Should I even call myself a blogger?? You decide! Well, I must say that our time in the States has brought a busy-ness that I have not seen since August. I really do love it, although it was pretty overwhelming the first couple of weeks. Currently we have been on American soil for just over a month. Right now we are staying with my Dad, which has been great since he works half the week in South Carolina, so we have lots of space to ourselves. He set up 3 rooms for us....he even borrowed a crib from a client for the baby's room. What a sweet surprise, and all the rooms look perfect. It is right in the area I grew up so I am loving eating at all of my favorite hot spots, and being convenient to friends and my sister and mom, whom we have seen bunches. We have also been able to go to Dooleytown in Lawrenceville each week to spend a day with the in-laws. In the midst of running around town, we are spending time raising support for the new baby and life has just been crazy. But, even though it has been ca-razy, I don't want to forget some details of the end of this pregnancy since I actually documented it this time around. Sooooo, here goes....
Dear Baby,
Let me back up to around 32 weeks. I am pictured below during that week. During that appointment I mainly got a permission note to fly back to America. It stated that I was 'fit for flight', which gave me a giggle as did so many other times seeing dear old Dr. Yang.
We flew home just shy of 33 weeks and the flight was great. Your big brother slept 8.5 hours during the 12.5 hour flight from the capital city to Chicago. However, all 3 of our flights were delayed resulting in all of our bags getting lost. We got them the next day as we were happily resting at your Nana's house. At 33 weeks, I went to meet my doctor here in Atlanta. Her name is Dr. Dozier and I am so thankful for the rec from my sweet friend
Amanda. Daddy and I were so impressed with how smoothly the office was run and how quickly we got through all the preliminary stuff, including bloodwork, ultrasound, etc. At that time you weighed 5 pounds and she bumped up my due date to July 7, and your heartbeat was 138.
Okay, I tried and tried to figure out how to rotate these pictures, but I am a hopeless case....they are rotated correctly on my computer, and I just cannot do it...I don't have the power! Above is a picture of you when I am 34 weeks and some change. I saw the doc again at 35 weeks, where I had gained 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Yes, you and I had been enjoying the yumminess of Chick-Fil-A (which your brother calls the 'Moo Moo Cow'), Jalisco's, Souper Jenny, Figo, Houston's, your Gran's cooking and the list goes on...At that appointment I was 1 cm dilated.
Above was Mommy at 36 weeks (still going by the original due date on July 12 in my head so that the 7th does not come and go and seriously disappoint me). That day I met with a different doctor who was just as great and your heartbeat was 155 bpm. That night our friends
Mellie and
Bethany came to visit and Mel spent the night with her daughter Annie. She is having a baby boy in August, and I think y'all will be great friends. Pictures to come.
And last but not least, this last picture was last Tuesday at 37 weeks. At my weekly appointment, I was still 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, and you have started to drop. I never even dilated with your brother, I just got effaced (is that the right term?) and then my water broke, so pitocin had to be administered. I am encouraged that I am at least 1 cm, so hopefully it will cut off some labor time (H's was 25 hours from the time I woke up with broken water to the time he came out....so typical....he is slow as Christmas with everything he does...that cautious little monkey!)
In total, I have gained about 29-30 pounds, which is way less than I gained with your brother. 8 of those lbs have been this past month in the ATL....ha! Thankfully, I have had minimal swelling and have been really very comfortable. I think it's because I can handle the heat here since there is AC everywhere, and I am not walking as my mode of transport. Since last Sunday I have been in pain every couple of days, and last night I barely slept, so I am definitely slipping into the uncomfortable bitter end. Your brother came 11 days early, and I so would not mind if you did the same thing, but I am sure you like to march to the beat of your own drum, just please don't make me wait until mid-July! I am predicting you arrive over the holiday weekend, but I guess we will see. I'm on the edge of my seat and cannot wait to hold you! Until then I am trying to enjoy your big brother in spite of my fatigue and enjoy this sweet time in my hometown with family and friends.
Love you, Baby! Soon we will find out who you are and how you perfectly fit into our family! I cannot wait to know you.
LOVE,
Mommy
