31 Weeks: Bed Rest Day 77

My countdown ticker says "63 days to go" until Anya is born... I'm just hoping to make it another 4-5 weeks! Tomorrow is 2 months away from my official due date.

I saw my OB on Monday, and that visit went well. I didn't want a cervix check, but she insisted, and luckily I am still holding at 2cm dilated and 75% effaced. The procardia is working, and she gave me another script to take it for another month. Luckily, I don't experience the side effects every time I take it!! Ocasionally I get shaky, dizzy, my heart races, and I get a headache. Other times, I'm fine! My blood sugar numbers have been ALOT better too, and its not like I'm doing much different! The best part is my OB told me that I can get in my own backyard pool!!! :)  I am now officially on once a week OB appts, every Monday morning.

This morning I had a fetal cardiology appointment and growth scan. Anya wouldn't cooperate, so the only picture I got was of her foot (toes on the left, heel on the right). I did get to see her practice "breathing" on the ultrasound though, that was neat! Her heart rate was about 143, which is good. The best part is, she weighs approximately 3lbs 11oz!!! I think I saw on the screen this puts her at the 38th percentile. This is only 4oz less than Emoree weighed at birth at 33w4d, and 1oz MORE than Emoree weighed coming home from the hospital! And I'm only 31 weeks! If this keeps up she will be a good size by 35-36 weeks :) Today my amniotic fluid measured 10cm, when 2 weeks ago it was 16cm. Because of this, I ended up on the monitor today for a Non-Stress Test, which I will now have done every week, and I also have to go back this Friday to check the amniotic fluid again just to make sure it hasn't decreased further.

No crochet pictures this week, I am still working on Emoree's granny square blanket. I have 47/80 square complete, so over halfway done the squares! Putting it together and doing the border is a whole nother task. I started packing my hospital bag this week, all I really have together is 2 pairs of PJs and some toiletries but its a start.

On Monday, I did my own maternity pictures :) I didn't want to wait any longer in case I would miss the opportunity to do them... and it is something I have been looking forward to. There are still a few shots I want to do that involve Emoree, I hope to get those done this weekend.

31 Weeks: 200.6 lbs (+12 lbs)





30 Weeks & 1 Day: Bed Rest Day 71

To say the least, it has been an "interesting" week. The end of last week and the weekend was nice... I had friends over on Thursday and Saturday and things felt "normal" again. Luckily with all the crazy storms last Friday, we didn't lose our power like lots of others did because I don't think I would have survived this 100+ degree heat without AC!!

Monday morning my first appointment was with the diabetic nutrition counseling people... Let me tell you I didn't learn much! The only thing I got out of it was I need to "count carbs"... but honestly it hasn't affected my numbers much.

My next appointment was immediately following the diabetic counseling appointment, and that was my regular OB visit. It started out like a normal visit, heard Anya's heartbeat, talked about my blood sugar numbers, etc. She asked if I had any contractions in the last two weeks, and I said no, but I've felt more pressure. She decided it would be a good idea to check my cervix... and that is when everything changed. I was shocked to hear that at 29 weeks & 5 days pregnant I was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced! This earned me a trip immediately to Labor & Delivery. We walked back across the street to the hospital and I was admitted to L&D. I was quite upset about this...

They had a room ready for me when I got there because my OB had called ahead to let them know I was on my way. First thing they did was hook me up to a heart beat monitor for Anya, and a contraction monitor. They ended up taking the heart monitor off later that night because Anya was doing just fine, but the contraction monitor they left on me for my entire 28 hour stay. For the first 6 or so hours, I was having "uterine irritability", not really contractions. Anyway, within the first hour I was there they started me on IV fluids, did a cervical exam (OW!!!!) in which they did swabs for a FFN test and all sorts of other things, and they re-checked my cervix which was confirmed to be 2cm dilated & 50% effaced. My cervix was checked again 2-3 hours later, and it was 2cm dilated and 75% effaced (which is what it currently still is today). The FFN test luckily came back negative, it is some sort of test that can predict if I was going to deliver in the next two weeks. They also started me on Procardia to keep away any contractions, which I am still taking around the clock every 6 hours. My mom brought Emoree up to the hosital to see me for about an hour, and that made me happy. Later that night she called me before bed time and was crying :( We haven't been apart one night since she was 15 months old. Also, it is hard to sleep in a hospital! I literally only got 3 hours of sleep. They gave me a steroid shot on Monday to help mature Anya's lungs quicker in case she is delivered prematurely, and also one the second day before I was discharged. Also because of my gestational diabetes (that I still don't believe I have), they tested my blood sugar a heck of a lot! After the first steroid shot, my sugar shot up to over 200. After two doses of insulin Monday night, it was finally back down in the 140-150s. I did some crocheting while I was in the hospital too, but it was difficult with the IV in my arm (I requested to not have it put in my hand). I was FINLLY discharged just before 4PM on Tuesday! I have orders of even stricter bed rest, no pool (not even laying in my lovely pool raft), I am allowed from the bed, to the recliner, to the bathroom, and a quick trip to the kitchen for a snack and a water bottle, but no standing in the kitchen preparing food.

While admitted in Labor & Delivery, a very special friend of mine stopped by to see me Tuesday morning. Her daughter was born on Friday, and she has the same CHD that Anya has, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Her precious baby girl had open heart surgery on Tuesday for the Norwood procedure, the first of the 3 surgeries that Anya will have as well. I think it is about a 5-6 hour surgery, and the most complex of the 3. Now two days later, baby C is doing better than expected, and her chest will be closed tomorrow (they typically do not close the chest immediately after surgery because of swelling). Anyway, her Mommy Sarah is pretty handy with scrapbooking and card making, and made this for Anya! I am going to frame it and hang it in her nursery.

Yesterday I was pretty depressed... it was 4th of July, 99 degrees, and I couldn't go swimming. It was even too hot to sit outside on a lounge chair for more than 20 minutes, and everyone else was in the pool. I fell asleep at 8PM and didn't even see one bit of fireworks. I wanted to crochet, but my wrist is pretty sore from my IV (it is bruised and swollen). Today I'm feeling alot better... I'm home by myself and spending the day inside in the air conditioning... my wrist is still pretty bruised but I might try some crocheting a little later.

I cancelled my other 2 doctor's appointments this week; I was supposed to have a cervix length check today which would prove to be pointless, since I just had a check on Tuesday and I am dilated. The other appointment was at pediatric cardiology for a fetal echo, which I rescheduled for 2 weeks from today. Monday I see my OB again, and I see the fetal cardiologist next Wednesday.

Late last week I made Anya 3 more hats while sitting outside in the shade, and Emoree was swimming. This first one is a pattern I came up with myself, and it is approximately 6 months size.

This one is newborn size, which is very similar to a hat I made very early this pregnancy. The one I made before was preemie size and I've decided I won't get use out of it, so I put it in my "donate to the NICU" stack of hats and made this one instead, and added a cute flower to it :)

This one is 3 months size, a simple design with a butterfly detail :)

While I was in the hospital, I finished Emoree's big sister present from Anya! All I had left to do was the shoes, so it didn't take long. I love it, and I hope she will too!!

This is my collection so far of hats (and a pair of booties) I've made to donate to the NICU that Anya will be in. So far it is 14 hats, and I want to have at least 20, which should be an easy task. They range in size from tiny preemie up to large newborn :)

and now for my current project... I am making my first granny square blanket! I am going to need at least 80 squares total (they measure 4.5" square) to make it at least 36"x45". 8 squares done, at least 72 to go! This is going to be for Emoree, because I promised her I would make her a blanket. This is from "leftover" skeins of yarn both my mom and I have in bins... and I am starting with this lavender, and I am also going to do pink square and white squares (all in yarn I already have laying around). This project is going to take me awhile, but I'd like to have it done before Anya is born!

I took this picture (the one on the right) on Friday when I was 29 weeks & 2 days (5 days before I had Emoree), to compare to the picture on the left when I was 32 weeks & 6 days pregnant with Emoree!! More than 3 weeks behind, my belly is already bigger, my boobs are bigger, and I am definitely more tan :) I really would like to take this same picture again when I am 32 weeks & 6 days with Anya ;)

30 Weeks: 200.2 lbs eek! (+11.6 lbs)

29 Weeks: Bed Rest Day 63

I've actually made it through 9 weeks of bed rest? Wow... and it's probably over half way over too! Today I'm taking bed rest to it's full extent... I'm freaking uncomfortable! Everytime I stand or walk I have a moderate amount of pressure and I am just generally exhausted. Also I feel like I live in a bubble, and Anya isn't even here yet. I miss my friends :(

I had my lovely weekly cervix check and ultrasound this morning! To which I found out why I'm so uncomfortable... Anya has been head down for 10 weeks now, but up until this week there was a tiny pocket of fluid between her head and my cervix that she used to have room to put her hand on top of her head, no more! Her head is now pressed hard against my cervix with no room to spare :-P Luckily, my cervix is still closed and measuring at 2.3cm! Given that I've been increasingly uncomfortable for the last 2 days, I was afraid it would be shorter. Also, the amniotic fluid is 16cm, which is right on target. Everything still looks good with Anya too, and she weighs an estimated 2lbs 10oz!! She is in the 42nd percentile for her gestational age, so basically on track.

That is really the only "update" I have this week, I miraculously only had one appointment!! Next week, I have 4. Monday is my OB appt and my "diabetic nutrition counseling" appointment, and Thursday next week is my pediatric cardiology appointment (for a fetal echocardiogram) and my last cervix length check.



As far as crocheting goes, I made a gift for a friend, I had another friend ask me to make two hats for her and I got them done this week, and I've been working on Emoree's big sister present :) I'm really excited about it! I will post a pic when it is complete, but she won't see it until after Anya is born, because it is her present from Anya. And of course, I finished Emoree's loom hat that matches one I made for Anya!

29 Weeks: 196 lbs (+ 7.4 lbs)

28 Weeks: Bed Rest Day 56

Hello Third Trimester!!!! I sure hope to know you longer this time than I did with Emoree. Can I ask for 9 more weeks? :o) It is crazy hot outside today!! 97 degrees.. heat index 102. Normally I love the heat and will spend the day in the pool getting sun... but being pregnant if it's over 90 degrees after an hour I'm done. Maybe I will go back out later.

First I am going to give an Emoree update! Yesterday she had 4" cut off of her hair! She has had plenty of haircuts, but this was by far the most drastic. It is now shoulder length and easier to brush and maintain.. since she hates having her hair brushed and she swims all summer. I am letting her bangs grow out. She had her 4 year well visit yesterday at the pediatrican, and she weighs 48.9lbs and is 41.75" tall!!!! She is a big girl! She is in the 95th percentile for height and weight. She had 4 vaccines (MMR, chicken pox, tetanus, and dTap or polio?) yesterday and I was told she is good on vaccines now until she is 11 years old! Unfortunately all last night and today she has had a bad fever and chills... hoping this is gone by tomorrow :(

Also while we were at Emoree's pediatrican appointment yesterday, we talked to the pedi about Anya. I am very happy to hear that she currently has two patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, and she trained under one of the doctors who was part of creating the Norwood (1st) surgery that Anya will have, so she is very knowledgable and comfortable with handling Anya's diagnosis. She also said if we have any issues after hours once Anya is home, we will have direct phone access to her, and we won't have to use the after hours messaging on call system. Big relief! She also said even though she isn't connected with UMMC, to call her when I am in labor or when Anya is born because she will make a trip over to UMMC to check in on her.

Monday I had my 27-28 week OB appointment. All went well except my OB told me I do have gestational diabetes :( I've been testing my blood sugar for two weeks 4x a day, and she said half of my numbers are too high and that I need to go to diabetic nutritional counseling (scheduled July 2nd) and continue to keep track of my blood sugar levels, and that if they continue to be high she will put me on meds :( Next OB appt scheduled for July 2nd right after the nutrition appointment.

Today I had my cervix check, which measured 2.0-2.3cm! Still holding stable ;) They told me they will probably measure my cervix for 2 more weeks just to make sure it stays stable. They also printed me 4 pictures today, Anya was semi-cooperative :) I got to see the fetal cardiologist again today too, she wanted to make sure she saw me because she was going out of town for two weeks. The tech was asking her a lot of questions about what she was scanning and Anya's specific defect, so I got to learn a lot more too... apparantly she really IS more stable now than she was when she was first diagnosed. The fetal cardiologist said that Anya was alot more critical when first diagnosed because her PFO was closed / nearly closed and she had a lot more pressure in her arteries than she does now. Now her PFO looks okay, which alleviated pressure. It was good to hear :) The tech also asked about the surgeries, her aorta, and the left side of her heart, and the fetal cardiologist said the surgeries rework the "plumbing", but they can't fix the left side of the heart, which I already knew. She doesn't have a left aorta, because there is no blood flow in the left so the aorta never formed.

At the end of last week I made Anya a 0-3 month size elf hat, its more of a photography prop than anything, I love it :)

This is something quick I made, a thick newborn loom hat :) Emoree likes it and wants one of her own, I started it but I need to get more yarn to finish it.

Not crochet, but special none the less :) I made this to hang on the front of Anya's NICU isolette <3

My current in progress projects are Emoree's big sister present, and a gift for someone else.

Something else special... I have lined up a professional photographer from Heartlove Photography to take pictures of Anya in the NICU before her first surgery. This is something special that I really want to do. Heartlove Photography is affiliated with the NILMDTS organization (among others), they are an organization that has professional photographers signed up with them to take portraits of critical ill and bereavement photos of infants in NICUs at no cost. I am familiar with this organization from back when I used to stalk pro photography forums when I was first learning how to use my camera, I just never thought I'd have a reason to use it... but anyway she emailed me back right away and said to keep her updated, and to let her know when she is born so she can come do photos for me, because I want them done before her first surgery.

28 Weeks: 197.6 lbs (+ 9 lbs!)

27 Weeks & 2 Days: Bed Rest Day 51

This week has been pretty normal, 2 doctor's appointments, and I've gotten back into crocheting big time :) Also something else pretty special... I started getting my first kicks in the ribs a few days ago!! Anya is SO active, much more than Emoree ever was. Sometimes feeling my belly I can feel Anya pushing out a body part... usually a foot or her butt and its so cool because I can feel the edges of her foot through my skin <3

I had my regular weekly cervix check on Wednesday morning, and Anya looks stable and good, but just as stubborn as ever because she will NOT turn her face around for a picture!!! Still head down and facing back. The amniotic fluid was measuring at 16cm, which is good! My cervix length is measuring at 1.8cm-2.1cm, short but stable, and still closed. Apparantly the perinatalogist (who I do not see regularly) leaves notes for the techs to ask me... at least this is what the tech told me on Wednesday because she said she had to ask to make sure I was still "behaving" on bed rest, because Dr. Harmon wanted to know. I'm being good! Ecspecially now that I'm back to crocheting, all I do is sit on my butt!

Thursday morning I had a renal ultrasound. Not pregnancy related, but my new OB is very thorough and since I have a unicornuate uterus, she wanted me to have a renal ultrasound because its all connected and comes from the same place during development. The tech scanned and measured my right kidney fast and easy... she spent a lot longer on the left side. It turns out, no left kidney for me! It didn't suprise me much. She said a normal kidney in an adult female is about 10cm, and my right is measuring 12cm most likely to overcompensate for the lack of a left. Good thing a person can live normally with only one kidney :-P



I've been testing my blood sugar 4x a day for just over a week now, and I didn't think I'd get used to the finger prick as quickly as I did. I used to freak out about my fingertips bleeding, but the finger prick isn't too big of a deal. My morning fasting # is usually in the normal-high range... 88-101. After breakfast is always high... 130-150. Lunch and dinner is give or take.. it varies from 110-150. I may or may not have gestational diabetes.. I'm supposed to take my chart of my #s I've been keeping to my OB on Monday.

Now for the fun stuff!!! I finally found a pattern for booties that I like, so here is Anya's first pair of baby booties, of course with a matching headband. Headbands are so easy to make sure will probably have one for every outfit.

This is my biggest project, EVER. I started it over a year ago well before I had even planned to conceive Anya. Last week, I pulled it out of the closet and started crocheting like crazy... literally hours at a time. It was less than half done when I started back on it... but I added 10+ rows each day to get it finished because I was determined to have it done before I started other projects!! It measures 42"x36", so it is a decent size baby blanket too.

I love this!!! I've never crocheted clothing before, and when I saw this pattern I decided I had to make it. For the price of the yarn, I made this whole set for under $6. It is a 0-3 months size dress and diaper cover, with a 14" crochet flower headband. I'm excited to eventually take pictures of Anya wearing it :) I made this whole set in less than 2 days.

First bare belly shot :-) 27 Weeks!!!! I took these yesterday. You can see how tan I am getting sitting out in the sun on nice days... with my arm next to my white belly lol. Anya is growing!!!

27 Weeks: 194.2lbs (+5.6 lbs!)











26 Weeks: Bed Rest Day 42

Today is just a quick update, no pictures, sorry! I had a fetal echo this morning, and Anya is still looking stable. They didn't give me a weight approximate today. There was a small concern about amniotic fluid level, but the fetal cardiologist came in and measured it again and said it was okay, just a tiny bit lower than last week. My cervix length is a stable 2.2cm :) short but sticking!
Today is my first day tracking my blood sugar level... It's not as bad ad I thought. After all, I'd rather do this then take the 3 hr glucose test! This morning when I got up my number was 102, about 2 hrs after breakfast it was 121, and now 1 hr after lunch is 110! If my blood sugar numbers stay looking good I may only have to test for 2 weeks.

25 Weeks & 5 Days: Bed Rest Day 40, & Emoree's birthday!

This past week has not felt like bed rest at all, thankfully! I've been busy and had no alone time, which is why I haven't posted in 10 days :-P We went to the ocean, celebrated Emoree's birthday, I had quite a few appointments, & Emoree's 4th birthday party!! So I have alot to say, and I hope I remember it all!!

I like things in chronological order, so that is how I am going to start :) Saturday, May 26th we went to Ocean City, MD!! Emoree has been asking for months to go, and this trip was a suprise quick one night trip. I thought when we drove over the drawbridge into the city she would know where she was, but she didn't. I finally told her and she was so excited!!!!

Just before we got into Ocean City we went to the outlet stores, namely Children's Place. I love that store! I spent $27 and bought Emoree 2 shirts and a dress, and Anya 4 or 5 items. I really can't do much since I am restricted to bed rest, so the only thing we really did Saturday afternoon was go out to dinner. We went to Dead Freddies, which is pretty awesome! Emoree never even sat at the table.. she was too busy playing on their huge pirate ship!

Sunday morning we went out to breakfast, then went back to the place we were staying and packed up. Then we went to the boardwalk, the highlight of my trip because I finally got my Thrasher's fries!!!!!! They were SOO good and I smothered them in apple cider vinegar. Yum! They also have the best lemonade too :) While I ate my fries, I sat on a bench and Emoree played in a castle on the sand for nearly an hour! We went to Candy Kitchen because I wanted peanut butter and chocolate fudge, and got Emoree a lollipop and ice cream. Then we headed home.

I also want to throw in my belly pic here, at 24 weeks & 4 days since I had my mom take a picture of me in the sand :)

On Tuesday, May 29th, I had an appointment and met with the pediatric cardiac surgeon again. He is pretty awesome, and just wanted to make sure I knew what to expect after Anya is born through the first surgery and between surgery #1 & #2. I also had an appointment to tour the NICU where Anya will spend her first few weeks! It is not as impressive as GBMC's NICU where I had Emoree, but UMMC cares for these heart babies, so that is where she needs to be! There are 3 seperate rooms where the babies are, and each room is based on what level of care they need. They also explained to me that I will most likely not get to hold her right after she is born, but I expected that. They need to stabilize her and start her on prostaglandin IVs to keep her fetal shunts open until surgery. Once they clean her up in the delivery room, they will show her to me to say hi real quick before taking her to the NICU. They request no visitors to the NICU for the first 1.5 hours, because that is when they are working on stabilizing her and getting her hooked up to everything. Grandparents (my mom and dad) and I are really the only ones that are going to see her while she is in the NICU, but I will post many pictures and updates. I may take Emoree to see her, it depends on how Anya is doing.

On Wednesday, May 30th, Emoree turned 4 years old :) Hard to believe my little 3lb 15oz & 17" baby 4 years ago has grown up to be this incredible 47lbs & 43"!!!

For her birthday, first Grandaddy took her to Denny's for breakfast, then we went to the B&O Railroad Museum. They had many trains to see, and we also got to ride one! They have 1 mile of track that they do tour rides on in a commuter train. They also had a little train and carousel that Emoree liked too.

Next we took her to Chuck E Cheese for a late lunch. She loves the rides and photo booths there :)

That night we had cake and presents with just family. I got her a Dora balloon too, because she requested previously that she HAD to have balloons on her birthday!

On Thursday, May 31st, I had two appointments as well. The first was with pediatric cardiology for a fetal echo. I was there for an hour and everything checked out okay, Anya is growing appropriately and there is no change to her heart. The second appointment was just for my cervix check. The tech had a hard time measuring my cervix :-P as they usually do. She couldn't get an accurate measurement, and I saw that the numbers she was getting were all over the place. She told me I have a 'dynamic cervix', which means it is constantly changing. They decided that my cervix is still over 2.0cm, and it could be anywhere from 2.0cm-2.7cm. Anya wasn't cooperating for her photo shoot... Her face picture is distorted by how low she has her head in my uterus, and the 2nd picture shows part of her foot. They did tell me she weighs approximately 1 lb 11 oz now!!! She is growing!

Sunday, June 3rd was Emoree's birthday party!!! We had such a good time. She had a few friends her age that she loved playing with too, we had a pinata with LOTS of candy, and she got LOTS of presents too!!!

And of course, Emoree & Mommy :) I am 25 weeks & 4 days here (taken yesterday). Yes, I wear this dress alot.... it is my favorite and only 1 of 2 maternity dresses I own.

This morning I had my first appointment with my new OB. I am so glad I like her! She is very thorough too. My BP today was 131/87 (I'm recording it, since I actually remember it, lol). She went over my pregnancy history and medical history. Due to my unicornuate uterus, she is sending me for a renal ultrasound to check my kidney function, since having half of a uterus can cause kidney issues (meaning, they don't know if my left kidney is functional, and she would like to know since I have a family history of kidney problems). She also sent me for bloodwork (they took 7 vials!) To recheck basically everything, including my thyroid function (since I am hypothyroid and on meds for it). We also talked about the failed 1hr glucose test I had... and I told her I don't want to do the 3 hour test. She said my other option is to test my blood sugar daily, which I agreed to so she gave me a script for a glucometer. She also took me off of my metformin, since I was taking it for PCOS and she said it doesn't do much help after the first trimester of pregnancy. Which means yay, no more PM pills for me!! I only have AM prenatal vitamin and thyroid medicine :)

The highlight of my appointment this morning is that my new OB is in total support of a VBAC!!!!!! I am SOO EXCITED! Note to Anya: you BETTER stay head down or you are punished! I found out only last month that my uterine scar is NOT vertical, but that it is transverse! She explained the risks, and said there are more risks involved with a repeat c-section then with a VBAC w/ previous low transverse uterine scar, which is why she supports it. She said she was going to check over my old surgical notes from my old OB to make sure that due to my unicornuate uterus they didn't "extend" my incision into the upper part of the uterus, but as long as it is a  low transverse scar, I go into labor on my own (which REALLY shouldn't be a problem for me!), and Anya stays head down and doesn't show signs of stress during labor, that I shouldn't have a problem with a VBAC! This made my day and week!!

One side note... my doctors have decided that my due date is September 8th rather than the 12th... I don't know where they came up with this, but I am not changing MY dates, since I know what day my insemination was!!!! So... today is 100 days until my due date!!!

25 Weeks: 192.4 lbs (+3.8 lbs)