I’m happy to say that I got to leave my urine sample in the back BIG bathroom at the dr’s office today!  Whoot!  (if you’re going what in the heck is she talking about, see this post )  Cervix numbers were down a tad from last week, at 16-18mm, but not drastically, so that’s good.  My doctor is still very hopeful that continuing on w/ the brethine will help keep contraction levels down, and more low restriction & rest will get us through the next 6 weeks (at minimum).. She was very glad to see little man is still active & strong as ever, moving lots, steady & strong heartbeat.  Next week will be my final cervix check, but they will still be seeing me for weekly appointments.  If the cervix does continue to decrease, she may not be able to tell of anything alarming because that should naturally start to happen as I get further along.  She will however, be doing another fetal fibronectin test.

I have to say, I truly love my doctor.  She takes times to answer all of our questions, and really explains what she’s doing, etc.  Often times those are qualities hard to find w/ busy doctors, so I’m always impressed w/ her dedication to her patients.. In my oldest daughter’s words, “You rock” Dr. D!

I’m happy to report that the results from the test yesterday were negative.. Good news, considering the chances of going into labor w/in the next week or two are small..

And a 30 week belly pic..

Check up this morning.. Saw my dr and she is happy that the contractions have slowed, however still advised more bedrest, as well as continuing on w/ the medications. I then had a cervix check and the length wasn’t showing what we’d hoped for. It was around 18-20mm today, so we’re almost wondering if the sonogram done last week while I was still in the hospital was accurate or not. They measured it at 29-30mm, so that seems to be a bit high compared to the day before and then today. Hmm… My dr also did a test (fetal fibronectin) to detect the percentage of pre-term labor risk. If it comes back positive, there is a 16% chance I could go into labor w/in the next two weeks. If it comes back negative, then there is a good chance that it won’t happen in the next two weeks. So, in other words, we’re still being very cautious in trying to make sure we can get some more weeks into this pregnancy, so baby boy has more time to grow & become stronger.

On a much lighter note.. I’m sure many of you will be nodding your head along to this, some (hopefully) will get a good laugh, and some, well, some might find it just wrong that I blog about such things.. Ah well, such is life! lol While I know it’s completely normal & understandable to have to leave a urine sample at the doctor’s office, but wow.. Does it really have to be such a challenge? The bathroom at my dr’s office is about 2ft by 2ft.. No joke. It’s tiny. So tiny that you have to take your purse off your shoulder to even barely get the door closed. By far smaller and most likely 1/2 the size of a standard public restroom stall. Yep, very small. So picture yourself in this itty bitty space, pregnant at that, and leaving a urine sample becomes quite a comedic routine straight out of a sitcom episode. At least at the hospital they give you a nice little “catch cup” type of contraption. Not at our office though.. Back to the theme of very small, the cups are quite possibly the smallest that Dixie cup makes. So if you’re actually able to “catch” your sample in your thimble sized cup, you’re doing good, but the fun isn’t quite over. Now comes the task of balancing that cup, then taking a Sharpie and writing your name on it. That’s a task as well. Then in standard fashion comes the awkward moment in which you have to open the little trap door to set your sample inside, and you quickly say a prayer that there is not a hand a few short inches away at the very same moment. Be careful though, you don’t want to jeopardize spillage and have to start the process over. So, it’s literally a quick set it down and get out! Whew! You did it! You avoided that extremely awkward chance of “meeting” another hand. Whew… big relief. Wash your hands and get the heck out of dodge.. Yep, all in a day’s visit. I can’t help but laugh each & every time..

Whew, and what a week it’s been!  Started off mostly like the norm, but at my checkup Tuesday morning, my dr found that my cervix had gone from w/in normal ranges 29-30mm down to 14-15mm… So, drastically lower, and of much concern for my dr.  They put me on the stress test monitors and found that I was having contractions as well.  Still very concerned, they sent me over to the hospital for monitoring & medication to try and stop the contractions.  Erik met me there, and wheeled me in..  I was hooked up to the monitors and an iv (ugh, is there anything worse than 4 tries to get an iv in?  ack!)  The good news was that baby boy seemed to be doing quite well in there, and still crazy as ever w/ movement, and a super strong heartbeat.  He was moving so much that the nurses kept having to come and constantly adjust the monitor because it kept losing track of his heart rate.  They did end up finding that aside from being a little dehydrated (hence the non-existing vains in my arms for the iv tries), I also had a bad bladder infection.  My dr is fairly certain that this was a big culprit in the start of the irritability & contractions, and the contractions leading to the thinning cervix.  They pumped me full of fluids and lots of antibiotics, along w/ three shots to slow the contractions.  After that I was started on an every 4 hour medication, brethine (or terbutaline) for contractions as well.  It was interesting to find out that it is actually an asthma medication, used to slow smooth muscles in the body in the bronchial tract, but studies found it also works for muscles like the uterus.  I had a sonogram & check on Wednesday morning, and my cervix numbers were back up to 30mm.. Hurray!  So after an uncomfortable stay overnight, I was released on Wednesday afternoon, and couldn’t have been happier to be back at home!  I definitely won’t take my bed for granted, or heck, even my couch for that matter.  Things seem to have calmed down quite a bit, and I’m only having a contraction every now and then..  Dr orders are to rest and take it easy.  Head back for another check up on Monday and we’ll see what dr says at that point.

A big thank you to both of our mothers for helping us out w/ the girls this week!  We’re thankful to have such great family!

I was able to snap a pic last night of the ever growing belly.. Growth spurt, maybe?..

Third trimester!  As Ashlyn likes to say, “WhooooHOooooooo!”  I think a bit of popping has happened over the last week or so.. My belly, that is!  I received confirmation tonight when putting on lounge clothes and in the mirror I could see that the bottom of my belly was sticking out from my t-shirt.  (The same thing used to happen to my Grandpa Ray too.. hehe.. bless his heart, rip, grandpa!)  So yep, what fit yesterday, isn’t fittin’ now.. Sure sign of some baby belly poppin’.. I’m okay w/ that

This week’s update tells us that his eyelashes have formed, he’s blinking his eyes, developing billions of neurons in his brain, and adding more body fat in preparation for life outside the womb.

If you know my husband & I, our personalities, as well as our relationship w/ one another, you would know that we’re very playful, and tease each other quite often.  All in fun, of course.  He is always coming up w/ the most bizarre things to say to me, in hopes of my reaction in return.  It’s fun.  We love it.  As a girl who’s not afraid to embrace her more, ah’ hem, shall we say “fuller” pregnancy figure, let’s just say my hubby’s got all sorts of “good ones”.. Including this evening, in which I did threaten, “I will blog that!”.. I’ll spare him this time, but I can’t make any other promises.. Mmmm hmmmm, love you, honey!

Had another cervix check up today.. The tech was still very please w/ my #’s and they are still w/in a normal range. WHOOHOO!  I was really curious to see if they had dropped any, since we had a busy Friday-Sunday, and did some walking w/ trick-or-treating on Sunday.  I tried to keep a nice, calm pace, but w/ busy, excited children that was easier said than done.  Thank God to hear that things are continuing to look good!  I also found out that they typically do the cervix measurements up until 32 weeks because up through that time frame is normally when the risks are greatest for changing.  So, fingers crossed that once we reach 32 weeks and if things have stayed the same, we’ll be on the safe side for the remaining duration of the pregnancy.  That also means only a couple more cervix check ups.  Next week I see my OB dr for a regular check-up, and then it’s every 2 weeks w/ her.  That seems like it came upon us quickly!

In other news, little guy has turned himself around in there.  He’s been head down for quite some time, but decided that wasn’t comfy, apparently.  He’s breech at this point, but still plenty of time for him to turn again to head down.

I LOVE this sonogram picture of baby boy!…  See his little face?..

Had a realization today that at 27 weeks we’re only 10 weeks away from 37 weeks!  (yeah, yeah, no need to clap that Bridget can do math.. )  BUT, the realization that my doctor is more than happy w/ us making it to 37 weeks to have a healthy baby boy… Which means TEN weeks from now.. TEN!  That’s not all too far away!  Eeeek!  Excited to say the least, but we’ve got to get our rears in gear!  lol  Everyone keeps asking us if we’re ready yet, and the answer is NO!  (in a good way)..   Being a planner and an organized ocd brain, I’ve gotta get some ducks in a row.. (Er… diapers in a row? lol) before my mind will be “ready” & prepared for baby boy..

This past week, little guy realllly likes to be up & active during the night.. Hopefully we get that ironed out before he arrives, and he learns it’s night-night time  Erik has been up w/ me a couple of these times too.  Hard to sleep when there’s wiggling & jiggling going on in your tummy… <silly boy>

Another week of pregnancy, another week of growing, and week we’re thankful for!..   Not a lot to update on.  Feeling pretty good, and little man is still enjoying my right ribs.  Our weekly update stated that the network of nerves his ears are more sensitive than before, and he can most likely hear other peoples’ voices now.. This should come in handy for hearing his crazy sisters.  Something else I had not paid much attention to w/ the girls’ pregnancies.. His um, boy parts, are descending down!  haha…  Obviously that factor is much more important to us this time around

I was waiting to update this week, since I had a check up yesterday.. I felt like it was a “one stop shop” kind of appointment day.. lol  I had my cervix check, and the length #’s are still w/in a normal range (yay!!)… Also had a very quick sonogram to see baby boy’s position, which I’ve been certain he’s been head down, w/ his feet in my right ribs (see #2).. Sure enough, he is head down, and his feet were near the back of my right ribs, and arms & hands to my lower right side… I think he’s found his comfort spot!  It was also the glucose test day, so I had to drink the fun orange sugar drink.. Wasn’t too bad though.. Since I was there, and they didn’t have many left, I went ahead and got a flu shot as well.. I think that about covers everything I could have possibly had done at the appointment.. haha  Dr also said I was measuring exactly on schedule..

OH!  In other news, this baby boy’s name has been decided!  We had a name picked out, actually before this pregnancy, and had still toyed w/ some other ideas, but we kept coming back to this one.. We love it!  I’ve been referring to him as “this” specific name in my head for a few weeks now, and I’m definitely feeling good about it, and Erik is too..  Can’t wait to introduce you all to baby boy ___________……  :)

Hard to believe this little guy has been growing in my tummy now, for 6 months.. I’ve felt like I’ve been pregnant for awhile, but at the same time, it’s quickly moving by..  Someone asked me this week if I am as excited to meet him as I was when I pregnant each time w/ Kaylor & Ashlyn, and my response was YES!  It’s exciting when you’re not sure exactly what to expect, but KNOWING what that feeling of pure, immediate, overwhelming joy feels like when you see their little faces for the very first time, makes you even that much more excited & look forward to their birth..  It’s also what keeps ya going w/ the woes of pregnancy that can be trying.. lol

Speaking of.. Helllllllllooooo pregnancy hormones.. Whew!  Those up & down of happy, sad, laughing, tearing up teetering emotions?… Yep, they’ve made their appearance for a couple of days last week..  Just ask my husband! haha

Another great cervix check last Wednesday..  Praise for that!  Numbers are still looking good… Sooooo glad to hear… Especially since I’m moving around pretty well, and doing the “norm”.. Just at a slower more conscious pace.