Baby Appointment: 37 weeks

I had my baby appointment yesterday morning. With having concerns of my amniotic fluid possibly leaking, I was anxious to see what my Doctor thought. I am so excited to be back with MY doctor, but there is a huge set back with seeing him~ I waited for an hour and a half before I even saw him! Long wait, he is a popular Doctor, but so worth the wait because he really truly cares!
He checked my stats, baby is not dropped down into the pelvic region, yet. I told him how uncomfortable I have been lately, and how hard life is. Then, I melted down and cried. I know I am emotional right now, but really my pains have been absolutely unbearable at times~ day or night! I told him how sleep is tough, laying down and getting up. That Sciatic nerve is the worst it has ever been. He said he was sorry that I was going through all that pain, and he would love to have me fitted for a special pregnancy belt thingy, but they are expensive. Yeah, for approximately $150, I could have some relief for the next few weeks. Umm, no, we have no extra money, so I just have to suck it up for the duration. Yippee! Can you sense my excitement?
The Doctor said that I am carrying this baby so differently and so low...even though it isn't "dropped" yet. I told him I was surprised that the baby hasn't dropped, because sometimes it feels like the baby could just fall out, or that he/she kicks so low sometimes. However, none of my baby's have dropped until I was in full blown labor. So, it would be kind of a shock if the baby was dropped right now.
I am not dilated and my body isn't doing any changes in preparation for delivery day, yet. I do have 3 weeks yet, so really it isn't time yet. He said he didn't think I was leaking any fluids, and that my water wasn't broken. He did want me to get an ultrasound to see if baby was in the head down position, though.
I didn't get to see much on the ultrasound, because baby is so big right now. Heartbeat was at 147 at the time of the ultrasound, and baby was head down. The amniotic sacs looked great, and the technician said the placenta and heart looked good. One great thing I got to see was a head of hair. That is so exciting. Just seeing our little baby on the screen gave me an added boost of encouragement that this pain really is worth it~ even though some days I feel like I just would rather die.
So, onto another week. The next few weeks will go rather quickly in time, but seem long with the pains and aches. SOON~ I just have to remember that blessed word.

My baby is a celebrity!

I love going to my ultrasounds have way through my pregnancies and see that adorable little baby growing inside me. What a miracle!! I wish I had a scanner so I could show you my baby's pictures. I love to say that my baby is a celebrity, because it is their first debut on TV. LOL~
I am 20 weeks today, but my ultrasound measured me at 20 weeks and 4 days. I would be alright if the baby came even earlier, and we could get him or her in this year yet. (Good tax deduction) :) Hey, I can dream, can't I? I just want our little baby to be gorgeous, smart, wise... healthy, and born without any complications. I am so excited for this baby, and the expansion of our family. We don't know if our baby is a girl or boy yet, because my husband loves the surprise factor. I would rather know, just for the fact of getting those baby clothes ready, but I am banned from preparations I am OK with waiting. Nathaniel thinks that the baby is a girl, but Terry, Caleb and I think that the baby is a boy. I think I may have seen a little peter in there, but it is so hard to really see anything. It could have just been part of the umbilical cord...who knows! We are half way to knowing who will take the fourth child place.
I have my Doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon to go over the ultrasound reports to know all the stats, and to get the run down. I am excited to hear what he has to say.

Updates~

Sorry, I have taken a mini vacation from the Bloggin' world over the weekend. I was home, just busy an not online. I hope you all had a super weekend!

If you are a guy, stop reading. You will not need to read this. :)
Friday afternoon, I had my ultrasound. I went to a different location this time, and I am regretting that decision. The tech lady I had was horrible! I was so disappointed with the service, and I am definitely complaining! I have had internal ultrasounds with every baby, and also when they have had to look for cysts, so I know the drill. They always give you a thicker (like a table cloth) sheet to cover your body from waist down, and you put your feet up on the table~ while totally covered. The techs I have had always had me insert the probe, too.
Well, this tech did everything wrong, I believe. She handed me the paper thin cover (like a paper towel)...which this is used for the other yearly visit. Then, after she came back in, she had me put my feet in the stirrups! If that wasn't bad enough, then she did the insert by herself, and just left me out there. NO covering me back up for privacy. It was totally uncomfortable. I asked her a few questions, and she was completely against giving me information! I was so unhappy with her. She didn't have any bedside manners, and really didn't put effort into small talk. Then, to really add icing to the visit, she started moving the probe around like she was digging. It was totally uncomfortable, and it actually hurt! I told her it didn't feel very good, and she just said, "Well, I am trying to get a good picture of your ovary, and yours is tilted back."
OK, SO WHAT!! I am pregnant, and you have no business digging around in there and causing pain! I have never been in pain for a visit like that. Even when I have been in for cysts on my ovaries, when they needed the pictures to be super clear. You know something isn't right when you are actually sore after a visit like that.

ON THE GOOD SIDE~~ I did get to see my little baby and that little heart just beating away! AMEN, and Praise the Lord! I was so happy! According to the ultrasound, I will be 8 weeks along on Tuesday. Yeah! So, my due date should be January 13 or so. Toward the end of the pregnancy, they will watch everything closely. With Caleb my amniotic fluid was low, and with Madelyn, it was almost gone on her due date. So, as my Dr. has mentioned, it won't get better with anymore, but it will be something we will have to be careful to watch. I am at a whole new clinic and new Dr.'s now, so I hope and pray all goes well.

Saturday, we got a lot done around the house, and Terry started working in the Hobby store. Then, Saturday night, our friends came over to have a grill out, and hang out. It was a fun night. We got a good storm through here, but the really bad stuff missed us. (Thankfully).

Today, we went to church. My aunt and uncle treated us to Subway. It was yummy! Maddie started not feeling very good, and she was actually kind of warm. So, when we got home, I gave her Tylenol. She is cutting 4 teeth, her first teeth, so I am not sure if that is why she had a fever or not. My aunt and uncle came over after Subway, and we went for a pontoon ride. It was a gorgeous day! Maddie got in a great nap on the boat.
In the evening, Maddie was feeling a bit better, so we went to a MOPS family picnic. Unfortunately, when we were there for just a bit, her fever spiked. So, we didn't stay too long. I feel so bad for her! I hope this (what ever it is) goes quick. I am suppose to work tomorrow, after being off for a week and a half. Not only does Candace need my help, but we need the money, too. I really am tired of my kids being sick so much!

Tonight, Caleb's legs are so swollen from bug bites! He has bumps behind his ears, and a few on his head. Poor little guy. So, he had an Aveeno bath, and Benedryl before bed.

Friday

Well, yesterday, Madelyn was a bear pretty much all morning. She wanted to be held constantly, so I know she really wasn't feeling well. I think mostly her teeth are really bothering her. I really hope they burst through this weekend.

Caleb started a cough and a "headache" in the earlier afternoon, just before we headed out to go to the ultrasound. So, I gave him some Tylenol, and we left. I knew he was tired, too, and the timing of the drive was perfect for him and Maddie to sneak in a nap.

I went to pick up my friend, Lisa, because she offered to come with me. I wanted someone to be with me for two reasons, for support, and also to help with Maddie and Caleb if need be. So, she was willing to come. I am so glad she was with me.

The news from the ultra-sound was disturbing to me. It was calculating the baby to measure at 5 weeks and 3 days. I am still trying to figure out if that is possible, just for peace of mind. The tech saw the yolk sak and what looked like a possible lining starting. BUT, she didn't see anything else. No little baby, and no heart beat. It is possible that my timing is way off, and everything is normal for the pregnancy, but I am not so optimistic. I do want to say, that I am at peace with whatever the outcome is. It would be sad to not be pregnant right now, and not be adding on to our family at this time. However, I know that EVERYTHING is in God's timing, and HIS timing is perfect! If we don't have a little one on the way, I just need to remind myself that God has a plan, and He knows what He is doing. I will still pray for our little baby, and that he/she is healthy and growing.

On the way back from the ultra-sound, Lisa dropped me off at the clinic so I can request a blood draw to check the HCG levels. When a pregnancy is progressing normally, these numbers increase (basically double) daily. So, I had a draw on Friday, then I will have a re-draw on Monday morning. The NP informed me that everything is normal, and I really shouldn't worry. She was trying to talk me out of doing a blood draw, because she said the numbers can be deceiving. The numbers may or may not go up, but it really doesn't verify the progress. She said the best identifier would be the ultra-sound. I do have a re-check on the early ultra-sound for 2 weeks away. At that time, if everything is all good and normal, we will see a heartbeat. So, I will do my best to not worry or stress about what the results may be.

Another thing that happened on Friday....when Lisa dropped me off, she went to get Nathaniel from school. I gave her misleading and wrong directions, and she got lost...ended up at the wrong school, and we were all worried. Nathaniel's office called our house to see what was up, and since there wasn't an answer, she tried my cell phone. My cell phone went through the wash machine a couple of weeks ago, so that didn't work either. Then, they called Terry at work. Since he was 45-50 minutes away, he asked if someone could drop Nathaniel off at home! Oh what a mess! Fortunately, the Principal was willing and able to give him a ride. Lisa was a bit frantic, and she did catch up with them. After about 30 minutes of waiting, I got concerned and I called home. They were there, filled me in on what happened, and then Lisa came and got me. I feel terrible about giving her wrong directions, having Nathaniel waiting and worried, and having the school upset with me. That just added to my sad afternoon. I do thank Lisa for being willing to get Nathaniel, and for all her trouble. So, thank you Lisa!

Caleb was running a pretty good fever last night, has a nasty cough, and a really runny nose.
So, Now that Caleb is sick, I am dealing with either a cold or allergies and Maddie isn't 100% we decided to just stay home this weekend. I am sad we couldn't go up to see Terry's Grandma and Mom...and our other family. But, I do think it is wise to stay home to let our kids get over another round of the sicknesses.