Wednesday, July 28, 2010

36 weeks

I am 36 weeks along and getting very close to being considered full term! At my 34 week appointment I was measuring small again and it was somewhat concerning, so they scheduled me for an ultrasound a few days later. My mom was able to come down for the afternoon (it was the first time she had ever seen an ultrasound because they didn't do them when I was born), so she and Aaron both came with me to the ultrasound. They checked Emma all over and checked out her organs, etc.; and thankfully everything looks healthy, she is just small. So, they sent us to a maternal fetal specialist for them to check and see if they could verify the same thing. After ultrasounds at both places they have determined that everything looks healthy – she is just very small. This could be because she is just a small baby or it could be because the placenta is not working properly and she is not getting everything she needs. So, all this means is that they will be monitoring me at least once a week if not more, and if they see that it is an issue with the placenta they will induce early so that she can come out and get the nourishment she needs. They have already told me they will typically induce by 39-40 weeks (before August 24 because I have the gestational diabetes, but this could mean even sooner. As best they can tell by ultrasound, she is right around 4 pounds, and an average size baby would be between 5 and 6 pounds by now.

We would appreciate it if you would pray for us. We are so grateful that I am already 36 weeks along, so even if she comes sometime soon she will hopefully be close to full term and healthy; but, because she is so small and you can only tell so much from the ultrasound she could be in the NICU for a while too. Please pray for her growth and development over the next several weeks!

On another note - we have almost everything we need for Emma's arrival, we are just waiting for the furniture to arrive. I have been working on some nursery projects, so I will hopefully put up pictures soon.
My next appointment is Friday, so I will post an update when we find out how she is doing this week. Thanks for your prayers!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

35/35 and a new cousin!




Today I am 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days (or less) to go! According to babycenter.com Emma is now as hefty as a honeydew melon at 5 1/4 pounds, doesn't have much room to maneuver in my belly. (Length: more than 18 inches, head to heel.)
At my 34 week appointment last week everything was looking great except that my belly is measuring small, so I will have an ultrasound tomorrow so we can check and make sure everything is okay - so please be praying that she is healthy and developing like she should!
Next week will be my 36week appointment and I will start to go every week, which makes everything seem really close!

In other news, Aaron's sister Carmen and her husband Carlos welcomed their baby girl, Chloe, into the world this weekend. Everyone seems to be doing well and we are thrilled that Emma is going to have a cousin close by and close in age to play with.

Friday, July 2, 2010

32 Weeks!


Today I had my 32 week appointment and everything is going well. What a blessing these last two months have been without sickness and with good reports from from my appointments.

According to babycenter.com: Emma probably "weighs as much as a large jicama -- about 3 3/4 pounds. (Length: about 16 3/4 inches, head to heel.) You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

The big news (at least news to me) is that Emma will be arriving on or before her due date. My sister-in-law is being induced early because she has gestational diabetes and since I have it too I thought I would check with the doctor to see if they typically induce women with GD early. Well, sure enough, they will not allow me to go over my due date so this means baby Emma will be here in 7.5 weeks or less - WOW! It really hit me today how soon that is and I am getting more and more nervous and excited. Please continue to pray for Emma, Aaron, and myself as we are getting ready not only for labor and delivery, but also for the adjustment that is going to come with having a baby.

This week our church has been having Vacation Bible School. I have been able to help out with snacks and nursery and Aaron has been helping teach the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. It has been wonderful to see so many children coming and I am so grateful that our teachers have been faithful to teach them the gospel. We have been meeting outside at the new location in downtown Wake Forest (hopefully we will start having our regular meetings there at the end of August when all of the construction is finished), and we have had lots of kids from the community coming out too. Tonight is the last night and we will having a block party for all of the kids and their parents. As Aaron has said, hopefully this week has been a small taste or what God has in store for our church when we move to Wake Forest!

Next week Aaron is taking our youth to Creed Camp! This is the first year I won't be able to go so I am a little sad about that, but we have some awesome chaperons coming along and I know that the kids will have a great week with them. Please pray for the churches as they are traveling back and forth this week, for the chaperons as they look for opportunities to share the gospel, for the youth as they will be hearing the gospel, and that God would be glorified through what takes place this next week. Aaron will be preaching to the students on Tuesday night too, so please pray for that as well!

Oh, and please pray that Emma will not try to make an early appearance while Daddy is out of town! :o)