Getting closer

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday.  Yesterday started my weekly appointments that include:  seeing the doctor, a non stress test, and a sonogram.  Joel went with me since we had a sonogram so he could see his little girl. 


36 1/2 weeks

Ainsley pointing to her baby sister (in her skin tight jammies!)

If you can believe it, I think my feel/ankles/calves are swollen more than they already were.  It's been pretty hard to be on them for very long this past week and I think I'm pretty much down to wearing tennis shoes (with the laces all the way loosened) from here on out.  Even flip flops cut into my feet to the point they hurt!

As soon as the nurse called me back into the room, she did everything she normally does...weighs me and takes my blood pressure.  I had gained a pound since my last appointment, and then we got to the blood pressure part...I've never had high blood pressure, even with Ainsley, so when she said it was 160/100 and was pretty high, I started to get worried.  That's one of the signs of preeclampsia (along with retaining water and protein in urine).  Of course, I'm retaining all kinds of water, so that was two strikes against me.  She had me lay down and then took it again a few minutes later.  It was then 150/86, which was still a little high.  I told her that when she took it the first time (right as we walked into the room) that I was having a little contraction, so I didn't know if that had anything to do with it.

The doctor came in and looked at my two blood pressure readings and had the nurse take it again at that point, and it was then down to 122/80.  They had also gotten my urine results back and there was a trace of protein in it.  ***Sigh***  So, Dr. Huston ordered blood work, and said he would have the results back today.  They called this afternoon and said that everything looked good.  He also asked if I had access to take my blood pressure over the weekend, and if I did, he wanted me to take it a few times to watch it.  He asked what I did for work, and wanted to make sure it wasn't anything too strenuous.  I wanted to tell him work wasn't the strenuous part.  Taking care of a 2 year old is the bad part!  His last remark was he wanted to see me back on Monday instead of waiting a week to see me again (in addition to keeping my regular weekly Thursday appointment). 

All of that happened and we hadn't even got to the non stress test or sonogram yet.  I was starting to wonder what news we'd get with those.  Thankfully, the rest of the appointment went smoothly.  The non stress test went good, as well as the sonogram.  Of course, we didn't get any good pictures of our precious little girl who likes to hide her face...just like her big sister.  But, we did find out they're estimating her at 6 pounds 5 ounces, which is in the 44th percentile.  She's already bigger than Ainsley was, and I can definitely tell.  There isn't much room left in my belly for her to get much bigger! 

I've been having contractions multiple times a day for the past week now.  It will only be one or two in a row, and it seems like they mainly happen at night.

My goal for this weekend is to get all the bottles washed and get our hospital bags packed.  Yes, I've waited until the last minute!

Funny story:  I got an email from one of my aunts last weekend (one of my Dad's sisters who will remain nameless).  As soon as I read it, I cracked up.  I seriously laughed every time I thought about the email for the rest of the weekend.  It also put a smile on my face all weekend.  The aunt that sent the email is the most like my Grandpa Gillespie in the bunch.  She tells it like it is, and I love it!  The email made me think of how much Grandpa would have loved to see all these great-grand babies.  He would have been calling me every day with a "Hi-ya Sis, had that baby yet?".  And, of course, would only talk for a few minutes before hanging up on you without so much as a "bye".  You knew he was done talking when you heard the dial tone on the other end of the phone!

So, back to the email,  here's an excerpt from it:  "NO OFFENSE, but I noticed in the photos, you're enormous!  And you should be, of course!"  I cracked up again just typing that!  I didn't take offense at all, but rather busted out laughing!  I know, and will be the first one to tell you, that I'm huge!  As soon as I read it, I immediately thought that would be something Grandpa Gillespie would have said to me.  Except, his would been more like: "DAMN, Sis!  Are you sure there's just one in there?"  after seeing me.  It's too bad that Ainsley and Lily didn't get to meet Grandpa, but I'm sure they'll hear plenty of stories about him growing up!