Birth-day pictures!!!!!!!!!!!

Weeks 40&41

Weeks 40&41 update-8/30/13 (after the fact—I delivered at 41 weeks 5 days on 8/24/13)

How big is baby? Another big one.  You can really clearly feel where baby is and body parts.  Kind of strange.

Appointment Updates: I had one last appointment with my preferred Dr. (Anna) and we discussed our plan of continuing to wait for things to happen naturally, then to induce by breaking my water (AROM) on Tuesday 8/27/13 if I had not delivered already. Then Anna went on vacation and the rest of my appointment were with Dr. Kate, the Dr. who delivered Joseph. She was willing to abide by Anna and my plan. Then when I still hadn’t delivered by week 41 I started twice weekly non-stress tests (NSTs) where I would go to the hospital and have baby’s heart rate and my contractions monitored (this is standard practice). Then, after one NST Kate did an ultrasound test and baby did not move at all (besides her heart beating) for 30 min, completely failing the test. Kate and I agreed she was probably sleeping, since she had been moving all over the place on shortly before, but it was still kind of scary. Kate said I should come back in the next day for another NST, which looked fine. Then another NST a couple days later showed two small heart decelerations. Kate said she believed that baby was fine but that these decels were concerning. So they kept me at the hospital and all hooked up for the rest of the afternoon. Everything looked fine, but Kate decided she thought I should be induced right then. This totally freaked me out. She actually said, “I don’t really think there is any problem with your baby, but I can’t be sure and you are so close (5cm) I recommend we break your water now.”  She said I would have to spend the night at the hospital if I didn’t get induced. I continued to resist medical intervention and said I did not want to be induced. At 8 that night, after all day at the hospital and nothing on the strip looking concerning for about 7 hours, she said I could go home!! This was a big deal for me.  I normally do what doctors tell me and the whole “trusting my instinct” thing does not come easy. 

Sleep: Once I stopped working I started sleeping quite well!

Food aversions: Nope

Food cravings: Same—cranberry juice, sweets, lemon, fruit…

Symptoms: Very big, pressure.

Maternity clothes: Not much fit at the end! Same few shirts and skirts.

Weight: I basically stopped worrying about it since I had done pretty well and I was pretty stressed with the whole going overdue thing, but by the very end I was up 35 pounds.

Mommy movement: LOTS of walking. About a mile every night and often more. Didn’t seem to help get baby out though…

Baby movement: Sometimes tons, sometimes not much at all.

Gender: ????????????????????

Birth story--because this baby did finally decide to come out--coming soon!!!

Nora

 

Nora Elizabeth Bergevin
Born 8/24/13, 9 lbs, 22 1/2 inches

She's here!!

 

 

Still a family of three . . .

We are still waiting for baby to exit my stomach.  In the meantime we did a little craft I had wanted to do with Joseph for a while. 

If you went to Lincoln Elementary School, as I did, you made one of these in kindergarten.  I thought it would be fun for Joseph to make one at around the same age (we were a little late, as usual, but close enough).  He did say that he would have made my tummy big, but didn’t know how.  Honestly, Joseph is such a perfectionist we were lucky he finished a project without major frustration!

 

My, very faded, version.  From 1988.

Weeks 38&39

Weeks 38&39 update-8/15/13

How big is baby? Probably huge.

Appointment Updates: Blugh. I had an appointment Tuesday and it was totally disheartening. First of I have been using 8/15 as my due date, but my Dr. said she had been using 8/12 so I was already officially “overdue.” (I think since changing Dr.s and having a number of different due dates confused things). I knew of course I was close, but thought I had a little more time. My Dr. offered to induce me Thursday, which I turned down, still hoping to have things happen naturally. I am very skeptical that I will be able to have a VBAC if I am induced. Dr. said she would give me two weeks to go on my own so we scheduled an induction for 8/27. I HATE the idea of going that long. So depressing. I just want to have my baby and know that he/she is ok! It just really stinks knowing I could have baby right now if I scheduled a repeat c-section (actually if I had scheduled one at the normal time baby would be about 2 weeks old now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I live in angst that I am making the “right” decisions…

Best Moment of the week: ? Mostly anxious and worried over here. Ok, actually I wasn’t that bad until this week. The weekend before I had an awesome, amazing weekend with my aunts and family. On Sat. we all went to the beach, then got pedicures, did some shopping, went out to an amazing restaurant, and then walked around town. They were so generous and sweet and it was a wonderful day—and thanks to Bob as well! The next day lots of the family hung out in Lincoln and it was a another fun time. Thank you everyone!!

Sleep: Sometimes fine, sometimes bad . . . Nights before work and Dr. appointments seem to be really hard, but I am now officially finished with work (kind of a hard decision, but I think the right one) so hopefully that will help.

Food aversions: Nope.

Food cravings: I love almost all food. Fruit, cranberry juice, ice cream, and lemonade are my favorites.

Symptoms: HUGE. Cramps, pressure, twinges. Btw, using the due date I found out the other day all my pics are about a week behind, since I usually took them a couple days late to begin with…

Maternity clothes: Some, but mostly just my stretchy skirts and tank tops. Though it has been been cooler (beautiful actually!) and I wish I had more maternity stuff, especially jeans, but too late now.

Weight: Stopped weighing myself. Hopefully still doing ok. 

Mommy movement: Walking ever single day. More and more. Last night I did 2 ½ miles. Still no baby.

Baby movement: Moving quite a lot. Which is very reassuring!  At the Dr. we listened to baby for a long time and it moved a lot and heart rate sounded great.

Gender: ????????????????????

What I miss: Not living in this insane limbo.

What I am looking forward to: Having a real, live, healthy baby on the outside.

Getting ready for baby: Pretty ready. Have been for a while. One of the biggest things I did to get ready is try and stock up on items so I wouldn’t have to go to the store. Well, now I have already gone through some of my back stock and had to go buy more again. I also froze a little food and have already broken into that as well.

Next appointment: Tuesday. Blugh. Different Dr. (the one who delivered Joseph) since my Dr. is on vacation now. Which stinks.  So hope I “go” before then.

July 2013 Fun!!

Maybe if I get caught up on everything possible this baby will decide to come?

Anyways, here are pic from July.

We started of the month was an awesome visit from my best friend Jennifer and her awesome kiddos Sophia and Kaia.  These first pics are from Sophia’s 5th birthday party.

Playing with the legos Joseph picked out for Sophia.  Joseph takes following the instructions very seriously. 

Another day at the river with Jenn, Alice and kiddos.  We have been best friends since we were 4!

3rd of July we hung out on the Bristol green before the fireworks.

Joseph was so excited about the sparkelers. He has always wanted to use them, but I am kindof scared of them.

Watching the fireworks.

Swim lessons!

A ride in Don’s army truck!

Ooopss—things are out of order here.  Oh well.  At the river.  I love these pictures!!!!!!

Have to include a meal at Cubbers for cheesy garlic bread and other greasy food when Jenn visits.

Fourth of July in Bristol!  Actually it was really hot and a little miserable for me.  Luckily we got there early, did some of the activities before the parade and then left right away.

When we got home.

Headed to swim at the neighbors.  one of Joseph’s very favorite things.

Gnome party at the library.  Actually, Joseph was the only child, but he didn’t mind at all since he was the center of attention for four adults.  It was lots of fun.  We actually managed to attend quite a number of the library activities this summer, though I didn’t take pictures of most.

Joseph’s Gnome house.

A visit and swim at my grandmother’s cabin in Lincoln,

A big part of Joseph’s summer was three weeks at the local recreation department camp (Camp Kookamunga).  It was a big deal for me sending Joseph to this, but he really seemed to enjoy it.  This is a picture of the director Sam on the talent show day which was also her birthday.  She, and all the staff, were AMAZING.  Joseph went five days a week the weeks he attended.  Each day they played games and had adventures in the morning then swam at the town pool in the afternoon.  Then one day they went to Lake Dunmore for a day and then another BIG field trip for a day.  The field trips Joseph went on were to Bromley Mt. (alpine slides and other attractions), Jay Peak (indoor water park and arcade), and The Fun Spot (rollerblading, arcade, go carts . . .).  It was really perfect that they took him to all these things, because he LOVES them, while they are definitely not my favorite.  I was pretty nervous the first field trip, but it all went well, and I learned to let go a little bit.

And then of course, Joseph’s very favorite summer activity: a trip to Hampton Beach.  I was pretty nervous about pulling this off this summer, given I was about 9 months pregnant, but it all worked out.

Checked into the hotel and immediately heading to the beach, of course!

First one in the water—Joseph!

One morning I made all the kids do the dishes.  I felt really smart.

After a day at the beach, and staying up late, all 5 kids took a nap and this adult took a nap!  Sleeping in the top bunk was another huge highlight for Joseph.

Arcade time!  I really am not a huge fan—such a waist of money.  Luckily Joseph kept winning this time, so we didn’t have to stay that long. 

Well, there was the horse race game that you play against a bunch of strangers, and I won!!!! Couldn’t believe that.  I’m guessing the others must have been inebriated or something . . .

Playing his cousins video games is also very exciting for Joseph.

On the last day we tested out the pool.  However, this year the ocean was much warmer then last—completely comfortable, so we didn’t use the pool much!

Last day at the beach!

Boogie boards were a big hit this year.

We ended up at a different part of the beach on the last day and the kids found a crab.  Very fun.

Back home, Joseph is going through a big puzzle phase.  Luckily they are like 25 cents at our second hand store.  He worked on this 200 piece puzzle for hours one morning.

Side swinging at Branbury Beach with Megan—one of my favorite things when I was a kid. 

And finally—Jenna and Justin’s wedding.  So fun and so special!!