On Our Toes

This little girl is giving us a run for our money already. Yesterday was very eventful, and not in the way that you always want. Let's start in the beginning.......

Yesterday I had a regularly scheduled doctor's appointment at 10:30. I was thankful that Tim was going to be off so that he could go with me and hear Lierre's heartbeat. My alarm went off to get ready and I moaned and groaned and struggled to roll over and up (just like every morning) and had to sit on the bed for a few moments before getting up. I felt like I was moving through quicksand. My lower back was killing me. All around I just felt really off. However, this is not all that uncommon for early morning and I told myself that once I had eaten and moved around and stretched a little I would feel better. Meh. Well, I felt better enough to go to the appointment and well enough to ignore the aches and pains (you get really good at this when you are pregnant!).

We got in pretty quickly (surprising) and got to hear Lierre's little heart (around 140 beats a minute), talked to the doctor for a second and was told they'd see us in two weeks. Really great, right? Yeah, that's what we thought. On the way out, Tim started mentioning some errands we needed to do so I told him I better go to the restroom before we left (we were in a different lobby at this point, downstairs from the doctor). I won't give too many details, but there was blood. Not gushing or anything, but enough to make my heart stutter, stop, and then stutter to re-start. I rushed out and told Tim "We are going back upstairs." He said "O....kay?" (and to my dismay) the words "I'm bleeding" came stumbling out of my mouth, making a few other ladies in the lobby all turn to look at me. I guess Tim could see the look of terror on my face and he pulled me to the side (snaps right into "work" mode) and tries to ask me a few questions. I'm usually pretty good about keeping it together until after situations like this, but something about the surprise and Tim's understanding and calm made me break down crying right there in the lobby. Tim was as cool as a cucumber and held on to me and said things like "It's ok, we are in the right place.... it couldn't have happened anywhere better." I got myself together and up the elevator we went. The check-in ladies (all very nice) joked "Are y'all back already?!" with smiles on their faces. I walked up to them, gave them a quick explanation, and bless them they went right to the doctor and I got sent back.

The practice I go to can be pretty crazy at times and there are some things I haven't loved.... but I was so, so thankful yesterday that they were so thorough. They checked my cervix (still closed, phew). They took my blood pressure a few times ("beautiful"). They did an ultrasound to measure the fluid around her (everything was fine, but please try to drink more water, it will give her even more room to move). Then they said "just to be safe" they were going to hook me up to the monitor to have her heart rate monitored and see if I was having any contractions. Tim and I drank some juice and chatted and were overall feeling MUCH better. Then the doctor came in about 20-30 minutes later and said "Well, you are having contractions! They are not really strong, but there is a definite pattern to them, so we are going to send you to Women's now. They will monitor you there. If this continues, they will give you medicine to try to make the contractions stop because we don't want your cervix to open. If that happens, they will probably keep you overnight."

*Cue crickets chirping and wide-eyed stares*

It was so surreal. I felt like I was watching a poorly acted television show. I almost wanted to laugh (I think I did a little out of sheer surprise) We didn't really say much when we left, but as the hospital was right across the street, there was not too too much panic yet. I called my mom and asked her to pray and to pass it along to all the siblings and whatnot. As I sat in the waiting room (luckily we didn't have to wait long), I just sat there praying and felt so calm. Honestly, I felt so calm and relaxed after I prayed I just knew that everything was going to be fine. They monitored us for a little over an hour. No more bleeding. No more contractions. No reasons they could find why this would happen and no reason why it would stop. Just a vague "Well.... sometimes these things happen in pregnancy...." We finally got to leave close to 4:00 (neither of us had eaten lunch and we were s.t.a.r.v.i.n.g).

Tim keeping guard at the door

Me feeling suspicious that they hadn't checked me in awhile

Happy to be leaving soon!

I guess we will never know exactly what happened, but we are very thankful that our prayers were answered and she is still baking away inside of me. We were/are also thankful that we have the crib set up and the room painted and enough "stuff" to get us through a few days if she did try to surprise us again.

Oh!! And one more thing we learned from yesterday--- According to babycenter.com Lierre should weigh around 3 lbs 3 oz. Wellllp.... Lierre is weighing roughly around 4 lbs 7 oz already---in the 90th percentile.

Oh holy cow.

31 vs. 9

So, I have a really sweet husband. His little blog post made me get a little teary eyed. There are tons of qualities I hope Lierre gets from Tim, but if I started, I might be here all day. One little correction though, we have nothing lavender in her room. We are going with a kind of Fuscia pink and lime green. Hopefully the nursery will be finished in the next week or two (at least as much as can be done before we finish getting everything) and we will post some pictures.

Today I am officially 31 weeks. I can't decide which is more exciting/scary/exhilarating----that I'm 31 weeks along or the fact that that means there is only 9 weeks left of this pregnancy (yeah, yeah, give or take). EEEEEEEEEEKKK! I am getting more excited by the day.

Some stats!

How far along: 31 weeks

Sleep: Not so good. I had a few days last week or so where I was sleeping pretty good and I loved it! However, this week it has not been good at all. I can feel how tired I am in one part of my brain, and in the other part of my drain, it's like I just got a big shot of adrenaline.... but not so much that I am productive. Just enough that my brain keeps going and how my hips/stomach/back hurt and how loud our bed is whenever one of us turns over or gets up to go to the bathroom. Anyways, I am currently debating whether the short nap I took today & yesterday were good ideas (the whole, sleep when you can thing), or bad ideas (even more awake at night).

Cravings: Nothing that is really good for me. :( However, fruit is still delicious. And since it is so hot these days here in NC, anything cold.

Symptoms I have: Same old, same old. Lower back pain (thankfully this comes and goes, but when it comes, eeek). I've had a few headaches the past few days (reminiscent of first trimester, but I can't decide if it is from lack of sleep or what). Pelvic pain, especially after laying down for a long time. And anytime I wear an underwire bra for more than a few hours, my ribs feel like they should be bleeding.

Next Doctor's Appointment: Tuesday

Belly Button: Ok, it seriously is not an outtie.... but how my stomach is pulled down by the weight of baby and how bit my tummy is getting, the top part of my belly button makes it LOOK like I have an outtie when I am wearing tight shirts.

What I Love: I love daydreaming about what Lierre is going to look like. I love knowing that I will have Tim to parent with. I love picturing us growing as a family and how much joy she is going to bring.

BABY GIRL STATS: Lierre is weighing a little over 16 inches and weighs about 3.3 pounds and is supposedly heading into a "growth spurt" (oh my, where is she going to go?!). She can turn her head from side to side and is starting to get baby fat on her. She is moving like crazy some days.... sometimes it is so sweet, it is awe inspiring, and sometimes it just huuuurts.

Thank you for your support in the coming weeks!

From Tim Bloch

Well, I have not written on here in a long time (this is Tim writing).  It has been a crazy and exciting couple of months.  I have been busy with work, family, and other ventures.  I have also spent countless hours staring at Anna, placing my hand on her stomach, and shopping for Lierre.

We have been working on the nursery and preparing it for the beautiful gift coming "around" August 18th.  I just hope our little girl doesn't have a fear of butterflies.  We didn't go with pink because...well....I don't really know why.  We went with kind of a lavender combined with green.  I think in the back of our minds we still think we are having a boy.  With these colors, we are safe either way.  With that said, I'm so excited we are going to have a daughter.  I hope she gets Anna's big brown eyes, brains, health, loyalty, sincerity.....i guess everything.

Most of my friends are probably aware that my mom was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.    My biggest fear was that my mom would not be able to meet Lierre.  My mom just went home yesterday after a nice visit to the Bloch resort in Greensboro.  It was great for her to see the nursery, participate in our excitement, and see Anna's beautiful belly.  My mom even got to take part in one of our birthing classes which she absolutely loved.  She is doing very well and already said she is getting on a plan from NY as soon as she hears the word "labor."

At first we were so nervous and stressed about which diapers to use or which car seat / stroller we should get.  We spent many hours driving to different stores trying to find the perfect item for every detail of Lierre's time as an infant.  We recently realized that no matter the stroller or crib, as long as it's safe, Lierre will use it without judgement.  I guess that's the great thing about a baby, they don't care how much it costs or if it's the best one out there.  For those of you who know Anna, she could care less of price or who it's made by.  I can only hope Lierre grows to have the same qualities as her mother.

Well I know this is short but have a busy night ahead.  Thank you everyone who has shown their support and offered advice the past seven months or so.

So in Love

I have been meaning to write for a few days, but haven't really figured out what I want to talk about. I still kind of don't, but I guess I will figure it out while I write.

I went to the doctor yesterday for my Rhogam shot. I really, really hate shots. So much so that (at least as of right now) I don't want to get an epidural during labor. Haha. Also, I really hate having to get shots in my hip/butt area.... nothing makes you feel more vulnerable and less attractive than exposing uhm...that area while someone holds a needle behind you. At least the nurse did a great job and I didn't feel any soreness afterwards.

For any of you that are in the nursing/doctor field, I may be speaking in generalities here, but I don't mean every doctor/nurse, so don't take it personally.  I know that doctors and nurses are busy. I know they are overworked and many of you truly care and do a great job (thank you if you are one of these!). However... for someone like me who gets pretty anxious going to the doctor for any reason, having a little bit of personality can make a world of difference. For example... an introduction of who you are, or your role at the office/hospital would be great. You want to ask me extremely personal questions about really embarrassing things when I don't even know your name or even what your "rank" is? Really?? Or, ok, so you guys are busy and have a million things to do and a million things on your mind.  But.... you want me to feel comfortable enough to confide any of my aches/pains/fears with you when you. have. not. even. made. eye. contact. with. me? Seriously?! I mean, even if I don't have anything serious going on---sitting there on the white crinkly paper, growing increasingly more uncomfortable while shifting back and forth trying to find some position that doesn't kill your back, or your stomach, or your legs.... sitting there surrounded by jars of sterile swabs and and needles, with the dry doctor's office air swirls around you making your mouth dry.... sitting there, a million things can enter your mind. A million fears, a million questions, even some excitement that you'd just like to share with someone. When you enter into the room and flop a file down, no reassuring smiles or solid introductions.... that window of opportunity for those fears and excitements to be expressed gets slammed shut. Yes, I appreciate your knowledge to the questions that I do manage to ask. That's pretty reassuring. However, do you realize that you could be delivering the single most precious things in the world--my daughter? I know that it's more the nurses than the doctors who will be with me for the ride, but doctors... don't know you know how many walls I put up and how reluctant I am to trust you when there is no connection whatsoever between us? I know it is hard because I have to rotate to see all of the doctors at this practice and they don't know me from Eve, but... sigh. (Side note: this all sounds very harsh, and while the general sentiment is truthful, I'm not mad, just resigned and a little disappointed).

In other news. . . Lierre is doing well! My tummy is measuring right on schedule and her heart rate was 150 beats per minute. Woohoo! Way to go baby girl, keep it up...your dad and I are already so proud of you and so very in love with you.

Here's a little dress I got for you today on sale!

Tim and I started our birthing classes this week! Our first class went well.... a lot of the information I felt like I already knew, but it was really nice to hear the information out loud and be around other people who are in the same situation as we are. We have four more classes....I'm pretty excited!

Tim's mom is coming to visit this weekend!! We are very excited to have her visit. This is the perfect time for her to come because she has a little break between her chemo (which she is knocking out of the park, by the way!) visits. Can't wait!

My doctor visit this week officially started the "go to the doctor every 2 weeks" stage of pregnancy! I'm glad I will get to hear her heart that often. Goodness.... can't wait to meet this little one!