Week Number 37

Here we are, 3 more weeks to go. It is amazing how long 40 weeks can go by and also how slow they can go by. In the process of those 40 weeks a woman's body goes through alot.

• Morning sickness
• So very very tired
• Eating constantly and then not eating at all
• Crying all the time
• Laughing at the insane moments
• Constipation
• Heartburn lava flowing in your throat
• Stomach stretching to the max - and then stretching some more
• Gagging and the dry heaves
• Gas (am I the only one that has a crazy amount of gas? Sometimes I am embarressed to be in public and then I don't care!)
• Sleepless nights
• Anxiety - about everything!!
• Weight gain
• Sugar issue - this has been mine. Passing out and being dizzy, very common for me in the last 3 weeks. I no longer drive if I don't have to, to risky
• Braxton Hicks and contractions

The list goes on. I will admit, I have not enjoyed being pregnant. But I will admit that creating a miracle inside of me and helping it grow, I would never ever change!! I know that we are blessed to have a baby of our own. Without the medical science (and God who put those people here) we wouldn't be having our own children. I thank the Lord everyday for that!!

Anyways......Week 37 checkup. Everything is A-ok! The heart rate is doing well and the fluid is doing great. I think the doc was suprised that we still have a lot of fluid in there. We go back next week for the fun to begin. He will check me again to see if we have dialated and will also strip my membranes if everything looks good. I am pushing for an October baby. We will see if the doc helps me out on this one. I am still having contractions. They vary from 3 to 10 an hour for a couple hours, then they are gone. They have become more and more painful and I have a constipated look on my face while I am having one. Chris laughs, it's not funny! I should have him take a picture though. Ah, memories!!

Specialist appointment

Our appointment with the specialist got bumped to today, he had double bookings next week. Everything went excellent, depending on who you ask, me or the doc!! LOL!! Baby (Weston, I still can't say it out loud, wierd) is doing great. He is still a short stalky baby with a budda round belly!! Can't wait to see him!! He is growing exceptionally well considering he is an IVF baby. He weight about 6lbs, give or take a few ounces. With his measurements it pushed the due date back to November 13th. Thank Goodness the doc won't let me go over that long!! The specialist thinks that we will make it full term. If the little guy hasn't gotten here by week 39 we go back to double check everything and also if the stress tests stay normal. If at anytime the stress test shows anything bad, back to the specialist we go. So - week 40 here we come!! I can make it to November 4th!! (But I have my fingers crossed behind my back that we have him around Halloween!)

36 Weeks

Here we are, 4 more weeks to go! Yippee!! The journey has been a blast with alot of "wtf" and "that was amazing", but we are ready for the next part, having him here!! As you all already know because of facebook, his name shall be Weston Christopher Remkes.

I started to have contractions on Sunday night and they have been on and off ever since. Nothing serious. At the doc today they performed another stress test, which will happen every week until he arrives, everything looks great. His heartrate was study in the 150's but did drop to the low 120's when I had a contraction. They said not to be alarmed and to keep on eye on the kick counts and how many contractions I have. The fluid pockets are getting smaller, but not to be worried yet.

We have another appointment with the specialist next Tues to double check everything once again. Since I can be considered "high risk", if I haven't gone into labor by week 39, the doc said he would start me to make sure the baby was ok. If this happens, he will start me on November 1st.

Until then, I don't have any restrictions, just live my life and enjoy it until the baby gets here. My stats this week pretty good. I have gained 29 pounds throughout pregnancy, this does not include what I gained while going through the IVF, my blood sugar has been bouncing around like crazy (some of you witnessed me passing out, sorry) I have to have juice or sugar candy on me at all times just in case and everything else is normal. No water retaining, not one stretch mark (keep your fingers crossed), but I sound like a beached whale rolling over in bed!! HA!!

34 Weeks

Today was our appointment for our first stress test. It was simple. I got to sit in a recliner with my feet up and try not to fall asleep. That was the hardest part, not falling asleep. The picture below is the monitor on my belly. The test on the right is listening to the heartbeat and the one on the left listens for any contractions.

No contractions were dedected and the heartbeat was strong. Our little boy was lazy and sleeping, so the doc had to give him a jump start and he started moving like crazy and his heartbeat went up. Crazy!!

Tomorrow we will be at 34 weeks. The doc told me today that if I go into labor, he will not stop it. So, here we go! We are in the last 6 weeks and its up to my body, the placenta, the fluid and how the baby does!! Let's keep our fingers crossed he cooks fast just in case he needs to come early. Placenta - you better behave yourself! No stealing calories!!

PS - Chris has hit the freak out point!! I giggle alot at him now!!

Almost 33 weeks

We had our appointment with our specialist today, so far so good. YEAH!! We did find out that he is weighing about 4lbs 6 oz, moving on up. With the size he is measuring at, the due date was pushed to November 9; please don't let me go that long!! They also let us know that he is following his parents footsteps, he will have our heigth, that means small legs and short. Other than that everything is working exactly how it should. No placenta problems and plenty of food. We have to start our stress tests next week with our normal doc. The tests are simple and only take a small amount of time to complete.

In 4 weeks, if the kiddo hasn't arrived, we will have to go back to the specialist to make sure that everything is still good. If things aren't good, that will be the factor that pushes early labor. At that time we will be over 35 weeks and that is where our doc wanted us. The specialist also said to plan on a small baby. You got it!! (And my wohoo Thanks you!)

PS - Really, only 7 weeks until he is here!! That means the Holidays are right around the corner!! Anyone up for Christmas shopping?? I am!

32 Week Update

Holy Cow! 32 weeks!! Here we go! This is the only pic I have, we were in Yellowstone over Labor Day and Chris took this one.In the last 2 weeks I have gained 4 more pounds! High five for me!! I am up a total of 25 pounds and loving it, lol! The "boy" is face up and the doc said that is why my back hurts. When the baby is face down there is not as much stress on the back. I pulled a round ligament in my right leg the other night. That was so not fun. For about 4 hours I could stand up or walk. Chris was my knight in shining armour and took care of me!


We head back to the specialist next week to mnake sure the growth and development of the baby and placeneta are on track. We will then probably start doing stress tests once a week. The stress test will monitor the heart rate of the baby for an hour to make sure he isn't stressed. If at any time they feel like he is in stress and not gaining weight, we will be induced and have him early. So far, things look great and that shouldn't happen. As long as we make it to October, we should be in the clear. So for now - I sit and finish things up around the house in moderation. I can't just sit, but I have been!

Knee, Elbow, Fist

I am minding my own business and BAM! Knee, elbow, fist! It is the most bizarre feeling! Some of these ninja moves take my breath away, others hit my nerves in my hips and I hit the floor, and the others ones, I see his body parts coming out of my stomach. So bizarre!! His newest and greatest, I lay on my side and he starts kicking me in the side. So wierd!!