Alexis' Little Protector

Well Jingles has decided that her new favorite thing to do is lie on my lap near the belly or to actually lie on the belly! And it is so funny because when she does it and she starts to purr, Alexis reacts to it! She starts moving and kicking around. It is soooo cute. Yesterday, Jingles put her little paw on my belly as she slept as if to say "I will take care of you." It was soooo cute! They will be great buddies...I can just feel it :)

New Belly Shot...

Okay so I failed to take a 24 week belly shot...probably because I was in and out of labor and delivery the past 2 weeks. So John took a 25 week 5 day belly shot yesterday when we were on our way to the high risk doctor. I figured since I was actually dressed and didn't look like I had been lying on the couch for the past 11 weeks it would be a good time to take a new picture :)

The appointment with the high risk doctor went really well. He had a hard time seeing my cervix because of the pessary, but he felt confident that it hadn't dilated anymore and was comfortable sending me home rather than to the hospital!! I don't have to go back to see him for 3 weeks so that was good news! At that appointment they will do measurements and see how well Alexis is growing. Otherwise she is doing great.

I am almost to the third trimester...that is so crazy. It is hard to believe that I am approaching the final stretch of the pregnancy. Alexis will be here before we know it! And especially since they are cutting 3 weeks off my pregnancy. Hopefully they keep their word on that because mentally I am excited to get off bedrest a little early.

I am getting very excited for my baby shower! I cannot believe it is in 5 weeks!!! I know the girls are going to throw an amazing shower...they are so sweet. I can't wait to see my friends and family. I got my dress for the shower this week online from Gap. Unfortunately it is a little too big so I do need to send it back and get a smaller size. I knew that was going to happen. That is okay...I have 5 weeks so it should be okay :)

Another Trip to L&D

Well I am back home after yet another 24 hour stay at Reston Hospital in Labor and Delivery. I went to my follow-up appointment on Thursday with the high-risk doctor and they completed another sonogram to check on the cervix. The baby was doing great...growing nicely and active as ever. However, it appears that my cervix has now officially opened. It is very slightly, but it is open. So the doctor sent me over to L&D to be monitored again. As of Thursday night my doctor wanted me to be in there through the weekend...which meant 4 days in the hospital. That was actually the plan as of Friday morning as well. They even thought I might have to just stay admitted until Alexis came in to the world.

However, on Friday at 1:00 p.m. when my regular OB was doing rounds at the hospital she came in and told me that I would actually be able to go home!! She had talked with the high-risk doctor and they felt that as long as I wasn't contracting and the baby was doing well, that I could go home and relax until my next appointment on Wednesday. So I have at least bought another 4 days at home :) It feels so good to be back home. As much as I have hated to have to lie on the couch/bed for the past 10 weeks...I would rather have the couch/bed over the hospital!

So John and I are guessing that Alexis will make her debut sometime in August. Especially now that I have actually begun to dilate. We will see...I want to at least get through the next 20 days. That will put me at 28 weeks. So keep your fingers crossed that she can hold off that long.

Good News and Bad News...

Well I have officially hit the 24 week mark! That was my first goal...and we made it :) I went Thursday for my 24 week ultrasound to see how the baby was doing and to see how the bleed area was healing. Alexis is growing nicely! She is about 1 pound 7 ounces and she is measuring above schedule. She was measuring at 24 weeks 5 days (as opposed to 23 weeks 6 days) so that is great news. Even greater news is that the bleed area is pretty much gone! It is very small and appears to be reabsorbing itself back in to the uterus! So that is really good news...

...Now on to the bad news. During that sonogram it was determined that my cervix was trying to dialate! My cervix has begun to thin (way too early of course). So the sonographer went and got the doctor. I met with the doctor who felt it was necessary to send me immediately to the high risk doctor downstairs to see if I had thinned too much and were too far in to my pregnancy to have a cerclage placed. After a brief crying spell I went down to the HR doctor and they proceeded to do a higher level sonogram. I was in fact thinning. Unfortunately I was too late for a cerclage. There was too much of a risk of breaking my water if they even tried. The reason for the thinning is more than likely the result of my bicornuate uterus (heart shaped uterus). So it is of no fault of mine :) Which was a huge relief!!

So the HR doctor had me admitted to Labor and Delivery at the hospital to monitor the cervix as he felt as though I might be having some contractions and not even know it. So off I went to L&D for my 24 hour stay. Good news is I didn't have any contractions, however, I was given several types of medications to relax the cervix muscles (to prevent contractions) and was also given 2 steroid shots to help the baby's development speed up in anticipation of Alexis' arrival between now and her due date. The doctor said that I could pretty much expect her to come early...as to how early...they have no idea.

After 24 hours I was sent home with 2 medications to take until she is born (the muscle relaxers). Basically it is a waiting game...she could come in a week...she could wait until September. My OB stated that no matter how the baby is doing, she will not allow me to carry Alexis past 37 weeks at the latest. So the new anticipated arrival date is approximately September 11th. Which means instead of 16 weeks left in the pregnancy...I have about 13 :) That is cool I guess.

Overall Alexis and I are doing pretty good. It was a pretty scary adventure and still is a little nerve wrecking. I go back to the HR doctor this Thursday to take a look at the cervix again. My OB said that if it is getting worse they will more than likely have me admitted to the HR wing at the hospital in Fairfax until Alexis is born. The hospital in Fairfax has one of the best NICU's in the area so that is where she wants me to be if I go in to early labor.

So let's just pray that this Thursday goes okay so I don't have to spend weeks in the hospital. In the meantime, I have been placed on stricter bedrest (up for bathroom and shower with no more sitting up). I have to be lied down to alleviate any stress on the cervix.

Alexis is a fighter and I know she will be great...if she comes early, she will fight then too. Like my OB said...any day we get through after week 24 is a blessing. So we are taking this one day at a time.

Stay strong Alexis...we love you!

Just some pictures...

Well John put together the crib this morning and it looks amazing!! I can't believe how beautiful it is! It went together quite easily actually. Now all we need to get to complete her room (as far as big items) is her dresser/changing table and her bookcase. Hopefully I will get some freedom soon so that I can go and pick out those two items.

Here is a picture of our little mischievious kitty Jingles "helping" John put together the crib! At one point, she ran out of the room with one of the plastic washers! She is such a trouble maker!! We managed to get it back from her!

Here is a picture of the completed crib! John did a great job! Now all it needs is a mattress, bedding, and a little baby girl :)

Below are some pictures of the stuff that is in her closet --- she is so spoiled already!!!

And one last picture...here is the little "first dolly" that John's mom gave her! It is sooooo soft and sweet! I know she will love it!

Baby Movements :)

Well in the past two weeks I have begun to feel more distinct baby movements in my belly. Prior that that I had felt "rolls" that felt like gas...but were clearly not. The more distinct movements have been pretty cool. About a week ago I have been able to actually see the movements when my belly jumps! I think they are hiccups because they are rythmic movements. Whatever they are...they are strong and adorable. Last night John and I were lying in bed watching tv and she was moving around again. So I took John's hand and put it on my belly and sure enough he was able to feel her!!! I had been trying for the past 2 weeks to get him to feel her with no success. I guess the movements just hadn't been strong enough. But sure enough, last night they were! He felt her like 4 times!!! It was so cool that he was able to finally feel her!

Overall I am feeling pretty good. I am 22 weeks and 4 days along...only 10 more days until our first milestone! I cannot wait to hit 24 weeks. That is also when we have our next appointment. Will be nice to see how much, if any, healing has occurred on the bleed area. I have been 27 days without any spotting (knock on wood it continues)! So hopefully I will get good news at our next appointment.

Another big event has happened for John and I as well. We have moved out of our apartment and in to a townhouse! We are now homeowners! It is soooo great to own a place of our own. John has enjoyed doing small fixes around the house. We have been in this townhouse for 4 days and the unpacking is going well --- especially since John is having to do it himself. It stinks that I really can't help him. But I am doing a great job supervising :)

Blanket is Finished!!!

Well I have finally finished Alexis' first blanket :) I guess I can thank bedrest for that because I probably wouldn't have completed it that quickly if I was working. This one is made from lilac and white yarn. It will match her room nicely!! The next one I am going to make will be pink and yellow. I am so happy with the way it turned out...it is soooo pretty! :) Here are some pictures of the completed blanket!The second picture is a close up of the pattern of the blanket. I will probably use the same pattern for the 2nd blanket because it is easy. But the second blanket will have to wait because I have a cross-stitch for Alexis that needs to be completed first. So I guess that is what I will work on today. :)