Monday, April 28, 2008
Pick the name!
We need your help to name this kid. Cast your vote early and often in the poll on the right side of the page. Feel free to suggest new names in the comment section if you hate our choices.
the good and the bad
Here are two lists about the highs and lows of bed rest. Amazingly, I thought of the 10 best things much faster and much more easily than I thought of the worst things. I need to print out the best list and tape it to the edge of the coffee table!
10 Worst Things About Bed Rest
10. tv: there really is nothing good on tv, day or night
9. canceling our trip to Boston
8. not being able to cook: even missing out on the dishes is frustrating
7. muscle aches from lying down
6. missing the shower planned by my dear friends
5. not being able to walk the dog: not that I really miss dog poop that much, but still...
4. despair that this will last forever
3. possibility of missing some or all graduation activities
2. tension over the return of preterm labor
1. lack of exercise
Now to the positives...
10 Best Things About Bed Rest
10. writing letters
9. opportunity to work on a few reading and writing projects
8. time to think
7. time to feel the baby move
6. feeling that I'm doing something good for Baby David
5. opportunity to learn some new crafts
4. realizing what great friends we have
3. feeling that our marriage is being made stronger by this
2. breakfast in bed
1. possibility of getting a handicapped parking pass for graduation!
10 Worst Things About Bed Rest
10. tv: there really is nothing good on tv, day or night
9. canceling our trip to Boston
8. not being able to cook: even missing out on the dishes is frustrating
7. muscle aches from lying down
6. missing the shower planned by my dear friends
5. not being able to walk the dog: not that I really miss dog poop that much, but still...
4. despair that this will last forever
3. possibility of missing some or all graduation activities
2. tension over the return of preterm labor
1. lack of exercise
Now to the positives...
10 Best Things About Bed Rest
10. writing letters
9. opportunity to work on a few reading and writing projects
8. time to think
7. time to feel the baby move
6. feeling that I'm doing something good for Baby David
5. opportunity to learn some new crafts
4. realizing what great friends we have
3. feeling that our marriage is being made stronger by this
2. breakfast in bed
1. possibility of getting a handicapped parking pass for graduation!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
not exactly as planned . . .
When we found out about Baby David, I began picturing my pregnancy. First off, I was going to have the cutest maternity clothes ever. I was going to be happy and glowing at all times. I planned to stay in shape and join the legendary ranks of friends and friends-of-friends who played tennis into their eighth months or longer. I was going to work until the end of June. People were going to ooohhhh and aaahhh over my perfectly proportioned, flat-belly-button belly. I was going to decorate a sweet little nursery.
Well, things are not going exactly as planned. I spent the first 18 weeks or so feeling pretty grumpy, tired, and fat. Then I started feeling Baby David kicking and I started wearing maternity clothes, although not the cutest ones ever, and both those changes made me more comfortable, happier, and excited about pregnancy. By March, I looked unquestionably pregnant and I was slowly learning to really enjoy my quiet, private bond with the baby, sharing that with Eric, and happily accepting compliments and good natured ribbing about my changing shape.
But I had to stop playing tennis and slow some of my other exercises because I was having extreme Braxton Hicks (false) contractions, which can eventually lead to real contractions, as we eventually discovered. I was, however, still staying in shape.
As spring got cranked up, I found I'd collected some pretty darn adorable spring and summer tops, skirts and dresses. Finally, the pregnancy was fun, I felt good about how I looked, and everything was starting to go as planned.
Then the wheels came off. Suddenly, and I mean really suddenly, nurses are hooking me up to all sorts of machines and the doctors are telling me we're in the hospital for at least 2 nights. And then the doctors prescribed bed rest. At the time, it didn't seem so bad. I was anxious to leave the hospital and how bad could hanging out on the sofa be?
Answer: pretty bad.
It's all for a good cause, and in terms of taking care of Baby David, I'm happy that he's still "cooking" and that I can take some steps to help keep him there, even if those steps are uncomfortable, mentally challenging, and draining. But I've had to come to terms with altered plans.
I am not having the pregnancy I planned. My belly button is still an "innie," but that's about the only thing left from my original pregnancy picture. No more work. No real need to wear my cute clothes, although I am on most days. No more muscle tone. No more attention from strangers in public. No work on the nursery, although I'm sure I'll be an excellent supervisor.
But at the end of the day, we're still pregnant. Baby David is happily kicking and punching and Eric and I are both happy to do whatever it takes to keep him that way.
We have breakfast in bed together everyday, and we're spending more time together than we'll have the opportunity for until we retire. Despite our fears, our occasional bouts of self-pity, and our newly-confined realm (or maybe because of these things), we're closer and in some ways happier, than ever.
We may not be having the pregnancy we thought we would, but we're having our pregnancy.
Well, things are not going exactly as planned. I spent the first 18 weeks or so feeling pretty grumpy, tired, and fat. Then I started feeling Baby David kicking and I started wearing maternity clothes, although not the cutest ones ever, and both those changes made me more comfortable, happier, and excited about pregnancy. By March, I looked unquestionably pregnant and I was slowly learning to really enjoy my quiet, private bond with the baby, sharing that with Eric, and happily accepting compliments and good natured ribbing about my changing shape.
But I had to stop playing tennis and slow some of my other exercises because I was having extreme Braxton Hicks (false) contractions, which can eventually lead to real contractions, as we eventually discovered. I was, however, still staying in shape.
As spring got cranked up, I found I'd collected some pretty darn adorable spring and summer tops, skirts and dresses. Finally, the pregnancy was fun, I felt good about how I looked, and everything was starting to go as planned.
Then the wheels came off. Suddenly, and I mean really suddenly, nurses are hooking me up to all sorts of machines and the doctors are telling me we're in the hospital for at least 2 nights. And then the doctors prescribed bed rest. At the time, it didn't seem so bad. I was anxious to leave the hospital and how bad could hanging out on the sofa be?
Answer: pretty bad.
It's all for a good cause, and in terms of taking care of Baby David, I'm happy that he's still "cooking" and that I can take some steps to help keep him there, even if those steps are uncomfortable, mentally challenging, and draining. But I've had to come to terms with altered plans.
I am not having the pregnancy I planned. My belly button is still an "innie," but that's about the only thing left from my original pregnancy picture. No more work. No real need to wear my cute clothes, although I am on most days. No more muscle tone. No more attention from strangers in public. No work on the nursery, although I'm sure I'll be an excellent supervisor.
But at the end of the day, we're still pregnant. Baby David is happily kicking and punching and Eric and I are both happy to do whatever it takes to keep him that way.
We have breakfast in bed together everyday, and we're spending more time together than we'll have the opportunity for until we retire. Despite our fears, our occasional bouts of self-pity, and our newly-confined realm (or maybe because of these things), we're closer and in some ways happier, than ever.
We may not be having the pregnancy we thought we would, but we're having our pregnancy.
Friday, April 25, 2008
hospital food
Last week, on April 16, Baby David just didn't seem to be moving like normal. The short version is that I spent two nights in the hospital, with 24 hours of that time hooked up to a magnesium sulfate iv and monitors to record contractions and the baby's heart rate.
They sent me home with orders for 5 weeks of bed rest, but on Monday the 21st, I had to return to the hospital with painless but very regular contractions. This time, I came home after one night with a blood pressure medication. My blood pressure has been and continues to be fine, but the medicine acts to calm the contractions.
So far, it's working and because it's making me feel a bit tired, it's also making bed rest more palatable.
This morning we had a very good report from the doctor. I'll go back in one week, and will be on the one-visit-per-week plan from now on.
In the meantime, we've discovered a blog kept by a friend-of-a-friend who is having a very similar experience; she is now finished with her bed rest and almost to term with her baby. Her story helps us feel better about the future, although my doctors say we should assume that Baby David will come at least a little bit early. At the moment, though, he's still enjoying room service and kicking up a storm. And based on this morning's appointment, it seems like he's set to stay put for the very near future at least.
On another positive note, spending some time in the hospital has made us much more relaxed about our upcoming labor experience and has given us a lot of confidence in our doctors from Duke Women's Health. Our doctors, together with the hospital staff (at Duke University Hospital), really left us feeling good about our care and Baby David's.
They sent me home with orders for 5 weeks of bed rest, but on Monday the 21st, I had to return to the hospital with painless but very regular contractions. This time, I came home after one night with a blood pressure medication. My blood pressure has been and continues to be fine, but the medicine acts to calm the contractions.
So far, it's working and because it's making me feel a bit tired, it's also making bed rest more palatable.
This morning we had a very good report from the doctor. I'll go back in one week, and will be on the one-visit-per-week plan from now on.
In the meantime, we've discovered a blog kept by a friend-of-a-friend who is having a very similar experience; she is now finished with her bed rest and almost to term with her baby. Her story helps us feel better about the future, although my doctors say we should assume that Baby David will come at least a little bit early. At the moment, though, he's still enjoying room service and kicking up a storm. And based on this morning's appointment, it seems like he's set to stay put for the very near future at least.
On another positive note, spending some time in the hospital has made us much more relaxed about our upcoming labor experience and has given us a lot of confidence in our doctors from Duke Women's Health. Our doctors, together with the hospital staff (at Duke University Hospital), really left us feeling good about our care and Baby David's.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to News from the Crib. We created this blog to keep our family updated on the life of Baby David. We (all four of us if you count Winston) are about to enter the home stretch of the third trimester and the following is a quick time line of some of the milestones in Baby David's life and our lives with him so far.
November 2, 2007: After Sarah has a queasy stomach for several days, Eric jokingly suggests she's pregnant; turns out, he was right.
November 5, 2007: Sarah and Baby David have their first doctor's appointment. Baby David is half a centimeter long and has a flickering heartbeat. His due date is estimated for June 28, 2008. His due date has fluctuated from June 28 to July 1 so we're sticking with July 1, and we're assuming he'll arrive whenever he's ready rather than when he's "due."
December 21, 2007: His first detailed ultrasound reveals that Baby David already has his daddy's nose.
December 22 and 27, 2007: Baby David has his first flights (to and from Phoenix).
January 31, 2008: This is a big day. Baby David let's us see, via ultrasound, that he is in fact a boy! And he kicks hard enough that Sarah is certain she's felt him.
February 17, 2008: Baby David started kicking hard enough for Eric to feel him move.
March 7-9, 2008: Baby David goes on his first road trip, to Washington, D.C. to visit Caroline and Shannon.
Today, April 5, 2008: Baby David probably weighs a little bit over 2 pounds and is nearly 15 inches long. He's kicking up a storm, and at past doctor's appointments, the nurse practitioner and one of our doctors have both taken note of his constant motion. I'm pretty sure this means he'll spin on his stool if his grandparents try to sit with him at a restaurant that has counter service. I'm also pretty sure this means that if he falls off a sled in the snow, he'll actually try to get up rather than settling for the upside-down-turtle position.
November 2, 2007: After Sarah has a queasy stomach for several days, Eric jokingly suggests she's pregnant; turns out, he was right.
November 5, 2007: Sarah and Baby David have their first doctor's appointment. Baby David is half a centimeter long and has a flickering heartbeat. His due date is estimated for June 28, 2008. His due date has fluctuated from June 28 to July 1 so we're sticking with July 1, and we're assuming he'll arrive whenever he's ready rather than when he's "due."
December 21, 2007: His first detailed ultrasound reveals that Baby David already has his daddy's nose.
December 22 and 27, 2007: Baby David has his first flights (to and from Phoenix).
January 31, 2008: This is a big day. Baby David let's us see, via ultrasound, that he is in fact a boy! And he kicks hard enough that Sarah is certain she's felt him.
February 17, 2008: Baby David started kicking hard enough for Eric to feel him move.
March 7-9, 2008: Baby David goes on his first road trip, to Washington, D.C. to visit Caroline and Shannon.
Today, April 5, 2008: Baby David probably weighs a little bit over 2 pounds and is nearly 15 inches long. He's kicking up a storm, and at past doctor's appointments, the nurse practitioner and one of our doctors have both taken note of his constant motion. I'm pretty sure this means he'll spin on his stool if his grandparents try to sit with him at a restaurant that has counter service. I'm also pretty sure this means that if he falls off a sled in the snow, he'll actually try to get up rather than settling for the upside-down-turtle position.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
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