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Not in labor, waiting for blood work to come back. Most likely dehydration.

!

Just got to d town hospital. Not Sure what's going on. Ashley has extreme abdominal pain. Waiting for the midwife to arrive to figure out if we are having this baby or not. If we are we will most likely be transferred to CHOP.

Could be anything though. Dehydration was one thing they said.

Will see where this takes us. ..

34 Weeks

This morning we had our CHOP appointments.  Everything remains the same with the baby's heart and baby's growth is great!!  I was so thrilled that the baby is weighing 5lb 1oz.  Around this time in my pregnancy with Owen he was only weighing about 3lbs.  This is the point in my pregnancy with Owen that they told us they may need to take him early, because he wasn't growing enough.  Owen was 5lb 7oz at birth, so only 6 more oz and this little porker with be what Owen was at birth.  The baby put on 2 lbs since our last appointment at CHOP which was only 4 weeks ago.  If the baby continues to grow at this rate I could have  a 7-8lb babe. 

Silly little one was sucking on the placenta!  Love my bug!!

Yesterday Owen would have been 1 1/2 years old!  Sweet boy sure is missed!!!

33 Weeks

On Monday was my last appointment with my Midwife.  My care has officially been transferred to CHOP.  That means we are getting close to meeting this little one!!  Everything is looking good.  I am starting to feel a little uncomfortable.  My sciatic nerve has been giving me alot of pain every once in awhile.  The pain comes and goes.  When it flares up I can't even move.  On Monday at my appointment the midwife said the baby is not head down.  Hopefully baby decides to move into the correct position for birth!  It is hard to believe that baby is considered full term in a short 27 days!  My days have been flying by.  I have been keeping very busy and nesting like crazy.  The sunny warmer weather we have had the past two days have helped me keep motivated.  Every single drawer, cabinet, closet, rubbermaid bin is organized.  It feels so good to be going through everything and getting rid of stuff and just having a super organized house.  Although, if you know me I am always like this.  It's not just because I am nesting it is the normal me on overdrive.  haha!  I am getting anxious for next weeks appointment at CHOP to see how big baby is.  I feel like the baby is deffinately growing as am I.  Most of my clothes are getting a bit tight.  I hate to buy any new clothes this far in my pregnancy.  The next thing I need to work on is packing my hospital bag and a bag for the Ronald McDonald house.  I typed up a list and have been making a pile of things that I want to pack so it really shouldn't take long.  I just need to wash my summer clothes and figure out what I will be able to wear after baby is born. 

I got a letter and grieving book in the mail from the funeral home for Owen's soon (a little over a month) to be one year in heaven.  UGH!  Like I needed a reminder?!!?!  I just threw it in the trash.  I must say though that I am so blessed to have a little one growing in my tummy.  Although, it doesn't take the pain away one bit.  It just helps a LITTLE to take my mind off the fact that we have just about lived our lives for a year without our little man in our arms.  Not a day goes by that we don't miss Owen.

3/25 Update on Babe

As some of you may know we went to CHOP this morning for appointments.  A growth ultrasound, echocardiogram & a midwife appointment for me.  Baby is growing beautifully and is weighing 3lb 3oz and is measuring 29w4d.  The baby has been measuring 4 days small since the beginning of this pregnancy and based on when I think I got pregnant the baby is measuring exactly on!  The baby is head down and had it's legs up over it's head for the ultrasound.  The doctor said we have an acrobat.  Man oh man all I can say is I could tell the baby has been doing some crazy things in my uterus.  Not all of the movements I have been feeling have been too pleasant.  Some have been quite painful at times.  Haha silly little one!  We didn't get to see our usual cardiologist as she was out on vacation, but the cardiologist today said that the baby's pulmonary stenosis looks moderate to him and Dr. Natarajan originally said it looked severe to her.  With that said I am not sure if this is just a difference on the doctors opinions or if the baby's heart is a bit better.  Although, the cardiologist did say that the baby would be born stable.  Which is always a good thing to here.  The plan is the same with this babe as it was with Owen and his birth.  As soon as baby is born they will start the baby on prostaglandins (This is a medication that is given to keep the baby's ductus open.  The ductus typically closes within the first 24 hours of birth and it could be severe if this would close) and then do their work up.  An echo, CT scan & possibly a heart catherization.  It will then be decided if baby needs any repairs on it's heart or if some or all of the repairs can wait until the baby is a bit older.  I was a bit nervous to meet with the midwife & OB today only because this is the first they are seeing my liver function & coagulation bloodwork, I knew that they all came back normal, but some of my liver functions were on the low normal side & I was ever so slightly concerned that for some reason they would want me to deliver the baby at Penn instead of CHOP.  Needless to say they were happy with my bloodwork results and I will be delivering this babe at CHOP.  Yay!!  The next time we go to CHOP I will be 34 weeks...  and then they are going to be wanting this baby out i'd imagine.  I know that is when they started getting aggressive about wanting Owen out.  Although, unless there is a specific & really good reason that this baby should be born earlier then 37 weeks I will not be letting them take the baby that early.  We are already on agreement that they let me get to 40 weeks before an induction would take place.  I know I keep saying it, but this baby is going to be here sooo soon!!  The weeks are flying by!!!!!!  I am getting very excited to meet and love on this little one!!!  The thought of having a newborn in the house again makes me giddy.  I spent a good portion of this week getting the baby's room together.  I feel like things are starting to come together more and more for this baby's arrival.  I still have a bunch to do, but most of it I feel like I should wait until I am like 35 weeks to start doing or I will feel like I have to do it over again. 

As always thank you everyone for praying for this little one!!

Bloodwork Results

All of my bloodwork results finally came back.  I was a bit anxious to what they may reveal.  Everything looks good they are all in the normal range!  Praise God!  They said I am a bit anemic which would explain the reason why I feel like I need a nap on a daily basis and if I don't get one I am ready for bed by 7:30.  I am thinking I may start taking some iron supplements.  They can't hurt, right? 

I have been keeping myself very busy the past 2 weeks or so.  I'm actually feeling more motivated or trying to keep myself motivated.  I must admit it is hard at times.  I am just about finished all of the sewing projects that I wanted to get done before baby comes.  I made the baby a quilt, a banner with my little loves name on it, and a monogrammed onesie and I am happy with how everything turned out.  I wish I could share pictures of all my sewing projects, but then you would all know what we are having and what the baby's name is!  I guess you will just have to wait until baby is using/wearing everything.  It won't be long...  I must be honest I am getting very excited to have a newborn around again...  We have something on our calendar just about every weekend between the beginning of April until May 13th!  Then, the baby will be here!  YAY!

Glucose Test

On Monday I have my 28 week midwife appointment.  28 weeks!!!  I am offically in my third trimester.  How did we get here?  I know I am only technically only 27 weeks still, but this pregnancy is FLYING by and I am pretty sure I am the only one that thinks this.  I keep telling that baby that it needs to hang on until May 12th, then after that the baby can come whenever it wants.  Hopefully soon after so that they don't have to induce me.  That is the last thing I want!!!  On Monday I have my glucose test at my midwife they do things a bit differently.  I am not allowed to eat any sugar or fruit for 3 days prior to my blood draw and then eat 18 jelly beans one hour before they take the labs.  So needless to say I am ready for Monday to get here so I can eat sugar again.