Any Day Now. . .

I visited the OB yesterday, and despite being 17 days away from my due date, Baby Eble could come any day now! I am 70% effaced, 3 cm dilated, and Baby is at station -1. The doc still thinks head down, but maybe in a more oblique position, with feet and body angled off to the side, rather than straight, with feet pointed toward my head. Hopefully this won't cause any problems. The doc didn't seem concerned about this.

Based on the results of my OB visit, my hematologist switched me from the Lovenox to the heparin. It's a little different, because I now have to draw my own medicine from vials, rather than use the pre-filled syringes. The heparin is also supposed to bruise me more. So far, so good with the first shot: no bruising.

So yesterday was a real reality check: this baby is really coming! This, of course, prompted me to continue work on baby preparations, including starting to pack hospital bags. My sister Heather is visiting now before classes start at IU, so she and I have been working to get some things accomplished.

I'm hoping Baby Eble can wait at least a week. I still have things to get done pre-arrival. Plus, Mom has the Frog Follies craft show in Evansville today-Sunday, and my OB will be out Monday-Wednesday. AND the transition of maternity services from the Family Life Center at St. Vincent Hospital to St. Vincent Women's is going on right now.

We'll post again when we have more news!

Word from the Docs

I visited both the OB and Hematologist this week and received good reports. All seems to be going well in there!

The OB said the baby is head down (hooray) and that it's fairly low. She determined this through an external exam. Internals begin next week.

The Hematologist is going to wait to switch me over to the other anticoagulant, pending the result of my visit to the OB next week and whether things seem to be progressing toward an early, on-time, or late delivery. Apparently the other drug (heparin) will cause a lot more bruising, etc., so she wants me to stay on the Lovenox for as long as possible.

We went to the Colts training camp last night. My belly was able to fit underneath my Brandon Stokely jersey. It was fun -- cool to observe what practice is like.

Thought it would be good to include Dominic in a picture for once, to document that he was, in fact, present during the pregnancy!

Maternity Leave Begins

This week was my last one at work, and not even a full one at that. I worked on Monday and Tuesday, and my maternity leave began on Wednesday. Before I left work, my co-workers threw a surprise baby shower for me, which was very nice. The picture is from the shower, with me leading the charge for lunch!

For the first day of my leave, Dominic took the day off work, and we went to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry with his parents, Uncle Paul, and Aunt Anne. They currently have a special exhibit there on the human body, Body Worlds, which was very interesting, very educational, very cool.

Unfortunately, upon return from the museum, I realized our air conditioner wasn't working! So, I've been hanging out in the heat since then. I'm very thankful that Dominic's brother, Paul, is here now to fix it.

For those of you playing along at home, we are now at 30 days to go! Keep watching...next week I have two doctor's appointments, so I should have more to report on Baby Eble's eagerness to join us all on the outside!

Belly Watch: 40 Days to D-Day

We are now 40 days away from our due date! My belly is certainly growing. The picture on the left was taken on the day of Bailey Snively's baptism: April 17, which was at the half-way point of the pregnancy. The picture on the right was taken this evening.

Our final childbirth class is tomorrow evening. Not sure that means we are fully prepared for labor and delivery, though. Our 77-year-old retired nurse instructor is very funny, which makes going to class more enjoyable for both of us, particularly Dominic.

My family held a baby shower for me this past weekend, which was really nice. I got to see a lot of family one last time before my travel is restricted to 1 hour from home.

I am one week away from the start of my maternity leave. My company very generously gives expecting moms the month off prior to their due date (and any additional time before the birth if the little one decides to be fashionably late). I'm looking forward to the time off to make final preparations, clean the house, and nap!