No Group B For Me!

Well, it's been 2 weeks since my last post, and not a whole lot has happened in that time. I found out I do NOT have Group B strep, so I do not have to receive antibiotics during delivery! Praise God for that answered prayer! I am still not dilated. My doctor said yesterday, that I have some softening happening, but everything is still closed. She could tell I was disappointed and told me not to internalize it because I can't control when it happens. Well, of course not! I don't feel guilty! I'm just plain tired of being pregnant! She told me if I don't have her by my due date (which is the 30th), she will go ahead and induce me. She doesn't want the baby getting much bigger. So, we know that some time in the next 2 1/2 weeks, little Emily will make her appearance! She was wriggling around this morning right after I woke up, and I told Ben that she said good morning, and then said "Just think! In at least 2 1/2 weeks, you'll get to KISS her good morning!" His eyes got kind of big, but he also had a big smile creep across his face. We're both really excited about meeting her!

Another prayer request...my doctor is going out of town with her kids next week for Spring Break! When she told me this I said, "Oh Lord, I'll have this baby when you're not here!" She said, "No you won't, Andrea! You're going to cross your legs and hold her in because I would be insulted if you had this baby while I'm not here!" :)~ I'm praying she's right. She'll be back at work on the 22nd, so Emily just has to stay put for another 10 days. I know it doesn't really matter who delivers the baby as long as they're an MD, but I'd really like my doctor to be there since I've gone through all of this with her and she knows me, my personality, and my issues. I do have another check up next week, but it will be with a different doctor.

I realize I haven't posted belly pictures in a long while, so I will have Ben take some pics this evening and post them then. Today is also my last day of work...Ben and I have decided I will attempt being a stay-at-home mom. We're stepping out in faith that this is what the Lord wants us to do. We're going to be dirt poor, but He's never left His own begging bread on the streets! We have confidence that He will provide!

"Let the children come to me..."

Something I've been wanting to post about but kept forgetting was the baby shower that Ben's Awana kids (K-5th grade) gave us last week. If you didn't know, Ben is the Games Director for the Awana program we have at our church. He coordinates and plays games with the kids during their rec time on Wednesday nights. The kids found out "Mr. Ben" was going to be a dad and told the Awana Director that they wanted to give him a surprise baby shower!

I was very excited about this because I love to hear the funny things kids say and couldn't wait to see what they would bring for Emily and for Ben! When they came in, they were so excited! Since the shower was supposed to be a surprise, Ben did a great job of acting like he didn't know what was going on when they started handing him presents. The other Awana leaders brought drinks and cupcakes for the kids to have while we opened gifts. So, they chowed down and yelled out which presents he should open in what order! It was so much fun to watch them be excited about what they had brought. They asked questions like, "What is the baby's name?" "Is it a boy or a girl?", and my favorite, "When is the baby's birthday?" Oh, how I wish I knew the answer to that question! :)

Emily got more clothes and we even received some things off the registry, but my favorite gift of all was the simplest! It was not fancily wrapped...in fact, it came in a purple paper lunch sack. Inside was a small bottle of baby wash and 2 quarters. This was not a gift to write home about, but it was from the heart of a child. When we got home that evening, I told Ben how special I thought that gift was. I said, "Do you realize how self sacrificial that $.50 gift was? Do you see how much those kids love you?" That $.50 was most likely part of the child's allowance or some of their savings from birthday money, or a number of other possibilities. The point is, instead of buying something for themselves with it, they chose to give it to Ben and bless us both with their giving heart.

The Lord used that simple gift to teach us what giving is about. It's not about how much you can give; it's the sacrifice behind it. Luke 21:1-4 says: "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. 'I assure you,' He said, 'this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.' "

The Lord also used that simple gift to remind us that we're each to have the heart of a child. Matthew 18:1-4 says: "About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. Then He said, 'I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.' "

Every time I think about that gift, I tear up at the thought of the love behind it and the lessons the Lord brought to me through it. Thank you, Awana kids, for blessing us so!

35 Week Appointment

In all the excitement of the nursery and showers, I forgot to post anything about my 33 week visit. It was totally unexciting. She listened to Emily's heartbeat (which was 148bpm), asked me if I had any questions (which I didn't), and that was basically it.

There's a little more to tell about the visit I had today, though. The doctor listened to her heartbeat again, of course. It was strong and fast. All good on that front. She did a group B strep test, which for those of you who don't know, is a bacterial infection that can reside in the birth canal. It is no threat to me, but if I have it, I will have to be put on IV antibiotics during labor and delivery to keep Emily from contracting it during her birth. It's not really a huge deal, but I'd like to not have to worry about it, so we're praying that comes back negative. She also checked me for dilation and effacement. No action yet! At first I was a little disappointed because I'm so uncomfortable and would like to get this show on the road, but I realize that it's in Emily's best interest to stay put until we're full term, so I'm ok with it. My blood pressure was great...128/72! When my doctor came in and didn't say anything about it, I asked, "Did you see my blood pressure?!?" She said, "Yes, but I don't want to talk about it in case we jinx it!" Haha!

I had a few Braxton Hicks contractions last week, but they were so sporadic in duration and time between that I knew it wasn't actual labor...besides the fact that I'm sure actual labor will be much more painful!

Everything looks good. I start seeing my doctor every week now. I probably won't post about every appointment between now and show time, but when the results of the group B test come back and when I start to dilate, I will be sure to let everyone know!

It's just a waiting game now...4 weeks, 5 days and still counting down! :)

Nursery Ready?...Check!

Well, the nursery is ready for Miss Emily! We finally got the crib, mattress, and bedding! Here are some pictures...again, you can click them to make them bigger...

I'm having an applique made of Psalm 139:17&18 to put on the wall above her crib. So, the room is not 100% complete, but it's pretty darn close. We are finished with all the showers...we had one in San Antonio from Ben's family and Gram's friends, one in Houston from my family and friends, and one from our church family. We are so blessed, and Emily is so spoiled already! We have received more than we could possibly have imagined and are so grateful for every bit of it. Her closet and dresser drawers are quite ridiculous!

I don't think I've ever been quite as excited with anticipation about something as I am about having this little girl! I go for a check up this Thursday, the 11th. I think I have one more 2 week visit and then I start going every week!
7 weeks...49 days...1176 hours...until she's due to grace us with her presence!

31 Week Appointment

Just got back from the doctor's office. We discussed the ultrasound that we had last week. My doctor says everything in terms of development, placenta, and amniotic fluid all look completely normal! Yay! She said in terms of weight, length, and body measurements, Emily is measuring a week ahead. This puts my co-worker, Jeanette's, estimation right on. She has "forseen" that Emily will be born on March 24th. :) We'll just have to wait and see! This is a short post, but there's really not much new to report. Her heartbeat was good and strong. She's still moving a lot. Everything is going well!

8 weeks, 5 days and counting down!

Emily's New Pictures!

We had an ultrasound at the hospital's imaging center yesterday evening. It was so neat to get to see her in all her beauty wiggling and smiling and sucking away. She looked very content in there! :) The ultrasound tech said I have a "very nice placenta for this stage of pregnancy"...whatever that means, but hey, I'll take it! Emily is head down and at an estimated weight of 3lbs., 13 oz.! An average baby at 30 weeks is around 3 lbs. She's in the 72nd percentile in size! She's got her momma's chubby cheeks and possibly her daddy's nose.
Take a look...you can click on the pictures to make them bigger!

I often sit and wonder what God has planned for our little one. Just like every mom, I hope it's great things! We are headed to San Antonio this evening for the 1st of 3 showers. We are extremely blessed by our friends, family, and church family!

We are so excited about meeting our little chunk! 9 weeks, 4 days and still counting down!

Tummy Tracker at 29 Weeks

Here are a few pictures of the ever growing belly at 29 weeks, 2 days pregnant.

My appointment today went well. Her heartbeat was going strong at 164bpm! There was a little miscommunication about the ultrasound. My doctor told me at my last visit that she would send me to the hospital today for an ultrasound. What she meant to say was that she would send me to to the hospital to register for an ultrasound. So, we didn't get to see Emily today. Our ultrasound is scheduled for next Thursday, the 21st. My next doctor visit is in 2 weeks, on the 28th. I've entered the third trimester! Home stretch, here we come!