Good report

So I saw the cardiologist like my OB wanted. He did and EKG and ordered an Echo. All this because my OB was concerned about my blood pressure and she thought she heard a murmur. So the EKG came back normal and the Echo showed a perfectly healthy heart. PTL! The cardiologist has discharged me back to my OB to finish out. The cardiologist feels that the high pressure is just a result of the pregnancy. The meds are controlling the pressure for now. I should be able to be weaned off of it soon after Phoebe makes her arrival! I'm so glad to hear that my heart is strong. The baby has performed beautifully on the non stress test. This shows that the high pressures are not affecting her at this point. Hoping to get a better idea of how and when this baby will be making her debut. I see the OB tomorrow. We'll see what she says! We are so looking forward to meeting our baby girl!

Curve Balls

Well, we've been thrown a couple of curve balls over the last week.  Here's an update:  My blood pressure was elevated at my regular appointment about two weeks ago.  My doc was concerned, but let me go since I hadn't had any high readings thus far.  I was to get my blood pressure read the following week and report the numbers to her office.  I did that and she made me come in immediately, as they were way elevated by this point.  I came in to the office and the nurses there took my pressure again and it was still pretty high.  My doc prescribed a blood pressure pill and ordered some immediate blood work.  She also told me that I would be off work until the baby comes.  I talked her in to reevaluating me to see if maybe I could squeeze in a couple more days of work, but ultimately she decided it wasn't a wise move.  I went straight over to get the blood work drawn.  I went back to the doctor the following day and hear the results of the blood work. Everything was fine  We also had an ultrasound done at that appointment.  It was fun to see the baby.  She was doing great.  She was evaluated on an 8 point test and she aced it!  She was taking practice breaths and her heart beat and cord were looking good.  She has a good amount of fluid in there too.  We did learn that she is in a complicated Frank Breech position.  She is butt down, head up.  She has one foot hugged to her face and the other foot is tucked under her butt.  We need her to flip over.  Anyway, my doc has me on the blood pressure meds, off work, and basically sitting around with my feet up.  I'm trying to take it easy, but its hard to do when there's plenty to be done around here!  So we are trying to take it all in stride as we adjust to these curve balls.  Ultimately, we know that God is in control and he will provide.  Moments like this make it really hard to look past the needs and realities of our natural life, and trust that God has the supernatural power to cover it all.  We are trusting that he will continue to take care of us and make himself real in this situation.  My official due date is March 11, but with these new findings, we won't be waiting that long.  The doctor is tentitively scheduling a c-section for the end of February to deliver this breech baby.  That's not a final decision, but I assume that even if she turns, we will probably be looking at inducing by the end of Feb anyway so we can get her here safely and calm my blood pressure.  David is so supportive and he's been great through all of this.  He even surprised me with flowers (can't remember the last time he ever gave me flowers).  God is good all the time!

Prep work

Washing some baby clothes, organizing hand me downs by size, starting to pack our bags, and generally getting excited! :)

SLEEP

I'm forgetting what its like to sleep through the night...and the baby isn't even here yet!  Maybe my body is prepping me for what's to come.  I wouldn't mind banking some solid hours before Phoebe arrives!  Oh well.  Life will go on.

Trying to be tall and other ramblings

So this baby girl is trying her best to stretch and be so tall.  I had to break it to her that she's not got much of a shot at being tall with these genes.  She keeps pushing up on my ribs like she's trying to see just how tall she can be.  Once again, I love her movements and I can't complain too much.  She's not kicking hard.  Their like slow stretching movements now.  Can't say I mind the fact that she hasn't been much of a kick boxer.  She's pretty gentle, even when she's moving a lot.
We're so ready to see this little girl.  I am totally ok with having a late Feb baby instead of an early March baby.  We'll see what she decides.  My little brother is coming up to spend some time with the fam right around her due date.  We are hoping she decides to arrive in time to meet her uncle and her two cousins who live out of state!  So much to look forward to.
Dave and I are planning what we need for my maternity pics next week and I got thinking about her newborn pics as well.  So much fun planning how we will show off our little princess in pictures.  I am already such a proud momma, and she's not even here yet.
Dave keeps saying, "I just love her so much and I've not even met her.  How does that work?"  He also told me last night that since I've gotten to hold her for 9 months, he gets to hold her exclusively for the next 9 months, then we get to trade off every other day!  He's so cute!  I asked if that meant he's gonna do diapers too.  He said no, because I've not had to change any yet, so we're starting out even on those! :)  Parenthood is already such a blessing.  So excited to see what she looks like, smells like, sounds like, and feels like!
The other day we were talking and I discovered that David already talks bout our Phoebe with his customers and other random people.  I love how proud he is! :)  I knew fatherhood would find him when the time was right!  He loves to share the name we've picked out.  And he'll talk to other pregnant women, like the cashier at Lowe's, about his baby coming, and then ask questions about their baby!  Its so sweet.  A much different side of the "I don't need any kids" man he tried to be.  So thankful for such an amazing hubby.

The new "US"

Phoebe's been lazy for the last two days, but she is making up for it today.  She has been crazy squirmy and I love it! :)  Last night as David and I laid in bed we were talking about life after Phoebe comes.  We were talking about CDYC, a summer youth event.  He was talking about going and helping with art again like last year, and I said I was planning to take Phoebe any way to visit my mom down there.  I said, "That would be cool.  You, me, and Phoebe can all go visit together."  He stopped me and said, "whoa, that's the first time I've thought about how 'us' will include Phoebe too".  It was a fun moment for him.  Its like it just hit him that we will take her with us everywhere.  That she is here to stay!  It was fun to think about.  We can't wait to meet this little punkin! :)  I love to watch her Daddy fall in love with her already.  I cannot wait to see him see her for the first time!

More Symptoms

So, I know its all normal, but the farther along I get, the more I experience those pregnancy symptoms I have always heard about.  I had it pretty easy peasy most of the way through, so I really can't complain.  My toughest symptoms right now are the pains in my hips and way low back.  I'm working on stretching, icing, moving around, and massages.  Its worst at night when I try to move around and get comfortable.  Thankfully it hasn't kept me up too much so far! :)  The newest development is the swelling feet/ankles.  Trying to keep them up as much as possible!  So thankful for a super supportive hubby.  He is a blessing and so helpful!  Can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees his baby girl for the first time! :)  Just 8 weeks (give or take) and our princess will be here.  I'm so excited to meet her. All I want to do it study her and memorize everything about her! :)  I love our little Phoebe Girl! :)