuesday, I hadn't dilated any more. I was still at 3cm, but 80% effaced & the baby was in "0" station. Progress on that front, at least. Still "any day now" mentality. Ha.

** I've had this whole week off from work. It has been nice, but I sure haven't felt much like doing anything. I have worked a bit in the office (umm, MAJOR work needs to be done in there... been putting it off) here & there. Rested plenty. I think I'm sleeping 9-10hrs/night plus naps. Got the animals to the vet today... three dogs + one cat for a 2hr vet visit + a 9mth pregnant woman. Not as bad as I imagined it may have been!! Smooth, actually. I've cleaned & cleared dishes every day, some laundry, cooked several nights (except for the night I'd been craving Mexican), & other piddling around the house. I'm sure there's more I can do & since Nick will have to work yet again tomorrow, Saturday, I'll be working around the house then, too.

** Hmm, not sure there's anything else I can think of to add? Oh, we went to triage twice in the last week. Last Thursday was because I thought my water might have broken. It hadn't, but we found out I was losing my mucus plug already. Sunday (early morning) was because I had an extremely intense pain that would not stop from about 1am to 2am... which we called the doula & headed to the hospital. It eventually went away & they monitored us for a while, but he was okay.

Cravings/Symptoms:
** Some discomfort @ night, when I have to roll over or change positions... other than that, I get very nice restful sleep. A bit of heartburn every now & then if I have soda, but I've cut out almost all of that... so it's not as often as before.

** Still lots of movement. Elias has permanently planted his backside on my left side & kicks like crazy on my right side. Lots. Especially during the procedure w/ the Specialist Wednesday. What a stubborn boy... so much like his Daddy already.

Hope to not have a 39wk update... unless it's got pictures of this boy outside the womb, but as long as he needs to stay in... we're okay with. I'll just be an emotional wreck that much longer worrying!!

Maternity Portraits Done!

Check out Amick's website to see our maternity pictures! :)

MATERNITY PORTRAITS

Been having contractions all weekend long, so we've got out fingers crossed to meet this little guy face-to-face soon!

Baby Update: 36wks (60% effaced!)

Yay! We've almost made it to full term. Only 1wk until Elias would be considered full term! We're truly in the homestretch!

According to the websites, Elias is over 18.5inches long & weighs almost 6.0 pounds (or the weight of a CRENSHAW MELON)!


Thoughts/Happenings:

** We had our maternity portraits shot this weekend. I'm very interested to see how they turned out & hope that we got several "favorite" shots. Our photographer is on vacation this week, so I think we'll have the edited photos in our hot-little-hands within 2 or 3 wks. We'll have them on CD/DVD with print rights, so we can print them @ our leisure & post them online no problems! :) AND, we've already set up a tentative newborn session by the end of September! Yay! {You must know that I will post some of the shots as soon as we get them!}

** I am officially heading to the doctor every week. Every Tuesday to be exact! My group B strep status: (still waiting on the call back from the doctor) ; my dilation/effacement status: 2-3cm/60%. Who knows how much longer we'll have? ;)

** Had some either fake (okay, I know they're technically Braxton Hicks) or real contractions last Thursday evening/Friday morning. Woke me up I was hurting so much. But, they went away. We can only hope they were a couple of "real" ones that are preparing my body for labor & delivery in the next couple of weeks!

** My last day of work before maternity leave (unless Elias comes earlier) will be August 14th. Our plans are for me to return to this current position at the beginning of January. That gives me about 4mths @ home with Elias, so we're very excited about that! :)

** Elias's hospital bag is packed... only thing to add later is when we get the "unborn child John" insurance card in the next week or so. Our hospital bag is pretty much packed. I'm sure I'll add more later, but we have the little toiletries, the Flip video camera, extra batteries, one change of clothes each... probably will add a robe & the computers on the way out. We can stay up to 48hrs following the delivery, but as little as 24-36 hrs be discharged. I think we're leaning towards the 24hr mark as long as the pediatrician clears Little One to head home with us!

** The carseat bases have yet to be installed, but the carseat + base are located in Nick's car. That's the one we'll plan to take to the hospital. Hopefully, we can have the carseat base installed & checked in the next week. Doesn't hurt to be as prepared as possible!

** Elias's room still has some work to be done, but not too much. I hope to make some room in his closet for his swing + bouncer, so that will be outta the way. His bassinet is already beside the bed & a changing table we were given is in our bathroom. A tight squeeze for sure, but we're hoping it'll help get us through the first couple of months as it has shelves for (lots of) extra diapers, wipes, outfits, & sheets. Once he outgrows the bassinet, I think we will move his playpen beside our bed until it's time to move him into this own room. Weird to think about even now.

Symptoms/Cravings:

** More heartburn every now & then, aching back during sleeping/rolling over, & lots of fetal movement! It's great!

** Still craving proteins... steaks/burgers, dairy... ice cream/milk/shakes.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!