April Showers

This past weekend brought a wonderful shower hosted by my dear "California Parents" (aka my inlaws, but that sounds so brute).  I cannot express how delightful it was to watch Jason and Maria prepare our little apartment for the festivities, have the optimistic foreboding of the event to come, sit with friends and chat with them for hours as the day passed lazily by, play games and just genuinely enjoy myself.  The significance of these people coming together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our little girl was not lost on me. These friends are all so close to us in various ways, it felt like a big family reunion for us, and the first for the baby.  She is so loved.

The showers have been the highlight of the month. They kept me preoccupied and I've been looking forward to them for so long, it's amazing to think they are over!  I remember looking at the calendar longingly through the months, feeling like time would never pass, but here we are at 31 weeks.  I've been on bedrest now for 17 weeks, and there is comparably only a tiny little time left before we finally meet our little girl.

Naoko and I comparing bellies. She's about 14 weeks and yes, for her, that's a bump!

31 weeks and 3 days

Ok, so this picture is more for my mother than anyone else, who told me she can't imagine my stomach without a belly button.  Here's proof. Sorry if it's one of those things only a mother can love...

My appointment on Monday was reassuring. Continuing my atomic bomb medication (which, by the way, really is "the bomb", it gave me my life back!) until Saturday, then back to the Nifedipine, which I was on before the bomb. Doc says we should know within a few days how well it will hold me over, but as he left he winked and said joyfully, "Good news is, we are to 32 weeks." Although he didn't re-estimate her weight, I gained almost 3 pounds in a week, so I'm hoping a hefty part of that went to her and not my thighs!!  Oh yes, and he reconfirmed - still a girl (also reassuring!).

30 weeks update

Since starting the indocin, things have been much better. My fluid levels have to be checked weekly, and at my 29 week appointment the fluid had gone down a bit. I was instructed to back off the indocin from four times a day to three times a day. It is still pretty effective, and I've only had to actually start counting contractions on two different occasions since starting the med.  My 30 week appointment showed stable fluid levels, so I can continue the medication three times a day for now, hopefully all the way until 32 weeks.

Blissfully horizontally pregnant is the best way I can sum up the past few weeks. A few other details:

• the baby is now 3.5 pounds and about 16 inches long
• that may sound small, or it may sound big, but it feels enormous, especially when she stretches her pokey little legs
• the bladder is officially under pressure. Ack!
• still no stretch marks, but the belly button has officially "popped"
• she moves CONSTANTLY!!  last night we were trying to practice relaxation techniques and neither Jason or I could focus on anything apart from the wavelike motion of my expanding belly!
• Ugh, Bosley has to have a shock collar. In spite of my speaking to him in a very mature voice and trying to explain multiple times why his barking has to stop, alas he does not understand. Am I a bad puppy parent? Hope not...

And a few tidbits about the future...

• I will continue on the indocin until next week Saturday, when I officially turn 32 weeks. After that, I will switch back to the Nifedipine. Who knows how long or how well it will work, but of course we are hoping and praying for good things!
• if the nifedipine doesn't work at any point, I will be put in the hospital to do whatever it takes to prolong the pregnancy
• If I have to be in the hospital, they would wait until the lungs are mature, around 36 weeks, and then deliver me even though it's a little early. This would be May 21st at the earliest we hope.
• If the Nifedipine works well and I don't have to be at the hospital, then the plan stays unchanged and I will have the cerclage taken out at 37 weeks, around May 30th or so. 

That's it for now! New belly pics in a couple of days

Baby Shower With CoWorkers

This past Friday, several great friends from work hosted a baby shower for me. It was beyond wonderful to see everyone and catch up!  I felt so well-socialized. Watching Bosley interact with the children who accompanied several guests was delightful! I was worried he may be a little much for them, but he did great (apart from the face-licking...)!

Joy, Roxie and I. Thank you so much for all your hard work, ladies!

Asher, Joy's bubbly baby boy, kept Bosley entertained! Too cute!

Michaela and Bosley getting to know each other...

Getting a hand massage from Giuliana. Bliss.

Laleh enjoys vegan cupcakes made by Joy's sister in law. So delicious!

The gang. Boys are hiding in the back, too.

Poopy diaper game!  

Poopy diaper = poopy face

Getting snuggly on the couch with good friends is always a great way to pass a Friday evening!

Prepping the Nursery

t's not quite done, but we've (Jason's) been hard at work getting things together to make a happy nursery for our little girl. Here are a few pics from the past few months...

Painting a happy yellow color on one wall. It was called "June Day", which we thought was perfect for our little munchkin who is due in June!

Ok, so Bosley hasn't really helped much.

Jason assembling the Baby Bouncer!

Last week Monday, Mike (Jason's dad) brought us the crib! Wish I could have gotten some pictures of them putting it together, but they did it so quickly I didn't have a chance. The finished product looks great!!

Our Rocker has moved from the living room into the baby's room.

The wall got a few decorative pieces, more to come...