My plans are being foiled...

I went to my last OB appt today. I know! No changes from last week tho - no more dilation or effacement. Bummer. But, I did have my last weigh in. Hallelujah! I've never weighed more in the my life, but then again, this isn't the most I've gained in a pregnancy...make sense? We're scheduled for induction Tuesday night. We'll go to the hospital and get 2 rounds of the antibiotics going and then start the pitocin in the morning. So hopefully not much later, we'll get to see our babe! We're all so excited to get Mom L out here too. She comes on Monday (unless we need her sooner!) YAY!

Anyway, back to my plans being foiled. First, I got everything I wanted with Lucy. There were four specific things I was hoping for:
1. to have my water break. It had never happened with anyone else and I wondered what that would be like. (I actually didn't even know it had broken until the dr. checked me after a stress test.)
2. to have a more speedy labor. (the shortest one before then was still 8 hours.)
3. Not to tear or need stitches (sorry tmi).
4. to have her during the day (it was actually the evening, but the nurses still come and bug you all through the night anyway!)

So with that said, there were some things I was hoping to do differenly this time, but alas, it's just not meant to be. And really, when it comes to health and safety, of course, those are #1! But these were the things I was hoping for and maybe you guys have some ideas/suggs for me too. Here goes:
1. Labor more at home - I seem to be at the hospital forever. But with Strep B, the minute you think you're in labor, you get youself right in. As my dr. said "don't piddle around." Ok.
2. I'm afraid to admit this, but ideally, I would love to see how far I can go without an epidural. Why? Because this is probably our last baby and if I didn't try, I think I'll always wonder...then again, once the pain hits - get me the epidrual!! I don't know... but pitocin is nasty!
3. I would like to labor out of the bed more, let gravity help. I've read that certain positions can be so much more helpful than just laying in bed, especially with back labor (which I've had everytime, but then I've had an epidural and have been able to rest too...). However, being induced, I just found out that once they start the potocin, I need to be hooked up to the monitor. Blast. Maybe I'll try the rocking chair...? I dont know..

Btw, thanks for all your comments about the Strep B. It was all very helpful!

Now it gets interesting...

Kaycee started preschool today and she was so excited. We were all able to drop her off as the other kids had a late start today (they start two hours later), and Ryan worked from home this morning to take them to school so I could go to my dr. appt. Here are some pics of the girls this morning and of Miss Kaycee Ruth:

Rylee and Lucy enjoying some good stories.

Kaycee in front of her teacher's house - her new school.

In baby news, things are certainly starting to get more interesting. 37 weeks today and visited the dr:

1. 50% effaced, 2 cm - yay progression! (Also, the best news of the visit...)
2. another ultrasound Friday to check fluid levels - and I thought drinking all this water would help with that, not just swelling and water retention! The Dr. just wants to be sure it's not getting lower.
3. no growth since last week - hmm...still measuring small with the tape. Not a huge concern though right now, but still not too good that I didn't grow any!
4. and finally, the more depressing news - I tested positive for Strep B! WHAT?? This is definitely a first! If no baby before 39 weeks, we'll most likely be induced to be sure we get antibiotics going before baby heads into and out of the birth canal to prevent her getting it and possibly being very sick. My sister, Reecy, her first was born Strep B and her little guy was so sick. We hope and pray everything goes smoothly.

Has anyone else tested positive? And how did it go?

Home Stretch

We've made it! Less than a month to go and things are looking great. Ryan and I went to the dr today and had another ultrasound and check up. The baby is doing well and measuring almost on schedule. She's only about a week behind (nothing to change my due date over - hallelujah!) as opposed to the 4-5 weeks behind the tape was telling us. We're grateful to know there's nothing wrong. She's about 5.5 lbs now, on the small side, but not too small. Her head is still down, and her face is right smooshed against the uteran wall, her nose fairly flat. I was given labor instructions today, along with an exam (no dialation - no suprise) and the strep B test. I get anxious near the end and get excited wondering if 'today is the day.' We're still a ways out, but I've figured if this baby were to come the same time Rylee did, she would be coming this Saturday. Interesting eh? Then everything else ranges from Clay coming a week early, to Kaycee being two weeks early to little Lucy, coming a day late. Pretty sporratic - I guess to keep things exciting. :)

We're also getting ready to start school tomorrow (which means I have a good amount of laundry to do). I can't believe that we'll have three in school this year. And, it's worked out nicely that Clay and KC will both go to school in the mornings. If we don't have a new baby by then, what am I going to do with myself?? I can't believe it's already come time for school, this year is g0ing so fast. We've already had some late Fall weather this past weekend. I don't think we broke 60 degrees Thursday thru Saturday. It was rainy and pretty chilly and we actually broke some records for the lowest highs in August. It was a bit crazy, but a great reminder that Fall really isn't that far off.

Thumbs up - she's down!

I had my 35 week dr. appt today and the baby's head it down! YAY! We are very happy for the news and that the dr. has verified it. She is certainly an active little one, so I really haven't been able to tell how's she's been lying. I also get to have an ultrasound on Monday - those are always fun! My tummy is measuring 4-5 weeks behind. I certainly don't mind as long as she's measuring properly on the inside. So, I guess we'll see. They wouldn't ever change my due date right? Really not sure I could handle that. So, that's that. We'll keep you updated.

Yahtzee!

I can't tell you the last time we busted this game out, I think I'd actually forgotten that we had it. Anyways, we had a fun time rolling away. Nothing like a fun game and rice krispy treats on a Sunday evening!

I don't know if Kaycee was more excited to play the game, or eat the treats right out of the pan!

Clay blew us all out of the water! This kid got two yahtzees! One of them only in one roll!
Who does that?!

Lucy just waking up (and going for dessert before dinner).

And then, just for my sake (for when our blog is printed as our family journal), here I am at 34 weeks. Not too much longer!

Ryan wasn't supposed to be getting my face. Then again, this is probably our last go 'round - So what the heck...I guess.

Just an Update

1. I had a dr. appt on Monday and for the first time (ever!) the word c-section came up. WHAT?! I'm 33 weeks now and apparently our baby girl has no desire of getting into position (head down). She's not necessarily breech, but transverse - sideways. She still has a few weeks to 'get ready' and I'm pretty confident she will, but by my next appt (2 weeks) if she hasn't moved yet, then the NP said we could start discussing external version (where the dr. tries to rotate the baby - sounds glamorous doesn't it..?). I guess it's not done so much anymore, but if so, needs to be done between 36-37 weeks. Anyways, the NP mentioned if the baby hadn't turned by 37 weeks, to plan on a c-section. Interesting. After how many kids, and c-section pops up now? No thanks. Even at 37 she'd still maybe have a few weeks...I'm sure it was just more letting me know that it's a possibility. But really, it is with every pregnancy right? I guess I've just had early turners so far.

2. Trying to sell the van. I'm ready for an upgrade and Ryan will most likely be in Phoenix this weekend where I have a cousin who is a dealer and can get us a smashing deal. The fun part has been getting the van ready. We spent about 4.5 hours just cleaning and detailing the inside (yeah, don't take goldfish, pretzels, fruit by the foot and gogurts on a road trip!). It looks lovely inside and out now, but we've also been repairing the driver side window - doesn't help when the wrong parts are ordered) and then changing out an intake manifold runner sensor - the reason for the engine light. Wish us luck!

3. Ryan and I celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday. YAY! I can't believe how fast time has gone by. We were sitting at dinner and discovered we've had significant events every, from BYU graduations, to buying homes to having our cute babies! Well, I guess I shouldn't say every year, we had a hard time coming up with something for 2005 - apparently it's one of the years we didn't have a baby! :) We've had so much fun together and look forward to another 80 years!