Forty Weeks

We did it.

We made it.

FORTY. WEEKS.

Say it with me, y'all: Eeeeeeek!!!!

Miss Reagan Elizabeth could literally come at any time now, and I know I, for one, am praying it's TODAY!  After spending all day (and I mean all day...4am to 9pm) yesterday pushing her butt and feet out of my ribs and feeling her pushing hard against my cervix, I am R-E-A-D-Y! lol

Now, time for our last Pregnancy Progress Update (sniff, sniff...)!

Symptoms:

-fatigue (I've been getting about 2-3 hours of sleep a night...ugh)
-restlessness
-nausea
-upset stomach
-increased aches and pains
-crampiness
-general feeling like I'm squishing her head when I'm sitting and like she's going to fall out when I'm standing/walking

Size of Baby:

Pumpkin (7-7.5 pounds and 19-21 inches...give or take)

Milestones/Happenings:

Our little Peanut's all done growing!  Her sole job right now is making her way down the birth canal...which is an impressive nine inches long from start to finish!  No wonder it takes these poor babies such a long time to come out, and why they're so exhausted once they finally do---that's quite the journey! lol

Belly Pic:

I wouldn't say The Bump is "bigger" this week, but I do feel a little bloated today, which may be noticeable in the pics.  I've managed, so far, to avoid the dreaded bloat/water weight throughout the last forty weeks...I sure hope I don't puff up like a poisoned puppy now! ;)

(Again, please ignore the lovely stripe down my side left from my shirt...I'm always all marked up in the morning time.)

Reagan also received her official Eviction Notice this morning...she's got until Monday morning at 3:30am to get out, or I'm gonna make her! Hahaha!

Well, I can't believe this is the last update I'll post while prego...but I do promise to keep posting about our little miracle and how God is continuing to use and bless us!  I may also be asking for New Mommy advice, so you guys please stay tuned so you can help a sister out! ;)

I plan on blogging sometime after we come home from the hospital (which I would imagine will be Wednesday evening) to share our birth story and a few pictures of Miss Reagan...but please don't be alarmed if I don't get a chance to post until a little later in the week once we get all settled!

As we prepare to end this chapter of our journey and begin another one, I can't help but stop and praise God again for His faithfulness, love, and mercy throughout this "trial" in our lives.  The Verse of the Day, James 1:2-4, says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." This is 100% true.  When I started out on this road to Mommyhood, I thought I had it all figured out.  Little did I know that God would use this intense desire to be a mother to test me, break me, and then remold me into the Christian (and future Mommy) He wanted me to be.  And little did I know that this would be the most amazing, life-changing experience of my life...but God knew.  It's funny how He always does!

So, even when things seem hopeless, or when you feel like giving up the fight, remember that God can (and WILL) use you and the trial you're going through (the trial He's specifically PLACED you in) to mature your faith, mold you, and use you for His glory!

Now, T minus thirty-eight hours left to go, then...

...LET'S GO HAVE A BABY!!! :)

Thirty-Nine Week Appointment

The verdict is in, folks...

...and we have some progress being made towards getting Miss Reagan here!  Yaaaaay!

Ok, so its not a lot.  But at this point, I'll take what I can get!  Beggars can't be choosers, right? ;)

Here's a quick little summary of today's visit, starting with the usual info...

-My blood pressure still a little higher for me this pregnancy (but "okay") at 135/84

-My weight has gone down some more since last week, putting my total weight gain at 17.5 pounds (like always, Dr S isn't concerned...and he said it's quite normal to lose a few pounds in the last few weeks because of fluid/hormonal shifts)

-He did measure my belly this week, which measured 34cm (an increase of 2cm in two weeks, so not too shabby).  Again, he's not concerned because everything else points to Reagan being a healthy-sized bambino.

-Baby Girl's heart rate was in the 120's-130's; I think she was sleeeeeeping, lol.

Ok, now for the good stuff!

-My cervix is 1cm dilated and 80% effaced (woohoo!!!!)

-Dr S tried to "stretch" my cervix a little while he was in there to get it to a solid 1cm since it's still moderately firm...hopefully this will encourage it to dilate a little more quickly!

-Miss Priss is at "-1 station", which is good because the scale goes from -3 (meaning her head is all the way up in the pelvis) to +3 (meaning you'd better be ready to catch her because she's coming out! lol).  So she's almost halfway through the birth canal---way to go little girl!

-Our induction is still set for next Monday morning, July 29th (we have to call at 3:30am to see if a bed is available).  Because I'm already dilated, he won't need to give me the Cervidil to ripen my cervix--we'll just skip straight to the Pitocin (IV medicine to make my uterus contract more regularly).  After I've dilated a little more, he'll break my water and then it'll (hopefully) be smooth sailing from there! Dr S said he plans to have a baby for us by the end of that day...EEEEEK!

That's pretty much everything in a nutshell!  The official countdown is T minus six days (well, five and some change, since it's evening time already...lol), but we're not completely ruling out the chance of her making her debut earlier than that!  I'll keep you all posted on any promising signs of labor (or if I actually DO go into labor), and if nothing happens by Saturday, I'll meet you back here for one FINAL Pregnancy Progress Update!

Before I go for the night, I wanted to share these Verse(s) of the Day that I posted on my Facebook page this morning as I was getting ready to go to my appointment.  Man, did they prove to be true! "All things are possible for those who believe." (Mark 9:23) "Nothing is impossible with God!" (Luke 1:37) I've said it before and I'll say it again: God is good ALL the time! :)

Thirty-Nine Weeks

T-minus seven days till our due date, people!! SEVEN DAYS!!

Even more exciting than that:  t-minus nine days till induction day (give or take depending on my progress and if there are any beds available that day)!  Woohoo!!  Who's excited?? This chick!!  And Reagan is, too, because she's dancing a little jig in there as we speak! lol

I can't believe this could potentially be my last Pregnancy Progress Update (if she were to come before her due date)...it's a little bittersweet! As much as I've enjoyed sharing this amazing journey with you all, I am MORE than ready to welcome Miss Thing into the world and start the journey of motherhood!   But don't worry, there will be plenty of posts regarding that journey, too--complete with pics of our munchkin! :)

So, let's see what Reagan's been up to since I left you last!

Symptoms:

-the usual (fatigue, restlessness, achy hips/back/thighs/hoo-hoo)
-shooting/jabbing round ligament pain (whether laying down or up moving around)
-decreased appetite (nothing sounds very good anymore! Boooo!)
-constant pressure in my lady parts (which is definitely intensified by exercising now)
-off and on cramping
-tightening contractions, which have gotten to be a little more painful over the last few days

Size of Baby:

Mini Watermelon (roughly 20-21 inches and 7-7.25 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

Peanut is steadily preparing for her arrival, making her way further down towards the cervix/birth canal.  She is still gaining little bits of fat every day, but for the most part, she's as big as she's going to be when she comes out!  While my baby apps say that movement slows down as she gets ready for her debut, I beg to differ.  I don't think anything can slow this little girl down!  Just when I think "hmm...she's been a little less active today", she reads my mind and gets things cranked up again!  She's already trying to prove her Mommy wrong...I'm in trouble, lol.

Belly Pic:

I think she may have dropped down a little more, because (to me) my belly looks like it's not quite as "full".  What do y'all think?  There's still no denying there's a big ole baby in there! lol

So, what's on the agenda for today?  Nada.  Nil.  Zip.  After trying to keep myself busy all week (with lunches out, a little shopping/errand-running, and exercising every day), I plan on doing nothing but relaxing all weekend.  Hopefully this relaxation will signal my body to kick this labor process into high gear!  (Hey, I can dream, can't I? ;) )

I'll keep you all posted on what Dr S says at our appointment this Tuesday (at 10:45am).  Please be praying for good news, continued health, and maybe a little extra stamina to get me through this last week!  As we near the end of this journey, this Verse of the Day is my motivation to keep on keepin' on!  "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)  I couldn't have done it without my faith in God, God's constant presence in my life, and all of the love and support from each and every one of you guys.  Thank you, all, for being a part of our journey!!  :)

Thirty-Eight Week Appointment...The Whole Shabang

Alrighty...a decision has been made, y'all!  Would anyone care to know what decision that might be?  I figured you might...;)

First of all, let me fill you in on how my appointment went yesterday.

I went in with a minor headache and just feeling "blah" (which I guess isn't that uncommon for a thirty-eight week pregnant chick, lol).  My blood pressure was 133/82, which is a little high for me, but Dr S didn't seem to think it was high enough for concern.  My weight had gone down since my last appointment (probably because I can't fit much food in this belly of mine anymore!), so my overall weight gain is at nineteen pounds right now, which isn't too shabby.  Again, he didn't seem concerned with this since Reagan is such a "healthy-sized" baby per the ultrasound.

Reagan's heart rate was a steady 140-150's and sounded beautiful...music to my ears!  Dr S didn't measure my belly this week because he said I measure small anyway, and since the u/s says she's growing appropriately, there's really no reason to.  His only real comment about her weight according to the u/s from last week was that 6.5 pounds is "average for her gestational age", so he isn't concerned that she's going to be too big or too small once she arrives.  He also mentioned again that it's just a rough estimate and can be off by a good pound or two either way.  Let's just hope she's not a 8.5 pound (or bigger) baby or she may not be able to fit through the exit that's been assigned to her! LOL

So then came the cervical check...ugh.  I'm getting more used to it, so it didn't hurt quite as badly, but it still wasn't comfortable either!  It seemed to me he didn't have to reach as far back as he did before, so I'm hoping that means my cervix has moved forward some (to an "anterior" rather than "posterior" position), but he didn't mention it if he noticed a difference.  My cervix is still closed but approximately 70% effaced ("thinned out").  He said it was difficult to give an exact measurement of effacement because he can't get his finger inside the cervix itself, but that's his guess.  Hey, it's better than nothing!

I went into this appointment hoping that I'd be at least thinned out enough for him to offer me an induction for next week.  Apparently, though, I was incorrect in my understanding of what a "favorable cervix" means.  It doesn't just mean "thin enough", but also soft and dilated.  Bummer.  So, in figuring this out, I realized I was going to go home with no end in sight...again.  And then came the tears.  I know, I know...but I couldn't help it!  I didn't bawl like a baby, but there were a few big fat alligator tears that rolled down my cheeks.  Ugh.  Hormones!!

Seeing this patheticness, Dr S said the words I've been dying to hear for weeks now: "I can see this has taken an emotional toll on you...so, if you were willing, I could put you into the hospital next week--when you're thirty-nine weeks--and try to induce you."  Say whaaaaaaat???!  I almost jumped off the table and hugged him, but since I was naked from the waist down, I refrained. lol

We talked about what this would entail (admitting me at night and placing a medication in my cervix to help it soften and dilate, then starting another medication in my IV the next morning to bring on contractions), and I told him that I would have to talk to the hubs because this was a big decision.  He said to go ahead and make my routine appointment for next Tuesday and then call if we decided to go ahead with the induction.  Needless to say, I left the office feeling pretty optimistic!  

Then...I talked to my husband.  He's the realistic thinker of the two of us.  He likes to have all the facts laid out and make an "educated decision", so I knew he'd want to ponder this option a bit.  He did a little research and we discussed all of the pros and cons associated with doing the induction this early and with me not being dilated at all (which increases the risk of a c-section by a lot).  In the end, and after lots of prayer, he confessed he just didn't feel comfortable with it at this time.  And since I feel that we should both feel at peace about something like this if it's the path God wants us to take, we decided to wait.  Yes, this made me a little sad.  Believe me, I am READY to have this baby!  BUT I couldn't shake the feeling that God was telling me "not now" through my husband.  And when God speaks, I listen! :)

Now, we weren't throwing the idea of an induction out the window entirely.  We just felt like God was telling us to wait just a little longer.  We both agreed to pray some more about it overnight and see where we felt led to go from here.  This morning, we made the compromise (after all, marriage is all about compromise, right??) to call and schedule an induction for the following week, which would put me at forty weeks.  I will keep my appointment for next Tuesday (at 10:45am), see what's happening in the land down under, and then adjust the scheduled induction date based off what my cervix is looking like.  If I'm dilated and it looks like I'm ready to go earlier, we may bump the date up and do it next week (which is a lot less risky, given that my cervix is changing on it's own already).  If I'm NOT dilated, we'll proceed with the prescheduled date.  We both feel like this gives my body another full week to make some change and prepare itself for labor a little more.  Not a bad compromise, eh? ;)

So, I called and talked to Katie, Dr S's nurse, and...we have a date!  EEEEK!  As it stands right now, if there is no change at my visit next week, I'll be admitted to the hospital Sunday night, July 28th, and we'll get this party started with the cervical medication.  If there IS a change (but not enough to bump the induction up to next week) I'll be admitted VERY early Monday morning, the 29th, and we'll skip straight to the IV medication.  How exciting is that???!  Ahhhhhh!!!

Of course, Miss Priss could decide to come on her own before then, which is absolutely fine by me! Heck, she can come tonight and I'd be happy as a clam! lol  I just feel better knowing that there's an end in sight and that we can be fairly certain (Lord willing) that she'll be here by the 29th!  That means only TWELVE days till we meet our baby girl!!  O. M. Geezers.

Well that's it--that's all my exciting news about our decision!  I'll be back Saturday for our usual Pregnancy Progress Update (the second to last one--gah!).  Till then, please keep those prayers coming!   We love you all, and we can't wait to share this amazing blessing with you guys!

Verse of the Day (which definitely helped to guide us in our decision making!): "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8)

(Side Note: Sorry if this sounds like a lot of rambling...I'm having a little trouble getting my words out in a coherent manner tonight.  Again, I blame hormones, lol.)

Thirty-Eight Week Appointment...Well, Sort Of

I know you guys are probably on pins and needles waiting to hear how our thirty-eight week appointment went yesterday...but you're just gonna have to wait a little longer! lol  Sorry, guys! ;)

Now, don't go worrying.  Everything is just fine!  But, based on yesterday's appointment, we have had some decisions to make, which the hubs and I are still in the midst of making...but things should hopefully be decided by later today, and I promise to fill you all in as soon they are!

Please be praying for God's guidance and peace...after all, we only want what's in His will for us! Thanks, y'all!  :)

Thirty-Eight Weeks

T-minus fourteen days till my due date, people...fourteen days!

Major eek moment!!  

I can't believe we're this close to finally meeting our little girl...and yet it still seems so far away because we don't know exactly when she'll arrive!  I think not knowing and the anticipation of my water breaking or serious contractions starting makes the days drag by much more slowly.  I wish she'd just make an appointment already so Mommy and Daddy can have a proper countdown! ;) 

So, what's going on in this womb of mine?  Let's take a peek...

Symptoms:

-fatigue (I have been super lazy this week and only worked out twice...the majority of the rest of my days have been spent on the couch resting up)

-restlessness (this hasn't been nearly as bad this week...I have actually gotten a few nights of pretty decent sleep!)

-itching/burning skin (I feel like my skin is on fire and will rip open at any minute---whew!)

-shooting pains in my cervix (maybe she's moving down a bit more?? PLEASE say yes! lol)

-shooting pains in my hips/groin/thighs (I'm assuming this is round ligament pain from the pressure her big ole noggin is putting on my pelvic area)

-more sensitive tahtah's

-(TMI ALERT!) a few white/stringy pieces of discharge in my urine earlier in the week, and then a small amount of what looked like old blood Wednesday night (could this possibly be part of my mucous plug?? Praying so!)

-frequent urination...duh (lol)

Size of Baby:

Pumpkin (around 20 inches long and 6.5-7 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

Our chunky monkey is still gaining weight...about half an ounce a day!  Although she's getting bigger and making her way further down into my pelvic cavity, her movements haven't slowed down as much as I thought they would.  I haven't noticed as much hand/arm movement above my pubic bone, but she still kicks her legs and wiggles her booty like she's in a dance audition!  Sometimes my hubs and family get to hear the "serious" conversations that ensue when she goes bonkers in there...such as, "Reagan! Honey! Pleeeeease don't hurt Mommy!" or, "It's coming, baby girl!  I'm trying to get the food to you as quickly as possible!  Be patient!"  If you're wondering the same thing they do when they hear these convos, the answer is NO, she doesn't listen to me.  Miss Priss sure is a stubborn little booger! lol

Reagan's lungs are actively secreting surfactant, which is the substance that will help her to breathe on her own once she's born.  She's been practicing her breathing technique for a while now, which (believe it or not) I can actually feel/see at times!  How amaze-balls is that?!  

She is still shedding that cheesy coat (vernix) and furry coat (lanugo) she's been wearing to keep her warm while she bakes.  She'll swallow these particles along with the amniotic fluid and it will all come out as part of the super sticky/tarry first poo (meconium) she'll grace us with shortly after birth. Exciting stuff, huh? lol

Belly Pic:

I wouldn't necessarily say the belly has gotten bigger this week, but it does seem to change shape on a daily basis based on how Peanut has her legs/butt positioned.  Today, I feel like she's laying with her back against the front of my stomach and her legs tucked up underneath her, so you may notice that The Bump looks "fuller" up top.  By later today, she'll probably turn to the side and stretch her legs out into my ribs, which will make it look flatter and like she's "dropped" more.  Go figure!

I've been on stretch mark alert for a while now, especially since my belly started to fill out more in the last couple of months.  I am totally convinced that I have a few small, flesh-colored marks to the left of my belly button that connects the dark lines above and below it.  I really have to be in the right light to be able to see them, but I swear they're there.  My husband and mom both think I'm nuts and can't see them, no matter which way I twist and turn.  Oh well.  As frustrating as it is to me to think that I made it this far and then BAM, here come the stretch marks, I guess I should consider myself quite lucky if this is as bad as they're gonna get!  Not to mention, I know it'll be totally worth it once I hold this little girl in my arms, and I bet the thought of a few tiny scars will be long gone!

Now...what to do, what to do...?  I'm still not feeling very energetic, so I have a feeling I'll spend a good part of the day (and weekend, for that matter) just laying around.  I've gotta be rested and ready in case Reagan decides to grace us with her presence, right? ;)

My next appointment with Dr S is at 9:15am on Tuesday, so be looking for an update sometime that day (or Wednesday, in case I get side-tracked)!  Please keep those prayers coming, y'all!  God is in control!

Verse of the Day:  "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) 

Thirty-Seven Week Appointment

Well, guys...still no sign of Baby Reagan coming any time soon.

Bummer.

She's still in there, cozy as a clam, and my cervix is still closed (although maybe "slightly thinned"...Dr S said it's hard to tell when it's closed).  He could feel her head, but it's still higher up.  In his words, "all this pain/pressure and minor contractions you're having aren't cutting it apparently, so we just have to pray for them to get a lot more painful and stronger to get things moving".  As cray cray as it may sound, I agree!  Bring on the pain---as long as it's productive!  I've had enough of this "pain but no gain" nonsense! lol

Dr S actually wasn't planning on checking me at all today.  I guess this is because I hadn't complained of a lot of contractions or anything.  When the nurse, Katie, put me in the room to wait for him, I noticed she didn't ask me to disrobe for an exam.  My husband said he thought he probably wouldn't check me since everything seemed to be okay for now, which (I'm ashamed to say) brought on the tears.  I said, "Oh no sir.  I'm getting checked.  It's been twelve days now.  I want to know what's going on.  He's checking me."  (Yeah, I know.  I'm a nut job right now.  Hoooooormooooones! lol.)  But by the time Dr S came in, I had dried my tears and was able to calmly ask him to check my cervix so I would have some sort of idea what was going on down there.  Thankfully, he obliged without hesitation, which spared me another meltdown...I just wish he could've lied to me or something to give me a little hope! Hahaha! Just kidding.  But I am glad he went ahead with the exam, because, in my opinion, it's actually better to know there's no change rather than sit around and wonder!

He also measured my belly again, which was only 33cm this week, whereas last week it was 34cm.  He said this could be due to her dropping a little further down, or it could be due to low amniotic fluid or a problem with her growth.  So he ordered an ultrasound to check things out.

Everything turned out just fine with the u/s...a little too fine, actually.  This little Peanut is definitely not having problems growing---she's already 6 pounds, 9 ounces!!  Gaaaah!  There goes my theory that she'll be about 6.5 pounds when she's born! lol Needless to say, this freaked me out a little.  I mean, don't get me wrong.  I'm so grateful she's healthy and growing!  But she's obviously not coming out any time soon, which means she'll just continue to grow and bake away in there...and where am I going to fit another pound or two of baby?!  Good lawd!

According to the measurements, I'm 36w6d, which isn't that far off from my due date.  The amount of fluid around her looks to be sufficient.  I suppose the only explanation for my belly measuring smaller is that I just that I have NO room left!  My uterus itself has hit it's maximum growth potential, but Reagan somehow continues to get bigger! That means my baby girl is all squished in there...poor thing.  I vote we go in and get her out so she can stretch out and grow all she wants without restrictions---what do y'all think??? Hehehe.

Now, Dr S wasn't in the room when the tech did the u/s, but I'm sure he'll look at the report some time today to make sure it all looked okay.  I'm not expecting a call or anything, and I really have NO CLUE what he'll say at my appointment next Tuesday.  Will he opt to let me go another week or two and then get her out before she gets too big for me to push her out?  I don't know.  If I'm being honest, I pray this is what happens! lol  But I have to be realistic and keep telling myself he'll probably make me go the distance and see what happens...(sigh).

As difficult as it is for me to think about having to wait another (possibly) three to four weeks to meet her (and to think about being as uncomfortable as I am for that much longer...ugh), I do have to praise God for a healthy, chunky little baby that's continuing to thrive!!  I have to remind myself that His plan is better than any plan I could dream up for myself, and worrying about what's going to happen only means that I'm not fully trusting in His perfect plan.  How could I possibly get this far down this path and then start to let me trust slip??  That's right---I can't!  So I'm choosing to focus on Matthew 6:34, which says, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of it's own."  I just have to take it one day at a time and count the blessings that each day brings.  And who knows, tomorrow may bring a baby! ;)

Thirty-Seven Weeks

I know it seems I'm always late on my posting lately, but I promise this time I have a good excuse!  

My parents came for last one "pre-Reagan visit" this weekend--yaaaaay!  They arrived very late Friday night and left earlier today, so it was a quick trip, but totally worth it.  It was nice to just lay around, relax, and talk about the joy of what's to come soon...man, do I love those people! :)

Now, time for a little update on baby girl!  We've finally hit thirty-seven weeks, which is considered "full-term" in the world of OB---woohoo!  That means that she could come any day now!  Gaaaah!!!

Symptoms:

-fatigue (not quite as bad the last day or two...I managed to catch a few good hours of sleep and have found a mysterious burst of energy...PTL!)
-cramping/back pain (this comes and goes and hasn't been as frequent as in the last few weeks)
-sharp pains..."down there" (sorry---TMI, I know.  But it feels like she's ramming her head against my cervix, and it's definitely enough to stop me dead in my tracks! lol)
-stuffy head/runny nose/sore throat (I think that pesky cold finally got the best of me on Wednesday...but praise God it's almost completely done already!)
-achy legs/thighs/butt
-feeling quite "calm" the last few days (maybe this is due to me just feeling better physically, or maybe it's just God answering my prayers for peace and comfort, but I feel a lot more at peace about awaiting Miss Reagan's arrival!)

Size of Baby:

Leek (or a head of celery...about 19-20 inches long and 6.5 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

Although her major growth spurt is over, Reagan will still continue to gain somewhere around half an ounce of fat a day (so almost a quarter of a pound a week).  She's slowing down and saving up her energy for the Big Day, although she still has her moments of rebellion where she tries to escape through my sides and/or rib cage.  I have to keep reminding her that the exit is the OTHER way...I'm hoping she catches on soon! lol

She's been lying with her back/hiney on my right side and feet on my left since our last u/s (so thirty-two weeks), but yesterday she decided to make the flip over to the left.  As you can imagine since there's very limited room in there, this flip was quite painful, but also kind of interesting to watch.  My mom got a laugh out of feeling her constant wiggling, pushing, and kicking until she finally got comfy again...and then give herself the hiccups, lol.  She said she's never seen/felt a baby move so much inside someone; I guess baby girl just likes to show off already! ;)

Belly Pic:

Every time I think I'm out of room in the ole' Womb Inn, she seems to prove me wrong and grow just a little more.  My guess now (based on the size of my belly) is that she'll come out weighing some where around six and a half pounds and measuring at least twenty inches or so (I was a long kid, too, lol). So basically, about the size she is now, give or take a few ounces/inches.  If she's any bigger than that, I'll be flabbergasted, because there is no way I can be hiding an eight pound munchkin in there! lol

Well, that's all for today!  Time to go enjoy the rest of this rainy day watching a movie with my fab hubby and kitty-boy (and Peanut, of course--can't forget her ;) )!  I'll be back on to update you guys about my appointment on Tuesday.  Please be praying for continued good health for us both and a promising report from Dr S!

Today's Verse of the Day is probably a repeat, but it's one of my faves, so it's worth using again! Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Even though we don't know what these next few days or week might hold, I'm going to keep trusting that my God does.  And I have a feeling it's going to be even more spectacular than we could ever imagine!  I can't wait!! EEEK!!!

Thirty-Six Week Appointment

Well y'all, I've officially hit that point in my pregnancy.  You mommies out there know exactly what I'm talking about.  That point when you realize...

...this child is never coming out!!  

She has set up camp in there, is roasting marshmellows, and is determined to live in the warmth of my womb forever.  (Deep sigh)

Okay, I know...I'm being a little dramatic, lol.  But after my appointment with Dr S this morning, I am just sure I'm going to be prego forever!  

Maybe I should give you a little summary of the visit so you know why I say that:

-My blood pressure is still excellent (113/74), and weight has kind of stalled but is still acceptable (I've gained 19 pounds so far).

-Reagan's heart rate sounded fab at 136 bpm, which increased to 149 when my stomach started growling and it woke her up, lol.  They always like to see a good acceleration (increase in heart rate with movement), so that was a plus.

-My uterus is measuring 34cm, which is down from the 35cm that it was measuring when I went in for my surprise visit last Thursday.  Dr S isn't TOO concerned about this because she's been measuring a little behind for a while now, but he said we'll "keep an eye on it" at my next few appointments.  If he's increasingly concerned, they will more than likely do an u/s to check on how big she's looking.

-My cervix wasn't checked again because it was just checked on Thursday, which really didn't surprise me.  The cramping/back pain that I was having has really died down a lot, so the only "contractions" I've been having frequently are Braxton Hicks.  But he will recheck me next week to see if there's been any change.  My lady parts were actually grateful for this break in probing, to be quite honest (lol).  

-I asked about when he would induce me if there was nothing happening down there by the time my due date rolls around, and he said (this is the depressing part) that he would have me wait until FORTY-ONE weeks to be induced if there was absolutely no change in my cervix by then.  Waaaahhhh!!!  I know that's only one week past my due date, but it seems like an eternity from now!!! lol  

-The decent part of his answer was that if there WAS a change in my cervix (meaning if I were dilated a little, my cervix was softened, or was thinning out), then he would offer an induction sometime around thirty-nine weeks.  Okay, that doesn't sound so bad, right?  I can handle that.  But then he followed it up with, "I'd say count on going past your due date though...that way you're not disappointed when thirty-nine weeks and then your due date passes by".  Well, poo.  Poo, I say.  Way to build up a gal's hopes and dreams and then smash them to pieces, Doc! LOL 

So, that's pretty much the gist of it.  I know it doesn't sound like that bad of news, but when you're thirty-six and a half weeks pregnant, tired, cranky, and ready to just meet your baby girl already, it's definitely not the news you'd like to hear--that's for sure! ;)

But with all that said, you know what?? I'm still pregnant with a healthy little girl, still healthy myself, and still super blessed!!!  There's nothing I can do now but stay optimistic (I know it doesn't sound like it from this post, but I'm trying! lol), keep praying, continue to take care of myself and Miss Peanut, and wait on her much-anticipated arrival!  So that's what I'm gonna do! :)

And what better way to stay focused on these goals than by reciting some amazing scripture!  Today's Verse of the Day couldn't be more perfect: "Do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; surely I will help you; surely I will hold you up with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)  God doesn't always promise it'll be easy, and He doesn't promise it'll happen on our time table, but He DOES promise to be there, to strengthen us, and to hold us up when we're weak!  Amen!!