Pregnancy Update

I am not sure where to start on this post, so I will start with how I am feeling physically. I hear stories about women who are pregnant and miserable, especially in the summertime. But I have to admit that I feel pretty good. I have been having a lot of headaches lately (but I am assuming that is because I am a stress-aholic and worry about everything under the sun), back pain and the inevitable heartburn/indigestion. Overall though, I am feeling really, really good...physically!

Mentally though, I am kind of a wreck. As I just stated above, I am a worry wart. Randy is convinced that the world will stop turning if I stop worrying. He is so laid back though that I tell him I am worrying for the both of us! :) So far in this pregnancy I have had five (5) ultrasounds, the latest being this past Friday and today I had a post ultrasound checkup. This little girl is measuring small. My uterus is measuring 32 weeks and I am almost 36 weeks. Her head is oblong shaped with the width being the smallest part. The doctor is concerned about her fluid levels (she went from 15 cm three weeks ago to 9 cm) and also the fact that she is starting to show signs of IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction). Those of you that are familiar with Addison's birth know that she also had IUGR, so we are being hopeful that this baby girl will be as healthy at birth as Addison was.

Today while I was at my doctor's appointment, he told me that he wanted me to stay and do a Non Stress Test. I find the words non stress test to be a little redundant. I understand that NSTs are used to check the fetus's stress, but they also don't want the mother to stress. HELLO!!! You tell me that there MAY possibly be a problem with my child and THEN you tell me not to stress about it! Yeah, right...not gonna happen! Today's test looked good. She had two big movements within a 6 minute period and that is really good. They want the baby to have at least 1 every 10 minutes. The doctor has prescribed twice weekly non stress tests and another ultrasound for this Friday. He is hoping that the baby will be well enough to last until next Friday (September 3rd) when I am 37 weeks. I am hoping that she will be well enough to last until September 21st which is my scheduled C-Section date.

As I have said, I am a worry wart but I am trying not to be a Debbie Downer. I am trying to think positively and have faith that everything will work out the way it is meant to be (or I guess I should say, the way I want it to be!). I honestly don't care if this baby comes early or if she is small, but I do want her to be the healthy! It is almost crazy to me how I can not even know this little person and care so much about her!

These are some of the pictures that were taken during my last ultrasound. This top picture is almost identical to one that I have of Addison.

Already I am in love with this girl!

While the sonographer was looking at the baby's head circumference she noticed that she has hair! You can't really tell from this picture, but I saw some long strands while I was looking at the monitor.

I call this 3D image the "Fun House Mirror" photo. I am really hoping that this is NOT what she comes out looking like. I am pretty sure that she doesn't have bug eyes judging from the 2D picture above! Oh well, if she does come out having bug eyes, then we'll still love her the same.

I have a feeling that I am forgetting a lot of things that I want to say. I am really hoping that one day I get my brain back!