My Anniversary Gift

Baby Reed Matthew Sharp decided he wanted his birthday to be on his mommy and daddy's 5th anniversary! He made his appearance at 2:20pm, just about the time they were saying their vows. He came out pink and crying, weighing in at 5lb 11oz. He is getting settled into the NICU but we don't think he will be there too long.

Just Another Day in Paradise

33 week, 2 day self portraitSorry - no editing software on this netbook I'm using

Well, not really paradise, but it's not so bad. The day started off pretty interesting. I was wakened by a CRNA trying to do a history on me for the anesthesiologist who she told me was going to be doing my epidural for induction today. She had called me by name so I figured she had the right person. After some arguing on my part she went to the nurses station and got it straightened out. She said the ward clerk misentered the date. Or something. She still hasn't come back at it is nearly 12 hours later, so I am guessing she is not coming to do the history today. But it won't be long until I will be getting an epidural. My doctor said it is 90% likely that we will induce Tuesday. At 34 weeks exactly. I feel pretty good about that. It gives me something to look forward to for sure! Tomorrow is my anniversary and this weekend I can spend more time with Brad because he won't be working. Then I just have to make it through Monday and voila: baby day! Baby got another 6/8 on the biophysical profile due to low fluid, so no change or concern there. Been having some contractions, but again, nothing regular.

I was definitely getting homesick last night. I had a HARD time watching Brad and Will leave. I cried several tears last night and a few this morning when I told my doctor I wanted to go home. He gently patted my leg and told me this is home for now. I was feeling pretty bummed and then while my oldest brother was visiting (on his birthday! Happy Birthday, Chris!!), I got a special delivery (which looks to be the ONLY delivery happening in this room anytime soon).

It included a wonderful note from my husband and son telling me they loved me and couldn't wait for me and baby to come home. Oh how it made my day.

And then my day was further made by a visit from small guy himself. He brought his Gigi, a baby names book (because we STILL haven't chosen a for sure boy name), McDonald's ice cream and french fries. He is quite thoughtful. We strolled out in the hall where I took these pictures of him. I love photography and I love him. It works out well for me to have him as my subject.

Let's Blow this Joint!

Well, at least for a few minutes. Mom was off today so she brought Will up here at 11:30 and also brought me yummy Mexican food from my favorite place. After lunch we took a little trip to the postpartum unit to look at the new babies in the newborn nursery. They were so tiny and oh so sweet. It was a definite morale booster, even though it took us a long time to find the unit. We know the best way to go now, but it can be quite confusing and seem nearly impossible if you don't have a badge to get you in. We got some sympathy from a sweet staff member who took us the back way. Once the baby is born and I am moved to postpartum, it will be easy to get to because family will come in from the other side of the building. Getting there from L&D is a challenge!

After our trip we came back to the room and all 3 (4) of us took a nap. I had to put a sign on the door warning we were napping and to please not disturb. It worked! Will woke quite refreshed and mom and I both woke quite hungry, which has not been the trend for either of us. So she and Will left in search of Krispy Kreme donuts while I finally showered for the day (don't judge). We had my Sunday School teacher and his 36 week pregnant wife and their 2 young girls visit and it was quite a noise fest for a bit with a 4 year old, almost 2 year old and my 18 month old. It was fun to watch them, though.

The biophysical profile showed less fluid than yesterday, so baby scored 6 out of 8. My doctor is not concerned with the fluid level, so that is still ok. While the techs were searching for fluid, they had the screen frozen somewhere near the baby's booty and I saw what appeared to be boy parts. I am not sure that is what I saw and I didn't ask, but it looked that way. With the baby being 33 weeks and a lot bigger, these ultrasounds look more blob like and less defined than a 20 week one would, so I don't feel confident in my gender judging ability. But it did shake my confidence that this is a girl. I now feel the need to review the boy names list! I did have some more contractions today, but nothing regular. I keep wondering if I will go into labor but my doctor said he didn't think I would.

Brad came this evening after working hard all day and was only able to stay about an hour because Will became a pill. I hated saying goodbye to them. It was so hard tonight for some reason. I am definitely wanting to go home. I had a dream last night that they let me go home and when I told my doctor that this morning he said "Yep. That WAS a dream!". Too bad the dogs can't come visit. They would be pretty good company right now. But tomorrow is Thursday (I think!)! And we may be inducing on Tuesday. I can so do this.

Hey Good Lookin'! Keep on Cookin'!

Today started out with another biophysical profile. My perfect babe scored 8 out of 8! After much searching, the tech was able to find a lonely pocket of fluid. This tech was a little more talkative and didn't seem to mind all the questions unlike the lady yesterday. So as far as I gathered, the baby gets scored in 4 areas (2 pts each). Tone/movement, heartrate/placenta, fluid and breathing. They want baby to at least be 6/8. If we drop to 4/8 we will look at getting baby out soon and anything less means baby needs to come out NOW. So hopefully we will remain at 6 or above. If we are at 6 tomorrow, it would likely be the fluid level and my Dr. said he isn't worried about that aspect. His or her head is still down, so that is great because I want to avoid a c-section unless absolutely necessary.

We passed both non-stress tests today, though they left me on awhile this morning because I was having quite a few contractions. They never got into a regular pattern but were picking up there for awhile. I was starting to think it might be baby time! While they do not want me having the baby yet, they will not stop labor that starts on its own. Currently the plan is to do a growth scan on Monday and then likely induce Tuesday when I will be 34 weeks even. That is less than a week! But with how crampy I've been feeling and with how many contractions I had today, my intuition is that we will have a baby before then.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy napping when I want, visiting with friends and family, eating all the yummy foods I am being brought (which is NOT the hospital food if you were wondering!) and just thinking about the little person we will be meeting soon!

Last Call for 32 weekers!

Tomorrow is a brand new day. I will be 33 weeks tomorrow! Everyday is a big milestone in the baby-baking department, and I am quite surprised we have made it this far. I got the ok to wear whatever clothes I wanted and I got my IV out. They will leave it out until I go into labor! So I have NO lines, tubes or straps on me except for when I get my blood pressure taken every 4 hours. Brad and I got to tour the NICU today. It is SO nice. Each baby has its own 'pod' or room with a door that closes and a curtain you can pull closed if you are nursing or doing kangaroo care (skin to skin time). There are beautiful murals on the wall and everything is state of the art. We are very blessed to be where we are.

The biophysical profile scan showed a couple of small fluid pockets around the baby and we saw the baby 'practice' breathing. We will do one of these each morning and check on the tiny person. My doctor told me the goal is to get to next Tuesday when I will be 34 weeks. They will do a growth scan and then we will 'talk' about induction.

I am feeling well now but had an odd afternoon of feeling pretty poorly. I told my mom I felt 'drained' to which she replied 'Well, you have been drained!' Ha ha, mom. I felt better after a nap then had another episode of feeling quite depleted and then flushed. I remember feeling the same way before I went to the hospital to have Will. I was having contractions with him but not feeling them. So not sure if this means things are about to pick up in the labor department, but I guess time will tell!

Brad is at home with Will again tonight. I could tell he felt torn leaving me because he knew I wasn't doing well at the moment. I assured him I would call him if it looked like baby time! Now back to the waiting game...

Guess What!

Not only did I make my mommy smile by playing with me feet like I was a little baby again, but she has some exciting news! No, my baby brother or sister isn't here yet. We're still waiting around. Not quite sure what the big deal is because I am SO cute, you'd think they'd be perfectly content with JUST me! Anyway, mommy's doctor came by yesterday and let her get unhooked from all those funny machines. My mommy tells me one of them is called an IV pump, but I call it a 'mump'. Close enough, I think! So mommy can get up and walk to the bathroom all by herself. This makes her happy. She told me they are going to take some more pictures of the baby today and see how things are going inside her belly. She's pretty excited about seeing this little person again and just hopes the technician is as good as the ones at Dr. Gnam's office about hiding certain parts from her view. We don't want any beans spilled! My daddy spent a lot of time with me yesterday and I even got to go sleep in my own crib last night. The doctor says mommy may be here for 2 more weeks before the baby comes! But I like coming to see her and pushing the rollie stool around the room and hiding in the big cabinet by the sink, so that is ok with me! Bye bye for now! - Will

Making Lemonade

You know the saying... "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade". I am trying to do just that. It is so tough being in this hospital bed, with various tubes and straps in or on me. I am quite a control freak. I enjoy my independence. I have strong opinions and I am strong willed. That pretty much goes out the window when you're in the hospital and on bedrest.

Lemon: I am 32 weeks, 5 days pregnant. My baby's due date is just under 2 months from now. My water broke 2 days ago and now it looks like we will have a preemie and I will be discharged home empty handed, leaving my tiny babe with strangers.
Lemonade: I recognized quickly what was happening and sought care right away. We are almost 4 hours from our goal time of 48 hours since the first dose of steroids and my contractions are still sparce off the magnesium, so the baby looks to have even more time to get ready for life outside the womb.

Lemon: I am unable to get up and sit in a chair, much less take care of Will.
Lemonade: We are surrounded by friends and family who CAN take care of him. We are blessed to live so close to our parents and close to the hospital so he can visit.

Lemon: I had so many things to get ready still. I hadn't washed any baby clothes or blankets. We have no newborn diapers. The crib still isn't put together. Will still hasn't been moved to his new room.
Lemonade: There is time for all that, just not before the baby comes. Since the baby will likely spend close to 2 weeks or more in the NICU, I can go home and do a few things like washing while directing the set up of Will's room and how I want the nursery set up. And since I am stuck in bed, I can do a couple of crafty things like make a door plaque for the baby. I have not impressed myself by any means. I probably should have enlisted the talents of someone like Megan, but we do have some pink and blue stickers we can put the baby's name and birth info on and coordinating ribbon to hang on my postpartum room then eventually his or her door.

(don't worry. the cake in this picture will NOT be here in a little while).

I have a few more lemons to deal with, but my favorite little pint sized person just walked into my room, so I think I will visit with him and my mom.