31 week appointment

Went to my 31 week appointment (man this going once a week things is getting pretty crazy!!). My weight gain picked up a little this week (YIKES!!) but the doctor said it was nothing to worry about - blood pressure was great at 110/60 so she is not worried about being preeclamptic (Thank goodness I could not handle one more thing to my plate!) I asked about sibling policy too - currently the hospital is closed to children under 14, and that includes siblings of babies. So this little peanut Palmer needs to stay inside until at least that time is up, which she is hoping will be the end of February.

Again they checked my cervix - still dilated to a 1 and still high and posterior. I asked her this time how thin I was and she said 50% effaced. She said "You are definitely dilated, but not any change from last week)! Hopefully it stays that way for a while. I had purchased a prenatal cradle to wear to work (yes I returned on Monday...worked eight hours than and Tuesday) and wore the cradle all day. It looks like a giant jock strap that helps hold up the belly. Let me tell you ladies if you ever have to wear one they are not fun!! It helps with pressure down low, but after wearing it all day and taking it off, my abdomen felt like I had done 1000 crunches - my belly hurt SOOO bad! But it is worth the pain if it keeps me from dilating! My fetal fibronectin test came back negative as well...so I will still be working! I got next Tuesday to the perinatologist where they will measure the baby again, and I go back to my OB on Wednesday. Well that was my long and boring update!

30 week appointment, 3D ultrasound, and Izzy

A few pictures of Isabella before I start in on the baby. I feel like I have neglected adding pictures of her! I have taken lots of them but just have not uploaded them to the computer.

For Christmas she got a bunch of art supplies from Santa Claus, and here she is using her watercolors for the first time! I think we have a little artist on our hands!! This kept her occupied for about 20 minutes, which believe me is a long time for her!
She had also received a watch that had lip gloss in it, and here she is with lip gloss all over her face - her daddy found her like that! A big chunk ended up on her nose! She also had received these adorable Dora PJs from her Aunt Sara for Christmas.

When the weather was actually above freezing, I allowed Isabella to venture out in the snow - she loved every minute of it. This girl is such an outdoorsy girl that I feel bad she has had to be cooped up so much. She was helping me roll snow, loved walking around in it and playing on her Kangaroo Climber.

Went in to my OB appointment today. She checked my cervix, which she said before had been a fingertip and now was dilated to about 1 (so not much change). My fetal fibronectin test came back negative again which is good. Still having contractions (Tuesday night I had 4-6 contractions an hour for 4 hours) but nothing too extreme and nothing regular. Everything else checked out. I am still in limbo about going to work - trying to get everything figured out!

We had our 3D ultrasound done this weekend - it was really nice to see the baby (which still needs a name). She is going to resemble her sister but I think she is definitely going to have her own appearance! Her cheeks are a little fuller, she has a different nose. I think they will have the same lips though! She was not very active...would move her hands (she loved sucking on her hands and holding them up to her face), and whenever I would sit up she would bring her legs up to her head. Izzy kept pointing to the screen and saying "sister sister". We had a lot of family there with us (both sets of grandparents, Sara and Mason, and my sister Kristen and her boyfriend Alex came late). Here are just a few pictures.

In this last one, she had her hand close to her mouth sucking on it, and her right eye is open. It was crazy to see her eyes opening and closing. She also would yawn, frown, and stick her tongue out!

29 week OB appointment

This week I went in for my 29 week appointment with my OB. I have been having more contractions over the weekend (on average about 1 an hour, some hours having up to 6) which I told her about. I also spoke with her about returning to work, which there is no way I would be able to return to work as a floor nurse,but if I could be on light duty she might consider allowing me to go back to work. First we had to do a few things. First off, she checked my cervix, which she said was soft and dilated to about a 1, however it was high and posterior so she was encouraged by that. She also did a fetal fibronectin test to see if there was a possibility of me going into labor in the next week. I won't get the result of that test until this evening. If that test comes back negative, than she said she would be okay with me going back on LIGHT duty (which I dont' even know if it is possible at my job). If it comes back positive, however, there is no way she would release me to go back to work. And if I go back to work, I will be making weekly visits to the doctors instead of every other week (which I have to go to the office any way for my shot!) So now it is just a wait and see game until that test comes back - I am anxiously awaiting that phone call!! Either way I don't know if I am ready for the news - I love being at home with Izzy but know if I can I should be going back to work, but if it is positive than I am going to be freaked out about going into labor!

Everything checks out on baby though, heartbeat was 140's, my weight has been holding steady, and my blood pressure looked good. I completely forgot to ask about the fundal height since I was so concerned about my cervix (she had not checked it at this point). That is my pregnancy update!

Isabella update: She has been sleeping ALL NIGHT in her bed without me having to go in at all during the night (watch I say this and she ends up waking up 20 times tonight). She is starting to really repeat things we say (uhoh - mommy needs to really watch what I say). And her 2 word sentences are really starting to pick up! It is so exciting to watch her grow up and do things she couldn't do a few days back!! I love motherhood!

Perinatal Appointment Week 28

Today I went in for my perinatal appointment. All they did was measure the baby this time, they did not even look at my cervix (don't ask me why...I guess my length is no longer important...). Well, low and behold this baby is going to be HUGE!! She is measuring 3 weeks ahead at 3.5 pounds. A normal baby at this point would be measuring 2.22 pounds. YIKES!! Now mommy is REALLY hoping not to go to term... I would be super happy with 37-38 weeks! If I do this might just be a nine pound baby! Still on the same restrictions. I go back in to their office in 4 weeks to remeasure.

Next weekend we are going in for our 3D ultrasound (on the 16th) so stay tuned for pictures - I am sure I will be posting some! I am super excited for Isabella to see her sister! That's it for now. Nothing too exciting right now (thank goodness).