Mom's Pregnancy Diary!

July.

11:13am Jul 1, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, eventhough I read tons, looked at models, saw videos, etc. about developing babies, I never TRUELY "got it" that there was a real baby in me-- after kicks, and the WHOLE pregnancy-- until Nathan was actually born. In fact, they put him on my chest and I said, "You're real!!" LOL
Robin, well that happens too. But when OTHERS comment how I'm lopsided? Not complete strangers, but if you look close. I have an appointment with my OB in one week. My COOL, GREAT, OB whom I had last pregnancy. So its costing me out-of-pocket, but I need a July appointment and we're here. Oh well. I wish I could've had the whole pregnancy with her, but c'est la vie.
Anyone back on the starving mode again? I had two breakfasts this morning. I see food in magazines, etc. and just want to eat it. And it all sounds so good!LOL

02:20pm Jul 1, 1999 EDT
Beth, ROFL!! This is true. "...having a boy first". Then again, my grandma has said some doozies concerning bringing up Nathan. In fact, when he was only a week old, I think she said not to pick him up so much or we'd spoil him!!!
Iris, Let me find some 3D ultrasounds sites for you. Most places don't have the machines for them, but you never know. This one even has movies!
This one is all about ultrasound, and has a 3D section

03:55pm Jul 1, 1999 EDT
Sisters?? Harassment? How about one who loves to parrot you during your last labor? (And I thought I did good by not videotaping...) Speaking of cravings, I made more fudge today. LOL Only a 1/2 batch, because we were low on cocoa, and we had no milk so I substituted DRY milk (mixed first, of course). LOL Despiration of a pregnant woman during a craving!! It tastes great, though.

08:03pm Jul 1, 1999 EDT
Heather, I haven't tried that fudge recipe. I just have done the one on the Hershey's cocoa box. About the wives tale, Nathan made my middle spread and this time I seem to be out front more. I don't know what this one is. Then again, I don't have a waist anymore, either.

10:15am Jul 2, 1999 EDT
Yep, the crotch thing isn't fun. But wait until it turns into the head hitting your cervix! (Hopefully in the last month, of course.) OUCH. You can come over for fudge, if you want. We just got more milk, and cocoa powder. I'll make a big batch for all of us! The batch I made yesterday was eaten 75% of by my mom's boyfriend. When I mentioned it, he said, "What? I thought it was for all of us." LOL Yeah, all of us, meaning he eats most of it. And I didn't tell anyone it was there, so he must've just found it.
About names, we were going through them yesterday and can't come up with one. First we thought Noah, then Christopher... Nothing just grabs me as "that's it!" I liked Nicholas, but everyone keeps putting it down-- and then Jonathan doesn't come up with any of his own! My sister suggested why not just pick Alex for boy or girl? Its a thought...

04:33pm Jul 2, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, its terrible when things like that happen! But, its a good thing you have a credit card for emergencies like this and can rent a car. If it were me, I'd make a mini vacation out of it and be glad its not me. But, that's just the way I am-- selfish. LOL *grin* You are a great friend, in all seriousness, to make such a trip. We live far from my family most of the time, and I wish more of them would make the trip even for NON-emergencies! Prayers for your friend. (I'll get dh to pray to make it more "official". LOL He IS studying to be a pastor...) Heather, I don't think we'll find out if its a boy or a girl. The main reason is I don't get any ultrasounds, unless there's a problem. Last problem I had was at 14 weeks, so it was too early to tell. Maybe this thursday at my appointment she'll do one in the office and I'll get lucky, but I doubt it. I'm really kind of looking forward to being surprised.

05:19pm Jul 3, 1999 EDT
Iris, the baby doesn't hurt me, so much as just bounce a bit. However, it has been up more lately. Anyway, during my last month of the pregnancy with Nathan, his head would hit my cervix. THAT would hurt. Good thing it also helped it dialate. My cousin told me that her baby's been doing that, too, but she's still not dialated at all, so c'est la vie, I guess. Sex? That's one of those things that is never available when I want it. LOL That doesn't mean there haven't been some great moments, though. :-) But I'd better get some in before I deliver, because then it really dies down until your hormones start working again. (Nevermind the 2 months of lochia that, if you weren't as tired as a dog, would be too messy anyway-- not to mention you probably wouldn't feel much. LOL) Basically, as I remember, by the time sex gets back to normal, so is your cycle. Hmm...!

12:40am Jul 4, 1999 EDT
Robin, sounds like you are all fixed up! I had a good day today. Went to a parade in the morning, then out to lunch with dh and my grandma. Then got some sandals to replace the ones my mom's dog chewed to bits. After the parade, we walked by a house I lived in from age 2-6. (That's 1974-1978.) The people who own it were outside talking to some other people. I know they are the people who bought the house from us way back then, so I went and said hi. They not only remembered me, but remembered the day they saw the house and that my sister and I were running around. They showed us what they'd done to the house and old pics when they'd first moved in. Not only that, but my mom's sister's husband redid their porch with parts from my grandma's aunt's place in Ohio! (Get all that? LOL) They gasped a bit when I told them we bought for $18,000 back then. LOL My mom told me tonight that they bought it from us for $50,000-- paid full asking price because they were so despirate to have the house! And THAT'S the reason our family spent a whole summer camping while we waited for our next house to be finished. LOL Ramble, ramble!! Anyway, tonight we went and saw Austin Powers 2. If you've seen the first one, see this one. Its really funny.

12:45am Jul 4, 1999 EDT
Robin, it may just work out with the diapers. Then you'll only have one in them at a time. It must've been so great for him to hit such a milestone, so to speak. I highly doubt Nathan will be out of diapers soon, like I said. Then again, he's 7 months younger than Sam

01:40pm Jul 4, 1999 EDT
Heather, its not so much will-power, but lack of ultrasounds. I don't get any more that are covered and I don't really feel like paying $500 to maybe find out boy or girl. If I need a non-stress test again at the end, like last time, I could ask (like last time), but at that point, its almost better TO just wait to be surprised!

12:47pm Jul 5, 1999 EDT
Marti, only had 6 months between pregnancies, huh? No wonder you feel like you've been pregnant forever! And that's true and part of the reason I'm not finding out: the stress of thinking its a boy or girl only to hope it still is! Welcome to our board!
Beth, I'm getting plenty of sleep. Maybe its vacation or something. I wouldn't call getting up early like having a newborn. When that time comes, you'll be WISHING you could've slept from 10-4 straight. LOL
Robin, I'm not worried about Nathan. I heard boys are generally "trained" later than girls. Some not till 3. My dh took his diaper off one day and decided he was done with them at 2. I, on the other hand, took until 4-- or so my mom says. Guess there goes the stereotype!
Mary, lucky you. Last month, I figured I'd gained at least 10 pounds becuase I'd been eating like crazy. But I'd only gained 2 or so. This time, I feel the same, so we'll see. I haven't had any sicknesses making me throw up, and morning sickness is way past, so I'm betting I'm up there in weight.

06:04pm Jul 5, 1999 EDT
Robin, I'm not sure what you mean. What kind of pain is it? Is it stuff stretching? Is it your basic pregnancy aches maybe combined with some braxton hicks? My baby kicks when I get a braxton hicks. LOL I can just hear "Get off me!!!!" LOL

07:23pm Jul 7, 1999 EDT
Why are you miserable? Tired? Hot? Achey? I'm about 3 weeks ahead of you and still doing pretty okay. If I did not have air conditioning, it would be another story! I get the occasional noticable braxton hicks (which takes my breath away), and baby is moving a ton these days. A little sciatic nerve ouchies, and oh yeah-- my favorite-- the Big H's! (Witch hazel is my best friend. *grin*) I do know how you feel though: some days you just feel "ugh!!"

09:06am Jul 8, 1999 EDT
I went into the hospital last night. Yes, I let them do a pelvic exam and take some samples for testing. Yes, I let them assess my cervix, etc. We left there at about 3 a.m., having gotten there at about midnight. I would still be there, only I have an appointment with my OB at 11:30 this morning, so she let us go home and sleep.
Last night around 10, I called Labor and Delivery because I'd been having quite a few braxton hicks. Only, its not that I could count them, but that it felt like my middle was constantly hard. I also felt kind of off-kilter and nauseated. I did the drink water and call back in an hour thing but I couldn't tell if the "tightness" had gone away, and although I tried to talk the nurse into the fact that I needed to go to sleep (everyone had already gone to bed), she said, no, it could be preterm labor so come in. Well, they always say that kind of stuff and I was trying to save myself an expensive trip.
They put the contraction and baby-heart-rate monitor belts on me. Asked a bunch of questions. The baby was "very active" they said. It was trying its darndest to "kick" off the monitors is what it was doing! They said I seemed to have a few "uterine irritations" but that they didn't look like contractions on the monitor. Still, I felt stuff. At home, I thought it was that I had to go to the bathroom, (which actually I did because I'd drank all that water), combined with some lovely hemorrhoids that decided to show up. (Hey, just telling you how I felt!) I wasn't dehydrated, so that wasn't the cause of the "contractions", which now I was wondering if I had at all.
As it turned out, my OB was "on", so she came to see me. My cervix is way off to the left and high up, so she and the others had a hard time even finding it. Not your usual "check". I might as well have been in labor for all that pressure.
Anyway, my OB checked my cervix and said, "You are one centimeter dialated. You've been having contractions for longer than just a couple hours...." (I said that's when I thought I noticed them-- 2 hours before.) Seems they died down, so rather than making me stay at the hospital, she let us go home for the rest of the night until I could see her this morning anyway at my appointment.
The reason for the dialation, she said, was I have some bacteria on my cervix. I guess it must be "bad" bacteria? Anyway, a buildup for some reason. I got antibiotics through an IV and also a prescription to take for the next week.
She said the cervix might close up a bit, but this morning she will check me again. If its not changed, I guess I just take it easy. (She didn't say.) If its progressed, I get magnesium sulfate (that lovely stuff I hear about!) and possibly a steroid shot for the baby's lungs, depending how much more dialated I am.
No, blood or water breaking, so that's good.
I just knew I felt kind of like my cervix was dialated-- like when Nathan used to hit it with his head-- but that was 2 months after this, of course.
My OB said IF, (if, if, if) this baby were to be born now, it would be just at 27 weeks-- not a miscarriage, and it could live, but have preemie problems.
So, that's my limbo story, and I guess my advice: if you feel something in your gut, don't ignore it. Unlike the hospital in RI, I don't think the staff here at U of M would give me an "off" diagnosis, nor do things that were unnecessary. Of course, I asked what stuff was they were doing. VERY nice people there, I must say. And it was nice to have MY OB there, who'd done, by the way, 5 births that night AND was going to go "try to squeeze in one more C-Section" before she took a nap and went to the office in the morning. All the while cheerful-- per usual. LOL Just wanted to update my friends.

04:37pm Jul 8, 1999 EDT
I went to see my OB this morning at her office to be checked again. No contractions on the monitor and still only one centimeter. I'm taking the antibiotics and hopefully that will clear it all up and stop the contractions from coming back.

06:07pm Jul 8, 1999 EDT
I have help with Nathan when my mom is home. Jonathan works 12 hours a day, so he helps at night. He stayed home today, since we GOT home last night/early this morning about the time he should've left! Plus, he went with me to my appointment. Actually, my grandma met us there to watch Nathan. My sister heard from my mom (who is out of town now) about yesterday, so she came to help Grandma at my appointment-- left work and everything. We all waited around the pharmacy for my prescription, and then Grandma took us all out for lunch. I wasn't told anything about picking Nathan up, but I'm playing it safe and not lifting stuff, etc.

06:57am Jul 9, 1999 EDT
Sheri, about the baby moving on the monitor, I think those things bug them and they get frantic trying to kick it off. LOL Really! Mine's never moved so much as when I've gotten the non-stress tests the last few days. If you get one because you haven't felt the baby move, that will do it! I'm sure I noticed at least 50 movements, but who was counting? LOL I'm up early making maceroni. TTFN!

10:43am Jul 9, 1999 EDT
Dr. Pepper... I had one of those at Wendy's yesterday with lunch. They ordered me the "Biggie" size but I only drank a little of it. (That size must be worth at least 2 cans, huh?) Anyway, I'm feeling a lot better. Those antibiotics are sure helping. Probably they're killing off all the other bad bacteria around too. LOL
Robin, at 26/27 weeks, this baby still has plenty of room to turn all the way around. In fact, when I was probably 8 months pregnant with Nathan, he turned all the way around. It made me gasp! All of my middle moved at once in a circle.

06:40pm Jul 9, 1999 EDT
So the dogs won't be by themselves for that long? I'd give them tons of water, put them in the shade, tie them up well, throw down some cooked hamburger, or a can of corned beef hash or WHATEVER and go. Its not your fault about the lady not coming home on time; just don't let them poach and die. LOL
Here's a topical article-- kinda-- from Dr. Dean Edell.
I'm feeling much better today. The antibiotics are giving me a funny taste in my mouth. LOL I've still got 6 days left of these pills.

01:45pm Jul 10, 1999 EDT
Last night, at midnight again, we arrived to labor and delivery. I started having real contractions, not just tightening. I got put on the non-stress test monitors and baby looked fine. Contractions 4 mins apart. Cervix not dialating any more, though. Got IV fluids and just stayed there for HOURS. The IV fluids didn't stop the contractions, so I eventually got a shot of terbutaline (sp?) which is a muscle relaxer to stop an "irratable" uterus. That seemed to work, so at 7 a.m. they let us go. I got an ultrasound-- measured the baby's size, but I don't know what it is!-- and that was neat. Didn't find out boy or girl. I ASKED, but she said baby was stingy with legs and moving around too much. Baby looks great, though. They said if that shot hadn't worked, they were going to admit me and "watch" me and prepare for a possible preterm birth. The only good thing about that is that IF that were to happen, I'd want it to happen here, not out in RI, as U of M is one of the BEST hospitals for that sort of thing, in the country. (Besides, I'm partial: that's where Nathan was born!) I feel much better, but TIRED from being up all night. I did sleep from about 8-noon, though. I guess no restrictions on what I can do, except don't wear myself out-- and they said something about not staying out in the sun too much. So I'm to follow up with my OB next week. She'll love that. Sheesh-- she pronounces me fine the the day before, then I show her up by going back to labor and delivery. LOL

03:14pm Jul 12, 1999 EDT
Our phone was broken all day yesterday and the night before. They just fixed it this afternoon. Something at the main "office", not here. I have just been taking it easy and drinking more apple juice and water than I ever care to again. I have a follow-up on Wednesday with my OB from Friday's ER trip. I feel much better. Seems just regular bh's now-- at most 2 an hour. But they still worry me because I was having them last week and didn't know it and got to 1 cm, as you know.
DH works 12 hours a day. I try keeping Nathan in line without doing too much, but its hard.
No one's mentioned any other drugs or bedrest or anything. I think the theory is that the infection started all this, along with not drinking enough liquids. (I don't remember guzzling them two years ago and I was fine...?) So, I've taken my antibiotics religiously and with the juice and water and resting I hope that fixes me. We'll see on Wednesday. The thing is, last Thursday at the follow up with my OB from the previous Wednesday, she said everything was fine.

08:43am Jul 13, 1999 EDT
No new news, but I feel better today. We'll see how my follow-up goes tomorrow morning, plus that's my last day on the antibiotics. Actaully, there is some new news. Dh told me last night he's going to be full-time at work, starting Monday. He already works 50 or 60 hours a week, but he means getting benefits. He's decided we're staying here for a year while this is going on. We'll get blue cross blue sheild insurance starting monday and not have to deal with going back to RI in September. Of course, he'll have to make arrangements to move our stuff out of RI. Our lease ends the end of August. Its nice we already scrubbed it down before we left on vacation! :-) School will give him a leave of absense. We'll have to get a place out here, but that's relatively easy.
Anyway, I'm just doing the same and crossing my fingers that this all blows over when this infection is gone.

05:39pm Jul 13, 1999 EDT
Beth, mine does that too-- swipes a hand or foot back and forth right above my belly button. I think its neat! I wish he or she would refrain from jabbing me in the crotch. My pelvic floor is already weakened from Nathan's stay. LOL
Oh yes, Elizabeth, dh will be doing all that stuff about moving! :-)
Heather, he wasn't getting benefits because he only went back as part-time. He had this job two years ago as a full-time worker, but only comes back as part-time while we're on vacation. That's why he decided to stay-- partly-- for the benefits now. The only thing is, day shift is all full with full-timers, so he'll be on midnight to 8 a.m. Oh well. He was on 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. two years ago, but that was 3 days a week, not five.
Iris, about braxton hicks... You may just notice that your middle is hard and then it gets un-hard again. If you get more than 4 an hour, get checked, or if you get 2 or 3 an hour for lots of hours in a row, get checked. Real labor contractions feel more like period cramps.

02:10pm Jul 14, 1999 EDT
Iris, that's one of the side effects of iron pills-- constipation. Ask your doctor if you can take Colace. Its an over the counter stool softener that's okay during pregnancy.
I'm back from my follow-up. Everything looks fine. Baby's head is "up" and on my left side. That's why I've been getting nice kicks in the crotch. LOL I'm on restrictions. Just supposed to take it easy, not go on long walks, not vaccuum, etc. In addition, I've been diagnosed (months ago) with anxiety and depression. I've got a prescription for Xanax, as of today, which is for the anxiety. The depression, I'm seeing someone about in a few weeks. They switched my chart over to "permanant" patient, too. I'm so excited! I got my wish: to stay here and see my OB that I love, etc. Of course, preterm labor is NOT a good reason to do that, but hey-- I get to anyway. LOL

07:27pm Jul 14, 1999 EDT
Heather, he'll adjust somehow. He was on the same shift same job when Nathan was born. Only, that was 8-8 3 days a week.
Rose, I'll pray the same! My mental date is Sept 17th, because then I'll be 37 weeks-- earliest term birth. Of course, a week or two longer would be better, but you know what I mean. How is bedrest? Awful? If I don't keep my cool as I'm supposed to, they'll put me on bedrest.

09:45am Jul 15, 1999 EDT
I try not to pick up Nathan. I hold his hand so he can climb up and down from his high chair/out of the bath, etc. I'm home today with Nathan until about 4. I hope we can make it! I just stopped on here to check my messages and email, then I'm going back to watching the boob tube. LOL I need to sign up for a refresher childbirth class and a sibling class for Nathan, but I don't know where. I got a packet last pregnancy, and was supposed to get it yesterday, but the receptionist forgot and I forgot! No big deal, but I don't want the classes to be all full. I also was going to take a breastfeeding class, since it couldn't hurt, but we'll see. I'm really thinking about skipping the family camping trip in 2 weeks. The Texans and Michiganders are meeting in MO. I just think it will be too hot and I'll end up doing nothing and being hot. LOL My dr. said it was okay, except to watch for that, but I know how those trips go. Dh took that weekend off work, so maybe we'll have our own vacation here with Nathan. Doing what, I don't know. LOL But being by ourselves is good, no?
About dreams, I keep dreaming this baby is a boy. Probably because of that ultrasound. And no one said anything, I just thought I saw a little penis. LOL Now I forget what I drempt last night, but at least they are relatively regular dreams. Not bad ones or about labor or anything. Speaking of that, I've stopped watching "A Baby Story". I figure, the less my body thinks about it-- and it DOES remember it!-- the better off I'll be.

03:14pm Jul 15, 1999 EDT
Heather, there will be plenty of family members with a/c'd "rigs", but still, I don't think I want to go. As it turns out, Dh came home from work early and my mom's here, too. I guess dh is on night shift starting TONIGHT. I hope he can adjust, since he went in at 4 this morning.

10:39am Jul 16, 1999 EDT
Iris, I try, but this anxiety has been going on for at LEAST 8 months. Its only now that I've gotten something for it. My body is VERY good at an anxiety attack by now, and once it starts, heaven help me to stop it. That's why the meds, because that is what starts my contractions. I could go on short walks, and I do walk around the house, but it seems the more I do, the worse I feel.
About switching babies, I am not letting this baby out of my room for ANYthing. We have labor, delivery, and recovery room suites.

08:58pm Jul 16, 1999 EDT
Iris, well, I assume its related to living away from family. We moved to New England in Jan. '98 and have come back for summers and a couple weeks around Christmas. Now that the plans are that we're moving BACK here for a year... What can I say? I'm SO happy and relieved! Still, anxiety breeds anxiety, and being at risk for a preterm birth is a catch-22 in that area. I just think positive. I've got help with Nathan from my dh. If he had the same problems, I don't know what we'd do. Thank god for that! Today was SO great, because he had Nathan in the bedroom playing with toys and let me sleep in the couch this morning. It makes a WORLD of difference when I don't have to worry about getting Nathan down off stuff, etc.
Elizabeth, super moms? ROFLMAO! How about keeping the kid from killing himself and out of a wet diaper most of the time? (Well, not even that these days. LOL)

10:34am Jul 17, 1999 EDT
Heather, I hope so. Someone on another board decided to quote me that the anti-anxiety drug my dr. prescribed has "definately fetal risks". All I could say back to that was that her comment did NOT bring down my anxiety level any! :-(

01:22pm Jul 17, 1999 EDT
Iris, my doctor is the one who prescribed me the Xanax. Now I have all these internet "experts" on boards, etc. telling me its not. As if I didn't already have enough problems. This is going to be the longest 9 weeks of my whole life. Its all I can do not to give up.

06:18pm Jul 18, 1999 EDT
I had my shower today. Got 4 dozen chinese prefold cloth diapers from someone, some store-bought cloth diapers (that I'll use for burp rags), 3 books, a towel and some money toward our stroller. All-in-all, not bad, really. Only thing was, my 2nd cousin was there and lover her to death, but she's 37 1/2 weeks and it was so hard listening how close yet not close she is to delivering, etc. Then I have to sit there and NOT want any contractions, etc. *sigh*

10:24am Jul 19, 1999 EDT
Heather, thanks for that info. I took benzodiapomine for a short time during my 3rd trimester while pregnant with Nathan and he's 100% a-ok. I would assume all the effects would have more to do with the 1st trimester, like you said, and the withdrawal, only if you take it regularly and at higher doses than I am. I'm not taking it regularly, nor do I hope to have to take it for the rest of my pregnancy. I'm trying hard NOT to need it!

11:24am Jul 21, 1999 EDT
I'm melding with the couch and rotting my brain, is what I'm doing. Nothing serious, but they put me on bedrest and I hate it. I already don't like to just stay home all the time, and now I can't even get off the *$^&# couch. I could take this for a week, ofr two weeks... but for 8 1/2 weeks? Yeah right. Jonathan works midnights and I don't see him when he works, then he sleeps, then he has a "Nathan" shift. Really, I don't see Nathan that much what with all the "shifts" of watching him. We got our carseat the other day and paid for the stroller, but they were out so they will call when they're in. There are 100's of books here. Started reading one. Its pretty bad when books and dreams are more exciting than real life. TV is already boring, so that stays off most of the time. I was going to sign up for a childbirth refresher class but whatever. I don't even want to think about it.

02:34pm Jul 22, 1999 EDT
Well, I'm up and showered and dressed. I feel perfectly fine. My back aches a bit, but that is from laying in bed all the time. A few back arches and what a difference! I spent the morning all in a depressed puddle. I simply cannot do nothing indefinately. I already have depression, and the way I see it, the depression is doing more harm. I'm just getting over this nasty bacterial ick in my throat. Stupid little book dr's office gives tells you all about what to do for colds and flu's, then says to call if you get "green gook" (my words). So I call, and this nurse just babbles back at me what's in the book. I assumed if it said to call there was another reason that couldn't be found in the book. LOL Geeze. I should learn that when I think I already know the answer, I probably do. Anyway, back to the depression, I just cannot let it take over. Its a downward spiral and I think I worry and make more out of things than I should. Now, granted, I am dialated (or is that dilatated? What the heck does that word mean anyway? Oh-- it means effacement? Dialated and dilatated?? Whatever) but it hasn't changed through all of this. Heaven knows what dialated it in the first place, but it isn't budging even that day I really did have contractions. Someone said that maybe it was already dialated a bit from before. Possible. Not sure what the facts are on that. Anyway, that's my babble for the moment.

05:09pm Jul 22, 1999 EDT
I'm at 1 cm. I've been the same for weeks. Heck-- maybe I've been that even longer than when they first checked me, as it isn't changing. At least that much is good. My mom's out with Nathan at the Art Fair. *sigh* Hope he has a good time. Jonathan's going to get some pizza for us. That will be good. I really do feel good when I'm not in bed. I mean, yes, I'm resting and not running around, but laying in bed all day even the couch just irks me. I mean, sleeping in, but sleeping in?? My dr. did say that I could just not stress myself and all should be fine. No walking all over the place, etc. But, she did say that if I went into L&D again, she'd put me on bedrest. Well, but I went in, with nothing wrong though! Nothing at all-- no contractions, no effacement nor dialation (I still am not effaced at all), no infections, no nothing. Just a lot of achey pokes from them. Ouch. Got an ultrasound, and baby is perfect-- but I couldn't see much because she put her arm in front of my face the whole time, no matter which arm! Babbling, babbling.... As for the question, more than just braxton hicks? Well, I didn't really. It just seemed like I was having a ton of them, the first time. As for what's a real contraction, if feels like a period cramp. Down low-- right by your pubic bone. May even have some back pain, but basically, just feels like period cramps.

06:13pm Jul 23, 1999 EDT
I've just been laying on the couch, per usual. Last night, though, The Learning Channel had "The Best Of..." on; shows about tornadoes and hurricanes, etc. Pretty scary video. Dh loved it. LOL In fact, I found it interesting. I always like night-time shows on that chanel because I feel like my brain is actually working. Good luck finding anything like that on in the daytime! Anyway, now tonight, he wants to see what's on that channel since I guess it was all week they were doing "the best of". I'm also reading a book by Dick Francis, still. Pretty good. All his books are mysteries having to do with race horses in one way or another. I guess that's it. I had just wandered into the kitchen when I smelled fresh onion and thought it smelled pretty good, here a few minutes ago. I asked where the onions were and my mom's boyfriend says, "down the drain". I asked why, thinking they were rotten, or something. He says, "because I remembered you don't like them." LOL Well, I said, not a LOT, but a little. Its potato salad. Gotta give it SOME life, no? (Babbling again!)

10:00am Jul 24, 1999 EDT
Heather, sounds like it-- the heavy work. That will do it. I wish it were that way for me. Unfortunately, it seems just walking the mall would do it! (Good for after 9/17, but not yet. *sigh*)
Beth, royal treatment. ROLFMAO. Yeah-- for the first 37 seconds. Then you're lucky if they even spend time in the same room. When there's Nathan around, its hard when he gets into stuff and I can't just up and haul him out of it. LOL I've just been reading my book and getting on here once a day. Dh is going out in a few to do an errand and to pick up my sister who I guess has nothing to do and no car today. Still won't change what I'm doing by much.

02:14pm Jul 24, 1999 EDT
Iris, I don't know. I think there's the "A is for" lady's stuff here. LOL They're all my mom's books. How lucky to see its a girl. I've had umpteen ultrasounds and the baby just moves too much to get any kind of look!

10:26am Jul 25, 1999 EDT
A boy, huh? That's cool-- except we still don't agree on a boy name. LOL I tried looking up sites on anemia since I'm feeling kinda like I'm anemic. Wouldn't surprise me since I was anemic in my 3rd trimester with Nathan and also after having him. (For obvious reasons, then!) I hate calling labor and delivery. The only way they can check for anemia is with a blood test. My next appointment is the 5th. Sheesh. Eight weeks, eight weeks.... I don't know if I can make it 8 weeks!

02:18pm Jul 25, 1999 EDT
Iris, its not that we looked and couldn't tell boy or girl. Its that we can't even GET a shot at all because the baby moves so much. :-)

09:04pm Jul 25, 1999 EDT
Heather, I've been there with the broken stuff and no money. About your middle, it might be the muscles sore, yes. My pelvis is starting to ache from stretching. In the next month, it will start "cracking", too, like last time. LOL

07:16pm Jul 26, 1999 EDT
I think I'm finally getting somewhere. Instead of the 5th, now I'm going in tomorrow to get the glucose test done. I'm also getting tested for anemia, since I've been feeling light-headed lately. I was anemic at this point in the pregnancy with Nathan-- not uncommon the nurse said. She's also going to have them test me for rubella antibodies, since the RI office said I'm not immune, yet my records HERE say I was as of 1995. I hope anemia or the glucose is 1/2 or more of my problem! If I could only be taken off bedrest on the 5th, maybe my life would be back to normal? I know, wishful thinking. We watched "Waking Ned Devine" today. Anyone seen it? I didn't expect it to end the way it did. Strange movie.
On pecans, I like them. They are a pretty sweet nut. I hope you get them on your tree; they aren't cheap, for one. LOL
So, anyone thought about a birth plan yet? Writing one, not writing one, what to put on one? Epidural, no epidural? Anything else special you want, like the cord not clamped right away, or the father to catch the baby?

10:18pm Jul 26, 1999 EDT
LOL Mary. Well, at least you'll put in no circumcision, right? (Or am I so anemic tonight my brain is not functioning past drone responses such as typing?)

10:08am Jul 27, 1999 EDT
Let's get some color going!
Sheri, yes I knew that about car seats. I always get dh to put it in (or me when I'm allowed!). First I get it in, then sit in it backwards on my knees and pull the seat belt as tight as it will go. I was SO shocked when we were going somewhere last month with my sister and her husband who'd put the seat in. The seat was moving with every turn! I made them stop the car so I could put it in right. Like you said, it has to not budge an inch when you "haul" on it from side to side. My mom wanted us to get a used car seat for this baby but we were stubborn and got new. Its one of those 5-40 pounds deals, but I think we'll probably start this baby out in the "on my way" seat until he or she is a little bigger. I remember how tiny Nathan was in THAT one!

06:20pm Jul 27, 1999 EDT
Heather, my appointment isn't until the 5th. I just went in and got blood drawn today for the glucose test and a few other things. Beth, the glucose drink wasn't so bad this time. It seemed really bad 2 years ago, yet its the same stuff and it wasn't bad at all. I took about exactly 15 minutes to drink it, too.
Rose, that's interesting about the saliva test. You'd think someone would've mentioned that to me. They want me to get to 37 weeks or more, ideally. That's 7 1/2 weeks yet.

11:45am Jul 29, 1999 EDT
See, now I didn't want any drugs except the epidural. I'm not saying the epidural is perfect, but I react very strongly to narcotic-type drugs and I know if I'd gotten stadol or something I'd've still been in pain, but halucinating. LOL
Rose, let us know what they say on the phone. *Crossing Fingers*!
Beth, I don't drool, but I guess my grandma did when she was pregnant. Had to carry Kleenex around with her, she said! That's funny about the baby turning.

05:24pm Jul 29, 1999 EDT
I got back my blood test results. Glucose and iron are normal. The rubella one hasn't come back yet. (The if-I'm-immune one, that is.)

09:19pm Jul 29, 1999 EDT
ROFL, Mary. I'm wearing the same ones, too, from before the pregnancy. That doesn't mean much! In fact, my most confortable ones are the ones I bought before Nathan was born to be my "cheap, mess them up after the birth big granny pants". *grin*

11:32am Jul 30, 1999 EDT
Me, too, Elizabeth. I'm 30 weeks today! Its going fast, but not fast enough for me. I did have a great day yesterday, though. Dh and I watched silly Lifetime dramas on cable, played scrabble, ate a good dinner, make cookies... Then I got a great night's sleep while he went into work. All because nobody was here-- especially my mom's dog and my mom's boyfriend, both of which are VERY loud! Back to last night, I sat on the couch for quite a while watching my middle move. You know, my belly button sticks straight up like a real button when I cough!? Its too funny. Of course we watched my middle move with all the swipes and bumps.

04:04pm Jul 30, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, I hope your diabetes test is not 100% right. It doesn't sound that bad, even if it is. I think they just have you adjust your diet. The first time I took the test with Nathan, it came back high, so I had to do the 3-hour test and THAT came back abnormal. You know what? Each time, it was THEM who messed up the results one way or another. Turns out I was just fine. Also, keep that UTI in check. Did they give you meds for it? I hear that is another thing that can put people into premature labor.
Mary, you mean you're the phantom tomato? Trust me-- out of all the things in the world, posing as an incognito tomato on a bulletin board is WAY down on the bottom of the list. LOL

08:38am Jul 31, 1999 EDT
Mary, you can call me. Something else to do rather than watch the boob tube. I do my email and these boards about twice a day and other than that I just veg. Speaking of not doing housework because you have lots of kids, Nathan is gone and yet this place is a pit! Jonathan has to clean it up today and tomorrow before my mom, etc. get back. She'd have a cow if she saw the mess in this place! I'd clean it up, but oh darn, I'm not allowed! LOL