Last Appointments!

We have reached our last appointments!! Yesterday we met with the specialist and the baby is still growing and doing well. There is a great amount of fluid, but the placenta is starting to look pretty bad. This is one of the first signs that the baby isn't getting what he needs. But other than that, he is still a short round little guy!!

Today we had our appointment with my OB and it went great. He said that we have progressed enough to opt for the self induction. After talking about it and going over what the specialist said, we decided to go ahead with the induction. This coming Monday November 1st is the day. We have our appointment set up and we are ready. It doesn't feel real yet, but I am sure as time goes on, it will.

I know that we have made a decision that some people may not agree with, so I want to explain why we made the decision we did. Invitro babies rarely, very rarely make it full term (40 weeks), we have gotten lucky throughout the whole pregnancy. In fact, the babies are usually taken about 5 weeks early because they are not receiving the proper nutrition from the placenta. As the placenta starts to calcify (which is completely normal) it will progress quickly, resulting in taking the calories before the baby can get any. That process has started for us. It is very minor, but it is happening. Chris & I discussed all the options and asked about problems with the baby and the delivery. We believe that it is time to have the little man here. In a week, the placenta could be worse and the baby could be in danger. We don't want that to happen. We feel confident with our decision. Yesterday we were able to see the lungs working on the ultra sound. I hope that everyone will understand why we are bringing him into the world a few days before our due date and if you have any questions, please ask.

We are so excited to have our healthy short baby boy here and can't wait to share him with everyone!! Thank you for all the support over the last year! It has been amazing and we couldn't have made it without our wonderful family & friends!!

One week and counting!!!

Here we go! The last week!! If the little man isn't here by next Monday, he will be here hopefully Monday!! It has been adventure that we will never forget! From the meds to morning sickness to just being done! We have held on tight and enjoyed it and even hated it! We are ready for the next adventure of having our little man here!! Wish us luck!!

This pics was taken the day we had everything harvested! It seems like February was so LONG ago! And it was really only 40 weeks ago!! This was the "technical" day that we were considered knocked up, February 11th!

Progress!!

38 weeks and we have made progress!! Chris said my face was priceless when the doctor said I was dilated to a 2 and 80% thinned!!!! I didn't need to see my face, I could feel the smile!! Yippee!! So excited!! Things are going great! Weston is right around 7 lbs and moving great and the fluid is still going strong!! Per the "Bishops Scale" we are at a 7. When you reach an 8, Ogden Regional will allow us to do a elective induction. After talking to the doctor, the three of us have decided that if we haven't had Weston by November 1st, he will induce us! That is only 3 days before our due date. (I am hoping he comes on his own before.) We would love to have what we are calling a "Boo Baby", in other words, a Halloween baby!

Other than that, things are going great. I get no sleep, the heartburn is getting worse and I have had crazy spurts of energy. The weather has been great, so Gunner and I get out and walk once a day, not very far, but enough to move again! It's been great. Gunner has become my sidekick, always with me. I can't tell if he knows something is up or if he is protecting Weston already.

Gunner on my lap, right next to the baby. I have no lap left!

Here we go, well on our way!! I hope our next post is about Labor & Delivery!!

Have No Fear......

Stretch Mark Man is Here!!

He finally made it! In week 37 with 3 weeks to go, the stretch marks made their place on me. What can I say? Stretch marks and pregnancy just go together. Plus, I need the new beauty marks! You can never have enough!!

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!!